ELLIS COUNTY —Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident in Hays.

Just before 6p.m. Saturday, police responded to the report of an injury accident in the 1400 block of Hall Street in Hays, according to a media release. Officers arrived to find citizens assisting a pedestrian that had been struck by a car while crossing Hall Street.

According to police, the preliminary investigation indicates that a vehicle traveling northbound on Hall Street struck the pedestrian, an 82-year-old Hays resident, while he was crossing Hall Street in the crosswalk near 15th Street.

The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle remained on scene and cooperated with law enforcement.

The pedestrian received emergency treatment at the scene and was transported to HaysMed, 2220 Canterbury Drive. He was later air-lifted to a Wichita trauma center. He died during the transport, according to police.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is encouraged to contact Hays Police Department Detective Dave Gillan at (785) 625-1030.

ELLIS COUNTY —Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident in Hays.Just before 6p.m. Saturday, police responded to the report of an injury accident in the 1400 block of Hall Street in Hays, according to a media release. Officers arrived to find citizens assisting a pedestrian that had been struck by a car while crossing Hall Street.According to police, the preliminary investigation indicates that a vehicle traveling northbound on Hall Street struck the pedestrian, an 82-year-old Hays resident, while he was crossing Hall Street in the crosswalk near 15th Street.The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle remained on scene and cooperated with law enforcement.The pedestrian received emergency treatment at the scene and was transported to HaysMed, 2220 Canterbury Drive. He was later air-lifted to a Wichita trauma center. He died during the transport, according to police.Anyone with information relating to this incident is encouraged to contact Hays Police Department Detective Dave Gillan at (785) 625-1030.

82-year-old Kan. man dies after struck by car in crosswalk

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of cutting the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccine-trump-science-autism-9b99621b01f11b7f0bdc81e5a0b82d2b">vaccines</a>&nbsp;it recommends for every child — a move that leading medical groups said would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases.

The change is effective immediately, meaning that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-vaccine-recommendations-data-b4eeba69e03a8d4ed50fb0a12fbcec6e">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;will now recommend that all children get vaccinated against 11 diseases. What's no longer broadly recommended is protection against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-flu-cases-cdc-subclade-k-29cc5a68eb100585c8e0dbd2ec47b3eb">flu</a>, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis or RSV. Instead, protections against those diseases are only recommended for certain groups deemed high risk, or when doctors recommend them in what's called “shared decision-making.”

Trump administration officials said the overhaul, a move long sought by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccine-trump-science-autism-9b99621b01f11b7f0bdc81e5a0b82d2b">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, won't result in families who want the vaccines losing access to them, and said insurance will continue to pay. But medical experts said the decision creates confusion for parents and could increase preventable diseases.

States, not the federal government, have the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren. While CDC requirements often influence those state regulations, some states have begun&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-west-coast-vaccines-trump-fd5ce557532a3c9f37b77ff9f14b07b9">creating their own alliances</a>&nbsp;to counter the Trump administration’s guidance on vaccines.

The change comes as U.S. vaccination rates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">have been slipping</a>&nbsp;and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, according to federal data. At the same time, rates of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-measles-polio-whooping-cough-rubella-af4cd1aef8f408a960601df6372f9c32">diseases</a>&nbsp;that can be protected against with vaccines, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">measles</a>&nbsp;and whooping cough, are rising across the country.

Review came at the request of President Trump

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the overhaul was in response to a request from President Donald Trump in December. Trump asked the agency to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising U.S. guidance accordingly.

HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.

“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Kennedy said in a statement Monday.

Among those left on the recommended-for-everyone list are vaccines against measles, whooping cough, polio, tetanus, chickenpox and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cervical-cancer-hpv-virus-ae8d7f9d6b6a94dd468f4af665fd0600">human papillomavirus</a>, or HPV. The guidance reduces the number of recommended vaccine doses against HPV from two or three shots depending on age to one for most children.

Medical experts said Monday's changes without what they said was public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk.

“Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics said countries carefully consider vaccine recommendations based on levels of disease in their populations and their health systems.

“You can’t just copy and paste public health and that’s what they seem to be doing here,” said O’Leary. “Literally children's health and children's lives are at stake.”

Most high-income countries recommend vaccinations against a dozen to 15 serious pathogens, according to a recent review by the Vaccine Integrity Project, a group that works to safeguard vaccine use.

France today recommends all children get vaccinated against 14 diseases, compared to the 11 that the U.S. now will recommend for every child under the new schedule.

The changes were made by political appointees, without any evidence that the current recommendations were harming children, O'Leary said.

The pediatricians' group has issued its own childhood vaccine schedule that its members are following, and it continues to broadly recommend vaccines that the Trump administration demoted.

O'Leary singled out the flu vaccine, which the government and leading medical experts have long urged for nearly everyone starting at age 6 months. He said the government is “pretty tone deaf” for ending its recommendation while the country is at the beginning of a severe flu season, and after 280 children died from flu last winter, the most since 2009.

Even a disease that parents may not have heard of, rotavirus, could come roaring back if vaccination erodes, he added. That diarrheal disease once hospitalized thousands of children each winter, something that no longer happens.

The decision was made without input from an advisory committee that typically consults on the vaccine schedule, said senior officials at HHS. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the changes publicly.

The officials added that the new recommendations were a collaborative effort between federal health agencies but wouldn’t specify who was consulted.

Scientists at the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases were asked to present to the agency’s political leadership about vaccine schedules in other countries in December, but they were not allowed to give any recommendations and were not aware of any decisions about vaccine schedule changes, said Abby Tighe, executive director of the National Public Health Coalition, an advocacy organization of current and former CDC employees and their supporters.

“Changes of this magnitude require careful review, expert and public input, and clear scientific justification. That level of rigor and transparency was not part of this decision,” said Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, of the American Medical Association. “The scientific evidence remains unchanged, and the AMA supports continued access to childhood immunizations recommended by national medical specialty societies.”

The move comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rfk-gold-standard-science-research-autism-6e4c6bc2534252ab1e7add0942043778">Kennedy</a>, a longtime activist against vaccines, has repeatedly used his authority in government to translate his skepticism about the shots into national guidance.

In May, Kennedy announced the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women — a move immediately questioned by public health experts who saw no new data to justify the change.

In June, Kennedy fired an entire 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee — later installing several of his own replacements, including multiple vaccine skeptics.

Kennedy in November also personally directed the CDC to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-autism-vaccines-7b1890f626dd5921fafd00fdd1e6425a">abandon its position</a>&nbsp;that vaccines do not cause autism, without supplying any new evidence to support the change.

Swenson reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767645053047.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. took the unprecedented step Monday of cutting the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccine-trump-science-autism-9b99621b01f11b7f0bdc81e5a0b82d2b">vaccines</a>&nbsp;it recommends for every child — a move that leading medical groups said would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases.The change is effective immediately, meaning that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-vaccine-recommendations-data-b4eeba69e03a8d4ed50fb0a12fbcec6e">U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>&nbsp;will now recommend that all children get vaccinated against 11 diseases. What's no longer broadly recommended is protection against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-flu-cases-cdc-subclade-k-29cc5a68eb100585c8e0dbd2ec47b3eb">flu</a>, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis or RSV. Instead, protections against those diseases are only recommended for certain groups deemed high risk, or when doctors recommend them in what's called “shared decision-making.”Trump administration officials said the overhaul, a move long sought by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccine-trump-science-autism-9b99621b01f11b7f0bdc81e5a0b82d2b">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, won't result in families who want the vaccines losing access to them, and said insurance will continue to pay. But medical experts said the decision creates confusion for parents and could increase preventable diseases.States, not the federal government, have the authority to require vaccinations for schoolchildren. While CDC requirements often influence those state regulations, some states have begun&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-west-coast-vaccines-trump-fd5ce557532a3c9f37b77ff9f14b07b9">creating their own alliances</a>&nbsp;to counter the Trump administration’s guidance on vaccines.The change comes as U.S. vaccination rates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">have been slipping</a>&nbsp;and the share of children with exemptions has reached an all-time high, according to federal data. At the same time, rates of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-measles-polio-whooping-cough-rubella-af4cd1aef8f408a960601df6372f9c32">diseases</a>&nbsp;that can be protected against with vaccines, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">measles</a>&nbsp;and whooping cough, are rising across the country.<h2>Review came at the request of President Trump</h2>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the overhaul was in response to a request from President Donald Trump in December. Trump asked the agency to review how peer nations approach vaccine recommendations and consider revising U.S. guidance accordingly.HHS said its comparison to 20 peer nations found that the U.S. was an “outlier” in both the number of vaccinations and the number of doses it recommended to all children. Officials with the agency framed the change as a way to increase public trust by recommending only the most important vaccinations for children to receive.“This decision protects children, respects families, and rebuilds trust in public health,” Kennedy said in a statement Monday.Among those left on the recommended-for-everyone list are vaccines against measles, whooping cough, polio, tetanus, chickenpox and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cervical-cancer-hpv-virus-ae8d7f9d6b6a94dd468f4af665fd0600">human papillomavirus</a>, or HPV. The guidance reduces the number of recommended vaccine doses against HPV from two or three shots depending on age to one for most children.Medical experts said Monday's changes without what they said was public discussion or a transparent review of the data would put children at risk.“Abandoning recommendations for vaccines that prevent influenza, hepatitis and rotavirus, and changing the recommendation for HPV without a public process to weigh the risks and benefits, will lead to more hospitalizations and preventable deaths among American children,” said Michael Osterholm of the Vaccine Integrity Project, based at the University of Minnesota.Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics said countries carefully consider vaccine recommendations based on levels of disease in their populations and their health systems.“You can’t just copy and paste public health and that’s what they seem to be doing here,” said O’Leary. “Literally children's health and children's lives are at stake.”Most high-income countries recommend vaccinations against a dozen to 15 serious pathogens, according to a recent review by the Vaccine Integrity Project, a group that works to safeguard vaccine use.France today recommends all children get vaccinated against 14 diseases, compared to the 11 that the U.S. now will recommend for every child under the new schedule.<h2>Doctors' groups criticize decision</h2>The changes were made by political appointees, without any evidence that the current recommendations were harming children, O'Leary said.The pediatricians' group has issued its own childhood vaccine schedule that its members are following, and it continues to broadly recommend vaccines that the Trump administration demoted.O'Leary singled out the flu vaccine, which the government and leading medical experts have long urged for nearly everyone starting at age 6 months. He said the government is “pretty tone deaf” for ending its recommendation while the country is at the beginning of a severe flu season, and after 280 children died from flu last winter, the most since 2009.Even a disease that parents may not have heard of, rotavirus, could come roaring back if vaccination erodes, he added. That diarrheal disease once hospitalized thousands of children each winter, something that no longer happens.The decision was made without input from an advisory committee that typically consults on the vaccine schedule, said senior officials at HHS. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the changes publicly.The officials added that the new recommendations were a collaborative effort between federal health agencies but wouldn’t specify who was consulted.Scientists at the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases were asked to present to the agency’s political leadership about vaccine schedules in other countries in December, but they were not allowed to give any recommendations and were not aware of any decisions about vaccine schedule changes, said Abby Tighe, executive director of the National Public Health Coalition, an advocacy organization of current and former CDC employees and their supporters.“Changes of this magnitude require careful review, expert and public input, and clear scientific justification. That level of rigor and transparency was not part of this decision,” said Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, of the American Medical Association. “The scientific evidence remains unchanged, and the AMA supports continued access to childhood immunizations recommended by national medical specialty societies.”<h2>Kennedy is a longtime vaccine skeptic</h2>The move comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rfk-gold-standard-science-research-autism-6e4c6bc2534252ab1e7add0942043778">Kennedy</a>, a longtime activist against vaccines, has repeatedly used his authority in government to translate his skepticism about the shots into national guidance.In May, Kennedy announced the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnant women — a move immediately questioned by public health experts who saw no new data to justify the change.In June, Kennedy fired an entire 17-member CDC vaccine advisory committee — later installing several of his own replacements, including multiple vaccine skeptics.Kennedy in November also personally directed the CDC to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-autism-vaccines-7b1890f626dd5921fafd00fdd1e6425a">abandon its position</a>&nbsp;that vaccines do not cause autism, without supplying any new evidence to support the change.___Swenson reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mike Stobbe contributed to this report.

Unprecedented move: CDC overhauls childhood vaccine schedule

NEW YORK (AP) — A defiant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-trump-military-operation-85041a1ec03bafe839b785a95169d694">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;declared himself "the president of my country” as he protested his capture and pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges that the Trump administration used to justify removing him from power in Venezuela.

“I was captured,” Maduro said in Spanish as translated by a courtroom reporter before being cut off by the judge. Asked later for his plea to the charges, he stated: "I’m innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country.”

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1422326/dl">Click here to read the new indictment</a>&nbsp;against Maduro and his wife

The courtroom appearance, Maduro's first since he and his wife were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">seized from their home</a>&nbsp;in a stunning middle-of-the-night military operation, kicked off the U.S. government’s most consequential prosecution in decades of a foreign head of state. The criminal case in Manhattan is unfolding against a broader diplomatic backdrop of an audacious U.S.-engineered regime change that President Donald Trump has said will enable his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-trump-military-operation-85041a1ec03bafe839b785a95169d694">to “run” the South American country.</a>Pro

Maduro was led into court along with his co-defendant wife just before noon for the brief legal proceeding. Both put on headsets to hear the English-language proceeding as it was translated into Spanish.

The couple was transported to the Manhattan courthouse under armed guard early Monday from the Brooklyn jail where they've been detained since arriving in the U.S. on Saturday.

As a criminal defendant in the U.S. legal system, Maduro will have the same rights as any other person accused of a crime — including the right to a trial by a jury of regular New Yorkers. But he’ll also be nearly — but not quite — unique.

The stakes were made clear from the outset as Maduro, who took copious notes throughout the proceedings and wished a Happy New Year to reporters in court, repeatedly pressed his case that he had been unlawfully abducted.

“I am here kidnapped," Maduro said. “I was captured at my home in Caracas.”

U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a 92-year-old jurist who was appointed to the federal bench in 1998 by Bill Clinton, interrupted him, saying: “There will be time and place to go through all of this." Hellerstein added that Maduro’s attorney could do so later.

“At this time, I just want to know if you are Nicolás Maduro Moros,” which Maduro confirmed that he was.

Maduro’s lawyers are expected to contest the legality of his arrest, arguing that he is immune from prosecution as head of state. Barry Pollack, a prominent Washington lawyer whose clients have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/julian-assange">included WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange</a>, said Maduro is "head of a sovereign state and entitled to the privilege” that the status ensures. He also said the defense would raise “questions about the legality of his military abduction.”

Panamanian strongman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3fe8263a03504924b32f09b7fb0db0e6">Manuel Noriega</a>&nbsp;unsuccessfully&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-noriega-prosecution-legal-immunity-venezuela-panama-c0df9b1ecda36e9e1912729fa7ebf9e4">tried the same immunity defense</a>&nbsp;after the U.S. captured him in a similar military invasion in 1990. But the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state — particularly after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-presidential-election-maduro-machado-edmundo-5ce255ae90614162590bfe1207d2e1d0">much-disputed 2024 reelection</a>.

Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty on Monday. She had bandages on her forehead and right temple, and her lawyer said had she suffered “significant injuries” during her capture.

<a href="https://apnews.com/interactive/us-indicts-venezuela-maduro/">A 25-page indictment</a>&nbsp;accuses Maduro and others of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-indictment-justice-department-trump-bondi-25a6fbd922472296c744eb5111cd914c">thousands of tons of cocaine</a>&nbsp;into the U.S. They could face life in prison if convicted.

Among other things, the indictment accuses Maduro and his wife of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money or undermined their drug trafficking operation. That included a local drug boss’ killing in Caracas, the indictment said.

Outside the courthouse, police separated protesters of the U.S. military action from pro-intervention demonstrators. Inside the courtroom, as Maduro stood to leave with federal officers, a man in the audience stood and began speaking forcefully at him in Spanish, calling him an “illegitimate” president.

The man, 33-year-old Pedro Rojas, said later that he had been imprisoned by the Venezuelan regime. As deputy U.S. marshals led Maduro from the courtroom, the deposed leader looked directly at the man and shot back in Spanish: “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.”

The U.S. seized Maduro and his wife in a military operation early Saturday, capturing them in their home on a military base. Trump said Saturday the U.S. would “run” Venezuela temporarily and reiterated Sunday night that “we're in charge,” telling reporters aboard Air Force One that “we're going to run it, fix it.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had tried to strike a more cautious tone on Sunday morning talk shows, saying the U.S. would not govern the country day-to-day other than enforcing an existing ”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-maduro-oil-tankers-625a7c9a3106e316c97ceb68a42a1cb5">oil quarantine</a>.”

Before his capture, Maduro and his allies claimed U.S. hostility was motivated by lust for Venezuela’s rich oil and mineral resources.

Trump has suggested that removing Maduro would enable more oil to flow out of Venezuela, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-venezuela-trump-gas-67c87db7e47d15e3bf01df7fe4d560b2">oil prices</a>&nbsp;rose a bit more than 1% in Monday morning trading to roughly $58 a barrel. There are uncertainties about how fast oil production can be ramped up in Venezuela after years of neglect, as well as questions about governance and oversight of the sector.

Venezuela’s new interim leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">Delcy Rodríguez</a>, has demanded that the U.S. return Maduro, who long denied any involvement in drug trafficking — although late Sunday she also struck a more conciliatory tone in a social media post, inviting collaboration with Trump and “respectful relations” with the U.S.

Rodríguez was sworn in on Monday by her brother, National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez.

“I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland,” she said with her right hand up. “I come with sorrow for the kidnapping of two heroes."

Maduro’s son and Venezuelan congressman Nicolás Maduro Guerra warned on Monday that his father's capture could set a dangerous precedent globally and demanded that his parents be returned.

“If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe. Today it’s Venezuela. Tomorrow it could be any nation that refuses to submit. This is not a regional problem. It is a direct threat to global political stability,” Maduro Guerra said

Also Monday, the United Nations Security Council&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-united-nations-maduro-trump-waltz-1433e10bbb800fb41b21a70c7501ad88">held an emergency meeting</a>, with the top U.N. official warning that America may have violated international law with its unilateral action. The world body also spotlighted the profound humanitarian needs in Venezuela. Its people have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-black-friday-maduro-trump-drug-strikes-dcca2242e7326865419d45eb48a0ca1b">endured a yearslong, complex economic crisis</a>.

Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, Megan Janetsky in Mexico City, Farnoush Amiri and Jennifer Peltz at the United Nations, Josh Boak in Baltimore, Maryland, Darlene Superville aboard Air Force One and Joshua Goodman in Miami contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767635791159.png" alt="Nicolas Maduro escorted into court -image courtesy CSPAN via WABC TV" />
 <figcaption>Nicolas Maduro escorted into court -image courtesy CSPAN via WABC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A defiant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-trump-military-operation-85041a1ec03bafe839b785a95169d694">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;declared himself "the president of my country” as he protested his capture and pleaded not guilty Monday to federal drug trafficking charges that the Trump administration used to justify removing him from power in Venezuela.“I was captured,” Maduro said in Spanish as translated by a courtroom reporter before being cut off by the judge. Asked later for his plea to the charges, he stated: "I’m innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the president of my country.”<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1422326/dl">Click here to read the new indictment</a>&nbsp;against Maduro and his wifeThe courtroom appearance, Maduro's first since he and his wife were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">seized from their home</a>&nbsp;in a stunning middle-of-the-night military operation, kicked off the U.S. government’s most consequential prosecution in decades of a foreign head of state. The criminal case in Manhattan is unfolding against a broader diplomatic backdrop of an audacious U.S.-engineered regime change that President Donald Trump has said will enable his administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-trump-military-operation-85041a1ec03bafe839b785a95169d694">to “run” the South American country.</a>Pro<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767635764793.png" alt="Protestors outside the courtroom in New York -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Protestors outside the courtroom in New York -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Maduro was led into court along with his co-defendant wife just before noon for the brief legal proceeding. Both put on headsets to hear the English-language proceeding as it was translated into Spanish.The couple was transported to the Manhattan courthouse under armed guard early Monday from the Brooklyn jail where they've been detained since arriving in the U.S. on Saturday.<h2>A legal fight begins</h2>As a criminal defendant in the U.S. legal system, Maduro will have the same rights as any other person accused of a crime — including the right to a trial by a jury of regular New Yorkers. But he’ll also be nearly — but not quite — unique.The stakes were made clear from the outset as Maduro, who took copious notes throughout the proceedings and wished a Happy New Year to reporters in court, repeatedly pressed his case that he had been unlawfully abducted.“I am here kidnapped," Maduro said. “I was captured at my home in Caracas.”U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein, a 92-year-old jurist who was appointed to the federal bench in 1998 by Bill Clinton, interrupted him, saying: “There will be time and place to go through all of this." Hellerstein added that Maduro’s attorney could do so later.“At this time, I just want to know if you are Nicolás Maduro Moros,” which Maduro confirmed that he was.Maduro’s lawyers are expected to contest the legality of his arrest, arguing that he is immune from prosecution as head of state. Barry Pollack, a prominent Washington lawyer whose clients have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/julian-assange">included WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange</a>, said Maduro is "head of a sovereign state and entitled to the privilege” that the status ensures. He also said the defense would raise “questions about the legality of his military abduction.”Panamanian strongman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3fe8263a03504924b32f09b7fb0db0e6">Manuel Noriega</a>&nbsp;unsuccessfully&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-noriega-prosecution-legal-immunity-venezuela-panama-c0df9b1ecda36e9e1912729fa7ebf9e4">tried the same immunity defense</a>&nbsp;after the U.S. captured him in a similar military invasion in 1990. But the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state — particularly after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-presidential-election-maduro-machado-edmundo-5ce255ae90614162590bfe1207d2e1d0">much-disputed 2024 reelection</a>.Maduro's wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty on Monday. She had bandages on her forehead and right temple, and her lawyer said had she suffered “significant injuries” during her capture.<a href="https://apnews.com/interactive/us-indicts-venezuela-maduro/">A 25-page indictment</a>&nbsp;accuses Maduro and others of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maduro-indictment-justice-department-trump-bondi-25a6fbd922472296c744eb5111cd914c">thousands of tons of cocaine</a>&nbsp;into the U.S. They could face life in prison if convicted.Among other things, the indictment accuses Maduro and his wife of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money or undermined their drug trafficking operation. That included a local drug boss’ killing in Caracas, the indictment said.Outside the courthouse, police separated protesters of the U.S. military action from pro-intervention demonstrators. Inside the courtroom, as Maduro stood to leave with federal officers, a man in the audience stood and began speaking forcefully at him in Spanish, calling him an “illegitimate” president.The man, 33-year-old Pedro Rojas, said later that he had been imprisoned by the Venezuelan regime. As deputy U.S. marshals led Maduro from the courtroom, the deposed leader looked directly at the man and shot back in Spanish: “I am a kidnapped president. I am a prisoner of war.”<h2>Demands for Maduro's return</h2>The U.S. seized Maduro and his wife in a military operation early Saturday, capturing them in their home on a military base. Trump said Saturday the U.S. would “run” Venezuela temporarily and reiterated Sunday night that “we're in charge,” telling reporters aboard Air Force One that “we're going to run it, fix it.”Secretary of State Marco Rubio had tried to strike a more cautious tone on Sunday morning talk shows, saying the U.S. would not govern the country day-to-day other than enforcing an existing ”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-maduro-oil-tankers-625a7c9a3106e316c97ceb68a42a1cb5">oil quarantine</a>.”Before his capture, Maduro and his allies claimed U.S. hostility was motivated by lust for Venezuela’s rich oil and mineral resources.Trump has suggested that removing Maduro would enable more oil to flow out of Venezuela, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-oil-venezuela-trump-gas-67c87db7e47d15e3bf01df7fe4d560b2">oil prices</a>&nbsp;rose a bit more than 1% in Monday morning trading to roughly $58 a barrel. There are uncertainties about how fast oil production can be ramped up in Venezuela after years of neglect, as well as questions about governance and oversight of the sector.Venezuela’s new interim leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-interim-president-rodriguez-maduro-chavez-b352b5af17deb0ab78684b8398045179">Delcy Rodríguez</a>, has demanded that the U.S. return Maduro, who long denied any involvement in drug trafficking — although late Sunday she also struck a more conciliatory tone in a social media post, inviting collaboration with Trump and “respectful relations” with the U.S.Rodríguez was sworn in on Monday by her brother, National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez.“I come with sorrow for the suffering inflicted upon the Venezuelan people following an illegitimate military aggression against our homeland,” she said with her right hand up. “I come with sorrow for the kidnapping of two heroes."Maduro’s son and Venezuelan congressman Nicolás Maduro Guerra warned on Monday that his father's capture could set a dangerous precedent globally and demanded that his parents be returned.“If we normalize the kidnapping of a head of state, no country is safe. Today it’s Venezuela. Tomorrow it could be any nation that refuses to submit. This is not a regional problem. It is a direct threat to global political stability,” Maduro Guerra saidAlso Monday, the United Nations Security Council&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-united-nations-maduro-trump-waltz-1433e10bbb800fb41b21a70c7501ad88">held an emergency meeting</a>, with the top U.N. official warning that America may have violated international law with its unilateral action. The world body also spotlighted the profound humanitarian needs in Venezuela. Its people have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-black-friday-maduro-trump-drug-strikes-dcca2242e7326865419d45eb48a0ca1b">endured a yearslong, complex economic crisis</a>.___Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, Megan Janetsky in Mexico City, Farnoush Amiri and Jennifer Peltz at the United Nations, Josh Boak in Baltimore, Maryland, Darlene Superville aboard Air Force One and Joshua Goodman in Miami contributed to this report.

What Maduro and wife told the judge during court appearance

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Wichita Police arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with a shooting that left a teen wounded.&nbsp;

Just after 9:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to a local hospital regarding a walk-in shooting involving a 17-year-old boy.

Preliminary investigations indicate the victim was visiting friends in the 2900 block of North Vassar Avenue when the suspect fired a single round, striking the victim in the cheek and upper torso.

Officers responded to the residence where they recovered a firearm and arrested a 15-year-old boy. He was booked into the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center on requested charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and criminal use of a weapon.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Wichita Police arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection with a shooting that left a teen wounded.&nbsp;Just after 9:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to a local hospital regarding a walk-in shooting involving a 17-year-old boy.Preliminary investigations indicate the victim was visiting friends in the 2900 block of North Vassar Avenue when the suspect fired a single round, striking the victim in the cheek and upper torso.Officers responded to the residence where they recovered a firearm and arrested a 15-year-old boy. He was booked into the Juvenile Intake Assessment Center on requested charges of aggravated battery with a firearm and criminal use of a weapon.

15-year-old Kan. boy accused of shooting teen in the face

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks gained ground on Wall Street Monday to kick off their first full week of the new year.

The gains were broad, with particularly big jumps for energy companies and banks. Elsewhere, industrial companies and retailers joined in to help boost major indexes.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 43.58 points, or 0.6%, to 6,902.05. The benchmark index is just below its record set in late December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a record, rising 594.79 points, or 1.2%, to 48,977.18.

The Nasdaq composite rose 160.19 points, or 0.7%, to 23,395.82.

Smaller company stocks had a particularly strong day, outpacing other indexes, in a sign of broader investor confidence. The Russell 2000 rose 1.6%.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-trump-maduro-opec-0068fa49b414fafe8ccd4de0818a3dd5">Energy companies</a>&nbsp;and the oil market were a key focus after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a weekend raid. The price of U.S. crude jumped 1.7% to $58.32 per barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, rose 1.7% to $61.76 per barrel.

President Donald Trump has floated a plan for U.S. oil companies to help rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry. Chevron jumped 5.1%, Exxon Mobil rose 2.2% and Halliburton surged 7.8% for some of the strongest gains in the market.

After years of neglect and international sanctions,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-prices-trump-0c2c6ede79d550af53e6d3ddb51bfa04">Venezuela’s oil industry</a>&nbsp;is in disrepair. It could take years and major investments before production can increase dramatically. But some analysts expect its current output of about 1.1 million barrels a day could double or triple fairly quickly.

Big banks also made solid gains. JPMorgan Chase rose 2.6% and Bank of America jumped 1.7%.

Wall Street is also watching the technology sector as the industry kicks off its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ces-tech-show-vegas-2026-30817b261862e786a81d361e794c78b4">annual CES trade show in Las Vegas</a>. Nvidia fell 0.4% and Applied Materials jumped 5.7%.

Investors are particularly focused on advancements in artificial intelligence, or AI. The sector led the broader market to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wall-street-stocks-bonds-crypto-tariffs-ai-539ae5ec338d19f52116e97d38300c28">series of records in 2025</a>&nbsp;on expectations that AI will continue to drive advancements and profits for a wide range of technology companies. The latest updates on AI from influential technology companies could help shed more light on whether the big investments are worth the potential financial risks.

Companies like Nvidia have been heavily investing in the technology, while investors on Wall Street have made those companies among the most valuable in the world. Their outsized valuations now drive much of the movement for major indexes, including the record run for major indexes in 2025.

The broader market is poised to gain even more ground as last year's momentum continues with growing corporate earnings and several other factors, according to Mark Hackett, chief market strategist at Nationwide.

“The market’s broad, confident and consistent march upward, and the absence of emotion-based selling, tells you we’re starting the year on pretty solid footing,” Hackett wrote, in a note to investors.

Gold gained 2.8% and the price of silver soared 7.9%. Such assets are often considered safe havens in times of geopolitical turmoil. The metals have notched record prices over the last year amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-jobs-71f3d52f0fd63b34f4a8c59c60ffbe20">lingering economic concerns</a>&nbsp;brought on by conflicts and trade wars.

Bitcoin rose to its highest level since mid-November, hitting $94,700. Coinbase jumped 7.8% and Robinhood Markets jumped 7% for two of the markets biggest gains.

Treasury yields fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.15% from 4.19% late Friday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-jobs-economy-3c48a2e88f04b70e993020712c8684b2">what the Federal Reserve will do</a>, fell to 3.45% from 3.48% late Friday.

Wall Street will get several economic updates this week that will also be watched by the Fed as it determines interest rate policy.

On Monday, the Institute for Supply Management released its manufacturing index for December showing the sector continued shrinking. More importantly, the business group will release its December report on the services sector on Wednesday. The services sector makes up the bulk of the U.S. economy and it grew, even if only slightly, throughout most of 2025.

Reports on the job market later this week, which include updates for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/employment-economy-jobs-inflation-50e7289432a25062824bfb5a8a219113">job openings</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-trump-unemployment-federal-reserve-cf1280a8466d92fbbc1b5ace7b80bffc">overall employment</a>, will be a bigger focus for the Fed. The central bank has been weighing a slowing job market against risks for rising inflation as it decides whether to cut interest rates. It cut its benchmark rate three times late in 2025, but inflation has remained above its 2% target and that has made the Fed more cautious.

Wall Street still expects the Fed to hold rates steady at its upcoming meeting later in January.

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks gained ground on Wall Street Monday to kick off their first full week of the new year.The gains were broad, with particularly big jumps for energy companies and banks. Elsewhere, industrial companies and retailers joined in to help boost major indexes.The S&amp;P 500 rose 43.58 points, or 0.6%, to 6,902.05. The benchmark index is just below its record set in late December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average set a record, rising 594.79 points, or 1.2%, to 48,977.18.The Nasdaq composite rose 160.19 points, or 0.7%, to 23,395.82.Smaller company stocks had a particularly strong day, outpacing other indexes, in a sign of broader investor confidence. The Russell 2000 rose 1.6%.Markets in Europe also gained ground.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-trump-maduro-opec-0068fa49b414fafe8ccd4de0818a3dd5">Energy companies</a>&nbsp;and the oil market were a key focus after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a weekend raid. The price of U.S. crude jumped 1.7% to $58.32 per barrel. The price of Brent crude, the international standard, rose 1.7% to $61.76 per barrel.President Donald Trump has floated a plan for U.S. oil companies to help rebuild Venezuela’s oil industry. Chevron jumped 5.1%, Exxon Mobil rose 2.2% and Halliburton surged 7.8% for some of the strongest gains in the market.After years of neglect and international sanctions,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-prices-trump-0c2c6ede79d550af53e6d3ddb51bfa04">Venezuela’s oil industry</a>&nbsp;is in disrepair. It could take years and major investments before production can increase dramatically. But some analysts expect its current output of about 1.1 million barrels a day could double or triple fairly quickly.Big banks also made solid gains. JPMorgan Chase rose 2.6% and Bank of America jumped 1.7%.Wall Street is also watching the technology sector as the industry kicks off its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ces-tech-show-vegas-2026-30817b261862e786a81d361e794c78b4">annual CES trade show in Las Vegas</a>. Nvidia fell 0.4% and Applied Materials jumped 5.7%.Investors are particularly focused on advancements in artificial intelligence, or AI. The sector led the broader market to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wall-street-stocks-bonds-crypto-tariffs-ai-539ae5ec338d19f52116e97d38300c28">series of records in 2025</a>&nbsp;on expectations that AI will continue to drive advancements and profits for a wide range of technology companies. The latest updates on AI from influential technology companies could help shed more light on whether the big investments are worth the potential financial risks.Companies like Nvidia have been heavily investing in the technology, while investors on Wall Street have made those companies among the most valuable in the world. Their outsized valuations now drive much of the movement for major indexes, including the record run for major indexes in 2025.The broader market is poised to gain even more ground as last year's momentum continues with growing corporate earnings and several other factors, according to Mark Hackett, chief market strategist at Nationwide.“The market’s broad, confident and consistent march upward, and the absence of emotion-based selling, tells you we’re starting the year on pretty solid footing,” Hackett wrote, in a note to investors.Gold gained 2.8% and the price of silver soared 7.9%. Such assets are often considered safe havens in times of geopolitical turmoil. The metals have notched record prices over the last year amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-jobs-71f3d52f0fd63b34f4a8c59c60ffbe20">lingering economic concerns</a>&nbsp;brought on by conflicts and trade wars.Bitcoin rose to its highest level since mid-November, hitting $94,700. Coinbase jumped 7.8% and Robinhood Markets jumped 7% for two of the markets biggest gains.Treasury yields fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.15% from 4.19% late Friday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which moves more closely with expectations for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-jobs-economy-3c48a2e88f04b70e993020712c8684b2">what the Federal Reserve will do</a>, fell to 3.45% from 3.48% late Friday.Wall Street will get several economic updates this week that will also be watched by the Fed as it determines interest rate policy.On Monday, the Institute for Supply Management released its manufacturing index for December showing the sector continued shrinking. More importantly, the business group will release its December report on the services sector on Wednesday. The services sector makes up the bulk of the U.S. economy and it grew, even if only slightly, throughout most of 2025.Reports on the job market later this week, which include updates for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/employment-economy-jobs-inflation-50e7289432a25062824bfb5a8a219113">job openings</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-trump-unemployment-federal-reserve-cf1280a8466d92fbbc1b5ace7b80bffc">overall employment</a>, will be a bigger focus for the Fed. The central bank has been weighing a slowing job market against risks for rising inflation as it decides whether to cut interest rates. It cut its benchmark rate three times late in 2025, but inflation has remained above its 2% target and that has made the Fed more cautious.Wall Street still expects the Fed to hold rates steady at its upcoming meeting later in January.___

Oil stocks sharply higher after US action in Venezuela

LONDON (AP) — Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss, the stepsister of teenage diarist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/anne-frank">Anne Frank</a>&nbsp;and a tireless educator about the horrors of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/70-of-jewish-holocaust-survivors-will-be-gone-in-the-next-10-years-a-report-shows/">the Holocaust</a>, has died. She was 96.

The Anne Frank Trust UK, of which Schloss was honorary president, said she died Saturday in London, where she lived.

Britain’s King Charles III said he was “privileged and proud” to have known Schloss, who co-founded the charitable trust to help young people challenge prejudice.

“The horrors that she endured as a young woman are impossible to comprehend and yet she devoted the rest of her life to overcoming hatred and prejudice, promoting kindness, courage, understanding and resilience through her tireless work for the Anne Frank Trust UK and for Holocaust education across the world,” the king said.

Born Eva Geiringer in Vienna in 1929, Schloss fled with her family to Amsterdam after Nazi Germany annexed Austria. She became friends with another Jewish girl of the same age, Anne Frank, whose diary would become one of the most famous chronicles of the Holocaust.

Like the Franks, Eva's family spent two years in hiding to avoid capture after the Nazis occupied the Netherlands. They were eventually betrayed, arrested and sent to the Auschwitz death camp.

Schloss and her mother Fritzi survived until the camp was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945. Her father Erich and brother Heinz died in Auschwitz.

After the war, Eva moved to Britain, married German Jewish refugee Zvi Schloss and settled in London.

In 1953, her mother married Frank’s father, Otto, the only member of his immediate family to survive. Anne Frank died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the age of 15, months before the end of the war.

Schloss did not speak publicly about her experiences for decades, later saying that wartime trauma had made her withdrawn and unable to connect with others.

“I was silent for years, first because I wasn’t allowed to speak. Then I repressed it. I was angry with the world,” she told The Associated Press in 2004.

But after she addressed the opening of an Anne Frank exhibition in London in 1986, Schloss made it her mission to educate younger generations about the Nazi genocide. Over the following decades she spoke in schools and prisons, at international conferences and told her story in books including “Eva’s Story: A Survivor’s Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank.”

She kept campaigning into her 90s. In 2019, she traveled to Newport Beach, California to meet teenagers who were photographed making Nazi salutes at a high school party. The following year she was part of a campaign urging Facebook to remove Holocaust-denying material from the social networking site.

“We must never forget the terrible consequences of treating people as ‘other,’” Schloss said in 2024. “We need to respect everybody’s races and religions. We need to live together with our differences. The only way to achieve this is through education, and the younger we start the better.”

Schloss’ family remembered her as “a remarkable woman: an Auschwitz survivor, a devoted Holocaust educator, tireless in her work for remembrance, understanding and peace.”

“We hope her legacy will continue to inspire through the books, films and resources she leaves behind,” the family said in a statement.

Zvi Schloss died in 2016. Eva Schloss is survived by their three daughters, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767630117018.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss, the stepsister of teenage diarist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/anne-frank">Anne Frank</a>&nbsp;and a tireless educator about the horrors of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/70-of-jewish-holocaust-survivors-will-be-gone-in-the-next-10-years-a-report-shows/">the Holocaust</a>, has died. She was 96.The Anne Frank Trust UK, of which Schloss was honorary president, said she died Saturday in London, where she lived.Britain’s King Charles III said he was “privileged and proud” to have known Schloss, who co-founded the charitable trust to help young people challenge prejudice.“The horrors that she endured as a young woman are impossible to comprehend and yet she devoted the rest of her life to overcoming hatred and prejudice, promoting kindness, courage, understanding and resilience through her tireless work for the Anne Frank Trust UK and for Holocaust education across the world,” the king said.Born Eva Geiringer in Vienna in 1929, Schloss fled with her family to Amsterdam after Nazi Germany annexed Austria. She became friends with another Jewish girl of the same age, Anne Frank, whose diary would become one of the most famous chronicles of the Holocaust.Like the Franks, Eva's family spent two years in hiding to avoid capture after the Nazis occupied the Netherlands. They were eventually betrayed, arrested and sent to the Auschwitz death camp.Schloss and her mother Fritzi survived until the camp was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945. Her father Erich and brother Heinz died in Auschwitz.After the war, Eva moved to Britain, married German Jewish refugee Zvi Schloss and settled in London.In 1953, her mother married Frank’s father, Otto, the only member of his immediate family to survive. Anne Frank died of typhus in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the age of 15, months before the end of the war.Schloss did not speak publicly about her experiences for decades, later saying that wartime trauma had made her withdrawn and unable to connect with others.“I was silent for years, first because I wasn’t allowed to speak. Then I repressed it. I was angry with the world,” she told The Associated Press in 2004.But after she addressed the opening of an Anne Frank exhibition in London in 1986, Schloss made it her mission to educate younger generations about the Nazi genocide. Over the following decades she spoke in schools and prisons, at international conferences and told her story in books including “Eva’s Story: A Survivor’s Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank.”She kept campaigning into her 90s. In 2019, she traveled to Newport Beach, California to meet teenagers who were photographed making Nazi salutes at a high school party. The following year she was part of a campaign urging Facebook to remove Holocaust-denying material from the social networking site.“We must never forget the terrible consequences of treating people as ‘other,’” Schloss said in 2024. “We need to respect everybody’s races and religions. We need to live together with our differences. The only way to achieve this is through education, and the younger we start the better.”Schloss’ family remembered her as “a remarkable woman: an Auschwitz survivor, a devoted Holocaust educator, tireless in her work for remembrance, understanding and peace.”“We hope her legacy will continue to inspire through the books, films and resources she leaves behind,” the family said in a statement.Zvi Schloss died in 2016. Eva Schloss is survived by their three daughters, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Holocaust survivor, stepsister of Anne Frank, dies at 96

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department will attempt to downgrade Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly’s retirement rank and pay, seeking to punish him for making a video along with other Democrats in Congress, who told members of the military they didn’t need to follow illegal orders.&nbsp;

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth originally threatened to recall Kelly from military retirement and court-martial him for his participation in the video, but announced Monday that the department would instead try to downgrade his rank of captain as well as his retirement pay.&nbsp;

“Captain Kelly has been provided notice of the basis for this action and has thirty days to submit a response,” Hegseth wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SecWar/status/2008189258528665898" target="_blank">a social media post</a>. “The retirement grade determination process directed by Secretary Hegseth will be completed within forty five days.”

Hegseth added that Kelly’s “status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action.”

Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenMarkKelly/status/2008215189275963870" target="_blank">wrote in a social media post</a>&nbsp;that he planned to challenge Hegseth’s attempt to alter his retirement rank and pay, arguing it’s an attempt to punish him for challenging the Trump administration.&nbsp;

“My rank and retirement are things that I earned through my service and sacrifice for this country. I got shot at. I missed holidays and birthdays. I commanded a space shuttle mission while my wife Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the head– all while proudly wearing the American flag on my shoulder,” Kelly wrote. “Generations of servicemembers have made these same patriotic sacrifices for this country, earning the respect, appreciation, and rank they deserve.”

Kelly added that Hegseth’s goal with the process is to “send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesn’t like, they will come after them the same way. It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that.”

Members of Congress are generally protected under&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/" target="_blank">the speech and debate clause</a>&nbsp;of the U.S. Constitution, which states that unless a lawmaker is involved in treason, felony and breach of the peace, they are “privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.”

The Defense Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26456656-secwar-letter-05jan26/#document/p1" target="_blank">letter of censure</a>&nbsp;to Kelly alleged that his participation in the video undermined the military chain of command, counseled disobedience, created confusion about duty, brought discredit upon the Armed Forces and included conduct unbecoming of an officer.&nbsp;

Hegseth wrote in that letter that if Kelly continues “to engage in conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline, you may subject yourself to criminal prosecution or further administrative action.”

The Department of Defense posted in late November that officials were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pentagon-investigates-arizona-sen-mark-kelly-after-he-appears-video-blasted-trump" target="_blank">looking into</a>&nbsp;“serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly for appearing in the video.&nbsp;

It didn’t detail how Kelly might have violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice but stated that “a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”&nbsp;

Hegseth&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DeptofWar/status/1993436056008507865/photo/1" target="_blank">referred</a>&nbsp;the issue to Navy Secretary John Phelan for any “review, consideration, and disposition” he deemed appropriate. Hegseth then asked for a briefing on the outcome of the review “by no later than December 10.”

Kelly said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/arizonas-kelly-vows-stay-outspoken-despite-threats-over-illegal-order-video" target="_blank">during a press conference</a>&nbsp;in early December the military’s investigation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democrats-threatened-trump-over-video-say-theyre-now-being-probed-fbi" target="_blank">a separate one</a>&nbsp;by the FBI were designed to intimidate the six lawmakers in the video from speaking out against Trump.&nbsp;

The lawmakers in the&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenatorSlotkin/status/1990774492356902948" target="_blank">video</a>, who have backgrounds in the military or intelligence agencies, told members of those communities they “can” and “must refuse illegal orders.”

“No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. We know this is hard and that it’s a difficult time to be a public servant,” they said. “But whether you’re serving in the CIA, in the Army, or Navy, or the Air Force, your vigilance is critical.”

The other Democrats in the video — Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, Pennsylvania Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander — are not subject to the military justice system.&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-accuses-6-democratic-lawmakers-seditious-behavior-punishable-death" target="_blank">railed against the video</a>&nbsp;a couple of days after it posted, saying the statements represented “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764097679232.png" alt="Image from the controversial video" />
 <figcaption>Image from the controversial video</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>WASHINGTON — The Defense Department will attempt to downgrade Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly’s retirement rank and pay, seeking to punish him for making a video along with other Democrats in Congress, who told members of the military they didn’t need to follow illegal orders.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly — and five other members of Congress — released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline. As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he…&mdash; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/2008189258528665898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth originally threatened to recall Kelly from military retirement and court-martial him for his participation in the video, but announced Monday that the department would instead try to downgrade his rank of captain as well as his retirement pay.&nbsp;“Captain Kelly has been provided notice of the basis for this action and has thirty days to submit a response,” Hegseth wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SecWar/status/2008189258528665898" target="_blank">a social media post</a>. “The retirement grade determination process directed by Secretary Hegseth will be completed within forty five days.”Hegseth added that Kelly’s “status as a sitting United States Senator does not exempt him from accountability, and further violations could result in further action.”Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenMarkKelly/status/2008215189275963870" target="_blank">wrote in a social media post</a>&nbsp;that he planned to challenge Hegseth’s attempt to alter his retirement rank and pay, arguing it’s an attempt to punish him for challenging the Trump administration.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Over twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy, thirty-nine combat missions, and four missions to space, I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution – including the First Amendment rights of every American to speak out. I never expected that the President of the…&mdash; Senator Mark Kelly (@SenMarkKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMarkKelly/status/2008215189275963870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“My rank and retirement are things that I earned through my service and sacrifice for this country. I got shot at. I missed holidays and birthdays. I commanded a space shuttle mission while my wife Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the head– all while proudly wearing the American flag on my shoulder,” Kelly wrote. “Generations of servicemembers have made these same patriotic sacrifices for this country, earning the respect, appreciation, and rank they deserve.”Kelly added that Hegseth’s goal with the process is to “send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesn’t like, they will come after them the same way. It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that.”<h2>Constitutional protection</h2>Members of Congress are generally protected under&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/" target="_blank">the speech and debate clause</a>&nbsp;of the U.S. Constitution, which states that unless a lawmaker is involved in treason, felony and breach of the peace, they are “privileged from Arrest during their Attendance at the Session of their respective Houses, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.”The Defense Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26456656-secwar-letter-05jan26/#document/p1" target="_blank">letter of censure</a>&nbsp;to Kelly alleged that his participation in the video undermined the military chain of command, counseled disobedience, created confusion about duty, brought discredit upon the Armed Forces and included conduct unbecoming of an officer.&nbsp;Hegseth wrote in that letter that if Kelly continues “to engage in conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline, you may subject yourself to criminal prosecution or further administrative action.”<h2>Allegations of misconduct</h2>The Department of Defense posted in late November that officials were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pentagon-investigates-arizona-sen-mark-kelly-after-he-appears-video-blasted-trump" target="_blank">looking into</a>&nbsp;“serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly for appearing in the video.&nbsp;It didn’t detail how Kelly might have violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice but stated that “a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”&nbsp;Hegseth&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DeptofWar/status/1993436056008507865/photo/1" target="_blank">referred</a>&nbsp;the issue to Navy Secretary John Phelan for any “review, consideration, and disposition” he deemed appropriate. Hegseth then asked for a briefing on the outcome of the review “by no later than December 10.”Kelly said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/arizonas-kelly-vows-stay-outspoken-despite-threats-over-illegal-order-video" target="_blank">during a press conference</a>&nbsp;in early December the military’s investigation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democrats-threatened-trump-over-video-say-theyre-now-being-probed-fbi" target="_blank">a separate one</a>&nbsp;by the FBI were designed to intimidate the six lawmakers in the video from speaking out against Trump.&nbsp;The lawmakers in the&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenatorSlotkin/status/1990774492356902948" target="_blank">video</a>, who have backgrounds in the military or intelligence agencies, told members of those communities they “can” and “must refuse illegal orders.”“No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. We know this is hard and that it’s a difficult time to be a public servant,” they said. “But whether you’re serving in the CIA, in the Army, or Navy, or the Air Force, your vigilance is critical.”The other Democrats in the video — Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, Pennsylvania Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander — are not subject to the military justice system.&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-accuses-6-democratic-lawmakers-seditious-behavior-punishable-death" target="_blank">railed against the video</a>&nbsp;a couple of days after it posted, saying the statements represented “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

Pentagon tries to penalize Sen. Mark Kelly for illegal orders video

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Monday at City Hall, 6 East 6th Street in Lawrence.

A man forced his way into the building then broke through a door on the 4th floor, which is a secured area not open to the public, according to a statement from Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart and City Manager Craig Owens.

 City employees attempted to remove the man and a struggle began.  The man was fatally shot. Lawrence police officers and medical personnel from&nbsp;Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical responded after the altercation.

 The investigation will be led by Lawrence Police in cooperation with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. No city employees were seriously injured.  The deceased suspect is likely not from the Lawrence area, according to police. Investigators are working to notify next of kin. City Hall remains closed Monday.  Municipal Court Offices will be closed until Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767634150642.png" alt="Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Monday at City Hall, 6 East 6th Street in Lawrence.A man forced his way into the building then broke through a door on the 4th floor, which is a secured area not open to the public, according to a statement from Lawrence Police Chief Rich Lockhart and City Manager Craig Owens. City employees attempted to remove the man and a struggle began. The man was fatally shot. Lawrence police officers and medical personnel from&nbsp;Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical responded after the altercation. The investigation will be led by Lawrence Police in cooperation with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office. No city employees were seriously injured. The deceased suspect is likely not from the Lawrence area, according to police. Investigators are working to notify next of kin. City Hall remains closed Monday. Municipal Court Offices will be closed until Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police: City employee shot, killed intruder at Lawrence City Hall

KANSAS CITY —A firefighter was injured while working at the scene of a fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 7p.m. Sunday, crews responded to a reported fire at a vacant, former church, in the 2400 block of West Paseo Boulevard, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

On arrival crews reported smoke and fire showing from the structure . Crews initiated an interior attack and performed searches of the structure that came back all clear. The seat of the fire was mainly in the high ceilings and roof line of the building, making interior operations difficult. 

Exterior operations using aerial ladders and roof operations were needed to get the fire under control. It took crews several hours to get the fire under control. No civilian injuries were reported. However, one firefighter was transported and evaluated for minor injuries incurred during overhaul operations when a piece of debris fell and struck them.

 KCPD's Bomb and Arson were notified and responded as part of protocol due to the nature of the structure. Dangerous Buildings along with city Planning were also requested to the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

KANSAS CITY —A firefighter was injured while working at the scene of a fire in Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 7p.m. Sunday, crews responded to a reported fire at a vacant, former church, in the 2400 block of West Paseo Boulevard, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.On arrival crews reported smoke and fire showing from the structure . Crews initiated an interior attack and performed searches of the structure that came back all clear. The seat of the fire was mainly in the high ceilings and roof line of the building, making interior operations difficult. Exterior operations using aerial ladders and roof operations were needed to get the fire under control. It took crews several hours to get the fire under control. No civilian injuries were reported. However, one firefighter was transported and evaluated for minor injuries incurred during overhaul operations when a piece of debris fell and struck them. KCPD's Bomb and Arson were notified and responded as part of protocol due to the nature of the structure. Dangerous Buildings along with city Planning were also requested to the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

KC firefighter injured working fire at vacant former church

ST PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>, Democrats' 2024 candidate for vice president, is ending his bid for a third term as governor amid President Donald Trump’s relentless focus on a fraud investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-child-care-funds-fraud-trump-1d6edb8511d916fc3a5dc3b339d94e37">child care programs</a>&nbsp;in the state.

Less than four months after announcing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-walz-minnesota-governor-reelection-5b0674a9303d7df76f4acda8c7458fcd">his reelection campaign</a>, Walz said Monday that he could no longer devote the energy necessary to win another term, even as he expressed confidence that he could win.

Walz said in a statement Monday that he "can’t give a political campaign my all” after what he described as an “extraordinarily difficult year for our state.”

“Donald Trump and his allies – in Washington, in St. Paul, and online – want to make our state a colder, meaner place,” Walz said, referring to the Trump administration withholding funds for the programs. “They want to poison our people against each other by attacking our neighbors. And, ultimately, they want to take away much of what makes Minnesota the best place in America to raise a family.”

Democratic Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/amy-klobuchar">Amy Klobuchar</a>&nbsp;of Minnesota is considering running for governor, according to a person close to her. The person, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Klobuchar has not made a final decision.

Around a dozen Republicans are already in the race. They include MyPillow founder and chief executive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2026-minnesota-governor-lindell-walz-b25e84e72bee54fbf14e1b516bd6fb9a">Mike Lindell</a>, an election denier who is close to Trump. They also include Minnesota&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-governor-lisa-demuth-tim-walz-f80d8de9a8c4740d29c23416d6e19439">House Speaker Lisa Demuth</a>, of Cold Spring;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-minnesota-pandemics-234ec304532f2467deaa158473255926">Dr. Scott Jensen</a>, a former state senator from Chaska who was the party’s 2022 candidate; state Rep. Kristin Robbins, of Maple Grove; defense lawyer and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-shooting-minneapolis-ricky-cobb-charges-dismissed-a2437bc8202cd2ab3d39db74598fefe5">former federal prosecutor</a>&nbsp;Chris Madel; former executive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-death-of-george-floyd-voting-minnesota-d883ab5db2a90974f3305a7490c6bb81">Kendall Qualls</a>; and former Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann.

Walz is a military veteran and union supporter who helped enact an ambitious Democratic agenda for his state, including sweeping protections for abortion rights and generous aid to families.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;picked Walz as her running mate after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-walz-democratic-national-convention-dd8f281f5dc53c4e9e504fbad5c4f672">his attack line</a>&nbsp;against Trump and his running mate, then-Ohio Sen. JD Vance — “These guys are just weird” — spread widely.

Walz had been building up his national profile since his and Harris' defeat in November. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-walz-speech-minnesota-legislature-1e15c79f67b222ab479aae2468705ab3">a sharp critic</a>&nbsp;of Trump as he toured&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-democrats-tim-walz-republican-town-halls-26a2ace4bc17422780e3ac50213f7a78">early caucus</a>&nbsp;and primary states. In May, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-walz-minnesota-governor-south-carolina-democrats-86d6d99db5f5d5f39e8df8766df32609">called on Democrats</a>&nbsp;in South Carolina to stand up to the Republican president, saying, “Maybe it’s time for us to be a little meaner.”

Through two terms as governor, Walz has moved a liberal agenda through a closely divided legislature. In his first term, he navigated a Democratic-led House and a Republican-controlled Senate that resisted his proposals to use higher taxes to boost money for schools, health care and roads. But he helped broker compromises.

He used the office’s emergency power during the COVID-19 pandemic to shutter businesses and close schools, prompting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mn-state-wire-coronavirus-pandemic-health-64d2c7c405abcc2ee1335166c3c6bb65">Republican pushback</a>.

Republicans also were critical of Walz over what they saw as his slow response to sometimes violent unrest that followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-floyd">the killing of George Floyd</a>&nbsp;by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.

In his second term, Walz worked with Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers to chart a more liberal course in state government, aided by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-minnesota-legislature-state-budgets-government-and-politics-99f78b46d4bd90ccb9f1ce7525f759f9">a huge budget surplus</a>. Minnesota&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-minnesota-state-government-timothy-walz-11c3b1d5269c929e442b979ff1bac73b">eliminated nearly all</a>&nbsp;of the state abortion restrictions enacted in the past by Republicans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-shield-laws-washington-3ee92fd1f821319246313a463edac774">protected gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;for transgender youth and legalized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-minnesota-cannabis-legalization-pot-9a92dda1a1025c5b26033a3ad716a004">the recreational use of marijuana</a>.

That, combined with Walz’s rural background and experience representing southern Minnesota in Congress, landed him on cHarris’ radar as she considered potential running mates in her 2024 presidential bid.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54">After a whirlwind search</a>, she opted for Walz over other candidates including North Carolina’s Roy Cooper, Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/josh-shapiro">Josh Shapiro</a>&nbsp;and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

Walz got a warm welcome from Democratic voters but drew mixed reviews for his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debate-takeaways-vance-walz-harris-trump-5b6f219b555416ff579764048ac238a1">lone debate</a>&nbsp;against his Vance.

Minnesota has leaned Democratic in presidential and statewide contests in recent decades. Walz won his second term in 2022 by nearly 8 percentage points, but Trump narrowed Democrats’ advantage to less than 5 points in 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767623345609.png" alt="Photo courtesy Minnesota Governor's office" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Minnesota Governor's office</figcaption>
 </figure>ST PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>, Democrats' 2024 candidate for vice president, is ending his bid for a third term as governor amid President Donald Trump’s relentless focus on a fraud investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-child-care-funds-fraud-trump-1d6edb8511d916fc3a5dc3b339d94e37">child care programs</a>&nbsp;in the state.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Minnesota has to come first - always. Today, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make Minnesota the best place to live and raise kids. I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work. <a href="https://t.co/AYbvcOzyPI">pic.twitter.com/AYbvcOzyPI</a>&mdash; Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz/status/2008184142958334441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Less than four months after announcing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-walz-minnesota-governor-reelection-5b0674a9303d7df76f4acda8c7458fcd">his reelection campaign</a>, Walz said Monday that he could no longer devote the energy necessary to win another term, even as he expressed confidence that he could win.Walz said in a statement Monday that he "can’t give a political campaign my all” after what he described as an “extraordinarily difficult year for our state.”“Donald Trump and his allies – in Washington, in St. Paul, and online – want to make our state a colder, meaner place,” Walz said, referring to the Trump administration withholding funds for the programs. “They want to poison our people against each other by attacking our neighbors. And, ultimately, they want to take away much of what makes Minnesota the best place in America to raise a family.”Democratic Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/amy-klobuchar">Amy Klobuchar</a>&nbsp;of Minnesota is considering running for governor, according to a person close to her. The person, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Klobuchar has not made a final decision.Around a dozen Republicans are already in the race. They include MyPillow founder and chief executive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2026-minnesota-governor-lindell-walz-b25e84e72bee54fbf14e1b516bd6fb9a">Mike Lindell</a>, an election denier who is close to Trump. They also include Minnesota&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-governor-lisa-demuth-tim-walz-f80d8de9a8c4740d29c23416d6e19439">House Speaker Lisa Demuth</a>, of Cold Spring;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-health-minnesota-pandemics-234ec304532f2467deaa158473255926">Dr. Scott Jensen</a>, a former state senator from Chaska who was the party’s 2022 candidate; state Rep. Kristin Robbins, of Maple Grove; defense lawyer and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-shooting-minneapolis-ricky-cobb-charges-dismissed-a2437bc8202cd2ab3d39db74598fefe5">former federal prosecutor</a>&nbsp;Chris Madel; former executive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-death-of-george-floyd-voting-minnesota-d883ab5db2a90974f3305a7490c6bb81">Kendall Qualls</a>; and former Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann.Walz is a military veteran and union supporter who helped enact an ambitious Democratic agenda for his state, including sweeping protections for abortion rights and generous aid to families.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;picked Walz as her running mate after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-walz-democratic-national-convention-dd8f281f5dc53c4e9e504fbad5c4f672">his attack line</a>&nbsp;against Trump and his running mate, then-Ohio Sen. JD Vance — “These guys are just weird” — spread widely.Walz had been building up his national profile since his and Harris' defeat in November. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-walz-speech-minnesota-legislature-1e15c79f67b222ab479aae2468705ab3">a sharp critic</a>&nbsp;of Trump as he toured&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-democrats-tim-walz-republican-town-halls-26a2ace4bc17422780e3ac50213f7a78">early caucus</a>&nbsp;and primary states. In May, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-walz-minnesota-governor-south-carolina-democrats-86d6d99db5f5d5f39e8df8766df32609">called on Democrats</a>&nbsp;in South Carolina to stand up to the Republican president, saying, “Maybe it’s time for us to be a little meaner.”Through two terms as governor, Walz has moved a liberal agenda through a closely divided legislature. In his first term, he navigated a Democratic-led House and a Republican-controlled Senate that resisted his proposals to use higher taxes to boost money for schools, health care and roads. But he helped broker compromises.He used the office’s emergency power during the COVID-19 pandemic to shutter businesses and close schools, prompting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mn-state-wire-coronavirus-pandemic-health-64d2c7c405abcc2ee1335166c3c6bb65">Republican pushback</a>.Republicans also were critical of Walz over what they saw as his slow response to sometimes violent unrest that followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/george-floyd">the killing of George Floyd</a>&nbsp;by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.In his second term, Walz worked with Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers to chart a more liberal course in state government, aided by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-minnesota-legislature-state-budgets-government-and-politics-99f78b46d4bd90ccb9f1ce7525f759f9">a huge budget surplus</a>. Minnesota&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-minnesota-state-government-timothy-walz-11c3b1d5269c929e442b979ff1bac73b">eliminated nearly all</a>&nbsp;of the state abortion restrictions enacted in the past by Republicans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-shield-laws-washington-3ee92fd1f821319246313a463edac774">protected gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;for transgender youth and legalized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marijuana-minnesota-cannabis-legalization-pot-9a92dda1a1025c5b26033a3ad716a004">the recreational use of marijuana</a>.That, combined with Walz’s rural background and experience representing southern Minnesota in Congress, landed him on cHarris’ radar as she considered potential running mates in her 2024 presidential bid.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-picks-tim-walz-running-mate-a64a91ae84953e880c8d086316d07c54">After a whirlwind search</a>, she opted for Walz over other candidates including North Carolina’s Roy Cooper, Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/josh-shapiro">Josh Shapiro</a>&nbsp;and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.Walz got a warm welcome from Democratic voters but drew mixed reviews for his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debate-takeaways-vance-walz-harris-trump-5b6f219b555416ff579764048ac238a1">lone debate</a>&nbsp;against his Vance.Minnesota has leaned Democratic in presidential and statewide contests in recent decades. Walz won his second term in 2022 by nearly 8 percentage points, but Trump narrowed Democrats’ advantage to less than 5 points in 2024.___Barrow reported from Atlanta.

Dems 2024 VP pick ends reelection bid amid fraud scandal

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — One of the first police officers to respond to the 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">school shooting</a>&nbsp;in Uvalde, Texas, goes on trial Monday on charges that he failed to protect children during the attack, when authorities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-politics-texas-shootings-56a4d01fb1cda19947db89fcb6bd85fd">waited more than an hour</a>&nbsp;to confront the gunman.

<a href="https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/content.ashx/cops-r1141-pub.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the report on the tragedy from the Dept. of Justice

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-police-officers-arraignment-06c6369163c30570313c94af5eb4d183">Adrian Gonzales</a>, a former Uvalde schools officer, faces 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment in a rare prosecution of an officer accused of not doing more to stop a crime and protect lives.

The teenage gunman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/victims-uvalde-texas-school-shooting-958714229cac5f6711270301569ccf7a">killed 19 students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at Robb Elementary in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-may-24-584466945120">one of deadliest school shootings</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history.

Nearly 400 officers from state, local and federal law enforcement agencies responded to the school, but 77 minutes passed from the time authorities arrived until a tactical team breached the classroom and killed the shooter, Salvador Ramos. An investigation later showed that Ramos was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-warning-signs-f18a8d365aa5edf0d3754df721144cf1">obsessed with violence and notoriety</a>&nbsp;in the months leading up to the attack.

Gonzales and former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo were among the first on the scene, and they are the only two officers to face criminal charges over the slow response. Arredondo’s trial has not yet been scheduled.

The charges against Gonzales carry up to two years in prison if he is convicted. The trial, which is expected to last up to three weeks, begins with jury selection.

Gonzales pleaded not guilty. His attorney has said Gonzales tried to save children that day.

Police and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott initially said swift law enforcement action killed Ramos and saved lives. But that version quickly unraveled as families described&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/desperate-parents-pleaded-with-officers-to-act-during-uvalde-school-shooting-video-shows-eac3987716c24ec1b28571f843831d9f">begging police to go into the building</a>&nbsp;and 911 calls emerged from students pleading for help.

The indictment alleges Gonzales placed children in “imminent danger” of injury or death by failing to engage, distract or delay the shooter and by not following his active shooter training. The allegations also say he did not advance toward the gunfire despite hearing shots and being told where the shooter was.

State and federal reviews of the shooting cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-justice-department-report-police-16b59efa5c5015d685d917c3f0f26256">cascading problems</a>&nbsp;in law enforcement training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned why officers waited so long.

According to the state review, Gonzales told investigators that once police realized there were students still sitting in other classrooms, he helped evacuate them.

Some family members of the victims have said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-charges-police-1ad3983d191136be50a1780ef0a27cb7">more officers should be indicted</a>.

“They all waited and allowed children and teachers to die,” said Velma Lisa Duran, whose sister Irma Garcia was one of the two teachers who were killed.

Prosecutors will likely face a high bar to win a conviction. Juries are often reluctant to convict law enforcement officers for inaction, as seen after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/parkland-florida-school-shooting">Parkland, Florida, school massacre in 2018</a>.

Sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson was charged with failing to confront the shooter in that attack. It was the first such prosecution in the U.S. for an on-campus shooting, and Peterson was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/parkland-florida-school-shooting-deputy-91dfe6054944fa3a8399ee18f05d2171">acquitted</a>&nbsp;by a jury in 2023.

At the request of Gonzales’ attorneys, the trial was moved about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast to Corpus Christi. They argued Gonzales could not receive a fair trial in Uvalde, and prosecutors did not object.

Uvalde, a town of 15,000, still has several prominent reminders of the shooting. Robb Elementary is closed but still stands, and a memorial of 21 crosses and flower sits near the school sign. Another memorial sits at the downtown plaza fountain, and murals depicting several victims can still be seen on the walls of several buildings.

Jesse Rizo, whose 9-year-old niece Jackie was one of the students killed, said even with three-hour drive to Corpus Christi, the family would like to have someone attend the trial every day.

“It’s important that the jury see that Jackie had a big, strong family,” Rizo said.

Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, and Juan A. Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705598723648.png" alt="Photo U.S. Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — One of the first police officers to respond to the 2022&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/uvalde-school-shooting">school shooting</a>&nbsp;in Uvalde, Texas, goes on trial Monday on charges that he failed to protect children during the attack, when authorities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-politics-texas-shootings-56a4d01fb1cda19947db89fcb6bd85fd">waited more than an hour</a>&nbsp;to confront the gunman.<a href="https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/content.ashx/cops-r1141-pub.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the report on the tragedy from the Dept. of Justice<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-police-officers-arraignment-06c6369163c30570313c94af5eb4d183">Adrian Gonzales</a>, a former Uvalde schools officer, faces 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment in a rare prosecution of an officer accused of not doing more to stop a crime and protect lives.The teenage gunman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/victims-uvalde-texas-school-shooting-958714229cac5f6711270301569ccf7a">killed 19 students and two teachers</a>&nbsp;at Robb Elementary in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-texas-school-shooting-may-24-584466945120">one of deadliest school shootings</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history.Nearly 400 officers from state, local and federal law enforcement agencies responded to the school, but 77 minutes passed from the time authorities arrived until a tactical team breached the classroom and killed the shooter, Salvador Ramos. An investigation later showed that Ramos was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-warning-signs-f18a8d365aa5edf0d3754df721144cf1">obsessed with violence and notoriety</a>&nbsp;in the months leading up to the attack.Gonzales and former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo were among the first on the scene, and they are the only two officers to face criminal charges over the slow response. Arredondo’s trial has not yet been scheduled.The charges against Gonzales carry up to two years in prison if he is convicted. The trial, which is expected to last up to three weeks, begins with jury selection.Gonzales pleaded not guilty. His attorney has said Gonzales tried to save children that day.Police and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott initially said swift law enforcement action killed Ramos and saved lives. But that version quickly unraveled as families described&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/desperate-parents-pleaded-with-officers-to-act-during-uvalde-school-shooting-video-shows-eac3987716c24ec1b28571f843831d9f">begging police to go into the building</a>&nbsp;and 911 calls emerged from students pleading for help.The indictment alleges Gonzales placed children in “imminent danger” of injury or death by failing to engage, distract or delay the shooter and by not following his active shooter training. The allegations also say he did not advance toward the gunfire despite hearing shots and being told where the shooter was.State and federal reviews of the shooting cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-justice-department-report-police-16b59efa5c5015d685d917c3f0f26256">cascading problems</a>&nbsp;in law enforcement training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned why officers waited so long.According to the state review, Gonzales told investigators that once police realized there were students still sitting in other classrooms, he helped evacuate them.Some family members of the victims have said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-charges-police-1ad3983d191136be50a1780ef0a27cb7">more officers should be indicted</a>.“They all waited and allowed children and teachers to die,” said Velma Lisa Duran, whose sister Irma Garcia was one of the two teachers who were killed.Prosecutors will likely face a high bar to win a conviction. Juries are often reluctant to convict law enforcement officers for inaction, as seen after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/parkland-florida-school-shooting">Parkland, Florida, school massacre in 2018</a>.Sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson was charged with failing to confront the shooter in that attack. It was the first such prosecution in the U.S. for an on-campus shooting, and Peterson was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/parkland-florida-school-shooting-deputy-91dfe6054944fa3a8399ee18f05d2171">acquitted</a>&nbsp;by a jury in 2023.At the request of Gonzales’ attorneys, the trial was moved about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southeast to Corpus Christi. They argued Gonzales could not receive a fair trial in Uvalde, and prosecutors did not object.Uvalde, a town of 15,000, still has several prominent reminders of the shooting. Robb Elementary is closed but still stands, and a memorial of 21 crosses and flower sits near the school sign. Another memorial sits at the downtown plaza fountain, and murals depicting several victims can still be seen on the walls of several buildings.Jesse Rizo, whose 9-year-old niece Jackie was one of the students killed, said even with three-hour drive to Corpus Christi, the family would like to have someone attend the trial every day.“It’s important that the jury see that Jackie had a big, strong family,” Rizo said.___Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas, and Juan A. Lozano in Houston contributed to this report.

First trial over police delayed response to school shooting set to begin

CLOUD COUNTY—A Kansas woman is accused of a violent attack on employees at a fast food restaurant in north central Kansas.

Just after 3p.m. Sunday, On January 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM, the Concordia Police Department was dispatched to McDonald’s, 1420 Lincoln Street in Concordia for a report of a battery in progress, according to a media release.

Police determined that a customer identified as 44-year-old Christina Messerschmidt of Wichita, was throwing hot fry grease on employees and punching employees. 

Police arrested Messerschmidt and transported her to the Cloud County Corrections. She was booked on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767569654029.png" alt="Photo Concordia Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Concordia Police</figcaption>
 </figure>CLOUD COUNTY—A Kansas woman is accused of a violent attack on employees at a fast food restaurant in north central Kansas.Just after 3p.m. Sunday, On January 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM, the Concordia Police Department was dispatched to McDonald’s, 1420 Lincoln Street in Concordia for a report of a battery in progress, according to a media release.Police determined that a customer identified as 44-year-old Christina Messerschmidt of Wichita, was throwing hot fry grease on employees and punching employees. Police arrested Messerschmidt and transported her to the Cloud County Corrections. She was booked on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass.

Police: Kansas woman attacked fast food restaurant employees

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal New Year's Eve shooting have identified the victim as 16-year-old&nbsp; Roman Bickle Moeller of Kansas City, Kansas.

Just before 11p.m. New Year's Eve, officers were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 1200 block of Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release from police.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal New Year's Eve shooting have identified the victim as 16-year-old&nbsp; Roman Bickle Moeller of Kansas City, Kansas.Just before 11p.m. New Year's Eve, officers were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 1200 block of Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release from police.First responders discovered Moeller with an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.This incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Police have not released the name of the victim or possible suspect information.