Shawna Richter-Ryerson Nebraska Game and Parks

Nebraska Game and Parks is reminding the public to use caution and test the ice when going onto frozen lakes or ponds after conservation officers responded to two incidents on Jan. 11 in western Nebraska.

No injuries or fatalities were reported in either incident, one at Lake Maloney State Recreation Area and one at Cottonwood-Steverson Wildlife Management Area, where all-terrain vehicles broke through the ice.

At Lake Maloney in Lincoln County, four people who had been ice fishing were riding the ATV at about 7 p.m. when it broke through the ice. Game and Parks Officers and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

Other anglers initially assisted the four, who declined medical treatment from law enforcement.

No citations were issued, and Game and Parks will work with Nebraska Public Power District to remove the ATV from the lake.

At Cottonwood-Steverson in Cherry County, an all-terrain vehicle broke through the ice on Saturday; the incident was reported Sunday to Nebraska Game and Parks. The ATV remains in the lake.

People going onto lakes for winter recreation are reminded of the following clear-ice thickness guidelines, according to state fish, wildlife and parks agencies:

People should use an ice chisel or spud bar to strike the ice and evaluate conditions as they venture out.

Remember as winter progresses, ice changes. Cloudy ice of frozen slush is about half as strong as clear lake ice, so people should double the minimum thickness when encountering such conditions.

Ice near shore may be weakened by heat from the ground, or thinner because of rising water levels. If temperatures are below freezing, but warm during the day, go early and leave before ice melts near the shore.

Be especially careful on any ice that has moving water below it. Water movement hinders freezing causing hard-to-detect thin spots.

Materials embedded in ice, such as weeds or logs, also weaken ice. Large objects on the ice, such as duck blinds or ice shacks, can absorb the sun’s heat and melt ice.

If venturing out, tell someone your plan, bring a long throw rope and ice picks, and pack extra dry clothes.

Visit&nbsp;OutdoorNebraska.gov&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://outdoornebraska.gov/about/press-events/news/game-and-parks-offers-top-8-ice-safety-tips/">other ice safety tips for anglers and ATV riders</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736887503177.png" alt="Photo Nebraska Game and Parks" />
 <figcaption>Photo Nebraska Game and Parks</figcaption>
 </figure>Shawna Richter-Ryerson Nebraska Game and ParksNebraska Game and Parks is reminding the public to use caution and test the ice when going onto frozen lakes or ponds after conservation officers responded to two incidents on Jan. 11 in western Nebraska.No injuries or fatalities were reported in either incident, one at Lake Maloney State Recreation Area and one at Cottonwood-Steverson Wildlife Management Area, where all-terrain vehicles broke through the ice.At Lake Maloney in Lincoln County, four people who had been ice fishing were riding the ATV at about 7 p.m. when it broke through the ice. Game and Parks Officers and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.Other anglers initially assisted the four, who declined medical treatment from law enforcement.No citations were issued, and Game and Parks will work with Nebraska Public Power District to remove the ATV from the lake.At Cottonwood-Steverson in Cherry County, an all-terrain vehicle broke through the ice on Saturday; the incident was reported Sunday to Nebraska Game and Parks. The ATV remains in the lake.<h2>Safety guidelines</h2>People going onto lakes for winter recreation are reminded of the following clear-ice thickness guidelines, according to state fish, wildlife and parks agencies:<ol>
 <li>Under 4 inches:&nbsp;Stay off the ice</li><li>4 inches:&nbsp;Can support ice fishing or other activities on foot</li><li>5-7 inches:&nbsp;Can support a snowmobile or small ATV</li><li>7-8 inches:&nbsp;Can support side-by-side ATV</li>
 </ol>People should use an ice chisel or spud bar to strike the ice and evaluate conditions as they venture out.Remember as winter progresses, ice changes. Cloudy ice of frozen slush is about half as strong as clear lake ice, so people should double the minimum thickness when encountering such conditions.Ice near shore may be weakened by heat from the ground, or thinner because of rising water levels. If temperatures are below freezing, but warm during the day, go early and leave before ice melts near the shore.Be especially careful on any ice that has moving water below it. Water movement hinders freezing causing hard-to-detect thin spots.Materials embedded in ice, such as weeds or logs, also weaken ice. Large objects on the ice, such as duck blinds or ice shacks, can absorb the sun’s heat and melt ice.If venturing out, tell someone your plan, bring a long throw rope and ice picks, and pack extra dry clothes.Visit&nbsp;OutdoorNebraska.gov&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://outdoornebraska.gov/about/press-events/news/game-and-parks-offers-top-8-ice-safety-tips/">other ice safety tips for anglers and ATV riders</a>.

Public alert after ATV incidents on frozen lakes in Nebraska

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, multiple officials announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hezbollah-lebanon-anniversary-73916b17394f093f01ca5554cf26b528">the deadliest</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">most destructive</a>&nbsp;fighting between the bitter enemies.

The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It also would flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a territory ravaged by 15 months of war.

Three officials from the U.S. and one from Hamas confirmed that a deal had been reached, while the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said final details were still being ironed out.

All three U.S. officials and the Hamas official requested anonymity to discuss the contours of the deal before the official announcement by mediators in Doha.

Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that it hoped “details will be finalized tonight.” Any agreement needs to be approved by Netanyahu’s Cabinet.

Once official, the deal is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting that is to be accompanied by the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether.

Over six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages are to be reunited with their loved ones after months in in captivity with no contact with the outside world, though it’s unclear if all are alive.

It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to what remains of their homes and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza — key Hamas demands for releasing the remaining captives.

Many longer-term questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-23-2024-a5da6005cfa6734225af35ca460a75fb">postwar Gaza</a>&nbsp;remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction after a brutal conflict that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">destabilized the broader Middle East</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-campus-protests-966eb531279f8e4381883fc5d79d5466">sparked worldwide protests</a>.

Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population and sparked a humanitarian crisis.

More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in a weeklong truce in November 2023.

The U.S., along with Egypt and Qatar, have brokered months of indirect talks between the bitter enemies that finally culminated in this latest deal. It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-lebanon-hezbollah-ceasefire-3ed296f8317ecaa89c4e3548c75c9602">agreed to a ceasefire</a>&nbsp;in November, after more than a year of conflict linked to the war in the Gaza.

Israel responded with a brutal air and ground offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. They do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed.

U.N. and international relief organizations estimate that some 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. They say tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and hospitals are barely functioning. Experts have warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-gaza-north-hunger-437b401b0ade2d934f00f88d027d467c">famine may be underway in northern Gaza</a>, where Israel launched a major offensive in early October, displacing tens of thousands of residents.

“The best day in my life and the life of the Gaza people,” Abed Radwan, a Palestinian father of three, said of the ceasefire deal. “Thank God. Thank God.”

Radwan, who has been displaced from the town of Beit Lahiya for over a year and shelters in Gaza City, said he will try to return to his hometown, and “rebuild my house, and rebuild Beit Lahiya.”

He spoke to AP over the phone. His voice has been overshadowed by celebrations. “People are crying here. They don’t believe it’s true.”

In Israel, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for a deal to be completed. Many held posters of hostages held by Hamas, others hoisted candles in the air.

As the deal was announced, some people were unaware that it had gone through. Sharone Lifschitz, whose father Oded is being held in Gaza, told the AP by phone she was stunned and grateful but won’t believe it until she sees all the hostages come home.

“I’m so desperate to see them if by some miracle my father has survived,” she said.

U.S. President Joe Biden, who has provided crucial military aid to Israel but expressed exasperation over civilian deaths, announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hamas-58169a607d4a7c4d7fc34f43160076b8">the outline of the three-phase ceasefire agreement</a>&nbsp;on May 31. The agreement eventually agreed to followed that framework.

He said the first phase would last for six weeks and include a “full and complete ceasefire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older adults and wounded people, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian assistance would surge, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day.

The second and most difficult phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war.

Hamas had been demanding assurances for a permanent end to the war and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it would not halt the war until it destroys Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.

The various players have conducted months of on-again, off-again negotiations. But with Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-talks-01-13-2025-395e030947f9964f3fbf5763b9564591">days in office numbered</a>&nbsp;and President-elect Donald Trump set to take over, both sides had been under heavy pressure to agree to a deal.

Trump celebrated the soon-to-be-announced agreement in a posting on his Truth Social social media platform: “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”

Hezbollah’s acceptance of a ceasefire in Lebanon after it had suffered heavy blows, and the overthrow of President Bashar Assad in Syria, were both major setbacks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mideast-proxy-forces-syria-analysis-c853bf613a6d6af7f6aa99b2e60984f8">for Iran and its allies</a>&nbsp;across the region, including Hamas, which was left increasingly isolated.

Israel has come under heavy international criticism, including from its closest ally, the United States, over the civilian toll. Israel says it has killed around 17,000 militants — though it has not provided evidence to support the claim. It also blames Hamas for the civilian casualties, accusing the group of using schools, hospitals and residential areas for military purposes.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-palestinians-court-ceasefire-01d093d21a1eadaa31af5708cf1cbf38">The International Court of Justice</a>&nbsp;is investigating allegations brought by South Africa that Israel has committed genocide. The International Criminal Court, a separate body also based in The Hague,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/icc-israel-hamas-warrants-netanyahu-palestinian-arrest-73c854d072e0a1a41b19b2cb2cdd07fa">has issued arrest warrants</a>&nbsp;for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense minister and a Hamas commander for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war.

Israel and the United States have condemned the actions taken by both courts.

Netanyahu also faced great domestic pressure to bring home the hostages,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-hamas-war-israel-gaza-captivity-militants-612542191742082f330d55433c012a05">whose plight</a>&nbsp;has captured the nation’s attention. Their families have become a powerful lobbying group with wide public support backed by months of mass protests urging the government to reach a deal with Hamas.

Israeli authorities have already concluded that more than a third of the roughly 100 remaining people held captive are dead, and there are fears that others are no longer alive. A series of videos released by Hamas showing surviving hostages in distress, combined with news that a growing number of abducted Israelis have died, put added pressure on the Israeli leader.

Hamas,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-conflict-endgame-1bfcc187d826596e78090ec6cbf6516c">a militant group that does not accept Israel’s existence</a>, has come under overwhelming pressure from Israeli military operations, including the invasion of Gaza’s largest cities and towns and the takeover of the border between Gaza and Egypt. Its top leaders,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yahya-sinwar-hamas-leader-killed-obituary-gaza-6965bea4270313c1f1501335c705ac9a">including Yahya Sinwar</a>, who was believed to have helped mastermind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, have been killed.

But its fighters have regrouped in some of the hardest-hit areas after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, raising the prospect of a prolonged insurgency if the war continues.

Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas’s military and governing capabilities are destroyed. But it has never been clear what that would entail or if it’s even possible, given the group’s deep roots in Palestinian society, its presence in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, and its exiled leadership.

If the ceasefire takes hold, both sides face many difficult and unanswered questions.

As the war winds down, Netanyahu will face growing calls for postwar investigations that could find him at least partially responsible for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-hostages-0c14750240138853a70e38b0c09ef157">the security failures of Oct. 7</a>&nbsp;— the worst in Israel’s history. His far-right governing partners, who opposed a ceasefire deal, could also bring down the coalition and push the country into early elections.

There is still no plan for who will govern Gaza after the war. Israel has said it will work with local Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas or the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. But it is unclear if such partners exist, and Hamas has threatened anyone who cooperates with Israeli forces.

The United States has tried to advance sweeping postwar plans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-authority-government-explainer-aefe041e045f2c60918b42f42185f41e">a reformed Palestinian Authority</a>&nbsp;to govern Gaza with Arab and international assistance. As part of those plans, the U.S. hope Saudi Arabia would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-us-israel-security-deal-hamas-war-gaza-strip-5b09666aeb6de0573c01e99cabb7946e">normalize relations with Israel</a>&nbsp;in return for U.S. security guarantees and aid in setting up a civilian nuclear program.

But those plans depend on credible progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state, something Netanyahu and much of Israel’s political class oppose. Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza as well as the occupied West Bank, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war that the Palestinians want for their future state.

In the absence of a postwar arrangement with Palestinian support, Hamas is likely to remain a significant force in Gaza and could reconstitute its military capabilities if Israeli forces fully withdraw.

JERUSALEM (AP) —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says ceasefire deal with Hamas has still not been reached and that the final details were still being sorted out. That comes after multiple mediators had said Israel and Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-ceasefire-334ecc4420fe3b6fce9f7a27ca886b65">agreed to a ceasefire</a>&nbsp;in Gaza and the release dozens of hostages after more than 15 months of war.

In the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, large crowds of joyful Palestinians have taken to the streets, with people cheering and honking car horns.

Any deal is expected to pause the fighting and bring hopes for winding down the most deadly and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">destructive war</a>&nbsp;Israel and Hamas have ever fought, a conflict that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">destabilized the Middle East</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-campus-protests-966eb531279f8e4381883fc5d79d5466">sparked worldwide protests</a>.

Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza began on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Oct. 7, 2023</a>, when militants stormed into southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250. A third of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hostages-gaza-war-hamas-winter-42b21cff477227a7d65bbc30c0bb83fd">100 hostages still held in Gaza</a>&nbsp;are believed to be dead.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel Hamas-war</a>&nbsp;has killed more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-rights-amnesty-genocide-19aa8fb76f7271942e73d5d7a42434e0">46,000 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;in Gaza, according to health authorities there. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but says women and children make up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-casualties-toll-65e18f3362674245356c539e4bc0b67a">more than half the fatalities</a>.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding down the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hezbollah-lebanon-anniversary-73916b17394f093f01ca5554cf26b528">the deadliest</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">most destructive</a>&nbsp;fighting between the bitter enemies.

The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It also would flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a devastated territory.

Three officials from the U.S. and one from Hamas confirmed that a deal had been reached, while a senior Israeli official said details are still being ironed out.

All three U.S. officials requested anonymity to discuss the contours of the deal before the official announcement by mediators in Doha.

President Joe Biden was preparing to address the breakthrough agreement later Thursday, officials said.

Any agreement still needs to be approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet, but is expected to go into effect in the coming days.

The deal is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting that is to be accompanied by the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether.

Many longer-term questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-23-2024-a5da6005cfa6734225af35ca460a75fb">postwar Gaza</a>&nbsp;remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction.

Still, the announcement offered the first sign of hope in months that Israel and Hamas may be winding down the most deadly and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">destructive war</a>&nbsp;they’ve ever fought, a conflict that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">destabilized the broader Middle East</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-campus-protests-966eb531279f8e4381883fc5d79d5466">sparked worldwide protests</a>.

Federman reported from Jerusalem. Magdy reported from Cairo. Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728311333069.png" alt="Keith Siegel among the Americans still being held in Gaza. He is 64 and a native of North Carolina-photo Hostage and Missing Families Forum." />
 <figcaption>Keith Siegel among the Americans still being held in Gaza. He is 64 and a native of North Carolina-photo Hostage and Missing Families Forum.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal to pause the devastating war in the Gaza Strip, multiple officials announced Wednesday, raising the possibility of winding down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hezbollah-lebanon-anniversary-73916b17394f093f01ca5554cf26b528">the deadliest</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">most destructive</a>&nbsp;fighting between the bitter enemies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736967651306.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It also would flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a territory ravaged by 15 months of war.Three officials from the U.S. and one from Hamas confirmed that a deal had been reached, while the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said final details were still being ironed out.All three U.S. officials and the Hamas official requested anonymity to discuss the contours of the deal before the official announcement by mediators in Doha.Netanyahu’s office said in a statement that it hoped “details will be finalized tonight.” Any agreement needs to be approved by Netanyahu’s Cabinet.Once official, the deal is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting that is to be accompanied by the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether.Over six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages are to be reunited with their loved ones after months in in captivity with no contact with the outside world, though it’s unclear if all are alive.It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to what remains of their homes and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza — key Hamas demands for releasing the remaining captives.Many longer-term questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-23-2024-a5da6005cfa6734225af35ca460a75fb">postwar Gaza</a>&nbsp;remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction after a brutal conflict that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">destabilized the broader Middle East</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-campus-protests-966eb531279f8e4381883fc5d79d5466">sparked worldwide protests</a>.Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population and sparked a humanitarian crisis.More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in a weeklong truce in November 2023.The U.S., along with Egypt and Qatar, have brokered months of indirect talks between the bitter enemies that finally culminated in this latest deal. It comes after Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-lebanon-hezbollah-ceasefire-3ed296f8317ecaa89c4e3548c75c9602">agreed to a ceasefire</a>&nbsp;in November, after more than a year of conflict linked to the war in the Gaza.Israel responded with a brutal air and ground offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. They do not distinguish between civilians and militants but say women and children make up more than half of those killed.U.N. and international relief organizations estimate that some 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times. They say tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed and hospitals are barely functioning. Experts have warned that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-gaza-north-hunger-437b401b0ade2d934f00f88d027d467c">famine may be underway in northern Gaza</a>, where Israel launched a major offensive in early October, displacing tens of thousands of residents.“The best day in my life and the life of the Gaza people,” Abed Radwan, a Palestinian father of three, said of the ceasefire deal. “Thank God. Thank God.”Radwan, who has been displaced from the town of Beit Lahiya for over a year and shelters in Gaza City, said he will try to return to his hometown, and “rebuild my house, and rebuild Beit Lahiya.”He spoke to AP over the phone. His voice has been overshadowed by celebrations. “People are crying here. They don’t believe it’s true.”In Israel, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for a deal to be completed. Many held posters of hostages held by Hamas, others hoisted candles in the air.As the deal was announced, some people were unaware that it had gone through. Sharone Lifschitz, whose father Oded is being held in Gaza, told the AP by phone she was stunned and grateful but won’t believe it until she sees all the hostages come home.“I’m so desperate to see them if by some miracle my father has survived,” she said.U.S. President Joe Biden, who has provided crucial military aid to Israel but expressed exasperation over civilian deaths, announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-israel-hamas-58169a607d4a7c4d7fc34f43160076b8">the outline of the three-phase ceasefire agreement</a>&nbsp;on May 31. The agreement eventually agreed to followed that framework.He said the first phase would last for six weeks and include a “full and complete ceasefire,” a withdrawal of Israeli forces from densely populated areas of Gaza and the release of a number of hostages, including women, older adults and wounded people, in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Humanitarian assistance would surge, with hundreds of trucks entering Gaza each day.The second and most difficult phase would include the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase calls for the start of a major reconstruction of Gaza, which faces decades of rebuilding from devastation caused by the war.Hamas had been demanding assurances for a permanent end to the war and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza. Israel, meanwhile, has repeatedly said it would not halt the war until it destroys Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.The various players have conducted months of on-again, off-again negotiations. But with Biden’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-ceasefire-talks-01-13-2025-395e030947f9964f3fbf5763b9564591">days in office numbered</a>&nbsp;and President-elect Donald Trump set to take over, both sides had been under heavy pressure to agree to a deal.Trump celebrated the soon-to-be-announced agreement in a posting on his Truth Social social media platform: “WE HAVE A DEAL FOR THE HOSTAGES IN THE MIDDLE EAST. THEY WILL BE RELEASED SHORTLY. THANK YOU!”Hezbollah’s acceptance of a ceasefire in Lebanon after it had suffered heavy blows, and the overthrow of President Bashar Assad in Syria, were both major setbacks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-mideast-proxy-forces-syria-analysis-c853bf613a6d6af7f6aa99b2e60984f8">for Iran and its allies</a>&nbsp;across the region, including Hamas, which was left increasingly isolated.Israel has come under heavy international criticism, including from its closest ally, the United States, over the civilian toll. Israel says it has killed around 17,000 militants — though it has not provided evidence to support the claim. It also blames Hamas for the civilian casualties, accusing the group of using schools, hospitals and residential areas for military purposes.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-palestinians-court-ceasefire-01d093d21a1eadaa31af5708cf1cbf38">The International Court of Justice</a>&nbsp;is investigating allegations brought by South Africa that Israel has committed genocide. The International Criminal Court, a separate body also based in The Hague,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/icc-israel-hamas-warrants-netanyahu-palestinian-arrest-73c854d072e0a1a41b19b2cb2cdd07fa">has issued arrest warrants</a>&nbsp;for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense minister and a Hamas commander for war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the war.Israel and the United States have condemned the actions taken by both courts.Netanyahu also faced great domestic pressure to bring home the hostages,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-hamas-war-israel-gaza-captivity-militants-612542191742082f330d55433c012a05">whose plight</a>&nbsp;has captured the nation’s attention. Their families have become a powerful lobbying group with wide public support backed by months of mass protests urging the government to reach a deal with Hamas.Israeli authorities have already concluded that more than a third of the roughly 100 remaining people held captive are dead, and there are fears that others are no longer alive. A series of videos released by Hamas showing surviving hostages in distress, combined with news that a growing number of abducted Israelis have died, put added pressure on the Israeli leader.Hamas,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-conflict-endgame-1bfcc187d826596e78090ec6cbf6516c">a militant group that does not accept Israel’s existence</a>, has come under overwhelming pressure from Israeli military operations, including the invasion of Gaza’s largest cities and towns and the takeover of the border between Gaza and Egypt. Its top leaders,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yahya-sinwar-hamas-leader-killed-obituary-gaza-6965bea4270313c1f1501335c705ac9a">including Yahya Sinwar</a>, who was believed to have helped mastermind the Oct. 7, 2023, attack, have been killed.But its fighters have regrouped in some of the hardest-hit areas after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, raising the prospect of a prolonged insurgency if the war continues.Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas’s military and governing capabilities are destroyed. But it has never been clear what that would entail or if it’s even possible, given the group’s deep roots in Palestinian society, its presence in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, and its exiled leadership.If the ceasefire takes hold, both sides face many difficult and unanswered questions.As the war winds down, Netanyahu will face growing calls for postwar investigations that could find him at least partially responsible for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-hostages-0c14750240138853a70e38b0c09ef157">the security failures of Oct. 7</a>&nbsp;— the worst in Israel’s history. His far-right governing partners, who opposed a ceasefire deal, could also bring down the coalition and push the country into early elections.There is still no plan for who will govern Gaza after the war. Israel has said it will work with local Palestinians not affiliated with Hamas or the Western-backed Palestinian Authority. But it is unclear if such partners exist, and Hamas has threatened anyone who cooperates with Israeli forces.The United States has tried to advance sweeping postwar plans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-authority-government-explainer-aefe041e045f2c60918b42f42185f41e">a reformed Palestinian Authority</a>&nbsp;to govern Gaza with Arab and international assistance. As part of those plans, the U.S. hope Saudi Arabia would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-us-israel-security-deal-hamas-war-gaza-strip-5b09666aeb6de0573c01e99cabb7946e">normalize relations with Israel</a>&nbsp;in return for U.S. security guarantees and aid in setting up a civilian nuclear program.But those plans depend on credible progress toward the creation of a Palestinian state, something Netanyahu and much of Israel’s political class oppose. Netanyahu has said Israel will maintain open-ended security control over Gaza as well as the occupied West Bank, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war that the Palestinians want for their future state.In the absence of a postwar arrangement with Palestinian support, Hamas is likely to remain a significant force in Gaza and could reconstitute its military capabilities if Israeli forces fully withdraw.JERUSALEM (AP) —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office says ceasefire deal with Hamas has still not been reached and that the final details were still being sorted out. That comes after multiple mediators had said Israel and Hamas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-hamas-ceasefire-334ecc4420fe3b6fce9f7a27ca886b65">agreed to a ceasefire</a>&nbsp;in Gaza and the release dozens of hostages after more than 15 months of war.In the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, large crowds of joyful Palestinians have taken to the streets, with people cheering and honking car horns.Any deal is expected to pause the fighting and bring hopes for winding down the most deadly and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">destructive war</a>&nbsp;Israel and Hamas have ever fought, a conflict that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">destabilized the Middle East</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-campus-protests-966eb531279f8e4381883fc5d79d5466">sparked worldwide protests</a>.Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza began on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Oct. 7, 2023</a>, when militants stormed into southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people and abducted around 250. A third of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hostages-gaza-war-hamas-winter-42b21cff477227a7d65bbc30c0bb83fd">100 hostages still held in Gaza</a>&nbsp;are believed to be dead.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel Hamas-war</a>&nbsp;has killed more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-rights-amnesty-genocide-19aa8fb76f7271942e73d5d7a42434e0">46,000 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;in Gaza, according to health authorities there. The Health Ministry does not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but says women and children make up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-casualties-toll-65e18f3362674245356c539e4bc0b67a">more than half the fatalities</a>.--------DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire deal, mediators announced Wednesday, pausing a devastating 15-month war in the Gaza Strip and raising the possibility of winding down the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hezbollah-lebanon-anniversary-73916b17394f093f01ca5554cf26b528">the deadliest</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">most destructive</a>&nbsp;fighting between the bitter enemies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736963333807.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The deal, coming after weeks of painstaking negotiations in the Qatari capital, promises the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in phases, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and would allow hundreds of thousands of people displaced in Gaza to return to what remains of their homes. It also would flood badly needed humanitarian aid into a devastated territory.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736961123961.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Three officials from the U.S. and one from Hamas confirmed that a deal had been reached, while a senior Israeli official said details are still being ironed out.All three U.S. officials requested anonymity to discuss the contours of the deal before the official announcement by mediators in Doha.President Joe Biden was preparing to address the breakthrough agreement later Thursday, officials said.Any agreement still needs to be approved by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet, but is expected to go into effect in the coming days.The deal is expected to deliver an initial six-week halt to fighting that is to be accompanied by the opening of negotiations on ending the war altogether.Over six weeks, 33 of the nearly 100 hostages are to be reunited with their loved ones after months in in captivity with no contact with the outside world, though it’s unclear if all are alive.It remained unclear exactly when and how many displaced Palestinians would be able to return to what remains of their homes and whether the agreement would lead to a complete end to the war and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza — key Hamas demands for releasing the remaining captives.Many longer-term questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-23-2024-a5da6005cfa6734225af35ca460a75fb">postwar Gaza</a>&nbsp;remain, including who will rule the territory or oversee the daunting task of reconstruction.Still, the announcement offered the first sign of hope in months that Israel and Hamas may be winding down the most deadly and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">destructive war</a>&nbsp;they’ve ever fought, a conflict that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-iran-hezbollah-yemen-0373be2e21b5a832d71f5bf828f67959">destabilized the broader Middle East</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-campus-protests-966eb531279f8e4381883fc5d79d5466">sparked worldwide protests</a>.Hamas triggered the war with its Oct. 7, 2023, cross-border attack, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and took 250 others hostage. Israel responded with a fierce offensive that has killed over 46,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, displaced an estimated 90% of Gaza’s population and sparked a humanitarian crisis.More than 100 hostages were freed from Gaza in a weeklong truce in November 2023.<h2>___</h2>Federman reported from Jerusalem. Magdy reported from Cairo. Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

Read Biden's statement on the hostage release, Gaza ceasefire deal

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas man on drug allegations.

Just after 12:30a.m. Monday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1995 Dodge Neon on U.S. 75 Highway, near 126th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drugs within the vehicle. The driver, Colby Lee Gant, 36, of Council Grove, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license suspended, no insurance and inoperable tag lamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736890574533.png" alt="Grant photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Grant photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas man on drug allegations.Just after 12:30a.m. Monday, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1995 Dodge Neon on U.S. 75 Highway, near 126th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal drugs within the vehicle. The driver, Colby Lee Gant, 36, of Council Grove, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while license suspended, no insurance and inoperable tag lamp.

Kansas sheriff's K9 caught suspect transporting meth

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer</a>

U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.

Food and Drug Administration officials granted a 2022 petition filed by two dozen food safety and health advocates, who urged the agency to revoke authorization for the substance that gives some candies, snack cakes and maraschino cherries a bright red hue.

The agency said it was taking the action as a “matter of law” because some studies have found that the dye caused cancer in lab rats. Officials cited a statute known as the Delaney Clause, which requires FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in people or animals.

The dye is known as erythrosine, FD&amp;C Red No. 3 or Red 3. The ban removes it from the list of approved color additives in foods, dietary supplements and oral medicines, such as cough syrups. More than three decades ago, the FDA declined to authorize use of Red 3 in cosmetics and externally applied drugs because a study showed it caused cancer when eaten by rats.

“The FDA is taking action that will remove the authorization for the use of FD&amp;C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs," said Jim Jones, the FDA's deputy commissioner for human foods. “Evidence shows cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&amp;C Red No.3. Importantly, the way that FD&amp;C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.”

Food manufacturers will have until January 2027 to remove the dye from their products, while makers of ingested drugs have until January 2028 to do the same. Other countries still allow for certain uses of the dye, but imported foods must meet the new U.S. requirement.

“This is a welcome, but long overdue, action from the FDA: removing the unsustainable double standard in which Red 3 was banned from lipstick but permitted in candy,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, director of the group Center for Science in the Public Interest, which led the petition effort.

It's not clear whether the ban will face legal challenges from food manufacturers because evidence hasn’t determined that the dye causes cancer when consumed by humans. At a hearing in December, FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf suggested that's a risk.

“When we do ban something, it will go to court,” he told members of Congress on Dec. 5. “And if we don't have the scientific evidence, we will lose in court.”

When the FDA declined to allow Red 3 in cosmetics and topical drugs in 1990, the color additive was already permitted in foods and ingested drugs. Because research showed then that the way the dye causes cancer in rats does not apply to humans, "the FDA did not take action to revoke the authorization of Red No. 3 in food,” the agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/color-additives/fdc-red-no-3">has said on its website</a>.

Health advocates for years have asked the FDA to reconsider that decision, including the 2022 petition led by CSPI. In November, nearly two dozen members of Congress sent a letter demanding that FDA officials ban Red 3.

Lawmakers cited the Delaney Clause and said the action was especially important to protect children, who consume more of the dye on a bodyweight basis than adults, the lawmakers said.

“The FDA should act quickly to protect the nation's youth from this harmful dye, used simply to give food and drinks a bright red color,” the letter said. “No aesthetic reason could justify the use of a carcinogen in our food supply.”

Red 3 is banned for food use in Europe, Australia and New Zealand except in certain kinds of cherries. The dye will be banned in California starting in January 2027.

The International Association of Color Manufacturers defends the dye, saying that it is safe in levels typically consumed by humans. The group points to research by scientific committees operated by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, including a 2018 review that reaffirmed the safety of Red 3 in food.

Some food manufacturers have already reformulated products to remove Red 3. In its place they use beet juice; carmine, a dye made from insects; and pigments from foods such as purple sweet potato, radish and red cabbage, according to Sensient Food Colors, a St. Louis-based supplier of food colors and flavorings.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer</a>U.S. regulators on Wednesday banned the dye called Red 3 from the nation’s food supply, nearly 35 years after it was barred from cosmetics because of potential cancer risk.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, the FDA is issuing an order to revoke the authorization for the use of FD&amp;C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs in response to a 2022 color additive petition that requested the agency to review whether the Delaney Clause applied. <a href="https://t.co/Qd0NFOIUz8">https://t.co/Qd0NFOIUz8</a> <a href="https://t.co/Bpr6XNC8OR">pic.twitter.com/Bpr6XNC8OR</a>&mdash; U.S. FDA Human Foods Program (@FDAfood) <a href="https://twitter.com/FDAfood/status/1879532094730227991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Food and Drug Administration officials granted a 2022 petition filed by two dozen food safety and health advocates, who urged the agency to revoke authorization for the substance that gives some candies, snack cakes and maraschino cherries a bright red hue.The agency said it was taking the action as a “matter of law” because some studies have found that the dye caused cancer in lab rats. Officials cited a statute known as the Delaney Clause, which requires FDA to ban any additive found to cause cancer in people or animals.The dye is known as erythrosine, FD&amp;C Red No. 3 or Red 3. The ban removes it from the list of approved color additives in foods, dietary supplements and oral medicines, such as cough syrups. More than three decades ago, the FDA declined to authorize use of Red 3 in cosmetics and externally applied drugs because a study showed it caused cancer when eaten by rats.“The FDA is taking action that will remove the authorization for the use of FD&amp;C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs," said Jim Jones, the FDA's deputy commissioner for human foods. “Evidence shows cancer in laboratory male rats exposed to high levels of FD&amp;C Red No.3. Importantly, the way that FD&amp;C Red No. 3 causes cancer in male rats does not occur in humans.”Food manufacturers will have until January 2027 to remove the dye from their products, while makers of ingested drugs have until January 2028 to do the same. Other countries still allow for certain uses of the dye, but imported foods must meet the new U.S. requirement.Consumer advocates praised the decision.“This is a welcome, but long overdue, action from the FDA: removing the unsustainable double standard in which Red 3 was banned from lipstick but permitted in candy,” said Dr. Peter Lurie, director of the group Center for Science in the Public Interest, which led the petition effort.It's not clear whether the ban will face legal challenges from food manufacturers because evidence hasn’t determined that the dye causes cancer when consumed by humans. At a hearing in December, FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf suggested that's a risk.“When we do ban something, it will go to court,” he told members of Congress on Dec. 5. “And if we don't have the scientific evidence, we will lose in court.”When the FDA declined to allow Red 3 in cosmetics and topical drugs in 1990, the color additive was already permitted in foods and ingested drugs. Because research showed then that the way the dye causes cancer in rats does not apply to humans, "the FDA did not take action to revoke the authorization of Red No. 3 in food,” the agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/industry/color-additives/fdc-red-no-3">has said on its website</a>.Health advocates for years have asked the FDA to reconsider that decision, including the 2022 petition led by CSPI. In November, nearly two dozen members of Congress sent a letter demanding that FDA officials ban Red 3.Lawmakers cited the Delaney Clause and said the action was especially important to protect children, who consume more of the dye on a bodyweight basis than adults, the lawmakers said.“The FDA should act quickly to protect the nation's youth from this harmful dye, used simply to give food and drinks a bright red color,” the letter said. “No aesthetic reason could justify the use of a carcinogen in our food supply.”Red 3 is banned for food use in Europe, Australia and New Zealand except in certain kinds of cherries. The dye will be banned in California starting in January 2027.The International Association of Color Manufacturers defends the dye, saying that it is safe in levels typically consumed by humans. The group points to research by scientific committees operated by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, including a 2018 review that reaffirmed the safety of Red 3 in food.Some food manufacturers have already reformulated products to remove Red 3. In its place they use beet juice; carmine, a dye made from insects; and pigments from foods such as purple sweet potato, radish and red cabbage, according to Sensient Food Colors, a St. Louis-based supplier of food colors and flavorings.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

FDA bans red dye No. 3 from foods

Minority party endorses idea of raising state’s $7.25 minimum wage

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Democrats vowed on the second day of the legislative session Tuesday to concentrate on reforms that addressed the rising cost of housing, health care, groceries, child care and fuel.

The news conference at the Capitol attended by Democrats from the House and Senate followed Monday’s messaging effort by Republican leaders in both legislative chambers and preceded Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s State of the State speech Wednesday night. The Democratic legislators didn’t release a set of specific bills that could advance their cost-of-living agenda.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes repeated a prominent GOP talking point during the 2024 election cycle that many Kansans were struggling to keep up financially as escalating prices made nearly every aspect of their lives more challenging.

“They don’t believe the economy is working for them,” said Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat. “While Kansans are working hard, often that hard work benefits shareholders and corporations — leaving workers and their families behind. That is wrong. Everything we do this session should be focused on making life more affordable.”

She said legislation put forward by GOP lawmakers should be scrutinized according to a fundamental question. The litmus test: Would it make life more affordable for Kansans?

Under that metric, Sykes said the renewed push by Republicans to divert state tax dollars from K-12 public schools to private schools would fail. She said the same answer would apply to rehashed legislative proposals to repeal voting rights, including use of ballot drop boxes and the three-day grace period for mail ballots to be counted after Election Day.

House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, also a Lenexa Democrat, said the minority party would strive to raise the state’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. He didn’t, however, identify a target for elevating the compensation rate.

“Raising the minimum wage is the first step to addressing income inequality throughout the state,” Woodard said. “At a time when the entire country is feeling the impact of inflation, Kansas must appropriately compensate workers who need it most.”

In three nearby states, the minimum wage is about double the rate in Kansas. Examples: Colorado, $14.81 per hour; Missouri, $13.75; and Nebraska, $13.50. Oklahoma at $7.25 is the equal of Kansas.

Democratic legislators would also encourage passage of measures that expanded quality health care, including broadband access for use in telehealth programs. The state should invest in better access to mental health services, Woodard said.

Woodard said the Legislature should continue to grapple with a 30-year trend that shifted more of the property-tax burden onto residential owners. High property taxes disproportionately burden middle-class homeowners and the elderly on fixed incomes, he said.

He said restoration of a homestead property tax rebate program for renters — it was discontinued more than a decade ago — would be helpful to Kansans who didn’t own a residence.

In terms of property tax relief, Sykes said the Democratic caucus didn’t have a fixed position but wanted results of the upcoming debate to be financially sustainable and offer relief to all Kansans rather than certain economic classes.

Sykes asserted GOP legislative leadership was “misrepresenting what actually happened” on property taxes during closed-door discussions in the June special session. Sykes said the governor set a financial maximum on the total value of reductions that would be acceptable to her in terms of sales, income and property taxes.

“Republican leadership reduced the property tax portion in order to get income taxes,” Sykes said. “They chose to have a lesser amount on property tax in order … to change the income tax structure.”

Hawkins and Masterson, the respective GOP leaders of the House and Senate, maintained it was the governor who insisted property tax reform had to take a back seat to income tax cuts. In the end, the governor signed a $1.2 billion, three-year reform bill that was anchored to income tax reductions.

Kelly is on the record urging the 2025 Legislature to put off another major tax-cut effort until the full impact of last year’s reform was known.

Masterson said the Legislature would attempt to place on a statewide ballot a proposed change to the Kansas Constitution that would put a lid on the rate of increase in property tax collections. The state depends primarily on sales and income taxes for its budget, leaving the property tax to cities, counties and schools.

“What the state can do primarily is a constitutional amendment that would create caps and change the processes in which that’s affecting people. People see these rapid appraisal increases, which turns into rapid tax increases,” Masterson said.

Sykes, on the other hand, said it could be a mistake to undermine the capacity of local government to operate by depriving municipalities of property tax revenue.

“What we do in Topeka cannot cause more harm to our cities and counties,” she said. “We want the firefighter to come. We want the police to be able to. We want good roads. We have to partner with them and work collaboratively.”

Senate Bill 1, which passed by overwhelming bipartisan margins during the special session in June, included an increase in the amount of residential property exempted from the statewide property tax that helped fund K-12 public schools. The school-finance law was changed starting in the 2024 tax year so the exemption from the 20-mill levy for K-12 schools increased to $75,000, up from $42,000.

Hawkins said Republicans and Democrats in the House were frustrated because Kelly stiff-armed the opportunity to enact bigger property tax adjustments. He expected changes during the 2025 session to be approved with bipartisan majorities.

“Democrats … have said they will be voting for property tax relief,” Hawkins said during an interview on KCUR. “Will all of them? No. There’s some of them that will follow the governor. If the governor tells them, ‘No, don’t do it.’ But there are going to be some that are a little bit more independent-minded that realize it is a very important thing for the people of Kansas.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736949640692.png" alt="Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes and House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, both of Lenexa, said during a news conference Tuesday at the Capitol that Democrats in the 2025 legislative session would concentrate on issues that reduced the burden of basic cost increases on Kansans. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes and House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, both of Lenexa, said during a news conference Tuesday at the Capitol that Democrats in the 2025 legislative session would concentrate on issues that reduced the burden of basic cost increases on Kansans. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Minority party endorses idea of raising state’s $7.25 minimum wage</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Democrats vowed on the second day of the legislative session Tuesday to concentrate on reforms that addressed the rising cost of housing, health care, groceries, child care and fuel.The news conference at the Capitol attended by Democrats from the House and Senate followed Monday’s messaging effort by Republican leaders in both legislative chambers and preceded Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s State of the State speech Wednesday night. The Democratic legislators didn’t release a set of specific bills that could advance their cost-of-living agenda.Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes repeated a prominent GOP talking point during the 2024 election cycle that many Kansans were struggling to keep up financially as escalating prices made nearly every aspect of their lives more challenging.“They don’t believe the economy is working for them,” said Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat. “While Kansans are working hard, often that hard work benefits shareholders and corporations — leaving workers and their families behind. That is wrong. Everything we do this session should be focused on making life more affordable.”She said legislation put forward by GOP lawmakers should be scrutinized according to a fundamental question. The litmus test: Would it make life more affordable for Kansans?Under that metric, Sykes said the renewed push by Republicans to divert state tax dollars from K-12 public schools to private schools would fail. She said the same answer would apply to rehashed legislative proposals to repeal voting rights, including use of ballot drop boxes and the three-day grace period for mail ballots to be counted after Election Day.House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, also a Lenexa Democrat, said the minority party would strive to raise the state’s minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. He didn’t, however, identify a target for elevating the compensation rate.“Raising the minimum wage is the first step to addressing income inequality throughout the state,” Woodard said. “At a time when the entire country is feeling the impact of inflation, Kansas must appropriately compensate workers who need it most.”In three nearby states, the minimum wage is about double the rate in Kansas. Examples: Colorado, $14.81 per hour; Missouri, $13.75; and Nebraska, $13.50. Oklahoma at $7.25 is the equal of Kansas.Democratic legislators would also encourage passage of measures that expanded quality health care, including broadband access for use in telehealth programs. The state should invest in better access to mental health services, Woodard said.Woodard said the Legislature should continue to grapple with a 30-year trend that shifted more of the property-tax burden onto residential owners. High property taxes disproportionately burden middle-class homeowners and the elderly on fixed incomes, he said.He said restoration of a homestead property tax rebate program for renters — it was discontinued more than a decade ago — would be helpful to Kansans who didn’t own a residence.In terms of property tax relief, Sykes said the Democratic caucus didn’t have a fixed position but wanted results of the upcoming debate to be financially sustainable and offer relief to all Kansans rather than certain economic classes.Sykes asserted GOP legislative leadership was “misrepresenting what actually happened” on property taxes during closed-door discussions in the June special session. Sykes said the governor set a financial maximum on the total value of reductions that would be acceptable to her in terms of sales, income and property taxes.“Republican leadership reduced the property tax portion in order to get income taxes,” Sykes said. “They chose to have a lesser amount on property tax in order … to change the income tax structure.”Hawkins and Masterson, the respective GOP leaders of the House and Senate, maintained it was the governor who insisted property tax reform had to take a back seat to income tax cuts. In the end, the governor signed a $1.2 billion, three-year reform bill that was anchored to income tax reductions.Kelly is on the record urging the 2025 Legislature to put off another major tax-cut effort until the full impact of last year’s reform was known.Masterson said the Legislature would attempt to place on a statewide ballot a proposed change to the Kansas Constitution that would put a lid on the rate of increase in property tax collections. The state depends primarily on sales and income taxes for its budget, leaving the property tax to cities, counties and schools.“What the state can do primarily is a constitutional amendment that would create caps and change the processes in which that’s affecting people. People see these rapid appraisal increases, which turns into rapid tax increases,” Masterson said.Sykes, on the other hand, said it could be a mistake to undermine the capacity of local government to operate by depriving municipalities of property tax revenue.“What we do in Topeka cannot cause more harm to our cities and counties,” she said. “We want the firefighter to come. We want the police to be able to. We want good roads. We have to partner with them and work collaboratively.”Senate Bill 1, which passed by overwhelming bipartisan margins during the special session in June, included an increase in the amount of residential property exempted from the statewide property tax that helped fund K-12 public schools. The school-finance law was changed starting in the 2024 tax year so the exemption from the 20-mill levy for K-12 schools increased to $75,000, up from $42,000.Hawkins said Republicans and Democrats in the House were frustrated because Kelly stiff-armed the opportunity to enact bigger property tax adjustments. He expected changes during the 2025 session to be approved with bipartisan majorities.“Democrats … have said they will be voting for property tax relief,” Hawkins said during an interview on KCUR. “Will all of them? No. There’s some of them that will follow the governor. If the governor tells them, ‘No, don’t do it.’ But there are going to be some that are a little bit more independent-minded that realize it is a very important thing for the people of Kansas.”

Kansas House, Senate Democrats want to focus ’25 session on cost-of-living issues

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — One day after Michael Thomas Lewis was charged with felony stalking of Indiana Fever star and WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark, the 55-year-old Texas man shouted “guilty as charged” as soon as he sat down in a courtroom Tuesday.

Lewis is accused of repeated and continued harassment of the 22-year-old Clark beginning on Dec. 16, the Marion County prosecutor’s office wrote in a court filing.

WISH-TV of Indianapolis reported that Lewis behaved “very erratically” in his first court appearance and, at times, appeared to be laughing and joking while noting he had not been taking his medication while jailed or while living out of his car.

Prosecutors said they were seeking a higher than standard bond because Lewis traveled from his home in Texas to Indianapolis “with the intent to be in close proximity to the victim.” Lewis was ordered held on a $50,000 bond, and if the bond is posted, he will be required to wear an ankle monitor and remain in Indiana.

The court also filed a not guilty plea on Lewis' behalf, and Judge Angela Davis suggested Lewis “remain silent” in jail and only speak with his attorney.

Lewis received a no-contact order and the stay-away order sought by prosecutors that bars him from being within 500 feet of either of the two arenas where the Fever play their home games.

His pretrial hearing will be held remotely on March 31.

In one post on X, Lewis said he had been repeatedly been driving by Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers' home arena where the Fever also play. In another, he said he had “one foot on a banana peel and the other on a stalking charge.” Other messages directed at Clark were sexually explicit.

The social media posts “actually caused Caitlin Clark to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened” and an implicit or explicit threat also was made “with the intent to place Caitlin Clark in reasonable fear of sexual battery,” prosecutors wrote in the Marion County Superior Court filing.

The FBI learned the X account belonged to Lewis and that the messages were sent from IP addresses associated with an Indianapolis hotel and downtown public library.

Indianapolis police spoke with Lewis on Jan. 8 at his hotel room. He told officers he was in Indianapolis on vacation. When asked why he was making so many posts about Clark, Lewis replied: “Just the same reason everybody makes posts,” according to court documents.

He told police that he didn’t mean any harm and that he fantasized about being in a relationship with Clark.

The Associated Press named Clark its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-female-athlete-of-year-clark-7e5aa066120ee2b1f85b6ab1098b7a8d">Female Athlete of the Year</a>&nbsp;for 2024. After leading Iowa to last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-iowa-south-carolina-ratings-fe3c29aabbea557d83a911afb4ebf637">national championship game</a>, she was the top pick in the WNBA draft and went on to win&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caitlin-clark-rookie-year-wnba-ecfc3070241f5c659402e0843c433808">rookie of the year</a>&nbsp;honors in the league.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728043885875.png" alt="Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)" />
 <figcaption>Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)</figcaption>
 </figure>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — One day after Michael Thomas Lewis was charged with felony stalking of Indiana Fever star and WNBA rookie of the year Caitlin Clark, the 55-year-old Texas man shouted “guilty as charged” as soon as he sat down in a courtroom Tuesday.Lewis is accused of repeated and continued harassment of the 22-year-old Clark beginning on Dec. 16, the Marion County prosecutor’s office wrote in a court filing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736813656061.png" alt="Lewis photo Marion County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Lewis photo Marion County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>WISH-TV of Indianapolis reported that Lewis behaved “very erratically” in his first court appearance and, at times, appeared to be laughing and joking while noting he had not been taking his medication while jailed or while living out of his car.Prosecutors said they were seeking a higher than standard bond because Lewis traveled from his home in Texas to Indianapolis “with the intent to be in close proximity to the victim.” Lewis was ordered held on a $50,000 bond, and if the bond is posted, he will be required to wear an ankle monitor and remain in Indiana.The court also filed a not guilty plea on Lewis' behalf, and Judge Angela Davis suggested Lewis “remain silent” in jail and only speak with his attorney.Lewis received a no-contact order and the stay-away order sought by prosecutors that bars him from being within 500 feet of either of the two arenas where the Fever play their home games.His pretrial hearing will be held remotely on March 31.In one post on X, Lewis said he had been repeatedly been driving by Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers' home arena where the Fever also play. In another, he said he had “one foot on a banana peel and the other on a stalking charge.” Other messages directed at Clark were sexually explicit.The social media posts “actually caused Caitlin Clark to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, or threatened” and an implicit or explicit threat also was made “with the intent to place Caitlin Clark in reasonable fear of sexual battery,” prosecutors wrote in the Marion County Superior Court filing.The FBI learned the X account belonged to Lewis and that the messages were sent from IP addresses associated with an Indianapolis hotel and downtown public library.Indianapolis police spoke with Lewis on Jan. 8 at his hotel room. He told officers he was in Indianapolis on vacation. When asked why he was making so many posts about Clark, Lewis replied: “Just the same reason everybody makes posts,” according to court documents.He told police that he didn’t mean any harm and that he fantasized about being in a relationship with Clark.The Associated Press named Clark its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-female-athlete-of-year-clark-7e5aa066120ee2b1f85b6ab1098b7a8d">Female Athlete of the Year</a>&nbsp;for 2024. After leading Iowa to last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-iowa-south-carolina-ratings-fe3c29aabbea557d83a911afb4ebf637">national championship game</a>, she was the top pick in the WNBA draft and went on to win&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caitlin-clark-rookie-year-wnba-ecfc3070241f5c659402e0843c433808">rookie of the year</a>&nbsp;honors in the league.

Wild court appearance for man accused of stalking Caitlin Clark

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating three separate homicides in Kansas City that occurred Tuesday.

The deceased is identified as Alex Benson, BM, 05/17/2002.

Just before 12:15a.m. Tuesday, officers were patrolling in the area of E 30th Street and Indiana Avenue when they observed a vehicle stopped in the roadway and facing oncoming traffic, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Officers stopped to check the vehicle and any occupants that may be inside. As they approached the vehicle, an adult male victim could be seen inside suffering from apparent gunshot trauma and unresponsive.

EMS responded to the scene and declared the victim deceased.&nbsp;

Just after 2:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting at an apartment complex in the area of 6300 Manchester Avenue in Kansas City, according to Officer Gonzalez.

When officers arrived on scene, they made contact with the calling party who advised someone was shot inside. Officers entered the residence and located a man suffering from apparent, gunshot trauma and unresponsive. EMS personnel responded to the scene and declared the victim deceased.

Police had no preliminary information at this time that would indicate what lead up to the shooting and have not reported an arrest or suspect information.&nbsp; The name of the victim has not been released.

Just after 4:30p.m. police were dispatched to the 3900 block of N Lister Avenue on a reported shooting disturbance. Upon arrival, officers located an a victim lying outside of a nearby residence suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased, according to Officer Gonzalez.

Officers located another adult male victim inside of the home suffering from gunshot trauma who was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting may have started over an argument. We are working to determine the relationship between both shooting victims and identify a person of interest. Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to begin collecting evidence and gathering witness statements

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736904780718.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation near 6300 Manchester Avenue on Tuesday afternoon- Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation near 6300 Manchester Avenue on Tuesday afternoon- Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating three separate homicides in Kansas City that occurred Tuesday.The deceased is identified as Alex Benson, BM, 05/17/2002.Just before 12:15a.m. Tuesday, officers were patrolling in the area of E 30th Street and Indiana Avenue when they observed a vehicle stopped in the roadway and facing oncoming traffic, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Officers stopped to check the vehicle and any occupants that may be inside. As they approached the vehicle, an adult male victim could be seen inside suffering from apparent gunshot trauma and unresponsive.EMS responded to the scene and declared the victim deceased.&nbsp;Just after 2:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting at an apartment complex in the area of 6300 Manchester Avenue in Kansas City, according to Officer Gonzalez.When officers arrived on scene, they made contact with the calling party who advised someone was shot inside. Officers entered the residence and located a man suffering from apparent, gunshot trauma and unresponsive. EMS personnel responded to the scene and declared the victim deceased.Police had no preliminary information at this time that would indicate what lead up to the shooting and have not reported an arrest or suspect information.&nbsp; The name of the victim has not been released.Just after 4:30p.m. police were dispatched to the 3900 block of N Lister Avenue on a reported shooting disturbance. Upon arrival, officers located an a victim lying outside of a nearby residence suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS transported the victim to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased, according to Officer Gonzalez.Officers located another adult male victim inside of the home suffering from gunshot trauma who was transported to the hospital with critical injuries. Preliminary investigation indicates the shooting may have started over an argument. We are working to determine the relationship between both shooting victims and identify a person of interest. Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to begin collecting evidence and gathering witness statements

Police: 3 homicides in Kansas City on Tuesday

TOPEKA –Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Tuesday announced his office has filed a lawsuit against SARJ LLC, the operator of 13 adult websites.

<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/home/showdocument?id=22872&amp;t=638724608498177132">Click here to read the</a> petition

The Kansas Attorney General's Office filed the suit in Shawnee County District Court. Since July 1, 2024, Kansas law has required that adult websites verify the age of its users. 

SARJ LLC's websites distribute erotic films, photography, and live streaming platforms without verifying the age of users. The lawsuit marks the first such suit under the 2024 law.

"Protecting our children against the harmful effects of pornography is a high priority for all Kansans. This law is making a difference. When the Kansas Legislature passes a law, I will enforce it faithfully to the letter of the law. That is what the people of Kansas elected me to do," Kobach said.Under Kansas law, SARJ LLC's practices are subject to civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation per day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736891986982.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Tuesday announced his office has filed a lawsuit against SARJ LLC, the operator of 13 adult websites.<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/home/showdocument?id=22872&amp;t=638724608498177132">Click here to read the</a> petitionThe Kansas Attorney General's Office filed the suit in Shawnee County District Court. Since July 1, 2024, Kansas law has required that adult websites verify the age of its users. SARJ LLC's websites distribute erotic films, photography, and live streaming platforms without verifying the age of users. The lawsuit marks the first such suit under the 2024 law."Protecting our children against the harmful effects of pornography is a high priority for all Kansans. This law is making a difference. When the Kansas Legislature passes a law, I will enforce it faithfully to the letter of the law. That is what the people of Kansas elected me to do," Kobach said.Under Kansas law, SARJ LLC's practices are subject to civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation per day.

Read the petition: Kan. AG sues adult website for lack of age verification

&nbsp;PALM BEACH —The Presidential inauguration is January 20.&nbsp; On Tuesday night, the Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Company, James Quincey presented President-elect Trump the first ever Presidential Commemorative Inaugural Diet Coke bottle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736905668769.png" alt="Photo courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications, Donald J. Trump for President&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications, Donald J. Trump for President&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;PALM BEACH —The Presidential inauguration is January 20.&nbsp; On Tuesday night, the Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Company, James Quincey presented President-elect Trump the first ever Presidential Commemorative Inaugural Diet Coke bottle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736905639822.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Trump is a long-time Diet Coke fanatic.

Coca-Cola gives Trump commemorative inaugural Diet Coke bottle

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fires burning homes and businesses in Los Angeles for a week have killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wildfires-southern-california-2dc4d256d8681f7d035f64730982aef0">at least 25 people</a>, displaced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/la-wildfire-flee-evacuation-wind-palisades-f302b4cd347f9a4f4fe707fa0a717aca">thousands of others</a>&nbsp;and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings in what might be the most expensive set of conflagrations in the nation's history.

The blazes started Jan. 7, fueled by fierce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wind-wildfires-climate-change-weather-42b55ae1e66b56a6375300e448f01946">Santa Ana winds</a>&nbsp;that have posed problems for the large forces of firefighters deployed across several areas of the sprawling city. Cal Fire reported that the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires have consumed about 63 square miles (163 square kilometers). Cal Fire reported containment of the Palisades Fire at 17% and the Eaton Fire at 35% on Tuesday.

The Palisades Fire, along the coast, has been blamed for eight deaths, while the Eaton Fire farther inland has been blamed for 17 others, the LA County medical examiner's office said. Nearly 30 people were missing.

Investigators are still trying to determine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-fires-possible-causes-6112488f835e45f53c67d4d03d7a1e4f">what sparked the fires</a>. They could be the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-natural-disasters-losses-insurance-recovery-d2f24e44d75503118643151eaee947fb">costliest ever</a>. Government agencies haven't provided preliminary damage estimates yet, but AccuWeather, a company that provides data on weather and its impact, puts the damage and economic losses at $250 billion to $275 billion.

Here's a closer look at what to know about the fires.

Strong winds kick up in the fire-plagued city

Dry winds gusted Tuesday up to 50 mph (80 kph) in the mountains around LA, said meteorologist Todd Hall of the National Weather Service. That could increase, with the potential for more powerful gusts across the mountains into coastal and valley areas.

A red-flag warning already has been in effect, but the weather service has issued a rare warning about a “particularly dangerous situation” related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-fires-things-to-know-winds-f93d41dc901e352b63e86ab67ef7790e">severe fire conditions.</a>&nbsp;Strong winds are predicted through Wednesday, forecasters said.

The Santa Ana winds have turned seasonal wildfires into infernos that have leveled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-pacific-palisades-wildfires-los-angeles-4b67b7f29d0d6eb7321a52ef60c17d60">neighborhoods</a>&nbsp;in and around Los Angeles where there has been no significant rainfall in over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fire-devastation-climate-change-santa-ana-winds-a46e2bb6785b1e325f6076fb22c8fcc5">eight months</a>.

Southern California’s winds typically flow onshore from the Pacific, carrying moist air onto land. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wind-wildfires-climate-change-weather-42b55ae1e66b56a6375300e448f01946">Santa Ana winds</a>&nbsp;are warm currents that move in the opposite direction. They usually occur from September through May.

FEMA delivers cash assistance to affected households

About 40,000 people have applied for assistance from Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has already disbursed more than $8 million for immediate needs like water, food, baby formula and gas. The initial money goes directly into bank accounts, regional FEMA administrator Robert J. Fenton, Jr. said Tuesday, denying misinformation about vouchers.

President Joe Biden did say that the federal government would pay 100% of the firefighting and recovery costs in the first 180 days. But that doesn’t mean FEMA will cover 100% of individual families’ costs — the maximum amount FEMA can provide is $43,600, Fenton said.

Representatives from FEMA, the Small Business Administration, the state and several charities gathered to explain the process at a disaster recovery center at UCLA Research Park West and Pasadena City College Community Education Center.

FEMA offers up to $770 to help cover the evacuees' immediate needs, but its larger grants generally aren’t available until after insurance companies pay out. Someone who receives a maximum grant from FEMA might be eligible for another $10,000 grant from the state.

For other needs beyond what insurance and FEMA covers, the Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans: Businesses can borrow up to $2 million, while homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 for rebuilding and another $100,000 for personal property.

<a href="https://recovery.lacounty.gov/">LA County Recovers</a>, a government-run program, posted interactive maps on its website that show the damage.

The maps for the&nbsp;<a href="https://recovery.lacounty.gov/eaton-fire/">Eaton</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://recovery.lacounty.gov/palisades-fire/">Palisades</a>&nbsp;fires allow users to click on an icon and get a description of the type of structure, such as a home or commercial building, and the type of damage, such as “major” or “destroyed.”

Addresses may be entered into a search bar to find a specific location. Users can also see photos of the damaged buildings.

Nine people have been charged with looting, including a group that stole an Emmy award from a house that had been evacuated, said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.

Another pair took more than $200,000 worth of items in a neighborhood filled with mansions, he said.

Price gouging has become an issue with hotels, short-term rentals and medical supplies. Scammers are also soliciting donations for bogus relief efforts, authorities said.

And three people were arrested outside the fire zones since Sunday for starting small fires, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. The fires were spotted by alert citizens and quickly extinguished. One person was using a barbecue lighter to start fires. Another lit a trash can on fire. The third was caught lighting brush on fire. All were arrested on suspicion of arson, McDonnell said.

Sewer, water and power infrastructure across the region has been significantly damaged, and&nbsp;<a href="https://lacounty.gov/emergency/">several utilities</a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-wildfires-drinking-water-contamination-121cc5d8ff22e577342e7fa79de791ae">declared their drinking water unsafe</a>&nbsp;until extensive testing can prove otherwise.

Toxic chemicals from the fires can get into damaged drinking water systems. Experts say filtering or boiling won’t help.

Los Angeles County has more than 200 water service providers, but so far only&nbsp;<a href="https://lacounty.gov/emergency/">a handful</a>&nbsp;believe that damage or loss of pressure may have resulted in chemical contamination and have issued “Do Not Drink” notices.

Utilities are focused on ensuring there’s enough water for fighting fires, though some are beginning to test for contaminants. It can take weeks to months of testing before water can be declared safe for drinking.

Thousands remain evacuated or without power

About 88,000 people from highly populated neighborhoods including Pacific Palisades, Altadena and others remained under evacuation orders Tuesday. Another 84,800 might be ordered to evacuate. An overnight curfew remains in effect for evacuated areas, and violators have been arrested, authorities said.

<a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/EPO/Pages/Wildfire%20Pages/Facility-Evacuations.aspx">Around 850</a>&nbsp;patients and residents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-escape-evacuate-senior-citizens-7068811f9be7a03c4932817320d97b73">nursing homes</a>, assisted living facilities and group homes were evacuated after the blazes last week, according to the California Department of Public Health.

More than 80,000 customers, more than half in Los Angeles County, were without power across California on Tuesday, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://poweroutage.us/">PowerOutage.us</a>, which tracks outages nationwide.

Thousands have fled and many have lost their homes, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-los-angeles-celebrities-1337e6e1f6d631aa931684ad185310cd">Hollywood stars</a>&nbsp;Billy Crystal and Mandy Moore, and Los Angeles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-lakers-redick-faef4a6bb8f137017ca716ebb7c511d6">Lakers head coach JJ Redick</a>.

The fires scorched more than landmarks and celebrity homes

Although the fires have reduced a number of celebrity mansions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/landmarks-destroyed-california-wildfires-135b5d227f3ea1b5b9f877b48e3bbdb9">movie landmarks</a>&nbsp;to ashes, they also burned through more affordable communities such as Altadena, which has served&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfire-pacific-palisades-pasadena-altadena-inequality-63ea76d186740359f7f5dd188896354f">generations of Black families</a>&nbsp;who might have faced discriminatory housing practices elsewhere.

The fires have also destroyed several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-destroyed-churches-synagogue-mosque-eba09c35bd7c851c57574171aa4ed34d">places of worship</a>, including a mosque, a synagogue, a Catholic parish and a half-dozen Protestant churches.

Investigators are looking into what caused the fires

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736908788007.png" alt="Image Red Cross Los Angeles" />
 <figcaption>Image Red Cross Los Angeles</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fires burning homes and businesses in Los Angeles for a week have killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wildfires-southern-california-2dc4d256d8681f7d035f64730982aef0">at least 25 people</a>, displaced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/la-wildfire-flee-evacuation-wind-palisades-f302b4cd347f9a4f4fe707fa0a717aca">thousands of others</a>&nbsp;and destroyed more than 12,000 buildings in what might be the most expensive set of conflagrations in the nation's history.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Wildfire-impacted residents can pick up their mail at relocated post offices or have mail forwarded to a temporary location. Learn more: <a href="https://t.co/EIu0j3dkyZ">https://t.co/EIu0j3dkyZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/zPRzYuTPaY">pic.twitter.com/zPRzYuTPaY</a>&mdash; Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyofLA/status/1879353054094618902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The blazes started Jan. 7, fueled by fierce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wind-wildfires-climate-change-weather-42b55ae1e66b56a6375300e448f01946">Santa Ana winds</a>&nbsp;that have posed problems for the large forces of firefighters deployed across several areas of the sprawling city. Cal Fire reported that the Palisades, Eaton, Kenneth and Hurst fires have consumed about 63 square miles (163 square kilometers). Cal Fire reported containment of the Palisades Fire at 17% and the Eaton Fire at 35% on Tuesday.The Palisades Fire, along the coast, has been blamed for eight deaths, while the Eaton Fire farther inland has been blamed for 17 others, the LA County medical examiner's office said. Nearly 30 people were missing.Investigators are still trying to determine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-fires-possible-causes-6112488f835e45f53c67d4d03d7a1e4f">what sparked the fires</a>. They could be the nation's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-natural-disasters-losses-insurance-recovery-d2f24e44d75503118643151eaee947fb">costliest ever</a>. Government agencies haven't provided preliminary damage estimates yet, but AccuWeather, a company that provides data on weather and its impact, puts the damage and economic losses at $250 billion to $275 billion.Here's a closer look at what to know about the fires.<h2>Strong winds kick up in the fire-plagued city</h2>Dry winds gusted Tuesday up to 50 mph (80 kph) in the mountains around LA, said meteorologist Todd Hall of the National Weather Service. That could increase, with the potential for more powerful gusts across the mountains into coastal and valley areas.A red-flag warning already has been in effect, but the weather service has issued a rare warning about a “particularly dangerous situation” related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-fires-things-to-know-winds-f93d41dc901e352b63e86ab67ef7790e">severe fire conditions.</a>&nbsp;Strong winds are predicted through Wednesday, forecasters said.The Santa Ana winds have turned seasonal wildfires into infernos that have leveled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-pacific-palisades-wildfires-los-angeles-4b67b7f29d0d6eb7321a52ef60c17d60">neighborhoods</a>&nbsp;in and around Los Angeles where there has been no significant rainfall in over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fire-devastation-climate-change-santa-ana-winds-a46e2bb6785b1e325f6076fb22c8fcc5">eight months</a>.Southern California’s winds typically flow onshore from the Pacific, carrying moist air onto land. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-wind-wildfires-climate-change-weather-42b55ae1e66b56a6375300e448f01946">Santa Ana winds</a>&nbsp;are warm currents that move in the opposite direction. They usually occur from September through May.<h2>FEMA delivers cash assistance to affected households</h2>About 40,000 people have applied for assistance from Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has already disbursed more than $8 million for immediate needs like water, food, baby formula and gas. The initial money goes directly into bank accounts, regional FEMA administrator Robert J. Fenton, Jr. said Tuesday, denying misinformation about vouchers.President Joe Biden did say that the federal government would pay 100% of the firefighting and recovery costs in the first 180 days. But that doesn’t mean FEMA will cover 100% of individual families’ costs — the maximum amount FEMA can provide is $43,600, Fenton said.Representatives from FEMA, the Small Business Administration, the state and several charities gathered to explain the process at a disaster recovery center at UCLA Research Park West and Pasadena City College Community Education Center.FEMA offers up to $770 to help cover the evacuees' immediate needs, but its larger grants generally aren’t available until after insurance companies pay out. Someone who receives a maximum grant from FEMA might be eligible for another $10,000 grant from the state.For other needs beyond what insurance and FEMA covers, the Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans: Businesses can borrow up to $2 million, while homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 for rebuilding and another $100,000 for personal property.<h2>Interactive maps show damaged homes</h2><a href="https://recovery.lacounty.gov/">LA County Recovers</a>, a government-run program, posted interactive maps on its website that show the damage.The maps for the&nbsp;<a href="https://recovery.lacounty.gov/eaton-fire/">Eaton</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://recovery.lacounty.gov/palisades-fire/">Palisades</a>&nbsp;fires allow users to click on an icon and get a description of the type of structure, such as a home or commercial building, and the type of damage, such as “major” or “destroyed.”Addresses may be entered into a search bar to find a specific location. Users can also see photos of the damaged buildings.<h2>Looting, price gouging and arson</h2>Nine people have been charged with looting, including a group that stole an Emmy award from a house that had been evacuated, said Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman.Another pair took more than $200,000 worth of items in a neighborhood filled with mansions, he said.Price gouging has become an issue with hotels, short-term rentals and medical supplies. Scammers are also soliciting donations for bogus relief efforts, authorities said.And three people were arrested outside the fire zones since Sunday for starting small fires, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said. The fires were spotted by alert citizens and quickly extinguished. One person was using a barbecue lighter to start fires. Another lit a trash can on fire. The third was caught lighting brush on fire. All were arrested on suspicion of arson, McDonnell said.<h2>Water safety worries utilities</h2>Sewer, water and power infrastructure across the region has been significantly damaged, and&nbsp;<a href="https://lacounty.gov/emergency/">several utilities</a>&nbsp;have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-wildfires-drinking-water-contamination-121cc5d8ff22e577342e7fa79de791ae">declared their drinking water unsafe</a>&nbsp;until extensive testing can prove otherwise.Toxic chemicals from the fires can get into damaged drinking water systems. Experts say filtering or boiling won’t help.Los Angeles County has more than 200 water service providers, but so far only&nbsp;<a href="https://lacounty.gov/emergency/">a handful</a>&nbsp;believe that damage or loss of pressure may have resulted in chemical contamination and have issued “Do Not Drink” notices.Utilities are focused on ensuring there’s enough water for fighting fires, though some are beginning to test for contaminants. It can take weeks to months of testing before water can be declared safe for drinking.<h2>Thousands remain evacuated or without power</h2>About 88,000 people from highly populated neighborhoods including Pacific Palisades, Altadena and others remained under evacuation orders Tuesday. Another 84,800 might be ordered to evacuate. An overnight curfew remains in effect for evacuated areas, and violators have been arrested, authorities said.<a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/EPO/Pages/Wildfire%20Pages/Facility-Evacuations.aspx">Around 850</a>&nbsp;patients and residents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-escape-evacuate-senior-citizens-7068811f9be7a03c4932817320d97b73">nursing homes</a>, assisted living facilities and group homes were evacuated after the blazes last week, according to the California Department of Public Health.More than 80,000 customers, more than half in Los Angeles County, were without power across California on Tuesday, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://poweroutage.us/">PowerOutage.us</a>, which tracks outages nationwide.Thousands have fled and many have lost their homes, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-los-angeles-celebrities-1337e6e1f6d631aa931684ad185310cd">Hollywood stars</a>&nbsp;Billy Crystal and Mandy Moore, and Los Angeles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-lakers-redick-faef4a6bb8f137017ca716ebb7c511d6">Lakers head coach JJ Redick</a>.<h2>The fires scorched more than landmarks and celebrity homes</h2>Although the fires have reduced a number of celebrity mansions and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/landmarks-destroyed-california-wildfires-135b5d227f3ea1b5b9f877b48e3bbdb9">movie landmarks</a>&nbsp;to ashes, they also burned through more affordable communities such as Altadena, which has served&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfire-pacific-palisades-pasadena-altadena-inequality-63ea76d186740359f7f5dd188896354f">generations of Black families</a>&nbsp;who might have faced discriminatory housing practices elsewhere.The fires have also destroyed several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-destroyed-churches-synagogue-mosque-eba09c35bd7c851c57574171aa4ed34d">places of worship</a>, including a mosque, a synagogue, a Catholic parish and a half-dozen Protestant churches.<h2>Investigators are looking into what caused the fires</h2>Investigators haven't determined the cause. But a person whose home was destroyed in the Eaton blaze claims in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-eaton-cause-utility-fireworks-eb0f4f71e437f1ba692f929e9633c856">a lawsuit filed Monday</a>&nbsp;that Southern California Edison’s equipment sparked it. Gabriela Ornelas, an Edison spokesperson, said the utility is aware that a lawsuit has been filed, but has not yet reviewed it.Lightning is the most common source of fires in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association, but investigators quickly ruled that out. There were no reports of lightning in the Palisades area or the terrain around the Eaton Fire, which started in eastern Los Angeles County.The next two most common causes are fires that are intentionally set or caused by electricity lines.