SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police investigating another deadly shooting in Wichita reported an arrest.

Just after 8a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the&nbsp;the 900 block of East Indianapolis in Wichita&nbsp;for a reported welfare check after receiving information about a man down, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Wichita police officers and detectives conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation, working through challenging weather conditions and utilizing multiple departmental resources.

Officers from multiple WPD sections, Crime Scene Investigators,&nbsp;K-9 Mantra, and&nbsp;Flock technology&nbsp;were utilized to canvass the area, locate evidence, and develop investigative leads.&nbsp;K-9 Mantra located multiple shell casings in the snow during the search.

As a result of this coordinated effort, detectives were able to quickly identify a suspect identified as 27-year-old Donny J. Harris of Springfield, Missouri, and establish probable cause. An arrest warrant was issued for first-degree murder.

Working in close coordination with the Springfield Police Department, Harris was located and arrested Monday evening in Springfield, Missouri. He is being held in the Greene County, Missouri jail, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769461383611.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police investigating another deadly shooting in Wichita reported an arrest.Just after 8a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the&nbsp;the 900 block of East Indianapolis in Wichita&nbsp;for a reported welfare check after receiving information about a man down, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769544369926.png" alt="Harris photo Greene County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Harris photo Greene County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita police officers and detectives conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation, working through challenging weather conditions and utilizing multiple departmental resources.Officers from multiple WPD sections, Crime Scene Investigators,&nbsp;K-9 Mantra, and&nbsp;Flock technology&nbsp;were utilized to canvass the area, locate evidence, and develop investigative leads.&nbsp;K-9 Mantra located multiple shell casings in the snow during the search.As a result of this coordinated effort, detectives were able to quickly identify a suspect identified as 27-year-old Donny J. Harris of Springfield, Missouri, and establish probable cause. An arrest warrant was issued for first-degree murder.Working in close coordination with the Springfield Police Department, Harris was located and arrested Monday evening in Springfield, Missouri. He is being held in the Greene County, Missouri jail, according to online jail records.

Suspect in Kansas homicide captured in Missouri

DICKINSON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating a fatal fire in rural Dickinson County.

Just before 6p.m. Monday,&nbsp;Deputies with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a house fire in the 1500 block of 1400 Avenue in rural Dickinson County, according to Undersheriff Jeff Vaughan. The residence was fully engulfed when firefighters and deputies arrived.

Deputies located an man and a child outside the residence. Deputies were advised a two-year-old boy was unaccounted for and may be inside the residence. After the fire was brought under control by firefighters, the two-year-old victim was located deceased inside of the residence.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation.

DICKINSON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating a fatal fire in rural Dickinson County.Just before 6p.m. Monday,&nbsp;Deputies with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a house fire in the 1500 block of 1400 Avenue in rural Dickinson County, according to Undersheriff Jeff Vaughan. The residence was fully engulfed when firefighters and deputies arrived.Deputies located an man and a child outside the residence. Deputies were advised a two-year-old boy was unaccounted for and may be inside the residence. After the fire was brought under control by firefighters, the two-year-old victim was located deceased inside of the residence.The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation.

Undersheriff: 2-year-old dies in rural Kansas house fire

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street ticked to a record on Tuesday, as stocks zigzagged under the market’s surface following mixed profit reports from UnitedHealth, General Motors and other big companies.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.4% and edged past its prior&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-powell-trump-rates-9eb79e89fec160c7c64dfcef6871e693">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set a couple weeks ago, even though more stocks fell within the index than rose. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 408 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.9%.

UnitedHealth Group tumbled 19.6% despite reporting a profit for the latest quarter that was a bit better than analysts expected. More attention was on the company’s forecast for revenue in the upcoming year, which fell short of Wall Street’s expectations and could be weaker than it was in 2025.

Health care stocks also felt tremendous pressure from a projected rate increase for Medicare Advantage by the U.S. government, which fell well short of what investors had hoped. Humana skidded by 21.1%, Elevance Health dropped 14.3% and CVS Health sank 14.2%.

Helping to offset those losses was Corning, which climbed 15.6% after announcing a deal with Meta Platforms that’s worth up to $6 billion. Corning will supply optical fiber and cable to help build out data centers for Meta, enough that Corning is expanding its optical-fiber manufacturing facility in Hickory, North Carolina.

Also supporting the U.S. stock market were gains for General Motors, which rose 8.7%, and hospital-operator HCA Healthcare, which rallied 7.1%. Both delivered profits for the end of 2025 that topped Wall Street’s expectations. Each also approved programs to send billions of dollars to their investors by buying back their own stock.

Profit reports elsewhere on Wall Street were mixed. UPS added 0.2% after reporting a stronger profit and forecasting better revenue for 2026 than analysts expected, while announcing the elimination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-amazon-workforce-job-cuts-57b40623628ebe741a9bfb16161fff30">30,000 jobs</a>. American Airlines lost 7% after delivering a profit for the end of 2025 that fell well short of analysts’ expectations.

The pressure is on companies to deliver strong growth in profits following record-setting runs for their stock prices. Stock prices tend to follow the path of corporate profits over the long term, and earnings need to rise to quiet criticism that stock prices have grown too expensive.

Several of Wall Street’s most influential stocks will deliver their latest earnings reports later this week. They include Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Tesla on Wednesday and Apple on Thursday.

Several of those Big Tech stocks were among the strongest forces lifting the S&amp;P 500 Tuesday, including gains of 2.2% for Microsoft and 1.1% for Apple.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 28.37 points to 6,978.60. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 408.99 to 49,003.41, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 215.74 to 23,817.10.

Another way stock prices can look less expensive to investors is if interest rates fall. The Federal Reserve will announce its next move on interest rates Wednesday, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-powell-inflation-c1e2c5222795bda4a1d294f6406f66fc">widespread expectation is that it will hold</a>&nbsp;its main interest rate steady for now.

Inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target, and lower interest rates could worsen increases in prices for U.S. consumers at the same time that they give the economy a boost. Traders expect the Fed to resume its cuts to interest rates later this year.

In the bond market, Treasury yields were relatively steady ahead of the Fed’s decision. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.23% from 4.22% late Monday.

It had edged lower earlier in the day, after a report from the Conference Board said confidence weakened among U.S. consumers last month. Economists had expected to see a slight improvement, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-spending-inflation-conference-board-f36b997dc46ac9c3577d05db52166846">confidence dropped to its lowest level since 2014</a>, even lower than it was during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia.

India’s Sensex index added 0.4% after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-eu-modi-trade-wine-auto-74b8744b2ef562d2e820b238e6ce8d38">reached agreement on a free trade deal</a>&nbsp;with the European Union.

The accord, which touches 2 billion people, followed nearly two decades of negotiations. It’s one of the biggest bilateral engagements on commerce. The timing comes as Washington targets both India and the EU with steep import tariffs.

South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.7%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rallied 1.4% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

By STAN CHOE &nbsp;AP Business WriterNEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street ticked to a record on Tuesday, as stocks zigzagged under the market’s surface following mixed profit reports from UnitedHealth, General Motors and other big companies.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.4% and edged past its prior&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-powell-trump-rates-9eb79e89fec160c7c64dfcef6871e693">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set a couple weeks ago, even though more stocks fell within the index than rose. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 408 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.9%.UnitedHealth Group tumbled 19.6% despite reporting a profit for the latest quarter that was a bit better than analysts expected. More attention was on the company’s forecast for revenue in the upcoming year, which fell short of Wall Street’s expectations and could be weaker than it was in 2025.Health care stocks also felt tremendous pressure from a projected rate increase for Medicare Advantage by the U.S. government, which fell well short of what investors had hoped. Humana skidded by 21.1%, Elevance Health dropped 14.3% and CVS Health sank 14.2%.Helping to offset those losses was Corning, which climbed 15.6% after announcing a deal with Meta Platforms that’s worth up to $6 billion. Corning will supply optical fiber and cable to help build out data centers for Meta, enough that Corning is expanding its optical-fiber manufacturing facility in Hickory, North Carolina.Also supporting the U.S. stock market were gains for General Motors, which rose 8.7%, and hospital-operator HCA Healthcare, which rallied 7.1%. Both delivered profits for the end of 2025 that topped Wall Street’s expectations. Each also approved programs to send billions of dollars to their investors by buying back their own stock.Profit reports elsewhere on Wall Street were mixed. UPS added 0.2% after reporting a stronger profit and forecasting better revenue for 2026 than analysts expected, while announcing the elimination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-amazon-workforce-job-cuts-57b40623628ebe741a9bfb16161fff30">30,000 jobs</a>. American Airlines lost 7% after delivering a profit for the end of 2025 that fell well short of analysts’ expectations.The pressure is on companies to deliver strong growth in profits following record-setting runs for their stock prices. Stock prices tend to follow the path of corporate profits over the long term, and earnings need to rise to quiet criticism that stock prices have grown too expensive.Several of Wall Street’s most influential stocks will deliver their latest earnings reports later this week. They include Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Tesla on Wednesday and Apple on Thursday.Several of those Big Tech stocks were among the strongest forces lifting the S&amp;P 500 Tuesday, including gains of 2.2% for Microsoft and 1.1% for Apple.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 28.37 points to 6,978.60. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 408.99 to 49,003.41, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 215.74 to 23,817.10.Another way stock prices can look less expensive to investors is if interest rates fall. The Federal Reserve will announce its next move on interest rates Wednesday, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-powell-inflation-c1e2c5222795bda4a1d294f6406f66fc">widespread expectation is that it will hold</a>&nbsp;its main interest rate steady for now.Inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target, and lower interest rates could worsen increases in prices for U.S. consumers at the same time that they give the economy a boost. Traders expect the Fed to resume its cuts to interest rates later this year.In the bond market, Treasury yields were relatively steady ahead of the Fed’s decision. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.23% from 4.22% late Monday.It had edged lower earlier in the day, after a report from the Conference Board said confidence weakened among U.S. consumers last month. Economists had expected to see a slight improvement, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-spending-inflation-conference-board-f36b997dc46ac9c3577d05db52166846">confidence dropped to its lowest level since 2014</a>, even lower than it was during the COVID-19 pandemic.In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia.India’s Sensex index added 0.4% after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-eu-modi-trade-wine-auto-74b8744b2ef562d2e820b238e6ce8d38">reached agreement on a free trade deal</a>&nbsp;with the European Union.The accord, which touches 2 billion people, followed nearly two decades of negotiations. It’s one of the biggest bilateral engagements on commerce. The timing comes as Washington targets both India and the EU with steep import tariffs.South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.7%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rallied 1.4% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

Wall Street sets another record after a mixed day of trading

By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel Writer

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/airplanes-lithium-ion-batteries-fire-southwest-hazard-736e74e55a6467b0b12e3938653de169">Southwest Airlines</a>&nbsp;passengers made their final boarding-time scrambles for seats on Monday as the carrier prepared to end the open-seating system that distinguished it from other airlines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-assigned-seats-earnings-6869dbe31934c87e049c9e428eae7761">for more than a half‑century</a>.

Starting Tuesday, customers on Southwest flights will have assigned seats and the option of paying more to get their preferred seat closer to the front of a plane or seats with extra legroom. The airline began selling tickets shaped by the new policy in July.

Here's what travelers can expect as Southwest does away with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-checked-bags-fee-free-463d2b0e1176fed222a11cf244648f1a?utm_source=chatgpt.com">another of its signature</a>&nbsp;features and becomes more like other airlines:

Under the open-seat system, Southwest customers could check in starting exactly 24 hours before departure to secure places in boarding lines at departure gates.

Early check-ins were placed in the coveted “A” boarding group, essentially guaranteeing they would find an open window or aisle seat. Others landed in “B” or “C,” the likelihood of only middle seats being available rising the longer they waited to check in.

The Dallas-based airline’s unusual seating process began as a way to get passengers on planes quickly and thereby reduce the time that aircraft and crews spent on the ground not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-lowers-outlook-hedge-fund-a8cfdb619410757b96f108b45565ca1b">making money</a>. It helped Southwest operate more efficiently and to squeeze a few more flights into the daily schedule; the system also was a key reason Southwest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-layoffs-29a0daf8f8091ae2b0a9c11282138464">remained profitable</a>&nbsp;every year until the coronavirus pandemic.

The open-seating arrangement became less democratic over time, however, as Southwest also had starting allowing passengers to pay extra for spots near the front of the line.

An eight‑group boarding structure is replacing the find-your-own-seat scrum. Instead of numbered metal columns at departure gates, passengers will file through two alternating lanes once it's time for their group to board.

The airline said its gate areas will be converted in phases starting Monday night, a process that could take about two months to complete. Columns that remain standing past Tuesday will have their numbers removed or covered in the meantime.

Southwest is selling tickets at fares with different seating choices, including standard seats assigned at check‑in or paid preferred and extra‑legroom seats selected at booking. For certain flights, passengers also will have the option of paying for priority boarding beginning 24 hours before departure.

Newly designed boarding passes will show seat assignments and boarding groups, according to Southwest. A reservation made for nine or fewer people, including families, will assign those passengers to the same boarding group.

Southwest says the boarding groups are based on seat location, fare class, loyalty tier status and the airline's credit card rewards benefits. Passengers who purchase seats with extra legroom will be placed in groups 1-2. Customers with premium fares and the airline's “most loyal travelers” will also have access to preferential seats and earlier boarding, the carrier said, while those with basic fares will likely be placed in groups 6-8.

With the switch to assigned seating also comes a revision of the airline’s policy for customers who need extra room. Under the new rule — also effective Tuesday — travelers who do not fit within a single seat’s armrests will be required to purchase an additional seat in advance.

That represents a change from the airline’s previous policy that allowed passengers the choice to purchase a fully refundable extra seat before arriving at the airport, or request a free one at the gate. Under the updated policy, refunds are still possible but no longer guaranteed and depend on seat availability and fare class.

In May 2025, Southwest also ended its decades‑old “bags fly free” policy, replacing it with baggage fees for most travelers.

The changes mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-changes-seating-boarding-hedge-fund-ba6a97380df6201e9a35335d3202fc8a">one of the biggest transformations</a>&nbsp;in the airline’s history, as it alters its longstanding customer perks to bring it more in line with the practices of other larger U.S. carriers.

The shift comes amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-lowers-outlook-hedge-fund-a8cfdb619410757b96f108b45565ca1b">pressure from investors</a>&nbsp;to increase profitability.

“We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect,” Southwest CEO Robert Jordan said last year.

When the Texas-based airline first announced plans in 2024 to switch to assigned seating, it said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-changes-boarding-seating-be96c23257a716108dc9c49903a24b3d">studies on seating options</a>&nbsp;showed that customer preferences had changed over the years, with the vast majority of travelers saying they now want to know&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1a64cbc065ba4da1970d9cea4f6a5f77">where they are sitting</a>&nbsp;before they get to the airport.

Jordan said at the time that open seating was the top reason surveyed travelers cited for choosing another airline over Southwest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769535221977.png" alt="Southwest Airlines App" />
 <figcaption>Southwest Airlines App</figcaption>
 </figure>By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel Writer<a href="https://apnews.com/article/airplanes-lithium-ion-batteries-fire-southwest-hazard-736e74e55a6467b0b12e3938653de169">Southwest Airlines</a>&nbsp;passengers made their final boarding-time scrambles for seats on Monday as the carrier prepared to end the open-seating system that distinguished it from other airlines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-assigned-seats-earnings-6869dbe31934c87e049c9e428eae7761">for more than a half‑century</a>.Starting Tuesday, customers on Southwest flights will have assigned seats and the option of paying more to get their preferred seat closer to the front of a plane or seats with extra legroom. The airline began selling tickets shaped by the new policy in July.Here's what travelers can expect as Southwest does away with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-checked-bags-fee-free-463d2b0e1176fed222a11cf244648f1a?utm_source=chatgpt.com">another of its signature</a>&nbsp;features and becomes more like other airlines:<h2>Goodbye, A/B/C groups</h2>Under the open-seat system, Southwest customers could check in starting exactly 24 hours before departure to secure places in boarding lines at departure gates.Early check-ins were placed in the coveted “A” boarding group, essentially guaranteeing they would find an open window or aisle seat. Others landed in “B” or “C,” the likelihood of only middle seats being available rising the longer they waited to check in.The Dallas-based airline’s unusual seating process began as a way to get passengers on planes quickly and thereby reduce the time that aircraft and crews spent on the ground not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-lowers-outlook-hedge-fund-a8cfdb619410757b96f108b45565ca1b">making money</a>. It helped Southwest operate more efficiently and to squeeze a few more flights into the daily schedule; the system also was a key reason Southwest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-layoffs-29a0daf8f8091ae2b0a9c11282138464">remained profitable</a>&nbsp;every year until the coronavirus pandemic.The open-seating arrangement became less democratic over time, however, as Southwest also had starting allowing passengers to pay extra for spots near the front of the line.<h2>Hello, assigned seating</h2>An eight‑group boarding structure is replacing the find-your-own-seat scrum. Instead of numbered metal columns at departure gates, passengers will file through two alternating lanes once it's time for their group to board.The airline said its gate areas will be converted in phases starting Monday night, a process that could take about two months to complete. Columns that remain standing past Tuesday will have their numbers removed or covered in the meantime.Southwest is selling tickets at fares with different seating choices, including standard seats assigned at check‑in or paid preferred and extra‑legroom seats selected at booking. For certain flights, passengers also will have the option of paying for priority boarding beginning 24 hours before departure.<h2>How it will work</h2>Newly designed boarding passes will show seat assignments and boarding groups, according to Southwest. A reservation made for nine or fewer people, including families, will assign those passengers to the same boarding group.Southwest says the boarding groups are based on seat location, fare class, loyalty tier status and the airline's credit card rewards benefits. Passengers who purchase seats with extra legroom will be placed in groups 1-2. Customers with premium fares and the airline's “most loyal travelers” will also have access to preferential seats and earlier boarding, the carrier said, while those with basic fares will likely be placed in groups 6-8.<h2>Other changes</h2>With the switch to assigned seating also comes a revision of the airline’s policy for customers who need extra room. Under the new rule — also effective Tuesday — travelers who do not fit within a single seat’s armrests will be required to purchase an additional seat in advance.That represents a change from the airline’s previous policy that allowed passengers the choice to purchase a fully refundable extra seat before arriving at the airport, or request a free one at the gate. Under the updated policy, refunds are still possible but no longer guaranteed and depend on seat availability and fare class.In May 2025, Southwest also ended its decades‑old “bags fly free” policy, replacing it with baggage fees for most travelers.The changes mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-changes-seating-boarding-hedge-fund-ba6a97380df6201e9a35335d3202fc8a">one of the biggest transformations</a>&nbsp;in the airline’s history, as it alters its longstanding customer perks to bring it more in line with the practices of other larger U.S. carriers.<h2>Why all the change?</h2>The shift comes amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-lowers-outlook-hedge-fund-a8cfdb619410757b96f108b45565ca1b">pressure from investors</a>&nbsp;to increase profitability.“We have tremendous opportunity to meet current and future customer needs, attract new customer segments we don’t compete for today, and return to the levels of profitability that both we and our shareholders expect,” Southwest CEO Robert Jordan said last year.When the Texas-based airline first announced plans in 2024 to switch to assigned seating, it said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-changes-boarding-seating-be96c23257a716108dc9c49903a24b3d">studies on seating options</a>&nbsp;showed that customer preferences had changed over the years, with the vast majority of travelers saying they now want to know&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1a64cbc065ba4da1970d9cea4f6a5f77">where they are sitting</a>&nbsp;before they get to the airport.Jordan said at the time that open seating was the top reason surveyed travelers cited for choosing another airline over Southwest.

What to expect as Southwest Airlines introduces assigned seats

As the judge weighs the constitutionality of Missouri’s regulations, procedural abortions remain available in Missouri, while medication abortions are inaccessible

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kevinhardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">Anna Spoerre</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

KANSAS CITY —&nbsp;After 10 days of often emotion-filled testimony, a trial dissecting Missouri’s abortion regulations under the new constitutional right to reproductive health care concluded Monday.&nbsp;

In closing arguments, attorneys from both the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and Planned Parenthood brought the focus back to the crux of the case: are Missouri’s abortion regulations necessary safeguards for women or discriminatory road blocks for patients?

In a final attempt to cast doubt on the validity of the case, Peter Donohue, deputy solicitor general for Missouri, argued that Planned Parenthood had not met Missouri’s high legal burden needed to nullify state laws in total.&nbsp;

Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang gave both parties until April 10 to file post-trial briefs.&nbsp;She urged them to opine on the burden-of-proof argument, which was recently&nbsp;<a href="https://statecourtreport.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/supreme_court_of_missouri-opinion.pdf" target="_blank">addressed</a>&nbsp;by the Missouri Supreme Court in a separate constitutional case on the state’s gender-affirming care ban for minors.&nbsp;

The outcome of this month’s trial will determine the accessibility of abortion across the state before Missourians are asked to vote on whether they want to again ban the procedure in November.

Donohue defended the regulations as protecting women from unsafe abortion providers, which he accused of having a history “fraught with harms to women.”&nbsp;

Even if current Planned Parenthood clinics provided safe care, as they testified, he said the state must think about any provider who might provide abortion care in the future.&nbsp;

“If they’re safe,” he argued, “these requirements don’t burden them.”&nbsp;

But attorneys for Planned Parenthood spent days of testimony laying out how each regulation left clinics hamstrung to provide abortions. These regulations, introduced over the past few decades, increasingly drove Missourians out of state to get abortions.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood providers and staff recounted the toll the regulations took on patients left unable to access abortion quickly and close to home.&nbsp;

These few dozen targeted regulation of abortion, or TRAP, laws are currently in state statute. Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri filed a lawsuit asking a judge to deem the laws unconstitutional after voters approved the abortion rights amendment in November 2024. Some were&nbsp;temporarily&nbsp;enjoined last year, allowing procedural abortions to resume.&nbsp;

“All these laws target abortion in a unique way,” Vanessa Pai-Thompson, an attorney with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in her closing argument. “And a unique way that is now also an unconstitutional way.”

These regulations include required distribution of Missouri’s informed consent booklet prior to an abortion; a 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and an abortion; abortion facility licensing requirements; a ban on prescribing medication abortion via telehealth, and mandatory pelvic exams prior to a medication abortion.

Pai-Thompson said although abortion is essential health care, it remains regulated by state laws that are now discriminatory under the new amendment. Pai-Thompson then&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/12/missouri-abortion-rights-trial-focuses-on-two-decades-of-state-restrictions/">pointed back</a>&nbsp;to a timeline showing decades of Missouri’s restrictions that have limited access.

Two decades ago, several thousands abortions were performed in Missouri annually, according to state health department data. By 2021, the year before abortion was outlawed in Missouri, there were only 151, as a result of the TRAP laws. But many women still have abortions. In 2024, nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/monthly-abortion-provision-study#interstate-travel" target="_blank">12,000 women went to Kansas and Illinois&nbsp;</a>to end their pregnancies.

The state was the only side to call women to testify about their abortions, most of whom said they went on to regret them. This included a woman on Monday who said she obtained two medication abortions from the Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia in 2012 and 2015, the second of which was followed by an emergency surgery to remove fetal tissue. The exact details of her medical issue were not detailed during her brief testimony.&nbsp;

Pai-Thompson in closings characterized the state’s expert witnesses — which included a parade of doctors who oppose abortion —&nbsp;as unreliable advocates. She underscored the medical consensus among leading medical organizations that abortion is safe, telling the judge that abortions pose less risk than pregnancy or childbirth.&nbsp;

Testimony from Planned Parenthood earlier in the trial detailed that roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/19/abortion-safety-missouri-amendment-trial-jackson-county/">1% of the more than 53,000 Missourians who received abortions</a>&nbsp;over the last 10 years in Illinois and Kansas experienced complications, ranging from infection to incomplete abortions to hemorrhaging.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood began the trial with Dr. Margaret Baum, chief medical officer with Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. She returned to the stand Monday to dispute the state’s characterization of women seeking abortions as being uncertain about their decision and easily coerced into abortion.&nbsp;

“I find that infantilizing of my patients and of women in general,” Baum said. “Most of my patients who present for abortions already have been pregnant or already have children. They know exactly what it means to be pregnant.”

Baum also disagreed with assertions from state witnesses that women often regret their abortions. She said her patients most frequently express relief. And when she tells people about her work in social settings, she hears abortion stories from other women, who express gratitude.&nbsp;

“The most common thing people have said to me is ‘thank you,’” Baum said. “‘My abortion saved my life.’”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760471576282.png" alt="-A recovery room at the Planned Parenthood Great Plains office is pictured&nbsp;on June 21, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>-A recovery room at the Planned Parenthood Great Plains office is pictured&nbsp;on June 21, 2024, in Overland Park, Kansas (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>As the judge weighs the constitutionality of Missouri’s regulations, procedural abortions remain available in Missouri, while medication abortions are inaccessible</h2>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kevinhardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">Anna Spoerre</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>KANSAS CITY —&nbsp;After 10 days of often emotion-filled testimony, a trial dissecting Missouri’s abortion regulations under the new constitutional right to reproductive health care concluded Monday.&nbsp;In closing arguments, attorneys from both the Missouri Attorney General’s Office and Planned Parenthood brought the focus back to the crux of the case: are Missouri’s abortion regulations necessary safeguards for women or discriminatory road blocks for patients?In a final attempt to cast doubt on the validity of the case, Peter Donohue, deputy solicitor general for Missouri, argued that Planned Parenthood had not met Missouri’s high legal burden needed to nullify state laws in total.&nbsp;Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang gave both parties until April 10 to file post-trial briefs.&nbsp;She urged them to opine on the burden-of-proof argument, which was recently&nbsp;<a href="https://statecourtreport.org/sites/default/files/2026-01/supreme_court_of_missouri-opinion.pdf" target="_blank">addressed</a>&nbsp;by the Missouri Supreme Court in a separate constitutional case on the state’s gender-affirming care ban for minors.&nbsp;The outcome of this month’s trial will determine the accessibility of abortion across the state before Missourians are asked to vote on whether they want to again ban the procedure in November.Donohue defended the regulations as protecting women from unsafe abortion providers, which he accused of having a history “fraught with harms to women.”&nbsp;Even if current Planned Parenthood clinics provided safe care, as they testified, he said the state must think about any provider who might provide abortion care in the future.&nbsp;“If they’re safe,” he argued, “these requirements don’t burden them.”&nbsp;But attorneys for Planned Parenthood spent days of testimony laying out how each regulation left clinics hamstrung to provide abortions. These regulations, introduced over the past few decades, increasingly drove Missourians out of state to get abortions.&nbsp;Planned Parenthood providers and staff recounted the toll the regulations took on patients left unable to access abortion quickly and close to home.&nbsp;These few dozen targeted regulation of abortion, or TRAP, laws are currently in state statute. Planned Parenthood and the ACLU of Missouri filed a lawsuit asking a judge to deem the laws unconstitutional after voters approved the abortion rights amendment in November 2024. Some were&nbsp;temporarily&nbsp;enjoined last year, allowing procedural abortions to resume.&nbsp;“All these laws target abortion in a unique way,” Vanessa Pai-Thompson, an attorney with Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said in her closing argument. “And a unique way that is now also an unconstitutional way.”These regulations include required distribution of Missouri’s informed consent booklet prior to an abortion; a 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and an abortion; abortion facility licensing requirements; a ban on prescribing medication abortion via telehealth, and mandatory pelvic exams prior to a medication abortion.Pai-Thompson said although abortion is essential health care, it remains regulated by state laws that are now discriminatory under the new amendment. Pai-Thompson then&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/12/missouri-abortion-rights-trial-focuses-on-two-decades-of-state-restrictions/">pointed back</a>&nbsp;to a timeline showing decades of Missouri’s restrictions that have limited access.Two decades ago, several thousands abortions were performed in Missouri annually, according to state health department data. By 2021, the year before abortion was outlawed in Missouri, there were only 151, as a result of the TRAP laws. But many women still have abortions. In 2024, nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/monthly-abortion-provision-study#interstate-travel" target="_blank">12,000 women went to Kansas and Illinois&nbsp;</a>to end their pregnancies.The state was the only side to call women to testify about their abortions, most of whom said they went on to regret them. This included a woman on Monday who said she obtained two medication abortions from the Planned Parenthood clinic in Columbia in 2012 and 2015, the second of which was followed by an emergency surgery to remove fetal tissue. The exact details of her medical issue were not detailed during her brief testimony.&nbsp;Pai-Thompson in closings characterized the state’s expert witnesses — which included a parade of doctors who oppose abortion —&nbsp;as unreliable advocates. She underscored the medical consensus among leading medical organizations that abortion is safe, telling the judge that abortions pose less risk than pregnancy or childbirth.&nbsp;Testimony from Planned Parenthood earlier in the trial detailed that roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/19/abortion-safety-missouri-amendment-trial-jackson-county/">1% of the more than 53,000 Missourians who received abortions</a>&nbsp;over the last 10 years in Illinois and Kansas experienced complications, ranging from infection to incomplete abortions to hemorrhaging.&nbsp;Planned Parenthood began the trial with Dr. Margaret Baum, chief medical officer with Planned Parenthood Great Rivers. She returned to the stand Monday to dispute the state’s characterization of women seeking abortions as being uncertain about their decision and easily coerced into abortion.&nbsp;“I find that infantilizing of my patients and of women in general,” Baum said. “Most of my patients who present for abortions already have been pregnant or already have children. They know exactly what it means to be pregnant.”Baum also disagreed with assertions from state witnesses that women often regret their abortions. She said her patients most frequently express relief. And when she tells people about her work in social settings, she hears abortion stories from other women, who express gratitude.&nbsp;“The most common thing people have said to me is ‘thank you,’” Baum said. “‘My abortion saved my life.’”

Missouri’s abortion rights trial concludes; a decision is months away

BROWN COUNTY—Several scams are circulating throughout northeast Kansas regarding law enforcement.

According to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, residents are&nbsp; receiving calls from computer generated&nbsp; numbers and areasking for donations to "Back the Blue".&nbsp; The caller has a heavy foreign accent.&nbsp; Residents&nbsp; have reported that the caller is very demanding and insistent that donations be made to this fund.&nbsp;

When the caller is not getting anywhere with the resident, the caller then becomes belligerent and threatening.&nbsp; "This is a scam and in no way would any donation to this fund be on the up and up," according to Sheriff Merchant.

If you receive such a call, hang up immediately.

Several other residents have received calls from an organization that is establishing a monetary raffle to be given to local law enforcement.&nbsp; The caller is telling residents that donations received will be distributed to local law enforcement and their families in appreciation for their service.

Again, this caller has been reported to have a very heavy foreign accent. The caller is also very demanding and becomes belligerent when no donation is received.

These scammers&nbsp; appear to be preying on honest hard working individuals who are very loyal to law enforcement and are trying to pressure people into giving out their hard earned money.&nbsp; If you receive any call of this type, please hang up immediately.

If you feel that you have been made a victim of this or any other scam, notify your local law enforcement immediately.

BROWN COUNTY—Several scams are circulating throughout northeast Kansas regarding law enforcement.According to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, residents are&nbsp; receiving calls from computer generated&nbsp; numbers and areasking for donations to "Back the Blue".&nbsp; The caller has a heavy foreign accent.&nbsp; Residents&nbsp; have reported that the caller is very demanding and insistent that donations be made to this fund.&nbsp;When the caller is not getting anywhere with the resident, the caller then becomes belligerent and threatening.&nbsp; "This is a scam and in no way would any donation to this fund be on the up and up," according to Sheriff Merchant.If you receive such a call, hang up immediately.Several other residents have received calls from an organization that is establishing a monetary raffle to be given to local law enforcement.&nbsp; The caller is telling residents that donations received will be distributed to local law enforcement and their families in appreciation for their service.Again, this caller has been reported to have a very heavy foreign accent. The caller is also very demanding and becomes belligerent when no donation is received.These scammers&nbsp; appear to be preying on honest hard working individuals who are very loyal to law enforcement and are trying to pressure people into giving out their hard earned money.&nbsp; If you receive any call of this type, please hang up immediately.If you feel that you have been made a victim of this or any other scam, notify your local law enforcement immediately.

Sheriff: New scam calls mention Kan. law enforcement

By BARBARA ORTUTAY &nbsp;AP Technology Writer

Three of the world's biggest tech companies face a landmark trial in Los Angeles starting this week over claims that their platforms — Meta's Instagram, ByteDance's TikTok and Google's YouTube — deliberately addict and harm children.

Jury selection starts this week in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. It's the first time the companies will argue their case before a jury, and the outcome could have profound effects on their businesses and how they will handle children using their platforms. The selection process is expected to take at least a few days, with 75 potential jurors questioned each day through at least Thursday. A fourth company named in the lawsuit, Snapchat parent company Snap Inc., settled the case last week for an undisclosed sum.

At the core of the case is a 19-year-old identified only by the initials “KGM," whose case could determine how thousands of other, similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury and what damages, if any, may be awarded, said Clay Calvert, a nonresident senior fellow of technology policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

KGM claims that her use of social media from an early age addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. Importantly, the lawsuit claims that this was done through deliberate design choices made by companies that sought to make their platforms more addictive to children to boost profits. This argument, if successful, could sidestep the companies' First Amendment shield and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-technology-social-media-business-internet-eb89baf1fa30e245c030992b48a8a0ff">Section 230</a>, which protects tech companies from liability for material posted on their platforms.

“Borrowing heavily from the behavioral and neurobiological techniques used by slot machines and exploited by the cigarette industry, Defendants deliberately embedded in their products an array of design features aimed at maximizing youth engagement to drive advertising revenue,” the lawsuit says.

Executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are expected to testify at the trial, which will last six to eight weeks. Experts have drawn similarities to the Big Tobacco trials that led to a 1998 settlement requiring cigarette companies to pay billions in healthcare costs and restrict marketing targeting minors.

“Plaintiffs are not merely the collateral damage of Defendants’ products,” the lawsuit says. “They are the direct victims of the intentional product design choices made by each Defendant. They are the intended targets of the harmful features that pushed them into self-destructive feedback loops.”

The tech companies dispute the claims that their products deliberately harm children, citing a bevy of safeguards they have added over the years and arguing that they are not liable for content posted on their sites by third parties.

“Recently, a number of lawsuits have attempted to place the blame for teen mental health struggles squarely on social media companies,” Meta said in a recent blog post. "But this oversimplifies a serious issue. Clinicians and researchers find that mental health is a deeply complex and multifaceted issue, and trends regarding teens' well-being aren't clear-cut or universal. Narrowing the challenges faced by teens to a single factor ignores the scientific research and the many stressors impacting young people today, like academic pressure, school safety, socio-economic challenges and substance abuse."

Meta, YouTube and TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

The case will be the first in a slew of cases beginning this year that seek to hold social media companies responsible for harming children's mental well-being. A federal bellwether trial beginning in June in Oakland, California, will be the first to represent school districts that have sued social media platforms over harms to children.

In addition, more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-facebook-children-teens-harms-lawsuit-attorney-general-1805492a38f7cee111cbb865cc786c28">40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits</a>&nbsp;against Meta, claiming it is harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. The majority of cases filed their lawsuits in federal court, but some sued in their respective states.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-lawsuit-youth-mental-health-2993f8e70d2e3d4eab9988df168fb948">TikTok</a>&nbsp;also faces similar lawsuits in more than a dozen states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673457414258.jpeg" alt="Ap photo" />
 <figcaption>Ap photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BARBARA ORTUTAY &nbsp;AP Technology WriterThree of the world's biggest tech companies face a landmark trial in Los Angeles starting this week over claims that their platforms — Meta's Instagram, ByteDance's TikTok and Google's YouTube — deliberately addict and harm children.Jury selection starts this week in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. It's the first time the companies will argue their case before a jury, and the outcome could have profound effects on their businesses and how they will handle children using their platforms. The selection process is expected to take at least a few days, with 75 potential jurors questioned each day through at least Thursday. A fourth company named in the lawsuit, Snapchat parent company Snap Inc., settled the case last week for an undisclosed sum.At the core of the case is a 19-year-old identified only by the initials “KGM," whose case could determine how thousands of other, similar lawsuits against social media companies will play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury and what damages, if any, may be awarded, said Clay Calvert, a nonresident senior fellow of technology policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.KGM claims that her use of social media from an early age addicted her to the technology and exacerbated depression and suicidal thoughts. Importantly, the lawsuit claims that this was done through deliberate design choices made by companies that sought to make their platforms more addictive to children to boost profits. This argument, if successful, could sidestep the companies' First Amendment shield and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-technology-social-media-business-internet-eb89baf1fa30e245c030992b48a8a0ff">Section 230</a>, which protects tech companies from liability for material posted on their platforms.“Borrowing heavily from the behavioral and neurobiological techniques used by slot machines and exploited by the cigarette industry, Defendants deliberately embedded in their products an array of design features aimed at maximizing youth engagement to drive advertising revenue,” the lawsuit says.Executives, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are expected to testify at the trial, which will last six to eight weeks. Experts have drawn similarities to the Big Tobacco trials that led to a 1998 settlement requiring cigarette companies to pay billions in healthcare costs and restrict marketing targeting minors.“Plaintiffs are not merely the collateral damage of Defendants’ products,” the lawsuit says. “They are the direct victims of the intentional product design choices made by each Defendant. They are the intended targets of the harmful features that pushed them into self-destructive feedback loops.”The tech companies dispute the claims that their products deliberately harm children, citing a bevy of safeguards they have added over the years and arguing that they are not liable for content posted on their sites by third parties.“Recently, a number of lawsuits have attempted to place the blame for teen mental health struggles squarely on social media companies,” Meta said in a recent blog post. "But this oversimplifies a serious issue. Clinicians and researchers find that mental health is a deeply complex and multifaceted issue, and trends regarding teens' well-being aren't clear-cut or universal. Narrowing the challenges faced by teens to a single factor ignores the scientific research and the many stressors impacting young people today, like academic pressure, school safety, socio-economic challenges and substance abuse."Meta, YouTube and TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.The case will be the first in a slew of cases beginning this year that seek to hold social media companies responsible for harming children's mental well-being. A federal bellwether trial beginning in June in Oakland, California, will be the first to represent school districts that have sued social media platforms over harms to children.In addition, more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-facebook-children-teens-harms-lawsuit-attorney-general-1805492a38f7cee111cbb865cc786c28">40 state attorneys general have filed lawsuits</a>&nbsp;against Meta, claiming it is harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. The majority of cases filed their lawsuits in federal court, but some sued in their respective states.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-lawsuit-youth-mental-health-2993f8e70d2e3d4eab9988df168fb948">TikTok</a>&nbsp;also faces similar lawsuits in more than a dozen states.

Social media giants face landmark trial over youth addiction 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The trial for a man accused in connection with an Amber Alert in September of 2024 is underway in a Wichita courtroom.

Jury selection began on Monday in the trial of 30-year-old Trevawn Strong of Wichita in Judge Christopher Magana's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Strong has been charged with abuse of a child, two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of aggravated endangering a child, three counts of criminal threat, and misdemeanor counts of domestic battery, criminal restraint, and criminal damage to property, according the district attorney's office.

Just before 5 p.m. September 11,&nbsp; 2024, Strong forcibly took his 5-year-old son Trevawn Strong Jr from his mother utilizing a knife and firearm during a domestic incident at their residence in Wichita, according to police.

&nbsp;Strong&nbsp; threatened to kill his son, stabbed the boy's mother, and took the child.&nbsp; The Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported the boy was in imminent danger. The suspect left in a vehicle, but that vehicle was recovered in the 1900 block of N. Woodlawn in Wichita.&nbsp;

Just before 9p.m. police located the child and took Strong into custody.

He remains free on a $250,000 bond with conditions including electronic monitoring with pre-trial services, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726138875380.png" alt="Strong photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Strong photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The trial for a man accused in connection with an Amber Alert in September of 2024 is underway in a Wichita courtroom.Jury selection began on Monday in the trial of 30-year-old Trevawn Strong of Wichita in Judge Christopher Magana's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Strong has been charged with abuse of a child, two counts of aggravated battery, two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of aggravated endangering a child, three counts of criminal threat, and misdemeanor counts of domestic battery, criminal restraint, and criminal damage to property, according the district attorney's office.Just before 5 p.m. September 11,&nbsp; 2024, Strong forcibly took his 5-year-old son Trevawn Strong Jr from his mother utilizing a knife and firearm during a domestic incident at their residence in Wichita, according to police.&nbsp;Strong&nbsp; threatened to kill his son, stabbed the boy's mother, and took the child.&nbsp; The Kansas Bureau of Investigation reported the boy was in imminent danger. The suspect left in a vehicle, but that vehicle was recovered in the 1900 block of N. Woodlawn in Wichita.&nbsp;Just before 9p.m. police located the child and took Strong into custody.He remains free on a $250,000 bond with conditions including electronic monitoring with pre-trial services, according to the district attorney's office.

Trial underway for father accused in violent Kansas Amber Alert

WASHINGTON (AP) — A daylong hearing on Tuesday should make clear&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-army-helicopter-ntsb-cause-f2e87b625583c077acfca694700de37f">what factors played</a>&nbsp;the biggest role in causing last January's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-investigation-american-airlines-helicopter-ntsb-acc8bf751427eb6824d9d1fad30895b8">midair collision</a>&nbsp;near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people, and the National Transportation Safety Board will recommend what should be done to prevent similar tragedies.

Everyone aboard an American Airlines jet flying from Wichita, Kansas, and an Army Black Hawk helicopter died when the two aircraft ran into each other and plummeted into the icy Potomac River on Jan. 29, 2025. It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest plane crash</a>&nbsp;on U.S. soil since 2001.

The Federal Aviation Administration made a number of changes shortly after the crash to ensure that helicopters and planes no longer share the same crowded airspace around the nation's capital, and last week it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aviation-safety-dc-plane-crash-faa-helicopters-07ea495a557b8a2767d0eca4277e8be1">made those changes permanent</a>. But the NTSB will recommend additional action, and the families of the victims have said they hope that leads to meaningful changes.

“I hope that we see a clear path through the recommendations they offer to ensure that this never happens again,” said Rachel Feres, who lost her cousin Peter Livingston and his wife and two young daughters in the crash. “That nobody else has to wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone or their wife is gone or the child is gone. That’s what I hope coming out of this. I hope we have clarity and urgency.”

Whether that happens will depend on how Congress, the Army and the Trump administration respond after the hearing. But the victims' families say they will keep the pressure on officials to act.

Young Alydia and Everly Livingston were among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-079cca60567e6929f4b84a8e9d6c330d">28 members of the figure skating community</a>&nbsp;who died in the crash. Many of them had been in Wichita for a national skating competition and development camp.

The NTSB has already spelled out many of the key factors that contributed to the crash and detailed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-helicopter-crash-american-airlines-e7f82e0eac79ad1d8771cb6d7a4fc7e5">what happened that night</a>. That includes a poorly designed helicopter route past Reagan Airport, the fact that the Black Hawk was flying 78 feet (23.7 meters) higher than it should have been, the warnings that the FAA ignored in the years beforehand and the Army’s move to turn off a key system that would have broadcast the helicopter’s location more clearly.

A number of other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-india-crash-aviation-safety-76215f9d429274f3b5089e81baa97d6a">high-profile crashes and close calls</a>&nbsp;followed the D.C. collision last year and worried the flying public. But NTSB statistics show that the total number of crashes last year was actually the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 with 1,405 crashes nationwide.

Fields reported from Washington. Funk contributed from Omaha, Nebraska and White reported from Detroit. AP Airlines writer Rio Yamat contributed from Las Vegas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738234427975.png" alt="File photo Signs display an "Emergency Alert" above an American Airlines counter in the terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. A jet from Kansas with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. (AP Photo/Jeannie Ohm)" />
 <figcaption>File photo Signs display an "Emergency Alert" above an American Airlines counter in the terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. A jet from Kansas with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. (AP Photo/Jeannie Ohm)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A daylong hearing on Tuesday should make clear&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-army-helicopter-ntsb-cause-f2e87b625583c077acfca694700de37f">what factors played</a>&nbsp;the biggest role in causing last January's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-investigation-american-airlines-helicopter-ntsb-acc8bf751427eb6824d9d1fad30895b8">midair collision</a>&nbsp;near Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people, and the National Transportation Safety Board will recommend what should be done to prevent similar tragedies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738341256800.png" alt="File Search efforts are seen around a wreckage site of a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet from Kansas and an Army helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)" />
 <figcaption>File Search efforts are seen around a wreckage site of a deadly midair collision between an American Airlines jet from Kansas and an Army helicopter, in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)</figcaption>
 </figure>Everyone aboard an American Airlines jet flying from Wichita, Kansas, and an Army Black Hawk helicopter died when the two aircraft ran into each other and plummeted into the icy Potomac River on Jan. 29, 2025. It was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">deadliest plane crash</a>&nbsp;on U.S. soil since 2001.The Federal Aviation Administration made a number of changes shortly after the crash to ensure that helicopters and planes no longer share the same crowded airspace around the nation's capital, and last week it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aviation-safety-dc-plane-crash-faa-helicopters-07ea495a557b8a2767d0eca4277e8be1">made those changes permanent</a>. But the NTSB will recommend additional action, and the families of the victims have said they hope that leads to meaningful changes.“I hope that we see a clear path through the recommendations they offer to ensure that this never happens again,” said Rachel Feres, who lost her cousin Peter Livingston and his wife and two young daughters in the crash. “That nobody else has to wake up to hear that an entire branch of their family tree is gone or their wife is gone or the child is gone. That’s what I hope coming out of this. I hope we have clarity and urgency.”Whether that happens will depend on how Congress, the Army and the Trump administration respond after the hearing. But the victims' families say they will keep the pressure on officials to act.Young Alydia and Everly Livingston were among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-079cca60567e6929f4b84a8e9d6c330d">28 members of the figure skating community</a>&nbsp;who died in the crash. Many of them had been in Wichita for a national skating competition and development camp.The NTSB has already spelled out many of the key factors that contributed to the crash and detailed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-helicopter-crash-american-airlines-e7f82e0eac79ad1d8771cb6d7a4fc7e5">what happened that night</a>. That includes a poorly designed helicopter route past Reagan Airport, the fact that the Black Hawk was flying 78 feet (23.7 meters) higher than it should have been, the warnings that the FAA ignored in the years beforehand and the Army’s move to turn off a key system that would have broadcast the helicopter’s location more clearly.A number of other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-india-crash-aviation-safety-76215f9d429274f3b5089e81baa97d6a">high-profile crashes and close calls</a>&nbsp;followed the D.C. collision last year and worried the flying public. But NTSB statistics show that the total number of crashes last year was actually the lowest since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 with 1,405 crashes nationwide.___Fields reported from Washington. Funk contributed from Omaha, Nebraska and White reported from Detroit. AP Airlines writer Rio Yamat contributed from Las Vegas.

Final NTSB hearing on deadly midair collision involving jet from Kansas

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a commercial building in Kansas City.

Just before 11p.m. Monday, Kansas City Fire Department companies were dispatched to a reported building fire in the 1100 block of West 8th Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan. 

On arrival, crews reported heavy smoke showing from a&nbsp;6-story commercial building and initiated an offensive fire attack.

The fire was found to be in an open elevator shaft and burning on the roof of the structure.&nbsp;

Crews advanced 3 hose lines to extinguish the fire, which was placed under control at 11:55 p.m.The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD. &nbsp;

Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were requested to the scene. No injuries have been reported from this incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769513239665.png" alt="Photos Kansas City Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Kansas City Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a commercial building in Kansas City.Just before 11p.m. Monday, Kansas City Fire Department companies were dispatched to a reported building fire in the 1100 block of West 8th Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769513216748.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On arrival, crews reported heavy smoke showing from a&nbsp;6-story commercial building and initiated an offensive fire attack.The fire was found to be in an open elevator shaft and burning on the roof of the structure.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769513283449.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Crews advanced 3 hose lines to extinguish the fire, which was placed under control at 11:55 p.m.The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD. &nbsp;Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were requested to the scene. No injuries have been reported from this incident.

Crews fight fire in elevator shaft of 6-story building in Kansas City

WASHINGTON —A federal officer on Saturday shot and killed a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis&nbsp;amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.&nbsp; &nbsp;Two Kansas lawmakers have finally broken their silence on what happened.

On his social media feed, Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran wrote, "I am deeply troubled by the shootings in Minneapolis involving federal agents. Our Constitution provides citizens protection from the government. We have a right to free speech, to peaceably assemble and to bear arms."

"We also expect government to protect us from lawless behavior. Enforcing immigration laws that remove dangerous criminals from our streets and neighborhoods makes us safer and increases our national security. This can only be accomplished if local, state and federal officials work together to uphold the law."

"Law enforcement must reflect our nation’s values, and citizens should obey the law. This tragic circumstance should be investigated to the fullest extent to ensure transparency and accountability."

Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derek Schmidt also used his social media account to sound off on the tragedy and give his opinion.

"America's immigration laws must be enforced, and many of the current difficulties are rooted in the prior administration's allowing at least 9 million people to enter and remain in our country illegally."

"At the same time, enforcing the law professionally and with clear focus and common sense is vital to public confidence in the rule of law. The events in Minnesota are distressing –both senior state officials' refusal to cooperate with federal authorities to enforce the law and the reported actions of some federal officials."

"In my view, there needs to be a transparent and thorough review and factfinding regarding the officer involved shootings in Minnesota – as there should be in every officer involved shooting anywhere." 

"I support Chairman Garbarino's decision to convene a House Homeland Security Committee oversight hearing to question ICE, CBP, and USCIS leaders."

"I have raised questions about the reported use of administrative, as opposed to judicial, warrants to enter homes and continue to do so. And I encourage swift enactment of the provisions I voted for last week in the Homeland Security appropriations bill to fund ICE and CBP body cameras and expand deescalation training."

On Sunday, Kansas 3rd District Congresswoman Sharice Davids shared her thoughts on the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769443834529.png" alt="Image of the shooting from a bystander video obtained by the APAssociated Press" />
 <figcaption>Image of the shooting from a bystander video obtained by the APAssociated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —A federal officer on Saturday shot and killed a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis&nbsp;amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.&nbsp; &nbsp;Two Kansas lawmakers have finally broken their silence on what happened.On his social media feed, Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran wrote, "I am deeply troubled by the shootings in Minneapolis involving federal agents. Our Constitution provides citizens protection from the government. We have a right to free speech, to peaceably assemble and to bear arms.""We also expect government to protect us from lawless behavior. Enforcing immigration laws that remove dangerous criminals from our streets and neighborhoods makes us safer and increases our national security. This can only be accomplished if local, state and federal officials work together to uphold the law.""Law enforcement must reflect our nation’s values, and citizens should obey the law. This tragic circumstance should be investigated to the fullest extent to ensure transparency and accountability."Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derek Schmidt also used his social media account to sound off on the tragedy and give his opinion."America's immigration laws must be enforced, and many of the current difficulties are rooted in the prior administration's allowing at least 9 million people to enter and remain in our country illegally.""At the same time, enforcing the law professionally and with clear focus and common sense is vital to public confidence in the rule of law. The events in Minnesota are distressing –both senior state officials' refusal to cooperate with federal authorities to enforce the law and the reported actions of some federal officials.""In my view, there needs to be a transparent and thorough review and factfinding regarding the officer involved shootings in Minnesota – as there should be in every officer involved shooting anywhere." "I support Chairman Garbarino's decision to convene a House Homeland Security Committee oversight hearing to question ICE, CBP, and USCIS leaders.""I have raised questions about the reported use of administrative, as opposed to judicial, warrants to enter homes and continue to do so. And I encourage swift enactment of the provisions I voted for last week in the Homeland Security appropriations bill to fund ICE and CBP body cameras and expand deescalation training."On Sunday, Kansas 3rd District Congresswoman Sharice Davids shared her thoughts on the shooting.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I am angry and heartbroken about the killing of Alex Pretti, a VA nurse in Minnesota. People should feel safe in their own communities, but right now families are afraid to leave their homes and communities are living in fear. Our local law enforcement should be allowed to…&mdash; Rep. Sharice Davids (@RepDavids) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDavids/status/2015530181310746764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Kansas GOP lawmakers sound off on fatal Minneapolis shooting 

PLATTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage shooting in a Kansas City suburb.

&nbsp;The shooting happened at approximately 9 a.m. Monday in Parkville, involving a Parkville Special Road District snowplow and a black SUV, according to a statement from the city.

Shots were fired during the incident in the Thousand Oaks subdivision, with no injuries reported. The SUV driver fled Parkville following the incident and was later located in Kansas City, Missouri. Sgt. Sean Allwood, Parkville detective interviewed the suspect, who admitted to firing the weapon.

&nbsp;Parkville Police Department did release the name of the suspect or the possible requested charges the suspect faces.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769514808898.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>PLATTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage shooting in a Kansas City suburb.&nbsp;The shooting happened at approximately 9 a.m. Monday in Parkville, involving a Parkville Special Road District snowplow and a black SUV, according to a statement from the city.Shots were fired during the incident in the Thousand Oaks subdivision, with no injuries reported. The SUV driver fled Parkville following the incident and was later located in Kansas City, Missouri. Sgt. Sean Allwood, Parkville detective interviewed the suspect, who admitted to firing the weapon.&nbsp;Parkville Police Department did release the name of the suspect or the possible requested charges the suspect faces.

Road rage: Driver admits shooting at KC area snow plow driver

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/konstantin-toropin">KONSTANTIN TOROPIN</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">warships have arrived in the Middle East</a>, bringing a renewed potential that President Donald Trump could opt to order airstrikes on Iran over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-us-aircraft-carrier-crackdown-yemen-e0a6b3c72775348c553ad185af5bfb20">crackdown on protesters</a>.

The carrier, along with three destroyers, “is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability,” U.S. Central Command said Monday on social media.

The strike group was in the Indian Ocean, Central Command said, and not in the Arabian Sea, which borders Iran. It will bring thousands of additional service members to the region, which has not had a U.S. aircraft carrier since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carriers-trump-venezuela-middle-east-a458b9c4f1a5690e19d7c532dd6b7fd7">the USS Gerald R. Ford</a>&nbsp;was ordered in October to sail to the Caribbean as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">pressure campaign on then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro</a>.

Trump told reporters last week that the ships were sent to the region “just in case.” “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” he said.

Trump earlier had threatened military action if Iran carried out mass executions of prisoners or killed peaceful demonstrators during a crackdown on protests that began in late December. At least 5,973 people have been killed and more than 41,800 detained, according to activists. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">official Iranian death toll</a>&nbsp;is far lower, at 3,117 dead.

More recently, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-hangings-protests-dae7dca429c9823f4f5690b368ebfe15">appeared to have backed away</a>&nbsp;from possible action, claiming Iran halted the hangings of 800 detained protesters. He has not elaborated on the source of the claim, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-death-toll-acb1968a973f19be217ea28b4a7adb0b">Iran’s top prosecutor called “completely false.”</a>

However, Trump appears to be keeping his options open. On Thursday aboard Air Force One, he said his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-middle-east-allies-strikes-diplomat-24f75a6b2ab3716be47163fcb0817bc7">threatened military action</a>&nbsp;would make last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fordo-us-strike-trump-israel-nuclear-sites-320a85327f94ed7496f09564261f3148">U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites</a>&nbsp;“look like peanuts” if the government proceeded with planned executions of some protesters.

The aircraft carrier hosts multiple squadrons of aircraft, including F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets. Meanwhile, the destroyers bring with them hundreds of missiles, which could include dozens of Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.

In addition to the aircraft carrier and its hardware, the U.S. military said the Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet now has a presence in the region.

Analysts who follow flight-tracking data have noticed dozens of U.S. military cargo planes also heading to the region.

The activity is similar to last year when the U.S. moved in air defense hardware, including a Patriot missile system, in anticipation of an Iranian counterattack following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">bombing of three key nuclear sites</a>. Iran launched over a dozen missiles at Al Udeid Air Base days after the strikes.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two Iranian-backed militias in the Mideast are signaling their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Monday as it worried about an approaching U.S. aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump threatened military action over its crackdown on nationwide protests.

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels signaled a willingness to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. That came just after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-navy-warship-missiles-intercepted-2f5fc9c8a3737f762b29d5c53ec08a5b">Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah paramilitary group</a>, long supported by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, issued a direct threat late Sunday toward any attack targeting Iran, warning a “total war” in the region would be a result.

However, both the Houthis and Kataib Hezbollah sat out from Israel's 12-day war on Iran in June that saw the United States bomb Iranian nuclear sites. The hesitancy to get involved shows the disarray still affecting Iran's self-described “Axis of Resistance” after facing attacks from Israel during its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

A short video by the Houthis included images of a ship on fire, with the caption: “Soon.” It later aired footage Monday from its January 2024 attack in the Gulf of Aden on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Marlin Luanda, one of the over 100 ships attacked as part of a campaign the Houthis said pressured Israel over its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis halted their fire after a ceasefire in the conflict, though they've repeatedly warned they could resume fire if needed.

Meanwhile, Ahmad “Abu Hussein” al-Hamidawi of Kataib Hezbollah issued his own threat in a statement.

“We affirm to the enemies that the war on the (Islamic) Republic will not be a picnic; rather, you will taste the bitterest forms of death, and nothing will remain of you in our region,” he said.

The threats came as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other guided missile destroyers with it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">move toward the region</a>. Trump has said the ships are being moved “just in case” he decides to take action against Iran. Trump already has laid out two red lines for attack — the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran conducting mass executions of those it has arrested in a massive crackdown over the demonstrations.

The “Axis of Resistance” alliances had allowed Iran to project its power across the Mideast but also was seen as a defensive buffer, intended to keep conflict away from Iranian borders.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-war-future-protests-unrest-nuclear-46b86a14319d5ae44ae090c9d58b0637">But it has collapsed</a>&nbsp;after Israel targeted Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and others during the Gaza war. Meanwhile, rebels in 2024 overthrew Syria's Bashar Assad after a yearslong, bloody war in which Iran backed his rule.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, also warned Iraq late Sunday about Iran's influence.

“A government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq,” a statement on Rubio's behalf read.

The United Arab Emirates announced on Monday that it would not allow its airspace, territory, or territorial waters to be used for military action against Iran. The UAE said it would stress dialogue and diplomatic resolutions.

Iran renews threats and limits smaller flights

Iranian Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik renewed warnings Monday to both Israel and the U.S. over any possible attack, saying it would “be met with a response that is more painful and more decisive than in the past.” Iranian state television quoted Talaei-Nik as adding that threats from the two countries required Iran “to maintain full and comprehensive preparedness.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei separately told journalists: “Regional countries fully know that any security breach in the region will not affect Iran only. The lack of security is contagious.”

Iran over the weekend unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-mural-protests-military-4b2ceb8aff9dc448036341e86023b6c8">a new banner in Tehran's Enghelab Square</a>&nbsp;threatening the Lincoln, showing an aircraft carrier strewn with bodies and streaked with blood with the warning: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.” However, Iran is still reeling from the 12-day war launched in June that saw its air defense systems broadly destroyed and top military leaders killed, as well as its nuclear enrichment sites bombed by the U.S.

As a sign of concern over its airspace, Iran issued a notice to pilots Sunday that banned small private aircraft from flying in the country, with carveouts for the oil industry and emergency medical flights.

Many Western airlines have started to avoid Iranian airspace entirely due to the tensions, though Gulf Arab carriers flying to Moscow still rely on the route. Iranian air defense troops in 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-21f4a92a2dfbc38581719664bdf6f38e">shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner</a>, killing 176 people on board.

The protests in Iran began on Dec. 28, sparked by the fall of the Iranian currency, the rial, and quickly spread across the country. They were met by a violent crackdown by Iran’s theocracy, the scale of which is only starting to become clear as the country has faced more than two-week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-internet-business-costs-a0bd2df1d13355dcc28f46e5b5b3c893">internet blackout</a>&nbsp;— the most comprehensive in the nation's history.

The U.S.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-death-toll-ec00ffa50f818d4a66aec5942aec629b">Human Rights Activists News Agency</a>&nbsp;on Monday put the death toll at 5,973, with the number expected to increase. It says more than 41,800 people have been arrested.

The group’s figures have been accurate in previous unrest and rely on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. That death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest there in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the toll.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">Iran’s government</a>&nbsp;has put the death toll at a far lower 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeled the rest “terrorists.” In the past, Iran’s theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769443255145.png" alt="Pilots conduct flight operations from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) over the weekend-photo courtesy U.S. Navy 7th Fleet" />
 <figcaption>Pilots conduct flight operations from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) over the weekend-photo courtesy U.S. Navy 7th Fleet</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/konstantin-toropin">KONSTANTIN TOROPIN</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">warships have arrived in the Middle East</a>, bringing a renewed potential that President Donald Trump could opt to order airstrikes on Iran over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-us-aircraft-carrier-crackdown-yemen-e0a6b3c72775348c553ad185af5bfb20">crackdown on protesters</a>.The carrier, along with three destroyers, “is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability,” U.S. Central Command said Monday on social media.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) perform routine maintenance as the aircraft carrier sails in the Indian Ocean, Jan. 26. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability. <a href="https://t.co/dkuN946hce">pic.twitter.com/dkuN946hce</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2015815632302801143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The strike group was in the Indian Ocean, Central Command said, and not in the Arabian Sea, which borders Iran. It will bring thousands of additional service members to the region, which has not had a U.S. aircraft carrier since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carriers-trump-venezuela-middle-east-a458b9c4f1a5690e19d7c532dd6b7fd7">the USS Gerald R. Ford</a>&nbsp;was ordered in October to sail to the Caribbean as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">pressure campaign on then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro</a>.Trump told reporters last week that the ships were sent to the region “just in case.” “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” he said.Trump earlier had threatened military action if Iran carried out mass executions of prisoners or killed peaceful demonstrators during a crackdown on protests that began in late December. At least 5,973 people have been killed and more than 41,800 detained, according to activists. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">official Iranian death toll</a>&nbsp;is far lower, at 3,117 dead.More recently, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-hangings-protests-dae7dca429c9823f4f5690b368ebfe15">appeared to have backed away</a>&nbsp;from possible action, claiming Iran halted the hangings of 800 detained protesters. He has not elaborated on the source of the claim, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-death-toll-acb1968a973f19be217ea28b4a7adb0b">Iran’s top prosecutor called “completely false.”</a>However, Trump appears to be keeping his options open. On Thursday aboard Air Force One, he said his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-middle-east-allies-strikes-diplomat-24f75a6b2ab3716be47163fcb0817bc7">threatened military action</a>&nbsp;would make last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fordo-us-strike-trump-israel-nuclear-sites-320a85327f94ed7496f09564261f3148">U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites</a>&nbsp;“look like peanuts” if the government proceeded with planned executions of some protesters.The aircraft carrier hosts multiple squadrons of aircraft, including F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets. Meanwhile, the destroyers bring with them hundreds of missiles, which could include dozens of Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.In addition to the aircraft carrier and its hardware, the U.S. military said the Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet now has a presence in the region.Analysts who follow flight-tracking data have noticed dozens of U.S. military cargo planes also heading to the region.The activity is similar to last year when the U.S. moved in air defense hardware, including a Patriot missile system, in anticipation of an Iranian counterattack following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">bombing of three key nuclear sites</a>. Iran launched over a dozen missiles at Al Udeid Air Base days after the strikes.------------------------DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two Iranian-backed militias in the Mideast are signaling their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Monday as it worried about an approaching U.S. aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump threatened military action over its crackdown on nationwide protests.Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels signaled a willingness to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. That came just after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-navy-warship-missiles-intercepted-2f5fc9c8a3737f762b29d5c53ec08a5b">Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah paramilitary group</a>, long supported by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, issued a direct threat late Sunday toward any attack targeting Iran, warning a “total war” in the region would be a result.However, both the Houthis and Kataib Hezbollah sat out from Israel's 12-day war on Iran in June that saw the United States bomb Iranian nuclear sites. The hesitancy to get involved shows the disarray still affecting Iran's self-described “Axis of Resistance” after facing attacks from Israel during its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.<h2>Threats from Iraq, Yemen</h2>A short video by the Houthis included images of a ship on fire, with the caption: “Soon.” It later aired footage Monday from its January 2024 attack in the Gulf of Aden on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Marlin Luanda, one of the over 100 ships attacked as part of a campaign the Houthis said pressured Israel over its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.The Houthis halted their fire after a ceasefire in the conflict, though they've repeatedly warned they could resume fire if needed.Meanwhile, Ahmad “Abu Hussein” al-Hamidawi of Kataib Hezbollah issued his own threat in a statement.“We affirm to the enemies that the war on the (Islamic) Republic will not be a picnic; rather, you will taste the bitterest forms of death, and nothing will remain of you in our region,” he said.The threats came as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other guided missile destroyers with it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">move toward the region</a>. Trump has said the ships are being moved “just in case” he decides to take action against Iran. Trump already has laid out two red lines for attack — the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran conducting mass executions of those it has arrested in a massive crackdown over the demonstrations.The “Axis of Resistance” alliances had allowed Iran to project its power across the Mideast but also was seen as a defensive buffer, intended to keep conflict away from Iranian borders.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-war-future-protests-unrest-nuclear-46b86a14319d5ae44ae090c9d58b0637">But it has collapsed</a>&nbsp;after Israel targeted Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and others during the Gaza war. Meanwhile, rebels in 2024 overthrew Syria's Bashar Assad after a yearslong, bloody war in which Iran backed his rule.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, also warned Iraq late Sunday about Iran's influence.“A government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq,” a statement on Rubio's behalf read.The United Arab Emirates announced on Monday that it would not allow its airspace, territory, or territorial waters to be used for military action against Iran. The UAE said it would stress dialogue and diplomatic resolutions.<h2>Iran renews threats and limits smaller flights</h2>Iranian Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik renewed warnings Monday to both Israel and the U.S. over any possible attack, saying it would “be met with a response that is more painful and more decisive than in the past.” Iranian state television quoted Talaei-Nik as adding that threats from the two countries required Iran “to maintain full and comprehensive preparedness.”Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei separately told journalists: “Regional countries fully know that any security breach in the region will not affect Iran only. The lack of security is contagious.”Iran over the weekend unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-mural-protests-military-4b2ceb8aff9dc448036341e86023b6c8">a new banner in Tehran's Enghelab Square</a>&nbsp;threatening the Lincoln, showing an aircraft carrier strewn with bodies and streaked with blood with the warning: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.” However, Iran is still reeling from the 12-day war launched in June that saw its air defense systems broadly destroyed and top military leaders killed, as well as its nuclear enrichment sites bombed by the U.S.As a sign of concern over its airspace, Iran issued a notice to pilots Sunday that banned small private aircraft from flying in the country, with carveouts for the oil industry and emergency medical flights.Many Western airlines have started to avoid Iranian airspace entirely due to the tensions, though Gulf Arab carriers flying to Moscow still rely on the route. Iranian air defense troops in 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-21f4a92a2dfbc38581719664bdf6f38e">shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner</a>, killing 176 people on board.<h2>Death toll rises from protest crackdown</h2>The protests in Iran began on Dec. 28, sparked by the fall of the Iranian currency, the rial, and quickly spread across the country. They were met by a violent crackdown by Iran’s theocracy, the scale of which is only starting to become clear as the country has faced more than two-week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-internet-business-costs-a0bd2df1d13355dcc28f46e5b5b3c893">internet blackout</a>&nbsp;— the most comprehensive in the nation's history.The U.S.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-death-toll-ec00ffa50f818d4a66aec5942aec629b">Human Rights Activists News Agency</a>&nbsp;on Monday put the death toll at 5,973, with the number expected to increase. It says more than 41,800 people have been arrested.The group’s figures have been accurate in previous unrest and rely on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. That death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest there in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the toll.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">Iran’s government</a>&nbsp;has put the death toll at a far lower 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeled the rest “terrorists.” In the past, Iran’s theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest.

US aircraft carrier arrives in the Middle East as tensions with Iran remain high

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal crash that occurred just after 9p.m. January 22 have released the name of the victim as 36-year-old Jared Wilcox of Topeka, according to a media release from police.

The single vehicle accident occurred in the 500 block of SW 21st Street.&nbsp; First responders located Wilcox who was deceased at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing and no additional information has been provided.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769168708266.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal crash that occurred just after 9p.m. January 22 have released the name of the victim as 36-year-old Jared Wilcox of Topeka, according to a media release from police.The single vehicle accident occurred in the 500 block of SW 21st Street.&nbsp; First responders located Wilcox who was deceased at the scene.The investigation is ongoing and no additional information has been provided.

Police release name of victim in fatal Kansas crash

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

After a preliminary hearing in Ellis County District Court on Monday, a WaKeeney man was bound over for trial for attempted first-degree murder for allegedly strangling his partner on July 17, 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769481507094.png" alt="Garrett photo Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Garrett photo Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAfter a preliminary hearing in Ellis County District Court on Monday, a WaKeeney man was bound over for trial for attempted first-degree murder for allegedly strangling his partner on July 17, 2025.Cody Evan Garrett is charged with three felonies: attempted first-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery,&nbsp;criminal threat, and two misdemeanors: domestic battery and criminal damage to property.The state presented its evidence in November, but the preliminary hearing was continued until Monday, when the defense presented its case.Garrett drove his truck to an area of Hopewell Road in Ellis County. He&nbsp;allegedly told the victim he was going to kill her, throw her in a ditch, and she would never see her kids again, according to court records.The victim told authorities that Garrett threw her up against the truck hard enough to dent the truck, pulled her hair, held her down on the ground and strangled her, according to court records and testimony.The victim told authorities Garrett strangled her to the point she saw bright lights and heard ringing in her ears.Garrett allegedly released the victim when another couple approached the area in another vehicle. She ran toward that vehicle, and law enforcement was called.During testimony on Monday, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Tina Jecha of HaysMed said an examination of the victim found&nbsp;petechial hemorrhage in the victim's mouth, which can be an indicator of strangulation.Petechial hemorrhage is the rupture of capillaries and can cause red, purple or brown spots to appear on the skin, in the mouth or in the eyes.The defense noted in its questioning of Jecha that&nbsp;petechial hemorrhaging was not found anywhere else on the victim's body.However,&nbsp;Jecha said someone can be strangled and not have any signs of&nbsp;petechial hemorrhage.She also said she found abrasions, bruising and an injury to the victim's upper lip.Although&nbsp;Jecha said she did not recall seeing any bruising on the victim's neck, she did remember seeing redness.The victim's ex-husband testified he told a Wakeeney businessman after Garrett's arrest that he wouldn't put it past the victim to fabricate the incident.&nbsp;Hobbs testified Monday this was his own speculation, and he had made the statement in anger after a sleepless night worrying about his children. Hobbs said he and the victim did not have an amicable divorce, and there remained tension in the relationship.This statement, after going through two more people, morphed into an allegation that the victim had planned the incident to make Garrett look bad.&nbsp;County Attorney Aaron Cunningham likened the line of testimony to a child's game of telephone in which the original statements had been contorted.In his closing statement, defense attorney Mark Harmon argued there was no evidence of premeditation other than the victim's statements to law enforcement that Garrett had threatened to kill her.He said there was no evidence that the victim had been close to death.&nbsp;He characterized the events leading up to the alleged crime as a mutual combat inside the truck.Herrman asked that the charge of attempted first-degree murder be dismissed. However, Judge Curtis Brown declined and bound Garrett over for trial on all charges.Garrett's arraignment has been set for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17 via Zoom.Garrett is free on a $500,000 bond. Herrman asked that Garrett's ankle monitoring be terminated as a condition of his bond. The state objected.&nbsp;Brown said he would allow Garrett to switch to GPS monitoring.