Disagreement centers on plan for testing Wichta residents for traces of a carcinogen

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</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>

TOPEKA — A Kansas House member was shoved to the floor at a Topeka bar during an argument between a Wichita City Council member and a Democratic state representative from Wichita who disagreed about plans to test Wichita residents potentially harmed by a toxic chemical spill in a historically Black neighborhood.

Rep. Henry Helgerson, an Eastborough Democrat attending an informal gathering adjacent to the Capitol, was knocked backward while attempting to intervene in the Wednesday night dispute between Democratic Rep. Ford Carr of Wichita and Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson.

Video of the disturbance showed Helgerson smashing into a table and breaking glassware after shoved by Carr. Helgerson was helped to his feet by two people. Helgerson again tried to restrain Carr, who continued the back-and-forth argument with Johnson at the reception for Wichita-area politicians.

“Ain’t nobody scared of your punk a**,” Johnson shouted in a two-minute video clip widely shared at the Statehouse.

“Bring it on,” replied Carr, still wearing his identification badge as a state legislator.

“No. No. No,” Helgerson said, while temporarily moving Carr away from Johnson. “You don’t want to hurt me, do you?”

At one point, Carr threw his suit jacket to the floor in anger. Several people went in and out of view on the video as they attempted to end the spat or stay clear of the primary combatants. Johnson eventually left the bar amid more shouting.

In an interview, Johnson said he was at the Celtic Fox, a bar across the street from the Statehouse in Topeka, when Carr confronted him about handling $2.5 million set aside by the 2024 Kansas Legislature and $125,000 allocated by City Hall to begin a testing program to learn more about extent of chemical contamination in a northeast Wichita neighborhood.

A chemical spill in the Union Pacific railyard decades ago apparently allowed cancer-causing trichloroethylene, or TCE, to infiltrate groundwater and spread for several miles. Wichita residents in path of the spill weren’t informed of possible health complications until 2022.

Johnson said he was eager to focus on important work of addressing health ramifications of the spill in Wichita. He said he was less interested in debating the bar feud.

“That event will be properly investigated. And the video and those present can speak to the specifics of what happened and by whom,” Johnson said. “I don’t want that incident to in any way distract from the genuine, positive efforts and progress we’re making for residents to address the vitally needed testing and remediation at the 29th and Grove neighborhoods.”

Carr, who advocated for state funding for testing during last year’s legislative session, said municipal government officials in Wichita hadn’t moved quickly enough to advance the initiative.

He said the Wichita City Council and Sedgwick County Commission should have launched testing months ago. The required $1 million local match has yet to be secured, but the city and county appear to have found consensus on how to proceed.

Carr said the animated conversation at the bar was inspired by concern the state appropriation could be rescinded if the cash wasn’t spent before the fiscal year ended in June.

“They wanted me to give them an attaboy or a pat on the back for having this plan,” Carr said in an interview. “I told them I’m appreciative that they came up with a plan, but I’m not going to stand up and rejoice a plan that took eight months to develop. At that point, Brandon Johnson took it personally.”

Carr said he hadn’t consumed an intoxicating beverage, but indicated Johnson appeared to be drinking a dark ale.

“I’m not going to say he was inebriated. I’m just going to say that’s what he was drinking,” Carr said. “His voice began to get elevated. And, after his voice elevated, he made a physical gesture, put his finger in my face, and at that point I stood upright, so then he equally stands.”

Carr said he interpreted Johnson’s gesture at the bar as a threat.

“And I’ve always been the kind of person that you can start that trouble — I know how to finish it,” Carr said.

He said he didn’t realize in the moment that it was Helgerson who attempted to intervene. He said he regretted shoving Helgerson hard enough that he fell to the floor. He referred to Helgerson as a friend.

“I pushed Henry out of the way. Apparently, in the heat of passion, I’m a little stronger than I thought,” Carr said. “I can’t say that I regret moving him out of the way, but I just regret that he lost his balance and fell. It was never intended to be any harm to Rep. Helgerson.”

Helgerson, who was at the Capitol on Thursday, wasn’t available to comment on the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737668512257.png" alt=" Wichita Rep. Ford Carr, left, was involved in an argument and fracas with a Wichita City Council member — captured on video — about handling of testing Wichita residents possibly harmed by a decades-old chemical spill. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Wichita Rep. Ford Carr, left, was involved in an argument and fracas with a Wichita City Council member — captured on video — about handling of testing Wichita residents possibly harmed by a decades-old chemical spill. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Disagreement centers on plan for testing Wichta residents for traces of a carcinogen</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</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> TOPEKA — A Kansas House member was shoved to the floor at a Topeka bar during an argument between a Wichita City Council member and a Democratic state representative from Wichita who disagreed about plans to test Wichita residents potentially harmed by a toxic chemical spill in a historically Black neighborhood.Rep. Henry Helgerson, an Eastborough Democrat attending an informal gathering adjacent to the Capitol, was knocked backward while attempting to intervene in the Wednesday night dispute between Democratic Rep. Ford Carr of Wichita and Wichita City Council member Brandon Johnson.Video of the disturbance showed Helgerson smashing into a table and breaking glassware after shoved by Carr. Helgerson was helped to his feet by two people. Helgerson again tried to restrain Carr, who continued the back-and-forth argument with Johnson at the reception for Wichita-area politicians.“Ain’t nobody scared of your punk a**,” Johnson shouted in a two-minute video clip widely shared at the Statehouse.“Bring it on,” replied Carr, still wearing his identification badge as a state legislator.“No. No. No,” Helgerson said, while temporarily moving Carr away from Johnson. “You don’t want to hurt me, do you?”At one point, Carr threw his suit jacket to the floor in anger. Several people went in and out of view on the video as they attempted to end the spat or stay clear of the primary combatants. Johnson eventually left the bar amid more shouting.In an interview, Johnson said he was at the Celtic Fox, a bar across the street from the Statehouse in Topeka, when Carr confronted him about handling $2.5 million set aside by the 2024 Kansas Legislature and $125,000 allocated by City Hall to begin a testing program to learn more about extent of chemical contamination in a northeast Wichita neighborhood.A chemical spill in the Union Pacific railyard decades ago apparently allowed cancer-causing trichloroethylene, or TCE, to infiltrate groundwater and spread for several miles. Wichita residents in path of the spill weren’t informed of possible health complications until 2022.Johnson said he was eager to focus on important work of addressing health ramifications of the spill in Wichita. He said he was less interested in debating the bar feud.“That event will be properly investigated. And the video and those present can speak to the specifics of what happened and by whom,” Johnson said. “I don’t want that incident to in any way distract from the genuine, positive efforts and progress we’re making for residents to address the vitally needed testing and remediation at the 29th and Grove neighborhoods.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737668462392.png" alt=" When Rep. Henry Helgerson, an Eastborough Democrat, tried to intervene in the altercation, Rep. Ford Carr shoved him to the floor. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> When Rep. Henry Helgerson, an Eastborough Democrat, tried to intervene in the altercation, Rep. Ford Carr shoved him to the floor. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Carr, who advocated for state funding for testing during last year’s legislative session, said municipal government officials in Wichita hadn’t moved quickly enough to advance the initiative.He said the Wichita City Council and Sedgwick County Commission should have launched testing months ago. The required $1 million local match has yet to be secured, but the city and county appear to have found consensus on how to proceed.Carr said the animated conversation at the bar was inspired by concern the state appropriation could be rescinded if the cash wasn’t spent before the fiscal year ended in June.“They wanted me to give them an attaboy or a pat on the back for having this plan,” Carr said in an interview. “I told them I’m appreciative that they came up with a plan, but I’m not going to stand up and rejoice a plan that took eight months to develop. At that point, Brandon Johnson took it personally.”Carr said he hadn’t consumed an intoxicating beverage, but indicated Johnson appeared to be drinking a dark ale.“I’m not going to say he was inebriated. I’m just going to say that’s what he was drinking,” Carr said. “His voice began to get elevated. And, after his voice elevated, he made a physical gesture, put his finger in my face, and at that point I stood upright, so then he equally stands.”Carr said he interpreted Johnson’s gesture at the bar as a threat.“And I’ve always been the kind of person that you can start that trouble — I know how to finish it,” Carr said.He said he didn’t realize in the moment that it was Helgerson who attempted to intervene. He said he regretted shoving Helgerson hard enough that he fell to the floor. He referred to Helgerson as a friend.“I pushed Henry out of the way. Apparently, in the heat of passion, I’m a little stronger than I thought,” Carr said. “I can’t say that I regret moving him out of the way, but I just regret that he lost his balance and fell. It was never intended to be any harm to Rep. Helgerson.”Helgerson, who was at the Capitol on Thursday, wasn’t available to comment on the incident.

Kansas House Democrat knocked to floor in bar fracas between Wichita councilman, legislator

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump used an address Thursday to the World Economic Forum to promise global elites lower taxes if they bring manufacturing to the U.S. and threatened to impose tariffs if they don’t.

Speaking by video from the White House to the annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, on his third full day in office, Trump ran through his flurry of executive actions since his swearing-in and claimed that he had a “massive mandate” from the American people to bring change. He laid out a carrot-and-stick approach for private investment in the U.S.

“Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes as any nation on earth,” Trump said. “But if you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply, you will have to pay a tariff — differing amounts — but a tariff, which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars and even trillions of dollars into our treasury to strengthen our economy and pay down debt under the Trump administration.”

Trump, who spoke Wednesday to Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, also said Thursday that the kingdom wants to invest $600 billion in the U.S. but that he would ask Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to increase it to $1 trillion. The remark drew some laughter from the crowd in the hall in Davos.

Introducing Trump, Davos founder Klaus Schwab told the new president that his return and his agenda have “been at the focus of our discussions this week.” He invited Trump to speak at the summit in person next year.

Trump, who promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war before taking office, said it remained a top priority, but he offered few clues for how he would do so.

“One thing very important: I really would like to be able to meet with President Putin soon and get that war ended,” Trump told the Davos audience. “We really have to stop that war. That war is horrible”

Earlier in his address to the forum, Trump laid blame on the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries for keeping the price of oil too high for much of the nearly three-year war. Oil sales are the economic engine driving Moscow’s economy.

“If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately,” Trump said. He added about OPEC+, “They are very responsible to a certain extent for what’s taking place.”

Oil prices have more recently slumped due to weaker-than-expected demand from China as well as increased production from countries such as Brazil and Argentina that aren’t in OPEC+.

Keaton reported from Davos, Switzerland. Associated Press Writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737653919556.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump used an address Thursday to the World Economic Forum to promise global elites lower taxes if they bring manufacturing to the U.S. and threatened to impose tariffs if they don’t.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/borgebrende?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@borgebrende</a> asks about China: &quot;We know that you called President Xi Jinping last Friday...&quot; President Trump on China: &quot;He called me, but I see it very good. I think that we&#39;re going to have a very good relationship. All we want it fairness. We just want a level playing field. <a href="https://t.co/3bqp3wTHzi">pic.twitter.com/3bqp3wTHzi</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1882472889800130941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on Earth...but if you don&#39;t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff, differing amounts, but a tariff.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/LAex7F9j7g">pic.twitter.com/LAex7F9j7g</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1882465784540127622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaking by video from the White House to the annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, on his third full day in office, Trump ran through his flurry of executive actions since his swearing-in and claimed that he had a “massive mandate” from the American people to bring change. He laid out a carrot-and-stick approach for private investment in the U.S.“Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes as any nation on earth,” Trump said. “But if you don’t make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply, you will have to pay a tariff — differing amounts — but a tariff, which will direct hundreds of billions of dollars and even trillions of dollars into our treasury to strengthen our economy and pay down debt under the Trump administration.”Trump, who spoke Wednesday to Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, also said Thursday that the kingdom wants to invest $600 billion in the U.S. but that he would ask Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to increase it to $1 trillion. The remark drew some laughter from the crowd in the hall in Davos.Introducing Trump, Davos founder Klaus Schwab told the new president that his return and his agenda have “been at the focus of our discussions this week.” He invited Trump to speak at the summit in person next year.Trump, who promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war before taking office, said it remained a top priority, but he offered few clues for how he would do so.“One thing very important: I really would like to be able to meet with President Putin soon and get that war ended,” Trump told the Davos audience. “We really have to stop that war. That war is horrible”Earlier in his address to the forum, Trump laid blame on the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries for keeping the price of oil too high for much of the nearly three-year war. Oil sales are the economic engine driving Moscow’s economy.“If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately,” Trump said. He added about OPEC+, “They are very responsible to a certain extent for what’s taking place.”Oil prices have more recently slumped due to weaker-than-expected demand from China as well as increased production from countries such as Brazil and Argentina that aren’t in OPEC+.___Keaton reported from Davos, Switzerland. Associated Press Writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

🎥Trump rattles global leaders with talk of oil prices, tariffs and Ukraine war

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to a record Thursday as Wall Street regained some of the momentum that catapulted it to 57 all-time highs last year.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.5% to surpass its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-jobs-china-bitcoin-f066b9725ca1eaf8de1fa700555920e4">all-time high set early last month</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-trump-rates-tariffs-inflation-971d56d5de6fd4abf5e7619fb12727ea">coming close the day before.</a>&nbsp;It was the seventh gain in eight days for the main measure of Wall Street's health. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 408 points, or 0.9%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%.

The gains came amid relatively calm moves for Treasury yields in the U.S. bond market. Big swings there in recent months have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-rates-jobs-efc5402f914dd7403a8dc108f96e5bb4">shaking the stock market</a>, particularly when rising worries about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-jobs-federal-reserve-2d6a4d1c31b37fa2d060c466472a8ca1">inflation</a>&nbsp;and the U.S. government’s heavy debt send&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fed-bonds-interest-rates-37c91aa8d1cc4d2a09506d31e9dba99b">Treasury yields higher</a>.

Treasury yields took a brief turn upward after President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-davos-tariffs-taxes-world-economic-forum-85aa42fb7751bedc1643c5a0e465a053">Trump began talking</a>&nbsp;about the prospect of tariffs at the World Economic Forum, saying products made outside of the United States will be subject to a tariff, but they pulled back after he gave few details. Crude prices also sank after Trump called on oil-producing countries to reduce the price of crude, reducing worries about inflation.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.64% from 4.61% late Wednesday, though it remains below its high from earlier this month. The two-year Treasury yield eased to 4.28% from 4.30% late Wednesday.

Yields earlier in the day had also held relatively steady after a report showed slightly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-0cb5ad389a3987666796a45e5e8153be">more U.S. workers applied for unemployment</a>&nbsp;benefits last week than economists expected. While the numbers increased, “they were well within the modest range established in recent months,” according to Chris Larkin, managing director, trading and investing, at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley. “Employment continues to highlight US economic outperformance.”

Traders don’t expect the report to push the Federal Reserve to cut its main interest rate at its upcoming meeting next week, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html?redirect=/trading/interest-rates/countdown-to-fomc.html">data from CME Group</a>. If they’re correct, it would be the first meeting since September where the Fed hasn’t lowered the federal funds rate to take pressure off the U.S. economy. Lower rates can goose prices for investments, but they can also give inflation more fuel.

On Wall Street, GE Aerospace flew 6.6% higher after reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company, which split off from General Electric with two other companies last year, said orders for its airplane engines and services jumped 50% from a year earlier to $12.9 billion.

Netflix was another one of the strongest forces lifting the S&amp;P 500. It rose another 3.2% after jumping 9.7% the day before following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/netflix-quarterly-earnings-subscribers-advertising-42d89cf0bbcc2ca1e6a58a42bafeed39">better-than-expected profit report</a>.

Union Pacific chugged 5.2% higher after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/union-pacific-csx-earnings-profit-railroad-2db8a564186edef7d1b5209555151db9">beating analysts’ expectations</a>&nbsp;for profit in the latest quarter. The railroad said its workforce was more productive during the quarter, and its fuel consumption rate likewise improved.

American Airlines lost 8.7% even though it reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It said it may report a bigger loss for the first three months of 2025 than analysts expected. American also gave a forecasted range for profit over the full year whose midpoint fell short of analysts’ expectations.

Video game maker Electronic Arts dropped 16.7% after it warned of a slowdown in revenue related to its soccer game, EA Sports FC25. It also said fewer gamers played its Dragon Age game during the latest quarter than it expected, further cutting into its revenue.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 32.34 points to 6,118.71. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 408.34 to 44,565.07, and the Nasdaq composite added 44.34 to 20,053.68.

In stock markets abroad, movements were mostly quiet, even after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-markets-economy-stocks-pensions-90e82a9beb04ac136303b3b577f378d7">China’s latest attempt to juice stock prices</a>&nbsp;in the world’s second-largest economy. Stocks in Hong Kong got a brief boost from China’s ordering of pensions and mutual funds to invest more in domestic stocks, for example, but the Hang Seng index ended with a dip of 0.4%.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.8% despite a sharp drop for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-smap-sex-assault-nakai-fuji-07a9afba447ff0a2d0387d8b783fae8d">Fuji Media</a>&nbsp;Holdings after Masahiro Nakai, a top TV host and former pop star, said he was retiring to take responsibility over sexual assault allegations that are part of a wave roiling Japan’s entertainment industry. The Fuji TV scandal triggered an avalanche of lost advertising&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-media-masahiro-nakai-assaults-ddb46421cdb6d418ef3f278a55d155a5">at one of the networks</a>&nbsp;where he worked.

In the cryptocurrency market, where prices have surged on hopes President Donald Trump will make Washington friendlier to the industry, bitcoin was sitting a bit above $103,000, according to CoinDesk. It had set a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-crypto-trump-currency-cfa22616701c94590e6f9d409651acac">record above $109,000</a>&nbsp;on Monday.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to a record Thursday as Wall Street regained some of the momentum that catapulted it to 57 all-time highs last year.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.5% to surpass its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-jobs-china-bitcoin-f066b9725ca1eaf8de1fa700555920e4">all-time high set early last month</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-trump-rates-tariffs-inflation-971d56d5de6fd4abf5e7619fb12727ea">coming close the day before.</a>&nbsp;It was the seventh gain in eight days for the main measure of Wall Street's health. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 408 points, or 0.9%, while the Nasdaq composite added 0.2%.The gains came amid relatively calm moves for Treasury yields in the U.S. bond market. Big swings there in recent months have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-rates-jobs-efc5402f914dd7403a8dc108f96e5bb4">shaking the stock market</a>, particularly when rising worries about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-jobs-federal-reserve-2d6a4d1c31b37fa2d060c466472a8ca1">inflation</a>&nbsp;and the U.S. government’s heavy debt send&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fed-bonds-interest-rates-37c91aa8d1cc4d2a09506d31e9dba99b">Treasury yields higher</a>.Treasury yields took a brief turn upward after President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-davos-tariffs-taxes-world-economic-forum-85aa42fb7751bedc1643c5a0e465a053">Trump began talking</a>&nbsp;about the prospect of tariffs at the World Economic Forum, saying products made outside of the United States will be subject to a tariff, but they pulled back after he gave few details. Crude prices also sank after Trump called on oil-producing countries to reduce the price of crude, reducing worries about inflation.The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.64% from 4.61% late Wednesday, though it remains below its high from earlier this month. The two-year Treasury yield eased to 4.28% from 4.30% late Wednesday.Yields earlier in the day had also held relatively steady after a report showed slightly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-0cb5ad389a3987666796a45e5e8153be">more U.S. workers applied for unemployment</a>&nbsp;benefits last week than economists expected. While the numbers increased, “they were well within the modest range established in recent months,” according to Chris Larkin, managing director, trading and investing, at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley. “Employment continues to highlight US economic outperformance.”Traders don’t expect the report to push the Federal Reserve to cut its main interest rate at its upcoming meeting next week, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cmegroup.com/markets/interest-rates/cme-fedwatch-tool.html?redirect=/trading/interest-rates/countdown-to-fomc.html">data from CME Group</a>. If they’re correct, it would be the first meeting since September where the Fed hasn’t lowered the federal funds rate to take pressure off the U.S. economy. Lower rates can goose prices for investments, but they can also give inflation more fuel.On Wall Street, GE Aerospace flew 6.6% higher after reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company, which split off from General Electric with two other companies last year, said orders for its airplane engines and services jumped 50% from a year earlier to $12.9 billion.Netflix was another one of the strongest forces lifting the S&amp;P 500. It rose another 3.2% after jumping 9.7% the day before following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/netflix-quarterly-earnings-subscribers-advertising-42d89cf0bbcc2ca1e6a58a42bafeed39">better-than-expected profit report</a>.Union Pacific chugged 5.2% higher after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/union-pacific-csx-earnings-profit-railroad-2db8a564186edef7d1b5209555151db9">beating analysts’ expectations</a>&nbsp;for profit in the latest quarter. The railroad said its workforce was more productive during the quarter, and its fuel consumption rate likewise improved.American Airlines lost 8.7% even though it reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It said it may report a bigger loss for the first three months of 2025 than analysts expected. American also gave a forecasted range for profit over the full year whose midpoint fell short of analysts’ expectations.Video game maker Electronic Arts dropped 16.7% after it warned of a slowdown in revenue related to its soccer game, EA Sports FC25. It also said fewer gamers played its Dragon Age game during the latest quarter than it expected, further cutting into its revenue.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 32.34 points to 6,118.71. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 408.34 to 44,565.07, and the Nasdaq composite added 44.34 to 20,053.68.In stock markets abroad, movements were mostly quiet, even after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-markets-economy-stocks-pensions-90e82a9beb04ac136303b3b577f378d7">China’s latest attempt to juice stock prices</a>&nbsp;in the world’s second-largest economy. Stocks in Hong Kong got a brief boost from China’s ordering of pensions and mutual funds to invest more in domestic stocks, for example, but the Hang Seng index ended with a dip of 0.4%.Japan’s Nikkei 225 gained 0.8% despite a sharp drop for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-smap-sex-assault-nakai-fuji-07a9afba447ff0a2d0387d8b783fae8d">Fuji Media</a>&nbsp;Holdings after Masahiro Nakai, a top TV host and former pop star, said he was retiring to take responsibility over sexual assault allegations that are part of a wave roiling Japan’s entertainment industry. The Fuji TV scandal triggered an avalanche of lost advertising&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-media-masahiro-nakai-assaults-ddb46421cdb6d418ef3f278a55d155a5">at one of the networks</a>&nbsp;where he worked.In the cryptocurrency market, where prices have surged on hopes President Donald Trump will make Washington friendlier to the industry, bitcoin was sitting a bit above $103,000, according to CoinDesk. It had set a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-crypto-trump-currency-cfa22616701c94590e6f9d409651acac">record above $109,000</a>&nbsp;on Monday.

Stock Market: Dow jumps; S&P climbs to new record 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate advanced the nomination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-allegations-defense-trump-194e39797595d87f621db641d0f35ff1">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;as President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;defense secretary Thursday on a largely party-line vote, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military.

Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks with Trump and his allies who have mounted an extensive public campaign to push Hegseth toward confirmation. The former combat veteran and Fox News host faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-defense-trump-women-allegations-cd3bfa2dbc35afa37a7f98b72e576233">allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive actions toward women</a>, which he has denied. The vote was 51-49, with a final vote on confirmation expected Friday.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer implored his colleagues to think seriously, “Is this the best man we have to lead the greatest military in the world?”

Mukowksi, in a lengthy statement, said that his behaviors “starkly contrast” with what is expected of the U.S. military. She also noted his past statements that women should not fill military combat roles.

“I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join,” Murkowski wrote on social media.

Murkowski said behavior that Hegseth has acknowledged, “including infidelity on multiple occasions,” shows a lack of judgment. “These behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of service members,” she said.

"Above all, I believe that character is the defining trait required of the Secretary of Defense, and must be prioritized without compromise,” she said.

Rarely has a Cabinet choice encountered such swirling allegations of wrongdoing. Trump is standing by Hegseth, and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has dismissed the claims as factually inaccurate.

It will take a simple majority senators to confirm Hegseth’s confirmation. Most Republicans, who hold a 53-seat majority in the chamber, have signaled they will back the nominee, though Vice President JD Vance could be called in to break a tie vote.

“I am ironclad in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared to be the next secretary of defense,” the chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a statement on the eve of voting. "The Senate needs to confirm this nominee as fast as possible.”

A new president's national security nominees are often the first to be lined up for confirmation, to ensure U.S. safety at home and abroad. Already the Senate has overwhelmingly confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;as secretary of state in a unanimous vote, and it was on track to confirm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ratcliffe-trump-cia-russia-senate-gabbard-e85881d1c3921bc65d6c0e3be3ed555c">John Ratcliffe</a>&nbsp;as CIA director later Thursday.

But Hegseth stands in a category of his own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-background-defense-secretary-confirmation-hearing-e160e10c86385a8beff110d9190fb34e">amid allegations</a>&nbsp;that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Republican conference in California, which he has denied as a consensual encounter, and of heavy drinking at events when he led a veterans organization. He has also said women should not work in combat roles, a view he has since tempered during his confirmation process.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-affidavit-defense-secretary-pentagon-trump-e195ba72a3f47060f7a1b7a81981cba2">new claim emerged</a>&nbsp;this week in an affidavit from a former sister-in-law who claimed Hegseth was abusive to his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety. Hegseth has denied the allegation. In divorce proceedings, neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.

Schumer said Thursday that Hegseth is unqualified for the job because of his personal behavior, including drinking, and his lack of experience.

“One of the kindest words that might be used to describe Mr. Hegseth is erratic, and that’s a term you don’t want at DOD,” Schumer said. “He has a clear problem of judgment.”

A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.

Hegseth has promised not to drink on the job if confirmed.

But senators have remained doubtful of his experience and abilities and the alleged behavior that could lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/hegseth-could-lead-troops-whod-face-getting-fired-for-actions-hes-done-in-the-past/">reprimand or firing</a>&nbsp;for military personnel he would now be expected to lead.

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, herself a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, has signaled her backing.

However, several GOP senators, including Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, are being widely watched for their votes.

During a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/pete-hegseth-roger-wicker-greenland-virginia-military-and-defense-cc8aef7f27e44f55a3f4e6476fed3086">fiery confirmation</a>&nbsp;hearing, Hegseth swatted away allegations of wrongdoing one by one — dismissing them as “smears” — as he displayed his military credentials and vowed to bring “warrior culture" to the top Pentagon post.

Wicker said he had been briefed a third time on the FBI background investigation into Hegseth. He said "the allegations unfairly impugning his character do not pass scrutiny.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Thursday that she will vote against confirming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-allegations-defense-trump-194e39797595d87f621db641d0f35ff1">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;to lead the Pentagon, becoming the first Republican to oppose one of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;Cabinet picks ahead of a crucial test vote.

Murkowski, of Alaska, said in a lengthy statement that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-defense-trump-women-allegations-cd3bfa2dbc35afa37a7f98b72e576233">allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive actions toward women</a>, which Hegseth has denied, show that his behaviors “starkly contrast” with what is expected of the U.S. military. She also noted his past statements that women should not fill military combat roles.

Murkowski said behavior that Hegseth has acknowledged, “including infidelity on multiple occasions,” shows a lack of judgement. “These behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of service members,” she said.

Senate GOP leaders rushed to advance&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump's</a>&nbsp;defense secretary nominee toward confirmation, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military.

It will take a simple majority senators to advance Hegseth’s confirmation in Thursday’s vote. Most Republicans, who hold a 53-seat majority in the chamber, have signaled they will back the nominee, though Vice PResident JD Vance could be called in to break a tie vote.

“I am ironclad in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared to be the next secretary of defense,” the chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a statement on the eve of the test vote. "The Senate needs to confirm this nominee as fast as possible.”

A new president's national security nominees are often the first to be lined up for confirmation, to unsure U.S. safety at home and abroad. Already the Senate has overwhelmingly confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;as secretary of state in a unanimous vote, and it was on track to confirm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ratcliffe-trump-cia-russia-senate-gabbard-e85881d1c3921bc65d6c0e3be3ed555c">John Ratcliffe</a>&nbsp;as CIA director later Thursday.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that Hegseth is unqualified for the job because of his personal behavior, including drinking, and his lack of experience.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737660176564.png" alt="Senator Lisa Murkowski -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Senator Lisa Murkowski -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate advanced the nomination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-allegations-defense-trump-194e39797595d87f621db641d0f35ff1">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;as President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;defense secretary Thursday on a largely party-line vote, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military.Two Republicans, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks with Trump and his allies who have mounted an extensive public campaign to push Hegseth toward confirmation. The former combat veteran and Fox News host faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-defense-trump-women-allegations-cd3bfa2dbc35afa37a7f98b72e576233">allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive actions toward women</a>, which he has denied. The vote was 51-49, with a final vote on confirmation expected Friday.Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer implored his colleagues to think seriously, “Is this the best man we have to lead the greatest military in the world?”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Since Mr. Hegseth’s nomination last November, I have met with him and carefully reviewed his writings, various reports, and other pertinent materials. I closely followed his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee and gathered substantial feedback from organizations,…&mdash; Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) <a href="https://twitter.com/lisamurkowski/status/1882496900223377719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Mukowksi, in a lengthy statement, said that his behaviors “starkly contrast” with what is expected of the U.S. military. She also noted his past statements that women should not fill military combat roles.“I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join,” Murkowski wrote on social media.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733437046049.png" alt="Pete Hegseth photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pete Hegseth photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Murkowski said behavior that Hegseth has acknowledged, “including infidelity on multiple occasions,” shows a lack of judgment. “These behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of service members,” she said."Above all, I believe that character is the defining trait required of the Secretary of Defense, and must be prioritized without compromise,” she said.Rarely has a Cabinet choice encountered such swirling allegations of wrongdoing. Trump is standing by Hegseth, and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has dismissed the claims as factually inaccurate.It will take a simple majority senators to confirm Hegseth’s confirmation. Most Republicans, who hold a 53-seat majority in the chamber, have signaled they will back the nominee, though Vice President JD Vance could be called in to break a tie vote.“I am ironclad in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared to be the next secretary of defense,” the chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a statement on the eve of voting. "The Senate needs to confirm this nominee as fast as possible.”A new president's national security nominees are often the first to be lined up for confirmation, to ensure U.S. safety at home and abroad. Already the Senate has overwhelmingly confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;as secretary of state in a unanimous vote, and it was on track to confirm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ratcliffe-trump-cia-russia-senate-gabbard-e85881d1c3921bc65d6c0e3be3ed555c">John Ratcliffe</a>&nbsp;as CIA director later Thursday.But Hegseth stands in a category of his own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-background-defense-secretary-confirmation-hearing-e160e10c86385a8beff110d9190fb34e">amid allegations</a>&nbsp;that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Republican conference in California, which he has denied as a consensual encounter, and of heavy drinking at events when he led a veterans organization. He has also said women should not work in combat roles, a view he has since tempered during his confirmation process.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-affidavit-defense-secretary-pentagon-trump-e195ba72a3f47060f7a1b7a81981cba2">new claim emerged</a>&nbsp;this week in an affidavit from a former sister-in-law who claimed Hegseth was abusive to his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety. Hegseth has denied the allegation. In divorce proceedings, neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.Schumer said Thursday that Hegseth is unqualified for the job because of his personal behavior, including drinking, and his lack of experience.“One of the kindest words that might be used to describe Mr. Hegseth is erratic, and that’s a term you don’t want at DOD,” Schumer said. “He has a clear problem of judgment.”A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.Hegseth has promised not to drink on the job if confirmed.But senators have remained doubtful of his experience and abilities and the alleged behavior that could lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/hegseth-could-lead-troops-whod-face-getting-fired-for-actions-hes-done-in-the-past/">reprimand or firing</a>&nbsp;for military personnel he would now be expected to lead.Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, herself a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, has signaled her backing.However, several GOP senators, including Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, are being widely watched for their votes.During a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/pete-hegseth-roger-wicker-greenland-virginia-military-and-defense-cc8aef7f27e44f55a3f4e6476fed3086">fiery confirmation</a>&nbsp;hearing, Hegseth swatted away allegations of wrongdoing one by one — dismissing them as “smears” — as he displayed his military credentials and vowed to bring “warrior culture" to the top Pentagon post.Wicker said he had been briefed a third time on the FBI background investigation into Hegseth. He said "the allegations unfairly impugning his character do not pass scrutiny.”------------WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced Thursday that she will vote against confirming&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-allegations-defense-trump-194e39797595d87f621db641d0f35ff1">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;to lead the Pentagon, becoming the first Republican to oppose one of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;Cabinet picks ahead of a crucial test vote.Murkowski, of Alaska, said in a lengthy statement that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-defense-trump-women-allegations-cd3bfa2dbc35afa37a7f98b72e576233">allegations of excessive drinking and aggressive actions toward women</a>, which Hegseth has denied, show that his behaviors “starkly contrast” with what is expected of the U.S. military. She also noted his past statements that women should not fill military combat roles.“I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join,” Murkowski wrote on social media.Murkowski said behavior that Hegseth has acknowledged, “including infidelity on multiple occasions,” shows a lack of judgement. “These behaviors starkly contrast the values and discipline expected of service members,” she said."Above all, I believe that character is the defining trait required of the Secretary of Defense, and must be prioritized without compromise,” she said.Senate GOP leaders rushed to advance&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump's</a>&nbsp;defense secretary nominee toward confirmation, despite grave objections from Democrats and stirring unease among Republicans over his behavior and qualifications to lead the U.S. military.It will take a simple majority senators to advance Hegseth’s confirmation in Thursday’s vote. Most Republicans, who hold a 53-seat majority in the chamber, have signaled they will back the nominee, though Vice PResident JD Vance could be called in to break a tie vote.Rarely has a Cabinet choice encountered such swirling allegations of wrongdoing. Trump is standing by Hegseth, and the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee has dismissed the claims as factually inaccurate.“I am ironclad in my assessment that the nominee, Mr. Hegseth, is prepared to be the next secretary of defense,” the chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in a statement on the eve of the test vote. "The Senate needs to confirm this nominee as fast as possible.”A new president's national security nominees are often the first to be lined up for confirmation, to unsure U.S. safety at home and abroad. Already the Senate has overwhelmingly confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;as secretary of state in a unanimous vote, and it was on track to confirm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ratcliffe-trump-cia-russia-senate-gabbard-e85881d1c3921bc65d6c0e3be3ed555c">John Ratcliffe</a>&nbsp;as CIA director later Thursday.But Hegseth stands in a category of his own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-background-defense-secretary-confirmation-hearing-e160e10c86385a8beff110d9190fb34e">amid allegations</a>&nbsp;that he sexually assaulted a woman at a Republican conference in California, which he has denied as a consensual encounter, and of heavy drinking at events when he led a veterans organization. He has also said women should not work in combat roles, a view he has since tempered during his confirmation process.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-affidavit-defense-secretary-pentagon-trump-e195ba72a3f47060f7a1b7a81981cba2">new claim emerged</a>&nbsp;this week in an affidavit from a former sister-in-law who claimed Hegseth was abusive to his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety. Hegseth has denied the allegation. In divorce proceedings, neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that Hegseth is unqualified for the job because of his personal behavior, including drinking, and his lack of experience.“One of the kindest words that might be used to describe Mr. Hegseth is erratic, and that’s a term you don’t want at DOD,” Schumer said. “He has a clear problem of judgment.”A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.Hegseth has promised not to drink on the job if confirmed.But senators have remained doubtful of his experience and abilities and the alleged behavior that could lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/hegseth-could-lead-troops-whod-face-getting-fired-for-actions-hes-done-in-the-past/">reprimand or firing</a>&nbsp;for military personnel he would now be expected to lead.Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, herself a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, has signaled her backing.However, several GOP senators, including Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, are being widely watched for their votes.During a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/pete-hegseth-roger-wicker-greenland-virginia-military-and-defense-cc8aef7f27e44f55a3f4e6476fed3086">fiery confirmation</a>&nbsp;hearing, Hegseth swatted away allegations of wrongdoing one by one — dismissing them as “smears” — as he displayed his military credentials and vowed to bring “warrior culture" to the top Pentagon post.Wicker said he had been briefed a third time on the FBI background investigation into Hegseth. He said "the allegations unfairly impugning his character do not pass scrutiny.”

Senators become first Republicans to oppose a Trump Cabinet pick

SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order redefining&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">birthright citizenship</a>, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional” during the first hearing in a multi-state effort challenging the order.

U.S. District Judge John Coughenour repeatedly interrupted a Justice Department lawyer to ask how he could consider the order constitutional. When the attorney, Brett Shumate, said he’d like a chance to explain it in a full briefing, Coughenour told him the hearing was his chance.

The temporary restraining order sought by Arizona, Illinois, Oregon and Washington was the first to get a hearing before a judge and applies nationally.

The case is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-trump-executive-order-immigrants-fc7dd75ba1fb0a10f56b2a85b92dbe53">five lawsuits being brought by 22 states</a>&nbsp;and a number of immigrants rights groups across the country. The suits include personal testimonies from attorneys general who are U.S. citizens by birthright, and names pregnant women who are afraid their children won’t become U.S. citizens.

Coughenour, a Ronald Reagan appointee, grilled the DOJ attorneys, saying the order “boggles the mind.”

“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” Coughenour told Shumate. The judge said he’s been on the bench for more than four decades, and he couldn’t remember seeing another case where the action challenged so clearly violated the constitution.

Shumate said he respectfully disagreed and asked the judge for an opportunity to have a full briefing on the merits of the case, rather than have a 14-day restraining order issued blocking its implementation.

The Department of Justice later said in a statement that it will “vigorously defend” the president’s executive order, which it said “correctly interprets the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”

“We look forward to presenting a full merits argument to the Court and to the American people, who are desperate to see our Nation’s laws enforced,” the department said.

Arguing for the states, Washington assistant attorney general Lane Polozola labeled as “absurd” the government’s argument that the children of parents living in the country illegally are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States.

“Are they not subject to the decisions of the immigration courts?” he asked. “Must they not follow the law while they are here?”

He also said the restraining order was warranted because, among other reasons, the executive order would immediately start requiring the states to spend millions to revamp health care and benefits systems to reconsider an applicant’s citizenship status.

“The executive order will impact hundreds of thousands of citizens nationwide who will lose their citizenship under this new rule,” Polozola said. “Births cannot be paused while the court considers this case.”

The Trump administration has said that the order,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">signed by the president on Inauguration Day,</a>&nbsp;would only affect those born after Feb. 19, when it is slated to take effect. Therefore, it argued, temporary relief isn’t called for.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown told reporters afterward he was not surprised that Coughenour had little patience with the Justice Department’s position, considering that the Citizenship Clause arose from one of the darkest chapters of American law, the Supreme Court’s 1857 Dred Scott decision, which held that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, were not entitled to citizenship.

“Babies are being born today, tomorrow, every day, all across this country, and so we had to act now,” Brown said. He added that it has been “the law of the land for generations, that you are an American citizen if you are born on American soil, period.”

“Nothing that the president can do will change that,” he said.

The U.S. is among about 30 countries where birthright citizenship — the principle of jus soli or “right of the soil” — is applied. Most are in the Americas, and Canada and Mexico are among them.

The lawsuits argue that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship for people born and naturalized in the U.S., and states have been interpreting the amendment that way for a century.

Ratified in 1868 in the aftermath of the Civil War, the amendment says: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">Trump’s order</a>&nbsp;asserts that the children of noncitizens are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and orders federal agencies to not recognize citizenship for children who don’t have at least one parent who is a citizen.

A key case involving birthright citizenship unfolded in 1898. The Supreme Court held that Wong Kim Ark, who was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the country. After a trip abroad, he faced being denied reentry by the federal government on the grounds that he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act.

But some advocates of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration</a>&nbsp;restrictions have argued that case clearly applied to children born to parents who were both legal immigrants. They say it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents living in the country illegally.

Trump’s order prompted attorneys general to share their personal connections to birthright citizenship. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, for instance, a U.S. citizen by birthright and the nation’s first Chinese American elected attorney general, said the lawsuit was personal for him.

“There is no legitimate legal debate on this question. But the fact that Trump is dead wrong will not prevent him from inflicting serious harm right now on American families like my own,” Tong said this week.

One of the lawsuits aimed at blocking the executive order includes the case of a pregnant woman, identified as “Carmen,” who is not a citizen but has lived in the United States for more than 15 years and has a pending visa application that could lead to permanent residency status.

“Stripping children of the ‘priceless treasure’ of citizenship is a grave injury,” the suit says. “It denies them the full membership in U.S. society to which they are entitled.”

Catalini reported from Trenton, New Jersey. Associated Press reporter Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;regardless of the parents’ immigration status.

U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour ruled in the case brought by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon, which argue the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court case law have cemented birthright citizenship.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">Signed by Trump on Inauguration Day</a>, the order is slated to take effect on Feb. 19. It could impact hundreds of thousands of people born in the country, according to one of the lawsuits. In 2022, there were about 255,000 births of citizen children to mothers living in the country illegally and about 153,000 births to two such parents, according to the four-state suit filed in Seattle.

Trump’s order asserts that the children of noncitizens are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and orders federal agencies to not recognize citizenship for children who don’t have at least one parent who is a citizen.

But some advocates of immigration restrictions have argued that case clearly applied to children born to parents who were both legal immigrants. They say it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents living in the country illegally.

Trump’s executive order prompted attorneys general to share their personal connections to birthright citizenship. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, for instance, a U.S. citizen by birthright and the nation’s first Chinese American elected attorney general, said the lawsuit was personal for him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737496940106.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order redefining&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">birthright citizenship</a>, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional” during the first hearing in a multi-state effort challenging the order.U.S. District Judge John Coughenour repeatedly interrupted a Justice Department lawyer to ask how he could consider the order constitutional. When the attorney, Brett Shumate, said he’d like a chance to explain it in a full briefing, Coughenour told him the hearing was his chance.The temporary restraining order sought by Arizona, Illinois, Oregon and Washington was the first to get a hearing before a judge and applies nationally.The case is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-trump-executive-order-immigrants-fc7dd75ba1fb0a10f56b2a85b92dbe53">five lawsuits being brought by 22 states</a>&nbsp;and a number of immigrants rights groups across the country. The suits include personal testimonies from attorneys general who are U.S. citizens by birthright, and names pregnant women who are afraid their children won’t become U.S. citizens.Coughenour, a Ronald Reagan appointee, grilled the DOJ attorneys, saying the order “boggles the mind.”“This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” Coughenour told Shumate. The judge said he’s been on the bench for more than four decades, and he couldn’t remember seeing another case where the action challenged so clearly violated the constitution.Shumate said he respectfully disagreed and asked the judge for an opportunity to have a full briefing on the merits of the case, rather than have a 14-day restraining order issued blocking its implementation.The Department of Justice later said in a statement that it will “vigorously defend” the president’s executive order, which it said “correctly interprets the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.”“We look forward to presenting a full merits argument to the Court and to the American people, who are desperate to see our Nation’s laws enforced,” the department said.Arguing for the states, Washington assistant attorney general Lane Polozola labeled as “absurd” the government’s argument that the children of parents living in the country illegally are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States.“Are they not subject to the decisions of the immigration courts?” he asked. “Must they not follow the law while they are here?”He also said the restraining order was warranted because, among other reasons, the executive order would immediately start requiring the states to spend millions to revamp health care and benefits systems to reconsider an applicant’s citizenship status.“The executive order will impact hundreds of thousands of citizens nationwide who will lose their citizenship under this new rule,” Polozola said. “Births cannot be paused while the court considers this case.”The Trump administration has said that the order,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">signed by the president on Inauguration Day,</a>&nbsp;would only affect those born after Feb. 19, when it is slated to take effect. Therefore, it argued, temporary relief isn’t called for.Washington Attorney General Nick Brown told reporters afterward he was not surprised that Coughenour had little patience with the Justice Department’s position, considering that the Citizenship Clause arose from one of the darkest chapters of American law, the Supreme Court’s 1857 Dred Scott decision, which held that African Americans, whether enslaved or free, were not entitled to citizenship.“Babies are being born today, tomorrow, every day, all across this country, and so we had to act now,” Brown said. He added that it has been “the law of the land for generations, that you are an American citizen if you are born on American soil, period.”“Nothing that the president can do will change that,” he said.The U.S. is among about 30 countries where birthright citizenship — the principle of jus soli or “right of the soil” — is applied. Most are in the Americas, and Canada and Mexico are among them.The lawsuits argue that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship for people born and naturalized in the U.S., and states have been interpreting the amendment that way for a century.Ratified in 1868 in the aftermath of the Civil War, the amendment says: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">Trump’s order</a>&nbsp;asserts that the children of noncitizens are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and orders federal agencies to not recognize citizenship for children who don’t have at least one parent who is a citizen.A key case involving birthright citizenship unfolded in 1898. The Supreme Court held that Wong Kim Ark, who was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the country. After a trip abroad, he faced being denied reentry by the federal government on the grounds that he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act.But some advocates of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration</a>&nbsp;restrictions have argued that case clearly applied to children born to parents who were both legal immigrants. They say it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents living in the country illegally.Trump’s order prompted attorneys general to share their personal connections to birthright citizenship. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, for instance, a U.S. citizen by birthright and the nation’s first Chinese American elected attorney general, said the lawsuit was personal for him.“There is no legitimate legal debate on this question. But the fact that Trump is dead wrong will not prevent him from inflicting serious harm right now on American families like my own,” Tong said this week.One of the lawsuits aimed at blocking the executive order includes the case of a pregnant woman, identified as “Carmen,” who is not a citizen but has lived in the United States for more than 15 years and has a pending visa application that could lead to permanent residency status.“Stripping children of the ‘priceless treasure’ of citizenship is a grave injury,” the suit says. “It denies them the full membership in U.S. society to which they are entitled.”___Catalini reported from Trenton, New Jersey. Associated Press reporter Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.-----------SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;regardless of the parents’ immigration status.U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour ruled in the case brought by the states of Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon, which argue the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court case law have cemented birthright citizenship.The case is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-trump-executive-order-immigrants-fc7dd75ba1fb0a10f56b2a85b92dbe53">five lawsuits being brought by 22 states</a>&nbsp;and a number of immigrants rights groups across the country. The suits include personal testimonies from attorneys general who are U.S. citizens by birthright, and names pregnant women who are afraid their children won’t become U.S. citizens.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">Signed by Trump on Inauguration Day</a>, the order is slated to take effect on Feb. 19. It could impact hundreds of thousands of people born in the country, according to one of the lawsuits. In 2022, there were about 255,000 births of citizen children to mothers living in the country illegally and about 153,000 births to two such parents, according to the four-state suit filed in Seattle.The U.S. is among about 30 countries where birthright citizenship — the principle of jus soli or “right of the soil” — is applied. Most are in the Americas, and Canada and Mexico are among them.The lawsuits argue that the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees citizenship for people born and naturalized in the U.S., and states have been interpreting the amendment that way for a century.Ratified in 1868 in the aftermath of the Civil War, the amendment says: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”Trump’s order asserts that the children of noncitizens are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and orders federal agencies to not recognize citizenship for children who don’t have at least one parent who is a citizen.A key case involving birthright citizenship unfolded in 1898. The Supreme Court held that Wong Kim Ark, who was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the country. After a trip abroad, he faced being denied reentry by the federal government on the grounds that he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act.But some advocates of immigration restrictions have argued that case clearly applied to children born to parents who were both legal immigrants. They say it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents living in the country illegally.Trump’s executive order prompted attorneys general to share their personal connections to birthright citizenship. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, for instance, a U.S. citizen by birthright and the nation’s first Chinese American elected attorney general, said the lawsuit was personal for him.“There is no legitimate legal debate on this question. But the fact that Trump is dead wrong will not prevent him from inflicting serious harm right now on American families like my own,” Tong said this week.One of the lawsuits aimed at blocking the executive order includes the case of a pregnant woman, identified as “Carmen,” who is not a citizen but has lived in the United States for more than 15 years and has a pending visa application that could lead to permanent residency status.“Stripping children of the ‘priceless treasure’ of citizenship is a grave injury,” the suit says. “It denies them the full membership in U.S. society to which they are entitled.”

Judge temporarily blocks Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are asking the public for help to locate the owner of a pet carrier dumped on a Kansas highway.

On Wednesday, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Animal Control Unit responded to a call on the northbound ramp to NW 75 Highway from NW 35th Street, according to a social media report. The officers found a pet carrier with multiple cats inside.

Anyone with information on owner of the cats or how they were left near the highway is asked to please contact the sheriff's office immediately (785-251-2200 or email SheriffACOs@snco.us

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737642720413.png" alt="Photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are asking the public for help to locate the owner of a pet carrier dumped on a Kansas highway.On Wednesday, the Shawnee County Sheriff's Animal Control Unit responded to a call on the northbound ramp to NW 75 Highway from NW 35th Street, according to a social media report. The officers found a pet carrier with multiple cats inside.Anyone with information on owner of the cats or how they were left near the highway is asked to please contact the sheriff's office immediately (785-251-2200 or email SheriffACOs@snco.us

Sheriff: Pet carrier with cats dumped on Kansas highway

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A shooting in a Nashville high school cafeteria Wednesday left a female student dead and another student wounded, nearly two years after another deadly school shooting in the city that ignited an emotional debate about gun control in Tennessee.

The 17-year-old shooter, who was also a student at Antioch High School, later shot and killed himself with a handgun, Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron said during a news conference. Police identified him as Solomon Henderson.

Police Chief John Drake said the shooter “confronted” student Josselin Corea Escalante, 16, in the cafeteria and opened fire, killing her.

The wounded student was grazed by a bullet. He was treated and released from the hospital, Drake said. Another student was taken to a hospital for treatment of a facial injury that happened during a fall, Aaron said.

Metro Nashville Police, federal and state agencies are examining “very concerning online writings and social media posts connected to 17-year-old Solomon Henderson” as they work to establish a motive, police said in a statement Wednesday evening.

Investigators at this point have not established a connection between Henderson and the victims, and police said the gunfire may have been random, according to the statement.

Two school resource officers were in the building when the shooting happened around 11 a.m., Aaron said. They were not in the immediate vicinity of the cafeteria and by the time they got down there the shooting was over and the gunman had killed himself, Aaron said.

The school has about 2,000 students and is in Antioch, a neighborhood about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of downtown Nashville.

The children were bussed from the school to a medical center where officials helped shocked parents reunite with their children.

Dajuan Bernard was waiting at a Mapco service station to reunite with his son, a 10th grader, who was being held in the auditorium with other students Wednesday afternoon. He first heard of the shooting from his son, who “was a little startled,” Bernard said. His son was upstairs from the cafeteria but said he heard the gunfire.

“He was OK and let me know that everything was OK,” Bernard said.

“This world is so crazy, it could happen anywhere," he said. "We’ve just got to protect the kids, and raise the kids right to prevent them from even doing this. That’s the hardest part.”

Fonda Abner said her granddaughter had called her a couple of times but that she only heard commotion and thought it was a pocket dial. They spoke briefly before being cut off.

“It’s nerve-racking waiting out here,” Abner said.

United Family Fellowship, a church in Antioch, was hosting a vigil Wednesday night “for anyone in the community who needs a space to pray, process, and find comfort,” the church said on Facebook.

Adrienne Battle, superintendent of Nashville schools, said earlier Wednesday that public schools have implemented a “range of safety measures," including partnerships with police for school resource officers, security cameras with weapon-detection software, shatter-resistant film for glass, and security vestibules that are a barrier between outside visitors and the main entrance.

“Unfortunately, these measures were not enough to stop this tragedy,” Battle said.

She said there are questions about whether stationary metal detectors should be considered.

“While past research has shown they have had limitations and unintended consequences, we will continue to explore emerging technologies and strategies to strengthen school safety,” Battle said.

In October, a 16-year-old Antioch High School student was arrested after school resource officers and school officials discovered through social media that he had taken a gun to school the day prior. When he was stopped the following morning, officials found a loaded gun in his pants, police said.

Wednesday’s school shooting comes nearly two years after a shooter opened fire at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7">separate Nashville private elementary school</a>&nbsp;and killed six people, including three children.

The tragedy prompted a monthslong effort among hundreds of community organizers, families, protesters and others pleading with lawmakers to consider passing gun control measures.

GOP lawmakers in the Republican-dominant state refused to do so. With the Republican supermajority intact after November’s election, it’s unlikely attitudes have changed enough to consider any meaningful bills that would address gun control.

Instead, lawmakers have been more open to adding more security to schools — including passing a bill last year that would allow some teachers and staff to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-arming-teachers-guns-2d7d80fa1f54f8f9585a6d2e98fec9fd">carry concealed handguns</a>&nbsp;on public school grounds, and bar parents and other teachers from knowing who was armed.

Antioch, a growing and diverse area of Nashville, has endured other prominent shootings in recent years. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f56b445a4e54468caff28c1844c55aa4">2017 fatal shooting</a>&nbsp;at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ killed one woman and wounded seven people. And in 2018, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b0da52acd5374c28a2495291b0819387">shooter killed four people at a Waffle House</a>.

State Rep. Shaundelle Brooks ran for office in large part due to her son’s death in the Waffle House shooting and was elected last year after the Covenant shooting. She said the Antioch High shooting reinforces the need for gun control reforms. “We must do better,” she said.

“Ever since I lost my son, Akilah, in a mass shooting in 2018, I have been fighting to ensure this never happens again,” the Nashville Democrat said in a statement. “Here we are almost 7 years later, and our communities are still being impacted by gun violence.”

Samantha Dickerson had taken her 14-year-old son’s phone away as a punishment, so when she got a message from his school about the shooting, she had no way to reach him.

“I was nervous,” she said. “I really was about to break down.”

After about three hours of waiting, she finally got a call from his English teacher and spoke with her son.

“When I heard his voice, I just broke down and started crying,” she said.

Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville and Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737571189477.png" alt="Photo Metro Nashville Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Metro Nashville Police</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A shooting in a Nashville high school cafeteria Wednesday left a female student dead and another student wounded, nearly two years after another deadly school shooting in the city that ignited an emotional debate about gun control in Tennessee.The 17-year-old shooter, who was also a student at Antioch High School, later shot and killed himself with a handgun, Metro Nashville Police spokesperson Don Aaron said during a news conference. Police identified him as Solomon Henderson.Police Chief John Drake said the shooter “confronted” student Josselin Corea Escalante, 16, in the cafeteria and opened fire, killing her.The wounded student was grazed by a bullet. He was treated and released from the hospital, Drake said. Another student was taken to a hospital for treatment of a facial injury that happened during a fall, Aaron said.Metro Nashville Police, federal and state agencies are examining “very concerning online writings and social media posts connected to 17-year-old Solomon Henderson” as they work to establish a motive, police said in a statement Wednesday evening.Investigators at this point have not established a connection between Henderson and the victims, and police said the gunfire may have been random, according to the statement.Two school resource officers were in the building when the shooting happened around 11 a.m., Aaron said. They were not in the immediate vicinity of the cafeteria and by the time they got down there the shooting was over and the gunman had killed himself, Aaron said.The school has about 2,000 students and is in Antioch, a neighborhood about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of downtown Nashville.The children were bussed from the school to a medical center where officials helped shocked parents reunite with their children.Dajuan Bernard was waiting at a Mapco service station to reunite with his son, a 10th grader, who was being held in the auditorium with other students Wednesday afternoon. He first heard of the shooting from his son, who “was a little startled,” Bernard said. His son was upstairs from the cafeteria but said he heard the gunfire.“He was OK and let me know that everything was OK,” Bernard said.“This world is so crazy, it could happen anywhere," he said. "We’ve just got to protect the kids, and raise the kids right to prevent them from even doing this. That’s the hardest part.”Fonda Abner said her granddaughter had called her a couple of times but that she only heard commotion and thought it was a pocket dial. They spoke briefly before being cut off.“It’s nerve-racking waiting out here,” Abner said.United Family Fellowship, a church in Antioch, was hosting a vigil Wednesday night “for anyone in the community who needs a space to pray, process, and find comfort,” the church said on Facebook.Adrienne Battle, superintendent of Nashville schools, said earlier Wednesday that public schools have implemented a “range of safety measures," including partnerships with police for school resource officers, security cameras with weapon-detection software, shatter-resistant film for glass, and security vestibules that are a barrier between outside visitors and the main entrance.“Unfortunately, these measures were not enough to stop this tragedy,” Battle said.She said there are questions about whether stationary metal detectors should be considered.“While past research has shown they have had limitations and unintended consequences, we will continue to explore emerging technologies and strategies to strengthen school safety,” Battle said.In October, a 16-year-old Antioch High School student was arrested after school resource officers and school officials discovered through social media that he had taken a gun to school the day prior. When he was stopped the following morning, officials found a loaded gun in his pants, police said.Wednesday’s school shooting comes nearly two years after a shooter opened fire at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-school-shooting-covenant-school-03aa394109a5e682877403c0c3e52aa7">separate Nashville private elementary school</a>&nbsp;and killed six people, including three children.The tragedy prompted a monthslong effort among hundreds of community organizers, families, protesters and others pleading with lawmakers to consider passing gun control measures.GOP lawmakers in the Republican-dominant state refused to do so. With the Republican supermajority intact after November’s election, it’s unlikely attitudes have changed enough to consider any meaningful bills that would address gun control.Instead, lawmakers have been more open to adding more security to schools — including passing a bill last year that would allow some teachers and staff to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-arming-teachers-guns-2d7d80fa1f54f8f9585a6d2e98fec9fd">carry concealed handguns</a>&nbsp;on public school grounds, and bar parents and other teachers from knowing who was armed.Antioch, a growing and diverse area of Nashville, has endured other prominent shootings in recent years. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f56b445a4e54468caff28c1844c55aa4">2017 fatal shooting</a>&nbsp;at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ killed one woman and wounded seven people. And in 2018, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b0da52acd5374c28a2495291b0819387">shooter killed four people at a Waffle House</a>.State Rep. Shaundelle Brooks ran for office in large part due to her son’s death in the Waffle House shooting and was elected last year after the Covenant shooting. She said the Antioch High shooting reinforces the need for gun control reforms. “We must do better,” she said.“Ever since I lost my son, Akilah, in a mass shooting in 2018, I have been fighting to ensure this never happens again,” the Nashville Democrat said in a statement. “Here we are almost 7 years later, and our communities are still being impacted by gun violence.”Samantha Dickerson had taken her 14-year-old son’s phone away as a punishment, so when she got a message from his school about the shooting, she had no way to reach him.“I was nervous,” she said. “I really was about to break down.”After about three hours of waiting, she finally got a call from his English teacher and spoke with her son.“When I heard his voice, I just broke down and started crying,” she said.___Associated Press writers Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville and Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, contributed.

Police ID 16-year-old killed in shooting at Tennessee high school

WASHINGTON (AP)—Trump says he is nominating Secret Service veteran Sean Curran to head the U.S. Secret Service.

Curran was among the agents who rushed to Trump’s aid after he was shot in the ear in a failed assassination attempt at a July campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

In a post announcing his nomination, Trump praised Curran for his “fearless courage” during the Pennsylvania rally. He served as the assistant special agent in charge of the presidential protective division during Trump’s first term.

“Sean has distinguished himself as a brilliant leader, who is capable of directing and leading operational security plans for some of the most complex Special Security Events in the History of our Country, and the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720913971898.png" alt="Sean Curran, far right, on the day Trump was shot in a failed assassination attempt at a July campaign rally (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)" />
 <figcaption>Sean Curran, far right, on the day Trump was shot in a failed assassination attempt at a July campaign rally (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—Trump says he is nominating Secret Service veteran Sean Curran to head the U.S. Secret Service.Curran was among the agents who rushed to Trump’s aid after he was shot in the ear in a failed assassination attempt at a July campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.In a post announcing his nomination, Trump praised Curran for his “fearless courage” during the Pennsylvania rally. He served as the assistant special agent in charge of the presidential protective division during Trump’s first term.“Sean has distinguished himself as a brilliant leader, who is capable of directing and leading operational security plans for some of the most complex Special Security Events in the History of our Country, and the World,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Agent who rushed to Trump’s aid in shooting will lead Secret Service

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon who left his 11-month-old daughter in the canal in Wichita is scheduled to learn his fate Thursday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Judge Tyler Roush will sentence 34-year-old Vincent Perez&nbsp;&nbsp;who pleaded guilty in December to aggravated endangering a child and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In July, police were dispatched to conduct a welfare check in the vicinity of Interstate 135 and Pawnee in Wichita after receiving a report of a child in the canal, according to Officer Kristopher Gupilan.

Officers, with the assistance of the Wichita Fire Department, located the child within the canal. She was safely extracted from the canal and transported to a local hospital for precautionary medical evaluation and later placed into police protective custody, according to Gupilan.&nbsp;

Police believed Perez had information pertinent to the investigation and asked the public for assistance in locating him for questioning. The following day police booked&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=320252">Perez&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;into the Sedgwick County jail.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Perez has previous convictions for theft, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721927142112.png" alt="Perez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Perez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon who left his 11-month-old daughter in the canal in Wichita is scheduled to learn his fate Thursday afternoon.&nbsp;&nbsp; Judge Tyler Roush will sentence 34-year-old Vincent Perez&nbsp;&nbsp;who pleaded guilty in December to aggravated endangering a child and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In July, police were dispatched to conduct a welfare check in the vicinity of Interstate 135 and Pawnee in Wichita after receiving a report of a child in the canal, according to Officer Kristopher Gupilan.Officers, with the assistance of the Wichita Fire Department, located the child within the canal. She was safely extracted from the canal and transported to a local hospital for precautionary medical evaluation and later placed into police protective custody, according to Gupilan.&nbsp;Police believed Perez had information pertinent to the investigation and asked the public for assistance in locating him for questioning. The following day police booked&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=320252">Perez&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;into the Sedgwick County jail.&nbsp; &nbsp;Perez has previous convictions for theft, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Sentencing Day for Kan. felon who left baby daughter in canal 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A bill proposed in the Kansas House seeks to remove people who are not U.S. citizens from the state’s voter rolls through temporary driver’s license records, invoking concern for potential disenfranchisement of Kansas voters.

A Kansas Secretary of State’s Office official said the records are “the best tool we have” to identify voters who are not U.S. citizens, of which the true number in Kansas is unknown.

There is no “magic list” disclosing all people who are not citizens in Kansas, said Bryan Caskey, the deputy secretary of state and director of elections, at a Tuesday hearing in the House Elections Committee. But the temporary driver’s license list is about as close as the office can get, he said.

“It is one of the rare pieces of factual, direct evidence of non-U.S. citizens,” Caskey said,&nbsp; “and so that’s why we want the list more often because it’s, quite frankly, one of the best tools that we have to verify non-U.S. citizens being on our voter registration list.”

The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office, which supports&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2020/" target="_blank">House Bill 2020</a>, has received a temporary driver’s license list about six times in the past 15 years, Caskey said.

About 38,000 people in Kansas have active temporary drivers licenses as of December.

Of the state’s more than 2 million voters, state officials found 202 potential matches when comparing a temporary driver’s license list and the voter rolls. About 120 of those were false positives, and 85 warranted additional investigation. About 21 of the 85 have a voting history attached to them and would require even further investigation to determine citizenship status.

Clay Barker, general counsel to the secretary of state’s office, said nothing prevents officials from investigating a case of a potential voter who is not a U.S. citizen.

“There has to be something more than an odd last name, but if you have reason to believe someone’s a noncitizen, you can conduct an investigation and gather more information,” Barker said.

When obtaining a driver’s license, a person must prove residency in Kansas, which could include proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status. In the latter case, a temporary driver’s license is typically issued. The aim of the bill is to compare the lists of people with temporary driver’s licenses to the secretary of state’s voter rolls to determine if people who are not U.S. citizens are participating in Kansas elections.

“The list shall contain the names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth, temporary drivers’ license numbers and expiration dates of such licenses,” the text of the bill read. “The secretary of state shall compare such lists with the voter registration rolls and delete any names of noncitizens that appear on the voter rolls.”

However, the Secretary of State’s Office cannot modify voter rolls, a job reserved for county elections officials, and state officials said action cannot be taken unless they receive confirmation from an outside source of a person’s current citizenship status.

Davis Hammet, president of voting rights organization Loud Light, supported the concept of the bill but expressed concern at the Tuesday hearing over its declaratory language and lack of detail.

“The most dangerous thing you could do is assume that you can take two list and perfectly compare them,” Hammet said.

The logistics of how the bill could be administered were missing, Hammet said. He warned oversimplification of legislation could run the risk of disenfranchising valid Kansas voters, as was the case with a law struck down in 2018 that illegally mandated Kansans show documented proof of citizenship to register to vote. The law blocked more than 35,000 Kansans from voting.

Brett Anderson, a Republican precinct committee member in Sedgwick County, questioned the difference between the proposed bill and the struck-down citizenship requirement.

“What has been passed to strengthen non-voter laws in Kansas? Isn’t this setting up for litigation when the main issue of citizenship is still in limbo in Kansas?” he asked in written public testimony.

Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chairman of the House Elections Committee, appeared frustrated with the comparison between the unlawful proof of citizenship requirement and HB 2020. He said this bill isn’t about how voters are registered but how voter rolls are maintained.

“Anyone who tells you that non-citizens aren’t voting in Kansas is lying to you,” he said in a news release distributed before the hearing. “The fact is we don’t know because we aren’t doing much to check.”

In&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/06/voter-fraud-myth-persists-despite-constant-failure-to-prove-claims/">litigation over the proof of citizenship requirement</a>, then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach failed to present evidence of widespread voter fraud. Fewer than 40 people who were not U.S. citizens had registered to vote over a 20-year period.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas expressed concerns over data privacy, pandering to conspiracy theories of illegal voting and inadequate appeals processes.

“HB 2020 plays into conspiracy theories about large numbers of non-citizens voting in Kansas elections, and altering the outcome of those elections,” said Rashane Hamby, director of policy and research for the ACLU of Kansas, in written testimony. “This simply isn’t true.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737638955134.png" alt=" Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chair of the House elections committee, discusses a bill meant to remove non-U.S. citizens from Kansas voter rolls at a hearing on Jan. 21, 2025, in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chair of the House elections committee, discusses a bill meant to remove non-U.S. citizens from Kansas voter rolls at a hearing on Jan. 21, 2025, in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A bill proposed in the Kansas House seeks to remove people who are not U.S. citizens from the state’s voter rolls through temporary driver’s license records, invoking concern for potential disenfranchisement of Kansas voters.A Kansas Secretary of State’s Office official said the records are “the best tool we have” to identify voters who are not U.S. citizens, of which the true number in Kansas is unknown.There is no “magic list” disclosing all people who are not citizens in Kansas, said Bryan Caskey, the deputy secretary of state and director of elections, at a Tuesday hearing in the House Elections Committee. But the temporary driver’s license list is about as close as the office can get, he said.“It is one of the rare pieces of factual, direct evidence of non-U.S. citizens,” Caskey said,&nbsp; “and so that’s why we want the list more often because it’s, quite frankly, one of the best tools that we have to verify non-U.S. citizens being on our voter registration list.”The Kansas Secretary of State’s Office, which supports&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2020/" target="_blank">House Bill 2020</a>, has received a temporary driver’s license list about six times in the past 15 years, Caskey said.About 38,000 people in Kansas have active temporary drivers licenses as of December.Of the state’s more than 2 million voters, state officials found 202 potential matches when comparing a temporary driver’s license list and the voter rolls. About 120 of those were false positives, and 85 warranted additional investigation. About 21 of the 85 have a voting history attached to them and would require even further investigation to determine citizenship status.Clay Barker, general counsel to the secretary of state’s office, said nothing prevents officials from investigating a case of a potential voter who is not a U.S. citizen.“There has to be something more than an odd last name, but if you have reason to believe someone’s a noncitizen, you can conduct an investigation and gather more information,” Barker said.When obtaining a driver’s license, a person must prove residency in Kansas, which could include proof of U.S. citizenship or legal immigration status. In the latter case, a temporary driver’s license is typically issued. The aim of the bill is to compare the lists of people with temporary driver’s licenses to the secretary of state’s voter rolls to determine if people who are not U.S. citizens are participating in Kansas elections.“The list shall contain the names, addresses, phone numbers, social security numbers, dates of birth, temporary drivers’ license numbers and expiration dates of such licenses,” the text of the bill read. “The secretary of state shall compare such lists with the voter registration rolls and delete any names of noncitizens that appear on the voter rolls.”However, the Secretary of State’s Office cannot modify voter rolls, a job reserved for county elections officials, and state officials said action cannot be taken unless they receive confirmation from an outside source of a person’s current citizenship status.Davis Hammet, president of voting rights organization Loud Light, supported the concept of the bill but expressed concern at the Tuesday hearing over its declaratory language and lack of detail.“The most dangerous thing you could do is assume that you can take two list and perfectly compare them,” Hammet said.The logistics of how the bill could be administered were missing, Hammet said. He warned oversimplification of legislation could run the risk of disenfranchising valid Kansas voters, as was the case with a law struck down in 2018 that illegally mandated Kansans show documented proof of citizenship to register to vote. The law blocked more than 35,000 Kansans from voting.Brett Anderson, a Republican precinct committee member in Sedgwick County, questioned the difference between the proposed bill and the struck-down citizenship requirement.“What has been passed to strengthen non-voter laws in Kansas? Isn’t this setting up for litigation when the main issue of citizenship is still in limbo in Kansas?” he asked in written public testimony.Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican and chairman of the House Elections Committee, appeared frustrated with the comparison between the unlawful proof of citizenship requirement and HB 2020. He said this bill isn’t about how voters are registered but how voter rolls are maintained.“Anyone who tells you that non-citizens aren’t voting in Kansas is lying to you,” he said in a news release distributed before the hearing. “The fact is we don’t know because we aren’t doing much to check.”In&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/06/voter-fraud-myth-persists-despite-constant-failure-to-prove-claims/">litigation over the proof of citizenship requirement</a>, then-Secretary of State Kris Kobach failed to present evidence of widespread voter fraud. Fewer than 40 people who were not U.S. citizens had registered to vote over a 20-year period.The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas expressed concerns over data privacy, pandering to conspiracy theories of illegal voting and inadequate appeals processes.“HB 2020 plays into conspiracy theories about large numbers of non-citizens voting in Kansas elections, and altering the outcome of those elections,” said Rashane Hamby, director of policy and research for the ACLU of Kansas, in written testimony. “This simply isn’t true.”Another&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hcr5004/" target="_blank">attempt at legislation</a>&nbsp;targeting people who are not U.S. citizens is set to appear at a Thursday hearing before the same committee. It involves a constitutional amendment that would require voters be citizens, 18 years old and a resident in their assigned voting area. It is already a felony crime for someone who is not a U.S. citizen to claim they are a citizen on a voter registration form.