SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a 15-year-old in connection with a shooting during an altercation with a man and his wife who were taking a walk.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Monday, police responded to a report of a large disturbance at 100 S. Saint Francis in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. 

Officers were then notified of a possible shooting. Subsequently, another call came in from 100 S. Broadway reporting a shooting victim. Officers responded to that location and found a 64-year old man from Wichita suffering from a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. 

EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of critical but non-life-threatening injuries.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim and his wife were walking in the Naftzger Park area when they got into a verbal argument with a large group of young individuals. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, leading to several individuals pursuing the victim to a nearby parking lot, where a 15- year-old boy shot the victim before fleeing the area.

The 15-year-old juvenile was later taken into custody and booked on requested charges of aggravated battery and attempted murder. The case will be presented to the District Attorney's Office for charge.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a 15-year-old in connection with a shooting during an altercation with a man and his wife who were taking a walk.Just before 11:30 p.m. Monday, police responded to a report of a large disturbance at 100 S. Saint Francis in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. Officers were then notified of a possible shooting. Subsequently, another call came in from 100 S. Broadway reporting a shooting victim. Officers responded to that location and found a 64-year old man from Wichita suffering from a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of critical but non-life-threatening injuries.Preliminary investigations indicate that the victim and his wife were walking in the Naftzger Park area when they got into a verbal argument with a large group of young individuals. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, leading to several individuals pursuing the victim to a nearby parking lot, where a 15- year-old boy shot the victim before fleeing the area.The 15-year-old juvenile was later taken into custody and booked on requested charges of aggravated battery and attempted murder. The case will be presented to the District Attorney's Office for charge.

Police: 15-year-old shot man walking with his wife in Kansas park

JERUSALEM —From January to June 2024, ISIS has claimed 153 attacks in Iraq and Syria. At this rate, ISIS is on pace to more than double the total number of attacks they claimed in 2023, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

The increase in attacks indicates ISIS is attempting to reconstitute following several years of decreased capability.

To continue the effort to defeat ISIS and prevent its ability to conduct external attacks, United States Central Command, along with our Defeat ISIS partners, Iraqi Security Forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, conducted 196 Defeat ISIS Missions resulting in 44 ISIS operatives killed and 166 detained in the first half of 2024. In Iraq, 137 partnered operations resulted in 30 ISIS operatives killed and 74 ISIS operatives detained. In Syria, 59 operations conducted alongside the SDF and other partners resulted in 14 ISIS operatives killed and 92 ISIS operatives detained. 

The above operations resulted in eight senior ISIS leaders killed and 32 captured in both Iraq and Syria. These leaders include those responsible for planning of operations outside of Syria and Iraq, recruiting, training, and weapons smuggling. The removal of these individuals from their leadership positions further degrades ISIS capabilities to conduct external operations in the U.S. and allied nations.

The continued pursuit of the approximately 2,500 ISIS fighters at large across Iraq and Syria is a critical component to the enduring defeat of ISIS.  Equally important are the ongoing international efforts to repatriate more than 9,000 ISIS detainees in detention facilities in Syria, and the repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of more than 43,000 individuals and families from the Al Hol and Al Roj camps. This is down from the peak of over 70,000 in 2019. 

“The global enduring defeat of ISIS relies on combined efforts of the Coalition and partners to remove key leaders from the battlefield and the repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of families from Al Hol and Al Roj,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command. “We continue to focus our efforts on specifically targeting those members of ISIS who are seeking to conduct external operations outside of Iraq and Syria and those ISIS members attempting to break out ISIS members in detention in an attempt to reconstitute their forces.”

JERUSALEM —From January to June 2024, ISIS has claimed 153 attacks in Iraq and Syria. At this rate, ISIS is on pace to more than double the total number of attacks they claimed in 2023, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.The increase in attacks indicates ISIS is attempting to reconstitute following several years of decreased capability.To continue the effort to defeat ISIS and prevent its ability to conduct external attacks, United States Central Command, along with our Defeat ISIS partners, Iraqi Security Forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces, conducted 196 Defeat ISIS Missions resulting in 44 ISIS operatives killed and 166 detained in the first half of 2024. In Iraq, 137 partnered operations resulted in 30 ISIS operatives killed and 74 ISIS operatives detained. In Syria, 59 operations conducted alongside the SDF and other partners resulted in 14 ISIS operatives killed and 92 ISIS operatives detained. The above operations resulted in eight senior ISIS leaders killed and 32 captured in both Iraq and Syria. These leaders include those responsible for planning of operations outside of Syria and Iraq, recruiting, training, and weapons smuggling. The removal of these individuals from their leadership positions further degrades ISIS capabilities to conduct external operations in the U.S. and allied nations.The continued pursuit of the approximately 2,500 ISIS fighters at large across Iraq and Syria is a critical component to the enduring defeat of ISIS. Equally important are the ongoing international efforts to repatriate more than 9,000 ISIS detainees in detention facilities in Syria, and the repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of more than 43,000 individuals and families from the Al Hol and Al Roj camps. This is down from the peak of over 70,000 in 2019. “The global enduring defeat of ISIS relies on combined efforts of the Coalition and partners to remove key leaders from the battlefield and the repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of families from Al Hol and Al Roj,” said Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command. “We continue to focus our efforts on specifically targeting those members of ISIS who are seeking to conduct external operations outside of Iraq and Syria and those ISIS members attempting to break out ISIS members in detention in an attempt to reconstitute their forces.”

ISIS on pace to more than double number of attacks they claimed in 2023

DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas teen died in an accident near Clinton Lake in&nbsp; Douglas County.

The victim of the crash has been identified as 17-year-old Brody Minton of Lawrence, according to a media release from the Douglas County Sheriff. Family members reported him missing on Monday and law enforcement had attempted to find him. Douglas County sheriff's deputies searched Monday and Tuesday searched extensively including the campgrounds at Clinton Lake and were working to locate his vehicle in the area.

Just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday, a person called dispatchers after locating tracks in the area and finding a vehicle in a wooded area east of the road in the 900 Block of N 1150 Road. The callers found the 1997 Nissan Altima and Brody was in the car. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office Crash Reconstruction Team is investigating the details surrounding the crash.

Deputies temporarily closed East 900 Road, known as the dam road at Clinton Lake, for the DGSO Crash Reconstruction Team to investigate the crash.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas teen died in an accident near Clinton Lake in&nbsp; Douglas County.The victim of the crash has been identified as 17-year-old Brody Minton of Lawrence, according to a media release from the Douglas County Sheriff. Family members reported him missing on Monday and law enforcement had attempted to find him. Douglas County sheriff's deputies searched Monday and Tuesday searched extensively including the campgrounds at Clinton Lake and were working to locate his vehicle in the area.Just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday, a person called dispatchers after locating tracks in the area and finding a vehicle in a wooded area east of the road in the 900 Block of N 1150 Road. The callers found the 1997 Nissan Altima and Brody was in the car. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office Crash Reconstruction Team is investigating the details surrounding the crash.Deputies temporarily closed East 900 Road, known as the dam road at Clinton Lake, for the DGSO Crash Reconstruction Team to investigate the crash.

Sheriff investigating death of Kansas teen in crash near lake

WASHINGTON (AP) — A threat on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;life from Iran prompted additional security in the days before Saturday’s campaign rally, but it was unrelated to the assassination attempt on the Republican presidential nominee, two U.S. officials said Tuesday, as law enforcement warned of the potential for more violence inspired by the shooting.

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said officials have been tracking Iranian threats against Trump administration officials for years, dating back to the last administration. Trump ordered the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, who led the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.

“These threats arise from Iran’s desire to seek revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani. We consider this a national and homeland security matter of the highest priority,” Watson said.

The U.S. Secret Service and the Trump campaign were made aware of the latest threat, prompting a surge in resources and assets, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.

The additional resources did not prevent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-assassination-attempt-db24c5bfbbe7d09fa2437c3c836bb434">Saturday attack at a rally in Pennsylvania</a>, where a 20-year-old with an AR-style rifle opened fire from a nearby rooftop, leaving the former president with an ear injury, killing one rallygoer and severely injuring two others.

Watson said there have been no ties identified between the gunman at the rally “and any accomplice or co-conspirator, foreign or domestic.”

“The Secret Service and other agencies are constantly receiving new potential threat information and taking action to adjust resources, as needed,” said Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi who said he couldn't comment on any specific threats.

Online rhetoric is particularly concerning

Since the rally shooting, rhetoric online has become particularly concerning “given that individuals in some online communities have threatened, encouraged, or referenced acts of violence in response to the attempted assassination,” according to a joint intelligence bulletin by Homeland Security and the FBI and obtained by The Associated Press.

Presidents — and presidential candidates — are always the subject of threats, but the FBI and Homeland Security officials are “concerned about the potential for follow-on or retaliatory acts of violence following this attack,” according to the bulletin released Monday evening. Law enforcement warned that lone actors and small groups will “continue to see rallies and campaign events as attractive targets.”

A visibly stronger security detail now surrounds Trump and President Joe Biden. And independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received Secret Service protection in the wake of the shooting.

There were more agents surrounding Biden as he boarded Air Force One to Las Vegas on Monday night.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-republican-national-convention-58c09e396b79751c44baed14a1b432a8">As Trump made his first post-shooting</a>&nbsp;appearance on the floor of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee that same night, there was a much larger presence than he has previously had, with agents keeping a protective barrier between Trump and the crowd, preventing him from greeting supporters as easily as he usually does.

Show of force, but also an effort to reassure

The visibly stepped-up presence is meant to add a show of force and additional protection, but is also an effort to reassure Americans concerned about the potential for additional violence after the already-tense and vitriolic 2024 election season turned deadly.

Both Trump and Biden have called for unity following the shooting; Biden has said repeatedly that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-shooting-election-2024-704592d02c3421a767112f0bf6d25eb9">political violence must be rejected</a>.

The FBI has no clear motive for the shooting and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/secret-service-trump-rally-4e3415b1461f5acefbc8e1fadad0375b">investigation is ongoing</a>. Biden ordered an independent review of the federal response after questions swirled about how the gunman could have gotten so close to the stage, and how the enhanced security presence did not prevent the attack.

“This attack reinforces our assessment that election-related targets are under a heightened threat of attack or other types of disruptive incidents,” according to the bulletin.

Security will also be enhanced at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-democrats-trump-reelection-convention-2024-99db6ca0b7df215442b7fc1fd24f4463">Democratic National Convention</a>&nbsp;in Chicago in a few weeks.

The U.S. Secret Service, which is tasked with protecting the president, former presidents, their spouses, some other lawmakers and major security events, has protocols in place that allow for leeway to adjust security needs in the moment. That includes adding additional agents around the candidates, or beefing up behind-the-scenes operations and additional advance teams who travel ahead to scope out sites and test for vulnerabilities.

They're constantly monitoring possible threats. Authorities this week arrested a Florida man they say made comments about wanting to kill Biden. The man’s comments, both online and in person at a mental health facility, were made before Saturday’s assassination attempt of Trump, according to court papers.

Federal law provides Secret Service protection to former presidents and their spouses for life. The security posture around ex-presidents varies depending on threat levels and exposure, generally being toughest in the immediate aftermath of their leaving office and getting lower-profile — but never going away — as the years go on.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-second-term-prosecute-media-b892fd6f3ce721016eb1176e82aa51c3">is the first modern ex-president to seek another term</a>, and because of his high visibility, his protective detail has always been larger than some of his peers. That protective bubble had only grown tighter in recent months as he became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. All major party nominees are granted enhanced security details with counterassault and countersniper teams similar to the president.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday said Biden had also ordered protection for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-election-rfk-baf2281a888d736a50d78a3ae4188521">Kennedy, whose campaign had been</a>&nbsp;urging the president to provide him with Secret Service protection for months, and has sent multiple requests after various&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-candidate-rfk-intruder-california-arrest-243a04db152b10c12632b2ec89f74a2a">incidents</a>.

Kennedy’s uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and his father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, were both assassinated.

How stepped up security impacts candidates

For Trump, a stricter security protocol could hamper his interactions. He often signs autographs, shakes hands and poses for selfies on airplane tarmacs and at events.

In many cities he visits, the campaign assembles supporters in public spaces like restaurants and fast food joints. The images and video of his reception and interactions -- circulated online by his campaign staffers and conservative media -- have been fundamental to his 2024 campaign.

But those events can get rowdy. While he was in New York during his criminal hush money trial, Trump aides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-york-hush-money-trial-56fd4f4bb7562772c701a2acab76e9fd">arranged a series of visits</a>&nbsp;to a local bodega, a local firehouse and a construction site.

Before his arrival at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harlem-trial-bodega-909f0abee3f1951a2ffdabc8072d61a7">the bodega in Harlem</a>, thousands of supporters and onlookers gathered behind metal barricades for blocks to watch his motorcade arrive and cheer. But some were frustrated by the visit, including people being dropped off at a bus stop just in front of the store, and others trying to enter their apartments after work.

At one point, an individual who lived in the building started shouting from a window that was just above the entrance where Trump would eventually stand and give remarks to the cameras and answer reporters' questions.

Biden, too, will often linger long after his events have ended, talking to people. At a campaign rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, last week, he spent nearly an hour in the sun shaking hands, taking selfies and talking to people up close. Earlier in Philadelphia, he was surrounded by churchgoers as they crowded into the pews hoping to speak with him as his agents monitored the crowds and pushed people further back in some cases.

Biden often talks about how hard it is to interact with the public given security concerns.

“I love the Secret Service,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-election-abc-debate-age-trump-25a863ba1ca3d6d01d8cc69a61274321">Biden said at a campaign office in Philadelphia last week</a>. “But I’m not able to do what I used to do.” He said he’d often be riding in a vehicle and get out to talk to people but “realistically, I can’t do that anymore. It’s just too dangerous what’s going on out there.”

Details of the Iran threat were first reported by CNN.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations called the accusations “unsubstantiated and malicious.”

In a statement obtained by The Associated Press late Tuesday, the mission said that while it sees Trump as a “criminal” who should be punished in court for ordering Soleimani’s assassination, “Iran has chosen the legal path to bring him to justice.”

Other former high-level Trump administration officials also receive protection following Soleimani's assassination. Since taking office, the Biden administration has repeatedly extended 24/7 protection to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his top Iran aide, Brian Hook, due to credible threats on their lives from Iran.

The last time the protection was extended by the State Department was on June 21, according to congressional notifications seen by the AP. As of March 2022, the State Department was paying more than $2 million per month to provide 24-hour security to Pompeo and Hook, though the agency has stopped reporting the cost figures to Congress.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721173952120.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A threat on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;life from Iran prompted additional security in the days before Saturday’s campaign rally, but it was unrelated to the assassination attempt on the Republican presidential nominee, two U.S. officials said Tuesday, as law enforcement warned of the potential for more violence inspired by the shooting.National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said officials have been tracking Iranian threats against Trump administration officials for years, dating back to the last administration. Trump ordered the 2020 killing of Qassem Soleimani, who led the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force.“These threats arise from Iran’s desire to seek revenge for the killing of Qassem Soleimani. We consider this a national and homeland security matter of the highest priority,” Watson said.The U.S. Secret Service and the Trump campaign were made aware of the latest threat, prompting a surge in resources and assets, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters.The additional resources did not prevent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rally-assassination-attempt-db24c5bfbbe7d09fa2437c3c836bb434">Saturday attack at a rally in Pennsylvania</a>, where a 20-year-old with an AR-style rifle opened fire from a nearby rooftop, leaving the former president with an ear injury, killing one rallygoer and severely injuring two others.Watson said there have been no ties identified between the gunman at the rally “and any accomplice or co-conspirator, foreign or domestic.”“The Secret Service and other agencies are constantly receiving new potential threat information and taking action to adjust resources, as needed,” said Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi who said he couldn't comment on any specific threats.<h2>Online rhetoric is particularly concerning</h2>Since the rally shooting, rhetoric online has become particularly concerning “given that individuals in some online communities have threatened, encouraged, or referenced acts of violence in response to the attempted assassination,” according to a joint intelligence bulletin by Homeland Security and the FBI and obtained by The Associated Press.Presidents — and presidential candidates — are always the subject of threats, but the FBI and Homeland Security officials are “concerned about the potential for follow-on or retaliatory acts of violence following this attack,” according to the bulletin released Monday evening. Law enforcement warned that lone actors and small groups will “continue to see rallies and campaign events as attractive targets.”A visibly stronger security detail now surrounds Trump and President Joe Biden. And independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. received Secret Service protection in the wake of the shooting.There were more agents surrounding Biden as he boarded Air Force One to Las Vegas on Monday night.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-republican-national-convention-58c09e396b79751c44baed14a1b432a8">As Trump made his first post-shooting</a>&nbsp;appearance on the floor of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee that same night, there was a much larger presence than he has previously had, with agents keeping a protective barrier between Trump and the crowd, preventing him from greeting supporters as easily as he usually does.<h2>Show of force, but also an effort to reassure</h2>The visibly stepped-up presence is meant to add a show of force and additional protection, but is also an effort to reassure Americans concerned about the potential for additional violence after the already-tense and vitriolic 2024 election season turned deadly.Both Trump and Biden have called for unity following the shooting; Biden has said repeatedly that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-shooting-election-2024-704592d02c3421a767112f0bf6d25eb9">political violence must be rejected</a>.The FBI has no clear motive for the shooting and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/secret-service-trump-rally-4e3415b1461f5acefbc8e1fadad0375b">investigation is ongoing</a>. Biden ordered an independent review of the federal response after questions swirled about how the gunman could have gotten so close to the stage, and how the enhanced security presence did not prevent the attack.“This attack reinforces our assessment that election-related targets are under a heightened threat of attack or other types of disruptive incidents,” according to the bulletin.Security will also be enhanced at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-democrats-trump-reelection-convention-2024-99db6ca0b7df215442b7fc1fd24f4463">Democratic National Convention</a>&nbsp;in Chicago in a few weeks.The U.S. Secret Service, which is tasked with protecting the president, former presidents, their spouses, some other lawmakers and major security events, has protocols in place that allow for leeway to adjust security needs in the moment. That includes adding additional agents around the candidates, or beefing up behind-the-scenes operations and additional advance teams who travel ahead to scope out sites and test for vulnerabilities.They're constantly monitoring possible threats. Authorities this week arrested a Florida man they say made comments about wanting to kill Biden. The man’s comments, both online and in person at a mental health facility, were made before Saturday’s assassination attempt of Trump, according to court papers.Federal law provides Secret Service protection to former presidents and their spouses for life. The security posture around ex-presidents varies depending on threat levels and exposure, generally being toughest in the immediate aftermath of their leaving office and getting lower-profile — but never going away — as the years go on.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-second-term-prosecute-media-b892fd6f3ce721016eb1176e82aa51c3">is the first modern ex-president to seek another term</a>, and because of his high visibility, his protective detail has always been larger than some of his peers. That protective bubble had only grown tighter in recent months as he became the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. All major party nominees are granted enhanced security details with counterassault and countersniper teams similar to the president.Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday said Biden had also ordered protection for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-election-rfk-baf2281a888d736a50d78a3ae4188521">Kennedy, whose campaign had been</a>&nbsp;urging the president to provide him with Secret Service protection for months, and has sent multiple requests after various&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-candidate-rfk-intruder-california-arrest-243a04db152b10c12632b2ec89f74a2a">incidents</a>.Kennedy’s uncle, President John F. Kennedy, and his father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, were both assassinated.<h2>How stepped up security impacts candidates</h2>For Trump, a stricter security protocol could hamper his interactions. He often signs autographs, shakes hands and poses for selfies on airplane tarmacs and at events.In many cities he visits, the campaign assembles supporters in public spaces like restaurants and fast food joints. The images and video of his reception and interactions -- circulated online by his campaign staffers and conservative media -- have been fundamental to his 2024 campaign.But those events can get rowdy. While he was in New York during his criminal hush money trial, Trump aides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-york-hush-money-trial-56fd4f4bb7562772c701a2acab76e9fd">arranged a series of visits</a>&nbsp;to a local bodega, a local firehouse and a construction site.Before his arrival at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harlem-trial-bodega-909f0abee3f1951a2ffdabc8072d61a7">the bodega in Harlem</a>, thousands of supporters and onlookers gathered behind metal barricades for blocks to watch his motorcade arrive and cheer. But some were frustrated by the visit, including people being dropped off at a bus stop just in front of the store, and others trying to enter their apartments after work.At one point, an individual who lived in the building started shouting from a window that was just above the entrance where Trump would eventually stand and give remarks to the cameras and answer reporters' questions.Biden, too, will often linger long after his events have ended, talking to people. At a campaign rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, last week, he spent nearly an hour in the sun shaking hands, taking selfies and talking to people up close. Earlier in Philadelphia, he was surrounded by churchgoers as they crowded into the pews hoping to speak with him as his agents monitored the crowds and pushed people further back in some cases.Biden often talks about how hard it is to interact with the public given security concerns.“I love the Secret Service,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-election-abc-debate-age-trump-25a863ba1ca3d6d01d8cc69a61274321">Biden said at a campaign office in Philadelphia last week</a>. “But I’m not able to do what I used to do.” He said he’d often be riding in a vehicle and get out to talk to people but “realistically, I can’t do that anymore. It’s just too dangerous what’s going on out there.”<h2>The Iran threats</h2>Details of the Iran threat were first reported by CNN.Iran’s mission to the United Nations called the accusations “unsubstantiated and malicious.”In a statement obtained by The Associated Press late Tuesday, the mission said that while it sees Trump as a “criminal” who should be punished in court for ordering Soleimani’s assassination, “Iran has chosen the legal path to bring him to justice.”Other former high-level Trump administration officials also receive protection following Soleimani's assassination. Since taking office, the Biden administration has repeatedly extended 24/7 protection to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his top Iran aide, Brian Hook, due to credible threats on their lives from Iran.The last time the protection was extended by the State Department was on June 21, according to congressional notifications seen by the AP. As of March 2022, the State Department was paying more than $2 million per month to provide 24-hour security to Pompeo and Hook, though the agency has stopped reporting the cost figures to Congress.

Iran threat prompted more security at Trump rally 

BUTLER COUNTY —A Kansas man man is going to prison for a road-rage beating death of of a man in 2023.&nbsp;

On July 10, Ashton McCoy, 24, was sentenced to 21-years in prison, according to&nbsp;Butler County Attorney's office. In May McCoy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault.&nbsp;

Just after 1 p.m. October 8, police responded to a reported battery at the Jump Start convenience store in the 1600 block of West Central in El Dorado, according to a media release. First responders found 74-year-old&nbsp; Alton Algrim of Leon, Kansas, with injuries in connection with a road rage incident. EMS transported the victim to a Wichita hospital.&nbsp;

Following an investigation, officers arrested McCoy initially on a requested charge of aggravated battery. The charge against McCoy were amended to first-degree murder following Algrim's death.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720798380228.png" alt="McCoy photo Butler Co." />
 <figcaption>McCoy photo Butler Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —A Kansas man man is going to prison for a road-rage beating death of of a man in 2023.&nbsp;On July 10, Ashton McCoy, 24, was sentenced to 21-years in prison, according to&nbsp;Butler County Attorney's office. In May McCoy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault.&nbsp;Just after 1 p.m. October 8, police responded to a reported battery at the Jump Start convenience store in the 1600 block of West Central in El Dorado, according to a media release. First responders found 74-year-old&nbsp; Alton Algrim of Leon, Kansas, with injuries in connection with a road rage incident. EMS transported the victim to a Wichita hospital.&nbsp;Following an investigation, officers arrested McCoy initially on a requested charge of aggravated battery. The charge against McCoy were amended to first-degree murder following Algrim's death.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Prison for road-rage beating death of 74-year-old Kansas man

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged with assaulting and causing serious physical injury to a Kansas City Police Department officer who was working in a Downtown store, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Jorge I. Arroyo, 40, faces Assault in the 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges.

According to court records, just after 8:15 a.m. June 30, police were dispatched to the Cosentino's Downtown Market on East 13th Street for a reported assist of an officer.

 A sergeant was working off-duty, in uniform, when he was assaulted by a man after the officer asked him to leave the store and placed the man's belongings outside the store. 

The officer told police he had asked Arroyo to leave after he was told he previously been caught stealing. Arroyo became enraged, picked up a metal chair, and hit the officer in the head. The officer fell to the ground while Arroyo kept striking him. The officer radioed for assistance. Customers and store employees restrained the defendant until other officers arrived. Witnesses told police they saw Arroyo swinging the chair at the officer. The officer underwent surgery for a head laceration and required up to 30 stitches. He also injured his hand.

Arroyo remains jail on $150,000 cash bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720887566088.png" alt="Arroyo -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Arroyo -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged with assaulting and causing serious physical injury to a Kansas City Police Department officer who was working in a Downtown store, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Jorge I. Arroyo, 40, faces Assault in the 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action charges.According to court records, just after 8:15 a.m. June 30, police were dispatched to the Cosentino's Downtown Market on East 13th Street for a reported assist of an officer. A sergeant was working off-duty, in uniform, when he was assaulted by a man after the officer asked him to leave the store and placed the man's belongings outside the store. The officer told police he had asked Arroyo to leave after he was told he previously been caught stealing. Arroyo became enraged, picked up a metal chair, and hit the officer in the head. The officer fell to the ground while Arroyo kept striking him. The officer radioed for assistance. Customers and store employees restrained the defendant until other officers arrived. Witnesses told police they saw Arroyo swinging the chair at the officer. The officer underwent surgery for a head laceration and required up to 30 stitches. He also injured his hand.Arroyo remains jail on $150,000 cash bond.

Man attacked KCPD officer with a metal chair

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>

President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation in political rhetoric but kept up criticism of former President Donald Trump on Monday, in Biden’s first interview since a Saturday assassination attempt on Trump.

Talking to NBC News anchor Lester Holt, Biden said he called the injured Trump on Saturday to convey his well wishes.

But he argued to Holt that Trump, whom Republicans officially nominated as their presidential candidate at their convention Monday, remains a threat to U.S. democracy who routinely employed violent rhetoric and led an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

Biden said it was a mistake to use the word “bullseye” on a call with Democratic donors last week, when telling them to concentrate on the Republican candidate instead of the fallout from Biden’s poor debate performance.

Many elected officials and fundraisers after the debate wondered if Biden should withdraw from his reelection campaign.

“I meant focus on him,” Biden said of Trump. “Focus on what he’s doing. Focus on his policies.”

The former president survived a shooting on Saturday that killed one person and left two others injured at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman was killed at the scene.

Biden said he did not intentionally use violent rhetoric, but did not apologize or back down from his criticisms of Trump as a “threat to democracy.”

“How do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says?” Biden said.

“I’m not engaged in that rhetoric,” Biden said. “My opponent is engaged in that rhetoric, talking about there will be a bloodbath if he loses.”

He also noted Trump said he would commute the sentences of those convicted for attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and mocked then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband after he was assaulted by a man with a hammer during a home invasion.

“This doesn’t sound like you’re turning down the heat,” Holt said.

Biden responded that some ideas that Trump champions — continuing to challenge the 2020 election results despite losing in dozens of court cases, demanding a loyalty pledge from Republicans, calling political opponents “vermin” and saying he would be a dictator on day one of a second term — were antithetical to democracy.

Biden focused especially on the Jan. 6 attack, when a mob of Trump supporters sought to stop Congress and Vice President Mike Pence from certifying Biden’s 2020 victory over then-President Trump.

“When you say there’s nothing wrong with going to the Capitol, breaking in, threatening people, a couple cops dying, putting up a noose and gallows for the former vice president, and then you say you’re going to forgive people for that? That you’re going to pardon them?” Biden said.

“Violence is never appropriate,” he said. “Never, never, never, never, never in politics.”

He pledged to “keep talking about the issues” and chastised Holt and the rest of the news media for what he said was a lack of focus on real policy issues.

“Sometime come and talk to me about what we should be talking about, OK? The issues,” Biden said at the close of the roughly 20-minute interview.

Holt asked Biden about the news earlier Monday that Judge Aileen Cannon, a federal judge in South Florida,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-dismisses-trump-classified-documents-criminal-case" target="_blank">dismissed the charges</a>&nbsp;against Trump in a case accusing him of improperly storing classified documents from his presidency.

Biden said he felt the decision from a Trump-appointed federal judge was reached in error.

“I’m not surprised,” Biden said. “But my generic point is that … the basis upon which the case was thrown out, I find specious.”

Asked by Holt if he’d “weathered the storm” of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-camp-works-stem-growing-democratic-unease-over-reelection-prospects" target="_blank">Democratic discontent</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-and-trump-trade-insults-accusations-lying-acrimonious-presidential-debate" target="_blank">his June 27 debate</a>&nbsp;performance that shook confidence in his candidacy, Biden said he was staying in the race, citing his victories in primaries and caucuses that didn’t see a serious challenge to his reelection.

“Look, 14 million people voted for me to be the nominee in the Democratic Party, OK?” Biden said. “I listen to them.”

Biden again conceded he’d “had a bad, bad night” at the debate, but told Holt that news reports should have paid more attention to Trump’s performance.

“I screwed up,” Biden said. “Why didn’t the press cover all the lies he told?”

Asked about comments from senior members of his party in Congress, including Pelosi and former No. 3 House Democrat Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, seeming to leave open the possibility he could step aside, Biden said he remained ready to campaign on a strong record.

The race remains close even after the poor debate, Biden said. He added that he’s had one of the most successful presidencies since Franklin Roosevelt nearly 100 years ago.

“I’ve gotten more done than any president has in a long, long time in three-and-a-half years, so I’m willing to be judged on that.”

Biden, 81, said he understood the concerns about his age and called it a “legitimate question” to ask how he would perform over the next four years.

But when Holt asked if Biden was motivated to “get back on the horse” and debate Trump again “in the next few weeks,” Biden pushed back, noting a packed public schedule since the debate.

“I’m on the horse,” he told the interviewer. “Where you been?”

Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/former-president-trump-taps-ohio-us-sen-jd-vance-running-mate-2024" target="_blank">choice of U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio</a>&nbsp;as his running mate showed that he would surround himself “with people who agree completely with him,” Biden said.

Holt noted Vance has made comments about Biden, but the president urged Holt to examine Vance’s comments about Trump. In 2016, as a private citizen with a somewhat public profile as a businessperson and memoirist, Vance made&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/opioid-of-the-masses/489911/" target="_blank">several harsh comments</a>&nbsp;about Trump.

Biden expressed some frustration that Holt did not seem interested in that history.

“He said some things about me, but see what he said about Trump,” Biden said. “What’s with you guys? Come on, man.”

The president said Vance has endorsed Republican positions to severely restrict abortion, cut taxes on high-income earners and to deny climate change.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">JACOB FISCHLER</a>President Joe Biden called for a de-escalation in political rhetoric but kept up criticism of former President Donald Trump on Monday, in Biden’s first interview since a Saturday assassination attempt on Trump.Talking to NBC News anchor Lester Holt, Biden said he called the injured Trump on Saturday to convey his well wishes.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">There’s no place at all for violence in politics at all in America. Zero.<a href="https://t.co/BrDeLD8bKq">pic.twitter.com/BrDeLD8bKq</a>&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1813033120998039586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But he argued to Holt that Trump, whom Republicans officially nominated as their presidential candidate at their convention Monday, remains a threat to U.S. democracy who routinely employed violent rhetoric and led an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election.Biden said it was a mistake to use the word “bullseye” on a call with Democratic donors last week, when telling them to concentrate on the Republican candidate instead of the fallout from Biden’s poor debate performance.Many elected officials and fundraisers after the debate wondered if Biden should withdraw from his reelection campaign.“I meant focus on him,” Biden said of Trump. “Focus on what he’s doing. Focus on his policies.”The former president survived a shooting on Saturday that killed one person and left two others injured at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The gunman was killed at the scene.Biden said he did not intentionally use violent rhetoric, but did not apologize or back down from his criticisms of Trump as a “threat to democracy.”“How do you talk about the threat to democracy, which is real, when a president says things like he says?” Biden said.“I’m not engaged in that rhetoric,” Biden said. “My opponent is engaged in that rhetoric, talking about there will be a bloodbath if he loses.”He also noted Trump said he would commute the sentences of those convicted for attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and mocked then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband after he was assaulted by a man with a hammer during a home invasion.“This doesn’t sound like you’re turning down the heat,” Holt said.Biden responded that some ideas that Trump champions — continuing to challenge the 2020 election results despite losing in dozens of court cases, demanding a loyalty pledge from Republicans, calling political opponents “vermin” and saying he would be a dictator on day one of a second term — were antithetical to democracy.Biden focused especially on the Jan. 6 attack, when a mob of Trump supporters sought to stop Congress and Vice President Mike Pence from certifying Biden’s 2020 victory over then-President Trump.“When you say there’s nothing wrong with going to the Capitol, breaking in, threatening people, a couple cops dying, putting up a noose and gallows for the former vice president, and then you say you’re going to forgive people for that? That you’re going to pardon them?” Biden said.“Violence is never appropriate,” he said. “Never, never, never, never, never in politics.”He pledged to “keep talking about the issues” and chastised Holt and the rest of the news media for what he said was a lack of focus on real policy issues.“Sometime come and talk to me about what we should be talking about, OK? The issues,” Biden said at the close of the roughly 20-minute interview.<h2>Classified documents charges</h2>Holt asked Biden about the news earlier Monday that Judge Aileen Cannon, a federal judge in South Florida,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-dismisses-trump-classified-documents-criminal-case" target="_blank">dismissed the charges</a>&nbsp;against Trump in a case accusing him of improperly storing classified documents from his presidency.Biden said he felt the decision from a Trump-appointed federal judge was reached in error.“I’m not surprised,” Biden said. “But my generic point is that … the basis upon which the case was thrown out, I find specious.”<h2>Debate fallout</h2>Asked by Holt if he’d “weathered the storm” of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-camp-works-stem-growing-democratic-unease-over-reelection-prospects" target="_blank">Democratic discontent</a>&nbsp;over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/biden-and-trump-trade-insults-accusations-lying-acrimonious-presidential-debate" target="_blank">his June 27 debate</a>&nbsp;performance that shook confidence in his candidacy, Biden said he was staying in the race, citing his victories in primaries and caucuses that didn’t see a serious challenge to his reelection.“Look, 14 million people voted for me to be the nominee in the Democratic Party, OK?” Biden said. “I listen to them.”Biden again conceded he’d “had a bad, bad night” at the debate, but told Holt that news reports should have paid more attention to Trump’s performance.“I screwed up,” Biden said. “Why didn’t the press cover all the lies he told?”Asked about comments from senior members of his party in Congress, including Pelosi and former No. 3 House Democrat Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, seeming to leave open the possibility he could step aside, Biden said he remained ready to campaign on a strong record.The race remains close even after the poor debate, Biden said. He added that he’s had one of the most successful presidencies since Franklin Roosevelt nearly 100 years ago.“I’ve gotten more done than any president has in a long, long time in three-and-a-half years, so I’m willing to be judged on that.”Biden, 81, said he understood the concerns about his age and called it a “legitimate question” to ask how he would perform over the next four years.But when Holt asked if Biden was motivated to “get back on the horse” and debate Trump again “in the next few weeks,” Biden pushed back, noting a packed public schedule since the debate.“I’m on the horse,” he told the interviewer. “Where you been?”<h2>Vance pick</h2>Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/former-president-trump-taps-ohio-us-sen-jd-vance-running-mate-2024" target="_blank">choice of U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio</a>&nbsp;as his running mate showed that he would surround himself “with people who agree completely with him,” Biden said.Holt noted Vance has made comments about Biden, but the president urged Holt to examine Vance’s comments about Trump. In 2016, as a private citizen with a somewhat public profile as a businessperson and memoirist, Vance made&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/opioid-of-the-masses/489911/" target="_blank">several harsh comments</a>&nbsp;about Trump.Biden expressed some frustration that Holt did not seem interested in that history.“He said some things about me, but see what he said about Trump,” Biden said. “What’s with you guys? Come on, man.”The president said Vance has endorsed Republican positions to severely restrict abortion, cut taxes on high-income earners and to deny climate change.

Biden says ‘bullseye’ remark about Trump was a mistake but defends criticism

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Transportation Security officers at Wichita Eisenhower Airport prevented a loaded firearm from making it on-board an airplane Sunday, according to a social media report from the TSA on Tuesday afternoon.

"During season more travelers are bringing prohibited items in carry-on. Start with empty bag when packing and avoid fines, travel delays and possible arrest."

Travelers face a fine of up to $15,000, suspension of&nbsp; the right to&nbsp; participation in TSAPreCheck, and go through an additional inspection.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721156450490.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Transportation Security officers at Wichita Eisenhower Airport prevented a loaded firearm from making it on-board an airplane Sunday, according to a social media report from the TSA on Tuesday afternoon."During season more travelers are bringing prohibited items in carry-on. Start with empty bag when packing and avoid fines, travel delays and possible arrest."Travelers face a fine of up to $15,000, suspension of&nbsp; the right to&nbsp; participation in TSAPreCheck, and go through an additional inspection.

Loaded gun found in traveler's bag at Kansas airport

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-sales-tiktok-walmart-target-c6528ad3dd10750b9dfb1274a7ad349a">Prime Day</a>&nbsp;is here, and experts are reminding consumers to be wary of scams.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-acquihires-amazon-adept-wyden-fa3cd0502a757e5a9ccb83d00bf9ad55">Deceptions</a>&nbsp;such as phony emails from people impersonating online retailers like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-acquihires-amazon-adept-wyden-fa3cd0502a757e5a9ccb83d00bf9ad55">Amazon</a>&nbsp;are nothing new. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scams-phishing-robocalls-facebook-marketplace-291255fc54f4bef161cb6155af562d96">phishing attempts</a>&nbsp;increase amid the heavy spending seen during significant sales events, whether it's Black Friday or Prime Day, according to the Better Business Bureau.

“This is a huge moment on the retail calendar," Josh Planos, vice president of communications and public relations at the Better Business Bureau, previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-scams-e566568c665f76ce9949f9c5e9402499">told The Associated Press</a>. "And because of that, it represents an enormous opportunity for a scammer, con artist or even just an unethical business or organization to capitalize on the moment and separate folks from their hard-earned money.”

Prime Day, a two-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-megan-thee-stallion-3ca784b3c7b09e056de589f395c990fa">discount event</a>&nbsp;for Amazon Prime members, kicks off on Tuesday and runs through Wednesday. In updated guidance published last week, the Better Business Bureau reminded consumers to watch out for lookalike websites, too-good-to-be-true social media ads, and unsolicited emails or calls during sales events this month.

Consumers might need to be more vigilant this year than ever before. In June, the Better Business Bureau published a report that said it received a record number of phishing reports in 2023. Reports are also trending up so far this year, the organization said.

Meanwhile, in a report released this month, the Israel-founded cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies said more than 1,230 new websites that associated themselves with Amazon popped up in June. The vast majority of them were malicious or appeared suspicious, according to Check Point.

Scott Knapp, director of worldwide buyer risk prevention at Amazon, identifies two areas that the company has seen hoaxes around come Prime Day in recent years:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-ftc-lawsuit-9e60955fc71d9891ed16c5b856222279">Prime membership</a>&nbsp;and order confirmations.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-discount-sale-876229de851338c0e0cd6039cae24829">Last year</a>, for example, more than two-third of scams reported by Amazon customers claimed to be related to order or account issues, Knapp wrote in an emailed statement. People reported getting unsolicited calls or emails saying there was something wrong with their Prime membership and seeking bank account or other payment information to reinstate the accounts, Knapp explained.

Urging consumers to confirm an order they didn't place is also a common tactic at this time of year, he added. Scammers might pick something expensive, like a smartphone, to get attention — and again ask for payment information or send a malicious link. They might also try to lure in consumers with promises of a giveaway, or by using language that creates a false sense of urgency.

Amazon is attempting “to ensure scammers are not using our brand to take advantage of people who trust us,” Knapp wrote, adding that customers can confirm their purchases and verify messages from the company on its app or website.

Additional scams are probably out there, but it's hard to know what form they might take before this year's Prime Day begins. Still, experts note that the same shopping scams tend to resurface year after year.

“Typically, the bones remain the same,” Planos said, pointing to fake delivery scams, email phishing and other repeated methods. “It’s always a ploy to separate consumers from (their) personal and payment information.”

But online hoaxes are also constantly evolving to become more sophisticated, Planos and others warn. That means images might look more legitimate, text messages may sound more convincing and fake websites that look very similar to real shopping destinations.

Amazon's Knapp has said that with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-perplexity-online-content-scraping-investigation-eb1d6bc1caf3dfe0c97db6f4fc691bc9">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;“starting to leak in," the scams targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/e-commerce">e-commerce</a>&nbsp;shoppers follow the same approach but with a machine populating an email or text instead of a person.

According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing about $10 billion to fraud in 2023, a 14% jump from 2022. Online shopping scams were the second most-reported form of fraud, following impostor scams, the FTC said.

Both the FTC and Better Business Bureau provide consumers with&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam">tips</a>&nbsp;to avoid scams year-round. Guidance includes blocking unwanted messages, not giving financial information to unsolicited callers and checking links before clicking — secure websites, for example, will have “HTTPS” in the URL, Planos notes, never “HTTP.”

Scammers will often pressure you to act immediately, experts say. It's important to pause and trust your gut. Experts also urge consumers to report scams to regulators.

Beyond scams that impersonate companies or retailers, it's also important to be cautious of counterfeit products and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fake-reviews-amazon-glassdoor-expedia-trustpilot-43a478ac0b27d6bb773a3bbdba1858b1">fake reviews</a>&nbsp;on the sites of trusted retailers. Just because you’re shopping on Amazon, for example, doesn’t mean you’re buying from Amazon. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-scams-e566568c665f76ce9949f9c5e9402499">online shopping giant</a>, like eBay, Walmart and others, has vast third-party marketplaces.

The quality and look of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-amazoncom-inc-business-a2acdc595acd792e45fc3e1bdbc5025e">counterfeit products</a>&nbsp;has significantly increased over recent years, Planos notes, making the activity difficult to police. A good rule of thumb is looking at the price tag — if the product is being sold for less than 75% of its year-round market rate, “that's a pretty big red flag,” he says.

Sketchy sellers can show up on different platforms, including sites like Amazon, “all the time” Planos said, urging consumers to check out companies on the Better Business Bureau's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/">website</a>. Like other scams, counterfeit products may increase around high spending periods.

Amid increasing pressure to tackle counterfeit products, Amazon has reported getting rid of millions of phony products in recent years. The company said it also blocked billions of bad listings from making it on to its site. In 2023, Amazon the company said more than 7 million counterfeit items were "identified, seized and appropriately disposed of.” The online retailer has also filed multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-lawsuits-amazoncom-inc-03329beafb3b1eba170a13c99ee0d318">lawsuits against fake review brokers</a>.

Amazon notes customers can also report fake reviews and other scams on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GRGRY7AQ3LMPXVCV">website</a>. If a shopper purchases a counterfeit item detected by the company, Amazon has said it will “proactively contact” the customer and provide a refund.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687381032231.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-sales-tiktok-walmart-target-c6528ad3dd10750b9dfb1274a7ad349a">Prime Day</a>&nbsp;is here, and experts are reminding consumers to be wary of scams.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-acquihires-amazon-adept-wyden-fa3cd0502a757e5a9ccb83d00bf9ad55">Deceptions</a>&nbsp;such as phony emails from people impersonating online retailers like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-artificial-intelligence-acquihires-amazon-adept-wyden-fa3cd0502a757e5a9ccb83d00bf9ad55">Amazon</a>&nbsp;are nothing new. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scams-phishing-robocalls-facebook-marketplace-291255fc54f4bef161cb6155af562d96">phishing attempts</a>&nbsp;increase amid the heavy spending seen during significant sales events, whether it's Black Friday or Prime Day, according to the Better Business Bureau.“This is a huge moment on the retail calendar," Josh Planos, vice president of communications and public relations at the Better Business Bureau, previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-scams-e566568c665f76ce9949f9c5e9402499">told The Associated Press</a>. "And because of that, it represents an enormous opportunity for a scammer, con artist or even just an unethical business or organization to capitalize on the moment and separate folks from their hard-earned money.”Prime Day, a two-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-megan-thee-stallion-3ca784b3c7b09e056de589f395c990fa">discount event</a>&nbsp;for Amazon Prime members, kicks off on Tuesday and runs through Wednesday. In updated guidance published last week, the Better Business Bureau reminded consumers to watch out for lookalike websites, too-good-to-be-true social media ads, and unsolicited emails or calls during sales events this month.Consumers might need to be more vigilant this year than ever before. In June, the Better Business Bureau published a report that said it received a record number of phishing reports in 2023. Reports are also trending up so far this year, the organization said.Meanwhile, in a report released this month, the Israel-founded cybersecurity company Check Point Software Technologies said more than 1,230 new websites that associated themselves with Amazon popped up in June. The vast majority of them were malicious or appeared suspicious, according to Check Point.Scott Knapp, director of worldwide buyer risk prevention at Amazon, identifies two areas that the company has seen hoaxes around come Prime Day in recent years:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-ftc-lawsuit-9e60955fc71d9891ed16c5b856222279">Prime membership</a>&nbsp;and order confirmations.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-discount-sale-876229de851338c0e0cd6039cae24829">Last year</a>, for example, more than two-third of scams reported by Amazon customers claimed to be related to order or account issues, Knapp wrote in an emailed statement. People reported getting unsolicited calls or emails saying there was something wrong with their Prime membership and seeking bank account or other payment information to reinstate the accounts, Knapp explained.Urging consumers to confirm an order they didn't place is also a common tactic at this time of year, he added. Scammers might pick something expensive, like a smartphone, to get attention — and again ask for payment information or send a malicious link. They might also try to lure in consumers with promises of a giveaway, or by using language that creates a false sense of urgency.Amazon is attempting “to ensure scammers are not using our brand to take advantage of people who trust us,” Knapp wrote, adding that customers can confirm their purchases and verify messages from the company on its app or website.Additional scams are probably out there, but it's hard to know what form they might take before this year's Prime Day begins. Still, experts note that the same shopping scams tend to resurface year after year.“Typically, the bones remain the same,” Planos said, pointing to fake delivery scams, email phishing and other repeated methods. “It’s always a ploy to separate consumers from (their) personal and payment information.”But online hoaxes are also constantly evolving to become more sophisticated, Planos and others warn. That means images might look more legitimate, text messages may sound more convincing and fake websites that look very similar to real shopping destinations.Amazon's Knapp has said that with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-perplexity-online-content-scraping-investigation-eb1d6bc1caf3dfe0c97db6f4fc691bc9">artificial intelligence</a>&nbsp;“starting to leak in," the scams targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/e-commerce">e-commerce</a>&nbsp;shoppers follow the same approach but with a machine populating an email or text instead of a person.According to data from the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported losing about $10 billion to fraud in 2023, a 14% jump from 2022. Online shopping scams were the second most-reported form of fraud, following impostor scams, the FTC said.Both the FTC and Better Business Bureau provide consumers with&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam">tips</a>&nbsp;to avoid scams year-round. Guidance includes blocking unwanted messages, not giving financial information to unsolicited callers and checking links before clicking — secure websites, for example, will have “HTTPS” in the URL, Planos notes, never “HTTP.”Scammers will often pressure you to act immediately, experts say. It's important to pause and trust your gut. Experts also urge consumers to report scams to regulators.Beyond scams that impersonate companies or retailers, it's also important to be cautious of counterfeit products and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fake-reviews-amazon-glassdoor-expedia-trustpilot-43a478ac0b27d6bb773a3bbdba1858b1">fake reviews</a>&nbsp;on the sites of trusted retailers. Just because you’re shopping on Amazon, for example, doesn’t mean you’re buying from Amazon. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-prime-day-scams-e566568c665f76ce9949f9c5e9402499">online shopping giant</a>, like eBay, Walmart and others, has vast third-party marketplaces.The quality and look of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-amazoncom-inc-business-a2acdc595acd792e45fc3e1bdbc5025e">counterfeit products</a>&nbsp;has significantly increased over recent years, Planos notes, making the activity difficult to police. A good rule of thumb is looking at the price tag — if the product is being sold for less than 75% of its year-round market rate, “that's a pretty big red flag,” he says.Sketchy sellers can show up on different platforms, including sites like Amazon, “all the time” Planos said, urging consumers to check out companies on the Better Business Bureau's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbb.org/">website</a>. Like other scams, counterfeit products may increase around high spending periods.Amid increasing pressure to tackle counterfeit products, Amazon has reported getting rid of millions of phony products in recent years. The company said it also blocked billions of bad listings from making it on to its site. In 2023, Amazon the company said more than 7 million counterfeit items were "identified, seized and appropriately disposed of.” The online retailer has also filed multiple&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-lawsuits-amazoncom-inc-03329beafb3b1eba170a13c99ee0d318">lawsuits against fake review brokers</a>.Amazon notes customers can also report fake reviews and other scams on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GRGRY7AQ3LMPXVCV">website</a>. If a shopper purchases a counterfeit item detected by the company, Amazon has said it will “proactively contact” the customer and provide a refund.

Amazon Prime Day is a big event for scammers, experts warn

WASHINGTON COUNTY —A Manhattan man died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday in Washington County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp;Brian L&nbsp;Dowling, 46, Manhattan, was eastbound on U.S. 36 five miles east of Cuba, Kansas.&nbsp;

The driver was attempting to pass another vehicle, didn't return to the driving lane and struck a westbound 2023 Peterbilt semi driven by Wayne M&nbsp;&nbsp;Thomsen, 71, Waterville.

EMS transported Dowling to the Washington County Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Thomsen was not injured. Dowling was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WASHINGTON COUNTY —A Manhattan man died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Tuesday in Washington County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Chevy Silverado driven by&nbsp;Brian L&nbsp;Dowling, 46, Manhattan, was eastbound on U.S. 36 five miles east of Cuba, Kansas.&nbsp;The driver was attempting to pass another vehicle, didn't return to the driving lane and struck a westbound 2023 Peterbilt semi driven by Wayne M&nbsp;&nbsp;Thomsen, 71, Waterville.EMS transported Dowling to the Washington County Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Thomsen was not injured. Dowling was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after pickup, semi crash

PAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sex assault at public pool in Larned.&nbsp;

According to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett, on July 11, police were called to the Larned City Pool, 100 West First Street, to investigate an alleged sexual assault of a minor at the pool facility. 

They advised the adult suspect was interviewed at the scene, but no arrest was made at the time due to concerns with the suspect’s mental capacity. 

The crime scene was processed, and staff interviewed. A formal forensic interview will be scheduled with the victim to be performed by the Child Advocacy Center. At this time no formal charging requests have been submitted to the Pawnee County Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721160855532.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged sex assault at public pool in Larned.&nbsp;According to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett, on July 11, police were called to the Larned City Pool, 100 West First Street, to investigate an alleged sexual assault of a minor at the pool facility. They advised the adult suspect was interviewed at the scene, but no arrest was made at the time due to concerns with the suspect’s mental capacity. The crime scene was processed, and staff interviewed. A formal forensic interview will be scheduled with the victim to be performed by the Child Advocacy Center. At this time no formal charging requests have been submitted to the Pawnee County Attorney’s Office.

Police investigate alleged sex assault of child at Kan. public pool

RUSSELL COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged animal cruelty in Russell County.

Just after 10a.m. on July 12, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the 300 block of north Kansas Avenue in Luray for an animal welfare check, according to a media release.

Arriving on scene, the sheriff’s Office became aware of several animals in an abandoned house that appeared to be in distress. The owners of the animals were identified, and contact was made.

Further investigation led the Sheriff’s Office to become aware that the animals were in danger and very stressed because of the severe heat conditions and the apparent health concerns that the animals presented.

Contact was made with Golden Belt Humane Society in Great Bend, which arrived at the location to assist the Sheriff’s Office in capturing and taking care of the animals.

The animals were then transported to Golden Belt Humane Society and Ark Valley Veterinary Hospital located in Great Bend for further treatment and evaluation.

This is an active investigation, people of interest in this investigation have been identified.

Names will not be released until this investigation is completed and has been reviewed by the Russell County Attorney’s Office.

RUSSELL COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged animal cruelty in Russell County.Just after 10a.m. on July 12, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the 300 block of north Kansas Avenue in Luray for an animal welfare check, according to a media release.Arriving on scene, the sheriff’s Office became aware of several animals in an abandoned house that appeared to be in distress. The owners of the animals were identified, and contact was made.Further investigation led the Sheriff’s Office to become aware that the animals were in danger and very stressed because of the severe heat conditions and the apparent health concerns that the animals presented.Contact was made with Golden Belt Humane Society in Great Bend, which arrived at the location to assist the Sheriff’s Office in capturing and taking care of the animals.The animals were then transported to Golden Belt Humane Society and Ark Valley Veterinary Hospital located in Great Bend for further treatment and evaluation.This is an active investigation, people of interest in this investigation have been identified.Names will not be released until this investigation is completed and has been reviewed by the Russell County Attorney’s Office.

Sheriff seizes animals in heat distress at Kansas home

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating teenagers playing with a gun that led to a shooting.

Just before noon Monday, police were dispatched to a home in the 10600 block of College Avenue in Kansas to investigate a reported shooting in which the victim was a juvenile, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

At the home, police found a teenager suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported the teen to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the initial investigation into the incident revealed teenagers were playing with a gun at that location when it reportedly "accidentally" went off, striking one of the teens.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating teenagers playing with a gun that led to a shooting.Just before noon Monday, police were dispatched to a home in the 10600 block of College Avenue in Kansas to investigate a reported shooting in which the victim was a juvenile, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.At the home, police found a teenager suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported the teen to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.Police said the initial investigation into the incident revealed teenagers were playing with a gun at that location when it reportedly "accidentally" went off, striking one of the teens.Police released no additional details.

KCPD: Teens were playing with a gun when one was shot

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-menendez">U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday of all the counts he faced at his corruption trial, including accepting bribes of gold and cash from three New Jersey businessmen and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government.

The jury’s verdict followed a nine-week trial in which prosecutors said the Democrat abused the power of his office to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich associates, including his wife, through acts that included meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials and helping that country access millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.

As the verdict was read in court, Menendez, 70, looked toward the jury at times as he appeared to mark a document in front of him. Afterward, he sat resting his chin against his closed hands, elbows on the table.

Menendez did not testify at the trial, but insisted publicly he was only doing his job as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said the gold bars found in his New Jersey home by the FBI belonged to his wife, Nadine Menendez. She too was charged but her trial was postponed so she could recover from breast cancer surgery. She has pleaded not guilty.

The verdict, delivered at a federal courthouse in Manhattan, comes four months before Election Day and potentially dooms Menendez’s chances of campaigning for reelection as an independent candidate.

Immediately after the verdict, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in statement called on Menendez to resign.

“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer said.

Menendez faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced on Oct. 29. Of the 16 counts on which he was convicted, the most serious carry a potential prison sentence of 20 years.

Rep. Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee for the seat currently held by Menendez also called for his resignation, posting on social media that “the people of New Jersey deserve better.”

Menendez went on trial in mid-May along with two New Jersey businessmen who were accused of paying bribes: Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. All three had pleaded not guilty. A third businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty prior to trial and testified against the others. Hana and Daibes were convicted of the charges they faced as well. They walked out the rear courthouse entry with their lawyers and declined to comment.

The trial was the second time that the New Jersey Democrat has faced corruption allegations. An earlier prosecution on unrelated charges in 2017 ended with a deadlocked jury.

The jury’s decision is a culmination of a lengthy investigation that included a June 2022 FBI raid on the couple’s home in Englewood Cliffs, a wealthy community just across the Hudson River from New York City. In the home, FBI agents found gold bars worth nearly $150,000 and cash, mostly in stacks of $100 bills, totaling over $480,000. In the garage was a Mercedes-Benz convertible.

A supervising agent testified that he ordered the valuables seized because he suspected they might be the proceeds of a crime. Stacks of cash, he said, were found stuffed in boots, shoeboxes and jackets belonging to the senator.

At trial, prosecutors argued that the gold bars, cash and car were bribes. Defense lawyers disputed that, arguing that the gold belonged to his wife and she had kept him in the dark about financial troubles so grim that she nearly lost the home to foreclosure. They said the cash stemmed from the senator’s habitual hoarding of cash at home after hearing how his parents escaped Cuba in 1951 with only the cash they had hidden in a grandfather clock.

More shocking than the cash or gold, though, were allegations that Menendez had earned some of it by using his powerful perch on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to take actions that benefited Egypt, an important U.S. ally but one that is also often subject to American criticism over alleged human rights abuses.

Prosecutors said Nadine Menendez held herself out as a conduit to her powerful husband, exchanging texts with an Egyptian general and helping to arrange a Washington visit by the chief of Egypt’s intelligence service. To one general she texted, “Anytime you need anything you have my number and we will make everything happen.”

Sen. Menendez, prosecutors said, took actions to ingratiate himself with Egyptian officials, including providing them with information about the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid to Egypt. The senator also told his wife to let her Egyptian contacts know that he planned to sign off on $99 million in tank ammunition.

Charges, originally announced last September, were expanded over time, eventually including bribery, extortion, fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and, for Menendez, acting as a foreign agent of Egypt.

Prosecutors said serial numbers on the gold bars and fingerprints on tape that bound together the stacks of cash were traced to Hana and Daibes. Some fingerprints on tape, they said, belonged to Menendez.

In return for bribes, prosecutors said, Menendez took numerous actions to benefit the businessmen.

Those included protecting Egypt’s decision to award Hana a lucrative monopoly to certify that meat sent to Egypt met Islamic dietary requirements. Menendez asked a U.S. agriculture official to drop his opposition to the monopoly deal, which he had questioned over fears it would drive up prices.

Uribe testified at the trial that he paid for Nadine Menendez to get a Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for the senator’s help assuring that his insurance business would not be affected by New Jersey criminal probes of a trucking company belonging to his friend.

Prosecutors also said Sen. Menendez attempted to interfere in a federal criminal prosecution of Daibes, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-menendez-fred-daibes-new-jersey-indictment-b533417693a82f83865ce9df26253708">politically influential real estate developer</a>&nbsp;accused of bank fraud. The U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Philip Sellinger, testified at the trial that Menendez questioned him about the Daibes prosecution and said he believed he was “being treated unfairly.”

Prosecutors also presented evidence that Menendez took actions favorable to Qatar’s government to help Daibes secure a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund.

Menendez’s political career began in 1974 when, only two years out of high school, he was elected to the education board in Union City, New Jersey. He later served in the state legislature, then was elected to the U.S. House in 1992. He became a U.S. senator in 2006.

Menendez had the dubious distinction of being the only U.S. senator indicted twice.

In 2015, he was charged with letting a wealthy Florida eye doctor buy his influence through luxury vacations and campaign contributions. After a jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict in 2017, New Jersey federal prosecutors dropped the case rather than put him on trial again.

Voters accepted the mistrial as an exoneration and returned Menendez to the Senate.

After his second indictment last summer, Menendez claimed he was being persecuted, saying some people “cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. Senator.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721150824503.png" alt="One of the gold bars found at Menendez's house during a law enforcement search-photo. US District Court Southern District of New York" />
 <figcaption>One of the gold bars found at Menendez's house during a law enforcement search-photo. US District Court Southern District of New York</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-menendez">U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was convicted</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday of all the counts he faced at his corruption trial, including accepting bribes of gold and cash from three New Jersey businessmen and acting as a foreign agent for the Egyptian government.The jury’s verdict followed a nine-week trial in which prosecutors said the Democrat abused the power of his office to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich associates, including his wife, through acts that included meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials and helping that country access millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) following a guilty verdict on all 16 counts in his federal bribery and corruption trial &quot;I have never violated my public oath. I have never been anything but a patriot of my country and for my country. I have never ever been a foreign agent.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/GW0RK5g2cc">pic.twitter.com/GW0RK5g2cc</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1813297050013859883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As the verdict was read in court, Menendez, 70, looked toward the jury at times as he appeared to mark a document in front of him. Afterward, he sat resting his chin against his closed hands, elbows on the table.Menendez did not testify at the trial, but insisted publicly he was only doing his job as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said the gold bars found in his New Jersey home by the FBI belonged to his wife, Nadine Menendez. She too was charged but her trial was postponed so she could recover from breast cancer surgery. She has pleaded not guilty.The verdict, delivered at a federal courthouse in Manhattan, comes four months before Election Day and potentially dooms Menendez’s chances of campaigning for reelection as an independent candidate.Immediately after the verdict, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in statement called on Menendez to resign.“In light of this guilty verdict, Senator Menendez must now do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and resign,” Schumer said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today&#39;s verdict finding Senator Bob Menendez guilty on 16 counts demonstrates that the Senator broke the law, violated the trust of his constituents, and betrayed his oath of office. In America, everyone – no matter how powerful – is accountable to our laws. <a href="https://t.co/ljJrQFB2eu">pic.twitter.com/ljJrQFB2eu</a>&mdash; Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovMurphy/status/1813264740581249273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Menendez faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term when he is sentenced on Oct. 29. Of the 16 counts on which he was convicted, the most serious carry a potential prison sentence of 20 years.Rep. Andy Kim, the Democratic nominee for the seat currently held by Menendez also called for his resignation, posting on social media that “the people of New Jersey deserve better.”Menendez went on trial in mid-May along with two New Jersey businessmen who were accused of paying bribes: Wael Hana and Fred Daibes. All three had pleaded not guilty. A third businessman, Jose Uribe, pleaded guilty prior to trial and testified against the others. Hana and Daibes were convicted of the charges they faced as well. They walked out the rear courthouse entry with their lawyers and declined to comment.The trial was the second time that the New Jersey Democrat has faced corruption allegations. An earlier prosecution on unrelated charges in 2017 ended with a deadlocked jury.The jury’s decision is a culmination of a lengthy investigation that included a June 2022 FBI raid on the couple’s home in Englewood Cliffs, a wealthy community just across the Hudson River from New York City. In the home, FBI agents found gold bars worth nearly $150,000 and cash, mostly in stacks of $100 bills, totaling over $480,000. In the garage was a Mercedes-Benz convertible.A supervising agent testified that he ordered the valuables seized because he suspected they might be the proceeds of a crime. Stacks of cash, he said, were found stuffed in boots, shoeboxes and jackets belonging to the senator.At trial, prosecutors argued that the gold bars, cash and car were bribes. Defense lawyers disputed that, arguing that the gold belonged to his wife and she had kept him in the dark about financial troubles so grim that she nearly lost the home to foreclosure. They said the cash stemmed from the senator’s habitual hoarding of cash at home after hearing how his parents escaped Cuba in 1951 with only the cash they had hidden in a grandfather clock.More shocking than the cash or gold, though, were allegations that Menendez had earned some of it by using his powerful perch on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to take actions that benefited Egypt, an important U.S. ally but one that is also often subject to American criticism over alleged human rights abuses.Prosecutors said Nadine Menendez held herself out as a conduit to her powerful husband, exchanging texts with an Egyptian general and helping to arrange a Washington visit by the chief of Egypt’s intelligence service. To one general she texted, “Anytime you need anything you have my number and we will make everything happen.”Sen. Menendez, prosecutors said, took actions to ingratiate himself with Egyptian officials, including providing them with information about the staff at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in military aid to Egypt. The senator also told his wife to let her Egyptian contacts know that he planned to sign off on $99 million in tank ammunition.Charges, originally announced last September, were expanded over time, eventually including bribery, extortion, fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and, for Menendez, acting as a foreign agent of Egypt.Prosecutors said serial numbers on the gold bars and fingerprints on tape that bound together the stacks of cash were traced to Hana and Daibes. Some fingerprints on tape, they said, belonged to Menendez.In return for bribes, prosecutors said, Menendez took numerous actions to benefit the businessmen.Those included protecting Egypt’s decision to award Hana a lucrative monopoly to certify that meat sent to Egypt met Islamic dietary requirements. Menendez asked a U.S. agriculture official to drop his opposition to the monopoly deal, which he had questioned over fears it would drive up prices.Uribe testified at the trial that he paid for Nadine Menendez to get a Mercedes-Benz convertible in exchange for the senator’s help assuring that his insurance business would not be affected by New Jersey criminal probes of a trucking company belonging to his friend.Prosecutors also said Sen. Menendez attempted to interfere in a federal criminal prosecution of Daibes, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bob-menendez-fred-daibes-new-jersey-indictment-b533417693a82f83865ce9df26253708">politically influential real estate developer</a>&nbsp;accused of bank fraud. The U.S. attorney for New Jersey, Philip Sellinger, testified at the trial that Menendez questioned him about the Daibes prosecution and said he believed he was “being treated unfairly.”Prosecutors also presented evidence that Menendez took actions favorable to Qatar’s government to help Daibes secure a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund.Menendez’s political career began in 1974 when, only two years out of high school, he was elected to the education board in Union City, New Jersey. He later served in the state legislature, then was elected to the U.S. House in 1992. He became a U.S. senator in 2006.Menendez had the dubious distinction of being the only U.S. senator indicted twice.In 2015, he was charged with letting a wealthy Florida eye doctor buy his influence through luxury vacations and campaign contributions. After a jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict in 2017, New Jersey federal prosecutors dropped the case rather than put him on trial again.Voters accepted the mistrial as an exoneration and returned Menendez to the Senate.After his second indictment last summer, Menendez claimed he was being persecuted, saying some people “cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. Senator.”While the trial was underway, he announced he would run for reelection as an independent.