LONDON (AP) — Maggie Smith, the masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969 and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Friday. She was 89.

Smith's sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, said in a statement that Smith died early Friday in a London hospital.

“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” they said in a statement issued through publicist Clair Dobbs.

Smith was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench, with a clutch of Academy Award nominations and a shelf full of acting trophies.

She remained in demand even in her later years, despite her lament that “when you get into the granny era, you’re lucky to get anything.”

Smith drily summarized her later roles as “a gallery of grotesques,” including Professor McGonagall. Asked why she took the role, she quipped: “Harry Potter is my pension.”

Richard Eyre, who directed Smith in a television production of “Suddenly Last Summer,” said she was “intellectually the smartest actress I’ve ever worked with. You have to get up very, very early in the morning to outwit Maggie Smith.”

"Jean Brodie," in which she played a dangerously charismatic Edinburgh schoolteacher, brought her the Academy Award for best actress, and the British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) as well in 1969.

Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite” in 1978, Golden Globes for “California Suite” and “Room with a View,” and BAFTAs for lead actress in “A Private Function” in 1984, “A Room with a View” in 1986, and “The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne” in 1988.

She also received Academy Award nominations as a supporting actress in “Othello,” “Travels with My Aunt,” “Room with a View” and “Gosford Park,” and a BAFTA award for supporting actress in “Tea with Mussolini.” On stage, she won a Tony in 1990 for “Lettice and Lovage.”

Her work in 2012 netted three Golden Globe nominations for the globally successful “Downton Abbey” TV series and the films “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “Quartet.”

Smith had a reputation for being difficult, and sometimes upstaging others.

Richard Burton remarked that Smith didn’t just take over a scene in “The VIPs” with him: “She commits grand larceny.” However, the director Peter Hall found that Smith wasn’t “remotely difficult unless she’s among idiots. She’s very hard on herself, and I don’t think she sees any reason why she shouldn’t be hard on other people, too.”

Smith conceded that she could be impatient at times.

“It’s true I don’t tolerate fools, but then they don’t tolerate me, so I am spiky,” Smith said. “Maybe that’s why I’m quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies.”

Critic Frank Rich, in a New York Times review of “Lettice and Lovage,” praised Smith as “the stylized classicist who can italicize a line as prosaic as ‘Have you no marmalade?’ until it sounds like a freshly minted epigram by Coward or Wilde.”

Smith famously drew laughs from a prosaic line — “This haddock is disgusting” — in a 1964 revival of Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever.”

“But unfortunately the critics mentioned it, and after that it never got a laugh,” she recalled. “The moment you say something is funny it’s gossamer. It’s gone, really.”

Margaret Natalie Smith was born in Ilford, on the eastern edge of London, on Dec. 28, 1934. She summed up her life briefly: “One went to school, one wanted to act, one started to act, one’s still acting.”

Her father was assigned in 1939 to wartime duty in Oxford, where her theater studies at the Oxford Playhouse School led to a busy apprenticeship.

“I did so many things, you know, round the universities there. ... If you were kind of clever enough and I suppose quick enough, you could almost do weekly rep because all the colleges were doing different productions at different times,” she said in a BBC interview.

She took Maggie as her stage name because another Margaret Smith was active in the theater.

Laurence Olivier spotted her talent, invited her to be part of his original National Theatre company and cast her as his co-star in a 1965 film adaptation of “Othello.”

Smith said two directors, Ingmar Bergman and William Gaskill, both in National Theatre productions, were important influences.

Alan Bennett, preparing to film the monologue “A Bed Among the Lentils,” said he was wary of Smith’s reputation for becoming bored. As the actor Jeremy Brett put it, “she starts divinely and then goes off, rather like a cheese.”

“So the fact that we only just had enough time to do it was an absolute blessing really because she was so fresh and just so into it,” said Bennett, who also wrote a starring role for Smith in “The Lady in the Van.”

However extravagant she may have been on stage or before the cameras, Smith was known to be intensely private.

Simon Callow, who acted with her in “A Room with a View,” said he ruined their first meeting by spouting compliments.

“I blurted out various kinds of rubbish about her and she kind of withdrew. She doesn’t like that sort of thing very much at all,” Callow said in a film portrait of the actress. “She never wanted to talk about acting. Acting was something she was terrified to talk about because if she did, it would disappear.”

Smith was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the equivalent of a knight, in 1990.

She married fellow actor Robert Stephens in 1967. They had two sons, Christopher and Toby, and divorced in 1975. The same year she married the writer Beverley Cross, who died in 1998.

Associated Press writer Robert Barr contributed biographical material to this obituary before his death in 2018.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727444010447.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Maggie Smith, the masterful, scene-stealing actor who won an Oscar for “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969 and gained new fans in the 21st century as the dowager Countess of Grantham in “Downton Abbey” and Professor Minerva McGonagall in the Harry Potter films, died Friday. She was 89.Smith's sons, Chris Larkin and Toby Stephens, said in a statement that Smith died early Friday in a London hospital.“She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother,” they said in a statement issued through publicist Clair Dobbs.Smith was frequently rated the preeminent British female performer of a generation that included Vanessa Redgrave and Judi Dench, with a clutch of Academy Award nominations and a shelf full of acting trophies.She remained in demand even in her later years, despite her lament that “when you get into the granny era, you’re lucky to get anything.”Smith drily summarized her later roles as “a gallery of grotesques,” including Professor McGonagall. Asked why she took the role, she quipped: “Harry Potter is my pension.”Richard Eyre, who directed Smith in a television production of “Suddenly Last Summer,” said she was “intellectually the smartest actress I’ve ever worked with. You have to get up very, very early in the morning to outwit Maggie Smith.”"Jean Brodie," in which she played a dangerously charismatic Edinburgh schoolteacher, brought her the Academy Award for best actress, and the British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) as well in 1969.Smith added a supporting actress Oscar for “California Suite” in 1978, Golden Globes for “California Suite” and “Room with a View,” and BAFTAs for lead actress in “A Private Function” in 1984, “A Room with a View” in 1986, and “The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne” in 1988.She also received Academy Award nominations as a supporting actress in “Othello,” “Travels with My Aunt,” “Room with a View” and “Gosford Park,” and a BAFTA award for supporting actress in “Tea with Mussolini.” On stage, she won a Tony in 1990 for “Lettice and Lovage.”Her work in 2012 netted three Golden Globe nominations for the globally successful “Downton Abbey” TV series and the films “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” and “Quartet.”Smith had a reputation for being difficult, and sometimes upstaging others.Richard Burton remarked that Smith didn’t just take over a scene in “The VIPs” with him: “She commits grand larceny.” However, the director Peter Hall found that Smith wasn’t “remotely difficult unless she’s among idiots. She’s very hard on herself, and I don’t think she sees any reason why she shouldn’t be hard on other people, too.”Smith conceded that she could be impatient at times.“It’s true I don’t tolerate fools, but then they don’t tolerate me, so I am spiky,” Smith said. “Maybe that’s why I’m quite good at playing spiky elderly ladies.”Critic Frank Rich, in a New York Times review of “Lettice and Lovage,” praised Smith as “the stylized classicist who can italicize a line as prosaic as ‘Have you no marmalade?’ until it sounds like a freshly minted epigram by Coward or Wilde.”Smith famously drew laughs from a prosaic line — “This haddock is disgusting” — in a 1964 revival of Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever.”“But unfortunately the critics mentioned it, and after that it never got a laugh,” she recalled. “The moment you say something is funny it’s gossamer. It’s gone, really.”Margaret Natalie Smith was born in Ilford, on the eastern edge of London, on Dec. 28, 1934. She summed up her life briefly: “One went to school, one wanted to act, one started to act, one’s still acting.”Her father was assigned in 1939 to wartime duty in Oxford, where her theater studies at the Oxford Playhouse School led to a busy apprenticeship.“I did so many things, you know, round the universities there. ... If you were kind of clever enough and I suppose quick enough, you could almost do weekly rep because all the colleges were doing different productions at different times,” she said in a BBC interview.She took Maggie as her stage name because another Margaret Smith was active in the theater.Laurence Olivier spotted her talent, invited her to be part of his original National Theatre company and cast her as his co-star in a 1965 film adaptation of “Othello.”Smith said two directors, Ingmar Bergman and William Gaskill, both in National Theatre productions, were important influences.Alan Bennett, preparing to film the monologue “A Bed Among the Lentils,” said he was wary of Smith’s reputation for becoming bored. As the actor Jeremy Brett put it, “she starts divinely and then goes off, rather like a cheese.”“So the fact that we only just had enough time to do it was an absolute blessing really because she was so fresh and just so into it,” said Bennett, who also wrote a starring role for Smith in “The Lady in the Van.”However extravagant she may have been on stage or before the cameras, Smith was known to be intensely private.Simon Callow, who acted with her in “A Room with a View,” said he ruined their first meeting by spouting compliments.“I blurted out various kinds of rubbish about her and she kind of withdrew. She doesn’t like that sort of thing very much at all,” Callow said in a film portrait of the actress. “She never wanted to talk about acting. Acting was something she was terrified to talk about because if she did, it would disappear.”Smith was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, the equivalent of a knight, in 1990.She married fellow actor Robert Stephens in 1967. They had two sons, Christopher and Toby, and divorced in 1975. The same year she married the writer Beverley Cross, who died in 1998.___Associated Press writer Robert Barr contributed biographical material to this obituary before his death in 2018.

‘Downton Abbey,’ ‘Harry Potter’ actress Maggie Smith has died

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Thursday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chrysler 300 driven by Jesus Aguilar-Santos, 29, Kansas City, Kansas, was westbound on Interstate 70 just before the I-670/I-35 exit.

The car rear-ended a 2014 Jeep Cherokee driven by&nbsp;Lori Wiggins, 60, Kansas City, Kansas that was on the shoulder of the highway.&nbsp; After impact the Jeep traveled into the north ditch and rolled.

A passenger in the jeep identified as&nbsp;Darrell Richardson, 78, Kansas City Kansas, was pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported&nbsp;Aguilar-Santos and Wiggins to KU Medical Center.&nbsp;Aguilar-Santos was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Thursday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chrysler 300 driven by Jesus Aguilar-Santos, 29, Kansas City, Kansas, was westbound on Interstate 70 just before the I-670/I-35 exit.The car rear-ended a 2014 Jeep Cherokee driven by&nbsp;Lori Wiggins, 60, Kansas City, Kansas that was on the shoulder of the highway.&nbsp; After impact the Jeep traveled into the north ditch and rolled.A passenger in the jeep identified as&nbsp;Darrell Richardson, 78, Kansas City Kansas, was pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported&nbsp;Aguilar-Santos and Wiggins to KU Medical Center.&nbsp;Aguilar-Santos was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies, 2 injured after I-70 rear-end crash

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;

The Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, laid out more of her economic vision Wednesday during her first one-on-one cable TV interview.

Harris and former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, are laying out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/taxes-where-do-trump-and-harris-stand" target="_blank">dueling economic agendas</a>&nbsp;this week as the two vie for the Oval Office in an extremely close race.

“I really love and am so energized by what I know to be the spirit and character of the American people — we have ambition, we have aspirations, we have dreams, we can see what’s possible, we have an incredible work ethic, but not everyone has the access to the opportunities that allow them to achieve those things, but we don’t lack for those things, but not everyone gets handed stuff on a silver platter,” Harris told MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle.

“My vision for the economy — I call it an opportunity economy — is about making sure that all Americans — wherever they start, wherever they are — have the ability to actually achieve those dreams and those ambitions, which include, for middle-class families, just being able to know that their hard work allows them to get ahead,” she said.

Earlier on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/harris-touts-economic-plans-in-pittsburgh-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/" target="_blank">Harris touted her economic plans</a>&nbsp;in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at Carnegie Mellon University. During her MSNBC interview later in the day, she reiterated her plan to cut taxes for more than 100 million Americans, including $6,000 in tax relief for new parents in the first year of their child’s life.

In that first year, Harris said these parents are going to “need help buying a crib, buying a car seat, and we all benefit when they’re actually able to do what they naturally want to do to take care of their child.”

Part of her economic agenda also includes as much as $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and an up to $50,000 tax break for first-time small businesses.

She also took jabs at Trump when it comes to the economy, saying he’s “just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/news/8760cee3-7340-4dcc-9fc5-3457aa5953bd" target="_blank">Trump campaign</a>&nbsp;clapped back at her MSNBC appearance on Wednesday, saying “it was (another) reminder why she never does interviews,” and that she’s “not competent enough — and she has no plans to offer Americans.”

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/09/24/trump-pitches-economic-plan-in-savannah-while-insulting-democrats-praising-kemp/" target="_blank">pitched his economic plan</a>&nbsp;earlier this week in Georgia, part of which includes levying tariffs on exported goods, and he vowed to place a 100% tariff on cars imported from Mexico.

Harris also touched on immigration, telling Ruhle “we do have a broken immigration system, and it needs to be fixed.”

She also said she would bring back and sign into law a major&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/bleak-future-immigration-action-after-us-senate-gop-abandons-border-security-deal" target="_blank">bipartisan border security bill</a>&nbsp;from earlier this year while pinning its legislative failure on Trump.

“He killed a bill that would have actually been a solution because he wants to run on a problem instead of fixing the problem, and that’s part of what needs to be addressed,” Harris said.

The veep is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday for the first time since becoming the Democratic nominee. Her Douglas, Arizona, visit comes as she’s faced repeated criticism and backlash from both sides of the aisle for her efforts surrounding immigration.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113193502568945796" target="_blank">Truth Social post</a>&nbsp;earlier this week regarding her upcoming visit, Trump again dubbed Harris a “border czar,” saying “what a disgrace that she waited so long, allowing millions of people to enter our Country from prisons, mental institutions, and criminal cells all over the World, not just South America, many of those coming are terrorists, and at a level never seen before!”

President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/what-know-about-vice-president-kamala-harris-endorsed-biden-his-successor" target="_blank">tapped Harris back in 2021</a>&nbsp;to help address the “root causes” of migration in Central America, but he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2024/08/trump-tv-ad-repeats-false-border-czar-illegal-immigration-claims/" target="_blank">did not give her</a>&nbsp;the title of “border czar.” The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of border security.

What’s next for Harris, Trump campaigns

Harris was set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday afternoon.

The meeting between the two leaders “serves as a reminder that the Vice President has been a champion for the United States, advancing our security and prosperity on the world stage and standing up to dictators and autocrats,” her campaign said in a Thursday press release.

This will be her seventh meeting with Zelenskyy, according to her campaign, which noted that as vice president, “she helped rally a global coalition of 50 allies and partners to help Ukraine defend itself.”

Trump is set to deliver remarks in Walker, Michigan, on Friday. Later in the day, he will also host a town hall in Warren, Michigan.

And in the thick of the college football season, Trump is set to attend the Alabama-Georgia football game on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-says-jewish-voters-would-be-partly-blame-election-loss" target="_blank">confirmed to States Newsroom last week</a>.

Harris’ running mate, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is set to attend the Michigan-Minnesota football game Saturday in Ann Arbor, the Harris-Walz campaign announced.

He’s also slated to campaign there and will “speak with students about the power of their vote and the importance of registering to vote ahead of the November election,” per the announcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727438181004.png" alt="Vice President Harris during a White House press conference on Thursday image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Harris during a White House press conference on Thursday image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>&nbsp;The Democratic presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, laid out more of her economic vision Wednesday during her first one-on-one cable TV interview.Harris and former President Donald Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, are laying out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/taxes-where-do-trump-and-harris-stand" target="_blank">dueling economic agendas</a>&nbsp;this week as the two vie for the Oval Office in an extremely close race.“I really love and am so energized by what I know to be the spirit and character of the American people — we have ambition, we have aspirations, we have dreams, we can see what’s possible, we have an incredible work ethic, but not everyone has the access to the opportunities that allow them to achieve those things, but we don’t lack for those things, but not everyone gets handed stuff on a silver platter,” Harris told MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle.“My vision for the economy — I call it an opportunity economy — is about making sure that all Americans — wherever they start, wherever they are — have the ability to actually achieve those dreams and those ambitions, which include, for middle-class families, just being able to know that their hard work allows them to get ahead,” she said.Earlier on Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/harris-touts-economic-plans-in-pittsburgh-the-best-way-to-predict-the-future-is-to-invent-it/" target="_blank">Harris touted her economic plans</a>&nbsp;in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at Carnegie Mellon University. During her MSNBC interview later in the day, she reiterated her plan to cut taxes for more than 100 million Americans, including $6,000 in tax relief for new parents in the first year of their child’s life.In that first year, Harris said these parents are going to “need help buying a crib, buying a car seat, and we all benefit when they’re actually able to do what they naturally want to do to take care of their child.”Part of her economic agenda also includes as much as $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers and an up to $50,000 tax break for first-time small businesses.She also took jabs at Trump when it comes to the economy, saying he’s “just not very serious about how he thinks about some of these issues.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/news/8760cee3-7340-4dcc-9fc5-3457aa5953bd" target="_blank">Trump campaign</a>&nbsp;clapped back at her MSNBC appearance on Wednesday, saying “it was (another) reminder why she never does interviews,” and that she’s “not competent enough — and she has no plans to offer Americans.”Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2024/09/24/trump-pitches-economic-plan-in-savannah-while-insulting-democrats-praising-kemp/" target="_blank">pitched his economic plan</a>&nbsp;earlier this week in Georgia, part of which includes levying tariffs on exported goods, and he vowed to place a 100% tariff on cars imported from Mexico.<h2>Harris to visit southern border&nbsp;</h2>Harris also touched on immigration, telling Ruhle “we do have a broken immigration system, and it needs to be fixed.”She also said she would bring back and sign into law a major&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/bleak-future-immigration-action-after-us-senate-gop-abandons-border-security-deal" target="_blank">bipartisan border security bill</a>&nbsp;from earlier this year while pinning its legislative failure on Trump.“He killed a bill that would have actually been a solution because he wants to run on a problem instead of fixing the problem, and that’s part of what needs to be addressed,” Harris said.The veep is set to visit the U.S.-Mexico border on Friday for the first time since becoming the Democratic nominee. Her Douglas, Arizona, visit comes as she’s faced repeated criticism and backlash from both sides of the aisle for her efforts surrounding immigration.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113193502568945796" target="_blank">Truth Social post</a>&nbsp;earlier this week regarding her upcoming visit, Trump again dubbed Harris a “border czar,” saying “what a disgrace that she waited so long, allowing millions of people to enter our Country from prisons, mental institutions, and criminal cells all over the World, not just South America, many of those coming are terrorists, and at a level never seen before!”President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/what-know-about-vice-president-kamala-harris-endorsed-biden-his-successor" target="_blank">tapped Harris back in 2021</a>&nbsp;to help address the “root causes” of migration in Central America, but he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2024/08/trump-tv-ad-repeats-false-border-czar-illegal-immigration-claims/" target="_blank">did not give her</a>&nbsp;the title of “border czar.” The Department of Homeland Security is in charge of border security.<h2>What’s next for Harris, Trump campaigns</h2>Harris was set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday afternoon.The meeting between the two leaders “serves as a reminder that the Vice President has been a champion for the United States, advancing our security and prosperity on the world stage and standing up to dictators and autocrats,” her campaign said in a Thursday press release.This will be her seventh meeting with Zelenskyy, according to her campaign, which noted that as vice president, “she helped rally a global coalition of 50 allies and partners to help Ukraine defend itself.”Trump is set to deliver remarks in Walker, Michigan, on Friday. Later in the day, he will also host a town hall in Warren, Michigan.And in the thick of the college football season, Trump is set to attend the Alabama-Georgia football game on Saturday in Tuscaloosa, the University of Alabama&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-says-jewish-voters-would-be-partly-blame-election-loss" target="_blank">confirmed to States Newsroom last week</a>.Harris’ running mate, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is set to attend the Michigan-Minnesota football game Saturday in Ann Arbor, the Harris-Walz campaign announced.He’s also slated to campaign there and will “speak with students about the power of their vote and the importance of registering to vote ahead of the November election,” per the announcement.

Harris pitches an ‘opportunity economy’ in debut one-on-one TV interview 

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and shooting and asking the public for help to identify a suspect

On September 7, the woman seen in the security camera video was involved in the robbery of a business near 60th and Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

She fled the scene i, a blue pickup, driven by a white male.&nbsp; The vehicle and driver were involved in a shooting just a short time later.

If you recognize this woman or know anything about this incident, please, reach out to KCKPD detectives through the Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, 816-474-TIPS (8477) or at&nbsp;<a href="http://kccrimestoppers.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3kG0Ti1fOUfNY8SAy1RNMY93m3S1DIlstb1E3-wFzTXVVSU-ZLsvi4y6A_aem_CzvFQLCv3N7Kn57pIXZEqQ" target="_blank">kccrimestoppers.com</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/kckpd?__eep__=6%2F&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXFNTYHVl3F-cu4fTIawfvOYYE1xdj24IQ7oD4BFaARIJX0POWM8JVg8EoCarJROPL01rY3UiONdDkkgayi76KpRso6XIjC9B4fb_JmIXL9KvZZ4agIZ83fizUIrNJdcVV_QNvpdwE_KUDTgNcVtAbnAfubXsT9Qn_cIb_P3PsXSSiQYC5UqThG2clnWzNCn4Y7sHP6296VDaKKs7E5k5fg&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#kckpd</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/crimestoppers?__eep__=6%2F&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXFNTYHVl3F-cu4fTIawfvOYYE1xdj24IQ7oD4BFaARIJX0POWM8JVg8EoCarJROPL01rY3UiONdDkkgayi76KpRso6XIjC9B4fb_JmIXL9KvZZ4agIZ83fizUIrNJdcVV_QNvpdwE_KUDTgNcVtAbnAfubXsT9Qn_cIb_P3PsXSSiQYC5UqThG2clnWzNCn4Y7sHP6296VDaKKs7E5k5fg&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#crimestoppers</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kcmetrocrime?__cft__[0]=AZXFNTYHVl3F-cu4fTIawfvOYYE1xdj24IQ7oD4BFaARIJX0POWM8JVg8EoCarJROPL01rY3UiONdDkkgayi76KpRso6XIjC9B4fb_JmIXL9KvZZ4agIZ83fizUIrNJdcVV_QNvpdwE_KUDTgNcVtAbnAfubXsT9Qn_cIb_P3PsXSSiQYC5UqThG2clnWzNCn4Y7sHP6296VDaKKs7E5k5fg&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission</a>See less

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727397873439.png" alt="KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and shooting and asking the public for help to identify a suspectOn September 7, the woman seen in the security camera video was involved in the robbery of a business near 60th and Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.She fled the scene i, a blue pickup, driven by a white male.&nbsp; The vehicle and driver were involved in a shooting just a short time later.If you recognize this woman or know anything about this incident, please, reach out to KCKPD detectives through the Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, 816-474-TIPS (8477) or at&nbsp;<a href="http://kccrimestoppers.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3kG0Ti1fOUfNY8SAy1RNMY93m3S1DIlstb1E3-wFzTXVVSU-ZLsvi4y6A_aem_CzvFQLCv3N7Kn57pIXZEqQ" target="_blank">kccrimestoppers.com</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/kckpd?__eep__=6%2F&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXFNTYHVl3F-cu4fTIawfvOYYE1xdj24IQ7oD4BFaARIJX0POWM8JVg8EoCarJROPL01rY3UiONdDkkgayi76KpRso6XIjC9B4fb_JmIXL9KvZZ4agIZ83fizUIrNJdcVV_QNvpdwE_KUDTgNcVtAbnAfubXsT9Qn_cIb_P3PsXSSiQYC5UqThG2clnWzNCn4Y7sHP6296VDaKKs7E5k5fg&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#kckpd</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/hashtag/crimestoppers?__eep__=6%2F&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXFNTYHVl3F-cu4fTIawfvOYYE1xdj24IQ7oD4BFaARIJX0POWM8JVg8EoCarJROPL01rY3UiONdDkkgayi76KpRso6XIjC9B4fb_JmIXL9KvZZ4agIZ83fizUIrNJdcVV_QNvpdwE_KUDTgNcVtAbnAfubXsT9Qn_cIb_P3PsXSSiQYC5UqThG2clnWzNCn4Y7sHP6296VDaKKs7E5k5fg&amp;__tn__=*NK-R">#crimestoppers</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/kcmetrocrime?__cft__[0]=AZXFNTYHVl3F-cu4fTIawfvOYYE1xdj24IQ7oD4BFaARIJX0POWM8JVg8EoCarJROPL01rY3UiONdDkkgayi76KpRso6XIjC9B4fb_JmIXL9KvZZ4agIZ83fizUIrNJdcVV_QNvpdwE_KUDTgNcVtAbnAfubXsT9Qn_cIb_P3PsXSSiQYC5UqThG2clnWzNCn4Y7sHP6296VDaKKs7E5k5fg&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission</a>See less

Police ask for help to ID suspect in Kan. robbery, shooting 

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before noon Thursday in Kansas City.

A Ford Focus was northbound on Troost near 51st Street at a high rate of speed. The car struck a pedestrian operating an HYB15 motorized scooter, crossing Troost from east to west, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

The pedestrian was in the middle of the roadway and within an unmarked cross walk at the time of the accident.

 The driver of the Ford stopped immediately and remained at the scene. EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital and they were pronounced deceased. 

The investigation, to include suspected impairment of the driver of the Ford, is ongoing, according to Becchina. The name of the victim has not been released.&nbsp; This is fatality #71 compared to #67 at this time last year in Kansas City, Missouri.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before noon Thursday in Kansas City.A Ford Focus was northbound on Troost near 51st Street at a high rate of speed. The car struck a pedestrian operating an HYB15 motorized scooter, crossing Troost from east to west, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.The pedestrian was in the middle of the roadway and within an unmarked cross walk at the time of the accident. The driver of the Ford stopped immediately and remained at the scene. EMS transported the pedestrian to a local hospital and they were pronounced deceased. The investigation, to include suspected impairment of the driver of the Ford, is ongoing, according to Becchina. The name of the victim has not been released.&nbsp; This is fatality #71 compared to #67 at this time last year in Kansas City, Missouri.

KCPD: Electric scooter rider dies after struck by car

WASHINGTON —On Thursday, as part of the surge of assistance that President Biden directed ahead of his meeting with President Zelenskyy, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a significant new security assistance package to ensure Ukraine has the tools it needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense.

This security assistance package commits an additional $2.4 billion in support through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide Ukraine with additional air defense, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine’s defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements.&nbsp;

The capabilities in this announcement include:

This is the Biden Administration’s twenty-first USAI package. The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to win the war.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727380260471.png" alt="Ukrainian President Zelenskyy watches as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signs bombs that will used in the war against Russia-photo Office of Gov. Shapiro" />
 <figcaption>Ukrainian President Zelenskyy watches as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signs bombs that will used in the war against Russia-photo Office of Gov. Shapiro</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —On Thursday, as part of the surge of assistance that President Biden directed ahead of his meeting with President Zelenskyy, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced a significant new security assistance package to ensure Ukraine has the tools it needs to prevail in its fight against Russian aggression, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Defense.This security assistance package commits an additional $2.4 billion in support through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will provide Ukraine with additional air defense, Unmanned Aerial Systems, and air-to-ground munitions, as well as strengthen Ukraine’s defense industrial base and support its maintenance and sustainment requirements.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727392281821.png" alt="-President Zelenskyy and Vice President Harris at the White House on Thursday-White House image" />
 <figcaption>-President Zelenskyy and Vice President Harris at the White House on Thursday-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>The capabilities in this announcement include:<ul>
 <li>Munitions and support for Ukrainian air defense systems;</li><li>Air-to-ground munitions;</li><li>Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and components to support Ukrainian production of UAS;</li><li>Counter-UAS equipment;&nbsp; Unmanned surface vessels;</li><li>Secure communications equipment;</li><li>Equipment and materiel to support Ukrainian munitions production; and&nbsp;</li><li>Spare parts, maintenance and sustainment support, and other ancillary equipment.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727380341399.png" alt="Ukraine President Zelenskyy and President Biden at the White House on Thursday-White House image" />
 <figcaption>Ukraine President Zelenskyy and President Biden at the White House on Thursday-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>This is the Biden Administration’s twenty-first USAI package. The United States will continue to work together with some 50 Allies and partners through the Ukraine Defense Contact Group and its associated capability coalitions to provide the support Ukraine needs to win the war.

U.S. to spend another $2.4 billion on security assistance for Ukraine

LYON COUNTY —Police departments and school districts across Kansas continue to investigate online school threats and make arrests.

At USD 253 in Emporia, it was reported that a student, in an email, had threatened to bring a gun to school on Thursday and was warning other students not to attend school that day.&nbsp;

Officers located the student making the threats. It was determined the student did not have access to any firearms and no students were at risk.&nbsp;The case will be referred to the Lyon County Attorney’s Office for their review on possible charges.

At USD 428 in Great Bend,&nbsp;Superintendent Khris Thexton alerted district families and staff that another social media threat was reported directly to Great Bend Police Department on the evening of&nbsp; Sept. 25.&nbsp; Police determined the threat was not true.

"We are relieved to report that law enforcement officers determined this threat poses no danger to our students."

On Tuesday, Salina South Middle School administration and officers with the Salina Police Department responded to a threat made by a student against the school.&nbsp;&nbsp;The incident took place during the fourth period, around the noon hour, and involved a 13-year-old student who made threatening remarks to other students.

According to Salina Police Captain David Villanueva, the student told classmates not to come to school the next day because there would be a shooting. These comments were corroborated through an investigation by the school's resource officer and staff, who spoke to multiple students.

As a result, the student was arrested and taken to the juvenile detention facility in Junction City on charges of criminal threat.

In Ellis on Thursday, police arrested a 14-year-old for allegedly making a school threat, according to a press release Police Chief Avery Smith.&nbsp; USD 388 and police realized the threat was a hoax and not an active threat. The case was referred to the county attorney for charges.

USD 428 Superintendent Thexton reminded, "It’s also an important to never “share” a threat on social media. Instead, take a screenshot and report it to the police or school officials."

LYON COUNTY —Police departments and school districts across Kansas continue to investigate online school threats and make arrests.At USD 253 in Emporia, it was reported that a student, in an email, had threatened to bring a gun to school on Thursday and was warning other students not to attend school that day.&nbsp;Officers located the student making the threats. It was determined the student did not have access to any firearms and no students were at risk.&nbsp;The case will be referred to the Lyon County Attorney’s Office for their review on possible charges.At USD 428 in Great Bend,&nbsp;Superintendent Khris Thexton alerted district families and staff that another social media threat was reported directly to Great Bend Police Department on the evening of&nbsp; Sept. 25.&nbsp; Police determined the threat was not true."We are relieved to report that law enforcement officers determined this threat poses no danger to our students."On Tuesday, Salina South Middle School administration and officers with the Salina Police Department responded to a threat made by a student against the school.&nbsp;&nbsp;The incident took place during the fourth period, around the noon hour, and involved a 13-year-old student who made threatening remarks to other students.According to Salina Police Captain David Villanueva, the student told classmates not to come to school the next day because there would be a shooting. These comments were corroborated through an investigation by the school's resource officer and staff, who spoke to multiple students.As a result, the student was arrested and taken to the juvenile detention facility in Junction City on charges of criminal threat.In Ellis on Thursday, police arrested a 14-year-old for allegedly making a school threat, according to a press release Police Chief Avery Smith.&nbsp; USD 388 and police realized the threat was a hoax and not an active threat. The case was referred to the county attorney for charges.USD 428 Superintendent Thexton reminded, "It’s also an important to never “share” a threat on social media. Instead, take a screenshot and report it to the police or school officials."

Police across Kansas continue to investigate alleged school threats

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal motorcycle crash have identified the victim as 23-year-old Akari E. Kubo of Olathe.

According to Lenexa Police, a motorcycle driven by Kubo was southbound in the 11200 Block of Strang Line Road. The motorcycle traveled off the road and crashed in the center median.

Johnson County&nbsp; Med-Act transported her to an area hospital where she died. Police released no&nbsp;additional details.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal motorcycle crash have identified the victim as 23-year-old Akari E. Kubo of Olathe.According to Lenexa Police, a motorcycle driven by Kubo was southbound in the 11200 Block of Strang Line Road. The motorcycle traveled off the road and crashed in the center median.Johnson County&nbsp; Med-Act transported her to an area hospital where she died. Police released no&nbsp;additional details.

Police ID Kansas woman who died in motorcycle crash

TOPEKA —David Mark Jones, 33, of Shawnee, was indicted this last week on two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

 The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726863460990.png" alt="Jones photo Johnson County." />
 <figcaption>Jones photo Johnson County.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —David Mark Jones, 33, of Shawnee, was indicted this last week on two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Audrey McCormick is prosecuting the case.

Indictment: Kansas man was sending and receiving child porn

PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect for allegedly selling drugs.

On Tuesday, sheriff's deputies and police&nbsp;executed a search warrant after the culmination of a several weeks narcotics investigation, according to a media release from the Pawnee County Sheriff.

As a result of the search warrant, deputies seized over a pound of marijuana, more than $4,000 in cash and arrested two suspects for crimes related to the distribution of narcotics. Additional arrests are anticipated. The Larned Police Department participated in the raid and Pawnee County EMS was on standby, according to the Sheriff's Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727261591009.png" alt="Photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspect for allegedly selling drugs.On Tuesday, sheriff's deputies and police&nbsp;executed a search warrant after the culmination of a several weeks narcotics investigation, according to a media release from the Pawnee County Sheriff.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727261570441.png" alt="Photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Pawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result of the search warrant, deputies seized over a pound of marijuana, more than $4,000 in cash and arrested two suspects for crimes related to the distribution of narcotics. Additional arrests are anticipated. The Larned Police Department participated in the raid and Pawnee County EMS was on standby, according to the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies seize cash, marijuana after drug bust at Kansas home

NEW YORK (AP) —In her first interview in more than two years, former First Lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;said she saw her husband's survival in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-assassination-attempt-butler-pennsylvania/">two attempts on his life</a>&nbsp;as “miracles” and offered new details about the former president, including his desire to have more children.

The Slovenian-born former fashion model has remained somewhat of an enigma in the 2024 election cycle, staying largely absent from the campaign trail, breaking norms in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/melania-ivanka-trump-rnc-republican-convention-8247f321a551b257f37b196358ce8ed4">not speaking at the Republican National Convention</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/melania-trump-donald-campaign-role-first-lady-433bbc2c7d51e6b72a43a831c382c850">skipping key moments</a>&nbsp;for her husband, Donald Trump, including his primary-night victory parties and court appearances in New York and Florida.

In a pre-taped interview aired on Fox News Thursday morning, Melania Trump called for Democrats and members of the media to stop branding her husband as a threat to democracy. She blamed the media for “fueling a toxic atmosphere” and empowering those who “want to do harm to him.” Democrats previously blamed Trump for violent rhetoric, including helping to incite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">an attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021</a>.

"This is not normal," she told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ainsley-earhardt">Ainsley Earhardt</a>, a “Fox &amp; Friends" co-host.

Melania Trump added: "Is it really shocking that all this egregious violence goes against my husband? Especially that we hear the leaders from the opposition party and mainstream media branding him as a threat to democracy, calling him vile names?”

The former first lady added: "This needs to stop.”

Melania Trump said that a staffer alerted her to the shooting at a July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Earlier this month, Melania said she was in New York when she saw television reports of the second assassination attempt at his golf course in Florida.

“I think something was watching over him,” she said of her husband surviving both assassination attempts. “It’s almost like" the "country really needs him.”

Melania Trump is promoting her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/melania-trump-president-election-book-memoir-ba562374884a9d4494c658ca248fd32b">new memoir</a>, which is set to release on Oct. 8.

When asked if she and her husband ever discussed growing their family, she revealed that the Republican presidential nominee tried to persuade her to have more children. “I was always perfectly fine with one,” she said. “And Donald was encouraging to have more. And I said like I’m completely fine with one because it’s" a “very busy life, and I know how busy he is. And I am in charge of everything. So that’s why it’s just perfect.”

The Slovenia native said the fashion industry gave her the “thick skin” required to withstand attacks as the wife of a president, who is one of the most polarizing political figures in recent memory.

“The fashion industry, it’s glamorous, but it’s, at the same time, very tough,” she said. “Everybody judges you, look at you" a "certain way, so it can be a mean world as well. So nothing prepared me more for this world than fashion. It gives you a thick skin.” Melania also revealed that her son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barron-trump-nyu-stern-business-school-bf02754085db99a49429efbb47b64626">Barron Trump</a>, decided to continue living in their New York residence while attending New York University.

“I could not say I’m an empty nester. I don’t feel that way,” she said. “It was his decision to come here, that he wants to be in New York and study in New York and live in his home. And I respect that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721382561480.png" alt="File photo of Former President Donald Trump and wife Melania during the Republican National Convention in July-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo of Former President Donald Trump and wife Melania during the Republican National Convention in July-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —In her first interview in more than two years, former First Lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;said she saw her husband's survival in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-assassination-attempt-butler-pennsylvania/">two attempts on his life</a>&nbsp;as “miracles” and offered new details about the former president, including his desire to have more children.The Slovenian-born former fashion model has remained somewhat of an enigma in the 2024 election cycle, staying largely absent from the campaign trail, breaking norms in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/melania-ivanka-trump-rnc-republican-convention-8247f321a551b257f37b196358ce8ed4">not speaking at the Republican National Convention</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/melania-trump-donald-campaign-role-first-lady-433bbc2c7d51e6b72a43a831c382c850">skipping key moments</a>&nbsp;for her husband, Donald Trump, including his primary-night victory parties and court appearances in New York and Florida.In a pre-taped interview aired on Fox News Thursday morning, Melania Trump called for Democrats and members of the media to stop branding her husband as a threat to democracy. She blamed the media for “fueling a toxic atmosphere” and empowering those who “want to do harm to him.” Democrats previously blamed Trump for violent rhetoric, including helping to incite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">an attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021</a>."This is not normal," she told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ainsley-earhardt">Ainsley Earhardt</a>, a “Fox &amp; Friends" co-host.Melania Trump added: "Is it really shocking that all this egregious violence goes against my husband? Especially that we hear the leaders from the opposition party and mainstream media branding him as a threat to democracy, calling him vile names?”The former first lady added: "This needs to stop.”Melania Trump said that a staffer alerted her to the shooting at a July rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Earlier this month, Melania said she was in New York when she saw television reports of the second assassination attempt at his golf course in Florida.“I think something was watching over him,” she said of her husband surviving both assassination attempts. “It’s almost like" the "country really needs him.”Melania Trump is promoting her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/melania-trump-president-election-book-memoir-ba562374884a9d4494c658ca248fd32b">new memoir</a>, which is set to release on Oct. 8.When asked if she and her husband ever discussed growing their family, she revealed that the Republican presidential nominee tried to persuade her to have more children. “I was always perfectly fine with one,” she said. “And Donald was encouraging to have more. And I said like I’m completely fine with one because it’s" a “very busy life, and I know how busy he is. And I am in charge of everything. So that’s why it’s just perfect.”The Slovenia native said the fashion industry gave her the “thick skin” required to withstand attacks as the wife of a president, who is one of the most polarizing political figures in recent memory.“The fashion industry, it’s glamorous, but it’s, at the same time, very tough,” she said. “Everybody judges you, look at you" a "certain way, so it can be a mean world as well. So nothing prepared me more for this world than fashion. It gives you a thick skin.” Melania also revealed that her son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barron-trump-nyu-stern-business-school-bf02754085db99a49429efbb47b64626">Barron Trump</a>, decided to continue living in their New York residence while attending New York University.“I could not say I’m an empty nester. I don’t feel that way,” she said. “It was his decision to come here, that he wants to be in New York and study in New York and live in his home. And I respect that.”

Melania Trump: Miracles saved her husband's life

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman convicted in the methadone death of her 2-year-old son is going to prison for the rest of her life.

On Wednesday&nbsp;District Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced 28-year-old Kimberly Compass to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In May of 2021, a jury convicted Compass of first-degree felony murder after her 2-year-old son died from ingesting methadone in a Wichita motel on May 31, 2019. Prosecutors accused Compass of mishandling three bottles of methadone, which had been prescribed to help her kick a heroin habit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621892806239.png" alt="Compass was originally booked into jail in August of 2019- photo Sedgwick County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Compass was originally booked into jail in August of 2019- photo Sedgwick County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman convicted in the methadone death of her 2-year-old son is going to prison for the rest of her life.On Wednesday&nbsp;District Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced 28-year-old Kimberly Compass to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In May of 2021, a jury convicted Compass of first-degree felony murder after her 2-year-old son died from ingesting methadone in a Wichita motel on May 31, 2019. Prosecutors accused Compass of mishandling three bottles of methadone, which had been prescribed to help her kick a heroin habit.

Kan. mother going to prison for  toddler son’s methadone death

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to another record Thursday as financial markets around the world rallied again.

The S&amp;P 500 added 0.4% to set an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-fed-china-rates-efe102c3b9007cb9abff468aa006f995">all-time high</a>&nbsp;for the third time this week and the 42nd time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 260 points, or 0.6%, to finish just shy of its record, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.6%.

Micron Technology led the way with a jump of 14.7% after the maker of computer memory and storage delivered stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It benefited from sales related to artificial-intelligence technology, where a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-ai-earnings-stock-464d35670b6e91a698751ec7ee157532">boom</a>&nbsp;has helped drive some stocks to astounding heights.

Jabil climbed 11.7% after the electronics manufacturer likewise reported stronger profit and revenue than expected. It also announced a plan to plow cash to its shareholders by buying back up to $1 billion of its stock.

But drops for Exxon Mobil and other oil-and-gas companies kept the market’s gains in check. Oil prices sank after The Financial Times reported through sources that Saudi Arabia is preparing to abandon its unofficial price target of $100 a barrel for crude.

The price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude fell 2.9% to settle at $67.67, while the international standard of Brent crude fell 2.5% to $71.60. That dragged Exxon Mobil’s stock down 1.7%, and it was one of the heaviest weights on the S&amp;P 500. ConocoPhillips sank 3.2%.

The biggest drop in the S&amp;P 500 hit Super Micro Computer, which gave back some of its huge gains after more than tripling last year amid the AI frenzy. Its stock tumbled 12.2% following a report from The Wall Street Journal saying the U.S. Department of Justice is probing the seller of servers and storage systems. The company declined to comment.

A prominent investor, Hindenburg Research, published a report in August that accused the company of accounting red flags and other issues, which CEO Charles Liang later said contained false or inaccurate statements.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 23.11 points to 5,745.37. The Dow rose 260.36 to 42,175.11, and the Nasdaq composite gained 108.09 to 18,190.29.

In stock markets overseas, indexes were more buoyant on hopes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-economy-banks-jinping-communists-politburo-282c04f87725a0ca14a22bd7874aac10">more moves by China</a>&nbsp;to prop up the world’s second-largest economy. The country’s powerful Politburo on Thursday called for intensified efforts as China tries to meet its goals for economic growth, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

That follows a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-economy-banks-rates-pboc-642053f11cbb9cfa2ca57b38593ce7f8">raft of announcements</a>&nbsp;earlier in the week by the country’s central bank that had also sent global markets jumping. China’s economic growth has been flagging, and officials appear to be making a more coordinated effort following earlier piecemeal attempts to boost it.

In the United States, meanwhile, more encouraging news came after a round of reports on Thursday suggested the world’s largest economy may be doing better than expected.

Fewer U.S. workers applied for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-dbc1e6290f9a2af8659ad47233b472c3">unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;last week in the latest signal that layoffs remain relatively low across the economy. A separate report said the overall U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-growth-inflation-gdp-consumers-federal-reserve-6ac0d113be186b0e1e9e2c85ce927280">economy grew at a 3% annual rate</a>&nbsp;during the spring, as previously estimated. That’s a solid rate.

The hope on Wall Street is for a form of financial nirvana where the U.S. economy’s growth can hold steady and keep profits for companies humming while the Federal Reserve continues to lower interest rates.

The Fed last week made a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">drastic turn</a>&nbsp;in how it sets interest rates. It’s now cutting them to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">make things easier for the U.S. economy</a>&nbsp;after keeping rates high for years in hopes of extinguishing high inflation. Lower rates not only make it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-ba6cacf5d43b97d1fad77c688ef15d70">less expensive to borrow money to buy a house,</a>&nbsp;a car or things on credit cards, they can also boost prices for all kinds of investments.

The fear is that the job market could weaken further as the cumulative effects of all the Fed’s past hikes to interest rates show themselves. The Fed had earlier kept its main interest rate at a two-decade high for more than a year, and U.S. employers have already begun to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-bac1b453d3873d5f23f2061344d28fd9">slow their hiring</a>.

Many traders on Wall Street are betting the Fed will end up cutting interest rates more deeply this year than officials have indicated. But if economic reports remain strong and keep topping expectations, the Fed may not end up cutting as much as investors are betting. That could make the U.S. stock market, which critics say already looks too expensive, look even pricier.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 3.79%, where it was late Wednesday. The two-year yield, which more closely follows expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do with short-term interest rates, rose to 3.62% from 3.56%.

In stock markets abroad, jumps of 4.2% in Hong Kong and 3.6% in Shanghai led the way. Indexes also climbed 2.8% in Japan, 2.3% in France and 1.7% in Germany.

South Korean stocks jumped 2.9%, led by semiconductor maker SK Hynix, which launched production of a new memory chip for artificial intelligence.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to another record Thursday as financial markets around the world rallied again.The S&amp;P 500 added 0.4% to set an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-fed-china-rates-efe102c3b9007cb9abff468aa006f995">all-time high</a>&nbsp;for the third time this week and the 42nd time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 260 points, or 0.6%, to finish just shy of its record, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.6%.Micron Technology led the way with a jump of 14.7% after the maker of computer memory and storage delivered stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It benefited from sales related to artificial-intelligence technology, where a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-ai-earnings-stock-464d35670b6e91a698751ec7ee157532">boom</a>&nbsp;has helped drive some stocks to astounding heights.Jabil climbed 11.7% after the electronics manufacturer likewise reported stronger profit and revenue than expected. It also announced a plan to plow cash to its shareholders by buying back up to $1 billion of its stock.But drops for Exxon Mobil and other oil-and-gas companies kept the market’s gains in check. Oil prices sank after The Financial Times reported through sources that Saudi Arabia is preparing to abandon its unofficial price target of $100 a barrel for crude.The price of a barrel of benchmark U.S. crude fell 2.9% to settle at $67.67, while the international standard of Brent crude fell 2.5% to $71.60. That dragged Exxon Mobil’s stock down 1.7%, and it was one of the heaviest weights on the S&amp;P 500. ConocoPhillips sank 3.2%.The biggest drop in the S&amp;P 500 hit Super Micro Computer, which gave back some of its huge gains after more than tripling last year amid the AI frenzy. Its stock tumbled 12.2% following a report from The Wall Street Journal saying the U.S. Department of Justice is probing the seller of servers and storage systems. The company declined to comment.A prominent investor, Hindenburg Research, published a report in August that accused the company of accounting red flags and other issues, which CEO Charles Liang later said contained false or inaccurate statements.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 23.11 points to 5,745.37. The Dow rose 260.36 to 42,175.11, and the Nasdaq composite gained 108.09 to 18,190.29.In stock markets overseas, indexes were more buoyant on hopes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-economy-banks-jinping-communists-politburo-282c04f87725a0ca14a22bd7874aac10">more moves by China</a>&nbsp;to prop up the world’s second-largest economy. The country’s powerful Politburo on Thursday called for intensified efforts as China tries to meet its goals for economic growth, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.That follows a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-economy-banks-rates-pboc-642053f11cbb9cfa2ca57b38593ce7f8">raft of announcements</a>&nbsp;earlier in the week by the country’s central bank that had also sent global markets jumping. China’s economic growth has been flagging, and officials appear to be making a more coordinated effort following earlier piecemeal attempts to boost it.In the United States, meanwhile, more encouraging news came after a round of reports on Thursday suggested the world’s largest economy may be doing better than expected.Fewer U.S. workers applied for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unemployment-benefits-jobless-claims-layoffs-labor-dbc1e6290f9a2af8659ad47233b472c3">unemployment benefits</a>&nbsp;last week in the latest signal that layoffs remain relatively low across the economy. A separate report said the overall U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-growth-inflation-gdp-consumers-federal-reserve-6ac0d113be186b0e1e9e2c85ce927280">economy grew at a 3% annual rate</a>&nbsp;during the spring, as previously estimated. That’s a solid rate.The hope on Wall Street is for a form of financial nirvana where the U.S. economy’s growth can hold steady and keep profits for companies humming while the Federal Reserve continues to lower interest rates.The Fed last week made a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">drastic turn</a>&nbsp;in how it sets interest rates. It’s now cutting them to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">make things easier for the U.S. economy</a>&nbsp;after keeping rates high for years in hopes of extinguishing high inflation. Lower rates not only make it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-ba6cacf5d43b97d1fad77c688ef15d70">less expensive to borrow money to buy a house,</a>&nbsp;a car or things on credit cards, they can also boost prices for all kinds of investments.The fear is that the job market could weaken further as the cumulative effects of all the Fed’s past hikes to interest rates show themselves. The Fed had earlier kept its main interest rate at a two-decade high for more than a year, and U.S. employers have already begun to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-bac1b453d3873d5f23f2061344d28fd9">slow their hiring</a>.Many traders on Wall Street are betting the Fed will end up cutting interest rates more deeply this year than officials have indicated. But if economic reports remain strong and keep topping expectations, the Fed may not end up cutting as much as investors are betting. That could make the U.S. stock market, which critics say already looks too expensive, look even pricier.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 3.79%, where it was late Wednesday. The two-year yield, which more closely follows expectations for what the Federal Reserve will do with short-term interest rates, rose to 3.62% from 3.56%.In stock markets abroad, jumps of 4.2% in Hong Kong and 3.6% in Shanghai led the way. Indexes also climbed 2.8% in Japan, 2.3% in France and 1.7% in Germany.South Korean stocks jumped 2.9%, led by semiconductor maker SK Hynix, which launched production of a new memory chip for artificial intelligence.

Wall Street ticks to another record as stocks worldwide rally

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on federal charges alleging that he took illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for favors that included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a new diplomatic building in the city.

In March of 2023, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly asked for an apology after Adams made remarks critical of Kansas for the second time in six months.

(click to watch Mayor Adams' comment on Kansas)

In September of 2022, Adams said Kansas doesn't have a brand. "New York has a brand, and when people see it means something. Kansas doesn't have a brand. When you go there it's OK, you’re from Kansas," Adams said.

In October of 2022, Big 12 Conference commissioner Brett Yormark visited with Adams and took him a basketball jersey from the University of Kansas.

Adams, a former captain in the New York City police department, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment that describes a decade-long trail of crimes.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25175479-eric-adams-indictment-unsealed">Click here to read</a> the indictment

Despite the corruption case, Adams said he does not plan to resign from his job running the country's largest city, telling reporters he hopes New Yorkers will wait to hear his legal team's defense before making any judgments.

“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” he said at a hastily assembled news conference outside Gracie Mansion after the charges were made public. “It's an unfortunate day. And its a painful day. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, I’ve gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself,” he said.

As Adams and others close to him addressed the media, protesters heckled them, with some chanting “abuse of power" as police circled them and one shouting, “He’s a corrupt mayor. He deserves to be in handcuffs.”

The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams “not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions” to his mayoral campaign. A senior official in the Turkish diplomatic establishment “facilitated many straw donations” to Adams and arranged for Adams and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkey’s national airline to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey, the indictment alleges.

Adams “compounded his gains” from the illegal campaign contributions by gaming the city’s matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. His campaign received more than $10,000 in matching funds as a result of the false certifications, according to the indictment.

Adams allegedly “solicited and demanded” bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official, the indictment alleges, noting that the official was seeking Adams’ help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan. Adams created and instructed others to create fake paper trails in order to falsely suggest he had paid for travel benefits that were actually free, prosecutors allege. He also deleted messages with others involved in his misconduct, at one point assuring a co-conspirator that he “always” deleted her text messages, according to the indictment.

The charges were made public hours after FBI agents entered the mayor’s official residence and seized his phone early Thursday.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan scheduled a late-morning news conference to discuss the case.

Adams spent 22 years in New York City’s police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president. He was elected as the city’s second Black mayor in 2021.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Her spokesperson, Avi Small, issued a statement late Wednesday that said “Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement.”

The indictment caps an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-mayor-eric-adams-federal-prosecutors-2887c1f2e7097cb19b17a7d2659135bb">extraordinary few weeks</a>&nbsp;in New York City, as federal investigators have honed in on members of Adams’ inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations that have thrust City Hall into crisis.

Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.

In the last two weeks alone, the city’s police commissioner and head of the school’s system have announced their resignations.

FBI agents had seized Adams’ electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams’ interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters.

In early September, federal investigators seized devices from his police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted confidants both in and out of City Hall.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams was indicted Thursday on federal charges alleging that he took illegal campaign contributions and bribes from foreign nationals in exchange for favors that included helping Turkish officials get fire safety approvals for a new diplomatic building in the city.In March of 2023, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly asked for an apology after Adams made remarks critical of Kansas for the second time in six months.(click to watch Mayor Adams' comment on Kansas)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HfoSj55HEOU?start=3777" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYCMayor</a> I was in NYC visiting my granddaughter when you disparaged my hometown Topeka KS. It was this granddaughter who, with her parents, delivered Kansas kindness to you at Gracie Mansion when you disparaged my state last September. Enough already. You owe Kansas an apology.&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1631703549137518635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In September of 2022, Adams said Kansas doesn't have a brand. "New York has a brand, and when people see it means something. Kansas doesn't have a brand. When you go there it's OK, you’re from Kansas," Adams said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s true, I got a BRAND new feeling about Kansas. <a href="https://t.co/iIKdjHpKjH">https://t.co/iIKdjHpKjH</a>&mdash; Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/NYCMayor/status/1580203094977044480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In October of 2022, Big 12 Conference commissioner Brett Yormark visited with Adams and took him a basketball jersey from the University of Kansas.Adams, a former captain in the New York City police department, faces conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery charges in a five-count indictment that describes a decade-long trail of crimes.<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25175479-eric-adams-indictment-unsealed">Click here to read</a> the indictmentDespite the corruption case, Adams said he does not plan to resign from his job running the country's largest city, telling reporters he hopes New Yorkers will wait to hear his legal team's defense before making any judgments.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">New York City Mayor Eric Adams on federal indictment on campaign finance, bribery, and conspiracy charges: &quot;We are not surprised. We expected this. This is not surprising to us at all...my day to day will not change.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/c1O4Wo7duB">pic.twitter.com/c1O4Wo7duB</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1839380464127312002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“From here, my attorneys will take care of the case so I can take care of the city,” he said at a hastily assembled news conference outside Gracie Mansion after the charges were made public. “It's an unfortunate day. And its a painful day. But inside all of that is a day when we will finally reveal why, for 10 months, I’ve gone through this. And I look forward to defending myself,” he said.As Adams and others close to him addressed the media, protesters heckled them, with some chanting “abuse of power" as police circled them and one shouting, “He’s a corrupt mayor. He deserves to be in handcuffs.”The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan alleges in the indictment that Adams “not only accepted, but sought illegal campaign contributions” to his mayoral campaign. A senior official in the Turkish diplomatic establishment “facilitated many straw donations” to Adams and arranged for Adams and his companions to receive free or discounted travel on Turkey’s national airline to destinations including France, China, Sri Lanka, India, Hungary, and Turkey, the indictment alleges.Adams “compounded his gains” from the illegal campaign contributions by gaming the city’s matching funds program, which provides a generous match for small dollar donations. His campaign received more than $10,000 in matching funds as a result of the false certifications, according to the indictment.Adams allegedly “solicited and demanded” bribes, including free and heavily discounted luxury travel benefits from a Turkish official, the indictment alleges, noting that the official was seeking Adams’ help pertaining to regulations of the Turkish consulate in Manhattan. Adams created and instructed others to create fake paper trails in order to falsely suggest he had paid for travel benefits that were actually free, prosecutors allege. He also deleted messages with others involved in his misconduct, at one point assuring a co-conspirator that he “always” deleted her text messages, according to the indictment.The charges were made public hours after FBI agents entered the mayor’s official residence and seized his phone early Thursday.The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan scheduled a late-morning news conference to discuss the case.Adams spent 22 years in New York City’s police department before going into politics, first as a state senator and then as Brooklyn borough president. He was elected as the city’s second Black mayor in 2021.Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Her spokesperson, Avi Small, issued a statement late Wednesday that said “Governor Hochul is aware of these concerning news reports and is monitoring the situation. It would be premature to comment further until the matter is confirmed by law enforcement.”The indictment caps an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-mayor-eric-adams-federal-prosecutors-2887c1f2e7097cb19b17a7d2659135bb">extraordinary few weeks</a>&nbsp;in New York City, as federal investigators have honed in on members of Adams’ inner circle, producing a drum-beat of raids, subpoenas and high-level resignations that have thrust City Hall into crisis.Federal prosecutors are believed to be leading multiple, separate inquiries involving Adams and his senior aides, relatives of those aides, campaign fundraising and possible influence peddling of the police and fire departments.In the last two weeks alone, the city’s police commissioner and head of the school’s system have announced their resignations.FBI agents had seized Adams’ electronic devices nearly a year ago as part of an investigation focused, at least partly, on campaign contributions and Adams’ interactions with the Turkish government. Because the charges were sealed, it was unknown whether they dealt with those same matters.In early September, federal investigators seized devices from his police commissioner, schools chancellor, two deputy mayors and other trusted confidants both in and out of City Hall.All have denied wrongdoing.

🎥Mayor who was critical of Kansas charged with taking bribes from foreign sources

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. slipped to its lowest level in two years this week, boosting home shoppers’ purchasing power as they navigate a housing market with prices near all-time highs.

The rate dipped to 6.08% from to 6.09% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.31%.

The last time the average rate was lower was on Sept. 15, 2022, when it was 6.02%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, increased slightly this week. The average rate rose to 5.16% from 5.15% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.72%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions. That can move the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is down from 7.22% in May, its peak so far this year. Rates have been mostly declining since July in anticipation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">last week’s move by the Fed to cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the first time in more than four years.

Fed officials also signaled they expect further cuts this year and in 2025 and 2026. The rate cuts should, over time, lead to lower borrowing costs on mortgages.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose from below 3% in September 2021 to a 23-year high of 7.8% last October. That coincided with the Fed increasing its benchmark interest rate to fight inflation.

When mortgage rates rise they can can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers. The housing market has been in a sales slump going back to 2022 as elevated mortgage rates put off many would-be homebuyers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-05edbb072112edfddcd9114405f5affa">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in August even as mortgage rates began easing.</a>

Still, as rates have looked more attractive in recent weeks, more homeowners have applied for home loans.

Mortgage applications jumped 11% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The strong gain was due partly to a 20% increase in applications by homeowners seeking to refinance their existing loan to a lower rate.

“Given the downward trajectory of rates, refinance activity continues to pick up, creating opportunities for many homeowners to trim their monthly mortgage payment.,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Meanwhile, many looking to purchase a home are playing the waiting game to see if rates decrease further as additional economic data is released over the next several weeks.”

While lower rates give home shoppers more purchasing power, a mortgage around 6% is still not low enough for many Americans struggling to afford a home. That’s mostly because home prices have soared 49% over the past five years, roughly double the growth in wages. They remain near record highs, propped up by a shortage of homes in many markets.

Mortgage rates would have to drop back to near rock-bottom lows from three years ago, or home prices would have to fall sharply for many buyers to afford a home. Neither scenario is likely to happen any time soon.

Economists generally expect mortgage rates to remain near their current levels, at least this year. Fannie Mae projects the rate on a 30-year mortgage will average 6.2% in the October-December quarter and decline to an average of 5.7% in the same quarter next year. It averaged 7.3% in the same period in 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="File photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>File photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. slipped to its lowest level in two years this week, boosting home shoppers’ purchasing power as they navigate a housing market with prices near all-time highs.The rate dipped to 6.08% from to 6.09% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.31%.The last time the average rate was lower was on Sept. 15, 2022, when it was 6.02%.Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners seeking to refinance their home loan to a lower rate, increased slightly this week. The average rate rose to 5.16% from 5.15% last week. A year ago, it averaged 6.72%, Freddie Mac said.Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including how the bond market reacts to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions. That can move the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is down from 7.22% in May, its peak so far this year. Rates have been mostly declining since July in anticipation of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">last week’s move by the Fed to cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the first time in more than four years.Fed officials also signaled they expect further cuts this year and in 2025 and 2026. The rate cuts should, over time, lead to lower borrowing costs on mortgages.The average rate on a 30-year mortgage rose from below 3% in September 2021 to a 23-year high of 7.8% last October. That coincided with the Fed increasing its benchmark interest rate to fight inflation.When mortgage rates rise they can can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers. The housing market has been in a sales slump going back to 2022 as elevated mortgage rates put off many would-be homebuyers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-05edbb072112edfddcd9114405f5affa">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell in August even as mortgage rates began easing.</a>Still, as rates have looked more attractive in recent weeks, more homeowners have applied for home loans.Mortgage applications jumped 11% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The strong gain was due partly to a 20% increase in applications by homeowners seeking to refinance their existing loan to a lower rate.“Given the downward trajectory of rates, refinance activity continues to pick up, creating opportunities for many homeowners to trim their monthly mortgage payment.,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Meanwhile, many looking to purchase a home are playing the waiting game to see if rates decrease further as additional economic data is released over the next several weeks.”While lower rates give home shoppers more purchasing power, a mortgage around 6% is still not low enough for many Americans struggling to afford a home. That’s mostly because home prices have soared 49% over the past five years, roughly double the growth in wages. They remain near record highs, propped up by a shortage of homes in many markets.Mortgage rates would have to drop back to near rock-bottom lows from three years ago, or home prices would have to fall sharply for many buyers to afford a home. Neither scenario is likely to happen any time soon.Economists generally expect mortgage rates to remain near their current levels, at least this year. Fannie Mae projects the rate on a 30-year mortgage will average 6.2% in the October-December quarter and decline to an average of 5.7% in the same quarter next year. It averaged 7.3% in the same period in 2023.

Average rate on a 30-year mortgage slips to lowest level in 2 years

JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. —Law enforcement are investigating a rural Missouri couple in connection with years of alleged child sex abuse.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff 56-year-old Gregory D. Arnold and his wife 55-year-old Yvonne P. Arnold both of Chilhowee, Missouri, have been charged with Statutory Sodomy 1st Degree

The charges mark the beginning of what is anticipated to be a comprehensive and detailed investigation.&nbsp; The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is actively looking into additional potential crimes that may have been committed as early as 2005.

Investigators are working to uncover all facts and ensure justice is served&nbsp; the sheriff's office is committed to support for the victims in this case.&nbsp;Chilhowee is located approximately 65 miles southeast of Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727345833618.png" alt="Arnold photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Arnold photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. —Law enforcement are investigating a rural Missouri couple in connection with years of alleged child sex abuse.According to the Johnson County Sheriff 56-year-old Gregory D. Arnold and his wife 55-year-old Yvonne P. Arnold both of Chilhowee, Missouri, have been charged with Statutory Sodomy 1st Degree<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727345792127.png" alt="Arnold-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Arnold-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The charges mark the beginning of what is anticipated to be a comprehensive and detailed investigation.&nbsp; The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is actively looking into additional potential crimes that may have been committed as early as 2005.Investigators are working to uncover all facts and ensure justice is served&nbsp; the sheriff's office is committed to support for the victims in this case.&nbsp;Chilhowee is located approximately 65 miles southeast of Kansas City.