ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Police boats combed the banks of the Potomac River on Friday, slowly scanning the shoreline under rainy skies as investigators sought clues into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">midair collision that killed 67 people</a>&nbsp;and raised questions about air traffic safety around the nation’s capital.

No one survived the Wednesday night collision between the commercial airliner and an Army helicopter. The remains of 41 people had been pulled from the river as of Friday afternoon, including 28 that had been positively identified, Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John Donnelly Sr. said at a news conference. He said next of kin notifications had been made to 18 families, and that he expects the remains of all 67 people who died to eventually be recovered.

The wreckage of the plane's fuselage will probably have to be pulled from the water to get all the bodies, he said.

“This is heartbreaking work,” Donnelly said, noting that more than 300 responders were taking part in the effort at any one time, including teams of divers and two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, at least one of which carries a crane. “It’s been a tough response for a lot of our people.”

It was unclear how long the recovery operation would take.

“We’re working as fast as we can,” he said. "We need your patience.”

Although Ronald Reagan National Airport has reopened, two of its three runways remain closed to keep aircraft from flying over the crash scene while taking off or landing, said Terry Liercke, the airport's vice president and manager. Roughly 100 flights were canceled Friday.

Officials also heavily restricted helicopter traffic around the airport, an official said, hours after President Donald Trump claimed in a social media post that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-collision-black-hawk-bombardier-potomac-2b151f42ba09602bade7b82abe8b995f">Army Black Hawk</a>&nbsp;had been flying higher than its allowed limit.

Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the American Airlines jetliner, which struck the chopper as the plane was coming in for a landing at the Washington-area airport. Officials are scrutinizing a range of factors in what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-transportation-safety-board-dc-helicopter-crash-e6f43d112e9fa48f7a2ead01a6a61d27">National Transportation Safety Board</a>&nbsp;Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy has called an “all-hands-on-deck event.”

Investigators are examining the actions of the military pilot as well as air traffic control, after the helicopter apparently flew into the jet's path. Air crash investigations normally take 12-18 months, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">investigators told reporters Thursday</a>&nbsp;that they wouldn't speculate on the cause.

Authorities were still looking for the helicopter's black box recorder, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday on Fox News Channel. Other factors in the crash, including the helicopter’s altitude and whether the crew was using its night vision goggles, are still under investigation, he said.

Although some airspace had already been restricted following the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration decided to indefinitely bar most helicopters from using the low-to-the-ground routes that run under or parallel to the airport’s flightpaths, an official told The Associated Press on Friday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

Military aircraft frequently conduct such flights in and around the nation’s capital for familiarization with routes they would fly in case of a major catastrophe or an attack on the U.S. that would require relocating key government officials.

The plane&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">carried 60 passengers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plane-crash-kansas-dc-american-airlines-army-4fb9cd89ef9023fa848fc2331b24ee8e">four crew members</a>. The remains of one of the three soldiers who were aboard the helicopter have been recovered.

Officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas, carrying, among others, nine students and parents from Fairfax County, Virginia schools,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">a group of elite young figure skaters</a>, their parents and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vadim-naumov-evgenia-shishkova-dc-jet-crash-c4788cb6f3e123f0caff83e57347a00d">coaches</a>&nbsp;and a group of hunters.

Details have been emerging about others who died in the crash, including Danasia Elder, a flight attendant on the American Airlines flight, WSOC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina, reported.

Her brother-in-law, Brandon Payne, said she was married with two children and had dreamed of getting the airline job.

“She would want y’all to do the same thing she did. Chase your dreams, no matter what. Don’t let nothing scare you, push you away. Just believe in yourself, believe in God, and follow the path,” Payne said.

Debris from the crash has drifted miles (kilometers) downriver.

Dean Naujoks, who routinely patrols the Potomac for the environmental group Waterkeeper Alliance, on Thursday found floating debris that had been pushed by the wind and current into a pair of shallow coves along the Maryland shore.

The wreckage included pages from a flight manual, part of the plane’s cabin wall, a woman’s sweater, dozens of sugar packets with the American Airlines logo and what appeared to be the cushion from a pilot’s seat. Naujoks, who had law enforcement permission to take his motorboat to the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, about 2 miles (roughly 3 kilometers) downriver from the crash site, turned the items over to the FBI.

“Everything is covered in jet fuel,” Naujoks said Friday. “The sugar packets made me think of the flight attendants. I’m thinking of the people these things belonged to and it’s a punch to the gut. It’s just a sad day on the river.”

One air traffic controller was responsible for coordinating helicopter traffic and arriving and departing planes when the collision happened, according to an FAA report obtained by the AP. Those duties are often divided between two people, but the airport typically combines the roles at 9:30 p.m., once traffic begins to slow down. On Wednesday, the tower supervisor directed that they be combined earlier.

“The position configuration was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” the report said.

A person familiar with the matter, however, said the tower staffing that night was at a normal level. The positions are regularly combined when controllers need to step away from the console for breaks, during shift changes or when air traffic is slow, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal procedures.

The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of air traffic controllers.

Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, said the helicopter crew was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying that occurs daily around the city.

The helicopter's maximum allowed altitude at the time was 200 feet (about 60 meters), Koziol said. It was not immediately clear whether it exceeded that limit, but Hegseth said altitude seemed to be a factor in the collision.

A day after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crash-reagan-washington-buttigieg-diversity-biden-ef1e07684bbc845e9e7981c1ae060af2">questioned the helicopter pilot’s actions</a>&nbsp;and blamed diversity initiatives for undermining air safety, Trump said in a Friday post on Truth Social that the helicopter was “flying too high” at the time of the crash.

“It was far above the 200 foot limit. That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???” Trump said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-air-collision-video-footage-b444f2c4015fee7266e8a38716ec4ef6">Wednesday's crash</a>&nbsp;was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;since Nov. 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a residential area of Belle Harbor, New York, just after takeoff from Kennedy Airport, killing all 260 people aboard and five people on the ground.

Experts often highlight that plane travel is overwhelmingly safe, but the airspace around Reagan National&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-5342-blackhawk-reagan-national-airport-81a43f2ba5cc59cbe9273fa593f1e9cf">can challenge even the most experienced pilots</a>. They must navigate hundreds of other commercial planes, military aircraft and restricted areas around sensitive sites.

Gomez Licon reported from Miami. AP writer Lea Skene contributed to this report. Writers Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Meg Kinnard, Chris Megerian, Aamer Madhani and Michael Biesecker contributed from Washington. Sarah Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738343782845.png" alt="Photo U.S. Coast Guard" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Coast Guard</figcaption>
 </figure>ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Police boats combed the banks of the Potomac River on Friday, slowly scanning the shoreline under rainy skies as investigators sought clues into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">midair collision that killed 67 people</a>&nbsp;and raised questions about air traffic safety around the nation’s capital.No one survived the Wednesday night collision between the commercial airliner and an Army helicopter. The remains of 41 people had been pulled from the river as of Friday afternoon, including 28 that had been positively identified, Washington, D.C., Fire Chief John Donnelly Sr. said at a news conference. He said next of kin notifications had been made to 18 families, and that he expects the remains of all 67 people who died to eventually be recovered.The wreckage of the plane's fuselage will probably have to be pulled from the water to get all the bodies, he said.“This is heartbreaking work,” Donnelly said, noting that more than 300 responders were taking part in the effort at any one time, including teams of divers and two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, at least one of which carries a crane. “It’s been a tough response for a lot of our people.”It was unclear how long the recovery operation would take.“We’re working as fast as we can,” he said. "We need your patience.”Although Ronald Reagan National Airport has reopened, two of its three runways remain closed to keep aircraft from flying over the crash scene while taking off or landing, said Terry Liercke, the airport's vice president and manager. Roughly 100 flights were canceled Friday.Officials also heavily restricted helicopter traffic around the airport, an official said, hours after President Donald Trump claimed in a social media post that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-collision-black-hawk-bombardier-potomac-2b151f42ba09602bade7b82abe8b995f">Army Black Hawk</a>&nbsp;had been flying higher than its allowed limit.Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder of the American Airlines jetliner, which struck the chopper as the plane was coming in for a landing at the Washington-area airport. Officials are scrutinizing a range of factors in what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-transportation-safety-board-dc-helicopter-crash-e6f43d112e9fa48f7a2ead01a6a61d27">National Transportation Safety Board</a>&nbsp;Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy has called an “all-hands-on-deck event.”Investigators are examining the actions of the military pilot as well as air traffic control, after the helicopter apparently flew into the jet's path. Air crash investigations normally take 12-18 months, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">investigators told reporters Thursday</a>&nbsp;that they wouldn't speculate on the cause.Authorities were still looking for the helicopter's black box recorder, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday on Fox News Channel. Other factors in the crash, including the helicopter’s altitude and whether the crew was using its night vision goggles, are still under investigation, he said.Although some airspace had already been restricted following the crash, the Federal Aviation Administration decided to indefinitely bar most helicopters from using the low-to-the-ground routes that run under or parallel to the airport’s flightpaths, an official told The Associated Press on Friday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.Military aircraft frequently conduct such flights in and around the nation’s capital for familiarization with routes they would fly in case of a major catastrophe or an attack on the U.S. that would require relocating key government officials.The plane&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">carried 60 passengers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/plane-crash-kansas-dc-american-airlines-army-4fb9cd89ef9023fa848fc2331b24ee8e">four crew members</a>. The remains of one of the three soldiers who were aboard the helicopter have been recovered.Officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet arrived from Wichita, Kansas, carrying, among others, nine students and parents from Fairfax County, Virginia schools,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">a group of elite young figure skaters</a>, their parents and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vadim-naumov-evgenia-shishkova-dc-jet-crash-c4788cb6f3e123f0caff83e57347a00d">coaches</a>&nbsp;and a group of hunters.Details have been emerging about others who died in the crash, including Danasia Elder, a flight attendant on the American Airlines flight, WSOC-TV in Charlotte, North Carolina, reported.Her brother-in-law, Brandon Payne, said she was married with two children and had dreamed of getting the airline job.“She would want y’all to do the same thing she did. Chase your dreams, no matter what. Don’t let nothing scare you, push you away. Just believe in yourself, believe in God, and follow the path,” Payne said.Debris from the crash has drifted miles (kilometers) downriver.Dean Naujoks, who routinely patrols the Potomac for the environmental group Waterkeeper Alliance, on Thursday found floating debris that had been pushed by the wind and current into a pair of shallow coves along the Maryland shore.The wreckage included pages from a flight manual, part of the plane’s cabin wall, a woman’s sweater, dozens of sugar packets with the American Airlines logo and what appeared to be the cushion from a pilot’s seat. Naujoks, who had law enforcement permission to take his motorboat to the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, about 2 miles (roughly 3 kilometers) downriver from the crash site, turned the items over to the FBI.“Everything is covered in jet fuel,” Naujoks said Friday. “The sugar packets made me think of the flight attendants. I’m thinking of the people these things belonged to and it’s a punch to the gut. It’s just a sad day on the river.”One air traffic controller was responsible for coordinating helicopter traffic and arriving and departing planes when the collision happened, according to an FAA report obtained by the AP. Those duties are often divided between two people, but the airport typically combines the roles at 9:30 p.m., once traffic begins to slow down. On Wednesday, the tower supervisor directed that they be combined earlier.“The position configuration was not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic,” the report said.A person familiar with the matter, however, said the tower staffing that night was at a normal level. The positions are regularly combined when controllers need to step away from the console for breaks, during shift changes or when air traffic is slow, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal procedures.The FAA has long struggled with a shortage of air traffic controllers.Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for Army aviation, said the helicopter crew was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying that occurs daily around the city.The helicopter's maximum allowed altitude at the time was 200 feet (about 60 meters), Koziol said. It was not immediately clear whether it exceeded that limit, but Hegseth said altitude seemed to be a factor in the collision.A day after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crash-reagan-washington-buttigieg-diversity-biden-ef1e07684bbc845e9e7981c1ae060af2">questioned the helicopter pilot’s actions</a>&nbsp;and blamed diversity initiatives for undermining air safety, Trump said in a Friday post on Truth Social that the helicopter was “flying too high” at the time of the crash.“It was far above the 200 foot limit. That’s not really too complicated to understand, is it???” Trump said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-air-collision-video-footage-b444f2c4015fee7266e8a38716ec4ef6">Wednesday's crash</a>&nbsp;was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest in the U.S.</a>&nbsp;since Nov. 12, 2001, when a jet slammed into a residential area of Belle Harbor, New York, just after takeoff from Kennedy Airport, killing all 260 people aboard and five people on the ground.Experts often highlight that plane travel is overwhelmingly safe, but the airspace around Reagan National&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-airlines-5342-blackhawk-reagan-national-airport-81a43f2ba5cc59cbe9273fa593f1e9cf">can challenge even the most experienced pilots</a>. They must navigate hundreds of other commercial planes, military aircraft and restricted areas around sensitive sites.___Gomez Licon reported from Miami. AP writer Lea Skene contributed to this report. Writers Lolita C. Baldor, Tara Copp, Meg Kinnard, Chris Megerian, Aamer Madhani and Michael Biesecker contributed from Washington. Sarah Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland.

‘Heartbreaking’ search for those killed in DC aircraft collision takes its toll

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas militants freed three male hostages held for more than a year in the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in the fourth such exchange of a ceasefire deal that has halted 15 months of intense fighting.

Militants handed Yarden Bibas and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon to Red Cross officials in the southern city of Khan Younis, while American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, looking pale and thin, was released to the Red Cross later Saturday morning in Gaza City to the north.

All three were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war. Their release brings to 18 the number of hostages released since the ceasefire began on Jan. 19.

The releases were quick and orderly, in contrast to chaotic scenes that unfolded on Thursday when armed militants appeared to struggle to hold back a crowd during a hostage release. In both of Saturday’s releases, masked and armed militants stood in lines as the hostages walked onto a stage and waved before being led off and handed over to the Red Cross.

In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, thousands of people gathered to watch the releases being transmitted live on a large screen, waving signs and cheering.

Shortly after Siegel arrived in Israel, a bus departed Ofer Military Prison with some 32 prisoners bound for the West Bank. Crowds of well-wishers greeted the bus, cheering and hoisting the released prisoners on their shoulders in scenes of jubilation.

The Israeli Prison Authority said all 183 Palestinian prisoners slated for release Saturday had been freed. Most, including 111 arrested after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, were released to Gaza. Just over two dozen returned to cheering crowds in the occupied West Bank. Another seven serving life sentences were transferred to Egypt ahead of their deportation.

Ceasefire brings respite to battered Gaza

The ceasefire is aimed at winding down the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">deadliest and most destructive war</a>&nbsp;ever fought between Israel and Hamas. The deal has held for two weeks, allowing for increased aid to flow into the tiny coastal territory and for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the remnants of their homes in the north of the strip.

During the truce's six-week first phase, a total of 33 Israeli hostages are to be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel says it has received information from Hamas that eight of those hostages were either killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack or have died in captivity.

Also on Saturday, a group of 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7330b0f2a30855cd5ae69b5a32b218df">left Gaza for treatment</a>&nbsp;through the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, in the first opening of the enclave's sole exit since Israel captured it nine months ago. A European Union civilian mission was deployed Friday to prepare for the reopening.

The reopening of Rafah marked another key step in the first phase of the ceasefire.

Israel and Hamas are set next week to begin negotiating a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-ceasefire-war-cb56a3da64e144492decfffc40c589cf">second phase</a>&nbsp;of the ceasefire, which calls for releasing the remaining hostages and extending the truce indefinitely. The war could resume in early March if an agreement is not reached.

Israel says it is still committed to destroying Hamas, even after the militant group&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-militants-rule-93da074c251d0fcaa395503749e2849e">reasserted its rule over Gaza</a>&nbsp;within hours of the latest ceasefire. A key far-right partner in Netanyahu’s coalition is calling for the war to resume after the ceasefire’s first phase.

Hamas says it won’t release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Families and neighbors celebrate return of hostages

Siegel, 65, originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, along with his wife, Aviva Siegel. She was released during a brief 2023 ceasefire and has waged a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-gaza-tunnels-hamas-israel-war-d8ecb415268e911cea09518acdaf7ba2">high-profile campaign</a>&nbsp;to free Keith and other hostages.

There were sighs of relief and cheers in a living room where members of the kibbutz watched Siegel's release. Many of those in the room were family friends, who applauded upon seeing Siegel, while some teared up.

Meanwhile, the release of Bibas, 35, brought renewed attention to the fate of his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were 4 years old and 9 months old when they were abducted. All four were captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Kfir was the youngest of about 250 people taken captive on Oct. 7, and his plight quickly came to represent the helplessness and anger the hostage-taking stirred in Israel, where the Bibas family has become a household name.

Hamas has said Shiri and her sons were killed in an Israeli airstrike, but Israel has not confirmed that. Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s special coordinator for returning the hostages, said Israel has “grave concern for the lives” of Shiri and her sons, and pleaded with negotiators to provide information on their situation.

Kalderon, 54, was also captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz.

In Kfar Saba, north of Tel Aviv, Kalderon's family hugged and cheered as they saw the images of him climbing onto the stage in Khan Younis and being transferred to the Red Cross.

“Ofer is coming home!” they said, arms lifted to the sky.

Kalderon’s two children, Erez and Sahar, were abducted alongside him and released during the November 2023 ceasefire. Family members said they weren’t able to recover from their ordeal until their father returned.

“We are sorry it took so long, Ofer,” said Eyal Kalderon. “We will soon be a whole family again. We hope other families will soon feel like this, until the last family.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said France “shares in the relief and joy” of Kalderon's return after 483 days of “unimaginable hell,” adding that France would continue doing all it can to secure the release of another French Israeli hostage still being held in Gaza.

More than 100 of the hostages abducted on Oct. 7 were released during the weeklong Nov. 2023 ceasefire. About 80 more remain in Gaza, at least a third of them believed dead.

In the Oct. 7 attack that started the war, some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed. More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory air and ground war, over half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were militants.

The Israeli military says it killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its fighters operate in residential neighborhoods.

Isseid contributed from Beitunia, West Bank. Moshe Edri at Reim military base, Israel and Paz Bar in Kfar Saba, Israel, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738411065227.png" alt="Siegel is 64 and a native of North Carolina-photo Hostage and Missing Families Forum." />
 <figcaption>Siegel is 64 and a native of North Carolina-photo Hostage and Missing Families Forum.</figcaption>
 </figure>KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas militants freed three male hostages held for more than a year in the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in the fourth such exchange of a ceasefire deal that has halted 15 months of intense fighting.Militants handed Yarden Bibas and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon to Red Cross officials in the southern city of Khan Younis, while American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, looking pale and thin, was released to the Red Cross later Saturday morning in Gaza City to the north.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/drmrdSVrfZ">pic.twitter.com/drmrdSVrfZ</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1885735692321292408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>All three were abducted during the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that sparked the war. Their release brings to 18 the number of hostages released since the ceasefire began on Jan. 19.The releases were quick and orderly, in contrast to chaotic scenes that unfolded on Thursday when armed militants appeared to struggle to hold back a crowd during a hostage release. In both of Saturday’s releases, masked and armed militants stood in lines as the hostages walked onto a stage and waved before being led off and handed over to the Red Cross.In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, thousands of people gathered to watch the releases being transmitted live on a large screen, waving signs and cheering.Shortly after Siegel arrived in Israel, a bus departed Ofer Military Prison with some 32 prisoners bound for the West Bank. Crowds of well-wishers greeted the bus, cheering and hoisting the released prisoners on their shoulders in scenes of jubilation.The Israeli Prison Authority said all 183 Palestinian prisoners slated for release Saturday had been freed. Most, including 111 arrested after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack, were released to Gaza. Just over two dozen returned to cheering crowds in the occupied West Bank. Another seven serving life sentences were transferred to Egypt ahead of their deportation.<h2>Ceasefire brings respite to battered Gaza</h2>The ceasefire is aimed at winding down the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">deadliest and most destructive war</a>&nbsp;ever fought between Israel and Hamas. The deal has held for two weeks, allowing for increased aid to flow into the tiny coastal territory and for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to the remnants of their homes in the north of the strip.During the truce's six-week first phase, a total of 33 Israeli hostages are to be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel says it has received information from Hamas that eight of those hostages were either killed in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack or have died in captivity.Also on Saturday, a group of 50 sick and wounded Palestinian children&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/7330b0f2a30855cd5ae69b5a32b218df">left Gaza for treatment</a>&nbsp;through the Rafah border crossing to Egypt, in the first opening of the enclave's sole exit since Israel captured it nine months ago. A European Union civilian mission was deployed Friday to prepare for the reopening.The reopening of Rafah marked another key step in the first phase of the ceasefire.Israel and Hamas are set next week to begin negotiating a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-ceasefire-war-cb56a3da64e144492decfffc40c589cf">second phase</a>&nbsp;of the ceasefire, which calls for releasing the remaining hostages and extending the truce indefinitely. The war could resume in early March if an agreement is not reached.Israel says it is still committed to destroying Hamas, even after the militant group&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-militants-rule-93da074c251d0fcaa395503749e2849e">reasserted its rule over Gaza</a>&nbsp;within hours of the latest ceasefire. A key far-right partner in Netanyahu’s coalition is calling for the war to resume after the ceasefire’s first phase.Hamas says it won’t release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.<h2>Families and neighbors celebrate return of hostages</h2>Siegel, 65, originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, was taken hostage from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, along with his wife, Aviva Siegel. She was released during a brief 2023 ceasefire and has waged a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-gaza-tunnels-hamas-israel-war-d8ecb415268e911cea09518acdaf7ba2">high-profile campaign</a>&nbsp;to free Keith and other hostages.There were sighs of relief and cheers in a living room where members of the kibbutz watched Siegel's release. Many of those in the room were family friends, who applauded upon seeing Siegel, while some teared up.Meanwhile, the release of Bibas, 35, brought renewed attention to the fate of his wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were 4 years old and 9 months old when they were abducted. All four were captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz.Kfir was the youngest of about 250 people taken captive on Oct. 7, and his plight quickly came to represent the helplessness and anger the hostage-taking stirred in Israel, where the Bibas family has become a household name.Hamas has said Shiri and her sons were killed in an Israeli airstrike, but Israel has not confirmed that. Gal Hirsch, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s special coordinator for returning the hostages, said Israel has “grave concern for the lives” of Shiri and her sons, and pleaded with negotiators to provide information on their situation.Kalderon, 54, was also captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz.In Kfar Saba, north of Tel Aviv, Kalderon's family hugged and cheered as they saw the images of him climbing onto the stage in Khan Younis and being transferred to the Red Cross.“Ofer is coming home!” they said, arms lifted to the sky.Kalderon’s two children, Erez and Sahar, were abducted alongside him and released during the November 2023 ceasefire. Family members said they weren’t able to recover from their ordeal until their father returned.“We are sorry it took so long, Ofer,” said Eyal Kalderon. “We will soon be a whole family again. We hope other families will soon feel like this, until the last family.”French President Emmanuel Macron said France “shares in the relief and joy” of Kalderon's return after 483 days of “unimaginable hell,” adding that France would continue doing all it can to secure the release of another French Israeli hostage still being held in Gaza.More than 100 of the hostages abducted on Oct. 7 were released during the weeklong Nov. 2023 ceasefire. About 80 more remain in Gaza, at least a third of them believed dead.In the Oct. 7 attack that started the war, some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed. More than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s retaliatory air and ground war, over half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were militants.The Israeli military says it killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence. It blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its fighters operate in residential neighborhoods.___Isseid contributed from Beitunia, West Bank. Moshe Edri at Reim military base, Israel and Paz Bar in Kfar Saba, Israel, contributed.

After 484 days Hamas releases American hostage Keith Siegel

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Friday in Pottawatomie County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a westbound train in the&nbsp;100 Block of North 1st Street in Saint Marys struck a pedestrian identified as&nbsp; 45-year-old Virginia Marie Enockson of St. Marys. She was standing on the tracks facing southbound at the time of the incident.

Enockson was pronounced dead at the scene and was later transported to&nbsp; Piper Funeral Home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Friday in Pottawatomie County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a westbound train in the&nbsp;100 Block of North 1st Street in Saint Marys struck a pedestrian identified as&nbsp; 45-year-old Virginia Marie Enockson of St. Marys. She was standing on the tracks facing southbound at the time of the incident.Enockson was pronounced dead at the scene and was later transported to&nbsp; Piper Funeral Home.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas woman dies after struck by a train

ATCHISON —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a chase in stolen trucks.

Just before 9a.m. on Thursday police responded to the Walmart parking lot at 1920 U.S.73 to investigate the theft of a 2005 Ford pick-up truck that a 59 year old victim had reported was stolen while he was inside the store, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Within minutes it was determined that a white box truck was involved in the theft of the pick-up truck. An Atchison County Sheriff’s deputy observed the stolen pickup and the white box truck on U.S. 73 south of Atchison. 

Both vehicles were southbound but ended up heading northbound. The deputy pursued the pick-up truck and Atchison Police pursued the box truck as it entered the city’s south end. Atchison Police pursued the box truck that eventually ended up westbound on U.S.73 into the western part of Atchison County and into Jackson County where Kansas Highway Patrol troopers took over the pursuit. 

That pursuit ended in Nemaha County where troopers took James A. Shoot, 42, of Belton Missouri, into custody. Atchison County deputies took Jason A. Smith, 40, of Olathe Kansas into custody in southern Atchison County. &nbsp; 

Smith is being held in Atchison County on requested charges for the theft of the pickup truck from the parking lot.&nbsp; Shoot is being held in Nemaha County on requested charges that&nbsp; include felony fleeing and eluding.&nbsp; The box truck had been stolen earlier on Thursday morning in Kansas City, Missouri. Law enforcement recovered both vehicles.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738335678672.png" alt="Smith photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a chase in stolen trucks.Just before 9a.m. on Thursday police responded to the Walmart parking lot at 1920 U.S.73 to investigate the theft of a 2005 Ford pick-up truck that a 59 year old victim had reported was stolen while he was inside the store, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738336088437.png" alt="Shoot photo Nemaha County" />
 <figcaption>Shoot photo Nemaha County</figcaption>
 </figure>Within minutes it was determined that a white box truck was involved in the theft of the pick-up truck. An Atchison County Sheriff’s deputy observed the stolen pickup and the white box truck on U.S. 73 south of Atchison. Both vehicles were southbound but ended up heading northbound. The deputy pursued the pick-up truck and Atchison Police pursued the box truck as it entered the city’s south end. Atchison Police pursued the box truck that eventually ended up westbound on U.S.73 into the western part of Atchison County and into Jackson County where Kansas Highway Patrol troopers took over the pursuit. That pursuit ended in Nemaha County where troopers took James A. Shoot, 42, of Belton Missouri, into custody. Atchison County deputies took Jason A. Smith, 40, of Olathe Kansas into custody in southern Atchison County. &nbsp; Smith is being held in Atchison County on requested charges for the theft of the pickup truck from the parking lot.&nbsp; Shoot is being held in Nemaha County on requested charges that&nbsp; include felony fleeing and eluding.&nbsp; The box truck had been stolen earlier on Thursday morning in Kansas City, Missouri. Law enforcement recovered both vehicles.&nbsp;

Stolen vehicle suspects captured after 3 county Kan. chase

GOVE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday morning in Grainfield, Kansas.

At around 7:45 a.m., the Gove County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to disturbance call at 517 W. 3rd&nbsp;Street in Grainfield, according to a media release. When the deputy arrived, he entered the residence to find two men in a heated argument.

The deputy determined that Ty Kaiser, 30, had hit his 63-year-old male relative in the face. The deputy gave commands for Kaiser to get down. He initially complied, but then stood back up and attempted to leave the scene, ignoring the deputy. The deputy deployed a Taser, which was ineffective, and angered Kaiser further. Kaiser then charged toward the deputy, hitting him in the head, face, and body. The deputy pulled out his firearm, and fired one round striking Kaiser.

The deputy attempted life-saving measures until EMS arrived and transported Kaiser to Gove County Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. 

The deputy and relative were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The deputy was released from the hospital Friday afternoon, after evaluation and is recovering from his injuries. The 63-year-old was transferred to the hospital in Hays for further treatment.

This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature, and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.

When this investigation concludes, case findings will be presented to the Gove County Attorney.&nbsp; Ty Kaiser has three previous drug convictions in Wallace County and a conviction for&nbsp;Arranging sale/purchase using communication facility in Russell County in 2016, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

GOVE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Gove County.

The incident, that also sent a Gove County sheriff's deputy to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, occurred just before 8a.m. in Grainfield, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

GOVE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday morning in Grainfield, Kansas.At around 7:45 a.m., the Gove County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to disturbance call at 517 W. 3rd&nbsp;Street in Grainfield, according to a media release. When the deputy arrived, he entered the residence to find two men in a heated argument.The deputy determined that Ty Kaiser, 30, had hit his 63-year-old male relative in the face. The deputy gave commands for Kaiser to get down. He initially complied, but then stood back up and attempted to leave the scene, ignoring the deputy. The deputy deployed a Taser, which was ineffective, and angered Kaiser further. Kaiser then charged toward the deputy, hitting him in the head, face, and body. The deputy pulled out his firearm, and fired one round striking Kaiser.The deputy attempted life-saving measures until EMS arrived and transported Kaiser to Gove County Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The deputy and relative were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The deputy was released from the hospital Friday afternoon, after evaluation and is recovering from his injuries. The 63-year-old was transferred to the hospital in Hays for further treatment.This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature, and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.When this investigation concludes, case findings will be presented to the Gove County Attorney.&nbsp; Ty Kaiser has three previous drug convictions in Wallace County and a conviction for&nbsp;Arranging sale/purchase using communication facility in Russell County in 2016, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.-----------GOVE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Gove County.The incident, that also sent a Gove County sheriff's deputy to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, occurred just before 8a.m. in Grainfield, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Police ID man who died in NW Kansas officer-involved shooting 

DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a drug bust at a residence in Dickinson County.

On Thursday, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant in relation to a narcotics investigation, at a residence in the 200 Block of West 6th Street in Chapman, according to a media release from the sheriff.

The Chapman Police Department and Junction City Police Department assisted in the execution of the search warrant. While conducting the search warrant, deputies located Methamphetamine, Drug Paraphernalia and firearms.

As a result of the investigation, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested 40-year-old James Angelo Demaroney III of Milford and booked him into the Dickinson County Detention Facility on requested charges Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Criminal Possession of Weapon by Convicted Felon and Defacing Identification Marks on Firearm.&nbsp; He has four previous drug convictions in Geary County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738352660216.png" alt="Demaroney photo Dickinson County" />
 <figcaption>Demaroney photo Dickinson County</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a drug bust at a residence in Dickinson County.On Thursday, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant in relation to a narcotics investigation, at a residence in the 200 Block of West 6th Street in Chapman, according to a media release from the sheriff.The Chapman Police Department and Junction City Police Department assisted in the execution of the search warrant. While conducting the search warrant, deputies located Methamphetamine, Drug Paraphernalia and firearms.As a result of the investigation, Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Deputies arrested 40-year-old James Angelo Demaroney III of Milford and booked him into the Dickinson County Detention Facility on requested charges Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Paraphernalia with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Criminal Possession of Weapon by Convicted Felon and Defacing Identification Marks on Firearm.&nbsp; He has four previous drug convictions in Geary County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Sheriff: Kansas felon accused of selling meth

Investigators are seeking clues into this week's deadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">midair collision</a>&nbsp;this week, the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. almost a quarter century.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">The collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C, late Wednesday killed 67 people, including more than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">dozen figure skaters</a>. More than 40 bodies have been recovered.

At least one air traffic controller working during the crash has been interviewed, investigators say

At least one air traffic controller who was working at the time of the crash has been interviewed by investigators, National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said.

He said interviews are ongoing and it was unclear how many controllers were working at the time.

“Air traffic control interviews are critical,” he said. “That’s the reason why there’s a process in place that began immediately after the accident.”

He said investigators would also examine staffing levels, training, hiring and other factors, in addition to looking at the records of all air traffic controllers involved.

Helicopter’s black box appears undamaged, NTSB says

The plane had two recorders. One, a flight data recorder, was in good condition. It was opened Friday, and its information is expected to be downloaded shortly, National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said.

Water had gotten inside the cockpit voice recorder, however. While that’s not unusual, it adds to investigators’ work to download the data.

The helicopter’s data is all held in one black box. It is now at the NTSB headquarters. While investigators have not attempted to open it yet, it appears to be undamaged.

Helicopter and plane’s flight data recorders are being reviewed, investigators say

The black box from the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a commercial jetliner in Washington has been recovered, investigators say.

Investigators are reviewing the flight data recorder along with two from the plane as they probe the cause of the devastating crash.

Victims’ family members are getting assistance, NTSB member says

National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said he spent the past several hours with the victims’ families.

“They are one of our primary concerns, along with making sure we get factual information out,” he said.

He said there are now over 100 family members in the area receiving briefings and assistance.

Helicopters restricted near airport, with some exceptions

The area over the Potomac River and near Reagan National is now off-limits to most helicopters to ensure safety in the aftermath of the crash, the FAA said.

Exceptions include aircraft for medical emergencies, active law enforcement and air defense. Marine One, the presidential helicopter, is also exempt.

The restrictions are expected to continue at least until the National Transportation Safety Board finishes its preliminary report, expected within 30 days.

Operations remain disrupted at Ronald Reagan National Airport

Two of the three main runways at the airport remain closed because of the crash and recovery effort.

Terry Liercke, vice president and manager at Reagan National Airport, said 100 flights were cancelled Friday.

Investigators are seeking clues into this week's deadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">midair collision</a>&nbsp;this week, the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. almost a quarter century.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eNEY7rBDlOg?si=cjhaxXzCVDwmQtYo&amp;start=20" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">The collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C, late Wednesday killed 67 people, including more than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">dozen figure skaters</a>. More than 40 bodies have been recovered.<h2>At least one air traffic controller working during the crash has been interviewed, investigators say</h2>At least one air traffic controller who was working at the time of the crash has been interviewed by investigators, National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said.He said interviews are ongoing and it was unclear how many controllers were working at the time.“Air traffic control interviews are critical,” he said. “That’s the reason why there’s a process in place that began immediately after the accident.”He said investigators would also examine staffing levels, training, hiring and other factors, in addition to looking at the records of all air traffic controllers involved.<h2>Helicopter’s black box appears undamaged, NTSB says</h2>The plane had two recorders. One, a flight data recorder, was in good condition. It was opened Friday, and its information is expected to be downloaded shortly, National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said.Water had gotten inside the cockpit voice recorder, however. While that’s not unusual, it adds to investigators’ work to download the data.The helicopter’s data is all held in one black box. It is now at the NTSB headquarters. While investigators have not attempted to open it yet, it appears to be undamaged.<h2>Helicopter and plane’s flight data recorders are being reviewed, investigators say</h2>The black box from the Black Hawk helicopter that collided with a commercial jetliner in Washington has been recovered, investigators say.Investigators are reviewing the flight data recorder along with two from the plane as they probe the cause of the devastating crash.<h2>Victims’ family members are getting assistance, NTSB member says</h2>National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman said he spent the past several hours with the victims’ families.“They are one of our primary concerns, along with making sure we get factual information out,” he said.He said there are now over 100 family members in the area receiving briefings and assistance.<h2>Helicopters restricted near airport, with some exceptions</h2>The area over the Potomac River and near Reagan National is now off-limits to most helicopters to ensure safety in the aftermath of the crash, the FAA said.Exceptions include aircraft for medical emergencies, active law enforcement and air defense. Marine One, the presidential helicopter, is also exempt.The restrictions are expected to continue at least until the National Transportation Safety Board finishes its preliminary report, expected within 30 days.<h2>Operations remain disrupted at Ronald Reagan National Airport</h2>Two of the three main runways at the airport remain closed because of the crash and recovery effort.Terry Liercke, vice president and manager at Reagan National Airport, said 100 flights were cancelled Friday.

🎥 NTSB updates investigation of deadly mid-air collision 

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Army has released the names of two soldiers who died when their Black Hawk helicopter collided with an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/dc-plane-crash-reagan-updates">American Airlines jet</a>&nbsp;earlier this week.

At the family’s request, the name of the third crew member killed in the crash is not being released at this time, the Army said.

The remains of Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, the crew chief, have been recovered and a positive identification is pending, the Army said.

The remains of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves of Great Mills, Maryland, and of the third soldier have not yet been recovered.

The 39-year-old Eaves, one of the pilots on the helicopter, served in the U.S. Navy from August 2007 to September 2017, then moved to the Army, to serve as a Black Hawk pilot.

His awards include three Army commendation medals and three Navy achievement medals, as well as a Global War on Terrorism medal.

O’Hara had served as a helicopter repairer for Black Hawks since July 2014. He deployed to Afghanistan from March to August 2017. He also has two Army commendation medals, four achievement medals and a Global War on Terrorism medal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738361140589.png" alt="Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara -photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara -photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Army has released the names of two soldiers who died when their Black Hawk helicopter collided with an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/dc-plane-crash-reagan-updates">American Airlines jet</a>&nbsp;earlier this week.At the family’s request, the name of the third crew member killed in the crash is not being released at this time, the Army said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738361051007.png" alt="Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves photo courtesy U.S. Army" />
 <figcaption>Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves photo courtesy U.S. Army</figcaption>
 </figure>The remains of Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, the crew chief, have been recovered and a positive identification is pending, the Army said.The remains of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves of Great Mills, Maryland, and of the third soldier have not yet been recovered.The 39-year-old Eaves, one of the pilots on the helicopter, served in the U.S. Navy from August 2007 to September 2017, then moved to the Army, to serve as a Black Hawk pilot.His awards include three Army commendation medals and three Navy achievement medals, as well as a Global War on Terrorism medal.O’Hara had served as a helicopter repairer for Black Hawks since July 2014. He deployed to Afghanistan from March to August 2017. He also has two Army commendation medals, four achievement medals and a Global War on Terrorism medal.

Army releases names of two soldiers who died in midair collision

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22STAN%20CHOE%20and%20DAMIAN%20J.%20TROISE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By STAN CHOE and DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writers</a>

Stocks on Wall Street surrendered early gains and closed broadly lower Friday after the White House said President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-china-canada-mexico-fentanyl-e526616cdcb7fc596ed999cb89ee2265">would impose promised tariffs</a>&nbsp;on key U.S. trading partners.

The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.5% and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.3%. The indexes, which had posted solid gains in morning trading, posted their first weekly loss in three weeks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8%.

Trump will put in place 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on goods from China effective Saturday. The White House provided no word on whether there would be any exemptions to the measures that could result in swift price increases to U.S. consumers.

The selling was broad, with about 75% of the stocks in the S&amp;P 500 closing lower. Technology and energy companies accounted for a large share of the decline.

“If Trump says it’s something that could happen by tomorrow that doesn’t leave a lot of room to move,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. “There’s just so much uncertainty associated with elevating tariffs on our three major trading partners.”

The earlier gains on Wall Street had helped shave losses from the start of the week over worries that the artificial-intelligence boom may not require as much investment as thought.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-quarter-sales-artificial-intelligence-fdfeb6b12bdd69504672ef3b60a300f5">Apple</a>&nbsp;reversed course from market leading gains to a loss of 0.7%. The company had reported stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Wall Street’s most valuable company, and thus the most influential on the S&amp;P 500 and other indexes, said sales of iPhones dipped. But revenue for its services businesses, such as AppleCare and its app store, rose to a record.

KLA, a supplier to the electronics industry initially rose after reporting profit and revenue that topped analysts’ expectations, but then closed down 0.6%. The company, which credited its results on expanding artificial-intelligence and high-performance computing investments, fell 6.3% on Monday. That’s when tech stocks around the world tumbled, after a Chinese upstart,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-f4908eaca221d601e31e7e3368778030">DeepSeek</a>, said it developed a large language model capable of competing with the world’s best, without having to use top-flight chips.

The disruption raised questions about whether all the investment expected for AI chips,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-climate-fossil-fuels-00c594310b22afbf150559d08b43d3a5">data centers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/power-electricity-amazon-microsoft-power-plants-data-centers-grid-f4763f73bc112425e18f30618dff0039">electricity</a>&nbsp;is really needed.

Shares of Nvidia, considered the poster child for the AI frenzy, fell 3.7%. They dropped 15.8% for the week. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-nvidia-trump-ai-6554b843e94f2e86c2ea7ba7c180f8bf">CEO, Jensen Huang, was expected to meet with Trump</a>&nbsp;Friday in Washington.

Worries that tariffs could end up driving inflation higher helped push long-term bond yields higher, including the 10-year Treasury, which rose to 4.54% from 4.52% late Thursday.

“It’s not the safe haven that it normally is because these tariffs might result in higher inflation and the need for the Fed to remain on pause for longer or to reverse course and raise rates,” Stovall said.

Shorter-term U.S. government bond yields mostly fell.

Yields have been generally climbing since September as the U.S. economy has remained much more solid than economists expected. More recently, worries about tariffs and other possible Trump administration policies that could add upward pressure on inflation and the U.S. government’s debt have also sent yields higher.

The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged as it closed out its most recent meeting Wednesday. The central bank is signaling a more cautious approach as it waits to see how policies under Trump will impact inflation and the broader economy. Higher tariffs and tax cuts could push inflation higher, while deregulation could possibly reduce it.

“Markets are on edge watching President Trump’s plans to raise tariffs and tighten immigration policies, since both are pressuring the Fed to keep interest rates elevated," said Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank.

On Wall Street, Walgreens Boots Alliance dropped 10.3% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-suspends-dividend-stock-plunge-c1d2d0c151864821ddf04dec954039e7">suspending its dividend</a>&nbsp;and breaking a streak of quarterly payouts to its shareholders that stretches back more than 90 years.

Exxon Mobil ticked down 2.5% even though the energy giant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/exxon-mobil-oil-opec-5659d4e6cd00594e6ba1d7c335b33e6b">posted a stronger fourth quarter profit</a>&nbsp;than Wall Street had forecast. Exxon credited increased production in the U.S. Permian basin and in Guyana for the strong results, but its revenue came in lower than expected.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 30.64 points to 6,040.53. The Dow dropped 337.47 points to 44,544.66. The Nasdaq lost 54.31 points to close at 19,627.44.

In stock markets abroad, indexes ended mixed in Europe after also finishing mixed in Asia.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 index added 0.1% after a report showed that the country’s core inflation rate topped the central bank’s 2% target, paving the way for further hikes to interest rates.

The Kospi in South Korea fell 0.8% after trading resumed there following holidays. Markets remained closed in Hong Kong and Shanghai for the Lunar New Year.

AP Business Writer Alex Veiga contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="The floor of the New York Stock Exchange.(AP Photo/Richard Drew)" />
 <figcaption>The floor of the New York Stock Exchange.(AP Photo/Richard Drew)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22STAN%20CHOE%20and%20DAMIAN%20J.%20TROISE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By STAN CHOE and DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writers</a>Stocks on Wall Street surrendered early gains and closed broadly lower Friday after the White House said President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-china-canada-mexico-fentanyl-e526616cdcb7fc596ed999cb89ee2265">would impose promised tariffs</a>&nbsp;on key U.S. trading partners.The S&amp;P 500 fell 0.5% and the Nasdaq composite dropped 0.3%. The indexes, which had posted solid gains in morning trading, posted their first weekly loss in three weeks.The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8%.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &quot;The president will be implementing tomorrow a 25% tariffs on Mexico, 25% tariffs on Canada and a 10% tariff on China for the illegal fentanyl that they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country which has killed tens of millions of Americans.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/lSoLuL9Lk5">pic.twitter.com/lSoLuL9Lk5</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1885394123126984728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump will put in place 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on goods from China effective Saturday. The White House provided no word on whether there would be any exemptions to the measures that could result in swift price increases to U.S. consumers.The selling was broad, with about 75% of the stocks in the S&amp;P 500 closing lower. Technology and energy companies accounted for a large share of the decline.“If Trump says it’s something that could happen by tomorrow that doesn’t leave a lot of room to move,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA. “There’s just so much uncertainty associated with elevating tariffs on our three major trading partners.”The earlier gains on Wall Street had helped shave losses from the start of the week over worries that the artificial-intelligence boom may not require as much investment as thought.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-quarter-sales-artificial-intelligence-fdfeb6b12bdd69504672ef3b60a300f5">Apple</a>&nbsp;reversed course from market leading gains to a loss of 0.7%. The company had reported stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Wall Street’s most valuable company, and thus the most influential on the S&amp;P 500 and other indexes, said sales of iPhones dipped. But revenue for its services businesses, such as AppleCare and its app store, rose to a record.KLA, a supplier to the electronics industry initially rose after reporting profit and revenue that topped analysts’ expectations, but then closed down 0.6%. The company, which credited its results on expanding artificial-intelligence and high-performance computing investments, fell 6.3% on Monday. That’s when tech stocks around the world tumbled, after a Chinese upstart,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-f4908eaca221d601e31e7e3368778030">DeepSeek</a>, said it developed a large language model capable of competing with the world’s best, without having to use top-flight chips.The disruption raised questions about whether all the investment expected for AI chips,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-climate-fossil-fuels-00c594310b22afbf150559d08b43d3a5">data centers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/power-electricity-amazon-microsoft-power-plants-data-centers-grid-f4763f73bc112425e18f30618dff0039">electricity</a>&nbsp;is really needed.Shares of Nvidia, considered the poster child for the AI frenzy, fell 3.7%. They dropped 15.8% for the week. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-nvidia-trump-ai-6554b843e94f2e86c2ea7ba7c180f8bf">CEO, Jensen Huang, was expected to meet with Trump</a>&nbsp;Friday in Washington.Worries that tariffs could end up driving inflation higher helped push long-term bond yields higher, including the 10-year Treasury, which rose to 4.54% from 4.52% late Thursday.“It’s not the safe haven that it normally is because these tariffs might result in higher inflation and the need for the Fed to remain on pause for longer or to reverse course and raise rates,” Stovall said.Shorter-term U.S. government bond yields mostly fell.Yields have been generally climbing since September as the U.S. economy has remained much more solid than economists expected. More recently, worries about tariffs and other possible Trump administration policies that could add upward pressure on inflation and the U.S. government’s debt have also sent yields higher.The Federal Reserve left its benchmark interest rate unchanged as it closed out its most recent meeting Wednesday. The central bank is signaling a more cautious approach as it waits to see how policies under Trump will impact inflation and the broader economy. Higher tariffs and tax cuts could push inflation higher, while deregulation could possibly reduce it.“Markets are on edge watching President Trump’s plans to raise tariffs and tighten immigration policies, since both are pressuring the Fed to keep interest rates elevated," said Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank.On Wall Street, Walgreens Boots Alliance dropped 10.3% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-suspends-dividend-stock-plunge-c1d2d0c151864821ddf04dec954039e7">suspending its dividend</a>&nbsp;and breaking a streak of quarterly payouts to its shareholders that stretches back more than 90 years.Exxon Mobil ticked down 2.5% even though the energy giant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/exxon-mobil-oil-opec-5659d4e6cd00594e6ba1d7c335b33e6b">posted a stronger fourth quarter profit</a>&nbsp;than Wall Street had forecast. Exxon credited increased production in the U.S. Permian basin and in Guyana for the strong results, but its revenue came in lower than expected.All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 30.64 points to 6,040.53. The Dow dropped 337.47 points to 44,544.66. The Nasdaq lost 54.31 points to close at 19,627.44.In stock markets abroad, indexes ended mixed in Europe after also finishing mixed in Asia.Japan’s Nikkei 225 index added 0.1% after a report showed that the country’s core inflation rate topped the central bank’s 2% target, paving the way for further hikes to interest rates.The Kospi in South Korea fell 0.8% after trading resumed there following holidays. Markets remained closed in Hong Kong and Shanghai for the Lunar New Year.____AP Business Writer Alex Veiga contributed.

Wall Street sinks after White House confirms Trump tariff move

Investigators are seeking clues into the deadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">midair collision</a>&nbsp;earlier this week that now stands as the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. almost a quarter century.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C, late Wednesday killed 67 people, including more than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">dozen figure skaters.</a>&nbsp;More than 40 bodies have been recovered.

Air crash investigations can take months - or longer. Investigators have declined to publicly speculate on the cause of the collision.

Investigators are seeking clues into the deadly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">midair collision</a>&nbsp;earlier this week that now stands as the deadliest aviation disaster in the U.S. almost a quarter century.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LIVE: Update on Plane Collision <a href="https://t.co/Kg9GQ30kl2">https://t.co/Kg9GQ30kl2</a>&mdash; Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBowser/status/1885411634476208453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">collision</a>&nbsp;between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport near Washington, D.C, late Wednesday killed 67 people, including more than a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-391a4c7bd0e617a08d9532a8faab206b">dozen figure skaters.</a>&nbsp;More than 40 bodies have been recovered.Air crash investigations can take months - or longer. Investigators have declined to publicly speculate on the cause of the collision.

🎥 DC officials update recovery effort after deadly aircraft collision

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

Legislation clears Senate with veto-proof majority, House vote falls short

TOPEKA — The Republian majority in Kansas Legislature sent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly a bill Friday that would prohibit health professionals from providing gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of 18.

On final action in the House, Senate Bill 63 passed 83-35 — one vote shy of what would be needed to override a potential veto by the governor. The measure was adopted Wednesday by the Senate on a vote of 32-8 on strength of a bipartisan supermajority.

Kelly rejected a similar bill in 2024, but the Legislature’s attempt to thwart the veto failed.

Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican who carried the bill Thursday on the House floor, kicked off several hours of debate by declaring the Legislature had to halt misguided medical care that promoted gender transitioning among people 17 or younger.

The bill would forbid use of puberty blockers and hormone drugs as well as surgery for minors grappling with gender dysphoria, he said. It would open the door to lawsuits against health care professionals who helped children move toward transition and forbid malpractice insurance to cover damages in those cases, he said. It would mandate state licensing boards sanction violators of the law, he said.

“Use of these treatments has increased exponentially over the past several years,” said Bryce, who has a medical degree. “This seemed to have started from the sincere belief that these treatments would prevent children from committing suicide. It was based on a desire to save the lives of children.”

He said the Help Not Harm Act was necessary because fundamentals of gender-affirming care had been disproven and the treatment wasn’t shown to thwart suicide. He asserted 80% to 85% of minors who at one point were convinced there was a mismatch between their gender identity and biological sex determination at birth eventually resolved those issues without transitioning.

“The intent of this bill is to provide proven treatment for these children who are suffering from gender dysphoria rather than following a radical gender ideology,” Bryce said.

If the Kansas bill became law, state tax dollars couldn’t be used for activities that encouraged gender transitioning. That would apply to health professionals, but might be sweep K-12 public school counselors or nurses into that net.

Opponents of the bill dominated House discussion by flooding the zone with amendments crafted to soften the bill’s reach. House advocates of the bill overwhelmingly rejected those ideas. In the 125-member House, each of the amendments were crushed with 50-vote margins.

“This is just unbelievable,” said Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat from Shawnee. “Let me tell you, this bill will inflict harm on children under the age of 18, physicians and other health care professionals, mental health professionals, school personnel, state employees. We have young people up in the gallery. What kind of message are we sending to them?”

Kelly, in the final two years of her second term as governor, vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming care statewide during the 2024 session. The Senate came up with the minimum 27 votes for an override last year, but the House fell two short of the required 84 votes to complete the maneuver.

In advance of this session’s House and Senate voting, committees in both chambers conducted public hearings on identical bills. Proponents argued the legislation was needed to protect children who could fall victim to wayward parents or health professionals who championed health care that was described as “experimental.” About 400 opponents of the legislation made their views known to the committees.

Attempts were made in the House and Senate to lower the age of independent medical consent by minors to 14. Both were defeated, but Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said Republicans hostile to the amendment should consider addressing a Kansas law allowing minors as young as 15 to get married.

“If we do think that children should be getting married … and we determine that children should be giving birth, then those people of that age should also be allowed to make those decisions with their parents with regards to their care,” Sawyer Clayton said.

Rep. Megan Steele, a Manhattan Republican and school nurse, said all children were unique and must be treated with dignity. In education, she said, that meant establishment of age-appropriate standards in terms of what students were expected to comprehend.

“If a 15-year-old cannot construct arguments that all circles are similar … they don’t have the brain development to agree to have their genitals surgically removed,” Steele said.

Reps. Lindsay Vaughn and Heather Meyer, both Overland Park Democrats, closed floor debate in the House with appeals for moderation in the state’s regulation of gender-affirming care. Both said legislators convinced to vote for the bill didn’t understand the people being targeted.

Vaughn said the bill soon to be forwarded to the governor would illustrate the scope of intrusive state government power and was dotted with unconstitutional provisions.

“This bill limits free speech. This bill violates the right to free expression,” she said. “This bill infringes on the right of medical providers to offer peer-reviewed, evidence-based care. This bill violates the fundamental constitutional human right of transgender Kansans to not be discriminated against.”

Meyer said there was no evidence physicians in Kansas were performing gender-transition surgery on minors.

The bill aimed the toxic forces of discrimination, hatred and misunderstanding at Kansas youth who would have dreams and hopes shattered by a statewide ban, she said.

“It is not our job as legislators to get involved in private, complex heart-wrenching medical and mental health decisions that parents and caregivers make in consultation with providers,” she said. “This bill is wrong. This bill is an egregious and heartbreaking attempt to discriminate against a small, but very vulnerable, community in Kansas.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738348923135.png" alt="Reps. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park, opposed a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors statewide. She pointed to potential areas the measure could be challenged on constitutional grounds. The House and Senate passed the bill with wide margins. In 2024, Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a comparable bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Reps. Lindsay Vaughn, D-Overland Park, opposed a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors statewide. She pointed to potential areas the measure could be challenged on constitutional grounds. The House and Senate passed the bill with wide margins. In 2024, Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a comparable bill. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Legislation clears Senate with veto-proof majority, House vote falls short</h2>TOPEKA — The Republian majority in Kansas Legislature sent Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly a bill Friday that would prohibit health professionals from providing gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of 18.On final action in the House, Senate Bill 63 passed 83-35 — one vote shy of what would be needed to override a potential veto by the governor. The measure was adopted Wednesday by the Senate on a vote of 32-8 on strength of a bipartisan supermajority.Kelly rejected a similar bill in 2024, but the Legislature’s attempt to thwart the veto failed.Rep. Ron Bryce, a Coffeyville Republican who carried the bill Thursday on the House floor, kicked off several hours of debate by declaring the Legislature had to halt misguided medical care that promoted gender transitioning among people 17 or younger.The bill would forbid use of puberty blockers and hormone drugs as well as surgery for minors grappling with gender dysphoria, he said. It would open the door to lawsuits against health care professionals who helped children move toward transition and forbid malpractice insurance to cover damages in those cases, he said. It would mandate state licensing boards sanction violators of the law, he said.“Use of these treatments has increased exponentially over the past several years,” said Bryce, who has a medical degree. “This seemed to have started from the sincere belief that these treatments would prevent children from committing suicide. It was based on a desire to save the lives of children.”He said the Help Not Harm Act was necessary because fundamentals of gender-affirming care had been disproven and the treatment wasn’t shown to thwart suicide. He asserted 80% to 85% of minors who at one point were convinced there was a mismatch between their gender identity and biological sex determination at birth eventually resolved those issues without transitioning.“The intent of this bill is to provide proven treatment for these children who are suffering from gender dysphoria rather than following a radical gender ideology,” Bryce said.If the Kansas bill became law, state tax dollars couldn’t be used for activities that encouraged gender transitioning. That would apply to health professionals, but might be sweep K-12 public school counselors or nurses into that net.<h2>‘Just unbelievable’</h2>Opponents of the bill dominated House discussion by flooding the zone with amendments crafted to soften the bill’s reach. House advocates of the bill overwhelmingly rejected those ideas. In the 125-member House, each of the amendments were crushed with 50-vote margins.“This is just unbelievable,” said Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat from Shawnee. “Let me tell you, this bill will inflict harm on children under the age of 18, physicians and other health care professionals, mental health professionals, school personnel, state employees. We have young people up in the gallery. What kind of message are we sending to them?”Kelly, in the final two years of her second term as governor, vetoed a bill banning gender-affirming care statewide during the 2024 session. The Senate came up with the minimum 27 votes for an override last year, but the House fell two short of the required 84 votes to complete the maneuver.In advance of this session’s House and Senate voting, committees in both chambers conducted public hearings on identical bills. Proponents argued the legislation was needed to protect children who could fall victim to wayward parents or health professionals who championed health care that was described as “experimental.” About 400 opponents of the legislation made their views known to the committees.Attempts were made in the House and Senate to lower the age of independent medical consent by minors to 14. Both were defeated, but Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said Republicans hostile to the amendment should consider addressing a Kansas law allowing minors as young as 15 to get married.“If we do think that children should be getting married … and we determine that children should be giving birth, then those people of that age should also be allowed to make those decisions with their parents with regards to their care,” Sawyer Clayton said.<h2>Age-appropriate decisions</h2>Rep. Megan Steele, a Manhattan Republican and school nurse, said all children were unique and must be treated with dignity. In education, she said, that meant establishment of age-appropriate standards in terms of what students were expected to comprehend.“If a 15-year-old cannot construct arguments that all circles are similar … they don’t have the brain development to agree to have their genitals surgically removed,” Steele said.Reps. Lindsay Vaughn and Heather Meyer, both Overland Park Democrats, closed floor debate in the House with appeals for moderation in the state’s regulation of gender-affirming care. Both said legislators convinced to vote for the bill didn’t understand the people being targeted.Vaughn said the bill soon to be forwarded to the governor would illustrate the scope of intrusive state government power and was dotted with unconstitutional provisions.“This bill limits free speech. This bill violates the right to free expression,” she said. “This bill infringes on the right of medical providers to offer peer-reviewed, evidence-based care. This bill violates the fundamental constitutional human right of transgender Kansans to not be discriminated against.”Meyer said there was no evidence physicians in Kansas were performing gender-transition surgery on minors.The bill aimed the toxic forces of discrimination, hatred and misunderstanding at Kansas youth who would have dreams and hopes shattered by a statewide ban, she said.“It is not our job as legislators to get involved in private, complex heart-wrenching medical and mental health decisions that parents and caregivers make in consultation with providers,” she said. “This bill is wrong. This bill is an egregious and heartbreaking attempt to discriminate against a small, but very vulnerable, community in Kansas.”

GOP-led Kansas Legislature sends anti-transgender bill to Gov. Laura Kelly

A petition has been filed to recall Jeff Underhill from office as a Junction City Commissioner. Geary County Clerk Courtney Gilbert said that the blank petition states the grounds for recall and is being provided to the County Attorney, Krista Blaisdell to determine if the grounds are valid and align with legal statute. The grounds alleged on the petition include misconduct while in office and revoking of insurance license due to fraud and deception.&nbsp;The County Attorney has five business days to make that determination.

If the grounds are deemed appropriate, the Recall Committee can then start to circulate the petition to gather signatures. The Recall Committee includes Stephen Capizzi, Samuel Arias and Tom Remily.

The committee needs 390 valid signatures of registered voters who reside within Junction City limits. They have 90 days to return the petition to the Election Office. That Office then has 30 days to validate the signatures.&nbsp;

If the petition is valid, a special election would be held with one question on the ballot. "Do you want to recall Jeff Underhill from the office of Junction City Commissioner" select yes or no.

Underhill was recently elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as the mayor of Junction City for the coming year. He has not yet&nbsp; commented on the recall petition development.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738347058008.png" alt="Jeff Underhill courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jeff Underhill courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By Dewey Terrill JC PostA petition has been filed to recall Jeff Underhill from office as a Junction City Commissioner. Geary County Clerk Courtney Gilbert said that the blank petition states the grounds for recall and is being provided to the County Attorney, Krista Blaisdell to determine if the grounds are valid and align with legal statute. The grounds alleged on the petition include misconduct while in office and revoking of insurance license due to fraud and deception.&nbsp;The County Attorney has five business days to make that determination.If the grounds are deemed appropriate, the Recall Committee can then start to circulate the petition to gather signatures. The Recall Committee includes Stephen Capizzi, Samuel Arias and Tom Remily.The committee needs 390 valid signatures of registered voters who reside within Junction City limits. They have 90 days to return the petition to the Election Office. That Office then has 30 days to validate the signatures.&nbsp;If the petition is valid, a special election would be held with one question on the ballot. "Do you want to recall Jeff Underhill from the office of Junction City Commissioner" select yes or no.Underhill was recently elected by his fellow commissioners to serve as the mayor of Junction City for the coming year. He has not yet&nbsp; commented on the recall petition development.

State