BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/caseyquinlan/">CASEY QUINLAN</a>

A rise in food prices makes for a less than merry holiday season.

Grocery prices rose 0.4% in November,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t02.htm" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;the Consumer Price Index, released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Eggs made one of the biggest jumps at 8.2% over the month, and 37.5% over the past year, providing challenges for people trying to eat a somewhat cheaper protein and families cooking holiday foods such as sugar cookies and challah.

Although the increase in food prices has moderated a bit from past years, they are still more than 20% higher than they were before the pandemic, according to David Ortega, at Michigan State University.

“It was a key issue in the election in terms of people really feeling that sticker shock at the grocery store,” said Ortega, a food economist.

President-elect Donald Trump vowed to bring down prices during his campaign and blamed the Biden administration for how they reached this point. But in an&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7201565/person-of-the-year-2024-donald-trump-transcript/" target="_blank">interview with</a>&nbsp;TIME published last week, Trump said he does not believe his presidency would be a failure if grocery prices do not come down.

“It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up,” he said.

Price changes to understand before you set the holiday table

The increase in grocery, or food at home prices, was partly driven by the rise in egg and beef prices, Ortega said. He said the price of holiday roast has been affected by drought and high feed prices. This year, the inventory of beef cattle was the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/market-intel/u-s-cattle-inventory-smallest-in-73-years#:~:text=1%2C%202024%2C%20was%2028.2%20million,U.S.%20beef%20herd%20since%201951." target="_blank">smallest beef herd</a>&nbsp;since 1951.

“On eggs, the story continues to be bird flu together with increased consumer demand given the holiday season,” he said following Wednesday’s release of the latest Consumer Price Index. “And for beef the issue is supply — high input costs and decisions that beef producers made a couple of years back when they were facing drought and high feed prices which has reduced beef supply, and this in turn is affecting beef prices.”

The latest food price numbers presented a mixed bag for holiday shoppers looking to bake treats this month. Flour and prepared four mixes fell 1% and bread decreased 1.3%, while sugar and sweets rose 0.2%, and butter ticked up 1.5%.

Oranges, including the popular stocking stuffers tangerines, fell 1.8% in the latest Consumer Price Index report.

The rise in cost of eating your meals at home compared to the rise in cost of eating out is also getting narrower, with the gap in inflation between restaurant menu prices and grocery year-over-year prices being the narrowest it has been since May 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supermarketnews.com/consumer-trends/retail-food-inflation-outpaced-restaurant-menu-prices-for-2nd-time-in-three-months" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;Supermarket News. Food at home in previous reports rose 0.2% and 0.4% compared to 0.2% and 0.3% for the past two food away from home reports.

Are companies profiting off uncertain times?

Rakeen Mabud, chief economist at the Groundwork Collective, a left-of-center economic think tank, said that just a few seed producers, meatpackers, and grocers dominate the food industry, which is a key part of the story of what drives grocery prices. This hurts lower-income shoppers the hardest. Oklahoma, Iowa, and Arkansas are some of the states&nbsp;<a href="https://grocerygapatlas.rafiusa.org/posts/market-dominance" target="_blank">most dominated</a>&nbsp;by a single grocer, such as Walmart or Hy-Vee.

“Across the food and grocery industry, we have a sector that is deeply consolidated,” Mabud said.&nbsp; … And so when you have big companies controlling such large chunks of the market, we know that they have used things like inflation, things like supply chain shocks to jack up prices far beyond what their input costs to justify.”

Mabud said that when there is this level of market concentration, companies can signal to each other in earnings calls that they are going to start raising prices.

“If you know that your only other competitors are also raising prices, there’s kind of no reason for you to try to undercut them if you both hold giant shares of a market,” she said.

An economic paper published this year&nbsp;<a href="https://scholarworks.umass.edu/entities/publication/c7155aaf-40b6-4da4-8d36-15556100ee7e" target="_blank">found</a>&nbsp;that companies are able to coordinate price increases around cost shocks and increase profits from these events. Mabud said the holidays provide plenty of opportunity for the food industry to raise prices on things people ordinarily don’t buy and don’t have a price comparison for during a less in-demand season.

“Grocers and the food industry kind of know that they know that they have more information about the underlying cost of a good than a consumer who only comes to buy the Christmas ham once a year. And so they can take advantage of that,” she said.

Economists are watching out for how the next administration will impact food prices.

Trump’s promise to impose&nbsp;<a href="https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/02/donald-trump-promised-to-bring-down-prices-but-experts-say-his-tariff-plans-will-do-the-opposite/" target="_blank">heavy tariffs</a>&nbsp;on the U.S.’s biggest trading partners – Mexico, Canada and China – are expected to drive up the cost of everything, including groceries.

Products the U.S. can’t produce year round, like fruit and coffee, will be affected, Ortega said.

“There’s still a lot of uncertainty in terms of whether these tariffs are really going to be implemented or are they a negotiating tool? But that creates a lot of uncertainty,” he said. “Even that amount of uncertainty can lead to a rise in costs as companies prepare for the potential of these tariffs taking place.”

Trump’s expected policy of mass deportation of immigrants will also affect the agriculture industry, in addition to the major human rights implications.

“If there’s a mass deportation that is a shock to the labor supply and the agricultural sector. And that will lead to an increase in costs as producers and companies have to offer higher wages to attract enough labor. Ultimately that gets passed down to the consumer in the form of higher prices,” Ortega said.

Mabud is also concerned that expected tariffs could mean companies take advantage of the policy change well beyond the actual financial impact to their business.

“It’s a policy change where consumers don’t necessarily know how much the price of an avocado is going up because of a tariff versus a supply chain issue versus the grocery store just wanting to increase the price,” she said.

Patricia “Pogo” Overmeyer, 65, who works as a lawyer in Arizona and lives with her retired husband, said she has always been focused on how to save money on groceries. But she said she has become even more thrifty since inflation worsened.

She said she’s been using more meatless meals and stocks up on holiday food all year round when prices are low, some of which she freezes and cans.

“Once I retire, our income will not be as high,” she said, “Most likely I will forgo some foods or make substitutions. It’s anyone’s guess as to what we will be paying for groceries.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673438313098.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/caseyquinlan/">CASEY QUINLAN</a>A rise in food prices makes for a less than merry holiday season.Grocery prices rose 0.4% in November,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t02.htm" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;the Consumer Price Index, released this week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.Eggs made one of the biggest jumps at 8.2% over the month, and 37.5% over the past year, providing challenges for people trying to eat a somewhat cheaper protein and families cooking holiday foods such as sugar cookies and challah.Although the increase in food prices has moderated a bit from past years, they are still more than 20% higher than they were before the pandemic, according to David Ortega, at Michigan State University.“It was a key issue in the election in terms of people really feeling that sticker shock at the grocery store,” said Ortega, a food economist.President-elect Donald Trump vowed to bring down prices during his campaign and blamed the Biden administration for how they reached this point. But in an&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/7201565/person-of-the-year-2024-donald-trump-transcript/" target="_blank">interview with</a>&nbsp;TIME published last week, Trump said he does not believe his presidency would be a failure if grocery prices do not come down.“It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up,” he said.<h2>Price changes to understand before you set the holiday table</h2>The increase in grocery, or food at home prices, was partly driven by the rise in egg and beef prices, Ortega said. He said the price of holiday roast has been affected by drought and high feed prices. This year, the inventory of beef cattle was the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/market-intel/u-s-cattle-inventory-smallest-in-73-years#:~:text=1%2C%202024%2C%20was%2028.2%20million,U.S.%20beef%20herd%20since%201951." target="_blank">smallest beef herd</a>&nbsp;since 1951.“On eggs, the story continues to be bird flu together with increased consumer demand given the holiday season,” he said following Wednesday’s release of the latest Consumer Price Index. “And for beef the issue is supply — high input costs and decisions that beef producers made a couple of years back when they were facing drought and high feed prices which has reduced beef supply, and this in turn is affecting beef prices.”The latest food price numbers presented a mixed bag for holiday shoppers looking to bake treats this month. Flour and prepared four mixes fell 1% and bread decreased 1.3%, while sugar and sweets rose 0.2%, and butter ticked up 1.5%.Oranges, including the popular stocking stuffers tangerines, fell 1.8% in the latest Consumer Price Index report.The rise in cost of eating your meals at home compared to the rise in cost of eating out is also getting narrower, with the gap in inflation between restaurant menu prices and grocery year-over-year prices being the narrowest it has been since May 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supermarketnews.com/consumer-trends/retail-food-inflation-outpaced-restaurant-menu-prices-for-2nd-time-in-three-months" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;Supermarket News. Food at home in previous reports rose 0.2% and 0.4% compared to 0.2% and 0.3% for the past two food away from home reports.<h2>Are companies profiting off uncertain times?</h2>Rakeen Mabud, chief economist at the Groundwork Collective, a left-of-center economic think tank, said that just a few seed producers, meatpackers, and grocers dominate the food industry, which is a key part of the story of what drives grocery prices. This hurts lower-income shoppers the hardest. Oklahoma, Iowa, and Arkansas are some of the states&nbsp;<a href="https://grocerygapatlas.rafiusa.org/posts/market-dominance" target="_blank">most dominated</a>&nbsp;by a single grocer, such as Walmart or Hy-Vee.“Across the food and grocery industry, we have a sector that is deeply consolidated,” Mabud said.&nbsp; … And so when you have big companies controlling such large chunks of the market, we know that they have used things like inflation, things like supply chain shocks to jack up prices far beyond what their input costs to justify.”Mabud said that when there is this level of market concentration, companies can signal to each other in earnings calls that they are going to start raising prices.“If you know that your only other competitors are also raising prices, there’s kind of no reason for you to try to undercut them if you both hold giant shares of a market,” she said.An economic paper published this year&nbsp;<a href="https://scholarworks.umass.edu/entities/publication/c7155aaf-40b6-4da4-8d36-15556100ee7e" target="_blank">found</a>&nbsp;that companies are able to coordinate price increases around cost shocks and increase profits from these events. Mabud said the holidays provide plenty of opportunity for the food industry to raise prices on things people ordinarily don’t buy and don’t have a price comparison for during a less in-demand season.“Grocers and the food industry kind of know that they know that they have more information about the underlying cost of a good than a consumer who only comes to buy the Christmas ham once a year. And so they can take advantage of that,” she said.<h2>An unhappy new year for grocery shoppers</h2>Economists are watching out for how the next administration will impact food prices.Trump’s promise to impose&nbsp;<a href="https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2024/12/02/donald-trump-promised-to-bring-down-prices-but-experts-say-his-tariff-plans-will-do-the-opposite/" target="_blank">heavy tariffs</a>&nbsp;on the U.S.’s biggest trading partners – Mexico, Canada and China – are expected to drive up the cost of everything, including groceries.Products the U.S. can’t produce year round, like fruit and coffee, will be affected, Ortega said.“There’s still a lot of uncertainty in terms of whether these tariffs are really going to be implemented or are they a negotiating tool? But that creates a lot of uncertainty,” he said. “Even that amount of uncertainty can lead to a rise in costs as companies prepare for the potential of these tariffs taking place.”Trump’s expected policy of mass deportation of immigrants will also affect the agriculture industry, in addition to the major human rights implications.“If there’s a mass deportation that is a shock to the labor supply and the agricultural sector. And that will lead to an increase in costs as producers and companies have to offer higher wages to attract enough labor. Ultimately that gets passed down to the consumer in the form of higher prices,” Ortega said.Mabud is also concerned that expected tariffs could mean companies take advantage of the policy change well beyond the actual financial impact to their business.“It’s a policy change where consumers don’t necessarily know how much the price of an avocado is going up because of a tariff versus a supply chain issue versus the grocery store just wanting to increase the price,” she said.Patricia “Pogo” Overmeyer, 65, who works as a lawyer in Arizona and lives with her retired husband, said she has always been focused on how to save money on groceries. But she said she has become even more thrifty since inflation worsened.She said she’s been using more meatless meals and stocks up on holiday food all year round when prices are low, some of which she freezes and cans.“Once I retire, our income will not be as high,” she said, “Most likely I will forgo some foods or make substitutions. It’s anyone’s guess as to what we will be paying for groceries.”

US Grocery Prices – and Eggs in Particular – Climb Heading into Holiday Season

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-social-security-benefits-expanded-bbf18277e11ba5dba30f948c84b8d6bf">legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits</a>&nbsp;to millions of people, setting up potential passage in the final days of the lame-duck Congress.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday he would begin the process for a final vote on the bill, known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN12451" target="_blank">Social Security Fairness Act</a>, which would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people.

Schumer said the bill would “ensure Americans are not erroneously denied their well-earned Social Security benefits simply because they chose at some point to work in their careers in public service.”

The legislation passed the House on a bipartisan vote, and a Senate version of the bill introduced last year gained 62 cosponsors. But the bill still needs support from at least 60 senators to pass Congress. It would then head to President Biden.

At least one GOP senator who signed onto similar legislation last year, Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana, said he was still “weighing” whether to vote for the bill next week.

“Nothing ever gets paid for, so if it’s further indebtedness, I don’t know,” he said.

Decades in the making, the bill would repeal two federal policies — the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset — that broadly reduce payments to two groups of Social Security recipients: people who also receive a pension from a job that is not covered by Social Security and surviving spouses of Social Security recipients who receive a government pension of their own.

The bill would add more strain on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/trust-funds-summary.html" target="_blank">Social Security Trust funds</a>, which were already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. It would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-09/hr82.pdf" target="_blank">Congressional Budget Office</a>.

The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget also estimates that if passed, the policy would hasten the Social Security program’s insolvency date by about half a year as well as reduce lifetime Social Security benefits by an additional $25,000 for a typical dual-income couple retiring in 2033.

Sen. John Thune, the no. 2 Republican in leadership, acknowledged that the policy has strong bipartisan support, but said some Republicans also want to see it “fixed in the context of a broader Social Security reform effort.”

Conservatives have opposed the bill, decrying its cost.

“Even for something that people consider to be a good cause, it shows a lack of concern for the future of the country, so I think it would be a big mistake,” said Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky.

Still, other Republicans have pushed Schumer to bring it up for a vote.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said last month that the current federal limitations “penalize families across the country who worked a public service job for part of their career with a separate pension. We’re talking about police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other public employees who are punished for serving their communities.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-social-security-benefits-expanded-bbf18277e11ba5dba30f948c84b8d6bf">legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits</a>&nbsp;to millions of people, setting up potential passage in the final days of the lame-duck Congress.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday he would begin the process for a final vote on the bill, known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN12451" target="_blank">Social Security Fairness Act</a>, which would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people.Schumer said the bill would “ensure Americans are not erroneously denied their well-earned Social Security benefits simply because they chose at some point to work in their careers in public service.”The legislation passed the House on a bipartisan vote, and a Senate version of the bill introduced last year gained 62 cosponsors. But the bill still needs support from at least 60 senators to pass Congress. It would then head to President Biden.At least one GOP senator who signed onto similar legislation last year, Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana, said he was still “weighing” whether to vote for the bill next week.“Nothing ever gets paid for, so if it’s further indebtedness, I don’t know,” he said.Decades in the making, the bill would repeal two federal policies — the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset — that broadly reduce payments to two groups of Social Security recipients: people who also receive a pension from a job that is not covered by Social Security and surviving spouses of Social Security recipients who receive a government pension of their own.The bill would add more strain on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/trust-funds-summary.html" target="_blank">Social Security Trust funds</a>, which were already estimated to be unable to pay out full benefits beginning in 2035. It would add an estimated $195 billion to federal deficits over 10 years, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-09/hr82.pdf" target="_blank">Congressional Budget Office</a>.The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget also estimates that if passed, the policy would hasten the Social Security program’s insolvency date by about half a year as well as reduce lifetime Social Security benefits by an additional $25,000 for a typical dual-income couple retiring in 2033.Sen. John Thune, the no. 2 Republican in leadership, acknowledged that the policy has strong bipartisan support, but said some Republicans also want to see it “fixed in the context of a broader Social Security reform effort.”Conservatives have opposed the bill, decrying its cost.“Even for something that people consider to be a good cause, it shows a lack of concern for the future of the country, so I think it would be a big mistake,” said Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky.Still, other Republicans have pushed Schumer to bring it up for a vote.Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said last month that the current federal limitations “penalize families across the country who worked a public service job for part of their career with a separate pension. We’re talking about police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other public employees who are punished for serving their communities.”He predicted the bill would pass.

Senate will vote on bill to expand Social Security benefits for millions 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a juvenile in Kansas City.

Just after 5p.m. Sunday patrol officers were dispatched to the 3300 block of Bales in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

First responders were directed to a home on the block. Inside they located a juvenile male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered emergency medical personnel to the scene.

 EMS transported the victim to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.

Preliminary investigation revealed there was an argument that led to shots being fired and the victim ultimately being struck. Detectives canvassed the area for potential witnesses and crime scene investigators are gathered any available physical evidence.&nbsp; The name of the victim has not been released. Police have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734317845598.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a juvenile in Kansas City.Just after 5p.m. Sunday patrol officers were dispatched to the 3300 block of Bales in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.First responders were directed to a home on the block. Inside they located a juvenile male victim suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered emergency medical personnel to the scene. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.Preliminary investigation revealed there was an argument that led to shots being fired and the victim ultimately being struck. Detectives canvassed the area for potential witnesses and crime scene investigators are gathered any available physical evidence.&nbsp; The name of the victim has not been released. Police have not reported an arrest.

Police: Argument led to death of juvenile at KC home

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A teenage student opened fire Monday at a private Christian school in Wisconsin, killing a teacher and another teen during the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.

The shooter also wounded others at Abundant Life Christian School, including two students who were in critical condition, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said.

“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” Barnes said. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened.”

The shooter was a 17-year-old female student, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.

Police said the shooter apparently was dead by suicide when officers arrived.

Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school — kindergarten through high school — with approximately 390 students in Madison, the state capital. After the shooting, students were led next door to City Church where buses took them elsewhere to be reunited with families.

Meanwhile, nine public schools in Madison were locked down for a few hours as a precaution.

“As difficult as today is, that's still someone's child that's gone,” the chief said.

A motive for the shooting was not immediately known, he added.

“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” Barnes said.

Someone from the school called 911 to report an active shooter shortly before 11 a.m. First responders who were in training just 3 miles (5 kilometers) away dashed to the school for an actual emergency, Barnes said.

Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

“I’m not aware that the school had metal detectors nor should schools have metal detectors. It’s a safe space,” Barnes said.

Police blocked off roads around the school. Federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement.

Abundant Life asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post.

Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.

“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters,” Highman said. “There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”

In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and officials were in touch with local authorities to provide support.

“As a father, a grandfather, and as governor, it is unthinkable that a kid or an educator might wake up and go to school one morning and never come home,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said. “This should never happen, and I will never accept this as a foregone reality or stop working to change it.”

It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">the latest</a>&nbsp;among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/newtown">Newtown, Connecticut</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/parkland-florida-school-shooting">Parkland, Florida</a>; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>.

The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms. But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.

Firearms were the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/child-and-teen-firearm-mortality-in-the-u-s-and-peer-countries/">leading cause of death</a>&nbsp;among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said the country needs to do more to prevent gun violence.

“I hoped that this day would never come to Madison,” she said.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A teenage student opened fire at a private Christian school Monday morning in Wisconsin, killing a teacher and another teenage student in the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes did not give details about the age or gender of the suspected shooter who also wounded six others at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 school with about 390 students. Police previously said a total of five people had died but corrected the statement.

Barnes said the suspected shooter likely died by suicide.

“They found the person responsible who was down, deceased,” the chief said.

Of those wounded, Barnes said two of them were in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. The other four had non-life-threatening injuries, Barnes said.

The wounded had injuries ranging broadly from minor to life-threatening, Barnes said.

“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” he said. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened.”

Investigators did not immediately know a motive for the shooting, Barnes said.

“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” he said.

Barnes said detectives were, “working hard to find as many answers as we can.”

Barnes said police were alerted shortly before 11 a.m. and did not fire their weapons when they rushed into the building.

Someone from the school called 911 to report an active shooter, Barnes said. He said the police training center is 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the school and staff responded from there.

“What began as a training day became an actual day,” he said.

“We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.

Abundant Life Christian School, which is nondenominational, asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post.

Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school after hearing about the shooting and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.

“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters," Highman said. "There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A student opened fire at a private Christian school Monday morning in Wisconsin, killing two people in the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.

(Click below to view the 12:20 p.m. Monday police briefing)

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes offered no details about the victims but said other people were wounded at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 school with about 390 students. Police previously said a total of five people had died but corrected the statement.

Barnes said the suspected shooter was a student who likely died by suicide.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A youth opened fire at a private Christian school Monday morning in Wisconsin, killing two people in the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes offered no details on the victims but said other people were wounded at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 school with about 390 students. Police previously said a total of five people had died.

Madison police in a statement said the suspected shooter was a student at the school. Police said seven people were hurt with injuries ranging broadly from “minor to life-threatening.”

“Today is a sad, sad day, not only for Madison but for our entire country," Barnes told reporters.

He said police were alerted shortly before 11 a.m. and did not fire their weapons when they rushed into the school. Barnes suggested the shooter died by suicide.

“They found the person responsible who was down, deceased," the chief said.

Abundant Life Christian School is nondenominational.

John Diaz De Leon, who lives nearby and attends the adjacent City Church, told WMTV-TV he heard an intense blare of sirens as police responded.

“I didn’t know there were that many squad cars in Madison. We saw a few guys with long guns. They went into the school with a dog," De Leon said of police. “Later on I saw groups of kids coming out of the school into the church sanctuary.”

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Five people are dead and others injured after a shooting Monday at a private Christian school in Wisconsin, including a child who caused the attack, authorities said.

Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes was speaking to reporters when the death toll rose to five from three people. He offered no details on the victims but says others were wounded in the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School.

Barnes says police officers who responded did not fire their weapons.

Police had blocked off roads around the school Monday afternoon.

Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have responded to the scene to assist local law enforcement.

Abundant Life Christian School is nondenominational and has about 390 students, from kindergarten through high school, according to its website.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Multiple fatalities have been reported Monday in a shooting at a Christian school in Wisconsin, police said.

The shooting occurred at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, the state capital, police said.

“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” Madison police said in a statement. “More information will be released as it is available. We currently need people to avoid the area.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734377244094.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the school shooting -image courtesy WKOW TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the school shooting -image courtesy WKOW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A teenage student opened fire Monday at a private Christian school in Wisconsin, killing a teacher and another teen during the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.The shooter also wounded others at Abundant Life Christian School, including two students who were in critical condition, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734386889041.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” Barnes said. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened.”The shooter was a 17-year-old female student, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.Police said the shooter apparently was dead by suicide when officers arrived.Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school — kindergarten through high school — with approximately 390 students in Madison, the state capital. After the shooting, students were led next door to City Church where buses took them elsewhere to be reunited with families.Meanwhile, nine public schools in Madison were locked down for a few hours as a precaution.“As difficult as today is, that's still someone's child that's gone,” the chief said.A motive for the shooting was not immediately known, he added.“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” Barnes said.Someone from the school called 911 to report an active shooter shortly before 11 a.m. First responders who were in training just 3 miles (5 kilometers) away dashed to the school for an actual emergency, Barnes said.Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.“I’m not aware that the school had metal detectors nor should schools have metal detectors. It’s a safe space,” Barnes said.Police blocked off roads around the school. Federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement.Abundant Life asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post.Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters,” Highman said. “There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and officials were in touch with local authorities to provide support.“As a father, a grandfather, and as governor, it is unthinkable that a kid or an educator might wake up and go to school one morning and never come home,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said. “This should never happen, and I will never accept this as a foregone reality or stop working to change it.”It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">the latest</a>&nbsp;among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/newtown">Newtown, Connecticut</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/parkland-florida-school-shooting">Parkland, Florida</a>; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>.The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms. But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.Firearms were the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/child-and-teen-firearm-mortality-in-the-u-s-and-peer-countries/">leading cause of death</a>&nbsp;among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said the country needs to do more to prevent gun violence.“I hoped that this day would never come to Madison,” she said.MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A teenage student opened fire at a private Christian school Monday morning in Wisconsin, killing a teacher and another teenage student in the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes did not give details about the age or gender of the suspected shooter who also wounded six others at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 school with about 390 students. Police previously said a total of five people had died but corrected the statement.Barnes said the suspected shooter likely died by suicide.“They found the person responsible who was down, deceased,” the chief said.Of those wounded, Barnes said two of them were in critical condition with life-threatening injuries. The other four had non-life-threatening injuries, Barnes said.The wounded had injuries ranging broadly from minor to life-threatening, Barnes said.“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” he said. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened.”Investigators did not immediately know a motive for the shooting, Barnes said.“I don’t know why, and I feel like if we did know why, we could stop these things from happening,” he said.Barnes said detectives were, “working hard to find as many answers as we can.”Barnes said police were alerted shortly before 11 a.m. and did not fire their weapons when they rushed into the building.Someone from the school called 911 to report an active shooter, Barnes said. He said the police training center is 3 miles (5 kilometers) from the school and staff responded from there.“What began as a training day became an actual day,” he said.Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.“I’m not aware that the school had metal detectors nor should schools have metal detectors. It’s a safe space,” Barnes said.Police blocked off roads around the school. Federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement.“We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and officials were in touch with local authorities to provide support.Abundant Life Christian School, which is nondenominational, asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post.Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school after hearing about the shooting and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters," Highman said. "There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">the latest</a>&nbsp;among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/newtown">Newtown, Connecticut</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/parkland-florida-school-shooting">Parkland, Florida</a>; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>.The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms. But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.Firearms were the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/child-and-teen-firearm-mortality-in-the-u-s-and-peer-countries/">leading cause of death</a>&nbsp;among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.___MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A student opened fire at a private Christian school Monday morning in Wisconsin, killing two people in the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.(Click below to view the 12:20 p.m. Monday police briefing)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMadisonPolice%2Fvideos%2F1648377052440777%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=1" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes offered no details about the victims but said other people were wounded at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 school with about 390 students. Police previously said a total of five people had died but corrected the statement.Barnes said the suspected shooter was a student who likely died by suicide.“They found the person responsible who was down, deceased,” the chief said.The wounded had injuries ranging broadly from minor to life-threatening, Barnes said.“I’m feeling a little dismayed now, so close to Christmas,” he said. “Every child, every person in that building is a victim and will be a victim forever. ... We need to figure out and try to piece together what exactly happened.”Barnes said police were alerted shortly before 11 a.m. and did not fire their weapons when they rushed into the building.Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.“I’m not aware that the school had metal detectors nor should schools have metal detectors. It’s a safe space,” Barnes said.Police blocked off roads around the school. Federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement.“We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and officials were in touch with local authorities to provide support.Abundant Life Christian School, which is nondenominational, asked for prayers in a brief Facebook post.Bethany Highman, the mother of a student, rushed to the school after hearing about the shooting and learned over FaceTime that her daughter was OK.“As soon as it happened, your world stops for a minute. Nothing else matters," Highman said. "There’s nobody around you. You just bolt for the door and try to do everything you can as a parent to be with your kids.”It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/mass-killings/index.html">the latest</a>&nbsp;among dozens of school shootings across the U.S. in recent years, including especially deadly ones in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/newtown">Newtown, Connecticut</a>;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/parkland-florida-school-shooting">Parkland, Florida</a>; and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">Uvalde, Texas</a>.The shootings have set off fervent debates about gun control and frayed the nerves of parents whose children are growing up accustomed to doing active shooter drills in their classrooms. But school shootings have done little to move the needle on national gun laws.Firearms were the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/child-and-teen-firearm-mortality-in-the-u-s-and-peer-countries/">leading cause of death</a>&nbsp;among children in 2020 and 2021, according to KFF, a nonprofit that researches health care issues.___MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A youth opened fire at a private Christian school Monday morning in Wisconsin, killing two people in the final week before Christmas break. The shooter also died, police said.Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes offered no details on the victims but said other people were wounded at Abundant Life Christian School, a K-12 school with about 390 students. Police previously said a total of five people had died.Madison police in a statement said the suspected shooter was a student at the school. Police said seven people were hurt with injuries ranging broadly from “minor to life-threatening.”“Today is a sad, sad day, not only for Madison but for our entire country," Barnes told reporters.He said police were alerted shortly before 11 a.m. and did not fire their weapons when they rushed into the school. Barnes suggested the shooter died by suicide.“They found the person responsible who was down, deceased," the chief said.Investigators believe the shooter used a 9mm pistol, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.Police blocked off roads around the school. Federal agents were at the scene to assist local law enforcement.“We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.In a statement, the White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and officials were in touch with local authorities to provide support.Abundant Life Christian School is nondenominational.John Diaz De Leon, who lives nearby and attends the adjacent City Church, told WMTV-TV he heard an intense blare of sirens as police responded.“I didn’t know there were that many squad cars in Madison. We saw a few guys with long guns. They went into the school with a dog," De Leon said of police. “Later on I saw groups of kids coming out of the school into the church sanctuary.”___MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Five people are dead and others injured after a shooting Monday at a private Christian school in Wisconsin, including a child who caused the attack, authorities said.Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes was speaking to reporters when the death toll rose to five from three people. He offered no details on the victims but says others were wounded in the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School.Barnes says police officers who responded did not fire their weapons.Police had blocked off roads around the school Monday afternoon.Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have responded to the scene to assist local law enforcement.“We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.Abundant Life Christian School is nondenominational and has about 390 students, from kindergarten through high school, according to its website.----------------MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Multiple fatalities have been reported Monday in a shooting at a Christian school in Wisconsin, police said.The shooting occurred at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, the state capital, police said.“This remains an active and ongoing investigation,” Madison police said in a statement. “More information will be released as it is available. We currently need people to avoid the area.”Police had blocked off roads around the school Monday afternoon.Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have responded to the scene to assist local law enforcement.“We are praying for the kids, educators, and entire Abundant Life school community as we await more information and are grateful for the first responders who are working quickly to respond,” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.Abundant Life Christian School is nondenominational and has about 390 students, from kindergarten through high school, according to its website.

Teacher, student among fatality victims in Wisconsin school shooting 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged theft in Riley County.

Just before 10:30a.m. Friday, officers filed a report of theft in the 500 block of Richards Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 30-year-old man reported he agreed to donate $5 to a charitable cause but his credit card was charged $6,000. 

Total loss associated with this report is $6,000. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged theft in Riley County.Just before 10:30a.m. Friday, officers filed a report of theft in the 500 block of Richards Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.A 30-year-old man reported he agreed to donate $5 to a charitable cause but his credit card was charged $6,000. Total loss associated with this report is $6,000. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Police: Kan.  man charged $6,000 after $5 charitable donation

KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge sentenced to 18 years in prison two men convicted in November of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with a gun battle on a January afternoon inside Crown Center in Kansas, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

In November, following a bench trial, the judge convicted Brian Favela, 23, and Joel Olivas, 24, identified by prosecutors as East Side gang members of two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Class B felonies, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action, as well as three misdemeanor counts of Harassment in the 2nd Degree. 

The judge dismissed one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action finding not enough evidence was shown to overcome Missouri's self-defense laws on those two counts.

An agreement among parties capped a prison sentence for these defendants at 25 years. Prosecutors, in a sentencing memorandum, asked the judge to impose that maximum amount due to the devastating nature of the shootings. On Thursday, the judge set the sentence at 18 years for each defendant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1709159804082.png" alt="Favela photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Favela photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge sentenced to 18 years in prison two men convicted in November of multiple felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with a gun battle on a January afternoon inside Crown Center in Kansas, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705578003872.png" alt="View of Crown Center business with police crime scene tape -image courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>View of Crown Center business with police crime scene tape -image courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>In November, following a bench trial, the judge convicted Brian Favela, 23, and Joel Olivas, 24, identified by prosecutors as East Side gang members of two counts of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Class B felonies, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action, as well as three misdemeanor counts of Harassment in the 2nd Degree. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1709159745533.png" alt="Olivas photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Olivas photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The judge dismissed one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action finding not enough evidence was shown to overcome Missouri's self-defense laws on those two counts.An agreement among parties capped a prison sentence for these defendants at 25 years. Prosecutors, in a sentencing memorandum, asked the judge to impose that maximum amount due to the devastating nature of the shootings. On Thursday, the judge set the sentence at 18 years for each defendant.

Two going to prison for gang gun battle at Crown Center

NEW YORK (AP) — ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos' inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/e-jean-carroll">E. Jean Carroll.</a>

As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68351681/58/1/trump-v-american-broadcasting-companies-inc/">part of the settlement</a>&nbsp;made public Saturday, ABC News posted an&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nancy-mace-defends-support-trump-after-found-liable/story?id=107964612">editor's note to its website</a>&nbsp;expressing regret over Stephanopoulos' statements during a March 10 segment on his “This Week” program. The network will also pay $1 million in legal fees to the law firm of Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito.

The settlement agreement describes ABC's presidential library payment as a “charitable contribution," with the money earmarked for a non-profit organization that is being established in connection with the yet-to-be built library.

“We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing,” ABC News spokesperson Jeannie Kedas said.

The settlement agreement was signed Friday, the same day a Florida federal judge ordered Trump and Stephanopoulos to sit for separate depositions in the case next week. The settlement means that sworn testimony is no longer required.

The agreement bore Trump’s bold, distinct signature and an electronic signature with the initials GRS in a space for Stephanopoulos’ name. Debra OConnell, the president of ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, also e-signed the agreement.

ABC News must transfer the $15 million for Trump's library to an escrow account that's being managed by Brito’s law firm within 10 days, according to the agreement. The network must also pay Brito’s legal fees within 10 days.

While sizeable, ABC's contribution to Trump's presidential library will likely cover just a fraction of the cost. Former President Barack Obama's library in Chicago, for example, was estimated to cost $830 million as of 2021.

Trump sued ABC and Stephanopoulos in federal court in Miami days after the network aired the segment, in which the longtime “Good Morning America” anchor and “This Week” host repeatedly misstated the verdicts in Carroll’s two civil lawsuits against Trump.

During a live “This Week” interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Stephanopoulos wrongly claimed that Trump had been “found liable for rape” and “defaming the victim of that rape.”

Neither verdict involved a finding of rape as defined under New York law.

In the first of the lawsuits to go to trial, Trump was found liable last year of sexually abusing and defaming Carroll. A jury ordered him to pay her $5 million.

In January, at a second trial in federal court in Manhattan, Trump was found liable on additional defamation claims and ordered to pay Carroll $83.3 million.

Carroll, a former advice columnist, went public in a 2019 memoir with her allegation that Trump raped her in the mid-1990s at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury Manhattan department store across the street from Trump Tower, after they crossed paths at an entrance.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-legal-proceedings-donald-trump-new-york-lawsuits-fcc5f482a1eb99609376078422665bc8">denied her claim</a>, saying he didn't know Carroll and never ran into her at the store.

After Trump lashed out, calling Carroll a “nut job” who invented “a fraudulent and false story” to sell her memoir, she sued him for unspecified monetary damages and sought a retraction of what she said were Trump’s defamatory denials.

Testifying in April 2023, Carroll told jurors: “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation, and I’m here to try and get my life back."

After she'd agreed to help Trump shop for a gift for a woman, Carroll testified that he pushed her against a dressing room wall, stamped his mouth onto hers, yanked down her tights and shoved his hand and then his penis inside her while she struggled against him.

She said she finally kneed him off her and fled.

In upholding the $5 million judgment in the first trial, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote that the unanimous verdict was almost entirely in favor of Carroll, except that the jury concluded she had failed to prove that Trump raped her “within the narrow, technical meaning of a particular section of the New York Penal Law.”

Kaplan, who presided over both of Carroll's lawsuits against Trump, said the definition of rape in the state code was “far narrower” than how rape is defined in common modern parlance, in some dictionaries, in some federal and state criminal statutes and elsewhere.

Under New York law, a rape finding requires vaginal penetration by a penis. Forcible penetration without consent of the vagina or other bodily orifices by fingers or anything else is labeled “sexual abuse.”

The judge said the verdict did not mean that Carroll “failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape.’ Indeed ... the jury found that Mr. Trump in fact did exactly that.”

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734225278879.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — ABC News has agreed to pay $15 million toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;presidential library to settle a defamation lawsuit over anchor George Stephanopoulos' inaccurate on-air assertion that the president-elect had been found civilly liable for raping writer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/e-jean-carroll">E. Jean Carroll.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734226065846.png" alt="President-elect Trump Saturday at the Army Navy game photo courtesy Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser" />
 <figcaption>President-elect Trump Saturday at the Army Navy game photo courtesy Pennsylvania Congressman Dan Meuser</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734226474443.png" alt="Online apology posted on the ABC News web site" />
 <figcaption>Online apology posted on the ABC News web site</figcaption>
 </figure>As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68351681/58/1/trump-v-american-broadcasting-companies-inc/">part of the settlement</a>&nbsp;made public Saturday, ABC News posted an&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nancy-mace-defends-support-trump-after-found-liable/story?id=107964612">editor's note to its website</a>&nbsp;expressing regret over Stephanopoulos' statements during a March 10 segment on his “This Week” program. The network will also pay $1 million in legal fees to the law firm of Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Brito.The settlement agreement describes ABC's presidential library payment as a “charitable contribution," with the money earmarked for a non-profit organization that is being established in connection with the yet-to-be built library.“We are pleased that the parties have reached an agreement to dismiss the lawsuit on the terms in the court filing,” ABC News spokesperson Jeannie Kedas said.A Trump spokesperson declined comment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734225342471.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734225322338.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The settlement agreement was signed Friday, the same day a Florida federal judge ordered Trump and Stephanopoulos to sit for separate depositions in the case next week. The settlement means that sworn testimony is no longer required.The agreement bore Trump’s bold, distinct signature and an electronic signature with the initials GRS in a space for Stephanopoulos’ name. Debra OConnell, the president of ABC News Group and Disney Entertainment Networks, also e-signed the agreement.ABC News must transfer the $15 million for Trump's library to an escrow account that's being managed by Brito’s law firm within 10 days, according to the agreement. The network must also pay Brito’s legal fees within 10 days.While sizeable, ABC's contribution to Trump's presidential library will likely cover just a fraction of the cost. Former President Barack Obama's library in Chicago, for example, was estimated to cost $830 million as of 2021.Trump sued ABC and Stephanopoulos in federal court in Miami days after the network aired the segment, in which the longtime “Good Morning America” anchor and “This Week” host repeatedly misstated the verdicts in Carroll’s two civil lawsuits against Trump.During a live “This Week” interview with Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Stephanopoulos wrongly claimed that Trump had been “found liable for rape” and “defaming the victim of that rape.”Neither verdict involved a finding of rape as defined under New York law.In the first of the lawsuits to go to trial, Trump was found liable last year of sexually abusing and defaming Carroll. A jury ordered him to pay her $5 million.In January, at a second trial in federal court in Manhattan, Trump was found liable on additional defamation claims and ordered to pay Carroll $83.3 million.Trump is appealing both verdicts.Carroll, a former advice columnist, went public in a 2019 memoir with her allegation that Trump raped her in the mid-1990s at Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury Manhattan department store across the street from Trump Tower, after they crossed paths at an entrance.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-legal-proceedings-donald-trump-new-york-lawsuits-fcc5f482a1eb99609376078422665bc8">denied her claim</a>, saying he didn't know Carroll and never ran into her at the store.After Trump lashed out, calling Carroll a “nut job” who invented “a fraudulent and false story” to sell her memoir, she sued him for unspecified monetary damages and sought a retraction of what she said were Trump’s defamatory denials.Testifying in April 2023, Carroll told jurors: “I’m here because Donald Trump raped me, and when I wrote about it, he said it didn’t happen. He lied and shattered my reputation, and I’m here to try and get my life back."After she'd agreed to help Trump shop for a gift for a woman, Carroll testified that he pushed her against a dressing room wall, stamped his mouth onto hers, yanked down her tights and shoved his hand and then his penis inside her while she struggled against him.She said she finally kneed him off her and fled.In upholding the $5 million judgment in the first trial, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan wrote that the unanimous verdict was almost entirely in favor of Carroll, except that the jury concluded she had failed to prove that Trump raped her “within the narrow, technical meaning of a particular section of the New York Penal Law.”Kaplan, who presided over both of Carroll's lawsuits against Trump, said the definition of rape in the state code was “far narrower” than how rape is defined in common modern parlance, in some dictionaries, in some federal and state criminal statutes and elsewhere.Under New York law, a rape finding requires vaginal penetration by a penis. Forcible penetration without consent of the vagina or other bodily orifices by fingers or anything else is labeled “sexual abuse.”The judge said the verdict did not mean that Carroll “failed to prove that Mr. Trump ‘raped’ her as many people commonly understand the word ‘rape.’ Indeed ... the jury found that Mr. Trump in fact did exactly that.”___Associated Press writers Jill Colvin and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.

Read the apology: ABC News to pay Trump $15 million in defamation suit 

BOSTON (AP) — After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-new-jersey-what-to-know-e6f565f5d51d9d47ad140e7e7d131842">drones buzzing</a>&nbsp;over parts of New York and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/new-jersey-trisha-bushey-christopher-stadulis-phil-murphy-joe-biden-3f3b17660cbc4330a54628816e1857b3">New Jersey</a>, elected officials are urging action to identify and stop the mysterious flights.

“There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on “Fox News Sunday.”

“'We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer,” he said.

National security officials have said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference or a public safety threat. But because they can’t say with certainty who is responsible for the sudden swarms of drones over parts of New Jersey, New York and other eastern parts of the U.S. — or how they can be stopped — leaders of both political parties are demanding better technology and powers to deal with the drones.

Sen. Chuck Schumer called Sunday for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify the drones and their operators.

“New Yorkers have tremendous questions about it,” Schumer, the Senate majority leader, told reporters about the drone sightings. “We are going to get the answers for them.”

The federal government did little to answer those questions in its own media briefings Sunday morning. “There’s no question that people are seeing drones,” U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “But I want to assure the American public that we are on it. We are working in close coordination with state and local authorities.”

Some of the drones reported above parts of New York and New Jersey have turned out to be “manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones,” Mayorkas said. “We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter.”

Last year, federal aviation rules began requiring certain drones to broadcast their remote identification, including the location of their operators. It’s not clear whether that information has been used to determine who is behind the drones plaguing locations over New York and New Jersey. Mayorkas’ office didn’t respond to questions about whether they’ve been able to identify drones using this capability.

Schumer wants the federal government to use a recently declassified radio wave technology in New York and New Jersey. The radio wave detector can be attached to a drone or airplane and can determine whether another flying object is a bird or a drone, read its electronic registration, and follow it back to its landing place. Schumer said state and local authorities do not have the authority to track drones.

On Sunday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said federal officials were sending a drone detection system to the state.

“This system will support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations,” Hochul said in a statement. The governor did not immediately provide additional details, including where the system will be deployed.

Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month over parts of New Jersey, raising concerns among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-sightings-central-new-jersey-cd8866c9c2568216759007716990decf">initially being spotted</a>&nbsp;near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.

Drones are now being reported all along the northern East Coast, with suspicious sightings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, according to news reports.

Some U.S. political leaders, including Trump, have called for much stronger action against the drones, including shooting them down.

Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, Mayorkas said Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said.

A bill before the U.S. Senate would enhance some federal agencies’ authority and give new abilities to local and state agencies to track drones. It would also start a pilot program allowing states and local authorities to disrupt, disable or seize a drone without prior consent of the operator.

“What the drone issue points out are gaps in our agencies, gaps in our authorities between the Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement, the Defense Department," Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., Trump’s pick to be his national security adviser, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. "Americans are finding it hard to believe we can’t figure out where these are coming from.’’

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734228753383.png" alt="Image from New Jersey Senator Andy Kim" />
 <figcaption>Image from New Jersey Senator Andy Kim</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-new-jersey-what-to-know-e6f565f5d51d9d47ad140e7e7d131842">drones buzzing</a>&nbsp;over parts of New York and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/new-jersey-trisha-bushey-christopher-stadulis-phil-murphy-joe-biden-3f3b17660cbc4330a54628816e1857b3">New Jersey</a>, elected officials are urging action to identify and stop the mysterious flights.“There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on “Fox News Sunday.”“'We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer,” he said.National security officials have said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference or a public safety threat. But because they can’t say with certainty who is responsible for the sudden swarms of drones over parts of New Jersey, New York and other eastern parts of the U.S. — or how they can be stopped — leaders of both political parties are demanding better technology and powers to deal with the drones.Sen. Chuck Schumer called Sunday for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify the drones and their operators.“New Yorkers have tremendous questions about it,” Schumer, the Senate majority leader, told reporters about the drone sightings. “We are going to get the answers for them.”The federal government did little to answer those questions in its own media briefings Sunday morning. “There’s no question that people are seeing drones,” U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “But I want to assure the American public that we are on it. We are working in close coordination with state and local authorities.”Some of the drones reported above parts of New York and New Jersey have turned out to be “manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones,” Mayorkas said. “We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter.”Last year, federal aviation rules began requiring certain drones to broadcast their remote identification, including the location of their operators. It’s not clear whether that information has been used to determine who is behind the drones plaguing locations over New York and New Jersey. Mayorkas’ office didn’t respond to questions about whether they’ve been able to identify drones using this capability.Schumer wants the federal government to use a recently declassified radio wave technology in New York and New Jersey. The radio wave detector can be attached to a drone or airplane and can determine whether another flying object is a bird or a drone, read its electronic registration, and follow it back to its landing place. Schumer said state and local authorities do not have the authority to track drones.On Sunday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said federal officials were sending a drone detection system to the state.“This system will support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations,” Hochul said in a statement. The governor did not immediately provide additional details, including where the system will be deployed.Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month over parts of New Jersey, raising concerns among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-sightings-central-new-jersey-cd8866c9c2568216759007716990decf">initially being spotted</a>&nbsp;near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.Drones are now being reported all along the northern East Coast, with suspicious sightings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, according to news reports.Some U.S. political leaders, including Trump, have called for much stronger action against the drones, including shooting them down.Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, Mayorkas said Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said.A bill before the U.S. Senate would enhance some federal agencies’ authority and give new abilities to local and state agencies to track drones. It would also start a pilot program allowing states and local authorities to disrupt, disable or seize a drone without prior consent of the operator.“What the drone issue points out are gaps in our agencies, gaps in our authorities between the Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement, the Defense Department," Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., Trump’s pick to be his national security adviser, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. "Americans are finding it hard to believe we can’t figure out where these are coming from.’’

Congressman on drone mystery: 'We don’t know’ not a good enough answer

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal weekend crash have made an arrest.

Just after 2:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the 1700 block of S. Mosley in Wichita, according to a media release.

First responders located a white 4-door sedan that had collided with multiple trees.&nbsp; Lanashia Clay, 22, from Wichita was seated in the front passenger seat and was pronounced deceased at the scene despite life-saving efforts. 

A 25-year-old woman from Wichita was the rear seat passenger. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries. 

The 30-year-old male driver was also transported to a local hospital for treatment. After being medically cleared, he was taken into custody on requested charges of&nbsp;Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Battery-DUI, and Driving after suspended.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Preliminary investigation indicates that alcohol and drugs are suspected to be contributing factors in the crash, according to police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734260889156.png" alt="Charles Smith-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Charles Smith-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal weekend crash have made an arrest.Just after 2:30a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a single-vehicle crash in the 1700 block of S. Mosley in Wichita, according to a media release.First responders located a white 4-door sedan that had collided with multiple trees.&nbsp; Lanashia Clay, 22, from Wichita was seated in the front passenger seat and was pronounced deceased at the scene despite life-saving efforts. A 25-year-old woman from Wichita was the rear seat passenger. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of critical injuries. The 30-year-old male driver was also transported to a local hospital for treatment. After being medically cleared, he was taken into custody on requested charges of&nbsp;Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Battery-DUI, and Driving after suspended.&nbsp;&nbsp;Preliminary investigation indicates that alcohol and drugs are suspected to be contributing factors in the crash, according to police.

Kansas driver injured in deadly crash moved from hospital to jail

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement have arrested a 16-year-old for a deadly weekend shooting.

Just before 1a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a reported shooting in the 2100 block of E. Murdock, within Sim Park in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

 Upon arrival, officers located two individuals who had sustained gunshot wounds. One victim, identified as 19-year-old David Hernandez-Cervantez, was transported to a local hospital and later died of his injuries, according to Gupilan

The second victim, a 22-year-old man from Wichita, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Through the investigation, a 16-year-old from Wichita was identified as a suspect and has been arrested on requested charges of second-degree murder. 

The victims and the suspect are known to each other and this shooting was not a random incident. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation as detectives continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734277918629.png" alt="Police on the scene of the deadly shooting" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the deadly shooting</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement have arrested a 16-year-old for a deadly weekend shooting.Just before 1a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a reported shooting in the 2100 block of E. Murdock, within Sim Park in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. Upon arrival, officers located two individuals who had sustained gunshot wounds. One victim, identified as 19-year-old David Hernandez-Cervantez, was transported to a local hospital and later died of his injuries, according to GupilanThe second victim, a 22-year-old man from Wichita, remains hospitalized in critical condition. Through the investigation, a 16-year-old from Wichita was identified as a suspect and has been arrested on requested charges of second-degree murder. The victims and the suspect are known to each other and this shooting was not a random incident. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under active investigation as detectives continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.

16-year-old jailed for deadly shooting in Kansas park

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)— The U.S. embassy in Damascus advised Americans to leave Syria, saying the security situation there continues to be volatile and unpredictable with armed conflict and “terrorism throughout the country."

The embassy, which has been closed since 2012, posted a statement on X, warning U.S. citizens who were unable to leave the country to prepare “contingency plans for emergency situations.” It didn't give further details.

The statement also said that the U.S. government is unable to provide any routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens and those who need “emergency assistance to depart should contact the U.S. Embassy in the country they plan to enter.”

Sleeper cells of the Islamic State group have claimed responsibility for deadly attacks over the past months in different parts of Syria. Despite their defeat in March 2019, the extremists still pose a threat in the war-torn country.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)— The U.S. embassy in Damascus advised Americans to leave Syria, saying the security situation there continues to be volatile and unpredictable with armed conflict and “terrorism throughout the country."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Event: The security situation in Syria continues to be volatile and unpredictable with armed conflict and terrorism throughout the country. U.S. citizens should depart Syria if possible. U.S. citizens who are unable to depart should prepare contingency plans for emergency… <a href="https://t.co/egDW27dmKm">pic.twitter.com/egDW27dmKm</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Syria (@USEmbassySyria) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbassySyria/status/1868544196803784980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The embassy, which has been closed since 2012, posted a statement on X, warning U.S. citizens who were unable to leave the country to prepare “contingency plans for emergency situations.” It didn't give further details.The statement also said that the U.S. government is unable to provide any routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens and those who need “emergency assistance to depart should contact the U.S. Embassy in the country they plan to enter.”Sleeper cells of the Islamic State group have claimed responsibility for deadly attacks over the past months in different parts of Syria. Despite their defeat in March 2019, the extremists still pose a threat in the war-torn country.