SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple allegations after an arrest at a Kansas home.

On May 1,&nbsp; members of the Topeka Police Department’s Investigations and Patrol Bureaus served a search warrant in the 1300 block of SW 16th Street, Topeka, according to Police&nbsp;Commander Aaron Jones.

The search revealed firearms, firearms accessories, Methamphetamine, Marijuana, drug paraphernalia and an explosive device.

As a result, Thomas Lathrom 34, of Topeka, was taken into custody and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;Criminal possession of a firearm by convicted felon, Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000 feet of school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, Criminal possession of explosives, Aggravated Endangerment of a child and Felony interference with a law enforcement officer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746222576644.png" alt="Lathrom photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Lathrom photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple allegations after an arrest at a Kansas home.On May 1,&nbsp; members of the Topeka Police Department’s Investigations and Patrol Bureaus served a search warrant in the 1300 block of SW 16th Street, Topeka, according to Police&nbsp;Commander Aaron Jones.The search revealed firearms, firearms accessories, Methamphetamine, Marijuana, drug paraphernalia and an explosive device.As a result, Thomas Lathrom 34, of Topeka, was taken into custody and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;Criminal possession of a firearm by convicted felon, Distribution of methamphetamine within 1000 feet of school, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, Criminal possession of explosives, Aggravated Endangerment of a child and Felony interference with a law enforcement officer.

Police found drugs, children and explosives at Kansas home

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating another deadly shooting in Topeka.

Just before 10:30p.m. May 2, police responded to the area of SW 13th and SW Boswell in Topeka on the report of gunshots in the area, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

 As officers arrived in the area, they located a man later identified as 27-year-old Treveon Carrington suffering from life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; While on scene, medical personnel pronounced him deceased.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested 30-year-old Derrick Mitchell of Topeka, was arrested and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of first degree murder. This is the city’s 6 th homicide investigation of 2025 in Topeka, according to Connell.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746313535257.png" alt="Mitchell photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Mitchell photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating another deadly shooting in Topeka.Just before 10:30p.m. May 2, police responded to the area of SW 13th and SW Boswell in Topeka on the report of gunshots in the area, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell. As officers arrived in the area, they located a man later identified as 27-year-old Treveon Carrington suffering from life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; While on scene, medical personnel pronounced him deceased.As a result of the investigation, police arrested 30-year-old Derrick Mitchell of Topeka, was arrested and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on a requested charge of first degree murder. This is the city’s 6 th homicide investigation of 2025 in Topeka, according to Connell.

Police capture Kansas murder suspect, identify victim

Viewers in Kansas know Aisa Cymone Smith as the dynamic weekend sports anchor and sport reporter for KSN News 3. Most often found on the sidelines of football fields or courtside at basketball games, Smith is now making headlines herself, this time, as Miss Kansas USA 2025.

Born and raised in San Diego, Smith has called Wichita home for over two years. Since joining KSN, she’s transitioned from general news into full-time sports, a field where she’s building both her career and a legacy.

“Being on the sidelines has been a dream, but now I have the opportunity to stand on a different kind of stage,” Smith said during a recent interview on the BW Morning Show. “Competing for Miss Kansas USA was a way for me to return to my roots in pageantry and amplify my platform for women in sports broadcasting.”

Smith has been involved in pageantry since age 12, a pursuit she says built her confidence and prepared her for a life in front of the camera. Although she took a break during college, her recent return led to a state crown and a new mission.

“I didn’t compete in a local pageant. I went at-large and chose to represent East Wichita,” she said. “Now, I’ll compete for Miss USA later this year — and if I win that, it’s on to Miss Universe.”

The date and location for Miss USA have yet to be announced, but Smith said preparation is already in full swing. In the meantime, she’s focused on deepening her community engagement through mentorship and service.

Her mentorship initiative, Girls Talk Game, supports women pursuing careers in sports media — a field where women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles. Smith hopes to change that.

“I want to be the mentor I didn’t always have,” she said. “A lot of girls don’t know where to start. I want to give them that starting point — to show them they belong.”

Smith brings more than encouragement — she brings experience. A former competitive cheerleader and track athlete, she ran collegiately at San Diego State and the University of Florida, where she earned her master’s degree and was part of an NCAA championship-winning team.

Beyond broadcasting, Smith is currently writing a children’s book titled There’s No One Like Me, inspired by her mother, who developed vitiligo more than a decade ago. The story aims to teach kids about diversity, acceptance, and the beauty in being different.

“She struggled with how people looked at her,” Smith said. “I wanted to create something that helps children understand skin differences and learn not to judge people by appearance.”

In addition to her work at KSN and with Girls Talk Game, Smith also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas, serves as a mentor and "big," and is involved with the Miracle League of Wichita, supporting adaptive sports for youth with disabilities.

“Being Miss Kansas USA isn’t just about the crown,” she said. “It’s about using the platform to serve, to uplift, and to represent the people of this state with pride.”

As she prepares for Miss USA and juggles her roles in sports, service, and storytelling, Smith is focused on one mission: making space for others — particularly women — to follow in her footsteps.

“Pageants and sports might seem like opposites,” she said. “But I’m proof you can love both — and succeed in both.”

If you are interested in Girls Talk Game you can find more information <a href="https://www.instagram.com/girlstalkgame?igsh=MXFqeW5maHQ5cGJwNw%3D%3D&amp;utm_source=qr">here.</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746200742312.jpeg" alt="Asia Cymone Smith - Photo courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Asia Cymone Smith - Photo courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>MARC JACOBS Hutch Post&nbsp;Viewers in Kansas know Aisa Cymone Smith as the dynamic weekend sports anchor and sport reporter for KSN News 3. Most often found on the sidelines of football fields or courtside at basketball games, Smith is now making headlines herself, this time, as Miss Kansas USA 2025.Born and raised in San Diego, Smith has called Wichita home for over two years. Since joining KSN, she’s transitioned from general news into full-time sports, a field where she’s building both her career and a legacy.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746200618081.jpeg" alt="Asia Cymone Smith - Photo Courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Asia Cymone Smith - Photo Courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“Being on the sidelines has been a dream, but now I have the opportunity to stand on a different kind of stage,” Smith said during a recent interview on the BW Morning Show. “Competing for Miss Kansas USA was a way for me to return to my roots in pageantry and amplify my platform for women in sports broadcasting.”Smith has been involved in pageantry since age 12, a pursuit she says built her confidence and prepared her for a life in front of the camera. Although she took a break during college, her recent return led to a state crown and a new mission.“I didn’t compete in a local pageant. I went at-large and chose to represent East Wichita,” she said. “Now, I’ll compete for Miss USA later this year — and if I win that, it’s on to Miss Universe.”The date and location for Miss USA have yet to be announced, but Smith said preparation is already in full swing. In the meantime, she’s focused on deepening her community engagement through mentorship and service.Her mentorship initiative, Girls Talk Game, supports women pursuing careers in sports media — a field where women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles. Smith hopes to change that.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746200567604.png" alt="Girls Talk Game" />
 <figcaption>Girls Talk Game</figcaption>
 </figure>“I want to be the mentor I didn’t always have,” she said. “A lot of girls don’t know where to start. I want to give them that starting point — to show them they belong.”Smith brings more than encouragement — she brings experience. A former competitive cheerleader and track athlete, she ran collegiately at San Diego State and the University of Florida, where she earned her master’s degree and was part of an NCAA championship-winning team.Beyond broadcasting, Smith is currently writing a children’s book titled There’s No One Like Me, inspired by her mother, who developed vitiligo more than a decade ago. The story aims to teach kids about diversity, acceptance, and the beauty in being different.“She struggled with how people looked at her,” Smith said. “I wanted to create something that helps children understand skin differences and learn not to judge people by appearance.”In addition to her work at KSN and with Girls Talk Game, Smith also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas, serves as a mentor and "big," and is involved with the Miracle League of Wichita, supporting adaptive sports for youth with disabilities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746200707128.jpeg" alt="Asia Cymone Smith - Photo courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Asia Cymone Smith - Photo courtesy Will Patterson&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>“Being Miss Kansas USA isn’t just about the crown,” she said. “It’s about using the platform to serve, to uplift, and to represent the people of this state with pride.”As she prepares for Miss USA and juggles her roles in sports, service, and storytelling, Smith is focused on one mission: making space for others — particularly women — to follow in her footsteps.“Pageants and sports might seem like opposites,” she said. “But I’m proof you can love both — and succeed in both.”If you are interested in Girls Talk Game you can find more information <a href="https://www.instagram.com/girlstalkgame?igsh=MXFqeW5maHQ5cGJwNw%3D%3D&amp;utm_source=qr">here.</a>&nbsp;

Aisa Cymone Smith takes on new title as Miss Kansas USA 2025

SALINE COUNTY —An assistant county attorney for Saline County is no longer in custody after his arrest for allegedly driving under the influence.

Just before just after 10a.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; police booked 64-year-old Vance E. White into the Saline County jail.&nbsp; He met the requirement for bond just before 2a.m. Thursday and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

The County Attorney's office still lists White on their web site.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746215715182.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —An assistant county attorney for Saline County is no longer in custody after his arrest for allegedly driving under the influence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746103644232.png" alt="Vance Edward White photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Vance Edward White photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before just after 10a.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; police booked 64-year-old Vance E. White into the Saline County jail.&nbsp; He met the requirement for bond just before 2a.m. Thursday and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.The County Attorney's office still lists White on their web site.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Assistant county attorney no longer in jail after accused of DUI

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

Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter whose witty and poignant writing first attracted widespread attention with the gay-themed song “I Kissed a Girl,” died in a house fire Thursday. She was 66.

Her death was confirmed by her publicist, David Elkin, in an email Thursday afternoon. It was not immediately clear how the fire in Woodbury, Minnesota, started.

“Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture,” John Porter, her manager, said in a statement. “I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client &amp; a friend today. I hope her music, memory, &amp; legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”

During her more than three decades of recording, Sobule released 12 albums that addressed such complex topics as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, reproduction and LGBTQ+ issues.

Her first album, “Things Here Are Different,” was released in 1990. Five years later, she received widespread attention for her hit singles, “Supermodel,” from the movie “Clueless,” and “I Kissed A Girl," which, despite being banned on several southern radio stations, made it into the Billboard Top 20.

She also starred in an autobiographical&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/theater-new-york-music-jill-sobule-01773efc52f448f1a37e94582c7fb996">off-Broadway musical</a>&nbsp;that initially premiered at the Wild Project in New York in 2022 and includes songs and stories about her life.

Sobule was known for taking control of her career by fundraising so she could make her next album. In 2008, after two major record companies dumped her and two indie labels went bankrupt beneath her, she raised tens of thousands of dollars from fans so she could make a new album.

“The old kind of paradigm, where you’ve always waited for other people to do things, you’d have your manager and your agent,” she said at the time. “You’d wait for the big record company to give you money to do things and they tell you what to do. This is so great. I want to do everything like this.”

Sobule was scheduled to perform in Denver on Friday night. Instead, there will be an informal gathering hosted by her friend Ron Bostwick from 105.5 The Colorado Sound at the performance space where attendees can "share a story or song,” according to her publicist.

A formal memorial to celebrate her life and legacy will be held later this summer.

“No one made me laugh more. Her spirit and energy shall be greatly missed within the music community and beyond,” Craig Grossman, her booking agent, said in a statement.

Born in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 16, 1959, she has described herself as a shy child who preferred observing over participating.

Sobule was known for playing dozens of shows a year and has described her live performances as vulnerable experiences. She said she often doesn’t have a set list and wings it.

She's performed with such icons as Neil Young, Billy Bragg and Cyndi Lauper, and also inducted Neil Diamond into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, according to her website. She also sang a song as herself on an episode of “The Simpsons” in 2019.

“In a good way, I feel like I’m still a rookie," she told The Associated Press in 2023 in an interview about her musical. "There’s so much more to do and I haven’t done my best yet.”

She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule, along with her nephews and cousins.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746153279349.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HALLIE%20GOLDEN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HALLIE GOLDEN Associated Press</a>Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter whose witty and poignant writing first attracted widespread attention with the gay-themed song “I Kissed a Girl,” died in a house fire Thursday. She was 66.Her death was confirmed by her publicist, David Elkin, in an email Thursday afternoon. It was not immediately clear how the fire in Woodbury, Minnesota, started.“Jill Sobule was a force of nature and human rights advocate whose music is woven into our culture,” John Porter, her manager, said in a statement. “I was having so much fun working with her. I lost a client &amp; a friend today. I hope her music, memory, &amp; legacy continue to live on and inspire others.”During her more than three decades of recording, Sobule released 12 albums that addressed such complex topics as the death penalty, anorexia nervosa, reproduction and LGBTQ+ issues.Her first album, “Things Here Are Different,” was released in 1990. Five years later, she received widespread attention for her hit singles, “Supermodel,” from the movie “Clueless,” and “I Kissed A Girl," which, despite being banned on several southern radio stations, made it into the Billboard Top 20.She also starred in an autobiographical&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/theater-new-york-music-jill-sobule-01773efc52f448f1a37e94582c7fb996">off-Broadway musical</a>&nbsp;that initially premiered at the Wild Project in New York in 2022 and includes songs and stories about her life.Sobule was known for taking control of her career by fundraising so she could make her next album. In 2008, after two major record companies dumped her and two indie labels went bankrupt beneath her, she raised tens of thousands of dollars from fans so she could make a new album.“The old kind of paradigm, where you’ve always waited for other people to do things, you’d have your manager and your agent,” she said at the time. “You’d wait for the big record company to give you money to do things and they tell you what to do. This is so great. I want to do everything like this.”Sobule was scheduled to perform in Denver on Friday night. Instead, there will be an informal gathering hosted by her friend Ron Bostwick from 105.5 The Colorado Sound at the performance space where attendees can "share a story or song,” according to her publicist.A formal memorial to celebrate her life and legacy will be held later this summer.“No one made me laugh more. Her spirit and energy shall be greatly missed within the music community and beyond,” Craig Grossman, her booking agent, said in a statement.Born in Denver, Colorado, on Jan. 16, 1959, she has described herself as a shy child who preferred observing over participating.Sobule was known for playing dozens of shows a year and has described her live performances as vulnerable experiences. She said she often doesn’t have a set list and wings it.She's performed with such icons as Neil Young, Billy Bragg and Cyndi Lauper, and also inducted Neil Diamond into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, according to her website. She also sang a song as herself on an episode of “The Simpsons” in 2019.“In a good way, I feel like I’m still a rookie," she told The Associated Press in 2023 in an interview about her musical. "There’s so much more to do and I haven’t done my best yet.”She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Ellen Sobule, along with her nephews and cousins.

Jill Sobule, singer-songwriter known for 'I Kissed a Girl,' dies in a fire

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a woman on drug allegations.

Just before 1:30a.m. April 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Corolla on U.S. Highway 75 near 134th Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

Police arrested the back seat passenger, Summer Rose Kennedy-Webb, 27, of Olathe. She was booked into jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, distribute opiate, opium, narcotic, certain stimulant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745845658403.png" alt="Kennedy-Webb -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Kennedy-Webb -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a woman on drug allegations. Just before 1:30a.m. April 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Corolla on U.S. Highway 75 near 134th Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.Police arrested the back seat passenger, Summer Rose Kennedy-Webb, 27, of Olathe. She was booked into jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, distribute opiate, opium, narcotic, certain stimulant and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Back seat passenger jailed after Kansas traffic stop

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect accused in a deadly shooting in the parking lot of a motel in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.

James Owens, 35 of Wichita, was charged with 1st degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 8 p.m. April 25, Wichita Police were in the area of South Topeka and East Indianapolis in Wichita when they heard gunshots nearby, according to Wichita Police Officer Brad Wright.

Officers immediately responded to the area in the 800 block of South Broadway. Upon arrival, officers discovered that 21-year-old Martevion Davis from Wichita had suffered gunshot wounds to his torso and arms. Davis was driven to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 10:46 p.m., according to Wright.

Through investigations, Officers were quickly able to identify Owens as a suspect. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators. At this point in the investigation, it is believed that Davis and Owens were known to each other.

At 12:30 p.m. Saturday Owens turned himself into police custody and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. He is being held on a bond of one-million dollars and is due back in court&nbsp; May 12, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745701616774.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect accused in a deadly shooting in the parking lot of a motel in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case Wednesday.James Owens, 35 of Wichita, was charged with 1st degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 8 p.m. April 25, Wichita Police were in the area of South Topeka and East Indianapolis in Wichita when they heard gunshots nearby, according to Wichita Police Officer Brad Wright.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745750207897.png" alt="Owens photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Owens photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers immediately responded to the area in the 800 block of South Broadway. Upon arrival, officers discovered that 21-year-old Martevion Davis from Wichita had suffered gunshot wounds to his torso and arms. Davis was driven to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 10:46 p.m., according to Wright.Through investigations, Officers were quickly able to identify Owens as a suspect. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators. At this point in the investigation, it is believed that Davis and Owens were known to each other.At 12:30 p.m. Saturday Owens turned himself into police custody and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. He is being held on a bond of one-million dollars and is due back in court&nbsp; May 12, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man who turned himself in for murder appears before a judge

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Police investigating gunfire in Topeka have made an arrest.

Just before 6 p.m., Monday, police responded to the area of SW Huntoon and Lincoln in Topeka on the report of gunshots being fired in the area, according to Police Lt. John Trimble.

 Officers arrived to the area shortly after being dispatched. They located multiple witnesses and victims and took a subject into custody identified&nbsp; as 23-year-old Rajhgerio Guruda Smith.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault,&nbsp;Criminal Discharge of Firearm at Occupied Vehicle, felon in Possession of Firearm, Felony Criminal Damage and Misdemeanor Criminal Damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745952487931.png" alt="Smith photo Shawnee XCounty" />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Shawnee XCounty</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Police investigating gunfire in Topeka have made an arrest.Just before 6 p.m., Monday, police responded to the area of SW Huntoon and Lincoln in Topeka on the report of gunshots being fired in the area, according to Police Lt. John Trimble. Officers arrived to the area shortly after being dispatched. They located multiple witnesses and victims and took a subject into custody identified&nbsp; as 23-year-old Rajhgerio Guruda Smith.&nbsp;&nbsp;He was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Attempted 2nd Degree Murder, Aggravated Assault,&nbsp;Criminal Discharge of Firearm at Occupied Vehicle, felon in Possession of Firearm, Felony Criminal Damage and Misdemeanor Criminal Damage.

Kansas man accused of shooting at vehicle

BRANSON, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Softball got one full game and six innings of another in the books before Mother Nature struck yet again at the KCAC Softball Tournament at the Branson RecPlex.

The eighth-seeded Coyotes dropped the first game of the day to top-seeded Friends 6-2, and got six innings into an elimination contest against Oklahoma Wesleyan before the game was suspended due to weather.

Against Friends, the Coyotes were on the board first as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4ec8787b-2884-4bc1-b50b-55cf6c55806f?elinkdata=26056">Jenna Soule</a> walked and then scored on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6e82eedb-f21c-4787-9f8b-c5232835d438?elinkdata=26056">Trenity Miller's</a> double.

Friends scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of five walks and an error in the inning.

The Coyotes got a run back in the fourth as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/44d2b54c-724c-471f-b3b3-6c8a24a6cb65?elinkdata=26056">Briannah Kutschkau</a> singled and went to second on an error and then scored on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/928ecec5-39f8-4f6f-b7f4-7bf5287c4743?elinkdata=26056">Brooklyn Lange's</a> single to left field.

In the bottom of the fourth, Friends added three more runs to make it 6-2.

Lange had two of KWU's four hits in the game. Starting pitcher <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/358aa6bc-1470-4d83-84a5-d4c4d1704e71?elinkdata=26056">Bella Allen</a> took the loss allowing three unearned runs after issuing five walks in the first inning. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/736e6c8a-9211-47eb-8fdb-11e17370dd94?elinkdata=26056">Alycyn Nash</a> went the rest of the way, allowing three runs on four hits.

Against Oklahoma Wesleyan, the Coyotes were trailing 5-4 when the weather moved in.

KWU had to play from behind allowing OKWU to take a 3-0 lead before the Coyotes cut it to a run at 3-2. OKWU against pushed the lead out to 5-2 in the sixth, but the Coyotes were back within a run in the bottom of the inning before the suspension.

More coverage of game two will be available after its completion.

BRANSON, Mo. - Kansas Wesleyan Softball got one full game and six innings of another in the books before Mother Nature struck yet again at the KCAC Softball Tournament at the Branson RecPlex.The eighth-seeded Coyotes dropped the first game of the day to top-seeded Friends 6-2, and got six innings into an elimination contest against Oklahoma Wesleyan before the game was suspended due to weather.Against Friends, the Coyotes were on the board first as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/4ec8787b-2884-4bc1-b50b-55cf6c55806f?elinkdata=26056">Jenna Soule</a> walked and then scored on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/6e82eedb-f21c-4787-9f8b-c5232835d438?elinkdata=26056">Trenity Miller's</a> double.Friends scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of five walks and an error in the inning.The Coyotes got a run back in the fourth as <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/44d2b54c-724c-471f-b3b3-6c8a24a6cb65?elinkdata=26056">Briannah Kutschkau</a> singled and went to second on an error and then scored on <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/928ecec5-39f8-4f6f-b7f4-7bf5287c4743?elinkdata=26056">Brooklyn Lange's</a> single to left field.In the bottom of the fourth, Friends added three more runs to make it 6-2.Lange had two of KWU's four hits in the game. Starting pitcher <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/358aa6bc-1470-4d83-84a5-d4c4d1704e71?elinkdata=26056">Bella Allen</a> took the loss allowing three unearned runs after issuing five walks in the first inning. <a href="http://kwucoyotes.com/services/go.ashx/736e6c8a-9211-47eb-8fdb-11e17370dd94?elinkdata=26056">Alycyn Nash</a> went the rest of the way, allowing three runs on four hits.Against Oklahoma Wesleyan, the Coyotes were trailing 5-4 when the weather moved in.KWU had to play from behind allowing OKWU to take a 3-0 lead before the Coyotes cut it to a run at 3-2. OKWU against pushed the lead out to 5-2 in the sixth, but the Coyotes were back within a run in the bottom of the inning before the suspension.More coverage of game two will be available after its completion.

🥎 Coyotes fall to Friends in first round, second round game suspended

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Assistant city manager Braxton Copley pleaded with Kansas House members to reject a proposal to end the state’s participation in a tax incentive program shown to be successful in promoting construction or rehabilitation of low-income housing.

Copley, representing the city of Topeka, stood at a microphone in February at the Capitol to address Rep. Sean Tarwater, chairman of the House commerce committee and the sole public proponent of a bill eliminating Kansas’ low-income housing tax credit, or LIHTC, on July 1. Copley wasn’t alone in opposition to the bill. Nearly 40 organizations and individuals offered testimony denouncing details and timing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2119/" target="_blank">House Bill 2119</a>.

“Simply put, government cannot afford to construct and manage a sufficient amount of housing to meet the needs,” Copley said. “Developers are unable and unwilling to construct low-income housing because the low rents will not allow them to achieve a market rate of return. The LIHTC program leverages tax credits to induce private developers to construct affordable housing by providing them a market rate of return.”

In exchange for state and federal tax credits, the affordability of the incentivized housing units was assured for terms of 15 years or 30 years with covenants placed on the real estate.

Copley said undercutting the state’s approach to LIHTC would exacerbate homelessness in communities throughout Kansas.

Tarwater, a Republican from Stilwell, listened as a string of community activists, investors and bankers expanded on Copley’s thesis.

“I must say there are 39 opponents and I’m the only proponent, evidently,” Tarwater said. “This is not fair. You guys are going to need more people.”

Fast forward two months, and Tarwater pushed across the finish line on the final day of the 2025 legislative session the contents of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2289/" target="_blank">House Bill 2289</a>, which included a modified version of the much-maligned HB 2119. Instead of deleting LIHTC in July, the program would survive, on a shorter financial leash, until 2028.

“This is not exactly what we wanted when we set down this road,” Tarwater said. “We took a page out of Ronald Reagan’s book, and we’re going to take what we can get today and fight for the rest tomorrow.”

Tarwater objected to the ultimate cost of a program adding each year to tax credits that had to be honored by the state. Over a 10-year period, for example, the compounding effect of $25 million annual allocations of LIHTC tax credits could result in a state obligation of $250 million. The figure wouldn’t represent a direct expenditure by the state of Kansas, but would reflect the amount of future tax revenue foregone by the state as investors redeemed credits against their state tax liability.

Last week, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed the bundled bill rather than veto the measure and push the issue to the 2026 Legislature.

The new Kansas law set a maximum on the amount of state housing tax credits issued this year at $25 million. In the final three years of LIHTC, only $8.8 million in annual credits would be available from the state for investors in affordable housing.

The law discontinued the state’s LIHTC match for investors receiving the 4% federal low-income housing credit, but retained the state match for developments qualifying for a 9% federal low-income housing credit.

Sen. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, led negotiations on LIHTC legislation for the Senate. He viewed the final bill as a compromise that resulted in a diminished incentive, but provided a window of opportunity to convince lawmakers it should continue.

“This came to us from the House as a complete elimination of the low-income housing tax program,” he said. “Recognizing that there’s also some value to this program, the Senate’s position was to go back in and reduce it by about 70%.”

The program is managed by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, a self-supporting, nonprofit public corporation tasked with helping Kansans gain access to safe, affordable housing.

Emily Sharp, of the state Housing Resource Corporation, said substantial reduction in annual tax credit awards and deletion of the 4% program would diminish the state’s ability to fill wide gaps in housing. There will be a bigger scramble for the remaining credits, she said.

The 2028 sunset to the LIHTC should be concerning to communities struggling to meet housing demand, she said.

She said a 2021 state housing survey was conducted in collaboration with the governor’s Office of Rural Prosperity. The first Kansas assessment of its kind in 30 years showed an acute shortage. It was estimated the state needed to add at least 3,800 units annually, but was falling far below that level.

The National Low-Income Housing Coalition estimated Kansas had a deficit of 50,000 affordable housing units.

“We need more houses,” Sharp said. “Nationwide we’re seeing a shortage of housing. Kansas is no exception.”

In 2022, the Legislature and governor responded with passage of the affordable housing tax credit act that put in place a d0llar-for-dollar match by the state to the federal low-income housing credit.

The objective was to expand the volume of tax credits available to investors. The credits could be sold to generate revenue for construction of housing. The lower debt assumed by developers meant tenants could be offered below-market rental rates.

The state’s rate of housing development through state or federal investment tripled after implementation of the Kansas reform law three years ago. In 2021, state and federal government resources were associated with construction of 1,028 homes in Kansas. In contrast, 6,500 Kansas homes were funded in 2023 and 2024.

Ryan Vincent, executive director of the state Housing Resources Corporation, said the elimination of the state’s tax credit for housing — currently scheduled for 2028 — would mean that Kansas lagged further behind other states dangling lucrative incentives to attract housing investment.

“Eliminating the KAHTC would send a negative message to current and potential investors, signaling that housing development is a risky prospect in our state,” Vincent said. “Potential partners will avoid investing in an uncertain environment.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1746009953371.jpeg" alt="Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from Stilwell, convinced the 2025 Legislature to reduce by two-thirds the amount of state income tax credits available to incentivize construction or rehabilitation of low-income housing statewide. Since 2022, Kansas has used the tax credit to make faster progress on addressing the state's housing shortage and advocates of the credit opposed the cutback touted by Tarwater. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Sean Tarwater, a Republican from Stilwell, convinced the 2025 Legislature to reduce by two-thirds the amount of state income tax credits available to incentivize construction or rehabilitation of low-income housing statewide. Since 2022, Kansas has used the tax credit to make faster progress on addressing the state's housing shortage and advocates of the credit opposed the cutback touted by Tarwater. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Assistant city manager Braxton Copley pleaded with Kansas House members to reject a proposal to end the state’s participation in a tax incentive program shown to be successful in promoting construction or rehabilitation of low-income housing.Copley, representing the city of Topeka, stood at a microphone in February at the Capitol to address Rep. Sean Tarwater, chairman of the House commerce committee and the sole public proponent of a bill eliminating Kansas’ low-income housing tax credit, or LIHTC, on July 1. Copley wasn’t alone in opposition to the bill. Nearly 40 organizations and individuals offered testimony denouncing details and timing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2119/" target="_blank">House Bill 2119</a>.“Simply put, government cannot afford to construct and manage a sufficient amount of housing to meet the needs,” Copley said. “Developers are unable and unwilling to construct low-income housing because the low rents will not allow them to achieve a market rate of return. The LIHTC program leverages tax credits to induce private developers to construct affordable housing by providing them a market rate of return.”In exchange for state and federal tax credits, the affordability of the incentivized housing units was assured for terms of 15 years or 30 years with covenants placed on the real estate.Copley said undercutting the state’s approach to LIHTC would exacerbate homelessness in communities throughout Kansas.Tarwater, a Republican from Stilwell, listened as a string of community activists, investors and bankers expanded on Copley’s thesis.“I must say there are 39 opponents and I’m the only proponent, evidently,” Tarwater said. “This is not fair. You guys are going to need more people.”Fast forward two months, and Tarwater pushed across the finish line on the final day of the 2025 legislative session the contents of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2289/" target="_blank">House Bill 2289</a>, which included a modified version of the much-maligned HB 2119. Instead of deleting LIHTC in July, the program would survive, on a shorter financial leash, until 2028.“This is not exactly what we wanted when we set down this road,” Tarwater said. “We took a page out of Ronald Reagan’s book, and we’re going to take what we can get today and fight for the rest tomorrow.”Tarwater objected to the ultimate cost of a program adding each year to tax credits that had to be honored by the state. Over a 10-year period, for example, the compounding effect of $25 million annual allocations of LIHTC tax credits could result in a state obligation of $250 million. The figure wouldn’t represent a direct expenditure by the state of Kansas, but would reflect the amount of future tax revenue foregone by the state as investors redeemed credits against their state tax liability.Last week, Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signed the bundled bill rather than veto the measure and push the issue to the 2026 Legislature.<h2>Financial haircut</h2>The new Kansas law set a maximum on the amount of state housing tax credits issued this year at $25 million. In the final three years of LIHTC, only $8.8 million in annual credits would be available from the state for investors in affordable housing.The law discontinued the state’s LIHTC match for investors receiving the 4% federal low-income housing credit, but retained the state match for developments qualifying for a 9% federal low-income housing credit.Sen. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, led negotiations on LIHTC legislation for the Senate. He viewed the final bill as a compromise that resulted in a diminished incentive, but provided a window of opportunity to convince lawmakers it should continue.“This came to us from the House as a complete elimination of the low-income housing tax program,” he said. “Recognizing that there’s also some value to this program, the Senate’s position was to go back in and reduce it by about 70%.”The program is managed by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, a self-supporting, nonprofit public corporation tasked with helping Kansans gain access to safe, affordable housing.Emily Sharp, of the state Housing Resource Corporation, said substantial reduction in annual tax credit awards and deletion of the 4% program would diminish the state’s ability to fill wide gaps in housing. There will be a bigger scramble for the remaining credits, she said.The 2028 sunset to the LIHTC should be concerning to communities struggling to meet housing demand, she said.She said a 2021 state housing survey was conducted in collaboration with the governor’s Office of Rural Prosperity. The first Kansas assessment of its kind in 30 years showed an acute shortage. It was estimated the state needed to add at least 3,800 units annually, but was falling far below that level.The National Low-Income Housing Coalition estimated Kansas had a deficit of 50,000 affordable housing units.“We need more houses,” Sharp said. “Nationwide we’re seeing a shortage of housing. Kansas is no exception.”<h2>Evolution of thought</h2>In 2022, the Legislature and governor responded with passage of the affordable housing tax credit act that put in place a d0llar-for-dollar match by the state to the federal low-income housing credit.The objective was to expand the volume of tax credits available to investors. The credits could be sold to generate revenue for construction of housing. The lower debt assumed by developers meant tenants could be offered below-market rental rates.The state’s rate of housing development through state or federal investment tripled after implementation of the Kansas reform law three years ago. In 2021, state and federal government resources were associated with construction of 1,028 homes in Kansas. In contrast, 6,500 Kansas homes were funded in 2023 and 2024.Ryan Vincent, executive director of the state Housing Resources Corporation, said the elimination of the state’s tax credit for housing — currently scheduled for 2028 — would mean that Kansas lagged further behind other states dangling lucrative incentives to attract housing investment.“Eliminating the KAHTC would send a negative message to current and potential investors, signaling that housing development is a risky prospect in our state,” Vincent said. “Potential partners will avoid investing in an uncertain environment.”

Kansas Legislature steps back from terminating popular affordable housing tax credit program

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman arrested in connection with an accidental shooting that injured a 4-year-old girl made her first court appearance on Monday.&nbsp; Judge Shawn Elliott charged 50-year-old Ana Sorto Mejia of Wichita with one count of aggravated endangering a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 2p.m. April 11, police responded to the 2500 block of E. Harry in Wichita following reports of a shooting, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

First responders found a 4-year-old girl who had sustained a single gunshot wound to her lower torso. She was immediately transported to a local hospital with critical injuries, according to Gupilan.

After preliminary investigation, it was found that the child's guardian, identified as Sorto, left a firearm unsecured, allowing the child to access it, resulting in the child unintentionally shooting themselves.&nbsp; 

Late that night, police booked Sorto into the Sedgwick County Jail. She is not longer in custody. She is due back in court May 12.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744469792810.png" alt="Sorto-Mejia -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Sorto-Mejia -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman arrested in connection with an accidental shooting that injured a 4-year-old girl made her first court appearance on Monday.&nbsp; Judge Shawn Elliott charged 50-year-old Ana Sorto Mejia of Wichita with one count of aggravated endangering a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 2p.m. April 11, police responded to the 2500 block of E. Harry in Wichita following reports of a shooting, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.First responders found a 4-year-old girl who had sustained a single gunshot wound to her lower torso. She was immediately transported to a local hospital with critical injuries, according to Gupilan.After preliminary investigation, it was found that the child's guardian, identified as Sorto, left a firearm unsecured, allowing the child to access it, resulting in the child unintentionally shooting themselves.&nbsp; Late that night, police booked Sorto into the Sedgwick County Jail. She is not longer in custody. She is due back in court May 12.

Kan. woman faces judge for accidental shooting of 4-year-old

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A woman accused of driving a stolen vehicle that was involved in a crash that killed a Hutchinson woman is going to prison.

On Monday, Judge Seth Rundle sentenced Katelyn Barrioz, 24 of Wichita, to nearly 20-years in prison.  She was sentenced to 216 months for 2nd degree murder, 7 months for flee and elude, and 7 months for theft with 36 months post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's offce. The judge ordered the sentences run consecutive.

On April 14, Barrioz pled guilty to the charges.

On October 27, police located an occupied stolen vehicle at the Riverwalk Apartments, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. Officers monitored the vehicle using unmarked cars, and air support was requested from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

&nbsp;The vehicle stopped at Walmart, 29th and Rock Road in Wichita. Officers deployed spike strips to prevent the vehicle from leaving, successfully deflating two tires.

Despite this, the suspect later identified as Barrioz, fled the Walmart parking lot, striking a police vehicle.

Officers did not pursue the vehicle, but KHP air support continued to track it from above. The vehicle proceeded to a business on North Webb Road, where two individuals exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

One individual was apprehended, while&nbsp; Barrioz stole the van from the business and fled south on Webb, then west on 29th Street, according to Gupilan.

KHP Air maintained surveillance of the stolen vehicle, which, at 29th and Wilderness, collided with a&nbsp; Chevy Cobalt.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the stolen 2024 Ford Transit Van driven by Barrioz, 24, Wichita, was westbound in the eastbound lanes in the&nbsp;8700 block of E 29th St N in Wichita traveling in the inside lane.

The van struck an eastbound 2010 Chevy Cobalt driven by Mandy Lynn&nbsp;Buckwalter, 43, Hutchinson, head-on.

Buckwalter was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Barrioz to Wesley Medical Center for treatment. She was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail later that week, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730458850794.png" alt="-The red dot from a laser pointer used by Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan shows Barrioz driving the wihite van just before the fatal head-on crash" />
 <figcaption>-The red dot from a laser pointer used by Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan shows Barrioz driving the wihite van just before the fatal head-on crash</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A woman accused of driving a stolen vehicle that was involved in a crash that killed a Hutchinson woman is going to prison.On Monday, Judge Seth Rundle sentenced Katelyn Barrioz, 24 of Wichita, to nearly 20-years in prison. She was sentenced to 216 months for 2nd degree murder, 7 months for flee and elude, and 7 months for theft with 36 months post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's offce. The judge ordered the sentences run consecutive.On April 14, Barrioz pled guilty to the charges.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730284905956.png" alt="Barrioz photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Barrioz photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On October 27, police located an occupied stolen vehicle at the Riverwalk Apartments, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. Officers monitored the vehicle using unmarked cars, and air support was requested from the Kansas Highway Patrol.&nbsp;The vehicle stopped at Walmart, 29th and Rock Road in Wichita. Officers deployed spike strips to prevent the vehicle from leaving, successfully deflating two tires.Despite this, the suspect later identified as Barrioz, fled the Walmart parking lot, striking a police vehicle.Officers did not pursue the vehicle, but KHP air support continued to track it from above. The vehicle proceeded to a business on North Webb Road, where two individuals exited the vehicle and fled on foot.One individual was apprehended, while&nbsp; Barrioz stole the van from the business and fled south on Webb, then west on 29th Street, according to Gupilan.KHP Air maintained surveillance of the stolen vehicle, which, at 29th and Wilderness, collided with a&nbsp; Chevy Cobalt.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the stolen 2024 Ford Transit Van driven by Barrioz, 24, Wichita, was westbound in the eastbound lanes in the&nbsp;8700 block of E 29th St N in Wichita traveling in the inside lane.The van struck an eastbound 2010 Chevy Cobalt driven by Mandy Lynn&nbsp;Buckwalter, 43, Hutchinson, head-on.Buckwalter was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Barrioz to Wesley Medical Center for treatment. She was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail later that week, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

Prison for stolen van crash that killed Kansas woman

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-sedensky">MATT SEDENSKY</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Montgomery used to check the balance on his retirement account once a week and smile. But lately, not wanting to get upset and question if he could retire in a few years, there was only one solution.

“I’m not looking,” says the 66-year-old professor from Huntington Woods, Michigan.

As the White House simultaneously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-timeline-trade-war-trump-canada-mexico-china-a9d714eea677488ef9397547d838dbd0">injects turmoil into financial markets with its trade war</a>&nbsp;and dismisses fears of a downturn, retired and near-retired Americans are anxiously looking on, worried about outliving their savings or having to put off entries on their bucket lists.

Keeping logged off his account has made Montgomery’s days less worrisome. He and his wife adjusted their portfolio after Election Day, including moving more money into bonds. But he’s not sure what more he can do if the entire world economy can be affected by Washington’s decisions.

“I hope like hell I don’t lose all my retirement savings,” he says. “But where else could you put the money that these people could not disorder? They can’t get into your mattress but that’s about it.”

Many experts warned U.S. stocks were overpriced and due for a correction even before President Donald Trump reclaimed the Oval Office. But a historic blanket of tariffs have injected new uncertainty into the market.

Though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-cd30ed61467eee2dc778006fa49924ee">stocks rallied this week</a>, the S&amp;P 500 is down 10% from an all-time high reached in February. Losses in the Nasdaq and among small-cap stocks are steeper. Even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasurys-bond-market-yield-tariff-46b4818710f01b8cc93fd002081167b0">bonds</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dollar-trump-tariffs-trade-safe-haven-china-c108fd36a3122f85872ad34ba5f5d977">the U.S. dollar</a>&nbsp;have been volatile. Many economists are warning of a possible recession.

It has 71-year-old Jeanne Oats Estridge feeling so “paranoid” she called her financial planner with an idea.

“How about we put it all in cash?” Oats Estridge asked.

“I just don’t advise it,” she heard back.

Oats Estridge, who lives in Dayton, Ohio, retired from a job in software engineering and now writes books, including her latest, on four octogenarian women kidnapped by sex-trafficking aliens. Her account is down more than $40,000 and she gets angry thinking about how some in Washington have reacted to the market volatility, including Trump’s recent market assessment that it was “a great time to buy.”

“Where am I supposed to come up with the money to buy? My underwear drawer?” Oats Estridge asks.

Earlier this month, the Cboe Volatility Index, considered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cboe.com/us/indices/dashboard/VIX/" target="_blank">a “fear gauge” of investor pessimism</a>, reached its highest level in five years. The index, known as VIX, has since retreated but is still in territory reflecting fearful investors. Another measure of market sentiment, the Cboe S&amp;P 500 Left Tail Volatility Index, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cboe.com/us/indices/dashboard/LTV/" target="_blank">tracks investor worry about so-called “black swan” events</a>&nbsp;such as the 2008 housing crash that spurred the Great Recession, likewise has backed off from highs but remains elevated.

Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114308258545250117" target="_blank">urged people to “be cool”</a>&nbsp;in assessing the impact of tariffs on their investments. Asked about his own savings earlier this month, he chuckled and replied:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwKczP3nhaY" target="_blank">“I haven’t checked my 401(k).”</a>

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meantime, brushed off the possibility that some might need to delay retiring, saying people&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAsB3uCtEys" target="_blank">“don’t look at the day-to-day fluctuations of what’s happening.”</a>

That seeming nonchalance isn’t sitting well with some older investors.

Peter Rost, 72, retired from his software development job last year and planned to start tapping his retirement savings to supplement Social Security. But he doesn’t want to bake in his losses.

“I’m looking to take $2,000 and meanwhile the account drops by $30,000,” he says.

He’s been through serious downturns before, but those were different.

“I had the time to be patient and let it work its way back,” says Rost, who lives in New Hartford, Connecticut, “but now I’m retired and I need money from that account.”

At his age, he says, there’s one goal: “Make sure I don’t run out of money before I die.”

Americans’ retirement savings totaled about $44 trillion at the end of 2024, according to the Investment Company Institute. The composition of those savings has shifted increasingly toward stocks in the last couple decades as the 401(k) has become employers’ typical offering.

Among fund giant Vanguard’s nearly 5 million accounts, for example, the average investor puts three-quarters of their savings in stocks. Even older investors are still heavily steeped in equities: People 55 to 64 have 64% in stocks at Vanguard; those 65 and older have 49% in stocks.

With that exposure, financial advisers are getting an influx of calls amid the recent market uncertainty.

Tj Binkowski, who runs Narrow Road Financial Planning in Clarksville, Tennessee, says some clients find themselves obsessively checking their accounts and feel the emotional strain of worrying about their money. A downturn, he says, hits an older investor much differently.

“When you’re retired, paper losses aren’t just on paper anymore,” says Binkowski. “You’re locking them in every month that you take money out.”

Paul Duesterhaus, a 68-year-old retiree from Quincy, Illinois, is passing up an IRA withdrawal this year to avoid selling at a low. Instead, the retired manager at an air compressor manufacturing company will put off buying a new car as planned and cut back on things like eating out.

Still, he can’t help but feel bigger impacts of a trade war are ahead.

“I think there’s going to be longer lasting effects that are going to affect every American,” he says.

That angst is more common among older adults than younger people. An April poll by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/immigration-remains-one-of-trumps-strongest-issues/" target="_blank">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;found just under half of U.S. adults ages 45 and older said their retirement savings are a “major” source of stress for them right now, compared to about one-third of younger people. Older Americans were also more likely to say they’re stressed about the stock market.

For now, many older investors are taking the advice of many experts, to fine-tune investments if necessary but avoid dramatic moves. But it can be hard advice to swallow.

“The more things go up and down, the more nervous you get,” says Steve Turner, a 74-year-old from Chesterfield, Missouri, who runs a small public relations business. He now finds himself anxious when he goes to log on to his retirement account, wondering, “Gee, do I want to press the button?”

“You worry that things may work themselves out in the long run, but you don’t have as long,” says Turner. “You’re not 30, you’re not 40, you’re not 50, you’re not even 60.”

Matt Sedensky can be reached at&nbsp;msedensky@ap.org&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/sedensky." target="_blank">https://x.com/sedensky.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="File photo Specialist Patrick King, left, works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (AP Photo/Richard Drew)" />
 <figcaption>File photo Specialist Patrick King, left, works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (AP Photo/Richard Drew)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-sedensky">MATT SEDENSKY</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Montgomery used to check the balance on his retirement account once a week and smile. But lately, not wanting to get upset and question if he could retire in a few years, there was only one solution.“I’m not looking,” says the 66-year-old professor from Huntington Woods, Michigan.As the White House simultaneously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-timeline-trade-war-trump-canada-mexico-china-a9d714eea677488ef9397547d838dbd0">injects turmoil into financial markets with its trade war</a>&nbsp;and dismisses fears of a downturn, retired and near-retired Americans are anxiously looking on, worried about outliving their savings or having to put off entries on their bucket lists.Keeping logged off his account has made Montgomery’s days less worrisome. He and his wife adjusted their portfolio after Election Day, including moving more money into bonds. But he’s not sure what more he can do if the entire world economy can be affected by Washington’s decisions.“I hope like hell I don’t lose all my retirement savings,” he says. “But where else could you put the money that these people could not disorder? They can’t get into your mattress but that’s about it.”Many experts warned U.S. stocks were overpriced and due for a correction even before President Donald Trump reclaimed the Oval Office. But a historic blanket of tariffs have injected new uncertainty into the market.Though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-cd30ed61467eee2dc778006fa49924ee">stocks rallied this week</a>, the S&amp;P 500 is down 10% from an all-time high reached in February. Losses in the Nasdaq and among small-cap stocks are steeper. Even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasurys-bond-market-yield-tariff-46b4818710f01b8cc93fd002081167b0">bonds</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dollar-trump-tariffs-trade-safe-haven-china-c108fd36a3122f85872ad34ba5f5d977">the U.S. dollar</a>&nbsp;have been volatile. Many economists are warning of a possible recession.It has 71-year-old Jeanne Oats Estridge feeling so “paranoid” she called her financial planner with an idea.“How about we put it all in cash?” Oats Estridge asked.“I just don’t advise it,” she heard back.Oats Estridge, who lives in Dayton, Ohio, retired from a job in software engineering and now writes books, including her latest, on four octogenarian women kidnapped by sex-trafficking aliens. Her account is down more than $40,000 and she gets angry thinking about how some in Washington have reacted to the market volatility, including Trump’s recent market assessment that it was “a great time to buy.”“Where am I supposed to come up with the money to buy? My underwear drawer?” Oats Estridge asks.Earlier this month, the Cboe Volatility Index, considered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cboe.com/us/indices/dashboard/VIX/" target="_blank">a “fear gauge” of investor pessimism</a>, reached its highest level in five years. The index, known as VIX, has since retreated but is still in territory reflecting fearful investors. Another measure of market sentiment, the Cboe S&amp;P 500 Left Tail Volatility Index, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cboe.com/us/indices/dashboard/LTV/" target="_blank">tracks investor worry about so-called “black swan” events</a>&nbsp;such as the 2008 housing crash that spurred the Great Recession, likewise has backed off from highs but remains elevated.Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/114308258545250117" target="_blank">urged people to “be cool”</a>&nbsp;in assessing the impact of tariffs on their investments. Asked about his own savings earlier this month, he chuckled and replied:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwKczP3nhaY" target="_blank">“I haven’t checked my 401(k).”</a>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, meantime, brushed off the possibility that some might need to delay retiring, saying people&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAsB3uCtEys" target="_blank">“don’t look at the day-to-day fluctuations of what’s happening.”</a>That seeming nonchalance isn’t sitting well with some older investors.Peter Rost, 72, retired from his software development job last year and planned to start tapping his retirement savings to supplement Social Security. But he doesn’t want to bake in his losses.“I’m looking to take $2,000 and meanwhile the account drops by $30,000,” he says.He’s been through serious downturns before, but those were different.“I had the time to be patient and let it work its way back,” says Rost, who lives in New Hartford, Connecticut, “but now I’m retired and I need money from that account.”At his age, he says, there’s one goal: “Make sure I don’t run out of money before I die.”Americans’ retirement savings totaled about $44 trillion at the end of 2024, according to the Investment Company Institute. The composition of those savings has shifted increasingly toward stocks in the last couple decades as the 401(k) has become employers’ typical offering.Among fund giant Vanguard’s nearly 5 million accounts, for example, the average investor puts three-quarters of their savings in stocks. Even older investors are still heavily steeped in equities: People 55 to 64 have 64% in stocks at Vanguard; those 65 and older have 49% in stocks.With that exposure, financial advisers are getting an influx of calls amid the recent market uncertainty.Tj Binkowski, who runs Narrow Road Financial Planning in Clarksville, Tennessee, says some clients find themselves obsessively checking their accounts and feel the emotional strain of worrying about their money. A downturn, he says, hits an older investor much differently.“When you’re retired, paper losses aren’t just on paper anymore,” says Binkowski. “You’re locking them in every month that you take money out.”Paul Duesterhaus, a 68-year-old retiree from Quincy, Illinois, is passing up an IRA withdrawal this year to avoid selling at a low. Instead, the retired manager at an air compressor manufacturing company will put off buying a new car as planned and cut back on things like eating out.Still, he can’t help but feel bigger impacts of a trade war are ahead.“I think there’s going to be longer lasting effects that are going to affect every American,” he says.That angst is more common among older adults than younger people. An April poll by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/projects/immigration-remains-one-of-trumps-strongest-issues/" target="_blank">The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research</a>&nbsp;found just under half of U.S. adults ages 45 and older said their retirement savings are a “major” source of stress for them right now, compared to about one-third of younger people. Older Americans were also more likely to say they’re stressed about the stock market.For now, many older investors are taking the advice of many experts, to fine-tune investments if necessary but avoid dramatic moves. But it can be hard advice to swallow.“The more things go up and down, the more nervous you get,” says Steve Turner, a 74-year-old from Chesterfield, Missouri, who runs a small public relations business. He now finds himself anxious when he goes to log on to his retirement account, wondering, “Gee, do I want to press the button?”“You worry that things may work themselves out in the long run, but you don’t have as long,” says Turner. “You’re not 30, you’re not 40, you’re not 50, you’re not even 60.”___Matt Sedensky can be reached at&nbsp;msedensky@ap.org&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/sedensky." target="_blank">https://x.com/sedensky.</a>

Market turmoil has many afraid to check retirement savings

Rolling Hills Zoo proudly hosted a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on April 26th for the new Drawings by Trent Family Room in honor of Trent Landreth. The event took place just south of the Overlook Restaurant, in the basement of Safari Station. Following the ribbon cutting, guests were able to meet Trent and attend a book signing in the Wildlife Museum lobby.

The Drawings by Trent Family Room is a thoughtfully designed space that prioritizes care and inclusivity. This quiet, sensory-friendly room offers a peaceful retreat for individuals and families who may experience sensory overload, providing a controlled environment to decompress and relax. In addition, the room will serve as a private lactation space for mothers who are breastfeeding or pumping.

Named in honor of Trent Landreth, the gifted artist behind Drawings by Trent, the Family Room features his remarkable animal artwork, creating a calming and welcoming atmosphere.

Trent, born in 1997 and diagnosed with classic autism at the age of two, discovered his passion for drawing as soon as he could hold a pen. Despite facing communication challenges, Trent expresses himself through his extraordinary animal illustrations. Because he does not part with his original drawings, a limited number of prints have been made available, allowing others to enjoy his unique and captivating art.

Drawings by Trent is dedicated to encourage families to help their children reach their full potential, educating communities on the value of individuals of all abilities, and inspiring everyone to recognize and utilize their own talents. By supporting Trent’s artwork, individuals not only celebrate his talent but also provide hope to families with similar experiences.

The Rolling Hills Zoo is honored to partner with Drawings by Trent to bring this meaningful space to life, reinforcing the zoo’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility for all visitors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745696102565.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedRolling Hills Zoo proudly hosted a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on April 26th for the new Drawings by Trent Family Room in honor of Trent Landreth. The event took place just south of the Overlook Restaurant, in the basement of Safari Station. Following the ribbon cutting, guests were able to meet Trent and attend a book signing in the Wildlife Museum lobby.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745696225734.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Drawings by Trent Family Room is a thoughtfully designed space that prioritizes care and inclusivity. This quiet, sensory-friendly room offers a peaceful retreat for individuals and families who may experience sensory overload, providing a controlled environment to decompress and relax. In addition, the room will serve as a private lactation space for mothers who are breastfeeding or pumping.Named in honor of Trent Landreth, the gifted artist behind Drawings by Trent, the Family Room features his remarkable animal artwork, creating a calming and welcoming atmosphere.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745696341199.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trent, born in 1997 and diagnosed with classic autism at the age of two, discovered his passion for drawing as soon as he could hold a pen. Despite facing communication challenges, Trent expresses himself through his extraordinary animal illustrations. Because he does not part with his original drawings, a limited number of prints have been made available, allowing others to enjoy his unique and captivating art.Drawings by Trent is dedicated to encourage families to help their children reach their full potential, educating communities on the value of individuals of all abilities, and inspiring everyone to recognize and utilize their own talents. By supporting Trent’s artwork, individuals not only celebrate his talent but also provide hope to families with similar experiences.The Rolling Hills Zoo is honored to partner with Drawings by Trent to bring this meaningful space to life, reinforcing the zoo’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility for all visitors.

Rolling Hills Zoo celebrates opening of the  drawings by Trent Family Room

WICHITA, KS&nbsp;— On April 25, 2025, at 8:07 pm, Wichita Police were in the area of South Topeka and East Indianapolis in Wichita when they heard gunshots nearby, according to Wichita Police Officer Brad Wright.

Through investigations, Officers were quickly able to identify a 35-year-old male of Wichita as the suspect. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators. At this point in the investigation, it is believed that Davis and the suspect were known to each other.

At 12:30 p.m. Saturday the 35-year-old male suspect identified as James Owens, according to county arrest records, turned himself into police custody and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of First Degree Murder. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745701616774.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KS&nbsp;— On April 25, 2025, at 8:07 pm, Wichita Police were in the area of South Topeka and East Indianapolis in Wichita when they heard gunshots nearby, according to Wichita Police Officer Brad Wright.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745750207897.png" alt="Owens photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Owens photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers immediately responded to the area in the 800 block of South Broadway. Upon arrival, officers discovered that 21-year-old Martevion Davis from Wichita had suffered gunshot wounds to his torso and arms. Davis was driven to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 10:46 p.m., according to Wright.Through investigations, Officers were quickly able to identify a 35-year-old male of Wichita as the suspect. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators. At this point in the investigation, it is believed that Davis and the suspect were known to each other.At 12:30 p.m. Saturday the 35-year-old male suspect identified as James Owens, according to county arrest records, turned himself into police custody and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of First Degree Murder.

Suspect in deadly Kan. motel shooting turns himself in to police

NEW YORK (AP) — When Random House Publisher Andrew Ward met recently with staff editors to discuss potential book projects, conversation inevitably turned to current events and the Trump administration.

“It seemed obvious that we needed to look back to the country’s core documents,” Ward said. “And that we wanted to get them out quickly.”

On Wednesday, Random House announced that it would publish a hardcover book in July combining the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript" target="_blank">Declaration of Independence</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution" target="_blank">U.S. Constitution,</a>&nbsp;followed in November by a hardcover edition of&nbsp;<a href="https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/full-text" target="_blank">the Federalist Papers.</a>&nbsp;Both books include introductions by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jon-meacham-garry-wills-sidney-blumenthal-rick-atkinson-3ba9340ab66b4bf47ce1c87181933e93">Jon Meacham</a>, who has written biographies of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson among others.

The Random House volumes, released through its Modern Library imprint, will join a prolific market that has surged in recent months. According to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print retail market, editions of the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and the U.S. Constitution are selling at their fastest pace since Circana began compiling numbers in 2004.

Around 162,000 combined copies have sold through mid-April, compared to 58,000 during the same time period the year before and around 33,000 in 2023. Sales were around 92,000 in the early months of Trump’s first term, in 2017, more than double the pace of 2016.

Brenna Connor, a book industry analyst for Circana, said the jump “is likely in response to the recent change of administration” and cited increased interest in other books about democracy and government, among them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5efc9984e90841c7991656de8a235874">Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny”</a>&nbsp;and the Michael Lewis-edited “Who Is Government?” a collection of essays about civil servants by Dave Eggers, Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Vowell and others.

“This pursual of political understanding is playing out in a few different areas,” Connor added.

Meacham, during a recent phone interview with The Associated Press, said that the founders had sought to make sense of a revolutionary era — whether breaking with England or debating how to form a federal government with enough power to rule effectively, without giving it the kind of monarchical authority that enraged the colonies.

Reading the Declaration and other texts, he believes, can give today’s public a similar sense of mission and guiding principles.

“It is a tumultuous moment ... to put it kindly,” Meacham said. “One way to address the chaos of the present time, what Saint Paul would call the ‘tribulations’ of the present time, is to re-engage with the essential texts that are about creating a system that is still worth defending.”

The Modern Library books will have many competitors. The 18th century documents all are in the public domain, can be read for free online and anyone can publish them. According to Circana, popular editions have been released by Skyhorse, Penguin, Barnes &amp; Noble and others.

“We generally see increased sales of editions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution every election cycle, but particularly this year,” said Shannon DeVito, Barnes &amp; Noble’s senior director of book strategy. “This could be because next year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” she said, “or the fast and furious current political conversations and policy changes.”

By&nbsp;Hillel ItalieNEW YORK (AP) — When Random House Publisher Andrew Ward met recently with staff editors to discuss potential book projects, conversation inevitably turned to current events and the Trump administration.“It seemed obvious that we needed to look back to the country’s core documents,” Ward said. “And that we wanted to get them out quickly.”On Wednesday, Random House announced that it would publish a hardcover book in July combining the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript" target="_blank">Declaration of Independence</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution" target="_blank">U.S. Constitution,</a>&nbsp;followed in November by a hardcover edition of&nbsp;<a href="https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/full-text" target="_blank">the Federalist Papers.</a>&nbsp;Both books include introductions by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jon-meacham-garry-wills-sidney-blumenthal-rick-atkinson-3ba9340ab66b4bf47ce1c87181933e93">Jon Meacham</a>, who has written biographies of Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson among others.The Random House volumes, released through its Modern Library imprint, will join a prolific market that has surged in recent months. According to Circana, which tracks around 85% of the print retail market, editions of the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers and the U.S. Constitution are selling at their fastest pace since Circana began compiling numbers in 2004.Around 162,000 combined copies have sold through mid-April, compared to 58,000 during the same time period the year before and around 33,000 in 2023. Sales were around 92,000 in the early months of Trump’s first term, in 2017, more than double the pace of 2016.Brenna Connor, a book industry analyst for Circana, said the jump “is likely in response to the recent change of administration” and cited increased interest in other books about democracy and government, among them&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5efc9984e90841c7991656de8a235874">Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny”</a>&nbsp;and the Michael Lewis-edited “Who Is Government?” a collection of essays about civil servants by Dave Eggers, Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Vowell and others.“This pursual of political understanding is playing out in a few different areas,” Connor added.Meacham, during a recent phone interview with The Associated Press, said that the founders had sought to make sense of a revolutionary era — whether breaking with England or debating how to form a federal government with enough power to rule effectively, without giving it the kind of monarchical authority that enraged the colonies.Reading the Declaration and other texts, he believes, can give today’s public a similar sense of mission and guiding principles.“It is a tumultuous moment ... to put it kindly,” Meacham said. “One way to address the chaos of the present time, what Saint Paul would call the ‘tribulations’ of the present time, is to re-engage with the essential texts that are about creating a system that is still worth defending.”The Modern Library books will have many competitors. The 18th century documents all are in the public domain, can be read for free online and anyone can publish them. According to Circana, popular editions have been released by Skyhorse, Penguin, Barnes &amp; Noble and others.“We generally see increased sales of editions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution every election cycle, but particularly this year,” said Shannon DeVito, Barnes &amp; Noble’s senior director of book strategy. “This could be because next year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence,” she said, “or the fast and furious current political conversations and policy changes.”<figure>
 <img src="https://choices.trustarc.com/get?name=admarker-full-tl.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>

Publishers see surging interest in the US Constitution and print new editions

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you “enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal.”

It implies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-funeral-burial-rites-rituals-2eb13a689d09d3403f08027081fe3753">the sacred and secretive process</a>&nbsp;is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christ’s Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745282603542.png" alt="Cardinal Robert Sarah courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Cardinal Robert Sarah courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) — A popular saying in Vatican circles is that if you “enter a conclave as pope, you leave as a cardinal.”It implies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-funeral-burial-rites-rituals-2eb13a689d09d3403f08027081fe3753">the sacred and secretive process</a>&nbsp;is no popularity contest or campaign, but rather the divinely inspired election of Christ’s Vicar on Earth by the princes of the church.Still, there are always front-runners, known as “papabile,” who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope — much like those depicted in last year’s Oscar-nominated film “Conclave.”Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under age 80 and thus eligible to participate.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">Pope Francis, who died Monday</a>, appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture.Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Jorge Mario Bergoglio</a>&nbsp;was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at age 76, and that Karol Wojtyla wasn’t on any front-runner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II.Erdo, 72, the archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary, was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011, suggesting he enjoys the esteem of European cardinals who make up the biggest voting bloc of electors. In that capacity, Erdo got to know many African cardinals because the council hosts regular sessions with African bishops’ conferences. Erdo had even more exposure when he helped organize Francis’ 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family and delivered key speeches, as well as during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-hungary-visit-orban-ukraine-5d35e834ebac80ec14840fa90071af95">papal visits to Budapest</a>&nbsp;in 2021 and 2023.<h2>Cardinal Reinhard Marx</h2>Marx, 71, the archbishop of Munich and Freising, was chosen by Francis as a key adviser in 2013. Marx later was named to head the council overseeing Vatican finances during reforms and belt-tightening. The former president of the German bishops’ conference was a strong proponent of the controversial “synodal path” process of dialogue in the German church that began in 2020 as a response to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-germany-europe-munich-f3f500a1c2a399392e3de82f0c66fcb1">clergy sexual abuse scandal</a>&nbsp;there. As a result, he is viewed with skepticism by conservatives who considered the process a threat to church unity, given it involved debating issues such as celibacy, homosexuality and women’s ordination.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-religion-f654bfd0f9c79f4b484cad45067cb466">Marx made headlines in 2021</a>&nbsp;when he dramatically offered to resign as archbishop to atone for the German church’s dreadful abuse record, but Francis quickly rejected the resignation and told him to stay.<h2>Cardinal Marc Ouellet</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/international-news-general-news-0c06487fa77a4fc7b9e657502c50a9a3">Ouellet</a>, 80, of Canada, led the Vatican’s influential bishops office for over a decade, overseeing the key clearinghouse for potential candidates to head dioceses around the world. Francis kept Ouellet in the job until 2023, even though he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and thus helped select the more doctrinaire bishops preferred by the German pontiff. Considered more of a conservative than Francis, Ouellet still selected pastorally minded bishops to reflect Francis’ belief that bishops should “smell like the sheep” of their flock. Ouellet defended priestly celibacy for the Latin Rite church and upheld the ban on women’s ordination but called for women to have a greater role in church governance. He has good contacts with the Latin American church, having headed the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for Latin America for over a decade. Since 2019, his office has taken charge of investigating bishops accused of covering up for predator priests, a job that would have made him no friends among those sanctioned but also could have given him lots of otherwise confidential and possibly compromising information about fellow cardinals.<h2>Cardinal Pietro Parolin</h2>Parolin, 70, of Italy, has been Francis’ secretary of state since 2014 and is considered one of the main contenders to be pope, given his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy. The veteran diplomat oversaw the Holy See’s controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ef4b6dba09774c7bb51ecf147c3b8a15">deal with China over bishop nominations</a>&nbsp;and was involved -- but not charged -- in the Vatican’s botched investment in a London real estate venture that led to a 2021 trial of another cardinal and nine others. A former ambassador to Venezuela, Parolin knows the Latin American church well. He would be seen as someone who would continue in Francis’ tradition but as a more sober and timid diplomatic insider, returning an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St. John Paul II (Poland); Benedict (Germany) and Francis (Argentina). But while Parolin has managed the Vatican bureaucracy, he has no real pastoral experience. His ties to the London scandal, in which his office lost of tens of millions of dollars to bad deals and shady businessmen, could count against him.<h2>Cardinal Robert Prevost</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745282817865.png" alt="Cardinal Robert Prevost-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Cardinal Robert Prevost-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The idea of an American pope has long been taboo, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States. But the Chicago-born Prevost, 69, could be a first. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop, and he is currently prefect of the Vatican’s powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years and sent him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role. Prevost is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a job that keeps him in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that still counts the most Catholics. In addition to his nationality, Prevost’s comparative youth could count against him if his brother cardinals don’t want to commit to a pope who might reign for another two decades.<h2>Cardinal Robert Sarah</h2>Sarah, 79, of Guinea, the retired head of the Vatican’s liturgy office, was long considered the best hope for an African pope. Beloved by conservatives, Sarah would signal a return to the doctrinaire and liturgically minded papacies of John Paul II and Benedict. Sarah, who had previously headed the Vatican’s charity office Cor Unum, clashed on several occasions with Francis, none more seriously than when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0967d5598e4c36a34b3f5babc5ebde87">he and Benedict co-authored a book</a>&nbsp;advocating the “necessity” of continued celibacy for Latin Rite priests. The book came out as Francis was weighing whether to allow married priests in the Amazon to address a priest shortage there. The implication was that Sarah had manipulated Benedict into lending his name and moral authority to a book that had all the appearances of being a counterweight to the Francis’ own teaching. Francis dismissed Benedict’s secretary and several months later retired Sarah after he turned 75. Even Sarah’s supporters lamented the episode hurt his papal chances.<h2>Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn</h2>Schoenborn, 80, the archbishop of Vienna, Austria, was a student of Benedict’s, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives. However, he became associated with one of Francis’ most controversial moves by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-b67e0b339b9d46fab29cb0ef642d5ed7">defending his outreach</a>&nbsp;to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics as an “organic development of doctrine,” not the rupture that some conservatives contended. Schoenborn’s parents divorced when he was a teen, so the issue is personal. He also took heat from the Vatican when he criticized its past refusal to sanction high-ranking sexual abusers, including his predecessor as archbishop of Vienna. Schoenborn has expressed support for civil unions and women as deacons, and was instrumental in editing the 1992 update of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the handbook of the church’s teaching that Benedict had spearheaded when he headed the Vatican’s doctrine office.<h2>Cardinal Luis Tagle</h2>Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, would appear to be Francis’ pick for the first Asian pope. Francis brought the popular archbishop of Manila to Rome to head the Vatican’s missionary evangelization office, which serves the needs of the Catholic Church in much of Asia and Africa. His role took on greater weight when Francis reformed the Vatican bureaucracy and raised the importance of his evangelization office. Tagle often cites his Chinese lineage – his maternal grandmother was part of a Chinese family that moved to the Philippines -- and he is known for becoming emotional when discussing his childhood. Though he has pastoral, Vatican and management experience -- he headed the Vatican’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-caritas-charity-abuse-pope-a727f8b842b193b56059ab31278ce675">Caritas Internationalis</a>&nbsp;federation of charity groups before coming to Rome permanently -- Tagle would be on the young side to be elected pope for life, with cardinals perhaps preferring an older candidate whose papacy would be more limited.<h2>Cardinal Matteo Zuppi</h2>Zuppi, 69, the archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops conference, elected in 2022, is closely affiliated with the Sant’Egidio Community, a Rome-based Catholic charity that was influential under Francis, particularly in interfaith dialogue. Zuppi was part of Sant’Egidio’s team that helped negotiate the end of Mozambique’s civil war in the 1990s and was named Francis’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-ukraine-pope-0e9ee7e7c9b26b4fa3da2dbebf7b5dfc">peace envoy</a>&nbsp;for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Francis made him a cardinal in 2019 and later made clear he wanted him in charge of Italy’s bishops, a sign of his admiration for the prelate who, like Francis, is known as a “street priest.” In another sign of his progressive leanings and closeness to Francis, Zuppi wrote the introduction to the Italian edition of “Building a Bridge,” by the Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit, about the church’s need to improve its outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. Zuppi would be a candidate in Francis’ tradition of ministering to those on the margins, although his relative youth would count against him for cardinals seeking a short papacy. His family had strong institutional ties: Zuppi’s father worked for the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, and his mother was the niece of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, dean of the College of Cardinals in the 1960s and 1970s.