BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-hanna">JOHN HANNA</a>&nbsp; Associated Press

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-electoral-college-trump-0de7dfc260fe4a4e92a4f9f1b309035f">Republican effort</a>&nbsp;to lock down all of Nebraska’s electoral votes for former President Donald Trump appeared doomed Monday when a state lawmaker denied backers his crucial support for the move.

GOP Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha said in a statement that he opposes awarding Nebraska’s five electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis, like 48 other states do. Nebraska and Maine give two electoral votes to the candidate who wins statewide and one vote to the winner in each congressional district.

McDonnell’s position means Republicans don’t have the two-thirds majority they’d need in Nebraska’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/about/history_unicameral.php" target="_blank">unique, one-chamber Legislature</a>&nbsp;to pull off a change ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Here’s a look at why Trump’s allies were pushing for the change, what it would have taken to succeed and why a single state lawmaker is in the national spotlight.

Why one of Nebraska’s electoral votes matters this year

Nebraska is one of nine states that Republican candidates have carried in every presidential election since 1964, but it hasn’t had a winner-take-all rule since 1991. And most times since 1991, Republican candidates still have captured all of the state’s votes.

But in 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-lincoln-omaha-93fdcb5a05fc62878b4fe70c2f7f6e5a">Democrat Joe Biden captured the vote</a>&nbsp;for the 2nd Congressional District in the Omaha area. President Barack Obama also did it in 2008.

A presidential candidate needs 270 of 538 electoral votes to win. One scenario is that Democrat Kamala Harris, the vice president, wins the battlegrounds of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, while Trump wins the other four — North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Harris would have 269 electoral votes to Trump’s 268, which would include four from Nebraska.

In that scenario, a Trump victory in Nebraska’s 2nd District would create a 269-269 tie and throw the final decision to the U.S. House of Representatives, where each state would have one vote, a situation that would favor Trump. If Harris carried the district, she’d be president.

In the 2nd District, Republicans have only&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/vrstats/2024VR/Congressional-District-September-2024.pdf" target="_blank">a small voter registration advantage</a>&nbsp;and 25% of its voters are unaffiliated with any party.

McDonnell said he has told Republican Gov. Jim Pillen that he won’t back a change in the Nebraska law for allocating its electoral votes ahead of this year’s election. That’s consistent with what he’s said previously.

Lawmakers are out of session and not scheduled to reconvene until January, so Pillen would have had to call them into a special session. He&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-offers-statement-status-special-session-winner-take-all" target="_blank">has said</a>&nbsp;he wouldn’t do that without a clear indication that a measure could reach his desk.

“After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change,” McDonnell said.

McDonnell is term-limited and will leave office in early January. He said he is encouraging Pillen and the Legislature to propose an amendment to the state constitution next year on how Nebraska awards its electoral votes, so that voters have the final say.

“Nebraska voters, not politicians of either party, should have the final say on how we pick a President,” McDonnell said.

Republicans in Nebraska have wanted to return to a winner-take-all rule for years but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-events-40f2fb8c44d4409b95e2d3e9e96cd9e6">have been unable</a>&nbsp;to get to a legislative supermajority.

Why the focus fell on a single state senator

Officially, the Nebraska Legislature is nonpartisan. However, self-identified Republicans hold 33 of 49 seats, exactly a two-thirds majority.

The GOP reached that margin in April, when McDonnell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electoral-votes-nebraska-maine-3dc4b2f6cd59e3eb52ddc9ed15cf33e1">switched parties,</a>&nbsp;citing the Democratic Party’s censure of him last year for supporting abortion restrictions.

The switch had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winner-take-all-electoral-votes-nebraska-trump-3d9df829d6f6b2938cb6ae8f8ead1570">Trump loyalists in the Nebraska GOP buzzing</a>&nbsp;about going back to a winner-take-all system. Recently, Trump’s allies and even the former president himself have been pressuring Republican officials to try.

But in McDonnell’s 5th Legislative District, almost 45% of the voters&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/vrstats/2024VR/Legislative-District-September-2024.pdf" target="_blank">are registered Democrats,</a>&nbsp;and their party strongly opposes going back to winner take all. Fewer than 26% of the district’s voters are Republicans.

Why supporters needed a two-thirds majority

Under the Nebraska Constitution, new laws don’t take effect until three months after lawmakers adjourn — too late for the proposal to affect the Nov. 5 election.

The state constitution does allow the Legislature to add an emergency clause to have a law take effect immediately, but a bill with an emergency clause must pass with a two-thirds majority.

The Legislature’s rules also require the same two-thirds majority to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-filibuster-nebraska-transgender-legislature-71fbda330ed7f1225475c614630b488d">end a filibuster</a>&nbsp;blocking a measure.

Backers of dropping the winner-take-all rule in 1991 argued that it would better reflect voters’ views and attract candidates to a state that otherwise would be ignored.

The change narrowly passed the Legislature during then-Democratic Gov. Ben Nelson’s first year in office. Nelson was the last Democrat to win a governor’s race, when voters reelected him in 1994.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727142059244.png" alt="State Sen. Mike McDonnell photo (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Mike McDonnell photo (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-hanna">JOHN HANNA</a>&nbsp; Associated PressA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-electoral-college-trump-0de7dfc260fe4a4e92a4f9f1b309035f">Republican effort</a>&nbsp;to lock down all of Nebraska’s electoral votes for former President Donald Trump appeared doomed Monday when a state lawmaker denied backers his crucial support for the move.GOP Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha said in a statement that he opposes awarding Nebraska’s five electoral votes on a winner-take-all basis, like 48 other states do. Nebraska and Maine give two electoral votes to the candidate who wins statewide and one vote to the winner in each congressional district.McDonnell’s position means Republicans don’t have the two-thirds majority they’d need in Nebraska’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/about/history_unicameral.php" target="_blank">unique, one-chamber Legislature</a>&nbsp;to pull off a change ahead of the Nov. 5 election.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727142619266.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Here’s a look at why Trump’s allies were pushing for the change, what it would have taken to succeed and why a single state lawmaker is in the national spotlight.<h2>Why one of Nebraska’s electoral votes matters this year</h2>Nebraska is one of nine states that Republican candidates have carried in every presidential election since 1964, but it hasn’t had a winner-take-all rule since 1991. And most times since 1991, Republican candidates still have captured all of the state’s votes.But in 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-lincoln-omaha-93fdcb5a05fc62878b4fe70c2f7f6e5a">Democrat Joe Biden captured the vote</a>&nbsp;for the 2nd Congressional District in the Omaha area. President Barack Obama also did it in 2008.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725133509171.png" alt="File photo Donald Trump courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Donald Trump courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>A presidential candidate needs 270 of 538 electoral votes to win. One scenario is that Democrat Kamala Harris, the vice president, wins the battlegrounds of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, while Trump wins the other four — North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Harris would have 269 electoral votes to Trump’s 268, which would include four from Nebraska.In that scenario, a Trump victory in Nebraska’s 2nd District would create a 269-269 tie and throw the final decision to the U.S. House of Representatives, where each state would have one vote, a situation that would favor Trump. If Harris carried the district, she’d be president.In the 2nd District, Republicans have only&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/vrstats/2024VR/Congressional-District-September-2024.pdf" target="_blank">a small voter registration advantage</a>&nbsp;and 25% of its voters are unaffiliated with any party.<h2>What the Nebraska lawmaker says</h2>McDonnell said he has told Republican Gov. Jim Pillen that he won’t back a change in the Nebraska law for allocating its electoral votes ahead of this year’s election. That’s consistent with what he’s said previously.Lawmakers are out of session and not scheduled to reconvene until January, so Pillen would have had to call them into a special session. He&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-pillen-offers-statement-status-special-session-winner-take-all" target="_blank">has said</a>&nbsp;he wouldn’t do that without a clear indication that a measure could reach his desk.“After deep consideration, it is clear to me that right now, 43 days from Election Day, is not the moment to make this change,” McDonnell said.McDonnell is term-limited and will leave office in early January. He said he is encouraging Pillen and the Legislature to propose an amendment to the state constitution next year on how Nebraska awards its electoral votes, so that voters have the final say.“Nebraska voters, not politicians of either party, should have the final say on how we pick a President,” McDonnell said.Republicans in Nebraska have wanted to return to a winner-take-all rule for years but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-events-40f2fb8c44d4409b95e2d3e9e96cd9e6">have been unable</a>&nbsp;to get to a legislative supermajority.<h2>Why the focus fell on a single state senator</h2>Officially, the Nebraska Legislature is nonpartisan. However, self-identified Republicans hold 33 of 49 seats, exactly a two-thirds majority.The GOP reached that margin in April, when McDonnell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/electoral-votes-nebraska-maine-3dc4b2f6cd59e3eb52ddc9ed15cf33e1">switched parties,</a>&nbsp;citing the Democratic Party’s censure of him last year for supporting abortion restrictions.The switch had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winner-take-all-electoral-votes-nebraska-trump-3d9df829d6f6b2938cb6ae8f8ead1570">Trump loyalists in the Nebraska GOP buzzing</a>&nbsp;about going back to a winner-take-all system. Recently, Trump’s allies and even the former president himself have been pressuring Republican officials to try.But in McDonnell’s 5th Legislative District, almost 45% of the voters&nbsp;<a href="https://sos.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/elections/vrstats/2024VR/Legislative-District-September-2024.pdf" target="_blank">are registered Democrats,</a>&nbsp;and their party strongly opposes going back to winner take all. Fewer than 26% of the district’s voters are Republicans.<h2>Why supporters needed a two-thirds majority</h2>Under the Nebraska Constitution, new laws don’t take effect until three months after lawmakers adjourn — too late for the proposal to affect the Nov. 5 election.The state constitution does allow the Legislature to add an emergency clause to have a law take effect immediately, but a bill with an emergency clause must pass with a two-thirds majority.The Legislature’s rules also require the same two-thirds majority to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-filibuster-nebraska-transgender-legislature-71fbda330ed7f1225475c614630b488d">end a filibuster</a>&nbsp;blocking a measure.<h2>How Nebraska became an outlier</h2>Backers of dropping the winner-take-all rule in 1991 argued that it would better reflect voters’ views and attract candidates to a state that otherwise would be ignored.The change narrowly passed the Legislature during then-Democratic Gov. Ben Nelson’s first year in office. Nelson was the last Democrat to win a governor’s race, when voters reelected him in 1994.<h2>___</h2>

Nebraska State Senator stops Trump Electoral College plan

REPUBLIC COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Monday in Republic County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Casey E A&nbsp;Tate, 62, Luray, was westbound on U.S. 36. just west of Scandia.

The semi rear-ended a Case IH tractor towing a farm implement and driven by Andrew J&nbsp;Pumphrey, 38, Mankato.&nbsp; &nbsp;Pumphrey was ejected from the tractor and pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; He was transported to&nbsp;Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home.

EMS transported a passenger in the semi Michelle H.&nbsp;Hauger, 46, Luray, to the Republic County Hospital. Tate was not transported for treatment of a minor injury.&nbsp; Tate and Hauger were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

REPUBLIC COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Monday in Republic County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Casey E A&nbsp;Tate, 62, Luray, was westbound on U.S. 36. just west of Scandia.The semi rear-ended a Case IH tractor towing a farm implement and driven by Andrew J&nbsp;Pumphrey, 38, Mankato.&nbsp; &nbsp;Pumphrey was ejected from the tractor and pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; He was transported to&nbsp;Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home.EMS transported a passenger in the semi Michelle H.&nbsp;Hauger, 46, Luray, to the Republic County Hospital. Tate was not transported for treatment of a minor injury.&nbsp; Tate and Hauger were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after semi rear-ends farm tractor, implement

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department investigating a deadly weekend shooting have identified the victim as 29-year-old&nbsp; Michael Rickerson of Kansas City, Kansas.

Just before 3:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting reported in the area of 10th and Kansas Avenue, according to a media release.

When officers arrived on scene, they discovered Rickerson who was the victim of apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene.

Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726973418386.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department investigating a deadly weekend shooting have identified the victim as 29-year-old&nbsp; Michael Rickerson of Kansas City, Kansas.Just before 3:30p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting reported in the area of 10th and Kansas Avenue, according to a media release.When officers arrived on scene, they discovered Rickerson who was the victim of apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased on scene.Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect information.

Police ID victim in deadly Kansas shooting

KANSAS CITY —Funeral services for a Kansas City firefighter-paramedic will be held this week.

Visitation for Kyle Brinker will be from 12-2 PM on Wednesday September 25, 2024, at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church with the Celebration of Life to follow at 2p.m. with full firefighter honors. A procession will follow the services past Station 35, the KCFD Memorial Plaza, and Station 7 then back to White Chapel Funeral Home.

Brinker, 33, died Tuesday during a training exercise.&nbsp;

He graduated with the class of 2009 at Plum Borough Pennsylvania Senior High School. He would go on to graduate in 2013 at the University of Pittsburgh.

Kyle was proud to serve 11 years with Kansas City Fire Department most recently at Station 35 on Rescue 9. On August 31, 2019, Kyle married Becky Wilkerson.

Kyle was passionate about his BBQ and made an amazing brisket. He loved to travel with his wife, Becky and together they have been to Jamaica, St. Lucia, Mexico, and many smaller trips around the country. Kyle enjoyed his pet, Doug the Dog both walking him and playing fetch.

Survivors include his wife of 5 years, Becky Brinker; his parents, Bob and Susan (Rogers) Brinker; Scott Brinker; Doug the Dog.

Memorials are suggested to the Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment Fund (SAFE) 3100 Broadway Blvd Suite 1234 Kansas City, Missouri 64111&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kc-crime.org/safe." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.kc-crime.org/safe.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726704459151.png" alt="Kyle Brinker courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kyle Brinker courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Funeral services for a Kansas City firefighter-paramedic will be held this week.Visitation for Kyle Brinker will be from 12-2 PM on Wednesday September 25, 2024, at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church with the Celebration of Life to follow at 2p.m. with full firefighter honors. A procession will follow the services past Station 35, the KCFD Memorial Plaza, and Station 7 then back to White Chapel Funeral Home.Brinker, 33, died Tuesday during a training exercise.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727183122131.png" alt="Map of the procession provided by KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Map of the procession provided by KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>He graduated with the class of 2009 at Plum Borough Pennsylvania Senior High School. He would go on to graduate in 2013 at the University of Pittsburgh.Kyle was proud to serve 11 years with Kansas City Fire Department most recently at Station 35 on Rescue 9. On August 31, 2019, Kyle married Becky Wilkerson.Kyle was passionate about his BBQ and made an amazing brisket. He loved to travel with his wife, Becky and together they have been to Jamaica, St. Lucia, Mexico, and many smaller trips around the country. Kyle enjoyed his pet, Doug the Dog both walking him and playing fetch.Survivors include his wife of 5 years, Becky Brinker; his parents, Bob and Susan (Rogers) Brinker; Scott Brinker; Doug the Dog.Memorials are suggested to the Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment Fund (SAFE) 3100 Broadway Blvd Suite 1234 Kansas City, Missouri 64111&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kc-crime.org/safe." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.kc-crime.org/safe.</a>

Services announced for fallen Kansas City firefighter 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man seeking to avoid execution suffered dual setbacks Monday as the state’s top court and governor each rejected requests to cancel his scheduled lethal injection.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-innocence-missouri-death-row-dcc03c8f998648783f4755818aaec6fd">Marcellus Williams</a>&nbsp;is set to be executed at 6 p.m. Tuesday for the 1998 murder of Lisha Gayle, a social worker and former newspaper reporter who was repeatedly stabbed during a burglary of her suburban St. Louis home.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, rejected Williams’ clemency request to spare him from the death penalty and instead sentence him to life in prison. The Missouri Supreme Court, almost simultaneously, also rejected a request to cancel the execution so that a lower court could make a new determination about whether a trial prosecutor wrongly excluded a potential Black juror for racial reasons.

Attorneys for Williams still have an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Williams, 55, has asserted his innocence. But his attorney did not pursue that claim Monday before the state’s highest court, instead focusing on alleged procedural errors in jury selection and the prosecution’s alleged mishandling of the murder weapon.

The state Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, affirmed a lower court ruling rejecting Williams’ arguments.

“Despite nearly a quarter century of litigation in both state and federal courts, there is no credible evidence of actual innocence or any showing of a constitutional error undermining confidence in the original judgment,” Judge Zel Fischer wrote in the state Supreme Court ruling.

Parson said Williams received extensive legal opportunities to try to argue his innocence and accused Williams’ attorneys of trying to “muddy the waters about DNA evidence” with claims that courts have repeatedly rejected.

“Nothing from the real facts of this case have led me to believe in Mr. Williams’ innocence,” Parson said in a statement. “As such, Mr. Williams’ punishment will be carried out as ordered by the Supreme Court.”

Parson, a former sheriff, has never granted clemency in a death penalty case.

St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell has sought to set aside Williams' sentence, citing questions about his guilt. He plans to appeal the Missouri Supreme Court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, spokesman Chris King said.

“Even for those who disagree on the death penalty, when there is a shadow of a doubt of any defendant’s guilt, the irreversible punishment of execution should not be an option,” Bell said in a statement.

Williams's case has been championed by the Midwest Innocence Project.

“Missouri is poised to execute an innocent man, an outcome that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire criminal justice system," said Tricia Bushnell, a Midwest Innocence Project attorney.

Williams' execution would be the third in Missouri this year and the 100th since the state resumed executions in 1989.

This marks the third time Williams has faced execution. He was less than a week away from execution in January 2015 when the state Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ba4844176a7f48529393f5277e0d460e">called it off</a>, allowing time for his attorneys to pursue additional DNA testing.

He was just hours away from being executed in August 2017 when then-Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-a97937db95a34c03b116817d2ed3c340">granted a stay</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-2fea0cfd4d73446c8475ccae31b1ea67">appointed a panel</a>&nbsp;of retired judges to examine the case. But that panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-penalty-murder-newspaper-dna-governor-innocence-5b068258172e1cd938498e9e8361f01b">never reached a conclusion</a>.

Questions about DNA evidence also led&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-death-row-inmate-dna-evidence-0a179b0aafb1a0c0a3e144f7e3592a62">Bell to request a hearing</a>&nbsp;challenging Williams’ guilt. But days before the Aug. 21 hearing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-missouri-death-row-f7b3b4257c8a18542a6686d810472646">new testing showed</a>&nbsp;that DNA on the knife belonged to members of the prosecutor's office who handled it without gloves after the original crime lab tests.

Without DNA evidence pointing to any alternative suspect, Midwest Innocence Project attorneys reached a compromise with the prosecutor’s office: Williams would enter a new, no-contest plea to first-degree murder in exchange for a new sentence of life in prison without parole.

Judge Bruce Hilton signed off on the agreement, as did Gayle’s family. But at the urging of Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, the Missouri Supreme Court blocked the agreement and ordered Hilton to proceed with an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-missouri-death-row-f7b3b4257c8a18542a6686d810472646">evidentiary hearing</a>, which took place Aug. 28.

The prosecutor in the 2001 murder case testified at the August hearing that the trial jury was fair, even though it included just one Black member on the panel. He said he struck one potential Black juror partly because he looked too much like Williams — a statement which Williams’ attorneys asserted showed improper racial bias.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-missouri-death-row-32fc5ee044353cf62411089d54bc9d9b">Hilton ruled on Sept. 12</a>&nbsp;that the first-degree murder conviction and death sentence would stand, noting that Williams' arguments all had been previously rejected. That decision was upheld Monday by the state Supreme Court.

Prosecutors at Williams’ original trial said he broke into Gayle’s home on Aug. 11, 1998, heard water running in the shower, and found a large butcher knife. Gayle, a former reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was stabbed 43 times when she came downstairs. Her purse and her husband’s laptop computer were stolen.

Authorities said Williams stole a jacket to conceal blood on his shirt. Williams’ girlfriend asked him why he would wear a jacket on a hot day. The girlfriend said she later saw the purse and laptop in his car and that Williams sold the computer a day or two later.

Prosecutors also cited testimony from Henry Cole, who shared a cell with Williams in 1999 while Williams was jailed on unrelated charges. Cole told prosecutors Williams confessed to the killing and offered details about it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726156556643.png" alt="Williams photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man seeking to avoid execution suffered dual setbacks Monday as the state’s top court and governor each rejected requests to cancel his scheduled lethal injection.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-innocence-missouri-death-row-dcc03c8f998648783f4755818aaec6fd">Marcellus Williams</a>&nbsp;is set to be executed at 6 p.m. Tuesday for the 1998 murder of Lisha Gayle, a social worker and former newspaper reporter who was repeatedly stabbed during a burglary of her suburban St. Louis home.Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, rejected Williams’ clemency request to spare him from the death penalty and instead sentence him to life in prison. The Missouri Supreme Court, almost simultaneously, also rejected a request to cancel the execution so that a lower court could make a new determination about whether a trial prosecutor wrongly excluded a potential Black juror for racial reasons.Attorneys for Williams still have an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court.Williams, 55, has asserted his innocence. But his attorney did not pursue that claim Monday before the state’s highest court, instead focusing on alleged procedural errors in jury selection and the prosecution’s alleged mishandling of the murder weapon.The state Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, affirmed a lower court ruling rejecting Williams’ arguments.“Despite nearly a quarter century of litigation in both state and federal courts, there is no credible evidence of actual innocence or any showing of a constitutional error undermining confidence in the original judgment,” Judge Zel Fischer wrote in the state Supreme Court ruling.Parson said Williams received extensive legal opportunities to try to argue his innocence and accused Williams’ attorneys of trying to “muddy the waters about DNA evidence” with claims that courts have repeatedly rejected.“Nothing from the real facts of this case have led me to believe in Mr. Williams’ innocence,” Parson said in a statement. “As such, Mr. Williams’ punishment will be carried out as ordered by the Supreme Court.”Parson, a former sheriff, has never granted clemency in a death penalty case.St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell has sought to set aside Williams' sentence, citing questions about his guilt. He plans to appeal the Missouri Supreme Court ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, spokesman Chris King said.“Even for those who disagree on the death penalty, when there is a shadow of a doubt of any defendant’s guilt, the irreversible punishment of execution should not be an option,” Bell said in a statement.Williams's case has been championed by the Midwest Innocence Project.“Missouri is poised to execute an innocent man, an outcome that calls into question the legitimacy of the entire criminal justice system," said Tricia Bushnell, a Midwest Innocence Project attorney.Williams' execution would be the third in Missouri this year and the 100th since the state resumed executions in 1989.This marks the third time Williams has faced execution. He was less than a week away from execution in January 2015 when the state Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/ba4844176a7f48529393f5277e0d460e">called it off</a>, allowing time for his attorneys to pursue additional DNA testing.He was just hours away from being executed in August 2017 when then-Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-a97937db95a34c03b116817d2ed3c340">granted a stay</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-2fea0cfd4d73446c8475ccae31b1ea67">appointed a panel</a>&nbsp;of retired judges to examine the case. But that panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-penalty-murder-newspaper-dna-governor-innocence-5b068258172e1cd938498e9e8361f01b">never reached a conclusion</a>.Questions about DNA evidence also led&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-death-row-inmate-dna-evidence-0a179b0aafb1a0c0a3e144f7e3592a62">Bell to request a hearing</a>&nbsp;challenging Williams’ guilt. But days before the Aug. 21 hearing,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-missouri-death-row-f7b3b4257c8a18542a6686d810472646">new testing showed</a>&nbsp;that DNA on the knife belonged to members of the prosecutor's office who handled it without gloves after the original crime lab tests.Without DNA evidence pointing to any alternative suspect, Midwest Innocence Project attorneys reached a compromise with the prosecutor’s office: Williams would enter a new, no-contest plea to first-degree murder in exchange for a new sentence of life in prison without parole.Judge Bruce Hilton signed off on the agreement, as did Gayle’s family. But at the urging of Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, the Missouri Supreme Court blocked the agreement and ordered Hilton to proceed with an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-missouri-death-row-f7b3b4257c8a18542a6686d810472646">evidentiary hearing</a>, which took place Aug. 28.The prosecutor in the 2001 murder case testified at the August hearing that the trial jury was fair, even though it included just one Black member on the panel. He said he struck one potential Black juror partly because he looked too much like Williams — a statement which Williams’ attorneys asserted showed improper racial bias.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcellus-williams-missouri-death-row-32fc5ee044353cf62411089d54bc9d9b">Hilton ruled on Sept. 12</a>&nbsp;that the first-degree murder conviction and death sentence would stand, noting that Williams' arguments all had been previously rejected. That decision was upheld Monday by the state Supreme Court.Prosecutors at Williams’ original trial said he broke into Gayle’s home on Aug. 11, 1998, heard water running in the shower, and found a large butcher knife. Gayle, a former reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was stabbed 43 times when she came downstairs. Her purse and her husband’s laptop computer were stolen.Authorities said Williams stole a jacket to conceal blood on his shirt. Williams’ girlfriend asked him why he would wear a jacket on a hot day. The girlfriend said she later saw the purse and laptop in his car and that Williams sold the computer a day or two later.Prosecutors also cited testimony from Henry Cole, who shared a cell with Williams in 1999 while Williams was jailed on unrelated charges. Cole told prosecutors Williams confessed to the killing and offered details about it.

Execution day for man convicted of killing a reporter in 1988 

SEATTLE (AP) — Boeing said Monday it made a “best and final offer” to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-union-negotiations-89997704299f09bf28ad135919174b11">striking machinists</a>&nbsp;that includes bigger raises and larger bonuses, but the workers' union said the proposal isn't good enough and there won't be a ratification vote before Boeing's deadline at the end of the week.

The union complained that Boeing publicized its latest offer to 33,000 striking workers without first bargaining with union negotiators.

“Boeing does not get to decide when or if you vote,” leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers district 751 told members Monday night. “The company has refused to meet for further discussion; therefore, we will not be voting” on Friday, as Boeing insisted.

Boeing said that after two days of talks last week with federal mediators failed to produce an agreement, “we presented a best and final offer that made significant improvements and addresses feedback from the union and our employees.”

The new offer is more generous than the one that was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-vote-machinists-12d008c0127bab57f8cc9941f48e3ac6">overwhelmingly rejected</a>&nbsp;earlier this month. The company said the offer includes pay raises of 30% over four years, up from 25% in the first proposal. The union originally demanded 40% over three years.

The new offer — and labeling it a final one — demonstrates Boeing’s eagerness to end the strike that began Sept. 13. The company introduced rolling furloughs of non-unionized employees last week to cut costs during the strike.

The strikers face their own financial pressure to return to work. They received their final paychecks last week and will lose company-provided health insurance at the end of the month, according to Boeing.

The company said its new offer is contingent on members of the machinists' union in the Pacific Northwest ratifying the contract by late Friday night, when the strike will be a little over two weeks old.

The union, which represents factory workers who assemble some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-workers-what-to-know-923636143d111191eb16c8ac4e4ad0bf">company’s best-selling planes</a>, waited several hours before pushing back Monday night.

“This proposal does not go far enough to address your concerns, and Boeing has missed the mark with this proposal,” the union told members. The group added that it will survey members about the new offer.

Boeing's latest offer includes upfront pay raises of 12% plus three annual raises of 6% each.

It would double the size of ratification bonuses to $6,000. It also would keep annual bonuses based on productivity. In the rejected contract, Boeing sought to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-machinists-contract-9f61a7d48675d1c3517233d40d4ec2b1">replace those payouts</a>&nbsp;with new contributions to retirement accounts.

Boeing said average annual pay for machinists would rise from $75,608 now to $111,155 at the end of the four-year contract.

The new offer would not restore a traditional pension plan that Boeing eliminated about a decade ago. Striking workers cited pay and pensions as reasons why they voted 94.6% against the company’s previous offer.

Boeing also renewed a promise to build its next new airline plane in the Seattle area -- if that project starts in the next four years. That was a key provision for union leaders, who recommended adoption of the original contract offer, but one that seemed less persuasive to rank-and-file members.

The strike is likely already starting to reduce Boeing's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-union-mediation-wages-6f6c5433bb81ff007fffcb2d572c0baf">ability to generate cash</a>. The company gets much of its cash when it delivers new planes, but the strike has shut down production of 737s, 777s and 767s. Work on 787s continues with nonunion workers in South Carolina.

On Friday, Boeing began requiring thousands of managers and nonunion employees to take one week off without pay every four weeks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-ceo-layoffs-starting-ff5b5e0a85696c07832a351640830549">under the temporary rolling furloughs</a>. It also has announced a hiring freeze, reduced business travel and decreased spending on suppliers.

The money-saving measures are expected to last as long as the strike continues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727171580133.png" alt="Photo Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace" />
 <figcaption>Photo Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace</figcaption>
 </figure>SEATTLE (AP) — Boeing said Monday it made a “best and final offer” to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-union-negotiations-89997704299f09bf28ad135919174b11">striking machinists</a>&nbsp;that includes bigger raises and larger bonuses, but the workers' union said the proposal isn't good enough and there won't be a ratification vote before Boeing's deadline at the end of the week.The union complained that Boeing publicized its latest offer to 33,000 striking workers without first bargaining with union negotiators.“Boeing does not get to decide when or if you vote,” leaders of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers district 751 told members Monday night. “The company has refused to meet for further discussion; therefore, we will not be voting” on Friday, as Boeing insisted.Boeing said that after two days of talks last week with federal mediators failed to produce an agreement, “we presented a best and final offer that made significant improvements and addresses feedback from the union and our employees.”The new offer is more generous than the one that was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-vote-machinists-12d008c0127bab57f8cc9941f48e3ac6">overwhelmingly rejected</a>&nbsp;earlier this month. The company said the offer includes pay raises of 30% over four years, up from 25% in the first proposal. The union originally demanded 40% over three years.The new offer — and labeling it a final one — demonstrates Boeing’s eagerness to end the strike that began Sept. 13. The company introduced rolling furloughs of non-unionized employees last week to cut costs during the strike.The strikers face their own financial pressure to return to work. They received their final paychecks last week and will lose company-provided health insurance at the end of the month, according to Boeing.The company said its new offer is contingent on members of the machinists' union in the Pacific Northwest ratifying the contract by late Friday night, when the strike will be a little over two weeks old.The union, which represents factory workers who assemble some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-workers-what-to-know-923636143d111191eb16c8ac4e4ad0bf">company’s best-selling planes</a>, waited several hours before pushing back Monday night.“This proposal does not go far enough to address your concerns, and Boeing has missed the mark with this proposal,” the union told members. The group added that it will survey members about the new offer.Boeing's latest offer includes upfront pay raises of 12% plus three annual raises of 6% each.It would double the size of ratification bonuses to $6,000. It also would keep annual bonuses based on productivity. In the rejected contract, Boeing sought to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-machinists-contract-9f61a7d48675d1c3517233d40d4ec2b1">replace those payouts</a>&nbsp;with new contributions to retirement accounts.Boeing said average annual pay for machinists would rise from $75,608 now to $111,155 at the end of the four-year contract.The new offer would not restore a traditional pension plan that Boeing eliminated about a decade ago. Striking workers cited pay and pensions as reasons why they voted 94.6% against the company’s previous offer.Boeing also renewed a promise to build its next new airline plane in the Seattle area -- if that project starts in the next four years. That was a key provision for union leaders, who recommended adoption of the original contract offer, but one that seemed less persuasive to rank-and-file members.The strike is likely already starting to reduce Boeing's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-union-mediation-wages-6f6c5433bb81ff007fffcb2d572c0baf">ability to generate cash</a>. The company gets much of its cash when it delivers new planes, but the strike has shut down production of 737s, 777s and 767s. Work on 787s continues with nonunion workers in South Carolina.On Friday, Boeing began requiring thousands of managers and nonunion employees to take one week off without pay every four weeks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-strike-ceo-layoffs-starting-ff5b5e0a85696c07832a351640830549">under the temporary rolling furloughs</a>. It also has announced a hiring freeze, reduced business travel and decreased spending on suppliers.The money-saving measures are expected to last as long as the strike continues.

Union says Boeing's 'final offer' to striking workers not good enough

KANSAS CITY —A suspect faces felony charges in connection with a drug store burglary, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

George Carter, 23, Kansas City faces Burglary in the 2nd Degree and Property Damage in the 1st Degree.

On September 10, Kansas City police officers responded to the area of 75th and Wornall Road on a reported prowler, according to court records.

Officers arriving on the scene saw a black pickup truck facing north in the pharmacy drive of the store. 

The pickup then fled at a high rate of speed through the parking lot. Individuals reportedly were climbing through the drive-thru window. The window glass had been broken. Witnesses also saw them carrying trash bags filled with what they presumed were prescription drugs. 

While conducting an area canvass, officers encountered and detained Carter. Officers obtained video from another incident on Sept 10, 2024, which showed a man in the same clothing Carter was observed to be wearing in the drug store burglary. A black truck was the suspect vehicle in both incidents.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726764366918.png" alt="Carter photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Carter photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A suspect faces felony charges in connection with a drug store burglary, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.George Carter, 23, Kansas City faces Burglary in the 2nd Degree and Property Damage in the 1st Degree.On September 10, Kansas City police officers responded to the area of 75th and Wornall Road on a reported prowler, according to court records.Officers arriving on the scene saw a black pickup truck facing north in the pharmacy drive of the store. The pickup then fled at a high rate of speed through the parking lot. Individuals reportedly were climbing through the drive-thru window. The window glass had been broken. Witnesses also saw them carrying trash bags filled with what they presumed were prescription drugs. While conducting an area canvass, officers encountered and detained Carter. Officers obtained video from another incident on Sept 10, 2024, which showed a man in the same clothing Carter was observed to be wearing in the drug store burglary. A black truck was the suspect vehicle in both incidents.&nbsp;Carter remains jailed on a $50,000 bond.

Suspect climbed through window of KC drive through pharmacy

OSAGE COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 3:30p.m. September 19, an Osage County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop at Main Street and Topeka Avenue in Carbondale for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

During the stop, a K-9 was deployed, and illegal narcotics were located.

Christopher J. Clinton, 42, of Topeka was taken into custody and transported to the Osage  County Jail Facility on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of a stolen firearm, Possession of a weapon by a felon, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726840010004.png" alt="Clinton-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Clinton-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before 3:30p.m. September 19, an Osage County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop at Main Street and Topeka Avenue in Carbondale for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.During the stop, a K-9 was deployed, and illegal narcotics were located.Christopher J. Clinton, 42, of Topeka was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of a stolen firearm, Possession of a weapon by a felon, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kan. sheriff's K9 helped find drugs, stolen gun

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The man accused in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-fee81d8bcf737bfcde2ee8e5cea88465">apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;at a golf course in Florida left behind a note detailing his plans to kill the former president and kept in his car a handwritten list of dates and venues where Trump was to appear, the Justice Department said Monday.

Trump complained that the current holding charges against the man were too light, but prosecutors indicated much more serious charges were coming.

The new allegations about the note were included in a detention memo filed ahead of a hearing Monday at which federal prosecutors argued that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-routh-assassination-attempt-ukraine-suspicions-florida-530098c668f283d8a38eb5dd5570f1b2">Ryan Wesley Routh</a>&nbsp;should remain locked up as a flight risk and a threat to public safety. U.S. Magistrate Ryon McCabe agreed, saying the “weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong” and ordered him to stay behind bars.

The latest details were meant to bolster the Justice Department's contention that the 58-year-old suspect had engaged in a premeditated plan to kill Trump, a plot officials say was thwarted by a Secret Service agent who spotted a rifle poking out of shrubbery on the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing and then opened fire in Routh's direction.

The note describing Routh's plans was placed in a box that he dropped off months earlier at the home of an unidentified person who did not open it until after last Sunday's arrest, prosecutors said.

The box also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, building materials, tools, phones and various letters. The person who received the box and contacted law enforcement was not identified in the Justice Department's detention memo and was described only as a “civilian witness.”

One note Routh left, addressed “Dear World,” appears to have been premised on the idea that the assassination attempt would be unsuccessful.

“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” the note said, according to prosecutors.

The letter offers “substantial evidence of his intent,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto said in court Monday.

"That's the message he wanted to send to the world in advance of this incident” he said.

In a statement, Trump accused the Justice Department of “mishandling and downplaying” the apparent assassination attempt by bringing charges that were a “slap on the wrist.”

Routh is currently charged with illegally possessing his gun in spite of multiple felony convictions, including two charges of possessing stolen goods in 2002 in North Carolina, and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. But Dispoto said in court Monday that prosecutors would pursue additional charges before a grand jury accusing him of having tried to “assassinate a major political candidate” — charges that would warrant life in prison in the event of a conviction.

It is common for prosecutors to file more easily provable charges as an immediate placeholder before adding more significant allegations as the case proceeds.

Trump also claimed that the Justice Department has a conflict of interest in prosecuting this case since, under the supervision of a special counsel, it is simultaneously pursuing cases charging him with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election</a>&nbsp;and with hoarding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.</a>&nbsp;He signaled support for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-florida-ryan-routh-desantis-f0852cfc0dcb3d66d3d051838e63276c">separate state-level criminal investigation</a>&nbsp;announced last week by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Kristy Militello, an assistant federal public defender representing Routh, asked during Monday's hearing for Routh to be permitted to live with his sister in Greensboro, N.C., as the case moves forward. She argued that prosecutors had failed to show that he was a threat to the community and noted his track record of habitually showing up for court appearance throughout decades of legal troubles,

Besides the note, prosecutors also cited cellphone records indicating that Routh traveled to West Palm Beach from Greensboro in mid-August, and that he was near Trump’s golf club and the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence “on multiple days and times” between August 18 and the day of the apparent attempted assassination.

He was arrested on September 15 after a Secret Service agent who was scoping the Trump International Golf Club for potential security threats saw a partially obscured man's face, and the barrel of a semiautomatic rifle, aimed directly at him. The agent fired at Routh, who sped away before being stopped by officials in a neighboring county, leaving behind a loaded rifle, digital camera, a backpack and a reusable shopping bag that was hanging from a chain link fence.

The FBI has previously said Routh had camped outside the golf course for 12 hours before his arrest. The Secret Service has said Routh did not fire any shots and never had Trump in his line of sight.

The Justice Department also said Monday that authorities who searched his car found six cellphones, including one that showed a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.

They also found a list with dates in August, September and October and venues where Trump had appeared or was scheduled to, according to prosecutors. A notebook found in his car was filled with criticism of the Russian and Chinese governments and notes about how to join the war on behalf of Ukraine.

In addition, the detention memo cites a book authored by Routh last year in which he lambasted Trump's approach to foreign policy, including in Ukraine. In the book, he wrote that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for having left the nuclear deal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726536262473.png" alt="Ryan Wesley Routh at his arrest&nbsp; Sept. 15-photo Martin County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Wesley Routh at his arrest&nbsp; Sept. 15-photo Martin County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The man accused in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-assassination-attempt-fee81d8bcf737bfcde2ee8e5cea88465">apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;at a golf course in Florida left behind a note detailing his plans to kill the former president and kept in his car a handwritten list of dates and venues where Trump was to appear, the Justice Department said Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727103871883.png" alt="Image U.S. Department of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Image U.S. Department of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump complained that the current holding charges against the man were too light, but prosecutors indicated much more serious charges were coming.The new allegations about the note were included in a detention memo filed ahead of a hearing Monday at which federal prosecutors argued that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-routh-assassination-attempt-ukraine-suspicions-florida-530098c668f283d8a38eb5dd5570f1b2">Ryan Wesley Routh</a>&nbsp;should remain locked up as a flight risk and a threat to public safety. U.S. Magistrate Ryon McCabe agreed, saying the “weight of the evidence against the defendant is strong” and ordered him to stay behind bars.The latest details were meant to bolster the Justice Department's contention that the 58-year-old suspect had engaged in a premeditated plan to kill Trump, a plot officials say was thwarted by a Secret Service agent who spotted a rifle poking out of shrubbery on the West Palm Beach golf course where Trump was playing and then opened fire in Routh's direction.The note describing Routh's plans was placed in a box that he dropped off months earlier at the home of an unidentified person who did not open it until after last Sunday's arrest, prosecutors said.The box also contained ammunition, a metal pipe, building materials, tools, phones and various letters. The person who received the box and contacted law enforcement was not identified in the Justice Department's detention memo and was described only as a “civilian witness.”One note Routh left, addressed “Dear World,” appears to have been premised on the idea that the assassination attempt would be unsuccessful.“This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster. It is up to you now to finish the job; and I will offer $150,000 to whomever can complete the job,” the note said, according to prosecutors.The letter offers “substantial evidence of his intent,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dispoto said in court Monday."That's the message he wanted to send to the world in advance of this incident” he said.In a statement, Trump accused the Justice Department of “mishandling and downplaying” the apparent assassination attempt by bringing charges that were a “slap on the wrist.”Routh is currently charged with illegally possessing his gun in spite of multiple felony convictions, including two charges of possessing stolen goods in 2002 in North Carolina, and with possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. But Dispoto said in court Monday that prosecutors would pursue additional charges before a grand jury accusing him of having tried to “assassinate a major political candidate” — charges that would warrant life in prison in the event of a conviction.It is common for prosecutors to file more easily provable charges as an immediate placeholder before adding more significant allegations as the case proceeds.Trump also claimed that the Justice Department has a conflict of interest in prosecuting this case since, under the supervision of a special counsel, it is simultaneously pursuing cases charging him with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election</a>&nbsp;and with hoarding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.</a>&nbsp;He signaled support for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-assassination-attempt-fbi-florida-ryan-routh-desantis-f0852cfc0dcb3d66d3d051838e63276c">separate state-level criminal investigation</a>&nbsp;announced last week by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.Kristy Militello, an assistant federal public defender representing Routh, asked during Monday's hearing for Routh to be permitted to live with his sister in Greensboro, N.C., as the case moves forward. She argued that prosecutors had failed to show that he was a threat to the community and noted his track record of habitually showing up for court appearance throughout decades of legal troubles,Besides the note, prosecutors also cited cellphone records indicating that Routh traveled to West Palm Beach from Greensboro in mid-August, and that he was near Trump’s golf club and the former president’s Mar-a-Lago residence “on multiple days and times” between August 18 and the day of the apparent attempted assassination.He was arrested on September 15 after a Secret Service agent who was scoping the Trump International Golf Club for potential security threats saw a partially obscured man's face, and the barrel of a semiautomatic rifle, aimed directly at him. The agent fired at Routh, who sped away before being stopped by officials in a neighboring county, leaving behind a loaded rifle, digital camera, a backpack and a reusable shopping bag that was hanging from a chain link fence.The FBI has previously said Routh had camped outside the golf course for 12 hours before his arrest. The Secret Service has said Routh did not fire any shots and never had Trump in his line of sight.The Justice Department also said Monday that authorities who searched his car found six cellphones, including one that showed a Google search of how to travel from Palm Beach County to Mexico.They also found a list with dates in August, September and October and venues where Trump had appeared or was scheduled to, according to prosecutors. A notebook found in his car was filled with criticism of the Russian and Chinese governments and notes about how to join the war on behalf of Ukraine.In addition, the detention memo cites a book authored by Routh last year in which he lambasted Trump's approach to foreign policy, including in Ukraine. In the book, he wrote that Iran was “free to assassinate Trump” for having left the nuclear deal.

Read letter allegedly from accused assassin on effort to kill Trump

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.

Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting at an apartment complex in 3500 block of Inwood in Wichita, according to Police Department spokesman Andrew Ford.

Officers learned that a verbal altercation had taken place between the 38-year-old male victim and a female suspect. The argument escalated when the suspect reportedly began physically assaulting the victim.

The situation further escalated when the suspect brandished a handgun and fired one shot, striking the victim in the chest.&nbsp; The victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 6:22 p.m., according to Ford.

The suspect,<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=415507"> identified according to Sedgwick Count</a>y booking records as 35-year-old Mercedes Muldrew, was taken into custody at the scene without further incident. She is being held on a requested charge of first degree murder, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727111287181.png" alt="MULDREW photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>MULDREW photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting and have made an arrest.Just after 5:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shooting at an apartment complex in 3500 block of Inwood in Wichita, according to Police Department spokesman Andrew Ford.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727129407850.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers learned that a verbal altercation had taken place between the 38-year-old male victim and a female suspect. The argument escalated when the suspect reportedly began physically assaulting the victim.The situation further escalated when the suspect brandished a handgun and fired one shot, striking the victim in the chest.&nbsp; The victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 6:22 p.m., according to Ford.The suspect,<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=415507"> identified according to Sedgwick Count</a>y booking records as 35-year-old Mercedes Muldrew, was taken into custody at the scene without further incident. She is being held on a requested charge of first degree murder, according to online jail records.

Kansas woman jailed after man shot at apartment complex

WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Monday recognized 356 schools as the 2024 cohort of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/recognition-programs/national-blue-ribbon-schools-program">National Blue Ribbon Schools</a>. This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups.

The Kansas schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools are Lincoln Elementary School in Junction City;&nbsp; Herington Elementary School in Herrington;&nbsp;Sunflower Elementary School in Paola and Garfield Elementary in Augusta.

“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”

The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools reflect the full diversity of American education and serve students from all backgrounds. While awardees represent a wide array of schools, they share common traits. National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards. They showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.

A National Blue Ribbon School award flag displayed in a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized emblem of exceptional teaching and learning. These schools serve as models of effective and innovative practices for educators across the nation.

The Department recognizes all schools based on student performance data including assessment results, student subgroup performance and graduation rates. Schools are recognized in both or either of two performance categories:

Each nominated school submits a comprehensive application detailing its school culture, programs, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, family, and community involvement.

Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727127791652.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Monday recognized 356 schools as the 2024 cohort of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/grants-and-programs/recognition-programs/national-blue-ribbon-schools-program">National Blue Ribbon Schools</a>. This prestigious recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups.The Kansas schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools are Lincoln Elementary School in Junction City;&nbsp; Herington Elementary School in Herrington;&nbsp;Sunflower Elementary School in Paola and Garfield Elementary in Augusta.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FED.gov%2Fvideos%2F400910632814177%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“The National Blue Ribbon Schools Award is a testament to the exceptional achievements of students and educators at each of these schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools are raising the bar for our nation’s students, serving as models for effective teaching and intentional collaboration in their schools and communities. As we celebrate their achievements, let us look to these schools for inspiration as we champion education as the foundation of a brighter future for every child.”The 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools reflect the full diversity of American education and serve students from all backgrounds. While awardees represent a wide array of schools, they share common traits. National Blue Ribbon Schools are led by leaders who articulate a clear vision of instructional excellence and uphold high standards. They showcase effective teaching methods and offer robust professional development for their staff. Data-driven instruction is a hallmark, and there is a concerted effort to ensure every student succeeds. Collaboration among families, communities, and educators is a key component of their success.A National Blue Ribbon School award flag displayed in a school’s entryway or on a flagpole is a widely recognized emblem of exceptional teaching and learning. These schools serve as models of effective and innovative practices for educators across the nation.The Department recognizes all schools based on student performance data including assessment results, student subgroup performance and graduation rates. Schools are recognized in both or either of two performance categories:<ul>
 <li>Exemplary High Performing Schools:&nbsp;These schools are among the top performers in their state as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.</li><li>Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools:&nbsp;These schools excel in narrowing achievement gaps between different student groups and the overall student body.</li>
 </ul>Each nominated school submits a comprehensive application detailing its school culture, programs, assessments, instructional practices, professional development, leadership, family, and community involvement.Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by the Council for American Private Education.

4 Kansas schools honored by U.S. Department of Education

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes reached new heights Monday after drifting higher in a quiet day of trading.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 16.02 points, or 0.3%, to 5,718.57 and edged past its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-inflation-powell-a64fe0c4c099fa2469a8a6a4441f1189">record set on Thursday</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 61.29 points, or 0.1%, to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-fed-japan-acfb636ed8e0e341a1e93b1567ff0358">its own all-time high set on Friday</a>&nbsp;and closed at 42,124.65. The Nasdaq composite gained 25.95, or 0.1%, to 17,974.27.

Tesla led the way with a gain of 4.9% and clawed back all its sharp losses from earlier in the year. It was down as much as 42% at one point in April, when it was cutting prices on its cars to boost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1ce56d5948f9f96235b9c809e3380108">flaccid sales</a>.

That helped offset a 10.3% tumble for Trump Media &amp; Technology Group, which fell to its lowest price since taking its place on the Nasdaq stock market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-truth-social-nasdaq-stock-106d7c423174ca1d7cc3cc9a3f3897a0">in March</a>. The company behind former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social network has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-shares-donald-trump-truth-social-82d8839bb5f5a96e93e2404399ead072">dropped six straight days</a>&nbsp;amid speculation about when Trump and other company insiders may&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-media-shares-lockup-truth-social-ffcc25b27b6debef6ed340f915c5d79c">sell their shares</a>&nbsp;now that they’re longer bound by a “lock-up” agreement. Trump has said he doesn’t plan to sell.

Financial markets have broadly been romping higher after the Federal Reserve last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the first time in more than four years by an unusually large amount. The hope is that as it continues to cut interest rates, the boost given to the U.S. economy through lower rates for car loans, mortgages and other borrowing will help it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">avoid a recession</a>.

But some critics say the Federal Reserve may be moving too late, with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-bac1b453d3873d5f23f2061344d28fd9">job market already slowing</a>, and call stock prices too high.

A report on Monday morning suggested U.S. business activity is not growing as quickly as economists expected, mostly because of a continued downturn in manufacturing. The preliminary report from S&amp;P Global said U.S. manufacturing shrank more severely in September than in August and hit a 15-month low. It’s been one of the parts of the economy hurt most by high interest rates.

The overall figures suggest a U.S. economy that’s still growing at a healthy rate, according to Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence. “But there are some warning lights flashing, notably in terms of the dependence on the service sector for growth, as manufacturing remained in decline, and the worrying drop in business confidence.”

He also pointed to subdued activity among businesses given uncertainty heading into the U.S. elections in November.

Several reports coming later in the week could offer more context about where the U.S. economy stands. One on Thursday will offer the final revision for the U.S. economy’s growth in the spring, and another on Friday will give a look at how much U.S. consumers are spending.

Such reports, particularly on employment, are taking top priority on Wall Street because the main fear is now a slowdown in the job market. It’s a notable shift from prior years, when Wall Street’s attention was fixed on anything related to inflation.

But now that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-bb1f4cfeede550c6c82fd78e2ea537a5">inflation has come down</a>&nbsp;substantially from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">its peak two summers ago</a>, the Fed has shifted gears.

It feels less need to keep rates high in order to slow the economy enough to stifle inflation, hence last week’s cut of half a percentage point to its main interest rate. And it feels more pressure to prop up the job market and overall economy, hence its plans to keep cutting interest rates this year and next.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury held steady at 3.74%, where it was late Friday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more with expectations for Fed action, edged down to 3.58% from 3.60% late Friday.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose modestly in Europe after preliminary data suggested business activity in the euro zone is weaker than economists expected. Germany’s DAX rose 0.7%, while the French CAC 40 rose 0.1%.

In Asia, movements for indexes were also muted. Indexes rose 0.4% in Shanghai but slipped 0.1% in Hong Kong after China’s central bank lowered its 14-day reverse repurchase rate on Monday. That followed its decision last week to keep key lending rates unchange, when investors had been expecting a cut.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="FIle photo(AP Photo/Richard Drew)" />
 <figcaption>FIle photo(AP Photo/Richard Drew)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes reached new heights Monday after drifting higher in a quiet day of trading.The S&amp;P 500 rose 16.02 points, or 0.3%, to 5,718.57 and edged past its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rates-inflation-powell-a64fe0c4c099fa2469a8a6a4441f1189">record set on Thursday</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 61.29 points, or 0.1%, to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-fed-japan-acfb636ed8e0e341a1e93b1567ff0358">its own all-time high set on Friday</a>&nbsp;and closed at 42,124.65. The Nasdaq composite gained 25.95, or 0.1%, to 17,974.27.Tesla led the way with a gain of 4.9% and clawed back all its sharp losses from earlier in the year. It was down as much as 42% at one point in April, when it was cutting prices on its cars to boost&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1ce56d5948f9f96235b9c809e3380108">flaccid sales</a>.That helped offset a 10.3% tumble for Trump Media &amp; Technology Group, which fell to its lowest price since taking its place on the Nasdaq stock market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-truth-social-nasdaq-stock-106d7c423174ca1d7cc3cc9a3f3897a0">in March</a>. The company behind former President Donald Trump’s Truth Social network has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-shares-donald-trump-truth-social-82d8839bb5f5a96e93e2404399ead072">dropped six straight days</a>&nbsp;amid speculation about when Trump and other company insiders may&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-media-shares-lockup-truth-social-ffcc25b27b6debef6ed340f915c5d79c">sell their shares</a>&nbsp;now that they’re longer bound by a “lock-up” agreement. Trump has said he doesn’t plan to sell.Financial markets have broadly been romping higher after the Federal Reserve last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the first time in more than four years by an unusually large amount. The hope is that as it continues to cut interest rates, the boost given to the U.S. economy through lower rates for car loans, mortgages and other borrowing will help it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-31e05db08464c58ce8a3f2db0270f2d3">avoid a recession</a>.But some critics say the Federal Reserve may be moving too late, with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-federal-reserve-inflation-unemployment-economy-bac1b453d3873d5f23f2061344d28fd9">job market already slowing</a>, and call stock prices too high.A report on Monday morning suggested U.S. business activity is not growing as quickly as economists expected, mostly because of a continued downturn in manufacturing. The preliminary report from S&amp;P Global said U.S. manufacturing shrank more severely in September than in August and hit a 15-month low. It’s been one of the parts of the economy hurt most by high interest rates.The overall figures suggest a U.S. economy that’s still growing at a healthy rate, according to Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence. “But there are some warning lights flashing, notably in terms of the dependence on the service sector for growth, as manufacturing remained in decline, and the worrying drop in business confidence.”He also pointed to subdued activity among businesses given uncertainty heading into the U.S. elections in November.Several reports coming later in the week could offer more context about where the U.S. economy stands. One on Thursday will offer the final revision for the U.S. economy’s growth in the spring, and another on Friday will give a look at how much U.S. consumers are spending.Such reports, particularly on employment, are taking top priority on Wall Street because the main fear is now a slowdown in the job market. It’s a notable shift from prior years, when Wall Street’s attention was fixed on anything related to inflation.But now that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-interest-rates-economy-federal-reserve-bb1f4cfeede550c6c82fd78e2ea537a5">inflation has come down</a>&nbsp;substantially from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-prices-consumer-74e1a5c9bced40460e4079f62e980095">its peak two summers ago</a>, the Fed has shifted gears.It feels less need to keep rates high in order to slow the economy enough to stifle inflation, hence last week’s cut of half a percentage point to its main interest rate. And it feels more pressure to prop up the job market and overall economy, hence its plans to keep cutting interest rates this year and next.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury held steady at 3.74%, where it was late Friday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more with expectations for Fed action, edged down to 3.58% from 3.60% late Friday.In stock markets abroad, indexes rose modestly in Europe after preliminary data suggested business activity in the euro zone is weaker than economists expected. Germany’s DAX rose 0.7%, while the French CAC 40 rose 0.1%.In Asia, movements for indexes were also muted. Indexes rose 0.4% in Shanghai but slipped 0.1% in Hong Kong after China’s central bank lowered its 14-day reverse repurchase rate on Monday. That followed its decision last week to keep key lending rates unchange, when investors had been expecting a cut.

Wall Street drifts higher to set more records

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating another gift card scam that cost a woman thousands of dollars.

On Sept. 20, a 76-year-old woman contacted Salina Police to report she had received an email from someone posing as a representative of the Federal Trade Commission's Department of Investigations. 

The scammer told her that her checking account and credit cards were tied to money laundering, and to resolve the issue, she needed to buy gift cards.

A store clerk team told her it was a scam, but she believed that it had occurred, and so she went through with two purchases of gift cards totaling $9,000 and $7,000 charged to a credit card, according to Feldman.

The scammer then had her provide the card numbers, allowing them to steal the funds.

Police emphasized the importance of being mindful of ongoing scams.

“No government agency, including the FTC, will ever ask for gift cards as a form of payment."

As the holiday season approaches, police urge you to stay alert and report any suspicious activity immediately. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for money or gift cards, as they are common tactics used by scammers.

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating another gift card scam that cost a woman thousands of dollars.On Sept. 20, a 76-year-old woman contacted Salina Police to report she had received an email from someone posing as a representative of the Federal Trade Commission's Department of Investigations. The scammer told her that her checking account and credit cards were tied to money laundering, and to resolve the issue, she needed to buy gift cards.A store clerk team told her it was a scam, but she believed that it had occurred, and so she went through with two purchases of gift cards totaling $9,000 and $7,000 charged to a credit card, according to Feldman.The scammer then had her provide the card numbers, allowing them to steal the funds.Police emphasized the importance of being mindful of ongoing scams.“No government agency, including the FTC, will ever ask for gift cards as a form of payment."As the holiday season approaches, police urge you to stay alert and report any suspicious activity immediately. Be cautious of unsolicited requests for money or gift cards, as they are common tactics used by scammers.

Police: Kansas woman lost $16,000 in gift card scam

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is sending additional troops to the Middle East in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">sharp spike in violence</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon that has raised the risk of a greater regional war, the Pentagon said Monday.

Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder would provide no details on how many additional forces or what they would be tasked to do. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-us-military-ships-aircraft-3ef96cbdf87238de559e84e28573f611">U.S. currently has</a>&nbsp;about 40,000 troops in the region.

“In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region. But for operational security reasons, I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics.”

The new deployments come after significant strikes by Israeli forces against targets inside Lebanon that have killed hundreds and as Israel is preparing to conduct further operations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday warned Lebanese civilians&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">in a videotaped message</a>&nbsp;to evacuate their homes ahead of further airstrikes. He spoke as Israeli warplanes continued to strike alleged Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon.

The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war increases.

“Due to the unpredictable nature of ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” the State Department cautioned Saturday. Ryder would not say if those additional forces might support the evacuation of those citizens if needed.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held back-to-back calls with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the weekend as he pressed for a cease-fire and a reduction of tensions in the region, Ryder said.

“Given the tensions, given the escalation, as I highlighted, there is the potential for a wider regional conflict. I don’t think we’re there yet, but it’s a dangerous, situation” Ryder said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726955108353.png" alt="The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war increases." />
 <figcaption>The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war increases.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is sending additional troops to the Middle East in response to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">sharp spike in violence</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hezbollah forces in Lebanon that has raised the risk of a greater regional war, the Pentagon said Monday.Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder would provide no details on how many additional forces or what they would be tasked to do. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-us-military-ships-aircraft-3ef96cbdf87238de559e84e28573f611">U.S. currently has</a>&nbsp;about 40,000 troops in the region.“In light of increased tension in the Middle East and out of an abundance of caution, we are sending a small number of additional U.S. military personnel forward to augment our forces that are already in the region. But for operational security reasons, I’m not going to comment on or provide specifics.”The new deployments come after significant strikes by Israeli forces against targets inside Lebanon that have killed hundreds and as Israel is preparing to conduct further operations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday warned Lebanese civilians&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-lebanon-hezbollah-e3ca9c83642056f962fdf76319e3b8de">in a videotaped message</a>&nbsp;to evacuate their homes ahead of further airstrikes. He spoke as Israeli warplanes continued to strike alleged Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon.The State Department is warning Americans to leave Lebanon as the risk of a regional war increases.“Due to the unpredictable nature of ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel and recent explosions throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” the State Department cautioned Saturday. Ryder would not say if those additional forces might support the evacuation of those citizens if needed.Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held back-to-back calls with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over the weekend as he pressed for a cease-fire and a reduction of tensions in the region, Ryder said.“Given the tensions, given the escalation, as I highlighted, there is the potential for a wider regional conflict. I don’t think we’re there yet, but it’s a dangerous, situation” Ryder said.

US sending more troops to the Middle East as tensions grow

SALINA, Kansas (AP) — A JetBlue flight from New York to San Diego landed safely in Kansas after the crew received an alert about smoke in the cargo area, authorities said. The airline said it turned out to be a false alarm.

Flight 1189, with about 130 people on board, departed Kennedy International Airport at about 4 p.m. Saturday and was headed to San Diego International Airport.

The Airbus A320 landed at Salina Regional Airport in Kansas around 6:30 p.m. local time. The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate.

No injuries were reported, and the local fire department helped people off the plane.

“The pilot came on and let us know that he was seeing an alert for smoke in the cargo bay,” said passenger Seth Odell,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/jetblue-flight-makes-emergency-landing-smoke-detected-cockpit-rcna172141">NBC News reported</a>. “Some passengers did report hearing a loud bang, too, and so we descended incredibly rapidly and landed in the extremely small airport in Salina.”

Odell said people were starting to “freak out.”

“Some people were crying. It was a little bit intense for a few minutes,” he said.

JetBlue said in a statement that the plane landed without incident.

"Upon inspection, we determined the smoke indication presented to our pilots was a false indication,” the statement said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727108413026.png" alt="-Photo by Seth Odell" />
 <figcaption>-Photo by Seth Odell</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINA, Kansas (AP) — A JetBlue flight from New York to San Diego landed safely in Kansas after the crew received an alert about smoke in the cargo area, authorities said. The airline said it turned out to be a false alarm.Flight 1189, with about 130 people on board, departed Kennedy International Airport at about 4 p.m. Saturday and was headed to San Diego International Airport.The Airbus A320 landed at Salina Regional Airport in Kansas around 6:30 p.m. local time. The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate.No injuries were reported, and the local fire department helped people off the plane.“The pilot came on and let us know that he was seeing an alert for smoke in the cargo bay,” said passenger Seth Odell,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/jetblue-flight-makes-emergency-landing-smoke-detected-cockpit-rcna172141">NBC News reported</a>. “Some passengers did report hearing a loud bang, too, and so we descended incredibly rapidly and landed in the extremely small airport in Salina.”Odell said people were starting to “freak out.”“Some people were crying. It was a little bit intense for a few minutes,” he said.JetBlue said in a statement that the plane landed without incident."Upon inspection, we determined the smoke indication presented to our pilots was a false indication,” the statement said.