ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump used his social media platform Friday to mock&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;'s birth name, the latest example of the former president keying on race and ethnicity to attack people of color, especially his political rivals.

In a post on his Truth Social account,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;repeatedly referred to Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, as “Nimbra.” Haley, the former South Carolina governor, was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, as Nimarata Nikki Randhawa. She has always gone by her middle name, “Nikki.” She took the surname “Haley” upon her marriage in 1996.

Trump called Haley “Nimbra” three times in the post and said she “doesn't have what it takes.”

The attack comes four days before the New Hampshire primary, in which Haley is trying to establish herself as the only viable Trump alternative in the Republicans' 2024 nominating contest.

Trump's post was an escalation of recent attacks in which he referenced Haley's given first name — though he's misspelled it “Nimrada” — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-nikki-haley-eligible-president-140548395483">falsely asserted</a>&nbsp;she is ineligible for the presidency because her parents were not U.S. citizens when she was born in 1972.

The attacks echo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-general-news-events-61f7085d848248cd98410027d33f2101">Trump's “birther” rhetoric against President Barack Obama</a>. Trump spent years pushing the conspiracy theory that the nation's first Black president was born in Kenya and not a “natural born” U.S. citizen as required by the Constitution. That effort was part of Trump's rise among Republicans' most culturally conservative base ahead of his 2016 election that surprised much of the U.S. political establishment.

Haley has dismissed Trump's latest attacks as proof that she threatens his bid for a third consecutive nomination.

“That’s what he does when he feels threatened. That’s what he does when he feels insecure,” Haley told reporters in New Hampshire on Friday when asked about Trump's false assertions that her heritage disqualifies her from the Oval Office. “I know that I am a threat. I know that’s why he’s doing that. So it’s not going to waste any energy for me.”

Trump’s campaign did not immediately reply to an inquiry about his comments.

Since Monday's Iowa caucuses — which Trump won by 30 points over Ron DeSantis, who placed second — Haley has aimed to portray the rest of the GOP primary battle as a two-way race between Trump and herself despite her narrow third-place finish. Haley's campaign is aiming for a stronger showing in New Hampshire, hoping for a springboard into her home-state South Carolina, which holds the South's first presidential primary next month.

For his part, Trump bounces between declarations that the nominating fight already is effectively over and blasting Haley as if the two are indeed locked in a tight contest. Trump still criticizes his other remaining rival, DeSantis, but his preferred pejoratives for the Florida governor, “Ron DeSanctimonious” or “Ron DeSanctus,” has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. DeSantis is white.

Pastor Darrell Scott, a Black man who has led a diversity coalition for Trump’s previous campaigns, defended the former president's attacks on Haley as “slings and arrows” that come in election season.

“You have to dissect politics as politics. It’s not personal,” said Scott. “He’s not intending to demean her or degrade her in any way. He’s just doing that to garner votes.”

Scott defended Trump's aggressive approach generally as a “goose-and-gander situation” for a public figure constantly “under attack for everything.”

Tara Setmayer, senior adviser to the Lincoln Project group that opposes Trump from within the conservative movement, agreed that Trump’s rhetoric works in a Republican primary. But she said that’s a damning reality for the party and does not excuse his behavior.

“These are the rantings of an incredibly, almost pathetically insecure man who has demonstrated over his entire career his racism and bigotry,” said Setmayer, who is multiracial and calls herself a former Republican and now a conservative independent. “Why would anyone expect it to be any different now, when an entire political party has enabled this level of morally questionable behavior?”

Trump has a long history of using race, ethnicity and immigrant heritage as a cudgel.

For years, he has referred to Obama as “Barack Hussein Obama,” putting an obvious emphasis on the 44th president's middle name. Obama was the son of an white American mother and a Black father from Kenya. He was born in Hawaii, though Trump spent years asserting Obama had manufactured the story and a birth certificate to support it. Trump eventually admitted his claims were false but then, during the 2016 general election, said he did so only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/events-united-states-presidential-election-26d97545011649599ae5a9aed6e4c54a">“get on with the campaign.”</a>

When David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-general-news-events-2a7d4a5264a04b76a31b5b5bcb8e580a">encouraged Republican primary voters</a>&nbsp;to back Trump in 2016, Trump responded in a CNN interview that he knew “nothing about David Duke, I know nothing about white supremacists.”

Trump is also among many Republicans who deliberately mispronounce Vice President Kamala Harris's name. Rather than the correct “KA'-ma-la,” Trump sometimes says, “Ka-MAH-la.” Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican descent, is the first woman to become vice president and the second non-white person as either president or vice president, following Obama.

Leading up to Trump’s 2017 inauguration, civil rights icon John Lewis, then a Black congressman from Georgia, said he would not attend Trump’s inauguration because he considered him an illegitimate president. Trump reacted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-events-a4d26580a09344e386bb0a55ae9ca5e5">blasting Lewis’s Atlanta-based district</a>&nbsp;as being in “horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested).” The district includes downtown Atlanta, Coca-Cola’s world headquarters, the Georgia Institute of Technology and principal sites of the 1996 Olympic Games, among other attributes.

During his presidency, Trump questioned during a meeting with lawmakers why the U.S. would accept immigrants from Haiti and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-fdda2ff0b877416c8ae1c1a77a3cc425">“shithole countries”</a>&nbsp;across Africa instead of countries like Norway. He did not explicitly mention race but the White House followed disclosure of his comments with a statement explaining that Trump supported granting access to the U.S. for “those who can contribute to our society.”

He also has said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/728ada1e918a482c9e9b1f3e24937caa">four congresswomen of color</a>&nbsp;should go back to the “broken and crime infested” countries they came from, ignoring the fact that all of the women are American citizens and three were born in the U.S.

Trump himself is the grandson of a Bavarian-born German immigrant, Frederick Trump.

Haley frames her family's story as proof that the U.S. “is not a racist country.” She sometimes highlights her role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d0b5cc464ccc4baeb40bbdae66600916">taking down the Confederate battle flag</a>&nbsp;from South Carolina statehouse grounds after a racist massacre in her state — though she had sidestepped requests to remove the banner earlier in her term. And Haley has for years navigated Trump's penchant for racist rhetoric.

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump used his social media platform Friday to mock&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;'s birth name, the latest example of the former president keying on race and ethnicity to attack people of color, especially his political rivals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705698852949.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In a post on his Truth Social account,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;repeatedly referred to Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India, as “Nimbra.” Haley, the former South Carolina governor, was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, as Nimarata Nikki Randhawa. She has always gone by her middle name, “Nikki.” She took the surname “Haley” upon her marriage in 1996.Trump called Haley “Nimbra” three times in the post and said she “doesn't have what it takes.”The attack comes four days before the New Hampshire primary, in which Haley is trying to establish herself as the only viable Trump alternative in the Republicans' 2024 nominating contest.Trump's post was an escalation of recent attacks in which he referenced Haley's given first name — though he's misspelled it “Nimrada” — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-nikki-haley-eligible-president-140548395483">falsely asserted</a>&nbsp;she is ineligible for the presidency because her parents were not U.S. citizens when she was born in 1972.The attacks echo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-general-news-events-61f7085d848248cd98410027d33f2101">Trump's “birther” rhetoric against President Barack Obama</a>. Trump spent years pushing the conspiracy theory that the nation's first Black president was born in Kenya and not a “natural born” U.S. citizen as required by the Constitution. That effort was part of Trump's rise among Republicans' most culturally conservative base ahead of his 2016 election that surprised much of the U.S. political establishment.Haley has dismissed Trump's latest attacks as proof that she threatens his bid for a third consecutive nomination.“That’s what he does when he feels threatened. That’s what he does when he feels insecure,” Haley told reporters in New Hampshire on Friday when asked about Trump's false assertions that her heritage disqualifies her from the Oval Office. “I know that I am a threat. I know that’s why he’s doing that. So it’s not going to waste any energy for me.”Trump’s campaign did not immediately reply to an inquiry about his comments.Since Monday's Iowa caucuses — which Trump won by 30 points over Ron DeSantis, who placed second — Haley has aimed to portray the rest of the GOP primary battle as a two-way race between Trump and herself despite her narrow third-place finish. Haley's campaign is aiming for a stronger showing in New Hampshire, hoping for a springboard into her home-state South Carolina, which holds the South's first presidential primary next month.For his part, Trump bounces between declarations that the nominating fight already is effectively over and blasting Haley as if the two are indeed locked in a tight contest. Trump still criticizes his other remaining rival, DeSantis, but his preferred pejoratives for the Florida governor, “Ron DeSanctimonious” or “Ron DeSanctus,” has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. DeSantis is white.Pastor Darrell Scott, a Black man who has led a diversity coalition for Trump’s previous campaigns, defended the former president's attacks on Haley as “slings and arrows” that come in election season.“You have to dissect politics as politics. It’s not personal,” said Scott. “He’s not intending to demean her or degrade her in any way. He’s just doing that to garner votes.”Scott defended Trump's aggressive approach generally as a “goose-and-gander situation” for a public figure constantly “under attack for everything.”Tara Setmayer, senior adviser to the Lincoln Project group that opposes Trump from within the conservative movement, agreed that Trump’s rhetoric works in a Republican primary. But she said that’s a damning reality for the party and does not excuse his behavior.“These are the rantings of an incredibly, almost pathetically insecure man who has demonstrated over his entire career his racism and bigotry,” said Setmayer, who is multiracial and calls herself a former Republican and now a conservative independent. “Why would anyone expect it to be any different now, when an entire political party has enabled this level of morally questionable behavior?”Trump has a long history of using race, ethnicity and immigrant heritage as a cudgel.For years, he has referred to Obama as “Barack Hussein Obama,” putting an obvious emphasis on the 44th president's middle name. Obama was the son of an white American mother and a Black father from Kenya. He was born in Hawaii, though Trump spent years asserting Obama had manufactured the story and a birth certificate to support it. Trump eventually admitted his claims were false but then, during the 2016 general election, said he did so only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/events-united-states-presidential-election-26d97545011649599ae5a9aed6e4c54a">“get on with the campaign.”</a>When David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-general-news-events-2a7d4a5264a04b76a31b5b5bcb8e580a">encouraged Republican primary voters</a>&nbsp;to back Trump in 2016, Trump responded in a CNN interview that he knew “nothing about David Duke, I know nothing about white supremacists.”Trump is also among many Republicans who deliberately mispronounce Vice President Kamala Harris's name. Rather than the correct “KA'-ma-la,” Trump sometimes says, “Ka-MAH-la.” Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican descent, is the first woman to become vice president and the second non-white person as either president or vice president, following Obama.Leading up to Trump’s 2017 inauguration, civil rights icon John Lewis, then a Black congressman from Georgia, said he would not attend Trump’s inauguration because he considered him an illegitimate president. Trump reacted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-events-a4d26580a09344e386bb0a55ae9ca5e5">blasting Lewis’s Atlanta-based district</a>&nbsp;as being in “horrible shape and falling apart (not to mention crime infested).” The district includes downtown Atlanta, Coca-Cola’s world headquarters, the Georgia Institute of Technology and principal sites of the 1996 Olympic Games, among other attributes.During his presidency, Trump questioned during a meeting with lawmakers why the U.S. would accept immigrants from Haiti and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-international-news-fdda2ff0b877416c8ae1c1a77a3cc425">“shithole countries”</a>&nbsp;across Africa instead of countries like Norway. He did not explicitly mention race but the White House followed disclosure of his comments with a statement explaining that Trump supported granting access to the U.S. for “those who can contribute to our society.”He also has said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/728ada1e918a482c9e9b1f3e24937caa">four congresswomen of color</a>&nbsp;should go back to the “broken and crime infested” countries they came from, ignoring the fact that all of the women are American citizens and three were born in the U.S.Trump himself is the grandson of a Bavarian-born German immigrant, Frederick Trump.Haley frames her family's story as proof that the U.S. “is not a racist country.” She sometimes highlights her role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d0b5cc464ccc4baeb40bbdae66600916">taking down the Confederate battle flag</a>&nbsp;from South Carolina statehouse grounds after a racist massacre in her state — though she had sidestepped requests to remove the banner earlier in her term. And Haley has for years navigated Trump's penchant for racist rhetoric.

Trump mocks Nikki Haley's first name in latest social media attack 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' top court on Friday upheld the death sentence for a man convicted of fatally shooting three adults and a toddler, ruling that he did not clearly invoke his right to remain silent before making statements crucial to his conviction.

The state Supreme Court's lone dissenter in the case of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-ottawa-kansas-topeka-912be290499253e31f28581c6cb33df4">Kyle Trevor Flack</a>&nbsp;argued that the 6-1 majority was requiring a “proper incantation” and forcing suspects wanting to remain silent to apply “arcane philosophies” of law. Even though she called for a new trial for Flack, she called the evidence against him “overwhelming.”

Flack was sentenced to die for the April 2013 deaths of Kaylie Bailey, 21, from the Kansas City area; her 18-month-old daughter, Lana; Andrew Stout, 30, of Ottawa, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, and Steven White, 31, also from Ottawa. The adults’ bodies were found on a farm, while the toddler’s body was found in a suitcase in a rural creek.

The state-appointed attorney for Flack's appeal argued that prosecutors in Franklin County built their case against him on incriminating statements he made during police interviews. Prosecutors argued they also had strong circumstantial evidence against Flack.

The attorney argued that the trial judge should have refused to allow prosecutors to use the statements as evidence. During his interrogation, Flack repeatedly made statements suggesting he wanted to end the questioning, including, “Take me to jail! Take me to jail! Take me to jail!”

But in its unsigned opinion, the court's majority said his statements could have been interpreted by police in a variety of ways: an insistence he didn't know about what they were asking, a recognition that he was in a difficult circumstance, an effort to negotiate with officers or an attempt to bolster his credibility. The court also upheld his convictions for capital murder and other crimes.

“Isolated or combined, his statements did not unambiguously and unequivocally assert his right to silence,” the majority wrote.

Dissenting Justice Evelyn Wilson, a former district judge, said the videos of Flack's interviews — and not just the transcripts — were the best evidence for whether Flack was invoking his right to remain silent. She said the videos showed that Flack wanted to end the police interrogation and return to jail, so clearly that no officer could have misinterpreted them.

In many cases, police, prosecutors and courts have resorted to using a “mastery of speculative mental gymnastics” to justify a conclusion that a suspect is not invoking their right to remain silent, she wrote.

A ‘right’ to silence which cannot be exercised in practice — even by actual silence — is no right at all," Wilson wrote.

Flack’s attorney raised numerous other issues, which all of the justices, including Wilson, rejected. When the court heard from attorneys in Flack's case in January 2022, those arguments focused heavily on whether prosecutors should have been allowed to use his incriminating statements as evidence.

Flack is one of nine men on death row in Kansas, and the last one to be sentenced to lethal injection. The state has not executed anyone since 1965.

Even after Flack’s trial, it wasn’t clear what led to the shootings, which detectives believe happened over separate days. The defense argued that Flack, who was 28 at the time of the crimes and is now 38, suffered from a severe mental illness that caused him to hear voices throughout adulthood.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643671683978.png" alt="Flack-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Flack-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' top court on Friday upheld the death sentence for a man convicted of fatally shooting three adults and a toddler, ruling that he did not clearly invoke his right to remain silent before making statements crucial to his conviction.The state Supreme Court's lone dissenter in the case of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-ottawa-kansas-topeka-912be290499253e31f28581c6cb33df4">Kyle Trevor Flack</a>&nbsp;argued that the 6-1 majority was requiring a “proper incantation” and forcing suspects wanting to remain silent to apply “arcane philosophies” of law. Even though she called for a new trial for Flack, she called the evidence against him “overwhelming.”Flack was sentenced to die for the April 2013 deaths of Kaylie Bailey, 21, from the Kansas City area; her 18-month-old daughter, Lana; Andrew Stout, 30, of Ottawa, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Kansas City, and Steven White, 31, also from Ottawa. The adults’ bodies were found on a farm, while the toddler’s body was found in a suitcase in a rural creek.The state-appointed attorney for Flack's appeal argued that prosecutors in Franklin County built their case against him on incriminating statements he made during police interviews. Prosecutors argued they also had strong circumstantial evidence against Flack.The attorney argued that the trial judge should have refused to allow prosecutors to use the statements as evidence. During his interrogation, Flack repeatedly made statements suggesting he wanted to end the questioning, including, “Take me to jail! Take me to jail! Take me to jail!”But in its unsigned opinion, the court's majority said his statements could have been interpreted by police in a variety of ways: an insistence he didn't know about what they were asking, a recognition that he was in a difficult circumstance, an effort to negotiate with officers or an attempt to bolster his credibility. The court also upheld his convictions for capital murder and other crimes.“Isolated or combined, his statements did not unambiguously and unequivocally assert his right to silence,” the majority wrote.Dissenting Justice Evelyn Wilson, a former district judge, said the videos of Flack's interviews — and not just the transcripts — were the best evidence for whether Flack was invoking his right to remain silent. She said the videos showed that Flack wanted to end the police interrogation and return to jail, so clearly that no officer could have misinterpreted them.In many cases, police, prosecutors and courts have resorted to using a “mastery of speculative mental gymnastics” to justify a conclusion that a suspect is not invoking their right to remain silent, she wrote.A ‘right’ to silence which cannot be exercised in practice — even by actual silence — is no right at all," Wilson wrote.Flack’s attorney raised numerous other issues, which all of the justices, including Wilson, rejected. When the court heard from attorneys in Flack's case in January 2022, those arguments focused heavily on whether prosecutors should have been allowed to use his incriminating statements as evidence.Flack is one of nine men on death row in Kansas, and the last one to be sentenced to lethal injection. The state has not executed anyone since 1965.Even after Flack’s trial, it wasn’t clear what led to the shootings, which detectives believe happened over separate days. The defense argued that Flack, who was 28 at the time of the crimes and is now 38, suffered from a severe mental illness that caused him to hear voices throughout adulthood.

Kan. court upholds death sentence in killing of 3 adults, toddler

DEFIANCE, Mo. (AP) — A house exploded in a rural area of eastern Missouri on Friday, killing two children, authorities said.

Emergency responders were called just before 7:45 a.m. to a home in Defiance, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of St. Louis. Two children, boys ages 4 and 6, were trapped in the house, but the intense flames prevented responders from getting to them.

Two adults who lived in the home survived, authorities said. One suffered a minor injury and was treated at the scene. The other wasn't hurt.

A St. Charles County police officer also was treated for a minor injury.

The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and authorities haven't released the names of the children.

The home was destroyed. A GoFundMe was set up for the family, and about $28,000 had been raised by Friday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705700194381.png" alt="The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and authorities haven't released the names of the children.-photo courtesy KMOV" />
 <figcaption>The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and authorities haven't released the names of the children.-photo courtesy KMOV</figcaption>
 </figure>DEFIANCE, Mo. (AP) — A house exploded in a rural area of eastern Missouri on Friday, killing two children, authorities said.Emergency responders were called just before 7:45 a.m. to a home in Defiance, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) west of St. Louis. Two children, boys ages 4 and 6, were trapped in the house, but the intense flames prevented responders from getting to them.Two adults who lived in the home survived, authorities said. One suffered a minor injury and was treated at the scene. The other wasn't hurt.A St. Charles County police officer also was treated for a minor injury.The cause of the explosion is under investigation, and authorities haven't released the names of the children.The home was destroyed. A GoFundMe was set up for the family, and about $28,000 had been raised by Friday afternoon.

Two children die in Missouri house explosion

By NATE KING&nbsp;Salina Post

A Kansas Department of Health and Environment agent's visit to collect samples at Sundowner West Mobile Home and Trailer Park was cut short after an alleged threat.&nbsp;

Located northwest of Salina near Hedville, the Sundowner West Mobile Home, Trailer Park has been without clean running water for more than a week. More than 500 residents call this community home.&nbsp;

According to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan, an employee of KDHE's north central district reported they had received a threatening message directed at Sundowner West's water rights owner.&nbsp;

"One of their [KDHE] employees had a voicemail message from one of the residents at Sundowner West saying that if the guy managing the water was there, he'd kill him," Soldan said.

Salina Post is aware of the ongoing water crisis in the Sundowner West Mobile Home community. We will update this breaking news story with an in-depth article soon.

If you would like to donate water to help the the residents of Sundowner please deliver sealed water containers to 1825 S. Ohio Monday-Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eagle Communications/Salina Post, will deliver donated water on a semi-daily basis until water pressure and clean water are restored.&nbsp;

By NATE KING&nbsp;Salina PostA Kansas Department of Health and Environment agent's visit to collect samples at Sundowner West Mobile Home and Trailer Park was cut short after an alleged threat.&nbsp;Located northwest of Salina near Hedville, the Sundowner West Mobile Home, Trailer Park has been without clean running water for more than a week. More than 500 residents call this community home.&nbsp;According to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan, an employee of KDHE's north central district reported they had received a threatening message directed at Sundowner West's water rights owner.&nbsp;"One of their [KDHE] employees had a voicemail message from one of the residents at Sundowner West saying that if the guy managing the water was there, he'd kill him," Soldan said.No charges have been filed at this time.Salina Post is aware of the ongoing water crisis in the Sundowner West Mobile Home community. We will update this breaking news story with an in-depth article soon.If you would like to donate water to help the the residents of Sundowner please deliver sealed water containers to 1825 S. Ohio Monday-Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eagle Communications/Salina Post, will deliver donated water on a semi-daily basis until water pressure and clean water are restored.&nbsp;

Alleged threat made against water rights owner at Kan. mobile home park

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Joe Biden on Friday signed a short-term spending bill that keeps the federal government operating until early March.

The bill averts what would’ve been a partial government shutdown starting Saturday. It does not address additional aid for Ukraine, which remains in limbo as key legislators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-speaker-johnson-border-security-ukraine-government-shutdown-fa505e84f1ffd1767eb01a250a161393" target="_blank">continue to negotiate</a>&nbsp;a border security measure that would go in tandem with more support for Kyiv.

Congress, ahead of the winter snowstorm that struck Washington, D.C., on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/budget-spending-congress-extend-shutdown-fa6958e60fd2c08880b21e091f108215" target="_blank">passed the short-term bill</a>&nbsp;with large bipartisan majorities on Thursday. The vote was 77-18 in the Senate and 314-108 in the House.

Under the bill, funding for agencies overseeing agriculture, veterans affairs, energy, transportation and housing runs through March 1. Funding for the rest of the federal government now runs through March 8. It’s meant to buy lawmakers extra time to draft full-year spending bills through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will continue to face pressure from House conservatives who want him to abandon a bipartisan agreement that sets overall spending levels for those full-year bills at $1.66 trillion. Those conservatives say that is too much money, but Democrats and moderate Republicans say Congress must abide by that deal and avoid legislative dysfunction during an election year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705691803663.png" alt="President Biden during a campaign stop Thursday in North Carolina-image from the White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Biden during a campaign stop Thursday in North Carolina-image from the White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —President Joe Biden on Friday signed a short-term spending bill that keeps the federal government operating until early March.The bill averts what would’ve been a partial government shutdown starting Saturday. It does not address additional aid for Ukraine, which remains in limbo as key legislators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-speaker-johnson-border-security-ukraine-government-shutdown-fa505e84f1ffd1767eb01a250a161393" target="_blank">continue to negotiate</a>&nbsp;a border security measure that would go in tandem with more support for Kyiv.Congress, ahead of the winter snowstorm that struck Washington, D.C., on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/budget-spending-congress-extend-shutdown-fa6958e60fd2c08880b21e091f108215" target="_blank">passed the short-term bill</a>&nbsp;with large bipartisan majorities on Thursday. The vote was 77-18 in the Senate and 314-108 in the House.Under the bill, funding for agencies overseeing agriculture, veterans affairs, energy, transportation and housing runs through March 1. Funding for the rest of the federal government now runs through March 8. It’s meant to buy lawmakers extra time to draft full-year spending bills through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., will continue to face pressure from House conservatives who want him to abandon a bipartisan agreement that sets overall spending levels for those full-year bills at $1.66 trillion. Those conservatives say that is too much money, but Democrats and moderate Republicans say Congress must abide by that deal and avoid legislative dysfunction during an election year.

Biden signs bill to avoid a partial government shutdown

TOKYO (AP) — Japan became the fifth country in history to reach the moon when its spacecraft landed on the lunar surface early Saturday, officials said. But an issue with the power supply means that the mission could be in jeopardy.

Officials also said they needed more time to analyze whether the spacecraft, which wasn't carrying astronauts, made a pinpoint landing — one of the priorities of the mission.

Hitoshi Kuninaka, head of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, said they believe that rovers were launched and data were being transmitted back to Earth from the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM.

But he said that SLIM's solar battery wasn't generating power and the battery life of the spacecraft would only last a few more hours. He said that the priority now was for the craft to gather as much moon data as possible on the remaining battery.

Japan follows the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India in reaching the moon.

Kuninaka said he believes that Japan's space program at least achieved “minimum” success.

SLIM landed on the moon at about 12:20 a.m. Tokyo time on Saturday (1520 GMT Friday).

There was a tense wait for news after the Japan space agency's mission control initially said that SLIM was on the lunar surface, but that it was still “checking its status.” No further details were given until a news conference nearly two hours later.

For the mission to be considered fully successful, space officials need to confirm whether SLIM made a pinpoint landing. Kuninaka said while more time is needed, he personally thinks it was most likely achieved, based on his observation of data showing the spacecraft's movement until the landing.

SLIM, which was aiming to hit a very small target, is a lightweight spacecraft about the size of a passenger vehicle. It was using “pinpoint landing” technology that promises far greater control than any previous moon landing.

While most previous probes have used landing zones about 10 kilometers (six miles) wide, SLIM was aiming at a target of just 100 meters (330 feet).

The project was the fruit of two decades of work on precision technology by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.

As the spacecraft descended, JAXA's mission control said that everything was going as planned and later said that SLIM was on the lunar surface. But there was no mention of whether the landing was successful. Mission control kept repeating that it was “checking its status" and that more information would be given at the news conference.

SLIM, nicknamed "the Moon Sniper," started its descent at midnight Saturday, and within 15 minutes it was down to about 10 kilometers (six miles) above the lunar surface, according to the space agency, which is known as JAXA.

At an altitude of five kilometers (three miles), the lander was in a vertical descent mode, then at 50 meters (165 feet) above the surface, SLIM was supposed to make a parallel movement to find a safe landing spot, JAXA said.

The mission's main goal is to test new landing technology that would allow moon missions to land “where we want to, rather than where it is easy to land,” JAXA has said. The spacecraft is supposed to seek clues about the origin of the moon, including analyzing minerals with a special camera.

The SLIM, equipped with a pad to cushion impact, was aiming to land near the Shioli crater, near a region covered in volcanic rock.

The closely watched mission came only 10 days after a moon mission by a U.S. private company failed when the spacecraft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-moon-lander-earth-reentry-e59645ffd5dc43f80f25a8ec34c0f449">developed a fuel leak</a>&nbsp;hours after the launch.

SLIM was launched on a Mitsubishi Heavy H2A rocket in September. It initially orbited Earth and entered lunar orbit on Dec. 25.

Japan hopes to regain confidence for its space technology after a number of failures. A spacecraft designed by a Japanese company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moon-lunar-landing-crash-japan-32230ba28a3c41824ec4ee9ed7d6ed4c">crashed during a lunar landing attempt</a>&nbsp;in April, and a new flagship rocket&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-space-rocket-h3-failure-observation-satellite-dc137cb55bb4b72537508f1319989ce1">failed its debut launch in March</a>.

JAXA has a track record with difficult landings. Its Hayabusa2 spacecraft, launched in 2014, touched down twice on the 900-meter-long (3,000-foot-long) asteroid Ryugu, collecting samples that were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5309328972d9456bbe0522b88c81c6bc">returned to Earth</a>.

Experts say a success of SLIM's pinpoint landing, especially on the moon, would raise Japan's profile in the global space technology race.

Takeshi Tsuchiya, aeronautics professor at the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, said it was important to confirm the accuracy of landing on a targeted area for the future of moon explorations.

“It is necessary to show the world that Japan has the appropriate technology in order to be able to properly assert Japan's position in lunar development,” he said. The moon is important from the perspective of explorations of resources, and it can also be used as a base to go to other planets, like Mars, he said.

SLIM is carrying two small autonomous probes — lunar excursion vehicles LEV-1 and LEV-2, which will be released just before landing.

LEV-1, equipped with an antenna and a camera, is tasked with recording SLIM's landing. LEV-2, is a ball-shaped rover equipped with two cameras, developed by JAXA together with Sony, toymaker Tomy and Doshisha University.

JAXA will broadcast a livestream of the landing, while space fans will gather to watch the historic moment on a big screen at the agency's Sagamihara campus southwest of Tokyo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705690562751.png" alt="&nbsp;Animation of the lander courtesy Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Animation of the lander courtesy Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency</figcaption>
 </figure>TOKYO (AP) — Japan became the fifth country in history to reach the moon when its spacecraft landed on the lunar surface early Saturday, officials said. But an issue with the power supply means that the mission could be in jeopardy.Officials also said they needed more time to analyze whether the spacecraft, which wasn't carrying astronauts, made a pinpoint landing — one of the priorities of the mission.Hitoshi Kuninaka, head of the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, said they believe that rovers were launched and data were being transmitted back to Earth from the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon, or SLIM.But he said that SLIM's solar battery wasn't generating power and the battery life of the spacecraft would only last a few more hours. He said that the priority now was for the craft to gather as much moon data as possible on the remaining battery.Japan follows the United States, the Soviet Union, China and India in reaching the moon.Kuninaka said he believes that Japan's space program at least achieved “minimum” success.SLIM landed on the moon at about 12:20 a.m. Tokyo time on Saturday (1520 GMT Friday).There was a tense wait for news after the Japan space agency's mission control initially said that SLIM was on the lunar surface, but that it was still “checking its status.” No further details were given until a news conference nearly two hours later.For the mission to be considered fully successful, space officials need to confirm whether SLIM made a pinpoint landing. Kuninaka said while more time is needed, he personally thinks it was most likely achieved, based on his observation of data showing the spacecraft's movement until the landing.SLIM, which was aiming to hit a very small target, is a lightweight spacecraft about the size of a passenger vehicle. It was using “pinpoint landing” technology that promises far greater control than any previous moon landing.While most previous probes have used landing zones about 10 kilometers (six miles) wide, SLIM was aiming at a target of just 100 meters (330 feet).The project was the fruit of two decades of work on precision technology by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA.As the spacecraft descended, JAXA's mission control said that everything was going as planned and later said that SLIM was on the lunar surface. But there was no mention of whether the landing was successful. Mission control kept repeating that it was “checking its status" and that more information would be given at the news conference.SLIM, nicknamed "the Moon Sniper," started its descent at midnight Saturday, and within 15 minutes it was down to about 10 kilometers (six miles) above the lunar surface, according to the space agency, which is known as JAXA.At an altitude of five kilometers (three miles), the lander was in a vertical descent mode, then at 50 meters (165 feet) above the surface, SLIM was supposed to make a parallel movement to find a safe landing spot, JAXA said.The mission's main goal is to test new landing technology that would allow moon missions to land “where we want to, rather than where it is easy to land,” JAXA has said. The spacecraft is supposed to seek clues about the origin of the moon, including analyzing minerals with a special camera.The SLIM, equipped with a pad to cushion impact, was aiming to land near the Shioli crater, near a region covered in volcanic rock.The closely watched mission came only 10 days after a moon mission by a U.S. private company failed when the spacecraft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/private-moon-lander-earth-reentry-e59645ffd5dc43f80f25a8ec34c0f449">developed a fuel leak</a>&nbsp;hours after the launch.SLIM was launched on a Mitsubishi Heavy H2A rocket in September. It initially orbited Earth and entered lunar orbit on Dec. 25.Japan hopes to regain confidence for its space technology after a number of failures. A spacecraft designed by a Japanese company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moon-lunar-landing-crash-japan-32230ba28a3c41824ec4ee9ed7d6ed4c">crashed during a lunar landing attempt</a>&nbsp;in April, and a new flagship rocket&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-space-rocket-h3-failure-observation-satellite-dc137cb55bb4b72537508f1319989ce1">failed its debut launch in March</a>.JAXA has a track record with difficult landings. Its Hayabusa2 spacecraft, launched in 2014, touched down twice on the 900-meter-long (3,000-foot-long) asteroid Ryugu, collecting samples that were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5309328972d9456bbe0522b88c81c6bc">returned to Earth</a>.Experts say a success of SLIM's pinpoint landing, especially on the moon, would raise Japan's profile in the global space technology race.Takeshi Tsuchiya, aeronautics professor at the Graduate School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo, said it was important to confirm the accuracy of landing on a targeted area for the future of moon explorations.“It is necessary to show the world that Japan has the appropriate technology in order to be able to properly assert Japan's position in lunar development,” he said. The moon is important from the perspective of explorations of resources, and it can also be used as a base to go to other planets, like Mars, he said.SLIM is carrying two small autonomous probes — lunar excursion vehicles LEV-1 and LEV-2, which will be released just before landing.LEV-1, equipped with an antenna and a camera, is tasked with recording SLIM's landing. LEV-2, is a ball-shaped rover equipped with two cameras, developed by JAXA together with Sony, toymaker Tomy and Doshisha University.JAXA will broadcast a livestream of the landing, while space fans will gather to watch the historic moment on a big screen at the agency's Sagamihara campus southwest of Tokyo.

Japan joins elite club by landing on the moon

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of armed robberies and are asking the public for help to identify suspects.

On Thursday Kansas City Police released video of a suspect who has&nbsp;robbed four McDonald’s, armed with a knife. He climbs through drive-through windows, opens registers, takes cash and re-enters an SUV through the rear driver-side window. Someone else is the driver.

These crimes began in November and took place most recently, last week. They occurred in South Kansas City in the 11000 block of Holmes Road; the 7700 block of E 87 Street; the 7800 block of State Line and in the 1300 block of W 103 Street.

If you can help stop these crimes. Call Detective Oxler at 816-234-5230 or provide information anonymously at&nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/uj9Il6CQAa" target="_blank">https://kccrimestoppers.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705615654798.png" alt="Photos KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Photos KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of armed robberies and are asking the public for help to identify suspects.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705616018080.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday Kansas City Police released video of a suspect who has&nbsp;robbed four McDonald’s, armed with a knife. He climbs through drive-through windows, opens registers, takes cash and re-enters an SUV through the rear driver-side window. Someone else is the driver.These crimes began in November and took place most recently, last week. They occurred in South Kansas City in the 11000 block of Holmes Road; the 7700 block of E 87 Street; the 7800 block of State Line and in the 1300 block of W 103 Street.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705616039093.png" alt="Vehicle used in the crimes-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Vehicle used in the crimes-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>If you can help stop these crimes. Call Detective Oxler at 816-234-5230 or provide information anonymously at&nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/uj9Il6CQAa" target="_blank">https://kccrimestoppers.com</a>

KCPD: Drive-thru window thief at 4 McDonalds 

&nbsp;WASHINGTON —The Justice Department joined 10 states and the District of Columbia on Thursday in a civil antitrust lawsuit challenging the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA) Transfer Eligibility Rule, according to a media release from the department of justice.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1334371/dl?inline">Click here to read </a>the complaint

The amended complaint alleges that the NCAA unreasonably restricts college athletes’ freedom to transfer between academic institutions by limiting their eligibility to participate in intercollegiate contests if they transfer more than once during their college careers. By deterring transfers, the rule also denies athletes educational opportunities.

Last month, the states of Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia filed this lawsuit in the Northern District of West Virginia. Shortly after filing, the court granted the states’ request for a temporary restraining order, finding the NCAA’s Transfer Eligibility Rule likely violates Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Today, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding the United States, the states of Minnesota, Mississippi and Virginia and the District of Columbia as co-plaintiffs.

“We are proud to stand with our state law enforcement partners on behalf of college athletes across the nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “NCAA Division I institutions compete with each other not just on the playing field or in the arena, but to recruit and retain college athletes. College athletes should be able to freely choose the institutions that best meet their academic, personal and professional development needs without anticompetitive restrictions that limit their mobility by sacrificing a year of athletic competition.”

The amended complaint alleges that the NCAA’s one-time-transfer rule unreasonably restrains competition in the markets for athletic services in men’s and women’s Division I basketball and Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football, as well as for athletic services in all other men’s and women’s Division I sports. The rule forces college athletes who transfer more than once to sit on the sidelines for an entire season before they are eligible to compete in NCAA athletic competitions at their new school. The amended complaint further alleges that the restriction limits college athletes’ bargaining power and harms both their educational and athletic experiences.

&nbsp;WASHINGTON —The Justice Department joined 10 states and the District of Columbia on Thursday in a civil antitrust lawsuit challenging the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA) Transfer Eligibility Rule, according to a media release from the department of justice.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1334371/dl?inline">Click here to read </a>the complaintThe amended complaint alleges that the NCAA unreasonably restricts college athletes’ freedom to transfer between academic institutions by limiting their eligibility to participate in intercollegiate contests if they transfer more than once during their college careers. By deterring transfers, the rule also denies athletes educational opportunities.Last month, the states of Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia filed this lawsuit in the Northern District of West Virginia. Shortly after filing, the court granted the states’ request for a temporary restraining order, finding the NCAA’s Transfer Eligibility Rule likely violates Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Today, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint adding the United States, the states of Minnesota, Mississippi and Virginia and the District of Columbia as co-plaintiffs.“We are proud to stand with our state law enforcement partners on behalf of college athletes across the nation,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “NCAA Division I institutions compete with each other not just on the playing field or in the arena, but to recruit and retain college athletes. College athletes should be able to freely choose the institutions that best meet their academic, personal and professional development needs without anticompetitive restrictions that limit their mobility by sacrificing a year of athletic competition.”The amended complaint alleges that the NCAA’s one-time-transfer rule unreasonably restrains competition in the markets for athletic services in men’s and women’s Division I basketball and Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) football, as well as for athletic services in all other men’s and women’s Division I sports. The rule forces college athletes who transfer more than once to sit on the sidelines for an entire season before they are eligible to compete in NCAA athletic competitions at their new school. The amended complaint further alleges that the restriction limits college athletes’ bargaining power and harms both their educational and athletic experiences.

Justice Dept, more states join lawsuit over NCAA athlete transfers

&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have made an arrest and continue to search for another suspect.

Just after 5 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots in the 1000 block of S. Market, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp; 

In the 900 block of S. Market Street, first responders discovered 35-year-old Ladonte Ostrander with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. Sedgwick County EMS transported him in critical condition to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415">According to online arrest</a> records 37-year-old Yancy Hermosillo is being held on<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415"> requested charges </a>of murder and interference with law enforcement in connection with the death.

Hermosillo has previous felony convictions for domestic battery, criminal threat,&nbsp; and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

The Wichita Police is actively seeking another individual related to the case who may have information or involvement. Anyone with information is urged to contact Wichita Police Investigators at (316) 268-4407.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705588462988.png" alt="Hermosillo-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Hermosillo-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting have made an arrest and continue to search for another suspect.Just after 5 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots in the 1000 block of S. Market, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp; In the 900 block of S. Market Street, first responders discovered 35-year-old Ladonte Ostrander with a gunshot wound to his lower extremities. Sedgwick County EMS transported him in critical condition to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415">According to online arrest</a> records 37-year-old Yancy Hermosillo is being held on<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=397415"> requested charges </a>of murder and interference with law enforcement in connection with the death.Hermosillo has previous felony convictions for domestic battery, criminal threat,&nbsp; and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;The Wichita Police is actively seeking another individual related to the case who may have information or involvement. Anyone with information is urged to contact Wichita Police Investigators at (316) 268-4407.

Homicide: Police make 1 arrest, search for 2nd Kansas suspect

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sent President Joe Biden a short-term spending bill on Thursday that would avert a looming partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies into March.

The House approved the measure by a vote of 314-108, with opposition coming mostly from the more conservative members of the Republican conference. Shortly before the vote, the House Freedom Caucus announced it “strongly opposes" the measure because it would facilitate more spending than they support.

Nevertheless, about half of Republicans joined with Democrats in passing the third stopgap funding measure in recent months. Two members of the Kansas House delegation, Republic Jake LaTurner and Democrat Sharice Davids voted for the resolution. Republicans Ron Estes and Tracey Mann voted against it.

 The action came a few hours after the Senate had voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill by a vote of 77-18. Kansas Senior Senator Jerry Moran voted for the bill. The Junior Senator from Kansas Roger Marshall along with both Senators from Missouri Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt voted to cut spending and rejected the measure.

Senators Barrasso, Graham, Grassley, Kennedy and Scott of Florida did not vote.

The measure extends current spending levels and buys time for the two chambers to work out their differences over full-year spending bills for the fiscal year that began in October.

The temporary measure will run to March 1 for some federal agencies. Their funds were set to run out Friday. It extends the remainder of government operations to March 8.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president would sign the resolution and urged Republicans to quit wasting time on partisan spending bills.

“House Republicans must finally do their job and work across the aisle to pass full-year funding bills that deliver for the American people and address urgent domestic and national security priorities by passing the President’s supplemental request,” Jean-Pierre said.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has been under pressure from his right flank to scrap a $1.66 trillion budget price tag he reached with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier this month for the spending bills. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said the continuing resolution passed Thursday will facilitate that agreement, and urged colleagues to vote against it.

“It's Groundhog Day in the House chamber all the time, every day, yet again spending money we don't have,” Roy said.

Johnson has insisted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-shutdown-speaker-johnson-freedom-caucus-a9683a7381563499e0ba10987e93fb92">he will stick with the deal</a>, and centrists in the party have stood behind him. They say that changing course now would be going back on his word and would weaken the speaker in future negotiations.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Americans expect Congress to govern and work in a bipartisan fashion.

“Some of my colleagues would see that this government would shut down and don't care how hurtful that would be,” DeLauro said.

House Republicans have fought bitterly over budget levels and policy since taking the majority at the start of 2023. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">ousted by his caucus</a>&nbsp;in October after striking an agreement with Democrats to extend current spending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-congress-republicans-732baaa19c91f981e492fd0e6a76aba8">the first time</a>. Johnson has also come under criticism as he has wrestled with how to appease his members and avoid a government shutdown in an election year.

“We just needed a little more time on the calendar to do it and now that’s where we are,” Johnson said Tuesday about the decision to extend federal funding yet again. “We’re not going to get everything we want.”

Most House Republicans have so far refrained from saying that Johnson’s job is in danger. But a revolt of even a handful of Republicans could endanger his position in the narrowly divided House.

Virginia Rep. Bob Good, one of eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy, has been pushing Johnson to reconsider the deal with Schumer.

“If your opponent in negotiation knows that you fear the consequence of not reaching an agreement more than they fear the consequence of not reaching an agreement, you will lose every time,” Good said this week.

Other Republicans acknowledge Johnson is in a tough spot. “The speaker was dealt with the hand he was dealt,” said Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr, noting the constraints imposed by the party's slim majority.

In Thursday afternoon's vote, 107 House Republicans voted to keep federal agencies funded and 106 voted against the measure. To almost lose the majority of his conference underscores the challenges facing the new speaker and signals the difficulty he will have in striking a deal that will not alienate many of his GOP colleagues. They are clamoring for deeper non-defense spending cuts and myriad conservative policy mandates.

Meanwhile, 207 Democrats voted for the resolution and only two voted against.

The short-term measure comes amid negotiations on a separate spending package that would provide wartime dollars to Ukraine and Israel and strengthen security at the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also under pressure from the right not to accept a deal that is any weaker than a House-passed border measure that has no Democratic support.

Johnson, Schumer and other congressional leaders and committee heads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-speaker-johnson-border-security-ukraine-government-shutdown-fa505e84f1ffd1767eb01a250a161393">visited the White House</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday to discuss that spending legislation. Johnson used the meeting to push for stronger border security measures while Biden and Democrats detailed Ukraine’s security needs as it continues to fight Russia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705615858646.png" alt="The U.S Capitol is seen on a sunny day in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)" />
 <figcaption>The U.S Capitol is seen on a sunny day in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sent President Joe Biden a short-term spending bill on Thursday that would avert a looming partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies into March.The House approved the measure by a vote of 314-108, with opposition coming mostly from the more conservative members of the Republican conference. Shortly before the vote, the House Freedom Caucus announced it “strongly opposes" the measure because it would facilitate more spending than they support.Nevertheless, about half of Republicans joined with Democrats in passing the third stopgap funding measure in recent months. Two members of the Kansas House delegation, Republic Jake LaTurner and Democrat Sharice Davids voted for the resolution. Republicans Ron Estes and Tracey Mann voted against it. The action came a few hours after the Senate had voted overwhelmingly to pass the bill by a vote of 77-18. Kansas Senior Senator Jerry Moran voted for the bill. The Junior Senator from Kansas Roger Marshall along with both Senators from Missouri Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt voted to cut spending and rejected the measure.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/v0qyRZFzYA">pic.twitter.com/v0qyRZFzYA</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1748109531324780556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Senators Barrasso, Graham, Grassley, Kennedy and Scott of Florida did not vote.The measure extends current spending levels and buys time for the two chambers to work out their differences over full-year spending bills for the fiscal year that began in October.The temporary measure will run to March 1 for some federal agencies. Their funds were set to run out Friday. It extends the remainder of government operations to March 8.White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the president would sign the resolution and urged Republicans to quit wasting time on partisan spending bills.“House Republicans must finally do their job and work across the aisle to pass full-year funding bills that deliver for the American people and address urgent domestic and national security priorities by passing the President’s supplemental request,” Jean-Pierre said.Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has been under pressure from his right flank to scrap a $1.66 trillion budget price tag he reached with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier this month for the spending bills. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said the continuing resolution passed Thursday will facilitate that agreement, and urged colleagues to vote against it.“It's Groundhog Day in the House chamber all the time, every day, yet again spending money we don't have,” Roy said.Johnson has insisted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-shutdown-speaker-johnson-freedom-caucus-a9683a7381563499e0ba10987e93fb92">he will stick with the deal</a>, and centrists in the party have stood behind him. They say that changing course now would be going back on his word and would weaken the speaker in future negotiations.Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, said Americans expect Congress to govern and work in a bipartisan fashion.“Some of my colleagues would see that this government would shut down and don't care how hurtful that would be,” DeLauro said.House Republicans have fought bitterly over budget levels and policy since taking the majority at the start of 2023. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">ousted by his caucus</a>&nbsp;in October after striking an agreement with Democrats to extend current spending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-mccarthy-congress-republicans-732baaa19c91f981e492fd0e6a76aba8">the first time</a>. Johnson has also come under criticism as he has wrestled with how to appease his members and avoid a government shutdown in an election year.“We just needed a little more time on the calendar to do it and now that’s where we are,” Johnson said Tuesday about the decision to extend federal funding yet again. “We’re not going to get everything we want.”Most House Republicans have so far refrained from saying that Johnson’s job is in danger. But a revolt of even a handful of Republicans could endanger his position in the narrowly divided House.Virginia Rep. Bob Good, one of eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy, has been pushing Johnson to reconsider the deal with Schumer.“If your opponent in negotiation knows that you fear the consequence of not reaching an agreement more than they fear the consequence of not reaching an agreement, you will lose every time,” Good said this week.Other Republicans acknowledge Johnson is in a tough spot. “The speaker was dealt with the hand he was dealt,” said Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr, noting the constraints imposed by the party's slim majority.In Thursday afternoon's vote, 107 House Republicans voted to keep federal agencies funded and 106 voted against the measure. To almost lose the majority of his conference underscores the challenges facing the new speaker and signals the difficulty he will have in striking a deal that will not alienate many of his GOP colleagues. They are clamoring for deeper non-defense spending cuts and myriad conservative policy mandates.Meanwhile, 207 Democrats voted for the resolution and only two voted against.The short-term measure comes amid negotiations on a separate spending package that would provide wartime dollars to Ukraine and Israel and strengthen security at the U.S.-Mexico border. Johnson is also under pressure from the right not to accept a deal that is any weaker than a House-passed border measure that has no Democratic support.Johnson, Schumer and other congressional leaders and committee heads&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-speaker-johnson-border-security-ukraine-government-shutdown-fa505e84f1ffd1767eb01a250a161393">visited the White House</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday to discuss that spending legislation. Johnson used the meeting to push for stronger border security measures while Biden and Democrats detailed Ukraine’s security needs as it continues to fight Russia.

3 Kan. lawmakers voted against spending deal to keep government open

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person injured in a fire on Tuesday in Johnson County has died.

Just before 1:30p.m. Tuesday crews responded to a house fire in 21300 block of W 51st Street in the city of Shawnee, according to a media release.

Fist responders found a large amount of smoke and a working fire. Firefighters located and rescued a woman identified as 65-year-old Patricia Stevenson from inside of the home. She was transported to an area hospital in critical condition and later died.

An investigation determined that the fire was accidental and caused by unattended cooking. Fire investigators also did not find any working smoke alarms inside the home.

"Working smoke alarms can save lives. We encourage everyone to test and maintain working smoke alarms and stay with food while cooking. "

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705507408808.png" alt="Photos Shawnee Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photos Shawnee Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—One person injured in a fire on Tuesday in Johnson County has died.Just before 1:30p.m. Tuesday crews responded to a house fire in 21300 block of W 51st Street in the city of Shawnee, according to a media release.Fist responders found a large amount of smoke and a working fire. Firefighters located and rescued a woman identified as 65-year-old Patricia Stevenson from inside of the home. She was transported to an area hospital in critical condition and later died.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705507364048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>An investigation determined that the fire was accidental and caused by unattended cooking. Fire investigators also did not find any working smoke alarms inside the home."Working smoke alarms can save lives. We encourage everyone to test and maintain working smoke alarms and stay with food while cooking. "

Kansas woman critically injured in house fire has died

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a shooting at Crown Center in Kansas City that injured multiple people.

The shooting around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday at Crown Center left shattered glass inside the mall. Two of the six injured were found in a food court area on the lower level. Police later learned four other people went to a hospital in a private vehicle. All six are expected to survive, police spokesperson Sgt. Jake Becchina said.

Most of the injured were in their late teens or early 20s, but police said one victim was at least 50. It wasn’t immediately known if some or all of the injured were involved in the dispute or if they were bystanders.

Witnesses told police that a verbal argument between two groups led to the shooting that damaged some businesses inside the mall. Witness John Gaston told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2024/01/18/kansas-citys-crown-center-closed-after-4-people-struck-shooting-near-food-court/">KCTV-TV</a>&nbsp;he heard gunfire, then saw chaos.

“Pretty much everybody was just screaming, running,” Gaston said.

Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, Becchina said, but police have not yet announced any arrests.&nbsp; Crown Center had a delayed opening Thursday and is referring all questions about the incident to police.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705578003872.png" alt="-Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, according to police but they have not yet announced any arrests-.Photo courtesy KMBC TV" />
 <figcaption>-Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, according to police but they have not yet announced any arrests-.Photo courtesy KMBC TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities continue investigating a shooting at Crown Center in Kansas City that injured multiple people.The shooting around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday at Crown Center left shattered glass inside the mall. Two of the six injured were found in a food court area on the lower level. Police later learned four other people went to a hospital in a private vehicle. All six are expected to survive, police spokesperson Sgt. Jake Becchina said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705578148945.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Most of the injured were in their late teens or early 20s, but police said one victim was at least 50. It wasn’t immediately known if some or all of the injured were involved in the dispute or if they were bystanders.Witnesses told police that a verbal argument between two groups led to the shooting that damaged some businesses inside the mall. Witness John Gaston told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2024/01/18/kansas-citys-crown-center-closed-after-4-people-struck-shooting-near-food-court/">KCTV-TV</a>&nbsp;he heard gunfire, then saw chaos.“Pretty much everybody was just screaming, running,” Gaston said.Several people were detained for questioning at the scene, Becchina said, but police have not yet announced any arrests.&nbsp; Crown Center had a delayed opening Thursday and is referring all questions about the incident to police.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Search continues for suspects in shooting at Crown Center in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces on Thursday conducted a fifth strike against Iranian-backed Houthi rebel military sites in Yemen as President Joe Biden acknowledged that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">the American and British bombardment</a>&nbsp;had yet to stop the militants' attacks on vessels in the Red Sea that have disrupted global shipping.

The latest strikes destroyed two Houthi anti-ship missiles that “were aimed into the southern Red Sea and prepared to launch,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. They were conducted by Navy F/A-18 fighter aircraft, the Pentagon said.

Biden said the U.S. would continue the strikes, even though so far they have not stopped the Houthis from continuing to harass commercial and military vessels.

“When you say working, are they stopping the Houthis, no. Are they going to continue, yes," Biden said in an exchange with reporters before departing the White House for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-north-carolina-internet-election-270a1edc65ebad44cec44baf1f8f4f8b">a domestic policy speech</a>&nbsp;in North Carolina.

Hours after Biden spoke, Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a prerecorded statement that its forces had carried out another missile attack against the Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned cargo ship Chem Ranger. Saree said the attack took place in the Gulf of Aden, the waters just south of Yemen.

Earlier Thursday evening, the British military warned of a new attack on shipping some 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the coast of Yemen, also in the Gulf of Aden. The Pentagon was not immediately able to confirm the strikes but has cautioned that it anticipates the Houthis will continue their attacks.

The continued harassment of the ships has driven the U.S. and international partners to take extraordinary steps to defend them through a joint mission named Operation Prosperity Guardian, in which the consortium is trying to create a protective umbrella for the vessels by intercepting any missiles or drones that target them. It has also led the U.S. and British militaries to take measures to knock out missile sites, radars and air defense systems to try to tamp down the Houthis' ability to attack.

On Wednesday the U.S. military fired another wave of ship- and submarine-launch missile strikes against 14&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11">Houthi-controlled sites</a>. That same day, the administration put the Houthis back on its list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/executive-order-13224/">specially designated global terrorists</a>. The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing, while also allowing vital humanitarian aid to continue flowing to impoverished Yemenis.

“These strikes will continue for as long as they need to continue,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday, adding, “I’m not going to telegraph punches one way or another.”

Despite sanctions and military strikes, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">large-scale operation</a>&nbsp;carried out Friday by U.S. and British warships and warplanes that hit more than 60 targets across Yemen, the Houthis keep harassing commercial and military ships. The U.S. has strongly warned Iran to cease providing weapons to the Houthis.

“We never said the Houthis would immediately stop,” the Pentagon's deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, said at a briefing, when asked why the strikes have not seemed to stop the Houthis. Since the joint U.S. and British operation got underway last Friday, hitting 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets in that initial round, the Houthis' attacks have been “lower scale,” Singh said.

For months, the Houthis have claimed attacks on ships in the Red Sea that they say are either linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. They say their attacks aim to end the Israeli air-and-ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that was triggered by the Palestinian militant group Hamas’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel</a>. But the links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as the attacks continue.

The attacks have also raised questions as to whether the conflict between Israel and Hamas has already expanded into a wider regional war.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705112808392.png" alt="View of aircraft launch for the attack Jan. 11 -image U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>View of aircraft launch for the attack Jan. 11 -image U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces on Thursday conducted a fifth strike against Iranian-backed Houthi rebel military sites in Yemen as President Joe Biden acknowledged that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">the American and British bombardment</a>&nbsp;had yet to stop the militants' attacks on vessels in the Red Sea that have disrupted global shipping.The latest strikes destroyed two Houthi anti-ship missiles that “were aimed into the southern Red Sea and prepared to launch,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. They were conducted by Navy F/A-18 fighter aircraft, the Pentagon said.Biden said the U.S. would continue the strikes, even though so far they have not stopped the Houthis from continuing to harass commercial and military vessels.“When you say working, are they stopping the Houthis, no. Are they going to continue, yes," Biden said in an exchange with reporters before departing the White House for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-north-carolina-internet-election-270a1edc65ebad44cec44baf1f8f4f8b">a domestic policy speech</a>&nbsp;in North Carolina.Hours after Biden spoke, Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a prerecorded statement that its forces had carried out another missile attack against the Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned cargo ship Chem Ranger. Saree said the attack took place in the Gulf of Aden, the waters just south of Yemen.Earlier Thursday evening, the British military warned of a new attack on shipping some 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the coast of Yemen, also in the Gulf of Aden. The Pentagon was not immediately able to confirm the strikes but has cautioned that it anticipates the Houthis will continue their attacks.The continued harassment of the ships has driven the U.S. and international partners to take extraordinary steps to defend them through a joint mission named Operation Prosperity Guardian, in which the consortium is trying to create a protective umbrella for the vessels by intercepting any missiles or drones that target them. It has also led the U.S. and British militaries to take measures to knock out missile sites, radars and air defense systems to try to tamp down the Houthis' ability to attack.On Wednesday the U.S. military fired another wave of ship- and submarine-launch missile strikes against 14&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11">Houthi-controlled sites</a>. That same day, the administration put the Houthis back on its list of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/executive-order-13224/">specially designated global terrorists</a>. The sanctions that come with the formal designation are meant to sever violent extremist groups from their sources of financing, while also allowing vital humanitarian aid to continue flowing to impoverished Yemenis.“These strikes will continue for as long as they need to continue,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Thursday, adding, “I’m not going to telegraph punches one way or another.”Despite sanctions and military strikes, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">large-scale operation</a>&nbsp;carried out Friday by U.S. and British warships and warplanes that hit more than 60 targets across Yemen, the Houthis keep harassing commercial and military ships. The U.S. has strongly warned Iran to cease providing weapons to the Houthis.“We never said the Houthis would immediately stop,” the Pentagon's deputy press secretary, Sabrina Singh, said at a briefing, when asked why the strikes have not seemed to stop the Houthis. Since the joint U.S. and British operation got underway last Friday, hitting 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets in that initial round, the Houthis' attacks have been “lower scale,” Singh said.For months, the Houthis have claimed attacks on ships in the Red Sea that they say are either linked to Israel or heading to Israeli ports. They say their attacks aim to end the Israeli air-and-ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that was triggered by the Palestinian militant group Hamas’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-rockets-airstrikes-tel-aviv-11fb98655c256d54ecb5329284fc37d2">Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel</a>. But the links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as the attacks continue.The attacks have also raised questions as to whether the conflict between Israel and Hamas has already expanded into a wider regional war.

US forces strike rebels again; bombing hasn't stopped ship attacks

JOHNSON COUNTY —A man injured in an accident has died as a result of his injuries.

On December 21, the Overland Park Police Department responded to an accident at 123rd St. and Antioch, according to Officer John Lacy.  The driver passed away on December 27.

On Thursday, the Police Department received notification from the Medical Examiner that the driver identified as 74-year-old Dennis Cotton of Overland Park died from injuries sustained from the collision.&nbsp;

JOHNSON COUNTY —A man injured in an accident has died as a result of his injuries.On December 21, the Overland Park Police Department responded to an accident at 123rd St. and Antioch, according to Officer John Lacy. The driver passed away on December 27.On Thursday, the Police Department received notification from the Medical Examiner that the driver identified as 74-year-old Dennis Cotton of Overland Park died from injuries sustained from the collision.&nbsp;

Police: Kansas man dies from injuries in December crash

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a high-speed chase.

A speeding truck led a short chase in North Douglas Co. before the driver, who is known to start violent pursuits, rammed into a patrol vehicle, lost control of his pickup and was soon arrested.

Just before 1:30 a.m. on Monday, police attempted to stop a Chevrolet pickup truck after the driver later identified as 48-year-old Steven Drake had been seen speeding near E. 1600 Road and Highway 24, according to a media release.

Drake initially slowed the truck and then immediately began to accelerate again and the prompted a pursuit.

During the pursuit, deputies successfully implemented a tactical-vehicle-intervention maneuver. However, Drake was able to recover and head east on the highway.

As deputies attempted to identify the driver, he rammed into a patrol vehicle which caused the truck to veer into the ditch and break off the wheel at the axle.

Deputies then took Drake into custody and booked him into the Douglas County jail on requested charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. There were no injuries reported.

In June of 2022, police asked the&nbsp; public for help to locate Drake after he led police on two vehicle pursuits within a week.

Drake has previous felony convictions that include forgery, assault, theft, aggravated endangering a child, obstruction, aggravated interference with parental control, driving while suspended and three convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654253731903.png" alt="Drake-photo Lawrence Police" />
 <figcaption>Drake-photo Lawrence Police</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a high-speed chase.A speeding truck led a short chase in North Douglas Co. before the driver, who is known to start violent pursuits, rammed into a patrol vehicle, lost control of his pickup and was soon arrested.Just before 1:30 a.m. on Monday, police attempted to stop a Chevrolet pickup truck after the driver later identified as 48-year-old Steven Drake had been seen speeding near E. 1600 Road and Highway 24, according to a media release.Drake initially slowed the truck and then immediately began to accelerate again and the prompted a pursuit.During the pursuit, deputies successfully implemented a tactical-vehicle-intervention maneuver. However, Drake was able to recover and head east on the highway.As deputies attempted to identify the driver, he rammed into a patrol vehicle which caused the truck to veer into the ditch and break off the wheel at the axle.Deputies then took Drake into custody and booked him into the Douglas County jail on requested charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement. There were no injuries reported.In June of 2022, police asked the&nbsp; public for help to locate Drake after he led police on two vehicle pursuits within a week.Drake has previous felony convictions that include forgery, assault, theft, aggravated endangering a child, obstruction, aggravated interference with parental control, driving while suspended and three convictions for fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

Driver rams Kan. patrol vehicle during high-speed chase

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jackson County Executive Frank White vetoed an ordinance Thursday that would have put a 3/8th-cent sales tax renewal on the April ballot to fund sports stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals.

“This proposed sales tax would generate over $2 billion from our residents, yet there is no clear understanding or assurance regarding the teams’ commitments and contributions to the county,” White said in a news release, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/article284418645.html">reported</a>. “It’s not a good deal for taxpayers and I cannot support an agreement that is not in their best interest.”

Shortly after the veto announcement, four county legislators said they sided with White. In order to override White's veto, the County Legislature — which has nine members — would need six votes. They are approaching a Jan. 23 deadline to put the stadium tax decision in front of voters this spring.

The Royals and Chiefs released a joint statement after White's veto that said, “We respect the County Executive’s veto authority. We will continue working with the legislators to ensure that this ordinance is on the ballot on April 2 so that Jackson County voters have the opportunity to decide on the extension of the current 3/8th-cent sales tax.”

The Royals are seeking to use the sales tax to help fund&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-kansas-city-stadium-c3c3745c5d54d5c59df1f7776f0b04b3">building a new downtown ballpark,</a>&nbsp;though they have not yet announced their location. The Chiefs have consistently stated their intentions to renovate Arrowhead Stadium.

The current stadium leases at the Truman Sports Complex expire in 2031. Although some legislators pointed out Thursday that April isn’t the only ballot in 2024 or in the years ahead of that expiration date, both teams have targeted April for the measure. They are said to have support from the current governor’s office, which has pushed their urgency.

On Jan. 8, county legislators voted 8-1 to approve ballot language for the new 3/8th-cent sales tax to replace the current one that expires in September 2031. White wasn’t in favor of that at the time and wanted more time to get additional concessions from the teams for the county in the deal.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jackson County Executive Frank White vetoed an ordinance Thursday that would have put a 3/8th-cent sales tax renewal on the April ballot to fund sports stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Without robust, binding agreements in place, I have vetoed Ordinance 5822, a proposal for a substantial sales tax to retain the Royals and Chiefs in Jackson County. Full press release, veto message &amp; statement supporting veto from three legislators below ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/4HzNfLVjVe">pic.twitter.com/4HzNfLVjVe</a>&mdash; Frank White (@JCEFrankWhite) <a href="https://twitter.com/JCEFrankWhite/status/1748088760611312023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“This proposed sales tax would generate over $2 billion from our residents, yet there is no clear understanding or assurance regarding the teams’ commitments and contributions to the county,” White said in a news release, the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/article284418645.html">reported</a>. “It’s not a good deal for taxpayers and I cannot support an agreement that is not in their best interest.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/qFyYkZryGc">pic.twitter.com/qFyYkZryGc</a>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1748110666395762723?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Shortly after the veto announcement, four county legislators said they sided with White. In order to override White's veto, the County Legislature — which has nine members — would need six votes. They are approaching a Jan. 23 deadline to put the stadium tax decision in front of voters this spring.The Royals and Chiefs released a joint statement after White's veto that said, “We respect the County Executive’s veto authority. We will continue working with the legislators to ensure that this ordinance is on the ballot on April 2 so that Jackson County voters have the opportunity to decide on the extension of the current 3/8th-cent sales tax.”The Royals are seeking to use the sales tax to help fund&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-kansas-city-stadium-c3c3745c5d54d5c59df1f7776f0b04b3">building a new downtown ballpark,</a>&nbsp;though they have not yet announced their location. The Chiefs have consistently stated their intentions to renovate Arrowhead Stadium.The current stadium leases at the Truman Sports Complex expire in 2031. Although some legislators pointed out Thursday that April isn’t the only ballot in 2024 or in the years ahead of that expiration date, both teams have targeted April for the measure. They are said to have support from the current governor’s office, which has pushed their urgency.On Jan. 8, county legislators voted 8-1 to approve ballot language for the new 3/8th-cent sales tax to replace the current one that expires in September 2031. White wasn’t in favor of that at the time and wanted more time to get additional concessions from the teams for the county in the deal.

County official vetoes stadium tax for April ballot, affecting Royals, Chiefs

BUTLER COUNTY —Emergency crews rescued a horse from a frozen pond in Butler County.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Butler County Animal Response Team received a mutual aid request from Andover Fire-Rescue for a horse last seen on Tuesday evening that was stuck out on the ice on a pond, according to a social media report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705591777989.png" alt="Photos Butler County Animal Response Team" />
 <figcaption>Photos Butler County Animal Response Team</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —Emergency crews rescued a horse from a frozen pond in Butler County.On Wednesday afternoon, the Butler County Animal Response Team received a mutual aid request from Andover Fire-Rescue for a horse last seen on Tuesday evening that was stuck out on the ice on a pond, according to a social media report. The three year old 1800 pound draft mare was 15-20 feet out on the pond but had not broken through the ice. She was discovered around noon Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705591833380.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Andover Fire-Rescue was able to move her off the ice onto the shore. The horse was unable to stand on her own.At 1:30p.m., the Butler County Animal Response Team arrived on scene and a veterinarian sedated the horse and secured the animal on a rescue glide so she could be moved away from the pond and onto level, and drier, ground.Rescuers gave the horse fluids and she was blanketed, and allowed to rest and recover. When she was unable to stand, a Becker Sling was applied, and with the assistance of a skip loader, she was raised to a standing position.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705591809396.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>After a period of recovery, several attempts were made to have her bear weight. She was unable to stand and lowered back to the ground. The veterinarian remained on scene administering treatment and she was covered and allowed to further rest and recover.&nbsp; The Butler County Animal Response Team is comprised of volunteers from all over&nbsp;Butler County. They were on scene about 90 minutes after request for assistance.&nbsp;"Andover Fire's actions and care were a crucial component in getting her to the safety of solid ground. Once we were able to provide the necessary large animal equipment, and trained large animal rescue volunteers, we were able to move her safely away to level and dry ground.""The owner of the horse, a borrowed skid loader, and veterinarian on site were also important to effecting the rescue.""Please keep this sweet girl in your thoughts and prayers that she makes a successful recovery."