WICHITA, KAN. – Two Kansas men have been charged through separate criminal complaints with charges related to drug trafficking following search warrants executed.

Thomas Lewis Williams, 64, of Haysville is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, according to the United State's Attorney.

On August 6, a federal search warrant was conducted at Williams’ home on South Meridian Avenue in Haysville. Officers found firearms, U.S. currency, items used in the conversion process of methamphetamine, and suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl pills.

Oswaldo Gutierrez-Rodriguez, 29, of Wichita is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to court documents, on August 6, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a commercial building on North Mascot Avenue in Wichita. During a search, officers found acetone containers, ventilation fans, a propane tank hooked up to a hot plate, and other paraphernalia used to aid in conversion of methamphetamine. They also located a white crystal/powder substance that field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

Both men made initial court appearances August 11, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne E. Birzer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security

Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755120228896.png" alt="Gutierrez-Rodriguez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Gutierrez-Rodriguez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – Two Kansas men have been charged through separate criminal complaints with charges related to drug trafficking following search warrants executed.Thomas Lewis Williams, 64, of Haysville is charged with one count of possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, according to the United State's Attorney.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755119905512.png" alt="Williams photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>On August 6, a federal search warrant was conducted at Williams’ home on South Meridian Avenue in Haysville. Officers found firearms, U.S. currency, items used in the conversion process of methamphetamine, and suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl pills.Oswaldo Gutierrez-Rodriguez, 29, of Wichita is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.According to court documents, on August 6, 2025, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a commercial building on North Mascot Avenue in Wichita. During a search, officers found acetone containers, ventilation fans, a propane tank hooked up to a hot plate, and other paraphernalia used to aid in conversion of methamphetamine. They also located a white crystal/powder substance that field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.Both men made initial court appearances August 11, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gwynne E. Birzer of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.The Wichita Police Department, Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland SecurityInvestigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,

2 Kansas men accused of making, selling methamphetamine

KANSAS CITY –&nbsp;<a></a>A Kansas City, Missouri man was sentenced to four years of imprisonment in federal court for conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and illegally trafficking firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.

Antonio Manning, Sr., 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 48 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.&nbsp;The court also ordered the defendant to pay a criminal forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $11,260.

On April 14, 2025, Antonio Manning admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law.&nbsp; According to the plea agreement, the defendants trafficked at least 22 firearms to persons who were known felons or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law.&nbsp; Pursuant to the plea agreement, Antonio Manning admitted that he was personally involved in illegally selling at least nine firearms and one of those firearms was an unregistered machinegun.

On Jan. 22, 2025, co-defendant Sheron Manning, the brother of Antonio Manning, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun.&nbsp; On May 21, 2025, Sheron Manning, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 57 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

On April 07, 2025, co-defendant Michael Dewayne Hardy, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons, to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun, and one count of knowingly being a felon in possession of firearms.&nbsp; On June 26, 2024, Michael Dewayne Hardy, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 70 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

KANSAS CITY –&nbsp;<a></a>A Kansas City, Missouri man was sentenced to four years of imprisonment in federal court for conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and illegally trafficking firearms, according to the United State's Attorney.Antonio Manning, Sr., 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 48 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.&nbsp;The court also ordered the defendant to pay a criminal forfeiture money judgment in the amount of $11,260.On April 14, 2025, Antonio Manning admitted that he knowingly and willfully joined in an agreement to sell firearms to individuals who were prohibited from possessing them under federal law.&nbsp; According to the plea agreement, the defendants trafficked at least 22 firearms to persons who were known felons or they sold firearms that were converted into unregistered machineguns in violation of federal law.&nbsp; Pursuant to the plea agreement, Antonio Manning admitted that he was personally involved in illegally selling at least nine firearms and one of those firearms was an unregistered machinegun.On Jan. 22, 2025, co-defendant Sheron Manning, the brother of Antonio Manning, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons and to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun.&nbsp; On May 21, 2025, Sheron Manning, 22, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 57 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.On April 07, 2025, co-defendant Michael Dewayne Hardy, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to traffic firearms to prohibited persons, to one count of illegally trafficking a firearm that had been converted into an unregistered machinegun, and one count of knowingly being a felon in possession of firearms.&nbsp; On June 26, 2024, Michael Dewayne Hardy, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips, to 70 months in federal prison without parole, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Prison for selling unregistered machine guns to known felons 

KANSAS CITY– The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced on Wednesday a case of an adult Missouri resident with a laboratory-confirmed infection of&nbsp;Naegleria fowleri.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/naegleria/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/index.html">Naegleria fowleri</a>&nbsp;is a microscopic single-celled free-living ameba that can cause a rare deadly infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), also known as “brain-eating” infection. Typically, fewer than 10 people a year in the United States get PAM.

The Missouri patient is currently being treated for PAM in an intensive care unit of a hospital, and currently, no additional suspected cases of PAM are being investigated in Missouri.

The ameba is common and naturally present in warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers and ponds; however, PAM is extremely rare. Between 1962 and 2024, there were 167 reported cases of PAM in the United States.

The source of the patient’s exposure is currently being investigated by public health officials. While not confirmed, preliminary information implies the patient may have been water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks days prior to becoming ill. Recreational water users should assume that&nbsp;Naegleria fowleri&nbsp;is present in warm freshwater across the United States; however, infection remains very rare.

Although a rare occurrence, people become infected by&nbsp;Naegleria fowleri&nbsp;when water containing the ameba enters the body through the nose from freshwater sources. The&nbsp;Naegleria fowleri&nbsp;ameba then travels up the nose to the brain where it damages the brain tissue. This infection cannot be spread from one person to another, and it cannot be contracted by swallowing contaminated water.

People can take actions to reduce the risk of infection by limiting the amount of water going up the nose. These actions could include:

Those who experience the following symptoms after swimming in any warm body of water should contact their health care provider immediately as the disease progresses rapidly:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755118398929.png" alt="Naegleria fowleri  infects people by traveling up the nose and to the brain (shown here) where it consumes brain tissue. Photo: Dr. James Roberts, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta" />
 <figcaption>Naegleria fowleri  infects people by traveling up the nose and to the brain (shown here) where it consumes brain tissue. Photo: Dr. James Roberts, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) announced on Wednesday a case of an adult Missouri resident with a laboratory-confirmed infection of&nbsp;Naegleria fowleri.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/naegleria/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/index.html">Naegleria fowleri</a>&nbsp;is a microscopic single-celled free-living ameba that can cause a rare deadly infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), also known as “brain-eating” infection. Typically, fewer than 10 people a year in the United States get PAM.The Missouri patient is currently being treated for PAM in an intensive care unit of a hospital, and currently, no additional suspected cases of PAM are being investigated in Missouri.The ameba is common and naturally present in warm freshwater such as lakes, rivers and ponds; however, PAM is extremely rare. Between 1962 and 2024, there were 167 reported cases of PAM in the United States.The source of the patient’s exposure is currently being investigated by public health officials. While not confirmed, preliminary information implies the patient may have been water skiing at the Lake of the Ozarks days prior to becoming ill. Recreational water users should assume that&nbsp;Naegleria fowleri&nbsp;is present in warm freshwater across the United States; however, infection remains very rare.Although a rare occurrence, people become infected by&nbsp;Naegleria fowleri&nbsp;when water containing the ameba enters the body through the nose from freshwater sources. The&nbsp;Naegleria fowleri&nbsp;ameba then travels up the nose to the brain where it damages the brain tissue. This infection cannot be spread from one person to another, and it cannot be contracted by swallowing contaminated water.People can take actions to reduce the risk of infection by limiting the amount of water going up the nose. These actions could include:<ul>
 <li>Hold your nose shut, use nose clips, or keep your head above water when taking part in activities in bodies of warm freshwater, especially if you jump or dive into the water.</li><li>Avoid putting your head under the water in hot springs and other untreated thermal waters.</li><li>Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwater during periods of high-water temperature.</li><li>Avoid digging in, or stirring up, the sediment while taking part in water-related activities in shallow, warm freshwater areas.&nbsp;Naegleria fowleri&nbsp;amebas are more likely to live in sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds and rivers.</li>
 </ul>Those who experience the following symptoms after swimming in any warm body of water should contact their health care provider immediately as the disease progresses rapidly:<ul>
 <li>Severe headache.</li><li>Fever.</li><li>Nausea.</li><li>Vomiting.</li><li>Stiff neck.</li><li>Seizures.</li><li>Altered mental status.</li><li>Hallucinations.</li>
 </ul>

Victim in ICU with 'brain-eating' amoeba had been at Lake of the Ozarks

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift's</a>&nbsp;latest era is almost upon us. The superstar isn't just releasing her 12th album in October — she also appeared Wednesday on “New Heights” for the first time to discuss it at length.

Part of the rollout for Tuesday's announcement of “The Life of a Showgirl” involved the popular, typically football-focused podcast hosted by Travis Kelce —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift’s boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Kansas City Chiefs tight end</a>&nbsp;— and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center. Her episode, which ran just over two hours on audio streaming and an hour and 45 minutes via YouTube, was particularly revealing.

Here's everything you need to know about Swift's episode.

The big Taylor Swift takeaways arrived ... swiftly

1. Swift partially announced her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-new-album-life-of-showgirl-c4262686b5b68ee210f7571b8716ab51">new album “The Life of a Showgirl”</a>&nbsp;on the podcast, originally shared Tuesday in a preview clip. Swift told the Kelce brothers she wanted to show them something, revealing a mint-green briefcase that featured her initials in orange. Jason Kelce asked what’s in it, prompting her to pull out a vinyl record. “This is my brand new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’” she said.

2. In the full episode, Swift revealed she worked on the album in Europe while she was on the “Eras Tour" — flying between dates to record, truly embodying the album's title, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Then she read the track list. The entire album was completed in Sweden with producers Max Martin and Shellback.

3. Why orange? The color embodies “what was going on in my inner life during this tour,” she said, before referring to Martin as her “mentor.” “These guys, they're just geniuses,” she said of Martin and Shellback.

4. “Bangers,” is how she describes the album. She also said, “There aren't other ones coming,” referring to a surprising double album like in the case of 2024's “The Tortured Poets Department.” The release is 12 tracks — that's it. And it arrives Oct. 3. “I care about this record more than I can even overstate,” she said. “It's a lot more upbeat,” Travis Kelce said, describing it as a “180 from ‘Tortured Poets.’” Swift agreed, adding, "Life is more upbeat.”

5. The album's theme? “Everything that was going on behind the curtain," she said.

6. The album's goal? Infectious melodies and vivid lyrics, she explained.

7. The album's cover? Themed after “the end of my day,” she said. “My day ends with me in a bathtub."

8. She also shared personal information on “New Heights," arguably in a way she hasn't in years. For example: Her mom “got a new knee,” she said. And her dad had quintuple bypass surgery this summer. He had “five blockages in his heart” discovered through a stress test. “This was the summer of my parental upgrades,” she said.

9. She spent considerable time in Florida with Travis Kelce. She also said “our jobs are very similar,” it is “to entertain people for three hours in NFL stadiums.”

10. Jason Kelce asked his brother and Swift how they handle online chatter about their relationship. “We don’t, really. I don’t see a lot of things,” she said. “My name can be in the actual headline, and it’s none of my business.”

11. She shared her favorite segments from “New Heights,” her self-described “favorite podcast.” That is “new news.” She credited the podcast as getting her “a boyfriend," and discussed how the pair started dating via friendship bracelet exchange. “If this guy isn't crazy," she joked, he's the kind of guy she's “been writing songs about.”

12. Swift also discussed the “Eras Tour,” which Travis Kelce described as a catalyst for his interest in Swift. She mentioned exiting through an orange door at the last date of the tour, a “subliminal hint that I may be leaving the ‘Eras Tour’ era,” she said. It was an Easter egg for “The Life of a Showgirl.”

13. Swift is known for teasing her fans with Easter eggs. Her favorite use? Getting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-honorary-doctorate-NYU-fd824b0123766d2a2738afeffc863b00">an honorary degree from NYU</a>&nbsp;in 2022 and littering her speech with references to her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-midnights-review-45cf7eca3326d784829b405deb48310f">then yet-to-be-announced “Midnights” album.</a>&nbsp;“Fans were like, ‘the whole speech was an easter egg!’” she said.

14. Swift listed her hobbies, which still include baking. Her current obsession? Making sourdough bread, specifically blueberry lemon, cinnamon swirl and Funfetti variations. She offered a few bread-related puns referencing her discography: “Are you bread-y for it?” “It’s a loaf story, baby just say yeast,” and “Loafing him was bread,” among them.

15. Swift discussed regaining control over her entire body of work. In May, it was announced that the popstar purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">Big Machine Records —</a>&nbsp;from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount.

16. Swift said she loves all the rerecorded albums, but “<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-super-bowl-6fe895e1691f6cd85216e520cc3b8ce1">Red (Taylor's Version)</a>” is particularly special — for the fan-favorite “<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-f77fd05cd59ed180af3461c26c5b7e6d">All Too Well</a>” vault track, which spans ten minutes.

How to watch — or listen to — Taylor Swift on the ‘New Heights’ podcast

Swift’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast premiered at 7 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday night. It is available to stream on YouTube.

Fans who prefer to listen to the show instead can do so via most podcast-streaming platforms: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify and Wondery, which produces the show.

The audio recording of the podcast is about 20 minutes longer in duration than YouTube and includes a rapid-fire question section, where the Kelce brothers and Swift discuss cats, pop tarts, Bad Bunny in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/happy-gilmore-2-adam-sandler-interview-5bf420950989b85b4b728a5e4dc9a07e">“Happy Gilmore 2,”</a>&nbsp;hiding in a cleaning cart at the “Eras Tour" and more.

Little was known about Swift's episode ahead of its airing.

On Tuesday and Wednesday morning, the podcast shared clips teasing the forthcoming episode.

“As we all know, you know, you guys have a lot of male sports fans that listen to your podcast," Swift joked in one cut. “I think we all know that if there's one thing that male sports fans want to see in their spaces and on their screens it's more of me.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid was supportive, though, saying Wednesday that he was happy for the pair.

“Both of them like each other, and what a plus that is. They care about each other, and I think that’s the most important thing,” he said. “The older you get, you want these guys to have somebody they can settle down with and that whole deal. And so I think it’s a neat deal for them – both of them.”

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s</a>&nbsp;latest era is almost upon us. The superstar isn’t just releasing new music — she’s appearing Wednesday on “New Heights” for the first time.

Part of the rollout for Tuesday’s announcement of “The Life of a Showgirl” involved the popular, typically football-focused podcast hosted by Travis Kelce —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift’s boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Kansas City Chiefs tight end</a>&nbsp;— and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center.

The show teased “a special episode with a VERY special guest” on social media Monday, sharing an orange background and a mysterious silhouette that many believed to be Swift. It turned out to be true, the show’s social media accounts confirmed later, at the same time Swift announced her 12th studio album.

Here’s everything you need to know about Swift’s episode.

Swift’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast will premiere at 7 p.m. Eastern. It will be available to stream in full on YouTube.

Fans who would prefer to listen to the show, instead, can do so via most podcast-streaming platforms: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify and Wondery, which produces the show, among them.

Episodes can run up to two hours. It is unclear how long Swift’s episode will be or how long she will be present.

What we know about Taylor Swift’s episode

On Wednesday morning, the podcast shared a nearly two-minute video clip in which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-kelce">Jason Kelce</a>&nbsp;gave Swift an extended, enthusiastic introduction.

“As we all know, you know, you guys have a lot of male sports fans that listen to your podcast. I think we all know that if there’s one thing that male sports fans want to see in their spaces and on their screens it’s more of me,” Swift joked.

In another clip shared Tuesday, Swift told the Kelce brothers she wanted to show them something, revealing a mint-green briefcase that featured her initials in orange. Jason Kelce asked what’s in it, prompting her to pull out a vinyl record with a blurred cover.

“This is my brand new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’” she shared.

Soon afterward, the “New Heights” podcast shared another clip featuring Swift to tease Wednesday’s episode. In it, Swift complimented the color of Travis Kelce’s sweatshirt, who responded, “It’s the color of your eyes, sweetie. It’s why we match so well.”

Swift retorted, “We’re about to do a (expletive) podcast.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755128235018.png" alt="Photo courtesy Union Station in Kansas City" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Union Station in Kansas City</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift's</a>&nbsp;latest era is almost upon us. The superstar isn't just releasing her 12th album in October — she also appeared Wednesday on “New Heights” for the first time to discuss it at length.Part of the rollout for Tuesday's announcement of “The Life of a Showgirl” involved the popular, typically football-focused podcast hosted by Travis Kelce —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift’s boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Kansas City Chiefs tight end</a>&nbsp;— and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center. Her episode, which ran just over two hours on audio streaming and an hour and 45 minutes via YouTube, was particularly revealing.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Get a first look at the cover of Taylor’s new album The Life of a Showgirl Available for pre-order now at <a href="https://t.co/aYNn7lTXv8">https://t.co/aYNn7lTXv8</a> and releasing everywhere 10/3 NEW EPISODE OUT NOW … And, baby, that’s show business for you ❤️‍🔥 <a href="https://t.co/BULHWUkDC4">pic.twitter.com/BULHWUkDC4</a>&mdash; New Heights (@newheightshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/newheightshow/status/1955766325806272598?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 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">And now for The Life of a Showgirl back cover and tracklist reveal ………… <a href="https://t.co/qYYZe62OfK">pic.twitter.com/qYYZe62OfK</a>&mdash; New Heights (@newheightshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/newheightshow/status/1955769598407795133?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 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">And, baby, that’s show business for you. New album The Life of a Showgirl. Out October 3 ❤️‍🔥<a href="https://t.co/rIaG2Ezo7Z">https://t.co/rIaG2Ezo7Z</a> Album Producers: Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift 📸: Mert Alas &amp; Marcus Piggott <a href="https://t.co/QRzLbLpnUS">pic.twitter.com/QRzLbLpnUS</a>&mdash; Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) <a href="https://twitter.com/taylorswift13/status/1955766695483543743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 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">We&#39;re celebrating with our KC Swifties, and now through Sunday, we have a brand new TS12 photo op from our friends at AlphaLitKC and Events By Erika. The photo op is located in our Grand Hall and is free to visit from 6:30am to 11:30pm daily through Sunday. PLUS this Saturday,… <a href="https://t.co/pX49f61xWE">pic.twitter.com/pX49f61xWE</a>&mdash; Union Station KC (@UnionStationKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/UnionStationKC/status/1955469733433610298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here's everything you need to know about Swift's episode.<h2>The big Taylor Swift takeaways arrived ... swiftly</h2>1. Swift partially announced her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-new-album-life-of-showgirl-c4262686b5b68ee210f7571b8716ab51">new album “The Life of a Showgirl”</a>&nbsp;on the podcast, originally shared Tuesday in a preview clip. Swift told the Kelce brothers she wanted to show them something, revealing a mint-green briefcase that featured her initials in orange. Jason Kelce asked what’s in it, prompting her to pull out a vinyl record. “This is my brand new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’” she said.2. In the full episode, Swift revealed she worked on the album in Europe while she was on the “Eras Tour" — flying between dates to record, truly embodying the album's title, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Then she read the track list. The entire album was completed in Sweden with producers Max Martin and Shellback.3. Why orange? The color embodies “what was going on in my inner life during this tour,” she said, before referring to Martin as her “mentor.” “These guys, they're just geniuses,” she said of Martin and Shellback.4. “Bangers,” is how she describes the album. She also said, “There aren't other ones coming,” referring to a surprising double album like in the case of 2024's “The Tortured Poets Department.” The release is 12 tracks — that's it. And it arrives Oct. 3. “I care about this record more than I can even overstate,” she said. “It's a lot more upbeat,” Travis Kelce said, describing it as a “180 from ‘Tortured Poets.’” Swift agreed, adding, "Life is more upbeat.”5. The album's theme? “Everything that was going on behind the curtain," she said.6. The album's goal? Infectious melodies and vivid lyrics, she explained.7. The album's cover? Themed after “the end of my day,” she said. “My day ends with me in a bathtub."8. She also shared personal information on “New Heights," arguably in a way she hasn't in years. For example: Her mom “got a new knee,” she said. And her dad had quintuple bypass surgery this summer. He had “five blockages in his heart” discovered through a stress test. “This was the summer of my parental upgrades,” she said.9. She spent considerable time in Florida with Travis Kelce. She also said “our jobs are very similar,” it is “to entertain people for three hours in NFL stadiums.”10. Jason Kelce asked his brother and Swift how they handle online chatter about their relationship. “We don’t, really. I don’t see a lot of things,” she said. “My name can be in the actual headline, and it’s none of my business.”11. She shared her favorite segments from “New Heights,” her self-described “favorite podcast.” That is “new news.” She credited the podcast as getting her “a boyfriend," and discussed how the pair started dating via friendship bracelet exchange. “If this guy isn't crazy," she joked, he's the kind of guy she's “been writing songs about.”12. Swift also discussed the “Eras Tour,” which Travis Kelce described as a catalyst for his interest in Swift. She mentioned exiting through an orange door at the last date of the tour, a “subliminal hint that I may be leaving the ‘Eras Tour’ era,” she said. It was an Easter egg for “The Life of a Showgirl.”13. Swift is known for teasing her fans with Easter eggs. Her favorite use? Getting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-honorary-doctorate-NYU-fd824b0123766d2a2738afeffc863b00">an honorary degree from NYU</a>&nbsp;in 2022 and littering her speech with references to her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-midnights-review-45cf7eca3326d784829b405deb48310f">then yet-to-be-announced “Midnights” album.</a>&nbsp;“Fans were like, ‘the whole speech was an easter egg!’” she said.14. Swift listed her hobbies, which still include baking. Her current obsession? Making sourdough bread, specifically blueberry lemon, cinnamon swirl and Funfetti variations. She offered a few bread-related puns referencing her discography: “Are you bread-y for it?” “It’s a loaf story, baby just say yeast,” and “Loafing him was bread,” among them.15. Swift discussed regaining control over her entire body of work. In May, it was announced that the popstar purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">Big Machine Records —</a>&nbsp;from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount.16. Swift said she loves all the rerecorded albums, but “<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-super-bowl-6fe895e1691f6cd85216e520cc3b8ce1">Red (Taylor's Version)</a>” is particularly special — for the fan-favorite “<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-f77fd05cd59ed180af3461c26c5b7e6d">All Too Well</a>” vault track, which spans ten minutes.<h2>How to watch — or listen to — Taylor Swift on the ‘New Heights’ podcast</h2>Swift’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast premiered at 7 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday night. It is available to stream on YouTube.Fans who prefer to listen to the show instead can do so via most podcast-streaming platforms: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify and Wondery, which produces the show.The audio recording of the podcast is about 20 minutes longer in duration than YouTube and includes a rapid-fire question section, where the Kelce brothers and Swift discuss cats, pop tarts, Bad Bunny in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/happy-gilmore-2-adam-sandler-interview-5bf420950989b85b4b728a5e4dc9a07e">“Happy Gilmore 2,”</a>&nbsp;hiding in a cleaning cart at the “Eras Tour" and more.<h2>The road to Taylor Swift's episode</h2>Little was known about Swift's episode ahead of its airing.On Tuesday and Wednesday morning, the podcast shared clips teasing the forthcoming episode.“As we all know, you know, you guys have a lot of male sports fans that listen to your podcast," Swift joked in one cut. “I think we all know that if there's one thing that male sports fans want to see in their spaces and on their screens it's more of me.”Chiefs coach Andy Reid was supportive, though, saying Wednesday that he was happy for the pair.“Both of them like each other, and what a plus that is. They care about each other, and I think that’s the most important thing,” he said. “The older you get, you want these guys to have somebody they can settle down with and that whole deal. And so I think it’s a neat deal for them – both of them.”-------------NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s</a>&nbsp;latest era is almost upon us. The superstar isn’t just releasing new music — she’s appearing Wednesday on “New Heights” for the first time.Part of the rollout for Tuesday’s announcement of “The Life of a Showgirl” involved the popular, typically football-focused podcast hosted by Travis Kelce —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift’s boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Kansas City Chiefs tight end</a>&nbsp;— and his brother, Jason Kelce, the former Philadelphia Eagles center.The show teased “a special episode with a VERY special guest” on social media Monday, sharing an orange background and a mysterious silhouette that many believed to be Swift. It turned out to be true, the show’s social media accounts confirmed later, at the same time Swift announced her 12th studio album.Here’s everything you need to know about Swift’s episode.<h2>How to watch — or listen to — Taylor Swift on the ‘New Heights’ podcast</h2>Swift’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast will premiere at 7 p.m. Eastern. It will be available to stream in full on YouTube.Fans who would prefer to listen to the show, instead, can do so via most podcast-streaming platforms: Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify and Wondery, which produces the show, among them.Episodes can run up to two hours. It is unclear how long Swift’s episode will be or how long she will be present.<h2>What we know about Taylor Swift’s episode</h2>Not a whole lot.On Wednesday morning, the podcast shared a nearly two-minute video clip in which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jason-kelce">Jason Kelce</a>&nbsp;gave Swift an extended, enthusiastic introduction.“As we all know, you know, you guys have a lot of male sports fans that listen to your podcast. I think we all know that if there’s one thing that male sports fans want to see in their spaces and on their screens it’s more of me,” Swift joked.Chiefs coach Andy Reid was supportive, though, saying Wednesday that he was happy for the pair.“Both of them like each other, and what a plus that is. They care about each other, and I think that’s the most important thing,” he said. “The older you get, you want these guys to have somebody they can settle down with and that whole deal. And so I think it’s a neat deal for them – both of them.”In another clip shared Tuesday, Swift told the Kelce brothers she wanted to show them something, revealing a mint-green briefcase that featured her initials in orange. Jason Kelce asked what’s in it, prompting her to pull out a vinyl record with a blurred cover.“This is my brand new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’” she shared.Soon afterward, the “New Heights” podcast shared another clip featuring Swift to tease Wednesday’s episode. In it, Swift complimented the color of Travis Kelce’s sweatshirt, who responded, “It’s the color of your eyes, sweetie. It’s why we match so well.”Swift retorted, “We’re about to do a (expletive) podcast.”

Every major update from Taylor Swift's appearance on the Kelces' 'New Heights' podcast

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a 2023 is going back to prison.

On Tuesday Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced 24-year-old Julian Wedge to 285 months in prison for the death of Evan Harrison,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier this year, Wedge was found guilty of 1st degree murder, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and interference with law enforcement.

On March 4, 2023, sheriff's deputies made a welfare check of a man lying in the street at 4200 S. Clifton in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.

&nbsp;Deputies found individuals attempting to help Harrison who had been shot. EMS transported Harrison to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Days later police arrested Wedge who has been registered as a violent offender since March of 2019 for convictions that include criminal discharge of firearm into an unoccupied dwelling, according to the Kansas offender registry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714661173832.png" alt="Wedge photo KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Wedge photo KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a 2023 is going back to prison.On Tuesday Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced 24-year-old Julian Wedge to 285 months in prison for the death of Evan Harrison,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier this year, Wedge was found guilty of 1st degree murder, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and interference with law enforcement.On March 4, 2023, sheriff's deputies made a welfare check of a man lying in the street at 4200 S. Clifton in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.&nbsp;Deputies found individuals attempting to help Harrison who had been shot. EMS transported Harrison to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Days later police arrested Wedge who has been registered as a violent offender since March of 2019 for convictions that include criminal discharge of firearm into an unoccupied dwelling, according to the Kansas offender registry.

Prison for violent Kansas offender in robbery killing

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks ticked higher on Wednesday after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-trump-china-3b9c602e05756778028b70f97e15ccb2">rally spurred by hopes for lower U.S. interest rates</a>&nbsp;wrapped around the world.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.3%, coming off its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 463 points, or 1%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.1% to its own record set the day before.

Treasury yields eased in the bond market as expectations reached a virtual consensus that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-rates-99d90bab1ba2faa0fc5d4a6106125da7">the Federal Reserve</a>&nbsp;will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its next meeting in September. Lower rates can boost investment prices and the economy by making it cheaper for U.S. households and businesses to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-1831d4d6a716370de822f9851e65e3ee">borrow to buy houses</a>, cars or equipment, though they risk worsening inflation.

Stock indexes in Asia jumped in their first trading after Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumer-prices-jerome-powell-fed-interest-rates-7956da9c097730929b12c269f8c08399">better-than-expected report on U.S. inflation</a>&nbsp;triggered a jump in bets that a cut to interest rates is coming. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng leaped 2.6%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rallied 1.3% and South Korea’s Kospi climbed 1.1%.

Indexes also rose in Europe, though the moves were more modest after they already had the chance to trade on the U.S. inflation data the afternoon before. Germany’s DAX returned 0.7%, and France’s CAC 40 rose 0.7%.

On Wall Street, stocks of companies that could benefit most from lower interest rates helped lead the way. PulteGroup climbed 5.4%, and Lennar rose 5.2% as part of a broad rally for homebuilders and others in the housing industry. Lower rates could make mortgages cheaper to get, which could spur more buying.

The hopes for lower interest rates are helping to drown out criticism that the U.S. stock market has broadly grown too expensive after its big leap since hitting a low in April.

One way companies can make their stock prices look less expensive is to deliver strong growth in profits, and Brinker International rose 1.6% after becoming the latest to report stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company behind the Chili’s brand said it saw more customers coming to its restaurants, and it’s also making more profit off each $1 in sales.

“Chili’s is officially back, baby back!” CEO Kevin Hochman said.

HanesBrands climbed 3.7% after it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gildan-hanesbrands-hanes-maidenform-57b14618d7611f4a644af4150049502e">agreed to sell itself to Gildan Activewear for $2.2 billion</a>&nbsp;in cash and Gildan stock. The deal would combine North Carolinas’ HanesBrands with Canada’s Gildan, and Gildan’s stock that trades in the United States rose 11.8%.

Bullish soared in its debut on the New York Stock Exchange and rose 83.8% in its first day of trading. The cryptocurrency exchange’s CEO is Tom Farley, who used to be president of the NYSE Group.

On the losing end of Wall Street were grocery stores and delivery companies, which fell after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-perishable-prime-grocery-834dbc5d25eb01caafcf37f09aa308ad">Amazon said it will offer fresh groceries</a>&nbsp;to customers in more than 1,000 cities and towns through same-day delivery. Kroger fell 4.4%, and DoorDash dropped 3.8%, while Amazon rose 1.4%.

Cava Group sank 16.6% after the Mediterranean restaurant chain reported weaker revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit topped forecasts. It also cut its 2025 forecast for an important underlying measure of restaurant sales.

CoreWeave lost 20.8% after the company, whose cloud platform helps customers running artificial-intelligence workloads, reported a larger loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 20.82 points to 6,466.58. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 463.66 to 44,922.27, and the Nasdaq composite added 31.24 to 21,713.14.

In the bond market, Treasury yields eased as expectations built for coming cuts to interest rates by the Fed.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.23% from 4.29% late Tuesday and from 4.50% in mid-July. That’s a notable move for the bond market.

President Donald Trump has angrily been calling for cuts to help the economy, often&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114953049546233760">insulting the Fed’s chair personally</a>&nbsp;while doing so.

But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-rates-99d90bab1ba2faa0fc5d4a6106125da7">Fed has been hesitant so far</a>&nbsp;because of the possibility that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-deadline-delay-d8ffef07d944dc1d460b472e4ffd2f57">Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;could make inflation much worse. Lowering rates would give inflation more fuel, potentially adding oxygen to a growing fire. That’s why Fed officials have said they wanted to see more data come in about inflation before moving.

On Thursday, a report will show how bad inflation was at the wholesale level across the United States. Economists expect it to show inflation accelerated a touch to 2.4% in July from 2.3% in June.

AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755116533012.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks ticked higher on Wednesday after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-trump-china-3b9c602e05756778028b70f97e15ccb2">rally spurred by hopes for lower U.S. interest rates</a>&nbsp;wrapped around the world.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.3%, coming off its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 463 points, or 1%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.1% to its own record set the day before.Treasury yields eased in the bond market as expectations reached a virtual consensus that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-rates-99d90bab1ba2faa0fc5d4a6106125da7">the Federal Reserve</a>&nbsp;will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its next meeting in September. Lower rates can boost investment prices and the economy by making it cheaper for U.S. households and businesses to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-1831d4d6a716370de822f9851e65e3ee">borrow to buy houses</a>, cars or equipment, though they risk worsening inflation.Stock indexes in Asia jumped in their first trading after Tuesday’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-consumer-prices-jerome-powell-fed-interest-rates-7956da9c097730929b12c269f8c08399">better-than-expected report on U.S. inflation</a>&nbsp;triggered a jump in bets that a cut to interest rates is coming. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng leaped 2.6%, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rallied 1.3% and South Korea’s Kospi climbed 1.1%.Indexes also rose in Europe, though the moves were more modest after they already had the chance to trade on the U.S. inflation data the afternoon before. Germany’s DAX returned 0.7%, and France’s CAC 40 rose 0.7%.On Wall Street, stocks of companies that could benefit most from lower interest rates helped lead the way. PulteGroup climbed 5.4%, and Lennar rose 5.2% as part of a broad rally for homebuilders and others in the housing industry. Lower rates could make mortgages cheaper to get, which could spur more buying.The hopes for lower interest rates are helping to drown out criticism that the U.S. stock market has broadly grown too expensive after its big leap since hitting a low in April.One way companies can make their stock prices look less expensive is to deliver strong growth in profits, and Brinker International rose 1.6% after becoming the latest to report stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company behind the Chili’s brand said it saw more customers coming to its restaurants, and it’s also making more profit off each $1 in sales.“Chili’s is officially back, baby back!” CEO Kevin Hochman said.HanesBrands climbed 3.7% after it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gildan-hanesbrands-hanes-maidenform-57b14618d7611f4a644af4150049502e">agreed to sell itself to Gildan Activewear for $2.2 billion</a>&nbsp;in cash and Gildan stock. The deal would combine North Carolinas’ HanesBrands with Canada’s Gildan, and Gildan’s stock that trades in the United States rose 11.8%.Bullish soared in its debut on the New York Stock Exchange and rose 83.8% in its first day of trading. The cryptocurrency exchange’s CEO is Tom Farley, who used to be president of the NYSE Group.On the losing end of Wall Street were grocery stores and delivery companies, which fell after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-perishable-prime-grocery-834dbc5d25eb01caafcf37f09aa308ad">Amazon said it will offer fresh groceries</a>&nbsp;to customers in more than 1,000 cities and towns through same-day delivery. Kroger fell 4.4%, and DoorDash dropped 3.8%, while Amazon rose 1.4%.Cava Group sank 16.6% after the Mediterranean restaurant chain reported weaker revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit topped forecasts. It also cut its 2025 forecast for an important underlying measure of restaurant sales.CoreWeave lost 20.8% after the company, whose cloud platform helps customers running artificial-intelligence workloads, reported a larger loss for the latest quarter than analysts expected.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 20.82 points to 6,466.58. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 463.66 to 44,922.27, and the Nasdaq composite added 31.24 to 21,713.14.In the bond market, Treasury yields eased as expectations built for coming cuts to interest rates by the Fed.The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.23% from 4.29% late Tuesday and from 4.50% in mid-July. That’s a notable move for the bond market.President Donald Trump has angrily been calling for cuts to help the economy, often&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114953049546233760">insulting the Fed’s chair personally</a>&nbsp;while doing so.But the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-rates-99d90bab1ba2faa0fc5d4a6106125da7">Fed has been hesitant so far</a>&nbsp;because of the possibility that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-deadline-delay-d8ffef07d944dc1d460b472e4ffd2f57">Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;could make inflation much worse. Lowering rates would give inflation more fuel, potentially adding oxygen to a growing fire. That’s why Fed officials have said they wanted to see more data come in about inflation before moving.On Thursday, a report will show how bad inflation was at the wholesale level across the United States. Economists expect it to show inflation accelerated a touch to 2.4% in July from 2.3% in June.___AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.

Wall Street edges up to more records following a worldwide rally

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=commission/1/0101019884ff78c3-13a6a0be-a232-49d5-ac6a-d9fe10757a0a-000000/7v3sX41WVujpU5S5oDNfVdUtl4bGe0JJUeZLnMafa3A=417">Kansas&nbsp;Wildlife&nbsp;and Parks Commission</a>&nbsp;will hold its next public meeting on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2FUpcoming-Meeting-Information%2FAugust-14-2025-Garden-City-KS%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=commission/1/0101019884ff78c3-13a6a0be-a232-49d5-ac6a-d9fe10757a0a-000000/vAZKVyFc9VkO3bCZCuVzCeePlbaEJfBgQWpPIZIcoto=417">Thursday, August 14, 2025</a>, at the Finnup Center at the Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City. The meeting will begin at noon and continue until all agenda items are addressed.

Attendees can participate in the meetings in person or virtually. Instructions for joining via Zoom, phone, or live streaming are available&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2FHow-to-Attend-Commission-Meetings-Virtually%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=commission/1/0101019884ff78c3-13a6a0be-a232-49d5-ac6a-d9fe10757a0a-000000/BWUVxYbMNQdr-bnVFrJgK907qnpuP2ur2nsx-t0CuJ4=417">HERE</a>&nbsp;under “How To Attend Commission Meetings Virtually.”

The meeting will begin with a report from the Kansas Department of&nbsp;Wildlife&nbsp;and Parks, including a public hearing on the following regulations:

Commissioners will also receive updates on regulations currently in the promulgation process.

The meeting will conclude with an additional opportunity for public comment.

The complete agenda can be viewed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2FUpcoming-Meeting-Information%2FAugust-14-2025-Garden-City-KS%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=commission/2/0101019884ff78c3-13a6a0be-a232-49d5-ac6a-d9fe10757a0a-000000/LgbKoYmp5OyXa94_N5C2OtbMPUzH91LcQ3lYO-jy95o=417">HERE</a>.

An interpreter for the hearing impaired can be requested by calling the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Individuals with disabilities may request other accommodations by contacting KDWP at (785) 294-2645.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=commission/1/0101019884ff78c3-13a6a0be-a232-49d5-ac6a-d9fe10757a0a-000000/7v3sX41WVujpU5S5oDNfVdUtl4bGe0JJUeZLnMafa3A=417">Kansas&nbsp;Wildlife&nbsp;and Parks Commission</a>&nbsp;will hold its next public meeting on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2FUpcoming-Meeting-Information%2FAugust-14-2025-Garden-City-KS%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=commission/1/0101019884ff78c3-13a6a0be-a232-49d5-ac6a-d9fe10757a0a-000000/vAZKVyFc9VkO3bCZCuVzCeePlbaEJfBgQWpPIZIcoto=417">Thursday, August 14, 2025</a>, at the Finnup Center at the Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City. The meeting will begin at noon and continue until all agenda items are addressed.Attendees can participate in the meetings in person or virtually. Instructions for joining via Zoom, phone, or live streaming are available&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2FHow-to-Attend-Commission-Meetings-Virtually%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=commission/1/0101019884ff78c3-13a6a0be-a232-49d5-ac6a-d9fe10757a0a-000000/BWUVxYbMNQdr-bnVFrJgK907qnpuP2ur2nsx-t0CuJ4=417">HERE</a>&nbsp;under “How To Attend Commission Meetings Virtually.”The meeting will begin with a report from the Kansas Department of&nbsp;Wildlife&nbsp;and Parks, including a public hearing on the following regulations:<ul>
 <li>K.A.R. 115-2-1 – Trout Fee and Senior License FeesEstablishing a 5-year Resident Senior Hunting OR Fishing License (ages 65–74) for $50.Establishing a 5-year Resident Senior Hunting AND Fishing Combo License (ages 65–74) for $90.Increasing the trout permit fee from $12 to $17.50.</li><li>Establishing a 5-year Resident Senior Hunting OR Fishing License (ages 65–74) for $50.</li><li>Establishing a 5-year Resident Senior Hunting AND Fishing Combo License (ages 65–74) for $90.</li><li>Increasing the trout permit fee from $12 to $17.50.</li><li>K.A.R. 115-4-4 – Nonlead Muzzleloader ShotExpanding allowable projectile types for muzzleloaders, enabling use of modern, non-lead (non-toxic) options.</li><li>Expanding allowable projectile types for muzzleloaders, enabling use of modern, non-lead (non-toxic) options.</li><li>K.A.R. 115-25-9 – Deer SeasonsUpdating season dates, units, and permit limits for the 2025–2026 Extended White-tailed Antlerless-only Firearm Season:Proposed Season DatesUnit 3: Jan. 1–4, 2026Units 4–10, 16: Jan. 1–11, 2026Units 11–15, 19: Jan. 1–18, 2026Proposed Permit LimitsNo WAO permits: Units 1, 2, 17, 18One WAO permit: Unit 3Four additional WAO permits: Units 4-10, 16Nine additional WAO permits: Units 11-15, 19 (on non-KDWP-managed lands, except Berentz-Dick and Elk City&nbsp;Wildlife&nbsp;Areas)</li><li>Updating season dates, units, and permit limits for the 2025–2026 Extended White-tailed Antlerless-only Firearm Season:Proposed Season DatesUnit 3: Jan. 1–4, 2026Units 4–10, 16: Jan. 1–11, 2026Units 11–15, 19: Jan. 1–18, 2026Proposed Permit LimitsNo WAO permits: Units 1, 2, 17, 18One WAO permit: Unit 3Four additional WAO permits: Units 4-10, 16Nine additional WAO permits: Units 11-15, 19 (on non-KDWP-managed lands, except Berentz-Dick and Elk City&nbsp;Wildlife&nbsp;Areas)</li><li>Proposed Season DatesUnit 3: Jan. 1–4, 2026Units 4–10, 16: Jan. 1–11, 2026Units 11–15, 19: Jan. 1–18, 2026</li><li>Unit 3: Jan. 1–4, 2026</li><li>Units 4–10, 16: Jan. 1–11, 2026</li><li>Units 11–15, 19: Jan. 1–18, 2026</li><li>Proposed Permit LimitsNo WAO permits: Units 1, 2, 17, 18One WAO permit: Unit 3Four additional WAO permits: Units 4-10, 16Nine additional WAO permits: Units 11-15, 19 (on non-KDWP-managed lands, except Berentz-Dick and Elk City&nbsp;Wildlife&nbsp;Areas)</li><li>No WAO permits: Units 1, 2, 17, 18</li><li>One WAO permit: Unit 3</li><li>Four additional WAO permits: Units 4-10, 16</li><li>Nine additional WAO permits: Units 11-15, 19 (on non-KDWP-managed lands, except Berentz-Dick and Elk City&nbsp;Wildlife&nbsp;Areas)</li><li>K.A.R. 115-25-9a – Deer Seasons on Military UnitsSetting specific deer season dates for Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, and Smoky Hill Air National Guard, including antlerless-only and extended firearm opportunities.Fort RileyPre-rut White-tailed Antlerless Firearm: Oct. 11-13, 2025White-tailed Antlerless-only Firearm: Nov. 28-30, 2025Firearm: Dec. 13-21, 2025Extended Firearm White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 1-11, 2026Fort LeavenworthFirearm: Nov. 15-16, Nov. 22-23, Nov. 27-30, Dec. 6-7, and Dec. 13-14, 2025Extended Firearm White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 1-18. 2026Archery White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 19-31, 2026Smoky Hill Air National GuardFirearm: Dec. 3-14, 2025</li><li>Setting specific deer season dates for Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, and Smoky Hill Air National Guard, including antlerless-only and extended firearm opportunities.Fort RileyPre-rut White-tailed Antlerless Firearm: Oct. 11-13, 2025White-tailed Antlerless-only Firearm: Nov. 28-30, 2025Firearm: Dec. 13-21, 2025Extended Firearm White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 1-11, 2026Fort LeavenworthFirearm: Nov. 15-16, Nov. 22-23, Nov. 27-30, Dec. 6-7, and Dec. 13-14, 2025Extended Firearm White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 1-18. 2026Archery White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 19-31, 2026Smoky Hill Air National GuardFirearm: Dec. 3-14, 2025</li><li>Fort RileyPre-rut White-tailed Antlerless Firearm: Oct. 11-13, 2025White-tailed Antlerless-only Firearm: Nov. 28-30, 2025Firearm: Dec. 13-21, 2025Extended Firearm White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 1-11, 2026</li><li>Pre-rut White-tailed Antlerless Firearm: Oct. 11-13, 2025</li><li>White-tailed Antlerless-only Firearm: Nov. 28-30, 2025</li><li>Firearm: Dec. 13-21, 2025</li><li>Extended Firearm White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 1-11, 2026</li><li>Fort LeavenworthFirearm: Nov. 15-16, Nov. 22-23, Nov. 27-30, Dec. 6-7, and Dec. 13-14, 2025Extended Firearm White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 1-18. 2026Archery White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 19-31, 2026</li><li>Firearm: Nov. 15-16, Nov. 22-23, Nov. 27-30, Dec. 6-7, and Dec. 13-14, 2025</li><li>Extended Firearm White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 1-18. 2026</li><li>Archery White-tailed Antlerless-only: Jan. 19-31, 2026</li><li>Smoky Hill Air National GuardFirearm: Dec. 3-14, 2025</li><li>Firearm: Dec. 3-14, 2025</li><li>K.A.R. 115-25-12 – Coyote SeasonsExtending the night vision coyote hunting season to run from September 1 through March 31, excluding the following periods:The first Saturday in September and the 22 consecutive days following (total of 23 days)The Wednesday following Thanksgiving and the 11 consecutive days following (total of 12 days)If approved, the 2025-2026 night vision coyote hunting season would begin September 29 and run through December 2, then resume December 15 through March 31, 2026. The September 1-5 window will not be in effect for 2025 due to regulatory timelines.</li><li>Extending the night vision coyote hunting season to run from September 1 through March 31, excluding the following periods:The first Saturday in September and the 22 consecutive days following (total of 23 days)The Wednesday following Thanksgiving and the 11 consecutive days following (total of 12 days)</li><li>The first Saturday in September and the 22 consecutive days following (total of 23 days)</li><li>The Wednesday following Thanksgiving and the 11 consecutive days following (total of 12 days)</li><li>If approved, the 2025-2026 night vision coyote hunting season would begin September 29 and run through December 2, then resume December 15 through March 31, 2026. The September 1-5 window will not be in effect for 2025 due to regulatory timelines.</li><li>K.A.R. 115-5-1 – Coyote Equipment, Taking MethodsUpdating the season dates established by K.A.R. 115-25-12.</li><li>Updating the season dates established by K.A.R. 115-25-12.</li>
 </ul>Commissioners will also receive updates on regulations currently in the promulgation process.Other agenda items include:<ul>
 <li>General public comment</li><li>Remarks from KDWP Secretary Christopher Kennedy</li><li>Informational updates on Kansas State Park camping fees</li><li>General discussion on nonresident waterfowl hunting</li><li>Review of additional topics that may be voted on at a future meeting</li>
 </ul>The meeting will conclude with an additional opportunity for public comment.The complete agenda can be viewed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2FUpcoming-Meeting-Information%2FAugust-14-2025-Garden-City-KS%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=commission/2/0101019884ff78c3-13a6a0be-a232-49d5-ac6a-d9fe10757a0a-000000/LgbKoYmp5OyXa94_N5C2OtbMPUzH91LcQ3lYO-jy95o=417">HERE</a>.Attendees can participate in the meetings in person or virtually. Instructions for joining via Zoom, phone, or live streaming are available&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fksoutdoors.gov%2FKDWP-Info%2FCommission%2FHow-to-Attend-Commission-Meetings-Virtually%2F%3Futm_source=news%26utm_medium=press-release%26utm_campaign=commission/1/0101019884ff78c3-13a6a0be-a232-49d5-ac6a-d9fe10757a0a-000000/BWUVxYbMNQdr-bnVFrJgK907qnpuP2ur2nsx-t0CuJ4=417">HERE</a>&nbsp;under “How To Attend Commission Meetings Virtually.”An interpreter for the hearing impaired can be requested by calling the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Individuals with disabilities may request other accommodations by contacting KDWP at (785) 294-2645.

Kan. wildlife officials to review deer, coyote and trout regulations

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday named country music star George Strait, “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, the rock band Kiss and actor-singer Michael Crawford among the first batch of Kennedy Center Honors nominees under his leadership as the center’s chairman and said he’ll host the awards program.

Trump also said he'll “fully renovate” the entire infrastructure of the Kennedy Center to make it a “crown jewel” of arts and culture in the United States.

“We're going to bring it to a higher level than it ever hit,” the president said, adding the venue would be featured in next year's celebrations of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-cuts-humanities-america250-anniversary-doge-572cf095773c66856a1da94030ffd5a9">America's 250th anniversary</a>.

Trump said he didn’t want to host the program but was invited to do so and agreed.

The Republican president avoided the Kennedy Center Honors awards program during his first term after artists said they wouldn't attend out of protest. This year, he has taken over as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-board-chairman-firings-21cd0018c6e9f591d59becea8573d8c0">the Kennedy Center's new chairman</a>&nbsp;and fired the board of trustees, which he replaced with loyalists.

In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump teased a name change for the center, formally the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and said it would be restored to its past glory.

“GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS,” Trump wrote. He said work was being done on the site that would bring it "back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment.”

“It had fallen on hard times, physically, BUT WILL SOON BE MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK!!!” he wrote.

In a statement on its social media feed, the Kennedy Center said it was “honored” to host Trump, who was visiting for the third time since January.

“Thanks to his advocacy, our beautiful building will undergo renovations to restore its prestige and grandeur,” the venue said.

Trump complained during a March visit that the building is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-kennedy-center-559bf5254b99f938dc156b60c9a495e7">a state of “tremendous disrepair.”</a>

Trump, who had indicated he wanted a more active role in the selection process, said he was “about 98% involved” in choosing the honorees. He said he “turned down plenty” of names, saying those individuals were “too woke,” or too liberal. He described the artists he announced on Wednesday, including several of his favorites, as “great people.”

Historically, a bipartisan advisory committee selects the recipients, who over the years have ranged from George Balanchine and Tom Hanks to Aretha Franklin and Stephen Sondheim. A message sent to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-center-trump-what-to-know-4305e2c3d5611c4bfb1686d597727369">the Kennedy Center</a>&nbsp;press office asking how this year's honorees were selected wasn’t returned Tuesday.

In the past, Trump has floated the idea of granting Kennedy Center Honors status to singer-songwriter Paul Anka and Stallone, one of three actors Trump named as Hollywood ambassadors earlier this year. Anka was supposed to perform “My Way” at Trump’s first inaugural and backed out at the last moment.

The Kennedy Center Honors were established in 1978 and have been given to a broad range of artists. Until Trump’s first term, presidents of both major political parties traditionally attended the annual ceremony, even when they disagreed politically with a given recipient.

Prominent liberals such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVWTluhfsts">Barbra Streisand</a>&nbsp;and Warren Beatty were honored during the administration of Republican George W. Bush, and a leading conservative, Charlton Heston, was feted during the administration of Democrat Bill Clinton.

In 2017, after honoree Norman Lear declared he wouldn't attend a White House celebration in protest of Trump’s proposed cuts to federal arts funding, Trump and first lady Melania Trump decided to skip the Kennedy Center event and remained away throughout his first term. Honorees during that time included such Trump critics as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-arts-and-entertainment-celebrity-def16b009b124f499f2d1a1ffbd815a8">Cher</a>, Lin-Manuel Miranda and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/26210989c660404b9fc700a619ac877f">Sally Field</a>.

Since returning to office, Trump has taken a more forceful stance on the Kennedy Center and inserted himself into its governance. Besides naming himself chairman and remaking the board, he has indicated he'd take over decisions regarding programming at the center and vowed to end events featuring performers in drag.

The steps have drawn further criticism from some artists. In March, the producers of “Hamilton” pulled out of staging the Broadway hit musical in 2026, citing Trump's aggressive takeover of the institution's leadership.

House Republicans added an amendment to a spending bill Trump signed into law in July to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLBYbAiNrY4">rename the Kennedy Center’s Opera House</a>&nbsp;after Melania Trump, but that venue has yet to be renamed. Maria Shriver, a niece of the late President Kennedy, a Democrat, has criticized as “insane” a separate House proposal to rename the entire center after Trump.

Italie reported from New York. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755108595875.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kennedy Center" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kennedy Center</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday named country music star George Strait, “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, the rock band Kiss and actor-singer Michael Crawford among the first batch of Kennedy Center Honors nominees under his leadership as the center’s chairman and said he’ll host the awards program.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> announces <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeStrait?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeorgeStrait</a> as a 2025 Kennedy Center Honors nominee <a href="https://t.co/QWJ89jYXIE">pic.twitter.com/QWJ89jYXIE</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1955655797846732992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 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> announces Michael Crawford as a 2025 Kennedy Center Honors nominee. <a href="https://t.co/wDpNxgSrSG">pic.twitter.com/wDpNxgSrSG</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1955656852529889353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 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> announces <a href="https://twitter.com/kiss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kiss</a> as a 2025 Kennedy Center Honors nominee <a href="https://t.co/2humQiLBio">pic.twitter.com/2humQiLBio</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1955658164130775127?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 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> announces legendary actor <a href="https://twitter.com/TheSlyStallone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheSlyStallone</a> as a 2025 Kennedy Center Honors nominee <a href="https://t.co/wOro0slUCx">pic.twitter.com/wOro0slUCx</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1955658539453554690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 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> announces <a href="https://twitter.com/gloriagaynor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gloriagaynor</a> as a 2025 Kennedy Center Honors nominee <a href="https://t.co/YPztXwvCeZ">pic.twitter.com/YPztXwvCeZ</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1955658293734707559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Kennedy Center is proud to announce our incredible lineup of 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees: •George Strait (<a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeStrait?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeorgeStrait</a>) •Michael Crawford •Sylvester Stallone (<a href="https://twitter.com/TheSlyStallone?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheSlyStallone</a>) •Gloria Gaynor (<a href="https://twitter.com/gloriagaynor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GloriaGaynor</a>) •Kiss (<a href="https://twitter.com/kiss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Kiss</a>) Congratulations to our 48th Class! <a href="https://t.co/y8iWt4U0Lq">pic.twitter.com/y8iWt4U0Lq</a>&mdash; The Kennedy Center (@kencen) <a href="https://twitter.com/kencen/status/1955665540208603319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump also said he'll “fully renovate” the entire infrastructure of the Kennedy Center to make it a “crown jewel” of arts and culture in the United States.“We're going to bring it to a higher level than it ever hit,” the president said, adding the venue would be featured in next year's celebrations of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-cuts-humanities-america250-anniversary-doge-572cf095773c66856a1da94030ffd5a9">America's 250th anniversary</a>.Trump said he didn’t want to host the program but was invited to do so and agreed.The Republican president avoided the Kennedy Center Honors awards program during his first term after artists said they wouldn't attend out of protest. This year, he has taken over as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-board-chairman-firings-21cd0018c6e9f591d59becea8573d8c0">the Kennedy Center's new chairman</a>&nbsp;and fired the board of trustees, which he replaced with loyalists.In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Trump teased a name change for the center, formally the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and said it would be restored to its past glory.“GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS,” Trump wrote. He said work was being done on the site that would bring it "back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment.”“It had fallen on hard times, physically, BUT WILL SOON BE MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK!!!” he wrote.In a statement on its social media feed, the Kennedy Center said it was “honored” to host Trump, who was visiting for the third time since January.“Thanks to his advocacy, our beautiful building will undergo renovations to restore its prestige and grandeur,” the venue said.Trump complained during a March visit that the building is in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-kennedy-center-559bf5254b99f938dc156b60c9a495e7">a state of “tremendous disrepair.”</a>Trump, who had indicated he wanted a more active role in the selection process, said he was “about 98% involved” in choosing the honorees. He said he “turned down plenty” of names, saying those individuals were “too woke,” or too liberal. He described the artists he announced on Wednesday, including several of his favorites, as “great people.”Historically, a bipartisan advisory committee selects the recipients, who over the years have ranged from George Balanchine and Tom Hanks to Aretha Franklin and Stephen Sondheim. A message sent to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-center-trump-what-to-know-4305e2c3d5611c4bfb1686d597727369">the Kennedy Center</a>&nbsp;press office asking how this year's honorees were selected wasn’t returned Tuesday.In the past, Trump has floated the idea of granting Kennedy Center Honors status to singer-songwriter Paul Anka and Stallone, one of three actors Trump named as Hollywood ambassadors earlier this year. Anka was supposed to perform “My Way” at Trump’s first inaugural and backed out at the last moment.The Kennedy Center Honors were established in 1978 and have been given to a broad range of artists. Until Trump’s first term, presidents of both major political parties traditionally attended the annual ceremony, even when they disagreed politically with a given recipient.Prominent liberals such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVWTluhfsts">Barbra Streisand</a>&nbsp;and Warren Beatty were honored during the administration of Republican George W. Bush, and a leading conservative, Charlton Heston, was feted during the administration of Democrat Bill Clinton.In 2017, after honoree Norman Lear declared he wouldn't attend a White House celebration in protest of Trump’s proposed cuts to federal arts funding, Trump and first lady Melania Trump decided to skip the Kennedy Center event and remained away throughout his first term. Honorees during that time included such Trump critics as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-arts-and-entertainment-celebrity-def16b009b124f499f2d1a1ffbd815a8">Cher</a>, Lin-Manuel Miranda and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/26210989c660404b9fc700a619ac877f">Sally Field</a>.Since returning to office, Trump has taken a more forceful stance on the Kennedy Center and inserted himself into its governance. Besides naming himself chairman and remaking the board, he has indicated he'd take over decisions regarding programming at the center and vowed to end events featuring performers in drag.The steps have drawn further criticism from some artists. In March, the producers of “Hamilton” pulled out of staging the Broadway hit musical in 2026, citing Trump's aggressive takeover of the institution's leadership.House Republicans added an amendment to a spending bill Trump signed into law in July to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLBYbAiNrY4">rename the Kennedy Center’s Opera House</a>&nbsp;after Melania Trump, but that venue has yet to be renamed. Maria Shriver, a niece of the late President Kennedy, a Democrat, has criticized as “insane” a separate House proposal to rename the entire center after Trump.___Italie reported from New York. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.

🎥Country music legend among Kennedy Center honor nominees

SEDGWICK—A suspect accused in what police referred to as a Kansas cold case killing will return to court on Tuesday afternoon.

Pedro Morones, Jr., 31 of Wichita, will appear before Judge Jeffrey Goering for a preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

He is charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, and three counts of aggravated assault.

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

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

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

In early 2025, new information emerged, leading investigators to identify a potential suspect. With assistance from the United States Marshal’s Office, Wichita Police investigators arrested Morones.

Morones remain jailed on a one-million-500 thousand dollar bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741866222570.png" alt="Morones-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Morones-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK—A suspect accused in what police referred to as a Kansas cold case killing will return to court on Tuesday afternoon.Pedro Morones, Jr., 31 of Wichita, will appear before Judge Jeffrey Goering for a preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.He is charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder, criminal discharge of a firearm, and three counts of aggravated assault.Just after 1:30a.m. March 29, 2021, police responded to a report of a walk-in shooting victim at a local hospital in Wichita, according to Police Captain Aaron Moses.&nbsp; The victim, 21-year-old Abram Galvan, had been shot once and later died from his injuries.Investigators determined the shooting was linked to a shots-fired incident reported near 19th and Jackson in Wichita around the same time.Since that day, WPD Homicide Investigators have worked tirelessly to seek justice for Abram and his loved ones. Their efforts included following up on leads, analyzing forensic and electronic evidence, collaborating with media to encourage witnesses to come forward, and featuring the case on Wichita Police Department's Cold Case Homicide website.In early 2025, new information emerged, leading investigators to identify a potential suspect. With assistance from the United States Marshal’s Office, Wichita Police investigators arrested Morones.Morones remain jailed on a one-million-500 thousand dollar bond.

Preliminary hearing for suspect in Kan. cold case killing

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a four-vehicle crash that sent three people to the hospital.

Just before 7p.m. Tuesday, a black Chevrolet Malibu was eastbound on 18th Street at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

 At 18th and Indiana, The Chevrolet struck a northbound Toyota Highlander.&nbsp; The Chevrolet then struck a westbound Dodge Durango. The impact forced the Toyota into a rotational spin and redirected the Toyota into the westbound lanes of 18th Street. 

As the Toyota was spinning, it struck a red Ford Taurus and a black Chrysler 200 that were both traveling westbound on 18th Street before coming to rest. 

EMS transported the driver of the Toyota to a local hospital with critical injuries. The rear seat juvenile passenger of the Toyota was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The passenger of the Chevrolet was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

All of the drivers and or passengers of the Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and Chrysler fled the scene of the collision prior to the arrival of the responding officers. 

The driver of the Toyota was in critical, but stable condition Wednesday morning, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; The rear seat juvenile passenger of the Toyota and the passenger of the Chevrolet are both in stable condition. Police released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a four-vehicle crash that sent three people to the hospital.Just before 7p.m. Tuesday, a black Chevrolet Malibu was eastbound on 18th Street at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez. At 18th and Indiana, The Chevrolet struck a northbound Toyota Highlander.&nbsp; The Chevrolet then struck a westbound Dodge Durango. The impact forced the Toyota into a rotational spin and redirected the Toyota into the westbound lanes of 18th Street. As the Toyota was spinning, it struck a red Ford Taurus and a black Chrysler 200 that were both traveling westbound on 18th Street before coming to rest. EMS transported the driver of the Toyota to a local hospital with critical injuries. The rear seat juvenile passenger of the Toyota was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries. The passenger of the Chevrolet was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. All of the drivers and or passengers of the Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, and Chrysler fled the scene of the collision prior to the arrival of the responding officers. The driver of the Toyota was in critical, but stable condition Wednesday morning, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; The rear seat juvenile passenger of the Toyota and the passenger of the Chevrolet are both in stable condition. Police released no additional details.

KCPD: 4 drivers fled after 5-vehicle critical injury crash

LAWRENCE, Kan.—&nbsp;Just days before the Kansas Jayhawks football season kickoff against Fresno State on Aug. 23, the University of Kansas announced an unprecedented gift from alumnus David G. Booth of Austin, Texas. The extraordinary gift, amounting to approximately $300 million, is the largest in Kansas Athletics and University of Kansas history, and is among the largest single gifts in the history of college athletics, according to a media release from the university.&nbsp;

Booth, a graduate of both Lawrence High School and KU, is an investing legend and founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors — a global investment firm that manages $853 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. Booth's visionary gift includes a $75 million challenge to other donors that launches the next phase of progress on the Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The remainder of his commitment will generate a stream of income that will strengthen Kansas Athletics across generations.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"David's unprecedented generosity is transformative now and for our future," said KU Athletics Director and Vice Chancellor&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/staff-directory/travis-goff/166">Travis Goff</a>. "It accelerates phase II of the Gateway District and the new 'Booth' and inspires others to step up and join in completing this vision. We're profoundly grateful for David's leadership and extraordinary impact on generations of student-athletes and fans. There is no more generous and impactful Jayhawk, and we are so fortunate to call him a friend and mentor."&nbsp;

It's not just the scale of the gift that is remarkable, but what it will accomplish. Booth's commitment will propel the Gateway District's next phase, which adds to private and civic investment for a new hotel, additional retail and restaurant spaces, student housing, improved parking and an outdoor event plaza.

The remainder of Booth's gift will allow Kansas Athletics to be strategic, innovative and maintain a leadership position in college athletics. With the advent of revenue sharing and the continued changes in NCAA and conference dynamics, his generosity will help enable KU to take the next step in cementing itself as a national leader in college athletics.

"David has always believed in the power of athletics to unite communities, generate Jayhawk spirit and create lasting bonds between alumni, students and fans," said KU Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. "His generosity is inspiring, and his loyalty to KU runs deep. We are beyond grateful for his transformative gift."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

For Booth, giving back to KU is an investment in the university and its mission. He hopes his philanthropy will inspire others to also support the Gateway District project and what he calls "the prototype for future football stadiums" at whatever level they can.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"One of life's greatest privileges is being able to give back to the people and places that gave so much to you," said Booth. "KU and Lawrence are a big part of my story, and it means a lot to support the community that invested in me. Philanthropy, like investing, pays dividends over time. Each gift compounds, creating opportunities not just for today, but for years to come. This is really about the future we're building."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

When he was a child, Booth's parents, Gilbert and Betty Booth, moved the family from their home in Garnett, Kansas, to Lawrence at 1931 Naismith Drive, near Allen Fieldhouse. The family gathered regularly to listen to KU games on the radio, glued to Max Falkenstien's iconic voice. At the age of 13, Booth attended his first game through the Boy Scouts, working as an usher in the football stadium. He later worked basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse by selling popcorn in the stands.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Lawrence High graduate attended KU, earning both a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1968 and a Master of Science in Business in 1969 before earning his Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago in 1971.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Booth founded Dimensional Fund Advisors in 1981 to apply the principles of financial science to practical investment solutions. Booth started Dimensional in collaboration with several others from the University of Chicago, including Booth's mentor, former professor and Nobel Laureate Eugene Fama, and classmate Rex Sinquefield, who co-founded the firm. Booth and Dimensional have been recognized for helping transform the industry toward more transparent, low-cost and data-driven solutions for investors. That story was recently profiled by Academy Award winning director Errol Morris in the film "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T98825bzcKw" target="_blank">Tune Out the Noise</a>."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Booth's landmark gift is the most recent in his long legacy of support at KU, helping transform athletics and its impact for the university. Booth provided a foundational gift of $50 million in 2017 to kick off renovations at the stadium, which was named for him in 2018. In 2010, he donated James Naismith's original rules of basketball to the university, a top attraction at the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, which he and his family provided $5 million for in 2004, followed by $4 million for subsequent improvements. His philanthropy is legendary and extends across areas, including the arts and academics. In 2008, he provided a gift valued at $300 million to the University of Chicago School of Business, where he earned his MBA. The school was named the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in his honor.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

With KU's football season opener around the corner, Booth's excitement to get back to the stadium is growing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

"I feel the same inspiration that I felt as an usher in the stadium in 1960," Booth said. "I was blown away by all the people in the stands, the Jayhawk spirit. I'm feeling the same way now — I'm ready to celebrate with everyone."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755093387790.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan.—&nbsp;Just days before the Kansas Jayhawks football season kickoff against Fresno State on Aug. 23, the University of Kansas announced an unprecedented gift from alumnus David G. Booth of Austin, Texas. The extraordinary gift, amounting to approximately $300 million, is the largest in Kansas Athletics and University of Kansas history, and is among the largest single gifts in the history of college athletics, according to a media release from the university.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">For every Jayhawk today and tomorrow – Thank you, David Booth. 🔗→<a href="https://t.co/eF80fPxmfc">https://t.co/eF80fPxmfc</a> <a href="https://t.co/oQGvOatSk6">pic.twitter.com/oQGvOatSk6</a>&mdash; Kansas Jayhawks (@KUAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/KUAthletics/status/1955625648334032933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script</div>Booth, a graduate of both Lawrence High School and KU, is an investing legend and founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors — a global investment firm that manages $853 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025. Booth's visionary gift includes a $75 million challenge to other donors that launches the next phase of progress on the Gateway District and David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. The remainder of his commitment will generate a stream of income that will strengthen Kansas Athletics across generations.&nbsp;&nbsp;"David's unprecedented generosity is transformative now and for our future," said KU Athletics Director and Vice Chancellor&nbsp;<a href="https://kuathletics.com/staff-directory/travis-goff/166">Travis Goff</a>. "It accelerates phase II of the Gateway District and the new 'Booth' and inspires others to step up and join in completing this vision. We're profoundly grateful for David's leadership and extraordinary impact on generations of student-athletes and fans. There is no more generous and impactful Jayhawk, and we are so fortunate to call him a friend and mentor."&nbsp;It's not just the scale of the gift that is remarkable, but what it will accomplish. Booth's commitment will propel the Gateway District's next phase, which adds to private and civic investment for a new hotel, additional retail and restaurant spaces, student housing, improved parking and an outdoor event plaza.The remainder of Booth's gift will allow Kansas Athletics to be strategic, innovative and maintain a leadership position in college athletics. With the advent of revenue sharing and the continued changes in NCAA and conference dynamics, his generosity will help enable KU to take the next step in cementing itself as a national leader in college athletics."David has always believed in the power of athletics to unite communities, generate Jayhawk spirit and create lasting bonds between alumni, students and fans," said KU Chancellor Douglas A. Girod. "His generosity is inspiring, and his loyalty to KU runs deep. We are beyond grateful for his transformative gift."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For Booth, giving back to KU is an investment in the university and its mission. He hopes his philanthropy will inspire others to also support the Gateway District project and what he calls "the prototype for future football stadiums" at whatever level they can.&nbsp;&nbsp;"One of life's greatest privileges is being able to give back to the people and places that gave so much to you," said Booth. "KU and Lawrence are a big part of my story, and it means a lot to support the community that invested in me. Philanthropy, like investing, pays dividends over time. Each gift compounds, creating opportunities not just for today, but for years to come. This is really about the future we're building."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When he was a child, Booth's parents, Gilbert and Betty Booth, moved the family from their home in Garnett, Kansas, to Lawrence at 1931 Naismith Drive, near Allen Fieldhouse. The family gathered regularly to listen to KU games on the radio, glued to Max Falkenstien's iconic voice. At the age of 13, Booth attended his first game through the Boy Scouts, working as an usher in the football stadium. He later worked basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse by selling popcorn in the stands.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Lawrence High graduate attended KU, earning both a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1968 and a Master of Science in Business in 1969 before earning his Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago in 1971.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Booth founded Dimensional Fund Advisors in 1981 to apply the principles of financial science to practical investment solutions. Booth started Dimensional in collaboration with several others from the University of Chicago, including Booth's mentor, former professor and Nobel Laureate Eugene Fama, and classmate Rex Sinquefield, who co-founded the firm. Booth and Dimensional have been recognized for helping transform the industry toward more transparent, low-cost and data-driven solutions for investors. That story was recently profiled by Academy Award winning director Errol Morris in the film "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T98825bzcKw" target="_blank">Tune Out the Noise</a>."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Booth's landmark gift is the most recent in his long legacy of support at KU, helping transform athletics and its impact for the university. Booth provided a foundational gift of $50 million in 2017 to kick off renovations at the stadium, which was named for him in 2018. In 2010, he donated James Naismith's original rules of basketball to the university, a top attraction at the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, which he and his family provided $5 million for in 2004, followed by $4 million for subsequent improvements. His philanthropy is legendary and extends across areas, including the arts and academics. In 2008, he provided a gift valued at $300 million to the University of Chicago School of Business, where he earned his MBA. The school was named the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in his honor.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With KU's football season opener around the corner, Booth's excitement to get back to the stadium is growing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I feel the same inspiration that I felt as an usher in the stadium in 1960," Booth said. "I was blown away by all the people in the stands, the Jayhawk spirit. I'm feeling the same way now — I'm ready to celebrate with everyone."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎥 KU receives among the largest single gifts in the history of college athletics

A Kansas state representative is calling on Gov. Laura Kelly to address allegations of misconduct involving his predecessor, now serving on the Kansas State Fair Board.

Rep. Kyler Sweely, R-Hutchinson, said in a letter to Kelly on Monday that Jason Probst, acted “highly inappropriately” toward him during the Boots and Bling fundraiser for the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation on Saturday. Sweely defeated Probst in the 2024 election for the 102nd District seat. Kelly appointed Probst to the Fair Board on July 7.

“Mr. Probst, visibly intoxicated, made disturbing sexual and homophobic comments toward me in front of attendees, and had to be physically held back due to escalating, aggressive behavior,” Sweely wrote in a statement to Hutch Post on Tuesday.

When asked, Jason Probst replied to the accusations saying in a statement, "Kyler Sweely is doing all he can to deflect from his history of abuse and dishonesty. If his feelings get hurt so easily perhaps public service isn’t for him."&nbsp;

In the letter to Gov. Kelly, Sweely said the encounter was not an isolated incident, claiming it was the second time in the past month that Probst had directed a “rant filled with homophobic comments” at him. He urged the governor to “immediately review this matter and take appropriate action” regarding Probst’s continued role on the board.

Kelly’s office confirmed receipt of Sweely’s letter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722265569928.jpeg" alt="Kyler Sweely -file photo" />
 <figcaption>Kyler Sweely -file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>MARC JACOBS Hutch Post&nbsp;A Kansas state representative is calling on Gov. Laura Kelly to address allegations of misconduct involving his predecessor, now serving on the Kansas State Fair Board.Rep. Kyler Sweely, R-Hutchinson, said in a letter to Kelly on Monday that Jason Probst, acted “highly inappropriately” toward him during the Boots and Bling fundraiser for the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation on Saturday. Sweely defeated Probst in the 2024 election for the 102nd District seat. Kelly appointed Probst to the Fair Board on July 7.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665505897161.jpeg" alt="Jason Probst-file photo" />
 <figcaption>Jason Probst-file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“Mr. Probst, visibly intoxicated, made disturbing sexual and homophobic comments toward me in front of attendees, and had to be physically held back due to escalating, aggressive behavior,” Sweely wrote in a statement to Hutch Post on Tuesday.When asked, Jason Probst replied to the accusations saying in a statement, "Kyler Sweely is doing all he can to deflect from his history of abuse and dishonesty. If his feelings get hurt so easily perhaps public service isn’t for him."&nbsp;In the letter to Gov. Kelly, Sweely said the encounter was not an isolated incident, claiming it was the second time in the past month that Probst had directed a “rant filled with homophobic comments” at him. He urged the governor to “immediately review this matter and take appropriate action” regarding Probst’s continued role on the board.Kelly’s office confirmed receipt of Sweely’s letter.

Kan. lawmaker asks governor to remove rival from State Fair Board

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Monday that he expected to determine mere moments into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-deadline-putin-423e6a28df5186a48b7383eae41c11c2">his meeting</a>&nbsp;with Russian leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;this week whether it would be possible to work out a deal to halt the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>.

“At the end of that meeting, probably the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,” Trump said at a White House press conference that he called to announce plans for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-national-guard-homelessness-655bc22834223c7dc93115bbcb2b215c">federal takeover of Washington's police force</a>&nbsp;to help combat crime.

He said he thought Friday's sitdown with Putin in Alaska would be "really a feel-out meeting." Trump added that “it’ll be good, but it might be bad” and predicted he may say, "lots of luck, keep fighting. Or I may say, we can make a deal.”

Putin wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-trump-summit-ukraine-war-2afea5988bdaca94cae39b7f86fa59ba">lock in Russia’s gains</a>&nbsp;since invading Ukraine in February 2022 as Trump presses for a ceasefire that has remained out of reach. Trump’s eagerness to reach a deal has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-territory-russia-trump-putin-summit-5d2079bd13561edac7752d338ea7b93c">raised fears in Ukraine and Europe</a>&nbsp;about such an agreement favoring Russia, without sufficient input from Ukraine. Trump has alternately harshly criticized both leaders after promising — and so far failing — to swiftly end the conflict.

The Trump-Putin meeting so far isn't going to include Zelenskyy

Trump on Monday ducked repeated chances to say that he would push for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take part in his discussions with Putin, and was especially dismissive of Zelenskyy and his need to be part of an effort to seek peace.

He said the Ukrainian president had been to “a lot of meetings” without managing to halt a war that Russia started. Trump also noted that Zelenskyy had been in power for the duration of the war and said “nothing happened” during that time. He contrasted that with Putin, who has wielded power in Russia for decades.

Trump said that, after his meeting with Putin, “The next meeting will be with Zelenskyy and Putin" but it could also be a meeting with “Putin and Zelenskyy and me.”

European allies have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-european-statement-084569cce3a6b383325b0a8efa37bc6e">pushed for Ukraine's involvement</a>, fearful that discussions could otherwise favor Moscow.

To that point, Trump said he would call Zelenskyy and European leaders after his discussion with Putin to “tell them what kind of a deal — I’m not going to make a deal. It’s not up to me to make a deal.”

Trump spent the early part of his administration decrying Zelenskyy, even suggesting he was a dictator because his country has not held elections during the war. Zelenskyy was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-oval-office-ukraine-russia-blowup-8aa63e55c859e8fea963911478c376ee">hounded out of the Oval Office</a>&nbsp;in February after Trump and Vice President JD Vance suggested he hadn't been grateful enough for U.S. support.

More recently, Trump has expressed frustration with Putin that Russia hasn't appeared to take a push for a ceasefire more seriously, and softened his tone toward Zelenskyy. His comments Monday suggested he might have had another change of heart.

“President Putin invited me to get involved,” Trump said. He noted that he thought it was “very respectful” that Putin is coming to the U.S. for Friday's meeting, instead of insisting that Trump go to Russia.

“I’d like to see a ceasefire. I’d like to see the best deal that can be made for both parties," Trump said.

The president repeated that any major agreement could involve land swaps, without elaborating. He had threatened Moscow with more economic sanctions if more isn't done to work toward a ceasefire, but suggested Monday that, should Friday's meeting be successful, he could see a day when the U.S. and Russia normalize trade relations.

Putin is expected to be unwavering in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-trump-summit-ukraine-war-2afea5988bdaca94cae39b7f86fa59ba">demands</a>&nbsp;to keep all the territory his forces now occupy and to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, with the long-term aim of returning it to Moscow’s sphere of influence.

Zelenskyy insists he will never consent to any formal Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory or give up a bid for NATO membership.

Putin believes he has the advantage on the ground as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russian advances along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front. On the front lines, few Ukrainian soldiers believe there’s an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-attack-front-lines-52263396fbecbcad8138c6af0ba39cca">end in sight to the war</a>.

Europeans will prepare with a virtual meeting on Ukraine this week

With the Europeans and Ukrainians so far not invited to the summit, Germany sought to prepare by inviting Trump, Zelenskyy, the NATO chief and several other European leaders for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-territory-russia-trump-putin-summit-5d2079bd13561edac7752d338ea7b93c">virtual meeting on Wednesday</a>.

The German chancellery said the talks would seek additional ways to pressure Russia and prepare for peace negotiations and “related issues of territorial claims and security.”

Steffen Meyer, spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said the German government “has always emphasized that borders must not be shifted by force” and that Ukraine should decide its own fate “independently and autonomously."

Earlier, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukrainian</a>&nbsp;drone attack killed one person and wounded two others in a region some 260 miles (418 kilometers) east of Moscow.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Monday that he expected to determine mere moments into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-deadline-putin-423e6a28df5186a48b7383eae41c11c2">his meeting</a>&nbsp;with Russian leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;this week whether it would be possible to work out a deal to halt the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump: &quot;We&#39;re going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin and at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I&#39;ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/edokeefe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@edokeefe</a>: &quot;How will you know that?&quot; Trump: &quot;Because that&#39;s what I do. I make deals.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0zAtfgAxCT">pic.twitter.com/0zAtfgAxCT</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1954935746751615406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“At the end of that meeting, probably the first two minutes, I’ll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,” Trump said at a White House press conference that he called to announce plans for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-national-guard-homelessness-655bc22834223c7dc93115bbcb2b215c">federal takeover of Washington's police force</a>&nbsp;to help combat crime.He said he thought Friday's sitdown with Putin in Alaska would be "really a feel-out meeting." Trump added that “it’ll be good, but it might be bad” and predicted he may say, "lots of luck, keep fighting. Or I may say, we can make a deal.”Putin wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-trump-summit-ukraine-war-2afea5988bdaca94cae39b7f86fa59ba">lock in Russia’s gains</a>&nbsp;since invading Ukraine in February 2022 as Trump presses for a ceasefire that has remained out of reach. Trump’s eagerness to reach a deal has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-territory-russia-trump-putin-summit-5d2079bd13561edac7752d338ea7b93c">raised fears in Ukraine and Europe</a>&nbsp;about such an agreement favoring Russia, without sufficient input from Ukraine. Trump has alternately harshly criticized both leaders after promising — and so far failing — to swiftly end the conflict.<h2>The Trump-Putin meeting so far isn't going to include Zelenskyy</h2>Trump on Monday ducked repeated chances to say that he would push for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take part in his discussions with Putin, and was especially dismissive of Zelenskyy and his need to be part of an effort to seek peace.He said the Ukrainian president had been to “a lot of meetings” without managing to halt a war that Russia started. Trump also noted that Zelenskyy had been in power for the duration of the war and said “nothing happened” during that time. He contrasted that with Putin, who has wielded power in Russia for decades.Trump said that, after his meeting with Putin, “The next meeting will be with Zelenskyy and Putin" but it could also be a meeting with “Putin and Zelenskyy and me.”European allies have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-european-statement-084569cce3a6b383325b0a8efa37bc6e">pushed for Ukraine's involvement</a>, fearful that discussions could otherwise favor Moscow.To that point, Trump said he would call Zelenskyy and European leaders after his discussion with Putin to “tell them what kind of a deal — I’m not going to make a deal. It’s not up to me to make a deal.”Trump spent the early part of his administration decrying Zelenskyy, even suggesting he was a dictator because his country has not held elections during the war. Zelenskyy was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-oval-office-ukraine-russia-blowup-8aa63e55c859e8fea963911478c376ee">hounded out of the Oval Office</a>&nbsp;in February after Trump and Vice President JD Vance suggested he hadn't been grateful enough for U.S. support.<h2>Trump's up and down relations with Putin</h2>More recently, Trump has expressed frustration with Putin that Russia hasn't appeared to take a push for a ceasefire more seriously, and softened his tone toward Zelenskyy. His comments Monday suggested he might have had another change of heart.“President Putin invited me to get involved,” Trump said. He noted that he thought it was “very respectful” that Putin is coming to the U.S. for Friday's meeting, instead of insisting that Trump go to Russia.“I’d like to see a ceasefire. I’d like to see the best deal that can be made for both parties," Trump said.The president repeated that any major agreement could involve land swaps, without elaborating. He had threatened Moscow with more economic sanctions if more isn't done to work toward a ceasefire, but suggested Monday that, should Friday's meeting be successful, he could see a day when the U.S. and Russia normalize trade relations.Putin is expected to be unwavering in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-trump-summit-ukraine-war-2afea5988bdaca94cae39b7f86fa59ba">demands</a>&nbsp;to keep all the territory his forces now occupy and to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, with the long-term aim of returning it to Moscow’s sphere of influence.Zelenskyy insists he will never consent to any formal Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory or give up a bid for NATO membership.Putin believes he has the advantage on the ground as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russian advances along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front. On the front lines, few Ukrainian soldiers believe there’s an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-attack-front-lines-52263396fbecbcad8138c6af0ba39cca">end in sight to the war</a>.<h2>Europeans will prepare with a virtual meeting on Ukraine this week</h2>With the Europeans and Ukrainians so far not invited to the summit, Germany sought to prepare by inviting Trump, Zelenskyy, the NATO chief and several other European leaders for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-ukraine-territory-russia-trump-putin-summit-5d2079bd13561edac7752d338ea7b93c">virtual meeting on Wednesday</a>.The German chancellery said the talks would seek additional ways to pressure Russia and prepare for peace negotiations and “related issues of territorial claims and security.”Steffen Meyer, spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said the German government “has always emphasized that borders must not be shifted by force” and that Ukraine should decide its own fate “independently and autonomously."Earlier, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukrainian</a>&nbsp;drone attack killed one person and wounded two others in a region some 260 miles (418 kilometers) east of Moscow.Russia's Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a total of 39 Ukrainian drones overnight and Monday morning over several Russian regions as well as over the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014.