SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen accused in the shooting death of a 1-year-old&nbsp; boy made his first court appearance last week.&nbsp;Roames Bonner, 18, Wichita, was charged with 1st degree murder, 2 counts of criminal discharge of a firearm, and 2 counts of aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

&nbsp;Bonner is the last of three suspects charged in the case.&nbsp;

The shooting in February of 2019 stemmed from an argument over an Amazon package, according to prosecutors.

Just after 7p.m. February 19, police responded to a shooting in the 2500 block of South Oliver, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses. Through the investigation, officers learned that two women were struck by gunfire and 1-year-old Taidyn Anderson of Wichita was also struck by gunfire and died of his injuries at a hospital.

Bonner is being held on a bond is one-point-five million dollars and is due back in court May 1, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745272448255.png" alt="Bonner-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Bonner-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen accused in the shooting death of a 1-year-old&nbsp; boy made his first court appearance last week.&nbsp;Roames Bonner, 18, Wichita, was charged with 1st degree murder, 2 counts of criminal discharge of a firearm, and 2 counts of aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Bonner is the last of three suspects charged in the case.&nbsp;The shooting in February of 2019 stemmed from an argument over an Amazon package, according to prosecutors.Just after 7p.m. February 19, police responded to a shooting in the 2500 block of South Oliver, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses. Through the investigation, officers learned that two women were struck by gunfire and 1-year-old Taidyn Anderson of Wichita was also struck by gunfire and died of his injuries at a hospital.Bonner is being held on a bond is one-point-five million dollars and is due back in court May 1, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. teen charged in shooting death of 1-year-old

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court's</a>&nbsp;conservative majority on Tuesday signaled support for the religious rights of parents in Maryland who want to remove their children from elementary school classes using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-lgbtq-books-public-schools-c20d6e4fa084560c56ec2b2bb621c988">storybooks with LGBTQ characters</a>.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2024/24-297">Click here to listen</a> to the complete oral argument

The court seemed likely to find that the Montgomery County school system, in suburban Washington, could not require elementary school children to sit through lessons involving the books if parents expressed religious objections to the material.

The case is the latest dispute involving religion to come before the court. The justices have repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-catholic-charities-wisconsin-supreme-court-50bd53ad748a147f9e28132512cf7b74">endorsed claims of religious discrimination</a>&nbsp;in recent years.

“I'm surprised this is the hill to die on in terms of not respecting religious liberty,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said, citing the county's diverse population and Maryland's history as a haven for Catholics.

The county school board introduced the storybooks as part of an effort to better reflect the district's diversity.

Parents sued after the school system stopped allowing them to pull their kids from lessons that included the books. The parents argue that public schools cannot force kids to participate in instruction that violates their faith, and they pointed to the opt-out provisions in sex education classes.

The schools said allowing children to opt out of the lessons had become disruptive. Lower courts backed the schools, prompting the parents' appeal to the Supreme Court.

Five books are at issue in the high court case, touching on the same themes found in classic stories that include Snow White, Cinderella and Peter Pan, the school system's lawyers wrote.

In “Prince and Knight,” two men fall in love after they rescue the kingdom, and each other. In “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” a niece worries that her uncle will not have as much time for her after he gets married. His partner is a man.

“Love, Violet” deals with a girl’s anxiety about giving a valentine to another girl. “Born Ready” is the story of a transgender boy’s decision to share his gender identity with his family and the world. “Intersection Allies” describes nine characters of varying backgrounds, including one who is gender-fluid.

Billy Moges, a board member of the Kids First parents' group that sued over the books, said the content is sexual, confusing and inappropriate for young schoolchildren.

The writers' group Pen America said in a court filing what the parents want is “a constitutionally suspect book ban by another name.” Pen America reported more than 10,000 books were banned in the last school year.

A decision in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-297.html">Mahmoud v. Taylor</a>&nbsp;is expected by early summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;is hearing arguments Tuesday over the religious rights of parents in Maryland to remove their children from elementary school classes using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-lgbtq-books-public-schools-c20d6e4fa084560c56ec2b2bb621c988">storybooks with LGBTQ characters</a>.

The case is the latest dispute involving religion to come before the conservative-led court. The justices have repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-catholic-charities-wisconsin-supreme-court-50bd53ad748a147f9e28132512cf7b74">endorsed claims of religious discrimination</a>&nbsp;in recent years.

The Montgomery County public schools, in suburban Washington, D.C., introduced the storybooks as part of an effort to better reflect the district's diverse population.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745333128428.png" alt="FILE A pride flag is seen in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Oct. 8, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)" />
 <figcaption>FILE A pride flag is seen in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, Oct. 8, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court's</a>&nbsp;conservative majority on Tuesday signaled support for the religious rights of parents in Maryland who want to remove their children from elementary school classes using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-lgbtq-books-public-schools-c20d6e4fa084560c56ec2b2bb621c988">storybooks with LGBTQ characters</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Alan Schoenfeld: &quot;Pride Puppy was the book that was used for the pre-kindergarten curriculum. That&#39;s no longer in the curriculum.&quot; Justice Gorsuch: &quot;That&#39;s the one where they&#39;re supposed to look for the leather and things - bondage - - things like that. Schoenfeld: &quot;It&#39;s not… <a href="https://t.co/gQa86JaF0y">pic.twitter.com/gQa86JaF0y</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1914755396885209158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2024/24-297">Click here to listen</a> to the complete oral argumentThe court seemed likely to find that the Montgomery County school system, in suburban Washington, could not require elementary school children to sit through lessons involving the books if parents expressed religious objections to the material.The case is the latest dispute involving religion to come before the court. The justices have repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-catholic-charities-wisconsin-supreme-court-50bd53ad748a147f9e28132512cf7b74">endorsed claims of religious discrimination</a>&nbsp;in recent years.“I'm surprised this is the hill to die on in terms of not respecting religious liberty,” Justice Brett Kavanaugh said, citing the county's diverse population and Maryland's history as a haven for Catholics.The county school board introduced the storybooks as part of an effort to better reflect the district's diversity.Parents sued after the school system stopped allowing them to pull their kids from lessons that included the books. The parents argue that public schools cannot force kids to participate in instruction that violates their faith, and they pointed to the opt-out provisions in sex education classes.The schools said allowing children to opt out of the lessons had become disruptive. Lower courts backed the schools, prompting the parents' appeal to the Supreme Court.Five books are at issue in the high court case, touching on the same themes found in classic stories that include Snow White, Cinderella and Peter Pan, the school system's lawyers wrote.In “Prince and Knight,” two men fall in love after they rescue the kingdom, and each other. In “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” a niece worries that her uncle will not have as much time for her after he gets married. His partner is a man.“Love, Violet” deals with a girl’s anxiety about giving a valentine to another girl. “Born Ready” is the story of a transgender boy’s decision to share his gender identity with his family and the world. “Intersection Allies” describes nine characters of varying backgrounds, including one who is gender-fluid.Billy Moges, a board member of the Kids First parents' group that sued over the books, said the content is sexual, confusing and inappropriate for young schoolchildren.The writers' group Pen America said in a court filing what the parents want is “a constitutionally suspect book ban by another name.” Pen America reported more than 10,000 books were banned in the last school year.A decision in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-297.html">Mahmoud v. Taylor</a>&nbsp;is expected by early summer.-------------------WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;is hearing arguments Tuesday over the religious rights of parents in Maryland to remove their children from elementary school classes using&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-lgbtq-books-public-schools-c20d6e4fa084560c56ec2b2bb621c988">storybooks with LGBTQ characters</a>.The case is the latest dispute involving religion to come before the conservative-led court. The justices have repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-catholic-charities-wisconsin-supreme-court-50bd53ad748a147f9e28132512cf7b74">endorsed claims of religious discrimination</a>&nbsp;in recent years.The Montgomery County public schools, in suburban Washington, D.C., introduced the storybooks as part of an effort to better reflect the district's diverse population.Parents sued after the school system stopped allowing them to pull their kids from lessons that included the books. The parents argue that public schools cannot force kids to participate in instruction that violates their faith, and they pointed to the opt-out provisions in sex education classes.The schools said allowing children to opt out of the lessons had become disruptive. Lower courts backed the schools, prompting the parents' appeal to the Supreme Court.Five books are at issue in the high court case, touching on the same themes found in classic stories that include Snow White, Cinderella and Peter Pan, the school system's lawyers wrote.In “Prince and Knight,” two men fall in love after they rescue the kingdom, and each other. In “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding,” a niece worries that her uncle will not have as much time for her after he gets married. His partner is a man.“Love, Violet” deals with a girl’s anxiety about giving a valentine to another girl. “Born Ready” is the story of a transgender boy’s decision to share his gender identity with his family and the world. “Intersection Allies” describes nine characters of varying backgrounds, including one who is gender-fluid.Billy Moges, a board member of the Kids First parents' group that sued over the books, said the content is sexual, confusing and inappropriate for young schoolchildren.The writers' group Pen America said in a court filing what the parents want is “a constitutionally suspect book ban by another name.” Pen America reported more than 10,000 books were banned in the last school year.A decision in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/search.aspx?filename=/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-297.html">Mahmoud v. Taylor</a>&nbsp;is expected by early summer.

🎧Court signals support for parents who object to LGBTQ books in schools

FINNEY COUNTY—Kansas Governor Laura Kelly held a news conference in Garden City Tuesday on the measles outbreak in southwest Kansas.&nbsp; The governor was joined by State Senator William Clifford, MD. and&nbsp;Dr. Dereck Totten of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. They encouraged Kansans to get their measles vaccines.&nbsp; On social media the Governor wrote, " This is serious and reminds us that we must protect the health of our communities &amp; Kansas kids. I'm asking Kansas families to get their children vaccinated to prevent the spread of this harmful disease."

<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state, health officials announced April 16.&nbsp; The state will release new measles data April 23.

Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray and Morton counties had fewer than five cases each. Haskell County has the most with eight cases, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six.

The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.

The U.S. was up to 800&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">cases of measles</a>&nbsp;nationwide on Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;died from measles-related illnesses in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the epicenter in West Texas,</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.

Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include Indiana,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Michigan, Montana, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Mexico. The U.S. has more than double the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;it saw in all of 2024.

North America has two other outbreaks. One in Ontario, Canada, has sickened 925 from mid-October through April 16. And as of Tuesday, the Mexican state of Chihuahua state has 514 measles cases, according to data from the state health ministry. The World Health Organization has said cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;are linked to the Texas outbreak.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

As the virus takes hold in other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">U.S. communities with low vaccination rates</a>, health experts fear the virus that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. Here's what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a>

How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?

Texas state health officials said Tuesday there were 27 new cases of measles since Friday, bringing the total to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">624 across 26 counties</a>&nbsp;— most of them in West Texas. Two more Texans were hospitalized, for a total of 64 throughout the outbreak, and Bailey County logged its first two cases.

State health officials estimated about 2% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious.

Sixty-two percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 386 cases since late January — just over 1% of the county's residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February — Kennedy said age 6.

New Mexico announced two new cases Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 65. Six people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Two are in Eddy County and Chaves and Doña Ana counties have one each.

State health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. New Mexico reported its first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related death in an adult</a>&nbsp;on March 6.

Oklahoma confirmed one more case Tuesday for a total cases of 13: 10 confirmed and three probable. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said.

Custer, Oklahoma and Cleveland counties had public exposures in the past 42 days. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases.

The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 30 measles cases in the state Thursday. The state county includes only Ohio residents.

There are 14 cases in Ashtabula County near Cleveland, 14 in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties, the state said. The outbreak in Ashtabula County started with an unvaccinated adult who had interacted with someone who had traveled internationally.

Health officials in Knox County, in east-central Ohio, say there are a total of 20 people with measles, but seven of them do not live in Ohio. In 2022, a measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85.

Indiana confirmed two more cases Monday in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the state — five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown. The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health said Monday.

How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?

In far northwest Pennsylvania, Erie County health officials declared a measles outbreak April 14 after finding two new cases linked to a measles case confirmed March 30.

The state has had nine cases overall this year, six of which are not linked to the outbreak, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.

Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has four linked measles cases. State health officials say the cases are tied to a large measles outbreak in Ontario, Canada.

The state has eight confirmed measles cases as of Monday, but the remaining four are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak. Michigan's last measles outbreak was in 2019.

Montana state health officials announced five cases Thursday in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and confirmed it was an outbreak on Monday. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.

State health officials are working to trace exposures in Bozeman and Belgrade.

They are Montana's first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn't say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

There have been 800 cases in 2025 as of Friday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 10 clusters — defined as three or more related cases.

Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because most children back then had measles and now have “presumptive immunity.”

In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745357603812.png" alt="Dr. Dereck Totten, Governor Laura Kelly and State Senator William Clifford, MD -image from the livestream of the news conference" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Dereck Totten, Governor Laura Kelly and State Senator William Clifford, MD -image from the livestream of the news conference</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Kansas Governor Laura Kelly held a news conference in Garden City Tuesday on the measles outbreak in southwest Kansas.&nbsp; The governor was joined by State Senator William Clifford, MD. and&nbsp;Dr. Dereck Totten of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. They encouraged Kansans to get their measles vaccines.&nbsp; On social media the Governor wrote, " This is serious and reminds us that we must protect the health of our communities &amp; Kansas kids. I'm asking Kansas families to get their children vaccinated to prevent the spread of this harmful disease."<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state, health officials announced April 16.&nbsp; The state will release new measles data April 23.Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray and Morton counties had fewer than five cases each. Haskell County has the most with eight cases, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six.The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.The U.S. was up to 800&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">cases of measles</a>&nbsp;nationwide on Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;died from measles-related illnesses in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the epicenter in West Texas,</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include Indiana,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Michigan, Montana, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Mexico. The U.S. has more than double the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;it saw in all of 2024.North America has two other outbreaks. One in Ontario, Canada, has sickened 925 from mid-October through April 16. And as of Tuesday, the Mexican state of Chihuahua state has 514 measles cases, according to data from the state health ministry. The World Health Organization has said cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;are linked to the Texas outbreak.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.As the virus takes hold in other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">U.S. communities with low vaccination rates</a>, health experts fear the virus that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. Here's what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a><h2>How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745347270425.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Texas state health officials said Tuesday there were 27 new cases of measles since Friday, bringing the total to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">624 across 26 counties</a>&nbsp;— most of them in West Texas. Two more Texans were hospitalized, for a total of 64 throughout the outbreak, and Bailey County logged its first two cases.State health officials estimated about 2% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious.Sixty-two percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 386 cases since late January — just over 1% of the county's residents.The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February — Kennedy said age 6.New Mexico announced two new cases Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 65. Six people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Two are in Eddy County and Chaves and Doña Ana counties have one each.State health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. New Mexico reported its first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related death in an adult</a>&nbsp;on March 6.<h2>How many cases are there in Oklahoma?</h2>Oklahoma confirmed one more case Tuesday for a total cases of 13: 10 confirmed and three probable. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said.Custer, Oklahoma and Cleveland counties had public exposures in the past 42 days. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases.<h2>How many cases are there in Ohio?</h2>The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 30 measles cases in the state Thursday. The state county includes only Ohio residents.There are 14 cases in Ashtabula County near Cleveland, 14 in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties, the state said. The outbreak in Ashtabula County started with an unvaccinated adult who had interacted with someone who had traveled internationally.Health officials in Knox County, in east-central Ohio, say there are a total of 20 people with measles, but seven of them do not live in Ohio. In 2022, a measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85.<h2>How many cases are there in Indiana?</h2>Indiana confirmed two more cases Monday in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the state — five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown. The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health said Monday.<h2>How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?</h2>In far northwest Pennsylvania, Erie County health officials declared a measles outbreak April 14 after finding two new cases linked to a measles case confirmed March 30.The state has had nine cases overall this year, six of which are not linked to the outbreak, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.<h2>How many cases are there in Michigan?</h2>Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has four linked measles cases. State health officials say the cases are tied to a large measles outbreak in Ontario, Canada.The state has eight confirmed measles cases as of Monday, but the remaining four are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak. Michigan's last measles outbreak was in 2019.<h2>How many cases are there in Montana?</h2>Montana state health officials announced five cases Thursday in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and confirmed it was an outbreak on Monday. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.State health officials are working to trace exposures in Bozeman and Belgrade.They are Montana's first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn't say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.<h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2>There have been 800 cases in 2025 as of Friday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 10 clusters — defined as three or more related cases.Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.<h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because most children back then had measles and now have “presumptive immunity.”In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a><h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

Gov. Kelly visits SW Kansas as measles outbreak grows

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a homicide have taken a suspect into custody.

On Tuesday morning, police asked the public for help to locate 34-year-old Craig C. Steele in connection with the Homicide Investigation of Eric Lopez-Morales, which occurred on April 17th in the 1600 block of S. Broadway.&nbsp; A few hours later, police reported they had Steele in custody for questioning regarding this case.&nbsp;

On Thursday evening, police were in the area of Harry and Broadway on an unrelated call when they heard gunshots nearby, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. Officers immediately responded to the area and located a man with a gunshot wound who was in front of the Frontier Motel at 1623 S. Broadway.

&nbsp;The victim was later identified as Lopez-Morales from Wichita.

Despite the life-saving efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:04 p.m.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Lopez-Morales was involved in a physical altercation with unknown males in the parking lot of the motel before the shooting.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745353681098.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a homicide have taken a suspect into custody.On Tuesday morning, police asked the public for help to locate 34-year-old Craig C. Steele in connection with the Homicide Investigation of Eric Lopez-Morales, which occurred on April 17th in the 1600 block of S. Broadway.&nbsp; A few hours later, police reported they had Steele in custody for questioning regarding this case.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745003725186.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday evening, police were in the area of Harry and Broadway on an unrelated call when they heard gunshots nearby, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. Officers immediately responded to the area and located a man with a gunshot wound who was in front of the Frontier Motel at 1623 S. Broadway.&nbsp;The victim was later identified as Lopez-Morales from Wichita.Despite the life-saving efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:04 p.m.Preliminary investigations indicate that Lopez-Morales was involved in a physical altercation with unknown males in the parking lot of the motel before the shooting.&nbsp;

Suspect wanted for killing outside Kan. motel is in custody

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks jumped in a widespread rally Tuesday, and other U.S. investments steadied a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-inflation-trump-68a6a7f7765d78d46329abbecfbe0797">falling sharply</a>&nbsp;on worries about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-timeline-trade-war-trump-canada-mexico-china-a9d714eea677488ef9397547d838dbd0">President Donald Trump’s trade war</a>&nbsp;and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-trump-powell-federal-reserve-6eb45ff17915b321366dbe1c5bb15e43">attacks on the head</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Reserve.

The S&amp;P 500 climbed 2.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,016 points, or 2.7%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 2.7%. All three indexes more than made up their big losses from the start of the week.

The value of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c108fd36a3122f85872ad34ba5f5d977">U.S. dollar</a>&nbsp;also stabilized after sliding against the euro and other competitors, while longer-term&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasurys-bond-market-yield-tariff-46b4818710f01b8cc93fd002081167b0">Treasury yields</a>&nbsp;held steadier as more calm returned to financial markets. Sharp, unusual moves for the dollar and for Treasurys have recently raised worries that Trump’s policies are making investors more skeptical about U.S. investments’ reputation as the world’s safest.

The only prediction many Wall Street strategists are willing to make is that financial markets will likely continue to veer up and down as hopes rise and fall that Trump may negotiate deals with other countries to lower his tariffs. If no such deals come quickly enough, many investors expect the economy to fall into a recession.

The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5ec37492c9fac499923c094776b87552">slashed its forecast for global economic growth</a>&nbsp;this year to 2.8%, down from 3.3%. But Vice President JD Vance also said he made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91ab957fc31c86010bfb7aff3c5f9cd6">progress with India’s</a>&nbsp;prime minister, Narendra Modi, on trade talks Monday.

A suite of better-than-expected profit reports from big U.S. companies, meanwhile, helped drive U.S. stocks higher.

Equifax jumped 13.8% after reporting a better profit for the first three months of 2025 than analysts expected. It also said it would send more cash to its shareholders by increasing its dividend and buying up to $3 billion of its stock over the next four years.

3M climbed 8.1% after the maker of Scotch tape and Command strips said it made more in profit from each $1 of revenue during the start of the year than it expected. The company also stood by its forecast for profit for the full year, though it said tariffs may drag down its earnings per share by up to 40 cents per share.

Homebuilder PulteGroup rose 8.4% after it likewise delivered a stronger profit for the start of 2025 than analysts expected.

It’s been benefiting from some of the sharp moves in the bond market. Drops for Treasury yields during the first three months of the year translated into lower mortgage rates for potential customers, though yields have been largely rising since early this month.

CEO Ryan Marshall said buyers “remain caught between a strong desire for homeownership and the affordability challenges of high selling prices and monthly payments that are stretched.”

Tesla rose 4.6% ahead of its earnings report, which arrived after trading ended for the day. That trimmed its loss for the year so far to roughly 41%.

Elon Musk’s electric car company had already reported its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-deliveries-trump-musk-protests-boycott-67da667cd1267789fecf68376f2b5d14">first-quarter car sales dropped by 13%</a>&nbsp;from the year before. It’s been hurt by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-vandalism-musk-trump-domestic-extremism-7576c03393a733eaf34b793e86ad1a6f">vandalism</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-tesla-doge-protests-a07cb5f20d65d0fb4dcb3547e2b7879c">widespread protests and calls for a consumer boycott</a>&nbsp;amid a backlash to Musk’s oversight of cost-cutting efforts for the U.S. government.

Stocks also showed how Trump’s tariffs could create winners and losers as he tries to remake the global economy and trade.

First Solar jumped 10.5% after the U.S. Department of Commerce finalized harsher-than-expected solar tariffs on some southeast Asian communities.

U.S. defense contractors, meanwhile, had some of the market’s sharpest losses after RTX said tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, along with other products, could mean an $850 million hit to its profit this year. RTX, which builds airplane engines and military equipment, fell 9.8% even though it reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter.

Kimberly-Clark lost 1.6% even though the maker of Huggies and Kleenex likewise reported a better-than-expected profit.

CEO Mike Hsu said that “the current environment will now mean greater costs across our global supply chain” versus what it expected at the start of the year, and the company lowered its forecast for an underlying measure of profit this year.

Losers on Wall Street were the exceptions, though, as 99% of the stocks within the S&amp;P 500 index rose. All told, the S&amp;P 500 climbed 129.56 points to 5,287.76. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1,106.57 to 39,186.98, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 429.52 to 16,300.42.

In the bond market, longer-term yields eased following an unsettling run higher the day before. The yield on the 10-year Treasury pulled back to 4.39% from 4.42% late Monday.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe following modest, mixed moves across Asia. ___

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks jumped in a widespread rally Tuesday, and other U.S. investments steadied a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-inflation-trump-68a6a7f7765d78d46329abbecfbe0797">falling sharply</a>&nbsp;on worries about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-timeline-trade-war-trump-canada-mexico-china-a9d714eea677488ef9397547d838dbd0">President Donald Trump’s trade war</a>&nbsp;and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-trump-powell-federal-reserve-6eb45ff17915b321366dbe1c5bb15e43">attacks on the head</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Reserve.The S&amp;P 500 climbed 2.5%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1,016 points, or 2.7%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 2.7%. All three indexes more than made up their big losses from the start of the week.The value of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c108fd36a3122f85872ad34ba5f5d977">U.S. dollar</a>&nbsp;also stabilized after sliding against the euro and other competitors, while longer-term&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasurys-bond-market-yield-tariff-46b4818710f01b8cc93fd002081167b0">Treasury yields</a>&nbsp;held steadier as more calm returned to financial markets. Sharp, unusual moves for the dollar and for Treasurys have recently raised worries that Trump’s policies are making investors more skeptical about U.S. investments’ reputation as the world’s safest.The only prediction many Wall Street strategists are willing to make is that financial markets will likely continue to veer up and down as hopes rise and fall that Trump may negotiate deals with other countries to lower his tariffs. If no such deals come quickly enough, many investors expect the economy to fall into a recession.The International Monetary Fund on Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/5ec37492c9fac499923c094776b87552">slashed its forecast for global economic growth</a>&nbsp;this year to 2.8%, down from 3.3%. But Vice President JD Vance also said he made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/91ab957fc31c86010bfb7aff3c5f9cd6">progress with India’s</a>&nbsp;prime minister, Narendra Modi, on trade talks Monday.A suite of better-than-expected profit reports from big U.S. companies, meanwhile, helped drive U.S. stocks higher.Equifax jumped 13.8% after reporting a better profit for the first three months of 2025 than analysts expected. It also said it would send more cash to its shareholders by increasing its dividend and buying up to $3 billion of its stock over the next four years.3M climbed 8.1% after the maker of Scotch tape and Command strips said it made more in profit from each $1 of revenue during the start of the year than it expected. The company also stood by its forecast for profit for the full year, though it said tariffs may drag down its earnings per share by up to 40 cents per share.Homebuilder PulteGroup rose 8.4% after it likewise delivered a stronger profit for the start of 2025 than analysts expected.It’s been benefiting from some of the sharp moves in the bond market. Drops for Treasury yields during the first three months of the year translated into lower mortgage rates for potential customers, though yields have been largely rising since early this month.CEO Ryan Marshall said buyers “remain caught between a strong desire for homeownership and the affordability challenges of high selling prices and monthly payments that are stretched.”Tesla rose 4.6% ahead of its earnings report, which arrived after trading ended for the day. That trimmed its loss for the year so far to roughly 41%.Elon Musk’s electric car company had already reported its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-deliveries-trump-musk-protests-boycott-67da667cd1267789fecf68376f2b5d14">first-quarter car sales dropped by 13%</a>&nbsp;from the year before. It’s been hurt by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-vandalism-musk-trump-domestic-extremism-7576c03393a733eaf34b793e86ad1a6f">vandalism</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-tesla-doge-protests-a07cb5f20d65d0fb4dcb3547e2b7879c">widespread protests and calls for a consumer boycott</a>&nbsp;amid a backlash to Musk’s oversight of cost-cutting efforts for the U.S. government.Stocks also showed how Trump’s tariffs could create winners and losers as he tries to remake the global economy and trade.First Solar jumped 10.5% after the U.S. Department of Commerce finalized harsher-than-expected solar tariffs on some southeast Asian communities.U.S. defense contractors, meanwhile, had some of the market’s sharpest losses after RTX said tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, along with other products, could mean an $850 million hit to its profit this year. RTX, which builds airplane engines and military equipment, fell 9.8% even though it reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter.Kimberly-Clark lost 1.6% even though the maker of Huggies and Kleenex likewise reported a better-than-expected profit.CEO Mike Hsu said that “the current environment will now mean greater costs across our global supply chain” versus what it expected at the start of the year, and the company lowered its forecast for an underlying measure of profit this year.Losers on Wall Street were the exceptions, though, as 99% of the stocks within the S&amp;P 500 index rose. All told, the S&amp;P 500 climbed 129.56 points to 5,287.76. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1,106.57 to 39,186.98, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 429.52 to 16,300.42.In the bond market, longer-term yields eased following an unsettling run higher the day before. The yield on the 10-year Treasury pulled back to 4.39% from 4.42% late Monday.In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe following modest, mixed moves across Asia. ___

Wall Street rallies and recovers Monday's loss 

LYON COUNTY— The David Traylor Zoo of Emporia announced the passing of one of its most beloved animals, Hot Lips the cotton-top tamarin. Hot Lips passed away on April 16, 2025, due to age-related complications.

Born at the Zoo on March 13, 2000, Hot Lips spent his entire life at the David Traylor Zoo, bringing joy to generations of visitors and serving as a remarkable ambassador for his species. Throughout his 25 years, Hot Lips fathered 13 offspring and became a grandfather to 7, playing an important role in the conservation of cotton-top tamarins.

In March, Hot Lips celebrated his 25th birthday, a milestone that made him the second oldest cotton-top tamarin in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institution. Due to his advanced age, he had been retired from public exhibit but remained under the close care of Zoo staff who ensured his comfort and quality of life.

"Hot Lips was truly one of a kind," said Zoo staff. "He entertained and inspired thousands of visitors during his lifetime, and his legacy will continue through the lives of his offspring and the awareness he helped raise for his species."

The David Traylor Zoo extends its heartfelt gratitude to the community for their ongoing support and invites guests to remember Hot Lips as an enduring symbol of compassion, conservation, and care.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745244694210.png" alt="Hot Lips courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Hot Lips courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY— The David Traylor Zoo of Emporia announced the passing of one of its most beloved animals, Hot Lips the cotton-top tamarin. Hot Lips passed away on April 16, 2025, due to age-related complications.Born at the Zoo on March 13, 2000, Hot Lips spent his entire life at the David Traylor Zoo, bringing joy to generations of visitors and serving as a remarkable ambassador for his species. Throughout his 25 years, Hot Lips fathered 13 offspring and became a grandfather to 7, playing an important role in the conservation of cotton-top tamarins.In March, Hot Lips celebrated his 25th birthday, a milestone that made him the second oldest cotton-top tamarin in an Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institution. Due to his advanced age, he had been retired from public exhibit but remained under the close care of Zoo staff who ensured his comfort and quality of life."Hot Lips was truly one of a kind," said Zoo staff. "He entertained and inspired thousands of visitors during his lifetime, and his legacy will continue through the lives of his offspring and the awareness he helped raise for his species."The David Traylor Zoo extends its heartfelt gratitude to the community for their ongoing support and invites guests to remember Hot Lips as an enduring symbol of compassion, conservation, and care.

Kansas zoo mourns the loss of 25-year-old tamarin

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jesse-bedayn">JESSE BEDAYN</a> Associated Press

Moments after Daniris Espinal walked into her new apartment in Brooklyn, she prayed. In ensuing nights, she would awaken and touch the walls for reassurance — finding in them a relief that turned to tears over her morning coffee.

Those walls were possible through a federal program that pays rent for some 60,000 families and individuals fleeing homelessness or domestic violence. Espinal was fleeing both.

But the program, Emergency Housing Vouchers, is running out of money — and quickly.

Funding is expected to be used up by the end of next year, according to a letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and obtained by The Associated Press. That would leave tens of thousands across the country scrambling to pay their rent.

It would be among the largest one-time losses of rental assistance in the U.S., analysts say, and the ensuing evictions could churn these people — after several years of rebuilding their lives — back onto the street or back into abusive relationships.

“To have it stop would completely upend all the progress that they’ve made,” said Sonya Acosta, policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which researches housing assistance.

“And then you multiply that by 59,000 households,” she said.

The program, launched in 2021 by then-President Joe Biden as part of the pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act, was allocated $5 billion to help pull people out of homelessness, domestic violence and human trafficking.

People from San Francisco to Dallas to Tallahassee, Florida, were enrolled — among them children, seniors and veterans — with the expectation that funding would last until the end of the decade.

But with the ballooning cost of rent, that $5 billion will end far faster.

Last month, HUD sent letters to groups dispersing the money, advising them to “manage your EHV program with the expectation that no additional funding from HUD will be forthcoming.”

The program’s future rests with Congress, which could decide to add money as it crafts the federal budget. But it’s a relatively expensive prospect at a time when Republicans, who control Congress, are dead set on cutting federal spending to afford tax cuts.

Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, who championed the program four years ago, is pushing for another $8 billion infusion.

But the organizations lobbying Republican and Democratic lawmakers to reup the funding told the AP they aren’t optimistic. Four GOP lawmakers who oversee the budget negotiations did not respond to AP requests for comment.

“We’ve been told it’s very much going to be an uphill fight,” said Kim Johnson, the public policy manager at the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Espinal and her two daughters, aged 4 and 19, are living on one of those vouchers in a three-bedroom apartment with an over $3,000 monthly rent — an amount extremely difficult to cover without the voucher.

Four years ago, Espinal fought her way out of a marriage where her husband controlled her decisions, from seeing her family and friends to leaving the apartment to go shopping.

When she spoke up, her husband said she was wrong, or in the wrong or crazy.

Isolated and in the haze of postpartum depression, she didn’t know what to believe. “Every day, little by little, I started to feel not like myself,” she said. “It felt like my mind wasn’t mine.”

When notices arrived in March 2021 seeking about $12,000 in back rent, it was a shock. Espinal had quit her job at her husband’s urging and he had promised to cover family expenses.

Police reports documenting her husband’s bursts of anger were enough for a judge to give her custody of their daughter in 2022, Espinal said.

But her future was precarious: She was alone, owed thousands of dollars in back rent and had no income to pay it or support her newborn and teenage daughters.

Financial aid to prevent evictions during the pandemic kept Espinal afloat, paying her back rent and keeping the family out of shelters. But it had an expiration date.

Around that time, the Emergency Housing Vouchers program was rolled out, targeting people in Espinal’s situation.

A “leading cause of family homelessness is domestic violence” in New York City, said Gina Cappuccitti, director of housing access and stability services at New Destiny Housing, a nonprofit that has connected 700 domestic violence survivors to the voucher program.

Espinal was one of those 700, and moved into her Brooklyn apartment in 2023.

The relief went beyond finding a secure place to live, she said. “I gained my worth, my sense of peace, and I was able to rebuild my identity.”

Now, she said, she’s putting aside money in case of the worst. Because, “that’s my fear, losing control of everything that I’ve worked so hard for.”

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jesse-bedayn">JESSE BEDAYN</a> Associated PressMoments after Daniris Espinal walked into her new apartment in Brooklyn, she prayed. In ensuing nights, she would awaken and touch the walls for reassurance — finding in them a relief that turned to tears over her morning coffee.Those walls were possible through a federal program that pays rent for some 60,000 families and individuals fleeing homelessness or domestic violence. Espinal was fleeing both.But the program, Emergency Housing Vouchers, is running out of money — and quickly.Funding is expected to be used up by the end of next year, according to a letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and obtained by The Associated Press. That would leave tens of thousands across the country scrambling to pay their rent.It would be among the largest one-time losses of rental assistance in the U.S., analysts say, and the ensuing evictions could churn these people — after several years of rebuilding their lives — back onto the street or back into abusive relationships.“To have it stop would completely upend all the progress that they’ve made,” said Sonya Acosta, policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which researches housing assistance.“And then you multiply that by 59,000 households,” she said.The program, launched in 2021 by then-President Joe Biden as part of the pandemic-era American Rescue Plan Act, was allocated $5 billion to help pull people out of homelessness, domestic violence and human trafficking.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745252111991.png" alt="Source: Dept. of Housing and Urban Development" />
 <figcaption>Source: Dept. of Housing and Urban Development</figcaption>
 </figure>People from San Francisco to Dallas to Tallahassee, Florida, were enrolled — among them children, seniors and veterans — with the expectation that funding would last until the end of the decade.But with the ballooning cost of rent, that $5 billion will end far faster.Last month, HUD sent letters to groups dispersing the money, advising them to “manage your EHV program with the expectation that no additional funding from HUD will be forthcoming.”The program’s future rests with Congress, which could decide to add money as it crafts the federal budget. But it’s a relatively expensive prospect at a time when Republicans, who control Congress, are dead set on cutting federal spending to afford tax cuts.Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, who championed the program four years ago, is pushing for another $8 billion infusion.But the organizations lobbying Republican and Democratic lawmakers to reup the funding told the AP they aren’t optimistic. Four GOP lawmakers who oversee the budget negotiations did not respond to AP requests for comment.“We’ve been told it’s very much going to be an uphill fight,” said Kim Johnson, the public policy manager at the National Low Income Housing Coalition.Espinal and her two daughters, aged 4 and 19, are living on one of those vouchers in a three-bedroom apartment with an over $3,000 monthly rent — an amount extremely difficult to cover without the voucher.Four years ago, Espinal fought her way out of a marriage where her husband controlled her decisions, from seeing her family and friends to leaving the apartment to go shopping.When she spoke up, her husband said she was wrong, or in the wrong or crazy.Isolated and in the haze of postpartum depression, she didn’t know what to believe. “Every day, little by little, I started to feel not like myself,” she said. “It felt like my mind wasn’t mine.”When notices arrived in March 2021 seeking about $12,000 in back rent, it was a shock. Espinal had quit her job at her husband’s urging and he had promised to cover family expenses.Police reports documenting her husband’s bursts of anger were enough for a judge to give her custody of their daughter in 2022, Espinal said.But her future was precarious: She was alone, owed thousands of dollars in back rent and had no income to pay it or support her newborn and teenage daughters.Financial aid to prevent evictions during the pandemic kept Espinal afloat, paying her back rent and keeping the family out of shelters. But it had an expiration date.Around that time, the Emergency Housing Vouchers program was rolled out, targeting people in Espinal’s situation.A “leading cause of family homelessness is domestic violence” in New York City, said Gina Cappuccitti, director of housing access and stability services at New Destiny Housing, a nonprofit that has connected 700 domestic violence survivors to the voucher program.Espinal was one of those 700, and moved into her Brooklyn apartment in 2023.The relief went beyond finding a secure place to live, she said. “I gained my worth, my sense of peace, and I was able to rebuild my identity.”Now, she said, she’s putting aside money in case of the worst. Because, “that’s my fear, losing control of everything that I’ve worked so hard for.”

Many could lose rental assistance, risk eviction unless Congress acts

Pope Francis ' funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, and a viewing of his body will begin on Wednesday in St. Peter's Basilica, days after the popular pontiff died of a stroke at age 88. He is currently lying in state in the Santa Marta Domus in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household.

Cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday to schedule Francis' funeral and burial, plan the conclave to elect his successor and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church as world leaders and the ordinary faithful grieve the pontiff's death.

History's first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change. He last appeared in public on Sunday with an Easter blessing and popemobile tour through a cheering crowd in St. Peter's Square.

First images of pope's body released

They showed him in a wooden casket, in red vestments and his bishop's miter, with the Vatican secretary of state praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived.

The images were taken during a ritual to confirm the death, presided over by the camerlengo, or interim administrator of the Vatican, Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Two Swiss Guards stood at attention as Farrell blessed Francis with holy water, the pope's hands clasped around a rosary.

Pope Francis' body will lay in state on the main altar of the 16th century basilica, built over the traditional tomb of the apostle St. Peter. The Renaissance masterpiece is one of the largest Catholic basilicas in the world and is the centerpiece of Vatican City. Its grottoes contain the remains of popes past, and its vast marbled interior is home to some of the Vatican's greatest treasures -- including Michelangelo's "Pieta" sculpture and Gian Lorenzo Bernini's baldacchinio, the gilded canopy over the main altar.

Pope Julius II laid the first stone of the building on the site of a previous church on April 18, 1506. But it took over a century for work to be completed. In the 17th century, Bernini designed the great colonnade that encircles the piazza in front of the basilica, embracing all those who enter. The next pope will be introduced to the world from the loggia over the basilica entrance with the words "Habemus Papam" or "We have a pope."

Italy begins five days of mourning for Francis

The period of national mourning will run from Tuesday to Saturday. Ceremonies on Friday marking Italy's World War II Liberation Day will be held with "due sobriety," said Italy's Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci.

Palestinians in Bethlehem mourn Pope Francis at Manger Square

Bethlehem is home to the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus was born. Pope Francis visited the city in 2014.

"He was our pope, not just our pope, he was our brother, our friend, our dear friend for Bethlehem. He always gave us big hope, he told us that you are not alone," said Rony Tabash, 43. The Catholic hung photos of Pope Francis outside his souvenir shop that's been in his family for three generations.

Manger Square and Tuesday's mass were mostly empty. The Palestinian city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is dependent on tourism, but visitors and pilgrims have largely stayed away in recent years — first during the pandemic and then during the 18-month war in Gaza.

Work is underway to prepare Francis' tomb

A wooden barrier on Tuesday covered the niche where Pope Francis will be buried in the Saint Mary Major Basilica, near an icon of Mary that he held dear, rather than St. Peter's Cathedral or its crypt alongside previous popes

In his will, Francis called for his tomb to be "in the ground; simple, without particular decoration, and with the sole inscription: Franciscus,'' or Latin for Francis.

Before and after every foreign trip, he would stop to pray before the image of Mary draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus. Francis last went to pray at the icon before Holy Week.

St. Peter's Basilica will stay open late so the faithful can pay their last respects to Pope Francis

Francis is currently lying in state in the Santa Marta Domus in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household. The Vatican says his body will be transferred Wednesday morning to St. Peter's Basilica, where he will lie in state from 11 a.m. until midnight on Wednesday, from 7 a.m. until midnight on Thursday, and Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Once in St. Peter's, his casket will not be put on an elevated bier — as was the case with past popes — but will just be be placed simply facing the pews, with the Paschal candle nearby. The basilica is normally open from 7 a.m. until 7:10 p.m.

Security increased in Rome as holy city prepares for crowds

Italian police patrolled St Peter's Square and the surrounding streets on foot and horseback Tuesday as security in Rome was tightened ahead of Pope Francis' funeral. Officers in boats controlled the nearby Tiber River.

Tens of thousands of mourners are expected to pay their respects to Francis as he lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica starting Wednesday. The funeral on Saturday will be attended by many heads of state.

Rome was already packed with tourists, many in the city for the Easter holiday. A Jubilee Mass for adolescents on Sunday is expected to bring thousands of youths to the city.

Day of national mourning in Poland

Poland has declared a day of national mourning on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis.

The office of President Andrzej Duda also said that Duda plans to attend the ceremony.

Poland was the homeland of Pope John Paul II, whose death in 2005 prompted a national outpouring of grief. But the response has been more muted this time in a country that has become noticeably more secular.

Cardinals suspend all upcoming beatifications

The cardinals planning the next steps for the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis have decided to suspend all upcoming beatifications, pending the election of a new pope.

The decision was taken during the first meeting of the College of Cardinals on Tuesday.

The Vatican had already announced that Sunday's planned canonization of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, was suspended. But the decision from the cardinals means all other celebrations are on hold until a new pope is elected.

The decision is in keeping with Vatican norms governing the "interregnum" period between the death of one pope and the election of another. Among other things, those norms call for most top Vatican officials to officially lose their jobs until they are reconfirmed or replaced by a new pope.

Crowds wait in line to offer condolences in Jakarta

At Jakarta's Apostolic Nunciature, the official diplomatic mission of the Holy See in Indonesia, crowds gathered in the rain on Tuesday to offer their condolences over the death of the pope.

A somber atmosphere filled the Nunciature as Catholics quietly recited prayers and waited in line to write their condolence messages and meet the Apostolic Nuncio, the Vatican's permanent diplomatic representative.

"I would like to express my condolences to the Nuncio and pray from this place since we are experiencing limitations in coming to the Vatican," Heri Wibowo, a Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of Jakarta, said.

He remembered Pope Francis as a humble figure, a quality the pontiff exemplified during his visit in September 2024 to Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population.

One worshipper, Claudia, 23, who attended the Nunciature with her relatives, said Pope Francis was a father who offered inspiration.

"I am honestly very surprised since he still gave blessings on Easter to us, people all over the world. When I heard the news (of his death) I felt very sad," Claudia said.

Cardinals meet in wake of pope's death

The Vatican says around 60 cardinals participated in the first meeting to decide next steps following the death of Pope Francis.

They decided that ordinary faithful can pay their respects starting when the casket is moved into St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, and set Saturday for the funeral and burial.

The cardinals haven't set a date for the conclave to elect Francis' successor, but the current norms suggest it couldn't begin before May 5.

Three cardinals were chosen to help the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, administer the Vatican during the "interregnum" period before the election of a new pope.

Those cardinals are the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Polish Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, archpriest of the St. Mary Major basilica where Francis will be buried, and Cardinal Fabbio Baggio, a top official in the Vatican's development and migrants office.

They will be replaced after three days with another three cardinals to help the interim Vatican administrator.

China expresses condolences for pope who made effort to mend Beijing-Vatican rift

China expressed condolences over the passing of Pope Francis, who reached out to Beijing in an effort to improve relations and mend a seven-decade rift between a state-recognized Catholic church and an underground church loyal to Rome.

Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: "China is ready to work with the Vatican side to continue the improvement of China-Vatican ties."

The country's Catholic community was divided when the Communist Party came to power and claimed the right to name bishops without consulting the Vatican.

In 2018, Francis's Vatican brokered a deal with China that granted Rome's approval to the bishops Beijing had picked. The provisional agreement was renewed in October 2024.

Pope Francis' funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals.

The cardinals have also decided that the public viewing of Pope Francis will begin Wednesday in St. Peter's Basilica, after his casket is taken by procession from the Vatican hotel where he lived.

The master of liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, issued the rubrics for the procession by mandate of the College of Cardinals, which met Tuesday to take the first decisions following Francis' death. Presiding over the procession and the ritual transfer will be the camerlengo, or interim administrator of the Vatican, Cardinal Kevin Farrell.

Filipinos remember a pope who cared for the sick and survivors of natural disasters

Hundreds of Filipinos, some openly weeping, gathered for a mass at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday to bid goodbye to the late pope, whom they remember for his outreach to the poor and survivors of natural disasters, which often devastate their country.

"He's a rare progressive pope, who took up a lot of causes and showed a deep concern for the poor," said Cynthia Esquilona, a 50-year-old mother of two who lit a candle and prayed before a portrait of Francis at the cathedral.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745322515811.png" alt="The body of Pope Francis laid out in state inside his private chapel at the Vatican, Monday, April 21, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP, HO)" />
 <figcaption>The body of Pope Francis laid out in state inside his private chapel at the Vatican, Monday, April 21, 2025. (Vatican Media via AP, HO)</figcaption>
 </figure>Pope Francis ' funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, and a viewing of his body will begin on Wednesday in St. Peter's Basilica, days after the popular pontiff died of a stroke at age 88. He is currently lying in state in the Santa Marta Domus in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household.Cardinals met at the Vatican on Tuesday to schedule Francis' funeral and burial, plan the conclave to elect his successor and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church as world leaders and the ordinary faithful grieve the pontiff's death.History's first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change. He last appeared in public on Sunday with an Easter blessing and popemobile tour through a cheering crowd in St. Peter's Square.Here's the latest:First images of pope's body releasedThey showed him in a wooden casket, in red vestments and his bishop's miter, with the Vatican secretary of state praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived.The images were taken during a ritual to confirm the death, presided over by the camerlengo, or interim administrator of the Vatican, Cardinal Kevin Farrell.Two Swiss Guards stood at attention as Farrell blessed Francis with holy water, the pope's hands clasped around a rosary.What is St. Peter's Basilica?Pope Francis' body will lay in state on the main altar of the 16th century basilica, built over the traditional tomb of the apostle St. Peter. The Renaissance masterpiece is one of the largest Catholic basilicas in the world and is the centerpiece of Vatican City. Its grottoes contain the remains of popes past, and its vast marbled interior is home to some of the Vatican's greatest treasures -- including Michelangelo's "Pieta" sculpture and Gian Lorenzo Bernini's baldacchinio, the gilded canopy over the main altar.Pope Julius II laid the first stone of the building on the site of a previous church on April 18, 1506. But it took over a century for work to be completed. In the 17th century, Bernini designed the great colonnade that encircles the piazza in front of the basilica, embracing all those who enter. The next pope will be introduced to the world from the loggia over the basilica entrance with the words "Habemus Papam" or "We have a pope."Italy begins five days of mourning for FrancisThe period of national mourning will run from Tuesday to Saturday. Ceremonies on Friday marking Italy's World War II Liberation Day will be held with "due sobriety," said Italy's Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci.Palestinians in Bethlehem mourn Pope Francis at Manger SquareBethlehem is home to the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus was born. Pope Francis visited the city in 2014."He was our pope, not just our pope, he was our brother, our friend, our dear friend for Bethlehem. He always gave us big hope, he told us that you are not alone," said Rony Tabash, 43. The Catholic hung photos of Pope Francis outside his souvenir shop that's been in his family for three generations.Manger Square and Tuesday's mass were mostly empty. The Palestinian city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank is dependent on tourism, but visitors and pilgrims have largely stayed away in recent years — first during the pandemic and then during the 18-month war in Gaza.Work is underway to prepare Francis' tombA wooden barrier on Tuesday covered the niche where Pope Francis will be buried in the Saint Mary Major Basilica, near an icon of Mary that he held dear, rather than St. Peter's Cathedral or its crypt alongside previous popesIn his will, Francis called for his tomb to be "in the ground; simple, without particular decoration, and with the sole inscription: Franciscus,'' or Latin for Francis.Before and after every foreign trip, he would stop to pray before the image of Mary draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus. Francis last went to pray at the icon before Holy Week.St. Peter's Basilica will stay open late so the faithful can pay their last respects to Pope FrancisFrancis is currently lying in state in the Santa Marta Domus in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household. The Vatican says his body will be transferred Wednesday morning to St. Peter's Basilica, where he will lie in state from 11 a.m. until midnight on Wednesday, from 7 a.m. until midnight on Thursday, and Friday from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.Once in St. Peter's, his casket will not be put on an elevated bier — as was the case with past popes — but will just be be placed simply facing the pews, with the Paschal candle nearby. The basilica is normally open from 7 a.m. until 7:10 p.m.Security increased in Rome as holy city prepares for crowdsItalian police patrolled St Peter's Square and the surrounding streets on foot and horseback Tuesday as security in Rome was tightened ahead of Pope Francis' funeral. Officers in boats controlled the nearby Tiber River.Tens of thousands of mourners are expected to pay their respects to Francis as he lies in state in St. Peter's Basilica starting Wednesday. The funeral on Saturday will be attended by many heads of state.Rome was already packed with tourists, many in the city for the Easter holiday. A Jubilee Mass for adolescents on Sunday is expected to bring thousands of youths to the city.Day of national mourning in PolandPoland has declared a day of national mourning on Saturday for the funeral of Pope Francis.The office of President Andrzej Duda also said that Duda plans to attend the ceremony.Poland was the homeland of Pope John Paul II, whose death in 2005 prompted a national outpouring of grief. But the response has been more muted this time in a country that has become noticeably more secular.Cardinals suspend all upcoming beatificationsThe cardinals planning the next steps for the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis have decided to suspend all upcoming beatifications, pending the election of a new pope.The decision was taken during the first meeting of the College of Cardinals on Tuesday.The Vatican had already announced that Sunday's planned canonization of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, was suspended. But the decision from the cardinals means all other celebrations are on hold until a new pope is elected.The decision is in keeping with Vatican norms governing the "interregnum" period between the death of one pope and the election of another. Among other things, those norms call for most top Vatican officials to officially lose their jobs until they are reconfirmed or replaced by a new pope.Crowds wait in line to offer condolences in JakartaAt Jakarta's Apostolic Nunciature, the official diplomatic mission of the Holy See in Indonesia, crowds gathered in the rain on Tuesday to offer their condolences over the death of the pope.A somber atmosphere filled the Nunciature as Catholics quietly recited prayers and waited in line to write their condolence messages and meet the Apostolic Nuncio, the Vatican's permanent diplomatic representative."I would like to express my condolences to the Nuncio and pray from this place since we are experiencing limitations in coming to the Vatican," Heri Wibowo, a Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of Jakarta, said.He remembered Pope Francis as a humble figure, a quality the pontiff exemplified during his visit in September 2024 to Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population.One worshipper, Claudia, 23, who attended the Nunciature with her relatives, said Pope Francis was a father who offered inspiration."I am honestly very surprised since he still gave blessings on Easter to us, people all over the world. When I heard the news (of his death) I felt very sad," Claudia said.Cardinals meet in wake of pope's deathThe Vatican says around 60 cardinals participated in the first meeting to decide next steps following the death of Pope Francis.They decided that ordinary faithful can pay their respects starting when the casket is moved into St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday, and set Saturday for the funeral and burial.The cardinals haven't set a date for the conclave to elect Francis' successor, but the current norms suggest it couldn't begin before May 5.Three cardinals were chosen to help the camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, administer the Vatican during the "interregnum" period before the election of a new pope.Those cardinals are the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Polish Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko, archpriest of the St. Mary Major basilica where Francis will be buried, and Cardinal Fabbio Baggio, a top official in the Vatican's development and migrants office.They will be replaced after three days with another three cardinals to help the interim Vatican administrator.China expresses condolences for pope who made effort to mend Beijing-Vatican riftChina expressed condolences over the passing of Pope Francis, who reached out to Beijing in an effort to improve relations and mend a seven-decade rift between a state-recognized Catholic church and an underground church loyal to Rome.Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Guo Jiakun said: "China is ready to work with the Vatican side to continue the improvement of China-Vatican ties."The country's Catholic community was divided when the Communist Party came to power and claimed the right to name bishops without consulting the Vatican.In 2018, Francis's Vatican brokered a deal with China that granted Rome's approval to the bishops Beijing had picked. The provisional agreement was renewed in October 2024.Vatican announces funeral plansPope Francis' funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter's Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals.The cardinals have also decided that the public viewing of Pope Francis will begin Wednesday in St. Peter's Basilica, after his casket is taken by procession from the Vatican hotel where he lived.The master of liturgical ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, issued the rubrics for the procession by mandate of the College of Cardinals, which met Tuesday to take the first decisions following Francis' death. Presiding over the procession and the ritual transfer will be the camerlengo, or interim administrator of the Vatican, Cardinal Kevin Farrell.Filipinos remember a pope who cared for the sick and survivors of natural disastersHundreds of Filipinos, some openly weeping, gathered for a mass at the Manila Cathedral on Tuesday to bid goodbye to the late pope, whom they remember for his outreach to the poor and survivors of natural disasters, which often devastate their country."He's a rare progressive pope, who took up a lot of causes and showed a deep concern for the poor," said Cynthia Esquilona, a 50-year-old mother of two who lit a candle and prayed before a portrait of Francis at the cathedral.Another worshipper, Conchita Mil, quietly wept as she sat in a pew and thanked Francis for dedicating his papacy to the needy and the sick. Mil, 69, said she has breast cancer.Francis visited the Philippines, a Catholic bastion in Asia, in early 2015 to console survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which left thousands of people dead. Pictures showing him rain-soaked in stormy weather but constantly waving and blowing kisses to crowds of typhoon survivors have left a lasting impression.Australian candidates cancel campaign eventsBoth Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and opposition leader Peter Dutton cancelled campaign events planned for Tuesday out of respect for the late pontiff, as early voting began for a May 3 general election.Flags were flown at half staff from government buildings across the country where a 2021 census found 20% of the population were Catholics.Albanese was raised as a Catholic but chose to be sworn in as prime minister when he was elected in 2022 by making a secular affirmation rather than by taking an oath on a Bible.Albanese attended a Mass in honor of the pope in Melbourne's St. Patrick's Cathedral on Tuesday morning."I try not to talk about my faith in public," Albanese told reporters, but added "At times like this, I think what people do is they draw on who they are and certainly my Catholicism is just a part of me."Dutton, who was raised by a Catholic father and Protestant mother and attended an Anglican school, planned to go to a church service in Sydney."I don't think it's a day for overt politicking at all. I think that the day is best spent reflecting," Dutton told Australian Broadcasting Corp.India declares 3 days of mourningThe Indian flag flew at half-staff on Tuesday at all government buildings as the country observed three days of mourning as a mark of the respect for Pope Francis.The Indian flag will be flown half-staff on government buildings across the country for the next two days, as well as on the day of the pontiff's funeral, the Home Ministry said in a statement.Taiwan's Catholics remember FrancisMembers of Taiwan's Catholic community gathered at a church in the capital Taipei for a somber mass as believers prayed and reflected on Francis' spiritual legacy.Former Premier Chen Chien-jen, a devout Catholic who visited the Vatican multiple times at the invitition of Francis and previous popes, spoke of the deep loss felt by the faithful.Chen said "Pope Francis has led all of our churches to thrive over the past 12 years, making significant contributions to world peace and environmental sustainability," Chen added. "We will remember the teachings he gave us: that we are all brothers and that loving one another makes the world a more peaceful place."Bernard Li, former president of Fu Jen Catholic University, highlighted the pope's compassion and dedication to humanitarian causes."He was a compassionate pope who has consistently advocated for world peace and racial equality," Li said.President Lai Ching-te ordered flags to fly at half-staff on Tuesday in a show of mourning and respect.