WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a luxury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">Boeing 747 jet from Qatar</a>&nbsp;for President Donald Trump to use as Air Force One, the Pentagon said Wednesday, despite ongoing questions about the ethics and legality of taking the expensive gift from a foreign nation.

The Defense Department will “work to ensure proper security measures” on the plane to make it safe for use by the president, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. He added that the plane was accepted “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-gift-jet-air-force-one-7f9afb461c6b3ac16fca3bb0973715ff">Trump has defended the gift</a>, which came up during his recent Middle East trip, as a way to save tax dollars.

“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114503203859060399">posted on his social media site</a>&nbsp;during the trip.

Others, however, have said Trump's acceptance of an aircraft that has been called a “palace in the sky” is a violation of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emoluments-clause-trump-jet-qatar-56f995acb57eb741b0214aba5e7e8220">Constitution’s prohibition on foreign gifts</a>. Democrats have been united in outrage, and even some of the Republican president’s GOP allies in Congress have expressed concerns.

“This unprecedented action is a stain on the office of the presidency and cannot go unanswered,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. “Until Americans get transparency on this shady deal, which apparently includes a corrupt plot for Donald Trump to keep the plane at his library after leaving office, I’ll continue to hold all Department of Justice political nominees.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-plane-qatar-schumer-nominees-senate-8efd139a898c32cb7a1fa554c3e937c7">Schumer has introduced legislation</a>&nbsp;that would prohibit any foreign aircraft from being used as Air Force One and forbid use of taxpayer money to modify or restore the aircraft.

Critics also have noted the need to retrofit the plane to meet security requirements, which would be costly and take time.

“Far from saving money, this unconstitutional action will not only cost our nation its dignity, but it will force taxpayers to waste over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to overhaul this particular aircraft when we currently have not one, but two fully operational and fully capable Air Force One aircraft,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

She said during a hearing Tuesday that it is a “dangerous course of action” for the U.S. to accept the aircraft from the Qatari ruling family.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told senators that Hegseth has ordered the service to start planning how to update the jet to meet needed standards and acknowledged that the plane will require “significant” modifications.

The Air Force, in a statement, said it is preparing to award a contract to modify a Boeing 747 aircraft, but that any details are classified.

Trump was asked about the move Wednesday while he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ramaphosa-south-africa-9ce43dd5a9cd58e912653c99a8ab1944">meeting in the Oval Office with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa</a>. “They are giving the United States Air Force a jet,” Trump said, bristling at being questioned about the gift by a reporter.

Trump said it was given “not to me, to the United States Air Force, so they could help us out” and noted that “Boeing’s a little bit late, unfortunately.”

Ramaphosa, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-south-africa-oval-office-drama-0080e7c7288860bd0511b8cc4efd06f6">sitting next to Trump</a>&nbsp;and has been working to repair his relationship with the president, said, “I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you.”

“If your country was offering the United States Air Force a plane, I would take it,” Trump said.

Trump has presented no national security imperative for a swift upgrade rather than waiting for Boeing to finish new Air Force One jets that have been in the works for years.

He has tried to tamp down some of the opposition by saying he wouldn’t fly around in the aircraft when his term ends. Instead, he said, the plane would be donated to a future presidential library, similar to how the Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and put on display as a museum piece.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746987808468.png" alt="President Trump took a tour of the jet in February&nbsp; &nbsp;-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump took a tour of the jet in February&nbsp; &nbsp;-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a luxury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">Boeing 747 jet from Qatar</a>&nbsp;for President Donald Trump to use as Air Force One, the Pentagon said Wednesday, despite ongoing questions about the ethics and legality of taking the expensive gift from a foreign nation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">After President Trump shows videos about genocide, <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterAlexander?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PeterAlexander</a> asks about jet from Qatar. President Trump: &quot;&quot;What are you talking about? You know, you oughta get out of here...you&#39;re a terrible reporter.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/4KgjHOvEUF">pic.twitter.com/4KgjHOvEUF</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1925233710594465954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Defense Department will “work to ensure proper security measures” on the plane to make it safe for use by the president, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. He added that the plane was accepted “in accordance with all federal rules and regulations.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-gift-jet-air-force-one-7f9afb461c6b3ac16fca3bb0973715ff">Trump has defended the gift</a>, which came up during his recent Middle East trip, as a way to save tax dollars.“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114503203859060399">posted on his social media site</a>&nbsp;during the trip.Others, however, have said Trump's acceptance of an aircraft that has been called a “palace in the sky” is a violation of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emoluments-clause-trump-jet-qatar-56f995acb57eb741b0214aba5e7e8220">Constitution’s prohibition on foreign gifts</a>. Democrats have been united in outrage, and even some of the Republican president’s GOP allies in Congress have expressed concerns.“This unprecedented action is a stain on the office of the presidency and cannot go unanswered,” said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York. “Until Americans get transparency on this shady deal, which apparently includes a corrupt plot for Donald Trump to keep the plane at his library after leaving office, I’ll continue to hold all Department of Justice political nominees.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-plane-qatar-schumer-nominees-senate-8efd139a898c32cb7a1fa554c3e937c7">Schumer has introduced legislation</a>&nbsp;that would prohibit any foreign aircraft from being used as Air Force One and forbid use of taxpayer money to modify or restore the aircraft.Critics also have noted the need to retrofit the plane to meet security requirements, which would be costly and take time.“Far from saving money, this unconstitutional action will not only cost our nation its dignity, but it will force taxpayers to waste over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to overhaul this particular aircraft when we currently have not one, but two fully operational and fully capable Air Force One aircraft,” said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.She said during a hearing Tuesday that it is a “dangerous course of action” for the U.S. to accept the aircraft from the Qatari ruling family.Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told senators that Hegseth has ordered the service to start planning how to update the jet to meet needed standards and acknowledged that the plane will require “significant” modifications.The Air Force, in a statement, said it is preparing to award a contract to modify a Boeing 747 aircraft, but that any details are classified.Trump was asked about the move Wednesday while he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ramaphosa-south-africa-9ce43dd5a9cd58e912653c99a8ab1944">meeting in the Oval Office with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa</a>. “They are giving the United States Air Force a jet,” Trump said, bristling at being questioned about the gift by a reporter.Trump said it was given “not to me, to the United States Air Force, so they could help us out” and noted that “Boeing’s a little bit late, unfortunately.”Ramaphosa, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-south-africa-oval-office-drama-0080e7c7288860bd0511b8cc4efd06f6">sitting next to Trump</a>&nbsp;and has been working to repair his relationship with the president, said, “I’m sorry I don’t have a plane to give you.”“If your country was offering the United States Air Force a plane, I would take it,” Trump said.Trump has presented no national security imperative for a swift upgrade rather than waiting for Boeing to finish new Air Force One jets that have been in the works for years.He has tried to tamp down some of the opposition by saying he wouldn’t fly around in the aircraft when his term ends. Instead, he said, the plane would be donated to a future presidential library, similar to how the Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and put on display as a museum piece.___

🎥 Trump responds to question on Defense Dept. accepting jet from Qatar

RENO COUNTY —The Reno County Coroner’s Office has informed the Hutchinson Fire Department of the identity of the man who died the commercial fire that occurred Tuesday morning, according to a media release from the Hutchison Fire Department.

 The victim has been identified as Bret Fallis, a resident of Hutchinson. Firefighters discovered Mr. Fallis in one of the impacted storage units when they responded to the alarm. The exact cause of death has not been released at this time.

The Hutchinson Fire Department has completed its investigation into the fire's origins. The fire originated in the unit where Mr. Fallis was present. After investigation, the fire’s cause was determined to be improper discard of smoking materials igniting combustible materials in the storage unit.

RENO COUNTY — One person died following a fire at the Store'N Go storage facility near 4th Avenue and Bonebrake Street in Hutchinson.

Just after 8a.m. Tuesday, crews were dispatched after the Hutchinson Police Department, already on scene, reported visible smoke from the facility, according to a media release.

Upon arrival, firefighters found one of eight 30-by-220-foot storage buildings filled with smoke. Crews forced entry into multiple units, cutting locks and doors, and launched an aggressive attack on four units actively burning.

While extinguishing the flames, firefighters discovered one deceased individual inside a unit that appeared to be used as a residence. The victim’s identity has not yet been confirmed. The Reno County Coroner’s Medical Investigator is working to determine the cause of death and make a positive identification.&nbsp;

The fire caused moderate damage to four units, with smoke damage affecting approximately 75% of the remaining compartments. No injuries to firefighters were reported. Crews are expected to remain on scene for several hours.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Hutchinson Fire Department’s Fire Marshal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747750466971.jpeg" alt="Hutch Post Photo/Marc Jacobs" />
 <figcaption>Hutch Post Photo/Marc Jacobs</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —The Reno County Coroner’s Office has informed the Hutchinson Fire Department of the identity of the man who died the commercial fire that occurred Tuesday morning, according to a media release from the Hutchison Fire Department. The victim has been identified as Bret Fallis, a resident of Hutchinson. Firefighters discovered Mr. Fallis in one of the impacted storage units when they responded to the alarm. The exact cause of death has not been released at this time.The Hutchinson Fire Department has completed its investigation into the fire's origins. The fire originated in the unit where Mr. Fallis was present. After investigation, the fire’s cause was determined to be improper discard of smoking materials igniting combustible materials in the storage unit.---------------RENO COUNTY — One person died following a fire at the Store'N Go storage facility near 4th Avenue and Bonebrake Street in Hutchinson.Just after 8a.m. Tuesday, crews were dispatched after the Hutchinson Police Department, already on scene, reported visible smoke from the facility, according to a media release.Upon arrival, firefighters found one of eight 30-by-220-foot storage buildings filled with smoke. Crews forced entry into multiple units, cutting locks and doors, and launched an aggressive attack on four units actively burning.While extinguishing the flames, firefighters discovered one deceased individual inside a unit that appeared to be used as a residence. The victim’s identity has not yet been confirmed. The Reno County Coroner’s Medical Investigator is working to determine the cause of death and make a positive identification.&nbsp;The fire caused moderate damage to four units, with smoke damage affecting approximately 75% of the remaining compartments. No injuries to firefighters were reported. Crews are expected to remain on scene for several hours.The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Hutchinson Fire Department’s Fire Marshal.

Victim in fatal Kansas storage unit fire identified 

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22ALAN%20SUDERMAN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By ALAN SUDERMAN</a> Associated Press

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-trump-satoshi-record-6ee18c4f1a8fc2365ff939600cad2d44">Bitcoin</a>&nbsp;hit a new all-time high as the world’s most popular cryptocurrency reached price levels not seen since President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The digital asset traded above $109,400 Wednesday morning, a huge increase from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bitcoin-crypto-tariffs-ether-4b59eeac841cb1dd1b71d7fec14be94e#:~:text=After%20holding%20relatively%20stable%20during,before%20seeing%20a%20slight%20rebound.">recent</a>&nbsp;lows of about $75,000 last month.

Several other cryptocurrencies have seen similar large gains in recent days. That includes Trump’s official meme coins, which have jumped up about 75% in the last month. The president is set to have dinner Thursday with some of the meme coins’ biggest investors, a move that’s drawn intense criticism from some Democrats who say that Trump is improperly using the power of the presidency to boost his personal wealth.

Bitcoin’s price increase comes after the crypto industry scored a major win with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-stablecoins-cryptocurrency-coin-trump-5b551cf99c288c4f6059ed1689d6fcb4">U.S. Senate advancing legislation</a>&nbsp;that creates a federal framework to regulate the stablecoins, a fast-growing form of cryptocurrency whose values are often tied to the U.S. dollar.

The bipartisan vote was a major win for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crypto-bitcoin-trump-sacks-2da6c4d45e5df04c2e50b2b5ff8d90c7">politically powerful cryptocurrency industry</a>, which spent heavily in last year’s election and has amassed a large war chest for next year’s contests.

A former skeptic turned enthusiastic booster, Trump has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-bitcoin-digital-assets-reserve-2f4246434a657f248cd85296f14382f9">major promoter</a>&nbsp;of the crypto industry and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-trump-election-crypto-regulation-c45a747d9c32591bc4e5dcd6e5cc0c22">previously took credit</a>&nbsp;when bitcoin’s price broke $100,000 in December. His administration has established a “strategic bitcoin reserve” for the U.S. government and dropped or paused several enforcement actions against major crypto companies.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22ALAN%20SUDERMAN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By ALAN SUDERMAN</a> Associated Press<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-trump-satoshi-record-6ee18c4f1a8fc2365ff939600cad2d44">Bitcoin</a>&nbsp;hit a new all-time high as the world’s most popular cryptocurrency reached price levels not seen since President Donald Trump’s inauguration.The digital asset traded above $109,400 Wednesday morning, a huge increase from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bitcoin-crypto-tariffs-ether-4b59eeac841cb1dd1b71d7fec14be94e#:~:text=After%20holding%20relatively%20stable%20during,before%20seeing%20a%20slight%20rebound.">recent</a>&nbsp;lows of about $75,000 last month.Several other cryptocurrencies have seen similar large gains in recent days. That includes Trump’s official meme coins, which have jumped up about 75% in the last month. The president is set to have dinner Thursday with some of the meme coins’ biggest investors, a move that’s drawn intense criticism from some Democrats who say that Trump is improperly using the power of the presidency to boost his personal wealth.Bitcoin’s price increase comes after the crypto industry scored a major win with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-stablecoins-cryptocurrency-coin-trump-5b551cf99c288c4f6059ed1689d6fcb4">U.S. Senate advancing legislation</a>&nbsp;that creates a federal framework to regulate the stablecoins, a fast-growing form of cryptocurrency whose values are often tied to the U.S. dollar.The bipartisan vote was a major win for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crypto-bitcoin-trump-sacks-2da6c4d45e5df04c2e50b2b5ff8d90c7">politically powerful cryptocurrency industry</a>, which spent heavily in last year’s election and has amassed a large war chest for next year’s contests.A former skeptic turned enthusiastic booster, Trump has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-bitcoin-digital-assets-reserve-2f4246434a657f248cd85296f14382f9">major promoter</a>&nbsp;of the crypto industry and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-trump-election-crypto-regulation-c45a747d9c32591bc4e5dcd6e5cc0c22">previously took credit</a>&nbsp;when bitcoin’s price broke $100,000 in December. His administration has established a “strategic bitcoin reserve” for the U.S. government and dropped or paused several enforcement actions against major crypto companies.

Bitcoin hits new price highs as crypto industry scores wins

By GERALD IMRAY and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump used a White House meeting to forcefully confront South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing the country of failing to address Trump's baseless claim of the systematic killing of white farmers.

Trump even dimmed the lights of the Oval Office to play a video of a far-left politician chanting a song that includes the lyrics "kill the farmer." He also leafed through news articles to underscore his point, saying the country's white farmers have faced "death, death, death, horrible death."

Trump had already cut all U.S. assistance to South Africa and welcomed several dozen white South African farmers to the U.S. as refugees as he pressed the case that a "genocide" is underway in the country.

The U.S. president has launched a series of accusations at South Africa's Black-led government, claiming it is seizing land from white farmers, enforcing antiwhite policies and pursuing an anti-American foreign policy.

Experts in South Africa say there is no evidence of whites being targeted for their race, although farmers of all races are victims of violent home invasions in a country with a high crime rate.

"People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety," Trump said. "Their land is being confiscated and in many cases they're being killed."

Ramaphosa pushed back against Trump's accusation. The South African leader had sought to use the meeting to set the record straight and salvage his country's relationship with the United States. The bilateral relationship is at its lowest point since South Africa enforced its apartheid system of racial segregation, which ended in 1994.

"We are completely opposed to that," Ramaphosa said of the behavior alleged by Trump in their exchange. He added, "that is not government policy" and "our government policy is completely, completely against what he was saying."

"When they take the land, they kill the white farmer," he said.

Trump appeared prepared to confront Ramaphosa at the start of the meeting while journalists were present. Videos were cued up on a large TV set to show a clip of an opposition party leader, Julius Malema, leading an old anti-apartheid song.

The song has been contentious for years in the country because of its central lyrics "kill the Boer" and "shoot the Boer" — with Boer a word that refers to a white farmer. Malema, featured in the video, is not part of the country's governing coalition.

Another clip played showed white crosses on the side of a road, described as a memorial for white farmers who were killed. Ramaphosa seemed baffled. "I'd like to know where that is, because this I've never seen."

Trump kicked off the meeting by describing the South African president as a "truly respected man in many, many circles." He added: "And in some circles he's considered a little controversial."

Ramaphosa chimed in, playfully jabbing back at a U.S. president who is no stranger to controversy. "We're all like that," Ramaphosa said.

Trump issued an executive order in February cutting all funding to South Africa over some of its domestic and foreign policies. The order criticized the South African government on multiple fronts, saying it is pursuing antiwhite policies at home and supporting "bad actors" in the world like the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Iran.

Trump has falsely accused the South African government of rights violations against white Afrikaner farmers by seizing their land through a new expropriation law. No land has been seized and the South African government has pushed back, saying U.S. criticism is driven by misinformation.

The Trump administration's references to the Afrikaner people — who are descendants of Dutch and other European settlers — have also elevated previous claims made by Trump's South African-born adviser Elon Musk and some conservative U.S. commentators that the South African government is allowing attacks on white farmers in what amounts to a genocide.

The administration's concerns about South African policies cut even deeper than the concerns about white farmers.

South Africa has also angered the Trump White House over its move to bring charges at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Ramaphosa has also faced scrutiny in Washington for his past connections to MTN Group, Iran's second-largest telecom provider. It owns nearly half of Irancell, a joint venture linked with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Ramaphosa served as board chair of MTN from 2002 to 2013.

"When one country is consistently unaligned with the United States on issue after issue after issue after issue, now you become -- you have to make conclusions about it," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a Senate hearing this week.

Ramaphosa came into the meeting looking to avoid the sort of contentious engagement that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy experienced during his February Oval Office visit, when the Ukrainian leader found himself being berated by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. That disastrous meeting ended with White House officials asking Zelenskyy and his delegation to leave the White House grounds.

The South African president's delegation included golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, a gesture to the golf-obsessed U.S. president. Ramaphosa brought Trump a massive book about South Africa's golf courses. He even told Trump that he's been working on his golf game, seeming to angle for an invitation to the links with the president.

Luxury goods tycoon and Afrikaner Johann Rupert was also in the delegation to help ease Trump's concerns that land was being seized from white farmers.

At one point, Ramaphosa called on Zingiswa Losi, the president of a group of South African trade unions, who told Trump it is true that South Africa is a "violent nation for a number of reasons." But she told him it was important to understand that Black men and women in rural areas were also being targeted in heinous crimes.

"The problem in South Africa, it is not necessarily about race, but it's about crime," Losi said. "We are here to say how do we, both nations, work together to reset, to really talk about investment but also help ... to really address the levels of crime we have in our country."

Musk also attended Wednesday's talks. He has been at the forefront of the criticism of his homeland, casting its affirmative action laws as racist against whites.

Musk has said on social media that his Starlink satellite internet service isn't able to get a license to operate in South Africa because he is not Black.

South African authorities say Starlink hasn't formally applied. It can, but it would be bound by affirmative action laws in the communications sector that require foreign companies to allow 30% of their South African subsidiaries to be owned by shareholders who are Black or from other racial groups disadvantaged under apartheid.

The South African government says its long-standing affirmative action laws are a cornerstone of its efforts to right the injustices of the white minority rule of apartheid, which denied opportunities to Blacks and other racial groups.

Following the contentious Oval Office exchange in front of the cameras, Trump hosted Ramaphosa for lunch.

Asked by a reporter as he left the White House if he thought Trump heard him out, the South African leader responded, "Yes, he did, and it went very well."

Imray reported from Johannesburg. AP writers Seung Min Kim, Chris Megerian, Darlene Superville, Sagar Meghani and Ali Swenson contributed reporting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747860688909.png" alt="Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>By GERALD IMRAY and AAMER MADHANI Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump used a White House meeting to forcefully confront South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing the country of failing to address Trump's baseless claim of the systematic killing of white farmers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa exchange on genocide. Q: &quot;What will it take for you to be convinced that there&#39;s no white genocide in South Africa?&quot; Ramaphosa: &quot;I can answer that for the president.&quot; Trump: &quot;I&#39;d rather have him answer.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/8v8hXFGmK0">pic.twitter.com/8v8hXFGmK0</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1925241941513707991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 JUST SHOWN IN THE OVAL OFFICE: Proof of Persecution in South Africa. <a href="https://t.co/rER1l8sqAU">pic.twitter.com/rER1l8sqAU</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1925232291220951370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump even dimmed the lights of the Oval Office to play a video of a far-left politician chanting a song that includes the lyrics "kill the farmer." He also leafed through news articles to underscore his point, saying the country's white farmers have faced "death, death, death, horrible death."Trump had already cut all U.S. assistance to South Africa and welcomed several dozen white South African farmers to the U.S. as refugees as he pressed the case that a "genocide" is underway in the country.The U.S. president has launched a series of accusations at South Africa's Black-led government, claiming it is seizing land from white farmers, enforcing antiwhite policies and pursuing an anti-American foreign policy.Experts in South Africa say there is no evidence of whites being targeted for their race, although farmers of all races are victims of violent home invasions in a country with a high crime rate."People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety," Trump said. "Their land is being confiscated and in many cases they're being killed."Ramaphosa pushed back against Trump's accusation. The South African leader had sought to use the meeting to set the record straight and salvage his country's relationship with the United States. The bilateral relationship is at its lowest point since South Africa enforced its apartheid system of racial segregation, which ended in 1994."We are completely opposed to that," Ramaphosa said of the behavior alleged by Trump in their exchange. He added, "that is not government policy" and "our government policy is completely, completely against what he was saying."Trump was unmoved."When they take the land, they kill the white farmer," he said.Trump appeared prepared to confront Ramaphosa at the start of the meeting while journalists were present. Videos were cued up on a large TV set to show a clip of an opposition party leader, Julius Malema, leading an old anti-apartheid song.The song has been contentious for years in the country because of its central lyrics "kill the Boer" and "shoot the Boer" — with Boer a word that refers to a white farmer. Malema, featured in the video, is not part of the country's governing coalition.Another clip played showed white crosses on the side of a road, described as a memorial for white farmers who were killed. Ramaphosa seemed baffled. "I'd like to know where that is, because this I've never seen."Trump kicked off the meeting by describing the South African president as a "truly respected man in many, many circles." He added: "And in some circles he's considered a little controversial."Ramaphosa chimed in, playfully jabbing back at a U.S. president who is no stranger to controversy. "We're all like that," Ramaphosa said.Trump issued an executive order in February cutting all funding to South Africa over some of its domestic and foreign policies. The order criticized the South African government on multiple fronts, saying it is pursuing antiwhite policies at home and supporting "bad actors" in the world like the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Iran.Trump has falsely accused the South African government of rights violations against white Afrikaner farmers by seizing their land through a new expropriation law. No land has been seized and the South African government has pushed back, saying U.S. criticism is driven by misinformation.The Trump administration's references to the Afrikaner people — who are descendants of Dutch and other European settlers — have also elevated previous claims made by Trump's South African-born adviser Elon Musk and some conservative U.S. commentators that the South African government is allowing attacks on white farmers in what amounts to a genocide.The administration's concerns about South African policies cut even deeper than the concerns about white farmers.South Africa has also angered the Trump White House over its move to bring charges at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Ramaphosa has also faced scrutiny in Washington for his past connections to MTN Group, Iran's second-largest telecom provider. It owns nearly half of Irancell, a joint venture linked with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Ramaphosa served as board chair of MTN from 2002 to 2013."When one country is consistently unaligned with the United States on issue after issue after issue after issue, now you become -- you have to make conclusions about it," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a Senate hearing this week.Ramaphosa came into the meeting looking to avoid the sort of contentious engagement that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy experienced during his February Oval Office visit, when the Ukrainian leader found himself being berated by Trump and Vice President JD Vance. That disastrous meeting ended with White House officials asking Zelenskyy and his delegation to leave the White House grounds.The South African president's delegation included golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, a gesture to the golf-obsessed U.S. president. Ramaphosa brought Trump a massive book about South Africa's golf courses. He even told Trump that he's been working on his golf game, seeming to angle for an invitation to the links with the president.Luxury goods tycoon and Afrikaner Johann Rupert was also in the delegation to help ease Trump's concerns that land was being seized from white farmers.At one point, Ramaphosa called on Zingiswa Losi, the president of a group of South African trade unions, who told Trump it is true that South Africa is a "violent nation for a number of reasons." But she told him it was important to understand that Black men and women in rural areas were also being targeted in heinous crimes."The problem in South Africa, it is not necessarily about race, but it's about crime," Losi said. "We are here to say how do we, both nations, work together to reset, to really talk about investment but also help ... to really address the levels of crime we have in our country."Musk also attended Wednesday's talks. He has been at the forefront of the criticism of his homeland, casting its affirmative action laws as racist against whites.Musk has said on social media that his Starlink satellite internet service isn't able to get a license to operate in South Africa because he is not Black.South African authorities say Starlink hasn't formally applied. It can, but it would be bound by affirmative action laws in the communications sector that require foreign companies to allow 30% of their South African subsidiaries to be owned by shareholders who are Black or from other racial groups disadvantaged under apartheid.The South African government says its long-standing affirmative action laws are a cornerstone of its efforts to right the injustices of the white minority rule of apartheid, which denied opportunities to Blacks and other racial groups.Following the contentious Oval Office exchange in front of the cameras, Trump hosted Ramaphosa for lunch.Asked by a reporter as he left the White House if he thought Trump heard him out, the South African leader responded, "Yes, he did, and it went very well."___Imray reported from Johannesburg. AP writers Seung Min Kim, Chris Megerian, Darlene Superville, Sagar Meghani and Ali Swenson contributed reporting.

🎥Shocking video shown to So. African leader during Trump meeting

&nbsp;RENO COUNTY—The survey of damage from the storm that struck Plevna on Sunday indicates the tornado was an F3 in strength, according to the National Weather Service in Wichita, with maximum winds of 155 miles per hour.

According to the survey team, the tornado had a track of 32 and one half miles and a maximum width of one mile. It touched the ground in northern Pratt County, moved into southeast Stafford County and ultimately Reno County. The survey team found EF3 tornado damage in each county.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747924740644.png" alt="Photo NWS Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Photo NWS Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;RENO COUNTY—The survey of damage from the storm that struck Plevna on Sunday indicates the tornado was an F3 in strength, according to the National Weather Service in Wichita, with maximum winds of 155 miles per hour.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747706871776.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>According to the survey team, the tornado had a track of 32 and one half miles and a maximum width of one mile. It touched the ground in northern Pratt County, moved into southeast Stafford County and ultimately Reno County. The survey team found EF3 tornado damage in each county.

NWS confirms strength of tornado that struck Plevna

NODAWAY COUNTY, Mo. —The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested and charged Jon Worrell, age 58, of Douglas, Georgia, with Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and Aggravated Battery related to the death of his wife, Doris Worrell, almost 20 years ago, according to a media release from the agency.

Worrell, a current resident of Maryville, Missouri, approximately 90 minutes north of Kansas City, was taken into custody without incident.&nbsp; He is currently waiting for an extradition hearing to determine the timing of his return to Coffee County, Georgia.

On September 20, 2006, the GBI regional investigative office in Douglas, Georgia, was requested by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a death investigation at Jon’s Sports Park in Douglas, Georgia. Doris Worrell, 39 years old at the time, was found shot and killed inside their local business. Over the years, the GBI and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office pursued investigative leads, both in the U.S. and internationally, remaining committed to uncovering the truth behind Doris’ murder. This arrest is the direct result of those relentless efforts.

The GBI and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office were assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryville Department of Public Safety.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747845466660.png" alt="Doris Worrell photo&nbsp; Photo Coffee County Georgia Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Doris Worrell photo&nbsp; Photo Coffee County Georgia Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>NODAWAY COUNTY, Mo. —The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has arrested and charged Jon Worrell, age 58, of Douglas, Georgia, with Malice Murder, Felony Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and Aggravated Battery related to the death of his wife, Doris Worrell, almost 20 years ago, according to a media release from the agency.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747845292431.png" alt="Jon Worrell- Photo Coffee County Georgia Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Jon Worrell- Photo Coffee County Georgia Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>Worrell, a current resident of Maryville, Missouri, approximately 90 minutes north of Kansas City, was taken into custody without incident.&nbsp; He is currently waiting for an extradition hearing to determine the timing of his return to Coffee County, Georgia.On September 20, 2006, the GBI regional investigative office in Douglas, Georgia, was requested by the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a death investigation at Jon’s Sports Park in Douglas, Georgia. Doris Worrell, 39 years old at the time, was found shot and killed inside their local business. Over the years, the GBI and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office pursued investigative leads, both in the U.S. and internationally, remaining committed to uncovering the truth behind Doris’ murder. This arrest is the direct result of those relentless efforts.The GBI and the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office were assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office, and the Maryville Department of Public Safety.

Fugitive captured near KC for murder of wife in 2006

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOSH%20FUNK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOSH FUNK Associated Press</a>

Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon be required to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them because of concerns about the growing number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/airplanes-lithium-ion-batteries-hazard-2ccb98a6b7b0c43d1ff255d5797c24c8">lithium battery fires</a>&nbsp;in a new policy that other airlines may adopt.

Southwest announced the new policy that will go into effect May 28 and said passengers may already have seen notifications about the industry-leading rule when using the airline's app.

There is growing concern about lithium-ion battery fires on planes because the number of incidents continues to grow yearly, and devices powered by those batteries are ubiquitous. There have already been 19 incidents involving these batteries this year, following last year's record high of 89, according to Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/resources/lithium_batteries/incidents">statistics</a>.

The incidents have more than doubled since the pandemic-era low of 39 in 2020, and have climbed annually.

Compared to the roughly 180,000 flights U.S. airlines operate each week, the number of incidents is still relatively small and lithium batteries can overheat anywhere. However, this is a growing concern for the airlines.

Last summer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-flight-smoking-laptop-san-francisco-449d04bdd66ad411fa024799045e1992">a smoking laptop</a>&nbsp;in a passenger’s bag led to the evacuation of a plane awaiting takeoff at San Francisco International Airport. In 2023, a flight from Dallas to Orlando, Florida, made an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Florida, after a battery&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spirit-airlines-flight-259-diverted-fire-e867e93b7d762c3fb0a77bcf92688c96">caught fire in an overhead bin</a>.

Southwest said that requiring these chargers to be kept out in the open when they are being used will help because “in the rare event a lithium battery overheats or catches fire, quick access is critical and keeping power banks in plain sight allow for faster intervention and helps protect everyone onboard.”

The airline will allow the chargers to be stored inside carry-on bags when they aren't in use.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/transportation-security-administration">Transportation Security Administration</a>&nbsp;has long prohibited e-cigarettes and chargers and power banks with lithium-ion batteries in checked bags, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all">allows them in carry-on bags</a>. The rule exists precisely because fires in the cargo hold might be harder to detect and extinguish.

The FAA recommends passengers keep cell phones and other devices nearby on planes so they can access them quickly. The agency said flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to lithium battery fires. Passengers should notify the flight crew immediately if their lithium battery or device is overheating, expanding, smoking or burning.

A previous&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn.bfldr.com/D35SAQ1Q/as/qtg97zjx2t4nhp6x8j4q6hf9/Lithium-Ion_Battery_Incidents_and_Their_Impact_on_Aviation_Safety">report</a>&nbsp;released last year by UL Standards &amp; Engagement said e-cigarettes overheated more often than any other device. More than one-quarter of passengers surveyed for that study said they put vaping cigarettes and portable chargers in checked bags. That is against federal rules.

UL Standards &amp; Engagement, part of a safety-science company once known as Underwriters Laboratories, said it based its findings on data from 35 passenger and cargo airlines, including nine of the 10 leading U.S. passenger carriers.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOSH%20FUNK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOSH FUNK Associated Press</a>Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon be required to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them because of concerns about the growing number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/airplanes-lithium-ion-batteries-hazard-2ccb98a6b7b0c43d1ff255d5797c24c8">lithium battery fires</a>&nbsp;in a new policy that other airlines may adopt.Southwest announced the new policy that will go into effect May 28 and said passengers may already have seen notifications about the industry-leading rule when using the airline's app.There is growing concern about lithium-ion battery fires on planes because the number of incidents continues to grow yearly, and devices powered by those batteries are ubiquitous. There have already been 19 incidents involving these batteries this year, following last year's record high of 89, according to Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/resources/lithium_batteries/incidents">statistics</a>.The incidents have more than doubled since the pandemic-era low of 39 in 2020, and have climbed annually.Compared to the roughly 180,000 flights U.S. airlines operate each week, the number of incidents is still relatively small and lithium batteries can overheat anywhere. However, this is a growing concern for the airlines.Last summer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-flight-smoking-laptop-san-francisco-449d04bdd66ad411fa024799045e1992">a smoking laptop</a>&nbsp;in a passenger’s bag led to the evacuation of a plane awaiting takeoff at San Francisco International Airport. In 2023, a flight from Dallas to Orlando, Florida, made an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Florida, after a battery&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spirit-airlines-flight-259-diverted-fire-e867e93b7d762c3fb0a77bcf92688c96">caught fire in an overhead bin</a>.Southwest said that requiring these chargers to be kept out in the open when they are being used will help because “in the rare event a lithium battery overheats or catches fire, quick access is critical and keeping power banks in plain sight allow for faster intervention and helps protect everyone onboard.”The airline will allow the chargers to be stored inside carry-on bags when they aren't in use.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/transportation-security-administration">Transportation Security Administration</a>&nbsp;has long prohibited e-cigarettes and chargers and power banks with lithium-ion batteries in checked bags, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all">allows them in carry-on bags</a>. The rule exists precisely because fires in the cargo hold might be harder to detect and extinguish.The FAA recommends passengers keep cell phones and other devices nearby on planes so they can access them quickly. The agency said flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to lithium battery fires. Passengers should notify the flight crew immediately if their lithium battery or device is overheating, expanding, smoking or burning.A previous&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn.bfldr.com/D35SAQ1Q/as/qtg97zjx2t4nhp6x8j4q6hf9/Lithium-Ion_Battery_Incidents_and_Their_Impact_on_Aviation_Safety">report</a>&nbsp;released last year by UL Standards &amp; Engagement said e-cigarettes overheated more often than any other device. More than one-quarter of passengers surveyed for that study said they put vaping cigarettes and portable chargers in checked bags. That is against federal rules.UL Standards &amp; Engagement, part of a safety-science company once known as Underwriters Laboratories, said it based its findings on data from 35 passenger and cargo airlines, including nine of the 10 leading U.S. passenger carriers.

Southwest Airlines changes policy on chargers due to battery fire concerns

McClain County, Oklahoma—Authorities in Oklahoma shared a video Tuesday of a dramatic lightning strike of a police car.

The strike occurred on Monday during a severe storm, according to Newcastle Emergency Emergency Management.&nbsp;No one was hurt. 

"But that could’ve been anyone," the agency reminded. "If you hear thunder, you’re close enough to get hit. Get inside, stay away from trees and metal, and unplug electronics until the storm passes. Take lightning seriously every time."&nbsp; Newcastle is located approximately 2 and one half hours south of Wichita.

McClain County, Oklahoma—Authorities in Oklahoma shared a video Tuesday of a dramatic lightning strike of a police car.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=395&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F100068070158289%2Fvideos%2F1709176623353212%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="395" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The strike occurred on Monday during a severe storm, according to Newcastle Emergency Emergency Management.&nbsp;No one was hurt. "But that could’ve been anyone," the agency reminded. "If you hear thunder, you’re close enough to get hit. Get inside, stay away from trees and metal, and unplug electronics until the storm passes. Take lightning seriously every time."&nbsp; Newcastle is located approximately 2 and one half hours south of Wichita.

🎥 Lightning bolt strikes police vehicle 

President Donald Trump has implored House Republicans on Capitol Hill to drop their fights over his big tax cuts bill.&nbsp; On social media Kansas Second District Congressman encouraged his GOP colleagues to come together to pass the bill.

The White House released a list of 20 reasons Congress must unite behind the One, Big, Beautiful Bill:

President Donald Trump has implored House Republicans on Capitol Hill to drop their fights over his big tax cuts bill.&nbsp; On social media Kansas Second District Congressman encouraged his GOP colleagues to come together to pass the bill.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> is right: House Republicans must come together to pass the One, Big, Beautiful Bill to prevent a massive tax hike on middle class families, fund permanent border security, and begin to finally bend the curve of federal spending downward. Failure isn&#39;t an option.&mdash; Rep. Derek Schmidt Press (@RepDerekSchmidt) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDerekSchmidt/status/1924857752800600450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House released a list of 20 reasons Congress must unite behind the One, Big, Beautiful Bill:<ol>
 <li>It delivers the largest tax cut in American history.&nbsp;This means an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Economic-Impact-of-Extending-TCJA-Provisions.pdf">extra $5,000</a>&nbsp;in Americans’ pockets with a DOUBLE-DIGIT percent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/x-23-25.pdf">DECREASE</a>&nbsp;to their tax bills. Americans earning between $30,000 and $80,000 will pay around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/05/13/congress/average-taxpayers-tax-bills-set-to-fall-under-house-tax-package-forecasters-say-00347318">15% less in taxes</a>.</li><li>It includes NO TAX ON TIPS and NO TAX ON OVERTIME.&nbsp;This makes good on two of President Trump’s cornerstone campaign promises and will benefit hardworking Americans where they need it the most — their paychecks.</li><li>It delivers Big, Beautiful Deportations.&nbsp;The bill&nbsp;<a href="https://homeland.house.gov/2025/04/27/house-homeland-security-committee-releases-text-for-budget-reconciliation-recommendations/">permanently</a>&nbsp;secures our borders by making the largest border security investment in history, funding at least one million annual removals of illegal immigrants and&nbsp;<a href="https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2025/05/17/liberal-amnesty-group-inadvertently-makes-great-case-for-the-trumps-big-beautiful-bill-n2657204">ramping up</a>&nbsp;“mass deportation operations to a level never before seen in American history.”</li><li>It finishes President Trump’s border wall.&nbsp;As a result, 701 miles of primary wall, 900 miles of river barriers, 629 miles of secondary barriers, and 141 miles of vehicle and pedestrian barriers will be&nbsp;<a href="https://homeland.house.gov/2025/04/29/homeland-republicans-advance-funding-recommendations-to-continue-president-trumps-border-security-victory-bolster-frontline-personnel-for-years-to-come/">constructed</a>&nbsp;— stopping deadly fentanyl from flowing into our communities and securing the border from dangerous illegal immigrant murderers and rapists.</li><li>It boosts Border Patrol and ICE agents on the frontlines.&nbsp;It empowers immigration authorities to carry out their mission by hiring 10,000 new ICE personnel, 5,000 new customs officers, and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents — and gives $10,000 bonuses in each of the next four years to agents on the frontlines.</li><li>It protects Medicaid for Americans by kicking 1.4 million illegals off the benefits.&nbsp;This bill eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse by ending benefits for at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/05/15/democrat-messaging-falters-as-they-ask-constituents-to-foot-medicaid-costs-for-1-4-million-illegal-aliens/">1.4 million</a>&nbsp;illegal immigrants who are gaming the system.</li><li>It requires able-bodied Americans to work if they receive benefits.&nbsp;With 4.8 million able-bodied adults choosing not to work, The One, Big, Beautiful Bill puts work requirements in place and supports them as they find dignity through employment.</li><li>It reverses the spending curse plaguing Washington, D.C.&nbsp;The legislation delivers the largest deficit reduction in nearly 30 years, with&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/russvought/status/1923488257888879103">$1.6 trillion</a>&nbsp;in mandatory savings.</li><li>It ends taxpayer-funded sex change for minors.&nbsp;It&nbsp;<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/05_13_2025_FCMU_Memorandum_UPDATED_55a74a132a.pdf">reverses</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/issue-brief/the-biden-administrations-final-rule-on-section-1557-non-discrimination-regulations-under-the-aca/">Biden-era mandate</a>&nbsp;that Medicaid&nbsp;<a href="https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/31/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-advances-equality-and-visibility-for-transgender-americans/">cover</a>&nbsp;so-called “gender transition” procedures for minors — ending the taxpayer-funded chemical castration and mutilation of American children.</li><li>It provides historic tax relief to Social Security recipients.&nbsp;It slashes taxes on seniors’ Social Security benefits.</li><li>It will give Americans PERMANENT tax relief through the Trump Tax Cuts.&nbsp;If the bill doesn’t pass, Americans will see the largest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/04/heres-what-happens-if-trump-tax-cuts-arent-extended/">tax increase</a>&nbsp;in history.</li><li>It finally modernizes air traffic control, fulfilling President Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-unveils-plan-build-brand-new-state-art-air">plan</a>&nbsp;to completely&nbsp;<a href="https://transportation.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=408584">overhaul</a>&nbsp;the systems that keep Americans flying safely and efficiently.&nbsp;This will allow President Trump to update our air traffic control systems and act where the Biden Administration failed (despite repeated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-107001">warnings</a>).</li><li>It ends the taxpayer-funded Green New Scam.&nbsp;The legislation repeals or phases out every “green” corporate welfare subsidy in Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act,” immediately stops credits from flowing to China and saves taxpayers $500+ billion every year, and reverses electric vehicle mandates that let radical climate activists set the standards for American energy.</li><li>It incentivizes MADE IN AMERICA.&nbsp;It rewards companies that build their products in America with lower taxes — and allows Americans who buy an American-made vehicle to fully deduct their auto loan interest.</li><li>It is pro-family.&nbsp;The One, Big, Beautiful Bill increases the child tax credit, establishes MAGA Accounts for newborns to start saving, and strengthens paid family leave.</li><li>It repeals Democrats’ insane attack on the gig economy.&nbsp;It repeals the requirement that Venmo, PayPal, and other gig transactions over $600 be reported to the IRS.</li><li>It protects family farmers.&nbsp;The bill prevents the greedy death tax from hitting two million family-owned farms who would otherwise see their exemptions cut in half and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepJasonSmith/status/1924469450209636454">cuts taxes</a>&nbsp;on farmers by over $10 billion.</li><li>It’s a once-in-a-generation chance to revolutionize our nation’s defense capabilities and protect the homeland against new threats.&nbsp;It funds President Trump’s Golden Dome, invests in American shipbuilding, and modernizes our military.</li><li>It unleashes American energy dominance.&nbsp;The legislation increases onshore and offshore oil and gas leases, which provides certainty for energy producers, spurs job growth, and makes energy more affordable for American consumers.</li><li>It boosts American mineral development.&nbsp;This bill increases mining of domestic minerals and makes America less dependent on foreign adversaries for critical minerals.</li>
 </ol>

Kan. lawmaker calls on Congress to pass Trump's tax cut bill

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase and crash in Platte County, Missouri.

Just before 11:30a.m. Tuesday, Corporal Fugate with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle for improper registration around MO 45 Highway (NW 64th Street) and NW Klamm Road in southern Platte County, according to a media release.

 When the driver of the suspect vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated as the vehicle fled east on MO 45 Highway towards Interstate 29, reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. 

The driver of the suspect vehicle lost control and crashed near N Chatham Avenue. After crashing the vehicle, the driver ran from the crash scene. 

Witnesses reported seeing the male suspect throw a firearm under another vehicle as he ran.

.Deputies established a search perimeter of the area to contain the suspect who fled into the thick wooded area. Corporal Fugate deployed his canine (K-9) partner, Mattis, to assist in locating the suspect. 

Shortly after deploying the K-9 into the wooded area, the suspect was taken into custody after being found hiding in a crawlspace by a concrete culvert.

The vehicle crashed by the suspect had been previously reported stolen out of Kansas City, Missouri. 

Deputies recovered a semi-automatic handgun which had been thrown down by the suspect as well as a large amount of currency from the crash scene.

 A felony amount of narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia was also recovered from the stolen vehicle. The suspect was cleared medically at a local hospital and transported to the Platte County Detention Center where he was placed on a twenty-four-hour investigative hold pending the filing of charges by the Platte County Prosecutors Office

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase and crash in Platte County, Missouri.Just before 11:30a.m. Tuesday, Corporal Fugate with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle for improper registration around MO 45 Highway (NW 64th Street) and NW Klamm Road in southern Platte County, according to a media release. When the driver of the suspect vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated as the vehicle fled east on MO 45 Highway towards Interstate 29, reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. The driver of the suspect vehicle lost control and crashed near N Chatham Avenue. After crashing the vehicle, the driver ran from the crash scene. Witnesses reported seeing the male suspect throw a firearm under another vehicle as he ran..Deputies established a search perimeter of the area to contain the suspect who fled into the thick wooded area. Corporal Fugate deployed his canine (K-9) partner, Mattis, to assist in locating the suspect. Shortly after deploying the K-9 into the wooded area, the suspect was taken into custody after being found hiding in a crawlspace by a concrete culvert.The vehicle crashed by the suspect had been previously reported stolen out of Kansas City, Missouri. Deputies recovered a semi-automatic handgun which had been thrown down by the suspect as well as a large amount of currency from the crash scene. A felony amount of narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia was also recovered from the stolen vehicle. The suspect was cleared medically at a local hospital and transported to the Platte County Detention Center where he was placed on a twenty-four-hour investigative hold pending the filing of charges by the Platte County Prosecutors Office

Sheriff's K9 captures suspect after high-speed chase, crash

KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a large auto auction lot in Kansas City.

Just after midnight on Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported car fire in the 3900 block of N. Skiles at the Manheim Auto Auction, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 On arrival crews reported multiple cars on fire in a rear lot of the property. Multiple pumpers had to be called to the scene to get the fires under control due to the distance from the street and hydrant accessibility. 

In total approximately 25 cars burned. The fire was placed under control at 01:52 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD. No injuries were reported

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747773102324.png" alt="A view of the Manheim Auto Auction location -image courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>A view of the Manheim Auto Auction location -image courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a large auto auction lot in Kansas City. Just after midnight on Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported car fire in the 3900 block of N. Skiles at the Manheim Auto Auction, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. On arrival crews reported multiple cars on fire in a rear lot of the property. Multiple pumpers had to be called to the scene to get the fires under control due to the distance from the street and hydrant accessibility. In total approximately 25 cars burned. The fire was placed under control at 01:52 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD. No injuries were reported

Over 2 dozen cars destroyed in KC auto auction fire

GOVE COUNTY—The tornado that damaged or destroyed more than a dozen homes in Grinnell on Sunday had peak winds of 140mph, according to the National Weather Service in Goodland.

The weather service survey team on Tuesday upgraded the strength of the storm to an EF3 tornado. It's path of destruction was 230 yards wide.

The tornado also caused damage to both the electric and gas systems in the the community and downed 15 power poles.&nbsp; Although several families are displaced, there were no injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747792376470.png" alt="Storm damage photo office of Senator Roger Marshall" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage photo office of Senator Roger Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>GOVE COUNTY—The tornado that damaged or destroyed more than a dozen homes in Grinnell on Sunday had peak winds of 140mph, according to the National Weather Service in Goodland.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KSWX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KSWX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NEWX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NEWX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COWX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COWX</a> Preliminary damage survey for Grinnell Kansas has been released. <a href="https://t.co/S4O6AfhBcT">pic.twitter.com/S4O6AfhBcT</a>&mdash; NWS Goodland (@NWSGoodland) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSGoodland/status/1925201678757732361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The weather service survey team on Tuesday upgraded the strength of the storm to an EF3 tornado. It's path of destruction was 230 yards wide.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747706871776.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The tornado also caused damage to both the electric and gas systems in the the community and downed 15 power poles.&nbsp; Although several families are displaced, there were no injuries.

NWS says Grinnell tornado winds peaked at 140 mph

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has announced the concept he wants for his future&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-dome-missile-defense-trump-16cb94047bfdd7c2c55c5e099e40f74f">Golden Dome missile defense program</a>&nbsp;— a multilayered, $175 billion system that for the first time will put U.S. weapons in space.

Speaking Tuesday from the Oval Office, Trump said he expects the system will be “fully operational before the end of my term," which ends in 2029, and have the capability of intercepting missiles “even if they are launched from space.”

It's likelier that the complex system may have some initial capability by that point, a U.S. official familiar with the program said.

Trump, seated next to a poster showing the continental U.S. painted gold and with artistic depictions of missile interceptions, also announced that Gen. Michael Guetlein, who currently serves as the vice chief of space operations, will be responsible for overseeing Golden Dome's progress.

Golden Dome is envisioned to include ground- and space-based capabilities that are able to detect and stop missiles at all four major stages of a potential attack: detecting and destroying them before a launch, intercepting them in their earliest stage of flight, stopping them midcourse in the air, or halting them in the final minutes as they descend toward a target.

For the last several months, Pentagon planners have been developing options — which the U.S. official described as medium, high and “extra high” choices, based on their cost — that include space-based interceptors. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to detail plans that have not been made public.

The difference in the three versions is largely based on how many satellites and sensors — and for the first time, space-based interceptors — would be purchased.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated this month that just the space-based components of the Golden Dome could cost as much as $542 billion over the next 20 years. Trump has requested an initial $25 billion for the program in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-cuts-125ad670515460108ded062029abd8c8">proposed tax break bill</a>&nbsp;now moving through Congress.

The Pentagon has warned for years that the newest missiles developed by China and Russia are so advanced that updated countermeasures are necessary. Golden Dome's added satellites and interceptors — where the bulk of the program's cost is — would be focused on stopping those advanced missiles early on or in the middle of their flight.

The space-based weapons envisioned for Golden Dome “represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations,” Gen. Chance Saltzman, head of the U.S. Space Force, told lawmakers at a hearing Tuesday.

China and Russia have put offensive weapons in space, such as satellites with abilities to disable critical U.S. satellites, which can make the U.S. vulnerable to attack.

Last year, the U.S. said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-anti-satellite-weapon-threat-technology-2880f9c55122dcafe87188bc92dd6cde">Russia was developing a space-based nuclear weapon</a>&nbsp;that could loiter in space for long durations, then release a burst that would take out satellites around it.

Trump said Tuesday that he had not yet spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Golden Dome program, “but at the right time, we will,” he told reporters at the White House.

There is no money for the project yet, and Golden Dome overall is “still in the conceptual stage,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-force-military-senate-confirm-secretary-6c0d6a074ab9df71a05e6fef44130645">newly confirmed Air Force Secretary</a>&nbsp;Troy Meink told senators during a hearing Tuesday.

While the president picked the concept he wanted, the Pentagon is still developing the requirements that Golden Dome will need to meet — which is not the way new systems are normally developed.

The Pentagon and U.S. Northern Command are still drafting what is known as an initial capabilities document, the U.S. official said. That is how Northern Command, which is responsible for homeland defense, identifies what it will need the system to do.

The U.S. already has many missile defense capabilities, such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-patriot-missile-system-explainer-b16125509161de8a7a3b4c38022534c7">Patriot missile batteries</a>&nbsp;that the U.S. has provided to Ukraine to defend against incoming missiles as well as an array of satellites in orbit to detect missile launches. Some of those existing systems will be incorporated into Golden Dome.

Trump directed the Pentagon to pursue the space-based interceptors in an executive order during the first week of his presidency.

Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed reporting.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has announced the concept he wants for his future&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/golden-dome-missile-defense-trump-16cb94047bfdd7c2c55c5e099e40f74f">Golden Dome missile defense program</a>&nbsp;— a multilayered, $175 billion system that for the first time will put U.S. weapons in space.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> announces that he has officially selected an architecture for the &#39;Golden Dome&#39; missile defense shield. &quot;Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Ddmo7K16zJ">pic.twitter.com/Ddmo7K16zJ</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1924920877872722340?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 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/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#39; announcement on the construction of the Golden Dome: &quot;Add this to the long and growing list of promises made and promises kept... It&#39;s a generational investment in the security of America and Americans.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/i5oJGGG7d6">pic.twitter.com/i5oJGGG7d6</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1924921352516956182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 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/SpaceForceDoD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceForceDoD</a> Gen. Michael Guetlein, who <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> appointed to oversee Golden Dome development: &quot;Golden Dome is a bold and aggressive approach to hurry up and protect the homeland from our adversaries. We owe it to our children and our children&#39;s children to protect them.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gJpbQ1FUlO">pic.twitter.com/gJpbQ1FUlO</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1924922235371790514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 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/SenKevinCramer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenKevinCramer</a> on the Golden Dome: &quot;The new autonomous Space Age defense ecosystem is more about Silicon Valley than it is about Big Metal. What&#39;s exciting about this is it makes it available to everybody to participate... big companies, mid-sized companies, small companies.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VBwADsH5Ss">pic.twitter.com/VBwADsH5Ss</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1924925656434942315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaking Tuesday from the Oval Office, Trump said he expects the system will be “fully operational before the end of my term," which ends in 2029, and have the capability of intercepting missiles “even if they are launched from space.”It's likelier that the complex system may have some initial capability by that point, a U.S. official familiar with the program said.Trump, seated next to a poster showing the continental U.S. painted gold and with artistic depictions of missile interceptions, also announced that Gen. Michael Guetlein, who currently serves as the vice chief of space operations, will be responsible for overseeing Golden Dome's progress.Golden Dome is envisioned to include ground- and space-based capabilities that are able to detect and stop missiles at all four major stages of a potential attack: detecting and destroying them before a launch, intercepting them in their earliest stage of flight, stopping them midcourse in the air, or halting them in the final minutes as they descend toward a target.For the last several months, Pentagon planners have been developing options — which the U.S. official described as medium, high and “extra high” choices, based on their cost — that include space-based interceptors. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to detail plans that have not been made public.The difference in the three versions is largely based on how many satellites and sensors — and for the first time, space-based interceptors — would be purchased.The Congressional Budget Office estimated this month that just the space-based components of the Golden Dome could cost as much as $542 billion over the next 20 years. Trump has requested an initial $25 billion for the program in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-cuts-125ad670515460108ded062029abd8c8">proposed tax break bill</a>&nbsp;now moving through Congress.The Pentagon has warned for years that the newest missiles developed by China and Russia are so advanced that updated countermeasures are necessary. Golden Dome's added satellites and interceptors — where the bulk of the program's cost is — would be focused on stopping those advanced missiles early on or in the middle of their flight.The space-based weapons envisioned for Golden Dome “represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations,” Gen. Chance Saltzman, head of the U.S. Space Force, told lawmakers at a hearing Tuesday.China and Russia have put offensive weapons in space, such as satellites with abilities to disable critical U.S. satellites, which can make the U.S. vulnerable to attack.Last year, the U.S. said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-anti-satellite-weapon-threat-technology-2880f9c55122dcafe87188bc92dd6cde">Russia was developing a space-based nuclear weapon</a>&nbsp;that could loiter in space for long durations, then release a burst that would take out satellites around it.Trump said Tuesday that he had not yet spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Golden Dome program, “but at the right time, we will,” he told reporters at the White House.There is no money for the project yet, and Golden Dome overall is “still in the conceptual stage,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-force-military-senate-confirm-secretary-6c0d6a074ab9df71a05e6fef44130645">newly confirmed Air Force Secretary</a>&nbsp;Troy Meink told senators during a hearing Tuesday.While the president picked the concept he wanted, the Pentagon is still developing the requirements that Golden Dome will need to meet — which is not the way new systems are normally developed.The Pentagon and U.S. Northern Command are still drafting what is known as an initial capabilities document, the U.S. official said. That is how Northern Command, which is responsible for homeland defense, identifies what it will need the system to do.The U.S. already has many missile defense capabilities, such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-patriot-missile-system-explainer-b16125509161de8a7a3b4c38022534c7">Patriot missile batteries</a>&nbsp;that the U.S. has provided to Ukraine to defend against incoming missiles as well as an array of satellites in orbit to detect missile launches. Some of those existing systems will be incorporated into Golden Dome.Trump directed the Pentagon to pursue the space-based interceptors in an executive order during the first week of his presidency.___Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed reporting.

Trump unveils plans for ‘Golden Dome’ missile defense system

JOHNSON COUNTY—A man injured in an accident that occurred just after 5p.m. April 20 in Johnson County has died.&nbsp;

According to Overland Park Police a vehicle was eastbound on W. 143rd Street at King Street. The vehicle struck a northbound vehicle driven by 86-year-old Jacob Webb of Shawnee Kansas, who was attempting to make a left turn onto westbound W. 143rd Street from King Street.&nbsp; EMS transported Webb to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

On Tuesday, the Johnson County Medical Examiner notified the Overland Park Police Mr. Webb had died due to injuries from the crash.

The crash is still under investigation. Anyone with additional information, please contact the Overland Park Traffic Unit at 913-327-6731. 

JOHNSON COUNTY—A man injured in an accident that occurred just after 5p.m. April 20 in Johnson County has died.&nbsp;According to Overland Park Police a vehicle was eastbound on W. 143rd Street at King Street. The vehicle struck a northbound vehicle driven by 86-year-old Jacob Webb of Shawnee Kansas, who was attempting to make a left turn onto westbound W. 143rd Street from King Street.&nbsp; EMS transported Webb to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries.On Tuesday, the Johnson County Medical Examiner notified the Overland Park Police Mr. Webb had died due to injuries from the crash.The crash is still under investigation. Anyone with additional information, please contact the Overland Park Traffic Unit at 913-327-6731.

86-year-old Kan. man dies from injuries a month after crash

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer</a>

U.S. health officials are investigating a new outbreak of salmonella illnesses tied to a Florida grower whose tainted cucumbers were linked to more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salmonella-cucumbers-outbreak-florida-water-fccb66a1e0733fc97d29065e287052bc">550 illnesses last year.</a>

Cucumbers grown by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales have been linked to illnesses in at least 26 people <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bedner-growers-inc-recalls-cucumbers-because-possible-health-risk">in 15 states including Kansas,</a> the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported late Monday. At least nine people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.

The cucumbers were sold to restaurants, stores and food service distributors between April 29 and May 19 and may still be within their shelf life this week. Illnesses were reported between April 2 and April 28, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The outbreak was detected as part of a follow-up inspection in April to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salmonella-cucumbers-recall-a0a479fa6002c7e3b99a705e18f40cdf">2024 outbreak</a>&nbsp;that sickened 551 people and led to 155 hospitalizations in 34 states and Washington, D.C. In that outbreak, investigators found salmonella bacteria linked to many of the illnesses in untreated canal water used at farms operated by Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company.

In the current outbreak, officials found salmonella bacteria from samples on the farm that matched samples from people who got sick.

Health officials are investigating where the potentially contaminated cucumbers were distributed. Several people who fell ill ate cucumbers on cruise ships leaving ports in Florida, according to the CDC. Organic cucumbers are not affected, officials said.

Retailers should notify consumers who may have bought the tainted produce. If consumers don't know the source of cucumbers, they should throw them away, officials said.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick recover within a week. Infections can be severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who may require hospitalization.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747793441919.png" alt="USDA image" />
 <figcaption>USDA image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer</a>U.S. health officials are investigating a new outbreak of salmonella illnesses tied to a Florida grower whose tainted cucumbers were linked to more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salmonella-cucumbers-outbreak-florida-water-fccb66a1e0733fc97d29065e287052bc">550 illnesses last year.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747824054573.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Cucumbers grown by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales have been linked to illnesses in at least 26 people <a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/bedner-growers-inc-recalls-cucumbers-because-possible-health-risk">in 15 states including Kansas,</a> the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported late Monday. At least nine people have been hospitalized; no deaths have been reported.The cucumbers were sold to restaurants, stores and food service distributors between April 29 and May 19 and may still be within their shelf life this week. Illnesses were reported between April 2 and April 28, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The outbreak was detected as part of a follow-up inspection in April to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/salmonella-cucumbers-recall-a0a479fa6002c7e3b99a705e18f40cdf">2024 outbreak</a>&nbsp;that sickened 551 people and led to 155 hospitalizations in 34 states and Washington, D.C. In that outbreak, investigators found salmonella bacteria linked to many of the illnesses in untreated canal water used at farms operated by Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company.In the current outbreak, officials found salmonella bacteria from samples on the farm that matched samples from people who got sick.Health officials are investigating where the potentially contaminated cucumbers were distributed. Several people who fell ill ate cucumbers on cruise ships leaving ports in Florida, according to the CDC. Organic cucumbers are not affected, officials said.Retailers should notify consumers who may have bought the tainted produce. If consumers don't know the source of cucumbers, they should throw them away, officials said.Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick recover within a week. Infections can be severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who may require hospitalization.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Salmonella outbreak: Recall of cucumbers linked to illness in Kansas

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man is going to prison for a fatal stabbing.

Last week Phillip R. Lacy was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a fatal stabbing that took place in 2023, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson

Lacy pled guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter and Armed Criminal Action. He was sentenced to 15 years for Voluntary Manslaughter and three years for Armed Criminal Action, for a total of 18 years in prison.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2620/Phillip-Lacy-Statement-of-Probable-Cause_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched on November 10, 2023, to 24th Street and Cypress Avenue and found the victim. He was later declared deceased at a local hospital.&nbsp;

Based on witness reports, Lacy was smoking methamphetamine and then engaged in an altercation with the victim in an abandoned building. During the altercation, Lacy produced a screwdriver and began stabbing the victim.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747509660446.png" alt="Lacy photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Lacy photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man is going to prison for a fatal stabbing.Last week Phillip R. Lacy was sentenced to 18 years in prison for a fatal stabbing that took place in 2023, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa JohnsonLacy pled guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter and Armed Criminal Action. He was sentenced to 15 years for Voluntary Manslaughter and three years for Armed Criminal Action, for a total of 18 years in prison.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2620/Phillip-Lacy-Statement-of-Probable-Cause_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched on November 10, 2023, to 24th Street and Cypress Avenue and found the victim. He was later declared deceased at a local hospital.&nbsp;Based on witness reports, Lacy was smoking methamphetamine and then engaged in an altercation with the victim in an abandoned building. During the altercation, Lacy produced a screwdriver and began stabbing the victim.&nbsp;

Kansas City man admits to killing victim with a screwdriver

GEARY COUNTY —A Kansas woman involved in an alleged domestic incident involving a Junction City City commissioner&nbsp;

During a Geary County District Court hearing Monday, 26-year-old Corrieyonna Trice entered a not guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of Domestic Battery involving Commissioner 30-year-old Alovence Gordon with whom she lived.

A jury trial was scheduled for September 15 in the case.

Trice was charged following the alleged incident involving Gordon. He too faces one misdemeanor count of Domestic Battery with arraignment scheduled on June 2.

On January 23, police were called to their home. Trice had earlier testified about a fight with Gordon revolving around hair clips that she had laid out to do her hair. The clips wound up in a shopping bag carried by Gordon with a dispute over who had initially possessed the clips. 

Earlier this month, the court denied a defense motion for immunity from prosecution by Gordon in the case.&nbsp;

Gordon and Trice had been in a relationship for nearly seven years.&nbsp; Both were released from custody on own recognizance, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753585186.jpeg" alt="Alovence Gordon photo Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Alovence Gordon photo Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY —A Kansas woman involved in an alleged domestic incident involving a Junction City City commissioner&nbsp;During a Geary County District Court hearing Monday, 26-year-old Corrieyonna Trice entered a not guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of Domestic Battery involving Commissioner 30-year-old Alovence Gordon with whom she lived.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737753680992.jpeg" alt="Corrieyonna Trice photo Geary Co." />
 <figcaption>Corrieyonna Trice photo Geary Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A jury trial was scheduled for September 15 in the case.Trice was charged following the alleged incident involving Gordon. He too faces one misdemeanor count of Domestic Battery with arraignment scheduled on June 2.On January 23, police were called to their home. Trice had earlier testified about a fight with Gordon revolving around hair clips that she had laid out to do her hair. The clips wound up in a shopping bag carried by Gordon with a dispute over who had initially possessed the clips. Earlier this month, the court denied a defense motion for immunity from prosecution by Gordon in the case.&nbsp;Gordon and Trice had been in a relationship for nearly seven years.&nbsp; Both were released from custody on own recognizance, according to online jail records.

Kan. woman enters plea in alleged fight over hair clips

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/meg-kinnard">MEG KINNARD</a> Associated Press

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says the&nbsp;<a href="https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-i/clauses/763" target="_blank">constitutional provision</a>&nbsp;that allows people to legally challenge their detention by the government is actually a tool the Trump administration can use in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-enforcement-deportation-public-polling-df7d0d35dfa031e1444bfa9e9e0b13bd">broader crackdown</a>&nbsp;at the U.S.-Mexico border. She called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/habeas_corpus" target="_blank">habeas corpus</a>&nbsp;“a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country and suspend their rights.”

Noem, testifying before a congressional committee Tuesday, gave that response when asked by Sen. Maggie Hassan to define the legal concept.

“That’s incorrect,” the New Hampshire Democrat swiftly interrupted Noem, defining the “legal principle that requires that the government provide a public reason for detaining and imprisoning people.” Hassan, a former attorney who practiced in Boston, went on to call habeas corpus “the foundational right that separates free societies like America from police states like North Korea.”

The back and forth follows comments by White House deputy chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stephen-miller">Stephen Miller</a>, who said earlier this month that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is looking for ways to expand his administration’s legal power to deport migrants who are in the United States illegally. To achieve that, Miller said the administration is “actively looking at” suspending habeas corpus.

The Latin term means, literally, “you have the body.” Federal courts use a writ of habeas corpus to bring a prisoner before a neutral judge to determine if imprisonment is legal.

Habeas corpus was included in the Constitution as an import from English common law. Parliament enacted the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, which was meant to ensure that the king released prisoners when the law did not justify confining them.

The Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C2-1/ALDE_00001087/" target="_blank">Suspension Clause</a>, the second clause of Section 9 of Article I, states that habeas corpus “shall not be suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.”

Yes. The United States has suspended habeas corpus under four distinct circumstances during its history. Those usually involved authorization from Congress, something that would be nearly impossible today — even at Trump’s urging — given the narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate.

President Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus multiple times during the Civil War, beginning in 1861 to detain suspected spies and Confederate sympathizers. He ignored a ruling from Roger Taney, the Supreme Court ‘s chief justice. Congress then authorized suspending it in 1863, which allowed Lincoln to do so again.

Congress acted similarly under President Ulysses S. Grant, suspending habeas corpus in parts of South Carolina under the Civil Rights Act of 1871. Also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, it was meant to counter violence and intimidation by groups that opposed Reconstruction in the South.

Habeas corpus was suspended in two provinces of the Philippines in 1905, when it was a U.S. territory and authorities were worried about the threat of an insurrection, and in Hawaii after the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor but before it became a state in 1959.

Writing before becoming a Supreme Court justice,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/amy-coney-barrett">Amy Coney Barrett</a>&nbsp;co-authored&nbsp;<a href="https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-i/clauses/763" target="_blank">a piece</a>&nbsp;stating that the Suspension Clause “does not specify which branch of government has the authority to suspend the privilege of the writ, but most agree that only Congress can do it.”

What has the Trump administration said about suspending it?

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/meg-kinnard">MEG KINNARD</a> Associated PressHomeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says the&nbsp;<a href="https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-i/clauses/763" target="_blank">constitutional provision</a>&nbsp;that allows people to legally challenge their detention by the government is actually a tool the Trump administration can use in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-enforcement-deportation-public-polling-df7d0d35dfa031e1444bfa9e9e0b13bd">broader crackdown</a>&nbsp;at the U.S.-Mexico border. She called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/habeas_corpus" target="_blank">habeas corpus</a>&nbsp;“a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country and suspend their rights.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">HASSAN: What is habeas corpus? NOEM: Habeas corpus is a constitutional right that the president has to be able to remove people from this country HASSAN: That&#39;s incorrect <a href="https://t.co/ozRVVfdSoP">pic.twitter.com/ozRVVfdSoP</a>&mdash; Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1924831221814636632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Noem, testifying before a congressional committee Tuesday, gave that response when asked by Sen. Maggie Hassan to define the legal concept.“That’s incorrect,” the New Hampshire Democrat swiftly interrupted Noem, defining the “legal principle that requires that the government provide a public reason for detaining and imprisoning people.” Hassan, a former attorney who practiced in Boston, went on to call habeas corpus “the foundational right that separates free societies like America from police states like North Korea.”The back and forth follows comments by White House deputy chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stephen-miller">Stephen Miller</a>, who said earlier this month that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is looking for ways to expand his administration’s legal power to deport migrants who are in the United States illegally. To achieve that, Miller said the administration is “actively looking at” suspending habeas corpus.The Latin term means, literally, “you have the body.” Federal courts use a writ of habeas corpus to bring a prisoner before a neutral judge to determine if imprisonment is legal.Habeas corpus was included in the Constitution as an import from English common law. Parliament enacted the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, which was meant to ensure that the king released prisoners when the law did not justify confining them.The Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C2-1/ALDE_00001087/" target="_blank">Suspension Clause</a>, the second clause of Section 9 of Article I, states that habeas corpus “shall not be suspended, unless when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.”<h2>Has it been suspended previously?</h2>Yes. The United States has suspended habeas corpus under four distinct circumstances during its history. Those usually involved authorization from Congress, something that would be nearly impossible today — even at Trump’s urging — given the narrow Republican majorities in the House and Senate.President Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus multiple times during the Civil War, beginning in 1861 to detain suspected spies and Confederate sympathizers. He ignored a ruling from Roger Taney, the Supreme Court ‘s chief justice. Congress then authorized suspending it in 1863, which allowed Lincoln to do so again.Congress acted similarly under President Ulysses S. Grant, suspending habeas corpus in parts of South Carolina under the Civil Rights Act of 1871. Also known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, it was meant to counter violence and intimidation by groups that opposed Reconstruction in the South.Habeas corpus was suspended in two provinces of the Philippines in 1905, when it was a U.S. territory and authorities were worried about the threat of an insurrection, and in Hawaii after the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor but before it became a state in 1959.Writing before becoming a Supreme Court justice,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/amy-coney-barrett">Amy Coney Barrett</a>&nbsp;co-authored&nbsp;<a href="https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-i/clauses/763" target="_blank">a piece</a>&nbsp;stating that the Suspension Clause “does not specify which branch of government has the authority to suspend the privilege of the writ, but most agree that only Congress can do it.”<h2>What has the Trump administration said about suspending it?</h2>Miller has said the administration is considering trying.“The Constitution is clear, and that of course is the supreme law of the land, that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus can be suspended in a time of invasion,” he told reporters outside the White House on May 9.“So, I would say that’s an option we’re actively looking at,” Miller said. “Look, a lot of it depends on whether the courts do the right thing or not.”Asked by Hassan on Tuesday if she supported the provision, Noem said she did, adding that “the president of the United States has the authority under the Constitution to decide if it should be suspended or not.”Hassan, who responded by saying that even Lincoln had obtained “retroactive approval” from Congress, then asked Noem if she would follow a court order overturning a theoretical suspension of habeas corpus, or if she would follow Trump’s decision.Noem said she was “following all court orders ... as is the president,” prompting Hassan to say “that is obviously not true for anybody who reads the news.”John Blume, a professor at Cornell Law School, said Noem’s response to Hassan was either evidence that she “fundamentally misunderstands habeas corpus” or “was giving an answer she knew was wrong to appease the president.”Should the administration argue that the constitutional provision should be suspended due to what Trump officials have characterized as an “invasion” by migrants, Blume said he felt such a position would be “very unlikely to fly” with the U.S. Supreme Court.<h2>Could the Trump administration do it?</h2>It can try. Miller suggested that the U.S. is facing an “invasion” of migrants. That term was used deliberately, though any effort to suspend habeas corpus would spark legal challenges questioning whether the country was in fact facing an invasion, let alone one that presented extraordinary threats to public safety.Federal judges have so far been skeptical of the Trump administration’s past efforts to use extraordinary powers to make deportations easier, and that could make suspending habeas corpus even tougher.Trump argued in March that the United States was facing an “invasion” of Venezuelan gang members and evoked the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">Alien Enemies Act of 1798</a>, a wartime authority he has tried to use to speed up mass deportations. His administration acted to swiftly deport alleged members of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-venezuela-tren-de-aragua-gabbard-d818cc58962ba90cd2c94ca1b494d4fd">Tren de Aragua</a>&nbsp;to a notorious&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">prison in El Salvador</a>, leading to a series of legal fights.Federal courts around the country, including in New York, Colorado, Texas and Pennsylvania, have since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-act-judge-ruling-f1988c63140c95f8228b42368caed96b">blocked the administration’s uses</a>&nbsp;of the Alien Enemies Act for many reasons, including by raising questions about whether the country is truly facing an invasion.<h2>If courts are already skeptical, how could habeas corpus be suspended?</h2>Miller, who has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-courts-judges-rule-of-law-85058a5ffcef105d4ea2ce0ef078f084">fiercely critical</a>&nbsp;of judges ruling against the administration, advanced the argument that the judicial branch may not get to decide.“Congress passed a body of law known as the Immigration Nationality Act which stripped Article III courts, that’s the judicial branch, of jurisdiction over immigration cases,” he said earlier this month.That statute was approved by Congress in 1952 and there were important amendments in 1996 and 2005. Legal scholars note that it does contain language that could funnel certain cases to immigration courts, which are overseen by the executive branch.Still, most appeals in those cases would largely be handled by the judicial branch, and they could run into the same issues as Trump’s attempts to use the Alien Enemies Act.The U.S. system of government is divided into three branches: executive (the president), legislative (Congress) and judicial (the courts).<h2>Have other administrations tried this?</h2>Technically not since Pearl Harbor, though habeas corpus has been at the center of some major legal challenges more recently than that.Republican President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-george-w-bush-paintings-exhibit-38c9e923ec84bd2b3c55be21a2d1f100">George W. Bush</a>&nbsp;did not move to suspend habeas corpus after the Sept. 11 attacks, but his administration subsequently sent detainees to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, drawing lawsuits from advocates who argued the administration was violating it and other legal constitutional protections.In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled that Guantanamo detainees had a constitutional right to habeas corpus, allowing them to challenge their detention before a judge. That led to some detainees being released.___Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Mark Sherman contributed to this report.