Little progress has been made to end&nbsp;the government shutdown&nbsp;as it enters its third week. On Tuesday, Senate chaplain, Retired Rear-Admiral Barry Black, asked&nbsp;the Lord to bring a ceasefire to "our legislative combat."

The shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">began on Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">federal subsidies for health insurance</a>&nbsp;under the Affordable Care Act. Trump and other Republican leaders have said the government must reopen before they will negotiate with Democrats on the health subsidies.

Little progress has been made to end&nbsp;the government shutdown&nbsp;as it enters its third week. On Tuesday, Senate chaplain, Retired Rear-Admiral Barry Black, asked&nbsp;the Lord to bring a ceasefire to "our legislative combat."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">&quot;Thank You for the ceasefire between Gaza and Israel ... And Lord, bring a ceasefire to our legislative combat.&quot; -- Senate chaplain Black opening prayer <a href="https://t.co/GqbDFoY3Ur">pic.twitter.com/GqbDFoY3Ur</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1978187423889698995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">began on Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">federal subsidies for health insurance</a>&nbsp;under the Affordable Care Act. Trump and other Republican leaders have said the government must reopen before they will negotiate with Democrats on the health subsidies.

🎥Senate chaplain prays for "ceasefire" to end government shutdown

Arguments by former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey that abortion regulations do not cause ‘irreparable harm’ to patients is ‘disingenuous,’ an appeals court concluded

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Abortion will remain available at Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=226097" target="_blank">the Western District Court of Appeals ruled</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, rejecting a request by the attorney general’s office to reinstate several restrictions on the procedure.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, former-Attorney General Andrew Bailey accused Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang of abusing her discretion when she issued a temporary injunction that struck down several “targeted regulation of abortion providers,” or TRAP laws, as unconstitutional under the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">reproductive rights amendment approved by voters in November.</a>

That injunction allowed Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis to start&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/04/abortion-returns-columbia-missouri-planned-parenthood-clinic/">offering procedural abortions for the first time in years.&nbsp;</a>

The attorney general’s office in its appeal argued the TRAP laws should be re-enacted in part because they were not causing a high enough degree of “irreparable harm.” The harm was only “minor” because Missourians looking to end a pregnancy could instead&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/24/2-year-anniversary-missouri-abortion-ban/">travel to Illinois or Kansas for an abortion,</a>&nbsp;the attorney general’s office wrote in court filings.&nbsp;

The appeals court unanimously rejected Bailey’s argument on Tuesday, calling it “disingenuous.”&nbsp;

“The irreparable harm flowing from a denial of abortion care within the confines of the Missouri (reproductive rights amendment) are unique because an abortion decision by an expectant mother ‘simply cannot be postponed, or it will be made by default with far-reaching consequences,’” wrote Judge Mark D. Pfeiffer, citing an earlier ruling by Zhang.

The appeals court also found no proof of Zhang abusing her discretion, noting that she applied “exhaustive consideration” to both sides’ arguments by conducting multiple hearings and sifting through hundreds of pages of written briefs over several months.&nbsp;

Plus, the appeals court noted, the bench trial on the matter is set for January, which is only a few months away. At that trial, Zhang will make a final ruling on&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">the lawsuit filed last November&nbsp;</a>by the ACLU of Missouri and the two Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state.&nbsp;

Until then, the temporary injunction in place prevents the state from enforcing a handful of regulations, including requirements that patients have two visits at least seventy-two hours apart before having an abortion and that abortion clinics be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.

Bailey previously&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-ag-erred-in-asking-supreme-court-to-overturn-order-legalizing-abortion/">appealed Zhang’s decision to the Missouri Supreme Court</a>, which said the attorney general should have first appealed to the western district before taking his request to the state’s highest court.&nbsp;

The office, now run by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/catherine-hanaway-missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey/">Attorney General Catherine Hanaway,&nbsp;</a>can appeal Tuesday’s decision to the Missouri Supreme Court. A spokesperson for Hanaway did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

Zhang is still considering a separate request from Planned Parenthood to overturn even more state regulations that Planned Parenthood argues are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/11/laws-regulations-medication-abortion-mifepristone-misoprostol-missouri/">preventing clinics from prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol</a>, which are used in medication abortions.&nbsp;

About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">two-thirds of abortions nationally&nbsp;</a>are performed using medication.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains based in the Kansas City area, accused the attorney general of being one of several examples of “disingenuous” state leadership. She pointed to an&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/07/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-ballot-language-2026/">abortion ban proposed by the Republican legislature&nbsp;</a>that will appear on the November 2026 ballot, coupled with attempts to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/as-few-as-5-of-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-gop-legislation/">make it more difficult to amend the constitution through citizen-led initiative petitions</a>, which is how the reproductive rights amendment ended up on the ballot.&nbsp;

“We will not stand by while extremist officials try to override the law and the will of the people,” Wales said in a statement Tuesday. “Missourians deserve better.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760471576282.png" alt="A recovery room at the Planned Parenthood Great Plains office is pictured on June 21, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>A recovery room at the Planned Parenthood Great Plains office is pictured on June 21, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Arguments by former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey that abortion regulations do not cause ‘irreparable harm’ to patients is ‘disingenuous,’ an appeals court concluded</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Abortion will remain available at Planned Parenthood clinics in Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=226097" target="_blank">the Western District Court of Appeals ruled</a>&nbsp;Tuesday, rejecting a request by the attorney general’s office to reinstate several restrictions on the procedure.&nbsp;Earlier this year, former-Attorney General Andrew Bailey accused Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang of abusing her discretion when she issued a temporary injunction that struck down several “targeted regulation of abortion providers,” or TRAP laws, as unconstitutional under the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">reproductive rights amendment approved by voters in November.</a>That injunction allowed Planned Parenthood clinics in Kansas City, Columbia and St. Louis to start&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/04/abortion-returns-columbia-missouri-planned-parenthood-clinic/">offering procedural abortions for the first time in years.&nbsp;</a>The attorney general’s office in its appeal argued the TRAP laws should be re-enacted in part because they were not causing a high enough degree of “irreparable harm.” The harm was only “minor” because Missourians looking to end a pregnancy could instead&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/24/2-year-anniversary-missouri-abortion-ban/">travel to Illinois or Kansas for an abortion,</a>&nbsp;the attorney general’s office wrote in court filings.&nbsp;The appeals court unanimously rejected Bailey’s argument on Tuesday, calling it “disingenuous.”&nbsp;“The irreparable harm flowing from a denial of abortion care within the confines of the Missouri (reproductive rights amendment) are unique because an abortion decision by an expectant mother ‘simply cannot be postponed, or it will be made by default with far-reaching consequences,’” wrote Judge Mark D. Pfeiffer, citing an earlier ruling by Zhang.The appeals court also found no proof of Zhang abusing her discretion, noting that she applied “exhaustive consideration” to both sides’ arguments by conducting multiple hearings and sifting through hundreds of pages of written briefs over several months.&nbsp;Plus, the appeals court noted, the bench trial on the matter is set for January, which is only a few months away. At that trial, Zhang will make a final ruling on&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/06/missouri-abortion-access-planned-parenthood-lawsuit-amendment-3/">the lawsuit filed last November&nbsp;</a>by the ACLU of Missouri and the two Planned Parenthood affiliates in the state.&nbsp;Until then, the temporary injunction in place prevents the state from enforcing a handful of regulations, including requirements that patients have two visits at least seventy-two hours apart before having an abortion and that abortion clinics be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.Bailey previously&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-ag-erred-in-asking-supreme-court-to-overturn-order-legalizing-abortion/">appealed Zhang’s decision to the Missouri Supreme Court</a>, which said the attorney general should have first appealed to the western district before taking his request to the state’s highest court.&nbsp;The office, now run by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/catherine-hanaway-missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey/">Attorney General Catherine Hanaway,&nbsp;</a>can appeal Tuesday’s decision to the Missouri Supreme Court. A spokesperson for Hanaway did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;Zhang is still considering a separate request from Planned Parenthood to overturn even more state regulations that Planned Parenthood argues are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/11/laws-regulations-medication-abortion-mifepristone-misoprostol-missouri/">preventing clinics from prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol</a>, which are used in medication abortions.&nbsp;About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">two-thirds of abortions nationally&nbsp;</a>are performed using medication.&nbsp;&nbsp;Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains based in the Kansas City area, accused the attorney general of being one of several examples of “disingenuous” state leadership. She pointed to an&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/07/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-ballot-language-2026/">abortion ban proposed by the Republican legislature&nbsp;</a>that will appear on the November 2026 ballot, coupled with attempts to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/as-few-as-5-of-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-gop-legislation/">make it more difficult to amend the constitution through citizen-led initiative petitions</a>, which is how the reproductive rights amendment ended up on the ballot.&nbsp;“We will not stand by while extremist officials try to override the law and the will of the people,” Wales said in a statement Tuesday. “Missourians deserve better.”

Missouri appeals court rules against AG, allows abortions to continue

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a violent abduction shown on a doorbell video this week in Wichita have made an arrest.&nbsp;

Just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Wichita Police Domestic Intervention and Violence Reduction team (DIVRT) located and arrested a 22-year-old man in relation to the doorbell surveillance case, according to a media release.

He has been booked into Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Battery Strangulation, Two counts of Domestic Simple Battery, and Criminal Restraint.&nbsp;

Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday Wichita Police Investigators received a phone call, from a woman claiming to be the individual investigators were attempting to identify in the case. Investigators immediately responded to her location, made contact, and transported her to City Hall so detectives could conduct a victim interview.

Investigators are conducting interviews and have identified the woman as a 35-year-old who lives in the area where the video was captured. At this stage of the investigation, police believe this incident is a case of domestic violence where the woman was victimized by her boyfriend. The woman does not have any significant injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760408562025.png" alt="Image from Wichita police door camera video" />
 <figcaption>Image from Wichita police door camera video</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a violent abduction shown on a doorbell video this week in Wichita have made an arrest.&nbsp;Just after 7 p.m. Tuesday, officers with the Wichita Police Domestic Intervention and Violence Reduction team (DIVRT) located and arrested a 22-year-old man in relation to the doorbell surveillance case, according to a media release.He has been booked into Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Battery Strangulation, Two counts of Domestic Simple Battery, and Criminal Restraint.&nbsp;Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday Wichita Police Investigators received a phone call, from a woman claiming to be the individual investigators were attempting to identify in the case. Investigators immediately responded to her location, made contact, and transported her to City Hall so detectives could conduct a victim interview.Investigators are conducting interviews and have identified the woman as a 35-year-old who lives in the area where the video was captured. At this stage of the investigation, police believe this incident is a case of domestic violence where the woman was victimized by her boyfriend. The woman does not have any significant injuries.

Police make arrest in Kan. door camera abduction video

SEDGWICK COUNTY – On October 14, 2025, Investigators with the Wichita Police Department arrested a 15-year-old suspect for the shooting of a 30-year-old man after he was found burglarizing the victim’s car. 

The suspect was released from the hospital and booked into the Sedgwick County Juvenile Detention Facility on charges of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery, Burglary to Auto, and Juvenile in Possession of a Firearm.

This case has now been formally charged. All further inquiries should be directed to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Family and friends are working to raise funds for a Kansas teacher wounded in a shooting Saturday night in Wichita.

Officers responded to the&nbsp;400 block of South Vassar and found two male victims 30-year-old Kevin Norfleet, who teaches at Maize High School and a 15-year-old both suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. EMS transported both to a local hospital where they remain in critical condition.

Investigators learned Norfleet, identified from an online fundraiser, went outside after seeing the 15-year-old rummaging through his vehicle. The 15-year-old then fired a weapon, striking Norfleet. He returned fire, hitting the 15-year-old.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/donations-for-kevin-norfleet-and-family">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the online fundraiser that provides more details on the incident. "Kevin is a beloved husband, father, and son. He's a high school teacher here in town and is loved by so many."

"On Saturday night, September 27th, Kevin was shot multiple times by someone attempting to break into his car at his home in Wichita."

"Kevin is receiving excellent care in a surgical intensive care unit in town. There have been multiple surgeries already performed to save his life and more surgery ahead once he is more stable. His doctors say it will be weeks before he leaves the hospital, and even longer before he can go home to his wife and son, as he'll need extensive rehab."

"All funds raised here will go directly to his wife and son, to support them through this time and especially to pay future medical bills, which are sure to be astronomical. Any help is truly appreciated."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759228557815.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY – On October 14, 2025, Investigators with the Wichita Police Department arrested a 15-year-old suspect for the shooting of a 30-year-old man after he was found burglarizing the victim’s car. The suspect was released from the hospital and booked into the Sedgwick County Juvenile Detention Facility on charges of Attempted Second-Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery, Burglary to Auto, and Juvenile in Possession of a Firearm.This case has now been formally charged. All further inquiries should be directed to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.SEDGWICK COUNTY — Family and friends are working to raise funds for a Kansas teacher wounded in a shooting Saturday night in Wichita.Officers responded to the&nbsp;400 block of South Vassar and found two male victims 30-year-old Kevin Norfleet, who teaches at Maize High School and a 15-year-old both suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. EMS transported both to a local hospital where they remain in critical condition.Investigators learned Norfleet, identified from an online fundraiser, went outside after seeing the 15-year-old rummaging through his vehicle. The 15-year-old then fired a weapon, striking Norfleet. He returned fire, hitting the 15-year-old.<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/donations-for-kevin-norfleet-and-family">Click here to view</a>&nbsp;the online fundraiser that provides more details on the incident. "Kevin is a beloved husband, father, and son. He's a high school teacher here in town and is loved by so many.""On Saturday night, September 27th, Kevin was shot multiple times by someone attempting to break into his car at his home in Wichita.""Kevin is receiving excellent care in a surgical intensive care unit in town. There have been multiple surgeries already performed to save his life and more surgery ahead once he is more stable. His doctors say it will be weeks before he leaves the hospital, and even longer before he can go home to his wife and son, as he'll need extensive rehab.""All funds raised here will go directly to his wife and son, to support them through this time and especially to pay future medical bills, which are sure to be astronomical. Any help is truly appreciated."

15-year-old Kan. burglary suspect, wounded in gunfight, moved from hospital

KANSAS CITY—A child died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.

KCPD investigators determined white Ford Transit van was northbound on Food Lane Drive and was turning westbound onto Longview Road at the intersection, according KCPD Sergeant Jake Becchina. At the same time, a girl was riding her bicycle within the marked crosswalk and had a green signal.

 The van struck the bicyclist, causing her to fall to the roadway.. EMS transported the girl to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760488799105.png" alt="The intersection of Longview Rd and Food Lane -Google image" />
 <figcaption>The intersection of Longview Rd and Food Lane -Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A child died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.KCPD investigators determined white Ford Transit van was northbound on Food Lane Drive and was turning westbound onto Longview Road at the intersection, according KCPD Sergeant Jake Becchina. At the same time, a girl was riding her bicycle within the marked crosswalk and had a green signal. The van struck the bicyclist, causing her to fall to the roadway.. EMS transported the girl to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased by medical staff.&nbsp;

Girl on bicycle killed after van hits her in Kansas City crosswalk

CAIRO (AP) — As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the Gaza ceasefire</a>&nbsp;holds, Hamas security forces have returned to the streets, clashed with armed groups and killed alleged gangsters in what the militant group says is an attempt to restore law and order in areas where Israeli troops have withdrawn.

The show of force, welcomed by some Palestinians after months of lawlessness, could threaten the truce now that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-gaza-hostage-release-9878d227949f0521fcf548a6fae3c1ca">all the living hostages</a>&nbsp;taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack have been released.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said the war will not end until Hamas has been dismantled, and U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-palestinians-peace-plan-ce2e84de8aa5fd308fe751ae9c3118e8">President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan</a>&nbsp;calls for Hamas to disarm and hand power over to an internationally supervised body that has yet to be formed.

Hamas has not fully accepted those terms, saying more negotiations are needed. It says it is willing to hand over power to other Palestinians but will not allow chaos to prevail during the transition. Israelis fear that as long as Hamas is armed, it will exercise influence in Gaza —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-offensive-militants-ceasefire-41baad28c5fbbfa76755238149d7bc78">and could rebuild its military capabilities</a>&nbsp;— even if an independent body exercises nominal rule.

Trump said Tuesday that Hamas had taken out “a couple of gangs that were very bad,” and killed a number of gang members. “That didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you,” he said.

But he reiterated his demand for Hamas to lay down its arms, saying: “They will disarm, and if they don’t do so, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently.”

The Hamas-run police maintained a high degree of public security after the militants seized power in Gaza 18 years ago while also cracking down on dissent. They largely melted away in recent months as Israeli forces seized large areas of Gaza and targeted Hamas security forces with airstrikes.

Powerful local families and armed gangs —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/netanyahu-palestinian-clans-activated-armed-8f2461f5253550d0a4ce4ea661c580ef">including some anti-Hamas factions backed by Israel</a>&nbsp;— stepped into the void.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-aid-un-ghf-567c5bffd5d7ae4cc54ea0816a159f8f">Many are accused</a>&nbsp;of hijacking humanitarian aid and selling it for profit, contributing to Gaza’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-children-starvation-israel-netanyahu-0549e843c24fe7f20f1e7ce085502450">starvation crisis</a>.

Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza’s private truckers union, said Hamas was acting against gangs that had terrorized people in areas controlled by Israel.

“Those gangs looted aid and killed people under the protection of the (Israeli) occupation,” he told The Associated Press, saying they operated in so-called red zones where Israel had ordered people to evacuate. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment.

Over the weekend, Hamas-led fighters clashed with an armed group in Gaza City affiliated with the powerful Doghmush family after the killing of Mohammed Aqel, a Hamas militant, on Friday.

Aqel’s family said in a statement that militiamen had kidnapped him, robbed him and killed him. Another family, the al-Muqaid, said the gang ambushed five of its members when they returned to their homes and robbed them, killing one and leaving another in intensive care.

Residents of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of security concerns, said the gang, led by Hussam Doghmush, was known to loot aid convoys and rob abandoned homes in areas controlled by the Israeli military. They said Doghmush was among some two dozen people killed in the clashes with Hamas, including a local journalist and a son of a senior Hamas official based outside Gaza.

Hamas-linked Telegram channels said Hamas had targeted “collaborators and traitors” working with Israel. The Hamas-run Sahm security force, which says it targets looters and other criminals, shared footage that appeared to show its forces killing eight people execution-style in the streets as people cheered. It said the detainees were gangsters.

The Gaza-based Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights denounced the extrajudicial killings by Hamas.

The Doghmush family initially denounced the gang and distanced itself from it. Two days later, it issued another statement condemning Hamas’ response, saying there was no need for “this brutality.”

Saeed Abu Elaish, a medic from the northern Jabaliya refugee camp who fled to central Gaza last month, said he had seen police return to the streets and welcomed it as a first step toward restoring “some kind of normalcy and safety” after two years of ruinous war.

Netanyahu has hinted he will resume military operations if Hamas is not disarmed peacefully.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry has announced a weeklong amnesty, saying gang members not implicated in bloodshed can turn themselves in and have their records expunged. Those who do not will face arrest and prosecution, it said.

“No one will be allowed to undermine public security or the rights of citizens,” the ministry said in a statement, calling it a “a final warning.”

Hossam al-Astal, the leader of an anti-Hamas militia in southern Gaza with apparent links to Israel, rejected the warning.

“To all the Hamas rats, your tunnels are destroyed, your rights don’t exist anymore. Repent before it is too late — there is no Hamas from today onward,” he wrote on Facebook.

Al-Astal who was imprisoned by Hamas before the war on allegations of drug smuggling, established an armed group late last year that operates in areas controlled by Israel. He appears to have joined forces with Yasser Abu Shabab, who leads a similar armed group in the Israeli-controlled southern city of Rafah that has a history of looting aid convoys.

Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-armed-groups-hamas-israel-looting-b3033fd46a25a6382c8e13d3b4ae7f42">has acknowledged supporting Abu Shabab and others</a>&nbsp;opposed to Hamas, while denying any involvement in the looting of aid.

The presence of such groups could complicate talks over Hamas’ disarmament. The militants have expressed willingness to hand over offensive weapons like rockets to a Palestinian or Arab body but say they need lighter weapons like assault rifles to defend themselves, according to Arab officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive ceasefire talks.

CAIRO (AP) — As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the Gaza ceasefire</a>&nbsp;holds, Hamas security forces have returned to the streets, clashed with armed groups and killed alleged gangsters in what the militant group says is an attempt to restore law and order in areas where Israeli troops have withdrawn.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump on Hamas: &quot;If they don&#39;t disarm, we will disarm them.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/YMEQRcpxjd">pic.twitter.com/YMEQRcpxjd</a>&mdash; Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1978165569670054001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The show of force, welcomed by some Palestinians after months of lawlessness, could threaten the truce now that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-gaza-hostage-release-9878d227949f0521fcf548a6fae3c1ca">all the living hostages</a>&nbsp;taken in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack have been released.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said the war will not end until Hamas has been dismantled, and U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-palestinians-peace-plan-ce2e84de8aa5fd308fe751ae9c3118e8">President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan</a>&nbsp;calls for Hamas to disarm and hand power over to an internationally supervised body that has yet to be formed.Hamas has not fully accepted those terms, saying more negotiations are needed. It says it is willing to hand over power to other Palestinians but will not allow chaos to prevail during the transition. Israelis fear that as long as Hamas is armed, it will exercise influence in Gaza —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-offensive-militants-ceasefire-41baad28c5fbbfa76755238149d7bc78">and could rebuild its military capabilities</a>&nbsp;— even if an independent body exercises nominal rule.Trump said Tuesday that Hamas had taken out “a couple of gangs that were very bad,” and killed a number of gang members. “That didn’t bother me much, to be honest with you,” he said.But he reiterated his demand for Hamas to lay down its arms, saying: “They will disarm, and if they don’t do so, we will disarm them, and it’ll happen quickly and perhaps violently.”<h2>Breakdown in security</h2>The Hamas-run police maintained a high degree of public security after the militants seized power in Gaza 18 years ago while also cracking down on dissent. They largely melted away in recent months as Israeli forces seized large areas of Gaza and targeted Hamas security forces with airstrikes.Powerful local families and armed gangs —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/netanyahu-palestinian-clans-activated-armed-8f2461f5253550d0a4ce4ea661c580ef">including some anti-Hamas factions backed by Israel</a>&nbsp;— stepped into the void.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-aid-un-ghf-567c5bffd5d7ae4cc54ea0816a159f8f">Many are accused</a>&nbsp;of hijacking humanitarian aid and selling it for profit, contributing to Gaza’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-children-starvation-israel-netanyahu-0549e843c24fe7f20f1e7ce085502450">starvation crisis</a>.Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza’s private truckers union, said Hamas was acting against gangs that had terrorized people in areas controlled by Israel.“Those gangs looted aid and killed people under the protection of the (Israeli) occupation,” he told The Associated Press, saying they operated in so-called red zones where Israel had ordered people to evacuate. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment.Over the weekend, Hamas-led fighters clashed with an armed group in Gaza City affiliated with the powerful Doghmush family after the killing of Mohammed Aqel, a Hamas militant, on Friday.Aqel’s family said in a statement that militiamen had kidnapped him, robbed him and killed him. Another family, the al-Muqaid, said the gang ambushed five of its members when they returned to their homes and robbed them, killing one and leaving another in intensive care.Residents of the area, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of security concerns, said the gang, led by Hussam Doghmush, was known to loot aid convoys and rob abandoned homes in areas controlled by the Israeli military. They said Doghmush was among some two dozen people killed in the clashes with Hamas, including a local journalist and a son of a senior Hamas official based outside Gaza.Hamas-linked Telegram channels said Hamas had targeted “collaborators and traitors” working with Israel. The Hamas-run Sahm security force, which says it targets looters and other criminals, shared footage that appeared to show its forces killing eight people execution-style in the streets as people cheered. It said the detainees were gangsters.The Gaza-based Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights denounced the extrajudicial killings by Hamas.The Doghmush family initially denounced the gang and distanced itself from it. Two days later, it issued another statement condemning Hamas’ response, saying there was no need for “this brutality.”<h2>A first step toward normalcy</h2>Saeed Abu Elaish, a medic from the northern Jabaliya refugee camp who fled to central Gaza last month, said he had seen police return to the streets and welcomed it as a first step toward restoring “some kind of normalcy and safety” after two years of ruinous war.Netanyahu has hinted he will resume military operations if Hamas is not disarmed peacefully.The Hamas-run Interior Ministry has announced a weeklong amnesty, saying gang members not implicated in bloodshed can turn themselves in and have their records expunged. Those who do not will face arrest and prosecution, it said.“No one will be allowed to undermine public security or the rights of citizens,” the ministry said in a statement, calling it a “a final warning.”Hossam al-Astal, the leader of an anti-Hamas militia in southern Gaza with apparent links to Israel, rejected the warning.“To all the Hamas rats, your tunnels are destroyed, your rights don’t exist anymore. Repent before it is too late — there is no Hamas from today onward,” he wrote on Facebook.Al-Astal who was imprisoned by Hamas before the war on allegations of drug smuggling, established an armed group late last year that operates in areas controlled by Israel. He appears to have joined forces with Yasser Abu Shabab, who leads a similar armed group in the Israeli-controlled southern city of Rafah that has a history of looting aid convoys.Israel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-armed-groups-hamas-israel-looting-b3033fd46a25a6382c8e13d3b4ae7f42">has acknowledged supporting Abu Shabab and others</a>&nbsp;opposed to Hamas, while denying any involvement in the looting of aid.The presence of such groups could complicate talks over Hamas’ disarmament. The militants have expressed willingness to hand over offensive weapons like rockets to a Palestinian or Arab body but say they need lighter weapons like assault rifles to defend themselves, according to Arab officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive ceasefire talks.___Krauss reported from Ottawa, Ontario.

🎥Trump: Hamas will disarm, or ‘we will disarm them’

By JUAN A. LOZANO and JOHN O'CONNOR&nbsp;

BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man who long maintained his innocence was executed Tuesday for the fatal shooting of a state trooper more than 20 years ago.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-98b9be3f3c3c4d408f907ba61c9897d3">Lance Shockley</a>, 48, was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. following a lethal injection at the state prison in Bonne Terre.

Shockley was convicted of killing Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. in March 2005. Prosecutors said he waited for hours near Graham’s home in Van Buren, in southeast Missouri, and shot him with a rifle and shotgun after the trooper exited his patrol vehicle.

Shockley’s execution was one of two in the country Tuesday. Samuel Lee Smithers, 72,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-execution-samuel-lee-smithers-cf17079bd1228ab58f7ee61de81924a0">died by lethal injection</a>&nbsp;in Florida for the killings of two women whose bodies were found in a rural pond in 1996.

In the death chamber, Shockley’s head was elevated on a pillow, and he raised his head off the pillow and communicated with loved ones in the witness room to his left. A woman there appeared to try to carry on a detailed conversation with him from his soundproof room.

After about 90 seconds, he laid his head back on the pillow and appeared to stop talking.

There were seven witnesses present for Shockley, 12 for Graham and 13 for the state. The woman who was communicating with him dropped her head and stopped motioning after he laid his head back. At least two women wiped tears from the eyes, and other witnesses largely sat stoic and expressionless.

Shockley's final visits, meal and statement

He was visited by his daughters and a friend in the morning, according to prison officials. His last meal consisted of items from the canteen: peanut butter, three packs of oatmeal, water and two sports drinks.

In a written final statement, he said: “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”

The execution was carried out after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeals earlier in the day. GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe turned down his request for clemency Monday.

“Violence against those who risk their lives every day to protect our communities will never be tolerated. Missouri stands firmly with our men and women in uniform,” Kehoe said in a statement.

Graham's family issued a statement saying the grief from his loss “has left a profound emptiness in all of us that touches every part of our daily lives.

“No court proceeding, nor what happened here today can ever bring Dewayne back, or heal the hole left in our hearts,” it continued. “But after all these years, there is some measure of peace in knowing that this part of the process is over.”

Col. Michael Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, said Graham represented the very best of the force, was respected by co-workers and the community and was “unwavering in his commitment to helping others.”

Shockley’s attorneys were unsuccessful in their efforts to have state appeals courts stop his execution in order to allow DNA testing of evidence found at the scene of the killing. His lawyers argued that much of that evidence had never been tested and could have helped exonerate Shockley.

“Even a small chance of exoneration is enough to warrant testing,” his lawyers said in court documents.

They also asked the Supreme Court for a stay, arguing that his First Amendment rights were being violated since the Missouri Department of Corrections prohibited his daughter from being his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-state-government-missouri-legal-proceedings-religion-dbc253bef85af688a63a42a836e00028">spiritual adviser</a>&nbsp;during the execution. In March 2022 the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-executions-john-roberts-fcd32356dbb867063d324d7d33d6a21f">Supreme Court ruled</a>&nbsp;that states must allow spiritual advisers to accompany inmates in the death chamber.

Missouri officials argued that state prison policy prevents family members from having direct contact with inmates during an execution due to security concerns they might interfere with the process.

Authorities said Shockley shot Graham because he was investigating him for involuntary manslaughter after leaving the scene of a deadly accident in which Shockley’s best friend was killed. Prosecutors said Shockley borrowed his grandmother’s red Pontiac Grand Am, which was seen near Graham’s home the day of the killing.

Shockley first shot Graham with a rifle, severing his spinal cord and causing him to fall to the ground and fracture his skull, according to prosecutors. He then approached and shot Graham in the face and shoulder with a shotgun.

Shockley owned a .243-caliber rifle, and .243-caliber rounds were recovered from Graham’s body. Bullet fragments found on the property of Shockley’s uncle matched the rounds recovered from the trooper’s body, according to court documents filed by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.

Jeremy Weis, one of Shockley’s attorneys, said prosecutors presented no direct evidence connecting him to the killing.

“The state’s case remained circumstantial,” Weis said last week while discussing the case during a forum at the University of Missouri School of Law. “The murder weapons were never found. There were disagreements between the ballistics experts hired by the prosecution.”

Shockley’s attorney also said witnesses placed him about 14 miles (23 kilometers) from Graham’s home at a time when prosecutors said he was lying in wait there.

Prosecutors said Shockley inquired about where Graham lived beforehand and tried to get rid of a box of .243-caliber ammunition around the time of the killing, according to court documents.

Favorable DNA test results, “even if obtained, would not tend to undermine Shockley’s conviction,” prosecutors said.

Shockley is the first person put to death this year in Missouri, where no other executions are scheduled for 2025. The last one in the state took place Dec. 3, 2024, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-christopher-collings-f5a027c86c53725556a5a66751abd36d">Christopher Collings</a>&nbsp;died by lethal injection for the sexual assault and killing of a 9-year-old girl.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760491147364.png" alt="Shockley photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Shockley photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>By JUAN A. LOZANO and JOHN O'CONNOR&nbsp;BONNE TERRE, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man who long maintained his innocence was executed Tuesday for the fatal shooting of a state trooper more than 20 years ago.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-98b9be3f3c3c4d408f907ba61c9897d3">Lance Shockley</a>, 48, was pronounced dead at 6:13 p.m. following a lethal injection at the state prison in Bonne Terre.Shockley was convicted of killing Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr. in March 2005. Prosecutors said he waited for hours near Graham’s home in Van Buren, in southeast Missouri, and shot him with a rifle and shotgun after the trooper exited his patrol vehicle.Shockley’s execution was one of two in the country Tuesday. Samuel Lee Smithers, 72,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-execution-samuel-lee-smithers-cf17079bd1228ab58f7ee61de81924a0">died by lethal injection</a>&nbsp;in Florida for the killings of two women whose bodies were found in a rural pond in 1996.In the death chamber, Shockley’s head was elevated on a pillow, and he raised his head off the pillow and communicated with loved ones in the witness room to his left. A woman there appeared to try to carry on a detailed conversation with him from his soundproof room.After about 90 seconds, he laid his head back on the pillow and appeared to stop talking.There were seven witnesses present for Shockley, 12 for Graham and 13 for the state. The woman who was communicating with him dropped her head and stopped motioning after he laid his head back. At least two women wiped tears from the eyes, and other witnesses largely sat stoic and expressionless.<h2>Shockley's final visits, meal and statement</h2>He was visited by his daughters and a friend in the morning, according to prison officials. His last meal consisted of items from the canteen: peanut butter, three packs of oatmeal, water and two sports drinks.In a written final statement, he said: “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”The execution was carried out after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeals earlier in the day. GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe turned down his request for clemency Monday.“Violence against those who risk their lives every day to protect our communities will never be tolerated. Missouri stands firmly with our men and women in uniform,” Kehoe said in a statement.<h2>‘A profound emptiness’</h2>Graham's family issued a statement saying the grief from his loss “has left a profound emptiness in all of us that touches every part of our daily lives.“No court proceeding, nor what happened here today can ever bring Dewayne back, or heal the hole left in our hearts,” it continued. “But after all these years, there is some measure of peace in knowing that this part of the process is over.”Col. Michael Turner, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, said Graham represented the very best of the force, was respected by co-workers and the community and was “unwavering in his commitment to helping others.”<h2>Lawyers sought DNA testing</h2>Shockley’s attorneys were unsuccessful in their efforts to have state appeals courts stop his execution in order to allow DNA testing of evidence found at the scene of the killing. His lawyers argued that much of that evidence had never been tested and could have helped exonerate Shockley.“Even a small chance of exoneration is enough to warrant testing,” his lawyers said in court documents.They also asked the Supreme Court for a stay, arguing that his First Amendment rights were being violated since the Missouri Department of Corrections prohibited his daughter from being his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-state-government-missouri-legal-proceedings-religion-dbc253bef85af688a63a42a836e00028">spiritual adviser</a>&nbsp;during the execution. In March 2022 the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-texas-executions-john-roberts-fcd32356dbb867063d324d7d33d6a21f">Supreme Court ruled</a>&nbsp;that states must allow spiritual advisers to accompany inmates in the death chamber.Missouri officials argued that state prison policy prevents family members from having direct contact with inmates during an execution due to security concerns they might interfere with the process.<h2>Graham was investigating Shockley</h2>Authorities said Shockley shot Graham because he was investigating him for involuntary manslaughter after leaving the scene of a deadly accident in which Shockley’s best friend was killed. Prosecutors said Shockley borrowed his grandmother’s red Pontiac Grand Am, which was seen near Graham’s home the day of the killing.Shockley first shot Graham with a rifle, severing his spinal cord and causing him to fall to the ground and fracture his skull, according to prosecutors. He then approached and shot Graham in the face and shoulder with a shotgun.Shockley owned a .243-caliber rifle, and .243-caliber rounds were recovered from Graham’s body. Bullet fragments found on the property of Shockley’s uncle matched the rounds recovered from the trooper’s body, according to court documents filed by the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.<h2>Defense said case was circumstantial</h2>Jeremy Weis, one of Shockley’s attorneys, said prosecutors presented no direct evidence connecting him to the killing.“The state’s case remained circumstantial,” Weis said last week while discussing the case during a forum at the University of Missouri School of Law. “The murder weapons were never found. There were disagreements between the ballistics experts hired by the prosecution.”Shockley’s attorney also said witnesses placed him about 14 miles (23 kilometers) from Graham’s home at a time when prosecutors said he was lying in wait there.Prosecutors said Shockley inquired about where Graham lived beforehand and tried to get rid of a box of .243-caliber ammunition around the time of the killing, according to court documents.Favorable DNA test results, “even if obtained, would not tend to undermine Shockley’s conviction,” prosecutors said.Shockley is the first person put to death this year in Missouri, where no other executions are scheduled for 2025. The last one in the state took place Dec. 3, 2024, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-christopher-collings-f5a027c86c53725556a5a66751abd36d">Christopher Collings</a>&nbsp;died by lethal injection for the sexual assault and killing of a 9-year-old girl.

Man executed for killing State Trooper wrote final statement

JOHNSON COUNTY — A man who admitted intentionally contaminating food at a Kansas steak house is going to prison.

Earlier this month, Judge Kelly Ryan sentenced Jace Christian Hanson, 22, of Kansas City, to 136 months in prison, according to Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In July, Hanson entered a plea of guilty as charged on the 33 counts of food adulteration carges. The crime occurred at the Hereford House steakhouse, 5001 Town Center Drive in Leawood, Kansas between March 26 and April 24, 2024.

On April 25, the Leawood Police Department received a tip that the restaurant may have someone intentionally contaminating food.

Police immediately began an investigation that led to the Hereford House where detectives spoke with restaurant management to identify a suspect 21-year-old&nbsp;Jace Christian Hanson of Kansas City.

Customers who ate at the steakhouse between those dates and experienced health issues were asked to contact Leawood police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714486969300.png" alt="Hanson photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Hanson photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY — A man who admitted intentionally contaminating food at a Kansas steak house is going to prison.Earlier this month, Judge Kelly Ryan sentenced Jace Christian Hanson, 22, of Kansas City, to 136 months in prison, according to Johnson County District Attorney's office.In July, Hanson entered a plea of guilty as charged on the 33 counts of food adulteration carges. The crime occurred at the Hereford House steakhouse, 5001 Town Center Drive in Leawood, Kansas between March 26 and April 24, 2024.On April 25, the Leawood Police Department received a tip that the restaurant may have someone intentionally contaminating food.Police immediately began an investigation that led to the Hereford House where detectives spoke with restaurant management to identify a suspect 21-year-old&nbsp;Jace Christian Hanson of Kansas City.Customers who ate at the steakhouse between those dates and experienced health issues were asked to contact Leawood police.

Prison time for intentionally contaminating food at Kan. steakhouse

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday posthumously awarded America's highest civilian honor to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Charlie Kirk</a>, the assassinated activist who inspired a generation of young conservatives and helped push the nation's politics further to the right.

Receiving the award on Kirk's behalf was his widow, Erika. Her voice cracking and often falling to a whisper as she wiped away tears, Erika Kirk talked about her late husband's life, political beliefs and legacy.

“Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring my husband, in such a profound and meaningful way. And thank you for making this event a priority," she said. “Your support of our family and the work that Charlie devoted his life to will be something I cherish forever.”

The ceremony coincided with what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. It came about a month after the Turning Point USA founder was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">fatally shot</a>&nbsp;while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University.

In a sign of Kirk's close ties to the administration, he was the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Trump’s second term. The president also spoke at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-trump-memorial-service-b5469086954908b162f464da966cf238">Kirk’s funeral</a>&nbsp;in September, calling him a “great American hero” and “martyr” for freedom, while Vice President JD Vance accompanied his body home to Arizona on Air Force Two along with Erika Kirk.

“We’re here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I’ve ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber," Trump said during the medal ceremony.

Of Kirk's killing, the president said, “He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith and relentless fighting for a better and stronger America."

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ben-carson-presidential-medal-96c072b07289f147a14ba6805681b6fa">Presidential Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 for individuals making exceptional contributions “to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”

Trump returned to the U.S. in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-egypt-6347e7da64f6c97b95109558096c0b6c">whirlwind trip to Israel and Egypt</a>&nbsp;to celebrate a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-hostages-ceasefire-10-14-2025-665a1cbe249f08c8513ceceaa04db201">ceasefire agreement</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza</a>&nbsp;that his administration was instrumental in brokering. The president joked that he almost requested to reschedule the ceremony because of the trip.

“I raced back halfway around the globe," Trump said. “I was going to call Erika and say, ‘Erika, could you maybe move it to Friday?' And I didn’t have the courage to call. But you know why I didn’t call? Because I heard today was Charlie’s birthday.”

Argentine President Javier Milei,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/argentina-donald-trump-javier-milei-imf-c6f37a00c96f8aa321324ff443147b4e">who had been visiting with the president at the White House earlier,</a>&nbsp;stayed on to attend the ceremony.

Trump has awarded a string of presidential medals going back to his first term, including to golf legend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tiger-woods">Tiger Woods</a>, ex-football coach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-college-football-donald-trump-nfl-football-982cc801d15e8a7209a0aafaedf40124">Lou Holtz</a>&nbsp;and conservative economist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-art-laffer-auto-tariff-warning-ba62f55af070e40e9d6eddf5d8433ad1">Arthur Laffer</a>&nbsp;as well as to Yankees Hall of Fame closer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/albert-pujols-mariano-rivera-baseball-alex-rodriguez-carlos-pena-812e5535ff74311f941b7b860610594a">Mariano Rivera</a>&nbsp;and conservative radio host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-talk-radio-politics-entertainment-d79a7eead68d6a304d38b665e6f89c2a">Rush Limbaugh</a>, the latter of which came during the 2020 State of the Union. He awarded posthumous medals to Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley.

This term, Trump has also announced his intentions to award the medals to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudy-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>, the former New York City mayor and a close former adviser, and to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ben-carson">Ben Carson</a>, who served as Trump's first-term secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and Trump praised him as one of the key reasons he was reelected last year.

But Kirk's politics were also often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">divisive</a>. He sharply criticized gay and transgender rights while inflaming racial tensions. Kirk also repeated Trump’s false claims that former Vice President Kamala Harris was responsible for policies that encouraged immigrants to come to the U.S. illegally and called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-floyd">George Floyd</a>, a Black man whose killing by a Minneapolis police officer sparked a national debate over racial injustice, a “scumbag.”

As Tuesday's ceremony was underway, the Trump administration said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-visas-revoked-455f43467c0c50e84d3857c1e9c81458">revoked the visas</a>&nbsp;of six foreigners who U.S. officials deemed had made derisive or mocking comments about Kirk’s assassination. The six who had their visas revoked were from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa.

The move comes as the Trump administration and its supporters have zeroed in on people who made critical comments about Kirk, leading to firings and other discipline.

Trump wrote in a social media post hours before it started that he was moving the ceremony from the White House’s East Room to the Rose Garden to accommodate a crowd he said would be “so big and enthusiastic.”

Trump paved over the grass there and put in a patio area, and talked happily about the medal ceremony being one of the first major events in the new space. He noted how the weather had cleared up after it was expected to be raining, saying: “I was telling Erika, God was watching. And he didn’t want that for Charlie.”

Kirk’s widow said she asked their 3-year-old daughter what she might have given her father for his birthday, and she responded a stuffed animal and a cupcake while saying he hoped he'd get a birthday surprise. Erika Kirk said her husband was sometimes hard to buy presents for, but the medal was the perfect gift.

Erika Kirk said her husband might one day have run for president "but not out of ambition. He would only have done it if that was something that he believed that his country needed from his servant’s heart.”

She said God began a “mighty work” through her husband, and she intends to see it through. She finished her remarks by saying Charlie’s story reminds us that “to live free is the greatest gift but to die free is the greatest victory.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760477062621.png" alt="Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday posthumously awarded America's highest civilian honor to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Charlie Kirk</a>, the assassinated activist who inspired a generation of young conservatives and helped push the nation's politics further to the right.Receiving the award on Kirk's behalf was his widow, Erika. Her voice cracking and often falling to a whisper as she wiped away tears, Erika Kirk talked about her late husband's life, political beliefs and legacy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump Participates in a Medal of Freedom Ceremony for Charlie Kirk <a href="https://t.co/KGAv0O6oTz">https://t.co/KGAv0O6oTz</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1978198302932742489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump and Erika Kirk arrive to the Medal of Freedom Ceremony for Charlie Kirk ❤️🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/6aRc4TOTRt">pic.twitter.com/6aRc4TOTRt</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1978200500035047809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Every single day of this administration, we will continue to carry out the mission for which he lived... In <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@charliekirk11</a>&#39;s honor, we will continue, like we have been, to Fight, Fight, Fight—and to WIN, WIN, WIN. We&#39;re gonna win SO MUCH.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/tLUvMHgtVQ">pic.twitter.com/tLUvMHgtVQ</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978207602958864822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;In the days since Charlie&#39;s killing, we&#39;ve seen exactly why our country so dearly needed his example. We&#39;ve watched legions of far-left radicals resort to desperate acts of violence and terror because they know that their ideas and arguments are persuading no one.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/A1IsbDrmpT">pic.twitter.com/A1IsbDrmpT</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978205826754973917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Charlie Kirk was a martyr for truth and for freedom, and from Socrates... to Saint Peter... those who change history the most, and he really did, have always risked their lives for causes they were put on earth to defend.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SFK1OeuxPc">pic.twitter.com/SFK1OeuxPc</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978205271185850551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded posthumously to the late Charlie Kirk, to his wife, Mrs. Erika Kirk 🙏 <a href="https://t.co/T28dH9Gk4S">pic.twitter.com/T28dH9Gk4S</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978209628627370054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/MrsErikaKirk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MrsErikaKirk</a>: &quot;If the moment had come, he probably would have run for president, but not out of ambition, He would only have done if it that was something that he believed his country needed.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/9DkGIaN4Wp">pic.twitter.com/9DkGIaN4Wp</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1978213900253376643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After the Medal of Freedom ceremony honoring <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@charliekirk11</a>, President Trump and Vice President Vance stood with Erika as Amazing Grace played ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/dWv9d4Z3WV">pic.twitter.com/dWv9d4Z3WV</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1978224055300804723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump signs a Proclamation declaring October 14 as the National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk ❤️ President Trump recalls nights on the Mar-a-Lago patio listening to music with Charlie… “Remember Charlie on the patio…he could sit there all night long!” <a href="https://t.co/pDrEBWEdmV">pic.twitter.com/pDrEBWEdmV</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1978229151346597983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Thank you, Mr. President, for honoring my husband, in such a profound and meaningful way. And thank you for making this event a priority," she said. “Your support of our family and the work that Charlie devoted his life to will be something I cherish forever.”The ceremony coincided with what would have been Kirk’s 32nd birthday. It came about a month after the Turning Point USA founder was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">fatally shot</a>&nbsp;while speaking to a crowd at Utah Valley University.In a sign of Kirk's close ties to the administration, he was the first recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in Trump’s second term. The president also spoke at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-trump-memorial-service-b5469086954908b162f464da966cf238">Kirk’s funeral</a>&nbsp;in September, calling him a “great American hero” and “martyr” for freedom, while Vice President JD Vance accompanied his body home to Arizona on Air Force Two along with Erika Kirk.“We’re here to honor and remember a fearless warrior for liberty, beloved leader who galvanized the next generation like nobody I’ve ever seen before, and an American patriot of the deepest conviction, the finest quality and the highest caliber," Trump said during the medal ceremony.Of Kirk's killing, the president said, “He was assassinated in the prime of his life for boldly speaking the truth, for living his faith and relentless fighting for a better and stronger America."The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ben-carson-presidential-medal-96c072b07289f147a14ba6805681b6fa">Presidential Medal of Freedom</a>&nbsp;was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 for individuals making exceptional contributions “to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”Trump returned to the U.S. in the pre-dawn hours Tuesday after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-egypt-6347e7da64f6c97b95109558096c0b6c">whirlwind trip to Israel and Egypt</a>&nbsp;to celebrate a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-hostages-ceasefire-10-14-2025-665a1cbe249f08c8513ceceaa04db201">ceasefire agreement</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza</a>&nbsp;that his administration was instrumental in brokering. The president joked that he almost requested to reschedule the ceremony because of the trip.“I raced back halfway around the globe," Trump said. “I was going to call Erika and say, ‘Erika, could you maybe move it to Friday?' And I didn’t have the courage to call. But you know why I didn’t call? Because I heard today was Charlie’s birthday.”Argentine President Javier Milei,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/argentina-donald-trump-javier-milei-imf-c6f37a00c96f8aa321324ff443147b4e">who had been visiting with the president at the White House earlier,</a>&nbsp;stayed on to attend the ceremony.Trump has awarded a string of presidential medals going back to his first term, including to golf legend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tiger-woods">Tiger Woods</a>, ex-football coach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-college-football-donald-trump-nfl-football-982cc801d15e8a7209a0aafaedf40124">Lou Holtz</a>&nbsp;and conservative economist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-art-laffer-auto-tariff-warning-ba62f55af070e40e9d6eddf5d8433ad1">Arthur Laffer</a>&nbsp;as well as to Yankees Hall of Fame closer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/albert-pujols-mariano-rivera-baseball-alex-rodriguez-carlos-pena-812e5535ff74311f941b7b860610594a">Mariano Rivera</a>&nbsp;and conservative radio host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-talk-radio-politics-entertainment-d79a7eead68d6a304d38b665e6f89c2a">Rush Limbaugh</a>, the latter of which came during the 2020 State of the Union. He awarded posthumous medals to Babe Ruth and Elvis Presley.This term, Trump has also announced his intentions to award the medals to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rudy-giuliani">Rudy Giuliani</a>, the former New York City mayor and a close former adviser, and to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ben-carson">Ben Carson</a>, who served as Trump's first-term secretary of Housing and Urban Development.Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012 and Trump praised him as one of the key reasons he was reelected last year.But Kirk's politics were also often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">divisive</a>. He sharply criticized gay and transgender rights while inflaming racial tensions. Kirk also repeated Trump’s false claims that former Vice President Kamala Harris was responsible for policies that encouraged immigrants to come to the U.S. illegally and called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-floyd">George Floyd</a>, a Black man whose killing by a Minneapolis police officer sparked a national debate over racial injustice, a “scumbag.”As Tuesday's ceremony was underway, the Trump administration said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-visas-revoked-455f43467c0c50e84d3857c1e9c81458">revoked the visas</a>&nbsp;of six foreigners who U.S. officials deemed had made derisive or mocking comments about Kirk’s assassination. The six who had their visas revoked were from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay and South Africa.The move comes as the Trump administration and its supporters have zeroed in on people who made critical comments about Kirk, leading to firings and other discipline.Trump wrote in a social media post hours before it started that he was moving the ceremony from the White House’s East Room to the Rose Garden to accommodate a crowd he said would be “so big and enthusiastic.”Trump paved over the grass there and put in a patio area, and talked happily about the medal ceremony being one of the first major events in the new space. He noted how the weather had cleared up after it was expected to be raining, saying: “I was telling Erika, God was watching. And he didn’t want that for Charlie.”Kirk’s widow said she asked their 3-year-old daughter what she might have given her father for his birthday, and she responded a stuffed animal and a cupcake while saying he hoped he'd get a birthday surprise. Erika Kirk said her husband was sometimes hard to buy presents for, but the medal was the perfect gift.Erika Kirk said her husband might one day have run for president "but not out of ambition. He would only have done it if that was something that he believed that his country needed from his servant’s heart.”She said God began a “mighty work” through her husband, and she intends to see it through. She finished her remarks by saying Charlie’s story reminds us that “to live free is the greatest gift but to die free is the greatest victory.”___

🎥Trump posthumously awards Charlie Kirk the Medal of Freedom

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-venezuela-drug-cartels-unlawful-combatants-1848b02febe08acacb82979d7da47dfb">struck another small boat</a>&nbsp;accused of carrying drugs in the waters off Venezuela, killing six people, President Donald Trump said Tuesday.

Those who died in the strike were aboard the vessel, and no U.S. forces were harmed, the Republican president said in a social media post. It’s the fifth deadly strike in the Caribbean as Trump's administration has asserted it's treating alleged drug traffickers as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d">unlawful combatants</a>&nbsp;who must be met with military force.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the strike Tuesday morning, said Trump, who released a video of it, as he had in the past. Hegseth later shared the video in a post on X.

The black-and-white video showed a small boat that appeared stationary on the water. Seconds into the video, it is struck by a projectile from overhead and explodes. The boat is then seen floating aflame for several seconds.

Trump said the strike was conducted in international waters and “intelligence” confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with “narcoterrorist networks” and was on a known drug trafficking route.

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking more information on the latest boat strike, but one defense official confirmed that the details in the social media post were accurate.

Frustration with the Trump administration has been growing on Capitol Hill among members of both major political parties. Some Republicans are seeking more information from the White House on the legal justification and details of the strikes. Democrats contend the strikes violate U.S. and international law.

The Senate last week voted on a war powers resolution that would have barred the Trump administration from conducting the strikes unless Congress specifically authorized them, but it failed to pass.

In a memo to Congress that was obtained by The Associated Press, the Trump administration said it had “determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations” and that Trump directed the Pentagon to “conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict.”

The Trump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to lawmakers proving that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">the boats</a>&nbsp;targeted by the U.S. military in a series of fatal strikes were in fact carrying narcotics, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

California Sen. Adam Schiff, a Democrat who last week pushed the vote on the Venezuela resolution, said in a post on X that the president’s authority to respond to an armed attack or the threat of one was limited and did not apply.

“These continued strikes — 27 killed to date — risk getting the U.S. into a full fledged war,” Schiff said.

He said he would push for another vote if the strikes continue.

The strikes followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-destroyers-maduro-drug-cartels-9649e8282c061d9dad41a5dfb54431d4">a buildup of U.S. maritime forces</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean unlike any seen in recent times.

Last week, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino told military leaders that the U.S. government knows the drug-trafficking accusations used to support the recent actions in the Caribbean are false, with its true intent being to “force a regime change” in the South American country.

He added that the Venezuelan government does not see the deployment of the U.S. warships as a mere “propaganda-like action” and warned of a possible escalation.

“I want to warn the population: We have to prepare ourselves because the irrationality with which the U.S. empire operates is not normal,” Padrino said during the televised gathering. “It’s anti-political, anti-human, warmongering, rude, and vulgar.”

Associated Press writer Ben Finley contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-venezuela-drug-cartels-unlawful-combatants-1848b02febe08acacb82979d7da47dfb">struck another small boat</a>&nbsp;accused of carrying drugs in the waters off Venezuela, killing six people, President Donald Trump said Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/8DMrDfoSjF">pic.twitter.com/8DMrDfoSjF</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1978155685150945357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Those who died in the strike were aboard the vessel, and no U.S. forces were harmed, the Republican president said in a social media post. It’s the fifth deadly strike in the Caribbean as Trump's administration has asserted it's treating alleged drug traffickers as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d">unlawful combatants</a>&nbsp;who must be met with military force.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the strike Tuesday morning, said Trump, who released a video of it, as he had in the past. Hegseth later shared the video in a post on X.The black-and-white video showed a small boat that appeared stationary on the water. Seconds into the video, it is struck by a projectile from overhead and explodes. The boat is then seen floating aflame for several seconds.Trump said the strike was conducted in international waters and “intelligence” confirmed the vessel was trafficking narcotics, was associated with “narcoterrorist networks” and was on a known drug trafficking route.The Pentagon did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking more information on the latest boat strike, but one defense official confirmed that the details in the social media post were accurate.Frustration with the Trump administration has been growing on Capitol Hill among members of both major political parties. Some Republicans are seeking more information from the White House on the legal justification and details of the strikes. Democrats contend the strikes violate U.S. and international law.The Senate last week voted on a war powers resolution that would have barred the Trump administration from conducting the strikes unless Congress specifically authorized them, but it failed to pass.In a memo to Congress that was obtained by The Associated Press, the Trump administration said it had “determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations” and that Trump directed the Pentagon to “conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict.”The Trump administration has yet to provide underlying evidence to lawmakers proving that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">the boats</a>&nbsp;targeted by the U.S. military in a series of fatal strikes were in fact carrying narcotics, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.California Sen. Adam Schiff, a Democrat who last week pushed the vote on the Venezuela resolution, said in a post on X that the president’s authority to respond to an armed attack or the threat of one was limited and did not apply.“These continued strikes — 27 killed to date — risk getting the U.S. into a full fledged war,” Schiff said.He said he would push for another vote if the strikes continue.The strikes followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-destroyers-maduro-drug-cartels-9649e8282c061d9dad41a5dfb54431d4">a buildup of U.S. maritime forces</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean unlike any seen in recent times.Last week, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino told military leaders that the U.S. government knows the drug-trafficking accusations used to support the recent actions in the Caribbean are false, with its true intent being to “force a regime change” in the South American country.He added that the Venezuelan government does not see the deployment of the U.S. warships as a mere “propaganda-like action” and warned of a possible escalation.“I want to warn the population: We have to prepare ourselves because the irrationality with which the U.S. empire operates is not normal,” Padrino said during the televised gathering. “It’s anti-political, anti-human, warmongering, rude, and vulgar.”___Associated Press writer Ben Finley contributed to this report.

🎥6 killed after US strikes another drug boat off Venezuela 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement have located the woman from the doorbell video.

Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday Wichita Police Investigators received a phone call, from a woman claiming to be the individual investigators were attempting to identify. Investigators immediately responded to her location, made contact, and transported her to City Hall so detectives could conduct a victim interview.

Police thanked the public for sharing the video and still images that generated additional attention about this incident, we do believe it led the woman to call and saying she was the person police were looking for.

Police stressed they do not have any reason to believe there is ongoing danger to the general public.

Police are continuing their investigation into the video and the case will be presented to the appropriate attorney’s office for formal charging consideration.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A $2,000 reward from Crimestoppers is now being offered for helping police identify a man and woman seen in a video of an alleged abduction that occurred in Wichita.

The Wichita Police Department continues asking for the community’s help in identifying and locating the woman in the video. She was last seen being taken by force on October 12, at approximately 2 AM., in the 1400 block of North Volutsia in Wichita.

Police worked throughout Monday on this investigation, following up on numerous leads. They also received 15 additional tips overnight Monday, according to a statement from Wichita Police during a Tuesday morning news conference.

At this time, police have not been able to identify the woman and man seen in the video. Exploring all options, police reached out to regional and federal law enforcement partners for additional assistance.

The Wichita Police team has processed the audio, reducing background noise, hoping that someone will recognize her voice. Please take a moment to review the video.

&nbsp;If you recognize her or have any information about her identity or whereabouts, please contact 911 immediately.

You may also reach out to WPD Investigations at 316-268-4407, or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement have located the woman from the doorbell video.Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday Wichita Police Investigators received a phone call, from a woman claiming to be the individual investigators were attempting to identify. Investigators immediately responded to her location, made contact, and transported her to City Hall so detectives could conduct a victim interview.Investigators are conducting interviews and have identified the woman as a 35-year-old who lives in the area where the video was captured. At this stage of the investigation, police believe this incident is a case of domestic violence where the woman was victimized by her boyfriend. The woman does not have any significant injuries.Police thanked the public for sharing the video and still images that generated additional attention about this incident, we do believe it led the woman to call and saying she was the person police were looking for.Police stressed they do not have any reason to believe there is ongoing danger to the general public.Police are continuing their investigation into the video and the case will be presented to the appropriate attorney’s office for formal charging consideration.-------------SEDGWICK COUNTY —A $2,000 reward from Crimestoppers is now being offered for helping police identify a man and woman seen in a video of an alleged abduction that occurred in Wichita.The Wichita Police Department continues asking for the community’s help in identifying and locating the woman in the video. She was last seen being taken by force on October 12, at approximately 2 AM., in the 1400 block of North Volutsia in Wichita.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">We’ve worked throughout the day on this investigation, following up on numerous leads, and we appreciate the public&#39;s help. At this time, we have not been able to identify the female and male seen in the video. Exploring all options, we&#39;ve reached out to our regional and… <a href="https://t.co/APj14eTdRI">pic.twitter.com/APj14eTdRI</a>&mdash; Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaPolice/status/1977848955233869931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Police worked throughout Monday on this investigation, following up on numerous leads. They also received 15 additional tips overnight Monday, according to a statement from Wichita Police during a Tuesday morning news conference.At this time, police have not been able to identify the woman and man seen in the video. Exploring all options, police reached out to regional and federal law enforcement partners for additional assistance.The Wichita Police team has processed the audio, reducing background noise, hoping that someone will recognize her voice. Please take a moment to review the video.&nbsp;If you recognize her or have any information about her identity or whereabouts, please contact 911 immediately.

You may also reach out to WPD Investigations at 316-268-4407, or provide information anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Police locate Kansas woman in abduction video

FORD COUNTY —Three people who died in a fire Sunday in Dodge City have been identified as&nbsp;Daniel, Ruth and Ismael Marquez, according to an online fundraiser established by Rush Marquez niece.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/daniel-ruth-and-ismael-marquez">Click here to view the online fundraiser</a>

Just after 9:30a.m. Sunday, the Dodge City Fire Department received a call&nbsp; regarding a structure fire in the area between McArtor Road and Agnes Street, according to a media release from the fire department.

Firefighters found two trailer homes and three vehicles involved in the fire, with one trailer home already fully engulfed in flames.

Crews worked quickly to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from spreading further. Three fatalities resulted from the incident. The Dodge City Police Department interviewed family members to gather additional information to help identify those in the fire.

The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office is conducting a full investigation on the cause of the fire. They have not released their findings.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760469617369.png" alt="Daniel, Ruth and Ismael Marquez -photo Go Fund Me" />
 <figcaption>Daniel, Ruth and Ismael Marquez -photo Go Fund Me</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY —Three people who died in a fire Sunday in Dodge City have been identified as&nbsp;Daniel, Ruth and Ismael Marquez, according to an online fundraiser established by Rush Marquez niece.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/daniel-ruth-and-ismael-marquez">Click here to view the online fundraiser</a>Just after 9:30a.m. Sunday, the Dodge City Fire Department received a call&nbsp; regarding a structure fire in the area between McArtor Road and Agnes Street, according to a media release from the fire department.Firefighters found two trailer homes and three vehicles involved in the fire, with one trailer home already fully engulfed in flames.Crews worked quickly to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from spreading further. Three fatalities resulted from the incident. The Dodge City Police Department interviewed family members to gather additional information to help identify those in the fire.The Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office is conducting a full investigation on the cause of the fire. They have not released their findings.

Niece identifies 3 who died in SW Kansas fire

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fire in Topeka took one person into custody.

Just after 9p.m. Monday, crews responded to a fire in a small business building at 2102 NW Topeka Boulevard, according to fire department spokesperson Daniel Garrett. Fire crews found smoke coming from the outside of a small business. 

Firefighters began an offensive fire attack and they were able to keep the fire confined to the building. There were no injuries.

Investigators determined the cause of the fire to be an accidental electrical fire.&nbsp; One individual was taken into custody. Authorities did not release the name of the individual or possible charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760438648441.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fire in Topeka took one person into custody.Just after 9p.m. Monday, crews responded to a fire in a small business building at 2102 NW Topeka Boulevard, according to fire department spokesperson Daniel Garrett. Fire crews found smoke coming from the outside of a small business. Firefighters began an offensive fire attack and they were able to keep the fire confined to the building. There were no injuries.Investigators determined the cause of the fire to be an accidental electrical fire.&nbsp; One individual was taken into custody. Authorities did not release the name of the individual or possible charges.

One in custody after fire at small business building in Kansas

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer

Teenagers on Instagram will be restricted to seeing PG-13 content by default and won't be able to change their settings without a parent's permission, Meta announced on Tuesday.

This means kids using teen-specific accounts will see photos and videos on Instagram that are similar to what they would see in a PG-13 movie — no sex, drugs or dangerous stunts, among others.

“This includes hiding or not recommending posts with strong language, certain risky stunts, and additional content that could encourage potentially harmful behaviors, such as posts showing marijuana paraphernalia,” Meta said in a blog post Tuesday, calling the update the most significant since it introduced teen accounts last year.

Anyone under 18 who signs up for Instagram is automatically placed into restrictive teen accounts unless a parent or guardian gives them permission to opt out. The teen accounts are private by default, have usage restrictions on them and already filter out more “sensitive” content — such as those promoting cosmetic procedures.

The company is also adding an even stricter setting that parents can set up for their children.

The changes come as the social media giant faces relentless criticism over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-teens-safety-meta-bejar-13276348cde2dcc1ee94c66227ea25dc">harms to children</a>. As it seeks to add safeguards for younger users, Meta has already promised it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-instagram-teens-suicide-eating-disorders-83dce63d9beed0a3ad0c53240077099f">wouldn’t show inappropriate content</a>&nbsp;to teens, such as posts about self-harm, eating disorders or suicide.

But this does not always work. A&nbsp;<a href="https://fairplayforkids.org/instagram-teen-accounts-fail-to-protect-children-safety-tools-testing-reveals/">recent report</a>, for instance, found that teen accounts researchers created were recommended age-inappropriate sexual content, including “graphic sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to describe demeaning sexual acts, and brief displays of nudity.”

In addition, Instagram also recommended a “range of self-harm, self-injury, and body image content” on teen accounts that the report says “would be reasonably likely to result in adverse impacts for young people, including teenagers experiencing poor mental health, or self-harm and suicidal ideation and behaviors.”

Meta says the new restrictions go further than its previous safeguards. Teens will no longer be able to follow accounts that regularly share “age-inappropriate content” or if their name or bio contains something that isn't appropriate for teens, such as a link to an OnlyFans account. If teens already follow these accounts, they’ll no longer be able to see or interact with their content, send them messages, or see their comments under anyone’s posts, the company said. The accounts also won’t be able to follow teens, send them private messages or comment on their posts.

Meta said it already blocks certain search terms related to sensitive topics such as suicide and eating disorders, but the latest update will expand this to a broader range of terms, such as “alcohol” or “gore” — even if they are misspelled.

The PG-13 update will also apply artificial intelligence chats and experiences targeted to teens, Meta said, “meaning AIs should not give age-inappropriate responses that would feel out of place in a PG-13 movie.”

For parents who want an even stricter setting for their kids, Meta is also launching a “limited content” restriction that will block more content and remove teens’ ability to see, leave, or receive comments under posts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758981317980.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology WriterTeenagers on Instagram will be restricted to seeing PG-13 content by default and won't be able to change their settings without a parent's permission, Meta announced on Tuesday.This means kids using teen-specific accounts will see photos and videos on Instagram that are similar to what they would see in a PG-13 movie — no sex, drugs or dangerous stunts, among others.“This includes hiding or not recommending posts with strong language, certain risky stunts, and additional content that could encourage potentially harmful behaviors, such as posts showing marijuana paraphernalia,” Meta said in a blog post Tuesday, calling the update the most significant since it introduced teen accounts last year.Anyone under 18 who signs up for Instagram is automatically placed into restrictive teen accounts unless a parent or guardian gives them permission to opt out. The teen accounts are private by default, have usage restrictions on them and already filter out more “sensitive” content — such as those promoting cosmetic procedures.The company is also adding an even stricter setting that parents can set up for their children.The changes come as the social media giant faces relentless criticism over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-teens-safety-meta-bejar-13276348cde2dcc1ee94c66227ea25dc">harms to children</a>. As it seeks to add safeguards for younger users, Meta has already promised it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-instagram-teens-suicide-eating-disorders-83dce63d9beed0a3ad0c53240077099f">wouldn’t show inappropriate content</a>&nbsp;to teens, such as posts about self-harm, eating disorders or suicide.But this does not always work. A&nbsp;<a href="https://fairplayforkids.org/instagram-teen-accounts-fail-to-protect-children-safety-tools-testing-reveals/">recent report</a>, for instance, found that teen accounts researchers created were recommended age-inappropriate sexual content, including “graphic sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to describe demeaning sexual acts, and brief displays of nudity.”In addition, Instagram also recommended a “range of self-harm, self-injury, and body image content” on teen accounts that the report says “would be reasonably likely to result in adverse impacts for young people, including teenagers experiencing poor mental health, or self-harm and suicidal ideation and behaviors.”Meta says the new restrictions go further than its previous safeguards. Teens will no longer be able to follow accounts that regularly share “age-inappropriate content” or if their name or bio contains something that isn't appropriate for teens, such as a link to an OnlyFans account. If teens already follow these accounts, they’ll no longer be able to see or interact with their content, send them messages, or see their comments under anyone’s posts, the company said. The accounts also won’t be able to follow teens, send them private messages or comment on their posts.Meta said it already blocks certain search terms related to sensitive topics such as suicide and eating disorders, but the latest update will expand this to a broader range of terms, such as “alcohol” or “gore” — even if they are misspelled.The PG-13 update will also apply artificial intelligence chats and experiences targeted to teens, Meta said, “meaning AIs should not give age-inappropriate responses that would feel out of place in a PG-13 movie.”For parents who want an even stricter setting for their kids, Meta is also launching a “limited content” restriction that will block more content and remove teens’ ability to see, leave, or receive comments under posts.

Big changes coming to Instagram to safeguard teens

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonathan-landrum-jr">JONATHAN LANDRUM JR.</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) — D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&amp;B singer recognized by his raspy yet smooth voice and for garnering mainstream attention with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dangelo-voodoo--00000199a196d3e5a399f7bf1c190000">shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video,</a>&nbsp;has died. He was 51.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760460845642.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonathan-landrum-jr">JONATHAN LANDRUM JR.</a>LOS ANGELES (AP) — D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&amp;B singer recognized by his raspy yet smooth voice and for garnering mainstream attention with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dangelo-voodoo--00000199a196d3e5a399f7bf1c190000">shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video,</a>&nbsp;has died. He was 51.The singer, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, died Tuesday, according to a statement from the family.The singer’s family confirmed in a statement Tuesday that he died after a prolonged battle with cancer. They called him “a shining star of our family and has dimmed his light for us in this life,” adding that they are “eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind.”In his music, D’Angelo blended hip-hop grit, emphatic soul and gospel-rooted emotion into a sound that helped spearhead&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/neosoul-singers-gender-00000199a18dd2d7aff9f7ed0a110000">the neo-soul movement</a>&nbsp;of the 1990s. Earlier this year, the Virginia native celebrated the 30th anniversary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dangelo-brown-sugar-00000199a192dce9abdfe9b63dab0000">his debut studio album “Brown Sugar,”</a>&nbsp;a platinum-selling offering that produced signature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tony-toni-tone-reunion-fa510a0f03b219377b865f20b55e41ed">hits like “Lady”</a>&nbsp;and the title track. The 1995 album earned him multiple Grammy nominations and cemented him as one of R&amp;B’s most original new voices.D’Angelo’s sultry vocal style — a mix of raspy texture and church-bred fluidity — set him apart from his peers. That voice became inseparable from the striking visuals of his 2000 single “Untitled (How Does It Feel).” The minimalist, shirtless music video became a cultural touchstone, igniting conversations around artistry, sexuality and vulnerability in Black male representation. The song earned him a Grammy for best male R&amp;B vocal performance and propelled his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dangelo-voodoo-music-review--00000199a19cdce9abdfe9bcb6210000">sophomore album “Voodoo.”</a>&nbsp;topping the Billboard 200 chart and winning the Grammy for best R&amp;B album.Beyond his own catalog, D’Angelo’s artistry shined in collaborations. He memorably duetted with Lauryn Hill on the soulful ballad “Nothing Even Matters,” a highlight of her landmark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lauryn-hill-apple-music-best-albums-cc143b9c93a8ec5dd451b8a990b12564">1998 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”</a>&nbsp;He also contributed to The Roots’ 1996 album “Illadelph Halflife” and was part of the supergroup Black Men United, which yielded one song: “U Will Know,” which D’Angelo wrote and co-produced, for the film “Jason’s Lyric” in 1994.D’Angelo was partnered to Grammy-nominated R&amp;B singer Angie Stone in the ’90s. The pair met while he was finishing “Brown Sugar” and bonded over their similar backgrounds: Both are from the South and both grew up in the church. Stone worked on the album with D’Angelo and the pair co-wrote the song “Everyday” for her 1999 debut album, “Black Diamond.”Stone described D’Angelo as her “musical soul mate,” to The Associated Press in 1999, adding that their working relationship was “’like milk and cereal …. Musically, it was magic. It’s something that I have not been able to do with any other producer or musician.”They had a son together, the artist Swayvo Twain, born Michael Archer Jr.Stone&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/angie-stone-car-crash-singer-41a7094f6d3aaa224902497f17e0204d">died earlier this year</a>&nbsp;in a car crash. She was 63.D’Angelo also has a daughter, Imani Archer.