By JONATHAN LANDRUM JR. and HALELUYA HADERO Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) —Will TikTok be banned this month?

That’s the pressing question keeping creators and small business owners in anxious limbo as they await a decision that could upend their livelihoods. The fate of the popular app will be decided by the Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on Jan. 10 over a law requiring TikTok to break ties with its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a U.S. ban.

At the heart of the case is whether the law violates the First Amendment with TikTok and its creator allies arguing that it does. The U.S. government, which sees the platform as a national security risk, says it does not.

For creators, the TikTok doomsday scenarios are nothing new since President-elect Donald Trump first tried to ban the platform through executive order during his first term. But despite Trump's recent statements indicating he now wants TikTok to stick around, the prospect of a ban has never been as immediate as it is now with the Supreme Court serving as the final arbiter.

If the government prevails as it did in a lower court, TikTok says it would shut down its U.S. platform by Jan. 19, leaving creators scrambling to redefine their futures.

“A lot of my other creative friends, we're all like freaking out. But I'm staying calm,” said Gillian Johnson, who benefited financially from TikTok’s live feature and rewards program, which helped creators generate higher revenue potential by posting high-quality original content. The 22-year-old filmmaker and recent college graduate uses her TikTok earnings to help fund her equipment for projects such as camera lens and editing software for her short films “Gambit” and “Awaken! My Neighbor.”

Johnson said the idea of TikTok going away is “hard to accept.”

Many creators have taken to TikTok to voice their frustrations, grappling with the possibility that the platform they’ve invested so much in could soon disappear. Online communities risk being disrupted, and the economic fallout could especially be devastating for those who mainly depend on TikTok and have left full-time jobs to build careers and incomes around their content.

For some, the uncertainty has led them to question whether to continue creating content at all, according to Johnson, who says she knows creators who have been thinking about quitting. But Nicla Bartoli, the vice president of sales at The Influencer Marketing Factory, said the creators she has interreacted with have not been too worried since news about a potential TikTok ban has come up repeatedly over the years, and then died down.

“I believe a good chunk think it is not going to happen," said Bartoli, whose agency works to pair influencers and brands.

It's unclear how quickly the Supreme Court will issue a decision. But the court could act swiftly to block the law from going into effect if at least five of the nine justices deem it unconstitutional.

Trump, for his part, has already asked the justices to put a pause on the ban so he could weigh in after he takes office. In a brief — written by his pick for solicitor general — Trump called the First Amendment implications of a TikTok ban “sweeping and troubling" and said he wants a “negotiated resolution” to the issue, something the Biden administration had pursued to no avail.

While waiting for the dust to settle in Washington, some creators are exploring alternatives ways to promote themselves or their business, encouraging users to follow them on other social media platforms or are investing more time producing non-TikTok content.

Johnson says she is already strategizing her next move and exploring alternative opportunities. While she hasn’t found a place quite like TikTok, she’s begun to spend more of her time on other platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube, both of whom are expected to benefit financially if TikTok vanishes.

According to a report by Goldman Sachs, the so-called creator economy, which has been fueled in part by TikTok, could be worth $480 billion by 2027.

Because the opportunity to monetize content exists across a range of platforms, a vast amount of creators have already diversified their social media presence. However, many TikTok creators have credited the platform — and its algorithm — with giving them a type of exposure they did not receive on other platforms. Some say it has also boosted and provided opportunities for creators of color and those from other marginalized groups.

Despite fears about the fate of TikTok, industry analysts note creators are generally avoiding making any big changes, like abandoning platform, until something actually happens.

“I’m anxious but also trying to be hopeful in a weird way," said Brandon Hurst, who credits TikTok with rescuing his business from obscurity and propelling it into rapid growth.

A year after joining TikTok, the 30-year-old Hurst, who sells plants, said his sales doubled, outpacing the traction he’d struggled to gain on Instagram. He built his clientele through the live feature on TikTok, which has helped him sell more than 77,000 plants. The business has thrived so much that he says he now employs five people, including his husband and mom.

"For me, this has been my sole way of doing business," Hurst said.

Billion Dollar Boy, a New York-based influencer marketing agency, has advised creators to download all of their TikTok content into a personal portfolio, which is especially important for those who post primarily on the platform, said Edward East, the agency’s founder and group CEO. This can help them quickly build their audiences elsewhere. Plus it can serve as a resume for brands who might want to partner with them for product advertisements, East said.

But until the deadline of Jan. 19 comes around, East said creators should continue to post regularly on TikTok, which has 170 million monthly U.S. users and remains highly effective in reaching audiences.

If the Supreme Court does not delay the ban, as Trump is asking them to do, app stores and internet service providers would be required to stop providing service to TikTok by Jan. 19. That means anyone who doesn't have TikTok on their phone would be unable to download it. TikTok users would continue to have access, but the prohibitions — which will prevent them from updating the app — will eventually make the app "unworkable,” the Justice Department has said.

TikTok said in court documents that it estimates a one-month shutdown would cause the platform to lose approximately a third of its daily users in the U.S. The company argues a shutdown, even if temporary, will cause it irreparable harm, a legal bar used by judges to determine whether to put the brakes on a law facing a challenge. In under three weeks, Americans will know if the Supreme Court agrees.

By JONATHAN LANDRUM JR. and HALELUYA HADERO Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) —Will TikTok be banned this month?That’s the pressing question keeping creators and small business owners in anxious limbo as they await a decision that could upend their livelihoods. The fate of the popular app will be decided by the Supreme Court, which will hear arguments on Jan. 10 over a law requiring TikTok to break ties with its Chinese-based parent company, ByteDance, or face a U.S. ban.At the heart of the case is whether the law violates the First Amendment with TikTok and its creator allies arguing that it does. The U.S. government, which sees the platform as a national security risk, says it does not.For creators, the TikTok doomsday scenarios are nothing new since President-elect Donald Trump first tried to ban the platform through executive order during his first term. But despite Trump's recent statements indicating he now wants TikTok to stick around, the prospect of a ban has never been as immediate as it is now with the Supreme Court serving as the final arbiter.If the government prevails as it did in a lower court, TikTok says it would shut down its U.S. platform by Jan. 19, leaving creators scrambling to redefine their futures.“A lot of my other creative friends, we're all like freaking out. But I'm staying calm,” said Gillian Johnson, who benefited financially from TikTok’s live feature and rewards program, which helped creators generate higher revenue potential by posting high-quality original content. The 22-year-old filmmaker and recent college graduate uses her TikTok earnings to help fund her equipment for projects such as camera lens and editing software for her short films “Gambit” and “Awaken! My Neighbor.”Johnson said the idea of TikTok going away is “hard to accept.”Many creators have taken to TikTok to voice their frustrations, grappling with the possibility that the platform they’ve invested so much in could soon disappear. Online communities risk being disrupted, and the economic fallout could especially be devastating for those who mainly depend on TikTok and have left full-time jobs to build careers and incomes around their content.For some, the uncertainty has led them to question whether to continue creating content at all, according to Johnson, who says she knows creators who have been thinking about quitting. But Nicla Bartoli, the vice president of sales at The Influencer Marketing Factory, said the creators she has interreacted with have not been too worried since news about a potential TikTok ban has come up repeatedly over the years, and then died down.“I believe a good chunk think it is not going to happen," said Bartoli, whose agency works to pair influencers and brands.It's unclear how quickly the Supreme Court will issue a decision. But the court could act swiftly to block the law from going into effect if at least five of the nine justices deem it unconstitutional.Trump, for his part, has already asked the justices to put a pause on the ban so he could weigh in after he takes office. In a brief — written by his pick for solicitor general — Trump called the First Amendment implications of a TikTok ban “sweeping and troubling" and said he wants a “negotiated resolution” to the issue, something the Biden administration had pursued to no avail.While waiting for the dust to settle in Washington, some creators are exploring alternatives ways to promote themselves or their business, encouraging users to follow them on other social media platforms or are investing more time producing non-TikTok content.Johnson says she is already strategizing her next move and exploring alternative opportunities. While she hasn’t found a place quite like TikTok, she’s begun to spend more of her time on other platforms, such as Instagram and YouTube, both of whom are expected to benefit financially if TikTok vanishes.According to a report by Goldman Sachs, the so-called creator economy, which has been fueled in part by TikTok, could be worth $480 billion by 2027.Because the opportunity to monetize content exists across a range of platforms, a vast amount of creators have already diversified their social media presence. However, many TikTok creators have credited the platform — and its algorithm — with giving them a type of exposure they did not receive on other platforms. Some say it has also boosted and provided opportunities for creators of color and those from other marginalized groups.Despite fears about the fate of TikTok, industry analysts note creators are generally avoiding making any big changes, like abandoning platform, until something actually happens.“I’m anxious but also trying to be hopeful in a weird way," said Brandon Hurst, who credits TikTok with rescuing his business from obscurity and propelling it into rapid growth.A year after joining TikTok, the 30-year-old Hurst, who sells plants, said his sales doubled, outpacing the traction he’d struggled to gain on Instagram. He built his clientele through the live feature on TikTok, which has helped him sell more than 77,000 plants. The business has thrived so much that he says he now employs five people, including his husband and mom."For me, this has been my sole way of doing business," Hurst said.Billion Dollar Boy, a New York-based influencer marketing agency, has advised creators to download all of their TikTok content into a personal portfolio, which is especially important for those who post primarily on the platform, said Edward East, the agency’s founder and group CEO. This can help them quickly build their audiences elsewhere. Plus it can serve as a resume for brands who might want to partner with them for product advertisements, East said.But until the deadline of Jan. 19 comes around, East said creators should continue to post regularly on TikTok, which has 170 million monthly U.S. users and remains highly effective in reaching audiences.If the Supreme Court does not delay the ban, as Trump is asking them to do, app stores and internet service providers would be required to stop providing service to TikTok by Jan. 19. That means anyone who doesn't have TikTok on their phone would be unable to download it. TikTok users would continue to have access, but the prohibitions — which will prevent them from updating the app — will eventually make the app "unworkable,” the Justice Department has said.TikTok said in court documents that it estimates a one-month shutdown would cause the platform to lose approximately a third of its daily users in the U.S. The company argues a shutdown, even if temporary, will cause it irreparable harm, a legal bar used by judges to determine whether to put the brakes on a law facing a challenge. In under three weeks, Americans will know if the Supreme Court agrees.

TikTok creators left in limbo while awaiting decision on potential platform ban

HOLT COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Saturday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Peterbilt 379 was parked on the east shoulder of northbound Interstate 29 in Mound City.

The truck became a downhill runaway and struck a 33-year-old pedestrian from Neligh, Nebraska.&nbsp; The truck continued off the east side of the road and the trailer struck a light pole.&nbsp; The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.

HOLT COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Saturday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Peterbilt 379 was parked on the east shoulder of northbound Interstate 29 in Mound City.The truck became a downhill runaway and struck a 33-year-old pedestrian from Neligh, Nebraska.&nbsp; The truck continued off the east side of the road and the trailer struck a light pole.&nbsp; The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.The MSHP released no additional details.

Runaway semi strikes and kills man on Missouri highway

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-joint-session-trump-harris-certification-36d63d51027cce9c0a73a42c408ca6f3">certified</a>&nbsp;President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;as the winner of the 2024 election in proceedings that unfolded Monday without violence or mayhem, in stark contrast to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">Jan. 6, 2021, violence</a>&nbsp;as his mob of supporters stormed the Capitol.

Lawmakers convened under heavy security and a snowstorm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-joint-session-trump-harris-certification-36d63d51027cce9c0a73a42c408ca6f3">to meet the date required by law to certify</a>&nbsp;the election, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">the legacy of Jan. 6</a>&nbsp;leaves an extraordinary fact: The candidate who tried to overturn the previous election won this time and is legitimately returning to power.

Layers of tall black fencing flank the U.S. Capitol complex in a stark reminder of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-plaque-trump-reminders-erased-police-af6fe32d72b36c880aec0639ba92e869">what happened four years ago</a>, when a defeated Trump sent his mob to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-us-capitol-remarks-221518bc174f9bc3dd6e108e653ed08d">“fight like hell”</a>&nbsp;in what became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the most gruesome attack</a>&nbsp;on the seat of American democracy in 200 years. It is the tightest national security level possible.

Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over proceedings as the role of the office, read the tally.

The chamber broke into applause, first Republicans for Trump, then Democrats for Harris.

The whole process happened swiftly and without unrest. One by one, the state results were read aloud by the tellers as senators and representatives sat in seats in the House chamber. Vice President-elect JD Vance joined his former colleagues. Within half an hour the process was done.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-electoral-college-republicans-trump-certification-2c6d9fc07979d2ce4ece23cca74d5c0e">No violence, protests or even procedural objections</a>&nbsp;in Congress this time. Republicans who challenged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;when Trump lost to Democrat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-election-security-republicans-trump-ap-poll-6171a25bd64dbb47505b8c907ddcb037">no qualms</a>&nbsp;this year after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">he defeated</a><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Harris</a>.

And Democrats frustrated by Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P">312-226 Electoral College victory</a>&nbsp;nevertheless accept the choice of the American voters. Even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-weather-snow-ice-blizzard-da173992b438907b477bcd03afa17897">the winter snow</a>&nbsp;blanketing the grounds didn't interfere with Jan. 6, the day set by law to certify the vote.

Trump said in a Monday post online that Congress was certifying a “GREAT” election victory and called it “A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY.”

The day's return to a U.S. tradition that launches the peaceful transfer of presidential power comes with an asterisk as Trump prepares to take office in two weeks with a revived sense of authority. He denies that he lost four years ago, muses about staying beyond the Constitution's two-term White House limit and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pardons-congress-capitol-riot-crimes-4443c672fc3b1492640684652647cde6">promises to pardon</a>&nbsp;some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">more than 1,250 people</a>&nbsp;who have pleaded guilty or were convicted of crimes for the Capitol siege.

What’s unclear is if Jan. 6, 2021, was the anomaly, the year Americans violently attacked their own government, or if this year's expected calm becomes the outlier. The U.S. is struggling to cope with its political and cultural differences at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democracy-voters-turnout-elections-interference-disinformation-ai-b792e49cf037624a5e88dc82cac4c899">democracy worldwide is threatened</a>. Trump calls Jan. 6, 2021, a “day of love.”

“We should not be lulled into complacency,” said Ian Bassin, executive director of the cross-ideological nonprofit Protect Democracy.

He and others have warned that returning to power an emboldened leader who has demonstrated his unwillingness to give up the office “is an unprecedentedly dangerous move for a free country to voluntarily take.”

Biden, speaking Sunday at events at the White House, said, “We’ve got to get back to the basic, normal transfer of power,” the president said. What Trump did last time, Biden said, “was a genuine threat to democracy. I’m hopeful we’re beyond that now.”

Still, American democracy has proven to be resilient, and Congress, the branch of government closest to the people, was coming together to affirm the choice of Americans.

With pomp and tradition, the day unfolded as it has countless times before, with the arrival of ceremonial mahogany boxes filled with the electoral certificates from the states — boxes that staff were frantically grabbing and protecting as Trump’s mob stormed the building last time.

Senators walked across the Capitol — which four years ago had filled with roaming rioters, some defecating and menacingly calling out for leaders, others engaging in hand-to-hand combat with police — to the House to begin certifying the vote.

Harris presided over the counting, as is the requirement for the vice president, and certify her own defeat — much the way Democrat Al Gore did in 2001 and Republican Richard Nixon in 1961.

She stood at the dais where then-Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nancy-pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a>&nbsp;was abruptly rushed to safety last time as the mob closed in and lawmakers fumbled to put on gas masks and flee, and shots rang out as police killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-district-of-columbia-protests-and-demonstrations-b69d5e146a3be85c8610a760a9367abd">Ashli Babbitt</a>, a Trump supporter trying to climb through a broken glass door toward the chamber.

The House chaplain, Margaret Kibben, who delivered a prayer during the mayhem four years ago, gave a simple request as the chamber opened to “shine your light in the darkness.”

There are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jan-6-electoral-count-challenges-64b1ceeeacff133731ca4af01425a7c9">new procedural rules</a>&nbsp;in place in the aftermath of what happened four years ago, when Republicans parroting Trump’s lie that the election was fraudulent challenged the results their own states had certified.

Under changes to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-donald-trump-e4366ca9e350ef87ebbb7638517cbde3">Electoral Count Act</a>, it now requires one-fifth of lawmakers, instead of just one in each chamber, to raise any objections to election results. With security as tight as it is for the Super Bowl or the Olympics, law enforcement is on high alert for intruders. No tourists will be allowed.

But none of that is expected to be necessary.

Republicans, who met with Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-mo-brooks-elections-927d23e741ff7b2ca73afe734ffe278d">behind closed doors</a>&nbsp;at the White House before Jan. 6, 2021, to craft a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-biden-elections-government-and-politics-presidential-42911f613bee85913dcbcbaeed096b2c">complex plan</a>&nbsp;to challenge his election defeat, have accepted his win this time.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who led the House floor challenge in 2021, said people at the time were so astonished by the election’s outcome and there were “lots of claims and allegations.”

This time, he said, “I think the win was so decisive.... It stifled most of that.”

Democrats, who have raised symbolic objections in the past, including during the disputed 2000 election that Gore lost to George W. Bush and ultimately decided by the Supreme Court, have no intention of objecting. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has said the Democratic Party is not “infested” with election denialism.

“There are no election deniers on our side of the aisle,” Jeffries said on the first day of the new Congress, to applause from Democrats in the chamber.

“You see, one should love America when you win and when you lose. That's the patriotic thing to do,” Jeffries said.

Last time, far-right militias helped lead the mob to break into the Capitol in a war-zone-like scene. Officers have described being crushed and pepper-sprayed and beaten with Trump flag poles,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-hearings-takeaways-ffca17be819364b00fb8cf0a24805a47">“slipping in other people's blood.”</a>

Leaders of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oath-keepers-stewart-rhodes-judge-amit-mehta-d2a498d980bc9fa3186e1072a94c0dad">Oath Keepers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">Proud Boys</a>&nbsp;have been convicted of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stewart-rhodes-oath-keepers-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-b3ed4556a3dec577539c4181639f666c">seditious conspiracy</a>&nbsp;and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Many others faced prison, probation, home confinement or other penalties.

Democrats issued statements decrying the day, but many Republicans held firm in their views. Republican Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia posted Monday morning about the “thousands of peaceful grandmothers” at the Capitol that day. He said he was thankful that Trump has promised pardons.

Trump was impeached by the House on the charge of inciting an insurrection that day but was acquitted by the Senate. At the time, GOP leader Mitch McConnell blamed Trump for the siege but said his culpability was for the courts to decide.

Federal prosecutors subsequently issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-election-2020-indictment">four-count indictment</a>&nbsp;of Trump for working to overturn the election, including for conspiracy to defraud the United States, but special counsel Jack Smith was forced to pare back the case once the Supreme Court ruled that a president has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-capitol-riot-immunity-2dc0d1c2368d404adc0054151490f542">broad immunity</a>&nbsp;for actions taken in office.

Smith last month withdrew the case after Trump won reelection, adhering to Justice Department guidelines that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.

Biden, in one of his outgoing acts, awarded the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-citizens-medals-jan-6-cheney-thompson-f725b7003ea11239b90962a8cf0d5305">Presidential Citizens Medal</a>&nbsp;to Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who had been the chair and vice chair of the congressional committee that conducted an investigation into Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump has said those who worked on the Jan. 6 committee should be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-tariffs-pardons-abortion-prosecutions-riot-72c08269f0a870d20e29033319201e22">locked up</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736188945617.png" alt="Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over proceedings as the role of the office, read the tally." />
 <figcaption>Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over proceedings as the role of the office, read the tally.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-joint-session-trump-harris-certification-36d63d51027cce9c0a73a42c408ca6f3">certified</a>&nbsp;President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;as the winner of the 2024 election in proceedings that unfolded Monday without violence or mayhem, in stark contrast to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">Jan. 6, 2021, violence</a>&nbsp;as his mob of supporters stormed the Capitol.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> Kamala Harris: &quot;This announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected president and vice president of the United States, each for a term beginning on the 20th day of January 2025.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ePBAZ9i08q">pic.twitter.com/ePBAZ9i08q</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1876339014393110595?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Lawmakers convened under heavy security and a snowstorm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-joint-session-trump-harris-certification-36d63d51027cce9c0a73a42c408ca6f3">to meet the date required by law to certify</a>&nbsp;the election, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/january-6-cases/">the legacy of Jan. 6</a>&nbsp;leaves an extraordinary fact: The candidate who tried to overturn the previous election won this time and is legitimately returning to power.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736188268010.jpeg" alt="Joint session of Congress Monday afternoon for the certification-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Joint session of Congress Monday afternoon for the certification-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Layers of tall black fencing flank the U.S. Capitol complex in a stark reminder of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-plaque-trump-reminders-erased-police-af6fe32d72b36c880aec0639ba92e869">what happened four years ago</a>, when a defeated Trump sent his mob to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-us-capitol-remarks-221518bc174f9bc3dd6e108e653ed08d">“fight like hell”</a>&nbsp;in what became&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">the most gruesome attack</a>&nbsp;on the seat of American democracy in 200 years. It is the tightest national security level possible.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736187158508.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall visiting with Senators ahead of the certification joint-session of Congress" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall visiting with Senators ahead of the certification joint-session of Congress</figcaption>
 </figure>Vice President Kamala Harris, presiding over proceedings as the role of the office, read the tally.The chamber broke into applause, first Republicans for Trump, then Democrats for Harris.The whole process happened swiftly and without unrest. One by one, the state results were read aloud by the tellers as senators and representatives sat in seats in the House chamber. Vice President-elect JD Vance joined his former colleagues. Within half an hour the process was done.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736189700417.png" alt="Vice President-elect JD Vance joined former Senate colleagues for the certification-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Vice President-elect JD Vance joined former Senate colleagues for the certification-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-electoral-college-republicans-trump-certification-2c6d9fc07979d2ce4ece23cca74d5c0e">No violence, protests or even procedural objections</a>&nbsp;in Congress this time. Republicans who challenged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;when Trump lost to Democrat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-election-security-republicans-trump-ap-poll-6171a25bd64dbb47505b8c907ddcb037">no qualms</a>&nbsp;this year after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">he defeated</a><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Harris</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736189947753.png" alt="The The mahogany boxes that hold the electoral votes for each state were opened -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The The mahogany boxes that hold the electoral votes for each state were opened -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>And Democrats frustrated by Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/?office=P">312-226 Electoral College victory</a>&nbsp;nevertheless accept the choice of the American voters. Even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-weather-snow-ice-blizzard-da173992b438907b477bcd03afa17897">the winter snow</a>&nbsp;blanketing the grounds didn't interfere with Jan. 6, the day set by law to certify the vote.Trump said in a Monday post online that Congress was certifying a “GREAT” election victory and called it “A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY.”The day's return to a U.S. tradition that launches the peaceful transfer of presidential power comes with an asterisk as Trump prepares to take office in two weeks with a revived sense of authority. He denies that he lost four years ago, muses about staying beyond the Constitution's two-term White House limit and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pardons-congress-capitol-riot-crimes-4443c672fc3b1492640684652647cde6">promises to pardon</a>&nbsp;some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://interactives.ap.org/jan-6-prosecutions/">more than 1,250 people</a>&nbsp;who have pleaded guilty or were convicted of crimes for the Capitol siege.What’s unclear is if Jan. 6, 2021, was the anomaly, the year Americans violently attacked their own government, or if this year's expected calm becomes the outlier. The U.S. is struggling to cope with its political and cultural differences at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democracy-voters-turnout-elections-interference-disinformation-ai-b792e49cf037624a5e88dc82cac4c899">democracy worldwide is threatened</a>. Trump calls Jan. 6, 2021, a “day of love.”“We should not be lulled into complacency,” said Ian Bassin, executive director of the cross-ideological nonprofit Protect Democracy.He and others have warned that returning to power an emboldened leader who has demonstrated his unwillingness to give up the office “is an unprecedentedly dangerous move for a free country to voluntarily take.”Biden, speaking Sunday at events at the White House, said, “We’ve got to get back to the basic, normal transfer of power,” the president said. What Trump did last time, Biden said, “was a genuine threat to democracy. I’m hopeful we’re beyond that now.”Still, American democracy has proven to be resilient, and Congress, the branch of government closest to the people, was coming together to affirm the choice of Americans.With pomp and tradition, the day unfolded as it has countless times before, with the arrival of ceremonial mahogany boxes filled with the electoral certificates from the states — boxes that staff were frantically grabbing and protecting as Trump’s mob stormed the building last time.Senators walked across the Capitol — which four years ago had filled with roaming rioters, some defecating and menacingly calling out for leaders, others engaging in hand-to-hand combat with police — to the House to begin certifying the vote.Harris presided over the counting, as is the requirement for the vice president, and certify her own defeat — much the way Democrat Al Gore did in 2001 and Republican Richard Nixon in 1961.She stood at the dais where then-Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nancy-pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a>&nbsp;was abruptly rushed to safety last time as the mob closed in and lawmakers fumbled to put on gas masks and flee, and shots rang out as police killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-district-of-columbia-protests-and-demonstrations-b69d5e146a3be85c8610a760a9367abd">Ashli Babbitt</a>, a Trump supporter trying to climb through a broken glass door toward the chamber.The House chaplain, Margaret Kibben, who delivered a prayer during the mayhem four years ago, gave a simple request as the chamber opened to “shine your light in the darkness.”There are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jan-6-electoral-count-challenges-64b1ceeeacff133731ca4af01425a7c9">new procedural rules</a>&nbsp;in place in the aftermath of what happened four years ago, when Republicans parroting Trump’s lie that the election was fraudulent challenged the results their own states had certified.Under changes to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-donald-trump-e4366ca9e350ef87ebbb7638517cbde3">Electoral Count Act</a>, it now requires one-fifth of lawmakers, instead of just one in each chamber, to raise any objections to election results. With security as tight as it is for the Super Bowl or the Olympics, law enforcement is on high alert for intruders. No tourists will be allowed.But none of that is expected to be necessary.Republicans, who met with Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-mo-brooks-elections-927d23e741ff7b2ca73afe734ffe278d">behind closed doors</a>&nbsp;at the White House before Jan. 6, 2021, to craft a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-biden-elections-government-and-politics-presidential-42911f613bee85913dcbcbaeed096b2c">complex plan</a>&nbsp;to challenge his election defeat, have accepted his win this time.Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who led the House floor challenge in 2021, said people at the time were so astonished by the election’s outcome and there were “lots of claims and allegations.”This time, he said, “I think the win was so decisive.... It stifled most of that.”Democrats, who have raised symbolic objections in the past, including during the disputed 2000 election that Gore lost to George W. Bush and ultimately decided by the Supreme Court, have no intention of objecting. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has said the Democratic Party is not “infested” with election denialism.“There are no election deniers on our side of the aisle,” Jeffries said on the first day of the new Congress, to applause from Democrats in the chamber.“You see, one should love America when you win and when you lose. That's the patriotic thing to do,” Jeffries said.Last time, far-right militias helped lead the mob to break into the Capitol in a war-zone-like scene. Officers have described being crushed and pepper-sprayed and beaten with Trump flag poles,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-hearings-takeaways-ffca17be819364b00fb8cf0a24805a47">“slipping in other people's blood.”</a>Leaders of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oath-keepers-stewart-rhodes-judge-amit-mehta-d2a498d980bc9fa3186e1072a94c0dad">Oath Keepers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/enrique-tarrio-capitol-riot-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-da60222b3e1e54902db2bbbb219dc3fb">Proud Boys</a>&nbsp;have been convicted of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stewart-rhodes-oath-keepers-seditious-conspiracy-sentencing-b3ed4556a3dec577539c4181639f666c">seditious conspiracy</a>&nbsp;and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Many others faced prison, probation, home confinement or other penalties.Democrats issued statements decrying the day, but many Republicans held firm in their views. Republican Rep. Mike Collins of Georgia posted Monday morning about the “thousands of peaceful grandmothers” at the Capitol that day. He said he was thankful that Trump has promised pardons.Trump was impeached by the House on the charge of inciting an insurrection that day but was acquitted by the Senate. At the time, GOP leader Mitch McConnell blamed Trump for the siege but said his culpability was for the courts to decide.Federal prosecutors subsequently issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-election-2020-indictment">four-count indictment</a>&nbsp;of Trump for working to overturn the election, including for conspiracy to defraud the United States, but special counsel Jack Smith was forced to pare back the case once the Supreme Court ruled that a president has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-trump-capitol-riot-immunity-2dc0d1c2368d404adc0054151490f542">broad immunity</a>&nbsp;for actions taken in office.Smith last month withdrew the case after Trump won reelection, adhering to Justice Department guidelines that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted.Biden, in one of his outgoing acts, awarded the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-citizens-medals-jan-6-cheney-thompson-f725b7003ea11239b90962a8cf0d5305">Presidential Citizens Medal</a>&nbsp;to Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., who had been the chair and vice chair of the congressional committee that conducted an investigation into Jan. 6, 2021.Trump has said those who worked on the Jan. 6 committee should be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-tariffs-pardons-abortion-prosecutions-riot-72c08269f0a870d20e29033319201e22">locked up</a>.

🎥Harris certifies Trump’s Presidential election victory

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a double-fatal shooting in Kansas City have identified the victims as 37-year-old Samuel J. Hughes and 34-year-old Jeffery J. Hughes, according to KCPD Sergeant&nbsp; Phil DiMartino.

Just after 7:30p.m. Thursday patrol officers were dispatched to the 8700 block of Blue Ridge in Kansas City on a reported shooting.

The call indicated two individuals were possibly shot in a parking lot. Upon arrival the officers located two men suffering from gunshot wounds. 

Emergency medical personnel responded and pronounced both victims deceased. This is being investigated as a homicide. Preliminary investigation revealed there was an interaction in the parking lot that led to the victims being shot. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735915570511.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a double-fatal shooting in Kansas City have identified the victims as 37-year-old Samuel J. Hughes and 34-year-old Jeffery J. Hughes, according to KCPD Sergeant&nbsp; Phil DiMartino.Just after 7:30p.m. Thursday patrol officers were dispatched to the 8700 block of Blue Ridge in Kansas City on a reported shooting.The call indicated two individuals were possibly shot in a parking lot. Upon arrival the officers located two men suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel responded and pronounced both victims deceased. This is being investigated as a homicide. Preliminary investigation revealed there was an interaction in the parking lot that led to the victims being shot.

Homicide: Police ID victims found dead in KC parking lot

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation Monday in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trudeau-canada-resign-freeland-trump-f346160f062846bbbaac73dbdd597941">face of rising discontent</a>&nbsp;over his leadership, and after the abrupt departure of his finance minister signaled growing turmoil within his government.

Trudeau said it had become clear to him that he cannot "be the leader during the next elections due to internal battles.” He planned to stay on as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen.

“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well being of democracy is something that I hold dear," he said.

An official familiar with the matter said Parliament, which had been due to resume Jan. 27, will be suspended until March 24. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly.

All three main opposition parties have said they plan to topple the Liberal Party in a no-confidence vote when Parliament resumes, so a spring election to pick a permanent replacement was almost assured.

“The Liberal Party of Canada is an important institution in the history of our great country and democracy. A new prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party will carry its values and ideals into that next election,” Trudeau said. “I am excited to see that process unfold in the months ahead.”

Trudeau came to power in 2015 after 10 years of Conservative Party rule, and had initially been hailed for returning the country to its liberal past. But the 53-year-old scion of one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers became deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing, and surging immigration.

The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the U.S. — even though far fewer of each crosses into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened.

Canada is a major exporter of oil and natural gas to the U.S., which also relies on its northern neighbor for steel, aluminum and autos.

Trudeau has kept publicly mum in recent weeks, despite intensifying pressure for him to step down.

“His long silence following this political drama speaks volumes about the weakness of his current position,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

Canada’s former finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, announced her resignation from Trudeau’s Cabinet on Dec. 16., criticizing some of Trudeau’s economic priorities in the face of Trump’s threats. The move, which came shortly after the housing minister quit, stunned the country and raised questions about how much longer the increasingly unpopular Trudeau could stay in his job.

Freeland and Trudeau had disagreed about two recently announced policies: a temporary sales tax holiday on goods ranging from children’s clothes to beer, and plans to send every citizen a check for $250 Canadian ($174). Freeland, who was also deputy prime minister, said Canada could not afford “costly political gimmicks” in the face of the tariffs threat.

“Our country is facing a grave challenge,” Freeland wrote in her resignation letter. “That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war.”

Trudeau had been planning to run for a fourth term in next year’s election, even in the face of rising discontent among Liberal Party members. The party recently suffered upsets in special elections in two districts in Toronto and Montreal that it has held for years. No Canadian prime minister in more than a century has won four straight terms.

And based on the latest polls, Trudeau’s chances for success looked slim. In the latest poll by Nanos, the Liberals trail the Conservatives 47% to 21%.

Over nearly a decade in power, Trudeau embraced an array of causes favored by his liberal base. He spoke in favor of immigration at a time other countries were trying to tighten their borders. He championed diversity and gender equality, appointing a Cabinet that was equal parts men and women. He legalized cannabis.

His efforts to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection were criticized by both the right and left. He levied a tax on carbon emissions and rescued a stalled pipeline expansion project to get more of Alberta’s oil to international markets.

Fewer people died from COVID-19 in Canada than elsewhere and his government provided massive financial support. But animosity grew among those opposed to vaccine mandates. Flags with Trudeau’s name and expletives became a common sight in rural parts.

A combination of scandal and unpopular policies damaged his prospects over time.

Trudeau’s father swept to power in 1968, and led Canada for almost 16 years, becoming a storied name in the country’s history, most notably by opening its doors wide to immigrants. Pierre Trudeau was often compared to John F. Kennedy and remains one of the few Canadian politicians who are recognized in America.

Tall and trim, with movie-star looks, Justin Trudeau channeled the star power — if not quite the political heft — of his father.

He became the second-youngest prime minister in Canada’s history, and rivals said his age was a liability when he first sought office. But he won a sweeping mandate in a come-from-behind victory in 2015.

Trudeau is a former teacher, nightclub bouncer and snowboard instructor who has three children with his now estranged wife, a former model and TV host.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736179553325.png" alt="Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his resignation Monday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his resignation Monday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation Monday in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trudeau-canada-resign-freeland-trump-f346160f062846bbbaac73dbdd597941">face of rising discontent</a>&nbsp;over his leadership, and after the abrupt departure of his finance minister signaled growing turmoil within his government.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Canadian Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JustinTrudeau</a>: &quot;I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nation-wide competitive process.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gYJ8m4bRk2">pic.twitter.com/gYJ8m4bRk2</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1876300343144743297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1733023283407.png" alt="President-elect Trump and Trudeau during dinner at&nbsp;Mar-a-Lago in late November" />
 <figcaption>President-elect Trump and Trudeau during dinner at&nbsp;Mar-a-Lago in late November</figcaption>
 </figure>Trudeau said it had become clear to him that he cannot "be the leader during the next elections due to internal battles.” He planned to stay on as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen.“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well being of democracy is something that I hold dear," he said.An official familiar with the matter said Parliament, which had been due to resume Jan. 27, will be suspended until March 24. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly.All three main opposition parties have said they plan to topple the Liberal Party in a no-confidence vote when Parliament resumes, so a spring election to pick a permanent replacement was almost assured.“The Liberal Party of Canada is an important institution in the history of our great country and democracy. A new prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party will carry its values and ideals into that next election,” Trudeau said. “I am excited to see that process unfold in the months ahead.”Trudeau came to power in 2015 after 10 years of Conservative Party rule, and had initially been hailed for returning the country to its liberal past. But the 53-year-old scion of one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers became deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing, and surging immigration.The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the U.S. — even though far fewer of each crosses into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened.Canada is a major exporter of oil and natural gas to the U.S., which also relies on its northern neighbor for steel, aluminum and autos.Trudeau has kept publicly mum in recent weeks, despite intensifying pressure for him to step down.“His long silence following this political drama speaks volumes about the weakness of his current position,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.Canada’s former finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, announced her resignation from Trudeau’s Cabinet on Dec. 16., criticizing some of Trudeau’s economic priorities in the face of Trump’s threats. The move, which came shortly after the housing minister quit, stunned the country and raised questions about how much longer the increasingly unpopular Trudeau could stay in his job.Freeland and Trudeau had disagreed about two recently announced policies: a temporary sales tax holiday on goods ranging from children’s clothes to beer, and plans to send every citizen a check for $250 Canadian ($174). Freeland, who was also deputy prime minister, said Canada could not afford “costly political gimmicks” in the face of the tariffs threat.“Our country is facing a grave challenge,” Freeland wrote in her resignation letter. “That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war.”Trudeau had been planning to run for a fourth term in next year’s election, even in the face of rising discontent among Liberal Party members. The party recently suffered upsets in special elections in two districts in Toronto and Montreal that it has held for years. No Canadian prime minister in more than a century has won four straight terms.And based on the latest polls, Trudeau’s chances for success looked slim. In the latest poll by Nanos, the Liberals trail the Conservatives 47% to 21%.Over nearly a decade in power, Trudeau embraced an array of causes favored by his liberal base. He spoke in favor of immigration at a time other countries were trying to tighten their borders. He championed diversity and gender equality, appointing a Cabinet that was equal parts men and women. He legalized cannabis.His efforts to strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection were criticized by both the right and left. He levied a tax on carbon emissions and rescued a stalled pipeline expansion project to get more of Alberta’s oil to international markets.Fewer people died from COVID-19 in Canada than elsewhere and his government provided massive financial support. But animosity grew among those opposed to vaccine mandates. Flags with Trudeau’s name and expletives became a common sight in rural parts.A combination of scandal and unpopular policies damaged his prospects over time.Trudeau’s father swept to power in 1968, and led Canada for almost 16 years, becoming a storied name in the country’s history, most notably by opening its doors wide to immigrants. Pierre Trudeau was often compared to John F. Kennedy and remains one of the few Canadian politicians who are recognized in America.Tall and trim, with movie-star looks, Justin Trudeau channeled the star power — if not quite the political heft — of his father.He became the second-youngest prime minister in Canada’s history, and rivals said his age was a liability when he first sought office. But he won a sweeping mandate in a come-from-behind victory in 2015.Trudeau is a former teacher, nightclub bouncer and snowboard instructor who has three children with his now estranged wife, a former model and TV host.

🎥Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigns

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Sunday signed into law a measure that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-changes-congress-pensions-3a8d55e0d236d2ee01abce6d94a60d0c">boosts Social Security payments</a>&nbsp;for current and former public employees, affecting&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10203">nearly 3 million people</a>&nbsp;who receive pensions from their time as teachers, firefighters, police officers and in other public service jobs.

Advocates say the Social Security Fairness Act rights a decades-old disparity, though it will also put strain on Social Security Trust Funds, which face a looming insolvency crisis.

The bill rescinds two provisions — the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf">Windfall Elimination Provision</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf">Government Pension Offset</a>&nbsp;— that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/program-explainers/windfall-elimination-provision.html">limit Social Security benefits</a>&nbsp;for recipients if they get retirement payments from other sources, including public retirement programs from a state or local government.

“The bill I'm signing today is about a simple proposition: Americans who have worked hard all their life to earn an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity — that's the entire purpose of the Social Security system,” Biden said during a signing ceremony in the White House East Room.

Biden was joined by labor leaders, retirement advocates, and Democratic and Republican lawmakers including the legislation's primary sponsors, Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and exiting Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who received a standing ovation from ceremony attendees.

The Congressional Research Service estimated that in December 2023, there were 745,679 people, about 1% of all Social Security beneficiaries, who had their benefits reduced by the Government Pension Offset. About 2.1 million people, or about 3% of all beneficiaries, were affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-09/hr82.pdf">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimated in September that eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision would boost monthly payments to the affected beneficiaries by an average of $360 by December 2025. Ending the Government Pension Offset would increase monthly benefits in December 2025 by an average of $700 for 380,000 recipients getting benefits based on living spouses, according to the CBO. The increase would be an average of $1,190 for 390,000 or surviving spouses getting a widow or widower benefit.

Those amounts would increase over time with Social Security’s regular cost-of-living adjustments.

The change is to payments from January 2024 and beyond, meaning the Social Security Administration would owe back-dated payments.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/82/text">The measure as passed by Congress</a>&nbsp;says the Social Security commissioner "shall adjust primary insurance amounts to the extent necessary to take into account” changes in the law. It's not immediately clear how this will happen or whether people affected will have to take any action.

Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said firefighters across the country are “excited to see the change — we've righted a 40-year wrong.” Kelly said the policy was “far more egregious for surviving spouses of firefighters who paid their own quotas into Social Security but were victimized by the government pension system.”

The IAFF has roughly 320,000 members, which does not include hundreds of thousands of retirees who will benefit from the change.

“Now firefighters who get paid very little can now afford to actually retire," Kelly said.

Brown, who as an Ohio senator pushed for the proposal for years, lost his reelection bid in November. Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees labor union, thanked Brown for his advocacy.

“Over two million public service workers will finally be able to access the Social Security benefits they spent their careers paying into," Saunders said in a statement. "Many will finally be able to enjoy retirement after a lifetime of service.”

National Education Association President Becky Pringle said the law is “a historic victory that will improve the lives of educators, first responders, postal workers and others who dedicate their lives to public service in their communities.”

And while some Republicans such as Collins supported the legislation, others, including Sens. John Thune of South Dakota, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, voted against it. “We caved to the pressure of the moment instead of doing this on a sustainable basis,” Tillis told The Associated Press last month.

Still, Republican supporters of the bill said there was a rare opportunity to address what they described as an unfair section of federal law that hurts public service retirees.

The future of Social Security has become a top political issue and was a major point of contention in the 2024 election. About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2023/fast_facts23.html">72.5 million</a>&nbsp;people, including retirees, disabled people and children, receive Social Security benefits.

The policy changes from the new law will heap more administrative work on the Social Security Administration, which is already at its lowest staffing level in decades. The agency, currently under a hiring freeze, has a staff of about 56,645 — the lowest level in over 50 years even as it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/securitystat">serves more people than ever</a>.

The annual Social Security and Medicare trustees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-medicare-entitlements-treasury-35a2913a3f21a3b0ff40f2c88cbf9cbc">report released last May</a>&nbsp;said the program’s trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2035. The new law will hasten the program’s insolvency date by about half a year.

Along with ratifying the Social Security Fairness Act, earlier in his presidency&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-rescue-plan-retirement-pensions-e507fa7aa726a81dafb6b9db8dacbb40">Biden signed the Butch Lewis Act</a>&nbsp;into law, which saved the retirement pensions of two million union workers. ___

Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;on Sunday signed into law a measure that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-changes-congress-pensions-3a8d55e0d236d2ee01abce6d94a60d0c">boosts Social Security payments</a>&nbsp;for current and former public employees, affecting&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF10203">nearly 3 million people</a>&nbsp;who receive pensions from their time as teachers, firefighters, police officers and in other public service jobs.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Happening Now: President Biden signs the Social Security Fairness Act. <a href="https://t.co/2vRXuBpFt5">https://t.co/2vRXuBpFt5</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1876017634992357741?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Advocates say the Social Security Fairness Act rights a decades-old disparity, though it will also put strain on Social Security Trust Funds, which face a looming insolvency crisis.The bill rescinds two provisions — the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf">Windfall Elimination Provision</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf">Government Pension Offset</a>&nbsp;— that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/program-explainers/windfall-elimination-provision.html">limit Social Security benefits</a>&nbsp;for recipients if they get retirement payments from other sources, including public retirement programs from a state or local government.“The bill I'm signing today is about a simple proposition: Americans who have worked hard all their life to earn an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity — that's the entire purpose of the Social Security system,” Biden said during a signing ceremony in the White House East Room.“This is a big deal,” he said.Biden was joined by labor leaders, retirement advocates, and Democratic and Republican lawmakers including the legislation's primary sponsors, Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and exiting Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who received a standing ovation from ceremony attendees.The Congressional Research Service estimated that in December 2023, there were 745,679 people, about 1% of all Social Security beneficiaries, who had their benefits reduced by the Government Pension Offset. About 2.1 million people, or about 3% of all beneficiaries, were affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2024-09/hr82.pdf">Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimated in September that eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision would boost monthly payments to the affected beneficiaries by an average of $360 by December 2025. Ending the Government Pension Offset would increase monthly benefits in December 2025 by an average of $700 for 380,000 recipients getting benefits based on living spouses, according to the CBO. The increase would be an average of $1,190 for 390,000 or surviving spouses getting a widow or widower benefit.Those amounts would increase over time with Social Security’s regular cost-of-living adjustments.The change is to payments from January 2024 and beyond, meaning the Social Security Administration would owe back-dated payments.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/82/text">The measure as passed by Congress</a>&nbsp;says the Social Security commissioner "shall adjust primary insurance amounts to the extent necessary to take into account” changes in the law. It's not immediately clear how this will happen or whether people affected will have to take any action.Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said firefighters across the country are “excited to see the change — we've righted a 40-year wrong.” Kelly said the policy was “far more egregious for surviving spouses of firefighters who paid their own quotas into Social Security but were victimized by the government pension system.”The IAFF has roughly 320,000 members, which does not include hundreds of thousands of retirees who will benefit from the change.“Now firefighters who get paid very little can now afford to actually retire," Kelly said.Brown, who as an Ohio senator pushed for the proposal for years, lost his reelection bid in November. Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees labor union, thanked Brown for his advocacy.“Over two million public service workers will finally be able to access the Social Security benefits they spent their careers paying into," Saunders said in a statement. "Many will finally be able to enjoy retirement after a lifetime of service.”National Education Association President Becky Pringle said the law is “a historic victory that will improve the lives of educators, first responders, postal workers and others who dedicate their lives to public service in their communities.”And while some Republicans such as Collins supported the legislation, others, including Sens. John Thune of South Dakota, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, voted against it. “We caved to the pressure of the moment instead of doing this on a sustainable basis,” Tillis told The Associated Press last month.Still, Republican supporters of the bill said there was a rare opportunity to address what they described as an unfair section of federal law that hurts public service retirees.The future of Social Security has become a top political issue and was a major point of contention in the 2024 election. About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/chartbooks/fast_facts/2023/fast_facts23.html">72.5 million</a>&nbsp;people, including retirees, disabled people and children, receive Social Security benefits.The policy changes from the new law will heap more administrative work on the Social Security Administration, which is already at its lowest staffing level in decades. The agency, currently under a hiring freeze, has a staff of about 56,645 — the lowest level in over 50 years even as it&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ssa.gov/securitystat">serves more people than ever</a>.The annual Social Security and Medicare trustees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-medicare-entitlements-treasury-35a2913a3f21a3b0ff40f2c88cbf9cbc">report released last May</a>&nbsp;said the program’s trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2035. The new law will hasten the program’s insolvency date by about half a year.Along with ratifying the Social Security Fairness Act, earlier in his presidency&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/american-rescue-plan-retirement-pensions-e507fa7aa726a81dafb6b9db8dacbb40">Biden signed the Butch Lewis Act</a>&nbsp;into law, which saved the retirement pensions of two million union workers. ___Associated Press writer Stephen Groves contributed to this report.

Biden signs bill that raises social security payments for millions

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a woman on the river in Kansas City.

Just before 6:30p.m Saturday, the police requested the Kansas City Fire Department responded to the Missouri River Bond Bridge for a suspected jumper, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

KCFD's rescue division launched their drones along with the department's rescue boats. 

At 8:12p.m., after searching the river for approximately an hour and a half a person was recovered from the river approximately a half mile from the Bond bridge.

KCFD cold water drowning protocols were initiated and the patient, identified as a woman approximately 40-year-old was transported to North Kansas City Hospital where she as pronounced deceased.

&nbsp;On Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Police Department reported 42-year-old Amanda Switzer was last spoken with at 3:30p.m. Saturday. She was believed to be without her vehicle or phone. She was known to be in the area of the Kit Bond Bridge in Kansas City. The family was worried for her well-being.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Sunday, KCPD Sgt. Phil DiMartino confirmed Switzer had been found and was dead.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736125400574.png" alt="Amanda Switzer photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Amanda Switzer photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of a woman on the river in Kansas City.Just before 6:30p.m Saturday, the police requested the Kansas City Fire Department responded to the Missouri River Bond Bridge for a suspected jumper, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.KCFD's rescue division launched their drones along with the department's rescue boats. At 8:12p.m., after searching the river for approximately an hour and a half a person was recovered from the river approximately a half mile from the Bond bridge.KCFD cold water drowning protocols were initiated and the patient, identified as a woman approximately 40-year-old was transported to North Kansas City Hospital where she as pronounced deceased.&nbsp;On Saturday afternoon, the Kansas City Police Department reported 42-year-old Amanda Switzer was last spoken with at 3:30p.m. Saturday. She was believed to be without her vehicle or phone. She was known to be in the area of the Kit Bond Bridge in Kansas City. The family was worried for her well-being.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Sunday, KCPD Sgt. Phil DiMartino confirmed Switzer had been found and was dead.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KC rescue crews found  body of missing woman in river

Crews continued to work through the night trying to keep the Turnpike and other Kansas highways passable for urgent travel.

"Thank you for keeping off the road or going slow and not crowding the plow. The crew notices you and appreciate your efforts. Stay safe and warm."&nbsp;

<a href="https://kandrive.gov/@-101.43512,39.04521,6?show=roadReports,constructionReports,trafficSpeeds,winterDriving,stationsAlert,weatherRadar">Click here for updates</a>&nbsp;on roads across the state

Crews continued to work through the night trying to keep the Turnpike and other Kansas highways passable for urgent travel.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Our crews continue to work for you tonight, trying to keep the Turnpike passable for urgent travel. Thank you for keeping off the road or going slow and not crowding the plow. The crew notices you and appreciate your efforts. Stay safe and warm. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/pjvQ66CHei">pic.twitter.com/pjvQ66CHei</a>&mdash; Kansas Turnpike (@KansasTurnpike) <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasTurnpike/status/1876109566540443885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Thank you for keeping off the road or going slow and not crowding the plow. The crew notices you and appreciate your efforts. Stay safe and warm."&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736122387739.png" alt="The State of Kansas sent an emergency alert Sunday evening asking the public to please not drive on Kansas Roads." />
 <figcaption>The State of Kansas sent an emergency alert Sunday evening asking the public to please not drive on Kansas Roads.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://kandrive.gov/@-101.43512,39.04521,6?show=roadReports,constructionReports,trafficSpeeds,winterDriving,stationsAlert,weatherRadar">Click here for updates</a>&nbsp;on roads across the state

Work continues to clear Kansas highways

A British man who was killed when the driver of a white pickup truck sped down Bourbon Street packed with holiday revelers was identified Saturday as the stepson of a former nanny to the Royal Family. A nursing assistant has been the last of the 14 victims killed in the New Orleans truck attack to be identified. Her family says the coroner's office confirmed the death of LaTasha Polk on Saturday. The coroner's office says all the victims died from blunt force injuries. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was fatally shot in a firefight with police. About 30 people were injured and 16 remain hospitalized, half in intensive care.

A British man who was killed when the driver of a white pickup truck sped down Bourbon Street packed with holiday revelers was identified Saturday as the stepson of a former nanny to the Royal Family. Prince William expressed shock and sadness at the news of the death of Edward Pettifer of London.

A nursing assistant in her 40s was the last of the 14 victims killed in the New Orleans truck attack to be identified, according to her family who said the coroner's office confirmed LaTasha Polk's death on Saturday.

The coroner's office said all the victims died from blunt force injuries. The suspect in the attack, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was fatally shot in a firefight with police.

The youngest victim was 18 years old and the oldest 63. Most victims were in their 20s. They came from from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey and Great Britain.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said the innocent lives lost will never be forgotten, as he declared on Friday a period of mourning for the victims, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 6. A different victim is to be remembered each day.

"However, Louisiana and her people will never cower in fear," he said. "Instead, we will unite and come back stronger in honor of every person who lost their lives that day."

About 30 people were injured and 16 remained hospitalized as of Friday.

LaTasha Polk, a nursing assistant and mother of a teenage boy, was the last victim in the New Year's truck attack to be identified, according to her family, who gathered at a vigil Saturday evening to light candles. They said the coroner's office informed them Saturday morning. They had been looking for her and were grateful for the closure.

"It was the wrong call we got, but at least we got the call," said LaTasha Polk's cousin, Sebastian Polk. He said he was all out of tears by the time he arrived at the vigil to honor his cousin, whom he described being as close as a sister.

The coroner did not specify the reason for the delay, her aunt Kim Polk said.

"Every time you saw her she was smiling," said her cousin Courtney Polk, pressing her hands together in front of her face and holding back tears. "It's hard but we see all the love for her."

Some of LaTasha's relatives held each other crying on the curb near the cross where they had placed candles for her and other victims.

"Tasha, she was a loving person, and for her life to be taken away — unimaginable," Kim Polk said. "To wake up and have that taken from you."

Thirty-one year old Edward Pettifer, a British citizen, was identified Saturday as one of the 14 victims killed in the truck attack.

Pettifer's family said they were "devastated at the tragic news of Ed's death" and described him as "a wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and a friend to so many."

"We will all miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with the other families who have lost their family members due to this terrible attack," the family added.

The U.K.'s Foreign Office also said it was supporting Pettifer's family and was in contact with U.S. authorities.

Brandon Taylor, 43, of Harvey, Louisiana, was killed when the pickup truck careened down Bourbon Street.

Elliot Wilkinson, 40, of Slidell, Louisiana, died in the New Year's attack. Cecil Wilkinson said in a message to his little brother, Elliot Wilkinson, on Facebook that he was loved "and you will truly be missed."

"I know life was hard for you at times. But I wasn't expecting to get the phone call this morning you was one of them that got hit in New Orleans in the French Quarter," Wilkinson said in the post.

After years working in the service industry and maintenance, New Orleans native Terrence Kennedy spent his retirement doing what he loved: strolling down to catch the ever-present party in the French Quarter.

"Bourbon is like a free party," his niece, Monisha James, told The Associated Press. "He was enjoying his city that he enjoyed for 63 years."

James said her uncle liked to people-watch around the French Quarter and often sparked conversations with strangers. "That was what he was doing to enjoy his retirement," she said.

Kennedy had told his sister on New Year's Eve that he was going out. When he didn't answer the phone the next morning, the family spent a frantic day searching until the coroner confirmed he died in the New Year's Day attack.

The family still doesn't know if he died from the car's impact or gunshot wounds; all they were told is that he was still alive when he got to the hospital.

James, 43, described her uncle as a humble helper and a handyman. Whether it was fixing up a house or playing with his nieces and nephews, he was always eager to serve others.

"Just a sweet, kind, loving, helpful person that would not harm anyone," James said.

Sadly, illness had affected his family in recent years. Four of Kennedy's siblings died before him, including a sister who had passed away a month earlier. The violent nature of Kennedy's death stunned the family, on top of everything they've been through lately. Right now, said James, they're supporting each other.

"That's such a shock to our family because never in a million years would you be able to tell me that's what happened to him," she said.

Kennedy's younger sister Jacqueline Kennedy, 59, said her brother was known for his big heart and his love of sports.

"My brother had a kind heart. He was loving and caring and giving and he loved the Pittsburgh Steelers," she said.

Billy DiMaio, 25, of Holmdel, New Jersey, was humble and gentled-hearted, so devoted to family that he had a tattoo featuring all of his cousins' names, his parents told NOLA.com.

A New York City-based account executive for the media company Audacy, DiMaio was in New Orleans to celebrate New Year's Eve and see friends who planned to go to the Sugar Bowl, Tracie and Bill DiMaio, of Holmdel, New Jersey, told the news site. His friends escaped injury.

"He was a good, humble kid," Bill DiMaio said. "He loved life."

Billy DiMaio grew up on Long Island, New York, before the family moved to New Jersey. He graduated in 2022 from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where he was on the lacrosse team and earned a master's degree.

"He was a pure, gentle-hearted soul," his mother said. "He will be truly missed."

"Beyond his professional achievements, Billy will be fondly remembered for his unwavering work ethic, positive attitude, and kindness," Audacy said in an emailed statement.

Hurbert Gauthreaux, 21, of Gretna, Louisiana, was among the victims, the coroner's office said.

Archbishop Shaw High School, in Marrero, Louisiana, posted on Facebook that Gauthreaux was from the class of 2021.

Gauthreaux "was tragically killed in the senseless act of violence that occurred early this morning in the French Quarter. He was 21 years old," the Catholic boys school posted Wednesday.

Kareem Badawi, 23, was a University of Alabama freshman when he was killed in the attack. A native of Louisiana and a graduate of the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, Badawi had started at the Alabama university this fall.

"My son was full of life," his father Belal Badawi said in an interview.

Back home in Baton Rouge for winter break, Badawi had gone to New Orleans with friends to celebrate the new year, his father said. After they saw the news of the truck attack, they tried to reach Kareem, but he didn't answer.

"Then I saw his phone when I tracked it was in the area that it happened," belal Badawi said. "So, then we knew that's something wrong. He's not answering. We drove to New Orleans. We live in Baton Rouge, we went to the hospital and we waited a few hours and the FBI came with the list of all the casualties."

"I lost my son. He's a good boy," he said of his son. "Unfortunately, his life ended that quick and with no reason. Just nothing he did to deserve for somebody to come and kill him."

Andrew Dauphin, 26, of Montgomery, Alabama, did in the attack.

Christopher B. Roberts, president of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, said on the social platform X that Dauphin was 2023 graduate.

"Words cannot convey the sorrow the Auburn Family feels for Drew's family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time," Roberts said. "Our thoughts are with the Dauphin family and the families of all the victims of this senseless tragedy."

Dauphin was a supplier process engineer at the American Honda Motor Company in Birmingham, Alabama, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Matthew Tenedorio of Picayune, Mississippi, was killed in the truck attack, the coroner's office said.

"He was 25 years old. He was just starting life. He had the job of his dreams," his mother, Cathy Tenedorio, told NBC News. "It's just very sad."

A GoFundMe page created by a cousin says he was an audiovisual technician at the Superdome.

"He was a wonderful kid," Louis Tenedorio added. "He loved people. He loved animals. He always had a smile. So many friends. He had so many friends."

Cathy Tenedorio said she had spent New Year's Eve with Matthew and another one of her sons.

"We had dinner and we did fireworks outside, and just laughing and hugging each other and telling each other we loved each other," she said. She added that they had tried to dissuade him from going into the city.

Zion Parsons, of Gulfport, Mississippi, had been celebrating New Year's Eve at his first night on Bourbon Street when a vehicle appeared and plowed into his friend, Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, who he said had dreamed of becoming a nurse.

"A truck hit the corner and comes barreling through throwing people like in a movie scene, throwing people into the air," Parsons told The Associated Press. "It hit her and flung her like at least 30 feet and I was just lucky to be alive."

As the crowd scattered in the chaos he ran through a gruesome aftermath of bleeding and maimed victims, hearing gunshots and explosive sounds.

"Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering" Parsons said. "People crying on the floor, like brain matter all over the ground. It was just insane, like the closest thing to a war zone that I've ever seen."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735738471176.png" alt="Police investigators on the scene early Tuesday d-photo courtesy WDSU" />
 <figcaption>Police investigators on the scene early Tuesday d-photo courtesy WDSU</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARTHA BELLISLE Associated PressA British man who was killed when the driver of a white pickup truck sped down Bourbon Street packed with holiday revelers was identified Saturday as the stepson of a former nanny to the Royal Family. A nursing assistant has been the last of the 14 victims killed in the New Orleans truck attack to be identified. Her family says the coroner's office confirmed the death of LaTasha Polk on Saturday. The coroner's office says all the victims died from blunt force injuries. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was fatally shot in a firefight with police. About 30 people were injured and 16 remain hospitalized, half in intensive care.A British man who was killed when the driver of a white pickup truck sped down Bourbon Street packed with holiday revelers was identified Saturday as the stepson of a former nanny to the Royal Family. Prince William expressed shock and sadness at the news of the death of Edward Pettifer of London.A nursing assistant in her 40s was the last of the 14 victims killed in the New Orleans truck attack to be identified, according to her family who said the coroner's office confirmed LaTasha Polk's death on Saturday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735753500592.png" alt="Photo courtesy WDSU TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WDSU TV</figcaption>
 </figure>The coroner's office said all the victims died from blunt force injuries. The suspect in the attack, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was fatally shot in a firefight with police.The youngest victim was 18 years old and the oldest 63. Most victims were in their 20s. They came from from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey and Great Britain.Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said the innocent lives lost will never be forgotten, as he declared on Friday a period of mourning for the victims, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 6. A different victim is to be remembered each day."However, Louisiana and her people will never cower in fear," he said. "Instead, we will unite and come back stronger in honor of every person who lost their lives that day."About 30 people were injured and 16 remained hospitalized as of Friday.LaTasha PolkLaTasha Polk, a nursing assistant and mother of a teenage boy, was the last victim in the New Year's truck attack to be identified, according to her family, who gathered at a vigil Saturday evening to light candles. They said the coroner's office informed them Saturday morning. They had been looking for her and were grateful for the closure."It was the wrong call we got, but at least we got the call," said LaTasha Polk's cousin, Sebastian Polk. He said he was all out of tears by the time he arrived at the vigil to honor his cousin, whom he described being as close as a sister.The coroner did not specify the reason for the delay, her aunt Kim Polk said."Every time you saw her she was smiling," said her cousin Courtney Polk, pressing her hands together in front of her face and holding back tears. "It's hard but we see all the love for her."Some of LaTasha's relatives held each other crying on the curb near the cross where they had placed candles for her and other victims."Tasha, she was a loving person, and for her life to be taken away — unimaginable," Kim Polk said. "To wake up and have that taken from you."Edward PettiferThirty-one year old Edward Pettifer, a British citizen, was identified Saturday as one of the 14 victims killed in the truck attack.Pettifer's family said they were "devastated at the tragic news of Ed's death" and described him as "a wonderful son, brother, grandson, nephew and a friend to so many.""We will all miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with the other families who have lost their family members due to this terrible attack," the family added.The U.K.'s Foreign Office also said it was supporting Pettifer's family and was in contact with U.S. authorities.Brandon TaylorBrandon Taylor, 43, of Harvey, Louisiana, was killed when the pickup truck careened down Bourbon Street.Elliot WilkinsonElliot Wilkinson, 40, of Slidell, Louisiana, died in the New Year's attack. Cecil Wilkinson said in a message to his little brother, Elliot Wilkinson, on Facebook that he was loved "and you will truly be missed.""I know life was hard for you at times. But I wasn't expecting to get the phone call this morning you was one of them that got hit in New Orleans in the French Quarter," Wilkinson said in the post.Terrence "Terry" KennedyAfter years working in the service industry and maintenance, New Orleans native Terrence Kennedy spent his retirement doing what he loved: strolling down to catch the ever-present party in the French Quarter."Bourbon is like a free party," his niece, Monisha James, told The Associated Press. "He was enjoying his city that he enjoyed for 63 years."James said her uncle liked to people-watch around the French Quarter and often sparked conversations with strangers. "That was what he was doing to enjoy his retirement," she said.Kennedy had told his sister on New Year's Eve that he was going out. When he didn't answer the phone the next morning, the family spent a frantic day searching until the coroner confirmed he died in the New Year's Day attack.The family still doesn't know if he died from the car's impact or gunshot wounds; all they were told is that he was still alive when he got to the hospital.James, 43, described her uncle as a humble helper and a handyman. Whether it was fixing up a house or playing with his nieces and nephews, he was always eager to serve others."Just a sweet, kind, loving, helpful person that would not harm anyone," James said.Sadly, illness had affected his family in recent years. Four of Kennedy's siblings died before him, including a sister who had passed away a month earlier. The violent nature of Kennedy's death stunned the family, on top of everything they've been through lately. Right now, said James, they're supporting each other."That's such a shock to our family because never in a million years would you be able to tell me that's what happened to him," she said.Kennedy's younger sister Jacqueline Kennedy, 59, said her brother was known for his big heart and his love of sports."My brother had a kind heart. He was loving and caring and giving and he loved the Pittsburgh Steelers," she said.William "Billy" DiMaioBilly DiMaio, 25, of Holmdel, New Jersey, was humble and gentled-hearted, so devoted to family that he had a tattoo featuring all of his cousins' names, his parents told NOLA.com.A New York City-based account executive for the media company Audacy, DiMaio was in New Orleans to celebrate New Year's Eve and see friends who planned to go to the Sugar Bowl, Tracie and Bill DiMaio, of Holmdel, New Jersey, told the news site. His friends escaped injury."He was a good, humble kid," Bill DiMaio said. "He loved life."Billy DiMaio grew up on Long Island, New York, before the family moved to New Jersey. He graduated in 2022 from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, where he was on the lacrosse team and earned a master's degree."He was a pure, gentle-hearted soul," his mother said. "He will be truly missed."He had worked for Audacy since 2023."Beyond his professional achievements, Billy will be fondly remembered for his unwavering work ethic, positive attitude, and kindness," Audacy said in an emailed statement.Hubert GauthreauxHurbert Gauthreaux, 21, of Gretna, Louisiana, was among the victims, the coroner's office said.Archbishop Shaw High School, in Marrero, Louisiana, posted on Facebook that Gauthreaux was from the class of 2021.Gauthreaux "was tragically killed in the senseless act of violence that occurred early this morning in the French Quarter. He was 21 years old," the Catholic boys school posted Wednesday.Kareem BadawiKareem Badawi, 23, was a University of Alabama freshman when he was killed in the attack. A native of Louisiana and a graduate of the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, Badawi had started at the Alabama university this fall."My son was full of life," his father Belal Badawi said in an interview.Back home in Baton Rouge for winter break, Badawi had gone to New Orleans with friends to celebrate the new year, his father said. After they saw the news of the truck attack, they tried to reach Kareem, but he didn't answer."Then I saw his phone when I tracked it was in the area that it happened," belal Badawi said. "So, then we knew that's something wrong. He's not answering. We drove to New Orleans. We live in Baton Rouge, we went to the hospital and we waited a few hours and the FBI came with the list of all the casualties."Badawi said he was a lovely boy."I lost my son. He's a good boy," he said of his son. "Unfortunately, his life ended that quick and with no reason. Just nothing he did to deserve for somebody to come and kill him."Andrew "Drew" DauphinAndrew Dauphin, 26, of Montgomery, Alabama, did in the attack.Christopher B. Roberts, president of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, said on the social platform X that Dauphin was 2023 graduate."Words cannot convey the sorrow the Auburn Family feels for Drew's family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time," Roberts said. "Our thoughts are with the Dauphin family and the families of all the victims of this senseless tragedy."Dauphin was a supplier process engineer at the American Honda Motor Company in Birmingham, Alabama, according to his LinkedIn profile.Matthew TenedorioMatthew Tenedorio of Picayune, Mississippi, was killed in the truck attack, the coroner's office said."He was 25 years old. He was just starting life. He had the job of his dreams," his mother, Cathy Tenedorio, told NBC News. "It's just very sad."A GoFundMe page created by a cousin says he was an audiovisual technician at the Superdome."He was a wonderful kid," Louis Tenedorio added. "He loved people. He loved animals. He always had a smile. So many friends. He had so many friends."Cathy Tenedorio said she had spent New Year's Eve with Matthew and another one of her sons."We had dinner and we did fireworks outside, and just laughing and hugging each other and telling each other we loved each other," she said. She added that they had tried to dissuade him from going into the city."They don't think about risk," she said.Nikyra DedeauxZion Parsons, of Gulfport, Mississippi, had been celebrating New Year's Eve at his first night on Bourbon Street when a vehicle appeared and plowed into his friend, Nikyra Dedeaux, 18, who he said had dreamed of becoming a nurse."A truck hit the corner and comes barreling through throwing people like in a movie scene, throwing people into the air," Parsons told The Associated Press. "It hit her and flung her like at least 30 feet and I was just lucky to be alive."As the crowd scattered in the chaos he ran through a gruesome aftermath of bleeding and maimed victims, hearing gunshots and explosive sounds."Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering" Parsons said. "People crying on the floor, like brain matter all over the ground. It was just insane, like the closest thing to a war zone that I've ever seen."Dedeaux had a job at a hospital and was set to start college and begin working towards her goal of becoming a registered nurse."She had her mindset — she didn't have everything figured out but she had the plan laid down," Parsons said.Reggie HunterA 37-year-old father of two from Baton Rouge, Reggie Hunter had just left work and headed to celebrate New Year's with a cousin when the attack happened, his first cousin Shirell Jackson told Nola.com.Hunter died and his cousin was injured, Jackson said. The coroner's office said he was from Prairieville, Louisiana.Martin "Tiger" BechTiger Bech, a 27-year-old former high school and college football player from Louisiana was among those killed.Kim Broussard, athletic director at St. Thomas More Catholic High School in Lafayette, told NOLA.com that Bech attended the high school, where he played wide receiver, quarterback, punt returner and defensive back. Bech played football at Princeton University before graduating in 2021.Marty Cannon, STM principal and former coach of Bech, said he was charismatic, intelligent and an incredibly talented football player. He regularly returned home to visit his tight-knit family, close friends and people at the school. He was home over Christmas."We live in a relatively small community here where not a lot of people leave but many do," Cannon said. "I'm not surprised at all that Tiger could take off from south Louisiana and go off and get an amazing education at a place like Princeton and then lock himself into a community up there and just flourish. He's that kind of guy."Bech has been working at Seaport Global. "He was extremely well regarded by everybody who knew him," said company spokesperson Lisa Lieberman.Nicole PerezNicole Perez was a single mother to a 4-year-old son working hard to make life better for her family when she was killed, according to her employer.Perez, 27, was recently promoted to manager at Kimmy's Deli in Metairie, Louisiana, and "was really excited about it," deli owner Kimberly Usher said in an interview with the AP. Usher confirmed Perez's death through her sister, who also works for her.Usher said Perez would walk in the morning to the deli, which opened at breakfast time, and ask lots of questions about the business side of the operations. She also was permitted to bring her son, Melo, to work."She was a really good mom," said Usher, who started a GoFundMe account to cover Perez's burial costs and to help with expenses for her son that "he will need to transition into a new living situation," the donation request says.Injured in the Attack— Heaven Sensky-Kirsch said her father, Jeremi Sensky, endured 10 hours of surgery for injuries that included two broken legs. He was taken off a ventilator Thursday.Jeremi Sensky was ejected from the wheelchair he was using and had bruises to his face and head, Sensky-Kirsch said in a phone interview from a hospital intensive care unit."He's talking right now," Sensky-Kirsch said late Thursday morning.Sensky, 51, who works in the family's tree service business, had driven from his home in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, to New Orleans to celebrate the holiday.Before the attack, Sensky and two friends had been having pizza, his daughter said. Sensky left them to return to his hotel on Canal Street because he felt cold, she said.Sensky-Kirsch said others could see the attacker coming and were able to run out of the way, but her father "was stuck on the road." His wheelchair can be seen in some images lodged against a crane.When he didn't return to the hotel, they went to look for him, she said."We thought he was dead," Sensky-Kirsch said. "We can't believe he's alive."— Ryan Quigley, who was a teammate of Bech's at Princeton, was with him when they were struck by the truck. Quigley was injured, according to family and friends."Ryan is doing okay. He is stable and resting in the company of his family and friends," the Quigleys said in an update on a GoFundMe page set up by his friends. "Ryan loves you all. Please keep the Bech family, the other families, and all of those affected by this tragedy in your prayers. Thank you all."— University of Georgia President Jere W. Morehead said on X that a student was critically injured in the attack and is receiving medical treatment. He did not name the student.— The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on X that two Israeli citizens were injured in the attack.— University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce said Thursday that one of the university's students was critically injured in New Orleans. Boyce did not identify the student.___Jack Brook and Sharon Lurye in New Orleans, Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina, Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi, Travis Loller in Nashville and Kimberly Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama contributed to this report. Bellisle reported from Seattle.