A Nebraska lawmaker sheds tears, vows action after visiting jailed migrants in North Platte

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — After three months in ICE detention, legal fees mounting and no release in sight, Nuri Garibo Chona did what she called unimaginable. She left behind four daughters to return to the birthplace where she hadn’t lived for decades. The Omaha mom was here illegally. Her kids are all U.S. citizens, and younger ones now are in the care of her oldest daughter, who is 27.&nbsp;

Another woman ensnared in the Glenn Valley Foods immigration raid in Omaha also was removed to Mexico last week without her two children, who remained in Omaha with their dad. On her way out, Leydy Solis Factor said she still was confused about why the work permit she got through proper channels was no longer good

Meanwhile, one of the men still held from the raid in the Lincoln County Jail has hired a local lawyer to replace an out-of-state firm and prays he hasn’t lost a shot at being released on bond. He has a wife and children in Omaha and fears for their safety if he is forced back to Guatemala.

The number of Glenn Valley workers detained in this North Platte jail, which is paid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants, has dwindled since the high-profile worksite raid executed June 10 by more than 80 federal and local agents.&nbsp;

Shortly after the Nebraska Examiner visited the facility last week, Garibo Chona and Solis Factor were removed from the country, and three other women were released on bond, leaving six from the Glenn Valley raid among those in custody there.&nbsp;

ICE officials did not provide specifics when asked this week for an update, but of the original group of roughly 80 arrested, a spokesperson previously said about a dozen were released early and 63 were sent to North Platte. Several of the detainees agreed to voluntarily deport themselves, and many have been released on bond as their lawyers build cases to prevent forced removal.

To State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha, their journeys and circumstances have become even more relevant as the state prepares to repurpose a state prison into a&nbsp; 300-bed ICE detention center in McCook, a town of about 7,200 residents about an hour from North Platte.

Last week she became the first state lawmaker to sit down with Glenn Valley detainees. The discussion ranged from medical, legal and interpreter services to how their children were faring. After meeting with men and women garbed in black and white stripes, Juarez stepped into a nearby hall and cried.&nbsp;

She said she’s on a mission to ensure that federal ICE detainees in Nebraska have access to the same services offered to state inmates in state prisons.

“It was really difficult to see the reality, the human faces,” said Juarez, whose South Omaha district includes the Glenn Valley plant and other meatpackers that traditionally have attracted immigrant workers.

&nbsp;“These are people locked up away from family,” she said. “We have jailed innocent working people.”

The federal government has a different viewpoint.&nbsp;

Representatives of ICE and its Homeland Security Investigations arm have repeatedly referred to the Glenn Valley case as a targeted, federal criminal investigation aimed at stopping the widespread use of stolen identifications by foreign-born workers to gain jobs.

“These so-called ‘honest workers’ have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans,” HSI’s Mark Zito has said. “If pretending to be someone you aren’t in order to steal their lives isn’t blatant criminal dishonesty, I don’t know what is.”

Court documents track the Omaha raid&nbsp; —&nbsp;the largest immigration enforcement action in Nebraska since 2018 —&nbsp;back to a March subpoena that sought company employment records tying 107 of 177 employees to fraudulent IDs or documents that didn’t authorize them to work in the country.

At least one defrauded U.S. citizen already had lodged identity theft complaints with the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration. During the raid, agents questioned a worker whose job application matched the name of that complainant — leading to the arrest of Guadalupe Cabrera Mejia.

To date, available federal court records show Cabrera Mejia as the only Glenn Valley employee criminally charged for the alleged use of a stolen ID. Asked how that reconciled with “widespread” criminal activity alleged earlier, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nebraska said ICE determines whether to pursue felony criminal charges.&nbsp;

With regard to the Glenn Valley probe, she said, ICE elected “overwhelmingly” to pursue administrative charges in immigration court, a venue and process independent of federal prosecutors.

ICE has said an administrative charge is often a more expedient option, a faster path to deportation. The raid came as federal agencies are under pressure from the Trump administration’s goal of making 3,000 related arrests per day and pursuing mass deportations.&nbsp;

In Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen, backed by many legislative Republicans, has pledged resources to help President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. Among state offerings: turning the McCook-based Work Ethic Camp into a Midwestern ICE detention center that federal officials dubbed the “Cornhusker Clink.”&nbsp;

That conversion plan requires the relocation of 186 state inmates elsewhere in a Nebraska correctional system already ranked as&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Agencies/Inspector_General_of_the_Nebraska_Correctional_System/600_20250915-155923.pdf" target="_blank">the most crowded</a>&nbsp;in the country, when measured by operational capacity. The decision to offer ICE state assistance sparked protests at the Governor’s Mansion and a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/09/12/conversion-of-mccook-facility-into-ice-detention-hub-draws-overflow-hearing-statewide-concerns/">four-hour public hearing</a>&nbsp;that drew dozens of opponent speakers and no proponents.

Scant details shared about the project is partly what Juarez said spurred her to make the trek west to the jail in North Platte and prison in McCook.&nbsp;

“This isn’t going away,” she said. “They’re amping up enforcement, and I really wanted to see and hear from these families for myself.”

On a day last week, Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer accompanied Juarez into separate cell blocs for men and women. The Examiner was allowed as well.

Women set aside Bibles and art materials and huddled around the silver table where the lawmaker sat. An interpreter from a local advocacy group called Hope Esperanza helped bridge any language gaps.

Kramer praised the nonprofit’s founder, North Platte native TinaMaria Fernandez, for having eased stress that came with the sudden swell of inmates whose first language was different from that of his staff.&nbsp;

The arrival of the Glenn Valley group increased the jail population by about 50% at a time the facility was short-staffed, Kramer said. He said the federal government pays the county $74 a day for each ICE detainee and covers transportation and medical expenses.

“If I remember it right, they called to see if we could take them and said they’d be here in three hours,” Kramer said.&nbsp;

Juarez viewed as a positive sign the rapport between Hope Esperanza, Kramer and his team and detainees. She wondered out loud if McCook has a similar community organization able to assist in that town’s future ICE detention operation.

Fernandez said that while McCook is about an hour’s drive away, she didn’t see her team being able to provide similar humanitarian outreach at that facility, since the oversight would be federal versus local county officials.

Most of the women, in response to Juarez’s queries, said they hadn’t visited with family members face-to-face but had been able to communicate via video conferencing.&nbsp;

Jail staff have been respectful and responsive, several said. Another added: “It’s ugly. We’re locked up.”&nbsp;

Isabel Ponce, a 34-year-old mother of three kids who are with their father in Omaha, said anxiety was “pushing my limits.”&nbsp;

For some, legal relief has been grinding or nonexistent.

In Garibo Chona’s case, for example, an immigration judge ordered her removal from the country. She was torn about appealing and leaving her daughters but said the judge told her he would not change his mind if her case came before him six months later. She was removed from the country last week.

Solis Factor said she had a government-issued permit to work while awaiting a court hearing, so she at first was not concerned she’d be detained. But many immigration programs and rules have changed since Trump took office for the second time in January. And a judge ordered her removal.

“I want my children to stay and continue their education and learning English,” she said of her kids, ages 5 and 10.

Indeed, the swiftly-evolving immigration landscape has been playing out in an Omaha courtroom.

U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon at least nine times has rejected attempts by the federal government to deny the release of Glenn Valley workers on bonds already granted by an immigration court judge.

The three most recent cases were decided Sept. 11 and involved women who had met with Juarez. Among them was Yurenia Genchi Palma, a single mother of three U.S. citizen children who had been in the country more than 20 years.&nbsp;

Though an immigration judge in mid-July granted Genchi Palma’s release on a $7,000 bond, federal attorneys blocked it by filing an “automatic stay.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which represents her, called that a new practice driven by the “interim guidance” leaked in a July 8 internal memo from the Trump administration.&nbsp;

The new approach seeks to make nearly all detained immigrants facing removal proceedings ineligible for release on bond, with an aim of making more of them more likely to self deport, experts say.&nbsp;

ICE has said the changed direction “closes a loophole to our nation’s security” that the Biden administration and others had based on “inaccurate interpretation” of federal law. Such measures are needed, says Trump and other supporters of stepped-up immigration enforcement, to reverse past patterns.

Bataillon ruled the automatic stay provision and prolonged detention unconstitutional despite a Sept. 6 decision days before by the Board of Immigration Appeals, which had affirmed the “interim guidance.”&nbsp;

As a federal court judge, Bataillon is not required to follow the decision of the BIA, an administrative body in the executive branch. He questioned the legal rationale behind the analysis but said that wasn’t his concern.&nbsp;

He said his ruling was based only on the lawfulness of the automatic stay.&nbsp;

Grant Friedman of ACLU Nebraska foresees continued legal challenges and noted that the ICE no-bond practice already is being challenged in a separate national class action lawsuit. He said ACLU and other advocates are on heightened alert.

“The immigration landscape is rapidly changing,” Friedman said. “We are doing everything we can to make sure people are being treated fairly, that they have their rights respected.”

Anne Wurth, associate legal director of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, which has assisted many Glenn Valley workers, called the current landscape “absolute chaos.”

&nbsp;“We have a system that is punishing individuals we rely on in our workforce and who are just humans who deserve to live their life with freedom,” she said.

Juarez said dealing with immigration-related matters was not something she expected as a state officeholder. She’s the first Latina in the Nebraska Legislature and is serving her first year as a state lawmaker.

A Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, she recently clashed over immigration policy in an email exchange with former Nebraska governor and now U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, and plans to urge the state’s all-GOP congressional delegation to push for immigration reform. She toured the&nbsp; McCook jail after leaving North Platte, and vows to monitor the conversion and amplify related budget discussions.&nbsp;

“There’s no doubt I’m going to stand up,” said Juarez. “My community expects that.”

ICE told the Examiner politicians should focus on encouraging their constituents to comply with federal law. It said all migrant detainees are treated humanely and given access to essential services and that any concerns regarding detainee care are taken seriously.

For Ramirez Jacinto, each day in detention brings worry. Is his daughter able to sleep yet? Are the house bills paid? Will his family in Omaha go with him if he’s deported? How will they escape the violence?

“I’d like my family to stay, but who would work?” said Ramirez Jacinto. “I’m the worker.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758481465874.png" alt=" State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha visits with Glenn Valley Foods workers who were detained during a June 10 immigration raid in Omaha and held in the Lincoln County Jail in North Platte. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha visits with Glenn Valley Foods workers who were detained during a June 10 immigration raid in Omaha and held in the Lincoln County Jail in North Platte. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A Nebraska lawmaker sheds tears, vows action after visiting jailed migrants in North Platte</h2>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — After three months in ICE detention, legal fees mounting and no release in sight, Nuri Garibo Chona did what she called unimaginable. She left behind four daughters to return to the birthplace where she hadn’t lived for decades. The Omaha mom was here illegally. Her kids are all U.S. citizens, and younger ones now are in the care of her oldest daughter, who is 27.&nbsp;Another woman ensnared in the Glenn Valley Foods immigration raid in Omaha also was removed to Mexico last week without her two children, who remained in Omaha with their dad. On her way out, Leydy Solis Factor said she still was confused about why the work permit she got through proper channels was no longer goodMeanwhile, one of the men still held from the raid in the Lincoln County Jail has hired a local lawyer to replace an out-of-state firm and prays he hasn’t lost a shot at being released on bond. He has a wife and children in Omaha and fears for their safety if he is forced back to Guatemala.The number of Glenn Valley workers detained in this North Platte jail, which is paid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants, has dwindled since the high-profile worksite raid executed June 10 by more than 80 federal and local agents.&nbsp;Shortly after the Nebraska Examiner visited the facility last week, Garibo Chona and Solis Factor were removed from the country, and three other women were released on bond, leaving six from the Glenn Valley raid among those in custody there.&nbsp;ICE officials did not provide specifics when asked this week for an update, but of the original group of roughly 80 arrested, a spokesperson previously said about a dozen were released early and 63 were sent to North Platte. Several of the detainees agreed to voluntarily deport themselves, and many have been released on bond as their lawyers build cases to prevent forced removal.To State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha, their journeys and circumstances have become even more relevant as the state prepares to repurpose a state prison into a&nbsp; 300-bed ICE detention center in McCook, a town of about 7,200 residents about an hour from North Platte.Last week she became the first state lawmaker to sit down with Glenn Valley detainees. The discussion ranged from medical, legal and interpreter services to how their children were faring. After meeting with men and women garbed in black and white stripes, Juarez stepped into a nearby hall and cried.&nbsp;She said she’s on a mission to ensure that federal ICE detainees in Nebraska have access to the same services offered to state inmates in state prisons.“It was really difficult to see the reality, the human faces,” said Juarez, whose South Omaha district includes the Glenn Valley plant and other meatpackers that traditionally have attracted immigrant workers.&nbsp;“These are people locked up away from family,” she said. “We have jailed innocent working people.”* * *&nbsp;The federal government has a different viewpoint.&nbsp;Representatives of ICE and its Homeland Security Investigations arm have repeatedly referred to the Glenn Valley case as a targeted, federal criminal investigation aimed at stopping the widespread use of stolen identifications by foreign-born workers to gain jobs.“These so-called ‘honest workers’ have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans,” HSI’s Mark Zito has said. “If pretending to be someone you aren’t in order to steal their lives isn’t blatant criminal dishonesty, I don’t know what is.”Court documents track the Omaha raid&nbsp; —&nbsp;the largest immigration enforcement action in Nebraska since 2018 —&nbsp;back to a March subpoena that sought company employment records tying 107 of 177 employees to fraudulent IDs or documents that didn’t authorize them to work in the country.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758481173388.png" alt="A worker gets apprehended at Glenn Valley Foods during the largest Nebraska immigration raid since President Donald Trump took office. (Courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)" />
 <figcaption>A worker gets apprehended at Glenn Valley Foods during the largest Nebraska immigration raid since President Donald Trump took office. (Courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)</figcaption>
 </figure>At least one defrauded U.S. citizen already had lodged identity theft complaints with the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration. During the raid, agents questioned a worker whose job application matched the name of that complainant — leading to the arrest of Guadalupe Cabrera Mejia.To date, available federal court records show Cabrera Mejia as the only Glenn Valley employee criminally charged for the alleged use of a stolen ID. Asked how that reconciled with “widespread” criminal activity alleged earlier, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Nebraska said ICE determines whether to pursue felony criminal charges.&nbsp;With regard to the Glenn Valley probe, she said, ICE elected “overwhelmingly” to pursue administrative charges in immigration court, a venue and process independent of federal prosecutors.ICE has said an administrative charge is often a more expedient option, a faster path to deportation. The raid came as federal agencies are under pressure from the Trump administration’s goal of making 3,000 related arrests per day and pursuing mass deportations.&nbsp;In Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen, backed by many legislative Republicans, has pledged resources to help President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. Among state offerings: turning the McCook-based Work Ethic Camp into a Midwestern ICE detention center that federal officials dubbed the “Cornhusker Clink.”&nbsp;That conversion plan requires the relocation of 186 state inmates elsewhere in a Nebraska correctional system already ranked as&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/109/PDF/Agencies/Inspector_General_of_the_Nebraska_Correctional_System/600_20250915-155923.pdf" target="_blank">the most crowded</a>&nbsp;in the country, when measured by operational capacity. The decision to offer ICE state assistance sparked protests at the Governor’s Mansion and a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/09/12/conversion-of-mccook-facility-into-ice-detention-hub-draws-overflow-hearing-statewide-concerns/">four-hour public hearing</a>&nbsp;that drew dozens of opponent speakers and no proponents.Scant details shared about the project is partly what Juarez said spurred her to make the trek west to the jail in North Platte and prison in McCook.&nbsp;“This isn’t going away,” she said. “They’re amping up enforcement, and I really wanted to see and hear from these families for myself.”* * *&nbsp;On a day last week, Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer accompanied Juarez into separate cell blocs for men and women. The Examiner was allowed as well.Women set aside Bibles and art materials and huddled around the silver table where the lawmaker sat. An interpreter from a local advocacy group called Hope Esperanza helped bridge any language gaps.Kramer praised the nonprofit’s founder, North Platte native TinaMaria Fernandez, for having eased stress that came with the sudden swell of inmates whose first language was different from that of his staff.&nbsp;The arrival of the Glenn Valley group increased the jail population by about 50% at a time the facility was short-staffed, Kramer said. He said the federal government pays the county $74 a day for each ICE detainee and covers transportation and medical expenses.“If I remember it right, they called to see if we could take them and said they’d be here in three hours,” Kramer said.&nbsp;Juarez viewed as a positive sign the rapport between Hope Esperanza, Kramer and his team and detainees. She wondered out loud if McCook has a similar community organization able to assist in that town’s future ICE detention operation.Fernandez said that while McCook is about an hour’s drive away, she didn’t see her team being able to provide similar humanitarian outreach at that facility, since the oversight would be federal versus local county officials.Most of the women, in response to Juarez’s queries, said they hadn’t visited with family members face-to-face but had been able to communicate via video conferencing.&nbsp;Jail staff have been respectful and responsive, several said. Another added: “It’s ugly. We’re locked up.”&nbsp;Isabel Ponce, a 34-year-old mother of three kids who are with their father in Omaha, said anxiety was “pushing my limits.”&nbsp;For some, legal relief has been grinding or nonexistent.In Garibo Chona’s case, for example, an immigration judge ordered her removal from the country. She was torn about appealing and leaving her daughters but said the judge told her he would not change his mind if her case came before him six months later. She was removed from the country last week.Solis Factor said she had a government-issued permit to work while awaiting a court hearing, so she at first was not concerned she’d be detained. But many immigration programs and rules have changed since Trump took office for the second time in January. And a judge ordered her removal.“I want my children to stay and continue their education and learning English,” she said of her kids, ages 5 and 10.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758481326422.png" alt="State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha visits with Glenn Valley Foods workers who were detained during a June 10 immigration raid in Omaha and held in the Lincoln County Jail in North Platte. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Margo Juarez of South Omaha visits with Glenn Valley Foods workers who were detained during a June 10 immigration raid in Omaha and held in the Lincoln County Jail in North Platte. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Indeed, the swiftly-evolving immigration landscape has been playing out in an Omaha courtroom.U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Bataillon at least nine times has rejected attempts by the federal government to deny the release of Glenn Valley workers on bonds already granted by an immigration court judge.The three most recent cases were decided Sept. 11 and involved women who had met with Juarez. Among them was Yurenia Genchi Palma, a single mother of three U.S. citizen children who had been in the country more than 20 years.&nbsp;Though an immigration judge in mid-July granted Genchi Palma’s release on a $7,000 bond, federal attorneys blocked it by filing an “automatic stay.” The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which represents her, called that a new practice driven by the “interim guidance” leaked in a July 8 internal memo from the Trump administration.&nbsp;The new approach seeks to make nearly all detained immigrants facing removal proceedings ineligible for release on bond, with an aim of making more of them more likely to self deport, experts say.&nbsp;ICE has said the changed direction “closes a loophole to our nation’s security” that the Biden administration and others had based on “inaccurate interpretation” of federal law. Such measures are needed, says Trump and other supporters of stepped-up immigration enforcement, to reverse past patterns.Bataillon ruled the automatic stay provision and prolonged detention unconstitutional despite a Sept. 6 decision days before by the Board of Immigration Appeals, which had affirmed the “interim guidance.”&nbsp;As a federal court judge, Bataillon is not required to follow the decision of the BIA, an administrative body in the executive branch. He questioned the legal rationale behind the analysis but said that wasn’t his concern.&nbsp;He said his ruling was based only on the lawfulness of the automatic stay.&nbsp;Grant Friedman of ACLU Nebraska foresees continued legal challenges and noted that the ICE no-bond practice already is being challenged in a separate national class action lawsuit. He said ACLU and other advocates are on heightened alert.“The immigration landscape is rapidly changing,” Friedman said. “We are doing everything we can to make sure people are being treated fairly, that they have their rights respected.”Anne Wurth, associate legal director of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, which has assisted many Glenn Valley workers, called the current landscape “absolute chaos.”&nbsp;“We have a system that is punishing individuals we rely on in our workforce and who are just humans who deserve to live their life with freedom,” she said.* * *&nbsp;Juarez said dealing with immigration-related matters was not something she expected as a state officeholder. She’s the first Latina in the Nebraska Legislature and is serving her first year as a state lawmaker.A Democrat in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, she recently clashed over immigration policy in an email exchange with former Nebraska governor and now U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, and plans to urge the state’s all-GOP congressional delegation to push for immigration reform. She toured the&nbsp; McCook jail after leaving North Platte, and vows to monitor the conversion and amplify related budget discussions.&nbsp;“There’s no doubt I’m going to stand up,” said Juarez. “My community expects that.”ICE told the Examiner politicians should focus on encouraging their constituents to comply with federal law. It said all migrant detainees are treated humanely and given access to essential services and that any concerns regarding detainee care are taken seriously.For Ramirez Jacinto, each day in detention brings worry. Is his daughter able to sleep yet? Are the house bills paid? Will his family in Omaha go with him if he’s deported? How will they escape the violence?“I’d like my family to stay, but who would work?” said Ramirez Jacinto. “I’m the worker.”

Months after Nebraska raid: One ICE detention chapter winds down, another heats up

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Routh texted his three adult children and his fiancée separately to tell them he loved them, according to cell phone records, shortly before authorities say he was spotted by a U.S. Secret Service agent, who identified Routh as the man who tried to assassinate President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course.

Later that same day, Routh called his fiancée from the Palm Beach County jail to tell her about his arrest, but she already knew. “Everybody knows, it’s been hours,” the woman can be heard saying on a recording of the call. “The whole world knows.”

Routh is representing himself in federal court after being charged with trying kill Trump and is set to present his defense Monday, calling just three witnesses.

Seasoned prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida rested their case Friday afternoon after spending seven days questioning 38 witnesses in an attempt to make sure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ryan-wesley-routh">Routh</a>&nbsp;spends the rest of his life in prison.

Prosecutors have said Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.

Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-indictment-b4c956e1a126e4acfb3c4eae0c06ddb1">attempting to assassinate</a>&nbsp;a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.

He told U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday that he only needs half a day or so to present his defense. He has indicated that he plans to call a firearms expert and two character witnesses. He hasn’t said whether he plans to testify himself.

Cannon signed off on Routh’s request to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-attempt-florida-644c71bc607e4ebad5115f2a490b314c">represent himself</a>&nbsp;following two hearings in July. Routh told the judge that his court-appointed federal public defenders were diligent, but they didn’t listen to him and were afraid of him.

“How are they supposed to represent me and say I’m not a dangerous person when they don’t believe that?” Routh said in July.

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney. Routh’s former defense attorneys have served as standby counsel since Routh took over his own defense and have been present during trial the past two weeks.

Cannon said attorneys should be prepared to deliver their closing arguments Tuesday, giving each side one hour and 45 minutes. Jurors will begin deliberating after that. Cannon had initially blocked off more than three weeks for the trial at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse, but Routh’s relatively short cross-examinations have led to a quicker pace than anticipated.

Recounting the alleged attack at the golf course, a Secret Service agent testified last week that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot, the agent said.

Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who testified that he saw a person fleeing the area after hearing gunshots. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witness said he confirmed it was the person he had seen.

Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-butler-assassination-attempt-anniversary-crooks-d18804b0e1382003bbb91449638c721c">an attempt</a>&nbsp;on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear. The gunman was then fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.

Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.

In the early days of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch (25-centimeter) fuse, police said.

In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.

In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726536262473.png" alt="Routh photo Palm Beach County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Routh photo Palm Beach County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Routh texted his three adult children and his fiancée separately to tell them he loved them, according to cell phone records, shortly before authorities say he was spotted by a U.S. Secret Service agent, who identified Routh as the man who tried to assassinate President Donald Trump at his Florida golf course.Later that same day, Routh called his fiancée from the Palm Beach County jail to tell her about his arrest, but she already knew. “Everybody knows, it’s been hours,” the woman can be heard saying on a recording of the call. “The whole world knows.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741357051491.png" alt="-Routh photo Palm Beach County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>-Routh photo Palm Beach County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Routh is representing himself in federal court after being charged with trying kill Trump and is set to present his defense Monday, calling just three witnesses.Seasoned prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida rested their case Friday afternoon after spending seven days questioning 38 witnesses in an attempt to make sure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ryan-wesley-routh">Routh</a>&nbsp;spends the rest of his life in prison.Prosecutors have said Routh spent weeks plotting to kill Trump before aiming a rifle through shrubbery as Trump played golf on Sept. 15, 2024, at his West Palm Beach country club.Routh has pleaded not guilty to charges of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-indictment-b4c956e1a126e4acfb3c4eae0c06ddb1">attempting to assassinate</a>&nbsp;a major presidential candidate, assaulting a federal officer and several firearm violations.He told U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon on Friday that he only needs half a day or so to present his defense. He has indicated that he plans to call a firearms expert and two character witnesses. He hasn’t said whether he plans to testify himself.Cannon signed off on Routh’s request to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shooting-attempt-florida-644c71bc607e4ebad5115f2a490b314c">represent himself</a>&nbsp;following two hearings in July. Routh told the judge that his court-appointed federal public defenders were diligent, but they didn’t listen to him and were afraid of him.“How are they supposed to represent me and say I’m not a dangerous person when they don’t believe that?” Routh said in July.The U.S. Supreme Court has held that criminal defendants have a right to represent themselves in court proceedings, as long as they can show a judge they are competent to waive their right to be defended by an attorney. Routh’s former defense attorneys have served as standby counsel since Routh took over his own defense and have been present during trial the past two weeks.Cannon said attorneys should be prepared to deliver their closing arguments Tuesday, giving each side one hour and 45 minutes. Jurors will begin deliberating after that. Cannon had initially blocked off more than three weeks for the trial at the Fort Pierce federal courthouse, but Routh’s relatively short cross-examinations have led to a quicker pace than anticipated.Recounting the alleged attack at the golf course, a Secret Service agent testified last week that he spotted Routh before Trump came into view. Routh aimed his rifle at the agent, who opened fire, causing Routh to drop his weapon and flee without firing a shot, the agent said.Law enforcement obtained help from a witness who testified that he saw a person fleeing the area after hearing gunshots. The witness was then flown in a police helicopter to a nearby interstate where Routh was arrested, and the witness said he confirmed it was the person he had seen.Just nine weeks earlier, Trump had survived&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-butler-assassination-attempt-anniversary-crooks-d18804b0e1382003bbb91449638c721c">an attempt</a>&nbsp;on his life while campaigning in Pennsylvania. That gunman had fired eight shots, with one bullet grazing Trump’s ear. The gunman was then fatally shot by a Secret Service counter sniper.Routh was a North Carolina construction worker who in recent years had moved to Hawaii. A self-styled mercenary leader, Routh spoke out to anyone who would listen about his dangerous, sometimes violent plans to insert himself into conflicts around the world, witnesses have told The Associated Press.In the early days of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>, Routh tried to recruit soldiers from Afghanistan, Moldova and Taiwan to fight the Russians. In his native Greensboro, North Carolina, he was arrested in 2002 for eluding a traffic stop and barricading himself from officers with a fully automatic machine gun and a “weapon of mass destruction,” which turned out to be an explosive with a 10-inch (25-centimeter) fuse, police said.In 2010, police searched a warehouse Routh owned and found more than 100 stolen items, from power tools and building supplies to kayaks and spa tubs. In both felony cases, judges gave Routh either probation or a suspended sentence.In addition to the federal charges, Routh also has pleaded not guilty to state charges of terrorism and attempted murder.

On trial: Trump would-be assassin to call witnesses 

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — The Army has released the names of four soldiers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-helicopter-crash-washington-lewis-mcchord-8152a3942e01071d24b0540c8bb169d3">killed Wednesday when the military helicopter they were on crashed</a>&nbsp;near a base in Washington state.

The victims are chief warrant officers Andrew Cully and Andrew Kraus, and sergeants Donavon Scott and Jadalyn Good, the Army said Monday in a release.

Cully, 35, was from Sparta, Missouri. Kraus, 39, was from Sanibel, Florida. Scott, 25, was from Tacoma, Washington, and Good, 23, was from Mount Vernon, Washington.

The helicopter was on a routine flight training west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

The base is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Tacoma under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The skies in the area were mostly clear with light winds from the south around the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service.

The soldiers “embodied the unwavering dedication, selflessness, and excellence that define the very spirit of the Army and Army Special Operations,” Col. Stephen Smith said in the release.

They were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, an elite team that does nighttime missions, when their MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed about 9 p.m.

The regiment’s mission is to organize, equip and employ Army special operations aviation forces around the world, according to the Army’s website.

“Known as Night Stalkers, these soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations,” the website said. “They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled precision.”

This was the second deadly crash of this elite unit in recent years.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/helicopter-crash-military-mediterranean-496af1a724bced44fc6bcd674c226f2a">Five Army aviation special operations forces</a>&nbsp;were killed when a helicopter crashed in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2023 during a routine air refueling mission as part of military training. They were all part of the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

In March 2024, two soldiers from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord SOAR unit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jblm-military-helicopter-crash-bccebea6ab1001e89c7c09c949273698">were hospitalized</a>&nbsp;when their Apache helicopter crashed at the base during a routine training exercise.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758554655260.png" alt="Clockwise from upper left Chief Warrant Oficer Andrew Cully, 35; Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Kraus, 39; Sgt. Donavon Scott, 25 and Sgt. Jadalyn Good, 23.-photo U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Clockwise from upper left Chief Warrant Oficer Andrew Cully, 35; Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Kraus, 39; Sgt. Donavon Scott, 25 and Sgt. Jadalyn Good, 23.-photo U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — The Army has released the names of four soldiers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-helicopter-crash-washington-lewis-mcchord-8152a3942e01071d24b0540c8bb169d3">killed Wednesday when the military helicopter they were on crashed</a>&nbsp;near a base in Washington state.The victims are chief warrant officers Andrew Cully and Andrew Kraus, and sergeants Donavon Scott and Jadalyn Good, the Army said Monday in a release.Cully, 35, was from Sparta, Missouri. Kraus, 39, was from Sanibel, Florida. Scott, 25, was from Tacoma, Washington, and Good, 23, was from Mount Vernon, Washington.The helicopter was on a routine flight training west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, according to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.The base is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Tacoma under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army Joint Base Headquarters.The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The skies in the area were mostly clear with light winds from the south around the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service.The soldiers “embodied the unwavering dedication, selflessness, and excellence that define the very spirit of the Army and Army Special Operations,” Col. Stephen Smith said in the release.They were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, an elite team that does nighttime missions, when their MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed about 9 p.m.The regiment’s mission is to organize, equip and employ Army special operations aviation forces around the world, according to the Army’s website.“Known as Night Stalkers, these soldiers are recognized for their proficiency in nighttime operations,” the website said. “They are highly trained and ready to accomplish the very toughest missions in all environments, anywhere in the world, day or night, with unparalleled precision.”This was the second deadly crash of this elite unit in recent years.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/helicopter-crash-military-mediterranean-496af1a724bced44fc6bcd674c226f2a">Five Army aviation special operations forces</a>&nbsp;were killed when a helicopter crashed in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2023 during a routine air refueling mission as part of military training. They were all part of the Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.In March 2024, two soldiers from the Joint Base Lewis-McChord SOAR unit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jblm-military-helicopter-crash-bccebea6ab1001e89c7c09c949273698">were hospitalized</a>&nbsp;when their Apache helicopter crashed at the base during a routine training exercise.

Army identifies 4 soldiers killed in Black Hawk helicopter crash 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a drive by shooting have made three arrests.

&nbsp;Just before 7p.m. September 17, police were dispatched to a drive-by shooting at a residence in the 2300 block of South Lulu in Wichita, according to a media release. The home, occupied by a 56-year-old man and a 23-year-old man, was struck by gunfire. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Responding patrol officers, supported by the Patrol South Community Response Team, immediately began collecting evidence and quickly identified a suspect vehicle.

On September 18, 2025, officers from the Property Crimes Response Team and the Violent Crimes Response Team continued the investigation. Working with detectives, they located the suspect vehicle at a residence in south Wichita. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspects fled. With assistance from the Kansas Highway Patrol Air Support Unit, officers tracked the vehicle until it stopped, and the three suspects fled on foot.

All three suspects, 42-year-old Bruce Mabry, 46-year-old Phillip Peach Two Hatchett, identified in Sedgwick County booking records, and a a 22-year-old woman were apprehended shortly after. Officers also recovered two handguns from the suspect vehicle.

Following interviews conducted by detectives with the Major Crimes Unit Mabry was booked on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Assault, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Two Hatchett was booked on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Assault and Criminal Discharge of a Firearm.

The facts of this case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758383766933.png" alt="TWO HATCHETT photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>TWO HATCHETT photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a drive by shooting have made three arrests.&nbsp;Just before 7p.m. September 17, police were dispatched to a drive-by shooting at a residence in the 2300 block of South Lulu in Wichita, according to a media release. The home, occupied by a 56-year-old man and a 23-year-old man, was struck by gunfire. Fortunately, no one was injured.Responding patrol officers, supported by the Patrol South Community Response Team, immediately began collecting evidence and quickly identified a suspect vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758383613203.png" alt="Mabry photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Mabry photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On September 18, 2025, officers from the Property Crimes Response Team and the Violent Crimes Response Team continued the investigation. Working with detectives, they located the suspect vehicle at a residence in south Wichita. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspects fled. With assistance from the Kansas Highway Patrol Air Support Unit, officers tracked the vehicle until it stopped, and the three suspects fled on foot.All three suspects, 42-year-old Bruce Mabry, 46-year-old Phillip Peach Two Hatchett, identified in Sedgwick County booking records, and a a 22-year-old woman were apprehended shortly after. Officers also recovered two handguns from the suspect vehicle.Following interviews conducted by detectives with the Major Crimes Unit Mabry was booked on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Assault, Criminal Discharge of a Firearm, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Two Hatchett was booked on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Assault and Criminal Discharge of a Firearm.The facts of this case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration.

Suspects accused of shooting at a Kansas home

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Seven people were injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Sunday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Fusion driven by Julian Wahnee, 34, Topeka, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of the Bonner Springs exit.&nbsp; The driver lost control and the car began to roll.&nbsp;

The car struck three pedestrians standing on the shoulder of the highway near a disabled Chevrolet Impala in the right ditch.

EMS transported Wahnee and three passengers in the car including Rebecca Unzueta, 27, Topeka, a 14-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy to KU Medical Center.&nbsp; EMS transported two of the pedestrians Dylan Birkenbaugh, 22, Topeka and Jason Kautzman, 23, Osage City, to KU Medical Center. The other pedestrian Jesse Colwell, 26, Topeka, was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; 

The driver and passengers in the Ford were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Seven people were injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Sunday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford Fusion driven by Julian Wahnee, 34, Topeka, was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of the Bonner Springs exit.&nbsp; The driver lost control and the car began to roll.&nbsp;The car struck three pedestrians standing on the shoulder of the highway near a disabled Chevrolet Impala in the right ditch.EMS transported Wahnee and three passengers in the car including Rebecca Unzueta, 27, Topeka, a 14-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy to KU Medical Center.&nbsp; EMS transported two of the pedestrians Dylan Birkenbaugh, 22, Topeka and Jason Kautzman, 23, Osage City, to KU Medical Center. The other pedestrian Jesse Colwell, 26, Topeka, was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; The driver and passengers in the Ford were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

7 hospitalized after rollover crash strikes pedestrians on I-70

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas teen charged for her role in an acid attack on another teen was back in court Friday.&nbsp;

Tayronnia West, who was 18 at the time of the crime, pled guilty to Reckless Aggravated Battery, severity level 5, person felony, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She is scheduled for sentencing on November 5.

In June Judge Tyler Rousch sentenced West's accomplice Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, who was 18, at the time of the crime, to 34 months in prison and 24 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In May, a jury found Hollins guilty of aggravated battery.

In May of 2024, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a fight.&nbsp;

Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for the suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested Hollins and accomplice&nbsp;Tayronnia Jontashia West. In March of 2025, police also arrested a 17-year-old girl in connection with the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717690818288.png" alt="West photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>West photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas teen charged for her role in an acid attack on another teen was back in court Friday.&nbsp;Tayronnia West, who was 18 at the time of the crime, pled guilty to Reckless Aggravated Battery, severity level 5, person felony, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. She is scheduled for sentencing on November 5.In June Judge Tyler Rousch sentenced West's accomplice Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, who was 18, at the time of the crime, to 34 months in prison and 24 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In May, a jury found Hollins guilty of aggravated battery.In May of 2024, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a fight.&nbsp;Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for the suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested Hollins and accomplice&nbsp;Tayronnia Jontashia West. In March of 2025, police also arrested a 17-year-old girl in connection with the case.

Kansas teen enters plea for acid attack on another girl

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a woman who took a joy ride in a city bus in Lawrence.

Jut after 11a.m. Friday,&nbsp; a woman forced her way into the driver’s seat and took off in a Lawrence Transit bus, according to a statement from police.  Nobody was hurt. 

 The driver and two passengers got off the bus before the woman  left the Central Transit Station. The woman took the bus north on Iowa, east on 6th, then north on Maine traveling about 35-40 mph.

   Officers were able to surround the bus to pin her in near 2nd and Michigan. Officers safely took her into custody then to the hospital for evaluation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758456623358.png" alt="Photo courtesy Lawrence Transit" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Lawrence Transit</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a woman who took a joy ride in a city bus in Lawrence.Jut after 11a.m. Friday,&nbsp; a woman forced her way into the driver’s seat and took off in a Lawrence Transit bus, according to a statement from police. Nobody was hurt. The driver and two passengers got off the bus before the woman left the Central Transit Station. The woman took the bus north on Iowa, east on 6th, then north on Maine traveling about 35-40 mph. Officers were able to surround the bus to pin her in near 2nd and Michigan. Officers safely took her into custody then to the hospital for evaluation.

Police: Kansas woman in custody after driving off in city bus 

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;praised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;as a “great American hero” and “martyr” for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered Sunday evening to honor the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance.

The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.

Elon Musk arrives at the memorial service- CSPAN

President Trump and Elon Musk shake hands&nbsp; at Charlie Kirk memorial service.

(Click below to watch a replay of the full service)

“He’s a martyr now for America’s freedom,” Trump said in his tribute. “I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history.”

Speakers highlighted Kirk’s profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, build families and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in confrontational tones, that the best way to honor Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right.

“For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees,” Vance said. “My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith.”

Kirk’s assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has become a singular moment for the modern-day conservative movement. It also has set off a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-political-violence-shootings-utah-7b4e9b662932943a77635a0f8e839270">fierce debate about violence</a>, decency and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-workplace-speech-firing-29717a8612ccedebabc7cba29e7ef627">free speech</a>&nbsp;in an era of deep political division.

The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kirk-trump-cancel-culture-assassination-4d69649e382ea46d8dcf794150a1d3c9">suppress the voices</a>&nbsp;of his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-revenge-bolton-military-deployments-aa2b977621bce563770b60dade581f79">critics and political opponents</a>.

Those close to Kirk prayed and the floors shook from the bass of Christian rock bands as the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals took on the feel of a megachurch service.

“Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus,” said the Rev. Rob McCoy, Kirk’s pastor.

People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-memorial-state-farm-stadium-ff4815a8ec8f4eb6f4855360a98a04fa">State Farm Stadium</a>&nbsp;west of Phoenix, where Kirk’s Turning Point organization is based. Security was tight, similar to the Super Bowl or other high-profile event. The speakers delivered their tributes from behind bullet-proof glass.

The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organizers suggested.

Kirk's widow, Erika, in her own address said in the midst of her grief she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She also said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him.

“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” said Erika Kirk, who is taking over as Turning Point's leader. She added, “I forgive him.”

Comments about Kirk have become a Trump administration target

Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-radical-left-political-opposition-3875efd0674ed2a22a719dfb42ace6ab">blamed the “radical left”</a>&nbsp;for Kirk’s death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others who he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirk's death.

Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-speech-republicans-firings-government-vance-e65a4939b80e4f4822db188e978d8812">lost their jobs</a>&nbsp;as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Republican administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Kirk’s death.

Some speakers at the memorial said Kirk was battling evil and referred often to a vague “they” as the enemy. Others were blunt.

“You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic," said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.

Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-kirk-host-show-husband-father-65cf1d42c2c2f4e85988402b5224da2a">backlash from conservatives</a>&nbsp;who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy of someone they see as an inspirational conservative leader.

A 22-year-old Utah man,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">Tyler Robinson</a>, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">charged with killing Kirk</a>&nbsp;and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he “had enough” of Kirk's hatred.

Kirk's legacy of conservative political influence

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/turning-point-charlie-kirk-erika-kirk-trump-ff9141ca3fd5b8f1a103e7eb03f7535b">Turning Point, the group Kirk founded</a>&nbsp;to mobilize young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach.

“Charlie’s having some serious heavenly FOMO right now," Tyler Bower, Turning Point's chief operating officer, said, likening the moment to bringing “the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally."

The crowd was a testament to the massive influence he accumulated in conservative America with his ability to mobilize young people.

Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-fd5ca9b3b7338993970dd0a34dafb64b">Utah Valley University,</a>&nbsp;where he was shot. Kirk grew the organization, in large part, through the force of his personality and debating chops.

“He slayed ignorance,” said Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. “He cut through lies. He woke people’s minds, inspired people’s hearts and imparted wisdom every day.”

Speaker after speaker, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed their awe at Kirk's ability to go into what many conservatives saw as the lion's den to make the conservative case: college campuses.

“Why don’t you start somewhere easier,” Rubio joked when he first heard about Kirk years ago. “Like, for example, communist Cuba?"

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;praised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;as a “great American hero” and “martyr” for freedom as he and other prominent conservatives gathered Sunday evening to honor the slain conservative political activist whose work they say they must now advance.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump and Erika Kirk at the Memorial Service for Charlie Kirk. <a href="https://t.co/c27ViuD7Yw">pic.twitter.com/c27ViuD7Yw</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1969907727984996794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The memorial service for Kirk, whom Trump credits with playing a pivotal role in his 2024 election victory, drew tens of thousands of mourners, including Vice President JD Vance, other senior administration officials and young conservatives shaped by the 31-year-old firebrand.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Erika Kirk: &quot;My husband Charlie he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life...On the cross, our savior said, &#39;Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do.&#39; That young man. I forgive him.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/jy8W7YrmVs">pic.twitter.com/jy8W7YrmVs</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1969891437153022226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Charlie, we all thank you. God Bless Charlie Kirk. God Bless <a href="https://twitter.com/MrsErikaKirk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MrsErikaKirk</a>. God Bless the United States of America. ❤️🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/Su8XcdnIfK">pic.twitter.com/Su8XcdnIfK</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1969908965657157966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;What was even more important to Charlie than politics and service was the choice he made in the fifth grade — which he called the &#39;most important decision of his life&#39; — to become a Christian and a follower of his savior, Jesus Christ.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ILCrfawb72">pic.twitter.com/ILCrfawb72</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969894622492242407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Charlie&#39;s murder was not just an attack on one man or one movement — it was an attack on our entire nation.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/KH143fYf28">pic.twitter.com/KH143fYf28</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969900488742039948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Elon Musk arrives at the memorial service- CSPAN<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Elon Musk arrives Charlie Kirk memorial service ... <a href="https://t.co/mxq5uJRoQo">pic.twitter.com/mxq5uJRoQo</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1969853380995760613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Trump and Elon Musk shake hands&nbsp; at Charlie Kirk memorial service.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Pres. Trump and Elon Musk shake hands ... Charlie Kirk memorial service <a href="https://t.co/SnEHLFIkYH">pic.twitter.com/SnEHLFIkYH</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1969872157762330760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> speaks at State Farm Stadium to celebrate the life of <a href="https://twitter.com/charliekirk11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@charliekirk11</a> 🙏🏼🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/LWzldXJ4I0">pic.twitter.com/LWzldXJ4I0</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1969898402562605190?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Charlie Kirk was a hero to this country and a faithful servant of God. Every day that we continue his mission is an honor to his memory. We&#39;ve got it from here, my friend. <a href="https://t.co/Bh7NnEwsX4">pic.twitter.com/Bh7NnEwsX4</a>&mdash; JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1969915771875623159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">For Charlie, we will speak the truth every single day. For Charlie, we will rebuild this United States to greatness. For Charlie, we will never shrink, we will never cower, and we will never falter — even when staring down the barrel of a gun. For Charlie, we will remember… <a href="https://t.co/zgbZLPMvvi">pic.twitter.com/zgbZLPMvvi</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969883258138542350?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration — and there proclaim, &#39;My God! How great Thou art!&#39;&quot; ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/6Dw5giPkpm">pic.twitter.com/6Dw5giPkpm</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969797502086865182?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Stephen Miller: &quot;We will prevail over the forces of wickedness and evil. They cannot imagine what they have awakened...You thought you could kill Charlie Kirk? You have made him immortal!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/uMZfkmjSdF">pic.twitter.com/uMZfkmjSdF</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1969866326492475512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Full remarks from White House Chief of Staff <a href="https://twitter.com/SusieWiles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SusieWiles</a> at Charlie Kirk&#39;s memorial service: &quot;When <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#39; 2024 campaign partnered with <a href="https://twitter.com/TPUSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TPUSA</a>, Charlie did not just promise, he delivered... Charlie just didn&#39;t help, he made the winning difference — I promise you that.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/r1fFurhYLY">pic.twitter.com/r1fFurhYLY</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969866346751021116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a>&#39;s full remarks at Charlie Kirk&#39;s memorial service: &quot;A couple of days ago, my granddaughter left for college in Europe. Her mother noticed that she packed a Bible. When her mother asked her why she made that choice, she said, &#39;I want to live more like Charlie.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/u2BIBVc1AI">pic.twitter.com/u2BIBVc1AI</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969875978475143241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a>&#39;s full remarks at Charlie Kirk&#39;s memorial service: &quot;Charlie Kirk was a citizen who had the Biblical heart of a soldier of the faith — who put on, every single day, the full armor of God with a smile, as the Scriptures tell all Christ followers to do.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ZvvRVtZz7s">pic.twitter.com/ZvvRVtZz7s</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969875365813276815?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Marco Rubio breaks down what’s important.<a href="https://twitter.com/marcorubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marcorubio</a> <a href="https://t.co/fhORQkE4Lv">pic.twitter.com/fhORQkE4Lv</a>&mdash; Turning Point Action (@TPAction_) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPAction_/status/1969871975163236667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DNIGabbard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DNIGabbard</a>&#39;s full remarks at Charlie Kirk&#39;s memorial service: &quot;By trying to silence Charlie, his voice is now louder than ever.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JCoI9moZgs">pic.twitter.com/JCoI9moZgs</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969870322804425215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>(Click below to watch a replay of the full service)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DKGRfogo-l0?si=Ojm1zR4G3eUXUMTw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“He’s a martyr now for America’s freedom,” Trump said in his tribute. “I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will ever forget Charlie. And neither now will history.”Speakers highlighted Kirk’s profound faith and his strong belief that young conservatives need to get married, build families and pass on their values to keep building their movement. They also repeatedly told conservative activists, sometimes in confrontational tones, that the best way to honor Kirk was doubling down on his mission to move American politics further to the right.“For Charlie, we will remember that it is better to stand on our feet defending the United States of America and defending the truth than it is to die on our knees,” Vance said. “My friends, for Charlie, we must remember that he is a hero to the United States of America. And he is a martyr for the Christian faith.”Kirk’s assassination at a Sept. 10 appearance on a Utah college campus has become a singular moment for the modern-day conservative movement. It also has set off a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-political-violence-shootings-utah-7b4e9b662932943a77635a0f8e839270">fierce debate about violence</a>, decency and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-workplace-speech-firing-29717a8612ccedebabc7cba29e7ef627">free speech</a>&nbsp;in an era of deep political division.The shooting has stirred fear among some Americans that Trump is trying to harness outrage over the killing as justification to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kirk-trump-cancel-culture-assassination-4d69649e382ea46d8dcf794150a1d3c9">suppress the voices</a>&nbsp;of his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-revenge-bolton-military-deployments-aa2b977621bce563770b60dade581f79">critics and political opponents</a>.<h2>High security and a full stadium</h2>Those close to Kirk prayed and the floors shook from the bass of Christian rock bands as the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals took on the feel of a megachurch service.“Charlie looked at politics as an on-ramp to Jesus,” said the Rev. Rob McCoy, Kirk’s pastor.People began lining up before dawn to secure a spot inside&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-memorial-state-farm-stadium-ff4815a8ec8f4eb6f4855360a98a04fa">State Farm Stadium</a>&nbsp;west of Phoenix, where Kirk’s Turning Point organization is based. Security was tight, similar to the Super Bowl or other high-profile event. The speakers delivered their tributes from behind bullet-proof glass.The 63,400-seat stadium quickly filled with people dressed in red, white and blue, as organizers suggested.Kirk's widow, Erika, in her own address said in the midst of her grief she was finding comfort that her husband left this world without regrets. She also said she forgives the man who is charged with killing him.“My husband, Charlie, he wanted to save young men, just like the one who took his life,” said Erika Kirk, who is taking over as Turning Point's leader. She added, “I forgive him.”<h2>Comments about Kirk have become a Trump administration target</h2>Trump has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-charlie-kirk-radical-left-political-opposition-3875efd0674ed2a22a719dfb42ace6ab">blamed the “radical left”</a>&nbsp;for Kirk’s death and threatened to go after liberal organizations and donors or others who he feels are maligning or celebrating Kirk's death.Dozens of people, from journalists to teachers to late show host Jimmy Kimmel, have faced suspensions or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-speech-republicans-firings-government-vance-e65a4939b80e4f4822db188e978d8812">lost their jobs</a>&nbsp;as prominent conservative activists and administration officials target comments about Kirk that they deem offensive or celebratory. The retaliation has in turn ignited a debate over the First Amendment as the Republican administration promises retribution against those who air what are seen as disparaging remarks in the wake of Kirk’s death.Some speakers at the memorial said Kirk was battling evil and referred often to a vague “they” as the enemy. Others were blunt.“You have no idea the dragon you have awakened, you have no idea how determined we will be to save this civilization, to save the West, to save this republic," said White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.Kirk was a provocateur who at times made statements that some called racist, misogynistic, anti-immigrant and transphobic. That has drawn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-kirk-host-show-husband-father-65cf1d42c2c2f4e85988402b5224da2a">backlash from conservatives</a>&nbsp;who view the criticism as cherry-picking a few select moments to insult the legacy of someone they see as an inspirational conservative leader.A 22-year-old Utah man,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">Tyler Robinson</a>, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">charged with killing Kirk</a>&nbsp;and faces the death penalty if convicted of the most serious charges. Authorities have not revealed a clear motive in the shooting, but prosecutors say Robinson wrote in a text to his partner following the shooting that he “had enough” of Kirk's hatred.<h2>Kirk's legacy of conservative political influence</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/turning-point-charlie-kirk-erika-kirk-trump-ff9141ca3fd5b8f1a103e7eb03f7535b">Turning Point, the group Kirk founded</a>&nbsp;to mobilize young Christian conservatives, became a multimillion-dollar operation under his leadership with enormous reach.“Charlie’s having some serious heavenly FOMO right now," Tyler Bower, Turning Point's chief operating officer, said, likening the moment to bringing “the Holy Spirit into a Trump rally."The crowd was a testament to the massive influence he accumulated in conservative America with his ability to mobilize young people.Kirk was a MAGA celebrity with a loyal following that turned out to support or argue with him as he traveled the country for the events like the one at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-fd5ca9b3b7338993970dd0a34dafb64b">Utah Valley University,</a>&nbsp;where he was shot. Kirk grew the organization, in large part, through the force of his personality and debating chops.“He slayed ignorance,” said Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. “He cut through lies. He woke people’s minds, inspired people’s hearts and imparted wisdom every day.”Speaker after speaker, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, expressed their awe at Kirk's ability to go into what many conservatives saw as the lion's den to make the conservative case: college campuses.“Why don’t you start somewhere easier,” Rubio joked when he first heard about Kirk years ago. “Like, for example, communist Cuba?"___

🎥Some of the best moments of Charlie Kirk's memorial service

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;— On September 20, 2025, at approximately 11:07 p.m., Wichita Police Officers responded to an injury accident in the 1900 block of South Southwest Boulevard.

Upon arrival, officers located two injured pedestrians: a 26-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man. Both were transported to a local hospital, where the man identified as Joseph Cox of Wichita, succumbed to his injuries.

The driver has been identified, our investigation is still ongoing, and when completed we will present the case to the DA for potential charging considerations.

The Wichita Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance. If you witnessed this accident or have any information, please contact the Accident Follow-Up Investigators at (316) 350-3689. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can submit a tip through Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;— On September 20, 2025, at approximately 11:07 p.m., Wichita Police Officers responded to an injury accident in the 1900 block of South Southwest Boulevard.Upon arrival, officers located two injured pedestrians: a 26-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man. Both were transported to a local hospital, where the man identified as Joseph Cox of Wichita, succumbed to his injuries.The driver has been identified, our investigation is still ongoing, and when completed we will present the case to the DA for potential charging considerations.The Wichita Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance. If you witnessed this accident or have any information, please contact the Accident Follow-Up Investigators at (316) 350-3689. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can submit a tip through Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.

Police look for possible witnesses to crash that killed Kansas man

FRANKLIN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a train,&nbsp; pedestrian crash in Franklin County.

Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday,&nbsp; police were called to the Main Street rail crossing in Wellsville, according to a media release from the Franklin County Sheriff.&nbsp; First responders found a man in the road with severe injuries. He was transported to a hospital for treatment.

The Franklin County Crash team is in charge of the investigation. Authorities released no additional details late Sunday.

FRANKLIN COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a train,&nbsp; pedestrian crash in Franklin County.Just after 12:30a.m. Sunday,&nbsp; police were called to the Main Street rail crossing in Wellsville, according to a media release from the Franklin County Sheriff.&nbsp; First responders found a man in the road with severe injuries. He was transported to a hospital for treatment.The Franklin County Crash team is in charge of the investigation. Authorities released no additional details late Sunday.

Sheriff: Kansas man hospitalized after struck by a train

PRATT COUNTY—A Pratt man is in custody after a standoff Friday evening in which police said he barricaded himself inside a home and resisted arrest.

Just before 5p.m. September 19, officers responded&nbsp; to a reported disturbance in the 700 block of Champa Street, according to&nbsp;According to the Pratt Police Department. A woman caller identified Jacob Davis, 36, of Pratt, as the suspect and reported there was an active protection-from-abuse order against him.

Police said Davis left the scene in a tan Chevrolet Suburban. A short time later, officers received another report that a vehicle matching that description nearly struck another driver near Champa and Green Street.

By 6 p.m., the reporting party told officers that Davis had driven past her residence honking his horn, and minutes later alleged that he returned and threw mortar-style fireworks toward children in the area. No injuries were reported.

At 6:48 p.m., officers located Davis at his residence at 1002 Champa. Police said he refused commands, retreated into the house and barricaded himself inside after officers used pepper spray to deter two aggressive dogs.

The Pratt County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team was called to assist. After deploying chemical agents and clearing the home’s main floor and attic, officers discovered a crawl space with two tunnels. Davis was ultimately found there and taken into custody after resisting arrest, police said.

He was booked into the Pratt County Jail on requested charges of violating a protection order, assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, interference with law enforcement and stalking.

No officers or citizens were injured during the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758469619399.jpeg" alt="Photo Pratt County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Photo Pratt County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT COUNTY—A Pratt man is in custody after a standoff Friday evening in which police said he barricaded himself inside a home and resisted arrest.Just before 5p.m. September 19, officers responded&nbsp; to a reported disturbance in the 700 block of Champa Street, according to&nbsp;According to the Pratt Police Department. A woman caller identified Jacob Davis, 36, of Pratt, as the suspect and reported there was an active protection-from-abuse order against him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758498462693.png" alt="Davis photo Pratt Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Davis photo Pratt Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Police said Davis left the scene in a tan Chevrolet Suburban. A short time later, officers received another report that a vehicle matching that description nearly struck another driver near Champa and Green Street.By 6 p.m., the reporting party told officers that Davis had driven past her residence honking his horn, and minutes later alleged that he returned and threw mortar-style fireworks toward children in the area. No injuries were reported.At 6:48 p.m., officers located Davis at his residence at 1002 Champa. Police said he refused commands, retreated into the house and barricaded himself inside after officers used pepper spray to deter two aggressive dogs.The Pratt County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team was called to assist. After deploying chemical agents and clearing the home’s main floor and attic, officers discovered a crawl space with two tunnels. Davis was ultimately found there and taken into custody after resisting arrest, police said.He was booked into the Pratt County Jail on requested charges of violating a protection order, assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, interference with law enforcement and stalking.No officers or citizens were injured during the incident.

Assault suspect found hiding in crawl space of Kansas home

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused of child sex crimes in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case Friday. Gonzalo Ramirez was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 6a.m. on Sept. 15, police were dispatched to a report of a sexual assault of a minor that occurred in the 1500 block of South Kansas in Wichita, according to a media release.

The investigation revealed that a minor was waiting for the school bus when they were approached by a 31-year-old male suspect, not known to her.&nbsp; The suspect, identified according to Sedgwick County booking records as Gonzalo Ramirez, lured the minor into a vehicle and committed the assault.

Officers quickly located Ramirez who was taken into custody and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; He remains in custody on a $500,000.00 bond, according to online jail records.

The Wichita Police Department reminds parents and guardians to:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758056137846.png" alt="Ramirez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ramirez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused of child sex crimes in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case Friday. Gonzalo Ramirez was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sodomy and aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just before 6a.m. on Sept. 15, police were dispatched to a report of a sexual assault of a minor that occurred in the 1500 block of South Kansas in Wichita, according to a media release.The investigation revealed that a minor was waiting for the school bus when they were approached by a 31-year-old male suspect, not known to her.&nbsp; The suspect, identified according to Sedgwick County booking records as Gonzalo Ramirez, lured the minor into a vehicle and committed the assault.Officers quickly located Ramirez who was taken into custody and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; He remains in custody on a $500,000.00 bond, according to online jail records.The Wichita Police Department reminds parents and guardians to:<ul>
 <li>Speak with their children about the dangers of speaking with strangers or entering vehicles with unknown individuals.</li><li>Encourage children to immediately notify a trusted adult and call 911 if they feel unsafe or encounter a similar situation.</li>
 </ul>

Suspect in Kan. school bus stop sex assault faced a judge

KANSAS CITY —A child was injured in an accident that occurred just after 1p.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.

A black SUV was northbound on N. Jackson approaching East Windsor Street, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. At the same time a boy&nbsp; under the age of 10 was riding a scooter on East Windsor. The child failed to stop at the stop sign causing a collision. 

EMS transported the child to an area hospital for treatment of critical injuries, according to Becchina.&nbsp; The driver of the SUV remained at the scene and is cooperating with officers. The accident remains under investigation.

KANSAS CITY —A child was injured in an accident that occurred just after 1p.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri.A black SUV was northbound on N. Jackson approaching East Windsor Street, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. At the same time a boy&nbsp; under the age of 10 was riding a scooter on East Windsor. The child failed to stop at the stop sign causing a collision. EMS transported the child to an area hospital for treatment of critical injuries, according to Becchina.&nbsp; The driver of the SUV remained at the scene and is cooperating with officers. The accident remains under investigation.

Child hospitalized in Kansas City after SUV, scooter crash 

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. Treasure is proposing regulations for President Trump's ' no tax on tips.'&nbsp; The regulations proposed by the U.S. Treasury on Friday detail the occupations covered, who will qualify and what counts as a qualified tip:

1. The tip must be voluntarily given, so mandatory tips or auto-gratuities would not qualify for the “no tax on tips” benefit.

2. Tip pools and similar arrangements qualify, so long as they are reported to the IRS and voluntary.

3. The benefit is not available to married individuals who file their taxes separately.

4. The tip must be given in cash, check, debit card, gift card or any item exchangeable for a fixed amount of cash, unlike digital assets.

5. Any amount received for illegal activity, prostitution services, or pornographic activity does not qualify as a tip

A provision in the Republicans’ massive tax and spending law allows certain workers to deduct up to $25,000 in “qualified tips” from their federal income taxes each year from 2025 through 2028. The deduction phases out for taxpayers with a modified adjusted gross income over $150,000.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. Treasure is proposing regulations for President Trump's ' no tax on tips.'&nbsp; The regulations proposed by the U.S. Treasury on Friday detail the occupations covered, who will qualify and what counts as a qualified tip:1. The tip must be voluntarily given, so mandatory tips or auto-gratuities would not qualify for the “no tax on tips” benefit.2. Tip pools and similar arrangements qualify, so long as they are reported to the IRS and voluntary.3. The benefit is not available to married individuals who file their taxes separately.4. The tip must be given in cash, check, debit card, gift card or any item exchangeable for a fixed amount of cash, unlike digital assets.5. Any amount received for illegal activity, prostitution services, or pornographic activity does not qualify as a tipA provision in the Republicans’ massive tax and spending law allows certain workers to deduct up to $25,000 in “qualified tips” from their federal income taxes each year from 2025 through 2028. The deduction phases out for taxpayers with a modified adjusted gross income over $150,000.

Treasury proposes regulations for the ‘no tax on tips’ law

Drugstores are ready to deliver updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall and insurers plan to pay for them, even though the shots no longer come recommended by an important government committee.

By TOM MURPHY AP Health WriterDrugstores are ready to deliver updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall and insurers plan to pay for them, even though the shots no longer come recommended by an important government committee.On Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-advisers-vaccines-hepatitis-b-covid19-a1fb61ef7e29d93d2828618d890cceb3">vaccine advisers</a>&nbsp;picked by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to specifically recommend the shots but said people could make individual decisions on whether to get them.The recommendations from the advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require sign-off by the agency's director, but they are almost always adopted.Those recommendations normally trigger several layers of insurance coverage and allow drugstores in many states to deliver the shots. But insurers and government officials have said coverage will continue, and several states have allowed for vaccine access through pharmacies, the most common place to get shots.Many people start seeking vaccinations in the late summer or early fall to get protection against any winter surges in cases.Here's a closer look at the issue.<h2>Will insurers cover these shots?</h2>Many are expected to do so, but you still may want to check with yours.The Department of Health and Human Services said Friday that the committee vote “provides for immunization coverage through all payment mechanisms.” An HHS spokesperson said that includes Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, commercial coverage sold through health insurance marketplaces and the federal Vaccines for Children program, which pays for roughly half of childhood vaccinations in the U.S. each year.The VFC program normally automatically covers any vaccines recommended by the CDC committee.The trade group America's Health Insurance Plans said earlier this week that its members will continue to cover the shots at no cost to patients through 2026.That group includes every major insurer except UnitedHealthcare. And that insurer has said it will continue covering the vaccine at no cost for its standard commercial coverage, which includes plans offered for individuals and through small businesses.One caveat: Large employers that offer coverage will make their own decisions on the vaccines.They may be motivated to continue coverage: The vaccines can help ward off expensive hospital bills from people who develop a bad case of COVID-19.<h2>Where people can get vaccinations</h2>About two-thirds of adults get COVID-19 shots at pharmacies, and around 30% receive them at doctors’ offices, according to CDC data.Access to the shots has grown after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-access-limitations-645d64cee13664840fc9a39ff2d309c0">a clunky start</a>&nbsp;to vaccine season that saw some people travel to nearby states when they couldn't make appointments at pharmacies closer to home.Drugstore chains like CVS say their locations are stocked with the latest vaccines, and they now are able to deliver vaccinations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Prescriptions are required in D.C. and a handful of states, including Florida and Georgia, CVS Health spokeswoman Amy Thibault said.Walgreens also requires prescriptions in a few states, a company spokesperson said.<h2>Who can get the shot</h2>Until now, the U.S. has recommended yearly COVID-19 shots for everyone age 6 months and older.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-covid-shots-fda-kennedy-pfizer-children-9ce19908ae7afb354732aa162fd28532">recently approved</a>&nbsp;the shots for all people age 65 and older, and for younger adults and children with conditions that put them at high risk for catching a bad case of COVID-19.The CDC maintains&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html">a long list</a>&nbsp;of conditions that would put someone at high risk, including asthma, cancer, heart or lung problems, obesity, depression and a history of smoking. It also includes those who are physically inactive, and the agency notes that this list is not conclusive.Patients can consult with their doctor or care provider to decide whether they are high risk if they don't have a condition on that list.Both CVS and Walgreens representatives say their companies will ask patients under age 65 if they have any of these factors. They won't require proof.“In simplest terms, if a patient says they’re eligible, they will get the vaccine,” said Thibault, the CVS Health spokeswoman.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.