BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill that would require kindergarteners to be potty trained before starting school, pulling the decision-making power about how to handle those students away from school districts.

The House bill was introduced to reduce distractions in classrooms, supporters say. Opponents worry it would create a barrier for vulnerable children to access education, and argue the decision should be left to school districts.

The bill was one of three the House Education Committee heard Thursday, along with two others regarding state-funded scholarships.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2486/" target="_blank">House Bill 2486</a>&nbsp;would require school districts to get written assurance from parents that their child is potty trained before enrolling in school. School districts would have to figure out next steps if a child isn’t potty trained, such as whether they should refer additional support, appoint someone to help potty train the student, or remove the student from the school.&nbsp;

Rep. Sherri Brantley, a Republican from Great Bend, introduced the bill.&nbsp;

“When classrooms are not pulled off task for routine hygiene emergencies, teachers can protect instructional time — a critical driver of achievement — and students benefit from consistent, uninterrupted learning,” Brantley said.&nbsp;

The bill acknowledges that accidents happen — especially with kindergarteners ages 5-7 — and defines potty trained as when “accidents happen with such frequency as to impact the educational experience of the student or the student’s peers.” Students would need to be able to tell adults when they need to use the restroom, and use it without assistance from an adult.&nbsp;

Students with individualized education programs or a 504 plan, which are programs designed to help students with disabilities, or medical conditions would be exempt.&nbsp;

“This bill is not about denying access to education,” Brantley said. “It’s about early support and intervention so every child can start kindergarten safely, confidently, and ready to learn by setting a clear readiness expectation while also establishing compassionate pathways for families who need help.”&nbsp;

Opponents worry the bill would deny access to education, especially for vulnerable children.

“Lack of toilet training at age 5 is often a red flag for developmental delay, autism, or other medical conditions,” said Kimberly Martin, the legislative chair for&nbsp; Kansas School Nurses Organization. “By denying enrollment because of this symptom, the district is effectively punishing a child for a potential disability before it has been identified.”

Other opponents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_ed_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_ed_1_20260129_07_testimony.html" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;foster children often experience significant trauma before starting school, which can make it difficult to potty train.

“The more kids we have held out of kindergarten for toileting issues, the more kids we have at risk of not getting to where we want them to be in our literacy efforts by the time they’re at about third grade,” said Leah Fliter, assistant executive director of advocacy for the Kansas Association of School Boards.&nbsp;

Brantley said she introduced the bill after hearing concerns from her constituents. Fliter said she had not heard concerns from the school boards.&nbsp;

“It appears to me that this should be a local control issue,” said Rep. Lon Pishny, a Republican from Garden City.&nbsp;

In the bill’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2486_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note</a>, the Kansas State Department of Education said there would be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2486_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">no fiscal effect</a>, but the Kansas Association of School Boards said there would be administrative costs.&nbsp;

“This would likely be an unfunded mandate because of the potential litigation,” Fliter said. “And again, you know, special education is not fully funded, and so we would ask that the Legislature not impose another unfunded mandate.”

The potential litigation Fliter mentioned is referring to opponents’ concerns that the bill contradicts a student’s right to a free public education.

The committee also heard two other bills that were requested for introduction by the Kansas Board of Regents regarding scholarships.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2485/" target="_blank">House Bill 2485</a>&nbsp;would allow the Board of Regents to negotiate and settle scholarship repayment obligations after the recipient fails to meet the obligations.&nbsp;

The Board of Regents offers a handful of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasregents.gov/scholarships_and_grants" target="_blank">scholarships</a>&nbsp;that have service requirements, like the Promise Act, which requires recipients to live and work in Kansas after graduation. If the recipient fails to meet that service, they’re obligated to repay the scholarship.&nbsp;

Elaine Frisbie, vice president for finance and administration for the Board of Regents, said there are several thousand recipients who are required to repay.&nbsp;

She said the administrative cost of collecting these repayments is more than what they would recover. In 2019 they spent $539 on a third-party vendor to collect the repayments, and more than $11,000 in 2025.&nbsp;

“We have several students in the Promise Act, they owe us $164 and $6,” Frisbie said. “We’d rather devote our time and attention and resources to settling for what we can extract and then recouping those dollars for our scholarship programs and then moving on.”

There were no opponents to the bill.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2487/" target="_blank">House Bill 2487</a>&nbsp;would help define a teacher and paraprofessional to clarify eligibility for a scholarship.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770136301389.png" alt=" Rep. Sherri Brantley, R-Great Bend, listens to testimony during a Jan. 29, 2026, hearing on legislation she introduced that would require kindergartners to be potty trained in order to attend public school. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Rep. Sherri Brantley, R-Great Bend, listens to testimony during a Jan. 29, 2026, hearing on legislation she introduced that would require kindergartners to be potty trained in order to attend public school. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas lawmakers are considering a bill that would require kindergarteners to be potty trained before starting school, pulling the decision-making power about how to handle those students away from school districts.The House bill was introduced to reduce distractions in classrooms, supporters say. Opponents worry it would create a barrier for vulnerable children to access education, and argue the decision should be left to school districts.The bill was one of three the House Education Committee heard Thursday, along with two others regarding state-funded scholarships.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2486/" target="_blank">House Bill 2486</a>&nbsp;would require school districts to get written assurance from parents that their child is potty trained before enrolling in school. School districts would have to figure out next steps if a child isn’t potty trained, such as whether they should refer additional support, appoint someone to help potty train the student, or remove the student from the school.&nbsp;Rep. Sherri Brantley, a Republican from Great Bend, introduced the bill.&nbsp;“When classrooms are not pulled off task for routine hygiene emergencies, teachers can protect instructional time — a critical driver of achievement — and students benefit from consistent, uninterrupted learning,” Brantley said.&nbsp;The bill acknowledges that accidents happen — especially with kindergarteners ages 5-7 — and defines potty trained as when “accidents happen with such frequency as to impact the educational experience of the student or the student’s peers.” Students would need to be able to tell adults when they need to use the restroom, and use it without assistance from an adult.&nbsp;Students with individualized education programs or a 504 plan, which are programs designed to help students with disabilities, or medical conditions would be exempt.&nbsp;“This bill is not about denying access to education,” Brantley said. “It’s about early support and intervention so every child can start kindergarten safely, confidently, and ready to learn by setting a clear readiness expectation while also establishing compassionate pathways for families who need help.”&nbsp;Opponents worry the bill would deny access to education, especially for vulnerable children.“Lack of toilet training at age 5 is often a red flag for developmental delay, autism, or other medical conditions,” said Kimberly Martin, the legislative chair for&nbsp; Kansas School Nurses Organization. “By denying enrollment because of this symptom, the district is effectively punishing a child for a potential disability before it has been identified.”Other opponents&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_ed_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_ed_1_20260129_07_testimony.html" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;foster children often experience significant trauma before starting school, which can make it difficult to potty train.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770136392138.png" alt="Leah Fliter, of the Kansas Association of School Boards, argues for local control during a Jan. 29, 2026, legislative hearing. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Leah Fliter, of the Kansas Association of School Boards, argues for local control during a Jan. 29, 2026, legislative hearing. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>“The more kids we have held out of kindergarten for toileting issues, the more kids we have at risk of not getting to where we want them to be in our literacy efforts by the time they’re at about third grade,” said Leah Fliter, assistant executive director of advocacy for the Kansas Association of School Boards.&nbsp;Brantley said she introduced the bill after hearing concerns from her constituents. Fliter said she had not heard concerns from the school boards.&nbsp;“It appears to me that this should be a local control issue,” said Rep. Lon Pishny, a Republican from Garden City.&nbsp;In the bill’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2486_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note</a>, the Kansas State Department of Education said there would be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2486_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">no fiscal effect</a>, but the Kansas Association of School Boards said there would be administrative costs.&nbsp;“This would likely be an unfunded mandate because of the potential litigation,” Fliter said. “And again, you know, special education is not fully funded, and so we would ask that the Legislature not impose another unfunded mandate.”The potential litigation Fliter mentioned is referring to opponents’ concerns that the bill contradicts a student’s right to a free public education.<h2>Scholarship-related bills</h2>The committee also heard two other bills that were requested for introduction by the Kansas Board of Regents regarding scholarships.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2485/" target="_blank">House Bill 2485</a>&nbsp;would allow the Board of Regents to negotiate and settle scholarship repayment obligations after the recipient fails to meet the obligations.&nbsp;The Board of Regents offers a handful of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasregents.gov/scholarships_and_grants" target="_blank">scholarships</a>&nbsp;that have service requirements, like the Promise Act, which requires recipients to live and work in Kansas after graduation. If the recipient fails to meet that service, they’re obligated to repay the scholarship.&nbsp;Elaine Frisbie, vice president for finance and administration for the Board of Regents, said there are several thousand recipients who are required to repay.&nbsp;She said the administrative cost of collecting these repayments is more than what they would recover. In 2019 they spent $539 on a third-party vendor to collect the repayments, and more than $11,000 in 2025.&nbsp;“We have several students in the Promise Act, they owe us $164 and $6,” Frisbie said. “We’d rather devote our time and attention and resources to settling for what we can extract and then recouping those dollars for our scholarship programs and then moving on.”There were no opponents to the bill.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2487/" target="_blank">House Bill 2487</a>&nbsp;would help define a teacher and paraprofessional to clarify eligibility for a scholarship.

Kansas bill would require kindergarteners to be potty trained before starting school 

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A&nbsp; jury on Tuesday reached a verdict in the trial of 20-year-old Matthew Criscenzo, who was charged in connection with the&nbsp;May 2025&nbsp;shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend Naomi Oglesby.

Following four days of testimony and several hours of deliberation, the jury found Criscenzo guilty of premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

The charges stemmed from an incident on&nbsp;May 25, 2025, in the 700 block of Laura Street in Wichita. Officers responded to reports of a shooting and discovered 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby, who was pregnant at the time, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. While Oglesby succumbed to her injuries, medical personnel were able to successfully deliver her infant.

"This case has been a tragedy for the Wichita community and, most importantly, for the family of Naomi Oglesby," said Chief Assistant District Attorney Jason Roach. "We thank the jury for their diligent service and careful consideration of the evidence presented throughout this trial."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748340707658.png" alt="Oglesby photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Oglesby photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A&nbsp; jury on Tuesday reached a verdict in the trial of 20-year-old Matthew Criscenzo, who was charged in connection with the&nbsp;May 2025&nbsp;shooting death of his pregnant girlfriend Naomi Oglesby.Following four days of testimony and several hours of deliberation, the jury found Criscenzo guilty of premeditated first-degree murder, felony murder, kidnapping, and aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748259337812.png" alt="CRISCENZO photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>CRISCENZO photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The charges stemmed from an incident on&nbsp;May 25, 2025, in the 700 block of Laura Street in Wichita. Officers responded to reports of a shooting and discovered 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby, who was pregnant at the time, suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. While Oglesby succumbed to her injuries, medical personnel were able to successfully deliver her infant."This case has been a tragedy for the Wichita community and, most importantly, for the family of Naomi Oglesby," said Chief Assistant District Attorney Jason Roach. "We thank the jury for their diligent service and careful consideration of the evidence presented throughout this trial."

Jury issues verdict on Kan. man in killing his pregnant girlfriend

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie is asking for prayers to help bring home her 84-year-old mother, whom authorities in Arizona believe was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-6c7b78d17d7b647c64f71f64ecaecf8b">taken against her will</a>.

“thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment,” Savannah Guthrie wrote in a social media post late Monday. “Bring her home.”

It’s imperative that Nancy Guthrie be found soon because she could die without her medication, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said, urging whoever has her to free her.

“If she’s alive right now her meds are vital. I can’t stress that enough. It’s been better than 24 hours, and the family tells us if she doesn’t have those meds, it can become fatal,” Nanos said.

For a second day Tuesday, “Today” opened with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, but Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor’s desk. Nanos said during a news conference Monday that Savannah Guthrie is in Arizona. Savannah Guthrie grew up in Tucson, graduated from the University of Arizona and previously worked as a reporter and anchor at KVOA-TV in Tucson.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night at her home in the Tucson area, where she lived alone and was reported missing Sunday. Someone at church called a family member saying Guthrie wasn’t there, leading family to search her home and then call 911, Nanos said. The sheriff’s department is investigating the possibility she was taken overnight, spokesperson Angelica Carrillo said.

Nancy Guthrie has limited mobility and officials don’t believe she left on her own. Nanos said she is of sound mind.

Searchers used drones and search dogs and were supported by volunteers and Border Patrol. The homicide team was also involved, Nanos said Sunday. The FBI has offered to help, Carrillo said. On Monday morning, Nanos said search crews worked hard but have since been pulled back.

“We don’t see this as a search mission so much as it is a crime scene,” the sheriff said.

Even so, a sheriff’s helicopter flew over the desert Monday afternoon near Nancy Guthrie’s home in the affluent Catalina Foothills area on the northern edge of Tucson. Her brick home has a gravel driveway and a yard covered in Prickly Pear and Saguaro cactus.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities believe the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie was kidnapped, abducted or otherwise taken against her will, and the sheriff said Monday it’s imperative she’s found soon because she could die without her medication.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9:30 p.m. Saturday at her home in the Tucson area, where she lived alone. Her family reported her missing around noon Sunday. The Pima County Sheriff's Department is investigating the possibility she was taken overnight, spokesperson Angelica Carrillo said.

Guthrie had limited mobility, and officials don't believe she left on her own. Sheriff Chris Nanos said Guthrie was of sound mind.

“This is not dementia-related. She’s as sharp as a tack," Nanos said at a news conference earlier in the day. “The family wants everyone to know that this isn’t someone who just wandered off.”

Nanos said a family member received a call from someone at church saying Guthrie wasn’t there, leading family to search for her at her home and then calling 911. Nanos said Guthrie needs her daily medication, and the sheriff urged whoever has her to free her.

Searchers were using drones and search dogs to look for her, Nanos said. Search and rescue teams were supported by volunteers and Border Patrol, and the homicide team was also involved, he said. It is not standard for the homicide team to get involved in such cases, Nanos said. The FBI has offered to help, Carrillo said.

“This one stood out because of what was described to us at the scene and what we located just looking at the scene,” Nanos said Sunday. He was not ruling out foul play.

On Monday morning, Nanos said search crews worked hard but have since been pulled back.

Even so, a sheriff’s helicopter flew over the desert Monday afternoon near Guthrie’s home in the affluent Catalina Foothills area on the northern edge of Tucson. Her brick home has a gravel driveway and a yard covered in Prickly Pear and Saguaro cactus.

Savannah Guthrie issued a statement Monday, NBC's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.today.com/news/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-arizona-rcna257021">“Today” show reported</a>.

“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support,” she said. “Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear Nancy."

“Today” opened Monday’s show with the disappearance of the co-anchor’s mother, but Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor’s desk. Nanos said during the Monday news conference that Savannah Guthrie is in Arizona. Savannah Guthrie grew up in Tucson, graduated from the University of Arizona and previously worked as a reporter and anchor at KVOA-TV in Tucson.

Nancy Guthrie appeared in a November 2025 story her daughter did about her hometown. Over a meal, Savannah Guthrie asked her mother what made the family want to plant roots in Tucson in the 1970s.

“It’s so wonderful. Just the air, the quality of life,” Nancy Guthrie said. “It’s laid back and gentle.”

She said she likes to see the javelinas, pig-like desert mammals, eat her plants.

Reward offered:  “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie's mom still missing

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department have identified the woman in Saturday’s domestic dispute in the 1000 block of Orville Avenue.

The victim, 20-year-old, Ingris Carolina Damas Morales, a resident of Kansas City, Kan., died at the scene. The suspect, 43-year-old, Josue Avila-Carcamo Kansas City, Kan. also died at the scene. A third shooting victim was treated and released from an area hospital.

Just before noon Saturday, officers were dispatched to the shooting in the the 1000 block of Orville Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

First responders located three adults inside the home.&nbsp;Morales and&nbsp;Avila-Carcamo&nbsp;were pronounced deceased on scene and one man was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

All three had apparent gunshot wounds. The initial investigation indicates that the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute. Detectives are not currently seeking suspects. Police did not release the names of the victims or additional details.

This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department have identified the woman in Saturday’s domestic dispute in the 1000 block of Orville Avenue.The victim, 20-year-old, Ingris Carolina Damas Morales, a resident of Kansas City, Kan., died at the scene. The suspect, 43-year-old, Josue Avila-Carcamo Kansas City, Kan. also died at the scene. A third shooting victim was treated and released from an area hospital.Just before noon Saturday, officers were dispatched to the shooting in the the 1000 block of Orville Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.First responders located three adults inside the home.&nbsp;Morales and&nbsp;Avila-Carcamo&nbsp;were pronounced deceased on scene and one man was transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.All three had apparent gunshot wounds. The initial investigation indicates that the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute. Detectives are not currently seeking suspects. Police did not release the names of the victims or additional details.This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

Police ID woman who died in shooting at Kansas home

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonathan-landrum-jr">JONATHAN LANDRUM JR.</a> Associated Press

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;week will unfold across several days in the Bay Area, with the game itself serving as the final act in a tightly coordinated mix of sports, music, media and celebrity appearances.

From league-run press events to invitation-only gatherings in San Francisco, the jam-packed week draws athletes, entertainers and executives together in the days leading up the league’s championship game. Early programming sets the stage for nights headlined by figures such as Shaquille O’Neal and Dave Chappelle along with a variety of performances spread out through San Francisco by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kehlani-grammywatch-crash-after-hours-781e5b01167da227d77abcc2b1b44cc5">Kehlani,</a>&nbsp;Post Malone and Calvin Harris.

High-profile stops like the Sports Illustrated celebration — tied to Tight End University collaborators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Travis Kelce</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-kittle">George Kittle</a>&nbsp;— help define the celebrity-driven stretch of the week before fan-focused experiences take over on game day.

For first-timers and returning visitors alike,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-entertainment-concerts-9d822651a9ce876fba61e722f95481e6">Super Bowl week</a>&nbsp;moves quickly.

Here is a day-by-day look at how each day takes shape starting Feb. 4:

Wednesday, Feb. 4: Power brunch and early arrivals

Super Bowl week begins with events centered on leadership, media and behind-the-scenes influence.

The day’s marquee event is the Sports Power Brunch: Celebrating the Most Powerful Women in Sports with attendees including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/becky-hammon">Becky Hammon,</a>&nbsp;Maria Taylor and Elle Duncan at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco. The invitation-only gathering brings together executives, broadcasters and athletes for panels and honors spotlighting women shaping the sports industry.

Thursday, Feb. 5: Bad Bunny, NFL Honors and big concert night

Thursday combines league-run programming with the first major wave of concerts.

The day begins with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2026-super-bowl-halftime-show-bad-bunny-8d39f256c8ff8922871f1d613ba51c3d">Super Bowl halftime</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-pregame-puth-carlile-jones-2fe31c829f1e7dbc14949c74c4076e96">pregame performers</a>&nbsp;media event, hosted at the NFL’s media hub. Reporters and the public will hear directly from the game’s performers including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bad-bunny">Bad Bunny,</a>&nbsp;Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones.

After that, attention shifts to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-awards-voting-286a68c377dbc0c41437cb930c95ce12">NFL Honors</a>, hosted by Jon Hamm at the Palace of Fine Arts. There’s a red carpet followed by the awards show, blending sports with entertainment.

But the fun doesn’t stop, launching more into the concert calendar. Fall Out Boy performs an intimate show at The Regency Ballroom as part of the Wells Fargo Autograph Card Exclusives series, a ticketed event limited to cardholders. Sports Illustrated and Tight End University’s “Tight Ends” will feature performances by Loud Luxury and Frank Walker.

At Pier 80 Warehouse, Illenium hosts an album release show tied to his upcoming project “Odyssey,” opening one of the weekend’s largest warehouse. Meanwhile, Grammy-nominated singer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/noah-kahan-stick-season-mental-health-0b3ac39ba80971599706a8e0d16f6f70">Noah Kahan</a>&nbsp;will headline SiriusXM’s concert at The Warfield in which fans can win a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show.

Friday, Feb. 6: Shaq, Post Malone, Kehlani &amp; Madden Bowl

In one of the busiest nights, you can’t really go wrong. Across San Francisco, multiple large-scale concerts and fan-facing experiences run at the same time.

At the Cow Palace, Shaq’s Fun House returns as a carnival-style nightlife event hosted by Shaquille O’Neal, who performs as DJ Diesel alongside a rotating lineup of DJs. The event is a ticketed experience with immersive activations ranging from an all-inclusive general admission for $249.99 to a shared VIP table ticket, which starts at $1,550.

Uber One will hold a members-only event featuring a performance by Olivia Dean and Shaboozey at Pier 48. Members of Uber One — who are 21 and up — will receive an invite to claim a ticket to attend the show.

Bud Light hosts a free, 21-and-over concert experience with Post Malone at Fort Mason Center, with access granted through a sweepstakes model.

Music continues across the Bay Area. Kehlani headlines a ticketed pre-Super Bowl block party at San Jose City Hall, one of the closest major concerts to Levi’s Stadium. At the Chase Center, EA Sports’ Madden Bowl combines football and music with performances from Luke Combs and LaRussell, athlete appearances and a livestreamed blue carpet, hosted by New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston and sports commentator Kay Adams. The social media channels will offer behind-the-scenes content with Twitch streamer Sketch who will host a livestream featuring athletes playing each other on “Madden NFL 26.”

The Palace of Fine Arts hosts Sting as the opening night of On Location’s Super Bowl Studio 60.

Pier 80 Warehouse doubles down on EDM with a joint performance from Calvin Harris and Diplo, anchoring one of the largest ticketed shows of the night.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/green-day-saviors-review-88c2e6298bc1cdcd20af51e685509c47">Green Day,</a>&nbsp;who will open the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-60th-anniversary-green-day-ec7e268f8d60a49441d64e04519eda57">60th Super Bowl with an anniversary ceremony</a>&nbsp;celebrating generations of MVPs, will hit the stage along with Counting Crows at the FanDuel and Spotify party at Pier 29.

Saturday, Feb. 7: Dave Chappelle &amp; Wale anchor Super Bowl eve

Saturday serves as the peak of celebrity-driven Super Bowl weekend activity.

Dave Chappelle headlines an already sold-out comedy show at Chase Center, one of the most in-demand tickets of the weekend. At the Cow Palace, Sports Illustrated hosts SI The Party, a ticketed and VIP event with performances by The Chainsmokers, Ludacris, DJ Irie &amp; Xandra. The costs range from $450 to $1,750 VIP shared table tickets.

Rapper Wale will hit the stage at Pier 27, T-Pain and Sean Paul will have a show called R&amp;B and Ribs at Pier 80 Warehouse while Chris Stapleton and Sierra Ferrell will perform at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

Additional Super Bowl Eve performances include Dom Dolla at San Jose City Hall and The Killers at the Palace of Fine Arts as Night Two of Super Bowl Studio 60. Larry June, Hugel, Loud Luxury and Plastik Funk will perform at the Maxim Big Game Party 2026: Bay Lights &amp; Football Nights.

Sunday, Feb. 8: Game Day and Fan Experiences

Game day opens with large-scale fan events leading into kickoff.

Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate runs for four hours starting at 11:30 a.m. PT, offering free general admission with registration alongside paid upgrades. The event blends live music, food and sponsor activations ahead of the game.

The Chainsmokers will perform at On Location’s Club 67, Champions Club and Touchdown Club pregame parties just outside Levi’s Stadium.

Also near the Stadium, The Players Tailgate delivers a premium pregame experience featuring chefs, NFL players and live entertainment. It’s a ticketed event just steps from the stadium.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759140801620.png" alt="Bad Bunny image from AP video" />
 <figcaption>Bad Bunny image from AP video</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonathan-landrum-jr">JONATHAN LANDRUM JR.</a> Associated Press<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;week will unfold across several days in the Bay Area, with the game itself serving as the final act in a tightly coordinated mix of sports, music, media and celebrity appearances.From league-run press events to invitation-only gatherings in San Francisco, the jam-packed week draws athletes, entertainers and executives together in the days leading up the league’s championship game. Early programming sets the stage for nights headlined by figures such as Shaquille O’Neal and Dave Chappelle along with a variety of performances spread out through San Francisco by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kehlani-grammywatch-crash-after-hours-781e5b01167da227d77abcc2b1b44cc5">Kehlani,</a>&nbsp;Post Malone and Calvin Harris.High-profile stops like the Sports Illustrated celebration — tied to Tight End University collaborators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Travis Kelce</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-kittle">George Kittle</a>&nbsp;— help define the celebrity-driven stretch of the week before fan-focused experiences take over on game day.For first-timers and returning visitors alike,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-entertainment-concerts-9d822651a9ce876fba61e722f95481e6">Super Bowl week</a>&nbsp;moves quickly.Here is a day-by-day look at how each day takes shape starting Feb. 4:<h2>Wednesday, Feb. 4: Power brunch and early arrivals</h2>Super Bowl week begins with events centered on leadership, media and behind-the-scenes influence.The day’s marquee event is the Sports Power Brunch: Celebrating the Most Powerful Women in Sports with attendees including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/becky-hammon">Becky Hammon,</a>&nbsp;Maria Taylor and Elle Duncan at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco. The invitation-only gathering brings together executives, broadcasters and athletes for panels and honors spotlighting women shaping the sports industry.<h2>Thursday, Feb. 5: Bad Bunny, NFL Honors and big concert night</h2>Thursday combines league-run programming with the first major wave of concerts.The day begins with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2026-super-bowl-halftime-show-bad-bunny-8d39f256c8ff8922871f1d613ba51c3d">Super Bowl halftime</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-pregame-puth-carlile-jones-2fe31c829f1e7dbc14949c74c4076e96">pregame performers</a>&nbsp;media event, hosted at the NFL’s media hub. Reporters and the public will hear directly from the game’s performers including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bad-bunny">Bad Bunny,</a>&nbsp;Charlie Puth, Brandi Carlile and Coco Jones.After that, attention shifts to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-awards-voting-286a68c377dbc0c41437cb930c95ce12">NFL Honors</a>, hosted by Jon Hamm at the Palace of Fine Arts. There’s a red carpet followed by the awards show, blending sports with entertainment.But the fun doesn’t stop, launching more into the concert calendar. Fall Out Boy performs an intimate show at The Regency Ballroom as part of the Wells Fargo Autograph Card Exclusives series, a ticketed event limited to cardholders. Sports Illustrated and Tight End University’s “Tight Ends” will feature performances by Loud Luxury and Frank Walker.At Pier 80 Warehouse, Illenium hosts an album release show tied to his upcoming project “Odyssey,” opening one of the weekend’s largest warehouse. Meanwhile, Grammy-nominated singer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/noah-kahan-stick-season-mental-health-0b3ac39ba80971599706a8e0d16f6f70">Noah Kahan</a>&nbsp;will headline SiriusXM’s concert at The Warfield in which fans can win a chance to win a pair of tickets to the show.<h2>Friday, Feb. 6: Shaq, Post Malone, Kehlani &amp; Madden Bowl</h2>In one of the busiest nights, you can’t really go wrong. Across San Francisco, multiple large-scale concerts and fan-facing experiences run at the same time.Make your choices early.At the Cow Palace, Shaq’s Fun House returns as a carnival-style nightlife event hosted by Shaquille O’Neal, who performs as DJ Diesel alongside a rotating lineup of DJs. The event is a ticketed experience with immersive activations ranging from an all-inclusive general admission for $249.99 to a shared VIP table ticket, which starts at $1,550.Uber One will hold a members-only event featuring a performance by Olivia Dean and Shaboozey at Pier 48. Members of Uber One — who are 21 and up — will receive an invite to claim a ticket to attend the show.Bud Light hosts a free, 21-and-over concert experience with Post Malone at Fort Mason Center, with access granted through a sweepstakes model.Music continues across the Bay Area. Kehlani headlines a ticketed pre-Super Bowl block party at San Jose City Hall, one of the closest major concerts to Levi’s Stadium. At the Chase Center, EA Sports’ Madden Bowl combines football and music with performances from Luke Combs and LaRussell, athlete appearances and a livestreamed blue carpet, hosted by New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston and sports commentator Kay Adams. The social media channels will offer behind-the-scenes content with Twitch streamer Sketch who will host a livestream featuring athletes playing each other on “Madden NFL 26.”The Palace of Fine Arts hosts Sting as the opening night of On Location’s Super Bowl Studio 60.Pier 80 Warehouse doubles down on EDM with a joint performance from Calvin Harris and Diplo, anchoring one of the largest ticketed shows of the night.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/green-day-saviors-review-88c2e6298bc1cdcd20af51e685509c47">Green Day,</a>&nbsp;who will open the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-60th-anniversary-green-day-ec7e268f8d60a49441d64e04519eda57">60th Super Bowl with an anniversary ceremony</a>&nbsp;celebrating generations of MVPs, will hit the stage along with Counting Crows at the FanDuel and Spotify party at Pier 29.<h2>Saturday, Feb. 7: Dave Chappelle &amp; Wale anchor Super Bowl eve</h2>Saturday serves as the peak of celebrity-driven Super Bowl weekend activity.Dave Chappelle headlines an already sold-out comedy show at Chase Center, one of the most in-demand tickets of the weekend. At the Cow Palace, Sports Illustrated hosts SI The Party, a ticketed and VIP event with performances by The Chainsmokers, Ludacris, DJ Irie &amp; Xandra. The costs range from $450 to $1,750 VIP shared table tickets.Rapper Wale will hit the stage at Pier 27, T-Pain and Sean Paul will have a show called R&amp;B and Ribs at Pier 80 Warehouse while Chris Stapleton and Sierra Ferrell will perform at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.Additional Super Bowl Eve performances include Dom Dolla at San Jose City Hall and The Killers at the Palace of Fine Arts as Night Two of Super Bowl Studio 60. Larry June, Hugel, Loud Luxury and Plastik Funk will perform at the Maxim Big Game Party 2026: Bay Lights &amp; Football Nights.<h2>Sunday, Feb. 8: Game Day and Fan Experiences</h2>Game day opens with large-scale fan events leading into kickoff.Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate runs for four hours starting at 11:30 a.m. PT, offering free general admission with registration alongside paid upgrades. The event blends live music, food and sponsor activations ahead of the game.The Chainsmokers will perform at On Location’s Club 67, Champions Club and Touchdown Club pregame parties just outside Levi’s Stadium.Also near the Stadium, The Players Tailgate delivers a premium pregame experience featuring chefs, NFL players and live entertainment. It’s a ticketed event just steps from the stadium.

Inside Super Bowl week's concerts, parties and celebrity scene heading into big game

HARPER COUNTY —A second Kansas school district canceled school in just over two weeks due to a significant rise in student and staff illness.

On Monday, USD 511 Attica reported there would be no school or other activities due to sickness. The district expects to hold classes and participate other activities starting Thursday, according to the district's social media page.

On January 14, Fairfield USD 310 canceled classes and participation in activities due to illness.

"The decision was made out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and well-being of students, staff and families."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770075788368.png" alt="USD 511" />
 <figcaption>USD 511</figcaption>
 </figure>HARPER COUNTY —A second Kansas school district canceled school in just over two weeks due to a significant rise in student and staff illness.On Monday, USD 511 Attica reported there would be no school or other activities due to sickness. The district expects to hold classes and participate other activities starting Thursday, according to the district's social media page.On January 14, Fairfield USD 310 canceled classes and participation in activities due to illness."The decision was made out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and well-being of students, staff and families."

Kansas school district cancels classes due to illness

KANSAS CITY —First responders were on the scene of a truck crash Monday morning in Kansas City in what appeared to be a critical injury accident. According to Kansas City Police, the truck collided with the Independence Avenue Bridge.

Despite the way it looked with debris everywhere, the truck driver only had a non-life threatening injury to his hand.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the driver or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770054441535.png" alt="Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —First responders were on the scene of a truck crash Monday morning in Kansas City in what appeared to be a critical injury accident. According to Kansas City Police, the truck collided with the Independence Avenue Bridge.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770054401150.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Despite the way it looked with debris everywhere, the truck driver only had a non-life threatening injury to his hand.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the driver or additional details.

KCPD: Driver survives truck crash into bridge

MCCONNELL&nbsp;AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.&nbsp;– The current lapse in appropriations will have impact on&nbsp;McConnell&nbsp;Air Force Base and its personnel, including the furloughing of almost 500 civilian workers, according to a statement from the base.

At&nbsp;McConnell, a total of 395 civilian employees from the 22nd and 931st Air Refueling Wings, not engaged in excepted activities are being furloughed. Another approximately 100 employees from the 184th Wing will also be furlough and those details are still being finalized.

The exact impact of the lapse in appropriations and furloughs will vary from agency to agency, with some customer service operations being slowed by minimal manning. For example:

MCCONNELL&nbsp;AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.&nbsp;– The current lapse in appropriations will have impact on&nbsp;McConnell&nbsp;Air Force Base and its personnel, including the furloughing of almost 500 civilian workers, according to a statement from the base.At&nbsp;McConnell, a total of 395 civilian employees from the 22nd and 931st Air Refueling Wings, not engaged in excepted activities are being furloughed. Another approximately 100 employees from the 184th Wing will also be furlough and those details are still being finalized.The exact impact of the lapse in appropriations and furloughs will vary from agency to agency, with some customer service operations being slowed by minimal manning. For example:<ul>
 <li>The Commissary, Base Exchange and Shoppette remain open, with no change in operating hours.</li><li>Medical and Pharmacy operations remain open, with no change in operating hours.</li><li>The Pass and Registration office shifts to a weekday-only schedule of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will have limited staff.</li><li>Updated operating hours for 22nd Force Support Squadron activities will vary, and a full list is&nbsp; available at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/22arw">www.facebook.com/22arw</a></li>
 </ul>

Hundreds furloughed from Kansas air force base due to shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to carry out President Donald Trump’s “play call” for funding the government will be put to the test Tuesday as the House holds a procedural vote on a bill to end the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-ice-trump-democrats-demands-johnson-funding-d90a24827e48c18fc1c14c76adfecda6">partial shutdown</a>.

Johnson will need near-unanimous support from his Republican conference to proceed. He can afford to lose only one Republican on party-line votes with perfect attendance, but some lawmakers are threatening to tank the effort if their priorities are not included. Trump weighed in with a social media post, telling them “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.”

“We will work together in good faith to address the issues that have been raised, but we cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly — One that will not benefit Republicans or Democrats. I hope everyone will vote, YES!,” Trump wrote on his social media site.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-immigration-trump-homeland-security-39fd7917e39aaf9e4e78e89f3449a587">measure</a>&nbsp;would end the partial government shutdown that began Saturday, funding most of the federal government through Sept. 30 and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks as lawmakers negotiate potential changes for the agency that enforces the nation's immigration laws — United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-arrests-workplace-agents-chicago-los-angeles-ba352692f27fa6d2846a9410496e4359">ICE</a>.

Johnson said on “Fox News Sunday” it was Trump's "play call to do it this way. He had already conceded he wants to turn down the volume, so to speak.” But GOP leaders sounded like they still had work to do in convincing the rank-and-file to join them as House lawmakers returned to the Capitol Monday after a week back in their congressional districts.

“We always work till the midnight hour to get the votes,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. “You never start the process with everybody on board. You work through it, and you could say that about every major bill we've passed.”

The funding package passed the Senate on Friday. Trump says he'll sign it immediately if it passes the House. Some Democrats are expected to vote for the final bill, but not for the initial procedural measure setting the terms for the House debate, making it the tougher test for Johnson and the White House.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has made clear that Democrats wouldn't help Republicans out of their procedural jam, even though Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer helped negotiate the funding bill.

Jeffries noted that the procedural vote covers a variety of issues that most Democrats oppose, including resolutions to hold former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>&nbsp;and former Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hillary-clinton">Hillary Clinton</a>&nbsp;in contempt of Congress over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">the Jeffrey Epstein investigation</a>.

“If they have some massive mandate,” Jeffries said of Republicans, “then go pass your rule, which includes toxic bills that we don't support."

The path to the current partial shutdown differs from the fall impasse, which affected more agencies and lasted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">record 43 days</a>.

Then, the debate was over extending temporary, COVID-era subsidies for those who get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Democrats were unsuccessful in getting those subsidies included as part of a package to end the shutdown.

Congress has made important progress since then, passing six of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund federal agencies and programs. That includes important programs such as nutrition assistance and fully operating national parks and historic sites. They are funded through Sept. 30.

But the remaining unpassed bills represent roughly three-quarters of federal spending, including the Department of Defense. Service members and federal workers could miss paychecks depending upon the length of the current funding lapse.

Some House Republicans have demanded that the funding package include legislation requiring voters to show proof of citizenship before they are eligible to participate in elections. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., had said the legislation, known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-save-act-citizenship-voting-elections-a37c139461d11eb5f82086680b67ffe7">SAVE Act</a>, must be included in the appropriations package.

But Luna appeared to drop her objections late Monday, writing on social media that she had spoken with Trump about a "pathway forward" for the voting bill in the Senate that would keep the government open.

The Brennan Center for Justice, a think tank focused on democracy and voting rights issues, said the voting bill's passage would mean that Americans would need to produce a passport or birth certificate to register to vote, and that at least 21 million votes lack ready access to those papers.

“If House Republicans add the SAVE Act to the bipartisan appropriations package it will lead to another prolonged Trump government shutdown,” Schumer said. “Let’s be clear, the SAVE Act is not about securing our elections. It is about suppressing voters."

Johnson has operated with a thin majority throughout his tenure as speaker. But with Saturday's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-special-election-houston-redistricting-59fe9c414540572bb783b5e98eb586e1">special election</a>&nbsp;in Texas, the Republican majority stands at a threadbare 218-214, shrinking the GOP's ability to withstand defections.

Associated Press video journalist Nathan Ellgren contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759315687610.png" alt="Photo CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Mike Johnson’s ability to carry out President Donald Trump’s “play call” for funding the government will be put to the test Tuesday as the House holds a procedural vote on a bill to end the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-ice-trump-democrats-demands-johnson-funding-d90a24827e48c18fc1c14c76adfecda6">partial shutdown</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on the partial government shutdown: &quot;I spoke with <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a>, I spoke with <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderJohnThune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderJohnThune</a>, and I think they&#39;re pretty close to a resolution. We were at 5.6% GDP, and we lost a point and a half because of the 43-day shutdown... it&#39;s very bad for our country.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/DhaARyHbZK">pic.twitter.com/DhaARyHbZK</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2018444514806100215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Johnson will need near-unanimous support from his Republican conference to proceed. He can afford to lose only one Republican on party-line votes with perfect attendance, but some lawmakers are threatening to tank the effort if their priorities are not included. Trump weighed in with a social media post, telling them “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.”“We will work together in good faith to address the issues that have been raised, but we cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly — One that will not benefit Republicans or Democrats. I hope everyone will vote, YES!,” Trump wrote on his social media site.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-immigration-trump-homeland-security-39fd7917e39aaf9e4e78e89f3449a587">measure</a>&nbsp;would end the partial government shutdown that began Saturday, funding most of the federal government through Sept. 30 and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks as lawmakers negotiate potential changes for the agency that enforces the nation's immigration laws — United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-arrests-workplace-agents-chicago-los-angeles-ba352692f27fa6d2846a9410496e4359">ICE</a>.<h2>Running Trump's ‘play call’</h2>Johnson said on “Fox News Sunday” it was Trump's "play call to do it this way. He had already conceded he wants to turn down the volume, so to speak.” But GOP leaders sounded like they still had work to do in convincing the rank-and-file to join them as House lawmakers returned to the Capitol Monday after a week back in their congressional districts.“We always work till the midnight hour to get the votes,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. “You never start the process with everybody on board. You work through it, and you could say that about every major bill we've passed.”The funding package passed the Senate on Friday. Trump says he'll sign it immediately if it passes the House. Some Democrats are expected to vote for the final bill, but not for the initial procedural measure setting the terms for the House debate, making it the tougher test for Johnson and the White House.Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries has made clear that Democrats wouldn't help Republicans out of their procedural jam, even though Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer helped negotiate the funding bill.Jeffries noted that the procedural vote covers a variety of issues that most Democrats oppose, including resolutions to hold former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>&nbsp;and former Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hillary-clinton">Hillary Clinton</a>&nbsp;in contempt of Congress over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">the Jeffrey Epstein investigation</a>.“If they have some massive mandate,” Jeffries said of Republicans, “then go pass your rule, which includes toxic bills that we don't support."<h2>Key differences from the last shutdown</h2>The path to the current partial shutdown differs from the fall impasse, which affected more agencies and lasted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">record 43 days</a>.Then, the debate was over extending temporary, COVID-era subsidies for those who get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Democrats were unsuccessful in getting those subsidies included as part of a package to end the shutdown.Congress has made important progress since then, passing six of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund federal agencies and programs. That includes important programs such as nutrition assistance and fully operating national parks and historic sites. They are funded through Sept. 30.But the remaining unpassed bills represent roughly three-quarters of federal spending, including the Department of Defense. Service members and federal workers could miss paychecks depending upon the length of the current funding lapse.<h2>Voting bill becomes last-minute obstacle</h2>Some House Republicans have demanded that the funding package include legislation requiring voters to show proof of citizenship before they are eligible to participate in elections. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., had said the legislation, known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-save-act-citizenship-voting-elections-a37c139461d11eb5f82086680b67ffe7">SAVE Act</a>, must be included in the appropriations package.But Luna appeared to drop her objections late Monday, writing on social media that she had spoken with Trump about a "pathway forward" for the voting bill in the Senate that would keep the government open.The Brennan Center for Justice, a think tank focused on democracy and voting rights issues, said the voting bill's passage would mean that Americans would need to produce a passport or birth certificate to register to vote, and that at least 21 million votes lack ready access to those papers.“If House Republicans add the SAVE Act to the bipartisan appropriations package it will lead to another prolonged Trump government shutdown,” Schumer said. “Let’s be clear, the SAVE Act is not about securing our elections. It is about suppressing voters."Johnson has operated with a thin majority throughout his tenure as speaker. But with Saturday's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-special-election-houston-redistricting-59fe9c414540572bb783b5e98eb586e1">special election</a>&nbsp;in Texas, the Republican majority stands at a threadbare 218-214, shrinking the GOP's ability to withstand defections.___Associated Press video journalist Nathan Ellgren contributed to this report.

House GOP scrambles for votes to end the partial government shutdown 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a teen was back in court for an arraignment hearing.

On Friday, 20-year-old Gauge Brasher pleaded not guilty to&nbsp;unintentional but reckless second-degree murder and failure to stop at an accident resulting in the death of 14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He will go to trial on June 29th, according to the district attorney's office.

Around 6:30 p.m. August 13, a nearby Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw the aftermath of the crash that killed&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa and saw two men running from a black BMW that had crashed. After a short foot pursuit, both men were apprehended.

The preliminary investigation indicated the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a power pole and then a utility box. The impact forced the power pole and utility box into Nzabonimpa, who died on scene from his injuries.&nbsp;

Witnesses at the intersection identified the then 19-year-old Brasher, who fled as the driver. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. 

The investigation indicated that impairment and speed were likely contributing factors in the collision. Brasher was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and later left the hospital. Police issued an alert in attempt to locate him. The passenger in the BMW is a 24-year-old man who was detained and later released with no charges.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Brasher is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755212957933.png" alt="View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a teen was back in court for an arraignment hearing.On Friday, 20-year-old Gauge Brasher pleaded not guilty to&nbsp;unintentional but reckless second-degree murder and failure to stop at an accident resulting in the death of 14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He will go to trial on June 29th, according to the district attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755212684049.png" alt="Brasher from the wanted poster Wichita police." />
 <figcaption>Brasher from the wanted poster Wichita police.</figcaption>
 </figure>Around 6:30 p.m. August 13, a nearby Kansas Highway Patrol trooper in the area saw the aftermath of the crash that killed&nbsp;14-year-old Jackson Nzabonimpa and saw two men running from a black BMW that had crashed. After a short foot pursuit, both men were apprehended.The preliminary investigation indicated the BMW was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit a power pole and then a utility box. The impact forced the power pole and utility box into Nzabonimpa, who died on scene from his injuries.&nbsp;Witnesses at the intersection identified the then 19-year-old Brasher, who fled as the driver. He is suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The investigation indicated that impairment and speed were likely contributing factors in the collision. Brasher was admitted to the hospital for medical treatment and later left the hospital. Police issued an alert in attempt to locate him. The passenger in the BMW is a 24-year-old man who was detained and later released with no charges.&nbsp;&nbsp;Brasher is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

Kan. driver who hid after crash that killed boy will face a jury

NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department said Monday that it had taken down several thousand documents and “media” that may have inadvertently included victim-identifying information since it began releasing the latest batch of documents related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-justice-department-trump-ed743598c320b94bd9d91631618678d9">disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;on Friday.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here t</a>o view the latest files

It blamed the release of sensitive information that drew an outcry from victims and their lawyers on mistakes that were “technical or human error.”

In a letter to the New York judges overseeing the sex trafficking cases brought against Epstein and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell">confidant Ghislaine Maxwell</a>, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton wrote that the department had taken down nearly all materials identified by victims or their lawyers, along with a “substantial number” of documents identified independently by the government.

Clayton, who is based in Manhattan, said the department has “iteratively revised its protocols for addressing flagging documents” after victims and their lawyers requested changes to the process for review and redaction of posted records.

He wrote that documents are promptly pulled down from the public website when victims flag a concern that something should be redacted. He said the concern is then evaluated before a redacted version of the document can be reposted, “ideally within 24 to 36 hours.”

Also Monday, a section of the Justice Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/court-records">Epstein files website</a>&nbsp;that had contained public court records from Epstein and Maxwell’s criminal cases and civil lawsuits was no longer functioning.

A message seeking comment on the website issue was left for the Justice Department.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-epstein-files-28e917b173e0c371cff08946a24d2cd3">Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in an interview</a>&nbsp;Sunday on ABC's “This Week” that there have been sporadic errors in redacting, or blacking out, sensitive information but that the Justice Department has tried to work quickly to address them.

“Every time we hear from a victim or their lawyer that they believe that their name was not properly redacted, we immediately rectified that. And the numbers we’re talking about, just so the American people understand, we’re talking about .001 percent of all the materials,” Blanche said.

The effect of errors in the document redactions was highlighted Monday morning at a sex trafficking trial in New York federal court when lawyers for two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luxury-real-estate-brothers-nyc-sex-trafficking-c83be9f3a6bf4f8aefeb472c47642c6e">high-end real estate brokers</a>&nbsp;and their brother asked Judge Valerie E. Caproni for a mistrial because of documents that were made public without necessary redactions.

Deanna Paul, a defense lawyer at the trial of Tal, Oren and Alon Alexander, said the “government through its own conduct has destroyed the possibility of a fair trial in this case” after the names of the brothers were included in several documents released on Friday. The brothers have pleaded not guilty to drugging and raping multiple girls and women from 2008 to 2021.

Paul said the Alexander brothers had now been “branded” with the “most toxic association.”

The judge tentatively rejected the mistrial request but still confronted a prosecutor, asking: “Government, really?”

“Yes, I understand where the court's coming from,” replied Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Espinosa.

She said she wasn't sure how the documents were “caught up in the universe of documents” related to Epstein but confirmed that at least one of the documents that mention the Alexander brothers “should have been properly redacted” and she said the documents had been withdrawn from public circulation.

As she spoke, Espinosa also gave an update on the general release of Epstein-related documents by the Justice Department, saying that the remaining documents to be released were “primarily related to civil litigation” that might require a judge's approval to be made public.

__ The AP is reviewing the documents released by the Justice Department in collaboration with journalists from CBS, NBC, MS NOW and CNBC. Journalists from each newsroom are working together to examine the files and share information about what is in them. Each outlet is responsible for its own independent news coverage of the documents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765560316012.png" alt="Photo released by the U.S. Department of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Photo released by the U.S. Department of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department said Monday that it had taken down several thousand documents and “media” that may have inadvertently included victim-identifying information since it began releasing the latest batch of documents related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-justice-department-trump-ed743598c320b94bd9d91631618678d9">disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;on Friday.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here t</a>o view the latest filesIt blamed the release of sensitive information that drew an outcry from victims and their lawyers on mistakes that were “technical or human error.”In a letter to the New York judges overseeing the sex trafficking cases brought against Epstein and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell">confidant Ghislaine Maxwell</a>, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton wrote that the department had taken down nearly all materials identified by victims or their lawyers, along with a “substantial number” of documents identified independently by the government.Clayton, who is based in Manhattan, said the department has “iteratively revised its protocols for addressing flagging documents” after victims and their lawyers requested changes to the process for review and redaction of posted records.He wrote that documents are promptly pulled down from the public website when victims flag a concern that something should be redacted. He said the concern is then evaluated before a redacted version of the document can be reposted, “ideally within 24 to 36 hours.”Also Monday, a section of the Justice Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/court-records">Epstein files website</a>&nbsp;that had contained public court records from Epstein and Maxwell’s criminal cases and civil lawsuits was no longer functioning.A message seeking comment on the website issue was left for the Justice Department.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-epstein-files-28e917b173e0c371cff08946a24d2cd3">Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in an interview</a>&nbsp;Sunday on ABC's “This Week” that there have been sporadic errors in redacting, or blacking out, sensitive information but that the Justice Department has tried to work quickly to address them.“Every time we hear from a victim or their lawyer that they believe that their name was not properly redacted, we immediately rectified that. And the numbers we’re talking about, just so the American people understand, we’re talking about .001 percent of all the materials,” Blanche said.The effect of errors in the document redactions was highlighted Monday morning at a sex trafficking trial in New York federal court when lawyers for two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luxury-real-estate-brothers-nyc-sex-trafficking-c83be9f3a6bf4f8aefeb472c47642c6e">high-end real estate brokers</a>&nbsp;and their brother asked Judge Valerie E. Caproni for a mistrial because of documents that were made public without necessary redactions.Deanna Paul, a defense lawyer at the trial of Tal, Oren and Alon Alexander, said the “government through its own conduct has destroyed the possibility of a fair trial in this case” after the names of the brothers were included in several documents released on Friday. The brothers have pleaded not guilty to drugging and raping multiple girls and women from 2008 to 2021.Paul said the Alexander brothers had now been “branded” with the “most toxic association.”The judge tentatively rejected the mistrial request but still confronted a prosecutor, asking: “Government, really?”“Yes, I understand where the court's coming from,” replied Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Espinosa.She said she wasn't sure how the documents were “caught up in the universe of documents” related to Epstein but confirmed that at least one of the documents that mention the Alexander brothers “should have been properly redacted” and she said the documents had been withdrawn from public circulation.As she spoke, Espinosa also gave an update on the general release of Epstein-related documents by the Justice Department, saying that the remaining documents to be released were “primarily related to civil litigation” that might require a judge's approval to be made public.__ The AP is reviewing the documents released by the Justice Department in collaboration with journalists from CBS, NBC, MS NOW and CNBC. Journalists from each newsroom are working together to examine the files and share information about what is in them. Each outlet is responsible for its own independent news coverage of the documents.

Justice Dept. makes major changes to latest release of Epstein files 

KANSAS CITY —One person died in shooting at a restaurant in Kansas City and police have identified the victim as 27-year-old&nbsp;Decorrian Partee, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just&nbsp;after 8p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at a restaurant at 31st and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri.

First responders located two shooting victims inside the restaurant, one of the victims was alert and responsive, the second victim, later identified as Partee, was unresponsive.&nbsp;

Officers rendered aid and called for EMS to the scene.&nbsp;EMS transported one vicim to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, he was&nbsp; listed in stable condition, according to Becchina.

EMS took over treatment of Partee ultimately declared him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene and took over the investigation.&nbsp;

Preliminary information indicates that one or more people were inside the restaurant when an interaction between multiple people escalated to gunfire. That gunfire struck both victims. The suspect or suspects then left the restaurant in an unknown direction.&nbsp;

If anyone was in the restaurant or nearby and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1769955887917.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte"" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte"</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —One person died in shooting at a restaurant in Kansas City and police have identified the victim as 27-year-old&nbsp;Decorrian Partee, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just&nbsp;after 8p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at a restaurant at 31st and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri.First responders located two shooting victims inside the restaurant, one of the victims was alert and responsive, the second victim, later identified as Partee, was unresponsive.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1769955867317.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Officers rendered aid and called for EMS to the scene.&nbsp;EMS transported one vicim to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, he was&nbsp; listed in stable condition, according to Becchina.EMS took over treatment of Partee ultimately declared him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene and took over the investigation.&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates that one or more people were inside the restaurant when an interaction between multiple people escalated to gunfire. That gunfire struck both victims. The suspect or suspects then left the restaurant in an unknown direction.&nbsp;If anyone was in the restaurant or nearby and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

Police ID victim in deadly KC restaurant killing 

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Two horses were shot and killed, from the road, by an unknown assailant in the vicinity of Bradford and Mission Valley Road northeast of Eskridge in rural Wabaunsee County over the weekend, according to Wabaunsee&nbsp; County Sheriff's&nbsp;Eric Kirsch.

These horses were used for therapy for veterans and first responders suffering from&nbsp;Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The sheriff's department is devoting the full might of their investigative resources towards the relentless pursuit and capture of those responsible "for this reprehensible atrocity against these beautiful, innocent and defenseless animals"

The animals were taken to K-State for forensic examination and the sheriff's office is treating this like a homicide. The sheriff's office pledge $500 leading to a lawful arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770066102754.png" alt="Photo Wabaunsee County" />
 <figcaption>Photo Wabaunsee County</figcaption>
 </figure>WABAUNSEE COUNTY —Two horses were shot and killed, from the road, by an unknown assailant in the vicinity of Bradford and Mission Valley Road northeast of Eskridge in rural Wabaunsee County over the weekend, according to Wabaunsee&nbsp; County Sheriff's&nbsp;Eric Kirsch.These horses were used for therapy for veterans and first responders suffering from&nbsp;Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.The sheriff's department is devoting the full might of their investigative resources towards the relentless pursuit and capture of those responsible "for this reprehensible atrocity against these beautiful, innocent and defenseless animals"The animals were taken to K-State for forensic examination and the sheriff's office is treating this like a homicide. The sheriff's office pledge $500 leading to a lawful arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

Sheriff: Reward offered after horses shot and killed in rural Kansas

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents during a decade of financial and academic turbulence for public universities plans to retire from the higher education leadership job in July.

Blake Flanders has been the Board of Regents’ top administrator since 2015. The Board of Regents has primary responsibility for six public universities and oversight duties with the state’s community colleges, technical colleges and Washburn University in Topeka.

“Kansas colleges and universities create life-changing opportunities for families and are engines of economic growth in our state,” Flanders said. “I know that our system is well positioned to help Kansas build a bright and prosperous future.”

Flanders was part of shaping the Board of Regents’ strategic plan to support students, improve college affordability, address deferred maintenance, promote research and focus on economic development.

During the past five years in Kansas, university on-time graduation rates climbed nearly 10 percentage points, state-funded student financial aid nearly quadrupled and the backlog of deferred building maintenance at universities was cut by $123 million.

“Throughout his tenure, Dr.&nbsp;Flanders&nbsp;has addressed our most pressing challenges with bold, data-driven solutions that are grounded in outcomes and accountability,” said Blake Benson, chairman of the state Board of Regents. “Our higher education system and our entire state have benefitted from his innovative leadership and commitment to serving Kansas.”

In the years Flanders presided as Board of Regents’ president, public higher education in Kansas grappled with national trends that included rising operational costs, the challenge of sustaining student enrollment and substantial loss of federal research funding.

In the 2026 Legislature, the Kansas higher education system remained under political pressure to tie academic programs to business workforce expectations and to comply with bans on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

The university system in Kansas has been targeted by the Legislature for budget cuts and scrutiny of faculty tenure. In 2022, Emporia State University fired 30 tenured or tenure-track faculty under a policy approved by the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents took no action in 2024 when evidence emerged that Wichita State University President Richard Muma copied others’ work without proper attribution for portions of his doctoral dissertation.

In 2015, the Board of Regents promoted Flanders to president from his position as vice president of workforce development. Previously, he was a liaison between the Board of Regents and the Kansas Department of Commerce.

He earned a doctorate in education at Kansas State University in 2004. He was vice president of instructional services at Manhattan Area Technical College from 1998 to 2004 and on the faculty of Butler Community College from 1988 to 1998.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770058922550.png" alt=" Blake Flanders, CEO and president of the Kansas Board of Regents, is expected to retire from the higher education leadership job in June. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Blake Flanders, CEO and president of the Kansas Board of Regents, is expected to retire from the higher education leadership job in June. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The president and CEO of the Kansas Board of Regents during a decade of financial and academic turbulence for public universities plans to retire from the higher education leadership job in July.Blake Flanders has been the Board of Regents’ top administrator since 2015. The Board of Regents has primary responsibility for six public universities and oversight duties with the state’s community colleges, technical colleges and Washburn University in Topeka.“Kansas colleges and universities create life-changing opportunities for families and are engines of economic growth in our state,” Flanders said. “I know that our system is well positioned to help Kansas build a bright and prosperous future.”Flanders was part of shaping the Board of Regents’ strategic plan to support students, improve college affordability, address deferred maintenance, promote research and focus on economic development.During the past five years in Kansas, university on-time graduation rates climbed nearly 10 percentage points, state-funded student financial aid nearly quadrupled and the backlog of deferred building maintenance at universities was cut by $123 million.“Throughout his tenure, Dr.&nbsp;Flanders&nbsp;has addressed our most pressing challenges with bold, data-driven solutions that are grounded in outcomes and accountability,” said Blake Benson, chairman of the state Board of Regents. “Our higher education system and our entire state have benefitted from his innovative leadership and commitment to serving Kansas.”In the years Flanders presided as Board of Regents’ president, public higher education in Kansas grappled with national trends that included rising operational costs, the challenge of sustaining student enrollment and substantial loss of federal research funding.In the 2026 Legislature, the Kansas higher education system remained under political pressure to tie academic programs to business workforce expectations and to comply with bans on diversity, equity and inclusion programs.The university system in Kansas has been targeted by the Legislature for budget cuts and scrutiny of faculty tenure. In 2022, Emporia State University fired 30 tenured or tenure-track faculty under a policy approved by the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents took no action in 2024 when evidence emerged that Wichita State University President Richard Muma copied others’ work without proper attribution for portions of his doctoral dissertation.In 2015, the Board of Regents promoted Flanders to president from his position as vice president of workforce development. Previously, he was a liaison between the Board of Regents and the Kansas Department of Commerce.He earned a doctorate in education at Kansas State University in 2004. He was vice president of instructional services at Manhattan Area Technical College from 1998 to 2004 and on the faculty of Butler Community College from 1988 to 1998.

Kansas Board of Regents CEO stepping down after decade leading higher education system

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose on Monday following sharp swings that shook financial markets overnight, including tumbles for Asian stocks.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gold-personal-finance-wall-street-3f41d4a3e41dd721875687d2f4aeaeb7">Gold</a>&nbsp;and silver prices sank further following their latest wild moves.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="File AP Photo/Richard Drew" />
 <figcaption>File AP Photo/Richard Drew</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose on Monday following sharp swings that shook financial markets overnight, including tumbles for Asian stocks.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gold-personal-finance-wall-street-3f41d4a3e41dd721875687d2f4aeaeb7">Gold</a>&nbsp;and silver prices sank further following their latest wild moves.On Wall Street, the S&amp;P 500 added 0.5% and snapped a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-gold-rates-oil-7f0eadba91bc2e550945eb49bc1085f3">three-day losing streak</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 515 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6%.Stocks of companies that make computer storage helped lead the market, adding to gains from last week following several profit reports that topped analysts’ expectations. Airlines and cruise-ship operators were also strong, benefiting from a sharp easing of oil prices.The center of action in financial markets was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-dollar-gold-fed-2a3715ff96ba5c10b97c49e04ad9f8ec">again precious metals</a>, where momentum has suddenly halted after gold’s price roughly doubled in just 12 months.Gold briefly dropped below $4,500 per ounce in the overnight hours, down more than $1,000 from its high point reached just last week. It then climbed back above $4,800 before settling at $4,652.60, down 1.9% from Friday.Silver’s price has been on an even wilder ride recently, and it swung from a 9% loss overnight to a modest gain and back to a loss of 1.9%.Gold and silver prices had surged as investors looked for safer things to own amid a wide range of worries, including a Federal Reserve that may be set to become less independent, a U.S. stock market that critics say is expensive, threats of tariffs and heavy debt loads for governments worldwide.Their prices cratered on Friday, including a 31.4% plunge for silver. Some on Wall Street saw it as a result of President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-warsh-federal-reserve-chair-48dcd3a768960eabb4e52183fa897aa1">nomination of Kevin Warsh</a>&nbsp;as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/warsh-trump-federal-reserve-chair-6b4441263c1b7ecb40b96adf17adeea2">next chair of the Fed</a>. Warsh’s reputation as a former Fed governor may have raised expectations that he may keep interest rates high to fight inflation, which would reduce the need to hide out in gold and silver for protection.But many on Wall Street are also skeptical of that initial reading and say the expectation from Trump is likely that Warsh will cut interest rates, something the president has been demanding. That could give the economy a boost but also worsen inflation over the long term.The Fed’s chair has a big influence on the economy and markets worldwide by helping to dictate where the U.S. central bank moves interest rates. That affects prices for all kinds of investments, as the Fed tries to keep the U.S. job market humming without letting inflation get out of control.The recent swoons for gold and silver may also simply mark the return of gravity for two investments whose price shot very high, very fast. They’re likely more about the washout for some traders who had borrowed money to bet on metals’ prices continuing to soar, rather than about a wholesale change in expectations for demand for metals, according to Darrell Cronk, chief investment officer for Wealth &amp; Investment Management at Wells Fargo.On Wall Street, Sandisk leaped 15.4% to lead the S&amp;P 500. The data-storage company added to its 6.9% gain from Friday, after it reported stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It credited demand created by the artificial-intelligence boom, among other things.That helped offset a 2.9% drop for Nvidia, whose chips are powering much of the world’s move into AI technology. The losses were worse in Asia, where AI winners plunged. South Korea’s Kospi fell 5.3% from its record for its worst day in almost 10 months after chip company SK Hynix lost nearly 9%.The Walt Disney Co. fell 7.4% even though the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/disney-iger-zootopia-avatar-d82fe1044c2ec380acf8711895338acd">entertainment giant reported a stronger profit</a>&nbsp;for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It warned of challenges that are keeping international visitors away from its U.S. theme parks, among other things.Oil prices dropped more than 4% after Trump told reporters that Iran is “seriously talking to us.” It’s a potential signal of improving relations between the two countries, which could keep oil flowing easily around the world.The drop in oil prices could mean less painful fuel bills for airlines and cruise ships. That helped Carnival steam 8.1% higher, and United Airlines climb 4.9%.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 37.41 points to 6,976.44 and finished just shy of its record set last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 515.19 to 49,407.66, and the Nasdaq composite gained 130.29 to 23,592.11.In the bond market, Treasury yields edged higher after a report said that U.S. manufacturing grew last month, when economists were expecting a contraction. The yield on the 10-year Treasury erased an earlier dip and rose to 4.28%, up from 4.26% late Friday.Such strong figures could persuade the Federal Reserve to stay on pause with its cuts to interest rates. The next big set of data that could sway the Fed was supposed to come on Friday, when the U.S. government was due to update the nation’s unemployment rate. But that report has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-report-labor-shutdown-0f327d71037f89afb818ea78b1162010">postponed because of the partial federal government shutdown.</a>In stock markets abroad, European indexes rose roughly 1% following a washout in Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.3%, while stocks fell 2.2% in Hong Kong and 2.5% in Shanghai.