WASHINGTON (AP) —President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;took a field trip Thursday to the U.S. Park Police operations facility in Washington, where he addressed about 300 National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officials and praised his military crackdown on crime and immigration in the city.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-washington-dc-federal-immigration-deportation-81e3493e73e8af1ecce47af23d9911f4">White House said there have been 630 arrests</a>, including 251 people who are in the country illegally, since Aug. 7, when Trump began ordering federal agents into the city. Trump has been ratcheting up the intensity since then, seizing control of the D.C. police department on Aug. 11 and deploying more National Guard troops, mostly from Republican-led states.

Trump suggested that operations in Washington could be drawn out and serve as a model for others around the country.

“We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to go on to other places, but we’re going to stay here for a while,” he said.

Trump says he’ll ask Congress for money to support his DC federal intervention and plans to beautify Washington

“We’re going back to Congress for some money and we’re going to redo a lot of the pavement, the medians,” he said at the U.S. Park Service facility. “The graffiti is going to come down real fast.”

He didn’t say when he’d send the request to Congress or how much money he’ll be asking for.

Trump said he’ll be redoing parks in the city with new grass and new sprinkler systems, and replacing signage throughout the capital.

He said he knows a lot about grass because he owns a lot of golf courses.

“We have a life and grass has a life, and the grass here died about 40 years ago,” Trump said. “Let’s say, at the end of a year, this place will be maxed out in terms of beauty.”

Trump says he’s there to thank National Guard forces

Standing outside the U.S. Park Police facility as Trump arrived were approximately 300 men and women with various agencies, including DEA, ATF, US Marshals, National Guard and the FBI. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum were also on hand.

Trump said he came to thank National Guard troops, and he talked about efforts to quickly reduce crime as well as removing graffiti, fixing medians and repairing roads.

“We’re going to have the best capital ever,” he said. “It’s going to look better than it ever did.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;took a field trip Thursday to the U.S. Park Police operations facility in Washington, where he addressed about 300 National Guard troops and federal law enforcement officials and praised his military crackdown on crime and immigration in the city.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“You don’t want to slip and fall like somebody else I know” 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/nfEoIsg4Ko">pic.twitter.com/nfEoIsg4Ko</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1958647055464714527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“This is a healthy, attractive looking group” 🤣 President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> thanks federal and local law enforcement helping to Make DC Safe Again 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/GmVdMyNTwR">pic.twitter.com/GmVdMyNTwR</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1958646088971559370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> personally thanks and shakes hands with federal and local law enforcement helping to Make DC Safe Again! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/c4FRxy4E7f">pic.twitter.com/c4FRxy4E7f</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1958651205309112704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on revitalizing Washington, D.C.: &quot;One of the things that we&#39;re going to be redoing is your parks... we&#39;re going to be regrassing all of your parks... It will look like Augusta. It will look like, more importantly, Trump National Golf Club — that&#39;s even better.&quot; 😂 <a href="https://t.co/4x0mbVrRjM">pic.twitter.com/4x0mbVrRjM</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1958647420557873324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> speaks to the National Guard and law enforcement in D.C.: &quot;I just want to thank everybody very much for being here... We&#39;ve had some incredible results... It&#39;s like a different place. It&#39;s like a different city. It&#39;s the capital — it&#39;s going to be the best in the world.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/vXuQ6CK86B">pic.twitter.com/vXuQ6CK86B</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1958646085192122765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-washington-dc-federal-immigration-deportation-81e3493e73e8af1ecce47af23d9911f4">White House said there have been 630 arrests</a>, including 251 people who are in the country illegally, since Aug. 7, when Trump began ordering federal agents into the city. Trump has been ratcheting up the intensity since then, seizing control of the D.C. police department on Aug. 11 and deploying more National Guard troops, mostly from Republican-led states.Trump suggested that operations in Washington could be drawn out and serve as a model for others around the country.“We’re going to make it safe, and we’re going to go on to other places, but we’re going to stay here for a while,” he said.<h2>Trump says he’ll ask Congress for money to support his DC federal intervention and plans to beautify Washington</h2>“We’re going back to Congress for some money and we’re going to redo a lot of the pavement, the medians,” he said at the U.S. Park Service facility. “The graffiti is going to come down real fast.”He didn’t say when he’d send the request to Congress or how much money he’ll be asking for.Trump said he’ll be redoing parks in the city with new grass and new sprinkler systems, and replacing signage throughout the capital.He said he knows a lot about grass because he owns a lot of golf courses.“We have a life and grass has a life, and the grass here died about 40 years ago,” Trump said. “Let’s say, at the end of a year, this place will be maxed out in terms of beauty.”<h2>Trump says he’s there to thank National Guard forces</h2>Standing outside the U.S. Park Police facility as Trump arrived were approximately 300 men and women with various agencies, including DEA, ATF, US Marshals, National Guard and the FBI. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum were also on hand.Trump said he came to thank National Guard troops, and he talked about efforts to quickly reduce crime as well as removing graffiti, fixing medians and repairing roads.“We’re going to have the best capital ever,” he said. “It’s going to look better than it ever did.”

🎥President Trump's field trip to thank police and troops in DC

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a drug bust at a Kansas home.

Based on an intensive investigation by the Brown&nbsp; County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force,&nbsp; a search warrant was applied for and granted for a residence at 645 West 13th Street in Horton, Kansas, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Just after 7:30 p.m. August 19, deputies initiated the search warrant at that residence.&nbsp; Approximately 7 grams of Methamphetamine, Over 2 pounds of Marijuana, various meth pipes, bongs, marijuana pipes, scales, grinders, baggies&nbsp; and numerous&nbsp; firearms were located as well as a .22 pistol which was&nbsp; confirmed stolen out of Michigan and&nbsp; seized as evidence.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Up onconclusion of the warrant, Gayleen Koon&nbsp;&nbsp; 43 Horton was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of DrugParaphernalia, Distribution of Meth 3.5&lt;100 Grams, Distribution ofMarijuana 450 Grams&gt;30 KG and No Drug Tax Stamp.&nbsp; Horton police assisted with the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755708932837.png" alt="Photos Brown Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Brown Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a drug bust at a Kansas home.Based on an intensive investigation by the Brown&nbsp; County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force,&nbsp; a search warrant was applied for and granted for a residence at 645 West 13th Street in Horton, Kansas, according to Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755708879938.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 7:30 p.m. August 19, deputies initiated the search warrant at that residence.&nbsp; Approximately 7 grams of Methamphetamine, Over 2 pounds of Marijuana, various meth pipes, bongs, marijuana pipes, scales, grinders, baggies&nbsp; and numerous&nbsp; firearms were located as well as a .22 pistol which was&nbsp; confirmed stolen out of Michigan and&nbsp; seized as evidence.&nbsp;&nbsp; <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755708861920.png" alt="Koon photo Brown County" />
 <figcaption>Koon photo Brown County</figcaption>
 </figure>Up onconclusion of the warrant, Gayleen Koon&nbsp;&nbsp; 43 Horton was arrested on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of DrugParaphernalia, Distribution of Meth 3.5&lt;100 Grams, Distribution ofMarijuana 450 Grams&gt;30 KG and No Drug Tax Stamp.&nbsp; Horton police assisted with the investigation.

Deputies seize meth, marijuana and stolen gun at Kansas home

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced on Thursday that the measles outbreak affecting southwest Kansas has officially ended. 

Two full incubation periods, for a total of 42 days, have passed since the last confirmed case was reported. As there is not an active outbreak in southwest Kansas, KDHE is no longer recommending the early measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination dose for infants 6-11 months old. Health care providers should now refer to the standard childhood schedule for MMR administration.

As of August 21, 2025, 87 cases of measles have been confirmed in the outbreak, which began in January 2025. More than 80 percent of the cases were children, and over 90 percent of the cases were not vaccinated against measles. Eight people were hospitalized over the course of the outbreak.&nbsp;

“We are deeply grateful to all of the public health, health care and laboratory professionals who partnered with us and worked tirelessly throughout this measles outbreak,”&nbsp;KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said.&nbsp;“Your compassion, skill and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe did not go unnoticed and are appreciated beyond measure.”&nbsp;

The end of the recent outbreak does not mean the threat of measles is over. Since there are many ongoing outbreaks of measles in North America and around the world, it is possible that there will be additional cases of measles introduced into Kansas this year. KDHE and local health departments will continue to monitor for new cases and health care providers should remain vigilant and test for measles if their patients have compatible symptoms. As the new school year begins, officials urge all residents to ensure they and their families are up to date on vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine, which remains the most effective defense against measles.&nbsp;

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs. During a measles outbreak, about one in five children who get sick will need hospital care, and one in 20 will develop pneumonia. Rarely, measles can lead to swelling of the brain and death. It can also cause pregnancy complications, such as premature birth and babies with low birth weight.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Providers should report any suspected cases to the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317, option 5, immediately, preferably while the patient is still with the provider.

For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records and answers to common questions, visit the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198ce66aa2c-4e2d5390-ca08-47bc-96b5-ce5a2d53c995-000000/vSz8VSaNW-mB1JhdMnc6I9MDfKnnaJRF4I1FdGOz2UI=419">KDHE Measles Resource Hub</a>.

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced on Thursday that the measles outbreak affecting southwest Kansas has officially ended. Two full incubation periods, for a total of 42 days, have passed since the last confirmed case was reported. As there is not an active outbreak in southwest Kansas, KDHE is no longer recommending the early measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination dose for infants 6-11 months old. Health care providers should now refer to the standard childhood schedule for MMR administration.As of August 21, 2025, 87 cases of measles have been confirmed in the outbreak, which began in January 2025. More than 80 percent of the cases were children, and over 90 percent of the cases were not vaccinated against measles. Eight people were hospitalized over the course of the outbreak.&nbsp;“We are deeply grateful to all of the public health, health care and laboratory professionals who partnered with us and worked tirelessly throughout this measles outbreak,”&nbsp;KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said.&nbsp;“Your compassion, skill and unwavering commitment to keeping our communities safe did not go unnoticed and are appreciated beyond measure.”&nbsp;The end of the recent outbreak does not mean the threat of measles is over. Since there are many ongoing outbreaks of measles in North America and around the world, it is possible that there will be additional cases of measles introduced into Kansas this year. KDHE and local health departments will continue to monitor for new cases and health care providers should remain vigilant and test for measles if their patients have compatible symptoms. As the new school year begins, officials urge all residents to ensure they and their families are up to date on vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine, which remains the most effective defense against measles.&nbsp;Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs. During a measles outbreak, about one in five children who get sick will need hospital care, and one in 20 will develop pneumonia. Rarely, measles can lead to swelling of the brain and death. It can also cause pregnancy complications, such as premature birth and babies with low birth weight.&nbsp;&nbsp;Providers should report any suspected cases to the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317, option 5, immediately, preferably while the patient is still with the provider.For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records and answers to common questions, visit the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000198ce66aa2c-4e2d5390-ca08-47bc-96b5-ce5a2d53c995-000000/vSz8VSaNW-mB1JhdMnc6I9MDfKnnaJRF4I1FdGOz2UI=419">KDHE Measles Resource Hub</a>.

KDHE: Measles outbreak is over after 90 cases in Kansas

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — At least 600 employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are receiving permanent termination notices in the wake of a recent court decision that protected some CDC employees from layoffs but not others.

The notices went out this week and many people have not yet received them, according to the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 2,000 dues-paying members at CDC.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday did not offer details on the layoffs and referred an AP reporter to a March statement that said restructuring and downsizing were intended to make health agencies more responsive and efficient.

AFGE officials said they are aware of at least 600 CDC employees being cut.

But “due to a staggering lack of transparency from HHS,” the union hasn’t received formal notices of who is being laid off,” the federation said in a statement on Wednesday.

The permanent cuts include about 100 people who worked in violence prevention. Some employees noted those cuts come less than two weeks after a man fired at least 180 bullets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emory-university-shooting-atlanta-407f755f2db20dbab7d04981614f1428">into the CDC’s campus</a>&nbsp;and killed a police officer.

“The irony is devastating: The very experts trained to understand, interrupt and prevent this kind of violence were among those whose jobs were eliminated,” some of the affected employees wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apha.org/publications/public-health-newswire/public-health-newswire/articles/shooting-at-cdc" target="_blank">blog post</a>&nbsp;last week.

On April 1, the HHS officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-ec4d7731695e4204970c7eab953b2289">sent layoff notices</a>&nbsp;to thousands of employees at the CDC and other federal health agencies, part of a sweeping overhaul designed to vastly shrink the agencies responsible for protecting and promoting Americans’ health.

Many have been on administrative leave since then — paid but not allowed to work — as lawsuits played out.

A federal judge in Rhode Island last week issued a preliminary ruling that protected employees in several parts of the CDC, including groups dealing with smoking, reproductive health, environmental health, workplace safety, birth defects and sexually transmitted diseases.

But the ruling did not protect other CDC employees, and layoffs are being finalized across other parts of the agency, including in the freedom of information office. The terminations were effective as of Monday, employees were told.

Affected projects included work to prevent rape, child abuse and teen dating violence. The laid-off staff included people who have helped other countries to track violence against children — an effort that helped give rise to an international&nbsp;<a href="https://endviolenceagainstchildrenconference.org/" target="_blank">conference</a>&nbsp;in November at which countries talked about setting violence-reduction goals.

“There are nationally and internationally recognized experts that will be impossible to replace,” said Tom Simon, the retired senior director for scientific programs at the CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755810413215.png" alt="HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. -courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. -courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-stobbe">MIKE STOBBE</a>NEW YORK (AP) — At least 600 employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are receiving permanent termination notices in the wake of a recent court decision that protected some CDC employees from layoffs but not others.The notices went out this week and many people have not yet received them, according to the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 2,000 dues-paying members at CDC.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday did not offer details on the layoffs and referred an AP reporter to a March statement that said restructuring and downsizing were intended to make health agencies more responsive and efficient.AFGE officials said they are aware of at least 600 CDC employees being cut.But “due to a staggering lack of transparency from HHS,” the union hasn’t received formal notices of who is being laid off,” the federation said in a statement on Wednesday.The permanent cuts include about 100 people who worked in violence prevention. Some employees noted those cuts come less than two weeks after a man fired at least 180 bullets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emory-university-shooting-atlanta-407f755f2db20dbab7d04981614f1428">into the CDC’s campus</a>&nbsp;and killed a police officer.“The irony is devastating: The very experts trained to understand, interrupt and prevent this kind of violence were among those whose jobs were eliminated,” some of the affected employees wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apha.org/publications/public-health-newswire/public-health-newswire/articles/shooting-at-cdc" target="_blank">blog post</a>&nbsp;last week.On April 1, the HHS officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-ec4d7731695e4204970c7eab953b2289">sent layoff notices</a>&nbsp;to thousands of employees at the CDC and other federal health agencies, part of a sweeping overhaul designed to vastly shrink the agencies responsible for protecting and promoting Americans’ health.Many have been on administrative leave since then — paid but not allowed to work — as lawsuits played out.A federal judge in Rhode Island last week issued a preliminary ruling that protected employees in several parts of the CDC, including groups dealing with smoking, reproductive health, environmental health, workplace safety, birth defects and sexually transmitted diseases.But the ruling did not protect other CDC employees, and layoffs are being finalized across other parts of the agency, including in the freedom of information office. The terminations were effective as of Monday, employees were told.Affected projects included work to prevent rape, child abuse and teen dating violence. The laid-off staff included people who have helped other countries to track violence against children — an effort that helped give rise to an international&nbsp;<a href="https://endviolenceagainstchildrenconference.org/" target="_blank">conference</a>&nbsp;in November at which countries talked about setting violence-reduction goals.“There are nationally and internationally recognized experts that will be impossible to replace,” said Tom Simon, the retired senior director for scientific programs at the CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Union: Hundreds of CDC employees receive permanent layoff notices

FORD COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation on Thursday released additional details on its investigation into a student athlete found unconscious in rural Ford County on Thursday, Aug. 7.

An 18-year-old female student, now age 19, was found around 5:35 p.m. Aug. 7, in a field after a Dodge City Community College cross-country practice. She was taken to a local hospital, and was then flown to a Wichita hospital to be treated for heat-related injuries.

The KBI joined the investigation at the request of the Ford County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 12, when aspects of the case appeared suspicious. After further investigation, investigators did not find evidence that a criminal act occurred.

The student continues to receive treatment for her injuries at a Wichita hospital. She is currently in serious condition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755812501783.png" alt="Dodge City Community College Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Dodge City Community College Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation on Thursday released additional details on its investigation into a student athlete found unconscious in rural Ford County on Thursday, Aug. 7.An 18-year-old female student, now age 19, was found around 5:35 p.m. Aug. 7, in a field after a Dodge City Community College cross-country practice. She was taken to a local hospital, and was then flown to a Wichita hospital to be treated for heat-related injuries.The KBI joined the investigation at the request of the Ford County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 12, when aspects of the case appeared suspicious. After further investigation, investigators did not find evidence that a criminal act occurred.The student continues to receive treatment for her injuries at a Wichita hospital. She is currently in serious condition.

SW Kan. student athlete remains hospitalized after heat-related injuries

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—A suspect in Saturday’s double-homicide in the 1600 block of Washington Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas has been arrested and charged, according to a statement from Kansas City, Kansas Police.

With the assistance of U.S. Marshals, 119-year-old Jimi L. St. Clair,&nbsp; was taken into custody Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri. 

St. Clair, is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail awaiting extradition to Wyandotte County where he has been charged with two counts of second degree murder in the shooting deaths of&nbsp; Victor Loza, 23, Bonner Springs and Tyler Wheeler, 26, of Kansas City, Kansas.

St. Clair has also been charged with one count of attempted second degree murder for the woman who was wounded in the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755771827253.png" alt="St. Clair photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>St. Clair photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—A suspect in Saturday’s double-homicide in the 1600 block of Washington Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas has been arrested and charged, according to a statement from Kansas City, Kansas Police.With the assistance of U.S. Marshals, 119-year-old Jimi L. St. Clair,&nbsp; was taken into custody Wednesday in Kansas City, Missouri. St. Clair, is currently being held in the Jackson County Jail awaiting extradition to Wyandotte County where he has been charged with two counts of second degree murder in the shooting deaths of&nbsp; Victor Loza, 23, Bonner Springs and Tyler Wheeler, 26, of Kansas City, Kansas.St. Clair has also been charged with one count of attempted second degree murder for the woman who was wounded in the shooting.

U.S. Marshals help catch Kansas double-homicide suspect

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">Mary Sanchez</a>

Black SUVs whizzing by were the first hint an immigration raid might be imminent.

A Kansas City man riding his bike along the Trolley Track Trail felt his initial fear confirmed when a Waldo area construction site came into view.

He saw handcuffed laborers, men he assumed to be Latino, being questioned by other men in tactical gear.

“My full intent was to stop and let them know that someone was watching,” said the man, who didn’t want to be&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/editorial-standards/#unnamedsources" target="_blank">publicly identified</a>.

He wasn’t the only one who saw what many assumed was an immigration raid in the heart of Waldo in mid-July.

Others shared their outrage on social media. And the man riding his bike took photos and a video that showed some of the men wore tactical gear marked U.S. Marshals Service.

The construction workers were released when a small crowd of bystanders gathered, some drawn from businesses along Wornall Road. Tensions quickly escalated as bystanders began yelling and cursing. At least one agent who identified himself as a U.S. marshal cursed back, said the man who took photos.

The incident is now part of a growing list being documented by local advocates for immigrant rights. They’re tracking dozens of possible immigration actions, watching for patterns and trying to tamp down unsubstantiated rumors before they spread.

The Waldo incident has not been confirmed as an immigration raid.

So far, only about a dozen incidents in the Kansas City area have been verified as immigration enforcement actions since President Donald Trump took office in late January, according to Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, or&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/" target="_blank">AIRR</a>.

Many more reported incidents could not be verified, or simply turned out to be someone receiving a ticket for a traffic violation, with no issues involving immigration.

Amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, civil rights advocates nationally and locally are&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/blog/2025/02/06/how-know-your-rights-workshops-are-empowering-immigrants/" target="_blank">emphasizing training</a>&nbsp;for bystanders and a heightened attention to nonviolent protests.

Janet Murguía understands that Latinos and other allies are angry about reports of federal officials arresting people at workplaces, in their homes and even when they go, as directed, to immigration court.

“But that outrage needs to be targeted in the right ways,” said Murguía, the president and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/" target="_blank">UnidosUS</a>. “It cannot give more fuel to this administration to … bring in more law enforcement.”

UnidosUS is the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. The group held its&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/04/mass-deportation-latino-civil-rights-kansas-city-unidosus/" target="_blank">annual convention</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City Aug. 4-7.

Training in nonviolence while advocating for immigrant rights was a recurring theme during the conference.

The actions of even one rambunctious protester can quickly escalate and incite others. Often unsubstantiated rumors spread quickly via social media.

The Department of Homeland Security reports escalating numbers of attacks on federal immigration agents and other federal partners, which can include the U.S. Marshals Service.

A June&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/07/dhs-releases-statement-violent-rioters-assaulting-ice-officers-los-angeles-ca-and" target="_blank">DHS release</a>&nbsp;following the outbreak of protests in Los Angeles said there had been a 413% increase in assaults against federal agents from the same time last year. It also said that agents and their families had been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/07/11/anarchists-and-rioters-portland-illegally-dox-ice-officers-and-federal-law" target="_blank">doxed</a>, which has been a reason that the government has given to defend the use of face masks.

The fact that a bystander had a child present during the July arrests of 11 workers at two area El Toro Loco restaurants was also called out in a Homeland Security statement.

“ICE was carrying out a criminal federal search warrant to rescue victims of human trafficking. Extremists and activists, one with their child in tow, tried to interfere with law enforcement by storming the restaurant, calling law enforcement Nazis, and attempting to keep officers from leaving the scene,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.

“Unfortunately, these types of smears and obstruction to law enforcement operations are becoming more and more common. Our brave ICE law enforcement are facing an 830% increase in assaults against them as they carry out operations.”

Statements by Homeland Security consistently highlight the administration’s goal of targeting violent criminals.

But the government’s own data shows that&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/07/24/fewer-than-half-of-ice-arrests-under-trump-are-convicted-criminals/" target="_blank">less than half of people</a>&nbsp;arrested from late January through late June had been convicted of a crime, according to information gathered by the&nbsp;<a href="https://deportationdata.org/" target="_blank">Deportation Data Project</a>&nbsp;through Freedom of Information Act requests and analysis by news organizations like Stateline.

And among those who do have criminal convictions, for many it was for a less serious issue, like a traffic conviction.

Only 7% had been convicted of a violent crime, according to Stateline.

A person’s immigration status is a civil matter.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/know-your-rights" target="_blank">training sessions</a>, Kansas City area organizers seek to redirect those who might become agitated when interacting with federal immigration agents or other law enforcement.

If a volunteer demonstrates a fervent desire to fight fascism, or to accuse people of being Nazis, they probably need to reassess before becoming involved.

There’s more at stake with local organizing than what some people who want to lend support as an ally might realize, said immigrant rights advocates and immigration attorneys.

For example, videos taken by bystanders could be useful in legal cases challenging the constitutionality of the tactics being used by federal agents during arrests.

But videos with people screaming slurs at federal agents can be less useful.

Such actions can also undercut the philosophy of nonviolence.

Civil rights struggles require a consistent, long-term strategy to succeed, said Trinidad Raj Molina, an organizer with Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation.

Dramatic actions might feel good in the moment, Molina said, but aren’t a part of strategies designed to bring significant social change.

“Being a silent observer is important,” said Molina.

Murguía is leaning into her friendship with the late&nbsp;<a href="https://civilrightstrail.com/experience/rep-john-lewis/" target="_blank">civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis</a>&nbsp;for guidance.

Through the years, she heard the Georgia congressman speak about nonviolence to groups large and small, often emphasizing lessons he learned over a lifetime fighting for voting rights, desegregation and so much more.

“I remember repeatedly hearing him say that civil disobedience requires courage,” she said. “And that the part of courage that people don’t understand is being brave enough not to respond with violence, and how critically important it is to understand the role of nonviolent civil disobedience and peaceful protests.”

UnidosUS is partnering with other national organizations like the&nbsp;<a href="https://nul.org/" target="_blank">National Urban League</a>&nbsp;to call for more immigrant rights training sessions around such disciplines and to learn from the civil rights legacy of the African American community.

<a href="https://thekingcenter.org/nonviolence365-training/" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr.</a>&nbsp;taught that nonviolence is not passive. It focuses on injustice, rather than individuals. It’s a way of life, not a tactic.

People today might not realize how much training was involved in some of the most famous civil rights actions of the 1950s, Murguía said.

Murguía is especially aware that protesters today might be goaded to react, which can then be used as a pretext for a more militarized response by government officials.

Congress recently authorized more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/big-beautiful-bill-immigration-border-security/" target="_blank">$170 billion for increased immigration enforcement</a>, which is more than the combined budgets of all other federal law enforcement agencies, Murguía said.

That point was also underscored by labor rights leader David Huerta, who said it is imperative that people who protest are disciplined and committed to nonviolence and understand how to deescalate situations.

Huerta spoke on a panel during the UnidosUS conference in Kansas City.

“When you do see violence, you have to deescalate it,” he said. “Because it can escalate so quickly.”

Huerta is president of the Service Employees International Union of California and first came to prominence through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justiceforjanitors.org/" target="_blank">Justice for Janitors</a>&nbsp;campaign.

Huerta was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seiu.org/2025/06/statement-seiu-president-april-verrett-on-david-huertas-release-from-federal-custody" target="_blank">recently arrested</a>&nbsp;during immigrant rights protests in Los Angeles, spending three days in jail before being released on bond and charged with conspiracy to impede an officer.

He said it is too easy for government officials to “flip the narrative” on people who protest immigration arrests.

“We can’t let this sense of intimidation keep us from doing what we have to do,” Huerta said. “But we definitely have to be intelligent and smart about it, and we have to be really disciplined and always engaged in nonviolence.”

AIRR doesn’t want to dissuade people from getting&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/volunteer" target="_blank">involved as allies</a>. It strives to empower immigrants, in particular.

All reported information is helpful, advocates said. For instance, AIRR has noted that more foreign cars are now being used in enforcement actions.

There are also instances of federal agents being seen driving around apartment complexes in Olathe in the early morning hours, and in neighborhoods in the Northeast section of Kansas City.

The assumption is that they might be searching for people to arrest on their way to work.

More than 2,400 people have been trained regionally in know-your-rights sessions. There are also guidelines on what to do if you believe you are witnessing a raid, including how to document it, while staying safe.

Local training sessions are similar to those made available by UnidosUS and other national organizations.

In the case of the Waldo worksite, a wrought iron fence separated the half-dozen people who tried to confront the U.S. Marshals Service.

One woman, who had come from a nearby gym, was very angry, said the man who photographed the incident.

He doesn’t regret his role. But he did worry that he might end up getting arrested as the tensions escalated.

Still, he felt an obligation to speak up as an African American, knowing that his community also had to fight for basic civil rights.

“I just felt like it’s happening right in front of my face now,” he said. “We might have kept those people from getting kidnapped.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/20/immigrant-rights-nonviolence-resistance-kansas-city/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755803884978.png" alt=" Immigrant rights advocates are advising allies to adopt nonviolent resistance in the face of the Trump administration’s escalating mass deportation campaign (Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> Immigrant rights advocates are advising allies to adopt nonviolent resistance in the face of the Trump administration’s escalating mass deportation campaign (Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">Mary Sanchez</a>Black SUVs whizzing by were the first hint an immigration raid might be imminent.A Kansas City man riding his bike along the Trolley Track Trail felt his initial fear confirmed when a Waldo area construction site came into view.He saw handcuffed laborers, men he assumed to be Latino, being questioned by other men in tactical gear.“My full intent was to stop and let them know that someone was watching,” said the man, who didn’t want to be&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/editorial-standards/#unnamedsources" target="_blank">publicly identified</a>.He wasn’t the only one who saw what many assumed was an immigration raid in the heart of Waldo in mid-July.Others shared their outrage on social media. And the man riding his bike took photos and a video that showed some of the men wore tactical gear marked U.S. Marshals Service.But was it an immigration raid?The construction workers were released when a small crowd of bystanders gathered, some drawn from businesses along Wornall Road. Tensions quickly escalated as bystanders began yelling and cursing. At least one agent who identified himself as a U.S. marshal cursed back, said the man who took photos.The incident is now part of a growing list being documented by local advocates for immigrant rights. They’re tracking dozens of possible immigration actions, watching for patterns and trying to tamp down unsubstantiated rumors before they spread.The Waldo incident has not been confirmed as an immigration raid.So far, only about a dozen incidents in the Kansas City area have been verified as immigration enforcement actions since President Donald Trump took office in late January, according to Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, or&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/" target="_blank">AIRR</a>.Many more reported incidents could not be verified, or simply turned out to be someone receiving a ticket for a traffic violation, with no issues involving immigration.<h2>The value of the ‘silent observer’</h2>Amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, civil rights advocates nationally and locally are&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/blog/2025/02/06/how-know-your-rights-workshops-are-empowering-immigrants/" target="_blank">emphasizing training</a>&nbsp;for bystanders and a heightened attention to nonviolent protests.Janet Murguía understands that Latinos and other allies are angry about reports of federal officials arresting people at workplaces, in their homes and even when they go, as directed, to immigration court.“But that outrage needs to be targeted in the right ways,” said Murguía, the president and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/" target="_blank">UnidosUS</a>. “It cannot give more fuel to this administration to … bring in more law enforcement.”UnidosUS is the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. The group held its&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/04/mass-deportation-latino-civil-rights-kansas-city-unidosus/" target="_blank">annual convention</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City Aug. 4-7.Training in nonviolence while advocating for immigrant rights was a recurring theme during the conference.The actions of even one rambunctious protester can quickly escalate and incite others. Often unsubstantiated rumors spread quickly via social media.The Department of Homeland Security reports escalating numbers of attacks on federal immigration agents and other federal partners, which can include the U.S. Marshals Service.A June&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/07/dhs-releases-statement-violent-rioters-assaulting-ice-officers-los-angeles-ca-and" target="_blank">DHS release</a>&nbsp;following the outbreak of protests in Los Angeles said there had been a 413% increase in assaults against federal agents from the same time last year. It also said that agents and their families had been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/07/11/anarchists-and-rioters-portland-illegally-dox-ice-officers-and-federal-law" target="_blank">doxed</a>, which has been a reason that the government has given to defend the use of face masks.The fact that a bystander had a child present during the July arrests of 11 workers at two area El Toro Loco restaurants was also called out in a Homeland Security statement.“ICE was carrying out a criminal federal search warrant to rescue victims of human trafficking. Extremists and activists, one with their child in tow, tried to interfere with law enforcement by storming the restaurant, calling law enforcement Nazis, and attempting to keep officers from leaving the scene,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.“Unfortunately, these types of smears and obstruction to law enforcement operations are becoming more and more common. Our brave ICE law enforcement are facing an 830% increase in assaults against them as they carry out operations.”Statements by Homeland Security consistently highlight the administration’s goal of targeting violent criminals.But the government’s own data shows that&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/07/24/fewer-than-half-of-ice-arrests-under-trump-are-convicted-criminals/" target="_blank">less than half of people</a>&nbsp;arrested from late January through late June had been convicted of a crime, according to information gathered by the&nbsp;<a href="https://deportationdata.org/" target="_blank">Deportation Data Project</a>&nbsp;through Freedom of Information Act requests and analysis by news organizations like Stateline.And among those who do have criminal convictions, for many it was for a less serious issue, like a traffic conviction.Only 7% had been convicted of a violent crime, according to Stateline.A person’s immigration status is a civil matter.In&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/know-your-rights" target="_blank">training sessions</a>, Kansas City area organizers seek to redirect those who might become agitated when interacting with federal immigration agents or other law enforcement.If a volunteer demonstrates a fervent desire to fight fascism, or to accuse people of being Nazis, they probably need to reassess before becoming involved.There’s more at stake with local organizing than what some people who want to lend support as an ally might realize, said immigrant rights advocates and immigration attorneys.For example, videos taken by bystanders could be useful in legal cases challenging the constitutionality of the tactics being used by federal agents during arrests.But videos with people screaming slurs at federal agents can be less useful.Such actions can also undercut the philosophy of nonviolence.Civil rights struggles require a consistent, long-term strategy to succeed, said Trinidad Raj Molina, an organizer with Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation.Dramatic actions might feel good in the moment, Molina said, but aren’t a part of strategies designed to bring significant social change.“Being a silent observer is important,” said Molina.<h2>Lessons on nonviolence</h2>Murguía is leaning into her friendship with the late&nbsp;<a href="https://civilrightstrail.com/experience/rep-john-lewis/" target="_blank">civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis</a>&nbsp;for guidance.Through the years, she heard the Georgia congressman speak about nonviolence to groups large and small, often emphasizing lessons he learned over a lifetime fighting for voting rights, desegregation and so much more.“I remember repeatedly hearing him say that civil disobedience requires courage,” she said. “And that the part of courage that people don’t understand is being brave enough not to respond with violence, and how critically important it is to understand the role of nonviolent civil disobedience and peaceful protests.”UnidosUS is partnering with other national organizations like the&nbsp;<a href="https://nul.org/" target="_blank">National Urban League</a>&nbsp;to call for more immigrant rights training sessions around such disciplines and to learn from the civil rights legacy of the African American community.<a href="https://thekingcenter.org/nonviolence365-training/" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr.</a>&nbsp;taught that nonviolence is not passive. It focuses on injustice, rather than individuals. It’s a way of life, not a tactic.People today might not realize how much training was involved in some of the most famous civil rights actions of the 1950s, Murguía said.Murguía is especially aware that protesters today might be goaded to react, which can then be used as a pretext for a more militarized response by government officials.Congress recently authorized more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/big-beautiful-bill-immigration-border-security/" target="_blank">$170 billion for increased immigration enforcement</a>, which is more than the combined budgets of all other federal law enforcement agencies, Murguía said.That point was also underscored by labor rights leader David Huerta, who said it is imperative that people who protest are disciplined and committed to nonviolence and understand how to deescalate situations.Huerta spoke on a panel during the UnidosUS conference in Kansas City.“When you do see violence, you have to deescalate it,” he said. “Because it can escalate so quickly.”Huerta is president of the Service Employees International Union of California and first came to prominence through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justiceforjanitors.org/" target="_blank">Justice for Janitors</a>&nbsp;campaign.Huerta was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seiu.org/2025/06/statement-seiu-president-april-verrett-on-david-huertas-release-from-federal-custody" target="_blank">recently arrested</a>&nbsp;during immigrant rights protests in Los Angeles, spending three days in jail before being released on bond and charged with conspiracy to impede an officer.He said it is too easy for government officials to “flip the narrative” on people who protest immigration arrests.“We can’t let this sense of intimidation keep us from doing what we have to do,” Huerta said. “But we definitely have to be intelligent and smart about it, and we have to be really disciplined and always engaged in nonviolence.”AIRR doesn’t want to dissuade people from getting&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/volunteer" target="_blank">involved as allies</a>. It strives to empower immigrants, in particular.All reported information is helpful, advocates said. For instance, AIRR has noted that more foreign cars are now being used in enforcement actions.There are also instances of federal agents being seen driving around apartment complexes in Olathe in the early morning hours, and in neighborhoods in the Northeast section of Kansas City.The assumption is that they might be searching for people to arrest on their way to work.More than 2,400 people have been trained regionally in know-your-rights sessions. There are also guidelines on what to do if you believe you are witnessing a raid, including how to document it, while staying safe.Local training sessions are similar to those made available by UnidosUS and other national organizations.In the case of the Waldo worksite, a wrought iron fence separated the half-dozen people who tried to confront the U.S. Marshals Service.One woman, who had come from a nearby gym, was very angry, said the man who photographed the incident.He doesn’t regret his role. But he did worry that he might end up getting arrested as the tensions escalated.Still, he felt an obligation to speak up as an African American, knowing that his community also had to fight for basic civil rights.“I just felt like it’s happening right in front of my face now,” he said. “We might have kept those people from getting kidnapped.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/20/immigrant-rights-nonviolence-resistance-kansas-city/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

Kansas City’s immigrant rights advocates echo national call for nonviolent resistance

NEW YORK (AP) — An appeals court has thrown out the massive civil fraud penalty against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>, ruling Thursday in New York state’s lawsuit accusing him of exaggerating his wealth.

The decision came seven months after the Republican returned to the White House. A panel of five judges in New York’s mid-level Appellate Division said the verdict, which stood to cost Trump more than $515 million and rock his real estate empire, was “excessive.”

After finding that Trump engaged in fraud by flagrantly padding financial statements that went to lenders and insurers, Judge Arthur Engoron&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-verdict-engoron-244024861f0df886543c157c9fc5b3e4">ordered him</a>&nbsp;last year to pay $355 million in penalties. With interest, the sum has topped $515 million.

The total — combined with penalties levied on some other Trump Organization executives, including Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr. — now exceeds $527 million, with interest.

“While the injunctive relief ordered by the court is well crafted to curb defendants’ business culture, the court’s disgorgement order, which directs that defendants pay nearly half a billion dollars to the State of New York, is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” Judges Dianne T. Renwick and Peter H. Moulton wrote in one of several opinions shaping the appeals court’s ruling.

Engoron also imposed other punishments, such as banning Trump and his two eldest sons&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-letitia-james-new-york-engoron-38bc3a7f2ccb22555c026e9bf70fd5bb">from serving in corporate leadership</a>&nbsp;for a few years. Those provisions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-case-verdict-penalty-appeal-8447c48d0436083737204b13401438d2">have been on pause</a>&nbsp;during Trump’s appeal, and he was able to hold off collection of the money by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-civil-fraud-trial-feb0593a5bbd3837edc0db195554eda1">posting a $175 million bond</a>.

The court, which was split on the merits of the lawsuit and the lower court’s fraud finding, dismissed the penalty Engoron imposed in its entirety while also leaving a pathway for further appeals to the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals.

The appeals court, the Appellate Division of the state’s trial court, took an unusually long time to rule, weighing Trump’s appeal for nearly 11 months after oral arguments last fall. Normally, appeals are decided in a matter of weeks or a few months.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the suit on the state’s behalf, has said the businessman-turned-politician engaged in “lying, cheating, and staggering fraud.” Her office had no immediate comment after Thursday's decision.

Trump and his co-defendants denied wrongdoing. In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">a six-minute summation of sorts</a>&nbsp;after a monthslong trial, Trump proclaimed in January 2024 that he was “an innocent man” and the case was a “fraud on me.” He has repeatedly maintained that the case and verdict were political moves by James and Engoron, who are both Democrats.

Trump’s Justice Department has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-james-attorney-general-justice-department-subpoena-9dec45248df0e06b1d99ff9944e6d327">subpoenaed James for records</a>&nbsp;related to the lawsuit, among other documents, as part of an investigation into whether she violated the president’s civil rights. James’ personal attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, has said that investigating the fraud case is “the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign.”

Trump and his lawyers said his financial statements weren’t deceptive, since they came with disclaimers noting they weren’t audited. The defense also noted that bankers and insurers independently evaluated the numbers, and the loans were repaid.

Despite such discrepancies as tripling the size of his Trump Tower penthouse, he said the financial statements were, if anything, lowball estimates of his fortune.

During an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-civil-fraud-appeal-letitia-james-8bc9e5ea0affc635c731e96448f69642">appellate court hearing</a>&nbsp;in September, Trump’s lawyers argued that many of the case’s allegations were too old, an assertion they made unsuccessfully before trial. The defense also contends that James misused a consumer-protection law to sue Trump and improperly policed private business transactions that were satisfactory to those involved.

State attorneys said the law in question applies to fraudulent or illegal business conduct, whether it targets everyday consumers or big corporations. Though Trump insists no one was harmed by the financial statements, the state contends that the numbers led lenders to make riskier loans than they knew, and that honest borrowers lose out when others game their net-worth numbers.

The state has argued that the verdict rests on ample evidence and that the scale of the penalty comports with Trump’s gains, including his profits on properties financed with the loans and the interest he saved by getting favorable terms offered to wealthy borrowers.

The civil fraud case was just one of several legal obstacles for Trump as he campaigned, won and segued to a second term as president.

On Jan. 10, he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-stormy-daniels-33e070bd3c1acb609bba13f23d784a3a">sentenced in his criminal hush money case</a>&nbsp;to what’s known as an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction on the books but sparing him jail, probation, a fine or other punishment. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-appeal-stormy-daniels-249a77a70cab97137595f000fbd49307">is appealing the conviction</a>.

And in December, a federal appeals court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-lawsuit-defamation-trial-78e4196024539653a6de492312770ff2">upheld a jury’s finding</a>&nbsp;that Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s and later defamed her, affirming a $5 million judgment against him. The appeals court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-e-jean-carroll-sexual-abuse-appeal-8e2db7bdb881ff0b9353b6fb17750f48">declined in June to reconsider</a>; he still can try to get the Supreme Court to hear his appeal.

He’s also appealing a subsequent verdict that requires him to pay Carroll $83.3 million for additional defamation claims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680634182015.png" alt="File Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his defense team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York. . (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)" />
 <figcaption>File Donald Trump sits at the defense table with his defense team in a Manhattan court, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York. . (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — An appeals court has thrown out the massive civil fraud penalty against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>, ruling Thursday in New York state’s lawsuit accusing him of exaggerating his wealth.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/StevenCheung47?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StevenCheung47</a>: &quot;Another failed skirmish in the discredited lawfare campaign against President Trump, his family, and his business that other Democrat prosecutors are dropping left and right.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/GCOFdl6LQB">https://t.co/GCOFdl6LQB</a> <a href="https://t.co/EASHkPBQxl">pic.twitter.com/EASHkPBQxl</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1958559203192123837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The decision came seven months after the Republican returned to the White House. A panel of five judges in New York’s mid-level Appellate Division said the verdict, which stood to cost Trump more than $515 million and rock his real estate empire, was “excessive.”After finding that Trump engaged in fraud by flagrantly padding financial statements that went to lenders and insurers, Judge Arthur Engoron&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-verdict-engoron-244024861f0df886543c157c9fc5b3e4">ordered him</a>&nbsp;last year to pay $355 million in penalties. With interest, the sum has topped $515 million.The total — combined with penalties levied on some other Trump Organization executives, including Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr. — now exceeds $527 million, with interest.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">“I will come back before you soon with a check for $250 million dollars…and to let you know that he is no longer allowed to do business in the state of New York.&quot; 2023 How’d that work out for you <a href="https://twitter.com/TishJames?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TishJames</a>?😂 <a href="https://t.co/G9wIWGzsUP">pic.twitter.com/G9wIWGzsUP</a>&mdash; Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) <a href="https://twitter.com/DogRightGirl/status/1958564432239296681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“While the injunctive relief ordered by the court is well crafted to curb defendants’ business culture, the court’s disgorgement order, which directs that defendants pay nearly half a billion dollars to the State of New York, is an excessive fine that violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution,” Judges Dianne T. Renwick and Peter H. Moulton wrote in one of several opinions shaping the appeals court’s ruling.Engoron also imposed other punishments, such as banning Trump and his two eldest sons&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-letitia-james-new-york-engoron-38bc3a7f2ccb22555c026e9bf70fd5bb">from serving in corporate leadership</a>&nbsp;for a few years. Those provisions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-case-verdict-penalty-appeal-8447c48d0436083737204b13401438d2">have been on pause</a>&nbsp;during Trump’s appeal, and he was able to hold off collection of the money by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-civil-fraud-trial-feb0593a5bbd3837edc0db195554eda1">posting a $175 million bond</a>.The court, which was split on the merits of the lawsuit and the lower court’s fraud finding, dismissed the penalty Engoron imposed in its entirety while also leaving a pathway for further appeals to the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals.The appeals court, the Appellate Division of the state’s trial court, took an unusually long time to rule, weighing Trump’s appeal for nearly 11 months after oral arguments last fall. Normally, appeals are decided in a matter of weeks or a few months.New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought the suit on the state’s behalf, has said the businessman-turned-politician engaged in “lying, cheating, and staggering fraud.” Her office had no immediate comment after Thursday's decision.Trump and his co-defendants denied wrongdoing. In&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">a six-minute summation of sorts</a>&nbsp;after a monthslong trial, Trump proclaimed in January 2024 that he was “an innocent man” and the case was a “fraud on me.” He has repeatedly maintained that the case and verdict were political moves by James and Engoron, who are both Democrats.Trump’s Justice Department has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-james-attorney-general-justice-department-subpoena-9dec45248df0e06b1d99ff9944e6d327">subpoenaed James for records</a>&nbsp;related to the lawsuit, among other documents, as part of an investigation into whether she violated the president’s civil rights. James’ personal attorney, Abbe D. Lowell, has said that investigating the fraud case is “the most blatant and desperate example of this administration carrying out the president’s political retribution campaign.”Trump and his lawyers said his financial statements weren’t deceptive, since they came with disclaimers noting they weren’t audited. The defense also noted that bankers and insurers independently evaluated the numbers, and the loans were repaid.Despite such discrepancies as tripling the size of his Trump Tower penthouse, he said the financial statements were, if anything, lowball estimates of his fortune.During an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-civil-fraud-appeal-letitia-james-8bc9e5ea0affc635c731e96448f69642">appellate court hearing</a>&nbsp;in September, Trump’s lawyers argued that many of the case’s allegations were too old, an assertion they made unsuccessfully before trial. The defense also contends that James misused a consumer-protection law to sue Trump and improperly policed private business transactions that were satisfactory to those involved.State attorneys said the law in question applies to fraudulent or illegal business conduct, whether it targets everyday consumers or big corporations. Though Trump insists no one was harmed by the financial statements, the state contends that the numbers led lenders to make riskier loans than they knew, and that honest borrowers lose out when others game their net-worth numbers.The state has argued that the verdict rests on ample evidence and that the scale of the penalty comports with Trump’s gains, including his profits on properties financed with the loans and the interest he saved by getting favorable terms offered to wealthy borrowers.The civil fraud case was just one of several legal obstacles for Trump as he campaigned, won and segued to a second term as president.On Jan. 10, he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-stormy-daniels-33e070bd3c1acb609bba13f23d784a3a">sentenced in his criminal hush money case</a>&nbsp;to what’s known as an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction on the books but sparing him jail, probation, a fine or other punishment. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-appeal-stormy-daniels-249a77a70cab97137595f000fbd49307">is appealing the conviction</a>.And in December, a federal appeals court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-lawsuit-defamation-trial-78e4196024539653a6de492312770ff2">upheld a jury’s finding</a>&nbsp;that Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s and later defamed her, affirming a $5 million judgment against him. The appeals court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-e-jean-carroll-sexual-abuse-appeal-8e2db7bdb881ff0b9353b6fb17750f48">declined in June to reconsider</a>; he still can try to get the Supreme Court to hear his appeal.He’s also appealing a subsequent verdict that requires him to pay Carroll $83.3 million for additional defamation claims.

Court throws out Trump's $500 million fine in civil fraud case

By MIKE CATALINI and HOLLY MEYER Associated Press

Dr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/94982d52cefc48babc242fb0e3853a43">James Dobson</a>, a politically influential child psychologist who started a radio show counseling Christians on how to be good parents, founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family and was long a campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, died on Thursday. He was 89.

His death was confirmed by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.

Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson started a radio show counseling Christians on how to be good parents and in 1977 founded Focus on the Family. At its peak, the organization had more than 1,000 employees and gave Dobson a platform to weigh in on legislation and serve as an adviser to five presidents.

He became a force in the 1980s for pushing conservative Christian ideals in American politics alongside fundamentalist giants like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. He campaigned for bringing religious conservatives into the political mainstream, and in 1989, Falwell called Dobson a rising star. Decades later, he served on a board of evangelical leaders that advised President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;in 2016. He supported Trump in all three of his presidential campaigns.

He celebrated the 2022 overturning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;— including Trump’s conservative appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court credited with the landmark decision that allowed states to ban abortion.

“Whether you like Donald Trump or not, whether you supported or voted for him or not, if you are supportive of this Dobbs decision that struck down Roe v. Wade, you have to mention in the same breath the man who made it possible,” he said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.drjamesdobson.org/broadcasts/a-historic-victory-for-life-dr-dobson-reacts-to-the-reversal-of-roe-v-wade-part-1/">ministry broadcast</a>.

Dobson left Focus on the Family in 2010 and founded the institute that bears his name. He continued with the Family Talk radio show, which is nationally syndicated and is carried by 1,500 radio outlets with more than half a million listeners weekly, according to the institute.

“Dr. Dobson’s impact endures through the many lives he touched, the families he strengthened, and the unshakable faith he proclaimed,” his family said in a statement announcing his death.

Gary Bauer, a senior vice president at Dobson’s institute, called him a “pioneer” who helped families in a world of shifting values. Dobson interviewed President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office in 1985, thanking him for concentrating on issues important to families.

Dobson's radio program promoted guests who said they abandoned their homosexuality and instead embraced Christianity.

Dobson was not just an influential voice that helped lead the rise of the Christian, conservative movement to today, where such a large portion of Republican voters consider themselves evangelical conservatives. He was also mentor to today’s leading Christian conservative voices.

Dobson, as a board member on Family Research Council, approached Tony Perkins, then a Louisiana state legislator, to become president of the organization. That was after Perkins grew up in his family church, watching Dobson’s films and following his lead with his own work in the Louisiana Legislature.

In Perkins’ first week as president, he and Dobson stood on the steps of the Alabama Supreme Court to support the installation of a monument to the Ten Commandments in the building. The action led to a court case and the monument’s removal.

Dobson belongs on the “Mount Rushmore” of the Christian conservatives, Perkins said, notably for leading an evangelical church-driven counter-movement to a family and parenting ethos of the 1960s embodied in the progressive teachings of Dr. Benjamin Spock.

“Very few people have had such a positive impact in the shaping of the American family, from what we would describe as a biblical standpoint,” said Perkins, who remains the group’s president. “While his passing is sad and it leaves a vacancy, he has a legacy that will live on.”

After developing a following of millions, Dobson considered running for president in the 2000 election, following in the footsteps of former television minister Pat Robertson’s surprise success in 1988.

“He had a big audience. He was not afraid to speak out. He became a very important voice and there was even talk that he might run for president,” said Ralph Reed, a Christian conservative political organizer and lobbyist who founded the Faith and Freedom Coalition. “If Jim had decided to run, he would have been a major force.”

Reed’s organization presented Dobson with a lifetime achievement award in 2017.

Despite their close association later in life, Reed’s enduring memory was as a younger political organizer traveling through rural America with Dobson’s voice as his sole companion.

“I’d be out there somewhere, and I could go to the AM dial and there was never a time, day or night when I couldn’t find that guy,” Reed said. “There will probably never be another one like him.”

An anti-pornography crusader, Dobson recorded a video interview with serial killer Ted Bundy the day before his January 24, 1989, execution in Florida. Bundy told Dobson that exposure to pornography helped fuel his sexual urges to a point that he looked for satisfaction by mutilating, killing and raping women.

At the time, Dobson’s Focus on the Family program was broadcast daily on 1,200 radio stations.

Months after the execution, Bundy’s attorney James Coleman downplayed the Dobson exchange in an interview with The Associated Press.

“I think that was a little bit of Ted telling the minister what he wanted to hear and Ted offering an explanation that would exonerate him personally,” Coleman told The Associated Press in 1989. “I had heard that before and I told Ted I never accepted it.”

Dobson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, as well as their children, Danae and Ryan, daughter-in-law Laura, and two grandchildren, his family's statement said.

Catalini reported from Trenton, New Jersey, and Meyer from Nashville, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Tom Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755787184722.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE CATALINI and HOLLY MEYER Associated PressDr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/94982d52cefc48babc242fb0e3853a43">James Dobson</a>, a politically influential child psychologist who started a radio show counseling Christians on how to be good parents, founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family and was long a campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, died on Thursday. He was 89.His death was confirmed by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">For nearly five decades, his voice championed life, marriage, and the truth of God’s Word. As we grieve, we also give thanks — for his life, his legacy, and the mission that lives on through the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. <a href="https://t.co/TEBn59Fesy">pic.twitter.com/TEBn59Fesy</a>&mdash; Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (@DrJamesDobsonFT) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrJamesDobsonFT/status/1958497811453886630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Born in 1936 in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson started a radio show counseling Christians on how to be good parents and in 1977 founded Focus on the Family. At its peak, the organization had more than 1,000 employees and gave Dobson a platform to weigh in on legislation and serve as an adviser to five presidents.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today we remember a hero of the faith. Our Founder, Dr. James C. Dobson, passed away this morning. Although we&#39;re sorrowful over this loss, we are thankful for his legacy of family ministry that will live on for future generations, and rejoice that he is now in the presence of… <a href="https://t.co/H8sSsXssos">pic.twitter.com/H8sSsXssos</a>&mdash; Focus on the Family (@FocusFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/FocusFamily/status/1958532943464268014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He became a force in the 1980s for pushing conservative Christian ideals in American politics alongside fundamentalist giants like Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. He campaigned for bringing religious conservatives into the political mainstream, and in 1989, Falwell called Dobson a rising star. Decades later, he served on a board of evangelical leaders that advised President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;in 2016. He supported Trump in all three of his presidential campaigns.He celebrated the 2022 overturning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;— including Trump’s conservative appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court credited with the landmark decision that allowed states to ban abortion.“Whether you like Donald Trump or not, whether you supported or voted for him or not, if you are supportive of this Dobbs decision that struck down Roe v. Wade, you have to mention in the same breath the man who made it possible,” he said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.drjamesdobson.org/broadcasts/a-historic-victory-for-life-dr-dobson-reacts-to-the-reversal-of-roe-v-wade-part-1/">ministry broadcast</a>.Dobson left Focus on the Family in 2010 and founded the institute that bears his name. He continued with the Family Talk radio show, which is nationally syndicated and is carried by 1,500 radio outlets with more than half a million listeners weekly, according to the institute.“Dr. Dobson’s impact endures through the many lives he touched, the families he strengthened, and the unshakable faith he proclaimed,” his family said in a statement announcing his death.Gary Bauer, a senior vice president at Dobson’s institute, called him a “pioneer” who helped families in a world of shifting values. Dobson interviewed President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office in 1985, thanking him for concentrating on issues important to families.Dobson's radio program promoted guests who said they abandoned their homosexuality and instead embraced Christianity.Dobson was not just an influential voice that helped lead the rise of the Christian, conservative movement to today, where such a large portion of Republican voters consider themselves evangelical conservatives. He was also mentor to today’s leading Christian conservative voices.Dobson, as a board member on Family Research Council, approached Tony Perkins, then a Louisiana state legislator, to become president of the organization. That was after Perkins grew up in his family church, watching Dobson’s films and following his lead with his own work in the Louisiana Legislature.In Perkins’ first week as president, he and Dobson stood on the steps of the Alabama Supreme Court to support the installation of a monument to the Ten Commandments in the building. The action led to a court case and the monument’s removal.Dobson belongs on the “Mount Rushmore” of the Christian conservatives, Perkins said, notably for leading an evangelical church-driven counter-movement to a family and parenting ethos of the 1960s embodied in the progressive teachings of Dr. Benjamin Spock.“Very few people have had such a positive impact in the shaping of the American family, from what we would describe as a biblical standpoint,” said Perkins, who remains the group’s president. “While his passing is sad and it leaves a vacancy, he has a legacy that will live on.”After developing a following of millions, Dobson considered running for president in the 2000 election, following in the footsteps of former television minister Pat Robertson’s surprise success in 1988.“He had a big audience. He was not afraid to speak out. He became a very important voice and there was even talk that he might run for president,” said Ralph Reed, a Christian conservative political organizer and lobbyist who founded the Faith and Freedom Coalition. “If Jim had decided to run, he would have been a major force.”Reed’s organization presented Dobson with a lifetime achievement award in 2017.Despite their close association later in life, Reed’s enduring memory was as a younger political organizer traveling through rural America with Dobson’s voice as his sole companion.“I’d be out there somewhere, and I could go to the AM dial and there was never a time, day or night when I couldn’t find that guy,” Reed said. “There will probably never be another one like him.”An anti-pornography crusader, Dobson recorded a video interview with serial killer Ted Bundy the day before his January 24, 1989, execution in Florida. Bundy told Dobson that exposure to pornography helped fuel his sexual urges to a point that he looked for satisfaction by mutilating, killing and raping women.At the time, Dobson’s Focus on the Family program was broadcast daily on 1,200 radio stations.Months after the execution, Bundy’s attorney James Coleman downplayed the Dobson exchange in an interview with The Associated Press.“I think that was a little bit of Ted telling the minister what he wanted to hear and Ted offering an explanation that would exonerate him personally,” Coleman told The Associated Press in 1989. “I had heard that before and I told Ted I never accepted it.”Dobson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, as well as their children, Danae and Ryan, daughter-in-law Laura, and two grandchildren, his family's statement said.___Catalini reported from Trenton, New Jersey, and Meyer from Nashville, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Tom Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed.

Legendary evangelical leader Dr. James Dobson dead at 89

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Firefighters are urging caution with air fryers after&nbsp; three kitchen fires linked to the appliances in Derby year, according to a social media report from Derby Fire and Rescue.

Fire crews responded to the 800 block of Westview Drive in the city of Derby for a reported appliance fire. Crews found an an air fryer burning on a glass cooktop. Prior to fire crews arrival, the resident had acted quickly with a kitchen fire extinguisher before evacuating with their child, limiting damage until firefighters arrived to ensure the fire was fully out. There were no injuries reported.

This is the third air fryer fire in Derby this year resulting in moderate kitchen/appliance damage. A common factor in all three: the air fryer was on top of the stove, either in use or being stored there.

Derby Fire provided these air fryers safety tips.

Place and ventilate: Set it on a stable countertop with clearance, never on a stovetop or directly under cabinets. 

  Power and supervise: Plug directly into a wall outlet (no power strips/extension cords) and stay nearby while it’s running. 

  Grease and emergencies: Clean crumbs/grease trays regularly. If it smokes or flames, unplug and keep the basket closed to smother, never use water.A big thank-you to the resident for their prompt, safe response. Having a fire extinguisher and knowing how to use it makes a difference.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755786670720.png" alt="Photos Derby" />
 <figcaption>Photos Derby</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— Firefighters are urging caution with air fryers after&nbsp; three kitchen fires linked to the appliances in Derby year, according to a social media report from Derby Fire and Rescue.Fire crews responded to the 800 block of Westview Drive in the city of Derby for a reported appliance fire. Crews found an an air fryer burning on a glass cooktop. Prior to fire crews arrival, the resident had acted quickly with a kitchen fire extinguisher before evacuating with their child, limiting damage until firefighters arrived to ensure the fire was fully out. There were no injuries reported.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755786642204.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This is the third air fryer fire in Derby this year resulting in moderate kitchen/appliance damage. A common factor in all three: the air fryer was on top of the stove, either in use or being stored there.Derby Fire provided these air fryers safety tips.Place and ventilate: Set it on a stable countertop with clearance, never on a stovetop or directly under cabinets. Power and supervise: Plug directly into a wall outlet (no power strips/extension cords) and stay nearby while it’s running. Grease and emergencies: Clean crumbs/grease trays regularly. If it smokes or flames, unplug and keep the basket closed to smother, never use water.A big thank-you to the resident for their prompt, safe response. Having a fire extinguisher and knowing how to use it makes a difference.

Three  air fryer kitchen fires in Kansas community this year

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jeff-amy">JEFF AMY</a> Associated Press

Jamel Bishop is seeing a big change in his classrooms as he begins his senior year at Doss High School in Louisville, Kentucky, where cellphones are now banned during instructional time.

In previous years, students often weren’t paying attention and wasted class time by repeating questions, the teenager said. Now, teachers can provide “more one-on-one time for the students who actually need it.”

Kentucky is one of 17 states and the District of Columbia starting this school year with new restrictions, bringing the total to 35 states with laws or rules limiting phones and other electronic devices in school. This change has come remarkably quickly:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-schools-cell-phone-ban-social-media-89b0c8bdad325fb9a776f4384602a1a1">Florida became the first state</a>&nbsp;to pass such a law in 2023.

Both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-school-cellphone-phone-ban-tennessee-utah-f633d3001a9d634269aa68db258184ee">Democrats and Republicans</a>&nbsp;have taken up the cause, reflecting a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-cell-phone-ban-extracurricular-afterschool-4d89f5b7fd7c8f1d5903f8c04f26da54">growing consensus</a>&nbsp;that phones are bad for kids’ mental health and take their focus away from learning, even as some researchers say the issue is less clear-cut.

“Anytime you have a bill that’s passed in California and Florida, you know you’re probably onto something that’s pretty popular,” Georgia state Rep. Scott Hilton, a Republican, told a forum on cellphone use last week in Atlanta.

Phones are banned throughout the school day in 18 of the states and the District of Columbia, although Georgia and Florida impose such “bell-to-bell” bans only from kindergarten through eighth grade. Another seven states ban them during class time, but not between classes or during lunch. Still others, particularly those with traditions of local school control, mandate only a cellphone policy, believing districts will take the hint and sharply restrict phone access.

For students, the rules add new school-day rituals, like putting phones in magnetic pouches or special lockers.

Students have been locking up their phones during class at McNair High School in suburban Atlanta since last year. Audreanna Johnson, a junior, said “most of them did not want to turn in their phones” at first, because students would use them to gossip, texting “their other friends in other classes to see what’s the tea and what’s going on around the building.”

That resentment is “starting to ease down” now, she said. “More students are willing to give up their phones and not get distracted.”

But there are drawbacks — like not being able to listen to music when working independently in class. “I’m kind of 50-50 on the situation because me, I use headphones to do my schoolwork. I listen to music to help focus,” she said.

In a survey of 125 Georgia school districts by Emory University researchers, parental resistance was cited as the top obstacle to regulating student use of social and digital media.

Johnson’s mother, Audrena Johnson, said she worries most about knowing her children are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-school-shooting-cellphone-bans-cb68f601be5193bfeb62e9fd065978a1">safe from violence at school</a>. School messages about threats can be delayed and incomplete, she said, like when someone who wasn’t a McNair student got into a fight on school property, which she learned about when her daughter texted her during the school day.

“My child having her phone is very important to me, because if something were to happen, I know instantly,” Johnson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679496400146.jpg" alt="Photo Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Photo Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jeff-amy">JEFF AMY</a> Associated PressJamel Bishop is seeing a big change in his classrooms as he begins his senior year at Doss High School in Louisville, Kentucky, where cellphones are now banned during instructional time.In previous years, students often weren’t paying attention and wasted class time by repeating questions, the teenager said. Now, teachers can provide “more one-on-one time for the students who actually need it.”Kentucky is one of 17 states and the District of Columbia starting this school year with new restrictions, bringing the total to 35 states with laws or rules limiting phones and other electronic devices in school. This change has come remarkably quickly:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-schools-cell-phone-ban-social-media-89b0c8bdad325fb9a776f4384602a1a1">Florida became the first state</a>&nbsp;to pass such a law in 2023.Both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-school-cellphone-phone-ban-tennessee-utah-f633d3001a9d634269aa68db258184ee">Democrats and Republicans</a>&nbsp;have taken up the cause, reflecting a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-cell-phone-ban-extracurricular-afterschool-4d89f5b7fd7c8f1d5903f8c04f26da54">growing consensus</a>&nbsp;that phones are bad for kids’ mental health and take their focus away from learning, even as some researchers say the issue is less clear-cut.“Anytime you have a bill that’s passed in California and Florida, you know you’re probably onto something that’s pretty popular,” Georgia state Rep. Scott Hilton, a Republican, told a forum on cellphone use last week in Atlanta.Phones are banned throughout the school day in 18 of the states and the District of Columbia, although Georgia and Florida impose such “bell-to-bell” bans only from kindergarten through eighth grade. Another seven states ban them during class time, but not between classes or during lunch. Still others, particularly those with traditions of local school control, mandate only a cellphone policy, believing districts will take the hint and sharply restrict phone access.<h2>Students see pros and cons</h2>For students, the rules add new school-day rituals, like putting phones in magnetic pouches or special lockers.Students have been locking up their phones during class at McNair High School in suburban Atlanta since last year. Audreanna Johnson, a junior, said “most of them did not want to turn in their phones” at first, because students would use them to gossip, texting “their other friends in other classes to see what’s the tea and what’s going on around the building.”That resentment is “starting to ease down” now, she said. “More students are willing to give up their phones and not get distracted.”But there are drawbacks — like not being able to listen to music when working independently in class. “I’m kind of 50-50 on the situation because me, I use headphones to do my schoolwork. I listen to music to help focus,” she said.<h2>Some parents want constant contact</h2>In a survey of 125 Georgia school districts by Emory University researchers, parental resistance was cited as the top obstacle to regulating student use of social and digital media.Johnson’s mother, Audrena Johnson, said she worries most about knowing her children are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-school-shooting-cellphone-bans-cb68f601be5193bfeb62e9fd065978a1">safe from violence at school</a>. School messages about threats can be delayed and incomplete, she said, like when someone who wasn’t a McNair student got into a fight on school property, which she learned about when her daughter texted her during the school day.“My child having her phone is very important to me, because if something were to happen, I know instantly,” Johnson said.Many parents echo this — generally supporting restrictions but wanting a say in the policymaking and better communication, particularly about safety — and they have a real need to coordinate schedules with their children and to know about any problems their children may encounter, said Jason Allen, the national director of partnerships for the National Parents Union.“We just changed the cellphone policy, but aren’t meeting the parents’ needs in regards to safety and really training teachers to work with students on social emotional development,” Allen said.<h2>Research remains in an early stage</h2>Some researchers say it’s not yet clear what types of social media may cause harm, and whether restrictions have benefits, but teachers “love the policy,” according to Julie Gazmararian, a professor of public health at Emory University who does surveys and focus groups to research the effects of a phone ban in middle school grades in the Marietta school district near Atlanta.“They could focus more on teaching,” Gazmararian said. “There were just not the disruptions.”Another benefit: More positive interactions among students. “They were saying that kids are talking to each other in the hallways and in the cafeteria,” she said. “And in the classroom, there is a noticeably lower amount of discipline referrals.”Gazmararian is still compiling numbers on grades and discipline, and cautioned that her work may not be able to answer whether bullying has been reduced or mental health improved.Social media use clearly correlates with poor mental health, but research can’t yet prove it causes it, according to Munmun De Choudhury, a Georgia Tech professor who studies this issue.“We need to be able to quantify what types of social media use are causing harm, what types of social media use can be beneficial,” De Choudhury said.<h2>A few states reject rules</h2>Some state legislatures are bucking the momentum.Wyoming’s Senate in January rejected requiring districts to create some kind of a cellphone policy after opponents argued that teachers and parents need to be responsible.And in the Michigan House in July, a Republican-sponsored bill directing schools to ban phones bell-to-bell in grades K-8 and during high school instruction time was defeated in July after Democrats insisted on upholding local control. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, among multiple governors who made restricting phones in schools a priority this year, is still calling for a bill to come to her desk.___Associated Press writers Isabella Volmert in Lansing, Michigan, and Dylan Lovan in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed.