The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic concluded its two-year investigation into the COVID-19 pandemic and released a final report titled “After Action Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Lessons Learned and a Path Forward.” 

<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/12.04.2024-SSCP-FINAL-REPORT.pdf">Click here to read</a> the report

The final report will serve as a road map for Congress, the Executive Branch, and the private sector to prepare for and respond to future pandemics. Since February 2023, the Select Subcommittee has sent more than 100 investigative letters, conducted more than 30 transcribed interviews and depositions, held 25 hearings and meetings, and reviewed more than one million pages of documents. Members and staff have exposed high-level corruption in America’s public health system, confirmed the most likely origin of the pandemic, held COVID-19 bad actors publicly accountable, fostered bipartisan consensus on consequential pandemic-era issues, and more. This 520-page final report details all findings of the Select Subcommittee’s investigation.

“This work will help the United States, and the world, predict the next pandemic, prepare for the next pandemic, protect ourselves from the next pandemic, and hopefully prevent the next pandemic. Members of the 119th Congress should continue and build off this work, there is more information to find and honest actions to be taken,”&nbsp;wrote Chairman Wenstrup in a letter to Congress. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a distrust in leadership. Trust is earned. Accountability, transparency, honesty, and integrity will regain this trust. A future pandemic requires a whole of America response managed by those without personal benefit or bias. We can always do better, and for the sake of future generations of Americans, we must. It can be done.”

On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 10:30am, the Select Subcommittee will hold a markup of the final report and officially submit the report to the Congressional record.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733226536127.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic concluded its two-year investigation into the COVID-19 pandemic and released a final report titled “After Action Review of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Lessons Learned and a Path Forward.” <a href="https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/12.04.2024-SSCP-FINAL-REPORT.pdf">Click here to read</a> the reportThe final report will serve as a road map for Congress, the Executive Branch, and the private sector to prepare for and respond to future pandemics. Since February 2023, the Select Subcommittee has sent more than 100 investigative letters, conducted more than 30 transcribed interviews and depositions, held 25 hearings and meetings, and reviewed more than one million pages of documents. Members and staff have exposed high-level corruption in America’s public health system, confirmed the most likely origin of the pandemic, held COVID-19 bad actors publicly accountable, fostered bipartisan consensus on consequential pandemic-era issues, and more. This 520-page final report details all findings of the Select Subcommittee’s investigation.“This work will help the United States, and the world, predict the next pandemic, prepare for the next pandemic, protect ourselves from the next pandemic, and hopefully prevent the next pandemic. Members of the 119th Congress should continue and build off this work, there is more information to find and honest actions to be taken,”&nbsp;wrote Chairman Wenstrup in a letter to Congress. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a distrust in leadership. Trust is earned. Accountability, transparency, honesty, and integrity will regain this trust. A future pandemic requires a whole of America response managed by those without personal benefit or bias. We can always do better, and for the sake of future generations of Americans, we must. It can be done.”On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at 10:30am, the Select Subcommittee will hold a markup of the final report and officially submit the report to the Congressional record.&nbsp;

Read the U.S. House COVID-19 pandemic panel’s final report

Washington, D.C. -&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall will be a key founding member of the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, which will work closely with President Trump’s newly formed DOGE led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.&nbsp;

“The Federal Government’s waste, fraud, and abuse has left America as a shell of what she once was, and in a historic national debt crisis,”&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;“The American people gave us a mandate. They are tired of the status quo bureaucracy that strangles businesses in unnecessary regulations, abuses taxpayer monies on pet projects and beltway priorities over the heartland's needs, all while facing ZERO transparency or accountability for its gross mismanagement. Enough is enough; it’s past time for three letter agencies and unelected D.C. bureaucrats to come down to reality and remember&nbsp;‘We the People’&nbsp;sign their checks. DOGE has our work cut out for us, but it’s honorable work that will restore power back to the American people.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) will chair the Senate DOGE Caucus, with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), and James Lankford (R-OK) also holding membership in the caucus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706630950527.png" alt="Elon Musk will lead the DOGE along with Vivek Ramaswamy-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Elon Musk will lead the DOGE along with Vivek Ramaswamy-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington, D.C. -&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall will be a key founding member of the Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus, which will work closely with President Trump’s newly formed DOGE led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.&nbsp;“The Federal Government’s waste, fraud, and abuse has left America as a shell of what she once was, and in a historic national debt crisis,”&nbsp;Senator Marshall said.&nbsp;“The American people gave us a mandate. They are tired of the status quo bureaucracy that strangles businesses in unnecessary regulations, abuses taxpayer monies on pet projects and beltway priorities over the heartland's needs, all while facing ZERO transparency or accountability for its gross mismanagement. Enough is enough; it’s past time for three letter agencies and unelected D.C. bureaucrats to come down to reality and remember&nbsp;‘We the People’&nbsp;sign their checks. DOGE has our work cut out for us, but it’s honorable work that will restore power back to the American people.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) will chair the Senate DOGE Caucus, with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), and James Lankford (R-OK) also holding membership in the caucus.

Kan. U.S. Senator named to DOGE caucus to eliminate government waste, inefficiency

KANSAS CITY (AP)—The U.S. government said Tuesday it has closed its investigation into an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-onions-05c6b6c2461a35c29b774dcd2c20d4d5">E. coli outbreak</a>&nbsp;tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers after determining there is no longer a safety risk.

The outbreak, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-422c4687cc9218efda03cae73b01f473">began in late October</a>, sickened at least 104 people in 14 states, including 34 who were hospitalized, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One person in Colorado died and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-investment-franchises-837b91490d833ed17c2a852baacb267e">four people developed a potentially life-threatening kidney disease complication.</a>

The FDA, which conducted the investigation along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments, linked the outbreak to yellow onions distributed by California-based&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-outbreak-e-coli-onions-2bc3fc2d4198d9a5bad52c0028316165">Taylor Farms</a>&nbsp;and served raw on Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and other states. Taylor Farms initiated a voluntary recall of yellow onions on Oct. 22.

Federal and state health officials in Colorado didn’t find the strain of E. coli that caused the illnesses in onions it tested or in any samples from the environment. But they concluded that evidence showed that recalled yellow onions were the likely source of the outbreak.

“McDonald’s is no longer serving recalled onions and there does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to this outbreak,” the FDA said Tuesday in a statement.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mcdonalds-corp">McDonald's</a>&nbsp;briefly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-meal-deal-fast-food-f8bff378ff06140cdb5a9e519c33184c">pulled Quarter Pounders</a>&nbsp;from one-fifth of its U.S. stores as a result of the outbreak. The company found an alternate supplier and resumed selling Quarter Pounders with slivered onions at all U.S. stores last month.

But the outbreak has hurt demand. In mid-November, McDonald's said it planned to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-investment-franchises-837b91490d833ed17c2a852baacb267e">spend $100 million</a>&nbsp;to bring customers back to stores, including $65 million that will go directly to the hardest-hit franchisees.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729872051879.png" alt="Photo CDC" />
 <figcaption>Photo CDC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP)—The U.S. government said Tuesday it has closed its investigation into an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-onions-05c6b6c2461a35c29b774dcd2c20d4d5">E. coli outbreak</a>&nbsp;tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounder hamburgers after determining there is no longer a safety risk.The outbreak, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-outbreak-422c4687cc9218efda03cae73b01f473">began in late October</a>, sickened at least 104 people in 14 states, including 34 who were hospitalized, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. One person in Colorado died and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-investment-franchises-837b91490d833ed17c2a852baacb267e">four people developed a potentially life-threatening kidney disease complication.</a>The FDA, which conducted the investigation along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments, linked the outbreak to yellow onions distributed by California-based&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-outbreak-e-coli-onions-2bc3fc2d4198d9a5bad52c0028316165">Taylor Farms</a>&nbsp;and served raw on Quarter Pounders at McDonald’s restaurants in Colorado, Kansas, Wyoming and other states. Taylor Farms initiated a voluntary recall of yellow onions on Oct. 22.Federal and state health officials in Colorado didn’t find the strain of E. coli that caused the illnesses in onions it tested or in any samples from the environment. But they concluded that evidence showed that recalled yellow onions were the likely source of the outbreak.“McDonald’s is no longer serving recalled onions and there does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to this outbreak,” the FDA said Tuesday in a statement.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mcdonalds-corp">McDonald's</a>&nbsp;briefly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-meal-deal-fast-food-f8bff378ff06140cdb5a9e519c33184c">pulled Quarter Pounders</a>&nbsp;from one-fifth of its U.S. stores as a result of the outbreak. The company found an alternate supplier and resumed selling Quarter Pounders with slivered onions at all U.S. stores last month.But the outbreak has hurt demand. In mid-November, McDonald's said it planned to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-e-coli-investment-franchises-837b91490d833ed17c2a852baacb267e">spend $100 million</a>&nbsp;to bring customers back to stores, including $65 million that will go directly to the hardest-hit franchisees.

US closes investigation of E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounders

KANSAS CITY —A judge sentenced a Kansas City man to 40 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Shayla Curts, 22, and her unborn child, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.&nbsp;

In June. Emmett C. Williams, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of Murder 2nd Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.

Last week, the judge sentenced Williams to 25 years on the murder convictions and 15 years on the Armed Criminal Action convictions.&nbsp;

According to court records, on Dec. 6, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the 4900 block of Bellefontaine Avenue on a reported shooting.

Officers found Curts deceased at the scene from a gunshot wound. Witnesses placed the defendant at the scene at the time of the shooting. One reported hearing a gunshot when the victim and "EW" were in residence.

A shell casing was located in the residence. Williams told police Curtis often antagonized him with her words and normally he ignored them. This time, she was on the living room couch as he was walking past her when he made the decision to pull a 9mm handgun and shoot her in the head. Police located the weapon later in a wooded area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670585057057.png" alt="Williams photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A judge sentenced a Kansas City man to 40 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Shayla Curts, 22, and her unborn child, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.&nbsp;In June. Emmett C. Williams, 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of Murder 2nd Degree and two counts of Armed Criminal Action charges.Last week, the judge sentenced Williams to 25 years on the murder convictions and 15 years on the Armed Criminal Action convictions.&nbsp;According to court records, on Dec. 6, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to the 4900 block of Bellefontaine Avenue on a reported shooting.Officers found Curts deceased at the scene from a gunshot wound. Witnesses placed the defendant at the scene at the time of the shooting. One reported hearing a gunshot when the victim and "EW" were in residence.A shell casing was located in the residence. Williams told police Curtis often antagonized him with her words and normally he ignored them. This time, she was on the living room couch as he was walking past her when he made the decision to pull a 9mm handgun and shoot her in the head. Police located the weapon later in a wooded area.

Prison for murder of pregnant Kansas City woman

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY."

“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity," Trump wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113584730902816413">a post on his Truth Social site</a>.

He added that, "Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”

It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Trump allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he returns to office early next year.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined comment. But the country's president, Isaac Herzog, welcomed Trump's comments in a social media post.

"Thank you and bless you Mr. President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump">@realDonaldTrump</a>,"&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Isaac_Herzog">he wrote on X</a>. "We all pray for the moment we see our sisters and brothers back home!"

The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-gaza-tunnels-hamas-israel-war-d8ecb415268e911cea09518acdaf7ba2">and taking around 250 people hostage</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 100&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-war-hostages-trump-biden-7e3cd6a6f0b9cd70cced92225a31e66c">are still held inside Gaza</a>, around two-thirds believed to be alive.

Trump’s threat came hours after the Israeli government confirmed the death of Omer Neutra, a dual US--Israeli citizen, whose body is still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza, according to the Israeli government.

Days earlier, Hamas released a hostage video of Edan Alexander, who was serving in the Israeli military when he was taken by Hamas to Gaza. Filmed under apparent duress, Alexander calls on Trump to work to negotiate for his freedom and that of the remaining Hamas hostages.

The Biden administration is mounting a last-ditch effort to try to restart talks between Israel and Hamas now that it has brokered a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. But the administration has said that Hamas has yet to show a willingness to reengage in negotiations and that the group isn’t concerned for its own lives or the lives of Gaza civilians.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive for the attack has left at least 44,429 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The war&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave</a>&nbsp;and displaced 90% of its population of 2.3 million people — often multiple times.

___ Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is demanding the immediate release of Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office for a second term there will be “HELL TO PAY."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733242099340.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Please let this TRUTH serve to represent that if the hostages are not released prior to January 20, 2025, the date that I proudly assume Office as President of the United States, there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East, and for those in charge who perpetrated these atrocities against Humanity," Trump wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113584730902816413">a post on his Truth Social site</a>.He added that, "Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied History of the United States of America. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW!”It was not immediately clear whether Trump was threatening to directly involve the U.S. military in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Trump allies have said he hopes there will be a ceasefire and hostage release deal before he returns to office early next year.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declined comment. But the country's president, Isaac Herzog, welcomed Trump's comments in a social media post."Thank you and bless you Mr. President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump">@realDonaldTrump</a>,"&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Isaac_Herzog">he wrote on X</a>. "We all pray for the moment we see our sisters and brothers back home!"The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hostages-gaza-tunnels-hamas-israel-war-d8ecb415268e911cea09518acdaf7ba2">and taking around 250 people hostage</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, 2023. Some 100&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-war-hostages-trump-biden-7e3cd6a6f0b9cd70cced92225a31e66c">are still held inside Gaza</a>, around two-thirds believed to be alive.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728311216287.png" alt="Omer Neutra -photo Hostages and Missing Families Forum" />
 <figcaption>Omer Neutra -photo Hostages and Missing Families Forum</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump’s threat came hours after the Israeli government confirmed the death of Omer Neutra, a dual US--Israeli citizen, whose body is still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza, according to the Israeli government.Days earlier, Hamas released a hostage video of Edan Alexander, who was serving in the Israeli military when he was taken by Hamas to Gaza. Filmed under apparent duress, Alexander calls on Trump to work to negotiate for his freedom and that of the remaining Hamas hostages.The Biden administration is mounting a last-ditch effort to try to restart talks between Israel and Hamas now that it has brokered a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. But the administration has said that Hamas has yet to show a willingness to reengage in negotiations and that the group isn’t concerned for its own lives or the lives of Gaza civilians.Israel’s retaliatory offensive for the attack has left at least 44,429 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The war&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/scars-of-war-0000019256a2d640a5fef6ba634b0000">has destroyed vast areas of the coastal enclave</a>&nbsp;and displaced 90% of its population of 2.3 million people — often multiple times.___ Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.

Trump threatens Hamas with 'all hell to pay' over hostages

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects in connection with&nbsp;two separate domestic disturbances over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Just after midnight November 29, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received notification regarding a domestic disturbance in the 3400 block of SE Skylark Drive, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. A 36-year-old female victim was transported by American Medical Response (AMR) to a local hospital with serious injuries.

Benjamin J. Garay-Astorga, 33, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Aggravated battery and Aggravated assault.

Just before 1 a.m. Nov. 29, deputies were dispatched to another domestic disturbance in the 7600 block of SW Oxfordshire Road. A 39-year-old female victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Rick C. Jackson II, 39, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of Aggravated domestic battery

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733177095417.png" alt="Jackson photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Jackson photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects in connection with&nbsp;two separate domestic disturbances over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.Just after midnight November 29, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received notification regarding a domestic disturbance in the 3400 block of SE Skylark Drive, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. A 36-year-old female victim was transported by American Medical Response (AMR) to a local hospital with serious injuries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733177039703.png" alt="Garay-Astorga photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Garay-Astorga photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Benjamin J. Garay-Astorga, 33, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Aggravated battery and Aggravated assault.Just before 1 a.m. Nov. 29, deputies were dispatched to another domestic disturbance in the 7600 block of SW Oxfordshire Road. A 39-year-old female victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.Rick C. Jackson II, 39, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of Aggravated domestic battery

Two Kan. men accused of Thanksgiving weekend violence against women

Kansas had more than 2 million voters registered in last month’s election

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — More Kansans voted in last month’s general election than in any in the state’s history, officials announced Monday.

The Kansas State Board of Canvassers met to certify the results of last month’s vote for U.S. president and a host of federal, state and local offices. President-elect Donald Trump won handily in Kansas over Vice President Kamala Harris.

Kansas elections director Bryan Caskey said the vote broke three records.

For the first time, more than 1.34 million Kansans voted, Caskey said. More than 2 million were registered for the election. And more people voted in person ahead of Election Day than ever before.

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, thanked election workers and volunteers, noting that unfounded accusations of voter fraud have made their jobs difficult.

“It’s been hard for election workers the past several years,” Schwab said, “but they stand up every election cycle and do their work and they don’t complain.”

Trump won Kansas and its six Electoral College votes by 16 percentage points, widening his victory slightly compared to 2020. In 2020 when President Joe Biden won the election, conservatives claimed without evidence that widespread voter fraud helped lift him into office.

Caskey, who serves under Schwab, said he wasn’t aware of any allegations of fraud by any candidates in Kansas this year.&nbsp;

Schwab said he gets frustrated by claims of voter fraud and noted the vast majority of Kansans do not complain about elections.&nbsp;

“It’s a small group of people,” he said, “but when their person wins, then they don’t complain. When their person loses, they complain.”&nbsp;

Asked if he thought election workers could put allegations of fraud behind them, he said he lets the work of election officials speak for itself.

“Are there going to be people who say the world is flat?” Schwab said. “Are there going to be people (who) say we’ve never been to the moon?”

Schwab said his office was reviewing the election to see if the state needs any legislative fixes to help the vote run smoothly. The office may pursue bills when the Kansas Legislature returns in January “to make sure we continue to have secure elections,” he said, but he declined to say what sort of proposals he was considering, noting they are still under review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733234170388.png" alt="Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab chairs a meeting of the State Board of Canvassers on Monday as members certify the results of last month's election. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab chairs a meeting of the State Board of Canvassers on Monday as members certify the results of last month's election. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Kansas had more than 2 million voters registered in last month’s election</h2>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — More Kansans voted in last month’s general election than in any in the state’s history, officials announced Monday.The Kansas State Board of Canvassers met to certify the results of last month’s vote for U.S. president and a host of federal, state and local offices. President-elect Donald Trump won handily in Kansas over Vice President Kamala Harris.Kansas elections director Bryan Caskey said the vote broke three records.For the first time, more than 1.34 million Kansans voted, Caskey said. More than 2 million were registered for the election. And more people voted in person ahead of Election Day than ever before.Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, thanked election workers and volunteers, noting that unfounded accusations of voter fraud have made their jobs difficult.“It’s been hard for election workers the past several years,” Schwab said, “but they stand up every election cycle and do their work and they don’t complain.”Trump won Kansas and its six Electoral College votes by 16 percentage points, widening his victory slightly compared to 2020. In 2020 when President Joe Biden won the election, conservatives claimed without evidence that widespread voter fraud helped lift him into office.Caskey, who serves under Schwab, said he wasn’t aware of any allegations of fraud by any candidates in Kansas this year.&nbsp;Schwab said he gets frustrated by claims of voter fraud and noted the vast majority of Kansans do not complain about elections.&nbsp;“It’s a small group of people,” he said, “but when their person wins, then they don’t complain. When their person loses, they complain.”&nbsp;Asked if he thought election workers could put allegations of fraud behind them, he said he lets the work of election officials speak for itself.“Are there going to be people who say the world is flat?” Schwab said. “Are there going to be people (who) say we’ve never been to the moon?”Schwab said his office was reviewing the election to see if the state needs any legislative fixes to help the vote run smoothly. The office may pursue bills when the Kansas Legislature returns in January “to make sure we continue to have secure elections,” he said, but he declined to say what sort of proposals he was considering, noting they are still under review.

Kansas officials certify November election with record-setting turnout

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is adding&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V894-9506.PDF">over 132,000 heavy-duty pickups</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. to a previous recall for tailgate release switches that can short circuit and open the gates while the trucks are in park.

The recall adds certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/silverado-sierra-heavy-duty-pickups-tailgate-switch-bc1cc539e1ad4a0be8d347ff80c0816f">February recall of 323,000 heavy duty pickups</a>. Only trucks with a manual gate and power lock and release are affected.

The company says in documents posted Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that water can get into the electronic gate release switches, causing the gates to unlatch. If that happens, cargo can fall into the road and become a hazard.

The trucks in the new recall were added after the company found 237 field reports of tailgates opening unexpectedly. Until repairs are made, GM says owners should check to make sure the gate is closed and latched before driving.

Dealers will replace the exterior touch pad switch assemblies with new ones that are more resistant to water.

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors is adding&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2024/RCLRPT-24V894-9506.PDF">over 132,000 heavy-duty pickups</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. to a previous recall for tailgate release switches that can short circuit and open the gates while the trucks are in park.The recall adds certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/silverado-sierra-heavy-duty-pickups-tailgate-switch-bc1cc539e1ad4a0be8d347ff80c0816f">February recall of 323,000 heavy duty pickups</a>. Only trucks with a manual gate and power lock and release are affected.The company says in documents posted Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that water can get into the electronic gate release switches, causing the gates to unlatch. If that happens, cargo can fall into the road and become a hazard.The trucks in the new recall were added after the company found 237 field reports of tailgates opening unexpectedly. Until repairs are made, GM says owners should check to make sure the gate is closed and latched before driving.Dealers will replace the exterior touch pad switch assemblies with new ones that are more resistant to water.

GM adds heavy duty pickups to recall for tailgates that can open unexpectedly

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a felony theft involving an ATM in the city of Olathe.

Just before 9:30a.m. Monday, two unknown subjects obtained money from an exterior ATM near the 15,000 Block of West 119th Street in Olathe, according to Olathe Police Sergeant&nbsp;John Moncayo. The suspects fled the area in a black Toyota passenger vehicle.

A thorough area search was conducted, and no contact was made with the suspects or vehicle.

The suspects were described as two man wearing hooded sweatshirts, black ski masks, and dark colored jeans. The suspects left with an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was seen during this incident and no reported injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733177721302.png" alt="Photos Olathe Police" />
 <figcaption>Photos Olathe Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a felony theft involving an ATM in the city of Olathe.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733177699252.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 9:30a.m. Monday, two unknown subjects obtained money from an exterior ATM near the 15,000 Block of West 119th Street in Olathe, according to Olathe Police Sergeant&nbsp;John Moncayo. The suspects fled the area in a black Toyota passenger vehicle.A thorough area search was conducted, and no contact was made with the suspects or vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733177792018.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The suspects were described as two man wearing hooded sweatshirts, black ski masks, and dark colored jeans. The suspects left with an undisclosed amount of cash. No weapon was seen during this incident and no reported injuries.

Police: Kansas suspects stole cash from ATM 

LYON COUNTY— The City of Emporia, along with Lyon County, the Regional Development Association, Emporia Main Street, Emporia Chamber of Commerce, Flint Hills Technical College, and Emporia State University in a media release on Monday acknowledged the announced closure of Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc, 2443 West 6th, set for February of 2025.&nbsp; &nbsp;Over 800 employees will be without jobs.

"Our thoughts are with the employees and families affected by this transition. Tyson has been a valuable corporate partner over the years, and we are grateful for their contributions to our community. "

"Our collective priority is to support impacted workers. We are collaborating with local organizations, state agencies, and workforce development partners to provide resources, job placement assistance, and training opportunities."

While we recognize the challenges this closure presents, Emporia’s economy remains stable and resilient. Community leaders will continue to work with key stakeholders at the local, state, and federal level to promote economic growth in Emporia. By working closely with business leaders and stakeholders, we aim to attract and retain strong and diversified industry that will provide growth and prosperity for our residents.&nbsp;

Emporia is a resilient community, and we are confident in our collective ability to navigate this transition. Our community is united and committed to building an even stronger future.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733175081207.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY— The City of Emporia, along with Lyon County, the Regional Development Association, Emporia Main Street, Emporia Chamber of Commerce, Flint Hills Technical College, and Emporia State University in a media release on Monday acknowledged the announced closure of Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc, 2443 West 6th, set for February of 2025.&nbsp; &nbsp;Over 800 employees will be without jobs."Our thoughts are with the employees and families affected by this transition. Tyson has been a valuable corporate partner over the years, and we are grateful for their contributions to our community. ""Our collective priority is to support impacted workers. We are collaborating with local organizations, state agencies, and workforce development partners to provide resources, job placement assistance, and training opportunities."While we recognize the challenges this closure presents, Emporia’s economy remains stable and resilient. Community leaders will continue to work with key stakeholders at the local, state, and federal level to promote economic growth in Emporia. By working closely with business leaders and stakeholders, we aim to attract and retain strong and diversified industry that will provide growth and prosperity for our residents.&nbsp;Emporia is a resilient community, and we are confident in our collective ability to navigate this transition. Our community is united and committed to building an even stronger future.&nbsp;

Community responds to Tyson Foods plan to close Emporia plant

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is preparing to send Ukraine an additional $725 million in military assistance, including counter-drone systems and munitions for its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, which could indicate more of the longer-range missiles are headed to the battlefield.

It was unclear whether the munitions for the HIMARS are the coveted ATACMS — the Army Tactical Missile System — but Ukraine has been pressing for more of the longer-range missiles to strike additional targets inside Russia.

The package, announced Monday by the State Department, also includes more of the anti-personnel land mines that Ukraine is counting on to slow Russian and North Korean ground forces in Russia’s Kursk region.

President Joe Biden has pledged to spend all of the military assistance funds Congress approved this year for Ukraine before the end of his administration on Jan. 20, which before Monday’s announcement included about $7.1 billion in weapons that would be drawn from the Pentagon’s stockpiles.

There is widespread speculation about what the new Trump administration will mean for Ukraine as the incoming president has promised to end the conflict. In a major shift, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled on Friday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-nato-92069fae6a05fc03d6fb2643ecbb4b2a">an an offer of NATO membership</a>&nbsp;to territory under Kyiv’s control could end “the hot stage of the war.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732047530088.png" alt="Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy -courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is preparing to send Ukraine an additional $725 million in military assistance, including counter-drone systems and munitions for its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, which could indicate more of the longer-range missiles are headed to the battlefield.It was unclear whether the munitions for the HIMARS are the coveted ATACMS — the Army Tactical Missile System — but Ukraine has been pressing for more of the longer-range missiles to strike additional targets inside Russia.The package, announced Monday by the State Department, also includes more of the anti-personnel land mines that Ukraine is counting on to slow Russian and North Korean ground forces in Russia’s Kursk region.President Joe Biden has pledged to spend all of the military assistance funds Congress approved this year for Ukraine before the end of his administration on Jan. 20, which before Monday’s announcement included about $7.1 billion in weapons that would be drawn from the Pentagon’s stockpiles.There is widespread speculation about what the new Trump administration will mean for Ukraine as the incoming president has promised to end the conflict. In a major shift, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled on Friday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-zelenskyy-nato-92069fae6a05fc03d6fb2643ecbb4b2a">an an offer of NATO membership</a>&nbsp;to territory under Kyiv’s control could end “the hot stage of the war.”

U.S. will send Ukraine another $725 million in military assistance

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The State of Kansas ends November 2024 with total tax collections at $675.5 million. That is $25.4 million, or 3.6%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are up 4.0% from November 2023, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue.

<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FKSOG%2F2024%2F12%2F02%2Ffile_attachments%2F3087629%2F05_November_Revenue_FY2025_12-02-2024_Final.pdf/1/01010193884aac2f-a4a57d36-d129-421b-99d1-4f1ae61cea90-000000/2rO6tRUHkEOQ0gZWDKpjinutTzxSn5_6a9d0mWVZcCc=381">Click here</a>&nbsp;to view the November 2024 revenue numbers.

Individual income tax collections were $335.2 million. That is $15.3 million, or 4.4% below the estimate. Individual income tax collections are up 14.9% from November 2023. Corporate income tax collections were $24.5 million. That is $5.9 million, or 19.4% below the estimate, and down 31.1% from November 2023.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $287.3 million, which is $2.0 million, or 0.7% below the estimate, and down $3.7 million, or 1.3%, from November 2023.&nbsp;

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The State of Kansas ends November 2024 with total tax collections at $675.5 million. That is $25.4 million, or 3.6%, below the estimate. Total tax collections are up 4.0% from November 2023, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Revenue.<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FKSOG%2F2024%2F12%2F02%2Ffile_attachments%2F3087629%2F05_November_Revenue_FY2025_12-02-2024_Final.pdf/1/01010193884aac2f-a4a57d36-d129-421b-99d1-4f1ae61cea90-000000/2rO6tRUHkEOQ0gZWDKpjinutTzxSn5_6a9d0mWVZcCc=381">Click here</a>&nbsp;to view the November 2024 revenue numbers.Individual income tax collections were $335.2 million. That is $15.3 million, or 4.4% below the estimate. Individual income tax collections are up 14.9% from November 2023. Corporate income tax collections were $24.5 million. That is $5.9 million, or 19.4% below the estimate, and down 31.1% from November 2023.Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $287.3 million, which is $2.0 million, or 0.7% below the estimate, and down $3.7 million, or 1.3%, from November 2023.&nbsp;

Kansas November tax collections below the estimate 

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Missouri man is scheduled to be put to death Tuesday evening for sexually assaulting and strangling a 9-year-old girl whose body was thrown into a sinkhole.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-date-set-christopher-collings-e81def9fe66d34cab516b7945be057b5">Christopher Collings</a>, 49, is set to receive a single injection of the sedative pentobarbital at 6 p.m. CST for the 2007 murder of fourth-grader Rowan Ford.

The girl was assaulted and strangled with a length of rope in the tiny southwestern Missouri town of Stella, on Nov. 3, 2007, and her body was discovered six days later in the sinkhole outside town.

Collings' fate appeared to be sealed on Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal and Republican Gov. Mike Parson turned aside a clemency request. Parson, a former sheriff, has overseen 12 previous executions and never granted clemency.

Collings’ execution would be the 23rd in the U.S. this year and the fourth in Missouri —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-brian-dorsey-1a7801bb6fc42e666d95daa68a2b2ce1">Brian Dorsey</a>&nbsp;was executed on April 9,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/david-hosier-execution-missouri-angela-gilpin-901d8028e3b1f2ddd46b7503b9775966">David Hosier</a>&nbsp;on June 11 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-8be20e2f252992610a30fa0cfef4185a">Marcellus Williams</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 24. Only Alabama with six and Texas with five have performed more executions in 2024.

Rowan was a fourth-grader described by teachers at Collings' trial as a hard-working and happy student, a lover of Barbie dolls who had her room painted pink. Collings was a friend of Rowan's stepfather, David Spears, and lived for several months in 2007 at the home Rowan shared with Spears and Rowan's mother, Colleen Spears. The child called Collings “Uncle Chris.”

Collings told authorities that he drank heavily and smoked marijuana with Spears and another man in the hours before the attack on Rowan, according to court records. Collings said he picked up the still-sleeping child from her bed, took her to the camper where he lived, and assaulted her there.

Collings told police that he planned to take Rowan back home, leading her outside the camper facing away from him so that she couldn't identify who assaulted her. But when moonlight lit up the darkness, Rowan was able to see him, Collings told police. He said he “freaked out,” grabbed a rope from a nearby pickup truck and killed her.

Colleen Spears returned home from work at 9 a.m. on Nov. 3 and was alarmed when she couldn’t find Rowan. Court records said Spears insisted Rowan was at a friend’s house. But when Rowan failed to return home by the afternoon, Colleen Spears called police, prompting a massive search.

Collings, Spears and a third man became the focus of police attention because they were the last people seen at Rowan's home. Collings told police that after killing Rowan, he took the body to a sinkhole. He burned the rope used in the attack, along with the clothes he was wearing and his bloodstained mattress, prosecutors said.

Court documents and the clemency petition said Spears also implicated himself in the crimes. A transcript of Spears’ statement to police, cited in the clemency petition, said Spears told officers that Collings handed him a cord and Spears killed Rowan.

“I choke her with it. I realize she’s gone. She’s ... she’s really gone,” Spears said, according to the transcript. Meanwhile, court documents said it was Spears who led authorities to the sinkhole where the body was found.

But Spears was allowed to plead to lesser charges. It wasn't clear why. Prosecutors at the original trial didn't respond to messages seeking comment.

Spears served more than seven years in prison before being released in 2015. No phone listing could be found for Spears.

The clemency petition said Collings suffered from a brain abnormality that created "functional deficits in awareness, judgment and deliberation, comportment, appropriate social inhibition, and emotional regulation.” It also noted that he was frequently abused and sexually abused as a child.

“The result was a damaged human being with no guidance on how to grow into a functioning adult,” the petition stated.

The clemency petition and the Supreme Court appeal both challenged the reliability of the key law enforcement witness at Collings’ trial, a police chief from a neighboring town who had four AWOL convictions while serving in the Army. Failure to disclose details about that criminal history at trial violated Collings’ right to due process, Collings' attorney, Jeremy Weis, contended.

“His credibility was really at the heart of the entire case against Mr. Collings,” Weis said in an interview.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri’s governor on Monday denied clemency for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-date-set-christopher-collings-e81def9fe66d34cab516b7945be057b5">Christopher Collings</a>, a death row inmate facing execution for sexually assaulting and killing a 9-year-old girl and leaving her body in a sinkhole.

Collings, 49, is scheduled to receive a single injection of pentobarbital at 6 p.m. CST Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri, for the 2007 killing of fourth-grader Rowan Ford. It would be the 23rd execution in the U.S. this year and the fourth in Missouri.

“Mr. Collings has received every protection afforded by the Missouri and United States Constitutions, and Mr. Collings’ conviction and sentence remain for his horrendous and callous crime,” Republican Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement.

Parson’s decision likely sealed Collings’ fate. Earlier Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal on behalf of Collings, without comment. No additional appeals are planned, Collings' attorney, Jeremy Weis, said.

Parson's decision was not unexpected — a former sheriff, Parson has overseen 12 previous executions without granting clemency. Weis said Parson has allowed other executions to proceed for inmates with innocence claims, intellectual disabilities and for men who were “reformed and remorseful” for their crimes.

“In each case of redemption, the Governor has ignored the evidence and sought vengeance,” Weis said in a statement.

Collings confessed to killing Rowan, a child who referred to him as “Uncle Chris” after Collings lived for several months with the girl’s family in tiny Stella, Missouri. Rowan was killed on Nov. 3, 2007. Her body was found in a sinkhole outside of town six days later. She had been strangled.

The clemency petition said an abnormality of Collings’ brain causes him to suffer from “functional deficits in awareness, judgment and deliberation, comportment, appropriate social inhibition, and emotional regulation.” It also noted that he suffered from frequent and often violent abuse as a child.

The petition also challenged the fairness of executing Collings when another man charged in the crime, Rowan’s stepfather, David Spears, also confessed but was allowed to plead to lesser crimes. Spears served more than seven years in prison before his release in 2015.

Collings told authorities that he drank heavily and smoked marijuana with Spears and another man in the hours before the attack on Rowan, according to court records. Collings said he picked up the sleeping child from her bed, took her to the camper where he lived and assaulted her there. He said he strangled the child with a rope when he realized she recognized him.

Collings told investigators that he took the girl's body to a sinkhole. He burned the rope used in the attack, along with the clothes he was wearing and his bloodstained mattress, prosecutors said.

Spears also implicated himself in the crimes, according to court documents and the clemency petition. A transcript of Spears’ statement to police, cited in the petition, said he told police that Collings handed him a cord and that he killed Rowan.

“I choke her with it. I realize she’s gone. She’s ... she’s really gone,” Spears said, according to the transcript. It was Spears who led authorities to the sinkhole where her body was found, according to court documents.

No phone listing could be found for Spears.

The Supreme Court appeal challenged the reliability of the key law enforcement witness at Collings’ trial, a police chief from a neighboring town who had four AWOL convictions while serving in the Army. Failure to disclose details about that criminal history at trial violated Collings’ right to due process, Weis contended.

“His credibility was really at the heart of the entire case against Mr. Collings," Weis said in an interview.

Three men have been executed in Missouri this year —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-brian-dorsey-1a7801bb6fc42e666d95daa68a2b2ce1">Brian Dorsey</a>&nbsp;on April 9,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/david-hosier-execution-missouri-angela-gilpin-901d8028e3b1f2ddd46b7503b9775966">David Hosier</a>&nbsp;on June 11 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-8be20e2f252992610a30fa0cfef4185a">Marcellus Williams</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 24. Only Alabama, with six, and Texas, with five, have performed more executions than Missouri in 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723583895173.png" alt="Collings photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Collings photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Missouri man is scheduled to be put to death Tuesday evening for sexually assaulting and strangling a 9-year-old girl whose body was thrown into a sinkhole.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-date-set-christopher-collings-e81def9fe66d34cab516b7945be057b5">Christopher Collings</a>, 49, is set to receive a single injection of the sedative pentobarbital at 6 p.m. CST for the 2007 murder of fourth-grader Rowan Ford.The girl was assaulted and strangled with a length of rope in the tiny southwestern Missouri town of Stella, on Nov. 3, 2007, and her body was discovered six days later in the sinkhole outside town.Collings' fate appeared to be sealed on Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal and Republican Gov. Mike Parson turned aside a clemency request. Parson, a former sheriff, has overseen 12 previous executions and never granted clemency.Collings’ execution would be the 23rd in the U.S. this year and the fourth in Missouri —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-brian-dorsey-1a7801bb6fc42e666d95daa68a2b2ce1">Brian Dorsey</a>&nbsp;was executed on April 9,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/david-hosier-execution-missouri-angela-gilpin-901d8028e3b1f2ddd46b7503b9775966">David Hosier</a>&nbsp;on June 11 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-8be20e2f252992610a30fa0cfef4185a">Marcellus Williams</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 24. Only Alabama with six and Texas with five have performed more executions in 2024.Rowan was a fourth-grader described by teachers at Collings' trial as a hard-working and happy student, a lover of Barbie dolls who had her room painted pink. Collings was a friend of Rowan's stepfather, David Spears, and lived for several months in 2007 at the home Rowan shared with Spears and Rowan's mother, Colleen Spears. The child called Collings “Uncle Chris.”Collings told authorities that he drank heavily and smoked marijuana with Spears and another man in the hours before the attack on Rowan, according to court records. Collings said he picked up the still-sleeping child from her bed, took her to the camper where he lived, and assaulted her there.Collings told police that he planned to take Rowan back home, leading her outside the camper facing away from him so that she couldn't identify who assaulted her. But when moonlight lit up the darkness, Rowan was able to see him, Collings told police. He said he “freaked out,” grabbed a rope from a nearby pickup truck and killed her.Colleen Spears returned home from work at 9 a.m. on Nov. 3 and was alarmed when she couldn’t find Rowan. Court records said Spears insisted Rowan was at a friend’s house. But when Rowan failed to return home by the afternoon, Colleen Spears called police, prompting a massive search.Collings, Spears and a third man became the focus of police attention because they were the last people seen at Rowan's home. Collings told police that after killing Rowan, he took the body to a sinkhole. He burned the rope used in the attack, along with the clothes he was wearing and his bloodstained mattress, prosecutors said.Court documents and the clemency petition said Spears also implicated himself in the crimes. A transcript of Spears’ statement to police, cited in the clemency petition, said Spears told officers that Collings handed him a cord and Spears killed Rowan.“I choke her with it. I realize she’s gone. She’s ... she’s really gone,” Spears said, according to the transcript. Meanwhile, court documents said it was Spears who led authorities to the sinkhole where the body was found.But Spears was allowed to plead to lesser charges. It wasn't clear why. Prosecutors at the original trial didn't respond to messages seeking comment.Spears served more than seven years in prison before being released in 2015. No phone listing could be found for Spears.The clemency petition said Collings suffered from a brain abnormality that created "functional deficits in awareness, judgment and deliberation, comportment, appropriate social inhibition, and emotional regulation.” It also noted that he was frequently abused and sexually abused as a child.“The result was a damaged human being with no guidance on how to grow into a functioning adult,” the petition stated.The clemency petition and the Supreme Court appeal both challenged the reliability of the key law enforcement witness at Collings’ trial, a police chief from a neighboring town who had four AWOL convictions while serving in the Army. Failure to disclose details about that criminal history at trial violated Collings’ right to due process, Collings' attorney, Jeremy Weis, contended.“His credibility was really at the heart of the entire case against Mr. Collings,” Weis said in an interview.-----------------KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri’s governor on Monday denied clemency for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-date-set-christopher-collings-e81def9fe66d34cab516b7945be057b5">Christopher Collings</a>, a death row inmate facing execution for sexually assaulting and killing a 9-year-old girl and leaving her body in a sinkhole.Collings, 49, is scheduled to receive a single injection of pentobarbital at 6 p.m. CST Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre, Missouri, for the 2007 killing of fourth-grader Rowan Ford. It would be the 23rd execution in the U.S. this year and the fourth in Missouri.“Mr. Collings has received every protection afforded by the Missouri and United States Constitutions, and Mr. Collings’ conviction and sentence remain for his horrendous and callous crime,” Republican Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement.Parson’s decision likely sealed Collings’ fate. Earlier Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court denied an appeal on behalf of Collings, without comment. No additional appeals are planned, Collings' attorney, Jeremy Weis, said.Parson's decision was not unexpected — a former sheriff, Parson has overseen 12 previous executions without granting clemency. Weis said Parson has allowed other executions to proceed for inmates with innocence claims, intellectual disabilities and for men who were “reformed and remorseful” for their crimes.“In each case of redemption, the Governor has ignored the evidence and sought vengeance,” Weis said in a statement.Collings confessed to killing Rowan, a child who referred to him as “Uncle Chris” after Collings lived for several months with the girl’s family in tiny Stella, Missouri. Rowan was killed on Nov. 3, 2007. Her body was found in a sinkhole outside of town six days later. She had been strangled.The clemency petition said an abnormality of Collings’ brain causes him to suffer from “functional deficits in awareness, judgment and deliberation, comportment, appropriate social inhibition, and emotional regulation.” It also noted that he suffered from frequent and often violent abuse as a child.“The result was a damaged human being with no guidance on how to grow into a functioning adult,” the petition stated.The petition also challenged the fairness of executing Collings when another man charged in the crime, Rowan’s stepfather, David Spears, also confessed but was allowed to plead to lesser crimes. Spears served more than seven years in prison before his release in 2015.Collings told authorities that he drank heavily and smoked marijuana with Spears and another man in the hours before the attack on Rowan, according to court records. Collings said he picked up the sleeping child from her bed, took her to the camper where he lived and assaulted her there. He said he strangled the child with a rope when he realized she recognized him.Collings told investigators that he took the girl's body to a sinkhole. He burned the rope used in the attack, along with the clothes he was wearing and his bloodstained mattress, prosecutors said.Spears also implicated himself in the crimes, according to court documents and the clemency petition. A transcript of Spears’ statement to police, cited in the petition, said he told police that Collings handed him a cord and that he killed Rowan.“I choke her with it. I realize she’s gone. She’s ... she’s really gone,” Spears said, according to the transcript. It was Spears who led authorities to the sinkhole where her body was found, according to court documents.No phone listing could be found for Spears.The Supreme Court appeal challenged the reliability of the key law enforcement witness at Collings’ trial, a police chief from a neighboring town who had four AWOL convictions while serving in the Army. Failure to disclose details about that criminal history at trial violated Collings’ right to due process, Weis contended.“His credibility was really at the heart of the entire case against Mr. Collings," Weis said in an interview.Three men have been executed in Missouri this year —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-brian-dorsey-1a7801bb6fc42e666d95daa68a2b2ce1">Brian Dorsey</a>&nbsp;on April 9,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/david-hosier-execution-missouri-angela-gilpin-901d8028e3b1f2ddd46b7503b9775966">David Hosier</a>&nbsp;on June 11 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-execution-marcellus-williams-8be20e2f252992610a30fa0cfef4185a">Marcellus Williams</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 24. Only Alabama, with six, and Texas, with five, have performed more executions than Missouri in 2024.

Execution day for sexual assault, strangling of 9-year-old girl

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas teen on multiple allegations in connection an incident involving a gun.

Just before 3p.m. Saturday, police responded to the area of the 1700 block of SE 29th street in Topeka in reference to a subject possibly threatening others with a firearm.

Upon arrival officers developed information that 18-year-old&nbsp; Jairus Lyles Jr., had been armed with a firearm and had threatened several people in the area.&nbsp;

Police found Lyles at his home in the area arrested him and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Three counts of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Criminal Threat and&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggravated Endangerment of a child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733151513424.png" alt="Lyles photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Lyles photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas teen on multiple allegations in connection an incident involving a gun.Just before 3p.m. Saturday, police responded to the area of the 1700 block of SE 29th street in Topeka in reference to a subject possibly threatening others with a firearm.Upon arrival officers developed information that 18-year-old&nbsp; Jairus Lyles Jr., had been armed with a firearm and had threatened several people in the area.&nbsp;Police found Lyles at his home in the area arrested him and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Three counts of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Criminal Threat and&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggravated Endangerment of a child.

Kan. teen accused of threatening victims with a gun

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating two women on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 10:30p.m. Saturday, a sheriff's deputy arrested two women following a traffic stop near 142nd&nbsp;and U.S. Hwy 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 Deputies arrested the driver of the vehicle, Janis Ann Myrick 49, of Topeka, and the passenger, Lori Price, 58 of Topeka on drug charges.

Myrick booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and for an outstanding warrant from Jewell County, Kansas.

Price was&nbsp; booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony interference with law enforcement. The Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733174594082.png" alt="Myrick-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Myrick-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating two women on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 10:30p.m. Saturday, a sheriff's deputy arrested two women following a traffic stop near 142nd&nbsp;and U.S. Hwy 75, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733174701797.png" alt="Price-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Price-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Deputies arrested the driver of the vehicle, Janis Ann Myrick 49, of Topeka, and the passenger, Lori Price, 58 of Topeka on drug charges.Myrick booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and for an outstanding warrant from Jewell County, Kansas.Price was&nbsp; booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony interference with law enforcement. The Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with the incident.

Two Kansas women accused of transporting meth

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-son-hunter-charges-pardon-pledge-24f3007c2d2f467fa48e21bbc7262525">President Joe Biden’s decision to go back</a>&nbsp;on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter</a>, just weeks before his scheduled sentencing on gun and tax convictions was a surprise that wasn't all that surprising.

Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons after the boys survived a car crash that killed Biden's first wife and a daughter more than a half-century ago. Or to those who heard the president regularly lament the death&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-beau-cancer-knock-ireland-0b52c7f9fa4e4c135dd49f0c00bdc473">of his older son, Beau</a>, from cancer or voice concerns — largely in private — about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-hunter-laptop-ba96537a686d04dc3773552cfa13deeb">Hunter’s sobriety and health after years of deep addiction.</a>

But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president — who had pledged to restore a fractured public’s trust in the nation’s institutions and respect for the rule of law — has raised new questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-presidential-election-2024-49f2146c848656c9588986e83812b6d8">his already teetering legacy.</a>

“This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado's Democratic Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jared-polis">Jared Polis</a>&nbsp;wrote in a post on X. He added that while he could sympathize with Hunter Biden’s struggles, “no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.”

Biden aides and allies had been resigned to the prospect of the president using his extraordinary power in the waning days of his presidency to ensure his son wouldn't see time behind bars, especially after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;’s win. The president's supporters have long viewed Biden's commitment to his family as an asset overall, even if Hunter's personal conduct&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-irs-joe-biden-election-2024-69cc61586da9f624375e25b0c00c74f4">and tangled business dealings</a>&nbsp;were seen as a persistent liability.

But the pardon comes as Biden has become increasingly isolated since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">the loss to Trump by Vice President Kamala Harris</a>, who jumped in to the race after the president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-panic-performance-democrats-debate-trump-cnn-fe6546f2c9762e80e6067ba10abedea8">catastrophic debate against Trump in June</a>&nbsp;forced his exit from the election.

He is still struggling to resolve thorny foreign policy issues in the Middle East and Europe. And he must reckon with his decision to seek reelection despite his advanced age, which helped return the Oval Office to Trump, a man he had warned time and again was a threat to democratic norms.

Trump has gleefully planned to undo Biden’s signature achievements on climate change and reverse the Democrat's efforts to reinvigorate the country’s alliances, all while standing poised to take credit for a strengthening economy and billions in infrastructure investments that are in the pipeline for the coming years.

And now, Biden has handed the Republican a pretext to carry through with sweeping plans to upend the Department of Justice as the Republican vows to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-wisconsin-election-economy-a6923d6c5758dabb6d959417ea9d7d12">seek retribution against supposed adversaries.</a>

“This pardon is just deflating for those of us who’ve been out there for a few years yelling about what a threat Trump is,” Republican Joe Walsh, a vocal Trump critic, said on MSNBC. “‘Nobody’s above the law,’ we’ve been screaming. Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law.”

Jean-Pierre said Monday from Air Force One that the president wrestled with the decision but ultimately felt his son’s case had been tainted by politics, though she tried to thread the needle — insisting he had faith in the Justice Department.

“He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” she said.

But Trump has already made very clear his intent to disrupt federal law enforcement with his initial nomination of outspoken critics like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matt-gaetz-attorney-general-trump-congress-9718a3de53c1e3436a52a14a8e17775a">former Rep. Matt Gaetz</a>&nbsp;to be attorney general&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-kash-patel-what-happens-next-6b2678baba229362d25b468ed2f61f87">and Kash Patel to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray</a>, who nominally still has more than two years left in his term. (Gaetz ended up quickly withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.)

Reacting to the pardon, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people."

In a social media post, the president-elect himself called the pardon “such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”

“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump asked. He was referring to those convicted in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by his supporters aiming to overturn the 2020 presidential election result.

Biden and his spokespeople had repeatedly and flatly ruled out the president granting his son a pardon.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-hunter-biden-18efb958a5365eebda5bb3da411c4326">In June,</a>&nbsp;Biden told reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case, “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.”

In July, press secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/karine-jean-pierre">Karine Jean-Pierre</a>&nbsp;told reporters: “It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don’t have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No."

In November, days after Trump's victory, Jean-Pierre reiterated that message: “Our answer stands, which is no."

Neither Biden nor the White House explained the shift in the president's thinking, and it was his broken promise as much as his act of clemency that was a lightning rod.

He is hardly the first president to pardon a family member or friend entangled in political dealings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>&nbsp;pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after he had served his sentence roughly a decade earlier. In his final weeks in office,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-charles-kushner-new-jersey-elections-crime-0155d15fa31108fd2c0e6360a3b597dd">Trump pardoned Charles Kushner</a>, the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner, as well as multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.

Yet Biden held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns — trying to draw a deliberate contrast with Trump, who tested the bounds of his authority like few predecessors.

Inside the White House, the timing of the pardon was surprising to some who believed Biden would put it off as long as possible, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. It came just after Biden spent extended time over the past week with Hunter and other family members on Nantucket in Massachusetts, a family tradition for Thanksgiving.

“I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further,” Biden said in a statement announcing the pardon.

Some in the administration have privately expressed anguish that the substance of Biden’s statement, including his claim of an unfair politically-tinged prosecution of his son resembled complaints Trump — who faced now-abandoned indictments over his role in trying to subvert the 2020 election — has been making for years about the Justice Department.

Biden said the charges in his son's cases "came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.” Many legal experts agreed that the charges against the younger Biden were somewhat unusual, but the facts of the offenses were hardly in dispute, as Hunter wrote about his gun purchase while addicted to illegal drugs in his memoir and ultimately pleaded guilty to the tax charges.

The pardon too was unusual, coming before Hunter Biden was even sentenced and covering not just the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-hunter-biden-pardon-son-9307d6bade834df77c265cae7d3b7c25">gun and tax offenses against his son,</a>&nbsp;but also anything else he might have done going back to the start of 2014.

It's a move that could limit the ability of the Trump Justice Department to investigate the younger Biden's unsavory foreign business dealings, or to find new ground on which to bring criminal charges related to that time period.

Biden, in his statement, asked for consideration: “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision."

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-son-hunter-charges-pardon-pledge-24f3007c2d2f467fa48e21bbc7262525">President Joe Biden’s decision to go back</a>&nbsp;on his word and issue a categorical pardon for his son,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hunter-biden">Hunter</a>, just weeks before his scheduled sentencing on gun and tax convictions was a surprise that wasn't all that surprising.Not to those who had witnessed the president’s shared anguish over his two sons after the boys survived a car crash that killed Biden's first wife and a daughter more than a half-century ago. Or to those who heard the president regularly lament the death&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-beau-cancer-knock-ireland-0b52c7f9fa4e4c135dd49f0c00bdc473">of his older son, Beau</a>, from cancer or voice concerns — largely in private — about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-hunter-laptop-ba96537a686d04dc3773552cfa13deeb">Hunter’s sobriety and health after years of deep addiction.</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;Dr. Biden, do you support the Pardon of Hunter?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> Dr. Jill Biden: “Of course I support the pardon of my son.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/H9qzM0wMp3">pic.twitter.com/H9qzM0wMp3</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1863662683196723290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But by choosing to put his family first, the 82-year-old president — who had pledged to restore a fractured public’s trust in the nation’s institutions and respect for the rule of law — has raised new questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-presidential-election-2024-49f2146c848656c9588986e83812b6d8">his already teetering legacy.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733174459284.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado's Democratic Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jared-polis">Jared Polis</a>&nbsp;wrote in a post on X. He added that while he could sympathize with Hunter Biden’s struggles, “no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.”Biden aides and allies had been resigned to the prospect of the president using his extraordinary power in the waning days of his presidency to ensure his son wouldn't see time behind bars, especially after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;’s win. The president's supporters have long viewed Biden's commitment to his family as an asset overall, even if Hunter's personal conduct&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-irs-joe-biden-election-2024-69cc61586da9f624375e25b0c00c74f4">and tangled business dealings</a>&nbsp;were seen as a persistent liability.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733107595773.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>But the pardon comes as Biden has become increasingly isolated since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-day-trump-harris-white-house-83c8e246ab97f5b97be45cdc156af4e2">the loss to Trump by Vice President Kamala Harris</a>, who jumped in to the race after the president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-panic-performance-democrats-debate-trump-cnn-fe6546f2c9762e80e6067ba10abedea8">catastrophic debate against Trump in June</a>&nbsp;forced his exit from the election.He is still struggling to resolve thorny foreign policy issues in the Middle East and Europe. And he must reckon with his decision to seek reelection despite his advanced age, which helped return the Oval Office to Trump, a man he had warned time and again was a threat to democratic norms.Trump has gleefully planned to undo Biden’s signature achievements on climate change and reverse the Democrat's efforts to reinvigorate the country’s alliances, all while standing poised to take credit for a strengthening economy and billions in infrastructure investments that are in the pipeline for the coming years.And now, Biden has handed the Republican a pretext to carry through with sweeping plans to upend the Department of Justice as the Republican vows to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-wisconsin-election-economy-a6923d6c5758dabb6d959417ea9d7d12">seek retribution against supposed adversaries.</a>“This pardon is just deflating for those of us who’ve been out there for a few years yelling about what a threat Trump is,” Republican Joe Walsh, a vocal Trump critic, said on MSNBC. “‘Nobody’s above the law,’ we’ve been screaming. Well, Joe Biden just made clear his son Hunter is above the law.”Jean-Pierre said Monday from Air Force One that the president wrestled with the decision but ultimately felt his son’s case had been tainted by politics, though she tried to thread the needle — insisting he had faith in the Justice Department.“He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” she said.But Trump has already made very clear his intent to disrupt federal law enforcement with his initial nomination of outspoken critics like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matt-gaetz-attorney-general-trump-congress-9718a3de53c1e3436a52a14a8e17775a">former Rep. Matt Gaetz</a>&nbsp;to be attorney general&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-kash-patel-what-happens-next-6b2678baba229362d25b468ed2f61f87">and Kash Patel to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray</a>, who nominally still has more than two years left in his term. (Gaetz ended up quickly withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.)Reacting to the pardon, Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement: “That system of justice must be fixed and due process must be restored for all Americans, which is exactly what President Trump will do as he returns to the White House with an overwhelming mandate from the American people."In a social media post, the president-elect himself called the pardon “such an abuse and miscarriage of Justice.”“Does the Pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years?” Trump asked. He was referring to those convicted in the violent Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by his supporters aiming to overturn the 2020 presidential election result.Biden and his spokespeople had repeatedly and flatly ruled out the president granting his son a pardon.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-joe-biden-hunter-biden-18efb958a5365eebda5bb3da411c4326">In June,</a>&nbsp;Biden told reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case, “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.”In July, press secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/karine-jean-pierre">Karine Jean-Pierre</a>&nbsp;told reporters: “It's still a no. It will be a no. It is a no. And I don’t have anything else to add. Will he pardon his son? No."In November, days after Trump's victory, Jean-Pierre reiterated that message: “Our answer stands, which is no."Neither Biden nor the White House explained the shift in the president's thinking, and it was his broken promise as much as his act of clemency that was a lightning rod.He is hardly the first president to pardon a family member or friend entangled in political dealings.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>&nbsp;pardoned his brother Roger for drug charges after he had served his sentence roughly a decade earlier. In his final weeks in office,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-charles-kushner-new-jersey-elections-crime-0155d15fa31108fd2c0e6360a3b597dd">Trump pardoned Charles Kushner</a>, the father of his son-in law, Jared Kushner, as well as multiple allies convicted in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.Yet Biden held himself up as placing his respect for the American judicial system and rule of law over his own personal concerns — trying to draw a deliberate contrast with Trump, who tested the bounds of his authority like few predecessors.Inside the White House, the timing of the pardon was surprising to some who believed Biden would put it off as long as possible, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity to discuss the matter. It came just after Biden spent extended time over the past week with Hunter and other family members on Nantucket in Massachusetts, a family tradition for Thanksgiving.“I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice – and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further,” Biden said in a statement announcing the pardon.Some in the administration have privately expressed anguish that the substance of Biden’s statement, including his claim of an unfair politically-tinged prosecution of his son resembled complaints Trump — who faced now-abandoned indictments over his role in trying to subvert the 2020 election — has been making for years about the Justice Department.Biden said the charges in his son's cases "came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.” Many legal experts agreed that the charges against the younger Biden were somewhat unusual, but the facts of the offenses were hardly in dispute, as Hunter wrote about his gun purchase while addicted to illegal drugs in his memoir and ultimately pleaded guilty to the tax charges.The pardon too was unusual, coming before Hunter Biden was even sentenced and covering not just the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-hunter-biden-pardon-son-9307d6bade834df77c265cae7d3b7c25">gun and tax offenses against his son,</a>&nbsp;but also anything else he might have done going back to the start of 2014.It's a move that could limit the ability of the Trump Justice Department to investigate the younger Biden's unsavory foreign business dealings, or to find new ground on which to bring criminal charges related to that time period.Biden, in his statement, asked for consideration: “I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision."___

🎥First lady responds to questions on Hunter Biden's pardon

LABETTE COUNTY —&nbsp;Authorities are investigating a fatal house fire in Labette County.

On Sunday, the Labette County Sheriff's office requested the Kansas&nbsp;State Fire Marshal (KSFM) Investigation Division to assist with a fatality fire at 630 Iowa Street in Oswego, Kansas. The Fire Marshal's office sent two Special Agents to assist with the investigation.

&nbsp;The single-family residence was occupied by two adult victims who were pulled from the structure by emergency responders. 

Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and both victims died because of their injuries. Identification of the victims is still ongoing, and autopsies are pending as part of the investigation.

There is nothing suspicious about the fire. The cause is still under investigation.&nbsp; It is unknown if there were smoke detectors in the home.

LABETTE COUNTY —&nbsp;Authorities are investigating a fatal house fire in Labette County.On Sunday, the Labette County Sheriff's office requested the Kansas&nbsp;State Fire Marshal (KSFM) Investigation Division to assist with a fatality fire at 630 Iowa Street in Oswego, Kansas. The Fire Marshal's office sent two Special Agents to assist with the investigation.&nbsp;The single-family residence was occupied by two adult victims who were pulled from the structure by emergency responders. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and both victims died because of their injuries. Identification of the victims is still ongoing, and autopsies are pending as part of the investigation.There is nothing suspicious about the fire. The cause is still under investigation.&nbsp; It is unknown if there were smoke detectors in the home.

Fire Marshal: 2 dead after fire at Kansas home

TORONTO (AP) — Canada's ambassador to the United States said Sunday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was successful in getting President-elect Donald Trump and key Cabinet nominees to understand that lumping Canada in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the U.S. is unfair.

Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador in Washington, told The Associated Press in an interview that Trudeau's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-us-trudeau-trump-tariffs-4129d793d8e1a60fd6d1f45697901a21">dinner with Trump</a>&nbsp;on Friday was a very important step in trying to get Trump to back away from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trudeau-trump-canada-tariffs-mexico-border-e0ee7f9b3dddc80d1260585c11869fff">threatened tariffs</a>&nbsp;on all products from the major American trading partner.

Hillman was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and sat at an adjacent table to Trudeau and Trump.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He said in a social media post last Monday he would impose a 25% tax on all products&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-trade-policy-economy-0fb9740a4b42c734c75b64ba09c901d5">entering the U.S.</a>&nbsp;from Canada and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-tariffs-trump-retaliate-sheinbaum-fac0b0c6ee8c425a928418de7332b74a">Mexico</a>&nbsp;as one of his first executive orders.

Hillman said Trudeau asked to see Trump in person in a phone call Monday and Trump invited him to dinner on Friday.

At the dinner, Hillman said the case was made to Trump that there is no comparison between the Canada-U.S. border and Mexico-U.S. border.

“The message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border was really understood,” Hillman said.

Hillman said the bulk of Friday night's dinner centered around Trump's border concerns. The ambassador said a priority of Trudeau's was to point out the degree of difference.

Hillman said there really is no comparison, noting there is essentially zero trafficking of fentanyl from Canada to the United States. She said there are seizures but authorities say those are personal use seizures and not criminal trafficking. She said that 99.8% of the fentanyl seized by U.S. authorities in the U.S. comes from Mexico.

“Also with respect to individuals, illegal individuals crossing illegally, Canada last year was less than one percent, 0.6 percent were of total interceptions from Canada,” Hillman said.

U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024 — and Hillman said the migrant numbers are coming down since the summer.

TORONTO (AP) — Canada's ambassador to the United States said Sunday that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was successful in getting President-elect Donald Trump and key Cabinet nominees to understand that lumping Canada in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the U.S. is unfair.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thanks for dinner last night, President Trump. I look forward to the work we can do together, again. <a href="https://t.co/lAWFMTtQt7">pic.twitter.com/lAWFMTtQt7</a>&mdash; Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1862952145550475414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kirsten Hillman, Canada's ambassador in Washington, told The Associated Press in an interview that Trudeau's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-us-trudeau-trump-tariffs-4129d793d8e1a60fd6d1f45697901a21">dinner with Trump</a>&nbsp;on Friday was a very important step in trying to get Trump to back away from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trudeau-trump-canada-tariffs-mexico-border-e0ee7f9b3dddc80d1260585c11869fff">threatened tariffs</a>&nbsp;on all products from the major American trading partner.Hillman was at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and sat at an adjacent table to Trudeau and Trump.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He said in a social media post last Monday he would impose a 25% tax on all products&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-trade-policy-economy-0fb9740a4b42c734c75b64ba09c901d5">entering the U.S.</a>&nbsp;from Canada and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-tariffs-trump-retaliate-sheinbaum-fac0b0c6ee8c425a928418de7332b74a">Mexico</a>&nbsp;as one of his first executive orders.Hillman said Trudeau asked to see Trump in person in a phone call Monday and Trump invited him to dinner on Friday.At the dinner, Hillman said the case was made to Trump that there is no comparison between the Canada-U.S. border and Mexico-U.S. border.“The message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border was really understood,” Hillman said.Hillman said the bulk of Friday night's dinner centered around Trump's border concerns. The ambassador said a priority of Trudeau's was to point out the degree of difference.Hillman said there really is no comparison, noting there is essentially zero trafficking of fentanyl from Canada to the United States. She said there are seizures but authorities say those are personal use seizures and not criminal trafficking. She said that 99.8% of the fentanyl seized by U.S. authorities in the U.S. comes from Mexico.“Also with respect to individuals, illegal individuals crossing illegally, Canada last year was less than one percent, 0.6 percent were of total interceptions from Canada,” Hillman said.U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024 — and Hillman said the migrant numbers are coming down since the summer.“The facts are hard to deny,” Hillman said.But Hillman said Canada is ready to make new investments in border security and there are plans for more helicopters, drones and law enforcement officers.She also noted an agreement between Canada and the United States that allows for migrants caught crossing illegally into the United States to be sent back to Canada. She said that was talked about. She said Mexico and the U.S. do not have a similar agreement.At the dinner that lasted three hours, Hillman said America's trade deficit with Canada was also raised. Hillman said the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year but noted a third of what Canada sells into the U.S. are energy exports and prices have been high.“Trade balances are something that he focuses so it’s important to engage in that conversation but to put it into context," Hillman said.“We are one tenth the size of the United States so a balanced trade deal would mean per capita we are buying 10 times more from the U.S. than they are buying from us. If that’s his metric we will certainly engage on that."Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice to be his national security adviser, and the three men’s wives.Also at the dinner were David McCormick, just elected U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, and his wife, Dina Powell, a former deputy national security adviser under Trump, as well as Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, and Katie Telford, Trudeau’s chief of staff.Hillman said Canadian and incoming Trump administration officials will work on Trump's concerns in the coming weeks. Trump called the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trudeau-trump-canada-tariffs-mexico-border-e0ee7f9b3dddc80d1260585c11869fff">talks “productive”</a>&nbsp;on Sunday in a social media post but signaled no retreat from his tariff pledge.Hillman said Trump and Trudeau "get along well" and the dinner was also a chance to socialize. She said Trump used his iPad to play music and she said Trump told Trudeau he's a big fan of Canadian singer Celine Dion.“I don’t think it could have been better to be frank. Okay, I’ll take that back, I’ll change that. If he obviously said there would be no tariffs that would have been better but there was no realistic expectation of that,” Hillman said.Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada.Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.-----WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Florida on Friday to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club after Trump threatened to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-trade-policy-economy-0fb9740a4b42c734c75b64ba09c901d5">entering the U.S.</a>&nbsp;from Canada and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-tariffs-trump-retaliate-sheinbaum-fac0b0c6ee8c425a928418de7332b74a">Mexico</a>&nbsp;as one of his first executive orders.A person familiar with the details called it a "positive wide-ranging dinner that lasted three hours.” The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said topics included trade, border security, fentanyl, defense, Ukraine, NATO, China and pipelines, as well as the the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year.Although Trump once called Trudeau&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5131817a9cd449ff964b221a75eafe02">“weak” and “dishonest”</a>&nbsp;during his first term, ties between the two countries have remained among the closest in the world. Trudeau is the first leader from the G7 countries to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election.Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump's nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump's pick to lead the Interior Department, Mike Waltz, Trump's choice to be his national security adviser, and the three men's wives.Also at the dinner were David McCormick, just elected U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, and his wife, Dina Powell, a former deputy national security adviser under Trump, as well as Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, and Katie Telford, Trudeau's chief of staff.McCormick posted a photo on X of the group seated at a round table on the patio of Mar-a-Lago. At the table behind the president-elect a boy can be seen mugging for the camera.Trump’s transition did not respond to questions about what they had discussed or whether the conversation alleviated Trump’s concerns about the border.A smiling Trudeau declined comment upon returning to his West Palm Beach hotel late Friday.Trudeau said earlier Friday that he would resolve the tariffs issue by talking to Trump. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday after speaking with Trump that she is confident&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-china-mexico-canada-fentanyl-inflation-cf905e75e863511baef959a80ee2eea2">a tariff war with the United States</a>&nbsp;will be averted.“We’re going to work together to meet some of the concerns,” Trudeau told reporters in Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “But ultimately it is through lots of real constructive conversations with President Trump that I am going to have, that will keep us moving forward on the right track for all Canadians.”Trudeau said Trump got elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now he's talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products including potatoes from Prince Edward Island.“It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said.“Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added.Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his initial term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully re-negotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for both countries.“We can work together as we did previously,” Trudeau said.Trump made the tariff threat Monday while railing against an influx of illegal migrants, even though the numbers at the Canadian border pale in comparison to the southern border.The U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone — and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian one between October 2023 and September 2024.Trump also railed about fentanyl from Mexico and Canada, even though seizures from the Canadian border are few in comparison to the Mexican border. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border.Canadian officials say lumping Canada in with Mexico is unfair but say they are ready to make new investments in border security.Trudeau called Trump after he made his social media posts on the border.When Trump imposed higher tariffs during his first term in office, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-04e38d60b85349c4bbf5cb084b35bdd0">billions of new duties in 2018</a>&nbsp;against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum.Canada is already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-trump-tariffs-trudeau-c741393c2f7c7545e9714839cfbbda45">examining possible retaliatory</a>&nbsp;tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products, a senior official told The Associated Press this week.A government official said Canada is preparing for every eventuality and has started thinking about what items to target with tariffs in retaliation. The official stressed no decision has been made. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly.Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day.About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada.Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S.“Canada has reason to fear because Trump is impulsive, often influenced by the last thing he sees on Fox News,” said Nelson Wiseman, professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. “He can leverage that by catering to what he thinks will sound and look good to the public rather than to what happens or will happen.”___