WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-hunter-pardon-president-trump-e2d0ce366c6980cd31c6717edbc9938a">is weighing whether to issue sweeping</a>&nbsp;pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-enemies-from-within-5c4a34776469a55e71d3ba4d4e68cf62">targeted by President-elect Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;administration, a preemptive move that would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power.

The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But Biden himself has discussed the topic with some senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all.

Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don’t result in prosecutions.

While the president’s pardon power is absolute, Biden’s use in this fashion would mark a significant expansion of how they are deployed, and some Biden aides fear it could lay the groundwork for an even more drastic usage by Trump. They also worry that issuing pardons would feed into claims by Trump and his allies that the individuals committed acts that necessitated immunity.

Recipients could include infectious-disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was instrumental in combating the coronavirus pandemic and who has become a pariah to conservatives angry about mask mandates and vaccines. Others include witnesses in Trump’s criminal or civil trials and Biden administration officials who have drawn the ire of the incoming president and his allies.

Some fearful former officials have reached out to the Biden White House preemptively seeking some sort of protection from the future Trump administration, one of the people said.

It follows Biden’s decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-hunter-biden-pardon-son-9307d6bade834df77c265cae7d3b7c25">pardon his son Hunter</a>&nbsp;— not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations, but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared that Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses. That could serve as a model for other pardons Biden might issue to those who could find themselves in legal jeopardy under Trump.

Biden is not the first to consider such pardons — Trump aides considered them for him and his supporters involved in his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that culminated in a violent riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But he could be the first to issue them since Trump’s pardons never materialized before he left office nearly four years ago.

Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” in 1974 to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. He believed a potential trial would “cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States," as written in the pardon proclamation.

Politico was first to report that Biden was studying the use of preemptive pardons.

On the campaign trail, Trump made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him.

Trump has talked about&nbsp;<a href="https://enemies/">“enemies from within"</a>&nbsp;and circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-election-2024-gop-c584f9860260f48ddff90ab2dca0433a">zeroed in on former Rep. Liz Cheney,</a>&nbsp;a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris and helped investigate Jan. 6, and he promoted a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals for supposed treason.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-trump-patel-fisa-russia-2d215ded96ad8a08689b6f7f0b2d49ec">Kash Patel, whom Trump has announced</a>&nbsp;as his nominee to be director of the FBI, has listed dozens of former government officials he wanted to “come after.”

Richard Painter, a Trump critic who served as the top White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said he was reluctantly in support of having Biden issue sweeping pardons to people who could be targeted by Trump's administration. He said he hoped that would “clean the slate” for the incoming president and encourage him to focus on governing, not on punishing his political allies.

“It’s not an ideal situation at all,” Painter said. “We have a whole lot of bad options confronting us at this point.”

While the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immunity-supreme-court-capitol-riot-trial-72ec35de776315183e1db561257cb108">Supreme Court this year ruled that the president enjoys broad immunity</a>&nbsp;from prosecution for what could be considered official acts, his aides and allies enjoy no such shield. Some fear that Trump could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage his allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law.

“There could be blatant illegal conduct over the next four years, and he can go out and pardon his people before he leaves office,” Painter said. "But if he’s going to do that, he’s going to do that anyway regardless of what Biden does."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660730933829.png" alt="Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney" />
 <figcaption>Former Congresswoman Liz Cheney</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-hunter-pardon-president-trump-e2d0ce366c6980cd31c6717edbc9938a">is weighing whether to issue sweeping</a>&nbsp;pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-enemies-from-within-5c4a34776469a55e71d3ba4d4e68cf62">targeted by President-elect Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;administration, a preemptive move that would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power.The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But Biden himself has discussed the topic with some senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all.Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes – and usually those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for those who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. They fear that Trump and his allies, who have boasted of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for their targets even if they don’t result in prosecutions.While the president’s pardon power is absolute, Biden’s use in this fashion would mark a significant expansion of how they are deployed, and some Biden aides fear it could lay the groundwork for an even more drastic usage by Trump. They also worry that issuing pardons would feed into claims by Trump and his allies that the individuals committed acts that necessitated immunity.Recipients could include infectious-disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was instrumental in combating the coronavirus pandemic and who has become a pariah to conservatives angry about mask mandates and vaccines. Others include witnesses in Trump’s criminal or civil trials and Biden administration officials who have drawn the ire of the incoming president and his allies.Some fearful former officials have reached out to the Biden White House preemptively seeking some sort of protection from the future Trump administration, one of the people said.It follows Biden’s decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-hunter-biden-pardon-son-9307d6bade834df77c265cae7d3b7c25">pardon his son Hunter</a>&nbsp;— not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations, but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared that Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses. That could serve as a model for other pardons Biden might issue to those who could find themselves in legal jeopardy under Trump.Biden is not the first to consider such pardons — Trump aides considered them for him and his supporters involved in his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that culminated in a violent riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. But he could be the first to issue them since Trump’s pardons never materialized before he left office nearly four years ago.Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” in 1974 to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. He believed a potential trial would “cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States," as written in the pardon proclamation.Politico was first to report that Biden was studying the use of preemptive pardons.On the campaign trail, Trump made no secret of his desire to seek revenge on those who prosecuted him or crossed him.Trump has talked about&nbsp;<a href="https://enemies/">“enemies from within"</a>&nbsp;and circulated social media posts that call for the jailing of Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former Vice President Mike Pence and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. He also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-election-2024-gop-c584f9860260f48ddff90ab2dca0433a">zeroed in on former Rep. Liz Cheney,</a>&nbsp;a conservative Republican who campaigned for Harris and helped investigate Jan. 6, and he promoted a social media post that suggested he wanted military tribunals for supposed treason.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-trump-patel-fisa-russia-2d215ded96ad8a08689b6f7f0b2d49ec">Kash Patel, whom Trump has announced</a>&nbsp;as his nominee to be director of the FBI, has listed dozens of former government officials he wanted to “come after.”Richard Painter, a Trump critic who served as the top White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, said he was reluctantly in support of having Biden issue sweeping pardons to people who could be targeted by Trump's administration. He said he hoped that would “clean the slate” for the incoming president and encourage him to focus on governing, not on punishing his political allies.“It’s not an ideal situation at all,” Painter said. “We have a whole lot of bad options confronting us at this point.”While the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immunity-supreme-court-capitol-riot-trial-72ec35de776315183e1db561257cb108">Supreme Court this year ruled that the president enjoys broad immunity</a>&nbsp;from prosecution for what could be considered official acts, his aides and allies enjoy no such shield. Some fear that Trump could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage his allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law.“There could be blatant illegal conduct over the next four years, and he can go out and pardon his people before he leaves office,” Painter said. "But if he’s going to do that, he’s going to do that anyway regardless of what Biden does."

Biden weighs pre-emptive pardons for potential targets of Trump’s retribution

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

Just before 4a.m. Friday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire near 110th and N. Lewis, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 Crews reported heavy fire on arrival and initiated interior operations using two handlines. Searches of the structure came back all clear. The occupants were able to evacuate prior to KCFD arrival. No injuries were reported at this incident. 

Red Cross was ordered for 2 adults and 2 pets. Authorities have not released a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733505932292.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a house fire in Kansas City.Just before 4a.m. Friday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire near 110th and N. Lewis, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. Crews reported heavy fire on arrival and initiated interior operations using two handlines. Searches of the structure came back all clear. The occupants were able to evacuate prior to KCFD arrival. No injuries were reported at this incident. Red Cross was ordered for 2 adults and 2 pets. Authorities have not released a damage estimate.

2 adults, 2 pets escape house fire in Kansas City

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

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Planned Parenthood wanted to resume offering abortions in several Missouri clinics on Friday, immediately after a newly passed constitutional amendment rolling back the state’s near-total ban took effect, but they remain on hold as a complicated court battle drags on.

The issue is that the amendment does not specifically override any state laws. And even before the end of Roe v. Wade enabled Missouri's Republican-led legislature to approve a near-total ban, the state's numerous restrictions left the state with just one abortion clinic, in St. Louis.

Missouri’s Republican attorney general&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-fed343e84ce8e07c0f5d7bb32fda57e9">says</a>&nbsp;many of those old laws — like a 72-hour waiting period — should still be enforced despite the amendment; Planned Parenthood says they shouldn't.

Prosecutors are caught in the middle. They want a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of the old laws while attorneys argue about what to do.

But so far, Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang hasn't acted on that request.

“As of today, Missourians have an unrealized constitutional right,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Great Plains in a written statement. "They are entitled to access abortion under the state’s constitution, and every day they cannot get that care here at home, their rights are being violated.”

Here is what to know about the complicated legal battle and the state of abortion access:

Missouri was one of several states that moved to expand access

Missouri is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-harris-trump-florida-missouri-49c9073cbb6056b66a8a7d0d099795d1">five states</a>&nbsp;where voters approved ballot measures in November adding the right to an abortion to their state constitutions. Ultimately approved by almost 52% of voters, it guarantees people’s right to make decisions about their reproductive health, such as whether to get an abortion, take birth control or get in vitro fertilization.

While the amendment is widely understood to prevent the state from restricting abortions up to the point of viability, abortion-rights advocates must persuade judges to prevent old regulations from being enforced.

Reproductive rights activists are also suing to dismantle Arizona's 15-week abortion ban that conflicts with the fundamental right to abortion voters approved.

Maryland's new abortion rights amendment won't make an immediate difference, since the state already allows access to abortion. It's a similar situation in Montana, where abortion is already legal until viability. Colorado's measure enshrined already-existing access and also undoes an earlier amendment that prohibited state and local government funding for abortion, opening the possibility of state Medicaid and government employee insurance plans covering care.

From voting booths to a courtroom in Kansas City

The day after voters approved Missouri's amendment, the two Planned Parenthood branches asked a judge to find the state’s near-total ban and most of its other abortion regulations unenforceable.

Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey has already conceded that most abortions are now legal. He issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-fed343e84ce8e07c0f5d7bb32fda57e9">an opinion</a>&nbsp;last month, stating that he will not enforce Missouri’s ban on abortions before viability.

But his office is still fighting to keep a 72-hour waiting period before an abortion can be performed; bans on abortions based on race, sex or a possible Down syndrome diagnosis; and a requirement that medical facilities that provide abortions be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers, among other regulations.

The amendment leaves attorneys struggling with old laws

This patchwork of old laws is a big problem for abortion providers. They say those restrictions had effectively blocked abortions across most of the state even before Missouri enacted a law banning all abortions except in cases of medical emergency, minutes after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Roe was toppled.</a>

“We have already been living in a post-Roe world,” Dr. Iman Alsaden, the medical director of the Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said at the time.

But Missouri Solicitor General Josh Divine has defended these laws, arguing that most women regret their abortions and that the requirements are designed to give them the time to think through their decisions.

"What we are trying to do is create a situation where women can in fact make the choice they want to do and we know that most of the time that is childbirth,” Divine said after a court hearing Wednesday.

Wales, of Planned Parenthood, said Missourians showed at the ballot box that they value reproductive rights. And she expressed frustration with what she described as "an Attorney General’s office that has made clear it will fight tooth and nail to prevent Missourians from accessing their new constitutional right to reproductive freedom.”

Ballentine reported from Columbia, Missouri.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%20and%20SUMMER%20BALLENTINE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and SUMMER BALLENTINE Associated Press</a>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Planned Parenthood wanted to resume offering abortions in several Missouri clinics on Friday, immediately after a newly passed constitutional amendment rolling back the state’s near-total ban took effect, but they remain on hold as a complicated court battle drags on.The issue is that the amendment does not specifically override any state laws. And even before the end of Roe v. Wade enabled Missouri's Republican-led legislature to approve a near-total ban, the state's numerous restrictions left the state with just one abortion clinic, in St. Louis.Missouri’s Republican attorney general&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-fed343e84ce8e07c0f5d7bb32fda57e9">says</a>&nbsp;many of those old laws — like a 72-hour waiting period — should still be enforced despite the amendment; Planned Parenthood says they shouldn't.Prosecutors are caught in the middle. They want a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of the old laws while attorneys argue about what to do.But so far, Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang hasn't acted on that request.“As of today, Missourians have an unrealized constitutional right,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Great Plains in a written statement. "They are entitled to access abortion under the state’s constitution, and every day they cannot get that care here at home, their rights are being violated.”Here is what to know about the complicated legal battle and the state of abortion access:<h2>Missouri was one of several states that moved to expand access</h2>Missouri is one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ballot-measures-harris-trump-florida-missouri-49c9073cbb6056b66a8a7d0d099795d1">five states</a>&nbsp;where voters approved ballot measures in November adding the right to an abortion to their state constitutions. Ultimately approved by almost 52% of voters, it guarantees people’s right to make decisions about their reproductive health, such as whether to get an abortion, take birth control or get in vitro fertilization.While the amendment is widely understood to prevent the state from restricting abortions up to the point of viability, abortion-rights advocates must persuade judges to prevent old regulations from being enforced.Reproductive rights activists are also suing to dismantle Arizona's 15-week abortion ban that conflicts with the fundamental right to abortion voters approved.Maryland's new abortion rights amendment won't make an immediate difference, since the state already allows access to abortion. It's a similar situation in Montana, where abortion is already legal until viability. Colorado's measure enshrined already-existing access and also undoes an earlier amendment that prohibited state and local government funding for abortion, opening the possibility of state Medicaid and government employee insurance plans covering care.<h2>From voting booths to a courtroom in Kansas City</h2>The day after voters approved Missouri's amendment, the two Planned Parenthood branches asked a judge to find the state’s near-total ban and most of its other abortion regulations unenforceable.Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey has already conceded that most abortions are now legal. He issued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-ballot-fed343e84ce8e07c0f5d7bb32fda57e9">an opinion</a>&nbsp;last month, stating that he will not enforce Missouri’s ban on abortions before viability.But his office is still fighting to keep a 72-hour waiting period before an abortion can be performed; bans on abortions based on race, sex or a possible Down syndrome diagnosis; and a requirement that medical facilities that provide abortions be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers, among other regulations.<h2>The amendment leaves attorneys struggling with old laws</h2>This patchwork of old laws is a big problem for abortion providers. They say those restrictions had effectively blocked abortions across most of the state even before Missouri enacted a law banning all abortions except in cases of medical emergency, minutes after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Roe was toppled.</a>“We have already been living in a post-Roe world,” Dr. Iman Alsaden, the medical director of the Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said at the time.But Missouri Solicitor General Josh Divine has defended these laws, arguing that most women regret their abortions and that the requirements are designed to give them the time to think through their decisions."What we are trying to do is create a situation where women can in fact make the choice they want to do and we know that most of the time that is childbirth,” Divine said after a court hearing Wednesday.Wales, of Planned Parenthood, said Missourians showed at the ballot box that they value reproductive rights. And she expressed frustration with what she described as "an Attorney General’s office that has made clear it will fight tooth and nail to prevent Missourians from accessing their new constitutional right to reproductive freedom.”___Ballentine reported from Columbia, Missouri.

Access to abortion in Missouri still on hold; waiting for court ruling

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. government on Friday ordered testing of the nation's milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-kennedy-7950cb5eb3b642f0cc74c2d29254bedb">Raw or unpasteurized milk</a>&nbsp;from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16, the Agriculture Department said. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

Officials said the move is aimed at “containing and ultimately eliminating the virus," known as Type A H5N1, which was detected for the first time in March in U.S. dairy cows. Since then, more than 700 herds have been confirmed to be infected in 15 states.

“This will give farms and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.

The risk to people from bird flu remains low, health officials said. Pasteurization, or heat treatment, kills the virus in milk, leaving it safe to drink.

Veterinarians, farmers, scientists and academics have been calling for nationwide milk testing for months, said Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, who led the efforts.

“It's another step in the right direction,” Poulsen said. “They're coming around that we need a better handle on it.”

Dairy farmers and processors across the U.S. have been reluctant to test animals or milk for the virus, fearing economic or other repercussions. Jamie Jonker, chief science officer of the National Milk Producers Federation, said the industry supports USDA efforts to eliminate the virus.

Under the federal order, dairy farmers and those who handle raw milk intended for pasteurization must provide samples of the milk on request for testing for bird flu. It requires reporting of positive tests to the USDA and it requires herd owners to provide basic information to allow tracing of the disease in cattle.

The move follows an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-avian-influenza-h5n1-hpai-60ce37b87616995fee5ec7faead37dde">April 24 federal order</a>&nbsp;that mandated testing of certain dairy cattle before they could move between states and required reporting of any positive tests. Despite that order, the virus has continued to spread, Poulsen noted.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-kennedy-7950cb5eb3b642f0cc74c2d29254bedb">Raw milk</a>&nbsp;from infected cows contains high loads of live virus, testing has shown.

At least 58 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, mostly farm workers who became mildly ill after close contact with infected cows, including their milk, or infected poultry.

Bird flu has also been spreading among wild birds and a number of other animals.

Federal officials continue to warn against drinking raw milk, which can contain a host of germs that make people sick. In California,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-raw-farm-recall-5893b7b823efcaf4389b77fc01fb0c56">officials quarantined</a>&nbsp;a farm and halted distribution of milk after bird flu virus was detected in raw milk sold in stores. Raw Farm of Fresno issued a voluntary recall of raw milk and cream produced after Nov. 9.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722448527185.png" alt="File Photo courtesy of Iowa State Dairy Association" />
 <figcaption>File Photo courtesy of Iowa State Dairy Association</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. government on Friday ordered testing of the nation's milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-kennedy-7950cb5eb3b642f0cc74c2d29254bedb">Raw or unpasteurized milk</a>&nbsp;from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16, the Agriculture Department said. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania.Officials said the move is aimed at “containing and ultimately eliminating the virus," known as Type A H5N1, which was detected for the first time in March in U.S. dairy cows. Since then, more than 700 herds have been confirmed to be infected in 15 states.“This will give farms and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves, and it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement.The risk to people from bird flu remains low, health officials said. Pasteurization, or heat treatment, kills the virus in milk, leaving it safe to drink.Veterinarians, farmers, scientists and academics have been calling for nationwide milk testing for months, said Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, who led the efforts.“It's another step in the right direction,” Poulsen said. “They're coming around that we need a better handle on it.”Dairy farmers and processors across the U.S. have been reluctant to test animals or milk for the virus, fearing economic or other repercussions. Jamie Jonker, chief science officer of the National Milk Producers Federation, said the industry supports USDA efforts to eliminate the virus.Under the federal order, dairy farmers and those who handle raw milk intended for pasteurization must provide samples of the milk on request for testing for bird flu. It requires reporting of positive tests to the USDA and it requires herd owners to provide basic information to allow tracing of the disease in cattle.The move follows an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-avian-influenza-h5n1-hpai-60ce37b87616995fee5ec7faead37dde">April 24 federal order</a>&nbsp;that mandated testing of certain dairy cattle before they could move between states and required reporting of any positive tests. Despite that order, the virus has continued to spread, Poulsen noted.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-kennedy-7950cb5eb3b642f0cc74c2d29254bedb">Raw milk</a>&nbsp;from infected cows contains high loads of live virus, testing has shown.At least 58 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, mostly farm workers who became mildly ill after close contact with infected cows, including their milk, or infected poultry.Bird flu has also been spreading among wild birds and a number of other animals.Federal officials continue to warn against drinking raw milk, which can contain a host of germs that make people sick. In California,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-raw-farm-recall-5893b7b823efcaf4389b77fc01fb0c56">officials quarantined</a>&nbsp;a farm and halted distribution of milk after bird flu virus was detected in raw milk sold in stores. Raw Farm of Fresno issued a voluntary recall of raw milk and cream produced after Nov. 9.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;is coming to an end.

There is no simple way to encapsulate the effects of Swift’s decision to put on a 3 ½-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 different “eras” of her career — a feat she kicked off in March 2023 and will end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The tour shattered sales and attendance records and created such an economic boom that even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-ai-musk-unions-homes-taylor-swift-bfead409df9b22fc9b688a48efc1010f">the Federal Reserve took note.</a>

But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched fan-broadcasted livestreams on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy — a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her.

“Right now we have this special designated time to be together, talk about the show and hang out,” said Tess Bohne, a stay-at-home mom of three turned content creator dedicated to livestreaming Swift’s concerts — by attending herself or coordinating with others to highlight their streams. “For some, it’s their therapy.”

Bohne, who has earned the title among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-taylor-swift-cca0dec2b454d564fa52383101725bdc">the Swiftie community</a>&nbsp;as the “livestream queen,” says she often interacts with fans hosting parties to watch an Eras concert live at home with their closest friends. People have also made lasting friendships as they geek out together watching the show from afar.

Swift has long been known for leaving Easter eggs for her fans to pinpoint and decipher, a quirk that quickly took on a life of its own during the tour as eagle-eyed devotees began analyzing the possible meaning of her outfits, surprise songs and subtle lyric swaps. The buzz has been so large that multiple mobile apps were launched so fans could guess and track all the various changes. There’s even a game that gives out prizes for correctly predicting various particulars of a show, including what color guitar Swift uses while playing “Lover.”

“Imagine your favorite sports team,” Bohne said. “They’re still a team, but they’re not going to play any games for the foreseeable future. That’s going to leave a hole for some folks.”

Swift herself appeared to struggle that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-europe-eras-tour-fans-bcf8a207f06fd1f3e17a2f3f3b24dab5">the end was near</a>&nbsp;while performing at her 100th Eras show in June at Liverpool.

“This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is gonna end in December,” she said, stressing that “this tour has really become my entire life.” Late last month, in Toronto, she briefly broke down at the thought of the tour’s impending end.

Swift kicked off the Eras tour&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tour-eras-concert-setlist-37bfc86a4550b4aafed499fbabd6a417">in Glendale, Arizona,</a>&nbsp;the first of many sold-out stadiums as the tour progressed first in the U.S. and later into South America, Asia, the United Kingdom and Canada.

By the end of 2023, it had become the first tour to ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">gross over $1 billion</a>&nbsp;and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. She is likely to bring in over $2 billion by the time the tour wraps on Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar.

Throughout the tour, Swift was named&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">Time Magazine’s Person of the Year</a>. Apple Music named her its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-music-2023-top-songs-albums-59331f2813551a4e8369570acceece2f">artist of the year</a>&nbsp;and Spotify revealed she was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spotify-2023-music-taylor-swift-bad-bunny-376192a822c7b1d38387a0f3b17e963f">2023’s most streamed artist globally</a>. She dropped a box office-topping concert film and helped send NFL viewership skyrocketing when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-nfl-gen-z-be42bde423a35c8f4c34bd9a18327b07">she began dating</a>&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Toward the end of the tour, she released a coffee table book.

And if that wasn’t enough, she released re-recordings of her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tour-nashville-speak-now-f0000e9080f0e62724900c10c3fc3502">Nashville-era 2010 record, “Speak Now</a>&nbsp;” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-a4002b50f70b5899a846baf3e20de5ab">2014’s record “1989,”</a>&nbsp;as well as released her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-eras-tour-293d90acd670d6d19c294a0e6085829a">11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”</a>

“I think it’s perfect in these times to have somebody like Taylor to kind of give us distraction, give us inspiration, give us hope,” said Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a former concert promoter who has worked with Bruce Springsteen and others. “And this is a woman that owning it, she’s come a long way. And now she can talk about artist rights and women’s rights and equality. And really, just her work ethic is relentless.”

Even the word “era” has become ubiquitous, with fans and casual observers using the term to explain both frivolous and transformative phases — are you in your “villain era” or a “healing era”?

“I think this tour really solidified her position as a legend,” said Kayla Wong, an influencer who runs the popular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brazil-celebrity-stan-accounts-x-twitter-e3b0bb716f01f26b5d9a06655e1b1360">Swift-focused Instagram account</a>&nbsp;@headfirstfearless. “Whether or not you like her music, whether or not you think she’s talented, the numbers really speak for themselves. The tour broke so many records and was such a global phenomenon for so long that I think she’s achieved a level where it’s undeniable as to how everlasting her impact is.”

Yet the tour did experience its own dark moments. In Brazil last year, one concertgoer — 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides — passed out and later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/%C2%BD" target="_blank">died of heat exhaustion.</a>&nbsp;In July,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-stabbing-attack-southport-far-right-violence-a2e43d0d49776c138790d083713873f7">British police charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack</a>&nbsp;during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class that left three little girls dead. News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in London

And in August, all three of Swift’s concerts in Vienna were called off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the city.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-fans-austria-concerts-canceled-swifties-003644f97d8bd7064b3dfe0585704f6c">Tens of thousands of Swifties</a>&nbsp;from around the world had traveled to Vienna for the shows.

“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift later wrote in a statement. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.”

Through the hardships and celebrations, Swift’s connections to her fans has only ballooned and deepened throughout the tour. After the Vienna cancellations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-vienna-concerts-cancelled-a5290b3560e221bdd4a1b6108d31217e">many fans flocked to the streets</a>&nbsp;to sing Swift’s songs and placed friendship bracelets — which also became an iconic feature of the shows — on a nearby tree.

Over the past two years, the fandom has welcomed new audiences — both old and new.

“I feel like years ago, we were kind of all the same age and fans for the same reason,” Wong said of Swifties. “Now the fandom has people from all kinds of backgrounds, all ages, all different reasons for following her in the first place.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723064189320.png" alt="Taylor Swift's Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium&nbsp; -photo Kathryn Unruh" />
 <figcaption>Taylor Swift's Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium&nbsp; -photo Kathryn Unruh</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;KIMBERLEE KRUESIUNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;is coming to an end.There is no simple way to encapsulate the effects of Swift’s decision to put on a 3 ½-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 different “eras” of her career — a feat she kicked off in March 2023 and will end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The tour shattered sales and attendance records and created such an economic boom that even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-ai-musk-unions-homes-taylor-swift-bfead409df9b22fc9b688a48efc1010f">the Federal Reserve took note.</a>But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched fan-broadcasted livestreams on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy — a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her.“Right now we have this special designated time to be together, talk about the show and hang out,” said Tess Bohne, a stay-at-home mom of three turned content creator dedicated to livestreaming Swift’s concerts — by attending herself or coordinating with others to highlight their streams. “For some, it’s their therapy.”Bohne, who has earned the title among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-taylor-swift-cca0dec2b454d564fa52383101725bdc">the Swiftie community</a>&nbsp;as the “livestream queen,” says she often interacts with fans hosting parties to watch an Eras concert live at home with their closest friends. People have also made lasting friendships as they geek out together watching the show from afar.Swift has long been known for leaving Easter eggs for her fans to pinpoint and decipher, a quirk that quickly took on a life of its own during the tour as eagle-eyed devotees began analyzing the possible meaning of her outfits, surprise songs and subtle lyric swaps. The buzz has been so large that multiple mobile apps were launched so fans could guess and track all the various changes. There’s even a game that gives out prizes for correctly predicting various particulars of a show, including what color guitar Swift uses while playing “Lover.”“Imagine your favorite sports team,” Bohne said. “They’re still a team, but they’re not going to play any games for the foreseeable future. That’s going to leave a hole for some folks.”Swift herself appeared to struggle that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-europe-eras-tour-fans-bcf8a207f06fd1f3e17a2f3f3b24dab5">the end was near</a>&nbsp;while performing at her 100th Eras show in June at Liverpool.“This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is gonna end in December,” she said, stressing that “this tour has really become my entire life.” Late last month, in Toronto, she briefly broke down at the thought of the tour’s impending end.Swift kicked off the Eras tour&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tour-eras-concert-setlist-37bfc86a4550b4aafed499fbabd6a417">in Glendale, Arizona,</a>&nbsp;the first of many sold-out stadiums as the tour progressed first in the U.S. and later into South America, Asia, the United Kingdom and Canada.By the end of 2023, it had become the first tour to ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">gross over $1 billion</a>&nbsp;and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. She is likely to bring in over $2 billion by the time the tour wraps on Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar.Throughout the tour, Swift was named&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">Time Magazine’s Person of the Year</a>. Apple Music named her its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-music-2023-top-songs-albums-59331f2813551a4e8369570acceece2f">artist of the year</a>&nbsp;and Spotify revealed she was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spotify-2023-music-taylor-swift-bad-bunny-376192a822c7b1d38387a0f3b17e963f">2023’s most streamed artist globally</a>. She dropped a box office-topping concert film and helped send NFL viewership skyrocketing when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-nfl-gen-z-be42bde423a35c8f4c34bd9a18327b07">she began dating</a>&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Toward the end of the tour, she released a coffee table book.And if that wasn’t enough, she released re-recordings of her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tour-nashville-speak-now-f0000e9080f0e62724900c10c3fc3502">Nashville-era 2010 record, “Speak Now</a>&nbsp;” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-a4002b50f70b5899a846baf3e20de5ab">2014’s record “1989,”</a>&nbsp;as well as released her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-eras-tour-293d90acd670d6d19c294a0e6085829a">11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”</a>“I think it’s perfect in these times to have somebody like Taylor to kind of give us distraction, give us inspiration, give us hope,” said Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a former concert promoter who has worked with Bruce Springsteen and others. “And this is a woman that owning it, she’s come a long way. And now she can talk about artist rights and women’s rights and equality. And really, just her work ethic is relentless.”Even the word “era” has become ubiquitous, with fans and casual observers using the term to explain both frivolous and transformative phases — are you in your “villain era” or a “healing era”?“I think this tour really solidified her position as a legend,” said Kayla Wong, an influencer who runs the popular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brazil-celebrity-stan-accounts-x-twitter-e3b0bb716f01f26b5d9a06655e1b1360">Swift-focused Instagram account</a>&nbsp;@headfirstfearless. “Whether or not you like her music, whether or not you think she’s talented, the numbers really speak for themselves. The tour broke so many records and was such a global phenomenon for so long that I think she’s achieved a level where it’s undeniable as to how everlasting her impact is.”Yet the tour did experience its own dark moments. In Brazil last year, one concertgoer — 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides — passed out and later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/%C2%BD" target="_blank">died of heat exhaustion.</a>&nbsp;In July,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-stabbing-attack-southport-far-right-violence-a2e43d0d49776c138790d083713873f7">British police charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack</a>&nbsp;during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class that left three little girls dead. News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in LondonAnd in August, all three of Swift’s concerts in Vienna were called off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the city.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-fans-austria-concerts-canceled-swifties-003644f97d8bd7064b3dfe0585704f6c">Tens of thousands of Swifties</a>&nbsp;from around the world had traveled to Vienna for the shows.“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift later wrote in a statement. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.”Through the hardships and celebrations, Swift’s connections to her fans has only ballooned and deepened throughout the tour. After the Vienna cancellations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-vienna-concerts-cancelled-a5290b3560e221bdd4a1b6108d31217e">many fans flocked to the streets</a>&nbsp;to sing Swift’s songs and placed friendship bracelets — which also became an iconic feature of the shows — on a nearby tree.Over the past two years, the fandom has welcomed new audiences — both old and new.“I feel like years ago, we were kind of all the same age and fans for the same reason,” Wong said of Swifties. “Now the fandom has people from all kinds of backgrounds, all ages, all different reasons for following her in the first place.”

Final weekend: End of Eras tour bittersweet for Taylor Swift fans

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at an apartment complex under construct in Olathe.

Just after 4a.m. fire crews from Olathe, Lenexa and the city of Shawnee responded to the fire at 275 S Parker, according to a social media report from the Olathe Fire Department.&nbsp;When the call came in, fire was seen from over four miles away.

The was a partial building collapse.&nbsp;It took around two hours to get the fire under control. Firefighters wore working on the hot spots. There were injuries reported.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733487921624.png" alt="Photos Olathe Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Olathe Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at an apartment complex under construct in Olathe.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733500334457.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 4a.m. fire crews from Olathe, Lenexa and the city of Shawnee responded to the fire at 275 S Parker, according to a social media report from the Olathe Fire Department.&nbsp;When the call came in, fire was seen from over four miles away.The was a partial building collapse.&nbsp;It took around two hours to get the fire under control. Firefighters wore working on the hot spots. There were injuries reported.&nbsp;

Kan. apartment building fire observed from miles away

WASHINGTON (AP) —A &nbsp;federal appeals court panel on Friday upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment.

“The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court's opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.”

TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term and whose Justice Department would have to enforce the law, said during the presidential campaign that he is now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-congress-president-282d8df7b91dce270316509badd39978">against a TikTok ban</a>&nbsp;and would work to “save” the social media platform.

Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-when-bytedance-china-9bb5407c93b2ab99548db17b95dc2259">heard oral arguments</a>&nbsp;in September. The three judges all denied TikTok's petition. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued a concurring opinion.

The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-timeline-ban-biden-india-d3219a32de913f8083612e71ecf1f428">years-long saga in Washington</a>&nbsp;over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-shou-zi-chew-8d8a6a9694357040d484670b7f4833be">sees as a national security threat</a>&nbsp;due to its connections to China.

The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-censorship-us-data-240e11d9bb6212b0c9b1adab821e5005">sensitive information on viewing habits</a>, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect — a concern&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/romania-tiktok-elections-european-union-4b5e5c544a1d20da838e7502d46bc8f7">mirrored by the European Union</a>&nbsp;on Friday as it scrutinizes the video-sharing app’s role in the Romanian elections.

However, a significant portion of the government’s information in the case has been redacted and hidden from the public as well as the two companies.

TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government.

After the September hearing, some legal experts had said it was challenging to read the tea leaves on how the three judges would rule.

In a court hearing that lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform.

The judges pressed Daniel Tenny, a Department of Justice attorney, on the implications the case could have on the First Amendment. But they also expressed some skepticism at TikTok’s arguments, challenging the company’s attorney - Andrew Pincus - on whether any First Amendment rights preclude the government from curtailing a powerful company subject to the laws and influence of a foreign adversary.

In parts of their questions about TikTok’s ownership, the judges cited wartime precedent that allows the U.S. to restrict foreign ownership of broadcast licenses and asked if the arguments presented by TikTok would apply if the U.S. was engaged in war.

To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data.

The company also argues the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-lawsuit-ban-5fc3bb029141b314c1f9d54b2ea47e61">draft agreement it provided</a>&nbsp;the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient.

Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm - the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan - would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content.

Still, some investors, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-mnuchin-house-senate-ffdf37776e63a09bb6966d741df7093b">Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin</a>&nbsp;and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business.

This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital.

TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators - for which the company is covering legal costs - as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc.

If TikTok appeals and the courts continue to uphold the law, it would fall on Trump’s Justice Department to enforce it and punish any potential violations with fines. The penalties would apply to app stores that would be prohibited from offering TikTok, and internet hosting services that would be barred from supporting it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710340628892.png" alt="Image Kansas 2nd District Congressman Jake LaTurner" />
 <figcaption>Image Kansas 2nd District Congressman Jake LaTurner</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —A &nbsp;federal appeals court panel on Friday upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in a few short months, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied TikTok's petition to overturn the law — which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — and rebuffed the company's challenge of the statute, which it argued had ran afoul of the First Amendment.“The First Amendment exists to protect free speech in the United States,” said the court's opinion, which was written by Judge Douglas Ginsburg. “Here the Government acted solely to protect that freedom from a foreign adversary nation and to limit that adversary’s ability to gather data on people in the United States.”TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump, who tried to ban TikTok during his first term and whose Justice Department would have to enforce the law, said during the presidential campaign that he is now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-congress-president-282d8df7b91dce270316509badd39978">against a TikTok ban</a>&nbsp;and would work to “save” the social media platform.Friday’s ruling came after the appeals court panel, composed of two Republican and one Democrat appointed judges,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-when-bytedance-china-9bb5407c93b2ab99548db17b95dc2259">heard oral arguments</a>&nbsp;in September. The three judges all denied TikTok's petition. Judge Sri Srinivasan, the chief judge on the court who was appointed by former President Barack Obama, issued a concurring opinion.The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was the culmination of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-timeline-ban-biden-india-d3219a32de913f8083612e71ecf1f428">years-long saga in Washington</a>&nbsp;over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-shou-zi-chew-8d8a6a9694357040d484670b7f4833be">sees as a national security threat</a>&nbsp;due to its connections to China.The U.S. has said it’s concerned about TikTok collecting vast swaths of user data, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-censorship-us-data-240e11d9bb6212b0c9b1adab821e5005">sensitive information on viewing habits</a>, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Officials have also warned the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect — a concern&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/romania-tiktok-elections-european-union-4b5e5c544a1d20da838e7502d46bc8f7">mirrored by the European Union</a>&nbsp;on Friday as it scrutinizes the video-sharing app’s role in the Romanian elections.However, a significant portion of the government’s information in the case has been redacted and hidden from the public as well as the two companies.TikTok, which sued the government over the law in May, has long denied it could be used by Beijing to spy on or manipulate Americans. Its attorneys have accurately pointed out that the U.S. hasn’t provided evidence to show that the company handed over user data to the Chinese government, or manipulated content for Beijing’s benefit in the U.S. They have also argued the law is predicated on future risks, which the Department of Justice has emphasized pointing in part to unspecified action it claims the two companies have taken in the past due to demands from the Chinese government.After the September hearing, some legal experts had said it was challenging to read the tea leaves on how the three judges would rule.In a court hearing that lasted more than two hours, the panel appeared to grapple with how TikTok’s foreign ownership affects its rights under the Constitution and how far the government could go to curtail potential influence from abroad on a foreign-owned platform.The judges pressed Daniel Tenny, a Department of Justice attorney, on the implications the case could have on the First Amendment. But they also expressed some skepticism at TikTok’s arguments, challenging the company’s attorney - Andrew Pincus - on whether any First Amendment rights preclude the government from curtailing a powerful company subject to the laws and influence of a foreign adversary.In parts of their questions about TikTok’s ownership, the judges cited wartime precedent that allows the U.S. to restrict foreign ownership of broadcast licenses and asked if the arguments presented by TikTok would apply if the U.S. was engaged in war.To assuage concerns about the company’s owners, TikTok says it has invested more than $2 billion to bolster protections around U.S. user data.The company also argues the government’s broader concerns could have been resolved in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-lawsuit-ban-5fc3bb029141b314c1f9d54b2ea47e61">draft agreement it provided</a>&nbsp;the Biden administration more than two years ago during talks between the two sides. It has blamed the government for walking away from further negotiations on the agreement, which the Justice Department argues is insufficient.Attorneys for the two companies have claimed it’s impossible to divest the platform commercially and technologically. They also say any sale of TikTok without the coveted algorithm - the platform’s secret sauce that Chinese authorities would likely block under any divesture plan - would turn the U.S. version of TikTok into an island disconnected from other global content.Still, some investors, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-mnuchin-house-senate-ffdf37776e63a09bb6966d741df7093b">Trump’s former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin</a>&nbsp;and billionaire Frank McCourt, have expressed interest in purchasing the platform. Both men said earlier this year that they were launching a consortium to purchase TikTok’s U.S. business.This week, a spokesperson for McCourt’s Project Liberty initiative, which aims to protect online privacy, said unnamed participants in their bid have made informal commitments of more than $20 billion in capital.TikTok’s lawsuit was consolidated with a second legal challenge brought by several content creators - for which the company is covering legal costs - as well as a third one filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc.If TikTok appeals and the courts continue to uphold the law, it would fall on Trump’s Justice Department to enforce it and punish any potential violations with fines. The penalties would apply to app stores that would be prohibited from offering TikTok, and internet hosting services that would be barred from supporting it.

Court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the U.S.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.

Just after 5p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 8700 block of Blue Ridge Boulevard, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders immediately began to canvas for a victim. There were several people in the area summoning officers to a nearby vehicle, where an adult male victim was reportedly shot. 

Officers located the victim unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded shortly after and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene.

Police do not have a person of interest identified or anyone in custody at this time.

Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to collect any evidence and gather witness statements. Detectives are working to determine what led up to the shooting. The name of the victim has not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733484217063.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just after 5p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 8700 block of Blue Ridge Boulevard, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.First responders immediately began to canvas for a victim. There were several people in the area summoning officers to a nearby vehicle, where an adult male victim was reportedly shot. Officers located the victim unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded shortly after and pronounced the victim deceased at the scene.Police do not have a person of interest identified or anyone in custody at this time.Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to collect any evidence and gather witness statements. Detectives are working to determine what led up to the shooting. The name of the victim has not been released.

KCPD: Man found with gunshot wound in vehicle

GREENVALE, N.Y. (AP) — Not yet even in office,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Thursday he's already accomplished more than President Joe Biden did in his entire term, an outsized claim by the president-elect just a month out from the election.

Trump, who has been largely ensconced at his Mar-a-Lago club in recent weeks as he's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transition-peter-navarro-nasa-isaacman-2566b318a1f82ad17d8d1abf17e9d218">worked to staff</a>&nbsp;his new administration, made the comment as he ventured to New York's Long Island to be honored as part of Fox Nation’s annual&nbsp;<a href="https://nation.foxnews.com/fox-nation-patriot-awards-2024/">Patriot Awards</a>&nbsp;on Fox's streaming platform.

“I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you have in the last four years,” Trump told the crowd at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts.

“It was a tremendous day, a tremendous night,” he said, recalling his election victory in a 10-minute acceptance speech that sounded like a highlight reel of his campaign rally speeches. It came complete with a live performance of “God Bless the USA” by the singer Lee Greenwood, calls to “get the criminals out of our country” and an embrace of all-paper election ballots and mandatory voter ID.

Trump also pointed to the conversations he's had with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-claudia-sheinbaum-woman-president-aa24527fc05dafa9e30b28e4bb40ccbd">Claudia Sheinbaum</a>&nbsp;since he threatened two of the country's top trading partners with a 25% tariff on all imported goods unless they do more to tackle illegal border crossings and drug flows.

“Justin came flying right in,” Trump said in reference to Trudeau's trip to Mar-a-Lago. That prompted some in the audience to chant “51!” — a nod to Trump apparently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-trump-tariffs-trudeau-trade-opposition-border-5d3dbbb4a701bb1676ee588bfbf2396a">joking at his dinner with Trudeau</a>&nbsp;that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state.

The annual awards “honor and recognize America’s finest patriots, including military veterans, first responders and other inspirational everyday heroes,” according to Fox. The event was hosted by Fox host Sean Hannity, a longtime Trump friend who stepped in after the president-elect nominated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">Pete Hegseth</a>, the original host, as defense secretary.

Among those recognized Thursday night were conservative actor and evangelist Kirk Cameron; Gen. Dick Cody, who used his own helicopter to deliver supplies to people after Hurricane Helene; and Jonathan Diller,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nypd-officer-diller-funeral-20b4a15045757b0e479fe33598359348">the New York Police Department officer who was killed during a traffic stop</a>&nbsp;in Queens. His widow, Stephanie, received a standing ovation and thanked Trump for his support. Others invoked Trump as well.

The ceremony also honored Paws of War, an organization that provides service dogs to veterans and helps those serving overseas bring animals they meet in war zones to the U.S.

The heartfelt moments were juxtaposed against the kind of boisterous and incendiary political fare that loyal watchers of Fox hosts like Hannity expect.

The anchor used his introduction to take an election victory lap, boasting that Democrats “got their ass kicked." He played “YMCA” — the song Trump has long used to close out his rallies — and invited audience members to dance like the president-elect. And he offered a series of impressions, mimicking former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s enthusiasm and Biden appearing lost, complete with a backdrop of the rainforest where he spoke during a recent trip to the Amazon.

Later, he donned an orange safety vest — a nod to the one Trump wore when he delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-garbage-truck-wisconsin-1b9b2882b59639ba0dc898b0b45e395b">a press conference from a garbage truck</a>&nbsp;during the campaign after Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-election-2024-c7d5aadbe44e51012f6fcfde374fdcc5">suggested Trump’s supporters were garbage</a>.

Trump's award marks the culmination of Fox's reembrace of the president-elect, who has had an up-and-down relationship with the network in recent years.

Fox&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe">paid $787 million</a>&nbsp;in 2023 to settle a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems over false claims by Fox personalities who echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">Trump's lies that the 2020 election was stolen</a>&nbsp;from him through mass voter fraud. For more than six months ending in spring 2023, Fox had what many considered a “soft ban” on Trump appearances, with its leaders looking to move on. But when it became clear that voters did not want to, Fox and its personalities were quick to embrace Trump again.

Individual personalities have undergone their own journeys: Former Fox host Megyn Kelly drew Trump’s ire in a 2015 debate for her sharp question about his treatment of women;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-megyn-kelly-rally-closing-message-11f88728b4ee24f8bfed59e68200805b">now she’s a popular podcast host</a>&nbsp;and Trump supporter. The Dominion lawsuit uncovered emails in which former Fox host Tucker Carlson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tucker-carlson-fox-news-murdoch-capitol-attack-96c305cf4046aaf373130876940fd06e">spoke disparagingly</a>&nbsp;of Trump, including saying he “truly can’t wait” for Trump to become an ex-president. They’ve since made amends.

Through it all, Trump has been quick to take to social media to criticize Fox for content he deems insufficiently loyal.

“You have incredible people at Fox," he said before quipping, “A couple I don’t like."

Trump has begun to emerge more in public since spending most of his transition so far&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-election-week-transition-maralago-bee52b9b3a06c12741d9db2e2fc7bb78">behind closed doors</a>&nbsp;at his club in Palm Beach, Florida. This week, he made an unannounced appearance at a memorial service for three Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were killed in a car crash last month.

This weekend, he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-paris-notre-dame-macron-32d9086e3d2f21ae871f5bb1120929be">travel to Paris</a>&nbsp;to join other world leaders and dignitaries for a ceremony to celebrate the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-cathedral-reopens-ceremony-security-fire-efc740d20cf91f5ba1eabf45eecfe8ad">reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral</a>, which was devastated by a fire five years ago.

AP Media Writer David Bauder contributed to this report.

GREENVALE, N.Y. (AP) — Not yet even in office,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Thursday he's already accomplished more than President Joe Biden did in his entire term, an outsized claim by the president-elect just a month out from the election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> receiving the Patriot of the Year Award 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/aFAFLo4vh1">pic.twitter.com/aFAFLo4vh1</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margomartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margomartin/status/1864877246944567419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump, who has been largely ensconced at his Mar-a-Lago club in recent weeks as he's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transition-peter-navarro-nasa-isaacman-2566b318a1f82ad17d8d1abf17e9d218">worked to staff</a>&nbsp;his new administration, made the comment as he ventured to New York's Long Island to be honored as part of Fox Nation’s annual&nbsp;<a href="https://nation.foxnews.com/fox-nation-patriot-awards-2024/">Patriot Awards</a>&nbsp;on Fox's streaming platform.“I think you have seen more happen in the last two weeks than you have in the last four years,” Trump told the crowd at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts.“It was a tremendous day, a tremendous night,” he said, recalling his election victory in a 10-minute acceptance speech that sounded like a highlight reel of his campaign rally speeches. It came complete with a live performance of “God Bless the USA” by the singer Lee Greenwood, calls to “get the criminals out of our country” and an embrace of all-paper election ballots and mandatory voter ID.Trump also pointed to the conversations he's had with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-claudia-sheinbaum-woman-president-aa24527fc05dafa9e30b28e4bb40ccbd">Claudia Sheinbaum</a>&nbsp;since he threatened two of the country's top trading partners with a 25% tariff on all imported goods unless they do more to tackle illegal border crossings and drug flows.“Justin came flying right in,” Trump said in reference to Trudeau's trip to Mar-a-Lago. That prompted some in the audience to chant “51!” — a nod to Trump apparently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-trump-tariffs-trudeau-trade-opposition-border-5d3dbbb4a701bb1676ee588bfbf2396a">joking at his dinner with Trudeau</a>&nbsp;that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state.The annual awards “honor and recognize America’s finest patriots, including military veterans, first responders and other inspirational everyday heroes,” according to Fox. The event was hosted by Fox host Sean Hannity, a longtime Trump friend who stepped in after the president-elect nominated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">Pete Hegseth</a>, the original host, as defense secretary.Among those recognized Thursday night were conservative actor and evangelist Kirk Cameron; Gen. Dick Cody, who used his own helicopter to deliver supplies to people after Hurricane Helene; and Jonathan Diller,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nypd-officer-diller-funeral-20b4a15045757b0e479fe33598359348">the New York Police Department officer who was killed during a traffic stop</a>&nbsp;in Queens. His widow, Stephanie, received a standing ovation and thanked Trump for his support. Others invoked Trump as well.The ceremony also honored Paws of War, an organization that provides service dogs to veterans and helps those serving overseas bring animals they meet in war zones to the U.S.The heartfelt moments were juxtaposed against the kind of boisterous and incendiary political fare that loyal watchers of Fox hosts like Hannity expect.The anchor used his introduction to take an election victory lap, boasting that Democrats “got their ass kicked." He played “YMCA” — the song Trump has long used to close out his rallies — and invited audience members to dance like the president-elect. And he offered a series of impressions, mimicking former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s enthusiasm and Biden appearing lost, complete with a backdrop of the rainforest where he spoke during a recent trip to the Amazon.Later, he donned an orange safety vest — a nod to the one Trump wore when he delivered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-garbage-truck-wisconsin-1b9b2882b59639ba0dc898b0b45e395b">a press conference from a garbage truck</a>&nbsp;during the campaign after Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-election-2024-c7d5aadbe44e51012f6fcfde374fdcc5">suggested Trump’s supporters were garbage</a>.Trump's award marks the culmination of Fox's reembrace of the president-elect, who has had an up-and-down relationship with the network in recent years.Fox&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe">paid $787 million</a>&nbsp;in 2023 to settle a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems over false claims by Fox personalities who echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">Trump's lies that the 2020 election was stolen</a>&nbsp;from him through mass voter fraud. For more than six months ending in spring 2023, Fox had what many considered a “soft ban” on Trump appearances, with its leaders looking to move on. But when it became clear that voters did not want to, Fox and its personalities were quick to embrace Trump again.Individual personalities have undergone their own journeys: Former Fox host Megyn Kelly drew Trump’s ire in a 2015 debate for her sharp question about his treatment of women;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-megyn-kelly-rally-closing-message-11f88728b4ee24f8bfed59e68200805b">now she’s a popular podcast host</a>&nbsp;and Trump supporter. The Dominion lawsuit uncovered emails in which former Fox host Tucker Carlson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tucker-carlson-fox-news-murdoch-capitol-attack-96c305cf4046aaf373130876940fd06e">spoke disparagingly</a>&nbsp;of Trump, including saying he “truly can’t wait” for Trump to become an ex-president. They’ve since made amends.Through it all, Trump has been quick to take to social media to criticize Fox for content he deems insufficiently loyal.On Thursday, he was more magnanimous.“You have incredible people at Fox," he said before quipping, “A couple I don’t like."Trump has begun to emerge more in public since spending most of his transition so far&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-election-week-transition-maralago-bee52b9b3a06c12741d9db2e2fc7bb78">behind closed doors</a>&nbsp;at his club in Palm Beach, Florida. This week, he made an unannounced appearance at a memorial service for three Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office deputies who were killed in a car crash last month.This weekend, he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-paris-notre-dame-macron-32d9086e3d2f21ae871f5bb1120929be">travel to Paris</a>&nbsp;to join other world leaders and dignitaries for a ceremony to celebrate the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-cathedral-reopens-ceremony-security-fire-efc740d20cf91f5ba1eabf45eecfe8ad">reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral</a>, which was devastated by a fire five years ago.___AP Media Writer David Bauder contributed to this report.

Trump talks up election victory as he receives Patriot of the Year Award 

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating the death of a juvenile in rural Miami County have identified the victim as a 15-year-old from Olathe, according to the Miami County Sheriff's office.

Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, the Miami County Sheriff's office received a 911 call requesting an ambulance for a death, according to a media release.

The caller indicated a juvenile had been injured inside a residence. First responders discovered the juvenile deceased inside the home.&nbsp; EMS transported a second juvenile, a 16-year-old Spring Hill boy, to the local hospital as a precautionary measure.

As the investigation unfolded, the death was deemed suspicious prompting the involvement of additional recourses. The sheriff's office reviewed the scene and a search warrant was executed at the home. The Johnson County Sheriff's office crime scene unit also assisted.

During the investigation, the 16-year-old at the hospital was taken into custody and later transported to the juvenile detention facility. Both juveniles were students in the Spring Hill USD 230&nbsp; and are not related.

Authorities have not released details on the cause of death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733398221816.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene of the investigation on Wednesday-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene of the investigation on Wednesday-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating the death of a juvenile in rural Miami County have identified the victim as a 15-year-old from Olathe, according to the Miami County Sheriff's office.Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, the Miami County Sheriff's office received a 911 call requesting an ambulance for a death, according to a media release.The caller indicated a juvenile had been injured inside a residence. First responders discovered the juvenile deceased inside the home.&nbsp; EMS transported a second juvenile, a 16-year-old Spring Hill boy, to the local hospital as a precautionary measure.As the investigation unfolded, the death was deemed suspicious prompting the involvement of additional recourses. The sheriff's office reviewed the scene and a search warrant was executed at the home. The Johnson County Sheriff's office crime scene unit also assisted.During the investigation, the 16-year-old at the hospital was taken into custody and later transported to the juvenile detention facility. Both juveniles were students in the Spring Hill USD 230&nbsp; and are not related.Authorities have not released details on the cause of death.

Rural Kan. homicide: 15-year-old victim, 16-year-old in custody

KANSAS CITY —One person injured in a November 21 three-vehicle crash in Kansas&nbsp; City has&nbsp; died, according to the Jackson County Medical Examiner's office.

Just before 8:30a.m. Nov. 21, a Volkswagen and a Volvo were southbound on Troost Avenue near East 83rd Street, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.&nbsp;

A Chevrolet Malibu was facing east on East 83rd Street. The driver of the Chevrolet pulled out in front of the Volvo and Volkswagen. Both of those vehicles struck the Chevrolet in the left side.

EMS transported the rear passenger in the Chevrolet to an area hospital with critical injuries. He was pronounced dead just after 1:30p.m. Thursday from injuries&nbsp; in the crash. Police did not know if he was wearing his seatbelt.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —One person injured in a November 21 three-vehicle crash in Kansas&nbsp; City has&nbsp; died, according to the Jackson County Medical Examiner's office.Just before 8:30a.m. Nov. 21, a Volkswagen and a Volvo were southbound on Troost Avenue near East 83rd Street, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.&nbsp;A Chevrolet Malibu was facing east on East 83rd Street. The driver of the Chevrolet pulled out in front of the Volvo and Volkswagen. Both of those vehicles struck the Chevrolet in the left side.EMS transported the rear passenger in the Chevrolet to an area hospital with critical injuries. He was pronounced dead just after 1:30p.m. Thursday from injuries&nbsp; in the crash. Police did not know if he was wearing his seatbelt.&nbsp;

KCPD: Man dies two weeks after 3-vehicle crash

NEW YORK (AP) — As the investigation into a masked gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;the head of one of the largest U.S. health insurers moved into its third day Friday, possible leads emerged about his travel before the shooting and a message scrawled on ammunition found at the crime scene.

UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>&nbsp;was killed in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked from his midtown hotel to the company’s annual investor conference across the street, blocks from tourist draws such as Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center.

But days later, the gunman was still at large and the reason for the killing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-79a9710978fc7adbb23d3fed4ea2f70d">remained unknown</a>, with New York City police saying evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack.

Investigators worked to piece together more of the timeline of the gunman’s whereabouts before the shooting, examine security camera footage and even test a discarded water bottle and protein bar wrapper in a hunt for his DNA.

The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were found emblazoned on the ammunition, echoing a phrase used by insurance industry critics, two law enforcement officials said Thursday, speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation.

The messages mimic the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” which is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-delay-deny-defend-depose-ee73ceb19f361835c654f04a3b88c50c">commonly used</a>&nbsp;by lawyers and insurance industry critics to describe tactics used to avoid paying claims. It refers to insurers delaying payment, denying a claim and then defending their actions. Health insurers like UnitedHealthcare have become frequent targets of criticism from doctors and patients for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/als-ventilator-insurance-coverage-unitedhealthcare-fa9c90c675a8755dcf30ebde824268e4">denying claims</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cancer-nausea-zofran-ondansetron-coverage-limits-c73a6d1d8ad20108319473d083ee81d2">complicating access</a>&nbsp;to care.

Investigators also now believe the suspect may have traveled to New York last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta, one of the law enforcement officials said.

Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, the official said.

Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled.

A tip that the shooter may have stayed at a hostel brought police Thursday morning to at least two such establishments on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, according to one of the law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. The photos made public Thursday were taken in the lobby of the HI New York City hostel.

“We are fully cooperating with the NYPD and, as this is an active investigation, can not comment at this time,” hostel spokesperson Danielle Brumfitt said in an emailed statement.

Police released new photos Thursday of a person wanted for questioning in connection with Thompson’s killing.

The images, showing an unmasked man smiling in the lobby of a Manhattan hostel, add to a collection of photos and video that have circulated since the shooting — including footage of the attack itself, as well as still frames of the suspected gunman stopping at a Starbucks beforehand.

Investigators believe the suspect used a fake New Jersey identification card when he checked in at the hostel, said one of the officials who spoke with the AP.

Employees who work at the hostel told investigators they remembered a man who almost always wore a mask when interacting with them or passing by the front desk. That person wore a jacket that looked like the one worn by the man pictured in surveillance images released after the shooting, the official said.

After the shooting, police said the gunman fled on a bicycle and was last seen riding into Central Park.

Based on surveillance video and evidence from the scene, investigators believe the shooter had at least some firearms training and experience with guns and that the weapon was equipped with a silencer, one of the law enforcement officials told the AP.

Investigators were also looking into whether the suspect had pre-positioned a bike as part of an escape plan, the official said.

Security video shows the killer approaching Thompson from behind, leveling his pistol and firing several shots, barely pausing to clear a gun jam while the executive tumbled to the sidewalk. Cameras showed him fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza before getting on the bicycle.

Police released several images of the man wearing a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face — a look that would not have attracted attention on a chilly morning.

Thompson, a father of two sons who lived in a Minneapolis suburb, had been with Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.

His wife, Paulette, told NBC News on Wednesday that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage.

The insurer’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., was holding its annual meeting in New York to update investors on its direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference after Thompson’s death.

UnitedHealthcare provides coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in more than $281 billion in revenue last year. It is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs.

In October, UnitedHealthcare was named along with Humana and CVS in a Senate report detailing how its denial rate for prior authorizations for some Medicare Advantage patients has surged in recent years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733418156665.png" alt="Photo NYPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo NYPD</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — As the investigation into a masked gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;the head of one of the largest U.S. health insurers moved into its third day Friday, possible leads emerged about his travel before the shooting and a message scrawled on ammunition found at the crime scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733417735866.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>&nbsp;was killed in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked from his midtown hotel to the company’s annual investor conference across the street, blocks from tourist draws such as Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733324311684.png" alt="Brian Thompson-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Brian Thompson-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>But days later, the gunman was still at large and the reason for the killing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-79a9710978fc7adbb23d3fed4ea2f70d">remained unknown</a>, with New York City police saying evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733418191516.png" alt="Photo NYPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo NYPD</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators worked to piece together more of the timeline of the gunman’s whereabouts before the shooting, examine security camera footage and even test a discarded water bottle and protein bar wrapper in a hunt for his DNA.The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were found emblazoned on the ammunition, echoing a phrase used by insurance industry critics, two law enforcement officials said Thursday, speaking to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation.The messages mimic the phrase “delay, deny, defend,” which is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-delay-deny-defend-depose-ee73ceb19f361835c654f04a3b88c50c">commonly used</a>&nbsp;by lawyers and insurance industry critics to describe tactics used to avoid paying claims. It refers to insurers delaying payment, denying a claim and then defending their actions. Health insurers like UnitedHealthcare have become frequent targets of criticism from doctors and patients for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/als-ventilator-insurance-coverage-unitedhealthcare-fa9c90c675a8755dcf30ebde824268e4">denying claims</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cancer-nausea-zofran-ondansetron-coverage-limits-c73a6d1d8ad20108319473d083ee81d2">complicating access</a>&nbsp;to care.Investigators also now believe the suspect may have traveled to New York last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta, one of the law enforcement officials said.Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, the official said.Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled.A tip that the shooter may have stayed at a hostel brought police Thursday morning to at least two such establishments on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, according to one of the law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. The photos made public Thursday were taken in the lobby of the HI New York City hostel.“We are fully cooperating with the NYPD and, as this is an active investigation, can not comment at this time,” hostel spokesperson Danielle Brumfitt said in an emailed statement.Police released new photos Thursday of a person wanted for questioning in connection with Thompson’s killing.The images, showing an unmasked man smiling in the lobby of a Manhattan hostel, add to a collection of photos and video that have circulated since the shooting — including footage of the attack itself, as well as still frames of the suspected gunman stopping at a Starbucks beforehand.Investigators believe the suspect used a fake New Jersey identification card when he checked in at the hostel, said one of the officials who spoke with the AP.Employees who work at the hostel told investigators they remembered a man who almost always wore a mask when interacting with them or passing by the front desk. That person wore a jacket that looked like the one worn by the man pictured in surveillance images released after the shooting, the official said.After the shooting, police said the gunman fled on a bicycle and was last seen riding into Central Park.Based on surveillance video and evidence from the scene, investigators believe the shooter had at least some firearms training and experience with guns and that the weapon was equipped with a silencer, one of the law enforcement officials told the AP.Investigators were also looking into whether the suspect had pre-positioned a bike as part of an escape plan, the official said.Security video shows the killer approaching Thompson from behind, leveling his pistol and firing several shots, barely pausing to clear a gun jam while the executive tumbled to the sidewalk. Cameras showed him fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza before getting on the bicycle.Police released several images of the man wearing a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face — a look that would not have attracted attention on a chilly morning.Thompson, a father of two sons who lived in a Minneapolis suburb, had been with Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.His wife, Paulette, told NBC News on Wednesday that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage.The insurer’s parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., was holding its annual meeting in New York to update investors on its direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference after Thompson’s death.UnitedHealthcare provides coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in more than $281 billion in revenue last year. It is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs.In October, UnitedHealthcare was named along with Humana and CVS in a Senate report detailing how its denial rate for prior authorizations for some Medicare Advantage patients has surged in recent years.

New clues: Gunman who killed insurance CEO still at large

JOHNSON COUNTY —Firefighters battled a well-involved garage fire&nbsp;in Olathe on Wednesday. Crews responded just before 6p.m.

The blaze caused extensive damage to the home and two vehicles parked in the driveway. Thankfully, no injuries. A family of four is displaced. Investigators are working on a cause.

Fire officials reminded the public to "check your home smoke alarms by pressing the test button. Replace any alarm that is 10 years of age or older."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733397790498.jpeg" alt="Photos Olathe Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Olathe Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Firefighters battled a well-involved garage fire&nbsp;in Olathe on Wednesday. Crews responded just before 6p.m.The blaze caused extensive damage to the home and two vehicles parked in the driveway. Thankfully, no injuries. A family of four is displaced. Investigators are working on a cause.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733397853229.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Fire officials reminded the public to "check your home smoke alarms by pressing the test button. Replace any alarm that is 10 years of age or older."

Family displaced after fire at Kansas home

WASHINGTON (AP) — As he presided over his final Christmas tree lighting at the White House, President Joe Biden on Thursday said his wish for the nation now, and always, was that “we continue to seek the light of liberty and love, kindness and compassion, dignity and decency.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lighting-christmas-tree-national-730fb9076756772a664162b3a87c6261">Biden spoke briefly to the crowd</a>&nbsp;who were decked out in heavy winter layers as frigid winds and chilly temperatures hit the nation's capital. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were also in attendance. The tree has been set up on the Ellipse outside the White House South Lawn, and it's visible on the streets.

The 30-foot red spruce tree came from Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in Grayson County, Virginia. It was transferred to the White House on Nov. 15.

It’s the final holiday stretch for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>. His wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden">Jill</a>, has decked out the White House with whimsical decorations to evoke the “peace and light” of the season. She missed the lighting this year because she was in Doha, Qatar, where she was discussing her initiative on women’s health.

So Biden did the honors himself, counting down from five before the tree light up a cheery bright green from the tip-top to the bottom of the trunk. He wished the crowd a Merry Christmas before stepping down to take his seat for musical performances.

Biden said the theme reflects the “peace we feel as we pause and reflect our on blessings and the light we see as we gather with loved ones and cherish our time together.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — As he presided over his final Christmas tree lighting at the White House, President Joe Biden on Thursday said his wish for the nation now, and always, was that “we continue to seek the light of liberty and love, kindness and compassion, dignity and decency.”<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1032271605249841%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=124" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lighting-christmas-tree-national-730fb9076756772a664162b3a87c6261">Biden spoke briefly to the crowd</a>&nbsp;who were decked out in heavy winter layers as frigid winds and chilly temperatures hit the nation's capital. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were also in attendance. The tree has been set up on the Ellipse outside the White House South Lawn, and it's visible on the streets.The 30-foot red spruce tree came from Mount Rogers National Recreation Area in Grayson County, Virginia. It was transferred to the White House on Nov. 15.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733484870658.png" alt="Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff arrive at the event-" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff arrive at the event-</figcaption>
 </figure>It’s the final holiday stretch for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>. His wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jill-biden">Jill</a>, has decked out the White House with whimsical decorations to evoke the “peace and light” of the season. She missed the lighting this year because she was in Doha, Qatar, where she was discussing her initiative on women’s health.So Biden did the honors himself, counting down from five before the tree light up a cheery bright green from the tip-top to the bottom of the trunk. He wished the crowd a Merry Christmas before stepping down to take his seat for musical performances.Biden said the theme reflects the “peace we feel as we pause and reflect our on blessings and the light we see as we gather with loved ones and cherish our time together.”The tree lighting ceremony is an annual tradition. On Thursday, Trombone Shorty and Trisha Yearwood were among the performers.The White House Christmas display includes a towering tree surrounded by an amusement park-style carousel, brass-colored bells and sleigh bells lining a hallway, and a ceiling design that mimics snowfall.That tree came from a farm in Newland, North Carolina, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hurricane-helene">Hurricane Helene</a>&nbsp;struck earlier this year.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-christmas-tree-north-carolina-helene-e4868d6b13c65cd4944c5fe26fafb058">The Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm</a>, which had stood for decades, lost thousands of trees to a mudslide.___