KANSAS CITY —Police are investigating a fatal car fire at a home in Kansas City.

Just after 6:30a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a reported fire in the 8300 block of Oak Street, according to KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

First responders discovered a car fire in the driveway with a 28-year-old man outside the vehicle in the driveway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; The incident remains under investigation, according&nbsp;KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez. The name of the victim has not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731669550393.png" alt="First responders at the scene -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Police are investigating a fatal car fire at a home in Kansas City.Just after 6:30a.m. Thursday, crews responded to a reported fire in the 8300 block of Oak Street, according to KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.First responders discovered a car fire in the driveway with a 28-year-old man outside the vehicle in the driveway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; The incident remains under investigation, according&nbsp;KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez. The name of the victim has not been released.

Man dies after car fire at home in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City woman was sentenced in federal court this week for the sexual exploitation of two children.

Jessica Ann Young, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 45 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney.

On March 11, 2024, Jessica Young pleaded guilty to two counts of the sexual exploitation of a minor. Her husband, Houston Wade Young, 37, was sentenced on July 30, 2024, to life in federal prison without parole. Houston Young pleaded guilty to one count of the sexual exploitation of a minor on Jan. 30, 2024.

Houston Young, while an inmate at the Vernon County jail, was found to be in possession of a cell phone that contained images of child pornography on March 5, 2020. Young was being detained pending a civil proceeding to determine whether he should be civilly committed as a sexually violent predator for his prior sex offense convictions.

On March 7, 2020, law enforcement officers received information that Jessica Young had sent pornographic images of a 7-year-old child (identified in court documents as “John Doe 1”) to Houston Young’s cell phone. Investigators found text messages on the cell phone between Jessica and Houston Young that discussed sexually abusing John Doe 1. During the text messages, Jessica Young sent Houston Young two pornographic images of John Doe 1. Multiple other images of child pornography sent by Jessica Young also were found on Houston Young’s cell phone.

Jessica Young admitted she had sexually abused two child victims, John Doe 1 and 13-year-old John Doe 2, on multiple occasions. Jessica Young also admitted that she had recorded video of herself sexually abusing John Doe 2.

A forensic analysis of Houston Young’s cell phone determined that he sent images of child pornography to Jessica Young and a 16-year-old child victim (identified in court documents as “Jane Doe”). Houston Young sent pornographic images of himself to Jane Doe, solicited pornographic images of her that she sent to him, and engaged in sexual conversations. Jane Doe told investigators she met Houston Young on a game room chat, League of Legends, and started talking via that forum. They communicated via text, the Kik and Whatsapp applications, and video chat.

Houston Young was involuntarily committed to the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Sex Offender Rehabilitation and Treatment Services program in February 2021. He has two prior felony convictions related to the sexual exploitation of children. He was convicted of child molestation in Wright County, Mo., in 2005 and of possessing child pornography in Jackson County, Mo., in 2016.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Vernon County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kentucky Department of Criminal Investigations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731497005375.png" alt="Young -photo Greene Co." />
 <figcaption>Young -photo Greene Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City woman was sentenced in federal court this week for the sexual exploitation of two children.Jessica Ann Young, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 45 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney.On March 11, 2024, Jessica Young pleaded guilty to two counts of the sexual exploitation of a minor. Her husband, Houston Wade Young, 37, was sentenced on July 30, 2024, to life in federal prison without parole. Houston Young pleaded guilty to one count of the sexual exploitation of a minor on Jan. 30, 2024.Houston Young, while an inmate at the Vernon County jail, was found to be in possession of a cell phone that contained images of child pornography on March 5, 2020. Young was being detained pending a civil proceeding to determine whether he should be civilly committed as a sexually violent predator for his prior sex offense convictions.On March 7, 2020, law enforcement officers received information that Jessica Young had sent pornographic images of a 7-year-old child (identified in court documents as “John Doe 1”) to Houston Young’s cell phone. Investigators found text messages on the cell phone between Jessica and Houston Young that discussed sexually abusing John Doe 1. During the text messages, Jessica Young sent Houston Young two pornographic images of John Doe 1. Multiple other images of child pornography sent by Jessica Young also were found on Houston Young’s cell phone.Jessica Young admitted she had sexually abused two child victims, John Doe 1 and 13-year-old John Doe 2, on multiple occasions. Jessica Young also admitted that she had recorded video of herself sexually abusing John Doe 2.A forensic analysis of Houston Young’s cell phone determined that he sent images of child pornography to Jessica Young and a 16-year-old child victim (identified in court documents as “Jane Doe”). Houston Young sent pornographic images of himself to Jane Doe, solicited pornographic images of her that she sent to him, and engaged in sexual conversations. Jane Doe told investigators she met Houston Young on a game room chat, League of Legends, and started talking via that forum. They communicated via text, the Kik and Whatsapp applications, and video chat.Houston Young was involuntarily committed to the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Sex Offender Rehabilitation and Treatment Services program in February 2021. He has two prior felony convictions related to the sexual exploitation of children. He was convicted of child molestation in Wright County, Mo., in 2005 and of possessing child pornography in Jackson County, Mo., in 2016.This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ami Harshad Miller. It was investigated by the FBI, the Vernon County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kentucky Department of Criminal Investigations.

Kansas City woman sent child porn to incarcerated husband

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka have made an arrest.

Just after 9a.m. November 10, police responded to a shooting in the 1200 block of SW Huntoon Street, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp; First responders found two individuals with life threatening injuries. Ricky R. Washington, 45, Topeka, was pronounced deceased on scene by medical personnel, and the other individual was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

As a result of the investigation, Dujontez J. Owens, 24, of Topeka was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections where he was booked on requested charges Conspiracy to commit murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated, Murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated and Attempted murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated.

This is the city’s 17th homicide investigation of 2024, according to Nichols. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731617147828.png" alt="Owen photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Owen photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka have made an arrest.Just after 9a.m. November 10, police responded to a shooting in the 1200 block of SW Huntoon Street, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp; First responders found two individuals with life threatening injuries. Ricky R. Washington, 45, Topeka, was pronounced deceased on scene by medical personnel, and the other individual was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.As a result of the investigation, Dujontez J. Owens, 24, of Topeka was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections where he was booked on requested charges Conspiracy to commit murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated, Murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated and Attempted murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated.This is the city’s 17th homicide investigation of 2024, according to Nichols.

Police make arrest in fatal weekend shooting at Kansas home

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating the death of a woman at a home in Clearwater.

Just before 10:30a.m. Thursday,&nbsp;the Clearwater Police Department and Sedgwick County EMS responded to a call reporting a possible death inside a residence in the 300 block of S. Tracy in Clearwater, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt.

First responders found 45-year-old Melina Hinkle of Clearwater deceased within the home. Another individual, acquainted with Ms. Hinkle, was present in the residence at the time and placed the 911 call for assistance.

The Clearwater Police Department has requested that the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division assume control of the case. The Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office is currently working to determine the cause and manner of death, with an autopsy scheduled for Friday, according to Stitt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731621446580.jpeg" alt="First responders at the scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating the death of a woman at a home in Clearwater.Just before 10:30a.m. Thursday,&nbsp;the Clearwater Police Department and Sedgwick County EMS responded to a call reporting a possible death inside a residence in the 300 block of S. Tracy in Clearwater, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt.First responders found 45-year-old Melina Hinkle of Clearwater deceased within the home. Another individual, acquainted with Ms. Hinkle, was present in the residence at the time and placed the 911 call for assistance.The Clearwater Police Department has requested that the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division assume control of the case. The Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office is currently working to determine the cause and manner of death, with an autopsy scheduled for Friday, according to Stitt.

Sheriff investigating death of 45-year-old Kansas woman

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives investigating a deadly shooting in Wyandotte County have identified the victim as 21-year-old Daniel Thurman, according to Kansas City, Kansas Police.

Just after 5p.m. Nov. 8 officers were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in the area of N. 6th Street and Splitlog Avenue, according to a media release.

&nbsp;When officers arrived on scene, they discovered Thurman with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The suspect, later identified as 25-year-old David Marcos, a resident of Kansas City, Kan. was arrested at the scene.&nbsp; He has been charged by the district attorney’s office with murder in the second-degree. He is currently being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $200,000.00 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731583393364.png" alt="Marcos photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Marcos photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives investigating a deadly shooting in Wyandotte County have identified the victim as 21-year-old Daniel Thurman, according to Kansas City, Kansas Police.Just after 5p.m. Nov. 8 officers were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in the area of N. 6th Street and Splitlog Avenue, according to a media release.&nbsp;When officers arrived on scene, they discovered Thurman with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased on scene. The suspect, later identified as 25-year-old David Marcos, a resident of Kansas City, Kan. was arrested at the scene.&nbsp; He has been charged by the district attorney’s office with murder in the second-degree. He is currently being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $200,000.00 bond.

Police ID victim, charge suspect in deadly Kansas shooting

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;says he will nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, putting him in charge of a massive agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid.

“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site announcing the appointment. Kennedy, he said, would “Make America Great and Healthy Again!”

Kennedy, a former Democrat who ran as an independent in this year’s presidential race, abandoned his bid after striking a deal to give Trump his endorsement with a promise to have a role in health policy in the administration.

He and Trump have since become good friends, with Kennedy frequently receiving loud applause at Trump's rallies.

The expected appointment was first reported by Politico Thursday.

A longtime vaccine skeptic, Kennedy is an attorney who has built a loyal following over several decades of people who admire his lawsuits against major pesticide and pharmaceutical companies. He has pushed for tighter regulations around the ingredients in foods.

With the Trump campaign, he worked to shore up support among young mothers in particular, with his message of making food healthier in the U.S., promising to model regulations imposed in Europe. In a nod to Trump’s original campaign slogan, he named the effort “Make America Healthy Again.”

It remains unclear how that will square with Trump’s history of deregulation of big industries, including food. Trump pushed for fewer inspections of the meat industry, for example.

Kennedy’s stance on vaccines has also made him a controversial figure among Democrats and some Republicans, raising question about his ability to get confirmed, even in a GOP-controlled Senate. Kennedy has espoused misinformation around the safety of vaccines, including pushing a totally discredited theory that childhood vaccines cause autism.

He also has said he would recommend removing fluoride from drinking water. The addition of the material has been cited as leading to improved dental health.

HHS has more than 80,000 employees across the country. It houses the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Medicare and Medicaid programs and the National Institutes of Health.

Kennedy’s anti-vaccine nonprofit group, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy took leave from the group when he announced his run for president but is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit.

WASHINGTON (AP) —President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr to serve as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, according to two people familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity.

HHS is a massive Cabinet agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid.

He and Trump have since become good friends, with Kennedy frequently receiving loud applause at Trump’s rallies.

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;says he will nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, putting him in charge of a massive agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I am thrilled to announce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as The United States Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it…&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1857170020427595797?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site announcing the appointment. Kennedy, he said, would “Make America Great and Healthy Again!”Kennedy, a former Democrat who ran as an independent in this year’s presidential race, abandoned his bid after striking a deal to give Trump his endorsement with a promise to have a role in health policy in the administration.He and Trump have since become good friends, with Kennedy frequently receiving loud applause at Trump's rallies.The expected appointment was first reported by Politico Thursday.A longtime vaccine skeptic, Kennedy is an attorney who has built a loyal following over several decades of people who admire his lawsuits against major pesticide and pharmaceutical companies. He has pushed for tighter regulations around the ingredients in foods.With the Trump campaign, he worked to shore up support among young mothers in particular, with his message of making food healthier in the U.S., promising to model regulations imposed in Europe. In a nod to Trump’s original campaign slogan, he named the effort “Make America Healthy Again.”It remains unclear how that will square with Trump’s history of deregulation of big industries, including food. Trump pushed for fewer inspections of the meat industry, for example.Kennedy’s stance on vaccines has also made him a controversial figure among Democrats and some Republicans, raising question about his ability to get confirmed, even in a GOP-controlled Senate. Kennedy has espoused misinformation around the safety of vaccines, including pushing a totally discredited theory that childhood vaccines cause autism.He also has said he would recommend removing fluoride from drinking water. The addition of the material has been cited as leading to improved dental health.HHS has more than 80,000 employees across the country. It houses the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Medicare and Medicaid programs and the National Institutes of Health.Kennedy’s anti-vaccine nonprofit group, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy took leave from the group when he announced his run for president but is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit.__ Seitz reported from Washington.---------WASHINGTON (AP) —President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr to serve as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, according to two people familiar with the discussions who spoke on condition of anonymity.HHS is a massive Cabinet agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid.Kennedy, a former Democrat who ran as an independent in this year’s presidential race, abandoned his bid after striking a deal to give Trump his endorsement with a promise to have a role in health policy in the administration.He and Trump have since become good friends, with Kennedy frequently receiving loud applause at Trump’s rallies.

Trump chooses Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just after 6a.m. Thursday in Kansas City.

A&nbsp; pedestrian was standing and or walking in the southernmost lane of eastbound Interstate 435 at Wornall, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.

An eastbound Ford F-150 struck the pedestrian. The driver of the Ford was not injured in the collision, stopped immediately and cooperated with the investigation. 

The pedestrian, whose name has not been released, was pronounced deceased at the scene. This is fatality #82 compared to #85 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez.

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just after 6a.m. Thursday in Kansas City.A&nbsp; pedestrian was standing and or walking in the southernmost lane of eastbound Interstate 435 at Wornall, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.An eastbound Ford F-150 struck the pedestrian. The driver of the Ford was not injured in the collision, stopped immediately and cooperated with the investigation. The pedestrian, whose name has not been released, was pronounced deceased at the scene. This is fatality #82 compared to #85 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez.

KCPD: Pedestrian struck by pickup has died

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)— The U.S. military says it has conducted several days of strikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The strikes included U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft, including the Navy’s F-35C stealth fighter jet, it said Thursday.

The military also released video showing a strike by an MQ-9 Reaper drone on a mobile missile launcher placed on the back of what appeared to be a truck. A person standing next to the launcher is seen running away after the strike.

“This targeted operation was conducted in response to the Houthi’s repeated and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping, as well as U.S., coalition and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden,” the U.S. military’s Central Command said. “It also aimed to degrade the Houthi’s ability to threaten regional partners.”

The strikes happened Saturday and Sunday.

The Houthis launched an attack this week targeted two U.S. Navy destroyers entering the Red Sea. The Americans said they “engaged and defeated” eight bomb-carrying drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and four cruise missiles that the Houthis used to target the vessels.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)— The U.S. military says it has conducted several days of strikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">U.S. Central Command Strikes Houthi Facilities and Weapons Systems U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces executed a series of precise airstrikes on multiple Houthi weapons storage facilities situated within Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, Nov. 9-10. These facilities… <a href="https://t.co/nMkWTvegIr">pic.twitter.com/nMkWTvegIr</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1856780067231469739?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The strikes included U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft, including the Navy’s F-35C stealth fighter jet, it said Thursday.The military also released video showing a strike by an MQ-9 Reaper drone on a mobile missile launcher placed on the back of what appeared to be a truck. A person standing next to the launcher is seen running away after the strike.“This targeted operation was conducted in response to the Houthi’s repeated and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping, as well as U.S., coalition and merchant vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden,” the U.S. military’s Central Command said. “It also aimed to degrade the Houthi’s ability to threaten regional partners.”The strikes happened Saturday and Sunday.The Houthis launched an attack this week targeted two U.S. Navy destroyers entering the Red Sea. The Americans said they “engaged and defeated” eight bomb-carrying drones, five anti-ship ballistic missiles and four cruise missiles that the Houthis used to target the vessels.___

🎥 US military released video of strike on Iran-backed rebels

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas school districts showed caution in allowing transfers through a new open enrollment option that lets students attend school outside their home district, data presented Wednesday to the Kansas State Board of Education showed.

About 1,500 students transferred out of their home district under the new law for the 2024-2025 school year, making up just 6% of all district transfers, according to data from the Kansas State Department of Education.&nbsp;

Transferring between districts has been permitted for years under different methods, and even with the new law, the total number of students who transferred to a district outside their own declined overall this school year.&nbsp;

The new “school choice” open enrollment option was wrapped into an education funding bill in 2022, and it mandated schools accept students who don’t live in the district if they can accommodate them. Students have a right to stay at their chosen school until graduation if they remain in good standing, and districts must set limits ahead of enrollment deadlines on how many students it can accept.&nbsp;

Skeptics have said the option works against public schools by making it easier for families who have the means to access better-performing schools and widening an already large gap in public education.

Frank Harwood, deputy education commissioner, said districts appeared to conservatively estimate how many students they could accept in the new option’s first year.&nbsp;

“I think the idea of cautiousness in something new is reasonable,” he said.

Midsized school districts, especially those surrounding Wichita, saw an influx of students because of the new open enrollment policy. Districts like Andover, Derby and Emporia recorded the highest numbers with more than 100 out-of-district students attending each of those districts through the new open enrollment option.

Several districts surrounding Wichita saw overall net growth because of out-of-district transfers. The Wichita school district, along with Topeka Public Schools, lost the most amount of students to transfers, which include open enrollment and other circumstances. More than 1,200 students transferred out of the Wichita district and more than 600 transferred out of Topeka Public Schools this school year, according to enrollment data.&nbsp;

Fluctuating district numbers aren’t new, but they point to underlying problems, such as declining birth rates, rural out-migration, and teacher recruitment and retention troubles in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/lawmakers-pass-bill-responding-to-low-kansas-school-district-enrollment/">school districts with waning enrollment</a>.&nbsp;

Ten public school districts in Kansas have just 100 students or fewer. More than 30 districts have fewer than 200 students.

The state’s 50 largest public school districts educate more than 70% of K-12 students while the 50 smallest districts educate about 2% of students.

Healy Public Schools in west-central Kansas will&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/05/24/kansas-smallest-school-district-prepares-to-close-in-warning-sign-for-rural-communities/">dissolve</a>&nbsp;at the end of the 2024-2025 school year because of low enrollment. Two students are enrolled in the district this year. It will be the first Kansas school district to close since the 2010-2011 school year.

“It’s more than just numbers,” said Ann Mah, a board member representing parts of northeast Kansas. “It’s social. It’s community. It’s all that stuff.”

The current school finance formula didn’t anticipate school districts with fewer than 100 students, said Randy Watkins, the state’s education commissioner, at Wednesday’s board meeting.

“You hit a hundred, you’re one event away from probably not operating,” he said.&nbsp;

Public officials have a few options to address the issue. The state board could add school district size rules within the education department’s accreditation process, Harwood said, or the Legislature could modify the funding formula based on district size and provide incentives for districts to consolidate. However, he said, the process for school district reorganization and dissolution has remained largely unchanged for the past 50 years.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731602808662.png" alt=" Kansas State Board of Education members, from left, Deena Horst, Betty Arnold and Ann Mah at a Nov.13, 2024, meeting. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas State Board of Education members, from left, Deena Horst, Betty Arnold and Ann Mah at a Nov.13, 2024, meeting. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas school districts showed caution in allowing transfers through a new open enrollment option that lets students attend school outside their home district, data presented Wednesday to the Kansas State Board of Education showed.About 1,500 students transferred out of their home district under the new law for the 2024-2025 school year, making up just 6% of all district transfers, according to data from the Kansas State Department of Education.&nbsp;Transferring between districts has been permitted for years under different methods, and even with the new law, the total number of students who transferred to a district outside their own declined overall this school year.&nbsp;The new “school choice” open enrollment option was wrapped into an education funding bill in 2022, and it mandated schools accept students who don’t live in the district if they can accommodate them. Students have a right to stay at their chosen school until graduation if they remain in good standing, and districts must set limits ahead of enrollment deadlines on how many students it can accept.&nbsp;Skeptics have said the option works against public schools by making it easier for families who have the means to access better-performing schools and widening an already large gap in public education.Frank Harwood, deputy education commissioner, said districts appeared to conservatively estimate how many students they could accept in the new option’s first year.&nbsp;“I think the idea of cautiousness in something new is reasonable,” he said.Midsized school districts, especially those surrounding Wichita, saw an influx of students because of the new open enrollment policy. Districts like Andover, Derby and Emporia recorded the highest numbers with more than 100 out-of-district students attending each of those districts through the new open enrollment option.Several districts surrounding Wichita saw overall net growth because of out-of-district transfers. The Wichita school district, along with Topeka Public Schools, lost the most amount of students to transfers, which include open enrollment and other circumstances. More than 1,200 students transferred out of the Wichita district and more than 600 transferred out of Topeka Public Schools this school year, according to enrollment data.&nbsp;Fluctuating district numbers aren’t new, but they point to underlying problems, such as declining birth rates, rural out-migration, and teacher recruitment and retention troubles in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/lawmakers-pass-bill-responding-to-low-kansas-school-district-enrollment/">school districts with waning enrollment</a>.&nbsp;Ten public school districts in Kansas have just 100 students or fewer. More than 30 districts have fewer than 200 students.The state’s 50 largest public school districts educate more than 70% of K-12 students while the 50 smallest districts educate about 2% of students.Healy Public Schools in west-central Kansas will&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/05/24/kansas-smallest-school-district-prepares-to-close-in-warning-sign-for-rural-communities/">dissolve</a>&nbsp;at the end of the 2024-2025 school year because of low enrollment. Two students are enrolled in the district this year. It will be the first Kansas school district to close since the 2010-2011 school year.“It’s more than just numbers,” said Ann Mah, a board member representing parts of northeast Kansas. “It’s social. It’s community. It’s all that stuff.”The current school finance formula didn’t anticipate school districts with fewer than 100 students, said Randy Watkins, the state’s education commissioner, at Wednesday’s board meeting.“You hit a hundred, you’re one event away from probably not operating,” he said.&nbsp;Public officials have a few options to address the issue. The state board could add school district size rules within the education department’s accreditation process, Harwood said, or the Legislature could modify the funding formula based on district size and provide incentives for districts to consolidate. However, he said, the process for school district reorganization and dissolution has remained largely unchanged for the past 50 years.

About 1,500 Kansas students change school districts under new open enrollment policy

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City and have identified the victim as 16-year-old&nbsp; Andre Pride.

Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 7500 block of E 85th Terrace, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Officers arrived on scene and were summoned to a grassy area within an apartment complex and were advised someone had been shot. First responders found Pride unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. 

Medical aid was immediately rendered by responding officers until EMS arrived. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary information indicates there may had been a disturbance in the area involving an unknown number of people that escalated to shots being fired and Pride being struck. 

Police have not made an arrest and do not have a person of interest identified, according to&nbsp;Officer Gonzalez.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731585134779.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City and have identified the victim as 16-year-old&nbsp; Andre Pride.Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 7500 block of E 85th Terrace, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Officers arrived on scene and were summoned to a grassy area within an apartment complex and were advised someone had been shot. First responders found Pride unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. Medical aid was immediately rendered by responding officers until EMS arrived. The victim was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Preliminary information indicates there may had been a disturbance in the area involving an unknown number of people that escalated to shots being fired and Pride being struck. Police have not made an arrest and do not have a person of interest identified, according to&nbsp;Officer Gonzalez.

16-year-old killed in Kansas City apartment complex disturbance

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– Republicans on Wednesday used a secret ballot and elected South Dakota Sen.&nbsp;John Thune&nbsp;as the next Senate majority leader.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a statement from his office, Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran wrote, “I congratulate Sen. John Thune on being selected as the new Senate Majority Leader. I stand ready to work with John and President Trump to lower prices, secure the southern border, promote domestic energy production and bolster our national security.

Moran continued, “I appreciate Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Scott’s willingness to serve their colleagues and the American people and have no doubt they will continue to be valuable members of the Senate.”

Moran and Marshall have not indicated how they voted. Moran and Thune were both members of the freshman class in Congress in 1996 which may indicate how Moran voted.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731512616861.png" alt="President-elect Trump during a meeting with House Republicans at the Capitol on Wednesday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President-elect Trump during a meeting with House Republicans at the Capitol on Wednesday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– Republicans on Wednesday used a secret ballot and elected South Dakota Sen.&nbsp;John Thune&nbsp;as the next Senate majority leader.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a statement from his office, Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran wrote, “I congratulate Sen. John Thune on being selected as the new Senate Majority Leader. I stand ready to work with John and President Trump to lower prices, secure the southern border, promote domestic energy production and bolster our national security.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations to Leader <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnThune?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenJohnThune</a> and all of the newly elected Senate Republican Leadership. Senate Republicans are united and ready to work with Leader Thune to execute President Trump&#39;s America First agenda and fight for America&#39;s workers, families&#39; economic security, and…&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1856808284314878058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Moran continued, “I appreciate Sen. Cornyn and Sen. Scott’s willingness to serve their colleagues and the American people and have no doubt they will continue to be valuable members of the Senate.”Moran and Marshall have not indicated how they voted. Moran and Thune were both members of the freshman class in Congress in 1996 which may indicate how Moran voted.&nbsp;

After secret ballot, Kan. U.S. Senators show support for Trump, new Majority Leader

We’re right in the thick of it—the past seven days and the next week are the most likely times for hitting a deer on Kansas roads.&nbsp; November 13 is the peak day of the year for deer collisions, with around 85 car-deer crash reports expected to be filed with the state, according to a social media report from KHP Trooper Ben Gardner.

"And remember, that’s only the reported crashes—many more go unreported."

"If you’re driving through areas where you often spot deer, slow down and stay extra alert. This is the time of year when deer are on the move."

"A quick tip: if you see one deer cross, don’t just watch it run off. Start looking left and right—deer often travel in groups, and it’s usually the second or third deer that people end up hitting."

"And most importantly, don’t swerve if a deer jumps out in front of you. Brake if you can and stay in control. Swerving can lead to even more dangerous situations.&nbsp; Stay safe out there, Kansas."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731592658288.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>We’re right in the thick of it—the past seven days and the next week are the most likely times for hitting a deer on Kansas roads.&nbsp; November 13 is the peak day of the year for deer collisions, with around 85 car-deer crash reports expected to be filed with the state, according to a social media report from KHP Trooper Ben Gardner."And remember, that’s only the reported crashes—many more go unreported.""If you’re driving through areas where you often spot deer, slow down and stay extra alert. This is the time of year when deer are on the move.""A quick tip: if you see one deer cross, don’t just watch it run off. Start looking left and right—deer often travel in groups, and it’s usually the second or third deer that people end up hitting.""And most importantly, don’t swerve if a deer jumps out in front of you. Brake if you can and stay in control. Swerving can lead to even more dangerous situations.&nbsp; Stay safe out there, Kansas."

KHP: 85 car-deer crash reports on Wednesday 

President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is starting to fill key posts in his second administration, putting an emphasis so far on aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign.

Here's a look at whom he has selected so far.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-marco-rubio-secretary-of-state-25664371f80dcf3332838352165e4d48">named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat.

Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement.

The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.

Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations.

Trump said Wednesday he will nominate Florida Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/matt-gaetz">Matt Gaetz</a>&nbsp;to serve as his attorney general, naming a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.

In selecting Gaetz, 42, Trump passed over some of the more established lawyers whose names had been mentioned as being contenders for the job.

“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and Restore Americans' badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement.

Gaetz resigned from Congress Wednesday night. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating an allegation that Gaetz paid for sex with a 17-year-old, though that probe effectively ended when he resigned. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.

Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence

Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gabbard-director-national-intelligence-466dfdfe2f949ea20bc2f4ef13e21438">has been tapped by Trump</a>&nbsp;to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields.

Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall.

“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement.

Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions.

Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president.

Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president.

Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago.

Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president.

Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency.

Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox &amp; Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.

Hegseth lacks senior military and national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.

Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year.

Kristi Noem, secretary of homeland security

Noem is a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog. She is set to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda.

Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics.

South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic.

She would lead a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports.

McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign.

In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.”

Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic.

“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”

Steven Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East

The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination.

Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud."

Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee.

Huckabee is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-huckabee-ambassador-israel-ace1894ce731c36622d5f09982a0a9b2">staunch defender of Israel</a>&nbsp;and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah.

“He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.”

Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland.

Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Huckabee has rejected a Palestinian homeland in territory occupied by Israel, calling for a so-called “one-state solution.”

Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs.

He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population.

Wiles, 67,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-susie-wiles-32df8958bedde5f3f2d55fd071979692">was a senior adviser</a>&nbsp;to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager.

Wiles has a background in Florida politics. She helped Ron DeSantis win his first race for Florida governor. Six years later, she was key to Trump's defeat of him in the 2024 Republican primary.

Wiles’ hire was Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a defining test of his incoming administration considering her close relationship with the president-elect. Wiles is said to have earned Trump's trust in part by guiding what was the most disciplined of Trump's three presidential campaigns.

Wiles was able to help keep Trump on track as few others have, not by criticizing his impulses, but by winning his respect by demonstrating his success after taking her advice.

Homan, 62,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-homan-ice-border-czar-7dea915b5ea43896390b8020d254f887">has been tasked</a>&nbsp;with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history.

Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign.

Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.”

Democrats have criticized Homan for defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border.

Elise Stefanik, United Nations ambassador

Stefanik is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">representative from New York</a>&nbsp;and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment.

Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership.

Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile.

If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine that began in 2022.

Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy

Miller, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stephen-miller-policy-immigration-9cc6ad3118779b23bff88022ca5e2260">immigration hardliner</a>, was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration.

Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families.

Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security.

Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency

Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LeeMZeldin/status/1856068555865026956">X</a>, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.”

“We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added.

During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referred to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign that his administration would “drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration.

In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”

Farnoush Amiri, Lolita C. Baldor, Jill Colvin, Matthew Daly, Edith M. Lederer, Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731100201525.png" alt="File photo -President -elect Donald Trump early Wednesday morning-courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications" />
 <figcaption>File photo -President -elect Donald Trump early Wednesday morning-courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is starting to fill key posts in his second administration, putting an emphasis so far on aides and allies who were his strongest backers during the 2024 campaign.Here's a look at whom he has selected so far.<h2>Marco Rubio, secretary of state</h2>Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-marco-rubio-secretary-of-state-25664371f80dcf3332838352165e4d48">named Florida Sen. Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;to be secretary of state, making a former sharp critic his choice to be the new administration's top diplomat.Rubio, 53, is a noted hawk on China, Cuba and Iran, and was a finalist to be Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket last summer. Rubio is the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries,” Trump said of Rubio in a statement.The announcement punctuates the hard pivot Rubio has made with Trump, whom the senator called a “con man" during his unsuccessful campaign for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination.Their relationship improved dramatically while Trump was in the White House. And as Trump campaigned for the presidency a third time, Rubio cheered his proposals. For instance, Rubio, who more than a decade ago helped craft immigration legislation that included a path to citizenship for people in the U.S. illegally, now supports Trump's plan to use the U.S. military for mass deportations.<h2>Matt Gaetz, attorney general</h2>Trump said Wednesday he will nominate Florida Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/matt-gaetz">Matt Gaetz</a>&nbsp;to serve as his attorney general, naming a loyalist in the role of the nation's top prosecutor.In selecting Gaetz, 42, Trump passed over some of the more established lawyers whose names had been mentioned as being contenders for the job.“Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and Restore Americans' badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump said in a statement.Gaetz resigned from Congress Wednesday night. The House Ethics Committee has been investigating an allegation that Gaetz paid for sex with a 17-year-old, though that probe effectively ended when he resigned. Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.<h2>Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence</h2>Former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gabbard-director-national-intelligence-466dfdfe2f949ea20bc2f4ef13e21438">has been tapped by Trump</a>&nbsp;to be director of national intelligence, keeping with the trend to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities rather than veteran professionals in their requisite fields.Gabbard, 43, was a Democratic House member who unsuccessfully sought the party's 2020 presidential nomination before leaving the party in 2022. She endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him this fall.“I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community,” Trump said in a statement.Gabbard, who has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades, deploying to Iraq and Kuwait, would come to the role as somewhat of an outsider compared to her predecessor. The current director, Avril Haines, was confirmed by the Senate in 2021 following several years in a number of top national security and intelligence positions.<h2>Dan Scavino, deputy chief of staff</h2>Scavino, whom Trump's transition referred to in a statement as one of “Trump's longest serving and most trusted aides,” was a senior adviser to Trump's 2024 campaign, as well as his 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He will be deputy chief of staff and assistant to the president.Scavino had run Trump's social media profile in the White House during his first administration. He was also held in contempt of Congress in 2022 after a month-long refusal to comply with a subpoena from the House committee’s investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.<h2>James Blair, deputy chief of staff</h2>Blair was political director for Trump's 2024 campaign and for the Republican National Committee. He will be deputy chief of staff for legislative, political and public affairs and assistant to the president.Blair was key to Trump's economic messaging during his winning White House comeback campaign this year, a driving force behind the candidate's “Trump can fix it” slogan and his query to audiences this fall if they were better off than four years ago.<h2>Taylor Budowich, deputy chief of staff</h2>Budowich is a veteran Trump campaign aide who launched and directed Make America Great Again, Inc., a super PAC that supported Trump's 2024 campaign. He will be deputy chief of staff for communications and personnel and assistant to the president.Budowich also had served as a spokesman for Trump after his presidency.<h2>Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense</h2>Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox &amp; Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show.Hegseth lacks senior military and national security experience. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea.Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year.<h2>Kristi Noem, secretary of homeland security</h2>Noem is a well-known conservative who faced sharp criticism for telling a story in her memoir about shooting a rambunctious dog. She is set to lead an agency crucial to the president-elect’s hardline immigration agenda.Noem used her two terms leading a tiny state to vault to a prominent position in Republican politics.South Dakota is usually a political afterthought. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem did not order restrictions that other states had issued and instead declared her state “open for business.” Trump held a fireworks rally at Mount Rushmore in July 2020 in one of the first large gatherings of the pandemic.She would lead a department with a sprawling mission. In addition to key immigration agencies, the Department of Homeland Security oversees natural disaster response, the U.S. Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration agents who work at airports.<h2>William McGinley, White House counsel</h2>McGinley was White House Cabinet secretary during Trump's first administration, and was outside legal counsel for the Republican National Committee's election integrity effort during the 2024 campaign.In a statement, Trump called McGinley “a smart and tenacious lawyer who will help me advance our America First agenda, while fighting for election integrity and against the weaponization of law enforcement.”<h2>John Ratcliffe, CIA director</h2>Ratcliffe was director of national intelligence during the final year and a half of Trump's first term, leading the U.S. government's spy agencies during the coronavirus pandemic.“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation's highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a statement, calling him a “fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans” who would ensure “the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”<h2>Steven Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East</h2>The 67-year-old Witkoff is the president-elect's golf partner and was golfing with him at Trump's club in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 15, when the former president was the target of a second attempted assassination.Witkoff “is a Highly Respected Leader in Business and Philanthropy,” Trump said of Witkoff in a statement. “Steve will be an unrelenting Voice for PEACE, and make us all proud."Trump also named Witkoff co-chair, with former Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler, of his inaugural committee.<h2>Mike Huckabee, ambassador to Israel</h2>Huckabee is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-huckabee-ambassador-israel-ace1894ce731c36622d5f09982a0a9b2">staunch defender of Israel</a>&nbsp;and his intended nomination comes as Trump has promised to align U.S. foreign policy more closely with Israel's interests as it wages wars against the Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah.“He loves Israel, and likewise the people of Israel love him,” Trump said in a statement. “Mike will work tirelessly to bring about peace in the Middle East.”Huckabee, who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination in 2008 and 2016, has been a popular figure among evangelical Christian conservatives, many of whom support Israel due to Old Testament writings that Jews are God’s chosen people and that Israel is their rightful homeland.Trump has been praised by some in this important Republican voting bloc for moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.Huckabee has rejected a Palestinian homeland in territory occupied by Israel, calling for a so-called “one-state solution.”<h2>Mike Waltz, national security adviser</h2>Waltz is a three-term GOP congressman from east-central Florida. He served multiple tours in Afghanistan and also worked in the Pentagon as a policy adviser when Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Gates were defense chiefs.He is considered hawkish on China, and called for a U.S. boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing due to its involvement in the origin of COVID-19 and its mistreatment of the minority Muslim Uighur population.<h2>Susie Wiles, chief of staff</h2>Wiles, 67,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-susie-wiles-32df8958bedde5f3f2d55fd071979692">was a senior adviser</a>&nbsp;to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and its de facto manager.Wiles has a background in Florida politics. She helped Ron DeSantis win his first race for Florida governor. Six years later, she was key to Trump's defeat of him in the 2024 Republican primary.Wiles’ hire was Trump’s first major decision as president-elect and one that could be a defining test of his incoming administration considering her close relationship with the president-elect. Wiles is said to have earned Trump's trust in part by guiding what was the most disciplined of Trump's three presidential campaigns.Wiles was able to help keep Trump on track as few others have, not by criticizing his impulses, but by winning his respect by demonstrating his success after taking her advice.<h2>Tom Homan, ‘border czar’</h2>Homan, 62,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-homan-ice-border-czar-7dea915b5ea43896390b8020d254f887">has been tasked</a>&nbsp;with Trump’s top priority of carrying out the largest deportation operation in the nation’s history.Homan, who served under Trump in his first administration leading U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, was widely expected to be offered a position related to the border, an issue Trump made central to his campaign.Though Homan has insisted such a massive undertaking would be humane, he has long been a loyal supporter of Trump's policy proposals, suggesting at a July conference in Washington that he would be willing to "run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.”Democrats have criticized Homan for defending Trump's “zero tolerance” policy on border crossings during his first administration, which led to the separation of thousands of parents and children seeking asylum at the border.<h2>Elise Stefanik, United Nations ambassador</h2>Stefanik is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">representative from New York</a>&nbsp;and one of Trump's staunchest defenders going back to his first impeachment.Elected to the House in 2014, Stefanik was selected by her GOP House colleagues as House Republican Conference chair in 2021, when former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney was removed from the post after publicly criticizing Trump for falsely claiming he won the 2020 election. Stefanik, 40, has served in that role ever since as the third-ranking member of House leadership.Stefanik’s questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses helped lead to two of those presidents resigning, further raising her national profile.If confirmed, she would represent American interests at the U.N. as Trump vows to end the war waged by Russia against Ukraine that began in 2022.<h2>Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for policy</h2>Miller, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stephen-miller-policy-immigration-9cc6ad3118779b23bff88022ca5e2260">immigration hardliner</a>, was a vocal spokesperson during the presidential campaign for Trump's priority of mass deportations. The 39-year-old was a senior adviser during Trump's first administration.Miller has been a central figure in some of Trump's policy decisions, notably his move to separate thousands of immigrant families.Trump argued throughout the campaign that the nation's economic, national security and social priorities could be met by deporting people who are in the United States illegally. Since Trump left office in 2021, Miller has served as the president of America First Legal, an organization made up of former Trump advisers aimed at challenging the Biden administration, media companies, universities and others over issues such as free speech and national security.<h2>Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency</h2>Zeldin does not appear to have any experience in environmental issues, but is a longtime supporter of the former president. The 44-year-old former U.S. House member from New York wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LeeMZeldin/status/1856068555865026956">X</a>, “We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto industry to bring back American jobs, and make the US the global leader of AI.”“We will do so while protecting access to clean air and water,” he added.During his campaign, Trump often attacked the Biden administration's promotion of electric vehicles, and incorrectly referred to a tax credit for EV purchases as a government mandate. Trump also often told his audiences during the campaign that his administration would “drill, baby, drill,” referring to his support for expanded petroleum exploration.In a statement, Trump said Zeldin “will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses, while at the same time maintaining the highest environmental standards, including the cleanest air and water on the planet.”______Farnoush Amiri, Lolita C. Baldor, Jill Colvin, Matthew Daly, Edith M. Lederer, Lisa Mascaro, Zeke Miller and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.

The people Trump has picked for key positions so far

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a violent knife attack have captured a suspect.

On November 4,&nbsp;police were called to 3250 Michigan Street in Lawrence where a 56-year-old victim told police a 46-year-old man had slashed his arm with a knife. The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, .&nbsp;Police asked the public for help locating 46-year-old Rashidi "Rocky" McClelland in connection with the incident.

Just before <a href="https://x.com/LawrenceKS_PD/status/1856889439911301533?t=330">5:30</a> p.m. Wednesday, police received information that&nbsp; McClelland was inside a house in the 3700 block of Westland Place, near 6th Street and Monterey Way, according to a media release.

Within minutes, officers were in the area and began watching the house. Officers were able to spot a person they believed to be McClelland moving around inside. At approximately <a href="https://x.com/LawrenceKS_PD/status/1856889439911301533?t=450">7:30</a>p.m., officers moved in on the house, making their presence known, and used loudspeakers from the street to call McClelland out.

After attempting to exit multiple doors and windows, McClelland eventually surrendered peacefully to officers at <a href="https://x.com/LawrenceKS_PD/status/1856889439911301533?t=483">8:03</a> p.m. He was transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility and booked on requested charges in connection with the stabbing.

The victim is expected to recover from his injuries, according to police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730743188862.png" alt="McClelland photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>McClelland photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a violent knife attack have captured a suspect.On November 4,&nbsp;police were called to 3250 Michigan Street in Lawrence where a 56-year-old victim told police a 46-year-old man had slashed his arm with a knife. The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, .&nbsp;Police asked the public for help locating 46-year-old Rashidi "Rocky" McClelland in connection with the incident.Just before <a href="https://x.com/LawrenceKS_PD/status/1856889439911301533?t=330">5:30</a> p.m. Wednesday, police received information that&nbsp; McClelland was inside a house in the 3700 block of Westland Place, near 6th Street and Monterey Way, according to a media release.Within minutes, officers were in the area and began watching the house. Officers were able to spot a person they believed to be McClelland moving around inside. At approximately <a href="https://x.com/LawrenceKS_PD/status/1856889439911301533?t=450">7:30</a>p.m., officers moved in on the house, making their presence known, and used loudspeakers from the street to call McClelland out. After attempting to exit multiple doors and windows, McClelland eventually surrendered peacefully to officers at <a href="https://x.com/LawrenceKS_PD/status/1856889439911301533?t=483">8:03</a> p.m. He was transported to the Douglas County Correctional Facility and booked on requested charges in connection with the stabbing.The victim is expected to recover from his injuries, according to police.

Police capture Kan. knife attack suspect after 9-day search

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.

A House Republican victory in Arizona, alongside a win in slow-counting California earlier Wednesday, gave the GOP the 218 House victories that make up the majority. Republicans earlier gained control of the Senate from Democrats.

With hard-fought yet thin majorities, Republican leaders are envisioning a mandate to upend the federal government and swiftly implement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wins-second-term-policies-de3dcf0f173b42602b258042fd7aaafb">Trump’s vision for the country</a>.

The incoming president has promised to carry out the country’s largest-ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-day-1-priorities-deportations-drilling-ukraine-6747c6e64b0440978f59450b928f61d1">deportation operation</a>, extend tax breaks, punish his political enemies, seize control of the federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-border-civil-unrest-domestic-use-a136c69cc85184b07f161c4c09b46c50">government’s most powerful tools</a>&nbsp;and reshape the U.S. economy. The GOP election victories ensure that Congress will be onboard for that agenda, and Democrats will be almost powerless to check it.

When Trump was elected president in 2016, Republicans also swept Congress, but he still encountered Republican leaders resistant to his policy ideas, as well as a Supreme Court with a liberal majority. Not this time.

When he returns to the White House, Trump will be working with a Republican Party that has been completely transformed by his “Make America Great Again" movement and a Supreme Court dominated by conservative justices, including three that he appointed.

Trump rallied House Republicans at a Capitol Hill hotel Wednesday morning, marking his first return to Washington since the election.

“I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s good, we got to figure something else,’” Trump said to the room full of lawmakers who laughed in response.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who with Trump's endorsement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-trump-elections-republicans-29989249dcf533292ab5b2a22bf054a0">won the Republican Conference's nomination</a>&nbsp;to stay on as speaker next year, has talked of taking a “blowtorch” to the federal government and its programs, eyeing ways to overhaul even popular programs championed by Democrats in recent years. The Louisiana Republican, an ardent conservative, has pulled the House Republican Conference closer to Trump during the campaign season as they prepare an “ambitious” 100-day agenda.

“Republicans in the House and Senate have a mandate,” Johnson said earlier this week. “The American people want us to implement and deliver that ‘America First’ agenda.”

Trump's allies in the House are already signaling they will seek retribution for the legal troubles Trump faced while out of office. The incoming president on Wednesday said he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-senate-john-thune-republican-leader-c34ecb7479cee50c24aacf3fef83dcfc">nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz</a>, a fierce loyalist, for attorney general.

Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Jordan, the chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, has said GOP lawmakers are “not taking anything off the table” in their plans to investigate special counsel Jack Smith, even as Smith is winding down two federal investigations into Trump for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate</a>.

Still, with a few races still uncalled the Republicans may hold the majority by just a few seats as the new Congress begins. Trump's decision to pull from the House for posts in his administration — Reps. Gaetz,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-security-adviser-mike-wlatz-0c81d044c9ffe18dfd745202e8351b9c">Mike Waltz</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">Elise Stefanik</a>&nbsp;so far — could complicate Johnson's ability to maintain a majority in the early days of the new Congress.

Gaetz submitted his resignation Wednesday, effective immediately. Johnson said he hoped the seat could be filled by the time the new Congress convenes Jan. 3. Replacements for members of the House require special elections, and the congressional districts held by the three departing members have been held by Republicans for years.

With the thin majority, a highly functioning House is also far from guaranteed. The past two years of Republican House control were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-campaign-house-republicans-majority-elections-ef7ef9a498e1c7a04971bf28b59c81f7">defined by infighting</a>&nbsp;as hardline conservative factions sought to gain influence and power by openly defying their party leadership. While Johnson — at times with Trump's help — largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mike-johnson-donald-trump-b4f6b6d733a3b625ef44405ae4b5d591">tamed open rebellions</a>&nbsp;against his leadership, the right wing of the party is ascendant and ambitious on the heels of Trump's election victory.

The Republican majority also depends on a small group of lawmakers who won tough elections by running as moderates. It remains to be seen whether they will stay onboard for some of the most extreme proposals championed by Trump and his allies.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, meanwhile, is trying to keep Democrats relevant to any legislation that passes Congress, an effort that will depend on Democratic leaders unifying over 200 members, even as the party undergoes a postmortem of its election losses.

In the Senate, GOP leaders, fresh off winning a convincing majority, are already working with Trump to confirm his Cabinet picks. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota won an internal election Wednesday to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest serving party leader in Senate history.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731582077805.png" alt="Image Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Image Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>.A House Republican victory in Arizona, alongside a win in slow-counting California earlier Wednesday, gave the GOP the 218 House victories that make up the majority. Republicans earlier gained control of the Senate from Democrats.With hard-fought yet thin majorities, Republican leaders are envisioning a mandate to upend the federal government and swiftly implement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-wins-second-term-policies-de3dcf0f173b42602b258042fd7aaafb">Trump’s vision for the country</a>.The incoming president has promised to carry out the country’s largest-ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-day-1-priorities-deportations-drilling-ukraine-6747c6e64b0440978f59450b928f61d1">deportation operation</a>, extend tax breaks, punish his political enemies, seize control of the federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-border-civil-unrest-domestic-use-a136c69cc85184b07f161c4c09b46c50">government’s most powerful tools</a>&nbsp;and reshape the U.S. economy. The GOP election victories ensure that Congress will be onboard for that agenda, and Democrats will be almost powerless to check it.When Trump was elected president in 2016, Republicans also swept Congress, but he still encountered Republican leaders resistant to his policy ideas, as well as a Supreme Court with a liberal majority. Not this time.When he returns to the White House, Trump will be working with a Republican Party that has been completely transformed by his “Make America Great Again" movement and a Supreme Court dominated by conservative justices, including three that he appointed.Trump rallied House Republicans at a Capitol Hill hotel Wednesday morning, marking his first return to Washington since the election.“I suspect I won’t be running again unless you say, ‘He’s good, we got to figure something else,’” Trump said to the room full of lawmakers who laughed in response.House Speaker Mike Johnson, who with Trump's endorsement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-trump-elections-republicans-29989249dcf533292ab5b2a22bf054a0">won the Republican Conference's nomination</a>&nbsp;to stay on as speaker next year, has talked of taking a “blowtorch” to the federal government and its programs, eyeing ways to overhaul even popular programs championed by Democrats in recent years. The Louisiana Republican, an ardent conservative, has pulled the House Republican Conference closer to Trump during the campaign season as they prepare an “ambitious” 100-day agenda.“Republicans in the House and Senate have a mandate,” Johnson said earlier this week. “The American people want us to implement and deliver that ‘America First’ agenda.”Trump's allies in the House are already signaling they will seek retribution for the legal troubles Trump faced while out of office. The incoming president on Wednesday said he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-senate-john-thune-republican-leader-c34ecb7479cee50c24aacf3fef83dcfc">nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz</a>, a fierce loyalist, for attorney general.Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Jordan, the chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, has said GOP lawmakers are “not taking anything off the table” in their plans to investigate special counsel Jack Smith, even as Smith is winding down two federal investigations into Trump for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate</a>.Still, with a few races still uncalled the Republicans may hold the majority by just a few seats as the new Congress begins. Trump's decision to pull from the House for posts in his administration — Reps. Gaetz,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-security-adviser-mike-wlatz-0c81d044c9ffe18dfd745202e8351b9c">Mike Waltz</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">Elise Stefanik</a>&nbsp;so far — could complicate Johnson's ability to maintain a majority in the early days of the new Congress.Gaetz submitted his resignation Wednesday, effective immediately. Johnson said he hoped the seat could be filled by the time the new Congress convenes Jan. 3. Replacements for members of the House require special elections, and the congressional districts held by the three departing members have been held by Republicans for years.With the thin majority, a highly functioning House is also far from guaranteed. The past two years of Republican House control were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-campaign-house-republicans-majority-elections-ef7ef9a498e1c7a04971bf28b59c81f7">defined by infighting</a>&nbsp;as hardline conservative factions sought to gain influence and power by openly defying their party leadership. While Johnson — at times with Trump's help — largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mike-johnson-donald-trump-b4f6b6d733a3b625ef44405ae4b5d591">tamed open rebellions</a>&nbsp;against his leadership, the right wing of the party is ascendant and ambitious on the heels of Trump's election victory.The Republican majority also depends on a small group of lawmakers who won tough elections by running as moderates. It remains to be seen whether they will stay onboard for some of the most extreme proposals championed by Trump and his allies.House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, meanwhile, is trying to keep Democrats relevant to any legislation that passes Congress, an effort that will depend on Democratic leaders unifying over 200 members, even as the party undergoes a postmortem of its election losses.In the Senate, GOP leaders, fresh off winning a convincing majority, are already working with Trump to confirm his Cabinet picks. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota won an internal election Wednesday to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest serving party leader in Senate history.Thune in the past has been critical of Trump, but praised the incoming president during his leadership election bid.“This Republican team is united. We are on one team,” Thune said. “We are excited to reclaim the majority and to get to work with our colleagues in the House to enact President Trump’s agenda.”The GOP’s Senate majority of 53 seats also ensures that Republicans will have breathing room when it comes to confirming Cabinet posts, or Supreme Court justices if there is a vacancy. Not all those confirmations are guaranteed. Republicans were incredulous Wednesday when the news hit Capitol Hill that Trump would nominate Gaetz as his attorney general. Even close Trump allies in the Senate distanced themselves from supporting Gaetz, who had been facing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-ethics-committee-matt-gaetz-mccarthy-935a5ec46816f8310586a2a3d545f8f2">House Ethics Committee investigation</a>&nbsp;into allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.Still, Trump on Sunday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-senate-thune-cornyn-scott-republican-leadership-2a711f260887926676bb5d69866a1981">demanded that any Republican leader</a>&nbsp;must allow him to make administration appointments without a vote while the Senate is in recess. Such a move would be a notable shift in power away from the Senate, yet all the leadership contenders quickly agreed to the idea. Democrats could potentially fight such a maneuver.Meanwhile, Trump's social media supporters, including Elon Musk, the world's richest man, clamored against picking a traditional Republican to lead the Senate chamber. Thune worked as a top lieutenant to McConnell, who once called the former president a “despicable human being”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-trump-biography-election-0a861001d95287e689336504abc2281f">in his private notes</a>.