RENO COUNTY — A former Reno County substitute teacher accused of multiple sex crimes involving students has pleaded guilty to reduced charges&nbsp;in Reno County District Court.&nbsp;.&nbsp;

Whitney Shull, 39, a former substitute teacher for Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309, had initially been charged with unlawful sexual relations,&nbsp;attempted&nbsp;unlawful sexual relations, aggravated sexual battery, and two counts of hosting minors consuming alcohol.&nbsp;

According to court&nbsp;documents&nbsp;the&nbsp;allegations stem from incidents that occurred in Reno County between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1&nbsp;of&nbsp;this year&nbsp;involving three teens. Prosecutors alleged Shull engaged in sexual acts with two minors,&nbsp;one consensual and one non-consensual when the alleged victim was&nbsp;unconscious and&nbsp;attempted&nbsp;to force a third teen into a sex act.&nbsp;

Sedgwick County District Attorney spokesperson Lyndsee Stover,&nbsp;confirmed that&nbsp;Shull entered a plea&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;afternoon to five amended misdemeanor charges:&nbsp;

Judge&nbsp;Daniel Gilligan&nbsp;imposed a&nbsp;six-month jail term for each count, with the sentences for counts one, two and three which were ordered to run consecutively, resulting in a controlling sentence of&nbsp;18 months. Shull was granted&nbsp;at least two years of probation, contingent upon her successful completion of treatment at Prairie View.&nbsp;

Under Kansas law, Shull must&nbsp;register as a sex offender for 15 years&nbsp;as a result of&nbsp;the convictions.&nbsp;

Stover noted that the plea agreement included an acknowledgment that under Kansas sentencing guidelines,&nbsp;three adult convictions of class A person misdemeanors count as one adult conviction for criminal-history purposes, per K.S.A. 21-6811(a).&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748894528719.jpeg" alt="Whitney Shull - Reno County Sheriff's Office " />
 <figcaption>Whitney Shull - Reno County Sheriff's Office </figcaption>
 </figure>MARC JACOBS Hutch Post&nbsp;RENO COUNTY — A former Reno County substitute teacher accused of multiple sex crimes involving students has pleaded guilty to reduced charges&nbsp;in Reno County District Court.&nbsp;.&nbsp;Whitney Shull, 39, a former substitute teacher for Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309, had initially been charged with unlawful sexual relations,&nbsp;attempted&nbsp;unlawful sexual relations, aggravated sexual battery, and two counts of hosting minors consuming alcohol.&nbsp;According to court&nbsp;documents&nbsp;the&nbsp;allegations stem from incidents that occurred in Reno County between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1&nbsp;of&nbsp;this year&nbsp;involving three teens. Prosecutors alleged Shull engaged in sexual acts with two minors,&nbsp;one consensual and one non-consensual when the alleged victim was&nbsp;unconscious and&nbsp;attempted&nbsp;to force a third teen into a sex act.&nbsp;Sedgwick County District Attorney spokesperson Lyndsee Stover,&nbsp;confirmed that&nbsp;Shull entered a plea&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;afternoon to five amended misdemeanor charges:&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>Count 1: Sexual Battery of A.P., a class A person misdemeanor</li><li>Count 2: Sexual Battery of Z.R., a class A person misdemeanor</li><li>Count 3: Sexual Battery of K.M.J., a class A person misdemeanor</li><li>Count 4: Unlawful Social Hosting of Minors Consuming Alcohol</li><li>Count 5: Unlawful Social Hosting of Minors Consuming Alcohol&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>Judge&nbsp;Daniel Gilligan&nbsp;imposed a&nbsp;six-month jail term for each count, with the sentences for counts one, two and three which were ordered to run consecutively, resulting in a controlling sentence of&nbsp;18 months. Shull was granted&nbsp;at least two years of probation, contingent upon her successful completion of treatment at Prairie View.&nbsp;Under Kansas law, Shull must&nbsp;register as a sex offender for 15 years&nbsp;as a result of&nbsp;the convictions.&nbsp;Stover noted that the plea agreement included an acknowledgment that under Kansas sentencing guidelines,&nbsp;three adult convictions of class A person misdemeanors count as one adult conviction for criminal-history purposes, per K.S.A. 21-6811(a).&nbsp;

Plea deal: Former Kan. teacher must register as a sex offender

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Two people have been charged in the death of a 17-year-old Plainville teen on Jan. 12.

Walter V. Lowry II, 40, of Stockton, has been charged with felony aggravated endangerment of a child and interference with a law enforcement officer, according to court records.

According to court documents, Lowry allegedly left the teen, who was allegedly intoxicated, on a county road in the middle of the night. The documents said the temperatures were between 32 and 24 degrees, and the child was wearing minimal clothing.

The child died as a result of hypothermia, according to court records.

The court documents said&nbsp;Lowry also allegedly gave false information to Rooks County Deputy Salvador Ramirez during his investigation of the case.

An arrest warrant was issued for Lowry on Nov. 19.

Lowry is being held on $20,000 bond. He made his first appearance in court on Nov. 25 and was assigned a court-appointed attorney.

A status conference has yet to be set in Lowry's case, according to court records.

Serena Marie Barnhill, 41, Natoma, is being charged with one count of&nbsp;felony aggravated endangerment of a child. She also allegedly was involved in the incident in which the Painville teen was left on a county road in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures.

She was arrested on Nov. 25 and posted a $20,000 bond,&nbsp;according to court records.

Barnhill is set to make a bond appearance before Judge Curtis Brown at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 14.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765486128475.png" alt="Lowry photo Rooks Co." />
 <figcaption>Lowry photo Rooks Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostTwo people have been charged in the death of a 17-year-old Plainville teen on Jan. 12.Walter V. Lowry II, 40, of Stockton, has been charged with felony aggravated endangerment of a child and interference with a law enforcement officer, according to court records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765486019061.png" alt="Barnhill photo Rooks Co." />
 <figcaption>Barnhill photo Rooks Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>According to court documents, Lowry allegedly left the teen, who was allegedly intoxicated, on a county road in the middle of the night. The documents said the temperatures were between 32 and 24 degrees, and the child was wearing minimal clothing.The child died as a result of hypothermia, according to court records.The court documents said&nbsp;Lowry also allegedly gave false information to Rooks County Deputy Salvador Ramirez during his investigation of the case.An arrest warrant was issued for Lowry on Nov. 19.Lowry is being held on $20,000 bond. He made his first appearance in court on Nov. 25 and was assigned a court-appointed attorney.A status conference has yet to be set in Lowry's case, according to court records.Serena Marie Barnhill, 41, Natoma, is being charged with one count of&nbsp;felony aggravated endangerment of a child. She also allegedly was involved in the incident in which the Painville teen was left on a county road in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures.She was arrested on Nov. 25 and posted a $20,000 bond,&nbsp;according to court records.Barnhill is set to make a bond appearance before Judge Curtis Brown at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 14.

2 arrested in hypothermia death of NW Kansas teen

PROVO, Utah (AP) — The Utah man charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">killing Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;made his first in-person court appearance Thursday as his attorneys pushed to further limit media access in the high-profile criminal case.

Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Sept. 10 shooting</a>&nbsp;of the conservative activist on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-police-charlie-kirk-d7d464c949ec9d4abad0eb3910d6a96b">Utah Valley University</a>&nbsp;campus in Orem, just a few miles north of the Provo courthouse. They plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">seek the death penalty</a>.

Robinson, 22, arrived amid heavy security, shackled at the waist, wrists and ankles and wearing a dress shirt, tie and slacks.

He smiled at family members sitting in the front row of the courtroom, where his mother teared up after he entered the court. Next to her were Robinson’s brother and father, who took notes throughout the hearing.

Early in the proceedings, state District Court Judge Tony Graf briefly stopped livestreaming of the hearing via a media pool and required the camera be moved, after Robinson's attorneys said the stream showed the defendant's shackles in violation of a courtroom order.

Graf said he would terminate future broadcasts if there were further violations of the order issued in October, which bars media from showing images of Robinson in restraints or anywhere in the courtroom except sitting at the defense table.

“This court takes this very seriously. While the court believes in openness and transparency, it needs to be balanced with the constitutional rights of all parties in this case,” Graf said.

Graf is weighing the public’s right to know details about Robinson's case against his attorneys’ concerns that the swarm of media attention could interfere with a fair trial.

Robinson’s legal team and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office have asked Judge Tony Graf to ban cameras in the courtroom, but he has not yet ruled on the request.

The defendant had previously appeared before the court via video or audio feed from jail.

A coalition of national and local news organizations, including The Associated Press, is fighting to preserve media access in the case.

Graf held a closed hearing on Oct. 24 in which attorneys discussed Robinson's courtroom attire and security protocols. Under a subsequent ruling by the judge, Robinson is allowed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler-robinson-court-hearing-489ee127c80553ff8e0ed35ef951f11a">wear street clothes</a>&nbsp;during pretrial hearings but must be physically restrained due to security concerns.

Graf also prohibited media from filming or photographing Robinson's restraints after his attorneys argued widespread images of him shackled and in jail clothing could prejudice future jurors.

Several university students who witnessed Kirk’s assassination attended Thursday's hearing.

Zack Reese, a Utah Valley University student and “big Charlie Kirk fan,” said he had skepticism about Robinson’s arrest and came to the hearing seeking answers. Reese has family in southwestern Utah, where the Robinsons are from, and said he believes they're a good family.

Brigham Young University student William Brown, who said he was about 10 feet from Kirk when he was shot, said he felt overwhelmed seeing Robinson walk into the courtroom Thursday.

“I witnessed a huge event, and my brain is still trying to make sense of it,” Brown said. “I feel like being here helps it feel more real than surreal.”

Michael Judd, an attorney for the media coalition, has urged Graf to let the news organizations weigh in on any future requests for closed hearings or other limitations.

The media presence at Utah hearings is already limited, with judges often designating one photographer and one videographer to document a hearing and share their images with other news organizations. Additional journalists can typically attend to listen and take notes, as can members of the public.

Judd wrote in recent filings that an open court “safeguards the integrity of the fact-finding process” while fostering public confidence in judicial proceedings. Criminal cases in the U.S. have long been open to the public, which he argued is proof that trials can be conducted fairly without restricting reporters as they work to keep the public informed.

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has called for full transparency, saying, “We deserve to have cameras in there.” Her husband was an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">steer young voters toward conservatism</a>.

Robinson's legal team says his pretrial publicity reaches as far as the White House, with Trump announcing soon after Robinson’s arrest, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and “I hope he gets the death penalty.”

Defense attorney Kathy Nester has raised concern that digitally altered versions of Robinson's initial court photo have spread widely, creating misinformation about the case. Some altered images show Robinson crying or having an outburst in court, which did not happen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765490146270.jpeg" alt="Tyler Robinson, accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)" />
 <figcaption>Tyler Robinson, accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)</figcaption>
 </figure>PROVO, Utah (AP) — The Utah man charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">killing Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;made his first in-person court appearance Thursday as his attorneys pushed to further limit media access in the high-profile criminal case.Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Sept. 10 shooting</a>&nbsp;of the conservative activist on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-police-charlie-kirk-d7d464c949ec9d4abad0eb3910d6a96b">Utah Valley University</a>&nbsp;campus in Orem, just a few miles north of the Provo courthouse. They plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">seek the death penalty</a>.Robinson, 22, arrived amid heavy security, shackled at the waist, wrists and ankles and wearing a dress shirt, tie and slacks.He smiled at family members sitting in the front row of the courtroom, where his mother teared up after he entered the court. Next to her were Robinson’s brother and father, who took notes throughout the hearing.Early in the proceedings, state District Court Judge Tony Graf briefly stopped livestreaming of the hearing via a media pool and required the camera be moved, after Robinson's attorneys said the stream showed the defendant's shackles in violation of a courtroom order.Graf said he would terminate future broadcasts if there were further violations of the order issued in October, which bars media from showing images of Robinson in restraints or anywhere in the courtroom except sitting at the defense table.“This court takes this very seriously. While the court believes in openness and transparency, it needs to be balanced with the constitutional rights of all parties in this case,” Graf said.Graf is weighing the public’s right to know details about Robinson's case against his attorneys’ concerns that the swarm of media attention could interfere with a fair trial.Robinson’s legal team and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office have asked Judge Tony Graf to ban cameras in the courtroom, but he has not yet ruled on the request.The defendant had previously appeared before the court via video or audio feed from jail.A coalition of national and local news organizations, including The Associated Press, is fighting to preserve media access in the case.Graf held a closed hearing on Oct. 24 in which attorneys discussed Robinson's courtroom attire and security protocols. Under a subsequent ruling by the judge, Robinson is allowed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler-robinson-court-hearing-489ee127c80553ff8e0ed35ef951f11a">wear street clothes</a>&nbsp;during pretrial hearings but must be physically restrained due to security concerns.Graf also prohibited media from filming or photographing Robinson's restraints after his attorneys argued widespread images of him shackled and in jail clothing could prejudice future jurors.Several university students who witnessed Kirk’s assassination attended Thursday's hearing.Zack Reese, a Utah Valley University student and “big Charlie Kirk fan,” said he had skepticism about Robinson’s arrest and came to the hearing seeking answers. Reese has family in southwestern Utah, where the Robinsons are from, and said he believes they're a good family.Brigham Young University student William Brown, who said he was about 10 feet from Kirk when he was shot, said he felt overwhelmed seeing Robinson walk into the courtroom Thursday.“I witnessed a huge event, and my brain is still trying to make sense of it,” Brown said. “I feel like being here helps it feel more real than surreal.”Michael Judd, an attorney for the media coalition, has urged Graf to let the news organizations weigh in on any future requests for closed hearings or other limitations.The media presence at Utah hearings is already limited, with judges often designating one photographer and one videographer to document a hearing and share their images with other news organizations. Additional journalists can typically attend to listen and take notes, as can members of the public.Judd wrote in recent filings that an open court “safeguards the integrity of the fact-finding process” while fostering public confidence in judicial proceedings. Criminal cases in the U.S. have long been open to the public, which he argued is proof that trials can be conducted fairly without restricting reporters as they work to keep the public informed.Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has called for full transparency, saying, “We deserve to have cameras in there.” Her husband was an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">steer young voters toward conservatism</a>.Robinson's legal team says his pretrial publicity reaches as far as the White House, with Trump announcing soon after Robinson’s arrest, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and “I hope he gets the death penalty.”Defense attorney Kathy Nester has raised concern that digitally altered versions of Robinson's initial court photo have spread widely, creating misinformation about the case. Some altered images show Robinson crying or having an outburst in court, which did not happen.

 Man accused of killing Charlie Kirk appears in court for 1st time

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-enrollment-subsidies-health-90ad8b27a6693c5aa03a9ca841048479">millions of Americans</a>&nbsp;will see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-affordable-care-act-senate-vote-e143b36cc01b4d7f27a1c07e17d1583c">a steep rise in costs</a>&nbsp;at the beginning of the year.

Senators rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-health-care-insurance-premiums-ee6ccda9ea9df4a8e5a0af351e65afd4">a Republican alternative</a>&nbsp;that would have created new health savings accounts — an unceremonious end to a monthslong effort by Democrats to prevent the COVID-19-era subsidies from expiring on Jan. 1.

Ahead of the votes, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York warned Republicans that if they did not vote to extend the tax credits, "there won’t be another chance to act,” before premiums rise for many people who buy insurance off the ACA marketplaces.

“Let's avert a disaster,” Schumer said. “The American people are watching.”

Republicans have argued that Affordable Care Act plans are too expensive and need to be overhauled. The health savings accounts in the GOP bill would give money directly to consumers instead of to insurance companies, an idea that has been echoed by President Donald Trump.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the vote that a simple extension of the subsidies is “an attempt to disguise the real impact of Obamacare's spiraling health care costs.”

But Democrats immediately rejected the GOP plan, saying that the accounts wouldn't be enough to cover costs for most consumers.

The dueling Senate votes are the latest political messaging exercise in a Congress that has operated almost entirely on partisan terms, as Republicans pushed through a massive tax and spending cuts bill this summer using budget maneuvers that eliminated the need for Democratic votes. In September, Republicans tweaked Senate rules to push past a Democratic blockade of all of Trump’s nominees.

The Senate voted 51-48 not to move forward on the Democratic bill, with four Republicans -- Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan -- voting with Democrats. The legislation needed 60 votes to proceed, as did the Republican bill, which was also blocked on a 51-48 vote. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the Democrat bill and in favor of the GOP legislation.

Some Republicans have pushed their colleagues to extend the credits, including Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who said they should vote for a short-term extension so they can find agreement on the issue next year. “It’s too complicated and too difficult to get done in the limited time that we have left,” Tillis said Wednesday.

But there appeared to be little interest in compromise. Despite the potential for bipartisan agreement, Republicans and Democrats have never engaged in meaningful or high-level negotiations on a solution, even after a small group of centrist Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-update-80ef7cada7b3c0559aca38886efd8f90">struck a deal with Republicans</a>&nbsp;last month to end the 43-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;in exchange for a vote on extending the ACA subsidies. Most Democratic lawmakers opposed the move as many Republicans made clear that they wanted the tax credits to expire.

Still, the deal raised hopes for bipartisan compromise on health care. But that quickly faded with a lack of any real bipartisan talks.

The votes were also the latest failed salvo in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-care-subsidies-obamacare-congress-10b2ae9648bc5252fc2bd485ddc83493">the debate over the Affordable Care Act</a>, President Barack Obama’s signature law that Democrats passed along party lines in 2010 to expand access to insurance coverage.

Republicans have tried unsuccessfully since then to repeal or overhaul the law, arguing that health care is still too expensive. But they have struggled to find an alternative. In the meantime, Democrats have made the policy a central political issue in several elections, betting that the millions of people who buy health care on the government marketplaces want to keep their coverage.

“When people’s monthly payments spike next year, they’ll know it was Republicans that made it happen,” Schumer said in November, while making clear that Democrats would not seek compromise.

Even if they view it as a political win, the failed votes are a loss for Democrats who demanded an extension of the benefits as they forced a government shutdown for six weeks in October and November — and for the millions of people facing premium increases on Jan. 1.

Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the group tried to negotiate with Republicans after the shutdown ended. But, he said,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-premiums-congress-subsidies-shutdown-aca-6e2e705d229ea003f19aad72994db0e1">the talks became unproductive</a>&nbsp;when Republicans demanded language adding new limits for abortion coverage that were a “red line” for Democrats. He said Republicans were going to “own these increases.”

A plethora of plans, but little agreement

Republicans have used the looming expiration of the subsidies to renew their longstanding criticisms of the ACA, also called Obamacare, and to try, once more, to agree on what should be done.

Thune announced earlier this week that the GOP conference had decided to vote on the bill led by Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the chairman of the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee, and Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, even as several Republican senators proposed alternate ideas.

In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has promised a vote next week. Republicans weighed different options in a conference meeting on Wednesday, with no apparent consensus.

Republican moderates in the House who could have competitive reelection bids next year are&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/pronto/e030d7a0dd61ca8815fe4722ddbe94b7">pushing Johnson to find a way to extend the subsidies</a>. But more conservative members want to see the law overhauled.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., has pushed for a temporary extension, which he said could be an opening to take further steps on health care.

If they fail to act and health care costs go up, the approval rating for Congress “will get even lower,” Kiley said.

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765480537338.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall explaining his healthcare plan -image from CSPAN video" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall explaining his healthcare plan -image from CSPAN video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-enrollment-subsidies-health-90ad8b27a6693c5aa03a9ca841048479">millions of Americans</a>&nbsp;will see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-affordable-care-act-senate-vote-e143b36cc01b4d7f27a1c07e17d1583c">a steep rise in costs</a>&nbsp;at the beginning of the year.Senators rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-health-care-insurance-premiums-ee6ccda9ea9df4a8e5a0af351e65afd4">a Republican alternative</a>&nbsp;that would have created new health savings accounts — an unceremonious end to a monthslong effort by Democrats to prevent the COVID-19-era subsidies from expiring on Jan. 1.Ahead of the votes, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York warned Republicans that if they did not vote to extend the tax credits, "there won’t be another chance to act,” before premiums rise for many people who buy insurance off the ACA marketplaces.“Let's avert a disaster,” Schumer said. “The American people are watching.”Republicans have argued that Affordable Care Act plans are too expensive and need to be overhauled. The health savings accounts in the GOP bill would give money directly to consumers instead of to insurance companies, an idea that has been echoed by President Donald Trump.Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the vote that a simple extension of the subsidies is “an attempt to disguise the real impact of Obamacare's spiraling health care costs.”But Democrats immediately rejected the GOP plan, saying that the accounts wouldn't be enough to cover costs for most consumers.The dueling Senate votes are the latest political messaging exercise in a Congress that has operated almost entirely on partisan terms, as Republicans pushed through a massive tax and spending cuts bill this summer using budget maneuvers that eliminated the need for Democratic votes. In September, Republicans tweaked Senate rules to push past a Democratic blockade of all of Trump’s nominees.The Senate voted 51-48 not to move forward on the Democratic bill, with four Republicans -- Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan -- voting with Democrats. The legislation needed 60 votes to proceed, as did the Republican bill, which was also blocked on a 51-48 vote. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the Democrat bill and in favor of the GOP legislation.<h2>No interest in compromise</h2>Some Republicans have pushed their colleagues to extend the credits, including Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who said they should vote for a short-term extension so they can find agreement on the issue next year. “It’s too complicated and too difficult to get done in the limited time that we have left,” Tillis said Wednesday.But there appeared to be little interest in compromise. Despite the potential for bipartisan agreement, Republicans and Democrats have never engaged in meaningful or high-level negotiations on a solution, even after a small group of centrist Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-update-80ef7cada7b3c0559aca38886efd8f90">struck a deal with Republicans</a>&nbsp;last month to end the 43-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;in exchange for a vote on extending the ACA subsidies. Most Democratic lawmakers opposed the move as many Republicans made clear that they wanted the tax credits to expire.Still, the deal raised hopes for bipartisan compromise on health care. But that quickly faded with a lack of any real bipartisan talks.<h2>An intractable issue</h2>The votes were also the latest failed salvo in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-care-subsidies-obamacare-congress-10b2ae9648bc5252fc2bd485ddc83493">the debate over the Affordable Care Act</a>, President Barack Obama’s signature law that Democrats passed along party lines in 2010 to expand access to insurance coverage.Republicans have tried unsuccessfully since then to repeal or overhaul the law, arguing that health care is still too expensive. But they have struggled to find an alternative. In the meantime, Democrats have made the policy a central political issue in several elections, betting that the millions of people who buy health care on the government marketplaces want to keep their coverage.“When people’s monthly payments spike next year, they’ll know it was Republicans that made it happen,” Schumer said in November, while making clear that Democrats would not seek compromise.Even if they view it as a political win, the failed votes are a loss for Democrats who demanded an extension of the benefits as they forced a government shutdown for six weeks in October and November — and for the millions of people facing premium increases on Jan. 1.Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the group tried to negotiate with Republicans after the shutdown ended. But, he said,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-premiums-congress-subsidies-shutdown-aca-6e2e705d229ea003f19aad72994db0e1">the talks became unproductive</a>&nbsp;when Republicans demanded language adding new limits for abortion coverage that were a “red line” for Democrats. He said Republicans were going to “own these increases.”<h2>A plethora of plans, but little agreement</h2>Republicans have used the looming expiration of the subsidies to renew their longstanding criticisms of the ACA, also called Obamacare, and to try, once more, to agree on what should be done.Thune announced earlier this week that the GOP conference had decided to vote on the bill led by Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the chairman of the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee, and Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, even as several Republican senators proposed alternate ideas.In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has promised a vote next week. Republicans weighed different options in a conference meeting on Wednesday, with no apparent consensus.Republican moderates in the House who could have competitive reelection bids next year are&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/pronto/e030d7a0dd61ca8815fe4722ddbe94b7">pushing Johnson to find a way to extend the subsidies</a>. But more conservative members want to see the law overhauled.Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., has pushed for a temporary extension, which he said could be an opening to take further steps on health care.If they fail to act and health care costs go up, the approval rating for Congress “will get even lower,” Kiley said.___Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.

Moran and Marshall vote to end extension of health care subsidies

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street set records on Thursday, even as a sell-off for Oracle and worries about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">potential bubble</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial-intelligence</a>&nbsp;technology weighed on the market.

The S&amp;P 500 inched up 0.2% and eked past&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-fed-china-2ade718b1fb76607f59d22133b86efbd">its prior all-time closing high</a>, which was set in October. The Dow Jones Industrial leaped 646 points, or 1.3%, to top its own record set last month. The Nasdaq composite lagged behind and slipped 0.3% because of the weakness for AI stocks.

It’s the latest return to records for the market following what had appeared to be a debilitating set of worries. Some of the most recent included concerns about what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-trump-government-shutdown-c388d97a4e4acf5cca538fd901e46b2d">the Federal Reserve will do with interest rates</a>&nbsp;and whether all the dollars flowing into AI chips and data centers will produce profits and productivity as prolific as proponents are promising.

Such worries sent Wall Street last month to some of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-trump-government-shutdown-c388d97a4e4acf5cca538fd901e46b2d">its worst and scariest days since its sell-off</a>&nbsp;during April, but it then got several boosts that helped it regain its footing. Key among them was a continuing parade of companies saying they’re making bigger profits than analysts expected. Stock prices tend to track with corporate profits over the long term.

The Fed also on Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the third time this year and indicated another cut may be ahead in 2026. Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they can boost the economy and send prices for investments higher, even if they potentially make inflation worse.

The Fed’s chair, Jerome Powell, did hint that interest rates may be on hold for a while. But he helped soothe nerves when his comments appeared less harsh than some investors expected in shutting off the possibility of more cuts in 2026.

Easier interest rates can give the biggest benefits to the smallest companies, which are more likely to be losing money and often need to borrow to grow. The Russell 2000 index of the smallest U.S. stocks jumped 1.2% to help lead the market.

Banks and other companies whose profits are closely tied to the strength of the economy also rallied. Gains of 2.5% for Goldman Sachs and 6.1% for Visa were the strongest forces pushing the Dow higher.

The Walt Disney Co. added 2.4% after OpenAI said the entertainment giant is investing $1 billion in it. It’s part of a three-year agreement that will also allow OpenAI to use more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters to generate short, user-prompted social videos.

Eli Lilly rose 1.6% after announcing encouraging results from a clinical trial for adult patients who are obese or overweight and have knee osteoarthritis, without diabetes. Planet Labs PBC soared 35% after the provider of satellite images used by governments and businesses reported stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

But a return to records for the U.S. stock market does not mean all worries are gone.

Oracle dropped 10.8% and had briefly been on track earlier in the day for its worst loss since 2001, when the dot-com bubble was still deflating.

Doubts remain about whether all the spending that Oracle is doing on AI technology will be worth it. Analysts said they were surprised after Oracle laid out on late Wednesday how much it will spend on investments this fiscal year, and questions continue about how the company will pay for it.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">Such doubts</a>&nbsp;are weighing on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/time-person-of-year-2025-77ec65c6792bc99ec2ce1919c5f421ea">AI industry</a>&nbsp;broadly, even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-artificial-intelligence-bubble-boom-earnings-77269f1931911dd2a92538b44285a039">many billions of dollars continue to flow</a>&nbsp;in.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-market-cap-net-income-huang-afeadf1bbe79e219f8748832a308b575">Nvidia</a>, the chip company that’s become the poster child of the AI boom and is raking in close to $20 billion each month, fell 1.5% Thursday. It was the heaviest weight on the S&amp;P 500 because of its massive size.

Also on the losing end of Wall Street was Oxford Industries. The company behind Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer dropped 21.2% after highlighting how its customers have been seeking out deals and are “highly value-driven.”

CEO Tom Chubb said the start of the holiday shopping season has been weaker than the company expected, and it cut its forecast for revenue for the full year.

Lower- and middle-income households are feeling the squeeze of high prices following years of high inflation, along with a slowing job market. That means a roughly 25% chance of a recession, according to Barry Bannister, chief equity strategist at Stifel.

Even all the spending underway for AI chips is “not enough to offset a consumer pull-back,” he said, and the U.S. stock market still broadly looks expensive relative to history.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 14.32 points to 6,901.00. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 646.26 to 48,704.01, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 60.30 to 23,593.86.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report said the number of U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-72c6ba930f0f74cdcfe38663e51a8f54">workers applying for unemployment benefits jumped</a>&nbsp;last week by more than economists expected. That’s a potential indication of rising layoffs.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.14% from 4.13% late Wednesday.

In stock markets abroad, indexes ticked higher in Europe after falling in much of Asia.

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street set records on Thursday, even as a sell-off for Oracle and worries about a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">potential bubble</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial-intelligence</a>&nbsp;technology weighed on the market.The S&amp;P 500 inched up 0.2% and eked past&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-fed-china-2ade718b1fb76607f59d22133b86efbd">its prior all-time closing high</a>, which was set in October. The Dow Jones Industrial leaped 646 points, or 1.3%, to top its own record set last month. The Nasdaq composite lagged behind and slipped 0.3% because of the weakness for AI stocks.It’s the latest return to records for the market following what had appeared to be a debilitating set of worries. Some of the most recent included concerns about what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-trump-government-shutdown-c388d97a4e4acf5cca538fd901e46b2d">the Federal Reserve will do with interest rates</a>&nbsp;and whether all the dollars flowing into AI chips and data centers will produce profits and productivity as prolific as proponents are promising.Such worries sent Wall Street last month to some of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-trump-government-shutdown-c388d97a4e4acf5cca538fd901e46b2d">its worst and scariest days since its sell-off</a>&nbsp;during April, but it then got several boosts that helped it regain its footing. Key among them was a continuing parade of companies saying they’re making bigger profits than analysts expected. Stock prices tend to track with corporate profits over the long term.The Fed also on Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the third time this year and indicated another cut may be ahead in 2026. Wall Street loves lower interest rates because they can boost the economy and send prices for investments higher, even if they potentially make inflation worse.The Fed’s chair, Jerome Powell, did hint that interest rates may be on hold for a while. But he helped soothe nerves when his comments appeared less harsh than some investors expected in shutting off the possibility of more cuts in 2026.Easier interest rates can give the biggest benefits to the smallest companies, which are more likely to be losing money and often need to borrow to grow. The Russell 2000 index of the smallest U.S. stocks jumped 1.2% to help lead the market.Banks and other companies whose profits are closely tied to the strength of the economy also rallied. Gains of 2.5% for Goldman Sachs and 6.1% for Visa were the strongest forces pushing the Dow higher.The Walt Disney Co. added 2.4% after OpenAI said the entertainment giant is investing $1 billion in it. It’s part of a three-year agreement that will also allow OpenAI to use more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars characters to generate short, user-prompted social videos.Eli Lilly rose 1.6% after announcing encouraging results from a clinical trial for adult patients who are obese or overweight and have knee osteoarthritis, without diabetes. Planet Labs PBC soared 35% after the provider of satellite images used by governments and businesses reported stronger results for the latest quarter than analysts expected.But a return to records for the U.S. stock market does not mean all worries are gone.Oracle dropped 10.8% and had briefly been on track earlier in the day for its worst loss since 2001, when the dot-com bubble was still deflating.Doubts remain about whether all the spending that Oracle is doing on AI technology will be worth it. Analysts said they were surprised after Oracle laid out on late Wednesday how much it will spend on investments this fiscal year, and questions continue about how the company will pay for it.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">Such doubts</a>&nbsp;are weighing on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/time-person-of-year-2025-77ec65c6792bc99ec2ce1919c5f421ea">AI industry</a>&nbsp;broadly, even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-artificial-intelligence-bubble-boom-earnings-77269f1931911dd2a92538b44285a039">many billions of dollars continue to flow</a>&nbsp;in.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-market-cap-net-income-huang-afeadf1bbe79e219f8748832a308b575">Nvidia</a>, the chip company that’s become the poster child of the AI boom and is raking in close to $20 billion each month, fell 1.5% Thursday. It was the heaviest weight on the S&amp;P 500 because of its massive size.Also on the losing end of Wall Street was Oxford Industries. The company behind Tommy Bahama and Lilly Pulitzer dropped 21.2% after highlighting how its customers have been seeking out deals and are “highly value-driven.”CEO Tom Chubb said the start of the holiday shopping season has been weaker than the company expected, and it cut its forecast for revenue for the full year.Lower- and middle-income households are feeling the squeeze of high prices following years of high inflation, along with a slowing job market. That means a roughly 25% chance of a recession, according to Barry Bannister, chief equity strategist at Stifel.Even all the spending underway for AI chips is “not enough to offset a consumer pull-back,” he said, and the U.S. stock market still broadly looks expensive relative to history.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 14.32 points to 6,901.00. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 646.26 to 48,704.01, and the Nasdaq composite slipped 60.30 to 23,593.86.In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady after a report said the number of U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-72c6ba930f0f74cdcfe38663e51a8f54">workers applying for unemployment benefits jumped</a>&nbsp;last week by more than economists expected. That’s a potential indication of rising layoffs.The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.14% from 4.13% late Wednesday.In stock markets abroad, indexes ticked higher in Europe after falling in much of Asia.

US stock market hits record highs, as worries about an AI bubble continue

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1 billion for Saturday night’s drawing after lottery officials said no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Wednesday night.

The U.S. has seen more than a dozen lottery jackpot prizes exceed $1 billion since 2016. Here is a look at the largest U.S. jackpots won and the places where the winning tickets were sold:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sacramento-california-los-angeles-business-0a72f926487b51b7a6d60451679f8c76">Los Angeles-area gas station</a>.

2. $1.787 billion, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025. The winning tickets were sold&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-winner-4261a3909c9e01dacc0869c50030e198">in Missouri and Texas.</a>

3. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a liquor store in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-california-6ad701f4a9ebb4df7a3afe8ecee2eb30">tiny California mountain town</a>.

4. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mega-millions-jackpot-claimed-florida-8c86594edcd16cdcda7521059ef7c7ed">supermarket in Neptune Beach, Florida</a>.

5. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016. The winning tickets were sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-e22dde0b7ace4c87b230b84be827a0fe">Los Angeles-area convenience store</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/article60951392.html" target="_blank">Florida supermarket</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-4c8a00811ae84fa49fe25a4035a51fc4">Tennessee grocery store</a>.

6. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6ef692a129b049a8bbf9eb4e77a8b91e">South Carolina convenience store</a>.

7. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-lottery-identity-lawsuit-8cc884a8b0b3e3cbc14629b4d8e2b180">Maine gas station</a>.

8. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-e986a2da15c75b1e2228499ea90a6530">Chicago-area gas station</a>.

9. $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024. The winning ticket was sold at an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/portland-powerball-winner-00883e00b4d510a51ade35cffa3f3336">Oregon convenience store</a>.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1 billion for Saturday night’s drawing after lottery officials said no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Wednesday night.The U.S. has seen more than a dozen lottery jackpot prizes exceed $1 billion since 2016. Here is a look at the largest U.S. jackpots won and the places where the winning tickets were sold:1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sacramento-california-los-angeles-business-0a72f926487b51b7a6d60451679f8c76">Los Angeles-area gas station</a>.2. $1.787 billion, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025. The winning tickets were sold&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-winner-4261a3909c9e01dacc0869c50030e198">in Missouri and Texas.</a>3. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a liquor store in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-california-6ad701f4a9ebb4df7a3afe8ecee2eb30">tiny California mountain town</a>.4. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mega-millions-jackpot-claimed-florida-8c86594edcd16cdcda7521059ef7c7ed">supermarket in Neptune Beach, Florida</a>.5. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016. The winning tickets were sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-e22dde0b7ace4c87b230b84be827a0fe">Los Angeles-area convenience store</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/article60951392.html" target="_blank">Florida supermarket</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-4c8a00811ae84fa49fe25a4035a51fc4">Tennessee grocery store</a>.6. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6ef692a129b049a8bbf9eb4e77a8b91e">South Carolina convenience store</a>.7. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-lottery-identity-lawsuit-8cc884a8b0b3e3cbc14629b4d8e2b180">Maine gas station</a>.8. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-e986a2da15c75b1e2228499ea90a6530">Chicago-area gas station</a>.9. $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024. The winning ticket was sold at an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/portland-powerball-winner-00883e00b4d510a51ade35cffa3f3336">Oregon convenience store</a>.

Powerball jackpot grows to $1 billion prize for Saturday drawing

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man convicted&nbsp; of killing two people in a parking garage in&nbsp;Old Town in Wichita was scheduled to learn his fate Wednesday.

A sentencing hearing for 21-year-old Zachary Ramirez in the deaths of&nbsp;20-year-old Josephina Lerma-Dominguez and 21-year-old Bryan Lara-Hernandez both of Wichita was continued,&nbsp; according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office.&nbsp; Ramirez is due back in court January 15.

In April of 2024, a jury found him guilty&nbsp;&nbsp;on two counts of first-degree murder, two alternative counts of second-degree murder, criminal discharge of a weapon, aggravated battery and two counts of battery, according to the district attorney's office.

Just before&nbsp; 4a.m. July 27, 2023, police responded to the 300 block of North Moore after a a street sweeper operator saw two gunshot victims in a vehicle in a parking garage in Wichita's Old Town and called 911, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

EMS&nbsp; arrived on the scene and attempted life-saving measures Lerma-Dominguez and Lara-Hernandez died at the scene.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765453931236.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation in 2023-courtesy KWCH&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation in 2023-courtesy KWCH&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man convicted&nbsp; of killing two people in a parking garage in&nbsp;Old Town in Wichita was scheduled to learn his fate Wednesday.A sentencing hearing for 21-year-old Zachary Ramirez in the deaths of&nbsp;20-year-old Josephina Lerma-Dominguez and 21-year-old Bryan Lara-Hernandez both of Wichita was continued,&nbsp; according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office.&nbsp; Ramirez is due back in court January 15.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690507120194.png" alt="Ramirez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ramirez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>In April of 2024, a jury found him guilty&nbsp;&nbsp;on two counts of first-degree murder, two alternative counts of second-degree murder, criminal discharge of a weapon, aggravated battery and two counts of battery, according to the district attorney's office.Just before&nbsp; 4a.m. July 27, 2023, police responded to the 300 block of North Moore after a a street sweeper operator saw two gunshot victims in a vehicle in a parking garage in Wichita's Old Town and called 911, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.EMS&nbsp; arrived on the scene and attempted life-saving measures Lerma-Dominguez and Lara-Hernandez died at the scene.&nbsp;

Sentencing delayd for killing Kan. couple in parking garage

WASHINGTON (AP) —Spc. Sarah Beckstrom was laid to rest with full military honors Tuesday at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a news release.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-victims-west-virginia-washington-b070b093743b016ce32005f800087873">Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe</a>&nbsp;were ambushed as they patrolled a subway station three blocks from the White House on Nov. 26.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-white-house-afghan-national-138fbe6872d7ac30b20973783b39002c">Beckstrom died from her injuries</a>&nbsp;the next day.

Wolfe’s family expects he will be in acute care for another few weeks, the governor said.

Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lakanwal-national-guard-shooting-suspect-afghan-5e5e9567d95a5d0ef806b714bb3ee3b7">29-year-old Afghan national</a>&nbsp;who was also shot during the confrontation, has been charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764267373071.png" alt="Sarah Beckstrom photo released by the Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Sarah Beckstrom photo released by the Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Spc. Sarah Beckstrom was laid to rest with full military honors Tuesday at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, Gov. Patrick Morrisey said in a news release.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-victims-west-virginia-washington-b070b093743b016ce32005f800087873">Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe</a>&nbsp;were ambushed as they patrolled a subway station three blocks from the White House on Nov. 26.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-shooting-white-house-afghan-national-138fbe6872d7ac30b20973783b39002c">Beckstrom died from her injuries</a>&nbsp;the next day.Wolfe’s family expects he will be in acute care for another few weeks, the governor said.Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lakanwal-national-guard-shooting-suspect-afghan-5e5e9567d95a5d0ef806b714bb3ee3b7">29-year-old Afghan national</a>&nbsp;who was also shot during the confrontation, has been charged with murder. He has pleaded not guilty.

Private funeral held for National Guard member shot in DC

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;announced Wednesday that his long-promised “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investor-visas-trump-immigration-eb5-gold-cards-cdb943dd1633bc234bb715fa20914e05">gold card</a>&nbsp;” was officially going on sale, offering legal status and an eventual pathway to U.S. citizenship for individuals paying $1 million and corporations ponying up twice that per foreign-born employee.

A website accepting applications went live as Trump revealed the start of the program while surrounded by business leaders in the White House’s Roosevelt Room. It is meant to replace EB-5 visas, which Congress created in 1990 to generate foreign investment and had been available to people who spend about $1 million on a company that employs at least 10 people.

Trump sees the new version as a way for the U.S. to attract and retain top talent, all while generating revenue for federal coffers. He’s been promoting the gold card program for months, and once suggested that each card would cost $5 million, though he more recently revised that to the $1 million and $2 million pricing scheme.

The president said all funds taken in as part of the program will “go to the U.S. government” and predicted that billions would flow into an account run by the Treasury Department “where we can do things positive for the country.”

The new program is actually a green card, effectively offering permanent legal residency with the chance for citizenship.

“Basically, it’s a green card but much better,” Trump said. “Much more powerful, a much stronger path.”

The president made no mention of requirements for job creation for applying corporations or on overall caps on the program, which exist under the current EB-5 program. Instead, he said he’d heard complaints from business leaders who had been unable to recruit outstanding graduates from U.S. universities because they were from other countries and lacked permission to stay.

“You can’t hire people from the best colleges because you don’t know whether or not you can keep the person,” Trump said.

Trump has built his political career around clamping down on the U.S.-Mexico border and championing hard-line immigration policies. His second administration spent its first 10-plus months launching&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-veterans-mass-deportation-5aa133955c5d378ac59da991b4ff5693">mass deportation pushes</a>&nbsp;and sweeping immigration crackdowns that have targeted cities including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-immigration-stops-los-angeles-trump-57cc1f85ceafda0f11052b326c8b7173">Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlotte-immigration-arrests-new-orleans-trump-dc93314147e67a7642a429b228676766">Charlotte</a>.

But he’s also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maga-foreign-workers-training-americans-4eef9dbcbff4f4447105f52f50e33a9c">drawn criticism</a>&nbsp;from leading voices of his “Make America Great Again” movement for repeatedly suggesting that skilled immigrants should be allowed into the U.S. — something the gold card program could facilitate.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the program will include $15,000 for applicant vetting and that the thorough process used to scrutinize backgrounds would ”make sure these people absolutely qualify to be in America.” Companies will be able to receive multiple cards, but will be limited to one individual per card, he said.

Lutnick also said the current green card holders earn less money than the average American, and that Trump wanted to change that.

“So, same visas, but now just full of the best people,” Lutnick said.

Investors’ visas are common around the world, with dozens of countries offering versions of “golden visas” to wealthy individuals, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada and Italy.

Trump said the program means the U.S. is “getting somebody great coming into our country because we think these will be some tremendous people” and singled out top U.S. college graduates from China, India and France as among those who will possibly be receiving gold cards.

“The companies are going to be very happy,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758369495841.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;announced Wednesday that his long-promised “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investor-visas-trump-immigration-eb5-gold-cards-cdb943dd1633bc234bb715fa20914e05">gold card</a>&nbsp;” was officially going on sale, offering legal status and an eventual pathway to U.S. citizenship for individuals paying $1 million and corporations ponying up twice that per foreign-born employee.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Very excitingly for me and for the country, we&#39;ve just launched the Trump Gold Card... all funds go to the United States Government. It could be a tremendous amount of money... It&#39;s somewhat like a green card, but with big advantages over a green card.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/QOq70LZsve">https://t.co/QOq70LZsve</a> <a href="https://t.co/NkzWikGIDf">pic.twitter.com/NkzWikGIDf</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1998849049802453299?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A website accepting applications went live as Trump revealed the start of the program while surrounded by business leaders in the White House’s Roosevelt Room. It is meant to replace EB-5 visas, which Congress created in 1990 to generate foreign investment and had been available to people who spend about $1 million on a company that employs at least 10 people.Trump sees the new version as a way for the U.S. to attract and retain top talent, all while generating revenue for federal coffers. He’s been promoting the gold card program for months, and once suggested that each card would cost $5 million, though he more recently revised that to the $1 million and $2 million pricing scheme.The president said all funds taken in as part of the program will “go to the U.S. government” and predicted that billions would flow into an account run by the Treasury Department “where we can do things positive for the country.”The new program is actually a green card, effectively offering permanent legal residency with the chance for citizenship.“Basically, it’s a green card but much better,” Trump said. “Much more powerful, a much stronger path.”The president made no mention of requirements for job creation for applying corporations or on overall caps on the program, which exist under the current EB-5 program. Instead, he said he’d heard complaints from business leaders who had been unable to recruit outstanding graduates from U.S. universities because they were from other countries and lacked permission to stay.“You can’t hire people from the best colleges because you don’t know whether or not you can keep the person,” Trump said.Trump has built his political career around clamping down on the U.S.-Mexico border and championing hard-line immigration policies. His second administration spent its first 10-plus months launching&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-veterans-mass-deportation-5aa133955c5d378ac59da991b4ff5693">mass deportation pushes</a>&nbsp;and sweeping immigration crackdowns that have targeted cities including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-immigration-stops-los-angeles-trump-57cc1f85ceafda0f11052b326c8b7173">Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlotte-immigration-arrests-new-orleans-trump-dc93314147e67a7642a429b228676766">Charlotte</a>.But he’s also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maga-foreign-workers-training-americans-4eef9dbcbff4f4447105f52f50e33a9c">drawn criticism</a>&nbsp;from leading voices of his “Make America Great Again” movement for repeatedly suggesting that skilled immigrants should be allowed into the U.S. — something the gold card program could facilitate.Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the program will include $15,000 for applicant vetting and that the thorough process used to scrutinize backgrounds would ”make sure these people absolutely qualify to be in America.” Companies will be able to receive multiple cards, but will be limited to one individual per card, he said.Lutnick also said the current green card holders earn less money than the average American, and that Trump wanted to change that.“So, same visas, but now just full of the best people,” Lutnick said.Investors’ visas are common around the world, with dozens of countries offering versions of “golden visas” to wealthy individuals, including the United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada and Italy.Trump said the program means the U.S. is “getting somebody great coming into our country because we think these will be some tremendous people” and singled out top U.S. college graduates from China, India and France as among those who will possibly be receiving gold cards.“The companies are going to be very happy,” he said.

Trump's $1 million 'gold card' immigration visa is now on sale

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate’s first piece of proposed legislation for 2026 seeks to honor Charlie Kirk.

The Republican resolution proposes establishing “Charlie Kirk Free Speech Day” on Oct. 14, the late right-wing political activist’s birthday. Kirk was shot and killed in September while speaking at a Utah college campus.

The Senate’s resolution is rooted in “honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk.” It describes his legacy as an example of the importance of free speech, the First Amendment and civil debate. The resolution also condemns Kirk’s killing and extends condolences to his family.

“We encourage Kansans to celebrate each Charlie Kirk Free Speech Day by exercising their freedom of speech and engaging in civil discourse to honor the memory of Charlie Kirk,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/scr1615_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;reads.

It has the support of all 31 Republican Senators.

And it is the only bill in the Senate that has been filed ahead of the 2026 legislative session, which begins in January. Three bills have been prefiled in the House.

Rep. Bill Rhiley, a Wellington Republican, proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2409/" target="_blank">House Bill 2409</a>, which would shift school start dates after Labor Day.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2410/" target="_blank">House Bill 2410</a>, proposed by Salina Republican Rep. Steven Howe, allows public library districts to withdraw from a regional library system by petitioning the state library board.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2411/" target="_blank">House Bill 2411</a>&nbsp;proposes a remedy for teacher shortages that reduces the amount of time retired teachers must wait following their retirement before a school district can hire them for certain positions. Rep. Kevin Schwertfeger, a Turon Republican, put forth the bill.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757541376269.png" alt="&nbsp;Founder and executive director of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Founder and executive director of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate’s first piece of proposed legislation for 2026 seeks to honor Charlie Kirk.The Republican resolution proposes establishing “Charlie Kirk Free Speech Day” on Oct. 14, the late right-wing political activist’s birthday. Kirk was shot and killed in September while speaking at a Utah college campus.The Senate’s resolution is rooted in “honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk.” It describes his legacy as an example of the importance of free speech, the First Amendment and civil debate. The resolution also condemns Kirk’s killing and extends condolences to his family.“We encourage Kansans to celebrate each Charlie Kirk Free Speech Day by exercising their freedom of speech and engaging in civil discourse to honor the memory of Charlie Kirk,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/scr1615_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;reads.It has the support of all 31 Republican Senators.And it is the only bill in the Senate that has been filed ahead of the 2026 legislative session, which begins in January. Three bills have been prefiled in the House.Rep. Bill Rhiley, a Wellington Republican, proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2409/" target="_blank">House Bill 2409</a>, which would shift school start dates after Labor Day.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2410/" target="_blank">House Bill 2410</a>, proposed by Salina Republican Rep. Steven Howe, allows public library districts to withdraw from a regional library system by petitioning the state library board.<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2411/" target="_blank">House Bill 2411</a>&nbsp;proposes a remedy for teacher shortages that reduces the amount of time retired teachers must wait following their retirement before a school district can hire them for certain positions. Rep. Kevin Schwertfeger, a Turon Republican, put forth the bill.

Proposed ‘Charlie Kirk Free Speech Day’ among first bills filed ahead of Kan. 2026 session

NEW YORK (AP) — The “Architects of AI” were named Time magazine's person of the year for 2025 on Thursday.

The magazine cited 2025 as the year when the potential of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;“roared into view" with no turning back.

“For delivering the age of thinking machines, for wowing and worrying humanity, for transforming the present and transcending the possible, the Architects of AI are TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year,” Time said in a social media post.

The magazine was deliberate in selecting people — the “individuals who imagined, designed, and built AI” — rather than the technology itself, though there would have been some precedent for that.

“We’ve named not just individuals but also groups, more women than our founders could have imagined (though still not enough), and, on rare occasions, a concept: the endangered earth, in 1988, or the personal computer, in 1982,” wrote Sam Jacobs, the editor-in-chief, in an explanation of the choice. “The drama surrounding the selection of the PC over Apple’s Steve Jobs later became the stuff of books and a movie.”

It made sense for Time to anoint AI because 2025 was the year that it shifted from “a novel technology explored by early adopters to one where a critical mass of consumers see it as part of their mainstream lives,” Thomas Husson, principal analyst at research firm Forrester, said by email.

AI was a leading contender for the top slot, according to prediction markets, along with tech CEOs Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Sam Altman of OpenAI. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope whose election this year followed the death of Pope Francis, was also considered a contender, with President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani topping lists as well.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stock-exchange-time-nyse-bell-ringing-91a59ff0f4ce77c0c6f87e55a38c6c75">Trump was named the 2024</a>&nbsp;person of the year by the magazine after his winning his second bid for the White House, succeeding Taylor Swift, who was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">2023 person of the year</a>.

The magazine's selection dates from 1927, when its editors have picked the person they say most shaped headlines over the previous 12 months.

NEW YORK (AP) — The “Architects of AI” were named Time magazine's person of the year for 2025 on Thursday.The magazine cited 2025 as the year when the potential of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;“roared into view" with no turning back.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">2025 was the year when artificial intelligence’s full potential roared into view, and when it became clear that there will be no turning back. For delivering the age of thinking machines, for wowing and worrying humanity, for transforming the present and transcending the… <a href="https://t.co/mEIKRiZfLo">pic.twitter.com/mEIKRiZfLo</a>&mdash; TIME (@TIME) <a href="https://twitter.com/TIME/status/1999097617633189955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“For delivering the age of thinking machines, for wowing and worrying humanity, for transforming the present and transcending the possible, the Architects of AI are TIME’s 2025 Person of the Year,” Time said in a social media post.The magazine was deliberate in selecting people — the “individuals who imagined, designed, and built AI” — rather than the technology itself, though there would have been some precedent for that.“We’ve named not just individuals but also groups, more women than our founders could have imagined (though still not enough), and, on rare occasions, a concept: the endangered earth, in 1988, or the personal computer, in 1982,” wrote Sam Jacobs, the editor-in-chief, in an explanation of the choice. “The drama surrounding the selection of the PC over Apple’s Steve Jobs later became the stuff of books and a movie.”It made sense for Time to anoint AI because 2025 was the year that it shifted from “a novel technology explored by early adopters to one where a critical mass of consumers see it as part of their mainstream lives,” Thomas Husson, principal analyst at research firm Forrester, said by email.AI was a leading contender for the top slot, according to prediction markets, along with tech CEOs Jensen Huang of Nvidia and Sam Altman of OpenAI. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope whose election this year followed the death of Pope Francis, was also considered a contender, with President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani topping lists as well.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stock-exchange-time-nyse-bell-ringing-91a59ff0f4ce77c0c6f87e55a38c6c75">Trump was named the 2024</a>&nbsp;person of the year by the magazine after his winning his second bid for the White House, succeeding Taylor Swift, who was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">2023 person of the year</a>.The magazine's selection dates from 1927, when its editors have picked the person they say most shaped headlines over the previous 12 months.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765461116980.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

Time magazine reveals unusual person of the year for 2025

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a multi-state theft from Walmart stores and have made an arrest.

Just after 4p.m. Dec. 8, police were notified by another law enforcement agency about two suspects possibly heading towards the Walmart in Harrisonville, Missouri, approximately 39 miles south of Kansas City, according to a media release from the police department.

The suspects had reportedly been involved with an ongoing shoplifting scam from various Walmarts across the United States. The suspects were located by officers and placed under arrest for receiving stolen property. 

The suspects have allegedly stolen over $58,000 worth of merchandise in the last 6 months from Walmarts in at least four different states. 

Both suspects, who are not residents of the state of Missouri, were charged with Receiving Stolen Property (D Felony) and are currently being held at the Cass County jail.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a multi-state theft from Walmart stores and have made an arrest.Just after 4p.m. Dec. 8, police were notified by another law enforcement agency about two suspects possibly heading towards the Walmart in Harrisonville, Missouri, approximately 39 miles south of Kansas City, according to a media release from the police department.The suspects had reportedly been involved with an ongoing shoplifting scam from various Walmarts across the United States. The suspects were located by officers and placed under arrest for receiving stolen property. The suspects have allegedly stolen over $58,000 worth of merchandise in the last 6 months from Walmarts in at least four different states. Both suspects, who are not residents of the state of Missouri, were charged with Receiving Stolen Property (D Felony) and are currently being held at the Cass County jail.

Suspects arrested in $58,000 multi-state Walmart theft

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is hitting the Kansas City metro, Lawrence and surrounding areas hard right now, according to a media release from Operation Wildlife.

The organization reports fielding 15 or more calls per day with birds -mostly waterfowl - ducks, geese etc. exhibiting symptoms.

Symptoms include:-Neurological impairment: Birds may lack coordination, appear confused or disoriented, have tremors, seizures, or have a twisted neck.

Difficulty breathing: open mouth, wheezing-Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing: Birds may have blood-tinged discharge

Sudden death: Without any prior signs of illness 

Swelling: Of the eyelids, head-Other symptoms: Birds may stumble or fall down, have diarrhea, have a hunched appearance, or have ruffled feathers and die within a few hours or a day of intake.

Birds with HPAI may have additional injuries such as a broken leg or broken wing, sustained from falling from the sky from exhaustion during flight.

HPAI is not treatable and is a fatal disease for the bird.

Birds with this disease need to be humanely euthanized and properly disposed of to limit spread of disease.

HPAI is highly contagious to other birds, felines, and potentially to humans and other species. If you come across a bird you suspect is affected contact Operation Wildlife by email opwildlife@aol.com or 785-542-3625 and they can advise you on how to proceed.

In SOME cities, animal control is assisting by dispatching the bird in the field and removing it for cremation. For residents of cities that do not provide this service, Operation Wildlife are able to assist with euthanasia and cremation. The organization asks that you make a donation to help them offset these costs.

 It’s important to note that Operation Wildlife operates like a veterinary clinic, run by volunteers and funded by donations so we ARE NOT able to report out to pick these birds up. If you are bringing a sick bird to Operation Wildlife for these services please notify them ahead of time and do not bring the bird into the facility. They will meet you out on the driveway so as not to expose the birds in their care.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.htmld">Click here for more </a>information from the CDC.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765451927513.png" alt="Photo Operation Wildlife" />
 <figcaption>Photo Operation Wildlife</figcaption>
 </figure>Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is hitting the Kansas City metro, Lawrence and surrounding areas hard right now, according to a media release from Operation Wildlife.The organization reports fielding 15 or more calls per day with birds -mostly waterfowl - ducks, geese etc. exhibiting symptoms.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733747978622.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Symptoms include:-Neurological impairment: Birds may lack coordination, appear confused or disoriented, have tremors, seizures, or have a twisted neck.Difficulty breathing: open mouth, wheezing-Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing: Birds may have blood-tinged dischargeSudden death: Without any prior signs of illness Swelling: Of the eyelids, head-Other symptoms: Birds may stumble or fall down, have diarrhea, have a hunched appearance, or have ruffled feathers and die within a few hours or a day of intake.Birds with HPAI may have additional injuries such as a broken leg or broken wing, sustained from falling from the sky from exhaustion during flight.HPAI is not treatable and is a fatal disease for the bird.Birds with this disease need to be humanely euthanized and properly disposed of to limit spread of disease.HPAI is highly contagious to other birds, felines, and potentially to humans and other species. If you come across a bird you suspect is affected contact Operation Wildlife by email opwildlife@aol.com or 785-542-3625 and they can advise you on how to proceed.In SOME cities, animal control is assisting by dispatching the bird in the field and removing it for cremation. For residents of cities that do not provide this service, Operation Wildlife are able to assist with euthanasia and cremation. The organization asks that you make a donation to help them offset these costs. It’s important to note that Operation Wildlife operates like a veterinary clinic, run by volunteers and funded by donations so we ARE NOT able to report out to pick these birds up. If you are bringing a sick bird to Operation Wildlife for these services please notify them ahead of time and do not bring the bird into the facility. They will meet you out on the driveway so as not to expose the birds in their care.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.htmld">Click here for more </a>information from the CDC.

Operation Wildlife warns deadly bird flu spreading in portions of Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that the United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d">tensions mount</a>&nbsp;with the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

Using U.S. forces to take control of a merchant ship is incredibly unusual and marks the Trump administration’s latest push to increase pressure on Maduro, who has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">charged with narcoterrorism</a>&nbsp;in the United States. The U.S. has built up the largest military presence in the region in decades and launched a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-drug-boats-pacific-35a60ce3bc018e5f66c18b2d18b49c35">deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The campaign is facing growing scrutiny from Congress.

“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually,” Trump told reporters at the White House, later adding that "it was seized for a very good reason.”

Trump did not offer additional details. When asked what would happen to the oil aboard the tanker, Trump said, “Well, we keep it, I guess.”

The seizure was led by the U.S. Coast Guard and supported by the Navy, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that it was conducted under U.S. law enforcement authority.

The Coast Guard members were taken to the oil tanker by helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the official said. The Ford is in the Caribbean Sea after arriving last month in a major show of force, joining a fleet of other warships.

<a href="https://x.com/agpambondi/status/1998875795151024337?s=46">Video posted to social media</a>&nbsp;by Attorney General Pam Bondi shows people fast-roping from one of the helicopters involved in the operation as it hovers just feet from the deck.

The Coast Guard members can be seen later in the video moving throughout the superstructure of the ship with their weapons drawn.

Bondi wrote that “for multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.”

Half of ship's oil is tied to Cuban importer

The U.S. official identified the seized tanker as the Skipper.

The ship departed Venezuela around Dec. 2 with about 2 million barrels of heavy crude, roughly half of it belonging to a Cuban state-run oil importer, according to documents from the state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., commonly known as PDVSA, that were provided on the condition of anonymity because the person did not have permission to share them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765413532331.png" alt="Image from the AG's video" />
 <figcaption>Image from the AG's video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that the United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d">tensions mount</a>&nbsp;with the government of President Nicolás Maduro.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. For multiple… <a href="https://t.co/dNr0oAGl5x">pic.twitter.com/dNr0oAGl5x</a>&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1998875795151024337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Using U.S. forces to take control of a merchant ship is incredibly unusual and marks the Trump administration’s latest push to increase pressure on Maduro, who has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">charged with narcoterrorism</a>&nbsp;in the United States. The U.S. has built up the largest military presence in the region in decades and launched a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-drug-boats-pacific-35a60ce3bc018e5f66c18b2d18b49c35">deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The campaign is facing growing scrutiny from Congress.“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually,” Trump told reporters at the White House, later adding that "it was seized for a very good reason.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: “As you probably know, we just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela — a large tanker, very large.” <a href="https://t.co/I51NenxoIP">pic.twitter.com/I51NenxoIP</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1998852863817064906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨 Q: What happens to the oil on the tanker you seized near Venezuela? PRESIDENT TRUMP: We keep the oil, I guess! 🤣 Q: Where does it go? TRUMP: You&#39;re a good news man. Just get a helicopter and go follow the tanker! He is the best 😭😭 <a href="https://t.co/Dp9duwUxT7">pic.twitter.com/Dp9duwUxT7</a>&mdash; Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1998860261915242721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump did not offer additional details. When asked what would happen to the oil aboard the tanker, Trump said, “Well, we keep it, I guess.”The seizure was led by the U.S. Coast Guard and supported by the Navy, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that it was conducted under U.S. law enforcement authority.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765413070566.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Storming the oil tanker</h2>The Coast Guard members were taken to the oil tanker by helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the official said. The Ford is in the Caribbean Sea after arriving last month in a major show of force, joining a fleet of other warships.<a href="https://x.com/agpambondi/status/1998875795151024337?s=46">Video posted to social media</a>&nbsp;by Attorney General Pam Bondi shows people fast-roping from one of the helicopters involved in the operation as it hovers just feet from the deck.The Coast Guard members can be seen later in the video moving throughout the superstructure of the ship with their weapons drawn.Bondi wrote that “for multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations.”<h2>Half of ship's oil is tied to Cuban importer</h2>The U.S. official identified the seized tanker as the Skipper.The ship departed Venezuela around Dec. 2 with about 2 million barrels of heavy crude, roughly half of it belonging to a Cuban state-run oil importer, according to documents from the state-owned company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., commonly known as PDVSA, that were provided on the condition of anonymity because the person did not have permission to share them.The Skipper was previously known as the M/T Adisa, according to ship tracking data. The Adisa was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 over accusations of belonging to a sophisticated network of shadow tankers that smuggled crude oil on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group.The network was reportedly run by a Switzerland-based Ukrainian oil trader, the U.S. Treasury Departmeny said at the time.<h2>Hitting Venezuela's sanctioned oil business</h2>Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves and produces about 1 million barrels a day.PDVSA is the backbone of the country’s economy. Its reliance on intermediaries increased in 2020, when the first Trump administration expanded its maximum-pressure campaign on Venezuela with sanctions that threaten to lock out of the U.S. economy any individual or company that does business with Maduro’s government. Longtime allies Russia and Iran, both also sanctioned, have helped Venezuela skirt restrictions.The transactions usually involve a complex network of shadowy intermediaries. Many are shell companies, registered in jurisdictions known for secrecy. The buyers deploy so-called ghost tankers that hide their location and hand off their valuable cargoes in the middle of the ocean before they reach their final destination.Maduro did not address the seizure during a speech before a ruling-party organized demonstration in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. But he told supporters that the country is “prepared to break the teeth of the North American empire if necessary.”Maduro, flanked by senior officials, said only the ruling party can “guarantee peace, stability, and the harmonious development of Venezuela, South America and the Caribbean.”Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from office.<h2>Democrat says the move is about ‘regime change’</h2>Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.S. seizing the oil tanker cast doubt on the administration’s stated reasons for the military buildup and boat strikes.“This shows that their whole cover story — that this is about interdicting drugs — is a big lie,” the senator said. “This is just one more piece of evidence that this is really about regime change — by force.”The seizure comes a day after the U.S. military&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-military-trump-fa18-fighter-jets-06fd7cdc5ac26e7a46165431b95508b0">flew a pair of fighter jets</a>&nbsp;over the Gulf of Venezuela in what appeared to be the closest that warplanes had come to the South American country’s airspace. Trump has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-maduro-colombia-petro-boats-559a73dbfcbdc9245494f441be1aad39">land attacks are coming soon</a>&nbsp;but has not offered more details.The Trump administration is facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-pete-hegseth-venezuela-9f46a5f074b5b3c979ee41082949b196">increasing scrutiny from lawmakers</a>&nbsp;over the boat strike campaign, which has killed at least 87 people in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-petro-colombia-drugs-us-aid-c3955b2ce351737119920741178e0567">22 known strikes</a>&nbsp;since early September, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-strike-video-footage-boat-caribbean-3cf2ca9cbe4523978e935b99c2979caa">a follow-up strike that killed two survivors</a>&nbsp;clinging to the wreckage of a boat after the first hit.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-survivors-hegseth-72b0a498ca08615b2589c772a1d9e642">Some legal experts and Democrats say</a>&nbsp;that action may have violated the laws governing the use of deadly military force.Lawmakers are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/defense-bill-ndaa-boat-strikes-video-152bef4ad429ae2c62937daeea2235a4">demanding to get unedited video</a>&nbsp;from the strikes, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told congressional leaders at a classified briefing Tuesday that he was still weighing whether to release it.The Coast Guard referred a request for comment about the tanker seizure to the White House.