SEDGWICK COUNTY —A teen murder suspect finally captured on Tuesday made his first court appearance on Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Jaden Watts, 19, was charged with second-degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Wichita police and U.S. Marshals took Watts into custody in the area of 700 S Hunter in Wichita, according to a statement from Wichita Police.

In March, police issued a felony pick-up for Watts in connection with the shooting of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess&nbsp;at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.&nbsp; EMS transported Burgess to a local hospital where he died.

First responders located a victim later identified as 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to police. Burgess had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between Watts and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting.&nbsp; &nbsp;Watts is being held on bonds totaling over $500,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750206784085.png" alt="Watts photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Watts photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A teen murder suspect finally captured on Tuesday made his first court appearance on Wednesday afternoon.&nbsp;Jaden Watts, 19, was charged with second-degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Wichita police and U.S. Marshals took Watts into custody in the area of 700 S Hunter in Wichita, according to a statement from Wichita Police.In March, police issued a felony pick-up for Watts in connection with the shooting of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess&nbsp;at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.&nbsp; EMS transported Burgess to a local hospital where he died.First responders located a victim later identified as 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to police. Burgess had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between Watts and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting.&nbsp; &nbsp;Watts is being held on bonds totaling over $500,000.

Teen murder suspect who hid from police for weeks faces a judge

By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph Post

Eastern Kansas Congressman, Derek Schmidt, defends his support of rescinding nearly $10 billion in spending already appropriated by Congress, saying the country simply cannot keep spending as it has.

Schmidt, a Republican, backs the Rescissions Act of 2025, which would claw back $9.4 billion already approved in the federal budget.

“The United States is $36 trillion in debt and sinking deeper by almost $2 trillion per year and there is no end in sight unless we begin to slow the rate at which the United States federal government is spending money we do not have,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Schmidt asserts the act gets rid of spending that is absurd.

“Why on earth were we spending money, literally, to put Sesame Street into television broadcasts in Iraq?” Schmidt asks. “I like Sesame Street as much as the next guy, but, my goodness, that is not an appropriate use of American taxpayers’ money.”

Other federal budget line items listed in the Rescissions Act include $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico, $1 million for voter ID in Haiti, and $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda.

Schmidt says the rate of spending by Congress is simply unsustainable.

“The people’s elected representatives in Congress need to step up and make the hard choices on how to try to, sort of, control this out-of-control spending that threatens our republic and threatens the future of our children,” according to Schmidt.

Schmidt calls the bill a good first step and appropriate.

“Budgeting decisions ought to be Congress’ to make. Congress needs to step up and say we can’t continue to afford to be all things to all people,” Schmidt says. “That is the appropriate to begin to slow down the out-of-control rate of federal spending.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750102265434.png" alt="Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derek Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derek Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph PostEastern Kansas Congressman, Derek Schmidt, defends his support of rescinding nearly $10 billion in spending already appropriated by Congress, saying the country simply cannot keep spending as it has.Schmidt, a Republican, backs the Rescissions Act of 2025, which would claw back $9.4 billion already approved in the federal budget.“The United States is $36 trillion in debt and sinking deeper by almost $2 trillion per year and there is no end in sight unless we begin to slow the rate at which the United States federal government is spending money we do not have,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Schmidt asserts the act gets rid of spending that is absurd.“Why on earth were we spending money, literally, to put Sesame Street into television broadcasts in Iraq?” Schmidt asks. “I like Sesame Street as much as the next guy, but, my goodness, that is not an appropriate use of American taxpayers’ money.”Other federal budget line items listed in the Rescissions Act include $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico, $1 million for voter ID in Haiti, and $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda.Schmidt says the rate of spending by Congress is simply unsustainable.“The people’s elected representatives in Congress need to step up and make the hard choices on how to try to, sort of, control this out-of-control spending that threatens our republic and threatens the future of our children,” according to Schmidt.Schmidt calls the bill a good first step and appropriate.“Budgeting decisions ought to be Congress’ to make. Congress needs to step up and say we can’t continue to afford to be all things to all people,” Schmidt says. “That is the appropriate to begin to slow down the out-of-control rate of federal spending.”

Kan. Congressman backs clawing back $10B from federal budget

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas farm income in 2025 is expected to be among the strongest in the last 20 years, bolstered by $2 billion in government payments for depressed crop prices and weather conditions, an agricultural economics expert said Tuesday.

“If you look at the inflation-adjusted farm income for 2025, it’s by far the largest we’ve seen in several years,” said Jennifer Ifft, professor and extension specialist in agricultural policy at Kansas State University. “What drove that sharp increase that we see from 2024 to 2025? The answer is government payments.”

Ifft spoke&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFy4kX8es1Y&amp;t=1s" target="_blank">at a webinar</a>&nbsp;about the outlook for farm income in Kansas and nationally,&nbsp;<a href="https://raff.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Kansas_Farm_Income_Spring2025.pdf" target="_blank">based on a report from</a>&nbsp;the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri and Kansas State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics.

Crop and livestock farmers face opposite market conditions, as livestock farmers are thriving amid strong demand while crop farmers face lower prices and high input costs, Ifft said.&nbsp;

“We’ve seen an increase of over $5 billion in livestock receipts since 2020,” she said. “On the crop side, you have seen a decline in crop receipts since 2020. These numbers are very much moving in opposite directions, even though crops have leveled off a little bit.”

Crop receipts fell about $1.6 billion from 2020 to 2025, according to a chart Ifft shared. Data in 2025 is projected.&nbsp;

“Somebody recently reminded me that there’s never been a year when all farms are doing well, and I think that’s especially true this year, and it’s especially important to look under the hood to understand what’s happening with these numbers,” Ifft said.

Although crop farm expenses have decreased, they are still high compared to previous years, she said.

“In 2015, fertilizer expenses have come down, but they’re still 28% higher than the long-run average,” Ifft said. “Pesticides … have come down in 2025, and they’re still 30% higher than that long-run average.”

The long-run average was determined from fertilizer and pesticide expenses from 2006 to 2024.&nbsp;

Ifft highlighted government payments made in recent years, including during the first Trump administration after trade tariffs affected sales; in 2020-2021 related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and those approved at the end of 2024 that will be paid this year related to economic losses for some crop farms and disaster payments.

Gregg Ibendahl, K-State associate professor of agricultural economics, shared data that narrowed Kansas numbers down to a farm level, using information collected from farmers who are part of the Kansas Farm Management Association.&nbsp;

He noted that in 2024, without government payments, about half of Kansas farms in his data would have lost money.&nbsp;

Ibendahl said the current global situation affects farm income projections.&nbsp;

“Some other issues to maybe think about or worry about, is what’s going to happen with the oil supply,” he said, adding that there are wars involving two of the biggest areas in the world where oil is produced, Russia and Ukraine, and now the Middle East conflict between Israel and Iran.&nbsp;

“Surprisingly, though, with the fact that we have two major conflicts going on in two of the major oil-producing areas of the world, oil is still in the $70 range,” Ibendahl said. “I don’t know if the traders are being a little optimistic. They kind of got burned a little bit when the Ukraine war first started, because they had jacked up oil prices into about the $130 range. Turns out that it really didn’t affect Russia’s ability to produce oil.”

If oil prices would escalate quickly, it would affect diesel and fertilizer prices, he said.

Kansas parallels what is happening across the country.&nbsp;

“The bottom line at the national level is that we are seeing short- and medium-term pain for field crops because of lower prices, sticky costs,” said Alejandro Plastina, director of the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center. “In the cattle sector, I would say the picture is better. There are limited supplies, mostly on beef and cattle production, high prices and lower feed costs than in the past, still high, but lower than the past.”

Plastina said government payments, specifically ad hoc payments made based on need to address situations such as weather events, were important in 2023 and 2024.&nbsp;

“At the aggregate level, we are projecting higher net farm income in 2025,” he said. “But there’s a lot of uncertainty regarding the impact of tariffs and trades, whether we will have a farm bill this year, reconciliation and what it will look like, and then what’s next? That’s a big question for us.”

Like Ifft, Plastina said government support from 2023 and 2024 being paid out this year will increase net farm income.&nbsp;

“In the absence of another round of big ad hoc, direct government payments in 2026, which there’s no sign or signal at this point that they might occur —&nbsp; without those payments, net farm income would decline by 20% in 2026 to be barely above what we have as an estimate for 2024,” he said.&nbsp;

Of the $41 billion in net farm increase predicted in 2025, $33 billion of it is in government payments, Plastina said.&nbsp;

“Net farm income is up for one time in 2025 for those who will receive the payments, but managing that cash flow generated in 2025 to cushion the drop in margins going forward, I think will be critical for the ag sector,” he said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750345862222.png" alt="&nbsp;Kansas farm income in 2025 is expected to be the second highest in the past 20 years, bolstered by government payments that addressed weather challenges and depressed crop prices. (Kevin Hardy/Stateline)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kansas farm income in 2025 is expected to be the second highest in the past 20 years, bolstered by government payments that addressed weather challenges and depressed crop prices. (Kevin Hardy/Stateline)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas farm income in 2025 is expected to be among the strongest in the last 20 years, bolstered by $2 billion in government payments for depressed crop prices and weather conditions, an agricultural economics expert said Tuesday.“If you look at the inflation-adjusted farm income for 2025, it’s by far the largest we’ve seen in several years,” said Jennifer Ifft, professor and extension specialist in agricultural policy at Kansas State University. “What drove that sharp increase that we see from 2024 to 2025? The answer is government payments.”Ifft spoke&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFy4kX8es1Y&amp;t=1s" target="_blank">at a webinar</a>&nbsp;about the outlook for farm income in Kansas and nationally,&nbsp;<a href="https://raff.missouri.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Kansas_Farm_Income_Spring2025.pdf" target="_blank">based on a report from</a>&nbsp;the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center at the University of Missouri and Kansas State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics.Crop and livestock farmers face opposite market conditions, as livestock farmers are thriving amid strong demand while crop farmers face lower prices and high input costs, Ifft said.&nbsp;“We’ve seen an increase of over $5 billion in livestock receipts since 2020,” she said. “On the crop side, you have seen a decline in crop receipts since 2020. These numbers are very much moving in opposite directions, even though crops have leveled off a little bit.”Crop receipts fell about $1.6 billion from 2020 to 2025, according to a chart Ifft shared. Data in 2025 is projected.&nbsp;“Somebody recently reminded me that there’s never been a year when all farms are doing well, and I think that’s especially true this year, and it’s especially important to look under the hood to understand what’s happening with these numbers,” Ifft said.Although crop farm expenses have decreased, they are still high compared to previous years, she said.“In 2015, fertilizer expenses have come down, but they’re still 28% higher than the long-run average,” Ifft said. “Pesticides … have come down in 2025, and they’re still 30% higher than that long-run average.”The long-run average was determined from fertilizer and pesticide expenses from 2006 to 2024.&nbsp;Ifft highlighted government payments made in recent years, including during the first Trump administration after trade tariffs affected sales; in 2020-2021 related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and those approved at the end of 2024 that will be paid this year related to economic losses for some crop farms and disaster payments.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750355919009.png" alt=" Data shared at a Kansas farm income webinar Tuesday tracked the sales for livestock and crop farmers. (Screen capture)" />
 <figcaption> Data shared at a Kansas farm income webinar Tuesday tracked the sales for livestock and crop farmers. (Screen capture)</figcaption>
 </figure>Gregg Ibendahl, K-State associate professor of agricultural economics, shared data that narrowed Kansas numbers down to a farm level, using information collected from farmers who are part of the Kansas Farm Management Association.&nbsp;He noted that in 2024, without government payments, about half of Kansas farms in his data would have lost money.&nbsp;Ibendahl said the current global situation affects farm income projections.&nbsp;“Some other issues to maybe think about or worry about, is what’s going to happen with the oil supply,” he said, adding that there are wars involving two of the biggest areas in the world where oil is produced, Russia and Ukraine, and now the Middle East conflict between Israel and Iran.&nbsp;“Surprisingly, though, with the fact that we have two major conflicts going on in two of the major oil-producing areas of the world, oil is still in the $70 range,” Ibendahl said. “I don’t know if the traders are being a little optimistic. They kind of got burned a little bit when the Ukraine war first started, because they had jacked up oil prices into about the $130 range. Turns out that it really didn’t affect Russia’s ability to produce oil.”If oil prices would escalate quickly, it would affect diesel and fertilizer prices, he said.<h2>National outlook</h2>Kansas parallels what is happening across the country.&nbsp;“The bottom line at the national level is that we are seeing short- and medium-term pain for field crops because of lower prices, sticky costs,” said Alejandro Plastina, director of the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center. “In the cattle sector, I would say the picture is better. There are limited supplies, mostly on beef and cattle production, high prices and lower feed costs than in the past, still high, but lower than the past.”Plastina said government payments, specifically ad hoc payments made based on need to address situations such as weather events, were important in 2023 and 2024.&nbsp;“At the aggregate level, we are projecting higher net farm income in 2025,” he said. “But there’s a lot of uncertainty regarding the impact of tariffs and trades, whether we will have a farm bill this year, reconciliation and what it will look like, and then what’s next? That’s a big question for us.”Like Ifft, Plastina said government support from 2023 and 2024 being paid out this year will increase net farm income.&nbsp;“In the absence of another round of big ad hoc, direct government payments in 2026, which there’s no sign or signal at this point that they might occur —&nbsp; without those payments, net farm income would decline by 20% in 2026 to be barely above what we have as an estimate for 2024,” he said.&nbsp;Of the $41 billion in net farm increase predicted in 2025, $33 billion of it is in government payments, Plastina said.&nbsp;“Net farm income is up for one time in 2025 for those who will receive the payments, but managing that cash flow generated in 2025 to cushion the drop in margins going forward, I think will be critical for the ag sector,” he said.&nbsp;

Government payments push Kansas farm income higher in 2025 amid global uncertainty

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;

Just before 7a.m. June 15,&nbsp; a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 75 near 118th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 54-year-old Netawaka resident, Travis James Mullins.

He was the passenger in the vehicle and was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750076536545.png" alt="Mullins -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Mullins -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;Just before 7a.m. June 15,&nbsp; a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 75 near 118th Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 54-year-old Netawaka resident, Travis James Mullins.He was the passenger in the vehicle and was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Passenger in Kansas traffic stop caught with methamphetamine 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/further-extending-the-tiktok-enforcement-delay/">executive order</a>&nbsp;to keep TikTok running in the U.S. for another 90 days to give his administration more time to broker a deal to bring the social media platform under American ownership.

Trump disclosed the executive order on the Truth Social platform Thursday morning.

“He’s making an extension so we can get this deal done,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. “It’s wildly popular. He also wants to protect Americans’ data and privacy concerns on this app. And he believes we can do both at the same time.”

It is the third time Trump has extended the deadline. The first one was through an executive order on Jan. 20, his first day in office, after the platform went dark briefly when a national ban —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-fire-congressmans-office-wisconsin-a815e6592bea4c028b1c7748491461ed">approved by Congress</a>&nbsp;and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court — took effect. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-china-bytedance-social-media-tariffs-665e46fd5bb555e97c4d7301e07230df">second was in April</a>&nbsp;when White House officials believed they were nearing a deal to spin off TikTok into a new company with U.S. ownership that fell apart after China backed out following Trump’s tariff announcement.

It is not clear how many times Trump can — or will — keep extending the ban as the government continues to try to negotiate a deal for TikTok, which is owned by China’s ByteDance. While there is no clear legal basis for the extensions, so far there have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-china-supreme-court-37284ac35241b1822c9f5da7c9d719d2">no legal challenges to fight them</a>. Trump has amassed more than 15 million followers on TikTok since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/trump-joins-tiktok-and-calls-it-an-honor-as-president-he-once-tried-to-ban-the-video-sharing-app/">he joined last year</a>, and he has credited the trendsetting platform with helping him gain traction among young voters. He said in January that he has a “warm spot for TikTok.”

TikTok praised Trump for signing an extension Thursday.

“We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available for more than 170 million American users and 7.5 million U.S. businesses that rely on the platform as we continue to work with Vice President Vance’s Office,” the company said in a statement.

As the extensions continue, it appears less and less likely that TikTok will be banned in the U.S. any time soon. The decision to keep TikTok alive through an executive order has received some scrutiny, but it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-china-supreme-court-37284ac35241b1822c9f5da7c9d719d2">not faced a legal challenge in court</a>&nbsp;— unlike many of Trump’s other executive orders.

Jeremy Goldman, analyst at Emarketer, called TikTok’s U.S situation a “deadline purgatory.”

The whole thing “is starting to feel less like a ticking clock and more like a looped ringtone. This political Groundhog Day is starting to resemble the debt ceiling drama: a recurring threat with no real resolution.”

That's not stopping TikTok from pushing forward with its platform, Forrester analyst Kelsey Chickering says.

“TikTok’s behavior also indicates they’re confident in their future, as they rolled out new AI video tools at Cannes this week,” Chickering notes. “Smaller players, like Snap, will try to steal share during this ‘uncertain time,’ but they will not succeed because this next round for TikTok isn’t uncertain at all.”

For now, TikTok continues to function for its 170 million users in the U.S., and tech giants Apple, Google and Oracle were persuaded to continue to offer and support the app, on the promise that Trump’s Justice Department would not use the law to seek potentially steep fines against them.

Americans are even more closely divided on what to do about TikTok than they were two years ago.

A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/25/fewer-americans-now-support-tiktok-ban-see-the-platform-as-a-national-security-threat-than-in-spring-2023/">Pew Research Center survey</a>&nbsp;found that about one-third of Americans said they supported a TikTok ban, down from 50% in March 2023. Roughly one-third said they would oppose a ban, and a similar percentage said they weren’t sure.

Among those who said they supported banning the social media platform, about 8 in 10 cited concerns over users’ data security being at risk as a major factor in their decision, according to the report.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the Trump administration is once again “flouting the law and ignoring its own national security findings about the risks” posed by a China-controlled TikTok.

“An executive order can’t sidestep the law, but that’s exactly what the president is trying to do,” Warner added.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/further-extending-the-tiktok-enforcement-delay/">executive order</a>&nbsp;to keep TikTok running in the U.S. for another 90 days to give his administration more time to broker a deal to bring the social media platform under American ownership.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/IvUbD8fPZg">pic.twitter.com/IvUbD8fPZg</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935720711919706165?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump disclosed the executive order on the Truth Social platform Thursday morning.“He’s making an extension so we can get this deal done,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday. “It’s wildly popular. He also wants to protect Americans’ data and privacy concerns on this app. And he believes we can do both at the same time.”It is the third time Trump has extended the deadline. The first one was through an executive order on Jan. 20, his first day in office, after the platform went dark briefly when a national ban —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-fire-congressmans-office-wisconsin-a815e6592bea4c028b1c7748491461ed">approved by Congress</a>&nbsp;and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court — took effect. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-china-bytedance-social-media-tariffs-665e46fd5bb555e97c4d7301e07230df">second was in April</a>&nbsp;when White House officials believed they were nearing a deal to spin off TikTok into a new company with U.S. ownership that fell apart after China backed out following Trump’s tariff announcement.It is not clear how many times Trump can — or will — keep extending the ban as the government continues to try to negotiate a deal for TikTok, which is owned by China’s ByteDance. While there is no clear legal basis for the extensions, so far there have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-china-supreme-court-37284ac35241b1822c9f5da7c9d719d2">no legal challenges to fight them</a>. Trump has amassed more than 15 million followers on TikTok since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/trump-joins-tiktok-and-calls-it-an-honor-as-president-he-once-tried-to-ban-the-video-sharing-app/">he joined last year</a>, and he has credited the trendsetting platform with helping him gain traction among young voters. He said in January that he has a “warm spot for TikTok.”TikTok praised Trump for signing an extension Thursday.“We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available for more than 170 million American users and 7.5 million U.S. businesses that rely on the platform as we continue to work with Vice President Vance’s Office,” the company said in a statement.As the extensions continue, it appears less and less likely that TikTok will be banned in the U.S. any time soon. The decision to keep TikTok alive through an executive order has received some scrutiny, but it has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-china-supreme-court-37284ac35241b1822c9f5da7c9d719d2">not faced a legal challenge in court</a>&nbsp;— unlike many of Trump’s other executive orders.Jeremy Goldman, analyst at Emarketer, called TikTok’s U.S situation a “deadline purgatory.”The whole thing “is starting to feel less like a ticking clock and more like a looped ringtone. This political Groundhog Day is starting to resemble the debt ceiling drama: a recurring threat with no real resolution.”That's not stopping TikTok from pushing forward with its platform, Forrester analyst Kelsey Chickering says.“TikTok’s behavior also indicates they’re confident in their future, as they rolled out new AI video tools at Cannes this week,” Chickering notes. “Smaller players, like Snap, will try to steal share during this ‘uncertain time,’ but they will not succeed because this next round for TikTok isn’t uncertain at all.”For now, TikTok continues to function for its 170 million users in the U.S., and tech giants Apple, Google and Oracle were persuaded to continue to offer and support the app, on the promise that Trump’s Justice Department would not use the law to seek potentially steep fines against them.Americans are even more closely divided on what to do about TikTok than they were two years ago.A recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/03/25/fewer-americans-now-support-tiktok-ban-see-the-platform-as-a-national-security-threat-than-in-spring-2023/">Pew Research Center survey</a>&nbsp;found that about one-third of Americans said they supported a TikTok ban, down from 50% in March 2023. Roughly one-third said they would oppose a ban, and a similar percentage said they weren’t sure.Among those who said they supported banning the social media platform, about 8 in 10 cited concerns over users’ data security being at risk as a major factor in their decision, according to the report.Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the Trump administration is once again “flouting the law and ignoring its own national security findings about the risks” posed by a China-controlled TikTok.“An executive order can’t sidestep the law, but that’s exactly what the president is trying to do,” Warner added.

President Trump explains why he delayed the TikTok ban again

Starbase, Texas (AP) —A SpaceX rocket being tested in Texas exploded Wednesday night, sending a dramatic fireball high into the sky.

The company said the Starship “experienced a major anomaly” at about 11 p.m. while on the test stand preparing for the tenth flight test at Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas.

“A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,” SpaceX said in a statement on the social platform X.

CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;’s SpaceX said there were no hazards to nearby communities. It asked people not to try to approach the site.

The company said it is working with local officials to respond to the explosion.

Starbase, Texas (AP) —A SpaceX rocket being tested in Texas exploded Wednesday night, sending a dramatic fireball high into the sky.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Credit where it&#39;s due to Musk. He has made a radical new leap forward in SpaceX technology: Now you don&#39;t have to wait until after launch for the devastating explosion. 👀 <a href="https://t.co/1OOHwB8kY1">pic.twitter.com/1OOHwB8kY1</a>&mdash; tern (@1goodtern) <a href="https://twitter.com/1goodtern/status/1935582164390969717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Just a scratch&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1935638560276926914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The company said the Starship “experienced a major anomaly” at about 11 p.m. while on the test stand preparing for the tenth flight test at Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase. A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted…&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1935572705941880971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted for,” SpaceX said in a statement on the social platform X.CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;’s SpaceX said there were no hazards to nearby communities. It asked people not to try to approach the site.The company said it is working with local officials to respond to the explosion.

🎥SpaceX Starship rocket explodes during routine test

SALINE COUNTY, Mo. —Authorities investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting have identified the suspect who died as 23-year-old Francis Alcantar-Chavez of Tempe, Arizona, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. 

Chavez was wanted in connection with a double-homicide that occurred on June 15, in Taylor, Arizona.  He is alleged to have killed his mother and step-father, according to police.

Just before 6:30p.m. Tuesday, MSHP Troopers were notified that the Concordia Police Department was in pursuit of motorcycle driven by a suspect later identified as Chavez who was wanted for an out-of-state homicide, according to a media release from the Patrol.

Police lost sight of the motorcycle near 120th Road south of Interstate 70 in rural Saline County. Additional officers moved into the area to search for the suspect. Just before 8p.m. Troopers in the area saw a motorcycle and rider matching the description of the suspect traveling westbound on 115th Road toward Belmont Avenue.

 The motorcycle crashed into a Trooper's patrol vehicle and the suspect ran from the crash. The Trooper ran after him. The suspect, armed with a handgun, fired at the Trooper striking him bullet resistant vest. The Trooper returned fire striking the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The Trooper was transported to a local hospital&nbsp; for treatment of minor injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750330490158.png" alt="Chavez photo Snowflake-Taylor, Arizona Police" />
 <figcaption>Chavez photo Snowflake-Taylor, Arizona Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY, Mo. —Authorities investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting have identified the suspect who died as 23-year-old Francis Alcantar-Chavez of Tempe, Arizona, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Chavez was wanted in connection with a double-homicide that occurred on June 15, in Taylor, Arizona. He is alleged to have killed his mother and step-father, according to police.Just before 6:30p.m. Tuesday, MSHP Troopers were notified that the Concordia Police Department was in pursuit of motorcycle driven by a suspect later identified as Chavez who was wanted for an out-of-state homicide, according to a media release from the Patrol.Police lost sight of the motorcycle near 120th Road south of Interstate 70 in rural Saline County. Additional officers moved into the area to search for the suspect. Just before 8p.m. Troopers in the area saw a motorcycle and rider matching the description of the suspect traveling westbound on 115th Road toward Belmont Avenue. The motorcycle crashed into a Trooper's patrol vehicle and the suspect ran from the crash. The Trooper ran after him. The suspect, armed with a handgun, fired at the Trooper striking him bullet resistant vest. The Trooper returned fire striking the suspect. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. The Trooper was transported to a local hospital&nbsp; for treatment of minor injuries.

Patrol IDs homicide suspect killed in officer shooting

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Wednesday to help mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, suggesting Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while assuaging Israeli security concerns.

Speaking to senior news leaders of international news agencies, Putin noted that "it's a delicate issue," but added that "in my view, a solution could be found."

Asked how Russia would react if Israel kills Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin refused to answer, saying that "I don't even want to discuss such a possibility."

Khamenei has rejected U.S. calls for surrender in the face of more Israeli strikes and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause "irreparable damage to them."

Putin said he shared Moscow's proposals with Iran, Israel and the United States.

"We are not imposing anything on anyone; we are simply talking about how we see a possible way out of the situation. But the decision, of course, is up to the political leadership of all these countries, primarily Iran and Israel," he said.

Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it developed strong economic and military ties with Iran, a policy that could allow Moscow to play power broker.

Putin's comments follow a mediation offer that he made in a call with U.S. President Donald Trump last weekend.

Trump said Wednesday that he told Putin to stay focused on finding an endgame to his own conflict with Ukraine.

"I said, 'Do me a favor, mediate your own,'" Trump said he told Putin. "I said, 'Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later.'"

The comments represented a shift for Trump, who earlier this week said he was "open" to Putin's offer to mediate in the Middle East.

Over 200 Russians remain at Iran's nuclear power plant

Putin, meeting with senior news leaders of international news agencies including The Associated Press on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, emphasized that Russia has a trusting relationship with Iran and helped built its first nuclear power plant in Bushehr on the Persian Gulf south of Tehran.

He said that over 200 Russian workers are involved in building two more reactors in Bushehr, adding that "we agreed with the Israeli leadership that their security will be ensured."

Putin emphasized that Tehran hasn't asked Moscow for military assistance, noting the "strategic partnership" treaty between the countries that was signed in January doesn't envision such aid.

In addition to a few air defense systems that Russia supplied to Iran in the past, it also offered previously to help create comprehensive air defenses, but Tehran didn't want it, he said.

"Our proposal was to create a system, not isolated deliveries, but a system," Putin said. "We used to discuss it in the past, but the Iranian side showed little interest."

Israel said that it knocked out Iran's Russia-supplied S-300 air defense missile systems during last year's strikes.

Praise for Trump's push for peace in Ukraine

Putin on Wednesday praised Trump's push for peace in Ukraine, seconding the American leader's repeated claims that the 3-year-old conflict wouldn't have started if he had been in the White House in 2022.

"If Trump had been the president, the conflict indeed might not have erupted," Putin said.

Russia has intensified its aerial campaign in Ukraine recently and stepped up ground attacks along the more than 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) front line. Putin has effectively rejected Trump's offer of an immediate 30-day ceasefire, making it conditional on a halt on Ukraine's mobilization effort and a freeze on Western arms supplies.

He said he is open for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but repeated his claim that he lost his legitimacy after his term expired last year — allegations rejected by Kyiv and its allies.

"We are ready for substantive talks on the principles of a settlement," Putin said, noting the previous round of talks had led to an exchange of prisoners and the bodies of fallen soldiers.

Asked by AP about Russia condemning Israel's strikes on Iran even as Ukrainian civilians are killed in attacks by Moscow, Putin responded that Russia was targeting the country's arms factories.

"The strikes were carried out against military industries, not residential quarters," Putin said.

AP reporters have documented damage to residential buildings in Ukraine, most recently this week. On Wednesday, emergency workers pulled more bodies from the rubble of a nine-story Kyiv apartment building demolished by a Russian attack earlier this week, raising the death toll from the strike on the capital to 28.

Putin vowed that Moscow will achieve its goal to "demilitarize" Ukraine.

"We will not allow Ukraine to have armed forces that would threaten the Russian Federation and its people," he said. "And if we fail to reach a settlement, we will achieve our goals by military means."

He strongly warned Germany against delivering long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, saying that it could draw it into a direct military conflict with Russia but won't help stem Russian advances.

"Our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact," he said, warning Ukraine to accept Russia's terms for a peace deal or face tougher conditions in the future. "If they fail to agree, the situation could change for the worse."

He also dismissed Western warnings of Russia's purported plans to attack NATO countries as "ravings," noting the alliance's military spending far exceed Moscow's defense budget.

Putin has used the annual forum to highlight Russia's economic achievements and seek foreign investment. Western executives, who attended the event in the past, have avoided it after Putin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, leaving it to business leaders from Asia, Africa and Latin America.

He met earlier with former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who now heads the New Development Bank created by the BRICS alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. He is also set to have meetings with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and He's also expected to confer with top officials from China, South Africa and Bahrain and the head of the OPEC group of oil-producing countries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="File photo (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)" />
 <figcaption>File photo (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES JORDAN and HARRIET MORRIS&nbsp;ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin offered Wednesday to help mediate an end to the conflict between Israel and Iran, suggesting Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while assuaging Israeli security concerns.Speaking to senior news leaders of international news agencies, Putin noted that "it's a delicate issue," but added that "in my view, a solution could be found."Asked how Russia would react if Israel kills Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Putin refused to answer, saying that "I don't even want to discuss such a possibility."Khamenei has rejected U.S. calls for surrender in the face of more Israeli strikes and warned that any military involvement by the Americans would cause "irreparable damage to them."Putin said he shared Moscow's proposals with Iran, Israel and the United States."We are not imposing anything on anyone; we are simply talking about how we see a possible way out of the situation. But the decision, of course, is up to the political leadership of all these countries, primarily Iran and Israel," he said.Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to navigate its warm relations with Israel even as it developed strong economic and military ties with Iran, a policy that could allow Moscow to play power broker.Putin's comments follow a mediation offer that he made in a call with U.S. President Donald Trump last weekend.Trump said Wednesday that he told Putin to stay focused on finding an endgame to his own conflict with Ukraine."I said, 'Do me a favor, mediate your own,'" Trump said he told Putin. "I said, 'Vladimir, let's mediate Russia first. You can worry about this later.'"The comments represented a shift for Trump, who earlier this week said he was "open" to Putin's offer to mediate in the Middle East.Over 200 Russians remain at Iran's nuclear power plantPutin, meeting with senior news leaders of international news agencies including The Associated Press on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, emphasized that Russia has a trusting relationship with Iran and helped built its first nuclear power plant in Bushehr on the Persian Gulf south of Tehran.He said that over 200 Russian workers are involved in building two more reactors in Bushehr, adding that "we agreed with the Israeli leadership that their security will be ensured."Putin emphasized that Tehran hasn't asked Moscow for military assistance, noting the "strategic partnership" treaty between the countries that was signed in January doesn't envision such aid.In addition to a few air defense systems that Russia supplied to Iran in the past, it also offered previously to help create comprehensive air defenses, but Tehran didn't want it, he said."Our proposal was to create a system, not isolated deliveries, but a system," Putin said. "We used to discuss it in the past, but the Iranian side showed little interest."Israel said that it knocked out Iran's Russia-supplied S-300 air defense missile systems during last year's strikes.Praise for Trump's push for peace in UkrainePutin on Wednesday praised Trump's push for peace in Ukraine, seconding the American leader's repeated claims that the 3-year-old conflict wouldn't have started if he had been in the White House in 2022."If Trump had been the president, the conflict indeed might not have erupted," Putin said.Russia has intensified its aerial campaign in Ukraine recently and stepped up ground attacks along the more than 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) front line. Putin has effectively rejected Trump's offer of an immediate 30-day ceasefire, making it conditional on a halt on Ukraine's mobilization effort and a freeze on Western arms supplies.He said he is open for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but repeated his claim that he lost his legitimacy after his term expired last year — allegations rejected by Kyiv and its allies."We are ready for substantive talks on the principles of a settlement," Putin said, noting the previous round of talks had led to an exchange of prisoners and the bodies of fallen soldiers.Asked by AP about Russia condemning Israel's strikes on Iran even as Ukrainian civilians are killed in attacks by Moscow, Putin responded that Russia was targeting the country's arms factories."The strikes were carried out against military industries, not residential quarters," Putin said.AP reporters have documented damage to residential buildings in Ukraine, most recently this week. On Wednesday, emergency workers pulled more bodies from the rubble of a nine-story Kyiv apartment building demolished by a Russian attack earlier this week, raising the death toll from the strike on the capital to 28.Putin vowed that Moscow will achieve its goal to "demilitarize" Ukraine."We will not allow Ukraine to have armed forces that would threaten the Russian Federation and its people," he said. "And if we fail to reach a settlement, we will achieve our goals by military means."He strongly warned Germany against delivering long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, saying that it could draw it into a direct military conflict with Russia but won't help stem Russian advances."Our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact," he said, warning Ukraine to accept Russia's terms for a peace deal or face tougher conditions in the future. "If they fail to agree, the situation could change for the worse."He also dismissed Western warnings of Russia's purported plans to attack NATO countries as "ravings," noting the alliance's military spending far exceed Moscow's defense budget.Putin has used the annual forum to highlight Russia's economic achievements and seek foreign investment. Western executives, who attended the event in the past, have avoided it after Putin sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022, leaving it to business leaders from Asia, Africa and Latin America.He met earlier with former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who now heads the New Development Bank created by the BRICS alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. He is also set to have meetings with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and He's also expected to confer with top officials from China, South Africa and Bahrain and the head of the OPEC group of oil-producing countries.

Putin says Russia could broker a deal between Iran and Israel

LYON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal home explosion in Lyon County.

Just before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Emporia emergency crews were dispatched to a report of a house explosion near E 6th Avenue and Weaver Street,&nbsp; according to Christine Torrens with the city of Emporia. 

Emporia Police and Fire Departments responded 1814 E 6th Avenue. The home had collapsed, and was fully engulfed with fire within minutes.

Around 8:30 pm, emergency workers found two bodies within the debris.

Preliminary investigation into the explosion appears to be accidental. The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation by the Emporia Fire Department with assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Emporia Police Department. Kansas Gas Service and the Kansas Corporation Commission also responded to the scene for assistance.

Authorities have not released the names of the victims.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750293716487.png" alt="First responders near the scene Wednesday afternoon -photo courtesy KVOE" />
 <figcaption>First responders near the scene Wednesday afternoon -photo courtesy KVOE</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal home explosion in Lyon County.Just before 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Emporia emergency crews were dispatched to a report of a house explosion near E 6th Avenue and Weaver Street,&nbsp; according to Christine Torrens with the city of Emporia. Emporia Police and Fire Departments responded 1814 E 6th Avenue. The home had collapsed, and was fully engulfed with fire within minutes.Around 8:30 pm, emergency workers found two bodies within the debris.Preliminary investigation into the explosion appears to be accidental. The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation by the Emporia Fire Department with assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Emporia Police Department. Kansas Gas Service and the Kansas Corporation Commission also responded to the scene for assistance.Authorities have not released the names of the victims.&nbsp;

2 dead after Kansas home explosion, fire

NEOSHO COUNTY —Two Kansas boys died in an accident Wednesday in Neosho County.

Just after 12:30p.m. the Neosho County 911 Center received a report from the Union Pacific Railroad that two individuals had been struck on the Railroad Bridge south of Erie near 115th Road, according to Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor.

 The Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and members of the St. Paul Fire Department and the Erie Fire Department, and Union Pacific Railroad immediately responded to the scene. 

First responders found 16-year-old Arthur  Pollries of Walnut, Kansas, deceased, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

&nbsp;A thorough search of the area with available personnel was quickly initiated. A local individual was requested to respond to the scene with a drone. Kansas Deparatment of Wildlife and Parks responded with personnel, a drone and boat. KHP sent numerous personnel, helicopter, and search dogs in an attempt to find the body of 12-year-old&nbsp; Kollin&nbsp;Showwalter, of Erie, according to the KHP.

After reviewing the Engine Camera footage and physical evidence, the two children were on the bridge and unable to outrun the train. Unfortunately after reviewing the footage and physical evidence at the scene, the search went from hopeful rescue effort to a recovery effort.

The Neosho River is currently rising, nearly bank full, with a very swift current, and full of debris. Due to extremely dangerous condition.

The recovery will resume in Thursday. The sheriff's department has specialized swift water teams coming to assist with the ongoing search, according to Sheriff Taylor.

NEOSHO COUNTY —Two Kansas boys died in an accident Wednesday in Neosho County.Just after 12:30p.m. the Neosho County 911 Center received a report from the Union Pacific Railroad that two individuals had been struck on the Railroad Bridge south of Erie near 115th Road, according to Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor. The Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and members of the St. Paul Fire Department and the Erie Fire Department, and Union Pacific Railroad immediately responded to the scene. First responders found 16-year-old Arthur Pollries of Walnut, Kansas, deceased, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.&nbsp;A thorough search of the area with available personnel was quickly initiated. A local individual was requested to respond to the scene with a drone. Kansas Deparatment of Wildlife and Parks responded with personnel, a drone and boat. KHP sent numerous personnel, helicopter, and search dogs in an attempt to find the body of 12-year-old&nbsp; Kollin&nbsp;Showwalter, of Erie, according to the KHP.After reviewing the Engine Camera footage and physical evidence, the two children were on the bridge and unable to outrun the train. Unfortunately after reviewing the footage and physical evidence at the scene, the search went from hopeful rescue effort to a recovery effort.The Neosho River is currently rising, nearly bank full, with a very swift current, and full of debris. Due to extremely dangerous condition.The recovery will resume in Thursday. The sheriff's department has specialized swift water teams coming to assist with the ongoing search, according to Sheriff Taylor..

Train struck and killed 2 Kansas boys on river bridge

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">U.S. Senate unanimously passes resolution calling on streaming services to carry C-SPAN. <a href="https://t.co/TpM05yvPHs">pic.twitter.com/TpM05yvPHs</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935424808814035031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">U.S. Senate unanimously passes resolution calling on streaming services to carry C-SPAN. <a href="https://t.co/iQfi8ZuvOz">pic.twitter.com/iQfi8ZuvOz</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935419849494126703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Senate passes resolution asking streaming services to carry C-SPAN

It was 160 years ago that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed — after the Civil War's end and two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

The resulting Juneteenth holiday — its name combining "June" and "nineteenth" — has only grown in one-and-a-half centuries. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated it a federal holiday — expanding its recognition beyond Black America.

This year will be the first Juneteenth under President Donald Trump's second administration, which has banned diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI, in the federal government. This has included removing Black American history content from federal websites. Trump officials have also discouraged some federal agencies from recognizing other racial heritage celebrations.

Still, many people anticipate getting Juneteenth off work. There are a plethora of street festivals, fairs, concerts and other events planned throughout the week leading into the holiday. But with the current political climate, some may wonder if their company will honor it.

"I don't think anyone should be intimidated or obligated into not celebrating the day," said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. "I've not heard of anyone being denied. I think it would be absolutely reprehensible."

People who never gave the occasion more than a passing thought may be asking themselves, is there a "right" way to celebrate Juneteenth?

For beginners and those brushing up on history, here are some answers:

Is Juneteenth more of a solemn day of remembrance or a party?

It depends on what you want. Juneteenth festivities are rooted in cookouts and picnics. Originally celebrated as Black Americans' true Independence Day, outdoor events allowed for large, raucous reunions among formerly enslaved family, many of whom had been separated. The gatherings were especially revolutionary because they were free of restrictive measures, known as "Black Codes," enforced in Confederate states. Codes controlled whether liberated slaves could vote, buy property, gather for worship and other aspects of daily life.

Last year, the White House kicked things off early with a concert on the South Lawn for Juneteenth and Black Music Month. The atmosphere was primarily festive with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black vice president, dancing on stage with gospel singer Kirk Franklin.

Plans for a Juneteenth event or proclamation this year had not been decided, according to the White House press office.

Others may choose to treat Juneteenth as a day of rest and remembrance. That can mean doing community service, attending an education panel or taking time off.

"The most important thing everyone should do is be able to quickly answer the question 'What is Juneteenth?'" Morial said.

What if you've never celebrated Juneteenth?

Dr. David Anderson, a Black pastor and CEO of Gracism Global, a consulting firm helping leaders navigate conversations bridging divides across race and culture, never did anything on Juneteenth in his youth. He didn't learn about it until his 30s.

"I think many folks haven't known about it — who are even my color as an African American male. Even if you heard about it and knew about it, you didn't celebrate it," Anderson said. "It was like just a part of history. It wasn't a celebration of history."

For many African Americans, the farther away from Texas that they grew up increased the likelihood they didn't have big Juneteenth celebrations regularly. In the South, the day can vary based on when word of Emancipation reached each state.

What kind of public Juneteenth events are taking place?

Search online and you will find gatherings nationwide varying in scope and tone. Some are more carnival-esque festivals with food trucks, arts and crafts and parades. Within those festivals, you'll likely find information on health care, finance and community resources. There also are concerts and fashion shows to highlight Black creativity. There will also be panels to educate about Juneteenth's history.

The National Park Service is again making entry into all sites free on the holiday, according to its website.

Are there special Juneteenth decorations or foods?

The red, black and green African Liberation Flag, also known as the Pan-African flag, has historically been displayed at both Black History Month and Juneteenth celebrations. Red represents bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. Black symbolizes Black people. Green represents richness of the land in Africa.

More people, however, have leaned into the Juneteenth flag created in 1997 by activist Ben Haith, who founded the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation. Like the American flag, it is red, white and blue to indicate those freed are also Americans. The five-point white star in the middle is a tribute to Juneteenth's birthplace of Texas. It is encircled by another white starry line that represents the spreading of freedom.

Aside from barbecue, the color red has been a through line for Juneteenth food for generations. Red symbolizes the bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. A Juneteenth menu might incorporate items like barbecued ribs or other red meat, watermelon and red velvet cake. Drinks like fruit punch and red Kool-Aid may make an appearance at the table.

In recent years, Juneteenth has become more commercialized with national chains selling Juneteenth party supplies, T-shirts and other merchandise. However, this year, Juneteenth items appear to be fewer or only online. Morial says he would be disappointed if companies decided selling Juneteenth items out in the open was too risky because of politics. At the same time, it might be a good opportunity for consumers.

"I would also encourage people to go online and look for an African American vendor," Morial said. "If you got to participate in that (commercialism), that's what I would do."

Does how you celebrate Juneteenth matter if you aren't Black?

Dr. Karida Brown, a sociology professor at Emory University whose research focuses on race, said there's no reason to feel awkward about wanting to recognize Juneteenth just because you have no personal ties or you're not Black. In fact, embrace it.

"I would reframe that and challenge my non-Black folks who want to lean into Juneteenth and celebrate," Brown said. "It absolutely is your history. It absolutely is a part of your experience. ... Isn't this all of our history? The good, the bad, the ugly, the story of emancipation and freedom for your Black brothers and sisters under the Constitution of the law."

What are other names used to refer to Juneteenth?

Over the decades, Juneteenth has also been called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Black Fourth of July and second Independence Day among others.

"Because 1776, Fourth of July, where we're celebrating freedom and liberty and all of that, that did not include my descendants," Brown said. "Black people in America were still enslaved. So that that holiday always comes with a bittersweet tinge to it."

It's typical to wish people a "Happy Juneteenth" or "Happy Teenth," according to Alan Freeman, a comedian who has organized a June 19 comedy show at Club 68, which local media has described as the last Black bar and club on Galveston Island. The day after he will host a stand-up comedy and jazz show at his Houston restaurant and lounge, the Frisky Whisky.

"You know how at Christmas people will say 'Merry Christmas' to each other and not even know each other?" Freeman said. "You can get a 'Merry Christmas' from everybody. This is the same way."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749955980250.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By TERRY TANG Associated PressIt was 160 years ago that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed — after the Civil War's end and two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.The resulting Juneteenth holiday — its name combining "June" and "nineteenth" — has only grown in one-and-a-half centuries. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated it a federal holiday — expanding its recognition beyond Black America.This year will be the first Juneteenth under President Donald Trump's second administration, which has banned diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI, in the federal government. This has included removing Black American history content from federal websites. Trump officials have also discouraged some federal agencies from recognizing other racial heritage celebrations.Still, many people anticipate getting Juneteenth off work. There are a plethora of street festivals, fairs, concerts and other events planned throughout the week leading into the holiday. But with the current political climate, some may wonder if their company will honor it."I don't think anyone should be intimidated or obligated into not celebrating the day," said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. "I've not heard of anyone being denied. I think it would be absolutely reprehensible."People who never gave the occasion more than a passing thought may be asking themselves, is there a "right" way to celebrate Juneteenth?For beginners and those brushing up on history, here are some answers:Is Juneteenth more of a solemn day of remembrance or a party?It depends on what you want. Juneteenth festivities are rooted in cookouts and picnics. Originally celebrated as Black Americans' true Independence Day, outdoor events allowed for large, raucous reunions among formerly enslaved family, many of whom had been separated. The gatherings were especially revolutionary because they were free of restrictive measures, known as "Black Codes," enforced in Confederate states. Codes controlled whether liberated slaves could vote, buy property, gather for worship and other aspects of daily life.Last year, the White House kicked things off early with a concert on the South Lawn for Juneteenth and Black Music Month. The atmosphere was primarily festive with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black vice president, dancing on stage with gospel singer Kirk Franklin.Plans for a Juneteenth event or proclamation this year had not been decided, according to the White House press office.Others may choose to treat Juneteenth as a day of rest and remembrance. That can mean doing community service, attending an education panel or taking time off."The most important thing everyone should do is be able to quickly answer the question 'What is Juneteenth?'" Morial said.What if you've never celebrated Juneteenth?Dr. David Anderson, a Black pastor and CEO of Gracism Global, a consulting firm helping leaders navigate conversations bridging divides across race and culture, never did anything on Juneteenth in his youth. He didn't learn about it until his 30s."I think many folks haven't known about it — who are even my color as an African American male. Even if you heard about it and knew about it, you didn't celebrate it," Anderson said. "It was like just a part of history. It wasn't a celebration of history."For many African Americans, the farther away from Texas that they grew up increased the likelihood they didn't have big Juneteenth celebrations regularly. In the South, the day can vary based on when word of Emancipation reached each state.What kind of public Juneteenth events are taking place?Search online and you will find gatherings nationwide varying in scope and tone. Some are more carnival-esque festivals with food trucks, arts and crafts and parades. Within those festivals, you'll likely find information on health care, finance and community resources. There also are concerts and fashion shows to highlight Black creativity. There will also be panels to educate about Juneteenth's history.The National Park Service is again making entry into all sites free on the holiday, according to its website.Are there special Juneteenth decorations or foods?The red, black and green African Liberation Flag, also known as the Pan-African flag, has historically been displayed at both Black History Month and Juneteenth celebrations. Red represents bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. Black symbolizes Black people. Green represents richness of the land in Africa.More people, however, have leaned into the Juneteenth flag created in 1997 by activist Ben Haith, who founded the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation. Like the American flag, it is red, white and blue to indicate those freed are also Americans. The five-point white star in the middle is a tribute to Juneteenth's birthplace of Texas. It is encircled by another white starry line that represents the spreading of freedom.Aside from barbecue, the color red has been a through line for Juneteenth food for generations. Red symbolizes the bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. A Juneteenth menu might incorporate items like barbecued ribs or other red meat, watermelon and red velvet cake. Drinks like fruit punch and red Kool-Aid may make an appearance at the table.In recent years, Juneteenth has become more commercialized with national chains selling Juneteenth party supplies, T-shirts and other merchandise. However, this year, Juneteenth items appear to be fewer or only online. Morial says he would be disappointed if companies decided selling Juneteenth items out in the open was too risky because of politics. At the same time, it might be a good opportunity for consumers."I would also encourage people to go online and look for an African American vendor," Morial said. "If you got to participate in that (commercialism), that's what I would do."Does how you celebrate Juneteenth matter if you aren't Black?Dr. Karida Brown, a sociology professor at Emory University whose research focuses on race, said there's no reason to feel awkward about wanting to recognize Juneteenth just because you have no personal ties or you're not Black. In fact, embrace it."I would reframe that and challenge my non-Black folks who want to lean into Juneteenth and celebrate," Brown said. "It absolutely is your history. It absolutely is a part of your experience. ... Isn't this all of our history? The good, the bad, the ugly, the story of emancipation and freedom for your Black brothers and sisters under the Constitution of the law."What are other names used to refer to Juneteenth?Over the decades, Juneteenth has also been called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Black Fourth of July and second Independence Day among others."Because 1776, Fourth of July, where we're celebrating freedom and liberty and all of that, that did not include my descendants," Brown said. "Black people in America were still enslaved. So that that holiday always comes with a bittersweet tinge to it."Is there a proper Juneteenth greeting?It's typical to wish people a "Happy Juneteenth" or "Happy Teenth," according to Alan Freeman, a comedian who has organized a June 19 comedy show at Club 68, which local media has described as the last Black bar and club on Galveston Island. The day after he will host a stand-up comedy and jazz show at his Houston restaurant and lounge, the Frisky Whisky."You know how at Christmas people will say 'Merry Christmas' to each other and not even know each other?" Freeman said. "You can get a 'Merry Christmas' from everybody. This is the same way."

A guide to the Juneteenth holiday and how to celebrate it

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.

A Dodge Challenger was westbound on Winner Road just east of Ewing, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. The car traveled off the road to the right up onto the sidewalk and struck a pedestrian who walking westbound on the sidewalk. 

After impact, the car continued westbound on the sidewalk, struck a metal light pole, traveled through a fence and down the grassy embankment located on the north side of Winner Road.

The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Dodge was uninjured in the collision. The investigation is to include suspected impairment of the driver, according to DiMartino.

This is fatality #34 compared to #48 at this time in 2024. 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Kansas City.A Dodge Challenger was westbound on Winner Road just east of Ewing, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. The car traveled off the road to the right up onto the sidewalk and struck a pedestrian who walking westbound on the sidewalk. After impact, the car continued westbound on the sidewalk, struck a metal light pole, traveled through a fence and down the grassy embankment located on the north side of Winner Road.The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Dodge was uninjured in the collision. The investigation is to include suspected impairment of the driver, according to DiMartino.This is fatality #34 compared to #48 at this time in 2024.

KCPD: Alcohol a possible factor in crash that killed pedestrian

KANSAS CITY—A man is facing multiple charges&nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that also left two others injured in Independence, Missouri.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2654/CordatoRobert---Complaint-Packet">Robert L. Cordato</a>, 42,&nbsp;faces 1st Degree Murder, two counts of 1st Degree Assault, 1st Degree Burglary, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and four counts of Armed Criminal Action, according to the Jackson County Prosectutor's office.

On June 12, police were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in Independence and located two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. An additional victim was found deceased in the kitchen.&nbsp;

Detectives determined based on witness reports that Cordato entered the residence and shot the victim in the kitchen and then shot the other two victims in a room where additional juveniles were also present.&nbsp;

When police arrested Cordato the following day, he was in possession of methamphetamine. He has also been charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.&nbsp;

Cordato is in custody and bond has been set at $750,000 cash only.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750193270826.png" alt="Cordato photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Cordato photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A man is facing multiple charges&nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that also left two others injured in Independence, Missouri.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2654/CordatoRobert---Complaint-Packet">Robert L. Cordato</a>, 42,&nbsp;faces 1st Degree Murder, two counts of 1st Degree Assault, 1st Degree Burglary, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and four counts of Armed Criminal Action, according to the Jackson County Prosectutor's office.On June 12, police were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in Independence and located two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. An additional victim was found deceased in the kitchen.&nbsp;Detectives determined based on witness reports that Cordato entered the residence and shot the victim in the kitchen and then shot the other two victims in a room where additional juveniles were also present.&nbsp;When police arrested Cordato the following day, he was in possession of methamphetamine. He has also been charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance.&nbsp;Cordato is in custody and bond has been set at $750,000 cash only.&nbsp;

Man shot 3 victims in front of children in KC area home 

SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a body in an advanced state of decomposition was discovered Wednesday afternoon in Sedgwick County Park.

At approximately 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, a park employee called 911 to report a possible deceased person in a thick grass-covered area in the northwest section of the park near 21st Street North and Ridge Road, according Deputy Branden Stitt.

Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies, along with the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS, responded and found a body near a single campsite outside a tent. Due to the condition of the remains, detectives have not been able to immediately determine the decedent’s age or gender. The advanced decomposition has also prevented them from identifying any visible signs of injury.

Deputies found personal belongings near the body. The Sheriff’s Office is working with the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office to positively identify the remains. Detectives are also reviewing a missing person case reported in the area, though it is too early to confirm any connection.

The Coroner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death, as well as estimate when the death occurred.

Anyone who has recently visited Sedgwick County Park and believes they may have information that could assist detectives is encouraged to contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 316-660-5300.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750295151133.png" alt="Google Map" />
 <figcaption>Google Map</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a body in an advanced state of decomposition was discovered Wednesday afternoon in Sedgwick County Park.At approximately 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, a park employee called 911 to report a possible deceased person in a thick grass-covered area in the northwest section of the park near 21st Street North and Ridge Road, according Deputy Branden Stitt.Sedgwick County Sheriff’s deputies, along with the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS, responded and found a body near a single campsite outside a tent. Due to the condition of the remains, detectives have not been able to immediately determine the decedent’s age or gender. The advanced decomposition has also prevented them from identifying any visible signs of injury.Deputies found personal belongings near the body. The Sheriff’s Office is working with the Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office to positively identify the remains. Detectives are also reviewing a missing person case reported in the area, though it is too early to confirm any connection.The Coroner’s Office will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death, as well as estimate when the death occurred.Anyone who has recently visited Sedgwick County Park and believes they may have information that could assist detectives is encouraged to contact the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 316-660-5300.