<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONATHAN%20J.%20COOPER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONATHAN J. COOPER<br>&nbsp;Associated Press</a>

&nbsp;Joe Biden’s time in public office is now behind him, but his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-election-debate-trump-7c366fda83a697265d9ecc77e8a32fd1">age and mental acuity</a>&nbsp;have become a litmus test for the next leaders in his party.

<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/16/biden-hur-tape-special-counsel-audio">Click here to listen to mor</a>e

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24476201/biden1-copy.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;transcript of&nbsp;day 1 interview with President Biden.

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24476203/biden-2-copy.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;transcript of day 2 interview with President Biden

Audio was published Friday from portions of interviews Biden gave to federal prosecutors in 2023, the latest in a stream of reports putting questions about Biden's health back in the spotlight. Months after former President Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump, a new book alleges that White House aides covered up Biden's physical and mental decline.

Several potential Democratic contenders for the 2028 nomination have been asked in recent days whether they believe Biden was declining in office or whether he should have sought reelection before a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-lawmakers-debate-2c426f98063ab30143a7675cba10a5b4">disastrous debate performance</a>&nbsp;led to his withdrawal.

Many Democrats would prefer to focus on Trump's second term. Trump has done his best to prevent that — mentioning Biden's name&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/first-100-days-trump-still-leans-old-foe-joe-biden-rcna201229">an average of six times per day</a>&nbsp;during his first 100 days in office, according to an NBC News analysis — and Republicans have followed his lead, betting that voters frustrated by Trump's policy moves will still prefer him over memories of an unpopular presidency.

In the race for Virginia governor, one of this year's highest-profile contests, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is running a pair of digital ads tying Democrat Abigail Spanberger to Biden, with images of&nbsp;<a href="https://host2.adimpact.com/admo/viewer/28531e56-93cf-40f0-9baa-09e6722f885a/">the two hugging</a>&nbsp;and the former president calling her a friend.

“The stench of Joe Biden still lingers on the Democratic Party,” Democratic strategist Sawyer Hackett said. “We have to do the hard work of fixing that, and I think that includes telling the truth, frankly, about when we were wrong.”

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/14/murphy-biden-cognitive-decline-2028-00349025">told Politico</a>&nbsp;this week that “there’s no doubt” that Biden, now 82, experienced cognitive decline as president.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>, the former transportation secretary, wasn’t nearly as blunt but still stopped short of defending Biden’s decision to run. He responded “maybe” when asked Tuesday whether the Democratic Party would have been better off if Biden hadn’t tried to run for a second term.

“Right now, with the advantage of hindsight, I think most people would agree that that’s the case,” Buttigieg told reporters during a stop in Iowa.

Illinois Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/j-b-pritzker">JB Pritzker</a>&nbsp;said he didn't see signs of mental or physical decline in his meetings with Biden.

“I saw him a few times,” he told CNN this week. “I certainly went to the White House whenever there was an opportunity for me to make the case for something for people in my state. And I never had the experience of anything other than a guy who brought to the table a lot of good ideas about how to solve problems.”

The book “Original Sin,” by journalists Jake Tapper of CNN and Alex Thompson of Axios, revives a core controversy of Biden’s presidency: his decision to run for a second term despite voters, including Democrats, telling pollsters that he should not run again. Biden would have been 86 at the end of a second term had he won in November.

A spokesperson for Biden did not respond to a request for comment.

“We continue to await anything that shows where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or where national security was threatened or where he was unable to do his job,” the spokesperson has told many media outlets in response to the book.

Late Friday, Axios published portions from audio recordings of Biden's six hours of interviews with prosecutors investigating his handling of classified documents after his term as vice president ended in 2017.

The Biden administration had already released transcripts of the interviews, but the recordings shed light on special counsel Robert Hur's characterization of Biden as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” and appeared to validate his claim that the then-president struggled to recall key dates, including the year his son Beau died of cancer in 2015.

Biden and his aides pushed back aggressively against Hur's report, which they characterized as a partisan hit. Biden was at that time — early 2024 — still planning to run for a second term and fending off accusations that he was too old for another four years in the job.

The recordings released by Axios include Biden's discussion of his son's death. His responses to some of the prosecutors' questions are punctuated by long pauses, and his lawyers at times stepped in to help him recall dates and timelines.

Before he dropped his reelection bid last summer, Biden faced widespread doubts within his own party, even as Democratic leaders dismissed both a series of verbal flubs and Republican allegations about his declining acuity.

In January 2022, just a year into Biden’s first term, an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that only 48% of Democrats wanted him to seek reelection. That fell to 37% of Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-biden-2024-presidential-prospects-c843c5af6775b4c8a0cff8e2b1db03f6">an AP-NORC poll conducted in February 2023</a>. Three-quarters of Americans — and 69% of Democrats —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/bidens-age-is-a-significant-concern-for-voters/">said in August 2023</a>&nbsp;that they believed Biden was too old to serve as president for another four-year term.

And shortly after his debate flop,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-poll-drop-out-debate-democrats-59eebaca6989985c2bfb">nearly two-thirds of Democrats</a>&nbsp;said Biden should withdraw from the race.

Biden and former first lady Jill Biden appeared on ABC’s “The View” in a preemptive defense of his health and decision-making before the first excerpts of “Original Sin” were published.

He said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-view-president-trump-abc-interview-kamala-harris-0e7c4aba0b021e40540dcc68872ff0d1">he’s responsible for Trump’s victory</a>&nbsp;but attributed Harris’ loss, at least in part, to sexism and racism. He maintained that he would have won had he remained the Democratic nominee. Both Bidens rejected concerns about his cognitive decline.

Patricia McEnerney, a 74-year-old Democrat in Goodyear, Arizona, said Biden should not have tried to run again.

“I think it’s sad the way it ended,” she said.

She compared him to Douglas MacArthur, the World War II and Korean War general famously dismissed by President Harry Truman.

“I think he needs to stop giving interviews. I think that would help,” McEnerney said. “Like MacArthur said, generals just fade away.”

Janet Stumps, a 66-year-old Democrat also from Goodyear, a Phoenix suburb, had a different view.

“I don’t think it’s going to hurt the Democrats,” Stumps said. “I feel badly that he feels he has to defend himself. I don’t think he has to. Everybody ages. And the fact that he did what he did at his age, I think he should be commended for it.”

Hackett, the Democratic strategist, predicted Biden won’t be a major factor in the 2026 midterms or the 2028 presidential primaries. But he said Democrats who want voters to trust them would be well-served “by telling the truth about the mistakes that our party made in the run-up to 2024.”

“Those mistakes were largely driven by Joe Biden, and I think any Democrat not willing to say that is not really prepared to face the voters, who want the truth and they want authenticity,” Hackett said.

Rick Wilson, a former GOP strategist who co-founded the anti-Trump group the Lincoln Project, said Republicans want to talk about Biden to avoid defending Trump. But he said the strategy is folly.

Besides “political nerds,” he said, “no one else cares.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709338240853.png" alt="File photo Former President Biden&nbsp; White House image" />
                        <figcaption>File photo Former President Biden&nbsp; White House image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONATHAN%20J.%20COOPER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONATHAN J. COOPER<br>&nbsp;Associated Press</a></p><p>&nbsp;Joe Biden’s time in public office is now behind him, but his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-election-debate-trump-7c366fda83a697265d9ecc77e8a32fd1">age and mental acuity</a>&nbsp;have become a litmus test for the next leaders in his party.</p><p>A short clip of the audio is below.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HUR TAPES: BIDEN RAMBLING ABOUT SHOOTING A BOW AND ARROW IN MONGOLIA <br><br>“I went to Mongolia. They’re doing a 20-mile horse race. And there are sumo wrestlers. I get handed the bow and arrow - I’m not a bad archer. But pure luck, I hit the g**d*** target!” <a href="https://t.co/KWivG2a035">pic.twitter.com/KWivG2a035</a></p>&mdash; TheBlaze (@theblaze) <a href="https://twitter.com/theblaze/status/1923519657903792272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p><a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/16/biden-hur-tape-special-counsel-audio">Click here to listen to mor</a>e</p><p><a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24476201/biden1-copy.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;transcript of&nbsp;day 1 interview with President Biden.</p><p><a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24476203/biden-2-copy.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;transcript of day 2 interview with President Biden</p><p>Audio was published Friday from portions of interviews Biden gave to federal prosecutors in 2023, the latest in a stream of reports putting questions about Biden's health back in the spotlight. Months after former President Kamala Harris lost to President Donald Trump, a new book alleges that White House aides covered up Biden's physical and mental decline.</p><p>Several potential Democratic contenders for the 2028 nomination have been asked in recent days whether they believe Biden was declining in office or whether he should have sought reelection before a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-lawmakers-debate-2c426f98063ab30143a7675cba10a5b4">disastrous debate performance</a>&nbsp;led to his withdrawal.</p><p>Many Democrats would prefer to focus on Trump's second term. Trump has done his best to prevent that — mentioning Biden's name&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/first-100-days-trump-still-leans-old-foe-joe-biden-rcna201229">an average of six times per day</a>&nbsp;during his first 100 days in office, according to an NBC News analysis — and Republicans have followed his lead, betting that voters frustrated by Trump's policy moves will still prefer him over memories of an unpopular presidency.</p><p>In the race for Virginia governor, one of this year's highest-profile contests, Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is running a pair of digital ads tying Democrat Abigail Spanberger to Biden, with images of&nbsp;<a href="https://host2.adimpact.com/admo/viewer/28531e56-93cf-40f0-9baa-09e6722f885a/">the two hugging</a>&nbsp;and the former president calling her a friend.</p><p>“The stench of Joe Biden still lingers on the Democratic Party,” Democratic strategist Sawyer Hackett said. “We have to do the hard work of fixing that, and I think that includes telling the truth, frankly, about when we were wrong.”</p><p>Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/14/murphy-biden-cognitive-decline-2028-00349025">told Politico</a>&nbsp;this week that “there’s no doubt” that Biden, now 82, experienced cognitive decline as president.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>, the former transportation secretary, wasn’t nearly as blunt but still stopped short of defending Biden’s decision to run. He responded “maybe” when asked Tuesday whether the Democratic Party would have been better off if Biden hadn’t tried to run for a second term.</p><p>“Right now, with the advantage of hindsight, I think most people would agree that that’s the case,” Buttigieg told reporters during a stop in Iowa.</p><p>Illinois Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/j-b-pritzker">JB Pritzker</a>&nbsp;said he didn't see signs of mental or physical decline in his meetings with Biden.</p><p>“I saw him a few times,” he told CNN this week. “I certainly went to the White House whenever there was an opportunity for me to make the case for something for people in my state. And I never had the experience of anything other than a guy who brought to the table a lot of good ideas about how to solve problems.”</p><p>The book “Original Sin,” by journalists Jake Tapper of CNN and Alex Thompson of Axios, revives a core controversy of Biden’s presidency: his decision to run for a second term despite voters, including Democrats, telling pollsters that he should not run again. Biden would have been 86 at the end of a second term had he won in November.</p><p>A spokesperson for Biden did not respond to a request for comment.</p><p>“We continue to await anything that shows where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or where national security was threatened or where he was unable to do his job,” the spokesperson has told many media outlets in response to the book.</p><p>Late Friday, Axios published portions from audio recordings of Biden's six hours of interviews with prosecutors investigating his handling of classified documents after his term as vice president ended in 2017.</p><p>The Biden administration had already released transcripts of the interviews, but the recordings shed light on special counsel Robert Hur's characterization of Biden as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory” and appeared to validate his claim that the then-president struggled to recall key dates, including the year his son Beau died of cancer in 2015.</p><p>Biden and his aides pushed back aggressively against Hur's report, which they characterized as a partisan hit. Biden was at that time — early 2024 — still planning to run for a second term and fending off accusations that he was too old for another four years in the job.</p><p>The recordings released by Axios include Biden's discussion of his son's death. His responses to some of the prosecutors' questions are punctuated by long pauses, and his lawyers at times stepped in to help him recall dates and timelines.</p><p>Before he dropped his reelection bid last summer, Biden faced widespread doubts within his own party, even as Democratic leaders dismissed both a series of verbal flubs and Republican allegations about his declining acuity.</p><p>In January 2022, just a year into Biden’s first term, an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that only 48% of Democrats wanted him to seek reelection. That fell to 37% of Democrats in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-norc-poll-biden-2024-presidential-prospects-c843c5af6775b4c8a0cff8e2b1db03f6">an AP-NORC poll conducted in February 2023</a>. Three-quarters of Americans — and 69% of Democrats —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/bidens-age-is-a-significant-concern-for-voters/">said in August 2023</a>&nbsp;that they believed Biden was too old to serve as president for another four-year term.</p><p>And shortly after his debate flop,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-poll-drop-out-debate-democrats-59eebaca6989985c2bfb">nearly two-thirds of Democrats</a>&nbsp;said Biden should withdraw from the race.</p><p>Biden and former first lady Jill Biden appeared on ABC’s “The View” in a preemptive defense of his health and decision-making before the first excerpts of “Original Sin” were published.</p><p>He said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-view-president-trump-abc-interview-kamala-harris-0e7c4aba0b021e40540dcc68872ff0d1">he’s responsible for Trump’s victory</a>&nbsp;but attributed Harris’ loss, at least in part, to sexism and racism. He maintained that he would have won had he remained the Democratic nominee. Both Bidens rejected concerns about his cognitive decline.</p><p>Patricia McEnerney, a 74-year-old Democrat in Goodyear, Arizona, said Biden should not have tried to run again.</p><p>“I think it’s sad the way it ended,” she said.</p><p>She compared him to Douglas MacArthur, the World War II and Korean War general famously dismissed by President Harry Truman.</p><p>“I think he needs to stop giving interviews. I think that would help,” McEnerney said. “Like MacArthur said, generals just fade away.”</p><p>Janet Stumps, a 66-year-old Democrat also from Goodyear, a Phoenix suburb, had a different view.</p><p>“I don’t think it’s going to hurt the Democrats,” Stumps said. “I feel badly that he feels he has to defend himself. I don’t think he has to. Everybody ages. And the fact that he did what he did at his age, I think he should be commended for it.”</p><p>Hackett, the Democratic strategist, predicted Biden won’t be a major factor in the 2026 midterms or the 2028 presidential primaries. But he said Democrats who want voters to trust them would be well-served “by telling the truth about the mistakes that our party made in the run-up to 2024.”</p><p>“Those mistakes were largely driven by Joe Biden, and I think any Democrat not willing to say that is not really prepared to face the voters, who want the truth and they want authenticity,” Hackett said.</p><p>Rick Wilson, a former GOP strategist who co-founded the anti-Trump group the Lincoln Project, said Republicans want to talk about Biden to avoid defending Trump. But he said the strategy is folly.</p><p>Besides “political nerds,” he said, “no one else cares.”</p>

🎥Biden Special Counsel audio released; different from the transcript

BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump used the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-saudi-arabia-mbs-qatar-uae-b782fe922d09afced2e1074b65016e80">first major foreign trip</a>&nbsp;of his second term to outline a vision for restoring global stability that is grounded in pragmatism and self-interest rather than values, holding out U.S. ties to wealthy Gulf countries as a model for America’s longtime foes.

His four-day swing through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which ends Friday, put a spotlight on Trump’s transactional approach to foreign affairs as he was feted by autocratic rulers with a trio of lavish state visits where there was heavy emphasis on economic and security partnerships.

His trip played out against the backdrop of stubborn global conflicts, including Gaza and Ukraine, that showed the limits of his influence. But Trump insisted he was turning the page on American “interventionalism” in the region as he moved to recognize the new government in Syria for the first time and prodded Iran to engage on nuclear talks before it’s too late.

Trump marveled at Gulf state opulence but held his tongue on human rights

Presidential trips to the Middle East usually feature at least some public calls for authoritarian governments to improve their human rights efforts. Not this one, as Trump celebrated his business deals with Gulf royals and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-air-force-one-white-house-wealth-mideast-c1e47bb068337293c360c53f7e542e59">admired their wealth</a>.

Trump toured the marble and gilded palaces of Gulf rulers and deemed them “perfecto” and “very hard to buy.” He praised the “gleaming marvels” of the skyline in Saudi Arabia. And he groused about the “much less impressive” Air Force One.

In Trump’s remarks at a VIP business conference in Riyadh, he went out of his way to distance himself from the actions of past administrations, the days when he said American officials would fly in “in beautiful planes, giving you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs.”

Rights advocates took that as a pledge of nonintervention, swearing off some of the pressure past U.S. presidents have brought to bear on partners to varying degrees to ease up on detentions, suppression of critics and other issues.

“It’s absolute support for absolute monarchy,” said Saudi exile Abdullah Alaoudh. His father, a Saudi cleric with a wide following there, is imprisoned in the kingdom.

Some rights advocates said Trump officials gave them private assurances the administration was working on behalf of detained Americans and rights advocates. Tommy Pigott, a deputy spokesman at the State Department, declined to say whether Trump raised those or other rights issues in discussions with Gulf royals.

While Trump was in the Mideast, Vladimir Putin opted to skip direct peace talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy despite the U.S. president's strong calls for them to meet face to face.

Trump has been pushing Putin and Zelenskyy to move with greater haste to end Russia's grinding war in Ukraine.

But after it became clear Putin wouldn’t be attending talks in Turkey this week and would instead be sending underlings to Istanbul, an annoyed Trump insisted he knew all along that it was highly likely Putin would be a no-show.

“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump said. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."

As he wrapped up his visit on Friday, Trump said the face-to-face would happen "as soon as we can set it up.”

Trump was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Friday, but tried to keep people guessing until the end. He teased late Thursday that he would be heading to a “destination unknown” — “probably" Washington, he added. His opaque language stoked speculation that he might make a drop-by to Turkey.

But on Friday morning, he told reporters he needed to get back to Washington. His daughter Tiffany had her first child while the president has been away.

“I would actually leave here and go,” Trump said. “I do want to see my beautiful grandson.”

On Syria sanctions, Trump takes a leap of faith

Just two months ago, the Trump administration wasn’t sold on Syria’s interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the onetime al-Qaida-affiliated insurgent. They worried the Syrian president didn’t have the legitimacy to govern the country’s ethnically diverse population.

Clashes broke out in early March, killing hundreds and targeting many more members of the Alawite religious minority to which the ousted Syrian leader Basher Assad belongs.

The moment gave the Trump White House pause about easing sanctions on Syria. But Trump signaled Monday that he was having a change of heart and was moving toward lifting the Syria sanctions. A day later, he announced the move during an address to Gulf leaders.

Trump then took it another step by agreeing to meet al-Sharaa.

Trump said he was impressed with al-Sharaa, who not that long ago had a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. The president called him a “young, attractive guy” with a "very strong past.”

Trump said it was recommendations from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that nudged him to take a chance on al-Sharra.

“President Erdogan called me and said: ‘Is there any way you could do that? Because if you don’t do that, they don’t have a chance,’” Trump said. “So, I did it.”

Throughout the trip, Trump felt more than comfortable dishing out exaggeration and hyperbole.

“This has been an amazing trip.” Trump told reporters Thursday as Air Force One was about to land in Qatar. “We’ve raised trillions of dollars of investment for our country.” A little later he put the figure at $4 trillion.

That figure is about two times the combined gross domestic products of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, meaning that any announced investments would likely accrue over several years — if at all — in ways that might not show up in overall U.S. economic growth numbers.

Boeing confirmed that Qatar’s $96 billion purchase of its 787 and 777X jets was the largest order for 787s and wide body jets in the company’s history. Trump enthused it was “the biggest order in the history of, I think, aviation, certainly of that size” of jets.

Trump also went overboard in running down the economic record of his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, at one point declaring, “The days of economic misery under the last administration are rapidly giving way to the greatest economy in the history of the world.”

The U.S. economy grew at 2.8% last year. It declined at an annualized rate of 0.3% during the first three months of this year.

While Trump's trip initially was conceived as a visit to reward countries that invest in the United States, Trump at one point hoped it also would herald significant steps to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Positive news on both fronts proved elusive.

Trump barely mentioned either conflict on his trip – and when he did, it was generally in the context of his assertion that they wouldn’t have occurred had he won reelection in 2020.

As Israel stepped up an offensive in Gaza — a prelude to a promised full takeover of the territory if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages in its captivity — Trump was again musing about the creation of a “freedom zone” in its territory. It's a notion rejected by Palestinians and the broader Arab world because Trump's plan would relocate civilians from Gaza to allow for rebuilding.

Israel conducted significant airstrikes all week in Gaza as Trump was in the region and the fighting on the ground appeared to escalate Friday morning even before Trump left the UAE.

Meanwhile, Trump said “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza, a rare acknowledgement of the humanitarian crisis in the territory. Speaking to reporters at a business forum in Abu Dhabi on the final day of his trip to the Middle East, Trump said, “We’re looking at Gaza.”

“And we’ve got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. A lot of people are — there’s a lot of bad things going on.”

Ethics issues follow along as Trump travels the Mideast

Trump was already facing questions about conflicts of interest for traveling to the Middle East to shape U.S. policy at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-interests-family-middle-east-cryptocurrency-cbb7d2354304ce0308800819944cf3f8">his family’s business interests in the region have boomed</a>. He attempted to quiet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">worries about national security</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emoluments-clause-trump-jet-qatar-56f995acb57eb741b0214aba5e7e8220">constitutional questions</a>&nbsp;by insisting he’s smart to accept a $400 million luxury plane from Qatar and use it as Air Force One.

“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114503203859060399">posted on his social media site</a>&nbsp;during his Middle East swing.

The president also dodged questions about a state-backed investment company in Abu Dhabi using a Trump family-aligned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-world-liberty-truth-social-etf-f11c47a99ea618aa06df4dd47b150800">stablecoin</a>&nbsp;for a $2 billion investment in the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

“I don’t know anything about it,” he said.

Beyond that, the Trump family has piled up deals to license its brand for real estate projects, and to build Trump towers and golf courses, around the Middle East. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says it’s “frankly ridiculous” to wonder if those profits might influence Trump’s governing decisions.

Madhani reported from Dubai. Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Will Weissert and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.

<p>BU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump used the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mideast-saudi-arabia-mbs-qatar-uae-b782fe922d09afced2e1074b65016e80">first major foreign trip</a>&nbsp;of his second term to outline a vision for restoring global stability that is grounded in pragmatism and self-interest rather than values, holding out U.S. ties to wealthy Gulf countries as a model for America’s longtime foes.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: The world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai just lit up in the American 🇺🇸 flag on the occasion of President Trump’s visit tonight to the UAE. <a href="https://t.co/DqFgM3AVV7">pic.twitter.com/DqFgM3AVV7</a></p>&mdash; حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) <a href="https://twitter.com/HSajwanization/status/1923074780514677064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="rtl">Pres. Trump receives the “Order of Sheikh Zayed&quot; from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE الحساب الرسمي لصاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن زايد آل نهيان رئيس دولة الإمارات <a href="https://t.co/6JjKacd0RS">pic.twitter.com/6JjKacd0RS</a></p>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1923064396680478760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump leaves a message of unity to the people of the UAE after signing the guest book at the Abrahamic Family House. 🇺🇸🇦🇪<br><br>“Great unity, great faith, incredible people, with a tremendous leader who is a friend of mine.” <a href="https://t.co/lcg5UF9P2s">pic.twitter.com/lcg5UF9P2s</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1923327926453391744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s 1am, can’t believe we have President Donald J. Trump sleeping in our county tonight. 🇦🇪<br><br>47 🇺🇸 is here tonight <a href="https://t.co/3AWJnTuqhA">pic.twitter.com/3AWJnTuqhA</a></p>&mdash; حسن سجواني 🇦🇪 Hassan Sajwani (@HSajwanization) <a href="https://twitter.com/HSajwanization/status/1923122198467723741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The welcome ceremony in UAE continues! 🇺🇸🇦🇪 <a href="https://t.co/sXqS1IboMN">pic.twitter.com/sXqS1IboMN</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1922995639455044017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="et" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> enters Lusail Palace in Doha <a href="https://t.co/2vTplRuKWl">pic.twitter.com/2vTplRuKWl</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922707603861233712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#39;s motorcade is escorted into Lusail Palace for the Qatari State Dinner 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/bh8Hq0Ug3O">pic.twitter.com/bh8Hq0Ug3O</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922702397605818755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> is greeted by the Emir of Qatar 🇺🇸🇶🇦 <a href="https://t.co/G6iH4IM5ll">pic.twitter.com/G6iH4IM5ll</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1922615197832806481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A view from above as F-15QA Multirole Strike Fighters of the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) escort Air Force One into Qatar🇺🇸🇶🇦 <a href="https://t.co/nzpk2L8Cds">pic.twitter.com/nzpk2L8Cds</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1922640677671747983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/NYEH8e1Vhk">pic.twitter.com/NYEH8e1Vhk</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1923306778009199040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> arrives at the Amiri Diwan in Doha 🇺🇸🇶🇦 <a href="https://t.co/CZt28tCBid">pic.twitter.com/CZt28tCBid</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1922621220089983248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/B50cJQRcpL">pic.twitter.com/B50cJQRcpL</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1923344460638736746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Qatari F-15’s providing honorary escort for Air Force One! 🇺🇸🇶🇦 <a href="https://t.co/nUsif3HWrh">pic.twitter.com/nUsif3HWrh</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1922607930374844426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>His four-day swing through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which ends Friday, put a spotlight on Trump’s transactional approach to foreign affairs as he was feted by autocratic rulers with a trio of lavish state visits where there was heavy emphasis on economic and security partnerships.</p><p>His trip played out against the backdrop of stubborn global conflicts, including Gaza and Ukraine, that showed the limits of his influence. But Trump insisted he was turning the page on American “interventionalism” in the region as he moved to recognize the new government in Syria for the first time and prodded Iran to engage on nuclear talks before it’s too late.</p><p>Some takeaways from Trump’s travels:</p><h2>Trump marveled at Gulf state opulence but held his tongue on human rights</h2><p>Presidential trips to the Middle East usually feature at least some public calls for authoritarian governments to improve their human rights efforts. Not this one, as Trump celebrated his business deals with Gulf royals and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-air-force-one-white-house-wealth-mideast-c1e47bb068337293c360c53f7e542e59">admired their wealth</a>.</p><p>Trump toured the marble and gilded palaces of Gulf rulers and deemed them “perfecto” and “very hard to buy.” He praised the “gleaming marvels” of the skyline in Saudi Arabia. And he groused about the “much less impressive” Air Force One.</p><p>In Trump’s remarks at a VIP business conference in Riyadh, he went out of his way to distance himself from the actions of past administrations, the days when he said American officials would fly in “in beautiful planes, giving you lectures on how to live and how to govern your own affairs.”</p><p>Rights advocates took that as a pledge of nonintervention, swearing off some of the pressure past U.S. presidents have brought to bear on partners to varying degrees to ease up on detentions, suppression of critics and other issues.</p><p>“It’s absolute support for absolute monarchy,” said Saudi exile Abdullah Alaoudh. His father, a Saudi cleric with a wide following there, is imprisoned in the kingdom.</p><p>Some rights advocates said Trump officials gave them private assurances the administration was working on behalf of detained Americans and rights advocates. Tommy Pigott, a deputy spokesman at the State Department, declined to say whether Trump raised those or other rights issues in discussions with Gulf royals.</p><h2>Thwarted by Putin</h2><p>While Trump was in the Mideast, Vladimir Putin opted to skip direct peace talks with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy despite the U.S. president's strong calls for them to meet face to face.</p><p>Trump has been pushing Putin and Zelenskyy to move with greater haste to end Russia's grinding war in Ukraine.</p><p>But after it became clear Putin wouldn’t be attending talks in Turkey this week and would instead be sending underlings to Istanbul, an annoyed Trump insisted he knew all along that it was highly likely Putin would be a no-show.</p><p>“I don’t believe anything’s going to happen whether you like it or not, until he and I get together,” Trump said. “But we’re going to have to get it solved because too many people are dying."</p><p>As he wrapped up his visit on Friday, Trump said the face-to-face would happen "as soon as we can set it up.”</p><p>Trump was scheduled to fly back to Washington on Friday, but tried to keep people guessing until the end. He teased late Thursday that he would be heading to a “destination unknown” — “probably" Washington, he added. His opaque language stoked speculation that he might make a drop-by to Turkey.</p><p>But on Friday morning, he told reporters he needed to get back to Washington. His daughter Tiffany had her first child while the president has been away.</p><p>“I would actually leave here and go,” Trump said. “I do want to see my beautiful grandson.”</p><h2>On Syria sanctions, Trump takes a leap of faith</h2><p>Just two months ago, the Trump administration wasn’t sold on Syria’s interim government led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the onetime al-Qaida-affiliated insurgent. They worried the Syrian president didn’t have the legitimacy to govern the country’s ethnically diverse population.</p><p>Clashes broke out in early March, killing hundreds and targeting many more members of the Alawite religious minority to which the ousted Syrian leader Basher Assad belongs.</p><p>The moment gave the Trump White House pause about easing sanctions on Syria. But Trump signaled Monday that he was having a change of heart and was moving toward lifting the Syria sanctions. A day later, he announced the move during an address to Gulf leaders.</p><p>Trump then took it another step by agreeing to meet al-Sharaa.</p><p>Trump said he was impressed with al-Sharaa, who not that long ago had a $10 million U.S. bounty on his head. The president called him a “young, attractive guy” with a "very strong past.”</p><p>Trump said it was recommendations from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that nudged him to take a chance on al-Sharra.</p><p>“President Erdogan called me and said: ‘Is there any way you could do that? Because if you don’t do that, they don’t have a chance,’” Trump said. “So, I did it.”</p><h2>Trump's fuzzy math on display</h2><p>Throughout the trip, Trump felt more than comfortable dishing out exaggeration and hyperbole.</p><p>“This has been an amazing trip.” Trump told reporters Thursday as Air Force One was about to land in Qatar. “We’ve raised trillions of dollars of investment for our country.” A little later he put the figure at $4 trillion.</p><p>That figure is about two times the combined gross domestic products of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, meaning that any announced investments would likely accrue over several years — if at all — in ways that might not show up in overall U.S. economic growth numbers.</p><p>Boeing confirmed that Qatar’s $96 billion purchase of its 787 and 777X jets was the largest order for 787s and wide body jets in the company’s history. Trump enthused it was “the biggest order in the history of, I think, aviation, certainly of that size” of jets.</p><p>Trump also went overboard in running down the economic record of his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, at one point declaring, “The days of economic misery under the last administration are rapidly giving way to the greatest economy in the history of the world.”</p><p>The U.S. economy grew at 2.8% last year. It declined at an annualized rate of 0.3% during the first three months of this year.</p><h2>Intractable conflicts remain just that</h2><p>While Trump's trip initially was conceived as a visit to reward countries that invest in the United States, Trump at one point hoped it also would herald significant steps to end the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Positive news on both fronts proved elusive.</p><p>Trump barely mentioned either conflict on his trip – and when he did, it was generally in the context of his assertion that they wouldn’t have occurred had he won reelection in 2020.</p><p>As Israel stepped up an offensive in Gaza — a prelude to a promised full takeover of the territory if Hamas doesn’t release the remaining hostages in its captivity — Trump was again musing about the creation of a “freedom zone” in its territory. It's a notion rejected by Palestinians and the broader Arab world because Trump's plan would relocate civilians from Gaza to allow for rebuilding.</p><p>Israel conducted significant airstrikes all week in Gaza as Trump was in the region and the fighting on the ground appeared to escalate Friday morning even before Trump left the UAE.</p><p>Meanwhile, Trump said “a lot of people are starving” in Gaza, a rare acknowledgement of the humanitarian crisis in the territory. Speaking to reporters at a business forum in Abu Dhabi on the final day of his trip to the Middle East, Trump said, “We’re looking at Gaza.”</p><p>“And we’ve got to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving. A lot of people are — there’s a lot of bad things going on.”</p><h2>Ethics issues follow along as Trump travels the Mideast</h2><p>Trump was already facing questions about conflicts of interest for traveling to the Middle East to shape U.S. policy at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-interests-family-middle-east-cryptocurrency-cbb7d2354304ce0308800819944cf3f8">his family’s business interests in the region have boomed</a>. He attempted to quiet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">worries about national security</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/emoluments-clause-trump-jet-qatar-56f995acb57eb741b0214aba5e7e8220">constitutional questions</a>&nbsp;by insisting he’s smart to accept a $400 million luxury plane from Qatar and use it as Air Force One.</p><p>“Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE,” Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114503203859060399">posted on his social media site</a>&nbsp;during his Middle East swing.</p><p>The president also dodged questions about a state-backed investment company in Abu Dhabi using a Trump family-aligned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-world-liberty-truth-social-etf-f11c47a99ea618aa06df4dd47b150800">stablecoin</a>&nbsp;for a $2 billion investment in the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.</p><p>“I don’t know anything about it,” he said.</p><p>Beyond that, the Trump family has piled up deals to license its brand for real estate projects, and to build Trump towers and golf courses, around the Middle East. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt says it’s “frankly ridiculous” to wonder if those profits might influence Trump’s governing decisions.</p><p>___</p><p>Madhani reported from Dubai. Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Will Weissert and Ellen Knickmeyer in Washington contributed to this report.</p>

🎥 Opulence, business deals: Takeaways from Trump's Mideast tour

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

<b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Failure to appear

<b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp;Failure to appear (3 counts)

<b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp;Stalking; Misd unknown circumstance; Violation of protection order; Unknown circumstance

<b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact

<b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Assault of LEO; Properly identified on duty

<p>Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747398654785.jpeg" alt="Davenport, Mark Antone&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Davenport, Mark Antone&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Davenport, Mark Antone</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Failure to appear</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747398722167.jpeg" alt="Haselhorst, Roger Lee" />
                        <figcaption>Haselhorst, Roger Lee</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Haselhorst, Roger Lee</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp;Failure to appear (3 counts)</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747398832639.jpeg" alt="Lageman, Malachi Wayne&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Lageman, Malachi Wayne&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Lageman, Malachi Wayne</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp;Stalking; Misd unknown circumstance; Violation of protection order; Unknown circumstance</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747398939245.jpeg" alt="Mickle, David Curtis&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Mickle, David Curtis&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Mickle, David Curtis</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747398991157.jpeg" alt="Walker, Tyler John&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Walker, Tyler John&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Walker, Tyler John</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Assault of LEO; Properly identified on duty</p>

Saline County Jail Bookings, May 16

WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-border-trump-44925ad8670cd4ad57427513915bb140">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;said Thursday that federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey that she and other Republicans suggest is a call for violence against President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

In an Instagram post, Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”

Numerous Trump administration officials, including Noem, said Comey was advocating for the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” Noem wrote.

Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press, says 86 is slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”

The post has since been deleted. Comey subsequently wrote, “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.

“It never occurred to me,” Comey added, “but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

Comey's original post sparked outrage among conservatives on social media, with Donald Trump Jr. accusing Comey of calling for his father’s killing.

Current FBI Director Kash Patel said he was aware of the post and was conferring with the Secret Service and its director.

James Blair, White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, noted that the post came at a delicate time given that Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-5-14-2025">traveling in the Middle East</a>.

“This is a Clarion Call from Jim Comey to terrorists &amp; hostile regimes to kill the President of the United States as he travels in the Middle East,” Blair wrote on X.

Comey, who was FBI director from 2013 to 2017, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-united-states-government-094da2d5fb1e45bda42e55c1577f815c">fired by Trump</a>&nbsp;during the president's first term amid the bureau’s probe into allegations of ties between Russian officials and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Comey wrote about his career in the best-selling memoir “A Higher Loyalty.”

He is now a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-crime-new-york-donald-trump-d86c246a39d44b15d1238f105c19a06e">crime fiction writer</a>&nbsp;and is promoting his latest book, “FDR Drive,” which is being released on Tuesday.

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-border-trump-44925ad8670cd4ad57427513915bb140">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;said Thursday that federal law enforcement is investigating a social media post made by former FBI Director James Comey that she and other Republicans suggest is a call for violence against President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> Trump. <br><br>DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately.</p>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1923141313005785365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are aware of the recent social media post by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump. We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support.</p>&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1923151715777356062?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747360229157.png" alt="Image from Comey's Instagram page" />
                        <figcaption>Image from Comey's Instagram page</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>In an Instagram post, Comey wrote “cool shell formation on my beach walk” under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for “86 47.”</p><p>Numerous Trump administration officials, including Noem, said Comey was advocating for the assassination of Trump, the 47th president. “DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately,” Noem wrote.</p><p>Merriam-Webster, the dictionary used by The Associated Press, says 86 is slang meaning “to throw out,” “to get rid of” or “to refuse service to.” It notes: “Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill.’ We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.”</p><div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJsN4GAPoxY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJsN4GAPoxY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJsN4GAPoxY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by James Comey (@comey)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>The post has since been deleted. Comey subsequently wrote, “I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message. I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence.</p><p>“It never occurred to me,” Comey added, “but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”</p><p>Comey's original post sparked outrage among conservatives on social media, with Donald Trump Jr. accusing Comey of calling for his father’s killing.</p><p>Current FBI Director Kash Patel said he was aware of the post and was conferring with the Secret Service and its director.</p><p>James Blair, White House deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs, noted that the post came at a delicate time given that Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-5-14-2025">traveling in the Middle East</a>.</p><p>“This is a Clarion Call from Jim Comey to terrorists &amp; hostile regimes to kill the President of the United States as he travels in the Middle East,” Blair wrote on X.</p><p>Comey, who was FBI director from 2013 to 2017, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-russia-united-states-government-094da2d5fb1e45bda42e55c1577f815c">fired by Trump</a>&nbsp;during the president's first term amid the bureau’s probe into allegations of ties between Russian officials and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Comey wrote about his career in the best-selling memoir “A Higher Loyalty.”</p><p>He is now a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-crime-new-york-donald-trump-d86c246a39d44b15d1238f105c19a06e">crime fiction writer</a>&nbsp;and is promoting his latest book, “FDR Drive,” which is being released on Tuesday.</p>

Former FBI Director accused of post seen as potential threat to Trump's life

UPLAND, Ind. - Kansas Wesleyan Baseball saw its season come to a close on Thursday as the Coyotes dropped a pair of games to the Grand View Vikings in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round at Taylor University.

Grand View claimed the first game of the championship series 5-3, then booked their trip to the AVISTA NAIA World Series with a 16-2 win in the second game.

In the first game, the Coyotes had a 2-0 lead in the third inning as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/85a35b67-90e8-42d9-a48e-7b9d4238cf60?elinkdata=26769">Coulson Riggs</a> walked and two batters later <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/60723260-f3df-452d-99a2-0878e03c213e?elinkdata=26769">Jacob Williamson</a> smashed a 2-run homer to give the Coyotes the lead.

The score stayed the same until the bottom of the sixth inning when Grand View hit a 3-run home run to take a 3-2 lead.

In the seventh, the Vikings added two more runs taking advantage of an error by the Coyotes in the inning.

The Coyotes tried to rally in the ninth as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/76fb963d-60d6-4fe4-9bae-fcd3e33c45b6?elinkdata=26769">Joe Finder</a> homered and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cf02f77c-97bf-4f7b-986b-331cc2724aa9?elinkdata=26769">Blake Dale</a> followed with a double to bring the tying run to the plate. KWU could not push another run across and dropped the first championship game 5-3.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/85a1ea67-7dd9-4946-80e4-354ca5f84f14?elinkdata=26769">Riley Gwin</a> took the loss allowing two runs on three hits in an inning of work. Starter <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/498c68e7-2483-4419-9a48-cf309bfd9e30?elinkdata=26769">Shaw Lee</a> went five and a third innings, allowing two runs on four hits. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/eb56a0c7-07e8-4f81-a5c4-e4ad39dfec19?elinkdata=26769">Tyler Favretto</a> had two hits for the Coyotes.

After a short break, the teams met again for the winner-take-all game.

Grand View took an early lead in the top of the second with a homerun, but in the bottom of the inning, the Coyotes tied things up on another solo homer by Finder.

The Vikings took control of the game in the top of the third, scoring six runs to take a 7-1 lead.

Grand View added another run in the fourth and then added five more in the fifth to extend the lead.

<a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c07b61db-c0b4-4bc6-9a0a-aab6b2b0f137?elinkdata=26769">Eric Romero</a> hit his first homerun of the season in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn't enough to spark a rally for the Coyotes.

Ruvalcaba, Finder, Dale,all had two hits for the Coyotes. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0522a709-812c-4bb1-9a93-1a8d2ddc0ae6?elinkdata=26769">Brett Maddock</a> suffered the loss allowing seven runs on seven hits in two and two-thirds innings.

<p>UPLAND, Ind. - Kansas Wesleyan Baseball saw its season come to a close on Thursday as the Coyotes dropped a pair of games to the Grand View Vikings in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round at Taylor University.</p><p>Grand View claimed the first game of the championship series 5-3, then booked their trip to the AVISTA NAIA World Series with a 16-2 win in the second game.</p><p>In the first game, the Coyotes had a 2-0 lead in the third inning as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/85a35b67-90e8-42d9-a48e-7b9d4238cf60?elinkdata=26769">Coulson Riggs</a> walked and two batters later <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/60723260-f3df-452d-99a2-0878e03c213e?elinkdata=26769">Jacob Williamson</a> smashed a 2-run homer to give the Coyotes the lead.</p><p>The score stayed the same until the bottom of the sixth inning when Grand View hit a 3-run home run to take a 3-2 lead.</p><p>In the seventh, the Vikings added two more runs taking advantage of an error by the Coyotes in the inning.</p><p>The Coyotes tried to rally in the ninth as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/76fb963d-60d6-4fe4-9bae-fcd3e33c45b6?elinkdata=26769">Joe Finder</a> homered and <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/cf02f77c-97bf-4f7b-986b-331cc2724aa9?elinkdata=26769">Blake Dale</a> followed with a double to bring the tying run to the plate. KWU could not push another run across and dropped the first championship game 5-3.</p><p><a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/85a1ea67-7dd9-4946-80e4-354ca5f84f14?elinkdata=26769">Riley Gwin</a> took the loss allowing two runs on three hits in an inning of work. Starter <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/498c68e7-2483-4419-9a48-cf309bfd9e30?elinkdata=26769">Shaw Lee</a> went five and a third innings, allowing two runs on four hits. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/eb56a0c7-07e8-4f81-a5c4-e4ad39dfec19?elinkdata=26769">Tyler Favretto</a> had two hits for the Coyotes.</p><p>After a short break, the teams met again for the winner-take-all game.</p><p>Grand View took an early lead in the top of the second with a homerun, but in the bottom of the inning, the Coyotes tied things up on another solo homer by Finder.</p><p>The Vikings took control of the game in the top of the third, scoring six runs to take a 7-1 lead.</p><p>Grand View added another run in the fourth and then added five more in the fifth to extend the lead.</p><p><a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/c07b61db-c0b4-4bc6-9a0a-aab6b2b0f137?elinkdata=26769">Eric Romero</a> hit his first homerun of the season in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn't enough to spark a rally for the Coyotes.</p><p>Ruvalcaba, Finder, Dale,all had two hits for the Coyotes. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/0522a709-812c-4bb1-9a93-1a8d2ddc0ae6?elinkdata=26769">Brett Maddock</a> suffered the loss allowing seven runs on seven hits in two and two-thirds innings.</p>

⚾️ Coyotes see season come to end at NAIA Opening Round

RENO COUNTY —Police arrested a Hutchinson man Tuesday night after he allegedly called 911 multiple times without cause and then directed his dogs to attack officers attempting to arrest him, according to a media release from Hutchinson Police.

On May 13, 911 Telecommunications in Reno County received several emergency calls from Timothy W. Peters, 60, requesting police response to his residence at 1405 North Main Street. Each time officers arrived, Peters reportedly refused assistance and ordered them to leave.

Just before 9p.m., officers responded again to the same location following another call from Peters. When informed he was under arrest for unlawfully requesting emergency assistance, Peters allegedly threatened to use his dogs as weapons. Authorities say he ignored repeated commands to secure the animals.

As officers attempted to take Peters into custody, he resisted and instructed his dogs to attack. The dogs reportedly showed immediate aggression, but officers were not bitten.

Peters was arrested and booked on requested charges, including two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threat with intent to terrorize or cause evacuation, felony interference with law enforcement, unlawful request for emergency assistance, and battery on a law enforcement officer.

No injuries were reported in the incident. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747247463474.png" alt="Peters photo Reno Co." />
                        <figcaption>Peters photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>RENO COUNTY —Police arrested a Hutchinson man Tuesday night after he allegedly called 911 multiple times without cause and then directed his dogs to attack officers attempting to arrest him, according to a media release from Hutchinson Police.</p><p>On May 13, 911 Telecommunications in Reno County received several emergency calls from Timothy W. Peters, 60, requesting police response to his residence at 1405 North Main Street. Each time officers arrived, Peters reportedly refused assistance and ordered them to leave.</p><p>Just before 9p.m., officers responded again to the same location following another call from Peters. When informed he was under arrest for unlawfully requesting emergency assistance, Peters allegedly threatened to use his dogs as weapons. Authorities say he ignored repeated commands to secure the animals.</p><p>As officers attempted to take Peters into custody, he resisted and instructed his dogs to attack. The dogs reportedly showed immediate aggression, but officers were not bitten.</p><p>Peters was arrested and booked on requested charges, including two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threat with intent to terrorize or cause evacuation, felony interference with law enforcement, unlawful request for emergency assistance, and battery on a law enforcement officer.</p><p>No injuries were reported in the incident. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.</p>

Police: Kan. man made many 911 calls, commanded dogs to attack officers

The Salina Art Center is inviting the public for a special screening of a Western Kansan story that highlights the hardships and triumphs of frontier life in Kansas during the homesteading era.

On <b>Friday, May 16th at 6:00 pm,</b> "Sod &amp; Stubble" will be showing at the Salina Art Center in downtown Salina. According to the Art Center, after the screening their will be a&nbsp;discussion with director Ken Spurgeon and members of the cast and crew.&nbsp;

Not only will the Art Center hold the screening on Friday, but throughout the weekend and ending on <b>Monday, May 19th.&nbsp;</b>

To purchase tickets for any of the days and to see the times/showings, go to:&nbsp;<a href="https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=486604~324e763b-503c-450c-8c59-54007b851949&amp;epguid=94c71b64-6119-436a-8b50-a5728e102d44&amp;mdy=5/16/2025&amp;">https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=486604~324e763b-503c-450c-8c59-54007b851949&amp;epguid=94c71b64-6119-436a-8b50-a5728e102d44&amp;mdy=5/16/2025&amp;</a>

Sod and Stubble is the story of a German immigrant Henry Ise and his devoted wife, Rosie Haag Ise who with tenacity and devotion fought to craft a home for their family on the plains of Kansas. Based on the book by the same name, written by John Ise with additional material by Von Rothenberger, "Sod &amp; Stubble" has been remembered by some as a “nonfiction novel” that provides the readers with a realism rarely delivered.&nbsp;

<p>By:<b> NICOLAS FIERRO</b></p><p><i>Salina Post</i></p><p>The Salina Art Center is inviting the public for a special screening of a Western Kansan story that highlights the hardships and triumphs of frontier life in Kansas during the homesteading era.</p><p>On <b>Friday, May 16th at 6:00 pm,</b> "Sod &amp; Stubble" will be showing at the Salina Art Center in downtown Salina. According to the Art Center, after the screening their will be a&nbsp;discussion with director Ken Spurgeon and members of the cast and crew.&nbsp;</p><p>Not only will the Art Center hold the screening on Friday, but throughout the weekend and ending on <b>Monday, May 19th.&nbsp;</b></p><p>To purchase tickets for any of the days and to see the times/showings, go to:&nbsp;<a href="https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=486604~324e763b-503c-450c-8c59-54007b851949&amp;epguid=94c71b64-6119-436a-8b50-a5728e102d44&amp;mdy=5/16/2025&amp;">https://prod5.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=486604~324e763b-503c-450c-8c59-54007b851949&amp;epguid=94c71b64-6119-436a-8b50-a5728e102d44&amp;mdy=5/16/2025&amp;</a></p><p>Sod and Stubble is the story of a German immigrant Henry Ise and his devoted wife, Rosie Haag Ise who with tenacity and devotion fought to craft a home for their family on the plains of Kansas. Based on the book by the same name, written by John Ise with additional material by Von Rothenberger, "Sod &amp; Stubble" has been remembered by some as a “nonfiction novel” that provides the readers with a realism rarely delivered.&nbsp;</p>

Salina Art Center invites the public for a special screening

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/casey-means-surgeon-general-podcasts-health-care-9eaa4341a62a0762fe827f459e9b1415">new pick for surgeon general</a>&nbsp;wrote in a recent book that people should consider using unproven psychedelic drugs as therapy and in a newsletter suggested her use of mushrooms helped her find a romantic partner.

Dr. Casey Means’ recommendation to consider guided psilocybin-assisted therapy is notable because psilocybin is illegal under federal law. It’s listed as a Schedule 1 drug, defined as a substance “with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Oregon and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-psilocybin-psychedelic-therapy-legal-ptsd-veterans-99fc5a0703d85daa0903d5a2b2acc9be">Colorado</a>&nbsp;have legalized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microdosing-lsd-mushrooms-psychedelic-psilocybin-390c99ba54ef9d75727f39e2ec78fb34">psychedelic therapy</a>, though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oregon-psilocybin-psychedelic-mushrooms-ban-9c73a25986171b41bb162100d54d2217">several cities in Oregon</a>&nbsp;have since banned it.

The surgeon general’s job is to provide Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury. Past surgeons general have used their position to educate Americans about health problems like AIDS and suicide prevention. The surgeon general’s warning in 1964 about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/smoking-vaping-surgeon-general-db81e873c256e38433734e86d6a50f7e">the dangers of smoking</a>&nbsp;helped change the course of America’s health.

Some, like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d5fa02d63d474102b8c05cd82eab4a50">Dr. C. Everett Koop</a>, surgeon general under President Ronald Reagan, became widely known with substantial impact on policy, and others slipped easily from memory.

Means’ nomination follows a pattern from Trump to select people known for their public personas more than their policy positions. In the case of Means, the Republican president said he chose her solely on the recommendation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-hhs-senate-vaccines-layoffs-measles-8c99853031507ecb5408b4132329cdea">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;“Bobby thought she was fantastic,” Trump said, adding that he did not know her.

Means, who received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University, began a medical residency in Oregon but did not complete it. Her medical license is listed as inactive. Contacted by phone, Means declined to comment on the record.

She made the recommendation about psychedelics in her 2024 book, “Good Energy,” which she wrote with her brother, Calley Means, an entrepreneur who now works in the Trump administration as a health adviser and who has said he invested in biopharmaceutical companies that specialize in psychedelics.

Much of the book focuses on metabolic health, what Casey Means calls “good energy.” She suggests a number of strategies to help people “manage and heal the stressors, traumas, and thought patterns that limit us and contribute to our poor metabolic health and thriving.”

One such strategy is to “consider psilocybin-assisted therapy,” referring to the compound found in psychedelic mushrooms. She details her thinking on the subject in a 750-word passage.

“If you feel called, I also encourage you to explore intentional, guided psilocybin therapy,” she wrote. “Strong scientific evidence suggests that this psychedelic therapy can be one of the most meaningful experiences of life for some people, as they have been for me.”

Though there have been some studies suggesting benefits from psychedelics, it has not been shown that benefits outweigh the risks. Psilocybin can cause hours of hallucinations that can be pleasant or terrifying. When paired with talk therapy, it has been studied as a treatment for psychiatric conditions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mushroom-psychedelic-alcoholism-study-a3b6692ae7590de9fd09a7cac271a199">alcoholism</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microdosing-lsd-mushrooms-psychedelic-psilocybin-390c99ba54ef9d75727f39e2ec78fb34">very little research</a>&nbsp;has been done in healthy people. Side effects can include increased heart rate, nausea and headaches. Taking it unsupervised can be dangerous. Hallucinations could cause a user to walk into traffic or take other risks.

Means wrote that psilocybin and other psychedelics have been stigmatized. She touted the benefits of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, for helping people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The Food and Drug Administration last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mdma-psychedelic-drug-fda-ptsd-lykos-709b23613031fb11d3dc5228c8476a39">declined to approve the use of MDMA</a>&nbsp;as a therapy for PTSD after a panel of advisers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mdma-psychedelics-fda-ptsd-ecstasy-molly-1f3753324fa7f91821c9ee6246fa18e1">found the research was flawed</a>&nbsp;and there were significant risks in using it.

Means refers to psychedelics in her book as “plant medicine.” She describes how she took mushrooms for the first time around Jan. 1, 2021, after she was inspired by “an internal voice that whispered: it’s time to prepare.”

“I felt myself as part of an infinite and unbroken series of cosmic nesting dolls of millions of mothers and babies before me from the beginning of life,” she wrote, adding that in her experience “psilocybin can be a doorway to a different reality that is free from the limiting beliefs of my ego, feelings, and personal history.”

In a newsletter she published in October, Means said she had also used psychedelics to help her make “space to find love at 35.” She wrote that she “did plant medicine experiences with trusted guides” to become ready for partnership, punctuating the line with a mushroom emoji. She noted she was not necessarily making recommendations that others do the same.

In a post this month about her White House health policy wish list, Means said she wanted more nutritious food served in schools, suggested putting warning labels on ultra-processed foods, called for investigations into vaccine safety and said she wanted to remove conflicts of interest. She did not specifically mention psychedelics but said that researchers have little incentive to study “generic, natural, and non-patentable drugs and therapies” and that a portion of research budgets should be devoted to alternative approaches to health.

Calley Means has also advocated for the use of psychedelic drugs, writing in a 2021 blog post that he first tried psilocybin during a challenging time in his life and “it was the single most meaningful experience of my life — personally, professionally, and spiritually.” He said in 2022 that he had “sold all of my 401k” and bought stocks in two companies that are developing and researching psychedelics. He did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Casey Means’ confirmation hearing has not been scheduled.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-surgeon-general-laura-loomer-794da62da02d5699683e3b1540b8a31f">Trump chose Means</a>&nbsp;after questions were raised about the resume of his first pick for surgeon general, former Fox News medical contributor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-trump-marty-makary-34424f5fefcbbc334c1983b025523aad">Janette Nesheiwat</a>, and he withdrew her nomination.

Associated Press Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson in Washington state and AP writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746656010439.png" alt="Dr. Casey Means from her Instagram page" />
                        <figcaption>Dr. Casey Means from her Instagram page</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/casey-means-surgeon-general-podcasts-health-care-9eaa4341a62a0762fe827f459e9b1415">new pick for surgeon general</a>&nbsp;wrote in a recent book that people should consider using unproven psychedelic drugs as therapy and in a newsletter suggested her use of mushrooms helped her find a romantic partner.</p><p>Dr. Casey Means’ recommendation to consider guided psilocybin-assisted therapy is notable because psilocybin is illegal under federal law. It’s listed as a Schedule 1 drug, defined as a substance “with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” Oregon and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-psilocybin-psychedelic-therapy-legal-ptsd-veterans-99fc5a0703d85daa0903d5a2b2acc9be">Colorado</a>&nbsp;have legalized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microdosing-lsd-mushrooms-psychedelic-psilocybin-390c99ba54ef9d75727f39e2ec78fb34">psychedelic therapy</a>, though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oregon-psilocybin-psychedelic-mushrooms-ban-9c73a25986171b41bb162100d54d2217">several cities in Oregon</a>&nbsp;have since banned it.</p><p>The surgeon general’s job is to provide Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce their risk of illness and injury. Past surgeons general have used their position to educate Americans about health problems like AIDS and suicide prevention. The surgeon general’s warning in 1964 about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/smoking-vaping-surgeon-general-db81e873c256e38433734e86d6a50f7e">the dangers of smoking</a>&nbsp;helped change the course of America’s health.</p><div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXt3_myk9B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXt3_myk9B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXt3_myk9B/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Casey Means, MD (@drcaseyskitchen)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>Some, like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d5fa02d63d474102b8c05cd82eab4a50">Dr. C. Everett Koop</a>, surgeon general under President Ronald Reagan, became widely known with substantial impact on policy, and others slipped easily from memory.</p><p>Means’ nomination follows a pattern from Trump to select people known for their public personas more than their policy positions. In the case of Means, the Republican president said he chose her solely on the recommendation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-hhs-senate-vaccines-layoffs-measles-8c99853031507ecb5408b4132329cdea">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;“Bobby thought she was fantastic,” Trump said, adding that he did not know her.</p><p>Means, who received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University, began a medical residency in Oregon but did not complete it. Her medical license is listed as inactive. Contacted by phone, Means declined to comment on the record.</p><p>She made the recommendation about psychedelics in her 2024 book, “Good Energy,” which she wrote with her brother, Calley Means, an entrepreneur who now works in the Trump administration as a health adviser and who has said he invested in biopharmaceutical companies that specialize in psychedelics.</p><p>Much of the book focuses on metabolic health, what Casey Means calls “good energy.” She suggests a number of strategies to help people “manage and heal the stressors, traumas, and thought patterns that limit us and contribute to our poor metabolic health and thriving.”</p><p>One such strategy is to “consider psilocybin-assisted therapy,” referring to the compound found in psychedelic mushrooms. She details her thinking on the subject in a 750-word passage.</p><p>“If you feel called, I also encourage you to explore intentional, guided psilocybin therapy,” she wrote. “Strong scientific evidence suggests that this psychedelic therapy can be one of the most meaningful experiences of life for some people, as they have been for me.”</p><p>Though there have been some studies suggesting benefits from psychedelics, it has not been shown that benefits outweigh the risks. Psilocybin can cause hours of hallucinations that can be pleasant or terrifying. When paired with talk therapy, it has been studied as a treatment for psychiatric conditions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mushroom-psychedelic-alcoholism-study-a3b6692ae7590de9fd09a7cac271a199">alcoholism</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microdosing-lsd-mushrooms-psychedelic-psilocybin-390c99ba54ef9d75727f39e2ec78fb34">very little research</a>&nbsp;has been done in healthy people. Side effects can include increased heart rate, nausea and headaches. Taking it unsupervised can be dangerous. Hallucinations could cause a user to walk into traffic or take other risks.</p><p>Means wrote that psilocybin and other psychedelics have been stigmatized. She touted the benefits of MDMA, also known as ecstasy or molly, for helping people with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. The Food and Drug Administration last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mdma-psychedelic-drug-fda-ptsd-lykos-709b23613031fb11d3dc5228c8476a39">declined to approve the use of MDMA</a>&nbsp;as a therapy for PTSD after a panel of advisers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mdma-psychedelics-fda-ptsd-ecstasy-molly-1f3753324fa7f91821c9ee6246fa18e1">found the research was flawed</a>&nbsp;and there were significant risks in using it.</p><p>Means refers to psychedelics in her book as “plant medicine.” She describes how she took mushrooms for the first time around Jan. 1, 2021, after she was inspired by “an internal voice that whispered: it’s time to prepare.”</p><p>“I felt myself as part of an infinite and unbroken series of cosmic nesting dolls of millions of mothers and babies before me from the beginning of life,” she wrote, adding that in her experience “psilocybin can be a doorway to a different reality that is free from the limiting beliefs of my ego, feelings, and personal history.”</p><p>In a newsletter she published in October, Means said she had also used psychedelics to help her make “space to find love at 35.” She wrote that she “did plant medicine experiences with trusted guides” to become ready for partnership, punctuating the line with a mushroom emoji. She noted she was not necessarily making recommendations that others do the same.</p><p>In a post this month about her White House health policy wish list, Means said she wanted more nutritious food served in schools, suggested putting warning labels on ultra-processed foods, called for investigations into vaccine safety and said she wanted to remove conflicts of interest. She did not specifically mention psychedelics but said that researchers have little incentive to study “generic, natural, and non-patentable drugs and therapies” and that a portion of research budgets should be devoted to alternative approaches to health.</p><p>Calley Means has also advocated for the use of psychedelic drugs, writing in a 2021 blog post that he first tried psilocybin during a challenging time in his life and “it was the single most meaningful experience of my life — personally, professionally, and spiritually.” He said in 2022 that he had “sold all of my 401k” and bought stocks in two companies that are developing and researching psychedelics. He did not respond to messages seeking comment.</p><p>Casey Means’ confirmation hearing has not been scheduled.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-surgeon-general-laura-loomer-794da62da02d5699683e3b1540b8a31f">Trump chose Means</a>&nbsp;after questions were raised about the resume of his first pick for surgeon general, former Fox News medical contributor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-trump-marty-makary-34424f5fefcbbc334c1983b025523aad">Janette Nesheiwat</a>, and he withdrew her nomination.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson in Washington state and AP writer Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.</p>

Trump surgeon general pick said mushrooms helped her find love

<b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Probation Violation

<b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Matthews, Jeffery Wayne

<b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

<b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Contempt of Court; Direct

<p>Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747311164819.jpeg" alt=" Dirksen, Destany Marie&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption> Dirksen, Destany Marie&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Dirksen, Destany Marie</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Probation Violation</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747311237120.jpeg" alt="Lipari, Scotty James&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Lipari, Scotty James&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Lipari, Scotty James</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Probation Violation</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747311306465.jpeg" alt="Matthews, Jeffery Wayne&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Matthews, Jeffery Wayne&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Matthews, Jeffery Wayne</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Probation Violation</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747311360046.jpeg" alt="Mesecher, Joshua Loran&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Mesecher, Joshua Loran&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>: Mesecher, Joshua Loran</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747311441768.jpeg" alt="Price, Jerry Dean" />
                        <figcaption>Price, Jerry Dean</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Price, Jerry Dean</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Probation Violation</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747311500172.jpeg" alt="Rodgers, John Robert&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Rodgers, John Robert&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Rodgers, John Robert</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Failure to appear</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747311560310.jpeg" alt="Stewart, Darin Parker" />
                        <figcaption>Stewart, Darin Parker</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Stewart, Darin Parker</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Probation Violation</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747311614362.jpeg" alt="Trist, Maile Rose&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Trist, Maile Rose&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Trist, Maile Rose</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Contempt of Court; Direct</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747311665637.jpeg" alt="Zach, Casey Paul&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Zach, Casey Paul&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Zach, Casey Paul</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Probation Violation</p>

Saline County Jail Bookings, May 15

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after an incident&nbsp; in the parking lot of the sheriff's office.

Just after 10:30p.m. May 12, a&nbsp;Jackson County Deputy Sheriff arrested 60-year-old Colette McKinnon, of Topeka in the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office parking lot, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

McKinnon was in the company of another person who was turning themselves in on an outstanding warrant.

 McKinnon was placed under arrest on a requested charge of possession of methamphetamine and booked into the Jackson County Jail.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747152825707.png" alt="McKinnon photo Jackson Co." />
                        <figcaption>McKinnon photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after an incident&nbsp; in the parking lot of the sheriff's office.</p><p>Just after 10:30p.m. May 12, a&nbsp;Jackson County Deputy Sheriff arrested 60-year-old Colette McKinnon, of Topeka in the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office parking lot, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.</p><p>McKinnon was in the company of another person who was turning themselves in on an outstanding warrant.</p><p> McKinnon was placed under arrest on a requested charge of possession of methamphetamine and booked into the Jackson County Jail.</p>

Kan. woman caught with meth in sheriff's office parking lot

BARTON COUNTY —A U.S. Postal Service worker was hospitalized following a dog attack in Great Bend last week, prompting a multi-day investigation that led to an arrest.

On May 9, police responded to a report of an animal attack in the 1400 block of Lakin Avenue in GreatBend. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a postal worker had been attacked by two dogs. The victim was transported to the hospital in Great Bend for treatment of her injuries.

In the days that followed, detectives and animal control officers launched an investigation to locate the animals involved. On Monday, May 12, around 1:03 p.m., authorities received several tips through Crimestoppers that led them to a residence at 1416 12th Street in Great Bend.

At that location, officers made contact with Dakota Procopio, a 23-year-old man who confirmed he was the owner of the two dogs. Investigators learned that the dogs had been moved to a separate location in Raymond, Kansas. Animal Control officers from the Golden Belt Humane Society located the animals and took them into custody for a state-mandated observation period.

Procopio was arrested and booked into the Barton County Jail. He faces multiple charges including Obstruction of Justice, Dog at Large, No Current Rabies Vaccinations, and Vicious Dog.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or submit a tip anonymously to Crimestoppers at 620-792-1300 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://p3tips.com/">p3tips.com</a>.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747061000208.jpeg" alt="Images from the police investigation" />
                        <figcaption>Images from the police investigation</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>BARTON COUNTY —A U.S. Postal Service worker was hospitalized following a dog attack in Great Bend last week, prompting a multi-day investigation that led to an arrest.</p><p>On May 9, police responded to a report of an animal attack in the 1400 block of Lakin Avenue in GreatBend. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a postal worker had been attacked by two dogs. The victim was transported to the hospital in Great Bend for treatment of her injuries.</p><p>In the days that followed, detectives and animal control officers launched an investigation to locate the animals involved. On Monday, May 12, around 1:03 p.m., authorities received several tips through Crimestoppers that led them to a residence at 1416 12th Street in Great Bend.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747061014830.jpeg" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>At that location, officers made contact with Dakota Procopio, a 23-year-old man who confirmed he was the owner of the two dogs. Investigators learned that the dogs had been moved to a separate location in Raymond, Kansas. Animal Control officers from the Golden Belt Humane Society located the animals and took them into custody for a state-mandated observation period.</p><p>Procopio was arrested and booked into the Barton County Jail. He faces multiple charges including Obstruction of Justice, Dog at Large, No Current Rabies Vaccinations, and Vicious Dog.</p><p>The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or submit a tip anonymously to Crimestoppers at 620-792-1300 or online at&nbsp;<a href="https://p3tips.com/">p3tips.com</a>.</p>

Dog owner jailed after attack that hospitalized Kan. postal worker

<b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit; Driving While Suspended

<b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp; Blackmail:disseminate video/photo/file/image; Harass by telecom device; Cause device to ring/activate to harass; Stalking; Reckless conduct causing fear to person or family

<p>Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747227004242.jpeg" alt="Hadnot, Josiah Lewis&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Hadnot, Josiah Lewis&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Hadnot, Josiah Lewis</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit; Driving While Suspended</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747227082142.jpeg" alt="Nelson, Richard Edward&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Nelson, Richard Edward&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Nelson, Richard Edward</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp; Blackmail:disseminate video/photo/file/image; Harass by telecom device; Cause device to ring/activate to harass; Stalking; Reckless conduct causing fear to person or family</p>

Saline County Jail Bookings, May 14

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

On May 8,&nbsp;Skyler Breann Sledd, 25, of Belton, Missouri was reported to have allegedly fled from the Jackson County District Court and had a warrant for her arrest, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Deputies located her near U.S. Highway 75 and 110th&nbsp; Road in a 2007 Buick Lacrosse.&nbsp; Deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop, near 102nd Road where Sledd was taken into custody. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted and resulted in the discovery of illegal drugs and narcotics.

Sledd was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of fentanyl possession, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while revoked and driving with expired registration .

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747008472005.png" alt="Sledd photo Jackson County" />
                        <figcaption>Sledd photo Jackson County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.</p><p>On May 8,&nbsp;Skyler Breann Sledd, 25, of Belton, Missouri was reported to have allegedly fled from the Jackson County District Court and had a warrant for her arrest, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.</p><p>Deputies located her near U.S. Highway 75 and 110th&nbsp; Road in a 2007 Buick Lacrosse.&nbsp; Deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop, near 102nd Road where Sledd was taken into custody. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted and resulted in the discovery of illegal drugs and narcotics.</p><p>Sledd was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of fentanyl possession, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while revoked and driving with expired registration .</p>

Woman who fled from Kan. court is caught with fentanyl

By Ted Schultz<br><i>Grinnell College Sports Information Director</i>

GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College women’s tennis player Lily Perrin ’25 has left her mark on the school record book.

Perrin completed her collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in doubles victories with 81. She ranks 11th in career singles wins with 58 and her combined 139 victories are just four shy of the school record.

“Tennis has given me so many wonderful experiences. I have met incredible people and played some tough competitors. I am proud to have had so much success at Grinnell,” Perrin said.

Her collegiate career ended on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championships in St. Louis, MO. Grinnell was eliminated with a 4-0 loss to eventual regional winner Washington University.

On Friday, Perrin got her final doubles win which helped Grinnell College to a 4-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round. Perrin was competing in the NCAA tournament with the Grinnell women’s team for the fourth straight year.

Perrin, a Sacred Heart graduate, was the 2020 Class 3-2-1A Singles State Champion and helped the Knights win the team championship that year.

<p>By Ted Schultz<br><i>Grinnell College Sports Information Director</i></p><p>GRINNELL, Iowa – Grinnell College women’s tennis player Lily Perrin ’25 has left her mark on the school record book.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747141454533.jpeg" alt="Lily Perrin media day - photo courtesy of Ted Schultz" />
                        <figcaption>Lily Perrin media day - photo courtesy of Ted Schultz</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Perrin completed her collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in doubles victories with 81. She ranks 11th in career singles wins with 58 and her combined 139 victories are just four shy of the school record.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746812152965.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here." />
                        <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home-field advantage starts here.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>“Tennis has given me so many wonderful experiences. I have met incredible people and played some tough competitors. I am proud to have had so much success at Grinnell,” Perrin said.</p><p>Her collegiate career ended on Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Tennis Championships in St. Louis, MO. Grinnell was eliminated with a 4-0 loss to eventual regional winner Washington University.</p><p>On Friday, Perrin got her final doubles win which helped Grinnell College to a 4-1 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round. Perrin was competing in the NCAA tournament with the Grinnell women’s team for the fourth straight year.</p><p>Perrin, a Sacred Heart graduate, was the 2020 Class 3-2-1A Singles State Champion and helped the Knights win the team championship that year.</p>

Former Sacred Heart grad wraps up phenomenal college tennis career

<b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Baron, Nicholas Anthony

<b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Crim damage to prop;w/o consent $1K-$25K

<b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Theft of prop/serv;&lt;$1500 3 business in 72 hrs

<p>Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747139913505.jpeg" alt="Baron, Nicholas Anthony&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Baron, Nicholas Anthony&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Baron, Nicholas Anthony</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Crim damage to prop;w/o consent $1K-$25K</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747139998357.jpeg" alt="Casey, Kajuan Vontae&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Casey, Kajuan Vontae&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Casey, Kajuan Vontae</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Theft of prop/serv;&lt;$1500 3 business in 72 hrs</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747140066522.jpeg" alt="Coffman, James Dylan&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Coffman, James Dylan&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Coffman, James Dylan</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Failure to appear</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747140138054.jpeg" alt="Goentzel, Jeff Scott&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Goentzel, Jeff Scott&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Goentzel, Jeff Scott</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGE</b>:&nbsp;Probation Violation</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747140203452.jpeg" alt="Miller, Derrik Wade&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Miller, Derrik Wade&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Miller,Derrik Wade</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact; Failure to appear</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747140274399.jpeg" alt="Ward, Nathanial Bishop&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Ward, Nathanial Bishop&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>NAME</b>:&nbsp;Ward, Nathanial Bishop</p><p><b>REQUESTED CHARGES</b>:&nbsp;Failure to appear; Driving While Suspended</p>