OSAGE COUNTY—On Wednesday, all three Osage County deputies who were injured in the line of duty on November 15th have returned to full duty.

"Over the past several months, the Osage County community has prayed, checked in, sent cards, brought food, and shown more support than we could ever put into words. Those prayers, that encouragement, and that kindness mattered more than you know—not just to the deputies, but to their families and to this entire Sheriff’s Office."

"These three deputies showed incredible strength, resilience, and determination through their recovery. Watching them fight to heal and return to the work they love has been nothing short of inspiring."

"We are blessed to have them back where they belong—serving the citizens of Osage County."

"Thank you to everyone who stood with us during this time. Your support helped us through, and today we are sharing some very good news with you."

"Osage County is lucky to have deputies like these."

On Saturday morning Nov. 15, the Osage County Sheriff's Office and Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at 11222 S. Topeka Ave. in Osage County after a female resident called 911, according to a media release from the KBI.

Law enforcement encountered a male suspect, identified as Stephen M. McMillan, 22, outside the residence. During the encounter, gunfire was exchanged. Three deputies and two KHP troopers fired during the incident. In the shooting, three deputies, one trooper, the suspect and a male resident were struck. The male resident was identified as the suspect's 77-year-old grandfather.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded, cleared the residence, and rendered aid to the injured. All law enforcement officers were transported to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center. The trooper was later transferred to KU Medical Center. The suspect's grandfather, 77, was also injured and taken to the hospital. McMillan was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769634014389.png" alt="Pictured from left: Sheriff Wells, Undersheriff Brenner, Deputy Moran, K9 Deputy Cason, Corporal Hartpence, Sergeant Knapp, and Lt. Nech" />
 <figcaption>Pictured from left: Sheriff Wells, Undersheriff Brenner, Deputy Moran, K9 Deputy Cason, Corporal Hartpence, Sergeant Knapp, and Lt. Nech</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—On Wednesday, all three Osage County deputies who were injured in the line of duty on November 15th have returned to full duty."Over the past several months, the Osage County community has prayed, checked in, sent cards, brought food, and shown more support than we could ever put into words. Those prayers, that encouragement, and that kindness mattered more than you know—not just to the deputies, but to their families and to this entire Sheriff’s Office."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763429453752.png" alt="Deputy Christian Moran, Corporal Clayton Hartpence, and K9 Deputy James Cason-Photos courtesy Osage County Sheriff's office" />
 <figcaption>Deputy Christian Moran, Corporal Clayton Hartpence, and K9 Deputy James Cason-Photos courtesy Osage County Sheriff's office</figcaption>
 </figure>"These three deputies showed incredible strength, resilience, and determination through their recovery. Watching them fight to heal and return to the work they love has been nothing short of inspiring.""We are blessed to have them back where they belong—serving the citizens of Osage County.""Thank you to everyone who stood with us during this time. Your support helped us through, and today we are sharing some very good news with you.""Osage County is lucky to have deputies like these."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763259271274.png" alt="Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene -Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene -Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>On Saturday morning Nov. 15, the Osage County Sheriff's Office and Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) were dispatched to a domestic disturbance at 11222 S. Topeka Ave. in Osage County after a female resident called 911, according to a media release from the KBI.Law enforcement encountered a male suspect, identified as Stephen M. McMillan, 22, outside the residence. During the encounter, gunfire was exchanged. Three deputies and two KHP troopers fired during the incident. In the shooting, three deputies, one trooper, the suspect and a male resident were struck. The male resident was identified as the suspect's 77-year-old grandfather.Multiple law enforcement agencies responded, cleared the residence, and rendered aid to the injured. All law enforcement officers were transported to Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center. The trooper was later transferred to KU Medical Center. The suspect's grandfather, 77, was also injured and taken to the hospital. McMillan was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

Kan. deputies injured during domestic incident are back at work

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that two federal agents involved in Petti’s shooting have been on leave since Saturday.

The announcement came as Trump seemed to signal a willingness to ease tensions in Minneapolis after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shooting-minneapolis-protests-ice-immigration-41437baa4b349279cf8abfaf1076162c">a second deadly shooting</a>&nbsp;by federal immigration agents, though there seemed to be little evidence of any significant changes following weeks of harsh rhetoric and clashes with protesters.

The strain was evident when Trump made a leadership change by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gregory-bovino-immigration-minneapolis-d90e0f478f1119d773989196b3db393e">sending his top border adviser</a>&nbsp;to Minnesota to take charge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">the immigration crackdown</a>. That was followed by seemingly conciliatory remarks about the Democratic governor and mayor.

Trump said he and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Gov. Tim Walz</a>, whom he criticized for weeks, were on “a similar wavelength” following a phone call. After a conversation with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jacob-frey-omar-fateh-minneapolis-mayor-e8d2d9ae7d0a12834c5c18a1648a92b6">Mayor Jacob Frey</a>, the president praised the discussion and declared that “lots of progress is being made.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769443834529.png" alt="Image of the shooting from a bystander video obtained by the Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Image of the shooting from a bystander video obtained by the Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday that two federal agents involved in Petti’s shooting have been on leave since Saturday.The announcement came as Trump seemed to signal a willingness to ease tensions in Minneapolis after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shooting-minneapolis-protests-ice-immigration-41437baa4b349279cf8abfaf1076162c">a second deadly shooting</a>&nbsp;by federal immigration agents, though there seemed to be little evidence of any significant changes following weeks of harsh rhetoric and clashes with protesters.The strain was evident when Trump made a leadership change by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gregory-bovino-immigration-minneapolis-d90e0f478f1119d773989196b3db393e">sending his top border adviser</a>&nbsp;to Minnesota to take charge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">the immigration crackdown</a>. That was followed by seemingly conciliatory remarks about the Democratic governor and mayor.Trump said he and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Gov. Tim Walz</a>, whom he criticized for weeks, were on “a similar wavelength” following a phone call. After a conversation with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jacob-frey-omar-fateh-minneapolis-mayor-e8d2d9ae7d0a12834c5c18a1648a92b6">Mayor Jacob Frey</a>, the president praised the discussion and declared that “lots of progress is being made.”

DHS: Agents involved in shooting of Alex Pretti are on administrative leave 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve pushed the pause button on its interest rate cuts Wednesday, leaving its key rate unchanged at about 3.6% after lowering it three times last year.

The central bank said in a statement that there are signs the job market has stabilized while it also said growth was “solid,” an upgrade from last month’s characterization as “modest.”

With the economy growing at a healthy pace and no signs of deterioration in hiring, Fed officials likely see little reason to rush any further rate cuts. While most policymakers do expect to reduce borrowing costs further this year, many want to see evidence that stubbornly-elevated inflation is moving closer to the central bank’s target of 2%. According to the Fed’s preferred measure, inflation was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-consumers-ac538fd750b4622ee7fa439ef8021783">2.8% in November</a>, slightly higher than a year ago.

Two officials dissented from the decision, with Governors Stephen Miran and Christopher Waller preferring another quarter-point reduction. President Donald Trump appointed Miran in September, and he had dissented at the three previous meetings in favor of a half-point cut. Waller is under consideration by the White House to replace Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May.

The Fed’s decision to stand pat will likely fuel further criticism from Trump, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-federal-reserve-4821bb5d0baa9980c4c69ab26fab3ab4">assailed Powell</a>&nbsp;for months for not sharply cutting short-term rates. When the Fed reduces its key rate, it tends to lower borrowing costs for things like mortgages, car loans, and business borrowing, though those rates are also influenced by market forces.

A key issue facing the Fed is how long it will remain on hold. The rate-setting committee remains split between those officials opposed to further cuts until inflation comes down, and those who want to lower rates to further support hiring.

In December, just 12 of the 19 participants in the committee's meetings&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcprojtabl20251210.htm">supported</a>&nbsp;at least one more rate cut this year. Most economists forecast the Fed will cut twice this year, most likely at the June meeting or later.

One issue still overhanging the Fed when it comes to policy is the administration's trade policy and its tariffs on many U.S. trade partners. Powell was asked at a press conference following the rate decision if the impact of tariffs had already moved through inflation. He said “a lot of it has,” and added that the Fed generally sees the import taxes as a one-time price increase.

“The expectation is that we will see the effects of tariffs flowing through goods prices peaking and then starting to come down, assuming there are no new major tariff increases,” said Powell, adding that this was the trend the U.S. central bank expects “to see over the course of this year.”

Fed officials meet this week in the shadow of unprecedented pressure from the Trump White House. Powell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-subpoena-bf4fc6c690fa248fbc531bc9bc7f1758">said Jan. 11</a>&nbsp;that the Fed had received subpoenas from the Justice Department as part of a criminal investigation into his congressional testimony about a $2.5 billion building renovation. Powell in an unusually blunt video statement said the subpoenas were a pretext to punish the Fed for not cutting rates more quickly. At a press conference after the Fed issued its rate decision, Powell declined to add anything to the earlier statement.

And last week, the Supreme Court took up Trump's attempt from last year to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-lisa-cook-trump-6fca3d2fbb54ba204cc91398e6a7b020">fire Fed governor Lisa Cook</a>&nbsp;over allegations of mortgage fraud, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-cook-trump-fed-independence-firing-d06dfb46fbd300195c3cedc8cb5adadb">she denies</a>. No president has fired a governor in the Fed’s 112-year history. The justices at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-cook-federal-reserve-powell-a8572f8a1f62cf653e822a64c714d05a">an oral argument</a>&nbsp;appeared to be leaning toward allowing her to stay in her job until the case is resolved.

Powell attended the Cook hearing at the Supreme Court. When asked why he decided to attend, Powell said, “I would say that that this case is perhaps the most important legal case" in the Fed’s history. "And I as I thought about it, I thought, it might be hard to explain why I didn’t attend.”

The president’s efforts to pressure the Fed may have backfired, economists say, as Republicans in the Senate voiced support for Powell and threatened to block Trump’s replacement chair.

When asked by reporters Wednesday if he was confident the Fed can retain its independence, Powell said, “Yes,” and added, "I’m strongly committed to that and so are my colleagues.”

Trump has suggested he is close to naming a new Fed Chair, to replace Powell once his term ends in May. The announcement could come as soon as this week, though it has been delayed before.

Powell has the option of remaining as a Fed governor beyond May but told reporters he hadn’t made a decision about whether to stay or leave.

Only 12 of the 19 members of the Fed's rate-setting committee have a vote, including all seven members of the board of governors, the president of the New York Fed, and a rotating group of four presidents from the regional Fed banks.

This year, Beth Hammack, president of the Cleveland Fed; Neel Kashkari, president of the Minneapolis Fed; Lorie Logan, president of the Dallas Fed; and Anna Paulson, president of the Philadelphia Fed, will vote on rate decisions. All have recently expressed some skepticism of the need for further cuts in the immediate future.

Larger-than-usual tax refunds over the next few months should help fuel more consumer spending, economists expect. And faster growth could eventually boost hiring, which has been noticeably weak even as the economy is expanding.

With businesses barely adding jobs, consumers remain gloomy about the economy. The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-spending-inflation-conference-board-f36b997dc46ac9c3577d05db52166846">dropped to an 11-year low</a>&nbsp;in January, the business research group said Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve pushed the pause button on its interest rate cuts Wednesday, leaving its key rate unchanged at about 3.6% after lowering it three times last year.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/federalreserve?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FederalReserve</a> Chair Jerome Powell: &quot;Today the Federal Open Market Committee decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/Eq6UDGq8HN">pic.twitter.com/Eq6UDGq8HN</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2016597199036018993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The central bank said in a statement that there are signs the job market has stabilized while it also said growth was “solid,” an upgrade from last month’s characterization as “modest.”With the economy growing at a healthy pace and no signs of deterioration in hiring, Fed officials likely see little reason to rush any further rate cuts. While most policymakers do expect to reduce borrowing costs further this year, many want to see evidence that stubbornly-elevated inflation is moving closer to the central bank’s target of 2%. According to the Fed’s preferred measure, inflation was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-consumers-ac538fd750b4622ee7fa439ef8021783">2.8% in November</a>, slightly higher than a year ago.Two officials dissented from the decision, with Governors Stephen Miran and Christopher Waller preferring another quarter-point reduction. President Donald Trump appointed Miran in September, and he had dissented at the three previous meetings in favor of a half-point cut. Waller is under consideration by the White House to replace Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May.The Fed’s decision to stand pat will likely fuel further criticism from Trump, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-federal-reserve-4821bb5d0baa9980c4c69ab26fab3ab4">assailed Powell</a>&nbsp;for months for not sharply cutting short-term rates. When the Fed reduces its key rate, it tends to lower borrowing costs for things like mortgages, car loans, and business borrowing, though those rates are also influenced by market forces.A key issue facing the Fed is how long it will remain on hold. The rate-setting committee remains split between those officials opposed to further cuts until inflation comes down, and those who want to lower rates to further support hiring.In December, just 12 of the 19 participants in the committee's meetings&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcprojtabl20251210.htm">supported</a>&nbsp;at least one more rate cut this year. Most economists forecast the Fed will cut twice this year, most likely at the June meeting or later.One issue still overhanging the Fed when it comes to policy is the administration's trade policy and its tariffs on many U.S. trade partners. Powell was asked at a press conference following the rate decision if the impact of tariffs had already moved through inflation. He said “a lot of it has,” and added that the Fed generally sees the import taxes as a one-time price increase.“The expectation is that we will see the effects of tariffs flowing through goods prices peaking and then starting to come down, assuming there are no new major tariff increases,” said Powell, adding that this was the trend the U.S. central bank expects “to see over the course of this year.”Fed officials meet this week in the shadow of unprecedented pressure from the Trump White House. Powell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-subpoena-bf4fc6c690fa248fbc531bc9bc7f1758">said Jan. 11</a>&nbsp;that the Fed had received subpoenas from the Justice Department as part of a criminal investigation into his congressional testimony about a $2.5 billion building renovation. Powell in an unusually blunt video statement said the subpoenas were a pretext to punish the Fed for not cutting rates more quickly. At a press conference after the Fed issued its rate decision, Powell declined to add anything to the earlier statement.And last week, the Supreme Court took up Trump's attempt from last year to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-lisa-cook-trump-6fca3d2fbb54ba204cc91398e6a7b020">fire Fed governor Lisa Cook</a>&nbsp;over allegations of mortgage fraud, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-cook-trump-fed-independence-firing-d06dfb46fbd300195c3cedc8cb5adadb">she denies</a>. No president has fired a governor in the Fed’s 112-year history. The justices at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-cook-federal-reserve-powell-a8572f8a1f62cf653e822a64c714d05a">an oral argument</a>&nbsp;appeared to be leaning toward allowing her to stay in her job until the case is resolved.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell on why he attended last week&#39;s Supreme Court oral argument: &quot;That case is perhaps the most important legal case in the Fed&#39;s 113-year history...I thought it might be harder to explain why I didn&#39;t attend...I thought it was an appropriate thing and I did it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ycd9fqC8rs">pic.twitter.com/ycd9fqC8rs</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2016597493581005215?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Powell attended the Cook hearing at the Supreme Court. When asked why he decided to attend, Powell said, “I would say that that this case is perhaps the most important legal case" in the Fed’s history. "And I as I thought about it, I thought, it might be hard to explain why I didn’t attend.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell on his January 11th statement responding to the DOJ serving the Fed with subpoenas: &quot;I&#39;m not going to expand on it or repeat it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/1uouT9sanQ">pic.twitter.com/1uouT9sanQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2016601433890554207?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The president’s efforts to pressure the Fed may have backfired, economists say, as Republicans in the Senate voiced support for Powell and threatened to block Trump’s replacement chair.When asked by reporters Wednesday if he was confident the Fed can retain its independence, Powell said, “Yes,” and added, "I’m strongly committed to that and so are my colleagues.”Trump has suggested he is close to naming a new Fed Chair, to replace Powell once his term ends in May. The announcement could come as soon as this week, though it has been delayed before.Powell has the option of remaining as a Fed governor beyond May but told reporters he hadn’t made a decision about whether to stay or leave.Only 12 of the 19 members of the Fed's rate-setting committee have a vote, including all seven members of the board of governors, the president of the New York Fed, and a rotating group of four presidents from the regional Fed banks.This year, Beth Hammack, president of the Cleveland Fed; Neel Kashkari, president of the Minneapolis Fed; Lorie Logan, president of the Dallas Fed; and Anna Paulson, president of the Philadelphia Fed, will vote on rate decisions. All have recently expressed some skepticism of the need for further cuts in the immediate future.Larger-than-usual tax refunds over the next few months should help fuel more consumer spending, economists expect. And faster growth could eventually boost hiring, which has been noticeably weak even as the economy is expanding.With businesses barely adding jobs, consumers remain gloomy about the economy. The Conference Board's measure of consumer confidence&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-spending-inflation-conference-board-f36b997dc46ac9c3577d05db52166846">dropped to an 11-year low</a>&nbsp;in January, the business research group said Tuesday.

🎥Fed Chair on interest rates and other major controversies

Abortion is Murder seeks total ban; Satanic Grotto argues 1st Amendment claim

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

TOPEKA — Preacher Nicholas Heald lifted a well-worn Bible and his booming voice Tuesday in the Capitol rotunda to declare abortion the equivalent of murder and to amplify a denunciation of the Kansas Legislature for refusing to pass a bill outlawing abortion services statewide.

Heald was surrounded on the third floor by like-minded activists — several wielding large posters with graphic images of a deceased fetus — who made certain House and Senate members, Republicans and Democrats alike, could witness their impatience with politicians reluctant to take a big leap toward ending abortion in Kansas.

He dismissed skeptics who argued such a bill wouldn’t pass the GOP-controlled Legislature or would be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly or had no chance of surviving constitutional challenges before the Kansas Supreme Court.

“The legislators, our representatives, for far too long … have failed in your duty to establish equal justice protection for born and pre-born people,” Heald said. “We have come to you year after year after year … to protect every one of your pre-born neighbors, with no exceptions. And, you have failed. You have refused to do so for political reasons.”

“How much more blood will be on your hands as you sign more so-called pro-life bills that regulate murder?” he added.

His message was aimed, in part, at participants in the Kansas version of March for Life, who plan a rally noon Wednesday on south steps of the Capitol to press for new legal obstacles to reproductive rights. Those rights have been declared fundamental by the Kansas Supreme Court in decisions shielding the right of women to end a pregnancy.

On the first floor of the Capitol and on the south steps of the building, supporters of an organization known as Satanic Grotto took part in a much smaller but equally robust protest in support of reproductive choice.

More significantly, however, Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart said the group was there to continue building the foundation of a potential First Amendment lawsuit challenging the state’s action to allow Abortion is Murder supporters to bring into the Statehouse posters with ghastly and bloody images but to forbid Satanic Grotto from doing likewise.

“We’re here to say that in Kansas there are horrific people who hang gory signs and harass women and are part of a movement that has a history of incredible violence here in Kansas,” said Stewart, who was taken into police custody in March 2025 at the Capitol while trying to tear a Bible in half and stomp on communion wafers. “We are game to play by the rules as long as everybody’s paying by the rules.”

Stewart referenced the 2009 murder of Wichita physician George Tiller, who at that time was among few U.S. doctors performing late-term abortions. He was shot to death in church by anti-abortion activist Scott Roeder, who confessed to the murder and defended the violence because “pre-born children’s lives were in imminent danger.”

Stewart said Satanic Grotto was a group of “independent satanists” who came together for a sense of community. In the process, they’ve taken on “kind of a sacred duty” to take part in the public debate about political speech at the Capitol. He said group members wanted the state government to know that “we’re serious about what we’re doing, that we’re documenting it and we’re giving them a chance to respond and fix these issues before it can upgrade to litigation.”

One result of Satanic Grotto’s activism would be to demonstrate that state officials at the Capitol engaged in selective enforcement of rules related to protest signs. Information being gathered, he said, would&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/20/kansas-satanic-grotto-files-complaint-about-abortion-rally-permit-approval-plans-counterprotest/">support a complaint filed with the Kansas Department of Administration</a>&nbsp;alleging the Christian anti-abortion group received preferential treatment and expression by people taking part in counterprotests against Abortion is Murder were treated unfairly.

Before the political clash of ideas Tuesday, Stewart said his colleagues had intended to haul a 9-foot-tall sculpture named “Zombie Jesus” onto the Statehouse grounds and into the Capitol. Due to bitter weather conditions, he said, they sidelined the massive piece of art.

In the Capitol, signs displayed by Abortion is Murder adherents included “If abortion is murder, the victim is the baby,” “Taking a pill to terminate a baby is murder with malice aforethought,” “What has 50+ years of incrementalism accomplished?” “Abortion is murder — It must and shall be abolished” and “Abolish Abortion: Thou shalt not murder.”

Other materials distributed during the Abortion is Murder event said: “Abolish child sacrifice — ban in vitro fertilization” and “Public Service Announcement: Women are not sex objects. Babies are not body parts.” One folding piece of literature illustrated blood-covered hands with a photograph of the remains of a fetus aborted at 10 weeks. The image was surrounded by citations of Bible scripture from Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Psalm. A similarly graphic handout contained the same photo with the text: “You know this is murder. Stop suppressing the truth. Demand the total and immediate abolition of abortion.”

Josh Eaton, a pastor at Cross Point Baptist Church in Caney, said most anti-abortion laws included exceptions that enabled women who received an abortion not to be charged with a crime. He said abolitionists wanted all laws applicable to murder cases to apply to abortions, including punishing anyone who coerced or forced a woman to have an abortion.

“If a man sneaks a pill into his girlfriend’s drink to cause her to have an abortion, he can be charged with murder of the child,” Eaton said. “But, if she drinks the pill herself, then she can’t be charged with anything. It’s a double standard.”

Curtis Knapp, pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, spoke during the first of two sermons by Abortion is Murder supporters in the rotunda.

“With respect to sin, you either make war with it or you make peace with it,” he said. “With respect to the murder of the unborn, we have chosen peace, peaceful coexistence. Consequently, our conscience has been ruined.”

Knapp urged Republican legislators to quit rationalizing why abolishing abortion would be impractical or unwise. He said lawmakers claimed they couldn’t vote for an abolition bill because they might not get reelected and, if that occurred, the Republican Party could forfeit its supermajority in the House and Senate.

“Keep in mind, Kansas is a state where Republicans have enjoyed a supermajority uninterrupted in the Senate since 1992 and the House since 2012,” Knapp said. “Registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats in Kansas by almost 2-to-1. A question I have is: When will this supermajority ever benefit the unborn?”

During Knapp’s sermon, he responded to a comment from the crowd regarding abortion rights. He assumed the comment was made by a Satanic Grotto supporter.

“It is very clear, and our opponents are helping make that clear, Satan is for abortion. These are satanists, and they are very much for abortion,” Knapp said. “That is the contrast that you have here today. Abortion is Satan’s playground, and God hates it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769607480512.jpeg" alt="Clifton Boje, center in vest and holding the “Jesus Christ” sign on his shoulders, leads a rally Jan. 27, 2026, in the Capitol rotunda with allies in the Abortion is Murder organization. AIM wants the Kansas Legislature to pass a bill declaring abortion the equivalent of murder statewide. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Clifton Boje, center in vest and holding the “Jesus Christ” sign on his shoulders, leads a rally Jan. 27, 2026, in the Capitol rotunda with allies in the Abortion is Murder organization. AIM wants the Kansas Legislature to pass a bill declaring abortion the equivalent of murder statewide. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Abortion is Murder seeks total ban; Satanic Grotto argues 1st Amendment claim</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>&nbsp;TOPEKA — Preacher Nicholas Heald lifted a well-worn Bible and his booming voice Tuesday in the Capitol rotunda to declare abortion the equivalent of murder and to amplify a denunciation of the Kansas Legislature for refusing to pass a bill outlawing abortion services statewide.Heald was surrounded on the third floor by like-minded activists — several wielding large posters with graphic images of a deceased fetus — who made certain House and Senate members, Republicans and Democrats alike, could witness their impatience with politicians reluctant to take a big leap toward ending abortion in Kansas.He dismissed skeptics who argued such a bill wouldn’t pass the GOP-controlled Legislature or would be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly or had no chance of surviving constitutional challenges before the Kansas Supreme Court.“The legislators, our representatives, for far too long … have failed in your duty to establish equal justice protection for born and pre-born people,” Heald said. “We have come to you year after year after year … to protect every one of your pre-born neighbors, with no exceptions. And, you have failed. You have refused to do so for political reasons.”“How much more blood will be on your hands as you sign more so-called pro-life bills that regulate murder?” he added.His message was aimed, in part, at participants in the Kansas version of March for Life, who plan a rally noon Wednesday on south steps of the Capitol to press for new legal obstacles to reproductive rights. Those rights have been declared fundamental by the Kansas Supreme Court in decisions shielding the right of women to end a pregnancy.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769607424345.png" alt="Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto, says a counterprotest Jan. 27, 2026, to a rally inside the Capitol by Abortion is Murder, which seeks a total ban on abortion in Kansas, highlights inconsistency in the state’s handling of access to the Capitol. Stewart says Satanic Grotto faces discrimination by officials imposing on his group greater restrictions on expression than those faced by the anti-abortion organization inside the Statehouse. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto, says a counterprotest Jan. 27, 2026, to a rally inside the Capitol by Abortion is Murder, which seeks a total ban on abortion in Kansas, highlights inconsistency in the state’s handling of access to the Capitol. Stewart says Satanic Grotto faces discrimination by officials imposing on his group greater restrictions on expression than those faced by the anti-abortion organization inside the Statehouse. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Satanic voices</h2>On the first floor of the Capitol and on the south steps of the building, supporters of an organization known as Satanic Grotto took part in a much smaller but equally robust protest in support of reproductive choice.More significantly, however, Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart said the group was there to continue building the foundation of a potential First Amendment lawsuit challenging the state’s action to allow Abortion is Murder supporters to bring into the Statehouse posters with ghastly and bloody images but to forbid Satanic Grotto from doing likewise.“We’re here to say that in Kansas there are horrific people who hang gory signs and harass women and are part of a movement that has a history of incredible violence here in Kansas,” said Stewart, who was taken into police custody in March 2025 at the Capitol while trying to tear a Bible in half and stomp on communion wafers. “We are game to play by the rules as long as everybody’s paying by the rules.”Stewart referenced the 2009 murder of Wichita physician George Tiller, who at that time was among few U.S. doctors performing late-term abortions. He was shot to death in church by anti-abortion activist Scott Roeder, who confessed to the murder and defended the violence because “pre-born children’s lives were in imminent danger.”Stewart said Satanic Grotto was a group of “independent satanists” who came together for a sense of community. In the process, they’ve taken on “kind of a sacred duty” to take part in the public debate about political speech at the Capitol. He said group members wanted the state government to know that “we’re serious about what we’re doing, that we’re documenting it and we’re giving them a chance to respond and fix these issues before it can upgrade to litigation.”One result of Satanic Grotto’s activism would be to demonstrate that state officials at the Capitol engaged in selective enforcement of rules related to protest signs. Information being gathered, he said, would&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/20/kansas-satanic-grotto-files-complaint-about-abortion-rally-permit-approval-plans-counterprotest/">support a complaint filed with the Kansas Department of Administration</a>&nbsp;alleging the Christian anti-abortion group received preferential treatment and expression by people taking part in counterprotests against Abortion is Murder were treated unfairly.Before the political clash of ideas Tuesday, Stewart said his colleagues had intended to haul a 9-foot-tall sculpture named “Zombie Jesus” onto the Statehouse grounds and into the Capitol. Due to bitter weather conditions, he said, they sidelined the massive piece of art.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769607362230.png" alt="Clifton Boje appears at the Jan. 27, 2026 Abortion is Murder Rally at the Statehouse-photo by Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>Clifton Boje appears at the Jan. 27, 2026 Abortion is Murder Rally at the Statehouse-photo by Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Abortion as murder</h2>In the Capitol, signs displayed by Abortion is Murder adherents included “If abortion is murder, the victim is the baby,” “Taking a pill to terminate a baby is murder with malice aforethought,” “What has 50+ years of incrementalism accomplished?” “Abortion is murder — It must and shall be abolished” and “Abolish Abortion: Thou shalt not murder.”Other materials distributed during the Abortion is Murder event said: “Abolish child sacrifice — ban in vitro fertilization” and “Public Service Announcement: Women are not sex objects. Babies are not body parts.” One folding piece of literature illustrated blood-covered hands with a photograph of the remains of a fetus aborted at 10 weeks. The image was surrounded by citations of Bible scripture from Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Psalm. A similarly graphic handout contained the same photo with the text: “You know this is murder. Stop suppressing the truth. Demand the total and immediate abolition of abortion.”Josh Eaton, a pastor at Cross Point Baptist Church in Caney, said most anti-abortion laws included exceptions that enabled women who received an abortion not to be charged with a crime. He said abolitionists wanted all laws applicable to murder cases to apply to abortions, including punishing anyone who coerced or forced a woman to have an abortion.“If a man sneaks a pill into his girlfriend’s drink to cause her to have an abortion, he can be charged with murder of the child,” Eaton said. “But, if she drinks the pill herself, then she can’t be charged with anything. It’s a double standard.”Curtis Knapp, pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Seneca, spoke during the first of two sermons by Abortion is Murder supporters in the rotunda.“With respect to sin, you either make war with it or you make peace with it,” he said. “With respect to the murder of the unborn, we have chosen peace, peaceful coexistence. Consequently, our conscience has been ruined.”Knapp urged Republican legislators to quit rationalizing why abolishing abortion would be impractical or unwise. He said lawmakers claimed they couldn’t vote for an abolition bill because they might not get reelected and, if that occurred, the Republican Party could forfeit its supermajority in the House and Senate.“Keep in mind, Kansas is a state where Republicans have enjoyed a supermajority uninterrupted in the Senate since 1992 and the House since 2012,” Knapp said. “Registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats in Kansas by almost 2-to-1. A question I have is: When will this supermajority ever benefit the unborn?”During Knapp’s sermon, he responded to a comment from the crowd regarding abortion rights. He assumed the comment was made by a Satanic Grotto supporter.“It is very clear, and our opponents are helping make that clear, Satan is for abortion. These are satanists, and they are very much for abortion,” Knapp said. “That is the contrast that you have here today. Abortion is Satan’s playground, and God hates it.”

Anti-abortion rally runs up against satanists’ demand for equal access to Kansas Capitol

On his social media account, Kansas City, Missouri mayor Quinton Lucas shared his Wednesday morning interview on CNN where he discussed immigration raids and "standing up for rights of all in Kansas City."

On his social media account, Kansas City, Missouri mayor Quinton Lucas shared his Wednesday morning interview on CNN where he discussed immigration raids and "standing up for rights of all in Kansas City."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Full interview on the eve of meetings with mayors on how we can stand up for our people. <a href="https://t.co/zg5KygkTIm">pic.twitter.com/zg5KygkTIm</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/2016525939836924049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 Kansas City mayor sounds off on immigration crackdown  

New York (AP) —First lady Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday to promote her new documentary.

Her appearance was pegged to Friday’s scheduled worldwide release of “Melania,” a documentary from AmazonMGM Studios about the 20 days before she resumed the role of first lady in January 2025.

She and the president hosted a screening at the White House on Saturday night. Another screening event is being planned for Thursday at the Kennedy Center in Washington before the film is released exclusively in theaters across the United States and in almost 30 countries.

In brief remarks in New York, she said the film provides a “window into an important period for America.” She also said films bring families together, and she expressed hope that families will gather to watch the documentary to learn more about her life.

New York (AP) —First lady Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday to promote her new documentary.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The NYSE welcomes Melania Trump, First Lady of the United States, to celebrate <a href="https://twitter.com/AmazonMGMStudio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmazonMGMStudio</a>’s launch of her new film MELANIA, opening in theaters globally this Friday, January 30th. <a href="https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MELANIATRUMP</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MELANIAMOVIE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MELANIAMOVIE</a> <a href="https://t.co/M4PKHeX4sB">https://t.co/M4PKHeX4sB</a>&mdash; NYSE 🏛 (@NYSE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYSE/status/2016518877937631327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Her appearance was pegged to Friday’s scheduled worldwide release of “Melania,” a documentary from AmazonMGM Studios about the 20 days before she resumed the role of first lady in January 2025.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Opening the global markets - The First Lady of the United States, <a href="https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MELANIATRUMP</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/AmazonMGMStudio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmazonMGMStudio</a>’s launch of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MELANIA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MELANIA</a> premieres globally in theaters this Friday, January 30th. <a href="https://t.co/QIbiInQ4rK">pic.twitter.com/QIbiInQ4rK</a>&mdash; NYSE 🏛 (@NYSE) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYSE/status/2016554126298042547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>She and the president hosted a screening at the White House on Saturday night. Another screening event is being planned for Thursday at the Kennedy Center in Washington before the film is released exclusively in theaters across the United States and in almost 30 countries.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The trailer for Melania’s movie is out. <a href="https://t.co/CLyyvrH2TL">pic.twitter.com/CLyyvrH2TL</a>&mdash; Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) <a href="https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/2001270810606965080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In brief remarks in New York, she said the film provides a “window into an important period for America.” She also said films bring families together, and she expressed hope that families will gather to watch the documentary to learn more about her life.

🎥First lady rings opening bell at New York Stock Exchange

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement used a drone to help make an arrest in deadly knife attack in Wichita.

Just after 8:30 p.m. Monday,&nbsp; police officers responded to a reported disturbance in the 400 Block of West Maple in Wichita, according to a media release. First responders located 28-year-old Jon Berkenmeier of Wichita, suffering from apparent stab wounds. Officers immediately initiated life-saving measures; however, Berkenmeier was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A 25-year-old Wichita man identified in booking records as Joseph Allen Anderson was detained at the scene and later arrested on a requested charges of second-degree murder. 

Police said Berkenmeier and Anderson knew each other but released no additional details about their relationship.

The Wichita Police Department’s Drone as First Responder (DFR)&nbsp;was the first unit to arrive on scene, providing real-time aerial video and critical situational information&nbsp;to officers while they were responding. This early intelligence significantly enhanced officer awareness and coordination&nbsp;during the initial moments of the response.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769537340642.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement used a drone to help make an arrest in deadly knife attack in Wichita.Just after 8:30 p.m. Monday,&nbsp; police officers responded to a reported disturbance in the 400 Block of West Maple in Wichita, according to a media release. First responders located 28-year-old Jon Berkenmeier of Wichita, suffering from apparent stab wounds. Officers immediately initiated life-saving measures; however, Berkenmeier was pronounced deceased at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769598931710.png" alt="Anderson photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Anderson photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>A 25-year-old Wichita man identified in booking records as Joseph Allen Anderson was detained at the scene and later arrested on a requested charges of second-degree murder. Police said Berkenmeier and Anderson knew each other but released no additional details about their relationship.The Wichita Police Department’s Drone as First Responder (DFR)&nbsp;was the first unit to arrive on scene, providing real-time aerial video and critical situational information&nbsp;to officers while they were responding. This early intelligence significantly enhanced officer awareness and coordination&nbsp;during the initial moments of the response.

Police use drone to help in fatal Kansas knife attack arrest 

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mayasmith/">Maya Smith</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

LAWRENCE — Honking horns, blowing whistles and chanting “ICE out,” hundreds of high school students walked out of class Tuesday afternoon protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alongside Lawrence residents and middle school and university students.

The protest was organized by Lawrence High School sophomore Lillian Goombi, with groups including the Sanctuary Alliance and the Kansas Students for Justice in Palestine participating. Both organizations<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DT6by0mDcRG/?img_index=1" target="_blank">called upon Lawrence</a>&nbsp;citizens and University of Kansas students and faculty to join high schoolers in the walkout.

Students participated in protests at both Lawrence High and Free State High School.&nbsp;

For first-generation student Angelo Reyna, the walkout was for those who can’t speak out due to immigration status or fear, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I’m here because my mom is an immigrant,” Reyna said. “What’s happening on the streets of Minnesota is terrible. I’m here to show my solidarity that I disagree with everything that is happening. I use my voice because there are undocumented immigrants who cannot use their voice. I’m very proud I can use mine.”

Freshman Elaina Pollard said she was proud of both high school and middle school students who walked out of class.&nbsp;

“Not enough people are standing up for this,” Pollard said. “What’s happening in Minnesota is heartbreaking and horrible. It needs to stop. I’m proud of everyone who’s out here in the cold and I’m glad to see so many protesters and KU students with us.”

Middle school students from both Liberty Memorial Central Middle School and Billy Mills Middle School walked to Lawrence High, which is roughly a mile from either building. They held up signs with phrases such as “abolish ICE” and “don’t be an ICE-hole.”

Lawrence Public Schools Superintendent Jeanice Swift released a statement Monday afternoon before the walkout. Swift said the district supports students’ right to protest but that the district remains “viewpoint neutral” on student speech.&nbsp;

Lawrence High Schools principal Quentin Rials did not respond for comment at the time of publishing.&nbsp;

Many non-student attendees are regulars at the weekly Sunday protests on Massachusetts Street against the Trump administration as well as ICE. Protesters say they were impressed with the number of students who participated.&nbsp;

Erika Earles, who graduated from Lawrence High in 1995, said she was proud of current students carrying on the long history of students standing up for their rights, referencing how the Lawrence High School Black Student Union helped integrate the town in the sixties.&nbsp;

“It’s horrifying what our federal government is doing right now, and I wanted to come out and support the kids at LHS standing up for what’s right,” Earles said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769607917211.png" alt="Lawrence High School students and residents protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement on 19th and Louisiana Street across from the high school. (Photo by Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Lawrence High School students and residents protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement on 19th and Louisiana Street across from the high school. (Photo by Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mayasmith/">Maya Smith</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>LAWRENCE — Honking horns, blowing whistles and chanting “ICE out,” hundreds of high school students walked out of class Tuesday afternoon protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, alongside Lawrence residents and middle school and university students.The protest was organized by Lawrence High School sophomore Lillian Goombi, with groups including the Sanctuary Alliance and the Kansas Students for Justice in Palestine participating. Both organizations<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DT6by0mDcRG/?img_index=1" target="_blank">called upon Lawrence</a>&nbsp;citizens and University of Kansas students and faculty to join high schoolers in the walkout.Students participated in protests at both Lawrence High and Free State High School.&nbsp;For first-generation student Angelo Reyna, the walkout was for those who can’t speak out due to immigration status or fear, he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I’m here because my mom is an immigrant,” Reyna said. “What’s happening on the streets of Minnesota is terrible. I’m here to show my solidarity that I disagree with everything that is happening. I use my voice because there are undocumented immigrants who cannot use their voice. I’m very proud I can use mine.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769607883179.png" alt="Lawrence High School students raised their voices on Tuesday for a protest against ICE. Other Lawrence schools participated in the direct action as well. (Photo by Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Lawrence High School students raised their voices on Tuesday for a protest against ICE. Other Lawrence schools participated in the direct action as well. (Photo by Maya Smith for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Freshman Elaina Pollard said she was proud of both high school and middle school students who walked out of class.&nbsp;“Not enough people are standing up for this,” Pollard said. “What’s happening in Minnesota is heartbreaking and horrible. It needs to stop. I’m proud of everyone who’s out here in the cold and I’m glad to see so many protesters and KU students with us.”Middle school students from both Liberty Memorial Central Middle School and Billy Mills Middle School walked to Lawrence High, which is roughly a mile from either building. They held up signs with phrases such as “abolish ICE” and “don’t be an ICE-hole.”Lawrence Public Schools Superintendent Jeanice Swift released a statement Monday afternoon before the walkout. Swift said the district supports students’ right to protest but that the district remains “viewpoint neutral” on student speech.&nbsp;Lawrence High Schools principal Quentin Rials did not respond for comment at the time of publishing.&nbsp;Many non-student attendees are regulars at the weekly Sunday protests on Massachusetts Street against the Trump administration as well as ICE. Protesters say they were impressed with the number of students who participated.&nbsp;Erika Earles, who graduated from Lawrence High in 1995, said she was proud of current students carrying on the long history of students standing up for their rights, referencing how the Lawrence High School Black Student Union helped integrate the town in the sixties.&nbsp;“It’s horrifying what our federal government is doing right now, and I wanted to come out and support the kids at LHS standing up for what’s right,” Earles said.

Lawrence high school students and residents march against immigration enforcement abuses

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect for an alleged violent robbery in Great Bend.

Just before 9 p.m., January 23, police were dispatched to report of a robbery in the 900 block of Jefferson in Great Bend, according to a mdeid release.

Upon officers' arrival, the victim reported that Juan Prieto, 31, and Trinity Galliart, 30, had used physical force and stole money from him. The victim also reported that Prieto and Galliart had left the scene in a white truck.

 A short time later, officers located the suspect vehicle as well as both suspects at a residence in the 2400 block of Cheyenne Drive in Great Bend.. As a result of the investigation, both Prieto and Galliart were arrested on requested charges of Robbery, and were transported to the Barton County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769555572726.png" alt="Photo Barton Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Photo Barton Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect for an alleged violent robbery in Great Bend.Just before 9 p.m., January 23, police were dispatched to report of a robbery in the 900 block of Jefferson in Great Bend, according to a mdeid release.Upon officers' arrival, the victim reported that Juan Prieto, 31, and Trinity Galliart, 30, had used physical force and stole money from him. The victim also reported that Prieto and Galliart had left the scene in a white truck. A short time later, officers located the suspect vehicle as well as both suspects at a residence in the 2400 block of Cheyenne Drive in Great Bend.. As a result of the investigation, both Prieto and Galliart were arrested on requested charges of Robbery, and were transported to the Barton County Jail.

Man and woman accused of violent robbery in central Kansas

By GARY FIELDS, JOSH FUNK and ED WHITE&nbsp;

WASHINGTON (AP) — National Transportation Safety Board members were deeply troubled Tuesday over years of ignored warnings about helicopter traffic dangers and other problems, long before last year's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-investigation-american-airlines-helicopter-ntsb-acc8bf751427eb6824d9d1fad30895b8">midair collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines jet from Wichita and an Army Black Hawk, which killed 67 people near Washington, D.C.

The board heard hours of testimony from investigators who outlined their findings in the collision and subsequent crash near Reagan National Airport a year ago. Key themes emerged, including “overwhelmed” air traffic control, a failure to alert the jet's pilot about the other aircraft and a history of missed opportunities to reroute helicopter traffic.

“I’m sorry for you, as these pages of these reports are written in your family members' blood,” board member Todd Inman told the audience. “I’m sorry that we have to be here.”

Family members listened intently during the hearing. Some were escorted out, including two in tears, as an animation of the flights was displayed on video screens. Others wore black shirts bearing the names of crash victims.

“The negligence of not fixing things that needed to be fixed killed my brother and 66 other people. So I’m not very happy,” Kristen Miller-Zahn, who watched from the front row, said during a break.

The NTSB's job at this point is to determine the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-army-helicopter-ntsb-cause-f2e87b625583c077acfca694700de37f">biggest factors</a>&nbsp;in the crash and make recommendations. Victims' families say they hope there’s meaningful change.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/public-affairs-event/officials-hold-meeting-on-cause-of-midair-collision/439872">Click here to watch</a> a replay of the hearing

Before hearing from investigators, Inman said “systemic issues across multiple organizations,” not an error by any individual, caused the tragedy.

Everyone aboard the jet, flying from Wichita, Kansas, and the helicopter died when the two aircraft collided and plummeted into the icy Potomac River. It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest plane crash</a>&nbsp;on U.S. soil since 2001, and the victims included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-079cca60567e6929f4b84a8e9d6c330d">28 members of the figure skating community</a>.

The Federal Aviation Administration last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aviation-safety-dc-plane-crash-faa-helicopters-07ea495a557b8a2767d0eca4277e8be1">made a permanent change</a>&nbsp;to ensure helicopters and planes no longer share the same airspace around the airport.

NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said she couldn’t believe the FAA didn’t realize the helicopter route in use during the crash didn’t provide adequate separation from planes landing on Reagan’s secondary runway. She noted that the FAA had refused to add detailed information about helicopter routes to pilots' charts so they could better understand the risks.

“We know over time concerns were raised repeatedly, went unheard, squashed — however you want to put it — stuck in red tape and bureaucracy of a very large organization,” Homendy said. “Repeated recommendations over the years.”

NTSB investigators said the Army and FAA weren’t sharing all safety data with each other before the crash, and that Army helicopter pilots often weren’t even aware when they were involved in a near-miss around Reagan.

NTSB human performance investigator Katherine Wilson said an air traffic controller felt a “little overwhelmed” when traffic volume increased to 10 aircraft about 10 to 15 minutes before the collision, but then “felt the volume was manageable when one or two helicopters left the airspace.”

Yet about 90 seconds before the collision, Wilson said, “traffic volume increased to a maximum of 12 aircraft consisting of seven airplanes and five helicopters. Radio communication showed that the local controller was shifting focus between airborne, ground and transiting aircraft.”

The workload “reduced his situational awareness,” Wilson said.

Details were difficult for families to hear

NTSB investigators showed a video animation to demonstrate how difficult it would have been for the pilots in both aircraft to spot the other amid the lights of Washington. The animation also showed how the windshields of both aircraft and the helicopter crew’s night vision goggles restricted views.

Ahead of the hearing, Rachel Feres, who lost her cousin Peter Livingston and his wife and two young daughters, said she was hoping for “clarity and urgency” from the NTSB process.

No one else, she said, should have to “wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone, or their wife is gone or the child is gone.”

Whether that happens depends on how Congress, the Army and the Trump administration respond after the hearing. A pending bill would require all aircraft to have advanced locator systems to help avoid collisions.

Even before Tuesday, the NTSB had already spelled out many key factors that contributed to the crash. Investigators said controllers in the Reagan tower had been overly reliant on asking pilots to spot other aircraft and maintain visual separation.

The night of the crash, the controller approved the Black Hawk's request to do that twice. However, the investigation has shown that the helicopter pilots likely never spotted the American Airlines plane as the jet circled to land on the little-used secondary runway.

In a statement, the FAA said it has reduced hourly plane arrivals at Reagan airport from 36 to 30 and increased staff. The agency said it has 22 certified controllers in the tower and eight more in training.

“We will diligently consider any additional recommendations” from the NTSB, the FAA said.

Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-india-crash-aviation-safety-76215f9d429274f3b5089e81baa97d6a">high-profile crashes and close calls</a>&nbsp;followed the D.C. collision, alarming the flying public. But NTSB statistics show that the total number of crashes last year was the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, with 1,405 nationwide.

Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska, and White reported from Detroit.

NTSB investigator Katherine Wilson said an air traffic controller felt a “little overwhelmed” when traffic volume increased to 10 aircraft about 10 to 15 minutes before the collision, but then “felt the volume was manageable when one or two helicopters left the airspace.”

“I hope that we see a clear path through the recommendations they offer to ensure that this never happens again,” Feres said. “That nobody else has to wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone, or their wife is gone or the child is gone.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769540148105.png" alt="Simulation shows the view from the Black Hawk helicopter as it approached the deadly crash-image from NTSB video" />
 <figcaption>Simulation shows the view from the Black Hawk helicopter as it approached the deadly crash-image from NTSB video</figcaption>
 </figure>By GARY FIELDS, JOSH FUNK and ED WHITE&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) — National Transportation Safety Board members were deeply troubled Tuesday over years of ignored warnings about helicopter traffic dangers and other problems, long before last year's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-investigation-american-airlines-helicopter-ntsb-acc8bf751427eb6824d9d1fad30895b8">midair collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines jet from Wichita and an Army Black Hawk, which killed 67 people near Washington, D.C.The board heard hours of testimony from investigators who outlined their findings in the collision and subsequent crash near Reagan National Airport a year ago. Key themes emerged, including “overwhelmed” air traffic control, a failure to alert the jet's pilot about the other aircraft and a history of missed opportunities to reroute helicopter traffic.“I’m sorry for you, as these pages of these reports are written in your family members' blood,” board member Todd Inman told the audience. “I’m sorry that we have to be here.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769539787954.png" alt="Simulation of shows the view from the American Airlines jet as it approached the deadly crash-image from NTSB video" />
 <figcaption>Simulation of shows the view from the American Airlines jet as it approached the deadly crash-image from NTSB video</figcaption>
 </figure>Family members listened intently during the hearing. Some were escorted out, including two in tears, as an animation of the flights was displayed on video screens. Others wore black shirts bearing the names of crash victims.“The negligence of not fixing things that needed to be fixed killed my brother and 66 other people. So I’m not very happy,” Kristen Miller-Zahn, who watched from the front row, said during a break.The NTSB's job at this point is to determine the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-army-helicopter-ntsb-cause-f2e87b625583c077acfca694700de37f">biggest factors</a>&nbsp;in the crash and make recommendations. Victims' families say they hope there’s meaningful change.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NTSB Chair <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferHomendy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JenniferHomendy</a> on DCA crash: &quot;We should be angry, because for years no one listened. This was preventable, this was 100% preventable.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Dv7AQ8t9E6">pic.twitter.com/Dv7AQ8t9E6</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2016255017523556445?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://www.c-span.org/event/public-affairs-event/officials-hold-meeting-on-cause-of-midair-collision/439872">Click here to watch</a> a replay of the hearing<h2>Systemic problems caused the crash</h2>Before hearing from investigators, Inman said “systemic issues across multiple organizations,” not an error by any individual, caused the tragedy.Everyone aboard the jet, flying from Wichita, Kansas, and the helicopter died when the two aircraft collided and plummeted into the icy Potomac River. It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest plane crash</a>&nbsp;on U.S. soil since 2001, and the victims included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-079cca60567e6929f4b84a8e9d6c330d">28 members of the figure skating community</a>.The Federal Aviation Administration last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aviation-safety-dc-plane-crash-faa-helicopters-07ea495a557b8a2767d0eca4277e8be1">made a permanent change</a>&nbsp;to ensure helicopters and planes no longer share the same airspace around the airport.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NTSB Chair <a href="https://twitter.com/JenniferHomendy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JenniferHomendy</a> on DCA: &quot;This is the most complex airspace, one of the most, in the entire United States…In this case everyone in the tower knows, this tower is essentially treated as a training facility.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/9x8hZfXiRe">pic.twitter.com/9x8hZfXiRe</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2016206364574351870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Missed warning signs</h2>NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said she couldn’t believe the FAA didn’t realize the helicopter route in use during the crash didn’t provide adequate separation from planes landing on Reagan’s secondary runway. She noted that the FAA had refused to add detailed information about helicopter routes to pilots' charts so they could better understand the risks.“We know over time concerns were raised repeatedly, went unheard, squashed — however you want to put it — stuck in red tape and bureaucracy of a very large organization,” Homendy said. “Repeated recommendations over the years.”NTSB investigators said the Army and FAA weren’t sharing all safety data with each other before the crash, and that Army helicopter pilots often weren’t even aware when they were involved in a near-miss around Reagan.<h2>Overwhelmed controller</h2>NTSB human performance investigator Katherine Wilson said an air traffic controller felt a “little overwhelmed” when traffic volume increased to 10 aircraft about 10 to 15 minutes before the collision, but then “felt the volume was manageable when one or two helicopters left the airspace.”Yet about 90 seconds before the collision, Wilson said, “traffic volume increased to a maximum of 12 aircraft consisting of seven airplanes and five helicopters. Radio communication showed that the local controller was shifting focus between airborne, ground and transiting aircraft.”The workload “reduced his situational awareness,” Wilson said.<h2>Details were difficult for families to hear</h2>NTSB investigators showed a video animation to demonstrate how difficult it would have been for the pilots in both aircraft to spot the other amid the lights of Washington. The animation also showed how the windshields of both aircraft and the helicopter crew’s night vision goggles restricted views.Ahead of the hearing, Rachel Feres, who lost her cousin Peter Livingston and his wife and two young daughters, said she was hoping for “clarity and urgency” from the NTSB process.No one else, she said, should have to “wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone, or their wife is gone or the child is gone.”<h2>The government will have to make changes</h2>Whether that happens depends on how Congress, the Army and the Trump administration respond after the hearing. A pending bill would require all aircraft to have advanced locator systems to help avoid collisions.Even before Tuesday, the NTSB had already spelled out many key factors that contributed to the crash. Investigators said controllers in the Reagan tower had been overly reliant on asking pilots to spot other aircraft and maintain visual separation.The night of the crash, the controller approved the Black Hawk's request to do that twice. However, the investigation has shown that the helicopter pilots likely never spotted the American Airlines plane as the jet circled to land on the little-used secondary runway.In a statement, the FAA said it has reduced hourly plane arrivals at Reagan airport from 36 to 30 and increased staff. The agency said it has 22 certified controllers in the tower and eight more in training.“We will diligently consider any additional recommendations” from the NTSB, the FAA said.Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-india-crash-aviation-safety-76215f9d429274f3b5089e81baa97d6a">high-profile crashes and close calls</a>&nbsp;followed the D.C. collision, alarming the flying public. But NTSB statistics show that the total number of crashes last year was the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, with 1,405 nationwide.___Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska, and White reported from Detroit.“I’m sorry for you, as these pages of these reports are written in your family members' blood,” board member Todd Inman told the audience. “I’m sorry that we have to be here.”Family members listened intently during the hearing. Some were escorted out, including two in tears, as an animation of the flights was displayed on video screens. Others wore black shirts bearing the names of crash victims.“The negligence of not fixing things that needed to be fixed killed my brother and 66 other people. So I’m not very happy,” Kristen Miller-Zahn, who watched from the front row, said during a break.The NTSB's job at this point is to determine the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-army-helicopter-ntsb-cause-f2e87b625583c077acfca694700de37f">biggest factors</a>&nbsp;in the crash and make recommendations. Victims' families say they hope there’s meaningful change.<h2>Systemic problems caused the crash</h2>Before hearing from investigators, Inman said “systemic issues across multiple organizations,” not an error by any individual, caused the tragedy.Everyone aboard the jet, flying from Wichita, Kansas, and the helicopter died when the two aircraft collided and plummeted into the icy Potomac River. It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest plane crash</a>&nbsp;on U.S. soil since 2001, and the victims included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-079cca60567e6929f4b84a8e9d6c330d">28 members of the figure skating community</a>.The Federal Aviation Administration last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aviation-safety-dc-plane-crash-faa-helicopters-07ea495a557b8a2767d0eca4277e8be1">made a permanent change</a>&nbsp;to ensure helicopters and planes no longer share the same airspace around the airport.<h2>Missed warning signs</h2>NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said she couldn’t believe the FAA didn’t realize the helicopter route in use during the crash didn’t provide adequate separation from planes landing on Reagan’s secondary runway. She noted that the FAA had refused to add detailed information about helicopter routes to pilots' charts so they could better understand the risks.“We know over time concerns were raised repeatedly, went unheard, squashed — however you want to put it — stuck in red tape and bureaucracy of a very large organization,” Homendy said. “Repeated recommendations over the years.”<h2>Overwhelmed controller</h2>NTSB investigator Katherine Wilson said an air traffic controller felt a “little overwhelmed” when traffic volume increased to 10 aircraft about 10 to 15 minutes before the collision, but then “felt the volume was manageable when one or two helicopters left the airspace.”Yet about 90 seconds before the collision, Wilson said, “traffic volume increased to a maximum of 12 aircraft consisting of seven airplanes and five helicopters. Radio communication showed that the local controller was shifting focus between airborne, ground and transiting aircraft.”The workload “reduced his situational awareness,” Wilson said.<h2>Details were difficult for families to hear</h2>NTSB investigators showed a video animation to demonstrate how difficult it would have been for the pilots in both aircraft to spot the other amid the lights of Washington. The animation also showed how the windshields of both aircraft and the helicopter crew’s night vision goggles restricted views.Ahead of the hearing, Rachel Feres, who lost her cousin Peter Livingston and his wife and two young daughters, said she was hoping for “clarity and urgency” from the NTSB process.“I hope that we see a clear path through the recommendations they offer to ensure that this never happens again,” Feres said. “That nobody else has to wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone, or their wife is gone or the child is gone.”<h2>The government will have to make changes</h2>Whether that happens depends on how Congress, the Army and the Trump administration respond after the hearing. A pending bill would require all aircraft to have advanced locator systems to help avoid collisions.Even before Tuesday, the NTSB had already spelled out many key factors that contributed to the crash. Investigators said controllers in the Reagan tower had been overly reliant on asking pilots to spot other aircraft and maintain visual separation.The night of the crash, the controller approved the Black Hawk's request to do that twice. However, the investigation has shown that the helicopter pilots likely never spotted the American Airlines plane as the jet circled to land on the little-used secondary runway.In a statement, the FAA said it has reduced hourly plane arrivals at Reagan airport from 36 to 30 and increased staff. The agency said it has 22 certified controllers in the tower and eight more in training.“We will diligently consider any additional recommendations” from the NTSB, the FAA said.Several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-india-crash-aviation-safety-76215f9d429274f3b5089e81baa97d6a">high-profile crashes and close calls</a>&nbsp;followed the D.C. collision, alarming the flying public. But NTSB statistics show that the total number of crashes last year was the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, with 1,405 nationwide.___Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska, and White reported from Detroit.

🎥NTSB on deadly jet from Kansas, helicopter crash: We should be angry

WICHITA, KS – The Kansas Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for the cases of Reginald and Jonathan Carr for Wednesday, January 28.

Below is a summary provided by the district attorney's office on the current status of these appeals, and a summary of what has happened in the cases so far.

Prosecutors said the brothers broke into a Wichita home in December 2000 and forced the three men and two women there to have sex with one another and later to withdraw money from ATMs.

According to authorities, the women were raped repeatedly before all five were taken to a soccer field and shot. Four victims died: Aaron Sander, 29; Brad Heyka, 27; Jason Befort, 26; and Heather Muller, 25. One of the women survived to testify against the Carr brothers. Other crimes over six days left a fifth person dead.

The defendants each appealed Judge Goering’s denial that was issued in April of 2024.&nbsp; The arguments on those appeals scheduled for next week are to resolve those appeals.&nbsp; The defendants’ arguments are (summarized) that they should be granted new sentencing hearings at which point the question of the death penalty would have to be re-litigated.&nbsp; The State’s argument (summarized) is that the question has been resolved, and no new sentencing should be granted.

When any capital murder or other “off-grid” case is appealed in Kansas, the appellate proceedings are as follows:

Then when the direct appeals are exhausted,

Then when the collateral attacks are exhausted,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713797595636.png" alt="Reginald Carr -photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Reginald Carr -photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KS – The Kansas Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for the cases of Reginald and Jonathan Carr for Wednesday, January 28.Below is a summary provided by the district attorney's office on the current status of these appeals, and a summary of what has happened in the cases so far.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713797664640.png" alt="Jonathan Carr photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Jonathan Carr photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure><ol>
 <li>December 7 to 14, 2000, the crimes for which both men were subsequently convicted occurred.</li>
 </ol>Prosecutors said the brothers broke into a Wichita home in December 2000 and forced the three men and two women there to have sex with one another and later to withdraw money from ATMs.According to authorities, the women were raped repeatedly before all five were taken to a soccer field and shot. Four victims died: Aaron Sander, 29; Brad Heyka, 27; Jason Befort, 26; and Heather Muller, 25. One of the women survived to testify against the Carr brothers. Other crimes over six days left a fifth person dead.<ol>
 <li>On November 14, 2002, the Defendants were convicted at the conclusion of a jury trial of multiple counts including Capital Murder.&nbsp; The jury recommended a death sentence for each man. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>On November 15, 2002, the court proceeded to sentencing and imposed a death sentence for each man.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>On July 15, 2014, the convictions were “affirmed in part, reversed in part, and the sentence of death vacated and case remanded.” (The Kansas Supreme Court set aside the death sentences).&nbsp;State v. R. Carr, 300 Kan. 1, 331 P.3d 554 (2014); and&nbsp;State v. J. Carr, 300 Kan. 340, 329 P.3d 1195 (2014).&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>On January 20, 2016, the Supreme Court of the United States “reversed the Kansas Supreme Court and remanded for further proceedings.”&nbsp; (The US Supreme Court re-instated the death sentences.)&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas v. R. Carr, 577 U.S. 108, 136 S. Ct. 633, 193 L.Ed.2d 535 (2016); and&nbsp;Kansas v. J. Carr, 577 U.S. 108, 136 S. Ct. 633, 193 L. Ed. 2d 535 (2016).</li><li>On January 21, 2022, on consideration of the remand and appeal it was ordered and adjudged by the Kansas Supreme Court that the Death Sentences for both men were affirmed.&nbsp; (The Kansas Supreme Court followed the directive of the US Supreme Court.) &nbsp;State v. R. Carr, 314 Kan. 615, 628-629, 502 P.3d 546 (2022); and&nbsp;State v. J. Carr, 314 Kan. 744 (2022).</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>On January 9, 2023, it was ordered and adjudged by the Supreme Court of the United States that the petition for writ of certiorari be denied. (The United States Supreme Court refused to consider the defendant’s appeal).&nbsp; &nbsp;R.&nbsp;Carr v. Kansas, 143 S.Ct. 581, 214 L.Ed.2d 344 (2023); and J.&nbsp;Carr v. Kansas, 143 S.Ct. 584, 214 L.Ed.2d 345 (2023).&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>On February 7, 2023, the District Court of Sedgwick County was commanded by the Kansas Supreme Court to “cause execution to be had of the judgement of the Supreme Court, according to law.”&nbsp; (The Kansas Supreme Court sent the matter back to the Sedgwick County District Court by way of what is called a mandate.&nbsp; That begins the next stage of proceedings in Kansas, commonly referred to as the “1507 hearing”)</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>The defendants each filed a Motion for a Sentencing Hearing, arguing that the death sentences as announced by the original trial judge were improper. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>&nbsp;On April 24, 2024, Judge Goering denied the defendants’ motions for new sentencing hearings.&nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
 </ol>The defendants each appealed Judge Goering’s denial that was issued in April of 2024.&nbsp; The arguments on those appeals scheduled for next week are to resolve those appeals.&nbsp; The defendants’ arguments are (summarized) that they should be granted new sentencing hearings at which point the question of the death penalty would have to be re-litigated.&nbsp; The State’s argument (summarized) is that the question has been resolved, and no new sentencing should be granted.When any capital murder or other “off-grid” case is appealed in Kansas, the appellate proceedings are as follows:<ol>
 <li>The direct appeal to the Kansas Supreme Court – to address any alleged trial error.</li>
 </ol><ul>
 <li>These decisions can then be appealed to the 10th&nbsp;Circuit or United States Supreme Court.</li>
 </ul>Then when the direct appeals are exhausted,<ol>
 <li>&nbsp;The “collateral” attack – typically ineffective assistance of counsel claims, filed under K.S.A. 60-1507 are heard by the district court.</li>
 </ol><ul>
 <li>These decisions can then be appealed to the Kansas appellate courts.</li><li>In turn, the decisions of the Kansas appellate courts regarding the 1507 proceedings can be appealed to the 10th&nbsp;Circuit or US Supreme Court.</li>
 </ul>Then when the collateral attacks are exhausted,<ol>
 <li>Habeus Corpus – again, appealed to the appellate courts at both the state and federal level.</li>
 </ol>

Kan. High Court to hear death row appeal in Wichita massacre

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man sprayed an unknown substance on Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar">U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar</a>&nbsp;and was tackled to the ground Tuesday during a town hall in Minneapolis, where tensions over federal immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-ice-b0cec9d1c5bae4b62469011775082300">have come to a head</a>&nbsp;after agents fatally shot an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-alex-pretti-border-patrol-shooting-investigation-9d8ac8531f0d195ada3374c86a9deb21">intensive care nurse</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">mother of three</a>&nbsp;this month.

The audience cheered as the man was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her.”

Just before that Omar had called for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.

Minneapolis police said officers saw a man use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid at Omar. They immediately arrested him and booked him at the county jail for third-degree assault, spokesperson Trevor Folke said in an email. Police also said forensic scientists responded to the scene.

Omar continued the town hall after the man was ushered out of the room by her security detail, saying she would not be intimidated. Journalists said there was a strong, vinegar-like smell when the man pushed on the syringe.

Walking out afterward, Omar said she felt a little flustered but was not hurt. She was going to be screened by a medical team.

She later posted on the social platform X: “I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday night.

President Donald Trump has frequently criticized the congresswoman and has stepped up verbal attacks on her in recent months as he turned his focus on Minneapolis.

During a Cabinet meeting in December, he called her “garbage” and added that “her friends are garbage.”

Hours earlier on Tuesday, the president criticized Omar as he spoke to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only let in immigrants who “can show that they love our country.”

“They have to be proud, not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of her name.

He added: “She comes from a country that’s a disaster. So probably, it’s considered, I think — it’s not even a country.”

Fellow U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, denounced the assault on Omar.

“I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today” Mace said via X. “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, also condemned the attack on X, saying: “Unacceptable. Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk.”

He added that he was relieved that Omar “is OK” and thanked police for their quick response, concluding: “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”

The attack came days after a man was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sundance-film-festival-congressman-assault-ff98382c02bdecdbf5c28ac0b677ac6a">arrested in Utah</a>&nbsp;for allegedly punching U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump was going to deport him.

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 and the aftermath of that year’s Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, before dipping slightly only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-threat-assessment-cases-2024" target="_blank">U.S. Capitol Police</a>.

Lawmakers have discussed the chill the threats bring on their ability to hold town halls and public events, with some even citing the threat environment in their decisions not to seek reelection.

Omar has faced the most particular concern, long targeted with harsh language and personal attacks by Trump and other Republicans.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man sprayed an unknown substance on Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar">U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar</a>&nbsp;and was tackled to the ground Tuesday during a town hall in Minneapolis, where tensions over federal immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-ice-b0cec9d1c5bae4b62469011775082300">have come to a head</a>&nbsp;after agents fatally shot an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-alex-pretti-border-patrol-shooting-investigation-9d8ac8531f0d195ada3374c86a9deb21">intensive care nurse</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">mother of three</a>&nbsp;this month.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) assaulted during town hall meeting: &quot;Here&#39;s the reality that people like this ugly man don&#39;t understand; we are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Ud5l3yP4lQ">pic.twitter.com/Ud5l3yP4lQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2016320453132869910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The audience cheered as the man was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her.”Just before that Omar had called for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.“ICE cannot be reformed,” she said.Minneapolis police said officers saw a man use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid at Omar. They immediately arrested him and booked him at the county jail for third-degree assault, spokesperson Trevor Folke said in an email. Police also said forensic scientists responded to the scene.Omar continued the town hall after the man was ushered out of the room by her security detail, saying she would not be intimidated. Journalists said there was a strong, vinegar-like smell when the man pushed on the syringe.Walking out afterward, Omar said she felt a little flustered but was not hurt. She was going to be screened by a medical team.She later posted on the social platform X: “I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday night.President Donald Trump has frequently criticized the congresswoman and has stepped up verbal attacks on her in recent months as he turned his focus on Minneapolis.During a Cabinet meeting in December, he called her “garbage” and added that “her friends are garbage.”Hours earlier on Tuesday, the president criticized Omar as he spoke to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only let in immigrants who “can show that they love our country.”“They have to be proud, not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of her name.He added: “She comes from a country that’s a disaster. So probably, it’s considered, I think — it’s not even a country.”Fellow U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, denounced the assault on Omar.“I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today” Mace said via X. “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, also condemned the attack on X, saying: “Unacceptable. Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk.”He added that he was relieved that Omar “is OK” and thanked police for their quick response, concluding: “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”The attack came days after a man was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sundance-film-festival-congressman-assault-ff98382c02bdecdbf5c28ac0b677ac6a">arrested in Utah</a>&nbsp;for allegedly punching U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump was going to deport him.Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 and the aftermath of that year’s Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, before dipping slightly only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-threat-assessment-cases-2024" target="_blank">U.S. Capitol Police</a>.Lawmakers have discussed the chill the threats bring on their ability to hold town halls and public events, with some even citing the threat environment in their decisions not to seek reelection.Omar has faced the most particular concern, long targeted with harsh language and personal attacks by Trump and other Republicans.___Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City.

🎥U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar assaulted during town hall meeting

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7a.m. Monday in Wichita.

According to Wichita Police, a white Ford Focus hatchback driven by&nbsp;35-year-old Joseph McCartney of Wichita was traveling in the 1500 Block of East 21 Street North. The vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer that was disabled in the roadway. McCartney was pronounced dead at the scene.

Early indications suggest speed may have been a contributing factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769570987979.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 7a.m. Monday in Wichita.According to Wichita Police, a white Ford Focus hatchback driven by&nbsp;35-year-old Joseph McCartney of Wichita was traveling in the 1500 Block of East 21 Street North. The vehicle rear-ended a tractor-trailer that was disabled in the roadway. McCartney was pronounced dead at the scene.Early indications suggest speed may have been a contributing factor in the crash. The crash remains under investigation.

Police: Speed a factor in crash that killed Kansas man

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court earlier this month for possessing methamphetamine to distribute, illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported, according to the United State's Attornehy.

Jose Alberto Rodriguez-Landeros (also known as Raul Garcia, Raul Garcia Rodriguez, Saul Dias Gonzalez, Miguel Angel Garcia Perez, Miguel Garcia Perez, Jose Alberto Landeros, Angel Saucedo, Jose M. Rodriguez, Ivan M. Pantoja, Guillermo Gonzalez-Dias), 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

On Nov. 14, 2024, Rodriguez-Landeros pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported.&nbsp;

Based on the written plea agreement, Rodriguez-Landeros admitted to selling methamphetamine to a confidential source on three separate occasions on Oct. 11, 2022, Oct. 21, 2022, and Nov. 22, 2022.&nbsp; On Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of the defendant’s residence located in Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp; Officers discovered the following items: a Keltec, Model P-32, .32 caliber pistol; identification documents with various aliases utilized by Rodriguez-Landeros; approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine; approximately 148 grams of powder cocaine; and $9,500 in U.S. currency.&nbsp; Also on Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials arrested the defendant while driving on Indiana Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. During the arrest, officers seized approximately 380 grams of methamphetamine and 75 grams of cocaine found on Rodriguez-Landeros’s person and in his vehicle. Immigration and Customs Enforcement records confirmed that Rodriguez-Landeros was previously deported from the United States on at least three occasions since 2000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769554413372.png" alt="File photo DEA" />
 <figcaption>File photo DEA</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court earlier this month for possessing methamphetamine to distribute, illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported, according to the United State's Attornehy.Jose Alberto Rodriguez-Landeros (also known as Raul Garcia, Raul Garcia Rodriguez, Saul Dias Gonzalez, Miguel Angel Garcia Perez, Miguel Garcia Perez, Jose Alberto Landeros, Angel Saucedo, Jose M. Rodriguez, Ivan M. Pantoja, Guillermo Gonzalez-Dias), 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole.On Nov. 14, 2024, Rodriguez-Landeros pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported.&nbsp;Based on the written plea agreement, Rodriguez-Landeros admitted to selling methamphetamine to a confidential source on three separate occasions on Oct. 11, 2022, Oct. 21, 2022, and Nov. 22, 2022.&nbsp; On Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of the defendant’s residence located in Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp; Officers discovered the following items: a Keltec, Model P-32, .32 caliber pistol; identification documents with various aliases utilized by Rodriguez-Landeros; approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine; approximately 148 grams of powder cocaine; and $9,500 in U.S. currency.&nbsp; Also on Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials arrested the defendant while driving on Indiana Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. During the arrest, officers seized approximately 380 grams of methamphetamine and 75 grams of cocaine found on Rodriguez-Landeros’s person and in his vehicle. Immigration and Customs Enforcement records confirmed that Rodriguez-Landeros was previously deported from the United States on at least three occasions since 2000.

Illegal alien sold meth to confidential source in KC three times

WASHINGTON (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday a “big investigation” was underway into the killing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">protester and ICU nurse</a>&nbsp;Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

“I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it, and I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself,” the president said as he left the White House.

The comment is the latest marker of Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pretti-minnesota-immigration-enforcement-eb9e63a625b624d2ba4ed467cb0f956c">sudden turnabout on the issue</a>&nbsp;as his administration confronts growing pushback — including from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-immigration-republicans-trump-pretti-988f694e4e1187033551fd23afde4c02">some Republicans</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pretti-minnesota-second-amendment-ice-ffef56cab9930e52273f8227251452f4">Second Amendment advocates</a>&nbsp;— on federal agents’ tactics in the second fatal shooting from the aggressive immigration operation in Minnesota.

A day earlier, the White House made an effort to distance Trump from some early comments by high-ranking administration officials who had branded Pretti as a domestic terrorist despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-alex-pretti-videos-861a0d8f3ee182f3b5909b3613900e2e">videos of the encounter contradicting their narrative.</a>

Immigration agents were active Tuesday across the Twin Cities region, but it was unclear if officials had changed tactics after the shift in tone from the White House.

President Trump says Pretti ‘shouldn’t have been carrying a gun’

As he greeted diners in a Des Moines-area restaurant, Trump again weighed in on the Minnesota shooting.

“We view that as a very unfortunate incident, OK?,” he said, adding that everyone “unless you’re a stupid person” viewed it that way.

In comments that were likely to further irritate his backers who are also strong Second Amendment supports, he said: “I don’t like that he had a gun. I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff.”

Trump suggests his shakeup of federal officials in Minnesota may ‘de-escalate’ thing

Trump said during an interview on Fox News’ “Will Cain Show” of his sending Homan to Minnesota, “we’re going to de-escalate a little bit.”

That’s significant since White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when questioned repeatedly Monday about Homan’s being dispatched to Minnesota, refused to say that doing so was an effort to calm the situation.

The president added of Homan, “Tom, as tough as he is, gets along” with governors and mayors, even in Democratic areas.

Trump also spoke of Bovino, who has been sent out of Minnesota. He said Bovino is “very good” but also that “he’s a pretty out-there kind of a guy” and “maybe it wasn’t good here.”

Schumer says Noem is ‘incompetent’ and a ‘liar’ and should be fired

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is “a liar,” “vicious” and “incompetent” and must be fired after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-ice-b0cec9d1c5bae4b62469011775082300">fatal shootings of two Minneapolis protesters</a>&nbsp;by federal authorities.

In opening floor remarks as the Senate returned to Washington, Schumer said that Democrats will not vote for Homeland Security funding as part of a wide-ranging spending bill passed by the House last week. The government will partially shut down if the Senate doesn’t pass the legislation by Friday.

Schumer said Republicans should strip the Homeland spending portion out of the bill and should not force a vote on legislation “that everyone knows cannot pass.”

“The ball is in Leader Thune’s court,” Schumer said of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

Democrats have criticized Noem and other officials for saying that 37 year-old Alex Pretti “approached” immigration officers with a gun and acted violently when video evidence appears to show otherwise.

Schumer stopped short of saying that Noem should be impeached as dozens of Democrats have signed on to an impeachment resolution in the House.

WASHINGTON (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday a “big investigation” was underway into the killing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">protester and ICU nurse</a>&nbsp;Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.“I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it, and I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself,” the president said as he left the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;What would you say to Alex Pretti&#39;s family?&quot; President Trump: &quot;I&#39;m looking at that whole situation. I love everybody. I love all of our people. I love his family. It&#39;s a very sad situation.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/rlY3FpDy3T">pic.twitter.com/rlY3FpDy3T</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2016210618945093974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on the investigation into Alex Pretti&#39;s death: &quot;We&#39;re doing a big investigation. I want to see the investigation. I&#39;m going to be watching over it. I want a very honorable and honest investigation — I have to see it myself.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/swvIUrkqZv">pic.twitter.com/swvIUrkqZv</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016203640378138745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The comment is the latest marker of Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pretti-minnesota-immigration-enforcement-eb9e63a625b624d2ba4ed467cb0f956c">sudden turnabout on the issue</a>&nbsp;as his administration confronts growing pushback — including from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-immigration-republicans-trump-pretti-988f694e4e1187033551fd23afde4c02">some Republicans</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pretti-minnesota-second-amendment-ice-ffef56cab9930e52273f8227251452f4">Second Amendment advocates</a>&nbsp;— on federal agents’ tactics in the second fatal shooting from the aggressive immigration operation in Minnesota.A day earlier, the White House made an effort to distance Trump from some early comments by high-ranking administration officials who had branded Pretti as a domestic terrorist despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-alex-pretti-videos-861a0d8f3ee182f3b5909b3613900e2e">videos of the encounter contradicting their narrative.</a>Immigration agents were active Tuesday across the Twin Cities region, but it was unclear if officials had changed tactics after the shift in tone from the White House.The Latest:<h2>President Trump says Pretti ‘shouldn’t have been carrying a gun’</h2><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;Do you agree with the assessment from some of your own officials that Alex Pretti is a domestic terrorist or an assassin?&quot; President Trump: &quot;Well, I haven&#39;t heard that but certainly he shouldn&#39;t have been carrying a gun...we view that as a very unfortunate incident...unless… <a href="https://t.co/2gXrz5bR1O">pic.twitter.com/2gXrz5bR1O</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2016254013587734611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As he greeted diners in a Des Moines-area restaurant, Trump again weighed in on the Minnesota shooting.“We view that as a very unfortunate incident, OK?,” he said, adding that everyone “unless you’re a stupid person” viewed it that way.In comments that were likely to further irritate his backers who are also strong Second Amendment supports, he said: “I don’t like that he had a gun. I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff.”<h2>Trump suggests his shakeup of federal officials in Minnesota may ‘de-escalate’ thing</h2>Trump said during an interview on Fox News’ “Will Cain Show” of his sending Homan to Minnesota, “we’re going to de-escalate a little bit.”That’s significant since White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when questioned repeatedly Monday about Homan’s being dispatched to Minnesota, refused to say that doing so was an effort to calm the situation.The president added of Homan, “Tom, as tough as he is, gets along” with governors and mayors, even in Democratic areas.Trump also spoke of Bovino, who has been sent out of Minnesota. He said Bovino is “very good” but also that “he’s a pretty out-there kind of a guy” and “maybe it wasn’t good here.”<h2>Schumer says Noem is ‘incompetent’ and a ‘liar’ and should be fired</h2>Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is “a liar,” “vicious” and “incompetent” and must be fired after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-ice-b0cec9d1c5bae4b62469011775082300">fatal shootings of two Minneapolis protesters</a>&nbsp;by federal authorities.In opening floor remarks as the Senate returned to Washington, Schumer said that Democrats will not vote for Homeland Security funding as part of a wide-ranging spending bill passed by the House last week. The government will partially shut down if the Senate doesn’t pass the legislation by Friday.Schumer said Republicans should strip the Homeland spending portion out of the bill and should not force a vote on legislation “that everyone knows cannot pass.”“The ball is in Leader Thune’s court,” Schumer said of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.Democrats have criticized Noem and other officials for saying that 37 year-old Alex Pretti “approached” immigration officers with a gun and acted violently when video evidence appears to show otherwise.Schumer stopped short of saying that Noem should be impeached as dozens of Democrats have signed on to an impeachment resolution in the House.<h2>Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin supports impeaching Kristi Noem if she’s not fired</h2>Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin where Alex Pretti grew up and graduated from high school, said she supports impeaching Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.“She has to go,” Baldwin told reporters during an online news conference Tuesday. “She needs to be fired or she should resign. ... If impeachment is the way to do it, I’d support it.”Baldwin also said she would not vote for the DHS funding bill before the Senate without additional accountability measures for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.“ICE is out of control and they are wreaking havoc on American cities, including Minneapolis-St. Paul,” Baldwin said. “The question is are my Republican colleagues just going to look away or are they going to join us in adding accountability measures that rein in ICE?”<h2>Minneapolis mayor asks border czar to quickly end immigration enforcement surge</h2>Mayor Jacob Frey told President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, that the city will not enforce federal immigration laws, and he asked that the immigration enforcement surge “come to an end as quickly as possible.”Homan met with Frey and Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara Tuesday morning.“Public safety works best when it’s built on community trust — not tactics that create fear or division,” Frey said in a statement released after the meeting. “I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers.”Frey said the city would “remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe.”<h2>Trump says Minneapolis victim’s parents’ support for him makes him feel ‘even worse’</h2>Trump called the fatal shootings of two Americans by federal agents in Minneapolis “terrible” and said that hearing that one was the daughter of Trump supporters makes it even worse for him.Renee Good, 37, was shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">on Jan. 7</a>. Alex Pretti, also 37, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">killed on Jan. 24</a>.“I’m not sure about his parents but I know her parents were big Trump fans. Makes me feel bad anyway. But I mean, I guess you could say even worse,” he said.Trump made the comments Tuesday in an interview with Fox News in Iowa, where he had flown earlier that day to speak at a rally in the Des Moines area.<h2>House Democratic leader says Noem must go — or face impeachment proceedings</h2>“The country is disgusted by what the Department of Homeland Security has done,” said Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a statement.The Democrat is the latest in a growing number of voices — from party leaders to advocacy groups to the most centrist of lawmakers in Congress — insisting on dramatic changes in the aftermath of the shooting deaths in Minnesota.“Kristi Noem should be fired immediately or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House,” said Jeffries, whose party would need GOP support on any legislation to launch such an effort.“The violence unleased on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end.”<h2>Trump disputes staff and says slain Alex Pretti was not an ‘assassin’</h2>Trump was asked if the killed Minneapolis protester was an “assassin” as a key aide has claimed and the president answered “no.”The president added, however, that protesters “can’t have guns” as Pretti did and “it’s just a very unfortunate incident.” Trump has said he wants the death investigated.On Saturday, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on social media described Pretti as an “assassin” who “tried to murder federal agents.” Vice President JD Vance shared the post on X as well.<h2>Trump says Noem isn’t going to resign</h2>Asked by reporters as he left the White House on Tuesday for a trip to Iowa whether Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is going to step down, Trump had a one-word answer: “No.”He did not elaborate further.Democrats in Congress have called for Noem’s exit after federal agents fatally shot two people in Minneapolis protesting immigration enforcement actions.