WILSON COUNTY —With more fire weather warnings in portions of Kansas, officials are asking the public to monitor their previous controlled burns. 

On Monday Wilson County fire units were paged out for embers blowing across a road into unburnt pastures from a controlled burn conducted Sunday, according to a social media report from the rural fire department. 

Fire officials ask that you to double check your burns from the last couple weeks.

Just after 3pm Monday additional crews were paged out for a grassfire in the Southeast corner of the Wilson County. There are not reports of injury. Officials did not release details on what caused the afternoon grass fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742319065148.png" alt="Photos Wilson Co. Rural Fire" />
 <figcaption>Photos Wilson Co. Rural Fire</figcaption>
 </figure>WILSON COUNTY —With more fire weather warnings in portions of Kansas, officials are asking the public to monitor their previous controlled burns. On Monday Wilson County fire units were paged out for embers blowing across a road into unburnt pastures from a controlled burn conducted Sunday, according to a social media report from the rural fire department. Fire officials ask that you to double check your burns from the last couple weeks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742319118211.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 3pm Monday additional crews were paged out for a grassfire in the Southeast corner of the Wilson County. There are not reports of injury. Officials did not release details on what caused the afternoon grass fire.

Fire officials: Double check your previous controlled burns

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Russian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;agreed during a lengthy call Tuesday to seek a limited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-ceasefire-e8232c202998d5b934ca81bf98e74c55">ceasefire</a>&nbsp;against energy and infrastructure targets in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia-Ukraine war,</a>&nbsp;according to the White House.

The White House described it as the first step in a “movement to peace” it hopes will eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full and lasting end to the fighting.

Shortly after the call, the White House released a brief summary of the conversation. It is below.

&nbsp;Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia.

The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.
 
This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts.

The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace.

These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East. 
 
The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts. They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application.

The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel. 
 
The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.

The White House added negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-ceasefire-e8232c202998d5b934ca81bf98e74c55">would “begin immediately”</a>&nbsp;in the Middle East on those steps for a ceasefire. It was not immediately clear whether Ukraine is on board with the phased ceasefire plan.

Ukrainian officials had proposed a limited ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes and the release of prisoners at their meeting with the U.S delegation in Saudi Arabia this month.

The Kremlin said Putin welcomed Trump's calls for the maritime ceasefire and “agreed to begin negotiations to further work out specific details of such an agreement.”

Putin also told Trump that Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 175 prisoners of war each on Wednesday, and Russia will also hand over to Ukraine 23 badly wounded soldiers, the Kremlin said.

Putin also called on Trump to end foreign military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine as the U.S. looks to bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.

The move comes as the White House pushes for Russia to sign off on its 30-day ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials last week agreed to the 30-day ceasefire proposal during talks in Saudi Arabia led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, remains skeptical that Putin is ready for peace as Russian forces continue to pound Ukraine.

The engagement is just the latest turn in dramatically shifting U.S.-Russia relations as Trump made quickly ending the conflict a top priority — even at the expense of straining ties with longtime American allies who want Putin to pay a price for the invasion.

In preparation for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-ukraine-russia-b86c7230a3d9df6a76ed0a064ec3402a">Trump-Putin call</a>, White House special envoy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-witkoff-special-envoy-russia-ukraine-mideast-d26c80c87a57fd3a811e4b0aa0eda58e">Steve Witkoff</a>&nbsp;met last week with Putin in Moscow to discuss the proposal. Rubio had persuaded senior Ukrainian officials during talks in Saudi Arabia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-us-saudi-arabia-ca9630cdccb0a8b904a77d6e134690b6">to agree to the ceasefire framework.</a>

Putin last week said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-sudzhba-military-occupation-17cebbc24642ab56d78112eba7eb7509">agreed in principle</a>&nbsp;with the U.S. proposal, but emphasized that Russia would seek guarantees that Ukraine would not use a break in hostilities to rearm and continue mobilization. The Russian president has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-ceasefire-e8232c202998d5b934ca81bf98e74c55">also demanded</a>&nbsp;that Ukraine renounce joining the NATO military alliance, sharply cut its army, and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow’s orbit.

The U.S. president said this week that Washington and Moscow have already begun discussing “dividing up certain assets" between Ukraine and Russia as part of a deal to end the conflict.

Trump, who during his campaign pledged to end the war quickly, has at moments boasted of his relationship with Putin and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-trump-war-zelenskyy-putin-7fe8c0c80b4e93e3bc079c621a44e8bb">blamed Ukraine for Russia’s unprovoked invasion</a>, all while accusing Zelenskyy of unnecessarily prolonging the biggest land war in Europe since World War II.

Trump had said before the call that control of land and power plants would be part of the conversation, which came on the anniversary of Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-ukraine-crimea-seizure-8245aec572fb71236febfa8735c42879">annexing Ukraine's Crimean peninsula</a>&nbsp;11 years ago. That bold land grab by Russia set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbor in 2022.

Witkoff suggested that U.S. and Russian officials have discussed the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe's largest — in southern Ukraine.

The plant has been caught in the crossfire since Moscow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">sent troops into Ukraine in 2022</a>&nbsp;and seized the facility shortly after. The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly expressed alarm about it, fueling fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe.

The plant is a significant asset, producing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/why-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant-mattersfor-whole-world">nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity</a>&nbsp;in the year before the war.

After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">disastrous Feb. 28 White House meeting</a>&nbsp;with Zelenskyy, Trump temporarily cut off some military intelligence-sharing and aid to Ukraine. It was restored after the Ukrainians last week signed off on the Trump administration's 30-day ceasefire proposal.

Zelenskyy in his&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1901734482639523936">nightly video address on Monday</a>&nbsp;made clear he remains doubtful that Putin is ready for peace.

"Now, almost a week later, it’s clear to everyone in the world — even to those who refused to acknowledge the truth for the past three years — that it is Putin who continues to drag out this war," Zelenskyy said.

In his dealings with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Putin</a>, Trump has frequently focused on who has the leverage. Putin has “the cards” and Zelenskyy does not, Trump has said repeatedly.

Trump, who has long shown admiration for Putin, has also made clear he'd like to see the U.S.-Russia relationship return to a more normal footing.

The president during his recent contentious meeting with Zelenskyy grumbled that “Putin went through a hell of a lot with me," a reference to the federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f109a539220b41218860fa68176a9c98">investigation into Russian interference</a>&nbsp;in the 2016 presidential election in which he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Trump on Monday again underscored his view that Ukraine is not in a strong negotiating position. He said Russian forces have “surrounded” Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk region — amplifying an assertion made by Russian officials that's been disputed by Zelenskyy.

Ukraine’s army&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-incursion-putin-1178b99b32b476816db3a48ffa06b11a">stunned Russia in August last year</a>&nbsp;by attacking across the border and taking control of an estimated 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of land. But Ukraine’s forces are now in retreat and it has all but lost a valuable bargaining chip, as momentum builds for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-sudzhba-military-occupation-17cebbc24642ab56d78112eba7eb7509">ceasefire with Russia</a>.

Zelenskyy has acknowledged that the Ukrainians are on their back foot while disputing Russian claims that his troops are encircled in Kursk.

Trump suggested that he's taken unspecified action that has kept Russia from slaughtering Ukrainian troops in Kursk.

“They’re surrounded by Russian soldiers, and I believe if it wasn’t for me they wouldn’t be here any longer,” Trump said.

The White House said the leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed “Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.”

U.S. officials have previously said that Iran has provided Russia with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-iran-ukraine-ballistic-missiles-us-intelligence-1e637abe11396989c641fa5bf3f57b24">short-range ballistic missiles</a>&nbsp;and attack drones for the war in Ukraine. The U.S. has also said that Iran has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742207940676.png" alt="File photo President Trump discussed calling Putin during a flight from Florida to Washington on Sunday-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo President Trump discussed calling Putin during a flight from Florida to Washington on Sunday-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Russian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;agreed during a lengthy call Tuesday to seek a limited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-ceasefire-e8232c202998d5b934ca81bf98e74c55">ceasefire</a>&nbsp;against energy and infrastructure targets in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia-Ukraine war,</a>&nbsp;according to the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NEW: Statement from President Trump <a href="https://t.co/jsY8Ut66i7">pic.twitter.com/jsY8Ut66i7</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1902070277690753268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House described it as the first step in a “movement to peace” it hopes will eventually include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a full and lasting end to the fighting.Shortly after the call, the White House released a brief summary of the conversation. It is below.&nbsp;Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.
 
This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts. The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East. 
 
The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts. They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application. The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel. 
 
The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.The White House added negotiations&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-ceasefire-e8232c202998d5b934ca81bf98e74c55">would “begin immediately”</a>&nbsp;in the Middle East on those steps for a ceasefire. It was not immediately clear whether Ukraine is on board with the phased ceasefire plan.Ukrainian officials had proposed a limited ceasefire covering the Black Sea and long-range missile strikes and the release of prisoners at their meeting with the U.S delegation in Saudi Arabia this month.The Kremlin said Putin welcomed Trump's calls for the maritime ceasefire and “agreed to begin negotiations to further work out specific details of such an agreement.”Putin also told Trump that Russia and Ukraine are set to exchange 175 prisoners of war each on Wednesday, and Russia will also hand over to Ukraine 23 badly wounded soldiers, the Kremlin said.Putin also called on Trump to end foreign military and intelligence assistance to Ukraine as the U.S. looks to bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to the Kremlin.The move comes as the White House pushes for Russia to sign off on its 30-day ceasefire proposal aimed at ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Ukrainian officials last week agreed to the 30-day ceasefire proposal during talks in Saudi Arabia led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, remains skeptical that Putin is ready for peace as Russian forces continue to pound Ukraine.The engagement is just the latest turn in dramatically shifting U.S.-Russia relations as Trump made quickly ending the conflict a top priority — even at the expense of straining ties with longtime American allies who want Putin to pay a price for the invasion.In preparation for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-ukraine-russia-b86c7230a3d9df6a76ed0a064ec3402a">Trump-Putin call</a>, White House special envoy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-witkoff-special-envoy-russia-ukraine-mideast-d26c80c87a57fd3a811e4b0aa0eda58e">Steve Witkoff</a>&nbsp;met last week with Putin in Moscow to discuss the proposal. Rubio had persuaded senior Ukrainian officials during talks in Saudi Arabia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-us-saudi-arabia-ca9630cdccb0a8b904a77d6e134690b6">to agree to the ceasefire framework.</a>Putin last week said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-sudzhba-military-occupation-17cebbc24642ab56d78112eba7eb7509">agreed in principle</a>&nbsp;with the U.S. proposal, but emphasized that Russia would seek guarantees that Ukraine would not use a break in hostilities to rearm and continue mobilization. The Russian president has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-zelenskyy-ukraine-war-ceasefire-e8232c202998d5b934ca81bf98e74c55">also demanded</a>&nbsp;that Ukraine renounce joining the NATO military alliance, sharply cut its army, and protect Russian language and culture to keep the country in Moscow’s orbit.The U.S. president said this week that Washington and Moscow have already begun discussing “dividing up certain assets" between Ukraine and Russia as part of a deal to end the conflict.Trump, who during his campaign pledged to end the war quickly, has at moments boasted of his relationship with Putin and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-trump-war-zelenskyy-putin-7fe8c0c80b4e93e3bc079c621a44e8bb">blamed Ukraine for Russia’s unprovoked invasion</a>, all while accusing Zelenskyy of unnecessarily prolonging the biggest land war in Europe since World War II.Trump had said before the call that control of land and power plants would be part of the conversation, which came on the anniversary of Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-ukraine-crimea-seizure-8245aec572fb71236febfa8735c42879">annexing Ukraine's Crimean peninsula</a>&nbsp;11 years ago. That bold land grab by Russia set the stage for Russia to invade its neighbor in 2022.Witkoff suggested that U.S. and Russian officials have discussed the fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — Europe's largest — in southern Ukraine.The plant has been caught in the crossfire since Moscow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">sent troops into Ukraine in 2022</a>&nbsp;and seized the facility shortly after. The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly expressed alarm about it, fueling fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe.The plant is a significant asset, producing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/why-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant-mattersfor-whole-world">nearly a quarter of Ukraine’s electricity</a>&nbsp;in the year before the war.After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">disastrous Feb. 28 White House meeting</a>&nbsp;with Zelenskyy, Trump temporarily cut off some military intelligence-sharing and aid to Ukraine. It was restored after the Ukrainians last week signed off on the Trump administration's 30-day ceasefire proposal.Zelenskyy in his&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1901734482639523936">nightly video address on Monday</a>&nbsp;made clear he remains doubtful that Putin is ready for peace."Now, almost a week later, it’s clear to everyone in the world — even to those who refused to acknowledge the truth for the past three years — that it is Putin who continues to drag out this war," Zelenskyy said.In his dealings with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Putin</a>, Trump has frequently focused on who has the leverage. Putin has “the cards” and Zelenskyy does not, Trump has said repeatedly.Trump, who has long shown admiration for Putin, has also made clear he'd like to see the U.S.-Russia relationship return to a more normal footing.The president during his recent contentious meeting with Zelenskyy grumbled that “Putin went through a hell of a lot with me," a reference to the federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f109a539220b41218860fa68176a9c98">investigation into Russian interference</a>&nbsp;in the 2016 presidential election in which he beat Democrat Hillary Clinton.Trump on Monday again underscored his view that Ukraine is not in a strong negotiating position. He said Russian forces have “surrounded” Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk region — amplifying an assertion made by Russian officials that's been disputed by Zelenskyy.Ukraine’s army&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-incursion-putin-1178b99b32b476816db3a48ffa06b11a">stunned Russia in August last year</a>&nbsp;by attacking across the border and taking control of an estimated 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of land. But Ukraine’s forces are now in retreat and it has all but lost a valuable bargaining chip, as momentum builds for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-sudzhba-military-occupation-17cebbc24642ab56d78112eba7eb7509">ceasefire with Russia</a>.Zelenskyy has acknowledged that the Ukrainians are on their back foot while disputing Russian claims that his troops are encircled in Kursk.Trump suggested that he's taken unspecified action that has kept Russia from slaughtering Ukrainian troops in Kursk.“They’re surrounded by Russian soldiers, and I believe if it wasn’t for me they wouldn’t be here any longer,” Trump said.The White House said the leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East and agreed “Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel.”U.S. officials have previously said that Iran has provided Russia with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-iran-ukraine-ballistic-missiles-us-intelligence-1e637abe11396989c641fa5bf3f57b24">short-range ballistic missiles</a>&nbsp;and attack drones for the war in Ukraine. The U.S. has also said that Iran has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory.___

See the readout : Trump and Putin discuss Ukraine-Russia ceasefire deal 

A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that took place at a West Side gas station in Kansas on July 4, 2024, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2535/Afterhours-Complaint-Packet-JONES-REDACTED">Orlando Smith, 22,&nbsp;</a>is charged with 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2534/Orlando-Smith-PC-Statement-Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a gas station on and observed a female victim in her vehicle with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.&nbsp;

Detectives reviewed surveillance video in the area showing a man, who detectives later identified as Smith armed with a pistol and walking toward a light pole near the gas station. An unknown man is also seen near the light pole. As the victim’s vehicle is pulling into the gas station parking lot, a muzzle flash is seen coming from where the defendant is standing.

Witnesses reported Smith got into an argument with a homeless man, fired a shot in the air, and then attacked the man. One witness stated the defendant could not control his firearm as it continued firing until he removed his finger from the trigger.&nbsp;

Detectives interviewed Smith and he admitted to shooting a Glock 22 with an extended magazine after getting into an argument with an unknown man. He said he thought he shot twice into the ground and was not aware anyone was killed.&nbsp;

The defendant is being held without bond. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741966273012.png" alt="Smith photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A Kansas City man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that took place at a West Side gas station in Kansas on July 4, 2024, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2535/Afterhours-Complaint-Packet-JONES-REDACTED">Orlando Smith, 22,&nbsp;</a>is charged with 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2534/Orlando-Smith-PC-Statement-Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a gas station on and observed a female victim in her vehicle with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.&nbsp;Detectives reviewed surveillance video in the area showing a man, who detectives later identified as Smith armed with a pistol and walking toward a light pole near the gas station. An unknown man is also seen near the light pole. As the victim’s vehicle is pulling into the gas station parking lot, a muzzle flash is seen coming from where the defendant is standing.Witnesses reported Smith got into an argument with a homeless man, fired a shot in the air, and then attacked the man. One witness stated the defendant could not control his firearm as it continued firing until he removed his finger from the trigger.&nbsp;Detectives interviewed Smith and he admitted to shooting a Glock 22 with an extended magazine after getting into an argument with an unknown man. He said he thought he shot twice into the ground and was not aware anyone was killed.&nbsp;The defendant is being held without bond. &nbsp;

Double-homicide: KC suspect told police he was unaware anyone died

RENO COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 11a.m. Monday in Hutchinson.

According to Hutchinson Police, a motorcycle operator, identified as 52-year-old Joseph L. Kelly of Hutchinson, was northbound on Monroe Street at 15th Street and struck an eastbound passenger vehicle driven by 94-year-old Doris L. Sloup of Hutchinson

EMS transported Kelly to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

The accident remains under investigation by the Hutchinson Police Department Traffic Unit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742235069353.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 11a.m. Monday in Hutchinson.According to Hutchinson Police, a motorcycle operator, identified as 52-year-old Joseph L. Kelly of Hutchinson, was northbound on Monroe Street at 15th Street and struck an eastbound passenger vehicle driven by 94-year-old Doris L. Sloup of HutchinsonEMS transported Kelly to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;The accident remains under investigation by the Hutchinson Police Department Traffic Unit.

Police ID Kansas motorcyclist who died in 2-vehicle crash

KANSAS CITY —The cause of a fire at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City is under investigation.

Just after 11p.m. Monday, Kansas City Missouri Fire crews responded to a reported fire at the Tesla car lot, 10111 Stateline Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews found two Tesla Cyber Trucks on fire. KCFD sent an additional company for additional water and a Battalion Chief. 

The fire was brought under control and the vehicles were covered with a fire blanket to prevent reignition. 

Kansas City Fire officials ordered Bomb and Arson officials to investigate. The Kansas City Police Department will assist withe the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742306039181.png" alt="Image courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The cause of a fire at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City is under investigation.Just after 11p.m. Monday, Kansas City Missouri Fire crews responded to a reported fire at the Tesla car lot, 10111 Stateline Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742305766866.png" alt="Image courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>Crews found two Tesla Cyber Trucks on fire. KCFD sent an additional company for additional water and a Battalion Chief. The fire was brought under control and the vehicles were covered with a fire blanket to prevent reignition. Kansas City Fire officials ordered Bomb and Arson officials to investigate. The Kansas City Police Department will assist withe the investigation.

Arson investigation: Tesla Cyber trucks burn at KC dealership

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA Associated Press</a>

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A gust of wind sweeps over bare soil, kicking up enough dirt and dust to cut visibility to nearly zero, and for drivers, the dust storm seems to come out of nowhere.

Such conditions resulted in a pileup on Interstate 70 last week in western Kansas involving dozens of cars and trucks that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-wildfires-deaths-eb53f6b2463a96b18a08ca9e2db266ab">left eight people dead</a>. Blinding dust also prompted New Mexico's transportation department to close Interstate 25 from the Colorado border southwest to Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Hazy or dust-darkened skies have recalled the “Dust Bowl” of the 1930s, when millions of tons of blowing soil buried farms and coated towns across the Great Plains. Lesser storms occur every year, particularly in the western U.S., particularly when farmland hasn't been planted yet in the spring. Some scientists worry that many motorists don't take them seriously enough.

“We have a very low level of public awareness of a dust storm and what damage it can cause,” said Daniel Tong, an associate professor of atmospheric chemistry at George Mason University who is among the authors of a 2023 paper on dust storm deaths.

Dust storms have a history of causing fatalities

The High Plains Museum in Goodland displays a photo of a tractor buried in blown soil in the 1930s, a reminder of the consequences of a severe drought across the Great Plains that came after farming had destroyed native grasses.

The fatalities Friday near Goodland were the first in the area in a dust storm since 2014, said Jeremy Martin, the Weather Service meteorologist in charge there.

But they came less than a month after an 11-car pileup on I-25 left three people dead, with heavy dust cited as a factor, according&nbsp;<a href="https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/three-killed-in-11-car-pileup-west-of-lordsburg/">to Albuquerque TV's KRQE.</a>&nbsp;Similarly, a dust storm on I-55 between St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois, in 2023 led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-highway-wind-dust-storm-crashes-14cf5174d293741f94a17eed9d8f4a2d">a fatal pileup</a>&nbsp;involving dozens of vehicles.

In 1991, 17 people died in an accident involving more than 100 vehicles on I-5 in California's San Joaquin Valley, blamed on blowing dust.

Tong and four co-authors concluded in their paper published in 2023 in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society that there were&nbsp;<a href="https://research.noaa.gov/how-deadly-are-dust-storms/">232 deaths</a>&nbsp;from “windblown dust events” from 2007 through 2017, far higher than the number recorded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association data.

<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-024-01506-4">In January,</a>&nbsp;he and four colleagues concluded that the economic damaged caused by wind erosion and dust is four times higher than previously calculated and more than $154 billion a year.

A cold front carries dust through western Kansas

Martin said a cold front moved through the area of the pileup after it had been warm and dry for six hours. Winds that reached 70 miles per hour (113 kph) kicked up dust that then became trapped in the cold front.

“That's when you get that classic wall of dust," he said.

As blowing dust cut visibility on the road to almost zero, drivers slowed down, causing collisions, authorities said.

A preliminary investigation found that 71 vehicles were involved, said Kansas Highway Patrol spokesperson April McCollum. Aerial photos showed at least 10 were semis.

“It was hard to even keep your eyes open outside because there was so much dust in the air,” said Jeremy Martin, the National Weather Service meteorologist in charge in Goodland. “It kind of stung to even breathe out in it.”

Similar conditions in eastern Colorado prompted the Colorado State Patrol to warn drivers: “Zero visibility due to high winds and blowing dirt.”

“You couldn’t see,” said Jerry Burkhart, the fire and emergency services chief in Lamar, Colorado. “The best thing to do is get way off the road in a parking lot or something like that.”

A lack of visibility is not the only problem

Martin said it's hard to tell how thick dust is from a distance, so motorists often don't know they won't able to see until they're in it.

Weather Service forecasters also said some of the advice for motorists in a dust storm is counter-intuitive. Michael Anand, a NWS meteorologist in Albuquerque, said motorists should pull off the road as safely as possible, turn off all lights and never use their high beams.

“You don’t want people behind you to think you’re going in the road,” Martin said. “That light from your tail light might be the only thing they can see. They’re thinking the road suddenly curves.”

High winds make cars harder to control, and a dust storm coats the road with fine particles that slow breaking, and drivers panic, Tong said.

He said dust storms are frequent and widespread enough across the U.S. that states should test prospective drivers on what to do in a dust storm on license exams.

“That could be, actually, a very easy way to educate drivers,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742057657995.png" alt="Photos by Brian James, Goodland Fire and EMS" />
 <figcaption>Photos by Brian James, Goodland Fire and EMS</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA Associated Press</a>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A gust of wind sweeps over bare soil, kicking up enough dirt and dust to cut visibility to nearly zero, and for drivers, the dust storm seems to come out of nowhere.Such conditions resulted in a pileup on Interstate 70 last week in western Kansas involving dozens of cars and trucks that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-wildfires-deaths-eb53f6b2463a96b18a08ca9e2db266ab">left eight people dead</a>. Blinding dust also prompted New Mexico's transportation department to close Interstate 25 from the Colorado border southwest to Las Vegas, New Mexico.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742075593579.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>Hazy or dust-darkened skies have recalled the “Dust Bowl” of the 1930s, when millions of tons of blowing soil buried farms and coated towns across the Great Plains. Lesser storms occur every year, particularly in the western U.S., particularly when farmland hasn't been planted yet in the spring. Some scientists worry that many motorists don't take them seriously enough.“We have a very low level of public awareness of a dust storm and what damage it can cause,” said Daniel Tong, an associate professor of atmospheric chemistry at George Mason University who is among the authors of a 2023 paper on dust storm deaths.<h2>Dust storms have a history of causing fatalities</h2>The High Plains Museum in Goodland displays a photo of a tractor buried in blown soil in the 1930s, a reminder of the consequences of a severe drought across the Great Plains that came after farming had destroyed native grasses.The fatalities Friday near Goodland were the first in the area in a dust storm since 2014, said Jeremy Martin, the Weather Service meteorologist in charge there.But they came less than a month after an 11-car pileup on I-25 left three people dead, with heavy dust cited as a factor, according&nbsp;<a href="https://www.krqe.com/news/new-mexico/three-killed-in-11-car-pileup-west-of-lordsburg/">to Albuquerque TV's KRQE.</a>&nbsp;Similarly, a dust storm on I-55 between St. Louis and Springfield, Illinois, in 2023 led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/illinois-highway-wind-dust-storm-crashes-14cf5174d293741f94a17eed9d8f4a2d">a fatal pileup</a>&nbsp;involving dozens of vehicles.In 1991, 17 people died in an accident involving more than 100 vehicles on I-5 in California's San Joaquin Valley, blamed on blowing dust.Tong and four co-authors concluded in their paper published in 2023 in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society that there were&nbsp;<a href="https://research.noaa.gov/how-deadly-are-dust-storms/">232 deaths</a>&nbsp;from “windblown dust events” from 2007 through 2017, far higher than the number recorded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association data.<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-024-01506-4">In January,</a>&nbsp;he and four colleagues concluded that the economic damaged caused by wind erosion and dust is four times higher than previously calculated and more than $154 billion a year.<h2>A cold front carries dust through western Kansas</h2>Martin said a cold front moved through the area of the pileup after it had been warm and dry for six hours. Winds that reached 70 miles per hour (113 kph) kicked up dust that then became trapped in the cold front.“That's when you get that classic wall of dust," he said.As blowing dust cut visibility on the road to almost zero, drivers slowed down, causing collisions, authorities said.A preliminary investigation found that 71 vehicles were involved, said Kansas Highway Patrol spokesperson April McCollum. Aerial photos showed at least 10 were semis.“It was hard to even keep your eyes open outside because there was so much dust in the air,” said Jeremy Martin, the National Weather Service meteorologist in charge in Goodland. “It kind of stung to even breathe out in it.”Similar conditions in eastern Colorado prompted the Colorado State Patrol to warn drivers: “Zero visibility due to high winds and blowing dirt.”“You couldn’t see,” said Jerry Burkhart, the fire and emergency services chief in Lamar, Colorado. “The best thing to do is get way off the road in a parking lot or something like that.”<h2>A lack of visibility is not the only problem</h2>Martin said it's hard to tell how thick dust is from a distance, so motorists often don't know they won't able to see until they're in it.Weather Service forecasters also said some of the advice for motorists in a dust storm is counter-intuitive. Michael Anand, a NWS meteorologist in Albuquerque, said motorists should pull off the road as safely as possible, turn off all lights and never use their high beams.“You don’t want people behind you to think you’re going in the road,” Martin said. “That light from your tail light might be the only thing they can see. They’re thinking the road suddenly curves.”High winds make cars harder to control, and a dust storm coats the road with fine particles that slow breaking, and drivers panic, Tong said.He said dust storms are frequent and widespread enough across the U.S. that states should test prospective drivers on what to do in a dust storm on license exams.“That could be, actually, a very easy way to educate drivers,” he said.

Highway pileup in western Kan. shows how dust storms can turn deadly

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal crash and are working to determine if gunfire was involved.

Just before 8:30p.m. Monday., police&nbsp; responded to a report of a crash in the 4600 block of E. Mt. Vernon in Wichita, according to Officer Andrew Ford. Fesponders located two vehicles involved in the collision.

In the first vehicle, emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures on a 46-year-old man, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. The vehicle’s other two occupants, a 45-year-old man and a 40-year-old man, sustained severe injuries and were transported to a local hospital.

The second vehicle had three occupants. EMS transported&nbsp; 40-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl to a local hospital for treatment. A 24-year-old man declined medical care.

Through further investigation, detectives now believe a possible shooting incident may have contributed to the crash. Police are working to confirm this and determine the circumstances leading up to the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742240574782.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal crash and are working to determine if gunfire was involved.Just before 8:30p.m. Monday., police&nbsp; responded to a report of a crash in the 4600 block of E. Mt. Vernon in Wichita, according to Officer Andrew Ford. Fesponders located two vehicles involved in the collision.In the first vehicle, emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures on a 46-year-old man, who was pronounced deceased at the scene. The vehicle’s other two occupants, a 45-year-old man and a 40-year-old man, sustained severe injuries and were transported to a local hospital.The second vehicle had three occupants. EMS transported&nbsp; 40-year-old woman and a 2-year-old girl to a local hospital for treatment. A 24-year-old man declined medical care.Through further investigation, detectives now believe a possible shooting incident may have contributed to the crash. Police are working to confirm this and determine the circumstances leading up to the incident.

Police: Gunfire may have caused deadly Kansas crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement continues to investigate weekend vandalism at a church in Wichita. On Monday while meeting with the media during a tour of the&nbsp;Kennedy Center, President Trump was asked about the crime.

Police in Wichita arrested a 23-year-old Saline County man identified as Michael Angel Gonzalez, according to Sedgwick County booking records, for the vandalism.

Just after 8:30 Saturday, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.

Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.

Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.

Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. Sunday, officers located and arrested Gonzalez in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.

Gonzalez is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a bond of over $500,000 on requested charges of Burglary, Criminal Desecration, and Criminal Damage to Property. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney and federal prosecutors for formal charging considerations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742206082557.png" alt="GONZALEZ-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>GONZALEZ-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement continues to investigate weekend vandalism at a church in Wichita. On Monday while meeting with the media during a tour of the&nbsp;Kennedy Center, President Trump was asked about the crime.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump says he will investigate the anti-Catholic hate crime at a Wichita, Kansas, parish. “I love Wichita.” Follow: <a href="https://twitter.com/AFpost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AFpost</a> <a href="https://t.co/b1fi33Kbb3">pic.twitter.com/b1fi33Kbb3</a>&mdash; AF Post (@AFpost) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFpost/status/1901820931577622552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Police in Wichita arrested a 23-year-old Saline County man identified as Michael Angel Gonzalez, according to Sedgwick County booking records, for the vandalism.Just after 8:30 Saturday, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkscathconf%2Fposts%2Fpfbid026gaY1WkRdEDQ7e1i3rT7xskofNW44E13p9ojGNiKWSSxZknV9o4WsWap6oMhDA3Ll&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="819" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. Sunday, officers located and arrested Gonzalez in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.Gonzalez is being held in the Sedgwick County Jail on a bond of over $500,000 on requested charges of Burglary, Criminal Desecration, and Criminal Damage to Property. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney and federal prosecutors for formal charging considerations.

🎥President Trump comments on church vandalism arrest in Kansas

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-butch-wilmore-suni-williams-432d8c3ebf8d617d2df4d3ae53db51c3">stuck astronauts</a>&nbsp;headed back to Earth with SpaceX on Tuesday to close out a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stuck-astronauts-nasa-boeing-starliner-1929d955463291701b99d4862b2c45ef">dramatic marathon mission</a>&nbsp;that began with a bungled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing test flight</a>&nbsp;more than nine months ago.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-spacewalk-2cb2b5897892449f9d4661449a88de1c">Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams</a>&nbsp;bid farewell to the International Space Station — their home since last spring — departing aboard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">a SpaceX capsule</a>&nbsp;alongside two other astronauts. The capsule undocked in the wee hours and aimed for a splashdown off the Florida coast by early evening, weather permitting.

The two expected to be gone just a week or so after launching on Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule on June 5. So many problems cropped up on the way to the space station that NASA eventually sent Starliner back empty and transferred the test pilots to SpaceX, pushing their homecoming into February. Then SpaceX capsule issues added another month’s delay.

Sunday’s arrival of their relief crew meant Wilmore and Williams could finally leave. NASA cut them loose a little early, given the iffy weather forecast later this week. They checked out with NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Alexander Gorbunov, who arrived in their own SpaceX capsule last fall with two empty seats reserved for the Starliner duo.

“We'll miss you, but have a great journey home,” NASA's Anne McClain called out from the space station as the capsule pulled away 260 miles (418 kilometers) above the Pacific.

Their plight captured the world’s attention, giving new meaning to the phrase “stuck at work.” While other astronauts had logged longer spaceflights over the decades, none had to deal with so much uncertainty or see the length of their mission expand by so much.

Wilmore and Williams quickly transitioned from guests to full-fledged station crew members, conducting experiments, fixing equipment and even spacewalking together. With 62 hours over nine spacewalks, Williams set a new record: the most time spent spacewalking over a career among female astronauts.

Both had lived on the orbiting lab before and knew the ropes, and brushed up on their station training before rocketing away. Williams became the station's commander three months into their stay and held the post until earlier this month.

Their mission took an unexpected twist in late January when President Donald Trump asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk to accelerate the astronauts’ return and blamed the delay on the Biden administration. The replacement crew’s brand new SpaceX capsule still wasn’t ready to fly, so SpaceX subbed it with a used one, hurrying things along by at least a few weeks.

Even in the middle of the political storm, Wilmore and Williams continued to maintain an even keel at public appearances from orbit, casting no blame and insisting they supported NASA’s decisions from the start.

NASA hired SpaceX and Boeing after the shuttle program ended, in order to have two competing U.S. companies for transporting astronauts to and from the space station until it's abandoned in 2030 and steered to a fiery reentry. By then, it will have been up there more than three decades; the plan is to replace it with privately run stations so NASA can focus on moon and Mars expeditions.

Both retired Navy captains, Wilmore and Williams stressed they didn’t mind spending more time in space — a prolonged deployment reminiscent of their military days. But they acknowledged it was tough on their families.

Wilmore, 62, missed most of his younger daughter’s senior year of high school; his older daughter is in college. Williams, 59, had to settle for internet calls from space to her mother. They’ll have to wait until they’re off the SpaceX recovery ship and flown to Houston before the long-awaited reunion with their loved ones.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742291660677.png" alt="Image courtesy SpaceX" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy SpaceX</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-butch-wilmore-suni-williams-432d8c3ebf8d617d2df4d3ae53db51c3">stuck astronauts</a>&nbsp;headed back to Earth with SpaceX on Tuesday to close out a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stuck-astronauts-nasa-boeing-starliner-1929d955463291701b99d4862b2c45ef">dramatic marathon mission</a>&nbsp;that began with a bungled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing test flight</a>&nbsp;more than nine months ago.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Watch Dragon depart the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> and return to Earth with the Crew-9 astronauts → <a href="https://t.co/ZZEmGU8Aar">https://t.co/ZZEmGU8Aar</a> <a href="https://t.co/kWcj6rvu1V">https://t.co/kWcj6rvu1V</a>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1901857375897923826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-spacewalk-2cb2b5897892449f9d4661449a88de1c">Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams</a>&nbsp;bid farewell to the International Space Station — their home since last spring — departing aboard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">a SpaceX capsule</a>&nbsp;alongside two other astronauts. The capsule undocked in the wee hours and aimed for a splashdown off the Florida coast by early evening, weather permitting.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742294003477.png" alt="NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members pose together for a portrait inside the vestibule between the International Space Station and the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft. Clockwise from left, are NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Suni Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. NASA" />
 <figcaption>NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 members pose together for a portrait inside the vestibule between the International Space Station and the SpaceX Dragon crew spacecraft. Clockwise from left, are NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Suni Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov. NASA</figcaption>
 </figure>The two expected to be gone just a week or so after launching on Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule on June 5. So many problems cropped up on the way to the space station that NASA eventually sent Starliner back empty and transferred the test pilots to SpaceX, pushing their homecoming into February. Then SpaceX capsule issues added another month’s delay.Sunday’s arrival of their relief crew meant Wilmore and Williams could finally leave. NASA cut them loose a little early, given the iffy weather forecast later this week. They checked out with NASA’s Nick Hague and Russia’s Alexander Gorbunov, who arrived in their own SpaceX capsule last fall with two empty seats reserved for the Starliner duo.“We'll miss you, but have a great journey home,” NASA's Anne McClain called out from the space station as the capsule pulled away 260 miles (418 kilometers) above the Pacific.Their plight captured the world’s attention, giving new meaning to the phrase “stuck at work.” While other astronauts had logged longer spaceflights over the decades, none had to deal with so much uncertainty or see the length of their mission expand by so much.Wilmore and Williams quickly transitioned from guests to full-fledged station crew members, conducting experiments, fixing equipment and even spacewalking together. With 62 hours over nine spacewalks, Williams set a new record: the most time spent spacewalking over a career among female astronauts.Both had lived on the orbiting lab before and knew the ropes, and brushed up on their station training before rocketing away. Williams became the station's commander three months into their stay and held the post until earlier this month.Their mission took an unexpected twist in late January when President Donald Trump asked SpaceX founder Elon Musk to accelerate the astronauts’ return and blamed the delay on the Biden administration. The replacement crew’s brand new SpaceX capsule still wasn’t ready to fly, so SpaceX subbed it with a used one, hurrying things along by at least a few weeks.Even in the middle of the political storm, Wilmore and Williams continued to maintain an even keel at public appearances from orbit, casting no blame and insisting they supported NASA’s decisions from the start.NASA hired SpaceX and Boeing after the shuttle program ended, in order to have two competing U.S. companies for transporting astronauts to and from the space station until it's abandoned in 2030 and steered to a fiery reentry. By then, it will have been up there more than three decades; the plan is to replace it with privately run stations so NASA can focus on moon and Mars expeditions.Both retired Navy captains, Wilmore and Williams stressed they didn’t mind spending more time in space — a prolonged deployment reminiscent of their military days. But they acknowledged it was tough on their families.Wilmore, 62, missed most of his younger daughter’s senior year of high school; his older daughter is in college. Williams, 59, had to settle for internet calls from space to her mother. They’ll have to wait until they’re off the SpaceX recovery ship and flown to Houston before the long-awaited reunion with their loved ones.___

🎥NASA's stuck astronauts are on their way back to Earth after 9 months in space

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating two deaths at a home northeast of Kansas City have identified the victims as 33-year-old Dare M. Kinney and 31-year-old Chad D. Wooten, according to a statement from police.

Just after 8:30p.m. March 10, Excelsior Springs police received a 911 call requesting a welfare check for a home in the 200 Block of Woods Avenue, according to media release.&nbsp; A family member of the residents requested the check.

First responders found the residence was secure and a family member then asked officers to force entry into the home to check on the residents. Police found the two men deceased.

Police have not released a possible cause of death but indicated the victims died of unnatural causes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating two deaths at a home northeast of Kansas City have identified the victims as 33-year-old Dare M. Kinney and 31-year-old Chad D. Wooten, according to a statement from police.Just after 8:30p.m. March 10, Excelsior Springs police received a 911 call requesting a welfare check for a home in the 200 Block of Woods Avenue, according to media release.&nbsp; A family member of the residents requested the check.First responders found the residence was secure and a family member then asked officers to force entry into the home to check on the residents. Police found the two men deceased.Police have not released a possible cause of death but indicated the victims died of unnatural causes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police: ID 2 found dead in Kansas City area home

WASHINGTON (AP)—Military leaders say the U.S. airstrikes in Yemen against Houthi targets have struck more than 30 targets since Saturday, including headquarters locations, drone launch sites and weapons storage facilities.

Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, estimated those strikes have killed “dozens” of militants and would continue in the coming days.

The strikes targeted headquarters positions and drone sites where militants the Pentagon identified as “key leaders” for the Houthis’ drone program were located, Grynkewich told reporters Monday.

During the attacks, the Houthis claimed to fire one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles in response.

At a news briefing, both Grynkewich and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the responses “didn’t come anywhere near” U.S. assets in the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.

WASHINGTON (AP)—Military leaders say the U.S. airstrikes in Yemen against Houthi targets have struck more than 30 targets since Saturday, including headquarters locations, drone launch sites and weapons storage facilities.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CENTCOM forces continue strikes against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists… <a href="https://t.co/Ao5FD7mDHW">pic.twitter.com/Ao5FD7mDHW</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1901784324812218796?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">CENTCOM forces continue operations against Iran-backed Houthi terrorists... <a href="https://t.co/zEWykoDKQR">pic.twitter.com/zEWykoDKQR</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1901428374486089974?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, director of operations for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, estimated those strikes have killed “dozens” of militants and would continue in the coming days.The strikes targeted headquarters positions and drone sites where militants the Pentagon identified as “key leaders” for the Houthis’ drone program were located, Grynkewich told reporters Monday.During the attacks, the Houthis claimed to fire one-way attack drones and ballistic missiles in response.At a news briefing, both Grynkewich and Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the responses “didn’t come anywhere near” U.S. assets in the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.

U.S. forces continue strikes against Iran-backed terrorists

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas man for alleged sex crimes.

On March 9th police began an investigation that focused on crimes committed against a 32-year-old woman that occurred at the Walmart store at 1920 U.S.73.in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 The victim had reported that on the late afternoon of March 9th as she was leaving the store she was approached by a man who identified himself as being an asset protection officer with Walmart. 

The man escorted her to a restroom at the back of of the store where he sexually assaulted her. It was quickly determined that the suspect was not working for Walmart. The investigation continued and on at around 4p.m. Sunday, police were notified that the suspect was back at Walmart, walking around the store.

 Officers located&nbsp; 42-year-old Justin Metz inside the store and took him into custody on requested charges of kidnapping, rape, and sexual battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742227712683.png" alt="Metz phot Atchison County." />
 <figcaption>Metz phot Atchison County.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas man for alleged sex crimes.On March 9th police began an investigation that focused on crimes committed against a 32-year-old woman that occurred at the Walmart store at 1920 U.S.73.in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The victim had reported that on the late afternoon of March 9th as she was leaving the store she was approached by a man who identified himself as being an asset protection officer with Walmart. The man escorted her to a restroom at the back of of the store where he sexually assaulted her. It was quickly determined that the suspect was not working for Walmart. The investigation continued and on at around 4p.m. Sunday, police were notified that the suspect was back at Walmart, walking around the store. Officers located&nbsp; 42-year-old Justin Metz inside the store and took him into custody on requested charges of kidnapping, rape, and sexual battery.

Kan. man accused of sex assault of shopper at big box store

PARIS (AP) — Hey, America: Give the Statue of Liberty back to France.

So says a French politician who is making headlines in his country for suggesting that the U.S. is no longer worthy of the monument that was a gift from France nearly 140 years ago.

White House Press Secretary on Monday afternoon responded to a question about President Trump giving the Statue of Liberty back.

As a member of the European Parliament and co-president of a small left-wing party in France, Raphaël Glucksmann cannot claim to speak for all of his compatriots.

But his assertion in a speech this weekend that some Americans “have chosen to switch to the side of the tyrants” reflects the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-europe-france-boycott-usa-trump-6e4b568ef4ae5705ac200a3986a8ebf6">broad shockwaves</a>&nbsp;that U.S. President Donald Trump’s seismic shifts in foreign and domestic policy are triggering in France and elsewhere in Europe.

“Give us back the Statue of Liberty,” Glucksmann said, speaking Sunday to supporters of his Public Place party, who applauded and whistled.

“It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her. So she will be happy here with us,” Glucksmann said.

UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural arm that has the statue on its list of World Heritage treasures, notes that the iconic monument is U.S. government property.

It was initially envisaged as a monumental gesture of French-American friendship to mark the 100th anniversary of the July 4, 1776,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/today-in-history/july-4">Declaration of Independence.</a>

But a war that erupted in 1870 between France and German states led by Prussia diverted the energies of the monument’s designer, French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi.

The gift also took time to be funded, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.quimper.bzh/uploads/Image/0a/18701_266_souscription-a-l-erection-de-la-statue-de-la-Liberte.jpg" target="_blank">a decision taken</a>&nbsp;that the French would pay for the statue and Americans would cover the costs of its pedestal.

Transported in 350 pieces from France, the statue was officially unveiled Oct. 28, 1886.

Is France’s government offering asylum to Lady Liberty?

No. French-U.S. relations would have to drop off a cliff before Glucksmann found support from French President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

For the moment, the French president is treading a fine line — trying to work with Trump and temper some of his policy shifts on the one hand but also pushing back hard against some White House decisions, notably Trump’s tariff hikes.

Macron has let his prime minister, François Bayrou, play the role of being a more critical voice.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-france-bayrou-ukraine-oval-office-1b12c5024d0aad34bd4336ef931e51f0">Bayrou tore into the “brutality”</a>&nbsp;that was shown to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-oval-office-ukraine-russia-blowup-8aa63e55c859e8fea963911478c376ee">during his White House visit</a>&nbsp;and suggested that Trump’s administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-ukraine-bayrou-macron-trump-military-drones-aef148aa847dd36722cbf0c99c901022">risked handing victory to Russia</a>&nbsp;when it paused military aid to Ukraine.

Glucksmann’s party has been even more critical, posting accusations on its website that Trump is wielding power in an “authoritarian” manner and is “preparing to deliver Ukraine on a silver platter” to Russia.

In his speech, Glucksmann referenced New York poet Emma Lazarus’ words about the statue, the “mighty woman with a torch” who promised a home for the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”

“Today, this land is ceasing to be what it was,” Glucksmann said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742235074825.png" alt="Statue of Liberty photo National Park Service" />
 <figcaption>Statue of Liberty photo National Park Service</figcaption>
 </figure>PARIS (AP) — Hey, America: Give the Statue of Liberty back to France.So says a French politician who is making headlines in his country for suggesting that the U.S. is no longer worthy of the monument that was a gift from France nearly 140 years ago.White House Press Secretary on Monday afternoon responded to a question about President Trump giving the Statue of Liberty back.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">.<a href="https://twitter.com/pdoocy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pdoocy</a>: &quot;Is President Trump going to send the Statue of Liberty back to France?&quot; .<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &quot;Absolutely not...it&#39;s only because of the United States of America that the French are not speaking German right now. So, they should be very grateful, to our great country.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/rQHFyTP7iK">pic.twitter.com/rQHFyTP7iK</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1901688362378957273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As a member of the European Parliament and co-president of a small left-wing party in France, Raphaël Glucksmann cannot claim to speak for all of his compatriots.But his assertion in a speech this weekend that some Americans “have chosen to switch to the side of the tyrants” reflects the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-europe-france-boycott-usa-trump-6e4b568ef4ae5705ac200a3986a8ebf6">broad shockwaves</a>&nbsp;that U.S. President Donald Trump’s seismic shifts in foreign and domestic policy are triggering in France and elsewhere in Europe.“Give us back the Statue of Liberty,” Glucksmann said, speaking Sunday to supporters of his Public Place party, who applauded and whistled.“It was our gift to you. But apparently you despise her. So she will be happy here with us,” Glucksmann said.<h2>Can France claim it back?</h2>Dream on.UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural arm that has the statue on its list of World Heritage treasures, notes that the iconic monument is U.S. government property.It was initially envisaged as a monumental gesture of French-American friendship to mark the 100th anniversary of the July 4, 1776,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/today-in-history/july-4">Declaration of Independence.</a>But a war that erupted in 1870 between France and German states led by Prussia diverted the energies of the monument’s designer, French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi.The gift also took time to be funded, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.quimper.bzh/uploads/Image/0a/18701_266_souscription-a-l-erection-de-la-statue-de-la-Liberte.jpg" target="_blank">a decision taken</a>&nbsp;that the French would pay for the statue and Americans would cover the costs of its pedestal.Transported in 350 pieces from France, the statue was officially unveiled Oct. 28, 1886.ADVERTISEMENT<h2>Is France’s government offering asylum to Lady Liberty?</h2>No. French-U.S. relations would have to drop off a cliff before Glucksmann found support from French President Emmanuel Macron’s government.For the moment, the French president is treading a fine line — trying to work with Trump and temper some of his policy shifts on the one hand but also pushing back hard against some White House decisions, notably Trump’s tariff hikes.Macron has let his prime minister, François Bayrou, play the role of being a more critical voice.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-france-bayrou-ukraine-oval-office-1b12c5024d0aad34bd4336ef931e51f0">Bayrou tore into the “brutality”</a>&nbsp;that was shown to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-oval-office-ukraine-russia-blowup-8aa63e55c859e8fea963911478c376ee">during his White House visit</a>&nbsp;and suggested that Trump’s administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-ukraine-bayrou-macron-trump-military-drones-aef148aa847dd36722cbf0c99c901022">risked handing victory to Russia</a>&nbsp;when it paused military aid to Ukraine.Glucksmann’s party has been even more critical, posting accusations on its website that Trump is wielding power in an “authoritarian” manner and is “preparing to deliver Ukraine on a silver platter” to Russia.In his speech, Glucksmann referenced New York poet Emma Lazarus’ words about the statue, the “mighty woman with a torch” who promised a home for the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”“Today, this land is ceasing to be what it was,” Glucksmann said.

🎥White House on French politician demanding US return Statue of Liberty

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen accused in a deadly hit-and run accident was in court Friday.

Peyton Allart, 19, Wichita, entered a guilty plea to leaving the scene of an accident that killed&nbsp;28-year-old Jaz Brooks, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 3a.m. June 23, police responded to a vehicule collision at the intersection of Central and Mclean in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

First responders discovered a dark-colored Saturn involved in the incident. The passenger, identified as Brooks, was found trapped inside the vehicle and pronounced deceased. The driver of the Saturn received an evaluation by EMS for non-lifethreatening injuries at the scene.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a black Ford F-150 had collided with the Saturn on its passenger side and fled prior to law enforcement's arrival. Officers successfully located the suspect identified as Allart and the vehicle several hours later.&nbsp; &nbsp;She is scheduled for sentencing on April 25, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719242864860.png" alt="Allart photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Allart photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen accused in a deadly hit-and run accident was in court Friday.Peyton Allart, 19, Wichita, entered a guilty plea to leaving the scene of an accident that killed&nbsp;28-year-old Jaz Brooks, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 3a.m. June 23, police responded to a vehicule collision at the intersection of Central and Mclean in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.First responders discovered a dark-colored Saturn involved in the incident. The passenger, identified as Brooks, was found trapped inside the vehicle and pronounced deceased. The driver of the Saturn received an evaluation by EMS for non-lifethreatening injuries at the scene.Preliminary investigations revealed that a black Ford F-150 had collided with the Saturn on its passenger side and fled prior to law enforcement's arrival. Officers successfully located the suspect identified as Allart and the vehicle several hours later.&nbsp; &nbsp;She is scheduled for sentencing on April 25, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas teen gets plea deal in connection with fatal crash

WASHINGTON (AP) —Trump, after he was sworn into office, ordered the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-files-trump-release-381cd547e10e4f41d27a8e020bb6a435">release of the remaining classified files</a>&nbsp;related to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-51224feebb8742a8a4e604da845c7fa8">1963 assassination</a>&nbsp;of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jfk-assassination">John F. Kennedy</a>.

While at the Kennedy Center, Trump told reporters his administration will release 80,000 files on Tuesday, though it’s not clear how many of those are among the millions of documents that have already been made public.

“We have a tremendous amount of paper. You’ve got a lot of reading,” Trump said to reporters.

He also said he doesn’t believe anything will be redacted from the files.

“I said, ‘Just don’t redact. You can’t redact,’” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700660678254.png" alt="FILE - In this Nov. 22, 1963 file photo, President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot in Dallas. Riding with Kennedy are First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, right, Nellie Connally, second from left, and her husband, Texas Gov. John Connally, far left. (AP Photo/Jim Altgens, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - In this Nov. 22, 1963 file photo, President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot in Dallas. Riding with Kennedy are First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, right, Nellie Connally, second from left, and her husband, Texas Gov. John Connally, far left. (AP Photo/Jim Altgens, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Trump, after he was sworn into office, ordered the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-files-trump-release-381cd547e10e4f41d27a8e020bb6a435">release of the remaining classified files</a>&nbsp;related to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-51224feebb8742a8a4e604da845c7fa8">1963 assassination</a>&nbsp;of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jfk-assassination">John F. Kennedy</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump on JFK Files: &quot;We are tomorrow announcing and giving all of the Kennedy files...I don&#39;t believe we are are going to redact anything...it&#39;s going to be very interesting...approximately 80,000 pages.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0NW4QdLSzL">pic.twitter.com/0NW4QdLSzL</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1901732784483308013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>While at the Kennedy Center, Trump told reporters his administration will release 80,000 files on Tuesday, though it’s not clear how many of those are among the millions of documents that have already been made public.“We have a tremendous amount of paper. You’ve got a lot of reading,” Trump said to reporters.He also said he doesn’t believe anything will be redacted from the files.“I said, ‘Just don’t redact. You can’t redact,’” he said.

🎥Trump: Files on JFK assassination to be released Tuesday

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A former pastor of a Texas megachurch accused of child sexual abuse surrendered to Oklahoma authorities Monday.

Robert Preston Morris, 63, turned himself in to officials in Osage County, where he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-megachurch-pastor-child-sexual-abuse-charges-7780fee17c2f670f1ef34a8d72bc6a14">charged last week</a>&nbsp;with five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, Phil Bacharach, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, told The Associated Press.

Court records show an Osage County judge set a $50,000 bond and ordered Morris to surrender his passport.

Morris is expected to make an initial appearance before a judge at 10 a.m. on May 9, Bacharach said.

Attorney Mack Martin declined to comment on the charges but said he anticipated entering a not guilty plea on Morris' behalf.

Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-pastor-robert-morris-abuse-cb2c633de3a5d43538141c1736e33245">resigned last year</a>&nbsp;as pastor of Gateway Church in the Dallas suburb of Southlake after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her in the 1980s.

The victim, referred to in the indictment as C.C., told authorities the abuse started when she was 12 years old and Morris was a traveling evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma, with her family, according to the attorney general’s office. She said the abuse continued for four years.

Cindy Clemishire, Morris’ accuser, said in a statement that she is very grateful to the authorities who have worked to make the indictment possible and is hopeful “justice will ultimately prevail.”

“After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child,” said Clemishire, now 55. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.”

The AP typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted, but Clemishire said she would like her name included.

Morris was known to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6725d707f61847ebb770bad1ca3a2376">politically active</a>. The church hosted President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on its Dallas campus in 2020 for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-says-hell-pursue-police-use-of-force-standard-5278fb5b255c9ddf1aface6636a0d848">discussion on race relations</a>&nbsp;and the economy.

Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges, according to the attorney general’s office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742233797006.png" alt="Morris photo Osage Co. Oklahoma Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Morris photo Osage Co. Oklahoma Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A former pastor of a Texas megachurch accused of child sexual abuse surrendered to Oklahoma authorities Monday.Robert Preston Morris, 63, turned himself in to officials in Osage County, where he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-megachurch-pastor-child-sexual-abuse-charges-7780fee17c2f670f1ef34a8d72bc6a14">charged last week</a>&nbsp;with five counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, Phil Bacharach, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, told The Associated Press.Court records show an Osage County judge set a $50,000 bond and ordered Morris to surrender his passport.Morris is expected to make an initial appearance before a judge at 10 a.m. on May 9, Bacharach said.Attorney Mack Martin declined to comment on the charges but said he anticipated entering a not guilty plea on Morris' behalf.Morris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-pastor-robert-morris-abuse-cb2c633de3a5d43538141c1736e33245">resigned last year</a>&nbsp;as pastor of Gateway Church in the Dallas suburb of Southlake after a woman accused him of sexually abusing her in the 1980s.The victim, referred to in the indictment as C.C., told authorities the abuse started when she was 12 years old and Morris was a traveling evangelist staying in Hominy, Oklahoma, with her family, according to the attorney general’s office. She said the abuse continued for four years.Cindy Clemishire, Morris’ accuser, said in a statement that she is very grateful to the authorities who have worked to make the indictment possible and is hopeful “justice will ultimately prevail.”“After almost 43 years, the law has finally caught up with Robert Morris for the horrific crimes he committed against me as a child,” said Clemishire, now 55. “Now, it is time for the legal system to hold him accountable.”The AP typically does not name people who say they have been sexually assaulted, but Clemishire said she would like her name included.Morris was known to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6725d707f61847ebb770bad1ca3a2376">politically active</a>. The church hosted President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on its Dallas campus in 2020 for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-says-hell-pursue-police-use-of-force-standard-5278fb5b255c9ddf1aface6636a0d848">discussion on race relations</a>&nbsp;and the economy.Morris could face up to 20 years in prison for each of the five charges, according to the attorney general’s office.

Former megachurch pastor accused of child sex abuse surrenders 

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A federal judge dismissed the charges Monday against a Minnesota man accused of hiding a stolen pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in the 1939 musical “The Wizard of Oz” after prosecutors informed the court that he died on Sunday.

Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, of Crystal, who had been in poor health with lung disease and other ailments, had been scheduled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-plea-b837881c5cf57961400763123d01db2c">change his plea to guilty</a>&nbsp;in January but that hearing was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-plea-89b213b57a7a9fdbed4240a7ffc5717e">postponed indefinitely</a>&nbsp;after he was hospitalized.

Federal prosecutor Matthew Greenley notified the court in a one-page motion Monday that Saliterman died Sunday but did not say how or where. U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz granted the request and dropped the charges.

Defense attorney John Brink confirmed Monday that his client had died but declined to give details. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Fargo, North Dakota, which is handling the case, did not immediately return a phone call seeking further information.

According to court filings, Saliterman was hospitalized in early January "for inability to walk and sepsis,” an infection that can be life-threatening. He attended his arraignment three days later via video from what looked like a hospital room. In an update to the court late last month, Brink told the court that his client had been discharged to a hospice facility and that his prognosis was poor. An accompanying letter from his doctor listed severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring supplemental oxygen and Parkinson's disease.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684352824766.png" alt="FILE - A pair of ruby slippers once worn by actress Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz" sit on display at a news conference on Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - A pair of ruby slippers once worn by actress Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz" sit on display at a news conference on Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A federal judge dismissed the charges Monday against a Minnesota man accused of hiding a stolen pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in the 1939 musical “The Wizard of Oz” after prosecutors informed the court that he died on Sunday.Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, of Crystal, who had been in poor health with lung disease and other ailments, had been scheduled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-plea-b837881c5cf57961400763123d01db2c">change his plea to guilty</a>&nbsp;in January but that hearing was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-plea-89b213b57a7a9fdbed4240a7ffc5717e">postponed indefinitely</a>&nbsp;after he was hospitalized.Federal prosecutor Matthew Greenley notified the court in a one-page motion Monday that Saliterman died Sunday but did not say how or where. U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz granted the request and dropped the charges.Defense attorney John Brink confirmed Monday that his client had died but declined to give details. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Fargo, North Dakota, which is handling the case, did not immediately return a phone call seeking further information.According to court filings, Saliterman was hospitalized in early January "for inability to walk and sepsis,” an infection that can be life-threatening. He attended his arraignment three days later via video from what looked like a hospital room. In an update to the court late last month, Brink told the court that his client had been discharged to a hospice facility and that his prognosis was poor. An accompanying letter from his doctor listed severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring supplemental oxygen and Parkinson's disease.Saliterman was in a wheelchair and on oxygen last March when he made his first court appearance. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wizard-oz-ruby-slippers-dorothy-judy-garland-e96057028c8d1b5ab6c4ffeef28fd123">charged then</a>&nbsp;with theft of a major artwork and witness tampering for his role in the ruby slippers case.The sequined red slippers were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids. Their whereabouts remained a mystery for nearly 13 years until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">the FBI recovered them in 2018</a>. They fetched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-auction-6d5ccf8af71e1d7941d6f01ae4653b76">a record for movie memorabilia of $32.5 million</a>&nbsp;in December, according to Heritage Auctions. The slippers were one of several pairs Garland wore during the filming. Only&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-minnesota-6a5231773021fab3ef7e39b4a2568799">three other pairs</a>&nbsp;remain.