WICHITA —The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Sedgwick County District Attorney warns residents of to exercise extreme caution regarding unsolicited mailers offering home warranty services, according to DA Marc Bennett.

The Division was recently informed about a postcard mailed to a senior citizen in Sedgwick County. The bold, large font title stating “County Deed Records” is deceptive, given that the mailer has no association with the County or the homeowner’s deed. It appears designed to scare consumers into acting out of fear, concerned there may be an issue involving their property ownership. 

The real subject matter of the mailing is a homeowner’s warranty, some of which may cost thousands of dollars per year and can be difficult to cancel. 

In addition, the statement “REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION” and references to “a lapse in coverage” and “uninterrupted protection” are also deceptive because they imply the homeowner had warranty coverage in the past when that is not true.

In addition to the deception, the Consumer Protection Division also warns consumers to question the legitimacy of any mailer, such as this one, that does not clearly identify who the sender is.

Please look out for your friends and neighbors too, especially those who may be experiencing cognitive decline. These types of mailers intentionally prey on their anxieties, vulnerabilities and ability to recall events.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745354892440.png" alt="Image Sedgwick Co. District Attorney" />
                        <figcaption>Image Sedgwick Co. District Attorney</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WICHITA —The Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Sedgwick County District Attorney warns residents of to exercise extreme caution regarding unsolicited mailers offering home warranty services, according to DA Marc Bennett.</p><p>The Division was recently informed about a postcard mailed to a senior citizen in Sedgwick County. The bold, large font title stating “County Deed Records” is deceptive, given that the mailer has no association with the County or the homeowner’s deed. It appears designed to scare consumers into acting out of fear, concerned there may be an issue involving their property ownership. </p><p>The real subject matter of the mailing is a homeowner’s warranty, some of which may cost thousands of dollars per year and can be difficult to cancel. </p><p>In addition, the statement “REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION” and references to “a lapse in coverage” and “uninterrupted protection” are also deceptive because they imply the homeowner had warranty coverage in the past when that is not true.</p><p>In addition to the deception, the Consumer Protection Division also warns consumers to question the legitimacy of any mailer, such as this one, that does not clearly identify who the sender is.</p><p>Please look out for your friends and neighbors too, especially those who may be experiencing cognitive decline. These types of mailers intentionally prey on their anxieties, vulnerabilities and ability to recall events.</p>

Scam: DA warns public about home warranty mailer in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is putting his “touches” on the White House with new flagpoles, new artwork, an overhaul of the Oval Office decor and possibly covering up the lawn in the Rose Garden.

Trump, a former real estate developer and hotelier, said Wednesday that he’s adding two “beautiful” flagpoles to the grounds to fly the American flag in about a week.

The Republican president recently hung new artworks featuring himself, including a rendering of him with his fist raised after last year’s attempted assassination in Pennsylvania. He has redecorated the Oval Office by adding portraits of all of his predecessors, a wall-mounted copy of the Declaration of Independence that is shielded by dark drapes and many golden accents.

Trump has also talked about paving over the lawn in the Kennedy-era Rose Garden.

He even remarked on the grass on Wednesday, telling reporters he recalled a recent event where “the grass was very wet and it was very hard for people to stand on the grass. They got their shoes all ruined.”

All families granted the privilege of living in the White House try to find ways to leave their mark on the property, and Trump isn’t any different.

Near the end of his first term, he and first lady Melania Trump unveiled a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/melania-trump-announce-tennis-pavilion-86b3b05efd0b9ebebdbe1ba1528a8857">refurbished tennis court and a new pavilion</a>&nbsp;on the south grounds.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-d07cd34727164a96876ff29247eaa089">Michelle Obama’s vegetable garden</a>&nbsp;is still producing.

But Trump is a “real estate developer at heart” and is always looking to improve the White House, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump took an impromptu stroll outside toward the Pennsylvania Avenue fence with head groundskeeper Dale Haney and other staff members. Asked what he was doing, Trump said he was scoping out a location for a flagpole.

He told reporters afterward that he’s installing two “beautiful” flagpoles on the grounds because “they’ve needed flagpoles for 200 years.” He said the poles would be “paid for by Trump” and could be installed as soon as next week.

The American and POW/MIA flags fly on the roof of the White House every day. Trump had them&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/honoring-the-memory-of-his-holiness-pope-francis/" target="_blank">lowered on Monday after Pope Francis’ death</a>.

Trump pledged in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transcript-inauguration-inaugural-address-3d911cbb2ffc9b903d9fff2088948318">inaugural address</a>&nbsp;to preside over a “golden age of America.” But he appears to have ushered it first into an Oval Office he has redecorated by adding golden accents to the fireplace, doorway arches, walls and other areas of the room. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“I really must say the Oval Office has never looked better,” Paul Atkins, the new Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, said Tuesday after his ceremonial swearing-in there. “One could really describe it as glistening, and I’ve heard stories about it. It’s true. It’s the touch of a confident president, leading with optimism towards an American golden age.”

Every president adjusts the office decor to their liking, often with new furniture, rugs, draperies and other items. Some hire decorators. Former President Joe Biden had one of his brothers handle it.

Trump seems to have directed the process himself.

“I’ve done some ‘Trump touches’ to the Oval Office,” he told the championship&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-trophy-fumble-ohio-state-trump-7b4bbdfca8ce6a20fd6e8724a24d329b">Ohio State football team</a>&nbsp;when he invited them for a tour after he hosted the players and coaches last week. “It’s a little nicer than it used to be, I think.”

Earlier this month, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1910764795382349948" target="_blank">hung a portrait</a>&nbsp;depicting a moment after last summer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vp-vance-rubio-7c7ba6b99b5f38d2d840ed95b2fdc3e5">assassination attempt</a>, thereby bumping the official portrait of former President Barack Obama to another wall in the foyer.

The new painting was donated by Andrew Pollock, who lost his daughter Meadow in the 2018 mass shooting at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-parkland-second-shooting-ee27d6801ac107fd0323dc729d86bc6a">Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School</a>&nbsp;in Parkland, Florida.

Another image of Trump now hangs on the ground floor between the official portraits of former first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.

Revealed in a social media post by first-year Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JimmyPatronis" target="_blank">Jimmy Patronis</a>, a Florida Republican, the image of Trump features the red, white and blue of an American flag superimposed over the president’s headshot on a black background.

The White House on Wednesday confirmed that the image is real.

Trump also wants to pave over the lawn in the famous Rose Garden, which was created during the administration of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-assassination-files-release-trump-3e8f31e18468d96b53210572e0992c07">John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;after he was inspired by gardens he saw during a 1961 state visit to France.

Presidents have long used the space for everything from big announcements to Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremonies.

He shared his plan with Fox News Channel host Laura Ingraham as he showed her the Oval Office while taping an interview in March. The Rose Garden is just outside and Trump complained about the lawn always being “soaking wet” and inconveniencing “the women with the high heels.”

“The grass just, it doesn’t work,” Trump told Ingraham, adding that it would be covered with “gorgeous stone.”

Ingraham asked if the roses would stay. Trump said they would.

“It’s a rose garden. All of this stays,” he said, explaining that only the lawn would be affected. “I think it’s going to be beautiful. I think it’s going to be more beautiful.”

Paving over the lawn would mark the second makeover of the space under Trump.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745501461556.png" alt="President Trump on White House North Lawn determining where to install a flag pole.-image from CSPAN video" />
                        <figcaption>President Trump on White House North Lawn determining where to install a flag pole.-image from CSPAN video</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is putting his “touches” on the White House with new flagpoles, new artwork, an overhaul of the Oval Office decor and possibly covering up the lawn in the Rose Garden.</p><p>Trump, a former real estate developer and hotelier, said Wednesday that he’s adding two “beautiful” flagpoles to the grounds to fly the American flag in about a week.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This portrait of <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> just went up in the White House today! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Awesome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Awesome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MAGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MAGA</a> <a href="https://t.co/8lfP1HAzhZ">pic.twitter.com/8lfP1HAzhZ</a></p>&mdash; Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimmyPatronis/status/1914496818102088047?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> shows <a href="https://twitter.com/glennbeck?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@glennbeck</a> his latest addition in the White House 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/ib426C0sC0">pic.twitter.com/ib426C0sC0</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1915135844991541642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The Republican president recently hung new artworks featuring himself, including a rendering of him with his fist raised after last year’s attempted assassination in Pennsylvania. He has redecorated the Oval Office by adding portraits of all of his predecessors, a wall-mounted copy of the Declaration of Independence that is shielded by dark drapes and many golden accents.</p><p>Trump has also talked about paving over the lawn in the Kennedy-era Rose Garden.</p><p>He even remarked on the grass on Wednesday, telling reporters he recalled a recent event where “the grass was very wet and it was very hard for people to stand on the grass. They got their shoes all ruined.”</p><p>All families granted the privilege of living in the White House try to find ways to leave their mark on the property, and Trump isn’t any different.</p><p>Near the end of his first term, he and first lady Melania Trump unveiled a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/melania-trump-announce-tennis-pavilion-86b3b05efd0b9ebebdbe1ba1528a8857">refurbished tennis court and a new pavilion</a>&nbsp;on the south grounds.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-d07cd34727164a96876ff29247eaa089">Michelle Obama’s vegetable garden</a>&nbsp;is still producing.</p><p>But Trump is a “real estate developer at heart” and is always looking to improve the White House, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday.</p><h2>New flag poles</h2><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump on White House North Lawn determining where to install a flag pole. <a href="https://t.co/bzJ1rlNITP">pic.twitter.com/bzJ1rlNITP</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1915065011866677341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Earlier Wednesday, Trump took an impromptu stroll outside toward the Pennsylvania Avenue fence with head groundskeeper Dale Haney and other staff members. Asked what he was doing, Trump said he was scoping out a location for a flagpole.</p><p>He told reporters afterward that he’s installing two “beautiful” flagpoles on the grounds because “they’ve needed flagpoles for 200 years.” He said the poles would be “paid for by Trump” and could be installed as soon as next week.</p><p>The American and POW/MIA flags fly on the roof of the White House every day. Trump had them&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/honoring-the-memory-of-his-holiness-pope-francis/" target="_blank">lowered on Monday after Pope Francis’ death</a>.</p><h2>Oval Office overhaul</h2><p>Trump pledged in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transcript-inauguration-inaugural-address-3d911cbb2ffc9b903d9fff2088948318">inaugural address</a>&nbsp;to preside over a “golden age of America.” But he appears to have ushered it first into an Oval Office he has redecorated by adding golden accents to the fireplace, doorway arches, walls and other areas of the room. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.</p><p>“I really must say the Oval Office has never looked better,” Paul Atkins, the new Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, said Tuesday after his ceremonial swearing-in there. “One could really describe it as glistening, and I’ve heard stories about it. It’s true. It’s the touch of a confident president, leading with optimism towards an American golden age.”</p><p>Every president adjusts the office decor to their liking, often with new furniture, rugs, draperies and other items. Some hire decorators. Former President Joe Biden had one of his brothers handle it.</p><p>Trump seems to have directed the process himself.</p><p>“I’ve done some ‘Trump touches’ to the Oval Office,” he told the championship&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-trophy-fumble-ohio-state-trump-7b4bbdfca8ce6a20fd6e8724a24d329b">Ohio State football team</a>&nbsp;when he invited them for a tour after he hosted the players and coaches last week. “It’s a little nicer than it used to be, I think.”</p><h2>New Trump art</h2><p>Earlier this month, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1910764795382349948" target="_blank">hung a portrait</a>&nbsp;depicting a moment after last summer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-vp-vance-rubio-7c7ba6b99b5f38d2d840ed95b2fdc3e5">assassination attempt</a>, thereby bumping the official portrait of former President Barack Obama to another wall in the foyer.</p><p>The new painting was donated by Andrew Pollock, who lost his daughter Meadow in the 2018 mass shooting at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-parkland-second-shooting-ee27d6801ac107fd0323dc729d86bc6a">Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School</a>&nbsp;in Parkland, Florida.</p><p>Another image of Trump now hangs on the ground floor between the official portraits of former first ladies Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.</p><p>Revealed in a social media post by first-year Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JimmyPatronis" target="_blank">Jimmy Patronis</a>, a Florida Republican, the image of Trump features the red, white and blue of an American flag superimposed over the president’s headshot on a black background.</p><p>The White House on Wednesday confirmed that the image is real.</p><h2>Rose Garden</h2><p>Trump also wants to pave over the lawn in the famous Rose Garden, which was created during the administration of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-assassination-files-release-trump-3e8f31e18468d96b53210572e0992c07">John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;after he was inspired by gardens he saw during a 1961 state visit to France.</p><p>Presidents have long used the space for everything from big announcements to Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremonies.</p><p>He shared his plan with Fox News Channel host Laura Ingraham as he showed her the Oval Office while taping an interview in March. The Rose Garden is just outside and Trump complained about the lawn always being “soaking wet” and inconveniencing “the women with the high heels.”</p><p>“The grass just, it doesn’t work,” Trump told Ingraham, adding that it would be covered with “gorgeous stone.”</p><p>Ingraham asked if the roses would stay. Trump said they would.</p><p>“It’s a rose garden. All of this stays,” he said, explaining that only the lawn would be affected. “I think it’s going to be beautiful. I think it’s going to be more beautiful.”</p><p>Paving over the lawn would mark the second makeover of the space under Trump.</p>

Trump is putting his ‘touches’ on the White House with flagpoles, art and more

KANSAS CITY —Police are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City.

Just before 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at 12th and Belmont in Kansas City, Missouri , according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders were directed to a vehicle in the road there. Inside that vehicle officers located two male shooting victims unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victims deceased.

The investigation indicates that the victims were inside the vehicle at the location when they had an interaction with one or more suspects and shots were fired. Both victims were inside the vehicle when they were struck by the gunfire. Initial responding officers took one subject of interest into custody for further investigation. Detectives are working to determine that subject of interest’s exact involvement at this time.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745702653802.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY —Police are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City.</p><p>Just before 1p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting at 12th and Belmont in Kansas City, Missouri , according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.</p><p>First responders were directed to a vehicle in the road there. Inside that vehicle officers located two male shooting victims unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who declared the victims deceased.</p><p>The investigation indicates that the victims were inside the vehicle at the location when they had an interaction with one or more suspects and shots were fired. Both victims were inside the vehicle when they were struck by the gunfire. Initial responding officers took one subject of interest into custody for further investigation. Detectives are working to determine that subject of interest’s exact involvement at this time.</p>

Double homicide: Two found with gunshot wounds in Kansas City

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

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

Still, there are always front-runners, known as “papabile,” who have at least some of the qualities considered necessary to be pope — much like those depicted in last year’s Oscar-nominated film “Conclave.”

Any baptized Catholic male is eligible, though only cardinals have been selected since 1378. The winner must receive at least two-thirds of the vote from those cardinals under age 80 and thus eligible to participate.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">Pope Francis, who died Monday</a>, appointed the vast majority of electors, often tapping men who share his pastoral priorities, which suggests continuity rather than rupture.

Anyone trying to handicap the outcome should remember that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Jorge Mario Bergoglio</a>&nbsp;was considered too old to be elected pope in 2013 at age 76, and that Karol Wojtyla wasn’t on any front-runner lists going into the 1978 conclave that elected him Pope John Paul II.

Erdo, 72, the archbishop of Budapest and primate of Hungary, was twice elected head of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences, in 2005 and 2011, suggesting he enjoys the esteem of European cardinals who make up the biggest voting bloc of electors. In that capacity, Erdo got to know many African cardinals because the council hosts regular sessions with African bishops’ conferences. Erdo had even more exposure when he helped organize Francis’ 2014 and 2015 Vatican meetings on the family and delivered key speeches, as well as during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-hungary-visit-orban-ukraine-5d35e834ebac80ec14840fa90071af95">papal visits to Budapest</a>&nbsp;in 2021 and 2023.

Marx, 71, the archbishop of Munich and Freising, was chosen by Francis as a key adviser in 2013. Marx later was named to head the council overseeing Vatican finances during reforms and belt-tightening. The former president of the German bishops’ conference was a strong proponent of the controversial “synodal path” process of dialogue in the German church that began in 2020 as a response to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-religion-germany-europe-munich-f3f500a1c2a399392e3de82f0c66fcb1">clergy sexual abuse scandal</a>&nbsp;there. As a result, he is viewed with skepticism by conservatives who considered the process a threat to church unity, given it involved debating issues such as celibacy, homosexuality and women’s ordination.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-religion-f654bfd0f9c79f4b484cad45067cb466">Marx made headlines in 2021</a>&nbsp;when he dramatically offered to resign as archbishop to atone for the German church’s dreadful abuse record, but Francis quickly rejected the resignation and told him to stay.

<a href="https://apnews.com/international-news-general-news-0c06487fa77a4fc7b9e657502c50a9a3">Ouellet</a>, 80, of Canada, led the Vatican’s influential bishops office for over a decade, overseeing the key clearinghouse for potential candidates to head dioceses around the world. Francis kept Ouellet in the job until 2023, even though he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, and thus helped select the more doctrinaire bishops preferred by the German pontiff. Considered more of a conservative than Francis, Ouellet still selected pastorally minded bishops to reflect Francis’ belief that bishops should “smell like the sheep” of their flock. Ouellet defended priestly celibacy for the Latin Rite church and upheld the ban on women’s ordination but called for women to have a greater role in church governance. He has good contacts with the Latin American church, having headed the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for Latin America for over a decade. Since 2019, his office has taken charge of investigating bishops accused of covering up for predator priests, a job that would have made him no friends among those sanctioned but also could have given him lots of otherwise confidential and possibly compromising information about fellow cardinals.

Parolin, 70, of Italy, has been Francis’ secretary of state since 2014 and is considered one of the main contenders to be pope, given his prominence in the Catholic hierarchy. The veteran diplomat oversaw the Holy See’s controversial&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ef4b6dba09774c7bb51ecf147c3b8a15">deal with China over bishop nominations</a>&nbsp;and was involved -- but not charged -- in the Vatican’s botched investment in a London real estate venture that led to a 2021 trial of another cardinal and nine others. A former ambassador to Venezuela, Parolin knows the Latin American church well. He would be seen as someone who would continue in Francis’ tradition but as a more sober and timid diplomatic insider, returning an Italian to the papacy after three successive outsiders: St. John Paul II (Poland); Benedict (Germany) and Francis (Argentina). But while Parolin has managed the Vatican bureaucracy, he has no real pastoral experience. His ties to the London scandal, in which his office lost of tens of millions of dollars to bad deals and shady businessmen, could count against him.

The idea of an American pope has long been taboo, given the geopolitical power already wielded by the United States. But the Chicago-born Prevost, 69, could be a first. He has extensive experience in Peru, first as a missionary and then an archbishop, and he is currently prefect of the Vatican’s powerful dicastery for bishops, in charge of vetting nominations for bishops around the world. Francis clearly had an eye on him for years and sent him to run the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2014. He held that position until 2023, when Francis brought him to Rome for his current role. Prevost is also president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, a job that keeps him in regular contact with the Catholic hierarchy in the part of the world that still counts the most Catholics. In addition to his nationality, Prevost’s comparative youth could count against him if his brother cardinals don’t want to commit to a pope who might reign for another two decades.

Sarah, 79, of Guinea, the retired head of the Vatican’s liturgy office, was long considered the best hope for an African pope. Beloved by conservatives, Sarah would signal a return to the doctrinaire and liturgically minded papacies of John Paul II and Benedict. Sarah, who had previously headed the Vatican’s charity office Cor Unum, clashed on several occasions with Francis, none more seriously than when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0967d5598e4c36a34b3f5babc5ebde87">he and Benedict co-authored a book</a>&nbsp;advocating the “necessity” of continued celibacy for Latin Rite priests. The book came out as Francis was weighing whether to allow married priests in the Amazon to address a priest shortage there. The implication was that Sarah had manipulated Benedict into lending his name and moral authority to a book that had all the appearances of being a counterweight to the Francis’ own teaching. Francis dismissed Benedict’s secretary and several months later retired Sarah after he turned 75. Even Sarah’s supporters lamented the episode hurt his papal chances.

Schoenborn, 80, the archbishop of Vienna, Austria, was a student of Benedict’s, and thus on paper seems to have the doctrinaire academic chops to appeal to conservatives. However, he became associated with one of Francis’ most controversial moves by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-b67e0b339b9d46fab29cb0ef642d5ed7">defending his outreach</a>&nbsp;to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics as an “organic development of doctrine,” not the rupture that some conservatives contended. Schoenborn’s parents divorced when he was a teen, so the issue is personal. He also took heat from the Vatican when he criticized its past refusal to sanction high-ranking sexual abusers, including his predecessor as archbishop of Vienna. Schoenborn has expressed support for civil unions and women as deacons, and was instrumental in editing the 1992 update of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the handbook of the church’s teaching that Benedict had spearheaded when he headed the Vatican’s doctrine office.

Tagle, 67, of the Philippines, would appear to be Francis’ pick for the first Asian pope. Francis brought the popular archbishop of Manila to Rome to head the Vatican’s missionary evangelization office, which serves the needs of the Catholic Church in much of Asia and Africa. His role took on greater weight when Francis reformed the Vatican bureaucracy and raised the importance of his evangelization office. Tagle often cites his Chinese lineage – his maternal grandmother was part of a Chinese family that moved to the Philippines -- and he is known for becoming emotional when discussing his childhood. Though he has pastoral, Vatican and management experience -- he headed the Vatican’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-caritas-charity-abuse-pope-a727f8b842b193b56059ab31278ce675">Caritas Internationalis</a>&nbsp;federation of charity groups before coming to Rome permanently -- Tagle would be on the young side to be elected pope for life, with cardinals perhaps preferring an older candidate whose papacy would be more limited.

Zuppi, 69, the archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops conference, elected in 2022, is closely affiliated with the Sant’Egidio Community, a Rome-based Catholic charity that was influential under Francis, particularly in interfaith dialogue. Zuppi was part of Sant’Egidio’s team that helped negotiate the end of Mozambique’s civil war in the 1990s and was named Francis’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-ukraine-pope-0e9ee7e7c9b26b4fa3da2dbebf7b5dfc">peace envoy</a>&nbsp;for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Francis made him a cardinal in 2019 and later made clear he wanted him in charge of Italy’s bishops, a sign of his admiration for the prelate who, like Francis, is known as a “street priest.” In another sign of his progressive leanings and closeness to Francis, Zuppi wrote the introduction to the Italian edition of “Building a Bridge,” by the Rev. James Martin, an American Jesuit, about the church’s need to improve its outreach to the LGBTQ+ community. Zuppi would be a candidate in Francis’ tradition of ministering to those on the margins, although his relative youth would count against him for cardinals seeking a short papacy. His family had strong institutional ties: Zuppi’s father worked for the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano, and his mother was the niece of Cardinal Carlo Confalonieri, dean of the College of Cardinals in the 1960s and 1970s.

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

Which cardinals are seen as contenders to be the next pope?

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic was critically injured while transporting a patient to the hospital.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, the Kansas City fire department was dispatched to North Oak and 152 on a routine medical call, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

While transporting the patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed the firefighter paramedic in the chest. The firefighter's partner immediately called a crew emergency and additional KCFD personnel along with KCPD were dispatched to the scene. 

The firefighter was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition where they are receiving treatment for the injuries sustained and remains in critical condition, according to Hopkins.

The suspect/patient in this incident was apprehended by the Kansas City Police Department and is in custody. Police have released no additional details early Sunday.

<p>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City firefighter paramedic was critically injured while transporting a patient to the hospital.</p><p>Just after 1a.m. Sunday, the Kansas City fire department was dispatched to North Oak and 152 on a routine medical call, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.</p><p>While transporting the patient to the hospital, the patient stabbed the firefighter paramedic in the chest. The firefighter's partner immediately called a crew emergency and additional KCFD personnel along with KCPD were dispatched to the scene. </p><p>The firefighter was transported to North Kansas City Hospital in critical condition where they are receiving treatment for the injuries sustained and remains in critical condition, according to Hopkins.</p><p>The suspect/patient in this incident was apprehended by the Kansas City Police Department and is in custody. Police have released no additional details early Sunday.</p>

Patient stabbed KC firefighter paramedic during transport

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a home invasion burglary have captured a suspect.

Just before 3a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an in-progress burglary to a residence in&nbsp; the 6800 block of SE US 40 Highway, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

An 84-year-old woman was home alone when she heard someone shattering glass windows and doors. Home surveillance video showed two masked individuals with a firearm and burglary tools attempting to kick in a door into the residence.

Within minutes, deputies arrived on scene and found that the individuals had fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.

Valuable information was gathered and disseminated to other law enforcement agencies for assistance.

On April 22, Shawnee&nbsp; County Sheriff Brian Hill along with members of the Criminal Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrants Unit located one suspect in a Dodge Durango leaving the drive thru of a restaurant in the 1700 block of SE 29th Street. The Dodge was pinned in and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Erick M. Weems Jr., 30, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested chargesof&nbsp; Aggravated burglary, Criminal damage to property, Theft &lt; $1,500,&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving while license suspended; 3rd of subsequent conviction, Driving while a habitual violated; 3 rd of subsequent conviction. Weems Jr. also had multiple warrants for his arrest.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745530375789.png" alt="Weems photo Shawnee Co." />
                        <figcaption>Weems photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a home invasion burglary have captured a suspect.</p><p>Just before 3a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an in-progress burglary to a residence in&nbsp; the 6800 block of SE US 40 Highway, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.</p><p>An 84-year-old woman was home alone when she heard someone shattering glass windows and doors. Home surveillance video showed two masked individuals with a firearm and burglary tools attempting to kick in a door into the residence.</p><p>Within minutes, deputies arrived on scene and found that the individuals had fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.</p><p>Valuable information was gathered and disseminated to other law enforcement agencies for assistance.</p><p>On April 22, Shawnee&nbsp; County Sheriff Brian Hill along with members of the Criminal Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrants Unit located one suspect in a Dodge Durango leaving the drive thru of a restaurant in the 1700 block of SE 29th Street. The Dodge was pinned in and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.</p><p>Erick M. Weems Jr., 30, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested chargesof&nbsp; Aggravated burglary, Criminal damage to property, Theft &lt; $1,500,&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving while license suspended; 3rd of subsequent conviction, Driving while a habitual violated; 3 rd of subsequent conviction. Weems Jr. also had multiple warrants for his arrest.</p>

Arrest for burglary at 84-year-old Kansas woman's home

KANSAS CITY —A four-month-investigation culminated with the arrest of a Kansas City area woman this week for possession of child sexual abuse material.

Clay County, Missouri sheriff’s investigators received an Internet Crimes Against Children tip in this case in December, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. They have worked through several legal processes over the last several months to gather evidence in the case to make an arrest of 44-year-old Melissa Bottom and obtain a search warrant of her house in the 14100 block of Lora Street, Smithville. 

On Thursday, Sheriff’s deputies and detectives served the warrant&nbsp; at the residence. She has been charged with two class B felony counts of possession of child pornography. The Court set her bond at $25,000.

 The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be warranted as analysis of evidence seized from the home progresses. 

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program. It is a network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing more than 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745673760530.png" alt="Bottom photo Clay County" />
                        <figcaption>Bottom photo Clay County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY —A four-month-investigation culminated with the arrest of a Kansas City area woman this week for possession of child sexual abuse material.</p><p>Clay County, Missouri sheriff’s investigators received an Internet Crimes Against Children tip in this case in December, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. They have worked through several legal processes over the last several months to gather evidence in the case to make an arrest of 44-year-old Melissa Bottom and obtain a search warrant of her house in the 14100 block of Lora Street, Smithville. </p><p>On Thursday, Sheriff’s deputies and detectives served the warrant&nbsp; at the residence. She has been charged with two class B felony counts of possession of child pornography. The Court set her bond at $25,000.</p><p> The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be warranted as analysis of evidence seized from the home progresses. </p><p>The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program. It is a network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing more than 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children.</p>

KC area woman jailed after 4-month child porn investigation

A Kansas City man was sentenced this week in connection with a woman’s fatal strangulation in 2023, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2597/Darion-Hall-Judgement-23cr1197_Redacted_FINAL">Darion Hall</a>, 25,&nbsp;pled guilty to one count of 2nd Degree Murder and a judge sentenced him to 23 years in prison.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2596/DHall_Redacted-FINAL">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 4300 block of East 7th Street on March 14, 2023, and found a female victim in the yard. The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide and the cause of death as strangulation.&nbsp;

The day of the homicide, Hall was observed driving a reported stolen auto. It was found abandoned near 7th and Norton, about two minutes from the victim’s residence. Surveillance video also captured Hall at a drug store on Independence Avenue where he was involved in an attempted strong-arm robbery.&nbsp;

A witness saw a man, later identified as Hall, near the victim after she was strangled. She described the defendant’s clothing, which matched the same clothing the defendant wore during the attempted robbery.

Detectives submitted to the crime lab the defendant’s clothing for testing. The lab reported the DNA collected from the defendant’s hoodie matched DNA from the victim.&nbsp;

Trial Team Leader Hallie Schuman and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mitchell Widener prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745443272385.png" alt="Hall photo Jackson Co." />
                        <figcaption>Hall photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>A Kansas City man was sentenced this week in connection with a woman’s fatal strangulation in 2023, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.</p><p><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2597/Darion-Hall-Judgement-23cr1197_Redacted_FINAL">Darion Hall</a>, 25,&nbsp;pled guilty to one count of 2nd Degree Murder and a judge sentenced him to 23 years in prison.</p><p><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2596/DHall_Redacted-FINAL">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 4300 block of East 7th Street on March 14, 2023, and found a female victim in the yard. The Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death a homicide and the cause of death as strangulation.&nbsp;</p><p>The day of the homicide, Hall was observed driving a reported stolen auto. It was found abandoned near 7th and Norton, about two minutes from the victim’s residence. Surveillance video also captured Hall at a drug store on Independence Avenue where he was involved in an attempted strong-arm robbery.&nbsp;</p><p>A witness saw a man, later identified as Hall, near the victim after she was strangled. She described the defendant’s clothing, which matched the same clothing the defendant wore during the attempted robbery.</p><p>Detectives submitted to the crime lab the defendant’s clothing for testing. The lab reported the DNA collected from the defendant’s hoodie matched DNA from the victim.&nbsp;</p><p>Trial Team Leader Hallie Schuman and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mitchell Widener prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri.&nbsp;</p>

DNA test led to conviction in KC woman's strangulation death

With one-fifth of states seeing active&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">measles outbreaks</a>, the U.S. is nearing 900 cases, according to figures posted Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC's confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;count is 884, triple the amount seen in all of 2024. The vast majority — 646 — are in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">Texas</a>, where an outbreak in the western part of the state that's approaching the three-month mark.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;died from measles-related illnesses in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the epicenter in West Texas,</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.

Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include Indiana,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

North America has two other ongoing outbreaks. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=323859266e21469b8b97a294d6c6f98e&amp;sc_lang=en">1,020 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through Wednesday. And as of Friday, the Mexican state of Chihuahua state had 605 measles cases, according to data from the state health ministry. The World Health Organization has said cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;are linked to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Texas outbreak</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

As the virus takes hold in other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">U.S. communities with low vaccination rates</a>, health experts fear the virus that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. Here's what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a>

<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;was steady this week with 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state. Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray and Morton counties have fewer than five cases each. Haskell County has the most with eight cases, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six.

The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas outbreak based on genetic testing.

How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?

Texas state health officials said Friday there were 22 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to 646&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">across 26 counties</a>&nbsp;— most of them in West Texas. Hospitalizations were steady Friday at 64 throughout the outbreak.

<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;about 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious.

Sixty-one percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 393 cases since late January — just over 1.5% of the county's residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February — Kennedy said age 6.

New Mexico announced one new case Friday, bringing the state’s total to 66. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Three are in Eddy County and Chaves and Doña Ana counties have one each.

State health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. New Mexico reported a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related death in an adult</a>&nbsp;on March 6.

Indiana confirmed two more cases Monday in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the state — five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown. The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health said Monday.

Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has four linked measles cases. State health officials say the cases are tied to Canada’s large outbreak in Ontario. The state has nine confirmed measles cases as of Friday, but the remaining four are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak.

Montana state health officials announced five cases Thursday in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and confirmed it was an outbreak on Monday. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.

They are Montana’s first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn’t say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.

The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 32 measles cases in the state Thursday, and one hospitalization. The state count includes only Ohio residents. There are 16 cases in Ashtabula County near Cleveland, 14 in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties.

Health officials in Knox County, in east-central Ohio, said there are a total of 20 people with measles, but seven of them do not live in the state.

Oklahoma was steady Friday with 13 cases: 10 confirmed and three probable. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but Cleveland, Custer and Oklahoma counties have had public exposures in the past couple of months.

How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?

There are eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania, officials said Friday. The county declared an outbreak in mid-April. The state said Friday it has 13 cases overall in 2025, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.

Tennessee has six measles cases as of Thursday. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that “at least three of these cases are linked to each other” but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee's outbreak started.

The state health department announced the state's first measles case March 21, three more on April 1 and the last two on April 17, but none of the news releases declared an outbreak. Tennessee is on a list of outbreak states in a Thursday CDC report.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

There have been 884 cases in 2025 as of Friday, according to the CDC. Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because most children back then had measles and now have “presumptive immunity.”

In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

AP Science Writer Laura Ungar contributed to this report.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.png" />
                        <figcaption>Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.png</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>With one-fifth of states seeing active&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">measles outbreaks</a>, the U.S. is nearing 900 cases, according to figures posted Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.</p><p>The CDC's confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;count is 884, triple the amount seen in all of 2024. The vast majority — 646 — are in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">Texas</a>, where an outbreak in the western part of the state that's approaching the three-month mark.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;died from measles-related illnesses in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the epicenter in West Texas,</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.</p><p>Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include Indiana,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.</p><p>North America has two other ongoing outbreaks. One in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=323859266e21469b8b97a294d6c6f98e&amp;sc_lang=en">1,020 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through Wednesday. And as of Friday, the Mexican state of Chihuahua state had 605 measles cases, according to data from the state health ministry. The World Health Organization has said cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;are linked to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Texas outbreak</a>.</p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.</p><p>As the virus takes hold in other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">U.S. communities with low vaccination rates</a>, health experts fear the virus that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. Here's what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a></p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745434536952.png" alt="KDHE image April 23, 2025" />
                        <figcaption>KDHE image April 23, 2025</figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>How many cases are there in Kansas?</h2><p><a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;was steady this week with 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state. Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray and Morton counties have fewer than five cases each. Haskell County has the most with eight cases, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six.</p><p>The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas outbreak based on genetic testing.</p><h2>How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?</h2><p>Texas state health officials said Friday there were 22 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to 646&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">across 26 counties</a>&nbsp;— most of them in West Texas. Hospitalizations were steady Friday at 64 throughout the outbreak.</p><p><a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;about 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious.</p><p>Sixty-one percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 393 cases since late January — just over 1.5% of the county's residents.</p><p>The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February — Kennedy said age 6.</p><p>New Mexico announced one new case Friday, bringing the state’s total to 66. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Three are in Eddy County and Chaves and Doña Ana counties have one each.</p><p>State health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. New Mexico reported a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related death in an adult</a>&nbsp;on March 6.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Indiana?</h2><p>Indiana confirmed two more cases Monday in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the state — five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown. The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health said Monday.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Michigan?</h2><p>Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has four linked measles cases. State health officials say the cases are tied to Canada’s large outbreak in Ontario. The state has nine confirmed measles cases as of Friday, but the remaining four are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Montana?</h2><p>Montana state health officials announced five cases Thursday in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and confirmed it was an outbreak on Monday. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.</p><p>They are Montana’s first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn’t say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Ohio?</h2><p>The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 32 measles cases in the state Thursday, and one hospitalization. The state count includes only Ohio residents. There are 16 cases in Ashtabula County near Cleveland, 14 in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties.</p><p>Health officials in Knox County, in east-central Ohio, said there are a total of 20 people with measles, but seven of them do not live in the state.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Oklahoma?</h2><p>Oklahoma was steady Friday with 13 cases: 10 confirmed and three probable. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but Cleveland, Custer and Oklahoma counties have had public exposures in the past couple of months.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?</h2><p>There are eight measles cases in Erie County in far northwest Pennsylvania, officials said Friday. The county declared an outbreak in mid-April. The state said Friday it has 13 cases overall in 2025, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.</p><h2>How many cases are there in Tennessee?</h2><p>Tennessee has six measles cases as of Thursday. Health department spokesman Bill Christian said all cases are the middle part of the state, and that “at least three of these cases are linked to each other” but declined to specify further. The state also did not say whether the cases were linked to other outbreaks or when Tennessee's outbreak started.</p><p>The state health department announced the state's first measles case March 21, three more on April 1 and the last two on April 17, but none of the news releases declared an outbreak. Tennessee is on a list of outbreak states in a Thursday CDC report.</p><h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2><p>There have been 884 cases in 2025 as of Friday, according to the CDC. Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.</p><p>Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.</p><h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2><p>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.</p><p>Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.</p><p>People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because most children back then had measles and now have “presumptive immunity.”</p><p>In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”</p><p>But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a></p><h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2><p>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.</p><p>The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.</p><p>Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.</p><h2>How can you treat measles?</h2><p>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.</p><p>___</p><p>AP Science Writer Laura Ungar contributed to this report.</p>

Ten U.S. states now reporting active measles outbreaks

VATICAN CITY (AP) — World leaders and Catholic faithful bade farewell to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;in a funeral Saturday that highlighted his concern for people on the “most peripheral of the peripheries” and reflected his wishes to be remembered as a simple pastor. Though presidents and princes attended the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prisoners and migrants welcomed Francis' coffin at his final resting place in a basilica across town.

According to Vatican estimates, some 250,000 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/pope-francis-funeral-updates">flocked to the funeral</a>&nbsp;Mass at the Vatican and 150,000 more lined the motorcade route through downtown Rome to witness the first funeral procession for a pope in a century. They clapped and cheered “Papa Francesco” as his simple wooden coffin travelled aboard a modified popemobile to St. Mary Major Basilica, some 6 kilometers (3.5-miles) away.

As bells tolled, the pallbearers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-funeral-photos-trump-838b56f0e773ccf9979fa9ac06bdf0f0">brought the coffin past</a>&nbsp;several dozen migrants, prisoners and homeless people holding white roses outside the basilica. Once inside, the pallbearers stopped in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary that the church is famous for and that Francis deeply revered. Four children deposited the roses at the foot of the altar before the burial ceremony began.

“I’m so sorry that we’ve lost him,” said Mohammed Abdallah, a 35-year-old migrant from Sudan who was one of the people who welcomed Francis to his final resting place. “Francis helped so many people, refugees like us, and many other people in the world.”

Earlier, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re eulogized Francis during the Vatican Mass as a pope of the people, a pastor who knew how to communicate to the “least among us” with an informal, spontaneous style.

“He was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone,” the 91-year-old dean of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-glossary-3f34cfc8bda3570b9ecf0602d20990fb">College of Cardinals</a>&nbsp;said in a highly personal sermon. He drew applause from the crowd when he recounted Francis’ constant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-career-highlights-589cbd4ffd574d6c9c2674add1b564c9">concern for migrants</a>, exemplified by celebrating Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border and travelling to a refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece, and bringing 12 migrants home with him.

“The guiding thread of his mission was also the conviction that the church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open,” Re said, noting that with his travels, the Argentine pontiff reached “the most peripheral of the peripheries of the world.”

An extraordinary meeting about Ukraine on the sidelines

Despite Francis’ focus on the powerless, the powerful were out in force at his funeral.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-funeral-catholics-relationship-a34cb1f8a6ceb147e2e112cb4e02e32c">U.S. President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and former President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined Prince William and continental European royals leading more than 160 official delegations. Argentine President Javier Milei had pride of place given Francis’ nationality, even if the two didn’t particularly get along and the pope alienated many in his homeland by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-argentina-visit-politics-1a0f4ed32521901cd0c2486a3adf1b29">never returning there</a>.

In an extraordinary development, Trump and Zelenskyy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-funeral-vatican-rome-italy-9895e156b90aea1dde7f7ea19bf7b3e1">met privately</a>&nbsp;on the sidelines of the funeral. A photo showed the two men sitting alone, facing one another and hunched over on chairs in St. Peter’s Basilica, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Tens of thousands flocked before dawn to the Vatican

Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-funeral-burial-rites-rituals-2eb13a689d09d3403f08027081fe3753">choreographed the funeral himself</a>&nbsp;when he revised and simplified the Vatican’s rites and rituals last year. His aim was to emphasize the pope’s role as a mere pastor and not “a powerful man of this world.”

It was a reflection of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-remembrance-life-7702c44513ed4c9ba0ac5362d418c3f4">Francis’ 12-year project</a>&nbsp;to radically reform the papacy, to stress priests as servants and to construct “a poor church for the poor.” He articulated the mission just days after his 2013 election and it explained the name he chose as pope, honoring St. Francis of Assisi “who had the heart of the poor of the world,” according to the official decree of the pope's life that was placed in his coffin before it was sealed Friday night.

The white facade of St. Peter's glowed pink as the sun rose Saturday and throngs of mourners rushed into the square to get a spot for the Mass. Giant television screens were set up along the surrounding streets for those who couldn't get close.

Police helicopters whirled overhead, part of the massive security operation Italian authorities mounted, including more than 2,500 police, 1,500 soldiers and a torpedo ship off the coast, Italian media reported.

Many mourners had planned to be in Rome anyway this weekend for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-saint-acutis-posponed-9fdb99acaf0296974dc6216851c9167a">now-postponed Holy Year canonization</a>&nbsp;of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis. Groups of scouts and youth church groups nearly outnumbered the gaggles of nuns and seminarians.

“He was a very charismatic pope, very human, very kind, above all very human," said Miguel Vaca, a pilgrim from Peru who said he had camped out all night near the piazza. "It’s very emotional to say goodbye to him.”

Francis, the first Latin American and first Jesuit pope,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">died Easter Monday</a>&nbsp;at age 88 after suffering a stroke while recovering from pneumonia.

Even before he became pope, Francis had a particular affection for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-burial-place-santa-maria-maggiore-7332b54e4edcfe0a9a0a5826340ad121">St. Mary Major</a>, home to a Byzantine-style icon of the Madonna, the Salus Populi Romani. He would pray before the icon before and after each of his foreign trips as pope.

The popemobile that brought his coffin there was made for one of those trips: Francis' 2015 visit to the Philippines, and was modified to be able to carry a coffin.

The choice of the basilica was also symbolically significant given its ties to Francis’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-death-jesuits-migration-catholic-a840611e9e4724a0cbba6bdc2d906f30">Jesuit religious order</a>. St. Ignatius Loyola, who founded the Jesuits, celebrated his first Mass in the basilica on Christmas Day in 1538.

The basilica is the resting place of seven other popes, but this is the first papal burial outside the Vatican since Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903 and was entombed in another Roman basilica in 1924.

Following the funeral, preparations can begin in earnest to launch the centuries-old process of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/next-pope-contenders-list-101d68d61be2401a85310e34b45371a9">electing a new pope</a>, a conclave that will likely begin in the first week of May. In the interim, the Vatican is being run by a handful of cardinals, key among them Re, who is organizing the secret voting in the Sistine Chapel.

Crowds waited hours to bid farewell to Francis

Over three days this week, more than 250,000 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-vatican-pope-funeral-dignitaries-b8c206d03e3535b8ee3b18d42667b803">stood for hours</a>&nbsp;in line to pay their final respects while Francis’ body lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican kept the basilica open through the night to accommodate them, but it wasn’t enough. When the doors closed to the general public at 7 p.m. on Friday, mourners were turned away in droves.

By dawn Saturday, they were back, some recalling the words he uttered the very first night of his election and throughout his papacy.

“We are here to honor him because he always said ‘don’t forget to pray for me,’” said Nigerian Sister Christiana Neenwata. “So we are also here to give to him this love that he gave to us.”

Associated Press writers Vanessa Gera in Vatican City and Giada Zampano in Rome contributed.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745672360129.png" alt="President Trump among world leaders at the funeral mass-image White House" />
                        <figcaption>President Trump among world leaders at the funeral mass-image White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>VATICAN CITY (AP) — World leaders and Catholic faithful bade farewell to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;in a funeral Saturday that highlighted his concern for people on the “most peripheral of the peripheries” and reflected his wishes to be remembered as a simple pastor. Though presidents and princes attended the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prisoners and migrants welcomed Francis' coffin at his final resting place in a basilica across town.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pay their respects to Pope Francis in St. Peter&#39;s Basilica. <a href="https://t.co/PVSR33OU5p">pic.twitter.com/PVSR33OU5p</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1916102475121103198?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> stand alongside world leaders at the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter&#39;s Square: <a href="https://t.co/NAMwuUQ3Vi">pic.twitter.com/NAMwuUQ3Vi</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1916046357250380192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>According to Vatican estimates, some 250,000 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/pope-francis-funeral-updates">flocked to the funeral</a>&nbsp;Mass at the Vatican and 150,000 more lined the motorcade route through downtown Rome to witness the first funeral procession for a pope in a century. They clapped and cheered “Papa Francesco” as his simple wooden coffin travelled aboard a modified popemobile to St. Mary Major Basilica, some 6 kilometers (3.5-miles) away.</p><p>As bells tolled, the pallbearers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-funeral-photos-trump-838b56f0e773ccf9979fa9ac06bdf0f0">brought the coffin past</a>&nbsp;several dozen migrants, prisoners and homeless people holding white roses outside the basilica. Once inside, the pallbearers stopped in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary that the church is famous for and that Francis deeply revered. Four children deposited the roses at the foot of the altar before the burial ceremony began.</p><p>“I’m so sorry that we’ve lost him,” said Mohammed Abdallah, a 35-year-old migrant from Sudan who was one of the people who welcomed Francis to his final resting place. “Francis helped so many people, refugees like us, and many other people in the world.”</p><p>Earlier, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re eulogized Francis during the Vatican Mass as a pope of the people, a pastor who knew how to communicate to the “least among us” with an informal, spontaneous style.</p><p>“He was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone,” the 91-year-old dean of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-conclave-glossary-3f34cfc8bda3570b9ecf0602d20990fb">College of Cardinals</a>&nbsp;said in a highly personal sermon. He drew applause from the crowd when he recounted Francis’ constant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-career-highlights-589cbd4ffd574d6c9c2674add1b564c9">concern for migrants</a>, exemplified by celebrating Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border and travelling to a refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece, and bringing 12 migrants home with him.</p><p>“The guiding thread of his mission was also the conviction that the church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open,” Re said, noting that with his travels, the Argentine pontiff reached “the most peripheral of the peripheries of the world.”</p><h2>An extraordinary meeting about Ukraine on the sidelines</h2><p>Despite Francis’ focus on the powerless, the powerful were out in force at his funeral.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-funeral-catholics-relationship-a34cb1f8a6ceb147e2e112cb4e02e32c">U.S. President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and former President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined Prince William and continental European royals leading more than 160 official delegations. Argentine President Javier Milei had pride of place given Francis’ nationality, even if the two didn’t particularly get along and the pope alienated many in his homeland by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-argentina-visit-politics-1a0f4ed32521901cd0c2486a3adf1b29">never returning there</a>.</p><p>In an extraordinary development, Trump and Zelenskyy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pope-francis-funeral-vatican-rome-italy-9895e156b90aea1dde7f7ea19bf7b3e1">met privately</a>&nbsp;on the sidelines of the funeral. A photo showed the two men sitting alone, facing one another and hunched over on chairs in St. Peter’s Basilica, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.</p><h2>Tens of thousands flocked before dawn to the Vatican</h2><p>Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-funeral-burial-rites-rituals-2eb13a689d09d3403f08027081fe3753">choreographed the funeral himself</a>&nbsp;when he revised and simplified the Vatican’s rites and rituals last year. His aim was to emphasize the pope’s role as a mere pastor and not “a powerful man of this world.”</p><p>It was a reflection of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-remembrance-life-7702c44513ed4c9ba0ac5362d418c3f4">Francis’ 12-year project</a>&nbsp;to radically reform the papacy, to stress priests as servants and to construct “a poor church for the poor.” He articulated the mission just days after his 2013 election and it explained the name he chose as pope, honoring St. Francis of Assisi “who had the heart of the poor of the world,” according to the official decree of the pope's life that was placed in his coffin before it was sealed Friday night.</p><p>The white facade of St. Peter's glowed pink as the sun rose Saturday and throngs of mourners rushed into the square to get a spot for the Mass. Giant television screens were set up along the surrounding streets for those who couldn't get close.</p><p>Police helicopters whirled overhead, part of the massive security operation Italian authorities mounted, including more than 2,500 police, 1,500 soldiers and a torpedo ship off the coast, Italian media reported.</p><p>Many mourners had planned to be in Rome anyway this weekend for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-saint-acutis-posponed-9fdb99acaf0296974dc6216851c9167a">now-postponed Holy Year canonization</a>&nbsp;of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis. Groups of scouts and youth church groups nearly outnumbered the gaggles of nuns and seminarians.</p><p>“He was a very charismatic pope, very human, very kind, above all very human," said Miguel Vaca, a pilgrim from Peru who said he had camped out all night near the piazza. "It’s very emotional to say goodbye to him.”</p><h2>A special relationship with the basilica</h2><p>Francis, the first Latin American and first Jesuit pope,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">died Easter Monday</a>&nbsp;at age 88 after suffering a stroke while recovering from pneumonia.</p><p>Even before he became pope, Francis had a particular affection for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-burial-place-santa-maria-maggiore-7332b54e4edcfe0a9a0a5826340ad121">St. Mary Major</a>, home to a Byzantine-style icon of the Madonna, the Salus Populi Romani. He would pray before the icon before and after each of his foreign trips as pope.</p><p>The popemobile that brought his coffin there was made for one of those trips: Francis' 2015 visit to the Philippines, and was modified to be able to carry a coffin.</p><p>The choice of the basilica was also symbolically significant given its ties to Francis’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-death-jesuits-migration-catholic-a840611e9e4724a0cbba6bdc2d906f30">Jesuit religious order</a>. St. Ignatius Loyola, who founded the Jesuits, celebrated his first Mass in the basilica on Christmas Day in 1538.</p><p>The basilica is the resting place of seven other popes, but this is the first papal burial outside the Vatican since Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903 and was entombed in another Roman basilica in 1924.</p><p>Following the funeral, preparations can begin in earnest to launch the centuries-old process of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/next-pope-contenders-list-101d68d61be2401a85310e34b45371a9">electing a new pope</a>, a conclave that will likely begin in the first week of May. In the interim, the Vatican is being run by a handful of cardinals, key among them Re, who is organizing the secret voting in the Sistine Chapel.</p><h2>Crowds waited hours to bid farewell to Francis</h2><p>Over three days this week, more than 250,000 people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-vatican-pope-funeral-dignitaries-b8c206d03e3535b8ee3b18d42667b803">stood for hours</a>&nbsp;in line to pay their final respects while Francis’ body lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican kept the basilica open through the night to accommodate them, but it wasn’t enough. When the doors closed to the general public at 7 p.m. on Friday, mourners were turned away in droves.</p><p>By dawn Saturday, they were back, some recalling the words he uttered the very first night of his election and throughout his papacy.</p><p>“We are here to honor him because he always said ‘don’t forget to pray for me,’” said Nigerian Sister Christiana Neenwata. “So we are also here to give to him this love that he gave to us.”</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press writers Vanessa Gera in Vatican City and Giada Zampano in Rome contributed.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.</p>

Mighty and meek say goodbye to Pope Francis at funeral 

JOHNSON COUNTY —An Overland Park resident contacted Animal Control regarding an owl that was unable to fly, leading them to believe it was injured, according to a social media report from Overland Park Police.

 Animal Control Officers,  determined the owl was young, still learning to fly and likely fell out of its nest.&nbsp; Officers attempted to encourage it to perch on nearby trees, but it was uncooperative. 

The young owl later took shelter in a bush in the community. This appears to be a natural situation with a young bird learning to fly, and no immediate intervention seems necessary at this time. Police thanked the Animal Control staff for their help.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745547333000.png" alt="Photo Overland Park Police" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Overland Park Police</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>JOHNSON COUNTY —An Overland Park resident contacted Animal Control regarding an owl that was unable to fly, leading them to believe it was injured, according to a social media report from Overland Park Police.</p><p> Animal Control Officers,  determined the owl was young, still learning to fly and likely fell out of its nest.&nbsp; Officers attempted to encourage it to perch on nearby trees, but it was uncooperative. </p><p>The young owl later took shelter in a bush in the community. This appears to be a natural situation with a young bird learning to fly, and no immediate intervention seems necessary at this time. Police thanked the Animal Control staff for their help.</p>

Police: Owl that fell from a tree was just learning to fly

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DARLENE%20SUPERVILLE%20and%20AAMER%20MADHANI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and AAMER MADHANI&nbsp;</a>

ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Saturday that he doubts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Russia's Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;wants to end his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>, expressing new skepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon. Only a day earlier, Trump had said Ukraine and Russia were “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">very close to a deal</a>."

"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump said in a social media post as he flew back to the United States after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, where he met briefly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump also hinted at further sanctions against Russia.

“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!” Trump wrote.

The new doubts aired by Trump come as the president and top aides intensify their push to come to a deal to end the war that began in February 2022 when Russian invaded Ukraine.

The comments also sharply contrasted with Trump's positive assessment that the two sides were “very close to a deal” after his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met with Putin in Moscow on Friday.

The Trump-Zelenskyy conversation on the sidelines of the pope's funeral was first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since they argued during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">heated Oval Office meeting</a>&nbsp;at the White House in late February. That confrontation led to the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/us-resumes-military-aid-and-intelligence-sharing-as-ukraine-says-it-is-open-to-a-30-day-ceasefire/">to briefly pause</a>&nbsp;U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

Days after ordering the pause, Trump also announced he was “strongly considering” imposing new sanctions and tariffs on Russia to try to prod Putin to negotiate in earnest. Trump has not yet followed through on the threat — something even some of his staunch Republican allies are now pressuring him to do.

It's the second time a matter of days that Trump has rebuked Putin, whom the American president rarely publicly criticizes.

On Thursday, Trump publicly urged the Russian leader to “STOP!” after a deadly barrage of attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.

After their brief meeting Saturday, Zelenskyy’s office had said the U.S. and Ukrainian teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday. But Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States.

Zelenskyy's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said Trump and Zelenskyy did not meet again in person because of their tight schedules.

Zelenskyy called it a “good meeting” on social media after the funeral.

“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he said on X. “Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you."

The White House called the discussion “very productive” and said it would release more details later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to the war, just before Trump and Zelenskyy took their seats at the outdoor funeral service.

The Vatican long ago had offered to help facilitate peace talks and Francis had regularly called for peace and dialogue from the altar of the basilica. That Trump and Zelenskyy spoke privately, face to face and hunched over on chairs on the marbled floors of the pope’s home, on the day of his funeral, was perhaps a fitting way to honor his wishes.

Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the war.

Neither Putin nor Zelenskyy have commented Trump's calls for direct talks.

Trump has pressed both sides to quickly come to an agreement to end the war, but while Zelenskyy agreed to an American plan for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, Russia has not signed on and has continued to strike at targets inside Ukraine.

Putin did not attend Francis' funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.

Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said “very significant meetings may take place” in the coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.

“Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said.

“Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.”

The meeting Saturday also came shortly after Trump had issued his most definitive statement to date about the need for Ukraine to give up territory to Russia to bring the war to a close. He said in a Time magazine interview published Friday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">“Crimea will stay with Russia.”</a>

Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4be8a953902947ffb608bf663d61b8e9">seized the strategic peninsula</a>&nbsp;along the Black Sea in southern Ukraine in 2014, years before the full-scale invasion that began in 2022.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-attack-peace-talks-be98e85000b8e0f24a2d7ada71f3861d">Zelenskyy wants to regain Crimea</a>&nbsp;and other Ukrainian territory seized by Russia, but Trump considers that demand to be unrealistic.

Referring to Crimea during the interview, which was conducted at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time," meaning Russia.

ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;met briefly Saturday before the funeral for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;as the American leader steps up the pressure to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.

It was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and the Ukrainian leader since they argued during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">heated Oval Office meeting</a>&nbsp;at the White House in late February.

Zelenskyy’s office had said teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday, but Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States, which seemed to rule out a second in-person conversation. Zelenskyy's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said Trump and Zelenskyy did not meet again in person because of their tight schedules.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745670044084.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DARLENE%20SUPERVILLE%20and%20AAMER%20MADHANI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and AAMER MADHANI&nbsp;</a></p><p>ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Saturday that he doubts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Russia's Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;wants to end his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>, expressing new skepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon. Only a day earlier, Trump had said Ukraine and Russia were “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">very close to a deal</a>."</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump sat down to meet privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City this morning. <a href="https://t.co/QChPiZRKzM">pic.twitter.com/QChPiZRKzM</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1916106599506043104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/2oyk3rBZCw">pic.twitter.com/2oyk3rBZCw</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1916130176725094635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump said in a social media post as he flew back to the United States after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, where he met briefly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.</p><p>Trump also hinted at further sanctions against Russia.</p><p>“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!” Trump wrote.</p><p>The new doubts aired by Trump come as the president and top aides intensify their push to come to a deal to end the war that began in February 2022 when Russian invaded Ukraine.</p><p>The comments also sharply contrasted with Trump's positive assessment that the two sides were “very close to a deal” after his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met with Putin in Moscow on Friday.</p><p>The Trump-Zelenskyy conversation on the sidelines of the pope's funeral was first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since they argued during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">heated Oval Office meeting</a>&nbsp;at the White House in late February. That confrontation led to the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/us-resumes-military-aid-and-intelligence-sharing-as-ukraine-says-it-is-open-to-a-30-day-ceasefire/">to briefly pause</a>&nbsp;U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.</p><p>Days after ordering the pause, Trump also announced he was “strongly considering” imposing new sanctions and tariffs on Russia to try to prod Putin to negotiate in earnest. Trump has not yet followed through on the threat — something even some of his staunch Republican allies are now pressuring him to do.</p><p>It's the second time a matter of days that Trump has rebuked Putin, whom the American president rarely publicly criticizes.</p><p>On Thursday, Trump publicly urged the Russian leader to “STOP!” after a deadly barrage of attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.</p><p>After their brief meeting Saturday, Zelenskyy’s office had said the U.S. and Ukrainian teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday. But Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States.</p><p>Zelenskyy's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said Trump and Zelenskyy did not meet again in person because of their tight schedules.</p><p>Zelenskyy called it a “good meeting” on social media after the funeral.</p><p>“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he said on X. “Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you."</p><p>The White House called the discussion “very productive” and said it would release more details later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to the war, just before Trump and Zelenskyy took their seats at the outdoor funeral service.</p><p>The Vatican long ago had offered to help facilitate peace talks and Francis had regularly called for peace and dialogue from the altar of the basilica. That Trump and Zelenskyy spoke privately, face to face and hunched over on chairs on the marbled floors of the pope’s home, on the day of his funeral, was perhaps a fitting way to honor his wishes.</p><p>Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the war.</p><p>Neither Putin nor Zelenskyy have commented Trump's calls for direct talks.</p><p>Trump has pressed both sides to quickly come to an agreement to end the war, but while Zelenskyy agreed to an American plan for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, Russia has not signed on and has continued to strike at targets inside Ukraine.</p><p>Putin did not attend Francis' funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.</p><p>Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said “very significant meetings may take place” in the coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.</p><p>“Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said.</p><p>“Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.”</p><p>The meeting Saturday also came shortly after Trump had issued his most definitive statement to date about the need for Ukraine to give up territory to Russia to bring the war to a close. He said in a Time magazine interview published Friday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">“Crimea will stay with Russia.”</a></p><p>Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4be8a953902947ffb608bf663d61b8e9">seized the strategic peninsula</a>&nbsp;along the Black Sea in southern Ukraine in 2014, years before the full-scale invasion that began in 2022.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-attack-peace-talks-be98e85000b8e0f24a2d7ada71f3861d">Zelenskyy wants to regain Crimea</a>&nbsp;and other Ukrainian territory seized by Russia, but Trump considers that demand to be unrealistic.</p><p>Referring to Crimea during the interview, which was conducted at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time," meaning Russia.</p><p>——</p><p>-----------</p><p>ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;met briefly Saturday before the funeral for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;as the American leader steps up the pressure to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.</p><p>It was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and the Ukrainian leader since they argued during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">heated Oval Office meeting</a>&nbsp;at the White House in late February.</p><p>Zelenskyy’s office had said teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday, but Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States, which seemed to rule out a second in-person conversation. Zelenskyy's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said Trump and Zelenskyy did not meet again in person because of their tight schedules.</p><p>Zelenskyy said “good meeting” on social media after the funeral.</p><p>“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he said on X. “Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you."</p><p>The White House called the discussion “very productive” and said it would release more details later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to the war, just before Trump and Zelenskyy took their seats at the outdoor funeral service.</p><p>The Vatican long ago had offered to help facilitate peace talks and Francis had regularly called for peace and dialogue from the altar of the basilica. That Trump and Zelenskyy spoke privately, face to face and hunched over on chairs on the marbled floors of the pope’s home, on the day of his funeral, was perhaps a fitting way to honor his wishes.</p><p>The meeting came together hours after Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the three-year war that was sparked by Russia’s invasion.</p><p>Trump has pressed both sides to quickly come to an agreement to end the war, but while Zelenskyy agreed to an American plan for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, Russia has not signed on and has continued to strike at targets inside Ukraine.</p><p>Last week's hourslong missile and drone barrage of Kyiv that killed at least 12 people led Trump to appeal over social media for Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the strikes on Ukraine's capital.</p><p>“&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-diplomacy-social-media-communication-4c22a98e5dd519c8fab6f55eff129664">Vladimir, STOP</a>!” Trump wrote.</p><p>Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met earlier on Friday with Putin in Moscow, and Trump said both sides were “very close to a deal.”</p><p>Putin did not attend Francis' funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.</p><p>Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said “very significant meetings may take place” in the coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.</p><p>“Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said.</p><p>“Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.”</p><p>The meeting Saturday also came shortly after Trump had issued his most definitive statement to date about the need for Ukraine to give up territory to Russia to bring the war to a close. He said in a Time magazine interview published Friday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">“Crimea will stay with Russia.”</a></p><p>Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4be8a953902947ffb608bf663d61b8e9">seized the strategic peninsula</a>&nbsp;along the Black Sea in southern Ukraine in 2014, years before the full-scale invasion that began in 2022.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-attack-peace-talks-be98e85000b8e0f24a2d7ada71f3861d">Zelenskyy wants to regain Crimea</a>&nbsp;and other Ukrainian territory seized by Russia, but Trump considers that demand to be unrealistic.</p><p>Referring to Crimea during the interview, which was conducted at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time," meaning Russia.</p><p>——-----------</p><p>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/darlene-superville">DARLENE SUPERVILLE</a></p><p>ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;met briefly Saturday before the funeral for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;as the American leader steps up the pressure to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to… <a href="https://t.co/q4ZhVXCjw0">pic.twitter.com/q4ZhVXCjw0</a></p>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1916089502088524203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Zelenskyy’s office had said teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday, but Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States, which seemed to rule out a second in-person conversation.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump departs Italy following the funeral of Pope Francis. <a href="https://t.co/4lnrrGMoQb">pic.twitter.com/4lnrrGMoQb</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1916085488856805755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The White House said their discussion was “very productive” and that more details would be released later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican just before they took their seats for the outdoor funeral service.</p><p>Zelenskyy said “good meeting” on social media after the funeral.</p><p>“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he wrote. “Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you.”</p><p>The meeting took place hours after Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the three-year war sparked by Russia’s invasion.</p><p>Trump has pressed both sides to agree to a ceasefire. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met earlier Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and Trump said both sides were “very close to a deal.”</p><p>Putin did not attend Francis’ funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.</p><p>Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said “very significant meetings may take place” in coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.</p><p>“Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said.</p><p>“Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.”</p><p>There was no immediate word on whether Trump and Zelenskyy spoke again after they paid their respects to the pope, who had repeatedly pressed</p>