Initiative petitions filed Friday would require Tesla to use independent franchises to market its cars or shutdown Kansas City,&nbsp;St. Louis showrooms.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

An initiative effort begun Friday by a well-known Missouri Democrat would, if passed by voters next year, force Tesla to close its St. Louis and Kansas City showrooms.

Brad Ketcher, a St. Louis attorney who was chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan in the 1990s, said he hopes the effort spreads to other states to fight back against Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his lead role in mass federal layoffs and budget cuts for President Donald Trump.

“If Elon Musk was not cutting Medicaid and Social Security and veterans health to fund a tax cut for billionaires and doing it with a bizarre glee, we would not be asking Missourians to say this guy does not deserve to be doing business in this state,” Ketcher said. “We would not be trying to drive this in Missouri.”

Tesla did not immediately respond to an email from The Independent seeking comment on the initiative.

Soon after winning election in November, Trump named Musk to lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency with instructions to find savings in the federal budget.

Since taking office, Musk has, among other actions, closed the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/03/repub/members-of-congress-refused-entry-to-usaid-agency-shuttered-by-trump-administration/">U.S. Agency for International Development</a>, been granted&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/04/repub/lawsuit-filed-over-attempts-by-elon-musks-doge-to-take-over-u-s-benefit-payment-system/">access to payment systems</a>&nbsp;delivering benefits to millions of Americans, put the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/11/repub/elon-musks-doge-targets-u-s-department-of-education-for-millions-in-funding-cuts/">entire Department of Education</a>&nbsp;on the chopping block and slashed the staff of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/03/repub/deep-cutbacks-in-social-security-staff-slammed-by-u-s-senate-democrats/">Social Security Administration</a>.

Many of those actions have been challenged in court and temporarily halted. Republicans in Congress, meanwhile, are pushing through a budget resolution that would&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/repub/u-s-house-republicans-overcome-own-members-doubts-to-push-through-sweeping-budget/">extend tax cuts enacted in 2017</a>&nbsp;while making deep cuts in Medicaid and food programs.

The initiatives filed with the secretary of state’s office would use Missouri’s law governing motor vehicle sales, which requires new cars, trucks and motorcycles to be sold through franchised dealers, to force Tesla out. Two versions were filed Friday, and more may be written before the signature drive begins, Ketcher said.

The petitions must be reviewed and put out for public comment before the signature drive.

Prior to the arrival of Tesla, all new motor vehicles sold in Missouri were purchased at authorized franchises with ownership independent of the manufacturer. In 2013, the Department of Revenue licensed a franchise owned by Tesla for a St. Louis showroom and followed it up the next year by licensing a Kansas City showroom.

The initiatives would cause those licenses to be revoked. The first version filed states that “it is the express intent of the people to prevent any manufacturer of new motor vehicles from circumventing the public policy as stated in (state law) by engaging in methods of retailing new motor vehicles which are designed to avoid the provisions” of that law.

To make the ballot, the committee called UnPlug Musk must gather at least 106,384 signatures properly distributed among six of the state’s congressional districts. The petition drive must be complete by the start of May 2026.

Ketcher said that so far, he and former state Rep. Deb Lavender, a St. Louis County Democrat, treasurer of the committee, are the only people enlisted for the effort. He hopes to build a coalition quickly, he said.

“This gives Missourians a chance to say this guy is not welcome to do business in our state,” Ketcher said.

The petition drive would not be the first attempt to use state law to keep Tesla from opening its company-owned showrooms in Missouri. In 2014, Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, then a state senator, helped write a provision for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2014/05/09/complaints-flare-bill-affect-tesla-sales/8900153/" target="_blank">bill that fell just short of passing</a>&nbsp;to require all auto manufacturers to sell their vehicles through a franchise dealership.

Kehoe owned Ford and Lincoln-Mercury franchises in Jefferson City from 1992 to 2011. He sold the dealerships before entering politics.

He told the Springfield News-Leader in 2014 that he was surprised the department issued a dealership license to Tesla.

“Our question as dealers and people I know in the business: how in the world when we’ve worked so hard to get franchise legislation, how in the world could that be possible?” Kehoe said to the News-Leader.

The Missouri Automobile Dealers Association and others sued the department over its licensing decision, winning at the trial court level before the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.californiademocrat.com/news/2017/dec/06/appeals-court-rejects-anti-tesla-lawsuit/" target="_blank">Western District Court of Appeals ruled</a>&nbsp;none of the plaintiffs had a legal right to challenge the licenses.

In its briefs for the appeals court, Tesla acknowledged that the legislature could block it from having manufacturer-owned dealerships.

“Plainly, if the legislature had wanted to erect a blanket direct sales ban, it could and would have done so clearly and straightforwardly by amending the existing partial ban in the franchise act,” attorneys wrote.

The auto dealers did not return a call seeking comment on the initiative.

There are some states where Tesla is not operating dealerships because of franchise laws. In Wisconsin, where Musk is spending millions on the state Supreme Court election, Tesla is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-musk-wisconsin-supreme-court-dealerships-101d7608d69dda61aeaf6ebee7903d2b" target="_blank">suing to overturn</a>&nbsp;the franchise law.

Ketcher said he wants the effort to be joined by groups from other states with the initiative petition process and Democratically-controlled legislatures.

“Even in red states, somebody can hold up an amendment, and say, here’s the amendment to drive Tesla, drive Musk, out of our state,” he said.

The language of the initiative, Ketcher said, is taken, with only technical changes, from the provisions Kehoe supplied for the 2014 bill. Tesla attorneys acknowledged during the litigation that it would effectively shut down their showrooms, Ketcher noted.

“They’ve given us plans for the Death Star,” Ketcher said. “And when when somebody gives you the plans for Death Star, you know what to do.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741724524957.png" alt="Earlier this month, President Trump turned the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom to show support for Musk" />
 <figcaption>Earlier this month, President Trump turned the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom to show support for Musk</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Initiative petitions filed Friday would require Tesla to use independent franchises to market its cars or shutdown Kansas City,&nbsp;St. Louis showrooms.</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>An initiative effort begun Friday by a well-known Missouri Democrat would, if passed by voters next year, force Tesla to close its St. Louis and Kansas City showrooms.Brad Ketcher, a St. Louis attorney who was chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan in the 1990s, said he hopes the effort spreads to other states to fight back against Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his lead role in mass federal layoffs and budget cuts for President Donald Trump.“If Elon Musk was not cutting Medicaid and Social Security and veterans health to fund a tax cut for billionaires and doing it with a bizarre glee, we would not be asking Missourians to say this guy does not deserve to be doing business in this state,” Ketcher said. “We would not be trying to drive this in Missouri.”Tesla did not immediately respond to an email from The Independent seeking comment on the initiative.Soon after winning election in November, Trump named Musk to lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency with instructions to find savings in the federal budget.Since taking office, Musk has, among other actions, closed the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/03/repub/members-of-congress-refused-entry-to-usaid-agency-shuttered-by-trump-administration/">U.S. Agency for International Development</a>, been granted&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/04/repub/lawsuit-filed-over-attempts-by-elon-musks-doge-to-take-over-u-s-benefit-payment-system/">access to payment systems</a>&nbsp;delivering benefits to millions of Americans, put the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/11/repub/elon-musks-doge-targets-u-s-department-of-education-for-millions-in-funding-cuts/">entire Department of Education</a>&nbsp;on the chopping block and slashed the staff of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/03/repub/deep-cutbacks-in-social-security-staff-slammed-by-u-s-senate-democrats/">Social Security Administration</a>.Many of those actions have been challenged in court and temporarily halted. Republicans in Congress, meanwhile, are pushing through a budget resolution that would&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/repub/u-s-house-republicans-overcome-own-members-doubts-to-push-through-sweeping-budget/">extend tax cuts enacted in 2017</a>&nbsp;while making deep cuts in Medicaid and food programs.The initiatives filed with the secretary of state’s office would use Missouri’s law governing motor vehicle sales, which requires new cars, trucks and motorcycles to be sold through franchised dealers, to force Tesla out. Two versions were filed Friday, and more may be written before the signature drive begins, Ketcher said.The petitions must be reviewed and put out for public comment before the signature drive.Prior to the arrival of Tesla, all new motor vehicles sold in Missouri were purchased at authorized franchises with ownership independent of the manufacturer. In 2013, the Department of Revenue licensed a franchise owned by Tesla for a St. Louis showroom and followed it up the next year by licensing a Kansas City showroom.The initiatives would cause those licenses to be revoked. The first version filed states that “it is the express intent of the people to prevent any manufacturer of new motor vehicles from circumventing the public policy as stated in (state law) by engaging in methods of retailing new motor vehicles which are designed to avoid the provisions” of that law.To make the ballot, the committee called UnPlug Musk must gather at least 106,384 signatures properly distributed among six of the state’s congressional districts. The petition drive must be complete by the start of May 2026.Ketcher said that so far, he and former state Rep. Deb Lavender, a St. Louis County Democrat, treasurer of the committee, are the only people enlisted for the effort. He hopes to build a coalition quickly, he said.“This gives Missourians a chance to say this guy is not welcome to do business in our state,” Ketcher said.The petition drive would not be the first attempt to use state law to keep Tesla from opening its company-owned showrooms in Missouri. In 2014, Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, then a state senator, helped write a provision for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2014/05/09/complaints-flare-bill-affect-tesla-sales/8900153/" target="_blank">bill that fell just short of passing</a>&nbsp;to require all auto manufacturers to sell their vehicles through a franchise dealership.Kehoe owned Ford and Lincoln-Mercury franchises in Jefferson City from 1992 to 2011. He sold the dealerships before entering politics.He told the Springfield News-Leader in 2014 that he was surprised the department issued a dealership license to Tesla.“Our question as dealers and people I know in the business: how in the world when we’ve worked so hard to get franchise legislation, how in the world could that be possible?” Kehoe said to the News-Leader.The Missouri Automobile Dealers Association and others sued the department over its licensing decision, winning at the trial court level before the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.californiademocrat.com/news/2017/dec/06/appeals-court-rejects-anti-tesla-lawsuit/" target="_blank">Western District Court of Appeals ruled</a>&nbsp;none of the plaintiffs had a legal right to challenge the licenses.In its briefs for the appeals court, Tesla acknowledged that the legislature could block it from having manufacturer-owned dealerships.“Plainly, if the legislature had wanted to erect a blanket direct sales ban, it could and would have done so clearly and straightforwardly by amending the existing partial ban in the franchise act,” attorneys wrote.The auto dealers did not return a call seeking comment on the initiative.There are some states where Tesla is not operating dealerships because of franchise laws. In Wisconsin, where Musk is spending millions on the state Supreme Court election, Tesla is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-musk-wisconsin-supreme-court-dealerships-101d7608d69dda61aeaf6ebee7903d2b" target="_blank">suing to overturn</a>&nbsp;the franchise law.Ketcher said he wants the effort to be joined by groups from other states with the initiative petition process and Democratically-controlled legislatures.“Even in red states, somebody can hold up an amendment, and say, here’s the amendment to drive Tesla, drive Musk, out of our state,” he said.The language of the initiative, Ketcher said, is taken, with only technical changes, from the provisions Kehoe supplied for the 2014 bill. Tesla attorneys acknowledged during the litigation that it would effectively shut down their showrooms, Ketcher noted.“They’ve given us plans for the Death Star,” Ketcher said. “And when when somebody gives you the plans for Death Star, you know what to do.”

Elon Musk’s DOGE role draws effort to force Tesla to close Missouri dealerships

Clash on Capitol lawn centers on ideas of faith, but satanists get arrested inside rotunda

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-house-bill-mandates-study-of-public-higher-education-mergers-efficiencies/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The bullhorn-powered war of words between satanists and Catholics boiled over into brawling and a handful of arrests Friday during an extraordinary event at the Kansas Capitol that pushed boundaries of free speech and the separation of church and state.

After about two hours of speeches, prayers and sign waving among hundreds of people mostly segregated by barricades staffed by law enforcement officers, Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart, with supporters and reporters in tow, entering the Statehouse to conduct what he had described as a black mass. He was warned at the door to the visitors’ center that any formal protest inside the building that violated a permit limiting his religious expression to the lawn or steps of the Capitol would result in his arrest for trespassing.

In the rotunda, Stewart began delivering the rebellious alternative mass and was interrupted by three people intent on stopping what could be interpreted as a mockery of their faith. An unidentified man and woman, with young kids at their side, physically intervened to interrupt Stewart. He spun away from them. Counter-protester Marcus Schroeder joined the fray and twice reached to rip papers from Stewart’s hand. Stewart responded by punching Schroeder in the face twice. More than half a dozen Capitol Police wrestled Stewart to the floor to make the arrest.

“I’m not resisting. I’m not resisting. I’m not resisting,” Stewart repeatedly yelled.

Schroeder, who wore a shirt declaring “death is not welcome here,” was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct. He defended his intervention to thwart Stewart during an interview.

“He was trying to give a satanic chant. I tried to take his paper out of his hand and he punched me twice in the face,” Schroeder said.

After the area cleared, two other satanists tried to pick up where Stewart left off and were taken into custody. One other person was cuffed and led away by law enforcement outside the Capitol. An individual had grabbed Stewart by the legs in a bid to stop Stewart from stomping on crackers intended to represent those used in a Catholic mass. In that brief exchange, Stewart also punched the guy before law enforcement ended the fracas.

“He was was trying to tackle me to get to the cracker underneath,” Stewart said. “I was able to kind of fend him off. I do think he may have picked up the crumbled cracker and ate it. Did I get physical with him? Yes.”

The colorful display of affection and affliction for organized religion culminated attempts by Gov. Laura Kelly, Attorney General Kris Kobach, leaders of the Kansas Legislature and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, to restrain or derail the demonstration planned by Satanic Grotto.

Kelly had the group’s permit amended so no protest could transpire inside the Capitol. Legislative leaders modified policy regarding use of the Capitol to target Satanic Grotto. Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Wichita, said the First Amendment didn’t protect offensive speech or violations of law.

Francis Slobodnik, a Topeka representative of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, told hundreds of Catholics gathered on the south side of the Capitol that public officials shouldn’t have allowed satanists to assemble on public property. He said the process showed a misguided understanding of freedom of speech and religion and a lack of appreciation for how a black mass represented worship of Satan.

“Today’s horrific event, the first of its kind in the history of Kansas, is a sacrilege,” said Slobodnik, who urged people to engage in a peaceful rally. “Of course, there have been terrible crimes and injustices that have happened in our state over the years. However, nothing in our past compares with what is happening today where God is being directly challenged on the state Capitol grounds. The state Capitol represents all of us.”

He praised people at the rally who were standing in opposition to Satanic Grotto, and referred to them as the Navy Seals of the Catholic faith. He said these activists were willing to confront God’s enemies head-on as if on a field of battle. He said the great sin perpetrated by Stewart and other worshipers of Satan meant that others had to step into the void.

“Satanists do not realize that Satan hates all of God’s creation, including them,” Slobodnik said. “Their reward for worshiping and serving him will be eternal fire.”

Former U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, who served in the Kansas Senate before elected to Congress, said he consulted with a priest with experience in exorcism when considering whether to participate in a television interview with Stewart.

“Father had a simple question: ‘Why would you do this? What do you hope to gain?’ I stumbled around in my answer,” Huelskamp said. “I wanted to share the truth about Christ. The truth about the Eucharist. His summary response was quite stunning to me. He said, ‘There is no good that could come from being in the same room with a satanist.'”

Huelskamp said it was suggested his participation in the interview with Stewart might advance the interests of Satan. The former Republican congressman woke ill the next day, and cancelled the interview. In the end, Huelskamp said he decided it was important to run to the fire created by Satan rather than shrink from it. He said it was the same as making his views known about the evil of abortion or defending the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman.

“I am quite stubborn and hardheaded,” he said. “We cannot be silent. We are required, if we call ourselves Christians, if we call ourselves Catholic, we are publicly required to defend the faith and to stand up for the truth.”

In an interview amid calm before the storm of his arrest, Stewart said he was convinced Catholics assembled around him didn’t understand why Satanic Grotto was at the Capitol to talk about religious oppression.

“What we only want is the rights that every American has,” Stewart said. “I’ve heard people say we’re setting a precedent. Well, if the precedent is freedom of religion for everyone in public spaces, yes, that’s what we’re trying to establish. We are dragging this issue out in the light and we’ll let the people look at it. The issue is that we’re not all being treated the same here.”

Eudora resident John More, a Christian who carried a call-to-heaven New England pine tree flag, said he was motivated to attend because he viewed the satanists’ criticism of Catholics as an assault on religion in general. He joined with Julie Britschge of Burlingame for a “Jericho Walk,” or prayer walk, by circling the statehouse grounds seven times. Britschge said the walk was patterned after the biblical story of the Israelites’ march aimed at bringing about spiritual change.

“We’re hoping that whatever evil there is today, that He will take care of it,” More said. “I was just planning to add a measure of divine protection.”

Daniel Casteel and Shawn Velasquez, both with the Cure Church, made their views heard with the aid of megaphones. They prowled the security-line perimeter sharing perspectives on religion before taking part in back-and-forth exchanges across the barrier with supporters of Satanic Grotto.

“Jesus loves you,” Casteel bellowed. “Any time you’re ready, you can step this way. We will make sure you get saved. Come give your life to Jesus, please. Break the stronghold.”

In an interview, Velasquez and Casteel said their intent was to convince one or two satanic worshipers to find solace in God.

“They’re just misguided and uninformed,” Velasquez said. “They’re worshiping a false god.”

On the other side of that line, Mike Trapp of Leavenworth quietly held a sign that emphasized his belief the United States was best served by adhering to the constitutional principle of a formal separation between church and state.

“We wouldn’t be standing here today if there weren’t Christians flaunting their religion in the Capitol,” said Trapp, who considered the rise of Christian nationalism to be “the biggest threat to democracy.”

Wichita residents Kyle Francis and Sam McCrory, who were armed with a flag and collection of religious symbols, said they were present to stand up for Christ.

“Any time that people who oppose Christ show their head, you know, they should be opposed publicly,” McCrory said.

He said separation of church and state was originally the product of a homogenous Christian population. Satanists and others who diluted that national unity often used constitutional freedoms as a weapon against well-meaning people, he said.

“These sorts of things need to be brutally tamped down,” McCrory said. “Let’s set an example. I think that the United States should be an explicitly Christian nation. If you want to be something other than Christian, I think that’s fine, to an extent. I think they (non-Christians) should have to pay an extra tax.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743299018628.png" alt="Law enforcement officers inside the Kansas Capitol rotunda tackle and detain Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto organization, for violating a permit that limited protests to the exterior of the building. Hundreds of Catholics conducted a counter-protest in opposition of Satanic Grotto’s presence in Topeka. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement officers inside the Kansas Capitol rotunda tackle and detain Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto organization, for violating a permit that limited protests to the exterior of the building. Hundreds of Catholics conducted a counter-protest in opposition of Satanic Grotto’s presence in Topeka. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Clash on Capitol lawn centers on ideas of faith, but satanists get arrested inside rotunda</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-house-bill-mandates-study-of-public-higher-education-mergers-efficiencies/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The bullhorn-powered war of words between satanists and Catholics boiled over into brawling and a handful of arrests Friday during an extraordinary event at the Kansas Capitol that pushed boundaries of free speech and the separation of church and state.After about two hours of speeches, prayers and sign waving among hundreds of people mostly segregated by barricades staffed by law enforcement officers, Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart, with supporters and reporters in tow, entering the Statehouse to conduct what he had described as a black mass. He was warned at the door to the visitors’ center that any formal protest inside the building that violated a permit limiting his religious expression to the lawn or steps of the Capitol would result in his arrest for trespassing.In the rotunda, Stewart began delivering the rebellious alternative mass and was interrupted by three people intent on stopping what could be interpreted as a mockery of their faith. An unidentified man and woman, with young kids at their side, physically intervened to interrupt Stewart. He spun away from them. Counter-protester Marcus Schroeder joined the fray and twice reached to rip papers from Stewart’s hand. Stewart responded by punching Schroeder in the face twice. More than half a dozen Capitol Police wrestled Stewart to the floor to make the arrest.“I’m not resisting. I’m not resisting. I’m not resisting,” Stewart repeatedly yelled.Schroeder, who wore a shirt declaring “death is not welcome here,” was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct. He defended his intervention to thwart Stewart during an interview.“He was trying to give a satanic chant. I tried to take his paper out of his hand and he punched me twice in the face,” Schroeder said.After the area cleared, two other satanists tried to pick up where Stewart left off and were taken into custody. One other person was cuffed and led away by law enforcement outside the Capitol. An individual had grabbed Stewart by the legs in a bid to stop Stewart from stomping on crackers intended to represent those used in a Catholic mass. In that brief exchange, Stewart also punched the guy before law enforcement ended the fracas.“He was was trying to tackle me to get to the cracker underneath,” Stewart said. “I was able to kind of fend him off. I do think he may have picked up the crumbled cracker and ate it. Did I get physical with him? Yes.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743298839811.png" alt=" Hundreds of Christians upset with an organization’s plan to conduct a satanic black mass at the Capitol delivered a robust counter-protest to emphasize their disdain for followers of Satanic Grotto. Both sides of the debate used bullhorns to punctuate their messages, creating a blended sound that was difficult for anybody to hear clearly. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Hundreds of Christians upset with an organization’s plan to conduct a satanic black mass at the Capitol delivered a robust counter-protest to emphasize their disdain for followers of Satanic Grotto. Both sides of the debate used bullhorns to punctuate their messages, creating a blended sound that was difficult for anybody to hear clearly. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The opposition</h2>The colorful display of affection and affliction for organized religion culminated attempts by Gov. Laura Kelly, Attorney General Kris Kobach, leaders of the Kansas Legislature and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, to restrain or derail the demonstration planned by Satanic Grotto.Kelly had the group’s permit amended so no protest could transpire inside the Capitol. Legislative leaders modified policy regarding use of the Capitol to target Satanic Grotto. Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Wichita, said the First Amendment didn’t protect offensive speech or violations of law.Francis Slobodnik, a Topeka representative of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, told hundreds of Catholics gathered on the south side of the Capitol that public officials shouldn’t have allowed satanists to assemble on public property. He said the process showed a misguided understanding of freedom of speech and religion and a lack of appreciation for how a black mass represented worship of Satan.“Today’s horrific event, the first of its kind in the history of Kansas, is a sacrilege,” said Slobodnik, who urged people to engage in a peaceful rally. “Of course, there have been terrible crimes and injustices that have happened in our state over the years. However, nothing in our past compares with what is happening today where God is being directly challenged on the state Capitol grounds. The state Capitol represents all of us.”He praised people at the rally who were standing in opposition to Satanic Grotto, and referred to them as the Navy Seals of the Catholic faith. He said these activists were willing to confront God’s enemies head-on as if on a field of battle. He said the great sin perpetrated by Stewart and other worshipers of Satan meant that others had to step into the void.“Satanists do not realize that Satan hates all of God’s creation, including them,” Slobodnik said. “Their reward for worshiping and serving him will be eternal fire.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743298910545.png" alt="Cure Church member Daniel Casteel, center with megaphone, was among Christians who used amplified equipment Friday at the Kansas Capitol to broadcast invitations for people to renounce Satan and welcome Jesus into their lives. He proclaimed to his target audience across a law enforcement barrier: “Any time you’re ready, you can step this way. We will make sure you get saved.” (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Cure Church member Daniel Casteel, center with megaphone, was among Christians who used amplified equipment Friday at the Kansas Capitol to broadcast invitations for people to renounce Satan and welcome Jesus into their lives. He proclaimed to his target audience across a law enforcement barrier: “Any time you’re ready, you can step this way. We will make sure you get saved.” (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>And, an exorcist</h2>Former U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, who served in the Kansas Senate before elected to Congress, said he consulted with a priest with experience in exorcism when considering whether to participate in a television interview with Stewart.“Father had a simple question: ‘Why would you do this? What do you hope to gain?’ I stumbled around in my answer,” Huelskamp said. “I wanted to share the truth about Christ. The truth about the Eucharist. His summary response was quite stunning to me. He said, ‘There is no good that could come from being in the same room with a satanist.'”Huelskamp said it was suggested his participation in the interview with Stewart might advance the interests of Satan. The former Republican congressman woke ill the next day, and cancelled the interview. In the end, Huelskamp said he decided it was important to run to the fire created by Satan rather than shrink from it. He said it was the same as making his views known about the evil of abortion or defending the sanctity of marriage between a man and woman.“I am quite stubborn and hardheaded,” he said. “We cannot be silent. We are required, if we call ourselves Christians, if we call ourselves Catholic, we are publicly required to defend the faith and to stand up for the truth.”In an interview amid calm before the storm of his arrest, Stewart said he was convinced Catholics assembled around him didn’t understand why Satanic Grotto was at the Capitol to talk about religious oppression.“What we only want is the rights that every American has,” Stewart said. “I’ve heard people say we’re setting a precedent. Well, if the precedent is freedom of religion for everyone in public spaces, yes, that’s what we’re trying to establish. We are dragging this issue out in the light and we’ll let the people look at it. The issue is that we’re not all being treated the same here.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743298951912.png" alt=" Mike Trapp, of Leavenworth, said he took part in rallies outside the Kansas Capitol on Friday to express his view that government needed to respect the constitutional mandate of a formal separation between church and state. He said the rise of Christian nationalists represented the greatest threat to democracy. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Mike Trapp, of Leavenworth, said he took part in rallies outside the Kansas Capitol on Friday to express his view that government needed to respect the constitutional mandate of a formal separation between church and state. He said the rise of Christian nationalists represented the greatest threat to democracy. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Other voices in crowd</h2>Eudora resident John More, a Christian who carried a call-to-heaven New England pine tree flag, said he was motivated to attend because he viewed the satanists’ criticism of Catholics as an assault on religion in general. He joined with Julie Britschge of Burlingame for a “Jericho Walk,” or prayer walk, by circling the statehouse grounds seven times. Britschge said the walk was patterned after the biblical story of the Israelites’ march aimed at bringing about spiritual change.“We’re hoping that whatever evil there is today, that He will take care of it,” More said. “I was just planning to add a measure of divine protection.”Daniel Casteel and Shawn Velasquez, both with the Cure Church, made their views heard with the aid of megaphones. They prowled the security-line perimeter sharing perspectives on religion before taking part in back-and-forth exchanges across the barrier with supporters of Satanic Grotto.“Jesus loves you,” Casteel bellowed. “Any time you’re ready, you can step this way. We will make sure you get saved. Come give your life to Jesus, please. Break the stronghold.”In an interview, Velasquez and Casteel said their intent was to convince one or two satanic worshipers to find solace in God.“They’re just misguided and uninformed,” Velasquez said. “They’re worshiping a false god.”On the other side of that line, Mike Trapp of Leavenworth quietly held a sign that emphasized his belief the United States was best served by adhering to the constitutional principle of a formal separation between church and state.“We wouldn’t be standing here today if there weren’t Christians flaunting their religion in the Capitol,” said Trapp, who considered the rise of Christian nationalism to be “the biggest threat to democracy.”Wichita residents Kyle Francis and Sam McCrory, who were armed with a flag and collection of religious symbols, said they were present to stand up for Christ.“Any time that people who oppose Christ show their head, you know, they should be opposed publicly,” McCrory said.He said separation of church and state was originally the product of a homogenous Christian population. Satanists and others who diluted that national unity often used constitutional freedoms as a weapon against well-meaning people, he said.“These sorts of things need to be brutally tamped down,” McCrory said. “Let’s set an example. I think that the United States should be an explicitly Christian nation. If you want to be something other than Christian, I think that’s fine, to an extent. I think they (non-Christians) should have to pay an extra tax.”

Loud, boisterous rival protests of religious freedom among Catholics and satanists turn violent

JOHNSON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a deadly fire in Johnson County.

Just before 7:30p.m. Friday, crews&nbsp;responded to an apartment fire in the 6500 block of Barton Circle in the city of Shawnee, according to a media release.

&nbsp;Crews encountered fire coming from one unit and worked quickly to bring the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to nearby units. First responders discovered an injured individual and provided medical treatment outside the affected apartment. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the name of the victim or the cause of death.

The Shawnee Police Department, Shawnee Fire Department, Overland Park Fire Department, Consolidated Fire District No. 2, and Johnson County MED-ACT worked the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743335634041.png" alt="Photo Shawnee Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Shawnee Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a deadly fire in Johnson County.Just before 7:30p.m. Friday, crews&nbsp;responded to an apartment fire in the 6500 block of Barton Circle in the city of Shawnee, according to a media release.&nbsp;Crews encountered fire coming from one unit and worked quickly to bring the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to nearby units. First responders discovered an injured individual and provided medical treatment outside the affected apartment. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the name of the victim or the cause of death.The Shawnee Police Department, Shawnee Fire Department, Overland Park Fire Department, Consolidated Fire District No. 2, and Johnson County MED-ACT worked the fire.

Police: One dead after fire at Kansas apartment 

A Hutchinson letter carrier is being hailed as a hero after
she helped rescue a woman who fell in her apartment.&nbsp; 

Letter Carrier Misty Hernandez was on her route on Thursday
when she heard the faint cries of a resident in one of the apartments at the
Sentney Lofts at Second Ave and Popular Street.&nbsp;
She explains that it was like any normal day. 

“Well, I mean, it's sort of just like any other day, normal,
average day. And then I get to the apartment building, go in, I go to the
mailboxes, and on, opening and closing them, and they're kind of noisy. They're
metal doors so and that's when I heard her say, is anybody there? Well, I
thought maybe she was talking on the phone, so I kind of played, you know, just
let it go and I'm continuing delivering” said Hernandez. 

Hernandez said that she went to the woman’s door and I asked
if she was okay.&nbsp; 

Hernandez added, “she said, No, I need help. Can you call
911, and I said, Can I come in? And she said, Yes. So luckily, Her door was
unlocked, so I went in, and I went around the corner, and she was laying on the
floor, and she told me that she fell, and she's been laying there for three
days because she didn't have anybody to help her.”

Hernandez said that she didn’t move her, but she gave her
some water and placed a pillow under her head to make her comfortable and
called 911. She asked her why she didn’t holler. 

I asked her about stories of other delivery drivers finding
injured people, “Yeah, any, anybody that's out and about, DoorDash drivers,
UPS, FedEx, everybody you know. You just never know” Hernandez added. 

Hernandez said, “I had started to wonder, because she still
had three packages in her box that and she's, she's right by the mailboxes. So
I was like starting to wonder, but that was the day that I heard her yelling.”

Hernandez said that at the end of the day she is just proud
to be delivering for America every day.&nbsp; 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743298777973.png" alt="Hutch Post Office ( Google Map Image&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Hutch Post Office ( Google Map Image&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>A Hutchinson letter carrier is being hailed as a hero after
she helped rescue a woman who fell in her apartment.&nbsp; Letter Carrier Misty Hernandez was on her route on Thursday
when she heard the faint cries of a resident in one of the apartments at the
Sentney Lofts at Second Ave and Popular Street.&nbsp;
She explains that it was like any normal day. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fmrshernandez3%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0aqpkHPwkFtJFq78SWTpf1v4AkhrpDGhD5aV8Wsou2FLsj4NKCiqNKK6HAdnhU8Gil&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="304" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>“Well, I mean, it's sort of just like any other day, normal,
average day. And then I get to the apartment building, go in, I go to the
mailboxes, and on, opening and closing them, and they're kind of noisy. They're
metal doors so and that's when I heard her say, is anybody there? Well, I
thought maybe she was talking on the phone, so I kind of played, you know, just
let it go and I'm continuing delivering” said Hernandez. Hernandez said that she went to the woman’s door and I asked
if she was okay.&nbsp; Hernandez added, “she said, No, I need help. Can you call
911, and I said, Can I come in? And she said, Yes. So luckily, Her door was
unlocked, so I went in, and I went around the corner, and she was laying on the
floor, and she told me that she fell, and she's been laying there for three
days because she didn't have anybody to help her.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743298709294.png" alt="Sentney Lofts (Google Map image) " />
 <figcaption>Sentney Lofts (Google Map image) </figcaption>
 </figure>Hernandez said that she didn’t move her, but she gave her
some water and placed a pillow under her head to make her comfortable and
called 911. She asked her why she didn’t holler. I asked her about stories of other delivery drivers finding
injured people, “Yeah, any, anybody that's out and about, DoorDash drivers,
UPS, FedEx, everybody you know. You just never know” Hernandez added. Hernandez said, “I had started to wonder, because she still
had three packages in her box that and she's, she's right by the mailboxes. So
I was like starting to wonder, but that was the day that I heard her yelling.”Hernandez said that at the end of the day she is just proud
to be delivering for America every day.&nbsp;

Letter Carrier helps rescue injured woman 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Suspected U.S. airstrikes pounded Yemen overnight into Saturday, reportedly killing at least one person as the American military acknowledged earlier bombing a major military site in the heart of Sanaa controlled by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi rebels</a>.

The full extent of the damage and possible casualties wasn’t immediately clear. The attacks followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/611420fcfcfe5649937e19b6c2a316e8">night of airstrikes early Friday</a>&nbsp;that appeared particularly intense compared to other days in the campaign that began March 15.

<a href="https://apnews.com/278d07bc5aad75bb32e57f99a78cbe88">An Associated Press review</a>&nbsp;has found the new American operation under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;appears&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3WJ-C2gpDA">more extensive</a>&nbsp;than those under former President Joe Biden, as the U.S. moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities.

Meanwhile, satellite photos analyzed by the AP show&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mysterious-air-base-volcanic-island-yemen-c8cb2018c07bb5b63e1a43ff706b007b">a mysterious airstrip just off Yemen</a>&nbsp;in a key maritime chokepoint now appears ready to accept flights and B-2 bombers within striking distance of the country Saturday.

New strikes come as US releases video of one bombing

The strikes into Saturday targeted multiple areas in Yemen under the control of the Iranian-backed Houthis, including the capital, Sanaa, and in the governorates of al-Jawf and Saada, rebel-controlled media reported. The strikes in Saada killed one person and wounded four others, the Houthi-run SABA news agency said.

SABA identified the person killed as a civilian. Houthi fighters and their allies often aren’t in uniform. However, analysts believe the rebels may be undercounting the fatalities given the strikes have been targeting military and intelligence sites run by the rebels. Many of the strikes haven't been fully acknowledged by the Houthis — or the U.S. military — while the rebels also tightly control access on the ground.

One strike early Friday, however, has been confirmed by the U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees its Mideast operations. It posted&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1905716545667617196/video/1">a black-and-white video</a>&nbsp;early Saturday showing an airstrike targeting a site in Yemen. While it didn't identify the location, an AP analysis of the footage's details corresponds to a known strike Friday in Sanaa. The footage shows the bomb striking the military's general command headquarters held by the Houthis, something the rebels have not reported.

The Houthi-controlled Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry in Sanaa separately said U.S. strikes Friday destroyed “broadcasting stations, communication towers and the messaging network” in Amran and Saada governorates. The strikes in Amran around the Jebel Aswad, or “Black Mountain,” had appeared particularly intense.

US campaign follows Houthi shipping threats

The new campaign of airstrikes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-us-strikes-iran-447f4abb39cc12c7f2f5596f0e33407b">which the Houthis now say have killed at least 58 people</a>, started after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-ship-attacks-0da6c2453fe2c4e5f81923c84c7d3f3a">the rebels threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships</a>&nbsp;again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels in the past have had a loose definition of what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be targeted as well.

The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sinking two vessels</a>&nbsp;and killing four sailors during their campaign targeting ships from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none have been hit so far.

The attacks greatly raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting any dissent and aid workers at home amid Yemen’s decadelong stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.

The Houthis have begun threatening both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two American allies in the region, over the U.S. strikes. That's even as the nations, which have sought a separate peace with the Houthis, have stayed out of the new U.S. airstrike campaign.

An AP analysis of satellite photos from Saturday shows the American military has moved at least four long-range stealth B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean — a base far outside of the range of the rebels that avoids using allies’ Mideast bases. Three had been earlier seen there this week.

That means a fourth of all the nuclear-capable B-2s that America has in its arsenal are now deployed to the base.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-airstrikes-yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-99721f7f952d66d6da27e24dc3c189c3">The Biden administration used the B-2 with conventional bombs</a>&nbsp;against Houthi targets last year.

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has launched attacks from the Red Sea and the American military plans to bring the carrier USS Carl Vinson from Asia as well.

Meanwhile, France said its sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, was in Djibouti, an East African nation on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The French have shot down Houthi drones in the past, but they are not part of the American campaign there.

Mysterious airstrip in Bab el-Mandeb appears ready

Satellite images Friday from Planet Labs PBC show an airstrip now appears ready on Mayun Island, a volcanic outcropping in the center of the Bab el-Mandeb. The images showed the airstrip had been painted with the designation markings “09” and “27” to the airstrip’s east and west respectively.

A Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis had acknowledged having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-middle-east-f32db56ac3bbd56b1425647e13c2d392">“equipment” on Mayun</a>, also known as Perim. However, air and sea traffic to Mayun has linked the construction to the UAE, which backs a secessionist force in Yemen known as the Southern Transitional Council.

World powers have recognized the island’s strategic location for hundreds of years, especially with the opening of the Suez Canal linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas.

The work on Mayun follows the completion of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-island-airstrip-houthis-israel-hamas-war-gaza-8f1e8b70ddff7ca25842509ca7f0f2b0">a similar airstrip likely constructed by the UAE on Abd al-Kuri Island</a>, which rises out of the Indian Ocean near the mouth of the Gulf of Aden.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Suspected U.S. airstrikes pounded Yemen overnight into Saturday, reportedly killing at least one person as the American military acknowledged earlier bombing a major military site in the heart of Sanaa controlled by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi rebels</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CENTCOM Forces Attack Houthi Positions...<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HouthisAreTerrorists?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HouthisAreTerrorists</a> <a href="https://t.co/6pOZhOmTp6">pic.twitter.com/6pOZhOmTp6</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1905716545667617196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The full extent of the damage and possible casualties wasn’t immediately clear. The attacks followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/611420fcfcfe5649937e19b6c2a316e8">night of airstrikes early Friday</a>&nbsp;that appeared particularly intense compared to other days in the campaign that began March 15.<a href="https://apnews.com/278d07bc5aad75bb32e57f99a78cbe88">An Associated Press review</a>&nbsp;has found the new American operation under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;appears&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3WJ-C2gpDA">more extensive</a>&nbsp;than those under former President Joe Biden, as the U.S. moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel as well as dropping bombs in cities.Meanwhile, satellite photos analyzed by the AP show&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mysterious-air-base-volcanic-island-yemen-c8cb2018c07bb5b63e1a43ff706b007b">a mysterious airstrip just off Yemen</a>&nbsp;in a key maritime chokepoint now appears ready to accept flights and B-2 bombers within striking distance of the country Saturday.<h2>New strikes come as US releases video of one bombing</h2>The strikes into Saturday targeted multiple areas in Yemen under the control of the Iranian-backed Houthis, including the capital, Sanaa, and in the governorates of al-Jawf and Saada, rebel-controlled media reported. The strikes in Saada killed one person and wounded four others, the Houthi-run SABA news agency said.SABA identified the person killed as a civilian. Houthi fighters and their allies often aren’t in uniform. However, analysts believe the rebels may be undercounting the fatalities given the strikes have been targeting military and intelligence sites run by the rebels. Many of the strikes haven't been fully acknowledged by the Houthis — or the U.S. military — while the rebels also tightly control access on the ground.One strike early Friday, however, has been confirmed by the U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees its Mideast operations. It posted&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1905716545667617196/video/1">a black-and-white video</a>&nbsp;early Saturday showing an airstrike targeting a site in Yemen. While it didn't identify the location, an AP analysis of the footage's details corresponds to a known strike Friday in Sanaa. The footage shows the bomb striking the military's general command headquarters held by the Houthis, something the rebels have not reported.The Houthi-controlled Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministry in Sanaa separately said U.S. strikes Friday destroyed “broadcasting stations, communication towers and the messaging network” in Amran and Saada governorates. The strikes in Amran around the Jebel Aswad, or “Black Mountain,” had appeared particularly intense.<h2>US campaign follows Houthi shipping threats</h2>The new campaign of airstrikes,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-us-strikes-iran-447f4abb39cc12c7f2f5596f0e33407b">which the Houthis now say have killed at least 58 people</a>, started after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-ship-attacks-0da6c2453fe2c4e5f81923c84c7d3f3a">the rebels threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships</a>&nbsp;again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels in the past have had a loose definition of what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning other vessels could be targeted as well.The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sinking two vessels</a>&nbsp;and killing four sailors during their campaign targeting ships from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships, though none have been hit so far.The attacks greatly raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting any dissent and aid workers at home amid Yemen’s decadelong stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.The Houthis have begun threatening both Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two American allies in the region, over the U.S. strikes. That's even as the nations, which have sought a separate peace with the Houthis, have stayed out of the new U.S. airstrike campaign.An AP analysis of satellite photos from Saturday shows the American military has moved at least four long-range stealth B-2 bombers to Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean — a base far outside of the range of the rebels that avoids using allies’ Mideast bases. Three had been earlier seen there this week.That means a fourth of all the nuclear-capable B-2s that America has in its arsenal are now deployed to the base.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-airstrikes-yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-99721f7f952d66d6da27e24dc3c189c3">The Biden administration used the B-2 with conventional bombs</a>&nbsp;against Houthi targets last year.The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman has launched attacks from the Red Sea and the American military plans to bring the carrier USS Carl Vinson from Asia as well.Meanwhile, France said its sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, was in Djibouti, an East African nation on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The French have shot down Houthi drones in the past, but they are not part of the American campaign there.<h2>Mysterious airstrip in Bab el-Mandeb appears ready</h2>Satellite images Friday from Planet Labs PBC show an airstrip now appears ready on Mayun Island, a volcanic outcropping in the center of the Bab el-Mandeb. The images showed the airstrip had been painted with the designation markings “09” and “27” to the airstrip’s east and west respectively.A Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis had acknowledged having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-middle-east-f32db56ac3bbd56b1425647e13c2d392">“equipment” on Mayun</a>, also known as Perim. However, air and sea traffic to Mayun has linked the construction to the UAE, which backs a secessionist force in Yemen known as the Southern Transitional Council.World powers have recognized the island’s strategic location for hundreds of years, especially with the opening of the Suez Canal linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas.The work on Mayun follows the completion of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-island-airstrip-houthis-israel-hamas-war-gaza-8f1e8b70ddff7ca25842509ca7f0f2b0">a similar airstrip likely constructed by the UAE on Abd al-Kuri Island</a>, which rises out of the Indian Ocean near the mouth of the Gulf of Aden.

New deadly US strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen

STAFFORD COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on multiple allegaions after a drug bust in Stafford County.

Just after 10a.m. Friday, the&nbsp;Stafford County Kansas Sheriff's Office initiated a search warrant at 117 N Spickard Avenue in Macksville, Kansas, according to a media release. Deputies took 47-year-old Jeremy Luce and 37-year-old Desiree Parks.

 During the search Law Enforcement recovered firearms, ammunition, explosives, crossbows, fentanyl, methamphetamine,&nbsp; marijuana, drug paraphernalia, electronic devices, 17 dogs, 3 pigs, 2 pythons, and a salamander from inside the home.

Deputies transported both to Barton County Jail. Luce is being held on a $200,000 bond on requested charges that include&nbsp; Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Felon in Possession of Firearm, Child Endangerment, Animal Abuse, Possession of Explosives, Identity Theft, Distribution of Stimulants within 1000 feet of a school and Possession of Marijuana

&nbsp;Parks is being held on a $150,000 bond on requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,&nbsp; Child Endangerment, Animal Abuse, Identity theft, Distribution of Stimulants within 1000 feet of a school and Possession of Marijuana.

Residents in Stafford County helped with the animals involved, according to the sheriff's office. In December, deputies in Osage County arrested Luce on drug distribution allegations, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

The entry and search in Macksville were conducted by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Macksville Police Department,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SJPDKS?__cft__[0]=AZXRSAIEIlnsyAlTaj1QJ5J0TIRnDR6CUk0hpUrBVvblU-kdYa0f_8T9hso438ogCBlvRpoGVghGLPnntl4xI3eSp64uFYBKXRSRUrNBVMCe7hsVpDse_K8IcWU_DltMaI6aSU0rOCDw-1T6wc1PPMjEvnuKfl39HHnxhRTWzdGKqxIfj7kdqtFEcCy5mHE6hm_V4X0hphEMrI8lpEki88U13-f0v38rN6DUdJeOQSt4XA&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">St. John, Kansas Police Department</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/StaffordKSPD?__cft__[0]=AZXRSAIEIlnsyAlTaj1QJ5J0TIRnDR6CUk0hpUrBVvblU-kdYa0f_8T9hso438ogCBlvRpoGVghGLPnntl4xI3eSp64uFYBKXRSRUrNBVMCe7hsVpDse_K8IcWU_DltMaI6aSU0rOCDw-1T6wc1PPMjEvnuKfl39HHnxhRTWzdGKqxIfj7kdqtFEcCy5mHE6hm_V4X0hphEMrI8lpEki88U13-f0v38rN6DUdJeOQSt4XA&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">Stafford Police Department</a>, Stafford K9 Unit, Kansas Highway Patrol, KHP K9 Unit, Kansas Wildlife &amp; Parks and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559058190464&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXRSAIEIlnsyAlTaj1QJ5J0TIRnDR6CUk0hpUrBVvblU-kdYa0f_8T9hso438ogCBlvRpoGVghGLPnntl4xI3eSp64uFYBKXRSRUrNBVMCe7hsVpDse_K8IcWU_DltMaI6aSU0rOCDw-1T6wc1PPMjEvnuKfl39HHnxhRTWzdGKqxIfj7kdqtFEcCy5mHE6hm_V4X0hphEMrI8lpEki88U13-f0v38rN6DUdJeOQSt4XA&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">Stafford County</a>&nbsp;Communications Tactical Unit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743263249357.png" alt="Parks photo Stafford Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Parks photo Stafford Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>STAFFORD COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on multiple allegaions after a drug bust in Stafford County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743263336306.png" alt="Luce photo Stafford Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Luce photo Stafford Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 10a.m. Friday, the&nbsp;Stafford County Kansas Sheriff's Office initiated a search warrant at 117 N Spickard Avenue in Macksville, Kansas, according to a media release. Deputies took 47-year-old Jeremy Luce and 37-year-old Desiree Parks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743263985474.png" alt="Photo Stafford Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Stafford Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure> During the search Law Enforcement recovered firearms, ammunition, explosives, crossbows, fentanyl, methamphetamine,&nbsp; marijuana, drug paraphernalia, electronic devices, 17 dogs, 3 pigs, 2 pythons, and a salamander from inside the home.Deputies transported both to Barton County Jail. Luce is being held on a $200,000 bond on requested charges that include&nbsp; Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia, Felon in Possession of Firearm, Child Endangerment, Animal Abuse, Possession of Explosives, Identity Theft, Distribution of Stimulants within 1000 feet of a school and Possession of Marijuana&nbsp;Parks is being held on a $150,000 bond on requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,&nbsp; Child Endangerment, Animal Abuse, Identity theft, Distribution of Stimulants within 1000 feet of a school and Possession of Marijuana.Residents in Stafford County helped with the animals involved, according to the sheriff's office. In December, deputies in Osage County arrested Luce on drug distribution allegations, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.The entry and search in Macksville were conducted by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Macksville Police Department,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SJPDKS?__cft__[0]=AZXRSAIEIlnsyAlTaj1QJ5J0TIRnDR6CUk0hpUrBVvblU-kdYa0f_8T9hso438ogCBlvRpoGVghGLPnntl4xI3eSp64uFYBKXRSRUrNBVMCe7hsVpDse_K8IcWU_DltMaI6aSU0rOCDw-1T6wc1PPMjEvnuKfl39HHnxhRTWzdGKqxIfj7kdqtFEcCy5mHE6hm_V4X0hphEMrI8lpEki88U13-f0v38rN6DUdJeOQSt4XA&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">St. John, Kansas Police Department</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/StaffordKSPD?__cft__[0]=AZXRSAIEIlnsyAlTaj1QJ5J0TIRnDR6CUk0hpUrBVvblU-kdYa0f_8T9hso438ogCBlvRpoGVghGLPnntl4xI3eSp64uFYBKXRSRUrNBVMCe7hsVpDse_K8IcWU_DltMaI6aSU0rOCDw-1T6wc1PPMjEvnuKfl39HHnxhRTWzdGKqxIfj7kdqtFEcCy5mHE6hm_V4X0hphEMrI8lpEki88U13-f0v38rN6DUdJeOQSt4XA&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">Stafford Police Department</a>, Stafford K9 Unit, Kansas Highway Patrol, KHP K9 Unit, Kansas Wildlife &amp; Parks and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559058190464&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXRSAIEIlnsyAlTaj1QJ5J0TIRnDR6CUk0hpUrBVvblU-kdYa0f_8T9hso438ogCBlvRpoGVghGLPnntl4xI3eSp64uFYBKXRSRUrNBVMCe7hsVpDse_K8IcWU_DltMaI6aSU0rOCDw-1T6wc1PPMjEvnuKfl39HHnxhRTWzdGKqxIfj7kdqtFEcCy5mHE6hm_V4X0hphEMrI8lpEki88U13-f0v38rN6DUdJeOQSt4XA&amp;__tn__=-]K-y-R">Stafford County</a>&nbsp;Communications Tactical Unit.

Deputies found explosives, fentanyl and pythons at Kansas home

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Saturday made his clearest commitment to not fire anyone over an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">embarrassing accidental leak</a>&nbsp;of his administration’s plans for an airstrike against the Houthis in Yemen.

“I don’t fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News' Kristen Welker.

<a href="https://mimoo.github.io/houthi_signal/">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;controversial text chat&nbsp;

He also said that he had confidence in Mike Waltz, his national security adviser, and Pete Hegseth, his Pentagon chief.

Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic magazine, to a group text using the Signal encrypted messaging service where top officials were discussing plans to attack the Houthis.

During the chat, Hegseth included details on how the strike would unfold before it took place.

Afterwards, The Atlantic published an article on the internal exchange, shocking the national security establishment.

Trump is eager to avoid repeating some of the turnover that characterized his first term. Mike Flynn, his first national security adviser, was pushed out after only a few weeks during the early phase of the Russia investigation. He’s also shown resistance to bowing to outside pressure, especially if it comes from the news media.

Asked if there were conversations about firing Waltz, Trump insisted, “I’ve never heard that. And nobody else makes that decision but me, and I’ve never heard it.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743296067182.png" alt="President Trump and Alexander Stub, President of Finland on the golf course Saturday- image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump and Alexander Stub, President of Finland on the golf course Saturday- image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Saturday made his clearest commitment to not fire anyone over an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">embarrassing accidental leak</a>&nbsp;of his administration’s plans for an airstrike against the Houthis in Yemen.“I don’t fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News' Kristen Welker.<a href="https://mimoo.github.io/houthi_signal/">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;controversial text chat&nbsp;He also said that he had confidence in Mike Waltz, his national security adviser, and Pete Hegseth, his Pentagon chief.Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic magazine, to a group text using the Signal encrypted messaging service where top officials were discussing plans to attack the Houthis.During the chat, Hegseth included details on how the strike would unfold before it took place.Afterwards, The Atlantic published an article on the internal exchange, shocking the national security establishment.Trump is eager to avoid repeating some of the turnover that characterized his first term. Mike Flynn, his first national security adviser, was pushed out after only a few weeks during the early phase of the Russia investigation. He’s also shown resistance to bowing to outside pressure, especially if it comes from the news media.Asked if there were conversations about firing Waltz, Trump insisted, “I’ve never heard that. And nobody else makes that decision but me, and I’ve never heard it.”

Trump says he won't 'fire people' over Signal group chat leak

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 3p.m. Saturday in Topeka.

The accident involving two motor vehicles occurred near SW 21st and SW College Avenue, according to Topeka Police  LT Kerry Connel. 

One person was transported to a local area hospital and pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation. Police did not release the name of the victim.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 3p.m. Saturday in Topeka.The accident involving two motor vehicles occurred near SW 21st and SW College Avenue, according to Topeka Police LT Kerry Connel. One person was transported to a local area hospital and pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation. Police did not release the name of the victim.

One dead after 2-vehicle Kansas crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.&nbsp;– The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in solving the 1988 murder of 19-year-old Michael J. Fowler. Fowler was found deceased in the early morning hours of Sept. 14, 1988, in the 9000 block of North Oliver Street in Wichita.

Fowler was discovered lying along the side of the road with multiple gunshot wounds. As part of the investigation, detectives determined that the last known person to see Fowler alive was Eddie Jason Coolinge, also known as Eddie Hale or Jason Hale.

Detectives also identified a mutual acquaintance, 19-year-old Daryl Weaver, who was associated with both Fowler and Hale. The three men were known to frequent parks in the Riverside area and the adult video store, Circle Cinema. They were also known to engage in social and intimate encounters within the local homosexual community. Their gatherings often took place in discreet locations with like-minded individuals seeking connection.

Both Hale and Weaver have since passed away—Hale in 2000 and Weaver in 2014. Despite extensive investigative efforts, Fowler’s murder remains unsolved.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is now asking for the public’s help. Anyone who knew Michael J. Fowler,&nbsp;<a>Eddie Jason Coolinge (aka Eddie Hale/Jason Hale</a>), or Daryl Weaver and may have information related to this case is urged to contact Detective Cody Rexroat or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743024508020.png" alt="Eddie Jason Coolinge&nbsp;aka Eddie Hale/Jason Hale" />
 <figcaption>Eddie Jason Coolinge&nbsp;aka Eddie Hale/Jason Hale</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.&nbsp;– The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in solving the 1988 murder of 19-year-old Michael J. Fowler. Fowler was found deceased in the early morning hours of Sept. 14, 1988, in the 9000 block of North Oliver Street in Wichita.Fowler was discovered lying along the side of the road with multiple gunshot wounds. As part of the investigation, detectives determined that the last known person to see Fowler alive was Eddie Jason Coolinge, also known as Eddie Hale or Jason Hale.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743024445425.png" alt="Michael Fowler" />
 <figcaption>Michael Fowler</figcaption>
 </figure>Detectives also identified a mutual acquaintance, 19-year-old Daryl Weaver, who was associated with both Fowler and Hale. The three men were known to frequent parks in the Riverside area and the adult video store, Circle Cinema. They were also known to engage in social and intimate encounters within the local homosexual community. Their gatherings often took place in discreet locations with like-minded individuals seeking connection.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743024624074.png" alt="Daryl Weaver" />
 <figcaption>Daryl Weaver</figcaption>
 </figure>Both Hale and Weaver have since passed away—Hale in 2000 and Weaver in 2014. Despite extensive investigative efforts, Fowler’s murder remains unsolved.The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is now asking for the public’s help. Anyone who knew Michael J. Fowler,&nbsp;<a>Eddie Jason Coolinge (aka Eddie Hale/Jason Hale</a>), or Daryl Weaver and may have information related to this case is urged to contact Detective Cody Rexroat or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.

Sheriff asks for help solving Kansas cold case killing

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alexa-st-john">ALEXA ST. JOHN</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;PAUL WISEMAN

DETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump’s 25% tax on imported cars, light trucks and auto parts is likely to drive up prices at a time when many Americans already struggle to afford a new set of wheels. The tariffs will also force car companies to rethink what cars they make and where they make them.

Trump has been itching to tax foreign autos for years. In his first term, he declared auto imports a threat to national security, which gave him the authority to impose tariffs on them. On Wednesday, he went ahead and imposed the levies. They take effect midnight April 3.

It’s the latest in a number of auto industry maneuvers by Trump during his first weeks back in the White House. Auto companies are also navigating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-trump-mpg-fuel-economy-standards-automakers-0ef9147a0c3874a50a194e439f604261">the reversal of fuel economy standards</a>, dialed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epa-zeldin-deregulation-plans-list-actions-5fb7fc1d24f54f193d585643c8fba79f">down greenhouse gas emission standards</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-trump-electric-vehicles-pollution-standards-ae3a35faa376630e494765175aee2c28">host of electric vehicle policy rollbacks</a>.

Some of the details of Trump’s auto tariffs have yet to be worked out.

For example, it’s unclear whether the new auto tariffs would stack on top of 25% import taxes set to be levied next week on all goods from Canada and Mexico. That would mean cars from Canada and Mexico could potentially face new tariffs of 50%.

And for now, the Trump administration is exempting from the tariffs cars, light trucks and auto parts that qualify for duty-free treatment under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a regional trade pact the president negotiated five years ago. Trump intends to narrow that exemption to content made in the United States, not Canada or Mexico. But that will require setting up processes to determine what qualifies as U.S.-made — something that could take weeks or months.

The White House also said the import tax would apply to “key’’ auto parts, including engines, transmissions, powertrain parts and electrical components. And it could expand the tariffs to other auto parts “if necessary.’’

Why are tariffs so challenging for the auto industry?

As automakers expanded globally, they created complicated and efficient supply chains that spanned countries. In North America, for instance, Mexico supplies low-wage labor and makes smaller, less expensive cars and trucks while Canada and the United States provide more skilled labor and technological know-how.

Trump’s tariffs are intended to bring auto manufacturing back to the United States. But it won’t be easy.

Rerouting the sourcing of thousands of parts that are imported to the U.S. and uprooting assembly operations would take years.

“It adds to the uncertainty facing all automakers as the industry’s supply chain is inherently global and has optimized around moving components across national borders where free trade agreements have existed in the past,” said John Paul MacDuffie, professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sam Fiorani, analyst at AutoForecast Solutions, notes that while European makers of luxury vehicles and their buyers can afford some price adjustments, “it’s the companies like Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru who import large percentages of their fleets that will take a beating.”

“Throwing tariffs on the parts of vehicles built in Mexico and Canada that aren’t sourced from the United States will hurt the profits of General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford over the next few quarters, costing them billions,” he added.

Trump’s tariffs — which he insists are permanent — will force companies to make hard choices.

“It’s going to have the effect of forcing companies to increase U.S. content’’ if they want to dodge the import taxes, said Richard Mojica, a trade attorney with Miller &amp; Chevalier.

And even though Vanessa Miller, chair of the automotive team at the law firm Foley &amp; Lardner, acknowledges that some companies will be able to pivot operations to the U.S., others are too tied to factories in Mexico or elsewhere to make the move anytime soon.

Automakers might have to stop making some vehicles because they won’t be profitable with the tariffs in place. The tariffs hit “everyone in a manner that makes them rethink everything,’’ said Ivan Drury of the automotive website Edmunds. “This is around at least three or four years. We’re not looking at something you can just ride out.’’

What does this mean for car buyers and new car prices?

Beata Caranci and Andrew Foran of TD Economics estimate that the tariffs could raise the average price of cars and light trucks in the United States — which totaled more than $47,000 last month — by up to $5,000 if automakers pass along the entire cost to consumers. That price hike could go higher – to as much as $10,000 – if the Trump administration applies the tax full to cars made in Mexico and Canada.

Automakers and their suppliers are only now recovering from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-business-prices-b920de128360fe95314907b0f04013ef">years of instability</a>&nbsp;brought on by pandemic-forced production halts, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prices-vehicle-sales-2371370d81e50f7521fe4cbec73e720d">sweeping semiconductor shortage</a>&nbsp;and low inventory on dealership lots. That meant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prices-inflation-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-c6f8a2a7cf916cbda0d5f112b1260997">prices were sky-high, incentives were low and few deals were to be had</a>.

During the peak of the pandemic, consumers still bought vehicles at high prices. But the piled-on tariffs could put new vehicles out of reach for many would-be buyers, especially given rising indications of potentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-inflation-bd6ece8784efff205e2ab922bcb86958">broader inflation ahead throughout the economy</a>.

“Starting almost immediately, consumers will see their already expensive new vehicles cost hundreds to thousands more and those prices will escalate even more when the supplies of many key vehicles dwindle,” Fiorani said. “Imagine the price rises during the semiconductor shortage and stretch it out across every brand and manufacturer. The trickle-down effect will put smaller suppliers out of business and send many workers onto unemployment.”

By raising new vehicle prices, tariffs will likely send buyers to the used market. But with limited used inventory, an influx of buyers could rock used car prices, too. And they already average $25,000.

Lease penetration, or the number of vehicle transactions that are leases, has averaged around 30% or so over the past 10 years, according to Edmunds data.

But the industry saw low rates of leasing — nearly half the norm — particularly between May 2022 and January 2023. Fewer leased vehicles typically means fewer two- or three-year-old vehicles being put on the used-car market.

So there is likely to be a shortage of used cars just as more buyers start shopping for them.

Governor Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents U.S. automakers, said that manufacturers supported Trump’s efforts to boost domestic auto manufacturing. But he cautioned that “it is critical that tariffs are implemented in a way that avoids raising prices for consumers and that preserves the competitiveness of the integrated North American automotive sector.

The United Auto Workers labor union applauded the tariffs. “Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with today’s actions,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement. “These tariffs are a major step in the right direction for autoworkers and blue-collar communities across the country, and it is now on the automakers, from the Big Three to Volkswagen and beyond, to bring back good union jobs to the U.S.”

But Jennifer Safavian, president and CEO of Autos Drive America, which represents international auto manufacturers, denounced the tariffs: “The tariffs imposed today will make it more expensive to produce and sell cars in the United States, ultimately leading to higher prices, fewer options for consumers, and fewer manufacturing jobs in the U.S.”

Wiseman reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Josh Boak contributed to this story.

Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/alexa_stjohn" target="_blank">@alexa_stjohn</a>. Reach her at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ast.john@ap.org" target="_blank">ast.john@ap.org</a>.

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/standards-for-working-with-outside-groups/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/discover/Supporting-AP" target="_blank">AP.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743182072104.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alexa-st-john">ALEXA ST. JOHN</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;PAUL WISEMANDETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump’s 25% tax on imported cars, light trucks and auto parts is likely to drive up prices at a time when many Americans already struggle to afford a new set of wheels. The tariffs will also force car companies to rethink what cars they make and where they make them.Trump has been itching to tax foreign autos for years. In his first term, he declared auto imports a threat to national security, which gave him the authority to impose tariffs on them. On Wednesday, he went ahead and imposed the levies. They take effect midnight April 3.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;What we&#39;re going to be doing is a 25% tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States... business is coming back to the United States so that they don&#39;t have to pay tariffs... This will continue to spur growth like you haven&#39;t seen before.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/GaMESdhpmE">pic.twitter.com/GaMESdhpmE</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1905008349961486825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It’s the latest in a number of auto industry maneuvers by Trump during his first weeks back in the White House. Auto companies are also navigating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-trump-mpg-fuel-economy-standards-automakers-0ef9147a0c3874a50a194e439f604261">the reversal of fuel economy standards</a>, dialed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epa-zeldin-deregulation-plans-list-actions-5fb7fc1d24f54f193d585643c8fba79f">down greenhouse gas emission standards</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-trump-electric-vehicles-pollution-standards-ae3a35faa376630e494765175aee2c28">host of electric vehicle policy rollbacks</a>.Some of the details of Trump’s auto tariffs have yet to be worked out.For example, it’s unclear whether the new auto tariffs would stack on top of 25% import taxes set to be levied next week on all goods from Canada and Mexico. That would mean cars from Canada and Mexico could potentially face new tariffs of 50%.And for now, the Trump administration is exempting from the tariffs cars, light trucks and auto parts that qualify for duty-free treatment under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a regional trade pact the president negotiated five years ago. Trump intends to narrow that exemption to content made in the United States, not Canada or Mexico. But that will require setting up processes to determine what qualifies as U.S.-made — something that could take weeks or months.The White House also said the import tax would apply to “key’’ auto parts, including engines, transmissions, powertrain parts and electrical components. And it could expand the tariffs to other auto parts “if necessary.’’Here’s what else to know:<h2>Why are tariffs so challenging for the auto industry?</h2>As automakers expanded globally, they created complicated and efficient supply chains that spanned countries. In North America, for instance, Mexico supplies low-wage labor and makes smaller, less expensive cars and trucks while Canada and the United States provide more skilled labor and technological know-how.Trump’s tariffs are intended to bring auto manufacturing back to the United States. But it won’t be easy.Rerouting the sourcing of thousands of parts that are imported to the U.S. and uprooting assembly operations would take years.“It adds to the uncertainty facing all automakers as the industry’s supply chain is inherently global and has optimized around moving components across national borders where free trade agreements have existed in the past,” said John Paul MacDuffie, professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania.Sam Fiorani, analyst at AutoForecast Solutions, notes that while European makers of luxury vehicles and their buyers can afford some price adjustments, “it’s the companies like Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru who import large percentages of their fleets that will take a beating.”“Throwing tariffs on the parts of vehicles built in Mexico and Canada that aren’t sourced from the United States will hurt the profits of General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford over the next few quarters, costing them billions,” he added.Trump’s tariffs — which he insists are permanent — will force companies to make hard choices.“It’s going to have the effect of forcing companies to increase U.S. content’’ if they want to dodge the import taxes, said Richard Mojica, a trade attorney with Miller &amp; Chevalier.And even though Vanessa Miller, chair of the automotive team at the law firm Foley &amp; Lardner, acknowledges that some companies will be able to pivot operations to the U.S., others are too tied to factories in Mexico or elsewhere to make the move anytime soon.Automakers might have to stop making some vehicles because they won’t be profitable with the tariffs in place. The tariffs hit “everyone in a manner that makes them rethink everything,’’ said Ivan Drury of the automotive website Edmunds. “This is around at least three or four years. We’re not looking at something you can just ride out.’’<h2>What does this mean for car buyers and new car prices?</h2>Beata Caranci and Andrew Foran of TD Economics estimate that the tariffs could raise the average price of cars and light trucks in the United States — which totaled more than $47,000 last month — by up to $5,000 if automakers pass along the entire cost to consumers. That price hike could go higher – to as much as $10,000 – if the Trump administration applies the tax full to cars made in Mexico and Canada.Automakers and their suppliers are only now recovering from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-business-prices-b920de128360fe95314907b0f04013ef">years of instability</a>&nbsp;brought on by pandemic-forced production halts, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prices-vehicle-sales-2371370d81e50f7521fe4cbec73e720d">sweeping semiconductor shortage</a>&nbsp;and low inventory on dealership lots. That meant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prices-inflation-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-c6f8a2a7cf916cbda0d5f112b1260997">prices were sky-high, incentives were low and few deals were to be had</a>.During the peak of the pandemic, consumers still bought vehicles at high prices. But the piled-on tariffs could put new vehicles out of reach for many would-be buyers, especially given rising indications of potentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-inflation-bd6ece8784efff205e2ab922bcb86958">broader inflation ahead throughout the economy</a>.“Starting almost immediately, consumers will see their already expensive new vehicles cost hundreds to thousands more and those prices will escalate even more when the supplies of many key vehicles dwindle,” Fiorani said. “Imagine the price rises during the semiconductor shortage and stretch it out across every brand and manufacturer. The trickle-down effect will put smaller suppliers out of business and send many workers onto unemployment.”<h2>What about used cars?</h2>By raising new vehicle prices, tariffs will likely send buyers to the used market. But with limited used inventory, an influx of buyers could rock used car prices, too. And they already average $25,000.Lease penetration, or the number of vehicle transactions that are leases, has averaged around 30% or so over the past 10 years, according to Edmunds data.But the industry saw low rates of leasing — nearly half the norm — particularly between May 2022 and January 2023. Fewer leased vehicles typically means fewer two- or three-year-old vehicles being put on the used-car market.So there is likely to be a shortage of used cars just as more buyers start shopping for them.<h2>How has the industry responded?</h2>Governor Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents U.S. automakers, said that manufacturers supported Trump’s efforts to boost domestic auto manufacturing. But he cautioned that “it is critical that tariffs are implemented in a way that avoids raising prices for consumers and that preserves the competitiveness of the integrated North American automotive sector.The United Auto Workers labor union applauded the tariffs. “Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with today’s actions,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement. “These tariffs are a major step in the right direction for autoworkers and blue-collar communities across the country, and it is now on the automakers, from the Big Three to Volkswagen and beyond, to bring back good union jobs to the U.S.”But Jennifer Safavian, president and CEO of Autos Drive America, which represents international auto manufacturers, denounced the tariffs: “The tariffs imposed today will make it more expensive to produce and sell cars in the United States, ultimately leading to higher prices, fewer options for consumers, and fewer manufacturing jobs in the U.S.”<h2>___</h2>Wiseman reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Josh Boak contributed to this story.<h2>___</h2>Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/alexa_stjohn" target="_blank">@alexa_stjohn</a>. Reach her at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ast.john@ap.org" target="_blank">ast.john@ap.org</a>.<h2>___</h2>The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/standards-for-working-with-outside-groups/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/discover/Supporting-AP" target="_blank">AP.org</a>.

Trump’s auto tariffs explained: What car buyers should know this year

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City.

Just before 4a.m. Saturday, police responded to the 4300 block of North Corrington regarding a follow up to a missing persons investigation, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

First respondes were directed to a motel room where they located a man and woman. Both were suffering from gun shot wounds and were pronounced deceased on scene.

This is being investigated as a double-homicide. Detectives are working to determine what led up to the incident, canvassing the area for witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage. Crime scene technicians are processing the scene for physical evidence.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743274559576.png" alt="Photo courtesy Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City.Just before 4a.m. Saturday, police responded to the 4300 block of North Corrington regarding a follow up to a missing persons investigation, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.First respondes were directed to a motel room where they located a man and woman. Both were suffering from gun shot wounds and were pronounced deceased on scene.This is being investigated as a double-homicide. Detectives are working to determine what led up to the incident, canvassing the area for witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage. Crime scene technicians are processing the scene for physical evidence.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

Double-homicide: Man and woman found dead in KC motel room

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s use of a popular messaging app to discuss sensitive military plans — with a journalist on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">the text chain</a>&nbsp;— is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-signal-yemen-atlantic-group-chat-31f3701b5c7254cda8297558c50cfd98">raising questions</a>&nbsp;about security and the importance of safeguarding the nation’s secrets.

It’s also highlighting the differences between classified and public information, and demonstrating that even encrypted apps like Signal can lead to embarrassing leaks if the humans doing the texting don’t follow basic security tips.

What’s the difference between ‘classified’ and ‘top secret’?

President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-signal-classified-information-308e7a81d70d6233c06a1f7330ae3004">administration says no classified material was leaked</a>&nbsp;when senior officials used Signal to discuss upcoming attack plans against the Houthi rebels in Yemen — even though a journalist was on the chat.

But even if the information had been declassified by the Pentagon, it contained details that would have been highly valuable to the Houthis or other adversaries, showing how sometimes the decision of what to classify is a judgment call.

The federal government routinely classifies vast amounts of information pertaining to military and intelligence operations. The material ranges from top secret nuclear programs or the identities of undercover agents all the way to mundane records that would be of little interest to anyone, let alone America’s adversaries. In 2011, for example, the CIA finally declassified its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/secret-writing-cias-oldest-classified-documents/" target="_blank">recipe for invisible ink</a>&nbsp;— from 1917.

Advocates for open government have long complained that the push for secrecy goes too far, by protecting information that could shine a light on government activities or matters of public interest, including about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ufos-uaps-congress-whistleblower-spy-aliens-ba8a8cfba353d7b9de29c3d906a69ba7">UFO sightings</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-files-trump-release-381cd547e10e4f41d27a8e020bb6a435">60-year-old presidential assassination</a>.

While the public typically calls any information withheld by the government “classified,” that term only refers to the three broad categories used to “classify” information based on the need for secrecy: confidential, secret and top secret.

While files marked “confidential” contain information that’s not meant to be released, the need for security or access restrictions isn’t as great as for material considered “top secret,” which includes the nation’s nuclear secrets and other material that, if released, could pose a grave danger to national security.

While the Pentagon hasn’t offered classification details about the information in the Signal chats, information about upcoming military strikes is typically tightly guarded to ensure adversaries don’t have advance warning that could jeopardize the mission or put American service members at risk.

The Pentagon closely guards even some publicly available information. Material categorized as “controlled unclassified information,” while not secret, is still considered sensitive enough that military service members are prohibited from discussing it on unsecured devices like personal phones.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were asked about that policy during a Senate hearing this week as they were grilled over the Signal chat. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona noted that Department of Defense policy “prohibits discussion of even what is called controlled unclassified information on unsecured devices,” and asked if Ratcliffe and Gabbard, who oversees the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies, were aware of that rule.

“I haven’t read that policy,” Gabbard said.

“I’m not familiar with the DOD policy,” Ratcliffe said.

Who decides to classify or declassify something?

The power to classify or declassify lies in the hands of top federal officials, including the president and Cabinet secretaries. For military information like the attack plans discussed over Signal, the power lies with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has faced demands that he resign over the leak.

The president’s ability to declassify information has been invoked when presidents have been accused of mishandling secrets. Trump ally Kash Patel, now the FBI director, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-8a51290da3e8f59c83edbfc2898f547d">said he witnessed Trump declassify material</a>&nbsp;that was taken after his first term to the president’s Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, but no evidence has emerged to support that claim.

The Pentagon hasn’t said whether Hegseth declassified the attack plans before or after the Signal conversation, but Ratcliffe, Gabbard and the White House have all said the chats contained no classified information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742932610024.png" alt="Members of President Trump's national security team during a hearing on Wednesday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Members of President Trump's national security team during a hearing on Wednesday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;DAVID KLEPPERWASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s use of a popular messaging app to discuss sensitive military plans — with a journalist on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">the text chain</a>&nbsp;— is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-signal-yemen-atlantic-group-chat-31f3701b5c7254cda8297558c50cfd98">raising questions</a>&nbsp;about security and the importance of safeguarding the nation’s secrets.It’s also highlighting the differences between classified and public information, and demonstrating that even encrypted apps like Signal can lead to embarrassing leaks if the humans doing the texting don’t follow basic security tips.<h2>What’s the difference between ‘classified’ and ‘top secret’?</h2>President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-signal-classified-information-308e7a81d70d6233c06a1f7330ae3004">administration says no classified material was leaked</a>&nbsp;when senior officials used Signal to discuss upcoming attack plans against the Houthi rebels in Yemen — even though a journalist was on the chat.But even if the information had been declassified by the Pentagon, it contained details that would have been highly valuable to the Houthis or other adversaries, showing how sometimes the decision of what to classify is a judgment call.The federal government routinely classifies vast amounts of information pertaining to military and intelligence operations. The material ranges from top secret nuclear programs or the identities of undercover agents all the way to mundane records that would be of little interest to anyone, let alone America’s adversaries. In 2011, for example, the CIA finally declassified its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/secret-writing-cias-oldest-classified-documents/" target="_blank">recipe for invisible ink</a>&nbsp;— from 1917.Advocates for open government have long complained that the push for secrecy goes too far, by protecting information that could shine a light on government activities or matters of public interest, including about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ufos-uaps-congress-whistleblower-spy-aliens-ba8a8cfba353d7b9de29c3d906a69ba7">UFO sightings</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-files-trump-release-381cd547e10e4f41d27a8e020bb6a435">60-year-old presidential assassination</a>.While the public typically calls any information withheld by the government “classified,” that term only refers to the three broad categories used to “classify” information based on the need for secrecy: confidential, secret and top secret.While files marked “confidential” contain information that’s not meant to be released, the need for security or access restrictions isn’t as great as for material considered “top secret,” which includes the nation’s nuclear secrets and other material that, if released, could pose a grave danger to national security.While the Pentagon hasn’t offered classification details about the information in the Signal chats, information about upcoming military strikes is typically tightly guarded to ensure adversaries don’t have advance warning that could jeopardize the mission or put American service members at risk.The Pentagon closely guards even some publicly available information. Material categorized as “controlled unclassified information,” while not secret, is still considered sensitive enough that military service members are prohibited from discussing it on unsecured devices like personal phones.Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were asked about that policy during a Senate hearing this week as they were grilled over the Signal chat. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona noted that Department of Defense policy “prohibits discussion of even what is called controlled unclassified information on unsecured devices,” and asked if Ratcliffe and Gabbard, who oversees the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies, were aware of that rule.“I haven’t read that policy,” Gabbard said.“I’m not familiar with the DOD policy,” Ratcliffe said.<h2>Who decides to classify or declassify something?</h2>The power to classify or declassify lies in the hands of top federal officials, including the president and Cabinet secretaries. For military information like the attack plans discussed over Signal, the power lies with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has faced demands that he resign over the leak.The president’s ability to declassify information has been invoked when presidents have been accused of mishandling secrets. Trump ally Kash Patel, now the FBI director, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-8a51290da3e8f59c83edbfc2898f547d">said he witnessed Trump declassify material</a>&nbsp;that was taken after his first term to the president’s Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, but no evidence has emerged to support that claim.The Pentagon hasn’t said whether Hegseth declassified the attack plans before or after the Signal conversation, but Ratcliffe, Gabbard and the White House have all said the chats contained no classified information.“I haven’t participated in any Signal group messaging that relates to any classified information at all,” Ratcliffe proclaimed at one point.That explanation has failed to satisfy Democrats who say that plans for imminent military strikes are regularly classified. National security experts agree. They say it would be highly unusual for the Pentagon to publicize such information and that any lower-level officer caught leaking such material on Signal would face serious repercussions.<h2>There’s secure, and then there’s secure enough for</h2><h2>classified secrets</h2>For many consumers, encrypted apps like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/signal-app-atlantic-war-plans-32699da142c5209b845e57f690df4925">Signal</a>&nbsp;can offer greater protections for everyday conversations. But that doesn’t mean they’re secure enough for government secrets, or immune to human error, as the inclusion of a reporter on the text chain shows.Senior federal officials who handle classified data receive extensive training about the need to use approved devices and platforms to discuss government secrets. Intelligence and national security agencies have whole departments devoted to cybersecurity and the protection of state secrets.Government cybersecurity officials have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/guidance-mobile-communications-best-practices.pdf" target="_blank">recommended</a>&nbsp;that federal employees use encrypted apps like Signal, which can offer greater security for routine communication, and Ratcliffe said this week it was a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-signal-yemen-atlantic-group-chat-4b09973f4df3711d5d5ff88e8f9f96e0">permissible</a>&nbsp;” app for senior officials to use. But the app is only as secure as the device it’s downloaded onto.The government’s most sensitive information is typically discussed in a facility known as a sensitive compartmented information facility, or SCIF, which is designed to allow officials to review or discuss secrets without fear of eavesdropping or cyber intrusion.Any senior official using a personal device to discuss classified material could be at risk of cyberespionage, said Michael Williams, an expert on international relations and national security at Syracuse University.“Signal may be encrypted, but it’s the devices that are really the issue,” Williams said. “All of these people are being targeted.”