The nation’s capital&nbsp; is celebrating the transition to a new year in a historic way.

For the first time ever, the Washington Monument was&nbsp; illuminated on all four sides with a large-scale projection light show that began New Year’s Eve. The display kicked off celebrations for America’s 250th birthday.

The nation’s capital&nbsp; is celebrating the transition to a new year in a historic way.For the first time ever, the Washington Monument was&nbsp; illuminated on all four sides with a large-scale projection light show that began New Year’s Eve. The display kicked off celebrations for America’s 250th birthday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH IN FULL: <a href="https://twitter.com/250Freedom_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@250Freedom_</a> presents &quot;The Illumination of America&quot; at the Washington Monument, celebrating 250 years of the United States of America — and looking forward to our next incredible chapter. GOD BLESS AMERICA! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/xe5XOzUjmC">pic.twitter.com/xe5XOzUjmC</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2006525083590803664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NOW on the National Mall: <a href="https://twitter.com/250Freedom_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@250Freedom_</a> presents &quot;The Illumination of America,&quot; kicking off the 250th birthday year of our great country 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/uV1ndQVVgw">pic.twitter.com/uV1ndQVVgw</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2006518231264006370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;The pioneer spirit of the American People brought us across oceans, established a nation in liberty, drew us across a continent, and raised us into the clouds... We&#39;re the United States of America — there is no frontier too far, no dream too bold, no horizon beyond our reach.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/yZpsUvfPIP">pic.twitter.com/yZpsUvfPIP</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2006523469249630607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 DC light show kicked off America's 250th birthday 

SEDGWICK COUNTY. -&nbsp;Wichita police, with help from the Kansas Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested a man wanted on federal and state warrants after a pursuit Tuesday.

Just after 2p.m., officers spotted the man identified on county booking records as 37-year-old Erik Harper, driving a stolen 2004 GMC Sierra near East Central Avenue and North Oliver Avenue in Wichita, according to a media release from police.

 Harper was wanted on a federal warrant and a felony state warrant for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. Officers followed the truck and requested assistance from the KHP Air Support Unit.

A Kansas Highway Patrol unit equipped with a grappler attempted a traffic stop near East Central Avenue and North Edgemoor Street. The grappler was deployed to prevent the suspect vehicle from fleeing, but the suspect escaped. Shortly afterward, the suspect’s vehicle collided with a 2024 Subaru Impreza in the westbound lanes near the 6800 block of East Central Avenue.

Officers took Harper into custody at 4:53 p.m.

The Subaru’s occupants, a 72-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Harper was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767216017214.png" alt="Harper photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Harper photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY. -&nbsp;Wichita police, with help from the Kansas Highway Patrol and the U.S. Marshals Service, arrested a man wanted on federal and state warrants after a pursuit Tuesday.Just after 2p.m., officers spotted the man identified on county booking records as 37-year-old Erik Harper, driving a stolen 2004 GMC Sierra near East Central Avenue and North Oliver Avenue in Wichita, according to a media release from police. Harper was wanted on a federal warrant and a felony state warrant for aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. Officers followed the truck and requested assistance from the KHP Air Support Unit.A Kansas Highway Patrol unit equipped with a grappler attempted a traffic stop near East Central Avenue and North Edgemoor Street. The grappler was deployed to prevent the suspect vehicle from fleeing, but the suspect escaped. Shortly afterward, the suspect’s vehicle collided with a 2024 Subaru Impreza in the westbound lanes near the 6800 block of East Central Avenue.Officers took Harper into custody at 4:53 p.m.The Subaru’s occupants, a 72-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.Harper was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging.

Kan. man wanted on federal warrant captured after pursuit, crash

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/charlotte-kramon">CHARLOTTE KRAMON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sarah-brumfield">SARAH BRUMFIELD</a>

The Trump administration has said it is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-child-care-funds-fraud-b511941de10f02fbb7349eff6738f748">freezing child care funds</a>&nbsp;to all states until they provide more verification about the programs in a move fueled by a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-fraud-immigration-enforcement-somali-76e246b70d582f1dd42f1242cf7d7a66">fraud schemes</a>&nbsp;at Minnesota day care centers run by Somali residents.

All 50 states will be impacted by the review, but the Republican administration is focusing most of its ire on the blue state of Minnesota and is calling for an audit of some of its centers.

Minnesota Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement Wednesday that he was “exploring all our legal options to ensure that critical childcare services do not get abruptly slashed based on pretext and grandstanding.”

It is unclear how much more robust the verification process for states will be than it already has been.

Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill called the decision a response to “blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country” in a social media post announcing the change on Tuesday.

Here are some things to know about these moves:

More verification needed for all states to get child care funds

All 50 states will have to provide additional levels of verification and administrative data before they receive more funding from the Child Care and Development Fund, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson. However, Minnesota will have to provide even more verification for child care centers that are suspected of fraud, such as attendance and licensing records, past enforcement actions and inspection reports.

In his social media post on Tuesday, O’Neill said all Administration for Children and Families payments nationwide would require “justification and a receipt or photo evidence” before money is sent, but the HHS spokesperson said Wednesday that the additional verifications only apply to CCDF payments.

Walz says Trump is politicizing the issue

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, said in a social media post that fraudsters are a serious issue that the state has spent years cracking down on but that this is a political move that is part of “Trump’s long game.”

State Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy condemned the move in a statement Wednesday.

“Republicans are playing sick games and winning devastating prizes,” Murphy said. “And now, tens of thousands of Minnesota families will pay the price as Donald’s Trump’s agents strip away crucial funding.”

Fraud investigations could stretch to other programs, states

The administration launched efforts in recent weeks to track down fraud in other programs in Minnesota and is looking at fraud in blue states such as California and New York, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an interview with “Fox &amp; Friends” on Wednesday.

The administration will continue to send officers to investigate “potential fraud sites” in Minnesota and deport undocumented immigrants, Leavitt said, adding that the Department of Homeland Security is considering plans to denaturalize citizens.

The Department of Labor is also investigating the state’s unemployment insurance program, Leavitt said. The administration this month threatened to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-aid-snap-rollins-blue-states-edf7a10ab409fe471ae81a13823484ab">withhold SNAP food</a>&nbsp;aid funding from Democratic-controlled states, including Minnesota, unless they provide information about people receiving assistance.

The announcement came a day after U.S. Homeland Security officials conducted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-minnesota-ice-immigration-noem-fraud-investigation-5f97cefc9adf9c0d14a90762dca3cfc8">fraud investigation</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis, questioning workers at unidentified businesses. Trump has criticized Walz’s administration over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-fraud-charges-fbad68312012dc02a4060852474f72ee">cases</a>, capitalizing on them to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalia-trump-immigration-explainer-f5155ea29c22441b6507e999b574e136">target the Somali diaspora</a>&nbsp;in the state, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalis-minnesota-trump-immigration-5b772dfcf1b342693f12083779247359">the largest Somali population</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.

In his post Tuesday, O’Neill, who is serving as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, referenced a right-wing influencer who posted a video last week claiming he found that day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis had committed up to $100 million in fraud.

Meanwhile, there are concerns about harassment that home-based day care providers and members of the Somali community nationwide might face amid the vitriol, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-garbage-somalia-minneapolis-immigrant-omar-03e31bba53519d8a39b419679a3b75d9">Trump’s comments earlier this month referring to Somali immigrants as “garbage.”</a>&nbsp;Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown released a statement saying, “Showing up on someone’s porch, threatening, or harassing them isn’t an investigation. Neither is filming minors who may be in the home.”

Maria Snider, director of the Rainbow Child Development Center and vice president of advocacy group Minnesota Child Care Association, said fear is rising among both families — many of which are living paycheck to paycheck — and child care centers that rely on the federal funding. Without child care system tuition, centers may have to lay off teachers and shut down classrooms, she said.

In Minnesota, the application process for the funding is complex and multilayered, Snider said. Her own child care center has been subjected to random audits, she said, and all centers are required to submit to licensing visits by officials.

“I don’t know what else I would provide,” she said.

Ahmed Hasan, director of the ABC Learning Center that was one of those featured in the video by the right-wing influencer, said on Wednesday that there were 56 children enrolled at the center. Since the video was posted, Hasan, who is Somali, said his center has received harassing phone calls making staff members and parents feel unsafe.

He said the center is routinely subject to checks by state regulators to ensure they remain in compliance with their license.

“There’s no fraud happening here,” Hasan told The Associated Press. “We are open every day, and we have our records to show that this place is open.”

Kramon reported from Atlanta and Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland. AP Writers Mark Vancleave contributed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Margery Beck contributed from Omaha, Nebraska.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767093694484.png" alt="DHS agents going door to door investigating fraud in Minnesota -image from Homeland Security video" />
 <figcaption>DHS agents going door to door investigating fraud in Minnesota -image from Homeland Security video</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/charlotte-kramon">CHARLOTTE KRAMON</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sarah-brumfield">SARAH BRUMFIELD</a>The Trump administration has said it is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-child-care-funds-fraud-b511941de10f02fbb7349eff6738f748">freezing child care funds</a>&nbsp;to all states until they provide more verification about the programs in a move fueled by a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-fraud-immigration-enforcement-somali-76e246b70d582f1dd42f1242cf7d7a66">fraud schemes</a>&nbsp;at Minnesota day care centers run by Somali residents.All 50 states will be impacted by the review, but the Republican administration is focusing most of its ire on the blue state of Minnesota and is calling for an audit of some of its centers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota. You have probably read the serious allegations that the state of Minnesota has funneled millions of taxpayer dollars to fraudulent daycares across Minnesota over the past decade. Today we have taken three actions… <a href="https://t.co/VYbyf3WGop">pic.twitter.com/VYbyf3WGop</a>&mdash; Deputy Secretary Jim O&#39;Neill (@HHS_Jim) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHS_Jim/status/2006136004294664464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Minnesota Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison said in a statement Wednesday that he was “exploring all our legal options to ensure that critical childcare services do not get abruptly slashed based on pretext and grandstanding.”It is unclear how much more robust the verification process for states will be than it already has been.Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill called the decision a response to “blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country” in a social media post announcing the change on Tuesday.Here are some things to know about these moves:<h2>More verification needed for all states to get child care funds</h2>All 50 states will have to provide additional levels of verification and administrative data before they receive more funding from the Child Care and Development Fund, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson. However, Minnesota will have to provide even more verification for child care centers that are suspected of fraud, such as attendance and licensing records, past enforcement actions and inspection reports.In his social media post on Tuesday, O’Neill said all Administration for Children and Families payments nationwide would require “justification and a receipt or photo evidence” before money is sent, but the HHS spokesperson said Wednesday that the additional verifications only apply to CCDF payments.<h2>Walz says Trump is politicizing the issue</h2>Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, said in a social media post that fraudsters are a serious issue that the state has spent years cracking down on but that this is a political move that is part of “Trump’s long game.”State Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy condemned the move in a statement Wednesday.“Republicans are playing sick games and winning devastating prizes,” Murphy said. “And now, tens of thousands of Minnesota families will pay the price as Donald’s Trump’s agents strip away crucial funding.”<h2>Fraud investigations could stretch to other programs, states</h2>The administration launched efforts in recent weeks to track down fraud in other programs in Minnesota and is looking at fraud in blue states such as California and New York, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in an interview with “Fox &amp; Friends” on Wednesday.The administration will continue to send officers to investigate “potential fraud sites” in Minnesota and deport undocumented immigrants, Leavitt said, adding that the Department of Homeland Security is considering plans to denaturalize citizens.The Department of Labor is also investigating the state’s unemployment insurance program, Leavitt said. The administration this month threatened to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/food-aid-snap-rollins-blue-states-edf7a10ab409fe471ae81a13823484ab">withhold SNAP food</a>&nbsp;aid funding from Democratic-controlled states, including Minnesota, unless they provide information about people receiving assistance.<h2>Attention focused on Minnesota</h2>The announcement came a day after U.S. Homeland Security officials conducted a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-minnesota-ice-immigration-noem-fraud-investigation-5f97cefc9adf9c0d14a90762dca3cfc8">fraud investigation</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis, questioning workers at unidentified businesses. Trump has criticized Walz’s administration over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-fraud-charges-fbad68312012dc02a4060852474f72ee">cases</a>, capitalizing on them to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalia-trump-immigration-explainer-f5155ea29c22441b6507e999b574e136">target the Somali diaspora</a>&nbsp;in the state, which has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/somalis-minnesota-trump-immigration-5b772dfcf1b342693f12083779247359">the largest Somali population</a>&nbsp;in the U.S.In his post Tuesday, O’Neill, who is serving as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, referenced a right-wing influencer who posted a video last week claiming he found that day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis had committed up to $100 million in fraud.Meanwhile, there are concerns about harassment that home-based day care providers and members of the Somali community nationwide might face amid the vitriol, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-garbage-somalia-minneapolis-immigrant-omar-03e31bba53519d8a39b419679a3b75d9">Trump’s comments earlier this month referring to Somali immigrants as “garbage.”</a>&nbsp;Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown released a statement saying, “Showing up on someone’s porch, threatening, or harassing them isn’t an investigation. Neither is filming minors who may be in the home.”<h2>Minnesota child care centers are alarmed</h2>Maria Snider, director of the Rainbow Child Development Center and vice president of advocacy group Minnesota Child Care Association, said fear is rising among both families — many of which are living paycheck to paycheck — and child care centers that rely on the federal funding. Without child care system tuition, centers may have to lay off teachers and shut down classrooms, she said.In Minnesota, the application process for the funding is complex and multilayered, Snider said. Her own child care center has been subjected to random audits, she said, and all centers are required to submit to licensing visits by officials.“I don’t know what else I would provide,” she said.Ahmed Hasan, director of the ABC Learning Center that was one of those featured in the video by the right-wing influencer, said on Wednesday that there were 56 children enrolled at the center. Since the video was posted, Hasan, who is Somali, said his center has received harassing phone calls making staff members and parents feel unsafe.He said the center is routinely subject to checks by state regulators to ensure they remain in compliance with their license.“There’s no fraud happening here,” Hasan told The Associated Press. “We are open every day, and we have our records to show that this place is open.”—-Kramon reported from Atlanta and Brumfield reported from Cockeysville, Maryland. AP Writers Mark Vancleave contributed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Margery Beck contributed from Omaha, Nebraska.

HHS to freeze future child care funding for Kansas and beyond

On Dec. 30, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy.

These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes. Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels. Following the engagements, the U.S. Southern Command immediately notified the Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system.

On Dec. 31, at the direction of&nbsp; Secretary Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narco-trafficking. A total of five narco-terrorists were killed during these actions - three in the first vessel and two in the second

On Dec. 30, at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Dec. 30, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted kinetic strikes against three narco-trafficking vessels traveling as a convoy. These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence… <a href="https://t.co/NHRNIzcrFS">pic.twitter.com/NHRNIzcrFS</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2006474817076330557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>These vessels were operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and had transferred narcotics between the three vessels prior to the strikes. Three narco-terrorists aboard the first vessel were killed in the first engagement. The remaining narco-terrorists abandoned the other two vessels, jumping overboard and distancing themselves before follow-on engagements sank their respective vessels. Following the engagements, the U.S. Southern Command immediately notified the Coast Guard to activate the Search and Rescue system.On Dec. 31, at the direction of&nbsp; Secretary Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Dec. 31, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and… <a href="https://t.co/4AE5u4cEff">pic.twitter.com/4AE5u4cEff</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2006531145844867143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and engaged in narco-trafficking. A total of five narco-terrorists were killed during these actions - three in the first vessel and two in the second

🎥US military strikes more drug boats killing 8 'narco-terrorists'

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in connection with a violent attack on Christmas Eve remains jailed after a court appearance on Tuesday

A judge charged 43-year-old Jason Eastburn of Wichita with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child and criminal threat, according to online jail records.

Eastburn is accused of hitting a woman with a hammer at a home at&nbsp;7237 E 24th Street in Wichita, according to police. He remains jailed on a $2 million bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767190164115.png" alt="Eastburn photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Eastburn photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in connection with a violent attack on Christmas Eve remains jailed after a court appearance on TuesdayA judge charged 43-year-old Jason Eastburn of Wichita with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated burglary, criminal damage to property, aggravated battery, aggravated endangering a child and criminal threat, according to online jail records.Eastburn is accused of hitting a woman with a hammer at a home at&nbsp;7237 E 24th Street in Wichita, according to police. He remains jailed on a $2 million bond.

Kansas man accused of Christmas Eve hammer attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, a move that comes after legal roadblocks hung up the effort.

Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that he’s removing the Guard troops for now. “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!” he wrote.

Troops had already left Los Angeles after the president deployed them earlier this year as part of a broader crackdown on crime and immigration. They had been sent to Chicago and Portland but were never on the streets as legal challenges played out.

The president has made a crackdown on crime in cities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crime-cities-central-park-five-88b8ee178bf22e91ba205b32c458d060">a centerpiece of his second term</a>&nbsp;— and has toyed with the idea of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-says-hes-open-to-invoking-the-insurrection-act-if-necessary-d374093d6436410f993c2f10b140277a">invoking the Insurrection Act</a>&nbsp;to stop his opponents from using the courts to block his plans.

He has said he sees his tough-on-crime approach as a winning political issue ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

In November, U.S. Northern Command had said it was ”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-portland-chicago-los-angeles-cd6e585615422461d7088b8ed04bb974">shifting and/or rightsizing</a>&nbsp;″ operations in Portland, Chicago and Los Angeles, but there would be a “constant, enduring and long-term presence in each city.”

Trump’s push to deploy the troops in Democrat-led cities has been met with legal challenges at nearly every turn.

The Supreme Court in December refused to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area as part of its crackdown on immigration. The order was not a final ruling but was a significant and rare setback by the high court for the president’s efforts.

In the nation’s capital, District of Columbia Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-dc-trump-federal-takeover-national-guard-lawsuit-f2f76ef685676ee0d3bbd81496c74f2e">Brian Schwalb</a>&nbsp;sued to halt the deployments of more than 2,000 guardsmen.

Hundreds of troops from California and Oregon were deployed to Portland, but a federal judge barred them from going on the streets. A judge permanently blocked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-portland-oregon-national-guard-governor-416b40b480f51baa68a587a0c1fdb54c">the deployment of National Guard troops there</a>&nbsp;in November after a three-day trial.

California National Guard troops were removed from the streets of Los Angeles by Dec. 15 after a court ruling. But an appeals court had paused a separate part of the order that required control of the Guard to return to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In a Tuesday court filing, the Trump administration said it was no longer seeking a pause in that part of the order. That paves the way for the California National Guard troops to fully return to state control after Trump federalized the Guard in June.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the development a “major litigation victory” in a press release Wednesday.

“For six months, California National Guard troops have been used as political pawns by a President desperate to be king,” Bonta said. “There is a reason our founders decided military and civilian affairs must be kept separate; a reason that our military is, by design, apolitical.”

Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-memphis-national-guard-deployment-crime-washington-f678a17a66d3e49b2f67930a6ea70e6b">ordered the deployment</a>&nbsp;of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis in September to combat crime, a move supported by the state’s Republican Gov. Bill Lee and senators. A Tennessee judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/memphis-national-guard-trump-88524219125b811fe6f558cdbc870dee">blocked</a>&nbsp;the use of the Guard, siding with Democratic state and local officials who sued.

Associated Press writer Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767221315688.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said he’s dropping — for now — his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, a move that comes after legal roadblocks hung up the effort.Trump said in a social media post Wednesday that he’s removing the Guard troops for now. “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!” he wrote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750413132016.jpeg" alt="File California National Guard stand in formation guarding the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)" />
 <figcaption>File California National Guard stand in formation guarding the federal building in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)</figcaption>
 </figure>Troops had already left Los Angeles after the president deployed them earlier this year as part of a broader crackdown on crime and immigration. They had been sent to Chicago and Portland but were never on the streets as legal challenges played out.The president has made a crackdown on crime in cities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crime-cities-central-park-five-88b8ee178bf22e91ba205b32c458d060">a centerpiece of his second term</a>&nbsp;— and has toyed with the idea of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/trump-says-hes-open-to-invoking-the-insurrection-act-if-necessary-d374093d6436410f993c2f10b140277a">invoking the Insurrection Act</a>&nbsp;to stop his opponents from using the courts to block his plans.He has said he sees his tough-on-crime approach as a winning political issue ahead of next year’s midterm elections.In November, U.S. Northern Command had said it was ”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-portland-chicago-los-angeles-cd6e585615422461d7088b8ed04bb974">shifting and/or rightsizing</a>&nbsp;″ operations in Portland, Chicago and Los Angeles, but there would be a “constant, enduring and long-term presence in each city.”Trump’s push to deploy the troops in Democrat-led cities has been met with legal challenges at nearly every turn.The Supreme Court in December refused to allow the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops in the Chicago area as part of its crackdown on immigration. The order was not a final ruling but was a significant and rare setback by the high court for the president’s efforts.In the nation’s capital, District of Columbia Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-dc-trump-federal-takeover-national-guard-lawsuit-f2f76ef685676ee0d3bbd81496c74f2e">Brian Schwalb</a>&nbsp;sued to halt the deployments of more than 2,000 guardsmen.Hundreds of troops from California and Oregon were deployed to Portland, but a federal judge barred them from going on the streets. A judge permanently blocked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-portland-oregon-national-guard-governor-416b40b480f51baa68a587a0c1fdb54c">the deployment of National Guard troops there</a>&nbsp;in November after a three-day trial.California National Guard troops were removed from the streets of Los Angeles by Dec. 15 after a court ruling. But an appeals court had paused a separate part of the order that required control of the Guard to return to Gov. Gavin Newsom.In a Tuesday court filing, the Trump administration said it was no longer seeking a pause in that part of the order. That paves the way for the California National Guard troops to fully return to state control after Trump federalized the Guard in June.California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the development a “major litigation victory” in a press release Wednesday.“For six months, California National Guard troops have been used as political pawns by a President desperate to be king,” Bonta said. “There is a reason our founders decided military and civilian affairs must be kept separate; a reason that our military is, by design, apolitical.”Trump also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-memphis-national-guard-deployment-crime-washington-f678a17a66d3e49b2f67930a6ea70e6b">ordered the deployment</a>&nbsp;of the Tennessee National Guard to Memphis in September to combat crime, a move supported by the state’s Republican Gov. Bill Lee and senators. A Tennessee judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/memphis-national-guard-trump-88524219125b811fe6f558cdbc870dee">blocked</a>&nbsp;the use of the Guard, siding with Democratic state and local officials who sued.___Associated Press writer Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Trump ends National Guard deployment in 3 cities after Supreme Court loss

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-seewer">JOHN SEEWER</a> Associated Press

Why let New York City have all the fun with its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/times-square-new-years-eve-ball-test-ffc39fae74a728a384fdafc4cb3bf0db">Times Square ball drop</a>&nbsp;on New Year’s Eve?

Dozens of places across the U.S. will ring in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/the-2-0-2-6-numerals-arrive-in-times-square-ahead-of-the-new-years-eve-ball-drop-181fd52d0bb84098bda2b73673bb6921">2026</a>&nbsp;by dropping a quirky assortment of fruits, vegetables, sea creatures and balls of all shapes and sizes.

There’s the giant cheese wedge in Plymouth, Wisconsin, a chile pepper in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a pinecone in Flagstaff, Arizona, and a conch shell in Key West, Florida.

Pennsylvania is home to a bonanza of bizarre New Year’s Eve events — the bologna drop in Lebanon, the pickle drop in Dillsburg and the potato chip drop in Lewistown.

It’s a New Year’s tradition that goes back to 1907 when a 700-pound (318-kilogram) ball measuring five feet (1.5 meters) in diameter debuted in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-years-eve-confetti-times-square-6357d75281232756e5a9016ac2cdeb3c">Times Square</a>. Copycat celebrations have surged coast to coast over the past few decades and around the beginning of the new millennium.

Here’s a look at some of those events around the nation:

It’s said in some cultures that eating fruit on New Year’s Eve brings luck and wealth. Perhaps that’s why many cities mix fruit into their celebrations. Miami has its “Big Orange” drop, while Sarasota, Florida, features a pineapple. There are cherry drops in Milwaukie, Oregon, and Traverse City, Michigan. Brightly lit grapes plunge from above in Temecula, California. Atlanta this year is replacing its peach drop with a “digital drone peach in the sky.”

It’s tough to beat ringing in the year while watching a pair of sparkly flip-flops diving into Folly Beach, South Carolina. In Panama City Beach, Florida, there’s an evening-long bash where 15,000 beach balls are dropped above revelers just hours before a giant beach ball descends a tower at midnight.

What could be better than seeing a 600-pound (272 kilograms) MoonPie make a 60-second descent in Mobile, Alabama? How about getting a slice of MoonPie cake at the city’s biggest event of the year? Not sweet enough? Check out the 400-pound (181 kilograms)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peeps-easter-candy-marshmallow-love-hate-5712b5cad525a0da50622ff8f8c86b73">yellow Peep chick</a>&nbsp;that drops into Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Waterfront cities celebrate the sea on New Year’s Eve. Brunswick, Georgia, has the shrimp drop, while Easton, Maryland, serves up its annual crab drop. The oyster drop is the main event in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The biggest catch might be in Port Clinton, Ohio, along Lake Erie, home to a 600-pound (272-kilogram) walleye named Wylie. The original papier-mache version debuted 30 years ago and has given way to a menacing fiberglass fish.

There’s definitely a food theme to these New Year’s drops. Just outside Chicago, watch out for a 10-foot (3 meters) pierogi in Whiting, Indiana. The Idaho Potato Drop in Boise has been going for more than a decade, and Mt. Olive, North Carolina, celebrates its hometown pickle brand by dropping a glittery green pickle that’s close to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.

All of these events are meant to be fun, boost civic pride and attract tourists. But one created such a stir that it ended up in court. Residents in western North Carolina no longer lower a live possum inside a glass box at midnight, calling off the event in 2019 after years of protests and legal challenges. There is still a possum drop in Tallapoosa, Georgia, which was long ago known as Possum Snout. That one, though, stars a stuffed possum named Spencer.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/john-seewer">JOHN SEEWER</a> Associated PressWhy let New York City have all the fun with its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/times-square-new-years-eve-ball-test-ffc39fae74a728a384fdafc4cb3bf0db">Times Square ball drop</a>&nbsp;on New Year’s Eve?Dozens of places across the U.S. will ring in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/the-2-0-2-6-numerals-arrive-in-times-square-ahead-of-the-new-years-eve-ball-drop-181fd52d0bb84098bda2b73673bb6921">2026</a>&nbsp;by dropping a quirky assortment of fruits, vegetables, sea creatures and balls of all shapes and sizes.Many have a hometown flair.There’s the giant cheese wedge in Plymouth, Wisconsin, a chile pepper in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a pinecone in Flagstaff, Arizona, and a conch shell in Key West, Florida.Pennsylvania is home to a bonanza of bizarre New Year’s Eve events — the bologna drop in Lebanon, the pickle drop in Dillsburg and the potato chip drop in Lewistown.It’s a New Year’s tradition that goes back to 1907 when a 700-pound (318-kilogram) ball measuring five feet (1.5 meters) in diameter debuted in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-years-eve-confetti-times-square-6357d75281232756e5a9016ac2cdeb3c">Times Square</a>. Copycat celebrations have surged coast to coast over the past few decades and around the beginning of the new millennium.Here’s a look at some of those events around the nation:<h2>Fruity traditions on New Year’s Eve</h2>It’s said in some cultures that eating fruit on New Year’s Eve brings luck and wealth. Perhaps that’s why many cities mix fruit into their celebrations. Miami has its “Big Orange” drop, while Sarasota, Florida, features a pineapple. There are cherry drops in Milwaukie, Oregon, and Traverse City, Michigan. Brightly lit grapes plunge from above in Temecula, California. Atlanta this year is replacing its peach drop with a “digital drone peach in the sky.”<h2>Beach balls and flip-flops</h2>It’s tough to beat ringing in the year while watching a pair of sparkly flip-flops diving into Folly Beach, South Carolina. In Panama City Beach, Florida, there’s an evening-long bash where 15,000 beach balls are dropped above revelers just hours before a giant beach ball descends a tower at midnight.<h2>MoonPies and a giant Peep</h2>What could be better than seeing a 600-pound (272 kilograms) MoonPie make a 60-second descent in Mobile, Alabama? How about getting a slice of MoonPie cake at the city’s biggest event of the year? Not sweet enough? Check out the 400-pound (181 kilograms)&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peeps-easter-candy-marshmallow-love-hate-5712b5cad525a0da50622ff8f8c86b73">yellow Peep chick</a>&nbsp;that drops into Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.<h2>Seafood smorgasbord</h2>Waterfront cities celebrate the sea on New Year’s Eve. Brunswick, Georgia, has the shrimp drop, while Easton, Maryland, serves up its annual crab drop. The oyster drop is the main event in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The biggest catch might be in Port Clinton, Ohio, along Lake Erie, home to a 600-pound (272-kilogram) walleye named Wylie. The original papier-mache version debuted 30 years ago and has given way to a menacing fiberglass fish.<h2>Potatoes and pierogies</h2>There’s definitely a food theme to these New Year’s drops. Just outside Chicago, watch out for a 10-foot (3 meters) pierogi in Whiting, Indiana. The Idaho Potato Drop in Boise has been going for more than a decade, and Mt. Olive, North Carolina, celebrates its hometown pickle brand by dropping a glittery green pickle that’s close to 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.<h2>Possum drop lives on</h2>All of these events are meant to be fun, boost civic pride and attract tourists. But one created such a stir that it ended up in court. Residents in western North Carolina no longer lower a live possum inside a glass box at midnight, calling off the event in 2019 after years of protests and legal challenges. There is still a possum drop in Tallapoosa, Georgia, which was long ago known as Possum Snout. That one, though, stars a stuffed possum named Spencer.

Where are the wackiest New Year’s Eve drops in the US?

ST. LOUIS COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Tuesday in St. Louis County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford Explorer driven by a 39-year-old St. Louis woman who was westbound on Interstate 70 at MO 115.

The SUV s truck a pedestrian identified as a 40-year-old Topeka, Kansas, man. Fire personnel pronounced the him deceased just before 11p.m. The SUV driver was not injured and properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ST. LOUIS COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Tuesday in St. Louis County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford Explorer driven by a 39-year-old St. Louis woman who was westbound on Interstate 70 at MO 115.The SUV s truck a pedestrian identified as a 40-year-old Topeka, Kansas, man. Fire personnel pronounced the him deceased just before 11p.m. The SUV driver was not injured and properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kansas man dies after struck by SUV on I-70

From Pope Francis to Charlie Kirk, many deaths in 2025 had a wide impact

MANHATTAN, KAN. – The Riley County Police Department arrested three individuals on drug-related charges following the execution of two search warrants on Tuesday, stemming from an ongoing investigation.

Scott Marchand, 48, of Manhattan, was arrested at approximately 12:34 p.m. in the 3200 block of Fort Riley Blvd. Marchand is in the Riley County jail on a&nbsp; $156,000 bond on requested charges that include four counts of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school, two counts of distribution of opiate/narcotic/certain stimulant/heroin within 1000 feet of a school, two counts of use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, one count of criminal use of weapons, one count possession of an opiate/opium/narcotic or certain stimulant and one count of manufacture/plant/cultivate a controlled substance. Marchand was issued a total bond of $156,000 and remains confined in the Riley County Jail.

Angeli Moragne, 39, of Ogden, was arrested at approximately 1:40 p.m. in the 2400 block of Walden Lane. Moragne is being held on a $25,000 bond on requested charges of distribution or possession with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school and use/possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.s

David Labombarbe, 39, of Manhattan, was arrested at approximately 9:48 p.m. in the 1600 block of Woodcrest Drive. Labombarbe is being held on a&nbsp; $150,000 bond on requested charges of possession opiate/opium/narcotic or certain stimulant, two counts of distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school, one count distribution of opiate/narcotic/certain stimulant/heroin within 1000 feet of a school, one of count of distribution of certain depressant withing 1000 feet of a school, one count of possession of substance in KSA 65-4105(h) [opiates], one count of use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, one count of manufacture/plant/cultivate a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of weapons.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664309962436.png" alt="Photo DEA" />
 <figcaption>Photo DEA</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, KAN. – The Riley County Police Department arrested three individuals on drug-related charges following the execution of two search warrants on Tuesday, stemming from an ongoing investigation.Scott Marchand, 48, of Manhattan, was arrested at approximately 12:34 p.m. in the 3200 block of Fort Riley Blvd. Marchand is in the Riley County jail on a&nbsp; $156,000 bond on requested charges that include four counts of distributing or possessing with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school, two counts of distribution of opiate/narcotic/certain stimulant/heroin within 1000 feet of a school, two counts of use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, one count of criminal use of weapons, one count possession of an opiate/opium/narcotic or certain stimulant and one count of manufacture/plant/cultivate a controlled substance. Marchand was issued a total bond of $156,000 and remains confined in the Riley County Jail.Angeli Moragne, 39, of Ogden, was arrested at approximately 1:40 p.m. in the 2400 block of Walden Lane. Moragne is being held on a $25,000 bond on requested charges of distribution or possession with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school and use/possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.sDavid Labombarbe, 39, of Manhattan, was arrested at approximately 9:48 p.m. in the 1600 block of Woodcrest Drive. Labombarbe is being held on a&nbsp; $150,000 bond on requested charges of possession opiate/opium/narcotic or certain stimulant, two counts of distribute or possess with intent to distribute heroin/fentanyl within 1000 feet of a school, one count distribution of opiate/narcotic/certain stimulant/heroin within 1000 feet of a school, one of count of distribution of certain depressant withing 1000 feet of a school, one count of possession of substance in KSA 65-4105(h) [opiates], one count of use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia, one count of manufacture/plant/cultivate a controlled substance and one count of criminal use of weapons.&nbsp;

Police: 3 jailed in Manhattan for allegedly selling fentanyl

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has concluded its investigation of the murder of Hays Police Department Sergeant Scott Heimann that occurred on Sept. 28th, 2025. The investigative report included over 100 reports from various law enforcement agencies, photo evidence, and multiple hours of audio and video discovery.

Based on review of all provided discovery, Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham has composed a comprehensive summation of what occurred during the weekend of Sept. 26-28, 2025, concerning the murder of Sergeant Scott Heimann. The investigation also included evidence from the aggravated battery/attempted murder incident that occurred on Sept. 27, 2025, with the same suspect and an ex-girlfriend. What follows is what the Ellis County Attorney’s Office can release at this time.

On Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, suspect Zane Wickham attempted to make contact with an ex-girlfriend in a harassing manner. The following morning, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, Wickham began messaging the ex-girlfriend again throughout the day, informing her he was suicidal and threatening to come to her house uninvited.

At 7:15 p.m., Wickham showed up to the ex-girlfriend’s residence and can be observed on doorbell camera footage standing on the porch with a semi-automatic handgun. Wickham attempted to force his way into the victim’s residence after discovering her front door was locked. The ex-girlfriend, who was inside the house, spoke to Wickham by phone and convinced him that she was not home. Wickham eventually left her residence.

Concerned for her own safety, the victim contacted Wickham’s parents in an attempt to get the suspect to calm down. She also elected to drive around Hays in an effort to hide from Wickham. It is believed Wickham used an On Star tracking feature in their shared vehicle to locate the victim’s whereabouts.

At approximately 10:50 p.m., the victim received around 20 phone calls from Wickham. While driving west on 22nd Street in Hays, the victim observed Wickham’s Chevy Silverado behind her with Wickham driving. She attempted to flee from Wickham, but he chased after her and began ramming her vehicle. Wickham rammed his truck into the victim’s vehicle a total of three times, ultimately pushing her vehicle off the road and into a tree in a residential neighborhood.

The victim was able to escape the wrecked vehicle and ran from the scene. Wickham pursued the victim on foot yelling he was going to kill her as she attempted to seek refuge at multiple nearby residences, as evidenced by an eyewitness and a doorbell camera in the area. A resident in the area heard her calls for help and aided her in seeking shelter in a garage. The victim was able to contact law enforcement, and Hays Police Department officers responded to the scene of the collision and to the victim. Wickham had left the scene by the time law enforcement arrived. The victim informed responding officers that she believed it was Wickham’s intent to commit “suicide by cop” based on his calls to her that evening.

At approximately 11:05 p.m., officers responded to Wickham’s residence at 2202 Downing Ave., where they observed a gold Chevy Silverado pickup with heavy front-end damage. While officers were knocking at the door attempting to make contact with Wickham, they could hear Wickham’s voice on the other side of the door, and what sounded like Wickham moving heavy objects in front of the door that the officers were at. It was clear to officers that Wickham was beginning to barricade himself in the house.

Officers were able to speak with Wickham using the victim’s phone, and Wickham relayed that he refused to come out of his house and that he was going to kill any officers that entered his residence. Wickham also relayed that he planned on dying that night. Officers took protective measures, calling additional officers and setting up a perimeter around Wickham’s house to protect the community. The Hays Police Department Special Situation Response Team was called out to assist, which caused Sergeant Scott Heimann to respond to the scene. Due to it being Oktoberfest weekend, the Kansas Highway Patrol Special Response Team was also immediately requested to respond to the scene.

After establishing a perimeter, law enforcement formed Immediate Reaction Teams (IRTs) and placed them in the front and rear of the house. These teams were in place to safely take Wickham into custody should he exit the residence.

30 phone calls between Wickham and law enforcement took place while Wickham was barricaded in the house. The phone calls involved negotiations between Wickham and law enforcement, attempting to convince Wickham not to hurt himself or anyone else, and to exit the residence peacefully.

The IRT positioned in the back alley of the residence was led by Sergeant Scott Heimann. After hearing movement in the backyard, the team in the alley made an approach to the suspect’s back fence to ensure Wickham had not exited the residence. After confirming Wickham was not in the backyard, the team returned to their original position.

Shortly thereafter, at 1:56 a.m., Wickham fired a single round from within the residence, striking Sergeant Scott Heimann. A Special Situation Response Team Tactical Medic immediately moved Sergeant Heimann behind the cover of a vehicle and began rendering life-saving medical aid. Sergeant Heimann was transported to Hays Medical Center by law enforcement, and air transport to Via Christi in Wichita, Kansas by Eagle Medical Air was ordered. While in transport to Wichita, the EagleMed team rerouted to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and, at 4:03 a.m., Sergeant Scott Heimann was pronounced deceased by a medical doctor.

Following the shooting, members of the Hays Police Department disembarked from an armored vehicle with rifle-rated shields to make entry into the suspect’s backyard in an attempt to make the scene safe and mitigate further harm to officers. From this time until 5:00 a.m., Wickham had multiple phone conversations with law enforcement where he repeatedly attempted to bait law enforcement into the house, threatened to kill law enforcement, lied to law enforcement that he had no weapons, admitted to shooting a law enforcement officer, and threatened to take his own life.

Between 2:47 a.m. and 2:50 a.m., members of the Hays Police Department, as well as the Kansas Highway Patrol, launched gas munitions into the house to try to get the suspect to evacuate the home.

At 3:49 a.m., Chief of Police Don Scheibler requested that the Kansas Highway Patrol SRT take tactical command of the situation, and members of the Hays Police Department were strategically pulled off scene due to the loss of their own. Hays Police Department Officers were replaced by personnel from the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Between 4:40 a.m. and 4:43 a.m., members of the Kansas Highway Patrol deployed impact rounds to knock out Wickham’s doorbell cameras.

At 5 a.m., Wickham advised law enforcement he was going to the basement of his house to commit suicide and stopped responding to the negotiator.

At 5:48 a.m., the Kansas Highway Patrol Tactical Team breached the door, and a drone was sent in. The drone located what was believed to be Wickham’s deceased body. A K-9 was deployed to ensure the safety of the residence, and, at 6:29 a.m., the KBI confirmed Wickham was deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

From that point forward, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation began processing the scene, conducting interviews, and gathering evidence. As part of the investigation, all officers who were present on scene at 2202 Downing Ave. had their weapons examined to confirm no shots had been fired. Apart from gas munition rounds and impact rounds used to take out the cameras, the KBI confirmed no lethal rounds had been fired by any member of law enforcement that evening.

Based on the reports and discovery, if the suspect was alive, the Ellis County Attorney has found probable cause exists for the following charges:

• Capital murder, for the killing of Sergeant Scott Heimann• Attempted premeditated murder in the first degree• Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (x3)• Aggravated burglary of an occupied dwelling• Driving under the influence• Aggravated criminal threat• Criminal threat (x2)• Felony interference with law enforcement (x2)• Criminal trespass• Criminal damage to property• Telephone harassment• Stalking

“Members of the Hays Police Department were more than justified to be present at 2202 Downing Ave. that evening, based on seven different crimes, three of which were severe person felony offenses that occurred earlier in the night and posed an imminent threat to the safety of the community,” said Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham. “Although law enforcement would have been authorized to exercise lethal force against Wickham, at no point did they attempt to do so.”

“Law enforcement acted professionally and appropriately throughout their entire duration on scene. Chief Scheibler’s immediate request for assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol in the wake of an officer shooting was in accordance with proper protocol and again demonstrated law enforcement’s priority throughout the investigation was the safety of the entire community. The courage of law enforcement on scene flowed like a river in the wake of the killing of one of their own. At least four officers went toward possible gunfire to help make the scene safe and prevent further harm to their fellow officers,” Cunningham said.

“Based on my review of the evidence, Zane Wickham did not target Sergeant Scott Heimann for who he was. Wickham targeted Sergeant Heimann for what he was: a law enforcement officer.”

“In reviewing all of the discovery and reports, it should be noted that the following individuals demonstrated remarkable courage and acted with the utmost professionalism: Master Trooper Seth Gruber (KHP), TAC Medic Jesse Hermosillo (HFD), Officer Clay Robinson (HPD), Sergeant Dakota Reese (HPD), Sergeant Brayden Parke (ELSO), Sergeant Phillip Gage (Hays PD), Corporal Cody Wolf (HPD), Officer Kyle Jones (HPD), Officer Caleb Koehn (HPD), Corporal Lindsey Clayton (HPD), and fallen Sergeant Scott Heimann (HPD), for making the ultimate sacrifice.”

The Ellis County Attorney’s Office continues to remind the community that if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, contact law enforcement and Options, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. For more information regarding these resources please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.help4abuse.org/">www.help4abuse.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761324299118.jpeg" alt="Sergeant Scott Heimann" />
 <figcaption>Sergeant Scott Heimann</figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis County Attorney's OfficeThe Kansas Bureau of Investigation has concluded its investigation of the murder of Hays Police Department Sergeant Scott Heimann that occurred on Sept. 28th, 2025. The investigative report included over 100 reports from various law enforcement agencies, photo evidence, and multiple hours of audio and video discovery.Based on review of all provided discovery, Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham has composed a comprehensive summation of what occurred during the weekend of Sept. 26-28, 2025, concerning the murder of Sergeant Scott Heimann. The investigation also included evidence from the aggravated battery/attempted murder incident that occurred on Sept. 27, 2025, with the same suspect and an ex-girlfriend. What follows is what the Ellis County Attorney’s Office can release at this time.On Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, suspect Zane Wickham attempted to make contact with an ex-girlfriend in a harassing manner. The following morning, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, Wickham began messaging the ex-girlfriend again throughout the day, informing her he was suicidal and threatening to come to her house uninvited.At 7:15 p.m., Wickham showed up to the ex-girlfriend’s residence and can be observed on doorbell camera footage standing on the porch with a semi-automatic handgun. Wickham attempted to force his way into the victim’s residence after discovering her front door was locked. The ex-girlfriend, who was inside the house, spoke to Wickham by phone and convinced him that she was not home. Wickham eventually left her residence.Concerned for her own safety, the victim contacted Wickham’s parents in an attempt to get the suspect to calm down. She also elected to drive around Hays in an effort to hide from Wickham. It is believed Wickham used an On Star tracking feature in their shared vehicle to locate the victim’s whereabouts.At approximately 10:50 p.m., the victim received around 20 phone calls from Wickham. While driving west on 22nd Street in Hays, the victim observed Wickham’s Chevy Silverado behind her with Wickham driving. She attempted to flee from Wickham, but he chased after her and began ramming her vehicle. Wickham rammed his truck into the victim’s vehicle a total of three times, ultimately pushing her vehicle off the road and into a tree in a residential neighborhood.The victim was able to escape the wrecked vehicle and ran from the scene. Wickham pursued the victim on foot yelling he was going to kill her as she attempted to seek refuge at multiple nearby residences, as evidenced by an eyewitness and a doorbell camera in the area. A resident in the area heard her calls for help and aided her in seeking shelter in a garage. The victim was able to contact law enforcement, and Hays Police Department officers responded to the scene of the collision and to the victim. Wickham had left the scene by the time law enforcement arrived. The victim informed responding officers that she believed it was Wickham’s intent to commit “suicide by cop” based on his calls to her that evening.At approximately 11:05 p.m., officers responded to Wickham’s residence at 2202 Downing Ave., where they observed a gold Chevy Silverado pickup with heavy front-end damage. While officers were knocking at the door attempting to make contact with Wickham, they could hear Wickham’s voice on the other side of the door, and what sounded like Wickham moving heavy objects in front of the door that the officers were at. It was clear to officers that Wickham was beginning to barricade himself in the house.Officers were able to speak with Wickham using the victim’s phone, and Wickham relayed that he refused to come out of his house and that he was going to kill any officers that entered his residence. Wickham also relayed that he planned on dying that night. Officers took protective measures, calling additional officers and setting up a perimeter around Wickham’s house to protect the community. The Hays Police Department Special Situation Response Team was called out to assist, which caused Sergeant Scott Heimann to respond to the scene. Due to it being Oktoberfest weekend, the Kansas Highway Patrol Special Response Team was also immediately requested to respond to the scene.After establishing a perimeter, law enforcement formed Immediate Reaction Teams (IRTs) and placed them in the front and rear of the house. These teams were in place to safely take Wickham into custody should he exit the residence.30 phone calls between Wickham and law enforcement took place while Wickham was barricaded in the house. The phone calls involved negotiations between Wickham and law enforcement, attempting to convince Wickham not to hurt himself or anyone else, and to exit the residence peacefully.The IRT positioned in the back alley of the residence was led by Sergeant Scott Heimann. After hearing movement in the backyard, the team in the alley made an approach to the suspect’s back fence to ensure Wickham had not exited the residence. After confirming Wickham was not in the backyard, the team returned to their original position.Shortly thereafter, at 1:56 a.m., Wickham fired a single round from within the residence, striking Sergeant Scott Heimann. A Special Situation Response Team Tactical Medic immediately moved Sergeant Heimann behind the cover of a vehicle and began rendering life-saving medical aid. Sergeant Heimann was transported to Hays Medical Center by law enforcement, and air transport to Via Christi in Wichita, Kansas by Eagle Medical Air was ordered. While in transport to Wichita, the EagleMed team rerouted to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and, at 4:03 a.m., Sergeant Scott Heimann was pronounced deceased by a medical doctor.Following the shooting, members of the Hays Police Department disembarked from an armored vehicle with rifle-rated shields to make entry into the suspect’s backyard in an attempt to make the scene safe and mitigate further harm to officers. From this time until 5:00 a.m., Wickham had multiple phone conversations with law enforcement where he repeatedly attempted to bait law enforcement into the house, threatened to kill law enforcement, lied to law enforcement that he had no weapons, admitted to shooting a law enforcement officer, and threatened to take his own life.Between 2:47 a.m. and 2:50 a.m., members of the Hays Police Department, as well as the Kansas Highway Patrol, launched gas munitions into the house to try to get the suspect to evacuate the home.At 3:49 a.m., Chief of Police Don Scheibler requested that the Kansas Highway Patrol SRT take tactical command of the situation, and members of the Hays Police Department were strategically pulled off scene due to the loss of their own. Hays Police Department Officers were replaced by personnel from the Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.Between 4:40 a.m. and 4:43 a.m., members of the Kansas Highway Patrol deployed impact rounds to knock out Wickham’s doorbell cameras.At 5 a.m., Wickham advised law enforcement he was going to the basement of his house to commit suicide and stopped responding to the negotiator.At 5:48 a.m., the Kansas Highway Patrol Tactical Team breached the door, and a drone was sent in. The drone located what was believed to be Wickham’s deceased body. A K-9 was deployed to ensure the safety of the residence, and, at 6:29 a.m., the KBI confirmed Wickham was deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.From that point forward, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation began processing the scene, conducting interviews, and gathering evidence. As part of the investigation, all officers who were present on scene at 2202 Downing Ave. had their weapons examined to confirm no shots had been fired. Apart from gas munition rounds and impact rounds used to take out the cameras, the KBI confirmed no lethal rounds had been fired by any member of law enforcement that evening.Based on the reports and discovery, if the suspect was alive, the Ellis County Attorney has found probable cause exists for the following charges:• Capital murder, for the killing of Sergeant Scott Heimann• Attempted premeditated murder in the first degree• Aggravated battery with a deadly weapon (x3)• Aggravated burglary of an occupied dwelling• Driving under the influence• Aggravated criminal threat• Criminal threat (x2)• Felony interference with law enforcement (x2)• Criminal trespass• Criminal damage to property• Telephone harassment• Stalking“Members of the Hays Police Department were more than justified to be present at 2202 Downing Ave. that evening, based on seven different crimes, three of which were severe person felony offenses that occurred earlier in the night and posed an imminent threat to the safety of the community,” said Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham. “Although law enforcement would have been authorized to exercise lethal force against Wickham, at no point did they attempt to do so.”“Law enforcement acted professionally and appropriately throughout their entire duration on scene. Chief Scheibler’s immediate request for assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas Highway Patrol in the wake of an officer shooting was in accordance with proper protocol and again demonstrated law enforcement’s priority throughout the investigation was the safety of the entire community. The courage of law enforcement on scene flowed like a river in the wake of the killing of one of their own. At least four officers went toward possible gunfire to help make the scene safe and prevent further harm to their fellow officers,” Cunningham said.“Based on my review of the evidence, Zane Wickham did not target Sergeant Scott Heimann for who he was. Wickham targeted Sergeant Heimann for what he was: a law enforcement officer.”“In reviewing all of the discovery and reports, it should be noted that the following individuals demonstrated remarkable courage and acted with the utmost professionalism: Master Trooper Seth Gruber (KHP), TAC Medic Jesse Hermosillo (HFD), Officer Clay Robinson (HPD), Sergeant Dakota Reese (HPD), Sergeant Brayden Parke (ELSO), Sergeant Phillip Gage (Hays PD), Corporal Cody Wolf (HPD), Officer Kyle Jones (HPD), Officer Caleb Koehn (HPD), Corporal Lindsey Clayton (HPD), and fallen Sergeant Scott Heimann (HPD), for making the ultimate sacrifice.”The Ellis County Attorney’s Office continues to remind the community that if you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, contact law enforcement and Options, or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. For more information regarding these resources please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.help4abuse.org/">www.help4abuse.org</a>.

KBI concludes investigation in murder of Hays Police Sergeant

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lauran-neergaard">LAURAN NEERGAARD</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Flu is rising rapidly across the U.S., driven by a new variant of the virus — and cases are expected to keep growing with holiday travel.

That variant, known as “subclade K,” led to early outbreaks in the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. In the U.S., flu&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-rsv-covid-cdc-a343a9991a9e116252be4bd331dba6d1">typically begins</a>&nbsp;its winter march in December. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported high or very high levels of illness in more than half the states.

The CDC estimated there have been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from flu so far this season. That includes at least eight child deaths — and is based on data as of Dec. 20, before major holiday gatherings.

Some states are particularly hard-hit. New York’s health department said the week ending Dec. 20 marked the most flu cases the state had recorded in a single week since 2004: 71,000.

It’s far too soon to know if this flu season will be as severe as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-vaccine-shot-flumist-04144eb736ad1adced5252dae0c4985b">last winter’s.</a>

But it’s not too late to get a flu shot, which health experts say can still prevent severe illness even if someone gets infected. While this year’s vaccine isn’t a perfect match to the subclade K strain,&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12639273/" target="_blank">a preliminary analysis from the U.K.</a>&nbsp;found it offered at least partial protection, lowering people’s risk of hospitalization.

According to the CDC, only about 42% of adults and children have gotten a flu vaccination so far this year.

The flu virus is a shape-shifter, constantly mutating, and it comes in multiple forms. There are two subtypes of Type A flu, and subclade K is a mutated version of one of them, named H3N2. That H3N2 strain is always harsh, especially for older adults.

Subclade K’s mutations aren’t enough of a change to be considered an entirely new kind of flu.

But they’re different enough to evade some of the protection from this year’s vaccine, said Andrew Pekosz, a virus expert at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The CDC said it’s too soon to know how severe this season will be.

Flu seasons dominated by any version of H3N2 tend to be bad, with more infections overall and more people becoming seriously ill. But Hopkins’ Pekosz cautioned it will take time to tease apart whether this subclade K version simply spreads more easily or also is more dangerous.

That question aside, the CDC notes there are some prescription medicines to treat flu — usually recommended for people at high risk of complications. But they generally need to be started a day or two after symptoms begin.

The CDC and major medical societies all recommend a flu vaccine for just about everyone age 6 months and older. Despite lots of recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monarez-cdc-vaccines-kennedy-rfk-jr-194fd4336aaa74cb6e7c715d0605b47e">misinformation</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rfk-vaccine-flu-covid-shot-9efed9b468c849a3db1f793dd7effae6">confusion</a>&nbsp;about vaccines, the flu recommendations haven’t changed.

Flu is particularly dangerous for people 65 and older, pregnant women, young children and people of any age who have chronic health problems, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and weak immune systems.

The vaccines are brewed to protect against three influenza strains. Despite concern over that new H3N2 variant, they appear to be a good match against H1N1 and Type B flu that may also circulate this year, Pekosz said.

There are shots for all ages, as well as the nasal spray FluMist for ages 2 to 49. For the first time this year, some people may be eligible to vaccinate themselves with FluMist at home.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767138155902.png" alt="CDC image for the most recent report on flu activity" />
 <figcaption>CDC image for the most recent report on flu activity</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lauran-neergaard">LAURAN NEERGAARD</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — Flu is rising rapidly across the U.S., driven by a new variant of the virus — and cases are expected to keep growing with holiday travel.That variant, known as “subclade K,” led to early outbreaks in the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. In the U.S., flu&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-rsv-covid-cdc-a343a9991a9e116252be4bd331dba6d1">typically begins</a>&nbsp;its winter march in December. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported high or very high levels of illness in more than half the states.The CDC estimated there have been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from flu so far this season. That includes at least eight child deaths — and is based on data as of Dec. 20, before major holiday gatherings.Some states are particularly hard-hit. New York’s health department said the week ending Dec. 20 marked the most flu cases the state had recorded in a single week since 2004: 71,000.It’s far too soon to know if this flu season will be as severe as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-vaccine-shot-flumist-04144eb736ad1adced5252dae0c4985b">last winter’s.</a>But it’s not too late to get a flu shot, which health experts say can still prevent severe illness even if someone gets infected. While this year’s vaccine isn’t a perfect match to the subclade K strain,&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12639273/" target="_blank">a preliminary analysis from the U.K.</a>&nbsp;found it offered at least partial protection, lowering people’s risk of hospitalization.According to the CDC, only about 42% of adults and children have gotten a flu vaccination so far this year.<h2>What is subclade K flu?</h2>The flu virus is a shape-shifter, constantly mutating, and it comes in multiple forms. There are two subtypes of Type A flu, and subclade K is a mutated version of one of them, named H3N2. That H3N2 strain is always harsh, especially for older adults.Subclade K’s mutations aren’t enough of a change to be considered an entirely new kind of flu.But they’re different enough to evade some of the protection from this year’s vaccine, said Andrew Pekosz, a virus expert at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.<h2>Will subclade K make people sicker?</h2>The CDC said it’s too soon to know how severe this season will be.Flu seasons dominated by any version of H3N2 tend to be bad, with more infections overall and more people becoming seriously ill. But Hopkins’ Pekosz cautioned it will take time to tease apart whether this subclade K version simply spreads more easily or also is more dangerous.That question aside, the CDC notes there are some prescription medicines to treat flu — usually recommended for people at high risk of complications. But they generally need to be started a day or two after symptoms begin.<h2>Who needs a flu vaccine?</h2>The CDC and major medical societies all recommend a flu vaccine for just about everyone age 6 months and older. Despite lots of recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monarez-cdc-vaccines-kennedy-rfk-jr-194fd4336aaa74cb6e7c715d0605b47e">misinformation</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rfk-vaccine-flu-covid-shot-9efed9b468c849a3db1f793dd7effae6">confusion</a>&nbsp;about vaccines, the flu recommendations haven’t changed.Flu is particularly dangerous for people 65 and older, pregnant women, young children and people of any age who have chronic health problems, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and weak immune systems.The vaccines are brewed to protect against three influenza strains. Despite concern over that new H3N2 variant, they appear to be a good match against H1N1 and Type B flu that may also circulate this year, Pekosz said.There are shots for all ages, as well as the nasal spray FluMist for ages 2 to 49. For the first time this year, some people may be eligible to vaccinate themselves with FluMist at home.—-The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Flu is rising rapidly in Kansas, nationwide, driven by new variant

30NEW YORK (AP)—After the crystal ball drops on New Year’s Eve in New York City, it will rise again, sparkling in red, white and blue to usher in 2026 and kick off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-america-250th-birthday-iowa-e6fb5df832cdba107ae4e9c62f2577e9">months of celebrations</a>&nbsp;for the nation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/250th-anniversary-us-july-4-celebration-semiquincentennial-e35a3f57b952663f60056c24d0e6a7f0">upcoming 250th birthday</a>.

The patriotic touches at this year’s Times Square gathering, including a second confetti drop, will offer an early glimpse of what’s ahead: hundreds of events and programs, big and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/america-will-celebrate-its-250th-birthday-next-year-theres-a-commemorative-ornament-for-it/" target="_blank">small</a>, planned nationwide to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

“I’m telling you right now, whatever you’re imagining, it’s going to be much more than that,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://america250.org/" target="_blank">America250</a>&nbsp;Chair Rosie Rios, who oversees the bipartisan commission created by Congress in 2016 to organize the semiquincentennial anniversary. “It’s going to be one for the ages, the most inspirational celebration this country and maybe the world has ever seen.”

Rios and her group worked with the Times Square Alliance business district and One Times Square, the building from where the ball is dropped, to make the changes to this year’s ceremonies. They’re also planning a second ball drop event on July 3, the eve of the nation’s birthday, “in the same beautiful style that Times Square knows how to do it,” Rios said.

It will mark the first time in 120 years there will be ball drop in Times Square that doesn’t occur on New Year’s Eve, she said.

A New Year’s Eve ball was first dropped in Times Square in 1907. Built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, the 700-pound (318-kilogram), 5-foot- (1.5-meter-) diameter ball was made of iron and wood and featured 100 25-watt light bulbs. Last year, the Constellation Ball, the ninth and largest version, was unveiled. It measured about 12 feet (3.7 meters) in diameter and weighs nearly 12,000 pounds (5,400 kilograms).

The only years when no ball drop occurred were 1942 and 1943, when the city instituted a nightly “dimout” during World War II to protect itself from attacks. Crowds instead celebrated the new year with a moment of silence followed by chimes rung from the base of One Times Square.

This year, the stroke of midnight will also mark the official launch of America Gives, a national service initiative created by America250. Organizers hope to make 2026 the largest year of volunteer hours ever aggregated in the country.

On the following day, America250 will participate in the New Years Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, with a float themed “Soaring Onward Together for 250 Years.” It will feature three larger-than-life bald eagles representing the country’s past, present and future.

“We want to ring in this new year from sea to shining sea. What better way to think about it than going from New York to California,” Rios said. “This has to be community-driven, this has be grassroots. We’re going from Guam to Alaska, from Fairbanks to Philadelphia, and everything in between.”

President Donald Trump has also announced the “Freedom 250” initiative to coordinate additional events for the 250th anniversary.

Rios said she sees the wide range of celebrations and programs planned for the coming months, from large fireworks displays and statewide potluck suppers to student contests and citizen oral histories, as an opportunity to unite a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patriotism-america-national-pride-decline-poll-gallup-0411dd2f28329a6b640d404db8626d3f">politically divided</a>&nbsp;nation.

“If we can find something for everyone ... having those menus of options that people can pick and choose how they want to participate,” she said. “That’s how we’re going to get to engaging 350 million Americans.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767188005221.png" alt="Times Square image from Associated Press video" />
 <figcaption>Times Square image from Associated Press video</figcaption>
 </figure>30NEW YORK (AP)—After the crystal ball drops on New Year’s Eve in New York City, it will rise again, sparkling in red, white and blue to usher in 2026 and kick off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-america-250th-birthday-iowa-e6fb5df832cdba107ae4e9c62f2577e9">months of celebrations</a>&nbsp;for the nation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/250th-anniversary-us-july-4-celebration-semiquincentennial-e35a3f57b952663f60056c24d0e6a7f0">upcoming 250th birthday</a>.The patriotic touches at this year’s Times Square gathering, including a second confetti drop, will offer an early glimpse of what’s ahead: hundreds of events and programs, big and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/america-will-celebrate-its-250th-birthday-next-year-theres-a-commemorative-ornament-for-it/" target="_blank">small</a>, planned nationwide to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.“I’m telling you right now, whatever you’re imagining, it’s going to be much more than that,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://america250.org/" target="_blank">America250</a>&nbsp;Chair Rosie Rios, who oversees the bipartisan commission created by Congress in 2016 to organize the semiquincentennial anniversary. “It’s going to be one for the ages, the most inspirational celebration this country and maybe the world has ever seen.”Rios and her group worked with the Times Square Alliance business district and One Times Square, the building from where the ball is dropped, to make the changes to this year’s ceremonies. They’re also planning a second ball drop event on July 3, the eve of the nation’s birthday, “in the same beautiful style that Times Square knows how to do it,” Rios said.It will mark the first time in 120 years there will be ball drop in Times Square that doesn’t occur on New Year’s Eve, she said.A New Year’s Eve ball was first dropped in Times Square in 1907. Built by a young immigrant metalworker named Jacob Starr, the 700-pound (318-kilogram), 5-foot- (1.5-meter-) diameter ball was made of iron and wood and featured 100 25-watt light bulbs. Last year, the Constellation Ball, the ninth and largest version, was unveiled. It measured about 12 feet (3.7 meters) in diameter and weighs nearly 12,000 pounds (5,400 kilograms).The only years when no ball drop occurred were 1942 and 1943, when the city instituted a nightly “dimout” during World War II to protect itself from attacks. Crowds instead celebrated the new year with a moment of silence followed by chimes rung from the base of One Times Square.This year, the stroke of midnight will also mark the official launch of America Gives, a national service initiative created by America250. Organizers hope to make 2026 the largest year of volunteer hours ever aggregated in the country.On the following day, America250 will participate in the New Years Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, with a float themed “Soaring Onward Together for 250 Years.” It will feature three larger-than-life bald eagles representing the country’s past, present and future.“We want to ring in this new year from sea to shining sea. What better way to think about it than going from New York to California,” Rios said. “This has to be community-driven, this has be grassroots. We’re going from Guam to Alaska, from Fairbanks to Philadelphia, and everything in between.”President Donald Trump has also announced the “Freedom 250” initiative to coordinate additional events for the 250th anniversary.Rios said she sees the wide range of celebrations and programs planned for the coming months, from large fireworks displays and statewide potluck suppers to student contests and citizen oral histories, as an opportunity to unite a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patriotism-america-national-pride-decline-poll-gallup-0411dd2f28329a6b640d404db8626d3f">politically divided</a>&nbsp;nation.“If we can find something for everyone ... having those menus of options that people can pick and choose how they want to participate,” she said. “That’s how we’re going to get to engaging 350 million Americans.”

Patriotic NYE Times Square ball to ring-in America's 250th birthday

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a deadly gun fight at a home in Kansas City.

Just before 11:30p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting at a home in the 4000 Block of Arlington Avenue, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

FIrst responders were led inside a residence where they located 3 total shooting victims (1 adult female and 2 adult males) 

One of the victims, an adult male, was unresponsive, the other two victims had serious injuries but were conscious. Officers ordered EMS who responded to the scene moments later. EMS declared the unresponsive adult male deceased at the scene. 

EMS&nbsp; transported the surviving man and woman to the hospital for further treatment. Both of their injuries are described as critical, but they are reported to be in stable condition.

Homicide detectives were on scene and investigating this case as a homicide. 

Preliminary information indictes all three victims were inside the residence when an argument ensued. That interaction escalated to gunfire between one or more of the victims which led to all 3 of them being struck by gunfire. 

All parties involved remained at the scene and detectives are not searching for any additional suspects.The exact sequence of events as well as the relationship, if any, between the victims remains under investigation.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a deadly gun fight at a home in Kansas City.Just before 11:30p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting at a home in the 4000 Block of Arlington Avenue, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.FIrst responders were led inside a residence where they located 3 total shooting victims (1 adult female and 2 adult males) One of the victims, an adult male, was unresponsive, the other two victims had serious injuries but were conscious. Officers ordered EMS who responded to the scene moments later. EMS declared the unresponsive adult male deceased at the scene. EMS&nbsp; transported the surviving man and woman to the hospital for further treatment. Both of their injuries are described as critical, but they are reported to be in stable condition.Homicide detectives were on scene and investigating this case as a homicide. Preliminary information indictes all three victims were inside the residence when an argument ensued. That interaction escalated to gunfire between one or more of the victims which led to all 3 of them being struck by gunfire. All parties involved remained at the scene and detectives are not searching for any additional suspects.The exact sequence of events as well as the relationship, if any, between the victims remains under investigation.&nbsp;

1 dead, 2 injured: Argument inside KC home led to gunfight

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —On Tuesday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office recovered a stolen race car and trailer near 61st and Berryton Road in Shawnee County, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

On October 21, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report that the trailer and race car had been stolen from where it was being kept in the 9000 Block of 110th Road in rural Mayetta. 

 Jackson County Detectives discovered where the stolen items were located and obtained a search warrant for the property.  The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Deputies assisted with the execution of the search warrant. 

 If anyone has information about this crime they are asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 785-364-2251.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1767131287615.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —On Tuesday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office recovered a stolen race car and trailer near 61st and Berryton Road in Shawnee County, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.On October 21, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report that the trailer and race car had been stolen from where it was being kept in the 9000 Block of 110th Road in rural Mayetta. Jackson County Detectives discovered where the stolen items were located and obtained a search warrant for the property. The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Deputies assisted with the execution of the search warrant. If anyone has information about this crime they are asked to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 785-364-2251.

Sheriff: Stolen race car and trailer recovered in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA was behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-facility-boat-strikes-0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4">a drone strike last week</a>&nbsp;at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels, according to two people familiar with details of the operation who requested anonymity to discuss the classified matter.

(click below to listen to the President's explanation of the attack)

The first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes in September marks a significant escalation in the administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">months-long pressure campaign</a>&nbsp;on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The strike has not been acknowledged by Venezuelan officials.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;first made reference to the operation in an interview Friday with John Catsimatidis on WABC radio in New York, saying the U.S. had knocked out some type of “big facility where ships come from.”

In an exchange with reporters Monday as he hosted Israeli&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump added that the operation targeted a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-facility-boat-strikes-0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4">dock area where they load the boats</a>&nbsp;up with drugs.” But the president declined to comment when asked whether the attack was conducted by the military or the CIA.

The CIA and White House officials also declined to offer further comment on the matter. Col. Allie Weiskopf, a spokesperson for Special Operations Command, which oversees U.S operations in the Caribbean, said in a statement that “Special Operations did not support this operation to include intel support.”

The strike escalates what began as a massive buildup of U.S. personnel in the Caribbean Sea starting in August, which has been followed by at least 30 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-drug-trafficking-trump-venezuela-4c21181026cf564fc79ae96d0b931f8d">military strikes on alleged drug boats</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. More recently, Trump has ordered a quasi-blockade aimed at seizing sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of Venezuela.

CNN first reported on the CIA’s involvement in the operation.

Trump for months had threatened that he could soon order strikes on targets on Venezuelan land. He’s also taken the unusual step of publicly acknowledging that he had authorized the CIA to carry out covert action inside Venezuela.

The administration is required to report covert CIA actions to senior congressional officials, including the chair and ranking members of both the Senate and House intelligence committees. But Trump, by entrusting what appears to be the first land strike of the Venezuelan campaign to the intelligence agency, could be calculating that the action would face less scrutiny from lawmakers than a military strike.

“I authorized for two reasons, really. No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America,” he said in October as he confirmed to reporters his approval for the CIA to act. “And the other thing, the drugs, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">Venezuelan drugs</a>&nbsp;come in through the sea.”

All the while, Trump has repeatedly said Maduro’s days in power are numbered. The Venezuelan leader and members of his inner circle have been under federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">indictment in the United States</a>&nbsp;since 2020 for narcoterrorism and other charges.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-venezuela-virus-outbreak-2ceb488313ebb3334f64f6ad705e33b8">Maduro has denied the charges</a>. The U.S. Justice Department this year doubled to $50 million the reward for information that leads to his arrest.

The Venezuelan president made no mention of the CIA operation during an hourlong speech Tuesday at an international leadership school for women.

AP writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed reporting.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The CIA was behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-facility-boat-strikes-0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4">a drone strike last week</a>&nbsp;at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels, according to two people familiar with details of the operation who requested anonymity to discuss the classified matter.(click below to listen to the President's explanation of the attack)<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">JUST IN: The United States has conducted its first land strike against Venezuela, according to President Donald Trump. Reporter: You mentioned in a radio interview ... did the military do that? Trump: There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up… <a href="https://t.co/XMIZf1vT2q">pic.twitter.com/XMIZf1vT2q</a>&mdash; Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollinRugg/status/2005709303488143703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the U.S. began strikes in September marks a significant escalation in the administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">months-long pressure campaign</a>&nbsp;on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The strike has not been acknowledged by Venezuelan officials.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;first made reference to the operation in an interview Friday with John Catsimatidis on WABC radio in New York, saying the U.S. had knocked out some type of “big facility where ships come from.”In an exchange with reporters Monday as he hosted Israeli&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/benjamin-netanyahu">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump added that the operation targeted a “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-facility-boat-strikes-0faff66145c6706e2861fcde36756fe4">dock area where they load the boats</a>&nbsp;up with drugs.” But the president declined to comment when asked whether the attack was conducted by the military or the CIA.The CIA and White House officials also declined to offer further comment on the matter. Col. Allie Weiskopf, a spokesperson for Special Operations Command, which oversees U.S operations in the Caribbean, said in a statement that “Special Operations did not support this operation to include intel support.”The strike escalates what began as a massive buildup of U.S. personnel in the Caribbean Sea starting in August, which has been followed by at least 30 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-drug-trafficking-trump-venezuela-4c21181026cf564fc79ae96d0b931f8d">military strikes on alleged drug boats</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. More recently, Trump has ordered a quasi-blockade aimed at seizing sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of Venezuela.CNN first reported on the CIA’s involvement in the operation.Trump for months had threatened that he could soon order strikes on targets on Venezuelan land. He’s also taken the unusual step of publicly acknowledging that he had authorized the CIA to carry out covert action inside Venezuela.The administration is required to report covert CIA actions to senior congressional officials, including the chair and ranking members of both the Senate and House intelligence committees. But Trump, by entrusting what appears to be the first land strike of the Venezuelan campaign to the intelligence agency, could be calculating that the action would face less scrutiny from lawmakers than a military strike.“I authorized for two reasons, really. No. 1, they have emptied their prisons into the United States of America,” he said in October as he confirmed to reporters his approval for the CIA to act. “And the other thing, the drugs, we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, and a lot of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0">Venezuelan drugs</a>&nbsp;come in through the sea.”All the while, Trump has repeatedly said Maduro’s days in power are numbered. The Venezuelan leader and members of his inner circle have been under federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">indictment in the United States</a>&nbsp;since 2020 for narcoterrorism and other charges.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-venezuela-virus-outbreak-2ceb488313ebb3334f64f6ad705e33b8">Maduro has denied the charges</a>. The U.S. Justice Department this year doubled to $50 million the reward for information that leads to his arrest.The Venezuelan president made no mention of the CIA operation during an hourlong speech Tuesday at an international leadership school for women.—AP writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed reporting.

🎥CIA behind U.S. strike at dock that Trump claims was used by drug smugglers

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating the death of two people at a home in Topeka have identified the homicide victim as&nbsp;Erica Beckem, 35, of Topeka and the&nbsp;deceased suspect as Travoris Steele, 26, Topeka.

Just after 11:45p.m. Friday, police responded to a report of a possible shooting in the 900 block of SW Lincoln Avenue in Topeka, according to Police Lt. John Trimble.

First responders located Beckem and Steele who were deceased.&nbsp;

The Topeka Police Department is still investigating this incident as a murder-suicide.&nbsp;

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating the death of two people at a home in Topeka have identified the homicide victim as&nbsp;Erica Beckem, 35, of Topeka and the&nbsp;deceased suspect as Travoris Steele, 26, Topeka.Just after 11:45p.m. Friday, police responded to a report of a possible shooting in the 900 block of SW Lincoln Avenue in Topeka, according to Police Lt. John Trimble.First responders located Beckem and Steele who were deceased.&nbsp;The Topeka Police Department is still investigating this incident as a murder-suicide.&nbsp;