WASHINGTON (AP) —The Army has released the names of two soldiers who died when their Black Hawk helicopter collided with an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/dc-plane-crash-reagan-updates">American Airlines jet</a>&nbsp;earlier this week.

At the family’s request, the name of the third crew member killed in the crash is not being released at this time, the Army said.

The remains of Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, the crew chief, have been recovered and a positive identification is pending, the Army said.

The remains of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves of Great Mills, Maryland, and of the third soldier have not yet been recovered.

The 39-year-old Eaves, one of the pilots on the helicopter, served in the U.S. Navy from August 2007 to September 2017, then moved to the Army, to serve as a Black Hawk pilot.

His awards include three Army commendation medals and three Navy achievement medals, as well as a Global War on Terrorism medal.

O’Hara had served as a helicopter repairer for Black Hawks since July 2014. He deployed to Afghanistan from March to August 2017. He also has two Army commendation medals, four achievement medals and a Global War on Terrorism medal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738361140589.png" alt="Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara -photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara -photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Army has released the names of two soldiers who died when their Black Hawk helicopter collided with an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/dc-plane-crash-reagan-updates">American Airlines jet</a>&nbsp;earlier this week.At the family’s request, the name of the third crew member killed in the crash is not being released at this time, the Army said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738361051007.png" alt="Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>The remains of Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, the crew chief, have been recovered and a positive identification is pending, the Army said.The remains of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves of Great Mills, Maryland, and of the third soldier have not yet been recovered.The 39-year-old Eaves, one of the pilots on the helicopter, served in the U.S. Navy from August 2007 to September 2017, then moved to the Army, to serve as a Black Hawk pilot.His awards include three Army commendation medals and three Navy achievement medals, as well as a Global War on Terrorism medal.O’Hara had served as a helicopter repairer for Black Hawks since July 2014. He deployed to Afghanistan from March to August 2017. He also has two Army commendation medals, four achievement medals and a Global War on Terrorism medal.

Army releases names of two soldiers who died in midair collision

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22STAN%20CHOE%20and%20DAMIAN%20J.%20TROISE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By STAN CHOE and DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writers</a>

Stocks on Wall Street surrendered early gains and closed broadly lower Friday after the White House said President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-china-canada-mexico-fentanyl-e526616cdcb7fc596ed999cb89ee2265">would impose promised tariffs</a>&nbsp;on key U.S. trading partners.

The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.5% and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.3%. The indexes, which had posted solid gains in morning trading, posted their first weekly loss in three weeks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8%.

Trump will put in place 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on goods from China effective Saturday. The White House provided no word on whether there would be any exemptions to the measures that could result in swift price increases to U.S. consumers.

The selling was broad, with about 75% of the stocks in the S&amp;P 500 closing lower. Technology and energy companies accounted for a large share of the decline.

“If Trump says it’s something that could happen by tomorrow that doesn’t leave a lot of room to move,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. “There’s just so much uncertainty associated with elevating tariffs on our three major trading partners.”

The earlier gains on Wall Street had helped shave losses from the start of the week over worries that the artificial-intelligence boom may not require as much investment as thought.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-quarter-sales-artificial-intelligence-fdfeb6b12bdd69504672ef3b60a300f5">Apple</a>&nbsp;reversed course from market leading gains to a loss of 0.7%. The company had reported stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Wall Street’s most valuable company, and thus the most influential on the S&amp;P 500 and other indexes, said sales of iPhones dipped. But revenue for its services businesses, such as AppleCare and its app store, rose to a record.

KLA, a supplier to the electronics industry initially rose after reporting profit and revenue that topped analysts’ expectations, but then closed down 0.6%. The company, which credited its results on expanding artificial-intelligence and high-performance computing investments, fell 6.3% on Monday. That’s when tech stocks around the world tumbled, after a Chinese upstart,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-f4908eaca221d601e31e7e3368778030">DeepSeek</a>, said it developed a large language model capable of competing with the world’s best, without having to use top-flight chips.

The disruption raised questions about whether all the investment expected for AI chips,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-climate-fossil-fuels-00c594310b22afbf150559d08b43d3a5">data centers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/power-electricity-amazon-microsoft-power-plants-data-centers-grid-f4763f73bc112425e18f30618dff0039">electricity</a>&nbsp;is really needed.

Shares of Nvidia, considered the poster child for the AI frenzy, fell 3.7%. They dropped 15.8% for the week. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-nvidia-trump-ai-6554b843e94f2e86c2ea7ba7c180f8bf">CEO, Jensen Huang, was expected to meet with Trump</a>&nbsp;Friday in Washington.

Worries that tariffs could end up driving inflation higher helped push long-term bond yields higher, including the 10-year Treasury, which rose to 4.54% from 4.52% late Thursday.

“It’s not the safe haven that it normally is because these tariffs might result in higher inflation and the need for the Fed to remain on pause for longer or to reverse course and raise rates,” Stovall said.

Shorter-term U.S. government bond yields mostly fell.

Yields have been generally climbing since September as the U.S. economy has remained much more solid than economists expected. More recently, worries about tariffs and other possible Trump administration policies that could add upward pressure on inflation and the U.S. government’s debt have also sent yields higher.

The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged as it closed out its most recent meeting Wednesday. The central bank is signaling a more cautious approach as it waits to see how policies under Trump will impact inflation and the broader economy. Higher tariffs and tax cuts could push inflation higher, while deregulation could possibly reduce it.

“Markets are on edge watching President Trump’s plans to raise tariffs and tighten immigration policies, since both are pressuring the Fed to keep interest rates elevated," said Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank.

On Wall Street, Walgreens Boots Alliance dropped 10.3% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-suspends-dividend-stock-plunge-c1d2d0c151864821ddf04dec954039e7">suspending its dividend</a>&nbsp;and breaking a streak of quarterly payouts to its shareholders that stretches back more than 90 years.

Exxon Mobil ticked down 2.5% even though the energy giant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/exxon-mobil-oil-opec-5659d4e6cd00594e6ba1d7c335b33e6b">posted a stronger fourth quarter profit</a>&nbsp;than Wall Street had forecast. Exxon credited increased production in the U.S. Permian basin and in Guyana for the strong results, but its revenue came in lower than expected.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 30.64 points to 6,040.53. The Dow dropped 337.47 points to 44,544.66. The Nasdaq lost 54.31 points to close at 19,627.44.

In stock markets abroad, indexes ended mixed in Europe after also finishing mixed in Asia.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index added 0.1% after a report showed that the country’s core inflation rate topped the central bank’s 2% target, paving the way for further hikes to interest rates.

The Kospi in South Korea fell 0.8% after trading resumed there following holidays. Markets remained closed in Hong Kong and Shanghai for the Lunar New Year.

AP Business Writer Alex Veiga contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="The floor of the New York Stock Exchange.(AP Photo/Richard Drew)" />
 <figcaption>The floor of the New York Stock Exchange.(AP Photo/Richard Drew)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22STAN%20CHOE%20and%20DAMIAN%20J.%20TROISE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By STAN CHOE and DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writers</a>Stocks on Wall Street surrendered early gains and closed broadly lower Friday after the White House said President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-china-canada-mexico-fentanyl-e526616cdcb7fc596ed999cb89ee2265">would impose promised tariffs</a>&nbsp;on key U.S. trading partners.The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.5% and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.3%. The indexes, which had posted solid gains in morning trading, posted their first weekly loss in three weeks.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8%.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &quot;The president will be implementing tomorrow a 25% tariffs on Mexico, 25% tariffs on Canada and a 10% tariff on China for the illegal fentanyl that they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country which has killed tens of millions of Americans.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/lSoLuL9Lk5">pic.twitter.com/lSoLuL9Lk5</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1885394123126984728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump will put in place 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on goods from China effective Saturday. The White House provided no word on whether there would be any exemptions to the measures that could result in swift price increases to U.S. consumers.The selling was broad, with about 75% of the stocks in the S&amp;P 500 closing lower. Technology and energy companies accounted for a large share of the decline.“If Trump says it’s something that could happen by tomorrow that doesn’t leave a lot of room to move,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. “There’s just so much uncertainty associated with elevating tariffs on our three major trading partners.”The earlier gains on Wall Street had helped shave losses from the start of the week over worries that the artificial-intelligence boom may not require as much investment as thought.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-quarter-sales-artificial-intelligence-fdfeb6b12bdd69504672ef3b60a300f5">Apple</a>&nbsp;reversed course from market leading gains to a loss of 0.7%. The company had reported stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Wall Street’s most valuable company, and thus the most influential on the S&amp;P 500 and other indexes, said sales of iPhones dipped. But revenue for its services businesses, such as AppleCare and its app store, rose to a record.KLA, a supplier to the electronics industry initially rose after reporting profit and revenue that topped analysts’ expectations, but then closed down 0.6%. The company, which credited its results on expanding artificial-intelligence and high-performance computing investments, fell 6.3% on Monday. That’s when tech stocks around the world tumbled, after a Chinese upstart,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-f4908eaca221d601e31e7e3368778030">DeepSeek</a>, said it developed a large language model capable of competing with the world’s best, without having to use top-flight chips.The disruption raised questions about whether all the investment expected for AI chips,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-climate-fossil-fuels-00c594310b22afbf150559d08b43d3a5">data centers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/power-electricity-amazon-microsoft-power-plants-data-centers-grid-f4763f73bc112425e18f30618dff0039">electricity</a>&nbsp;is really needed.Shares of Nvidia, considered the poster child for the AI frenzy, fell 3.7%. They dropped 15.8% for the week. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-nvidia-trump-ai-6554b843e94f2e86c2ea7ba7c180f8bf">CEO, Jensen Huang, was expected to meet with Trump</a>&nbsp;Friday in Washington.Worries that tariffs could end up driving inflation higher helped push long-term bond yields higher, including the 10-year Treasury, which rose to 4.54% from 4.52% late Thursday.“It’s not the safe haven that it normally is because these tariffs might result in higher inflation and the need for the Fed to remain on pause for longer or to reverse course and raise rates,” Stovall said.Shorter-term U.S. government bond yields mostly fell.Yields have been generally climbing since September as the U.S. economy has remained much more solid than economists expected. More recently, worries about tariffs and other possible Trump administration policies that could add upward pressure on inflation and the U.S. government’s debt have also sent yields higher.The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged as it closed out its most recent meeting Wednesday. The central bank is signaling a more cautious approach as it waits to see how policies under Trump will impact inflation and the broader economy. Higher tariffs and tax cuts could push inflation higher, while deregulation could possibly reduce it.“Markets are on edge watching President Trump’s plans to raise tariffs and tighten immigration policies, since both are pressuring the Fed to keep interest rates elevated," said Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank.On Wall Street, Walgreens Boots Alliance dropped 10.3% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-suspends-dividend-stock-plunge-c1d2d0c151864821ddf04dec954039e7">suspending its dividend</a>&nbsp;and breaking a streak of quarterly payouts to its shareholders that stretches back more than 90 years.Exxon Mobil ticked down 2.5% even though the energy giant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/exxon-mobil-oil-opec-5659d4e6cd00594e6ba1d7c335b33e6b">posted a stronger fourth quarter profit</a>&nbsp;than Wall Street had forecast. Exxon credited increased production in the U.S. Permian basin and in Guyana for the strong results, but its revenue came in lower than expected.All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 30.64 points to 6,040.53. The Dow dropped 337.47 points to 44,544.66. The Nasdaq lost 54.31 points to close at 19,627.44.In stock markets abroad, indexes ended mixed in Europe after also finishing mixed in Asia.Japan’s Nikkei 225 index added 0.1% after a report showed that the country’s core inflation rate topped the central bank’s 2% target, paving the way for further hikes to interest rates.The Kospi in South Korea fell 0.8% after trading resumed there following holidays. Markets remained closed in Hong Kong and Shanghai for the Lunar New Year.____AP Business Writer Alex Veiga contributed.

Wall Street sinks after White House confirms Trump tariff move

Investigators are seeking clues into the deadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">midair collision</a>&nbsp;earlier this week that now stands as the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. almost a quarter century.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C, late Wednesday killed 67 people, including more than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">dozen figure skaters.</a>&nbsp;More than 40 bodies have been recovered.

Air crash investigations can take months - or longer. Investigators have declined to publicly speculate on the cause of the collision.

Investigators are seeking clues into the deadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">midair collision</a>&nbsp;earlier this week that now stands as the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. almost a quarter century.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LIVE: Update on Plane Collision <a href="https://t.co/Kg9GQ30kl2">https://t.co/Kg9GQ30kl2</a>&mdash; Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBowser/status/1885411634476208453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C, late Wednesday killed 67 people, including more than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">dozen figure skaters.</a>&nbsp;More than 40 bodies have been recovered.Air crash investigations can take months - or longer. Investigators have declined to publicly speculate on the cause of the collision.

🎥 DC officials update recovery effort after deadly aircraft collision

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

Legislation clears Senate with veto-proof majority, House vote falls short

TOPEKA — The Republian majority in Kansas Legislature sent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly a bill Friday that would prohibit health professionals from providing gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of 18.

On final action in the House, Senate Bill 63 passed 83-35 — one vote shy of what would be needed to override a potential veto by the governor. The measure was adopted Wednesday by the Senate on a vote of 32-8 on strength of a bipartisan supermajority.

Kelly rejected a similar bill in 2024, but the Legislature’s attempt to thwart the veto failed.

Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican who carried the bill Thursday on the House floor, kicked off several hours of debate by declaring the Legislature had to halt misguided medical care that promoted gender transitioning among people 17 or younger.

The bill would forbid use of puberty blockers and hormone drugs as well as surgery for minors grappling with gender dysphoria, he said. It would open the door to lawsuits against health care professionals who helped children move toward transition and forbid malpractice insurance to cover damages in those cases, he said. It would mandate state licensing boards sanction violators of the law, he said.

“Use of these treatments has increased exponentially over the past several years,” said Bryce, who has a medical degree. “This seemed to have started from the sincere belief that these treatments would prevent children from committing suicide. It was based on a desire to save the lives of children.”

He said the Help Not Harm Act was necessary because fundamentals of gender-affirming care had been disproven and the treatment wasn’t shown to thwart suicide. He asserted 80% to 85% of minors who at one point were convinced there was a mismatch between their gender identity and biological sex determination at birth eventually resolved those issues without transitioning.

“The intent of this bill is to provide proven treatment for these children who are suffering from gender dysphoria rather than following a radical gender ideology,” Bryce said.

If the Kansas bill became law, state tax dollars couldn’t be used for activities that encouraged gender transitioning. That would apply to health professionals, but might be sweep K-12 public school counselors or nurses into that net.

Opponents of the bill dominated House discussion by flooding the zone with amendments crafted to soften the bill’s reach. House advocates of the bill overwhelmingly rejected those ideas. In the 125-member House, each of the amendments were crushed with 50-vote margins.

“This is just unbelievable,” said Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat from Shawnee. “Let me tell you, this bill will inflict harm on children under the age of 18, physicians and other health care professionals, mental health professionals, school personnel, state employees. We have young people up in the gallery. What kind of message are we sending to them?”

Kelly, in the final two years of her second term as governor, vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming care statewide during the 2024 session. The Senate came up with the minimum 27 votes for an override last year, but the House fell two short of the required 84 votes to complete the maneuver.

In advance of this session’s House and Senate voting, committees in both chambers conducted public hearings on identical bills. Proponents argued the legislation was needed to protect children who could fall victim to wayward parents or health professionals who championed health care that was described as “experimental.” About 400 opponents of the legislation made their views known to the committees.

Attempts were made in the House and Senate to lower the age of independent medical consent by minors to 14. Both were defeated, but Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said Republicans hostile to the amendment should consider addressing a Kansas law allowing minors as young as 15 to get married.

“If we do think that children should be getting married … and we determine that children should be giving birth, then those people of that age should also be allowed to make those decisions with their parents with regards to their care,” Sawyer Clayton said.

Rep. Megan Steele, a Manhattan Republican and school nurse, said all children were unique and must be treated with dignity. In education, she said, that meant establishment of age-appropriate standards in terms of what students were expected to comprehend.

“If a 15-year-old cannot construct arguments that all circles are similar … they don’t have the brain development to agree to have their genitals surgically removed,” Steele said.

Reps. Lindsay Vaughn and Heather Meyer, both Overland Park Democrats, closed floor debate in the House with appeals for moderation in the state’s regulation of gender-affirming care. Both said legislators convinced to vote for the bill didn’t understand the people being targeted.

Vaughn said the bill soon to be forwarded to the governor would illustrate the scope of intrusive state government power and was dotted with unconstitutional provisions.

“This bill limits free speech. This bill violates the right to free expression,” she said. “This bill infringes on the right of medical providers to offer peer-reviewed, evidence-based care. This bill violates the fundamental constitutional human right of transgender Kansans to not be discriminated against.”

Meyer said there was no evidence physicians in Kansas were performing gender-transition surgery on minors.

The bill aimed the toxic forces of discrimination, hatred and misunderstanding at Kansas youth who would have dreams and hopes shattered by a statewide ban, she said.

“It is not our job as legislators to get involved in private, complex heart-wrenching medical and mental health decisions that parents and caregivers make in consultation with providers,” she said. “This bill is wrong. This bill is an egregious and heartbreaking attempt to discriminate against a small, but very vulnerable, community in Kansas.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738348923135.png" alt="Reps. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park, opposed a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors statewide. She pointed to potential areas the measure could be challenged on constitutional grounds. The House and Senate passed the bill with wide margins. In 2024, Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a comparable bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Reps. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park, opposed a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors statewide. She pointed to potential areas the measure could be challenged on constitutional grounds. The House and Senate passed the bill with wide margins. In 2024, Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a comparable bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Legislation clears Senate with veto-proof majority, House vote falls short</h2>TOPEKA — The Republian majority in Kansas Legislature sent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly a bill Friday that would prohibit health professionals from providing gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of 18.On final action in the House, Senate Bill 63 passed 83-35 — one vote shy of what would be needed to override a potential veto by the governor. The measure was adopted Wednesday by the Senate on a vote of 32-8 on strength of a bipartisan supermajority.Kelly rejected a similar bill in 2024, but the Legislature’s attempt to thwart the veto failed.Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican who carried the bill Thursday on the House floor, kicked off several hours of debate by declaring the Legislature had to halt misguided medical care that promoted gender transitioning among people 17 or younger.The bill would forbid use of puberty blockers and hormone drugs as well as surgery for minors grappling with gender dysphoria, he said. It would open the door to lawsuits against health care professionals who helped children move toward transition and forbid malpractice insurance to cover damages in those cases, he said. It would mandate state licensing boards sanction violators of the law, he said.“Use of these treatments has increased exponentially over the past several years,” said Bryce, who has a medical degree. “This seemed to have started from the sincere belief that these treatments would prevent children from committing suicide. It was based on a desire to save the lives of children.”He said the Help Not Harm Act was necessary because fundamentals of gender-affirming care had been disproven and the treatment wasn’t shown to thwart suicide. He asserted 80% to 85% of minors who at one point were convinced there was a mismatch between their gender identity and biological sex determination at birth eventually resolved those issues without transitioning.“The intent of this bill is to provide proven treatment for these children who are suffering from gender dysphoria rather than following a radical gender ideology,” Bryce said.If the Kansas bill became law, state tax dollars couldn’t be used for activities that encouraged gender transitioning. That would apply to health professionals, but might be sweep K-12 public school counselors or nurses into that net.<h2>‘Just unbelievable’</h2>Opponents of the bill dominated House discussion by flooding the zone with amendments crafted to soften the bill’s reach. House advocates of the bill overwhelmingly rejected those ideas. In the 125-member House, each of the amendments were crushed with 50-vote margins.“This is just unbelievable,” said Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat from Shawnee. “Let me tell you, this bill will inflict harm on children under the age of 18, physicians and other health care professionals, mental health professionals, school personnel, state employees. We have young people up in the gallery. What kind of message are we sending to them?”Kelly, in the final two years of her second term as governor, vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming care statewide during the 2024 session. The Senate came up with the minimum 27 votes for an override last year, but the House fell two short of the required 84 votes to complete the maneuver.In advance of this session’s House and Senate voting, committees in both chambers conducted public hearings on identical bills. Proponents argued the legislation was needed to protect children who could fall victim to wayward parents or health professionals who championed health care that was described as “experimental.” About 400 opponents of the legislation made their views known to the committees.Attempts were made in the House and Senate to lower the age of independent medical consent by minors to 14. Both were defeated, but Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said Republicans hostile to the amendment should consider addressing a Kansas law allowing minors as young as 15 to get married.“If we do think that children should be getting married … and we determine that children should be giving birth, then those people of that age should also be allowed to make those decisions with their parents with regards to their care,” Sawyer Clayton said.<h2>Age-appropriate decisions</h2>Rep. Megan Steele, a Manhattan Republican and school nurse, said all children were unique and must be treated with dignity. In education, she said, that meant establishment of age-appropriate standards in terms of what students were expected to comprehend.“If a 15-year-old cannot construct arguments that all circles are similar … they don’t have the brain development to agree to have their genitals surgically removed,” Steele said.Reps. Lindsay Vaughn and Heather Meyer, both Overland Park Democrats, closed floor debate in the House with appeals for moderation in the state’s regulation of gender-affirming care. Both said legislators convinced to vote for the bill didn’t understand the people being targeted.Vaughn said the bill soon to be forwarded to the governor would illustrate the scope of intrusive state government power and was dotted with unconstitutional provisions.“This bill limits free speech. This bill violates the right to free expression,” she said. “This bill infringes on the right of medical providers to offer peer-reviewed, evidence-based care. This bill violates the fundamental constitutional human right of transgender Kansans to not be discriminated against.”Meyer said there was no evidence physicians in Kansas were performing gender-transition surgery on minors.The bill aimed the toxic forces of discrimination, hatred and misunderstanding at Kansas youth who would have dreams and hopes shattered by a statewide ban, she said.“It is not our job as legislators to get involved in private, complex heart-wrenching medical and mental health decisions that parents and caregivers make in consultation with providers,” she said. “This bill is wrong. This bill is an egregious and heartbreaking attempt to discriminate against a small, but very vulnerable, community in Kansas.”

GOP-led Kansas Legislature sends anti-transgender bill to Gov. Laura Kelly

A petition has been filed to recall Jeff Underhill from office as a Junction City Commissioner. Geary County Clerk Courtney Gilbert said that the blank petition states the grounds for recall and is being provided to the County Attorney, Krista Blaisdell to determine if the grounds are valid and align with legal statute. The grounds alleged on the petition include misconduct while in office and revoking of insurance license due to fraud and deception.&nbsp;The County Attorney has five business days to make that determination.

If the grounds are deemed appropriate, the Recall Committee can then start to circulate the petition to gather signatures. The Recall Committee includes Stephen Capizzi, Samuel Arias and Tom Remily.

The committee needs 390 valid signatures of registered voters who reside within Junction City limits. They have 90 days to return the petition to the Election Office. That Office then has 30 days to validate the signatures.&nbsp;

If the petition is valid, a special election would be held with one question on the ballot. "Do you want to recall Jeff Underhill from the office of Junction City Commissioner" select yes or no.

Underhill was recently elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as the mayor of Junction City for the coming year. He has not yet&nbsp; commented on the recall petition development.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738347058008.png" alt="Jeff Underhill courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jeff Underhill courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey Terrill JC PostA petition has been filed to recall Jeff Underhill from office as a Junction City Commissioner. Geary County Clerk Courtney Gilbert said that the blank petition states the grounds for recall and is being provided to the County Attorney, Krista Blaisdell to determine if the grounds are valid and align with legal statute. The grounds alleged on the petition include misconduct while in office and revoking of insurance license due to fraud and deception.&nbsp;The County Attorney has five business days to make that determination.If the grounds are deemed appropriate, the Recall Committee can then start to circulate the petition to gather signatures. The Recall Committee includes Stephen Capizzi, Samuel Arias and Tom Remily.The committee needs 390 valid signatures of registered voters who reside within Junction City limits. They have 90 days to return the petition to the Election Office. That Office then has 30 days to validate the signatures.&nbsp;If the petition is valid, a special election would be held with one question on the ballot. "Do you want to recall Jeff Underhill from the office of Junction City Commissioner" select yes or no.Underhill was recently elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as the mayor of Junction City for the coming year. He has not yet&nbsp; commented on the recall petition development.

Recall petition filed against mayor of Junction City

MANHATTAN—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with an investigation at a CBD business in Manhattan.

On Thursday, the Riley County Police Department executed a search warrant at CBD American Shaman, in the 700 block of N. 11th Street in Manhattan, according to a media release. The warrant was issued as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of products containing THC levels exceeding the legal limit under the Kansas Industrial Hemp Act.

Just after 10a.m. police arrested Donald Ince, 46, of Manhattan, on requested charges that include of three counts of distribution of marijuana (less than 25 grams) and one count of failure to appear. His total bond was set at $15,060. He is no longer in custody.

Understanding the Kansas Industrial Hemp Act

In recent months, RCPD has encountered numerous cases where individuals were cited for possession of marijuana after purchasing what they believed to be legal CBD products from local businesses, including CBD American Shaman. Many of these individuals expressed confusion, as they believed the products they purchased were legal under Kansas law. To clarify, the Kansas Industrial Hemp Act (K.S.A. 2-3901) defines industrial hemp as any part of the cannabis plant containing a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. Any product derived from industrial hemp must also adhere to this 0.3% THC limit. Products exceeding this threshold are classified as marijuana under Kansas law and are considered a controlled substance, making their distribution and possession illegal.

1. THC Limits Matter: Any product containing more than 0.3% THC is considered marijuana under Kansas law, regardless of where it is purchased.

2. Know the Source: Consumers should ensure that the CBD products they purchase are compliant with Kansas law and contain no more than 0.3% THC.

3. Business Responsibility: Businesses selling CBD or hemp products must verify that their products meet the legal THC threshold. Failure to do so can result in criminal charges and harm to consumers who may unknowingly purchase illegal substances. RCPD encourages all businesses to thoroughly review the Kansas Industrial Hemp Act and ensure compliance with state laws.

4. Certain Products Are Explicitly Prohibited: K.S.A. 2-3908 outlines six (6) hemp products that are explicitly prohibited from being manufactured, marketed, sold, or distributed in Kansas. These include cigarettes, cigars, smokeless materials, teas, and liquids or gases for vaporizing devices that contain industrial hemp. Additionally, any hemp product intended for human or animal consumption that contains ingredients prohibited under the Kansas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or the Commercial Feeding Stuffs Act is unlawful. Businesses must ensure their products comply with these regulations to avoid legal consequences.

Additionally, under the same Kansas law, it is unlawful to market, sell, or distribute certain hemp products—including industrial hemp buds, ground hemp floral or leaf material, and hemp extracts with a delta-9 THC concentration exceeding 0.3%—to anyone not registered as a hemp processor under K.S.A. 2-3907 or licensed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture under a commercial plan (K.S.A. 2-3906) or research program (K.S.A. 2-3902). Transportation of these products between licensed hemp producers and processors is permitted without additional licensing, subject to state fire marshal regulations. Violations are punishable as a class A nonperson misdemeanor for a first offense and a severity level 9 nonperson felony for subsequent offenses. Exceptions allow for research by state educational institutions and the production, use, or sale of hemp products not prohibited by state or federal law. This provision supplements the Kansas Commercial Industrial Hemp Act (K.S.A. 2-3901 et seq.)

MANHATTAN—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with an investigation at a CBD business in Manhattan.On Thursday, the Riley County Police Department executed a search warrant at CBD American Shaman, in the 700 block of N. 11th Street in Manhattan, according to a media release. The warrant was issued as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of products containing THC levels exceeding the legal limit under the Kansas Industrial Hemp Act.Just after 10a.m. police arrested Donald Ince, 46, of Manhattan, on requested charges that include of three counts of distribution of marijuana (less than 25 grams) and one count of failure to appear. His total bond was set at $15,060. He is no longer in custody.Understanding the Kansas Industrial Hemp ActIn recent months, RCPD has encountered numerous cases where individuals were cited for possession of marijuana after purchasing what they believed to be legal CBD products from local businesses, including CBD American Shaman. Many of these individuals expressed confusion, as they believed the products they purchased were legal under Kansas law. To clarify, the Kansas Industrial Hemp Act (K.S.A. 2-3901) defines industrial hemp as any part of the cannabis plant containing a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of no more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. Any product derived from industrial hemp must also adhere to this 0.3% THC limit. Products exceeding this threshold are classified as marijuana under Kansas law and are considered a controlled substance, making their distribution and possession illegal.Key Points for Consumers and Businesses:1. THC Limits Matter: Any product containing more than 0.3% THC is considered marijuana under Kansas law, regardless of where it is purchased.2. Know the Source: Consumers should ensure that the CBD products they purchase are compliant with Kansas law and contain no more than 0.3% THC.3. Business Responsibility: Businesses selling CBD or hemp products must verify that their products meet the legal THC threshold. Failure to do so can result in criminal charges and harm to consumers who may unknowingly purchase illegal substances. RCPD encourages all businesses to thoroughly review the Kansas Industrial Hemp Act and ensure compliance with state laws.4. Certain Products Are Explicitly Prohibited: K.S.A. 2-3908 outlines six (6) hemp products that are explicitly prohibited from being manufactured, marketed, sold, or distributed in Kansas. These include cigarettes, cigars, smokeless materials, teas, and liquids or gases for vaporizing devices that contain industrial hemp. Additionally, any hemp product intended for human or animal consumption that contains ingredients prohibited under the Kansas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or the Commercial Feeding Stuffs Act is unlawful. Businesses must ensure their products comply with these regulations to avoid legal consequences.Additionally, under the same Kansas law, it is unlawful to market, sell, or distribute certain hemp products—including industrial hemp buds, ground hemp floral or leaf material, and hemp extracts with a delta-9 THC concentration exceeding 0.3%—to anyone not registered as a hemp processor under K.S.A. 2-3907 or licensed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture under a commercial plan (K.S.A. 2-3906) or research program (K.S.A. 2-3902). Transportation of these products between licensed hemp producers and processors is permitted without additional licensing, subject to state fire marshal regulations. Violations are punishable as a class A nonperson misdemeanor for a first offense and a severity level 9 nonperson felony for subsequent offenses. Exceptions allow for research by state educational institutions and the production, use, or sale of hemp products not prohibited by state or federal law. This provision supplements the Kansas Commercial Industrial Hemp Act (K.S.A. 2-3901 et seq.)

Kan. officers make arrest after investigation at CBD business 

WASHINGTON (AP) —Divers have returned to the Potomac River as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-325edc6c0c2439dd6c1e73a81e382c0e">recovery and investigation</a>&nbsp;after the United States’ deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century.

A riverkeeper who routinely patrols the for the environmental group Potomac Riverkeeper Network got permission Thursday to take his motorboat to the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, about two miles (3.2 kilometers) down from the crash site.

Dean Naujoks said he found that floating debris from the passenger plane had been pushed by the wind and current into a pair of shallow coves along the Maryland shore.

Naujoks recovered a piece of the interior wall from the passenger cabin that had surrounded a window, pages from a flight manual, a woman’s sweater and what appeared to be the cushion from a pilot’s seat. He turned over the items to the FBI.

“Everything is covered in jet fuel,” Naujoks said. “I’m thinking of the people these things belonged to and it’s a punch to the gut. It’s just a sad day on the river.”

FAA indefinitely closes routes near DC-area airport to most helicopter traffic

The Federal Aviation Administration is significantly restricting helicopter traffic in the immediate vicinity of Washington Reagan National Airport.

That is according to an official briefed on the matter.

Wednesday’s collision between and Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet killed 67 people.

Some of the airspace has already been restricted due to ongoing search and recovery efforts over the crash site, but now agency responsible for air traffic control is indefinitely barring most helicopters from using the low-to-the-ground routes that run under or parallel to the airport’s flightpaths.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

Official tells the AP that more than 40 bodies recovered

More than 40 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River as a massive recovery effort continues following the deadliest aviation disaster in a generation, a law enforcement official told Associated Press.

The recovery efforts were continuing on Friday.

The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738341256800.png" alt="Search efforts are seen around a wreckage site of a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)" />
 <figcaption>Search efforts are seen around a wreckage site of a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Divers have returned to the Potomac River as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-325edc6c0c2439dd6c1e73a81e382c0e">recovery and investigation</a>&nbsp;after the United States’ deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C, late Wednesday killed 67 people, including more than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">dozen figure skaters.</a>&nbsp;More than 40 bodies have been recovered.Here's the latest:A riverkeeper who routinely patrols the for the environmental group Potomac Riverkeeper Network got permission Thursday to take his motorboat to the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, about two miles (3.2 kilometers) down from the crash site.Dean Naujoks said he found that floating debris from the passenger plane had been pushed by the wind and current into a pair of shallow coves along the Maryland shore.Naujoks recovered a piece of the interior wall from the passenger cabin that had surrounded a window, pages from a flight manual, a woman’s sweater and what appeared to be the cushion from a pilot’s seat. He turned over the items to the FBI.“Everything is covered in jet fuel,” Naujoks said. “I’m thinking of the people these things belonged to and it’s a punch to the gut. It’s just a sad day on the river.”<h2>FAA indefinitely closes routes near DC-area airport to most helicopter traffic</h2>The Federal Aviation Administration is significantly restricting helicopter traffic in the immediate vicinity of Washington Reagan National Airport.That is according to an official briefed on the matter.Wednesday’s collision between and Army Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial jet killed 67 people.Some of the airspace has already been restricted due to ongoing search and recovery efforts over the crash site, but now agency responsible for air traffic control is indefinitely barring most helicopters from using the low-to-the-ground routes that run under or parallel to the airport’s flightpaths.The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.<h2>Official tells the AP that more than 40 bodies recovered</h2>More than 40 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River as a massive recovery effort continues following the deadliest aviation disaster in a generation, a law enforcement official told Associated Press.The recovery efforts were continuing on Friday.The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Personal items found in the Potomac turned over to FBI

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop arrest.

Just after 8a.m. January 28, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a rolling domestic incident traveling northbound on S. Road near 142nd Road in a Chevy Impala, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies located the vehicle headed westbound on 150th Road west of Q.4 Road. The passenger of the vehicle, Feliciano Jose Anguiano III, 41, of Mayetta, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for aggravated domestic battery; choke in rude manner; family member/dating relationship and criminal damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738166011351.png" alt="Anguiano-photo Jackson County." />
 <figcaption>Anguiano-photo Jackson County.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop arrest.Just after 8a.m. January 28, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a rolling domestic incident traveling northbound on S. Road near 142nd Road in a Chevy Impala, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Deputies located the vehicle headed westbound on 150th Road west of Q.4 Road. The passenger of the vehicle, Feliciano Jose Anguiano III, 41, of Mayetta, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for aggravated domestic battery; choke in rude manner; family member/dating relationship and criminal damage to property.

Kan. man accused of violence while passenger in vehicle 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, faced sharp criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike Thursday during a fiery confirmation hearing focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-trump-intelligence-director-russia-ukraine-syria-20b7a404704efe88aa56a06ce1894f9a">her past comments</a>&nbsp;sympathetic to Russia, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-syria-assad-trump-b7518871e72a5e19c618c5ff52dedfd2">meeting</a>&nbsp;with Syria's now-deposed leader and her past support for government leaker Edward Snowden.

Gabbard started her hearing by telling lawmakers that big changes are needed to address years of failures of America’s intelligence service. She said too often intelligence has been false or politicized, leading to wars, foreign policy failures and the misuse of espionage. And she said those lapses have continued as the U.S. faces renewed threats from Russia and China.

"The bottom line is this must end. President Trump’s reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure and the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community,” Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Gabbard promised to be objective and noted her military service, saying she would bring the same sense of duty and responsibility to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees and coordinates the work of 18 intelligence agencies.

The questions raised by senators about Gabbard’s judgment and experience make her one of the more contentious of Trump’s Cabinet nominees. Given&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-election-results-mike-johnson-5103c8b5c0ef03a1e61a1c0f9ca3dd4f">thin Republican margins</a>&nbsp;in the Senate, she will need almost all GOP senators to vote yes in order to win confirmation.

A former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard is a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard who deployed twice to the Middle East and ran for president in 2020. She has no formal intelligence experience, however, and has never run a government agency or department.

It's Gabbard's comments, however, that have posed the biggest challenge to her confirmation. She has repeatedly echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-science-health-donald-trump-300742272576985618e1d5a30f53bb23">Russian propaganda</a>&nbsp;used to justify the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine and in the past opposed a key U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-surveillance-fisa-702-congress-reform-7dc1b506b58ce74de0d7983dfba98909">surveillance program</a>.

In a back-and-forth Thursday that at times grew heated, lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about her statements supportive of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-797f390ee28b4bfbb0e1b13cfedf0593">Snowden</a>, a former National Security Agency contractor who fled to Russia after he was charged with revealing classified information about surveillance programs.

Several senators, including Republicans James Lankford of Oklahoma and Susan Collins of Maine, pressed Gabbard on whether she would push to pardon Snowden, or whether she considered him a traitor. On the last question, Gabbard repeatedly declined to answer.

“Yes or no, is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?” asked Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado.

“As someone who has served in uniform in combat, I understand how critical our national security is,” Gabbard responded, before Bennet cut her off, saying “Apparently, you don’t.”

Gabbard said that while Snowden revealed important facts about surveillance programs she believes are unconstitutional, he violated rules about protecting classified secrets. “Edward Snowden broke the law,” she said.

Gabbard has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-trump-putin-intelligence-russia-syria-a798adaf9cd531a5d0c9329f7597f0f6">accused of spreading Russian disinformation</a>&nbsp;by Republican lawmakers and has even won praise in Russian state-controlled media. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, asked Gabbard on Thursday whether Russia would “get a pass” from her.

“Senator I’m offended by the question," Gabbard responded. “Because my sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation, our own security and the interests of the American people.”

A 2017 visit with Syrian President Bashar Assad is another point of contention. Assad was recently deposed as his country's leader following a brutal civil war in which he was accused of using chemical weapons. Following her visit, Gabbard faced criticism that she was legitimizing a dictator and then more questions when she said she was skeptical that Assad had used chemical weapons.

“I just do not understand show you can blame NATO for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, and when Assad used chemical weapons against his own people, you didn’t condemn him,” said the committee’s senior Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.

Gabbard defended her meeting with Assad, saying she used the opportunity to press the Syrian leader on his human rights record.

“I asked him tough questions about his own regime’s actions,” Gabbard said.

Senators also pressed her about her changing views of the surveillance program known as Section 702, which allows authorities to collect the communications of suspected terrorists overseas.

As a lawmaker, Gabbard sponsored legislation that would have repealed it. She argued then that the program could be violating the rights of Americans whose communications are swept up inadvertently, but national security officials say the program has saved lives.

She now says she supports the program, noting new safeguards designed to protect Americans' privacy.

Gabbard defended her change of opinion, and said her critics are opposed to her nomination because she asks tough questions and doesn't always follow Washington dogma.

“The fact is what truly unsettles my political opponents is that I refuse to be their puppet,” she said.

Gabbard is among a couple of nominees who are facing more difficultly gaining unanimous support from Republican senators. Sens. Todd Young, Susan Collins and James Lankford were among the most aggressive questioners Thursday, but it remained unclear if they were satisfied enough by her responses to move her out of committee and confirm her on the Senate floor. The committee has not yet scheduled a vote.

There has been much discussion over whether the committee vote on Gabbard should be made in public or in private as the panel usually operates. Many of Trump’s supporters want it to be public to pressure any GOP senator who is considering opposing her nomination.

Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, supports Gabbard's nomination and said at the start of Thursday's hearing that he hopes she can rein in an office that he said has grown too large and bureaucratic.

Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, noted that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is now larger, in terms of staffing, than any of the agencies it was created to oversee.

“Look at where conventional thinking has got us. Maybe Washington could use a little more unconventional thinking,” Cotton said. “Ms. Gabbard, I submit that, if confirmed, the measure of your success will largely depend on whether you can return the ODNI to its original size, scope, and mission."

Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer and Byron Tau contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's pick to be director of national intelligence, faced sharp criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike Thursday during a fiery confirmation hearing focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-trump-intelligence-director-russia-ukraine-syria-20b7a404704efe88aa56a06ce1894f9a">her past comments</a>&nbsp;sympathetic to Russia, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-syria-assad-trump-b7518871e72a5e19c618c5ff52dedfd2">meeting</a>&nbsp;with Syria's now-deposed leader and her past support for government leaker Edward Snowden.(Click below to watch the exchange)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3NuF96Cr-1c?si=2TYRfT3993fD3pTZ&amp;start=4921" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Gabbard started her hearing by telling lawmakers that big changes are needed to address years of failures of America’s intelligence service. She said too often intelligence has been false or politicized, leading to wars, foreign policy failures and the misuse of espionage. And she said those lapses have continued as the U.S. faces renewed threats from Russia and China."The bottom line is this must end. President Trump’s reelection is a clear mandate from the American people to break this cycle of failure and the weaponization and politicization of the intelligence community,” Gabbard told the Senate Intelligence Committee.Gabbard promised to be objective and noted her military service, saying she would bring the same sense of duty and responsibility to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees and coordinates the work of 18 intelligence agencies.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Good to meet with President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, former Congresswoman <a href="https://twitter.com/TulsiGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TulsiGabbard</a>. We had a productive conversation about the threats that face our nation and the need for unbiased and timely information to better serve policymakers and the… <a href="https://t.co/83DBEBAGwf">pic.twitter.com/83DBEBAGwf</a>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1869072553878110621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The questions raised by senators about Gabbard’s judgment and experience make her one of the more contentious of Trump’s Cabinet nominees. Given&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-election-results-mike-johnson-5103c8b5c0ef03a1e61a1c0f9ca3dd4f">thin Republican margins</a>&nbsp;in the Senate, she will need almost all GOP senators to vote yes in order to win confirmation.A former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, Gabbard is a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard who deployed twice to the Middle East and ran for president in 2020. She has no formal intelligence experience, however, and has never run a government agency or department.It's Gabbard's comments, however, that have posed the biggest challenge to her confirmation. She has repeatedly echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-covid-science-health-donald-trump-300742272576985618e1d5a30f53bb23">Russian propaganda</a>&nbsp;used to justify the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine and in the past opposed a key U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-surveillance-fisa-702-congress-reform-7dc1b506b58ce74de0d7983dfba98909">surveillance program</a>.In a back-and-forth Thursday that at times grew heated, lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about her statements supportive of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-797f390ee28b4bfbb0e1b13cfedf0593">Snowden</a>, a former National Security Agency contractor who fled to Russia after he was charged with revealing classified information about surveillance programs.Several senators, including Republicans James Lankford of Oklahoma and Susan Collins of Maine, pressed Gabbard on whether she would push to pardon Snowden, or whether she considered him a traitor. On the last question, Gabbard repeatedly declined to answer.“Yes or no, is Edward Snowden a traitor to the United States of America?” asked Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado.“As someone who has served in uniform in combat, I understand how critical our national security is,” Gabbard responded, before Bennet cut her off, saying “Apparently, you don’t.”Gabbard said that while Snowden revealed important facts about surveillance programs she believes are unconstitutional, he violated rules about protecting classified secrets. “Edward Snowden broke the law,” she said.Gabbard has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gabbard-trump-putin-intelligence-russia-syria-a798adaf9cd531a5d0c9329f7597f0f6">accused of spreading Russian disinformation</a>&nbsp;by Republican lawmakers and has even won praise in Russian state-controlled media. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, asked Gabbard on Thursday whether Russia would “get a pass” from her.“Senator I’m offended by the question," Gabbard responded. “Because my sole focus, commitment and responsibility is about our own nation, our own security and the interests of the American people.”A 2017 visit with Syrian President Bashar Assad is another point of contention. Assad was recently deposed as his country's leader following a brutal civil war in which he was accused of using chemical weapons. Following her visit, Gabbard faced criticism that she was legitimizing a dictator and then more questions when she said she was skeptical that Assad had used chemical weapons.“I just do not understand show you can blame NATO for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, and when Assad used chemical weapons against his own people, you didn’t condemn him,” said the committee’s senior Democrat, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia.Gabbard defended her meeting with Assad, saying she used the opportunity to press the Syrian leader on his human rights record.“I asked him tough questions about his own regime’s actions,” Gabbard said.Senators also pressed her about her changing views of the surveillance program known as Section 702, which allows authorities to collect the communications of suspected terrorists overseas.As a lawmaker, Gabbard sponsored legislation that would have repealed it. She argued then that the program could be violating the rights of Americans whose communications are swept up inadvertently, but national security officials say the program has saved lives.She now says she supports the program, noting new safeguards designed to protect Americans' privacy.Gabbard defended her change of opinion, and said her critics are opposed to her nomination because she asks tough questions and doesn't always follow Washington dogma.“The fact is what truly unsettles my political opponents is that I refuse to be their puppet,” she said.Gabbard is among a couple of nominees who are facing more difficultly gaining unanimous support from Republican senators. Sens. Todd Young, Susan Collins and James Lankford were among the most aggressive questioners Thursday, but it remained unclear if they were satisfied enough by her responses to move her out of committee and confirm her on the Senate floor. The committee has not yet scheduled a vote.There has been much discussion over whether the committee vote on Gabbard should be made in public or in private as the panel usually operates. Many of Trump’s supporters want it to be public to pressure any GOP senator who is considering opposing her nomination.Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, supports Gabbard's nomination and said at the start of Thursday's hearing that he hopes she can rein in an office that he said has grown too large and bureaucratic.Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, noted that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence is now larger, in terms of staffing, than any of the agencies it was created to oversee.“Look at where conventional thinking has got us. Maybe Washington could use a little more unconventional thinking,” Cotton said. “Ms. Gabbard, I submit that, if confirmed, the measure of your success will largely depend on whether you can return the ODNI to its original size, scope, and mission."__Associated Press writers Ellen Knickmeyer and Byron Tau contributed to this report.

🎥 Kan. U.S. Senator's question offended Trump's pick to oversee spy agencies

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Divers are expected to return to the Potomac River on Friday as part of the recovery and investigation after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">a midair collision killed 67 people</a>&nbsp;in the United States' deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century.

Investigators have already recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the American Airlines plane that collided with an Army helicopter as the plane was landing Wednesday night at Ronald Reagan National Airport next to Washington, D.C. Officials are scrutinizing a range of factors in what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-transportation-safety-board-dc-helicopter-crash-e6f43d112e9fa48f7a2ead01a6a61d27">National Transportation Safety Board</a>&nbsp;Chairwoman Jennifer Hommendy has called an “all-hands-on-deck event.”

All aboard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-collision-black-hawk-bombardier-potomac-2b151f42ba09602bade7b82abe8b995f">the two aircraft</a>&nbsp;were killed, with officials examining the actions of the military pilot as well as air traffic control after the helicopter apparently flew into the path of the American Airlines jet.

Air crash investigations can take months, and federal investigators told reporters Thursday they would not speculate on the cause.

At least 28 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River. The plane&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">carried 60 passengers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plane-crash-kansas-dc-american-airlines-army-4fb9cd89ef9023fa848fc2331b24ee8e">four crew members</a>, and three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.

One air traffic controller was responsible for coordinating helicopter traffic and arriving and departing planes when the collision happened, according to a report by the Federal Aviation Administration that was obtained by The Associated Press. Those duties are often divided between two people, but the airport typically combines the roles at 9:30 p.m., once traffic begins to slow down. On Wednesday the tower supervisor directed that they be combined earlier.

“The position configuration was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” the report said.

A person familiar with the matter, however, said the tower staffing that night was at a normal level. The positions are regularly combined when controllers need to step away from the console for breaks, during shift changes or when air traffic is slow, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal procedures.

The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of air traffic controllers.

Officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas, carrying, among others,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">a group of elite young figure skaters</a>, their parents and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vadim-naumov-evgenia-shishkova-dc-jet-crash-c4788cb6f3e123f0caff83e57347a00d">coaches</a>, and four union steamfitters from the Washington area.

A top Army aviation official said the crew of the helicopter, a Black Hawk, was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying that occurs daily around the city.

“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them,” said Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation.

The helicopter's maximum allowed altitude at the time was 200 feet (about 60 meters), Koziol said. It was not immediately clear whether it exceeded that limit, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said altitude seemed to be a factor in the collision.

Koziol said investigators need to analyze the flight data before making conclusions about altitude.

Flights at Reagan National resumed around midday Thursday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-air-collision-video-footage-b444f2c4015fee7266e8a38716ec4ef6">Wednesday's crash</a>&nbsp;was the deadliest in the U.S. since Nov. 12, 2001, when an American Airlines flight slammed into a residential area of Belle Harbor, New York, just after takeoff from Kennedy Airport, killing all 260 people aboard and five people on the ground.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">last major fatal crash</a>&nbsp;involving a U.S. commercial airline occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York. Everyone aboard the Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane was killed, along with one person on the ground, bringing the total death toll to 50.

Experts often highlight that plane travel is overwhelmingly safe, however. The National Safety Council estimates that Americans have a 1-in-93 chance of dying in a motor vehicle crash, while deaths on airplanes are&nbsp;<a href="https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/preventable-death-overview/odds-of-dying/">too rare to calculate</a>&nbsp;the odds. Figures from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bts.gov/content/transportation-fatalities-mode">Department of Transportation</a>&nbsp;tell a similar story.

But the airspace around Reagan National&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-5342-blackhawk-reagan-national-airport-81a43f2ba5cc59cbe9273fa593f1e9cf">can challenge even the most experienced pilots</a>&nbsp;no matter how ideal the conditions. They must navigate hundreds of other commercial planes, military aircraft and restricted areas around sensitive sites.

Just over 24 hours before the fatal collision, a different regional jet had to go around for a second chance at landing at Reagan National after it was advised about a military helicopter nearby, according to flight tracking sites and control logs. It landed safely minutes later.

Gomez Licon reported from Miami. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Meg Kinnard, Chris Megerian, Michael Biesecker in Washington; Claudia Lauer in Arlington, Virginia; Brian Melley in London; John Hanna in Wichita, Kansas; and Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738328227489.png" alt="In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)" />
 <figcaption>In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Divers are expected to return to the Potomac River on Friday as part of the recovery and investigation after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">a midair collision killed 67 people</a>&nbsp;in the United States' deadliest aviation disaster in almost a quarter century.Investigators have already recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the American Airlines plane that collided with an Army helicopter as the plane was landing Wednesday night at Ronald Reagan National Airport next to Washington, D.C. Officials are scrutinizing a range of factors in what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-transportation-safety-board-dc-helicopter-crash-e6f43d112e9fa48f7a2ead01a6a61d27">National Transportation Safety Board</a>&nbsp;Chairwoman Jennifer Hommendy has called an “all-hands-on-deck event.”All aboard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-collision-black-hawk-bombardier-potomac-2b151f42ba09602bade7b82abe8b995f">the two aircraft</a>&nbsp;were killed, with officials examining the actions of the military pilot as well as air traffic control after the helicopter apparently flew into the path of the American Airlines jet.Air crash investigations can take months, and federal investigators told reporters Thursday they would not speculate on the cause.At least 28 bodies have been pulled from the Potomac River. The plane&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">carried 60 passengers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plane-crash-kansas-dc-american-airlines-army-4fb9cd89ef9023fa848fc2331b24ee8e">four crew members</a>, and three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.One air traffic controller was responsible for coordinating helicopter traffic and arriving and departing planes when the collision happened, according to a report by the Federal Aviation Administration that was obtained by The Associated Press. Those duties are often divided between two people, but the airport typically combines the roles at 9:30 p.m., once traffic begins to slow down. On Wednesday the tower supervisor directed that they be combined earlier.“The position configuration was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” the report said.A person familiar with the matter, however, said the tower staffing that night was at a normal level. The positions are regularly combined when controllers need to step away from the console for breaks, during shift changes or when air traffic is slow, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal procedures.The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of air traffic controllers.Officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas, carrying, among others,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">a group of elite young figure skaters</a>, their parents and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vadim-naumov-evgenia-shishkova-dc-jet-crash-c4788cb6f3e123f0caff83e57347a00d">coaches</a>, and four union steamfitters from the Washington area.A top Army aviation official said the crew of the helicopter, a Black Hawk, was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying that occurs daily around the city.“Both pilots had flown this specific route before, at night. This wasn’t something new to either one of them,” said Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation.The helicopter's maximum allowed altitude at the time was 200 feet (about 60 meters), Koziol said. It was not immediately clear whether it exceeded that limit, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said altitude seemed to be a factor in the collision.Koziol said investigators need to analyze the flight data before making conclusions about altitude.Flights at Reagan National resumed around midday Thursday.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-air-collision-video-footage-b444f2c4015fee7266e8a38716ec4ef6">Wednesday's crash</a>&nbsp;was the deadliest in the U.S. since Nov. 12, 2001, when an American Airlines flight slammed into a residential area of Belle Harbor, New York, just after takeoff from Kennedy Airport, killing all 260 people aboard and five people on the ground.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">last major fatal crash</a>&nbsp;involving a U.S. commercial airline occurred in 2009 near Buffalo, New York. Everyone aboard the Bombardier DHC-8 propeller plane was killed, along with one person on the ground, bringing the total death toll to 50.Experts often highlight that plane travel is overwhelmingly safe, however. The National Safety Council estimates that Americans have a 1-in-93 chance of dying in a motor vehicle crash, while deaths on airplanes are&nbsp;<a href="https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/all-injuries/preventable-death-overview/odds-of-dying/">too rare to calculate</a>&nbsp;the odds. Figures from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bts.gov/content/transportation-fatalities-mode">Department of Transportation</a>&nbsp;tell a similar story.But the airspace around Reagan National&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-5342-blackhawk-reagan-national-airport-81a43f2ba5cc59cbe9273fa593f1e9cf">can challenge even the most experienced pilots</a>&nbsp;no matter how ideal the conditions. They must navigate hundreds of other commercial planes, military aircraft and restricted areas around sensitive sites.Just over 24 hours before the fatal collision, a different regional jet had to go around for a second chance at landing at Reagan National after it was advised about a military helicopter nearby, according to flight tracking sites and control logs. It landed safely minutes later.___Gomez Licon reported from Miami. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Meg Kinnard, Chris Megerian, Michael Biesecker in Washington; Claudia Lauer in Arlington, Virginia; Brian Melley in London; John Hanna in Wichita, Kansas; and Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland, contributed.

Divers return to the Potomac River for plane crash recovery, investigation

KANSAS CITY —A woman injured in an assault at a Kansas City home earlier this has died. According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez 44-year-old Davina Meyer died this week as a result of her injuries.

Just after 10a.m. on January 14, police were dispatched to the 2700 block of E 26th on a reported argument involving multiple people.&nbsp; &nbsp;A woman yelling for help claiming to be injured was also heard by those taking the emergency call.

Officers arrived on scene and could hear the arguing between a man&nbsp; and woman coming from within an apartment at the dispatched location. As police attempted to make contact at the front door, several sounds of gunshots were heard coming from inside of the apartment unit. 

Emergency entry was made into the residence where a woman was removed from the location suffering from critical gunshot wounds. She was immediately transported to an area hospital for treatment. Officers did not locate any additional victims before an adult male suspect was observed barricading himself in a bedroom while armed.

 Officers were able to safely remove several juveniles from the residence&nbsp; and worked to determine if there were any potential hostages that remained inside. Officers then de-escalated and backed away to safety, where they surrounded the apartment to prevent escape and protect surrounding residents. 

An operation 100/ police standoff was then called to bring additional resources, like tactical response officers and trained negotiators, to the scene.Tactical officers were able to utilize a variety of resources to safely check the remainder of the apartment for any additional potential victims or hostages. 

The surrounding apartment units were evacuated to ensure the safety of all residents.Trained negotiators attempted to contact the male subject in order to talk him out of the apartment and peacefully surrender. After several hours of negotiating and refusing to come out, tactical officers formulated a plan to enter the bedroom and safely took the suspect into custody at 2:30a.m.&nbsp; He has been charged by Jackson County prosecutors. The prosecutors will review the additional findings for consideration of amended/additional charges. Police have not released the suspect's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738287960967.png" alt="Police on the scene of the standoff-photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the standoff-photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A woman injured in an assault at a Kansas City home earlier this has died. According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez 44-year-old Davina Meyer died this week as a result of her injuries.Just after 10a.m. on January 14, police were dispatched to the 2700 block of E 26th on a reported argument involving multiple people.&nbsp; &nbsp;A woman yelling for help claiming to be injured was also heard by those taking the emergency call.Officers arrived on scene and could hear the arguing between a man&nbsp; and woman coming from within an apartment at the dispatched location. As police attempted to make contact at the front door, several sounds of gunshots were heard coming from inside of the apartment unit. Emergency entry was made into the residence where a woman was removed from the location suffering from critical gunshot wounds. She was immediately transported to an area hospital for treatment. Officers did not locate any additional victims before an adult male suspect was observed barricading himself in a bedroom while armed. Officers were able to safely remove several juveniles from the residence&nbsp; and worked to determine if there were any potential hostages that remained inside. Officers then de-escalated and backed away to safety, where they surrounded the apartment to prevent escape and protect surrounding residents. An operation 100/ police standoff was then called to bring additional resources, like tactical response officers and trained negotiators, to the scene.Tactical officers were able to utilize a variety of resources to safely check the remainder of the apartment for any additional potential victims or hostages. The surrounding apartment units were evacuated to ensure the safety of all residents.Trained negotiators attempted to contact the male subject in order to talk him out of the apartment and peacefully surrender. After several hours of negotiating and refusing to come out, tactical officers formulated a plan to enter the bedroom and safely took the suspect into custody at 2:30a.m.&nbsp; He has been charged by Jackson County prosecutors. The prosecutors will review the additional findings for consideration of amended/additional charges. Police have not released the suspect's name.

Woman dies days after assault at Kansas City home

KANSAS CITY — Kansas City is paying respect to those involved in the deadly mid-air collision.

On Thursday night, Union Station was lit in remembrance of those lost in Wednesday night's tragic aircraft collision over near the nation’s capital and in support of the Wichita community. 

"With our exterior lights darkened, our center arches shine in blue, red, and white, representing the colors of the City of Wichita flag."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738321523081.png" alt="Image from Union Station Kansas City&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Image from Union Station Kansas City&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — Kansas City is paying respect to those involved in the deadly mid-air collision.On Thursday night, Union Station was lit in remembrance of those lost in Wednesday night's tragic aircraft collision over near the nation’s capital and in support of the Wichita community. "With our exterior lights darkened, our center arches shine in blue, red, and white, representing the colors of the City of Wichita flag."

Kansas City paying respect to victims of airplane, helicopter crash 

By MARC JACOBS Hutch Post

On Wednesday evening Dr. David Gleason, the president of Hutchinson Clinic on a Facebook post accused Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas of blocking information from the clinic.

You can find the video on their Facebook Page. Below is the transcript of the video.&nbsp;

"Hi. I'm David Gleason, president of the Hutchinson clinic. We would first like to express our sincere gratitude to all the businesses, organizations and individual patients who have made the commitment to ensure the Hutchinson clinic remains your in network provider for our Blue Cross Blue Shield patients, we want to reassure you that we are fully dedicated to the high quality care that you've come to expect from the Hutchinson clinic."

"However, we do need to inform you of a recent development Blue Cross Blue Shield has currently blocking information from the Hutchinson clinic, making it difficult for us to provide the necessary medical authorizations as well as the accurate financial estimates we have promised to provide to you for your next appointment."

"We find it deeply concerning that an insurance company would prevent you as a patient from knowing how much your care will cost from the provider or physician of your choice, we remain committed to working with you through this process as we ask for your patience as we navigate these challenges. In the meantime, please continue to reach out to our patient advocacy center. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact or if you need assistance, thank you for your understanding and continued support."

Hutch Post reached out to Blue Cross Blue Shield for their comment.&nbsp; Kristi Zears, manager of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas sent us the below statement.&nbsp;

"Hutchinson Clinic chose to terminate their contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, effective Jan. 1, 2025. They are now considered out-of-network providers."

"Being out-of-network means there are certain things they no longer have access to, such as our members’ private health information. &nbsp;This is, and has been our policy, which safeguards and preserves the confidentiality of our members."

"This policy has been communicated to the Hutchinson Clinic administration over the last&nbsp;two years, beginning in September 2023. &nbsp;It has also been shared in our FAQs and related documents available on bcbsks.com/hutch-clinic. We have shared this information with members and the public through direct communication and marketing channels over the last several months."

"We encourage our members to contact us directly with any questions. Our Kansas-based customer service team stands ready to provide assistance."

By MARC JACOBS Hutch Post On Wednesday evening Dr. David Gleason, the president of Hutchinson Clinic on a Facebook post accused Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas of blocking information from the clinic.You can find the video on their Facebook Page. Below is the transcript of the video.&nbsp;"Hi. I'm David Gleason, president of the Hutchinson clinic. We would first like to express our sincere gratitude to all the businesses, organizations and individual patients who have made the commitment to ensure the Hutchinson clinic remains your in network provider for our Blue Cross Blue Shield patients, we want to reassure you that we are fully dedicated to the high quality care that you've come to expect from the Hutchinson clinic.""However, we do need to inform you of a recent development Blue Cross Blue Shield has currently blocking information from the Hutchinson clinic, making it difficult for us to provide the necessary medical authorizations as well as the accurate financial estimates we have promised to provide to you for your next appointment.""We find it deeply concerning that an insurance company would prevent you as a patient from knowing how much your care will cost from the provider or physician of your choice, we remain committed to working with you through this process as we ask for your patience as we navigate these challenges. In the meantime, please continue to reach out to our patient advocacy center. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact or if you need assistance, thank you for your understanding and continued support."Hutch Post reached out to Blue Cross Blue Shield for their comment.&nbsp; Kristi Zears, manager of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas sent us the below statement.&nbsp;"Hutchinson Clinic chose to terminate their contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, effective Jan. 1, 2025. They are now considered out-of-network providers.""Being out-of-network means there are certain things they no longer have access to, such as our members’ private health information. &nbsp;This is, and has been our policy, which safeguards and preserves the confidentiality of our members.""This policy has been communicated to the Hutchinson Clinic administration over the last&nbsp;two years, beginning in September 2023. &nbsp;It has also been shared in our FAQs and related documents available on bcbsks.com/hutch-clinic. We have shared this information with members and the public through direct communication and marketing channels over the last several months.""We encourage our members to contact us directly with any questions. Our Kansas-based customer service team stands ready to provide assistance."

Hutch Clinic says BCBS Kansas is withholding information

DAMASCUS —On Thursday, U.S. Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing Muhammad Salah al-Za'bir, a senior operative in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.


The airstrike is part of Centcom's ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.



"CENTCOM will continue to hunt and kill or capture terrorists, and defend our homeland, against groups that plot to attack US and allied personnel," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734705079925.png" alt="File photo U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle&nbsp; -photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle&nbsp; -photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS —On Thursday, U.S. Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing Muhammad Salah al-Za'bir, a senior operative in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.
The airstrike is part of Centcom's ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond.

"CENTCOM will continue to hunt and kill or capture terrorists, and defend our homeland, against groups that plot to attack US and allied personnel," said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander, U.S. Central Command.

U.S. airstrike kills senior operative of terror group, an Al-Qaeda affiliate

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA,%20MICHAEL%20CASEY%20and%20ADAM%20GELLER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA, MICHAEL CASEY and ADAM GELLER Associated Press</a>

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The victims of a crash between an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/dc-plane-crash-reagan-updates">American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter</a>&nbsp;included teen figure skaters returning from a national meet with their mothers and coaches, an Ohio college student coming from her grandfather's funeral, two Chinese nationals and a group of hunters headed back from a guided trip in Kansas.

They were among 60 travelers and four crew members&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-air-collision-video-footage-b444f2c4015fee7266e8a38716ec4ef6">on board the commercial flight</a>&nbsp;late Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">when it collided</a>&nbsp;with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-collision-black-hawk-bombardier-potomac-2b151f42ba09602bade7b82abe8b995f">Black Hawk helicopter</a>&nbsp;that was carrying three soldiers. Officials say there are no survivors.

As the search for remains continued Thursday, communities grieved. Faith leaders held a vigil Thursday in the city council chambers.

“The only way we will get through this is together,” said the Rev. Pamela Hughes Mason of Wichita’s St. Paul AME Church.

American Airlines set up a hotline as well as centers in Washington and Wichita for people searching for information about family members who may have been aboard the downed flight. The hotline can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="tel:18006798215">1-800 679 8215</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738291455804.png" alt="Boats work the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)" />
 <figcaption>Boats work the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA,%20MICHAEL%20CASEY%20and%20ADAM%20GELLER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA, MICHAEL CASEY and ADAM GELLER Associated Press</a>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The victims of a crash between an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/dc-plane-crash-reagan-updates">American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter</a>&nbsp;included teen figure skaters returning from a national meet with their mothers and coaches, an Ohio college student coming from her grandfather's funeral, two Chinese nationals and a group of hunters headed back from a guided trip in Kansas.They were among 60 travelers and four crew members&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-air-collision-video-footage-b444f2c4015fee7266e8a38716ec4ef6">on board the commercial flight</a>&nbsp;late Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">when it collided</a>&nbsp;with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-collision-black-hawk-bombardier-potomac-2b151f42ba09602bade7b82abe8b995f">Black Hawk helicopter</a>&nbsp;that was carrying three soldiers. Officials say there are no survivors.As the search for remains continued Thursday, communities grieved. Faith leaders held a vigil Thursday in the city council chambers.“The only way we will get through this is together,” said the Rev. Pamela Hughes Mason of Wichita’s St. Paul AME Church.American Airlines set up a hotline as well as centers in Washington and Wichita for people searching for information about family members who may have been aboard the downed flight. The hotline can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="tel:18006798215">1-800 679 8215</a>.Here’s what we know about some of the people killed in Wednesday night’s crash:<h2>Student victims and others</h2>Cedarville University in Ohio said one of the passengers on the plane was Grace Maxwell, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering.Maxwell's father, Dean Maxwell, said she was returning to campus from her home in Wichita, Kansas, after attending her grandfather's funeral,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/kansas/article299449829.html">the Kansas City Star reported.</a>Grace Maxwell had been working on project this semester to create a hand-stabilizing device to help a boy in the area feed himself instead of rely on others, the university said in a statement.“Grace was a quiet person with a keen interest in helping others through engineering,” said Tim Norman, who served as her secondary advisor.Three other students from schools in Fairfax County, Virginia, and six parents from the district were also on board the plane, superintendent Michelle Reid said in a letter to families. She did not identify them, but she said the students were from different schools and that two of the parents were current or former district staffers.The Chinese embassy in the U.S. said two Chinese nationals were also among the victims of the crash. It did not offer further details.<h2>Hunters who were headed home from a trip</h2>Seven people returning from a guided hunting trip in Kansas were killed, according to a Facebook post by Fowl Plains, the guide service.The Fowl Plains team said they had grown close to the hunters on board the flight over the years and considered them to be family members. The post doesn't identify the hunters by name, but it says they had spent the past week on a guided hunt, “laughing, talking about our families and sharing memories.”“Heartbroken is an understatement,” the company said.<h2>Members of a Maryland union</h2>Those killed also included four steamfitters, all members of a United Association union local in suburban Maryland, union leaders said in a social media post Thursday.“Our focus now is on providing support and care to the families of our Brothers as we continue to gather more information in the coming days,” said the post by UA General President Mark McManus and Chris Madello, the business manager of Local 602.<h2>From the Skating Club of Boston</h2>Skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane were among those killed, according to Doug Zeghibe, CEO of the Skating Club of Boston. Their mothers, Jin Han and Christine Lane, as well as their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vadim-naumov-evgenia-shishkova-dc-jet-crash-c4788cb6f3e123f0caff83e57347a00d">coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov</a>&nbsp;were also killed.Han and Lane, who was about 16, were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating Championships.“We watched Jinna just grow up here from just a tiny little tyke into this amazingly mature 13-year-old,” he said. “A great performer, a great competitor, and off the ice, a great kid.”Spencer Lane, who was from Barrington, Rhode Island, took part in his first professional show in December with Elin Schran's company, Joy Skate Productions.“He started to discover this connection with the audience and that joy that he was giving to other people through his gift," Schran said.In a statement, the Lane family recalled Christine Lane for both her singular talents and her dedication to parenting."Christine exuded creativity throughout her life, using her formal graphic design training as a jumping-off point for seemingly endless creative pursuits across areas such as photography, quilting, knitting, and more. She brought even greater passion to her role as a mother to Spencer and his brother Milo,” the family said.Their coaches, Shishkova and Naumov, won the pairs title at the 1994 world championships in Chiba, Japan. The Russia-born pair also competed twice in the Olympics.<h2>More young athletes and coaches</h2>Skating organizations in Philadelphia and the Washington area also said some of their young athletes had been aboard the plane.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">Several athletes on the flight</a>&nbsp;had attended a development camp held after the U.S. Figure Skating Championships ended Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.Wichita Skating Center manager Sean O’Reilly said the championships brought a “groundswell of positivity,” drawing enthusiastic parents and young athletes from across the U.S. He was “gutted” to learn some of those skaters had been killed.In Virginia's Loudoun County, a coach at a skating club was also identified as among the passengers, Virginia Rep. Suhas Subramanyam confirmed. The club, Ashburn Ice House, said that its “figure skating community has been directly affected,” but did not give further details.<h2>From the military</h2>The victims also include three soldiers who were aboard the helicopter.Officials said their remains will be at Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. That office coordinates the dignified transfer of fallen service members.The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not yet announced. No identities of the crew have been released.But the wife of one of the helicopter pilots said on Facebook that her husband, Andrew Eaves of Noxubee County Mississippi, was killed. In a phone call, Carrie Eaves confirmed the post was hers.“We ask that you pray for our family and friends and for all the other families that are suffering today. We ask for peace while we grieve,” her post read.The three soldiers were doing an annual night proficiency training flight, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said, adding they were a “fairly experienced crew.” Officials were notifying relatives, he said.___