By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/claudia-ciobanu">CLAUDIA CIOBANU</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/stefanie-dazio">STEFANIE DAZIO</a> Associated Press

The White House said Tuesday that “U.S. military is always an option,” even as a series of European leaders rejected President Donald Trump’s comments about seeking an American takeover of the world’s largest island.

Trump has floated since his first term the idea of purchasing Greenland, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark. But, after this weekend’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-explosions-caracas-ca712a67aaefc30b1831f5bf0b50665e">U.S. military action in Venezuela</a>, he’s renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, citing strategic reasons.

“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”

That’s notable since Trump’s newly appointed special envoy to Greenland, as well as deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, had suggested that military action wouldn’t be necessary. And asked Tuesday if he felt comfortable taking military action in Greenland, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “No. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Leavitt’s comments also followed the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joining Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a statement reaffirming that the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island “belongs to its people.”

Their statement defended the sovereignty of Greenland, which is a self-governing territory of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.

“Greenland belongs to its people,” it said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed his support, and announced a visit to Greenland early next month by Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon, who is of Inuit descent, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

“The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark,” Carney said, standing next to Frederiksen at the Canadian Embassy in Paris.

Also Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who Trump appointed last month as U.S. special envoy to Greenland, said when it comes to making a deal with Greenland, he isn’t interested in talking to people in Denmark who “absolutely have made their position clear.”

Nor does Landry want to talk to European diplomats. Instead, he said, he wants to have conversations directly with residents of Greenland.

“I want to talk to people who want an opportunity to improve the quality of life in Greenland,” the Republican said on a Fox News radio show.

Landry said he has already exchanged emails with Greenlanders who had reached out to him.

“They tell me they like to hunt, they like to fish, they like to have a good time. I’m like, y’all belong in Louisiana. I’m gonna call it culinary diplomacy,” Landry quipped.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said Monday that Greenland should be part of the United States in spite of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-trump-2b12bb104faaaafda2ed270febfb0522">warning by Frederiksen</a>&nbsp;that a U.S. takeover would amount to the end of NATO.

“The president has been clear for months now that the United States should be the nation that has Greenland as part of our overall security apparatus,” Miller said during an interview with CNN on Monday.

The Danish leader, together with Greenland’s prime minister, has firmly rejected Trump’s renewed call for the island to come under U.S. control. Trump has argued the U.S. needs to control Greenland to ensure it security in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.

“It’s so strategic right now,” he told reporters Sunday.

“Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”

Miller wondered during his interview on Monday whether Denmark can assert control over Greenland. “What is the basis of their territorial claim,” Miller said. “What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?”

But he also said it wasn’t necessary to consider whether the U.S. administration was contemplating an armed intervention. “There is no need to even think or talk about this in the context that you are asking, of a military operation. Nobody is going to fight the U.S. militarily over the future of Greenland,” Miller said.

Greenland had been a colony of the Danish kingdom for hundreds of years, becoming an integral part in 1953. The U.S. government recognized Denmark’s right to the whole of Greenland at the beginning of the 20th century.

Legislation in 2009 that extended self-government to Greenland also recognized a right to independence under international law, an option favored by a majority of Greenlanders.

Greenland sits off the northeastern coast of Canada, with more than two-thirds of its territory lying within the Arctic Circle. That location has made it crucial to the defense of North America since World War II.

The U.S. Department of Defense operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. Constructed after a 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the U.S., the base supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.

Greenland also guards part of the GIUK Gap, named for the initials of Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom, where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.

Greenland has large deposits of rare earth minerals needed to make everything from computers and smartphones to the batteries, solar and wind technologies that will power a transition away from fossil fuels. The U.S. Geological Survey also has identified potential offshore deposits of oil and natural gas.

What started out as a social media post on Saturday by Miller’s wife over the weekend quickly turned into something that Denmark now perceives as a real threat.

Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster, posted an illustrated map of Greenland in the colors of the U.S. flag, accompanied by the caption: “SOON.”

Trump’s comments Sunday, including telling reporters “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” deepened fears that the U.S. was planning a Greenland intervention in the near future.

Frederiksen said Monday that Trump’s comments about Greenland “should be taken seriously.”

“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2. “That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen insisted on the need for good relations with the U.S. “We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation,” he said Monday night.

U.S. Reps. Steny H. Hoyer and Blake Moore, co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus, issued a joint statement Monday urging calm.

“Sabre-rattling about annexing Greenland is needlessly dangerous,” they said. “An attack on Greenland — a crucial part of that alliance — would tragically be an attack on NATO.”

“We already have access to everything we could need from Greenland,” the congressmen said, noting Denmark has previously given the U.S. a green light to deploy more forces or build additional missile defense infrastructure in Greenland.

Ulrik Pram Gad, a global security expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies, questioned Trump’s characterization of the Russian and Chinese presence in the region.

“There are indeed Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic, but these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars,” he wrote.

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Will Weissert in Washington, Danica Kirka in London, Rob Gillies in Toronto and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736263389285.png" alt="The eldest son of President&nbsp;Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk arrived in Greenland in January 2025 for a private visit that heightened speculation that the incoming U.S. administration could seek to take control of the mineral-rich Danish territory that's home to a large U.S. military base.-image from Donald Trump Jr.'s social media page." />
 <figcaption>The eldest son of President&nbsp;Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk arrived in Greenland in January 2025 for a private visit that heightened speculation that the incoming U.S. administration could seek to take control of the mineral-rich Danish territory that's home to a large U.S. military base.-image from Donald Trump Jr.'s social media page.</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/claudia-ciobanu">CLAUDIA CIOBANU</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/stefanie-dazio">STEFANIE DAZIO</a> Associated PressThe White House said Tuesday that “U.S. military is always an option,” even as a series of European leaders rejected President Donald Trump’s comments about seeking an American takeover of the world’s largest island.Trump has floated since his first term the idea of purchasing Greenland, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark. But, after this weekend’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-explosions-caracas-ca712a67aaefc30b1831f5bf0b50665e">U.S. military action in Venezuela</a>, he’s renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, citing strategic reasons.“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”That’s notable since Trump’s newly appointed special envoy to Greenland, as well as deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, had suggested that military action wouldn’t be necessary. And asked Tuesday if he felt comfortable taking military action in Greenland, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “No. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”Leavitt’s comments also followed the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joining Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a statement reaffirming that the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island “belongs to its people.”Their statement defended the sovereignty of Greenland, which is a self-governing territory of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.“Greenland belongs to its people,” it said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed his support, and announced a visit to Greenland early next month by Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon, who is of Inuit descent, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand.“The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark,” Carney said, standing next to Frederiksen at the Canadian Embassy in Paris.Also Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who Trump appointed last month as U.S. special envoy to Greenland, said when it comes to making a deal with Greenland, he isn’t interested in talking to people in Denmark who “absolutely have made their position clear.”Nor does Landry want to talk to European diplomats. Instead, he said, he wants to have conversations directly with residents of Greenland.“I want to talk to people who want an opportunity to improve the quality of life in Greenland,” the Republican said on a Fox News radio show.Landry said he has already exchanged emails with Greenlanders who had reached out to him.“They tell me they like to hunt, they like to fish, they like to have a good time. I’m like, y’all belong in Louisiana. I’m gonna call it culinary diplomacy,” Landry quipped.<h2>White House doesn’t budge</h2>Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said Monday that Greenland should be part of the United States in spite of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-trump-2b12bb104faaaafda2ed270febfb0522">warning by Frederiksen</a>&nbsp;that a U.S. takeover would amount to the end of NATO.“The president has been clear for months now that the United States should be the nation that has Greenland as part of our overall security apparatus,” Miller said during an interview with CNN on Monday.The Danish leader, together with Greenland’s prime minister, has firmly rejected Trump’s renewed call for the island to come under U.S. control. Trump has argued the U.S. needs to control Greenland to ensure it security in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.“It’s so strategic right now,” he told reporters Sunday.“Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”Miller wondered during his interview on Monday whether Denmark can assert control over Greenland. “What is the basis of their territorial claim,” Miller said. “What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?”But he also said it wasn’t necessary to consider whether the U.S. administration was contemplating an armed intervention. “There is no need to even think or talk about this in the context that you are asking, of a military operation. Nobody is going to fight the U.S. militarily over the future of Greenland,” Miller said.<h2>Greenland holds strategic importance</h2>Greenland had been a colony of the Danish kingdom for hundreds of years, becoming an integral part in 1953. The U.S. government recognized Denmark’s right to the whole of Greenland at the beginning of the 20th century.Legislation in 2009 that extended self-government to Greenland also recognized a right to independence under international law, an option favored by a majority of Greenlanders.Greenland sits off the northeastern coast of Canada, with more than two-thirds of its territory lying within the Arctic Circle. That location has made it crucial to the defense of North America since World War II.The U.S. Department of Defense operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. Constructed after a 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the U.S., the base supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.Greenland also guards part of the GIUK Gap, named for the initials of Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom, where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.Greenland has large deposits of rare earth minerals needed to make everything from computers and smartphones to the batteries, solar and wind technologies that will power a transition away from fossil fuels. The U.S. Geological Survey also has identified potential offshore deposits of oil and natural gas.<h2>Dispute creates major anxiety</h2>What started out as a social media post on Saturday by Miller’s wife over the weekend quickly turned into something that Denmark now perceives as a real threat.Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster, posted an illustrated map of Greenland in the colors of the U.S. flag, accompanied by the caption: “SOON.”Trump’s comments Sunday, including telling reporters “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” deepened fears that the U.S. was planning a Greenland intervention in the near future.Frederiksen said Monday that Trump’s comments about Greenland “should be taken seriously.”“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2. “That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen insisted on the need for good relations with the U.S. “We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation,” he said Monday night.U.S. Reps. Steny H. Hoyer and Blake Moore, co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus, issued a joint statement Monday urging calm.“Sabre-rattling about annexing Greenland is needlessly dangerous,” they said. “An attack on Greenland — a crucial part of that alliance — would tragically be an attack on NATO.”“We already have access to everything we could need from Greenland,” the congressmen said, noting Denmark has previously given the U.S. a green light to deploy more forces or build additional missile defense infrastructure in Greenland.Ulrik Pram Gad, a global security expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies, questioned Trump’s characterization of the Russian and Chinese presence in the region.“There are indeed Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic, but these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars,” he wrote.___Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Will Weissert in Washington, Danica Kirka in London, Rob Gillies in Toronto and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.__

Why President Trump says the US 'needs' to control Greenland 

TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Tuesday announced his office filed election crimes charges against Jose Luis Gomez, Sr. of Hutchinson, according to a media release from the attorney's general's office.

Officials from Kobach's office filed the charges in Reno County. Gomez faces one count of voting without being qualified and two counts of election perjury. The charges are nonperson felonies.

Gomez is a convicted felon and is currently in custody in Oklahoma pending deportation, following federal immigration proceedings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Voting by noncitizens, including both legal and illegal aliens, is a very real problem.&nbsp;Every time a noncitizen votes, it cancels out a U.S. citizen’s vote. Unfortunately, there are likely to be more cases as we continue to discover these cases," Kobach said. "The claim that the ACLU has been making for years, namely, that this sort of illegal voting by aliens does not occur, is once again proven false. It's time to stop believing their lies."

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab referred the case to Kobach’s office. The Secretary of State’s office is utilizing the SAVE program to identify Kansas electors who are not U.S. citizens.&nbsp;

Prior to election as attorney general, Kobach served two terms as secretary of state. During that time, Kobach led the charge to stop noncitizens from illegally voting in Kansas elections. Eight states, including Kansas, have passed laws requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in at least some cases, but the laws have only been implemented in four of those states, including Arizona, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wyoming. A federal court struck down the Kansas proof-of-citizenship law in 2018.

Kobach remains committed to ensuring that only qualified electors cast votes in Kansas elections.

Special Agent in Charge Matt Simpson of Kobach’s office investigated the case. First Assistant Attorney General Stacy Edwards is prosecuting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747840530130.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Tuesday announced his office filed election crimes charges against Jose Luis Gomez, Sr. of Hutchinson, according to a media release from the attorney's general's office.Officials from Kobach's office filed the charges in Reno County. Gomez faces one count of voting without being qualified and two counts of election perjury. The charges are nonperson felonies.Gomez is a convicted felon and is currently in custody in Oklahoma pending deportation, following federal immigration proceedings.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Voting by noncitizens, including both legal and illegal aliens, is a very real problem.&nbsp;Every time a noncitizen votes, it cancels out a U.S. citizen’s vote. Unfortunately, there are likely to be more cases as we continue to discover these cases," Kobach said. "The claim that the ACLU has been making for years, namely, that this sort of illegal voting by aliens does not occur, is once again proven false. It's time to stop believing their lies."Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab referred the case to Kobach’s office. The Secretary of State’s office is utilizing the SAVE program to identify Kansas electors who are not U.S. citizens.&nbsp;Prior to election as attorney general, Kobach served two terms as secretary of state. During that time, Kobach led the charge to stop noncitizens from illegally voting in Kansas elections. Eight states, including Kansas, have passed laws requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in at least some cases, but the laws have only been implemented in four of those states, including Arizona, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wyoming. A federal court struck down the Kansas proof-of-citizenship law in 2018.Kobach remains committed to ensuring that only qualified electors cast votes in Kansas elections.Special Agent in Charge Matt Simpson of Kobach’s office investigated the case. First Assistant Attorney General Stacy Edwards is prosecuting.

Kansas felon faces election crimes charges 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a shooting&nbsp; in Wichita continue asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;16-year-old Cesar Govea, according to a statement from Wichita Police.

Govea is wanted in connection with a shooting on August 24, that injured his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend and a 17-year-old boy. The victims were inside a vehicle near Wichita and Waterwalk when Govea opened fire.

Govea is considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach him.

If you know his whereabouts, do not approach him and call 911 immediately. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756165563203.png" alt="Govea photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Govea photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a shooting&nbsp; in Wichita continue asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;16-year-old Cesar Govea, according to a statement from Wichita Police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762395883189.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Govea is wanted in connection with a shooting on August 24, that injured his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend and a 17-year-old boy. The victims were inside a vehicle near Wichita and Waterwalk when Govea opened fire.Govea is considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach him.If you know his whereabouts, do not approach him and call 911 immediately. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Kan. teen accused of shooting ex-girlfriend is still at large

KANSAS CITY —A driver injured in a crash that occurred just after 5p.m. December 28, in Kansas City, Missouri has died.

A black Kia was eastbound on MLK Boulevard from Rockhill Road at an excessive speed, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

 The driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck a retaining wall at the Stowers Institute. EMS transported the driver was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. 

On Tuesday, KCPD Offier Alayna Gonzalez reported the driver died, according to the Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office. EMS transported the passenger from the vehicle to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —A driver injured in a crash that occurred just after 5p.m. December 28, in Kansas City, Missouri has died.A black Kia was eastbound on MLK Boulevard from Rockhill Road at an excessive speed, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. The driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck a retaining wall at the Stowers Institute. EMS transported the driver was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. On Tuesday, KCPD Offier Alayna Gonzalez reported the driver died, according to the Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office. EMS transported the passenger from the vehicle to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp;

KCPD: Driver injured after crash into retaining wall has died

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/regina-garcia-cano">REGINA GARCIA CANO</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/megan-janetsky">MEGAN JANETSKY</a>

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that Venezuela would be providing 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., and he pledged to use proceeds from the sale of this oil “to benefit the people” of both countries.

The White House is organizing a meeting Friday with U.S. oil company executives to discuss Venezuela, which the Trump administration has been pressuring to open its vast-but-struggling oil industry more widely to American investment and know-how. Representatives of Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are expected to attend the White House meeting, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the plans.

Earlier Tuesday, officials in Caracas announced that at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night U.S. military operation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">capture Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;and spirit him to the United States to face drug charges. And the country’s acting president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">Delcy Rodriguez,</a>&nbsp;pushed back on Trump, who earlier this week warned she’d face an outcome worse than Maduro’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-american-imperialism-1a42ccc7036ce7add7a0ba402ac6f48e">if she does not “do what’s right”</a>&nbsp;and overhaul Venezuela into a country that aligns with U.S. interests, including by granting access to American energy companies.

Rodriguez, delivering an address Tuesday before government agricultural and industrial sector officials, said, “Personally, to those who threaten me: My destiny is not determined by them, but by God.”

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said overall “dozens” of officers and civilians were killed in the weekend strike in Caracas and said prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as a “war crime.” He didn’t specify if the estimate was specifically referring to Venezuelans.

In addition to the Venezuelan security officials, Cuba’s government had previously confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-us-venezuela-maduro-e66899b41f0b84cf83f77a69d399b486">were killed in the raid</a>. The Cuban government says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cubans-killed-venezuela-strike-us-oas-a8d8fcbe3e825979c5d3171f9b076a85">the personnel killed</a>&nbsp;belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, the country’s two main security agencies.

Seven U.S. service members were also injured in the raid, according to the Pentagon. Five have already returned to duty, while two are still recovering from their injuries. The injuries included gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment on the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A video tribute to the slain Venezuelan security officials posted to the military’s Instagram account features faces of the fallen over black-and-white videos of soldiers, American aircraft flying over Caracas and armored vehicles destroyed by the blasts. Meanwhile, the streets of Caracas, deserted for days following Maduro’s capture, briefly filled with masses of people waving Venezuelan flags and bouncing to patriotic music at a state-organized display of support for the government.

“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength,” the military wrote in an Instagram post. “It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President, completely dismantle the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensure that events such as these never again sully our sovereign soil.”

Questions about the future of Venezuelan oil

With oil trading at roughly $56 a barrel, the transaction Trump announced late Tuesday could be worth as much as $2.8 billion. The U.S. goes through an average of roughly 20 million barrels a day of oil and related products, so Venezuela’s transfer would be the equivalent of as much as two and a half days of supply, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Despite Venezuela having the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, it only produces on average about one million barrels day, significantly below the U.S. average daily production of 13.9 million barrels a day during October.

The press office for Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s announcement.

ExxonMobil is developing a mammoth offshore oil deposit in the waters off Guyana, Venezuela’s neighbor to the east. The company’s major oil discovery in 2015 prompted Venezuela to revive a century-old territorial dispute with Guyana and take steps to annex the remote region known as Essequibo, which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana’s land mass.

The development has also led to wide-ranging accusations from Venezuela’s government, including Rodríguez, against Guyana’s leaders and ExxonMobil. Two years ago, Venezuelan lawmakers even considered banning any future operation in Venezuela of oil companies working in Guyana.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump pushed back against Democratic criticism of this weekend’s military operation, noting that his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden had also called for the arrest of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Venezuelan leader</a>&nbsp;on drug trafficking charges.

Trump in remarks before a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-house-republicans-meeting-kennedy-center-ad8705ea228a8a4591567fb51f87edb3">House Republican retreat</a>&nbsp;in Washington grumbled that Democrats were not giving him credit for a successful military operation, even though there was bipartisan agreement that Maduro was not the rightful president of Venezuela.

In 2020, Maduro was indicted in the United States, accused in a decades-long narco-terrorism and international cocaine trafficking conspiracy. White House officials have noted that Biden’s administration in his final days in office last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">raised the award</a>&nbsp;for information leading to Maduro’s arrest after he assumed a third term in office despite evidence suggesting that he lost Venezuela’s most recent election. The Trump administration doubled the award to $50 million in August.

“You know, at some point, they should say, ‘You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?” Trump said. “I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different. But if they did a good job, I’d be happy for the country. They’ve been after this guy for years and years and years.”

Americans are split about the capture of Maduro — with many still forming opinions —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-venezuela-trump-foreign-policy-15c94665b41312f5613772726d710905">according to a poll</a>&nbsp;conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS using text messages over the weekend. About 4 in 10 approved of the U.S. military being sent to capture Maduro, while roughly the same share were opposed. About 2 in 10 were unsure.

Nearly half of Americans, 45%, were opposed to the U.S. taking control of Venezuela and choosing a new government for the country. About 9 in 10 Americans said the Venezuelan people should be the ones to decide the future leadership of their country.

Maduro&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-venezuela-trump-criminal-case-131f59e517cc8314a53c8dace230d328">pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges</a>&nbsp;in a U.S. courtroom on Monday. U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife early Saturday in a raid on a compound where they were surrounded by Cuban guards.

In the days since Maduro’s ouster, Trump and top administration officials have raised anxiety around the globe that the operation could mark the beginning of a more expansionist U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. The president in recent days has renewed his calls for an American takeover of the Danish territory of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/greenland">Greenland</a>&nbsp;for the sake of U.S. security interests and threatened military action on Colombia for facilitating the global sale of cocaine, while his top diplomat declared the communist government in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/cuba">Cuba</a>&nbsp;is “in a lot of trouble.”

Colombia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Rosa Villavicencio said Tuesday she’ll meet with the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires in Bogota to present him with a formal complaint over the recent threats issued by the United States.

On Sunday, Trump said he wasn’t ruling out an attack on Colombia and described its president, who’s been an outspoken critic of the U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela, as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”

Villavicencio said she’s hoping to strengthen relations with the United States and improve cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.

“It is necessary for the Trump administration to know in more detail about all that we are doing in the fight against drug trafficking,” she said.

Meanwhile, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom on Tuesday joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-european-union-greenland-denmark-c5995b27ac8aee84d0064991c86d633e">defending Greenland’s sovereignty.</a>&nbsp;The island is a self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.

“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

Madhani reported from Washington and Janetsky from Mexico City. AP writers Josh Boak, Konstantin Toropin, Sagar Meghani, Isabel DeBre, Linley Sanders and Manuel Rueda contributed reporting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767660848489.png" alt="google image" />
 <figcaption>google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/regina-garcia-cano">REGINA GARCIA CANO</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/megan-janetsky">MEGAN JANETSKY</a>CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that Venezuela would be providing 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., and he pledged to use proceeds from the sale of this oil “to benefit the people” of both countries.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 President Donald J. Trump announces Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America. <a href="https://t.co/08qI7MvCpk">pic.twitter.com/08qI7MvCpk</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2008691566131769746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House is organizing a meeting Friday with U.S. oil company executives to discuss Venezuela, which the Trump administration has been pressuring to open its vast-but-struggling oil industry more widely to American investment and know-how. Representatives of Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are expected to attend the White House meeting, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the plans.Earlier Tuesday, officials in Caracas announced that at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night U.S. military operation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">capture Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;and spirit him to the United States to face drug charges. And the country’s acting president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">Delcy Rodriguez,</a>&nbsp;pushed back on Trump, who earlier this week warned she’d face an outcome worse than Maduro’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-american-imperialism-1a42ccc7036ce7add7a0ba402ac6f48e">if she does not “do what’s right”</a>&nbsp;and overhaul Venezuela into a country that aligns with U.S. interests, including by granting access to American energy companies.Rodriguez, delivering an address Tuesday before government agricultural and industrial sector officials, said, “Personally, to those who threaten me: My destiny is not determined by them, but by God.”Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said overall “dozens” of officers and civilians were killed in the weekend strike in Caracas and said prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as a “war crime.” He didn’t specify if the estimate was specifically referring to Venezuelans.In addition to the Venezuelan security officials, Cuba’s government had previously confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-us-venezuela-maduro-e66899b41f0b84cf83f77a69d399b486">were killed in the raid</a>. The Cuban government says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cubans-killed-venezuela-strike-us-oas-a8d8fcbe3e825979c5d3171f9b076a85">the personnel killed</a>&nbsp;belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, the country’s two main security agencies.Seven U.S. service members were also injured in the raid, according to the Pentagon. Five have already returned to duty, while two are still recovering from their injuries. The injuries included gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment on the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.A video tribute to the slain Venezuelan security officials posted to the military’s Instagram account features faces of the fallen over black-and-white videos of soldiers, American aircraft flying over Caracas and armored vehicles destroyed by the blasts. Meanwhile, the streets of Caracas, deserted for days following Maduro’s capture, briefly filled with masses of people waving Venezuelan flags and bouncing to patriotic music at a state-organized display of support for the government.“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength,” the military wrote in an Instagram post. “It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President, completely dismantle the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensure that events such as these never again sully our sovereign soil.”<h2>Questions about the future of Venezuelan oil</h2>With oil trading at roughly $56 a barrel, the transaction Trump announced late Tuesday could be worth as much as $2.8 billion. The U.S. goes through an average of roughly 20 million barrels a day of oil and related products, so Venezuela’s transfer would be the equivalent of as much as two and a half days of supply, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Despite Venezuela having the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, it only produces on average about one million barrels day, significantly below the U.S. average daily production of 13.9 million barrels a day during October.The press office for Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s announcement.ExxonMobil is developing a mammoth offshore oil deposit in the waters off Guyana, Venezuela’s neighbor to the east. The company’s major oil discovery in 2015 prompted Venezuela to revive a century-old territorial dispute with Guyana and take steps to annex the remote region known as Essequibo, which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana’s land mass.The development has also led to wide-ranging accusations from Venezuela’s government, including Rodríguez, against Guyana’s leaders and ExxonMobil. Two years ago, Venezuelan lawmakers even considered banning any future operation in Venezuela of oil companies working in Guyana.Earlier Tuesday, Trump pushed back against Democratic criticism of this weekend’s military operation, noting that his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden had also called for the arrest of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Venezuelan leader</a>&nbsp;on drug trafficking charges.Trump in remarks before a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-house-republicans-meeting-kennedy-center-ad8705ea228a8a4591567fb51f87edb3">House Republican retreat</a>&nbsp;in Washington grumbled that Democrats were not giving him credit for a successful military operation, even though there was bipartisan agreement that Maduro was not the rightful president of Venezuela.In 2020, Maduro was indicted in the United States, accused in a decades-long narco-terrorism and international cocaine trafficking conspiracy. White House officials have noted that Biden’s administration in his final days in office last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">raised the award</a>&nbsp;for information leading to Maduro’s arrest after he assumed a third term in office despite evidence suggesting that he lost Venezuela’s most recent election. The Trump administration doubled the award to $50 million in August.“You know, at some point, they should say, ‘You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?” Trump said. “I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different. But if they did a good job, I’d be happy for the country. They’ve been after this guy for years and years and years.”<h2>What US opinion polls show</h2>Americans are split about the capture of Maduro — with many still forming opinions —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-venezuela-trump-foreign-policy-15c94665b41312f5613772726d710905">according to a poll</a>&nbsp;conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS using text messages over the weekend. About 4 in 10 approved of the U.S. military being sent to capture Maduro, while roughly the same share were opposed. About 2 in 10 were unsure.Nearly half of Americans, 45%, were opposed to the U.S. taking control of Venezuela and choosing a new government for the country. About 9 in 10 Americans said the Venezuelan people should be the ones to decide the future leadership of their country.Maduro&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-venezuela-trump-criminal-case-131f59e517cc8314a53c8dace230d328">pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges</a>&nbsp;in a U.S. courtroom on Monday. U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife early Saturday in a raid on a compound where they were surrounded by Cuban guards.In the days since Maduro’s ouster, Trump and top administration officials have raised anxiety around the globe that the operation could mark the beginning of a more expansionist U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. The president in recent days has renewed his calls for an American takeover of the Danish territory of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/greenland">Greenland</a>&nbsp;for the sake of U.S. security interests and threatened military action on Colombia for facilitating the global sale of cocaine, while his top diplomat declared the communist government in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/cuba">Cuba</a>&nbsp;is “in a lot of trouble.”<h2>Colombia responds to Trump</h2>Colombia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Rosa Villavicencio said Tuesday she’ll meet with the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires in Bogota to present him with a formal complaint over the recent threats issued by the United States.On Sunday, Trump said he wasn’t ruling out an attack on Colombia and described its president, who’s been an outspoken critic of the U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela, as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”Villavicencio said she’s hoping to strengthen relations with the United States and improve cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.“It is necessary for the Trump administration to know in more detail about all that we are doing in the fight against drug trafficking,” she said.Meanwhile, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom on Tuesday joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-european-union-greenland-denmark-c5995b27ac8aee84d0064991c86d633e">defending Greenland’s sovereignty.</a>&nbsp;The island is a self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”—Madhani reported from Washington and Janetsky from Mexico City. AP writers Josh Boak, Konstantin Toropin, Sagar Meghani, Isabel DeBre, Linley Sanders and Manuel Rueda contributed reporting.

Trump: US to get up to 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka.

Just after 2p.m. January 3, police responded to the 800 block of SW Tyler for a possible shooting. EMS transported one victim identified as 43-year-old Stella M. Mahkuk of Topeka to an area hospital for treatment of potentially life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; On Tuesday police reported she died of her injuries.

Police have not reported an arrest of any additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767483631260.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka.Just after 2p.m. January 3, police responded to the 800 block of SW Tyler for a possible shooting. EMS transported one victim identified as 43-year-old Stella M. Mahkuk of Topeka to an area hospital for treatment of potentially life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; On Tuesday police reported she died of her injuries.Police have not reported an arrest of any additional details.

Police: Kansas woman wounded in shooting died of her injuries

DOUGLAS COUNTY–&nbsp; A man who broke into City Hall in Lawrence early Monday and was fatally shot by a city employee has been identified as&nbsp;28-year-old Omar Dominguez Gavilan from Buffalo, Minnesota, according to Lawrence Police spokesperson Laura McCabe.

Investigators learned that Gavilan was traveling through Kansas on a Greyhound bus. Early Sunday evening he was at Lawrence’s Kansas Turnpike Authority service station on I-70, just east of town. The Kansas Highway Patrol was called to remove him from the service station area due to erratic behavior. KHP transported Gavilan to the Amtrak station in Lawrence.&nbsp; Police did not have contact with Gavilan Sunday evening nor into the morning hours on Monday.

Just before 8a.m. Monday, Gavilan entered the City Hall building through a locked back door, proceeded up a stairwell to the 4th&nbsp;floor where he broke out a window within another secure door to enter the office area.&nbsp; Employees encountered Gavilan along his route and notified authorities that an intruder was in the building and attempted to find a safe area for themselves.&nbsp; An on-duty court security officer ultimately approached the man, announced his authority, and asked him to put his hands behind his back.&nbsp; 

Gavilan did not comply and began fighting the security officer.&nbsp;Details of the physical fight that followed will not be released until the investigation is complete because detectives are still interviewing those involved and police don’t want to influence any witness accounts.&nbsp;Within seconds of the shots being fired, Lawrence police officers were on-scene and began rendering aid to Gavilan along with the initial security officer and a second security officer who had arrived at the scene. Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical quickly arrived, took over his care, then pronounced him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

Detectives in the Lawrence Police Investigations Unit expect to have a full report of the events sent to&nbsp;the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for review within 2-3 weeks.&nbsp; During this time, the City employee is on administrative leave, which is standard.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767634150642.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY–&nbsp; A man who broke into City Hall in Lawrence early Monday and was fatally shot by a city employee has been identified as&nbsp;28-year-old Omar Dominguez Gavilan from Buffalo, Minnesota, according to Lawrence Police spokesperson Laura McCabe.Investigators learned that Gavilan was traveling through Kansas on a Greyhound bus. Early Sunday evening he was at Lawrence’s Kansas Turnpike Authority service station on I-70, just east of town. The Kansas Highway Patrol was called to remove him from the service station area due to erratic behavior. KHP transported Gavilan to the Amtrak station in Lawrence.&nbsp; Police did not have contact with Gavilan Sunday evening nor into the morning hours on Monday.Just before 8a.m. Monday, Gavilan entered the City Hall building through a locked back door, proceeded up a stairwell to the 4th&nbsp;floor where he broke out a window within another secure door to enter the office area.&nbsp; Employees encountered Gavilan along his route and notified authorities that an intruder was in the building and attempted to find a safe area for themselves.&nbsp; An on-duty court security officer ultimately approached the man, announced his authority, and asked him to put his hands behind his back.&nbsp; Gavilan did not comply and began fighting the security officer.&nbsp;Details of the physical fight that followed will not be released until the investigation is complete because detectives are still interviewing those involved and police don’t want to influence any witness accounts.&nbsp;Within seconds of the shots being fired, Lawrence police officers were on-scene and began rendering aid to Gavilan along with the initial security officer and a second security officer who had arrived at the scene. Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical quickly arrived, took over his care, then pronounced him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Detectives in the Lawrence Police Investigations Unit expect to have a full report of the events sent to&nbsp;the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for review within 2-3 weeks.&nbsp; During this time, the City employee is on administrative leave, which is standard.

Police ID intruder shot by city employee at Lawrence City Hall

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 5:30p.m. January 4, a sheriff's&nbsp;deputy on routine patrol stopped a vehicle for speeding 101 mph in a 65 mph zone in the vicinity of U.S. 75 and&nbsp; 160th, according to Brown County Sheriff&nbsp; John Merchant.

While making contact with the driver&nbsp; of the vehicle identified as 71-year-old Clarence Riley of Minot, North&nbsp; Dakota, an odor of burnt marijuana was detected&nbsp; coming from the vehicle.&nbsp; 

The deputy arrested Riley on requested charges ofPossession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and No Drug Tax Stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767652399710.png" alt="Riley photo Brown County" />
 <figcaption>Riley photo Brown County</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 5:30p.m. January 4, a sheriff's&nbsp;deputy on routine patrol stopped a vehicle for speeding 101 mph in a 65 mph zone in the vicinity of U.S. 75 and&nbsp; 160th, according to Brown County Sheriff&nbsp; John Merchant.While making contact with the driver&nbsp; of the vehicle identified as 71-year-old Clarence Riley of Minot, North&nbsp; Dakota, an odor of burnt marijuana was detected&nbsp; coming from the vehicle.&nbsp; The deputy arrested Riley on requested charges ofPossession of Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and No Drug Tax Stamp.

Sheriff: Driver was transporting cocaine at 101mph on Kan. highway

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/bill-barrow">BILL BARROW</a> Associated Press

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday he wants Republicans to reach a deal on health care insurance assistance by being willing to bend on a 50-year-old budget policy that bars federal money from being spent on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion services</a>.

“You have to be a little flexible” on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-90e629ff016a4e3d98e7be9c149f5c73">the Hyde Amendment</a>, Trump told House Republicans as they gathered in Washington for a caucus retreat to open the midterm election year. “You gotta be a little flexible. You gotta work something. You gotta use ingenuity.”

With his suggestion, Trump, who supported abortion rights before he entered politics in 2015, is asking conservatives to abandon or at least ease up on decades of Republican orthodoxy on abortion and spending policy — something lawmakers and conservatives pushed back on immediately.

At the same time, he is demonstrating his long-standing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-abortion-election-2024-ivf-contraception-d91f0959087e803db390be11eb60975b">malleability on abortion</a>&nbsp;and acknowledging that Democrats have the political upper hand on health care after Republicans, who control the White House, the Senate and the House, allowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-health-subsidies-expire-35060610e82ca3257821c53f2a34ecf6">the expiration of premium subsidies</a>&nbsp;for people buying Affordable Care Act insurance policies. As negotiations on Capitol Hill continue on the matter, some Democrats are pushing to end the Hyde restrictions as part of any new agreements on health care subsidies.

Trump’s road map on the Hyde Amendment came more than an hour into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-house-republicans-meeting-kennedy-center-ad8705ea228a8a4591567fb51f87edb3">a stem-winding speech</a>&nbsp;intended as a part strategy session and part pep rally as Republicans attempt to maintain their threadbare House majority in the November midterms.

The president touted the GOP proposal to replace ACA subsidies — which taxpayers typically steer directly to insurance companies after selecting their policies — with direct payments that taxpayers could use for a range of health care expenses, including insurance. The expanded ACA subsidies expired on Dec. 31, 2025, hitting millions of policy holders with steep premium increases.

“Let the money go directly to the people,” Trump said, before casually slipping in a reference to the Hyde Amendment.

“We’re all big fans of everything,” he said. “But you have to have flexibility.”

Turning directly to GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Trump added, “If you can do that, you’re going to have — this is going to be your issue.”

House Republicans did not visibly react to Trump’s argument. But Senate Republicans appeared unlikely to back off their demands that any new health care legislation maintain existing restrictions on government funding for abortion services.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune reiterated his stance Tuesday afternoon that any legislation must ensure “that those dollars aren’t being used to go against the practice that has been in place for the last 50 years.”

Beyond Capitol Hill, Trump drew swift condemnation from parts of the GOP coalition that want absolute opposition to any policy that might ease abortion restrictions.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said it would sour core conservative voters and make Republicans “sure to lose this November.”

“To suggest Republicans should be ‘flexible’ is an abandonment of this decades-long commitment,” she said in a statement. “The voters sent a GOP trifecta to Washington and they expect it to govern like one. Giving in to Democrat demands that our tax dollars are used to fund plans that cover abortion on demand until birth would be a massive betrayal.”

Even before Trump’s speech, activists were ramping up pressure on Republicans in their talks with Democrats.

At Americans United for Life, a leading advocacy group that opposes abortion rights, Gavin Oxley penned an op-ed this week for “The Hill” titled, “Republicans must hold the line: No Hyde Amendment, no deal on health care.”

“If they play their cards right,” Oxley wrote, “Republicans just might earn back enough of their base’s trust to sustain them through the 2026 midterms.”

The Hyde Amendment, named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde, originally applied to Medicaid, the joint federal-state insurance program for poor and disabled Americans, and barred it from paying for abortions unless the woman’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Hyde first introduced it in 1976, shortly after the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide.

Over the years, Congress reauthorized Hyde policy as part of spending bills that fund the government. Democrats who support abortion access often joined Republicans who opposed abortion rights as a bipartisan compromise to pass larger spending deals. But as the two parties hardened their respective positions on abortion, Democrats became more uniform opponents of the ban, most famously when presidential candidate Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-presidential-election-national-national-c142b9f08fa741c89bc26330d43e3abc">reversed his long-standing support for Hyde</a>&nbsp;on his way to winning the 2020 Democratic nomination and general election.

Republicans have maintained their near-absolute support for the amendment.

The anti-abortion movement was initially skeptical of Trump as a presidential candidate in 2015 and 2016. But he has mostly aligned with the key faction of the Republican coalition, especially on Supreme Court appointments that led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">the 2022 decision overturning Roe</a>.

—- Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press reporter Stephen Groves contributed from Washington.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/bill-barrow">BILL BARROW</a> Associated PressPresident&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday he wants Republicans to reach a deal on health care insurance assistance by being willing to bend on a 50-year-old budget policy that bars federal money from being spent on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion services</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump addresses healthcare when speaking to <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HouseGOP</a> retreat: &quot;If you can come up with healthcare --remember this--where the money goes to the people...they can&#39;t fight it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/X7tvA2p7pj">pic.twitter.com/X7tvA2p7pj</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2008581929998635182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“You have to be a little flexible” on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-90e629ff016a4e3d98e7be9c149f5c73">the Hyde Amendment</a>, Trump told House Republicans as they gathered in Washington for a caucus retreat to open the midterm election year. “You gotta be a little flexible. You gotta work something. You gotta use ingenuity.”With his suggestion, Trump, who supported abortion rights before he entered politics in 2015, is asking conservatives to abandon or at least ease up on decades of Republican orthodoxy on abortion and spending policy — something lawmakers and conservatives pushed back on immediately.At the same time, he is demonstrating his long-standing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-abortion-election-2024-ivf-contraception-d91f0959087e803db390be11eb60975b">malleability on abortion</a>&nbsp;and acknowledging that Democrats have the political upper hand on health care after Republicans, who control the White House, the Senate and the House, allowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-health-subsidies-expire-35060610e82ca3257821c53f2a34ecf6">the expiration of premium subsidies</a>&nbsp;for people buying Affordable Care Act insurance policies. As negotiations on Capitol Hill continue on the matter, some Democrats are pushing to end the Hyde restrictions as part of any new agreements on health care subsidies.Trump’s road map on the Hyde Amendment came more than an hour into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-house-republicans-meeting-kennedy-center-ad8705ea228a8a4591567fb51f87edb3">a stem-winding speech</a>&nbsp;intended as a part strategy session and part pep rally as Republicans attempt to maintain their threadbare House majority in the November midterms.The president touted the GOP proposal to replace ACA subsidies — which taxpayers typically steer directly to insurance companies after selecting their policies — with direct payments that taxpayers could use for a range of health care expenses, including insurance. The expanded ACA subsidies expired on Dec. 31, 2025, hitting millions of policy holders with steep premium increases.“Let the money go directly to the people,” Trump said, before casually slipping in a reference to the Hyde Amendment.“We’re all big fans of everything,” he said. “But you have to have flexibility.”Turning directly to GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Trump added, “If you can do that, you’re going to have — this is going to be your issue.”House Republicans did not visibly react to Trump’s argument. But Senate Republicans appeared unlikely to back off their demands that any new health care legislation maintain existing restrictions on government funding for abortion services.Senate Majority Leader John Thune reiterated his stance Tuesday afternoon that any legislation must ensure “that those dollars aren’t being used to go against the practice that has been in place for the last 50 years.”Beyond Capitol Hill, Trump drew swift condemnation from parts of the GOP coalition that want absolute opposition to any policy that might ease abortion restrictions.Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said it would sour core conservative voters and make Republicans “sure to lose this November.”“To suggest Republicans should be ‘flexible’ is an abandonment of this decades-long commitment,” she said in a statement. “The voters sent a GOP trifecta to Washington and they expect it to govern like one. Giving in to Democrat demands that our tax dollars are used to fund plans that cover abortion on demand until birth would be a massive betrayal.”Even before Trump’s speech, activists were ramping up pressure on Republicans in their talks with Democrats.At Americans United for Life, a leading advocacy group that opposes abortion rights, Gavin Oxley penned an op-ed this week for “The Hill” titled, “Republicans must hold the line: No Hyde Amendment, no deal on health care.”“If they play their cards right,” Oxley wrote, “Republicans just might earn back enough of their base’s trust to sustain them through the 2026 midterms.”The Hyde Amendment, named for the late Rep. Henry Hyde, originally applied to Medicaid, the joint federal-state insurance program for poor and disabled Americans, and barred it from paying for abortions unless the woman’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Hyde first introduced it in 1976, shortly after the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion nationwide.Over the years, Congress reauthorized Hyde policy as part of spending bills that fund the government. Democrats who support abortion access often joined Republicans who opposed abortion rights as a bipartisan compromise to pass larger spending deals. But as the two parties hardened their respective positions on abortion, Democrats became more uniform opponents of the ban, most famously when presidential candidate Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-presidential-election-national-national-c142b9f08fa741c89bc26330d43e3abc">reversed his long-standing support for Hyde</a>&nbsp;on his way to winning the 2020 Democratic nomination and general election.Republicans have maintained their near-absolute support for the amendment.The anti-abortion movement was initially skeptical of Trump as a presidential candidate in 2015 and 2016. But he has mostly aligned with the key faction of the Republican coalition, especially on Supreme Court appointments that led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">the 2022 decision overturning Roe</a>.—- Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press reporter Stephen Groves contributed from Washington.

🎥What Presidet Trump told Republicans on abortion restrictions

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ronald-reagan">Ronald Reagan</a>&nbsp;and a conservative commentator, has died. He was 80.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute announced his death in a post on the social platform X on Tuesday, calling him “a steadfast guardian of his father’s legacy.”

“Michael Reagan lived a life shaped by conviction, purpose, and an abiding devotion to President Reagan’s ideals,” the foundation said.

His cause of death was not immediately announced.

Reagan was a contributor to the conservative Newsmax television network and was known for his talk radio program, “The Michael Reagan Show.”

Reagan was born to Irene Flaugher in 1945 and adopted just hours after his birth by Ronald Reagan and his then-wife, actor Jane Wyman.

The young Reagan followed in his parents’ footsteps.

After attending Arizona State University and Los Angeles Valley College, Reagan took up acting, built his syndicated radio show and authored several books, including two about his personal journey titled “On the Outside Looking in” and “Twice Adopted.”

Throughout his life, Reagan also focused his time on several charities, raising money in powerboat racing and serving as chair of the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation board for three years.

Ronald Reagan, who was known for trying to scale back government and devoting his presidency to winning the Cold War, died in 2004 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Michael Reagan pushed his father’s ideas forward as chair of the Reagan Legacy Foundation.

Michael Reagan’s second marriage was to Colleen Stearns, with whom he had two children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767738434098.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ronald-reagan">Ronald Reagan</a>&nbsp;and a conservative commentator, has died. He was 80.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/2aNEKvNJDr">pic.twitter.com/2aNEKvNJDr</a>&mdash; Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation &amp; Institute (@RonaldReagan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RonaldReagan/status/2008669652575248459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute announced his death in a post on the social platform X on Tuesday, calling him “a steadfast guardian of his father’s legacy.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/2aNEKvNJDr">pic.twitter.com/2aNEKvNJDr</a>&mdash; Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation &amp; Institute (@RonaldReagan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RonaldReagan/status/2008669652575248459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Michael Reagan lived a life shaped by conviction, purpose, and an abiding devotion to President Reagan’s ideals,” the foundation said.His cause of death was not immediately announced.Reagan was a contributor to the conservative Newsmax television network and was known for his talk radio program, “The Michael Reagan Show.”Reagan was born to Irene Flaugher in 1945 and adopted just hours after his birth by Ronald Reagan and his then-wife, actor Jane Wyman.The young Reagan followed in his parents’ footsteps.After attending Arizona State University and Los Angeles Valley College, Reagan took up acting, built his syndicated radio show and authored several books, including two about his personal journey titled “On the Outside Looking in” and “Twice Adopted.”Throughout his life, Reagan also focused his time on several charities, raising money in powerboat racing and serving as chair of the John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation board for three years.Ronald Reagan, who was known for trying to scale back government and devoting his presidency to winning the Cold War, died in 2004 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Michael Reagan pushed his father’s ideas forward as chair of the Reagan Legacy Foundation.Michael Reagan’s second marriage was to Colleen Stearns, with whom he had two children.

Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, dies at 80

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, which is leading the investigation into the death of 13-year-old Airen Andula of Pleasonton, Kansas, has now confirmed the cause of the teen's death. 

According to the autopsy conducted by the Wyandotte County Kansas Coroner's Office, the cause of death has been identified as multiple dog bite injuries, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department reported.

Damon Leonard of Pleasonton, Kansas remains in custody on a $100,000, cash-only bond, in Bates County, Missouri on charges of abandonment of a corpse in relation to the teen’s death. 

Charges against Leonard have also been filed in Linn County, Kansas for interference of law enforcement, criminal desecration and having a vicious dog at large.

The investigation in to Airen’s death remains ongoing by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767095993444.png" alt="Leonard photo Bates County" />
 <figcaption>Leonard photo Bates County</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, which is leading the investigation into the death of 13-year-old Airen Andula of Pleasonton, Kansas, has now confirmed the cause of the teen's death. According to the autopsy conducted by the Wyandotte County Kansas Coroner's Office, the cause of death has been identified as multiple dog bite injuries, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department reported.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766528035692.png" alt="Airen Andula photo Linn Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Airen Andula photo Linn Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Damon Leonard of Pleasonton, Kansas remains in custody on a $100,000, cash-only bond, in Bates County, Missouri on charges of abandonment of a corpse in relation to the teen’s death. Charges against Leonard have also been filed in Linn County, Kansas for interference of law enforcement, criminal desecration and having a vicious dog at large.The investigation in to Airen’s death remains ongoing by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

Autopsy: Kansas boy died from multiple dog bites

NEW YORK (AP) — Broad gains led by technology stocks pushed Wall Street to more records on Tuesday.

The gains mirror much of the action from the previous year, when big technology stocks often drove the market to a series of records.

Technology stocks led the gains, but several other sectors assisted in the broader market's advance. Health care companies, retailers and industrial firms broadly gained ground. Roughly three out of every four stocks in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index rose.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 42.77 points, or 0.6%, to 6,944.82, setting a record on just the third trading day of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 484.90 points, or 1%, to 49,462.08, hitting a record for a second-straight day. The Nasdaq composite rose 151.35 points, or 0.6%, to 23,547.17.

Small company stocks outpaced their larger counterparts. The Russell 2000 jumped 1.4% and is now just below its record set in December.

The most notable action remained in the tech sector. Amazon, which has reach into both retail and technology, surged 3.4%. It is one of the most valuable companies in the world and its outsized stock valuation helped counter losses elsewhere in the market, including a 1.8% loss from Apple.

Micron Technology surged 10%, also helping to lift the market. Microsoft rose 1.2%

Nvidia, which is often the biggest force behind the market's direction, wavered throughout the day and finished 0.5% lower.

Sandisk surged 27.6% for the market's biggest gain. The stock's value has jumped more than 800% since spinning off from Western Digital last February. The gains have been driven by artificial intelligence and the resulting demand for data-storage hardware. Western Digital rose 16.8%.

Technology companies, especially those focused on artificial intelligence, are being closely watched this week during the industry's annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ces-nvidia-amd-lego-uber-a3e6e4e582ff83a4aa331d1791140369">CES trade show</a>&nbsp;in Las Vegas.

AI advances helped propel the broader market to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wall-street-stocks-bonds-crypto-tariffs-ai-539ae5ec338d19f52116e97d38300c28">series of records in 2025</a>. Investors will be watching companies for any updates that could shed more light on the big corporate investments in AI technology.

The price of benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 2% to $57.13 per barrel, pulling back from sharp gains a day prior when the market reacted to U.S. forces capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a weekend raid. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1.7% to $60.70 per barrel.

Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.16% from 4.15% late Monday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-jobs-economy-3c48a2e88f04b70e993020712c8684b2">what the Federal Reserve will do</a>, rose to 3.46% from 3.45% late Monday.

Gold prices rose 1% and silver prices rose 5.7%. Such assets are often considered safe havens in times of geopolitical turmoil. The metals have notched record prices over the last year amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-jobs-71f3d52f0fd63b34f4a8c59c60ffbe20">lingering economic concerns</a>&nbsp;brought on by conflicts and trade wars.

Outside of company announcements, Wall Street is preparing for several updates on the U.S. labor market this week, along with reports on the services sector and consumer sentiment. They will help paint a clearer picture of how vital parts of the economy closed out 2025 and the direction they could take in 2026.

On Wednesday, the U.S. government will release its report on job openings for November. The October report showed that U.S. job openings had barely budged. Weekly unemployment data will be released on Thursday and the broader monthly employment report, for December, will be released on Friday.

The Institute for Supply Management will also release its latest services sector update on Wednesday, while the University of Michigan will release its latest consumer sentiment survey Friday. They are both widely monitored because the services sector makes up the bulk of the U.S. economy, and consumer sentiment has been shaky under the weight of higher prices and economic uncertainty.

The Fed will be analyzing all of that data and more ahead of its next meeting in late January. The central bank cut its benchmark interest rate three times late in 2025 to try and counter the economic impact of a softer jobs market. Lower interest rates on loans can help bolster economic activity.

Cutting rates also risks fueling inflation at a time when it remains stubbornly above the Fed's 2% target and could potentially reheat. Rising inflation could counter any benefit from lower interest rates and weigh more heavily on the economy.

Wall Street expects the Fed to hold interest rates steady at its January meeting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755116533012.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Broad gains led by technology stocks pushed Wall Street to more records on Tuesday.The gains mirror much of the action from the previous year, when big technology stocks often drove the market to a series of records.Technology stocks led the gains, but several other sectors assisted in the broader market's advance. Health care companies, retailers and industrial firms broadly gained ground. Roughly three out of every four stocks in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index rose.The S&amp;P 500 rose 42.77 points, or 0.6%, to 6,944.82, setting a record on just the third trading day of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 484.90 points, or 1%, to 49,462.08, hitting a record for a second-straight day. The Nasdaq composite rose 151.35 points, or 0.6%, to 23,547.17.Small company stocks outpaced their larger counterparts. The Russell 2000 jumped 1.4% and is now just below its record set in December.The most notable action remained in the tech sector. Amazon, which has reach into both retail and technology, surged 3.4%. It is one of the most valuable companies in the world and its outsized stock valuation helped counter losses elsewhere in the market, including a 1.8% loss from Apple.Micron Technology surged 10%, also helping to lift the market. Microsoft rose 1.2%Nvidia, which is often the biggest force behind the market's direction, wavered throughout the day and finished 0.5% lower.Sandisk surged 27.6% for the market's biggest gain. The stock's value has jumped more than 800% since spinning off from Western Digital last February. The gains have been driven by artificial intelligence and the resulting demand for data-storage hardware. Western Digital rose 16.8%.Technology companies, especially those focused on artificial intelligence, are being closely watched this week during the industry's annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ces-nvidia-amd-lego-uber-a3e6e4e582ff83a4aa331d1791140369">CES trade show</a>&nbsp;in Las Vegas.AI advances helped propel the broader market to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wall-street-stocks-bonds-crypto-tariffs-ai-539ae5ec338d19f52116e97d38300c28">series of records in 2025</a>. Investors will be watching companies for any updates that could shed more light on the big corporate investments in AI technology.The price of benchmark U.S. crude oil fell 2% to $57.13 per barrel, pulling back from sharp gains a day prior when the market reacted to U.S. forces capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a weekend raid. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, fell 1.7% to $60.70 per barrel.Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.16% from 4.15% late Monday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-jobs-economy-3c48a2e88f04b70e993020712c8684b2">what the Federal Reserve will do</a>, rose to 3.46% from 3.45% late Monday.Gold prices rose 1% and silver prices rose 5.7%. Such assets are often considered safe havens in times of geopolitical turmoil. The metals have notched record prices over the last year amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-jobs-71f3d52f0fd63b34f4a8c59c60ffbe20">lingering economic concerns</a>&nbsp;brought on by conflicts and trade wars.Markets in Europe gained ground.Outside of company announcements, Wall Street is preparing for several updates on the U.S. labor market this week, along with reports on the services sector and consumer sentiment. They will help paint a clearer picture of how vital parts of the economy closed out 2025 and the direction they could take in 2026.On Wednesday, the U.S. government will release its report on job openings for November. The October report showed that U.S. job openings had barely budged. Weekly unemployment data will be released on Thursday and the broader monthly employment report, for December, will be released on Friday.The Institute for Supply Management will also release its latest services sector update on Wednesday, while the University of Michigan will release its latest consumer sentiment survey Friday. They are both widely monitored because the services sector makes up the bulk of the U.S. economy, and consumer sentiment has been shaky under the weight of higher prices and economic uncertainty.The Fed will be analyzing all of that data and more ahead of its next meeting in late January. The central bank cut its benchmark interest rate three times late in 2025 to try and counter the economic impact of a softer jobs market. Lower interest rates on loans can help bolster economic activity.Cutting rates also risks fueling inflation at a time when it remains stubbornly above the Fed's 2% target and could potentially reheat. Rising inflation could counter any benefit from lower interest rates and weigh more heavily on the economy.Wall Street expects the Fed to hold interest rates steady at its January meeting.___

Wall Street reaches more records on more gains by Big Tech

WASHINGTON —The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of reducing the number of&nbsp;vaccines&nbsp;it recommends for every child. While some leading medical groups say this move would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, a physician, released a statement he gave to Newsmax on his agreement with the changes to the childhood vaccine schedule.

Marshall said,&nbsp;“Yeah, I think this is a great step in the right direction, most importantly, to restore the trust of the American people in the CDC. To your point, we did have 17 different viruses that we were vaccinating against as we decreased that to 11, and ultimately restored the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship."

Marshall continued, "Look, these vaccines are a medicine of sorts, and just like you wouldn’t start a new medicine without talking to your doctor about the pros and cons, the risks and benefits, I think that vaccines serve that same level of discussion with your own doctor. So let’s put this back in the hands of your good doctor and patients. I have faith in Americans that they’ll make the right decision, what’s best for their child.”

WASHINGTON —The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of reducing the number of&nbsp;vaccines&nbsp;it recommends for every child. While some leading medical groups say this move would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, a physician, released a statement he gave to Newsmax on his agreement with the changes to the childhood vaccine schedule.Marshall said,&nbsp;“Yeah, I think this is a great step in the right direction, most importantly, to restore the trust of the American people in the CDC. To your point, we did have 17 different viruses that we were vaccinating against as we decreased that to 11, and ultimately restored the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">PROMISE MADE. PROMISE KEPT. Thank you, President Trump! 👶 <a href="https://t.co/hBgkOiDWdU">pic.twitter.com/hBgkOiDWdU</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2008306341769822620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Marshall continued, "Look, these vaccines are a medicine of sorts, and just like you wouldn’t start a new medicine without talking to your doctor about the pros and cons, the risks and benefits, I think that vaccines serve that same level of discussion with your own doctor. So let’s put this back in the hands of your good doctor and patients. I have faith in Americans that they’ll make the right decision, what’s best for their child.”

Kansas U.S. Senator comments on changes to child vaccine schedule

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement arrested a suspect after a reported armed robbery at a Circle K in southwest Wichita last week. Officers used a drone to quickly locate the suspect and direct officers to his location.

Just before 5:30 a.m. Jan. 2, police responded to a robbery call at the Circle K at 1254 S. Tyler in Wichita, according to a media release.

An employee told officers a man entered the store armed with a handgun and demanded cash from the register. The employee handed over cash, and the suspect, identified from Sedgwick County booking records as 46-year-old Charles G. Scott, fled westbound on a bicycle.

Officers found a bicycle just west of Tyler that appeared to have crashed. A responding officer deployed a drone and quickly spotted Scott hopping fences in the neighborhood west of the gas station. Officers moved in, took the Scott into custody, and recovered cash from his pocket. Officers also found clothing and a gun matching the description nearby along his path of travel.&nbsp;

"This is exactly how technology helps us in real time," Wichita Police Chief Joseph Sullivan said. "Drones let us quickly deploy, cover a perimeter, and direct officers to the suspect right away. In this case, that quick response was huge, and it helped us get someone who committed a violent crime off the street."

Scott is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on requested of aggravated robbery, theft, drug possession and a numerous other allegations, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767449289773.png" alt="Scott photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Scott photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement arrested a suspect after a reported armed robbery at a Circle K in southwest Wichita last week. Officers used a drone to quickly locate the suspect and direct officers to his location.Just before 5:30 a.m. Jan. 2, police responded to a robbery call at the Circle K at 1254 S. Tyler in Wichita, according to a media release.An employee told officers a man entered the store armed with a handgun and demanded cash from the register. The employee handed over cash, and the suspect, identified from Sedgwick County booking records as 46-year-old Charles G. Scott, fled westbound on a bicycle.Officers found a bicycle just west of Tyler that appeared to have crashed. A responding officer deployed a drone and quickly spotted Scott hopping fences in the neighborhood west of the gas station. Officers moved in, took the Scott into custody, and recovered cash from his pocket. Officers also found clothing and a gun matching the description nearby along his path of travel.&nbsp;"This is exactly how technology helps us in real time," Wichita Police Chief Joseph Sullivan said. "Drones let us quickly deploy, cover a perimeter, and direct officers to the suspect right away. In this case, that quick response was huge, and it helped us get someone who committed a violent crime off the street."Scott is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on requested of aggravated robbery, theft, drug possession and a numerous other allegations, according to online jail records.

Drone helps police capture Kansas armed robbery suspect

<a href="https://apnews.com/author/david-bauder">DAVID BAUDER</a> Associated Press

In the wake of last weekend’s U.S. military action in Venezuela, the news media got something it has seldom heard from the Trump administration: a “thank you.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited news organizations that had learned in advance about Saturday’s strike that led to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-venezuela-trump-criminal-case-131f59e517cc8314a53c8dace230d328">capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;with not putting the mission in jeopardy by publicly reporting on it before it happened.

Rubio’s acknowledgment was particularly noteworthy because Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has cited a mistrust of journalists’ ability to responsibly handle sensitive information as one of the chief reasons for imposing restrictive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-press-access-hegseth-trump-restrictions-5d9c2a63e4e03b91fc1546bb09ffbf12">new press rules</a>&nbsp;on Pentagon reporters. Most mainstream news organizations have left posts in the Pentagon rather than agree to Hegseth’s policy.

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, Rubio said the Republican administration withheld information about the mission from Congress ahead of time because “it will leak. It’s as simple as that.” But the primary reason was operational security, he said.

“Frankly, a number of media outlets had gotten leaks that this was coming and held it for that very reason,” Rubio said. “And we thank them for doing that or lives could have been lost. American lives.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767463872878.png" alt="Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump during a press conference on Sunday -image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Trump during a press conference on Sunday -image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://apnews.com/author/david-bauder">DAVID BAUDER</a> Associated PressIn the wake of last weekend’s U.S. military action in Venezuela, the news media got something it has seldom heard from the Trump administration: a “thank you.”Secretary of State Marco Rubio credited news organizations that had learned in advance about Saturday’s strike that led to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-venezuela-trump-criminal-case-131f59e517cc8314a53c8dace230d328">capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;with not putting the mission in jeopardy by publicly reporting on it before it happened.Rubio’s acknowledgment was particularly noteworthy because Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has cited a mistrust of journalists’ ability to responsibly handle sensitive information as one of the chief reasons for imposing restrictive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-press-access-hegseth-trump-restrictions-5d9c2a63e4e03b91fc1546bb09ffbf12">new press rules</a>&nbsp;on Pentagon reporters. Most mainstream news organizations have left posts in the Pentagon rather than agree to Hegseth’s policy.Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, Rubio said the Republican administration withheld information about the mission from Congress ahead of time because “it will leak. It’s as simple as that.” But the primary reason was operational security, he said.“Frankly, a number of media outlets had gotten leaks that this was coming and held it for that very reason,” Rubio said. “And we thank them for doing that or lives could have been lost. American lives.”<h2>Advance word got out</h2>Semafor, citing “people familiar with communications between the administration and news organizations,” reported that The New York Times and The Washington Post had both learned of the raid in advance but held off reporting on it to avoid endangering U.S. military personnel. Representatives for both outlets declined to comment to The Associated Press on Monday.Withholding information on a planned mission for that reason is routine for news organizations, said Dana Priest, a longtime national security reporter at the Post who now teaches at the University of Maryland. Even after the fact, the Post has asked government authorities about whether revealing certain details could endanger people, she said.When The Atlantic magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-signal-classified-information-308e7a81d70d6233c06a1f7330ae3004">included in a text chain</a>&nbsp;last spring where Hegseth revealed information about a military attack in Yemen, the journalist did not report on the events until well after U.S. personnel was out of danger and the information had been thoroughly checked out.Most Americans learned of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-explosions-caracas-ca712a67aaefc30b1831f5bf0b50665e">the Venezuela attack</a>&nbsp;in the predawn hours of Saturday when President Donald Trump announced it on his Truth Social platform upon completion.While The Associated Press did not have advance word that the operation would happen, its journalists in Venezuela heard and observed explosions taking place there, and that was reported on the news wire more than two hours before Trump’s announcement. The U.S. involvement was not made clear until Trump’s post, however.<h2>Decisions on publication have many dimensions</h2>Hegseth, in defending rules that restrict reporters’ movements and reporting in the Pentagon, told Fox News last year that “we have expectations that you’re not soliciting classified or sensitive information.” The Times last month&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-press-access-new-york-times-lawsuit-4902b47079139202a906921e6c685a80">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;seeking to overturn the rules.“What the so-called legacy Pentagon press corps has demonstrated is it can act responsibly, as it always has, to protect troops’ lives,” said Barbara Starr, a former CNN defense correspondent. “But even more important perhaps is it demonstrates the media makes every effort to continue to cover the news outside of Pete Hegseth’s control and endless message points.”Decisions on whether to report information that could put lives or a mission in danger often involve high-level discussions between editors and government officials. But Priest stressed that in a country with freedom of the press, the ultimate decision on whether to report the information lies with the news organization.Generations ago, President John F. Kennedy persuaded editors at the Times not to report when it learned in advance of a U.S.-backed attack by Cuban exiles on Fidel Castro’s forces at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba. The mission proved a monumental failure, and a Times editor, Bill Keller, later said that Kennedy expressed regret that the newspaper had not reported on what it had known because it could have prevented a fiasco.Many mainstream journalists covering the military and national security have extensive experience dealing with sensitive issues, Priest said. But there’s a difference, she said, between reporting information that could put someone in danger and that which could prove embarrassing to an administration.“The reporters are not going to be deterred by a ridiculously broad censorship edict by the Trump administration,” Priest said. “They’re going to dig in and work even harder. Their mission is not to curry favor with the Trump administration. It’s to report information to the public.”___