WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;refused Monday to hear a pair of cases from abortion opponents who say laws limiting anti-abortion demonstrations near clinics violate their First Amendment rights.

The majority did not explain their reasoning for turning down the appeals, as is typical, but two conservative justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, disagreed.

The cities said the laws were passed to address disturbing behavior from protesters outside of health care clinics. But anti-abortion activists said the measures violate free-speech rights and should be on their “deathbed” after the justices overturned Roe v. Wade and the nationwide right to abortion.

One case comes from Carbondale, Illinois, which is located near the state’s southern border and passed an ordinance after becoming a destination for patients from nearby states with abortion bans. The measure was quickly challenged in court, and has never been enforced. The city argued the appeal should be tossed because the ordinance was repealed shortly before abortion opponents went to the Supreme Court.

The other case is from New Jersey, where activist Jeryl Turco says she has approached women in Englewood for years to try to convince them not to have abortions. She says an 8-foot demonstration-free zone the city passed in 2014 in response to an aggressive group of protesters also wrongly kept her from approaching women.

Englewood argues that Turco has still been able to share her message outside of the immediate area near clinic entrances. Lower courts have ultimately upheld the ordinance, finding it isn’t a major First Amendment burden.

Both challengers pointed out that the high court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/supreme-court-of-the-united-states-united-states-government-ad21203f05a74da4a5227ae061d8b0fc">struck down</a>&nbsp;a Massachusetts law creating 35-foot demonstration free&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/31d02c9336e9f3c2a5d9dea4a883e72c">“buffer zones”</a>&nbsp;around clinic doors in 2014. They say the Illinois and New Jersey laws should meet the same fate.

But cities say their rules are in line with a different Supreme Court decision from 2000, when the high court allowed a Colorado law to stand. It barred people from getting within 8 feet of others without permission in a 100-foot “bubble zone” around clinics.

Thomas said that case, known as Hill v. Colorado, was wrongly decided. In a dissent from the decision to decline the Illinois case, he said that the court wrongly treated it differently than other First Amendment cases because abortion was involved. “Hill has been seriously undermined, if not completely eroded, and our refusal to provide clarity is an abdication of our judicial duty,” he wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740446896339.png" alt="Planned Parenthood in Wichita-Google image" />
 <figcaption>Planned Parenthood in Wichita-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;refused Monday to hear a pair of cases from abortion opponents who say laws limiting anti-abortion demonstrations near clinics violate their First Amendment rights.The majority did not explain their reasoning for turning down the appeals, as is typical, but two conservative justices, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, disagreed.The cities said the laws were passed to address disturbing behavior from protesters outside of health care clinics. But anti-abortion activists said the measures violate free-speech rights and should be on their “deathbed” after the justices overturned Roe v. Wade and the nationwide right to abortion.One case comes from Carbondale, Illinois, which is located near the state’s southern border and passed an ordinance after becoming a destination for patients from nearby states with abortion bans. The measure was quickly challenged in court, and has never been enforced. The city argued the appeal should be tossed because the ordinance was repealed shortly before abortion opponents went to the Supreme Court.The other case is from New Jersey, where activist Jeryl Turco says she has approached women in Englewood for years to try to convince them not to have abortions. She says an 8-foot demonstration-free zone the city passed in 2014 in response to an aggressive group of protesters also wrongly kept her from approaching women.Englewood argues that Turco has still been able to share her message outside of the immediate area near clinic entrances. Lower courts have ultimately upheld the ordinance, finding it isn’t a major First Amendment burden.Both challengers pointed out that the high court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/supreme-court-of-the-united-states-united-states-government-ad21203f05a74da4a5227ae061d8b0fc">struck down</a>&nbsp;a Massachusetts law creating 35-foot demonstration free&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/31d02c9336e9f3c2a5d9dea4a883e72c">“buffer zones”</a>&nbsp;around clinic doors in 2014. They say the Illinois and New Jersey laws should meet the same fate.But cities say their rules are in line with a different Supreme Court decision from 2000, when the high court allowed a Colorado law to stand. It barred people from getting within 8 feet of others without permission in a 100-foot “bubble zone” around clinics.Thomas said that case, known as Hill v. Colorado, was wrongly decided. In a dissent from the decision to decline the Illinois case, he said that the court wrongly treated it differently than other First Amendment cases because abortion was involved. “Hill has been seriously undermined, if not completely eroded, and our refusal to provide clarity is an abdication of our judicial duty,” he wrote.

Supreme Court won't hear challenge to abortion clinic buffer zones

HARVEY COUNTY —Police in Hesston are investigating four suspects on multiple allegations after an arrest on Sunday in Hesston.

According to a social media report from&nbsp; Hesston Police Chief Chris Eilert,&nbsp;a shoplifting incident at Casey’s truck stop led to a traffic stop on Meadow Lane close to Park Road.

"The two suspects in the shoplifting had already been dropped off at King Park.  When those two noticed the traffic stop they fled on foot in different directions.  One was apprehended by a Harvey County Sheriff’s Deputy on the west side of King Park without incident. The second person was spotted on a porch in the area of Pheasant Run and Lincoln Blvd."

"When the Officer approached the porch the suspect was no longer there.  The officer knocked on the door and when the homeowner came to the door they relayed that the individual had entered their residence and was hiding in the shower. The suspect was arrested without incident."

Another passenger of the car was transported by Hesston EMS to Newton Medical Center for a medical condition.  

A search of the vehicle revealed numerous narcotics and paraphernalia along with the items stolen from Casey’s  

'The driver was arrested for the narcotics and paraphernalia. The subject in King park was arrested for theft, narcotics and paraphernalia.  The suspect taken into custody in the home was arrested for Aggravated Burglary, kidnapping, theft, narcotics and paraphernalia."

"The person transported by EMS will be charged with narcotics possession and paraphernalia," according Eilert.

There were no weapons found on any of the suspects or in the vehicle and none of the suspects are believed to be residents of Hesston or Harvey County.  The narcotics siezed are believed to be Fentanyl, Methamphtamine and Marijuana.  

"Again we want to reassure people that this was a one time incident with no planning on the part of the suspects.  If there was an on going threat to the safety of our resident’s we would notify you all immediately in several ways."

"Out of respect for the victim we will not be sharing names or details that may hamper the prosecution of this case,"&nbsp; Eilert wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680810732040.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —Police in Hesston are investigating four suspects on multiple allegations after an arrest on Sunday in Hesston.According to a social media report from&nbsp; Hesston Police Chief Chris Eilert,&nbsp;a shoplifting incident at Casey’s truck stop led to a traffic stop on Meadow Lane close to Park Road."The two suspects in the shoplifting had already been dropped off at King Park. When those two noticed the traffic stop they fled on foot in different directions. One was apprehended by a Harvey County Sheriff’s Deputy on the west side of King Park without incident. The second person was spotted on a porch in the area of Pheasant Run and Lincoln Blvd.""When the Officer approached the porch the suspect was no longer there. The officer knocked on the door and when the homeowner came to the door they relayed that the individual had entered their residence and was hiding in the shower. The suspect was arrested without incident."Another passenger of the car was transported by Hesston EMS to Newton Medical Center for a medical condition. A search of the vehicle revealed numerous narcotics and paraphernalia along with the items stolen from Casey’s 'The driver was arrested for the narcotics and paraphernalia. The subject in King park was arrested for theft, narcotics and paraphernalia. The suspect taken into custody in the home was arrested for Aggravated Burglary, kidnapping, theft, narcotics and paraphernalia.""The person transported by EMS will be charged with narcotics possession and paraphernalia," according Eilert.There were no weapons found on any of the suspects or in the vehicle and none of the suspects are believed to be residents of Hesston or Harvey County. The narcotics siezed are believed to be Fentanyl, Methamphtamine and Marijuana. "Again we want to reassure people that this was a one time incident with no planning on the part of the suspects. If there was an on going threat to the safety of our resident’s we would notify you all immediately in several ways.""Out of respect for the victim we will not be sharing names or details that may hamper the prosecution of this case,"&nbsp; Eilert wrote.

Kansas shoplifting investigation led to fentanyl bust

WASHINGTON (AP)—Federal employees across the country, many of whom have worked from home since the COVID-19 pandemic, were back at agency offices Monday under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyouts-to-all-federal-employees-f67f5751a0fd5ad8471806a5a1067b5e">President Donald Trump’s return-to-office mandate</a>.

Billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-firings-layoffs-federal-government-workers-musk-d33cdd7872d64d2bdd8fe70c28652654">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;scouring government agencies for suspected waste, delivered a warning Monday to workers on his platform X.

“Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave,” Musk wrote.

Lee Zeldin, Trump’s new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Monday on X, formerly Twitter, “Full-time, COVID-era remote work is DONE under @POTUS leadership.”

In a video he posted, Zeldin said average attendance at EPA headquarters on Mondays and Fridays last year was less than 9% of employees.

“Our spacious, beautiful EPA headquarters spans two city blocks in D.C. across five buildings,” Zeldin said. “But our hallways have been too vacant, desks empty and cubicles filled with unoccupied chairs.”

It appears at least some federal agencies are not prepared for all remote workers to return to the office.

In an email to U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid employees on Friday obtained by The Associated Press, agency officials noted that some regional offices in Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco were not ready for workers to return. The message also noted that employees who live more than 50 miles from regional offices in some major cities would not be required to return to the office Monday.

“We should treat it like the first day of school — plan a little time in your calendar to get oriented, find your way around, and figure out how to connect in the conference rooms, etc.,” the email said. “There will, no doubt, be some who get lost or are late to class or have to scramble to find a seat because of a snafu.”

The email also noted that while some workers would begin reporting to offices Monday, others would begin relocating back to offices in phases through April and beyond.

Mike Galletly, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 4016, said the information technology workers he represents at the U.S. Department of Agriculture across the country have been struggling to comply with the back-to-office mandate.

“For my bargaining unit members, it’s been a whole lot of work scrambling to find hardware for people, monitors, docking stations,” Galletly said. “You have an office that up until this month normally seated four people. Now they have to seat eight people.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is directing its remote employees to return to offices, even if they were hired into a remote role.

Federal workers with the department received the formal notice Monday in an email that was sent to employees who work more than 50 miles from a regional office. It says they will need to report to an office by April 28.

The federal government employed more than 3 million people as of November of last year. That accounted for nearly 1.9% of the nation’s entire civilian workforce, according to the Pew Research Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740092856543.png" alt="Billionaire Elon Musk&nbsp;appeared at a conservative gathering outside Washington on Thursday waving a chainsaw in the air, showing openness to auditing the Federal Reserve and accusing Democrats of “treason.”Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Billionaire Elon Musk&nbsp;appeared at a conservative gathering outside Washington on Thursday waving a chainsaw in the air, showing openness to auditing the Federal Reserve and accusing Democrats of “treason.”Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—Federal employees across the country, many of whom have worked from home since the COVID-19 pandemic, were back at agency offices Monday under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-buyouts-to-all-federal-employees-f67f5751a0fd5ad8471806a5a1067b5e">President Donald Trump’s return-to-office mandate</a>.Billionaire Elon Musk, who is leading Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-firings-layoffs-federal-government-workers-musk-d33cdd7872d64d2bdd8fe70c28652654">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;scouring government agencies for suspected waste, delivered a warning Monday to workers on his platform X.“Starting this week, those who still fail to return to office will be placed on administrative leave,” Musk wrote.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Mondays and Fridays all of last year, <a href="https://twitter.com/EPA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EPA</a> HQs only had 8.9% daily attendance. Not under <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>’ watch. It’s time for our talented staff to return to work in the office full-time. Part of being good stewards of tax dollars means showing up every day to do our job. <a href="https://t.co/4A7m0B1BVo">pic.twitter.com/4A7m0B1BVo</a>&mdash; Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) <a href="https://twitter.com/epaleezeldin/status/1891833502506553812?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lee Zeldin, Trump’s new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, said Monday on X, formerly Twitter, “Full-time, COVID-era remote work is DONE under @POTUS leadership.”In a video he posted, Zeldin said average attendance at EPA headquarters on Mondays and Fridays last year was less than 9% of employees.“Our spacious, beautiful EPA headquarters spans two city blocks in D.C. across five buildings,” Zeldin said. “But our hallways have been too vacant, desks empty and cubicles filled with unoccupied chairs.”It appears at least some federal agencies are not prepared for all remote workers to return to the office.In an email to U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid employees on Friday obtained by The Associated Press, agency officials noted that some regional offices in Boston, Chicago, New York and San Francisco were not ready for workers to return. The message also noted that employees who live more than 50 miles from regional offices in some major cities would not be required to return to the office Monday.“We should treat it like the first day of school — plan a little time in your calendar to get oriented, find your way around, and figure out how to connect in the conference rooms, etc.,” the email said. “There will, no doubt, be some who get lost or are late to class or have to scramble to find a seat because of a snafu.”ADVERTISEMENTThe email also noted that while some workers would begin reporting to offices Monday, others would begin relocating back to offices in phases through April and beyond.Mike Galletly, president of American Federation of Government Employees Local 4016, said the information technology workers he represents at the U.S. Department of Agriculture across the country have been struggling to comply with the back-to-office mandate.“For my bargaining unit members, it’s been a whole lot of work scrambling to find hardware for people, monitors, docking stations,” Galletly said. “You have an office that up until this month normally seated four people. Now they have to seat eight people.”The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is directing its remote employees to return to offices, even if they were hired into a remote role.Federal workers with the department received the formal notice Monday in an email that was sent to employees who work more than 50 miles from a regional office. It says they will need to report to an office by April 28.The federal government employed more than 3 million people as of November of last year. That accounted for nearly 1.9% of the nation’s entire civilian workforce, according to the Pew Research Center.—-

Federal workers return to offices amid threat from Elon Musk

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating the January 31 armed bank robbery at US Bank, 10959 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas have arrested two suspects.

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department arrested two suspects whom they believe are responsible for the January 31st armed robbery of the US Bank at 10959 Parallel Parkway.

Just before 1:30 p.m. Monday, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department Special Operations Unit attempted to serve a warrant for 51-year-old Willie Sampson at his residence in the area of N. 37th and Wood Avenue, according to a media release.

 Sampson ignored commands and barricaded himself inside for nearly two hours. He voluntarily exited the home around 3:15p.m. and was arrested without incident.

Earlier in the day, Sampson’s wife, 50-year-old Kimberly Thomas-Sampson of Kansas City, Kan., was also taken into custody without incident at her place of employment.

The couple have each been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated non- residential burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and theft. They are being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on $250,000 bonds each.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738808549262.png" alt="Photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>Photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating the January 31 armed bank robbery at US Bank, 10959 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas have arrested two suspects.The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department arrested two suspects whom they believe are responsible for the January 31st armed robbery of the US Bank at 10959 Parallel Parkway.Just before 1:30 p.m. Monday, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department Special Operations Unit attempted to serve a warrant for 51-year-old Willie Sampson at his residence in the area of N. 37th and Wood Avenue, according to a media release. Sampson ignored commands and barricaded himself inside for nearly two hours. He voluntarily exited the home around 3:15p.m. and was arrested without incident.Earlier in the day, Sampson’s wife, 50-year-old Kimberly Thomas-Sampson of Kansas City, Kan., was also taken into custody without incident at her place of employment.The couple have each been charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, aggravated non- residential burglary, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, and theft. They are being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on $250,000 bonds each.

Kansas couple arrested for alleged bank robbery

CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.

Trooper Peterson checked the speed of&nbsp; a driver traveling 109mph northbound toward Concordia and was still at 91mph entering a 55mph zone in city limits, according to a statement from the Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C.

"Speed limits exist for a reason—reaction time, stopping distance, and safety for everyone on the road. Slow down. Troopers are out working hard to keep Kansas roadways safe."&nbsp; The driver was given a ticket for $438.00.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740481785060.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.Trooper Peterson checked the speed of&nbsp; a driver traveling 109mph northbound toward Concordia and was still at 91mph entering a 55mph zone in city limits, according to a statement from the Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C."Speed limits exist for a reason—reaction time, stopping distance, and safety for everyone on the road. Slow down. Troopers are out working hard to keep Kansas roadways safe."&nbsp; The driver was given a ticket for $438.00.

KHP: Driver caught traveling 109mph in a 70mph zone

Elected officials from Jackson County will travel to the state Capitol Wednesday to meet with legislative leaders and Gov. Mike Kehoe about stadium funding ideas

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

A pair of state senators are laying the groundwork for Clay County to compete for a new Chiefs training facility or Royals stadium, while the top Republican in the Missouri House is imploring Jackson County leaders to come up with a new plan to keep the teams from leaving the state.&nbsp;

Both teams&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/chiefs-royals-ask-kansas-for-incentives-to-allow-teams-to-leave-missouri/">publicly expressed interest in moving from Missouri to Kansas</a>&nbsp;after Jackson County voters rejected a proposal last year to extend a 3/8-cent sales tax to help finance a downtown Kansas City baseball stadium and upgrades to Arrowhead Stadium.&nbsp;

Kansas lawmakers responded by expanding a tax incentive program in the hopes of convincing one or both teams to relocate. The leases for both teams’ Jackson County stadiums run through the end of the 2030 season.&nbsp;

State Sens. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, and Kurtis Gregory, a Marshall Republican, filed legislation last week to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/bts_web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=5391365" target="_blank">authorize Clay County to establish a county sports complex authority</a>&nbsp;for the purpose of “developing or maintaining sports, convention, exhibition or trade facilities.”

The idea goes back more than two years, Nurrenbern said, when the Royals were considering a new stadium location in North Kansas City,

“As far as I am aware, there have not been any recent talks with the Royals in terms of the team coming to Clay County,” Nurrenbern said, though she added the idea should “absolutely still be on the table, because the location is incredible and sits smack dab in the center of the metro population.”

But creating a sports authority would not just open up the possibility of a new stadium, she said. There are also “real conversations” taking place between&nbsp;<a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/clay-county-leader-would-love-to-explore-new-chiefs-facility-idea/" target="_blank">the Chiefs ownership and Clay County officials</a>&nbsp;about using the site for the team’s new training facilities and headquarters.&nbsp;

“The Chiefs want state of the art facilities. And this would really give them that option,” Nurrenbern said. “From the City of North Kansas City to the Jackson County sports complex and Arrowhead, you’re talking a 15 minute drive at max.”

While Clay County tries to get its ducks in a row, House Speaker Jon Patterson of Lee’s Summit is urging local leaders in Jackson County to come up with a new plan to keep the teams in Missouri after last year’s failed sales tax vote.

Local financial support will need to happen, he said, before the state can consider getting involved.&nbsp;

“The time is running out,” Patterson told reporters at his weekly press conference on Thursday. “It is time for a plan and course of action. And I do want to reiterate, I do think this is going to be something that has to happen in the county first and then the state.”

Patterson said Jackson County officials will travel to the state Capitol Wednesday to meet with legislative leaders and Gov. Mike Kehoe.&nbsp;

The Royals first announced an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article287849540.html" target="_blank">intention to leave Kauffman Stadium</a>&nbsp;in November 2022. The move would allow the Chiefs to remain in Arrowhead, demolish Kauffman and build a covered entertainment center.

Officials in Jackson County and Kansas City began scrambling to figure out how to keep the Royals from leaving Missouri. By the spring of 2023, Clay County leaders announced interest in building a stadium in North Kansas City that could become the Royals new home.&nbsp;

The Royals solicited proposals for a downtown Kansas City and North Kansas City site a few months later, and released renderings of possible stadiums at both locations in August 2023.&nbsp;

Soon after, a poll was leaked to the media showing 70% of Clay County voters opposed a new sales tax to fund a stadium in North Kansas City. Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article278986864.html" target="_blank">weeks of media speculation</a>, no one claimed credit for the poll, which was widely seen as an attempt to shake the confidence of Royals ownership in the viability of a Clay County proposal.&nbsp;

Critics, who called the survey a “push poll” meant to deceive the public, said&nbsp;sabotaging any potential site in Missouri only increases the likelihood that the team ends up in Kansas.&nbsp;

“Anything that is used for a deceptive purpose should raise some red flags, and I think that’s exactly what that push poll did,” Nurrenbern said. “I don’t think this ever should have been about Clay versus Jackson County. It’s what’s good for our area, and that’s what I’m going to continue to be focused on.”

It wasn’t until more than a year later that documents provided to The Independent revealed it was a political action committee formed to support Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas that paid for the Clay County polling. A staffer using a Lucas campaign email address requested the poll be commissioned.&nbsp;

At the time, Lucas didn’t mention any involvement in the poll by the PAC or his campaign in a response to&nbsp;<a href="https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/pollster-wont-reveal-funder-behind-royals-stadium-survey-in-clay-county/" target="_blank">Fox 4 reporters</a>. And to&nbsp;obscure the PAC’s involvement, Lucas’ then-chief of staff, Morgan Said, requested the PAC&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/13/campaign-committee-controlled-by-kc-mayor-requested-poll-he-denied-involvement-in/">change its financial disclosure forms to list the expense as “research” instead of “polling.”</a>

“…we paid Bold Decisions to do that Royals poll,” Said told the PAC’s compliance officer in an Oct. 9, 2023, phone call that was recorded and shared with The Independent.&nbsp;

“I don’t know how much of a news reader you are these days,” she said, “but it was like a big whodunnit, and, you know, actually nobody ever found out who paid for it.”

By April 2024, Jackson County voters resoundingly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-mayor-quinton-lucas-officially-endorses-yes-vote-on-stadium-sales-tax-missouri-jackson-county/60349862" target="_blank">rejected the stadium sales tax measure supported by Lucas</a>&nbsp;and other local elected officials.

Gregory, whose state Senate district includes a portion of Clay County, said Missouri leaders should take an all-of-the-above approach to finding a home for the Royals.&nbsp;

“We should make sure that all options are potentially on the table,” Gregory said, adding: “Clay County is a very viable option. Downtown (Kansas City) is a viable option. The goal should be to keep the team in Missouri.”&nbsp;

Legislation authorizing a Clay County sports authority “is all about keeping both teams in the state of Missouri. Period,” Nurrenbern said. “So we want to be good partners with Jackson County, and if the teams make the choice to come to Clay County, we want to make sure that the appropriate language is there on the books to permit a sports authority.”

As for Jackson County, local leaders will need to decide whether “they want to support this venture,” Patterson said, “or will they have an empty parking lot or empty stadiums, which is not free. It costs a lot of money to maintain stadiums that are empty and it costs a lot of money to tear down stadiums.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740445872877.png" alt=" State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern is introduced to the Missouri Senate on the first day of the 2025 legislative session (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern is introduced to the Missouri Senate on the first day of the 2025 legislative session (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Elected officials from Jackson County will travel to the state Capitol Wednesday to meet with legislative leaders and Gov. Mike Kehoe about stadium funding ideas</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>A pair of state senators are laying the groundwork for Clay County to compete for a new Chiefs training facility or Royals stadium, while the top Republican in the Missouri House is imploring Jackson County leaders to come up with a new plan to keep the teams from leaving the state.&nbsp;Both teams&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/chiefs-royals-ask-kansas-for-incentives-to-allow-teams-to-leave-missouri/">publicly expressed interest in moving from Missouri to Kansas</a>&nbsp;after Jackson County voters rejected a proposal last year to extend a 3/8-cent sales tax to help finance a downtown Kansas City baseball stadium and upgrades to Arrowhead Stadium.&nbsp;Kansas lawmakers responded by expanding a tax incentive program in the hopes of convincing one or both teams to relocate. The leases for both teams’ Jackson County stadiums run through the end of the 2030 season.&nbsp;State Sens. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, and Kurtis Gregory, a Marshall Republican, filed legislation last week to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/bts_web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=5391365" target="_blank">authorize Clay County to establish a county sports complex authority</a>&nbsp;for the purpose of “developing or maintaining sports, convention, exhibition or trade facilities.”The idea goes back more than two years, Nurrenbern said, when the Royals were considering a new stadium location in North Kansas City,“As far as I am aware, there have not been any recent talks with the Royals in terms of the team coming to Clay County,” Nurrenbern said, though she added the idea should “absolutely still be on the table, because the location is incredible and sits smack dab in the center of the metro population.”But creating a sports authority would not just open up the possibility of a new stadium, she said. There are also “real conversations” taking place between&nbsp;<a href="https://fox4kc.com/news/clay-county-leader-would-love-to-explore-new-chiefs-facility-idea/" target="_blank">the Chiefs ownership and Clay County officials</a>&nbsp;about using the site for the team’s new training facilities and headquarters.&nbsp;“The Chiefs want state of the art facilities. And this would really give them that option,” Nurrenbern said. “From the City of North Kansas City to the Jackson County sports complex and Arrowhead, you’re talking a 15 minute drive at max.”While Clay County tries to get its ducks in a row, House Speaker Jon Patterson of Lee’s Summit is urging local leaders in Jackson County to come up with a new plan to keep the teams in Missouri after last year’s failed sales tax vote.Local financial support will need to happen, he said, before the state can consider getting involved.&nbsp;“The time is running out,” Patterson told reporters at his weekly press conference on Thursday. “It is time for a plan and course of action. And I do want to reiterate, I do think this is going to be something that has to happen in the county first and then the state.”Patterson said Jackson County officials will travel to the state Capitol Wednesday to meet with legislative leaders and Gov. Mike Kehoe.&nbsp;<h2>Jackson or Clay?</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709665032862.png" alt=" A rendering of the Royals proposed downtown ballpark (image submitted)." />
 <figcaption> A rendering of the Royals proposed downtown ballpark (image submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>The Royals first announced an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article287849540.html" target="_blank">intention to leave Kauffman Stadium</a>&nbsp;in November 2022. The move would allow the Chiefs to remain in Arrowhead, demolish Kauffman and build a covered entertainment center.Officials in Jackson County and Kansas City began scrambling to figure out how to keep the Royals from leaving Missouri. By the spring of 2023, Clay County leaders announced interest in building a stadium in North Kansas City that could become the Royals new home.&nbsp;The Royals solicited proposals for a downtown Kansas City and North Kansas City site a few months later, and released renderings of possible stadiums at both locations in August 2023.&nbsp;Soon after, a poll was leaked to the media showing 70% of Clay County voters opposed a new sales tax to fund a stadium in North Kansas City. Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article278986864.html" target="_blank">weeks of media speculation</a>, no one claimed credit for the poll, which was widely seen as an attempt to shake the confidence of Royals ownership in the viability of a Clay County proposal.&nbsp;Critics, who called the survey a “push poll” meant to deceive the public, said&nbsp;sabotaging any potential site in Missouri only increases the likelihood that the team ends up in Kansas.&nbsp;“Anything that is used for a deceptive purpose should raise some red flags, and I think that’s exactly what that push poll did,” Nurrenbern said. “I don’t think this ever should have been about Clay versus Jackson County. It’s what’s good for our area, and that’s what I’m going to continue to be focused on.”It wasn’t until more than a year later that documents provided to The Independent revealed it was a political action committee formed to support Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas that paid for the Clay County polling. A staffer using a Lucas campaign email address requested the poll be commissioned.&nbsp;At the time, Lucas didn’t mention any involvement in the poll by the PAC or his campaign in a response to&nbsp;<a href="https://fox4kc.com/sports/royals/pollster-wont-reveal-funder-behind-royals-stadium-survey-in-clay-county/" target="_blank">Fox 4 reporters</a>. And to&nbsp;obscure the PAC’s involvement, Lucas’ then-chief of staff, Morgan Said, requested the PAC&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/13/campaign-committee-controlled-by-kc-mayor-requested-poll-he-denied-involvement-in/">change its financial disclosure forms to list the expense as “research” instead of “polling.”</a>“…we paid Bold Decisions to do that Royals poll,” Said told the PAC’s compliance officer in an Oct. 9, 2023, phone call that was recorded and shared with The Independent.&nbsp;“I don’t know how much of a news reader you are these days,” she said, “but it was like a big whodunnit, and, you know, actually nobody ever found out who paid for it.”By April 2024, Jackson County voters resoundingly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-mayor-quinton-lucas-officially-endorses-yes-vote-on-stadium-sales-tax-missouri-jackson-county/60349862" target="_blank">rejected the stadium sales tax measure supported by Lucas</a>&nbsp;and other local elected officials.Gregory, whose state Senate district includes a portion of Clay County, said Missouri leaders should take an all-of-the-above approach to finding a home for the Royals.&nbsp;“We should make sure that all options are potentially on the table,” Gregory said, adding: “Clay County is a very viable option. Downtown (Kansas City) is a viable option. The goal should be to keep the team in Missouri.”&nbsp;Legislation authorizing a Clay County sports authority “is all about keeping both teams in the state of Missouri. Period,” Nurrenbern said. “So we want to be good partners with Jackson County, and if the teams make the choice to come to Clay County, we want to make sure that the appropriate language is there on the books to permit a sports authority.”As for Jackson County, local leaders will need to decide whether “they want to support this venture,” Patterson said, “or will they have an empty parking lot or empty stadiums, which is not free. It costs a lot of money to maintain stadiums that are empty and it costs a lot of money to tear down stadiums.”

Lawmakers jostling to keep the Royals and Chiefs in Missouri

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an accidental shooting in Wichita.

On Sunday evening, police were&nbsp;dispatched to the report of a shooting at the YMCA., 3330 N Woodlawn in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

First responders arrived on the scene and learned that the victim was reaching into his bag for something and accidentally discharged his firearm striking himself.

&nbsp;He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Police released no additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an accidental shooting in Wichita.On Sunday evening, police were&nbsp;dispatched to the report of a shooting at the YMCA., 3330 N Woodlawn in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.First responders arrived on the scene and learned that the victim was reaching into his bag for something and accidentally discharged his firearm striking himself.&nbsp;He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Police released no additional details.

Police: Kan. man reached into bag, accidentally shot himself

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating the death of a man in church in Kansas City have determined the death is a homicide.

Just after 2:30a.m. Feb. 1, police were dispatched to the 2400 block of Chestnut in Kansas on a reported incident with the Kansas City Fire Department.

Fire crews responded to the area to extinguish a fire in a church. Upon bringing the fire under control, fire crews located a victim inside of the building, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

The KCPD Bomb and Arson detectives, along with crime scene personnel responded to the scene to gather evidence and collect witness statements.

KCPD detectives were notified at a later time that the medical examiner had discovered the deceased victim was suffering from a gunshot wound. 

The medical examiner is still working to determine the final cause of death, however further investigation has resulted in this death being suspicious in nature and is subsequently being investigated as a homicide.

The victim has been identified as 66-year-old Dwayne Blair, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Homicide detectives have assumed responsibility of the case and will be working to determine the series of events that took place leading up to the fire.&nbsp; Police are making progress in identifying a person of interest and no one is currently in police custody, according to&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating the death of a man in church in Kansas City have determined the death is a homicide.Just after 2:30a.m. Feb. 1, police were dispatched to the 2400 block of Chestnut in Kansas on a reported incident with the Kansas City Fire Department.Fire crews responded to the area to extinguish a fire in a church. Upon bringing the fire under control, fire crews located a victim inside of the building, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.The KCPD Bomb and Arson detectives, along with crime scene personnel responded to the scene to gather evidence and collect witness statements.KCPD detectives were notified at a later time that the medical examiner had discovered the deceased victim was suffering from a gunshot wound. The medical examiner is still working to determine the final cause of death, however further investigation has resulted in this death being suspicious in nature and is subsequently being investigated as a homicide.The victim has been identified as 66-year-old Dwayne Blair, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Homicide detectives have assumed responsibility of the case and will be working to determine the series of events that took place leading up to the fire.&nbsp; Police are making progress in identifying a person of interest and no one is currently in police custody, according to&nbsp;

Homicide: Police ID body found in Kansas City church after fire

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a deadly shooting is going to prison.

On Friday, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 41-year-old Tyree Jackson of Wichita to 146 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In November Jackson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of 20-year-old Jaden Wilson.&nbsp;

In March of 2024, police were alerted to a shooting incident in the 2200 Block of N. Grove in Wichita, according to Police spokesperson Andrew Ford.

First responders discovered 20-year-old Jaden Wilson outside of a gold Buick, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced deceased at 5:46 p.m. by Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services.

A witness in the vehicle at the time of the incident was able to provide officers with details that quickly led to the identification of Jackson as the suspect.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect were acquainted and involved in an ongoing dispute.

A short time after the shooting occurred, a 17-year-old suspect voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement at the Sedgwick County Jail and was later charged in Juvenile court, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711631518712.png" alt="Jackson photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Jackson photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a deadly shooting is going to prison.On Friday, Judge Jeff Goering sentenced 41-year-old Tyree Jackson of Wichita to 146 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In November Jackson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the death of 20-year-old Jaden Wilson.&nbsp;In March of 2024, police were alerted to a shooting incident in the 2200 Block of N. Grove in Wichita, according to Police spokesperson Andrew Ford.First responders discovered 20-year-old Jaden Wilson outside of a gold Buick, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced deceased at 5:46 p.m. by Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services.A witness in the vehicle at the time of the incident was able to provide officers with details that quickly led to the identification of Jackson as the suspect.A preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect were acquainted and involved in an ongoing dispute.A short time after the shooting occurred, a 17-year-old suspect voluntarily surrendered to law enforcement at the Sedgwick County Jail and was later charged in Juvenile court, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. man who joined teen in killing is going to prison

WASHINGTON (AP) —Just hours after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management had directed agencies that responses to its email were optional, Musk again threatened federal workers in a post on X, his social media platform.

He wrote: “Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”

President Donald Trump backed Musk earlier Monday, two days after OPM initially sent an email asking federal workers to list five things they accomplished last week. Several government agencies, including the FBI and State Department, have told their employees not to respond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740270477857.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Just hours after the U.S. Office of Personnel Management had directed agencies that responses to its email were optional, Musk again threatened federal workers in a post on X, his social media platform.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740450405222.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>He wrote: “Subject to the discretion of the President, they will be given another chance. Failure to respond a second time will result in termination.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739917649688.png" alt="--File photo Elon Musk during his address to the World Government's Summit last week" />
 <figcaption>--File photo Elon Musk during his address to the World Government's Summit last week</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump backed Musk earlier Monday, two days after OPM initially sent an email asking federal workers to list five things they accomplished last week. Several government agencies, including the FBI and State Department, have told their employees not to respond.

Musk vows yet again to fire federal workers who don’t respond to his email

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating five suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 4:30a.m. February 22, Jackson County Sheriff Deputies served a narcotics search warrant at 17839 W. Road in rural Jackson County, south of Denison, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The search warrant was executed on the residence where methamphetamine, additional controlled substances, THC, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia were located.

  All occupants of the residence were determined to be living at the residence and were arrested.

 Rachel Deanne Butts, 49, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John Bradley Hudson, 49, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and for a parole violation.

Tammy Jo Wampler, 49, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Danielle Paige Brown, 31, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. 

Cade Michael Sharples, 48, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substances, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740361591032.png" alt="Hudson photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hudson photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating five suspect on drug allegations.Just after 4:30a.m. February 22, Jackson County Sheriff Deputies served a narcotics search warrant at 17839 W. Road in rural Jackson County, south of Denison, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The search warrant was executed on the residence where methamphetamine, additional controlled substances, THC, and multiple items of drug paraphernalia were located. All occupants of the residence were determined to be living at the residence and were arrested.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740361549352.png" alt="Butts photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Butts photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Rachel Deanne Butts, 49, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.John Bradley Hudson, 49, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and for a parole violation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740361629431.png" alt="Wampler photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Wampler photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Tammy Jo Wampler, 49, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740361662499.png" alt="Brown" />
 <figcaption>Brown</figcaption>
 </figure>Danielle Paige Brown, 31, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and trafficking contraband into a correctional facility. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740361695346.png" alt="Sharples photo Jackson&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Sharples photo Jackson&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Cade Michael Sharples, 48, of Mayetta, was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of controlled substances, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Five jailed after drug bust at rural Kansas home

ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work, the Vatican said, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began.

The Vatican’s evening bulletin was more upbeat than in recent days, as the 88-year-old Francis battles pneumonia in both lungs at Rome's Gemelli hospital. It was issued shortly before the Vatican No. 2 led the faithful in a somber night-time recitation of the Rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square that evoked the vigils when St. John Paul II was dying.

“For 2,000 years the Christian people have prayed for the pope when he was in danger or sick," Cardinal Pietro Parolin told the rain-dappled piazza. Standing on the same stage where Francis usually presides, Parolin said ever since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vatican-respiratory-francis-3898caa324da9b0f7a100b73a35b436a">Francis had been hospitalized</a>, a chorus of prayers for his recovery had swelled up from around the world.

“Starting this evening, we want to unite ourselves publicly to this prayer here, in his house,” Parolin said, praying that Francis “in this moment of illness and trial" would recover quickly.

The Argentine pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 and doctors have said his condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.

But in Monday's update, they said he hadn’t had any more respiratory crises since Saturday, and the supplemental oxygen he is using continued but with a slightly reduced oxygen flow and concentrations. The slight kidney insufficiency detected on Sunday was not causing alarm at the moment, doctors said, while saying his prognosis remained guarded.

Francis received the Eucharist Monday morning and resumed working in the afternoon.

“In the evening he called the parish priest of the Gaza parish to express his fatherly closeness,” the statement said.

For over a year, Francis has checked in daily via videocall with the Argentine priest, the Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, who leads the Catholic community at the church, which during Israel's war had served as a shelter for Palestinians. Romanelli had reported hearing from Francis soon after he was hospitalized, but not since. He had sent Francis a video, and the pope called to thank him, the Vatican said.

Francis was in good spirits, was not in pain and was not receiving artificial nutrition, the Vatican said. The work he was doing included reading and signing documents, and indeed the Vatican's daily noon bulletin has included new bishop nominations nearly every day, even though most were decided in advance.

At the Gemelli hospital, the mood was nevertheless grim. Bishop Claudio Giuliodori presided over an emotional, standing-room-only Mass in the chapel named for John Paul, who was hospitalized there many times. Some of the estimated 200 people who attended were in white doctor’s coats or green surgical scrubs; some knelt in prayer.

“We are very sorry. Pope Francis is a good pope, let’s hope that he makes it. Let us hope," said a choked-up Filomena Ferraro, who was visiting a relative at Gemelli on Monday. “We are joining him with our prayers but what else can we do?”

Doctors have warned that the main threat facing Francis is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-illness-explainer-pneumonia-vatican-6c90fdb0d03ed1703293564686a80978">sepsis</a>, a serious infection that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. To date there has been no reference to any onset of sepsis in the medical updates provided by the Vatican.

At 10 full days, this hospitalization now stands as Francis' longest as pope. He spent 10 days at Rome’s Gemelli hospital in 2021 after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740262535769.png" alt="Candles and a photo of Pope Francis are seen in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, where the Pontiff is hospitalized since Friday, Feb. 14.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)" />
 <figcaption>Candles and a photo of Pope Francis are seen in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, in Rome, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, where the Pontiff is hospitalized since Friday, Feb. 14.(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;remained in critical condition Monday but showed slight improvement in laboratory tests and resumed some work, the Vatican said, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began.The Vatican’s evening bulletin was more upbeat than in recent days, as the 88-year-old Francis battles pneumonia in both lungs at Rome's Gemelli hospital. It was issued shortly before the Vatican No. 2 led the faithful in a somber night-time recitation of the Rosary prayer in St. Peter's Square that evoked the vigils when St. John Paul II was dying.“For 2,000 years the Christian people have prayed for the pope when he was in danger or sick," Cardinal Pietro Parolin told the rain-dappled piazza. Standing on the same stage where Francis usually presides, Parolin said ever since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-vatican-respiratory-francis-3898caa324da9b0f7a100b73a35b436a">Francis had been hospitalized</a>, a chorus of prayers for his recovery had swelled up from around the world.“Starting this evening, we want to unite ourselves publicly to this prayer here, in his house,” Parolin said, praying that Francis “in this moment of illness and trial" would recover quickly.The Argentine pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 and doctors have said his condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease.But in Monday's update, they said he hadn’t had any more respiratory crises since Saturday, and the supplemental oxygen he is using continued but with a slightly reduced oxygen flow and concentrations. The slight kidney insufficiency detected on Sunday was not causing alarm at the moment, doctors said, while saying his prognosis remained guarded.Francis received the Eucharist Monday morning and resumed working in the afternoon.“In the evening he called the parish priest of the Gaza parish to express his fatherly closeness,” the statement said.For over a year, Francis has checked in daily via videocall with the Argentine priest, the Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, who leads the Catholic community at the church, which during Israel's war had served as a shelter for Palestinians. Romanelli had reported hearing from Francis soon after he was hospitalized, but not since. He had sent Francis a video, and the pope called to thank him, the Vatican said.Francis was in good spirits, was not in pain and was not receiving artificial nutrition, the Vatican said. The work he was doing included reading and signing documents, and indeed the Vatican's daily noon bulletin has included new bishop nominations nearly every day, even though most were decided in advance.At the Gemelli hospital, the mood was nevertheless grim. Bishop Claudio Giuliodori presided over an emotional, standing-room-only Mass in the chapel named for John Paul, who was hospitalized there many times. Some of the estimated 200 people who attended were in white doctor’s coats or green surgical scrubs; some knelt in prayer.“We are very sorry. Pope Francis is a good pope, let’s hope that he makes it. Let us hope," said a choked-up Filomena Ferraro, who was visiting a relative at Gemelli on Monday. “We are joining him with our prayers but what else can we do?”Doctors have warned that the main threat facing Francis is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-illness-explainer-pneumonia-vatican-6c90fdb0d03ed1703293564686a80978">sepsis</a>, a serious infection that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. To date there has been no reference to any onset of sepsis in the medical updates provided by the Vatican.At 10 full days, this hospitalization now stands as Francis' longest as pope. He spent 10 days at Rome’s Gemelli hospital in 2021 after he had 33 centimeters (13 inches) of his colon removed.

Vatican: Pope Francis shows slight improvement and resumes some work

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the work place death of a man in Wichita.

At approximately 12:10 p.m. on Monday, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies, Sedgwick County EMS and firefighters from Sedgwick County Fire District 1 and the Wichita Fire Department responded to Textron Aviation’s east campus in the 9700 block of East Central for a report of an employee not breathing, according to a media release.

Fire and EMS personnel found a 61-year-old man in a facility paint booth, wearing a ventilator mask and not breathing. Life-saving measures were attempted, but the man was pronounced dead at 12:28 p.m.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, with assistance from Sedgwick County Fire District 1 and the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office.

The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the work place death of a man in Wichita.At approximately 12:10 p.m. on Monday, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies, Sedgwick County EMS and firefighters from Sedgwick County Fire District 1 and the Wichita Fire Department responded to Textron Aviation’s east campus in the 9700 block of East Central for a report of an employee not breathing, according to a media release.Fire and EMS personnel found a 61-year-old man in a facility paint booth, wearing a ventilator mask and not breathing. Life-saving measures were attempted, but the man was pronounced dead at 12:28 p.m.The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, with assistance from Sedgwick County Fire District 1 and the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office.The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Sheriff investigating on-the-job death of a man in Wichita

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a deadly robbery and have two suspects in custody

Just after midnight Saturday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 2900 block of SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.

First responders located a man later identified as 31-year-old Earon Cooper of Lawrence,&nbsp; suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

As a result of the investigation police arrested two suspects. Silas Kriner, 21, of Baldwin City, Kansas, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of 1 st Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery.&nbsp; Delano A. Washington, 19, of Topeka, is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;1st Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer, Criminal Damage to property and a Shawnee County Warrant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740409293845.png" alt="Washington-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Washington-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a deadly robbery and have two suspects in custodyJust after midnight Saturday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 2900 block of SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740409166527.png" alt="Kriner-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Kriner-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located a man later identified as 31-year-old Earon Cooper of Lawrence,&nbsp; suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.As a result of the investigation police arrested two suspects. Silas Kriner, 21, of Baldwin City, Kansas, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of 1 st Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery.&nbsp; Delano A. Washington, 19, of Topeka, is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;1st Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer, Criminal Damage to property and a Shawnee County Warrant.

2 jailed for deadly Kansas robbery

NEW YORK (AP) — Apple announced Monday that it plans to invest more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, including plans to hire 20,000 people and build a new server factory in Texas.

The move comes just days after President Donald Trump said Apple CEO Tim Cook promised him that the tech giant’s manufacturing would shift from Mexico to the U.S. Trump noted the company was doing so to avoid paying tariffs. That pledge, coupled with Monday’s investment commitment, came as Trump continues to threaten to impose tariffs that could drive up the cost of iPhones made in China.

“We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,” Cook said in a company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-will-spend-more-than-500-billion-usd-in-the-us-over-the-next-four-years/" target="_blank">blog post</a>.

Apple outlined several concrete moves in its announcement, the most significant of which is the construction of a new factory in Houston — slated to open in 2026 — that will produce servers to power Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI features. The company claims this factory will create “thousands of jobs.”

The announcement is similar to one Apple made in early 2018 — during the first Trump administration — that promised to create 20,000 new jobs as part of a $350 billion spend in the U.S. Trump was also mulling a tariff then that could have affected iPhones at the time, but he didn’t end up targeting those devices during his first administration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740416399652.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Apple announced Monday that it plans to invest more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years, including plans to hire 20,000 people and build a new server factory in Texas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740428118054.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The move comes just days after President Donald Trump said Apple CEO Tim Cook promised him that the tech giant’s manufacturing would shift from Mexico to the U.S. Trump noted the company was doing so to avoid paying tariffs. That pledge, coupled with Monday’s investment commitment, came as Trump continues to threaten to impose tariffs that could drive up the cost of iPhones made in China.“We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we’re proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country’s future,” Cook said in a company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/02/apple-will-spend-more-than-500-billion-usd-in-the-us-over-the-next-four-years/" target="_blank">blog post</a>.Apple outlined several concrete moves in its announcement, the most significant of which is the construction of a new factory in Houston — slated to open in 2026 — that will produce servers to power Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI features. The company claims this factory will create “thousands of jobs.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740416459994.png" alt="Apple suppliers already manufacture silicon in 24 factories across 12 states. Pictured: Texas Instruments’ new semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Lehi, Utah.-image courtesy Apple" />
 <figcaption>Apple suppliers already manufacture silicon in 24 factories across 12 states. Pictured: Texas Instruments’ new semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Lehi, Utah.-image courtesy Apple</figcaption>
 </figure>The announcement is similar to one Apple made in early 2018 — during the first Trump administration — that promised to create 20,000 new jobs as part of a $350 billion spend in the U.S. Trump was also mulling a tariff then that could have affected iPhones at the time, but he didn’t end up targeting those devices during his first administration.

Apple announces historic $500 billion investment in US

RENO COUNTY —Fire officials in Hutchinson on Monday released the Battalion Chief Dashcam of the gas explosion on Ave. E and Main on Saturday.

Just before 9:30a.m., crews were in the area for a report of a gas odor.  Crews found the issue at the intersection of Ave E and South Main Street.  The video starts as crews were setting up operations per protocol.

&nbsp;Responding crews could not find a source at that location so they moved their way down Main Street.&nbsp;

When they arrived to the corner of Avenue E and Main Street, they saw the gas coming up through the road and sidewalk.  They entered the business there and their monitors activated.

Crews noted that all the occupants of the building were out, and they exited the building and within 30 seconds the building exploded.

The area between Avenue A and Frank Hart Crossing and Popular Street and Adams Street were ordered to evacuate. Later Saturday night, the evacuation zone was reduced to the area bounded by Avenue C to Avenue F, and Walnut to Adams.

Kansas Gas Service crews&nbsp;continue to work on repairs and restoration in the area of the explosion. There were no injuries reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740421883145.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Fire officials in Hutchinson on Monday released the Battalion Chief Dashcam of the gas explosion on Ave. E and Main on Saturday.Just before 9:30a.m., crews were in the area for a report of a gas odor. Crews found the issue at the intersection of Ave E and South Main Street. The video starts as crews were setting up operations per protocol.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHutchinsonFireDept%2Fvideos%2F1327633965049644%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=16" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>&nbsp;Responding crews could not find a source at that location so they moved their way down Main Street.&nbsp;When they arrived to the corner of Avenue E and Main Street, they saw the gas coming up through the road and sidewalk. They entered the business there and their monitors activated.Crews noted that all the occupants of the building were out, and they exited the building and within 30 seconds the building exploded.The area between Avenue A and Frank Hart Crossing and Popular Street and Adams Street were ordered to evacuate. Later Saturday night, the evacuation zone was reduced to the area bounded by Avenue C to Avenue F, and Walnut to Adams.Kansas Gas Service crews&nbsp;continue to work on repairs and restoration in the area of the explosion. There were no injuries reported.

🎥 New video shows Hutch firefighters flee building explosion

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations. Just after 10:30a.m. February 21, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a silver Acura on 150th Road, just west of U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

A Jackson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drugs in the vehicle. The driver, David Douglas Friend, 53, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, failure to provide proof of insurance and for an outstanding Jackson County warrant.

The passenger, Lisa Tumey, 51, of Topeka, was arrested and released to the Topeka Police Department’s custody for outstanding warrants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740361190453.png" alt="Friend photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Friend photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations. Just after 10:30a.m. February 21, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a silver Acura on 150th Road, just west of U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.A Jackson County Sheriff’s Office K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drugs in the vehicle. The driver, David Douglas Friend, 53, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, failure to provide proof of insurance and for an outstanding Jackson County warrant.The passenger, Lisa Tumey, 51, of Topeka, was arrested and released to the Topeka Police Department’s custody for outstanding warrants.

Sheriff's K9 alerted to illegal drugs during Kansas traffic stop

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/roberta-flack">Roberta Flack,</a>&nbsp;the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recordings artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after, died Monday. She was 88.

She died at home surrounded by her family, publicist Elaine Schock said in a statement. Flack announced in 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roberta-flack-als-diagnosis-403caf46fc277d8fddeb438a1f57979d">she had ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease,</a>&nbsp;and could no longer sing,

Little known before her early 30s, Flack became an overnight star after Clint Eastwood used “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” as the soundtrack for one of cinema’s more memorable and explicit love scenes, between the actor and Donna Mills in his 1971 film “Play Misty for Me.” The hushed, hymn-like ballad, with Flack’s graceful soprano afloat on a bed of soft strings and piano, topped the Billboard pop chart in 1972 and received a Grammy for record of the year.

“The record label wanted to have it re-recorded with a faster tempo, but he said he wanted it exactly as it was,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/music-aa6118fdbf324b23aec794c066a75e15">Flack told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;in 2018. “With the song as a theme song for his movie, it gained a lot of popularity and then took off.”

In 1973, she matched both achievements with “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” becoming the first artist to win consecutive Grammys for best record.

She was a classically trained pianist discovered in the late 1960s by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/les-mccann-died-88-compared-to-what-587892db9a20cc4331c8c51f636e115d">jazz musician Les McCann,</a>&nbsp;who later wrote that “her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I’ve ever known.” Versatile enough to summon the up-tempo gospel passion of Aretha Franklin, Flack often favored a more reflective and measured approach.

For Flack’s many admirers, she was a sophisticated and bold new presence in the music world and in the social and civil rights movements of the time, her friends including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jesse-jackson">Rev. Jesse Jackson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/angela-davis">Angela Davis,</a>&nbsp;whom Flack visited in prison while Davis faced charges — for which she was acquitted — for murder and kidnapping. Flack sang at the funeral of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jackie-robinson">Jackie Robinson,</a>&nbsp;major league baseball’s first Black player, and was among the many guest performers on the feminist children’s entertainment project&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/parenting-celebrity-relationships-131d7b4b0bb04f258b57d218d8d9f6b2">created by Marlo Thomas,</a>&nbsp;“Free to Be ... You and Me.”

Roberta Cleopatra Flack, the daughter of musicians, was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia. A gospel fan as a child, she was so talented a piano player that at age 15 she received a full scholarship to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-democracy-presidency-howard-university-d383801895d8d107a9aa12af5b941821">Howard, the historically Black university.</a>

Flack’s other hits from the 1970s included the cozy “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and two duets with her close friend and former Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway, “Where Is the Love” and ”The Closer I Get to You” — a partnership that ended in tragedy. In 1979, she and Hathaway were working on an album of duets when he suffered a breakdown during recording and later that night fell to his death from his hotel room in Manhattan.

“We were deeply connected creatively,” Flack told Vibe in 2022, upon the 50th anniversary of the million-selling “Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway” album. “He could play anything, sing anything. Our musical synergy was unlike (anything) I’d had before or since.”

She never matched her first run of success, although she did have a hit in the 1980s with the Peabo Bryson duet “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” and in the 1990s with the Maxi Priest duet “Set the Night to Music.” In the mid-90s, Flack received new attention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pras-michel-fugees-concert-d2f31e013e693b516169bd4c7bcdcdab">after the Fugees recorded</a>&nbsp;a Grammy-winning cover of “Killing Me Softly,” which she eventually performed on stage with the hip-hop group.

Overall,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ba4d62572ce84d4f99c05585db7dd263">she won five Grammys</a>&nbsp;(three for “Killing Me Softly”), was nominated eight other times and was given a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2020, with John Legend and Ariana Grande among those praising her.

“I love that connection to other artists because we understand music, we live music, it’s our language,” Flack told songwriteruniverse.com in 2020. “Through music we understand what we are thinking and feeling. No matter what challenge life presents, I am at home with my piano, on a stage, with my band, in the studio, listening to music. I can find my way when I hear music.”

In 2022, Beyoncé placed Flack, Franklin and Diana Ross among others in a special pantheon of heroines name-checked in the Grammy-nominated “Queens Remix” of “Break My Soul.”

Flack was briefly married to Stephen Novosel, an interracial relationship that led to tension with each of their families, and earlier had a son, the singer and keyboardist Bernard Wright. For years, she lived in Manhattan’s Dakota apartment building, on the same floor as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who became a close friend and provided liner notes for a Flack album of Beatles covers, “Let It Be Roberta.” She also devoted extensive time to the Roberta Flack School of Music, based in New York and attended mostly by students between ages 6 to 14.

Flack had taught music in D.C.-area junior high schools for several years in her 20s, while performing after hours in clubs. She sometimes backed other singers, but her own shows at Washington’s renowned Mr. Henry’s attracted such celebrity patrons as Burt Bacharach, Ramsey Lewis and Johnny Mathis. The club’s owner, Henry Yaffe, converted an apartment directly above into a private studio, the Roberta Flack Room.

“I wanted to be successful, a serious all-round musician,” she told The Telegraph in 2015. “I listened to a lot of Aretha, the Drifters, trying to do some of that myself, playing, teaching.”

Flack was signed to Atlantic Records and her debut album, “First Take,” a blend of gospel, soul, flamenco and jazz, came out in 1969. One track was a love song by the English folk artist Ewan MacColl: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” written in 1957 for his future wife, singer Peggy Seeger. Flack not only knew of the ballad, but used it while working with a glee club during her years as an educator.

“I was teaching at Banneker Junior High in Washington, D.C. It was part of the city where kids weren’t that privileged, but they were privileged enough to have music education. I really wanted them to read music. First, I’d get their attention. (Flack starts singing a Supremes hit) ‘Stop, in the name of love.’ Then I could teach them!” she told the Tampa Bay Times in 2012.

“You have to do all sorts of things when you’re dealing with kids in the inner-city,” she said. “I knew they’d like the part where (‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’) goes ‘The first time ever I kissed your mouth.’ Ooh, ‘Kissed your mouth!’ Once the kids got past the giggles, we were good.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740411515381.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/roberta-flack">Roberta Flack,</a>&nbsp;the Grammy-winning singer and pianist whose intimate vocal and musical style made her one of the top recordings artists of the 1970s and an influential performer long after, died Monday. She was 88.She died at home surrounded by her family, publicist Elaine Schock said in a statement. Flack announced in 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roberta-flack-als-diagnosis-403caf46fc277d8fddeb438a1f57979d">she had ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease,</a>&nbsp;and could no longer sing,Little known before her early 30s, Flack became an overnight star after Clint Eastwood used “The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” as the soundtrack for one of cinema’s more memorable and explicit love scenes, between the actor and Donna Mills in his 1971 film “Play Misty for Me.” The hushed, hymn-like ballad, with Flack’s graceful soprano afloat on a bed of soft strings and piano, topped the Billboard pop chart in 1972 and received a Grammy for record of the year.“The record label wanted to have it re-recorded with a faster tempo, but he said he wanted it exactly as it was,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/music-aa6118fdbf324b23aec794c066a75e15">Flack told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;in 2018. “With the song as a theme song for his movie, it gained a lot of popularity and then took off.”In 1973, she matched both achievements with “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” becoming the first artist to win consecutive Grammys for best record.She was a classically trained pianist discovered in the late 1960s by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/les-mccann-died-88-compared-to-what-587892db9a20cc4331c8c51f636e115d">jazz musician Les McCann,</a>&nbsp;who later wrote that “her voice touched, tapped, trapped, and kicked every emotion I’ve ever known.” Versatile enough to summon the up-tempo gospel passion of Aretha Franklin, Flack often favored a more reflective and measured approach.For Flack’s many admirers, she was a sophisticated and bold new presence in the music world and in the social and civil rights movements of the time, her friends including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jesse-jackson">Rev. Jesse Jackson</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/angela-davis">Angela Davis,</a>&nbsp;whom Flack visited in prison while Davis faced charges — for which she was acquitted — for murder and kidnapping. Flack sang at the funeral of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jackie-robinson">Jackie Robinson,</a>&nbsp;major league baseball’s first Black player, and was among the many guest performers on the feminist children’s entertainment project&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/parenting-celebrity-relationships-131d7b4b0bb04f258b57d218d8d9f6b2">created by Marlo Thomas,</a>&nbsp;“Free to Be ... You and Me.”Roberta Cleopatra Flack, the daughter of musicians, was born in Black Mountain, North Carolina, and raised in Arlington, Virginia. A gospel fan as a child, she was so talented a piano player that at age 15 she received a full scholarship to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-democracy-presidency-howard-university-d383801895d8d107a9aa12af5b941821">Howard, the historically Black university.</a>Flack’s other hits from the 1970s included the cozy “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and two duets with her close friend and former Howard University classmate Donny Hathaway, “Where Is the Love” and ”The Closer I Get to You” — a partnership that ended in tragedy. In 1979, she and Hathaway were working on an album of duets when he suffered a breakdown during recording and later that night fell to his death from his hotel room in Manhattan.“We were deeply connected creatively,” Flack told Vibe in 2022, upon the 50th anniversary of the million-selling “Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway” album. “He could play anything, sing anything. Our musical synergy was unlike (anything) I’d had before or since.”She never matched her first run of success, although she did have a hit in the 1980s with the Peabo Bryson duet “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” and in the 1990s with the Maxi Priest duet “Set the Night to Music.” In the mid-90s, Flack received new attention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pras-michel-fugees-concert-d2f31e013e693b516169bd4c7bcdcdab">after the Fugees recorded</a>&nbsp;a Grammy-winning cover of “Killing Me Softly,” which she eventually performed on stage with the hip-hop group.Overall,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ba4d62572ce84d4f99c05585db7dd263">she won five Grammys</a>&nbsp;(three for “Killing Me Softly”), was nominated eight other times and was given a lifetime achievement Grammy in 2020, with John Legend and Ariana Grande among those praising her.“I love that connection to other artists because we understand music, we live music, it’s our language,” Flack told songwriteruniverse.com in 2020. “Through music we understand what we are thinking and feeling. No matter what challenge life presents, I am at home with my piano, on a stage, with my band, in the studio, listening to music. I can find my way when I hear music.”In 2022, Beyoncé placed Flack, Franklin and Diana Ross among others in a special pantheon of heroines name-checked in the Grammy-nominated “Queens Remix” of “Break My Soul.”Flack was briefly married to Stephen Novosel, an interracial relationship that led to tension with each of their families, and earlier had a son, the singer and keyboardist Bernard Wright. For years, she lived in Manhattan’s Dakota apartment building, on the same floor as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who became a close friend and provided liner notes for a Flack album of Beatles covers, “Let It Be Roberta.” She also devoted extensive time to the Roberta Flack School of Music, based in New York and attended mostly by students between ages 6 to 14.Flack had taught music in D.C.-area junior high schools for several years in her 20s, while performing after hours in clubs. She sometimes backed other singers, but her own shows at Washington’s renowned Mr. Henry’s attracted such celebrity patrons as Burt Bacharach, Ramsey Lewis and Johnny Mathis. The club’s owner, Henry Yaffe, converted an apartment directly above into a private studio, the Roberta Flack Room.“I wanted to be successful, a serious all-round musician,” she told The Telegraph in 2015. “I listened to a lot of Aretha, the Drifters, trying to do some of that myself, playing, teaching.”Flack was signed to Atlantic Records and her debut album, “First Take,” a blend of gospel, soul, flamenco and jazz, came out in 1969. One track was a love song by the English folk artist Ewan MacColl: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” written in 1957 for his future wife, singer Peggy Seeger. Flack not only knew of the ballad, but used it while working with a glee club during her years as an educator.“I was teaching at Banneker Junior High in Washington, D.C. It was part of the city where kids weren’t that privileged, but they were privileged enough to have music education. I really wanted them to read music. First, I’d get their attention. (Flack starts singing a Supremes hit) ‘Stop, in the name of love.’ Then I could teach them!” she told the Tampa Bay Times in 2012.“You have to do all sorts of things when you’re dealing with kids in the inner-city,” she said. “I knew they’d like the part where (‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’) goes ‘The first time ever I kissed your mouth.’ Ooh, ‘Kissed your mouth!’ Once the kids got past the giggles, we were good.”

Roberta Flack, Grammy-winning singer with an intimate style, dies at 88

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/daniel-bongino">Dan Bongino</a>, a former U.S. Secret Service agent who has penned best-selling books, ran unsuccessfully for office and gained fame as a conservative pundit with TV shows and a popular podcast, has been chosen to serve as FBI deputy director.

President Donald Trump announced the appointment Sunday night in a post on his Truth Social platform, praising Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country.” He called the announcement “great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740405860491.png" alt="Bongino photo CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Bongino photo CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/daniel-bongino">Dan Bongino</a>, a former U.S. Secret Service agent who has penned best-selling books, ran unsuccessfully for office and gained fame as a conservative pundit with TV shows and a popular podcast, has been chosen to serve as FBI deputy director.President Donald Trump announced the appointment Sunday night in a post on his Truth Social platform, praising Bongino as “a man of incredible love and passion for our Country.” He called the announcement “great news for Law Enforcement and American Justice.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/dbongino?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dbongino</a> for being named Deputy Director of the FBI! Dan’s experience in law enforcement as an NYPD officer and a Special Agent in the Secret Service makes him an excellent choice to serve alongside FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi. I… <a href="https://t.co/n5VizLUYAC">pic.twitter.com/n5VizLUYAC</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1893846825347457509?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The selection places two staunch Trump allies atop the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency at a time when Democrats are concerned that the president could seek to target his adversaries. Bongino would serve under Kash Patel,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-trump-patel-justice-department-8fa2f99b7915ee18def9fdf61150741f">who was sworn in as FBI director at the White House on Friday</a>&nbsp;and who has signaled his intent to reshape the bureau, including by relocating hundreds of employees from its Washington headquarters and placing greater emphasis on the FBI’s traditional crime-fighting duties.The deputy director serves as the FBI’s second-in-command and is traditionally a career agent responsible for the bureau’s day-to-day law enforcement operations. Bongino, like Patel, has never served in the FBI, raising questions about their experience level when the U.S. is facing escalating national security threats.The two are inheriting an FBI gripped by turmoil as the Justice Department over the past month has forced out a group of senior bureau officials and made a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-justice-department-jan-6-ff003e46ea48c4e8be710d1ba2eb2d02">highly unusual demand for the names of thousands of agents</a>&nbsp;who participated in investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.Bongino served on the presidential details for then-Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, before becoming a popular right-wing figure. He became one of the leading personalities in the Make America Great Again political movement to spread false information about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-electoral-college-elections-health-2d9bd47a8bd3561682ac46c6b3873a10">the 2020 election</a>, which Trump and allies have continued to maintain was marred by widespread false&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">even though such claims have been widely rejected</a>&nbsp;as false by judges and former Trump attorney general William Barr.For a few years following Rush Limbaugh’s death in 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-63a666e68368c60ac11af1377714a46c">he was chosen for a radio show</a>&nbsp;on the same time slot of the famous commentator.Bongino worked for the New York Police Department for several years in the 1990s before joining the Secret Service. He began doing commentary on Fox News more than a decade ago, and had a Saturday night show with the network from 2021 to 2023. He is now a host of The Dan Bongino Show, one of the most popular podcasts, according to Spotify.Bongino ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland in 2012 and for congressional seats in 2014 and 2016 in Maryland and Florida, after moving in 2015. He lost the three races.During an interview last fall, Bongino asked Trump to commit to forming a commission to reform the Secret Service, calling it a “failed” agency and criticizing it for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/attempted-assassination-of-donald-trump">two assassination attempts</a>&nbsp;last year.“That guy should have been nowhere near you,” Bongino said about the man who authorities say camped outside Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, before he was spotted with a rifle.During the same interview, Trump praised the Secret Service agent who saw the rifle’s barrel coming out of a bush.Patel and Bongino will succeed the two acting FBI leaders, Brian Driscoll and Robert Kissane, who have led the bureau since the departure in January of former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chris-wray-fbi-farewell-trump-patel-partisanship-afe159a6e112e68dd5319ceac905d517">Director Christopher Wray</a>, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and held the job for the next seven years before resigning at the end of the Biden administration to make way for his chosen success.