&nbsp;LACLEDE COUNTY, Mo.—Seven people were injured in an accident just after 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in Laclede County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Prevost Charter bus driven by a 75-year-old Springfield man was southbound at&nbsp;18610 Highway A just outside of Phillipsburg, Missouri. The bus traveled off the right side of the road and overturned.

Emergency crews from the Conway Volunteer Fire Department responded to the emergency. The bus was carrying students from three area schools who were en route to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) conference in Indiana.

Four students including a 15-year-old girl, two 16-year-old girls and a 17-year-old boy sustained minor injuries and were transported to Mercy Lebanon for evaluation. EMS also transported a 23-year-old man and a 50-year-old man to Mercy Lebanon. The driver was going to seek his own medical treatment, according to the Patrol.

The students who were not injured were transported to Conway High School by a Conway R-1 School District bus. There, they were provided with warm Conway Bear clothing, blankets, and snacks while they waited for their parents and school officials to arrive

The Conway Volunteer Fire Department thanked&nbsp; Mercy EMS, the Laclede County Sheriff’s Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol for their assistance at the scene and Laclede County R-1 School District for responding so fast with a bus and administrators to help and opening your doors and taking such good care of these kids. Conway is located approximately 3 hours southeast of Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761769391583.png" alt="Photo&nbsp; Conway Volunteer Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo&nbsp; Conway Volunteer Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;LACLEDE COUNTY, Mo.—Seven people were injured in an accident just after 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in Laclede County, Missouri.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761769417283.png" alt="&nbsp;Photo Conway Volunteer Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Photo Conway Volunteer Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Prevost Charter bus driven by a 75-year-old Springfield man was southbound at&nbsp;18610 Highway A just outside of Phillipsburg, Missouri. The bus traveled off the right side of the road and overturned.Emergency crews from the Conway Volunteer Fire Department responded to the emergency. The bus was carrying students from three area schools who were en route to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) conference in Indiana.Four students including a 15-year-old girl, two 16-year-old girls and a 17-year-old boy sustained minor injuries and were transported to Mercy Lebanon for evaluation. EMS also transported a 23-year-old man and a 50-year-old man to Mercy Lebanon. The driver was going to seek his own medical treatment, according to the Patrol.The students who were not injured were transported to Conway High School by a Conway R-1 School District bus. There, they were provided with warm Conway Bear clothing, blankets, and snacks while they waited for their parents and school officials to arriveThe Conway Volunteer Fire Department thanked&nbsp; Mercy EMS, the Laclede County Sheriff’s Department, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol for their assistance at the scene and Laclede County R-1 School District for responding so fast with a bus and administrators to help and opening your doors and taking such good care of these kids. Conway is located approximately 3 hours southeast of Kansas City.

5 hospitalized after bus carrying FFA students overturns 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday for a second time this year as it seeks to shore up economic growth and hiring even as inflation stays elevated.

“Job gains have slowed this year, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remained low through August,” the Fed said in a statement issued Wednesday. “More recent indicators are consistent with these developments." The government hasn't issued unemployment data after August because of the shutdown. The Fed is watching private-sector figures instead.

Wednesday's decision brings the Fed's key rate down to about 3.9%, from about 4.1%. The central bank had cranked its rate to roughly 5.3% in 2023 and 2024 to combat the biggest inflation spike in four decades. Lower rates could, over time, reduce borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards, as well as for business loans.

The move comes amid a fraught time for the central bank, with hiring sluggish and yet inflation stuck above the Fed’s 2% target. Compounding its challenges, the central bank is navigating without the economic signposts it typically relies on from the government, including monthly reports on jobs, inflation and consumer spending, which have been suspended because of the government shutdown. The Fed has signaled it may reduce its key rate again in December but the data drought raises the uncertainty around its next moves.

The Fed typically raises its short term rate to combat inflation, while it cuts rates to encourage borrowing and spending and shore up hiring. Right now its two goals are in conflict, so it is reducing borrowing costs to support the job market, while still keeping rates high enough to avoid stimulating the economy so much that it worsens inflation.

Speaking to reporters after the Fed's announced its rate decision, Fed chair Jerome Powell said there were “strongly differing views about how to proceed in December” at the policy meeting and a further reduction in rates is not “a foregone conclusion.”

On Wednesday, the Fed also said it would stop reducing the size of its massive securities holdings, which it accumulated during the pandemic and after the 2008-2009 Great Recession. The change, to take effect Dec. 1, could over time slightly reduce longer-term interest rates on things like mortgages but won't have much impact on consumer borrowing costs.

The Fed purchased nearly $5 trillion of Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds from 2020 to 2022 to stabilize financial markets during the pandemic and keep longer-term interest rates low. The bond-buying lifted its securities holdings to $9 trillion.

In the past three years, however, the Fed has reduced its holdings to about $6.6 trillion. To shrink its holdings, the Fed lets securities mature without replacing them, reducing bank reserves. In recent months, however, the reductions appeared to disrupt money markets, threatening to push up shorter-term interest rates.

Two of the 12 officials who vote on the Fed’s rate decisions dissented, but in different directions. Fed governor Stephen Miran dissented for the second straight meeting in favor of a half-point cut. Miran was appointed by President Donald Trump just before the central bank’s last meeting in September.

Jeffrey Schmid, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, voted against the move because he preferred no change to the Fed’s rate. Schmid has previously expressed concern that inflation remains too high.

Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell for not reducing borrowing costs more quickly. In South Korea early Wednesday he repeated his criticisms of the Fed chair.

“He’s out of there in another couple of months,” Trump said. Powell’s term ends in May. On Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-independence-inflation-5c8cfa5816845d4f005db51c91cdab0d">confirmed</a>&nbsp;the administration is considering five people to replace Powell, and will decide by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, the government shutdown has interrupted economic data. September's jobs report, scheduled to be released three weeks ago, is still postponed. This month's hiring figures, to be released Nov. 7, will likely be delayed and may be less comprehensive when they are finally released. And the White House said last week that October's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-shutdown-no-report-70a0e2773445ded8a7239c4899fc410c">inflation report</a>&nbsp;may never be issued at all.

The data drought raises risks for the Fed because it is widely expected to keep cutting rates in an effort to shore up growth and hiring. Yet should job gains pick up soon, the Fed may not detect the change. And if hiring rebounds after weak job gains during the summer, further rate cuts may not be justified.

Before the government shutdown cut off the flow of data Oct. 1, monthly hiring gains had weakened to an average of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-trump-firing-f686eab61f7d6b702ca10b12b0250498">just 29,000 a month</a>&nbsp;for the previous three months, according to the Labor Department's data. The unemployment rate ticked up to a still-low 4.3% in August from 4.2% in July.

More recently, several large corporations have announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/layoffs-2025-amazon-ups-job-cuts-8413af9ac5b434b092ed76d6fa6cd196">sweeping layoffs</a>, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-amazon-layoffs-turnaround-85afc1c459883f41a2283c8394ce1eaf">UPS</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-layoff-ai-14000-artificial-intelligence-cb64af47ebb794541fbdfa8fd264932c">Amazon</a>, and Target, which threatens to boost the unemployment rate if it continues.

Meanwhile, last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-inflation-trump-prices-economy-wall-street-fed-consumers-280a2fd30de3bb44bd87cd0248082322">inflation report</a>&nbsp;— released more than a week late because of the shutdown — showed that inflation remains elevated but isn’t accelerating and may not need higher interest rates to tame it.

The government's first report on the economy's growth in the July-September quarter was scheduled to be published on Thursday, but will be delayed, as will Friday's report on consumer spending that also includes the Fed's preferred inflation measure.

Fed officials say they are monitoring a range of other data, including some issued by the private sector, and don't feel handicapped by the lack of government reports.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761764214354.png" alt="Fed Chairman Jerome Powell during the announcement on Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Fed Chairman Jerome Powell during the announcement on Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday for a second time this year as it seeks to shore up economic growth and hiring even as inflation stays elevated.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;In support of our goals and in light of the balance of risks to employment and inflation, today the Federal Open Market Committee decided to lower our policy interest rate by a quarter percentage point.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/XNoWKSZcGJ">pic.twitter.com/XNoWKSZcGJ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1983610921101467853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Job gains have slowed this year, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remained low through August,” the Fed said in a statement issued Wednesday. “More recent indicators are consistent with these developments." The government hasn't issued unemployment data after August because of the shutdown. The Fed is watching private-sector figures instead.Wednesday's decision brings the Fed's key rate down to about 3.9%, from about 4.1%. The central bank had cranked its rate to roughly 5.3% in 2023 and 2024 to combat the biggest inflation spike in four decades. Lower rates could, over time, reduce borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards, as well as for business loans.The move comes amid a fraught time for the central bank, with hiring sluggish and yet inflation stuck above the Fed’s 2% target. Compounding its challenges, the central bank is navigating without the economic signposts it typically relies on from the government, including monthly reports on jobs, inflation and consumer spending, which have been suspended because of the government shutdown. The Fed has signaled it may reduce its key rate again in December but the data drought raises the uncertainty around its next moves.The Fed typically raises its short term rate to combat inflation, while it cuts rates to encourage borrowing and spending and shore up hiring. Right now its two goals are in conflict, so it is reducing borrowing costs to support the job market, while still keeping rates high enough to avoid stimulating the economy so much that it worsens inflation.Speaking to reporters after the Fed's announced its rate decision, Fed chair Jerome Powell said there were “strongly differing views about how to proceed in December” at the policy meeting and a further reduction in rates is not “a foregone conclusion.”On Wednesday, the Fed also said it would stop reducing the size of its massive securities holdings, which it accumulated during the pandemic and after the 2008-2009 Great Recession. The change, to take effect Dec. 1, could over time slightly reduce longer-term interest rates on things like mortgages but won't have much impact on consumer borrowing costs.The Fed purchased nearly $5 trillion of Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds from 2020 to 2022 to stabilize financial markets during the pandemic and keep longer-term interest rates low. The bond-buying lifted its securities holdings to $9 trillion.In the past three years, however, the Fed has reduced its holdings to about $6.6 trillion. To shrink its holdings, the Fed lets securities mature without replacing them, reducing bank reserves. In recent months, however, the reductions appeared to disrupt money markets, threatening to push up shorter-term interest rates.Two of the 12 officials who vote on the Fed’s rate decisions dissented, but in different directions. Fed governor Stephen Miran dissented for the second straight meeting in favor of a half-point cut. Miran was appointed by President Donald Trump just before the central bank’s last meeting in September.Jeffrey Schmid, President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, voted against the move because he preferred no change to the Fed’s rate. Schmid has previously expressed concern that inflation remains too high.Trump has repeatedly attacked Powell for not reducing borrowing costs more quickly. In South Korea early Wednesday he repeated his criticisms of the Fed chair.“He’s out of there in another couple of months,” Trump said. Powell’s term ends in May. On Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-independence-inflation-5c8cfa5816845d4f005db51c91cdab0d">confirmed</a>&nbsp;the administration is considering five people to replace Powell, and will decide by the end of this year.Meanwhile, the government shutdown has interrupted economic data. September's jobs report, scheduled to be released three weeks ago, is still postponed. This month's hiring figures, to be released Nov. 7, will likely be delayed and may be less comprehensive when they are finally released. And the White House said last week that October's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-shutdown-no-report-70a0e2773445ded8a7239c4899fc410c">inflation report</a>&nbsp;may never be issued at all.The data drought raises risks for the Fed because it is widely expected to keep cutting rates in an effort to shore up growth and hiring. Yet should job gains pick up soon, the Fed may not detect the change. And if hiring rebounds after weak job gains during the summer, further rate cuts may not be justified.Before the government shutdown cut off the flow of data Oct. 1, monthly hiring gains had weakened to an average of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-trump-firing-f686eab61f7d6b702ca10b12b0250498">just 29,000 a month</a>&nbsp;for the previous three months, according to the Labor Department's data. The unemployment rate ticked up to a still-low 4.3% in August from 4.2% in July.More recently, several large corporations have announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/layoffs-2025-amazon-ups-job-cuts-8413af9ac5b434b092ed76d6fa6cd196">sweeping layoffs</a>, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-amazon-layoffs-turnaround-85afc1c459883f41a2283c8394ce1eaf">UPS</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-layoff-ai-14000-artificial-intelligence-cb64af47ebb794541fbdfa8fd264932c">Amazon</a>, and Target, which threatens to boost the unemployment rate if it continues.Meanwhile, last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-inflation-trump-prices-economy-wall-street-fed-consumers-280a2fd30de3bb44bd87cd0248082322">inflation report</a>&nbsp;— released more than a week late because of the shutdown — showed that inflation remains elevated but isn’t accelerating and may not need higher interest rates to tame it.The government's first report on the economy's growth in the July-September quarter was scheduled to be published on Thursday, but will be delayed, as will Friday's report on consumer spending that also includes the Fed's preferred inflation measure.Fed officials say they are monitoring a range of other data, including some issued by the private sector, and don't feel handicapped by the lack of government reports.

🎥Good news for borrowers despite federal gov't shutdown 

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man with a long criminal history who is accused in a deadly Wichita shooting will return to court Wednesday.&nbsp;

Elijah Fanning, 27, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Judge Rodger Woods courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In July, Fanning was charged with criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. According to online jail records he is facing charges of second degree murder along with drug and other weapons violations.

Just before 2:30 p.m. June 29, officers responded to a shooting in the 2700 block of W. 2nd Street in Wichita.

First responders found a man later identified as 26-year-old&nbsp;Nicholas Aldridge of Wichita man on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased, according to a media release from police. Detectives learned the shooting followed a disturbance between the Aldridge and four other men. All four fled the area before officers arrived.&nbsp; 

Just after 6p.m. June 29, police<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=228061">&nbsp;booked&nbsp; Fanning</a>&nbsp;into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for kidnapping, burglary, theft and&nbsp;Criminal possess of a weapon by a felon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751242881236.png" alt="Police at the scene Sunday-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene Sunday-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man with a long criminal history who is accused in a deadly Wichita shooting will return to court Wednesday.&nbsp;Elijah Fanning, 27, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in Judge Rodger Woods courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In July, Fanning was charged with criminal discharge of a firearm and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. According to online jail records he is facing charges of second degree murder along with drug and other weapons violations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751366599042.png" alt="Fanning-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Fanning-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 2:30 p.m. June 29, officers responded to a shooting in the 2700 block of W. 2nd Street in Wichita.First responders found a man later identified as 26-year-old&nbsp;Nicholas Aldridge of Wichita man on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased, according to a media release from police. Detectives learned the shooting followed a disturbance between the Aldridge and four other men. All four fled the area before officers arrived.&nbsp; Just after 6p.m. June 29, police<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=228061">&nbsp;booked&nbsp; Fanning</a>&nbsp;into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for kidnapping, burglary, theft and&nbsp;Criminal possess of a weapon by a felon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Preliminary hearing for Kansas felon accused in man's murder

RUSSELL COUNTY —A series of small earthquakes shook portions of north west and north central Kansas over the past two days.

Just after 9p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas Geological Survey reported a 2.7 magnitude quake in Rooks County, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. 

Since then the KGS reported three additional quakes in Russell County. A 3.8 magnitude quake at 10:46p.m., a 2.8 magnitude quake at 11:12p.m. Tuesday and a 3.4 magnitude quake at 12:14a.m. Wednesday.

There are no reports of any damage or injury, according to the Russell County Sheriff's office.

RUSSELL COUNTY —A series of small earthquakes shook portions of north west and north central Kansas over the past two days.Just after 9p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas Geological Survey reported a 2.7 magnitude quake in Rooks County, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. Since then the KGS reported three additional quakes in Russell County. A 3.8 magnitude quake at 10:46p.m., a 2.8 magnitude quake at 11:12p.m. Tuesday and a 3.4 magnitude quake at 12:14a.m. Wednesday.There are no reports of any damage or injury, according to the Russell County Sheriff's office.

Series of small earthquakes shake north central Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Trump administration has made 2026 Affordable Care Act health insurance plans available for enrollees to browse ahead of the start of the open enrollment period Saturday.

Americans who live in states that use the federally facilitated marketplace can now use the&nbsp;<a href="http://healthcare.gov/">Healthcare.gov</a>&nbsp;website to check the costs of next year’s plans, which are expected to rise sharply next year because of increasing health costs and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">expiring subsidies</a>&nbsp;that have made the plans cheaper for consumers.

Window shopping was already available in many of the states that manage their own versions of the ACA marketplace.

The unveiling of next year’s plans comes after Democratic senators urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to make them available as soon as possible. Amid large-scale federal employee furloughs during the government shutdown, CMS temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/furloughed-workers-shutdown-health-insurance-medicare-aca-b2f45612f76888fb33e3f9eb6f5c0590">brought back</a>&nbsp;all its workers Monday, in part to help manage the ACA open enrollment period.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Trump administration has made 2026 Affordable Care Act health insurance plans available for enrollees to browse ahead of the start of the open enrollment period Saturday.Americans who live in states that use the federally facilitated marketplace can now use the&nbsp;<a href="http://healthcare.gov/">Healthcare.gov</a>&nbsp;website to check the costs of next year’s plans, which are expected to rise sharply next year because of increasing health costs and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">expiring subsidies</a>&nbsp;that have made the plans cheaper for consumers.Window shopping was already available in many of the states that manage their own versions of the ACA marketplace.The unveiling of next year’s plans comes after Democratic senators urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to make them available as soon as possible. Amid large-scale federal employee furloughs during the government shutdown, CMS temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/furloughed-workers-shutdown-health-insurance-medicare-aca-b2f45612f76888fb33e3f9eb6f5c0590">brought back</a>&nbsp;all its workers Monday, in part to help manage the ACA open enrollment period.

‘Window shopping’ opens for federal Affordable Care Act marketplace

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas teen on drug allegations.

On October 27, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in 2800 BLK SE Powell Street in Topeka. related to an ongoing investigation, according to Topeka Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

While conducting the search warrant, officers located marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

As a result, Isaiah Timmons, 19, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transactions, Kansas Drug Tax, Transport open container of liquor, Liquor; Purchase/possess/consumption by minor 18-20 yrs and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761678946006.png" alt="Timmons photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Timmons photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas teen on drug allegations.On October 27, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit served a search warrant in 2800 BLK SE Powell Street in Topeka. related to an ongoing investigation, according to Topeka Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.While conducting the search warrant, officers located marijuana and drug paraphernalia.As a result, Isaiah Timmons, 19, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and is being held on requested charges of Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transactions, Kansas Drug Tax, Transport open container of liquor, Liquor; Purchase/possess/consumption by minor 18-20 yrs and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police: Kansas teen jailed for selling marijuana

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/stan-choe">STAN CHOE</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/cora-lewis">CORA LEWIS</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Almost everything in your 401(k) should be coming up a winner now. That makes it time for a gut check.

Not only is the U.S. stock market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-nikkei-trump-china-7d7150df20283db5a295abc64d225a63" rel="nofollow">setting records</a>, so are foreign stocks. Bond funds, which are supposed to be the boring and safe part of any portfolio, are also doing well this year, along with gold and cryptocurrencies.

But in the midst of all the fun, it can pay to remember how you felt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-china-trump-b686ef0259c2f4894f9fcd1f3649a956" rel="nofollow">during April</a>. That’s when financial markets were tumbling because of worldwide tariffs that President Donald Trump announced on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-2a031b3c16120a5672a6ddd01da09933" rel="nofollow">“Liberation Day.”</a>

Did all that fear push you to sell your stocks, lock in the losses and miss out on the stunning rebound that came afterward? Or did you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investing-tariffs-retirement-stocks-diversification-portfolio-ee662f0f5a84aa483ca741351e23d876" rel="nofollow">hold tight</a>, as many financial advisers suggested? Either way, it’s valuable information because another downturn could strike at any time.

To be sure, many professionals along Wall Street are forecasting that the U.S. stock market will keep rising. But the threat of a sharp drop remains, as it always does. That leaves investors with the luxury now, while prices are high, to reassess. Don’t get lulled into leaving your 401(k) on autopilot, unless you’re intentionally doing so, and make sure your portfolio isn’t stuffed with too much risk.

It’s been another fabulous year for stocks. The S&amp;P 500 has soared more than 35% from its low point in April, shortly after “Liberation Day.”

The market has had a few hiccups recently, as worries have popped up about everything from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-china-trump-earnings-21887690dfa4c47d05eebf6153f2e7c4" rel="nofollow">potentially bad loans</a>&nbsp;at some banks to renewed talk about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-ai-f2c8bcc1f46043ab504cf4b0281e3401" rel="nofollow">much higher tariffs on China</a>. But stocks have come back from each stumble, only to push higher.

“The market continues to (hit) record highs on the back of strong earnings and easing U.S.–China trade tensions,” said Mark Hackett, chief market strategist at Nationwide, who calls the current state of “steady growth without irrational exuberance” a ”Goldilocks environment.”

If the market’s great, why should I worry?

You don’t need to worry at the moment, but remember that the stock market will fall eventually. It always does.

The S&amp;P 500 index, which sits at the heart of many 401(k) accounts, has forced investors to swallow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-correction-sp-wall-street-904910323785d377a7d61023df450b72" rel="nofollow">a 10% drop</a>&nbsp;every couple of years or so, on average. That’s what Wall Street calls a “correction,” and professional investors see them as ways to clear out excessive optimism that may have built up and pushed prices too high. More serious drops of at least 20%, which Wall Street calls&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bear-market-stocks-market-tariffs-trump-sp-500-c5d106a80666c0ff4f0e71624d525158" rel="nofollow">“bear markets,”</a>&nbsp;are less common but can last for years.

Back in April, the S&amp;P 500 index plunged nearly 20% from its record at the time. But the market came back, propelled by the big tech companies that have led the way the last few years.

“Fundamentally superior stocks recover quickly and bounce like fresh tennis balls, while fundamentally inferior stocks bounce like rocks.” said Louis Navellier, founder and chief investment officer of asset manager Navellier &amp; Associates, who also brushed off worries that the stock market is in a bubble.

The stock market has charged to records because investors are expecting several important things to happen. If any fail to pan out, it would undercut the market.

Chief among those expectations is that big U.S. companies will continue to deliver big growth in profits. That’s one of the few ways they can justify the jumps for their stock prices and quiet criticism that they’ve become too expensive.

Critics point in particular to the frenzy going on in artificial-intelligence technology. There, they hear echoes of the dot-com bonanza that ultimately imploded in 2000 and sent stocks on a yearslong descent. One popular measure of valuing stocks, which looks at corporate profits over the preceding 10 years, showed the S&amp;P 500 recently was near its most expensive level since the 2000 dot-com bubble.

Consider Nvidia, the chip company that’s become the poster child of the AI trade. If it fails to meet analysts’ high expectations for growth, its stock will look more expensive than it already does. It’s trading at 54 times its earnings per share over the last 12 months, much higher than the overall S&amp;P 500’s price-earnings ratio of nearly 30.

What’s the next event to be mindful of?

Wednesday’s meeting of the Federal Reserve could be a key moment for the market.

Besides companies delivering bigger profits or stock prices falling, another way for the stock market to look less expensive is if interest rates ease.

The widespread expectation is that the Fed will cut its main interest rate to support the slowing job market and deliver more reductions through next year. But the Fed has also warned it may hold off on cuts if inflation accelerates beyond its still-high level. That’s because lower interest rates can make inflation worse, and Wednesday’s focus will be on whether the Fed gives any hints about the likelihood of more cuts in coming months.

Several of Wall Street’s most influential stocks will also be reporting their latest earnings results this week, including Microsoft and Apple. And Trump will be meeting with China’s leader, Xi Jinping on Thursday. The market has already run up on hopes that the two will ease&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-united-states-trump-xi-timeline-tariffs-adc2c2c00f13d8dcd4ecc92251b11533" rel="nofollow">rising trade tensions</a>&nbsp;at some point.

If there’s a bubble, I should sell everything, right?

A famous saying on Wall Street is that being too early is the same as being wrong.

Consider prescient investors who knew that stocks were too expensive when former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan famously talked about the possibility of “irrational exuberance” in financial markets. That was in late 1996.

If they sold then, they would have missed out as the bubble inflated further and the S&amp;P 500 more than doubled through late March 2000 before it popped.

Instead, the better way to think of it may be: Make sure your investments are set up the right way, so you can stomach the market whether it goes up or down.

How much of my 401(k) should be in stocks?

It depends on your age and how much risk you’re willing to take.

If you did sell stocks this past April, you may have had too much of your portfolio in stocks for your risk tolerance. Or you may need to steel yourself more during the next drop.

Remember that anyone decades away from retirement has the luxury of waiting out any drops in the market. Bear markets are actually great in that case, because they put stocks on sale for anyone continuing to make regular contributions to their 401(k) account.

Workers closer to retirement still need stocks, though in smaller proportions, because they have historically provided the highest returns over the long term, and a retirement can last decades.

“They aren’t the most sexy, but companies with dependable dividends are a good bet, as are simple index funds designed to track the S&amp;P 500 or a subset aimed at value or growth,” said John Kiernan, managing editor of personal finance site WalletHub.

“Young people need to grow their money over time, and they will have decades to make up for any losses,” Kiernan said. “Older people need to protect the money they have now, which might mean favoring bonds and high-yield savings accounts over risky investments.”

It’s easy to see how much stock retirement savers are recommended to hold at various ages. Mutual-fund companies have target-date retirement funds, which are built as autopilot products that will automatically move investors from lots of stocks when they’re young to fewer stocks when they’re closer to retirement.

The average target-date fund for workers just starting their careers had 92% of its portfolio invested in stocks at the end of last year, according to Morningstar. Target-date funds designed for people entering retirement have a bit under 50% invested in stocks, meanwhile.

Unfortunately, it’s the price you have to pay if you want the strong returns that the U.S. stock market has historically provided over the long term.

This is what the stock market does. It goes up and down, sometimes by shocking amounts, but it usually helps patient savers build their nest eggs over decades.

Ben Fulton, CEO of WEBs investments, recommends monitoring volatility by paying attention to the VIX, a volatility index, sometimes called the “fear index, which measures market expectations of future risk. The VIX is currently around 16, which Fulton said signals ”calm by historical standards.”

“When the VIX begins to hold consistently above 20, it often signals a time to gradually reduce market exposure,” he said. That happened during the tech bubble and more recently during the pandemic in 2020 and when inflation spiked in 2022.

“Until then, maintaining positions is critical, as markets that rise steadily can continue longer than logic might suggest, and stepping aside too early can mean missing valuable portfolio appreciation,” Fulton said.

“Markets rarely behave as we want, instead reflecting the collective sentiment of all investors.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="AP File Photo/Richard Drew" />
 <figcaption>AP File Photo/Richard Drew</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/stan-choe">STAN CHOE</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/cora-lewis">CORA LEWIS</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Almost everything in your 401(k) should be coming up a winner now. That makes it time for a gut check.Not only is the U.S. stock market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-nikkei-trump-china-7d7150df20283db5a295abc64d225a63" rel="nofollow">setting records</a>, so are foreign stocks. Bond funds, which are supposed to be the boring and safe part of any portfolio, are also doing well this year, along with gold and cryptocurrencies.But in the midst of all the fun, it can pay to remember how you felt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-china-trump-b686ef0259c2f4894f9fcd1f3649a956" rel="nofollow">during April</a>. That’s when financial markets were tumbling because of worldwide tariffs that President Donald Trump announced on his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-2a031b3c16120a5672a6ddd01da09933" rel="nofollow">“Liberation Day.”</a>Did all that fear push you to sell your stocks, lock in the losses and miss out on the stunning rebound that came afterward? Or did you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investing-tariffs-retirement-stocks-diversification-portfolio-ee662f0f5a84aa483ca741351e23d876" rel="nofollow">hold tight</a>, as many financial advisers suggested? Either way, it’s valuable information because another downturn could strike at any time.To be sure, many professionals along Wall Street are forecasting that the U.S. stock market will keep rising. But the threat of a sharp drop remains, as it always does. That leaves investors with the luxury now, while prices are high, to reassess. Don’t get lulled into leaving your 401(k) on autopilot, unless you’re intentionally doing so, and make sure your portfolio isn’t stuffed with too much risk.Here are some things to keep in mind:<h2>The stock market is doing well?</h2>It’s been another fabulous year for stocks. The S&amp;P 500 has soared more than 35% from its low point in April, shortly after “Liberation Day.”The market has had a few hiccups recently, as worries have popped up about everything from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-china-trump-earnings-21887690dfa4c47d05eebf6153f2e7c4" rel="nofollow">potentially bad loans</a>&nbsp;at some banks to renewed talk about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-ai-f2c8bcc1f46043ab504cf4b0281e3401" rel="nofollow">much higher tariffs on China</a>. But stocks have come back from each stumble, only to push higher.“The market continues to (hit) record highs on the back of strong earnings and easing U.S.–China trade tensions,” said Mark Hackett, chief market strategist at Nationwide, who calls the current state of “steady growth without irrational exuberance” a ”Goldilocks environment.”<h2>If the market’s great, why should I worry?</h2>You don’t need to worry at the moment, but remember that the stock market will fall eventually. It always does.The S&amp;P 500 index, which sits at the heart of many 401(k) accounts, has forced investors to swallow&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-correction-sp-wall-street-904910323785d377a7d61023df450b72" rel="nofollow">a 10% drop</a>&nbsp;every couple of years or so, on average. That’s what Wall Street calls a “correction,” and professional investors see them as ways to clear out excessive optimism that may have built up and pushed prices too high. More serious drops of at least 20%, which Wall Street calls&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bear-market-stocks-market-tariffs-trump-sp-500-c5d106a80666c0ff4f0e71624d525158" rel="nofollow">“bear markets,”</a>&nbsp;are less common but can last for years.Back in April, the S&amp;P 500 index plunged nearly 20% from its record at the time. But the market came back, propelled by the big tech companies that have led the way the last few years.“Fundamentally superior stocks recover quickly and bounce like fresh tennis balls, while fundamentally inferior stocks bounce like rocks.” said Louis Navellier, founder and chief investment officer of asset manager Navellier &amp; Associates, who also brushed off worries that the stock market is in a bubble.<h2>What could trip up the market?</h2>The stock market has charged to records because investors are expecting several important things to happen. If any fail to pan out, it would undercut the market.Chief among those expectations is that big U.S. companies will continue to deliver big growth in profits. That’s one of the few ways they can justify the jumps for their stock prices and quiet criticism that they’ve become too expensive.Critics point in particular to the frenzy going on in artificial-intelligence technology. There, they hear echoes of the dot-com bonanza that ultimately imploded in 2000 and sent stocks on a yearslong descent. One popular measure of valuing stocks, which looks at corporate profits over the preceding 10 years, showed the S&amp;P 500 recently was near its most expensive level since the 2000 dot-com bubble.Consider Nvidia, the chip company that’s become the poster child of the AI trade. If it fails to meet analysts’ high expectations for growth, its stock will look more expensive than it already does. It’s trading at 54 times its earnings per share over the last 12 months, much higher than the overall S&amp;P 500’s price-earnings ratio of nearly 30.<h2>What’s the next event to be mindful of?</h2>Wednesday’s meeting of the Federal Reserve could be a key moment for the market.Besides companies delivering bigger profits or stock prices falling, another way for the stock market to look less expensive is if interest rates ease.The widespread expectation is that the Fed will cut its main interest rate to support the slowing job market and deliver more reductions through next year. But the Fed has also warned it may hold off on cuts if inflation accelerates beyond its still-high level. That’s because lower interest rates can make inflation worse, and Wednesday’s focus will be on whether the Fed gives any hints about the likelihood of more cuts in coming months.Several of Wall Street’s most influential stocks will also be reporting their latest earnings results this week, including Microsoft and Apple. And Trump will be meeting with China’s leader, Xi Jinping on Thursday. The market has already run up on hopes that the two will ease&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-united-states-trump-xi-timeline-tariffs-adc2c2c00f13d8dcd4ecc92251b11533" rel="nofollow">rising trade tensions</a>&nbsp;at some point.<h2>If there’s a bubble, I should sell everything, right?</h2>A famous saying on Wall Street is that being too early is the same as being wrong.Consider prescient investors who knew that stocks were too expensive when former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan famously talked about the possibility of “irrational exuberance” in financial markets. That was in late 1996.If they sold then, they would have missed out as the bubble inflated further and the S&amp;P 500 more than doubled through late March 2000 before it popped.Instead, the better way to think of it may be: Make sure your investments are set up the right way, so you can stomach the market whether it goes up or down.<h2>How much of my 401(k) should be in stocks?</h2>It depends on your age and how much risk you’re willing to take.If you did sell stocks this past April, you may have had too much of your portfolio in stocks for your risk tolerance. Or you may need to steel yourself more during the next drop.Remember that anyone decades away from retirement has the luxury of waiting out any drops in the market. Bear markets are actually great in that case, because they put stocks on sale for anyone continuing to make regular contributions to their 401(k) account.Workers closer to retirement still need stocks, though in smaller proportions, because they have historically provided the highest returns over the long term, and a retirement can last decades.“They aren’t the most sexy, but companies with dependable dividends are a good bet, as are simple index funds designed to track the S&amp;P 500 or a subset aimed at value or growth,” said John Kiernan, managing editor of personal finance site WalletHub.“Young people need to grow their money over time, and they will have decades to make up for any losses,” Kiernan said. “Older people need to protect the money they have now, which might mean favoring bonds and high-yield savings accounts over risky investments.”It’s easy to see how much stock retirement savers are recommended to hold at various ages. Mutual-fund companies have target-date retirement funds, which are built as autopilot products that will automatically move investors from lots of stocks when they’re young to fewer stocks when they’re closer to retirement.The average target-date fund for workers just starting their careers had 92% of its portfolio invested in stocks at the end of last year, according to Morningstar. Target-date funds designed for people entering retirement have a bit under 50% invested in stocks, meanwhile.<h2>I hate all this uncertainty</h2>Unfortunately, it’s the price you have to pay if you want the strong returns that the U.S. stock market has historically provided over the long term.This is what the stock market does. It goes up and down, sometimes by shocking amounts, but it usually helps patient savers build their nest eggs over decades.Ben Fulton, CEO of WEBs investments, recommends monitoring volatility by paying attention to the VIX, a volatility index, sometimes called the “fear index, which measures market expectations of future risk. The VIX is currently around 16, which Fulton said signals ”calm by historical standards.”“When the VIX begins to hold consistently above 20, it often signals a time to gradually reduce market exposure,” he said. That happened during the tech bubble and more recently during the pandemic in 2020 and when inflation spiked in 2022.“Until then, maintaining positions is critical, as markets that rise steadily can continue longer than logic might suggest, and stepping aside too early can mean missing valuable portfolio appreciation,” Fulton said.“Markets rarely behave as we want, instead reflecting the collective sentiment of all investors.”

The stock market is breaking records. Time for a gut check

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Tuesday failed for the 13th time to advance a stopgap spending bill that would fund the government until Nov. 21 and end the nearly one-month government shutdown.

Tuesday was also the day when air traffic controllers, who are working without pay, missed their first full paychecks. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flightaware.com/live/cancelled/today" target="_blank">FlightAware delays tracker</a>&nbsp;reported 7,404 delays within, into or out of the United States on Monday and 161 cancellations within the U.S. A temporary ground stop&nbsp;<a href="https://abc7.com/post/ground-stop-issued-lax-due-staffing-issues-faa-reports/18073981/" target="_blank">was issued&nbsp;</a>at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday morning due to staffing issues.

In the nation’s capital, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00590.htm" target="_blank">54-45&nbsp;vote</a>&nbsp;was nearly identical to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/shutdown-day-22-sets-record-second-longest-us-history-no-sign-deal" target="_blank">previous 12 votes,</a>&nbsp;as Republicans and Democrats stuck to their positions. The legislation needed at least 60 votes to advance, under the Senate’s legislative filibuster.&nbsp;

Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and&nbsp;Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, both Democrats,&nbsp;and Maine independent Sen. Angus King voted with Republicans to advance the legislation. Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul voted no.

Democrats are under increasing pressure to pass the House-passed GOP stopgap measure, with 42 million Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/upcoming-federal-food-assistance-pause-intensifies-shutdown-fight" target="_blank">at risk of losing food assistance</a>&nbsp;for November, many federal workers beginning to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pay-trump-and-congress-continues-shutdown-unless-they-ask-it-be-held" target="_blank">miss their paychecks&nbsp;</a>and one of the largest unions representing federal workers calling for an end to the government shutdown, now at day 28.&nbsp;

Amid the government shutdown, the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-tried-lay-more-2000-interior-staff-shutdown-plan-now-hold" target="_blank">has moved to lay off federal workers,</a>&nbsp;and a federal judge is holding a Tuesday hearing to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-broadens-order-blocking-trump-administration-layoffs-during-shutdown" target="_blank">consider a preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;to block the mass Reductions in Force, or RIFs.

As President Donald Trump continues his overseas travel throughout Asia meeting with foreign leaders, Vice President JD Vance&nbsp;joined&nbsp;Senate Republicans during their Tuesday caucus lunch meeting.&nbsp;

Vance defended USDA’s decision to not tap into its contingency fund provided by Congress to continue food assistance benefits amid a funding lapse.

“We’re exploring all options,” Vance said.&nbsp;

Congress provided USDA with the multi-year contingency fund, which totals about $6 billion — short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover a full month of SNAP benefits. USDA would have to reshuffle funds to provide November payments.&nbsp;

“We are trying as much as possible to ensure that critical food benefits get paid,” Vance said.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-ags-governors-sue-trump-over-snap-benefits-shutdown-hits-day-28" target="_blank">A coalition of Democratic state officials Tuesday sued</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration and urged a federal judge to force the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release SNAP benefits for 42 million people.

Vance called on five Democrats to join Senate Republicans in approving a short-term funding bill.

“If the Democrats just opened up the government, then we wouldn’t have to play this game where … we’re trying to fit a square peg into a round hole with the budget,” Vance said.&nbsp;

Democrats have continued to vote against the House’s GOP short-term spending bill to draw attention to and force negotiations on tax credits that will expire at the end of the year for people who buy their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Republicans maintain the government must reopen before they begin any talks.

Republicans are also weighing whether to pass a stand-alone bill by GOP Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley to approve funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.&nbsp;

Ten Senate Republicans have joined to sponsor the bill, including&nbsp;Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Collins of Maine.&nbsp;One Democratic senator also cosponsored the bill, Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont.&nbsp;

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Democrats would also introduce their own separate bill to provide funding for not only SNAP, but for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC.

During a Tuesday press conference, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., did not seem receptive to scheduling a Senate vote on a stand-alone bill to address SNAP.&nbsp;

“I mean, this piecemeal approach where you do one off here, one off there, to make it seem more politically palatable to somebody…that is just a wrong way to do this,” Thune said.&nbsp;

Instead, he argued that Democrats should just support the stopgap spending bill.&nbsp;

Another critical deadline is approaching. Active-duty military members will miss their paychecks by Friday if the government is still in a funding lapse. The Trump administration already&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pentagon-shift-research-dollars-pay-troops-during-shutdown" target="_blank">reprogrammed $8 billion&nbsp;</a>earlier this month from multi-year research funds from the Defense Department in order to pay the troops.&nbsp;

However, Vance said the Trump administration expects to be able to pay troops this Friday, although the vice president didn’t detail where those funds would come from.

Before Tuesday morning’s vote, Thune said Democrats should listen to calls for an end to the shutdown from the&nbsp;American Federation of Government Employees, or AFGE, labor union, which typically aligns with Democrats.&nbsp;

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, also cited the call from AFGE, telling Democrats “you have an off-ramp,” during a Tuesday press conference.

“The largest unions are saying, ‘Please do this,’” Johnson said. “You can claim that as cover and say that you had to do it.”

Last week, there were dueling bills from both parties related to paying federal workers amid the shutdown,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-fails-move-ahead-bills-extending-pay-federal-workers-during-shutdown" target="_blank">but those efforts failed to meet the 60-vote threshold to move forward.</a>

The end of the 2019 government shutdown, which lasted 35 days, was in part due to shortages of air traffic controllers that upended air travel across the country and forced lawmakers to strike a deal.&nbsp;

Schumer critical of administration shutdown decisions

During a Tuesday press conference, Schumer slammed the Trump administration for refusing to tap into its contingency fund for SNAP.

“The money is there,” the New York Democrat said. “The hungry people, the hungry children, the hungry veterans, the hungry elderly, could be fed, but Trump’s using them as hostages.”

Of the 42 million people on SNAP, roughly 40% are children 17 and younger.&nbsp;

He also criticized Trump for traveling abroad and for his administration’s priority to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-press-secretary-defends-white-house-ballroom-project-amid-east-wing-teardown" target="_blank">demolish the East Wing of the White House</a>&nbsp;for a ballroom.&nbsp;

“His number one priority is his ballroom,” Schumer said. “When people are suffering, what kind of president is this?”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761667643773.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran casting his vote on Tuesday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran casting his vote on Tuesday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Tuesday failed for the 13th time to advance a stopgap spending bill that would fund the government until Nov. 21 and end the nearly one-month government shutdown.Tuesday was also the day when air traffic controllers, who are working without pay, missed their first full paychecks. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flightaware.com/live/cancelled/today" target="_blank">FlightAware delays tracker</a>&nbsp;reported 7,404 delays within, into or out of the United States on Monday and 161 cancellations within the U.S. A temporary ground stop&nbsp;<a href="https://abc7.com/post/ground-stop-issued-lax-due-staffing-issues-faa-reports/18073981/" target="_blank">was issued&nbsp;</a>at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday morning due to staffing issues.In the nation’s capital, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00590.htm" target="_blank">54-45&nbsp;vote</a>&nbsp;was nearly identical to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/shutdown-day-22-sets-record-second-longest-us-history-no-sign-deal" target="_blank">previous 12 votes,</a>&nbsp;as Republicans and Democrats stuck to their positions. The legislation needed at least 60 votes to advance, under the Senate’s legislative filibuster.&nbsp;Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and&nbsp;Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, both Democrats,&nbsp;and Maine independent Sen. Angus King voted with Republicans to advance the legislation. Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul voted no.<h2>Vance defends SNAP cutoff</h2>Democrats are under increasing pressure to pass the House-passed GOP stopgap measure, with 42 million Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/upcoming-federal-food-assistance-pause-intensifies-shutdown-fight" target="_blank">at risk of losing food assistance</a>&nbsp;for November, many federal workers beginning to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pay-trump-and-congress-continues-shutdown-unless-they-ask-it-be-held" target="_blank">miss their paychecks&nbsp;</a>and one of the largest unions representing federal workers calling for an end to the government shutdown, now at day 28.&nbsp;Amid the government shutdown, the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-tried-lay-more-2000-interior-staff-shutdown-plan-now-hold" target="_blank">has moved to lay off federal workers,</a>&nbsp;and a federal judge is holding a Tuesday hearing to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-broadens-order-blocking-trump-administration-layoffs-during-shutdown" target="_blank">consider a preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;to block the mass Reductions in Force, or RIFs.As President Donald Trump continues his overseas travel throughout Asia meeting with foreign leaders, Vice President JD Vance&nbsp;joined&nbsp;Senate Republicans during their Tuesday caucus lunch meeting.&nbsp;Vance defended USDA’s decision to not tap into its contingency fund provided by Congress to continue food assistance benefits amid a funding lapse.“We’re exploring all options,” Vance said.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761740650260.png" alt="After attending a caucus lunch meeting with Senate Republicans, Vice President JD Vance briefly speaks with reporters on day 28 of the government shutdown, Oct. 28, 2025. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsoom)" />
 <figcaption>After attending a caucus lunch meeting with Senate Republicans, Vice President JD Vance briefly speaks with reporters on day 28 of the government shutdown, Oct. 28, 2025. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsoom)</figcaption>
 </figure>Congress provided USDA with the multi-year contingency fund, which totals about $6 billion — short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover a full month of SNAP benefits. USDA would have to reshuffle funds to provide November payments.&nbsp;“We are trying as much as possible to ensure that critical food benefits get paid,” Vance said.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-ags-governors-sue-trump-over-snap-benefits-shutdown-hits-day-28" target="_blank">A coalition of Democratic state officials Tuesday sued</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration and urged a federal judge to force the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release SNAP benefits for 42 million people.Vance called on five Democrats to join Senate Republicans in approving a short-term funding bill.“If the Democrats just opened up the government, then we wouldn’t have to play this game where … we’re trying to fit a square peg into a round hole with the budget,” Vance said.&nbsp;Democrats have continued to vote against the House’s GOP short-term spending bill to draw attention to and force negotiations on tax credits that will expire at the end of the year for people who buy their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. Republicans maintain the government must reopen before they begin any talks.<h2>Votes possible on SNAP funding</h2>Republicans are also weighing whether to pass a stand-alone bill by GOP Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley to approve funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.&nbsp;Ten Senate Republicans have joined to sponsor the bill, including&nbsp;Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Collins of Maine.&nbsp;One Democratic senator also cosponsored the bill, Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont.&nbsp;Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Democrats would also introduce their own separate bill to provide funding for not only SNAP, but for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC.During a Tuesday press conference, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., did not seem receptive to scheduling a Senate vote on a stand-alone bill to address SNAP.&nbsp;“I mean, this piecemeal approach where you do one off here, one off there, to make it seem more politically palatable to somebody…that is just a wrong way to do this,” Thune said.&nbsp;Instead, he argued that Democrats should just support the stopgap spending bill.&nbsp;Another critical deadline is approaching. Active-duty military members will miss their paychecks by Friday if the government is still in a funding lapse. The Trump administration already&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pentagon-shift-research-dollars-pay-troops-during-shutdown" target="_blank">reprogrammed $8 billion&nbsp;</a>earlier this month from multi-year research funds from the Defense Department in order to pay the troops.&nbsp;However, Vance said the Trump administration expects to be able to pay troops this Friday, although the vice president didn’t detail where those funds would come from.Before Tuesday morning’s vote, Thune said Democrats should listen to calls for an end to the shutdown from the&nbsp;American Federation of Government Employees, or AFGE, labor union, which typically aligns with Democrats.&nbsp;House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, also cited the call from AFGE, telling Democrats “you have an off-ramp,” during a Tuesday press conference.“The largest unions are saying, ‘Please do this,’” Johnson said. “You can claim that as cover and say that you had to do it.”Last week, there were dueling bills from both parties related to paying federal workers amid the shutdown,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-fails-move-ahead-bills-extending-pay-federal-workers-during-shutdown" target="_blank">but those efforts failed to meet the 60-vote threshold to move forward.</a>The end of the 2019 government shutdown, which lasted 35 days, was in part due to shortages of air traffic controllers that upended air travel across the country and forced lawmakers to strike a deal.&nbsp;<h2>Schumer critical of administration shutdown decisions</h2>During a Tuesday press conference, Schumer slammed the Trump administration for refusing to tap into its contingency fund for SNAP.“The money is there,” the New York Democrat said. “The hungry people, the hungry children, the hungry veterans, the hungry elderly, could be fed, but Trump’s using them as hostages.”Of the 42 million people on SNAP, roughly 40% are children 17 and younger.&nbsp;He also criticized Trump for traveling abroad and for his administration’s priority to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-press-secretary-defends-white-house-ballroom-project-amid-east-wing-teardown" target="_blank">demolish the East Wing of the White House</a>&nbsp;for a ballroom.&nbsp;“His number one priority is his ballroom,” Schumer said. “When people are suffering, what kind of president is this?”&nbsp;

US Senate again rejects bill ending shutdown, as air traffic controllers miss paychecks

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a homicide that occurred September 2, have have developed new information that the crime actually occurred in Independence, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just after 2:30p.m. September 2, police&nbsp;were dispatched to 100 NE St. Luke’s Boulevard on a reported shooting that was originally believed to have occurred near 88th Place and James A Reed, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Upon arrival, officers were advised a boy later identified as 15-year-old Isaiah Wilson arrived at the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound. Medical staff made every attempt to perform life saving measures before he was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary investigation indicates the boy was walking outside when he heard several sounds of shots and was struck by gunfire. He was able to call a friend for help and a private vehicle picked him up and transported him to the hospital.

KCPD Homicide Unit detectives have met with Independence Police investigators and they have taken over the investigation.

This case is being removed from KCPD Daily Homicide total and our number will go from 124 to 123 for 2025.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a homicide that occurred September 2, have have developed new information that the crime actually occurred in Independence, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just after 2:30p.m. September 2, police&nbsp;were dispatched to 100 NE St. Luke’s Boulevard on a reported shooting that was originally believed to have occurred near 88th Place and James A Reed, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Upon arrival, officers were advised a boy later identified as 15-year-old Isaiah Wilson arrived at the hospital suffering from a gunshot wound. Medical staff made every attempt to perform life saving measures before he was pronounced deceased.Preliminary investigation indicates the boy was walking outside when he heard several sounds of shots and was struck by gunfire. He was able to call a friend for help and a private vehicle picked him up and transported him to the hospital.KCPD Homicide Unit detectives have met with Independence Police investigators and they have taken over the investigation.This case is being removed from KCPD Daily Homicide total and our number will go from 124 to 123 for 2025.

Homicide: KCPD releases new details in death of 15-year-old

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in a pedestrian accident just before 3:30a.m. Tuesday in Overland Park.

A vehicle was eastbound on Goddard Street just west of Switzer Road, according to Officer John Lacy. The vehicle initially struck a parked vehicle on the westbound side of the street.&nbsp; it continued eastbound and struck a pedestrian later identified as 68-year-old Janet Dam of Overland Park. She was walking westbound on the edge of the roadway.&nbsp; The vehicle eventually came to a stop after striking a tree. 

Dam was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of vehicle was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.

&nbsp;Investigators say Dam is known to walk daily in the area around 4a.m. She was not carrying any identification at the time of the incident.&nbsp;

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in a pedestrian accident just before 3:30a.m. Tuesday in Overland Park.A vehicle was eastbound on Goddard Street just west of Switzer Road, according to Officer John Lacy. The vehicle initially struck a parked vehicle on the westbound side of the street.&nbsp; it continued eastbound and struck a pedestrian later identified as 68-year-old Janet Dam of Overland Park. She was walking westbound on the edge of the roadway.&nbsp; The vehicle eventually came to a stop after striking a tree. Dam was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of vehicle was transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.&nbsp;Investigators say Dam is known to walk daily in the area around 4a.m. She was not carrying any identification at the time of the incident.&nbsp;

Kan. woman struck and killed by vehicle near her home

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-santana">REBECCA SANTANA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/elliot-spagat">ELLIOT SPAGAT</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is reassigning at least half the top leadership at Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices around the country in a major shake-up of the agency responsible for carrying out the president’s vision for mass deportations, according to one current and one former U.S. government official.

The current official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, said 12 ICE field office directors — the officers who run the network of field offices around the country responsible for immigration enforcement — were being reassigned.

Half are to be replaced by existing or retired Customs and Border Protection staff, while the other half would be replaced by ICE officers, both the current and former officials said. The changes were initiated by the Homeland Security Department, the current official said, without specifying which cities were impacted.

The former official, who has direct knowledge of the changes and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss information that was not intended for public release, said on top of the 12 reassignments, leaders in another four cities were being swapped out through retirements or other circumstances. He said the cities include major immigration enforcement targets such as Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington.

He added that ICE leadership has been discussing the changes with other Trump administration officials for some time as part of a broad review of the agency.

The reason for the personnel changes wasn’t immediately clear. But they indicate a greater integration of Border Patrol agents in ICE at a time when Customs and Border Protection has been accused of using heavy-handed tactics in its immigration enforcement.

A major shakeup in Trump’s immigration enforcement leadership

With a total of 25 field offices around the country, the reassignments amount to turnover of about half or more of the top staffers carrying out the president’s hardline immigration enforcement plans, which has seen a major deployment of law enforcement in major American cities, thousands of arrests and surging fear among residents, especially in immigrant communities.

Homeland Security and the White House did not comment on the reassignments and each instead highlighted that all elements of immigration enforcement were working as one team.

Putting Customs and Border Protection officers into top positions within Immigration and Customs Enforcement would create an expanded role for an agency that is already at the forefront of many of the aggressive tactics seen in both Los Angeles and now in Chicago.

CBP officers — specifically Border Patrol agents — have carried out some of the most controversial operations as part of immigration crackdowns in both of those cities,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-immigration-raid-trump-crackdown-1472ec9dd297054a36925b06297aca2f" rel="nofollow">including a recent raid</a>&nbsp;in Chicago where officers rappelled down onto a building in an apartment complex from a helicopter. Border Patrol agents have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-trojan-horse-penske-1b86bc5f2ff716b89f4aba3320a96979" rel="nofollow">also popped out of a moving truck</a>&nbsp;and chased after people and conducted patrols through downtown Chicago.

Border Patrol agents protect the land and water between the official border crossings to prevent human trafficking, drug smuggling or other types of contraband from entering the U.S. ICE, since its creation in 2003, is the main agency responsible for immigration enforcement inside the country.

But during the Trump administration, Border Patrol agents have been taking part in immigration enforcement operations around the country, far from their more traditional duties.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gregory-bovino-immigration-takeaways-282bcb88d370a77e5188ef97931aff6e" rel="nofollow">Gregory Bovino</a>, the Border Patrol sector chief from California who has been heading the Border Patrol’s operations in both cities, is himself accused of throwing tear gas canisters at protesters and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-illinois-ice-border-patrol-immigration-bovino-d1cf9ce5309f0175a24fdd276f52f06c" rel="nofollow">took the stand</a>&nbsp;Tuesday as a defendant in a federal lawsuit about whether federal officials are using excessive force in Chicago.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says its agents carry out “targeted enforcement operations,” which often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-deportation-ice-chicago-arrest-fd6d049fcd293b62f85ffcd5b1a547ee" rel="nofollow">involve hours of time staking out</a>&nbsp;people they’re trying to remove from the country.

It’s the latest in a series of personnel changes

This is the third shake-up at ICE since Trump took office, reflecting the importance of the agency’s role in executing the president’s vision.

In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-ice-trump-deportation-4efd094b7b353e4350493986cd6975c2" rel="nofollow">Homeland Security reassigned Caleb Vitello</a>, the acting director of ICE, to another position. Todd Lyons, a veteran ICE agent, was later announced as the new acting head of the agency, a position he still holds.

Then in May, ICE announced the reassignment of the two top officials heading the agency’s main branches.

A spokesperson for Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, did not comment Tuesday on the personnel changes but said in a statement that the department remained “laser focused on RESULTS and we will deliver.”

“This is one team, one fight,” she said. “President (Donald) Trump has a brilliant, tenacious team led by Secretary (Kristi) Noem to deliver on the American people’s mandate to remove criminal illegal aliens from this country.”

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in an e-mailed statement: “The President’s entire team is working in lockstep to implement the President’s policy agenda, and the tremendous results from securing the border to deporting criminal illegal aliens speak for themselves.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761700848702.png" alt="Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a press conference in Florida earlier this month" />
 <figcaption>Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a press conference in Florida earlier this month</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-santana">REBECCA SANTANA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/elliot-spagat">ELLIOT SPAGAT</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is reassigning at least half the top leadership at Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices around the country in a major shake-up of the agency responsible for carrying out the president’s vision for mass deportations, according to one current and one former U.S. government official.The current official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity, said 12 ICE field office directors — the officers who run the network of field offices around the country responsible for immigration enforcement — were being reassigned.Half are to be replaced by existing or retired Customs and Border Protection staff, while the other half would be replaced by ICE officers, both the current and former officials said. The changes were initiated by the Homeland Security Department, the current official said, without specifying which cities were impacted.The former official, who has direct knowledge of the changes and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss information that was not intended for public release, said on top of the 12 reassignments, leaders in another four cities were being swapped out through retirements or other circumstances. He said the cities include major immigration enforcement targets such as Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington.He added that ICE leadership has been discussing the changes with other Trump administration officials for some time as part of a broad review of the agency.The reason for the personnel changes wasn’t immediately clear. But they indicate a greater integration of Border Patrol agents in ICE at a time when Customs and Border Protection has been accused of using heavy-handed tactics in its immigration enforcement.<h2>A major shakeup in Trump’s immigration enforcement leadership</h2>With a total of 25 field offices around the country, the reassignments amount to turnover of about half or more of the top staffers carrying out the president’s hardline immigration enforcement plans, which has seen a major deployment of law enforcement in major American cities, thousands of arrests and surging fear among residents, especially in immigrant communities.Homeland Security and the White House did not comment on the reassignments and each instead highlighted that all elements of immigration enforcement were working as one team.Putting Customs and Border Protection officers into top positions within Immigration and Customs Enforcement would create an expanded role for an agency that is already at the forefront of many of the aggressive tactics seen in both Los Angeles and now in Chicago.CBP officers — specifically Border Patrol agents — have carried out some of the most controversial operations as part of immigration crackdowns in both of those cities,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-immigration-raid-trump-crackdown-1472ec9dd297054a36925b06297aca2f" rel="nofollow">including a recent raid</a>&nbsp;in Chicago where officers rappelled down onto a building in an apartment complex from a helicopter. Border Patrol agents have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-trojan-horse-penske-1b86bc5f2ff716b89f4aba3320a96979" rel="nofollow">also popped out of a moving truck</a>&nbsp;and chased after people and conducted patrols through downtown Chicago.Border Patrol agents protect the land and water between the official border crossings to prevent human trafficking, drug smuggling or other types of contraband from entering the U.S. ICE, since its creation in 2003, is the main agency responsible for immigration enforcement inside the country.But during the Trump administration, Border Patrol agents have been taking part in immigration enforcement operations around the country, far from their more traditional duties.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gregory-bovino-immigration-takeaways-282bcb88d370a77e5188ef97931aff6e" rel="nofollow">Gregory Bovino</a>, the Border Patrol sector chief from California who has been heading the Border Patrol’s operations in both cities, is himself accused of throwing tear gas canisters at protesters and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-illinois-ice-border-patrol-immigration-bovino-d1cf9ce5309f0175a24fdd276f52f06c" rel="nofollow">took the stand</a>&nbsp;Tuesday as a defendant in a federal lawsuit about whether federal officials are using excessive force in Chicago.Immigration and Customs Enforcement says its agents carry out “targeted enforcement operations,” which often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-deportation-ice-chicago-arrest-fd6d049fcd293b62f85ffcd5b1a547ee" rel="nofollow">involve hours of time staking out</a>&nbsp;people they’re trying to remove from the country.<h2>It’s the latest in a series of personnel changes</h2>This is the third shake-up at ICE since Trump took office, reflecting the importance of the agency’s role in executing the president’s vision.In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-ice-trump-deportation-4efd094b7b353e4350493986cd6975c2" rel="nofollow">Homeland Security reassigned Caleb Vitello</a>, the acting director of ICE, to another position. Todd Lyons, a veteran ICE agent, was later announced as the new acting head of the agency, a position he still holds.Then in May, ICE announced the reassignment of the two top officials heading the agency’s main branches.A spokesperson for Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, did not comment Tuesday on the personnel changes but said in a statement that the department remained “laser focused on RESULTS and we will deliver.”“This is one team, one fight,” she said. “President (Donald) Trump has a brilliant, tenacious team led by Secretary (Kristi) Noem to deliver on the American people’s mandate to remove criminal illegal aliens from this country.”White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in an e-mailed statement: “The President’s entire team is working in lockstep to implement the President’s policy agenda, and the tremendous results from securing the border to deporting criminal illegal aliens speak for themselves.”___Spagat reported from Chicago.

Trump administration shakes up ICE leadership across the country

KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of house fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 3:30p.m. Tuesday, crews responded a house fire in the 2500 Block of Montgall Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. First responders reported heavy fire from a two-story vacant home. Crews made an initial attempt for an interior attack but were unsuccessful due to the amount of fire and hoarder type condition in the home.

Defensive operations were established. The intense flames and radiant heat ignited a second structure north of the original fire. Searches of the second structure came back all clear. Both fires were brought under control and crews worked to contain hot spots. There were no injuries reported.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761695102097.png" alt="Photos Kansas City Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Kansas City Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of house fire in Kansas City, Missouri.Just before 3:30p.m. Tuesday, crews responded a house fire in the 2500 Block of Montgall Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. First responders reported heavy fire from a two-story vacant home. Crews made an initial attempt for an interior attack but were unsuccessful due to the amount of fire and hoarder type condition in the home.Defensive operations were established. The intense flames and radiant heat ignited a second structure north of the original fire. Searches of the second structure came back all clear. Both fires were brought under control and crews worked to contain hot spots. There were no injuries reported.&nbsp;

Hoarding conditions hamper crews fighting KC house fire

PHELPS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect for alleged sex crimes involving a juvenile.

This week, 36-year-old Elizabeth Jamie Love and her boyfriend, 43-year-old Jarid “Jack” Krause both of Holdrege, were arrested pursuant to a warrant and criminal complaint filed by the Phelps County Attorney’s Office that charges each with one count of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, according to a statment from Holdredge Police.

 The criminal complaint filed against Love also alleges an additional count of Sexual Grooming by a School Employee.. 

The investigation into Love and Krause began after a current high school student, whom Ms. Love was instructing through her employment as a transition coordinator and teacher in ESU-11, reported inappropriate interactions with the couple over the past few weeks.  

While the investigation into this matter is still ongoing and law enforcement is not aware of any inappropriate interactions with other current or former students. The Holdrege Police Department is interested in speaking with anyone who has any additional information about this current allegation or who may have had prior interactions with Love or Krause, which they now believe is suspicious. 

It is law enforcement’s understanding that Love has been an educator/transition coordinator within ESU-11 for a number of years and in that role, she travels to as many as 15 schools or public-school districts throughout South Central Nebraska.&nbsp; &nbsp;ESU-11 provides educational services to&nbsp; public school districts in south-central Nebraska.

&nbsp;Love and Krause are currently being held in the Phelps County Jail on separate bonds of $250,000 each.

If convicted of the crimes alleged, Love and&nbsp; Krause face up to life imprisonment and lifetime placement on the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry. They made an initial court appearance on Monday in the Phelps County Court.

Anyone with any additional information about Ms. Love and/or Mr. Krause, that may be pertinent to this case or prior contacts with either of them that they now find to be unusual or suspicious, are urged to contact the Holdrege Police Department at (308) 995-4407.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761655940205.png" alt="Love and Krause -photo Phelps Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Love and Krause -photo Phelps Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>PHELPS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect for alleged sex crimes involving a juvenile.This week, 36-year-old Elizabeth Jamie Love and her boyfriend, 43-year-old Jarid “Jack” Krause both of Holdrege, were arrested pursuant to a warrant and criminal complaint filed by the Phelps County Attorney’s Office that charges each with one count of Sex Trafficking of a Minor, according to a statment from Holdredge Police. The criminal complaint filed against Love also alleges an additional count of Sexual Grooming by a School Employee.. The investigation into Love and Krause began after a current high school student, whom Ms. Love was instructing through her employment as a transition coordinator and teacher in ESU-11, reported inappropriate interactions with the couple over the past few weeks. While the investigation into this matter is still ongoing and law enforcement is not aware of any inappropriate interactions with other current or former students. The Holdrege Police Department is interested in speaking with anyone who has any additional information about this current allegation or who may have had prior interactions with Love or Krause, which they now believe is suspicious. It is law enforcement’s understanding that Love has been an educator/transition coordinator within ESU-11 for a number of years and in that role, she travels to as many as 15 schools or public-school districts throughout South Central Nebraska.&nbsp; &nbsp;ESU-11 provides educational services to&nbsp; public school districts in south-central Nebraska.&nbsp;Love and Krause are currently being held in the Phelps County Jail on separate bonds of $250,000 each.If convicted of the crimes alleged, Love and&nbsp; Krause face up to life imprisonment and lifetime placement on the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry. They made an initial court appearance on Monday in the Phelps County Court.Anyone with any additional information about Ms. Love and/or Mr. Krause, that may be pertinent to this case or prior contacts with either of them that they now find to be unusual or suspicious, are urged to contact the Holdrege Police Department at (308) 995-4407.

Teacher, boyfriend accused of grooming, sex trafficking student

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—One person died in an accident on Tuesday morning in Montgomery County.

According to Sheriff Ron Wade, a 2024 Kia passenger vehicle driven by Heath Ellis, 21, Caney, was traveling on U.S. 75 near County Road 3600 southwest of Independence, Kansas.&nbsp; The vehicle left the road, overturned, struck a culvert and caught fire.&nbsp; Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;

The accident remains under investigation, according to Wade.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—One person died in an accident on Tuesday morning in Montgomery County.According to Sheriff Ron Wade, a 2024 Kia passenger vehicle driven by Heath Ellis, 21, Caney, was traveling on U.S. 75 near County Road 3600 southwest of Independence, Kansas.&nbsp; The vehicle left the road, overturned, struck a culvert and caught fire.&nbsp; Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;The accident remains under investigation, according to Wade.

Kansas man killed in rollover crash and fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-autopen-investigation-house-republicans-34d14c02bd905b0021a546c24337106f" rel="nofollow">long-promised report</a>&nbsp;on former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" rel="nofollow">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;use of the autopen, delivering a blistering critique of his time in office and inner circle that largely rehashes public information while making sweeping accusations about the workings of his White House.

<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/landing/the-biden-autopen-presidency/">Click here to read </a>the Oversight Committee report

The GOP report does not include any concrete evidence that aides conspired to enact policies without Biden’s knowledge or that the president was unaware of laws, pardons or executive orders signed in his name. But Republicans said their findings cast doubt on all of Biden’s actions in office. They sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging a full investigation. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-investigation-autopen-pardons-explainer-e033f6a9d8ecc65a68990f73dd0e718a" rel="nofollow">ordered a similar inquiry</a>&nbsp;earlier this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761664264327.png" alt="Image Oversight Committee" />
 <figcaption>Image Oversight Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Tuesday unveiled their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-autopen-investigation-house-republicans-34d14c02bd905b0021a546c24337106f" rel="nofollow">long-promised report</a>&nbsp;on former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" rel="nofollow">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;use of the autopen, delivering a blistering critique of his time in office and inner circle that largely rehashes public information while making sweeping accusations about the workings of his White House.<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/landing/the-biden-autopen-presidency/">Click here to read </a>the Oversight Committee reportThe GOP report does not include any concrete evidence that aides conspired to enact policies without Biden’s knowledge or that the president was unaware of laws, pardons or executive orders signed in his name. But Republicans said their findings cast doubt on all of Biden’s actions in office. They sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging a full investigation. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-investigation-autopen-pardons-explainer-e033f6a9d8ecc65a68990f73dd0e718a" rel="nofollow">ordered a similar inquiry</a>&nbsp;earlier this year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749205481205.png" alt="Image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>At its core, the report&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-age-probe-steve-richetti-664295c69e71d13a5231c221469170f1" rel="nofollow">advances contested claims</a>&nbsp;that Biden’s mental state declined to a degree that allowed White House officials to enact policies without his knowledge. It focuses heavily on the pardons he granted in office, including to his son, Hunter Biden, based on depositions with close Biden aides.“The cost of the scheme to hide the fallout of President Biden’s diminished physical and mental acuity was great but will likely never be fully calculated,” the report reads. “The cover-up put American national security at risk and the nation’s trust in its leaders in jeopardy.”Biden has strenuously denied he was unaware of his administration’s actions, calling such claims “ridiculous and false.” Democrats on the House Oversight committee denounced the probe as a distraction and waste of time.Republicans are shifting attention&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-biden-election-democrat-midterm-78b6e3998772b987625abbbc9bebf3d0" rel="nofollow">back to Biden</a>&nbsp;at a tumultuous time, 10 months into Trump’s presidency, with the government shut down and Congress at a standstill over legislation to fund it. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has kept the House out of session for nearly a month, with most public-facing committee work grinding to a halt.The report on Biden was largely compiled over several months before the shutdown began. Based on interviews with more than a dozen members of Biden’s inner circle, the report offers few new revelations, instead drawing broad conclusions from unanswered questions.It includes repeated references to polls of Biden’s approval rating and perceptions of his public gaffes and apparent aging, much of it publicly known.It alleges a “cover-up of the president’s cognitive decline” orchestrated by Biden’s inner circle and takes particular aim at Biden’s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, who invoked his Fifth Amendment right against testifying. Republicans also singled out senior aides Anthony Bernal and Annie Tomasini, who similarly pleaded the Fifth. All three “should face further scrutiny” from the Justice Department, Republicans said.Republicans also sent a letter to the D.C. Board of Medicine urging that O’Connor face “discipline, sanction or revocation of his medical license” and “be barred from the practice of medicine in the District of Columbia.”The report does not include full transcripts of the at-times multiple hours of recorded testimony that witnesses delivered before the committee. It repeatedly scolds Biden officials and Democratic allies for defending Biden’s mental state.“The inner-most circle, or cocoon, of the White House senior staff organized one of the largest scandals in American history — hiding a cognitively failing president and refusing any means of confirmation of such demise,” the report says.While the report claims that record-keeping policies in the Biden White House “were so lax that the chain of custody for a given decision is difficult or impossible to establish,” Republicans do not offer any concrete instances of the chain of command being violated or a policy being enacted without Biden’s knowledge.Still, Republicans argue that Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-pardons-autopen-capitol-riot-1956c5dcb44ecba10cd9b01171ca9efa" rel="nofollow">use of the autopen</a>&nbsp;should be considered invalid unless there is documented proof of him approving a decision.“Barring evidence of executive actions taken during the Biden presidency showing that President Biden indeed took a particular executive action, the committee deems those actions taken through use of the autopen as void,” the report says.Democrats and legal experts have warned that broad scrutiny of executive actions could pose future legal headaches for the Trump administration and congressional Republicans, who also often enact policies directed by lawmakers through devices like the presidential autopen.