WASHINGTON (AP) — It was just past 3 a.m., a few hours before the House vote on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-5-23-2025">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;top priority in Congress, his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tax-breaks-bill-medicaid-80b5781377bcd0870a1dccb3c7b8dc05">“big, beautiful bill.”</a>&nbsp;House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Speaker Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;was rushing through the Capitol halls with his security guards and aides in tow. For a moment, he paused.

Would you like to see&nbsp;<a href="https://chaplain.house.gov/religion/prayer_room.html" target="_blank">the prayer room</a>? he asked an Associated Press reporter.

The question was in response to another question about his leadership style: whether his religion, his Christian faith, had been guiding him through the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-tax-cuts-trump-f2c60ae5c7c1313de69446f9ac7176e6">tumultuous process</a>.

“This is like a cathedral at night,” he said, walking toward an almost-hidden door. “It’s the most beautiful thing in the Capitol.”

He punched in the key code and stepped inside.

The room, transformed in the 1950s, sits just off the suite of second-floor offices of the House speaker, centered in the Capitol, on its west end closest to the National Mall.

“Been here a lot this week, right there on my knees,” Johnson said. “Just praying. ... That’s what the founders did.”

As Wednesday night had melted into Thursday morning, none other than George Washington, the first president himself, watched over the room, his tall figure bent on one knee in the stained-glass image high above a small altar.

“In times of great challenge, they got on their knees and they sought divine guidance, and that’s what we do,” Johnson was saying. “Because I’m convinced that God’s given us a chance to save this great republic.”

Johnson is a conservative Christian and among the more outwardly religious of House speakers. He was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-house-speaker-trump-elected-ed9fd1d574eafb6373e667e110a0f989">accidental choice</a>&nbsp;to lead Republicans, selected after his GOP colleagues ousted their previous speaker almost two years ago. When Johnson emerged as the pick, Republicans gathered around him and prayed. He considers himself a “servant” leader.

Determined to push Trump’s bill to House passage, the speaker set his intention. He created a self-imposed deadline, Memorial Day, that seemed overly optimistic. And he just kept moving forward, despite robust opposition from Democrats and skeptics within his own GOP ranks.

As the deadline neared, he did not let up. He prayed.

“I feel like I have sort of a vision of where we’re supposed to go, and you just set the course and you just patiently get everybody there,” he explained.

The speaker is sometimes in a question-answering mood. A conversation unfolded.

Aren’t you afraid of flopping? he was asked.

“I don’t really have fear,” he said. “I mean, I know that we have to accomplish this mission in order to save the country.”

The speaker was explaining how this is “the greatest nation” and his own belief in its “foundational principles.”

“And what I think we’re trying to do here is restore them,” he said. “Piece by piece, that’s what we do here every day.”

But your legislation is being criticized, hammered for doing so many things. People will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-snap-states-house-trump-abortion-work-1556d8a594dc5668b298641081b759c9">lose access to Medicaid and food stamps.</a>

The Congressional Budget office estimates that under proposals in the bill, some 8.6 million people will no longer have health care, and 3 million a month will stop receiving the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP.

“They’re counting the people the work requirements are going to apply to,” he said. “They would be, would be choosing, you know, not to work.”

But some of the people — particularly older, single men — may not be able to find work or go back to work.

The new 80-hours-a-month work requirements or community service would be for able-bodied adults without dependents through age 64, with various exceptions. Some parents of children older than 7 would also need to fulfill the work requirement to receive SNAP food stamp assistance.

“We have finite resources,” he said. “So the vulnerable populations are who we’re trying to take care of.”

Do you worry that’s counter to your own beliefs?

“We are helping people,” he said. For an able-bodied man to work, “it’s good for his own personal dignity. It’s good for his purpose. It’s a win-win-win.”

The debates in Congress come during a time of great soul-searching in the United States and the world. People are divided as ever, politically and economically, yet also yearning for a sense of community and togetherness that seems to be slipping further out of reach.

House Democrats, who have fought Johnson and his party every step of the way in opposing what they call the “big, ugly bill,” were not about to cede any moral ground to Republicans or to Trump.

“This is the United States of America — the wealthiest country in the history of the world. It is indecent to rip food out of the mouths of children and everyday Americans,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries</a>&nbsp;said during his own lengthy floor speech ahead of the vote.

Before invoking the Gospel of Matthew 25:35-40, Jeffries said Congress could do better than this “unconscionable” and “un-American” bill.

“I do believe that there are people of faith on both sides of this chamber,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hakeem-jeffries-religious-faith-politics-mike-johnson-bf64b91ffc34c74a0cd2f7662d1a3e9f">Jeffries, of New York</a>.

“Jesus talks about the importance of standing up for the least, the lost, the left behind, the poor, the sick, the afflicted, the homeless, the people who are confined, strangers in a foreign land,” he said. “It cannot be the case that one goes to synagogue or goes to the mosque — or one goes to church, as I do — but one goes to church to pray on Sunday and then comes to Washington, D.C., to prey on the American people the rest of the week.”

All of that would come hours later, spoken as the bill was on its unstoppable path toward passage. For now, at this late moment, Johnson’s reflections were drawing to an end. He was shutting the prayer room door behind him.

So how did you do it? How did you get your Republicans to fall in line?

“Just a lot of patience,” Johnson said.

What about your meetings with Trump at the White House?

That would be for another day, he indicated. With the room closed, the speaker of the House had shared the keycode so others could seek out prayer in the Capitol if needed. He headed around the corner, through the side halls of the Capitol, back to his office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748175142555.png" alt="Stained Glass Window of the Congressional Prayer Room-photo Office of the Chaplain" />
 <figcaption>Stained Glass Window of the Congressional Prayer Room-photo Office of the Chaplain</figcaption>
 </figure>By LISA MASCAROWASHINGTON (AP) — It was just past 3 a.m., a few hours before the House vote on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-5-23-2025">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;top priority in Congress, his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tax-breaks-bill-medicaid-80b5781377bcd0870a1dccb3c7b8dc05">“big, beautiful bill.”</a>&nbsp;House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Speaker Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;was rushing through the Capitol halls with his security guards and aides in tow. For a moment, he paused.Would you like to see&nbsp;<a href="https://chaplain.house.gov/religion/prayer_room.html" target="_blank">the prayer room</a>? he asked an Associated Press reporter.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744300109988.png" alt="FIle photo House Speaker Mike Johnson" />
 <figcaption>FIle photo House Speaker Mike Johnson</figcaption>
 </figure>The question was in response to another question about his leadership style: whether his religion, his Christian faith, had been guiding him through the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-tax-cuts-trump-f2c60ae5c7c1313de69446f9ac7176e6">tumultuous process</a>.“This is like a cathedral at night,” he said, walking toward an almost-hidden door. “It’s the most beautiful thing in the Capitol.”He punched in the key code and stepped inside.<h2>‘Just praying’</h2>The room, transformed in the 1950s, sits just off the suite of second-floor offices of the House speaker, centered in the Capitol, on its west end closest to the National Mall.“Been here a lot this week, right there on my knees,” Johnson said. “Just praying. ... That’s what the founders did.”As Wednesday night had melted into Thursday morning, none other than George Washington, the first president himself, watched over the room, his tall figure bent on one knee in the stained-glass image high above a small altar.“In times of great challenge, they got on their knees and they sought divine guidance, and that’s what we do,” Johnson was saying. “Because I’m convinced that God’s given us a chance to save this great republic.”Johnson is a conservative Christian and among the more outwardly religious of House speakers. He was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/johnson-house-speaker-trump-elected-ed9fd1d574eafb6373e667e110a0f989">accidental choice</a>&nbsp;to lead Republicans, selected after his GOP colleagues ousted their previous speaker almost two years ago. When Johnson emerged as the pick, Republicans gathered around him and prayed. He considers himself a “servant” leader.Determined to push Trump’s bill to House passage, the speaker set his intention. He created a self-imposed deadline, Memorial Day, that seemed overly optimistic. And he just kept moving forward, despite robust opposition from Democrats and skeptics within his own GOP ranks.As the deadline neared, he did not let up. He prayed.“I feel like I have sort of a vision of where we’re supposed to go, and you just set the course and you just patiently get everybody there,” he explained.<h2>‘I don’t really have fear’</h2>The speaker is sometimes in a question-answering mood. A conversation unfolded.Aren’t you afraid of flopping? he was asked.“I don’t really have fear,” he said. “I mean, I know that we have to accomplish this mission in order to save the country.”The speaker was explaining how this is “the greatest nation” and his own belief in its “foundational principles.”“And what I think we’re trying to do here is restore them,” he said. “Piece by piece, that’s what we do here every day.”But your legislation is being criticized, hammered for doing so many things. People will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-snap-states-house-trump-abortion-work-1556d8a594dc5668b298641081b759c9">lose access to Medicaid and food stamps.</a>The Congressional Budget office estimates that under proposals in the bill, some 8.6 million people will no longer have health care, and 3 million a month will stop receiving the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, known as SNAP.“They’re counting the people the work requirements are going to apply to,” he said. “They would be, would be choosing, you know, not to work.”But some of the people — particularly older, single men — may not be able to find work or go back to work.The new 80-hours-a-month work requirements or community service would be for able-bodied adults without dependents through age 64, with various exceptions. Some parents of children older than 7 would also need to fulfill the work requirement to receive SNAP food stamp assistance.“We have finite resources,” he said. “So the vulnerable populations are who we’re trying to take care of.”Do you worry that’s counter to your own beliefs?“We are helping people,” he said. For an able-bodied man to work, “it’s good for his own personal dignity. It’s good for his purpose. It’s a win-win-win.”<h2>‘A lot of patience’</h2>The debates in Congress come during a time of great soul-searching in the United States and the world. People are divided as ever, politically and economically, yet also yearning for a sense of community and togetherness that seems to be slipping further out of reach.House Democrats, who have fought Johnson and his party every step of the way in opposing what they call the “big, ugly bill,” were not about to cede any moral ground to Republicans or to Trump.“This is the United States of America — the wealthiest country in the history of the world. It is indecent to rip food out of the mouths of children and everyday Americans,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries</a>&nbsp;said during his own lengthy floor speech ahead of the vote.Before invoking the Gospel of Matthew 25:35-40, Jeffries said Congress could do better than this “unconscionable” and “un-American” bill.“I do believe that there are people of faith on both sides of this chamber,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hakeem-jeffries-religious-faith-politics-mike-johnson-bf64b91ffc34c74a0cd2f7662d1a3e9f">Jeffries, of New York</a>.“Jesus talks about the importance of standing up for the least, the lost, the left behind, the poor, the sick, the afflicted, the homeless, the people who are confined, strangers in a foreign land,” he said. “It cannot be the case that one goes to synagogue or goes to the mosque — or one goes to church, as I do — but one goes to church to pray on Sunday and then comes to Washington, D.C., to prey on the American people the rest of the week.”All of that would come hours later, spoken as the bill was on its unstoppable path toward passage. For now, at this late moment, Johnson’s reflections were drawing to an end. He was shutting the prayer room door behind him.So how did you do it? How did you get your Republicans to fall in line?“Just a lot of patience,” Johnson said.What about your meetings with Trump at the White House?That would be for another day, he indicated. With the room closed, the speaker of the House had shared the keycode so others could seek out prayer in the Capitol if needed. He headed around the corner, through the side halls of the Capitol, back to his office.

At 3 a.m. in the Capitol, the Speaker of the House shares his place for prayer

GEARY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 2a.m. Sunday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Ford Fusion driven by Richard B. Roberts, 20, Sebring, Florida, was northbound on U.S. 77 at Old Milford Road at a high rate of speed. The car entered into the east ditch, struck a tree and caught fire.

Roberts was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Johnson Funeral Home. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

GEARY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 2a.m. Sunday in Geary County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Ford Fusion driven by Richard B. Roberts, 20, Sebring, Florida, was northbound on U.S. 77 at Old Milford Road at a high rate of speed. The car entered into the east ditch, struck a tree and caught fire.Roberts was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Johnson Funeral Home. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

KHP: Man dies after car crash and fire

KANSAS CITY—Officials are investigating the cause of a house fire in Kansas City, Missouri,

Just before 5a.m. Saturday, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported house fire in the 500 block of Booth, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 Crews reported smoke and fire showing from a single-story home. Initially it was not clear if the home was vacant or occupied. Interior operations were initiated using multiple hand lines. Crews encountered heavy fire in the basement of the structure that burned through to the first&nbsp;floor. Searches of the structure came back all clear. No injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748095088833.jpeg" alt="Photo KC&nbsp; Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo KC&nbsp; Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Officials are investigating the cause of a house fire in Kansas City, Missouri,Just before 5a.m. Saturday, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported house fire in the 500 block of Booth, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748094979366.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> Crews reported smoke and fire showing from a single-story home. Initially it was not clear if the home was vacant or occupied. Interior operations were initiated using multiple hand lines. Crews encountered heavy fire in the basement of the structure that burned through to the first&nbsp;floor. Searches of the structure came back all clear. No injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;

Fire burned from basement through to first floor of KC home

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — State officials have denied a federal request to disclose personal information of Kansans using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

On May 6, the Kansas Department for Children and Families received a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that demanded “unfettered access to comprehensive data from all State programs that receive federal funding.” DCF spokeswoman Erin LaRow shared a copy of that letter and other communications in response to an inquiry from Kansas Reflector.

The USDA letter specified that information to be collected for each SNAP applicant or recipient included name, Social Security number, date of birth, personal address and records to calculate the amount of SNAP benefits participants received over time. It was signed by Gina Brand, senior policy advisor for integrity at USDA’s Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services division.

The requested data would cover the time period from Jan. 1, 2020, to the present, the letter said.

DCF’s SNAP data is held by a third-party database administrator, Fidelity Information Services LLC. That company notified DCF on May 9 that a formal request for Kansas SNAP records had been made from USDA and that because of federal guidance, they were required to disclose that information.

“As such, FIS intends to fully cooperate with the USDA in facilitating its request for information, as required by applicable law and the guidance,” wrote Prashant Gupta, FIS senior vice president. He then asked for DCF’s written consent.

DCF stopped the process in a letter dated May 14, sent by Carla Whiteside Hicks, the DCF director of economic and employment services.

“Please be advised that we&nbsp;do not consent&nbsp;to your providing the USDA the requested information at this time,” Whiteside Hicks told FIS. “As you know, our obligation to maintain these records in confidence is paramount and may only be disclosed to the USDA for specific program-related reasons. At this time, we are unsure as to the reason for the USDA’s request. As such, we are unable to consent to your turning the information over.”

Whiteside Hicks also said DCF will be asking the USDA to contact DCF directly in the future. She asked FIS to turn over any information that they may have already provided to the USDA and to also provide DCF with any written communications the company has received from USDA.

LaRow said DCF is reviewing the request from USDA related to the personally identifiable data of Kansans.

“Security of Kansans’ personal information is paramount to the agency, and we are committed to maintaining confidentiality consistent with state and federal law,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748016604613.png" alt=" Kansas Department for Children and Families denied a request by the federal government for access to personal data of a food assistance program. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Department for Children and Families denied a request by the federal government for access to personal data of a food assistance program. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — State officials have denied a federal request to disclose personal information of Kansans using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.On May 6, the Kansas Department for Children and Families received a letter from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that demanded “unfettered access to comprehensive data from all State programs that receive federal funding.” DCF spokeswoman Erin LaRow shared a copy of that letter and other communications in response to an inquiry from Kansas Reflector.The USDA letter specified that information to be collected for each SNAP applicant or recipient included name, Social Security number, date of birth, personal address and records to calculate the amount of SNAP benefits participants received over time. It was signed by Gina Brand, senior policy advisor for integrity at USDA’s Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services division.The requested data would cover the time period from Jan. 1, 2020, to the present, the letter said.DCF’s SNAP data is held by a third-party database administrator, Fidelity Information Services LLC. That company notified DCF on May 9 that a formal request for Kansas SNAP records had been made from USDA and that because of federal guidance, they were required to disclose that information.“As such, FIS intends to fully cooperate with the USDA in facilitating its request for information, as required by applicable law and the guidance,” wrote Prashant Gupta, FIS senior vice president. He then asked for DCF’s written consent.DCF stopped the process in a letter dated May 14, sent by Carla Whiteside Hicks, the DCF director of economic and employment services.“Please be advised that we&nbsp;do not consent&nbsp;to your providing the USDA the requested information at this time,” Whiteside Hicks told FIS. “As you know, our obligation to maintain these records in confidence is paramount and may only be disclosed to the USDA for specific program-related reasons. At this time, we are unsure as to the reason for the USDA’s request. As such, we are unable to consent to your turning the information over.”Whiteside Hicks also said DCF will be asking the USDA to contact DCF directly in the future. She asked FIS to turn over any information that they may have already provided to the USDA and to also provide DCF with any written communications the company has received from USDA.LaRow said DCF is reviewing the request from USDA related to the personally identifiable data of Kansans.“Security of Kansans’ personal information is paramount to the agency, and we are committed to maintaining confidentiality consistent with state and federal law,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748016694528.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Kansas denies USDA request for personal data of residents receiving food assistance

KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City man faces felony charges in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in Independence, Missouri.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2621/IPD25-28266-Afterhours-Complaint-Packet---Stump-Jadon">Jadon Stumph faces</a>, 28, is charged with&nbsp;2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

On May 13, police were dispatched to an Independence, Missouri address regarding a shooting and located the deceased victim in the driveway with two gunshot wounds.

Witnesses reported the victim was sitting in a vehicle with another witness when a black vehicle with tinted windows pulled into the driveway. Stumph exited the vehicle and walked toward the witness in the vehicle, asking where his ex-girlfriend was. The witness told him they didn’t know. Stumph began opening the door of the vehicle and the victim exited, walking around the front of the vehicle toward Stumph. A brief argument ensued, and Stumph fired at the victim.&nbsp;

The defendant has a history of several municipal domestic assault offenses. He is being held on a $250,000 cash only bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747771179858.png" alt="Stumph photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Stumph photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City man faces felony charges in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred in Independence, Missouri.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2621/IPD25-28266-Afterhours-Complaint-Packet---Stump-Jadon">Jadon Stumph faces</a>, 28, is charged with&nbsp;2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.On May 13, police were dispatched to an Independence, Missouri address regarding a shooting and located the deceased victim in the driveway with two gunshot wounds.Witnesses reported the victim was sitting in a vehicle with another witness when a black vehicle with tinted windows pulled into the driveway. Stumph exited the vehicle and walked toward the witness in the vehicle, asking where his ex-girlfriend was. The witness told him they didn’t know. Stumph began opening the door of the vehicle and the victim exited, walking around the front of the vehicle toward Stumph. A brief argument ensued, and Stumph fired at the victim.&nbsp;The defendant has a history of several municipal domestic assault offenses. He is being held on a $250,000 cash only bond.&nbsp;

KC man accused in fatal shooting over ex-girlfriend

COFFEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Coffey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota Camry driven by Dallas R.&nbsp;Reeves, 20, Janesville, Wisconsin, was southbound on U.S. 75 just north of 8th Road.

The car was&nbsp;passing another vehicle. A northbound 2021 Chevy Silverado driven by Charles L&nbsp;Jarrell, 46, Leroy, Kansas, attempted to avoid a collision, slowed and steered to the northbound shoulder. 

The Camry driver also steered to the northbound shoulder and collided with the pickup.

After impact, the car spun and came to a rest in the northbound lane and shoulder. The pickup came to a rest in the north ditch.

Reeves was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Jones Funeral Home. EMS transported&nbsp;Jarrell and a 6-ear-old passenger from the pickup to the Coffey County Hospital.&nbsp; All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

COFFEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Coffey County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Toyota Camry driven by Dallas R.&nbsp;Reeves, 20, Janesville, Wisconsin, was southbound on U.S. 75 just north of 8th Road.The car was&nbsp;passing another vehicle. A northbound 2021 Chevy Silverado driven by Charles L&nbsp;Jarrell, 46, Leroy, Kansas, attempted to avoid a collision, slowed and steered to the northbound shoulder. The Camry driver also steered to the northbound shoulder and collided with the pickup.After impact, the car spun and came to a rest in the northbound lane and shoulder. The pickup came to a rest in the north ditch.Reeves was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Jones Funeral Home. EMS transported&nbsp;Jarrell and a 6-ear-old passenger from the pickup to the Coffey County Hospital.&nbsp; All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan. man and 6-year-old injured in fatal car, pickup crash

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Pawnee County Health Department are reporting a positive case of measles in a Pawnee County resident, according to a media release from the KDHE.

It is unknown if this case is associated with the ongoing outbreak of measles in Southwest Kansas.  KDHE, along with the Pawnee County Health Department, are actively notifying persons potentially exposed to this case of measles.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. 

People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs. 

If you have been exposed to measles you should take the following steps:Understand if you are susceptible to infection. Check if you’ve received a measles-containing vaccine, like the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, have medical documentation of past measles infection, or have laboratory evidence of immunity. People who are not vaccinated and have not previously had measles are especially vulnerable to becoming infected. 

 Monitor yourself for 21 days after your exposure. Look out for any symptoms—especially a fever and a new or unexplained skin rash—and contact your healthcare provider or local health department if symptoms develop. Avoid high-risk settings. If you are not immune, consider staying home to prevent the spread of measles. If you cannot remain home, stay away from large gatherings and people that might be susceptible to measles, including those who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants, or people who are immunocompromised. 

If you need medical care, call your provider ahead of time and let them know you may have been exposed to measles so they can take any necessary steps to protect others from potential measles exposure.  Talk to a healthcare provider. If you have any questions about your health or your immunity status, contact your healthcare provider. If you are not immune to measles, a healthcare provider can determine whether you need treatment to help prevent or lessen the severity of infection.  The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine.

 If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick. 

For questions, call the Pawnee County Health Department at 620-285-6963 or KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317 (option 5).For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at <a href="http://www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExeVl1UHJyWW5sOHI5TnVwMgEeawLlIP89m3dZJiemtRfkcAfND4YZiwJp3FKVdHLr0tNEnIgzQ1uPsVSecX0_aem_BcL16psGuoDdhXlh1fJXMA" target="_blank">www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles</a>.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741908251964.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Pawnee County Health Department are reporting a positive case of measles in a Pawnee County resident, according to a media release from the KDHE.It is unknown if this case is associated with the ongoing outbreak of measles in Southwest Kansas. KDHE, along with the Pawnee County Health Department, are actively notifying persons potentially exposed to this case of measles.Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs. If you have been exposed to measles you should take the following steps:Understand if you are susceptible to infection. Check if you’ve received a measles-containing vaccine, like the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, have medical documentation of past measles infection, or have laboratory evidence of immunity. People who are not vaccinated and have not previously had measles are especially vulnerable to becoming infected. Watch for symptoms. Monitor yourself for 21 days after your exposure. Look out for any symptoms—especially a fever and a new or unexplained skin rash—and contact your healthcare provider or local health department if symptoms develop. Avoid high-risk settings. If you are not immune, consider staying home to prevent the spread of measles. If you cannot remain home, stay away from large gatherings and people that might be susceptible to measles, including those who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants, or people who are immunocompromised. If you need medical care, call your provider ahead of time and let them know you may have been exposed to measles so they can take any necessary steps to protect others from potential measles exposure. Talk to a healthcare provider. If you have any questions about your health or your immunity status, contact your healthcare provider. If you are not immune to measles, a healthcare provider can determine whether you need treatment to help prevent or lessen the severity of infection. The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick. For questions, call the Pawnee County Health Department at 620-285-6963 or KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317 (option 5).For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at <a href="http://www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExeVl1UHJyWW5sOHI5TnVwMgEeawLlIP89m3dZJiemtRfkcAfND4YZiwJp3FKVdHLr0tNEnIgzQ1uPsVSecX0_aem_BcL16psGuoDdhXlh1fJXMA" target="_blank">www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles</a>.

KDHE reports case of measles in another Kansas county

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22FATIMA%20HUSSEIN%20and%20ALAN%20SUDERMAN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By FATIMA HUSSEIN and ALAN SUDERMAN Associated Press</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration says making cents doesn't make sense anymore.

The U.S. Mint has made its final order of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coins-and-medals/circulating-coins/penny?srsltid=AfmBOorp-P0PbOJ5jRYvigQlRIm4B-3l4zGXxjxQJQtTp0bE4wPjPh8E">penny</a>&nbsp;blanks and plans to stop producing the coin when those run out, a Treasury Department official confirmed Thursday. This move comes as the cost of making pennies has increased markedly, by upward of 20% in 2024, according to the Treasury.

By stopping the penny's production, the Treasury expects an immediate annual savings of $56 million in reduced material costs, according to the official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the news.

In February, President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-penny-treasury-mint-192e3b9ad9891d50e7014997653051ba">announced</a>&nbsp;that he had ordered his administration to cease production of the 1-cent coin.

“For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful!” Trump wrote at that time in a post on his Truth Social site. “I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies.”

There are about 114 billion pennies currently in circulation in the United States — that's $1.14 billion — but they are greatly underutilized, the Treasury says. The penny was one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/us-circulating-coins">first coins made</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Mint after its establishment in 1792.

The nation's treasury secretary has the authority to mint and issue coins “in amounts the secretary decides are necessary to meet the needs of the United States.”

Advocates for ditching the penny cite its high production cost — almost 4 cents per penny now, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmint.gov/content/dam/usmint/reports/2024-annual-report.pdf">the U.S. Mint</a>&nbsp;— and limited utility. Fans of the penny cite its usefulness in charity drives and relative bargain in production costs compared with the nickel, which costs almost 14 cents to mint.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.

Pennies are the most popular coin made by the U.S. Mint, which reported making 3.2 billion of them last year. That’s more than half of all the new coins it made last year.

Congress, which dictates currency specifications such as the size and metal content of coins, could make Trump’s order permanent through law. But past congressional efforts to ditch the penny have failed.

Two bipartisan bills to kill the penny permanently were introduced this year.

Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., introduced the&nbsp;<a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lee.senate.gov%2F2025%2F5%2Flee-merkley-bill-would-save-taxpayers-millions-by-ending-penny-production&amp;data=05%7C02%7CFHussein%40ap.org%7C0654612ecd2d4ec3808408dd9942af9f%7Ce442e1abfd6b4ba3abf3b020eb50df37%7C1%7C0%7C638835233891671752%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Bzu01aKqBRZ%2FA8JUhDlqQx9lGZmEakeg5R1X4Fz2mwE%3D&amp;reserved=0">Make Sense Not Cents Act</a>&nbsp;this month. In April, Reps. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and Robert Garcia, D-Calif., along with Sens. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced the Common Cents Act.

Jay Zagorsky, professor of markets, public policy, and law at Boston University, said that while he supports the move to end penny production, Congress must include language in any proposed legislation to require rounding up in pricing, which will eliminate the demand for pennies.

Zagorsky, who recently published a book called “The Power of Cash: Why Using Paper Money is Good for You and Society,” said otherwise simply ditching the penny will only increase demand for nickels, which are even more expensive, at 14 cents to produce.

“If we suddenly have to produce a lot of nickels — and we lose more money on producing every nickel — eliminating the penny doesn't make any sense.”

Mark Weller, executive director of the Americans for Common Cents group — which conducts research and provides information to Congress and the Executive Branch on the value and benefits of the penny — says “there has been an evolution over the past six months that inevitability the production of the penny will be halted.”

His group advocates for the U.S. to find ways to reduce the cost of producing the nickel, especially since it will be more in demand once the penny is totally eliminated from circulation.

“It's incumbent on Treasury to come up with a cheaper way to make the nickel,” Weller said. “Let's make sure we're making our coins as least expensively as possible and maintaining the option to use cash in transactions.”

Suderman reported from Richmond, Virginia.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22FATIMA%20HUSSEIN%20and%20ALAN%20SUDERMAN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By FATIMA HUSSEIN and ALAN SUDERMAN Associated Press</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration says making cents doesn't make sense anymore.The U.S. Mint has made its final order of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmint.gov/learn/coins-and-medals/circulating-coins/penny?srsltid=AfmBOorp-P0PbOJ5jRYvigQlRIm4B-3l4zGXxjxQJQtTp0bE4wPjPh8E">penny</a>&nbsp;blanks and plans to stop producing the coin when those run out, a Treasury Department official confirmed Thursday. This move comes as the cost of making pennies has increased markedly, by upward of 20% in 2024, according to the Treasury.By stopping the penny's production, the Treasury expects an immediate annual savings of $56 million in reduced material costs, according to the official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the news.In February, President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-penny-treasury-mint-192e3b9ad9891d50e7014997653051ba">announced</a>&nbsp;that he had ordered his administration to cease production of the 1-cent coin.“For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful!” Trump wrote at that time in a post on his Truth Social site. “I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies.”There are about 114 billion pennies currently in circulation in the United States — that's $1.14 billion — but they are greatly underutilized, the Treasury says. The penny was one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmint.gov/learn/history/us-circulating-coins">first coins made</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Mint after its establishment in 1792.The nation's treasury secretary has the authority to mint and issue coins “in amounts the secretary decides are necessary to meet the needs of the United States.”Advocates for ditching the penny cite its high production cost — almost 4 cents per penny now, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usmint.gov/content/dam/usmint/reports/2024-annual-report.pdf">the U.S. Mint</a>&nbsp;— and limited utility. Fans of the penny cite its usefulness in charity drives and relative bargain in production costs compared with the nickel, which costs almost 14 cents to mint.The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.Pennies are the most popular coin made by the U.S. Mint, which reported making 3.2 billion of them last year. That’s more than half of all the new coins it made last year.Congress, which dictates currency specifications such as the size and metal content of coins, could make Trump’s order permanent through law. But past congressional efforts to ditch the penny have failed.Two bipartisan bills to kill the penny permanently were introduced this year.Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., introduced the&nbsp;<a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lee.senate.gov%2F2025%2F5%2Flee-merkley-bill-would-save-taxpayers-millions-by-ending-penny-production&amp;data=05%7C02%7CFHussein%40ap.org%7C0654612ecd2d4ec3808408dd9942af9f%7Ce442e1abfd6b4ba3abf3b020eb50df37%7C1%7C0%7C638835233891671752%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Bzu01aKqBRZ%2FA8JUhDlqQx9lGZmEakeg5R1X4Fz2mwE%3D&amp;reserved=0">Make Sense Not Cents Act</a>&nbsp;this month. In April, Reps. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and Robert Garcia, D-Calif., along with Sens. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced the Common Cents Act.Jay Zagorsky, professor of markets, public policy, and law at Boston University, said that while he supports the move to end penny production, Congress must include language in any proposed legislation to require rounding up in pricing, which will eliminate the demand for pennies.Zagorsky, who recently published a book called “The Power of Cash: Why Using Paper Money is Good for You and Society,” said otherwise simply ditching the penny will only increase demand for nickels, which are even more expensive, at 14 cents to produce.“If we suddenly have to produce a lot of nickels — and we lose more money on producing every nickel — eliminating the penny doesn't make any sense.”Mark Weller, executive director of the Americans for Common Cents group — which conducts research and provides information to Congress and the Executive Branch on the value and benefits of the penny — says “there has been an evolution over the past six months that inevitability the production of the penny will be halted.”His group advocates for the U.S. to find ways to reduce the cost of producing the nickel, especially since it will be more in demand once the penny is totally eliminated from circulation.“It's incumbent on Treasury to come up with a cheaper way to make the nickel,” Weller said. “Let's make sure we're making our coins as least expensively as possible and maintaining the option to use cash in transactions.”__Suderman reported from Richmond, Virginia.

US Mint moves forward with plans to kill the penny

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in vehicle crash that left another man dead made his first court appearance in the case Thursday.

Christian Sheppard, 33 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On Dec. 29, police responded to a collision in the 200 block of N. Charles Street in Wichita, according to a media release. First responders found the vehicle that struck a tree and fence and caught fire. A passenger, identified as 32-year-old Chekiel Wright, died, and the driver, later identified as Sheppard was seriously injured.

On May 21, police arrested Sheppard.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is scheduled back in court on June 5,&nbsp; before Judge Tyler Roush, according to the district attorney's office.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747917397070.png" alt="SHEPPARD Sheppard photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>SHEPPARD Sheppard photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in vehicle crash that left another man dead made his first court appearance in the case Thursday.Christian Sheppard, 33 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On Dec. 29, police responded to a collision in the 200 block of N. Charles Street in Wichita, according to a media release. First responders found the vehicle that struck a tree and fence and caught fire. A passenger, identified as 32-year-old Chekiel Wright, died, and the driver, later identified as Sheppard was seriously injured.On May 21, police arrested Sheppard.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is scheduled back in court on June 5,&nbsp; before Judge Tyler Roush, according to the district attorney's office.&nbsp;

Kan. driver accused in deadly crash, fire faces a judge

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — President Donald Trump used the first military commencement address of his second term Saturday to congratulate West Point cadets on their academic and physical accomplishments while veering sharply into politics, taking credit for America's military might while boasting about the "mandate" he says he earned in the 2024 presidential election.

"In a few moments, you'll become graduates of the most elite and storied military academy in human history," Trump said at the ceremony at Michie Stadium. "And you will become officers of the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known. And I know, because I rebuilt that army, and I rebuilt the military. And we rebuilt it like nobody has ever rebuilt it before in my first term."

Wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat, the Republican president told the 1,002 graduating cadets that the U.S. is the "hottest country in the world," boasted of his administration's achievements and underscored a distinct America First ethos for the U.S. military, which he called "the greatest fighting force in the history of the world."

"We're getting rid of distractions and we're focusing our military on its core mission: crushing America's adversaries, killing America's enemies and defending our great American flag like it has never been defended before," Trump said. He later said that "the job of the U.S. Armed Forces is not to host drag shows or transform foreign cultures," a reference to drag shows on military bases that former President Joe Biden's administration halted after Republican criticism.

Trump said the cadets were graduating at a "defining moment" in the Army's history, as he criticized past political leaders for leading soldiers into "nation-building crusades to nations that wanted nothing to do with us." He said he was clearing the military of transgender ideas, "critical race theory" and trainings he called divisive and political.

"They subjected the armed forces to all manner of social projects and political causes while leaving our borders undefended and depleting our arsenals to fight other countries' wars," he said of past administrations.

Several points during his address at the football stadium on the military academy's campus were indistinguishable from a political speech. Trump claimed that when he left the White House in 2021, "we had no wars, we had no problems, we had nothing but success, we had the most incredible economy." He noted that he won all seven swing states in the November election, arguing that those results gave him a "great mandate" and "it gives us the right to do what we want to do."

But Trump also took several moments to acknowledge specific graduates' achievements. He summoned one cadet, Chris Verdugo, on the stage, noting that he completed an 18.5-mile march on a freezing night in January in just two hours and 30 minutes. He had the top-ranking lacrosse team stand to be recognized. Trump also brought West Point's football quarterback, Bryson Daily, to the lectern, praising his "steel"-like shoulder. He later used Daily as an example to make a case against transgender women participating in women's athletics.

In a nod to presidential tradition, Trump also pardoned about half a dozen cadets who had faced disciplinary infractions.

"You could have done anything you wanted, you could have gone anywhere," Trump told the class, later continuing: "Writing your own ticket to top jobs on Wall Street or Silicon Valley wouldn't be bad, but I think what you're doing is better."

The president also ran through several pieces of advice for the graduating cadets, urging them to do what they love, think big, work hard, hold onto their culture, keep faith in America and take risks.

"This is a time of incredible change and we do not need an officer corps of careerists and yes men," Trump said, going on to note recent advances in military technology. "We need patriots with guts and vision and backbone."

Trump closed his speech by calling on the graduating cadets to "never ever give up," then said he was leaving to deal with matters involving Russia and China.

"We're going to keep winning, this country's going to keep winning, and with you, the job is easy," he said.

Just outside campus, about three dozen demonstrators gathered before the ceremony and were waving miniature American flags. One in the crowd carried a sign that said "Support Our Veterans" and "Stop the Cuts," while others held up plastic buckets with the message: "Go Army Beat Fascism."

Trump gave the commencement address at West Point in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged the graduating cadets to "never forget" the soldiers who fought a war over slavery during his remarks, which came as the nation was reckoning with its history on race after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Trump also paid tribute to the military academy's history and its famed graduates, including Douglas MacArthur and Dwight D. Eisenhower. The ceremony five years ago drew scrutiny because the U.S. Military Academy forced the graduating cadets, who had been home because of COVID-19, to return to an area near a pandemic hot spot.

Trump traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, earlier this month to speak to the University of Alabama's graduating class. His remarks mixed standard commencement fare and advice with political attacks against his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, musings about transgender athletes and lies about the 2020 election.

On Friday, Vice President JD Vance spoke to the graduating class at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Vance said in his remarks that Trump is working to ensure U.S. soldiers are deployed with clear goals, rather than the "undefined missions" and "open-ended conflicts" of the past.

Swenson reported from Bridgewater, New Jersey.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748101992053.png" alt="After his address, President Trump was given a photo of the class of 2025 -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>After his address, President Trump was given a photo of the class of 2025 -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By SEUNG MIN KIM and ALI SWENSON&nbsp;WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — President Donald Trump used the first military commencement address of his second term Saturday to congratulate West Point cadets on their academic and physical accomplishments while veering sharply into politics, taking credit for America's military might while boasting about the "mandate" he says he earned in the 2024 presidential election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump Addresses the Army Academy’s Class of 2025 <a href="https://t.co/fmzvdGxCUx">https://t.co/fmzvdGxCUx</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1926277258576085165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Panaromic photo of West Point Class of 2025 presented to President Trump as class gift after commencement address <a href="https://t.co/A7aYOBcsBf">pic.twitter.com/A7aYOBcsBf</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1926347848766927164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"In a few moments, you'll become graduates of the most elite and storied military academy in human history," Trump said at the ceremony at Michie Stadium. "And you will become officers of the greatest and most powerful army the world has ever known. And I know, because I rebuilt that army, and I rebuilt the military. And we rebuilt it like nobody has ever rebuilt it before in my first term."Wearing a red "Make America Great Again" hat, the Republican president told the 1,002 graduating cadets that the U.S. is the "hottest country in the world," boasted of his administration's achievements and underscored a distinct America First ethos for the U.S. military, which he called "the greatest fighting force in the history of the world."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WestPoint_USMA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WestPoint_USMA</a>🇺🇸🦅 <a href="https://t.co/17qWJjNzE2">pic.twitter.com/17qWJjNzE2</a>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1926364115561255162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"We're getting rid of distractions and we're focusing our military on its core mission: crushing America's adversaries, killing America's enemies and defending our great American flag like it has never been defended before," Trump said. He later said that "the job of the U.S. Armed Forces is not to host drag shows or transform foreign cultures," a reference to drag shows on military bases that former President Joe Biden's administration halted after Republican criticism.Trump said the cadets were graduating at a "defining moment" in the Army's history, as he criticized past political leaders for leading soldiers into "nation-building crusades to nations that wanted nothing to do with us." He said he was clearing the military of transgender ideas, "critical race theory" and trainings he called divisive and political."They subjected the armed forces to all manner of social projects and political causes while leaving our borders undefended and depleting our arsenals to fight other countries' wars," he said of past administrations.Several points during his address at the football stadium on the military academy's campus were indistinguishable from a political speech. Trump claimed that when he left the White House in 2021, "we had no wars, we had no problems, we had nothing but success, we had the most incredible economy." He noted that he won all seven swing states in the November election, arguing that those results gave him a "great mandate" and "it gives us the right to do what we want to do."But Trump also took several moments to acknowledge specific graduates' achievements. He summoned one cadet, Chris Verdugo, on the stage, noting that he completed an 18.5-mile march on a freezing night in January in just two hours and 30 minutes. He had the top-ranking lacrosse team stand to be recognized. Trump also brought West Point's football quarterback, Bryson Daily, to the lectern, praising his "steel"-like shoulder. He later used Daily as an example to make a case against transgender women participating in women's athletics.In a nod to presidential tradition, Trump also pardoned about half a dozen cadets who had faced disciplinary infractions."You could have done anything you wanted, you could have gone anywhere," Trump told the class, later continuing: "Writing your own ticket to top jobs on Wall Street or Silicon Valley wouldn't be bad, but I think what you're doing is better."The president also ran through several pieces of advice for the graduating cadets, urging them to do what they love, think big, work hard, hold onto their culture, keep faith in America and take risks."This is a time of incredible change and we do not need an officer corps of careerists and yes men," Trump said, going on to note recent advances in military technology. "We need patriots with guts and vision and backbone."Trump closed his speech by calling on the graduating cadets to "never ever give up," then said he was leaving to deal with matters involving Russia and China."We're going to keep winning, this country's going to keep winning, and with you, the job is easy," he said.Just outside campus, about three dozen demonstrators gathered before the ceremony and were waving miniature American flags. One in the crowd carried a sign that said "Support Our Veterans" and "Stop the Cuts," while others held up plastic buckets with the message: "Go Army Beat Fascism."Trump gave the commencement address at West Point in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He urged the graduating cadets to "never forget" the soldiers who fought a war over slavery during his remarks, which came as the nation was reckoning with its history on race after the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.Trump also paid tribute to the military academy's history and its famed graduates, including Douglas MacArthur and Dwight D. Eisenhower. The ceremony five years ago drew scrutiny because the U.S. Military Academy forced the graduating cadets, who had been home because of COVID-19, to return to an area near a pandemic hot spot.Trump traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, earlier this month to speak to the University of Alabama's graduating class. His remarks mixed standard commencement fare and advice with political attacks against his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, musings about transgender athletes and lies about the 2020 election.On Friday, Vice President JD Vance spoke to the graduating class at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Vance said in his remarks that Trump is working to ensure U.S. soldiers are deployed with clear goals, rather than the "undefined missions" and "open-ended conflicts" of the past.—Swenson reported from Bridgewater, New Jersey.

🎥Trump has fun with West Point cadets at commencement

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Drivers will see an increased law enforcement presence on Kansas roads during the national Click It or Ticket campaign which runs from May 18 to June 1.

Earlier this monthg, Master Trooper C. Rials, K-164, responded to a call of a crash on eastbound Interstate 70 near the Lecompton exit on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasTurnpike?__cft__[0]=AZXJ0zDyRX0ZWEJXI3qtG4wBSb-RfWxHDnEobWWd26KBt8EXY0B2GCvo8nHyXyNNmyKDy0SJiMqy2pdAt0M5E2aNJYW3Ue7zxXMjrGtK1cHXWLen3na-M46QwITVz5ZRUzIF3w_bDtgkbUwvPiW41zjbvag596l402LrcUd8rVaFE3uc-1HWvDQJgukM3NY3cuA5duTTMuCurx8HCNPvZB0B&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas Turnpike Authority</a>, according to a social media report from KHP Troop B.

The driver was wearing a seatbelt and did not have major injuries. 

"Every multi-lane highway has traffic in many lanes. It’s always important to be aware of your surroundings and to know where other cars are on the road."

"When making lane changes, check your blind spots for other traffic before starting any movements to sure the lane is clear."

"These good habits could prevent a crash, and save your life or the life of someone else on the road. "

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747390473268.png" alt="Photos KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photos KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Drivers will see an increased law enforcement presence on Kansas roads during the national Click It or Ticket campaign which runs from May 18 to June 1.Earlier this monthg, Master Trooper C. Rials, K-164, responded to a call of a crash on eastbound Interstate 70 near the Lecompton exit on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasTurnpike?__cft__[0]=AZXJ0zDyRX0ZWEJXI3qtG4wBSb-RfWxHDnEobWWd26KBt8EXY0B2GCvo8nHyXyNNmyKDy0SJiMqy2pdAt0M5E2aNJYW3Ue7zxXMjrGtK1cHXWLen3na-M46QwITVz5ZRUzIF3w_bDtgkbUwvPiW41zjbvag596l402LrcUd8rVaFE3uc-1HWvDQJgukM3NY3cuA5duTTMuCurx8HCNPvZB0B&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas Turnpike Authority</a>, according to a social media report from KHP Troop B.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747390450653.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The driver was wearing a seatbelt and did not have major injuries. "Every multi-lane highway has traffic in many lanes. It’s always important to be aware of your surroundings and to know where other cars are on the road.""When making lane changes, check your blind spots for other traffic before starting any movements to sure the lane is clear.""These good habits could prevent a crash, and save your life or the life of someone else on the road. "

KHP: Once again seat belts saved a life

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MICHELLE%20CHAPMAN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer</a>

Home Depot doesn't expect to raise prices because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-inflation-economy-prices-eaf0b00bbdfa50c694590c70467a6cd4">tariffs</a>, saying it has spent years diversifying the sources for the goods on its shelves.

Billy Bastek, executive vice president of merchandising, said during a conference call on Tuesday that Home Depot's suppliers have shifted sourcing across several countries and that the company doesn't expect any single country outside of the U.S. will represent more than 10% of its purchases 12 months from now.

“We don’t see broad based price increases for our customers at all going forward,” he said.

Other companies, domestic and foreign, have warned customers that price hikes are on the way due to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">trade war kicked off by the U.S.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walmart-earnings-tariff-consumers-inflation-773f7de5081c40a98c98fbb293fa5f96">Walmart</a>&nbsp;said last week that it has already raised prices and will have to do so again in the near future. Late Monday, Subaru of America said it would raise prices on some of its most popular models by as much as $2,000.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-walmart-inflation-import-taxes-e2012e0d9e242b0be0b9474aa58d41fd">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;lambasted Walmart, saying on social media over the weekend that the retail giant should “eat” the additional costs created by his tariffs.

As Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-time-china-switzerland-660aa519e9059de7d81368ec4eef4b38">jacked up import taxes</a>, he has tried to assure a skeptical public that foreign producers would pay for those taxes and that retailers and automakers would absorb the additional expenses. Most economists are deeply skeptical of those claims and have warned that the trade penalties would worsen inflation.

Tariffs on materials like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-home-improvement-housing-market-home-construction-ae55bcae89a8ad78814c3dbce69e435f">lumber</a>&nbsp;are also a concern for both homebuilders and home buyers. A homebuyer now needs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-affordability-home-prices-real-estate-f17aa54776a04e4622d0c5afa9f09ff8">earn at least $114,000 a year</a>&nbsp;to afford a $431,250 home -- the national median listing price in April, according to data released this month by Realtor.com

Additional housing material costs would put home ownership out of reach for more potential buyers, though Home Depot is somewhat insulated as it sources the majority of its lumber in the U.S.

Early last year, the company said that about 17% of its wood is sourced from Canada. The company would not say Tuesday if those import levels have changed though after negotiations, Canadian lumber was exempted from additional 25% U.S. tariffs.

During the first quarter, Home Depot’s revenue climbed as customers spent slightly more on smaller home projects.

A number of U.S. companies have lowered or pulled financial guidance for investors as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-inflation-economy-prices-eaf0b00bbdfa50c694590c70467a6cd4">tariffs launched by the the Trump administration</a>&nbsp;scramble world trade but on Tuesday, Home Depot stuck by earlier projections of sales growth at around 2.8%.

Shares of the Atlanta company dipped slightly on Tuesday.

Revenue rose to $39.86 billion from $36.42 billion a year earlier, beating the $39.3 billion that analysts polled by FactSet expected.

Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, edged down 0.3%. In the U.S., comparable store sales climbed 0.2%.

Wall Street anticipated a 0.1% decline in same-store sales.

Customer transactions rose 2.1% in the quarter. The amount shoppers spent climbed to $90.71 per average ticket from $90.68 in the prior-year period.

“Our first quarter results were in line with our expectations as we saw continued customer engagement across smaller projects and in our spring events,” Home Depot Chair and CEO Ted Decker said in a statement.

Home improvement retailers like Home Depot have been dealing with homeowners putting off bigger projects because of increased borrowing costs and lingering concerns about inflation.

The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-sales-mortgage-economy-7c1570c42c41f9513602b4bee795460e">Sales of previously occupied homes have dropped</a>&nbsp;as elevated mortgage rates and rising prices discouraged home shoppers.

Existing home sales fell 5.9% in March from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million units, the National Association of Realtors said. The March sales decline was the largest monthly drop since November 2022, and marks the slowest sales pace for the month of March going back to 2009.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.

“One of the central problems for Home Depot is the skittish housing market,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in a statement. “While last quarter was robust, home sales declined by 3.1% year-over-year this quarter as consumers were deterred from moving by continued high interest rates and growing economic uncertainty. This lack of recovery makes it difficult to drive home improvement spending.”

For the three months ended May 4, Home Depot Inc. earned $3.43 billion, or $3.45 per share. A year earlier the Atlanta-based company earned $3.6 billion, or $3.63 per share.

Stripping out certain items, earnings were $3.56 per share. Wall Street was calling for earnings of $3.60 per share.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747942247274.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22MICHELLE%20CHAPMAN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer</a>Home Depot doesn't expect to raise prices because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-inflation-economy-prices-eaf0b00bbdfa50c694590c70467a6cd4">tariffs</a>, saying it has spent years diversifying the sources for the goods on its shelves.Billy Bastek, executive vice president of merchandising, said during a conference call on Tuesday that Home Depot's suppliers have shifted sourcing across several countries and that the company doesn't expect any single country outside of the U.S. will represent more than 10% of its purchases 12 months from now.“We don’t see broad based price increases for our customers at all going forward,” he said.Other companies, domestic and foreign, have warned customers that price hikes are on the way due to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">trade war kicked off by the U.S.</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/walmart-earnings-tariff-consumers-inflation-773f7de5081c40a98c98fbb293fa5f96">Walmart</a>&nbsp;said last week that it has already raised prices and will have to do so again in the near future. Late Monday, Subaru of America said it would raise prices on some of its most popular models by as much as $2,000.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-walmart-inflation-import-taxes-e2012e0d9e242b0be0b9474aa58d41fd">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;lambasted Walmart, saying on social media over the weekend that the retail giant should “eat” the additional costs created by his tariffs.As Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-time-china-switzerland-660aa519e9059de7d81368ec4eef4b38">jacked up import taxes</a>, he has tried to assure a skeptical public that foreign producers would pay for those taxes and that retailers and automakers would absorb the additional expenses. Most economists are deeply skeptical of those claims and have warned that the trade penalties would worsen inflation.Tariffs on materials like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-home-improvement-housing-market-home-construction-ae55bcae89a8ad78814c3dbce69e435f">lumber</a>&nbsp;are also a concern for both homebuilders and home buyers. A homebuyer now needs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-affordability-home-prices-real-estate-f17aa54776a04e4622d0c5afa9f09ff8">earn at least $114,000 a year</a>&nbsp;to afford a $431,250 home -- the national median listing price in April, according to data released this month by Realtor.comAdditional housing material costs would put home ownership out of reach for more potential buyers, though Home Depot is somewhat insulated as it sources the majority of its lumber in the U.S.Early last year, the company said that about 17% of its wood is sourced from Canada. The company would not say Tuesday if those import levels have changed though after negotiations, Canadian lumber was exempted from additional 25% U.S. tariffs.During the first quarter, Home Depot’s revenue climbed as customers spent slightly more on smaller home projects.A number of U.S. companies have lowered or pulled financial guidance for investors as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-inflation-economy-prices-eaf0b00bbdfa50c694590c70467a6cd4">tariffs launched by the the Trump administration</a>&nbsp;scramble world trade but on Tuesday, Home Depot stuck by earlier projections of sales growth at around 2.8%.Shares of the Atlanta company dipped slightly on Tuesday.Revenue rose to $39.86 billion from $36.42 billion a year earlier, beating the $39.3 billion that analysts polled by FactSet expected.Sales at stores open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer’s health, edged down 0.3%. In the U.S., comparable store sales climbed 0.2%.Wall Street anticipated a 0.1% decline in same-store sales.Customer transactions rose 2.1% in the quarter. The amount shoppers spent climbed to $90.71 per average ticket from $90.68 in the prior-year period.“Our first quarter results were in line with our expectations as we saw continued customer engagement across smaller projects and in our spring events,” Home Depot Chair and CEO Ted Decker said in a statement.Home improvement retailers like Home Depot have been dealing with homeowners putting off bigger projects because of increased borrowing costs and lingering concerns about inflation.The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-sales-mortgage-economy-7c1570c42c41f9513602b4bee795460e">Sales of previously occupied homes have dropped</a>&nbsp;as elevated mortgage rates and rising prices discouraged home shoppers.Existing home sales fell 5.9% in March from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million units, the National Association of Realtors said. The March sales decline was the largest monthly drop since November 2022, and marks the slowest sales pace for the month of March going back to 2009.Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.“One of the central problems for Home Depot is the skittish housing market,” Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in a statement. “While last quarter was robust, home sales declined by 3.1% year-over-year this quarter as consumers were deterred from moving by continued high interest rates and growing economic uncertainty. This lack of recovery makes it difficult to drive home improvement spending.”For the three months ended May 4, Home Depot Inc. earned $3.43 billion, or $3.45 per share. A year earlier the Atlanta-based company earned $3.6 billion, or $3.63 per share.Stripping out certain items, earnings were $3.56 per share. Wall Street was calling for earnings of $3.60 per share.

Home Depot says it doesn't expect to boost prices because of tariffs

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.

Just after 4p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to Westport and Broadway on a reported accident. The call was updated to a shooting,&nbsp; according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders located a shooting victim in a vehicle near 43rd and Broadway unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. EMS responded and transported the victim to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary information indicates an argument took place inside of a business. The argument continued as both the adult male victim and an adult male suspect walked outside of the business. The argument then escalated to gunfire. 

The victim left the area in a vehicle before coming to a stop near 43rd and Broadway. Initial responding officers located a man at Westport and Broadway that had been involved in an accident when the victim was driving out of the area and subsequently struck his vehicle.

&nbsp;This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Just before 9p.m. Friday police reported they had taken a suspect into custody.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748052749455.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just after 4p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to Westport and Broadway on a reported accident. The call was updated to a shooting,&nbsp; according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748052715240.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located a shooting victim in a vehicle near 43rd and Broadway unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. EMS responded and transported the victim to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Preliminary information indicates an argument took place inside of a business. The argument continued as both the adult male victim and an adult male suspect walked outside of the business. The argument then escalated to gunfire. The victim left the area in a vehicle before coming to a stop near 43rd and Broadway. Initial responding officers located a man at Westport and Broadway that had been involved in an accident when the victim was driving out of the area and subsequently struck his vehicle.&nbsp;This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Just before 9p.m. Friday police reported they had taken a suspect into custody.&nbsp;

KCPD: Homicide victim involved in crash driving from shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans early Thursday took a major step forward on President Donald Trump’s agenda, approving a legislative package that combines tax breaks, spending cuts, border security funding and other priorities.

House committees labored for months on the bill, which underwent late changes to win over holdouts in the Republican conference. It exceeds 1,000 pages and is titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a nod to Trump himself.

Republicans made one last round of revisions before the bill reached the House floor, boosting the state and local tax deduction to win over centrists and speeding up the work requirements in Medicaid to win over those who didn’t believe the bill did enough to curb spending.

Here’s a look at what’s in the legislative package, which is expected to undergo more changes when it goes to the Senate.

Republicans look to make permanent the individual income and estate tax cuts passed in Trump’s first term, in 2017, plus enact promises he made on the 2024 campaign trail to not tax tips, overtime and interest on some auto loans.

To partially offset the lost revenue, Republicans propose repealing or phasing out more quickly the clean energy tax credits passed during Joe Biden’s presidency, helping to bring down the overall cost of the tax portion to about $3.8 trillion.

The bill includes a temporary boost in the standard deduction — a $1,000 increase for individuals, bringing it to $16,000 for individual filers, and a $2,000 boost for joint filers, bringing it to $32,000. The deduction reduces the amount of income that is actually subject to income tax.

There is also a temporary $500 increase in the child tax credit, bringing it to $2,500 for 2025 through 2028. It then returns to $2,000 and will increase to account for inflation.

The estate tax exemption rises to $15 million and is adjusted for inflation going forward.

One of the thorniest issues in negotiations had been how much to raise the state and local tax deduction, now capped at $10,000. That’s been a priority of New York lawmakers. The bill increases the “SALT” cap to $40,000 for incomes up to $500,000, with the cap phasing downward for those with higher incomes. Also, the cap and income threshold will increase 1% annually over 10 years.

Several of the provisions Trump promised in the campaign would be temporary, lasting roughly through his term in office. The tax breaks for tips, overtime and car loan interest expire at the end of 2028. That’s also the case for a $4,000 increase in the standard deduction for seniors.

Among the various business tax provisions, small businesses, including partnerships and S corporations, will be able to subtract 23% of their qualified business income from their taxes. The deduction has been 20%

Businesses will temporarily be allowed to fully expense domestic research and development costs in the year they occur and the cost of machinery, equipment and other qualifying assets. This encourages businesses to invest in ways that enhances their productivity.

Parents and older Americans face work requirements for food assistance

House Republicans would reduce spending on food aid, what is known as the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, by about $267 billion over 10 years.

States would shoulder 5% of benefit costs, beginning in fiscal 2028, and 75% of the administrative costs. Currently, states pay none of the benefit and half of the administration costs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747962394542.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans early Thursday took a major step forward on President Donald Trump’s agenda, approving a legislative package that combines tax breaks, spending cuts, border security funding and other priorities.House committees labored for months on the bill, which underwent late changes to win over holdouts in the Republican conference. It exceeds 1,000 pages and is titled the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a nod to Trump himself.Republicans made one last round of revisions before the bill reached the House floor, boosting the state and local tax deduction to win over centrists and speeding up the work requirements in Medicaid to win over those who didn’t believe the bill did enough to curb spending.Here’s a look at what’s in the legislative package, which is expected to undergo more changes when it goes to the Senate.<h2>Tax cuts for individuals and businesses</h2>Republicans look to make permanent the individual income and estate tax cuts passed in Trump’s first term, in 2017, plus enact promises he made on the 2024 campaign trail to not tax tips, overtime and interest on some auto loans.To partially offset the lost revenue, Republicans propose repealing or phasing out more quickly the clean energy tax credits passed during Joe Biden’s presidency, helping to bring down the overall cost of the tax portion to about $3.8 trillion.The bill includes a temporary boost in the standard deduction — a $1,000 increase for individuals, bringing it to $16,000 for individual filers, and a $2,000 boost for joint filers, bringing it to $32,000. The deduction reduces the amount of income that is actually subject to income tax.There is also a temporary $500 increase in the child tax credit, bringing it to $2,500 for 2025 through 2028. It then returns to $2,000 and will increase to account for inflation.The estate tax exemption rises to $15 million and is adjusted for inflation going forward.One of the thorniest issues in negotiations had been how much to raise the state and local tax deduction, now capped at $10,000. That’s been a priority of New York lawmakers. The bill increases the “SALT” cap to $40,000 for incomes up to $500,000, with the cap phasing downward for those with higher incomes. Also, the cap and income threshold will increase 1% annually over 10 years.Several of the provisions Trump promised in the campaign would be temporary, lasting roughly through his term in office. The tax breaks for tips, overtime and car loan interest expire at the end of 2028. That’s also the case for a $4,000 increase in the standard deduction for seniors.Among the various business tax provisions, small businesses, including partnerships and S corporations, will be able to subtract 23% of their qualified business income from their taxes. The deduction has been 20%Businesses will temporarily be allowed to fully expense domestic research and development costs in the year they occur and the cost of machinery, equipment and other qualifying assets. This encourages businesses to invest in ways that enhances their productivity.<h2>Parents and older Americans face work requirements for food assistance</h2>House Republicans would reduce spending on food aid, what is known as the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, by about $267 billion over 10 years.States would shoulder 5% of benefit costs, beginning in fiscal 2028, and 75% of the administrative costs. Currently, states pay none of the benefit and half of the administration costs.Republicans also are expanding the work requirements to receive food aid. Under current law, able-bodied adults without dependents must fulfill work requirements until they are 54, and that would change under the bill to age 64.Also, some parents are currently exempt from work requirements until their children are 18; that would change so only those caring for a dependent child under the age of 7 are exempt.<h2>And new work requirements for Medicaid</h2>A focal point of&nbsp;<a href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/Subtitle_D_Health_ae3638d840.pdf" target="_blank">the package</a>&nbsp;is nearly $700 billion in reduced spending in the Medicaid program, according to CBO.To be eligible for Medicaid, there would be new “community engagement requirements” of at least 80 hours per month of work, education or service for able-bodied adults without dependents. The new requirements would begin on Dec. 31, 2026. People would also have to verify their eligibility for the program twice a year, rather than just once.Republicans are looking to generate savings with new work requirements. But Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage.A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.<h2>No taxes on gun silencers, no money for Planned Parenthood and more</h2>Republicans are also using the package to reward allies and disadvantage political foes.The package would eliminate a $200 tax on gun silencers that has existed since Congress passed the National Firearms Act in 1934. The elimination of the tax is supported by the NRA.The group Giffords, which works to reduce gun violence, said silencers make it more difficult to recognize the sound of gunfire and locate the source of gunshots, impairing the ability of law enforcement to respond to active shooters.Republicans are also looking to prohibit Medicaid funds from going to Planned Parenthood, which provides abortion care. Democrats say defunding the organization would make it harder for millions of patients to get cancer screenings, pap tests and birth control.<h2>‘Trump’ kids $1,000 savings accounts</h2>The bill originally called for “MAGA” accounts, shorthand for Trump’s signature line, “Make America Great Again.” But in a last-minute revision, the bill changed the name to “Trump” accounts.For parents or guardians who open new “Trump” accounts for their children, the federal government will contribute $1,000 for babies born between Jan. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2028.Families could add $5,000 a year, with the account holders unable to take distributions before age 18. Then, they could access up to 50% of the money to pay for higher education, training and first-time home purchases. At age 30, account holders have access to the full balance of the account for any purpose.<h2>Funding for Trump’s mass deportation operation</h2>The legislation would provide $46.5 billion to revive construction of Trump’s wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and more money for the deportation agenda.There’s $4 billion to hire an additional 3,000 new Border Patrol agents as well as 5,000 new customs officers, and $2.1 billion for signing and retention bonuses. There’s also funds for 10,000 more Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and investigators.It includes major changes to immigration policy, imposing a $1,000 fee on migrants seeking asylum — something the nation has never done, putting it on par with few others, including Australia and Iran.Overall, the plan is to remove 1 million immigrants annually and house 100,000 people in detention centers.<h2>More money for the Pentagon and Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’</h2>There’s also nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://armedservices.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bill_text.pdf" target="_blank">with $150 billion</a>&nbsp;in new money for the Defense Department and national security.It would provide $25 billion for Trump’s “Golden Dome for America,” a long-envisioned missile defense shield, $21 billion to restock the nation’s ammunition arsenal, $34 billion to expand the naval fleet with more shipbuilding and some $5 billion for border security.It also includes $9 billion for servicemember quality of life-related issues, including housing, health care and special pay.<h2>Tax on university endowments and overhaul of student loans</h2>A wholesale revamping of the student loan program is key to the legislation, providing&nbsp;<a href="https://edworkforce.house.gov/uploadedfiles/ans_el_recon_01_xml.pdf" target="_blank">$330 billion in budget cuts and savings</a>.The proposal would replace all existing student loan repayment plans with just two: a standard option with monthly payments spread out over 10 to 25 years and a “repayment assistance” plan that is generally less generous than those it would replace.Among other changes, the bill would repeal Biden-era regulations that made it easier for borrowers to get loans canceled if their colleges defrauded them or closed suddenly.There would be a tax increase, up to 21%, on some university endowments.<h2>More drilling, mining on public lands</h2>To generate revenue,&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.house.gov/meetings/II/II00/20250506/118151/BILLS-119-CommitteePrint-W000821-Amdt-012.pdf" target="_blank">one section</a>&nbsp;would allow increased leasing of public lands for drilling, mining and logging while clearing the path for more development by speeding up government approvals.Royalty rates paid by companies to extract oil, gas and coal would be cut, reversing Biden’s attempts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-billings-environment-4f5213bcc57da138e4d9ae859841b74d">curb fossil fuels</a>&nbsp;to help address climate change.___Associated Press writers Collin Binkley and Mary Clare Jalonick in Washington and Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana, contributed to this report.