SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a disturbing allegation of animal cruelty that was reported on April 17, to Wichita Police and shared on social media.

The incident involves a white male subject with an animal at Sim Park,&nbsp;2020 W. Murdock in Wichita and was captured on video demonstrating potential cruelty, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford.

Upon receiving the video, the Wichita Police Department promptly initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unsettling event. The department is urgently seeking to locate and interview the subject seen in the video to determine the nature of the incident and whether any laws have been violated.

Chief of Police Joe Sullivan reassured, "We take allegations of animal cruelty very seriously and are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of all animals in our community. We urge anyone with information about this case to come forward to help us resolve this matter swiftly."

The Wichita Police Department requests that anyone with information regarding this incident contact Wichita Police Animal Control at 316-350-3360 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-4111. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713521234950.png" alt="Image from Wichita Animal Action League" />
 <figcaption>Image from Wichita Animal Action League</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a disturbing allegation of animal cruelty that was reported on April 17, to Wichita Police and shared on social media.The incident involves a white male subject with an animal at Sim Park,&nbsp;2020 W. Murdock in Wichita and was captured on video demonstrating potential cruelty, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford.Upon receiving the video, the Wichita Police Department promptly initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this unsettling event. The department is urgently seeking to locate and interview the subject seen in the video to determine the nature of the incident and whether any laws have been violated.Chief of Police Joe Sullivan reassured, "We take allegations of animal cruelty very seriously and are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of all animals in our community. We urge anyone with information about this case to come forward to help us resolve this matter swiftly."The Wichita Police Department requests that anyone with information regarding this incident contact Wichita Police Animal Control at 316-350-3360 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-4111.

Police investigating report of alleged animal cruelty at Kan. park

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just aft 10:00 p.m. April 17, Sheriff's Deputies initiated a welfare check of a child at a residence&nbsp; in Morrill, Kansas, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

Upon conclusion of the investigation, deputies arrested 31-year-old Samantha Losson and&nbsp; 34-year-old Todd Cain 34both of Morrill on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Obstruction and Aggravated Child Endangerment.&nbsp; 

Cain was additionally charged with Posssession of Marijuana.&nbsp; DCF assisted in the case, according to Merchant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713466728229.png" alt="Cain photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Cain photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just aft 10:00 p.m. April 17, Sheriff's Deputies initiated a welfare check of a child at a residence&nbsp; in Morrill, Kansas, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713466682449.png" alt="Losson photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Losson photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon conclusion of the investigation, deputies arrested 31-year-old Samantha Losson and&nbsp; 34-year-old Todd Cain 34both of Morrill on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Obstruction and Aggravated Child Endangerment.&nbsp; Cain was additionally charged with Posssession of Marijuana.&nbsp; DCF assisted in the case, according to Merchant.

Kansas DCF assists in drug bust at Kansas home 

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection with the death of a child.

On Thursday 30-year-old Alexis S. Williams and 31-year-old Kevin S. Martenia were charged with first-degree murder, child abuse and aggravated endangerment of a child, according to a statement from&nbsp;Johnson County District Attorney Stephen Howe.

They were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the child's death in the summer of 2023.

Authorities released no additional information on the investigation into the child’s death.&nbsp; Martenia has a previous conviction for robbery and has been out of prison since March of 2020, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Both suspects are due back in court on April 25, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713544261995.png" alt="Martenia-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Martenia-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects in connection with the death of a child.On Thursday 30-year-old Alexis S. Williams and 31-year-old Kevin S. Martenia were charged with first-degree murder, child abuse and aggravated endangerment of a child, according to a statement from&nbsp;Johnson County District Attorney Stephen Howe.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713544223601.png" alt="Williams-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Williams-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>They were arrested on Wednesday in connection with the child's death in the summer of 2023.Authorities released no additional information on the investigation into the child’s death.&nbsp; Martenia has a previous conviction for robbery and has been out of prison since March of 2020, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.Both suspects are due back in court on April 25, according to online jail records.

Kansas couple charged with abuse death of child

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mandisa, a contemporary Christian singer who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album ‘Overcomer’, has died. She was 47.

A representative for the singer told The Associated Press that the singer was found dead in her home in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. The representative said the cause of Mandisa's death was not yet known.

Mandisa, whose full name was Mandisa Lynn Hundley, was born near Sacramento, California, and grew up singing in church. She gained stardom after finishing ninth on “American Idol” in 2006.

As she left, host Ryan Seacrest told the singer that she was “a great spirit on the show."

Mandisa moved on, releasing her debut album in 2007 called “True Beauty,” which received a Grammy nomination that year for best pop and contemporary gospel album.

She went on to release five more albums, including a Christmas album.

In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for “Overcomer,” her fifth album.

Mandisa spoke openly about her struggles with depression, releasing a memoir entitled “Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy” in 2022 that detailed her experiences with severe depression, weight-related challenges, the coronavirus pandemic and her faith.

On Friday, the Christian radio network K-Love paid tribute to the singer on social media, saying: “Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713556575642.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mandisa, a contemporary Christian singer who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album ‘Overcomer’, has died. She was 47.A representative for the singer told The Associated Press that the singer was found dead in her home in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. The representative said the cause of Mandisa's death was not yet known.Mandisa, whose full name was Mandisa Lynn Hundley, was born near Sacramento, California, and grew up singing in church. She gained stardom after finishing ninth on “American Idol” in 2006.As she left, host Ryan Seacrest told the singer that she was “a great spirit on the show."Mandisa moved on, releasing her debut album in 2007 called “True Beauty,” which received a Grammy nomination that year for best pop and contemporary gospel album.She went on to release five more albums, including a Christmas album.In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for “Overcomer,” her fifth album.Mandisa spoke openly about her struggles with depression, releasing a memoir entitled “Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy” in 2022 that detailed her experiences with severe depression, weight-related challenges, the coronavirus pandemic and her faith.On Friday, the Christian radio network K-Love paid tribute to the singer on social media, saying: “Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles.”

Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and 'American Idol' alum, dies at 47

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake won a major boost late Wednesday when House Republican leaders included it in a package of bills that would send aid to Ukraine and Israel. The bill could be law as soon as next week if Congress moves quickly.

The TikTok legislation, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-house-vote-china-national-security-8fa7258fae1a4902d344c9d978d58a37">passed the House</a>&nbsp;in March and has widespread support in both chambers, was included in the House package as leaders have worked to win votes for the foreign aid bills and after negotiations with the Senate over how long the Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd. would have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/divesting-tiktok-buyer-330c3a10d80aa9223facbfba0296a608">to sell its stake</a>&nbsp;in the app to continue operating in the United States. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the TikTok legislation if it reaches his desk.

The new version of the legislation won a key endorsement from Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell, who said in a statement that she had successfully pushed to extend the period from six months to a year to give the company enough time to find a buyer. While the original bill had a six-month deadline for TikTok to be sold, the revised legislation would give nine months and a possible three-month extension if a sale was in progress.

“Extending the divestment period is necessary to ensure there is enough time for a new buyer to get a deal done,” said Cantwell, who had previously expressed doubts about the bill. ”I support this updated legislation.”

If Congress passes the TikTok bill, it would be an extraordinary and unusual moment in which both parties unite against one company – something lawmakers are usually reluctant to do. But the popular social media app has prompted widespread outrage on Capitol Hill, where there is bipartisan concern about Chinese threats to the United States and where few members use the platform themselves.

Opponents say they believe the ban would be unconstitutional, and there would be likely court challenges if it passes. There has been aggressive pushback from the company, content creators who make money on the app and some of the platform’s 170 million U.S. users, many of whom are young. In some cases, lawmakers have received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-tiktok-ban-lobbying-congress-china-a340cf30b05343816380793af1c5d186">profanity-laced calls</a>&nbsp;from users who were prompted by the app to call their representatives in Congress.

To date, the U.S. government has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tiktok-security-technology-social-media-2245e433b5854010ebd99b7987fc78ca">not provided</a>&nbsp;evidence that shows TikTok shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, or that Chinese authorities have tinkered with the company’s popular algorithm, which influences what Americans see.

Since mid-March, TikTok has spent $5 million on TV ads opposing the legislation, according to AdImpact, an advertising tracking firm. The ads have included a range of content creators, including a nun, extolling the positive impacts of the platform on their lives and arguing a ban would trample on the First Amendment.

TikTok has also spent money on Facebook and Instagram ads that, among other things, talk about investments in data safety. In addition, the company has mounted a lobbying campaign in Washington that included flying in content creators who rely on the platform for income.

Alex Haurek, a spokesman for the company, said in a statement Thursday that “It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually.”

Nadya Okamoto, a content creator who has roughly four million followers on TikTok, said she’s been having conversations with other creators who are experiencing “so much anger and anxiety” about the bill and how it’s going to impact their lives. The 26-year-old, whose company “August” sells menstrual products and is known for her advocacy around destigmatizing menstrual periods, makes most of her income from TikTok.

“This is going to have real repercussions,” she said.

Dan Ives, a tech analyst at the financial advisory firm Wedbush Securities, said such a sale would be very complex to carry out, even with an extended timeline.

The platform would come with a hefty price tag that only the biggest tech companies could afford, something that’s likely to raise antitrust concerns. Then, there’s the issue of TikTok’s algorithm, the app’s secret sauce that recommends videos to users. The bill bars ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, and a potential sale is likely to face opposition from China, which has been clamping down on exports of recommendation algorithms by Chinese tech companies.

“Buying TikTok without the algorithm would be like buying a Ferrari without the engine,” said Ives.

Some investors, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, have already voiced interest in buying TikTok’s U.S. business. If a sale isn’t approved and the platform does get banned, Ives said it would be a “dream scenario” for Snapchat, Meta and YouTube, which have faced stiff competition from TikTok the past few years.

If the bill does pass, it would be the most significant step Congress has taken in decades to regulate the tech industry. For years Congress has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-technology-regulation-tiktok-155d696fd44a450a43ce8cb9802e40bb">failed to act</a>&nbsp;on legislation that would protect users’ privacy, protect children online, make companies more liable for their content and put loose guardrails around artificial intelligence, among other things.

Still, it is a narrow shot at one company when many lawmakers would like to see broader change.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been pushing for years for tech regulation. If the TikTok bill passes, he said, “it will be the first guardrail we put on anything on social media."

Warner said there are a lot of other things that Congress needs to do, “but you've got to start someplace.”

While most lawmakers support the TikTok bill, some have said it would set a dangerous precedent.

“The passage of the House TikTok ban is not just a misguided overreach; it’s a draconian measure that stifles free expression, tramples constitutional rights, and disrupts the economic pursuits of millions of Americans,” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul posted on X after the House passed it.

Others are defending the app’s loyal users.

“I am a NO on the TikTok bill we are about to vote on,” Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost posted on X before the House vote. At 27, Frost is much younger than most of his colleagues.

“I believe the bill does set TikTok up to be banned," Frost said. "There are first amendment issues I see with taking away a platform that over 170 million Americans use, and this won’t fix the serious issues we have with data privacy."

Jenna Leventoff, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, previewed potential First Amendment challenges to the bill.

“Congress cannot take away the rights of over 170 million Americans who use TikTok to express themselves, engage in political advocacy, and access information from around the world,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake won a major boost late Wednesday when House Republican leaders included it in a package of bills that would send aid to Ukraine and Israel. The bill could be law as soon as next week if Congress moves quickly.The TikTok legislation, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-house-vote-china-national-security-8fa7258fae1a4902d344c9d978d58a37">passed the House</a>&nbsp;in March and has widespread support in both chambers, was included in the House package as leaders have worked to win votes for the foreign aid bills and after negotiations with the Senate over how long the Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd. would have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/divesting-tiktok-buyer-330c3a10d80aa9223facbfba0296a608">to sell its stake</a>&nbsp;in the app to continue operating in the United States. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the TikTok legislation if it reaches his desk.The new version of the legislation won a key endorsement from Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell, who said in a statement that she had successfully pushed to extend the period from six months to a year to give the company enough time to find a buyer. While the original bill had a six-month deadline for TikTok to be sold, the revised legislation would give nine months and a possible three-month extension if a sale was in progress.“Extending the divestment period is necessary to ensure there is enough time for a new buyer to get a deal done,” said Cantwell, who had previously expressed doubts about the bill. ”I support this updated legislation.”If Congress passes the TikTok bill, it would be an extraordinary and unusual moment in which both parties unite against one company – something lawmakers are usually reluctant to do. But the popular social media app has prompted widespread outrage on Capitol Hill, where there is bipartisan concern about Chinese threats to the United States and where few members use the platform themselves.Opponents say they believe the ban would be unconstitutional, and there would be likely court challenges if it passes. There has been aggressive pushback from the company, content creators who make money on the app and some of the platform’s 170 million U.S. users, many of whom are young. In some cases, lawmakers have received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-tiktok-ban-lobbying-congress-china-a340cf30b05343816380793af1c5d186">profanity-laced calls</a>&nbsp;from users who were prompted by the app to call their representatives in Congress.To date, the U.S. government has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tiktok-security-technology-social-media-2245e433b5854010ebd99b7987fc78ca">not provided</a>&nbsp;evidence that shows TikTok shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, or that Chinese authorities have tinkered with the company’s popular algorithm, which influences what Americans see.Since mid-March, TikTok has spent $5 million on TV ads opposing the legislation, according to AdImpact, an advertising tracking firm. The ads have included a range of content creators, including a nun, extolling the positive impacts of the platform on their lives and arguing a ban would trample on the First Amendment.TikTok has also spent money on Facebook and Instagram ads that, among other things, talk about investments in data safety. In addition, the company has mounted a lobbying campaign in Washington that included flying in content creators who rely on the platform for income.Alex Haurek, a spokesman for the company, said in a statement Thursday that “It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually.”Nadya Okamoto, a content creator who has roughly four million followers on TikTok, said she’s been having conversations with other creators who are experiencing “so much anger and anxiety” about the bill and how it’s going to impact their lives. The 26-year-old, whose company “August” sells menstrual products and is known for her advocacy around destigmatizing menstrual periods, makes most of her income from TikTok.“This is going to have real repercussions,” she said.Dan Ives, a tech analyst at the financial advisory firm Wedbush Securities, said such a sale would be very complex to carry out, even with an extended timeline.The platform would come with a hefty price tag that only the biggest tech companies could afford, something that’s likely to raise antitrust concerns. Then, there’s the issue of TikTok’s algorithm, the app’s secret sauce that recommends videos to users. The bill bars ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, and a potential sale is likely to face opposition from China, which has been clamping down on exports of recommendation algorithms by Chinese tech companies.“Buying TikTok without the algorithm would be like buying a Ferrari without the engine,” said Ives.Some investors, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, have already voiced interest in buying TikTok’s U.S. business. If a sale isn’t approved and the platform does get banned, Ives said it would be a “dream scenario” for Snapchat, Meta and YouTube, which have faced stiff competition from TikTok the past few years.If the bill does pass, it would be the most significant step Congress has taken in decades to regulate the tech industry. For years Congress has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-technology-regulation-tiktok-155d696fd44a450a43ce8cb9802e40bb">failed to act</a>&nbsp;on legislation that would protect users’ privacy, protect children online, make companies more liable for their content and put loose guardrails around artificial intelligence, among other things.Still, it is a narrow shot at one company when many lawmakers would like to see broader change.Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been pushing for years for tech regulation. If the TikTok bill passes, he said, “it will be the first guardrail we put on anything on social media."Warner said there are a lot of other things that Congress needs to do, “but you've got to start someplace.”While most lawmakers support the TikTok bill, some have said it would set a dangerous precedent.“The passage of the House TikTok ban is not just a misguided overreach; it’s a draconian measure that stifles free expression, tramples constitutional rights, and disrupts the economic pursuits of millions of Americans,” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul posted on X after the House passed it.Others are defending the app’s loyal users.“I am a NO on the TikTok bill we are about to vote on,” Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost posted on X before the House vote. At 27, Frost is much younger than most of his colleagues.“I believe the bill does set TikTok up to be banned," Frost said. "There are first amendment issues I see with taking away a platform that over 170 million Americans use, and this won’t fix the serious issues we have with data privacy."Jenna Leventoff, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, previewed potential First Amendment challenges to the bill.“Congress cannot take away the rights of over 170 million Americans who use TikTok to express themselves, engage in political advocacy, and access information from around the world,” she said.

Legislation that could force a TikTok ban revived as part of House foreign aid package

DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement in Kansas located an abducted child in Dickinson County.

Just before 8p.m. Thursday, police in Abilene received an alert from a FLOCK license plate reader that a vehicle associated with an abducted 5-month-old child from Minnesota was in Abilene, according to a media release.

Officers located the vehicle and occupants in the 2100 Block of North Buckeye Avenue. Officers learned the child had been taken from Minnesota by a non-custodial parent.

The child was placed into police custody without incident and arrangements are being made for a safe return to Minnesota.

DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement in Kansas located an abducted child in Dickinson County.Just before 8p.m. Thursday, police in Abilene received an alert from a FLOCK license plate reader that a vehicle associated with an abducted 5-month-old child from Minnesota was in Abilene, according to a media release.Officers located the vehicle and occupants in the 2100 Block of North Buckeye Avenue. Officers learned the child had been taken from Minnesota by a non-custodial parent.The child was placed into police custody without incident and arrangements are being made for a safe return to Minnesota.

Police in Kansas find 5-month old abducted in Minnesota

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a stabbing&nbsp; have a suspect in custody.

Just before 11:30p.m. April 11, police were dispatched to an armed disturbance at a residence in the the 200 block of North Clinton Street in Olathe, according to Police Major&nbsp;Joe Sudduth.

First responders found a 67-year-old man with a stab wound to his abdomen. The victim was transported to an area hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.

Officers also found a 35-year-old suspect later identified as Marcos Martinez-Amaya at the scene who is an associate of the victim. Police arrested the Martinez-Amaya on requested charges of Aggravated Battery and lodged at the Johnson County Adult Detention Center.&nbsp;

He was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712953620190.png" alt="MARTINEZ-AMAYA-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>MARTINEZ-AMAYA-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a stabbing&nbsp; have a suspect in custody.Just before 11:30p.m. April 11, police were dispatched to an armed disturbance at a residence in the the 200 block of North Clinton Street in Olathe, according to Police Major&nbsp;Joe Sudduth.First responders found a 67-year-old man with a stab wound to his abdomen. The victim was transported to an area hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.Officers also found a 35-year-old suspect later identified as Marcos Martinez-Amaya at the scene who is an associate of the victim. Police arrested the Martinez-Amaya on requested charges of Aggravated Battery and lodged at the Johnson County Adult Detention Center.&nbsp;He was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday, according to online jail records.

Suspect accused in stabbing at Kansas home

NEW YORK (AP) — Could there be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;new album rollout without a few additional surprises?

On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-review-b24d2275df5cf78ffa9069c61b9825ec">“The Tortured Poets Department,”</a>&nbsp;an amalgamation of her previous work and reflecting the artist who — at the peak of her powers — has spent the last few years re-recording her life’s work and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">touring its material,</a>&nbsp;filtered through synth-pop anthems, breakup ballads, provocative and matured considerations.

But that was midnight. At 2 a.m. Eastern, she released “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology,” featuring 15 additional songs.

“I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment,” Swift wrote&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/taylorswift/p/C57qcCPucLV/">in an Instagram caption</a>. “And now the story isn’t mine anymore… it’s all yours.”

The songs are a natural continuation of the first half of the album; many return to her “evermore” and “folklore” sound, with an assist from her collaborator Aaron Dessner.

This is not Swift's first time surprising her fans, and certainly not her first time doing so with a surprise album release. A few months after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2b4552661fb00dd00b15bd449d408385">“folklore” was released</a>&nbsp;in 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-surprise-new-album-evermore-209594c9f3b5c1c279ef8a6a904b6b71">she announced “evermore”</a>&nbsp;would arrive at the midnight the same day. And speaking of midnight, she dropped a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-midnights-music-video-5c11d7d0e9cbb17ccc9a120c4a3882f6">“3am” edition of “Midnights”</a>&nbsp;featuring seven new tracks in 2022 a handful of hours after the original release.

Two songs on the new album&nbsp;So High School and The Alchemy appear to refer to her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713532752641.png" alt="This cover image released by Republic Records show "The Tortured Poets Department" by Taylor Swift. -Republic Records" />
 <figcaption>This cover image released by Republic Records show "The Tortured Poets Department" by Taylor Swift. -Republic Records</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Could there be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;new album rollout without a few additional surprises?No.On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-review-b24d2275df5cf78ffa9069c61b9825ec">“The Tortured Poets Department,”</a>&nbsp;an amalgamation of her previous work and reflecting the artist who — at the peak of her powers — has spent the last few years re-recording her life’s work and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">touring its material,</a>&nbsp;filtered through synth-pop anthems, breakup ballads, provocative and matured considerations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707736613770.png" alt="File photo Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after Super Bowl 58 (Brynn Anderson | AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)" />
 <figcaption>File photo Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after Super Bowl 58 (Brynn Anderson | AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)</figcaption>
 </figure>But that was midnight. At 2 a.m. Eastern, she released “The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology,” featuring 15 additional songs.“I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment,” Swift wrote&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/taylorswift/p/C57qcCPucLV/">in an Instagram caption</a>. “And now the story isn’t mine anymore… it’s all yours.”The songs are a natural continuation of the first half of the album; many return to her “evermore” and “folklore” sound, with an assist from her collaborator Aaron Dessner.This is not Swift's first time surprising her fans, and certainly not her first time doing so with a surprise album release. A few months after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2b4552661fb00dd00b15bd449d408385">“folklore” was released</a>&nbsp;in 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-surprise-new-album-evermore-209594c9f3b5c1c279ef8a6a904b6b71">she announced “evermore”</a>&nbsp;would arrive at the midnight the same day. And speaking of midnight, she dropped a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-midnights-music-video-5c11d7d0e9cbb17ccc9a120c4a3882f6">“3am” edition of “Midnights”</a>&nbsp;featuring seven new tracks in 2022 a handful of hours after the original release.Two songs on the new album&nbsp;So High School and The Alchemy appear to refer to her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce.

Taylor Swift fans search for Travis Kelce references on new double album

JOHNSON COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol continues to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit.

This week, a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tiff indicated Trooper Dilks checked a driver's speed at 135 mph on a Kansas Highway. The 18-year-old driver crashed and went to jail.

In February, KHP Lieutenant Craig Davis had an encounter with a BMW on Interstate 70, checking its speed at 151 mph, 76 mph over the speed limit, according to a social media report from the KHP.

Also in February, the patrol reported two traffic stops for 100-plus miles per hour within 6 miles in the same afternoon, and both vehicles had children in the car, according to a social media report.

LT. Littrell stopped the first vehicle for 103mph on Interstate 35 in Osage County. This vehicle had a properly restrained infant in the vehicle. Just six miles down the road the next vehicle was stopped for 101mph and had an unrestrained child, according to the KHP.

Days earlier, Troopers stopped a motorist on Kansas Highway 10 for 112mph during evening rush hour traffic.&nbsp;

A week earlier, a Trooper on I-70&nbsp; noticed a vehicle racing up behind him. Swiftly exiting, he let the speedster pass, only to re-enter and apprehend them for cruising at 106 in a 75 zone. Not only that, but the driver was also tailgating and failing to stay in the right lane on a 4-lane highway.

On February 5, in heavy fog on Interstate 135 in Saline County, a Trooper stopped a motorist driving 116 mph, according to Trooper Ben Gardner. That driver was given a $468.00 fine, according to the ticket.

"It’s more than just speed. Speeding is dangerous, especially speeds like this."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713396222028.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol continues to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit.This week, a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tiff indicated Trooper Dilks checked a driver's speed at 135 mph on a Kansas Highway. The 18-year-old driver crashed and went to jail.In February, KHP Lieutenant Craig Davis had an encounter with a BMW on Interstate 70, checking its speed at 151 mph, 76 mph over the speed limit, according to a social media report from the KHP.Also in February, the patrol reported two traffic stops for 100-plus miles per hour within 6 miles in the same afternoon, and both vehicles had children in the car, according to a social media report.LT. Littrell stopped the first vehicle for 103mph on Interstate 35 in Osage County. This vehicle had a properly restrained infant in the vehicle. Just six miles down the road the next vehicle was stopped for 101mph and had an unrestrained child, according to the KHP.Days earlier, Troopers stopped a motorist on Kansas Highway 10 for 112mph during evening rush hour traffic.&nbsp;A week earlier, a Trooper on I-70&nbsp; noticed a vehicle racing up behind him. Swiftly exiting, he let the speedster pass, only to re-enter and apprehend them for cruising at 106 in a 75 zone. Not only that, but the driver was also tailgating and failing to stay in the right lane on a 4-lane highway.On February 5, in heavy fog on Interstate 135 in Saline County, a Trooper stopped a motorist driving 116 mph, according to Trooper Ben Gardner. That driver was given a $468.00 fine, according to the ticket."It’s more than just speed. Speeding is dangerous, especially speeds like this."

KHP: Teen was traveling 135mph, crashed and went to jail

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-israel-house-republicans-3f6f6af81c860eb8ce4104e61728a0fb">Mike Johnson has unveiled</a>&nbsp;a long-awaited package of bills that will provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">military aid to Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and Israel, replenish U.S. weapons systems and give&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-04-02-2024-9bdf66771b62af37d85a2800f71c0e6c">humanitarian assistance</a>&nbsp;to civilians in Gaza.

The package totals $95.3 billion in spending, which matches the total that the Senate passed in mid-February. But there are also a few differences with the Senate bill designed to win over some House conservatives.

Here's a look at what is in the bills that Johnson hopes to pass by this weekend.

The aid to support Ukraine totals about $61 billion. Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said that more than a third of that amount would be dedicated to replenishing weapons and ammunition systems for the U.S. military.

The overall amount of money provided to Ukraine for the purchase of weapons from the U.S. is roughly the same in the House and Senate bills — $13.8 billion.

The main difference between the two packages is that the House bill provides more than $9 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine in the form of “forgivable loans.” The Senate bill included no such provision seeking repayment.

The president would be authorized to set the terms of the loan to Ukraine and also be given the power to cancel it. Congress could override the cancellation but would have to generate enough votes to override a veto, a high bar considering how the two chambers are so evenly divided.

Johnson, as he seeks GOP support for the package, noted that former President Donald Trump has endorsed a “loan concept."

He also noted that the House package includes a requirement for the Biden administration to provide a plan and a strategy to Congress for what it seeks to achieve in Ukraine. The plan would be required within 45 days of the bill being signed into law. House Republicans frequently complain that they have yet to see a strategy from Biden for winning the war.

The bill said the report from the administration must be a multiyear plan that spells out “specific and achievable objectives.” It also asked for an estimate of the resources required to achieve the U.S. objectives and a description of the national security implications if the objectives are not met.

Aid in the legislation to support Israel and provide humanitarian relief to citizens of Gaza comes to more than $26 billion. The amount of money dedicated to replenishing Israel's missile defense systems totals about $4 billion in the House and Senate bills. An additional $2.4 billion for current U.S. military operations in the regions is also the same in both bills.

Some conservatives have been critical of the aid for Gaza. At the end of the day, though, Johnson risked losing critical Democratic support for the package if Republicans had excluded it. The humanitarian assistance comes to more than $9 billion for Gaza, where millions of Palestinians face starvation, lack of clean water and disease outbreaks.

The investments to counter China and ensure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-china-us-congress-delegation-7a5997c2ebece12ac5aa620a43a398af">a strong deterrence in the region</a>&nbsp;come to about $8 billion. The overall amount of money and the investments in the two bills is about the same with a quarter of funds used to replenish weapons and ammunition systems that had been provided to Taiwan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709777601578.png" alt="File image -Speaker of the House Mike Johnson- courtesy House Speaker's office" />
 <figcaption>File image -Speaker of the House Mike Johnson- courtesy House Speaker's office</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-israel-house-republicans-3f6f6af81c860eb8ce4104e61728a0fb">Mike Johnson has unveiled</a>&nbsp;a long-awaited package of bills that will provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">military aid to Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and Israel, replenish U.S. weapons systems and give&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-04-02-2024-9bdf66771b62af37d85a2800f71c0e6c">humanitarian assistance</a>&nbsp;to civilians in Gaza.The package totals $95.3 billion in spending, which matches the total that the Senate passed in mid-February. But there are also a few differences with the Senate bill designed to win over some House conservatives.Here's a look at what is in the bills that Johnson hopes to pass by this weekend.UKRAINEThe aid to support Ukraine totals about $61 billion. Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said that more than a third of that amount would be dedicated to replenishing weapons and ammunition systems for the U.S. military.The overall amount of money provided to Ukraine for the purchase of weapons from the U.S. is roughly the same in the House and Senate bills — $13.8 billion.The main difference between the two packages is that the House bill provides more than $9 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine in the form of “forgivable loans.” The Senate bill included no such provision seeking repayment.The president would be authorized to set the terms of the loan to Ukraine and also be given the power to cancel it. Congress could override the cancellation but would have to generate enough votes to override a veto, a high bar considering how the two chambers are so evenly divided.Johnson, as he seeks GOP support for the package, noted that former President Donald Trump has endorsed a “loan concept."He also noted that the House package includes a requirement for the Biden administration to provide a plan and a strategy to Congress for what it seeks to achieve in Ukraine. The plan would be required within 45 days of the bill being signed into law. House Republicans frequently complain that they have yet to see a strategy from Biden for winning the war.The bill said the report from the administration must be a multiyear plan that spells out “specific and achievable objectives.” It also asked for an estimate of the resources required to achieve the U.S. objectives and a description of the national security implications if the objectives are not met.ISRAELAid in the legislation to support Israel and provide humanitarian relief to citizens of Gaza comes to more than $26 billion. The amount of money dedicated to replenishing Israel's missile defense systems totals about $4 billion in the House and Senate bills. An additional $2.4 billion for current U.S. military operations in the regions is also the same in both bills.Some conservatives have been critical of the aid for Gaza. At the end of the day, though, Johnson risked losing critical Democratic support for the package if Republicans had excluded it. The humanitarian assistance comes to more than $9 billion for Gaza, where millions of Palestinians face starvation, lack of clean water and disease outbreaks.INDO-PACIFICThe investments to counter China and ensure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-china-us-congress-delegation-7a5997c2ebece12ac5aa620a43a398af">a strong deterrence in the region</a>&nbsp;come to about $8 billion. The overall amount of money and the investments in the two bills is about the same with a quarter of funds used to replenish weapons and ammunition systems that had been provided to Taiwan.

What's inside the $95 billion House bill focused on aiding Ukraine and Israel

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities and officials with Kansas City Unified School District 500 are investigating an alleged threat involving a student.

On Thursday, police were called to Gloria Willis Middle School, 1735 N. 64 Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas after reports of an adult who had threatened a student on school propery during school dismissal, according to a media release from police. The school was placed on&nbsp;“Hold Status."

When police arrived,&nbsp; they attempted to contact the alleged suspect who ran into the woods next to the school. Officers and K-9 support searched for the suspect.

&nbsp;Most students were eventually able to leave school. However, a few students remained on school property until the hold was lifted.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities and officials with Kansas City Unified School District 500 are investigating an alleged threat involving a student.On Thursday, police were called to Gloria Willis Middle School, 1735 N. 64 Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas after reports of an adult who had threatened a student on school propery during school dismissal, according to a media release from police. The school was placed on&nbsp;“Hold Status."When police arrived,&nbsp; they attempted to contact the alleged suspect who ran into the woods next to the school. Officers and K-9 support searched for the suspect.&nbsp;Most students were eventually able to leave school. However, a few students remained on school property until the hold was lifted.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police: Suspect allegedly threatened student at Kan. middle school

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Thursday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey directed a letter to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas putting him on notice that it is a Class D felony&nbsp;to&nbsp;knowingly transport an illegal alien in the State of Missouri. The letter comes after comments Mayor Lucas made welcoming illegal immigrants to Kansas City amidst the largest open border crisis in the nation’s history.

<a href="https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/Quinton-Lucas-4.18.24.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full letter to Mayor Lucas&nbsp;

In the letter,&nbsp;Attorney General Bailey wrote, “We are a nation governed by the rule of law.&nbsp; Yet, under the current Administration in Washington, D.C., laws that don’t align with a radically progressive agenda are simply ignored.&nbsp; Chief among these are the laws that prohibit illegal immigration into our country and into the State of Missouri.

“Tragically, these open border policies have real-world consequences.&nbsp; An illegal alien from Venezuela, who had repeatedly flouted U.S. immigration laws, was actually granted a work permit under a misguided and illegal policy enacted by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.&nbsp; In February, he brutally murdered a young college student named Laken Hope Riley.

“Yet, against the backdrop of literally millions of illegal aliens flooding our borders, overwhelming the social safety net of large American cities, and in some cases even committing violent crimes against our citizens, you are actively encouraging them to come to the Show Me State.&nbsp; “All are welcome in Kansas City. Proud to work with my fellow mayors [from Denver and NYC] as we work to ensure decompression of new arriving communities…”&nbsp;you proclaimed on social media this week. “

He continued,&nbsp;“You later amended your statement to claim that your offer extends to “persons who are lawfully present, with lawful work permits…” but this afterthought ignores the underlying issue.&nbsp; Secretary Mayorkas’ open border programs are themselves illegal.&nbsp; Your statements are wildly irresponsible. Not only do you ignore the fact that Laken Riley’s killer had a so-called “work permit,” but you are actively encouraging Missouri businesses to become entangled in a fundamentally unlawful program, and exposing them to legal liability in the process.&nbsp;&nbsp;See&nbsp;§§ 285.525 – .555 RSMo. (prohibiting Missouri businesses from hiring or employing illegal aliens), and § 577.675 RSMo. (making it a class D felony to knowingly transport illegal aliens in the state of Missouri).&nbsp;Make no mistake, my office will do everything in its power to take legal action against any person or entity found to be in violation of these statutes.”

“I took an oath to enforce the laws as written. That is why I joined with 19 other state attorneys general in suing Secretary Mayorkas over his disastrous and illegal parole program that unlawfully creates a de facto pathway to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants.&nbsp; This program would allow for up to 360,000 aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (the home of Laken Riley’s killer), to be “paroled” into the United States every year. Parole allows noncitizens to physically enter and remain in the United States even though they&nbsp;do not have a legal basis&nbsp;for being here. Your tacit support of this unlawful program is repugnant to the rule of law.”

He concluded,&nbsp;“Your open invitation to illegal aliens to come to Missouri is not only dangerous but comes at great expense to Missouri taxpayers, residents, and business owners. &nbsp;Rather than undermining the rule of law, I invite you to join me as I actively seek to defend it and to protect Missourians.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681466878038.png" alt="Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Thursday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey directed a letter to Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas putting him on notice that it is a Class D felony&nbsp;to&nbsp;knowingly transport an illegal alien in the State of Missouri. The letter comes after comments Mayor Lucas made welcoming illegal immigrants to Kansas City amidst the largest open border crisis in the nation’s history.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Also, proud to look to efforts from many in both parties, like former President Bush, Senator Lankford, Senator Warren, and others recognizing that an ability to work for all lawfully present is key for our communities now and in the future. <a href="https://t.co/Mqy61wnrf3">https://t.co/Mqy61wnrf3</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1780982496517058867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://ago.mo.gov/wp-content/uploads/Quinton-Lucas-4.18.24.pdf">Click here to read </a>the full letter to Mayor Lucas&nbsp;In the letter,&nbsp;Attorney General Bailey wrote, “We are a nation governed by the rule of law.&nbsp; Yet, under the current Administration in Washington, D.C., laws that don’t align with a radically progressive agenda are simply ignored.&nbsp; Chief among these are the laws that prohibit illegal immigration into our country and into the State of Missouri.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611075649496.png" alt="Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas</figcaption>
 </figure>“Tragically, these open border policies have real-world consequences.&nbsp; An illegal alien from Venezuela, who had repeatedly flouted U.S. immigration laws, was actually granted a work permit under a misguided and illegal policy enacted by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.&nbsp; In February, he brutally murdered a young college student named Laken Hope Riley.“Yet, against the backdrop of literally millions of illegal aliens flooding our borders, overwhelming the social safety net of large American cities, and in some cases even committing violent crimes against our citizens, you are actively encouraging them to come to the Show Me State.&nbsp; “All are welcome in Kansas City. Proud to work with my fellow mayors [from Denver and NYC] as we work to ensure decompression of new arriving communities…”&nbsp;you proclaimed on social media this week. “<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713522248955.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>He continued,&nbsp;“You later amended your statement to claim that your offer extends to “persons who are lawfully present, with lawful work permits…” but this afterthought ignores the underlying issue.&nbsp; Secretary Mayorkas’ open border programs are themselves illegal.&nbsp; Your statements are wildly irresponsible. Not only do you ignore the fact that Laken Riley’s killer had a so-called “work permit,” but you are actively encouraging Missouri businesses to become entangled in a fundamentally unlawful program, and exposing them to legal liability in the process.&nbsp;&nbsp;See&nbsp;§§ 285.525 – .555 RSMo. (prohibiting Missouri businesses from hiring or employing illegal aliens), and § 577.675 RSMo. (making it a class D felony to knowingly transport illegal aliens in the state of Missouri).&nbsp;Make no mistake, my office will do everything in its power to take legal action against any person or entity found to be in violation of these statutes.”“I took an oath to enforce the laws as written. That is why I joined with 19 other state attorneys general in suing Secretary Mayorkas over his disastrous and illegal parole program that unlawfully creates a de facto pathway to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants.&nbsp; This program would allow for up to 360,000 aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela (the home of Laken Riley’s killer), to be “paroled” into the United States every year. Parole allows noncitizens to physically enter and remain in the United States even though they&nbsp;do not have a legal basis&nbsp;for being here. Your tacit support of this unlawful program is repugnant to the rule of law.”He concluded,&nbsp;“Your open invitation to illegal aliens to come to Missouri is not only dangerous but comes at great expense to Missouri taxpayers, residents, and business owners. &nbsp;Rather than undermining the rule of law, I invite you to join me as I actively seek to defend it and to protect Missourians.”

Mo. AG threatens legal action against KC mayor after invite to illegal immigrants

NEW YORK (AP) — A jury of 12 people was seated Thursday in former President Donald Trump’s history-making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-jury-selection-8da8759352478be8effd3d5734aae35e">hush money trial</a>, propelling the proceedings closer to opening statements and the start of weeks of dramatic testimony.

<a href="https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/Letter-re-jury-selection-4-8-24.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the Trump jury selection questionnaire

The court quickly turned to selecting alternate jurors, with the process on track to wrap up by the end of the week. Prosecutors could begin presenting their case early next week.

The jury of New Yorkers includes a sales professional, a software engineer, a security engineer, an English teacher, a speech therapist, multiple lawyers, an investment banker and a retired wealth manager.

The first-ever trial of a former American president is unfolding during this year's race for the White House, meaning the presumptive Republican nominee will spend his days in court confronted by salacious and unflattering testimony about his personal life while simultaneously campaigning to reclaim the office he held for four years.

He's made clear his determination to use his legal jeopardy, already a central issue in the race against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, to his advantage. After a full day of jury selection, he complained to reporters that he should have been out campaigning but was in court instead for what he said was a “very unfair trial.”

“Everybody’s outraged by it,” he said. “You know the whole world’s watching this New York scam.”

Jury selection proceeded at a plodding pace earlier Thursday when two jurors were dismissed, one after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair following disclosure of details about her identity and the other over concerns that some of his answers in court may have been inaccurate.

But lawyers who began the day with only five jurors settled on the remaining seven in quick succession, along with one alternate. Judge Juan Merchan has said his goal is to have six alternates.

The process of picking a jury is a critical phase in any criminal trial but especially so when the defendant is a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee. Prospective jurors have been grilled on their social media posts, personal lives and political views as the lawyers and judge search for any bias that would prevent them from being impartial.

Inside the court, there’s broad acknowledgment of the futility in trying to find jurors without knowledge of Trump. A prosecutor this week said that lawyers were not looking for people who had been “living under a rock for the past eight years.”

To that end, multiple jurors chosen for the panel acknowledged having personal opinions of Trump or his presidency.

One juror, a man who works in investment banking, earlier described himself as “ambivalent” about Trump, adding, “I might not like some of his policies, but there has been some good” for the country.

A woman picked for the jury said she thought Trump seemed “very selfish and self serving," adding, “I don’t really appreciate that from any public servant.” Defense lawyers were out of peremptory strikes, which allow them to dismiss a juror without giving a reason.

The trial centers on a $130,000 payment that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-cohen">Michael Cohen</a>, Trump's former lawyer and personal fixer, made to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public in the final days of the 2016 race.

Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.

Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He could get up to four years in prison if convicted, though it’s not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars. Trump would almost certainly appeal any conviction.

Trump faces four criminal cases, but it's not clear that any others will reach trial before the November election. Appeals and legal wrangling have caused delays in the other three cases charging Trump with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>.

The jury selection process picked up momentum Tuesday with the selection of seven jurors. But on Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-judge-merchan-c227f5eab200cccffb19ed931b4dac92">Merchan</a>&nbsp;revealed in court that one of the seven, a cancer nurse, had “conveyed that after sleeping on it overnight she had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial in this case.”

And though jurors’ names are being kept confidential, the woman told the judge and the lawyers that she had doubts after she said aspects of her identity had been made public.

“Yesterday alone I had friends, colleagues and family push things to my phone regarding questioning my identity as a juror," she said. "I don’t believe at this point that I can be fair and unbiased and let the outside influences not affect my decision making in the courtroom.”

A second seated juror was dismissed after prosecutors raised concerns that he may not have been honest in answering a jury selection question by saying that he had never been accused or convicted of a crime.

The IT professional was summoned to court to answer questions after prosecutors said they found an article about a person with the same name who had been arrested in the 1990s for tearing down political posters pertaining to the political right in suburban Westchester County.

A prosecutor also disclosed that a relative of the man may have been involved in a deferred prosecution agreement in the 1990s with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting Trump’s case.

Because the juror was questioned Thursday at the judge’s bench, off-microphone and out of earshot of reporters, it was not known whether the man confirmed or denied that either instance was connected to him.

After dismissing from the jury the nurse who had already been selected, Merchan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-media-jurors-anonymity-f858be6648fa2df7d2ab69efd30a524c">ordered journalists</a>&nbsp;in court not to report prospective jurors’ answers to questions about their current and former employers.

“We just lost, probably, what probably would have been a very good juror for this case, and the first thing that she said was she was afraid and intimidated by the press, all the press, and everything that had happened," Merchan said.

In other developments, prosecutors asked for Trump to be held in contempt over a series of social media posts this week.

The district attorney's office on Monday sought a $3,000 fine for Trump for three Truth Social posts they said violated the order. Since then, prosecutors said he made seven additional posts that they believe violate the order.

Several of the posts involved an article that referred to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a “serial perjurer,” and one from Wednesday repeated a claim by a Fox News host that liberal activists were lying to get on the jury, said prosecutor Christopher Conroy.

Trump lawyer Emil Bove said Cohen “has been attacking President Trump in public statements,” and Trump was just replying.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713486725551.png" alt="Trump outside the courtroom Thursday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump outside the courtroom Thursday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A jury of 12 people was seated Thursday in former President Donald Trump’s history-making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-jury-selection-8da8759352478be8effd3d5734aae35e">hush money trial</a>, propelling the proceedings closer to opening statements and the start of weeks of dramatic testimony.<a href="https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/Letter-re-jury-selection-4-8-24.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the Trump jury selection questionnaireThe court quickly turned to selecting alternate jurors, with the process on track to wrap up by the end of the week. Prosecutors could begin presenting their case early next week.The jury of New Yorkers includes a sales professional, a software engineer, a security engineer, an English teacher, a speech therapist, multiple lawyers, an investment banker and a retired wealth manager.The first-ever trial of a former American president is unfolding during this year's race for the White House, meaning the presumptive Republican nominee will spend his days in court confronted by salacious and unflattering testimony about his personal life while simultaneously campaigning to reclaim the office he held for four years.He's made clear his determination to use his legal jeopardy, already a central issue in the race against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, to his advantage. After a full day of jury selection, he complained to reporters that he should have been out campaigning but was in court instead for what he said was a “very unfair trial.”“Everybody’s outraged by it,” he said. “You know the whole world’s watching this New York scam.”Jury selection proceeded at a plodding pace earlier Thursday when two jurors were dismissed, one after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair following disclosure of details about her identity and the other over concerns that some of his answers in court may have been inaccurate.But lawyers who began the day with only five jurors settled on the remaining seven in quick succession, along with one alternate. Judge Juan Merchan has said his goal is to have six alternates.The process of picking a jury is a critical phase in any criminal trial but especially so when the defendant is a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee. Prospective jurors have been grilled on their social media posts, personal lives and political views as the lawyers and judge search for any bias that would prevent them from being impartial.Inside the court, there’s broad acknowledgment of the futility in trying to find jurors without knowledge of Trump. A prosecutor this week said that lawyers were not looking for people who had been “living under a rock for the past eight years.”To that end, multiple jurors chosen for the panel acknowledged having personal opinions of Trump or his presidency.One juror, a man who works in investment banking, earlier described himself as “ambivalent” about Trump, adding, “I might not like some of his policies, but there has been some good” for the country.A woman picked for the jury said she thought Trump seemed “very selfish and self serving," adding, “I don’t really appreciate that from any public servant.” Defense lawyers were out of peremptory strikes, which allow them to dismiss a juror without giving a reason.The trial centers on a $130,000 payment that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-cohen">Michael Cohen</a>, Trump's former lawyer and personal fixer, made to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public in the final days of the 2016 race.Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He could get up to four years in prison if convicted, though it’s not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars. Trump would almost certainly appeal any conviction.Trump faces four criminal cases, but it's not clear that any others will reach trial before the November election. Appeals and legal wrangling have caused delays in the other three cases charging Trump with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>.The jury selection process picked up momentum Tuesday with the selection of seven jurors. But on Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-judge-merchan-c227f5eab200cccffb19ed931b4dac92">Merchan</a>&nbsp;revealed in court that one of the seven, a cancer nurse, had “conveyed that after sleeping on it overnight she had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial in this case.”And though jurors’ names are being kept confidential, the woman told the judge and the lawyers that she had doubts after she said aspects of her identity had been made public.“Yesterday alone I had friends, colleagues and family push things to my phone regarding questioning my identity as a juror," she said. "I don’t believe at this point that I can be fair and unbiased and let the outside influences not affect my decision making in the courtroom.”A second seated juror was dismissed after prosecutors raised concerns that he may not have been honest in answering a jury selection question by saying that he had never been accused or convicted of a crime.The IT professional was summoned to court to answer questions after prosecutors said they found an article about a person with the same name who had been arrested in the 1990s for tearing down political posters pertaining to the political right in suburban Westchester County.A prosecutor also disclosed that a relative of the man may have been involved in a deferred prosecution agreement in the 1990s with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting Trump’s case.Because the juror was questioned Thursday at the judge’s bench, off-microphone and out of earshot of reporters, it was not known whether the man confirmed or denied that either instance was connected to him.After dismissing from the jury the nurse who had already been selected, Merchan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-media-jurors-anonymity-f858be6648fa2df7d2ab69efd30a524c">ordered journalists</a>&nbsp;in court not to report prospective jurors’ answers to questions about their current and former employers.“We just lost, probably, what probably would have been a very good juror for this case, and the first thing that she said was she was afraid and intimidated by the press, all the press, and everything that had happened," Merchan said.In other developments, prosecutors asked for Trump to be held in contempt over a series of social media posts this week.The district attorney's office on Monday sought a $3,000 fine for Trump for three Truth Social posts they said violated the order. Since then, prosecutors said he made seven additional posts that they believe violate the order.Several of the posts involved an article that referred to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a “serial perjurer,” and one from Wednesday repeated a claim by a Fox News host that liberal activists were lying to get on the jury, said prosecutor Christopher Conroy.Trump lawyer Emil Bove said Cohen “has been attacking President Trump in public statements,” and Trump was just replying.

12 jurors sworn in for the 1st criminal trial of a former U.S. President

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a pedestrian accident in Kansas City have identified the victim as 62-year-old Thomas L. Gibson, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Just after 1:30a.m. Tuesday, Gibson was crossing east to west all lanes of northbound Interstate 435 at Winner.

A northbound GMC Yukon Denali struck him in the #1 lane of travel. Gibson was declared deceased at the scene. The driver of the GMC stopped immediately and was not injured in the collision.&nbsp;

All lanes of northbound I-435 were closed to traffic at Truman Road for approximately three hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is fatality #34 in Kansas City, Missouri, compared to #20 at this time last year, according to Gonzaalez.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713318130119.png" alt="Image KC Scout traffic camers" />
 <figcaption>Image KC Scout traffic camers</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a pedestrian accident in Kansas City have identified the victim as 62-year-old Thomas L. Gibson, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Just after 1:30a.m. Tuesday, Gibson was crossing east to west all lanes of northbound Interstate 435 at Winner.A northbound GMC Yukon Denali struck him in the #1 lane of travel. Gibson was declared deceased at the scene. The driver of the GMC stopped immediately and was not injured in the collision.&nbsp;All lanes of northbound I-435 were closed to traffic at Truman Road for approximately three hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is fatality #34 in Kansas City, Missouri, compared to #20 at this time last year, according to Gonzaalez.

Police ID pedestrian who died in KC accident

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-of-hormuz-vessel-33fcffde2d867380e98c89403776a8ac">unprecedented drone-and-missile assault</a>&nbsp;on the country.

No Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility that Israel attacked, and the Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-retaliation-explainer-d9145465e2e2d54d3c975e51af95275b">tensions</a>&nbsp;have been high since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-attacks-f27cda966ac274982d968cbcc033eff0">the Saturday assault</a>&nbsp;on Israel amid its war on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>&nbsp;and its own strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-syria-airstrike-iranian-embassy-edca34c52d38c8bc57281e4ebf33b240">targeting Iran</a>&nbsp;in Syria.

U.S. officials declined to comment as of early Friday, but American broadcast networks quoting unnamed U.S. officials said Israel carried out the attack. The New York Times quoted anonymous Israeli officials claiming the assault, which came on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 85th birthday. Israeli politicians also made comments hinting that the country had launched an attack.

Air defense batteries fired in several provinces over reports of drones being in the air, state television reported. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said crews targeted several flying objects.

“The explosion this morning in the sky of Isfahan was related to the shooting of air defense systems at a suspicious object that did not cause any damage,” Mousavi said. Others suggested the drones may be so-called quadcopters — four rotor, small drones that are commercially available.

Authorities said air defenses fired at a major air base in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Tasnim also published a video from one of its reporters, who said he was in the southeastern Zerdenjan area of Isfahan, near its “nuclear energy mountain.” The footage showed two different anti-aircraft gun positions, and details of the video corresponded with known features of the site of Iran's Uranium Conversion Facility at Isfahan.

“At 4:45, we heard gunshots. There was nothing going on,” he said. “It was the air defense, these guys that you’re watching, and over there too.”

The facility at Isfahan operates three small Chinese-supplied research reactors, as well as handling fuel production and other activities for Iran's civilian nuclear program.

Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran's nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks.

State television described all atomic sites in the area as “fully safe." The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said “there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites” after the incident.

The IAEA “continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts,” the agency said.

Iran's nuclear program has rapidly advanced to producing enriched uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels since the collapse of its atomic deal with world powers after then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018.

While Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, Western nations and the IAEA say Tehran operated a secret military weapons program until 2003. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-iaea-nuclear-quarterly-report-bca494913fbc8ccc1621466fe9c221e6">IAEA has warned</a>&nbsp;that Iran now holds enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons if it chose to do so — though the U.S. intelligence community maintains Tehran is not actively seeking the bomb.

Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.

Iran then grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Iran later restored normal flight service, authorities said.

Around the time of the incident in Iran, Syria's state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement saying Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in its south and causing material damage. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strike hit a military radar for government forces. It was not clear if there were casualties, the Observatory said.

That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away, and east of Israel.

Meanwhile in Iraq, where a number of Iranian-backed militias are based, residents of Baghdad reported hearing sounds of explosions, but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.

The incident Friday in Iran also sparked concerns about the conflict again escalating across the seas of the Middle East, which have been seeing attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen on shipping over the war in Gaza.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center warned ships in the region that they could see increased drone activity in the skies.

“There are currently no indications commercial vessels are the intended target,” it wrote.

The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebel-attack-israel-hamas-war-bf077f026a9f177ec87f4131d695cafc">launched at least 53 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and as shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined over the threat.

However, Iranian state-run media sought to downplay the incident after the fact, airing footage of an otherwise-peaceful Isfahan morning. That could be intentional, particularly after Iranian officials for days have been threatening to retaliate for any Israeli retaliatory attack on the nation.

“As long as Iran continues to deny the attack and deflect attention from it and no further hits are seen, there is space for both sides to climb down the escalation ladder for now,” said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near a major airbase at the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. One government official suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.

In particular, IRNA said air defenses fired at a major airbase in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies also reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise" in the area.

Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran's nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli attacks. However, state television described all sites in the area as “fully safe."

Iran later announced it grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Loudspeakers informed customers of the incident at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, online videos purported to show.

Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.

Hossein Dalirian, a spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, said on the X social media platform that several small “quadcopter” drones had been shot down. It wasn't immediately clear where that happened or if it was part of the ongoing incident in Iran.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713495701429.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-of-hormuz-vessel-33fcffde2d867380e98c89403776a8ac">unprecedented drone-and-missile assault</a>&nbsp;on the country.No Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility that Israel attacked, and the Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-retaliation-explainer-d9145465e2e2d54d3c975e51af95275b">tensions</a>&nbsp;have been high since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-attacks-f27cda966ac274982d968cbcc033eff0">the Saturday assault</a>&nbsp;on Israel amid its war on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>&nbsp;and its own strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-syria-airstrike-iranian-embassy-edca34c52d38c8bc57281e4ebf33b240">targeting Iran</a>&nbsp;in Syria.U.S. officials declined to comment as of early Friday, but American broadcast networks quoting unnamed U.S. officials said Israel carried out the attack. The New York Times quoted anonymous Israeli officials claiming the assault, which came on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 85th birthday. Israeli politicians also made comments hinting that the country had launched an attack.Air defense batteries fired in several provinces over reports of drones being in the air, state television reported. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said crews targeted several flying objects.“The explosion this morning in the sky of Isfahan was related to the shooting of air defense systems at a suspicious object that did not cause any damage,” Mousavi said. Others suggested the drones may be so-called quadcopters — four rotor, small drones that are commercially available.Authorities said air defenses fired at a major air base in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.Tasnim also published a video from one of its reporters, who said he was in the southeastern Zerdenjan area of Isfahan, near its “nuclear energy mountain.” The footage showed two different anti-aircraft gun positions, and details of the video corresponded with known features of the site of Iran's Uranium Conversion Facility at Isfahan.“At 4:45, we heard gunshots. There was nothing going on,” he said. “It was the air defense, these guys that you’re watching, and over there too.”The facility at Isfahan operates three small Chinese-supplied research reactors, as well as handling fuel production and other activities for Iran's civilian nuclear program.Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran's nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks.State television described all atomic sites in the area as “fully safe." The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said “there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites” after the incident.The IAEA “continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts,” the agency said.Iran's nuclear program has rapidly advanced to producing enriched uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels since the collapse of its atomic deal with world powers after then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018.While Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, Western nations and the IAEA say Tehran operated a secret military weapons program until 2003. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-iaea-nuclear-quarterly-report-bca494913fbc8ccc1621466fe9c221e6">IAEA has warned</a>&nbsp;that Iran now holds enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons if it chose to do so — though the U.S. intelligence community maintains Tehran is not actively seeking the bomb.Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.Iran then grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Iran later restored normal flight service, authorities said.Around the time of the incident in Iran, Syria's state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement saying Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in its south and causing material damage. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strike hit a military radar for government forces. It was not clear if there were casualties, the Observatory said.That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away, and east of Israel.Meanwhile in Iraq, where a number of Iranian-backed militias are based, residents of Baghdad reported hearing sounds of explosions, but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.The incident Friday in Iran also sparked concerns about the conflict again escalating across the seas of the Middle East, which have been seeing attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen on shipping over the war in Gaza.The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center warned ships in the region that they could see increased drone activity in the skies.“There are currently no indications commercial vessels are the intended target,” it wrote.The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebel-attack-israel-hamas-war-bf077f026a9f177ec87f4131d695cafc">launched at least 53 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and as shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined over the threat.However, Iranian state-run media sought to downplay the incident after the fact, airing footage of an otherwise-peaceful Isfahan morning. That could be intentional, particularly after Iranian officials for days have been threatening to retaliate for any Israeli retaliatory attack on the nation.“As long as Iran continues to deny the attack and deflect attention from it and no further hits are seen, there is space for both sides to climb down the escalation ladder for now,” said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House.-----------------DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near a major airbase at the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. One government official suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.In particular, IRNA said air defenses fired at a major airbase in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies also reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise" in the area.Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran's nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli attacks. However, state television described all sites in the area as “fully safe."Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.Iran later announced it grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Loudspeakers informed customers of the incident at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, online videos purported to show.Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.Hossein Dalirian, a spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, said on the X social media platform that several small “quadcopter” drones had been shot down. It wasn't immediately clear where that happened or if it was part of the ongoing incident in Iran.Meanwhile in Iraq, where a number of Iranian-backed militias are based, residents of Baghdad reported hearing sounds of explosions, but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.--------------DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. One government official suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise" in the area.Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.Iran later announced it grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Loudspeakers informed customers of the incident at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, online videos purported to show.Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.Hossein Dalirian, a spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, said on the X social media platform that several small “quadcopter” drones had been shot down. It wasn't immediately clear where that happened or if it was part of the ongoing incident in Iran.DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise" in the area.-----------DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Commercial flights began diverting their routes over western Iran without explanation early Friday as one semiofficial news agency in the Islamic Republic reported “explosions” heard over the city of Isfahan. State television acknowledged “loud noise.”The incident comes as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.The semiofficial Fars news agency reported on explosions being heard over Isfahan near its international airport. It offered no explanation. However, Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.