GEARY COUNTY—One person was injured in a hit-and-run collision that occurred just before 6a.m. Tuesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported an unknown vehicle was westbound on Interstate 70 near the U.S. 77 exit.&nbsp; The vehicle, described as possibly a Nissan, rear-ended a 2005 Dodge Neon driven by 38-year-old Christina L. Murphy of Junction City.&nbsp; After impact the Dodge traveled off the road and struck a tree.

The other vehicle fled the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Murphy to&nbsp;Stormont Vail Health-Flint Hills Campus.&nbsp; She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

GEARY COUNTY—One person was injured in a hit-and-run collision that occurred just before 6a.m. Tuesday in Geary County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported an unknown vehicle was westbound on Interstate 70 near the U.S. 77 exit.&nbsp; The vehicle, described as possibly a Nissan, rear-ended a 2005 Dodge Neon driven by 38-year-old Christina L. Murphy of Junction City.&nbsp; After impact the Dodge traveled off the road and struck a tree.The other vehicle fled the scene.&nbsp; EMS transported Murphy to&nbsp;Stormont Vail Health-Flint Hills Campus.&nbsp; She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman injured after I-70 hit-and-run crash

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/11/04/advocates-of-imperiled-lesser-prairie-chicken-say-market-incentives-key-to-expanding-habitat/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has several choices to make in the coming months about whether his second administration will keep access to contraception and abortion as it is now or implement changes.

While Trump cannot on his own enact nationwide laws or abortion bans without Congress, he and the people he picks for key posts throughout the federal government will have significant influence on reproductive rights nationwide.

During Trump’s first term in office he barred health care organizations that perform or refer patients for abortions from receiving Title X family planning grants, even though there’s a moratorium on using federal funds for abortions unless it’s the result of rape or incest, or the life of the woman is at risk.

Alina Salganicoff, senior vice president and director for women’s health policy at the nonpartisan health research organization KFF, said on a call with reporters Friday that about a quarter of providers withdrew or were disqualified from receiving federal family planning grants as a result of that policy.

“The Title X program basically funds family planning services for low-income people,” Salganicoff explained. “It’s basically a small program, it’s around under $300 million — but it is a critical program to people who don’t otherwise have insurance.”

Trump will also have to decide whether to leave in place guidance from the Biden administration that says a federal law from the 1980s protects health care providers who perform abortions as stabilizing care during an emergency that would affect a woman’s health or life.

That law, known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, became one point of disagreement between the Biden administration and Republican states that implemented abortion bans or strict restrictions after the Supreme Court ended the nationwide right to an abortion.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/state-bans-abortion-dont-apply-emergency-health-care-white-house-reminds-providers" target="_blank">wrote in a letter&nbsp;</a>released in July 2022 that under the federal “law, no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care — including abortion care.”

EMTALA is at the center of an&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/federal-court-sets-date-for-emtala-oral-argument-hearing-in-idaho-based-case/" target="_blank">ongoing lawsuit&nbsp;</a>between the Biden administration and Idaho over that state’s abortion law. Oral arguments in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals are set for early December.

The future of medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation that’s used in about 63% of abortions nationwide, will be another area the Trump administration could alter without congressional approval.

Salganicoff said there’s no way to know just yet if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will seek to change prescribing guidelines for medication abortion or revoke the 2000 approval of mifepristone altogether.

“We don’t know whether they’re going to actually review the approval, but I will tell you that it is likely that they will revisit the conditions in which medication abortions, which now account for nearly two-thirds of all abortions in this country, can be provided,” Salganicoff said.

The Trump administration, she said, is likely to focus on revisions made during the Biden administration that allow doctors or other qualified health care providers to prescribe the two-drug medication abortion regimen via telehealth and then have mifepristone and misoprostol mailed to the patient.

Salganicoff anticipates anti-abortion organizations will also encourage the Trump administration to address recent findings from the We Count Project, showing 1 in 10 abortions take place after medication abortion is mailed to people in states with bans or significant restrictions from states that have shield laws.

“This FDA protocol is legal to do that, but clearly this is going to be a target,” she said.

The Comstock Act,<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/1873-law-banned-mailing-boxing-photos-could-it-block-abortion-pills-too" target="_blank">&nbsp;an anti-obscenity law from the late 19th century</a>&nbsp;that once banned the mailing of boxing photographs, pornography and contraception, will also be front and center after Trump takes the oath of office on Jan. 20.

The law, which is still on the books despite not being enforced in decades, could potentially allow the U.S. Postal Service to prevent the mailing of abortion medications or any other instrument or tool used in abortions.

“The Biden administration’s Department of Justice did a review and said that they are not going to enforce Comstock,” Salganicoff said. “Project 2025 sees it very differently, and even though President-elect Trump has said that he is not going to enforce Comstock, it’s not clear, and there will likely be a lot of pressure to do that.”

Project 2025 is a policy map for a Trump presidency published by the Heritage Foundation. Trump has disavowed any connection with it, although former members of his first administration helped develop it.

Salganicoff said enforcing the Comstock Act would affect access to medication abortion throughout the country, even in states that have reinforced reproductive rights during the last two years.

“Clearly that’s going to tee up a lot of litigation and challenges,” Salganicoff said.

Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF, said during the call that the Trump administration’s possible elevation of people who spread misinformation or disinformation could lead to more confusion about research-based health care.

“I think one thing, particularly with the rise in prominence of RFK Jr., you know, is the potential for misinformation,” Levitt said, referring to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a prominent vaccine opponent who endorsed Trump and campaigned extensively with him.

“We turn to the government for reliable data, public health information and scientific information,” Levitt said. “And there’s the potential now, for the government to be not only not an effective source for health information, but in fact, an accelerant for misinformation.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="Photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/11/04/advocates-of-imperiled-lesser-prairie-chicken-say-market-incentives-key-to-expanding-habitat/">Kansas Reflector</a>WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has several choices to make in the coming months about whether his second administration will keep access to contraception and abortion as it is now or implement changes.While Trump cannot on his own enact nationwide laws or abortion bans without Congress, he and the people he picks for key posts throughout the federal government will have significant influence on reproductive rights nationwide.During Trump’s first term in office he barred health care organizations that perform or refer patients for abortions from receiving Title X family planning grants, even though there’s a moratorium on using federal funds for abortions unless it’s the result of rape or incest, or the life of the woman is at risk.Alina Salganicoff, senior vice president and director for women’s health policy at the nonpartisan health research organization KFF, said on a call with reporters Friday that about a quarter of providers withdrew or were disqualified from receiving federal family planning grants as a result of that policy.“The Title X program basically funds family planning services for low-income people,” Salganicoff explained. “It’s basically a small program, it’s around under $300 million — but it is a critical program to people who don’t otherwise have insurance.”<h2>Abortions as stabilizing care</h2>Trump will also have to decide whether to leave in place guidance from the Biden administration that says a federal law from the 1980s protects health care providers who perform abortions as stabilizing care during an emergency that would affect a woman’s health or life.That law, known as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA, became one point of disagreement between the Biden administration and Republican states that implemented abortion bans or strict restrictions after the Supreme Court ended the nationwide right to an abortion.U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/state-bans-abortion-dont-apply-emergency-health-care-white-house-reminds-providers" target="_blank">wrote in a letter&nbsp;</a>released in July 2022 that under the federal “law, no matter where you live, women have the right to emergency care — including abortion care.”EMTALA is at the center of an&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/briefs/federal-court-sets-date-for-emtala-oral-argument-hearing-in-idaho-based-case/" target="_blank">ongoing lawsuit&nbsp;</a>between the Biden administration and Idaho over that state’s abortion law. Oral arguments in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals are set for early December.<h2>Abortion pill</h2>The future of medication abortion, a two-drug regimen approved for up to 10 weeks gestation that’s used in about 63% of abortions nationwide, will be another area the Trump administration could alter without congressional approval.Salganicoff said there’s no way to know just yet if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will seek to change prescribing guidelines for medication abortion or revoke the 2000 approval of mifepristone altogether.“We don’t know whether they’re going to actually review the approval, but I will tell you that it is likely that they will revisit the conditions in which medication abortions, which now account for nearly two-thirds of all abortions in this country, can be provided,” Salganicoff said.The Trump administration, she said, is likely to focus on revisions made during the Biden administration that allow doctors or other qualified health care providers to prescribe the two-drug medication abortion regimen via telehealth and then have mifepristone and misoprostol mailed to the patient.Salganicoff anticipates anti-abortion organizations will also encourage the Trump administration to address recent findings from the We Count Project, showing 1 in 10 abortions take place after medication abortion is mailed to people in states with bans or significant restrictions from states that have shield laws.“This FDA protocol is legal to do that, but clearly this is going to be a target,” she said.<h2>Mailing of abortion medication</h2>The Comstock Act,<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/1873-law-banned-mailing-boxing-photos-could-it-block-abortion-pills-too" target="_blank">&nbsp;an anti-obscenity law from the late 19th century</a>&nbsp;that once banned the mailing of boxing photographs, pornography and contraception, will also be front and center after Trump takes the oath of office on Jan. 20.The law, which is still on the books despite not being enforced in decades, could potentially allow the U.S. Postal Service to prevent the mailing of abortion medications or any other instrument or tool used in abortions.“The Biden administration’s Department of Justice did a review and said that they are not going to enforce Comstock,” Salganicoff said. “Project 2025 sees it very differently, and even though President-elect Trump has said that he is not going to enforce Comstock, it’s not clear, and there will likely be a lot of pressure to do that.”Project 2025 is a policy map for a Trump presidency published by the Heritage Foundation. Trump has disavowed any connection with it, although former members of his first administration helped develop it.Salganicoff said enforcing the Comstock Act would affect access to medication abortion throughout the country, even in states that have reinforced reproductive rights during the last two years.“Clearly that’s going to tee up a lot of litigation and challenges,” Salganicoff said.Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at KFF, said during the call that the Trump administration’s possible elevation of people who spread misinformation or disinformation could lead to more confusion about research-based health care.“I think one thing, particularly with the rise in prominence of RFK Jr., you know, is the potential for misinformation,” Levitt said, referring to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a prominent vaccine opponent who endorsed Trump and campaigned extensively with him.“We turn to the government for reliable data, public health information and scientific information,” Levitt said. “And there’s the potential now, for the government to be not only not an effective source for health information, but in fact, an accelerant for misinformation.”&nbsp;

Health experts outline how Trump admin. could affect abortion, contraception access

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as 45-year-old Ricky R. Washington to Topeka.

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. Washington was pronounced deceased on scene by medical personnel, and the other was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

This is the city’s 17th homicide investigation of 2024, according to Nichols. Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as 45-year-old Ricky R. Washington to Topeka.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. Washington was pronounced deceased on scene by medical personnel, and the other was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.This is the city’s 17th homicide investigation of 2024, according to Nichols. Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

Homicide: Police ID 45-year-old Kansas shooting victim

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating three juveniles in connection with allegedly starting a building fire and recording it for social media.

At approximately 2:50 p.m. on November 9, 2024, officers responded to&nbsp; a fire at a large warehouse under construction in the 1200 block of Kretschmer Drive, according to a media release.

Witnesses reported seeing three male juveniles running from the scene toward businesses on McCall Road.

Officers quickly located three juveniles in the 400 block McCall Road. Officers detained 15-year-old Jakeem Coopwood Jr. and 15-year-old Jordan Ehret for their roles in the fire.

According to the investigation, Coopwood admitted to igniting cardboard boxes using a spray can and lighter and provided officers with a Snapchat video of the incident. Ehret was reported to have actively participated by filming Coopwood lighting the fire. A third juvenile, age 12, confirmed the account.

&nbsp;Both Coopwood and Ehret have been detained as juvenile offenders and face charges including Arson, Burglary, and Contributing to the Misconduct of a Minor. Coopwood was transported to the Southeast Kansas Juvenile Detention Facility in Girard, and Ehret was taken to the North Central Kansas Juvenile Detention Facility in Junction City. The 12-year-old juvenile was released to his guardian.

The Riley County Police Department extended their appreciation to the quick-acting witness and to Manhattan Fire Department members involved in this case for their swift and effective response.

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating three juveniles in connection with allegedly starting a building fire and recording it for social media.At approximately 2:50 p.m. on November 9, 2024, officers responded to&nbsp; a fire at a large warehouse under construction in the 1200 block of Kretschmer Drive, according to a media release.Witnesses reported seeing three male juveniles running from the scene toward businesses on McCall Road.Officers quickly located three juveniles in the 400 block McCall Road. Officers detained 15-year-old Jakeem Coopwood Jr. and 15-year-old Jordan Ehret for their roles in the fire.According to the investigation, Coopwood admitted to igniting cardboard boxes using a spray can and lighter and provided officers with a Snapchat video of the incident. Ehret was reported to have actively participated by filming Coopwood lighting the fire. A third juvenile, age 12, confirmed the account.&nbsp;Both Coopwood and Ehret have been detained as juvenile offenders and face charges including Arson, Burglary, and Contributing to the Misconduct of a Minor. Coopwood was transported to the Southeast Kansas Juvenile Detention Facility in Girard, and Ehret was taken to the North Central Kansas Juvenile Detention Facility in Junction City. The 12-year-old juvenile was released to his guardian.The Riley County Police Department extended their appreciation to the quick-acting witness and to Manhattan Fire Department members involved in this case for their swift and effective response.

Arson: 3 juveniles accused of starting a fire for social media

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge postponed a decision on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immunity-hush-money-merchan-stormy-daniels-02e54baf65b233ad7f6875536fb998ea">whether to undo</a>&nbsp;President-elect Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush money case as prosecutors consider how to proceed in light of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">last week's election</a>&nbsp;and his lawyers argue for dismissal so he can run the country.

The postponement comes at a dramatic and dynamic point in the case, which focused on how Trump accounted for payments to a porn actor before the 2016 election and produced a first-ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-deliberations-jury-testimony-verdict-85558c6d08efb434d05b694364470aa0">conviction</a>&nbsp;of a former commander-in-chief.

Sentencing had been set for Nov. 26. But prosecutors now say they're reassessing, and they appear open to the possibility that the proceedings can't go as planned.

“These are unprecedented circumstances,” prosecutor Matthew Colangelo wrote in an email to the court. He said prosecutors need to consider how to balance the “competing interests” of the jury’s verdict and the presidency.

Trump lawyer Emil Bove, meanwhile, argued the case must be thrown out altogether "to avoid unconstitutional impediments to President Trump’s ability to govern.”

The messages were part of an email chain released Tuesday, when New York Judge Juan M. Merchan had been set to rule on Trump lawyers' earlier request to toss his conviction for a different reason — because of a U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-capitol-riot-immunity-2dc0d1c2368d404adc0054151490f542">Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;this summer on presidential immunity.

Instead, Merchan told Trump's lawyers he'd halt proceedings and delay the ruling until at least Nov. 19 so that prosecutors can suggest a way forward. Both sides agreed to the one-week postponement.

Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung heralded the delay. He said in a statement that the president-elect's win makes it “abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system, including this case, which should have never been filed.”

A jury convicted Trump in May of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in 2016. The payout was to buy her silence about claims that she had sex with Trump.

Trump says they didn’t have sex, denies any wrongdoing and maintains the prosecution was a political tactic meant to harm his latest campaign. Trump is a Republican. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the case, is a Democrat, as is Merchan.

Just over a month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for actions they took in the course of running the country, and prosecutors can’t cite those actions even to bolster a case centered on purely personal conduct.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immunity-hush-money-new-york-conviction-b67bafcb92b287933c6e6d54fc122117">Trump’s lawyers cited that ruling to</a>&nbsp;argue that the hush money jury got some evidence it shouldn't have, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form and testimony from some White House aides.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-new-york-immunity-a6662f61014a7f47400a4af163e01eb3">Prosecutors disagreed</a>&nbsp;and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case.

Trump's criminal conviction was a first for any ex-president. It left the 78-year-old facing the possibility of a fine, probation or up to four years in prison.

The case centered on how Trump accounted for reimbursing a personal attorney for the Daniels payment.

The then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, fronted the money. He later recouped it through a series of payments that Trump’s company logged as legal expenses. Trump, by then in the White House, signed most of the checks himself.

Prosecutors said the designation was meant to cloak the true purpose of the payments and help cover up a broader effort to keep voters from hearing unflattering claims about Trump during his first campaign.

Trump said that Cohen was legitimately paid for legal services, and that Daniels’ story was suppressed to avoid embarrassing Trump’s family, not to influence the electorate.

Trump was a private citizen, campaigning for president, when Cohen paid Daniels in October 2016. He was president when Cohen was reimbursed, and Cohen testified that they discussed the repayment arrangement in the Oval Office.

Trump has been fighting for months to overturn the verdict. While urging Merchan to nix the conviction, the president-elect also has been trying to move the case to federal court. Before the election, a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-new-york-immunity-a905207c7db9fc48d022d68ac6cc12e1">repeatedly said no</a>&nbsp;to the move, but Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-appeal-immunity-sentencing-c143a098e633bbe8f624966806996fc2">has appealed</a>.

Trump faces three other unrelated indictments in various jurisdictions.

But Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has been evaluating how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case against Trump before he takes office, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, a Georgia election interference case against Trump is largely on hold while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fani-willis-georgia-election-indictment-31ca3234b244126cbe412dc279fd0562">he and other defendants appeal</a>&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-election-indictment-fani-willis-trump-60b7dd9642fc9ef7c03d75980692334c">judge’s ruling</a>&nbsp;allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717103382357.png" alt="File photo Donald Trump during the trial in May of 2024" />
 <figcaption>File photo Donald Trump during the trial in May of 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A judge postponed a decision on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immunity-hush-money-merchan-stormy-daniels-02e54baf65b233ad7f6875536fb998ea">whether to undo</a>&nbsp;President-elect Donald Trump’s conviction in his hush money case as prosecutors consider how to proceed in light of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">last week's election</a>&nbsp;and his lawyers argue for dismissal so he can run the country.The postponement comes at a dramatic and dynamic point in the case, which focused on how Trump accounted for payments to a porn actor before the 2016 election and produced a first-ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-deliberations-jury-testimony-verdict-85558c6d08efb434d05b694364470aa0">conviction</a>&nbsp;of a former commander-in-chief.Sentencing had been set for Nov. 26. But prosecutors now say they're reassessing, and they appear open to the possibility that the proceedings can't go as planned.“These are unprecedented circumstances,” prosecutor Matthew Colangelo wrote in an email to the court. He said prosecutors need to consider how to balance the “competing interests” of the jury’s verdict and the presidency.Trump lawyer Emil Bove, meanwhile, argued the case must be thrown out altogether "to avoid unconstitutional impediments to President Trump’s ability to govern.”The messages were part of an email chain released Tuesday, when New York Judge Juan M. Merchan had been set to rule on Trump lawyers' earlier request to toss his conviction for a different reason — because of a U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-capitol-riot-immunity-2dc0d1c2368d404adc0054151490f542">Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;this summer on presidential immunity.Instead, Merchan told Trump's lawyers he'd halt proceedings and delay the ruling until at least Nov. 19 so that prosecutors can suggest a way forward. Both sides agreed to the one-week postponement.Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung heralded the delay. He said in a statement that the president-elect's win makes it “abundantly clear that Americans want an immediate end to the weaponization of our justice system, including this case, which should have never been filed.”Prosecutors declined to comment.A jury convicted Trump in May of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in 2016. The payout was to buy her silence about claims that she had sex with Trump.Trump says they didn’t have sex, denies any wrongdoing and maintains the prosecution was a political tactic meant to harm his latest campaign. Trump is a Republican. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the case, is a Democrat, as is Merchan.Just over a month after the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that ex-presidents can’t be prosecuted for actions they took in the course of running the country, and prosecutors can’t cite those actions even to bolster a case centered on purely personal conduct.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immunity-hush-money-new-york-conviction-b67bafcb92b287933c6e6d54fc122117">Trump’s lawyers cited that ruling to</a>&nbsp;argue that the hush money jury got some evidence it shouldn't have, such as Trump’s presidential financial disclosure form and testimony from some White House aides.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-new-york-immunity-a6662f61014a7f47400a4af163e01eb3">Prosecutors disagreed</a>&nbsp;and said the evidence in question was only “a sliver” of their case.Trump's criminal conviction was a first for any ex-president. It left the 78-year-old facing the possibility of a fine, probation or up to four years in prison.The case centered on how Trump accounted for reimbursing a personal attorney for the Daniels payment.The then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, fronted the money. He later recouped it through a series of payments that Trump’s company logged as legal expenses. Trump, by then in the White House, signed most of the checks himself.Prosecutors said the designation was meant to cloak the true purpose of the payments and help cover up a broader effort to keep voters from hearing unflattering claims about Trump during his first campaign.Trump said that Cohen was legitimately paid for legal services, and that Daniels’ story was suppressed to avoid embarrassing Trump’s family, not to influence the electorate.Trump was a private citizen, campaigning for president, when Cohen paid Daniels in October 2016. He was president when Cohen was reimbursed, and Cohen testified that they discussed the repayment arrangement in the Oval Office.Trump has been fighting for months to overturn the verdict. While urging Merchan to nix the conviction, the president-elect also has been trying to move the case to federal court. Before the election, a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-new-york-immunity-a905207c7db9fc48d022d68ac6cc12e1">repeatedly said no</a>&nbsp;to the move, but Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-appeal-immunity-sentencing-c143a098e633bbe8f624966806996fc2">has appealed</a>.Trump faces three other unrelated indictments in various jurisdictions.But Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has been evaluating how to wind down both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case against Trump before he takes office, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.Meanwhile, a Georgia election interference case against Trump is largely on hold while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fani-willis-georgia-election-indictment-31ca3234b244126cbe412dc279fd0562">he and other defendants appeal</a>&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-election-indictment-fani-willis-trump-60b7dd9642fc9ef7c03d75980692334c">judge’s ruling</a>&nbsp;allowing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting it.___

Judge delays ruling on President-elect Trump's criminal case

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress returns to a changed Washington as President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;hard-right agenda is quickly taking shape, buoyed by eager Republican allies eyeing a full&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/house-senate-trump-election-updates-11-11-24">sweep of power</a>&nbsp;on Capitol Hill while Democrats are sorting out what went wrong.

Even as final election results are still being tallied, the House and Senate leadership is pushing ahead toward a second-term Trump White House and what he's called a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-elections-house-senate-harris-trump-9a38fb935f94ac1e3f5cdcef621a39ca">“mandate”</a>&nbsp;for governing, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-day-1-priorities-deportations-drilling-ukraine-6747c6e64b0440978f59450b928f61d1">mass deportations, industry deregulation and wholesale gutting</a>&nbsp;of the federal government.

Trump is already testing the norms of governance during this presidential transition period — telling the Senate to forgo its advise-and-consent role and simply&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-senate-thune-cornyn-scott-republican-leadership-2a711f260887926676bb5d69866a1981">accept his Cabinet</a>&nbsp;nominees — and he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-staff-picks-stefanik-wiles-stephen-miller-tom-homan-243d73610b03a3ee18c4d5f68756af7c">staffing his administration</a>&nbsp;and finding lawmakers willing to bend those civic traditions.

“Trump’s going to deliver his deportations, the drilling, the wall — it’s going to take all of us getting together,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a conservative member of the House Freedom Caucus.

But first, the House and Senate leaders will hold internal party elections this week for their own jobs. Most of the top Republican leaders depend on Trump for their political livelihoods and have worked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-mike-johnson-majority-trump-election-65d7217e4541cd314849c9a0da2b0081">draw closer to the president-elect</a>&nbsp;to shore up loyalty.

House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>, who is on the cusp of keeping a slim majority hold of the chamber with several House races still too early to call, will assemble his leadership team early Tuesday on the Capitol steps for a victory lap and agenda-setting.

In the Senate, where Republicans seized power from Democrats on election night, three Republican senators who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-republicans-leadership-mcconnell-thune-cornyn-scott-d17b341874cb6627f1d75d7051feebe4">vying to become the new GOP leader</a>&nbsp;have rushed to agree with Trump’s plan for quick confirmation of presidential nominees.

“As Congress returns to Washington, we must&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/senate">prepare the Senate</a>&nbsp;to advance that agenda legislatively and ensure that the president-elect can hit the ground running with his appointees confirmed as soon as possible,” GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, who is seeking the leadership job, wrote in a Fox News opinion piece.

All told, it’s a fundamental reshaping of not only the power centers in Washington, but the rules of governing, as Trump returns to the White House in January with a potential GOP-led Congress that is far less skeptical or wary of his approach than eight years ago, and much more willing to back him.

“This is going to be a very challenging time,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

She described the “horrific immigration policies” that Trump promised voters and she insisted the progressives in Congress will provide an “effective check” on the new White House, much the way Democrats did during his first term by fighting efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and other policies.

At the same time, Jayapal warned Trump will have “many fewer restrictions."

"Our members are ready to take up the fight again," she said, standing alongside a handful of newly elected progressive lawmakers she called the “bright lights” joining Congress.

First tests will come during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-spending-judges-lame-duck-3084d5c362474ee9ddd9bf9e1cd7b812">“lame duck”</a>&nbsp;period of the remaining days of this Congress, the eight-week sprint until Jan. 3, 2025, when the new lawmakers are sworn into office.

As lawmakers return this week they will be joined by dozens of new names in the House and Senate who are in town for freshmen orientation weeks and the private leadership elections scheduled for Wednesday.

But Republican senators are protesting that one of their own, newly elected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-senate-2024-election-david-mccormick-casey-866a8712dea0b52b5d8d6b4844968b53">Dave McCormick</a>&nbsp;of Pennsylvania, is being excluded from orientation week by Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer because there are still uncounted ballots in his race. Schumer's office has said it is custom to wait until all the ballots are counted.

The Senate leadership race to replace outgoing GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is turning into a test of Trump loyalties, with the president-elect's allies — including billionaire Elon Musk and Make America Great Again influencers — pushing the senators to elect Sen. Rick Scott of Florida.

But Scott has not been the most popular candidate for the leadership post, and senators had been rallying around the two “Johns” — Thune, the second-ranking GOP leader, and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. The outcome of Wednesday's private balloting behind closed doors is highly uncertain.

In the House, some conservative Republicans are quietly suggesting their own leadership elections should be postponed until the final results of the House races are resolved. Democrats will hold their House and Senate leadership elections later.

Johnson wants to retain the speaker's gavel and told colleagues in a letter last week he is ready to “take the field” with them to deliver on Trump's agenda. But he is expected to face detractors behind closed doors.

While Johnson only needs a simple majority during Wednesday's private voting to become the GOP nominee to be speaker, he will need a 218-member majority in January during a floor vote of the whole House.

A low vote total this week will show the leverage Freedom Caucus members and others have to pry concessions from Johnson, much as they forced then-Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-us-republican-party-0938c7358f41c83759246f8949ac7c15">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;into a prolonged vote for the gavel in 2023.

And while Johnson predicts next year will launch the “most consequential” presidency and Congress in modern times, he has had difficulty this year leading Republicans who refused to go along with plans, forcing the speaker to often partner with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Johnson's troubles stem in part from his slim majority, but that could persist if Trump continues to tap House Republicans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-staff-picks-stefanik-wiles-stephen-miller-tom-homan-243d73610b03a3ee18c4d5f68756af7c">fill his administration</a>. Trump has already asked Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">Elise Stefanik</a>, R-N.Y., to be ambassador to the United Nations and Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-security-adviser-mike-wlatz-0c81d044c9ffe18dfd745202e8351b9c">Mike Waltz</a>, R-Fla., to be his national security adviser.

“We're pretty much maxed out,” said Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas. “Everybody understands that.”

In the weeks ahead, Congress faces another deadline, Dec. 20, to fund the federal government or risk a shutdown, and conservatives are redoubling their pressure on Johnson not to cave on their demands to slash spending.

The House and Senate also will consider replenishing the Disaster Relief Fund to help provide aid in the aftermath of Hurricanes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hurricane-helene">Helene</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milton">Milton.</a>

And with President Joe Biden preparing to exit and Democrats relinquishing their hold on the Senate, there will be pressure to confirm more judicial nominees and to usher out the door any other bills that could possibly become law before Trump takes over.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731417768351.png" alt="Image Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Image Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress returns to a changed Washington as President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;hard-right agenda is quickly taking shape, buoyed by eager Republican allies eyeing a full&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/house-senate-trump-election-updates-11-11-24">sweep of power</a>&nbsp;on Capitol Hill while Democrats are sorting out what went wrong.Even as final election results are still being tallied, the House and Senate leadership is pushing ahead toward a second-term Trump White House and what he's called a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-elections-house-senate-harris-trump-9a38fb935f94ac1e3f5cdcef621a39ca">“mandate”</a>&nbsp;for governing, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-day-1-priorities-deportations-drilling-ukraine-6747c6e64b0440978f59450b928f61d1">mass deportations, industry deregulation and wholesale gutting</a>&nbsp;of the federal government.Trump is already testing the norms of governance during this presidential transition period — telling the Senate to forgo its advise-and-consent role and simply&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-senate-thune-cornyn-scott-republican-leadership-2a711f260887926676bb5d69866a1981">accept his Cabinet</a>&nbsp;nominees — and he is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-staff-picks-stefanik-wiles-stephen-miller-tom-homan-243d73610b03a3ee18c4d5f68756af7c">staffing his administration</a>&nbsp;and finding lawmakers willing to bend those civic traditions.“Trump’s going to deliver his deportations, the drilling, the wall — it’s going to take all of us getting together,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a conservative member of the House Freedom Caucus.But first, the House and Senate leaders will hold internal party elections this week for their own jobs. Most of the top Republican leaders depend on Trump for their political livelihoods and have worked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-mike-johnson-majority-trump-election-65d7217e4541cd314849c9a0da2b0081">draw closer to the president-elect</a>&nbsp;to shore up loyalty.House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>, who is on the cusp of keeping a slim majority hold of the chamber with several House races still too early to call, will assemble his leadership team early Tuesday on the Capitol steps for a victory lap and agenda-setting.In the Senate, where Republicans seized power from Democrats on election night, three Republican senators who are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-republicans-leadership-mcconnell-thune-cornyn-scott-d17b341874cb6627f1d75d7051feebe4">vying to become the new GOP leader</a>&nbsp;have rushed to agree with Trump’s plan for quick confirmation of presidential nominees.“As Congress returns to Washington, we must&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/politics/senate">prepare the Senate</a>&nbsp;to advance that agenda legislatively and ensure that the president-elect can hit the ground running with his appointees confirmed as soon as possible,” GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, who is seeking the leadership job, wrote in a Fox News opinion piece.All told, it’s a fundamental reshaping of not only the power centers in Washington, but the rules of governing, as Trump returns to the White House in January with a potential GOP-led Congress that is far less skeptical or wary of his approach than eight years ago, and much more willing to back him.“This is going to be a very challenging time,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.She described the “horrific immigration policies” that Trump promised voters and she insisted the progressives in Congress will provide an “effective check” on the new White House, much the way Democrats did during his first term by fighting efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and other policies.At the same time, Jayapal warned Trump will have “many fewer restrictions.""Our members are ready to take up the fight again," she said, standing alongside a handful of newly elected progressive lawmakers she called the “bright lights” joining Congress.First tests will come during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-spending-judges-lame-duck-3084d5c362474ee9ddd9bf9e1cd7b812">“lame duck”</a>&nbsp;period of the remaining days of this Congress, the eight-week sprint until Jan. 3, 2025, when the new lawmakers are sworn into office.As lawmakers return this week they will be joined by dozens of new names in the House and Senate who are in town for freshmen orientation weeks and the private leadership elections scheduled for Wednesday.But Republican senators are protesting that one of their own, newly elected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-senate-2024-election-david-mccormick-casey-866a8712dea0b52b5d8d6b4844968b53">Dave McCormick</a>&nbsp;of Pennsylvania, is being excluded from orientation week by Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer because there are still uncounted ballots in his race. Schumer's office has said it is custom to wait until all the ballots are counted.The Senate leadership race to replace outgoing GOP Leader Mitch McConnell is turning into a test of Trump loyalties, with the president-elect's allies — including billionaire Elon Musk and Make America Great Again influencers — pushing the senators to elect Sen. Rick Scott of Florida.But Scott has not been the most popular candidate for the leadership post, and senators had been rallying around the two “Johns” — Thune, the second-ranking GOP leader, and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. The outcome of Wednesday's private balloting behind closed doors is highly uncertain.In the House, some conservative Republicans are quietly suggesting their own leadership elections should be postponed until the final results of the House races are resolved. Democrats will hold their House and Senate leadership elections later.Johnson wants to retain the speaker's gavel and told colleagues in a letter last week he is ready to “take the field” with them to deliver on Trump's agenda. But he is expected to face detractors behind closed doors.While Johnson only needs a simple majority during Wednesday's private voting to become the GOP nominee to be speaker, he will need a 218-member majority in January during a floor vote of the whole House.A low vote total this week will show the leverage Freedom Caucus members and others have to pry concessions from Johnson, much as they forced then-Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-us-republican-party-0938c7358f41c83759246f8949ac7c15">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;into a prolonged vote for the gavel in 2023.And while Johnson predicts next year will launch the “most consequential” presidency and Congress in modern times, he has had difficulty this year leading Republicans who refused to go along with plans, forcing the speaker to often partner with Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.Johnson's troubles stem in part from his slim majority, but that could persist if Trump continues to tap House Republicans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-staff-picks-stefanik-wiles-stephen-miller-tom-homan-243d73610b03a3ee18c4d5f68756af7c">fill his administration</a>. Trump has already asked Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-united-nations-elise-stefanik-ambassador-2b482fb39a8d6f03d389d27cc8820056">Elise Stefanik</a>, R-N.Y., to be ambassador to the United Nations and Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-national-security-adviser-mike-wlatz-0c81d044c9ffe18dfd745202e8351b9c">Mike Waltz</a>, R-Fla., to be his national security adviser.“We're pretty much maxed out,” said Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas. “Everybody understands that.”In the weeks ahead, Congress faces another deadline, Dec. 20, to fund the federal government or risk a shutdown, and conservatives are redoubling their pressure on Johnson not to cave on their demands to slash spending.The House and Senate also will consider replenishing the Disaster Relief Fund to help provide aid in the aftermath of Hurricanes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hurricane-helene">Helene</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milton">Milton.</a>And with President Joe Biden preparing to exit and Democrats relinquishing their hold on the Senate, there will be pressure to confirm more judicial nominees and to usher out the door any other bills that could possibly become law before Trump takes over.

More than a dozen races left to be called to determine control of Congress

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 4a.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy SUV driven by Thomas Reller, 78, Zumbrota, Minnesota, was northbound on Interstate 35 just south of Haysville.&nbsp;

The SUV rear-ended a 2025 International semi driven by Tasheba Peavy, 45, Houston, Texas, that had struck a deer and then the barrier wall. The impact pushed the International semi into the rear of another semi driven by Shanna Coleman, 47, The Woodlands, Texas.

Reller and a passenger in the SUV Octavia Reller, 27, Zumbrota, Minnesota, were pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported the two&nbsp; &nbsp;semi drivers to a local hospital. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 4a.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy SUV driven by Thomas Reller, 78, Zumbrota, Minnesota, was northbound on Interstate 35 just south of Haysville.&nbsp; The SUV rear-ended a 2025 International semi driven by Tasheba Peavy, 45, Houston, Texas, that had struck a deer and then the barrier wall. The impact pushed the International semi into the rear of another semi driven by Shanna Coleman, 47, The Woodlands, Texas.Reller and a passenger in the SUV Octavia Reller, 27, Zumbrota, Minnesota, were pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported the two&nbsp; &nbsp;semi drivers to a local hospital. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Patrol IDs two who died after 3-vehicle crash on the Kan. Turnpike

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A 34-year-old man is in custody following a fight&nbsp; that left a 40-year-old man unconscious and requiring transport to the hospital. Two other suspects are still a large.

Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday, police were called to the 700 block of Vermont Street in Lawrence, according to a media release.

&nbsp;Witnesses reported an unconscious man on the ground. Officers were on scene quickly and contacted several involved parties. Initially, the information provided indicated the injured man had started an altercation that involved several people physically fighting on the east sidewalk.

 The involved participants were interviewed and released pending further investigation. However, the injured man was later able to provide a statement at the hospital that contradicted the information officers received on scene. 

Additionally, officers were able to locate video and more witnesses that corroborated the injured man's version of events, which showed he was punched and kicked repeatedly, including after being knocked unconscious. 

Officers were able to track down one of the involved suspects and arrested him, but still seek to arrest two others. The arrested man was booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility on suspicion of Aggravated Battery.

 A 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old man remain at large. The hospitalized man was released after receiving care.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A 34-year-old man is in custody following a fight&nbsp; that left a 40-year-old man unconscious and requiring transport to the hospital. Two other suspects are still a large.Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday, police were called to the 700 block of Vermont Street in Lawrence, according to a media release.&nbsp;Witnesses reported an unconscious man on the ground. Officers were on scene quickly and contacted several involved parties. Initially, the information provided indicated the injured man had started an altercation that involved several people physically fighting on the east sidewalk. The involved participants were interviewed and released pending further investigation. However, the injured man was later able to provide a statement at the hospital that contradicted the information officers received on scene. Additionally, officers were able to locate video and more witnesses that corroborated the injured man's version of events, which showed he was punched and kicked repeatedly, including after being knocked unconscious. Officers were able to track down one of the involved suspects and arrested him, but still seek to arrest two others. The arrested man was booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility on suspicion of Aggravated Battery. A 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old man remain at large. The hospitalized man was released after receiving care.

3 accused of assaulting unconscious 40-year-old Kan. man

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. struck nine targets at two locations in Syria Monday to hit Iranian-aligned militias that had launched attacks on U.S. personnel over the last 24 hours, U.S. Central Command said.

No U.S. personnel were injured in the attacks, but as of late Monday the Pentagon did not provide further details on what U.S. sites in Syria had been attacked or what sites the U.S. struck in return.

The U.S. has about 900 personnel in Syria to assist partnered forces in conducting missions against Islamic State militants. In February it launched a massive attack on Iranian-backed militia sites in Syria in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-strikes-hamas-militia-iran-us-62be7c7b500de1d0f1287a9b2c6f82dc">drone attack in Jordan</a>&nbsp;that killed three U.S. service members.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731379013172.png" alt="U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles -photo U.S. Central Command&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles -photo U.S. Central Command&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. struck nine targets at two locations in Syria Monday to hit Iranian-aligned militias that had launched attacks on U.S. personnel over the last 24 hours, U.S. Central Command said.No U.S. personnel were injured in the attacks, but as of late Monday the Pentagon did not provide further details on what U.S. sites in Syria had been attacked or what sites the U.S. struck in return.The U.S. has about 900 personnel in Syria to assist partnered forces in conducting missions against Islamic State militants. In February it launched a massive attack on Iranian-backed militia sites in Syria in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-strikes-hamas-militia-iran-us-62be7c7b500de1d0f1287a9b2c6f82dc">drone attack in Jordan</a>&nbsp;that killed three U.S. service members.

U.S. forces strike Iranian-backed militia targets in Syria

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.

On Sunday Master Trooper Van Buren stopped a driver traveling 118 mph in a 75 mph zone in Ellsworth County, according to a social media report from the KHP. The trooper arrested the driver.&nbsp;

On Saturday, Trooper Mai made a traffic stop in Cloud County, where a driver was cited for speeding at 103 mph in a 70 mph zone, improper lane use, and child restraint violations.

"It’s a crucial reminder that every safety measure counts on the road. Child safety seats are designed to protect our littlest passengers, and at these speeds, every precaution matters."&nbsp; The KHP released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731362806066.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.On Sunday Master Trooper Van Buren stopped a driver traveling 118 mph in a 75 mph zone in Ellsworth County, according to a social media report from the KHP. The trooper arrested the driver.&nbsp;On Saturday, Trooper Mai made a traffic stop in Cloud County, where a driver was cited for speeding at 103 mph in a 70 mph zone, improper lane use, and child restraint violations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731362875068.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"It’s a crucial reminder that every safety measure counts on the road. Child safety seats are designed to protect our littlest passengers, and at these speeds, every precaution matters."&nbsp; The KHP released no additional details.

KHP: Driver jailed for 118mph in 75 mph zone 

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 3p.m. Monday in Leavenworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Trevor Duane&nbsp;White, 22, Leavenworth, was southbound on U.S. 73 at Fairlane Street.&nbsp;

The motorcycle struck the passenger side of a northbound 2009 Mercedes C-class driven by George&nbsp;Steger, 89, Leavenworth, was turning westbound onto Fairlane Street.&nbsp;

White was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Forensic Medical.&nbsp; EMS transported a passenger in the car identified as 73-year-old Karen&nbsp;Ferengel to Providence Hospital. Steger was not injured. White was not wearing a helmet and the occupants of the car were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 3p.m. Monday in Leavenworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Trevor Duane&nbsp;White, 22, Leavenworth, was southbound on U.S. 73 at Fairlane Street.&nbsp;The motorcycle struck the passenger side of a northbound 2009 Mercedes C-class driven by George&nbsp;Steger, 89, Leavenworth, was turning westbound onto Fairlane Street.&nbsp;White was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Forensic Medical.&nbsp; EMS transported a passenger in the car identified as 73-year-old Karen&nbsp;Ferengel to Providence Hospital. Steger was not injured. White was not wearing a helmet and the occupants of the car were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after motorcycle, car accident

PAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp; – A contested Preliminary Hearing was conducted Friday in the Pawnee County District Court against Michael EG Reynolds, 68 of Larned, in connection with the shooting death of Dr. Tomas Garza, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

Senior District Judge Nancy Parrish of Topeka, Kansas, presided over the hearing. Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman recused himself from the case due to a possible conflict of interest.

Reynolds is charged with one count of Intentional Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm. 

The charges stem from a joint investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Coroner Dr. Lyle Noordhoek into the shooting death of Garza on March 30. Reynolds was taken into custody at the scene without incident at the time of the alleged incident.

Prior to the hearing, Reynolds filed a claim for self-defense immunity from prosecution, commonly referred to as a Stand-Your-Ground immunity. Under Kansas law, a use of deadly force to defend oneself or another requires both the subjective belief that deadly force is necessary as well as an objective showing that “a reasonable person in the defendant’s circumstances would have perceived the use of deadly force as necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to the defendant or a third person.”

Following a full day of testimony, Judge Parrish found the State presented sufficient evidence to support all three charges. Additionally, Judge Parrish found that the State met its burden to overcome the immunity claim finding that based on the evidence presented Reynolds could not have subjectively believed he needed to use deadly force against Dr. Garza, nor would any reasonable person in Reynold’s circumstances perceive that the use of deadly force was necessary.

If convicted of the murder charge, under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces between 147 months and 653 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history.

Following the hearing, Judge Parrish denied the request to reduce the bond for Reynolds. He had requested to be released on house arrest. Reynolds is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff with bond set at $250,000, according to McNett.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712009351520.png" alt="Reynolds photo Pawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Reynolds photo Pawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp; – A contested Preliminary Hearing was conducted Friday in the Pawnee County District Court against Michael EG Reynolds, 68 of Larned, in connection with the shooting death of Dr. Tomas Garza, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.Senior District Judge Nancy Parrish of Topeka, Kansas, presided over the hearing. Pawnee County District Judge Bruce Gatterman recused himself from the case due to a possible conflict of interest.Reynolds is charged with one count of Intentional Murder in the Second Degree, one count of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm. The charges stem from a joint investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Coroner Dr. Lyle Noordhoek into the shooting death of Garza on March 30. Reynolds was taken into custody at the scene without incident at the time of the alleged incident.Prior to the hearing, Reynolds filed a claim for self-defense immunity from prosecution, commonly referred to as a Stand-Your-Ground immunity. Under Kansas law, a use of deadly force to defend oneself or another requires both the subjective belief that deadly force is necessary as well as an objective showing that “a reasonable person in the defendant’s circumstances would have perceived the use of deadly force as necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to the defendant or a third person.”Following a full day of testimony, Judge Parrish found the State presented sufficient evidence to support all three charges. Additionally, Judge Parrish found that the State met its burden to overcome the immunity claim finding that based on the evidence presented Reynolds could not have subjectively believed he needed to use deadly force against Dr. Garza, nor would any reasonable person in Reynold’s circumstances perceive that the use of deadly force was necessary.If convicted of the murder charge, under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines the defendant faces between 147 months and 653 months in the custody of the Department of Corrections depending on his criminal history.Following the hearing, Judge Parrish denied the request to reduce the bond for Reynolds. He had requested to be released on house arrest. Reynolds is being held in the custody of the Pawnee County Sheriff with bond set at $250,000, according to McNett.

Judge rejects self defense claim in murder of Kansas doctor

ATCHISON COUNTY —A Kansas woman injured in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Sunday in Atchison has died of her injuries.

A 2000 Toyota four door passenger car driven by Edwarda Sukow, 87, Atchison, was eastbound on Green Street at 6th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The car entered the intersection and collided with a southbound 2015 Ford four door passenger car driven by Kimberly Thomas, 50, Atchison.

EMS transported both drivers to Amberwell Hospital for treatment of injuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Edwarda Sukow was later transferred to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph and then to KU Medical Center where she died at 10:20p.m. on Sunday, according to&nbsp; Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731282265111.png" alt="Photo Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —A Kansas woman injured in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Sunday in Atchison has died of her injuries.A 2000 Toyota four door passenger car driven by Edwarda Sukow, 87, Atchison, was eastbound on Green Street at 6th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The car entered the intersection and collided with a southbound 2015 Ford four door passenger car driven by Kimberly Thomas, 50, Atchison.EMS transported both drivers to Amberwell Hospital for treatment of injuries.&nbsp;&nbsp;Edwarda Sukow was later transferred to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph and then to KU Medical Center where she died at 10:20p.m. on Sunday, according to&nbsp; Wilson.

Kansas woman injured in 2-car crash dies of her injuries

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman accused in connection with a shooting on Halloween that left a 13-year-old boy dead made her first court appearance on Friday.

Carrice&nbsp; Profit, 19, was charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Police arrested her November 6.

&nbsp;Jermall Campbell, 19, identified as Profit’s cousin, has been charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Battery, and multiple counts of Aggravated Assault in connection to the homicide. Campbell remains at large, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.Campbell is considered armed and dangerous.

Just after 10:30p.m. October 31, police responded to a report of gunfire at the QuikTrip located at Central and Oliver in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

Officers discovered evidence of a shooting and the convenience store. Simultaneously, a walk-in report was received from a local hospital indicating that a private vehicle had transported victims of this incident for treatment.

The victims included a 15-year-old boy from Wichita, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, and a 13-year-old boy who sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival at the hospital.

Initial investigations reveal that a disturbance occurred in the QuikTrip parking lot, leading to the suspect firing at a crowd, which tragically resulted in injuries to the two victims.

Profit is being held on a bond of $350,000. Her next court appearance is November 25, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730979564649.png" alt="Profit photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Profit photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A woman accused in connection with a shooting on Halloween that left a 13-year-old boy dead made her first court appearance on Friday.Carrice&nbsp; Profit, 19, was charged with 1st&nbsp;degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Police arrested her November 6.&nbsp;Jermall Campbell, 19, identified as Profit’s cousin, has been charged with Felony Murder, Aggravated Battery, and multiple counts of Aggravated Assault in connection to the homicide. Campbell remains at large, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.Campbell is considered armed and dangerous.Just after 10:30p.m. October 31, police responded to a report of gunfire at the QuikTrip located at Central and Oliver in Wichita, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730455429350.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation on Halloween -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation on Halloween -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers discovered evidence of a shooting and the convenience store. Simultaneously, a walk-in report was received from a local hospital indicating that a private vehicle had transported victims of this incident for treatment.The victims included a 15-year-old boy from Wichita, who suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, and a 13-year-old boy who sustained a fatal gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival at the hospital.Initial investigations reveal that a disturbance occurred in the QuikTrip parking lot, leading to the suspect firing at a crowd, which tragically resulted in injuries to the two victims.Profit is being held on a bond of $350,000. Her next court appearance is November 25, according to the district attorney's office.

Kansas woman charged in Halloween killing of 13-year-old

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating after five shooting victims were found at three homes in Wichita.

Just before 6p.m. Sunday, police responded to a death investigation at a residence in the 1700 block of Sante Fe in Wichita, according to Police Spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders found&nbsp;a male victim deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.

Shortly after, officers conducted a follow-up at another residence in the 1900 block of S. Laura, where they discovered three additional victims with apparent gunshot wounds.

During a canvass of the neighborhood on Laura, an officer checked another residence by looking through a window and discovered what appeared to be another victim in the living room. Officers forced entry and found a man deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. On Monday afternoon, police reported the victims include, 67-year man, 68-year-old man a 55-year-old man, a 39-year-old man and a 42-year old man. They were all from Wichita. Police have not released their names.

At this time, we believe all victims are known to each other, and there is no outstanding suspect or ongoing threat to the community. Police suspect that one of the victims may be the possible shooter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731324712086.png" alt="Police a the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police a the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating after five shooting victims were found at three homes in Wichita.Just before 6p.m. Sunday, police responded to a death investigation at a residence in the 1700 block of Sante Fe in Wichita, according to Police Spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders found&nbsp;a male victim deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.Shortly after, officers conducted a follow-up at another residence in the 1900 block of S. Laura, where they discovered three additional victims with apparent gunshot wounds.During a canvass of the neighborhood on Laura, an officer checked another residence by looking through a window and discovered what appeared to be another victim in the living room. Officers forced entry and found a man deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. On Monday afternoon, police reported the victims include, 67-year man, 68-year-old man a 55-year-old man, a 39-year-old man and a 42-year old man. They were all from Wichita. Police have not released their names.At this time, we believe all victims are known to each other, and there is no outstanding suspect or ongoing threat to the community. Police suspect that one of the victims may be the possible shooter.

Police update details on 5 found dead at 3 crime scenes in Wichita

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Monday, led by those seen as benefiting the most from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">Donald Trump’s reelection</a>&nbsp;as president, but drops for some high-profile Big Tech stocks kept indexes in check.

The S&amp;P 500 edged up by 0.1%, coming off its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-china-af8eff52e0a9c9252b5f654b0bbaa0bf">best week of the year</a>&nbsp;following Trump’s victory and a cut to interest rates by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-election-inflation-trump-economy-prices-e6b837fd85cff5ad71d4e40939b97237">Federal Reserve to bolster the economy</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 304 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.1%.

Tesla was the strongest force pushing upward on the S&amp;P 500 after rising 9.1%. Its leader, Elon Musk, has become a close ally of Trump’s, and its stock jumped nearly 15% the day after the election and has kept rising.

Several pieces of what’s known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-china-93421462d761eb1402d813cb381fe6e9">“Trump trade”</a>&nbsp;also helped drive the market, as investors try to identify which companies will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-trump-inflation-prices-election-tariffs-immigrants-e791d15158195a8a15a71ee43c77d749">winners under a second Trump term</a>. JPMorgan Chase rose 1%, and financial stocks again helped lead the market on expectations for stronger economic growth, less regulation from Washington and an increase in mergers and acquisitions.

A White House more friendly to big tie-ups has helped Wall Street speculate about a merger between insurers Cigna Group and Humana, for example. It’s been so feverish that Cigna said Monday it isn’t pursuing a deal with Humana. Cigna’s stock rose 7.3%, and Humana’s sank 2%.

Stocks of companies more focused on the U.S. economy were also rising more than the rest of the market, including a 1.5% rally for the smaller stocks in the Russell 2000 index, because they’re seen as benefiting more from Trump’s America First policies than big multinational companies.

They helped offset a drop of 1.6% for Nvidia, which was the heaviest weight on the market.

Such Big Tech stocks have rocketed higher on excitement about artificial-intelligence technology, and they had been gaining almost regardless of what the economy was doing. Now, though, critics say their prices look too expensive, and investors are finding more interesting buys among companies that could benefit more from Trump’s second term.

A drop for Nvidia packs a particularly heavy punch because its massive value of nearly $3.6 trillion makes it one of the most influential stocks on the S&amp;P 500 and other indexes.

AbbVie, meanwhile, tumbled 12.6% after saying trials investigating its treatment for some adults with schizophrenia failed to show statistically significant improvement compared with a placebo group at week six.

Some of the sharpest swings were in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-price-record-trump-election-rally-crypto-9a22f5b5ce24824d7df5a3ab4a58e8a0">crypto market</a>, where bitcoin rose above $87,000 for the first time.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-bitcoin-cryptocurrency-stockpile-6f1314f5e99bbf47cc3ee6fc6178588d">Trump has embraced cryptocurrencies</a>&nbsp;generally and pledged to make his country the crypto capital of the world. Bitcoin hit a record of $87,491, according to CoinDesk.

Another Trump trade has been a rise in Treasury yields, as traders anticipate potentially higher economic growth, U.S. government debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inflation-tariffs-taxes-immigration-federal-reserve-a18de763fcc01557258c7f33cab375ed">inflation because of Trump’s policies</a>. But trading in the bond market was closed Monday in observance of Veterans Day.

Treasury yields been generally climbing since September, in large part because the U.S. economy has remained much more resilient than feared. The hope is that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-election-economy-inflation-unemployment-presidential-dcf54cd3b40f01ca78bccf86cd8e13d5">it can continue to stay solid</a>&nbsp;as the Federal Reserve continues to cut interest rates in order to keep the job market humming, now that it’s helped get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-election-federal-reserve-rates-economy-e4ff4b6745ea1c8badd6a0502f372f25">inflation nearly down to its 2% target</a>.

But Trump’s win has scrambled expectations for coming cuts to rates. Traders have already begun paring forecasts for how many the Fed will deliver next year. While lower rates can boost the economy, they can also give inflation more fuel.

Still, many professional investors warn not to get carried away by all the big swings following Trump’s victory. It takes time to see what campaign promises turn into actual policy, and that can lead to snaps back for the market’s initial knee-jerk reactions.

The U.S. stock market is also broadly looking more expensive, as prices continue to run up faster than corporate profits.

“Valuations are increasingly elevated, and the pace of growth isn’t sustainable,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. “While near-term seasonality will be a strong tailwind for markets, valuations may prove to be a tipping point as we move into 2025.”

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 5.81 points Monday to 6,001.35. The Dow gained 304.14 to 44,293.13, and the Nasdaq composite added 11.99 to 19,298.76.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Monday, led by those seen as benefiting the most from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">Donald Trump’s reelection</a>&nbsp;as president, but drops for some high-profile Big Tech stocks kept indexes in check.The S&amp;P 500 edged up by 0.1%, coming off its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-china-af8eff52e0a9c9252b5f654b0bbaa0bf">best week of the year</a>&nbsp;following Trump’s victory and a cut to interest rates by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-election-inflation-trump-economy-prices-e6b837fd85cff5ad71d4e40939b97237">Federal Reserve to bolster the economy</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 304 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.1%.Tesla was the strongest force pushing upward on the S&amp;P 500 after rising 9.1%. Its leader, Elon Musk, has become a close ally of Trump’s, and its stock jumped nearly 15% the day after the election and has kept rising.Several pieces of what’s known as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-china-93421462d761eb1402d813cb381fe6e9">“Trump trade”</a>&nbsp;also helped drive the market, as investors try to identify which companies will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-trump-inflation-prices-election-tariffs-immigrants-e791d15158195a8a15a71ee43c77d749">winners under a second Trump term</a>. JPMorgan Chase rose 1%, and financial stocks again helped lead the market on expectations for stronger economic growth, less regulation from Washington and an increase in mergers and acquisitions.A White House more friendly to big tie-ups has helped Wall Street speculate about a merger between insurers Cigna Group and Humana, for example. It’s been so feverish that Cigna said Monday it isn’t pursuing a deal with Humana. Cigna’s stock rose 7.3%, and Humana’s sank 2%.Stocks of companies more focused on the U.S. economy were also rising more than the rest of the market, including a 1.5% rally for the smaller stocks in the Russell 2000 index, because they’re seen as benefiting more from Trump’s America First policies than big multinational companies.They helped offset a drop of 1.6% for Nvidia, which was the heaviest weight on the market.Such Big Tech stocks have rocketed higher on excitement about artificial-intelligence technology, and they had been gaining almost regardless of what the economy was doing. Now, though, critics say their prices look too expensive, and investors are finding more interesting buys among companies that could benefit more from Trump’s second term.A drop for Nvidia packs a particularly heavy punch because its massive value of nearly $3.6 trillion makes it one of the most influential stocks on the S&amp;P 500 and other indexes.AbbVie, meanwhile, tumbled 12.6% after saying trials investigating its treatment for some adults with schizophrenia failed to show statistically significant improvement compared with a placebo group at week six.Some of the sharpest swings were in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-price-record-trump-election-rally-crypto-9a22f5b5ce24824d7df5a3ab4a58e8a0">crypto market</a>, where bitcoin rose above $87,000 for the first time.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-bitcoin-cryptocurrency-stockpile-6f1314f5e99bbf47cc3ee6fc6178588d">Trump has embraced cryptocurrencies</a>&nbsp;generally and pledged to make his country the crypto capital of the world. Bitcoin hit a record of $87,491, according to CoinDesk.Another Trump trade has been a rise in Treasury yields, as traders anticipate potentially higher economic growth, U.S. government debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inflation-tariffs-taxes-immigration-federal-reserve-a18de763fcc01557258c7f33cab375ed">inflation because of Trump’s policies</a>. But trading in the bond market was closed Monday in observance of Veterans Day.Treasury yields been generally climbing since September, in large part because the U.S. economy has remained much more resilient than feared. The hope is that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-election-economy-inflation-unemployment-presidential-dcf54cd3b40f01ca78bccf86cd8e13d5">it can continue to stay solid</a>&nbsp;as the Federal Reserve continues to cut interest rates in order to keep the job market humming, now that it’s helped get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-election-federal-reserve-rates-economy-e4ff4b6745ea1c8badd6a0502f372f25">inflation nearly down to its 2% target</a>.But Trump’s win has scrambled expectations for coming cuts to rates. Traders have already begun paring forecasts for how many the Fed will deliver next year. While lower rates can boost the economy, they can also give inflation more fuel.Still, many professional investors warn not to get carried away by all the big swings following Trump’s victory. It takes time to see what campaign promises turn into actual policy, and that can lead to snaps back for the market’s initial knee-jerk reactions.The U.S. stock market is also broadly looking more expensive, as prices continue to run up faster than corporate profits.“Valuations are increasingly elevated, and the pace of growth isn’t sustainable,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. “While near-term seasonality will be a strong tailwind for markets, valuations may prove to be a tipping point as we move into 2025.”All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 5.81 points Monday to 6,001.35. The Dow gained 304.14 to 44,293.13, and the Nasdaq composite added 11.99 to 19,298.76.

Wall Street rolls higher as bitcoin bursts above $87,000

The Amber Alert for a missing mother and her two daughters is canceled, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Law enforcement located them and they are safe. Authorities did not report an arrest or additional details.

LACLEDE COUNTY —The&nbsp;Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert Monday to help locate a Missouri mother identified as&nbsp;22-year-old Yajayra Suleyma Molina-Ya and her two daughters 7-year-old Irma Rubi Mo-Moralis and 7-year-old Rosana Michel Mo-Molina.

According to the Amber Alert, the mother and her two children left their home in O'Fallon, Missouri, on Sunday at 6 p.m. with two unknown men.

At 10:45 p.m., the report says the mother was separated from her children against her will and into a red pickup truck.

The children were last seen in a black sport utility vehicle. The make, model, license plate number and direction of travel are unknown.

The mother's cell phone was last pinged in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Monday morning at 1:30 a.m., according to the alert.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731340145698.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Amber Alert for a missing mother and her two daughters is canceled, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Law enforcement located them and they are safe. Authorities did not report an arrest or additional details.----------------LACLEDE COUNTY —The&nbsp;Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert Monday to help locate a Missouri mother identified as&nbsp;22-year-old Yajayra Suleyma Molina-Ya and her two daughters 7-year-old Irma Rubi Mo-Moralis and 7-year-old Rosana Michel Mo-Molina.According to the Amber Alert, the mother and her two children left their home in O'Fallon, Missouri, on Sunday at 6 p.m. with two unknown men.At 10:45 p.m., the report says the mother was separated from her children against her will and into a red pickup truck.The children were last seen in a black sport utility vehicle. The make, model, license plate number and direction of travel are unknown.The mother's cell phone was last pinged in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Monday morning at 1:30 a.m., according to the alert.

Amber Alert canceled: Mom, daughters located

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has chosen Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elise-stefanik">Elise Stefanik</a>&nbsp;to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations, picking a loyal ally with little foreign policy experience to represent the U.S. at the international organization.

“Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said in a statement Monday announcing his pick for the role — his first selection that will require Senate confirmation.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elise-stefanik">Stefanik</a>, 40, who serves as House Republican Conference Chair, has long been one of Trump's most loyal allies in the House, and was among those discussed as a potential vice presidential choice.

Born and raised in upstate New York, Stefanik graduated from Harvard and worked in former President George W. Bush’s White House on the domestic policy council and in the chief of staff’s office.

In 2014, at 30, she became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, representing upstate New York. She later became the youngest woman to serve in House leadership.

Stefanik was known early in her tenure as a more moderate conservative voice. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ny-state-wire-donald-trump-election-2020-government-and-politics-1d5f980f186ddcf1680fbc720a9fc70a">she soon attached herself to the former president</a>, quietly remaking her image into that of a staunch MAGA ally — and seeing her power ascend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731349710450.png" alt="In 2014, at 30, Stefanik became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, representing upstate New York. She later became the youngest woman to serve in House leadership.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>In 2014, at 30, Stefanik became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, representing upstate New York. She later became the youngest woman to serve in House leadership.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has chosen Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elise-stefanik">Elise Stefanik</a>&nbsp;to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations, picking a loyal ally with little foreign policy experience to represent the U.S. at the international organization.“Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said in a statement Monday announcing his pick for the role — his first selection that will require Senate confirmation.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elise-stefanik">Stefanik</a>, 40, who serves as House Republican Conference Chair, has long been one of Trump's most loyal allies in the House, and was among those discussed as a potential vice presidential choice.Born and raised in upstate New York, Stefanik graduated from Harvard and worked in former President George W. Bush’s White House on the domestic policy council and in the chief of staff’s office.In 2014, at 30, she became the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, representing upstate New York. She later became the youngest woman to serve in House leadership.Stefanik was known early in her tenure as a more moderate conservative voice. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ny-state-wire-donald-trump-election-2020-government-and-politics-1d5f980f186ddcf1680fbc720a9fc70a">she soon attached herself to the former president</a>, quietly remaking her image into that of a staunch MAGA ally — and seeing her power ascend.She became the House Republican Conference Chair in 2021.Stefanik spent years positioning herself as one of Trump’s most trusted allies and confidants on the Hill. She&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elise-stefanik-a6db4f53af168be7f8483f29495eaba1">endorsed him in the 2024 race</a>&nbsp;before he had even launched his bid, and aggressively campaigned on his behalf during the GOP primary.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill resigned Saturday after facing backlash from her congressional testimony earlier this week on antisemitism on college campuses. Here&#39;s the exchange. <a href="https://t.co/EVrAMy33qh">pic.twitter.com/EVrAMy33qh</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1733607598803292487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>She saw her profile rise after her aggressive questioning of a trio of university presidents over antisemitism on their campuses led to two of their resignations — a performance Trump repeatedly praised.She also defended him vigorously in both of his impeachment trials and railed against his four criminal indictments, including filing an ethics complaint in New York against the judge who heard his civil fraud case.Nikki Haley,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-republican-trump-super-tuesday-losses-95ab56b68a8eefbbf04ef90f2f00ef29">who challenged Trump for the GOP nomination</a>, was among those who previously held the U.N. ambassador role in his first term.Stefanik’s appointment to the job comes despite her minimal experience in foreign policy and national security.While she is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and serves on the coveted House committee that oversees national intelligence, her pick further solidifies Trump’s preference for unconditional loyalty in his second administration over career experience.One area of foreign policy that Stefanik has been vocal about is Israel.Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Stefanik has focused much of her attention on the United Nations, accusing the world body and international organizations of antisemitism for their criticism of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has resulted in the death of more than 43,000 Palestinians, according to the group's Health Ministry.She has gone as far as calling last month for a “complete reassessment” of U.S. funding for the United Nations. while helping push for the blocking of American support for the U.N. agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the region.Her departure for the United Nations will also mean that Republicans, who are on track to have a razor-thin majority in the House, will be down one crucial vote. But Stefanik’s district is located in a deeply red part of upstate New York, where Republicans are likely guaranteed to win the special election that will take place after she leaves office.“Republicans will hold this safe Republican seat as part of a Republican majority in the House that will help deliver on President Trump’s historic mandate,” Ed Cox, the chair of the New York Republican party, said in a statement Monday.Trump did not say much about the U.N. during his campaign, but has generally advocated for a less interventionist foreign policy. He has also repeatedly questioned the utility of international alliances, including NATO, and he has threatened allies with higher tariffs and said he will not protect them unless they contribute more to their own defense.Trump has also talked about how he initially wanted to select his eldest daughter,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ivanka-trump">Ivanka Trump</a>, for the role after he was elected the first time.“'You would be a great ambassador to the United Nations, United Nations secretary.' There’d be nobody to compete with her, I tell you,” he said at a Moms for Liberty Summit in August. “She may be my daughter, but nobody could have competed with her."___ Amiri reported from Washington.