TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The 20-year-old son of a sheriff’s deputy opened fire Thursday at Florida State University with his mother’s former service weapon, killing two people and wounding at least six others, investigators said.

Officers quickly arrived and shot and wounded the shooter after he refused to comply with commands, said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell.

Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, which began around lunch time just outside the student union, sending students and frightened parents hiding for cover in a bowling alley and a freight elevator inside the building.

The shooter, identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, is believed to be a Florida State student, investigators said.

He had obtained access to a weapon that belongs to his mother, who has been with the sheriff’s office for over 18 years, said Walt McNeil, Sheriff of Leon County. Police said they believed Ikner shot the victims using his mother's former service handgun.

The two people who died were not students at the university, said Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower, adding that he would not release additional information about the victims.

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital confirmed it was treating six patients wounded from in the shooting, one in critical condition.

Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus just west of Florida's capital after the university issued an active shooter alert Thursday.

Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the union's lower level after seeing students running from a nearby bar.

“In that moment, it was survival,” he said.

Chris Pento said he and his twins were getting lunch at the student union during a campus tour when they heard gunshots. “It was surreal. And people just started running,” he told WCTV in Tallahassee.

They crammed into a service elevator after encountering locked doors at the end of a hallway. “That was probably the scariest point because we didn’t know. It could get worse, right?” he said. “The doors opened and two officers were there, guns drawn.”

Dozens of patrol vehicles, including a forensics van, were parked outside the student union hours after the shooting. Officers blocked off the area with crime scene tape.

Students and staff who left behind phones, keys and other items in the rush to evacuate waited in the shade and prayed for the victims.

President Donald Trump said from the Oval Office that he had been fully briefed on the shooting. “It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place,” he said.

After receiving warnings of an active shooter, students and faculty took cover and waited in classrooms, offices and dorms across campus.

The first thing you think of is just, ‘This can’t be true,’ right?” said Kai McGalla, a sophomore who spoke by phone while locked down at a campus testing center.

Junior Joshua Sirmans, 20, was in the main library when alarms went off. Law enforcement officers escorted him and other students from the library with their hands over their heads, he said.

Florida State University is one of Florida’s 12 public universities, with its main campus in Tallahassee. About 44,000 students are enrolled in the university, per the school’s 2024 fact sheet.

In 2014, the main library was the site of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1be5cc23a6bf497baaf76e3928145c8e">shooting that wounded three people</a>. Officers shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May.

The university canceled all classes and events for Thursday. It also canceled home athletic events through Sunday.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A gunman opened fire Thursday at Florida State University, killing two people and wounded at least five others, police said. The 20-year-old gunman was the son of a sheriff’s deputy whose former service weapon was used in the shooting, authorities said.

The two people who died were not students at the university, but the shooter is believed to be a student, Florida State University Police Chief Jason Trumbower.

Five people were being treated at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital, Trumbower said, and the shooter was also receiving medical attention.

Students and frightened parents hid in a bowling alley and crammed into a freight elevator inside the student union after hearing gunshots outside the building.

Ambulances, fire trucks and patrol vehicles from multiple law enforcement agencies raced toward the campus just west of Florida's capital after the university issued an active shooter alert midday Thursday, saying police were responding near the student union.

After about 15 minutes, university police escorted the students out of the building and he saw a person getting emergency treatment on the lawn, he said.

Chris Pento told WCTV in Tallahassee that he and his twins were getting lunch at the student union during a campus tour when they heard gunshots.

“It was surreal. And people just started running,” he told the TV station.

They packed into a service elevator after encountering locked doors at the end of a hallway. “That was probably the scariest point because we didn’t know. It could get worse, right?” he said. “The doors opened and two officers were there, guns drawn.”

Florida State’s alert system announced about three hours after the shooting that law enforcement had "neutralized the threat." Officials asked students and faculty to avoid the student union and other areas still considered an active crime scene.

Dozens of patrol vehicles, including a forensics van, were parked outside the student union. Officers blocked off the area with crime scene tape.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Multiple victims were reported in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooter-alert-bf66a24ea91959697c7138089b2ef6fb">a shooting Thursday at Florida State University</a>&nbsp;and a suspect was taken into police custody, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The extent of the victims’ injuries was not immediately known and there were no additional details about the person who was in custody.

The person was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-shooting-what-to-know-d444a6ee8f31024f83f0ee320acf7339">Police and FBI were on scene at the university.</a>

Florida State University is canceling classes through Friday, which is two weeks before the university’s scheduled commencement ceremony for graduates on May 2 to 3.

The university’s official finals week per its academic calendar are scheduled to start April 28.

FSU’s alert system announced shortly after 3 p.m. that law enforcement had “neutralized the threat."

Officials are asking students and faculty to avoid the Student Union and several other areas that are still considered an active crime scene. People are otherwise free to move about the campus.

Jake Nair, a senior at Florida State University, was studying in the library when a police officer dashed out of the building, yelling for everyone to stay in place.

“He ran outside with his gun out,” Nair said. “Not all the students heard him, and some of them ran out the back of the library.”

Nair said an alarm in the library then went off and a recorded message warned students to shelter in place because of an active shooter on campus.

Then about five officers came into the library and escorted the students out with their hands up.

“I think they just wanted to make sure none of us had a weapon on us,” Nair said. “To be honest, it was a bit of a surreal moment. It’s the kind of thing you only see on the news.”

The county medical examiner’s office has no updates at this time

An office employee for the Leon County Medical Examiner’s office declined to release information on whether any deaths had been reported to their office at this time, noting that the investigation is still ongoing.

For some Florida State University faculty and staffers who have been on campus for the past dozen years, Thursday’s events brought back memories of another shooting at the school’s main library more than a decade ago.

Three people in 2014 were shot just outside and inside the entrance of Strozier Library in the middle of FSU’s campus. Officers who arrived within two minutes of the first call shot and killed the gunman, 31-year-old Myron May.

Three bullets struck 21-year-old student Farhan “Ronny” Ahmed, including a shot that severely damaged his spine and left him paralyzed from the waist down. The other two victims were library employee Nathan Scott who was shot in the leg and later released from the hospital and a student who was grazed by a bullet.

May, a 2005 FSU graduate and an attorney, reloaded at least once and tried to enter the library, but was blocked by lobby security barriers. Police responded and fired off a barrage of bullets that killed him.

Videos and a journal obtained by police indicate May thought he was being watched and targeted by the government.

Nearby Florida A&amp;M University cancels classes

Florida A&amp;M University, a university minutes away from Florida State University in Tallahassee,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/FAMU_1887/status/1912936344105410841">announced Thursday afternoon</a>&nbsp;that classes and student activities are canceled for the rest of the day, in response to the shooting.

Employees have the option to work remotely for the rest of the day.

‘We didn’t know — it could get worse, right?’

Chris Pento told Tallahassee TV station WCTV that he was on campus Thursday for a tour with his twins and that they were inside the student union getting lunch when they heard gunshots.

Pento said he and several others crammed into a service elevator after first encountering locked doors at the end of a hallway.

“That was probably the scariest point because we didn’t know — it could get worse, right?” he said. “The doors opened, and two officers were there, guns drawn.”

He said the officers asked if they’d seen anything and then pointed them to safety.

Kai McGalla, an FSU sophomore studying finance and Spanish, was taking a test on Excel spreadsheets at a testing center on campus when he started to hear sirens headed to the student union about a 20-minute walk away. The test proctor told them they were being locked down at the center because of the shooting.

“I’m in shock, you know, it’s so hard to believe,” McGalla said by phone while still locked down at the testing center. “The first thing you think of is just, ‘This can’t be true,’ right?”

Florida State cancels all home athletic events through Sunday

The canceled events include three baseball and three softball games.

It’s not immediately clear if FSU teams scheduled for road events will also see their games canceled or postponed.

Ryan Cedergren, a 21-year-old communications student, said he and about 30 others hid in the bowling alley in the lower level of the student union after seeing students running from a nearby bar.

“In that moment, it was survival,” Cedergren said.

After about 15 minutes of hiding, university police escorted the students out of the union, and Cedergren said he saw a person receiving emergency treatment on the lawn.

The president opened his Oval Office meeting with the Italian prime minister with comments on the shooting at Florida State University.

Trump said he had been “fully briefed.”

“It’s a horrible thing. It’s horrible that things like this take place,” he said.

Florida State University is one of Florida’s 12 public universities, with its main campus located in Tallahassee, where the shooting occurred, just minutes from the state Capitol building. About 44,300 students are enrolled in the university, per the school’s 2024 fact sheet.

At least six people have been hospitalized

One person is in critical condition, a spokesperson for Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said. The other patients are in serious condition, the spokesperson said.

A suspect has been taken into police custody

Florida State gunman used deputy mom's former service weapon to kill 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 38-year-old Terry Jones, according to KCPD Officer Phil DiMartino.

Just after 3:30a.m. April 14, East Patrol officers were dispatched to a shooting in the area of Independence Avenue and Lawndale Avenue, according to KCPD officer&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders located Jones on a sidewalk suffering from apparent gunshot trauma and unresponsive. EMS responded to the scene and declared him deceased.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a vehicle may have been driving through the area and began firing shots, ultimately striking Jones.&nbsp; Police have not identified&nbsp; a suspect vehicle or a person of interest in the killing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744899464654.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 38-year-old Terry Jones, according to KCPD Officer Phil DiMartino.Just after 3:30a.m. April 14, East Patrol officers were dispatched to a shooting in the area of Independence Avenue and Lawndale Avenue, according to KCPD officer&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.First responders located Jones on a sidewalk suffering from apparent gunshot trauma and unresponsive. EMS responded to the scene and declared him deceased.Preliminary investigation indicates that a vehicle may have been driving through the area and began firing shots, ultimately striking Jones.&nbsp; Police have not identified&nbsp; a suspect vehicle or a person of interest in the killing.

Police ID victim in Kansas City drive-by killing 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansans can expect to see more of their tax dollars at work within local communities when new rules go into effect next year at the agency in charge of investing state funds.

It’s a version of the “Shop Local” concept in the investment world, said Alex Orel, spokesman for the Kansas Bankers Association, one of the major backers of&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/HB2152/" target="_blank">House Bill 2152</a>, which makes multiple changes affecting banks statewide.

“I think long-term, this is going to be a proposal that’s going to benefit the local governments, our local communities and the state,” Orel said. “Our taxes should be invested here, or as much of them as we can anyway.”

The Pooled Money Investment Board is responsible for investing state general fund dollars and other money deposited with the state treasurer’s office. Among its programs is the Kansas Bank CD Program, which offers Kansas banks the opportunity to invest in certificates of deposit. Depending on the interest rate, which is set weekly, banks can determine whether they want to buy a CD and use those dollars to make loans in their local communities, said Mark Schifferdecker, chairman, president and CEO of GNBank in Girard.

PMIB has been required to get the highest rate of return possible for its CDs, Orel said.

While that makes good investment sense for state dollars, the CD rate was typically set using high-yielding investments, which are above U.S. treasuries, he said. That left Kansas banks no incentive to participate when they could get lower rates elsewhere.

As a result, the Kansas Bank CD Program began to disappear from PMIB’s investment portfolio. As of March 31, it was only 0.48% of the $8.5 billion invested by PMIB, meaning that most of the state’s funds are being invested outside the state.

Schifferdecker said a decade ago, the CD program investment was 10 to 15% of the portfolio.

New regulations included in HB 2152, in effect Jan. 1, 2026, will allow PMIB to offer a more competitive rate, as much as 2% lower, which is expected to increase program participation and bring tax dollars to local banks, which will then distribute them through loans to their customers.

Brent Shelton, Sedgwick County’s deputy chief financial officer, said HB 2152 has an impact on counties.

Portions of the bill addressed ways to make it easier for banks to hold deposits of county money, along with the increased access to capital through the CD program, he said.

“We give our local banks the first opportunity to keep that money local,” Shelton said. “It also preserves our ability to get a market rate on that money. That helps economic development efforts, makes more money available for lending to local business. All in all, (HB 2152) was a great compromise. Everybody won.”

The “compromise” Shelton referred to was disagreement between county officials and the banking industry on the first version of the bill. In fact, there were about 20 opponents when it was first presented.

Schifferdecker said the Kansas Bankers Association led the charge to draw all the parties to the table and work out the issues. The result was that opponents either switched to becoming proponents or took a neutral stance, he said.

“How often do you see that at the federal and state government anymore?” Schifferdecker said. “I think we made it better. We didn’t everything we wanted — Kansas Bankers Association and me as a banker. They didn’t get everything they wanted. We met in the middle.”

Both county officials and PMIB officials were concerned the bill could potentially decrease their investment income. The&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2152_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note on the bill</a>&nbsp;once it was amended points to decreased revenue for the Kansas Bank CD Program, adding that increased participation in the program is expected.

State General Fund revenues are estimated to decrease by $4.5 million in FY 2026 and by $9 million in FY 2027.

“This analysis only details the impact to the PMIB and does not consider any potential benefits that may be realized from money deposited,” the supplemental note said.

Such longer-term benefits that bankers like Schifferdecker are excited about. A Fort Hays State study, funded by the Kansas Bankers Association, explained the ripple effect seen in communities when banks invest locally.

Specifically, this study considered that when dollars are deposited in a local bank, which can then loan them out repeatedly, their impact on the community will multiply by as much as seven times through increased economic activities.

The study, completed by Emily Breit, policy fellow at the Docking Institute of Public Affairs, found that with the impact of increased income, property and other taxes earned when investments are made in Kansas, out-of-state investments would need to offer rates 3.15% higher than local rates to make the state better off. For example, if a local bank is offering a rate of 5%, then the decision to invest outside the state instead would only generate more value if the outside investment was 8.15% or higher.

“As a community bank, we can loan that money back out to businesses and farmers and consumers,” Schifferdecker said. “We’re not looking at 80% of Kansas money going to be invested in CDs — just to get that back to 10% would be respectable.”

Additional money being invested through rural banks like Schifferbecker’s is another important factor for the state, he said.

“It’s a game changer. Our little bank, we’re in 15 rural markets across Kansas and eastern Colorado. In some of those we’re the only bank in town,” he said. “We can take that money and loan that money back out. We’ve got lots of loan demand, particularly in this ag economy right now, and it’s really critical for us in order for us to grow. There’s only a certain amount of deposits in our little communities. The counties and school districts, they keep quite a bit of money on hand, and if we can attract more of that money, 100% of that money is going to be lent back out to the community.”

Schifferbecker understands why the state invests money outside of its borders to get a higher rate of return. Still, he was glad Kansas lawmakers recognized that long-term benefits will build from what they want to accomplish with HB 2152.

“Money invested locally truly has the multiplier effect; it’s going to raise your tax revenues. Farmers, businesses can expand and grow,” he said. “You make more money and that’s going to create tax revenue.”

Orel at KBA said the banking landscape has changed. This type of support is meaningful for all banks, but especially those in more sparsely populated areas.

“Our community banks don’t have the necessary liquidity they used to have,” he said. “This bill will allow them another liquidity option.”

The banking challenges are reflected in the data from Breit’s study. In 1984, there were 690 FDIC-insured banks and thrifts in Kansas, a number that dropped to 204 by the end of 2023. Number of bank locations grew from 216 to 1,100 in that same time period. Community banks play an important role, Breit’s research said, by maintaining banking services in rural areas where larger banking businesses don’t typically locate.

“We’re so happy,” Schifferdecker said. “I was just tickled when it passed the Senate overwhelmingly and then the House.”

The bill passed the Senate 40-0 and the House 117-5.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744833918938.png" alt="The Kansas Bankers Association was one of the lead proponents of a bill that aims to put more Kansas taxpayer dollars to work in local communities. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas Bankers Association was one of the lead proponents of a bill that aims to put more Kansas taxpayer dollars to work in local communities. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansans can expect to see more of their tax dollars at work within local communities when new rules go into effect next year at the agency in charge of investing state funds.It’s a version of the “Shop Local” concept in the investment world, said Alex Orel, spokesman for the Kansas Bankers Association, one of the major backers of&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/HB2152/" target="_blank">House Bill 2152</a>, which makes multiple changes affecting banks statewide.“I think long-term, this is going to be a proposal that’s going to benefit the local governments, our local communities and the state,” Orel said. “Our taxes should be invested here, or as much of them as we can anyway.”The Pooled Money Investment Board is responsible for investing state general fund dollars and other money deposited with the state treasurer’s office. Among its programs is the Kansas Bank CD Program, which offers Kansas banks the opportunity to invest in certificates of deposit. Depending on the interest rate, which is set weekly, banks can determine whether they want to buy a CD and use those dollars to make loans in their local communities, said Mark Schifferdecker, chairman, president and CEO of GNBank in Girard.PMIB has been required to get the highest rate of return possible for its CDs, Orel said.While that makes good investment sense for state dollars, the CD rate was typically set using high-yielding investments, which are above U.S. treasuries, he said. That left Kansas banks no incentive to participate when they could get lower rates elsewhere.As a result, the Kansas Bank CD Program began to disappear from PMIB’s investment portfolio. As of March 31, it was only 0.48% of the $8.5 billion invested by PMIB, meaning that most of the state’s funds are being invested outside the state.Schifferdecker said a decade ago, the CD program investment was 10 to 15% of the portfolio.New regulations included in HB 2152, in effect Jan. 1, 2026, will allow PMIB to offer a more competitive rate, as much as 2% lower, which is expected to increase program participation and bring tax dollars to local banks, which will then distribute them through loans to their customers.<h2>At the county level</h2>Brent Shelton, Sedgwick County’s deputy chief financial officer, said HB 2152 has an impact on counties.Portions of the bill addressed ways to make it easier for banks to hold deposits of county money, along with the increased access to capital through the CD program, he said.“We give our local banks the first opportunity to keep that money local,” Shelton said. “It also preserves our ability to get a market rate on that money. That helps economic development efforts, makes more money available for lending to local business. All in all, (HB 2152) was a great compromise. Everybody won.”The “compromise” Shelton referred to was disagreement between county officials and the banking industry on the first version of the bill. In fact, there were about 20 opponents when it was first presented.Schifferdecker said the Kansas Bankers Association led the charge to draw all the parties to the table and work out the issues. The result was that opponents either switched to becoming proponents or took a neutral stance, he said.“How often do you see that at the federal and state government anymore?” Schifferdecker said. “I think we made it better. We didn’t everything we wanted — Kansas Bankers Association and me as a banker. They didn’t get everything they wanted. We met in the middle.”<h2>The challenges</h2>Both county officials and PMIB officials were concerned the bill could potentially decrease their investment income. The&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2152_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note on the bill</a>&nbsp;once it was amended points to decreased revenue for the Kansas Bank CD Program, adding that increased participation in the program is expected.State General Fund revenues are estimated to decrease by $4.5 million in FY 2026 and by $9 million in FY 2027.“This analysis only details the impact to the PMIB and does not consider any potential benefits that may be realized from money deposited,” the supplemental note said.Such longer-term benefits that bankers like Schifferdecker are excited about. A Fort Hays State study, funded by the Kansas Bankers Association, explained the ripple effect seen in communities when banks invest locally.Specifically, this study considered that when dollars are deposited in a local bank, which can then loan them out repeatedly, their impact on the community will multiply by as much as seven times through increased economic activities.The study, completed by Emily Breit, policy fellow at the Docking Institute of Public Affairs, found that with the impact of increased income, property and other taxes earned when investments are made in Kansas, out-of-state investments would need to offer rates 3.15% higher than local rates to make the state better off. For example, if a local bank is offering a rate of 5%, then the decision to invest outside the state instead would only generate more value if the outside investment was 8.15% or higher.“As a community bank, we can loan that money back out to businesses and farmers and consumers,” Schifferdecker said. “We’re not looking at 80% of Kansas money going to be invested in CDs — just to get that back to 10% would be respectable.”<h2>A ‘game-changer’ for rural banks</h2>Additional money being invested through rural banks like Schifferbecker’s is another important factor for the state, he said.“It’s a game changer. Our little bank, we’re in 15 rural markets across Kansas and eastern Colorado. In some of those we’re the only bank in town,” he said. “We can take that money and loan that money back out. We’ve got lots of loan demand, particularly in this ag economy right now, and it’s really critical for us in order for us to grow. There’s only a certain amount of deposits in our little communities. The counties and school districts, they keep quite a bit of money on hand, and if we can attract more of that money, 100% of that money is going to be lent back out to the community.”Schifferbecker understands why the state invests money outside of its borders to get a higher rate of return. Still, he was glad Kansas lawmakers recognized that long-term benefits will build from what they want to accomplish with HB 2152.“Money invested locally truly has the multiplier effect; it’s going to raise your tax revenues. Farmers, businesses can expand and grow,” he said. “You make more money and that’s going to create tax revenue.”Orel at KBA said the banking landscape has changed. This type of support is meaningful for all banks, but especially those in more sparsely populated areas.“Our community banks don’t have the necessary liquidity they used to have,” he said. “This bill will allow them another liquidity option.”The banking challenges are reflected in the data from Breit’s study. In 1984, there were 690 FDIC-insured banks and thrifts in Kansas, a number that dropped to 204 by the end of 2023. Number of bank locations grew from 216 to 1,100 in that same time period. Community banks play an important role, Breit’s research said, by maintaining banking services in rural areas where larger banking businesses don’t typically locate.“We’re so happy,” Schifferdecker said. “I was just tickled when it passed the Senate overwhelmingly and then the House.”The bill passed the Senate 40-0 and the House 117-5.

New law pushes for Kansas taxpayer dollars to be invested within local communities

WASHINGTON (AP) —Google has been branded an abusive monopolist by a federal judge for the second time in less than a year, this time for illegally exploiting some of its online marketing technology to boost the profits fueling an internet empire currently worth $1.8 trillion.

The ruling issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia comes on the heels of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-search-engine-verdict-apple-319a61f20fb11510097845a30abaefd8">a separate decision in August</a>&nbsp;that concluded Google’s namesake search engine has been illegally leveraging its dominance to stifle competition and innovation.

After the U.S. Justice Department targeted Google’s ubiquitous search engine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-justice-department-antitrust-0510e8f9047956254455ec5d4db06044">during President Donald Trump’s first administration</a>, the same agency went after the company’s lucrative digital advertising network in 2023 during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-sues-google-c6afce17327b30a098b1bd6a7e947b81">President Joe Biden’s ensuing administration</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to undercut the power that Google has amassed since its inception in a Silicon Valley garage in 1998.

Although antitrust regulators prevailed both times, the battle is likely to continue for several more years as Google tries to overturn the two monopoly decisions in appeals while forging ahead in the new and highly lucrative technological frontier of artificial intelligence.

The next step in the latest case is a penalty phase that will likely begin late this year or early next year. The same so-called “remedy” hearings in the search monopoly case are scheduled to begin Monday in Washington D.C., where Justice Department lawyers will try to convince U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta to impose a sweeping punishment that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-search-monopoly-penalty-justice-department-84e07fec51c5c59751d846118cb900a7">a proposed requirement for Google to sell its Chrome web browser</a>.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Google has been branded an abusive monopolist by a federal judge for the second time in less than a year, this time for illegally exploiting some of its online marketing technology to boost the profits fueling an internet empire currently worth $1.8 trillion.The ruling issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia comes on the heels of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-search-engine-verdict-apple-319a61f20fb11510097845a30abaefd8">a separate decision in August</a>&nbsp;that concluded Google’s namesake search engine has been illegally leveraging its dominance to stifle competition and innovation.After the U.S. Justice Department targeted Google’s ubiquitous search engine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-justice-department-antitrust-0510e8f9047956254455ec5d4db06044">during President Donald Trump’s first administration</a>, the same agency went after the company’s lucrative digital advertising network in 2023 during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-sues-google-c6afce17327b30a098b1bd6a7e947b81">President Joe Biden’s ensuing administration</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to undercut the power that Google has amassed since its inception in a Silicon Valley garage in 1998.Although antitrust regulators prevailed both times, the battle is likely to continue for several more years as Google tries to overturn the two monopoly decisions in appeals while forging ahead in the new and highly lucrative technological frontier of artificial intelligence.The next step in the latest case is a penalty phase that will likely begin late this year or early next year. The same so-called “remedy” hearings in the search monopoly case are scheduled to begin Monday in Washington D.C., where Justice Department lawyers will try to convince U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta to impose a sweeping punishment that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-search-monopoly-penalty-justice-department-84e07fec51c5c59751d846118cb900a7">a proposed requirement for Google to sell its Chrome web browser</a>.

Judge rules Google is an online advertising monopoly

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 11a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a red 1992 Nissan Sentra with a stolen license plate near SE 6th Avenue and SE Jefferson Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

A patrol deputy located the vehicle in the 600 block of SE Sherman Avenue. Three individuals were taken into custody. During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located.

Matthew B. Banks, 36, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of hallucinogenic drug, Use/possess with intent to use drug

paraphernalia into human body, Possession of stolen property, Driving while license suspended, Vehicle liability insurance and Possession of marijuana.

Kaylee D. Simmons, 33, of Topeka, was arrested and booked on requested charges of&nbsp; Interference with law enforcement, Possession of marijuana,&nbsp;&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of a hallucinogenic drug

Jeremiah J. Hennessee, 34, of Topeka, had three misdemeanor warrants for his arrest through the City of Topeka and was transported to municipal court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744721022175.png" alt="Banks photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Banks photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 11a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a red 1992 Nissan Sentra with a stolen license plate near SE 6th Avenue and SE Jefferson Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.A patrol deputy located the vehicle in the 600 block of SE Sherman Avenue. Three individuals were taken into custody. During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744721004925.png" alt="Simmons photo Shawnee&nbsp; Co." />
 <figcaption>Simmons photo Shawnee&nbsp; Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Matthew B. Banks, 36, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of hallucinogenic drug, Use/possess with intent to use drugparaphernalia into human body, Possession of stolen property, Driving while license suspended, Vehicle liability insurance and Possession of marijuana.Kaylee D. Simmons, 33, of Topeka, was arrested and booked on requested charges of&nbsp; Interference with law enforcement, Possession of marijuana,&nbsp;&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of a hallucinogenic drugJeremiah J. Hennessee, 34, of Topeka, had three misdemeanor warrants for his arrest through the City of Topeka and was transported to municipal court.

Sheriff: Stolen license plate led to Kansas drug bust

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More than 9,000 Catholic employers do not need to abide by federal regulations requiring accommodations for workers who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-d2a25371e09a20734803b1b9cce53c85">seek abortions</a>&nbsp;and fertility treatments, according to a ruling issued this week by a federal judge in North Dakota.

The Catholic Benefits Association and the Bismarck Diocese filed a lawsuit last year challenging the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s regulations on implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and childbirth-related needs. The EEOC interpreted the statute to include abortion and fertility treatments as among those needs, which the Catholic groups argued violated their religious rights.

The Catholic groups also challenged separate EEOC guidelines for enforcing anti-harassment laws, which the agency updated last year to specify that workers cannot be harassed over their gender-identity or for seeking or contemplating having abortions.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled Tuesday that he would make permanent an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-catholic-benefits-association-abortion-bc75f5aeac6cc89967154e0ee9ab7804">preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;that blocked the EEOC from enforcing both its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-women-accomodations-18e5f726a9f6d04b2fa26036bbdcbb6f">final rule for</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-eeoc-rules-abortion-efbebe81e022ef8d7bb1bd3e0c317c3a">Pregnant Workers Fairness Act</a>&nbsp;and the harassment guidelines against the Catholic employers.

Traynor, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, wrote last year: “It is a precarious time for people of religious faith in America. It has been described as a post-Christian age. One indication of this dire assessment may be the repeated illegal and unconstitutional administrative actions against one of the founding principles of our country, the free exercise of religion.”

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act initially had bipartisan support

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed with widespread bipartisan support in December 2022, and it had the support of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But controversy ensued when the EEOC&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-d2a25371e09a20734803b1b9cce53c85">adopted an expansive view</a>&nbsp;of conditions related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pregnancy-and-childbirth">pregnancy and childbirth</a>&nbsp;that required accommodations, including for abortion, fertility treatment and birth control. While the rule includes an exemption for religious employers, it says determinations must be made on a case-by-case basis.

In earlier court papers, the association and the diocese said, “The combined effect of EEOC’s pronouncements is that they require CBA Members, contrary to their Catholic faith, to accommodate their employees’ abortions and immoral fertility treatments, to use false pronouns when requested by transitioning employees, to abstain from expressing Catholic teaching regarding sexual issues, and to give employees of one sex access to private spaces reserved to those of the other sex.”

Traynor was a board member of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops, according to a Senate Judiciary Committee judicial nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Daniel%20Mack%20Traynor%20Senate%20Questionnaire%20-%20PUBLIC.pdf" target="_blank">questionnaire</a>. In March 2024, he blocked the government from enforcing federal laws and regulations requiring a Christian employers’ organization to provide insurance coverage for gender-transition surgeries, counseling and other care.

Those that sued are ‘thankful ... for vindicating religious freedom rights’

Attorney Martin Nussbaum said his clients are “very thankful to the federal judiciary for vindicating religious freedom rights” in the case and previous ones involving the association.

“One of the things that we’ve seen is an emerging practice on behalf of some of the federal administrations — we also see this in certain states — a desire not only to mandate immoral benefits but to impose speech codes that would be contrary to Catholic values,” Nussbaum said. “But the speech codes go beyond pronouns to even speaking about what Catholic teaching is, and we’re just grateful to this court for protecting the freedom of speech of Catholic organizations as well.”

Bishop David D. Kagan, of Bismarck, said: “The Court has upheld our religious freedom rights and that is all we ever wanted.”

A Better Balance, a legal advocacy group that led a decades-long campaign for the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, condemned the ruling.

“This ruling is part of a broad trend of attacks on women’s rights and reproductive freedom. The fact that IVF — a highly popular and common medical procedure that millions of Catholics and Christians support — is being targeted speaks to the extremist nature of this case,” A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar said in a statement.

Backers of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act say ruling could add to confusion

She said the ruling would contribute to confusion over implementation of a law that “was designed to close gaps in the law and bring clarity to pregnant workers and employers alike.” Chettiar emphasized that the entirety of the law remains in effect for most workers.

In an interview, she said it will be interesting to see whether the Justice Department appeals.

The EEOC declined to comment. It had previously asked the judge to deny a permanent injunction and said the other side can’t back up its claims.

However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eeoc-trump-gender-identity-discrimination-alabama-73a065c8aa5e0060472e1cac1ecd8212">the EEOC’s priorities have shifted dramatically</a>&nbsp;under the administration of Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/equal-employment-eeoc-trump-lawsuit-11c89b6c6a55c006c09345b1c80421b5">who fired two of the agency’s Democratic commissioners</a>&nbsp;in January. The new acting EEOC chair, Andrea Lucas, a Republican, has said she intends to push for a commission vote to change both the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act rules and the updated harassment guidelines.

The Catholic Benefits Association serves more than 9,000 Catholic employers and has about 164,000 employees enrolled in member health plans, according to its website.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744904171890.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — More than 9,000 Catholic employers do not need to abide by federal regulations requiring accommodations for workers who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-d2a25371e09a20734803b1b9cce53c85">seek abortions</a>&nbsp;and fertility treatments, according to a ruling issued this week by a federal judge in North Dakota.The Catholic Benefits Association and the Bismarck Diocese filed a lawsuit last year challenging the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s regulations on implementing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnancy and childbirth-related needs. The EEOC interpreted the statute to include abortion and fertility treatments as among those needs, which the Catholic groups argued violated their religious rights.The Catholic groups also challenged separate EEOC guidelines for enforcing anti-harassment laws, which the agency updated last year to specify that workers cannot be harassed over their gender-identity or for seeking or contemplating having abortions.U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor ruled Tuesday that he would make permanent an earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-catholic-benefits-association-abortion-bc75f5aeac6cc89967154e0ee9ab7804">preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;that blocked the EEOC from enforcing both its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-women-accomodations-18e5f726a9f6d04b2fa26036bbdcbb6f">final rule for</a>&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-eeoc-rules-abortion-efbebe81e022ef8d7bb1bd3e0c317c3a">Pregnant Workers Fairness Act</a>&nbsp;and the harassment guidelines against the Catholic employers.Traynor, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in 2020, wrote last year: “It is a precarious time for people of religious faith in America. It has been described as a post-Christian age. One indication of this dire assessment may be the repeated illegal and unconstitutional administrative actions against one of the founding principles of our country, the free exercise of religion.”<h2>Pregnant Workers Fairness Act initially had bipartisan support</h2>The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act passed with widespread bipartisan support in December 2022, and it had the support of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. But controversy ensued when the EEOC&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnant-workers-fairness-act-abortion-d2a25371e09a20734803b1b9cce53c85">adopted an expansive view</a>&nbsp;of conditions related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pregnancy-and-childbirth">pregnancy and childbirth</a>&nbsp;that required accommodations, including for abortion, fertility treatment and birth control. While the rule includes an exemption for religious employers, it says determinations must be made on a case-by-case basis.In earlier court papers, the association and the diocese said, “The combined effect of EEOC’s pronouncements is that they require CBA Members, contrary to their Catholic faith, to accommodate their employees’ abortions and immoral fertility treatments, to use false pronouns when requested by transitioning employees, to abstain from expressing Catholic teaching regarding sexual issues, and to give employees of one sex access to private spaces reserved to those of the other sex.”Traynor was a board member of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, which represents the state’s Catholic bishops, according to a Senate Judiciary Committee judicial nominee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Daniel%20Mack%20Traynor%20Senate%20Questionnaire%20-%20PUBLIC.pdf" target="_blank">questionnaire</a>. In March 2024, he blocked the government from enforcing federal laws and regulations requiring a Christian employers’ organization to provide insurance coverage for gender-transition surgeries, counseling and other care.<h2>Those that sued are ‘thankful ... for vindicating religious freedom rights’</h2>Attorney Martin Nussbaum said his clients are “very thankful to the federal judiciary for vindicating religious freedom rights” in the case and previous ones involving the association.“One of the things that we’ve seen is an emerging practice on behalf of some of the federal administrations — we also see this in certain states — a desire not only to mandate immoral benefits but to impose speech codes that would be contrary to Catholic values,” Nussbaum said. “But the speech codes go beyond pronouns to even speaking about what Catholic teaching is, and we’re just grateful to this court for protecting the freedom of speech of Catholic organizations as well.”Bishop David D. Kagan, of Bismarck, said: “The Court has upheld our religious freedom rights and that is all we ever wanted.”A Better Balance, a legal advocacy group that led a decades-long campaign for the passage of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, condemned the ruling.“This ruling is part of a broad trend of attacks on women’s rights and reproductive freedom. The fact that IVF — a highly popular and common medical procedure that millions of Catholics and Christians support — is being targeted speaks to the extremist nature of this case,” A Better Balance President Inimai Chettiar said in a statement.<h2>Backers of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act say ruling could add to confusion</h2>She said the ruling would contribute to confusion over implementation of a law that “was designed to close gaps in the law and bring clarity to pregnant workers and employers alike.” Chettiar emphasized that the entirety of the law remains in effect for most workers.In an interview, she said it will be interesting to see whether the Justice Department appeals.The EEOC declined to comment. It had previously asked the judge to deny a permanent injunction and said the other side can’t back up its claims.However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eeoc-trump-gender-identity-discrimination-alabama-73a065c8aa5e0060472e1cac1ecd8212">the EEOC’s priorities have shifted dramatically</a>&nbsp;under the administration of Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/equal-employment-eeoc-trump-lawsuit-11c89b6c6a55c006c09345b1c80421b5">who fired two of the agency’s Democratic commissioners</a>&nbsp;in January. The new acting EEOC chair, Andrea Lucas, a Republican, has said she intends to push for a commission vote to change both the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act rules and the updated harassment guidelines.The Catholic Benefits Association serves more than 9,000 Catholic employers and has about 164,000 employees enrolled in member health plans, according to its website.

Judge blocks worker protections for abortion and fertility care for Catholic employers

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect accused in connection with a fire near the Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita&nbsp; made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Jeremy Wycoff, 33, Wichita, was charged with aggravated arson and arson, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

On the evening of April 10, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;

"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.

Police arrested Wycoff on Sunday and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp; His next court appearance (PH-CAD) is April 28. He remains jailed on&nbsp; a&nbsp;150,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744832383037.png" alt="Wycoff photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Wycoff photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect accused in connection with a fire near the Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita&nbsp; made his first court appearance Wednesday.Jeremy Wycoff, 33, Wichita, was charged with aggravated arson and arson, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;On the evening of April 10, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.Police arrested Wycoff on Sunday and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp; His next court appearance (PH-CAD) is April 28. He remains jailed on&nbsp; a&nbsp;150,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

Suspect in arson fire near historic Kan. theatre faced a judge

WASHINGTON (AP) —The president addressed about 40 Christian leaders in the White House’s Blue Room for an Easter prayer service and dinner, telling them, “I hope this is going to be one of the great Easters ever.”

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-hosts-easter-prayer-service-and-dinner/658676">Click here to watch th</a>e White House Easter Service and dinner.

He called the death and resurrection of Jesus “two of the most monumental events in history.”

In brief remarks that stuck mostly to a religious message — without the many lengthy asides the president usually relishes when giving speeches — Trump denounced the persecution of Christians in other parts of the world and noted the creation of a Department of Justice task force to combat anti-Christian bias.

Trump also told those gathered that his administration is filled with “fantastic people, and they’re people that believe like you do.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —The president addressed about 40 Christian leaders in the White House’s Blue Room for an Easter prayer service and dinner, telling them, “I hope this is going to be one of the great Easters ever.”<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/white-house-event/president-trump-hosts-easter-prayer-service-and-dinner/658676">Click here to watch th</a>e White House Easter Service and dinner.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Three days later, Christ followers found the empty tomb. Jesus had defeated darkness and death, and promised new life to all of humankind, and that&#39;s what we celebrate each year at Easter, as we joyfully proclaim on Sunday, &#39;He is risen.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/bTpher5fUv">pic.twitter.com/bTpher5fUv</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1912650300411773010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: “Nearly 2,000 years ago during this sacred week, the living son of God entered Jerusalem in triumph… The savior of mankind, who brought truth and light into the world, was betrayed, arrested, tried, beaten, nailed to a cross, and crucified. For our sake, he gave up his… <a href="https://t.co/39r0YjZIS6">pic.twitter.com/39r0YjZIS6</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1912649062135853151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">✝️&quot;This Holy Week, Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity.&quot; –President Trump <a href="https://t.co/WdW2kRDi4p">pic.twitter.com/WdW2kRDi4p</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1911566089512952105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He called the death and resurrection of Jesus “two of the most monumental events in history.”In brief remarks that stuck mostly to a religious message — without the many lengthy asides the president usually relishes when giving speeches — Trump denounced the persecution of Christians in other parts of the world and noted the creation of a Department of Justice task force to combat anti-Christian bias.Trump also told those gathered that his administration is filled with “fantastic people, and they’re people that believe like you do.”

🎥Trump hosts Easter service and dinner at the White House

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting at a convenience store.

Just after 3:00 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting at the Kwik Shop gas station, 746 NE Wabash Avenue in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Edward Stanley. First responders located one individual with life threatening injuries.&nbsp; Medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased on scene. Police released no additional details including the name of the victim or suspect information.

This is the city’s 4th homicide investigation of 2025, according to Stanley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744885831034.png" alt="Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting at a convenience store.Just after 3:00 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting at the Kwik Shop gas station, 746 NE Wabash Avenue in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Edward Stanley. First responders located one individual with life threatening injuries.&nbsp; Medical personnel pronounced the victim deceased on scene. Police released no additional details including the name of the victim or suspect information.This is the city’s 4th homicide investigation of 2025, according to Stanley..

Police: 1 dead after shooting at Kansas convenience store

WASHINGTON (AP) —Attorney General&nbsp; Pam Bondi was asked at an unrelated news conference about the case of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">El Salvador man living in Maryland</a>&nbsp;who was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. The Supreme Court has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">the administration must “facilitate” his release</a>.

Bondi said the U.S. government would fly him back on a plane if El Salvador President Nayib Bukele wanted to return him.

“President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That’s the end of the story,” Bondi said. Even if he were to return to the U.S., the government would deport him again, Bondi said.

“He would have come back, had one extra step of paperwork and gone back again. But he’s from El Salvador, he’s in El Salvador and that’s where the president plans on keeping him,” Bondi said.

The Trump administration has alleged he’s a member of MS-13. Abrego Garcia was never charged with a crime and has denied the allegations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744856849154.png" alt="File Image from video provided by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt" />
 <figcaption>File Image from video provided by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Attorney General&nbsp; Pam Bondi was asked at an unrelated news conference about the case of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">El Salvador man living in Maryland</a>&nbsp;who was mistakenly deported to an El Salvador prison. The Supreme Court has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">the administration must “facilitate” his release</a>.Bondi said the U.S. government would fly him back on a plane if El Salvador President Nayib Bukele wanted to return him.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The evidence shows Kilmar Abrego Garcia has repeatedly been identified as a member of MS-13 by: ⁃ A Maryland county police gang unit ⁃ A reliable confidential informant ⁃ ICE officers ⁃ An immigration judge agreed ⁃ An appellate board agreed <a href="https://t.co/ym0X4tYSAe">pic.twitter.com/ym0X4tYSAe</a>&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1912682960156795369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That’s the end of the story,” Bondi said. Even if he were to return to the U.S., the government would deport him again, Bondi said.“He would have come back, had one extra step of paperwork and gone back again. But he’s from El Salvador, he’s in El Salvador and that’s where the president plans on keeping him,” Bondi said.The Trump administration has alleged he’s a member of MS-13. Abrego Garcia was never charged with a crime and has denied the allegations.

🎥AG Pam Bondi: Wrongly deported man ‘is not coming back to our country’

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays firefighters responded to a house fire at 413 W. 14th St. at about 11:30 this morning.&nbsp;

Shane Preston, deputy fire chief, said the front porch of the multi-level home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.

One person, tenant Cassandra Brockmann, was home at the time of the fire, but was able to evacuate from the home uninjured.

Brockmann lived in the home with her two young children and a roommate who lived in the basement. The downstairs tenant and the children were not home at the time of the fire.

No firefighters were injured fighting the fire.

One pet was killed in the fire. Another pet was located after the fire was under control and given oxygen. Two other pets in the home were found safe, Preston said.

Preston said firefighters initially attacked the fire with a single line from a brush truck and brought the fire in check before using additional lines to extinguish the fire.

An investigation concluded that the cause of the fire was improperly extinguished smoking material on the front porch.

Preston estimated damages to be more than $50,000.

He said the fire caused extensive damage to the porch and broke out the home's front windows, which allowed smoke into the structure. He said there was much smoke damage throughout the home. Smoke and heat also made it to the second floor.

Closed doors limited the smoke damage in the bedrooms.

"We want to remind people when they do smoke, be sure they extinguish those cigarette butts properly, empty their butt cans and make sure they have a water source they can throw their cigarette butts into," Preston said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744831311350.jpeg" alt="A fire caused extensive damage to a house at 411 W. 14th St. in Hays this morning. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A fire caused extensive damage to a house at 411 W. 14th St. in Hays this morning. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays firefighters responded to a house fire at 413 W. 14th St. at about 11:30 this morning.&nbsp;Shane Preston, deputy fire chief, said the front porch of the multi-level home was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived.One person, tenant Cassandra Brockmann, was home at the time of the fire, but was able to evacuate from the home uninjured.Brockmann lived in the home with her two young children and a roommate who lived in the basement. The downstairs tenant and the children were not home at the time of the fire.No firefighters were injured fighting the fire.One pet was killed in the fire. Another pet was located after the fire was under control and given oxygen. Two other pets in the home were found safe, Preston said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744831386632.jpeg" alt="Fire crews clean up at a house fire scene at 411 W. 14th St. this morning in Hays. The fire displaced four people. One person was at home at the time of the fire, but escaped without injury. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews clean up at a house fire scene at 411 W. 14th St. this morning in Hays. The fire displaced four people. One person was at home at the time of the fire, but escaped without injury. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Preston said firefighters initially attacked the fire with a single line from a brush truck and brought the fire in check before using additional lines to extinguish the fire.An investigation concluded that the cause of the fire was improperly extinguished smoking material on the front porch.Preston estimated damages to be more than $50,000.He said the fire caused extensive damage to the porch and broke out the home's front windows, which allowed smoke into the structure. He said there was much smoke damage throughout the home. Smoke and heat also made it to the second floor.Closed doors limited the smoke damage in the bedrooms."We want to remind people when they do smoke, be sure they extinguish those cigarette butts properly, empty their butt cans and make sure they have a water source they can throw their cigarette butts into," Preston said.

Pet dies, 3 other pets survive Kansas house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Health secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;warned that children in the U.S. are being diagnosed with autism at an “alarming rate,” promising on Wednesday to conduct exhaustive studies to identify any environmental factors that may cause the developmental disorder.

His call comes the day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-rates-us-rfk-diagnosis-cdc-cb3abd799edd591dc1ea6b63c69a2279">a report that found</a>&nbsp;an estimated 1 in 31 U.S. children have autism, a marked increase from 2020. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/ss/ss7402a1.htm?s_cid=ss7402a1_w">Click here to read the report.</a>

Autism experts applaud efforts to further understand the condition, but say the number of reported cases began to balloon as the definition of the condition expanded to include mild cases.

“Autism destroys families," Kennedy said. "More importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. These are children who should not be suffering like this.”

Kennedy described autism as a “preventable disease,” although researchers and scientists have identified genetic factors that are associated with it. Autism is not considered a disease, but a complex disorder that affects the brain. Cases range widely in severity, with symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills. Some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adult-autism-diagnosis-spectrum-4babb9b0eea3335dddc93c35f7fcd913">autistic traits</a>&nbsp;can go unnoticed well into adulthood.

Those who have spent decades researching autism have found no single cause. Besides genetics, scientists have identified various possible factors, including the age of a child’s father, the mother’s weight, and whether she had diabetes or was exposed to certain chemicals.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Health secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;warned that children in the U.S. are being diagnosed with autism at an “alarming rate,” promising on Wednesday to conduct exhaustive studies to identify any environmental factors that may cause the developmental disorder.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a> on autism: &quot;This is an individual tragedy as well. Autism destroys families but more importantly it destroys our greatest resource, which are our children...we have to recognize we are doing this to our children and we need to put an end to it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gbCfiEOcyY">pic.twitter.com/gbCfiEOcyY</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1912533292148027745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>His call comes the day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-rates-us-rfk-diagnosis-cdc-cb3abd799edd591dc1ea6b63c69a2279">a report that found</a>&nbsp;an estimated 1 in 31 U.S. children have autism, a marked increase from 2020. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/ss/ss7402a1.htm?s_cid=ss7402a1_w">Click here to read the report.</a>Autism experts applaud efforts to further understand the condition, but say the number of reported cases began to balloon as the definition of the condition expanded to include mild cases.“Autism destroys families," Kennedy said. "More importantly, it destroys our greatest resource, which is our children. These are children who should not be suffering like this.”Kennedy described autism as a “preventable disease,” although researchers and scientists have identified genetic factors that are associated with it. Autism is not considered a disease, but a complex disorder that affects the brain. Cases range widely in severity, with symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills. Some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adult-autism-diagnosis-spectrum-4babb9b0eea3335dddc93c35f7fcd913">autistic traits</a>&nbsp;can go unnoticed well into adulthood.Those who have spent decades researching autism have found no single cause. Besides genetics, scientists have identified various possible factors, including the age of a child’s father, the mother’s weight, and whether she had diabetes or was exposed to certain chemicals.Kennedy said his wide-ranging plan to determine the cause of autism will look at all of those environmental factors, and others. He had previously set a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-kennedy-trump-vaccines-rfk-jr-cdc-b66251888f039c80b15beda23c279d5b">September deadline</a>&nbsp;for determining what causes autism, but said Wednesday that by then, his department will determine at least “some” of the answers.The effort will involve issuing grants to universities and researchers, Kennedy said. He said the researchers will be encouraged to “follow the science, no matter what it says.”The Trump administration has recently&nbsp;<a href="https://taggs.hhs.gov/Content/Data/HHS_Grants_Terminated.pdf">canceled</a>&nbsp;billions of dollars in grants for health and science research sent to universities.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/ss/ss7402a1.htm?s_cid=ss7402a1_w">CDC’s latest autism data</a>&nbsp;was from 14 states and Puerto Rico in 2022. The previous estimate — from 2020 — was 1 in 36.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-tennis-jenson-brooksby-55fd36df73bfe3a429b959cb8efd399c">Boys</a>&nbsp;continue to be diagnosed more than girls, and the highest rates are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/bella-ramsey-on-sharing-autism-diagnosis-its-just-part-of-who-i-am-8efe3092914d420aba6def8a0231eca4">among children</a>&nbsp;who are Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian/Alaska Native and Black.To estimate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/profound-autism-rate-us-bc21057fabe11774843d4ac2197956a4">how common autism</a>&nbsp;is, the CDC checked health and school records for 8-year-olds, because most cases are diagnosed by that age. Other researchers have their own estimates, but experts say the CDC’s estimate is the most rigorous and the gold standard.On Wednesday, Kennedy criticized theories that the rise in autism cases can be attributed to more awareness about the disorder. Autism researchers have cited heightened awareness, as well as medical advancements and increased diagnoses of mild cases.“The reasons for increases in autism diagnosis come down to scientific and health care progress,” said Annette Estes, director of the autism center at the University of Washington. "It's hard for many people to understand this because the causes of autism are complex.”The Autism Science Foundation said Kennedy’s emphasis on environmental factors contradicted the findings in the CDC’s report.“This report is the most convincing evidence yet that changes in factors like access to services and de-stigmatization of (autism spectrum disorders) are leading to the increases in prevalence,” said Autism Science Foundation Chief Science Officer Dr. Alycia Halladay.___Associated Press writers JoNel Aleccia in Temecula, California, and Mike Stobbe in Atlanta contributed to this report.