President Donald Trump&nbsp;has granted&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly’s&nbsp;request for a federal disaster declaration for the state due to damages caused by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding during the period of June 3-7, 2025.

Due to severe storms and flooding multiple counties sustained damage to utility infrastructure, roads, and bridges.

“These federal funds will go a long way in supporting the restoration work by those in counties impacted by the storms”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly<b>&nbsp;</b>said.

The declaration allows state and local levels of government, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations that provide vital and essential services, such as rural electric cooperatives, to apply for Public Assistance funds for emergency and permanent work for the repair or replacement of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.

Counties named in the declaration are Barber, Butler, Chase, Coffey, Cowley, Franklin, Greenwood, Harper, Hodgeman, Kingman, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Stanton, Sumner, and Wallace.

<p>President Donald Trump&nbsp;has granted&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly’s&nbsp;request for a federal disaster declaration for the state due to damages caused by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding during the period of June 3-7, 2025.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here&#39;s a look at the two day rainfall totals that brought the significant flooding to the area. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/jCKAnTyOkE">pic.twitter.com/jCKAnTyOkE</a></p>&mdash; NWS Wichita (@NWSWichita) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSWichita/status/1930311315198713936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Due to severe storms and flooding multiple counties sustained damage to utility infrastructure, roads, and bridges.</p><p>“These federal funds will go a long way in supporting the restoration work by those in counties impacted by the storms”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly<b>&nbsp;</b>said.</p><p>The declaration allows state and local levels of government, as well as certain private nonprofit organizations that provide vital and essential services, such as rural electric cooperatives, to apply for Public Assistance funds for emergency and permanent work for the repair or replacement of infrastructure damaged by the disaster.</p><p>Counties named in the declaration are Barber, Butler, Chase, Coffey, Cowley, Franklin, Greenwood, Harper, Hodgeman, Kingman, Lyon, Morris, Osage, Stanton, Sumner, and Wallace.</p>

Trump approves Kan. request for major presidential disaster declaration

OREM, Utah (AP) — The suspect in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassinated-utah-university-shooter-search-b0acf4797f57f3436d8f8d0843dbea43">the Charlie Kirk assassination</a>&nbsp;has been captured, President Donald Trump said Friday in an announcement representing a significant breakthrough in the investigation into a targeted killing that raised fresh alarms about political violence in the United States.

“With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump announced in a live interview on Fox News Chanel. He said a minister also involved with law enforcement turned the suspect in to authorities.

“Somebody that was very close to him said, ‘Hmm, that’s him,’” Trump said.

Tyler Robinson, 22, had become “more political” in the run-up to the shooting and had indicated to a family friend afterward that he was responsible, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. Cox also cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed used in the attack as well as chatting app messages attributed to the shooting suspect that a roommate shared with law enforcement.

Cox, a Republican, called Kirk's killing an “attack on the American experiment,” and he urged a new generation to “choose a different path.”

Robinson is believed to have acted alone, and the investigation is ongoing, Cox said.

Robinson's arrest early Friday morning was disclosed by President Donald Trump, who said in a Fox News Channel interview that, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him.”

Calls to telephone numbers listed for Robinson in public records rang unanswered.

News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person's whereabouts.

Kirk was killed by a single shot in what police said was a targeted attack and Utah’s governor called a political assassination. Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point USA</a>, based in Arizona.

Authorities recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene of the shooting and had said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into the nearby woods afterward.

Kirk had been speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of Wednesday's shooting. He was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead hours later.

“He wanted to help young people, and he didn’t deserve this,” Trump said Friday. “He was really a good person.”

Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassinated-utah-university-shooter-search-b0acf4797f57f3436d8f8d0843dbea43">released photos and a video</a>&nbsp;of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassination-turning-point-utah-c8192d8eda83312aabf4cf0a3cd6e5f1">was shot as he spoke to a crowd</a>&nbsp;gathered in a courtyard at the university in Orem.

More than 7,000 leads and tips had poured in, officials said. Authorities have yet to cite a motive in the killing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-killing-america-divided-violence-politics-9b75c05301668fa033f9b4cc98b046c9">the latest act of political violence</a>&nbsp;to convulse the United States.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the suspect had indicated to a family friend that he was connected to the shooting. Cox, a Republican, said the suspect had grown more political and was opposed to Kirk’s beliefs

The suspect in custody in connection with Kirk's killing is a 22-year-old from Utah, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. Authorities have identified the suspect as Tyler Robinson, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The FBI and the Justice Department did not immediately comment, but a news conference in Utah, where the killing took place on a college campus this week, was planned for later Friday. News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person's whereabouts.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757689066912.png" alt="Tyler Robinson-photo released by the Utah Governor's Office" />
                        <figcaption>Tyler Robinson-photo released by the Utah Governor's Office</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>OREM, Utah (AP) — The suspect in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassinated-utah-university-shooter-search-b0acf4797f57f3436d8f8d0843dbea43">the Charlie Kirk assassination</a>&nbsp;has been captured, President Donald Trump said Friday in an announcement representing a significant breakthrough in the investigation into a targeted killing that raised fresh alarms about political violence in the United States.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Utah <a href="https://twitter.com/GovCox?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovCox</a>: &quot;We got him. On the evening of September 11th, a family member of Tyler Robinson reached out to a family friend who contacted the Washington County Sheriff&#39;s office with information that Robinson had confessed to them or implied that he had committed the incident.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/qULwsRRfBX">pic.twitter.com/qULwsRRfBX</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1966507038269137063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>“With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” Trump announced in a live interview on Fox News Chanel. He said a minister also involved with law enforcement turned the suspect in to authorities.</p><p>“Somebody that was very close to him said, ‘Hmm, that’s him,’” Trump said.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Essentially, somebody that was very close to him turned him in.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JB9H7yTs5C">https://t.co/JB9H7yTs5C</a> <a href="https://t.co/TMCwKbfH2m">pic.twitter.com/TMCwKbfH2m</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1966474851809403193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;I hope he gets the death penalty.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JB9H7yTs5C">https://t.co/JB9H7yTs5C</a> <a href="https://t.co/iLXw6XXiAE">pic.twitter.com/iLXw6XXiAE</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1966475601268601320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Tyler Robinson, 22, had become “more political” in the run-up to the shooting and had indicated to a family friend afterward that he was responsible, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said. Cox also cited as key pieces of evidence engravings on bullets found in a rifle believed used in the attack as well as chatting app messages attributed to the shooting suspect that a roommate shared with law enforcement.</p><p>Cox, a Republican, called Kirk's killing an “attack on the American experiment,” and he urged a new generation to “choose a different path.”</p><p>Robinson is believed to have acted alone, and the investigation is ongoing, Cox said.</p><p>Robinson's arrest early Friday morning was disclosed by President Donald Trump, who said in a Fox News Channel interview that, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him.”</p><p>Calls to telephone numbers listed for Robinson in public records rang unanswered.</p><p>News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person's whereabouts.</p><p>Kirk was killed by a single shot in what police said was a targeted attack and Utah’s governor called a political assassination. Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point USA</a>, based in Arizona.</p><p>Authorities recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene of the shooting and had said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into the nearby woods afterward.</p><p>Kirk had been speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of Wednesday's shooting. He was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead hours later.</p><p>“He wanted to help young people, and he didn’t deserve this,” Trump said Friday. “He was really a good person.”</p><p>Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassinated-utah-university-shooter-search-b0acf4797f57f3436d8f8d0843dbea43">released photos and a video</a>&nbsp;of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassination-turning-point-utah-c8192d8eda83312aabf4cf0a3cd6e5f1">was shot as he spoke to a crowd</a>&nbsp;gathered in a courtyard at the university in Orem.</p><p>More than 7,000 leads and tips had poured in, officials said. Authorities have yet to cite a motive in the killing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-killing-america-divided-violence-politics-9b75c05301668fa033f9b4cc98b046c9">the latest act of political violence</a>&nbsp;to convulse the United States.</p><p>---------------------</p><p>Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the suspect had indicated to a family friend that he was connected to the shooting. Cox, a Republican, said the suspect had grown more political and was opposed to Kirk’s beliefs</p><p>The suspect in custody in connection with Kirk's killing is a 22-year-old from Utah, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. Authorities have identified the suspect as Tyler Robinson, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.</p><p>Calls to telephone numbers listed for Robinson in public records rang unanswered.</p><p>The FBI and the Justice Department did not immediately comment, but a news conference in Utah, where the killing took place on a college campus this week, was planned for later Friday. News of the arrest came hours after the FBI and state officials had pleaded for public help by releasing additional photographs of the suspect, a move that seemed to indicate that law enforcement was uncertain of the person's whereabouts.</p><p>Kirk was killed by a single shot in what police said was a targeted attack and Utah’s governor called a political assassination. Kirk co-founded the nonprofit political organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-shutdown-charlie-kirk-turning-point-afb64a04493ddf44df3b7338536a6524">Turning Point USA</a>, based in Arizona.</p><p>Authorities recovered a high-powered, bolt-action rifle near the scene of the shooting and had said the shooter jumped off a roof and vanished into the nearby woods afterward.</p><p>Kirk had been speaking at a debate hosted by Turning Point at Utah Valley University at the time of Wednesday's shooting. He was taken to a local hospital and was pronounced dead hours later.</p><p>“He wanted to help young people, and he didn’t deserve this,” Trump said Friday. “He was really a good person.”</p><p>Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassinated-utah-university-shooter-search-b0acf4797f57f3436d8f8d0843dbea43">released photos and a video</a>&nbsp;of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-assassination-turning-point-utah-c8192d8eda83312aabf4cf0a3cd6e5f1">was shot as he spoke to a crowd</a>&nbsp;gathered in a courtyard at the university in Orem.</p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YrfHme9Yhc8?si=dR-yzqr3RQfEXOJT&amp;start=3" 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><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are asking for the public&#39;s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. <br>1-800-CALL-FBI<br>Digital media tips: <a href="https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ">https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/ALuVkTXuDc">pic.twitter.com/ALuVkTXuDc</a></p>&mdash; FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBISaltLakeCity/status/1966169520403525760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥New details on capture of Charlie Kirk murder suspect

FINNEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 4a.m. Friday in Finney County.

According to Garden City police, a vehicle driven by 24-year-old Jaeden Nelson struck a power line post in&nbsp;the 3700 block of E. Mary Street in northeast Garden City.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. Firefighter safely extricated the children from the car, and both were transported to the hospital for treatment. One child was later taken to a Wichita hospital due to the extent of their injuries.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The Finney County Sheriff's office,&nbsp; Garden City Fire Department and Finney County EMS assisted police at the scene.

<p>FINNEY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 4a.m. Friday in Finney County.</p><p>According to Garden City police, a vehicle driven by 24-year-old Jaeden Nelson struck a power line post in&nbsp;the 3700 block of E. Mary Street in northeast Garden City.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. Firefighter safely extricated the children from the car, and both were transported to the hospital for treatment. One child was later taken to a Wichita hospital due to the extent of their injuries.</p><p>The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The Finney County Sheriff's office,&nbsp; Garden City Fire Department and Finney County EMS assisted police at the scene.</p>

Kansas woman dead, children injured after car strikes power pole

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man charged in the death of his pregnant girlfriend returned to court Thursday.

Matthew Wayne Criscenzo, 20,&nbsp; pleaded not guilty in Judge Jeffrey Goering's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He was&nbsp; charged with 1st degree murder and aggravated battery, in the shooting death of 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby.

On May 25, police arrested&nbsp; Criscenzo in the 700 Block of Laura Street in Wichita in connection with the shooting death. At the time of the incident,&nbsp;Oglesby was pregnant, according to Officer Rick Pena. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she was pronounced deceased.

Doctors were able to deliver her infant who was transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;A jury trial status hearing in the case is scheduled for October 8. 

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748259337812.png" alt="Criscenzo-photo Sedgwick Counthy" />
                        <figcaption>Criscenzo-photo Sedgwick Counthy</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man charged in the death of his pregnant girlfriend returned to court Thursday.</p><p>Matthew Wayne Criscenzo, 20,&nbsp; pleaded not guilty in Judge Jeffrey Goering's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He was&nbsp; charged with 1st degree murder and aggravated battery, in the shooting death of 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748340707658.png" alt="Naomi Oglesby photo GoFundMe" />
                        <figcaption>Naomi Oglesby photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>On May 25, police arrested&nbsp; Criscenzo in the 700 Block of Laura Street in Wichita in connection with the shooting death. At the time of the incident,&nbsp;Oglesby was pregnant, according to Officer Rick Pena. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she was pronounced deceased.</p><p>Doctors were able to deliver her infant who was transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;A jury trial status hearing in the case is scheduled for October 8. </p>

Kan. man accused of killing pregnant girlfriend enters plea 

’Honestly, it’s not for everyone’ tagline earned awards but also detractors as a ‘mockery’

Paul Hamme<br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/07/wall-of-shame-still-used-by-nebraska-to-convince-delinquent-taxpayers-to-pay-up/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN – John Ricks, the state tourism director who deployed the edgy and controversial marketing pitch “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone,” has resigned.

Ricks, who was paid $133,838-a-year, could not immediately be reached for comment. His resignation was accepted Thursday by the State Tourism Commission, which has since appointed Deputy Director Heather Hogue as interim executive director, as was reported first by the Nebraska Rural Radio Network.

While Ricks got mixed reviews on the tourism pitch, an official with the Nebraska Travel Association said he played a key role in helping increase tourism in the state, citing a 26.4% growth rate in state lodging taxes from 2019-2022 compared to only 2.5% nationally.

“Ricks is to be commended for putting Nebraska on the tourism map,” said Kerri Rempp, president of the state travel association.

Hired in 2016 by then Gov. Pete Ricketts, Ricks had worked as an associate director in Colorado’s state tourism office before taking the Nebraska job. His hiring was touted as bringing a fresh perspective to a state that had been rated by one group as the “least likely” for tourists to visit.

That led to the new “Nebraska: Honestly, it’s not for everyone” marketing pitch, which included advertising emphasizing off-beat adventures in Nebraska, from floating down a river in a horse tank to hop-scotching across Badlands-like formations in Toadstool Park.

The self-deprecating pitch grabbed national attention, and, in 2022, won a national award for best integrated marketing and messaging. According to the State Tourism Commission, it also raised Nebraska’s tourism profile from last to 45th.

But some state leaders, including Gov. Jim Pillen and then Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Tony Goins, disliked the motto, which was coined by a marketing firm from Colorado. Goins said it “made a mockery” of the DED’s pitchline for new residents: “The Good Life is Calling.”

By 2024, the “not for everyone” tagline was dropped by the Tourism Commission and state legislators passed a bill seeking to better coordinate marketing pitches between the independent commission, also known as “Visit Nebraska” and state economic development officials.

The Nebraska Travel Association, in a press release this week, urged the State Tourism Commission to “act swiftly” to replace Ricks.

The tourism agency is funded by lodging taxes paid on motel and hotel bills. Its budget this year is $10.1 million to promote an industry that generates $4.5 billion in spending annually and supports over 41,000 jobs throughout Nebraska.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757679920780.png" alt="Nebraska tourism swag featured the now-dropped tagline, “Nebraska: Honestly, it’s not for everyone.”(Courtesy of Visit Nebraska)" />
                        <figcaption>Nebraska tourism swag featured the now-dropped tagline, “Nebraska: Honestly, it’s not for everyone.”(Courtesy of Visit Nebraska)</figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>’Honestly, it’s not for everyone’ tagline earned awards but also detractors as a ‘mockery’</h2><p>Paul Hamme<br><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/07/wall-of-shame-still-used-by-nebraska-to-convince-delinquent-taxpayers-to-pay-up/">Nebraska Examiner</a></p><p>LINCOLN – John Ricks, the state tourism director who deployed the edgy and controversial marketing pitch “Nebraska. Honestly, it’s not for everyone,” has resigned.</p><p>Ricks, who was paid $133,838-a-year, could not immediately be reached for comment. His resignation was accepted Thursday by the State Tourism Commission, which has since appointed Deputy Director Heather Hogue as interim executive director, as was reported first by the Nebraska Rural Radio Network.</p><p>While Ricks got mixed reviews on the tourism pitch, an official with the Nebraska Travel Association said he played a key role in helping increase tourism in the state, citing a 26.4% growth rate in state lodging taxes from 2019-2022 compared to only 2.5% nationally.</p><p>“Ricks is to be commended for putting Nebraska on the tourism map,” said Kerri Rempp, president of the state travel association.</p><p>Hired in 2016 by then Gov. Pete Ricketts, Ricks had worked as an associate director in Colorado’s state tourism office before taking the Nebraska job. His hiring was touted as bringing a fresh perspective to a state that had been rated by one group as the “least likely” for tourists to visit.</p><p>That led to the new “Nebraska: Honestly, it’s not for everyone” marketing pitch, which included advertising emphasizing off-beat adventures in Nebraska, from floating down a river in a horse tank to hop-scotching across Badlands-like formations in Toadstool Park.</p><p>The self-deprecating pitch grabbed national attention, and, in 2022, won a national award for best integrated marketing and messaging. According to the State Tourism Commission, it also raised Nebraska’s tourism profile from last to 45th.</p><p>But some state leaders, including Gov. Jim Pillen and then Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Tony Goins, disliked the motto, which was coined by a marketing firm from Colorado. Goins said it “made a mockery” of the DED’s pitchline for new residents: “The Good Life is Calling.”</p><p>By 2024, the “not for everyone” tagline was dropped by the Tourism Commission and state legislators passed a bill seeking to better coordinate marketing pitches between the independent commission, also known as “Visit Nebraska” and state economic development officials.</p><p>The Nebraska Travel Association, in a press release this week, urged the State Tourism Commission to “act swiftly” to replace Ricks.</p><p>The tourism agency is funded by lodging taxes paid on motel and hotel bills. Its budget this year is $10.1 million to promote an industry that generates $4.5 billion in spending annually and supports over 41,000 jobs throughout Nebraska.</p>

Nebraska tourism director who deployed ‘not for everyone’ marketing pitch resigns

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department&nbsp; investigating a homicide near Bank of Labor in Kansas City have identified the man who died as 44-year-old&nbsp;as Tequan Davis of Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

Just before 3:30p.m. September 4, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 800 block of State Avenue. First responders located Davis in the parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.  He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The person of interest in this case has been questioned and is cooperating with law enforcement but no charges have been filed.

This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757550705471.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC" />
                        <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department&nbsp; investigating a homicide near Bank of Labor in Kansas City have identified the man who died as 44-year-old&nbsp;as Tequan Davis of Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.</p><p>Just before 3:30p.m. September 4, police were dispatched to a shooting call in the 800 block of State Avenue. First responders located Davis in the parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.  He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The person of interest in this case has been questioned and is cooperating with law enforcement but no charges have been filed.</p><p>This incident remains under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit.&nbsp;</p>

Police ID man killed outside Kansas bank

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement and USD 266 officials are investigating two students in connection with a gun brought to school on Thursday.

According to a statement from the school district, multiple students at Maize High School reported a possible firearm at the school,&nbsp;11600 W 45th St N, in Maize.

 Maize Police and school administrators worked immediately and collaboratively to locate and confiscate a gun found in a backpack.&nbsp; Police arrested two students. There were no injuries.

<p>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement and USD 266 officials are investigating two students in connection with a gun brought to school on Thursday.</p><p>According to a statement from the school district, multiple students at Maize High School reported a possible firearm at the school,&nbsp;11600 W 45th St N, in Maize.</p><p> Maize Police and school administrators worked immediately and collaboratively to locate and confiscate a gun found in a backpack.&nbsp; Police arrested two students. There were no injuries.</p>

Gun found in backpack at Kansas high school

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a building fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported building fire in the 500 block of Walnut in the City Market area, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.. Crews reported light smoke and fire visible on arrival of a three-story commercial mixed-use building. 

A small fire had started on the third floor of the structure which houses a dance studio. The third-floor units sprinkler system had activated and held the fire in check until KCFD's arrival.&nbsp; 

Fire crews shut down the sprinkler and began salvage and overhaul operations. No injuries were reported.&nbsp; Power to the entire building was shut off. Several businesses were displaced temporarily until the building can be evaluated.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757623222978.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a building fire in Kansas City, Missouri.</p><p>Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported building fire in the 500 block of Walnut in the City Market area, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.. Crews reported light smoke and fire visible on arrival of a three-story commercial mixed-use building. </p><p>A small fire had started on the third floor of the structure which houses a dance studio. The third-floor units sprinkler system had activated and held the fire in check until KCFD's arrival.&nbsp; </p><p>Fire crews shut down the sprinkler and began salvage and overhaul operations. No injuries were reported.&nbsp; Power to the entire building was shut off. Several businesses were displaced temporarily until the building can be evaluated.</p>

Fire at dance studio in KC's City Market area  

RENO COUNTY —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly joined General William Turner and other military leaders at the Kansas State Fair on Wednesay for the Veterans and Military Appreciation Breakfast.

General Turner is the Director of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office.

Governor Kelly wrote on social media,&nbsp;"Events like this remind us of the importance of supporting our veterans and active-duty military personnel in every way we can."

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757638207101.png" alt="Photos from the Governor's social media page" />
                        <figcaption>Photos from the Governor's social media page</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>RENO COUNTY —Kansas Governor Laura Kelly joined General William Turner and other military leaders at the Kansas State Fair on Wednesay for the Veterans and Military Appreciation Breakfast.</p><p>General Turner is the Director of the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs Office.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757638094868.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Governor Kelly wrote on social media,&nbsp;"Events like this remind us of the importance of supporting our veterans and active-duty military personnel in every way we can."</p>

Gov. attends the military appreciation breakfast at the State Fair

OREM, Utah (AP) — A palm print. A shoe impression. And a high-powered rifle found in a wooded area. Those are among the clues authorities laid out as they pleaded for the public's help to find the person who assassinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-shooting-updates">conservative activist Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;before dropping from a Utah university campus roof and vanishing.

The search continued early Friday, nearly two days later.

Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday released a series of photos and a video of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk was hit as he spoke to a crowd gathered in a courtyard at Utah Valley University in Orem.

More than 7,000 leads and tips have poured in, officials said. But authorities have yet to name a suspect or cite a motive in the killing, the latest act of political violence to convulse the United States.

“We cannot do our job without the public’s help,” Gov. Spencer Cox said during a Thursday evening news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel, who did not speak.

The direct appeals for public support, including new and enhanced photos of a person in a hat, sunglasses, a long-sleeve black shirt and a backpack, appeared to signal law enforcement’s continued struggles. Two people who were taken into custody shortly after the shooting were determined not to be connected.

Other clues included a Mauser .30-caliber, bolt-action rifle found in a towel in the woods. A spent cartridge was recovered from the chamber, and three other rounds were loaded in the magazine, according to information circulated among law enforcement and described to The Associated Press. The weapon and ammunition were being analyzed by law enforcement at a federal lab.

Officials are offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Cox said he's prepared to seek the death penalty.

The attack, carried out in broad daylight as Kirk spoke about social issues, was captured on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-video-graphic-online-social-media-6cfd4dfde356b960aeea69c01ea3ec34">grisly videos that spread on social media</a>.

The videos show Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk reaches up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.

The shooter, who investigators believe blended into the campus crowd because of a “college-age” appearance, fired a single shot from the rooftop, according to authorities. Video released Thursday showed them then walking through the grass and across the street, before disappearing.

“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.

Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/political-violence-assassination-minnesota-trump-3c750cff0749633872ab6101bfa23b23">the violence</a>, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited with Kirk's family Thursday afternoon in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and the 2024 election.

“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”

Kirk’s casket was flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, where his nonprofit political youth organization, Turning Point USA, is based. Trump told reporters he plans to attend Kirk's funeral. Details have not been announced.

Kirk was taking questions about gun violence

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">Kirk was a conservative provocateur</a>&nbsp;who became a powerful political force among young Republicans and was a fixture on college campuses, where he invited sometimes-vehement debate on social issues.

One such provocative exchange played out immediately before the shooting as Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gun-violence">gun violence</a>.

The debate hosted by Turning Point at the Sorensen Center on campus was billed as the first stop on Kirk's “American Comeback Tour.”

The event generated a polarizing campus reaction. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry and constructive dialogue.”

Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”

Attendees barricaded themselves in classrooms

Some attendees who bolted after the gunshot rushed into two classrooms full of students. They used tables to barricade the door and to shield themselves in the corners. Someone grabbed an electric pencil sharpener and wrapped the cord tightly around the door handle, then tied the sharpener to a chair leg.

On campus Thursday, the canopy stamped with the slogan Kirk commonly used at his events — “PROVE ME WRONG” — stood, disheveled.

Kathleen Murphy, a longtime resident who lives near the campus, said she has been staying inside with her door locked.

“With the shooter not being caught yet, it was a worry,” Murphy said.

Meanwhile, the shooting continued to draw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-political-violence-reaction-87f6755421938d0a0d7c5905be10767f">swift bipartisan condemnation</a>&nbsp;as Democratic officials joined Trump and other Republican allies of Kirk in decrying the attack, which unfolded during a spike of political violence that has touched a range of ideologies and representatives of both major political parties.

Tucker and Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver; Michael Biesecker, Brian Slodysko, Lindsay Whitehurst and Michelle L. Price in Washington; Ty O'Neil in Orem, Utah; Hallie Golden in Seattle; and Meg Kinnard in Chapin, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757639423442.png" alt="Images released by the FBI" />
                        <figcaption>Images released by the FBI</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>OREM, Utah (AP) — A palm print. A shoe impression. And a high-powered rifle found in a wooded area. Those are among the clues authorities laid out as they pleaded for the public's help to find the person who assassinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/utah-valley-university-charlie-kirk-shooting-updates">conservative activist Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;before dropping from a Utah university campus roof and vanishing.</p><p>The search continued early Friday, nearly two days later.</p><p>Federal investigators and state officials on Thursday released a series of photos and a video of the person they believe is responsible. Kirk was hit as he spoke to a crowd gathered in a courtyard at Utah Valley University in Orem.</p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YrfHme9Yhc8?si=dR-yzqr3RQfEXOJT&amp;start=3" 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><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757639471242.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We are asking for the public&#39;s help identifying this person of interest in connection with the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. <br>1-800-CALL-FBI<br>Digital media tips: <a href="https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ">https://t.co/K7maX81TjJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/ALuVkTXuDc">pic.twitter.com/ALuVkTXuDc</a></p>&mdash; FBI Salt Lake City (@FBISaltLakeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBISaltLakeCity/status/1966169520403525760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757634046735.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>More than 7,000 leads and tips have poured in, officials said. But authorities have yet to name a suspect or cite a motive in the killing, the latest act of political violence to convulse the United States.</p><p>“We cannot do our job without the public’s help,” Gov. Spencer Cox said during a Thursday evening news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel, who did not speak.</p><p>The direct appeals for public support, including new and enhanced photos of a person in a hat, sunglasses, a long-sleeve black shirt and a backpack, appeared to signal law enforcement’s continued struggles. Two people who were taken into custody shortly after the shooting were determined not to be connected.</p><p>Other clues included a Mauser .30-caliber, bolt-action rifle found in a towel in the woods. A spent cartridge was recovered from the chamber, and three other rounds were loaded in the magazine, according to information circulated among law enforcement and described to The Associated Press. The weapon and ammunition were being analyzed by law enforcement at a federal lab.</p><p>Officials are offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Cox said he's prepared to seek the death penalty.</p><h2>Grisly video shared online</h2><p>The attack, carried out in broad daylight as Kirk spoke about social issues, was captured on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-video-graphic-online-social-media-6cfd4dfde356b960aeea69c01ea3ec34">grisly videos that spread on social media</a>.</p><p>The videos show Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump who played an influential role in rallying young Republican voters, speaking into a handheld microphone when suddenly a shot rings out. Kirk reaches up with his right hand as blood gushes from the left side of his neck. Stunned spectators gasp and scream before people start running away.</p><p>The shooter, who investigators believe blended into the campus crowd because of a “college-age” appearance, fired a single shot from the rooftop, according to authorities. Video released Thursday showed them then walking through the grass and across the street, before disappearing.</p><p>“I can tell you this was a targeted event,” said Robert Bohls, the top FBI agent in Salt Lake City.</p><p>Trump, who was joined by Democrats in condemning&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/political-violence-assassination-minnesota-trump-3c750cff0749633872ab6101bfa23b23">the violence</a>, said he would award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, visited with Kirk's family Thursday afternoon in Salt Lake City. Vance posted a remembrance on X chronicling their friendship, dating back to initial messages in 2017, through Vance’s Senate run and the 2024 election.</p><p>“So much of the success we’ve had in this administration traces directly to Charlie’s ability to organize and convene,” Vance wrote. “He didn’t just help us win in 2024, he helped us staff the entire government.”</p><p>Kirk’s casket was flown aboard Air Force Two from Utah to Phoenix, where his nonprofit political youth organization, Turning Point USA, is based. Trump told reporters he plans to attend Kirk's funeral. Details have not been announced.</p><h2>Kirk was taking questions about gun violence</h2><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">Kirk was a conservative provocateur</a>&nbsp;who became a powerful political force among young Republicans and was a fixture on college campuses, where he invited sometimes-vehement debate on social issues.</p><p>One such provocative exchange played out immediately before the shooting as Kirk was taking questions from an audience member about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/gun-violence">gun violence</a>.</p><p>The debate hosted by Turning Point at the Sorensen Center on campus was billed as the first stop on Kirk's “American Comeback Tour.”</p><p>The event generated a polarizing campus reaction. An online petition calling for university administrators to bar Kirk from appearing received nearly 1,000 signatures. The university issued a statement last week citing First Amendment rights and affirming its “commitment to free speech, intellectual inquiry and constructive dialogue.”</p><p>Last week, Kirk posted on X images of news clips showing his visit was sparking controversy. He wrote, “What’s going on in Utah?”</p><h2>Attendees barricaded themselves in classrooms</h2><p>Some attendees who bolted after the gunshot rushed into two classrooms full of students. They used tables to barricade the door and to shield themselves in the corners. Someone grabbed an electric pencil sharpener and wrapped the cord tightly around the door handle, then tied the sharpener to a chair leg.</p><p>On campus Thursday, the canopy stamped with the slogan Kirk commonly used at his events — “PROVE ME WRONG” — stood, disheveled.</p><p>Kathleen Murphy, a longtime resident who lives near the campus, said she has been staying inside with her door locked.</p><p>“With the shooter not being caught yet, it was a worry,” Murphy said.</p><p>Meanwhile, the shooting continued to draw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-political-violence-reaction-87f6755421938d0a0d7c5905be10767f">swift bipartisan condemnation</a>&nbsp;as Democratic officials joined Trump and other Republican allies of Kirk in decrying the attack, which unfolded during a spike of political violence that has touched a range of ideologies and representatives of both major political parties.</p><p>___</p><p>Tucker and Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Nicholas Riccardi in Denver; Michael Biesecker, Brian Slodysko, Lindsay Whitehurst and Michelle L. Price in Washington; Ty O'Neil in Orem, Utah; Hallie Golden in Seattle; and Meg Kinnard in Chapin, South Carolina, contributed to this report.</p>

FBI releases new video of suspect in Charlie Kirk assassination

SHAWNEE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a Topeka man Thursday morning for an alleged child sex offense.

On Thursday, Sept. 11, KBI agents with the Child Victims Unit executed a search warrant at a residence at 3709 SE Truman Ave. in Topeka, according to a media release from the KBI.

 Following the search, at around 9 a.m., KBI agents arrested Mark A. Calloway Jr., 27, of Topeka on requested charges of sexual exploitation of a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The KBI began investigating after a cyber-tip was submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Following his arrest Calloway was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Additional charges against Calloway are expected.&nbsp;The Topeka Police Department assisted in the arrest.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757618473867.png" alt="Calloway photo Shawnee Co." />
                        <figcaption>Calloway photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SHAWNEE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested a Topeka man Thursday morning for an alleged child sex offense.</p><p>On Thursday, Sept. 11, KBI agents with the Child Victims Unit executed a search warrant at a residence at 3709 SE Truman Ave. in Topeka, according to a media release from the KBI.</p><p> Following the search, at around 9 a.m., KBI agents arrested Mark A. Calloway Jr., 27, of Topeka on requested charges of sexual exploitation of a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The KBI began investigating after a cyber-tip was submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.</p><p>Following his arrest Calloway was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Additional charges against Calloway are expected.&nbsp;The Topeka Police Department assisted in the arrest.</p>

Cyber tip led to Kan. man's arrest for alleged child sex crimes

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-yankees-baseball-first-pitch-sporting-event-trips-79ad4edabf534e1a42e637eece2446ed">attended the New York Yankees game</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night, drawing a mixed reaction while marking the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/911-attacks-anniversary-world-trade-center-0c2af6068dd5f1cc9f71a56c8a1c0c83">24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks</a>.

Authorities installed security glass for the president outside the upper level box suite belonging to the Steinbrenner family, which owns the Yankees, on the third base side over the visiting Detroit Tigers dugout. Trump sat next to Yankees team president Randy Levine and chatted with him throughout the game.

During the national anthem, the president was shown on the stadium jumbotron and received boos from some in the crowd, cheers from others.

When Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit a homer in the bottom of the first, Trump stood and applauded, as did members of an entourage that included Attorney General Pam Bondi and Lee Zeldin, a former New York congressman who is now head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

In the second inning, Trump's attendance was announced and he was shown on the big screen for an extended period while “Hail to the Chief" played. He smiled and pumped his fist repeatedly. Boos were heard at first, but many in the crowd cheered.

A presidential visit always prompts extra security at sporting events, but things were heightened after conservative activist and close Trump ally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Charlie Kirk was assassinated</a>&nbsp;in Utah on Wednesday. When Trump attended the Sept. 11 observance ceremony at the Pentagon earlier Thursday, authorities moved the ceremony inside as an added precaution.

Trump’s attendance recalled President George W. Bush’s ceremonial first pitch 24 years earlier as the Yankees played the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series — a moment that came to symbolize national resilience after the attacks mere weeks earlier.

Trump stopped by the home team's clubhouse shortly before the game. He shook hands with the players and team staff members and talked about being close for years with late, longtime Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

Trump predicted the Yankees would win, noting of his past attending games with Steinbrenner, “We won every time I came.”

“You think that was easy sitting with him for a game? It wasn’t. It was brutal. But he won, and you’re going to win," the president said. He also wished the players “a lot of luck.”

Before the president walked in, relief pitcher Fernando Cruz was the last player in a towel. His teammates urged him to quickly get dressed for Trump.

Manager Aaron Boone announced before Trump's arrival that Yankees shortstop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yankees-anthony-volpe-shoulder-64874a97ebea2bca4554877844e46df7">Anthony Volpe had quietly been playing</a>&nbsp;with a partial labrum tear in his left shoulder. As he greeted him, Trump patted Volpe softly on the shoulder.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Yankees and their fans have marked the solemn occasion during the seventh-inning stretch by singing “God Bless America” in addition to the traditional “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and they were doing so again Thursday. They also held a moment of silence before the first pitch.

With Trump on hand, all stadium entrances featured metal detectors and Secret Service agents, some with sniffer dogs, while New York Police Department helicopters thundered overhead.

Authorities opened the gates three hours before the first pitch, and long lines began forming even before that, though most of the crowd moved into the stadium smoothly. The Yankees said ticketholders were “strongly urged to arrive as early as possible.” The Secret Service also said extra time would likely be needed while asking fans to consider leaving their bags at home.

That followed Trump's appearance at the U.S. Open men's final in Queens last weekend sparking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-open-sporting-events-boos-5a80b02c78403f1f2f87a30852ffb0f5">security lines</a>&nbsp;long enough that some fans didn’t make it to their seats until more than an hour into the match, despite organizers delaying its start by 30 minutes.

Thursday's game is Trump’s eighth major sporting event since returning to the White House in January. He attended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nfl-super-bowl-first-president-766c628f4ea3faf38d100e4f33f2ac8c">the Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nascar-daytona-500-sports-20a1f0a75207ec57dfa4c58aa3934875">Daytona 500</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-miami-fight-sports-6461901bb3d5f2eec477674d02333a7f">UFC fights in Miami</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mma-ufc-trump-tyson-c0d9279b626e69cc0ca62474c7dafa2f">Newark, New Jersey</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ncaa-wrestling-championships-sports-trips-8f68a03e4c6926ef2e159e67d70a8466">NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia</a>, the FIFA Club&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fifa-club-world-cup-92a5e1cf1e723bafed86cbf72e289646">World Cup final</a>&nbsp;in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and last weekend's U.S. Open match.

The Yankee Stadium scoreboard featured a large MLB logo over an American flag and a red, white and blue ribbon under the inscription “September 11, 2001, We Shall Not Forget.”

The large American flag behind the left field bleachers and the smaller flags for each of baseball’s 30 teams that ring the stadium's upper level were lowered to half-staff after Trump issued an executive order honoring Kirk. Before Wednesday’s game, the Yankees held a moment of silence for Kirk and flashed his picture on their stadium's big screen.

Trump was born in the New York borough of Queens and, though he's lived in Florida in recent years, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said he “remains a New Yorker at heart.” Still, Trump's appearances at baseball games haven't always been welcomed by fans.

<p>NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-yankees-baseball-first-pitch-sporting-event-trips-79ad4edabf534e1a42e637eece2446ed">attended the New York Yankees game</a>&nbsp;on Thursday night, drawing a mixed reaction while marking the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/911-attacks-anniversary-world-trade-center-0c2af6068dd5f1cc9f71a56c8a1c0c83">24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks</a>.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight, we remember those we lost, the heroism of all who bravely sacrificed their own lives to save others, and those who died from illnesses obtained at Ground Zero. Their spirit lives on today with our First Responders and all who serve our communities and our country. <br><br>The… <a href="https://t.co/LY5hA2FuAc">pic.twitter.com/LY5hA2FuAc</a></p>&mdash; New York Yankees (@Yankees) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1966284460883923171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Happening Now—The👑of New York is so BACK! 🇺🇸🦅 <a href="https://t.co/WtP74uAB8w">pic.twitter.com/WtP74uAB8w</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1966317431217115388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Happening Now—President Trump with the New York <a href="https://twitter.com/Yankees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Yankees</a>. <br>⚾️🇺🇸🦅 <a href="https://t.co/IcRvhuRGHN">pic.twitter.com/IcRvhuRGHN</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1966273245352702415?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;The New York <a href="https://twitter.com/Yankees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Yankees</a> welcome back to Yankee Stadium the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, on the solemn anniversary of September 11, 2001.&quot; 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/Bb8BvNvOol">pic.twitter.com/Bb8BvNvOol</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1966288351755108675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/tdXD2oaqyp">pic.twitter.com/tdXD2oaqyp</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1966279440058417391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">🗣️USA—USA—USA🇺🇸🦅 <a href="https://t.co/QDzlb2vIG7">pic.twitter.com/QDzlb2vIG7</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1966283364706693516?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Huge cheers as <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> is shown during The Star-Spangled Banner at <a href="https://twitter.com/Yankees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Yankees</a> Stadium 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/FQVSVqc290">pic.twitter.com/FQVSVqc290</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1966278777706512543?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;USA! USA! USA!&quot; chants break out at <a href="https://twitter.com/Yankees?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Yankees</a> Stadium as <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> attends on the anniversary of 9/11<br><br>🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/MfB051UOe2">pic.twitter.com/MfB051UOe2</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1966277457843204330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJudge44?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJudge44</a>: &quot;You have that much muscle, you have to hit the ball perfect.&quot; 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/MXwkA0zpou">pic.twitter.com/MXwkA0zpou</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1966272292968882249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Authorities installed security glass for the president outside the upper level box suite belonging to the Steinbrenner family, which owns the Yankees, on the third base side over the visiting Detroit Tigers dugout. Trump sat next to Yankees team president Randy Levine and chatted with him throughout the game.</p><p>During the national anthem, the president was shown on the stadium jumbotron and received boos from some in the crowd, cheers from others.</p><p>When Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit a homer in the bottom of the first, Trump stood and applauded, as did members of an entourage that included Attorney General Pam Bondi and Lee Zeldin, a former New York congressman who is now head of the Environmental Protection Agency.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tonight, we remember those we lost, the heroism of all who bravely sacrificed their own lives to save others, and those who died from illnesses obtained at Ground Zero. Their spirit lives on today with our First Responders and all who serve our communities and our country. <br><br>The… <a href="https://t.co/LY5hA2FuAc">pic.twitter.com/LY5hA2FuAc</a></p>&mdash; New York Yankees (@Yankees) <a href="https://twitter.com/Yankees/status/1966284460883923171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>In the second inning, Trump's attendance was announced and he was shown on the big screen for an extended period while “Hail to the Chief" played. He smiled and pumped his fist repeatedly. Boos were heard at first, but many in the crowd cheered.</p><p>A presidential visit always prompts extra security at sporting events, but things were heightened after conservative activist and close Trump ally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Charlie Kirk was assassinated</a>&nbsp;in Utah on Wednesday. When Trump attended the Sept. 11 observance ceremony at the Pentagon earlier Thursday, authorities moved the ceremony inside as an added precaution.</p><p>Trump’s attendance recalled President George W. Bush’s ceremonial first pitch 24 years earlier as the Yankees played the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2001 World Series — a moment that came to symbolize national resilience after the attacks mere weeks earlier.</p><p>Trump stopped by the home team's clubhouse shortly before the game. He shook hands with the players and team staff members and talked about being close for years with late, longtime Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.</p><p>Trump predicted the Yankees would win, noting of his past attending games with Steinbrenner, “We won every time I came.”</p><p>“You think that was easy sitting with him for a game? It wasn’t. It was brutal. But he won, and you’re going to win," the president said. He also wished the players “a lot of luck.”</p><p>Before the president walked in, relief pitcher Fernando Cruz was the last player in a towel. His teammates urged him to quickly get dressed for Trump.</p><p>Manager Aaron Boone announced before Trump's arrival that Yankees shortstop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yankees-anthony-volpe-shoulder-64874a97ebea2bca4554877844e46df7">Anthony Volpe had quietly been playing</a>&nbsp;with a partial labrum tear in his left shoulder. As he greeted him, Trump patted Volpe softly on the shoulder.</p><p>Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Yankees and their fans have marked the solemn occasion during the seventh-inning stretch by singing “God Bless America” in addition to the traditional “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” and they were doing so again Thursday. They also held a moment of silence before the first pitch.</p><p>With Trump on hand, all stadium entrances featured metal detectors and Secret Service agents, some with sniffer dogs, while New York Police Department helicopters thundered overhead.</p><p>Authorities opened the gates three hours before the first pitch, and long lines began forming even before that, though most of the crowd moved into the stadium smoothly. The Yankees said ticketholders were “strongly urged to arrive as early as possible.” The Secret Service also said extra time would likely be needed while asking fans to consider leaving their bags at home.</p><p>That followed Trump's appearance at the U.S. Open men's final in Queens last weekend sparking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-us-open-sporting-events-boos-5a80b02c78403f1f2f87a30852ffb0f5">security lines</a>&nbsp;long enough that some fans didn’t make it to their seats until more than an hour into the match, despite organizers delaying its start by 30 minutes.</p><p>Thursday's game is Trump’s eighth major sporting event since returning to the White House in January. He attended&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nfl-super-bowl-first-president-766c628f4ea3faf38d100e4f33f2ac8c">the Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nascar-daytona-500-sports-20a1f0a75207ec57dfa4c58aa3934875">Daytona 500</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-miami-fight-sports-6461901bb3d5f2eec477674d02333a7f">UFC fights in Miami</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mma-ufc-trump-tyson-c0d9279b626e69cc0ca62474c7dafa2f">Newark, New Jersey</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ncaa-wrestling-championships-sports-trips-8f68a03e4c6926ef2e159e67d70a8466">NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia</a>, the FIFA Club&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fifa-club-world-cup-92a5e1cf1e723bafed86cbf72e289646">World Cup final</a>&nbsp;in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and last weekend's U.S. Open match.</p><p>The Yankee Stadium scoreboard featured a large MLB logo over an American flag and a red, white and blue ribbon under the inscription “September 11, 2001, We Shall Not Forget.”</p><p>The large American flag behind the left field bleachers and the smaller flags for each of baseball’s 30 teams that ring the stadium's upper level were lowered to half-staff after Trump issued an executive order honoring Kirk. Before Wednesday’s game, the Yankees held a moment of silence for Kirk and flashed his picture on their stadium's big screen.</p><p>Trump was born in the New York borough of Queens and, though he's lived in Florida in recent years, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said he “remains a New Yorker at heart.” Still, Trump's appearances at baseball games haven't always been welcomed by fans.</p>

🎥Trump draws cheers and boos marking 9/11 at Yankees game

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.&nbsp;

Just before 7:30a.m. September 9,&nbsp;the Osage County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotic search warrant in the 1200 block of Laing Street in Osage City, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

As a result, two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility. Hunter A. Dorsey, 21, of Osage City is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Criminal use of weapons and Possession of drug paraphernalia

Angelique R. Dorsey, 45, of Osage City is in custody on requested charges of Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a firearm by a felon and Warrant Arrest.

The Osage County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Osage City Police Department.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757108287432.png" alt="Dorsey-photo Osage Co." />
                        <figcaption>Dorsey-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.&nbsp;</p><p>Just before 7:30a.m. September 9,&nbsp;the Osage County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotic search warrant in the 1200 block of Laing Street in Osage City, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757108268098.png" alt="Dorsey photo Osage County" />
                        <figcaption>Dorsey photo Osage County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>As a result, two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility. Hunter A. Dorsey, 21, of Osage City is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Criminal use of weapons and Possession of drug paraphernalia</p><p>Angelique R. Dorsey, 45, of Osage City is in custody on requested charges of Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a firearm by a felon and Warrant Arrest.</p><p>The Osage County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Osage City Police Department.</p>

Kansas felon caught with a gun during drug bust at her home

SALINE COUNTY —Saline County deputies arrested two suspects after scamming a couple out of over $120,000.

On July 29, 2025 an elderly couple was called by a scammer claiming to be an 'agent from the US Treasurer's Office," according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.

 The scammer advised the couple that their 'personal information was used to get $3.7 million in cash from various banks.'

Furthermore, the 'agent' told the couple they were 'laundering money' and that they needed to give the 'US Government $80,000 to cover the court cases, which would be refunded after court dismissal.' Afterwards, one from the couple went to their bank and withdrew $80,000 and sent the amount in two separate shipments to two addresses in&nbsp;Downey, CA.

Moreover, on August 31st, the same 'agent' called the couple again and advised them to send an additional $40,000 in cash, but this time to a certain individual in person. The scammer told the couple this person would come by their house and pick up the cash. According to the Sheriff's Office, the couple met a male suspect at a street by their house to give him a total of $46,461 in cash.

After these events, the couple's bank was suspicious and called a family member of the couple about the concern. The family member then contacted the Sheriff's Office.

The very next day, the scammer called the couple once more and requested an additional payment of $40,000 in cash. The scammer said the same suspect would meet them to pick up the cash.

The Sheriff's Office was already involved in the investigation when the call was made, and learned the suspect would be at the 2300 block of S. 9th to pick up the cash. When the couple went to meet the suspect, authorities arrived to the scene with them and found two male suspects.

Arrested was 27-year old, Naga Teegala of Aurora, Illinois and 27-year old, Pruthwik Gallipally of Wheeling, Illinois. Both were booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges Criminal Threat, Mistreatment of a Dependent Adult, Theft by Deception, Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness and False Impersonation. The total loss was listed to be at $126,461.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757598902235.jpeg" alt="Gallipally -photo Saline Co." />
                        <figcaption>Gallipally -photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SALINE COUNTY —Saline County deputies arrested two suspects after scamming a couple out of over $120,000.</p><p>On July 29, 2025 an elderly couple was called by a scammer claiming to be an 'agent from the US Treasurer's Office," according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.</p><p> The scammer advised the couple that their 'personal information was used to get $3.7 million in cash from various banks.'</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757599459489.jpeg" alt="Teegala photo Saline Co." />
                        <figcaption>Teegala photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Furthermore, the 'agent' told the couple they were 'laundering money' and that they needed to give the 'US Government $80,000 to cover the court cases, which would be refunded after court dismissal.' Afterwards, one from the couple went to their bank and withdrew $80,000 and sent the amount in two separate shipments to two addresses in&nbsp;Downey, CA.</p><p>Moreover, on August 31st, the same 'agent' called the couple again and advised them to send an additional $40,000 in cash, but this time to a certain individual in person. The scammer told the couple this person would come by their house and pick up the cash. According to the Sheriff's Office, the couple met a male suspect at a street by their house to give him a total of $46,461 in cash.</p><p>After these events, the couple's bank was suspicious and called a family member of the couple about the concern. The family member then contacted the Sheriff's Office.</p><p>The very next day, the scammer called the couple once more and requested an additional payment of $40,000 in cash. The scammer said the same suspect would meet them to pick up the cash.</p><p>The Sheriff's Office was already involved in the investigation when the call was made, and learned the suspect would be at the 2300 block of S. 9th to pick up the cash. When the couple went to meet the suspect, authorities arrived to the scene with them and found two male suspects.</p><p>Arrested was 27-year old, Naga Teegala of Aurora, Illinois and 27-year old, Pruthwik Gallipally of Wheeling, Illinois. Both were booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges Criminal Threat, Mistreatment of a Dependent Adult, Theft by Deception, Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness and False Impersonation. The total loss was listed to be at $126,461.</p>

Sheriff: Kansas couple lost over $120,000 in scam

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run in Barton County have arrested three juveniles.

Just after 6:30p.m. on Wednesday, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a reported hit-and-run accident in the 100 block of Chisholm Trail, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir. This location is at the extreme southeast corner of the city of Great Bend just outside city limits

First responders discovered a male victim identified as 58-year-old&nbsp;Curtis Scott Cregger of Great Bend. He lived in the area and had&nbsp;been struck by a motor vehicle. 

Officers immediately began CPR and other lifesaving measures in an attempt to aid the victim. He was transported to the hospital in Great Bend and was later pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

Investigation at the scene as well as witness statements indicated the possibility this was an intentional act. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating this incident as a homicide.

At 10:30a.m. Thursday, a Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle near the intersection of Broadway at Jackson Street in the city of Great Bend. The vehicle matched the description provided by witnesses in the hit-and-run fatality from last night. Further investigation confirmed this was the vehicle involved. The 17-year-old juvenile driver was taken into custody at the scene. With assistance from the Great Bend Police Department two passengers who were in the vehicle at the time of the collision were also located and arrested. Both are juveniles aged 17 and 14.

After consultation with the Barton County Attorney Colin Reynolds, the driver has been charged with murder in the 2nd degree the two passengers were charged with accessory to murder in the 2nd degree, according to Bellendir.

<p>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run in Barton County have arrested three juveniles.</p><p>Just after 6:30p.m. on Wednesday, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a reported hit-and-run accident in the 100 block of Chisholm Trail, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir. This location is at the extreme southeast corner of the city of Great Bend just outside city limits</p><p>First responders discovered a male victim identified as 58-year-old&nbsp;Curtis Scott Cregger of Great Bend. He lived in the area and had&nbsp;been struck by a motor vehicle. </p><p>Officers immediately began CPR and other lifesaving measures in an attempt to aid the victim. He was transported to the hospital in Great Bend and was later pronounced deceased.&nbsp;</p><p>Investigation at the scene as well as witness statements indicated the possibility this was an intentional act. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating this incident as a homicide.</p><p>At 10:30a.m. Thursday, a Sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle near the intersection of Broadway at Jackson Street in the city of Great Bend. The vehicle matched the description provided by witnesses in the hit-and-run fatality from last night. Further investigation confirmed this was the vehicle involved. The 17-year-old juvenile driver was taken into custody at the scene. With assistance from the Great Bend Police Department two passengers who were in the vehicle at the time of the collision were also located and arrested. Both are juveniles aged 17 and 14.</p><p>After consultation with the Barton County Attorney Colin Reynolds, the driver has been charged with murder in the 2nd degree the two passengers were charged with accessory to murder in the 2nd degree, according to Bellendir.</p>

Murder: Kan. teens jailed for hit-and-run that killed 58-year-old

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s record-setting run kept rolling on Thursday, and stocks climbed after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a">mixed set of U.S. data</a>&nbsp;kept the path clear for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">Federal Reserve to cut interest rates</a>&nbsp;in order to boost the economy.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.8% and set an all-time high for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-jobs-rates-fed-502814f43e8a63d01a8f01eec81ba133">the third straight day</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 617 points, or 1.4%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.7%. Both also hit records.

Treasury yields eased in the bond market following the economic reports, which were some of the final data releases left that could sway the Federal Reserve’s thinking before its meeting next week. The unanimous expectation on Wall Street is that it will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year.

One of Thursday’s reports said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-a69fc3afbbebe731c29824b855e3c83f">more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;last week, an indication that the number of layoffs could be rising. It’s the latest discouraging signal on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">job market</a>, where hiring has slowed substantially. The labor market had seemed to be settling into a low-hire, low-fire state, but an increase in layoffs could put it in an even tighter vise.

The hope on Wall Street has been for a slowdown, but a precisely measured one. The job market has to be weak enough to get the Fed to cut interest rates, which can give a kickstart to the economy and to prices for investments, but not so much that it causes a recession.

The Fed has been hesitant to cut interest rates throughout 2025 because of the threat that President Donald Trump’s tariffs could make inflation worse. That’s because lower interest rates can push inflation even higher.

A report on inflation Thursday showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a">prices are continuing to rise faster</a>&nbsp;for U.S. households than the Fed hopes, but only by what economists expected. Consumers paid prices for food, gasoline and other costs of living that were 2.9% higher in August than a year earlier, a slight acceleration from July’s 2.7% inflation rate.

That’s above the Fed’s target of 2%, but traders believe the Fed will see the slowing job market as the bigger problem now than inflation. The Fed has just one tool to fix either of them, and moving interest rates to help one often means hurting the other in the short term.

“Right now, inflation is a key subplot, but the labor market is still the main story,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.

On Wall Street, stocks of companies that could benefit from lower interest rates rallied, including owners of real estate and homebuilders. Builders FirstSource, which sells cabinets, lumber and other building supplies, climbed 4.5%.

Centene helped lead the market with a jump of 9%. The health care company said its business results through August are tracking with the profit forecast for the year that it had earlier given. That’s more than analysts are forecasting.

Opendoor Technologies soared 79.5% after the company said it hired Shopify’s chief operating officer, Kaz Nejatian, as its CEO. Opendoor, which helps people buy and sell homes online, also announced a $40 million investment by one of its founders and an investment firm tied to another founder.

Warner Bros. Discovery leaped 28.9% following reports that Paramount Skydance is preparing a bid to buy the entertainment company. Paramount Skydance, which was the result of Skydance’s purchase of Paramount in August, jumped 15.6%.

Kroger added 0.3% after the grocer reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its revenue came up just shy of forecasts. It also raised the bottom end of its forecasted range for profit over the full year.

Helping to keep the market’s gain in check was Oracle, which fell 6.2%. But that gave back only a bit of its monster gain from the day before, when it soared nearly 36% for its best day since 1992.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 55.43 points to 6,587.47. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 617.08 to 46,108.00, and the Nasdaq composite gained 157.01 to 22,043.07.

In stock markets abroad, European indexes ticked higher after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/european-central-bank-interest-rates-lagarde-d4618467d6e89764d61c9ef52756790d">European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged</a>&nbsp;at its latest meeting. The European bank is on pause following an earlier set of cuts, and its president, Christine Lagarde, said future moves are “not on a predetermined path.”

France’s CAC 40 rose 0.8%, and Germany’s DAX returned 0.3%.

In Asia, indexes were mostly higher. Stocks jumped 1.7% in Shanghai but fell 0.4% in Hong Kong.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.02% from 4.04% late Wednesday.

<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street’s record-setting run kept rolling on Thursday, and stocks climbed after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a">mixed set of U.S. data</a>&nbsp;kept the path clear for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">Federal Reserve to cut interest rates</a>&nbsp;in order to boost the economy.</p><p>The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.8% and set an all-time high for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-inflation-jobs-rates-fed-502814f43e8a63d01a8f01eec81ba133">the third straight day</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 617 points, or 1.4%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.7%. Both also hit records.</p><p>Treasury yields eased in the bond market following the economic reports, which were some of the final data releases left that could sway the Federal Reserve’s thinking before its meeting next week. The unanimous expectation on Wall Street is that it will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year.</p><p>One of Thursday’s reports said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-a69fc3afbbebe731c29824b855e3c83f">more U.S. workers applied for unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;last week, an indication that the number of layoffs could be rising. It’s the latest discouraging signal on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">job market</a>, where hiring has slowed substantially. The labor market had seemed to be settling into a low-hire, low-fire state, but an increase in layoffs could put it in an even tighter vise.</p><p>The hope on Wall Street has been for a slowdown, but a precisely measured one. The job market has to be weak enough to get the Fed to cut interest rates, which can give a kickstart to the economy and to prices for investments, but not so much that it causes a recession.</p><p>The Fed has been hesitant to cut interest rates throughout 2025 because of the threat that President Donald Trump’s tariffs could make inflation worse. That’s because lower interest rates can push inflation even higher.</p><p>A report on inflation Thursday showed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a">prices are continuing to rise faster</a>&nbsp;for U.S. households than the Fed hopes, but only by what economists expected. Consumers paid prices for food, gasoline and other costs of living that were 2.9% higher in August than a year earlier, a slight acceleration from July’s 2.7% inflation rate.</p><p>That’s above the Fed’s target of 2%, but traders believe the Fed will see the slowing job market as the bigger problem now than inflation. The Fed has just one tool to fix either of them, and moving interest rates to help one often means hurting the other in the short term.</p><p>“Right now, inflation is a key subplot, but the labor market is still the main story,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.</p><p>On Wall Street, stocks of companies that could benefit from lower interest rates rallied, including owners of real estate and homebuilders. Builders FirstSource, which sells cabinets, lumber and other building supplies, climbed 4.5%.</p><p>Centene helped lead the market with a jump of 9%. The health care company said its business results through August are tracking with the profit forecast for the year that it had earlier given. That’s more than analysts are forecasting.</p><p>Opendoor Technologies soared 79.5% after the company said it hired Shopify’s chief operating officer, Kaz Nejatian, as its CEO. Opendoor, which helps people buy and sell homes online, also announced a $40 million investment by one of its founders and an investment firm tied to another founder.</p><p>Warner Bros. Discovery leaped 28.9% following reports that Paramount Skydance is preparing a bid to buy the entertainment company. Paramount Skydance, which was the result of Skydance’s purchase of Paramount in August, jumped 15.6%.</p><p>Kroger added 0.3% after the grocer reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its revenue came up just shy of forecasts. It also raised the bottom end of its forecasted range for profit over the full year.</p><p>Helping to keep the market’s gain in check was Oracle, which fell 6.2%. But that gave back only a bit of its monster gain from the day before, when it soared nearly 36% for its best day since 1992.</p><p>All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 55.43 points to 6,587.47. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 617.08 to 46,108.00, and the Nasdaq composite gained 157.01 to 22,043.07.</p><p>In stock markets abroad, European indexes ticked higher after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/european-central-bank-interest-rates-lagarde-d4618467d6e89764d61c9ef52756790d">European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged</a>&nbsp;at its latest meeting. The European bank is on pause following an earlier set of cuts, and its president, Christine Lagarde, said future moves are “not on a predetermined path.”</p><p>France’s CAC 40 rose 0.8%, and Germany’s DAX returned 0.3%.</p><p>In Asia, indexes were mostly higher. Stocks jumped 1.7% in Shanghai but fell 0.4% in Hong Kong.</p><p>In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.02% from 4.04% late Wednesday.</p>

Wall Street rallies to more records as cut to interest rates looks more certain

NEW YORK (AP) — West Nile virus infections are intense so far this year, with case counts running 40% higher than normal, health officials say.

More than 770 cases, including about 490 severe cases, were reported as of early September, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/current-year-data.html">data posted this week</a>. About 550 cases — 350 of them severe — are usually reported by this time of year.

Health officials are ramping up warnings to the public, because most cases of the mosquito-borne disease are reported in August and September.

“West Nile virus can be a very serious disease and its presence in mosquitoes remains high right now in Massachusetts,” said the state’s public health commissioner, Dr. Robbie Goldstein, in a statement last week.

People can protect themselves by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when possible, and using an EPA-registered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mosquito-repellent-cdc-recommends-e47c0c35ffe49d6f36b39d03f1b95e06">insect repellent</a>&nbsp;when spending time outdoors, health officials say.

West Nile virus was first reported in the United States in 1999 in New York, and then gradually spread across the country. It&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/historic-data.html">peaked</a>&nbsp;in 2003, when nearly 10,000 cases were reported.

Scientists say many people — perhaps tens of thousands each year — are infected but don’t know it because they have no symptoms, or only mild ones such as headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and rashes.

In severe cases, damage to the central nervous system causes inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, and even death.

In the last decade, health officials have fielded reports of 2,000 cases annually on average, including 1,200 life-threatening neurological illnesses and approximately 120 deaths. Deaths are on pace to be higher this year, CDC officials said, but they declined to discuss specifics, saying mortality statistics are too preliminary.

The problem is not that there are more mosquitoes this year, but rather that a higher proportion of the bugs are carrying the virus, CDC officials said. Mosquito infection rates can be affected by such factors as temperature, rainfall, the amount of insect control going on, and how many nearby birds are infected.

Colorado, which tends to see more West Nile virus, has reported about 150 of the nation’s cases — more than double what other states are reporting.

Fort Collins is a hot spot. Monitoring last month in an area in the southwest part of the city found that 35 out of every 1,000 female mosquitoes were infected — far higher than the 8 per 1,000 that would be expected for that time of year — said Roxanne Connelly, a CDC entomologist who lives there.

It's not clear why, but she noted it's been a wet and warm year.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757619113812.png" alt="Image KDHI from data updated Sept. 5" />
                        <figcaption>Image KDHI from data updated Sept. 5</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>NEW YORK (AP) — West Nile virus infections are intense so far this year, with case counts running 40% higher than normal, health officials say.</p><p>More than 770 cases, including about 490 severe cases, were reported as of early September, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/current-year-data.html">data posted this week</a>. About 550 cases — 350 of them severe — are usually reported by this time of year.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720035619901.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
                        <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Health officials are ramping up warnings to the public, because most cases of the mosquito-borne disease are reported in August and September.</p><p>“West Nile virus can be a very serious disease and its presence in mosquitoes remains high right now in Massachusetts,” said the state’s public health commissioner, Dr. Robbie Goldstein, in a statement last week.</p><p>People can protect themselves by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants when possible, and using an EPA-registered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mosquito-repellent-cdc-recommends-e47c0c35ffe49d6f36b39d03f1b95e06">insect repellent</a>&nbsp;when spending time outdoors, health officials say.</p><p>West Nile virus was first reported in the United States in 1999 in New York, and then gradually spread across the country. It&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/west-nile-virus/data-maps/historic-data.html">peaked</a>&nbsp;in 2003, when nearly 10,000 cases were reported.</p><p>Scientists say many people — perhaps tens of thousands each year — are infected but don’t know it because they have no symptoms, or only mild ones such as headaches, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea and rashes.</p><p>In severe cases, damage to the central nervous system causes inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, and even death.</p><p>In the last decade, health officials have fielded reports of 2,000 cases annually on average, including 1,200 life-threatening neurological illnesses and approximately 120 deaths. Deaths are on pace to be higher this year, CDC officials said, but they declined to discuss specifics, saying mortality statistics are too preliminary.</p><p>The problem is not that there are more mosquitoes this year, but rather that a higher proportion of the bugs are carrying the virus, CDC officials said. Mosquito infection rates can be affected by such factors as temperature, rainfall, the amount of insect control going on, and how many nearby birds are infected.</p><p>Colorado, which tends to see more West Nile virus, has reported about 150 of the nation’s cases — more than double what other states are reporting.</p><p>Fort Collins is a hot spot. Monitoring last month in an area in the southwest part of the city found that 35 out of every 1,000 female mosquitoes were infected — far higher than the 8 per 1,000 that would be expected for that time of year — said Roxanne Connelly, a CDC entomologist who lives there.</p><p>It's not clear why, but she noted it's been a wet and warm year.</p><p>___</p><p>The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.</p>

West Nile virus cases running higher than normal, prompting health warnings

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a close vote, Senate Republicans defeated an effort Wednesday by Democrats to insert language into Congress’ annual defense authorization bill that would have forced the public release of case files on the sex trafficking investigation into the late&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>.

The Senate voted 51-49 to dismiss the changes to the bill, with Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rand Paul of Kentucky joining with all Democrats in opposition. Kansas U.S. Senators Jery Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein photo New York Sex Offender Registry" />
                        <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein photo New York Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — In a close vote, Senate Republicans defeated an effort Wednesday by Democrats to insert language into Congress’ annual defense authorization bill that would have forced the public release of case files on the sex trafficking investigation into the late&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>.</p><p>The Senate voted 51-49 to dismiss the changes to the bill, with Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Rand Paul of Kentucky joining with all Democrats in opposition. Kansas U.S. Senators Jery Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.</p><p>For months, Democrats have clamored for the release of what’s become known as the Epstein files, looking for practically every opportunity to force Republicans to either join their push for disclosure or publicly oppose a cause that many in the Republican base support. President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;signaled as he was running for president that he was open to releasing a full accounting of the case, but is now trying to dismiss the push as a “Democrat hoax.”</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨🚨HERE IT IS: We got Trump’s birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn’t exist.<br><br>Trump talks about a “wonderful secret” the two of them shared. What is he hiding? Release the files! <a href="https://t.co/k2Mq8Hu3LY">pic.twitter.com/k2Mq8Hu3LY</a></p>&mdash; Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/OversightDems/status/1965125560016994708?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEW PAGE FROM EPSTEIN’S BIRTHDAY BOOK: Epstein and a longtime Mar-a-Lago member joking about selling a &quot;fully depreciated&quot; woman to Donald Trump for $22,500. <a href="https://t.co/iEMNSRX7X8">pic.twitter.com/iEMNSRX7X8</a></p>&mdash; Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/OversightDems/status/1965175322590237091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>So far, Democrats have been successful in forcing Republican leadership to grapple with the issue, yet it was unclear whether they would actually be able to crack Trump’s hold on congressional Republicans to force legislation through Congress.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING NEWS: I just filed an amendment on the Senate Floor to REQUIRE the Attorney General to release the Epstein files.<br><br>Republicans will HAVE TO vote on it. We’re going to keep fighting until these files are released. <a href="https://t.co/bHFGNnuk3T">pic.twitter.com/bHFGNnuk3T</a></p>&mdash; Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/1965800573510574463?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>“I ask my Republican colleagues, after all those years you spent calling for accountability, for transparency, for getting to the bottom of these awful crimes, why won’t you vote yes?” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a floor speech Wednesday.</p><p>The New York Democrat maneuvered earlier Wednesday to force a procedural vote on language that would force the Justice Department to release the Epstein files, inserting it into an annual defense policy bill that Congress has to pass. Senate Republican leadership was then forced to hold a vote to dispense with Schumer’s amendment, arguing that he was inserting political gamesmanship into defense legislation that often enjoys bipartisan support.</p><p>“This is not the right way to do it,” said Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican.</p><p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune said earlier this week that the Justice Department “has already released tons of files” on Epstein.</p><p>“I trust them in terms of having the confidence that they’ll get as much information out there as possible in a way that protects the rights of the victims,” added Thune, R-S.D.</p><p>Still, many in the Republican base — as well as some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-survivors-congress-trump-5d980740245f935c994a90b8ce824642">victims of Epstein’s abuse</a>&nbsp;— have been unsatisfied with what the Justice Department has so far released.</p><p>The calls for disclosure of Epstein’s case has at moments consumed Congress, looming over politics even more than when Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019 on charges that said he sexually abused and trafficked dozens of underage girls. The case was brought more than a decade after he secretly cut a deal with federal prosecutors in Florida to dispose of nearly identical allegations. Epstein&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/6184561-Jeffrey-Epstein-indictment.html" target="_blank">was accused</a>&nbsp;of paying underage girls hundreds of dollars in cash for massages and then molesting them.</p><p>Asked by reporters Wednesday why Democrats had not pushed for disclosure when they controlled the White House, Schumer responded, “It’s become so apparent that they’re lying about it in every different way and the demands of the American people are so great.”</p><p>“The need is greater than ever now,” he added.</p><p>Meanwhile, a separate effort to force a vote on a similar bill in the House inched ahead.</p><p>Democrats picked up one more House seat when Rep. James Walkinshaw, D-Va., was sworn into office after winning a special election this week. It gives them one more supporter for a procedure — called a discharge petition — to maneuver around Republican leadership’s control of the House floor and hold a vote on legislation to force the Justice Department to release the Epstein files.</p><p>Four Republicans have also signed onto the discharge petition, meaning that it is just one name short of having the support needed to potentially force a vote. That could come as soon as the end of this month when a heavily blue congressional district in Arizona holds a special election to fill a vacant seat.</p>