WASHINGTON (AP) — An hours-long outage Wednesday on <a href="https://studentaid.gov/">StudentAid.gov,</a> the federal website for student loans and financial aid, underscored the risks in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-layoffs-job-cuts-linda-mcmahon-ce9f6a8a63972aede0d8fbdf057ab788">rapidly gutting the Department of Education</a>, as President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-ab509ad5778497dfbd6d53b9eef692b5">aims to dismantle the agency</a>.

Hundreds of users reported FAFSA outages to&nbsp;<a href="https://downdetector.com/status/studentaid-gov/" target="_blank">Downdetector</a>&nbsp;starting midday Wednesday, saying they were having trouble completing the form, which is required for financial aid at colleges nationwide. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, a group of people who handle colleges’ financial aid awards, also received reports of users experiencing technical issues and having trouble completing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-college-financial-aid-scholarships-d3f9454c415755eb29f236e5d383d4ed">FAFSA</a>.

“We’ve been trying to get more clarity on why it’s down,” said Allie Bidwell Arcese, a spokeswoman for NASFAA. The Education Department hadn’t shared any information on the outage, she said. “The maintenance and troubleshooting may be impacted by yesterday’s layoffs.”

The developers and IT support staff who worked on the FAFSA form were hard hit in the Education Department’s layoffs Tuesday, along with staff buyouts and the termination of probationary employees. In all, the Education Department has reduced its staff by half, to roughly 2,000, since Trump took office.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-layoffs-civil-rights-8cbf463cce765f497c10d688ab4d51e1">list of laid-off staff</a>&nbsp;obtained and verified by AP shows more than 300 people cut from Federal Student Aid — two dozen of them from Federal Student Aid’s technology division. That included the entire team responsible for systems supporting the FAFSA form, a person with knowledge of the outage told The Associated Press, speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation. While laid-off staffers are still technically employed until March 21, they had limited access to their email, phones and computers, making a response to the outage difficult, the person said. At one point Wednesday, about 70 people had joined a Teams call to try to pinpoint the cause of the outage.

The call continued for hours. By Wednesday evening, the website carried a banner claiming “Planned Maintenance” was underway, and login access was cut off.

The Education Department did not respond to a request for comment on the outage.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-financial-aid-enrollment-efeb41191fe1c6c1dd9fce33fe54867e">Problems with the FAFSA</a>&nbsp;had vexed the administration of former President Joe Biden, drawing rebuke from Republicans. The form was overhauled last year in an attempt to simplify it, but technical problems blocked students from submitting forms or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-aid-college-admissions-miscalculation-delay-6edb28219068fd19428b786635f09282">bungled financial aid calculations</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727807641728.png" alt="Photo Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom" />
 <figcaption>Photo Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — An hours-long outage Wednesday on <a href="https://studentaid.gov/">StudentAid.gov,</a> the federal website for student loans and financial aid, underscored the risks in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-layoffs-job-cuts-linda-mcmahon-ce9f6a8a63972aede0d8fbdf057ab788">rapidly gutting the Department of Education</a>, as President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-ab509ad5778497dfbd6d53b9eef692b5">aims to dismantle the agency</a>.Hundreds of users reported FAFSA outages to&nbsp;<a href="https://downdetector.com/status/studentaid-gov/" target="_blank">Downdetector</a>&nbsp;starting midday Wednesday, saying they were having trouble completing the form, which is required for financial aid at colleges nationwide. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, a group of people who handle colleges’ financial aid awards, also received reports of users experiencing technical issues and having trouble completing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-college-financial-aid-scholarships-d3f9454c415755eb29f236e5d383d4ed">FAFSA</a>.“We’ve been trying to get more clarity on why it’s down,” said Allie Bidwell Arcese, a spokeswoman for NASFAA. The Education Department hadn’t shared any information on the outage, she said. “The maintenance and troubleshooting may be impacted by yesterday’s layoffs.”The developers and IT support staff who worked on the FAFSA form were hard hit in the Education Department’s layoffs Tuesday, along with staff buyouts and the termination of probationary employees. In all, the Education Department has reduced its staff by half, to roughly 2,000, since Trump took office.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-layoffs-civil-rights-8cbf463cce765f497c10d688ab4d51e1">list of laid-off staff</a>&nbsp;obtained and verified by AP shows more than 300 people cut from Federal Student Aid — two dozen of them from Federal Student Aid’s technology division. That included the entire team responsible for systems supporting the FAFSA form, a person with knowledge of the outage told The Associated Press, speaking anonymously for fear of retaliation. While laid-off staffers are still technically employed until March 21, they had limited access to their email, phones and computers, making a response to the outage difficult, the person said. At one point Wednesday, about 70 people had joined a Teams call to try to pinpoint the cause of the outage.The call continued for hours. By Wednesday evening, the website carried a banner claiming “Planned Maintenance” was underway, and login access was cut off.The Education Department did not respond to a request for comment on the outage.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-financial-aid-enrollment-efeb41191fe1c6c1dd9fce33fe54867e">Problems with the FAFSA</a>&nbsp;had vexed the administration of former President Joe Biden, drawing rebuke from Republicans. The form was overhauled last year in an attempt to simplify it, but technical problems blocked students from submitting forms or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-aid-college-admissions-miscalculation-delay-6edb28219068fd19428b786635f09282">bungled financial aid calculations</a>.

Federal student loan site up and down after layoffs at Education Department

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A wanted Kansas suspect captured at a motel in Colorado in July is scheduled for an arraignment hearing Thursday.

Ryan Antalek, 40, Wichita, will appear before Judge David Kaufman, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

He is charged with criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, stalking, two counts of criminal threat, and criminal damage to property, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In July of 2024, the Pueblo County Colorado Sheriff’s communication center received a tip that Antalek&nbsp; was possibly staying at the Days Inn in Colorado City, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

Kansas authorities had been searching for Antalek on the warrant and had heightened the search after learning he had made repeated homicidal statements. Antalek also was noted to have a criminal history involving weapons and known to carry firearms.

Sheriff's detectives and U.S. Marshals responded to the Days Inn at about 12:30 a.m. and located in the parking lot a 2019 Black Chevy Colorado truck Antalek was reportedly driving. After confirming that Antalek was in the hotel, detectives, with assistance from the Marshals, devised a plan and were able to get him to leave his hotel room where he was taken into custody without incident.

Antalek was arrested on a no bond fugitive of justice warrant from Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719500728222.png" alt="Antalek photo Pueblo Co." />
 <figcaption>Antalek photo Pueblo Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A wanted Kansas suspect captured at a motel in Colorado in July is scheduled for an arraignment hearing Thursday.Ryan Antalek, 40, Wichita, will appear before Judge David Kaufman, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.He is charged with criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, stalking, two counts of criminal threat, and criminal damage to property, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In July of 2024, the Pueblo County Colorado Sheriff’s communication center received a tip that Antalek&nbsp; was possibly staying at the Days Inn in Colorado City, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.Kansas authorities had been searching for Antalek on the warrant and had heightened the search after learning he had made repeated homicidal statements. Antalek also was noted to have a criminal history involving weapons and known to carry firearms.Sheriff's detectives and U.S. Marshals responded to the Days Inn at about 12:30 a.m. and located in the parking lot a 2019 Black Chevy Colorado truck Antalek was reportedly driving. After confirming that Antalek was in the hotel, detectives, with assistance from the Marshals, devised a plan and were able to get him to leave his hotel room where he was taken into custody without incident.Antalek was arrested on a no bond fugitive of justice warrant from Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Plea hearing for Kansas assault suspect captured in Colorado

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Agriculture Department is ending two pandemic-era programs that provided more than $1 billion for schools and food banks to purchase food from local farmers and producers.

About $660 million of that went to schools and childcare centers to buy food for meals through the Local Foods for Schools program. A separate program provided money to food banks.

In Maine, the money allowed the coastal RSU 23 school district to buy food directly from fisherman, dairy producers and farmers for school meals, said Caroline Trinder, the district’s food and nutrition services director.

“I think everyone can say that they want kids at school to receive the healthiest meals possible,” Trinder said. “It’s the least processed, and we’re helping our local economy, we’re helping farmers that may be the parents of our students.”

The cuts will hurt school districts with “chronically underfunded” school meal budgets, said Shannon Gleave, president of the School Nutrition Association.

“In addition to losing the benefits for our kids, this loss of funds is a huge blow to community farmers and ranchers and is detrimental to school meal programs struggling to manage rising food and labor costs,” Gleave said in a statement.

USDA said the programs are a legacy of the pandemic and no longer supported the agency’s priorities.

“The COVID era is over — USDA’s approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward,” a USDA spokesperson said in a statement.

Massachusetts received roughly $12 million in federal funding for school districts and childcare programs to buy food from local producers.

“The signaling that’s coming out of Washington in recent weeks, it’s obviously deeply disappointing,” said Patrick Tutwiler, the state's education secretary. “There’s clear misalignment around what is important and what matters. We are seeing this cut of the LFS program as a first step towards deeper cuts.”

School nutrition directors are bracing for potential rollbacks to programs that expanded funding for school meals, which for some children can be their only reliable source of food.

Proposed spending cuts to fund Republican's tax bill include raising the poverty level needed for schools to provide universal free meals without an application. Restricting eligibility for food assistance programs and requiring income verification for free or reduced price school meals, two proposals for cutting costs, would also likely cut out eligible families from accessing food, the School Nutrition Association said.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686564931973.png" alt="&nbsp;Photo Amanda Mills/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Photo Amanda Mills/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Agriculture Department is ending two pandemic-era programs that provided more than $1 billion for schools and food banks to purchase food from local farmers and producers.About $660 million of that went to schools and childcare centers to buy food for meals through the Local Foods for Schools program. A separate program provided money to food banks.In Maine, the money allowed the coastal RSU 23 school district to buy food directly from fisherman, dairy producers and farmers for school meals, said Caroline Trinder, the district’s food and nutrition services director.“I think everyone can say that they want kids at school to receive the healthiest meals possible,” Trinder said. “It’s the least processed, and we’re helping our local economy, we’re helping farmers that may be the parents of our students.”The cuts will hurt school districts with “chronically underfunded” school meal budgets, said Shannon Gleave, president of the School Nutrition Association.“In addition to losing the benefits for our kids, this loss of funds is a huge blow to community farmers and ranchers and is detrimental to school meal programs struggling to manage rising food and labor costs,” Gleave said in a statement.USDA said the programs are a legacy of the pandemic and no longer supported the agency’s priorities.“The COVID era is over — USDA’s approach to nutrition programs will reflect that reality moving forward,” a USDA spokesperson said in a statement.Massachusetts received roughly $12 million in federal funding for school districts and childcare programs to buy food from local producers.“The signaling that’s coming out of Washington in recent weeks, it’s obviously deeply disappointing,” said Patrick Tutwiler, the state's education secretary. “There’s clear misalignment around what is important and what matters. We are seeing this cut of the LFS program as a first step towards deeper cuts.”School nutrition directors are bracing for potential rollbacks to programs that expanded funding for school meals, which for some children can be their only reliable source of food.Proposed spending cuts to fund Republican's tax bill include raising the poverty level needed for schools to provide universal free meals without an application. Restricting eligibility for food assistance programs and requiring income verification for free or reduced price school meals, two proposals for cutting costs, would also likely cut out eligible families from accessing food, the School Nutrition Association said.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

USDA ends program that helped schools serve food from local farmers

MOSCOW (AP) —Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he agrees in principle with a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but the terms need to be worked out, and he emphasized that it should pave the way to lasting peace.

“So the idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it," Putin told a news conference in Moscow. “But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to discuss it with our American colleagues and partners.”

He noted the need to develop a mechanism to control possible breaches of the truce. Another issue, he said, is whether Ukraine could use the 30-day ceasefire to rearm.

“We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis,” Putin said.

Putin made the remarks just hours after the arrival of Trump’s envoy in Moscow for talks on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-ukraine-war-trump-zelenskyy-ceasefire-ff03a8b11b03da88d1d26e797f97e623">30-day ceasefire</a>&nbsp;that Ukraine has accepted.

The diplomatic effort coincided with a Russian claim that its troops have driven the Ukrainian army out of a key town in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-kursk-incursion-ca6d18d06606794580bdc779d2c98134">Russia’s Kursk border region</a>, where Moscow has been trying for seven months to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their foothold.

Putin said it appeared that the U.S. persuaded Ukraine to accept a ceasefire and that Ukraine is interested because of the battlefield situation, particularly in Kursk.

Referring to the Ukrainian troops in Kursk, he said: “Will all those who are there come out without a fight?"

Putin thanked U.S. President Donald Trump “for paying so much attention to the settlement in Ukraine.”

He also thanked the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa for their “noble mission to end the fighting,” a statement that signaled those countries' potential involvement in a ceasefire deal.

Russia has said it will not accept peacekeepers from any NATO members to monitor a prospective truce.

Putin’s foreign affairs adviser said Putin planned to meet with Trump’s special envoy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d26c80c87a57fd3a811e4b0aa0eda58e">Steve Witkoff</a>, later Thursday.

The Russian Defense Ministry’s claim that it recaptured the town of Sudzha, a Ukrainian operational hub in Kursk, came hours after Putin visited his commanders in Kursk. The claim could not be independently verified. Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment.

The renewed Russian military push and Putin's high-profile visit to his troops unfolded as Trump seeks a diplomatic end to the war, which began more than three years ago with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s full-scale invasion.</a>

The U.S. on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-kremlin-349e58cfe22eb3e77e75c15989cbc110">lifted its March 3 suspension</a>&nbsp;of military aid for Kyiv after senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials reported making progress on how to stop the fighting during talks in Saudi Arabia.

Trump said Wednesday that “it’s up to Russia now” as his administration presses Moscow to agree to the ceasefire. The U.S. president has made veiled threats to hit Russia with new sanctions if it does not engage with peace efforts.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC Thursday that Trump is “willing to apply maximum pressure on both sides,” including sanctions that reach the highest scale on Russia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741884162979.png" alt="Russian President Vladimir Putin image courtesy&nbsp;Russian Presidential Press Service " />
 <figcaption>Russian President Vladimir Putin image courtesy&nbsp;Russian Presidential Press Service </figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) —Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he agrees in principle with a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but the terms need to be worked out, and he emphasized that it should pave the way to lasting peace.“So the idea itself is correct, and we certainly support it," Putin told a news conference in Moscow. “But there are issues that we need to discuss, and I think that we need to discuss it with our American colleagues and partners.”He noted the need to develop a mechanism to control possible breaches of the truce. Another issue, he said, is whether Ukraine could use the 30-day ceasefire to rearm.“We agree with the proposals to halt the fighting, but we proceed from the assumption that the ceasefire should lead to lasting peace and remove the root causes of the crisis,” Putin said.Putin made the remarks just hours after the arrival of Trump’s envoy in Moscow for talks on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-ukraine-war-trump-zelenskyy-ceasefire-ff03a8b11b03da88d1d26e797f97e623">30-day ceasefire</a>&nbsp;that Ukraine has accepted.The diplomatic effort coincided with a Russian claim that its troops have driven the Ukrainian army out of a key town in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-kursk-incursion-ca6d18d06606794580bdc779d2c98134">Russia’s Kursk border region</a>, where Moscow has been trying for seven months to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their foothold.Putin said it appeared that the U.S. persuaded Ukraine to accept a ceasefire and that Ukraine is interested because of the battlefield situation, particularly in Kursk.Referring to the Ukrainian troops in Kursk, he said: “Will all those who are there come out without a fight?"Putin thanked U.S. President Donald Trump “for paying so much attention to the settlement in Ukraine.”He also thanked the leaders of China, India, Brazil and South Africa for their “noble mission to end the fighting,” a statement that signaled those countries' potential involvement in a ceasefire deal.Russia has said it will not accept peacekeepers from any NATO members to monitor a prospective truce.Putin’s foreign affairs adviser said Putin planned to meet with Trump’s special envoy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/d26c80c87a57fd3a811e4b0aa0eda58e">Steve Witkoff</a>, later Thursday.The Russian Defense Ministry’s claim that it recaptured the town of Sudzha, a Ukrainian operational hub in Kursk, came hours after Putin visited his commanders in Kursk. The claim could not be independently verified. Ukrainian officials made no immediate comment.The renewed Russian military push and Putin's high-profile visit to his troops unfolded as Trump seeks a diplomatic end to the war, which began more than three years ago with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s full-scale invasion.</a>The U.S. on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-kremlin-349e58cfe22eb3e77e75c15989cbc110">lifted its March 3 suspension</a>&nbsp;of military aid for Kyiv after senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials reported making progress on how to stop the fighting during talks in Saudi Arabia.Trump said Wednesday that “it’s up to Russia now” as his administration presses Moscow to agree to the ceasefire. The U.S. president has made veiled threats to hit Russia with new sanctions if it does not engage with peace efforts.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC Thursday that Trump is “willing to apply maximum pressure on both sides,” including sanctions that reach the highest scale on Russia.

Putin agrees in principle with US proposal for ceasefire in Ukraine

WICHITA, KS — The Wichita Police Department has arrested suspect in connection with a 2021 homicide.

Just after 1:30a..m. March 29, 2021, police responded to a report of a walk-in shooting victim at a local hospital in Wichita, according to Police Captain Aaron Moses.&nbsp; The victim, 21-year-old Abram Galvan, had been shot once and later died from his injuries.

Investigators determined the shooting was linked to a shots-fired incident reported near 19th and Jackson in Wichita around the same time.

Since that day, WPD Homicide Investigators have worked tirelessly to seek justice for Abram and his loved ones. Their efforts included following up on leads, analyzing forensic and electronic evidence, collaborating with media to encourage witnesses to come forward, and featuring the case on Wichita Police Department's Cold Case Homicide website.

In early 2025, new information emerged, leading investigators to identify a potential suspect. On Wednesday with assistance from the United States Marshal’s Office, Wichita Police investigators peacefully arrested the suspect, identified according to county booking records as Pedro B. Morones. He is being held in Sedgwick County Jail on bond of&nbsp;$1,500,000.00 on a requested charge of First-Degree Murder, according to online jail records.

The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741866222570.png" alt="Morones photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Morones photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KS — The Wichita Police Department has arrested suspect in connection with a 2021 homicide.Just after 1:30a..m. March 29, 2021, police responded to a report of a walk-in shooting victim at a local hospital in Wichita, according to Police Captain Aaron Moses.&nbsp; The victim, 21-year-old Abram Galvan, had been shot once and later died from his injuries.Investigators determined the shooting was linked to a shots-fired incident reported near 19th and Jackson in Wichita around the same time.Since that day, WPD Homicide Investigators have worked tirelessly to seek justice for Abram and his loved ones. Their efforts included following up on leads, analyzing forensic and electronic evidence, collaborating with media to encourage witnesses to come forward, and featuring the case on Wichita Police Department's Cold Case Homicide website.In early 2025, new information emerged, leading investigators to identify a potential suspect. On Wednesday with assistance from the United States Marshal’s Office, Wichita Police investigators peacefully arrested the suspect, identified according to county booking records as Pedro B. Morones. He is being held in Sedgwick County Jail on bond of&nbsp;$1,500,000.00 on a requested charge of First-Degree Murder, according to online jail records.The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration.

Police arrest suspect in Kansas cold case killing

RAWLINS COUNTY —A Special Agent with the Kansas State Fire Marshall assisted in an investigation of a grass fire in Rawlins County.

The area of origin for the grass fire was a burn pit that has not been used in over a week, according to a social media report fro the State Fire Marshal. The property owner last checked the burn pit the previous weekend and saw no signs of smoldering. 

The State Fire Marshall reminded the public that burn pits can smolder for days or weeks, even after they fire appears to be out. "One tip is to keep up on property maintenance by keeping vegetation mowed down and away from any structures.It does not take long for dry material to go up in flames."

 Two Thomas County Deputies who were alerted to the fire in the neighboring county responded and observed a group of trees/bushes near a shed ignite. One deputy stated, "It was a big flash and the bushes were gone."&nbsp; &nbsp;There were no injuries from the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741869355350.jpeg" alt="-Aftermath of the grass fire that started out in the burn pit that went unused for a week, unknowingly smoldering under the ash and any remaining debris, being fanned by winds around 20 mph, finally igniting and spreading.-photo Kansas State Fire Marshall" />
 <figcaption>-Aftermath of the grass fire that started out in the burn pit that went unused for a week, unknowingly smoldering under the ash and any remaining debris, being fanned by winds around 20 mph, finally igniting and spreading.-photo Kansas State Fire Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>RAWLINS COUNTY —A Special Agent with the Kansas State Fire Marshall assisted in an investigation of a grass fire in Rawlins County.The area of origin for the grass fire was a burn pit that has not been used in over a week, according to a social media report fro the State Fire Marshal. The property owner last checked the burn pit the previous weekend and saw no signs of smoldering. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741869157017.png" alt="-Photo Kansas State Fire Marshall" />
 <figcaption>-Photo Kansas State Fire Marshall</figcaption>
 </figure>The State Fire Marshall reminded the public that burn pits can smolder for days or weeks, even after they fire appears to be out. "One tip is to keep up on property maintenance by keeping vegetation mowed down and away from any structures.It does not take long for dry material to go up in flames." Two Thomas County Deputies who were alerted to the fire in the neighboring county responded and observed a group of trees/bushes near a shed ignite. One deputy stated, "It was a big flash and the bushes were gone."&nbsp; &nbsp;There were no injuries from the fire.

Fire Marshall: Burn pit unused for a week sparked Kan. fire

ALLEN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Wednesday in Allen County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported 2004 Ford F250 Super Duty driven by Scott R. Welch, 44, Moran,&nbsp;&nbsp;was eastbound on U.S. 54 hauling a large bale of hay, obstructing the visibility of the tail-lights.

A 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by Raymond L&nbsp;Streeter, 84, Fort Scott, rear ended the Ford. After impact, the Ford&nbsp;rotated counter-clockwise,&nbsp; overturned and Welch was ejected into the westbound lanes of U.S. 54.

&nbsp;A westbound 2018 Chevy Equinox driven by&nbsp; James J.&nbsp;Bridger, 22, Gainsville, Texas, struck Welch.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Countryside Funeral Home. There were no other injuries.

ALLEN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Wednesday in Allen County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported 2004 Ford F250 Super Duty driven by Scott R. Welch, 44, Moran,&nbsp;&nbsp;was eastbound on U.S. 54 hauling a large bale of hay, obstructing the visibility of the tail-lights.A 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by Raymond L&nbsp;Streeter, 84, Fort Scott, rear ended the Ford. After impact, the Ford&nbsp;rotated counter-clockwise,&nbsp; overturned and Welch was ejected into the westbound lanes of U.S. 54.&nbsp;A westbound 2018 Chevy Equinox driven by&nbsp; James J.&nbsp;Bridger, 22, Gainsville, Texas, struck Welch.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Countryside Funeral Home. There were no other injuries.

Kan. driver ejected in crash, struck and killed by SUV

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement and fire officials investigating the a fatal Kansas house fire have identified the victim as 54-year-old James Earl Hoddy, according to Fire Chief Alan Stahl.

Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, the Topeka Fire Department received reports of a house fire at 2418 SE Wisconsin Avenue, according to Stahl.

 First arriving units reported a two-story residence fully involved with fire. During a search of the residence, firefighters located Hoddy deceased. The fire was quickly brought under control.

The Topeka Fire Department Investigations unit along with members of the Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Investigations unit responded to the scene.&nbsp; They determined the fire was intentionally set.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fire crews also located and rescued a dog&nbsp; from inside of the residence. Two other dogs died.&nbsp;The Topeka Fire Department is seeking no suspects for this fire, according to Stahl.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741793126837.png" alt="Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement and fire officials investigating the a fatal Kansas house fire have identified the victim as 54-year-old James Earl Hoddy, according to Fire Chief Alan Stahl.Just after 4a.m. Tuesday, the Topeka Fire Department received reports of a house fire at 2418 SE Wisconsin Avenue, according to Stahl. First arriving units reported a two-story residence fully involved with fire. During a search of the residence, firefighters located Hoddy deceased. The fire was quickly brought under control.The Topeka Fire Department Investigations unit along with members of the Office of the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Investigations unit responded to the scene.&nbsp; They determined the fire was intentionally set.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fire crews also located and rescued a dog&nbsp; from inside of the residence. Two other dogs died.&nbsp;The Topeka Fire Department is seeking no suspects for this fire, according to Stahl.

Fire marshal IDs Kan. man who died in house fire he set

COWLEY COUNTY—The Kansas Highway Patrol released details of a fatal crash that occurred just before 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Cowley County.

The Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy Cruz driven by Lauren Grace&nbsp;McPherson, 18, Arkansas City, was northbound on U.S. 77 approximately one mile north of Kansas Avenue. The Chevy and a southbound 2003 Mazda MPV driven by Connie J.&nbsp;Hurst, 71, Arkansas City, collided in the southbound lanes.

Hurst was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home

EMS transported McPherson to Wesley Medical Center.&nbsp; EMS also transported two passengers in the Mazda identified as Leland D. Hurst, 52, and&nbsp; Cheyenne K. Hurst, 12, both of Arkansas City to the hospital in Arkansas City.&nbsp; The patrol had incomplete seat belt usage information.

COWLEY COUNTY—The Kansas Highway Patrol released details of a fatal crash that occurred just before 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Cowley County.The Patrol reported a 2017 Chevy Cruz driven by Lauren Grace&nbsp;McPherson, 18, Arkansas City, was northbound on U.S. 77 approximately one mile north of Kansas Avenue. The Chevy and a southbound 2003 Mazda MPV driven by Connie J.&nbsp;Hurst, 71, Arkansas City, collided in the southbound lanes.Hurst was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Rindt-Erdman Funeral HomeEMS transported McPherson to Wesley Medical Center.&nbsp; EMS also transported two passengers in the Mazda identified as Leland D. Hurst, 52, and&nbsp; Cheyenne K. Hurst, 12, both of Arkansas City to the hospital in Arkansas City.&nbsp; The patrol had incomplete seat belt usage information.

Kan. woman killed, 2 adults and a juvenile injured in crash

NEW YORK (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astronomy-science-north-america-eclipses-lunar-9e3e005881850bb6dbb882e25547740f">total lunar eclipse</a>&nbsp;will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eclipse-meteors-supermoon-auroras-c8440d2818a896258e0ef9a92525f17b">flush the moon red</a>&nbsp;Thursday night into Friday morning across the Western Hemisphere.

The best views will be from North America and South America. Parts of Africa and Europe may catch a glimpse.

Lunar eclipses happen when the moon, Earth and sun align just so. The Earth casts a shadow that can&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/eclipses-alabama-national-d065e505f494439c9e1dee3c2b7b0cb1">partially</a>&nbsp;or totally blot out the moon.

During a partial lunar eclipse, Earth's shadow appears to take a bite of the moon. The full moon is covered during a total eclipse and blushes coppery red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere.

Lunar and solar eclipses happen anywhere from four to seven times a year, according to NASA. A partial lunar eclipse graced skies in the Americas, Africa and Europe last September and the last total lunar eclipse was in 2022.

The so-called blood moon will be visible for about an hour starting at 2:26 a.m. Eastern on Friday morning. Peak viewing will be close to 3 a.m. Eastern.

To see it, venture outside and look up — no need for eclipse glasses or any special equipment.

“As long as the sky is clear, you should be able to see it,” said Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.

The setting of the moon may make it harder to see the eclipse in Europe and Africa.

“This is really an eclipse for North and South America,” said astronomy expert Michael Faison from Yale University.

If you miss out, mark your calendar for Sept. 7. Another total lunar eclipse will sweep across parts of Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. Parts of the Americas will get their next taste in March 2026.

Civilizations have viewed and interpreted lunar eclipses for thousands of years. Ancient people knew more about the celestial bodies than we give them credit for, said historian Zoe Ortiz.

“They were looking at the night sky and they had a much brighter vision than we do today,” said Ortiz with the University of North Texas.

Aristotle noticed that the shadow the Earth cast on the moon during a lunar eclipse was always curved, observations proving that the Earth is round.

And a civilization in ancient Mesopotamia saw the blood red moon as a bad omen for the king. The people installed a substitute king on the throne around the time of the eclipse to protect their ruler from any bad will.

“If there's ever a movie plot,” said Ortiz, “that's the one.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667823609840.jpeg" alt="File photo lunar eclipse by Ted Warren AP" />
 <figcaption>File photo lunar eclipse by Ted Warren AP</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astronomy-science-north-america-eclipses-lunar-9e3e005881850bb6dbb882e25547740f">total lunar eclipse</a>&nbsp;will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eclipse-meteors-supermoon-auroras-c8440d2818a896258e0ef9a92525f17b">flush the moon red</a>&nbsp;Thursday night into Friday morning across the Western Hemisphere.The best views will be from North America and South America. Parts of Africa and Europe may catch a glimpse.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Don&#39;t sleep on this! In the Western Hemisphere? Step outside late tonight to see a &quot;Blood Moon,&quot; aka lunar eclipse, as the Sun, Earth, and Moon align such that the Moon passes into Earth&#39;s shadow. Totality begins at 2:26am ET (0626 UTC) March 14: <a href="https://t.co/9tPlMZdpfC">https://t.co/9tPlMZdpfC</a> <a href="https://t.co/3YwV9rZzK7">pic.twitter.com/3YwV9rZzK7</a>&mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1900273208009335185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lunar eclipses happen when the moon, Earth and sun align just so. The Earth casts a shadow that can&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/eclipses-alabama-national-d065e505f494439c9e1dee3c2b7b0cb1">partially</a>&nbsp;or totally blot out the moon.During a partial lunar eclipse, Earth's shadow appears to take a bite of the moon. The full moon is covered during a total eclipse and blushes coppery red because of stray bits of sunlight filtering through Earth's atmosphere.Lunar and solar eclipses happen anywhere from four to seven times a year, according to NASA. A partial lunar eclipse graced skies in the Americas, Africa and Europe last September and the last total lunar eclipse was in 2022.<h2>How to see the lunar eclipse</h2>The so-called blood moon will be visible for about an hour starting at 2:26 a.m. Eastern on Friday morning. Peak viewing will be close to 3 a.m. Eastern.To see it, venture outside and look up — no need for eclipse glasses or any special equipment.“As long as the sky is clear, you should be able to see it,” said Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.The setting of the moon may make it harder to see the eclipse in Europe and Africa.“This is really an eclipse for North and South America,” said astronomy expert Michael Faison from Yale University.If you miss out, mark your calendar for Sept. 7. Another total lunar eclipse will sweep across parts of Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe. Parts of the Americas will get their next taste in March 2026.<h2>History of eclipses</h2>Civilizations have viewed and interpreted lunar eclipses for thousands of years. Ancient people knew more about the celestial bodies than we give them credit for, said historian Zoe Ortiz.“They were looking at the night sky and they had a much brighter vision than we do today,” said Ortiz with the University of North Texas.Aristotle noticed that the shadow the Earth cast on the moon during a lunar eclipse was always curved, observations proving that the Earth is round.And a civilization in ancient Mesopotamia saw the blood red moon as a bad omen for the king. The people installed a substitute king on the throne around the time of the eclipse to protect their ruler from any bad will.“If there's ever a movie plot,” said Ortiz, “that's the one.”___

Don't miss it: Total lunar eclipse Thurs. night, Friday morning

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The woman who accused Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy of attacking her last week, resulting in a case in which the district attorney has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-xavier-worthy-arrested-4d3b3bb4c3608a5be74f2dda420f0044">so far declined to pursue charges</a>, has been granted a protective order against him by a Texas judge.

Attorneys for Tia Jones confirmed the order in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday night. They added that Jones is “fully cooperating with law enforcement as they continue to actively investigate the violence that occurred.”

“Ms. Jones has chosen to use her voice to speak up for herself," said Angelica Cogliano, who is representing the woman along with attorneys Addy Miro, Leslie Booker and Deniz Kadirhan. “In doing so, she looks forward to the facts and circumstances of that night coming to light through the formal legal process, and getting the justice that she deserves.”

Worthy was arrested last Friday and held in a county jail on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking in common terms. He was released the following day, when Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick said that his office has spoken with witnesses and was not accepting the case at that time.

Williamson County includes parts of Austin, where Worthy played college football at the University of Texas.

In a statement, Worthy’s attorneys, Chip Lewis and Sam Bassett, said their client was innocent of the charge against him. They said the allegation was made by a woman who had been living in Worthy’s home, and that she had been asked to leave multiple times over the last two weeks “upon discovery of her infidelity.”

“She has refused to vacate the residence and made a number of extortive efforts prior to resorting to this baseless allegation against Mr. Worthy,” the lawyers said. “The complainant further destroyed a room in the residence, scratched Mr. Worthy’s face and ripped out parts of his hair, which there is photographic evidence of. Worthy told law enforcement at the time of the incident he did not want to press charges against the complainant.”

The Chiefs told the AP on Saturday that they were aware of the situation and still gathering information.

Worthy was chosen by the Chiefs with the 28th overall pick in last year’s draft after setting the record for the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He got off to a quick start by scoring a pair of touchdowns in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-ravens-nfl-opener-0ea1b2027f61a147d5365bad6a7f6cbb">NFL debut</a>, and after a midseason lull, he became the Chiefs’ go-to wide receiver as they chased an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.

Worthy finished with 59 catches for 638 yards and six TDs while running 20 times for 104 yards and three more scores.

He was one of the few bright spots for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">Chiefs in a 40-22 loss to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl</a>, too. Worthy caught all eight of his targets for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns at the Superdome in New Orleans.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741484782207.jpeg" alt="FILE - Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy addresses the media before NFL football practice, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy addresses the media before NFL football practice, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The woman who accused Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy of attacking her last week, resulting in a case in which the district attorney has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-xavier-worthy-arrested-4d3b3bb4c3608a5be74f2dda420f0044">so far declined to pursue charges</a>, has been granted a protective order against him by a Texas judge.Attorneys for Tia Jones confirmed the order in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday night. They added that Jones is “fully cooperating with law enforcement as they continue to actively investigate the violence that occurred.”“Ms. Jones has chosen to use her voice to speak up for herself," said Angelica Cogliano, who is representing the woman along with attorneys Addy Miro, Leslie Booker and Deniz Kadirhan. “In doing so, she looks forward to the facts and circumstances of that night coming to light through the formal legal process, and getting the justice that she deserves.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741483775149.png" alt="Charge dismissed, according to online jail record" />
 <figcaption>Charge dismissed, according to online jail record</figcaption>
 </figure>Worthy was arrested last Friday and held in a county jail on a charge of assault on a family or household member in which their breath was impeded, or choking in common terms. He was released the following day, when Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick said that his office has spoken with witnesses and was not accepting the case at that time.Williamson County includes parts of Austin, where Worthy played college football at the University of Texas.In a statement, Worthy’s attorneys, Chip Lewis and Sam Bassett, said their client was innocent of the charge against him. They said the allegation was made by a woman who had been living in Worthy’s home, and that she had been asked to leave multiple times over the last two weeks “upon discovery of her infidelity.”“She has refused to vacate the residence and made a number of extortive efforts prior to resorting to this baseless allegation against Mr. Worthy,” the lawyers said. “The complainant further destroyed a room in the residence, scratched Mr. Worthy’s face and ripped out parts of his hair, which there is photographic evidence of. Worthy told law enforcement at the time of the incident he did not want to press charges against the complainant.”The Chiefs told the AP on Saturday that they were aware of the situation and still gathering information.Worthy was chosen by the Chiefs with the 28th overall pick in last year’s draft after setting the record for the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. He got off to a quick start by scoring a pair of touchdowns in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-kansas-city-ravens-nfl-opener-0ea1b2027f61a147d5365bad6a7f6cbb">NFL debut</a>, and after a midseason lull, he became the Chiefs’ go-to wide receiver as they chased an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title.Worthy finished with 59 catches for 638 yards and six TDs while running 20 times for 104 yards and three more scores.He was one of the few bright spots for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">Chiefs in a 40-22 loss to Philadelphia in the Super Bowl</a>, too. Worthy caught all eight of his targets for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns at the Superdome in New Orleans.

Woman who accused Chiefs receiver of attacking her granted protective order 

PAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas felon will spend the rest of his life in prison for sex crimes involving juveniles.

On Wednesday, James Edwin Speer, 33 formerly of Larned appeared in custody before Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman for felony sentencing, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

In July, a jury found Speer was found Speer guilty of Rape of a Child Under 14 years of age and of Aggravated Oral Sodomy of a Child Under 14 years of age.

The crimes were alleged to have occurred at a residence in Garfield, Kansas on or about May 25th or 26th in 2013. 

Testimony was presented at trial that during a conversation with her mother in August of 2020 the victim disclosed that, when she was approximately 8 years old, she had been sexually assaulted at party her father took her to. The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department was then notified about the allegations by the mother. A formal forensic interview of the girl was performed by the Child Advocacy Center in Great Bend, Kansas.

At trial, the defendant presented an Alibi defense arguing it was impossible for him to have committed the alleged acts as he was with another girl at the time. As part of the evidence at trial, the parties stipulated that in 2015 a jury convicted Speer, of two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a 14 year old child. Specifically, the jury found Speer had sexual intercourse with a 14 year old child in an apartment in Larned in May or June of 2013; and he had sexual intercourse with a 14 year old child in an apartment in Larned in June of 2013.

Based on the age of the victim, under Jessica’s Law the presumptive sentence was a life sentence with a mandatory requirement the defendant serve a minimum of 25 years. As part of his opportunity to address the Court at sentencing, Speer denied he had committed the newly convicted offenses and requested the Court consider the efforts he has made in prison to reform himself and sentence him to a reduced sentence such that he could be released in 2027.

Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett argued that based on Speer’s other prior sexually violent crimes the Court should find that Speer is an Aggravated Habitual Sex Offender and sentence the defendant to life without the possibility of parole.

After reviewing the presentence investigation report and hearing the arguments presented, Judge Gatterman agreed with the State that Speer met the statutory criteria of an Aggravated Habitual Sex Offender having been convicted of at least two prior sexually violent crimes. As such, the Court sentenced the defendant to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The defendant will also be subject to lifetime offender registration as a sex offender.

Under Kansas sentencing laws, all prior convictions which occur prior to sentencing in the current case are considered in determining criminal history, regardless of whether the offense that led to the prior conviction occurred before or after the current offense or the conviction in the current case.

Speer is currently in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections serving a sentence for his 2015 Pawnee County sex offense convictions. Following the sentencing, the defendant was advised of his rights to appeal the convictions and sentence imposed.

The Court previously denied the defense motion for a new trial at a hearing conducted on August 22, 2024.

Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett presented the State’s case. Speer was represented by Joe Shepack of Great Bend, Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720657861287.png" alt="Speer photo Pawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Speer photo Pawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —A Kansas felon will spend the rest of his life in prison for sex crimes involving juveniles.On Wednesday, James Edwin Speer, 33 formerly of Larned appeared in custody before Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman for felony sentencing, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.In July, a jury found Speer was found Speer guilty of Rape of a Child Under 14 years of age and of Aggravated Oral Sodomy of a Child Under 14 years of age.The crimes were alleged to have occurred at a residence in Garfield, Kansas on or about May 25th or 26th in 2013. Testimony was presented at trial that during a conversation with her mother in August of 2020 the victim disclosed that, when she was approximately 8 years old, she had been sexually assaulted at party her father took her to. The Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department was then notified about the allegations by the mother. A formal forensic interview of the girl was performed by the Child Advocacy Center in Great Bend, Kansas.At trial, the defendant presented an Alibi defense arguing it was impossible for him to have committed the alleged acts as he was with another girl at the time. As part of the evidence at trial, the parties stipulated that in 2015 a jury convicted Speer, of two counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a 14 year old child. Specifically, the jury found Speer had sexual intercourse with a 14 year old child in an apartment in Larned in May or June of 2013; and he had sexual intercourse with a 14 year old child in an apartment in Larned in June of 2013.Based on the age of the victim, under Jessica’s Law the presumptive sentence was a life sentence with a mandatory requirement the defendant serve a minimum of 25 years. As part of his opportunity to address the Court at sentencing, Speer denied he had committed the newly convicted offenses and requested the Court consider the efforts he has made in prison to reform himself and sentence him to a reduced sentence such that he could be released in 2027.Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett argued that based on Speer’s other prior sexually violent crimes the Court should find that Speer is an Aggravated Habitual Sex Offender and sentence the defendant to life without the possibility of parole.After reviewing the presentence investigation report and hearing the arguments presented, Judge Gatterman agreed with the State that Speer met the statutory criteria of an Aggravated Habitual Sex Offender having been convicted of at least two prior sexually violent crimes. As such, the Court sentenced the defendant to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The defendant will also be subject to lifetime offender registration as a sex offender.Under Kansas sentencing laws, all prior convictions which occur prior to sentencing in the current case are considered in determining criminal history, regardless of whether the offense that led to the prior conviction occurred before or after the current offense or the conviction in the current case.Speer is currently in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections serving a sentence for his 2015 Pawnee County sex offense convictions. Following the sentencing, the defendant was advised of his rights to appeal the convictions and sentence imposed.The Court previously denied the defense motion for a new trial at a hearing conducted on August 22, 2024.Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett presented the State’s case. Speer was represented by Joe Shepack of Great Bend, Kansas.

Judge rules Kan. man is aggravated habitual sex offender

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two women on drug allegations.

Just after 11a.m. March 9, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested two individuals after a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics within an Acura passenger vehicle near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

During a search of the vehicle, the deputy found methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, and drug paraphernalia.

The driver and registered owner,&nbsp;Paula Louise Michael, 61, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The front seat passenger, Jessica Maria Espinoza, 62, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741709743776.png" alt="Espinoza photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Espinoza photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two women on drug allegations.Just after 11a.m. March 9, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy arrested two individuals after a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics within an Acura passenger vehicle near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741709697029.png" alt="Michael photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Michael photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During a search of the vehicle, the deputy found methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, and drug paraphernalia.The driver and registered owner,&nbsp;Paula Louise Michael, 61, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.The front seat passenger, Jessica Maria Espinoza, 62, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas deputy found magic mushrooms, meth during traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has said he wants his new education chief,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">Linda McMahon</a>, to “put herself out of a job.”

Since Trump took office, staffing at the Education Department has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-layoffs-job-cuts-linda-mcmahon-ce9f6a8a63972aede0d8fbdf057ab788">cut in half</a>, and he has been mulling an executive order to close the agency.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-secretary-linda-mcmahon-a49af0778fa7c50163619d1764f93c91">Eliminating the department</a>&nbsp;altogether would be a cumbersome task, which likely would require an act of Congress.

Already, the Trump administration has started overhauling much of the department’s work. Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has cut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ies-musk-doge-education-cuts-4461d7bdbe9d55c5a411d8465999b011">dozens of contracts</a>&nbsp;it dismissed as “woke” and wasteful. It gutted the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nation’s academic progress.

The agency's main role is financial. Annually, it distributes billions in federal money to colleges and schools and manages the federal student loan portfolio. Closing the department would mean redistributing each of those duties to another agency. The Education Department also plays an important regulatory role in services for students, ranging from those with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-suspension-special-education-adhd-3cda5e7b0e3080b0416bf879e190e849">disabilities</a>&nbsp;to low-income and homeless kids.

Indeed, federal education money is central to Trump's plans for colleges and schools. Trump has vowed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-critical-race-theory-antisemitism-college-protests-18136b8c8f5adb9c75c47907e020268a">cut off federal money</a>&nbsp;for schools and colleges that push "critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content" and to reward states and schools that end teacher tenure and support universal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-choice-trump-education-vouchers-c6ecc22879fe329da4acfac3aa7410e6">school choice programs</a>.

Federal funding makes up a relatively small portion of public school budgets — roughly 14%. Colleges and universities are more reliant on it, through research grants along with federal financial aid that helps students pay their tuition.

Here is a look at some of the department's key functions, and how Trump has said he might approach them.

The Education Department manages approximately $1.5 trillion in student loan debt for over 40 million borrowers. It also oversees the Pell Grant, which provides aid to students below a certain income threshold, and administers the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-loans-trump-federal-aid-pause-0bae211d87a63509b9abbba3b301552d">FAFSA</a>&nbsp;), which universities use to allocate financial aid.

President Joe Biden's administration made cancellation of student loans a signature effort of the department's work. Even though Biden’s initial attempt to cancel student loans was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-2d6eec61822b9e7a89ff59453d2486a5">overturned by the Supreme Court</a>, the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-forgiveness-debt-774b0ee69f911f68f646a066031ee604">forgave</a>&nbsp;over $175 billion for more than 4.8 million borrowers through a range of changes to programs it administers, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

The loan forgiveness efforts have faced Republican pushback, including litigation from several GOP-led states.

Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-trump-e6c96fc0cce04286a9a8a3abbd9d88e8">criticized</a>&nbsp;Biden's efforts to cancel debt as illegal and unfair, calling it a “total catastrophe” that “taunted young people.” Trump's plan for student debt is uncertain: He has not put out detailed plans.

Through its Office for Civil Rights, the Education Department conducts investigations and issues guidance on how civil rights laws should be applied, such as for LGBTQ+ students and students of color. The office also oversees a large data collection project that tracks disparities in resources, course access and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ferguson-black-lives-matter-school-discipline-suspension-d099aab519ff743dc2be04c6b6132144">discipline</a>&nbsp;for students of different racial and socioeconomic groups.

Trump has suggested a different interpretation of the office's civil rights role. Under his administration, the department has instructed the office to prioritize complaints of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-antisemitism-columbia-berkeley-1f7ad6abc1b4e40e59b67e639a29a6ec">antisemitism</a>&nbsp;above all else and has opened investigations into colleges and school sports leagues for allowing transgender athletes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/volleyball-transgender-san-jose-state-politics-0e4da0292b4c5315e053e53c064d5a5c">compete on women’s teams</a>.

In his campaign platform, Trump said he would pursue civil rights cases to “stop schools from discriminating on the basis of race.” He has described diversity and equity policies in education as “explicit unlawful discrimination” and said colleges that use them will pay fines and have their endowments taxed.

Trump also has pledged to exclude&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-trump-title-ix-1b9d3a1d928ea78c21372da63600c6d1">transgender students</a>&nbsp;from Title IX protections, which affect school policies on students’ use of pronouns, bathrooms and locker rooms. Originally passed in 1972, Title IX was first used as a women’s rights law. Last year, Biden’s administration said the law forbids discrimination based on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/title-ix-sexual-assault-transgender-sports-d0fc0ab7515de02b8e4403d0481dc1e7">gender identity and sexual orientation</a>, but a federal judge undid those protections.

While the Education Department does not directly accredit colleges and universities, it oversees the system by reviewing all federally recognized accrediting agencies. Institutions of higher education must be accredited to gain access to federal money for student financial aid.

Accreditation came under scrutiny from conservatives in 2022, when the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools questioned political interference at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-new-college-florida-woke-15d61ab52724dc447ba6d03238f7719e">Florida public colleges</a>&nbsp;and universities. Trump has said he would fire “radical left accreditors” and take applications for new accreditors that would uphold standards including “defending the American tradition” and removing “Marxist” diversity administrators.

Although the education secretary has the authority to terminate its relationship with individual accrediting agencies, it is an arduous process that has rarely been pursued. Under President Barack Obama, the department took steps to cancel accreditors for a now-defunct for-profit college chain, but the Trump administration blocked the move. The group, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, was terminated by the Biden administration in 2022.

Much of the Education Department's money for K-12 schools goes through large federal programs, such as Title I for low-income schools and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Those programs support services for students with disabilities, lower class sizes with additional teaching positions, and pay for social workers and other non-teaching roles in schools.

During his campaign, Trump called for shifting those functions to the states. He has not offered details on how the agency's core functions of sending federal money to local districts and schools would be handled.

The Heritage Foundation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-harris-election-heritage-foundation-9183cf4c36c293e11b59847189d26a87">Project 2025</a>, a sweeping proposal outlining a far-right vision for the country, offered a blueprint. It suggested sending oversight of programs for kids with disabilities and low-income children first to the Department of Health and Human Services, before eventually phasing out the funding and converting it to no-strings-attached grants to states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741043570945.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">Linda McMahon</a>, President Trump's new education chief during a January meeting.- courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">Linda McMahon</a>, President Trump's new education chief during a January meeting.- courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has said he wants his new education chief,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">Linda McMahon</a>, to “put herself out of a job.”Since Trump took office, staffing at the Education Department has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-layoffs-job-cuts-linda-mcmahon-ce9f6a8a63972aede0d8fbdf057ab788">cut in half</a>, and he has been mulling an executive order to close the agency.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741730070799.png" alt="Email sent to Dept. of Education staff on Tuesday" />
 <figcaption>Email sent to Dept. of Education staff on Tuesday</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-secretary-linda-mcmahon-a49af0778fa7c50163619d1764f93c91">Eliminating the department</a>&nbsp;altogether would be a cumbersome task, which likely would require an act of Congress.Already, the Trump administration has started overhauling much of the department’s work. Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has cut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ies-musk-doge-education-cuts-4461d7bdbe9d55c5a411d8465999b011">dozens of contracts</a>&nbsp;it dismissed as “woke” and wasteful. It gutted the Institute of Education Sciences, which gathers data on the nation’s academic progress.The agency's main role is financial. Annually, it distributes billions in federal money to colleges and schools and manages the federal student loan portfolio. Closing the department would mean redistributing each of those duties to another agency. The Education Department also plays an important regulatory role in services for students, ranging from those with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-suspension-special-education-adhd-3cda5e7b0e3080b0416bf879e190e849">disabilities</a>&nbsp;to low-income and homeless kids.Indeed, federal education money is central to Trump's plans for colleges and schools. Trump has vowed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-critical-race-theory-antisemitism-college-protests-18136b8c8f5adb9c75c47907e020268a">cut off federal money</a>&nbsp;for schools and colleges that push "critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content" and to reward states and schools that end teacher tenure and support universal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-choice-trump-education-vouchers-c6ecc22879fe329da4acfac3aa7410e6">school choice programs</a>.Federal funding makes up a relatively small portion of public school budgets — roughly 14%. Colleges and universities are more reliant on it, through research grants along with federal financial aid that helps students pay their tuition.Here is a look at some of the department's key functions, and how Trump has said he might approach them.<h2>Student loans and financial aid</h2>The Education Department manages approximately $1.5 trillion in student loan debt for over 40 million borrowers. It also oversees the Pell Grant, which provides aid to students below a certain income threshold, and administers the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-loans-trump-federal-aid-pause-0bae211d87a63509b9abbba3b301552d">FAFSA</a>&nbsp;), which universities use to allocate financial aid.President Joe Biden's administration made cancellation of student loans a signature effort of the department's work. Even though Biden’s initial attempt to cancel student loans was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-2d6eec61822b9e7a89ff59453d2486a5">overturned by the Supreme Court</a>, the administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-cancellation-forgiveness-debt-774b0ee69f911f68f646a066031ee604">forgave</a>&nbsp;over $175 billion for more than 4.8 million borrowers through a range of changes to programs it administers, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness.The loan forgiveness efforts have faced Republican pushback, including litigation from several GOP-led states.Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-trump-e6c96fc0cce04286a9a8a3abbd9d88e8">criticized</a>&nbsp;Biden's efforts to cancel debt as illegal and unfair, calling it a “total catastrophe” that “taunted young people.” Trump's plan for student debt is uncertain: He has not put out detailed plans.<h2>Civil rights enforcement</h2>Through its Office for Civil Rights, the Education Department conducts investigations and issues guidance on how civil rights laws should be applied, such as for LGBTQ+ students and students of color. The office also oversees a large data collection project that tracks disparities in resources, course access and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ferguson-black-lives-matter-school-discipline-suspension-d099aab519ff743dc2be04c6b6132144">discipline</a>&nbsp;for students of different racial and socioeconomic groups.Trump has suggested a different interpretation of the office's civil rights role. Under his administration, the department has instructed the office to prioritize complaints of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-antisemitism-columbia-berkeley-1f7ad6abc1b4e40e59b67e639a29a6ec">antisemitism</a>&nbsp;above all else and has opened investigations into colleges and school sports leagues for allowing transgender athletes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/volleyball-transgender-san-jose-state-politics-0e4da0292b4c5315e053e53c064d5a5c">compete on women’s teams</a>.In his campaign platform, Trump said he would pursue civil rights cases to “stop schools from discriminating on the basis of race.” He has described diversity and equity policies in education as “explicit unlawful discrimination” and said colleges that use them will pay fines and have their endowments taxed.Trump also has pledged to exclude&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-trump-title-ix-1b9d3a1d928ea78c21372da63600c6d1">transgender students</a>&nbsp;from Title IX protections, which affect school policies on students’ use of pronouns, bathrooms and locker rooms. Originally passed in 1972, Title IX was first used as a women’s rights law. Last year, Biden’s administration said the law forbids discrimination based on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/title-ix-sexual-assault-transgender-sports-d0fc0ab7515de02b8e4403d0481dc1e7">gender identity and sexual orientation</a>, but a federal judge undid those protections.<h2>College accreditation</h2>While the Education Department does not directly accredit colleges and universities, it oversees the system by reviewing all federally recognized accrediting agencies. Institutions of higher education must be accredited to gain access to federal money for student financial aid.Accreditation came under scrutiny from conservatives in 2022, when the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools questioned political interference at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-new-college-florida-woke-15d61ab52724dc447ba6d03238f7719e">Florida public colleges</a>&nbsp;and universities. Trump has said he would fire “radical left accreditors” and take applications for new accreditors that would uphold standards including “defending the American tradition” and removing “Marxist” diversity administrators.Although the education secretary has the authority to terminate its relationship with individual accrediting agencies, it is an arduous process that has rarely been pursued. Under President Barack Obama, the department took steps to cancel accreditors for a now-defunct for-profit college chain, but the Trump administration blocked the move. The group, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, was terminated by the Biden administration in 2022.<h2>Money for schools</h2>Much of the Education Department's money for K-12 schools goes through large federal programs, such as Title I for low-income schools and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Those programs support services for students with disabilities, lower class sizes with additional teaching positions, and pay for social workers and other non-teaching roles in schools.During his campaign, Trump called for shifting those functions to the states. He has not offered details on how the agency's core functions of sending federal money to local districts and schools would be handled.The Heritage Foundation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-harris-election-heritage-foundation-9183cf4c36c293e11b59847189d26a87">Project 2025</a>, a sweeping proposal outlining a far-right vision for the country, offered a blueprint. It suggested sending oversight of programs for kids with disabilities and low-income children first to the Department of Health and Human Services, before eventually phasing out the funding and converting it to no-strings-attached grants to states.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Trump admin. gutting the Dept. of Education explained

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Police have arrested a&nbsp;third suspect in an assault involving an acidic substance last summer in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; A detention hearing is scheduled Wednesday afternoon in Juvenile District Court in Wichita for a 17-year-old girl.&nbsp; She was arrested in Topeka and returned to Wichita Tuesday by sheriff deputies.

In May of 2024, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a physical fight.&nbsp;

Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for three suspects.

On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested two 18-year-old suspects. Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins and Tayronnia Jontashia West were jailed in connection with the crime.

&nbsp;Hollins and West were both charged with Aggravated Battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office and are scheduled for a jury trial in Sedgwick County District Court on April 28th.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717690818288.png" alt="Tayronnia Jontashia West is charged with aggravated battery in the case and&nbsp; is scheduled for a jury trial in April -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Tayronnia Jontashia West is charged with aggravated battery in the case and&nbsp; is scheduled for a jury trial in April -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Police have arrested a&nbsp;third suspect in an assault involving an acidic substance last summer in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; A detention hearing is scheduled Wednesday afternoon in Juvenile District Court in Wichita for a 17-year-old girl.&nbsp; She was arrested in Topeka and returned to Wichita Tuesday by sheriff deputies.In May of 2024, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a physical fight.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717690911383.png" alt="Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins&nbsp;is charged with aggravated battery in the case and is scheduled for a jury trial in April -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins&nbsp;is charged with aggravated battery in the case and is scheduled for a jury trial in April -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for three suspects.On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested two 18-year-old suspects. Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins and Tayronnia Jontashia West were jailed in connection with the crime.&nbsp;Hollins and West were both charged with Aggravated Battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office and are scheduled for a jury trial in Sedgwick County District Court on April 28th.

Police capture 3rd suspect in acid attack on Kansas teen

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes rose Wednesday after Wall Street got some relief from an encouraging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-tariffs-trump-883afba8a7199b3a92a617b68ab1a6a6">inflation update</a>. But even on a rare up day for the market, President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-china-canada-trade-cfe1fa82a47f1bca21a82f4b504486c8">trade war</a>&nbsp;still knocked stocks around.

The S&amp;P 500 gained 0.5% after skidding between an early gain of 1.3% and a later loss. The unsettled trading came a day after the index&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-wall-street-trump-tariffs-33b8562c7b76fe3b967ea6cd9d61719b">briefly fell more than 10% below</a>&nbsp;its all-time high set last month.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average also pinballed sharply, careening between a rise of 287 points and a drop of 423. It ended with a loss of 82 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2%.

The inflation report, which showed overall prices rose less for U.S. consumers last month than economists expected, helped companies in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial-intelligence</a>&nbsp;industry lead the way. It’s a bounce back after AI stocks got crushed recently by worries their prices had gone too stratospheric in the market’s run to record after record in recent years.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-stock-ai-deepseek-wall-street-5ef5329d2a864f7f733f7e8984366238">Nvidia</a>&nbsp;climbed 6.4% to trim its loss for the year so far to 13.8%. Server-maker Super Micro Computer rose 4%, and GE Vernova, which is helping to power AI data centers, gained 5.1%.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tesla-9a43c57a0591a4c7ed8d3f1b2c7ef8d9">Elon Musk’s Tesla</a>, whose price had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-stock-musk-trump-evs-sales-b3118cbab69fbfaa3abcceb059ba8c58">more than halved</a>&nbsp;since mid-December, rallied 7.6% for its first back-to-back gain in nearly a month.

Even with such gains, though, more stocks in the S&amp;P 500 fell than rose. Among the hardest hit were businesses that could be set to feel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-steel-aluminum-trump-canada-economy-578826747acad6802c291b97ee66ee91">pain because of Trump’s trade war</a>.

Brown-Forman, the company behind Jack Daniel’s whiskey, tumbled 5.1%, and Harley-Davidson sank 5.7%.

U.S. bourbon and motorcycles are just two of the products the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-eu-tariffs-countermeasures-806a3b9bcc9cd4e45817e672d95f0070">European Union is targeting with its own tariffs</a>&nbsp;announced on U.S. products. The moves were in response to Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-steel-aluminum-trump-canada-economy-578826747acad6802c291b97ee66ee91">25% tariffs on steel and aluminum</a>&nbsp;that kicked in earlier in the day.

Canada also hit back with tariffs announced on U.S. tools, sports equipment and other products.

“We deeply regret this measure,” European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said. “Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and worse for consumers.”

The question hanging over Wall Street is how much&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-business-uncertainty-canada-mexico-china-2b01e586faf99bae3438d289f48a1add">pain</a>&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/535e22b2c7c62ce917afe12c19c60c75">will let the economy</a>&nbsp;endure through tariffs and other policies. He’s said he wants manufacturing jobs back in the United States, along with a smaller U.S. government workforce, more deportations and other things.

Even if&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trumps-comments-about-stock-market-dba336a82ffaf000b80e7218d749995a">Trump</a>&nbsp;ultimately goes with milder tariffs, damage could still be done. The dizzying barrage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">on</a>&nbsp;-again,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-mexico-canada-bfed103a11a2a71d8353350f94c78814">off</a>&nbsp;-again announcements on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-reciprocal-imports-tax-trade-economy-54c0a26687dc96157d96229068894720">tariffs</a>&nbsp;has already begun sapping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-4ec3430138e6d872a6dae273e212edd1">confidence among U.S. consumers</a>&nbsp;and businesses by ramping up uncertainty. That could cause U.S. households and businesses to pull back on spending, which would hurt the economy.

On Tuesday, for example, Trump said he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-tariffs-stock-musk-business-8a5f28d9bb16e0b8a924d99ead0907fa">double tariffs announced</a>&nbsp;on Canadian steel and aluminum, only to walk it back later in the day after a Canadian province pledged to drop a retaliatory measure that had incensed Trump.

Several U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/target-inflation-tariffs-economy-minnesota-345efc8c9edc03994f13dd6d624c719b">businesses</a>&nbsp;have said they’ve already begun seeing a change in behavior among their customers.

Delta Air Lines sank 3% to compound its drop of 7.3% from the prior day, when the carrier said it’s seeing demand weaken for close-in bookings for its flights.

Casey’s General Stores, the Ankeny, Iowa-based company that runs nearly 2,900 convenience stores in 20 states, offered some encouragement. It reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected thanks in part to strength for sales of hot sandwiches and fuel. It also kept steady its forecast for upcoming revenue this year.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 27.23 points to 5,599.30. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 82.55 to 41,350.93, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 212.35 to 17,648.45.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe following mixed sessions in Asia.

In the bond market, Treasury yields edged up to regain more of their losses from recent months sparked by worries about the U.S. economy’s strength. The 10-year Treasury rose to 4.31% from 4.28% late Tuesday and from 4.16% at the start of last week.

Wednesday’s better-than-expected inflation report gave some encouragement when worries are high that Trump’s tariffs could drive prices even higher for U.S. households after U.S. importers pass on the costs to their customers.

It’s also helpful for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-minutes-inflation-ad359f208bdf9d3861768e748f9330b7">Federal Reserve</a>, which had been cutting interest rates last year to boost the economy before pausing this year, partly because of concerns about stubbornly high inflation.

Worries had been rising about a worst-case scenario for the economy and for the Fed, where economic growth stagnates but inflation remains high. The Fed has no good tool to fix such “stagflation” because lower interest rates can push inflation higher.

“Trends that would suggest a cold economy and hot inflation are still in the early stages, but uncertainty remains high,” according to Phil Segner, senior research analyst at Leuthold.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes rose Wednesday after Wall Street got some relief from an encouraging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-tariffs-trump-883afba8a7199b3a92a617b68ab1a6a6">inflation update</a>. But even on a rare up day for the market, President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-china-canada-trade-cfe1fa82a47f1bca21a82f4b504486c8">trade war</a>&nbsp;still knocked stocks around.The S&amp;P 500 gained 0.5% after skidding between an early gain of 1.3% and a later loss. The unsettled trading came a day after the index&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-wall-street-trump-tariffs-33b8562c7b76fe3b967ea6cd9d61719b">briefly fell more than 10% below</a>&nbsp;its all-time high set last month.The Dow Jones Industrial Average also pinballed sharply, careening between a rise of 287 points and a drop of 423. It ended with a loss of 82 points, or 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.2%.The inflation report, which showed overall prices rose less for U.S. consumers last month than economists expected, helped companies in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial-intelligence</a>&nbsp;industry lead the way. It’s a bounce back after AI stocks got crushed recently by worries their prices had gone too stratospheric in the market’s run to record after record in recent years.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-stock-ai-deepseek-wall-street-5ef5329d2a864f7f733f7e8984366238">Nvidia</a>&nbsp;climbed 6.4% to trim its loss for the year so far to 13.8%. Server-maker Super Micro Computer rose 4%, and GE Vernova, which is helping to power AI data centers, gained 5.1%.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tesla-9a43c57a0591a4c7ed8d3f1b2c7ef8d9">Elon Musk’s Tesla</a>, whose price had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-stock-musk-trump-evs-sales-b3118cbab69fbfaa3abcceb059ba8c58">more than halved</a>&nbsp;since mid-December, rallied 7.6% for its first back-to-back gain in nearly a month.Even with such gains, though, more stocks in the S&amp;P 500 fell than rose. Among the hardest hit were businesses that could be set to feel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-steel-aluminum-trump-canada-economy-578826747acad6802c291b97ee66ee91">pain because of Trump’s trade war</a>.Brown-Forman, the company behind Jack Daniel’s whiskey, tumbled 5.1%, and Harley-Davidson sank 5.7%.U.S. bourbon and motorcycles are just two of the products the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-eu-tariffs-countermeasures-806a3b9bcc9cd4e45817e672d95f0070">European Union is targeting with its own tariffs</a>&nbsp;announced on U.S. products. The moves were in response to Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-steel-aluminum-trump-canada-economy-578826747acad6802c291b97ee66ee91">25% tariffs on steel and aluminum</a>&nbsp;that kicked in earlier in the day.Canada also hit back with tariffs announced on U.S. tools, sports equipment and other products.“We deeply regret this measure,” European Union President Ursula von der Leyen said. “Tariffs are taxes. They are bad for business, and worse for consumers.”The question hanging over Wall Street is how much&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-business-uncertainty-canada-mexico-china-2b01e586faf99bae3438d289f48a1add">pain</a>&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/535e22b2c7c62ce917afe12c19c60c75">will let the economy</a>&nbsp;endure through tariffs and other policies. He’s said he wants manufacturing jobs back in the United States, along with a smaller U.S. government workforce, more deportations and other things.Even if&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trumps-comments-about-stock-market-dba336a82ffaf000b80e7218d749995a">Trump</a>&nbsp;ultimately goes with milder tariffs, damage could still be done. The dizzying barrage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">on</a>&nbsp;-again,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-mexico-canada-bfed103a11a2a71d8353350f94c78814">off</a>&nbsp;-again announcements on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-reciprocal-imports-tax-trade-economy-54c0a26687dc96157d96229068894720">tariffs</a>&nbsp;has already begun sapping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-4ec3430138e6d872a6dae273e212edd1">confidence among U.S. consumers</a>&nbsp;and businesses by ramping up uncertainty. That could cause U.S. households and businesses to pull back on spending, which would hurt the economy.On Tuesday, for example, Trump said he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-economy-tariffs-stock-musk-business-8a5f28d9bb16e0b8a924d99ead0907fa">double tariffs announced</a>&nbsp;on Canadian steel and aluminum, only to walk it back later in the day after a Canadian province pledged to drop a retaliatory measure that had incensed Trump.Several U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/target-inflation-tariffs-economy-minnesota-345efc8c9edc03994f13dd6d624c719b">businesses</a>&nbsp;have said they’ve already begun seeing a change in behavior among their customers.Delta Air Lines sank 3% to compound its drop of 7.3% from the prior day, when the carrier said it’s seeing demand weaken for close-in bookings for its flights.Casey’s General Stores, the Ankeny, Iowa-based company that runs nearly 2,900 convenience stores in 20 states, offered some encouragement. It reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected thanks in part to strength for sales of hot sandwiches and fuel. It also kept steady its forecast for upcoming revenue this year.Casey’s stock rose 6.2%.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 27.23 points to 5,599.30. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 82.55 to 41,350.93, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 212.35 to 17,648.45.In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe following mixed sessions in Asia.In the bond market, Treasury yields edged up to regain more of their losses from recent months sparked by worries about the U.S. economy’s strength. The 10-year Treasury rose to 4.31% from 4.28% late Tuesday and from 4.16% at the start of last week.Wednesday’s better-than-expected inflation report gave some encouragement when worries are high that Trump’s tariffs could drive prices even higher for U.S. households after U.S. importers pass on the costs to their customers.It’s also helpful for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-minutes-inflation-ad359f208bdf9d3861768e748f9330b7">Federal Reserve</a>, which had been cutting interest rates last year to boost the economy before pausing this year, partly because of concerns about stubbornly high inflation.Worries had been rising about a worst-case scenario for the economy and for the Fed, where economic growth stagnates but inflation remains high. The Fed has no good tool to fix such “stagflation” because lower interest rates can push inflation higher.“Trends that would suggest a cold economy and hot inflation are still in the early stages, but uncertainty remains high,” according to Phil Segner, senior research analyst at Leuthold.

Wall Street rises after encouraging inflation data

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit and run pedestrian incident that occurred just after 3p.m. Monday in Kansas City have identified the victim as 35-year-old Megan L. Aldridge.

She was walking on the outside shoulder of eastbound Interstate 70 near the exit ramp to Paseo, According to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

An unknown vehicle struck Aldridge and then&nbsp; left the area without stopping. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

 This is fatality #11 in KCMO compared to #21 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez. Police have not released the name of the&nbsp; victim or additional details.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to please call police.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit and run pedestrian incident that occurred just after 3p.m. Monday in Kansas City have identified the victim as 35-year-old Megan L. Aldridge.She was walking on the outside shoulder of eastbound Interstate 70 near the exit ramp to Paseo, According to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.An unknown vehicle struck Aldridge and then&nbsp; left the area without stopping. She was pronounced deceased at the scene. This is fatality #11 in KCMO compared to #21 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez. Police have not released the name of the&nbsp; victim or additional details.Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to please call police.