WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arctic-siberian-cold-chilly-trump-inauguration-7537abf637d19e681e9c517e1e82cb4b">intense cold weather</a>, upending months of meticulous planning for a massive outdoor event with crowds sprawling down the National Mall.

“The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.”

The Rotunda is prepared as an alternative for each inauguration in the event of inclement weather.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-security-a3df8ed878f2c0587f7038d68a0447f6">The swearing-in</a>&nbsp;was last moved indoors in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan began his second term. Monday’s forecast calls for the lowest Inauguration Day temperatures since that day.

Outgoing President Joe Biden, members of Congress and some other dignitaries and notable guests will be able to view&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-schedule-events-2997c668b2242e8646cfdc07ca3e22f7">the ceremony</a>&nbsp;from inside the Capitol Rotunda. But even if they are standing shoulder-to-shoulder packing the Rotunda as in 1985, many will be forced to watch the swearing-in from elsewhere.

Alternate plans were being devised to accommodate as many guests as possible. More than 250,000 guests are ticketed to view the inauguration from around the Capitol grounds and tens of thousands more were expected to be in general admission areas or to line the inaugural parade route from the Capitol to the White House.

Trump said some supporters would be able to watch the ceremony from Washington’s Capital One Arena on Monday, a day after he plans to hold a rally there. He said he would visit the arena, which has a capacity of about 20,000, after his swearing-in, and host a modified inaugural parade there.

Trump said other inaugural events, including the Sunday rally and his participation in three official inaugural balls on Monday night, would take place as scheduled.

The U.S. Secret Service, which leads the security planning for the inauguration, said it was working with organizers to “adapt” its plans for the event due to the scheduling changes.

The National Weather Service is predicting the temperature to be around 22 degrees (minus-6 Celsius) at noon during the swearing-in, the coldest since Reagan’s second inauguration saw temperatures plunge to 7 degrees (minus-14 Celsius). Barack Obama’s 2009 swearing-in was 28 degrees (minus-2 Celsius).

“The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will honor the request of the President-elect and his Presidential Inaugural Committee to move the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies inside the U.S. Capitol to the Rotunda," a spokesperson said Friday.

The Capitol Rotunda was one of the areas breached during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection by supporters of Trump trying to block the certification of his 2020 defeat to Biden. The temporary inaugural platform, where Trump was to have been sworn-in outdoors, was the site of some of the most violent clashes between rioters and police officers trying to protect the Capitol complex.

Earlier Friday, Trump's inaugural committee announced that, like his first inauguration, Trump would take the oath of office on a family Bible given to him by his mother as well as the Bible used by President Abraham Lincoln at his first inauguration in 1861. Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in on a family Bible given to him by his maternal great-grandmother.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737134491514.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday due to forecasts of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arctic-siberian-cold-chilly-trump-inauguration-7537abf637d19e681e9c517e1e82cb4b">intense cold weather</a>, upending months of meticulous planning for a massive outdoor event with crowds sprawling down the National Mall.“The weather forecast for Washington, D.C., with the windchill factor, could take temperatures into severe record lows,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737026821027.png" alt="Donald Trump's official Inaugural photo" />
 <figcaption>Donald Trump's official Inaugural photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Rotunda is prepared as an alternative for each inauguration in the event of inclement weather.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-security-a3df8ed878f2c0587f7038d68a0447f6">The swearing-in</a>&nbsp;was last moved indoors in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan began his second term. Monday’s forecast calls for the lowest Inauguration Day temperatures since that day.Outgoing President Joe Biden, members of Congress and some other dignitaries and notable guests will be able to view&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-schedule-events-2997c668b2242e8646cfdc07ca3e22f7">the ceremony</a>&nbsp;from inside the Capitol Rotunda. But even if they are standing shoulder-to-shoulder packing the Rotunda as in 1985, many will be forced to watch the swearing-in from elsewhere.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Ronald Reagan&#39;s second inauguration in 1985 took place in the Capitol Rotunda on January 21, 1985. <a href="https://t.co/zaUQ5VFi4L">https://t.co/zaUQ5VFi4L</a> <a href="https://t.co/ldQYoyM9bO">pic.twitter.com/ldQYoyM9bO</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1880295095087329545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Alternate plans were being devised to accommodate as many guests as possible. More than 250,000 guests are ticketed to view the inauguration from around the Capitol grounds and tens of thousands more were expected to be in general admission areas or to line the inaugural parade route from the Capitol to the White House.Trump said some supporters would be able to watch the ceremony from Washington’s Capital One Arena on Monday, a day after he plans to hold a rally there. He said he would visit the arena, which has a capacity of about 20,000, after his swearing-in, and host a modified inaugural parade there.Trump said other inaugural events, including the Sunday rally and his participation in three official inaugural balls on Monday night, would take place as scheduled.The U.S. Secret Service, which leads the security planning for the inauguration, said it was working with organizers to “adapt” its plans for the event due to the scheduling changes.The National Weather Service is predicting the temperature to be around 22 degrees (minus-6 Celsius) at noon during the swearing-in, the coldest since Reagan’s second inauguration saw temperatures plunge to 7 degrees (minus-14 Celsius). Barack Obama’s 2009 swearing-in was 28 degrees (minus-2 Celsius).“The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies will honor the request of the President-elect and his Presidential Inaugural Committee to move the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies inside the U.S. Capitol to the Rotunda," a spokesperson said Friday.The Capitol Rotunda was one of the areas breached during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection by supporters of Trump trying to block the certification of his 2020 defeat to Biden. The temporary inaugural platform, where Trump was to have been sworn-in outdoors, was the site of some of the most violent clashes between rioters and police officers trying to protect the Capitol complex.Earlier Friday, Trump's inaugural committee announced that, like his first inauguration, Trump would take the oath of office on a family Bible given to him by his mother as well as the Bible used by President Abraham Lincoln at his first inauguration in 1861. Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in on a family Bible given to him by his maternal great-grandmother.___

Moving Trump's swearing-in to Capitol Rotunda is a challenge 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Friday unanimously upheld the federal law banning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tiktok-china-speech-national-security-22d672d946b6b4065ae5fb7f3e0d8bed">TikTok</a>&nbsp;beginning Sunday unless it's sold by its China-based parent company,holding that the risk to national security posed by its ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech by the app or its 170 million users in the United States.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-656_ca7d.pdf">Click here to read the full ruling</a>

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2024/24-656">Click here to listen&nbsp;</a>to the court's oral argument from Jan. 10, 2024

A sale does not appear imminent and, although experts have said the app will not disappear from existing users' phones once the law takes effect on Jan. 19, new users won't be able to download it and updates won't be available. That will eventually render the app unworkable, the Justice Department has said in court filings.

The decision came against the backdrop of unusual political agitation by President-elect Donald Trump, who vowed that he could negotiate a solution and the administration of President Joe Biden, which has signaled it won't enforce the law beginning Sunday, his final full day in office.

Trump, mindful of TikTok’s popularity, and his own 14.7 million followers on the app, finds himself on the opposite side of the argument from prominent Senate Republicans who fault TikTok’s Chinese owner for not finding a buyer before now.

It’s unclear what options are open to Trump once he is sworn in as president on Monday. The law allowed for a 90-day pause in the restrictions on the app if there had been progress toward a sale before it took effect. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who defended the law at the Supreme Court for the Democratic Biden administration, told the justices last week that it's uncertain whether the prospect of a sale once the law is in effect could trigger a 90-day respite for TikTok.

At arguments, the justices were told by a lawyer for TikTok and ByteDance Ltd., the Chinese technology company that is its parent, how difficult it would be to consummate a deal, especially since Chinese law restricts the sale of the proprietary algorithm that has made the social media platform wildly successful.

The app allows users to watch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-kids-teens-use-addiction-03a2d63a21bc5c1c62910628deff0521">hundreds of videos</a>&nbsp;in about half an hour because some are only a few seconds long, according to a lawsuit filed last year by Kentucky complaining that TikTok is designed to be addictive and harms kids' mental health. Similar suits were filed by more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-lawsuit-youth-mental-health-2993f8e70d2e3d4eab9988df168fb948">a dozen states</a>. TikTok has called the claims inaccurate.

The dispute over TikTok's ties to China has come to embody the geopolitical competition between Washington and Beijing.

The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-censorship-us-data-240e11d9bb6212b0c9b1adab821e5005">sensitive information on viewing habits</a>, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect.

TikTok points out the U.S. has not presented evidence that China has attempted to manipulate content on its U.S. platform or gather American user data through TikTok.

Bipartisan majorities in Congress passed legislation, and President Joe Biden signed it into law in April. The law was the culmination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-timeline-ban-biden-india-d3219a32de913f8083612e71ecf1f428">a yearslong saga in Washington</a>&nbsp;over TikTok, which the government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-shou-zi-chew-8d8a6a9694357040d484670b7f4833be">sees as a national security threat</a>.

TikTok, which sued the government last year over the law, has long denied it could be used as a tool of Beijing. A three-judge panel made up of two Republican appointees and a Democratic appointee unanimously upheld the law in December, prompting TikTok’s quick appeal to the Supreme Court.

Without a sale to an approved buyer, the law bars app stores operated by Apple, Google and others from offering TikTok beginning on Sunday. Internet hosting services also will be prohibited from hosting TikTok.

ByteDance has said it won’t sell. But some investors have been eyeing it, including Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-mnuchin-house-senate-ffdf37776e63a09bb6966d741df7093b">former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin</a>&nbsp;and billionaire businessman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-mccourt-sale-bytedance-843d24334321f90bebeeac4b32896a9a">Frank McCourt</a>. McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative has said it and its unnamed partners have presented a proposal to ByteDance to acquire TikTok’s U.S. assets. The consortium, which includes “Shark Tank” host Kevin O’Leary, did not disclose the financial terms of the offer.

Prelogar told the justices last week that having the law take effect “might be just the jolt” ByteDance needs to reconsider its position.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737127605789.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Friday unanimously upheld the federal law banning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tiktok-china-speech-national-security-22d672d946b6b4065ae5fb7f3e0d8bed">TikTok</a>&nbsp;beginning Sunday unless it's sold by its China-based parent company,holding that the risk to national security posed by its ties to China overcomes concerns about limiting speech by the app or its 170 million users in the United States.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-656_ca7d.pdf">Click here to read the full ruling</a><a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2024/24-656">Click here to listen&nbsp;</a>to the court's oral argument from Jan. 10, 2024A sale does not appear imminent and, although experts have said the app will not disappear from existing users' phones once the law takes effect on Jan. 19, new users won't be able to download it and updates won't be available. That will eventually render the app unworkable, the Justice Department has said in court filings.The decision came against the backdrop of unusual political agitation by President-elect Donald Trump, who vowed that he could negotiate a solution and the administration of President Joe Biden, which has signaled it won't enforce the law beginning Sunday, his final full day in office.Trump, mindful of TikTok’s popularity, and his own 14.7 million followers on the app, finds himself on the opposite side of the argument from prominent Senate Republicans who fault TikTok’s Chinese owner for not finding a buyer before now.It’s unclear what options are open to Trump once he is sworn in as president on Monday. The law allowed for a 90-day pause in the restrictions on the app if there had been progress toward a sale before it took effect. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, who defended the law at the Supreme Court for the Democratic Biden administration, told the justices last week that it's uncertain whether the prospect of a sale once the law is in effect could trigger a 90-day respite for TikTok.At arguments, the justices were told by a lawyer for TikTok and ByteDance Ltd., the Chinese technology company that is its parent, how difficult it would be to consummate a deal, especially since Chinese law restricts the sale of the proprietary algorithm that has made the social media platform wildly successful.The app allows users to watch&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-kids-teens-use-addiction-03a2d63a21bc5c1c62910628deff0521">hundreds of videos</a>&nbsp;in about half an hour because some are only a few seconds long, according to a lawsuit filed last year by Kentucky complaining that TikTok is designed to be addictive and harms kids' mental health. Similar suits were filed by more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-lawsuit-youth-mental-health-2993f8e70d2e3d4eab9988df168fb948">a dozen states</a>. TikTok has called the claims inaccurate.The dispute over TikTok's ties to China has come to embody the geopolitical competition between Washington and Beijing.The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-censorship-us-data-240e11d9bb6212b0c9b1adab821e5005">sensitive information on viewing habits</a>, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect.TikTok points out the U.S. has not presented evidence that China has attempted to manipulate content on its U.S. platform or gather American user data through TikTok.Bipartisan majorities in Congress passed legislation, and President Joe Biden signed it into law in April. The law was the culmination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-timeline-ban-biden-india-d3219a32de913f8083612e71ecf1f428">a yearslong saga in Washington</a>&nbsp;over TikTok, which the government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-shou-zi-chew-8d8a6a9694357040d484670b7f4833be">sees as a national security threat</a>.TikTok, which sued the government last year over the law, has long denied it could be used as a tool of Beijing. A three-judge panel made up of two Republican appointees and a Democratic appointee unanimously upheld the law in December, prompting TikTok’s quick appeal to the Supreme Court.Without a sale to an approved buyer, the law bars app stores operated by Apple, Google and others from offering TikTok beginning on Sunday. Internet hosting services also will be prohibited from hosting TikTok.ByteDance has said it won’t sell. But some investors have been eyeing it, including Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-mnuchin-house-senate-ffdf37776e63a09bb6966d741df7093b">former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin</a>&nbsp;and billionaire businessman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-mccourt-sale-bytedance-843d24334321f90bebeeac4b32896a9a">Frank McCourt</a>. McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative has said it and its unnamed partners have presented a proposal to ByteDance to acquire TikTok’s U.S. assets. The consortium, which includes “Shark Tank” host Kevin O’Leary, did not disclose the financial terms of the offer.Prelogar told the justices last week that having the law take effect “might be just the jolt” ByteDance needs to reconsider its position.

Read the ruling: Supreme Court says TikTok can be shut down Sunday 

BUTLER COUNTY —One person was injured in an early Friday morning fire in Andover.

Just after 1 a.m. Friday, emergency personnel responded to a fire at the Sherwin-Williams plant, 630 East 13th Street, near Interstate35, according to a media release.

The fire occurred in one of the facility’s outbuildings and not the main plant. Crews first on the scene observed visible smoke but no active flames. The fire was contained within a steel tank.

 Firefighters, working closely with a chemist from Sherwin-Williams, took several hours to develop a plan for safely extinguishing the fire. Once the plan was in place, they successfully extinguished the fire in just 15 minutes at approximately 5:30 a.m.&nbsp;

The fire was contained within a steel tank throughout the event and involved hazardous materials. While the smoke produced was hazardous, it was carried away and dissipated by southern winds. 

There was no material runoff from the site, and no hazardous substances were released into the environment beyond the dissipating smoke.

One Sherwin-Williams employee sustained minor burns in which were treated at the scene, and the individual was released shortly thereafter.

Interstate 35 was temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure. 

The situation remains under investigation, and Andover Fire-Rescue is working closely with Sherwin-Williams to determine the cause of the fire. Andover Fire-Rescue remained on site to monitor the situation but there was and is no threat to the public.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737124323434.png" alt="Photo Andover Fire" />
 <figcaption>Photo Andover Fire</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —One person was injured in an early Friday morning fire in Andover.Just after 1 a.m. Friday, emergency personnel responded to a fire at the Sherwin-Williams plant, 630 East 13th Street, near Interstate35, according to a media release.The fire occurred in one of the facility’s outbuildings and not the main plant. Crews first on the scene observed visible smoke but no active flames. The fire was contained within a steel tank. Firefighters, working closely with a chemist from Sherwin-Williams, took several hours to develop a plan for safely extinguishing the fire. Once the plan was in place, they successfully extinguished the fire in just 15 minutes at approximately 5:30 a.m.&nbsp;The fire was contained within a steel tank throughout the event and involved hazardous materials. While the smoke produced was hazardous, it was carried away and dissipated by southern winds. There was no material runoff from the site, and no hazardous substances were released into the environment beyond the dissipating smoke.One Sherwin-Williams employee sustained minor burns in which were treated at the scene, and the individual was released shortly thereafter.Interstate 35 was temporarily shut down as a precautionary measure. The situation remains under investigation, and Andover Fire-Rescue is working closely with Sherwin-Williams to determine the cause of the fire. Andover Fire-Rescue remained on site to monitor the situation but there was and is no threat to the public.

Employee injured after fire at Sherwin-Williams plant in Kansas

Blueprint features aid for water, education, child-care and other priorities

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

TOPEKA — The proposed state budget crafted by Gov. Laura Kelly features a 2.5% pay raise for state employees, expands Medicaid eligibility for 150,000 lower-income Kansans and fully finances K-12 public education.

Kelly’s blueprint contained a $30 million surge in appropriations for water resource programs and called for appointment of a special task force to develop a 10-year plan for conserving the precious resource. She also proposed $10 million in matching grant funding to further spur expansion of child-care capacity statewide.

Adam Proffitt, the governor’s budget director, briefed the House and Senate budget committees Thursday on a budget outline that held base budget spending increases at 2%. The governor’s budget wouldn’t substantially deflate the robust balances of $1.2 billion in the general state treasury and $1.7 billion in a separate state emergency fund, he said.

“With the limited resources that we have available this year for enhancements, the governor has focused on high-impact policy areas,” Proffitt said.

In the governor’s State of the State speech on Wednesday night, she warned the Legislature not to push ahead with unsustainable tax reductions on heels of the 2024 law cutting $1.2 billion in taxes over three years. Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both Republicans, expressed keen interest in reducing property taxes through passage of legislation and a state constitutional amendment.

Kansas governors must adhere to a constitutional requirement to annually submit a balanced budget bill to the Legislature. This year, however, the Republican-led House and Senate worked in late 2024 on their own budget plan that has been introduced in bill form for consideration by the 2025 Legislature. It’s unclear whether state lawmakers would stick with their own plan by ignoring Kelly’s spending priorities.

The Legislature’s leadership has taken the unusual step of asking state agencies to prepare lists of potential budget cuts to match a 7.5% reduction in funding. Not since 2020 has the Kelly administration asked agencies under its direction to compile a roster of budget-cut targets.

“I’m a fiscal conservative, which is why, once again, I’m proposing a budget that is balanced, maintains fiscal stability in the future and ensures Kansans have access to the services their government has promised them,” Kelly said in a statement.

Her approach to the new budget recognized the state enjoyed several years of robust revenue collections, in part due to the surge of $1.6 billion in federal dollars, and the expectation state revenue growth would return to normal levels of 1.5% to 2% annually.

Proffitt said the governor endorsed a 2.5% pay adjustment for most state employees. The amount was designed to align with inflation and would cost the state treasury $37 million. A separate provision for state prison and hospital workers would permit 5% increases to incentivize recruitment and retention of staff.

“This body has recognized that state employees work hard,” Proffitt said.

Kelly’s outline didn’t include enhancements to address specific state government jobs that had fallen behind market rates, he said.

In terms of public education, Proffitt said the governor’s budget would for the seventh year fully fund K-12 schools — an achievement following decades of school-finance litigation. Her K-12 budget also included expenditure of $5.5 million to cover the cost of breakfast and lunch meals for 36,000 low-income students who currently paid a reduced rate of 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch at school.

Kelly proposed allocating $500,000 to waive the Advanced Placement exam fees for low-income students taking those pre-college tests.

The Democratic governor urged the Legislature to advance a multi-year plan that would bring the state into compliance with a law requiring the state to pay 92% of the extra cost borne by local school districts when educating students in special-education programs.

In 2024, the addition of $73 million in state aid brought the contribution percentage to 75%, leaving local school districts to absorb the remaining expense. Kelly said the Legislature should continue with this effort over four consecutive years to bring Kansas into compliance in the 2029 fiscal year.

The governor’s budget earmarked a $10 million, one-time appropriation for infrastructure and cybersecurity projects at public universities and community colleges.

Proffitt said the budget included $35 million promised by the Legislature for water resource investments. Kelly also suggested the state develop a 10-year program — modeled after the state highway programs — to bring better organize and direct water initiatives. She recommended appropriating $30 million in seed money to begin that effort and would pay for it by drawing upon interest earnings from the state’s rainy-day fund. That special fund generates about $70 million annually in interest income for the state.

Under the governor’s recommendations, the Legislature should vote to approve expansion of eligibility for Medicaid. Her idea would be to initiate benefits for about 150,000 Kansans on Jan. 1.

Due to legislative opposition in the past decade, Kansas remained among 10 states to not expand Medicaid offerings. Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Nebraska agreed to extend Medicaid services to secure additional federal resources.

“Kansas is quite literally an island. Kansas is one of three states west of the Mississippi that has not yet expanded Medicaid,” Proffitt said.

He said concerns about the state’s cost share were overblown because federal incentives would provide Kansas, if expansion occurred, with an additional $450 million in supplemental Medicaid funding. That influx of federal dollars to the state would pay for expansion costs for years, he said.

In addition, the governor’s budget included a request for $9 million for the Kansas Department for Children and Families to make up the loss of funds that have historically been redirected to the agency from foster children eligible for Social Security benefits. Instead of pulling that money into the state agency, Kelly signed an executive order directed the cash go into special accounts created for children in the foster care system.

Kelly’s budget didn’t include $114 million for construction of a new headquarters for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to replace administrative buildings in Topeka. KBI officials have asked the Legislature to appropriate funding to develop a more efficient and secure campus for the law enforcement agency.

Republican leaders of the Legislature indicated they wanted to end the 2025 session by mid-April, which would be before the state typically produced revised tax revenue forecasts. Typically, the session wraps up after publication of the adjusted revenue estimates to prevent lawmakers from overspending.

“I will say this is the first time in my five years as budget director that I’ve seen a proposal for sine die adjournment prior to April revenue estimates,” Proffitt said. “It would be beneficial, I think, to have a full picture of revenues.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737140155499.png" alt="Adam Proffitt, budget director for Gov. Laura Kelly, outlined for members of the Kansas Legislature the Democratic governor’s blueprint for a new state budget. The package included spending on schools, water and child-care priorities. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Adam Proffitt, budget director for Gov. Laura Kelly, outlined for members of the Kansas Legislature the Democratic governor’s blueprint for a new state budget. The package included spending on schools, water and child-care priorities. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Blueprint features aid for water, education, child-care and other priorities</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The proposed state budget crafted by Gov. Laura Kelly features a 2.5% pay raise for state employees, expands Medicaid eligibility for 150,000 lower-income Kansans and fully finances K-12 public education.Kelly’s blueprint contained a $30 million surge in appropriations for water resource programs and called for appointment of a special task force to develop a 10-year plan for conserving the precious resource. She also proposed $10 million in matching grant funding to further spur expansion of child-care capacity statewide.Adam Proffitt, the governor’s budget director, briefed the House and Senate budget committees Thursday on a budget outline that held base budget spending increases at 2%. The governor’s budget wouldn’t substantially deflate the robust balances of $1.2 billion in the general state treasury and $1.7 billion in a separate state emergency fund, he said.“With the limited resources that we have available this year for enhancements, the governor has focused on high-impact policy areas,” Proffitt said.In the governor’s State of the State speech on Wednesday night, she warned the Legislature not to push ahead with unsustainable tax reductions on heels of the 2024 law cutting $1.2 billion in taxes over three years. Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, both Republicans, expressed keen interest in reducing property taxes through passage of legislation and a state constitutional amendment.Kansas governors must adhere to a constitutional requirement to annually submit a balanced budget bill to the Legislature. This year, however, the Republican-led House and Senate worked in late 2024 on their own budget plan that has been introduced in bill form for consideration by the 2025 Legislature. It’s unclear whether state lawmakers would stick with their own plan by ignoring Kelly’s spending priorities.The Legislature’s leadership has taken the unusual step of asking state agencies to prepare lists of potential budget cuts to match a 7.5% reduction in funding. Not since 2020 has the Kelly administration asked agencies under its direction to compile a roster of budget-cut targets.“I’m a fiscal conservative, which is why, once again, I’m proposing a budget that is balanced, maintains fiscal stability in the future and ensures Kansans have access to the services their government has promised them,” Kelly said in a statement.Her approach to the new budget recognized the state enjoyed several years of robust revenue collections, in part due to the surge of $1.6 billion in federal dollars, and the expectation state revenue growth would return to normal levels of 1.5% to 2% annually.<h2>Pay hikes, education</h2>Proffitt said the governor endorsed a 2.5% pay adjustment for most state employees. The amount was designed to align with inflation and would cost the state treasury $37 million. A separate provision for state prison and hospital workers would permit 5% increases to incentivize recruitment and retention of staff.“This body has recognized that state employees work hard,” Proffitt said.Kelly’s outline didn’t include enhancements to address specific state government jobs that had fallen behind market rates, he said.In terms of public education, Proffitt said the governor’s budget would for the seventh year fully fund K-12 schools — an achievement following decades of school-finance litigation. Her K-12 budget also included expenditure of $5.5 million to cover the cost of breakfast and lunch meals for 36,000 low-income students who currently paid a reduced rate of 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch at school.Kelly proposed allocating $500,000 to waive the Advanced Placement exam fees for low-income students taking those pre-college tests.The Democratic governor urged the Legislature to advance a multi-year plan that would bring the state into compliance with a law requiring the state to pay 92% of the extra cost borne by local school districts when educating students in special-education programs.In 2024, the addition of $73 million in state aid brought the contribution percentage to 75%, leaving local school districts to absorb the remaining expense. Kelly said the Legislature should continue with this effort over four consecutive years to bring Kansas into compliance in the 2029 fiscal year.The governor’s budget earmarked a $10 million, one-time appropriation for infrastructure and cybersecurity projects at public universities and community colleges.Proffitt said the budget included $35 million promised by the Legislature for water resource investments. Kelly also suggested the state develop a 10-year program — modeled after the state highway programs — to bring better organize and direct water initiatives. She recommended appropriating $30 million in seed money to begin that effort and would pay for it by drawing upon interest earnings from the state’s rainy-day fund. That special fund generates about $70 million annually in interest income for the state.<h2>Medicaid expansion</h2>Under the governor’s recommendations, the Legislature should vote to approve expansion of eligibility for Medicaid. Her idea would be to initiate benefits for about 150,000 Kansans on Jan. 1.Due to legislative opposition in the past decade, Kansas remained among 10 states to not expand Medicaid offerings. Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Nebraska agreed to extend Medicaid services to secure additional federal resources.“Kansas is quite literally an island. Kansas is one of three states west of the Mississippi that has not yet expanded Medicaid,” Proffitt said.He said concerns about the state’s cost share were overblown because federal incentives would provide Kansas, if expansion occurred, with an additional $450 million in supplemental Medicaid funding. That influx of federal dollars to the state would pay for expansion costs for years, he said.In addition, the governor’s budget included a request for $9 million for the Kansas Department for Children and Families to make up the loss of funds that have historically been redirected to the agency from foster children eligible for Social Security benefits. Instead of pulling that money into the state agency, Kelly signed an executive order directed the cash go into special accounts created for children in the foster care system.Kelly’s budget didn’t include $114 million for construction of a new headquarters for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to replace administrative buildings in Topeka. KBI officials have asked the Legislature to appropriate funding to develop a more efficient and secure campus for the law enforcement agency.Republican leaders of the Legislature indicated they wanted to end the 2025 session by mid-April, which would be before the state typically produced revised tax revenue forecasts. Typically, the session wraps up after publication of the adjusted revenue estimates to prevent lawmakers from overspending.“I will say this is the first time in my five years as budget director that I’ve seen a proposal for sine die adjournment prior to April revenue estimates,” Proffitt said. “It would be beneficial, I think, to have a full picture of revenues.”

Gov. Laura Kelly presented new state budget to Republican-led House, Senate

LABETTE COUNTY —One person was injured in a crash during a police chase just before 10p.m. Thursday in Labette County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported law enforcement officers were in pursuit of a 1970 Chevy pickup driven by Randy E. Jackson, 50, Waco, Missouri, westbound at 24,080 Scott Road.

The pickup traveled off the road through the barb wire fence, a metal gate and continued across Scott Road. The vehicle&nbsp;struck the gate of a business and continued westbound into the parking lot where it struck a parked 2000 Ford pickup and overturned.

EMS transported Jackson to Mercy Hospital in Joplin. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

LABETTE COUNTY —One person was injured in a crash during a police chase just before 10p.m. Thursday in Labette County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported law enforcement officers were in pursuit of a 1970 Chevy pickup driven by Randy E. Jackson, 50, Waco, Missouri, westbound at 24,080 Scott Road.The pickup traveled off the road through the barb wire fence, a metal gate and continued across Scott Road. The vehicle&nbsp;struck the gate of a business and continued westbound into the parking lot where it struck a parked 2000 Ford pickup and overturned.EMS transported Jackson to Mercy Hospital in Joplin. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized after violent crash during Kan.  police chase

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City business owner tried to strike deputies and their vehicles with an 85,000-pound crane while they executed a court order Thursday morning.

August J. Baanders, 64, is now charged with interference with a legal process, a misdemeanor, according to the Clay County Sheriff.

The Clay County Circuit Court issued seven levy orders for all businesses under the LPG umbrella, owned by Baanders and his wife. (ref. case No. 23CY-CV01643) In a levy, the Sheriff’s Office is ordered to seize property so it may be sold to pay judgment in a civil case when the defendant fails to pay.

Just after 6a.m. Thursday, dozens of deputies arrived at LPG at 971 N. Jefferson Street in Kearney, Mo., at about 6 a.m. today to execute the levy. They blocked all of the entrances to the property. Evidence – to include footprints in the snow – showed the suspect parked a distance away and snuck onto the property.

At 6:55 a.m., three deputies blocking a gate saw a large construction crane driving toward them. (LPG manufactures propane tanks and had several items of heavy equipment on site.) All of the deputies were on foot outside of their vehicles. Deputies ordered the driver to stop multiple times, including flashing lights at him. Fearing for their safety, the deputies drew their weapons, at which point the crane stopped. It came within six inches of striking a patrol vehicle.

Baanders initially began to exit the crane, then he refused to come down the ladder. Deputies had to pull him off the ladder to take him into custody.

No one was hurt in the incident. Baanders is being held on a $2,500 bond. If he posts the bond, one of its conditions is that he cannot interfere with law enforcement executing the levy of his property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737068204063.png" alt="Photo Clay County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Clay County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City business owner tried to strike deputies and their vehicles with an 85,000-pound crane while they executed a court order Thursday morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737068112950.png" alt="Baanders-photo Clay County" />
 <figcaption>Baanders-photo Clay County</figcaption>
 </figure>August J. Baanders, 64, is now charged with interference with a legal process, a misdemeanor, according to the Clay County Sheriff.The Clay County Circuit Court issued seven levy orders for all businesses under the LPG umbrella, owned by Baanders and his wife. (ref. case No. 23CY-CV01643) In a levy, the Sheriff’s Office is ordered to seize property so it may be sold to pay judgment in a civil case when the defendant fails to pay.Just after 6a.m. Thursday, dozens of deputies arrived at LPG at 971 N. Jefferson Street in Kearney, Mo., at about 6 a.m. today to execute the levy. They blocked all of the entrances to the property. Evidence – to include footprints in the snow – showed the suspect parked a distance away and snuck onto the property.At 6:55 a.m., three deputies blocking a gate saw a large construction crane driving toward them. (LPG manufactures propane tanks and had several items of heavy equipment on site.) All of the deputies were on foot outside of their vehicles. Deputies ordered the driver to stop multiple times, including flashing lights at him. Fearing for their safety, the deputies drew their weapons, at which point the crane stopped. It came within six inches of striking a patrol vehicle.Baanders initially began to exit the crane, then he refused to come down the ladder. Deputies had to pull him off the ladder to take him into custody.No one was hurt in the incident. Baanders is being held on a $2,500 bond. If he posts the bond, one of its conditions is that he cannot interfere with law enforcement executing the levy of his property.

KC business owner threatens deputies with a construction crane

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Topeka resident Lanell Griffith urged senators Thursday to support a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap annual increases in appraised property values that result in higher tax bills.

Describing herself as a representative of “grassroots unpaid activists,” Griffith said past legislation that requires local officials to hold public meetings before raising property taxes was only a step in the right direction. She said she is subject to 10 taxing entities and finds it difficult to attend every meeting.

The Senate tax committee heard testimony from Griffith and others on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1603/" target="_blank">Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603</a>, which would cap annual increases in appraised value at 3%.

“With no cap on those increases, we citizens just have an unknown — I call it — theft,” Griffith said. “You already own it, and they’re just telling you you gotta pay more and more. We need to stop the hemorrhaging and increase transparency.”

The proposed resolution, co-sponsored by 18 Senate Republicans, requires approval from two-thirds of both the Senate and House members. If passed, it would place a constitutional amendment before voters on the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot.

If at least 50% of voters support the amendment, it would take effect Jan. 1., 2026.

The proposed cap would include exceptions for new construction and improvements to property, changes in property classifications, and when a property changes owners.

Sen. Ethan Corson, D-Fairway, raised a concern about the potential for two virtually identical properties on the same block to have different tax rates, depending on when the homes were purchased.

Other groups, including the teachers union, oppose the constitutional amendment because of the potential effects on public school funding, which is largely collected through a state-assessed mill levy.

The Kansas Farm Bureau opposed the constitutional amendment because it favors cutting the mill levy for schools instead.

But Republicans said constituents made it clear during last year’s election that property tax relief was a top priority.

“I wasn’t going to push this this year,” said Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican who chairs the committee. “I had told people the House isn’t going to move on it, ag people don’t want it, but there was enough push from our body, and I’m listening to them.”

Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, testified in support of the amendment. He said property tax relief was the No. 1 issue he heard about from voters when he knocked on doors during the campaign last year.

He said lawmakers should consider the strongest restrictions possible on property taxes.

“If we truly value liberty,” Thompson said, “property tax wouldn’t even exist.”

“We’re allowing the valuations of the appraiser to do the dirty work,” he added, while elected officials “can ostensibly say we didn’t raise your taxes.”

John Donley, lobbyist for Kansas Farm Bureau, said he agreed with the need for property tax relief and grew frustrated last year when Republican leadership and the Democratic governor were more interested in a tax relief package that primarily dealt with individual income.

He said he thought about the issue as he drove Thursday morning to testify at the Statehouse.

“I was like, welp, it’s the middle of January in an odd-numbered year — we’re here talking about how all we hear about is property taxes on the doorsteps,” Donley said. “This is my 10th election cycle that I’ve been working in this building, and this is what we do in January of odd-numbered years.”

The Kansas Farm Bureau is concerned that the annual cap would effectively shift the tax burden away from residential property, where values are skyrocketing, onto other classifications, such as agriculture.

Instead, Donley said, the state should lower the statewide mill levy.

“We just feel like this is the wrong tool,” Donley said. “This is truly a tax shift.”

Leah Fliter, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards, asked lawmakers to exercise caution when considering changes to tax policy.

“We oppose arbitrary limits on taxes and valuations because of the long-term impact on revenues for schools and other public services,” she said, quoting the organization’s member-adopted legislative policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737081675888.png" alt=" Topeka resident Lanell Griffith testifies Jan. 16, 2025, before the Senate tax committee. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Topeka resident Lanell Griffith testifies Jan. 16, 2025, before the Senate tax committee. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Topeka resident Lanell Griffith urged senators Thursday to support a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap annual increases in appraised property values that result in higher tax bills.Describing herself as a representative of “grassroots unpaid activists,” Griffith said past legislation that requires local officials to hold public meetings before raising property taxes was only a step in the right direction. She said she is subject to 10 taxing entities and finds it difficult to attend every meeting.The Senate tax committee heard testimony from Griffith and others on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1603/" target="_blank">Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603</a>, which would cap annual increases in appraised value at 3%.“With no cap on those increases, we citizens just have an unknown — I call it — theft,” Griffith said. “You already own it, and they’re just telling you you gotta pay more and more. We need to stop the hemorrhaging and increase transparency.”The proposed resolution, co-sponsored by 18 Senate Republicans, requires approval from two-thirds of both the Senate and House members. If passed, it would place a constitutional amendment before voters on the Nov. 4, 2025, ballot.If at least 50% of voters support the amendment, it would take effect Jan. 1., 2026.The proposed cap would include exceptions for new construction and improvements to property, changes in property classifications, and when a property changes owners.Sen. Ethan Corson, D-Fairway, raised a concern about the potential for two virtually identical properties on the same block to have different tax rates, depending on when the homes were purchased.Other groups, including the teachers union, oppose the constitutional amendment because of the potential effects on public school funding, which is largely collected through a state-assessed mill levy.The Kansas Farm Bureau opposed the constitutional amendment because it favors cutting the mill levy for schools instead.But Republicans said constituents made it clear during last year’s election that property tax relief was a top priority.“I wasn’t going to push this this year,” said Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican who chairs the committee. “I had told people the House isn’t going to move on it, ag people don’t want it, but there was enough push from our body, and I’m listening to them.”Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, testified in support of the amendment. He said property tax relief was the No. 1 issue he heard about from voters when he knocked on doors during the campaign last year.He said lawmakers should consider the strongest restrictions possible on property taxes.“If we truly value liberty,” Thompson said, “property tax wouldn’t even exist.”“We’re allowing the valuations of the appraiser to do the dirty work,” he added, while elected officials “can ostensibly say we didn’t raise your taxes.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737081651056.png" alt="John Donley, lobbyist for Kansas Farm Bureau, answers questions from the Senate tax committee on Jan. 16, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>John Donley, lobbyist for Kansas Farm Bureau, answers questions from the Senate tax committee on Jan. 16, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>John Donley, lobbyist for Kansas Farm Bureau, said he agreed with the need for property tax relief and grew frustrated last year when Republican leadership and the Democratic governor were more interested in a tax relief package that primarily dealt with individual income.He said he thought about the issue as he drove Thursday morning to testify at the Statehouse.“I was like, welp, it’s the middle of January in an odd-numbered year — we’re here talking about how all we hear about is property taxes on the doorsteps,” Donley said. “This is my 10th election cycle that I’ve been working in this building, and this is what we do in January of odd-numbered years.”The Kansas Farm Bureau is concerned that the annual cap would effectively shift the tax burden away from residential property, where values are skyrocketing, onto other classifications, such as agriculture.Instead, Donley said, the state should lower the statewide mill levy.“We just feel like this is the wrong tool,” Donley said. “This is truly a tax shift.”Leah Fliter, a lobbyist for the Kansas Association of School Boards, asked lawmakers to exercise caution when considering changes to tax policy.“We oppose arbitrary limits on taxes and valuations because of the long-term impact on revenues for schools and other public services,” she said, quoting the organization’s member-adopted legislative policy.

Kansas Senate considers constitutional amendment to cap taxable property values

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a June 4, homicide is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Friday.

Jeremiah Walker, 23 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.

Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.

On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide.&nbsp;

On June 12, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested Walker, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718212493808.png" alt="Walker -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Walker -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a June 4, homicide is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Friday.Jeremiah Walker, 23 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide.&nbsp;On June 12, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested Walker, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

Kan. murder suspect captured after 6-day search due back in court

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;announced Friday that he was commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, using his final days in office on a flurry of clemency actions meant to nullify prison terms he deemed too harsh.

The recent round of clemency gives Biden the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued. The Democrat said he is seeking to undo “disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.”

“Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” Biden said in a statement. “This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.”

The White House did not immediately release the names of those receiving commutations.

Still, Biden said more could yet be coming, promising to use the time before President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is inaugurated Monday to “continue to review additional commutations and pardons.”

Friday's action follows&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pardons-clemency-4432002d67334e6716c2776fd73f3cc8">Biden's commutations last month</a>&nbsp;of the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the pardoning of 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. That was the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.

All of this comes as Biden continues to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-hunter-pardon-president-trump-e2d0ce366c6980cd31c6717edbc9938a">weigh whether to issue sweeping pardons</a>&nbsp;for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-enemies-from-within-5c4a34776469a55e71d3ba4d4e68cf62">targeted by Trump’s</a>&nbsp;administration. Though presidential pardoning powers are absolute, such a preemptive move would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power.

Last month, Biden also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/23/fact-sheet-president-biden-commutes-the-sentences-of-37-individuals-on-death-row/">commuted the sentences</a>&nbsp;of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. Trump has vowed to roll back that order after his term begins.

Biden also recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-hunter-biden-pardon-son-9307d6bade834df77c265cae7d3b7c25">pardoned his son Hunter</a>, not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses.

If history is any guide, meanwhile, Biden also is likely to issue more targeted pardons to help allies before leaving the White House, as presidents typically do in some of their final actions.

Just before midnight on the final night of his first term, Trump, a Republican, signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-bannon-trump-pardons-broidy-66c82f25134735e742b2501c118723bb">flurry of pardons</a>&nbsp;and commutations for more than 140 people, including his former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black and ex-members of Congress.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;announced Friday that he was commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, using his final days in office on a flurry of clemency actions meant to nullify prison terms he deemed too harsh.The recent round of clemency gives Biden the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued. The Democrat said he is seeking to undo “disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, I&#39;m commuting the sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted of non-violent drug offenses. This is an important step toward righting historic wrongs and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their communities after far too much time behind bars. <a href="https://t.co/q7mtuyWKl2">pic.twitter.com/q7mtuyWKl2</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1880228578396368918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” Biden said in a statement. “This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.”The White House did not immediately release the names of those receiving commutations.Still, Biden said more could yet be coming, promising to use the time before President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is inaugurated Monday to “continue to review additional commutations and pardons.”Friday's action follows&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pardons-clemency-4432002d67334e6716c2776fd73f3cc8">Biden's commutations last month</a>&nbsp;of the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the pardoning of 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. That was the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.All of this comes as Biden continues to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-hunter-pardon-president-trump-e2d0ce366c6980cd31c6717edbc9938a">weigh whether to issue sweeping pardons</a>&nbsp;for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-enemies-from-within-5c4a34776469a55e71d3ba4d4e68cf62">targeted by Trump’s</a>&nbsp;administration. Though presidential pardoning powers are absolute, such a preemptive move would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power.Last month, Biden also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/23/fact-sheet-president-biden-commutes-the-sentences-of-37-individuals-on-death-row/">commuted the sentences</a>&nbsp;of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. Trump has vowed to roll back that order after his term begins.Biden also recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-hunter-biden-pardon-son-9307d6bade834df77c265cae7d3b7c25">pardoned his son Hunter</a>, not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses.If history is any guide, meanwhile, Biden also is likely to issue more targeted pardons to help allies before leaving the White House, as presidents typically do in some of their final actions.Just before midnight on the final night of his first term, Trump, a Republican, signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-bannon-trump-pardons-broidy-66c82f25134735e742b2501c118723bb">flurry of pardons</a>&nbsp;and commutations for more than 140 people, including his former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black and ex-members of Congress.

History: Biden granting clemency for nearly 2,500 non-violent drug offenders

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22GEOFF%20MULVIHILL%20and%20LINDSAY%20WHITEHURST%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By GEOFF MULVIHILL and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press</a>

The Texas judge who previously halted approval of the nation’s most common method of abortion ruled Thursday that three states can move ahead with another attempt to roll back federal rules and make it harder for people across the U.S. to access the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mifepristone-abortion-pill-supreme-court-1d2221251197a391c9bca833918e4554">abortion drug mifepristone</a>.

Idaho, Kansas and Missouri requested late last year to pursue the case in federal court in Amarillo, Texas, after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a narrow ruling finding that abortion opponents who first filed the case lacked the legal right to sue.

The only federal judge based in Amarillo is Matthew Kacsmaryk, a nominee of former President Donald Trump who in recent years ruled against the Biden administration on several issues, including immigration and LGBTQ protections.

The states want the federal Food and Drug Administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifespristone-state-lawsuit-f03bfe0d9b9fc04e4c8b01a1c6d16851">prohibit telehealth prescriptions</a>&nbsp;for mifepristone and require that it be used only in the first seven weeks of pregnancy instead of the current limit of 10 weeks. They also want to require three in-person doctor office visits instead of none to get the drug.

That's because, the states argue, efforts to provide access to the pills “undermine state abortion laws and frustrate state law enforcement,” according to court documents.

Meanwhile, Kacsmaryk said they shouldn't be automatically discounted from suing in Texas just because they're outside the state.

The American Civil Liberties Union said Thursday that the case should have been settled when the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously preserved access to mifepristone last year, where the justices issued a narrow ruling finding that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;opponents who first filed the case lacked the legal right to sue.

Kacsmaryk’s decision “has left the door open for extremist politicians to continue attacking medication abortion in his courtroom," the ACLU said.

The ruling comes days before Trump begins his second term as president, so his administration will likely be representing the FDA in the case. Trump has repeatedly said abortion is an issue for the states, not the federal government, though he’s also stressed on the campaign trail that he appointed justices to the Supreme Court who were in the majority when striking down the national right to abortion in 2022.

In the years since, abortion opponents have increasingly targeted abortion pills, largely due to most U.S. abortions being carried out using drugs rather than through surgical procedures. So far, at least four states — Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire and Tennessee — have seen Republicans introduce bills aimed at banning pills. None take the same approach as Louisiana, which last year classified the drugs as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-louisiana-misoprostol-pregnancy-mifepristone-69a52fcdb711a833ae14edf6f56afc0c">controlled dangerous substances</a>.

Previously, Kacsmaryk sided with a group of anti-abortion doctors and organizations that wanted the FDA to be forced to rescind entirely its approval of mifepristone in 2000.

Yet the states are pursuing a narrower challenge. Rather than target the approval entirely, they sought to undo a series of FDA updates that have eased access.

But while the states’ leaders are pushing to severely limit access to the drugs, voters in Missouri sent a different message in November when they approved a ballot measure to undo one of the nation’s strictest bans. In Idaho, abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy. In Kansas, abortion is generally legal up until the 22nd week of pregnancy.

Across the U.S., 13 states under Republican legislative control bar abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions, and four more ban it after the first six weeks — before women often know they’re pregnant.

Some Democratic-controlled states have adopted laws seeking to shield from investigations and prosecutions the doctors who prescribe the pills via telehealth appointments and mail them to patients in states with bans. Those prescriptions are a major reason&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-numbers-telehealth-wecount-pills-bans-663be20ac1a40345ec5c8fe23ab43a60">a study found</a>&nbsp;that residents of states with bans are getting abortions in about the same numbers as they were before the bans were in place.

Mifepristone is usually used in combination with a second drug for medication abortion, which has accounted for more than three-fifths of all abortions in the U.S. since the Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measure-court-roe-anniversary-b136c17b7c680a2702f12a4735a3f226">ruling overturning Roe v. Wade</a>.

The drugs are different than Plan B and other emergency contraceptives that are usually taken within three days after possible conception, weeks before women know they’re pregnant.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mifepristone-abortion-pill-supreme-court-1d2221251197a391c9bca833918e4554">Studies have found</a>&nbsp;they’re generally safe and result in completed abortions more than 97% of the time, which is less effective than procedural abortions.

Whitehurst reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="Photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22GEOFF%20MULVIHILL%20and%20LINDSAY%20WHITEHURST%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By GEOFF MULVIHILL and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press</a>The Texas judge who previously halted approval of the nation’s most common method of abortion ruled Thursday that three states can move ahead with another attempt to roll back federal rules and make it harder for people across the U.S. to access the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mifepristone-abortion-pill-supreme-court-1d2221251197a391c9bca833918e4554">abortion drug mifepristone</a>.Idaho, Kansas and Missouri requested late last year to pursue the case in federal court in Amarillo, Texas, after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a narrow ruling finding that abortion opponents who first filed the case lacked the legal right to sue.The only federal judge based in Amarillo is Matthew Kacsmaryk, a nominee of former President Donald Trump who in recent years ruled against the Biden administration on several issues, including immigration and LGBTQ protections.The states want the federal Food and Drug Administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-mifespristone-state-lawsuit-f03bfe0d9b9fc04e4c8b01a1c6d16851">prohibit telehealth prescriptions</a>&nbsp;for mifepristone and require that it be used only in the first seven weeks of pregnancy instead of the current limit of 10 weeks. They also want to require three in-person doctor office visits instead of none to get the drug.That's because, the states argue, efforts to provide access to the pills “undermine state abortion laws and frustrate state law enforcement,” according to court documents.Meanwhile, Kacsmaryk said they shouldn't be automatically discounted from suing in Texas just because they're outside the state.The American Civil Liberties Union said Thursday that the case should have been settled when the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously preserved access to mifepristone last year, where the justices issued a narrow ruling finding that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;opponents who first filed the case lacked the legal right to sue.Kacsmaryk’s decision “has left the door open for extremist politicians to continue attacking medication abortion in his courtroom," the ACLU said.The ruling comes days before Trump begins his second term as president, so his administration will likely be representing the FDA in the case. Trump has repeatedly said abortion is an issue for the states, not the federal government, though he’s also stressed on the campaign trail that he appointed justices to the Supreme Court who were in the majority when striking down the national right to abortion in 2022.In the years since, abortion opponents have increasingly targeted abortion pills, largely due to most U.S. abortions being carried out using drugs rather than through surgical procedures. So far, at least four states — Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire and Tennessee — have seen Republicans introduce bills aimed at banning pills. None take the same approach as Louisiana, which last year classified the drugs as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pill-louisiana-misoprostol-pregnancy-mifepristone-69a52fcdb711a833ae14edf6f56afc0c">controlled dangerous substances</a>.Previously, Kacsmaryk sided with a group of anti-abortion doctors and organizations that wanted the FDA to be forced to rescind entirely its approval of mifepristone in 2000.Yet the states are pursuing a narrower challenge. Rather than target the approval entirely, they sought to undo a series of FDA updates that have eased access.But while the states’ leaders are pushing to severely limit access to the drugs, voters in Missouri sent a different message in November when they approved a ballot measure to undo one of the nation’s strictest bans. In Idaho, abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy. In Kansas, abortion is generally legal up until the 22nd week of pregnancy.Across the U.S., 13 states under Republican legislative control bar abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with some exceptions, and four more ban it after the first six weeks — before women often know they’re pregnant.Some Democratic-controlled states have adopted laws seeking to shield from investigations and prosecutions the doctors who prescribe the pills via telehealth appointments and mail them to patients in states with bans. Those prescriptions are a major reason&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-numbers-telehealth-wecount-pills-bans-663be20ac1a40345ec5c8fe23ab43a60">a study found</a>&nbsp;that residents of states with bans are getting abortions in about the same numbers as they were before the bans were in place.Mifepristone is usually used in combination with a second drug for medication abortion, which has accounted for more than three-fifths of all abortions in the U.S. since the Supreme Court’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measure-court-roe-anniversary-b136c17b7c680a2702f12a4735a3f226">ruling overturning Roe v. Wade</a>.The drugs are different than Plan B and other emergency contraceptives that are usually taken within three days after possible conception, weeks before women know they’re pregnant.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mifepristone-abortion-pill-supreme-court-1d2221251197a391c9bca833918e4554">Studies have found</a>&nbsp;they’re generally safe and result in completed abortions more than 97% of the time, which is less effective than procedural abortions.__Whitehurst reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee, contributed.

Judge rules Kansas can pick up legal fight against abortion pill

WASHINGTON —Vice President Kamala Harris marking the final days in the Biden administration added her signature to the desk drawer in her ceremonial office on Tuesday. 

This is a tradition carried on by presidents and vice presidents since the 1940s.

WASHINGTON —Vice President Kamala Harris marking the final days in the Biden administration added her signature to the desk drawer in her ceremonial office on Tuesday. <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Vice President Kamala Harris adds her signature to the desk drawer in her ceremonial office, following a long tradition of outgoing vice presidents. <a href="https://t.co/EhHjG5ZY0P">pic.twitter.com/EhHjG5ZY0P</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1880012806973493719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>This is a tradition carried on by presidents and vice presidents since the 1940s.

Harris joins a decades-old tradition for vice presidents

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating one of three homicides that occurred on Tuesday in Kansas City have identified another victim as 36-year-old Colton J Stock, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Just after 4:30p.m. police were dispatched to the 3900 block of N Lister Avenue on a reported shooting disturbance. Upon arrival, officers located a victim, later identified as Stock, lying outside of a nearby residence suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased, according to Officer Gonzalez.

Officers located another adult male victim inside of the home suffering from gunshot trauma who was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting may have started over an argument. Police are working to determine the relationship between both shooting victims and identify a person of interest.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737066538204.png" alt="Police on the scene Tuesday -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene Tuesday -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating one of three homicides that occurred on Tuesday in Kansas City have identified another victim as 36-year-old Colton J Stock, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Just after 4:30p.m. police were dispatched to the 3900 block of N Lister Avenue on a reported shooting disturbance. Upon arrival, officers located a victim, later identified as Stock, lying outside of a nearby residence suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS transported him to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased, according to Officer Gonzalez.Officers located another adult male victim inside of the home suffering from gunshot trauma who was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting may have started over an argument. Police are working to determine the relationship between both shooting victims and identify a person of interest.&nbsp;

Police ID victim in deadly Kansas City gun fight

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2481/Jerome-Davis-Complaint-Packet-REDACTED">charged with 10 felonies</a>&nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting near the 3100 block of Elmwood Ave. in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

Jerome L. Davis faces Murder in the 2nd Degree, four counts of Armed Criminal Action, Assault in the 1st Degree, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Tampering with a Motor Vehicle in the 1st Degree, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2480/Davis_Jerome---PC-Statement_Redacted_FINAL">According to court records</a>, on January 1, 2025, officers were dispatched to the area of Elmwood Avenue near 31st Street where they located four parties at a residence, two of whom were suffering from gunshot wounds. The first victim was declared deceased, and the other was sent to a nearby hospital for a gunshot wound to his arm.&nbsp;

Witnesses told detectives they were celebrating at a New Years Eve party at the residence when they saw the defendant load his 9mm handgun in the living room and shoot the victims. Then, witnesses said they saw the defendant pull out of the driveway in the vehicle the deceased victim arrived in.

Detectives conducted a computer search of the defendant after witnesses told them he had just been released from prison, and they found he was on federal house arrest. Contact was made with his probation officer who advised the defendant was wearing an ankle monitor GPS device, which indicated him to be at the residence at the time of the shooting.&nbsp;

When detectives conducted a search warrant of the defendant’s residence, they found multiple shell casings consisting of the same calibers that were recovered from the original crime scene.

In a statement to detectives, the defendant said he was present at the party, but was not aware of a homicide, did not feel threatened or engage in any arguments, and got a ride home with an unknown individual. &nbsp;

The defendant is being held on no bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736998125701.png" alt="Davis has a previous conviction for flee and elude law enforcement- photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Davis has a previous conviction for flee and elude law enforcement- photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2481/Jerome-Davis-Complaint-Packet-REDACTED">charged with 10 felonies</a>&nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting near the 3100 block of Elmwood Ave. in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736956567240.jpeg" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation New Year's Day" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation New Year's Day</figcaption>
 </figure>Jerome L. Davis faces Murder in the 2nd Degree, four counts of Armed Criminal Action, Assault in the 1st Degree, two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Tampering with a Motor Vehicle in the 1st Degree, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2480/Davis_Jerome---PC-Statement_Redacted_FINAL">According to court records</a>, on January 1, 2025, officers were dispatched to the area of Elmwood Avenue near 31st Street where they located four parties at a residence, two of whom were suffering from gunshot wounds. The first victim was declared deceased, and the other was sent to a nearby hospital for a gunshot wound to his arm.&nbsp;Witnesses told detectives they were celebrating at a New Years Eve party at the residence when they saw the defendant load his 9mm handgun in the living room and shoot the victims. Then, witnesses said they saw the defendant pull out of the driveway in the vehicle the deceased victim arrived in.Detectives conducted a computer search of the defendant after witnesses told them he had just been released from prison, and they found he was on federal house arrest. Contact was made with his probation officer who advised the defendant was wearing an ankle monitor GPS device, which indicated him to be at the residence at the time of the shooting.&nbsp;When detectives conducted a search warrant of the defendant’s residence, they found multiple shell casings consisting of the same calibers that were recovered from the original crime scene.In a statement to detectives, the defendant said he was present at the party, but was not aware of a homicide, did not feel threatened or engage in any arguments, and got a ride home with an unknown individual. &nbsp;The defendant is being held on no bond.&nbsp;

Kansas felon charged for killing at New Year's party 

Scott Bessent, The billionaire money manager from South Carolina took questions from members of the Senate Finance Committee including Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, during his confirmation hearing Thursday.

On social media Marshall wrote, "Scott Bessent, our next Secretary of Treasury, is committed to delivering prosperity to all Americans, including in small-town America."

Before the hearing began, Bessent walked around the room shaking hands with senators before being seated.

Republican Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo opened Bessent’s confirmation hearing, telling him: “It’s clear you followed applicable law and provided thousands of pages of documentation that substantiate your positions.”

“President Trump made an excellent choice in nominating you for Secretary of Treasury,” Crapo told Bessent.

Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden says voters won’t get the change they voted for in Bessent or Trump

“In a Trump economy, the winner’s circle is small,” Wyden, a ranking member of the committee said in his opening statement.

To bring in revenues, Wyden said the Trump administration “will be offering across the board tariffs,” he said “trillions of dollars in new taxes paid for by working Americans.”

Wyden brought up the IRS’s new Direct File system — where taxpayers can file their taxes directly to the IRS for free — and the threat it faces to be defunded.

“The software giants want Direct File killed. Republicans are on their side, so they might get their way. It could cost American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars this year alone,” he said.

Bessent talked about his background, growing up in South Carolina and getting involved in finance

“We must work to get our fiscal house in order,” Bessent said in his opening statement. “As we begin 2025, Americans are barreling towards an economic crisis towards year end.”

He called for an extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

“For too long, our nation has allowed unfair distortions in the international trade system,” he said.

Sen. Wyden’s first question to Bessent was about the future of the Direct File system

Wyden asked him if would preserve the program, adding that millions of taxpayers would be eligible for it.

“Will you commit to keeping Direct File up and running?” Wyden asked.

“I will commit for this tax season that Direct File will be operative,” Bessent responded. “If confirmed I will consult and study the program.”

Bessent says the nation has a spending problem

Sen. Chuck Grassley brought out a poster that argues “revenues are historically steady regardless of marginal tax rates.”

Bessent responded: “We do not have a revenue problem in the U.S. we have a spending problem.”

Sen. John Cornyn asks about US investments in China and Bessent’s view on transparency requirements

The Treasury secretary serves as the chair of the CFIUS committee which screens foreign investments inside the U.S. as well as U.S. investments in China.

Scott Bessent, The billionaire money manager from South Carolina took questions from members of the Senate Finance Committee including Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, during his confirmation hearing Thursday.On social media Marshall wrote, "Scott Bessent, our next Secretary of Treasury, is committed to delivering prosperity to all Americans, including in small-town America."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WATCH: Scott Bessent, our next Secretary of Treasury, is committed to delivering prosperity to all Americans, including in small-town America. <a href="https://t.co/BsQHMNEE8x">pic.twitter.com/BsQHMNEE8x</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1880005643962290601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Before the hearing began, Bessent walked around the room shaking hands with senators before being seated.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Treasury Secretary Nominee Scott Bessent Opening Statement <a href="https://t.co/G1OHeFYYzS">pic.twitter.com/G1OHeFYYzS</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1879951306661462097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Republican Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo opened Bessent’s confirmation hearing, telling him: “It’s clear you followed applicable law and provided thousands of pages of documentation that substantiate your positions.”“President Trump made an excellent choice in nominating you for Secretary of Treasury,” Crapo told Bessent.<h2>Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden says voters won’t get the change they voted for in Bessent or Trump</h2>“In a Trump economy, the winner’s circle is small,” Wyden, a ranking member of the committee said in his opening statement.To bring in revenues, Wyden said the Trump administration “will be offering across the board tariffs,” he said “trillions of dollars in new taxes paid for by working Americans.”Wyden brought up the IRS’s new Direct File system — where taxpayers can file their taxes directly to the IRS for free — and the threat it faces to be defunded.“The software giants want Direct File killed. Republicans are on their side, so they might get their way. It could cost American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars this year alone,” he said.<h2>Bessent talked about his background, growing up in South Carolina and getting involved in finance</h2>“We must work to get our fiscal house in order,” Bessent said in his opening statement. “As we begin 2025, Americans are barreling towards an economic crisis towards year end.”He called for an extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.“For too long, our nation has allowed unfair distortions in the international trade system,” he said.<h2>Sen. Wyden’s first question to Bessent was about the future of the Direct File system</h2>Wyden asked him if would preserve the program, adding that millions of taxpayers would be eligible for it.“Will you commit to keeping Direct File up and running?” Wyden asked.“I will commit for this tax season that Direct File will be operative,” Bessent responded. “If confirmed I will consult and study the program.”<h2>Bessent says the nation has a spending problem</h2>Sen. Chuck Grassley brought out a poster that argues “revenues are historically steady regardless of marginal tax rates.”Bessent responded: “We do not have a revenue problem in the U.S. we have a spending problem.”<h2>Sen. John Cornyn asks about US investments in China and Bessent’s view on transparency requirements</h2>The Treasury secretary serves as the chair of the CFIUS committee which screens foreign investments inside the U.S. as well as U.S. investments in China.Bessent said China “has the most unbalanced economy in the history in the world,” and “we should have a very rigorous screening process for anything that could be used, in AI, quantum computing, and chips.”<h2>Bessent says Social Security and Medicare funding ‘would not be touched’</h2>Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who’s co-sponsored a bipartisan bill related to preserving the solvency of Social Security, asked whether Bessent would touch Social Security or Medicare funding.“Those would not be touched,” Bessent said. “One of the tragedies of the blowout of the budget deficit is we need to get our short term house in order.”<h2>The Biden administration’s sanctions on Russia aren’t aggressive enough, Bessent says</h2>“The tragedy going on in Ukraine is one of the greatest tragedies of my adult life,” Bessent said.He said the Biden administration’s sanctions weren’t strong enough.“I believe the previous administration was worried about raising U.S. energy prices during an election season and I’m perplexed to see National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on his way out the door raising the sanctions level on Russian oil companies.”<h2>Bessent asked if he believes the Federal Reserve should be independent</h2>In response, Bessent: “Of course and I actually believe the notion that I said President Trump should have influence comes from a highly inaccurate WSJ article.”Asked by Republican Sen. Todd Young about conducting an impartial review of the Nippon Steel deal, Bessent said: “President Trump has also most recently spoken out against the deal.”“It is currently in litigation. If it reappears, CFIUS will conduct the same review it always does.”<h2>Would Bessent recommend cutting Medicaid?</h2>When asked whether he’d recommend cutting Medicaid, Bessent stammered slightly and said “I am in favor of empowering states. In some states that will be an increase and some states that will be a decrease.”Asked whether he would recommend cuts to Head Start, Bessent declined to answer and said “I don’t understand the budget ramifications.”<h2>Sen. Bernie Sanders asks Bessent about Biden’s claim of an oligarchy</h2>Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders, a new member of the Senate Finance Committee, asked Bessent about wealth inequality and started with a speech about the concentration of ownership of the media and the information Americans receive.“Would you agree with President Biden that an oligarchy is taking shape in America?” Sanders asked.“The billionaires you listed make the money themselves,” Bessent said. “I would note that President Biden gave a presidential medal of freedom to people who qualify” for Biden’s definition of an oligarch, Bessent added.<h2>For the first time in the hearing, Bessent’s sexual orientation is brought up</h2>It was when Bessent said that at 17 years old, he wanted to attend the U.S. Naval Academy but couldn’t because of his sexual preference.“President Trump chose me, “Bessent said, for Treasury Secretary, “not because of my sexual preference,” but because of his qualifications. “I think it is a tribute to President Trump. He looks at people as people.”If confirmed, Bessent would be the first openly gay treasury secretary.<h2>Bessent talks about central bank digital currencies</h2>Asked by Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn about his view on central bank digital currencies, known as CBDCs, and whether he’d continue the Biden administration’s project of looking into the viability of the U.S. implementing a CBDC, Bessent said: "I see no reason for the U.S. to have a central bank digital currency. In my mind a central bank digital currency is for countries that have no other alternatives; many of these countries are doing it out of necessity.”<h2>Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse brings up analysis of Bessent’s personal taxes and possible conflicts of interest</h2>“We are up to date on all of our taxes,” Bessent said, adding he would shutter his firm if confirmed, to avoid potential conflicts of interest.<h2>Bessent voiced support for Trump’s promise of no taxes on tips and Social Security</h2>And he said he supports “making auto loans tax deductible once again.”Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren asked whether Bessent thinks the statutory debt limit should be repealed. Both she and President-elect Trump have called for eliminating the debt limit.Bessent said in response that if Trump wants to eliminate the debt limit, “I will work with him.”“The U.S. is not going to default on its debt if I’m confirmed,” he said.In his closing remarks, Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo said he’ll encourage other lawmakers to advance Bessent’s nomination.-The Associated Press contributed to this report