SEDGWICK COUNTY —A teen murder suspect, captured on June 17, after hiding from police for weeks was back in court this week.

During an arraignment hearing in the courtroom of Judge Tyler Roush, 19-year-old Jaden Watts pleaded guilty in the shooting death of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. 

In August, Judge Roush rejected a motion from Watt's attorney to dismiss the case because the fatal shooting was in self defense, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;

In March, police issued a felony pick-up for Watts in connection with the shooting of Burgess&nbsp;at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.&nbsp; EMS transported Burgess to a local hospital where he died.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between Watts and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting.&nbsp; &nbsp;On June 17, Wichita police and U.S. Marshals took Watts into custody in the area of 700 S Hunter in Wichita, according to a statement from Wichita Police. He was charged with second-degree murder.

Watts is scheduled to be sentenced in March.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750260517323.png" alt="Watts photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Watts photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A teen murder suspect, captured on June 17, after hiding from police for weeks was back in court this week.During an arraignment hearing in the courtroom of Judge Tyler Roush, 19-year-old Jaden Watts pleaded guilty in the shooting death of 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In August, Judge Roush rejected a motion from Watt's attorney to dismiss the case because the fatal shooting was in self defense, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;In March, police issued a felony pick-up for Watts in connection with the shooting of Burgess&nbsp;at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.&nbsp; EMS transported Burgess to a local hospital where he died.Preliminary investigations indicated that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between Watts and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting.&nbsp; &nbsp;On June 17, Wichita police and U.S. Marshals took Watts into custody in the area of 700 S Hunter in Wichita, according to a statement from Wichita Police. He was charged with second-degree murder.Watts is scheduled to be sentenced in March.--------

Kan. teen murder suspect who hid from police for weeks enters plea

By RIO YAMAT and SHAWN CHEN AP Business Writers

LAS VEGAS (AP) — CES 2026 offered a glimpse of a future that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie: bendable screens, paper-thin TVs and cars and gadgets that can think for themselves as they get to know you and your family's wants and needs.

As Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang put it, “The ChatGPT moment for physical AI is here.”

And everywhere you looked, robots. They roamed the show floor, assisted workers and entertained crowds — from humanoid helpers and furry “cyber pets” to task-specific machines.

Here's a recap of some of the attention-grabbing gadgets at CES 2026, the annual technology trade show in Las Vegas:

Lego leaned heavily into fan nostalgia this week to unveil its latest innovation, enlisting Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer David Filoni and a lineup of familiar Star Wars characters, including Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO and X-wing pilots.

On Monday, the company introduced Lego Smart Play, a new platform built around connected bricks, tags and specially designed minifigures in partnership with Star Wars. These smart bricks are equipped with sensors that detect light and distance, triggering coordinated lights and sounds when used together to bring builds to life.

The platform allows fans to build interactive scenes, like space battles or lightsaber duels.

Another point for nostalgia: Clicks Technology is reviving the physical phone keyboard with its magnetic QWERTY model that clips onto phones.

Co-founder Jeff Gadway said the company's Power Keyboard “is one keyboard for all your smart devices."

It features a full QWERTY layout, with directional keys and a number row, in a callback to the Blackberry-era of smartphones for those who miss real buttons. The company said it also doubles as a wireless power bank.

If you're not familiar with CES, just know that new TV announcements are ubiquitous to the show — some big, some small, some even transparent. But LG brought something distinct to CES this year: an OLED TV that's only 9mm thick.

The South Korean tech company announced the OLED evo W6 model from its Wallpaper line just ahead of CES but reporters and industry representatives were able to see it for the first time at the show.

As advertised, the screen displays video nearly edge-to-edge and is ridiculously thin (though it doesn't roll up like its name implies). Like the previous models in its Wallpaper line, the TV's inputs are housed in a box that sits nearby. LG representatives claim you can seamlessly stream 4K video and audio to the screen. No pricing was available but the new TV will be available in 77- and 83-inch sizes.

Chinese robovac maker Roborock introduced a vacuum that literally sprouts chicken-like legs to navigate up and down stairs. There are vacuums out there capable of this feat (and there were even a few others at CES), but this one actually cleans the steps along the way.

The newly introduced Saros Rover took its time in its ascent and descent during the demo on the showroom floor, but Roborock said it will be able to traverse almost any style of stairwell, including spiraled and curved. Unfortunately, no release date was given for the Rover, which the company says is still in development.

Razer goes the smart glasses route with headphones

Gaming tech company Razer brought a very interesting concept to CES, a set of over-ear headphones that can largely replicate the capabilities of currently available smart glasses (think Meta's Ray Ban glasses).

During the demo, Razer's host asked the AI-powered headset — dubbed Project Motoko — to translate a Japanese restaurant menu into English and even asked it to search up information on The Associated Press.

The headphones see using built-in cameras and take audio inputs from microphones. What AI model serves as the base of the headphones is up to the user, and it sounded like the usual suspects were supported — ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude.

While it's being developed largely as a consumer product, Razer did mention that it could be sold to businesses to gather data to train AI models. Razer said consumer data retrieved from the headphones wouldn't be sold for training purposes and that enterprise sales would be siloed from consumer sales.

Extended-reality platform aims to help process grief

Do you wish you could speak one more time with a loved one who died unexpectedly? Or sit down for a conversation with your younger self? One company is exploring how immersive technology might make something like that possible, at least in part.

VHEX Lab showcased its SITh.XRaedo, an immersive extended-reality grief therapy platform that creates a virtual avatar from a single photo and, according the company, is guided in real time by a trained XR therapist. Wearing a virtual reality headset, users can speak with the avatar, which responds through speech, nods, smiles and other gestures.

The company, which won a digital health innovation award at CES, said the platform is designed to help people process grief and find closure, offering an alternative way to mourn.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride — that’s exactly what some conference attendees did at Strutt’s booth. Curious volunteers sat blindfolded in the robotics company’s new self-driving personal mobility chair called the EV1, which senses its surroundings and navigates on its own. With the push of a button and a forward lever, the chair guided riders through a small course, looping them around without requiring any active control.

Tony Hong, CEO and founder of the Singapore-based Strutt, told AP that the chair has a full suite of sensors that helps it avoid bumps, walls, people and other obstacles, adjusting in real time as it drives.

A “cyber pet” that turned heads at CES

Allergic to dogs or cats but still craving a furry sidekick? Chinese tech brand Ollobot pitched a futuristic alternative: a rolling, purple “cyber pet” named OlloNi. Part plush toy, part AI robot, OlloNi is designed to feel warm and expressive, unlike the stiff, humanoid home robots that often dominate robotics, the company said.

OlloNi uses a screen mounted at its neck, making eye contact and cycling through thousands of animated expressions meant to mirror human emotion and interaction.

Scratch behind its fuzzy “ears,” and OlloNi’s wide digital “eyes” pop open in apparent delight, which drew attention and laughs from passersby on the show floor.

Uber used CES to pull back the curtain on its upcoming robotaxi, offering the public a first look at a self-driving vehicle developed with luxury EV maker Lucid Motors and autonomous technology company Nuro.

Uber called it the most premium robotaxi yet, with cameras, sensors and radar for full 360-degree awareness, along with a sleek, low-profile roof “halo” fitted with LED screens that display a rider’s initials and ride status. Inside, passengers can tailor the temperature, seat heating and music, while on-screen visuals show what the vehicle sees and the route it plans to follow in real time.

The companies said on-road testing, led by Nuro, began in the San Francisco area last month, as they work toward launching the service before the end of the year.

Associated Press journalists Aya Diab, Jessica Hill and Ty ONeil contributed to this report from Las Vegas

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767991954040.jpeg" alt="Asad Ayaz, left, and Dave Filioni stand on stage with C-3PO and R2-D2 during an LEGO news conference ahead of the CES tech show Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)" />
 <figcaption>Asad Ayaz, left, and Dave Filioni stand on stage with C-3PO and R2-D2 during an LEGO news conference ahead of the CES tech show Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RIO YAMAT and SHAWN CHEN AP Business WritersLAS VEGAS (AP) — CES 2026 offered a glimpse of a future that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie: bendable screens, paper-thin TVs and cars and gadgets that can think for themselves as they get to know you and your family's wants and needs.As Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang put it, “The ChatGPT moment for physical AI is here.”And everywhere you looked, robots. They roamed the show floor, assisted workers and entertained crowds — from humanoid helpers and furry “cyber pets” to task-specific machines.Here's a recap of some of the attention-grabbing gadgets at CES 2026, the annual technology trade show in Las Vegas:<h2>Star Wars and Lego</h2>Lego leaned heavily into fan nostalgia this week to unveil its latest innovation, enlisting Lucasfilm Chief Creative Officer David Filoni and a lineup of familiar Star Wars characters, including Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO and X-wing pilots.On Monday, the company introduced Lego Smart Play, a new platform built around connected bricks, tags and specially designed minifigures in partnership with Star Wars. These smart bricks are equipped with sensors that detect light and distance, triggering coordinated lights and sounds when used together to bring builds to life.The platform allows fans to build interactive scenes, like space battles or lightsaber duels.<h2>Real buttons are so back</h2>Another point for nostalgia: Clicks Technology is reviving the physical phone keyboard with its magnetic QWERTY model that clips onto phones.Co-founder Jeff Gadway said the company's Power Keyboard “is one keyboard for all your smart devices."It features a full QWERTY layout, with directional keys and a number row, in a callback to the Blackberry-era of smartphones for those who miss real buttons. The company said it also doubles as a wireless power bank.<h2>Return of LG's Wallpaper TV line</h2>If you're not familiar with CES, just know that new TV announcements are ubiquitous to the show — some big, some small, some even transparent. But LG brought something distinct to CES this year: an OLED TV that's only 9mm thick.The South Korean tech company announced the OLED evo W6 model from its Wallpaper line just ahead of CES but reporters and industry representatives were able to see it for the first time at the show.As advertised, the screen displays video nearly edge-to-edge and is ridiculously thin (though it doesn't roll up like its name implies). Like the previous models in its Wallpaper line, the TV's inputs are housed in a box that sits nearby. LG representatives claim you can seamlessly stream 4K video and audio to the screen. No pricing was available but the new TV will be available in 77- and 83-inch sizes.<h2>The vacuum that can climb stairs</h2>Chinese robovac maker Roborock introduced a vacuum that literally sprouts chicken-like legs to navigate up and down stairs. There are vacuums out there capable of this feat (and there were even a few others at CES), but this one actually cleans the steps along the way.The newly introduced Saros Rover took its time in its ascent and descent during the demo on the showroom floor, but Roborock said it will be able to traverse almost any style of stairwell, including spiraled and curved. Unfortunately, no release date was given for the Rover, which the company says is still in development.<h2>Razer goes the smart glasses route with headphones</h2>Gaming tech company Razer brought a very interesting concept to CES, a set of over-ear headphones that can largely replicate the capabilities of currently available smart glasses (think Meta's Ray Ban glasses).During the demo, Razer's host asked the AI-powered headset — dubbed Project Motoko — to translate a Japanese restaurant menu into English and even asked it to search up information on The Associated Press.The headphones see using built-in cameras and take audio inputs from microphones. What AI model serves as the base of the headphones is up to the user, and it sounded like the usual suspects were supported — ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude.While it's being developed largely as a consumer product, Razer did mention that it could be sold to businesses to gather data to train AI models. Razer said consumer data retrieved from the headphones wouldn't be sold for training purposes and that enterprise sales would be siloed from consumer sales.<h2>Extended-reality platform aims to help process grief</h2>Do you wish you could speak one more time with a loved one who died unexpectedly? Or sit down for a conversation with your younger self? One company is exploring how immersive technology might make something like that possible, at least in part.VHEX Lab showcased its SITh.XRaedo, an immersive extended-reality grief therapy platform that creates a virtual avatar from a single photo and, according the company, is guided in real time by a trained XR therapist. Wearing a virtual reality headset, users can speak with the avatar, which responds through speech, nods, smiles and other gestures.The company, which won a digital health innovation award at CES, said the platform is designed to help people process grief and find closure, offering an alternative way to mourn.<h2>Personal mobility on autopilot</h2>Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride — that’s exactly what some conference attendees did at Strutt’s booth. Curious volunteers sat blindfolded in the robotics company’s new self-driving personal mobility chair called the EV1, which senses its surroundings and navigates on its own. With the push of a button and a forward lever, the chair guided riders through a small course, looping them around without requiring any active control.Tony Hong, CEO and founder of the Singapore-based Strutt, told AP that the chair has a full suite of sensors that helps it avoid bumps, walls, people and other obstacles, adjusting in real time as it drives.<h2>A “cyber pet” that turned heads at CES</h2>Allergic to dogs or cats but still craving a furry sidekick? Chinese tech brand Ollobot pitched a futuristic alternative: a rolling, purple “cyber pet” named OlloNi. Part plush toy, part AI robot, OlloNi is designed to feel warm and expressive, unlike the stiff, humanoid home robots that often dominate robotics, the company said.OlloNi uses a screen mounted at its neck, making eye contact and cycling through thousands of animated expressions meant to mirror human emotion and interaction.Scratch behind its fuzzy “ears,” and OlloNi’s wide digital “eyes” pop open in apparent delight, which drew attention and laughs from passersby on the show floor.<h2>Uber dives back into the robotaxi game</h2>Uber used CES to pull back the curtain on its upcoming robotaxi, offering the public a first look at a self-driving vehicle developed with luxury EV maker Lucid Motors and autonomous technology company Nuro.Uber called it the most premium robotaxi yet, with cameras, sensors and radar for full 360-degree awareness, along with a sleek, low-profile roof “halo” fitted with LED screens that display a rider’s initials and ride status. Inside, passengers can tailor the temperature, seat heating and music, while on-screen visuals show what the vehicle sees and the route it plans to follow in real time.The companies said on-road testing, led by Nuro, began in the San Francisco area last month, as they work toward launching the service before the end of the year.___Associated Press journalists Aya Diab, Jessica Hill and Ty ONeil contributed to this report from Las Vegas

From climbing vacuums to cyber pets: Some highlights of CES 2026

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-boak">JOSH BOAK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>U

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Friday called on oil executives to rush back into Venezuela as the White House tries to quickly secure $100 billion in investments to fix the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-prices-trump-0c2c6ede79d550af53e6d3ddb51bfa04">neglected infrastructure</a>&nbsp;and fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum.

Since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-american-imperialism-1a42ccc7036ce7add7a0ba402ac6f48e">U.S. military raid</a>&nbsp;to capture former Venezuelan leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-trump-military-operation-85041a1ec03bafe839b785a95169d694">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, Trump has quickly pivoted to portraying the move as an economic opportunity for the U.S. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-tanker-77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131">seized tankers</a>&nbsp;carrying Venezuelan oil, has said the U.S. is taking over the sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-trump-democrats-9d16138866bebdc2644eb009c6326066">30 million to 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;of previously sanctioned Venezuelan crude, and plans to control sales worldwide indefinitely.

At the White House meeting, major oil companies said they were interested in the opportunity but expressed caution given their past experience in the country. “If we look at the commercial constructs and frameworks in place today in Venezuela, today it’s un-investable,” said Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, the largest U.S. oil company.

Trump used the meeting to publicly assure executives that they need not be skeptical, even though the South American country has a history of state asset seizures, ongoing U.S. sanctions and decades of political uncertainty.

“You have total safety,” Trump told the executives. “You’re dealing with us directly and not dealing with Venezuela at all. We don’t want you to deal with Venezuela.”

Trump added: “Our giant oil companies will be spending at least $100 billion of their money, not the government’s money. They don’t need government money. But they need government protection.”

The president said the security guarantee would come from working with Venezuelan leaders and their people, instead of deploying U.S. forces. He also said the companies would “bring over some security.”

The meeting came on a day when U.S. forces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sanctioned-oil-tanker-intercepted-c3b6e0cee49af87f78a22425f505249d">seized their fifth tanker</a>&nbsp;over the past month that has been linked to Venezuelan oil, an action reflecting the determination of the U.S. to fully control the exporting, refining and production of Venezuelan petroleum.

It’s part of a broader push by Trump to keep gasoline prices low. The incursion in Venezuela melds Trump’s assertive use of presidential powers with an optical spectacle meant to convince Americans that he can bring down energy prices at a time when many voters are concerned about the cost of living.

Trump played up the potential for major oil companies to strike big, while acknowledging that the executives were sharp people who were in the business of taking risk, a nod to the reality that he’s asking for investments in Venezuela at a moment when the country is teetering and economic collapse is not out of the question.

ExxonMobil CEO Woods said his company would send a team to assess the situation, and noted its assets had been seized there — twice — in the past. “Significant changes have to be made to those commercial frameworks, the legal system, there has to be durable investment protections and there has to be change to the hydrocarbon laws in the country,” Woods said.

Other companies represented at the meeting included Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela, as well as ConocoPhillips, Halliburton, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Singapore-based Trafigura, Italy-based Eni and Spain-based Repsol.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-reserves-trump-exxon-8a6462e76315c7d1a6e6a5a879f98c16">Venezuela’s oil production</a>&nbsp;has slumped below 1 million barrels a day. Trump, however, expressed confidence that Big Oil is ready to take the plunge.

“You know, these are not babies,” Trump said of the oil industry executives. “These are people that drill oil in some pretty rough places. I can say a couple of those places make Venezuela look like a picnic.”

After the meeting, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters that the companies showed “tremendous interest,” adding that Chevron made a specific pledge. Wright said it could take eight to 12 years for daily production in Venezuela to triple to 3 million barrels a day.

Trump suggests China and Russia also want Venezuelan oil

The president also offered a new rationale for ousting Maduro and demanding the U.S. maintain oversight of the Venezuelan oil industry, saying, “One thing I think everyone has to know is that if we didn’t do this, China or Russia would have done it.”

Tyson Slocum, director of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen’s energy program, criticized the gathering and called the U.S. military’s removal of Maduro “violent imperialism.” Slocum added that Trump’s goal appears to be to “hand billionaires control over Venezuela’s oil.”

The White House has been seeking to show it has a stable relationship with Venezuela’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">interim President Delcy Rodríguez</a>. While Rodríguez has publicly denounced Trump and the ouster of Maduro, the U.S. president has said that to date Venezuela’s interim leader has been cooperating behind the scenes

Meanwhile, the United States and Venezuelan governments said Friday they were exploring the possibility of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-diplomatic-relations-maduro-12eca94ea60dbdbc8d8ac37535a5d23b">restoring diplomatic relations</a>&nbsp;between the two countries. A small team of U.S. diplomats and diplomatic security officials traveled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela</a>&nbsp;on Friday to make a preliminary assessment about the potential reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, the State Department said in a statement.

Trump to meet Machado next week — and Colombia’s Petro next month

Trump also announced Friday he’d meet next week, either Tuesday or Wednesday, with Maria Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition party. Trump has declined to back Machado, even as the U.S. and most observers determined her opposition movement defeated Maduro in Venezuela’s last election. Trump said following Maduro’s ouster that Machado “doesn’t have the support within, or the respect within, the country” to lead.

Trump earlier said he would meet Colombian President Gustavo Petro in early February. Trump had made vague threats to take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombia-petro-trump-venezuela-maduro-eaf98a41ae427a2d218910606a6fa3e0">similar action against Petro</a>&nbsp;after the capture of Maduro, describing the Colombian leader as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States”

Trump abruptly changed his tone Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart after a friendly phone call in which he invited Petro to visit the White House.

The seeming détente between Petro, a leftist, and Trump, a conservative, appears to reflect that their shared interests override their deep differences.

For Colombia, the U.S. remains key to the military’s fight against leftist guerrillas and drug traffickers. Washington has provided Bogotá with roughly $14 billion in the last two decades.

For the U.S., Colombia, the world’s biggest cocaine producer, remains the cornerstone of its counternarcotics strategy abroad, providing crucial intelligence used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/only-on-ap-smuggling-30c3e97599eb4b859ca575c58baab4ef">to interdict drugs in the Caribbean</a>. —-

Associated Press writers Matthew Daly, Michelle Price and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768011293895.png" alt="The President and Vice President during Friday's meeting-Photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>The President and Vice President during Friday's meeting-Photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-boak">JOSH BOAK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/aamer-madhani">AAMER MADHANI</a>UWASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Friday called on oil executives to rush back into Venezuela as the White House tries to quickly secure $100 billion in investments to fix the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-prices-trump-0c2c6ede79d550af53e6d3ddb51bfa04">neglected infrastructure</a>&nbsp;and fully tap into its expansive reserves of petroleum.Since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-american-imperialism-1a42ccc7036ce7add7a0ba402ac6f48e">U.S. military raid</a>&nbsp;to capture former Venezuelan leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-trump-military-operation-85041a1ec03bafe839b785a95169d694">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, Trump has quickly pivoted to portraying the move as an economic opportunity for the U.S. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-tanker-77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131">seized tankers</a>&nbsp;carrying Venezuelan oil, has said the U.S. is taking over the sales of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-trump-democrats-9d16138866bebdc2644eb009c6326066">30 million to 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;of previously sanctioned Venezuelan crude, and plans to control sales worldwide indefinitely.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump Participates in a Meeting with Oil and Gas Executives <a href="https://t.co/ah75xf1izj">https://t.co/ah75xf1izj</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2009717796154782163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> meets with oil executives at the White House: &quot;We&#39;re going to discuss how these great American companies can help rapidly rebuild Venezuela&#39;s dilapidated oil industry and bring millions of barrels of oil production to benefit the United States, the people of Venezuela,… <a href="https://t.co/whpvSlpTos">pic.twitter.com/whpvSlpTos</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2009720194093199551?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;The departure of Maduro makes possible an incredible future for both nations — Venezuela, and the United States... One of the things the United States gets out of this will be even lower energy prices.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/XyUED64yeW">pic.twitter.com/XyUED64yeW</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2009721107830428048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Our giant oil companies are spending at least $100B of their money, not the government&#39;s money... to rebuild the capacity and the infrastructure necessary.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ljAEb2mOO0">https://t.co/ljAEb2mOO0</a> <a href="https://t.co/g0kC5FWHkO">pic.twitter.com/g0kC5FWHkO</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2009722258336485424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>At the White House meeting, major oil companies said they were interested in the opportunity but expressed caution given their past experience in the country. “If we look at the commercial constructs and frameworks in place today in Venezuela, today it’s un-investable,” said Darren Woods, CEO of ExxonMobil, the largest U.S. oil company.Trump used the meeting to publicly assure executives that they need not be skeptical, even though the South American country has a history of state asset seizures, ongoing U.S. sanctions and decades of political uncertainty.“You have total safety,” Trump told the executives. “You’re dealing with us directly and not dealing with Venezuela at all. We don’t want you to deal with Venezuela.”Trump added: “Our giant oil companies will be spending at least $100 billion of their money, not the government’s money. They don’t need government money. But they need government protection.”The president said the security guarantee would come from working with Venezuelan leaders and their people, instead of deploying U.S. forces. He also said the companies would “bring over some security.”<h2>Trump urges Big Oil to take the plunge</h2>The meeting came on a day when U.S. forces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sanctioned-oil-tanker-intercepted-c3b6e0cee49af87f78a22425f505249d">seized their fifth tanker</a>&nbsp;over the past month that has been linked to Venezuelan oil, an action reflecting the determination of the U.S. to fully control the exporting, refining and production of Venezuelan petroleum.It’s part of a broader push by Trump to keep gasoline prices low. The incursion in Venezuela melds Trump’s assertive use of presidential powers with an optical spectacle meant to convince Americans that he can bring down energy prices at a time when many voters are concerned about the cost of living.Trump played up the potential for major oil companies to strike big, while acknowledging that the executives were sharp people who were in the business of taking risk, a nod to the reality that he’s asking for investments in Venezuela at a moment when the country is teetering and economic collapse is not out of the question.ExxonMobil CEO Woods said his company would send a team to assess the situation, and noted its assets had been seized there — twice — in the past. “Significant changes have to be made to those commercial frameworks, the legal system, there has to be durable investment protections and there has to be change to the hydrocarbon laws in the country,” Woods said.Other companies represented at the meeting included Chevron, which still operates in Venezuela, as well as ConocoPhillips, Halliburton, Valero, Marathon, Shell, Singapore-based Trafigura, Italy-based Eni and Spain-based Repsol.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-reserves-trump-exxon-8a6462e76315c7d1a6e6a5a879f98c16">Venezuela’s oil production</a>&nbsp;has slumped below 1 million barrels a day. Trump, however, expressed confidence that Big Oil is ready to take the plunge.“You know, these are not babies,” Trump said of the oil industry executives. “These are people that drill oil in some pretty rough places. I can say a couple of those places make Venezuela look like a picnic.”After the meeting, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told reporters that the companies showed “tremendous interest,” adding that Chevron made a specific pledge. Wright said it could take eight to 12 years for daily production in Venezuela to triple to 3 million barrels a day.<h2>Trump suggests China and Russia also want Venezuelan oil</h2>The president also offered a new rationale for ousting Maduro and demanding the U.S. maintain oversight of the Venezuelan oil industry, saying, “One thing I think everyone has to know is that if we didn’t do this, China or Russia would have done it.”Tyson Slocum, director of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen’s energy program, criticized the gathering and called the U.S. military’s removal of Maduro “violent imperialism.” Slocum added that Trump’s goal appears to be to “hand billionaires control over Venezuela’s oil.”The White House has been seeking to show it has a stable relationship with Venezuela’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">interim President Delcy Rodríguez</a>. While Rodríguez has publicly denounced Trump and the ouster of Maduro, the U.S. president has said that to date Venezuela’s interim leader has been cooperating behind the scenesMeanwhile, the United States and Venezuelan governments said Friday they were exploring the possibility of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-diplomatic-relations-maduro-12eca94ea60dbdbc8d8ac37535a5d23b">restoring diplomatic relations</a>&nbsp;between the two countries. A small team of U.S. diplomats and diplomatic security officials traveled to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela</a>&nbsp;on Friday to make a preliminary assessment about the potential reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, the State Department said in a statement.<h2>Trump to meet Machado next week — and Colombia’s Petro next month</h2>Trump also announced Friday he’d meet next week, either Tuesday or Wednesday, with Maria Corina Machado, the leader of Venezuela’s opposition party. Trump has declined to back Machado, even as the U.S. and most observers determined her opposition movement defeated Maduro in Venezuela’s last election. Trump said following Maduro’s ouster that Machado “doesn’t have the support within, or the respect within, the country” to lead.Trump earlier said he would meet Colombian President Gustavo Petro in early February. Trump had made vague threats to take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombia-petro-trump-venezuela-maduro-eaf98a41ae427a2d218910606a6fa3e0">similar action against Petro</a>&nbsp;after the capture of Maduro, describing the Colombian leader as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States”Trump abruptly changed his tone Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart after a friendly phone call in which he invited Petro to visit the White House.The seeming détente between Petro, a leftist, and Trump, a conservative, appears to reflect that their shared interests override their deep differences.For Colombia, the U.S. remains key to the military’s fight against leftist guerrillas and drug traffickers. Washington has provided Bogotá with roughly $14 billion in the last two decades.For the U.S., Colombia, the world’s biggest cocaine producer, remains the cornerstone of its counternarcotics strategy abroad, providing crucial intelligence used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/only-on-ap-smuggling-30c3e97599eb4b859ca575c58baab4ef">to interdict drugs in the Caribbean</a>. —-Associated Press writers Matthew Daly, Michelle Price and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.

🎥What President Trump promised oil execs if they invest in Venezuela

KANSAS CITY —The new year is off to a deadly start in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp; Police are investigating three homicides that occurred over 24-hours on Thursday.

Just before 1a.m., police were dispatched to&nbsp; a shooting reported in the area of 16th Street and Fremont Avenue, according to Officer Alyana Gonzalez.

First responders found 61-year-old Gary L. Norris. inside of a vehicle unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. Officers attempted to render medical aid until EMS personnel responded and transported him to an area hospital for treatment. Norris ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.

Preliminary information indicates Norris was outside working on a vehicle when an interaction between the victim and another adult male escalated into gunfire. The suspect left the scene prior to police arrival. Police have not reported any suspect details.

Just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting on southbound 71 Highway and Blue River Road, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders located a vehicle stopped on the side of the highway and a woman asking for help. At that time, officers observed 32-year-old Keithlin Royster unresponsive inside of the vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and pronounce him deceased at that scene.

Preliminary information indicates this may be a road rage incident. It is believed two unidentified men were occupying an unknown vehicle when shots were fired, striking the Royster. It is not currently known where the start of the altercation began, and where exactly the shooting occurred. 

A subject of interest turned himself in to police late Wednesday regarding this incident and he was questioned by detectives for further investigation. Detectives are not currently seeking any additional suspects, and the case has been presented to prosecutors for consideration of applicable charges, according to Gonzalez.

Just before 3p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 6600 block of Monroe Avenue, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez. While officers were responding to the scene, several additional calls for a sound of shots were reported.

Upon arrival, officers observed a group of people summoning responding officers to the rear of an apartment complex building. An unidentified male victim, believed to be&nbsp;an&nbsp;adult, was located lying in a parking lot, unresponsive and suffering from believed gunshot trauma. EMS responded shortly behind officers and declared the victim deceased on scene.

Preliminary information indicates there was an interaction that took place between the victim and several unknown males. That interaction escalated into gunfire and resulted in the victim being struck. The unidentified suspects left the scene in an unknown direction occupying an unidentified vehicle. Police do not have any subjects of interest identified and no one is in police custody at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767922675376.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting&nbsp; in the 6600 Block of Monroe-Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting&nbsp; in the 6600 Block of Monroe-Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The new year is off to a deadly start in Kansas City, Missouri.&nbsp; Police are investigating three homicides that occurred over 24-hours on Thursday.Just before 1a.m., police were dispatched to&nbsp; a shooting reported in the area of 16th Street and Fremont Avenue, according to Officer Alyana Gonzalez.First responders found 61-year-old Gary L. Norris. inside of a vehicle unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. Officers attempted to render medical aid until EMS personnel responded and transported him to an area hospital for treatment. Norris ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.Preliminary information indicates Norris was outside working on a vehicle when an interaction between the victim and another adult male escalated into gunfire. The suspect left the scene prior to police arrival. Police have not reported any suspect details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767817154645.png" alt="Police on the scene of the road raage shooting- Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the road raage shooting- Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 11:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting on southbound 71 Highway and Blue River Road, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.First responders located a vehicle stopped on the side of the highway and a woman asking for help. At that time, officers observed 32-year-old Keithlin Royster unresponsive inside of the vehicle suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and pronounce him deceased at that scene.Preliminary information indicates this may be a road rage incident. It is believed two unidentified men were occupying an unknown vehicle when shots were fired, striking the Royster. It is not currently known where the start of the altercation began, and where exactly the shooting occurred. A subject of interest turned himself in to police late Wednesday regarding this incident and he was questioned by detectives for further investigation. Detectives are not currently seeking any additional suspects, and the case has been presented to prosecutors for consideration of applicable charges, according to Gonzalez.Just before 3p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 6600 block of Monroe Avenue, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez. While officers were responding to the scene, several additional calls for a sound of shots were reported.Upon arrival, officers observed a group of people summoning responding officers to the rear of an apartment complex building. An unidentified male victim, believed to be&nbsp;an&nbsp;adult, was located lying in a parking lot, unresponsive and suffering from believed gunshot trauma. EMS responded shortly behind officers and declared the victim deceased on scene.Preliminary information indicates there was an interaction that took place between the victim and several unknown males. That interaction escalated into gunfire and resulted in the victim being struck. The unidentified suspects left the scene in an unknown direction occupying an unidentified vehicle. Police do not have any subjects of interest identified and no one is in police custody at this time.

3 homicides in 24 hours in Kansas City

TOPEKA (AP)— Hundreds of ICE protests are scheduled across the country this weekend, including several in states including Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, and Florida, according to Indivisible, a social movement organization that formed to resist the Trump administration.

The group and its local chapters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-trump-actblue-indivisible-legal-threat-fbi-42f502bcb5888b12628629710c6eb21b">organized protests last year</a>&nbsp;in all 50 states.

Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible said he expects the number of protests this week to surpass 1,000.

“This is hitting people who previously were not engaged,” Levin said, pointing out that over the last few days he has seen a rise in veterans, people in rural America, and even some Republican voters speaking out.

“I do not think this is an ideological fight. This is a fight between people who are trying to trash the Constitution through aggressive violent behavior and normal everyday Americans who do not want to be messed with in this way,” he said.

TOPEKA (AP)— Hundreds of ICE protests are scheduled across the country this weekend, including several in states including Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, and Florida, according to Indivisible, a social movement organization that formed to resist the Trump administration.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Findivisibleguide%2Fposts%2Fpfbid054pvGWgW1Yu6ZkUPSW8f7MAqN5WwvQSzHAgY9r5hJjjrNTpuDRAgXr4Zpq3HoNjwl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="392" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The group and its local chapters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-trump-actblue-indivisible-legal-threat-fbi-42f502bcb5888b12628629710c6eb21b">organized protests last year</a>&nbsp;in all 50 states.Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible said he expects the number of protests this week to surpass 1,000.“This is hitting people who previously were not engaged,” Levin said, pointing out that over the last few days he has seen a rise in veterans, people in rural America, and even some Republican voters speaking out.“I do not think this is an ideological fight. This is a fight between people who are trying to trash the Constitution through aggressive violent behavior and normal everyday Americans who do not want to be messed with in this way,” he said.

ICE protests planned in Kansas, nationwide this weekend

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Friday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Equinox driven by Stephanie Ruth&nbsp;Stevens, 54, Rio Vista, California, was southbound on Kansas 14 just north of Avenue Q.&nbsp; The SUV began to spin&nbsp;counterclockwise. The vehicle entered the northbound lane and struck 2022 Ford F350 driven by Mark Elmer&nbsp;Huseman, 47, Ellsworth head-on.

Stevens was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Parsons Funeral Home.&nbsp;Huseman was not wearing a seat belt and had only had a minor injury, according to the KHP.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Friday in Ellsworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Equinox driven by Stephanie Ruth&nbsp;Stevens, 54, Rio Vista, California, was southbound on Kansas 14 just north of Avenue Q.&nbsp; The SUV began to spin&nbsp;counterclockwise. The vehicle entered the northbound lane and struck 2022 Ford F350 driven by Mark Elmer&nbsp;Huseman, 47, Ellsworth head-on.Stevens was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Parsons Funeral Home.&nbsp;Huseman was not wearing a seat belt and had only had a minor injury, according to the KHP.

Woman dies after head-on crash on Kansas highway

MOSCOW (AP) —Russia said Friday it used its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-icbm-attackddnipro-38b0faf6eed2cef98bdbc9be18f58244">latest missile</a>&nbsp;against Ukraine for a second time in the nearly 4-year-old war, a forceful signal to Kyiv and its Western allies as U.S.-led peace talks have entered a new and crucial stage.

The hypersonic Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile hit Ukraine's western Lviv region&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-missile-kyiv-56655401d55ab4818800c43b7035b2a9">late Thursday night</a>. The area is near a military base in neighboring Poland that serves as a key hub for ferrying Western military supplies to Kyiv.

Some Moscow commentators said the attack was a warning to European leaders against proposals to deploy their troops to Ukraine as part of a prospective peace deal. Russia has said it won't accept such a deployment and would view those forces as legitimate targets.

A look at the weapon and why Russia used it now:

Russia first used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-icbm-attackddnipro-38b0faf6eed2cef98bdbc9be18f58244">the multiple-warhead Oreshnik</a>&nbsp;on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024.

President Vladimir Putin said the Oreshnik, which means “hazelnut tree” in Russian, streaks to its target at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10, “like a meteorite,” and claimed it was immune to any missile defense system.

He said the weapon is so powerful that the use of several such missiles - even fitted with conventional warheads — could be as devastating as a nuclear strike. He said it’s capable of destroying underground bunkers “three, four or more floors down.”

The Russian military said the Oreshnik can carry nuclear or conventional warheads and is able to reach any European target.

The Pentagon said the Oreshnik was an experimental type of intermediate-range ballistic missile, or IRBM, based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM. Intermediate-range missiles can fly between 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,400 miles). Such weapons were banned under a Soviet-era treaty that Washington and Moscow abandoned in 2019.

When Russia first used the Oreshnik, Ukraine’s military said the missile had six independently targetable warheads, each carrying six submunitions.

Russian military bloggers said the submunitions released by each warhead apparently were unarmed but had high kinetic energy estimated to deliver a destructive force equivalent to tons of explosives.

Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has used swarms of cheap slow-flying drones and an assortment of other missiles, but none had the range and power of Oreshnik.

Russia's Defense Ministry said last month the Oreshnik had been deployed to Belarus and entered active service. It didn't specify how many missiles were sent to the key ally of Moscow and whether they were fitted with nuclear warheads, but Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that up to 10 Oreshnik systems will be stationed there.

Russia previously has stationed tactical nuclear weapons inside Belarus, whose territory it used to launch the invasion of Ukraine.

In 2024, Putin released a revised nuclear doctrine that placed Belarus under Russia's atomic umbrella. The document significantly lowered the threshold for the possible use of nuclear weapons, declaring that any nation’s conventional attack on Russia that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on the country. The threat was clearly aimed at discouraging the West from allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with longer-range weapons.

Unlike Russia's other shorter-range conventional weapons, the Oreshnik is able to launch a powerful, conventional strike anywhere in Europe, giving the Kremlin a new instrument of escalation without tapping its nuclear arsenal. There will be no way to know whether the missile is carrying a nuclear or a conventional warhead before it hits the target.

When Russia first used the Oreshnik, Putin described it as a response to Ukraine's Western allies allowing it to use their longer-range weapons to strike Russian territory.

Its latest strike comes as the U.S.-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine have entered a pivotal stage and appears to underline Putin’s intention to negotiate from a position of strength as his troops make slow but steady territorial gains.

Some Russian military bloggers noted that the strike in Lviv, not far from the Polish border, was a message intended for Kyiv’s allies. Those members of the “coalition of the willing” have proposed sending their troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees once a peace deal is reached.

Russia has said it won't accept any European forces in Ukraine, seeing them as legitimate targets.

“For the first time, NATO command has been shown a strategic weapons strike virtually on its border,” said military expert Valery Shiryayev. “This action is intended to demonstrate the determination of Russia’s military and political leadership to use such weapons with nuclear warheads if necessary.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="File photo (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)" />
 <figcaption>File photo (Russian Presidential Press Service via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) —Russia said Friday it used its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-icbm-attackddnipro-38b0faf6eed2cef98bdbc9be18f58244">latest missile</a>&nbsp;against Ukraine for a second time in the nearly 4-year-old war, a forceful signal to Kyiv and its Western allies as U.S.-led peace talks have entered a new and crucial stage.The hypersonic Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile hit Ukraine's western Lviv region&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-missile-kyiv-56655401d55ab4818800c43b7035b2a9">late Thursday night</a>. The area is near a military base in neighboring Poland that serves as a key hub for ferrying Western military supplies to Kyiv.Some Moscow commentators said the attack was a warning to European leaders against proposals to deploy their troops to Ukraine as part of a prospective peace deal. Russia has said it won't accept such a deployment and would view those forces as legitimate targets.A look at the weapon and why Russia used it now:<h2>What’s known about the Oreshnik</h2>Russia first used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-icbm-attackddnipro-38b0faf6eed2cef98bdbc9be18f58244">the multiple-warhead Oreshnik</a>&nbsp;on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November 2024.President Vladimir Putin said the Oreshnik, which means “hazelnut tree” in Russian, streaks to its target at 10 times the speed of sound, or Mach 10, “like a meteorite,” and claimed it was immune to any missile defense system.He said the weapon is so powerful that the use of several such missiles - even fitted with conventional warheads — could be as devastating as a nuclear strike. He said it’s capable of destroying underground bunkers “three, four or more floors down.”The Russian military said the Oreshnik can carry nuclear or conventional warheads and is able to reach any European target.The Pentagon said the Oreshnik was an experimental type of intermediate-range ballistic missile, or IRBM, based on Russia’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM. Intermediate-range missiles can fly between 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,400 miles). Such weapons were banned under a Soviet-era treaty that Washington and Moscow abandoned in 2019.When Russia first used the Oreshnik, Ukraine’s military said the missile had six independently targetable warheads, each carrying six submunitions.Russian military bloggers said the submunitions released by each warhead apparently were unarmed but had high kinetic energy estimated to deliver a destructive force equivalent to tons of explosives.Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has used swarms of cheap slow-flying drones and an assortment of other missiles, but none had the range and power of Oreshnik.<h2>Deployed to Belarus</h2>Russia's Defense Ministry said last month the Oreshnik had been deployed to Belarus and entered active service. It didn't specify how many missiles were sent to the key ally of Moscow and whether they were fitted with nuclear warheads, but Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that up to 10 Oreshnik systems will be stationed there.Russia previously has stationed tactical nuclear weapons inside Belarus, whose territory it used to launch the invasion of Ukraine.In 2024, Putin released a revised nuclear doctrine that placed Belarus under Russia's atomic umbrella. The document significantly lowered the threshold for the possible use of nuclear weapons, declaring that any nation’s conventional attack on Russia that is supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on the country. The threat was clearly aimed at discouraging the West from allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with longer-range weapons.Unlike Russia's other shorter-range conventional weapons, the Oreshnik is able to launch a powerful, conventional strike anywhere in Europe, giving the Kremlin a new instrument of escalation without tapping its nuclear arsenal. There will be no way to know whether the missile is carrying a nuclear or a conventional warhead before it hits the target.<h2>Russia's message by using the Oreshnik</h2>When Russia first used the Oreshnik, Putin described it as a response to Ukraine's Western allies allowing it to use their longer-range weapons to strike Russian territory.Its latest strike comes as the U.S.-led efforts to end the war in Ukraine have entered a pivotal stage and appears to underline Putin’s intention to negotiate from a position of strength as his troops make slow but steady territorial gains.Some Russian military bloggers noted that the strike in Lviv, not far from the Polish border, was a message intended for Kyiv’s allies. Those members of the “coalition of the willing” have proposed sending their troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees once a peace deal is reached.Russia has said it won't accept any European forces in Ukraine, seeing them as legitimate targets.“For the first time, NATO command has been shown a strategic weapons strike virtually on its border,” said military expert Valery Shiryayev. “This action is intended to demonstrate the determination of Russia’s military and political leadership to use such weapons with nuclear warheads if necessary.”

Russia's use of hypersonic missile in Ukraine seen as a warning 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple drug allegations.

On Christmas Eve, deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office located a stolen 2012 Hyundai passenger vehicle, originally reported stolen from Wichita at a residence located at 401 W. 1st Street in Cherryvale, Kansas.

Deputies obtained and executed a search warrant for the residence and property. During the execution of the warrant, deputies observed drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the residence. An amended search warrant for narcotics was subsequently obtained. During the search, deputies located more than three (3) grams of methamphetamine along with additional drug paraphernalia and items used for distribution.

Rachel McKenzie, of Cherryvale, Kansas, was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where she was booked on the requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; She bonded out of jail days later, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767985012656.png" alt="McKenzie photo Montgomery Co." />
 <figcaption>McKenzie photo Montgomery Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple drug allegations.On Christmas Eve, deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office located a stolen 2012 Hyundai passenger vehicle, originally reported stolen from Wichita at a residence located at 401 W. 1st Street in Cherryvale, Kansas.Deputies obtained and executed a search warrant for the residence and property. During the execution of the warrant, deputies observed drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the residence. An amended search warrant for narcotics was subsequently obtained. During the search, deputies located more than three (3) grams of methamphetamine along with additional drug paraphernalia and items used for distribution.Rachel McKenzie, of Cherryvale, Kansas, was taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where she was booked on the requested charges of Distribution of methamphetamine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp; She bonded out of jail days later, according to online jail records.

Sheriff: Suspected Kansas drug dealer jailed on Christmas Eve

KANSAS CITY —There is a new 6-foot-tall bundle of joy at the KCZoo.

On Friday, the zoo introduced Aspen, a female Masai giraffe born to 4-year-old Alika on December 29. 

A neonatal exam has been performed and showed that the calf is in good health. Aspen is already spending quality time with 2-month-old half-brother, Beni, and getting a masterclass in zoomies courtesy of her half-sister, 1 ½-year-old Willow.

Aspen is Alika’s first calf and father Aidan’s third. Other members of the Zoo’s herd include adult females Makali and Chandy, who are the respective mothers to Willow and Beni. 

Due to construction currently underway on a new giraffe complex, the entire giraffe herd will remain behind the scenes until the new habitat opens by Summer 2026 but may be seen on a live video feed available only at the Zoo. 

<a href="https://kansascityzoo.org/giraffe-habitat?fbclid=IwY2xjawPOa15leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwQW81UnhSVEVYSndJQW8xc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuOC9ZCL-3tzlxa3hyX6Wy5bTaqK6u0yt4O3Hq_RFHMLxZ4v8Lkcdjcbx3Sr_aem_0LEqDqkIQu3SXnWpvw0QsQ">Click here to learn more</a> about this exciting new complex.

Masai giraffes are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The KCZoo is partnering with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/savegiraffesnow?__cft__[0]=AZZ9kK_jyA6olM47QfzZyfGivewk29wfjPxionuQlL3RawHl-biKXkaS72apNvb08B9wfamM_2AUA0OgznYjXmpTOdkPJdNragKvAOkqkQn2ulriczQxIAs33sxU8spA2uVkmp0z11dZ99uLsWIS-jH_w5TYv5w5EyhBwLXc9q_LzQ9m4yeTBHWP0NadFwX1Wek&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Save Giraffes Now</a> on co-existence projects in the Athi-Kapiti region of Kenya, a heavily populated region where human and wildlife conflict is a constant struggle.

In addition, the Zoo participates in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZoosAquariums?__cft__[0]=AZZ9kK_jyA6olM47QfzZyfGivewk29wfjPxionuQlL3RawHl-biKXkaS72apNvb08B9wfamM_2AUA0OgznYjXmpTOdkPJdNragKvAOkqkQn2ulriczQxIAs33sxU8spA2uVkmp0z11dZ99uLsWIS-jH_w5TYv5w5EyhBwLXc9q_LzQ9m4yeTBHWP0NadFwX1Wek&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">The Association of Zoos and Aquariums</a> Species Survival Plan to ensure a genetically diverse and stable giraffe population in accredited facilities. This exciting new arrival is part of our Wild Beginnings program presented by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/saintlukeskc?__cft__[0]=AZZ9kK_jyA6olM47QfzZyfGivewk29wfjPxionuQlL3RawHl-biKXkaS72apNvb08B9wfamM_2AUA0OgznYjXmpTOdkPJdNragKvAOkqkQn2ulriczQxIAs33sxU8spA2uVkmp0z11dZ99uLsWIS-jH_w5TYv5w5EyhBwLXc9q_LzQ9m4yeTBHWP0NadFwX1Wek&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Saint Luke's Health System</a> that celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Saint Luke’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered maternity care has helped local families flourish for more than 140 years and is a perfect sponsor for the Zoo’s growing animal families. Photos by senior animal care specialist Julia

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768000616894.png" alt="Photos by senior animal care specialist Julia courtesy KC Zoo and Aquarium&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photos by senior animal care specialist Julia courtesy KC Zoo and Aquarium&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —There is a new 6-foot-tall bundle of joy at the KCZoo.On Friday, the zoo introduced Aspen, a female Masai giraffe born to 4-year-old Alika on December 29. A neonatal exam has been performed and showed that the calf is in good health. Aspen is already spending quality time with 2-month-old half-brother, Beni, and getting a masterclass in zoomies courtesy of her half-sister, 1 ½-year-old Willow.Aspen is Alika’s first calf and father Aidan’s third. Other members of the Zoo’s herd include adult females Makali and Chandy, who are the respective mothers to Willow and Beni. Due to construction currently underway on a new giraffe complex, the entire giraffe herd will remain behind the scenes until the new habitat opens by Summer 2026 but may be seen on a live video feed available only at the Zoo. <a href="https://kansascityzoo.org/giraffe-habitat?fbclid=IwY2xjawPOa15leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwQW81UnhSVEVYSndJQW8xc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuOC9ZCL-3tzlxa3hyX6Wy5bTaqK6u0yt4O3Hq_RFHMLxZ4v8Lkcdjcbx3Sr_aem_0LEqDqkIQu3SXnWpvw0QsQ">Click here to learn more</a> about this exciting new complex.Masai giraffes are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The KCZoo is partnering with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/savegiraffesnow?__cft__[0]=AZZ9kK_jyA6olM47QfzZyfGivewk29wfjPxionuQlL3RawHl-biKXkaS72apNvb08B9wfamM_2AUA0OgznYjXmpTOdkPJdNragKvAOkqkQn2ulriczQxIAs33sxU8spA2uVkmp0z11dZ99uLsWIS-jH_w5TYv5w5EyhBwLXc9q_LzQ9m4yeTBHWP0NadFwX1Wek&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Save Giraffes Now</a> on co-existence projects in the Athi-Kapiti region of Kenya, a heavily populated region where human and wildlife conflict is a constant struggle. In addition, the Zoo participates in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ZoosAquariums?__cft__[0]=AZZ9kK_jyA6olM47QfzZyfGivewk29wfjPxionuQlL3RawHl-biKXkaS72apNvb08B9wfamM_2AUA0OgznYjXmpTOdkPJdNragKvAOkqkQn2ulriczQxIAs33sxU8spA2uVkmp0z11dZ99uLsWIS-jH_w5TYv5w5EyhBwLXc9q_LzQ9m4yeTBHWP0NadFwX1Wek&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">The Association of Zoos and Aquariums</a> Species Survival Plan to ensure a genetically diverse and stable giraffe population in accredited facilities. This exciting new arrival is part of our Wild Beginnings program presented by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/saintlukeskc?__cft__[0]=AZZ9kK_jyA6olM47QfzZyfGivewk29wfjPxionuQlL3RawHl-biKXkaS72apNvb08B9wfamM_2AUA0OgznYjXmpTOdkPJdNragKvAOkqkQn2ulriczQxIAs33sxU8spA2uVkmp0z11dZ99uLsWIS-jH_w5TYv5w5EyhBwLXc9q_LzQ9m4yeTBHWP0NadFwX1Wek&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Saint Luke's Health System</a> that celebrates “zooborns” at the KCZoo. Saint Luke’s commitment to innovative, patient-centered maternity care has helped local families flourish for more than 140 years and is a perfect sponsor for the Zoo’s growing animal families. Photos by senior animal care specialist Julia

6-foot tall bundle of joy at the Kansas City Zoo

KANSAS CITY —Police investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 61-year-old Gary L. Norris.

Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to&nbsp; a shooting reported in the area of 16th Street and Fremont Avenue, according to Officer Alyana Gonzalez.

First responders found Norris inside of a vehicle unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. Officers attempted to render medical aid until EMS personnel responded and transported him to an area hospital for treatment. Norris ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.

KANSAS CITY —Police investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 61-year-old Gary L. Norris.Just before 1a.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to&nbsp; a shooting reported in the area of 16th Street and Fremont Avenue, according to Officer Alyana Gonzalez.First responders found Norris inside of a vehicle unresponsive and suffering from gunshot trauma. Officers attempted to render medical aid until EMS personnel responded and transported him to an area hospital for treatment. Norris ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.Preliminary information indicates Norris was outside working on a vehicle when an interaction between the victim and another adult male escalated into gunfire. The suspect left the scene prior to police arrival. Police have not reported any suspect details.

Homicide: Police ID KC man shot while working on his vehicle

PAWNEE COUNTY —A&nbsp; Kansas couple made their first court appearance on Thursday following a more than two-year investigation of&nbsp;financial mistreatment and elder abuse.

Jeffrey S. Bates, 64 and Sandi K. Bates, 62, both of Larned, appeared before Pawnee Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

They were each charged with one Count of Conspiracy to Commit Financial Mistreatment of a Dependent Adult/Elder Person, with an aggregate value of at least $100,000, but less than $250,000, alleged to have occurred between July 15, 2015, and December 31, 2022. This charge is a severity level 6 person felony.

Jeffrey Bates faces an additional count of Physical Mistreatment of a Dependent Adult/Elder Person, by allegedly knowingly inflicting physical injury, unreasonable confinement or unreasonable punishment upon a dependent adult or an elder person, alleged to have occurred on or about November 26, 2022. This charge is a severity level 5 person felony. In the alternative Bates is charged with Criminal Restraint, a Class A Person Misdemeanor.

The charges stem from a two-and-a-half-year investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department initiated by a report of alleged elder abuse. The sheriff department was assisted in the investigation by the Kansas Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Unit.

The Bates were arrested by the sheriff’s department without incident at their Larned residence on December 1, 2025, and released later that day after posting surety bonds.

&nbsp;A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for January 21, 2026.

Under Kansas law, “elder person” means a person 60 years of age or older. As charged, the crime of Financial Mistreatment of a Dependent Adult/Elder Person means the intent to knowingly take the personal property or financial resources of a dependent adult or an elder person for the benefit of the defendant by taking control of the personal property or financial resources of said dependent adult or elder person through undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false representation, false pretense or without adequate consideration to such dependent adult or elder person.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for January 21.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767975992577.png" alt="Bates photo Pawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Bates photo Pawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —A&nbsp; Kansas couple made their first court appearance on Thursday following a more than two-year investigation of&nbsp;financial mistreatment and elder abuse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767975957079.png" alt="Bates photo Pawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Bates photo Pawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>Jeffrey S. Bates, 64 and Sandi K. Bates, 62, both of Larned, appeared before Pawnee Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.They were each charged with one Count of Conspiracy to Commit Financial Mistreatment of a Dependent Adult/Elder Person, with an aggregate value of at least $100,000, but less than $250,000, alleged to have occurred between July 15, 2015, and December 31, 2022. This charge is a severity level 6 person felony.Jeffrey Bates faces an additional count of Physical Mistreatment of a Dependent Adult/Elder Person, by allegedly knowingly inflicting physical injury, unreasonable confinement or unreasonable punishment upon a dependent adult or an elder person, alleged to have occurred on or about November 26, 2022. This charge is a severity level 5 person felony. In the alternative Bates is charged with Criminal Restraint, a Class A Person Misdemeanor.The charges stem from a two-and-a-half-year investigation by the Pawnee County Sheriff’s Department initiated by a report of alleged elder abuse. The sheriff department was assisted in the investigation by the Kansas Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Unit.The Bates were arrested by the sheriff’s department without incident at their Larned residence on December 1, 2025, and released later that day after posting surety bonds.&nbsp;A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for January 21, 2026.Under Kansas law, “elder person” means a person 60 years of age or older. As charged, the crime of Financial Mistreatment of a Dependent Adult/Elder Person means the intent to knowingly take the personal property or financial resources of a dependent adult or an elder person for the benefit of the defendant by taking control of the personal property or financial resources of said dependent adult or elder person through undue influence, coercion, harassment, duress, deception, false representation, false pretense or without adequate consideration to such dependent adult or elder person.A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for January 21.

Kan. couple charged following an elder abuse investigation

A Minnesota prosecutor on Friday called on members of the public to send any video or other evidence in the fatal shooting of Renee Good directly to local investigators, challenging the Trump administration’s decision to leave the investigation solely to the FBI.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance and the White House have released a new&nbsp;cellphone video showing perspective of federal agent at center of ICE-involved shooting.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-jonathan-ross-b9ce88da676d74ec6a1ab36aa55fbda1">The federal agent who fatally shot Good</a>&nbsp;is an Iraq War veteran who has served for nearly two decades in the Border Patrol and ICE, according to records obtained by Associated Press.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767999806264.png" alt="Image from the video released by the White House" />
 <figcaption>Image from the video released by the White House</figcaption>
 </figure>A Minnesota prosecutor on Friday called on members of the public to send any video or other evidence in the fatal shooting of Renee Good directly to local investigators, challenging the Trump administration’s decision to leave the investigation solely to the FBI.&nbsp; Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance and the White House have released a new&nbsp;cellphone video showing perspective of federal agent at center of ICE-involved shooting.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Any update, Ken?<a href="https://t.co/auPNnbtTKL">pic.twitter.com/auPNnbtTKL</a> <a href="https://t.co/96N0VDgyHI">https://t.co/96N0VDgyHI</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2009706091228328304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The media smeared an ICE Agent who properly defended himself from being run over by organized leftist protesters who were impeding an active law enforcement operation. The reason trust in the media is at an all-time low is because they intentionally lie to the public to advance… <a href="https://t.co/8ih8O9FyJQ">https://t.co/8ih8O9FyJQ</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2009700804123603447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-jonathan-ross-b9ce88da676d74ec6a1ab36aa55fbda1">The federal agent who fatally shot Good</a>&nbsp;is an Iraq War veteran who has served for nearly two decades in the Border Patrol and ICE, according to records obtained by Associated Press.

White House releases phone video from ICE agent before fatal shooting

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks hit records Friday following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-growth-3520ef449c36be8ca60eb046177200a2">a mixed report on the U.S. job market</a>, one that may delay&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">another cut to interest rates</a>&nbsp;by the Federal Reserve but does not slam the door on it.

The S&amp;P 500 climbed 0.6% and topped its prior all-time high set earlier in the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 237 points, or 0.5%, and likewise set a record, while the Nasdaq composite led the market with a 0.8% gain.

The moves came after the U.S. Labor Department said employers hired fewer workers during December than economists expected, though the unemployment rate improved and was better than expected. It reinforced how the U.S. job market may be in a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-economy-c48fd84dfaa71eee962feb3a88fd8575">low-hire</a>, low-fire” state and may hopefully avoid a recession.

On Wall Street, power company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-meta-zuckerberg-ai-vistra-oklo-terrapower-0eb051a9a11d96f7ce200e186ad13476">Vistra soared</a>&nbsp;10.5% to help lead the market after signing a 20-year deal to provide electricity from three of its nuclear plants to Meta Platforms. Big Tech companies have been signing a string of such deals to electrify the data centers powering their moves into artificial-intelligence technology.

Oklo jumped 7.9% after saying it also signed a deal with Meta Platforms that will help it secure nuclear fuel and advance its project to build a facility in Pike County, Ohio.

Homebuilders and other companies involved in the housing market were strong in their first trading after President Donald Trump announced a plan to lower mortgage rates. Trump on late Thursday called for the purchase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-housing-mortgage-rates-79294cf8eac1579b17430b4cd0708fcd">$200 billion in mortgage bonds</a>, similar to how the Fed in the past has bought bonds backed by mortgages to bring down mortgage rates.

Builders FirstSource, a supplier of building products, jumped 12% for one of the biggest gains in the S&amp;P 500 along with Vistra. Among homebuilders, Lennar rallied 8.9%, D.R. Horton climbed 7.8% and PulteGroup rose 7.3%.

They helped offset a 2.7% drop for General Motors. The auto giant said it will take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-ev-byd-tesla-c9db4cd7030c9b58803e7375e25b9484">a $6 billion hit</a>&nbsp;to its results for the last three months of 2025 related to its pullback from electric vehicles. That’s on top of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-gm-ev-emission-tax-2d2e43fd9dc0e12864e590a018be280f">$1.6 billion in charges</a>&nbsp;GM took in the prior quarter. Fewer tax incentives and easier fuel-emission regulations have been eating into demand for EVs.

WD-40 tumbled 6.6% after reporting a weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Chief Financial Officer Sara Hyzer said the soft numbers were primarily because of timing issues, not weaker demand from end customers, and the company stood by its financial forecasts for the upcoming year.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 44.82 points to 6,966.28. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 237.96 to 49,504.07, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 191.33 to 23,671.35.

In the bond market, Treasury yields were mixed.

Friday’s improvement in the unemployment rate was enough to get traders to ratchet back expectations for a cut to interest rates at the Fed’s next meeting, which is scheduled for later this month. Traders are now forecasting just a 5% chance of that, down from 11% a day before, according to data from CME Group.

But traders nevertheless still largely expect the Fed to cut rates at least twice this upcoming year.

Whether they’re correct carries high stakes for financial markets. Lower interest rates can goose the economy and push up prices for investments, though they can also worsen inflation at the same time. And inflation has stubbornly remained above the Fed’s 2% target.

“Until the data provide a clearer direction, a divided Fed is likely to stay that way,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. “Lower rates are likely coming this year, but the markets may have to be patient.”

The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.16% from 4.19% late Thursday. It tends to track expectations for longer-term economic growth and inflation.

The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks forecasts for what the Fed will do with short-term interest rates in the near term, rose to 3.53% from 3.49%.

A separate report released Friday morning suggested sentiment among U.S. consumers is strengthening, particularly among lower-income households. Perhaps more importantly for the Fed, the preliminary report from the University of Michigan also said expectations for inflation in the coming 12 months may be at their lowest level in a year. That could give it more freedom to cut interest rates.

Hopes for both lower interest rates and a solid economy have helped other areas of the stock market climb recently, wresting leadership away from the Big Tech and AI stocks that dominated the market for years. The smaller stocks in the Russell 2000, for example, climbed 4.6% this week, much more than the 1.6% rise of the S&amp;P 500.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks hit records Friday following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-growth-3520ef449c36be8ca60eb046177200a2">a mixed report on the U.S. job market</a>, one that may delay&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">another cut to interest rates</a>&nbsp;by the Federal Reserve but does not slam the door on it.The S&amp;P 500 climbed 0.6% and topped its prior all-time high set earlier in the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 237 points, or 0.5%, and likewise set a record, while the Nasdaq composite led the market with a 0.8% gain.The moves came after the U.S. Labor Department said employers hired fewer workers during December than economists expected, though the unemployment rate improved and was better than expected. It reinforced how the U.S. job market may be in a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-economy-c48fd84dfaa71eee962feb3a88fd8575">low-hire</a>, low-fire” state and may hopefully avoid a recession.On Wall Street, power company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-meta-zuckerberg-ai-vistra-oklo-terrapower-0eb051a9a11d96f7ce200e186ad13476">Vistra soared</a>&nbsp;10.5% to help lead the market after signing a 20-year deal to provide electricity from three of its nuclear plants to Meta Platforms. Big Tech companies have been signing a string of such deals to electrify the data centers powering their moves into artificial-intelligence technology.Oklo jumped 7.9% after saying it also signed a deal with Meta Platforms that will help it secure nuclear fuel and advance its project to build a facility in Pike County, Ohio.Homebuilders and other companies involved in the housing market were strong in their first trading after President Donald Trump announced a plan to lower mortgage rates. Trump on late Thursday called for the purchase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-housing-mortgage-rates-79294cf8eac1579b17430b4cd0708fcd">$200 billion in mortgage bonds</a>, similar to how the Fed in the past has bought bonds backed by mortgages to bring down mortgage rates.Builders FirstSource, a supplier of building products, jumped 12% for one of the biggest gains in the S&amp;P 500 along with Vistra. Among homebuilders, Lennar rallied 8.9%, D.R. Horton climbed 7.8% and PulteGroup rose 7.3%.They helped offset a 2.7% drop for General Motors. The auto giant said it will take&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-ev-byd-tesla-c9db4cd7030c9b58803e7375e25b9484">a $6 billion hit</a>&nbsp;to its results for the last three months of 2025 related to its pullback from electric vehicles. That’s on top of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-gm-ev-emission-tax-2d2e43fd9dc0e12864e590a018be280f">$1.6 billion in charges</a>&nbsp;GM took in the prior quarter. Fewer tax incentives and easier fuel-emission regulations have been eating into demand for EVs.WD-40 tumbled 6.6% after reporting a weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Chief Financial Officer Sara Hyzer said the soft numbers were primarily because of timing issues, not weaker demand from end customers, and the company stood by its financial forecasts for the upcoming year.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 44.82 points to 6,966.28. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 237.96 to 49,504.07, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 191.33 to 23,671.35.In the bond market, Treasury yields were mixed.Friday’s improvement in the unemployment rate was enough to get traders to ratchet back expectations for a cut to interest rates at the Fed’s next meeting, which is scheduled for later this month. Traders are now forecasting just a 5% chance of that, down from 11% a day before, according to data from CME Group.But traders nevertheless still largely expect the Fed to cut rates at least twice this upcoming year.Whether they’re correct carries high stakes for financial markets. Lower interest rates can goose the economy and push up prices for investments, though they can also worsen inflation at the same time. And inflation has stubbornly remained above the Fed’s 2% target.“Until the data provide a clearer direction, a divided Fed is likely to stay that way,” according to Ellen Zentner, chief economic strategist for Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. “Lower rates are likely coming this year, but the markets may have to be patient.”The yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.16% from 4.19% late Thursday. It tends to track expectations for longer-term economic growth and inflation.The two-year Treasury yield, which more closely tracks forecasts for what the Fed will do with short-term interest rates in the near term, rose to 3.53% from 3.49%.A separate report released Friday morning suggested sentiment among U.S. consumers is strengthening, particularly among lower-income households. Perhaps more importantly for the Fed, the preliminary report from the University of Michigan also said expectations for inflation in the coming 12 months may be at their lowest level in a year. That could give it more freedom to cut interest rates.Hopes for both lower interest rates and a solid economy have helped other areas of the stock market climb recently, wresting leadership away from the Big Tech and AI stocks that dominated the market for years. The smaller stocks in the Russell 2000, for example, climbed 4.6% this week, much more than the 1.6% rise of the S&amp;P 500.In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia.

Another record setting day on Wall Street 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said on social media Thursday that he is directing the federal government to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds, a move he said would help reduce mortgage rates at a time when Americans are worried about home prices.

Trump and the White House have been trying to show they are responding to voter concerns about affordability ahead of midterm elections in November. Home prices have generally risen faster than incomes because of a persistent construction shortfall, making it harder for renters to buy their first home and for existing owners to upgrade to a new property — a challenge that dates back to Trump’s first term and the recovery from the housing market collapse that triggered the global financial crisis in 2008.

Trump said the two mortgage companies under government conservatorship, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have $200 billion in cash that will be used to make the purchase.

“This will drive Mortgage Rates DOWN, monthly payments DOWN, and make the cost of owning a home more affordable,” Trump posted on social media.

White House officials did not immediately respond to questions about the timelines for how purchases would occur.

The Federal Reserve has in the past bought mortgage bonds during times of economic turmoil in order to help reduce interest rates, leading many homeowners to refinance into rates of 3% or less. The low rates of the recent past make these homeowners reluctant to sell their properties, depriving the market of inventory.

“At a high level I feel this is putting a Band-Aid on a deeper issue and it probably wouldn’t lower rates enough to really undo the mortgage rate lock-in effect,” said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at the real estate brokerage Redfin.

Fairweather estimated the government purchases of mortgage debt could shave 0.25 to 0.5 percentage points off the rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. But the purchases wouldn’t address other factors such as a chronic shortage of homes on the market, which has helped make homeownership unaffordable for many Americans, she cautioned.

Mortgage rates have been averaging around 6.2%, according to Freddie Mac, which went into conservatorship along with Fannie Mae in 2008 when the U.S. economy crashed during the Great Recession. Thirty-year mortgage rates haven’t been below 6% since September 2022.

“Lowering mortgage rates by maybe a quarter point or half a point maybe will encourage more demand on the margins, but I don’t think it’s going to solve the restrictions that exist in the housing market,” Fairweather said.

There is also a risk because Trump would be spending the cash reserves that are supposed to help be a buffer against an economic downturn akin to what happened during the Great Recession. In a sense, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae could be more vulnerable if anything negative happens to the housing market, meaning Trump is betting that possibility is highly unlikely.

Separately, the Fed holds roughly $2 trillion worth of mortgage-backed securities on its balance sheet. That’s down from $2.7 trillion in June 2022. The Fed began to unwind its mortgage-debt holdings as the U.S. economy recovered from the global pandemic.

Mortgage rates began to climb as inflation spiked coming out of the global pandemic, with the consumer price index hitting a four-decade high in 2022. The average mortgage rate is down from nearly 7% at the start of Trump’s second term last year, yet the decrease has done little to reassure a public that feels pressure from the costs of housing, food and energy.

When interest rates fall it can become cheaper to service housing debt on a monthly basis. The reduced monthly payments can improve affordability for a period until home prices adjust in response to changes in the rates. There was roughly $21.1 trillion in outstanding mortgage debt as of the middle of last year, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve.

Many homeowners took advantage of low interest rates during the pandemic to refinance their mortgages at rates of 3% or lower.

Trump last month said he planned to unveil housing reforms -- and on Wednesday he said he wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-housing-plan-investors-davos-6ec9f96c03d16c0714a6804c5f703db2">block institutional investors</a>&nbsp;from buying houses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="Photo AP" />
 <figcaption>Photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said on social media Thursday that he is directing the federal government to buy $200 billion in mortgage bonds, a move he said would help reduce mortgage rates at a time when Americans are worried about home prices.Trump and the White House have been trying to show they are responding to voter concerns about affordability ahead of midterm elections in November. Home prices have generally risen faster than incomes because of a persistent construction shortfall, making it harder for renters to buy their first home and for existing owners to upgrade to a new property — a challenge that dates back to Trump’s first term and the recovery from the housing market collapse that triggered the global financial crisis in 2008.Trump said the two mortgage companies under government conservatorship, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have $200 billion in cash that will be used to make the purchase.“This will drive Mortgage Rates DOWN, monthly payments DOWN, and make the cost of owning a home more affordable,” Trump posted on social media.White House officials did not immediately respond to questions about the timelines for how purchases would occur.The Federal Reserve has in the past bought mortgage bonds during times of economic turmoil in order to help reduce interest rates, leading many homeowners to refinance into rates of 3% or less. The low rates of the recent past make these homeowners reluctant to sell their properties, depriving the market of inventory.“At a high level I feel this is putting a Band-Aid on a deeper issue and it probably wouldn’t lower rates enough to really undo the mortgage rate lock-in effect,” said Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at the real estate brokerage Redfin.Fairweather estimated the government purchases of mortgage debt could shave 0.25 to 0.5 percentage points off the rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. But the purchases wouldn’t address other factors such as a chronic shortage of homes on the market, which has helped make homeownership unaffordable for many Americans, she cautioned.Mortgage rates have been averaging around 6.2%, according to Freddie Mac, which went into conservatorship along with Fannie Mae in 2008 when the U.S. economy crashed during the Great Recession. Thirty-year mortgage rates haven’t been below 6% since September 2022.“Lowering mortgage rates by maybe a quarter point or half a point maybe will encourage more demand on the margins, but I don’t think it’s going to solve the restrictions that exist in the housing market,” Fairweather said.There is also a risk because Trump would be spending the cash reserves that are supposed to help be a buffer against an economic downturn akin to what happened during the Great Recession. In a sense, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae could be more vulnerable if anything negative happens to the housing market, meaning Trump is betting that possibility is highly unlikely.Separately, the Fed holds roughly $2 trillion worth of mortgage-backed securities on its balance sheet. That’s down from $2.7 trillion in June 2022. The Fed began to unwind its mortgage-debt holdings as the U.S. economy recovered from the global pandemic.Mortgage rates began to climb as inflation spiked coming out of the global pandemic, with the consumer price index hitting a four-decade high in 2022. The average mortgage rate is down from nearly 7% at the start of Trump’s second term last year, yet the decrease has done little to reassure a public that feels pressure from the costs of housing, food and energy.When interest rates fall it can become cheaper to service housing debt on a monthly basis. The reduced monthly payments can improve affordability for a period until home prices adjust in response to changes in the rates. There was roughly $21.1 trillion in outstanding mortgage debt as of the middle of last year, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve.Many homeowners took advantage of low interest rates during the pandemic to refinance their mortgages at rates of 3% or lower.Trump last month said he planned to unveil housing reforms -- and on Wednesday he said he wants to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-housing-plan-investors-davos-6ec9f96c03d16c0714a6804c5f703db2">block institutional investors</a>&nbsp;from buying houses.___Veiga contributed from Los Angeles.

Trump taking action to make buying a home more affordable

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman is going to prison for a DUI crash that killed a teen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717510102482.png" alt="Greer -photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Greer -photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman is going to prison for a DUI crash that killed a teen.&nbsp;On Friday Judge Quinton Pittman sentenced 43-year-old Trisha Greer of Derby to 42 months in prison for the DUI crash that&nbsp; killed 18-year-old Bethany Aillen Callista Leggio in May of 2024, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.--------------SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman will learn her fate for a deadly DUI crash that killed a teen.Trisha Greer, 43, will appear in Judge Quinton Pittman's courtroom for sentencing on Friday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In October, Greer pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence before Judge Pittman. She originally pleading not guilty in June and was to face a jury trial.Just after 11p.m. May 14, 2024, Greer was driving without headlights at 55th Street South and Hoover, according to Sheriff's Lt Nathan Gibbs. The vehicle struck and killed 18-year-old Bethany Aillen Callista Leggio who was standing with a group of people at the location.Greer was booked into jail just after 1a.m. the following morning, according to online jail records. She met the requirements of bond and is no longer in custody.&nbsp;Sentencing is scheduled for January 29, according to the district attorney's office.