By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>

WASHINGTON — States must now provide “justification” that federal child care funds they receive are spent on “legitimate” providers in order to get those dollars, President Donald Trump’s administration announced.&nbsp;

The Tuesday shift in policy came following<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/31/minnesota-child-care-providers-say-trumps-funding-freeze-will-shut-down-their-businesses/" target="_blank">&nbsp;allegations of fraud in Minnesota’s child care programs,&nbsp;</a>which prompted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to freeze all child care payments to the state.&nbsp;

HHS could not offer many specifics on how the review process will play out for other states, but clarified that the money in question is provided through the multibillion-dollar federal Child Care and Development Fund, or CCDF.&nbsp;

“States will be required to provide documentation, such as written justification, receipts, or photographic evidence, demonstrating that funds are supporting legitimate child care providers,” Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for HHS, said in a statement to States Newsroom on Wednesday.&nbsp;

CCDF provides federal funding to states, territories and tribes to help low-income families obtain child care.&nbsp;

The program, administered within the Office of Child Care under HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, combines funding from the Child Care and Development Block Grant, or CCDBG, and the Child Care Entitlement to States, or CCES.&nbsp;

Funding for CCDF in&nbsp;<a href="https://acf.gov/occ/data/gy-2025-ccdf-allocations-based-appropriations" target="_blank">fiscal year 2025</a>&nbsp;stood at roughly $12.3 billion — comprising $8.75 billion from CCDBG and $3.55 billion from CCES.&nbsp;

Head Start — a separate program that provides early childhood education, nutritious meals, health screenings and other support services to low-income families — does not appear to be affected.&nbsp;

In a Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HHS_Jim/status/2006136004294664464" target="_blank">social media post</a>&nbsp;announcing the move, Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said he had “activated our defend the spend system for all ACF payments” and “starting today, all ACF payments across America will require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before we send money to a state.”&nbsp;

He clarified in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HHS_Jim/status/2006152183863972241" target="_blank">separate post</a>&nbsp;shortly after that “funds will be released only when states prove they are being spent legitimately.”&nbsp;

“Federal funding enables millions of parents in every state and Congressional district to access and afford quality child care,” Sarah Rittling, executive director of First Five Years Fund, a federal advocacy group, said in a Wednesday statement.&nbsp;

Rittling added that “these funds are essential to the nation’s well-being, allowing parents to work while ensuring their children are cared for and safe.”   

She also described the reports of potential fraud as “deeply concerning” and pointed out that “state oversight through regular audits is required by law to ensure that every dollar intended to protect and support young children is used properly and effectively.”&nbsp;

“At the same time, we must ensure that nothing takes away from making sure funds for child care continue to reach the children and families who depend on them,” she said.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767093694484.png" alt="DHS agents going door to door investigating fraud in Minnesota -image from Homeland Security video" />
                        <figcaption>DHS agents going door to door investigating fraud in Minnesota -image from Homeland Security video</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — States must now provide “justification” that federal child care funds they receive are spent on “legitimate” providers in order to get those dollars, President Donald Trump’s administration announced.&nbsp;</p><p>The Tuesday shift in policy came following<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/31/minnesota-child-care-providers-say-trumps-funding-freeze-will-shut-down-their-businesses/" target="_blank">&nbsp;allegations of fraud in Minnesota’s child care programs,&nbsp;</a>which prompted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to freeze all child care payments to the state.&nbsp;</p><p>HHS could not offer many specifics on how the review process will play out for other states, but clarified that the money in question is provided through the multibillion-dollar federal Child Care and Development Fund, or CCDF.&nbsp;</p><p>“States will be required to provide documentation, such as written justification, receipts, or photographic evidence, demonstrating that funds are supporting legitimate child care providers,” Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for HHS, said in a statement to States Newsroom on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p><p>CCDF provides federal funding to states, territories and tribes to help low-income families obtain child care.&nbsp;</p><p>The program, administered within the Office of Child Care under HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, combines funding from the Child Care and Development Block Grant, or CCDBG, and the Child Care Entitlement to States, or CCES.&nbsp;</p><p>Funding for CCDF in&nbsp;<a href="https://acf.gov/occ/data/gy-2025-ccdf-allocations-based-appropriations" target="_blank">fiscal year 2025</a>&nbsp;stood at roughly $12.3 billion — comprising $8.75 billion from CCDBG and $3.55 billion from CCES.&nbsp;</p><p>Head Start — a separate program that provides early childhood education, nutritious meals, health screenings and other support services to low-income families — does not appear to be affected.&nbsp;</p><p>In a Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HHS_Jim/status/2006136004294664464" target="_blank">social media post</a>&nbsp;announcing the move, Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said he had “activated our defend the spend system for all ACF payments” and “starting today, all ACF payments across America will require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before we send money to a state.”&nbsp;</p><p>He clarified in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HHS_Jim/status/2006152183863972241" target="_blank">separate post</a>&nbsp;shortly after that “funds will be released only when states prove they are being spent legitimately.”&nbsp;</p><h2>Funds undergo ‘regular audits’</h2><p>“Federal funding enables millions of parents in every state and Congressional district to access and afford quality child care,” Sarah Rittling, executive director of First Five Years Fund, a federal advocacy group, said in a Wednesday statement.&nbsp;</p><p>Rittling added that “these funds are essential to the nation’s well-being, allowing parents to work while ensuring their children are cared for and safe.”   </p><p>She also described the reports of potential fraud as “deeply concerning” and pointed out that “state oversight through regular audits is required by law to ensure that every dollar intended to protect and support young children is used properly and effectively.”&nbsp;</p><p>“At the same time, we must ensure that nothing takes away from making sure funds for child care continue to reach the children and families who depend on them,” she said.&nbsp;</p>

After Minnesota fraud allegations, HHS orders states to justify child care spending

The United States successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday. Maduro along with his wife, was captured and flown out of the country, according to the White House. "This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement."

 Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas used his personal social media account to criticize the action.

&nbsp;Maduro arrived in the New York late Saturday, according to video released by the White House. He is expected to be arraigned in the coming days.

<p>The United States successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday. Maduro along with his wife, was captured and flown out of the country, according to the White House. "This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement."</p><p> Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas used his personal social media account to criticize the action.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A regime change war for oil. <br><br>Simple as that given the President’s own steps, pardoning a narcotrafficker.<br><br>Thousands of women and men from the Kansas City region serve our country in uniform. None should have to serve as world police in Venezuela with no US plans whatsoever.</p>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/2007511132064596211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>&nbsp;Maduro arrived in the New York late Saturday, according to video released by the White House. He is expected to be arraigned in the coming days.</p>

Kansas City mayor critical of U.S. action in Venezuela 

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon in Manhattan, Kansas.

On Jan. 3, at approximately 3:50 p.m., the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office requested KBI assistance. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to investigate, according to a media release from the agency.

Preliminary information indicates that shortly after 3 p.m., two deputies from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a homeowner who indicated their shed and garage had been damaged by gunfire. While taking the report, deputies heard gunshots in the area. As they approached 8655 Josie Lane, they heard additional gunshots which they believed were coming from the residence. They identified themselves as law enforcement and began giving various commands to the shooter.

A man, later identified as Brian J. Lovgren, 38, of Manhattan, came out of a door of the house armed with a handgun. One of the responding deputies fired multiple times, striking Lovgren. Life-saving measures were provided at the scene. EMS then transported Lovgren to a Kansas City hospital.&nbsp;

Lovgren underwent surgery and is currently in critical condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.&nbsp;

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Manhattan.

Just before 4p.m. Saturday Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents responded to an officer-involved shooting at a home on Josie Lane in Manhattan that is part of Pottawatomie County, according to a statement from the KBI.

 Deputies from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office were responding to a shots fired call when a male subject was shot. The man was transported to an area hospital for treatment. No law enforcement officers were injured.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<p>POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Saturday afternoon in Manhattan, Kansas.</p><p>On Jan. 3, at approximately 3:50 p.m., the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office requested KBI assistance. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to investigate, according to a media release from the agency.</p><p>Preliminary information indicates that shortly after 3 p.m., two deputies from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a homeowner who indicated their shed and garage had been damaged by gunfire. While taking the report, deputies heard gunshots in the area. As they approached 8655 Josie Lane, they heard additional gunshots which they believed were coming from the residence. They identified themselves as law enforcement and began giving various commands to the shooter.</p><p>A man, later identified as Brian J. Lovgren, 38, of Manhattan, came out of a door of the house armed with a handgun. One of the responding deputies fired multiple times, striking Lovgren. Life-saving measures were provided at the scene. EMS then transported Lovgren to a Kansas City hospital.&nbsp;</p><p>Lovgren underwent surgery and is currently in critical condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident.&nbsp;</p><p>----------</p><p>POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Manhattan.</p><p>Just before 4p.m. Saturday Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents responded to an officer-involved shooting at a home on Josie Lane in Manhattan that is part of Pottawatomie County, according to a statement from the KBI.</p><p> Deputies from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office were responding to a shots fired call when a male subject was shot. The man was transported to an area hospital for treatment. No law enforcement officers were injured.</p><p>Check the Post for additional details as they become available.</p>

KBI IDs Kansas man hospitalized after officer shooting 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a deadly home-invasion shooting on Christmas weekend has made his first court appearance.

&nbsp;On New Year's Eve, Matthew D. Morgan, 54, was charged with second-degree murder, according to the Sedgiwck County District Attorney's office.

Just before 8:30 p.m. December 27, police responded to a home&nbsp;in the 100 block of North Ash in Wichita, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found a 52-year-old man and 67-year-old man inside the home with gunshot wounds. Both were transported to a local hospital, the 52-year-old was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. The 67-year-old remained in critical but stable condition.

Police arrested a neighbor identified in booking records as 54-year-old Matthew D. Morgan. An unknown suspect fled the residence on foot. The motive for the home invasion remains under investigation.

Morgan remains jailed on a&nbsp;$1 million bond, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767007817776.png" alt="Morgan photo Sedgwick Co." />
                        <figcaption>Morgan photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a deadly home-invasion shooting on Christmas weekend has made his first court appearance.</p><p>&nbsp;On New Year's Eve, Matthew D. Morgan, 54, was charged with second-degree murder, according to the Sedgiwck County District Attorney's office.</p><p>Just before 8:30 p.m. December 27, police responded to a home&nbsp;in the 100 block of North Ash in Wichita, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found a 52-year-old man and 67-year-old man inside the home with gunshot wounds. Both were transported to a local hospital, the 52-year-old was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. The 67-year-old remained in critical but stable condition.</p><p>Police arrested a neighbor identified in booking records as 54-year-old Matthew D. Morgan. An unknown suspect fled the residence on foot. The motive for the home invasion remains under investigation.</p><p>Morgan remains jailed on a&nbsp;$1 million bond, according to the district attorney's office.</p>

Neighbor accused in Kan. home invasion killing faced a judge

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on drug allegations.

Shortly before midnight on Dec. 29,&nbsp; an officer with the Great Bend Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the 300 Block of 10th Street, Great Bend, according to a media release.&nbsp; Officers made contact with the driver, Gerald James, 46, and front passenger, Terra French, 40. Three children were observed in the back seats.

During the stop, K9 Rem from the Barton County Sheriff's Office was deployed, indicating to the odor of narcotics. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found during a search of the vehicle.

James was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Interference, Child Endangerment, Driving while Suspended, and for multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest. French was arrested on a requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Child Endangerment. Both were booked into the Barton County Jail

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767366759805.png" alt="James photo Barton Co." />
                        <figcaption>James photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on drug allegations.</p><p>Shortly before midnight on Dec. 29,&nbsp; an officer with the Great Bend Police Department conducted a traffic stop in the 300 Block of 10th Street, Great Bend, according to a media release.&nbsp; Officers made contact with the driver, Gerald James, 46, and front passenger, Terra French, 40. Three children were observed in the back seats.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767366698254.png" alt="French photo Barton Co." />
                        <figcaption>French photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>During the stop, K9 Rem from the Barton County Sheriff's Office was deployed, indicating to the odor of narcotics. Methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were found during a search of the vehicle.</p><p>James was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Interference, Child Endangerment, Driving while Suspended, and for multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest. French was arrested on a requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Child Endangerment. Both were booked into the Barton County Jail</p>

Kan. couple caught with meth had 3 children in the vehicle

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/meg-kinnard">MEG KINNARD</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-l-price">MICHELLE L. PRICE</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — For months, the U.S. military had been amassing a presence off Venezuela’s coast and conspicuously blowing up alleged drug trafficking boats and killing the occupants.

At the same time, U.S. intelligence agencies were carefully studying the country’s authoritarian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-capture-trump-attack-military-ceb21da088f0a06b1813e66922def9a3">Nicolás Maduro</a>, learning minute details such as his eating habits while special forces secretly rehearsed a plan to forcibly remove him.

Months of covert planning led to the brazen operation overnight, when President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-b6e272ee8e23636a1ab9618d8257ae59">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;gave an order authorizing Maduro’s capture. The U.S. plunged the South American country’s capital into darkness, infiltrated Maduro’s home and whisked him to the United States, where the Trump administration planned to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1422326/dl" target="_blank">put him on trial</a>.

Trump, during a news conference Saturday at his Florida home, laid out the details of the strike, after which he said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were flown by helicopter to a U.S. warship.

The operation termed “Absolute Resolve” unfolded under the cover of darkness, with U.S. forces holding fast in the region, awaiting the ideal weather conditions to give pilots clear routes into Caracas. The extensive planning included practice on a replica of the presidential compound, as well as U.S. service members armed with what Trump said were “massive blowtorches” in the event the steel walls of a safe room needed to be cut open to extract the pair.

“He didn’t get that space closed. He was trying to get into it, but he got bum-rushed right so fast that he didn’t get into that,” Trump said an interview earlier Saturday morning on “Fox &amp; Friends Weekend.”

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at Trump’s news conference that U.S. forces had rehearsed their maneuvers for months, learning everything about Maduro — where he was at certain hours as well as details of his pets and the clothes he wore.

“We think, we develop, we train, we rehearse, we debrief, we rehearse again, and again,” Caine said, saying his forces were “set” by early December. “Not to get it right, but to ensure we cannot get it wrong.”

Trump said on Fox that U.S. forces had practiced their extraction on a replica building.

“They actually built a house which was identical to the one they went into with all the same, all that steel all over the place,” Trump said.

Trump said in the television interview that U.S. forces held off on conducting the operation for days, waiting four days for cloud cover to pass. Caine said that on Friday night, “the weather broke just enough, clearing a path that only the most skilled aviators in the world could move through,” adding that helicopters flew low to the water to enter Venezuela and were covered above by protective U.S. aircraft.

Trump said the U.S. operation “was dark and it was deadly,” adding that “the lights of Caracas were largely turned off due to a certain expertise that we have,” but giving no further details.

The attack, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described as part of “massive joint military and law enforcement raid,” lasted less than 30 minutes. At least seven explosions were heard in Caracas, and Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, who under law takes power, said some Venezuelan civilians and members of the military were killed.

In a televised address later Saturday on state television, she demanded that the U.S. free Maduro and called him the country’s rightful leader. But Rodríguez also left open the door for a dialogue with the U.S. when she said, “We are willing to have respectful relations.”

Yanire Lucas, a Caracas resident whose house sits pressed up next to a Venezuelan military base struck overnight, said she began to hear explosions next to her house around 1:50 in the morning.

Trump said a few U.S. members in the operation were injured, but he believed no one was killed. Caine said one helicopter was struck by fire as it closed in on Maduro’s compound but it was able to safely fly on its return.

Trump said Maduro and Flores were flown by helicopter to a U.S. warship and would go on to New York to face charges. He posted on Truth Social a photo of the Venezuelan leader, wearing a gray sweatsuit, protective headphones and blindfold.

The raid was a dramatic escalation from a series of strikes the U.S. military has carried out on what Trump has said were drug-carrying boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since early September. On Dec. 29, Trump said the U.S. struck a facility where boats accused of carrying drugs “load up.” The CIA was behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-facility-boat-strikes-0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4">the drone strike</a>&nbsp;at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels, the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began its strikes in September.

Few details about how the US will now run Venezuela

Though Trump had warned for months that the U.S. might conduct strikes in Venezuela, he gave little hint on Friday what was coming.

He spent the morning posting on social media defending his health and complaining about the impact of wind turbines on birds before he went shopping for marble and onyx for the ballroom he’s building at the White House and a visit to his golf club.

Privately, he was readying to give the go-ahead for a military mission that already has generated criticism in the U.S. and abroad. Now, the president said the U.S. will direct the path forward for Venezuela, as questions have emerged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legal-questions-maduro-trump-venezuela-capture-congress-7c686106ae7ffc759e5a1726e1b85576">about the legality</a>&nbsp;of both those plans and Maduro’s capture.

Trump said at his news conference that the group of officials standing behind him, including Hegseth, Caine and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, will “be a team that’s working with the people of Venezuela.”

The Republican president left open the possibility that U.S. troops would have a presence in the country. “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground if we have to,” he said, adding, “We had boots on the ground last night.”

The U.S. will now “run” the country until a new leader can be chosen, Trump said.

“We’re going to make sure that country is run properly. We’re not doing this in vain,” he said. “This is a very dangerous attack. This is an attack that could have gone very, very badly.”

Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina. Associated Press reporters Regina Garcia Cano and Juan Arraez in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

🎥 Details on how the US captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro

ATCHISON COUNTY —Police are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after he fled a traffic stop.

Just before 11a.m. on New Year's Eve, an officer on patrol observed a Mazda pickup truck speeding in the 900 block Unity Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. 

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver failed to stop and fled from the officer until finally stopping at K-7 and Harper Drive. The 19-year-old driver&nbsp;Caden J. Hetherington of Roach, Missouri, was taken into custody on requested charges including fleeing and attempting to elude, speeding, interference with law enforcement, driving while suspended, violation of tinted windows, and no proof of vehicle insurance.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767366410036.png" alt="Hetherington photo Atchison Co." />
                        <figcaption>Hetherington photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>ATCHISON COUNTY —Police are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after he fled a traffic stop.</p><p>Just before 11a.m. on New Year's Eve, an officer on patrol observed a Mazda pickup truck speeding in the 900 block Unity Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. </p><p>The officer attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver failed to stop and fled from the officer until finally stopping at K-7 and Harper Drive. The 19-year-old driver&nbsp;Caden J. Hetherington of Roach, Missouri, was taken into custody on requested charges including fleeing and attempting to elude, speeding, interference with law enforcement, driving while suspended, violation of tinted windows, and no proof of vehicle insurance.</p>

Missouri man jailed in Kansas after he fled traffic stop

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matthew-brown">MATTHEW BROWN</a>

A solo hiker who authorities believe was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mountain-lion-attack-colorado-cf743ad2bcf5416276a2197e7f5c7e16">killed by a mountain lion</a>&nbsp;on a remote Colorado trail on New Year’s Day was not the first person to encounter one of the predators in the area in recent weeks.

Gary Messina said he was running along the same trail on a dark November morning when his headlamp caught the gleam of two eyes in the nearby brush. Messina used his phone to snap a quick photo before a mountain lion rushed him.

Messina said he threw the phone at the animal, kicked dirt and yelled as the lion kept trying to circle behind him. After a couple of harrowing minutes he broke a bat-sized stick off a downed log, hit the lion in the head with it and it ran off, he said.

The woman whose body was found Thursday on the same Crosier Mountain trail had “wounds consistent with a mountain lion attack,” said Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. An autopsy is scheduled for next week, said Rafael Moreno with the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.

Prior warnings and the hunt for a culprit

Wildlife officials late Thursday tracked down and killed two mountain lions in the area — one at the scene and another nearby. A necropsy will help determine if either or both of those animals attacked the woman and whether they had neurological diseases such as rabies or avian flu.

A search for a third mountain lion reported in the area was ongoing Friday, Van Hoose said. Nearby trails remained closed while the hunt continued. Van Hoose said circumstances would dictate whether that lion is also killed.

Based on the aggressiveness of the animal that attacked him on Nov. 11, Messina suspects it could be the same one that killed the woman on New Year’s Day.

“I had to fight it off because it was basically trying to maul me,” Messina told The Associated Press. “I was scared for my life and I wasn’t able to escape. I tried backing up and it would try to lunge at me.”

The 32-year-old man from nearby Glen Haven, Colorado, reported his encounter to wildlife officials days later who posted signs to warn people about the animal along trails in the Crosier Mountain area northeast of Estes Park, Van Hoose said. The signs were later removed, she said.

Mountain lions don’t often attack humans

Mountain lion sightings in that area east of Rocky Mountain National Park are common, Van Hoose said, because it offers good habitat for the animals: It’s remote with thick forests, rocky outcroppings and lots of elevation changes.

Yet attacks on humans by the animals are rare, and the last suspected fatal encounter in Colorado was in 1999, when a 3-year-old boy disappeared in the wilderness and his tattered clothes were found more than three years later. In 1997, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion and dragged away while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Two hikers on Thursday saw the victim’s body on the trail at around noon from about 100 yards (meters) away, Van Hoose said. A mountain lion was nearby and they threw rocks to scare it away. One of the hikers, a physician, attended to the victim but did not find a pulse, Van Hoose said.

The victim will be publicly identified following the autopsy by the coroner, who is also expected to provide a cause of death.

Mountain lions — also known as cougars, pumas or catamounts — can weigh 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and grow to more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. They primarily eat deer.

Colorado has an estimated 3,800 to 4,400 of the animals, which are classified as a big game species in the state and can be hunted.

Thursday’s killing would be the fourth fatal mountain lion attack in North America over the past decade, and the 30th since 1868, according to information from the California-based Mountain Lion Foundation. Not all of those deaths have been confirmed as mountain lion attacks.

Most attacks occur during the day and when humans are active in lion territories, indicating the animals are not seeking out the victims, according to the advocacy group. About 15% of attacks are fatal.

“As more people live, work, and recreate in areas that overlap wildlife habitat, interactions can increase, not because mountain lions are becoming more aggressive, but because overlap is growing,” said Byron Weckworth, chief conservation officer for the foundation.

To reduce the risk travel in groups, keep children close and avoid dawn and dusk when lions are most active, Weckworth said. During an encounter, maintain eye contact with the lion, make yourself appear larger and back away slowly; don’t run, he said.

Last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mountain-lion-kills-man-dc8f26db4da45bd32550eadce7cf496c">in Northern California</a>, two brothers were stalked and attacked by a lion that they tried to fight off. One of the brothers was killed.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641514775695.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
                        <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matthew-brown">MATTHEW BROWN</a></p><p>A solo hiker who authorities believe was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mountain-lion-attack-colorado-cf743ad2bcf5416276a2197e7f5c7e16">killed by a mountain lion</a>&nbsp;on a remote Colorado trail on New Year’s Day was not the first person to encounter one of the predators in the area in recent weeks.</p><p>Gary Messina said he was running along the same trail on a dark November morning when his headlamp caught the gleam of two eyes in the nearby brush. Messina used his phone to snap a quick photo before a mountain lion rushed him.</p><p>Messina said he threw the phone at the animal, kicked dirt and yelled as the lion kept trying to circle behind him. After a couple of harrowing minutes he broke a bat-sized stick off a downed log, hit the lion in the head with it and it ran off, he said.</p><p>The woman whose body was found Thursday on the same Crosier Mountain trail had “wounds consistent with a mountain lion attack,” said Kara Van Hoose with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. An autopsy is scheduled for next week, said Rafael Moreno with the Larimer County Coroner’s Office.</p><h2>Prior warnings and the hunt for a culprit</h2><p>Wildlife officials late Thursday tracked down and killed two mountain lions in the area — one at the scene and another nearby. A necropsy will help determine if either or both of those animals attacked the woman and whether they had neurological diseases such as rabies or avian flu.</p><p>A search for a third mountain lion reported in the area was ongoing Friday, Van Hoose said. Nearby trails remained closed while the hunt continued. Van Hoose said circumstances would dictate whether that lion is also killed.</p><p>Based on the aggressiveness of the animal that attacked him on Nov. 11, Messina suspects it could be the same one that killed the woman on New Year’s Day.</p><p>“I had to fight it off because it was basically trying to maul me,” Messina told The Associated Press. “I was scared for my life and I wasn’t able to escape. I tried backing up and it would try to lunge at me.”</p><p>The 32-year-old man from nearby Glen Haven, Colorado, reported his encounter to wildlife officials days later who posted signs to warn people about the animal along trails in the Crosier Mountain area northeast of Estes Park, Van Hoose said. The signs were later removed, she said.</p><h2>Mountain lions don’t often attack humans</h2><p>Mountain lion sightings in that area east of Rocky Mountain National Park are common, Van Hoose said, because it offers good habitat for the animals: It’s remote with thick forests, rocky outcroppings and lots of elevation changes.</p><p>Yet attacks on humans by the animals are rare, and the last suspected fatal encounter in Colorado was in 1999, when a 3-year-old boy disappeared in the wilderness and his tattered clothes were found more than three years later. In 1997, a 10-year-old boy was killed by a lion and dragged away while hiking with family members in Rocky Mountain National Park.</p><p>Two hikers on Thursday saw the victim’s body on the trail at around noon from about 100 yards (meters) away, Van Hoose said. A mountain lion was nearby and they threw rocks to scare it away. One of the hikers, a physician, attended to the victim but did not find a pulse, Van Hoose said.</p><p>The victim will be publicly identified following the autopsy by the coroner, who is also expected to provide a cause of death.</p><p>Mountain lions — also known as cougars, pumas or catamounts — can weigh 130 pounds (60 kilograms) and grow to more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. They primarily eat deer.</p><p>Colorado has an estimated 3,800 to 4,400 of the animals, which are classified as a big game species in the state and can be hunted.</p><h2>Back away slowly. Do not run</h2><p>Thursday’s killing would be the fourth fatal mountain lion attack in North America over the past decade, and the 30th since 1868, according to information from the California-based Mountain Lion Foundation. Not all of those deaths have been confirmed as mountain lion attacks.</p><p>Most attacks occur during the day and when humans are active in lion territories, indicating the animals are not seeking out the victims, according to the advocacy group. About 15% of attacks are fatal.</p><p>“As more people live, work, and recreate in areas that overlap wildlife habitat, interactions can increase, not because mountain lions are becoming more aggressive, but because overlap is growing,” said Byron Weckworth, chief conservation officer for the foundation.</p><p>To reduce the risk travel in groups, keep children close and avoid dawn and dusk when lions are most active, Weckworth said. During an encounter, maintain eye contact with the lion, make yourself appear larger and back away slowly; don’t run, he said.</p><p>Last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mountain-lion-kills-man-dc8f26db4da45bd32550eadce7cf496c">in Northern California</a>, two brothers were stalked and attacked by a lion that they tried to fight off. One of the brothers was killed.</p>

Man fought off a mountain lion weeks before fatal attack New Year's Day

FINNEY COUNTY —On New Year’s night, Officers swiftly intervened in an aggravated assault involving a man with a handgun, who faces multiple charges from the incident. 

Around 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Officers responded to a report of an aggravated assault in progress on the west side of Garden City, according to a media release. 

After arriving, Officers spoke with a woman and learned she had been involved in an altercation with a man known to her, identified as 28-year-old Francisco Rosas.

The investigation revealed that Rosas allegedly pointed a gun at the victim while trying to take her phone to prevent her from calling the police. He also allegedly restrained her by force from leaving the home before he fled the scene. 

Officers quickly located Rosas at his residence, where he was taken into custody without incident. Officers also recovered the handgun believed to have been used in the incident. Rosas is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness, Domestic Battery, and Interference of a Law Enforcement Officer.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767388684670.png" alt="Rosas photo Finney Co." />
                        <figcaption>Rosas photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>FINNEY COUNTY —On New Year’s night, Officers swiftly intervened in an aggravated assault involving a man with a handgun, who faces multiple charges from the incident. </p><p>Around 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Officers responded to a report of an aggravated assault in progress on the west side of Garden City, according to a media release. </p><p>After arriving, Officers spoke with a woman and learned she had been involved in an altercation with a man known to her, identified as 28-year-old Francisco Rosas.</p><p>The investigation revealed that Rosas allegedly pointed a gun at the victim while trying to take her phone to prevent her from calling the police. He also allegedly restrained her by force from leaving the home before he fled the scene. </p><p>Officers quickly located Rosas at his residence, where he was taken into custody without incident. Officers also recovered the handgun believed to have been used in the incident. Rosas is being held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness, Domestic Battery, and Interference of a Law Enforcement Officer.</p>

SW Kan. man accused in New Year's Day assault of a woman

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Trump&nbsp; posted a photo on social media showing captured Venezuelan leader Maduro wearing a sweatsuit and a blindfold with the caption: “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”

Maduro appeared to be wearing a flotation device around his neck. Next to him was someone wearing a jacket that had a DEA logo.

Maduro also had protective headphones on his ears and appeared to be lifting a water bottle with both arms to drink.

Trump says he spoke to Maduro as recently as last week

Trump told Fox News he spoke to Maduro several times, including most recently a week ago.

Maduro denied that in an interview on New Year’s Eve, saying he had only spoken to Trump in November.

Trump’s action against Maduro contrasts with clemency granted to ex-Honduras leader

Trump’s dramatic action against Maduro is the polar opposite of the clemency he granted to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.

Trump in December pardoned Hernández though he was sentenced to 45 years in U.S. prison for helping drug traffickers to safely move hundreds of tons of cocaine north through his country to the U.S.

Hernández, who enjoyed support from officials in the first Trump administration, was convicted by a U.S. jury in New York — which Maduro is now set to face.

When asked in an interview with Politico about the pardon, Trump said, “I don’t know him” and “I know very little about him,” but added that he was told that Hernández “was set up.”

“The country, uh, deals in drugs, like probably you could say that about every country, and because he was the president, they gave him like 45 years in prison,” he said.

Trump says a helicopter was hit and ‘a few’ US members were injured in Venezuela

Trump said a helicopter was hit during the operation in Venezuela and a few U.S. members were injured, but he believed none were killed.

“A couple of guys were hit, but they came back and they’re supposed to be in pretty good shape,” he said.

He said the U.S. lost no aircraft in the operation.

“We got it all back. One of them was hit pretty hard but—a helicopter—but we got it back.

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) —President Trump&nbsp; posted a photo on social media showing captured Venezuelan leader Maduro wearing a sweatsuit and a blindfold with the caption: “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima.”</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima. <a href="https://t.co/omF2UpDJhA">pic.twitter.com/omF2UpDJhA</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2007489108059533390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Maduro appeared to be wearing a flotation device around his neck. Next to him was someone wearing a jacket that had a DEA logo.</p><p>Maduro also had protective headphones on his ears and appeared to be lifting a water bottle with both arms to drink.</p><h2>Trump says he spoke to Maduro as recently as last week</h2><p>Trump told Fox News he spoke to Maduro several times, including most recently a week ago.</p><p>Maduro denied that in an interview on New Year’s Eve, saying he had only spoken to Trump in November.</p><h2>Trump’s action against Maduro contrasts with clemency granted to ex-Honduras leader</h2><p>Trump’s dramatic action against Maduro is the polar opposite of the clemency he granted to former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández.</p><p>Trump in December pardoned Hernández though he was sentenced to 45 years in U.S. prison for helping drug traffickers to safely move hundreds of tons of cocaine north through his country to the U.S.</p><p>Hernández, who enjoyed support from officials in the first Trump administration, was convicted by a U.S. jury in New York — which Maduro is now set to face.</p><p>When asked in an interview with Politico about the pardon, Trump said, “I don’t know him” and “I know very little about him,” but added that he was told that Hernández “was set up.”</p><p>“The country, uh, deals in drugs, like probably you could say that about every country, and because he was the president, they gave him like 45 years in prison,” he said.</p><h2>Trump says a helicopter was hit and ‘a few’ US members were injured in Venezuela</h2><p>Trump said a helicopter was hit during the operation in Venezuela and a few U.S. members were injured, but he believed none were killed.</p><p>“A couple of guys were hit, but they came back and they’re supposed to be in pretty good shape,” he said.</p><p>He said the U.S. lost no aircraft in the operation.</p><p>“We got it all back. One of them was hit pretty hard but—a helicopter—but we got it back.</p>

President Trump shares photo of captured Venezuelan leader

The United States successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country, according to the White House. "This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. " Members of Congress including Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall are expressing differing opinions on the news.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767451240803.png" alt="Government supporters display posters of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, right, and former President Hugo Chávez in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)" />
                        <figcaption>Government supporters display posters of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, right, and former President Hugo Chávez in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Maduro had been captured and flown out of the country. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The United States successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country, according to the White House. "This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. " Members of Congress including Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall are expressing differing opinions on the news.&nbsp;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump made a promise to the American people that he would secure our borders from chaos and cut off threats to us and our children at the source. Venezuela ignored the call to stop running lethal drugs to the America.<br><br>Our children are safer at home because of bold…</p>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/2007453825255264758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There is no justification for the United States to be at war with Venezuela.<br><br>I lived through the consequences of an illegal war sold to the American people with lies. We swore we would never repeat those mistakes. Yet here we are again.<br><br>The American people did not ask for this,…</p>&mdash; Senator Ruben Gallego (@SenRubenGallego) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenRubenGallego/status/2007433155477717121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a>, and the brave members of our military who led the operation that successfully CAPTURED narco-terrorist Nicolás Maduro.<br><br>A new day is here for Venezuela and Latin America. The United States and our hemisphere are safer because of President… <a href="https://t.co/VL4bnsbGVZ">https://t.co/VL4bnsbGVZ</a></p>&mdash; Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenRickScott/status/2007399340457775262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says. <br><br>Kudos to our brave… <a href="https://t.co/b1fqkdbB4x">pic.twitter.com/b1fqkdbB4x</a></p>&mdash; JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/2007447083909841398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The White House is confirming U.S. military operations in Venezuela tonight. Let us be clear: these strikes are illegal. The President does not have the authority to declare war or undertake large-scale military operations without Congress. Congress must act to rein him in.… <a href="https://t.co/KsbxS6TbSp">pic.twitter.com/KsbxS6TbSp</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Melanie Stansbury (@Rep_Stansbury) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rep_Stansbury/status/2007385713818714191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Without authorization from Congress, and with the vast majority of Americans opposed to military action, Trump just launched an unjustified, illegal strike on Venezuela.<br><br>He says we don’t have enough money for healthcare for Americans—but somehow we have unlimited funds for war??</p>&mdash; Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMcGovern/status/2007381598912819213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York. Nicolas Maduro has been charged with Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy, Cocaine Importation Conspiracy, Possession of Machineguns and Destructive Devices, and Conspiracy to Possess…</p>&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/2007428087143686611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bold move by ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>⁩ taking out convicted NARCO TERRORIST and DICTATOR of Venezuela Maduro. <a href="https://t.co/JGFtpq5GG4">pic.twitter.com/JGFtpq5GG4</a></p>&mdash; Tim Burchett (@timburchett) <a href="https://twitter.com/timburchett/status/2007443476900671516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nicolas Maduro wasn’t just an illegitimate dictator; he also ran a vast drug-trafficking operation. That’s why he was indicted in U.S. court nearly six years ago for drug trafficking and narco-terrorism. I just spoke to <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a>, who confirmed that Maduro is in U.S. custody and…</p>&mdash; Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/2007419529048007012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If this action were constitutionally sound, the Attorney General wouldn’t be tweeting that they’ve arrested the President of a sovereign country and his wife for possessing guns in violation of a 1934 U.S. firearm law.</p>&mdash; Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2007469970364539092?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Maduro and his predecessor took Venezuela from the richest to the poorest country in South America, and destroyed its democracy. The operations last night are great for the future of Venezuelans and the region. My main concern is now Russia will use this to justify their illegal…</p>&mdash; Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDonBacon/status/2007462335242289166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trump’s regime change war in Venezuela is flat out illegal and yet another betrayal of the commitments he made to the American people. <br><br>He said he’d lower prices. He’s driving prices up. <br><br>He said no “new stupid wars.” He’s starting new stupid wars. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Venezuela?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Venezuela</a> <a href="https://t.co/iY3oMVXT7a">pic.twitter.com/iY3oMVXT7a</a></p>&mdash; Rep. James Walkinshaw (@Rep_Walkinshaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/Rep_Walkinshaw/status/2007424774142673020?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For years, Nicolas Maduro, the cartel he leads, and other cartels in Latin America have trafficked drugs into the United States, which have killed hundreds of thousands of Americans. President Trump’s decisive action to disrupt the unacceptable status quo and apprehend Maduro,…</p>&mdash; Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) <a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderJohnThune/status/2007464869432267134?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have spoken in the last several hours with <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Hegseth, and the nation will hear from <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> in his address at 11am ET.<br><br>Today’s military action in Venezuela was a decisive and justified operation that will protect American lives.<br><br>Nicolas Maduro is…</p>&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/2007468765718384961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">America’s strength comes from our commitment to the rule of law, democratic norms, and constitutional restraint. When we abandon those principles, even in the name of confronting bad actors, we weaken our credibility, endanger global stability, and invite abuses of power that…</p>&mdash; Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkWarner/status/2007476440028020870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My statement on President Trump’s actions in Venezuela. <a href="https://t.co/AiHPASu3iO">pic.twitter.com/AiHPASu3iO</a></p>&mdash; Sen. Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/2007509175883247805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The President of the United States just overthrew a foreign ruler and explained to the American people that this is about taking control of the oil reserves of a foreign nation. He said that the U.S. will “run the country” until a proper transition can take place and went right…</p>&mdash; Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMarkKelly/status/2007509794815701037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 3, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Kan. U.S. Senator, other lawmakers react to U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader

The United States hit Venezuela with a “large-scale strike” early Saturday and said President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and flown out of the country after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">months of stepped-up pressure</a>&nbsp;by Washington — an extraordinary nighttime operation announced by President Donald Trump on social media hours after the attack.

The legal authority for the strike — and whether Trump consulted Congress beforehand — was not immediately clear. The stunning, lightning-fast American military action, which plucked a nation’s sitting leader from office, echoed the U.S. invasion of Panama that led to the surrender and seizure of its leader, Manuel Antonio Noriega, in 1990 — exactly 36 years ago Saturday.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, would face charges after an indictment in New York.

Trump announced the developments on Truth Social shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET (0930 GMT) and said he would host a news conference at 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT).

Maduro was at his home when he was seized in US operation, party leader tells AP

Venezuelan ruling party leader Nahum Fernández told The Associated Press that Nicolás Maduro and his wife were at their home within the Ft. Tiuna military installation when they were captured.

“That’s where they bombed,” he said. “And, there, they carried out what we could call a kidnapping of the president and the first lady of the country.”

Vice President JD Vance says Maduro found out that Trump ‘means what he says’

Vice President JD Vance said in a statement on X: “The president offered multiple off ramps, but was very clear throughout this process: the drug trafficking must stop, and the stolen oil must be returned to the United States. Maduro is the newest person to find out that President Trump means what he says.

Kudos to our brave special operators who pulled off a truly impressive operation.”

Celebrations erupt in Venezuelan community in South Florida

In South Florida, Venezuelans celebrated the news of Maduro’s capture at a rally held outside a South American eatery.

People wrapped themselves in Venezuelan flags, ate fried snacks and cheered as music was playing at the event. At one point, the crowd chanted “Liberty! Liberty! Liberty!”

The rally took place in Doral, Florida, a city of 80,000 people surrounded by Miami sprawl and home to the largest Venezuelan community in the United States.

European leaders react to Maduro’s capture by the US

— EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X that she had spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the EU ambassador in Caracas. “The EU has repeatedly stated that Mr Maduro lacks legitimacy and has defended a peaceful transition. Under all circumstances, the principles of international law and the UN Charter must be respected. We call for restraint.”

— Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called for “de-escalation and responsibility. International Law and the principles of the United Nations Charter must be respected,” Sánchez wrote on X.

— Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it is “extremely alarmed” and called for “immediate clarification,” according to a statement posted Saturday on the ministry’s Telegram channel. The ministry said such actions, if confirmed, would constitute “an unacceptable infringement on the sovereignty of an independent state.”

— British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the U.K. was not involved in the U.S. operation in Venezuela and that he would seek more information from Trump. Without condemning the U.S. action, Starmer said he always believes that international law should be upheld. “But I think at this stage, fast moving situation, let’s establish the facts and take it from there,” he said.

Reactions in Caracas to US strikes and Maduro’s capture are mixed

At a pro-Maduro protest in the capital, Caracas Mayor Carmen Meléndez joined a crowd that demanded that Maduro be returned immediately.

“Maduro, hold on, the people are rising up!” the crowd chanted. They also said: “We are here Nicolás Maduro. If you can hear us, we are here!” Elsewhere, residents were still taking in the events.

“How do I feel? Scared, like everyone,” said Caracas resident Noris Prada, who sat on an empty avenue looking down at his phone. “Venezuelans woke up scared, many families couldn’t sleep. I have been on the street, I just got back from Maracay, everything is blocked, everything is bad, very bad.”

“They impose the law,” electrician Alfonso Valdez said about the U.S. government. “They are the police of the world … they are assassins.”

Venezuelan opposition leader Machado’s spokespeople decline comment

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado’s spokespeople declined to comment on the U.S. operation.

Machado was last seen in public last month, when she emerged from 11 months in hiding and traveled to Norway, where she was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.

US attorney general says Maduro and wife to face criminal charges

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says Maduro and his wife will face criminal charges after an indictment in New York.

Bondi vowed in a social media post that the couple will “soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.”

Maduro was indicted in 2020 in New York, but it was not previously known that his wife had been.

US indicted Maduro on narcoterrorism charges in 2020

The Justice Department during Trump’s first term in office charged in the several indictments that Maduro had effectively converted Venezuela into a criminal enterprise at the service of drug traffickers and terrorist groups as he and his allies stole billions from the South American country.

The coordinated unsealing of indictments against 14 officials and government-connected individuals, and rewards of $55 million for Maduro and four others, attacked all the key planks of what then-Attorney General William Barr called the “corrupt Venezuelan regime,” including the Maduro-dominated judiciary and the powerful armed forces.

One indictment by prosecutors in New York accused Maduro and socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello, head of the rubber-stamping constitutional assembly, of conspiring with Colombian rebels and members of the military “to flood the United States with cocaine” and use the drug trade as a “weapon against America.”

Read our&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">news report from 2020 on the charges</a>

State Department officials say ‘the tyrant is gone’

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau says the military action and seizure of Maduro marks “a new dawn for Venezuela,” saying that “the tyrant is gone.”

He posted on X hours after the strike. His boss, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, reposted a post from July that said Maduro “is NOT the President of Venezuela and his regime is NOT the legitimate government.”

Sen. Lee says Rubio told him he anticipates no further action in Venezuela

Utah Sen. Mike Lee said Rubio informed him that “he anticipates no further action in Venezuela now that Maduro is in U.S. custody,” the lawmaker posted on social media.

Sen. Lee says Rubio briefed him that Maduro will be tried in US

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted on X that he had spoken with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who briefed him on the strike. Rubio told Lee that Maduro “has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.”

The White House did not immediately respond to queries on where Maduro and his wife were being flown to. Maduro was indicted in March 2020 on “narco-terrorism” conspiracy charges in the Southern District of New York.

Colombia prepares to receive refugees from Venezuela

President Gustavo Petro of Colombia, one of Trump’s fiercest critics, said the Colombian government convened a national security meeting before dawn Saturday and sent security forces to the border in preparation for a potential “massive influx of refugees” from neighboring Venezuela.

He said he’d also call on the U.N. Security Council to consider “the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America.”

“Without sovereignty, there is no nation,” Petro wrote on social media.

Russia calls US action ‘an act of armed aggression’

Russia’s Foreign Ministry condemned what it called a U.S. “act of armed aggression” against Venezuela in a statement posted on its Telegram channel Saturday.

“Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive, let alone military, outside intervention,” the statement said.

The ministry called for dialogue to prevent further escalation and said it reaffirmed its “solidarity” with the Venezuelan people and government, adding that Russia supports calls for an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting.

State Department urges Americans in Venezuela to shelter in place

The State Department issued a new travel alert early Saturday warning Americans in Venezuela urging them to “shelter in place” due to the situation.

“U.S. Embassy Bogota is aware of reports of explosions in and around Caracas, Venezuela,” it said without elaboration.

“The U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia, warns U.S. citizens not to travel to Venezuela. U.S. citizens in Venezuela should shelter in place.” The embassy in Bogota has been shuttered since March, 2019 but operates remotely.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio retweeted Trump’s announcement without comment, but his deputy, Christopher Landau, posted Trump’s statement, adding that it marked “a new dawn for Venezuela!” “The tyrant is gone. He will now—finally—face justice for his crimes,” Landau said.

Venezuelan VP demands proof of life for Maduro

Venezuela's Vice President Delcy Rodríguez says, “We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.” He added: “We demand proof of life.”

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The United States hit Venezuela with a “large-scale strike” early Saturday and said its president had been captured and flown out of the country after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">months of intense pressure</a>&nbsp;on Nicolás Maduro's government — an extraordinary nighttime operation announced by President Donald Trump on social media hours after the attack.

Multiple explosions rang out and low-flying aircraft swept through the Venezuelan capital, and Maduro's government accused the United States of attacking civilian and military installations, calling it an “imperialist attack” and urging citizens to take to the streets.

With Maduro's whereabouts not known, the vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, would take power under Venezuelan law. There was no confirmation that had happened, though she did issue a statement after the strike.

“We do not know the whereabouts of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores,” Rodriguez said. “We demand proof of life.”

Maduro, Trump said, “has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement.” He set a news conference for later Saturday morning.

The attack itself lasted less than 30 minutes and the explosions — at least seven blasts —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/venezuela-us-explosions-caracas-25a01a23e7b936b430901428ab0d0907">sent people rushing into the streets</a>, while others took to social media to report what they’d seen and heard. It was not known if there were any deaths or injuries on either side or if more actions lay ahead, though Trump said in his post that the strikes were carried out “successfully.”

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, posted on X that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had briefed him on the strike and said that Maduro “has been arrested by U.S. personnel to stand trial on criminal charges in the United States.”

The White House did not immediately respond to queries on where Maduro and his wife were being flown to. Maduro was indicted in March 2020 on “narco-terrorism" conspiracy charges.