KANSAS CITY —One person died in shooting at a restaurant in Kansas City.

Just&nbsp;after 8p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at a restaurant at 31st and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders located two shooting victims inside the restaurant, one of the victims was alert and responsive, the second victim was unresponsive.&nbsp;

Officers rendered aid and called for EMS to the scene.&nbsp;EMS transported one vicim to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, he was last listed in stable condition, according to Becchina.

EMS took over treatment of the second, unresponsive victim and ultimately declared him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene and took over the investigation.&nbsp;

Preliminary information indicates that one or more people were inside the restaurant when an interaction between multiple people escalated to gunfire. That gunfire struck both victims. The suspect or suspects then left the restaurant in an unknown direction.&nbsp;

If anyone was in the restaurant or nearby and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1769955887917.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —One person died in shooting at a restaurant in Kansas City.Just&nbsp;after 8p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at a restaurant at 31st and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.First responders located two shooting victims inside the restaurant, one of the victims was alert and responsive, the second victim was unresponsive.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1769955867317.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Officers rendered aid and called for EMS to the scene.&nbsp;EMS transported one vicim to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, he was last listed in stable condition, according to Becchina.EMS took over treatment of the second, unresponsive victim and ultimately declared him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene and took over the investigation.&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates that one or more people were inside the restaurant when an interaction between multiple people escalated to gunfire. That gunfire struck both victims. The suspect or suspects then left the restaurant in an unknown direction.&nbsp;If anyone was in the restaurant or nearby and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

One dead, another wounded in KC restaurant shooting

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/moriah-balingit">MORIAH BALINGIT</a> Associated Press

As a continuation of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s pitch to Americans on affordability and the economy under his administration, the U.S. Treasury and White House are celebrating the upcoming launch of a program they view as a key milestone: Trump Accounts.

A provision of Trump’s tax legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-bonds-trump-child-poverty-8503180dc5c57a2f20dd59d7ece01d6a">Trump Accounts</a>&nbsp;are meant to give $1,000 to every newborn, so long as their parents open an account. That money is then invested in the stock market by private firms, and the child can access the money when they turn 18.

A U.S. Treasury event Wednesday brought together an assortment of politicians and celebrities — from Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to rapper Nicki Minaj and NBC’s “Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary — to discuss the program and its potential impact on the economy. Backers of Trump Accounts have said they’re a way to help children from low-income households build wealth.

The investments will put money “in the hands of young Americans who otherwise have really started out with nothing,” Trump said. He also called on employers across the country to make matching Trump Accounts contributions for employee benefits, as some companies have already pledged to do so.

“Every president in modern history has left our children with nothing but debt,” Trump said. “But under this administration, we’re going to leave every child with real assets and a shot at financial freedom.”

Here’s what you need to know about Trump Accounts and how to claim them.

It’s a new savings tool where money is invested in the stock market on behalf of a child. The child can’t access the money until they turn 18 and can only use it for specific purposes, such as paying tuition, starting a business or making a down payment on a home.

After a parent opens an account, the U.S. Treasury will contribute $1,000 for newborns. Private banks and brokerages will manage the money, which must be invested in U.S. equity index funds that track the stock market and charge the accounts no more than 0.10% in annual fees.

Parents can contribute up to $2,500 annually in pretax income, much like they do for retirement accounts. Parents’ employers, relatives, friends, local governments and philanthropic groups can also pitch in. Yearly contributions are capped at $5,000, but contributions from governments and charities don’t count toward that total.

“We’re doing something much better than giving the next generation a handout,” Trump said. “We’re giving them ownership of America’s future.”

As part of the initiative’s launch, parents of older children are also encouraged to open accounts, but they won’t get the $1,000 bonus. That money is reserved for babies born during the calendar years of the Trump administration.

To qualify for the $1,000 seed money, a baby must be a U.S. citizen, have a Social Security number and be born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. Any parent can open an account for a qualifying child, regardless of the parent’s immigration status.

It’s important to note that the child won’t be able to access the money until they turn 18, except in rare circumstances, so it can’t help with immediate expenses. And disbursements from the accounts will be subject to taxes.

Can older kids get any bonuses for their Trump Account?

Some can, thanks to contributions from some of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.

In December, billionaires Michael and Susan Dell announced a $6.25 billion donation that will allow some children who are 10 and under to receive $250 in seed money if their parents open an account. That money is reserved for kids who live in ZIP codes with a median family income of $150,000 or less and who won’t get the $1,000 seed money from the Treasury.

A few weeks later, hedge fund founder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-accounts-ray-dalio-086e4ec76806711d88c6499961c37e71">Ray Dalio and his wife Barbara pledged $75 million</a>&nbsp;for kids under 10 in Connecticut, where Dalio lives. That would amount to $250 for 300,000 children in qualifying ZIP codes.

At Wednesday’s event, Trump announced another pledge from investor Brad Gerstner to donate $250 into Trump Accounts for every child under 5 in Indiana.

Several major companies also plan to add Trump Accounts contributions to their benefits packages, including Uber, Intel, IBM, Nvidia and Steak ‘n Shake. The administration has encouraged such donations through what U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls the “50 State Challenge.”

How do I open a Trump Account for my kids?

The accounts won’t be open for contributions until July 2026, but parents of eligible kids can sign up using Form 4547 from the Internal Revenue Service. Parents can fill out the form when filing taxes this year or when the administration opens an online portal this summer, according to the Trump Accounts website.

Registering for a Trump Account is required for a child to receive the money. In May, parents who sign up will get information about how to finish opening the accounts.

Backers of the accounts say they want to introduce more people to the stock market and give even children born into poverty a chance to benefit from it. Supporters also say the accounts bolster capitalism at a time when openly socialist candidates are growing more popular.

“The answer to more socialism is more capitalism,” Gerstner said at Wednesday’s event. “This makes every child in America a capitalist from birth.”

About 58% of U.S. households held stocks or bonds in 2022, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, though the wealthiest 1% owned almost half the value of stocks in that same year.

Before Trump created the accounts, California, Connecticut and the District of Columbia were piloting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-education-b365606b5c5433aa0f5febac0b2ae2d6">“baby bonds” programs</a>&nbsp;that are similar to Trump Accounts in some ways. Several other states, including Maryland, are weighing programs.

But those programs are targeted for youth growing up in poverty or foster care, plus children who lost a parent to COVID-19. Wealthier children don’t benefit. They’re also managed by the state, not private investment firms.

Critics point out the accounts do little to help children in their early years, when they’re most vulnerable and most likely to be in poverty. The accounts, they say, also fail to offset cuts the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have made to other programs that benefit young people and their families, including food assistance and Medicaid. Republicans created the accounts in the same Trump tax bill that reduced spending for some of those programs.

And even with the contribution from the government, critics say the Trump Accounts will widen the wealth gap. Affluent families that can afford to make the maximum pretax contribution to the accounts will realize the greatest benefits. Poor families who can’t afford to set aside money for the accounts will benefit the least. Assuming a 7% return, the $1,000 in seed money would grow to roughly $3,570 over 18 years.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769636019017.png" alt="President Donald Trump celebrates the launch of “Trump Accounts” for newborn children. During the summit, President Trump was joined by rapper Nicki Minaj, who proclaimed herself “his number one fan.”-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Donald Trump celebrates the launch of “Trump Accounts” for newborn children. During the summit, President Trump was joined by rapper Nicki Minaj, who proclaimed herself “his number one fan.”-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/moriah-balingit">MORIAH BALINGIT</a> Associated PressAs a continuation of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s pitch to Americans on affordability and the economy under his administration, the U.S. Treasury and White House are celebrating the upcoming launch of a program they view as a key milestone: Trump Accounts.A provision of Trump’s tax legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-bonds-trump-child-poverty-8503180dc5c57a2f20dd59d7ece01d6a">Trump Accounts</a>&nbsp;are meant to give $1,000 to every newborn, so long as their parents open an account. That money is then invested in the stock market by private firms, and the child can access the money when they turn 18.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpAccounts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TrumpAccounts</a>: &quot;Every President in modern history has left our children with nothing but debt — but under this Administration, we&#39;re going to leave every child with real assets and a shot at financial freedom.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/FG9YkGWk56">pic.twitter.com/FG9YkGWk56</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016548765159608437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: Dozens of major employers have signed up to add <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpAccounts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TrumpAccounts</a> contributions to their employee benefit packages — including Uber, Schwab, Charter, Intel, Nvidia, Broadcom, IBM, Steak &#39;n Shake, Coinbase, Continental Resources, Comcast, and many others. <a href="https://t.co/U2a0o1CKtK">pic.twitter.com/U2a0o1CKtK</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016554283630579843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/NICKIMINAJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NICKIMINAJ</a>: &quot;I am probably <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#39; number one fan, and that’s not going to change... We&#39;re not going to let them get away with bullying him, and the smear campaigns... He has a lot of force behind him, and God is protecting him.&quot; ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/kQaNgCx4eO">https://t.co/kQaNgCx4eO</a> <a href="https://t.co/jUAZlwbIOW">pic.twitter.com/jUAZlwbIOW</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016553004220964978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on Trump Accounts: &quot;For the first time ever, we&#39;re going to give every newborn American child a financial stake in the future, a head start at life, and a fair shot at the American Dream.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Kw1RaFg5BL">pic.twitter.com/Kw1RaFg5BL</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016546217237369225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A U.S. Treasury event Wednesday brought together an assortment of politicians and celebrities — from Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to rapper Nicki Minaj and NBC’s “Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary — to discuss the program and its potential impact on the economy. Backers of Trump Accounts have said they’re a way to help children from low-income households build wealth.The investments will put money “in the hands of young Americans who otherwise have really started out with nothing,” Trump said. He also called on employers across the country to make matching Trump Accounts contributions for employee benefits, as some companies have already pledged to do so.“Every president in modern history has left our children with nothing but debt,” Trump said. “But under this administration, we’re going to leave every child with real assets and a shot at financial freedom.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Learn more about how to sign your child up for a Trump Account here: <a href="https://t.co/rixXn1KZXa">https://t.co/rixXn1KZXa</a> <a href="https://t.co/lVDVvMjVHa">pic.twitter.com/lVDVvMjVHa</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2016569055897874915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here’s what you need to know about Trump Accounts and how to claim them.<h2>What is a Trump Account?</h2>It’s a new savings tool where money is invested in the stock market on behalf of a child. The child can’t access the money until they turn 18 and can only use it for specific purposes, such as paying tuition, starting a business or making a down payment on a home.After a parent opens an account, the U.S. Treasury will contribute $1,000 for newborns. Private banks and brokerages will manage the money, which must be invested in U.S. equity index funds that track the stock market and charge the accounts no more than 0.10% in annual fees.Parents can contribute up to $2,500 annually in pretax income, much like they do for retirement accounts. Parents’ employers, relatives, friends, local governments and philanthropic groups can also pitch in. Yearly contributions are capped at $5,000, but contributions from governments and charities don’t count toward that total.“We’re doing something much better than giving the next generation a handout,” Trump said. “We’re giving them ownership of America’s future.”<h2>Who gets $1,000?</h2>As part of the initiative’s launch, parents of older children are also encouraged to open accounts, but they won’t get the $1,000 bonus. That money is reserved for babies born during the calendar years of the Trump administration.To qualify for the $1,000 seed money, a baby must be a U.S. citizen, have a Social Security number and be born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. Any parent can open an account for a qualifying child, regardless of the parent’s immigration status.It’s important to note that the child won’t be able to access the money until they turn 18, except in rare circumstances, so it can’t help with immediate expenses. And disbursements from the accounts will be subject to taxes.<h2>Can older kids get any bonuses for their Trump Account?</h2>Some can, thanks to contributions from some of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.In December, billionaires Michael and Susan Dell announced a $6.25 billion donation that will allow some children who are 10 and under to receive $250 in seed money if their parents open an account. That money is reserved for kids who live in ZIP codes with a median family income of $150,000 or less and who won’t get the $1,000 seed money from the Treasury.A few weeks later, hedge fund founder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-accounts-ray-dalio-086e4ec76806711d88c6499961c37e71">Ray Dalio and his wife Barbara pledged $75 million</a>&nbsp;for kids under 10 in Connecticut, where Dalio lives. That would amount to $250 for 300,000 children in qualifying ZIP codes.At Wednesday’s event, Trump announced another pledge from investor Brad Gerstner to donate $250 into Trump Accounts for every child under 5 in Indiana.Several major companies also plan to add Trump Accounts contributions to their benefits packages, including Uber, Intel, IBM, Nvidia and Steak ‘n Shake. The administration has encouraged such donations through what U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls the “50 State Challenge.”<h2>How do I open a Trump Account for my kids?</h2>The accounts won’t be open for contributions until July 2026, but parents of eligible kids can sign up using Form 4547 from the Internal Revenue Service. Parents can fill out the form when filing taxes this year or when the administration opens an online portal this summer, according to the Trump Accounts website.Registering for a Trump Account is required for a child to receive the money. In May, parents who sign up will get information about how to finish opening the accounts.<h2>What’s the idea behind the accounts?</h2>Backers of the accounts say they want to introduce more people to the stock market and give even children born into poverty a chance to benefit from it. Supporters also say the accounts bolster capitalism at a time when openly socialist candidates are growing more popular.“The answer to more socialism is more capitalism,” Gerstner said at Wednesday’s event. “This makes every child in America a capitalist from birth.”About 58% of U.S. households held stocks or bonds in 2022, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, though the wealthiest 1% owned almost half the value of stocks in that same year.Before Trump created the accounts, California, Connecticut and the District of Columbia were piloting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-education-b365606b5c5433aa0f5febac0b2ae2d6">“baby bonds” programs</a>&nbsp;that are similar to Trump Accounts in some ways. Several other states, including Maryland, are weighing programs.But those programs are targeted for youth growing up in poverty or foster care, plus children who lost a parent to COVID-19. Wealthier children don’t benefit. They’re also managed by the state, not private investment firms.<h2>What do critics say?</h2>Critics point out the accounts do little to help children in their early years, when they’re most vulnerable and most likely to be in poverty. The accounts, they say, also fail to offset cuts the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have made to other programs that benefit young people and their families, including food assistance and Medicaid. Republicans created the accounts in the same Trump tax bill that reduced spending for some of those programs.And even with the contribution from the government, critics say the Trump Accounts will widen the wealth gap. Affluent families that can afford to make the maximum pretax contribution to the accounts will realize the greatest benefits. Poor families who can’t afford to set aside money for the accounts will benefit the least. Assuming a 7% return, the $1,000 in seed money would grow to roughly $3,570 over 18 years.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

How your baby could qualify for $1,000 with a Trump Account

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a> &nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ap-airlines">AP Airlines</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/travel-writer">Travel Writer</a>

That little star on your U.S. driver’s license is about to save you $45.

Beginning Sunday, air travelers in the U.S. without a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-may-required-air-travel-flying-d3c748cae8c2f496f2b496b53aab6724">REAL ID</a>&nbsp;or another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport, are subject to a new fee.

It isn't a penalty or a fine — it's payment for non-compliant travelers to use the Transportation Security Administration's new alternate identity verification option called ConfirmID. But the process takes extra time, and paying the fee doesn’t guarantee you’ll make your flight.

The Department of Homeland Security says most U.S. travelers are already compliant and that the fee is meant to encourage the rest — those without a star-marked REAL ID — to obtain one.

Still, the new fee may catch some passengers off guard, so here's a breakdown:

It is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that meets enhanced requirements mandated in the aftermath of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/september-11-attacks">Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks</a>.

Obtaining the ID means taking more documents to the motor vehicle agency than most states require for regular IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008, but the implementation was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/when-do-i-need-real-id-7911495d6643b02c205d496a9af4e322">repeatedly delayed</a>.

The updated ID is indicated by a white star in a yellow circle in most U.S. states. It has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-travelers-tsa-when-deadline-f0923fe95923e9675d556ee7e08df326">required since May</a>, but travelers without it — and without another TSA-accepted ID — were still allowed through security with extra screening and a warning. That changes Sunday.

Travelers 18 and older flying domestically without proper identification on them will have to pay $45 to verify their identity at the airport through the ConfirmID process. If approved, the verification covers a 10-day travel period.

Paying the fee, however, does not guarantee access to U.S. air travel, and passengers whose identities cannot be verified may be turned away at airport security.

“This fee ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs,” said Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator.

The service fee is paid online at tsa.gov/ConfirmID. Travelers will have to enter their legal name and the start date of their travel. Accepted payment methods include debit and credit cards, Venmo and PayPal.

Someone other than the traveler can make the payment, according to TSA, but the traveler’s information must be entered correctly.

Passengers will then receive an emailed payment receipt from pay.gov.

At the airport checkpoint, show a government-issued ID and a digital or printed copy of the receipt to begin the verification process.

TSA recommends that travelers pay the fee before arriving at the airport to save on time, as the verification process alone could take up to 30 minutes.

TSA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-travel-passport-ae7ab15d6a32e6005d9c85def4e39737">accepts digital IDs</a>&nbsp;through platforms such as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/digital-id/participating-states">more than 250 airport checkpoints</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.

The agency has a full list of acceptable IDs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification">on its website</a>. They include:

— Trusted traveler cards, such as Global Entry or NEXUS

— Photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764636170272.png" alt="Photo KCI" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCI</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a> &nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ap-airlines">AP Airlines</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/travel-writer">Travel Writer</a>That little star on your U.S. driver’s license is about to save you $45.Beginning Sunday, air travelers in the U.S. without a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-may-required-air-travel-flying-d3c748cae8c2f496f2b496b53aab6724">REAL ID</a>&nbsp;or another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport, are subject to a new fee.It isn't a penalty or a fine — it's payment for non-compliant travelers to use the Transportation Security Administration's new alternate identity verification option called ConfirmID. But the process takes extra time, and paying the fee doesn’t guarantee you’ll make your flight.The Department of Homeland Security says most U.S. travelers are already compliant and that the fee is meant to encourage the rest — those without a star-marked REAL ID — to obtain one.Still, the new fee may catch some passengers off guard, so here's a breakdown:<h2>What is a REAL ID?</h2>It is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that meets enhanced requirements mandated in the aftermath of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/september-11-attacks">Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks</a>.Obtaining the ID means taking more documents to the motor vehicle agency than most states require for regular IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008, but the implementation was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/when-do-i-need-real-id-7911495d6643b02c205d496a9af4e322">repeatedly delayed</a>.The updated ID is indicated by a white star in a yellow circle in most U.S. states. It has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-travelers-tsa-when-deadline-f0923fe95923e9675d556ee7e08df326">required since May</a>, but travelers without it — and without another TSA-accepted ID — were still allowed through security with extra screening and a warning. That changes Sunday.<h2>Who has to pay?</h2>Travelers 18 and older flying domestically without proper identification on them will have to pay $45 to verify their identity at the airport through the ConfirmID process. If approved, the verification covers a 10-day travel period.Paying the fee, however, does not guarantee access to U.S. air travel, and passengers whose identities cannot be verified may be turned away at airport security.“This fee ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs,” said Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator.<h2>How it works</h2>The service fee is paid online at tsa.gov/ConfirmID. Travelers will have to enter their legal name and the start date of their travel. Accepted payment methods include debit and credit cards, Venmo and PayPal.Someone other than the traveler can make the payment, according to TSA, but the traveler’s information must be entered correctly.Passengers will then receive an emailed payment receipt from pay.gov.At the airport checkpoint, show a government-issued ID and a digital or printed copy of the receipt to begin the verification process.TSA recommends that travelers pay the fee before arriving at the airport to save on time, as the verification process alone could take up to 30 minutes.<h2>Other accepted forms of ID</h2>TSA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-travel-passport-ae7ab15d6a32e6005d9c85def4e39737">accepts digital IDs</a>&nbsp;through platforms such as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/digital-id/participating-states">more than 250 airport checkpoints</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.The agency has a full list of acceptable IDs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification">on its website</a>. They include:— Passport or passport card— Permanent resident cards— Trusted traveler cards, such as Global Entry or NEXUS— Military IDs— Photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations

No REAL ID yet? You can still fly, but it may cost you extra starting now 

LEAVENWORTH—On Saturday at approximately 12:15 a.m., Leslie Bruce Larcade was found unresponsive at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Leavenworth in Leavenworth, Kansas, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

<a>Responding employees&nbsp;</a>initiated life-saving measures.&nbsp; Emergency medical services (EMS) were requested while life-saving efforts continued.&nbsp;

Larcade was subsequently pronounced deceased by EMS personnel. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified. No employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured,&nbsp;and at no time was the public in danger.

Larcade was a 61-year-old&nbsp; who was sentenced in the Western District of Arkansas to a 360-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping.&nbsp; 

He had been in custody at FCI Leavenworth since August 12, 2025.&nbsp;

In 2012, Leslie Bruce Larcade and Chrystal Lynn Larcade appeared in federal court for arraignment on charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping resulting in death, according to a statement from the FBI.

Leslie Larcade, 47, and his wife Chrystal Larcade, 37, both of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Harry F. Barnes who scheduled trial for April 18, 2012. If convicted of the conspiracy charge Leslie and Chrystal Larcade face up to life imprisonment and up to $250,000 in fines and if convicted of kidnapping resulting in death, Leslie and Chrystal Larcade face punishment of life imprisonment or death. A federal grand jury returned the indictment in this matter on January 25, 2012.

The indictment alleges that on August 13, 2011, the defendants handcuffed the victim, placed him in a vehicle, and drove him from McCurtain County, Oklahoma to Miller County, Arkansas. It is also alleged that the defendants placed a noose around the neck of the victim causing various injuries to the victim which resulted in his death. The indictment further alleges that the defendants dumped the body of the victim at the Texarkana Speedway in Miller County, Arkansas.

In April of 2014, Larcade and his wife were sentenced to 30-years in prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754061661114.png" alt=" Leavenworth Federal Correctional Institution photo by Tim Carpenter" />
 <figcaption> Leavenworth Federal Correctional Institution photo by Tim Carpenter</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH—On Saturday at approximately 12:15 a.m., Leslie Bruce Larcade was found unresponsive at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Leavenworth in Leavenworth, Kansas, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.<a>Responding employees&nbsp;</a>initiated life-saving measures.&nbsp; Emergency medical services (EMS) were requested while life-saving efforts continued.&nbsp; Larcade was subsequently pronounced deceased by EMS personnel. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified. No employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured,&nbsp;and at no time was the public in danger.Larcade was a 61-year-old&nbsp; who was sentenced in the Western District of Arkansas to a 360-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping.&nbsp; He had been in custody at FCI Leavenworth since August 12, 2025.&nbsp;In 2012, Leslie Bruce Larcade and Chrystal Lynn Larcade appeared in federal court for arraignment on charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping resulting in death, according to a statement from the FBI.Leslie Larcade, 47, and his wife Chrystal Larcade, 37, both of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Harry F. Barnes who scheduled trial for April 18, 2012. If convicted of the conspiracy charge Leslie and Chrystal Larcade face up to life imprisonment and up to $250,000 in fines and if convicted of kidnapping resulting in death, Leslie and Chrystal Larcade face punishment of life imprisonment or death. A federal grand jury returned the indictment in this matter on January 25, 2012.The indictment alleges that on August 13, 2011, the defendants handcuffed the victim, placed him in a vehicle, and drove him from McCurtain County, Oklahoma to Miller County, Arkansas. It is also alleged that the defendants placed a noose around the neck of the victim causing various injuries to the victim which resulted in his death. The indictment further alleges that the defendants dumped the body of the victim at the Texarkana Speedway in Miller County, Arkansas.In April of 2014, Larcade and his wife were sentenced to 30-years in prison.

Man serving time in kidnapping death found dead in Federal prison in Kansas

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/meg-kinnard">MEG KINNARD</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/kevin-freking">KEVIN FREKING</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-immigration-trump-homeland-security-39fd7917e39aaf9e4e78e89f3449a587">partial government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that started Saturday is vastly different from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">record closure</a>&nbsp;in the fall.

That is mostly because the shutdown may not last long.

The House will try to pass funding legislation quickly when lawmakers return Monday, and that would end the shutdown. Congress already has passed half this year’s funding bills, ensuring that several important federal agencies and programs continue to operate through September. Nutrition assistance programs, for example, should be unaffected.

Funding will lapse, at least temporarily, for the Pentagon and agencies such as the departments of Homeland Security and Transportation. Essential functions will continue, but workers could go without pay if the impasse drags on. Some could be furloughed.

The government funding process had been going smoothly, with key lawmakers in the House and Senate finding bipartisan agreement. But the shooting deaths this month of two U.S. citizens,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-fbi-alex-pretti-immigration-65a963816603a08bbc9db83961dd173f">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renée Good</a>, by federal agents in Minneapolis, changed the dynamic.

Democrats were incensed after Pretti’s killing and demanded that one of the six remaining funding bills, for DHS and its associated agencies, be stripped from the package&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-government-funding-bills-d7ca791c2d1aa81d2982239f81bc86be">passed by the House</a>. They said the bill must include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-partial-shutdown-ice-funding-homeland-security-35abc94e6579e701f03d9c18ca5a7c44">changes to immigration enforcement</a>, including a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers show identification.

Eager to avoid another shutdown, President Donald Trump’s White House struck a deal with Democrats to temporarily fund DHS at current levels for two weeks while the negotiations play out.

The Senate passed the five-bill funding package Friday, but it must pass the House again before becoming law. The House is not returning until Monday, ensuring funding will lapse for parts of the government, at least temporarily.

Have there been previous brief or weekend shutdowns?

Yes, and typically the effects were not very visible to anyone hoping to use government services.

There were a couple of these in Trump’s first administration.

In January 2018, a dispute over immigration protections resulted in a weekend shutdown. Some federal workers were furloughed or worked without pay. Benefits such as Social Security and Medicare were uninterrupted, many people did not notice the shutdown and federal offices reopened the following Monday after a deal was in place.

In February 2018, the shortest shutdown in U.S. history lasted about nine hours, overnight, and most people did not notice any impact. While agencies technically shut down after funding lapsed, it was so brief that furlough notices were not all sent out, and nothing was closed during business hours.

The funding lapse affects the Pentagon and agencies such as the Transportation Department and DHS, which includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Experts have said FEMA should have enough money to respond to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/frigid-temperatures-arctic-air-us-south-tennessee-61cd5b29f15322cc4dcae374d7b78c7e">massive winter storm</a>&nbsp;still affecting large swaths of the country. FEMA would have about $7 billion to $8 billion in a fund for disaster response and recovery efforts and the staff who work on them. An extended shutdown could put more pressure on that fund, especially if FEMA must respond to new disasters.

Other FEMA operations, such as the ability to write or renew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-flood-insurance-program-nfip-government-shutdown-fema-bc5fb2154d39fd80217bc7a7e60454aa">National Flood Insurance Program policies</a>, would pause, as they did during last year’s 43-day shutdown.

That shutdown took a toll on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-b708727c3a548ba14635e0dfa42274f8">traveling public</a>&nbsp;as delays and cancellations mounted, and there is now a risk of air travel disruptions again: One of the spending bills awaiting House passage covers the Department of Transportation, which is responsible for the air traffic control system and its workforce.

Air traffic controllers would still report for duty, but would be doing so without pay until a funding bill is passed.

At the State Department, the shutdown will not have a significant effect for the general public, in the United States or abroad.

Department employees were sent a 73-page memo late Friday that said passport and visa services and processing will continue and that embassies and consulates will remain open. Some functions, including nonemergency consular notifications and website updates, may be affected. But the memo said that 18,946 of the department’s 27,206 direct hire American employees are exempted from potential furloughs if the shutdown continues.

Will SNAP and other food assistance programs be affected?

No. That is a major change from the fall shutdown, when many people had to do with little-to-no assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the final weeks of the government closure. The bill to end that shutdown funded the Department of Agriculture and the programs that it administers through the remainder of the budget year, which ends Sept. 30.

That means full SNAP benefits will continue now.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-how-it-works-cards-e061c2af0f3cc997b69a24296238783c">The federal food program</a>&nbsp;serves about 42 million people, about 1 in 8 Americans, in lower-income households. They receive an average of around $190 monthly per person.

Another key program fully funded for the year is the federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, known as WIC. It provides pregnant women and young children with healthy food and nutrition counseling.

Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C., and can be reached at

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759315687610.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/meg-kinnard">MEG KINNARD</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/kevin-freking">KEVIN FREKING</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-immigration-trump-homeland-security-39fd7917e39aaf9e4e78e89f3449a587">partial government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that started Saturday is vastly different from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">record closure</a>&nbsp;in the fall.That is mostly because the shutdown may not last long.The House will try to pass funding legislation quickly when lawmakers return Monday, and that would end the shutdown. Congress already has passed half this year’s funding bills, ensuring that several important federal agencies and programs continue to operate through September. Nutrition assistance programs, for example, should be unaffected.Funding will lapse, at least temporarily, for the Pentagon and agencies such as the departments of Homeland Security and Transportation. Essential functions will continue, but workers could go without pay if the impasse drags on. Some could be furloughed.<h2>Why is there another shutdown?</h2>The government funding process had been going smoothly, with key lawmakers in the House and Senate finding bipartisan agreement. But the shooting deaths this month of two U.S. citizens,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-fbi-alex-pretti-immigration-65a963816603a08bbc9db83961dd173f">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renée Good</a>, by federal agents in Minneapolis, changed the dynamic.Democrats were incensed after Pretti’s killing and demanded that one of the six remaining funding bills, for DHS and its associated agencies, be stripped from the package&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-government-funding-bills-d7ca791c2d1aa81d2982239f81bc86be">passed by the House</a>. They said the bill must include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-partial-shutdown-ice-funding-homeland-security-35abc94e6579e701f03d9c18ca5a7c44">changes to immigration enforcement</a>, including a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers show identification.Eager to avoid another shutdown, President Donald Trump’s White House struck a deal with Democrats to temporarily fund DHS at current levels for two weeks while the negotiations play out.The Senate passed the five-bill funding package Friday, but it must pass the House again before becoming law. The House is not returning until Monday, ensuring funding will lapse for parts of the government, at least temporarily.<h2>Have there been previous brief or weekend shutdowns?</h2>Yes, and typically the effects were not very visible to anyone hoping to use government services.There were a couple of these in Trump’s first administration.In January 2018, a dispute over immigration protections resulted in a weekend shutdown. Some federal workers were furloughed or worked without pay. Benefits such as Social Security and Medicare were uninterrupted, many people did not notice the shutdown and federal offices reopened the following Monday after a deal was in place.In February 2018, the shortest shutdown in U.S. history lasted about nine hours, overnight, and most people did not notice any impact. While agencies technically shut down after funding lapsed, it was so brief that furlough notices were not all sent out, and nothing was closed during business hours.<h2>What funding is impacted?</h2>The funding lapse affects the Pentagon and agencies such as the Transportation Department and DHS, which includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency.Experts have said FEMA should have enough money to respond to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/frigid-temperatures-arctic-air-us-south-tennessee-61cd5b29f15322cc4dcae374d7b78c7e">massive winter storm</a>&nbsp;still affecting large swaths of the country. FEMA would have about $7 billion to $8 billion in a fund for disaster response and recovery efforts and the staff who work on them. An extended shutdown could put more pressure on that fund, especially if FEMA must respond to new disasters.Other FEMA operations, such as the ability to write or renew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-flood-insurance-program-nfip-government-shutdown-fema-bc5fb2154d39fd80217bc7a7e60454aa">National Flood Insurance Program policies</a>, would pause, as they did during last year’s 43-day shutdown.That shutdown took a toll on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-b708727c3a548ba14635e0dfa42274f8">traveling public</a>&nbsp;as delays and cancellations mounted, and there is now a risk of air travel disruptions again: One of the spending bills awaiting House passage covers the Department of Transportation, which is responsible for the air traffic control system and its workforce.Air traffic controllers would still report for duty, but would be doing so without pay until a funding bill is passed.At the State Department, the shutdown will not have a significant effect for the general public, in the United States or abroad.Department employees were sent a 73-page memo late Friday that said passport and visa services and processing will continue and that embassies and consulates will remain open. Some functions, including nonemergency consular notifications and website updates, may be affected. But the memo said that 18,946 of the department’s 27,206 direct hire American employees are exempted from potential furloughs if the shutdown continues.<h2>Will SNAP and other food assistance programs be affected?</h2>No. That is a major change from the fall shutdown, when many people had to do with little-to-no assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the final weeks of the government closure. The bill to end that shutdown funded the Department of Agriculture and the programs that it administers through the remainder of the budget year, which ends Sept. 30.That means full SNAP benefits will continue now.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-how-it-works-cards-e061c2af0f3cc997b69a24296238783c">The federal food program</a>&nbsp;serves about 42 million people, about 1 in 8 Americans, in lower-income households. They receive an average of around $190 monthly per person.Another key program fully funded for the year is the federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, known as WIC. It provides pregnant women and young children with healthy food and nutrition counseling.___Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C., and can be reached at

What's included in the partial government shutdown

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect who admitted setting a fire near the historic Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita is going to prison.

On Friday Judge Seth Rundell sentenced 34-year-old Jeremy Wycoff of Wichita to 30 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;In September, Wycoff pleaded guilty to aggravated arson.

On the evening of April 10, 2025, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;

"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.

Three days after the crime, police arrested Wycoff and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he remained jailed on a bond of just over $100,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744832383037.png" alt="Wycoff photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Wycoff photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect who admitted setting a fire near the historic Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita is going to prison.On Friday Judge Seth Rundell sentenced 34-year-old Jeremy Wycoff of Wichita to 30 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;In September, Wycoff pleaded guilty to aggravated arson.On the evening of April 10, 2025, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.Three days after the crime, police arrested Wycoff and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he remained jailed on a bond of just over $100,000.

Prison time for arson fIre near historic Kansas theatre

NEW YORK (AP) — A huge new tranche of files on millionaire financier and sex offender&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;has revealed details of his communications with the wealthy and powerful, some not long before he died by suicide in 2019.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here t</a>o view the latest files

The Justice Department said it was disclosing more than 3 million pages of documents, as well as thousands of videos and photos, as required by a law passed by Congress. By Friday evening, more than 600,000 documents had been published online. Millions of files that prosecutors had identified as potentially subject to release under the law remain under wraps, however, drawing criticism from Democrats.

The records also have new details on Epstein’s incarceration and suicide

Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019, and found dead in his cell just over a month later.

The latest batch of documents includes emails between investigators about Epstein’s death, including an investigator’s observation that his final communication doesn’t look like a suicide note.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-politics-new-york-business-suicides-4ff27f28f32d446795b65ac7dd8cc4ac">Multiple investigations</a>&nbsp;have determined that Epstein’s death&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">was a suicide</a>.

The records also detail a trick that jail staffers used to fool the media gathered outside while Epstein’s body was removed: they used boxes and sheets to create what appeared to be a body and loaded it into a white van labeled as belonging to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The reporters followed the van when it left the jail, not knowing that Epstein’s actual body was loaded into a black vehicle, which departed “unnoticed,” according to the interview notes.

Epstein chatted with Elon Musk and Howard Lutnick about island visits

Billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk emailed Epstein in 2012 and 2013 about visiting his infamous island compound, the scene of many allegations of sexual abuse.

Epstein inquired in an email about how many people Musk would like flown by helicopter, and Musk responded that it would likely be just him and his partner at the time. “What day/night will be the wildest party on =our island?” he wrote, according to the Justice Department records.

It’s not immediately clear if the island visits took place. Spokespersons for Musk’s companies, Tesla and X, didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment Friday.

Musk has maintained that he repeatedly turned down the disgraced financier’s overtures. “Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED,” he posted on X in 2025

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA02152992.pdf">Epstein also invited</a>&nbsp;Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to the island in Dec. 2012. Lutnick’s wife enthusiastically accepted the invitation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00398721.pdf">said they would arrive</a>&nbsp;on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02521951.pdf">yacht with their children</a>. The two also had drinks on another occasion in 2011, according to a schedule. Six years later, they e-mailed about the construction of a building across the street from both of their homes.

Lutnick has distanced himself from Epstein, calling him “gross” and saying in 2025 that he cut ties decades ago. He didn’t respond to an e-mailed request for comment on Friday afternoon.

Epstein talked politics with Steve Bannon and an ex-Obama official

The documents show Epstein exchanged hundreds of friendly texts with Steve Bannon, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, some months before Epstein’s death.

They discussed politics, travel and a documentary Bannon was said to be planning that would help salvage Epstein’s reputation.

In March 2019, Bannon asked Epstein if he could&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01615683.pdf">supply his plane</a>&nbsp;to pick him up in Rome.

A couple of months later, Epstein messaged to Bannon, “Now you can understand why trump wakes up in the middle of the night sweating when he hears you and I are friends.”

The context is unclear from the documents, which were released with many redactions and little clear organization.

Another 2018 exchange focused on Trump’s threats at the time to oust Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whom he had named to the post just the year prior.

Around the same time, Epstein also communicated with Kathy Ruemmler, a lawyer and former Obama White House official. In a typo-filled email, he warned that Democrats should stop demonizing Trump as a Mafia-type figure even as he derided the president as a “maniac.”

Bannon did not immediately respond to a message from the AP seeking comment. Ruemmler said through a spokesperson she was associated with Epstein professionally during her time as a lawyer in private practice and now “regrets ever knowing him.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769870922216.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein as shown in a photo released by the DOJ on Friday" />
 <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein as shown in a photo released by the DOJ on Friday</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A huge new tranche of files on millionaire financier and sex offender&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;has revealed details of his communications with the wealthy and powerful, some not long before he died by suicide in 2019.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here t</a>o view the latest filesThe Justice Department said it was disclosing more than 3 million pages of documents, as well as thousands of videos and photos, as required by a law passed by Congress. By Friday evening, more than 600,000 documents had been published online. Millions of files that prosecutors had identified as potentially subject to release under the law remain under wraps, however, drawing criticism from Democrats.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769891409865.png" alt="EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Image from an undated and redacted document released by the U.S. Department of Justice, showa Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, leaning over an unidentified person." />
 <figcaption>EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Image from an undated and redacted document released by the U.S. Department of Justice, showa Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, leaning over an unidentified person.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Latest:<h2>The records also have new details on Epstein’s incarceration and suicide</h2>Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019, and found dead in his cell just over a month later.The latest batch of documents includes emails between investigators about Epstein’s death, including an investigator’s observation that his final communication doesn’t look like a suicide note.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-politics-new-york-business-suicides-4ff27f28f32d446795b65ac7dd8cc4ac">Multiple investigations</a>&nbsp;have determined that Epstein’s death&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">was a suicide</a>.The records also detail a trick that jail staffers used to fool the media gathered outside while Epstein’s body was removed: they used boxes and sheets to create what appeared to be a body and loaded it into a white van labeled as belonging to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.The reporters followed the van when it left the jail, not knowing that Epstein’s actual body was loaded into a black vehicle, which departed “unnoticed,” according to the interview notes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769817863085.png" alt="Email exchange from Elon Musk in the files released Friday" />
 <figcaption>Email exchange from Elon Musk in the files released Friday</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Epstein chatted with Elon Musk and Howard Lutnick about island visits</h2>Billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk emailed Epstein in 2012 and 2013 about visiting his infamous island compound, the scene of many allegations of sexual abuse.Epstein inquired in an email about how many people Musk would like flown by helicopter, and Musk responded that it would likely be just him and his partner at the time. “What day/night will be the wildest party on =our island?” he wrote, according to the Justice Department records.It’s not immediately clear if the island visits took place. Spokespersons for Musk’s companies, Tesla and X, didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment Friday.Musk has maintained that he repeatedly turned down the disgraced financier’s overtures. “Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED,” he posted on X in 2025<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA02152992.pdf">Epstein also invited</a>&nbsp;Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to the island in Dec. 2012. Lutnick’s wife enthusiastically accepted the invitation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00398721.pdf">said they would arrive</a>&nbsp;on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02521951.pdf">yacht with their children</a>. The two also had drinks on another occasion in 2011, according to a schedule. Six years later, they e-mailed about the construction of a building across the street from both of their homes.Lutnick has distanced himself from Epstein, calling him “gross” and saying in 2025 that he cut ties decades ago. He didn’t respond to an e-mailed request for comment on Friday afternoon.<h2>Epstein talked politics with Steve Bannon and an ex-Obama official</h2>The documents show Epstein exchanged hundreds of friendly texts with Steve Bannon, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, some months before Epstein’s death.They discussed politics, travel and a documentary Bannon was said to be planning that would help salvage Epstein’s reputation.In March 2019, Bannon asked Epstein if he could&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01615683.pdf">supply his plane</a>&nbsp;to pick him up in Rome.A couple of months later, Epstein messaged to Bannon, “Now you can understand why trump wakes up in the middle of the night sweating when he hears you and I are friends.”The context is unclear from the documents, which were released with many redactions and little clear organization.Another 2018 exchange focused on Trump’s threats at the time to oust Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whom he had named to the post just the year prior.Around the same time, Epstein also communicated with Kathy Ruemmler, a lawyer and former Obama White House official. In a typo-filled email, he warned that Democrats should stop demonizing Trump as a Mafia-type figure even as he derided the president as a “maniac.”Bannon did not immediately respond to a message from the AP seeking comment. Ruemmler said through a spokesperson she was associated with Epstein professionally during her time as a lawyer in private practice and now “regrets ever knowing him.”

New Epstein documents include his emails with wealthy and powerful

MCPHERSON&nbsp;COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is assisting the McPherson County Sheriff's Office in investigating a homicide that occurred early Saturday morning, according to a media release from the agency.

KBI agents and investigators determined that attendees of a house party, held southwest of Inman, had a disagreement after consuming alcohol. Two groups of partygoers left in separate pickup trucks, but then met on a rural road approximately two miles from the party, near 4th Avenue and Arapaho Road.

A physical altercation occurred between two adult males. During the fight, Joshua Soden, 19, of McPherson, was shot and killed. Soden was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The 18-year-old male who shot Soden called 911 to report the incident. He then drove to the Inman Police Department where he was questioned by police, but has not been arrested.

Several witnesses have been interviewed The community is not at any risk related to this incident.

MCPHERSON&nbsp;COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is assisting the McPherson County Sheriff's Office in investigating a homicide that occurred early Saturday morning, according to a media release from the agency.KBI agents and investigators determined that attendees of a house party, held southwest of Inman, had a disagreement after consuming alcohol. Two groups of partygoers left in separate pickup trucks, but then met on a rural road approximately two miles from the party, near 4th Avenue and Arapaho Road.A physical altercation occurred between two adult males. During the fight, Joshua Soden, 19, of McPherson, was shot and killed. Soden was pronounced deceased at the scene.The 18-year-old male who shot Soden called 911 to report the incident. He then drove to the Inman Police Department where he was questioned by police, but has not been arrested.Several witnesses have been interviewed The community is not at any risk related to this incident.

KBI: McPherson man shot and killed during fight

Washington&nbsp;– This week, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. received the PROMISE (Protecting Our Most Important Students Early) Award from the National Head Start Association. The award is given to Members of Congress who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to Head Start and serving our nation’s most vulnerable children and their families, according to a media release from Marshall's office.

The National Head Start Association is a nonprofit organization that believes that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, can succeed in school and in life. NHSA represents nearly 700,000 children across the country and has locations in all 50 states.

“I’m deeply honored to receive the PROMISE Award and to stand with the National Head Start Association,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“After delivering more than 5,000 babies during my medical career, I know the miracle of life doesn’t end at birth — it’s just the beginning. Programs like Head Start come alongside families with early education, nutrition, health services, and encouragement when it matters most. The earliest years shape a child’s future, and if we want a stronger country tomorrow, we must invest in children and families today. I’ll continue fighting for strong early childhood programs that support parents, strengthen communities, and give every child a fair shot at the American Dream.”

Senator Marshall was presented the award by NHSA’s Deputy Director Tommy Sheridan, and was joined on stage by members of the Kansas Head Start team.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769619433450.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington&nbsp;– This week, Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. received the PROMISE (Protecting Our Most Important Students Early) Award from the National Head Start Association. The award is given to Members of Congress who have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to Head Start and serving our nation’s most vulnerable children and their families, according to a media release from Marshall's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769619658200.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The National Head Start Association is a nonprofit organization that believes that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, can succeed in school and in life. NHSA represents nearly 700,000 children across the country and has locations in all 50 states.“I’m deeply honored to receive the PROMISE Award and to stand with the National Head Start Association,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“After delivering more than 5,000 babies during my medical career, I know the miracle of life doesn’t end at birth — it’s just the beginning. Programs like Head Start come alongside families with early education, nutrition, health services, and encouragement when it matters most. The earliest years shape a child’s future, and if we want a stronger country tomorrow, we must invest in children and families today. I’ll continue fighting for strong early childhood programs that support parents, strengthen communities, and give every child a fair shot at the American Dream.”Senator Marshall was presented the award by NHSA’s Deputy Director Tommy Sheridan, and was joined on stage by members of the Kansas Head Start team.

National Head Start honors Kansas U.S. Senator 

BUTLER COUNTY —A Kansas pilot avoided injury after a mishap just after 10a.m. Saturday in Butler County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported, during the 4th take off attempt, a 2023 Cesnna Skyhawk, piloted by a 40-year-old Wichita woman, began to track towards the left side of the runway at the Augusta Municipal Airport. The aircraft continued drifting left and control inputs were applied in an attempt to maintain centerline and regain directional control. The aircraft continued traveling to the left, entered the snow area and came to rest upside down.

The pilot was not injured.&nbsp; The NTSB and FAA will investigate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769890933266.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —A Kansas pilot avoided injury after a mishap just after 10a.m. Saturday in Butler County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported, during the 4th take off attempt, a 2023 Cesnna Skyhawk, piloted by a 40-year-old Wichita woman, began to track towards the left side of the runway at the Augusta Municipal Airport. The aircraft continued drifting left and control inputs were applied in an attempt to maintain centerline and regain directional control. The aircraft continued traveling to the left, entered the snow area and came to rest upside down.The pilot was not injured.&nbsp; The NTSB and FAA will investigate.

Aircraft came to rest upside down in the snow at Kan. airport

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-funk">JOSH FUNK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/peter-smith">PETER SMITH</a> Associated Press

Nine people, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/don-lemon-arrest-minnesota-church-service-d3091fe3d1e37100a7c46573667eb85c">former CNN anchor Don Lemon</a>&nbsp;and another journalist — have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/don-lemon-arrest-minnesota-church-service-d3091fe3d1e37100a7c46573667eb85c">charged</a>&nbsp;with violating two different federal laws in connection with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-doj-church-protest-st-paul-46dac5c5595ec78e3360ec927eef92d2">protest that interrupted a worship service at a Minnesota church</a>&nbsp;earlier this month.

The group that barged into a worship service that Sunday was upset that the head of a local field office for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves as a pastor. The protest was quickly denounced by President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-protest-church-minneapolis-fcc97a29b9c4434c665d76d4811c5a3e">many religious leaders</a>.

<a href="https://sortor.us/release/lemon.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full indictment

Lemon and a local reporter were covering the protest on Jan. 18 at the Cities Church in St. Paul. A grand jury in Minnesota indicted Lemon and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers. The indictment alleges various actions by the group that entered the church, including what Lemon said as he reported on the event for his livestream show.

The arrests of Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort are especially troubling for legal experts and media groups who worry about the chilling effect on coverage of the Trump administration.

David Harris, a University of Pittsburgh law professor specializing in criminal law, said the charges against the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-church-protest-history-58817d7033c6b83867131f4cee87256a">protesters</a>&nbsp;are more tenable, given the federal laws against disrupting the free exercise of worship. “A court will have to sort that out,” he said.

But charges against reporters are troubling, he said.

“Charging journalists for being there covering the disruption does not mean they were part of the disruption,” Harris said. “Don Lemon and other journalists are the way that we the public are finding out what is happening in these spaces,” he said. “They are our eyes and ears. The message that is being sent is that journalists like Don Lemon and others should feel intimidated from doing this.”

The two key laws cited in the complaints against those who were arrested were passed more than a century apart — one rooted in efforts to prevent intimidation by the post-Civil War Ku Klux Klan and the other to enable access to abortion clinics, though they both have had wider applications.

Law designed to protect access to abortion clinics and churches

The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances law, known as the FACE Act for short, was passed in 1994 to help ensure that patients seeking care at an abortion clinic — as well as the doctors and nurses who work there — could safely access the facilities that often draw protests. It followed incidents of violence targeting clinic workers.

A Republican-sponsored clause that provided for penalties for disruptions of worship services was also incorporated into the law.

Anti-abortion conservatives have denounced the law, focusing on the clinic protections. Trump last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-executive-order-pardon-817774b21d32a4edf6d39ee43cbc18f4">pardoned</a>&nbsp;several people convicted for blockading clinics. His Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-reproductive-care-clinics-prosecutions-5f693b186d0dd62fc693474aab7b5f3f">scaled back</a>&nbsp;FACE Act prosecutions of those accused of blocking clinics, claiming there had been a “weaponization” of the law.

But the U.S. Supreme Court, despite having overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized abortion nationwide, last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-buffer-zones-7979c3d747d7eab88f7e8b723397e768">refused</a>&nbsp;to hear a challenge to the constitutionality of FACE.

In 2025, 42 House Republicans co-sponsored legislation, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, to repeal the FACE Act. The conservative Heritage Foundation supported the stalled repeal effort, calling the FACE Act “an ideological weapon” designed to suppress anti-abortion activity.

They have contended the worship-protection aspect of the law hasn’t been invoked in the past. In 2025, the Justice Department did invoke the act in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-lawsuit-reproductive-care-clinic-d8e45edcf962ea62b3d86251de103737">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;against demonstrators who protested outside of a synagogue.

Someone charged with their first violation of the FACE Act could be fined or sentenced up to one year in jail. Subsequent offenses, or charges that involve injuries, deaths or damage, could face tougher penalties.

The Conspiracy Against Rights law dates back to the post Civil War era

The other charges against Lemon and Fort are based on a law commonly known as the Conspiracy Against Rights law, which was enacted shortly after the Civil War. It was originally designed to target vigilante groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. The law prohibits intimidating or otherwise preventing someone from exercising constitutional rights.

The Klan had been targeting those newly freed from slavery, but over the years the law has been revised to apply to a wide range of violations of constitutional rights. It was used to charge suspects in the “Mississippi Burning” killings of three civil rights workers in 1964. It has been used in cases ranging from church arsons and antisemitic intimidation to political conspiracy and witness tampering.

The law carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison –- or more if it involves injury, death or destruction of property.

Harris said it’s important for Americans to be able to see what’s happening so they can make up their own minds, instead of only hearing officials describe what happened.

“We all have had the experience of them telling us things that simply do not square with what we see with our own eyes,” he said. “Journalists being present to witness these things and report them are crucial to our being able to make our minds about what our government is doing.”

Jonathan Manes, senior counsel in the MacArthur Justice Center’s Illinois Office, agreed.

“It’s astonishing that the federal government is criminally charging journalists for covering a protest,” said Manes, whose work focuses on governmental civil rights violations.

“The crucial point is that a journalist covering activities going on is not part of those activities,” he said. “None of this is to say that the protest here was a good thing or that it was even allowed, but journalists shouldn’t be charged federally with conspiracy when they’re covering it.”

AP reporters Tiffany Stanley in Washington and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769862788432.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-funk">JOSH FUNK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/peter-smith">PETER SMITH</a> Associated PressNine people, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/don-lemon-arrest-minnesota-church-service-d3091fe3d1e37100a7c46573667eb85c">former CNN anchor Don Lemon</a>&nbsp;and another journalist — have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/don-lemon-arrest-minnesota-church-service-d3091fe3d1e37100a7c46573667eb85c">charged</a>&nbsp;with violating two different federal laws in connection with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-doj-church-protest-st-paul-46dac5c5595ec78e3360ec927eef92d2">protest that interrupted a worship service at a Minnesota church</a>&nbsp;earlier this month.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769780223167.png" alt="File -Don Lemon from a 2022 interview- photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File -Don Lemon from a 2022 interview- photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The group that barged into a worship service that Sunday was upset that the head of a local field office for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement serves as a pastor. The protest was quickly denounced by President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and other officials, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-protest-church-minneapolis-fcc97a29b9c4434c665d76d4811c5a3e">many religious leaders</a>.<a href="https://sortor.us/release/lemon.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full indictmentLemon and a local reporter were covering the protest on Jan. 18 at the Cities Church in St. Paul. A grand jury in Minnesota indicted Lemon and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers. The indictment alleges various actions by the group that entered the church, including what Lemon said as he reported on the event for his livestream show.The arrests of Lemon and independent journalist Georgia Fort are especially troubling for legal experts and media groups who worry about the chilling effect on coverage of the Trump administration.David Harris, a University of Pittsburgh law professor specializing in criminal law, said the charges against the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-church-protest-history-58817d7033c6b83867131f4cee87256a">protesters</a>&nbsp;are more tenable, given the federal laws against disrupting the free exercise of worship. “A court will have to sort that out,” he said.But charges against reporters are troubling, he said.“Charging journalists for being there covering the disruption does not mean they were part of the disruption,” Harris said. “Don Lemon and other journalists are the way that we the public are finding out what is happening in these spaces,” he said. “They are our eyes and ears. The message that is being sent is that journalists like Don Lemon and others should feel intimidated from doing this.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://t.co/Yy9IOZRpJU">pic.twitter.com/Yy9IOZRpJU</a>&mdash; CNN Communications (@CNNPR) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNPR/status/2017257849592721642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The two key laws cited in the complaints against those who were arrested were passed more than a century apart — one rooted in efforts to prevent intimidation by the post-Civil War Ku Klux Klan and the other to enable access to abortion clinics, though they both have had wider applications.Here are some details about those laws:<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">When life gives you lemons... ⛓️ <a href="https://t.co/wxry0fudOj">pic.twitter.com/wxry0fudOj</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2017248964878143741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Law designed to protect access to abortion clinics and churches</h2>The Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances law, known as the FACE Act for short, was passed in 1994 to help ensure that patients seeking care at an abortion clinic — as well as the doctors and nurses who work there — could safely access the facilities that often draw protests. It followed incidents of violence targeting clinic workers.A Republican-sponsored clause that provided for penalties for disruptions of worship services was also incorporated into the law.Anti-abortion conservatives have denounced the law, focusing on the clinic protections. Trump last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-executive-order-pardon-817774b21d32a4edf6d39ee43cbc18f4">pardoned</a>&nbsp;several people convicted for blockading clinics. His Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-reproductive-care-clinics-prosecutions-5f693b186d0dd62fc693474aab7b5f3f">scaled back</a>&nbsp;FACE Act prosecutions of those accused of blocking clinics, claiming there had been a “weaponization” of the law.But the U.S. Supreme Court, despite having overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized abortion nationwide, last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-buffer-zones-7979c3d747d7eab88f7e8b723397e768">refused</a>&nbsp;to hear a challenge to the constitutionality of FACE.In 2025, 42 House Republicans co-sponsored legislation, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, to repeal the FACE Act. The conservative Heritage Foundation supported the stalled repeal effort, calling the FACE Act “an ideological weapon” designed to suppress anti-abortion activity.They have contended the worship-protection aspect of the law hasn’t been invoked in the past. In 2025, the Justice Department did invoke the act in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-lawsuit-reproductive-care-clinic-d8e45edcf962ea62b3d86251de103737">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;against demonstrators who protested outside of a synagogue.Someone charged with their first violation of the FACE Act could be fined or sentenced up to one year in jail. Subsequent offenses, or charges that involve injuries, deaths or damage, could face tougher penalties.<h2>The Conspiracy Against Rights law dates back to the post Civil War era</h2>The other charges against Lemon and Fort are based on a law commonly known as the Conspiracy Against Rights law, which was enacted shortly after the Civil War. It was originally designed to target vigilante groups such as the Ku Klux Klan. The law prohibits intimidating or otherwise preventing someone from exercising constitutional rights.The Klan had been targeting those newly freed from slavery, but over the years the law has been revised to apply to a wide range of violations of constitutional rights. It was used to charge suspects in the “Mississippi Burning” killings of three civil rights workers in 1964. It has been used in cases ranging from church arsons and antisemitic intimidation to political conspiracy and witness tampering.The law carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison –- or more if it involves injury, death or destruction of property.Harris said it’s important for Americans to be able to see what’s happening so they can make up their own minds, instead of only hearing officials describe what happened.“We all have had the experience of them telling us things that simply do not square with what we see with our own eyes,” he said. “Journalists being present to witness these things and report them are crucial to our being able to make our minds about what our government is doing.”Jonathan Manes, senior counsel in the MacArthur Justice Center’s Illinois Office, agreed.“It’s astonishing that the federal government is criminally charging journalists for covering a protest,” said Manes, whose work focuses on governmental civil rights violations.“The crucial point is that a journalist covering activities going on is not part of those activities,” he said. “None of this is to say that the protest here was a good thing or that it was even allowed, but journalists shouldn’t be charged federally with conspiracy when they’re covering it.”___AP reporters Tiffany Stanley in Washington and Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu contributed.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Read the indictment: Former CNN anchor charged with 2 federal crimes

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —A family lost their home to a fire on Thursday.

Just before 10:30a.m., the&nbsp;Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a house fire located at 25098 P. Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The Holton, Mayetta and Solder Fire Departments were dispatched to the scene along with Jackson County EMS and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. 

The&nbsp; fire resulted in the complete loss of the h9ome The residents of the address were not home at the time of the fire. There were no injuries reported. A relief account has been established at the Denison State Bank for the family, according to Morse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769824887505.png" alt="Photos Jackson County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Jackson County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —A family lost their home to a fire on Thursday.Just before 10:30a.m., the&nbsp;Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a house fire located at 25098 P. Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769824865138.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Holton, Mayetta and Solder Fire Departments were dispatched to the scene along with Jackson County EMS and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. The&nbsp; fire resulted in the complete loss of the h9ome The residents of the address were not home at the time of the fire. There were no injuries reported. A relief account has been established at the Denison State Bank for the family, according to Morse.

Sheriff: Rural Kansas home destroyed by fire

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/cora-lewis">CORA LEWIS</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Tax filing season is underway, and the IRS expects 164 million people will file returns by April 15.

The average refund last year was $3,167. This year, analysts have projected it could be $1,000 higher, thanks to changes in tax law. More than 165 million individual income tax returns were processed last year, with 94% submitted electronically.

People with straightforward returns should not encounter delays, but because of an exodus of IRS workers since the start of the Trump administration, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-tax-season-taxpayer-advocate-report-cd82286bb60e7e896b5372da25178b1e">national taxpayer advocate has cautioned</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasury-irs-tax-season-fd379f43d501d064cdad046eb32fb9f6">the 2026 tax filing season</a>&nbsp;is likely to present challenges for those who run into problems filing.

While last year IRS employees were not permitted to accept a buyout offer from the Trump administration until after the taxpayer filing deadline, many of those customer service workers have now left. The IRS started 2025 with about 102,000 employees and finished with roughly 74,000 after a series of firings and layoffs led by the Department of Government Efficiency.

If you file electronically, the IRS says it should take 21 days or less to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-season-refund-debt-credit-personal-finance-39412fe2d14f39fc3237e50789c10dc9">receive your refund</a>. If you choose direct deposit, it should take even less time. If you file a paper return, the refund could take four weeks or more, and if your return requires amendments or corrections, it could take longer.

The IRS cautions that taxpayers not rely on receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills.

Taxpayers can use the online tool&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund" target="_blank">Where’s My Refund?</a>&nbsp;to check the status of their refund within 24 hours of e-filing and generally within four weeks of filing a paper return. The “Where’s My Refund?” tool will also provide projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC refund filers by Feb. 21, according to the IRS.

Information related to this tool is updated once daily, overnight. To access the status of your refund, you’ll need:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579706571729.jpeg" alt="IRS Form 1040 Page 1" />
 <figcaption>IRS Form 1040 Page 1</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/cora-lewis">CORA LEWIS</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Tax filing season is underway, and the IRS expects 164 million people will file returns by April 15.The average refund last year was $3,167. This year, analysts have projected it could be $1,000 higher, thanks to changes in tax law. More than 165 million individual income tax returns were processed last year, with 94% submitted electronically.People with straightforward returns should not encounter delays, but because of an exodus of IRS workers since the start of the Trump administration, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-tax-season-taxpayer-advocate-report-cd82286bb60e7e896b5372da25178b1e">national taxpayer advocate has cautioned</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasury-irs-tax-season-fd379f43d501d064cdad046eb32fb9f6">the 2026 tax filing season</a>&nbsp;is likely to present challenges for those who run into problems filing.While last year IRS employees were not permitted to accept a buyout offer from the Trump administration until after the taxpayer filing deadline, many of those customer service workers have now left. The IRS started 2025 with about 102,000 employees and finished with roughly 74,000 after a series of firings and layoffs led by the Department of Government Efficiency.Here’s what to know:<h2>When refunds will go out</h2>If you file electronically, the IRS says it should take 21 days or less to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-season-refund-debt-credit-personal-finance-39412fe2d14f39fc3237e50789c10dc9">receive your refund</a>. If you choose direct deposit, it should take even less time. If you file a paper return, the refund could take four weeks or more, and if your return requires amendments or corrections, it could take longer.The IRS cautions that taxpayers not rely on receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills.<h2>How to check the status of your refund</h2>Taxpayers can use the online tool&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/wheres-my-refund" target="_blank">Where’s My Refund?</a>&nbsp;to check the status of their refund within 24 hours of e-filing and generally within four weeks of filing a paper return. The “Where’s My Refund?” tool will also provide projected deposit dates for most early EITC/ACTC refund filers by Feb. 21, according to the IRS.Information related to this tool is updated once daily, overnight. To access the status of your refund, you’ll need:— Your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN)Taxpayers can also consult the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/help/irs2goapp" target="_blank">IRS2Go</a>&nbsp;app, or their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/online-account-for-individuals" target="_blank">IRS Individual Online Account</a>, to check their refund status.<h2>How tax refunds work</h2>If you paid more through the year than you owe in tax, due to withholding or other reasons, you should get money back. Even if you didn’t pay excess tax, you may still get a refund if you qualify for a refundable credit, like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit. To get your refund, you must file a return, and you have three years to claim a tax refund.<h2>Who qualifies for the Earned Income Tax Credit</h2>To qualify for the EITC, you must have under $11,950 in investment income and earn less than a specific income level from working.If you’re single with no children, your income level must be $19,104 or below. And if you’re married filing jointly with three or more children, you must make $68,675 or below. To determine if your household qualifies based on your marital status and your number of dependents you can use the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit/use-the-eitc-assistant" target="_blank">online EITC Assistant tool.</a><h2>Who qualifies for the Child Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit</h2>If you have a child, you are most likely eligible for the Child Tax Credit. The credit is up to $2,200 per qualifying child. To qualify, a child must:— Have a Social Security number— Be under age 17 at the end of 2025— Be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, or a descendant of one of these (for example, a grandchild, niece or nephew)— Not provide more than half of his or her own support for the tax year— Have lived with you for more than half the tax year— Be claimed as a dependent on your tax return— Not file a joint return for the year (or filed the joint return only to claim a refund of taxes withheld or estimated taxes)— Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or a U.S. resident alienYou qualify for the full amount of the Child Tax Credit for each qualifying child if you meet all eligibility factors and your annual income is not more than $200,000 ($400,000 if filing a joint return).You qualify for the Additional Child Tax Credit if ($1,700 per qualifying child) if you meet these factors and have little or no federal income tax liability. You must have earned income of at least $2,500 to be eligible for the ACTC.<h2>When the tax credits will become available</h2>The IRS expects most refunds for the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit to be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by March 2 for taxpayers who choose direct deposit. Some taxpayers may receive their refund earlier, depending on their financial institution.<h2>What’s different this year</h2>This year, most taxpayers must provide their routing and account numbers to receive refunds directly deposited into their bank accounts. That’s because the IRS began phasing out paper tax refund checks on Sept. 30 in accordance with an executive order.___The Associated Press receives support from the Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.