WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-elon-musk-johnson-schumer-jeffries-cf75ae3c5f04207980cb96b286e70c09">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;deadline, the Senate rushed through final passage early Saturday of a bipartisan plan that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, dropping President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;demands for a debt limit increase into the new year.

<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/ARA%2012.20.pdf">Click here</a>&nbsp;to read the continuing resolution

House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;had insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season. But the day's outcome was uncertain after Trump doubled down on his insistence that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-shutdown-explainer-22ff94a8f8b188c722ff8fab3f7093d0">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;increase be included in any deal — if not, he said in an early morning post, let the closures “start now.”

The House approved Johnson's new bill overwhelmingly, 366-34. Sharice Davids, Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Jake LaTurner, voted with majority.

 The Senate worked into the night to pass it, 85-11, just after the deadline.&nbsp; Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted for the measure.

&nbsp;At midnight, the White House said it had ceased shutdown preparations.

“This is a good outcome for the country, ” Johnson said after the House vote, adding he had spoken with Trump and the president-elect “was certainly happy about this outcome, as well.”

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, who has played a less public role in the process throughout a turbulent week, was expected to sign the measure into law Saturday.

“There will be no government shutdown," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

The final product was the third attempt from Johnson, the beleaguered House speaker, to achieve one of the basic requirements of the federal government — keeping it open. And it raised stark questions about whether Johnson will be able to keep his job, in the face of angry GOP colleagues, and work alongside Trump and billionaire ally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-congress-bipartisan-deal-320a3487d596ae0d2e1ffdc1e62054b3">Elon Musk</a>, who called the legislative plays from afar.

Trump's last-minute demand was almost an impossible ask, and Johnson had almost no choice but to work around his pressure for a debt ceiling increase. The speaker knew there wouldn’t be enough support within the GOP majority to pass any funding package, since many Republican deficit hawks prefer to slash the federal government and certainly wouldn’t allow more debt.

Instead, the Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate next year, with big plans for tax cuts and other priorities, are showing they must routinely rely on Democrats for the votes needed to keep up with the routine operations of governing.

“So is this a Republican bill or a Democrat bill?” scoffed Musk on social media ahead of the vote.

The drastically slimmed-down 118-page package would fund the government at current levels through March 14 and add $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers.

Gone is Trump’s demand to lift the debt ceiling, which GOP leaders told lawmakers would be debated as part of their tax and border packages in the new year. Republicans made a so-called handshake agreement to raise the debt limit at that time while also cutting $2.5 trillion in spending over 10 years.

It’s essentially the same deal that flopped the night before in a spectacular setback — opposed by most Democrats and some of the most conservative Republicans — minus Trump’s debt ceiling demand.

But it's far smaller than the original bipartisan accord Johnson struck with Democratic and Republican leaders — a 1,500-page bill that Trump and Musk rejected, forcing him to start over. It was stuffed with a long list of other bills — including much-derided pay raises for lawmakers — but also other measures with broad bipartisan support that now have a tougher path to becoming law.

House Democrats were cool to the latest effort after Johnson reneged on the hard-fought bipartisan compromise.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said it looked like Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, was calling the shots for Trump and Republicans.

“Who is in charge?” she asked during the debate.

Still, the House Democrats put up more votes than Republicans for the bill's passage. Almost three dozen conservative House Republicans voted against it.

“The House Democrats have successfully stopped extreme MAGA Republicans from shutting down the government, crashing the economy and hurting working-class Americans all across the nation,” House Democratic Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">Hakeem Jeffries</a>&nbsp;said, referring to Trump's “Make America Great Again” slogan.

In the Senate, almost all the opposition came from the Republicans — except independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, who said Musk's interference was “not democracy, that's oligarchy.”

Trump, who has not yet been sworn into office, is showing the power but also the limits of his sway with Congress, as he intervenes and orchestrates affairs from Mar-a-Lago alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-congress-bipartisan-deal-320a3487d596ae0d2e1ffdc1e62054b3">Musk</a>, who is heading up the new Department of Government Efficiency.

The incoming Trump administration vows to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-harris-election-heritage-foundation-9183cf4c36c293e11b59847189d26a87">slash the federal budget and fire thousands of employees</a>&nbsp;and is counting on Republicans for a big tax package. And Trump's not fearful of shutdowns the way lawmakers are, having sparked the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/30769167ab7a4ef9adf880d020b775dd">longest government shutdown in history</a>&nbsp;in his first term at the White House.

“If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now,” Trump posted early in the morning on social media.

More important for the president-elect was his demand for pushing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-debt-ceiling-budget-signing-f78a000d83cf85ffbaa2d08637844053">thorny debt ceiling debate</a>&nbsp;off the table before he returns to the White House. The federal debt limit expires Jan. 1, and Trump doesn't want the first months of his new administration saddled with tough negotiations in Congress to lift the nation's borrowing capacity. Now Johnson will be on the hook to deliver.

“Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling,” Trump posted — increasing his demand for a new five-year debt limit increase. "Without this, we should never make a deal."

Government workers had already been told to prepare for a federal shutdown that would send millions of employees — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-trump-musk-military-troop-pay-adcc3bd728ec2e406cb8f3be9d1a890a">members of the military</a>&nbsp;— into the holiday season without paychecks.

Biden has been in discussions with Jeffries and Schumer, but White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: “Republicans blew up this deal. They did, and they need to fix this.”

As the day dragged on, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell stepped in to remind colleagues “how harmful it is to shut the government down, and how foolish it is to bet your own side won’t take the blame for it.”

At one point, Johnson asked House Republicans at a lunchtime meeting for a show of hands as they tried to choose the path forward.

It wasn’t just the shutdown, but the speaker’s job on the line. The speaker’s election is the first vote of the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, and some Trump allies have floated Musk for speaker.

Johnson said he spoke to Musk ahead of the vote Friday and they talked about the “extraordinary challenges of this job.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734474980545.png" alt="The 2024 Capitol Christmas Tree -photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol" />
 <figcaption>The 2024 Capitol Christmas Tree -photo courtesy Architect of the Capitol</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-elon-musk-johnson-schumer-jeffries-cf75ae3c5f04207980cb96b286e70c09">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;deadline, the Senate rushed through final passage early Saturday of a bipartisan plan that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, dropping President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;demands for a debt limit increase into the new year.<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/ARA%2012.20.pdf">Click here</a>&nbsp;to read the continuing resolutionHouse Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;had insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season. But the day's outcome was uncertain after Trump doubled down on his insistence that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-shutdown-explainer-22ff94a8f8b188c722ff8fab3f7093d0">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;increase be included in any deal — if not, he said in an early morning post, let the closures “start now.”The House approved Johnson's new bill overwhelmingly, 366-34. Sharice Davids, Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Jake LaTurner, voted with majority. The Senate worked into the night to pass it, 85-11, just after the deadline.&nbsp; Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted for the measure.&nbsp;At midnight, the White House said it had ceased shutdown preparations.“This is a good outcome for the country, ” Johnson said after the House vote, adding he had spoken with Trump and the president-elect “was certainly happy about this outcome, as well.”President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>, who has played a less public role in the process throughout a turbulent week, was expected to sign the measure into law Saturday.“There will be no government shutdown," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.The final product was the third attempt from Johnson, the beleaguered House speaker, to achieve one of the basic requirements of the federal government — keeping it open. And it raised stark questions about whether Johnson will be able to keep his job, in the face of angry GOP colleagues, and work alongside Trump and billionaire ally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-congress-bipartisan-deal-320a3487d596ae0d2e1ffdc1e62054b3">Elon Musk</a>, who called the legislative plays from afar.Trump's last-minute demand was almost an impossible ask, and Johnson had almost no choice but to work around his pressure for a debt ceiling increase. The speaker knew there wouldn’t be enough support within the GOP majority to pass any funding package, since many Republican deficit hawks prefer to slash the federal government and certainly wouldn’t allow more debt.Instead, the Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate next year, with big plans for tax cuts and other priorities, are showing they must routinely rely on Democrats for the votes needed to keep up with the routine operations of governing.“So is this a Republican bill or a Democrat bill?” scoffed Musk on social media ahead of the vote.The drastically slimmed-down 118-page package would fund the government at current levels through March 14 and add $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers.Gone is Trump’s demand to lift the debt ceiling, which GOP leaders told lawmakers would be debated as part of their tax and border packages in the new year. Republicans made a so-called handshake agreement to raise the debt limit at that time while also cutting $2.5 trillion in spending over 10 years.It’s essentially the same deal that flopped the night before in a spectacular setback — opposed by most Democrats and some of the most conservative Republicans — minus Trump’s debt ceiling demand.But it's far smaller than the original bipartisan accord Johnson struck with Democratic and Republican leaders — a 1,500-page bill that Trump and Musk rejected, forcing him to start over. It was stuffed with a long list of other bills — including much-derided pay raises for lawmakers — but also other measures with broad bipartisan support that now have a tougher path to becoming law.House Democrats were cool to the latest effort after Johnson reneged on the hard-fought bipartisan compromise.Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said it looked like Musk, the wealthiest man in the world, was calling the shots for Trump and Republicans.“Who is in charge?” she asked during the debate.Still, the House Democrats put up more votes than Republicans for the bill's passage. Almost three dozen conservative House Republicans voted against it.“The House Democrats have successfully stopped extreme MAGA Republicans from shutting down the government, crashing the economy and hurting working-class Americans all across the nation,” House Democratic Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">Hakeem Jeffries</a>&nbsp;said, referring to Trump's “Make America Great Again” slogan.In the Senate, almost all the opposition came from the Republicans — except independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, who said Musk's interference was “not democracy, that's oligarchy.”Trump, who has not yet been sworn into office, is showing the power but also the limits of his sway with Congress, as he intervenes and orchestrates affairs from Mar-a-Lago alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-congress-bipartisan-deal-320a3487d596ae0d2e1ffdc1e62054b3">Musk</a>, who is heading up the new Department of Government Efficiency.The incoming Trump administration vows to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-harris-election-heritage-foundation-9183cf4c36c293e11b59847189d26a87">slash the federal budget and fire thousands of employees</a>&nbsp;and is counting on Republicans for a big tax package. And Trump's not fearful of shutdowns the way lawmakers are, having sparked the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/30769167ab7a4ef9adf880d020b775dd">longest government shutdown in history</a>&nbsp;in his first term at the White House.“If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now,” Trump posted early in the morning on social media.More important for the president-elect was his demand for pushing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-debt-ceiling-budget-signing-f78a000d83cf85ffbaa2d08637844053">thorny debt ceiling debate</a>&nbsp;off the table before he returns to the White House. The federal debt limit expires Jan. 1, and Trump doesn't want the first months of his new administration saddled with tough negotiations in Congress to lift the nation's borrowing capacity. Now Johnson will be on the hook to deliver.“Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling,” Trump posted — increasing his demand for a new five-year debt limit increase. "Without this, we should never make a deal."Government workers had already been told to prepare for a federal shutdown that would send millions of employees — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-trump-musk-military-troop-pay-adcc3bd728ec2e406cb8f3be9d1a890a">members of the military</a>&nbsp;— into the holiday season without paychecks.Biden has been in discussions with Jeffries and Schumer, but White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said: “Republicans blew up this deal. They did, and they need to fix this.”As the day dragged on, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell stepped in to remind colleagues “how harmful it is to shut the government down, and how foolish it is to bet your own side won’t take the blame for it.”At one point, Johnson asked House Republicans at a lunchtime meeting for a show of hands as they tried to choose the path forward.It wasn’t just the shutdown, but the speaker’s job on the line. The speaker’s election is the first vote of the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, and some Trump allies have floated Musk for speaker.Johnson said he spoke to Musk ahead of the vote Friday and they talked about the “extraordinary challenges of this job.”

Kan. lawmakers help send stop-gap funding bill to Biden, averting a shutdown

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a registered Kansas offender on new allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 9:30p.m. Dec. 16, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Toyota Corolla for a traffic violation on U.S. Hwy 75 near 118th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The driver of the vehicle, Robert Thomas Johnson, 66, of Topeka, was arrested for 5 offender registry violations and driving while suspended.

As part of his drug conviction sentence, Johnson has been required to register as an offender for 15 years. He was convicted in 2009 for selling meth, according to the Kansas offender registry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734574862116.png" alt="Johnson photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Johnson photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a registered Kansas offender on new allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 9:30p.m. Dec. 16, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Toyota Corolla for a traffic violation on U.S. Hwy 75 near 118th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The driver of the vehicle, Robert Thomas Johnson, 66, of Topeka, was arrested for 5 offender registry violations and driving while suspended.As part of his drug conviction sentence, Johnson has been required to register as an offender for 15 years. He was convicted in 2009 for selling meth, according to the Kansas offender registry.

Kan. offender accused of multiple registry violations

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s governor commuted the sentence of a white Kansas City police officer who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a Black man whose death fueled racial justice protests.

Gov. Mike Parson commuted Eric DeValkenaere's sentence to time served on Friday, weeks before he will leave office. The Missouri Department of Corrections confirmed DeValkenaere has been released from prison.

DeValkenaere was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kansas-city-kansas-5168b9935ec869fa74453228a87c166d">serving a six-year prison sentence.</a>&nbsp;He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-race-and-ethnicity-kansas-city-933d3aba9b37c83145fba5818d557c02">convicted in 2021</a>&nbsp;of killing 26-year-old Cameron Lamb as he backed into his garage. Lamb’s name was invoked frequently during racial injustice protests in Kansas City in 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Lamb’s family even met with then-President Donald Trump that year.

At trial, DeValkenaere testified that he fired his weapon on Dec. 3, 2019, after Lamb pointed a gun at another detective, Troy Schwalm, and that he believed his actions saved his partner’s life.

Prosecutors, however, argued that police shouldn’t have been on the property and staged the shooting scene to support their claims that Lamb was armed.

Evidence presented during the trial, which was held without a jury at DeValkenaere’s request, showed that DeValkenaere kicked over a barricade to get into Lamb's backyard.

The trial judge, Dale Youngs, said the officers had no warrant for Lamb’s arrest and had no search warrant or consent to be on the property. He called it a tragic case with troubling facts and said DeValkenaere and the officer with him escalated a situation that had been calmed. He didn’t address allegations that evidence had been planted.

DeValkenaere&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kansas-city-2af535a9a637024a23b3530c1c20cc2e">left the police force after his conviction</a>&nbsp;but remained free on bond until he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-shooting-974b3aa6e4736005b553672489bb46ea">lost his appeal</a>&nbsp;in October 2023. The Missouri Supreme Court subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/exkansas-city-detective-conviction-appeal-507be4b6eb77e19a71f5fbacc081088e">declined</a>&nbsp;to hear an appeal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698332674249.png" alt="DeValkenaere-photo MODOX" />
 <figcaption>DeValkenaere-photo MODOX</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s governor commuted the sentence of a white Kansas City police officer who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a Black man whose death fueled racial justice protests.Gov. Mike Parson commuted Eric DeValkenaere's sentence to time served on Friday, weeks before he will leave office. The Missouri Department of Corrections confirmed DeValkenaere has been released from prison.DeValkenaere was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kansas-city-kansas-5168b9935ec869fa74453228a87c166d">serving a six-year prison sentence.</a>&nbsp;He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-race-and-ethnicity-kansas-city-933d3aba9b37c83145fba5818d557c02">convicted in 2021</a>&nbsp;of killing 26-year-old Cameron Lamb as he backed into his garage. Lamb’s name was invoked frequently during racial injustice protests in Kansas City in 2020 following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Lamb’s family even met with then-President Donald Trump that year.At trial, DeValkenaere testified that he fired his weapon on Dec. 3, 2019, after Lamb pointed a gun at another detective, Troy Schwalm, and that he believed his actions saved his partner’s life.Prosecutors, however, argued that police shouldn’t have been on the property and staged the shooting scene to support their claims that Lamb was armed.Evidence presented during the trial, which was held without a jury at DeValkenaere’s request, showed that DeValkenaere kicked over a barricade to get into Lamb's backyard.The trial judge, Dale Youngs, said the officers had no warrant for Lamb’s arrest and had no search warrant or consent to be on the property. He called it a tragic case with troubling facts and said DeValkenaere and the officer with him escalated a situation that had been calmed. He didn’t address allegations that evidence had been planted.DeValkenaere&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-police-shootings-kansas-city-2af535a9a637024a23b3530c1c20cc2e">left the police force after his conviction</a>&nbsp;but remained free on bond until he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-police-shooting-974b3aa6e4736005b553672489bb46ea">lost his appeal</a>&nbsp;in October 2023. The Missouri Supreme Court subsequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/exkansas-city-detective-conviction-appeal-507be4b6eb77e19a71f5fbacc081088e">declined</a>&nbsp;to hear an appeal.

Gov. commutes sentence of KC officer convicted of killing Black man

BROWN COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just after 8a.m. Friday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Edward C. Bullmaster, 26, St. Joseph, was westbound on K20 at U.S. 75.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the junction.&nbsp; The semi struck a westbound 2019 Ford F150 driven by David&nbsp; Provorse, 64, Topeka, broadside. After impact both vehicles came to rest in the west ditch.

&nbsp;Provorse and a passenger in the pickup Marcia L. Provorse, 62, Topeka, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. 

EMS transported Bullmaster and a passenger in the semi Clay J Lutz, 36, Rushville, Missouri, to the Sabetha Hospital.

BROWN COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just after 8a.m. Friday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Edward C. Bullmaster, 26, St. Joseph, was westbound on K20 at U.S. 75.The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the junction.&nbsp; The semi struck a westbound 2019 Ford F150 driven by David&nbsp; Provorse, 64, Topeka, broadside. After impact both vehicles came to rest in the west ditch.&nbsp;Provorse and a passenger in the pickup Marcia L. Provorse, 62, Topeka, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. EMS transported Bullmaster and a passenger in the semi Clay J Lutz, 36, Rushville, Missouri, to the Sabetha Hospital.

Kansas couple killed in pickup, semi crash

FINNEY COUNTY —Officials at the Garden City Recreation Center, 310 North 6th Street in Garden City, detected elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the facility. Out of an abundance of caution, officials evacuated the building and are closed for the remainder of the day, according to a statement from the city.

If you visited the Recreation Center Friday, December 20, please monitor yourself and your loved ones for symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure, including:

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can pose serious health risks. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, move to fresh air immediately and call&nbsp;Poison Control&nbsp;at&nbsp;1-800-222-1222&nbsp;for assistance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734734548979.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Officials at the Garden City Recreation Center, 310 North 6th Street in Garden City, detected elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the facility. Out of an abundance of caution, officials evacuated the building and are closed for the remainder of the day, according to a statement from the city.If you visited the Recreation Center Friday, December 20, please monitor yourself and your loved ones for symptoms of carbon monoxide exposure, including:<ul>
 <li>Headache</li><li>Dizziness</li><li>Nausea or vomiting</li><li>Shortness of breath</li><li>Confusion or disorientation</li><li>Loss of consciousness</li>
 </ul>Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can pose serious health risks. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, move to fresh air immediately and call&nbsp;Poison Control&nbsp;at&nbsp;1-800-222-1222&nbsp;for assistance.

Elevated carbon monoxide forces evacuation of SW Kan. Rec Center

SEDGWICK COUNTY—On Thursday District Judge Jeffrey Syrios sentenced 23-year-old Brandon Prouse Jr. of Wichita, to 290 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On Nov. 1, Prouse pled guilty to aggravated robbery. Judge Syrios sentenced Prouse to 216 months for the robbery count and an additional 74 months for violating probation on two earlier crimes.

In September, a co-defendant, Justin Macormac, was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 853 months. Macormac pled guilty to first-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, attempted second-degree murder, and two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm. On Super Bowl weekend in February of 2022, Macormac shot and killed Bonnie Galloway and Connor O’Callaghan in a shed in the 2200 block of S. Erie in Wichita. Both had been living in the shed.

Prouse was with Macormac, and both victims the evening of the shooting.

Officers from the Violent Crimes Community Response Team, along with assistance from the US Marshal’s Task Force, apprehended Macormac at a Wichita gas station.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645065946539.png" alt="Prouse-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Prouse-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—On Thursday District Judge Jeffrey Syrios sentenced 23-year-old Brandon Prouse Jr. of Wichita, to 290 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On Nov. 1, Prouse pled guilty to aggravated robbery. Judge Syrios sentenced Prouse to 216 months for the robbery count and an additional 74 months for violating probation on two earlier crimes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655924835194.png" alt="Macormac photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Macormac photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>In September, a co-defendant, Justin Macormac, was sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after 853 months. Macormac pled guilty to first-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, attempted second-degree murder, and two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm. On Super Bowl weekend in February of 2022, Macormac shot and killed Bonnie Galloway and Connor O’Callaghan in a shed in the 2200 block of S. Erie in Wichita. Both had been living in the shed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655924767929.png" alt="-While taking him into custody, officers located a stolen 9mm carbine with a high capacity magazine-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>-While taking him into custody, officers located a stolen 9mm carbine with a high capacity magazine-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Prouse was with Macormac, and both victims the evening of the shooting.Officers from the Violent Crimes Community Response Team, along with assistance from the US Marshal’s Task Force, apprehended Macormac at a Wichita gas station.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. man sentenced for role in Super Bowl weekend robbery, killing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hours to go before a midnight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-elon-musk-johnson-schumer-jeffries-cf75ae3c5f04207980cb96b286e70c09">government shutdown</a>, the House approved a new plan late Friday from Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, but drops President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;demands for a debt limit increase into the new year.

<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/ARA%2012.20.pdf">Click here</a> to read Friday's continuing resolution

Johnson insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season. But the day's outcome was uncertain after Trump doubled down on his insistence that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-shutdown-explainer-22ff94a8f8b188c722ff8fab3f7093d0">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;increase be included in any deal — if not, he said in an early morning post, let the closures “start now.”

The bill was approved 366-34. All four members of the Kansas delegation, Sharice Davids, Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Jake LaTurner, voted with majority.

The bill now goes to the Senate, for expected quick passage.

“We're excited about this outcome,” Johnson said afterward, adding he had spoken with Trump and the president-elect “was certainly happy about this outcome, as well.”

It was the third attempt from Johnson, the beleaguered House speaker, to achieve one of the basic requirements of the federal government — keeping it open. And it raised stark questions about whether Johnson will be able to keep his job, in the face of angry GOP colleagues, and work alongside Trump and billionaire ally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-congress-bipartisan-deal-320a3487d596ae0d2e1ffdc1e62054b3">Elon Musk</a>, who have called the legislative plays this time.

Trump's last-minute demand was almost an impossible ask, and Johnson had almost no choice but to work around his pressure for a debt ceiling increase. The speaker knew there wouldn’t be enough support within the GOP majority to pass any funding package, since many Republicans prefer to slash federal government and certainly wouldn’t allow more debt.

The new 118-page package would fund the government at current levels through March and adds $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers.

It's essentially the same deal that flopped the night before in a spectacular setback — opposed by most Democrats and some of the most conservative Republicans — minus Trump's debt ceiling demand.

Democratic Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">Hakeem Jeffries</a>&nbsp;was in contact with Johnson, but Democrats were cool to the latest effort after the Republican speaker reneged on their original bipartisan compromise.

“Welcome back to the MAGA swamp,” Jeffries posted.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said it looked like Musk, an unelected official and the wealthiest man in the world, was calling the shots for Trump and the Republicans.

Still, the White House supported the final bill, and Democrats put up more votes than Republicans for its passage. Almost three dozen Republicans voted against it.

Trump, who has not yet been sworn into office, is showing the power but also the limits of his sway with Congress, as he intervenes and orchestrates affairs from Mar-a-Lago alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-congress-bipartisan-deal-320a3487d596ae0d2e1ffdc1e62054b3">Musk</a>, who is heading up the incoming administration's new Department of Government Efficiency.

Trump does not fear government shutdowns the way Johnson and the lawmakers see federal closures as political losers that harm the livelihoods of Americans. The incoming Trump administration vows to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-harris-election-heritage-foundation-9183cf4c36c293e11b59847189d26a87">slash the federal budget and fire thousands of employees</a>. Trump himself sparked the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/30769167ab7a4ef9adf880d020b775dd">longest government shutdown in history</a>&nbsp;in his first term at the White House, the monthlong closures over the 2018-19 Christmas holiday and New Year period.

More importantly for the president-elect was his demand for pushing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-debt-ceiling-budget-signing-f78a000d83cf85ffbaa2d08637844053">thorny debt ceiling debate</a>&nbsp;off the table before he returns to the White House. The federal debt limit expires Jan. 1, and Trump doesn't want the first months of his new administration saddled with tough negotiations in Congress to lift the nation's borrowing capacity. It gives Democrats, who will be in the minority next year, leverage.

“Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling,” Trump posted — increasing his demand for a now five-year debt limit increase. "Without this, we should never make a deal."

Johnson had tried at first to appease Trump's demands, but ultimately had to work around them.

Trump and Musk unleashed their opposition — and social media army — on the original plan Johnson presented, which was a 1,500-page bipartisan compromise he struck with Democrats that included the disaster aid for hard hit states, but did not address the debt ceiling situation.

A Trump-backed second plan, Thursday's slimmed-down 116-page bill with his preferred two-year debt limit increase into 2027, failed in a monumental defeat, rejected by most Democrats as an unserious effort — but also by conservative Republicans who refuse to pile on the nation's red ink.

On Friday morning, Vice President-elect JD Vance and Trump's pick to be incoming Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, arrived at the Capitol, where a group of holdouts from the hardline House Freedom Caucus were meeting with Johnson.

Later, during the lunchtime meeting of House Republicans in the Capitol basement, Johnson asked for a show of hands as they determined the path forward, Republican Rep. Ralph Norman said.

Government workers have already been told to prepare for a federal shutdown which would send millions of employees — and members of the military — into the holiday season without paychecks.

President Joe Biden, in his final weeks in office, has played a less public role in the debate, drawing criticism from Trump and Republicans who are trying to shift the blame for any shutdown on him.

Biden has been in discussions with Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, but White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Republicans blew up this deal. They did, and they need to fix this.”

At one point Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell stepped in to remind colleagues “how harmful it is to shut the government down, and how foolish it is to bet your own side won’t take the blame for it.”

The speaker's election is the first vote of the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, and Johnson will need the support of almost every single House Republican from his razor-thin majority to ensure he can keep the gavel.

As some have floated Musk for speaker, Johnson said he spoke to him, as well. He said they talked about the “extraordinary challenges of this job.”

As the speaker twisted in Washington, his peril was on display. At Turning Point USA’s conservative AmericaFest confab, Trump ally Steve Bannon stirred thousands of activists late Thursday with a withering takedown of the Louisiana Republican.

“Clearly, Johnson is not up to the task. He’s gotta go,” Bannon said, drawing cheers.

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Darlene Superville and Bill Barrow contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734733669071.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson just before the vote -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson just before the vote -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Hours to go before a midnight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-elon-musk-johnson-schumer-jeffries-cf75ae3c5f04207980cb96b286e70c09">government shutdown</a>, the House approved a new plan late Friday from Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;that would temporarily fund federal operations and disaster aid, but drops President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;demands for a debt limit increase into the new year.<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/ARA%2012.20.pdf">Click here</a> to read Friday's continuing resolutionJohnson insisted Congress would “meet our obligations” and not allow federal operations to shutter ahead of the Christmas holiday season. But the day's outcome was uncertain after Trump doubled down on his insistence that a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debt-ceiling-shutdown-explainer-22ff94a8f8b188c722ff8fab3f7093d0">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;increase be included in any deal — if not, he said in an early morning post, let the closures “start now.”The bill was approved 366-34. All four members of the Kansas delegation, Sharice Davids, Ron Estes, Tracey Mann and Jake LaTurner, voted with majority.The bill now goes to the Senate, for expected quick passage.“We're excited about this outcome,” Johnson said afterward, adding he had spoken with Trump and the president-elect “was certainly happy about this outcome, as well.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The House just passed the American Relief Act with OVERWHELMING support. This America First legislation delivers much-needed relief for Americans devastated by the hurricanes and our hardworking farmers, and it sets up President Trump to start delivering on DAY ONE. <a href="https://t.co/85fEJT5WIY">pic.twitter.com/85fEJT5WIY</a>&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1870256003499122960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was the third attempt from Johnson, the beleaguered House speaker, to achieve one of the basic requirements of the federal government — keeping it open. And it raised stark questions about whether Johnson will be able to keep his job, in the face of angry GOP colleagues, and work alongside Trump and billionaire ally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-congress-bipartisan-deal-320a3487d596ae0d2e1ffdc1e62054b3">Elon Musk</a>, who have called the legislative plays this time.Trump's last-minute demand was almost an impossible ask, and Johnson had almost no choice but to work around his pressure for a debt ceiling increase. The speaker knew there wouldn’t be enough support within the GOP majority to pass any funding package, since many Republicans prefer to slash federal government and certainly wouldn’t allow more debt.Instead, the Republicans, who will have full control of the White House, House and Senate next year, with big plans for tax cuts and other priorities, are showing they must routinely rely on Democrats for the votes needed to keep up with the routine operations of governing.“So is this a Republican bill or a Democrat bill?” scoffed Musk on social media ahead of the vote.The new 118-page package would fund the government at current levels through March and adds $100 billion in disaster aid and $10 billion in agricultural assistance to farmers.Gone is Trump’s demand to lift the debt ceiling, which GOP leaders told lawmakers would be debated as part of their tax and border packages in the new year. Republicans made a so-called handshake agreement to raise the debt limit at that time while also cutting $2.5 trillion in spending over 10 years.It's essentially the same deal that flopped the night before in a spectacular setback — opposed by most Democrats and some of the most conservative Republicans — minus Trump's debt ceiling demand.Democratic Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hakeem-jeffries">Hakeem Jeffries</a>&nbsp;was in contact with Johnson, but Democrats were cool to the latest effort after the Republican speaker reneged on their original bipartisan compromise.“Welcome back to the MAGA swamp,” Jeffries posted.Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said it looked like Musk, an unelected official and the wealthiest man in the world, was calling the shots for Trump and the Republicans.“Who is in charge?” she asked during the debate.Still, the White House supported the final bill, and Democrats put up more votes than Republicans for its passage. Almost three dozen Republicans voted against it.Trump, who has not yet been sworn into office, is showing the power but also the limits of his sway with Congress, as he intervenes and orchestrates affairs from Mar-a-Lago alongside&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-congress-bipartisan-deal-320a3487d596ae0d2e1ffdc1e62054b3">Musk</a>, who is heading up the incoming administration's new Department of Government Efficiency.“If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now,” Trump posted early in the morning on social media.Trump does not fear government shutdowns the way Johnson and the lawmakers see federal closures as political losers that harm the livelihoods of Americans. The incoming Trump administration vows to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/project-2025-trump-harris-election-heritage-foundation-9183cf4c36c293e11b59847189d26a87">slash the federal budget and fire thousands of employees</a>. Trump himself sparked the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/30769167ab7a4ef9adf880d020b775dd">longest government shutdown in history</a>&nbsp;in his first term at the White House, the monthlong closures over the 2018-19 Christmas holiday and New Year period.More importantly for the president-elect was his demand for pushing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-debt-ceiling-budget-signing-f78a000d83cf85ffbaa2d08637844053">thorny debt ceiling debate</a>&nbsp;off the table before he returns to the White House. The federal debt limit expires Jan. 1, and Trump doesn't want the first months of his new administration saddled with tough negotiations in Congress to lift the nation's borrowing capacity. It gives Democrats, who will be in the minority next year, leverage.“Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling,” Trump posted — increasing his demand for a now five-year debt limit increase. "Without this, we should never make a deal."Johnson had tried at first to appease Trump's demands, but ultimately had to work around them.Trump and Musk unleashed their opposition — and social media army — on the original plan Johnson presented, which was a 1,500-page bipartisan compromise he struck with Democrats that included the disaster aid for hard hit states, but did not address the debt ceiling situation.A Trump-backed second plan, Thursday's slimmed-down 116-page bill with his preferred two-year debt limit increase into 2027, failed in a monumental defeat, rejected by most Democrats as an unserious effort — but also by conservative Republicans who refuse to pile on the nation's red ink.On Friday morning, Vice President-elect JD Vance and Trump's pick to be incoming Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought, arrived at the Capitol, where a group of holdouts from the hardline House Freedom Caucus were meeting with Johnson.Later, during the lunchtime meeting of House Republicans in the Capitol basement, Johnson asked for a show of hands as they determined the path forward, Republican Rep. Ralph Norman said.Government workers have already been told to prepare for a federal shutdown which would send millions of employees — and members of the military — into the holiday season without paychecks.President Joe Biden, in his final weeks in office, has played a less public role in the debate, drawing criticism from Trump and Republicans who are trying to shift the blame for any shutdown on him.Biden has been in discussions with Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, but White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “Republicans blew up this deal. They did, and they need to fix this.”At one point Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell stepped in to remind colleagues “how harmful it is to shut the government down, and how foolish it is to bet your own side won’t take the blame for it.”The speaker's election is the first vote of the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, and Johnson will need the support of almost every single House Republican from his razor-thin majority to ensure he can keep the gavel.As some have floated Musk for speaker, Johnson said he spoke to him, as well. He said they talked about the “extraordinary challenges of this job.”As the speaker twisted in Washington, his peril was on display. At Turning Point USA’s conservative AmericaFest confab, Trump ally Steve Bannon stirred thousands of activists late Thursday with a withering takedown of the Louisiana Republican.“Clearly, Johnson is not up to the task. He’s gotta go,” Bannon said, drawing cheers.___Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Darlene Superville and Bill Barrow contributed to this report.

Kansas Reps. vote yes as House sends gov't funding bill to Senate 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal 2-vehicle crash Wednesday night in Topeka have identified the driver who died as&nbsp;Rhonda M. Griffin, 57, of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols

Just before 10p.m. police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to a reported injury accident involving 2 vehicles in the 2200 block of SE California, according to Police Lt. John Trimble.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734625241573.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal 2-vehicle crash Wednesday night in Topeka have identified the driver who died as&nbsp;Rhonda M. Griffin, 57, of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Rosie NicholsJust before 10p.m. police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to a reported injury accident involving 2 vehicles in the 2200 block of SE California, according to Police Lt. John Trimble.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation.

Police ID Kansas woman who died in 2-car crash

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/collin-binkley">COLLIN BINKLEY</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/chris-megerian">CHRIS MEGERIAN</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is abandoning his effort to cancel student loans for more than 38 million Americans, the first step in an administration-wide plan to jettison pending regulations to prevent President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;from retooling them to achieve his own aims.

The White House expects to pull back unfinished rules across several agencies if there isn’t enough time to finalize them before Trump takes office. If the proposed regulations were left in their current state, the next administration would be able to rewrite them and advance its agenda more quickly.

Even as the Biden administration moves to pull back the rules, it pushed ahead with cancellation through other avenues on Friday. The Education Department said it was clearing loans for another 55,000 borrowers who reached eligibility through a program known as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which was created by Congress in 2007 and expanded by the Biden administration.

As the pending Biden regulations are withdrawn, nothing prevents Trump from pursuing his own regulations on the same issues when he returns to the White House, but he would have to start from scratch in a process that can take months or even years.

“This isn’t the way I wanted it to end,” said Melissa Byrne, an activist who has pushed for student debt cancellation. “Unfortunately, this is the most prudent action to take right now.”

She blamed Republicans for putting the Biden administration in this position. “It’s a bummer that we have a GOP that is committed to keeping working-class Americans in debt,” Byrne said.

In documents withdrawing the student loan proposals, the Education Department insisted it has the authority to cancel the debt but sought to focus on other priorities in the administration’s final weeks. It said the administration will focus on helping borrowers get back on track with payments following the coronavirus pandemic, when payments were paused.

“The department at this time intends to commit its limited operational resources to helping at-risk borrowers return to repayment successfully,” the agency wrote.

The withdrawals are beginning as Washington braces for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-musk-johnson-e4b5c93d12838d180740a35daecc118d">a potential government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that could further complicate efforts by the Biden administration to tie up loose ends.

Another proposed rule that could face withdrawal is a measure that would have prevented schools from issuing blanket bans against transgender athletes. Trump could recast the pending modification to Title IX to forbid transgender athletes from playing in girls’ sports, one of his campaign promises.

An administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the administration still supports the goals of its regulatory proposals. However, the process can be lengthy because it requires legal reviews and collecting input from the public.

Federal agencies are now analyzing which rules to finish and which to pull back before the end of Biden’s term, the official said.

In recent years, presidents have tended to rely more on executive orders and federal regulations to sidestep gridlock in Congress. However, the rulemaking process can be less durable than legislation, leaving policies more vulnerable to shifts between administrations.

There are dozens of other pending regulations across the Education Department and other agencies, ranging from relatively trivial updates to sweeping policies that carry weighty implications for the nation’s schools and businesses.

If a rule has already gone through a public feedback process under Biden, Trump could simply replace it with his own proposal and move straight to enacting the policy, effectively bypassing the comment period.

The pair of student loan proposals expected to be withdrawn Friday represented Biden’s second attempt at widespread debt cancellation after the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa">rejected his first plan.</a>

One of them is a proposal from April would have provided targeted debt relief to 30 million Americans. It laid out several categories of borrowers eligible for relief. Borrowers who saw their balances balloon because of interest would have had their accrued interest wiped away. Those who had been repaying loans for 20 years or more would have gotten their loans erased.

That proposal was halted by a federal judge in September after Republican-led states sued, and it remains tangled in a legal battle.

The second rule being withdrawn is a proposal from October that would have allowed the Education Department to cancel loans for people facing various kinds of hardship, including those struggling with steep medical bills or child care costs.

Although Biden never achieved the sweeping loan cancellations that he initially promised, his administration has forgiven an unprecedented $180 billion in federal student loans through existing programs.

“Because of our actions, millions of people across the country now have the breathing room to start businesses, save for retirement, and pursue life plans they had to put on hold because of the burden of student loan debt,” Biden said in a statement.

On Friday, officials announced they were erasing debt for another 55,000 workers — including teachers, nurses and law enforcement officials — through Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The program promises to cancel loans for borrowers who spend 10 years in government or nonprofit jobs.

The $4.28 billion in relief is expected to be the final&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-student-loan-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-60ffeaec17737d6317b4aee188893cc4">round of public service loan forgiveness</a>&nbsp;before Biden leaves office in January.

Biden’s rule on transgender sports was proposed in 2023 but was delayed multiple times. It was supposed to be a follow-up to his broader rule that extended civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ students under Title IX.

The sports rule would have barred schools from banning transgender athletes outright while allowing limits for certain reasons — for example, if it was a matter of “fairness” in competition or to reduce injury risks.

It sat on the back burner through the presidential campaign as the issue became a subject of Republican outrage. Trump campaigned on a promise to ban transgender athletes, with a promise to “keep men out of women’s sports.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721180391047.png" alt="File photo White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/collin-binkley">COLLIN BINKLEY</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/chris-megerian">CHRIS MEGERIAN</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;is abandoning his effort to cancel student loans for more than 38 million Americans, the first step in an administration-wide plan to jettison pending regulations to prevent President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;from retooling them to achieve his own aims.The White House expects to pull back unfinished rules across several agencies if there isn’t enough time to finalize them before Trump takes office. If the proposed regulations were left in their current state, the next administration would be able to rewrite them and advance its agenda more quickly.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The 55,000 public servants approved for debt cancellation today are workers who have dedicated their lives to giving back to their communities. Now, they are finally earning the relief they are entitled to under the law. <a href="https://t.co/mT3s1VXGG8">pic.twitter.com/mT3s1VXGG8</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1870110519127925181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Even as the Biden administration moves to pull back the rules, it pushed ahead with cancellation through other avenues on Friday. The Education Department said it was clearing loans for another 55,000 borrowers who reached eligibility through a program known as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which was created by Congress in 2007 and expanded by the Biden administration.As the pending Biden regulations are withdrawn, nothing prevents Trump from pursuing his own regulations on the same issues when he returns to the White House, but he would have to start from scratch in a process that can take months or even years.“This isn’t the way I wanted it to end,” said Melissa Byrne, an activist who has pushed for student debt cancellation. “Unfortunately, this is the most prudent action to take right now.”She blamed Republicans for putting the Biden administration in this position. “It’s a bummer that we have a GOP that is committed to keeping working-class Americans in debt,” Byrne said.In documents withdrawing the student loan proposals, the Education Department insisted it has the authority to cancel the debt but sought to focus on other priorities in the administration’s final weeks. It said the administration will focus on helping borrowers get back on track with payments following the coronavirus pandemic, when payments were paused.“The department at this time intends to commit its limited operational resources to helping at-risk borrowers return to repayment successfully,” the agency wrote.The withdrawals are beginning as Washington braces for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-musk-johnson-e4b5c93d12838d180740a35daecc118d">a potential government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that could further complicate efforts by the Biden administration to tie up loose ends.Another proposed rule that could face withdrawal is a measure that would have prevented schools from issuing blanket bans against transgender athletes. Trump could recast the pending modification to Title IX to forbid transgender athletes from playing in girls’ sports, one of his campaign promises.An administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the administration still supports the goals of its regulatory proposals. However, the process can be lengthy because it requires legal reviews and collecting input from the public.Federal agencies are now analyzing which rules to finish and which to pull back before the end of Biden’s term, the official said.In recent years, presidents have tended to rely more on executive orders and federal regulations to sidestep gridlock in Congress. However, the rulemaking process can be less durable than legislation, leaving policies more vulnerable to shifts between administrations.There are dozens of other pending regulations across the Education Department and other agencies, ranging from relatively trivial updates to sweeping policies that carry weighty implications for the nation’s schools and businesses.If a rule has already gone through a public feedback process under Biden, Trump could simply replace it with his own proposal and move straight to enacting the policy, effectively bypassing the comment period.The pair of student loan proposals expected to be withdrawn Friday represented Biden’s second attempt at widespread debt cancellation after the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa">rejected his first plan.</a>One of them is a proposal from April would have provided targeted debt relief to 30 million Americans. It laid out several categories of borrowers eligible for relief. Borrowers who saw their balances balloon because of interest would have had their accrued interest wiped away. Those who had been repaying loans for 20 years or more would have gotten their loans erased.That proposal was halted by a federal judge in September after Republican-led states sued, and it remains tangled in a legal battle.The second rule being withdrawn is a proposal from October that would have allowed the Education Department to cancel loans for people facing various kinds of hardship, including those struggling with steep medical bills or child care costs.Although Biden never achieved the sweeping loan cancellations that he initially promised, his administration has forgiven an unprecedented $180 billion in federal student loans through existing programs.“Because of our actions, millions of people across the country now have the breathing room to start businesses, save for retirement, and pursue life plans they had to put on hold because of the burden of student loan debt,” Biden said in a statement.On Friday, officials announced they were erasing debt for another 55,000 workers — including teachers, nurses and law enforcement officials — through Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The program promises to cancel loans for borrowers who spend 10 years in government or nonprofit jobs.The $4.28 billion in relief is expected to be the final&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-student-loan-cancellation-debt-forgiveness-60ffeaec17737d6317b4aee188893cc4">round of public service loan forgiveness</a>&nbsp;before Biden leaves office in January.Biden’s rule on transgender sports was proposed in 2023 but was delayed multiple times. It was supposed to be a follow-up to his broader rule that extended civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ students under Title IX.The sports rule would have barred schools from banning transgender athletes outright while allowing limits for certain reasons — for example, if it was a matter of “fairness” in competition or to reduce injury risks.It sat on the back burner through the presidential campaign as the issue became a subject of Republican outrage. Trump campaigned on a promise to ban transgender athletes, with a promise to “keep men out of women’s sports.”

Biden cancels student loan debt for more public service workers

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;Wichita Police detectives are seeking information regarding an incident that occurred December 14.

At approximately 4:30 a.m. December 14, a woman victim was walking in the 500 block of S. Market in Wichita when an unknown man approached her and asked for a cigarette, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

When the victim replied that she did not have one, the suspect assaulted her by punching, strangling, and cutting her clothing. The victim sustained minor injuries during the incident.

The suspect is described as a Black male in his mid-30s, approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 210 pounds, with a clean-shaven appearance. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a black beanie with snowflake designs, a brown jacket, a black and grey hoodie, and blue jeans. He may have been riding a grey bicycle.

Detectives are actively investigating this case and are looking for any information that could help identify the suspect or locate additional witnesses.

If you have any information related to this incident, please contact Detective Blurton at (316) 268-4380 and reference case number 24C221334. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Wichita-Sedgwick County at (316) 267-2111.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;Wichita Police detectives are seeking information regarding an incident that occurred December 14.At approximately 4:30 a.m. December 14, a woman victim was walking in the 500 block of S. Market in Wichita when an unknown man approached her and asked for a cigarette, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.When the victim replied that she did not have one, the suspect assaulted her by punching, strangling, and cutting her clothing. The victim sustained minor injuries during the incident.The suspect is described as a Black male in his mid-30s, approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 210 pounds, with a clean-shaven appearance. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a black beanie with snowflake designs, a brown jacket, a black and grey hoodie, and blue jeans. He may have been riding a grey bicycle.Detectives are actively investigating this case and are looking for any information that could help identify the suspect or locate additional witnesses.If you have any information related to this incident, please contact Detective Blurton at (316) 268-4380 and reference case number 24C221334. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Wichita-Sedgwick County at (316) 267-2111.

Police: Wanted suspect punched Kan. woman, cut her clothing

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in November to their fastest pace since March with home shoppers encouraged by a wider selection of properties on the market, even as mortgage rates mostly ticked higher.

Existing home sales rose 4.8% last month, from October, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.15 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.

Sales accelerated 6.1% compared with November last year, representing the biggest year-over-year gain since June 2021. The latest home sales topped the 4.1 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.

Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 17th consecutive month. The national median sales price rose 4.7% from a year earlier, to $406,100.

Despite increasing in November and October, home sales are still running below last year’s pace, when they sank to a nearly 30-year low.

“Looks like we won’t match last year in terms of the annual total, so it will be the lowest home sales since 1995,” said Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist.

The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. A shortage of homes for sale has helped prop up prices, which as of last month are up 50% nationally since 2019.

Mortgage rates have come down this year after the average rate on a 30-year home loan reached a 23-year high of nearly 8% in October 2023, but not nearly enough to make a difference for many would-be homebuyers.

The average rate eased to a two-year low just above 6% in September following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the first time in more than four years. But it has mostly risen since then. It was 6.6% last week, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.

Home sales that closed last month likely reflect contracts signed in September and October, when mortgage rates were more attractive.

Heading into next year, the outlook for mortgage rates remains cloudy. Many economists predict that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will ease next year, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-15f72a8a57fb43858f0922dc9b800f15">generally hold above 6%.</a>

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including the moves in the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to price home loans. Bond yields shot up Wednesday after the Fed signaled that it will likely deliver fewer cuts to rates next year than it forecast just a few months ago. While the central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, its actions and the trajectory of inflation influence the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield.

Home shoppers who could afford to buy in November benefited from a pickup in the homes that are available. There were 1.33 million unsold homes at the end of last month, down 2.9% from October, but up 17.7% from November last year, NAR said.

That translates to a 3.8-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 4.2-month pace at the end of October last year, but up from 3.5-month pace in November last year. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.

“We are seeing sales increase because of this increase in inventory of inventory,” Yun said.

Still, the supply of homes on the market remains about 30% below what it was before the pandemic.

Limited inventory, especially in the more affordable price range of a given market, helps drive prices higher. That’s one reason first-time homebuyers, who don’t have any home equity to put toward their down payment, continue to struggle to afford a home.

They accounted for just 30% of all homes sold last month. That’s up from 27% in October, but down from 31% in November last year. First-time buyers have accounted for 40% of sales historically.

Homebuyers who can afford to sidestep mortgage rates and pay all cash for a home accounted for 25% of sales last month, down from 27% a year earlier.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="File photo AP" />
 <figcaption>File photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>BY ALEX VEIGAKANSAS CITY (AP) —Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in November to their fastest pace since March with home shoppers encouraged by a wider selection of properties on the market, even as mortgage rates mostly ticked higher.Existing home sales rose 4.8% last month, from October, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.15 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday.Sales accelerated 6.1% compared with November last year, representing the biggest year-over-year gain since June 2021. The latest home sales topped the 4.1 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 17th consecutive month. The national median sales price rose 4.7% from a year earlier, to $406,100.Despite increasing in November and October, home sales are still running below last year’s pace, when they sank to a nearly 30-year low.“Looks like we won’t match last year in terms of the annual total, so it will be the lowest home sales since 1995,” said Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist.The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. A shortage of homes for sale has helped prop up prices, which as of last month are up 50% nationally since 2019.Mortgage rates have come down this year after the average rate on a 30-year home loan reached a 23-year high of nearly 8% in October 2023, but not nearly enough to make a difference for many would-be homebuyers.The average rate eased to a two-year low just above 6% in September following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/interest-rates-inflation-prices-federal-reserve-economy-0283bc6f92e9f9920094b78d821df227">the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the first time in more than four years. But it has mostly risen since then. It was 6.6% last week, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.Home sales that closed last month likely reflect contracts signed in September and October, when mortgage rates were more attractive.Heading into next year, the outlook for mortgage rates remains cloudy. Many economists predict that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will ease next year, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-15f72a8a57fb43858f0922dc9b800f15">generally hold above 6%.</a>Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including the moves in the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to price home loans. Bond yields shot up Wednesday after the Fed signaled that it will likely deliver fewer cuts to rates next year than it forecast just a few months ago. While the central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, its actions and the trajectory of inflation influence the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield.Home shoppers who could afford to buy in November benefited from a pickup in the homes that are available. There were 1.33 million unsold homes at the end of last month, down 2.9% from October, but up 17.7% from November last year, NAR said.That translates to a 3.8-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 4.2-month pace at the end of October last year, but up from 3.5-month pace in November last year. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.“We are seeing sales increase because of this increase in inventory of inventory,” Yun said.Still, the supply of homes on the market remains about 30% below what it was before the pandemic.Limited inventory, especially in the more affordable price range of a given market, helps drive prices higher. That’s one reason first-time homebuyers, who don’t have any home equity to put toward their down payment, continue to struggle to afford a home.They accounted for just 30% of all homes sold last month. That’s up from 27% in October, but down from 31% in November last year. First-time buyers have accounted for 40% of sales historically.Homebuyers who can afford to sidestep mortgage rates and pay all cash for a home accounted for 25% of sales last month, down from 27% a year earlier.

US home sales rose in November to fastest pace in months

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A man who admitted his role in a July 2023 nightclub shooting will be sentenced in Judge David Dahl's courtroom Friday afternoon.

In September, 24-year-old Jaylen Thomas Wichita&nbsp; pled guilty to two counts of aggravated battery and one count of aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 1a.m. July 2, 2023, police responded to a mass shooting at the City Nightz club in the 200 Block of North Washington in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

There were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club.&nbsp;&nbsp;No one was killed but one person was critically injured.&nbsp; Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect.&nbsp;He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.

The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police&nbsp; also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.

The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later that day.

In June, co-defendant in the crime, 21-year-old Ameir King-Ingram was sentenced to just more than 4-years in prison.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689162087966.png" alt="Thomas photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Thomas photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A man who admitted his role in a July 2023 nightclub shooting will be sentenced in Judge David Dahl's courtroom Friday afternoon.In September, 24-year-old Jaylen Thomas Wichita&nbsp; pled guilty to two counts of aggravated battery and one count of aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688300318332.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation in July of 2023-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation in July of 2023-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 1a.m. July 2, 2023, police responded to a mass shooting at the City Nightz club in the 200 Block of North Washington in Wichita, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.There were nine people with gunshot wounds and two people were trampled during the mass exodus out of the club.&nbsp;&nbsp;No one was killed but one person was critically injured.&nbsp; Police originally arrested a Missouri man as a suspect.&nbsp;He was released from jail after the Sedgwick County District Attorney determined he was acting in self defense.The investigation indicates there were at least four firearms discharged inside the club. Police&nbsp; also seized an additional four firearms as part of the investigation.The shooting victims included a 21-year-old man, 26-year-old man, 24-year-old woman, 34-year-old man, 21-year-old woman, 30-year-old man, 24-year-old man. The traumatic injury victims were a 31-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man, according to Moses. Two additional gunshot victims checked into the hospital later that day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688816302231.png" alt="King-Ingram photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>King-Ingram photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>In June, co-defendant in the crime, 21-year-old Ameir King-Ingram was sentenced to just more than 4-years in prison.&nbsp;

Sentencing Day for Kansas night club mass shooting 

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

Amazon workers affiliated with the Teamsters union&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-strike-teamsters-delivery-gifts-1ea28e27bc3ddd88d9f0c7c53f798d1d">launched a strike</a>&nbsp;at seven of the company's delivery hubs less than a week before Christmas.

The Teamsters said the workers, who voted to authorize strikes in recent days, joined picket lines on Thursday after Amazon ignored a Sunday deadline the union had set for contract negotiations.

The company says it doesn't expect the strike to impact holiday shipments.

Amazon has a couple hundred employees at each delivery station. The Teamsters mainly have focused on organizing delivery drivers, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-small-business-retail-delivery-248c1a69bc786105783a5fc75045a75b">work for contractors</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-dc-delivery-prime-exclusion-680a15c55f9b64efddbfee93ba7ad8b6">handle package deliveries</a>&nbsp;for the company. But Amazon has rebuffed demands to come to the negotiating table since it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-delivery-drivers-3214680ef8c8b060184964412f378128">doesn't consider the drivers</a>&nbsp;to be its employees.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters also says the union represents some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-warehouse-worker-injuries-senate-committee-eb5b72dd501be0bcce9d919c34731290">Amazon warehouse workers</a>.

The strikes are taking place at three delivery hubs in Southern California, and one each in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois, according to the union’s announcement.

The union hasn't said how many workers are participating in the strike, nor how long it will go on. Vinnie Perrone, the president of a local Teamsters union in metro New York, said Thursday that the walkout would continue “as long as it takes.”

The union, which claims to represent 10,000 Amazon workers at 10 facilities, said workers in more locations were prepared to join the fight.

Employees at a company air hub in California have authorized a strike. So have workers at an Amazon warehouse in New York, which unionized with the nascent Amazon Labor Union in 2022 and has since affiliated with the Teamsters.

The Teamsters says its local unions are also putting up picket lines at other Amazon warehouses. A company spokesperson said Thursday the strikers were “almost entirely outsiders, not Amazon employees or partners, and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters.”

The striking workers are fighting for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-delivery-drivers-pay-c9683ed7fb0abab9476bd6f0bc9481e5">higher wages</a>, better benefits, and safer work conditions.

The Teamsters have tried to get Amazon to come to the negotiating table since last year, when the labor organization first said it had unionized a group of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-delivery-drivers-flex-pay-4673f95e5a7a3055cb369f334f77895a">delivery drivers in California</a>&nbsp;who work for a contractor. Amazon -- which denies it employs the workers -- refused, leading the union to file unfair labor charges against the company at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-ceo-violated-labor-law-nlrb-084683affe4c2627c954b66ac217da19">National Labor Relations Board</a>.

In August, prosecutors at the federal labor agency classified Amazon as a “joint employer” of subcontracted drivers. In September, the company boosted hourly pay for the drivers amid the growing pressure.

Amazon warehouse workers who voted to union in the New York City borough of Staten Island also have tried to get the company to engage in contract negotiations.

The National Labor Relations Board certified the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-union-election-teamsters-2ec167dda2e327b40c8505f30066de31">Amazon Labor Union</a>&nbsp;election, but the company objected to the representation vote and refused to bargain. In the process, Amazon also filed a lawsuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-unconstitutional-spacex-elon-musk-ab42977117d883e97110a7bf8e8b257f">challenging the constitutionality</a>&nbsp;of the labor board, which it aaccused of tainting the vote.

Some organizers involved with the unionization effort there have long believed Amazon would not come to the negotiating table unless workers went on strike.

Amazon says it doesn't expect the strike to impact its operations, but a walkout — especially one that lasts many days — could delay shipments in some metro areas.

An Amazon spokesperson said Thursday that the company intentionally builds its sites close to where customers are, schedules shipping windows and works with other large carriers, such as UPS, to deliver products.

“We believe in the strength of our network and plan for contingencies to minimize potential operational impact or costs,” the spokesperson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734702450024.png" alt="Photo Amazon Teamsters" />
 <figcaption>Photo Amazon Teamsters</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HALELUYA%20HADERO%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HALELUYA HADERO AP Business Writer</a>Amazon workers affiliated with the Teamsters union&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-strike-teamsters-delivery-gifts-1ea28e27bc3ddd88d9f0c7c53f798d1d">launched a strike</a>&nbsp;at seven of the company's delivery hubs less than a week before Christmas.The Teamsters said the workers, who voted to authorize strikes in recent days, joined picket lines on Thursday after Amazon ignored a Sunday deadline the union had set for contract negotiations.The company says it doesn't expect the strike to impact holiday shipments.Amazon has a couple hundred employees at each delivery station. The Teamsters mainly have focused on organizing delivery drivers, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-small-business-retail-delivery-248c1a69bc786105783a5fc75045a75b">work for contractors</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-dc-delivery-prime-exclusion-680a15c55f9b64efddbfee93ba7ad8b6">handle package deliveries</a>&nbsp;for the company. But Amazon has rebuffed demands to come to the negotiating table since it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-delivery-drivers-3214680ef8c8b060184964412f378128">doesn't consider the drivers</a>&nbsp;to be its employees.The International Brotherhood of Teamsters also says the union represents some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-warehouse-worker-injuries-senate-committee-eb5b72dd501be0bcce9d919c34731290">Amazon warehouse workers</a>.Here’s what else you need to know:<h2>Where are the strikes happening?</h2>The strikes are taking place at three delivery hubs in Southern California, and one each in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois, according to the union’s announcement.The union hasn't said how many workers are participating in the strike, nor how long it will go on. Vinnie Perrone, the president of a local Teamsters union in metro New York, said Thursday that the walkout would continue “as long as it takes.”The union, which claims to represent 10,000 Amazon workers at 10 facilities, said workers in more locations were prepared to join the fight.Employees at a company air hub in California have authorized a strike. So have workers at an Amazon warehouse in New York, which unionized with the nascent Amazon Labor Union in 2022 and has since affiliated with the Teamsters.The Teamsters says its local unions are also putting up picket lines at other Amazon warehouses. A company spokesperson said Thursday the strikers were “almost entirely outsiders, not Amazon employees or partners, and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters.”<h2>What do the workers want?</h2>The striking workers are fighting for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-delivery-drivers-pay-c9683ed7fb0abab9476bd6f0bc9481e5">higher wages</a>, better benefits, and safer work conditions.The Teamsters have tried to get Amazon to come to the negotiating table since last year, when the labor organization first said it had unionized a group of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-delivery-drivers-flex-pay-4673f95e5a7a3055cb369f334f77895a">delivery drivers in California</a>&nbsp;who work for a contractor. Amazon -- which denies it employs the workers -- refused, leading the union to file unfair labor charges against the company at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-ceo-violated-labor-law-nlrb-084683affe4c2627c954b66ac217da19">National Labor Relations Board</a>.In August, prosecutors at the federal labor agency classified Amazon as a “joint employer” of subcontracted drivers. In September, the company boosted hourly pay for the drivers amid the growing pressure.Amazon warehouse workers who voted to union in the New York City borough of Staten Island also have tried to get the company to engage in contract negotiations.The National Labor Relations Board certified the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-union-election-teamsters-2ec167dda2e327b40c8505f30066de31">Amazon Labor Union</a>&nbsp;election, but the company objected to the representation vote and refused to bargain. In the process, Amazon also filed a lawsuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-unconstitutional-spacex-elon-musk-ab42977117d883e97110a7bf8e8b257f">challenging the constitutionality</a>&nbsp;of the labor board, which it aaccused of tainting the vote.Some organizers involved with the unionization effort there have long believed Amazon would not come to the negotiating table unless workers went on strike.<h2>What about holiday deliveries?</h2>Amazon says it doesn't expect the strike to impact its operations, but a walkout — especially one that lasts many days — could delay shipments in some metro areas.An Amazon spokesperson said Thursday that the company intentionally builds its sites close to where customers are, schedules shipping windows and works with other large carriers, such as UPS, to deliver products.“We believe in the strength of our network and plan for contingencies to minimize potential operational impact or costs,” the spokesperson said.

Amazon: Strike not expected to impact holiday deliveries

WASHINGTON (AP)—A debate over the debt ceiling is at the center of a dispute over funding that is pushing Washington to the brink of a federal government shutdown.

<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/American%20Relief%20Act%202025.pdf">Click here to read the&nbsp;</a>new, slimmed down government funding bill

President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that a provision raising or suspending the nation's debt limit — something that his own party routinely resists — be included in legislation to avert a government shutdown. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country," Trump said in a statement Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734648697605.png" alt="The new bill, that failed in a vote on Thursday evening, is just 116 pages, compared to the previous 1,547 pages." />
 <figcaption>The new bill, that failed in a vote on Thursday evening, is just 116 pages, compared to the previous 1,547 pages.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—A debate over the debt ceiling is at the center of a dispute over funding that is pushing Washington to the brink of a federal government shutdown.<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/American%20Relief%20Act%202025.pdf">Click here to read the&nbsp;</a>new, slimmed down government funding bill<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734648776856.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that a provision raising or suspending the nation's debt limit — something that his own party routinely resists — be included in legislation to avert a government shutdown. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country," Trump said in a statement Wednesday.Republicans quickly complied, including a provision in a revamped government funding proposal that would suspend the debt ceiling for two years, until Jan. 30, 2027. But the bill failed overwhelmingly in a House vote Thursday evening, leaving next steps uncertain.Here's what to know about the debate over the debt ceiling and the role it's playing in the shutdown saga:<h2>What is the debt ceiling?</h2>The debt ceiling, or debt limit, is the total amount of money that the United States government can borrow to meet its existing legal obligations. For the Treasury Department to borrow above that amount, the limit must be raised by Congress.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-national-debt-donald-trump-barack-obama-ee3e613646fe500edf803e57959c776e">federal debt</a>&nbsp;stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security.The last time lawmakers raised the debt limit was June 2023. Rather than raise the limit by a dollar amount, lawmakers suspended the debt limit through Jan. 1, 2025. At that point, the limit will be automatically raised to match the amount of debt that has been issued by the Treasury Department.The debt limit vote in recent times has been used as a political leverage point, a must-pass bill that can be loaded up with other priorities.<h2>What is the debt ceiling fight all about?</h2>Trump has tied a demand for dealing with the debt ceiling to the dispute over government funding, saying one should not be addressed without the other.When he rejected the spending proposal on Wednesday, Trump said that he wanted the debt ceiling debate settled before he takes office next month.Warning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-america-pac-trump-d248547966bf9c6daf6f5d332bc4be66">trouble ahead</a>&nbsp;for Johnson and Republicans in Congress, Trump told Fox News Digital, “Anybody that supports a bill that doesn’t take care of the Democrat quicksand known as the debt ceiling should be primaried and disposed of as quickly as possible."<h2>What happens if the debt ceiling isn't raised?</h2>There's actually no need to raise the debt limit right now. On Jan. 1, when the debt limit is triggered, the Treasury Department can begin using what it calls “extraordinary measures” to ensure that America doesn't default on its debts.Some estimate these accounting maneuvers could push the default deadline to the summer of 2025 — but that's exactly what Trump wants to avoid, since an increase would then be needed while he is president.Lawmakers have always raised the debt ceiling in time because the consequences of failure are stark. Without action, the government would go into default on its debts, a first-ever situation that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and economic experts have said could be “catastrophic" for the economy and global markets.Raising or suspending the debt limit does not authorize new spending or tax cuts; it merely acknowledges past budgetary decisions — that is, current budget law — and so allows the federal government to meet its existing legal obligations. For that reason and others, some have advocated doing away with the limit altogether.<h2>What could the debt ceiling fight mean for Speaker Mike Johnson?</h2>Dealing with the debt ceiling could have ramifications for Johnson, as he angles to keep his job in the new Congress that begins on Jan. 3.Trump said early Thursday that Johnson will “easily remain speaker” for the next Congress if he “acts decisively and tough” in coming up with a new plan to also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-janet-yellen-business-6fe9b54dcdfea58bead0f4c5f9f89a64">increase the debt limit</a>, a stunning request just before the Christmas holidays that has put the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">beleaguered speaker</a>&nbsp;in a bind.The last House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, worked for months with President Joe Biden to raise the debt limit. Even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-debt-ceiling-budget-signing-f78a000d83cf85ffbaa2d08637844053">they struck a bipartisan deal</a>&nbsp;that cut spending in exchange for additional borrowing capacity, House Republicans said it didn’t go far enough, and it ended up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">costing McCarthy his job</a>.Now, Trump is looking for Johnson to pass a debt ceiling extension just hours before a partial government shutdown.<h2>What are Democrats saying about the debt ceiling debate?</h2>After meeting with his caucus, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected any possibility that his members would bail out Republicans as the shutdown threat looms.“GOP extremists want House Democrats to raise the debt ceiling so that House Republicans can lower the amount of your Social Security check,” Jeffries posted Thursday on social media. “Hard pass.”Jeffries and other Democrats say Republicans should honor the spending agreement that was negotiated before Trump got involved. He called the new GOP plan "laughable.”___Kinnard reported from Charleston, South Carolina, and can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="http://x.com/MegKinnardAP">http://x.com/MegKinnardAP</a>