SEDGWICK COUNTY — A man who shot his wife outside a Wichita elementary school in 2024 is going to prison for a long time.

On Friday, Judge Sean Hatfield sentenced 47-year-old Vincent Solomon to 330 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In December a jury convicted him of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, criminal use of weapons and interference with law enforcement.

Just after 9a.m. September 23, 2024, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications began to receive reports of a shooting outside Cessna Elementary School, 2101 West 45th Street South in Wichita, according to a statement from Police Chief Joe Sullivan during a news conference.

The call was broadcast on all law enforcement radio channels. A Sedgwick County Deputy heard the call and responded. When the deputy arrived, he located Solomon who was armed with a handgun. Solomon made statements that the deputy would kill him while pointing the gun at the deputy, according to Sullivan.

Solomon then ran to and laid on top of a 30-year-old woman. The deputy gave commands for Solomon to drop his gun and observed Solomon place the gun to the woman's head.

In defense of the woman, the deputy fired his gun twice. Solomon would not let go of the woman. The deputy then attempted to disarm Solomon physically. It took two Wichita Police officers and the deputy to disarm Solomon.

Investigators later learned that Solomon and woman live together and have children together. The couple had an argument in a vehicle on the way to the school which led to Solomon shooting the woman multiple times. The woman ran toward the school and the suspect chased her. A Wichita Public School staff member saw Solomon with the gun approaching the school and pulled the door of the school shut and locked it so the suspect could not get inside.

EMS transported Somomon and the woman to an area hospital.&nbsp;The Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) was activated to conduct an investigation and Solomon was later booked into jail.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727347323043.png" alt="Solomon photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Solomon photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A man who shot his wife outside a Wichita elementary school in 2024 is going to prison for a long time.On Friday, Judge Sean Hatfield sentenced 47-year-old Vincent Solomon to 330 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In December a jury convicted him of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, criminal use of weapons and interference with law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769810858483.png" alt="Image from security camera shows Solomon chasing the woman, after she had been shot, as they approach the entrance to the school.- image from Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Image from security camera shows Solomon chasing the woman, after she had been shot, as they approach the entrance to the school.- image from Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 9a.m. September 23, 2024, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications began to receive reports of a shooting outside Cessna Elementary School, 2101 West 45th Street South in Wichita, according to a statement from Police Chief Joe Sullivan during a news conference.The call was broadcast on all law enforcement radio channels. A Sedgwick County Deputy heard the call and responded. When the deputy arrived, he located Solomon who was armed with a handgun. Solomon made statements that the deputy would kill him while pointing the gun at the deputy, according to Sullivan.Solomon then ran to and laid on top of a 30-year-old woman. The deputy gave commands for Solomon to drop his gun and observed Solomon place the gun to the woman's head.In defense of the woman, the deputy fired his gun twice. Solomon would not let go of the woman. The deputy then attempted to disarm Solomon physically. It took two Wichita Police officers and the deputy to disarm Solomon.Investigators later learned that Solomon and woman live together and have children together. The couple had an argument in a vehicle on the way to the school which led to Solomon shooting the woman multiple times. The woman ran toward the school and the suspect chased her. A Wichita Public School staff member saw Solomon with the gun approaching the school and pulled the door of the school shut and locked it so the suspect could not get inside.EMS transported Somomon and the woman to an area hospital.&nbsp;The Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) was activated to conduct an investigation and Solomon was later booked into jail.&nbsp;

Prison for shooting his wife outside Kan. elementary school

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/dee-ann-durbin">DEE-ANN DURBIN</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans are drinking more coffee than they have in decades. But fewer of them are getting it from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/starbucks-corp">Starbucks</a>.

The company that revolutionized the United States’ coffee culture remains America’s biggest player, with nearly 17,000 U.S. stores and plans to open hundreds more. But it’s facing unprecedented competition, which will make it harder to win back the customers it already lost.

Starbucks’ share of spending at all U.S. coffee shops fell in 2024 and 2025; it now stands at 48%, down from 52% in 2023, according to Technomic, a food industry consulting firm.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dunkin-nebraska-donut-shortage-5b543c958215ea5f749f3eb830653df5">Dunkin</a>&nbsp;', a perennial rival that just opened its 10,000th U.S. store, gained market share in both of those years.

Starbucks has other challengers, like the fast-growing drive-thru chains 7 Brew, Scooter’s Coffee and Dutch Bros. Chinese chains like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/luckin-a-starbucks-rival-in-china-rises-in-us-stock-debut-2e7a1340e4084e8389c4c08a43a9a080">Luckin Coffee</a>&nbsp;and Mixue are opening U.S. stores. High-end coffee shop Blue Bottle, which has 78 U.S. stores, has opened two more since the start of the year. Even McDonald’s and Taco Bell are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-cosmcs-closing-drinks-a30951a5ea9c0b996febbe9a2c10038e">bolstering their beverage offerings</a>.

“People haven’t fallen out of love with Starbucks, but they’re now polyamorous in their coffee choices,” said Chris Kayes, chair of the management department in the George Washington University School of Business. “People are now experimenting with other coffees, and they’re seeing what’s out there.”

Americans love coffee. In both 2024 and 2025, an estimated 66% of Americans reported drinking coffee every day, up 7% from 2020, according to the National Coffee Association, an industry trade group.

Coffee chains are racing to cash in on that demand. The number of chain coffee stores in the U.S. jumped 19% to more than 34,500 over the last six years, according to Technomic, a consulting firm that researches the foodservice industry.

Seattle-based Starbucks was a small, regional chain when former CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-howard-schultz-053345a59f1bdb53b9f55355865b216e">Howard Schultz</a>&nbsp;acquired it in 1987. Now, other small chains are seeing explosive growth. Nebraska-based Scooter’s Coffee had 200 locations in 2019; it now has more than 850. Arkansas-based 7 Brew, which had 14 locations in 2019, now has more than 600.

“There’s too much supply relative to demand,” said Neil Saunders, a managing director and retail analyst at consulting firm GlobalData Retail

Saunders said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-china-stake-boyu-capital-coffee-290006ba2eec33168b42985eb6576818">Starbucks’ size</a>&nbsp;is somewhat of a disadvantage, since it has less ability to grow sales by opening new locations.

“Honestly, they’re pretty saturated,” Saunders said. “They’re a very mature business.”

Starbucks is undaunted. At a conference for investors on Thursday, the company said an ongoing effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-dress-code-lawsuits-union-9d1eff89242d00f65d459d8a393f409a">improve service</a>&nbsp;while making stores&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-niccol-coffee-b547ab2141e194b30675ad8d1caff90d">warmer and more welcoming</a>&nbsp;was boosting U.S. store traffic. It plans to add 25,000 seats to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-settlement-labor-law-wages-nyc-dfe280b1505fde8b23a847a342757155">its U.S. cafes</a>&nbsp;by this fall.

“Growth doesn’t require us to become something new. It requires us to be exceptionally good at what we already are,” Starbucks Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams said.

Starbucks expects to open more than 575 new U.S. stores over the next three years. It developed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-coffee-open-new-stores-investors-c1ac462204ea97754380b6f6bd9f200c">a smaller-format store</a>&nbsp;that is cheaper to build but still has indoor seating, drive-thru lanes and mobile pickup. The company said the reduced scale would allow Starbucks stores to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-close-stores-layoffs-3aa70c7d3828520855998a490ebe865b">operate in locations</a>&nbsp;they couldn’t before.

Starbucks is also adding new products, like updated pastries and snackable foods that are high in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fiber-fibermaxxing-digestion-wellness-730bdd5f68f448fe979f4ebd598e2340">protein and fiber</a>, to try to win back customers.

Lack of menu innovation is one reason Starbucks has struggled, especially among younger consumers who like novelty and will try new places to find it, Saunders said.

Arizona-based Dutch Bros, for example, added protein coffee drinks in January 2024, nearly two years before Starbucks did. Energy drinks make up 25% of Dutch Bros’ business almost 14 years after the chain introduced them. Starbucks offered iced energy drinks for a limited time in 2024; executives said Thursday that customizable energy drinks would appear on the Starbucks menu soon.

Dutch Bros, which is led by former Starbucks executive Christine Barone, has just over 1,000 shops in the U.S. and hopes to double that number by 2029. It’s betting that customers want speed and convenience; nearly all of its stores are drive-thrus with walk-up windows.

Dutch Bros also focuses on value. In a recent meeting with investors, Barone pointed out that Dutch Bros’ medium drinks are 24 ounces; at Starbucks, a medium drink is 16 ounces.

Luckin, whose app brims with coupons and promotions, is also value-oriented. On a recent afternoon, one of its nine New York stores buzzed with customers picking up mobile orders. The tiny shop had no seating.

Xunyi Xie, who was visiting New York from his home in Delaware, said he stopped by to try a Velvet Latte because Luckin had a $1.99 drink promotion. Xie said he normally brews his own espresso, but if Luckin opened a store that was on his way to work, he would go there.

As for Starbucks? “I think it’s overpriced,” Xie said.

In 2024, the average customer spent $9.34 at Starbucks, compared to $8.44 at Dutch Bros and $4.68 at Dunkin’, according to an analysis by the investment research company Morningstar.

Starbucks didn’t raise prices in its 2025 fiscal year and has vowed to be judicious about future increases. But Ari Felhandler, an equity analyst with Morningstar, said it would be a mistake for Starbucks to try to win over customers with discounts because competitors will always go lower.

“Keep your prices the same and try to justify them,” Felhandler said. He thinks Starbucks’ store redesigns and new menu items will bring back traffic.

Grams, Starbucks’ chief operating officer, said the company firmly believes its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-coffee-sales-results-d555357a6d70c0a144958826e92d91c9">best way forward</a>&nbsp;is not drive-thru-only stores or mobile pickup kiosks. It’s building cafes with comfortable seating — the “soul of Starbucks,” as he put it — that also serve mobile, drive-thru and delivery customers. Customers sometimes want something convenient, and they sometimes want to dwell, he said.

“There’s always going to be competition. We’re aware of it, we keep an eye on it for sure, but we don’t try to be them,” Grams told The Associated Press. “We offer something that most people don’t, which is a legitimate space to sit down, enjoy and use it for a variety of different reasons.”

But Kayes, of George Washington University, wonders if that strategy will be enough to keep Starbucks on top, or if customers who want a cozy or premium experience have already moved on to independent coffee shops or upscale chains like Blue Bottle.

“In some ways, I think they are a victim of their own success,” Kayes said. “I do think that the aura of Starbucks as being something special and unique and exciting isn’t there anymore.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643748207424.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/dee-ann-durbin">DEE-ANN DURBIN</a> NEW YORK (AP) — Americans are drinking more coffee than they have in decades. But fewer of them are getting it from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/starbucks-corp">Starbucks</a>.The company that revolutionized the United States’ coffee culture remains America’s biggest player, with nearly 17,000 U.S. stores and plans to open hundreds more. But it’s facing unprecedented competition, which will make it harder to win back the customers it already lost.Starbucks’ share of spending at all U.S. coffee shops fell in 2024 and 2025; it now stands at 48%, down from 52% in 2023, according to Technomic, a food industry consulting firm.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dunkin-nebraska-donut-shortage-5b543c958215ea5f749f3eb830653df5">Dunkin</a>&nbsp;', a perennial rival that just opened its 10,000th U.S. store, gained market share in both of those years.Starbucks has other challengers, like the fast-growing drive-thru chains 7 Brew, Scooter’s Coffee and Dutch Bros. Chinese chains like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/luckin-a-starbucks-rival-in-china-rises-in-us-stock-debut-2e7a1340e4084e8389c4c08a43a9a080">Luckin Coffee</a>&nbsp;and Mixue are opening U.S. stores. High-end coffee shop Blue Bottle, which has 78 U.S. stores, has opened two more since the start of the year. Even McDonald’s and Taco Bell are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcdonalds-cosmcs-closing-drinks-a30951a5ea9c0b996febbe9a2c10038e">bolstering their beverage offerings</a>.“People haven’t fallen out of love with Starbucks, but they’re now polyamorous in their coffee choices,” said Chris Kayes, chair of the management department in the George Washington University School of Business. “People are now experimenting with other coffees, and they’re seeing what’s out there.”<h2>Caffeination nation</h2>Americans love coffee. In both 2024 and 2025, an estimated 66% of Americans reported drinking coffee every day, up 7% from 2020, according to the National Coffee Association, an industry trade group.Coffee chains are racing to cash in on that demand. The number of chain coffee stores in the U.S. jumped 19% to more than 34,500 over the last six years, according to Technomic, a consulting firm that researches the foodservice industry.Seattle-based Starbucks was a small, regional chain when former CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-howard-schultz-053345a59f1bdb53b9f55355865b216e">Howard Schultz</a>&nbsp;acquired it in 1987. Now, other small chains are seeing explosive growth. Nebraska-based Scooter’s Coffee had 200 locations in 2019; it now has more than 850. Arkansas-based 7 Brew, which had 14 locations in 2019, now has more than 600.“There’s too much supply relative to demand,” said Neil Saunders, a managing director and retail analyst at consulting firm GlobalData RetailSaunders said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-china-stake-boyu-capital-coffee-290006ba2eec33168b42985eb6576818">Starbucks’ size</a>&nbsp;is somewhat of a disadvantage, since it has less ability to grow sales by opening new locations.“Honestly, they’re pretty saturated,” Saunders said. “They’re a very mature business.”<h2>From grande to venti</h2>Starbucks is undaunted. At a conference for investors on Thursday, the company said an ongoing effort to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-dress-code-lawsuits-union-9d1eff89242d00f65d459d8a393f409a">improve service</a>&nbsp;while making stores&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-ceo-niccol-coffee-b547ab2141e194b30675ad8d1caff90d">warmer and more welcoming</a>&nbsp;was boosting U.S. store traffic. It plans to add 25,000 seats to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-settlement-labor-law-wages-nyc-dfe280b1505fde8b23a847a342757155">its U.S. cafes</a>&nbsp;by this fall.“Growth doesn’t require us to become something new. It requires us to be exceptionally good at what we already are,” Starbucks Chief Operating Officer Mike Grams said.Starbucks expects to open more than 575 new U.S. stores over the next three years. It developed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-coffee-open-new-stores-investors-c1ac462204ea97754380b6f6bd9f200c">a smaller-format store</a>&nbsp;that is cheaper to build but still has indoor seating, drive-thru lanes and mobile pickup. The company said the reduced scale would allow Starbucks stores to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-close-stores-layoffs-3aa70c7d3828520855998a490ebe865b">operate in locations</a>&nbsp;they couldn’t before.Starbucks is also adding new products, like updated pastries and snackable foods that are high in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fiber-fibermaxxing-digestion-wellness-730bdd5f68f448fe979f4ebd598e2340">protein and fiber</a>, to try to win back customers.<h2>What’s on the menu</h2>Lack of menu innovation is one reason Starbucks has struggled, especially among younger consumers who like novelty and will try new places to find it, Saunders said.Arizona-based Dutch Bros, for example, added protein coffee drinks in January 2024, nearly two years before Starbucks did. Energy drinks make up 25% of Dutch Bros’ business almost 14 years after the chain introduced them. Starbucks offered iced energy drinks for a limited time in 2024; executives said Thursday that customizable energy drinks would appear on the Starbucks menu soon.Dutch Bros, which is led by former Starbucks executive Christine Barone, has just over 1,000 shops in the U.S. and hopes to double that number by 2029. It’s betting that customers want speed and convenience; nearly all of its stores are drive-thrus with walk-up windows.Dutch Bros also focuses on value. In a recent meeting with investors, Barone pointed out that Dutch Bros’ medium drinks are 24 ounces; at Starbucks, a medium drink is 16 ounces.Luckin, whose app brims with coupons and promotions, is also value-oriented. On a recent afternoon, one of its nine New York stores buzzed with customers picking up mobile orders. The tiny shop had no seating.Xunyi Xie, who was visiting New York from his home in Delaware, said he stopped by to try a Velvet Latte because Luckin had a $1.99 drink promotion. Xie said he normally brews his own espresso, but if Luckin opened a store that was on his way to work, he would go there.As for Starbucks? “I think it’s overpriced,” Xie said.<h2>Starbucks’ future</h2>In 2024, the average customer spent $9.34 at Starbucks, compared to $8.44 at Dutch Bros and $4.68 at Dunkin’, according to an analysis by the investment research company Morningstar.Starbucks didn’t raise prices in its 2025 fiscal year and has vowed to be judicious about future increases. But Ari Felhandler, an equity analyst with Morningstar, said it would be a mistake for Starbucks to try to win over customers with discounts because competitors will always go lower.“Keep your prices the same and try to justify them,” Felhandler said. He thinks Starbucks’ store redesigns and new menu items will bring back traffic.Grams, Starbucks’ chief operating officer, said the company firmly believes its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-coffee-sales-results-d555357a6d70c0a144958826e92d91c9">best way forward</a>&nbsp;is not drive-thru-only stores or mobile pickup kiosks. It’s building cafes with comfortable seating — the “soul of Starbucks,” as he put it — that also serve mobile, drive-thru and delivery customers. Customers sometimes want something convenient, and they sometimes want to dwell, he said.“There’s always going to be competition. We’re aware of it, we keep an eye on it for sure, but we don’t try to be them,” Grams told The Associated Press. “We offer something that most people don’t, which is a legitimate space to sit down, enjoy and use it for a variety of different reasons.”But Kayes, of George Washington University, wonders if that strategy will be enough to keep Starbucks on top, or if customers who want a cozy or premium experience have already moved on to independent coffee shops or upscale chains like Blue Bottle.“In some ways, I think they are a victim of their own success,” Kayes said. “I do think that the aura of Starbucks as being something special and unique and exciting isn’t there anymore.”

America is drinking more coffee but less of it from Starbucks

Contender Vicki Schmidt skips debate to protest mandatory $10,000 payment to state party

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

WICHITA — Six Republican candidates for Kansas governor stepped onto the debate stage Friday intent on finding separation from their rivals despite unanimity on key issues of abortion, marijuana, judicial bias and praise for President Donald Trump.

The goal of offering voters a distinct vision of themselves at the event sponsored by the Kansas Republican Party surfaced quickly as Charlotte O’Hara, a former Johnson County commissioner and Kansas House member, launched into an opening statement that sought to undercut a couple of her peers.

“We’re going to have some real difficult discussions this evening because Kansas has a real problem, within the Republican Party, of a vast sea of RINOs masquerading as Republicans,” said O’Hara, who directly chastised Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt and Senate President Ty Masterson for being too chummy with Democrats.

Masterson, an Andover Republican, said O’Hara’s broadside against fellow Republicans had been shown to be toxic for voters.

“That type of thing is why we lose in the general election. We spend time cutting each other off at the legs,” he said, glancing at the other GOP candidates. “This is not the enemy. The Democrats are the enemy.”

Philip Sarnecki, a financial services executive who has never before run for elected office, picked up the attack thread by noting Trump carried Kansas three times by double-digits in the same era that Kansans twice elected Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Without naming names, he criticized longstanding politicians next to him, including former Gov. Jeff Colyer, Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Masterson. He apparently wasn’t referring to Joy Eakins, who only has won election to the Wichita school board.

“Career politicians are failing us,” Sarnecki said. “I am tired of watching Republicans lose in Kansas. No more losing. It’s time to start winning again, and that’s why I’m running for governor.”

Eakins jumped into the fray by declaring that veteran politicians in Kansas were undermining the American dream. She said the state’s established politicians “have been stewarding our decline. You see it everywhere.”

Colyer, who was lieutenant governor to Gov. Sam Brownback before assuming the top job for one year, said he didn’t appreciate the notion experience working as the state’s chief executive was a handicap.

“Kansas needs a proven, strong, competent conservative governor who will fight for you and who will stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump,” Colyer said. “This is about winning. This is about taking back our state so that we are the beating heart of America once again.”

Schwab, who struggled with a health issue that weakened his speaking voice, said he grew as a leader by working as secretary of state and serving in the Kansas House.

“Having experience to understand the terrain has always been a plus in America,” he said. “They call be a career politician, but no one’s insulting my integrity.”

Absent from the GOP debate was Schmidt, the state’s insurance commissioner. In a letter to GOP officials, Schmidt said she strongly opposed the state party’s $10,000 “pay-to-play” requirement for candidates who wanted to participate in the debate. She said the Republican Party should remain neutral during the primary campaign and that every GOP candidate for office ought to have equal opportunities to share their views at party-sanctioned events.

“Under this agreement, the party picks winners and losers,” Schmidt said. “President Trump has brought new voters to the party and we need to be encouraging good folks to run for office as Republicans, not creating road blocks and challenges that discourage them.”

Despite a bit of theatrical elbowing on the stage, the six candidates found harmony on the goal of reducing the number of abortions performed at Kansas clinics, rejecting legalization of medicinal or recreational marijuana in Kansas and endorsing a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution — on the August ballot — that would require justices of the Kansas Supreme Court to be elected by popular vote.

In 2024, the state reported more than 19,000 abortions due to an influx of women from states that essentially banned the procedure. The state Supreme Court issued an opinion in 2019 that said a foundational right in the Kansas Constitution to bodily autonomy granted women the ability to decide whether to end a pregnancy. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion has remained legal in Kansas.

Colyer said at the current rate of growth in abortions in Kansas, there would be more abortions reported than live births in the state by 2030.

“How do we defend innocent life? I think this is one of the civil rights issues of our time,” Colyer said. “We have a Supreme Court that has found this right to abortion that is nowhere found in that constitution. It’s our fastest-growing industry in the state of Kansas.”

In lockstep, each of the other candidates — Schwab, Masterson, Eakins, Sarnecki and O’Hara — outlined their revulsion with Kansas’ status as an abortion destination state.

“It is frustration that the court hates its Legislature,” Schwab said. “That’s unholy. I feel horrible that a young woman can be manipulated to have an abortion, and there’s no recourse.”

The candidates had a lively conversation about marijuana use that at times appeared to clash with scientific reality.

Eakins, a businesswoman who was on the school board in Wichita, said she didn’t want high school students thinking about where to score a joint rather than focusing on their reading and math test scores. Where marijuana had been legalized, she said, states collected $1 in taxes for every $4 expended to deal with health problems resulting from pot.

“It creates all kinds of problems inside a culture that then need services,” she said. “I’ve watched families raise there children in states with this legalized marijuana … and all of them had struggles.”

Sarnecki, who said he’d never tried marijuana, said he opposed legalization because chemicals in the product would lead to a swift dumbing down of the nation. He said the active ingredient in pot these days was much higher than what was in the 1970s or 1980s.

“This is not you mom and dad’s marijuana,” he said. “Marijuana is a gateway drug. It creates massive problems — hallucinations, schizophrenia, massive anxiety.”

Masterson, who controls the Kansas Senate debate calendar, said he wouldn’t welcome legislation to legalize marijuana in Kansas, but he endorsed Trump’s decision to open the door to research on marijuana because pot was pervasive in the United States. He predicted research would demonstrate it was “damaging.”

All six candidates threw their weight behind the proposed constitutional amendment to transform how Kansas Supreme Court justices were placed on the high court. Currently, applicants for openings were interviewed by a committee that included a majority of attorneys. The committee forwarded up to three finalists to the state’s governor, who selected a person to fill the vacancy.

The amendment would eliminate that merit-selection process and replace it with statewide elections for justices. Other states that have chosen this method fostered a wild political atmosphere in which millions of dollars were spent on elections.

O’Hara, the former Johnson County commissioner, said the current process was dominated by the Kansas Bar Association. It resulted in appointment of justices who forced the state to increase spending on K-12 education and found a loophole in the constitution to keep abortion legal.

“We have to have direct elections of our justices,” she said. “It needs to be a partisan election. We have to stop allowing the Kansas Bar Association control our life through their erroneous judicial decisions.”

Danedri Herbert, chairwoman of the state Republican Party, told about 500 people gathered for the debate the primary election result wouldn’t satisfy everyone in the room. She urged Republicans to come together in November to defeat the Democratic Party’s choice.

“The one that walks away with the crown may not be your favorite,” she said. “At the end of it, we still want all of you on board because when all Republicans are united, we win.”

The dust in what could be a boisterous campaign for the Republican nomination won’t settle until votes are counted in Aug. 4 election in Kansas.

Johanna Warshaw, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Governors Association, said the “crowded, messy race to the right where attacks are already flying and candidates are staking out the most extreme positions” was on display at the Wichita Marriott. She asserted the Kansas GOP’s potential candidates to replace Kelly had aligned themselves with the Trump administration.

“The GOP candidates running for governor have all embraced the administration’s unpopular, cost-raising agenda,” Warshaw said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769894326015.png" alt="Former Gov. Jeff Colyer makes a point during the Kansas Republican Party’s gubernatorial candidate debate in Wichita. Six contenders took part, but Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt declined because the state GOP demanded a $10,000 contribution to take part. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Former Gov. Jeff Colyer makes a point during the Kansas Republican Party’s gubernatorial candidate debate in Wichita. Six contenders took part, but Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt declined because the state GOP demanded a $10,000 contribution to take part. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Contender Vicki Schmidt skips debate to protest mandatory $10,000 payment to state party</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>WICHITA — Six Republican candidates for Kansas governor stepped onto the debate stage Friday intent on finding separation from their rivals despite unanimity on key issues of abortion, marijuana, judicial bias and praise for President Donald Trump.The goal of offering voters a distinct vision of themselves at the event sponsored by the Kansas Republican Party surfaced quickly as Charlotte O’Hara, a former Johnson County commissioner and Kansas House member, launched into an opening statement that sought to undercut a couple of her peers.“We’re going to have some real difficult discussions this evening because Kansas has a real problem, within the Republican Party, of a vast sea of RINOs masquerading as Republicans,” said O’Hara, who directly chastised Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt and Senate President Ty Masterson for being too chummy with Democrats.Masterson, an Andover Republican, said O’Hara’s broadside against fellow Republicans had been shown to be toxic for voters.“That type of thing is why we lose in the general election. We spend time cutting each other off at the legs,” he said, glancing at the other GOP candidates. “This is not the enemy. The Democrats are the enemy.”Philip Sarnecki, a financial services executive who has never before run for elected office, picked up the attack thread by noting Trump carried Kansas three times by double-digits in the same era that Kansans twice elected Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Without naming names, he criticized longstanding politicians next to him, including former Gov. Jeff Colyer, Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Masterson. He apparently wasn’t referring to Joy Eakins, who only has won election to the Wichita school board.“Career politicians are failing us,” Sarnecki said. “I am tired of watching Republicans lose in Kansas. No more losing. It’s time to start winning again, and that’s why I’m running for governor.”Eakins jumped into the fray by declaring that veteran politicians in Kansas were undermining the American dream. She said the state’s established politicians “have been stewarding our decline. You see it everywhere.”Colyer, who was lieutenant governor to Gov. Sam Brownback before assuming the top job for one year, said he didn’t appreciate the notion experience working as the state’s chief executive was a handicap.“Kansas needs a proven, strong, competent conservative governor who will fight for you and who will stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump,” Colyer said. “This is about winning. This is about taking back our state so that we are the beating heart of America once again.”Schwab, who struggled with a health issue that weakened his speaking voice, said he grew as a leader by working as secretary of state and serving in the Kansas House.“Having experience to understand the terrain has always been a plus in America,” he said. “They call be a career politician, but no one’s insulting my integrity.”Absent from the GOP debate was Schmidt, the state’s insurance commissioner. In a letter to GOP officials, Schmidt said she strongly opposed the state party’s $10,000 “pay-to-play” requirement for candidates who wanted to participate in the debate. She said the Republican Party should remain neutral during the primary campaign and that every GOP candidate for office ought to have equal opportunities to share their views at party-sanctioned events.“Under this agreement, the party picks winners and losers,” Schmidt said. “President Trump has brought new voters to the party and we need to be encouraging good folks to run for office as Republicans, not creating road blocks and challenges that discourage them.”Despite a bit of theatrical elbowing on the stage, the six candidates found harmony on the goal of reducing the number of abortions performed at Kansas clinics, rejecting legalization of medicinal or recreational marijuana in Kansas and endorsing a proposed amendment to the Kansas Constitution — on the August ballot — that would require justices of the Kansas Supreme Court to be elected by popular vote.In 2024, the state reported more than 19,000 abortions due to an influx of women from states that essentially banned the procedure. The state Supreme Court issued an opinion in 2019 that said a foundational right in the Kansas Constitution to bodily autonomy granted women the ability to decide whether to end a pregnancy. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion has remained legal in Kansas.Colyer said at the current rate of growth in abortions in Kansas, there would be more abortions reported than live births in the state by 2030.“How do we defend innocent life? I think this is one of the civil rights issues of our time,” Colyer said. “We have a Supreme Court that has found this right to abortion that is nowhere found in that constitution. It’s our fastest-growing industry in the state of Kansas.”In lockstep, each of the other candidates — Schwab, Masterson, Eakins, Sarnecki and O’Hara — outlined their revulsion with Kansas’ status as an abortion destination state.“It is frustration that the court hates its Legislature,” Schwab said. “That’s unholy. I feel horrible that a young woman can be manipulated to have an abortion, and there’s no recourse.”The candidates had a lively conversation about marijuana use that at times appeared to clash with scientific reality.Eakins, a businesswoman who was on the school board in Wichita, said she didn’t want high school students thinking about where to score a joint rather than focusing on their reading and math test scores. Where marijuana had been legalized, she said, states collected $1 in taxes for every $4 expended to deal with health problems resulting from pot.“It creates all kinds of problems inside a culture that then need services,” she said. “I’ve watched families raise there children in states with this legalized marijuana … and all of them had struggles.”Sarnecki, who said he’d never tried marijuana, said he opposed legalization because chemicals in the product would lead to a swift dumbing down of the nation. He said the active ingredient in pot these days was much higher than what was in the 1970s or 1980s.“This is not you mom and dad’s marijuana,” he said. “Marijuana is a gateway drug. It creates massive problems — hallucinations, schizophrenia, massive anxiety.”Masterson, who controls the Kansas Senate debate calendar, said he wouldn’t welcome legislation to legalize marijuana in Kansas, but he endorsed Trump’s decision to open the door to research on marijuana because pot was pervasive in the United States. He predicted research would demonstrate it was “damaging.”All six candidates threw their weight behind the proposed constitutional amendment to transform how Kansas Supreme Court justices were placed on the high court. Currently, applicants for openings were interviewed by a committee that included a majority of attorneys. The committee forwarded up to three finalists to the state’s governor, who selected a person to fill the vacancy.The amendment would eliminate that merit-selection process and replace it with statewide elections for justices. Other states that have chosen this method fostered a wild political atmosphere in which millions of dollars were spent on elections.O’Hara, the former Johnson County commissioner, said the current process was dominated by the Kansas Bar Association. It resulted in appointment of justices who forced the state to increase spending on K-12 education and found a loophole in the constitution to keep abortion legal.“We have to have direct elections of our justices,” she said. “It needs to be a partisan election. We have to stop allowing the Kansas Bar Association control our life through their erroneous judicial decisions.”Danedri Herbert, chairwoman of the state Republican Party, told about 500 people gathered for the debate the primary election result wouldn’t satisfy everyone in the room. She urged Republicans to come together in November to defeat the Democratic Party’s choice.“The one that walks away with the crown may not be your favorite,” she said. “At the end of it, we still want all of you on board because when all Republicans are united, we win.”The dust in what could be a boisterous campaign for the Republican nomination won’t settle until votes are counted in Aug. 4 election in Kansas.Johanna Warshaw, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Governors Association, said the “crowded, messy race to the right where attacks are already flying and candidates are staking out the most extreme positions” was on display at the Wichita Marriott. She asserted the Kansas GOP’s potential candidates to replace Kelly had aligned themselves with the Trump administration.“The GOP candidates running for governor have all embraced the administration’s unpopular, cost-raising agenda,” Warshaw said.

Six Kansas GOP candidates for governor toss haymakers in first debate, find unity on key issues

KANSAS CITY —One person died in shooting at a restaurant in Kansas City.

Just&nbsp;after 8p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at a restaurant at 31st and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders located two shooting victims inside the restaurant, one of the victims was alert and responsive, the second victim was unresponsive.&nbsp;

Officers rendered aid and called for EMS to the scene.&nbsp;EMS transported one vicim to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, he was last listed in stable condition, according to Becchina.

EMS took over treatment of the second, unresponsive victim and ultimately declared him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene and took over the investigation.&nbsp;

Preliminary information indicates that one or more people were inside the restaurant when an interaction between multiple people escalated to gunfire. That gunfire struck both victims. The suspect or suspects then left the restaurant in an unknown direction.&nbsp;

If anyone was in the restaurant or nearby and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1769955887917.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —One person died in shooting at a restaurant in Kansas City.Just&nbsp;after 8p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at a restaurant at 31st and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.First responders located two shooting victims inside the restaurant, one of the victims was alert and responsive, the second victim was unresponsive.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1769955867317.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Officers rendered aid and called for EMS to the scene.&nbsp;EMS transported one vicim to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, he was last listed in stable condition, according to Becchina.EMS took over treatment of the second, unresponsive victim and ultimately declared him deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene and took over the investigation.&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates that one or more people were inside the restaurant when an interaction between multiple people escalated to gunfire. That gunfire struck both victims. The suspect or suspects then left the restaurant in an unknown direction.&nbsp;If anyone was in the restaurant or nearby and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

One dead, another wounded in KC restaurant shooting

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/moriah-balingit">MORIAH BALINGIT</a> Associated Press

As a continuation of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s pitch to Americans on affordability and the economy under his administration, the U.S. Treasury and White House are celebrating the upcoming launch of a program they view as a key milestone: Trump Accounts.

A provision of Trump’s tax legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-bonds-trump-child-poverty-8503180dc5c57a2f20dd59d7ece01d6a">Trump Accounts</a>&nbsp;are meant to give $1,000 to every newborn, so long as their parents open an account. That money is then invested in the stock market by private firms, and the child can access the money when they turn 18.

A U.S. Treasury event Wednesday brought together an assortment of politicians and celebrities — from Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to rapper Nicki Minaj and NBC’s “Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary — to discuss the program and its potential impact on the economy. Backers of Trump Accounts have said they’re a way to help children from low-income households build wealth.

The investments will put money “in the hands of young Americans who otherwise have really started out with nothing,” Trump said. He also called on employers across the country to make matching Trump Accounts contributions for employee benefits, as some companies have already pledged to do so.

“Every president in modern history has left our children with nothing but debt,” Trump said. “But under this administration, we’re going to leave every child with real assets and a shot at financial freedom.”

Here’s what you need to know about Trump Accounts and how to claim them.

It’s a new savings tool where money is invested in the stock market on behalf of a child. The child can’t access the money until they turn 18 and can only use it for specific purposes, such as paying tuition, starting a business or making a down payment on a home.

After a parent opens an account, the U.S. Treasury will contribute $1,000 for newborns. Private banks and brokerages will manage the money, which must be invested in U.S. equity index funds that track the stock market and charge the accounts no more than 0.10% in annual fees.

Parents can contribute up to $2,500 annually in pretax income, much like they do for retirement accounts. Parents’ employers, relatives, friends, local governments and philanthropic groups can also pitch in. Yearly contributions are capped at $5,000, but contributions from governments and charities don’t count toward that total.

“We’re doing something much better than giving the next generation a handout,” Trump said. “We’re giving them ownership of America’s future.”

As part of the initiative’s launch, parents of older children are also encouraged to open accounts, but they won’t get the $1,000 bonus. That money is reserved for babies born during the calendar years of the Trump administration.

To qualify for the $1,000 seed money, a baby must be a U.S. citizen, have a Social Security number and be born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. Any parent can open an account for a qualifying child, regardless of the parent’s immigration status.

It’s important to note that the child won’t be able to access the money until they turn 18, except in rare circumstances, so it can’t help with immediate expenses. And disbursements from the accounts will be subject to taxes.

Can older kids get any bonuses for their Trump Account?

Some can, thanks to contributions from some of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.

In December, billionaires Michael and Susan Dell announced a $6.25 billion donation that will allow some children who are 10 and under to receive $250 in seed money if their parents open an account. That money is reserved for kids who live in ZIP codes with a median family income of $150,000 or less and who won’t get the $1,000 seed money from the Treasury.

A few weeks later, hedge fund founder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-accounts-ray-dalio-086e4ec76806711d88c6499961c37e71">Ray Dalio and his wife Barbara pledged $75 million</a>&nbsp;for kids under 10 in Connecticut, where Dalio lives. That would amount to $250 for 300,000 children in qualifying ZIP codes.

At Wednesday’s event, Trump announced another pledge from investor Brad Gerstner to donate $250 into Trump Accounts for every child under 5 in Indiana.

Several major companies also plan to add Trump Accounts contributions to their benefits packages, including Uber, Intel, IBM, Nvidia and Steak ‘n Shake. The administration has encouraged such donations through what U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls the “50 State Challenge.”

How do I open a Trump Account for my kids?

The accounts won’t be open for contributions until July 2026, but parents of eligible kids can sign up using Form 4547 from the Internal Revenue Service. Parents can fill out the form when filing taxes this year or when the administration opens an online portal this summer, according to the Trump Accounts website.

Registering for a Trump Account is required for a child to receive the money. In May, parents who sign up will get information about how to finish opening the accounts.

Backers of the accounts say they want to introduce more people to the stock market and give even children born into poverty a chance to benefit from it. Supporters also say the accounts bolster capitalism at a time when openly socialist candidates are growing more popular.

“The answer to more socialism is more capitalism,” Gerstner said at Wednesday’s event. “This makes every child in America a capitalist from birth.”

About 58% of U.S. households held stocks or bonds in 2022, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, though the wealthiest 1% owned almost half the value of stocks in that same year.

Before Trump created the accounts, California, Connecticut and the District of Columbia were piloting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-education-b365606b5c5433aa0f5febac0b2ae2d6">“baby bonds” programs</a>&nbsp;that are similar to Trump Accounts in some ways. Several other states, including Maryland, are weighing programs.

But those programs are targeted for youth growing up in poverty or foster care, plus children who lost a parent to COVID-19. Wealthier children don’t benefit. They’re also managed by the state, not private investment firms.

Critics point out the accounts do little to help children in their early years, when they’re most vulnerable and most likely to be in poverty. The accounts, they say, also fail to offset cuts the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have made to other programs that benefit young people and their families, including food assistance and Medicaid. Republicans created the accounts in the same Trump tax bill that reduced spending for some of those programs.

And even with the contribution from the government, critics say the Trump Accounts will widen the wealth gap. Affluent families that can afford to make the maximum pretax contribution to the accounts will realize the greatest benefits. Poor families who can’t afford to set aside money for the accounts will benefit the least. Assuming a 7% return, the $1,000 in seed money would grow to roughly $3,570 over 18 years.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769636019017.png" alt="President Donald Trump celebrates the launch of “Trump Accounts” for newborn children. During the summit, President Trump was joined by rapper Nicki Minaj, who proclaimed herself “his number one fan.”-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Donald Trump celebrates the launch of “Trump Accounts” for newborn children. During the summit, President Trump was joined by rapper Nicki Minaj, who proclaimed herself “his number one fan.”-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/makiya-seminera">MAKIYA SEMINERA</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/moriah-balingit">MORIAH BALINGIT</a> Associated PressAs a continuation of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s pitch to Americans on affordability and the economy under his administration, the U.S. Treasury and White House are celebrating the upcoming launch of a program they view as a key milestone: Trump Accounts.A provision of Trump’s tax legislation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-bonds-trump-child-poverty-8503180dc5c57a2f20dd59d7ece01d6a">Trump Accounts</a>&nbsp;are meant to give $1,000 to every newborn, so long as their parents open an account. That money is then invested in the stock market by private firms, and the child can access the money when they turn 18.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpAccounts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TrumpAccounts</a>: &quot;Every President in modern history has left our children with nothing but debt — but under this Administration, we&#39;re going to leave every child with real assets and a shot at financial freedom.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/FG9YkGWk56">pic.twitter.com/FG9YkGWk56</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016548765159608437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: Dozens of major employers have signed up to add <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpAccounts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TrumpAccounts</a> contributions to their employee benefit packages — including Uber, Schwab, Charter, Intel, Nvidia, Broadcom, IBM, Steak &#39;n Shake, Coinbase, Continental Resources, Comcast, and many others. <a href="https://t.co/U2a0o1CKtK">pic.twitter.com/U2a0o1CKtK</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016554283630579843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/NICKIMINAJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NICKIMINAJ</a>: &quot;I am probably <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>&#39; number one fan, and that’s not going to change... We&#39;re not going to let them get away with bullying him, and the smear campaigns... He has a lot of force behind him, and God is protecting him.&quot; ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/kQaNgCx4eO">https://t.co/kQaNgCx4eO</a> <a href="https://t.co/jUAZlwbIOW">pic.twitter.com/jUAZlwbIOW</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016553004220964978?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on Trump Accounts: &quot;For the first time ever, we&#39;re going to give every newborn American child a financial stake in the future, a head start at life, and a fair shot at the American Dream.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Kw1RaFg5BL">pic.twitter.com/Kw1RaFg5BL</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2016546217237369225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A U.S. Treasury event Wednesday brought together an assortment of politicians and celebrities — from Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz to rapper Nicki Minaj and NBC’s “Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary — to discuss the program and its potential impact on the economy. Backers of Trump Accounts have said they’re a way to help children from low-income households build wealth.The investments will put money “in the hands of young Americans who otherwise have really started out with nothing,” Trump said. He also called on employers across the country to make matching Trump Accounts contributions for employee benefits, as some companies have already pledged to do so.“Every president in modern history has left our children with nothing but debt,” Trump said. “But under this administration, we’re going to leave every child with real assets and a shot at financial freedom.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Learn more about how to sign your child up for a Trump Account here: <a href="https://t.co/rixXn1KZXa">https://t.co/rixXn1KZXa</a> <a href="https://t.co/lVDVvMjVHa">pic.twitter.com/lVDVvMjVHa</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2016569055897874915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here’s what you need to know about Trump Accounts and how to claim them.<h2>What is a Trump Account?</h2>It’s a new savings tool where money is invested in the stock market on behalf of a child. The child can’t access the money until they turn 18 and can only use it for specific purposes, such as paying tuition, starting a business or making a down payment on a home.After a parent opens an account, the U.S. Treasury will contribute $1,000 for newborns. Private banks and brokerages will manage the money, which must be invested in U.S. equity index funds that track the stock market and charge the accounts no more than 0.10% in annual fees.Parents can contribute up to $2,500 annually in pretax income, much like they do for retirement accounts. Parents’ employers, relatives, friends, local governments and philanthropic groups can also pitch in. Yearly contributions are capped at $5,000, but contributions from governments and charities don’t count toward that total.“We’re doing something much better than giving the next generation a handout,” Trump said. “We’re giving them ownership of America’s future.”<h2>Who gets $1,000?</h2>As part of the initiative’s launch, parents of older children are also encouraged to open accounts, but they won’t get the $1,000 bonus. That money is reserved for babies born during the calendar years of the Trump administration.To qualify for the $1,000 seed money, a baby must be a U.S. citizen, have a Social Security number and be born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. Any parent can open an account for a qualifying child, regardless of the parent’s immigration status.It’s important to note that the child won’t be able to access the money until they turn 18, except in rare circumstances, so it can’t help with immediate expenses. And disbursements from the accounts will be subject to taxes.<h2>Can older kids get any bonuses for their Trump Account?</h2>Some can, thanks to contributions from some of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.In December, billionaires Michael and Susan Dell announced a $6.25 billion donation that will allow some children who are 10 and under to receive $250 in seed money if their parents open an account. That money is reserved for kids who live in ZIP codes with a median family income of $150,000 or less and who won’t get the $1,000 seed money from the Treasury.A few weeks later, hedge fund founder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-accounts-ray-dalio-086e4ec76806711d88c6499961c37e71">Ray Dalio and his wife Barbara pledged $75 million</a>&nbsp;for kids under 10 in Connecticut, where Dalio lives. That would amount to $250 for 300,000 children in qualifying ZIP codes.At Wednesday’s event, Trump announced another pledge from investor Brad Gerstner to donate $250 into Trump Accounts for every child under 5 in Indiana.Several major companies also plan to add Trump Accounts contributions to their benefits packages, including Uber, Intel, IBM, Nvidia and Steak ‘n Shake. The administration has encouraged such donations through what U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calls the “50 State Challenge.”<h2>How do I open a Trump Account for my kids?</h2>The accounts won’t be open for contributions until July 2026, but parents of eligible kids can sign up using Form 4547 from the Internal Revenue Service. Parents can fill out the form when filing taxes this year or when the administration opens an online portal this summer, according to the Trump Accounts website.Registering for a Trump Account is required for a child to receive the money. In May, parents who sign up will get information about how to finish opening the accounts.<h2>What’s the idea behind the accounts?</h2>Backers of the accounts say they want to introduce more people to the stock market and give even children born into poverty a chance to benefit from it. Supporters also say the accounts bolster capitalism at a time when openly socialist candidates are growing more popular.“The answer to more socialism is more capitalism,” Gerstner said at Wednesday’s event. “This makes every child in America a capitalist from birth.”About 58% of U.S. households held stocks or bonds in 2022, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, though the wealthiest 1% owned almost half the value of stocks in that same year.Before Trump created the accounts, California, Connecticut and the District of Columbia were piloting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-education-b365606b5c5433aa0f5febac0b2ae2d6">“baby bonds” programs</a>&nbsp;that are similar to Trump Accounts in some ways. Several other states, including Maryland, are weighing programs.But those programs are targeted for youth growing up in poverty or foster care, plus children who lost a parent to COVID-19. Wealthier children don’t benefit. They’re also managed by the state, not private investment firms.<h2>What do critics say?</h2>Critics point out the accounts do little to help children in their early years, when they’re most vulnerable and most likely to be in poverty. The accounts, they say, also fail to offset cuts the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have made to other programs that benefit young people and their families, including food assistance and Medicaid. Republicans created the accounts in the same Trump tax bill that reduced spending for some of those programs.And even with the contribution from the government, critics say the Trump Accounts will widen the wealth gap. Affluent families that can afford to make the maximum pretax contribution to the accounts will realize the greatest benefits. Poor families who can’t afford to set aside money for the accounts will benefit the least. Assuming a 7% return, the $1,000 in seed money would grow to roughly $3,570 over 18 years.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

How your baby could qualify for $1,000 with a Trump Account

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a> &nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ap-airlines">AP Airlines</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/travel-writer">Travel Writer</a>

That little star on your U.S. driver’s license is about to save you $45.

Beginning Sunday, air travelers in the U.S. without a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-may-required-air-travel-flying-d3c748cae8c2f496f2b496b53aab6724">REAL ID</a>&nbsp;or another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport, are subject to a new fee.

It isn't a penalty or a fine — it's payment for non-compliant travelers to use the Transportation Security Administration's new alternate identity verification option called ConfirmID. But the process takes extra time, and paying the fee doesn’t guarantee you’ll make your flight.

The Department of Homeland Security says most U.S. travelers are already compliant and that the fee is meant to encourage the rest — those without a star-marked REAL ID — to obtain one.

Still, the new fee may catch some passengers off guard, so here's a breakdown:

It is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that meets enhanced requirements mandated in the aftermath of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/september-11-attacks">Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks</a>.

Obtaining the ID means taking more documents to the motor vehicle agency than most states require for regular IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008, but the implementation was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/when-do-i-need-real-id-7911495d6643b02c205d496a9af4e322">repeatedly delayed</a>.

The updated ID is indicated by a white star in a yellow circle in most U.S. states. It has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-travelers-tsa-when-deadline-f0923fe95923e9675d556ee7e08df326">required since May</a>, but travelers without it — and without another TSA-accepted ID — were still allowed through security with extra screening and a warning. That changes Sunday.

Travelers 18 and older flying domestically without proper identification on them will have to pay $45 to verify their identity at the airport through the ConfirmID process. If approved, the verification covers a 10-day travel period.

Paying the fee, however, does not guarantee access to U.S. air travel, and passengers whose identities cannot be verified may be turned away at airport security.

“This fee ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs,” said Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator.

The service fee is paid online at tsa.gov/ConfirmID. Travelers will have to enter their legal name and the start date of their travel. Accepted payment methods include debit and credit cards, Venmo and PayPal.

Someone other than the traveler can make the payment, according to TSA, but the traveler’s information must be entered correctly.

Passengers will then receive an emailed payment receipt from pay.gov.

At the airport checkpoint, show a government-issued ID and a digital or printed copy of the receipt to begin the verification process.

TSA recommends that travelers pay the fee before arriving at the airport to save on time, as the verification process alone could take up to 30 minutes.

TSA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-travel-passport-ae7ab15d6a32e6005d9c85def4e39737">accepts digital IDs</a>&nbsp;through platforms such as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/digital-id/participating-states">more than 250 airport checkpoints</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.

The agency has a full list of acceptable IDs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification">on its website</a>. They include:

— Trusted traveler cards, such as Global Entry or NEXUS

— Photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764636170272.png" alt="Photo KCI" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCI</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a> &nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ap-airlines">AP Airlines</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/travel-writer">Travel Writer</a>That little star on your U.S. driver’s license is about to save you $45.Beginning Sunday, air travelers in the U.S. without a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-may-required-air-travel-flying-d3c748cae8c2f496f2b496b53aab6724">REAL ID</a>&nbsp;or another acceptable form of identification, such as a passport, are subject to a new fee.It isn't a penalty or a fine — it's payment for non-compliant travelers to use the Transportation Security Administration's new alternate identity verification option called ConfirmID. But the process takes extra time, and paying the fee doesn’t guarantee you’ll make your flight.The Department of Homeland Security says most U.S. travelers are already compliant and that the fee is meant to encourage the rest — those without a star-marked REAL ID — to obtain one.Still, the new fee may catch some passengers off guard, so here's a breakdown:<h2>What is a REAL ID?</h2>It is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that meets enhanced requirements mandated in the aftermath of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/september-11-attacks">Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks</a>.Obtaining the ID means taking more documents to the motor vehicle agency than most states require for regular IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008, but the implementation was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/when-do-i-need-real-id-7911495d6643b02c205d496a9af4e322">repeatedly delayed</a>.The updated ID is indicated by a white star in a yellow circle in most U.S. states. It has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-travelers-tsa-when-deadline-f0923fe95923e9675d556ee7e08df326">required since May</a>, but travelers without it — and without another TSA-accepted ID — were still allowed through security with extra screening and a warning. That changes Sunday.<h2>Who has to pay?</h2>Travelers 18 and older flying domestically without proper identification on them will have to pay $45 to verify their identity at the airport through the ConfirmID process. If approved, the verification covers a 10-day travel period.Paying the fee, however, does not guarantee access to U.S. air travel, and passengers whose identities cannot be verified may be turned away at airport security.“This fee ensures that non-compliant travelers, not taxpayers, cover the cost of processing travelers without acceptable IDs,” said Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator.<h2>How it works</h2>The service fee is paid online at tsa.gov/ConfirmID. Travelers will have to enter their legal name and the start date of their travel. Accepted payment methods include debit and credit cards, Venmo and PayPal.Someone other than the traveler can make the payment, according to TSA, but the traveler’s information must be entered correctly.Passengers will then receive an emailed payment receipt from pay.gov.At the airport checkpoint, show a government-issued ID and a digital or printed copy of the receipt to begin the verification process.TSA recommends that travelers pay the fee before arriving at the airport to save on time, as the verification process alone could take up to 30 minutes.<h2>Other accepted forms of ID</h2>TSA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-travel-passport-ae7ab15d6a32e6005d9c85def4e39737">accepts digital IDs</a>&nbsp;through platforms such as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/digital-id/participating-states">more than 250 airport checkpoints</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.The agency has a full list of acceptable IDs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification">on its website</a>. They include:— Passport or passport card— Permanent resident cards— Trusted traveler cards, such as Global Entry or NEXUS— Military IDs— Photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations

No REAL ID yet? You can still fly, but it may cost you extra starting now 

LEAVENWORTH—On Saturday at approximately 12:15 a.m., Leslie Bruce Larcade was found unresponsive at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Leavenworth in Leavenworth, Kansas, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

<a>Responding employees&nbsp;</a>initiated life-saving measures.&nbsp; Emergency medical services (EMS) were requested while life-saving efforts continued.&nbsp;

Larcade was subsequently pronounced deceased by EMS personnel. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified. No employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured,&nbsp;and at no time was the public in danger.

Larcade was a 61-year-old&nbsp; who was sentenced in the Western District of Arkansas to a 360-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping.&nbsp; 

He had been in custody at FCI Leavenworth since August 12, 2025.&nbsp;

In 2012, Leslie Bruce Larcade and Chrystal Lynn Larcade appeared in federal court for arraignment on charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping resulting in death, according to a statement from the FBI.

Leslie Larcade, 47, and his wife Chrystal Larcade, 37, both of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Harry F. Barnes who scheduled trial for April 18, 2012. If convicted of the conspiracy charge Leslie and Chrystal Larcade face up to life imprisonment and up to $250,000 in fines and if convicted of kidnapping resulting in death, Leslie and Chrystal Larcade face punishment of life imprisonment or death. A federal grand jury returned the indictment in this matter on January 25, 2012.

The indictment alleges that on August 13, 2011, the defendants handcuffed the victim, placed him in a vehicle, and drove him from McCurtain County, Oklahoma to Miller County, Arkansas. It is also alleged that the defendants placed a noose around the neck of the victim causing various injuries to the victim which resulted in his death. The indictment further alleges that the defendants dumped the body of the victim at the Texarkana Speedway in Miller County, Arkansas.

In April of 2014, Larcade and his wife were sentenced to 30-years in prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754061661114.png" alt=" Leavenworth Federal Correctional Institution photo by Tim Carpenter" />
 <figcaption> Leavenworth Federal Correctional Institution photo by Tim Carpenter</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH—On Saturday at approximately 12:15 a.m., Leslie Bruce Larcade was found unresponsive at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Leavenworth in Leavenworth, Kansas, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.<a>Responding employees&nbsp;</a>initiated life-saving measures.&nbsp; Emergency medical services (EMS) were requested while life-saving efforts continued.&nbsp; Larcade was subsequently pronounced deceased by EMS personnel. The Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified. No employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured,&nbsp;and at no time was the public in danger.Larcade was a 61-year-old&nbsp; who was sentenced in the Western District of Arkansas to a 360-month sentence for Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping.&nbsp; He had been in custody at FCI Leavenworth since August 12, 2025.&nbsp;In 2012, Leslie Bruce Larcade and Chrystal Lynn Larcade appeared in federal court for arraignment on charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and kidnapping resulting in death, according to a statement from the FBI.Leslie Larcade, 47, and his wife Chrystal Larcade, 37, both of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, appeared before U.S. District Court Judge Harry F. Barnes who scheduled trial for April 18, 2012. If convicted of the conspiracy charge Leslie and Chrystal Larcade face up to life imprisonment and up to $250,000 in fines and if convicted of kidnapping resulting in death, Leslie and Chrystal Larcade face punishment of life imprisonment or death. A federal grand jury returned the indictment in this matter on January 25, 2012.The indictment alleges that on August 13, 2011, the defendants handcuffed the victim, placed him in a vehicle, and drove him from McCurtain County, Oklahoma to Miller County, Arkansas. It is also alleged that the defendants placed a noose around the neck of the victim causing various injuries to the victim which resulted in his death. The indictment further alleges that the defendants dumped the body of the victim at the Texarkana Speedway in Miller County, Arkansas.In April of 2014, Larcade and his wife were sentenced to 30-years in prison.

Man serving time in kidnapping death found dead in Federal prison in Kansas

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/meg-kinnard">MEG KINNARD</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/kevin-freking">KEVIN FREKING</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-immigration-trump-homeland-security-39fd7917e39aaf9e4e78e89f3449a587">partial government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that started Saturday is vastly different from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">record closure</a>&nbsp;in the fall.

That is mostly because the shutdown may not last long.

The House will try to pass funding legislation quickly when lawmakers return Monday, and that would end the shutdown. Congress already has passed half this year’s funding bills, ensuring that several important federal agencies and programs continue to operate through September. Nutrition assistance programs, for example, should be unaffected.

Funding will lapse, at least temporarily, for the Pentagon and agencies such as the departments of Homeland Security and Transportation. Essential functions will continue, but workers could go without pay if the impasse drags on. Some could be furloughed.

The government funding process had been going smoothly, with key lawmakers in the House and Senate finding bipartisan agreement. But the shooting deaths this month of two U.S. citizens,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-fbi-alex-pretti-immigration-65a963816603a08bbc9db83961dd173f">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renée Good</a>, by federal agents in Minneapolis, changed the dynamic.

Democrats were incensed after Pretti’s killing and demanded that one of the six remaining funding bills, for DHS and its associated agencies, be stripped from the package&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-government-funding-bills-d7ca791c2d1aa81d2982239f81bc86be">passed by the House</a>. They said the bill must include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-partial-shutdown-ice-funding-homeland-security-35abc94e6579e701f03d9c18ca5a7c44">changes to immigration enforcement</a>, including a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers show identification.

Eager to avoid another shutdown, President Donald Trump’s White House struck a deal with Democrats to temporarily fund DHS at current levels for two weeks while the negotiations play out.

The Senate passed the five-bill funding package Friday, but it must pass the House again before becoming law. The House is not returning until Monday, ensuring funding will lapse for parts of the government, at least temporarily.

Have there been previous brief or weekend shutdowns?

Yes, and typically the effects were not very visible to anyone hoping to use government services.

There were a couple of these in Trump’s first administration.

In January 2018, a dispute over immigration protections resulted in a weekend shutdown. Some federal workers were furloughed or worked without pay. Benefits such as Social Security and Medicare were uninterrupted, many people did not notice the shutdown and federal offices reopened the following Monday after a deal was in place.

In February 2018, the shortest shutdown in U.S. history lasted about nine hours, overnight, and most people did not notice any impact. While agencies technically shut down after funding lapsed, it was so brief that furlough notices were not all sent out, and nothing was closed during business hours.

The funding lapse affects the Pentagon and agencies such as the Transportation Department and DHS, which includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Experts have said FEMA should have enough money to respond to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/frigid-temperatures-arctic-air-us-south-tennessee-61cd5b29f15322cc4dcae374d7b78c7e">massive winter storm</a>&nbsp;still affecting large swaths of the country. FEMA would have about $7 billion to $8 billion in a fund for disaster response and recovery efforts and the staff who work on them. An extended shutdown could put more pressure on that fund, especially if FEMA must respond to new disasters.

Other FEMA operations, such as the ability to write or renew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-flood-insurance-program-nfip-government-shutdown-fema-bc5fb2154d39fd80217bc7a7e60454aa">National Flood Insurance Program policies</a>, would pause, as they did during last year’s 43-day shutdown.

That shutdown took a toll on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-b708727c3a548ba14635e0dfa42274f8">traveling public</a>&nbsp;as delays and cancellations mounted, and there is now a risk of air travel disruptions again: One of the spending bills awaiting House passage covers the Department of Transportation, which is responsible for the air traffic control system and its workforce.

Air traffic controllers would still report for duty, but would be doing so without pay until a funding bill is passed.

At the State Department, the shutdown will not have a significant effect for the general public, in the United States or abroad.

Department employees were sent a 73-page memo late Friday that said passport and visa services and processing will continue and that embassies and consulates will remain open. Some functions, including nonemergency consular notifications and website updates, may be affected. But the memo said that 18,946 of the department’s 27,206 direct hire American employees are exempted from potential furloughs if the shutdown continues.

Will SNAP and other food assistance programs be affected?

No. That is a major change from the fall shutdown, when many people had to do with little-to-no assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the final weeks of the government closure. The bill to end that shutdown funded the Department of Agriculture and the programs that it administers through the remainder of the budget year, which ends Sept. 30.

That means full SNAP benefits will continue now.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-how-it-works-cards-e061c2af0f3cc997b69a24296238783c">The federal food program</a>&nbsp;serves about 42 million people, about 1 in 8 Americans, in lower-income households. They receive an average of around $190 monthly per person.

Another key program fully funded for the year is the federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, known as WIC. It provides pregnant women and young children with healthy food and nutrition counseling.

Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C., and can be reached at

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759315687610.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/meg-kinnard">MEG KINNARD</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/kevin-freking">KEVIN FREKING</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-immigration-trump-homeland-security-39fd7917e39aaf9e4e78e89f3449a587">partial government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that started Saturday is vastly different from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">record closure</a>&nbsp;in the fall.That is mostly because the shutdown may not last long.The House will try to pass funding legislation quickly when lawmakers return Monday, and that would end the shutdown. Congress already has passed half this year’s funding bills, ensuring that several important federal agencies and programs continue to operate through September. Nutrition assistance programs, for example, should be unaffected.Funding will lapse, at least temporarily, for the Pentagon and agencies such as the departments of Homeland Security and Transportation. Essential functions will continue, but workers could go without pay if the impasse drags on. Some could be furloughed.<h2>Why is there another shutdown?</h2>The government funding process had been going smoothly, with key lawmakers in the House and Senate finding bipartisan agreement. But the shooting deaths this month of two U.S. citizens,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-fbi-alex-pretti-immigration-65a963816603a08bbc9db83961dd173f">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renée Good</a>, by federal agents in Minneapolis, changed the dynamic.Democrats were incensed after Pretti’s killing and demanded that one of the six remaining funding bills, for DHS and its associated agencies, be stripped from the package&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-government-funding-bills-d7ca791c2d1aa81d2982239f81bc86be">passed by the House</a>. They said the bill must include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-partial-shutdown-ice-funding-homeland-security-35abc94e6579e701f03d9c18ca5a7c44">changes to immigration enforcement</a>, including a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers show identification.Eager to avoid another shutdown, President Donald Trump’s White House struck a deal with Democrats to temporarily fund DHS at current levels for two weeks while the negotiations play out.The Senate passed the five-bill funding package Friday, but it must pass the House again before becoming law. The House is not returning until Monday, ensuring funding will lapse for parts of the government, at least temporarily.<h2>Have there been previous brief or weekend shutdowns?</h2>Yes, and typically the effects were not very visible to anyone hoping to use government services.There were a couple of these in Trump’s first administration.In January 2018, a dispute over immigration protections resulted in a weekend shutdown. Some federal workers were furloughed or worked without pay. Benefits such as Social Security and Medicare were uninterrupted, many people did not notice the shutdown and federal offices reopened the following Monday after a deal was in place.In February 2018, the shortest shutdown in U.S. history lasted about nine hours, overnight, and most people did not notice any impact. While agencies technically shut down after funding lapsed, it was so brief that furlough notices were not all sent out, and nothing was closed during business hours.<h2>What funding is impacted?</h2>The funding lapse affects the Pentagon and agencies such as the Transportation Department and DHS, which includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency.Experts have said FEMA should have enough money to respond to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/frigid-temperatures-arctic-air-us-south-tennessee-61cd5b29f15322cc4dcae374d7b78c7e">massive winter storm</a>&nbsp;still affecting large swaths of the country. FEMA would have about $7 billion to $8 billion in a fund for disaster response and recovery efforts and the staff who work on them. An extended shutdown could put more pressure on that fund, especially if FEMA must respond to new disasters.Other FEMA operations, such as the ability to write or renew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-flood-insurance-program-nfip-government-shutdown-fema-bc5fb2154d39fd80217bc7a7e60454aa">National Flood Insurance Program policies</a>, would pause, as they did during last year’s 43-day shutdown.That shutdown took a toll on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-b708727c3a548ba14635e0dfa42274f8">traveling public</a>&nbsp;as delays and cancellations mounted, and there is now a risk of air travel disruptions again: One of the spending bills awaiting House passage covers the Department of Transportation, which is responsible for the air traffic control system and its workforce.Air traffic controllers would still report for duty, but would be doing so without pay until a funding bill is passed.At the State Department, the shutdown will not have a significant effect for the general public, in the United States or abroad.Department employees were sent a 73-page memo late Friday that said passport and visa services and processing will continue and that embassies and consulates will remain open. Some functions, including nonemergency consular notifications and website updates, may be affected. But the memo said that 18,946 of the department’s 27,206 direct hire American employees are exempted from potential furloughs if the shutdown continues.<h2>Will SNAP and other food assistance programs be affected?</h2>No. That is a major change from the fall shutdown, when many people had to do with little-to-no assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during the final weeks of the government closure. The bill to end that shutdown funded the Department of Agriculture and the programs that it administers through the remainder of the budget year, which ends Sept. 30.That means full SNAP benefits will continue now.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-how-it-works-cards-e061c2af0f3cc997b69a24296238783c">The federal food program</a>&nbsp;serves about 42 million people, about 1 in 8 Americans, in lower-income households. They receive an average of around $190 monthly per person.Another key program fully funded for the year is the federal supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, known as WIC. It provides pregnant women and young children with healthy food and nutrition counseling.___Kinnard reported from Columbia, S.C., and can be reached at

What's included in the partial government shutdown

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect who admitted setting a fire near the historic Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita is going to prison.

On Friday Judge Seth Rundell sentenced 34-year-old Jeremy Wycoff of Wichita to 30 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;In September, Wycoff pleaded guilty to aggravated arson.

On the evening of April 10, 2025, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;

"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.

Three days after the crime, police arrested Wycoff and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he remained jailed on a bond of just over $100,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744832383037.png" alt="Wycoff photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Wycoff photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect who admitted setting a fire near the historic Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita is going to prison.On Friday Judge Seth Rundell sentenced 34-year-old Jeremy Wycoff of Wichita to 30 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;In September, Wycoff pleaded guilty to aggravated arson.On the evening of April 10, 2025, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.Three days after the crime, police arrested Wycoff and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he remained jailed on a bond of just over $100,000.

Prison time for arson fIre near historic Kansas theatre

NEW YORK (AP) — A huge new tranche of files on millionaire financier and sex offender&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;has revealed details of his communications with the wealthy and powerful, some not long before he died by suicide in 2019.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here t</a>o view the latest files

The Justice Department said it was disclosing more than 3 million pages of documents, as well as thousands of videos and photos, as required by a law passed by Congress. By Friday evening, more than 600,000 documents had been published online. Millions of files that prosecutors had identified as potentially subject to release under the law remain under wraps, however, drawing criticism from Democrats.

The records also have new details on Epstein’s incarceration and suicide

Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019, and found dead in his cell just over a month later.

The latest batch of documents includes emails between investigators about Epstein’s death, including an investigator’s observation that his final communication doesn’t look like a suicide note.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-politics-new-york-business-suicides-4ff27f28f32d446795b65ac7dd8cc4ac">Multiple investigations</a>&nbsp;have determined that Epstein’s death&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">was a suicide</a>.

The records also detail a trick that jail staffers used to fool the media gathered outside while Epstein’s body was removed: they used boxes and sheets to create what appeared to be a body and loaded it into a white van labeled as belonging to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The reporters followed the van when it left the jail, not knowing that Epstein’s actual body was loaded into a black vehicle, which departed “unnoticed,” according to the interview notes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769870922216.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein as shown in a photo released by the DOJ on Friday" />
 <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein as shown in a photo released by the DOJ on Friday</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A huge new tranche of files on millionaire financier and sex offender&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;has revealed details of his communications with the wealthy and powerful, some not long before he died by suicide in 2019.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here t</a>o view the latest filesThe Justice Department said it was disclosing more than 3 million pages of documents, as well as thousands of videos and photos, as required by a law passed by Congress. By Friday evening, more than 600,000 documents had been published online. Millions of files that prosecutors had identified as potentially subject to release under the law remain under wraps, however, drawing criticism from Democrats.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769891409865.png" alt="EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Image from an undated and redacted document released by the U.S. Department of Justice, showa Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, leaning over an unidentified person." />
 <figcaption>EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT - Image from an undated and redacted document released by the U.S. Department of Justice, showa Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, leaning over an unidentified person.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Latest:<h2>The records also have new details on Epstein’s incarceration and suicide</h2>Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges in July 2019, and found dead in his cell just over a month later.The latest batch of documents includes emails between investigators about Epstein’s death, including an investigator’s observation that his final communication doesn’t look like a suicide note.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-politics-new-york-business-suicides-4ff27f28f32d446795b65ac7dd8cc4ac">Multiple investigations</a>&nbsp;have determined that Epstein’s death&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">was a suicide</a>.The records also detail a trick that jail staffers used to fool the media gathered outside while Epstein’s body was removed: they used boxes and sheets to create what appeared to be a body and loaded it into a white van labeled as belonging to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.The reporters followed the van when it left the jail, not knowing that Epstein’s actual body was loaded into a black vehicle, which departed “unnoticed,” according to the interview notes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769817863085.png" alt="Email exchange from Elon Musk in the files released Friday" />
 <figcaption>Email exchange from Elon Musk in the files released Friday</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Epstein chatted with Elon Musk and Howard Lutnick about island visits</h2>Billionaire Tesla founder Elon Musk emailed Epstein in 2012 and 2013 about visiting his infamous island compound, the scene of many allegations of sexual abuse.Epstein inquired in an email about how many people Musk would like flown by helicopter, and Musk responded that it would likely be just him and his partner at the time. “What day/night will be the wildest party on =our island?” he wrote, according to the Justice Department records.It’s not immediately clear if the island visits took place. Spokespersons for Musk’s companies, Tesla and X, didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment Friday.Musk has maintained that he repeatedly turned down the disgraced financier’s overtures. “Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED,” he posted on X in 2025<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA02152992.pdf">Epstein also invited</a>&nbsp;Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to the island in Dec. 2012. Lutnick’s wife enthusiastically accepted the invitation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00398721.pdf">said they would arrive</a>&nbsp;on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02521951.pdf">yacht with their children</a>. The two also had drinks on another occasion in 2011, according to a schedule. Six years later, they e-mailed about the construction of a building across the street from both of their homes.Lutnick has distanced himself from Epstein, calling him “gross” and saying in 2025 that he cut ties decades ago. He didn’t respond to an e-mailed request for comment on Friday afternoon.<h2>Epstein talked politics with Steve Bannon and an ex-Obama official</h2>The documents show Epstein exchanged hundreds of friendly texts with Steve Bannon, a top adviser to President Donald Trump, some months before Epstein’s death.They discussed politics, travel and a documentary Bannon was said to be planning that would help salvage Epstein’s reputation.In March 2019, Bannon asked Epstein if he could&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01615683.pdf">supply his plane</a>&nbsp;to pick him up in Rome.A couple of months later, Epstein messaged to Bannon, “Now you can understand why trump wakes up in the middle of the night sweating when he hears you and I are friends.”The context is unclear from the documents, which were released with many redactions and little clear organization.Another 2018 exchange focused on Trump’s threats at the time to oust Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whom he had named to the post just the year prior.Around the same time, Epstein also communicated with Kathy Ruemmler, a lawyer and former Obama White House official. In a typo-filled email, he warned that Democrats should stop demonizing Trump as a Mafia-type figure even as he derided the president as a “maniac.”Bannon did not immediately respond to a message from the AP seeking comment. Ruemmler said through a spokesperson she was associated with Epstein professionally during her time as a lawyer in private practice and now “regrets ever knowing him.”