KANSAS CITY — Kansas man has been charged for his role in a fatal shooting that occurred on East Interstate 70 Highway in 2022.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2797/Daimon-Benson-Complaint--PC">Daimon Benson</a>&nbsp;faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Shoot at/from Motor Vehicle, at Person, Motor Vehicle or Building, Resulting in Death or Injury, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

On October 21, 2022, Kansas City police responded to a shooting on East Interstate 70 at Interstate 29 and located a crashed white Toyota Camry. Officers found a female victim in the driver’s seat suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. She was later pronounced deceased at a nearby hospital, according to court records.

Based on several investigative leads, detectives determined a gray Dodge Charger began chasing the Toyota at a high rate of speed after the Toyota cut off the Charger. An individual in the passenger seat of the Charger, later determined to be Benson allegedly fired into the Toyota. The Toyota crashed and the Charger fled the scene.

Benson told detectives he did not remember having any involvement in the 2022 shooting but estimated to have shot about 400 people. He estimated he has shot about ten people every month from inside a vehicle.&nbsp;

The defendant was a juvenile at the time of the shooting and was certified&nbsp; in Family Court.

He is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond. The defendant is a SAVE KC client and did not attend a call-in.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767908026852.png" alt="Benson-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Benson-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — Kansas man has been charged for his role in a fatal shooting that occurred on East Interstate 70 Highway in 2022.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2797/Daimon-Benson-Complaint--PC">Daimon Benson</a>&nbsp;faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon – Shoot at/from Motor Vehicle, at Person, Motor Vehicle or Building, Resulting in Death or Injury, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.On October 21, 2022, Kansas City police responded to a shooting on East Interstate 70 at Interstate 29 and located a crashed white Toyota Camry. Officers found a female victim in the driver’s seat suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head. She was later pronounced deceased at a nearby hospital, according to court records.Based on several investigative leads, detectives determined a gray Dodge Charger began chasing the Toyota at a high rate of speed after the Toyota cut off the Charger. An individual in the passenger seat of the Charger, later determined to be Benson allegedly fired into the Toyota. The Toyota crashed and the Charger fled the scene.Benson told detectives he did not remember having any involvement in the 2022 shooting but estimated to have shot about 400 people. He estimated he has shot about ten people every month from inside a vehicle.&nbsp;The defendant was a juvenile at the time of the shooting and was certified&nbsp; in Family Court.He is being held on a $100,000 cash-only bond. The defendant is a SAVE KC client and did not attend a call-in.&nbsp;

Kansas man shot and killed woman driver on I-70 

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple drug allegations after a drug bust at a property in northeast Kansas.

Just before 8:30a.m. January 8, police executed a narcotics search warrant at 140 14th Street in Osawatomie, according to a media release from police. The residence had been under investigation for several months following reports to law enforcement alleging the sale of narcotics by an individual who lived at the residence.

After establishing probable cause that narcotics were sold on the property, investigators, with their approved search warrant, took 61-year-old Gary L. Burnett into custody. He was living in the detached garage located behind the main residence.&nbsp;

A search of the garage resulted in the seizure of meth, scales, a firearm, drug paraphernalia and additional items related to the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;pachaging and sale of narcotics.

Barnett is being held in the Miami County Jail on requested charges that include distribution of meth within 1000 feet of a school, using a phone to arrange the sale of narcotics, no drug tax stamp affixed,&nbsp; possession of meth with intent to distribute, felony possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767958734182.png" alt="Photo Osawatomie Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Osawatomie Police</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple drug allegations after a drug bust at a property in northeast Kansas.Just before 8:30a.m. January 8, police executed a narcotics search warrant at 140 14th Street in Osawatomie, according to a media release from police. The residence had been under investigation for several months following reports to law enforcement alleging the sale of narcotics by an individual who lived at the residence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1767958719594.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>After establishing probable cause that narcotics were sold on the property, investigators, with their approved search warrant, took 61-year-old Gary L. Burnett into custody. He was living in the detached garage located behind the main residence.&nbsp;A search of the garage resulted in the seizure of meth, scales, a firearm, drug paraphernalia and additional items related to the&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;pachaging and sale of narcotics.Barnett is being held in the Miami County Jail on requested charges that include distribution of meth within 1000 feet of a school, using a phone to arrange the sale of narcotics, no drug tax stamp affixed,&nbsp; possession of meth with intent to distribute, felony possession of a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. felon was selling drugs from garage on property

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s feud with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has escalated into a Department of Justice investigation, raising alarm bells among some Republicans in the Senate, where Trump will need broad backing from GOP lawmakers to get his choice for the next Fed chairman approved after Powell’s term ends in May.

Retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who sits on the narrowly divided Banking Committee that will hold hearings on the next nominee, wrote in a statement he won’t approve anyone to fill Powell’s seat if Trump or administration officials try to further erode its independence.&nbsp;

“If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,” Tillis wrote. “It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question.”

Tillis added he plans to “oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved.”

Trump has criticized Powell repeatedly since retaking the Oval Office in January, pressing him to reduce interest rates faster and signaling he wanted to fire him.&nbsp;

Powell said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20260111a.htm" target="_blank">a video</a>&nbsp;released this weekend that Justice Department officials on Friday “served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June.”

Powell alleged the DOJ investigation is not purely about oversight of the multi-year renovation project at the Fed’s offices in Washington, D.C., but “a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.”

“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,” Powell said.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-nomination-jerome-powell-chairman-board-governors-federal-reserve-system/" target="_blank">first nominated</a>&nbsp;Powell to be chairman of the Federal Reserve in November 2017 for a four-year term that began in February 2018, writing in a statement that Powell had “demonstrated steady leadership, sound judgment, and policy expertise.”

“Mr. Powell will bring to the Federal Reserve a unique background of Government service and business experience,” Trump wrote. “He previously served as Under Secretary at the Department of Treasury in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Mr. Powell also has nearly three decades of business experience.”

The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00019.htm" target="_blank">voted 84-13</a>&nbsp;in January 2018 to confirm Powell to the role.&nbsp;

President Joe Biden re-nominated Powell in November 2021 for another four-year term that began in May 2022 after the Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00176.htm" target="_blank">voted 80-19</a>&nbsp;to confirm him for a second time.&nbsp;

Trump hasn’t said publicly whom he will nominate to succeed Powell as Fed chairman, but whoever he picks will need to move past the Senate Banking Committee in order to receive a confirmation vote on the floor and actually take on the role.&nbsp;

The Banking Committee holds 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats, giving Tillis considerable leverage to block any Trump nominee from advancing if all of the Democrats on the panel also vote against reporting that person to the floor.&nbsp;

Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, ranking member on the committee, wrote in a statement that “Trump is abusing the authorities of the Department of Justice like a wannabe dictator so the Fed serves his interests, along with his billionaire friends.”&nbsp;

“As Donald Trump prepares to nominate a new Fed Chair, he wants to push Jerome Powell off the Fed Board for good and install another sock puppet to complete his corrupt takeover of America’s central bank,” Warren wrote. “This Committee and the Senate should not move forward with any Trump nominee for the Fed, including Fed Chair.”

Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., had not released any public statements about the Department of Justice investigation into Powell as of Monday morning.&nbsp;

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who isn’t on the committee, released a written statement after speaking with Powell on Monday morning, saying “it’s clear the administration’s investigation is nothing more than an attempt at coercion.”&nbsp;

“If the Department of Justice believes an investigation into Chair Powell is warranted based on project cost overruns—which are not unusual—then Congress needs to investigate the Department of Justice,” Murkowski wrote. “The stakes are too high to look the other way: if the Federal Reserve loses its independence, the stability of our markets and the broader economy will suffer. My colleague, Senator Tillis, is right in blocking any Federal Reserve nominees until this is resolved.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a statement the Justice Department’s actions represent “the kind of bullying that we’ve all come to expect from Donald Trump and his cronies.”&nbsp;

“Anyone who is independent and doesn’t just fall in line behind Trump gets investigated,” Schumer wrote. “Jay Powell and the Fed aren’t the reason Trump’s economy and his poll numbers are in the toilet. If he’s looking for the person who caused that he should look in the mirror.”

Former Federal Reserve chairmen, Treasury secretaries and White House economic advisers released&nbsp;<a href="https://jointstatement.substack.com/p/statement-on-the-federal-reserve" target="_blank">a written statement</a>&nbsp;that the Fed’s “independence and the public’s perception of that independence are critical for economic performance, including achieving the goals Congress has set for the Federal Reserve of stable prices, maximum employment, and moderate long-term interest rates.”

“The reported criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine that independence,” they wrote. “This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly. It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is at the foundation of our economic success.”

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s feud with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has escalated into a Department of Justice investigation, raising alarm bells among some Republicans in the Senate, where Trump will need broad backing from GOP lawmakers to get his choice for the next Fed chairman approved after Powell’s term ends in May.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell: <a href="https://t.co/5dfrkByGyX">https://t.co/5dfrkByGyX</a> <a href="https://t.co/O4ecNaYaGH">pic.twitter.com/O4ecNaYaGH</a>&mdash; Federal Reserve (@federalreserve) <a href="https://twitter.com/federalreserve/status/2010510130970849338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who sits on the narrowly divided Banking Committee that will hold hearings on the next nominee, wrote in a statement he won’t approve anyone to fill Powell’s seat if Trump or administration officials try to further erode its independence.&nbsp;“If there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none,” Tillis wrote. “It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question.”Tillis added he plans to “oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved.”<h2>Powell fights back in a video</h2>Trump has criticized Powell repeatedly since retaking the Oval Office in January, pressing him to reduce interest rates faster and signaling he wanted to fire him.&nbsp;Powell said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/powell20260111a.htm" target="_blank">a video</a>&nbsp;released this weekend that Justice Department officials on Friday “served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June.”Powell alleged the DOJ investigation is not purely about oversight of the multi-year renovation project at the Fed’s offices in Washington, D.C., but “a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.”“This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions—or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure or intimidation,” Powell said.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-nomination-jerome-powell-chairman-board-governors-federal-reserve-system/" target="_blank">first nominated</a>&nbsp;Powell to be chairman of the Federal Reserve in November 2017 for a four-year term that began in February 2018, writing in a statement that Powell had “demonstrated steady leadership, sound judgment, and policy expertise.”“Mr. Powell will bring to the Federal Reserve a unique background of Government service and business experience,” Trump wrote. “He previously served as Under Secretary at the Department of Treasury in the administration of President George H.W. Bush. Mr. Powell also has nearly three decades of business experience.”The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00019.htm" target="_blank">voted 84-13</a>&nbsp;in January 2018 to confirm Powell to the role.&nbsp;President Joe Biden re-nominated Powell in November 2021 for another four-year term that began in May 2022 after the Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1172/vote_117_2_00176.htm" target="_blank">voted 80-19</a>&nbsp;to confirm him for a second time.&nbsp;<h2>Tillis leverage on committee</h2>Trump hasn’t said publicly whom he will nominate to succeed Powell as Fed chairman, but whoever he picks will need to move past the Senate Banking Committee in order to receive a confirmation vote on the floor and actually take on the role.&nbsp;The Banking Committee holds 13 Republicans and 11 Democrats, giving Tillis considerable leverage to block any Trump nominee from advancing if all of the Democrats on the panel also vote against reporting that person to the floor.&nbsp;Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, ranking member on the committee, wrote in a statement that “Trump is abusing the authorities of the Department of Justice like a wannabe dictator so the Fed serves his interests, along with his billionaire friends.”&nbsp;“As Donald Trump prepares to nominate a new Fed Chair, he wants to push Jerome Powell off the Fed Board for good and install another sock puppet to complete his corrupt takeover of America’s central bank,” Warren wrote. “This Committee and the Senate should not move forward with any Trump nominee for the Fed, including Fed Chair.”Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., had not released any public statements about the Department of Justice investigation into Powell as of Monday morning.&nbsp;<h2>Murkowski sees ‘attempt at coercion’</h2>Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who isn’t on the committee, released a written statement after speaking with Powell on Monday morning, saying “it’s clear the administration’s investigation is nothing more than an attempt at coercion.”&nbsp;“If the Department of Justice believes an investigation into Chair Powell is warranted based on project cost overruns—which are not unusual—then Congress needs to investigate the Department of Justice,” Murkowski wrote. “The stakes are too high to look the other way: if the Federal Reserve loses its independence, the stability of our markets and the broader economy will suffer. My colleague, Senator Tillis, is right in blocking any Federal Reserve nominees until this is resolved.”Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a statement the Justice Department’s actions represent “the kind of bullying that we’ve all come to expect from Donald Trump and his cronies.”&nbsp;“Anyone who is independent and doesn’t just fall in line behind Trump gets investigated,” Schumer wrote. “Jay Powell and the Fed aren’t the reason Trump’s economy and his poll numbers are in the toilet. If he’s looking for the person who caused that he should look in the mirror.”Former Federal Reserve chairmen, Treasury secretaries and White House economic advisers released&nbsp;<a href="https://jointstatement.substack.com/p/statement-on-the-federal-reserve" target="_blank">a written statement</a>&nbsp;that the Fed’s “independence and the public’s perception of that independence are critical for economic performance, including achieving the goals Congress has set for the Federal Reserve of stable prices, maximum employment, and moderate long-term interest rates.”“The reported criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine that independence,” they wrote. “This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly. It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is at the foundation of our economic success.”

​​US Senate Republicans defend independence of the Fed after DOJ launches Powell probe

SEDGWICK COUNTY— The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office updated the investigation involving the recovery of a body from Lake Afton on Saturday, Jan. 10.

The Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center has positively identified the remains as those of 30-year-old Ian Alexander Shelton, who had been reported missing in the early morning hours of Dec. 3, 2025.

The cause of death is still under investigation, with additional testing pending. This case remains an open and active investigation.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office extends its condolences to the family and friends of Ian Alexander Shelton during this difficult time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768094465123.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office updated the investigation involving the recovery of a body from Lake Afton on Saturday, Jan. 10.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768259403835.png" alt="Image Sedgwick County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Image Sedgwick County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center has positively identified the remains as those of 30-year-old Ian Alexander Shelton, who had been reported missing in the early morning hours of Dec. 3, 2025.The cause of death is still under investigation, with additional testing pending. This case remains an open and active investigation.The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office extends its condolences to the family and friends of Ian Alexander Shelton during this difficult time.

Sheriff: Body found in lake identified as missing Kansas man

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of an infant an have nade an arres.

Just after 7:30a.m. Monday, police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to a single-family residence in central Salina for a medical call involving an unknown disturbance, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Ziegler.

Officers and Medics arrived and contacted the occupants of that home. Just prior to the call to police, one of those occupants had discovered their 5-month-old male unresponsive in their crib, according to Ziegler. 

Both adult occupants of the home were interviewed by Salina Police Detectives. Adyson Burr, 21 years of age and resident of that address, has been arrested on a requested charge with 1 count of 1st Degree Homicide and 1 count of Child Abuse.&nbsp;

An autopsy to be performed in Kansas City later this week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768257749993.png" alt="Burr photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Burr photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating the death of an infant an have nade an arres.Just after 7:30a.m. Monday, police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to a single-family residence in central Salina for a medical call involving an unknown disturbance, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Ziegler.Officers and Medics arrived and contacted the occupants of that home. Just prior to the call to police, one of those occupants had discovered their 5-month-old male unresponsive in their crib, according to Ziegler. Both adult occupants of the home were interviewed by Salina Police Detectives. Adyson Burr, 21 years of age and resident of that address, has been arrested on a requested charge with 1 count of 1st Degree Homicide and 1 count of Child Abuse.&nbsp;An autopsy to be performed in Kansas City later this week.

Police: Kan. woman arrested in death of 5-month old boy

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street ticked to more records Monday after bouncing back from losses taken because of worries about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-powell-federal-reserve-d87eedf1e35195957f903f9963aeaf99">worsening feud</a>&nbsp;between the White House and the Federal Reserve, one that experts warn could lead to higher inflation in the future.

The S&amp;P 500 tacked 0.2% onto&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-trump-oil-ai-d6cf868b23a814a3a2038aca24a0de93">its prior all-time high</a>&nbsp;set on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered an early loss of nearly 500 points and added 86, or 0.2%, to its own record, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.3%.

Some nervousness was still evident in the market, though, amid concern that the Fed may be on the path to less independence in setting interest rates to keep inflation under control. Prices for gold and other investments that tend to do well when investors are nervous rose, while the value of the U.S. dollar dipped against other currencies.

Walmart helped drive the U.S. stock market higher despite the worries. It climbed 3% after learning that its stock will join the widely followed Nasdaq 100 index. Google also said Sunday that it’s expanding the shopping features in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-gemini-ai-shopping-checkout-walmart-f1679240ba93d40b90a97348b73039d3">AI chatbot by teaming up with Walmart</a>&nbsp;and several other big retailers.

Google’s parent company, Alphabet, rose 1% to bring its total market value above $4 trillion following a torrid run aided by its artificial-intelligence offerings.

They helped offset losses for a slight majority of stocks within the S&amp;P 500. Leading them all were credit card companies after President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-credit-cards-interest-rates-savings-banks-dba221f122789427c1c625ba873c9b71">Trump threatened moves</a>&nbsp;that could eat into their profit.

Synchrony Financial fell 8.4%, Capital One Financial sank 6.4% and American Express dropped 4.3%. They weakened after Trump said he wanted to put a 10% cap on credit card interest rates for a year.

But it was a separate move involving Washington that grabbed the most attention across financial markets. Over the weekend, the Federal Reserve’s chair said the U.S. Department of Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-subpoena-bf4fc6c690fa248fbc531bc9bc7f1758">subpoenaed the Fed</a>&nbsp;and threatened a criminal indictment over his testimony about renovations at its headquarters.

Through an unusual video statement released on Sunday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said his testimony and the renovations are “pretexts” for the threat of criminal charges, which he said is really “a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.”

The Fed has been locked in a feud with Trump, who has loudly called for lower interest rates to make borrowing cheaper for U.S. households and companies and give the economy a kickstart. The Fed did lower its main interest rate three times last year and indicated more cuts may arrive this year, but it’s moved deliberately enough that Trump has nicknamed Powell “Too Late.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that Trump did not direct his Justice Department to investigate Powell.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-independence-5c2ec1a37dc4aca6a59544f8b4513a45">Fed has traditionally operated separately</a>&nbsp;from the rest of Washington, making its decisions without having to bend to political whims. Such independence, the thinking goes, gives it the freedom to keep interest rates high when necessary to drive down high inflation, even if it slows the economy and frustrates politicians looking to please voters.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury briefly rose to 4.21%, up from 4.18% late Friday, amid concerns that a less independent Fed could lead to higher inflation over the longer term. But it later eased back to 4.18%.

The worries also hit the value of the U.S. dollar, which slipped 0.4% against the euro and 0.6% against the Swiss franc.

Analysts said financial markets shook off the concerns about the Fed’s independence for several potential reasons. Traders could see “a limitation to the White House’s success in getting its way,” according to Thierry Wizman, a strategist at Macquarie Group, because Congress could deny confirmation of any nominees for the Fed from the White House.

“It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question,” Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, said on social media. “I will oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved.”

Trump has already criticized the Fed sharply, and he’s trying at the moment to fire Fed Gov. Lisa Cook, but the Fed’s rate-setting committee still seems to be acting independently.

Plus, this latest move could encourage Powell to stay on at the Fed as a governor until his term expires in 2028, even though his term as chair will end in May, said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management.

“With the political pressure on the Fed, he may choose to stay on as a governor out of spite,” he said. “It would deprive President Trump of the ability to stack the board with another appointee.”

On Wall Street, Abercrombie &amp; Fitch dropped 17.7% after the retailer gave a forecasted range for profit in the final quarter of 2025 whose midpoint fell short of analysts’ expectations. Its forecast for growth in revenue also fell shy of Wall Street’s.

Other retailers that sell clothes in malls also struggled, including drops of 12.3% for Urban Outfitters and 3.5% for American Eagle Outfitters.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 10.99 points to 6,977.27. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 86.13 to 49,590.20, and the Nasdaq composite gained 62.56 to 23,733.90.

The price of gold rose 2.5% to a record settlement of $4,614.70 per ounce

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street ticked to more records Monday after bouncing back from losses taken because of worries about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-powell-federal-reserve-d87eedf1e35195957f903f9963aeaf99">worsening feud</a>&nbsp;between the White House and the Federal Reserve, one that experts warn could lead to higher inflation in the future.The S&amp;P 500 tacked 0.2% onto&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-trump-oil-ai-d6cf868b23a814a3a2038aca24a0de93">its prior all-time high</a>&nbsp;set on Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average recovered an early loss of nearly 500 points and added 86, or 0.2%, to its own record, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.3%.Some nervousness was still evident in the market, though, amid concern that the Fed may be on the path to less independence in setting interest rates to keep inflation under control. Prices for gold and other investments that tend to do well when investors are nervous rose, while the value of the U.S. dollar dipped against other currencies.Walmart helped drive the U.S. stock market higher despite the worries. It climbed 3% after learning that its stock will join the widely followed Nasdaq 100 index. Google also said Sunday that it’s expanding the shopping features in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-gemini-ai-shopping-checkout-walmart-f1679240ba93d40b90a97348b73039d3">AI chatbot by teaming up with Walmart</a>&nbsp;and several other big retailers.Google’s parent company, Alphabet, rose 1% to bring its total market value above $4 trillion following a torrid run aided by its artificial-intelligence offerings.They helped offset losses for a slight majority of stocks within the S&amp;P 500. Leading them all were credit card companies after President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-credit-cards-interest-rates-savings-banks-dba221f122789427c1c625ba873c9b71">Trump threatened moves</a>&nbsp;that could eat into their profit.Synchrony Financial fell 8.4%, Capital One Financial sank 6.4% and American Express dropped 4.3%. They weakened after Trump said he wanted to put a 10% cap on credit card interest rates for a year.But it was a separate move involving Washington that grabbed the most attention across financial markets. Over the weekend, the Federal Reserve’s chair said the U.S. Department of Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-subpoena-bf4fc6c690fa248fbc531bc9bc7f1758">subpoenaed the Fed</a>&nbsp;and threatened a criminal indictment over his testimony about renovations at its headquarters.Through an unusual video statement released on Sunday, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said his testimony and the renovations are “pretexts” for the threat of criminal charges, which he said is really “a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.”The Fed has been locked in a feud with Trump, who has loudly called for lower interest rates to make borrowing cheaper for U.S. households and companies and give the economy a kickstart. The Fed did lower its main interest rate three times last year and indicated more cuts may arrive this year, but it’s moved deliberately enough that Trump has nicknamed Powell “Too Late.”White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Monday that Trump did not direct his Justice Department to investigate Powell.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-powell-trump-independence-5c2ec1a37dc4aca6a59544f8b4513a45">Fed has traditionally operated separately</a>&nbsp;from the rest of Washington, making its decisions without having to bend to political whims. Such independence, the thinking goes, gives it the freedom to keep interest rates high when necessary to drive down high inflation, even if it slows the economy and frustrates politicians looking to please voters.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury briefly rose to 4.21%, up from 4.18% late Friday, amid concerns that a less independent Fed could lead to higher inflation over the longer term. But it later eased back to 4.18%.The worries also hit the value of the U.S. dollar, which slipped 0.4% against the euro and 0.6% against the Swiss franc.Analysts said financial markets shook off the concerns about the Fed’s independence for several potential reasons. Traders could see “a limitation to the White House’s success in getting its way,” according to Thierry Wizman, a strategist at Macquarie Group, because Congress could deny confirmation of any nominees for the Fed from the White House.“It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question,” Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, said on social media. “I will oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed—including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy—until this legal matter is fully resolved.”Trump has already criticized the Fed sharply, and he’s trying at the moment to fire Fed Gov. Lisa Cook, but the Fed’s rate-setting committee still seems to be acting independently.Plus, this latest move could encourage Powell to stay on at the Fed as a governor until his term expires in 2028, even though his term as chair will end in May, said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management.“With the political pressure on the Fed, he may choose to stay on as a governor out of spite,” he said. “It would deprive President Trump of the ability to stack the board with another appointee.”On Wall Street, Abercrombie &amp; Fitch dropped 17.7% after the retailer gave a forecasted range for profit in the final quarter of 2025 whose midpoint fell short of analysts’ expectations. Its forecast for growth in revenue also fell shy of Wall Street’s.Other retailers that sell clothes in malls also struggled, including drops of 12.3% for Urban Outfitters and 3.5% for American Eagle Outfitters.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 10.99 points to 6,977.27. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 86.13 to 49,590.20, and the Nasdaq composite gained 62.56 to 23,733.90.The price of gold rose 2.5% to a record settlement of $4,614.70 per ounce

Wall Street ticks to more records despite Trump's feud with the Fed

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating an other homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 6:30p.m. Sunday, polie were dispatched to an apartment in the 6400 block of Manchester Avenue in Kansas City on a report of a disturbance, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Upon arrival, officers responded to the dispatched apartment unit where they located a man inside suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. Officers checked for signs of life just as EMS was responding. EMS declared the victim was deceased at the scene.

Preliminary investigation reveals there was an argument between an adult male victim, and an adult male suspect. That argument escalated into gunfire and resulted in the victim being struck. The adult male suspect has not been identified at this time and left the scene prior to officer arrival.&nbsp;

Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the scene to canvass the area for evidence and collecting witness statements. This incident is being investigated as a homicide, according to Gonzalez.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768218129826.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating an other homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.Just before 6:30p.m. Sunday, polie were dispatched to an apartment in the 6400 block of Manchester Avenue in Kansas City on a report of a disturbance, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Upon arrival, officers responded to the dispatched apartment unit where they located a man inside suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. Officers checked for signs of life just as EMS was responding. EMS declared the victim was deceased at the scene.Preliminary investigation reveals there was an argument between an adult male victim, and an adult male suspect. That argument escalated into gunfire and resulted in the victim being struck. The adult male suspect has not been identified at this time and left the scene prior to officer arrival.&nbsp;Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the scene to canvass the area for evidence and collecting witness statements. This incident is being investigated as a homicide, according to Gonzalez.

Homicide: Man found dead in Kansas City apartment

SALINE COUNTY —Two people avoided serious injures after an accident on icy roads in Saline County.

According to Saline County Sheriff's Operations Captain Jim Hughes, the single vehicle accident occurred just before 5p.m.&nbsp;in the 5700 block of S. Burma. 

Investigators determined the vehicle was traveling too fast for conditions, slid off the road and landed on it top in a creek. &nbsp;Two occupants complained of minor “aches and pains” and denied EMS assistance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768228156199.png" alt="Photo Saline Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Saline Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Two people avoided serious injures after an accident on icy roads in Saline County.According to Saline County Sheriff's Operations Captain Jim Hughes, the single vehicle accident occurred just before 5p.m.&nbsp;in the 5700 block of S. Burma. Investigators determined the vehicle was traveling too fast for conditions, slid off the road and landed on it top in a creek. &nbsp;Two occupants complained of minor “aches and pains” and denied EMS assistance.

Sheriff: 2 avoid serious injury after crash into Kansas creek

By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/brianmartucci/">Brian Martucci</a>- <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>

Federal immigration authorities intensified a weekslong operation in the Twin Cities over the weekend following the Wednesday killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.

Residents pushed back, led by a growing network of rapid responders hounding U.S. ICE and Border Patrol vehicles and agents across the metro area.

Thousands&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/10/thousands-march-in-minneapolis-to-protest-ice-after-shooting/">marched peacefully</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis Saturday to remember Good and protest the Trump administration’s expanding immigration crackdown. Many marchers stopped to pay their respects as the procession moved from Powderhorn Park past the intersection where the fatal shooting occurred.

Saturday’s protest, the largest since Good’s killing, was more subdued than a Friday evening gathering outside downtown Minneapolis hotels where ICE agents were said to be staying.

Protesters blew whistles, banged drums and shouted taunts outside the hotels for hours before some tried to force their way into the Canopy by Hilton at 700 Third Street South, causing about $6,000 in damage, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-ice-protest-friday-night-arrests-damage-no-injuries/601561757" target="_blank">Star Tribune&nbsp;reported</a>. City and state police ordered protesters to disperse around midnight and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h6jSaT1Qy3k?si=1vXpli_jiJ9nNRQL" target="_blank">arrested about 30 people</a>&nbsp;without incident, officials said Saturday.

Near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, a smaller group braved chilly winds to maintain a near-permanent presence outside an ICE operations hub and detention center.

U.S. Reps.&nbsp; Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison said they were denied entry to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building shortly after arriving for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/us-reps-ilhan-omar-angie-craig-say-they-were-turned-away-from-ice-facility-mn/89-c71bf6c9-f7a0-459f-aee5-c62ea6858d56" target="_blank">what they called an oversight visit</a>&nbsp;on Saturday morning.

Later in the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/10/minnesota-democrats-ice-00721211" target="_blank">Politico reported</a>&nbsp;that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — who oversees ICE and said this weekend she’d ordered hundreds more agents to join at least 2,000 already in the Twin Cities — signed an order on Thursday requiring a week’s notice for Congressional visits to immigrant detention centers.

Multiple people released from Whipple told independent journalists that they’d been&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/gbrockell.bsky.social/post/3mc6zl5qsns2k" target="_blank">verbally or physically abused</a>&nbsp;in or en route to detention there. Two said agents used demeaning language to describe Good and suggested she’d deserved her fate.

The&nbsp;Reformer&nbsp;has not independently verified the Whipple detainees’ claims. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/comments/1qa3pmm/boxed_in_by_ice/" target="_blank">separate video</a>&nbsp;posted on Sunday by a Minneapolis Reddit user, an ICE agent tells a driver to “[g]o home to your children…have you not learned from what just happened?”

Sunday saw more reports of federal law enforcement activity in St. Paul. One&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/saintpaul/comments/1qaaww4/greg_bovino_has_officially_kicked_off_door_to/" target="_blank">bystander video</a>&nbsp;purported to show agents going “door to door” on Thomas Avenue near Victoria Street, possibly making good on Vice President JD Vance’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/08/jd-vance-promises-aggressive-immigration-enforcement/88086884007/" target="_blank">promise earlier this week</a>&nbsp;of house-by-house immigration operations. Armed personnel&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mattprivratsky.bsky.social/post/3mc6cp7f4pc2g" target="_blank">questioned shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a nearby Target. And a crowd heckled agents as they appeared to pull a man out of his car at a gas station on Snelling Avenue.

A multi-agency operation that at times felt like an outright occupation had many Twin Cities residents — not just hardened activists — calling for ICE to withdraw and deeper reform of federal immigration policy.

On Sunday, outgoing U.S. Sen. Tina Smith&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/democratic-minnesota-senator-ice-has-a-role-in-our-country-11342339" target="_blank">told CNN</a>&nbsp;that she was listening, but stopped short of promising to lead the “abolish ICE” movement in Washington.

“It is hard for me to imagine how I could vote to support a budget bill for the Department of Homeland Security, given how the Department of Homeland Security is functioning right now in my community,” she said. “I want to see work done that would bring some serious reforms to ICE.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768243967494.png" alt=" Thousands of people march Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 from Powderhorn Park to the site where an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, protesting the killing and also the drastic surge in ICE agents deployed to the state in recent weeks. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)" />
 <figcaption> Thousands of people march Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 from Powderhorn Park to the site where an ICE agent shot and killed Renee Good, protesting the killing and also the drastic surge in ICE agents deployed to the state in recent weeks. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/brianmartucci/">Brian Martucci</a>- <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>Federal immigration authorities intensified a weekslong operation in the Twin Cities over the weekend following the Wednesday killing of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross.Residents pushed back, led by a growing network of rapid responders hounding U.S. ICE and Border Patrol vehicles and agents across the metro area.Thousands&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2026/01/10/thousands-march-in-minneapolis-to-protest-ice-after-shooting/">marched peacefully</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis Saturday to remember Good and protest the Trump administration’s expanding immigration crackdown. Many marchers stopped to pay their respects as the procession moved from Powderhorn Park past the intersection where the fatal shooting occurred.Saturday’s protest, the largest since Good’s killing, was more subdued than a Friday evening gathering outside downtown Minneapolis hotels where ICE agents were said to be staying.Protesters blew whistles, banged drums and shouted taunts outside the hotels for hours before some tried to force their way into the Canopy by Hilton at 700 Third Street South, causing about $6,000 in damage, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-ice-protest-friday-night-arrests-damage-no-injuries/601561757" target="_blank">Star Tribune&nbsp;reported</a>. City and state police ordered protesters to disperse around midnight and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h6jSaT1Qy3k?si=1vXpli_jiJ9nNRQL" target="_blank">arrested about 30 people</a>&nbsp;without incident, officials said Saturday.Near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, a smaller group braved chilly winds to maintain a near-permanent presence outside an ICE operations hub and detention center.U.S. Reps.&nbsp; Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison said they were denied entry to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building shortly after arriving for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/us-reps-ilhan-omar-angie-craig-say-they-were-turned-away-from-ice-facility-mn/89-c71bf6c9-f7a0-459f-aee5-c62ea6858d56" target="_blank">what they called an oversight visit</a>&nbsp;on Saturday morning.Later in the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/10/minnesota-democrats-ice-00721211" target="_blank">Politico reported</a>&nbsp;that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — who oversees ICE and said this weekend she’d ordered hundreds more agents to join at least 2,000 already in the Twin Cities — signed an order on Thursday requiring a week’s notice for Congressional visits to immigrant detention centers.Multiple people released from Whipple told independent journalists that they’d been&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/gbrockell.bsky.social/post/3mc6zl5qsns2k" target="_blank">verbally or physically abused</a>&nbsp;in or en route to detention there. Two said agents used demeaning language to describe Good and suggested she’d deserved her fate.The&nbsp;Reformer&nbsp;has not independently verified the Whipple detainees’ claims. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/comments/1qa3pmm/boxed_in_by_ice/" target="_blank">separate video</a>&nbsp;posted on Sunday by a Minneapolis Reddit user, an ICE agent tells a driver to “[g]o home to your children…have you not learned from what just happened?”Sunday saw more reports of federal law enforcement activity in St. Paul. One&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/saintpaul/comments/1qaaww4/greg_bovino_has_officially_kicked_off_door_to/" target="_blank">bystander video</a>&nbsp;purported to show agents going “door to door” on Thomas Avenue near Victoria Street, possibly making good on Vice President JD Vance’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/01/08/jd-vance-promises-aggressive-immigration-enforcement/88086884007/" target="_blank">promise earlier this week</a>&nbsp;of house-by-house immigration operations. Armed personnel&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mattprivratsky.bsky.social/post/3mc6cp7f4pc2g" target="_blank">questioned shoppers</a>&nbsp;at a nearby Target. And a crowd heckled agents as they appeared to pull a man out of his car at a gas station on Snelling Avenue.A multi-agency operation that at times felt like an outright occupation had many Twin Cities residents — not just hardened activists — calling for ICE to withdraw and deeper reform of federal immigration policy.On Sunday, outgoing U.S. Sen. Tina Smith&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/democratic-minnesota-senator-ice-has-a-role-in-our-country-11342339" target="_blank">told CNN</a>&nbsp;that she was listening, but stopped short of promising to lead the “abolish ICE” movement in Washington.“It is hard for me to imagine how I could vote to support a budget bill for the Department of Homeland Security, given how the Department of Homeland Security is functioning right now in my community,” she said. “I want to see work done that would bring some serious reforms to ICE.”

ICE intensifies Twin Cities operation after killing of Renee Good, protests

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen accused in a fatal shooting&nbsp; that occurred in the basement of a home in Wichita is set to return to court.

Elijah Cynova, 18, will appear in Judge Rodger Woods courtroom on Monday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He may be asked to enter a plea in the case.

&nbsp;On December 28, Cynova was charged with&nbsp;unintentional but reckless second-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Blaze Arrington, according to the District Attorney's office.

Just after 10p.m. December 23, police responded to a report of a shooting in the 3600 block of South Eisenhower Court in Wichita and found&nbsp; Arrington suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body.&nbsp;

Investigators determined Arrington was in the basement with a friend, later identified as Cynova, showing him two firearms. During the interaction, Cynova reportedly pointed one of the firearms at Arrington and fired, striking him.&nbsp;

Arrington was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.&nbsp; He died four days later.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-nicole-kenny-after-losing-blaze">Click here to view the</a> online fundraiser to assist Arrington's family.

Police arrested Cynova and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail early on Christmas Eve on an initial requested charge of aggravated battery.&nbsp; &nbsp;He met the requirement of a $100,000 bond and was released on January 8, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767094930839.png" alt="Cynova-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Cynova-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen accused in a fatal shooting&nbsp; that occurred in the basement of a home in Wichita is set to return to court.Elijah Cynova, 18, will appear in Judge Rodger Woods courtroom on Monday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He may be asked to enter a plea in the case.&nbsp;On December 28, Cynova was charged with&nbsp;unintentional but reckless second-degree murder in the death of 18-year-old Blaze Arrington, according to the District Attorney's office.Just after 10p.m. December 23, police responded to a report of a shooting in the 3600 block of South Eisenhower Court in Wichita and found&nbsp; Arrington suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper body.&nbsp;Investigators determined Arrington was in the basement with a friend, later identified as Cynova, showing him two firearms. During the interaction, Cynova reportedly pointed one of the firearms at Arrington and fired, striking him.&nbsp;Arrington was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.&nbsp; He died four days later.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-nicole-kenny-after-losing-blaze">Click here to view the</a> online fundraiser to assist Arrington's family.Police arrested Cynova and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail early on Christmas Eve on an initial requested charge of aggravated battery.&nbsp; &nbsp;He met the requirement of a $100,000 bond and was released on January 8, according to online jail records.

Kan. man accused in death of teen friend set for return to court

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man died in a deputy involved shooting in Sedgwick County.

Just after 5:30a.m.. Monday, Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a shirtless man holding a handgun in the roadway near 55th Street South and Hoover Road, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.

Deputies responded to the scene and found a 32-year-old Wichita man near the intersection, still armed. Deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation for several minutes.

During the encounter, the man fired at deputies, striking at least one patrol vehicle. Deputies returned fire, striking the man multiple times.

Deputies immediately provided aid and requested assistance from Sedgwick County EMS and the Wichita Fire Department. EMS transported the man to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died. Hospital staff pronounced him dead at 6:51 a.m.

No deputies were injured during the incident.

Sheriff Jeff Easter activated the Wichita-Sedgwick County Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team. Under the ALERT agreement, the Wichita Police Department will lead the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768230233129.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man died in a deputy involved shooting in Sedgwick County.Just after 5:30a.m.. Monday, Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a shirtless man holding a handgun in the roadway near 55th Street South and Hoover Road, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.Deputies responded to the scene and found a 32-year-old Wichita man near the intersection, still armed. Deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation for several minutes.During the encounter, the man fired at deputies, striking at least one patrol vehicle. Deputies returned fire, striking the man multiple times.Deputies immediately provided aid and requested assistance from Sedgwick County EMS and the Wichita Fire Department. EMS transported the man to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died. Hospital staff pronounced him dead at 6:51 a.m.No deputies were injured during the incident.Sheriff Jeff Easter activated the Wichita-Sedgwick County Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team. Under the ALERT agreement, the Wichita Police Department will lead the investigation.

Sheriff: Man killed after shooting at Kansas deputies

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;motorcade took a different route than usual to the airport as he was departing Florida on Sunday due to a “suspicious object,” according to the White House.

The object, which the White House did not describe, was discovered during security sweeps in advance of Trump’s arrival at Palm Beach International Airport.

“A further investigation was warranted and the presidential motorcade route was adjusted accordingly,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Sunday.

The president, when asked about the package by reporters, said, “I know nothing about it.”

Trump left his Palm Beach, Florida, club, Mar-a-Lago, around 6:20 p.m. for the roughly 10-minute drive to the airport, but took a circular route around the city to get there.

During the drive, police officers on motorcycles created a moving blockade for the motorcade, at one point almost colliding with the vans that accompanied Trump.

Air Force One was parked on the opposite side of the airport from where it is usually located and the lights outside the plane were turned off.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768236670819.png" alt="President Trump arriving back in DC Sunday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump arriving back in DC Sunday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;motorcade took a different route than usual to the airport as he was departing Florida on Sunday due to a “suspicious object,” according to the White House.The object, which the White House did not describe, was discovered during security sweeps in advance of Trump’s arrival at Palm Beach International Airport.“A further investigation was warranted and the presidential motorcade route was adjusted accordingly,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Sunday.The president, when asked about the package by reporters, said, “I know nothing about it.”Trump left his Palm Beach, Florida, club, Mar-a-Lago, around 6:20 p.m. for the roughly 10-minute drive to the airport, but took a circular route around the city to get there.During the drive, police officers on motorcycles created a moving blockade for the motorcade, at one point almost colliding with the vans that accompanied Trump.Air Force One was parked on the opposite side of the airport from where it is usually located and the lights outside the plane were turned off.

President Trump’s motorcade forced to reroute due to ‘suspicious object’

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A wanted Kansas suspect captured at a motel in Colorado in July will face a jury trial on Monday.

Ryan Antalek, 40, Wichita will appear in Judge Sean Hatfield's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

He is charged with criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, stalking, two counts of criminal threat, and criminal damage to property, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In July of 2024, the Pueblo County Colorado Sheriff’s communication center received a tip that Antalek&nbsp; was possibly staying at the Days Inn in Colorado City, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

Kansas authorities had been searching for Antalek on a warrant and had heightened the search after learning he had made repeated homicidal statements. Antalek also was noted to have a criminal history involving weapons and known to carry firearms.

Sheriff's detectives and U.S. Marshals responded to the Days Inn at about 12:30 a.m. and located in the parking lot a 2019 Black Chevy Colorado truck Antalek was reportedly driving. After confirming that Antalek was in the hotel, detectives, with assistance from the Marshals, devised a plan and were able to get him to leave his hotel room where he was taken into custody without incident.

Antalek was arrested on a no bond fugitive of justice warrant from Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719500728222.png" alt="Antalek photo Pueblo Co. Colorado" />
 <figcaption>Antalek photo Pueblo Co. Colorado</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A wanted Kansas suspect captured at a motel in Colorado in July will face a jury trial on Monday.Ryan Antalek, 40, Wichita will appear in Judge Sean Hatfield's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.He is charged with criminal discharge of a firearm, aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, stalking, two counts of criminal threat, and criminal damage to property, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720708672444.png" alt="Antalek photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Antalek photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>In July of 2024, the Pueblo County Colorado Sheriff’s communication center received a tip that Antalek&nbsp; was possibly staying at the Days Inn in Colorado City, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.Kansas authorities had been searching for Antalek on a warrant and had heightened the search after learning he had made repeated homicidal statements. Antalek also was noted to have a criminal history involving weapons and known to carry firearms.Sheriff's detectives and U.S. Marshals responded to the Days Inn at about 12:30 a.m. and located in the parking lot a 2019 Black Chevy Colorado truck Antalek was reportedly driving. After confirming that Antalek was in the hotel, detectives, with assistance from the Marshals, devised a plan and were able to get him to leave his hotel room where he was taken into custody without incident.Antalek was arrested on a no bond fugitive of justice warrant from Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trial begins for Kansas assault suspect captured in Colorado

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">killing of a Minnesota woman</a>&nbsp;by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer is reverberating across Capitol Hill where Democrats, and certain Republicans, are vowing an assertive response as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;aggressive deportation operations spark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/ice-federal-officers-shooting-updates-1-9-2026#0000019b-a41c-dc32-a3df-acbc9d6f0000">protests nationwide.</a>

Lawmakers are demanding a range of actions, from a full investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good's shooting death</a>&nbsp;and policy changes over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-shooting-immigration-842b1d92cb93f2326171f139686e8b0f">law enforcement raids</a>&nbsp;to the defunding of ICE operations and the impeachment of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kristi-noem">Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem</a>, in what is fast becoming an inflection point.

“The situation that took place in Minnesota is a complete and total disgrace,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said as details emerged. “And in the next few days, we will be having conversations about a strong and forceful and appropriate response by House Democrats.”

Yet there is almost no consensus among the political parties in the aftermath of the death of Good, who was behind the wheel of an SUV after dropping off her 6-year-old at school when she was shot and killed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-jonathan-ross-b9ce88da676d74ec6a1ab36aa55fbda1">an ICE officer</a>.

The killing immediately drew dueling narratives. Trump and Noem said the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjGOBoKGX-E">ICE officer acted in self-defense</a>, while Democratic officials said the Trump administration was lying and they urged the public to see the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-minneapolis-minnesota-ice-shooting-1cd447e8963456af2be9a24d660ed1d6">viral videos</a>&nbsp;of the shooting for themselves.

Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;blamed Good, calling it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-minnesota-immigration-enforcement-06b23b428edcc8498362be4ac656f201">“a tragedy of her own making,”</a>&nbsp;and said the ICE officer may have been “sensitive” from having been injured during an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-jonathan-ross-b9ce88da676d74ec6a1ab36aa55fbda1">unrelated altercation</a>&nbsp;last year.

But Good’s killing, at least the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">fifth known death</a>&nbsp;since the administration launched its mass deportation campaign, could change the political dynamic.

“The videos I’ve seen from Minneapolis are deeply disturbing,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in a statement.

“As we mourn this loss of life, we need a thorough and objective investigation into how and why this happened,” she said. As part of the investigation, she said she is calling for policy changes, saying the situation “was devastating, and cannot happen again.”

Homeland Security funding is up for debate

The push in Congress for more oversight and accountability of the administration's immigration operations comes as lawmakers are in the midst of the annual appropriations process to fund agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, to prevent another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-spending-bill-shutdown-funding-senate-trump-86eed888517a899784695596ef80bb31">federal government shutdown</a>&nbsp;when money expires at the end of January.

As anti-ICE demonstrations erupt in cities in the aftermath of Good’s death, Democrats have pledged to use any available legislative lever to apply pressure on the administration to change the conduct of ICE officers.

“We’ve been warning about this for an entire year,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla.

The ICE officer “needs to be held accountable,” Frost said, “but not just them, but ICE as a whole, the president and this entire administration.”

Congressional Democrats saw Good’s killing as a sign of the need for aggressive action to restrain the administration’s tactics.

Several Democrats joined calls to impeach Noem, who has been under fire from both parties for her lack of transparency at the department, though that step is highly unlikely with Republicans in control of Congress.

Other Democrats want to restrict the funding for her department, whose budget was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-deportations-immigration-raids-homeland-security-a2c6a2f726629e62bd0199aee68294f6">vastly increased</a>&nbsp;as part of Republicans’ sweeping tax and spending bill passed last summer.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, the top Democrat on the subcommittee that handles Homeland Security funding, plans to introduce legislation to rein in the agency with constraints on federal agents’ authority, including a requirement that the Border Patrol stick to the border and that DHS enforcement officers be unmasked.

“More Democrats are saying today the thing that a number of us have been saying since April and May: Kristi Noem is dangerous. She should not be in office, and she should be impeached,” said Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez, who represents parts of Chicago where ICE launched an enhanced immigration enforcement action last year that resulted in two deaths.

Immigration debates have long divided Congress and the parties. Democrats splinter between more liberal and stricter attitudes toward newcomers to the United States. Republicans have embraced Trump’s hard-line approach to portray Democrats as radicals.

The Republican administration had launched the enforcement operation in Minnesota in response to an investigation of the nonprofit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/feeding-our-future-pandemic-fraud-trial-847f42be252ecd373c60125fd4fae6e9">Feeding Our Future.</a>&nbsp;Prosecutors said the organization was at the center of the country’s largest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-food-fraud-bag-of-cash-7106883911765bb0c3794fe6196fcf9d">COVID-19-related fraud</a>&nbsp;scams, when defendants exploited a state-run, federally funded program intended to provide food for children.

Heading into the November midterm election, which Democrats believe will hinge on issues such as affordability and health care, national outcry over ICE’s conduct has pressured lawmakers to speak out.

“I’m not completely against deportations, but the way they’re handling it is a real disgrace,” said Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, who represents a district along the U.S.-Mexico border

“Right now, you’re seeing humans treated like animals,” he said.

Other ICE shootings have rattled lawmakers

In September, a federal immigration enforcement agent in Chicago&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-chicago-shooting-death-immigration-operation-ca7326ca75993984e102fe3693ae469c">fatally shot Silverio Villegas Gonzalez</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-ice-illinois-immigration-shooting-29eec5d07aef36b32fc8e03e8948c836">a brief altercation</a>&nbsp;after Gonzalez had dropped off his children at school.

In October, a Customs and Border Protection agent also in Chicago shot Marimar Martinez, a teacher and U.S. citizen, five times during a dispute with officers. The charges against Martinez brought by the administration were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-immigration-protests-prosecutions-doj-arrests-591f155d50c13756842e033ea23f16d3">dismissed by a federal judge</a>.

To Rep. Chuy Garcia, D-Ill., Good’s death "brought back heart-wrenching memories of those two shootings in my district.”

“It looks like the fact that a US citizen, who is a white woman, may be opening the eyes of the American public, certainly of members of Congress, that what’s going on is out of control,” he said, “that this isn’t about apprehending or pursuing the most dangerous immigrants.”

Republicans expressed some concern at the shooting but stood by the administration’s policy, defended the officer's actions and largely blamed Good for the standoff.

“Nobody wants to see people get shot,” said Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga.

“Let’s do the right thing and just be reasonable. And the reasonable thing is not to obstruct ICE officers and then accelerate while they’re standing in front of your car,” he said. “She made a mistake. I’m sure she didn’t mean for that to happen, nor did he mean for that to happen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768077666777.png" alt="DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during a news conference on Thursday -image courtesy CSPAN video" />
 <figcaption>DHS Secretary Kristi Noem during a news conference on Thursday -image courtesy CSPAN video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">killing of a Minnesota woman</a>&nbsp;by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer is reverberating across Capitol Hill where Democrats, and certain Republicans, are vowing an assertive response as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;aggressive deportation operations spark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/ice-federal-officers-shooting-updates-1-9-2026#0000019b-a41c-dc32-a3df-acbc9d6f0000">protests nationwide.</a>Lawmakers are demanding a range of actions, from a full investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good's shooting death</a>&nbsp;and policy changes over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-shooting-immigration-842b1d92cb93f2326171f139686e8b0f">law enforcement raids</a>&nbsp;to the defunding of ICE operations and the impeachment of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kristi-noem">Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem</a>, in what is fast becoming an inflection point.“The situation that took place in Minnesota is a complete and total disgrace,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said as details emerged. “And in the next few days, we will be having conversations about a strong and forceful and appropriate response by House Democrats.”Yet there is almost no consensus among the political parties in the aftermath of the death of Good, who was behind the wheel of an SUV after dropping off her 6-year-old at school when she was shot and killed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-jonathan-ross-b9ce88da676d74ec6a1ab36aa55fbda1">an ICE officer</a>.The killing immediately drew dueling narratives. Trump and Noem said the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjGOBoKGX-E">ICE officer acted in self-defense</a>, while Democratic officials said the Trump administration was lying and they urged the public to see the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-minneapolis-minnesota-ice-shooting-1cd447e8963456af2be9a24d660ed1d6">viral videos</a>&nbsp;of the shooting for themselves.Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;blamed Good, calling it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-minnesota-immigration-enforcement-06b23b428edcc8498362be4ac656f201">“a tragedy of her own making,”</a>&nbsp;and said the ICE officer may have been “sensitive” from having been injured during an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minnesota-jonathan-ross-b9ce88da676d74ec6a1ab36aa55fbda1">unrelated altercation</a>&nbsp;last year.But Good’s killing, at least the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">fifth known death</a>&nbsp;since the administration launched its mass deportation campaign, could change the political dynamic.“The videos I’ve seen from Minneapolis are deeply disturbing,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in a statement.“As we mourn this loss of life, we need a thorough and objective investigation into how and why this happened,” she said. As part of the investigation, she said she is calling for policy changes, saying the situation “was devastating, and cannot happen again.”<h2>Homeland Security funding is up for debate</h2>The push in Congress for more oversight and accountability of the administration's immigration operations comes as lawmakers are in the midst of the annual appropriations process to fund agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, to prevent another&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-spending-bill-shutdown-funding-senate-trump-86eed888517a899784695596ef80bb31">federal government shutdown</a>&nbsp;when money expires at the end of January.As anti-ICE demonstrations erupt in cities in the aftermath of Good’s death, Democrats have pledged to use any available legislative lever to apply pressure on the administration to change the conduct of ICE officers.“We’ve been warning about this for an entire year,” said Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla.The ICE officer “needs to be held accountable,” Frost said, “but not just them, but ICE as a whole, the president and this entire administration.”Congressional Democrats saw Good’s killing as a sign of the need for aggressive action to restrain the administration’s tactics.Several Democrats joined calls to impeach Noem, who has been under fire from both parties for her lack of transparency at the department, though that step is highly unlikely with Republicans in control of Congress.Other Democrats want to restrict the funding for her department, whose budget was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-deportations-immigration-raids-homeland-security-a2c6a2f726629e62bd0199aee68294f6">vastly increased</a>&nbsp;as part of Republicans’ sweeping tax and spending bill passed last summer.Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, the top Democrat on the subcommittee that handles Homeland Security funding, plans to introduce legislation to rein in the agency with constraints on federal agents’ authority, including a requirement that the Border Patrol stick to the border and that DHS enforcement officers be unmasked.“More Democrats are saying today the thing that a number of us have been saying since April and May: Kristi Noem is dangerous. She should not be in office, and she should be impeached,” said Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez, who represents parts of Chicago where ICE launched an enhanced immigration enforcement action last year that resulted in two deaths.Immigration debates have long divided Congress and the parties. Democrats splinter between more liberal and stricter attitudes toward newcomers to the United States. Republicans have embraced Trump’s hard-line approach to portray Democrats as radicals.The Republican administration had launched the enforcement operation in Minnesota in response to an investigation of the nonprofit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/feeding-our-future-pandemic-fraud-trial-847f42be252ecd373c60125fd4fae6e9">Feeding Our Future.</a>&nbsp;Prosecutors said the organization was at the center of the country’s largest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-food-fraud-bag-of-cash-7106883911765bb0c3794fe6196fcf9d">COVID-19-related fraud</a>&nbsp;scams, when defendants exploited a state-run, federally funded program intended to provide food for children.Heading into the November midterm election, which Democrats believe will hinge on issues such as affordability and health care, national outcry over ICE’s conduct has pressured lawmakers to speak out.“I’m not completely against deportations, but the way they’re handling it is a real disgrace,” said Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, who represents a district along the U.S.-Mexico border“Right now, you’re seeing humans treated like animals,” he said.<h2>Other ICE shootings have rattled lawmakers</h2>In September, a federal immigration enforcement agent in Chicago&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-chicago-shooting-death-immigration-operation-ca7326ca75993984e102fe3693ae469c">fatally shot Silverio Villegas Gonzalez</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-ice-illinois-immigration-shooting-29eec5d07aef36b32fc8e03e8948c836">a brief altercation</a>&nbsp;after Gonzalez had dropped off his children at school.In October, a Customs and Border Protection agent also in Chicago shot Marimar Martinez, a teacher and U.S. citizen, five times during a dispute with officers. The charges against Martinez brought by the administration were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-immigration-protests-prosecutions-doj-arrests-591f155d50c13756842e033ea23f16d3">dismissed by a federal judge</a>.To Rep. Chuy Garcia, D-Ill., Good’s death "brought back heart-wrenching memories of those two shootings in my district.”“It looks like the fact that a US citizen, who is a white woman, may be opening the eyes of the American public, certainly of members of Congress, that what’s going on is out of control,” he said, “that this isn’t about apprehending or pursuing the most dangerous immigrants.”Republicans expressed some concern at the shooting but stood by the administration’s policy, defended the officer's actions and largely blamed Good for the standoff.“Nobody wants to see people get shot,” said Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga.“Let’s do the right thing and just be reasonable. And the reasonable thing is not to obstruct ICE officers and then accelerate while they’re standing in front of your car,” he said. “She made a mistake. I’m sure she didn’t mean for that to happen, nor did he mean for that to happen.”

Congress debates possible consequences for ICE and Noem after Renee Good's killing

The 2026 Kansas legislative session begins Monday with lawmakers in Topeka amid an election year that could influence both the tone and substance of the agenda.

Among the issues likely to dominate the session are budget decisions and tax policy. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has emphasized maintaining the state’s fiscal stability, while some Republican lawmakers are pushing for additional tax cuts.

Lawmakers must also determine how to allocate $222 million Kansas received through the Trump administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a funding stream aimed at strengthening health care access, particularly in rural areas.

Property taxes are also expected to be a major point of discussion. While there is broad agreement that rising property taxes are a significant concern for Kansans.

Republicans and Democrats agree property tax is a top issue in the state, but the consensus is not there, even within the parties. Agreement between Republican leaders is not present.

Redistricting, however, is not expected to be part of the regular session agenda. House Speaker Dan Hawkins said last week that Republicans currently do not have the votes to pass congressional redistricting.

The legislative session runs until late April.&nbsp; The candidate filing deadline for the primary election is June 1. This year, Kansas voters will cast ballots for governor, U.S. senator, state attorney general, state insurance commissioner, secretary of state, state treasurer and state representatives.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766440791008.png" alt="File photo -courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo -courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The 2026 Kansas legislative session begins Monday with lawmakers in Topeka amid an election year that could influence both the tone and substance of the agenda.Among the issues likely to dominate the session are budget decisions and tax policy. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has emphasized maintaining the state’s fiscal stability, while some Republican lawmakers are pushing for additional tax cuts.Lawmakers must also determine how to allocate $222 million Kansas received through the Trump administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program, a funding stream aimed at strengthening health care access, particularly in rural areas.Property taxes are also expected to be a major point of discussion. While there is broad agreement that rising property taxes are a significant concern for Kansans.Republicans and Democrats agree property tax is a top issue in the state, but the consensus is not there, even within the parties. Agreement between Republican leaders is not present.Redistricting, however, is not expected to be part of the regular session agenda. House Speaker Dan Hawkins said last week that Republicans currently do not have the votes to pass congressional redistricting.The legislative session runs until late April.&nbsp; The candidate filing deadline for the primary election is June 1. This year, Kansas voters will cast ballots for governor, U.S. senator, state attorney general, state insurance commissioner, secretary of state, state treasurer and state representatives.

2026 Kansas legislative session begins

LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a semi driver on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on Sunday.

On January 11, Lyon County Deputies were dispatched to Interstate 35 for a report of a reckless semi, according to a media release. Deputies located the semi and subsequently conducted a traffic stop based on the driving behavior. 

During the course of the stop, deputies developed probable cause to believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Deputies arrested him and transported him to the Lyon County Detention Center. 

While at the detention center, the driver blew over 3 times the legal limit for regular motor vehicles (.08) and 7 times the legal limit for commercial vehicle drivers (.04).&nbsp; The sheriff's office did not release the name of the driver.

The Lyon County Sheriff's Office reminds the public to drive sober, or you will get pulled over. Driving buzzed, high, or otherwise intoxicated is not only dangerous for you but also for other motorists.

LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a semi driver on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on Sunday.On January 11, Lyon County Deputies were dispatched to Interstate 35 for a report of a reckless semi, according to a media release. Deputies located the semi and subsequently conducted a traffic stop based on the driving behavior. During the course of the stop, deputies developed probable cause to believe the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Deputies arrested him and transported him to the Lyon County Detention Center. While at the detention center, the driver blew over 3 times the legal limit for regular motor vehicles (.08) and 7 times the legal limit for commercial vehicle drivers (.04).&nbsp; The sheriff's office did not release the name of the driver.The Lyon County Sheriff's Office reminds the public to drive sober, or you will get pulled over. Driving buzzed, high, or otherwise intoxicated is not only dangerous for you but also for other motorists.

Semi driver arrested in Kansas: 7 times over legal blood alcohol limit

A Kansas City restaurant is warning against violence after a customer threatened to kill staff, including a teen, over a refund.

On their social media page,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.paulsdriveinkc.com/" target="_blank">Paul’s Drive In</a>&nbsp;wrote the&nbsp;incident occurred Wednesday Jan. 7, at its location., 10424 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City,&nbsp;

"To our customers and community—this is an important post."

"Last night, our team experienced a situation that crossed a line no service worker should ever have to face. A customer became verbally aggressive during a routine refund and escalated to making explicit threats of violence, including threats to kill our staff. One of the employees involved is 16 years old."

"The customer’s concern was already being handled. A refund was actively in progress. There was never any refusal to resolve the issue."

"We train our team to prioritize safety above all else. When the threats began, the refund was completed and the individual was removed from the property. The entire incident was captured on our security system, and a police report is being filed."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768169961840.png" alt="google image" />
 <figcaption>google image</figcaption>
 </figure>A Kansas City restaurant is warning against violence after a customer threatened to kill staff, including a teen, over a refund.On their social media page,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.paulsdriveinkc.com/" target="_blank">Paul’s Drive In</a>&nbsp;wrote the&nbsp;incident occurred Wednesday Jan. 7, at its location., 10424 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City,&nbsp;"To our customers and community—this is an important post.""Last night, our team experienced a situation that crossed a line no service worker should ever have to face. A customer became verbally aggressive during a routine refund and escalated to making explicit threats of violence, including threats to kill our staff. One of the employees involved is 16 years old."To be clear:"The customer’s concern was already being handled. A refund was actively in progress. There was never any refusal to resolve the issue.""We train our team to prioritize safety above all else. When the threats began, the refund was completed and the individual was removed from the property. The entire incident was captured on our security system, and a police report is being filed."Let us be absolutely clear:"Threatening violence over a food order is not acceptable. Ever." 'It is not “passion.” It is not “frustration.” It is assault under Missouri law.""We go out of our way to take care of our customers, but we will not tolerate threats, intimidation, or abuse of our staff, especially our minors. The service industry is experiencing an alarming rise in behavior like this, and it has to stop."'To the individual involved: you are no longer welcome at Paul’s Drive In.""To everyone else: thank you for continuing to treat our team with kindness, respect, and basic human decency. We stand with our employees. Always."