SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas man for an alleged&nbsp;violent threats toward an elementary school staff member and police dispatcher in Salina.

Just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp; were dispatched to Sunset Elementary School, 1510 West Republic Avenue in Salina, after a man identified as 39-year-old Chad Everett allegedly threatened a school staff member, according to Salina&nbsp;Police Captain Jim Feldman.

Everett called the school and made contact with a 29-year old male staff member and made a complaint about a parent.

Throughout the call, Everett suddenly became irate with the staff member and voiced threats of physical violence towards him. According to Feldman, there is no evidence of the staff member saying anything that would have angered Everett.

Afterwards, officers were contacted by the school and began to locate Everett as they arrived to his house. However, officers were unable to find him.

Everett then called Salina Police and spoke with a dispatcher. As the dispatcher was trying to get Everett connected with an officer, Everett became angry and threatened to attack the dispatcher.

Everett also voiced racial slurs at the dispatcher during the call, according to Feldman.

At approximately 9:00 pm, officers responded to a home in west Salina where Everett was located and taken into custody.

As they were placing him in a police vehicle, Everett reportedly kicked the door and struck an officer. He was then booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of Criminal Threat, Harassment by Telecommunication Device and Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer.

Police also determined that Everett was under the influence of alcohol, according to Feldman.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767818380249.png" alt="Everett-photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Everett-photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas man for an alleged&nbsp;violent threats toward an elementary school staff member and police dispatcher in Salina.Just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp; were dispatched to Sunset Elementary School, 1510 West Republic Avenue in Salina, after a man identified as 39-year-old Chad Everett allegedly threatened a school staff member, according to Salina&nbsp;Police Captain Jim Feldman.Everett called the school and made contact with a 29-year old male staff member and made a complaint about a parent.Throughout the call, Everett suddenly became irate with the staff member and voiced threats of physical violence towards him. According to Feldman, there is no evidence of the staff member saying anything that would have angered Everett.Afterwards, officers were contacted by the school and began to locate Everett as they arrived to his house. However, officers were unable to find him.Everett then called Salina Police and spoke with a dispatcher. As the dispatcher was trying to get Everett connected with an officer, Everett became angry and threatened to attack the dispatcher.Everett also voiced racial slurs at the dispatcher during the call, according to Feldman.At approximately 9:00 pm, officers responded to a home in west Salina where Everett was located and taken into custody.As they were placing him in a police vehicle, Everett reportedly kicked the door and struck an officer. He was then booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of Criminal Threat, Harassment by Telecommunication Device and Battery of a Law Enforcement Officer.Police also determined that Everett was under the influence of alcohol, according to Feldman.

Police: Kan. man threatened school staff member, police dispatcher

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

Just before 3a.m. Jan. 5, a&nbsp;Sheriff’s Corporal conducted a traffic stop at 8th and Western Heights in Overbrook for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells.

During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. Two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility.

Mariah D. Hall, 19, of Lawrence is being held on requested charges of Driving while under the influence, Possession of THC, No proof of liability insurance, Driving without a driver's license and Transporting an open container.

Mondezz T. McGruder-Proctor, 19, of Lawrence is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of a controlled substance, Possession of THC, Criminal use of a firearm and Possession of a firearm while under the influence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767579925682.png" alt="McGruder-Proctor photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>McGruder-Proctor photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY –Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.&nbsp;Just before 3a.m. Jan. 5, a&nbsp;Sheriff’s Corporal conducted a traffic stop at 8th and Western Heights in Overbrook for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells.During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. Two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767579855084.png" alt="Hall photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Hall photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>Mariah D. Hall, 19, of Lawrence is being held on requested charges of Driving while under the influence, Possession of THC, No proof of liability insurance, Driving without a driver's license and Transporting an open container.Mondezz T. McGruder-Proctor, 19, of Lawrence is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of a controlled substance, Possession of THC, Criminal use of a firearm and Possession of a firearm while under the influence.

Sheriff: Kansas woman accused of DUI and transporting THC

A bill mandates school districts create policies restricting cell phone use during school hours

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/29/kansan-returns-to-the-catholic-church-as-the-states-first-woman-priest/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas legislators will pursue a statewide school cell phone ban, superseding the state education board’s past directives to allow local districts to deal with cell phones as they see fit.

The initiative already has the support of two-thirds of the Senate, according to a joint announcement from Sens. Chase Blasi, an Andale Republican, and Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat.

If passed into law,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb302/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 302</a>&nbsp;would require each local school board and nonpublic school’s governing authority to create policies dictating student cell phone use during instructional time by Sept. 1.

The bill establishes a bell-to-bell mandate, requiring students to power off and store any personal electronic communication devices, and it forces districts to create disciplinary actions and enforcement procedures for any violations. It also allows districts to limit or prohibit cell phone usage during school-sponsored activities that take place outside of normal school hours.

The bill will be a “high priority,” the Tuesday announcement said. It was filed less than a week before the start of the 2026 legislative session.

“Phone-free schools give students space to think, build authentic human relationships and protect student mental health from constant digital pressure,” Blasi said. “The longer phones stay in classrooms, the harder it becomes to undo the damage.”

If the legislation becomes law, it would override local boards’ existing policies if incongruous with the state’s mandates. It also could bolster the Kansas State Board of Education’s previous guidance.

The board unanimously&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/12/13/kansas-board-of-education-accepts-policy-report-recommending-phone-bans-sends-to-local-districts/">approved a list of recommendations in December 2024</a>&nbsp;that encouraged districts to adopt bell-to-bell policies that mandate K-12 students’ personal cell phones be powered off from the beginning of the school day to the end, including during lunch and passing periods, and stored in an off-limits location. The recommendations highlighted a need for greater mental health support and parental oversight.

A student can use a device if it is necessary for an education or specialized instruction program or if a doctor deems it medically necessary to support a student’s health and well-being. Students are allowed to contact their parents or guardians through a school telephone, according to the bill’s text.

Sykes said the legislation helps strengthen Kansas schools and teachers.

“Studies show that classrooms without phones have more engaged students leading to face-to-face conversations, stronger peer relationships, safer school environments and better academic outcomes,” she said.

Teachers are not prohibited from using personal communication devices at school, but the bill does require new policies banning school employees “from privately or directly communicating with any student via a social media platform for official school purposes.” A school board or nonpublic school authority can approve a social media platform to be used for official school purposes, the bill said. Private, direct communications are not encompassed in “official school purposes.”

Carrie Rahfaldt, a spokesperson for House Speaker Dan Hawkins, said he is supportive of the legislation. Denise Kahler, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Education, said the state school board had yet to take a position on the proposed ban.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767816669092.png" alt=" Sens. Chase Blasi, an Andale Republican, and Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, stand on the Senate floor on Jan. 13, 2025, in Topeka, Kansas. The pair announced ahead of the 2026 legislative session a K-12 cell phone ban bill, which is supported by an additional 28 senators. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Sens. Chase Blasi, an Andale Republican, and Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, stand on the Senate floor on Jan. 13, 2025, in Topeka, Kansas. The pair announced ahead of the 2026 legislative session a K-12 cell phone ban bill, which is supported by an additional 28 senators. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A bill mandates school districts create policies restricting cell phone use during school hours</h2>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/29/kansan-returns-to-the-catholic-church-as-the-states-first-woman-priest/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas legislators will pursue a statewide school cell phone ban, superseding the state education board’s past directives to allow local districts to deal with cell phones as they see fit.The initiative already has the support of two-thirds of the Senate, according to a joint announcement from Sens. Chase Blasi, an Andale Republican, and Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat.If passed into law,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb302/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 302</a>&nbsp;would require each local school board and nonpublic school’s governing authority to create policies dictating student cell phone use during instructional time by Sept. 1.The bill establishes a bell-to-bell mandate, requiring students to power off and store any personal electronic communication devices, and it forces districts to create disciplinary actions and enforcement procedures for any violations. It also allows districts to limit or prohibit cell phone usage during school-sponsored activities that take place outside of normal school hours.The bill will be a “high priority,” the Tuesday announcement said. It was filed less than a week before the start of the 2026 legislative session.“Phone-free schools give students space to think, build authentic human relationships and protect student mental health from constant digital pressure,” Blasi said. “The longer phones stay in classrooms, the harder it becomes to undo the damage.”If the legislation becomes law, it would override local boards’ existing policies if incongruous with the state’s mandates. It also could bolster the Kansas State Board of Education’s previous guidance.The board unanimously&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/12/13/kansas-board-of-education-accepts-policy-report-recommending-phone-bans-sends-to-local-districts/">approved a list of recommendations in December 2024</a>&nbsp;that encouraged districts to adopt bell-to-bell policies that mandate K-12 students’ personal cell phones be powered off from the beginning of the school day to the end, including during lunch and passing periods, and stored in an off-limits location. The recommendations highlighted a need for greater mental health support and parental oversight.A student can use a device if it is necessary for an education or specialized instruction program or if a doctor deems it medically necessary to support a student’s health and well-being. Students are allowed to contact their parents or guardians through a school telephone, according to the bill’s text.Sykes said the legislation helps strengthen Kansas schools and teachers.“Studies show that classrooms without phones have more engaged students leading to face-to-face conversations, stronger peer relationships, safer school environments and better academic outcomes,” she said.Teachers are not prohibited from using personal communication devices at school, but the bill does require new policies banning school employees “from privately or directly communicating with any student via a social media platform for official school purposes.” A school board or nonpublic school authority can approve a social media platform to be used for official school purposes, the bill said. Private, direct communications are not encompassed in “official school purposes.”Carrie Rahfaldt, a spokesperson for House Speaker Dan Hawkins, said he is supportive of the legislation. Denise Kahler, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Education, said the state school board had yet to take a position on the proposed ban.

Kansas lawmakers want statewide K-12 cell phone ban by next school year

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage shooting in Kansas City.

Just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting on southbound 71 Highway and Blue River Road, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders located a vehicle stopped on the side of the highway and a woman asking for help. At that time, officers observed an adult male victim, unresponsive inside of the vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and pronounce the man deceased at that scene.

Preliminary information indicates this may be a road rage incident. It is believed two unidentified men were occupying an unknown vehicle when shots were fired, striking the victim. It is not currently known where the start of the altercation began, and where exactly the shooting occurred. We do not currently have any subjects of interest, or a suspect vehicle identified.

Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the area to begin collecting any evidence and to speak with witnesses. This incident is being investigated as a homicide, according to Officer Gonzalez.

71 Highway was closed off to all southbound traffic at 85th Street while police investigate.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767817392964.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage shooting in Kansas City.Just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting on southbound 71 Highway and Blue River Road, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767817154645.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located a vehicle stopped on the side of the highway and a woman asking for help. At that time, officers observed an adult male victim, unresponsive inside of the vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and pronounce the man deceased at that scene.Preliminary information indicates this may be a road rage incident. It is believed two unidentified men were occupying an unknown vehicle when shots were fired, striking the victim. It is not currently known where the start of the altercation began, and where exactly the shooting occurred. We do not currently have any subjects of interest, or a suspect vehicle identified.Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the area to begin collecting any evidence and to speak with witnesses. This incident is being investigated as a homicide, according to Officer Gonzalez.71 Highway was closed off to all southbound traffic at 85th Street while police investigate.If anyone was in the area and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

Police: Deadly road-rage shooting in Kansas City

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The former WaKeeney police chief has pleaded not guilty to charges&nbsp;of mistreatment of a suspect and two counts of battery.

Michael Allen Romero was put on administrative leave in March and ultimately removed as police chief.

Romero appeared in court on Tuesday in front of District Judge Tom Drees for a status conference on his case.

On Jan. 19, 2025, Romero allegedly battered Steven&nbsp;Michael Balock.

Balock was facing charges of mistreatment of an animal and interference with a law enforcement officer. Both charges were dropped by the prosecutor, according to court records.

In addition to Romero's plea, his defense entered a notice of appearance of an expert witness.

Brian O’Donnell will give his professional opinion on Romero's actions as a law enforcement officer, according to court records.

He will testify that, based on his&nbsp;extensive training and experience in the practice of use of force, Romero’s&nbsp;practices were proper and legitimate for law enforcement purposes, court documents said.

Romero has waived his right to a speedy trial. His jury trial is set for June 23.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747938121489.png" alt="Michael Romero&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Michael Romero&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe former WaKeeney police chief has pleaded not guilty to charges&nbsp;of mistreatment of a suspect and two counts of battery.Michael Allen Romero was put on administrative leave in March and ultimately removed as police chief.Romero appeared in court on Tuesday in front of District Judge Tom Drees for a status conference on his case.On Jan. 19, 2025, Romero allegedly battered Steven&nbsp;Michael Balock.Balock was facing charges of mistreatment of an animal and interference with a law enforcement officer. Both charges were dropped by the prosecutor, according to court records.In addition to Romero's plea, his defense entered a notice of appearance of an expert witness.Brian O’Donnell will give his professional opinion on Romero's actions as a law enforcement officer, according to court records.He will testify that, based on his&nbsp;extensive training and experience in the practice of use of force, Romero’s&nbsp;practices were proper and legitimate for law enforcement purposes, court documents said.Romero has waived his right to a speedy trial. His jury trial is set for June 23.

Former NW Kan. police chief enters plea to alleged suspect mistreatment charge

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in back-to-back actions in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea, officials said Wednesday, and is removing sanctions to enable the shipping and sale of oil from the South American country to markets worldwide.

U.S. European Command announced the seizure of the merchant vessel Bella 1 for “violations of U.S. sanctions” in a social media post. The U.S. had been pursuing the tanker since last month after it tried to evade a U.S. blockade on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sanctions-oil-tankers-venezuela-trump-maduro-9ffee61472d248aafdc9d9bef6195c2e">sanctioned oil vessels</a>&nbsp;around Venezuela.

Then, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem revealed that U.S. forces also took control of the tanker Sophia in the Caribbean. Noem said in a social media post both ships were “either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it."

Noem said that both ships are part of a large “ghost fleet” of sanctioned vessels that carry oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela in defiance of Western sanctions, mostly to customers in Asia.

The Trump administration is “selectively” removing sanctions to enable the shipping and sale of Venezuelan oil to global markets, according to an outline of the policies published Wednesday by the Energy Department.

The oil sales are slated to begin immediately with the sale of 30 million to 50 million barrels from the South American country. The U.S. government said the sales “will continue indefinitely” with the proceeds settling in U.S.-controlled accounts at “globally recognized banks.” The money would then be disbursed to the U.S. and Venezuelan populations at the “discretion” of Trump’s government.

The two ship seizures come just days after U.S. military forces conducted a surprise nighttime raid on Venezuela’s capital of Caracas and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">captured then-President Nicolás Maduro and his wife</a>, whom President Donald Trump's administration has accused of partnering with drug traffickers.

Since that raid, officials in Trump’s Republican administration have said that they intend to continue to seize sanctioned vessels connected to the country.

“We are enforcing American laws with regards to oil sanctions,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on NBC on Sunday. “We go to court. We get a warrant. We seize those boats with oil. And that will continue.”

The U.S. military seized the Bella 1 and subsequently handed over control of it to law enforcement officials, said a U.S. official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

The ship was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.

It was cruising across the Atlantic nearing the Caribbean on Dec. 15 when it abruptly turned and changed its heading north, toward Europe. The change in direction came days after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">the first U.S. tanker seizure</a>&nbsp;of a ship called the Skipper, on Dec. 10, after it had left Venezuela carrying a cargo of oil.

The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean in December as it headed for Venezuela. The ship refused boarding and headed across the Atlantic. U.S. European Command confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro tracked the ship ahead of its seizure “pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court" in a social media post.

During this time, the Bella 1 was renamed Marinera and flagged to Russia, shipping databases show. The U.S. official also confirmed that the ship’s crew had painted a Russian flag on the side of the hull.

Earlier Wednesday, open-source maritime tracking sites showed its position as between Scotland and Iceland, traveling north. The U.S. official also confirmed the ship was in the North Atlantic.

Flight tracking websites showed several U-28A U.S. special operations aircraft landing at Wick John O’Groats airport on the northern tip of Scotland, before flying further north toward Iceland on Wednesday. P8 Poseidon submarine-hunting aircraft and KC-135 refueling planes were also seen on tracking websites, heading to the area near the tanker.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said before the seizure that it was “following with concern the anomalous situation that has developed around the Russian oil tanker Marinera.”

Immediately following news of the seizure, Russia’s Ministry of Transport confirmed the boarding in a statement and noted that "no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” citing the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Maduro appeared in court this week in New York, where he protested his capture and pleaded not guilty to the federal drug trafficking charges the Trump administration used to justify removing him from power in Venezuela. Maduro’s lawyer said he expects to contest the legality of his “military abduction.”

“I am here kidnapped since Jan. 3, Saturday,” Maduro said in Spanish in court on Monday. “I was captured at my home in Caracas.” ___

Lawless reported from London. Associated Press writer Michael Biesecker in Washington, contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States seized two sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela in back-to-back actions in the North Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea, officials said Wednesday, and is removing sanctions to enable the shipping and sale of oil from the South American country to markets worldwide.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/E0hii3A6Zo">pic.twitter.com/E0hii3A6Zo</a>&mdash; U.S. European Command (@US_EUCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/US_EUCOM/status/2008900344428789945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In two predawn operations today, the Coast Guard conducted back-to-back meticulously coordinated boarding of two “ghost fleet” tanker ships— one in the North Atlantic Sea and one in international waters near the Caribbean. Both vessels —the Motor Tanker Bella I and the Motor… <a href="https://t.co/EZlHEtcufX">pic.twitter.com/EZlHEtcufX</a>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/2008907194691915945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">YOU CAN RUN, BUT YOU CAN&#39;T HIDE 🔥 In predawn operations this morning, the U.S. Coast Guard boarded two &quot;Ghost Fleet&quot; Tankers in the North Atlantic Sea and in international waters near the Caribbean. Both vessels were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it. <a href="https://t.co/4ftu01lqIg">pic.twitter.com/4ftu01lqIg</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2008937200944021613?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/E0hii3A6Zo">pic.twitter.com/E0hii3A6Zo</a>&mdash; U.S. European Command (@US_EUCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/US_EUCOM/status/2008900344428789945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. European Command announced the seizure of the merchant vessel Bella 1 for “violations of U.S. sanctions” in a social media post. The U.S. had been pursuing the tanker since last month after it tried to evade a U.S. blockade on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sanctions-oil-tankers-venezuela-trump-maduro-9ffee61472d248aafdc9d9bef6195c2e">sanctioned oil vessels</a>&nbsp;around Venezuela.Then, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem revealed that U.S. forces also took control of the tanker Sophia in the Caribbean. Noem said in a social media post both ships were “either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it."Noem said that both ships are part of a large “ghost fleet” of sanctioned vessels that carry oil from Russia, Iran and Venezuela in defiance of Western sanctions, mostly to customers in Asia.The Trump administration is “selectively” removing sanctions to enable the shipping and sale of Venezuelan oil to global markets, according to an outline of the policies published Wednesday by the Energy Department.The oil sales are slated to begin immediately with the sale of 30 million to 50 million barrels from the South American country. The U.S. government said the sales “will continue indefinitely” with the proceeds settling in U.S.-controlled accounts at “globally recognized banks.” The money would then be disbursed to the U.S. and Venezuelan populations at the “discretion” of Trump’s government.The two ship seizures come just days after U.S. military forces conducted a surprise nighttime raid on Venezuela’s capital of Caracas and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">captured then-President Nicolás Maduro and his wife</a>, whom President Donald Trump's administration has accused of partnering with drug traffickers.Since that raid, officials in Trump’s Republican administration have said that they intend to continue to seize sanctioned vessels connected to the country.“We are enforcing American laws with regards to oil sanctions,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on NBC on Sunday. “We go to court. We get a warrant. We seize those boats with oil. And that will continue.”The U.S. military seized the Bella 1 and subsequently handed over control of it to law enforcement officials, said a U.S. official, who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.The ship was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.It was cruising across the Atlantic nearing the Caribbean on Dec. 15 when it abruptly turned and changed its heading north, toward Europe. The change in direction came days after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">the first U.S. tanker seizure</a>&nbsp;of a ship called the Skipper, on Dec. 10, after it had left Venezuela carrying a cargo of oil.The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean in December as it headed for Venezuela. The ship refused boarding and headed across the Atlantic. U.S. European Command confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro tracked the ship ahead of its seizure “pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court" in a social media post.During this time, the Bella 1 was renamed Marinera and flagged to Russia, shipping databases show. The U.S. official also confirmed that the ship’s crew had painted a Russian flag on the side of the hull.Earlier Wednesday, open-source maritime tracking sites showed its position as between Scotland and Iceland, traveling north. The U.S. official also confirmed the ship was in the North Atlantic.Flight tracking websites showed several U-28A U.S. special operations aircraft landing at Wick John O’Groats airport on the northern tip of Scotland, before flying further north toward Iceland on Wednesday. P8 Poseidon submarine-hunting aircraft and KC-135 refueling planes were also seen on tracking websites, heading to the area near the tanker.Russia’s Foreign Ministry said before the seizure that it was “following with concern the anomalous situation that has developed around the Russian oil tanker Marinera.”Immediately following news of the seizure, Russia’s Ministry of Transport confirmed the boarding in a statement and noted that "no state has the right to use force against vessels duly registered in the jurisdictions of other states,” citing the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.Maduro appeared in court this week in New York, where he protested his capture and pleaded not guilty to the federal drug trafficking charges the Trump administration used to justify removing him from power in Venezuela. Maduro’s lawyer said he expects to contest the legality of his “military abduction.”“I am here kidnapped since Jan. 3, Saturday,” Maduro said in Spanish in court on Monday. “I was captured at my home in Caracas.” ___Lawless reported from London. Associated Press writer Michael Biesecker in Washington, contributed to this report.

🎥 US seized Russian-flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela

By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/max-nesterak/">Max Nesterak</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/madisonmcvan/">Madison McVan</a> Minnesota Reformer

An ICE officer shot a woman driving an SUV through her car window in south Minneapolis on Wednesday morning. The person is dead, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security.&nbsp;

Video of the incident&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/K9CJY5p0xz4?si=zC_gkj-tiUR9CS-A" target="_blank">shared with the&nbsp;Reformer</a>&nbsp;shows masked ICE officers approach a Honda Pilot stopped in the middle of Portland Avenue near 34th Street. One officer tells the driver to “get out of the f*cking car” and tries to open the door. The driver then slowly backs up and then pulls forward. An officer at the front of the vehicle fires three shots and the SUV travels a short distance before crashing into a parked car.&nbsp;

The witness who took the video, Caitlin Callenson, said she was on a walk when she saw an ICE vehicle stuck in the snow. As more ICE vehicles arrived, bystanders blew whistles in protest, and the driver of the SUV tried to block the ICE vehicles.

Callenson said she did not see ICE agents attempting to detain anyone leading up to or after the shooting.&nbsp;

After the shots were fired, the driver was “then was completely slumped over in the vehicle,” said Emily Heller, another witness. Federal agents wouldn’t allow a man who said he is a physician to examine the driver, Heller said. Emergency medical technicians arrived 15 minutes later, she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/2008957179793998266?s=20" target="_blank">writing on X</a>, gave a different version of what happened: “One of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them — an act of domestic terrorism. An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dozens of federal agents from ICE and the FBI, as well as Minneapolis police officers and Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene&nbsp;

As some federal officers attempted to leave, protestors blocked their vehicle. The officers fired a noxious gas at close range, causing distress and vomiting for many demonstrators and journalists.&nbsp;

Protesters hurled insults at Minneapolis Police officers, who are not supposed to assist with immigration enforcement, but were on the scene Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

City Council members including Robin Wonsley and Jamal Osman addressed the crowd, saying the area was an active crime scene, and that MPD was present to investigate.&nbsp;

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty issued a statement soon after the shooting saying she is “pushing hard for a local investigation which is the only way to ensure full transparency and review by our office.”&nbsp;

U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, a St. Paul Democrat, called on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who filmed herself observing ICE actions in Minneapolis on Tuesday, to immediately stop the ICE operation “to restore order and prevent further injuries.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767816394023.png" alt=" The crashed SUV after an ICE agent shot the driver at point-blank range through the window. The driver died, according to the Department of Homeland Security. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)" />
 <figcaption> The crashed SUV after an ICE agent shot the driver at point-blank range through the window. The driver died, according to the Department of Homeland Security. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/max-nesterak/">Max Nesterak</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/madisonmcvan/">Madison McVan</a> Minnesota ReformerAn ICE officer shot a woman driving an SUV through her car window in south Minneapolis on Wednesday morning. The person is dead, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/MayorFrey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MayorFrey</a> on ICE-related shooting Minneapolis: &quot;They are already trying to spin this as an action of self-defense … that is bullshit. This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody dying … To ICE, get the fuck out of Minneapolis. We don&#39;t want you here.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/1ODkyyePYp">pic.twitter.com/1ODkyyePYp</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2008980629535220041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovTimWalz</a>: “We have been warning for weeks that the Trump administration&#39;s dangerous sensationalized operations are a threat to our public safety…To Minnesotans I say this: I feel your anger. I&#39;m angry…To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you have done enough.” <a href="https://t.co/IEEL8K9qq1">pic.twitter.com/IEEL8K9qq1</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2009006400589152618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Video of the incident&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/K9CJY5p0xz4?si=zC_gkj-tiUR9CS-A" target="_blank">shared with the&nbsp;Reformer</a>&nbsp;shows masked ICE officers approach a Honda Pilot stopped in the middle of Portland Avenue near 34th Street. One officer tells the driver to “get out of the f*cking car” and tries to open the door. The driver then slowly backs up and then pulls forward. An officer at the front of the vehicle fires three shots and the SUV travels a short distance before crashing into a parked car.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K9CJY5p0xz4?si=oveThoFUpbN5Kckn&amp;start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The witness who took the video, Caitlin Callenson, said she was on a walk when she saw an ICE vehicle stuck in the snow. As more ICE vehicles arrived, bystanders blew whistles in protest, and the driver of the SUV tried to block the ICE vehicles.Callenson said she did not see ICE agents attempting to detain anyone leading up to or after the shooting.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sec_Noem</a> on the ICE-involved shooting in Minnesota: &quot;It was an act of domestic terrorism … these vehicle rammings are domestic acts of terrorism. We&#39;re working with the Department of Justice to prosecute them as such.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7iPyRCEzvt">pic.twitter.com/7iPyRCEzvt</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2008972778616102998?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>After the shots were fired, the driver was “then was completely slumped over in the vehicle,” said Emily Heller, another witness. Federal agents wouldn’t allow a man who said he is a physician to examine the driver, Heller said. Emergency medical technicians arrived 15 minutes later, she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tricia McLaughlin, assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/TriciaOhio/status/2008957179793998266?s=20" target="_blank">writing on X</a>, gave a different version of what happened: “One of these violent rioters weaponized her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them — an act of domestic terrorism. An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Dozens of federal agents from ICE and the FBI, as well as Minneapolis police officers and Hennepin County sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene&nbsp;As some federal officers attempted to leave, protestors blocked their vehicle. The officers fired a noxious gas at close range, causing distress and vomiting for many demonstrators and journalists.&nbsp;Protests are ongoing.Protesters hurled insults at Minneapolis Police officers, who are not supposed to assist with immigration enforcement, but were on the scene Wednesday morning.&nbsp;City Council members including Robin Wonsley and Jamal Osman addressed the crowd, saying the area was an active crime scene, and that MPD was present to investigate.&nbsp;Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty issued a statement soon after the shooting saying she is “pushing hard for a local investigation which is the only way to ensure full transparency and review by our office.”&nbsp;U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, a St. Paul Democrat, called on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who filmed herself observing ICE actions in Minneapolis on Tuesday, to immediately stop the ICE operation “to restore order and prevent further injuries.”

ICE officer fatally shoots driver through SUV window in Minneapolis

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/claudia-ciobanu">CLAUDIA CIOBANU</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/stefanie-dazio">STEFANIE DAZIO</a> Associated Press

The White House said Tuesday that “U.S. military is always an option,” even as a series of European leaders rejected President Donald Trump’s comments about seeking an American takeover of the world’s largest island.

Trump has floated since his first term the idea of purchasing Greenland, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark. But, after this weekend’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-explosions-caracas-ca712a67aaefc30b1831f5bf0b50665e">U.S. military action in Venezuela</a>, he’s renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, citing strategic reasons.

“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”

That’s notable since Trump’s newly appointed special envoy to Greenland, as well as deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, had suggested that military action wouldn’t be necessary. And asked Tuesday if he felt comfortable taking military action in Greenland, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “No. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”

Leavitt’s comments also followed the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joining Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a statement reaffirming that the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island “belongs to its people.”

Their statement defended the sovereignty of Greenland, which is a self-governing territory of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.

“Greenland belongs to its people,” it said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed his support, and announced a visit to Greenland early next month by Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon, who is of Inuit descent, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

“The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark,” Carney said, standing next to Frederiksen at the Canadian Embassy in Paris.

Also Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who Trump appointed last month as U.S. special envoy to Greenland, said when it comes to making a deal with Greenland, he isn’t interested in talking to people in Denmark who “absolutely have made their position clear.”

Nor does Landry want to talk to European diplomats. Instead, he said, he wants to have conversations directly with residents of Greenland.

“I want to talk to people who want an opportunity to improve the quality of life in Greenland,” the Republican said on a Fox News radio show.

Landry said he has already exchanged emails with Greenlanders who had reached out to him.

“They tell me they like to hunt, they like to fish, they like to have a good time. I’m like, y’all belong in Louisiana. I’m gonna call it culinary diplomacy,” Landry quipped.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said Monday that Greenland should be part of the United States in spite of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-trump-2b12bb104faaaafda2ed270febfb0522">warning by Frederiksen</a>&nbsp;that a U.S. takeover would amount to the end of NATO.

“The president has been clear for months now that the United States should be the nation that has Greenland as part of our overall security apparatus,” Miller said during an interview with CNN on Monday.

The Danish leader, together with Greenland’s prime minister, has firmly rejected Trump’s renewed call for the island to come under U.S. control. Trump has argued the U.S. needs to control Greenland to ensure it security in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.

“It’s so strategic right now,” he told reporters Sunday.

“Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”

Miller wondered during his interview on Monday whether Denmark can assert control over Greenland. “What is the basis of their territorial claim,” Miller said. “What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?”

But he also said it wasn’t necessary to consider whether the U.S. administration was contemplating an armed intervention. “There is no need to even think or talk about this in the context that you are asking, of a military operation. Nobody is going to fight the U.S. militarily over the future of Greenland,” Miller said.

Greenland had been a colony of the Danish kingdom for hundreds of years, becoming an integral part in 1953. The U.S. government recognized Denmark’s right to the whole of Greenland at the beginning of the 20th century.

Legislation in 2009 that extended self-government to Greenland also recognized a right to independence under international law, an option favored by a majority of Greenlanders.

Greenland sits off the northeastern coast of Canada, with more than two-thirds of its territory lying within the Arctic Circle. That location has made it crucial to the defense of North America since World War II.

The U.S. Department of Defense operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. Constructed after a 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the U.S., the base supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.

Greenland also guards part of the GIUK Gap, named for the initials of Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom, where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.

Greenland has large deposits of rare earth minerals needed to make everything from computers and smartphones to the batteries, solar and wind technologies that will power a transition away from fossil fuels. The U.S. Geological Survey also has identified potential offshore deposits of oil and natural gas.

What started out as a social media post on Saturday by Miller’s wife over the weekend quickly turned into something that Denmark now perceives as a real threat.

Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster, posted an illustrated map of Greenland in the colors of the U.S. flag, accompanied by the caption: “SOON.”

Trump’s comments Sunday, including telling reporters “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” deepened fears that the U.S. was planning a Greenland intervention in the near future.

Frederiksen said Monday that Trump’s comments about Greenland “should be taken seriously.”

“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2. “That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen insisted on the need for good relations with the U.S. “We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation,” he said Monday night.

U.S. Reps. Steny H. Hoyer and Blake Moore, co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus, issued a joint statement Monday urging calm.

“Sabre-rattling about annexing Greenland is needlessly dangerous,” they said. “An attack on Greenland — a crucial part of that alliance — would tragically be an attack on NATO.”

“We already have access to everything we could need from Greenland,” the congressmen said, noting Denmark has previously given the U.S. a green light to deploy more forces or build additional missile defense infrastructure in Greenland.

Ulrik Pram Gad, a global security expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies, questioned Trump’s characterization of the Russian and Chinese presence in the region.

“There are indeed Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic, but these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars,” he wrote.

Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Will Weissert in Washington, Danica Kirka in London, Rob Gillies in Toronto and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736263389285.png" alt="The eldest son of President&nbsp;Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk arrived in Greenland in January 2025 for a private visit that heightened speculation that the incoming U.S. administration could seek to take control of the mineral-rich Danish territory that's home to a large U.S. military base.-image from Donald Trump Jr.'s social media page." />
 <figcaption>The eldest son of President&nbsp;Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk arrived in Greenland in January 2025 for a private visit that heightened speculation that the incoming U.S. administration could seek to take control of the mineral-rich Danish territory that's home to a large U.S. military base.-image from Donald Trump Jr.'s social media page.</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/claudia-ciobanu">CLAUDIA CIOBANU</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/stefanie-dazio">STEFANIE DAZIO</a> Associated PressThe White House said Tuesday that “U.S. military is always an option,” even as a series of European leaders rejected President Donald Trump’s comments about seeking an American takeover of the world’s largest island.Trump has floated since his first term the idea of purchasing Greenland, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark. But, after this weekend’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-explosions-caracas-ca712a67aaefc30b1831f5bf0b50665e">U.S. military action in Venezuela</a>, he’s renewed calls for the U.S. to take over Greenland, citing strategic reasons.“President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander in chief’s disposal.”That’s notable since Trump’s newly appointed special envoy to Greenland, as well as deputy White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, had suggested that military action wouldn’t be necessary. And asked Tuesday if he felt comfortable taking military action in Greenland, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “No. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”Leavitt’s comments also followed the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom joining Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in issuing a statement reaffirming that the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island “belongs to its people.”Their statement defended the sovereignty of Greenland, which is a self-governing territory of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.“Greenland belongs to its people,” it said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed his support, and announced a visit to Greenland early next month by Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon, who is of Inuit descent, and Foreign Minister Anita Anand.“The future of Greenland and Denmark are decided solely by the people of Denmark,” Carney said, standing next to Frederiksen at the Canadian Embassy in Paris.Also Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who Trump appointed last month as U.S. special envoy to Greenland, said when it comes to making a deal with Greenland, he isn’t interested in talking to people in Denmark who “absolutely have made their position clear.”Nor does Landry want to talk to European diplomats. Instead, he said, he wants to have conversations directly with residents of Greenland.“I want to talk to people who want an opportunity to improve the quality of life in Greenland,” the Republican said on a Fox News radio show.Landry said he has already exchanged emails with Greenlanders who had reached out to him.“They tell me they like to hunt, they like to fish, they like to have a good time. I’m like, y’all belong in Louisiana. I’m gonna call it culinary diplomacy,” Landry quipped.<h2>White House doesn’t budge</h2>Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, said Monday that Greenland should be part of the United States in spite of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-trump-2b12bb104faaaafda2ed270febfb0522">warning by Frederiksen</a>&nbsp;that a U.S. takeover would amount to the end of NATO.“The president has been clear for months now that the United States should be the nation that has Greenland as part of our overall security apparatus,” Miller said during an interview with CNN on Monday.The Danish leader, together with Greenland’s prime minister, has firmly rejected Trump’s renewed call for the island to come under U.S. control. Trump has argued the U.S. needs to control Greenland to ensure it security in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic.“It’s so strategic right now,” he told reporters Sunday.“Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,” Trump said. “We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security, and Denmark is not going to be able to do it.”Miller wondered during his interview on Monday whether Denmark can assert control over Greenland. “What is the basis of their territorial claim,” Miller said. “What is their basis of having Greenland as a colony of Denmark?”But he also said it wasn’t necessary to consider whether the U.S. administration was contemplating an armed intervention. “There is no need to even think or talk about this in the context that you are asking, of a military operation. Nobody is going to fight the U.S. militarily over the future of Greenland,” Miller said.<h2>Greenland holds strategic importance</h2>Greenland had been a colony of the Danish kingdom for hundreds of years, becoming an integral part in 1953. The U.S. government recognized Denmark’s right to the whole of Greenland at the beginning of the 20th century.Legislation in 2009 that extended self-government to Greenland also recognized a right to independence under international law, an option favored by a majority of Greenlanders.Greenland sits off the northeastern coast of Canada, with more than two-thirds of its territory lying within the Arctic Circle. That location has made it crucial to the defense of North America since World War II.The U.S. Department of Defense operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland. Constructed after a 1951 defense agreement between Denmark and the U.S., the base supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.Greenland also guards part of the GIUK Gap, named for the initials of Greenland, Iceland and the United Kingdom, where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.Greenland has large deposits of rare earth minerals needed to make everything from computers and smartphones to the batteries, solar and wind technologies that will power a transition away from fossil fuels. The U.S. Geological Survey also has identified potential offshore deposits of oil and natural gas.<h2>Dispute creates major anxiety</h2>What started out as a social media post on Saturday by Miller’s wife over the weekend quickly turned into something that Denmark now perceives as a real threat.Katie Miller, a former Trump administration official turned podcaster, posted an illustrated map of Greenland in the colors of the U.S. flag, accompanied by the caption: “SOON.”Trump’s comments Sunday, including telling reporters “let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days,” deepened fears that the U.S. was planning a Greenland intervention in the near future.Frederiksen said Monday that Trump’s comments about Greenland “should be taken seriously.”“If the United States chooses to attack another NATO country militarily, then everything stops,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV2. “That is, including our NATO and thus the security that has been provided since the end of the Second World War.”Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen insisted on the need for good relations with the U.S. “We are not in a situation where we think that there might be a takeover of the country overnight and that is why we are insisting that we want good cooperation,” he said Monday night.U.S. Reps. Steny H. Hoyer and Blake Moore, co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Friends of Denmark Caucus, issued a joint statement Monday urging calm.“Sabre-rattling about annexing Greenland is needlessly dangerous,” they said. “An attack on Greenland — a crucial part of that alliance — would tragically be an attack on NATO.”“We already have access to everything we could need from Greenland,” the congressmen said, noting Denmark has previously given the U.S. a green light to deploy more forces or build additional missile defense infrastructure in Greenland.Ulrik Pram Gad, a global security expert at the Danish Institute for International Studies, questioned Trump’s characterization of the Russian and Chinese presence in the region.“There are indeed Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic, but these vessels are too far away to see from Greenland with or without binoculars,” he wrote.___Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Will Weissert in Washington, Danica Kirka in London, Rob Gillies in Toronto and Sara Cline in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, contributed to this report.__

Why President Trump says the US 'needs' to control Greenland 

TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Tuesday announced his office filed election crimes charges against Jose Luis Gomez, Sr. of Hutchinson, according to a media release from the attorney's general's office.

Officials from Kobach's office filed the charges in Reno County. Gomez faces one count of voting without being qualified and two counts of election perjury. The charges are nonperson felonies.

Gomez is a convicted felon and is currently in custody in Oklahoma pending deportation, following federal immigration proceedings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Voting by noncitizens, including both legal and illegal aliens, is a very real problem.&nbsp;Every time a noncitizen votes, it cancels out a U.S. citizen’s vote. Unfortunately, there are likely to be more cases as we continue to discover these cases," Kobach said. "The claim that the ACLU has been making for years, namely, that this sort of illegal voting by aliens does not occur, is once again proven false. It's time to stop believing their lies."

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab referred the case to Kobach’s office. The Secretary of State’s office is utilizing the SAVE program to identify Kansas electors who are not U.S. citizens.&nbsp;

Prior to election as attorney general, Kobach served two terms as secretary of state. During that time, Kobach led the charge to stop noncitizens from illegally voting in Kansas elections. Eight states, including Kansas, have passed laws requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in at least some cases, but the laws have only been implemented in four of those states, including Arizona, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wyoming. A federal court struck down the Kansas proof-of-citizenship law in 2018.

Kobach remains committed to ensuring that only qualified electors cast votes in Kansas elections.

Special Agent in Charge Matt Simpson of Kobach’s office investigated the case. First Assistant Attorney General Stacy Edwards is prosecuting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747840530130.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Tuesday announced his office filed election crimes charges against Jose Luis Gomez, Sr. of Hutchinson, according to a media release from the attorney's general's office.Officials from Kobach's office filed the charges in Reno County. Gomez faces one count of voting without being qualified and two counts of election perjury. The charges are nonperson felonies.Gomez is a convicted felon and is currently in custody in Oklahoma pending deportation, following federal immigration proceedings.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Voting by noncitizens, including both legal and illegal aliens, is a very real problem.&nbsp;Every time a noncitizen votes, it cancels out a U.S. citizen’s vote. Unfortunately, there are likely to be more cases as we continue to discover these cases," Kobach said. "The claim that the ACLU has been making for years, namely, that this sort of illegal voting by aliens does not occur, is once again proven false. It's time to stop believing their lies."Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab referred the case to Kobach’s office. The Secretary of State’s office is utilizing the SAVE program to identify Kansas electors who are not U.S. citizens.&nbsp;Prior to election as attorney general, Kobach served two terms as secretary of state. During that time, Kobach led the charge to stop noncitizens from illegally voting in Kansas elections. Eight states, including Kansas, have passed laws requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in at least some cases, but the laws have only been implemented in four of those states, including Arizona, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wyoming. A federal court struck down the Kansas proof-of-citizenship law in 2018.Kobach remains committed to ensuring that only qualified electors cast votes in Kansas elections.Special Agent in Charge Matt Simpson of Kobach’s office investigated the case. First Assistant Attorney General Stacy Edwards is prosecuting.

Kansas felon faces election crimes charges 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a shooting&nbsp; in Wichita continue asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;16-year-old Cesar Govea, according to a statement from Wichita Police.

Govea is wanted in connection with a shooting on August 24, that injured his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend and a 17-year-old boy. The victims were inside a vehicle near Wichita and Waterwalk when Govea opened fire.

Govea is considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach him.

If you know his whereabouts, do not approach him and call 911 immediately. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756165563203.png" alt="Govea photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Govea photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a shooting&nbsp; in Wichita continue asking the public for help to locate&nbsp;16-year-old Cesar Govea, according to a statement from Wichita Police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762395883189.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Govea is wanted in connection with a shooting on August 24, that injured his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend and a 17-year-old boy. The victims were inside a vehicle near Wichita and Waterwalk when Govea opened fire.Govea is considered armed and dangerous. Do not approach him.If you know his whereabouts, do not approach him and call 911 immediately. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Kan. teen accused of shooting ex-girlfriend is still at large

KANSAS CITY —A driver injured in a crash that occurred just after 5p.m. December 28, in Kansas City, Missouri has died.

A black Kia was eastbound on MLK Boulevard from Rockhill Road at an excessive speed, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

 The driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck a retaining wall at the Stowers Institute. EMS transported the driver was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. 

On Tuesday, KCPD Offier Alayna Gonzalez reported the driver died, according to the Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office. EMS transported the passenger from the vehicle to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —A driver injured in a crash that occurred just after 5p.m. December 28, in Kansas City, Missouri has died.A black Kia was eastbound on MLK Boulevard from Rockhill Road at an excessive speed, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. The driver lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle traveled off the roadway and struck a retaining wall at the Stowers Institute. EMS transported the driver was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. On Tuesday, KCPD Offier Alayna Gonzalez reported the driver died, according to the Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office. EMS transported the passenger from the vehicle to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp;

KCPD: Driver injured after crash into retaining wall has died

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/regina-garcia-cano">REGINA GARCIA CANO</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/megan-janetsky">MEGAN JANETSKY</a>

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that Venezuela would be providing 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., and he pledged to use proceeds from the sale of this oil “to benefit the people” of both countries.

The White House is organizing a meeting Friday with U.S. oil company executives to discuss Venezuela, which the Trump administration has been pressuring to open its vast-but-struggling oil industry more widely to American investment and know-how. Representatives of Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are expected to attend the White House meeting, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the plans.

Earlier Tuesday, officials in Caracas announced that at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night U.S. military operation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">capture Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;and spirit him to the United States to face drug charges. And the country’s acting president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">Delcy Rodriguez,</a>&nbsp;pushed back on Trump, who earlier this week warned she’d face an outcome worse than Maduro’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-american-imperialism-1a42ccc7036ce7add7a0ba402ac6f48e">if she does not “do what’s right”</a>&nbsp;and overhaul Venezuela into a country that aligns with U.S. interests, including by granting access to American energy companies.

Rodriguez, delivering an address Tuesday before government agricultural and industrial sector officials, said, “Personally, to those who threaten me: My destiny is not determined by them, but by God.”

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said overall “dozens” of officers and civilians were killed in the weekend strike in Caracas and said prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as a “war crime.” He didn’t specify if the estimate was specifically referring to Venezuelans.

In addition to the Venezuelan security officials, Cuba’s government had previously confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-us-venezuela-maduro-e66899b41f0b84cf83f77a69d399b486">were killed in the raid</a>. The Cuban government says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cubans-killed-venezuela-strike-us-oas-a8d8fcbe3e825979c5d3171f9b076a85">the personnel killed</a>&nbsp;belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, the country’s two main security agencies.

Seven U.S. service members were also injured in the raid, according to the Pentagon. Five have already returned to duty, while two are still recovering from their injuries. The injuries included gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment on the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A video tribute to the slain Venezuelan security officials posted to the military’s Instagram account features faces of the fallen over black-and-white videos of soldiers, American aircraft flying over Caracas and armored vehicles destroyed by the blasts. Meanwhile, the streets of Caracas, deserted for days following Maduro’s capture, briefly filled with masses of people waving Venezuelan flags and bouncing to patriotic music at a state-organized display of support for the government.

“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength,” the military wrote in an Instagram post. “It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President, completely dismantle the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensure that events such as these never again sully our sovereign soil.”

Questions about the future of Venezuelan oil

With oil trading at roughly $56 a barrel, the transaction Trump announced late Tuesday could be worth as much as $2.8 billion. The U.S. goes through an average of roughly 20 million barrels a day of oil and related products, so Venezuela’s transfer would be the equivalent of as much as two and a half days of supply, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Despite Venezuela having the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, it only produces on average about one million barrels day, significantly below the U.S. average daily production of 13.9 million barrels a day during October.

The press office for Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s announcement.

ExxonMobil is developing a mammoth offshore oil deposit in the waters off Guyana, Venezuela’s neighbor to the east. The company’s major oil discovery in 2015 prompted Venezuela to revive a century-old territorial dispute with Guyana and take steps to annex the remote region known as Essequibo, which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana’s land mass.

The development has also led to wide-ranging accusations from Venezuela’s government, including Rodríguez, against Guyana’s leaders and ExxonMobil. Two years ago, Venezuelan lawmakers even considered banning any future operation in Venezuela of oil companies working in Guyana.

Earlier Tuesday, Trump pushed back against Democratic criticism of this weekend’s military operation, noting that his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden had also called for the arrest of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Venezuelan leader</a>&nbsp;on drug trafficking charges.

Trump in remarks before a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-house-republicans-meeting-kennedy-center-ad8705ea228a8a4591567fb51f87edb3">House Republican retreat</a>&nbsp;in Washington grumbled that Democrats were not giving him credit for a successful military operation, even though there was bipartisan agreement that Maduro was not the rightful president of Venezuela.

In 2020, Maduro was indicted in the United States, accused in a decades-long narco-terrorism and international cocaine trafficking conspiracy. White House officials have noted that Biden’s administration in his final days in office last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">raised the award</a>&nbsp;for information leading to Maduro’s arrest after he assumed a third term in office despite evidence suggesting that he lost Venezuela’s most recent election. The Trump administration doubled the award to $50 million in August.

“You know, at some point, they should say, ‘You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?” Trump said. “I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different. But if they did a good job, I’d be happy for the country. They’ve been after this guy for years and years and years.”

Americans are split about the capture of Maduro — with many still forming opinions —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-venezuela-trump-foreign-policy-15c94665b41312f5613772726d710905">according to a poll</a>&nbsp;conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS using text messages over the weekend. About 4 in 10 approved of the U.S. military being sent to capture Maduro, while roughly the same share were opposed. About 2 in 10 were unsure.

Nearly half of Americans, 45%, were opposed to the U.S. taking control of Venezuela and choosing a new government for the country. About 9 in 10 Americans said the Venezuelan people should be the ones to decide the future leadership of their country.

Maduro&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-venezuela-trump-criminal-case-131f59e517cc8314a53c8dace230d328">pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges</a>&nbsp;in a U.S. courtroom on Monday. U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife early Saturday in a raid on a compound where they were surrounded by Cuban guards.

In the days since Maduro’s ouster, Trump and top administration officials have raised anxiety around the globe that the operation could mark the beginning of a more expansionist U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. The president in recent days has renewed his calls for an American takeover of the Danish territory of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/greenland">Greenland</a>&nbsp;for the sake of U.S. security interests and threatened military action on Colombia for facilitating the global sale of cocaine, while his top diplomat declared the communist government in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/cuba">Cuba</a>&nbsp;is “in a lot of trouble.”

Colombia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Rosa Villavicencio said Tuesday she’ll meet with the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires in Bogota to present him with a formal complaint over the recent threats issued by the United States.

On Sunday, Trump said he wasn’t ruling out an attack on Colombia and described its president, who’s been an outspoken critic of the U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela, as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”

Villavicencio said she’s hoping to strengthen relations with the United States and improve cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.

“It is necessary for the Trump administration to know in more detail about all that we are doing in the fight against drug trafficking,” she said.

Meanwhile, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom on Tuesday joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-european-union-greenland-denmark-c5995b27ac8aee84d0064991c86d633e">defending Greenland’s sovereignty.</a>&nbsp;The island is a self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.

“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

Madhani reported from Washington and Janetsky from Mexico City. AP writers Josh Boak, Konstantin Toropin, Sagar Meghani, Isabel DeBre, Linley Sanders and Manuel Rueda contributed reporting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767660848489.png" alt="google image" />
 <figcaption>google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/regina-garcia-cano">REGINA GARCIA CANO</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/megan-janetsky">MEGAN JANETSKY</a>CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that Venezuela would be providing 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to the U.S., and he pledged to use proceeds from the sale of this oil “to benefit the people” of both countries.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 President Donald J. Trump announces Interim Authorities in Venezuela will be turning over between 30 and 50 MILLION Barrels of High Quality, Sanctioned Oil, to the United States of America. <a href="https://t.co/08qI7MvCpk">pic.twitter.com/08qI7MvCpk</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2008691566131769746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House is organizing a meeting Friday with U.S. oil company executives to discuss Venezuela, which the Trump administration has been pressuring to open its vast-but-struggling oil industry more widely to American investment and know-how. Representatives of Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips are expected to attend the White House meeting, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the plans.Earlier Tuesday, officials in Caracas announced that at least 24 Venezuelan security officers were killed in the dead-of-night U.S. military operation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">capture Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;and spirit him to the United States to face drug charges. And the country’s acting president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">Delcy Rodriguez,</a>&nbsp;pushed back on Trump, who earlier this week warned she’d face an outcome worse than Maduro’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-american-imperialism-1a42ccc7036ce7add7a0ba402ac6f48e">if she does not “do what’s right”</a>&nbsp;and overhaul Venezuela into a country that aligns with U.S. interests, including by granting access to American energy companies.Rodriguez, delivering an address Tuesday before government agricultural and industrial sector officials, said, “Personally, to those who threaten me: My destiny is not determined by them, but by God.”Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said overall “dozens” of officers and civilians were killed in the weekend strike in Caracas and said prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as a “war crime.” He didn’t specify if the estimate was specifically referring to Venezuelans.In addition to the Venezuelan security officials, Cuba’s government had previously confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cuba-us-venezuela-maduro-e66899b41f0b84cf83f77a69d399b486">were killed in the raid</a>. The Cuban government says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cubans-killed-venezuela-strike-us-oas-a8d8fcbe3e825979c5d3171f9b076a85">the personnel killed</a>&nbsp;belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, the country’s two main security agencies.Seven U.S. service members were also injured in the raid, according to the Pentagon. Five have already returned to duty, while two are still recovering from their injuries. The injuries included gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment on the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.A video tribute to the slain Venezuelan security officials posted to the military’s Instagram account features faces of the fallen over black-and-white videos of soldiers, American aircraft flying over Caracas and armored vehicles destroyed by the blasts. Meanwhile, the streets of Caracas, deserted for days following Maduro’s capture, briefly filled with masses of people waving Venezuelan flags and bouncing to patriotic music at a state-organized display of support for the government.“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength,” the military wrote in an Instagram post. “It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President, completely dismantle the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensure that events such as these never again sully our sovereign soil.”<h2>Questions about the future of Venezuelan oil</h2>With oil trading at roughly $56 a barrel, the transaction Trump announced late Tuesday could be worth as much as $2.8 billion. The U.S. goes through an average of roughly 20 million barrels a day of oil and related products, so Venezuela’s transfer would be the equivalent of as much as two and a half days of supply, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Despite Venezuela having the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, it only produces on average about one million barrels day, significantly below the U.S. average daily production of 13.9 million barrels a day during October.The press office for Venezuela’s government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s announcement.ExxonMobil is developing a mammoth offshore oil deposit in the waters off Guyana, Venezuela’s neighbor to the east. The company’s major oil discovery in 2015 prompted Venezuela to revive a century-old territorial dispute with Guyana and take steps to annex the remote region known as Essequibo, which comprises about two-thirds of Guyana’s land mass.The development has also led to wide-ranging accusations from Venezuela’s government, including Rodríguez, against Guyana’s leaders and ExxonMobil. Two years ago, Venezuelan lawmakers even considered banning any future operation in Venezuela of oil companies working in Guyana.Earlier Tuesday, Trump pushed back against Democratic criticism of this weekend’s military operation, noting that his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden had also called for the arrest of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Venezuelan leader</a>&nbsp;on drug trafficking charges.Trump in remarks before a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-house-republicans-meeting-kennedy-center-ad8705ea228a8a4591567fb51f87edb3">House Republican retreat</a>&nbsp;in Washington grumbled that Democrats were not giving him credit for a successful military operation, even though there was bipartisan agreement that Maduro was not the rightful president of Venezuela.In 2020, Maduro was indicted in the United States, accused in a decades-long narco-terrorism and international cocaine trafficking conspiracy. White House officials have noted that Biden’s administration in his final days in office last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-fbi-bondi-justice-department-0e618369ca68b79b1a2143a95955344a">raised the award</a>&nbsp;for information leading to Maduro’s arrest after he assumed a third term in office despite evidence suggesting that he lost Venezuela’s most recent election. The Trump administration doubled the award to $50 million in August.“You know, at some point, they should say, ‘You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?” Trump said. “I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different. But if they did a good job, I’d be happy for the country. They’ve been after this guy for years and years and years.”<h2>What US opinion polls show</h2>Americans are split about the capture of Maduro — with many still forming opinions —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-venezuela-trump-foreign-policy-15c94665b41312f5613772726d710905">according to a poll</a>&nbsp;conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS using text messages over the weekend. About 4 in 10 approved of the U.S. military being sent to capture Maduro, while roughly the same share were opposed. About 2 in 10 were unsure.Nearly half of Americans, 45%, were opposed to the U.S. taking control of Venezuela and choosing a new government for the country. About 9 in 10 Americans said the Venezuelan people should be the ones to decide the future leadership of their country.Maduro&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-venezuela-trump-criminal-case-131f59e517cc8314a53c8dace230d328">pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges</a>&nbsp;in a U.S. courtroom on Monday. U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife early Saturday in a raid on a compound where they were surrounded by Cuban guards.In the days since Maduro’s ouster, Trump and top administration officials have raised anxiety around the globe that the operation could mark the beginning of a more expansionist U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. The president in recent days has renewed his calls for an American takeover of the Danish territory of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/greenland">Greenland</a>&nbsp;for the sake of U.S. security interests and threatened military action on Colombia for facilitating the global sale of cocaine, while his top diplomat declared the communist government in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/cuba">Cuba</a>&nbsp;is “in a lot of trouble.”<h2>Colombia responds to Trump</h2>Colombia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Rosa Villavicencio said Tuesday she’ll meet with the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires in Bogota to present him with a formal complaint over the recent threats issued by the United States.On Sunday, Trump said he wasn’t ruling out an attack on Colombia and described its president, who’s been an outspoken critic of the U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela, as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”Villavicencio said she’s hoping to strengthen relations with the United States and improve cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.“It is necessary for the Trump administration to know in more detail about all that we are doing in the fight against drug trafficking,” she said.Meanwhile, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom on Tuesday joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-european-union-greenland-denmark-c5995b27ac8aee84d0064991c86d633e">defending Greenland’s sovereignty.</a>&nbsp;The island is a self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”—Madhani reported from Washington and Janetsky from Mexico City. AP writers Josh Boak, Konstantin Toropin, Sagar Meghani, Isabel DeBre, Linley Sanders and Manuel Rueda contributed reporting.

Trump: US to get up to 50 million barrels of oil from Venezuela

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka.

Just after 2p.m. January 3, police responded to the 800 block of SW Tyler for a possible shooting. EMS transported one victim identified as 43-year-old Stella M. Mahkuk of Topeka to an area hospital for treatment of potentially life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; On Tuesday police reported she died of her injuries.

Police have not reported an arrest of any additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767483631260.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka.Just after 2p.m. January 3, police responded to the 800 block of SW Tyler for a possible shooting. EMS transported one victim identified as 43-year-old Stella M. Mahkuk of Topeka to an area hospital for treatment of potentially life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; On Tuesday police reported she died of her injuries.Police have not reported an arrest of any additional details.

Police: Kansas woman wounded in shooting died of her injuries

DOUGLAS COUNTY–&nbsp; A man who broke into City Hall in Lawrence early Monday and was fatally shot by a city employee has been identified as&nbsp;28-year-old Omar Dominguez Gavilan from Buffalo, Minnesota, according to Lawrence Police spokesperson Laura McCabe.

Investigators learned that Gavilan was traveling through Kansas on a Greyhound bus. Early Sunday evening he was at Lawrence’s Kansas Turnpike Authority service station on I-70, just east of town. The Kansas Highway Patrol was called to remove him from the service station area due to erratic behavior. KHP transported Gavilan to the Amtrak station in Lawrence.&nbsp; Police did not have contact with Gavilan Sunday evening nor into the morning hours on Monday.

Just before 8a.m. Monday, Gavilan entered the City Hall building through a locked back door, proceeded up a stairwell to the 4th&nbsp;floor where he broke out a window within another secure door to enter the office area.&nbsp; Employees encountered Gavilan along his route and notified authorities that an intruder was in the building and attempted to find a safe area for themselves.&nbsp; An on-duty court security officer ultimately approached the man, announced his authority, and asked him to put his hands behind his back.&nbsp; 

Gavilan did not comply and began fighting the security officer.&nbsp;Details of the physical fight that followed will not be released until the investigation is complete because detectives are still interviewing those involved and police don’t want to influence any witness accounts.&nbsp;Within seconds of the shots being fired, Lawrence police officers were on-scene and began rendering aid to Gavilan along with the initial security officer and a second security officer who had arrived at the scene. Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical quickly arrived, took over his care, then pronounced him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767634150642.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY–&nbsp; A man who broke into City Hall in Lawrence early Monday and was fatally shot by a city employee has been identified as&nbsp;28-year-old Omar Dominguez Gavilan from Buffalo, Minnesota, according to Lawrence Police spokesperson Laura McCabe.Investigators learned that Gavilan was traveling through Kansas on a Greyhound bus. Early Sunday evening he was at Lawrence’s Kansas Turnpike Authority service station on I-70, just east of town. The Kansas Highway Patrol was called to remove him from the service station area due to erratic behavior. KHP transported Gavilan to the Amtrak station in Lawrence.&nbsp; Police did not have contact with Gavilan Sunday evening nor into the morning hours on Monday.Just before 8a.m. Monday, Gavilan entered the City Hall building through a locked back door, proceeded up a stairwell to the 4th&nbsp;floor where he broke out a window within another secure door to enter the office area.&nbsp; Employees encountered Gavilan along his route and notified authorities that an intruder was in the building and attempted to find a safe area for themselves.&nbsp; An on-duty court security officer ultimately approached the man, announced his authority, and asked him to put his hands behind his back.&nbsp; Gavilan did not comply and began fighting the security officer.&nbsp;Details of the physical fight that followed will not be released until the investigation is complete because detectives are still interviewing those involved and police don’t want to influence any witness accounts.&nbsp;Within seconds of the shots being fired, Lawrence police officers were on-scene and began rendering aid to Gavilan along with the initial security officer and a second security officer who had arrived at the scene. Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical quickly arrived, took over his care, then pronounced him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Detectives in the Lawrence Police Investigations Unit expect to have a full report of the events sent to&nbsp;the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office for review within 2-3 weeks.&nbsp; During this time, the City employee is on administrative leave, which is standard.