SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating the death of two at a. home in Shawnee County.

Just before&nbsp;10 a.m. Wednesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call and deputies responded for a welfare check on a woman in the 6700 block of SW Briarmeade Lane, in the Montara Subdivision, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Deputies discovered two individuals deceased from gunshot wounds. The preliminary investigation indicates the incident was domestic in nature.

At this time, investigators believe all parties involved have been identified, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.

The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Shawnee Heights Fire Department assisted at the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756340120852.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating the death of two at a. home in Shawnee County.Just before&nbsp;10 a.m. Wednesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call and deputies responded for a welfare check on a woman in the 6700 block of SW Briarmeade Lane, in the Montara Subdivision, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.Deputies discovered two individuals deceased from gunshot wounds. The preliminary investigation indicates the incident was domestic in nature.At this time, investigators believe all parties involved have been identified, and there is no ongoing threat to the community.The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Shawnee Heights Fire Department assisted at the scene.

Sheriff: 2 dead after shooting, standoff at Kansas home

The Powerball® jackpot is closing in on the billion-dollar mark. The Powerball jackpot is now estimated at $950 million for the next drawing on Saturday night,&nbsp;according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $428.9 million.

Saturday’s jackpot ranks as the game’s sixth-largest prize and the biggest advertised jackpot in more than a year.

The Powerball jackpot rolled after no ticket matched all six number drawn Wednesday night – white balls 9, 12, 22, 41, 61 and red Powerball 25. The Power Play® multiplier was 4.

Six tickets won prizes worth $1 million or more in Wednesday's Powerball drawing, after matching all five white balls. The $1 million-winning tickets were sold in Arizona, New York and Virginia. Three tickets in Mississippi, Ohio and Virginia increased their winnings to $2 million by including the Power Play option for $1 more.

There were also 40 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and ten tickets that won $200,000 prizes.

In the Double Play® drawing, a ticket in South Dakota won a $500,000 prize after matching all five black balls. Double Play® is a $1 add-on feature that allows players to play their Powerball numbers, again, in a separate drawing for a chance to win up to $10 million. Double Play drawings are live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>&nbsp;after the main drawing.

Saturday’s Powerball drawing will be the 39th drawing since the jackpot was last won in California on May 31, 2025.

If a player wins Saturday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $950 million or a lump sum payment estimated at $428.9 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.

Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $36 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.

Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on Powerball.com.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

The Powerball® jackpot is closing in on the billion-dollar mark. The Powerball jackpot is now estimated at $950 million for the next drawing on Saturday night,&nbsp;according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. The jackpot has an estimated cash value of $428.9 million.Saturday’s jackpot ranks as the game’s sixth-largest prize and the biggest advertised jackpot in more than a year.The Powerball jackpot rolled after no ticket matched all six number drawn Wednesday night – white balls 9, 12, 22, 41, 61 and red Powerball 25. The Power Play® multiplier was 4.Six tickets won prizes worth $1 million or more in Wednesday's Powerball drawing, after matching all five white balls. The $1 million-winning tickets were sold in Arizona, New York and Virginia. Three tickets in Mississippi, Ohio and Virginia increased their winnings to $2 million by including the Power Play option for $1 more.There were also 40 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and ten tickets that won $200,000 prizes.In the Double Play® drawing, a ticket in South Dakota won a $500,000 prize after matching all five black balls. Double Play® is a $1 add-on feature that allows players to play their Powerball numbers, again, in a separate drawing for a chance to win up to $10 million. Double Play drawings are live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>&nbsp;after the main drawing.Saturday’s Powerball drawing will be the 39th drawing since the jackpot was last won in California on May 31, 2025.If a player wins Saturday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $950 million or a lump sum payment estimated at $428.9 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $36 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on Powerball.com.The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.Top Ten Powerball® Jackpots<ol>
 <li>$2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA</li><li>$1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 - CA</li><li>$1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN</li><li>$1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 - OR</li><li>$1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA</li><li>$950 Million (estimated) – Aug. 30, 2025</li><li>$842.4 Million – January 1, 2024 – MI</li><li>$768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI</li><li>$758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA</li><li>$754.6 Million – Feb. 6, 2023 - WA</li>
 </ol>

Powerball closing in on billion-dollar mark

SEDGWICK COUNTY — An inmate who admitted throwing scalding water on a Kansas jail deputy learned his fate Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Judge Chrystal Krier sentenced 21-year-old James Chavez to an additional 69 months in jail, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

 In July Chavez entered a guilty plea to charges of aggravated battery.

On April 14, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy suffered serious burns after an inmate identified as Chavez launched a targeted attack inside the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.

The incident happened while the deputy was speaking with inmates in a housing pod.&nbsp; Chavez obtained a pot of boiling water and threw it on the deputy, causing second and third-degree burns to the back part of his body.

Sedgwick County EMS transported the deputy to a local hospital, where he was admitted to the Burn Unit. The 30-year-old deputy who has served with the Sheriff’s Office for nearly two years was expected to make a full recovery.

Chavez was originally booked into the detention facility in March 2024 on pending juvenile charges and later faced an additional charge for trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. He has had 39 documented disciplinary incidents since entering the facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744743778023.png" alt="Chavez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Chavez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — An inmate who admitted throwing scalding water on a Kansas jail deputy learned his fate Wednesday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Judge Chrystal Krier sentenced 21-year-old James Chavez to an additional 69 months in jail, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In July Chavez entered a guilty plea to charges of aggravated battery.On April 14, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy suffered serious burns after an inmate identified as Chavez launched a targeted attack inside the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.The incident happened while the deputy was speaking with inmates in a housing pod.&nbsp; Chavez obtained a pot of boiling water and threw it on the deputy, causing second and third-degree burns to the back part of his body.Sedgwick County EMS transported the deputy to a local hospital, where he was admitted to the Burn Unit. The 30-year-old deputy who has served with the Sheriff’s Office for nearly two years was expected to make a full recovery.Chavez was originally booked into the detention facility in March 2024 on pending juvenile charges and later faced an additional charge for trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. He has had 39 documented disciplinary incidents since entering the facility.

Prisoner who threw scalding water on Kan. jail deputy learns his fate

RICHFIELD, Minn. (AP) — Just hours after a shooter opened fire through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis, killing two children and wounding 17 people, hundreds crowded inside a nearby school’s gym, clutching one another and wiping away tears during a vigil alongside Gov. Tim Walz and clergy members.

Speaking to a silent crowd crammed shoulder-to-shoulder Wednesday night, while hundreds more waited outside, Archbishop Bernard Hebda described the students trying to shield their classmates as the gunfire erupted.

“In the midst of that there was courage, there was bravery, but most especially there was love,” he said at the Academy of Holy Angels, about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) south of the shooting, in the suburb of Richfield.

Armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, 23-year-old Robin Westman shot dozens of rounds Wednesday morning toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at news conferences. The shooter then died by suicide, he said.

The children who died were 8 and 10. Fourteen other kids and three octogenarian parishioners were wounded but expected to survive, the chief said.

Rev. Dennis Zehren, who was inside the church with the nearly 200 children, said they were almost to the end of the Responsorial Psalm, which speaks about light in the darkness. That's when he heard someone yell, “Down down, everybody down," and the gunshots started.

Fifth-grader Weston Halsne told reporters he ducked for the pews, covering his head, shielded by a friend who was lying on top of him. His friend was hit, he said.

“I was super scared for him, but I think now he’s OK,” the 10-year-old said.

Police investigate motive for the shooting

FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that the shooting is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.

O’Hara said police hadn’t yet found any relationship between the shooter and the church, nor determined a motive for the bloodshed. The chief said, however, that investigators were examining a social media post that appeared to show the shooter at the scene.

O’Hara, who gave the wounded youngsters’ ages as 6 to 15, said a wooden plank was placed to barricade some of the side doors, and that authorities found a smoke bomb at the scene.

On a YouTube channel titled Robin W, the alleged shooter released at least two videos before the channel was taken down Wednesday. In one, the alleged shooter shows a cache of weapons and ammunition, some with such phrases as “kill Donald Trump” and “Where is your God?” written on them.

A second video shows the alleged shooter pointing to two outside windows in what appears to be a drawing of the church, and then stabbing it with a long knife.

Westman’s uncle, former Kentucky state lawmaker Bob Heleringer, said he did not know the accused shooter well and was confounded by the "unspeakable tragedy.”

The police chief said Westman did not have an extensive known criminal history and is believed to have acted alone.

Federal officials referred to Westman as transgender, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey decried hatred being directed at “our transgender community.” Westman’s gender identity wasn’t clear. In 2020, a judge approved a petition, signed by Westman’s mother, asking for a name change from Robert to Robin, saying the petitioner “identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification.”

Police chief says officers rescued children who hid

The police chief said officers immediately responded to reports of the shooting, entered the church, rendered first aid and rescued some of the children.

Annunciation's principal Matt DeBoer said teachers and children, too, responded heroically.

“Children were ducked down. Adults were protecting children. Older children were protecting younger children,” he said.

Vincent Francoual said his 11-year-old daughter, Chloe, survived the shooting by running downstairs to hide in a room with a table pressed against the door. But he still isn't sure exactly how she escaped because she is struggling to communicate clearly about the traumatizing scene.

“She told us today that she thought she was going to die,” he said.

Walz lamented that children just starting the school year “were met with evil and horror and death.” He and President Donald Trump ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on state and federal buildings, respectively, and the White House said the two men spoke. The governor was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in last year’s election against Trump's running mate, now Vice President JD Vance, a Republican.

From the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram of condolences. The Chicago-born Leo, history’s first American pope, said he was praying for relatives of the dead.

Monday had been the first day of the school year at Annunciation, a 102-year-old school in a leafy residential and commercial neighborhood about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of downtown Minneapolis.

Karin Cebulla, who said she had worked as a learning specialist at Annuciation and sent her two now-college-aged daughters there, described the school as an accepting, caring community.

Karnowski and Vancleave reported from Minneapolis and Golden from Seattle. Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York; Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland; Will Weissert and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington; Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky; Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia; Nicole Winfield in Vatican City; and Steve Peoples in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756305989839.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMSP" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMSP</figcaption>
 </figure>RICHFIELD, Minn. (AP) — Just hours after a shooter opened fire through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis, killing two children and wounding 17 people, hundreds crowded inside a nearby school’s gym, clutching one another and wiping away tears during a vigil alongside Gov. Tim Walz and clergy members.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAnnunciationSchoolMpls%2Fposts%2Fpfbid031gwCWVvawL9vZapZEKHKisTSgyy1rtJiL7avArkGBqQWZc4rHaBBDvrg9SERVeTul&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="498" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756346920151.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy KMSP" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMSP</figcaption>
 </figure>Speaking to a silent crowd crammed shoulder-to-shoulder Wednesday night, while hundreds more waited outside, Archbishop Bernard Hebda described the students trying to shield their classmates as the gunfire erupted.“In the midst of that there was courage, there was bravery, but most especially there was love,” he said at the Academy of Holy Angels, about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) south of the shooting, in the suburb of Richfield.Armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol, 23-year-old Robin Westman shot dozens of rounds Wednesday morning toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said at news conferences. The shooter then died by suicide, he said.The children who died were 8 and 10. Fourteen other kids and three octogenarian parishioners were wounded but expected to survive, the chief said.Rev. Dennis Zehren, who was inside the church with the nearly 200 children, said they were almost to the end of the Responsorial Psalm, which speaks about light in the darkness. That's when he heard someone yell, “Down down, everybody down," and the gunshots started.Fifth-grader Weston Halsne told reporters he ducked for the pews, covering his head, shielded by a friend who was lying on top of him. His friend was hit, he said.“I was super scared for him, but I think now he’s OK,” the 10-year-old said.<h2>Police investigate motive for the shooting</h2>FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that the shooting is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime targeting Catholics.O’Hara said police hadn’t yet found any relationship between the shooter and the church, nor determined a motive for the bloodshed. The chief said, however, that investigators were examining a social media post that appeared to show the shooter at the scene.O’Hara, who gave the wounded youngsters’ ages as 6 to 15, said a wooden plank was placed to barricade some of the side doors, and that authorities found a smoke bomb at the scene.On a YouTube channel titled Robin W, the alleged shooter released at least two videos before the channel was taken down Wednesday. In one, the alleged shooter shows a cache of weapons and ammunition, some with such phrases as “kill Donald Trump” and “Where is your God?” written on them.A second video shows the alleged shooter pointing to two outside windows in what appears to be a drawing of the church, and then stabbing it with a long knife.Westman’s uncle, former Kentucky state lawmaker Bob Heleringer, said he did not know the accused shooter well and was confounded by the "unspeakable tragedy.”The police chief said Westman did not have an extensive known criminal history and is believed to have acted alone.Federal officials referred to Westman as transgender, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey decried hatred being directed at “our transgender community.” Westman’s gender identity wasn’t clear. In 2020, a judge approved a petition, signed by Westman’s mother, asking for a name change from Robert to Robin, saying the petitioner “identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification.”<h2>Police chief says officers rescued children who hid</h2>The police chief said officers immediately responded to reports of the shooting, entered the church, rendered first aid and rescued some of the children.Annunciation's principal Matt DeBoer said teachers and children, too, responded heroically.“Children were ducked down. Adults were protecting children. Older children were protecting younger children,” he said.Vincent Francoual said his 11-year-old daughter, Chloe, survived the shooting by running downstairs to hide in a room with a table pressed against the door. But he still isn't sure exactly how she escaped because she is struggling to communicate clearly about the traumatizing scene.“She told us today that she thought she was going to die,” he said.Walz lamented that children just starting the school year “were met with evil and horror and death.” He and President Donald Trump ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff on state and federal buildings, respectively, and the White House said the two men spoke. The governor was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in last year’s election against Trump's running mate, now Vice President JD Vance, a Republican.From the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram of condolences. The Chicago-born Leo, history’s first American pope, said he was praying for relatives of the dead.Monday had been the first day of the school year at Annunciation, a 102-year-old school in a leafy residential and commercial neighborhood about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of downtown Minneapolis.Karin Cebulla, who said she had worked as a learning specialist at Annuciation and sent her two now-college-aged daughters there, described the school as an accepting, caring community.___Karnowski and Vancleave reported from Minneapolis and Golden from Seattle. Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York; Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland; Will Weissert and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington; Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky; Claudia Lauer in Philadelphia; Nicole Winfield in Vatican City; and Steve Peoples in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

Hundreds honor 2 children killed, 17 wounded in shooting at Minneapolis school

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted his role in a drug overdose death is going to prison.

On August 21, Jude Christina Dunn Gyllenbord sentenced 22-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;Ahmad Mohammed Karraz to 144 months for the drug distribution death of 24-year-old Kylie Liston, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In June Karraz pleaded guilty to distribution of drugs causing death and use of a communication facility during a drug felony.

In November, the Johnson County district attorney's office charged Karraz and 22-year-old Ronaley Arriola in connection with the Liston's Death.&nbsp; &nbsp; They were arrested after an investigation by the Overland&nbsp; Park Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749153492662.png" alt="Karraz photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Karraz photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted his role in a drug overdose death is going to prison.On August 21, Jude Christina Dunn Gyllenbord sentenced 22-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;Ahmad Mohammed Karraz to 144 months for the drug distribution death of 24-year-old Kylie Liston, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755983010214.png" alt="Kylie Ann Liston photo courtesy Johnson County Funeral Chapel" />
 <figcaption>Kylie Ann Liston photo courtesy Johnson County Funeral Chapel</figcaption>
 </figure>In June Karraz pleaded guilty to distribution of drugs causing death and use of a communication facility during a drug felony.In November, the Johnson County district attorney's office charged Karraz and 22-year-old Ronaley Arriola in connection with the Liston's Death.&nbsp; &nbsp; They were arrested after an investigation by the Overland&nbsp; Park Police Department.

Prison for drug deal death of 24-year-old Kansas woman

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide at a Kansas City area park and have a person-of-interest in custody.

Just before 8a.m. Wednesday,&nbsp;&nbsp;patrol officers were dispatched to 23rd and Topping on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived they were directed towards Blue Valley Park, to the south end of the park. There, in a wooded area, officers located an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. 

KCFD EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital with critical injuries. A short time later hospital personnel declared the victim deceased, according to DiMartino.

This is being investigated as a homicide. While officers were on scene they received information about the involvement of a vehicle and a subject of interest.

A short distance away, officers took a subject of interest into custody pending further investigation. Detectives are still working to determine what led up to the shots being fired and the victim being struck. Investigators and crime scene technicians are canvassing the area for witnesses, surveillance footage, and any physical evidence.

If anyone has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756319368214.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide at a Kansas City area park and have a person-of-interest in custody.Just before 8a.m. Wednesday,&nbsp;&nbsp;patrol officers were dispatched to 23rd and Topping on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.As officers arrived they were directed towards Blue Valley Park, to the south end of the park. There, in a wooded area, officers located an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. KCFD EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital with critical injuries. A short time later hospital personnel declared the victim deceased, according to DiMartino.This is being investigated as a homicide. While officers were on scene they received information about the involvement of a vehicle and a subject of interest.A short distance away, officers took a subject of interest into custody pending further investigation. Detectives are still working to determine what led up to the shots being fired and the victim being struck. Investigators and crime scene technicians are canvassing the area for witnesses, surveillance footage, and any physical evidence.If anyone has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

KCPD: Person-of-interest in custody after homicide near park

WASHINGTON (AP) — Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sean-duffy">Sean Duffy</a>&nbsp;announced Wednesday that his department is taking management of Union Station, the main transportation hub in Washington, away from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/amtrak">Amtrak</a>, in another example of how the federal government is exerting its power over the nation's capital.

Duffy made the announcement in a statement before he joined Amtrak President Roger Harris at Union Station for the launch of the NextGen Acela, the rail service's new high-speed train.

The secretary said Union Station, located within walking distance of the U.S. Capitol, had “fallen into disrepair” when it should be a “point of pride” for the city.

“By reclaiming station management, we will help make this city safe and beautiful at a fraction of the cost,” Duffy said.

At the event, Duffy said President Donald Trump has been “pretty clear” about what he wants.

“He wants Union Station to be beautiful again. He wants transit to be safe again. And he wants our nation’s capital to be great again. And today is part of that,” Duffy said.

Duffy echoed the Republican president, who said last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-federal-intervention-trump-national-guard-df942130ec117288cfc648ab4e37f031">he wants $2 billion from Congress</a>&nbsp;to beautify Washington as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-national-guard-homelessness-655bc22834223c7dc93115bbcb2b215c">his crackdown on the city</a>. The Republican president has sent thousands of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officials into Washington in a bid to fight violent crime he claimed had strangled the city.

Local police department statistics show&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crime-data-rates-washington-police-7429711db32e2cd44c5b70504cacef40">violent crime in Washington</a>&nbsp;has declined in recent years, but Trump has countered, without offering evidence, that the numbers were fudged.

National Guard troops have been on patrol inside and outside of Union Station after Trump launched the anti-crime effort earlier this month. Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were shouted down by opponents of the federal intervention when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-washington-dc-police-a776f0764ef5528ec976604648f08c3f">they visited with troops</a>&nbsp;there last week.

During Wednesday's train unveiling, Duffy will also talk about what the administration is doing to turn Union Station into a world class transit hub, according to a Transportation Department news advisory.

Duffy had pressed Amtrak about crime at Union Station in a March letter to its chief operating officer and requested an updated plan on how it intended to improve public safety there.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756307430377.png" alt="National Guard outside Union Station last week -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>National Guard outside Union Station last week -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sean-duffy">Sean Duffy</a>&nbsp;announced Wednesday that his department is taking management of Union Station, the main transportation hub in Washington, away from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/amtrak">Amtrak</a>, in another example of how the federal government is exerting its power over the nation's capital.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecDuffy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDuffy</a> on the Transportation Department taking over Union Station in Washington, DC: &quot;We think that we can manage the property better, bring in more tenants, bring in more revenue. And that revenue is going to allow us to make investments in this beautiful building.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/amiUnzhGfa">pic.twitter.com/amiUnzhGfa</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1960719082061185368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Duffy made the announcement in a statement before he joined Amtrak President Roger Harris at Union Station for the launch of the NextGen Acela, the rail service's new high-speed train.The secretary said Union Station, located within walking distance of the U.S. Capitol, had “fallen into disrepair” when it should be a “point of pride” for the city.“By reclaiming station management, we will help make this city safe and beautiful at a fraction of the cost,” Duffy said.At the event, Duffy said President Donald Trump has been “pretty clear” about what he wants.“He wants Union Station to be beautiful again. He wants transit to be safe again. And he wants our nation’s capital to be great again. And today is part of that,” Duffy said.Duffy echoed the Republican president, who said last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-federal-intervention-trump-national-guard-df942130ec117288cfc648ab4e37f031">he wants $2 billion from Congress</a>&nbsp;to beautify Washington as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-national-guard-homelessness-655bc22834223c7dc93115bbcb2b215c">his crackdown on the city</a>. The Republican president has sent thousands of National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officials into Washington in a bid to fight violent crime he claimed had strangled the city.Local police department statistics show&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crime-data-rates-washington-police-7429711db32e2cd44c5b70504cacef40">violent crime in Washington</a>&nbsp;has declined in recent years, but Trump has countered, without offering evidence, that the numbers were fudged.National Guard troops have been on patrol inside and outside of Union Station after Trump launched the anti-crime effort earlier this month. Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were shouted down by opponents of the federal intervention when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-washington-dc-police-a776f0764ef5528ec976604648f08c3f">they visited with troops</a>&nbsp;there last week.During Wednesday's train unveiling, Duffy will also talk about what the administration is doing to turn Union Station into a world class transit hub, according to a Transportation Department news advisory.Duffy had pressed Amtrak about crime at Union Station in a March letter to its chief operating officer and requested an updated plan on how it intended to improve public safety there.

Trump effort to control U.S. capital expands to Union Station

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 shots Wednesday but limited their use for many Americans — and removed one of the two vaccines available for young children.

The new shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are approved for all seniors. But the Food and Drug Administration narrowed their use for younger adults and children to those with at least one high-risk health condition, such as asthma or obesity. That presents new barriers to access for millions of Americans who would have to prove their risk — and millions more who may want to get vaccinated and suddenly no longer qualify.

Additionally, Pfizer’s vaccine will no longer be available for any child under 5, because the FDA said it was revoking the shot’s emergency authorization for that age group.

Parents will still be able to seek out shots from rival drugmaker Moderna, the other maker of mRNA vaccines, which has full FDA approval for children as young as 6 months. But the company’s Spikevax vaccine is only approved for children with at least one serious health problem.

The revamped vaccines target a newer version of the continuously evolving virus and are set to begin shipping immediately. But it could be days or weeks before many Americans know if they’ll be able to get one, with access dependent on decisions by federal health advisers, private health insurers, pharmacies and state authorities.

The new restrictions — previewed by FDA officials in May — are a break from the previous U.S. policy, which recommended an annual COVID-19 shot for all Americans 6 months and up.

The approach reflects heightened skepticism about the ongoing risks of COVID-19 and the need for yearly booster shots from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who were both outspoken critics of wide-scale vaccinations.

“The American people demanded science, safety, and common sense. This framework delivers all three,” Kennedy wrote on social media.

Novavax's shot is only open to people 12 or older, not younger children – and under the same risk-based restrictions as are now in place for the Moderna and Pfizer options. It's the nation's only traditional, protein-based COVID-19 vaccine.

Coverage questions and access issues are unresolved

Some medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have objected to the new limits, saying they may block vaccine access for families who want to protect their children. Last week, the group offered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccines-aap-cdc-33896013e1d7b3ad06dbd0d99d300bff">its own recommendations</a>&nbsp;for kids, saying annual shots are strongly recommended for children ages 6 months to 2 years and advised for older children.

That differs from the latest guidance under Kennedy, which doesn’t recommend the shots for healthy children of any age, but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians.

In his post Wednesday, Kennedy said the shots will be "available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors.”

But Americans are likely to confront a number of logistical hurdles.

Insurers typically base their vaccine coverage decisions on the recommendations of a panel of advisers to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but some say they will also look to medical professional groups, including the American Medical Association.

Earlier this year, Kennedy dissolved the CDC panel and replaced its members with a number of doctors and researchers who have repeatedly questioned the safety of commonly used vaccines and ingredients. The panel is expected to meet in September, but no specific date has been set and no agenda released.

Depending on the panel’s advice, Americans under age 65 could be expected to provide documentation of a serious medical condition before they can get a shot. Complicating the rollout is the fact that pharmacists — who administer most COVID-19 shots — typically aren’t expected to collect that kind of information. And laws governing their ability to administer routine vaccinations vary by state, where pharmacists are licensed.

Many states limit vaccinations by pharmacists to those recommended by the CDC panel.

Access could also be complicated for healthy adults and children who are interested in getting a shot for extra protection.

If the latest vaccines aren’t covered by their insurance, those patients could be required to pay $150 or more out of pocket if they want one. If they aren't considered considered high-risk, they also might also have to find a doctor or other health professional willing to give the shot “off label."

Shots target a recently dominant coronavirus version

The updated shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax target a coronavirus subtype named LP. 8.1, a version of the virus that is closely related to some newly emerging cousins. Pfizer and Moderna said they expect their shots to be available within days. Novavax's vaccine is expected in the early fall, a spokesman said.

All three shots were initially made available under the FDA’s emergency use authorization, an expedited process to quickly review vaccines and other countermeasures during the pandemic. Pfizer had not yet sought full approval for its doses designed for children under 5, which is the reason that Moderna will be the only provider of shots for the youngest children this year.

In addition to revoking emergency use of Pfizer’s vaccine in young children, Kennedy said Wednesday the government also pulled remaining authorizations for all other COVID-19 vaccines and another therapy from the pandemic years, convalescent plasma, which was used to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients before the first antiviral drugs became available.

COVID-19 vaccines do a good job preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death, which remain a bigger risk for seniors and people with underlying health factors, including heart disease, lung disease and cancer.

Preliminary data from the CDC estimates 47,500 Americans died from COVID-related causes last year. In at least two-thirds of those cases, COVID-19 was listed as the underlying cause of death. For the rest, COVID-19 was a contributing factor.

AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this story.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756320895304.png" alt="Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 shots Wednesday but limited their use for many Americans — and removed one of the two vaccines available for young children.The new shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are approved for all seniors. But the Food and Drug Administration narrowed their use for younger adults and children to those with at least one high-risk health condition, such as asthma or obesity. That presents new barriers to access for millions of Americans who would have to prove their risk — and millions more who may want to get vaccinated and suddenly no longer qualify.Additionally, Pfizer’s vaccine will no longer be available for any child under 5, because the FDA said it was revoking the shot’s emergency authorization for that age group.Parents will still be able to seek out shots from rival drugmaker Moderna, the other maker of mRNA vaccines, which has full FDA approval for children as young as 6 months. But the company’s Spikevax vaccine is only approved for children with at least one serious health problem.The revamped vaccines target a newer version of the continuously evolving virus and are set to begin shipping immediately. But it could be days or weeks before many Americans know if they’ll be able to get one, with access dependent on decisions by federal health advisers, private health insurers, pharmacies and state authorities.The new restrictions — previewed by FDA officials in May — are a break from the previous U.S. policy, which recommended an annual COVID-19 shot for all Americans 6 months and up.The approach reflects heightened skepticism about the ongoing risks of COVID-19 and the need for yearly booster shots from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, who were both outspoken critics of wide-scale vaccinations.“The American people demanded science, safety, and common sense. This framework delivers all three,” Kennedy wrote on social media.Novavax's shot is only open to people 12 or older, not younger children – and under the same risk-based restrictions as are now in place for the Moderna and Pfizer options. It's the nation's only traditional, protein-based COVID-19 vaccine.<h2>Coverage questions and access issues are unresolved</h2>Some medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, have objected to the new limits, saying they may block vaccine access for families who want to protect their children. Last week, the group offered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccines-aap-cdc-33896013e1d7b3ad06dbd0d99d300bff">its own recommendations</a>&nbsp;for kids, saying annual shots are strongly recommended for children ages 6 months to 2 years and advised for older children.That differs from the latest guidance under Kennedy, which doesn’t recommend the shots for healthy children of any age, but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians.In his post Wednesday, Kennedy said the shots will be "available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors.”But Americans are likely to confront a number of logistical hurdles.Insurers typically base their vaccine coverage decisions on the recommendations of a panel of advisers to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but some say they will also look to medical professional groups, including the American Medical Association.Earlier this year, Kennedy dissolved the CDC panel and replaced its members with a number of doctors and researchers who have repeatedly questioned the safety of commonly used vaccines and ingredients. The panel is expected to meet in September, but no specific date has been set and no agenda released.Depending on the panel’s advice, Americans under age 65 could be expected to provide documentation of a serious medical condition before they can get a shot. Complicating the rollout is the fact that pharmacists — who administer most COVID-19 shots — typically aren’t expected to collect that kind of information. And laws governing their ability to administer routine vaccinations vary by state, where pharmacists are licensed.Many states limit vaccinations by pharmacists to those recommended by the CDC panel.Access could also be complicated for healthy adults and children who are interested in getting a shot for extra protection.If the latest vaccines aren’t covered by their insurance, those patients could be required to pay $150 or more out of pocket if they want one. If they aren't considered considered high-risk, they also might also have to find a doctor or other health professional willing to give the shot “off label."<h2>Shots target a recently dominant coronavirus version</h2>The updated shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax target a coronavirus subtype named LP. 8.1, a version of the virus that is closely related to some newly emerging cousins. Pfizer and Moderna said they expect their shots to be available within days. Novavax's vaccine is expected in the early fall, a spokesman said.All three shots were initially made available under the FDA’s emergency use authorization, an expedited process to quickly review vaccines and other countermeasures during the pandemic. Pfizer had not yet sought full approval for its doses designed for children under 5, which is the reason that Moderna will be the only provider of shots for the youngest children this year.In addition to revoking emergency use of Pfizer’s vaccine in young children, Kennedy said Wednesday the government also pulled remaining authorizations for all other COVID-19 vaccines and another therapy from the pandemic years, convalescent plasma, which was used to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients before the first antiviral drugs became available.COVID-19 vaccines do a good job preventing severe disease, hospitalization and death, which remain a bigger risk for seniors and people with underlying health factors, including heart disease, lung disease and cancer.Preliminary data from the CDC estimates 47,500 Americans died from COVID-related causes last year. In at least two-thirds of those cases, COVID-19 was listed as the underlying cause of death. For the rest, COVID-19 was a contributing factor.___AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard contributed to this story.___

FDA approves updated COVID-19 shots but limits access for some

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a small plane crash that occurred just north of the Midwest National Air Center near Mosby, according to a statement from the&nbsp;The Clay County, Missouri Sheriff's Office.

Just before noon Wednesday, dispatchers received a call about heavy smoke coming from a field near NE 140th Street and Rhodus Road. Callers believed it may have been from a plane crash. When deputies arrived, they located a Cessna C340 fully engulfed in flames in a soybean field. There were at least two occupants inside, and they have been confirmed deceased.

The plane appeared to have been trying to land at the Midwest National Air Center. Preliminary information indicates it may have come from an airport outside of the St. Louis metro area. Investigators are working to identify the occupants of the plane.

Air traffic was closed until 5 p.m. Wednesday while the investigation is ongoing. Sheriff's Office investigators have notified the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, which will take over the investigation into what caused the crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756325654846.png" alt="Photo Clay County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Clay County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a small plane crash that occurred just north of the Midwest National Air Center near Mosby, according to a statement from the&nbsp;The Clay County, Missouri Sheriff's Office.Just before noon Wednesday, dispatchers received a call about heavy smoke coming from a field near NE 140th Street and Rhodus Road. Callers believed it may have been from a plane crash. When deputies arrived, they located a Cessna C340 fully engulfed in flames in a soybean field. There were at least two occupants inside, and they have been confirmed deceased.The plane appeared to have been trying to land at the Midwest National Air Center. Preliminary information indicates it may have come from an airport outside of the St. Louis metro area. Investigators are working to identify the occupants of the plane.Air traffic was closed until 5 p.m. Wednesday while the investigation is ongoing. Sheriff's Office investigators have notified the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, which will take over the investigation into what caused the crash.

Sheriff: 2 dead after small plane crash near Kansas City

Modest gains on Wall Street lifted the stock market to an all-time high Wednesday ahead of a highly anticipated earnings update from computer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42657a49554bf35fb12fdf48c02287d2">chip giant Nvidia</a>.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.2%, good enough to nudge the benchmark index past the record high it set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% and the Nasdaq composite closed 0.2% higher.

Technology companies led the way higher, outweighing declines in communication services and other sectors.

Investors see Nvidia’s quarterly report, which was due after the bell, as a barometer for the strength of the boom in artificial intelligence because the company makes most of the chips that power the technology. Its heavy weighting also gives Nvidia outsized influence as a bellwether for the broader market. Its shares slipped 0.1%.

“Saying this is the most important stock in the world is an understatement,” said Jay Woods, chief global strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. “The stock’s average move after an earnings release is plus or minus 7.4%, so just an average move will make an impact on the entire market.”

Several big software companies -- CrowdStrike Holdings, ServiceNow, Palo Alto Networks, Intuit and Salesforce -- rose ahead of the Nvidia results.

The stocks have been mostly in the red so far this quarter amid worries that AI is going to make software creation much easier at the expense of big software companies’ competitive edge.

Cracker Barrel shares climbed 8% after the restaurant company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8b496da282deef3d8d0618c3f9f4db46">scrapped plans to change its logo</a>&nbsp;following an uproar on social media that even drew a comment from President Donald Trump.

Shares in several companies rose after they reported quarterly results that topped analysts' forecasts. Department store chain Kohl’s vaulted 24% and database platform company MongoDB surged 38%. Both companies also raised their full-year guidance.

J.M. Smucker slid 4.4% after the jelly and jam maker's latest quarterly snapshot fell short of analysts’ estimates.

Among other stocks that lost ground: doughnut shop chain Krispy Kreme, which fell 3.5%, and Paramount Skydance, which dropped 6.5% for the biggest decline among S&amp;P 500 companies.

Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.24% from 4.26% late Tuesday.

Crude oil prices rose. European markets finished mostly lower and Asian markets closed mixed overnight.

Trading on Wall Street is off to an uneven start this week following big gains last week on hopes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">interest rate cuts from the Fed</a>.

Markets have been subdued after Trump escalated his fight with the central bank by trying to fire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-reserve-rates-354ddf9b0b2a78eabbe7ebd361bf2e05">Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook</a>. Cook's lawyer said she'll sue Trump’s administration to try to stop him.

Trump has been feuding with the central bank over its cautious interest rate policy. The Fed has held rates steady since late 2024 over worries that Trump's unpredictable tariff policies will reignite inflation. Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling. Still, he is only one of 12 votes that decides interest rate policy.

For now, the situation isn't expected to have a major impact on the Fed's near-term policy.

The two-year Treasury yield, which closely tracks expectations for Federal Reserve action, dropped to 3.62% from 3.68%.

Traders are still betting the Fed will trim its benchmark interest rate at its next meeting in September. Traders see an 90.3% chance that the central bank will cut the rate by a quarter of a percentage point, according to data from CME Group.

“It’s kind of a foregone conclusion from the market that we’re going to get the September interest rate cut,” said Jed Ellerbroek, portfolio manager at Argent Capital Management. “The bigger question is probably 'What’s after that?' ”

The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate in late 2024 after spending the last several years fighting rising inflation by raising rates. It managed to mostly tame inflation and avoided having those higher rates stall economic growth, thanks largely to strong consumer spending and a resilient job market.

The Fed hit the pause button heading into 2025 over concerns that higher tariffs imposed by Trump could reignite inflation. Lower interest rates make borrowing easier, helping to spur more investment and spending, but that could also potentially fuel inflation. However, concerns are deepening over the jobs market.

Economic data is relatively light this week until Friday, which will bring another update on inflation: the U.S. personal consumption expenditures index. Economists expect it to show that inflation remained at about 2.9% in July, compared with a year ago. Businesses have been warning investors and consumers about higher costs and prices because of tariffs.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-us-tariff-exports-trade-tension-48ac6d5e172df04832c75d2a57d0a860">Steep tariffs placed by the Trump administration on India</a>&nbsp;over Russian oil purchases took effect Wednesday, bringing the combined tariffs imposed on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-us-modi-trump-tariffs-relationship-575af0f270713fa6b09f4ed4e2848f21">the U.S. ally</a>&nbsp;to 50%.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 15.46 points to 6,481.40. The Dow added 147.16 points to 45,565.23, and the Nasdaq climbed 45.87 points to 21,590.14.

By ALEX VEIGA AP Business WriterModest gains on Wall Street lifted the stock market to an all-time high Wednesday ahead of a highly anticipated earnings update from computer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/42657a49554bf35fb12fdf48c02287d2">chip giant Nvidia</a>.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.2%, good enough to nudge the benchmark index past the record high it set two weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% and the Nasdaq composite closed 0.2% higher.Technology companies led the way higher, outweighing declines in communication services and other sectors.Investors see Nvidia’s quarterly report, which was due after the bell, as a barometer for the strength of the boom in artificial intelligence because the company makes most of the chips that power the technology. Its heavy weighting also gives Nvidia outsized influence as a bellwether for the broader market. Its shares slipped 0.1%.“Saying this is the most important stock in the world is an understatement,” said Jay Woods, chief global strategist at Freedom Capital Markets. “The stock’s average move after an earnings release is plus or minus 7.4%, so just an average move will make an impact on the entire market.”Several big software companies -- CrowdStrike Holdings, ServiceNow, Palo Alto Networks, Intuit and Salesforce -- rose ahead of the Nvidia results.The stocks have been mostly in the red so far this quarter amid worries that AI is going to make software creation much easier at the expense of big software companies’ competitive edge.Cracker Barrel shares climbed 8% after the restaurant company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8b496da282deef3d8d0618c3f9f4db46">scrapped plans to change its logo</a>&nbsp;following an uproar on social media that even drew a comment from President Donald Trump.Shares in several companies rose after they reported quarterly results that topped analysts' forecasts. Department store chain Kohl’s vaulted 24% and database platform company MongoDB surged 38%. Both companies also raised their full-year guidance.J.M. Smucker slid 4.4% after the jelly and jam maker's latest quarterly snapshot fell short of analysts’ estimates.Among other stocks that lost ground: doughnut shop chain Krispy Kreme, which fell 3.5%, and Paramount Skydance, which dropped 6.5% for the biggest decline among S&amp;P 500 companies.Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.24% from 4.26% late Tuesday.Crude oil prices rose. European markets finished mostly lower and Asian markets closed mixed overnight.Trading on Wall Street is off to an uneven start this week following big gains last week on hopes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">interest rate cuts from the Fed</a>.Markets have been subdued after Trump escalated his fight with the central bank by trying to fire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-reserve-rates-354ddf9b0b2a78eabbe7ebd361bf2e05">Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook</a>. Cook's lawyer said she'll sue Trump’s administration to try to stop him.Trump has been feuding with the central bank over its cautious interest rate policy. The Fed has held rates steady since late 2024 over worries that Trump's unpredictable tariff policies will reignite inflation. Trump has also threatened to fire Fed Chair Jerome Powell, often taunting him with name-calling. Still, he is only one of 12 votes that decides interest rate policy.For now, the situation isn't expected to have a major impact on the Fed's near-term policy.The two-year Treasury yield, which closely tracks expectations for Federal Reserve action, dropped to 3.62% from 3.68%.Traders are still betting the Fed will trim its benchmark interest rate at its next meeting in September. Traders see an 90.3% chance that the central bank will cut the rate by a quarter of a percentage point, according to data from CME Group.“It’s kind of a foregone conclusion from the market that we’re going to get the September interest rate cut,” said Jed Ellerbroek, portfolio manager at Argent Capital Management. “The bigger question is probably 'What’s after that?' ”The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate in late 2024 after spending the last several years fighting rising inflation by raising rates. It managed to mostly tame inflation and avoided having those higher rates stall economic growth, thanks largely to strong consumer spending and a resilient job market.The Fed hit the pause button heading into 2025 over concerns that higher tariffs imposed by Trump could reignite inflation. Lower interest rates make borrowing easier, helping to spur more investment and spending, but that could also potentially fuel inflation. However, concerns are deepening over the jobs market.Economic data is relatively light this week until Friday, which will bring another update on inflation: the U.S. personal consumption expenditures index. Economists expect it to show that inflation remained at about 2.9% in July, compared with a year ago. Businesses have been warning investors and consumers about higher costs and prices because of tariffs.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-us-tariff-exports-trade-tension-48ac6d5e172df04832c75d2a57d0a860">Steep tariffs placed by the Trump administration on India</a>&nbsp;over Russian oil purchases took effect Wednesday, bringing the combined tariffs imposed on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-us-modi-trump-tariffs-relationship-575af0f270713fa6b09f4ed4e2848f21">the U.S. ally</a>&nbsp;to 50%.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 15.46 points to 6,481.40. The Dow added 147.16 points to 45,565.23, and the Nasdaq climbed 45.87 points to 21,590.14.

Wall Street edges higher and pushes S&P 500 to another record

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A shooter opened fire with a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church in Minneapolis and struck children celebrating Mass during the first week of school, killing two and wounding 17 people in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-school-shooting-286c32580b1bd05cef08b8e13509e374">act of violence</a>&nbsp;the police chief called “absolutely incomprehensible.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter — armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol — approached the side of the church and shot dozens of rounds through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School just before 8:30 a.m. Police believe the shooter then killed himself.

The children who died were 8 and 10, and 14 other kids were among the wounded, the chief said. Dozens of youngsters were inside.

Michael Simpson said his 10-year-old grandson, Weston Halsne, was nicked by a bullet as he sat near the church windows. His voice shaking as he left the area around the school, Simpson said the violence during Mass on the third day of school left him wondering whether God was watching over.

“I don’t know where He is,” Simpson said.

The police chief said the shooter was in his early 20s, did not have an extensive known criminal history and is believed to have acted alone, but did not release the name or information on possible connections to the school. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press authorities have identified the shooter as Robin Westman. That official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The police chief said a wooden plank was placed to barricade some of the side doors, and that authorities found a smoke bomb but no explosives at the scene.

“The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible,” O'Hara said at a news conference as church bells rang out. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey lamented that the violence had forever changed the students' families and the city along with them.

“Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now,” Frey said. “These kids were literally praying."

Westman’s uncle, former Kentucky state lawmaker Bob Heleringer, said he did not know the accused shooter well and was confounded by the violence: "It's an unspeakable tragedy.”

“We’re praying for my sister and her other children and also, obviously, for these poor, poor children,” Heleringer said by phone. He said he had last seen Westman at a family wedding three or four years ago.

Bill Bienemann, who lives a couple of blocks away and has long attended Mass at Annunciation Church, said he heard as many as 50 shots over as long as four minutes.

“I was shocked. I said, ‘There’s no way that could be gunfire,’” he said. “There was so much of it. It was sporadic.”

Bienemann’s daughter, Alexandra, said she was an alumna of the kindergarten-to-eighth-grade school, and it made her sick to her stomach to think she might know some of those who were injured.

“It doesn’t make me feel safe at all in this community that I have been in for so long," she said.

The police chief said officers immediately responded to reports of the shooting, entered the church, rendered first aid and rescued some of the children hiding throughout the building as other emergency responders arrived.

The school was evacuated and students’ families later were directed to a “reunification zone” there. Outside, amid a heavy uniformed law enforcement presence, children in dark green uniforms trickled out of the school with adults, giving lingering hugs and wiping away tears.

Aubrey Pannhoff, a 16-year-old student at a different Catholic school, stood crying just outside the police cordon. She had rushed to Annunciation after her own school’s lockdown and prayer service, and she said she was asking God: “Why?”

“It’s little kids,” she said. “It’s just really hard for me to take in.”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the violence “horrific” and his state is heartbroken in posts on X. On Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he was briefed on the shooting. The White House later said Trump spoke with Walz. The governor was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in last year’s election against Trump's running mate, now Vice President J.D. Vance, a Republican.

Democratic officials from around country were meeting in Minneapolis, and Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin told the gathering what was happening and said it was “a tragic day for Minnesotans.”

Hennepin Healthcare, the main trauma hospital in Minneapolis, said it received 10 patients, including eight children — aged 6 through 14 — and two adults. Seven were considered to be in critical condition. Children’s Minnesota, a pediatric trauma hospital, said it admitted seven children, ages 9 through 16.

A string of fatal shootings in Minneapolis

Monday had been the first day of the school year at Annunciation, a 102-year-old school in a leafy residential and commercial neighborhood about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of downtown Minneapolis. Recent social media posts from the school show children smiling at a back-to-school event, holding up summer art projects, playing together and enjoying ice pops.

Karin Cebulla, who said she had worked at the school and sent her two now-college-aged daughters there, said Wednesday she had “never met such authentic, accepting, loving, gracious people” as she did there.

The gunfire was the latest in a series of fatal shootings in the city in less than 24 hours. One person was killed and six others were hurt in a shooting Tuesday afternoon outside a high school in Minneapolis. Hours later, two people died in two other shootings in the city.

O’Hara, the police chief, said the Annunciation shooting does not appear to be related to other recent violence. Still, Dr. Thomas Wyatt, the Hennepin Healthcare emergency medicine chief, noted the toll of responding to two mass-casualty shootings in 24 hours.

Wednesday's school shooting also followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/active-shooter-calls-hoaxes-arkansas-villanova-iowa-7fae16fae9025cf421acb6115c30c3d3">spate of hoax calls</a>&nbsp;about purported shootings on at least a dozen U.S. college campuses. The bogus warnings, sometimes featuring gunshot sounds in the background, prompted universities to issue texts to “run, hide, fight” and frightened students around the nation as the school year begins.

Associated Press writers Jennifer Peltz in New York; Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland; Will Weissert and Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington; Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky; Nicole Winfield in Vatican City; and Giovanna Dell’Orto and Steve Peoples in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A gunman opened fire with a rifle through the windows of a Catholic church and struck a group of children celebrating Mass during the first week of school, killing two and wounding 17 in an act of violence the police chief called “absolutely incomprehensible.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the shooter — armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol — approached the side of the church and shot through the windows toward the children sitting in the pews during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School.

O’Hara said the shooting suspect is dead and in his early 20s and does not have an extensive known criminal history. Officials are looking into his motive.

“This was a deliberate act of violence against innocent children and other people worshipping. The sheer cruelty and cowardice of firing into a church full of children is absolutely incomprehensible," said the police chief, who noted that a wooden plank was placed to barricade some of the side doors.

The children who died were 8 and 10, he said.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the violence “horrific” in a social media post.

Children’s Minnesota, a pediatric trauma hospital, said in a statement five children were admitted for care. Hennepin Healthcare, which has Minnesota’s largest emergency department, said it also was caring for patients from the shooting.

Bill Bienemann, who lives a couple of blocks away and has long attended Mass at Annunciation Church, said he heard dozens of shots, perhaps as many as 50, over as long as four minutes.

Bienemann’s daughter, Alexandra, said she attended the school from kindergarten to 8th grade, finishing in 2014. After she heard of the shooting, she said she was shaking and crying, and her boss told her to take the day off.

“It breaks my heart, makes me sick to my stomach, knowing that there are people I know who are either injured or maybe even killed,” Alexandra Bienemann said. “It doesn’t make me feel safe at all in this community that I have been in for so long.”

The school was evacuated, and students’ families later were directed to a “reunification zone” at the school. Outside, amid a heavy uniformed law enforcement presence, were uniformed children in their dark green shirts or dresses. Many were trickling out of the school with adults, giving lingering hugs and wiping away tears.

Local, state, county and federal law enforcement officers and agents converged on the area, a leafy residential and commercial neighborhood about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of downtown Minneapolis. On Truth Social, President Donald Trump said he was briefed on the “tragic shooting” and that the White House would continue to monitor it.

Dating to 1923, the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school had an all-school Mass scheduled at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, according to its website. Monday was the first day of school. Recent social media posts from the school show children smiling at a back-to-school event, holding up summer art projects, playing together and enjoying ice pops.

At a meeting of Democratic officials elsewhere in Minneapolis, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin noted the shooting and “unknown amount of victims.”

Associated Press writers Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; Jennifer Peltz in New York; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; and Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland; contributed to this report.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — At least five children were injured in a shooting Wednesday during the first week of classes at a Minneapolis Catholic school, authorities and a hospital said. Gov. Tim Walz called the violence “horrific.”

The Minneapolis city government said the shooter had been “contained” after the gunfire at Annunciation Catholic School and there was no longer any “active threat” to residents.

Walz said on social media that he had been briefed on the shooting.

“I’m praying for our kids and teachers whose first week of school was marred by this horrific act of violence,” Walz wrote on X.

As police, FBI and other federal agents and ambulances converged on the school, President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that he was briefed on the “tragic shooting” and that the White House would continue to monitor it.

The school was evacuated, and students’ families later were directed to a “reunification zone” at the school.

Officials ID shooter who killed 2 at Catholic school in Minnesota

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been suspended six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, keeping him out of a series of high-profile games starting with next week’s season opener against the Chargers in Brazil.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712916229752.png" alt="Rice as shown in his booking photo at DeSoto Texas Jail in May of 2024" />
 <figcaption>Rice as shown in his booking photo at DeSoto Texas Jail in May of 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has been suspended six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, keeping him out of a series of high-profile games starting with next week’s season opener against the Chargers in Brazil.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-charges-dallas-crash-kansas-city-chiefs-d71cfd66fabfc151111d67ea1bfa0f74">Rice pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;about six weeks ago to two third-degree felony charges of collision involving serious bodily injury and racing on a highway causing bodily injury. As part of his plea agreement from the March 2024 crash on a Dallas highway, prosecutors said, Rice also received a sentence of five years of deferred probation and 30 days in jail as a condition of his probation.The NFL handed down its suspension, which Rice will not appeal, after its own internal investigation. It voids a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rice-chiefs-hearing-f2de00e8e78ef7ff0f572c587a1c708b">Sept. 30 hearing</a>&nbsp;before former federal Judge Sue L. Robinson that was scheduled for the NFL’s headquarters in New York.Along with missing the Chargers game, Rice will miss a Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles on Sept. 14 at Arrowhead Stadium; a Sunday night trip to New York to face the Giants; a high-profile matchup with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Sept. 28; a game against Jacksonville the following Monday night; and a Sunday night showdown with the Lions.Rice will be eligible to return to the field when Kansas City faces the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afc-west-broncos-chiefs-chargers-raiders-3c6e2e509b8c54aef4b327d253d8f878">AFC West</a>&nbsp;rival Raiders on Oct. 19.The Chiefs did not make Rice nor coach Andy Reid available Wednesday. Rice also was not at their final practice before Sunday, when the Chiefs go into their game-week schedule to prepare for the Friday night matchup with the Chargers.“We're just going to go out there, trust what the coaches put on our plates, whatever game plan we have regardless of who is in there,” tight end Noah Gray said Wednesday. “I'm extremely confident in all the guys.”Rice’s status has been in limbo ever since he was driving a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rashee-rice-corvette-lamborghini-crash-dallas-2f3ac72c23b1d9ca4860f8cacc8b173e">Lamborghini Urus SUV</a>&nbsp;at 119 mph (191 kph) on the North Central Expressway, made “multiple aggressive maneuvers around traffic” and struck other vehicles, prosecutors said. After the crash, Rice did not check on the welfare of those in the other vehicles but instead fled on foot.Rice said in a statement issued by his attorney that he’s had “a lot of sleepless nights thinking about the damages my actions caused, and I will continue working within my means to make sure that everyone impacted will be made whole.”The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office said the 25-year-old Rice will have some flexibility in when he must serve his jail time. He also was required to pay the victims for their out-of-pocket medical expenses, which totaled about $115,000.“I’ve completely changed. You have to learn from things like that,” Rice said during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-rashee-rice-7a914217238f4fa8cbdacedf59d5a93f">brief media availability in training camp</a>. “All I can focus on is what I can control right now and that’s me doing what I do.”After a breakout rookie season, Rice was on his way to a memorable follow-up last fall, catching 24 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns in his first three games. But in Week 4, after Patrick Mahomes had thrown an interception, the QB accidentally dived into Rice’s leg as they were trying to make a tackle, tearing the lateral collateral ligament in his knee.Rice wound up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-rashee-rice-8bf46efe2fe8a336bbc751de9121c17b">missing the rest of the season</a>, including a loss to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl.He spent the offseason rehabbing the knee, and Rice was ready to participate in the Chiefs’ offseason program. But under terms of the suspension, Rice now will be barred from the practice facility until the middle of next month.The Chiefs undoubtedly believed a suspension was coming. They kept eight wide receivers on Tuesday, when NFL roster cuts were due. That group includes rookie Jalen Royals, who has been dealing with an injury and may not be available for the season opener in Brazil, and Marquise Brown, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury.Now, the Chiefs will be relying on Brown and second-year pro Xavier Worthy alongside tight end Travis Kelce in their passing game. The other wide receivers on the initial roster are veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster, return specialist Nikko Remigio, preseason standout Tyquan Thornton and Jason Brownlee, who spent part of last season with the Jets.___AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report.___