CONCORD, N.H. — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign says it has gathered enough signatures from registered voters in New Hampshire to qualify for the state's ballot in the general election.

The independent candidate already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-kennedy-president-election-utah-ballot-863513ec2bf75d1efc9b202cb8ddcc4a">has qualified</a>&nbsp;for the ballot in another state, Utah.

Some have questioned whether he or another independent or third-party candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-presidential-campaign-independent-2024-30d940109c4956de9c81f332ec418463">could play spoiler</a>&nbsp;in a close presidential race this fall.

But the candidate, who is known for his environmental conservation work and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kennedy-election-2024-president-campaign-621c9e9641381a1b2677df9de5a09731">anti-vaccine empire</a>, has a long road ahead. Each state sets its own requirements to qualify for the ballot, and the process can be costly for candidates not backed by the major parties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704300369387.png" alt="Robert F. Kennedy Jr.- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Robert F. Kennedy Jr.- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>CONCORD, N.H. — Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s campaign says it has gathered enough signatures from registered voters in New Hampshire to qualify for the state's ballot in the general election.The independent candidate already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-kennedy-president-election-utah-ballot-863513ec2bf75d1efc9b202cb8ddcc4a">has qualified</a>&nbsp;for the ballot in another state, Utah.Some have questioned whether he or another independent or third-party candidate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-presidential-campaign-independent-2024-30d940109c4956de9c81f332ec418463">could play spoiler</a>&nbsp;in a close presidential race this fall.But the candidate, who is known for his environmental conservation work and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-kennedy-election-2024-president-campaign-621c9e9641381a1b2677df9de5a09731">anti-vaccine empire</a>, has a long road ahead. Each state sets its own requirements to qualify for the ballot, and the process can be costly for candidates not backed by the major parties.

RFK Jr.'s campaign qualifies for another state's general election ballot

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a deadly shooting that may be the result of a road-rage incident have identified the victim as 20-year-old Joshua Batemon.

Just before 2a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting call in the 1500 block of North Poplar Avenue in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp;

First responders discovered Batemon with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported a second victim, an 18-year-old, to an area hospital. He&nbsp;remains in extremely critical condition.

Investigators spoke with person(s) of interest in connection to the shooting to determine what led to this tragic incident. Preliminary information relayed to investigators suggested all individuals involved know each other and that a possible road rage incident in the 1900 block of Broadway hours prior may have led to the subsequent shooting, according to Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706096810792.png" alt="Police working at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police working at the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a deadly shooting that may be the result of a road-rage incident have identified the victim as 20-year-old Joshua Batemon.Just before 2a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting call in the 1500 block of North Poplar Avenue in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp;First responders discovered Batemon with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported a second victim, an 18-year-old, to an area hospital. He&nbsp;remains in extremely critical condition.Investigators spoke with person(s) of interest in connection to the shooting to determine what led to this tragic incident. Preliminary information relayed to investigators suggested all individuals involved know each other and that a possible road rage incident in the 1900 block of Broadway hours prior may have led to the subsequent shooting, according to Rebolledo.

Road-rage: Police ID victim in deadly Kan. shooting

Gov. Laura Kelly supports concept, but House and Senate have yet to make a deal

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Delaney Jones’ grandmother, a survivor of European concentration camps during the Holocaust of World War II, suffered from a type of cancer that was often detected late, spread rapidly and had a poor prognosis.

“She got really, really sick with pancreatic cancer late in life,” Jones said. “She said nothing she went through in the camps hurt like this.”

She endured chemotherapy treatment for cancer and striking side effects of prescription pain medications, but relief from agony appeared to be beyond her grasp. The family’s matriarch eventually found comfort in cannabis oil, which contained THC not legal in Kansas but offered in other states in conjunction with palliative medical care or simply for recreational use.

“It helped her get rid of the pain and the nausea, even the fatigue at times. It did not have the side effects of opiate painkillers. We were super, super grateful to see really the magical work that marijuana did in her end-of-life care,” Jones said.

Jones, a graduate student at Wichita State University, was part of a roundtable discussion Tuesday about the campaign to convince the 2024 Kansas Legislature to approve a bill legalizing medical marijuana. Thirty-eight states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories have legalized medicinal use of cannabis products, but the Kansas Senate and Kansas House have yet to agree on a path forward.

The scheduled day of action at the Capitol with the Kansas Cannabis Coalition, Loud Light and ACLU of Kansas was converted to an online format due to poor weather conditions that made driving unsafe.

Cheryl Kumberg, a registered nurse and president of Kansas Cannabis Coalition, said she assumed the Legislature would take a year or two to complete work on a medical marijuana bill. That was five years ago, she said, and Republican leaders in the Legislature have collaborated to slow progress to a crawl.

“I’m here in open-mouth amazement that we are still discussing passing a medical marijuana bill,” Kumberg said. “It is just the same excuses all these years. The same rhetoric from opponents and legislators. We’re just like this little island.”

Kansas should be wary of cities creating a patchwork of ordinances that decriminalized marijuana possession, said Kelly Rippel, cofounder of Kansans for Hemp and part of the Kansas Cannabis Coalition. He said Kansas should be wary of de facto legalization of marijuana in communities that independently concluded the cost of enforcement exceeded the benefit.

“We’ll just have this sort of understanding or unwritten rules and laws that we won’t prosecute cannabis. It leads to inconsistency around enforcement, not only in communities, but also the district attorneys in counties. We need to have something on the books that says, ‘We are not going to criminalize this, especially for personal possession,'” Rippel said.

He said Kansas lawmakers should work on conviction expungements and the sealing of criminal records related to marijuana convictions.

Latanya Goodloe, executive director of Ladies That Lean in Kansas City, Kansas, said she was convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and served four years in prison. She completed requirements of parole in 2009, but had continued to deal with criminal justice consequences of being a felon.

She said there were racial and economic justice components to debate about medical marijuana. Legislation in Kansas moving the state toward legalization should create fairness in the marketplace and recognize damage done in marginalized communities during the nation’s war on drugs, she said.

“No monopoly,” she said. “Engaging the public, sustainable regulations are key components to shaping a system that addresses both health concerns and economic considerations. At this point, we have no reason to not put marijuana on the table.”

Sharon Brett, legal director of ACLU of Kansas, said state government opposition to legal distribution of medical cannabis interfered with personal health care choices of Kansans and conflicted with polling that demonstrated statewide popularity of medical marijuana reform. There were parallels in Kansas between actions of state legislators to outlaw access to abortion services and ongoing actions to perpetuate criminalization of marijuana use, she said.

She was referencing the August 2022 rejection by Kansas voters of the proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution that would have declared there was nothing in the state Bill of Rights granting women bodily autonomy and the right to end a pregnancy.

Meanwhile, the House passed a medical marijuana bill in 2021, but it was ignored by the Senate. No comprehensive medical marijuana bill has made it to Kansas governor’s desk.

In both policy realms, Brett said, public sentiment chronicled in polling or at the ballot box should be recognized by the state’s elected public officials.

“Refusal of the Legislature to legalize medical marijuana is the Legislature essentially inserting itself into medical decisions that should be made between a patient and their doctor,” Brett said. “This policy choice is about liberty and autonomy. It is about who is getting to decide important medical decisions — you and your doctors or politicians in Topeka.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706123101882.png" alt=" Alejandro Rangel-Lopez, in a plant-oriented costume, contributed to a panel discussion about reasons for the 2024 Legislature to consider adopting a bill legalizing medical cannabis. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from online forum hosted by Kansas Cannabis Coalition, Loud Light and ACLU of Kansas)" />
 <figcaption> Alejandro Rangel-Lopez, in a plant-oriented costume, contributed to a panel discussion about reasons for the 2024 Legislature to consider adopting a bill legalizing medical cannabis. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from online forum hosted by Kansas Cannabis Coalition, Loud Light and ACLU of Kansas)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Gov. Laura Kelly supports concept, but House and Senate have yet to make a deal</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Delaney Jones’ grandmother, a survivor of European concentration camps during the Holocaust of World War II, suffered from a type of cancer that was often detected late, spread rapidly and had a poor prognosis.“She got really, really sick with pancreatic cancer late in life,” Jones said. “She said nothing she went through in the camps hurt like this.”She endured chemotherapy treatment for cancer and striking side effects of prescription pain medications, but relief from agony appeared to be beyond her grasp. The family’s matriarch eventually found comfort in cannabis oil, which contained THC not legal in Kansas but offered in other states in conjunction with palliative medical care or simply for recreational use.“It helped her get rid of the pain and the nausea, even the fatigue at times. It did not have the side effects of opiate painkillers. We were super, super grateful to see really the magical work that marijuana did in her end-of-life care,” Jones said.Jones, a graduate student at Wichita State University, was part of a roundtable discussion Tuesday about the campaign to convince the 2024 Kansas Legislature to approve a bill legalizing medical marijuana. Thirty-eight states, the District of Columbia and three U.S. territories have legalized medicinal use of cannabis products, but the Kansas Senate and Kansas House have yet to agree on a path forward.The scheduled day of action at the Capitol with the Kansas Cannabis Coalition, Loud Light and ACLU of Kansas was converted to an online format due to poor weather conditions that made driving unsafe.Cheryl Kumberg, a registered nurse and president of Kansas Cannabis Coalition, said she assumed the Legislature would take a year or two to complete work on a medical marijuana bill. That was five years ago, she said, and Republican leaders in the Legislature have collaborated to slow progress to a crawl.“I’m here in open-mouth amazement that we are still discussing passing a medical marijuana bill,” Kumberg said. “It is just the same excuses all these years. The same rhetoric from opponents and legislators. We’re just like this little island.”Kansas should be wary of cities creating a patchwork of ordinances that decriminalized marijuana possession, said Kelly Rippel, cofounder of Kansans for Hemp and part of the Kansas Cannabis Coalition. He said Kansas should be wary of de facto legalization of marijuana in communities that independently concluded the cost of enforcement exceeded the benefit.“We’ll just have this sort of understanding or unwritten rules and laws that we won’t prosecute cannabis. It leads to inconsistency around enforcement, not only in communities, but also the district attorneys in counties. We need to have something on the books that says, ‘We are not going to criminalize this, especially for personal possession,'” Rippel said.He said Kansas lawmakers should work on conviction expungements and the sealing of criminal records related to marijuana convictions.Latanya Goodloe, executive director of Ladies That Lean in Kansas City, Kansas, said she was convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to sell and served four years in prison. She completed requirements of parole in 2009, but had continued to deal with criminal justice consequences of being a felon.She said there were racial and economic justice components to debate about medical marijuana. Legislation in Kansas moving the state toward legalization should create fairness in the marketplace and recognize damage done in marginalized communities during the nation’s war on drugs, she said.“No monopoly,” she said. “Engaging the public, sustainable regulations are key components to shaping a system that addresses both health concerns and economic considerations. At this point, we have no reason to not put marijuana on the table.”Sharon Brett, legal director of ACLU of Kansas, said state government opposition to legal distribution of medical cannabis interfered with personal health care choices of Kansans and conflicted with polling that demonstrated statewide popularity of medical marijuana reform. There were parallels in Kansas between actions of state legislators to outlaw access to abortion services and ongoing actions to perpetuate criminalization of marijuana use, she said.She was referencing the August 2022 rejection by Kansas voters of the proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution that would have declared there was nothing in the state Bill of Rights granting women bodily autonomy and the right to end a pregnancy.Meanwhile, the House passed a medical marijuana bill in 2021, but it was ignored by the Senate. No comprehensive medical marijuana bill has made it to Kansas governor’s desk.In both policy realms, Brett said, public sentiment chronicled in polling or at the ballot box should be recognized by the state’s elected public officials.“Refusal of the Legislature to legalize medical marijuana is the Legislature essentially inserting itself into medical decisions that should be made between a patient and their doctor,” Brett said. “This policy choice is about liberty and autonomy. It is about who is getting to decide important medical decisions — you and your doctors or politicians in Topeka.”

Trio of Kan. groups call on legislature to pass bill legalizing cannabis for medicinal use

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;had rock-solid support from the party faithful in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-hampshire-primary-two-candidate-race-72a59c4133879eaeec63d6ed30e91e01">primary victory</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, with even most backers of rival&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;acknowledging the GOP belongs to him.

On his social media account Kansas Senator Roger Marshall suggested Haley should end her campaign.&nbsp;

Yet as Trump’s hold on securing the party’s nomination tightened,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2024-Primaries-VoteCastMethodologyStatement_PreElection-Post.pdf">AP VoteCast</a>&nbsp;found that some voters express concerns that he is too extreme to compete in the November general election. Some also worry about his&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">legal peril</a>&nbsp;in pending criminal trials.

Haley, a former South Carolina governor and a U.N. ambassador under Trump, bested him among college graduates and moderates, a possible sign that Trump has yet to expand his political base.

The survey found signs that primary voters on the Democratic side rallied around&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-new-hampshire-democrats-writein-campaign-597a1208e5a8696a3f6b794a91b9fb00">won in New Hampshire</a>&nbsp;with strong support on the economy, but many have concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-poll-trump-2024-620e0a5cfa0039a6448f607c17c7f23e">his age</a>&nbsp;— he is 81 — and his handling of the situation in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Middle East.</a>

Only weeks into 2024, voters have already shown an awareness of Trump’s strengths and liabilities. But even as the coronavirus, the major challenge during the 2020 election, has faded from public view, the cultural and social forces of that Biden-Trump matchup have hardened in ways that are testing the country’s sense of itself.

The New Hampshire primaries are unique because undeclared voters –- those not affiliated with either party –- can choose to vote in either party’s primary. This draws in voters who are not necessarily party loyalists.

Nearly half of GOP primary voters were not affiliated with a party, compared with about 2 in 10 in the Democratic primary. Among those affiliated with the Republican Party in the state, Trump won handily.

AP VoteCast is a survey of 1,989 New Hampshire voters who took part in the Republican primary and 915 Democratic primary voters. The survey was conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

New Hampshire’s demographics favored Trump.

He won in the small towns and rural communities, where about 6 in 10 primary participants say they live. Most GOP voters in the state lack a college degree; about two-thirds of them voted for Trump. He won about 7 in 10 Republican voters who identified as conservatives.

Trump was backed by Republicans who prioritize immigration and held a slight advantage among those prioritizing the economy, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-caucus-who-voted-how-poll-votecast-4d1d5eb89b32fbba3afedee90334148c">two top issues among GOP voters in New Hampshire and Iowa</a>, where the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucus-haley-desantis-cold-voting-begins-0af10f1ba21d488af54776b2c8d4028c">won the leadoff caucuses last week</a>.

Among those in New Hampshire who named immigration as their top priority, about three-quarters support Trump. New Hampshire’s primary voters agreed with Trump on the need to limit immigration and build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

About half of those who said the economy was the top issue backed Trump.

Haley drew her support from groups that could be crucial in November. But those groups were minorities in the GOP electorate.

She beat Trump among primary participants who were not formally affiliated with any party. About half of Haley’s supporters graduated from college, just as about half of them identify as moderates.

In many cases, her backers were simply uncomfortable with Trump.

Haley performed well among those who said Trump did something illegal in at least one of the criminal cases against him. And in the 2020 presidential election, about half of Haley’s supporters voted for Biden, a Democrat.

Iowa exposed suburban voters as a potential weakness for Trump. While Haley did her best in New Hampshire’s suburban communities, she only managed to pull even with Trump in those areas.

Compared with Iowa caucusgoers, New Hampshire Republican primary voters had more doubts about Trump.

In New Hampshire, about half of GOP voters are very or somewhat concerned that Trump is too extreme to win the general election. Only about one-third say the same about Haley.

Regarding Trump’s criminal indictments, about 4 in 10 GOP participants in New Hampshire said they believe he has done something illegal related to either his alleged attempt to interfere in the vote count in the 2020 presidential election, his role in what happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, or the classified documents found at his Florida home after he left the White House.

REPUBLICAN VOTERS EXPECT TRUMP TO BE GOP NOMINEE

The vast majority of Republican voters in New Hampshire, about 8 in 10, believe Trump will win the nomination, a finding that came after his dominant showing in Iowa.

Only about 2 in 10 say Haley will be the nominee. In a blow to a candidate who has pitched herself as a Trump alternative, more than half of Haley’s own supporters think Trump will represent the party on the November ballot.

About 8 in 10 say they decided before Iowa which candidate they would support. After the caucuses, three contenders ended their campaigns: biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

About 6 in 10 GOP voters say they had their minds made up more than a month ago, including about 4 in 10 saying they have known all along.

BIDEN'S DEMOCRATIC COALITION COMES INTO FOCUS

Biden’s New Hampshire victory provided key insights into the Democratic coalition.

About half hold a college degree, as education has become a major political dividing line across the country. There was almost universal support among Democratic voters for abortion to be legal in most if not all cases. Three-quarters called discrimination against Black people a major problem.

The polling also suggested that the economy might be evolving into a strength for Biden among his base. High inflation had hurt his approval ratings for most of his presidency, but inflation has eased without disrupting job growth and Democrats are showing newfound support for Biden’s agenda. Eight in 10 approved of his economic leadership.

There are limits on what New Hampshire can reveal, as the state is less urban, less suburban and less racially diverse than the rest of the country. Cities, suburbs and non-white voters were crucial elements of Biden's winning 2020 coalition.

Still, not everything Biden does received strong plaudits in New Hampshire. Only about half approve of how he is handling immigration, and only about half approve of his handling of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Nearly half say Biden is too old to serve a second term as president.

During his presidency, the Democratic Party has chosen to make South Carolina the first official presidential contest, a choice that relegated Biden to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-new-hampshire-democrats-race-call-explainer-6cd2136e9b8c77f736e455fb2ad2eca3">write-in status in New Hampshire</a>. More than half said it is very or somewhat important to them that New Hampshire’s presidential primary is the first in the nation.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;had rock-solid support from the party faithful in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-hampshire-primary-two-candidate-race-72a59c4133879eaeec63d6ed30e91e01">primary victory</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, with even most backers of rival&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;acknowledging the GOP belongs to him.On his social media account Kansas Senator Roger Marshall suggested Haley should end her campaign.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump is the Republican nominee. There’s no need for another charade in South Carolina. It’s time to focus &amp; contrast two Americas: America between 2016-2020. America between 2020-2024. Which do you prefer?&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1749992131060502623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Yet as Trump’s hold on securing the party’s nomination tightened,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2024-Primaries-VoteCastMethodologyStatement_PreElection-Post.pdf">AP VoteCast</a>&nbsp;found that some voters express concerns that he is too extreme to compete in the November general election. Some also worry about his&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">legal peril</a>&nbsp;in pending criminal trials.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Donald Trump: &quot;We are going to win this. We have no choice. If we don&#39;t win I think our country is finished.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/IFAs6fb2bT">pic.twitter.com/IFAs6fb2bT</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1749987055529001095?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Haley, a former South Carolina governor and a U.N. ambassador under Trump, bested him among college graduates and moderates, a possible sign that Trump has yet to expand his political base.The survey found signs that primary voters on the Democratic side rallied around&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-new-hampshire-democrats-writein-campaign-597a1208e5a8696a3f6b794a91b9fb00">won in New Hampshire</a>&nbsp;with strong support on the economy, but many have concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-poll-trump-2024-620e0a5cfa0039a6448f607c17c7f23e">his age</a>&nbsp;— he is 81 — and his handling of the situation in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Middle East.</a>Only weeks into 2024, voters have already shown an awareness of Trump’s strengths and liabilities. But even as the coronavirus, the major challenge during the 2020 election, has faded from public view, the cultural and social forces of that Biden-Trump matchup have hardened in ways that are testing the country’s sense of itself.The New Hampshire primaries are unique because undeclared voters –- those not affiliated with either party –- can choose to vote in either party’s primary. This draws in voters who are not necessarily party loyalists.Nearly half of GOP primary voters were not affiliated with a party, compared with about 2 in 10 in the Democratic primary. Among those affiliated with the Republican Party in the state, Trump won handily.AP VoteCast is a survey of 1,989 New Hampshire voters who took part in the Republican primary and 915 Democratic primary voters. The survey was conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.HOW TRUMP WON IN NEW HAMPSHIRENew Hampshire’s demographics favored Trump.He won in the small towns and rural communities, where about 6 in 10 primary participants say they live. Most GOP voters in the state lack a college degree; about two-thirds of them voted for Trump. He won about 7 in 10 Republican voters who identified as conservatives.Trump was backed by Republicans who prioritize immigration and held a slight advantage among those prioritizing the economy, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-caucus-who-voted-how-poll-votecast-4d1d5eb89b32fbba3afedee90334148c">two top issues among GOP voters in New Hampshire and Iowa</a>, where the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucus-haley-desantis-cold-voting-begins-0af10f1ba21d488af54776b2c8d4028c">won the leadoff caucuses last week</a>.Among those in New Hampshire who named immigration as their top priority, about three-quarters support Trump. New Hampshire’s primary voters agreed with Trump on the need to limit immigration and build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.About half of those who said the economy was the top issue backed Trump.HOW HALEY’S STRENGTHS FELL SHORTHaley drew her support from groups that could be crucial in November. But those groups were minorities in the GOP electorate.She beat Trump among primary participants who were not formally affiliated with any party. About half of Haley’s supporters graduated from college, just as about half of them identify as moderates.In many cases, her backers were simply uncomfortable with Trump.Haley performed well among those who said Trump did something illegal in at least one of the criminal cases against him. And in the 2020 presidential election, about half of Haley’s supporters voted for Biden, a Democrat.Iowa exposed suburban voters as a potential weakness for Trump. While Haley did her best in New Hampshire’s suburban communities, she only managed to pull even with Trump in those areas.POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES FOR TRUMPCompared with Iowa caucusgoers, New Hampshire Republican primary voters had more doubts about Trump.In New Hampshire, about half of GOP voters are very or somewhat concerned that Trump is too extreme to win the general election. Only about one-third say the same about Haley.Regarding Trump’s criminal indictments, about 4 in 10 GOP participants in New Hampshire said they believe he has done something illegal related to either his alleged attempt to interfere in the vote count in the 2020 presidential election, his role in what happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, or the classified documents found at his Florida home after he left the White House.REPUBLICAN VOTERS EXPECT TRUMP TO BE GOP NOMINEEThe vast majority of Republican voters in New Hampshire, about 8 in 10, believe Trump will win the nomination, a finding that came after his dominant showing in Iowa.Only about 2 in 10 say Haley will be the nominee. In a blow to a candidate who has pitched herself as a Trump alternative, more than half of Haley’s own supporters think Trump will represent the party on the November ballot.About 8 in 10 say they decided before Iowa which candidate they would support. After the caucuses, three contenders ended their campaigns: biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.About 6 in 10 GOP voters say they had their minds made up more than a month ago, including about 4 in 10 saying they have known all along.BIDEN'S DEMOCRATIC COALITION COMES INTO FOCUSBiden’s New Hampshire victory provided key insights into the Democratic coalition.About half hold a college degree, as education has become a major political dividing line across the country. There was almost universal support among Democratic voters for abortion to be legal in most if not all cases. Three-quarters called discrimination against Black people a major problem.The polling also suggested that the economy might be evolving into a strength for Biden among his base. High inflation had hurt his approval ratings for most of his presidency, but inflation has eased without disrupting job growth and Democrats are showing newfound support for Biden’s agenda. Eight in 10 approved of his economic leadership.There are limits on what New Hampshire can reveal, as the state is less urban, less suburban and less racially diverse than the rest of the country. Cities, suburbs and non-white voters were crucial elements of Biden's winning 2020 coalition.Still, not everything Biden does received strong plaudits in New Hampshire. Only about half approve of how he is handling immigration, and only about half approve of his handling of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.Nearly half say Biden is too old to serve a second term as president.During his presidency, the Democratic Party has chosen to make South Carolina the first official presidential contest, a choice that relegated Biden to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-new-hampshire-democrats-race-call-explainer-6cd2136e9b8c77f736e455fb2ad2eca3">write-in status in New Hampshire</a>. More than half said it is very or somewhat important to them that New Hampshire’s presidential primary is the first in the nation.

Kansas U.S. Senator: Trump is the nominee, end the charade

JERUSALEM (AP) — Two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments came under attack off Yemen on Wednesday, officials said, with the U.S. Navy intercepting some of the incoming fire. Suspicion immediately fell on Yemen's Houthi rebels for carrying out the assault.

The attacks on the container ships Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake further raise the stakes of the group's ongoing attacks on shipping through the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The U.S. and the United Kingdom have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes seeking to stop the attacks.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/qatar">Qatar</a>, one of the world's top exporters of liquified natural gas, warned that its deliveries were affected by ongoing Houthi attacks over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war on Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip.

Danish shipper Maersk, in a statement to The Associated Press, identified two of its vessels affected by the attacks as the U.S.-flagged container ships Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake. It said the U.S. Navy was accompanying its ships at the time.

“While en route, both ships reported seeing explosions close by and the U.S. Navy accompaniment also intercepted multiple projectiles,” Maersk said. “The crew, ship, and cargo are safe and unharmed. The U.S. Navy has turned both ships around and is escorting them back to the Gulf of Aden.”

Maersk said both vessels carried cargo belonging to the U.S. Defense and State Departments, as well as other government agencies, meaning they were “afforded the protection of the U.S. Navy for passage through the strait.”

The ships were operated by Maersk Line, a U.S. subsidiary of Maersk that is “suspending transits in the region until further notice,” the company said.

The U.S. military's Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Houthis, who have been launching attacks on ships since November over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, did not immediately acknowledge the incident.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.

The U.S. and the U.K. have launched rounds of airstrikes targeting suspected missile storage and launch sites used by the Houthis in their attacks. The rebels now say they’ll target American and British ships as well.

Meanwhile, Qatar announced its shipments of liquified natural gas had been affected by the Houthi attacks. Previous shipments had been delayed previously before heading through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

Qatar, which has served as a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, has yet to see any of its ships attacked, however. A statement from its state-owned QatarEnergy producer said that its “production continues uninterrupted, and our commitment to ensuring the reliable supply of LNG to our customers remains unwavering.”

“While the ongoing developments in the Red Sea area may impact the scheduling of some deliveries as they take alternative routes, LNG shipments from Qatar are being managed with our valued buyers,” the statement said.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments came under attack off Yemen on Wednesday, officials said, with the U.S. Navy intercepting some of the incoming fire. Suspicion immediately fell on Yemen's Houthi rebels for carrying out the assault.The attacks on the container ships Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake further raise the stakes of the group's ongoing attacks on shipping through the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The U.S. and the United Kingdom have launched multiple rounds of airstrikes seeking to stop the attacks.Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/qatar">Qatar</a>, one of the world's top exporters of liquified natural gas, warned that its deliveries were affected by ongoing Houthi attacks over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war on Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip.Danish shipper Maersk, in a statement to The Associated Press, identified two of its vessels affected by the attacks as the U.S.-flagged container ships Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake. It said the U.S. Navy was accompanying its ships at the time.“While en route, both ships reported seeing explosions close by and the U.S. Navy accompaniment also intercepted multiple projectiles,” Maersk said. “The crew, ship, and cargo are safe and unharmed. The U.S. Navy has turned both ships around and is escorting them back to the Gulf of Aden.”Maersk said both vessels carried cargo belonging to the U.S. Defense and State Departments, as well as other government agencies, meaning they were “afforded the protection of the U.S. Navy for passage through the strait.”The ships were operated by Maersk Line, a U.S. subsidiary of Maersk that is “suspending transits in the region until further notice,” the company said.The U.S. military's Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Houthis, who have been launching attacks on ships since November over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, did not immediately acknowledge the incident.Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.The U.S. and the U.K. have launched rounds of airstrikes targeting suspected missile storage and launch sites used by the Houthis in their attacks. The rebels now say they’ll target American and British ships as well.Meanwhile, Qatar announced its shipments of liquified natural gas had been affected by the Houthi attacks. Previous shipments had been delayed previously before heading through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.Qatar, which has served as a key mediator between Hamas and Israel, has yet to see any of its ships attacked, however. A statement from its state-owned QatarEnergy producer said that its “production continues uninterrupted, and our commitment to ensuring the reliable supply of LNG to our customers remains unwavering.”“While the ongoing developments in the Red Sea area may impact the scheduling of some deliveries as they take alternative routes, LNG shipments from Qatar are being managed with our valued buyers,” the statement said.

Rebels attack 2 US-flagged ships with cargo for US Defense Dept.

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling nearly 1.9 million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. because a trim piece can fly off and create a hazard for other drivers.

The recall covers Explorers from the 2011 through 2019 model years.

Documents posted Wednesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that clips holding the trim that covers the roof supports close to the windshield can come loose.

If that happens, the trim piece can fly off and increase the risk of a crash.

The recall comes after U.S. regulators opened an investigation into the problem last January after receiving 164 consumer complaints. Canadian regulators also inquired about the problem.

Documents say that at first Ford decided against a recall, citing the low mass of the part. But the company decided to do the recall after U.S. regulators determined the problem was a safety hazard.

Ford said in a statement Wednesday that it expects only 5% of the recalled Explorers to be affected by the problem. It encourages owners to contact dealers for an inspection when parts are available.

The company said in documents that it's aware of 568 consumer complaints and more than 14,000 warranty reports alleging that the parts were missing or detached. Ford said it is not aware of any crashes or injuries from the problem.

Dealers will inspect the trim pieces to make sure the clips are engaged and add adhesive to hold them in place.

Owners will be notified starting March 13.

DETROIT (AP) — Ford is recalling nearly 1.9 million Explorer SUVs in the U.S. because a trim piece can fly off and create a hazard for other drivers.The recall covers Explorers from the 2011 through 2019 model years.Documents posted Wednesday by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say that clips holding the trim that covers the roof supports close to the windshield can come loose.If that happens, the trim piece can fly off and increase the risk of a crash.The recall comes after U.S. regulators opened an investigation into the problem last January after receiving 164 consumer complaints. Canadian regulators also inquired about the problem.Documents say that at first Ford decided against a recall, citing the low mass of the part. But the company decided to do the recall after U.S. regulators determined the problem was a safety hazard.Ford said in a statement Wednesday that it expects only 5% of the recalled Explorers to be affected by the problem. It encourages owners to contact dealers for an inspection when parts are available.The company said in documents that it's aware of 568 consumer complaints and more than 14,000 warranty reports alleging that the parts were missing or detached. Ford said it is not aware of any crashes or injuries from the problem.Dealers will inspect the trim pieces to make sure the clips are engaged and add adhesive to hold them in place.Owners will be notified starting March 13.

Ford recalling Explorer SUVs over possible traffic hazard

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Dozens of Kansas lawmakers launched an effort Tuesday to direct the state's attorney general to release information from an investigation into a police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marion-kansas-newspaper-raid-aca057365ea3925328a69acd615c9893">raid last year on a weekly newspaper</a>, but it wasn't clear that their measure would get a hearing in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Thirty-five Democrats and 10 Republicans in the Kansas House introduced a resolution condemning the Aug. 11 raid of the Marion County Record's offices, the home of its publisher and the home of a city council member in Marion in central Kansas. The resolution would direct Attorney General Kris Kobach to provide a report on whether the investigation found that people's civil rights were violated.

The raid put Marion, a town of about 1,900 residents about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, at the center of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marion-county-record-kansas-newspaper-raid-f1e49c4e542ddb3cf19c9ca02a0a21fb">a national debate</a>&nbsp;over press freedom. It also focused an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-raid-police-chief-resigns-e4ddf5a06defbb702bc23650827e53fd">intense spotlight on the police chief</a>&nbsp;who led the raid because the paper had been looking into his past.

The 98-year-old mother of Publisher Eric Meyer died the day after the raid, something he attributed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-mother-raid-video-4427af3241da82767deb76028836cffd">the stress it caused,</a>&nbsp;and within days the local prosecutor declared there wasn't enough evidence to support the raid. Legal experts said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-raid-marion-county-record-bead3f49d323c784d40154067141dc7c">likely violated state or federal law,</a>&nbsp;and then-Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody resigned in early October.

“This is something that happened in Kansas that garnered international attention and concern about the state of our free press in the world and very particularly here in Kansas,” said state Rep. Mary Lynn Poskin, a Kansas City-area Democrat and a leading sponsor of the resolution. “I felt it was really important for the Kansas House to send a strong message.”

The resolution is likely to go to the House Judiciary Committee. Chair Susan Humphries, a Wichita Republican, said she needs to review the measure, adding, “I can't say for sure that I'm going to have a hearing.”

Kobach, an elected Republican, said that if anyone is charged with a crime, information will come out during the legal proceedings.

He said when no one is charged with a crime, "Then our system has a preference for not throwing everything on the table.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/newspaper-raid-kansas-affidavit-07d9c856894892bff13cb014248ec866">Cody has said</a>&nbsp;he was investigating whether the newspaper and city council member had illegally violated a local business owner's privacy or committed other crimes by obtaining her driving record, which included a past drunken driving offense. Meyer has said the newspaper only verified the information's authenticity, and no criminal charges have been filed.

Kobach oversees the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which took over the investigation into the newspaper and the city council member. Later, Kansas officials asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to look into the circumstances surrounding the raid.

Meyer said Tuesday that he'd like to have a formal statement from authorities that the newspaper or its staff is no longer under investigation. He said making information public would be “a first step,” but there are questions about why the raid was necessary and about how search warrants are issued in Kansas.

The lead sponsors of the resolution are Poskin and another Democrat, Rep. Boog Highberger, of Lawrence. Meyer said it could be “the kiss of death” for the measure.

“You know, if a Democrat said the sun is going to rise in the east in the morning, the Republicans would deny it — and vice versa, I might add,” he said.

Several legislators and staffers said the resolution drew criticism from some Republicans for explicitly linking the raid to the death of Meyer's mother, Joan Meyer, the paper's co-owner.

The resolution also declares that the raid undermined "the role of journalism in encouraging engaged, civic-minded, critical thinkers.”

Asked about the resolution, House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said in an emailed statement that it would go through “the normal committee process” — which gives a committee chair wide discretion in what measures to consider.

“Freedom of speech and law and order are two very important considerations here,” Hawkins said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692219843330.png" alt="photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Dozens of Kansas lawmakers launched an effort Tuesday to direct the state's attorney general to release information from an investigation into a police&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marion-kansas-newspaper-raid-aca057365ea3925328a69acd615c9893">raid last year on a weekly newspaper</a>, but it wasn't clear that their measure would get a hearing in the Republican-controlled Legislature.Thirty-five Democrats and 10 Republicans in the Kansas House introduced a resolution condemning the Aug. 11 raid of the Marion County Record's offices, the home of its publisher and the home of a city council member in Marion in central Kansas. The resolution would direct Attorney General Kris Kobach to provide a report on whether the investigation found that people's civil rights were violated.The raid put Marion, a town of about 1,900 residents about 150 miles (241 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, at the center of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marion-county-record-kansas-newspaper-raid-f1e49c4e542ddb3cf19c9ca02a0a21fb">a national debate</a>&nbsp;over press freedom. It also focused an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-raid-police-chief-resigns-e4ddf5a06defbb702bc23650827e53fd">intense spotlight on the police chief</a>&nbsp;who led the raid because the paper had been looking into his past.The 98-year-old mother of Publisher Eric Meyer died the day after the raid, something he attributed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-mother-raid-video-4427af3241da82767deb76028836cffd">the stress it caused,</a>&nbsp;and within days the local prosecutor declared there wasn't enough evidence to support the raid. Legal experts said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-newspaper-raid-marion-county-record-bead3f49d323c784d40154067141dc7c">likely violated state or federal law,</a>&nbsp;and then-Marion Police Chief Gideon Cody resigned in early October.“This is something that happened in Kansas that garnered international attention and concern about the state of our free press in the world and very particularly here in Kansas,” said state Rep. Mary Lynn Poskin, a Kansas City-area Democrat and a leading sponsor of the resolution. “I felt it was really important for the Kansas House to send a strong message.”The resolution is likely to go to the House Judiciary Committee. Chair Susan Humphries, a Wichita Republican, said she needs to review the measure, adding, “I can't say for sure that I'm going to have a hearing.”Kobach, an elected Republican, said that if anyone is charged with a crime, information will come out during the legal proceedings.He said when no one is charged with a crime, "Then our system has a preference for not throwing everything on the table.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/newspaper-raid-kansas-affidavit-07d9c856894892bff13cb014248ec866">Cody has said</a>&nbsp;he was investigating whether the newspaper and city council member had illegally violated a local business owner's privacy or committed other crimes by obtaining her driving record, which included a past drunken driving offense. Meyer has said the newspaper only verified the information's authenticity, and no criminal charges have been filed.Kobach oversees the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which took over the investigation into the newspaper and the city council member. Later, Kansas officials asked the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to look into the circumstances surrounding the raid.Meyer said Tuesday that he'd like to have a formal statement from authorities that the newspaper or its staff is no longer under investigation. He said making information public would be “a first step,” but there are questions about why the raid was necessary and about how search warrants are issued in Kansas.The lead sponsors of the resolution are Poskin and another Democrat, Rep. Boog Highberger, of Lawrence. Meyer said it could be “the kiss of death” for the measure.“You know, if a Democrat said the sun is going to rise in the east in the morning, the Republicans would deny it — and vice versa, I might add,” he said.Several legislators and staffers said the resolution drew criticism from some Republicans for explicitly linking the raid to the death of Meyer's mother, Joan Meyer, the paper's co-owner.The resolution also declares that the raid undermined "the role of journalism in encouraging engaged, civic-minded, critical thinkers.”Asked about the resolution, House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said in an emailed statement that it would go through “the normal committee process” — which gives a committee chair wide discretion in what measures to consider.“Freedom of speech and law and order are two very important considerations here,” Hawkins said.

Kan. lawmakers want report on last year's police raid of newspaper

DOUGLAS COUNTY—There were no injuries from a fire at the law enforcement center in Lawrence late Tuesday.

Just before 11p.m. crews responded to a fire alarm at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center at 111 East 11th Street in Lawrence, according to Fire Chief Richard Llewellyn.

This facility houses several Douglas County departments, including the District Attorney, Emergency Communications Center (ECC), Court Services and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

While initial units were responding, the incident was upgraded to a “Confirmed Structure Fire” and additional resources were dispatched.

First responders encountered significant smoke in the basement of the building.&nbsp; Following a thorough search in low visibility conditions, firefighters located a fire that was contained by a single activated fire sprinkler head. 

Crews put the fire out and then searched the rest of the building for fire extension and to ensure that no victims were present.

Douglas County’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) continued to operate throughout this incident, both receiving incoming 911 calls and dispatching resources as appropriate. Dispatchers monitored ongoing fire operations in the building and worked through an audible fire alarm which remained activated for an extended time period.

Investigators determined the fire occurred in the jury deliberation room for the Division 7 Court Room in the basement of the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center. 

The room had experienced water damage from a sprinkler head that was damaged during recent freezing temperatures. The fire was determined to be accidental due to an electrical/mechanical malfunction of a fan that had been left running in the room to assist with the drying process.&nbsp;No injuries were reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706107828783.png" alt="Photo Lawrence -Douglas Co. Fire and Medical" />
 <figcaption>Photo Lawrence -Douglas Co. Fire and Medical</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—There were no injuries from a fire at the law enforcement center in Lawrence late Tuesday.Just before 11p.m. crews responded to a fire alarm at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center at 111 East 11th Street in Lawrence, according to Fire Chief Richard Llewellyn.This facility houses several Douglas County departments, including the District Attorney, Emergency Communications Center (ECC), Court Services and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.While initial units were responding, the incident was upgraded to a “Confirmed Structure Fire” and additional resources were dispatched.First responders encountered significant smoke in the basement of the building.&nbsp; Following a thorough search in low visibility conditions, firefighters located a fire that was contained by a single activated fire sprinkler head. Crews put the fire out and then searched the rest of the building for fire extension and to ensure that no victims were present.Douglas County’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC) continued to operate throughout this incident, both receiving incoming 911 calls and dispatching resources as appropriate. Dispatchers monitored ongoing fire operations in the building and worked through an audible fire alarm which remained activated for an extended time period.Investigators determined the fire occurred in the jury deliberation room for the Division 7 Court Room in the basement of the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center. The room had experienced water damage from a sprinkler head that was damaged during recent freezing temperatures. The fire was determined to be accidental due to an electrical/mechanical malfunction of a fan that had been left running in the room to assist with the drying process.&nbsp;No injuries were reported.

Fire in jury room at law enforcement center in Kansas 

&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is out of money for Ukraine, unable to send the ammunition and missiles that the government in Kyiv needs to fend off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's invasion</a>.

(click below to watch Austin's statement to the allies)

With the aid caught up in domestic politics, the Biden administration on Tuesday came empty-handed for the first time as host of the monthly meeting of about 50 nations that coordinate support for Ukraine. The group was established by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in April 2022.

While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-speaker-johnson-border-security-ukraine-government-shutdown-fa505e84f1ffd1767eb01a250a161393">waiting for Congress to</a>&nbsp;approve more money for Ukraine’s fight, Washington will look to allies to keep bridging the gap.

“I urge this group to dig deep to provide Ukraine with more lifesaving ground-based air defense systems and interceptors,” Austin said in opening remarks broadcast from his home, where he is recuperating after prostate cancer surgery.

The opening statement by video was the first public appearance from Austin, 70, who appeared slightly gaunt. He was hospitalized for two weeks after complications from the surgery.

After the meeting, Celeste Wallander, assistant defense secretary for international affairs, told reporters that Ukraine's ministry of defense is getting reports from its front lines that “units are not do not have the stocks and the stores of ammunition that they require."

Wallander added, “That is one of the reasons we have been focusing on the need to answer Congress’ questions, so that they are able to move forward on a decision to pass” legislation with the aid.

While Ukraine waits to see what Congress will do, European allies are moving ahead with new measures to support Ukraine.

In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-nato-artillery-shells-59663a6a14ad180be86bc79a86cea07b">$1.2 billion joint contract</a>&nbsp;to buy more than 222,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition. The rounds are some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/155mm-howitzer-ukraine-ammunition-russia-7d966c85046b73db2b013f93c51af2a5">most heavily used</a>&nbsp;munitions in the war, and the contract will be used to backfill allies that have pushed their own reserves to Kyiv.

While the conflict between Israel and Hamas has dominated headlines since October, Russia's onslaught against Ukraine has continued.

Russia on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-kyiv-missile-kharkiv-7c360faaeec27ac169b2abf4865a4522">launched a barrage</a>&nbsp;of more than 40 ballistic, cruise, anti-aircraft and guided missiles into Ukraine’s two biggest cities, damaging apartment buildings and killing at least five people. The assault came a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-clash-peace-gaza-united-nations-aeebfd51edbacb6b82550ebe3b47f2ac">Moscow shunned any deal backed by Kyiv</a>&nbsp;and its Western allies to end the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">almost two-year war</a>.

Ukraine's air defenses were able to intercept at least 21 of the missiles. But the attacks injured at least 20 people in four districts of Kyiv, the capital.

The Pentagon announced its last security assistance for Ukraine on Dec. 27, a $250 million package that included 155 mm rounds, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other high-demand items drawn from existing U.S. stockpiles.

The U.S. has not been able to provide additional munitions since then because the money for replenishing those stockpiles has run out and Congress has yet to approve more funds.

More than $110 billion in aid for both Ukraine and Israel is stalled over disagreements between Congress and the White House over other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-speaker-johnson-border-security-ukraine-government-shutdown-fa505e84f1ffd1767eb01a250a161393">policy priorities,</a>&nbsp;including additional security for the U.S.-Mexico border.

Senators are trying for a bipartisan deal that would include nearly $61 billion in aid for Ukraine and make changes in border policy. But Republicans are renewing a push to scale back the amount of assistance for Ukraine, targeting money that would go to Ukraine’s civil sector and arguing that European nations could step in to fund those needs.

“Personally speaking, I’d like to see portions pared down,” Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking Republican senator, told reporters Tuesday. “I think the number is really high and there are a lot of things funded in there.”

But even if a deal can be reached in the Senate, the package faces even more opposition in the House, where many Republicans have voted repeatedly against the Ukrainian war effort.

The U.S. has provided Ukraine more than $44.2 billion in security assistance since Russia invaded in February 2022. About $23.6 billion of that was pulled from existing military stockpiles and almost $19 billion was sent in the form of longer-term military contracts, for items that will take months to procure. So even though funds have run out, some previously purchased weapons will continue to flow in. An additional $1.7 billion has been provided by the U.S. State Department in the form of foreign military financing.

The U.S. and approximately 30 international partners are also continuing to train Ukrainian forces, and to date have trained a total of 118,000 Ukrainians at locations around the world, said Col. Marty O’Donnell, spokesman for U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706044056961.png" alt="Austin in his first public appearance since his secret hospitalization urged&nbsp; the group to "dig deep to provide Ukraine with more lifesaving ground-based air defense systems and interceptors."" />
 <figcaption>Austin in his first public appearance since his secret hospitalization urged&nbsp; the group to "dig deep to provide Ukraine with more lifesaving ground-based air defense systems and interceptors."</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is out of money for Ukraine, unable to send the ammunition and missiles that the government in Kyiv needs to fend off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's invasion</a>.(click below to watch Austin's statement to the allies)<div><iframe width='500' height='300' scrolling='no' frameborder='0' style='border: none; overflow: hidden; width: 500px; height: 300px;' allowtransparency='true' src='https://www.dvidshub.net/video/embed/910925'></iframe></div>With the aid caught up in domestic politics, the Biden administration on Tuesday came empty-handed for the first time as host of the monthly meeting of about 50 nations that coordinate support for Ukraine. The group was established by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in April 2022.While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-speaker-johnson-border-security-ukraine-government-shutdown-fa505e84f1ffd1767eb01a250a161393">waiting for Congress to</a>&nbsp;approve more money for Ukraine’s fight, Washington will look to allies to keep bridging the gap.“I urge this group to dig deep to provide Ukraine with more lifesaving ground-based air defense systems and interceptors,” Austin said in opening remarks broadcast from his home, where he is recuperating after prostate cancer surgery.The opening statement by video was the first public appearance from Austin, 70, who appeared slightly gaunt. He was hospitalized for two weeks after complications from the surgery.After the meeting, Celeste Wallander, assistant defense secretary for international affairs, told reporters that Ukraine's ministry of defense is getting reports from its front lines that “units are not do not have the stocks and the stores of ammunition that they require."Wallander added, “That is one of the reasons we have been focusing on the need to answer Congress’ questions, so that they are able to move forward on a decision to pass” legislation with the aid.While Ukraine waits to see what Congress will do, European allies are moving ahead with new measures to support Ukraine.In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-nato-artillery-shells-59663a6a14ad180be86bc79a86cea07b">$1.2 billion joint contract</a>&nbsp;to buy more than 222,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition. The rounds are some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/155mm-howitzer-ukraine-ammunition-russia-7d966c85046b73db2b013f93c51af2a5">most heavily used</a>&nbsp;munitions in the war, and the contract will be used to backfill allies that have pushed their own reserves to Kyiv.While the conflict between Israel and Hamas has dominated headlines since October, Russia's onslaught against Ukraine has continued.Russia on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-kyiv-missile-kharkiv-7c360faaeec27ac169b2abf4865a4522">launched a barrage</a>&nbsp;of more than 40 ballistic, cruise, anti-aircraft and guided missiles into Ukraine’s two biggest cities, damaging apartment buildings and killing at least five people. The assault came a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-united-states-clash-peace-gaza-united-nations-aeebfd51edbacb6b82550ebe3b47f2ac">Moscow shunned any deal backed by Kyiv</a>&nbsp;and its Western allies to end the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">almost two-year war</a>.Ukraine's air defenses were able to intercept at least 21 of the missiles. But the attacks injured at least 20 people in four districts of Kyiv, the capital.The Pentagon announced its last security assistance for Ukraine on Dec. 27, a $250 million package that included 155 mm rounds, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and other high-demand items drawn from existing U.S. stockpiles.The U.S. has not been able to provide additional munitions since then because the money for replenishing those stockpiles has run out and Congress has yet to approve more funds.More than $110 billion in aid for both Ukraine and Israel is stalled over disagreements between Congress and the White House over other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-speaker-johnson-border-security-ukraine-government-shutdown-fa505e84f1ffd1767eb01a250a161393">policy priorities,</a>&nbsp;including additional security for the U.S.-Mexico border.Senators are trying for a bipartisan deal that would include nearly $61 billion in aid for Ukraine and make changes in border policy. But Republicans are renewing a push to scale back the amount of assistance for Ukraine, targeting money that would go to Ukraine’s civil sector and arguing that European nations could step in to fund those needs.“Personally speaking, I’d like to see portions pared down,” Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking Republican senator, told reporters Tuesday. “I think the number is really high and there are a lot of things funded in there.”But even if a deal can be reached in the Senate, the package faces even more opposition in the House, where many Republicans have voted repeatedly against the Ukrainian war effort.The U.S. has provided Ukraine more than $44.2 billion in security assistance since Russia invaded in February 2022. About $23.6 billion of that was pulled from existing military stockpiles and almost $19 billion was sent in the form of longer-term military contracts, for items that will take months to procure. So even though funds have run out, some previously purchased weapons will continue to flow in. An additional $1.7 billion has been provided by the U.S. State Department in the form of foreign military financing.The U.S. and approximately 30 international partners are also continuing to train Ukrainian forces, and to date have trained a total of 118,000 Ukrainians at locations around the world, said Col. Marty O’Donnell, spokesman for U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

🎥 U.S. has no more money for Ukraine, asks allies for support 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run that seriously injured to pedestrians.

Just before 7:30p.m. Tuesday, a vehicle struck&nbsp;two pedestrians at Winner Road and Appleton Avenue in Independence, according to a media release .The vehicle fled the scene and the pedestrians sustained serious injuries. 

Police are asking for help in identifying the driver of the red or maroon minivan as seen on security cameras.  It was last seen westbound on Winner Road.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Buck at jbuck@indepmo.org or by phone at 816-325-7300.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706094248534.png" alt="Security camera image Independence Police" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image Independence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a hit-and-run that seriously injured to pedestrians.Just before 7:30p.m. Tuesday, a vehicle struck&nbsp;two pedestrians at Winner Road and Appleton Avenue in Independence, according to a media release .The vehicle fled the scene and the pedestrians sustained serious injuries. Police are asking for help in identifying the driver of the red or maroon minivan as seen on security cameras. It was last seen westbound on Winner Road.Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Buck at jbuck@indepmo.org or by phone at 816-325-7300.

Police ask for help to ID minivan in KC-area hit-and-run

BAGHDAD(AP) —The U.S. military struck three facilities in Iraq and two anti-ship missiles in Yemen operated by Iranian-backed militias that have attacked U.S. personnel and ships in the region as the United States tries to keep the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;from spilling over into a wider conflict.

Both the strikes in Iraq and Yemen late on Tuesday targeted sites that the U.S. has said are involved in the attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria and were threatening U.S. military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the strikes in Iraq were at the direction of President Joe Biden and targeted facilities used by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-kataib-hezbollah-drone-strike-us-military-injured-b4b4480e2cae6e7ad26e88eb625ab397">Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia</a>&nbsp;and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq.

“These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against U.S. and Coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias," Austin said. Those strikes hit militia facilities in Jurf al-Sakhar, which is south of Baghdad, al-Qaim and another unnamed site in western Iraq, two U.S. officials said.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said the strikes “blatantly violate Iraq’s sovereignty" and contribute to an "irresponsible escalation," according to a statement from his office. The statement, signed by military spokesman Yahya Rasool, said Iraq considers the strikes “hostile acts” and is taking measures to protect the lives of Iraqis.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, a coalition of armed mostly Shiite groups only nominally under Iraqi military authority, said the strike near the Syrian border killed one of its fighters and wounded two, while the strike south of Baghdad caused material damage.

The U.S. Central Command announced it had also struck two anti-ship missiles belonging to the Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels that were being prepared for launch and were aimed at the southern part of the Red Sea.

“U.S. forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region,” Central Command said.

Both fronts — land attacks in Iraq and Syria, and sea attacks originating from Yemen — have seen a significant uptick in launches and counterstrikes over the last few days.

The U.S. strikes on the Kataib Hezbollah sites in Iraq came hours after the U.S. said militiamen fired two one-way attack drones at al-Asad Air Base, injuring U.S. service members and damaging infrastructure. And they followed the militia's most serious attack this year on the air base, when it launched multiple ballistic missiles on Saturday.

U.S. Central Command said it targeted Kataib Hezbollah headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack drone capabilities.

In the drone attacks against al-Asad earlier Tuesday, U.S. defenses were able to intercept the first drone but it crashed on base while the second drone hit the base, U.S. officials said. Injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and smoke inhalation, were reported to be minor. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that had not been announced publicly.

The strikes on the Houthi missile launch sites in Yemen followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-british-strikes-houthi-yemen-4ca86a7c0f484fcdf9c386cd752c1878">joint operation on Monday night</a>&nbsp;where the U.S. and Britain used warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets to take out Houthi missile storage sites, drones and launchers.

On both fronts, the Iranian-backed militias have employed ballistic missiles to target U.S. bases and ships, which marks an escalation, said Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who specializes in Iran.

The militias have typically used drones and rockets to attack. Tehran supplied Shiite militias in Iraq with short-range and close-range ballistic missiles in 2019, Taleblu said, but they had not been used until November’s attacks.

During Saturday’s larger-scale attack, multiple ballistic missiles and rockets launched by Iranian-backed militias targeted al-Asad, but most were intercepted by air defense systems there, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters on Monday. She said other munitions hit the base.

Al-Asad is a large air base in western Iraq where U.S. troops have trained Iraqi security forces and now coordinate operations to counter the militant Islamic State group.

Singh said Saturday’s attack was a “barrage” — the first time since Nov. 20 that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iraq-airstrike-military-iran-d93d861feeef90cfeac3ba85f1f2f36d">Iranian proxy forces in Iraq had fired ballistic missiles at U.S. bases</a>&nbsp;there.

A coalition of militias calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has taken credit for a number of the attacks on U.S. forces. Kataib Hezbollah is one of the groups within that umbrella organization.

Iran has also supplied the Houthis with ballistic missiles, and that group is the first Iranian proxy to fire medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles, Taleblu said. “With Yemen, think of it as an intensification of the problem.”

Saturday’s ballistic missile attack on al-Asad injured four U.S. service members, all of whom have returned to duty. One member of the Iraqi security forces was also injured.

Since the Israel-Hamas war began in early October, there have been more than 151 attacks on U.S. facilities in Syria and Iraq. According to the Pentagon, two attacks took place on Monday and included multiple rockets fired at U.S. and coalition troops at Mission Support Site Euphrates in Syria and a single rocket fired at the Rumalyn Landing Zone in Syria. Neither attack resulted in casualties or damage.

The U.S. struck back at the militia groups late last month, ordering a round of retaliatory strikes after three&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-iran-us-gaza-israel-hamas-0b99659922bf1174f86e390808e5bfde">U.S. service members were injured in a drone attack in northern Iraq.</a>&nbsp;Kataib Hezbollah claimed credit for the attack, carried out by a one-way attack drone.

The U.S., in response, hit three sites, destroying facilities and likely killing a number of the militia, the White House said at the time.

BAGHDAD(AP) —The U.S. military struck three facilities in Iraq and two anti-ship missiles in Yemen operated by Iranian-backed militias that have attacked U.S. personnel and ships in the region as the United States tries to keep the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;from spilling over into a wider conflict.Both the strikes in Iraq and Yemen late on Tuesday targeted sites that the U.S. has said are involved in the attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria and were threatening U.S. military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the strikes in Iraq were at the direction of President Joe Biden and targeted facilities used by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-kataib-hezbollah-drone-strike-us-military-injured-b4b4480e2cae6e7ad26e88eb625ab397">Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia</a>&nbsp;and other Iran-affiliated groups in Iraq.“These precision strikes are in direct response to a series of escalatory attacks against U.S. and Coalition personnel in Iraq and Syria by Iranian-sponsored militias," Austin said. Those strikes hit militia facilities in Jurf al-Sakhar, which is south of Baghdad, al-Qaim and another unnamed site in western Iraq, two U.S. officials said.Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said the strikes “blatantly violate Iraq’s sovereignty" and contribute to an "irresponsible escalation," according to a statement from his office. The statement, signed by military spokesman Yahya Rasool, said Iraq considers the strikes “hostile acts” and is taking measures to protect the lives of Iraqis.The Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, a coalition of armed mostly Shiite groups only nominally under Iraqi military authority, said the strike near the Syrian border killed one of its fighters and wounded two, while the strike south of Baghdad caused material damage.The U.S. Central Command announced it had also struck two anti-ship missiles belonging to the Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels that were being prepared for launch and were aimed at the southern part of the Red Sea.“U.S. forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region,” Central Command said.Both fronts — land attacks in Iraq and Syria, and sea attacks originating from Yemen — have seen a significant uptick in launches and counterstrikes over the last few days.The U.S. strikes on the Kataib Hezbollah sites in Iraq came hours after the U.S. said militiamen fired two one-way attack drones at al-Asad Air Base, injuring U.S. service members and damaging infrastructure. And they followed the militia's most serious attack this year on the air base, when it launched multiple ballistic missiles on Saturday.U.S. Central Command said it targeted Kataib Hezbollah headquarters, storage, and training locations for rocket, missile, and one-way attack drone capabilities.In the drone attacks against al-Asad earlier Tuesday, U.S. defenses were able to intercept the first drone but it crashed on base while the second drone hit the base, U.S. officials said. Injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and smoke inhalation, were reported to be minor. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that had not been announced publicly.The strikes on the Houthi missile launch sites in Yemen followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-british-strikes-houthi-yemen-4ca86a7c0f484fcdf9c386cd752c1878">joint operation on Monday night</a>&nbsp;where the U.S. and Britain used warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets to take out Houthi missile storage sites, drones and launchers.On both fronts, the Iranian-backed militias have employed ballistic missiles to target U.S. bases and ships, which marks an escalation, said Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies who specializes in Iran.The militias have typically used drones and rockets to attack. Tehran supplied Shiite militias in Iraq with short-range and close-range ballistic missiles in 2019, Taleblu said, but they had not been used until November’s attacks.During Saturday’s larger-scale attack, multiple ballistic missiles and rockets launched by Iranian-backed militias targeted al-Asad, but most were intercepted by air defense systems there, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters on Monday. She said other munitions hit the base.Al-Asad is a large air base in western Iraq where U.S. troops have trained Iraqi security forces and now coordinate operations to counter the militant Islamic State group.Singh said Saturday’s attack was a “barrage” — the first time since Nov. 20 that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iraq-airstrike-military-iran-d93d861feeef90cfeac3ba85f1f2f36d">Iranian proxy forces in Iraq had fired ballistic missiles at U.S. bases</a>&nbsp;there.A coalition of militias calling itself the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has taken credit for a number of the attacks on U.S. forces. Kataib Hezbollah is one of the groups within that umbrella organization.Iran has also supplied the Houthis with ballistic missiles, and that group is the first Iranian proxy to fire medium-range ballistic missiles and anti-ship ballistic missiles, Taleblu said. “With Yemen, think of it as an intensification of the problem.”Saturday’s ballistic missile attack on al-Asad injured four U.S. service members, all of whom have returned to duty. One member of the Iraqi security forces was also injured.Since the Israel-Hamas war began in early October, there have been more than 151 attacks on U.S. facilities in Syria and Iraq. According to the Pentagon, two attacks took place on Monday and included multiple rockets fired at U.S. and coalition troops at Mission Support Site Euphrates in Syria and a single rocket fired at the Rumalyn Landing Zone in Syria. Neither attack resulted in casualties or damage.The U.S. struck back at the militia groups late last month, ordering a round of retaliatory strikes after three&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-iran-us-gaza-israel-hamas-0b99659922bf1174f86e390808e5bfde">U.S. service members were injured in a drone attack in northern Iraq.</a>&nbsp;Kataib Hezbollah claimed credit for the attack, carried out by a one-way attack drone.The U.S., in response, hit three sites, destroying facilities and likely killing a number of the militia, the White House said at the time.

US strikes targets in Iraq, Yemen after American forces wounded

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide and after asking the public for help have identified the victim with the tattoo as 53-year-old Gildardo H. Carvajal of Gardner, Kan., according to the Clay County, Mo., Sheriff's Office

An employee at Rocky Hollow Park found his body at about 8:15 a.m. December 22, off a roadway at the park, located at 14812 Old Quarry Road, Excelsior Springs.

Charges have been filed against a suspect in the murder of&nbsp;Carvajal. Investigators need help to locate 48-year-old Elena Delcarmen Flores. She has been charged with 1st-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse, according to the Clay County Sheriff.

She lives in Gardner, Kansas but investigators believe she may no longer be in the KC metro area. She may also go by Elena Torres, Elena Flores Garcia or Elena Stores. She is 5-foot-5 and 200 pounds. If you know where she is, call&nbsp; 816-407-3723 or <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCrimeStop">@KCCrimeStop</a> at 816-474-TIPS (8477). 2/2

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703285918610.png" alt="Photo Clay Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Clay Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide and after asking the public for help have identified the victim with the tattoo as 53-year-old Gildardo H. Carvajal of Gardner, Kan., according to the Clay County, Mo., Sheriff's OfficeAn employee at Rocky Hollow Park found his body at about 8:15 a.m. December 22, off a roadway at the park, located at 14812 Old Quarry Road, Excelsior Springs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703802024415.png" alt="Flores-photo Clay Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Flores-photo Clay Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Charges have been filed against a suspect in the murder of&nbsp;Carvajal. Investigators need help to locate 48-year-old Elena Delcarmen Flores. She has been charged with 1st-degree murder, armed criminal action and abandonment of a corpse, according to the Clay County Sheriff.She lives in Gardner, Kansas but investigators believe she may no longer be in the KC metro area. She may also go by Elena Torres, Elena Flores Garcia or Elena Stores. She is 5-foot-5 and 200 pounds. If you know where she is, call&nbsp; 816-407-3723 or <a href="https://twitter.com/KCCrimeStop">@KCCrimeStop</a> at 816-474-TIPS (8477). 2/2

Kansas woman accused of murder still hiding from police

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;had rock-solid support from New Hampshire Republicans in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-hampshire-primary-two-candidate-race-72a59c4133879eaeec63d6ed30e91e01">primary victory</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, with even most backers of rival&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;acknowledging the GOP belongs to him.

Yet as Trump’s hold on securing the party’s nomination tightened,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2024-Primaries-VoteCastMethodologyStatement_PreElection-Post.pdf">AP VoteCast</a>&nbsp;found that some voters express concerns that he is too extreme to compete in the November general election. Some also worry about his&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">legal peril</a>&nbsp;in a trio of pending criminal trials.

Haley, a former South Carolina governor and a U.N. ambassador under Trump, performed relatively better with college graduates and moderates, a possible sign that Trump has yet to expand his political base.

The survey found signs that primary voters on the Democratic side rallied around&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-new-hampshire-democrats-writein-campaign-597a1208e5a8696a3f6b794a91b9fb00">won in New Hampshire</a>&nbsp;with strong support on the economy, but many have concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-poll-trump-2024-620e0a5cfa0039a6448f607c17c7f23e">his age</a>&nbsp;– he is 81 — and his handling of the situation in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Middle East.</a>

More than 4 in 10 GOP primary voters were not affiliated with a party, compared with about 2 in 10 in the Democratic primary. Among those affiliated with the Republican Party in the state, Trump won handily.

AP VoteCast is a survey of 1,968 New Hampshire voters who are taking part in the Republican primary and 903 Democratic primary voters. The survey is conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

He won in the small towns and rural communities, where about two-thirds of primary participants say they live. Most GOP voters in the state lack a college degree; about two-thirds of them voted for Trump. He won about 7 in 10 Republican voters who identified as conservatives.

Trump was backed by Republicans who prioritize either immigration or the economy, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-caucus-who-voted-how-poll-votecast-4d1d5eb89b32fbba3afedee90334148c">two top issues among GOP voters in New Hampshire and Iowa</a>, where the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucus-haley-desantis-cold-voting-begins-0af10f1ba21d488af54776b2c8d4028c">won the leadoff caucuses last week</a>.

Haley drew her support from groups that could be crucial in November. But those groups were distinct minorities in the GOP electorate.

Iowa exposed suburban voters as a potential weakness for Trump. While Haley did slightly better in New Hampshire’s suburban communities than she did in other areas, she still didn’t pull ahead of Trump in those areas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706063510035.png" alt="Former President Donald Trump celebrated before his victory address-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former President Donald Trump celebrated before his victory address-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;had rock-solid support from New Hampshire Republicans in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-hampshire-primary-two-candidate-race-72a59c4133879eaeec63d6ed30e91e01">primary victory</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, with even most backers of rival&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;acknowledging the GOP belongs to him.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Donald Trump: &quot;We won new Hampshire three times now... On Nikki Haley: &quot;She&#39;s doing a speech like she won. She didn&#39;t win. She lost.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/6CC62WiB8b">pic.twitter.com/6CC62WiB8b</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1749983498553733129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Yet as Trump’s hold on securing the party’s nomination tightened,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2024-Primaries-VoteCastMethodologyStatement_PreElection-Post.pdf">AP VoteCast</a>&nbsp;found that some voters express concerns that he is too extreme to compete in the November general election. Some also worry about his&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">legal peril</a>&nbsp;in a trio of pending criminal trials.Haley, a former South Carolina governor and a U.N. ambassador under Trump, performed relatively better with college graduates and moderates, a possible sign that Trump has yet to expand his political base.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Nikki Haley: &quot;I want to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory tonight...New Hampshire is first in the nation, it is not the last in the nation. This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go and the next one is my sweet state of South Carolina.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ZyEIYGrZWH">pic.twitter.com/ZyEIYGrZWH</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1749967537155039727?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The survey found signs that primary voters on the Democratic side rallied around&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-new-hampshire-democrats-writein-campaign-597a1208e5a8696a3f6b794a91b9fb00">won in New Hampshire</a>&nbsp;with strong support on the economy, but many have concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-poll-trump-2024-620e0a5cfa0039a6448f607c17c7f23e">his age</a>&nbsp;– he is 81 — and his handling of the situation in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Middle East.</a>Only weeks into 2024, voters have already shown an awareness of Trump’s strengths and liabilities. But even as the coronavirus, the major challenge during the 2020 election, has faded from public view, the cultural and social forces of that Biden-Trump matchup have hardened in ways that are testing the country’s sense of itself.The New Hampshire primaries are unique because undeclared voters –- those not affiliated with either party –- can choose to vote in either party’s primary. This draws in voters who are not necessarily party loyalists.More than 4 in 10 GOP primary voters were not affiliated with a party, compared with about 2 in 10 in the Democratic primary. Among those affiliated with the Republican Party in the state, Trump won handily.AP VoteCast is a survey of 1,968 New Hampshire voters who are taking part in the Republican primary and 903 Democratic primary voters. The survey is conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.HOW TRUMP WON IN NEW HAMPSHIRENew Hampshire’s demographics favored Trump.He won in the small towns and rural communities, where about two-thirds of primary participants say they live. Most GOP voters in the state lack a college degree; about two-thirds of them voted for Trump. He won about 7 in 10 Republican voters who identified as conservatives.Trump was backed by Republicans who prioritize either immigration or the economy, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-caucus-who-voted-how-poll-votecast-4d1d5eb89b32fbba3afedee90334148c">two top issues among GOP voters in New Hampshire and Iowa</a>, where the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucus-haley-desantis-cold-voting-begins-0af10f1ba21d488af54776b2c8d4028c">won the leadoff caucuses last week</a>.Among those in New Hampshire who named immigration as their top priority, about three-quarters support Trump. New Hampshire’s primary voters agreed with Trump on the need to limit immigration and build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.About half of those who said the economy was the top issue backed Trump.HOW HALEY’S STRENGTHS FELL SHORTHaley drew her support from groups that could be crucial in November. But those groups were distinct minorities in the GOP electorate.She beat Trump among primary participants who were not formally affiliated with any party. About half of Haley’s supporters graduated from college, just as about half of them identify as moderates.In many cases, her backers were simply uncomfortable with Trump.Haley performed well among those who said Trump did something illegal in at least one of the criminal cases against him. And in the 2020 presidential election, about half of Haley’s supporters voted for Biden, a Democrat.Iowa exposed suburban voters as a potential weakness for Trump. While Haley did slightly better in New Hampshire’s suburban communities than she did in other areas, she still didn’t pull ahead of Trump in those areas.POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES FOR TRUMPCompared with Iowa caucusgoers, New Hampshire Republican primary voters have slightly more doubts about Trump.In New Hampshire, about half of GOP voters are very or somewhat concerned that Trump is too extreme to win the general election. Only about one-third say the same about Haley.Regarding Trump’s criminal indictments, about one-third of GOP participants in New Hampshire believe he has done something illegal related to either his alleged attempt to interfere in the vote count in the 2020 presidential election, his role in what happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, or the classified documents found at his Florida home after he left the White House.REPUBLICAN VOTERS EXPECT TRUMP TO BE GOP NOMINEEThe vast majority of Republican voters in New Hampshire, about 8 in 10, believed Trump would win the nomination, a finding that came after his dominant showing in Iowa.Only about 2 in 10 say Haley will be the nominee. In a blow to a candidate who has pitched herself as a Trump alternative, more than half of Haley’s own supporters think Trump will represent the party on the ballot.About 8 in 10 say they decided before Iowa which candidate they would support. After the caucuses, three contenders ended their campaigns: biotech investor Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.About 6 in 10 GOP voters say they had their minds made up more than a month ago, including about 4 in 10 saying they have known all along.BIDEN'S DEMOCRATIC COALITION COMES INTO FOCUSBiden’s New Hampshire victory provided key insights into the Democratic coalition.About half hold a college degree, as education has become a major political dividing line across the country. There was almost universal support among Democratic voters for abortion to be legal in most if not all cases. About three-quarters called discrimination against Black people a major problem.The polling also suggested that the economy might be evolving into a strength for Biden among his base. High inflation had hurt his approval ratings for most of his presidency, but inflation has eased without disrupting job growth and Democrats are showing newfound support for Biden’s agenda. More than 8 in 10 approved of his economic leadership.There are limits on what New Hampshire can reveal, as the state is less urban, less suburban and less racially diverse than the rest of the country. Cities, suburbs and non-white voters were crucial elements of Biden's winning 2020 coalition.Still, not everything Biden does received strong plaudits in New Hampshire. Only about 6 in 10 approve of how he is handling immigration, and only about half approve of his handling of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians.About 4 in 10 say Biden is too old to serve a second term as president.During his presidency, the Democratic Party has chosen to make South Carolina the first official presidential contest, a choice that has relegated Biden to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-new-hampshire-democrats-race-call-explainer-6cd2136e9b8c77f736e455fb2ad2eca3">write-in status in New Hampshire</a>. Just over half said it is very or somewhat important to them that New Hampshire’s presidential primary is the first in the nation.---------------MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;won the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, tightening his grip on the Republican presidential nomination and bolstering the likelihood of a rematch later this year against President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>.The result was a setback for former U.N. Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>, who invested significant time and financial resources into winning the state but finished second. She was the last major challenger in the race after Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>&nbsp;ended his presidential bid over the weekend, allowing her to campaign as the sole alternative to Trump. Haley intensified her criticism of the former president, questioning his mental acuity and pitching herself as a unifying candidate who would usher in generational change.The appeals failed to resonate with enough voters. Trump can now boast of being the first Republican presidential candidate to win open races in Iowa and New Hampshire since both states began leading the election calendar in 1976, a striking sign of how rapidly Republicans have rallied around him to make him their nominee for the third consecutive time.By posting easy wins in both early states, Trump is demonstrating an ability to unite the GOP’s factions firmly behind him. He’s garnered support from the evangelical conservatives who are influential in Iowa and New Hampshire’s more moderate voters, strength he hopes to replicate as the primary quickly expands to the rest of the U.S.Haley was unable to capitalize on New Hampshire’s more moderate political tradition. Now, her path to becoming the GOP standard-bearer is narrowing quickly. She won’t compete in a contest that awards delegates until South Carolina’s Feb. 24 primary. As the state’s former governor, she’s hoping a strong showing there could propel her into the March 5&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/super-tuesday">Super Tuesday</a>&nbsp;contests. But in a deeply conservative state where Trump is exceedingly popular, those ambitions may be tough to realize and a home-state loss could prove politically devastating.President Joe Biden, meanwhile, won New Hampshire's Democratic primary via a write-in effort after the state party moved forward with its own contest. Biden did not appear on the ballot but allies helped him beat a series of little-known challengers.Trump’s position in the contest is remarkable considering he faces&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">91 criminal charges</a>&nbsp;related to everything from seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election to mishandling classified documents and arranging payoffs to a porn actress. He left the White House in 2021 in the grim aftermath of an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol led by his supporters who sought to stop the certification of Biden’s win. And Trump was the first president to be impeached twice.But Trump has turned those vulnerabilities into an advantage among GOP voters. He has argued that the criminal prosecutions reflect a politicized Justice Department, though there’s no evidence that officials there were pressured by Biden or anyone else in the White House to file charges. Trump has nonetheless repeatedly told his supporters that he’s being prosecuted on their behalf, an argument that appears to have further strengthened his bond with the GOP base.As Trump begins to pivot his attention to Biden and a general election campaign, the question is whether the former president’s framing of the legal cases will persuade voters beyond the GOP base. Trump lost the popular vote in the 2016 and 2020 elections and has faced particular struggles in suburban communities from Georgia to Pennsylvania to Arizona that could prove decisive in the fall campaign.Beyond the political vulnerabilities associated with the criminal cases, Trump faces a logistical challenge in balancing trials and campaigning. He has frequently appeared voluntarily at a New York courtroom where a jury is considering whether he should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-trial-new-york-fdcb7ae15c7120ae008a5fe4f28558dc">pay additional damages</a>&nbsp;to a columnist who last year won a $5 million jury award against Trump for sex abuse and defamation. He has turned these appearances into campaign events, holding televised news conferences that give him an opportunity to spread his message to a large audience.He has no choice but to appear in court when the criminal cases begin, which could happen later this spring.Biden faces his own challenges, though of a different magnitude. There are widespread concerns about his age at 81 years old. Dissent is also building within his party over Biden’s alliance with Israel in its war against Hamas, putting the president’s standing at risk in swing states like Michigan.Biden championed new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-democrats-dnc-state-parties-ac8fba0ab1117ebf75cc16ebe0c735e4">Democratic National Committee</a>&nbsp;rules that have its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-georgia-2022-midterm-elections-south-carolina-83f6ea9bd64e567bb1ed55d734474b89">2024 primary beginning on Feb. 3 in South Carolina</a>, rather than in Iowa or New Hampshire. That left him in something of an awkward position at the outset of the nomination process.But Democrats in New Hampshire defied the revamped order and held their primary on Tuesday, same as the Republicans. Biden didn’t campaign, giving the state’s Democrats the chance to support primary challengers including Minnesota Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/phillips-2024-presidential-campaign-biden-democratic-challenger-0f38b80ba00566014a4d59fdb516d52c">Dean Phillips</a>&nbsp;and self-help author&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marianne-williamson-president-2024-biden-democratic-primary-14e59754bed9e0c54dad4fdfbbc1fa6b">Marianne Williamson</a>&nbsp;— though many of New Hampshire’s top Democrats backed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-new-hampshire-ballot-primary-shakeup-1df2712ebf31ffecdaf2bceb4c74bb2f">write-in campaign that Biden could still win</a>.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-hampshire-2024-republican-nomination-4661638bf768824d03ea84e5c20d1544">traveled frequently to New Hampshire</a>&nbsp;in the months leading up to the primary but didn’t spend as much time in the state as many of his rivals. That included former New Jersey Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/chris-christie">Chris Christie</a>, a fierce Trump critic who enjoyed some popularity in the state&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christie-presidential-race-5e974cfa407d39af878f066a71af35ad">but suspended his campaign</a>&nbsp;mere days before Iowa’s caucuses in an attempt to blunt the former president’s momentum.Rather than the traditional approach of greeting voters personally or in small groups, Trump has staged large rallies. He has spent much of his time complaining about the past — including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">lie that the 2020 election was stolen</a>&nbsp;due to widespread voter fraud.If he returns to the White House, the former president has promised to enact a hardline immigration agenda that includes stopping migrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3a20abe305bd4c989116f82bf535393b">reimposing his first-term travel ban</a>&nbsp;that originally targeted seven Muslim-majority countries. He’s also said the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-border-wall-breaches-asylum-immigration-beddd2ca0ffd02884ce0d0ad1785f538">rising number of immigrants</a>&nbsp;entering the United States are “poisoning the blood of our country,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hitler-poison-blood-history-f8c3ff512edd120252596a4743324352">echoing Adolf Hitler’s language</a>.