WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump rewarded top investors in one of his cryptocurrency projects with a swanky dinner on Thursday night, an event that showed the ascendance of an emerging financial industry — and also the president’s willingness to mix public office with personal profit.

Some 220 of the biggest investors in the $TRUMP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-meme-coin-token-75bf67ef9e6e54bf455f2f9f03470be3">meme coin</a>&nbsp;were invited to Trump’s luxury golf club in Northern Virginia, where they dined on filet mignon and halibut. According to participants’ posts on social media, Trump spoke for about half an hour before dancing to the song “YMCA.”

Despite the White House insisting that Trump would be attending the event “in his personal time,” he stood behind a lectern with the presidential seal as he touted an industry that’s generating profits for his family business.

After feeling unfairly targeted under President Joe Biden, the crypto industry has quickly become a powerful political force, donating huge sums to help Trump and friendly lawmakers. The U.S. Senate is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-stablecoins-cryptocurrency-coin-trump-5b551cf99c288c4f6059ed1689d6fcb4">advancing</a>&nbsp;key pro-crypto legislation while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-trump-meme-coins-price-high-2bdb8db9bfea9acc5d0f88a99759c855">bitcoin prices soar</a>.

However, even some pro-Trump crypto enthusiasts worry that the president’s personal involvement may be undermining their efforts to establish credibility and stability for the industry.

“It’s distasteful and an unnecessary distraction,” said Nic Carter, a Trump supporter and partner at the crypto investment firm Castle Island Ventures, who said the president is “hugging us to death” with his private crypto businesses. “We would much rather that he passes common sense legislation and leave it at that.”

As the president uses crypto as a platform to make money for his brand in unprecedented ways, it’s also creating an opportunity for potentially shadowy buyers to use the anonymity of the internet to buy access to the president. The lack of transparency was evident on a poster board at the dinner, where participants signed a ranking of top investors. Some used their real names; others used pseudonyms.

No media was allowed into the dinner, and the president was at his golf club for only about an hour. Protesters gathered outside the club holding signs that said “stop crypto corruption” and “no corrupt fools.”

Trump said the event was “good, very good” as he returned to the White House.

Concerns about Trump’s crypto ventures predate Inauguration Day

Three days before Trump took office on Jan. 20, he announced the creation of the $TRUMP meme coin at the fancy Crypto Ball held down the street from the White House. He described it as a way for his supporters to “have fun.”

Meme coins are the crypto sector’s black sheep. They are often created as a joke, with no real utility and prone to extremely wild price swings that tend to enrich a small group of insiders at the expense of less sophisticated investors.

The president’s meme coin is different, however, and has a clear utility: access to Trump. In addition to Thursday’s dinner, the top 25 were invited to a private reception with the president, with the top four getting $100,000 crypto-themed and Trump-branded watches.

Trump’s meme coin saw an initial spike in value, followed by a steep drop. Its creators, which include an entity controlled by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-deal-conflicts-saudi-arabia-emoluments-7379bee2e307d39bd43b534a05ae3207">Trump Organization</a>, have made hundreds of millions of dollars by collecting fees on trades.

First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;has her own meme coin, and Trump’s sons, Eric and Don Jr. — who are running the Trump Organization while their father is president — announced they are partnering with an existing firm to create a crypto mining company.

The Trump family also holds about a 60% stake in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-digital-assets-a08456edc5947451f3f23b184ed9fb29">World Liberty Financial</a>, a crypto project that provides yet another avenue where investors are buying in and enriching the president’s relatives. World Liberty has launched its own stablecoin, USD1. The project got a boost recently when World Liberty announced an investment fund in the United Arab Emirates would be using $2 billion worth of USD1 to purchase a stake in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

Stablecoins have values pegged to fixed assets like the U.S. dollar. Issuers profit by collecting the interest on the Treasury bonds and other assets used to back the stablecoins.

Crypto is now one of the most significant sources of the Trump family’s wealth.

“He’s becoming a salesman-in-chief,” said James Thurber, an American University professor emeritus who has long studied and taught about corruption around the world. “It allows for huge conflicts of interest.”

“I’m a big crypto fan,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One during last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-trip-uae-qatar-russia-ukraine-963b695c94b908a2f9c76271ea9d131b">trip to the Middle East</a>. “I’ve been that from the beginning, right from the campaign.”

That wasn’t always true. During his first term, Trump posted in July 2019 that cryptocurrencies were “not money” and had value that was “highly volatile and based on thin air.”

“Unregulated Crypto Assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade,” he added then. Even after leaving office in 2021, Trump told Fox Business Network that bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, “seems like a scam.”

Trump began to shift during a crypto event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in May 2024, receiving assurances that industry backers would spend lavishly to get him reelected. Another major milestone came last June, when Trump attended a high-dollar fundraiser at the San Francisco home of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/david-sacks">David Sacks</a>.

Those close to Trump, including his sons and billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>, helped further push his embrace of the industry. Sacks is now the Trump administration’s crypto czar, and many Cabinet members — including Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/howard-lutnick-trump-tariffs-commerce-department-9788590bbee10d09d3cb91822b0c9687">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;and Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;— have long been enthusiastic crypto boosters.

“I don’t have faith in the dollar,” Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sean-duffy">Sean Duffy</a>&nbsp;said in a 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6319141888112" target="_blank">interview</a>. “I’m bullish on bitcoin.”

Trump + crypto: A political marriage of convenience

Many top crypto backers were naturally wary of traditional politics, but gravitated toward Trump last year. They bristled at how Biden’s Securities and Exchange Commission aggressively brought civil suits against several major crypto companies.

Since Trump took office, many such cases have been dropped or paused, including one alleging that Justin Sun, a China-born crypto entrepreneur, and his company engaged in market manipulation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023-59" target="_blank">paid celebrities</a>&nbsp;for undisclosed promotions.

Sun, who once paid $6.2 million for a piece of art involving a banana taped to a wall, and then ate the banana, helped the Trumps start World Liberty Financial with an early $75 million investment.

Sun has&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/justinsuntron/status/1924676460461310008" target="_blank">disclosed</a>&nbsp;on social media that he is the biggest holder of $TRUMP meme coins and is attending Thursday’s dinner.

“I’m excited to connect with everyone, talk crypto, and discuss the future of our industry,” Sun said in advance.

He posted a video of Trump entering the private reception.

“Did you get to see the helicopter?” Trump said.

Are Trump family profits hurting other crypto investors?

Trump has signed executive orders promoting the industry, including calls to create a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-reserve-trump-crypto-sacks-5c91a1ab3dab9a8c86d4bc42b8db3f8f">government bitcoin reserve</a>. In March, Trump convened the first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-summit-bitcoin-sacks-c87505c8cf0aaef3398bf0bb1139b420">cryptocurrency summit</a>&nbsp;at the White House.

But some of the industry’s biggest names, often brash and outspoken, have kept mostly mum on Trump’s meme coins and other projects.

“It’s not my place to really comment on President Trump’s activity,” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said at a recent public event.

Meanwhile, a top legislative priority for crypto-backers, a bill clarifying how digital assets are to be regulated, has advanced in the Senate. But some Democrats have tried to stall other pro-crypto legislation over the president’s personal dealings — and see the dinner as a particularly egregious case.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said the gathering was “in effect, putting a ‘for sale’ sign on the White House.”

“It’s auctioning off access,” Blumenthal said on a Thursday press call.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is attending “in his personal time.” The White House has also said it has nothing to do with Trump’s meme coin.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748014971200.png" alt="File image from White House video&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>File image from White House video&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump rewarded top investors in one of his cryptocurrency projects with a swanky dinner on Thursday night, an event that showed the ascendance of an emerging financial industry — and also the president’s willingness to mix public office with personal profit.Some 220 of the biggest investors in the $TRUMP&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-meme-coin-token-75bf67ef9e6e54bf455f2f9f03470be3">meme coin</a>&nbsp;were invited to Trump’s luxury golf club in Northern Virginia, where they dined on filet mignon and halibut. According to participants’ posts on social media, Trump spoke for about half an hour before dancing to the song “YMCA.”Despite the White House insisting that Trump would be attending the event “in his personal time,” he stood behind a lectern with the presidential seal as he touted an industry that’s generating profits for his family business.After feeling unfairly targeted under President Joe Biden, the crypto industry has quickly become a powerful political force, donating huge sums to help Trump and friendly lawmakers. The U.S. Senate is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-stablecoins-cryptocurrency-coin-trump-5b551cf99c288c4f6059ed1689d6fcb4">advancing</a>&nbsp;key pro-crypto legislation while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-trump-meme-coins-price-high-2bdb8db9bfea9acc5d0f88a99759c855">bitcoin prices soar</a>.However, even some pro-Trump crypto enthusiasts worry that the president’s personal involvement may be undermining their efforts to establish credibility and stability for the industry.“It’s distasteful and an unnecessary distraction,” said Nic Carter, a Trump supporter and partner at the crypto investment firm Castle Island Ventures, who said the president is “hugging us to death” with his private crypto businesses. “We would much rather that he passes common sense legislation and leave it at that.”As the president uses crypto as a platform to make money for his brand in unprecedented ways, it’s also creating an opportunity for potentially shadowy buyers to use the anonymity of the internet to buy access to the president. The lack of transparency was evident on a poster board at the dinner, where participants signed a ranking of top investors. Some used their real names; others used pseudonyms.No media was allowed into the dinner, and the president was at his golf club for only about an hour. Protesters gathered outside the club holding signs that said “stop crypto corruption” and “no corrupt fools.”Trump said the event was “good, very good” as he returned to the White House.<h2>Concerns about Trump’s crypto ventures predate Inauguration Day</h2>Three days before Trump took office on Jan. 20, he announced the creation of the $TRUMP meme coin at the fancy Crypto Ball held down the street from the White House. He described it as a way for his supporters to “have fun.”Meme coins are the crypto sector’s black sheep. They are often created as a joke, with no real utility and prone to extremely wild price swings that tend to enrich a small group of insiders at the expense of less sophisticated investors.The president’s meme coin is different, however, and has a clear utility: access to Trump. In addition to Thursday’s dinner, the top 25 were invited to a private reception with the president, with the top four getting $100,000 crypto-themed and Trump-branded watches.Trump’s meme coin saw an initial spike in value, followed by a steep drop. Its creators, which include an entity controlled by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-qatar-deal-conflicts-saudi-arabia-emoluments-7379bee2e307d39bd43b534a05ae3207">Trump Organization</a>, have made hundreds of millions of dollars by collecting fees on trades.First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;has her own meme coin, and Trump’s sons, Eric and Don Jr. — who are running the Trump Organization while their father is president — announced they are partnering with an existing firm to create a crypto mining company.The Trump family also holds about a 60% stake in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-digital-assets-a08456edc5947451f3f23b184ed9fb29">World Liberty Financial</a>, a crypto project that provides yet another avenue where investors are buying in and enriching the president’s relatives. World Liberty has launched its own stablecoin, USD1. The project got a boost recently when World Liberty announced an investment fund in the United Arab Emirates would be using $2 billion worth of USD1 to purchase a stake in Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.Stablecoins have values pegged to fixed assets like the U.S. dollar. Issuers profit by collecting the interest on the Treasury bonds and other assets used to back the stablecoins.Crypto is now one of the most significant sources of the Trump family’s wealth.“He’s becoming a salesman-in-chief,” said James Thurber, an American University professor emeritus who has long studied and taught about corruption around the world. “It allows for huge conflicts of interest.”<h2>How Trump changed his mind on crypto</h2>“I’m a big crypto fan,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One during last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-trip-uae-qatar-russia-ukraine-963b695c94b908a2f9c76271ea9d131b">trip to the Middle East</a>. “I’ve been that from the beginning, right from the campaign.”That wasn’t always true. During his first term, Trump posted in July 2019 that cryptocurrencies were “not money” and had value that was “highly volatile and based on thin air.”“Unregulated Crypto Assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade,” he added then. Even after leaving office in 2021, Trump told Fox Business Network that bitcoin, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency, “seems like a scam.”Trump began to shift during a crypto event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in May 2024, receiving assurances that industry backers would spend lavishly to get him reelected. Another major milestone came last June, when Trump attended a high-dollar fundraiser at the San Francisco home of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/david-sacks">David Sacks</a>.Those close to Trump, including his sons and billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>, helped further push his embrace of the industry. Sacks is now the Trump administration’s crypto czar, and many Cabinet members — including Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/howard-lutnick-trump-tariffs-commerce-department-9788590bbee10d09d3cb91822b0c9687">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;and Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;— have long been enthusiastic crypto boosters.“I don’t have faith in the dollar,” Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sean-duffy">Sean Duffy</a>&nbsp;said in a 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/video/6319141888112" target="_blank">interview</a>. “I’m bullish on bitcoin.”<h2>Trump + crypto: A political marriage of convenience</h2>Many top crypto backers were naturally wary of traditional politics, but gravitated toward Trump last year. They bristled at how Biden’s Securities and Exchange Commission aggressively brought civil suits against several major crypto companies.Since Trump took office, many such cases have been dropped or paused, including one alleging that Justin Sun, a China-born crypto entrepreneur, and his company engaged in market manipulation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023-59" target="_blank">paid celebrities</a>&nbsp;for undisclosed promotions.Sun, who once paid $6.2 million for a piece of art involving a banana taped to a wall, and then ate the banana, helped the Trumps start World Liberty Financial with an early $75 million investment.Sun has&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/justinsuntron/status/1924676460461310008" target="_blank">disclosed</a>&nbsp;on social media that he is the biggest holder of $TRUMP meme coins and is attending Thursday’s dinner.“I’m excited to connect with everyone, talk crypto, and discuss the future of our industry,” Sun said in advance.He posted a video of Trump entering the private reception.“Did you get to see the helicopter?” Trump said.“Yeah! Super cool,” Sun responded.<h2>Are Trump family profits hurting other crypto investors?</h2>Trump has signed executive orders promoting the industry, including calls to create a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-reserve-trump-crypto-sacks-5c91a1ab3dab9a8c86d4bc42b8db3f8f">government bitcoin reserve</a>. In March, Trump convened the first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-summit-bitcoin-sacks-c87505c8cf0aaef3398bf0bb1139b420">cryptocurrency summit</a>&nbsp;at the White House.But some of the industry’s biggest names, often brash and outspoken, have kept mostly mum on Trump’s meme coins and other projects.“It’s not my place to really comment on President Trump’s activity,” Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said at a recent public event.Meanwhile, a top legislative priority for crypto-backers, a bill clarifying how digital assets are to be regulated, has advanced in the Senate. But some Democrats have tried to stall other pro-crypto legislation over the president’s personal dealings — and see the dinner as a particularly egregious case.Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said the gathering was “in effect, putting a ‘for sale’ sign on the White House.”“It’s auctioning off access,” Blumenthal said on a Thursday press call.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president is attending “in his personal time.” The White House has also said it has nothing to do with Trump’s meme coin.___

Trump hosts top crypto investors as some fear he’s putting personal profits first

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged violent sex crimes.

Just before 7:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of rape, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual battery, kidnapping, blackmail and aggravated endangering a child, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp; A 34-year-old woman was listed as a victim.

Just after 11p.m. Thursday police arrested 33-year-old Henrry Mendrano Tellez of Manhattan in the 1000 block of Westloop Place. 

Mendrano Tellez is being held on a $500,000 bond on requested charges of rape, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual battery, kidnapping, blackmail and aggravated endangering a child.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged violent sex crimes.Just before 7:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of rape, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual battery, kidnapping, blackmail and aggravated endangering a child, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp; A 34-year-old woman was listed as a victim.Just after 11p.m. Thursday police arrested 33-year-old Henrry Mendrano Tellez of Manhattan in the 1000 block of Westloop Place. Mendrano Tellez is being held on a $500,000 bond on requested charges of rape, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual battery, kidnapping, blackmail and aggravated endangering a child.

RCPD: Kansas man accused of rape, endangering a child

TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday morning in Topeka, Kansas.

On Thursday, May 22, at around 11:54 p.m., the TPD was dispatched to investigate a domestic disturbance. Officers went to the residence at 1500 SW 24 St. to make contact with a man identified as Dustin C. Kuney, 33, of Topeka, according to a media release.

Officers attempted to communicate with Kuney, who was alone in the residence, and at 12:54 a.m., Kuney fired shots from the doorway of the residence. Three TPD officers returned fire in response. The gunfire ended and Kuney surrendered to officers at the scene. No law enforcement officers or citizens were injured in this incident.

Kuney was arrested on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, and was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Topeka.

Just after 11:45p.m Thursday, police responded to investigate a call for of a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1500 block of SW 24th Street in Topeka, according to police spokesman Daniel Garrett.

Just before 1a.m. Friday, police attempted to make contact with the suspect. Officers announced their presence, and the individual reportedly began shooting from the home. The officers then discharged their weapons in response. The suspect, an adult male, then surrendered to officers at the scene, and was taken into custody. The suspect was not injured, and a firearm was found at the scene.&nbsp;

TPD requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to investigate the incident.&nbsp; Per policy, the involved Topeka officers have been placed on administrative leave.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747995528776.png" alt="Police near the scene of the officer-involved shooting -photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police near the scene of the officer-involved shooting -photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday morning in Topeka, Kansas.On Thursday, May 22, at around 11:54 p.m., the TPD was dispatched to investigate a domestic disturbance. Officers went to the residence at 1500 SW 24 St. to make contact with a man identified as Dustin C. Kuney, 33, of Topeka, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748016178787.png" alt="Kuney photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Kuney photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers attempted to communicate with Kuney, who was alone in the residence, and at 12:54 a.m., Kuney fired shots from the doorway of the residence. Three TPD officers returned fire in response. The gunfire ended and Kuney surrendered to officers at the scene. No law enforcement officers or citizens were injured in this incident.Kuney was arrested on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, and was booked into Shawnee County Department of Corrections.---------SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Topeka.Just after 11:45p.m Thursday, police responded to investigate a call for of a domestic disturbance at a home in the 1500 block of SW 24th Street in Topeka, according to police spokesman Daniel Garrett.Just before 1a.m. Friday, police attempted to make contact with the suspect. Officers announced their presence, and the individual reportedly began shooting from the home. The officers then discharged their weapons in response. The suspect, an adult male, then surrendered to officers at the scene, and was taken into custody. The suspect was not injured, and a firearm was found at the scene.&nbsp;TPD requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to investigate the incident.&nbsp; Per policy, the involved Topeka officers have been placed on administrative leave.

Police ID man jailed after gunfight with officers at Kansas home

KANSAS CITY—Friends have created an online fundraiser to assist the family of a 4-year-old who drowned last Friday.

Just after 4p.m. May 16, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call of a missing 4-year old boy in the rural Kansas City suburb of Belton, according to a media release. For several hours, dozens of first responders searched the area of 187th Street and Y Highway.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/fub8d-support-rjs-family-in-their-time-of-loss">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the online fundraiser

Members of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, along with several other agencies searched nearby waterways, roads and wooded areas.&nbsp; Search crews used drones, boats and a Kansas City Police Department helicopter. 

Just before 10:30 p.m., first responders recovered the body of&nbsp;Raymond O'Keefe Jr., in a nearby pond.

According to the fundraiser, "RJ brought light and love into every moment of his short life. Whether it was through his infectious giggles, boundless curiosity, or the way he hugged with his whole heart, he made an unforgettable impact on everyone who had the blessing of knowing him."

"As we face the unimaginable pain of this loss, we are also faced with unexpected and overwhelming funeral and burial expenses. We are humbly asking for help togive RJ the peaceful and beautiful goodbye he deserves."

"Every donation—no matter the size—will go directly toward covering the costs of the service, burial, and any additional support for the family during this incredibly difficult time.

The Cass County sheriff appreciated the vigilance of community members who were concerned during the search and thanked the many agencies who also assisted: The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Belton Fire Department, Belton Police Department, Belton Emergency Management, South Metro Fire Protection District, Kansas City Police Department, Taking It To The Streets, Western Cass Fire Protection District, Dolan West Dolan Fire Protection District, West Peculiar Fire Protection, District Lee’s Summit Fire Department, Lee’s Summit Underwater Search and Rescue and the Overland Park Fire Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747996583391.png" alt="First responders at the scene -photo Cass Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene -photo Cass Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Friends have created an online fundraiser to assist the family of a 4-year-old who drowned last Friday.Just after 4p.m. May 16, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call of a missing 4-year old boy in the rural Kansas City suburb of Belton, according to a media release. For several hours, dozens of first responders searched the area of 187th Street and Y Highway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747996667753.png" alt="R.J. O'Keefe photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>R.J. O'Keefe photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/fub8d-support-rjs-family-in-their-time-of-loss">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the online fundraiserMembers of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, along with several other agencies searched nearby waterways, roads and wooded areas.&nbsp; Search crews used drones, boats and a Kansas City Police Department helicopter. Just before 10:30 p.m., first responders recovered the body of&nbsp;Raymond O'Keefe Jr., in a nearby pond.According to the fundraiser, "RJ brought light and love into every moment of his short life. Whether it was through his infectious giggles, boundless curiosity, or the way he hugged with his whole heart, he made an unforgettable impact on everyone who had the blessing of knowing him.""As we face the unimaginable pain of this loss, we are also faced with unexpected and overwhelming funeral and burial expenses. We are humbly asking for help togive RJ the peaceful and beautiful goodbye he deserves.""Every donation—no matter the size—will go directly toward covering the costs of the service, burial, and any additional support for the family during this incredibly difficult time.The Cass County sheriff appreciated the vigilance of community members who were concerned during the search and thanked the many agencies who also assisted: The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Belton Fire Department, Belton Police Department, Belton Emergency Management, South Metro Fire Protection District, Kansas City Police Department, Taking It To The Streets, Western Cass Fire Protection District, Dolan West Dolan Fire Protection District, West Peculiar Fire Protection, District Lee’s Summit Fire Department, Lee’s Summit Underwater Search and Rescue and the Overland Park Fire Department.

Friends assisting family after 4-year-old drowns in KC area pond

WASHINGTON (AP) — A government report released on Thursday covering wide swaths of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/health">American health and wellness</a>&nbsp;reflects some of the most contentious views on vaccines, the nation's food supply, pesticides and prescription drugs held by Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr</a>.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WH-The-MAHA-Report-Assessment.pdf">Click here to read the full</a> report

The much-anticipated “Make America Healthy Again”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/maha/">report</a>&nbsp;calls for increased scrutiny of the childhood vaccine schedule, a review of the pesticides sprayed on American crops and a description of the nation's children as overmedicated and undernourished.

“Never in American history has the federal government taken a position on public health like this,” Kennedy told a group of MAHA supporters during an event unveiling the report on Thursday.

While it does not have the force of a law or official policy, the 69-page report will be used over the next three months for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-kennedy-farmers-maha-trump-pesticides-5d5a83bde6b88290cf9c3536e74523be">the MAHA commission to fashion a plan</a>&nbsp;that can be implemented during the remainder of President Donald Trump's term.

Speaking to MAHA supporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump praised the report.

“There’s something wrong and we will not stop until we defeat the chronic disease epidemic in America,”

Kennedy refused to provide details about who authored the report.

The HHS report scrutinizes vaccines, without evidence that it’s warranted

Increased scrutiny of childhood vaccines — credited with saving millions of people from deadly diseases — figures prominently in the report. It poses questions over the necessity of school mandates that require children to get vaccinated for admittance and suggestions that vaccines should undergo more clinical trials, including with placebos.

Kennedy, a longtime&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-vaccines-trump-rfkjr-7f8dcb25de76a5a70710d22bbc63f6fa">vaccine critic</a>, has raised doubts about the safety of shots even as a measles outbreak has sickened more than 1,000 Americans. This week, Kennedy’s health department moved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fda-kennedy-covid-shots-rfk-trump-bb4de15b6ff955d6cd0b406aaec3cdc5">to limit</a>&nbsp;U.S. access to COVID-19 shots.

The report does not provide any evidence that the childhood vaccine schedule, which includes shots for measles, polio and the chickenpox, is to blame for rising obesity, diabetes or autism rates, said Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins University.

“It’s not as if they’re positing any kind of causal link,” Adalja said, adding that Kennedy is “is trying to devalue vaccines in the minds of Americans.”

Controversy over farming chemicals divides 'MAHA' movement

Parts of the report highlight growing factions within the Trump administration's MAHA movement, even as the report strained to appease opposing forces within the politically diverse coalition that Trump and&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/president%20and%20Kennedy's%20politically%20diverse%20coalition.">Kennedy</a>&nbsp;have fostered.

The report makes dozens of references to dietary guidelines and standards in Europe, but Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin promised it would not yield more rigorous regulations.

“This cannot happen through a European mandate system that stifles growth,” Zeldin said in a call with reporters.

Despite numerous studies and statements throughout the MAHA report that raise concerns about American food products, Trump Cabinet officials insisted during a call with reporters on Thursday that the nation's food supply is safe.

The report mentions that glyphosate, a commonly used chemical sprayed on crops, may cause serious health problems, including cancer. The World Health Organization has said that the chemical is a probable carcinogen to humans, although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said it is unlikely.

Farmers, who — alongside Republican lawmakers —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-kennedy-farmers-maha-trump-pesticides-5d5a83bde6b88290cf9c3536e74523be">hounded</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration leading up to the report's release, swiftly criticized the report's comments on the chemicals.

“The Make America Healthy Again Report is filled with fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides,” the National Corn Growers Association said in a statement.

But Kennedy's MAHA supporters were also disappointed, saying the report didn't go far enough when it came to chemicals used on crops.

“If the Trump White House and Republicans don't take pesticides and glyphosate's link to human health issues seriously, it will cost them the MAHA vote in the midterms,” said Dave Murphy, a former Kennedy fundraiser who spearheaded a push for the issue to be addressed in the report.

Talking about the report on Thursday, Trump reiterated his “love” for farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins acknowledged the tight rope Trump officials are walking to keep farmers, many of them in Republican-leaning states, happy while also working to satisfy Kennedy's eclectic and health-conscious following.

“Do all of us agree on everything? Of course not,” Rollins said. “But the place that we have landed, which is, I think all of us agree, is that this is not a binary choice between an industry, agriculture and health.”

Ultraprocessed foods also blamed for unhealthy Americans

The report comes out stronger, however, against ultraprocessed foods — industrially made products high in refined grains, sugar, saturated fats and additives like artificial dyes that now make up two-thirds of the diet for U.S. teens and children. Such products have been linked to a host of poor health outcomes, though documenting how they cause those problems has been notoriously difficult and time-consuming.

The MAHA commission report “is a pretty accurate depiction of the nutrition crisis facing our country,” said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, an expert in nutrition and policy at Tufts University.

The report focuses not only on ultraprocessed foods, but also on how too few fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and fish are present in U.S. diets, he noted. But the report leaves out excess salt, which causes harm, even in young children.

The MAHA report calls on the National Institutes of Health to execute sweeping, nationwide studies of ultraprocessed foods, even as the White House has called for $18 billion to be axed from the agency's budget. An extra $500 million has been requested from Congress for Kennedy's MAHA initiative.

The report raises concerns about other environmental and chemical research results, funded by corporations and industry, being skewed.

But the MAHA commission's call for more neutral research comes as sweeping budget and staff cuts propelled by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency have resulted in 20,000&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-fa4e89285e668a3939e20b6cf4c26fd4">jobs lost</a>&nbsp;at the nation’s health department and billions of dollars rescinded for research studies. The Trump administration also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-disease-tracking-health-surveillance-554eb9aa20b758714eba8b835dcde856">gutted the Environmental Public Health Tracking Program</a>&nbsp;in its cuts of health-tracking programs.

The report also raises concerns about the lack of physical activity among children and their prescription drug use, including antibiotics and medications used to treat attention deficit disorders.

Some in the MAHA movement have raised concerns about offering medications, even over-the-counter drugs like pain relievers, to children.

But Trump spent 10 minutes during Thursday's event telling MAHA supporters how he's working to lower the cost of prescription drugs. The East Room crowd, packed full of MAHA supporters that offered applause for Trump's calls to investigate chronic disease in children, responded mildly — and eventually stopped clapping entirely — as he continued to talk about lowering drug costs.

“I think it's going to go down as one of the most important things we've ever down because drug prices are going to go down,” he said, as Kennedy looked on.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748002472470.png" alt="President Trump looks on as RFK, Jr. shares details during the MAHA report press conference Thursday-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump looks on as RFK, Jr. shares details during the MAHA report press conference Thursday-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A government report released on Thursday covering wide swaths of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/health">American health and wellness</a>&nbsp;reflects some of the most contentious views on vaccines, the nation's food supply, pesticides and prescription drugs held by Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr</a>.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WH-The-MAHA-Report-Assessment.pdf">Click here to read the full</a> report<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🎥LIVE NOW: MAHA Commission Event<a href="https://t.co/grqwvw5rHx">https://t.co/grqwvw5rHx</a>&mdash; HHS.gov (@HHSGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov/status/1925643966659150060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It was a privilege to join President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> at the White House, representing our farmers and ranchers. America’s farmers are the original conservationists and champions of Making America Healthy Again. None of this would be possible without their dedication to taking… <a href="https://t.co/AdWRkZzZMn">pic.twitter.com/AdWRkZzZMn</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1925660292987420816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The much-anticipated “Make America Healthy Again”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/maha/">report</a>&nbsp;calls for increased scrutiny of the childhood vaccine schedule, a review of the pesticides sprayed on American crops and a description of the nation's children as overmedicated and undernourished.“Never in American history has the federal government taken a position on public health like this,” Kennedy told a group of MAHA supporters during an event unveiling the report on Thursday.While it does not have the force of a law or official policy, the 69-page report will be used over the next three months for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-kennedy-farmers-maha-trump-pesticides-5d5a83bde6b88290cf9c3536e74523be">the MAHA commission to fashion a plan</a>&nbsp;that can be implemented during the remainder of President Donald Trump's term.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The MAHA Report ➡️ Poor Diet <a href="https://t.co/xYpxpeHP17">pic.twitter.com/xYpxpeHP17</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1925655978810159427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The MAHA Report ➡️ Environmental Chemical Exposure <a href="https://t.co/SN8S76QsSA">pic.twitter.com/SN8S76QsSA</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1925656335460270145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The MAHA Report ➡️ Environmental Chemical Exposure <a href="https://t.co/SN8S76QsSA">pic.twitter.com/SN8S76QsSA</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1925656335460270145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The MAHA Report ➡️ The Path Forward <a href="https://t.co/qeUvIm6L57">pic.twitter.com/qeUvIm6L57</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1925658277771083911?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaking to MAHA supporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump praised the report.“There’s something wrong and we will not stop until we defeat the chronic disease epidemic in America,”Kennedy refused to provide details about who authored the report.<h2>The HHS report scrutinizes vaccines, without evidence that it’s warranted</h2>Increased scrutiny of childhood vaccines — credited with saving millions of people from deadly diseases — figures prominently in the report. It poses questions over the necessity of school mandates that require children to get vaccinated for admittance and suggestions that vaccines should undergo more clinical trials, including with placebos.Kennedy, a longtime&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-f-kennedy-vaccines-trump-rfkjr-7f8dcb25de76a5a70710d22bbc63f6fa">vaccine critic</a>, has raised doubts about the safety of shots even as a measles outbreak has sickened more than 1,000 Americans. This week, Kennedy’s health department moved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fda-kennedy-covid-shots-rfk-trump-bb4de15b6ff955d6cd0b406aaec3cdc5">to limit</a>&nbsp;U.S. access to COVID-19 shots.The report does not provide any evidence that the childhood vaccine schedule, which includes shots for measles, polio and the chickenpox, is to blame for rising obesity, diabetes or autism rates, said Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease physician at Johns Hopkins University.“It’s not as if they’re positing any kind of causal link,” Adalja said, adding that Kennedy is “is trying to devalue vaccines in the minds of Americans.”<h2>Controversy over farming chemicals divides 'MAHA' movement</h2>Parts of the report highlight growing factions within the Trump administration's MAHA movement, even as the report strained to appease opposing forces within the politically diverse coalition that Trump and&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/president%20and%20Kennedy's%20politically%20diverse%20coalition.">Kennedy</a>&nbsp;have fostered.The report makes dozens of references to dietary guidelines and standards in Europe, but Environmental Protection Agency head Lee Zeldin promised it would not yield more rigorous regulations.“This cannot happen through a European mandate system that stifles growth,” Zeldin said in a call with reporters.Despite numerous studies and statements throughout the MAHA report that raise concerns about American food products, Trump Cabinet officials insisted during a call with reporters on Thursday that the nation's food supply is safe.The report mentions that glyphosate, a commonly used chemical sprayed on crops, may cause serious health problems, including cancer. The World Health Organization has said that the chemical is a probable carcinogen to humans, although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said it is unlikely.Farmers, who — alongside Republican lawmakers —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-kennedy-farmers-maha-trump-pesticides-5d5a83bde6b88290cf9c3536e74523be">hounded</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration leading up to the report's release, swiftly criticized the report's comments on the chemicals.“The Make America Healthy Again Report is filled with fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides,” the National Corn Growers Association said in a statement.But Kennedy's MAHA supporters were also disappointed, saying the report didn't go far enough when it came to chemicals used on crops.“If the Trump White House and Republicans don't take pesticides and glyphosate's link to human health issues seriously, it will cost them the MAHA vote in the midterms,” said Dave Murphy, a former Kennedy fundraiser who spearheaded a push for the issue to be addressed in the report.Talking about the report on Thursday, Trump reiterated his “love” for farmers.Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins acknowledged the tight rope Trump officials are walking to keep farmers, many of them in Republican-leaning states, happy while also working to satisfy Kennedy's eclectic and health-conscious following.“Do all of us agree on everything? Of course not,” Rollins said. “But the place that we have landed, which is, I think all of us agree, is that this is not a binary choice between an industry, agriculture and health.”<h2>Ultraprocessed foods also blamed for unhealthy Americans</h2>The report comes out stronger, however, against ultraprocessed foods — industrially made products high in refined grains, sugar, saturated fats and additives like artificial dyes that now make up two-thirds of the diet for U.S. teens and children. Such products have been linked to a host of poor health outcomes, though documenting how they cause those problems has been notoriously difficult and time-consuming.The MAHA commission report “is a pretty accurate depiction of the nutrition crisis facing our country,” said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, an expert in nutrition and policy at Tufts University.The report focuses not only on ultraprocessed foods, but also on how too few fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds and fish are present in U.S. diets, he noted. But the report leaves out excess salt, which causes harm, even in young children.The MAHA report calls on the National Institutes of Health to execute sweeping, nationwide studies of ultraprocessed foods, even as the White House has called for $18 billion to be axed from the agency's budget. An extra $500 million has been requested from Congress for Kennedy's MAHA initiative.The report raises concerns about other environmental and chemical research results, funded by corporations and industry, being skewed.But the MAHA commission's call for more neutral research comes as sweeping budget and staff cuts propelled by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency have resulted in 20,000&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-human-services-layoffs-restructuring-rfk-jr-fa4e89285e668a3939e20b6cf4c26fd4">jobs lost</a>&nbsp;at the nation’s health department and billions of dollars rescinded for research studies. The Trump administration also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-disease-tracking-health-surveillance-554eb9aa20b758714eba8b835dcde856">gutted the Environmental Public Health Tracking Program</a>&nbsp;in its cuts of health-tracking programs.The report also raises concerns about the lack of physical activity among children and their prescription drug use, including antibiotics and medications used to treat attention deficit disorders.Some in the MAHA movement have raised concerns about offering medications, even over-the-counter drugs like pain relievers, to children.But Trump spent 10 minutes during Thursday's event telling MAHA supporters how he's working to lower the cost of prescription drugs. The East Room crowd, packed full of MAHA supporters that offered applause for Trump's calls to investigate chronic disease in children, responded mildly — and eventually stopped clapping entirely — as he continued to talk about lowering drug costs.“I think it's going to go down as one of the most important things we've ever down because drug prices are going to go down,” he said, as Kennedy looked on.

Read RFK Jr.'s MAHA report: A dark picture of U.S. children's health

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest for a violent robbery in Atchison.

Just after 10p.m. May 18,, an employee in the customer service area at Walmart, 1920 U.S. 73 in Atchison, was entering an office door when she was approached by a man who grabbed a cash bag she was holding, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The suspect, later identified as 38-year-old Michael J. Whitfield of Topeka, struggled briefly with the employee and pushed her as he ran from the area, he did not display any type of weapon.

Whitfield fled the store with a bag of cash in a white Chrysler Pacifica.

On Wednesday, U.S. Marshals and Topeka Police took Whitfield into custody around 11:30p.m. at a residence in Topeka, according to Wilson. He was arrested on an Atchison District Court warrant charging him with robbery, theft, and battery. He was taken to the Shawnee County Jail. Bond has been set at $100,000.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747917119656.png" alt="Whitfield-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Whitfield-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest for a violent robbery in Atchison.Just after 10p.m. May 18,, an employee in the customer service area at Walmart, 1920 U.S. 73 in Atchison, was entering an office door when she was approached by a man who grabbed a cash bag she was holding, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.The suspect, later identified as 38-year-old Michael J. Whitfield of Topeka, struggled briefly with the employee and pushed her as he ran from the area, he did not display any type of weapon.Whitfield fled the store with a bag of cash in a white Chrysler Pacifica.On Wednesday, U.S. Marshals and Topeka Police took Whitfield into custody around 11:30p.m. at a residence in Topeka, according to Wilson. He was arrested on an Atchison District Court warrant charging him with robbery, theft, and battery. He was taken to the Shawnee County Jail. Bond has been set at $100,000.&nbsp;

Police capture Kan. suspect who took bag of cash from business

They were colleagues, and they were a couple, days away from a marriage proposal.

But the interwoven lives of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were brutally cut short Wednesday evening, when the two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot while leaving a reception for young diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-embassy-jewish-museum-shooting-10307b3b1a2a337e76730736b12ebbcb">suspect told police</a>&nbsp;he “did it for Palestine,” according to court documents filed Thursday as he was charged with murder. He didn't enter a plea.

Milgrim, a 26-year-old American from Kansas, had devoted her burgeoning career to bringing people together to look for ways to promote peace and combat climate change, those who knew her say.

Lischinsky, a 30-year-old Israeli citizen who spent some of his childhood in Germany, had a deep attachment to Israel and an interest in bridging cultural and religious divides.

He had bought an engagement ring and was just days away from proposing to Milgrim on a planned trip to Jerusalem, according to Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter.

“A young couple with a bright future, planning their life together,” said Ron Prosor, a veteran Israeli diplomat who knew Lischinsky.

Lischinsky grew up partly in the German city of Nuremberg and moved to Israel at 16. He served in the Jewish state's military “and chose to dedicate his life to the state of Israel," said Prosor, who taught Lischinsky at Israel's Reichman University. Lischinsky earned a master’s degree in government, diplomacy and strategy there.

“He embodied the Judeo-Christian values and set an example for young people worldwide,” Prosor said on X.

A friend, David Boskey, recalled Lischinsky as someone unafraid to broach hard questions in order to interrogate his own convictions.

He met Lischinsky in 2017 in Jerusalem at a Messianic Jewish congregation, where they would often end up talking together about life and faith, Boskey said. The Messianic movement — popularly known as Jews for Jesus — incorporates Jewish symbols and practices, but Israel considers Messianic Jews to be practicing another faith.

“He was looking to see where he was going to go in life, asking questions about calling and about identity and about what he was going to study, where he was going to work, what he wanted to pursue in life,” Boskey said. He described Lischinsky as “a truth-seeking type of person, mixed with a very, very kind and gracious willingness to serve other people.”

Lischinsky helped found the Israeli-German Society's youth forum, according to its counterpart in Germany, and he took a job at the Israeli Embassy in Washington in 2022.

There, he worked as a research assistant whose responsibilities included keeping track of important events and trends in the Middle East and North Africa, his LinkedIn profile said.

He said he advocated for interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding and was an “ardent believer” in deepening Israel’s ties with the Arab world through the U.S.-brokered agreements known as the Abraham Accords.

On Instagram, his bio included a yellow ribbon symbolizing the struggle to free the hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that ignited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the war in the Gaza Strip</a>.

Milgrim’s Instagram bio also had a yellow ribbon, as well as a passage, in Hebrew, from the biblical Book of Deuteronomy: “Justice, justice you shall pursue.”

Milgrim was an American citizen. She hailed from Overland Park, Kansas, where a former youth director at Congregation Beth Torah remembers a brilliant girl with a perpetual smile and a sense of purpose.

“She had a passion for Judaism and for Israel, and she wanted to do some good,” said Marcia Rittmaster, the former youth director. She recommended Milgrim for a Jewish leadership internship upon the young woman's graduation from high school.

Milgrim went on to the University of Kansas, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies in 2021 and was a warm, uplifting presence at Shabbat dinners and holiday gatherings at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life.

“She believed in connections, in building community and bringing people together,” Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel said. He said she loved asking questions, enjoyed insightful conversations and “was filled with so much love.”

After graduating, Milgrim worked at at a Tel Aviv-based organization centered on technology training and conflict dialogue for young Palestinians and Israelis, according to her LinkedIn profile. It said she had been trained in religious engagement and peacebuilding by the United States Institute of Peace, an organization that promotes conflict resolution and was created by the U.S. Congress.

After earning a master’s degree in international affairs from American University in 2023, she went to work at the Israeli Embassy, where her job involved organizing events and missions to Israel.

Among them was an Earth Day gathering last month that highlighted Israeli companies and nonprofit groups doing climate work, recalled attendee Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, a philanthropist and a Maryland Commission on Climate Change member. She said she and Milgrim brainstormed by phone just this past week about ways to inform journalists about climate-related innovations in Israel.

“She was exceptionally talented, exceptionally passionate, really kind, extremely well-organized and very effective. And she’s the kind of young leader that, really, this nation and the world needs,” Mizrahi said.

A standing-room only crowd gathered for a vigil for Milgrim in her hometown Thursday night.

Her college roommate related how her friend was an animal lover who faithfully walked her dog, took care of her pet rabbit and was a member of the beekeeping club. She was a passionate advocate for the environment, Amanda Birger said.

“She was very tactful about how she used her voice, which sometimes came off as cautious,” Birger said. “But when it looked like wasn’t speaking up, it’s because she was trying to keep the peace.”

She was “the ultimate peacemaker in her personal life and her professional life,” Birger said.

Milgrim held her Jewish values dear and showed Birger how someone their age could live a joyful Jewish life.

“She stood so proudly in her Judaism. She wore it with a smile, happily educating anyone who asked about it. She made me want to be more Jewish,” Birger said.

Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, said Milgrim was a point person for her organization with women’s groups, LGBTQ communities and multi-faith groups.

“She accomplished so much in her short life, and she deserves to be remembered for all the things she brought to this world,” she said.

Before her work at the embassy, Milgrim was studying whether friendships between Arabs and Israelis could promote peace, Katz said.

“We knew something like this could happen,” she said. “I just don't think we thought it would happen to her.”

Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Contributing were Geir Moulson in Berlin; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv; Jennifer Peltz in New York; Sarah Brumfeld in Cockeysville, Maryland; Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri; Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu; and Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747923211105.png" alt="Sarah Milgrim and&nbsp; Yaron Lischinsky courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Sarah Milgrim and&nbsp; Yaron Lischinsky courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>They were colleagues, and they were a couple, days away from a marriage proposal.But the interwoven lives of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim were brutally cut short Wednesday evening, when the two Israeli Embassy staffers were shot while leaving a reception for young diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-embassy-jewish-museum-shooting-10307b3b1a2a337e76730736b12ebbcb">suspect told police</a>&nbsp;he “did it for Palestine,” according to court documents filed Thursday as he was charged with murder. He didn't enter a plea.Milgrim, a 26-year-old American from Kansas, had devoted her burgeoning career to bringing people together to look for ways to promote peace and combat climate change, those who knew her say.Lischinsky, a 30-year-old Israeli citizen who spent some of his childhood in Germany, had a deep attachment to Israel and an interest in bridging cultural and religious divides.He had bought an engagement ring and was just days away from proposing to Milgrim on a planned trip to Jerusalem, according to Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter.“A young couple with a bright future, planning their life together,” said Ron Prosor, a veteran Israeli diplomat who knew Lischinsky.<h2>Yaron Lischinsky</h2>Lischinsky grew up partly in the German city of Nuremberg and moved to Israel at 16. He served in the Jewish state's military “and chose to dedicate his life to the state of Israel," said Prosor, who taught Lischinsky at Israel's Reichman University. Lischinsky earned a master’s degree in government, diplomacy and strategy there.“He embodied the Judeo-Christian values and set an example for young people worldwide,” Prosor said on X.A friend, David Boskey, recalled Lischinsky as someone unafraid to broach hard questions in order to interrogate his own convictions.He met Lischinsky in 2017 in Jerusalem at a Messianic Jewish congregation, where they would often end up talking together about life and faith, Boskey said. The Messianic movement — popularly known as Jews for Jesus — incorporates Jewish symbols and practices, but Israel considers Messianic Jews to be practicing another faith.“He was looking to see where he was going to go in life, asking questions about calling and about identity and about what he was going to study, where he was going to work, what he wanted to pursue in life,” Boskey said. He described Lischinsky as “a truth-seeking type of person, mixed with a very, very kind and gracious willingness to serve other people.”Lischinsky helped found the Israeli-German Society's youth forum, according to its counterpart in Germany, and he took a job at the Israeli Embassy in Washington in 2022.There, he worked as a research assistant whose responsibilities included keeping track of important events and trends in the Middle East and North Africa, his LinkedIn profile said.He said he advocated for interfaith dialogue and intercultural understanding and was an “ardent believer” in deepening Israel’s ties with the Arab world through the U.S.-brokered agreements known as the Abraham Accords.On Instagram, his bio included a yellow ribbon symbolizing the struggle to free the hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that ignited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the war in the Gaza Strip</a>.Milgrim’s Instagram bio also had a yellow ribbon, as well as a passage, in Hebrew, from the biblical Book of Deuteronomy: “Justice, justice you shall pursue.”<h2>Sarah Milgrim</h2>Milgrim was an American citizen. She hailed from Overland Park, Kansas, where a former youth director at Congregation Beth Torah remembers a brilliant girl with a perpetual smile and a sense of purpose.“She had a passion for Judaism and for Israel, and she wanted to do some good,” said Marcia Rittmaster, the former youth director. She recommended Milgrim for a Jewish leadership internship upon the young woman's graduation from high school.Milgrim went on to the University of Kansas, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies in 2021 and was a warm, uplifting presence at Shabbat dinners and holiday gatherings at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life.“She believed in connections, in building community and bringing people together,” Rabbi Zalman Tiechtel said. He said she loved asking questions, enjoyed insightful conversations and “was filled with so much love.”After graduating, Milgrim worked at at a Tel Aviv-based organization centered on technology training and conflict dialogue for young Palestinians and Israelis, according to her LinkedIn profile. It said she had been trained in religious engagement and peacebuilding by the United States Institute of Peace, an organization that promotes conflict resolution and was created by the U.S. Congress.After earning a master’s degree in international affairs from American University in 2023, she went to work at the Israeli Embassy, where her job involved organizing events and missions to Israel.Among them was an Earth Day gathering last month that highlighted Israeli companies and nonprofit groups doing climate work, recalled attendee Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, a philanthropist and a Maryland Commission on Climate Change member. She said she and Milgrim brainstormed by phone just this past week about ways to inform journalists about climate-related innovations in Israel.“She was exceptionally talented, exceptionally passionate, really kind, extremely well-organized and very effective. And she’s the kind of young leader that, really, this nation and the world needs,” Mizrahi said.A standing-room only crowd gathered for a vigil for Milgrim in her hometown Thursday night.Her college roommate related how her friend was an animal lover who faithfully walked her dog, took care of her pet rabbit and was a member of the beekeeping club. She was a passionate advocate for the environment, Amanda Birger said.“She was very tactful about how she used her voice, which sometimes came off as cautious,” Birger said. “But when it looked like wasn’t speaking up, it’s because she was trying to keep the peace.”She was “the ultimate peacemaker in her personal life and her professional life,” Birger said.Milgrim held her Jewish values dear and showed Birger how someone their age could live a joyful Jewish life.“She stood so proudly in her Judaism. She wore it with a smile, happily educating anyone who asked about it. She made me want to be more Jewish,” Birger said.Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, said Milgrim was a point person for her organization with women’s groups, LGBTQ communities and multi-faith groups.“She accomplished so much in her short life, and she deserves to be remembered for all the things she brought to this world,” she said.Before her work at the embassy, Milgrim was studying whether friendships between Arabs and Israelis could promote peace, Katz said.“We knew something like this could happen,” she said. “I just don't think we thought it would happen to her.”___Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Contributing were Geir Moulson in Berlin; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv; Jennifer Peltz in New York; Sarah Brumfeld in Cockeysville, Maryland; Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri; Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu; and Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire.

Bonded by work and love, Israeli Embassy colleagues' lives cut short by gunman

COWLEY COUNTY —The Cowley County Sheriff’s Office continues the search for missing 81-year-old Jerry McConnell. Her car was located in rural Cowley County, Kansas earlier this week. Volunteers a searching a large ranch on foot or by air.  The Sheriff’s Office is requesting volunteers to assist with a full grid-search on Friday.

The ranch is located in the 4000 block of 327th Road and parking will be difficult and mainly on the dirt road.  The area to be searched does have rough terrain. We will have a check in point and you will be put into groups and given instructions.&nbsp;

This is private property and we have set some rules that all volunteers must follow.&nbsp;

I have read that several people want to bring horses, drones ect.&nbsp; This area has been extensively searched by helicopters, drones, horses, side by sides, four wheelers, trackers, specialized dog teams, and water rescue units.&nbsp; Please follow the following rules.

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement searching for a missing 81-year-old woman have located her vehicle.

Late Tuesday, the Cowley County Sheriff's office in south central Kansas contacted Overland Park Police to report they had found Jerry McConnell's 2009 Honda Accord., according to Officer John Lacy. Authorities continue to search that area for her.

On Saturday, the Overland Park Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert for McConnell of Overland Park.

McConnell was last seen on Wednesday afternoon in Harrisonville, Missouri and was driving to her residence in Overland Park, Kansas. 

McConnell was believed to be driving a grey 2009 Honda Accord bearing Texas license plate RFP836. McConnell also may have been near Severy, Kansas on May 15.

McConnell is a white female who is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs around 140 pounds. She has blue eyes and gray hair. If you see Jerry McConnell, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, call the Overland Park Police Department at (913)-895-6300.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747502608195.png" alt="photo Overland Park Police" />
 <figcaption>photo Overland Park Police</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —The Cowley County Sheriff’s Office continues the search for missing 81-year-old Jerry McConnell. Her car was located in rural Cowley County, Kansas earlier this week. Volunteers a searching a large ranch on foot or by air. The Sheriff’s Office is requesting volunteers to assist with a full grid-search on Friday.The ranch is located in the 4000 block of 327th Road and parking will be difficult and mainly on the dirt road. The area to be searched does have rough terrain. We will have a check in point and you will be put into groups and given instructions.&nbsp;This is private property and we have set some rules that all volunteers must follow.&nbsp;I have read that several people want to bring horses, drones ect.&nbsp; This area has been extensively searched by helicopters, drones, horses, side by sides, four wheelers, trackers, specialized dog teams, and water rescue units.&nbsp; Please follow the following rules.<ol>
 <li>A staging area has been set up at the Kansas Department of Transportation strip just west of 303rd&nbsp;Road on the north side of US 160, you will need to park there and then ride to the search area by bus.</li><li>We will turn any non-first responders around and direct them to the staging area described in number 1. if volunteers try to drive to the ranch on their own.</li><li>This is strictly a walking search, so no horses side by sides or four wheelers on the property</li><li>Once you are transported to the ranch you will be required to check in and give your personal information</li><li>Bring your own water, snacks, sunscreen and bug repellent.</li><li>Please take your trash with you</li><li>Any gate that is opened must be closed behind you.&nbsp; These properties have cattle on them so please do not try to have contact or try to pet the cattle</li><li>The time to meet at the KDOT strip is 10:00 am.&nbsp; There is no way to gauge how many volunteers we will have, and although we are grateful for their service we may have to limit the numbers to a controllable number.</li><li>Please be patient</li><li>The landowners have requested that the media not come onto the ranch and video, again this is private property</li><li>Lastly, when you are assigned, an area please search only that area.&nbsp; All outbuildings and residences, tank batteries have already been searched by first responders and are clear</li>
 </ol>-----------JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement searching for a missing 81-year-old woman have located her vehicle.Late Tuesday, the Cowley County Sheriff's office in south central Kansas contacted Overland Park Police to report they had found Jerry McConnell's 2009 Honda Accord., according to Officer John Lacy. Authorities continue to search that area for her.On Saturday, the Overland Park Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation issue a statewide Silver Alert for McConnell of Overland Park.McConnell was last seen on Wednesday afternoon in Harrisonville, Missouri and was driving to her residence in Overland Park, Kansas. McConnell was believed to be driving a grey 2009 Honda Accord bearing Texas license plate RFP836. McConnell also may have been near Severy, Kansas on May 15.McConnell is a white female who is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs around 140 pounds. She has blue eyes and gray hair. If you see Jerry McConnell, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about her whereabouts, call the Overland Park Police Department at (913)-895-6300.

Volunteers continue search on rural ranch for missing Kansas woman

TOPEKA – A Kansas woman made her initial appearance in federal court this week after a grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging her with distributing child sexual abuse materials, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Addilynn Jean Onuffer, 21, of Haysville is charged with three counts of distribution of child pornography for alleged actions that took place between June 2024 and July 2024.

The defendant made her initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks Severson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC) and Wichita Police Department are investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747746472133.png" alt="Onuffer photo Butler County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Onuffer photo Butler County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – A Kansas woman made her initial appearance in federal court this week after a grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging her with distributing child sexual abuse materials, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Addilynn Jean Onuffer, 21, of Haysville is charged with three counts of distribution of child pornography for alleged actions that took place between June 2024 and July 2024.The defendant made her initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brooks Severson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.The Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce (ICAC) and Wichita Police Department are investigating the case.

Kan. woman accused of distributing child sex abuse materials

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-antisemitism-federal-grants-trump-3c8e4d2d3fa0c5083d98250078f95d00">escalating battle</a>&nbsp;with the Ivy League school, saying thousands of current students must transfer to other schools or leave the country.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the action Thursday, saying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/harvards-challenge-to-trump-administration-could-test-limits-of-government-power/">Harvard</a>&nbsp;has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students on campus. It also accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party, saying it hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.

“This means Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status,” the agency said in a statement.

Harvard enrolls almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, accounting for more than a quarter of its student body. Most are graduate students, coming from more than 100 countries.

Harvard called the action unlawful and said it's working to provide guidance to students.

“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the university said in a statement.

The Trump administration's clash with Harvard, the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university, has intensified since it became the first to openly defy White House demands for changes at elite schools it has criticized as hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. The federal government has cut $2.6 billion in federal grants to Harvard, forcing it to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-research-funding-universities-560292a39b4ec4fe473ed1f91d89f556">self-fund</a>&nbsp;much of its sprawling research operation. President Donald Trump has said he wants to strip the university of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-nonprofit-tax-exempt-status-how-can-it-be-revoked-096614ea5ec65ec7a6ac08efd0f1e94f">tax-exempt status</a>.

The administration has demanded records of campus protests

The threat to Harvard's international enrollment stems from an April 16 request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded that it provide information about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harvard-tax-exempt-status-international-students-07a10958bf078cb04b59d1fc9a3a27a8">foreign students</a>&nbsp;that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation.

In a letter to Harvard on Thursday, Noem said the school's sanction is “the unfortunate result of Harvard's failure to comply with simple reporting requirements.” It bars Harvard from hosting international students for the upcoming 2025-26 school year.

Noem said Harvard can regain its ability to host foreign students if it produces a trove of records on foreign students within 72 hours. Her updated request demands all records, including audio or video footage, of foreign students participating in protests or dangerous activity on campus.

“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Noem said in a statement.

The action revoked Harvard's certification in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-visas-terminated-trump-sevis-9f85c3c58a4b74c354df0d7d993cf34c">Student and Exchange Visitor Program</a>, which gives the school the ability to sponsor international students to get their visas and attend school in the United States.

Harvard President Alan Garber earlier this month said the university has made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-department-of-education-grants-1b5fe7309e2f9f4c0e2281a6a9b25f97">changes to its governance</a>&nbsp;over the past year and a half, including a broad strategy to combat antisemitism, but warned it would not budge on its “its core, legally-protected principles” over fears of retaliation. He said he wasn’t aware of evidence to support the administration's allegation that its international students were “more prone to disruption, violence, or other misconduct than any other students.”

Students in Harvard College Democrats said the Trump administration is playing with students' lives to push a radical agenda and to quiet dissent. “Trump's attack on international students is text book authoritarianism — Harvard must continue to hold the line,” the group said in a statement.

The administration drew condemnation from free speech groups, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which said Noem is demanding a “surveillance state.”

"This sweeping fishing expedition reaches protected expression and must be flatly rejected," the group said in a statement.

The revocation opens a new front in a closely watched battle

Many of Harvard's punishments have come through a federal antisemitism task force that says the university failed to protect Jewish students from harassment and violence amid a nationwide wave of pro-Palestinian protests.

Homeland Security officials echoed those concerns in their Thursday announcement. It offered examples, including a recent internal report at Harvard, finding that many Jewish students reported facing discrimination or bias on campus.

It also tapped into concerns that congressional Republicans have raised about ties between U.S. universities and China. Homeland Security officials said Harvard provided training to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps as recently as 2024. As evidence, it provided a link to a Fox News article, which in turn cited a letter from House Republicans.

Asked for comment on the alleged coordination with the Chinese Communist Party, a Harvard spokesperson said the university will be responding to the House Republicans' letter.

Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, called the latest action an “illegal, small-minded” overreach.

“I worry that this is sending a very chilling effect to international students looking to come to America for education," he said.

The Trump administration has leveraged the system for tracking international students’ legal status as part of its broader attempts to crack down on higher education. What was once a largely administrative database has become a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-student-visa-status-restraining-order-64a97b4fabc5264ed20b179952cdabff">tool of enforcement</a>, as immigration officials revoked students’ legal status directly in the system.

Those efforts were challenged in court, leading to restorations of status and a nationwide injunction blocking the administration from pursuing further terminations.

Associated Press writers Annie Ma in Washington and Cheyanne Mumphrey in Phoenix contributed to this report.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744677178521.png" alt="Harvard President Alan Garber- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Harvard President Alan Garber- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration revoked Harvard University's ability to enroll international students in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-antisemitism-federal-grants-trump-3c8e4d2d3fa0c5083d98250078f95d00">escalating battle</a>&nbsp;with the Ivy League school, saying thousands of current students must transfer to other schools or leave the country.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747947898170.png" alt="Page one of the letter courtesy DHS" />
 <figcaption>Page one of the letter courtesy DHS</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747947942503.png" alt="Page 2 of the letter courtesy DHS" />
 <figcaption>Page 2 of the letter courtesy DHS</figcaption>
 </figure>The Department of Homeland Security announced the action Thursday, saying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/harvards-challenge-to-trump-administration-could-test-limits-of-government-power/">Harvard</a>&nbsp;has created an unsafe campus environment by allowing “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to assault Jewish students on campus. It also accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party, saying it hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.“This means Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students and existing foreign students must transfer or lose their legal status,” the agency said in a statement.Harvard enrolls almost 6,800 foreign students at its campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, accounting for more than a quarter of its student body. Most are graduate students, coming from more than 100 countries.Harvard called the action unlawful and said it's working to provide guidance to students.“This retaliatory action threatens serious harm to the Harvard community and our country, and undermines Harvard’s academic and research mission,” the university said in a statement.The Trump administration's clash with Harvard, the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university, has intensified since it became the first to openly defy White House demands for changes at elite schools it has criticized as hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism. The federal government has cut $2.6 billion in federal grants to Harvard, forcing it to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-research-funding-universities-560292a39b4ec4fe473ed1f91d89f556">self-fund</a>&nbsp;much of its sprawling research operation. President Donald Trump has said he wants to strip the university of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-nonprofit-tax-exempt-status-how-can-it-be-revoked-096614ea5ec65ec7a6ac08efd0f1e94f">tax-exempt status</a>.<h2>The administration has demanded records of campus protests</h2>The threat to Harvard's international enrollment stems from an April 16 request from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who demanded that it provide information about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harvard-tax-exempt-status-international-students-07a10958bf078cb04b59d1fc9a3a27a8">foreign students</a>&nbsp;that might implicate them in violence or protests that could lead to their deportation.In a letter to Harvard on Thursday, Noem said the school's sanction is “the unfortunate result of Harvard's failure to comply with simple reporting requirements.” It bars Harvard from hosting international students for the upcoming 2025-26 school year.Noem said Harvard can regain its ability to host foreign students if it produces a trove of records on foreign students within 72 hours. Her updated request demands all records, including audio or video footage, of foreign students participating in protests or dangerous activity on campus.“This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus,” Noem said in a statement.The action revoked Harvard's certification in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-visas-terminated-trump-sevis-9f85c3c58a4b74c354df0d7d993cf34c">Student and Exchange Visitor Program</a>, which gives the school the ability to sponsor international students to get their visas and attend school in the United States.Harvard President Alan Garber earlier this month said the university has made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-department-of-education-grants-1b5fe7309e2f9f4c0e2281a6a9b25f97">changes to its governance</a>&nbsp;over the past year and a half, including a broad strategy to combat antisemitism, but warned it would not budge on its “its core, legally-protected principles” over fears of retaliation. He said he wasn’t aware of evidence to support the administration's allegation that its international students were “more prone to disruption, violence, or other misconduct than any other students.”Students in Harvard College Democrats said the Trump administration is playing with students' lives to push a radical agenda and to quiet dissent. “Trump's attack on international students is text book authoritarianism — Harvard must continue to hold the line,” the group said in a statement.The administration drew condemnation from free speech groups, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which said Noem is demanding a “surveillance state.”"This sweeping fishing expedition reaches protected expression and must be flatly rejected," the group said in a statement.<h2>The revocation opens a new front in a closely watched battle</h2>Many of Harvard's punishments have come through a federal antisemitism task force that says the university failed to protect Jewish students from harassment and violence amid a nationwide wave of pro-Palestinian protests.Homeland Security officials echoed those concerns in their Thursday announcement. It offered examples, including a recent internal report at Harvard, finding that many Jewish students reported facing discrimination or bias on campus.It also tapped into concerns that congressional Republicans have raised about ties between U.S. universities and China. Homeland Security officials said Harvard provided training to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps as recently as 2024. As evidence, it provided a link to a Fox News article, which in turn cited a letter from House Republicans.Asked for comment on the alleged coordination with the Chinese Communist Party, a Harvard spokesperson said the university will be responding to the House Republicans' letter.Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education, called the latest action an “illegal, small-minded” overreach.“I worry that this is sending a very chilling effect to international students looking to come to America for education," he said.The Trump administration has leveraged the system for tracking international students’ legal status as part of its broader attempts to crack down on higher education. What was once a largely administrative database has become a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-student-visa-status-restraining-order-64a97b4fabc5264ed20b179952cdabff">tool of enforcement</a>, as immigration officials revoked students’ legal status directly in the system.Those efforts were challenged in court, leading to restorations of status and a nationwide injunction blocking the administration from pursuing further terminations.___Associated Press writers Annie Ma in Washington and Cheyanne Mumphrey in Phoenix contributed to this report.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.