An Idaho company is recalling over 38,000 cases of tater tots sold in 26 states over possible contamination with bits of plastic, according to federal health officials.

The Food and Drug Administration reports that McCain Foods USA Inc. is voluntarily recalling around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/?Event=98088" target="_blank">38,853 cases of tater tots</a>, including the Ore-Ida Tater Tots and Sysco Imperial Potato Tater Barrel products.

The products, packaged in clear, unlabeled poly bags per case, are reportedly contaminated with “clear hard plastic fragments” and were distributed in 26 states across the nation.

The states affected by the recall are Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana,&nbsp; New Mexico, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

According to the FDA, the recalled products include the following details:

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768137938787.png" alt="Tater tot-photo Sysco" />
                        <figcaption>Tater tot-photo Sysco</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>An Idaho company is recalling over 38,000 cases of tater tots sold in 26 states over possible contamination with bits of plastic, according to federal health officials.</p><p>The Food and Drug Administration reports that McCain Foods USA Inc. is voluntarily recalling around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/ires/?Event=98088" target="_blank">38,853 cases of tater tots</a>, including the Ore-Ida Tater Tots and Sysco Imperial Potato Tater Barrel products.</p><p>The products, packaged in clear, unlabeled poly bags per case, are reportedly contaminated with “clear hard plastic fragments” and were distributed in 26 states across the nation.</p><p>The states affected by the recall are Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana,&nbsp; New Mexico, North Dakota, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.</p><p>According to the FDA, the recalled products include the following details:</p><ul>
                        <li>Ore-Ida Tater TotsTotal recalled cases – 21,256.Item number – OIF00215A.Net weight – 30 poundsUPC – 1 00 72714 00215 8Batch codes – 1005479808, 1005477924, 1005478883, 1005480444, 1005480875, 1005481627, 1005481770</li><li>Total recalled cases – 21,256.</li><li>Item number – OIF00215A.</li><li>Net weight – 30 pounds</li><li>UPC – 1 00 72714 00215 8</li><li>Batch codes – 1005479808, 1005477924, 1005478883, 1005480444, 1005480875, 1005481627, 1005481770</li><li>Sysco Imperial Potato Tater BarrelTotal recalled cases – 17,597Item number – 1000006067Weight – 6/5 poundsUPC – 1 07 34730 62740 0Batch codes – 1005482717, 1005483735, 1005484702, 1005485462, 1005485660</li><li>Total recalled cases – 17,597</li><li>Item number – 1000006067</li><li>Weight – 6/5 pounds</li><li>UPC – 1 07 34730 62740 0</li><li>Batch codes – 1005482717, 1005483735, 1005484702, 1005485462, 1005485660</li>
                    </ul>

Frozen tater tots sold in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska recalled

RENO COUNTY—Two pets died in a house fire on Saturday in Hutchinson.

Just before 7p.m. crews responded to a reported fire at a home in the 1000 block of North Plum, according to a media release.

First arriving crews found minimal smoke visible from the exterior of a single-story duplex. Once inside the residence, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and active fire in the kitchen.

During the search, crews located two dogs inside the home and removed them; however, both animals were pronounced deceased. All occupants had safely exited prior to firefighters’ arrival.

The fire was brought under control quickly, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768097167324.jpeg" alt="Photo Hutchinson Fire Department" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Hutchinson Fire Department</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>RENO COUNTY—Two pets died in a house fire on Saturday in Hutchinson.</p><p>Just before 7p.m. crews responded to a reported fire at a home in the 1000 block of North Plum, according to a media release.</p><p>First arriving crews found minimal smoke visible from the exterior of a single-story duplex. Once inside the residence, firefighters encountered heavy smoke and active fire in the kitchen.</p><p>During the search, crews located two dogs inside the home and removed them; however, both animals were pronounced deceased. All occupants had safely exited prior to firefighters’ arrival.</p><p>The fire was brought under control quickly, and no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.</p>

Two pets died in Kansas duplex fire

The outcome of the case, which will determine what regulations remain in place under Missouri’s voter-approved abortion rights amendment, could influence decisions about abortion law around the country

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a><br><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/"><i>Missouri Independent</i></a>

A trial litigating the parameters of&nbsp;<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">Missouri’s new reproductive rights amendment</a>&nbsp;begins Monday in Kansas City. The outcome will reach far beyond the state’s borders.

The trial, which will include testimony from abortion providers, Planned Parenthood leadership and anti-abortion doctors, will give an unusually detailed look at the inner-workings of abortion in Missouri, highlighting how just one or two restrictions on the procedure can greatly weaken access in a state where few providers remain.

Over the course of two weeks, the details of Missouri’s numerous abortion regulations will be under a microscope as those in favor of abortion rights argue that nearly every restriction is unconstitutional under the reproductive rights amendment and the state argues the regulations are necessary protections.&nbsp;

The outcome of Missouri’s reproductive rights amendment case —&nbsp;which will either greatly broaden access to abortion in ways not seen in decades, or will hamper access for nearly everyone in Missouri —&nbsp;will reverberate far beyond the Show-Me State, said Rebecca Reingold, an associate director at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.&nbsp;

This is particularly true, she said, of states also in the process of litigating abortion access like Arizona, Michigan and Ohio.

“There is little doubt that advocates and decision-makers in other states navigating similar legal challenges are closely monitoring the litigation over Missouri’s abortion regulations,” Reingold said. “ … While state court judges are certainly not bound to follow the decisions of their peers in other states, these decisions can serve as persuasive legal authority, particularly in cases involving novel legal questions or where the relevant legal standards are evolving.”&nbsp;

The result of Missouri’s lawsuit will also greatly affect the landscape of abortion access in the Midwest and the South.&nbsp;

“Missouri also neighbors states with some of the harshest abortion bans in the country,” she said. “That means that the outcome of this litigation will be felt beyond the state’s geographic borders, affecting access to care not only for Missourians, but also people living in neighboring states.”

The case originated with a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri the day after the November 2024 election in which voters narrowly approved broad abortion access, becoming the first state to overturn a near-total abortion ban through a vote of the people.

Amy Myrick, a senior attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said Missouri is a harbinger for other states attempting to secure abortion protections through constitutional changes.

“Missouri is a test case for what happens when the people have spoken and passed the constitutional amendment with the strongest possible protections, but the state still decides to stand in their way, and the courts have to decide what to do,” she said.&nbsp;

Hypothetically, Myrick said, this should be an open and shut case because Missouri’s reproductive rights amendment was written with some of the strongest protections of any amendment in the country. The amendment prohibits the government from regulating abortion prior to the point of fetal viability unless “such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”&nbsp;

“So if courts start upholding restrictions against these kinds of protections,” Myrick said. ‘That’s a really bad sign.”

Right now, most of the targeted regulation of abortion provider laws, known as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/05/abortion-lawsuit-planned-parenthood-amendment-3-missouri-jackson-county/">TRAP laws, have been temporarily enjoined</a>&nbsp;— or paused — until a permanent decision could be made at trial.

This includes required distribution of&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/womenshealth/pregnancyassistance/pdf/Mo.InformedConsentBooklet-Revisedpgs.12-15August2019jkOGCReviewed.pdf" target="_blank">Missouri’s informed consent booklet&nbsp;</a>prior to an abortion; a 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and an abortion; and abortion facility licensing requirements. The injunction allowed Planned Parenthood to begin offering in-clinic abortions last February.&nbsp;

Between then and October,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/05/missouri-abortion-legal-access-hinges-courts-rebuilding/">80 in-clinic abortion procedures&nbsp;</a>took place in Missouri across Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. In 2023 and 2024, there were no elective abortions performed in Missouri. A few decades ago, prior to the passage of most of Missouri’s abortion restrictions and 2022 ban, thousands of abortions were performed in the state each year. Current data shows&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/monthly-abortion-provision-study" target="_blank">several thousand Missourians still accessed abortion in 2024,</a>&nbsp;but had to travel to Kansas or Illinois to do so.

Zhang did not enjoin two regulations that Planned Parenthood says are preventing providers from prescribing medication abortion:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/11/laws-regulations-medication-abortion-mifepristone-misoprostol-missouri/">&nbsp;a complication plan approved by the state as well as supplemental insurance requirement.</a>&nbsp;For this reason, Missouri doctors remain unable to prescribe the medications mifepristone and misoprostol to patients to end first trimester pregnancies. Medication abortion is the most common method to end a pregnancy in the United States,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjlk7_1w_6RAxXPOzQIHe5SMDsQFnoECBkQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw1P-Hlu8nsnKIuYZVfc4aV8" target="_blank">used in about two-thirds of abortions.</a>

Anti-abortion advocates contend repealing these regulations could put women’s safety at risk.&nbsp;

“Like Michigan and Ohio before them, the amendment was the first step, opening the door for the abortion lobby to tear down all of the health and safety standards for women’s protections that the Missouri legislature required over the years,” said Katie Glenn Daniel, director of legal affairs and policy counsel at SBA Pro-Life America.

Myrick said attempts to tie regulations to health and safety claims are nothing new.&nbsp;

“Every single one of these restrictions is about hostility to abortion, making it harder to access abortion,” she said. “Even something like a complication plan can be a shutdown law if it’s impossible to comply with. So there’s no way this is about health or safety.”

She said Missouri anti-abortion leaders have long been creative, spearheading many of the national fights against mifepristone in particular.&nbsp;

In November, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/20/missouri-challenges-fda-approval-generic-mifepristone-limit-medication-abortion/">sued over the latest approval of a generic version of mifepristone</a>, asking the federal government to overturn the approval and to reinstate in-person dispensing laws for the medication, which can currently be prescribed in some states during telehealth appointments and then mailed to patients.

Last summer, Hanaway’s predecessor,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-ag-sues-planned-parenthood-claims-it-misled-patients-over-safety-of-abortion-pill/">Andrew Bailey, sued Planned Parenthood</a>&nbsp;over its claims that mifepristone is safer to take than over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, penicillin and Viagra.&nbsp;

And Missouri is now the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/01/federal-lawsuit-limit-access-abortion-pill-mifepristone-texas-missouri/">seeking to limit the availability of medication abortion.</a>&nbsp;The case originated in Texas and moved all the way up to the United States Supreme Court before the nation’s highest court said the original plaintiffs didn’t have the jurisdiction to sue.

Sarah Wetter, senior associate with the O’Neill Institute at Georgetown Law, said the transfer of the federal case to Missouri makes the state litigation beginning Monday “all the more threatening” as the Missouri Attorney General’s Office also prepares to argue against mifepristone at the federal courthouse in St. Louis.

“Turning back the clock to pre-2016 rules would limit mifepristone access to patients up to 7 (rather than 10) weeks gestation, require more in-person visits, and otherwise prohibit telemedicine abortion,” Wetter said.

Many high-ranking Missouri politicians have shown repeatedly that abortion remains among their highest priorities, with few saying they’ll back down if the abortion rights amendment is fully implemented following the trial. A prime example of this is the Republican supermajority’s success in putting a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/04/missouri-appeals-court-rejects-abortion-ban-ballot-language/">proposed abortion ban on this year’s November ballot.</a>&nbsp;Plans are already underway to continue attempting to limit access to the procedure, whether the abortion ban amendment passes or fails later this year.

Politics are supposed to be left out of the courtroom, said Michael Wolff, a former chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court and dean emeritus at the St. Louis University School of Law. He’s curious if that will be the case next week.

“The courts, in my experience in Missouri, have always been solicitous of what the voters were voting on,” he said.

Wolff, who advised in the drafting of the abortion rights amendment, said any arguments by the state that abortion regulations are necessary because Missouri voters didn’t realize the scope of what they were voting on should be heeded cautiously.

“Haven’t these political issues, these questions about the desirability of this law, already been litigated when they had to campaign where the voters approved (abortion)?” Wolff said. “ … It’s not a matter for the courts to decide whether the voters were dumb&nbsp;or or&nbsp;smart when they did this.”&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746190042115.png" alt="An abortion procedure room pictured on Monday, March 3, 2025, at Planned Parenthood in Columbia, Missouri (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
                        <figcaption>An abortion procedure room pictured on Monday, March 3, 2025, at Planned Parenthood in Columbia, Missouri (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>The outcome of the case, which will determine what regulations remain in place under Missouri’s voter-approved abortion rights amendment, could influence decisions about abortion law around the country</h2><p>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a><br><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/"><i>Missouri Independent</i></a></p><p>A trial litigating the parameters of&nbsp;<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">Missouri’s new reproductive rights amendment</a>&nbsp;begins Monday in Kansas City. The outcome will reach far beyond the state’s borders.</p><p>The trial, which will include testimony from abortion providers, Planned Parenthood leadership and anti-abortion doctors, will give an unusually detailed look at the inner-workings of abortion in Missouri, highlighting how just one or two restrictions on the procedure can greatly weaken access in a state where few providers remain.</p><p>Over the course of two weeks, the details of Missouri’s numerous abortion regulations will be under a microscope as those in favor of abortion rights argue that nearly every restriction is unconstitutional under the reproductive rights amendment and the state argues the regulations are necessary protections.&nbsp;</p><p>The outcome of Missouri’s reproductive rights amendment case —&nbsp;which will either greatly broaden access to abortion in ways not seen in decades, or will hamper access for nearly everyone in Missouri —&nbsp;will reverberate far beyond the Show-Me State, said Rebecca Reingold, an associate director at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.&nbsp;</p><p>This is particularly true, she said, of states also in the process of litigating abortion access like Arizona, Michigan and Ohio.</p><p>“There is little doubt that advocates and decision-makers in other states navigating similar legal challenges are closely monitoring the litigation over Missouri’s abortion regulations,” Reingold said. “ … While state court judges are certainly not bound to follow the decisions of their peers in other states, these decisions can serve as persuasive legal authority, particularly in cases involving novel legal questions or where the relevant legal standards are evolving.”&nbsp;</p><p>The result of Missouri’s lawsuit will also greatly affect the landscape of abortion access in the Midwest and the South.&nbsp;</p><p>“Missouri also neighbors states with some of the harshest abortion bans in the country,” she said. “That means that the outcome of this litigation will be felt beyond the state’s geographic borders, affecting access to care not only for Missourians, but also people living in neighboring states.”</p><p>The case originated with a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri the day after the November 2024 election in which voters narrowly approved broad abortion access, becoming the first state to overturn a near-total abortion ban through a vote of the people.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768061679561.png" alt="Maggie Olivia, a senior policy manager with Abortion Action Missouri, embraces abortion-rights supporters after the race is called in favor of Amendment 3 on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in St. Louis (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
                        <figcaption>Maggie Olivia, a senior policy manager with Abortion Action Missouri, embraces abortion-rights supporters after the race is called in favor of Amendment 3 on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in St. Louis (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Amy Myrick, a senior attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights, said Missouri is a harbinger for other states attempting to secure abortion protections through constitutional changes.</p><p>“Missouri is a test case for what happens when the people have spoken and passed the constitutional amendment with the strongest possible protections, but the state still decides to stand in their way, and the courts have to decide what to do,” she said.&nbsp;</p><p>Hypothetically, Myrick said, this should be an open and shut case because Missouri’s reproductive rights amendment was written with some of the strongest protections of any amendment in the country. The amendment prohibits the government from regulating abortion prior to the point of fetal viability unless “such action is justified by a compelling governmental interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”&nbsp;</p><p>“So if courts start upholding restrictions against these kinds of protections,” Myrick said. ‘That’s a really bad sign.”</p><p>Right now, most of the targeted regulation of abortion provider laws, known as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/05/abortion-lawsuit-planned-parenthood-amendment-3-missouri-jackson-county/">TRAP laws, have been temporarily enjoined</a>&nbsp;— or paused — until a permanent decision could be made at trial.</p><p>This includes required distribution of&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/womenshealth/pregnancyassistance/pdf/Mo.InformedConsentBooklet-Revisedpgs.12-15August2019jkOGCReviewed.pdf" target="_blank">Missouri’s informed consent booklet&nbsp;</a>prior to an abortion; a 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and an abortion; and abortion facility licensing requirements. The injunction allowed Planned Parenthood to begin offering in-clinic abortions last February.&nbsp;</p><p>Between then and October,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/05/missouri-abortion-legal-access-hinges-courts-rebuilding/">80 in-clinic abortion procedures&nbsp;</a>took place in Missouri across Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. In 2023 and 2024, there were no elective abortions performed in Missouri. A few decades ago, prior to the passage of most of Missouri’s abortion restrictions and 2022 ban, thousands of abortions were performed in the state each year. Current data shows&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/monthly-abortion-provision-study" target="_blank">several thousand Missourians still accessed abortion in 2024,</a>&nbsp;but had to travel to Kansas or Illinois to do so.</p><p>Zhang did not enjoin two regulations that Planned Parenthood says are preventing providers from prescribing medication abortion:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/11/laws-regulations-medication-abortion-mifepristone-misoprostol-missouri/">&nbsp;a complication plan approved by the state as well as supplemental insurance requirement.</a>&nbsp;For this reason, Missouri doctors remain unable to prescribe the medications mifepristone and misoprostol to patients to end first trimester pregnancies. Medication abortion is the most common method to end a pregnancy in the United States,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjlk7_1w_6RAxXPOzQIHe5SMDsQFnoECBkQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw1P-Hlu8nsnKIuYZVfc4aV8" target="_blank">used in about two-thirds of abortions.</a></p><p>Anti-abortion advocates contend repealing these regulations could put women’s safety at risk.&nbsp;</p><p>“Like Michigan and Ohio before them, the amendment was the first step, opening the door for the abortion lobby to tear down all of the health and safety standards for women’s protections that the Missouri legislature required over the years,” said Katie Glenn Daniel, director of legal affairs and policy counsel at SBA Pro-Life America.</p><p>Myrick said attempts to tie regulations to health and safety claims are nothing new.&nbsp;</p><p>“Every single one of these restrictions is about hostility to abortion, making it harder to access abortion,” she said. “Even something like a complication plan can be a shutdown law if it’s impossible to comply with. So there’s no way this is about health or safety.”</p><p>She said Missouri anti-abortion leaders have long been creative, spearheading many of the national fights against mifepristone in particular.&nbsp;</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768061627695.png" alt="Stickers saying “repeal and replace Amendment 3,” the name of the 2024 reproductive rights amendment, are distributed during Missouri Right to Life advocacy day at the Missouri State Capitol in March 2025 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
                        <figcaption>Stickers saying “repeal and replace Amendment 3,” the name of the 2024 reproductive rights amendment, are distributed during Missouri Right to Life advocacy day at the Missouri State Capitol in March 2025 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>In November, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/20/missouri-challenges-fda-approval-generic-mifepristone-limit-medication-abortion/">sued over the latest approval of a generic version of mifepristone</a>, asking the federal government to overturn the approval and to reinstate in-person dispensing laws for the medication, which can currently be prescribed in some states during telehealth appointments and then mailed to patients.</p><p>Last summer, Hanaway’s predecessor,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-ag-sues-planned-parenthood-claims-it-misled-patients-over-safety-of-abortion-pill/">Andrew Bailey, sued Planned Parenthood</a>&nbsp;over its claims that mifepristone is safer to take than over-the-counter medications like Tylenol, penicillin and Viagra.&nbsp;</p><p>And Missouri is now the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/01/federal-lawsuit-limit-access-abortion-pill-mifepristone-texas-missouri/">seeking to limit the availability of medication abortion.</a>&nbsp;The case originated in Texas and moved all the way up to the United States Supreme Court before the nation’s highest court said the original plaintiffs didn’t have the jurisdiction to sue.</p><p>Sarah Wetter, senior associate with the O’Neill Institute at Georgetown Law, said the transfer of the federal case to Missouri makes the state litigation beginning Monday “all the more threatening” as the Missouri Attorney General’s Office also prepares to argue against mifepristone at the federal courthouse in St. Louis.</p><p>“Turning back the clock to pre-2016 rules would limit mifepristone access to patients up to 7 (rather than 10) weeks gestation, require more in-person visits, and otherwise prohibit telemedicine abortion,” Wetter said.</p><p>Many high-ranking Missouri politicians have shown repeatedly that abortion remains among their highest priorities, with few saying they’ll back down if the abortion rights amendment is fully implemented following the trial. A prime example of this is the Republican supermajority’s success in putting a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/04/missouri-appeals-court-rejects-abortion-ban-ballot-language/">proposed abortion ban on this year’s November ballot.</a>&nbsp;Plans are already underway to continue attempting to limit access to the procedure, whether the abortion ban amendment passes or fails later this year.</p><p>Politics are supposed to be left out of the courtroom, said Michael Wolff, a former chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court and dean emeritus at the St. Louis University School of Law. He’s curious if that will be the case next week.</p><p>“The courts, in my experience in Missouri, have always been solicitous of what the voters were voting on,” he said.</p><p>Wolff, who advised in the drafting of the abortion rights amendment, said any arguments by the state that abortion regulations are necessary because Missouri voters didn’t realize the scope of what they were voting on should be heeded cautiously.</p><p>“Haven’t these political issues, these questions about the desirability of this law, already been litigated when they had to campaign where the voters approved (abortion)?” Wolff said. “ … It’s not a matter for the courts to decide whether the voters were dumb&nbsp;or or&nbsp;smart when they did this.”&nbsp;</p>

Missouri abortion regulations go on trial Monday. Widespread access is at stake

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez,&nbsp; black Hyundai Tucson exited westbound MO-152 Highway onto N. Indiana Avenue. While the traffic signal was green, the vehicle remained stopped as other vehicles drove around it. 

When the signal turned red, the driver proceeded through the intersection, continued onto the westbound ramp, left the roadway, traveled up an embankment, and struck a large rock and overturned. EMS pronounced the driver, who was the sole occupant, deceased at the scene, according to Gonzalez.

<p>KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.</p><p>According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez,&nbsp; black Hyundai Tucson exited westbound MO-152 Highway onto N. Indiana Avenue. While the traffic signal was green, the vehicle remained stopped as other vehicles drove around it. </p><p>When the signal turned red, the driver proceeded through the intersection, continued onto the westbound ramp, left the roadway, traveled up an embankment, and struck a large rock and overturned. EMS pronounced the driver, who was the sole occupant, deceased at the scene, according to Gonzalez.</p>

KCPD; Driver dies after SUV strikes a large rock and overturns

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. — The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after Sedgwick County Fire District 1 firefighters recovered a body from Lake Afton on Saturday afternoon.

Just after 2 p.m., a deputy patrolling Lake Afton Park was contacted by an individual who reported an unidentified object floating in the water near the dam on the south side of the lake, according to Sheriff's Deparatment spokesman Branden Stitt.&nbsp; Deputies were unable to identify the object.

Because of the ongoing missing person investigation involving Ian Shelton and Lake Afton, additional resources were requested.

Fire District 1 deployed a boat, and firefighters recovered a body from the water. The remains were identified as those of an adult male.

Because of the condition of the body, investigators have not been able to make a positive identification. The remains were taken to the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, where an autopsy will be performed and the remains will be identified.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768094465123.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
                        <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan. — The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after Sedgwick County Fire District 1 firefighters recovered a body from Lake Afton on Saturday afternoon.</p><p>Just after 2 p.m., a deputy patrolling Lake Afton Park was contacted by an individual who reported an unidentified object floating in the water near the dam on the south side of the lake, according to Sheriff's Deparatment spokesman Branden Stitt.&nbsp; Deputies were unable to identify the object.</p><p>Because of the ongoing missing person investigation involving Ian Shelton and Lake Afton, additional resources were requested.</p><p>Fire District 1 deployed a boat, and firefighters recovered a body from the water. The remains were identified as those of an adult male.</p><p>Because of the condition of the body, investigators have not been able to make a positive identification. The remains were taken to the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center, where an autopsy will be performed and the remains will be identified.</p>

Sheriff: Body recovered from Kansas lake

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man is going to prison for a deadly shooting that occurred in September is going to prison&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Wednesday, Judge Jeffry Goering sentenced 37-year-old James Standefer to 442 months in prison for the death of&nbsp; 43-year-old Jesse Dean Rau of Haysville, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In November Standefer pled guilty to murder in the 2nd degree, reckless.

In September, the Sedgwick County Fugitive Warrant Section deputies located Standefer at an apartment complex in the 7100 block of W. Shade Lane in Wichita, according to a social media report from the sheriff's office.

As a precaution, deputies briefly evacuated or sheltered residents in the complex.&nbsp; The SWAT team was called to the complex. After a short standoff, Standefer surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody at 5:40 p.m.

Just before 3 a.m., the day before his arrest, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received an automated crash detection alert from a mobile device in the area in the 7700 Block of South Broadway near Haysville, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt.

Haysville Police officers, along with Sedgwick County EMS and Fire District 1, responded and located an SUV that had crashed into a tree.

Inside the vehicle, first responders found Jesse Dean Rau suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died. A female passenger sustained minor injuries from the crash.

Based on the investigation, detectives believe at least three individuals were inside the SUV when a disturbance occurred, during which Rau was shot by another occupant.&nbsp;

The SUV then left the roadway and struck a tree. The suspected shooter, believed to be Stadefer ran from the scene.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757419911292.png" alt="STANDEFER photo Sedgwick Co." />
                        <figcaption>STANDEFER photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man is going to prison for a deadly shooting that occurred in September is going to prison&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>On Wednesday, Judge Jeffry Goering sentenced 37-year-old James Standefer to 442 months in prison for the death of&nbsp; 43-year-old Jesse Dean Rau of Haysville, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.</p><p>In November Standefer pled guilty to murder in the 2nd degree, reckless.</p><p>In September, the Sedgwick County Fugitive Warrant Section deputies located Standefer at an apartment complex in the 7100 block of W. Shade Lane in Wichita, according to a social media report from the sheriff's office.</p><p>As a precaution, deputies briefly evacuated or sheltered residents in the complex.&nbsp; The SWAT team was called to the complex. After a short standoff, Standefer surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody at 5:40 p.m.</p><p>Just before 3 a.m., the day before his arrest, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received an automated crash detection alert from a mobile device in the area in the 7700 Block of South Broadway near Haysville, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt.</p><p>Haysville Police officers, along with Sedgwick County EMS and Fire District 1, responded and located an SUV that had crashed into a tree.</p><p>Inside the vehicle, first responders found Jesse Dean Rau suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died. A female passenger sustained minor injuries from the crash.</p><p>Based on the investigation, detectives believe at least three individuals were inside the SUV when a disturbance occurred, during which Rau was shot by another occupant.&nbsp;</p><p>The SUV then left the roadway and struck a tree. The suspected shooter, believed to be Stadefer ran from the scene.&nbsp;</p>

Prison for Kan. man who killed victim during fight in SUV

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bob Weir, guitarist, singer and founding member of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grateful-dead-musicares-grammys-5cb3b8980bf43066f167d1fed029b7de">Grateful Dead,</a>&nbsp;has died at age 78.

Weir’s death was announced Saturday in a statement on his Instagram page.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir,” the statement said. “He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.”

Weir joined the Grateful Dead — originally the Warlocks — in 1965 in San Francisco at just 17 years old. He’d spend the next 30 years playing on endless tours with the Grateful Dead alongside fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995.

Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics including “Sugar Magnolia,” “One More Saturday Night” and “Mexicali Blues.”

In the decades since he kept playing with other projects including Dead and Company.

“For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road,” the Instagram statement said. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music.”

Weir’s death leaves drummer Bill Kreutzmann as the only surviving original member. Founding bassist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/phil-lesh-dies-grateful-dead-491f2ca2727f4b16be0cca033a7b1b6f">Phil Lesh died in 2024.</a>

Dead and Company played a series of concert’s for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/san-francisco-celebrates-60-years-of-grateful-deads-psychedelic-sound-in-golden-gate-park-f5bf55f7242f44998a2c6c5804338113">Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary</a>&nbsp;in July at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729887107817.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bob Weir, guitarist, singer and founding member of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/grateful-dead-musicares-grammys-5cb3b8980bf43066f167d1fed029b7de">Grateful Dead,</a>&nbsp;has died at age 78.</p><p>Weir’s death was announced Saturday in a statement on his Instagram page.</p><div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTWTKqKgKeP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTWTKqKgKeP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DTWTKqKgKeP/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Bobby Weir (@bobweir)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Bobby Weir,” the statement said. “He transitioned peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, after courageously beating cancer as only Bobby could. Unfortunately, he succumbed to underlying lung issues.”</p><p>Weir joined the Grateful Dead — originally the Warlocks — in 1965 in San Francisco at just 17 years old. He’d spend the next 30 years playing on endless tours with the Grateful Dead alongside fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia, who died in 1995.</p><p>Weir wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics including “Sugar Magnolia,” “One More Saturday Night” and “Mexicali Blues.”</p><p>In the decades since he kept playing with other projects including Dead and Company.</p><p>“For over sixty years, Bobby took to the road,” the Instagram statement said. A guitarist, vocalist, storyteller, and founding member of the Grateful Dead. Bobby will forever be a guiding force whose unique artistry reshaped American music.”</p><p>Weir’s death leaves drummer Bill Kreutzmann as the only surviving original member. Founding bassist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/phil-lesh-dies-grateful-dead-491f2ca2727f4b16be0cca033a7b1b6f">Phil Lesh died in 2024.</a></p><p>Dead and Company played a series of concert’s for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/san-francisco-celebrates-60-years-of-grateful-deads-psychedelic-sound-in-golden-gate-park-f5bf55f7242f44998a2c6c5804338113">Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary</a>&nbsp;in July at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.</p>

Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir dies at 78

DAMASCUS– At approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday, U.S.&nbsp; forces, alongside partner forces, conducted large-scale strikes against multiple ISIS targets across Syria, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

These strikes are part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched and announced on Dec. 19, 2025, at the direction of President Trump, in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec. 13, 2025. 

That ambush, carried out by an ISIS terrorist, resulted in the tragic deaths of two American soldiers and one U.S. civilian interpreter. The strikes on Saturday targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region. U.S. and coalition forces remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States.&nbsp;Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.

<p>DAMASCUS– At approximately 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday, U.S.&nbsp; forces, alongside partner forces, conducted large-scale strikes against multiple ISIS targets across Syria, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">‼️‼️🇺🇲U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), working with partner forces, carried out large-scale airstrikes against ISIS targets across Syria around 12:30 p.m. ET. <a href="https://t.co/Tyw6k40G7d">pic.twitter.com/Tyw6k40G7d</a></p>&mdash; Visioner (@visionergeo) <a href="https://twitter.com/visionergeo/status/2010094507921158473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>These strikes are part of Operation Hawkeye Strike, which was launched and announced on Dec. 19, 2025, at the direction of President Trump, in direct response to the deadly ISIS attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra, Syria, on Dec. 13, 2025. </p><p>That ambush, carried out by an ISIS terrorist, resulted in the tragic deaths of two American soldiers and one U.S. civilian interpreter. The strikes on Saturday targeted ISIS throughout Syria as part of our ongoing commitment to root out Islamic terrorism against our warfighters, prevent future attacks, and protect American and partner forces in the region. U.S. and coalition forces remain resolute in pursuing terrorists who seek to harm the United States.&nbsp;Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice.</p>

🎥 US carries out more strikes in Syria targeting ISIS

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are invstigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;

Just after 2a.m. January 5,&nbsp;a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Hyundai Elantra that had been southbound on U.S. Highway 75 near 134th&nbsp;Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to SHeriff Tim Morse.

The driver was identified as William James Pauley, 34, of Louisville, Kansas. Pauley was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a driver’s license.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767660681507.png" alt="Pauley photo Jackson County" />
                        <figcaption>Pauley photo Jackson County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are invstigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;</p><p>Just after 2a.m. January 5,&nbsp;a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Hyundai Elantra that had been southbound on U.S. Highway 75 near 134th&nbsp;Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to SHeriff Tim Morse.</p><p>The driver was identified as William James Pauley, 34, of Louisville, Kansas. Pauley was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a driver’s license.</p>

Kan. driver without a license was transporting meth, THC

More than dozen 2026 candidates for governor must file reports by Monday

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

TOPEKA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Schwab reported $1.3 million in campaign contributions as of Dec. 31, while Republican Vicki Schmidt and Democrat Ethan Corson attracted more than $900,000 in donations to fuel their campaigns for governor.

Schwab, Schmidt and Corson released information on their 2025 fundraising ahead of the Monday deadline for submitting financial documents to the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission and Kansas Secretary of State’s office. At this point, the statistics have been based on candidate news releases, but the official documents filed with the state would disclose details about donations, loans, expenditures and cash on hand.

So far, more than a dozen candidates have announced campaigns for the Republican or Democratic party nominations for governor in Kansas. Their capacity to generate significant donations would be viewed as a measure of political viability in terms of the August primaries. In 2022, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly raised more than $7.7 million for her successful reelection campaign.

Schwab, who has served as Kansas’ secretary of state since 2019, said his campaign for governor attracted more than $1.3 million.

“These results show support for the only conservative in the race with a comprehensive plan for addressing the Kansas property tax crisis,” he said. “Kansans want a leader who will do more than share hollow rhetoric about issues, but put forth solutions that put the taxpayer first.”

Schwab’s most prominent GOP rivals include former Gov. Jeff Colyer, Senate President Ty Masterson and Schmidt, the state insurance commissioner.

Schmidt’s campaign said she raised $980,000 from more than 800 donors. The contributions ranged from $1 to $4,000, and 57% of the donations were from Kansans.

“We’re building a campaign the right way — with broad grassroots support, careful stewardship of resources and a clear path forward,” Schmidt said.

Corson, a Democratic state senator from Johnson County, said he accepted more than 3,000 contributions and that 70% of these donations were for less than $100. He reported securing more than $900,000 since July. His rival in the primary is Sen. Cindy Holscher, also of Johnson County. She has not yet released campaign donation information.

“Our campaign is about creating a Kansas where the next generation can build a life right here, and this milestone is proof that people all across the state believe in that vision,” Corson said.

During the 2025 portion of the campaign cycle, Corson said his campaign traveled 11,000 miles to dozens of cities. He’s been endorsed by more than 10 labor unions as well as Kelly, who referred to him as “most suited” to be the next governor.

In the campaign for attorney general, Democrat Chris Mann officially filed as a candidate and said his campaign raised $536,000 in 2025. Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach said he would run for reelection but hasn’t released a summary of his campaign treasurer’s report. In 2022, Kobach received 50.8% of the vote to narrowly defeat Mann, who claimed 49.2% of ballots cast.

Mann said 89% of his 2,500 contributions came from Kansans, which he said was an indication of momentum of his second campaign for attorney general.

“Kansans want an attorney general who is focused on protecting communities, upholding the law fairly, and delivering real results, not<b>&nbsp;</b>playing politics,” Mann said. “The record level of support we’re seeing makes it clear that people are ready for a new direction in the attorney general’s office.”

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican from Wichita, said he generated $427,300 during 2025 for his campaign for state insurance commissioner.

He asserted the total “breaks all previous records for down-ballot races at this point in the election cycle,” comparing it to campaigns for secretary of state, state treasurer and insurance commissioner in 2014, 2018 and 2022. He didn’t acknowledge Mann’s higher total in the campaign for attorney general.

“I’m truly overwhelmed by the support I’ve received from across the state,” said Hawkins, who promised to lower insurance costs and address insurance companies operating unethically or illegally.

The primary election in Kansas has been scheduled for Aug. 4. The state’s voter registration deadline is June 1.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761442186225.png" alt="Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican seeking the nomination for governor,&nbsp;raised $1.3 million during 2025 for his campaign. This image is from Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption>Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican seeking the nomination for governor,&nbsp;raised $1.3 million during 2025 for his campaign. This image is from Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>More than dozen 2026 candidates for governor must file reports by Monday</h2><p><b>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a><br></b><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a></p><p>TOPEKA — Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Schwab reported $1.3 million in campaign contributions as of Dec. 31, while Republican Vicki Schmidt and Democrat Ethan Corson attracted more than $900,000 in donations to fuel their campaigns for governor.</p><p>Schwab, Schmidt and Corson released information on their 2025 fundraising ahead of the Monday deadline for submitting financial documents to the Kansas Public Disclosure Commission and Kansas Secretary of State’s office. At this point, the statistics have been based on candidate news releases, but the official documents filed with the state would disclose details about donations, loans, expenditures and cash on hand.</p><p>So far, more than a dozen candidates have announced campaigns for the Republican or Democratic party nominations for governor in Kansas. Their capacity to generate significant donations would be viewed as a measure of political viability in terms of the August primaries. In 2022, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly raised more than $7.7 million for her successful reelection campaign.</p><p>Schwab, who has served as Kansas’ secretary of state since 2019, said his campaign for governor attracted more than $1.3 million.</p><p>“These results show support for the only conservative in the race with a comprehensive plan for addressing the Kansas property tax crisis,” he said. “Kansans want a leader who will do more than share hollow rhetoric about issues, but put forth solutions that put the taxpayer first.”</p><p>Schwab’s most prominent GOP rivals include former Gov. Jeff Colyer, Senate President Ty Masterson and Schmidt, the state insurance commissioner.</p><p>Schmidt’s campaign said she raised $980,000 from more than 800 donors. The contributions ranged from $1 to $4,000, and 57% of the donations were from Kansans.</p><p>“We’re building a campaign the right way — with broad grassroots support, careful stewardship of resources and a clear path forward,” Schmidt said.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763397079432.png" alt="One of the Democratic Party’s frontrunners in the governor’s race, state Sen. Ethan Corson, says he generated $900,000 in donations&nbsp;in the period ending Dec. 31. This image is from Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption>One of the Democratic Party’s frontrunners in the governor’s race, state Sen. Ethan Corson, says he generated $900,000 in donations&nbsp;in the period ending Dec. 31. This image is from Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Corson, a Democratic state senator from Johnson County, said he accepted more than 3,000 contributions and that 70% of these donations were for less than $100. He reported securing more than $900,000 since July. His rival in the primary is Sen. Cindy Holscher, also of Johnson County. She has not yet released campaign donation information.</p><p>“Our campaign is about creating a Kansas where the next generation can build a life right here, and this milestone is proof that people all across the state believe in that vision,” Corson said.</p><p>During the 2025 portion of the campaign cycle, Corson said his campaign traveled 11,000 miles to dozens of cities. He’s been endorsed by more than 10 labor unions as well as Kelly, who referred to him as “most suited” to be the next governor.</p><p>In the campaign for attorney general, Democrat Chris Mann officially filed as a candidate and said his campaign raised $536,000 in 2025. Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach said he would run for reelection but hasn’t released a summary of his campaign treasurer’s report. In 2022, Kobach received 50.8% of the vote to narrowly defeat Mann, who claimed 49.2% of ballots cast.</p><p>Mann said 89% of his 2,500 contributions came from Kansans, which he said was an indication of momentum of his second campaign for attorney general.</p><p>“Kansans want an attorney general who is focused on protecting communities, upholding the law fairly, and delivering real results, not<b>&nbsp;</b>playing politics,” Mann said. “The record level of support we’re seeing makes it clear that people are ready for a new direction in the attorney general’s office.”</p><p>House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican from Wichita, said he generated $427,300 during 2025 for his campaign for state insurance commissioner.</p><p>He asserted the total “breaks all previous records for down-ballot races at this point in the election cycle,” comparing it to campaigns for secretary of state, state treasurer and insurance commissioner in 2014, 2018 and 2022. He didn’t acknowledge Mann’s higher total in the campaign for attorney general.</p><p>“I’m truly overwhelmed by the support I’ve received from across the state,” said Hawkins, who promised to lower insurance costs and address insurance companies operating unethically or illegally.</p><p>The primary election in Kansas has been scheduled for Aug. 4. The state’s voter registration deadline is June 1.</p>

Latest Kansas campaign finance reports: Candidates for governor strive to hit $1M mark

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A teen murder suspect, captured on June 17, after hiding from police for weeks was back in court this week.

During an arraignment hearing in the courtroom of Judge Tyler Roush, 19-year-old Jaden Watts pleaded guilty in the shooting death of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. 

In August, Judge Roush rejected a motion from Watt's attorney to dismiss the case because the fatal shooting was in self defense, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;

In March, police issued a felony pick-up for Watts in connection with the shooting of Burgess&nbsp;at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.&nbsp; EMS transported Burgess to a local hospital where he died.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between Watts and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting.&nbsp; &nbsp;On June 17, Wichita police and U.S. Marshals took Watts into custody in the area of 700 S Hunter in Wichita, according to a statement from Wichita Police. He was charged with second-degree murder.

Watts is scheduled to be sentenced in March.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750260517323.png" alt="Watts photo Sedgwick County" />
                        <figcaption>Watts photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A teen murder suspect, captured on June 17, after hiding from police for weeks was back in court this week.</p><p>During an arraignment hearing in the courtroom of Judge Tyler Roush, 19-year-old Jaden Watts pleaded guilty in the shooting death of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. </p><p>In August, Judge Roush rejected a motion from Watt's attorney to dismiss the case because the fatal shooting was in self defense, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>In March, police issued a felony pick-up for Watts in connection with the shooting of Burgess&nbsp;at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.&nbsp; EMS transported Burgess to a local hospital where he died.</p><p>Preliminary investigations indicated that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between Watts and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting.&nbsp; &nbsp;On June 17, Wichita police and U.S. Marshals took Watts into custody in the area of 700 S Hunter in Wichita, according to a statement from Wichita Police. He was charged with second-degree murder.</p><p>Watts is scheduled to be sentenced in March.</p><p>--------</p>

Kan. teen murder suspect who hid from police for weeks enters plea

By RIO YAMAT and SHAWN CHEN <br>AP Business Writers

LAS VEGAS (AP) — CES 2026 offered a glimpse of a future that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie: bendable screens, paper-thin TVs and cars and gadgets that can think for themselves as they get to know you and your family's wants and needs.

As Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang put it, “The ChatGPT moment for physical AI is here.”

And everywhere you looked, robots. They roamed the show floor, assisted workers and entertained crowds — from humanoid helpers and furry “cyber pets” to task-specific machines.

Here's a recap of some of the attention-grabbing gadgets at CES 2026, the annual technology trade show in Las Vegas:

Lego leaned heavily into fan nostalgia this week to unveil its latest innovation, enlisting Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer David Filoni and a lineup of familiar Star Wars characters, including Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO and X-wing pilots.

On Monday, the company introduced Lego Smart Play, a new platform built around connected bricks, tags and specially designed minifigures in partnership with Star Wars. These smart bricks are equipped with sensors that detect light and distance, triggering coordinated lights and sounds when used together to bring builds to life.

The platform allows fans to build interactive scenes, like space battles or lightsaber duels.

Another point for nostalgia: Clicks Technology is reviving the physical phone keyboard with its magnetic QWERTY model that clips onto phones.

Co-founder Jeff Gadway said the company's Power Keyboard “is one keyboard for all your smart devices."

It features a full QWERTY layout, with directional keys and a number row, in a callback to the Blackberry-era of smartphones for those who miss real buttons. The company said it also doubles as a wireless power bank.

If you're not familiar with CES, just know that new TV announcements are ubiquitous to the show — some big, some small, some even transparent. But LG brought something distinct to CES this year: an OLED TV that's only 9mm thick.

The South Korean tech company announced the OLED evo W6 model from its Wallpaper line just ahead of CES but reporters and industry representatives were able to see it for the first time at the show.

As advertised, the screen displays video nearly edge-to-edge and is ridiculously thin (though it doesn't roll up like its name implies). Like the previous models in its Wallpaper line, the TV's inputs are housed in a box that sits nearby. LG representatives claim you can seamlessly stream 4K video and audio to the screen. No pricing was available but the new TV will be available in 77- and 83-inch sizes.

Chinese robovac maker Roborock introduced a vacuum that literally sprouts chicken-like legs to navigate up and down stairs. There are vacuums out there capable of this feat (and there were even a few others at CES), but this one actually cleans the steps along the way.

The newly introduced Saros Rover took its time in its ascent and descent during the demo on the showroom floor, but Roborock said it will be able to traverse almost any style of stairwell, including spiraled and curved. Unfortunately, no release date was given for the Rover, which the company says is still in development.

Razer goes the smart glasses route with headphones

Gaming tech company Razer brought a very interesting concept to CES, a set of over-ear headphones that can largely replicate the capabilities of currently available smart glasses (think Meta's Ray Ban glasses).

During the demo, Razer's host asked the AI-powered headset — dubbed Project Motoko — to translate a Japanese restaurant menu into English and even asked it to search up information on The Associated Press.

The headphones see using built-in cameras and take audio inputs from microphones. What AI model serves as the base of the headphones is up to the user, and it sounded like the usual suspects were supported — ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude.

While it's being developed largely as a consumer product, Razer did mention that it could be sold to businesses to gather data to train AI models. Razer said consumer data retrieved from the headphones wouldn't be sold for training purposes and that enterprise sales would be siloed from consumer sales.

Extended-reality platform aims to help process grief

Do you wish you could speak one more time with a loved one who died unexpectedly? Or sit down for a conversation with your younger self? One company is exploring how immersive technology might make something like that possible, at least in part.

VHEX Lab showcased its SITh.XRaedo, an immersive extended-reality grief therapy platform that creates a virtual avatar from a single photo and, according the company, is guided in real time by a trained XR therapist. Wearing a virtual reality headset, users can speak with the avatar, which responds through speech, nods, smiles and other gestures.

The company, which won a digital health innovation award at CES, said the platform is designed to help people process grief and find closure, offering an alternative way to mourn.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride — that’s exactly what some conference attendees did at Strutt’s booth. Curious volunteers sat blindfolded in the robotics company’s new self-driving personal mobility chair called the EV1, which senses its surroundings and navigates on its own. With the push of a button and a forward lever, the chair guided riders through a small course, looping them around without requiring any active control.

Tony Hong, CEO and founder of the Singapore-based Strutt, told AP that the chair has a full suite of sensors that helps it avoid bumps, walls, people and other obstacles, adjusting in real time as it drives.

A “cyber pet” that turned heads at CES

Allergic to dogs or cats but still craving a furry sidekick? Chinese tech brand Ollobot pitched a futuristic alternative: a rolling, purple “cyber pet” named OlloNi. Part plush toy, part AI robot, OlloNi is designed to feel warm and expressive, unlike the stiff, humanoid home robots that often dominate robotics, the company said.

OlloNi uses a screen mounted at its neck, making eye contact and cycling through thousands of animated expressions meant to mirror human emotion and interaction.

Scratch behind its fuzzy “ears,” and OlloNi’s wide digital “eyes” pop open in apparent delight, which drew attention and laughs from passersby on the show floor.

Uber used CES to pull back the curtain on its upcoming robotaxi, offering the public a first look at a self-driving vehicle developed with luxury EV maker Lucid Motors and autonomous technology company Nuro.

Uber called it the most premium robotaxi yet, with cameras, sensors and radar for full 360-degree awareness, along with a sleek, low-profile roof “halo” fitted with LED screens that display a rider’s initials and ride status. Inside, passengers can tailor the temperature, seat heating and music, while on-screen visuals show what the vehicle sees and the route it plans to follow in real time.

The companies said on-road testing, led by Nuro, began in the San Francisco area last month, as they work toward launching the service before the end of the year.

Associated Press journalists Aya Diab, Jessica Hill and Ty ONeil contributed to this report from Las Vegas

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767991954040.jpeg" alt="Asad Ayaz, left, and Dave Filioni stand on stage with C-3PO and R2-D2 during an LEGO news conference ahead of the CES tech show Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)" />
                        <figcaption>Asad Ayaz, left, and Dave Filioni stand on stage with C-3PO and R2-D2 during an LEGO news conference ahead of the CES tech show Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By RIO YAMAT and SHAWN CHEN <br>AP Business Writers</p><p>LAS VEGAS (AP) — CES 2026 offered a glimpse of a future that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie: bendable screens, paper-thin TVs and cars and gadgets that can think for themselves as they get to know you and your family's wants and needs.</p><p>As Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang put it, “The ChatGPT moment for physical AI is here.”</p><p>And everywhere you looked, robots. They roamed the show floor, assisted workers and entertained crowds — from humanoid helpers and furry “cyber pets” to task-specific machines.</p><p>Here's a recap of some of the attention-grabbing gadgets at CES 2026, the annual technology trade show in Las Vegas:</p><h2>Star Wars and Lego</h2><p>Lego leaned heavily into fan nostalgia this week to unveil its latest innovation, enlisting Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer David Filoni and a lineup of familiar Star Wars characters, including Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO and X-wing pilots.</p><p>On Monday, the company introduced Lego Smart Play, a new platform built around connected bricks, tags and specially designed minifigures in partnership with Star Wars. These smart bricks are equipped with sensors that detect light and distance, triggering coordinated lights and sounds when used together to bring builds to life.</p><p>The platform allows fans to build interactive scenes, like space battles or lightsaber duels.</p><h2>Real buttons are so back</h2><p>Another point for nostalgia: Clicks Technology is reviving the physical phone keyboard with its magnetic QWERTY model that clips onto phones.</p><p>Co-founder Jeff Gadway said the company's Power Keyboard “is one keyboard for all your smart devices."</p><p>It features a full QWERTY layout, with directional keys and a number row, in a callback to the Blackberry-era of smartphones for those who miss real buttons. The company said it also doubles as a wireless power bank.</p><h2>Return of LG's Wallpaper TV line</h2><p>If you're not familiar with CES, just know that new TV announcements are ubiquitous to the show — some big, some small, some even transparent. But LG brought something distinct to CES this year: an OLED TV that's only 9mm thick.</p><p>The South Korean tech company announced the OLED evo W6 model from its Wallpaper line just ahead of CES but reporters and industry representatives were able to see it for the first time at the show.</p><p>As advertised, the screen displays video nearly edge-to-edge and is ridiculously thin (though it doesn't roll up like its name implies). Like the previous models in its Wallpaper line, the TV's inputs are housed in a box that sits nearby. LG representatives claim you can seamlessly stream 4K video and audio to the screen. No pricing was available but the new TV will be available in 77- and 83-inch sizes.</p><h2>The vacuum that can climb stairs</h2><p>Chinese robovac maker Roborock introduced a vacuum that literally sprouts chicken-like legs to navigate up and down stairs. There are vacuums out there capable of this feat (and there were even a few others at CES), but this one actually cleans the steps along the way.</p><p>The newly introduced Saros Rover took its time in its ascent and descent during the demo on the showroom floor, but Roborock said it will be able to traverse almost any style of stairwell, including spiraled and curved. Unfortunately, no release date was given for the Rover, which the company says is still in development.</p><h2>Razer goes the smart glasses route with headphones</h2><p>Gaming tech company Razer brought a very interesting concept to CES, a set of over-ear headphones that can largely replicate the capabilities of currently available smart glasses (think Meta's Ray Ban glasses).</p><p>During the demo, Razer's host asked the AI-powered headset — dubbed Project Motoko — to translate a Japanese restaurant menu into English and even asked it to search up information on The Associated Press.</p><p>The headphones see using built-in cameras and take audio inputs from microphones. What AI model serves as the base of the headphones is up to the user, and it sounded like the usual suspects were supported — ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude.</p><p>While it's being developed largely as a consumer product, Razer did mention that it could be sold to businesses to gather data to train AI models. Razer said consumer data retrieved from the headphones wouldn't be sold for training purposes and that enterprise sales would be siloed from consumer sales.</p><h2>Extended-reality platform aims to help process grief</h2><p>Do you wish you could speak one more time with a loved one who died unexpectedly? Or sit down for a conversation with your younger self? One company is exploring how immersive technology might make something like that possible, at least in part.</p><p>VHEX Lab showcased its SITh.XRaedo, an immersive extended-reality grief therapy platform that creates a virtual avatar from a single photo and, according the company, is guided in real time by a trained XR therapist. Wearing a virtual reality headset, users can speak with the avatar, which responds through speech, nods, smiles and other gestures.</p><p>The company, which won a digital health innovation award at CES, said the platform is designed to help people process grief and find closure, offering an alternative way to mourn.</p><h2>Personal mobility on autopilot</h2><p>Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride — that’s exactly what some conference attendees did at Strutt’s booth. Curious volunteers sat blindfolded in the robotics company’s new self-driving personal mobility chair called the EV1, which senses its surroundings and navigates on its own. With the push of a button and a forward lever, the chair guided riders through a small course, looping them around without requiring any active control.</p><p>Tony Hong, CEO and founder of the Singapore-based Strutt, told AP that the chair has a full suite of sensors that helps it avoid bumps, walls, people and other obstacles, adjusting in real time as it drives.</p><h2>A “cyber pet” that turned heads at CES</h2><p>Allergic to dogs or cats but still craving a furry sidekick? Chinese tech brand Ollobot pitched a futuristic alternative: a rolling, purple “cyber pet” named OlloNi. Part plush toy, part AI robot, OlloNi is designed to feel warm and expressive, unlike the stiff, humanoid home robots that often dominate robotics, the company said.</p><p>OlloNi uses a screen mounted at its neck, making eye contact and cycling through thousands of animated expressions meant to mirror human emotion and interaction.</p><p>Scratch behind its fuzzy “ears,” and OlloNi’s wide digital “eyes” pop open in apparent delight, which drew attention and laughs from passersby on the show floor.</p><h2>Uber dives back into the robotaxi game</h2><p>Uber used CES to pull back the curtain on its upcoming robotaxi, offering the public a first look at a self-driving vehicle developed with luxury EV maker Lucid Motors and autonomous technology company Nuro.</p><p>Uber called it the most premium robotaxi yet, with cameras, sensors and radar for full 360-degree awareness, along with a sleek, low-profile roof “halo” fitted with LED screens that display a rider’s initials and ride status. Inside, passengers can tailor the temperature, seat heating and music, while on-screen visuals show what the vehicle sees and the route it plans to follow in real time.</p><p>The companies said on-road testing, led by Nuro, began in the San Francisco area last month, as they work toward launching the service before the end of the year.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press journalists Aya Diab, Jessica Hill and Ty ONeil contributed to this report from Las Vegas</p>

From climbing vacuums to cyber pets: Some highlights of CES 2026

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-boak">JOSH BOAK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>U

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Friday called on oil executives to rush back into Venezuela as the White House tries to quickly secure $100 billion in investments to fix the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-prices-trump-0c2c6ede79d550af53e6d3ddb51bfa04">neglected infrastructure</a>&nbsp;and fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum.

Since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-american-imperialism-1a42ccc7036ce7add7a0ba402ac6f48e">U.S. military raid</a>&nbsp;to capture former Venezuelan leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-trump-military-operation-85041a1ec03bafe839b785a95169d694">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, Trump has quickly pivoted to portraying the move as an economic opportunity for the U.S. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-tanker-77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131">seized tankers</a>&nbsp;carrying Venezuelan oil, has said the U.S. is taking over the sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-trump-democrats-9d16138866bebdc2644eb009c6326066">30 million to 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;of previously sanctioned Venezuelan crude, and plans to control sales worldwide indefinitely.

At the White House meeting, major oil companies said they were interested in the opportunity but expressed caution given their past experience in the country. “If we look at the commercial constructs and frameworks in place today in Venezuela, today it’s un-investable,” said Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, the largest U.S. oil company.

Trump used the meeting to publicly assure executives that they need not be skeptical, even though the South American country has a history of state asset seizures, ongoing U.S. sanctions and decades of political uncertainty.

“You have total safety,” Trump told the executives. “You’re dealing with us directly and not dealing with Venezuela at all. We don’t want you to deal with Venezuela.”

Trump added: “Our giant oil companies will be spending at least $100 billion of their money, not the government’s money. They don’t need government money. But they need government protection.”

The president said the security guarantee would come from working with Venezuelan leaders and their people, instead of deploying U.S. forces. He also said the companies would “bring over some security.”

The meeting came on a day when U.S. forces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sanctioned-oil-tanker-intercepted-c3b6e0cee49af87f78a22425f505249d">seized their fifth tanker</a>&nbsp;over the past month that has been linked to Venezuelan oil, an action reflecting the determination of the U.S. to fully control the exporting, refining and production of Venezuelan petroleum.

It’s part of a broader push by Trump to keep gasoline prices low. The incursion in Venezuela melds Trump’s assertive use of presidential powers with an optical spectacle meant to convince Americans that he can bring down energy prices at a time when many voters are concerned about the cost of living.

Trump played up the potential for major oil companies to strike big, while acknowledging that the executives were sharp people who were in the business of taking risk, a nod to the reality that he’s asking for investments in Venezuela at a moment when the country is teetering and economic collapse is not out of the question.

ExxonMobil CEO Woods said his company would send a team to assess the situation, and noted its assets had been seized there — twice — in the past. “Significant changes have to be made to those commercial frameworks, the legal system, there has to be durable investment protections and there has to be change to the hydrocarbon laws in the country,” Woods said.

Other companies represented at the meeting included Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela, as well as ConocoPhillips, Halliburton, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Singapore-based Trafigura, Italy-based Eni and Spain-based Repsol.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-reserves-trump-exxon-8a6462e76315c7d1a6e6a5a879f98c16">Venezuela’s oil production</a>&nbsp;has slumped below 1 million barrels a day. Trump, however, expressed confidence that Big Oil is ready to take the plunge.

“You know, these are not babies,” Trump said of the oil industry executives. “These are people that drill oil in some pretty rough places. I can say a couple of those places make Venezuela look like a picnic.”

After the meeting, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters that the companies showed “tremendous interest,” adding that Chevron made a specific pledge. Wright said it could take eight to 12 years for daily production in Venezuela to triple to 3 million barrels a day.

Trump suggests China and Russia also want Venezuelan oil

The president also offered a new rationale for ousting Maduro and demanding the U.S. maintain oversight of the Venezuelan oil industry, saying, “One thing I think everyone has to know is that if we didn’t do this, China or Russia would have done it.”

Tyson Slocum, director of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen’s energy program, criticized the gathering and called the U.S. military’s removal of Maduro “violent imperialism.” Slocum added that Trump’s goal appears to be to “hand billionaires control over Venezuela’s oil.”

The White House has been seeking to show it has a stable relationship with Venezuela’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">interim President Delcy Rodríguez</a>. While Rodríguez has publicly denounced Trump and the ouster of Maduro, the U.S. president has said that to date Venezuela’s interim leader has been cooperating behind the scenes

Meanwhile, the United States and Venezuelan governments said Friday they were exploring the possibility of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-diplomatic-relations-maduro-12eca94ea60dbdbc8d8ac37535a5d23b">restoring diplomatic relations</a>&nbsp;between the two countries. A small team of U.S. diplomats and diplomatic security officials traveled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela</a>&nbsp;on Friday to make a preliminary assessment about the potential reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, the State Department said in a statement.

Trump to meet Machado next week — and Colombia’s Petro next month

Trump also announced Friday he’d meet next week, either Tuesday or Wednesday, with Maria Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition party. Trump has declined to back Machado, even as the U.S. and most observers determined her opposition movement defeated Maduro in Venezuela’s last election. Trump said following Maduro’s ouster that Machado “doesn’t have the support within, or the respect within, the country” to lead.

Trump earlier said he would meet Colombian President Gustavo Petro in early February. Trump had made vague threats to take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombia-petro-trump-venezuela-maduro-eaf98a41ae427a2d218910606a6fa3e0">similar action against Petro</a>&nbsp;after the capture of Maduro, describing the Colombian leader as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States”

Trump abruptly changed his tone Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart after a friendly phone call in which he invited Petro to visit the White House.

The seeming détente between Petro, a leftist, and Trump, a conservative, appears to reflect that their shared interests override their deep differences.

For Colombia, the U.S. remains key to the military’s fight against leftist guerrillas and drug traffickers. Washington has provided Bogotá with roughly $14 billion in the last two decades.

For the U.S., Colombia, the world’s biggest cocaine producer, remains the cornerstone of its counternarcotics strategy abroad, providing crucial intelligence used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/only-on-ap-smuggling-30c3e97599eb4b859ca575c58baab4ef">to interdict drugs in the Caribbean</a>. —-

Associated Press writers Matthew Daly, Michelle Price and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768011293895.png" alt="The President and Vice President during Friday's meeting-Photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President" />
                        <figcaption>The President and Vice President during Friday's meeting-Photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-boak">JOSH BOAK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>U</p><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Friday called on oil executives to rush back into Venezuela as the White House tries to quickly secure $100 billion in investments to fix the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-prices-trump-0c2c6ede79d550af53e6d3ddb51bfa04">neglected infrastructure</a>&nbsp;and fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum.</p><p>Since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-american-imperialism-1a42ccc7036ce7add7a0ba402ac6f48e">U.S. military raid</a>&nbsp;to capture former Venezuelan leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-trump-military-operation-85041a1ec03bafe839b785a95169d694">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, Trump has quickly pivoted to portraying the move as an economic opportunity for the U.S. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-tanker-77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131">seized tankers</a>&nbsp;carrying Venezuelan oil, has said the U.S. is taking over the sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-trump-democrats-9d16138866bebdc2644eb009c6326066">30 million to 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;of previously sanctioned Venezuelan crude, and plans to control sales worldwide indefinitely.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump Participates in a Meeting with Oil and Gas Executives <a href="https://t.co/ah75xf1izj">https://t.co/ah75xf1izj</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2009717796154782163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> meets with oil executives at the White House: &quot;We&#39;re going to discuss how these great American companies can help rapidly rebuild Venezuela&#39;s dilapidated oil industry and bring millions of barrels of oil production to benefit the United States, the people of Venezuela,… <a href="https://t.co/whpvSlpTos">pic.twitter.com/whpvSlpTos</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2009720194093199551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;The departure of Maduro makes possible an incredible future for both nations — Venezuela, and the United States... One of the things the United States gets out of this will be even lower energy prices.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/XyUED64yeW">pic.twitter.com/XyUED64yeW</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2009721107830428048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Our giant oil companies are spending at least $100B of their money, not the government&#39;s money... to rebuild the capacity and the infrastructure necessary.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ljAEb2mOO0">https://t.co/ljAEb2mOO0</a> <a href="https://t.co/g0kC5FWHkO">pic.twitter.com/g0kC5FWHkO</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2009722258336485424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>At the White House meeting, major oil companies said they were interested in the opportunity but expressed caution given their past experience in the country. “If we look at the commercial constructs and frameworks in place today in Venezuela, today it’s un-investable,” said Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, the largest U.S. oil company.</p><p>Trump used the meeting to publicly assure executives that they need not be skeptical, even though the South American country has a history of state asset seizures, ongoing U.S. sanctions and decades of political uncertainty.</p><p>“You have total safety,” Trump told the executives. “You’re dealing with us directly and not dealing with Venezuela at all. We don’t want you to deal with Venezuela.”</p><p>Trump added: “Our giant oil companies will be spending at least $100 billion of their money, not the government’s money. They don’t need government money. But they need government protection.”</p><p>The president said the security guarantee would come from working with Venezuelan leaders and their people, instead of deploying U.S. forces. He also said the companies would “bring over some security.”</p><h2>Trump urges Big Oil to take the plunge</h2><p>The meeting came on a day when U.S. forces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sanctioned-oil-tanker-intercepted-c3b6e0cee49af87f78a22425f505249d">seized their fifth tanker</a>&nbsp;over the past month that has been linked to Venezuelan oil, an action reflecting the determination of the U.S. to fully control the exporting, refining and production of Venezuelan petroleum.</p><p>It’s part of a broader push by Trump to keep gasoline prices low. The incursion in Venezuela melds Trump’s assertive use of presidential powers with an optical spectacle meant to convince Americans that he can bring down energy prices at a time when many voters are concerned about the cost of living.</p><p>Trump played up the potential for major oil companies to strike big, while acknowledging that the executives were sharp people who were in the business of taking risk, a nod to the reality that he’s asking for investments in Venezuela at a moment when the country is teetering and economic collapse is not out of the question.</p><p>ExxonMobil CEO Woods said his company would send a team to assess the situation, and noted its assets had been seized there — twice — in the past. “Significant changes have to be made to those commercial frameworks, the legal system, there has to be durable investment protections and there has to be change to the hydrocarbon laws in the country,” Woods said.</p><p>Other companies represented at the meeting included Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela, as well as ConocoPhillips, Halliburton, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Singapore-based Trafigura, Italy-based Eni and Spain-based Repsol.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-reserves-trump-exxon-8a6462e76315c7d1a6e6a5a879f98c16">Venezuela’s oil production</a>&nbsp;has slumped below 1 million barrels a day. Trump, however, expressed confidence that Big Oil is ready to take the plunge.</p><p>“You know, these are not babies,” Trump said of the oil industry executives. “These are people that drill oil in some pretty rough places. I can say a couple of those places make Venezuela look like a picnic.”</p><p>After the meeting, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters that the companies showed “tremendous interest,” adding that Chevron made a specific pledge. Wright said it could take eight to 12 years for daily production in Venezuela to triple to 3 million barrels a day.</p><h2>Trump suggests China and Russia also want Venezuelan oil</h2><p>The president also offered a new rationale for ousting Maduro and demanding the U.S. maintain oversight of the Venezuelan oil industry, saying, “One thing I think everyone has to know is that if we didn’t do this, China or Russia would have done it.”</p><p>Tyson Slocum, director of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen’s energy program, criticized the gathering and called the U.S. military’s removal of Maduro “violent imperialism.” Slocum added that Trump’s goal appears to be to “hand billionaires control over Venezuela’s oil.”</p><p>The White House has been seeking to show it has a stable relationship with Venezuela’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">interim President Delcy Rodríguez</a>. While Rodríguez has publicly denounced Trump and the ouster of Maduro, the U.S. president has said that to date Venezuela’s interim leader has been cooperating behind the scenes</p><p>Meanwhile, the United States and Venezuelan governments said Friday they were exploring the possibility of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-diplomatic-relations-maduro-12eca94ea60dbdbc8d8ac37535a5d23b">restoring diplomatic relations</a>&nbsp;between the two countries. A small team of U.S. diplomats and diplomatic security officials traveled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela</a>&nbsp;on Friday to make a preliminary assessment about the potential reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, the State Department said in a statement.</p><h2>Trump to meet Machado next week — and Colombia’s Petro next month</h2><p>Trump also announced Friday he’d meet next week, either Tuesday or Wednesday, with Maria Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition party. Trump has declined to back Machado, even as the U.S. and most observers determined her opposition movement defeated Maduro in Venezuela’s last election. Trump said following Maduro’s ouster that Machado “doesn’t have the support within, or the respect within, the country” to lead.</p><p>Trump earlier said he would meet Colombian President Gustavo Petro in early February. Trump had made vague threats to take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombia-petro-trump-venezuela-maduro-eaf98a41ae427a2d218910606a6fa3e0">similar action against Petro</a>&nbsp;after the capture of Maduro, describing the Colombian leader as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States”</p><p>Trump abruptly changed his tone Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart after a friendly phone call in which he invited Petro to visit the White House.</p><p>The seeming détente between Petro, a leftist, and Trump, a conservative, appears to reflect that their shared interests override their deep differences.</p><p>For Colombia, the U.S. remains key to the military’s fight against leftist guerrillas and drug traffickers. Washington has provided Bogotá with roughly $14 billion in the last two decades.</p><p>For the U.S., Colombia, the world’s biggest cocaine producer, remains the cornerstone of its counternarcotics strategy abroad, providing crucial intelligence used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/only-on-ap-smuggling-30c3e97599eb4b859ca575c58baab4ef">to interdict drugs in the Caribbean</a>. —-</p><p>Associated Press writers Matthew Daly, Michelle Price and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.</p>

🎥What President Trump promised oil execs if they invest in Venezuela

KANSAS CITY —The new year is off to a deadly start in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp; Police are investigating three homicides that occurred over 24-hours on Thursday.

Just before 1a.m., police were dispatched to&nbsp; a shooting reported in the area of 16th Street and Fremont Avenue, according to Officer Alyana Gonzalez.

First responders found 61-year-old Gary L. Norris. inside of a vehicle unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. Officers attempted to render medical aid until EMS personnel responded and transported him to an area hospital for treatment. Norris ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.

Preliminary information indicates Norris was outside working on a vehicle when an interaction between the victim and another adult male escalated into gunfire. The suspect left the scene prior to police arrival. Police have not reported any suspect details.

Just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting on southbound 71 Highway and Blue River Road, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders located a vehicle stopped on the side of the highway and a woman asking for help. At that time, officers observed 32-year-old Keithlin Royster unresponsive inside of the vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and pronounce him deceased at that scene.

Preliminary information indicates this may be a road rage incident. It is believed two unidentified men were occupying an unknown vehicle when shots were fired, striking the Royster. It is not currently known where the start of the altercation began, and where exactly the shooting occurred. 

A subject of interest turned himself in to police late Wednesday regarding this incident and he was questioned by detectives for further investigation. Detectives are not currently seeking any additional suspects, and the case has been presented to prosecutors for consideration of applicable charges, according to Gonzalez.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767922675376.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting&nbsp; in the 6600 Block of Monroe-Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
                        <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting&nbsp; in the 6600 Block of Monroe-Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY —The new year is off to a deadly start in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp; Police are investigating three homicides that occurred over 24-hours on Thursday.</p><p>Just before 1a.m., police were dispatched to&nbsp; a shooting reported in the area of 16th Street and Fremont Avenue, according to Officer Alyana Gonzalez.</p><p>First responders found 61-year-old Gary L. Norris. inside of a vehicle unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. Officers attempted to render medical aid until EMS personnel responded and transported him to an area hospital for treatment. Norris ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.</p><p>Preliminary information indicates Norris was outside working on a vehicle when an interaction between the victim and another adult male escalated into gunfire. The suspect left the scene prior to police arrival. Police have not reported any suspect details.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767817154645.png" alt="Police on the scene of the road raage shooting- Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
                        <figcaption>Police on the scene of the road raage shooting- Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting on southbound 71 Highway and Blue River Road, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.</p><p>First responders located a vehicle stopped on the side of the highway and a woman asking for help. At that time, officers observed 32-year-old Keithlin Royster unresponsive inside of the vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and pronounce him deceased at that scene.</p><p>Preliminary information indicates this may be a road rage incident. It is believed two unidentified men were occupying an unknown vehicle when shots were fired, striking the Royster. It is not currently known where the start of the altercation began, and where exactly the shooting occurred. </p><p>A subject of interest turned himself in to police late Wednesday regarding this incident and he was questioned by detectives for further investigation. Detectives are not currently seeking any additional suspects, and the case has been presented to prosecutors for consideration of applicable charges, according to Gonzalez.</p><p>Just before 3p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 6600 block of Monroe Avenue, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez. While officers were responding to the scene, several additional calls for a sound of shots were reported.</p><p>Upon arrival, officers observed a group of people summoning responding officers to the rear of an apartment complex building. An unidentified male victim, believed to be&nbsp;an&nbsp;adult, was located lying in a parking lot, unresponsive and suffering from believed gunshot trauma. EMS responded shortly behind officers and declared the victim deceased on scene.</p><p>Preliminary information indicates there was an interaction that took place between the victim and several unknown males. That interaction escalated into gunfire and resulted in the victim being struck. The unidentified suspects left the scene in an unknown direction occupying an unidentified vehicle. Police do not have any subjects of interest identified and no one is in police custody at this time.</p>