JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Friday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Honda Odyssey driven by Kong Yang, 59, Kansas City, Kansas, was southbound on Interstate 435&nbsp;under 95th Street bridge in Lenexa. The minivan drifted off the roadway and struck the bridge pillar.

Yang was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Forensic Medical. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765561829403.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Friday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Honda Odyssey driven by Kong Yang, 59, Kansas City, Kansas, was southbound on Interstate 435&nbsp;under 95th Street bridge in Lenexa. The minivan drifted off the roadway and struck the bridge pillar.Yang was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Forensic Medical. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas man killed after minivan strikes overpass pillar

By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated Press

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;signed an executive order Thursday aimed at blocking states from crafting their own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-artificial-intelligence-ai-regulation-646de06404ba543dd7244d225fb27250">regulations for artificial intelligence</a>, saying the burgeoning industry is at risk of being stifled by a patchwork of onerous rules while in a battle with Chinese competitors for supremacy.

Members of Congress from both parties, as well as civil liberties and consumer rights groups, have pushed for more regulations on AI, saying there is not enough oversight for the powerful technology.

But Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that “there's only going to be one winner” as nations race to dominate artificial intelligence, and China's central government gives its companies a single place to go for government approvals.

“We have the big investment coming, but if they had to get 50 different approvals from 50 different states, you can forget it because it’s impossible to do,” Trump said.

The executive order directs the Attorney General to create a new task force to challenge state laws, and directs the Commerce Department to draw up a list of problematic regulations.

It also threatens to restrict funding from a broadband deployment program and other grant programs to states with AI laws.

David Sacks, a venture capitalist with extensive AI investments who is leading Trump's policies on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, said the Trump administration would only push back on “the most onerous examples of state regulation” but would not oppose “kid safety” measures.

Four states — Colorado, California, Utah and Texas — have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-artificial-intelligence-ai-regulation-646de06404ba543dd7244d225fb27250">passed laws</a>&nbsp;that set some rules for AI across the private sector, according to the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Those laws include limiting the collection of certain personal information and requiring more transparency from companies.

The laws are in response to AI that already pervades everyday life. The technology helps make consequential decisions for Americans, including who gets a job interview, an apartment lease, a home loan and even certain medical care. But research has shown that it can make mistakes in those decisions, including by prioritizing a particular gender or race.

States’ more ambitious AI regulation proposals require private companies to provide transparency and assess the possible risks of discrimination from their AI programs.

Beyond those more sweeping rules, many states have regulated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-ai-music-songwriting-tennessee-eb95c850f13fd78f9e65abce2ee45091">parts of AI</a>: barring the use of deepfakes in elections and to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepfake-images-taylor-swift-state-legislation-bffbc274dd178ab054426ee7d691df7e">create nonconsensual porn</a>, for example, or putting rules in place around the government’s own use of AI.

By JONATHAN J. COOPER Associated PressPresident&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;signed an executive order Thursday aimed at blocking states from crafting their own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-artificial-intelligence-ai-regulation-646de06404ba543dd7244d225fb27250">regulations for artificial intelligence</a>, saying the burgeoning industry is at risk of being stifled by a patchwork of onerous rules while in a battle with Chinese competitors for supremacy.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We had 11,888 murderers come into our country, many of them are from Venezuela... drug traffic by sea is down 92%... and we’ll start that on land, too.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7qbHlGr0hp">pic.twitter.com/7qbHlGr0hp</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1999258912860831822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Members of Congress from both parties, as well as civil liberties and consumer rights groups, have pushed for more regulations on AI, saying there is not enough oversight for the powerful technology.But Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that “there's only going to be one winner” as nations race to dominate artificial intelligence, and China's central government gives its companies a single place to go for government approvals.“We have the big investment coming, but if they had to get 50 different approvals from 50 different states, you can forget it because it’s impossible to do,” Trump said.The executive order directs the Attorney General to create a new task force to challenge state laws, and directs the Commerce Department to draw up a list of problematic regulations.It also threatens to restrict funding from a broadband deployment program and other grant programs to states with AI laws.David Sacks, a venture capitalist with extensive AI investments who is leading Trump's policies on cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, said the Trump administration would only push back on “the most onerous examples of state regulation” but would not oppose “kid safety” measures.<h2>What states have proposed</h2>Four states — Colorado, California, Utah and Texas — have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-order-artificial-intelligence-ai-regulation-646de06404ba543dd7244d225fb27250">passed laws</a>&nbsp;that set some rules for AI across the private sector, according to the International Association of Privacy Professionals.Those laws include limiting the collection of certain personal information and requiring more transparency from companies.The laws are in response to AI that already pervades everyday life. The technology helps make consequential decisions for Americans, including who gets a job interview, an apartment lease, a home loan and even certain medical care. But research has shown that it can make mistakes in those decisions, including by prioritizing a particular gender or race.States’ more ambitious AI regulation proposals require private companies to provide transparency and assess the possible risks of discrimination from their AI programs.Beyond those more sweeping rules, many states have regulated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-ai-music-songwriting-tennessee-eb95c850f13fd78f9e65abce2ee45091">parts of AI</a>: barring the use of deepfakes in elections and to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepfake-images-taylor-swift-state-legislation-bffbc274dd178ab054426ee7d691df7e">create nonconsensual porn</a>, for example, or putting rules in place around the government’s own use of AI.

Why President Trump signed an executive order to  block state AI regulations

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police have seen an increase in social media “cash” or “treasure” hunts that encourage people to search in public places, according to a statement from Wichita Police.

"While these activities may be intended as entertainment, we need to be clear about how they impact City property."

"Digging in City parks is prohibited under Wichita City Ordinance 5.66.030. 

When individuals dig into turf, landscaping, flowerbeds, or disturb park features, it causes damage to public property, creates safety hazards, and may be considered defacing or vandalizing City parks. This is not only harmful to shared public spaces—it is also a violation and may result in a citation.

-Do not dig in any City park or on City property.-Do not disturb landscaping materials, rocks, mulch, trees, fixtures, signs, or other park features.

-If a post or clue suggests that digging or moving landscape materials is required, do not participate.

Message to content creators: If you are creating or promoting a hunt-style event, please do not hide or place items on City property in a way that could encourage digging, defacing, or other violations. If you choose to post a challenge involving public spaces, we strongly encourage you to include direct instructions that no digging or disturbance of landscaping or City property is required.

We support safe, lawful activities and appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping protect the parks our community shares.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765550137892.png" alt="Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police have seen an increase in social media “cash” or “treasure” hunts that encourage people to search in public places, according to a statement from Wichita Police."While these activities may be intended as entertainment, we need to be clear about how they impact City property.""Digging in City parks is prohibited under Wichita City Ordinance 5.66.030. When individuals dig into turf, landscaping, flowerbeds, or disturb park features, it causes damage to public property, creates safety hazards, and may be considered defacing or vandalizing City parks. This is not only harmful to shared public spaces—it is also a violation and may result in a citation.What the public should know:-Do not dig in any City park or on City property.-Do not disturb landscaping materials, rocks, mulch, trees, fixtures, signs, or other park features.-If a post or clue suggests that digging or moving landscape materials is required, do not participate.Message to content creators: If you are creating or promoting a hunt-style event, please do not hide or place items on City property in a way that could encourage digging, defacing, or other violations. If you choose to post a challenge involving public spaces, we strongly encourage you to include direct instructions that no digging or disturbance of landscaping or City property is required.We support safe, lawful activities and appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping protect the parks our community shares.

Police warn against damaging property for social media treasure hunts

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — As Australia began enforcing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-under-16-children-8b992efa5138704bc02ee9fc974f6987">world-first social media ban for children</a>&nbsp;under 16 years old this week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/denmark">Denmark</a>&nbsp;is planning to follow its lead and severely restrict social media access for young people.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-social-media-ban-children-7862d2a8cc590b4969c8931a01adc7f4">Danish government announced</a>&nbsp;last month that it had secured an agreement by three governing coalition and two opposition parties in parliament to ban access to social media for anyone under the age of 15. Such a measure would be the most sweeping step yet by a European Union nation to limit use of social media among teens and children.

The Danish government's plans could become law as soon as mid-2026. The proposed measure would give some parents the right to let their children access social media from age 13, local media reported, but the ministry has not yet fully shared the plans.

Many social media platforms already ban children younger than 13 from signing up, and a EU law requires Big Tech to put measures in place to protect young people from online risks and inappropriate content. But officials and experts say such restrictions don’t always work.

Danish authorities have said that despite the restrictions, around 98% of Danish children under age 13 have profiles on at least one social media platform, and almost half of those under 10 years old do.

The minister for digital affairs, Caroline Stage, who announced the proposed ban last month, said there is still a consultation process for the measure and several readings in parliament before it becomes law, perhaps by “mid to end of next year.”

“In far too many years, we have given the social media platforms free play in the playing rooms of our children. There’s been no limits,” Stage said in an interview with The Associated Press last month.

“When we go into the city at night, there are bouncers who are checking the age of young people to make sure that no one underage gets into a party that they’re not supposed to be in,” she added. “In the digital world, we don’t have any bouncers, and we definitely need that.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-16-children-7d6ea8a39629bcd862130ec8cc7e4dc4">Under the new Australian law,</a>&nbsp;Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove accounts of Australian children younger than 16.

Some students say they are worried that similar strict laws in Denmark would mean they will lose touch with their virtual communities.

“I myself have some friends that I only know from online, and if I wasn’t fifteen yet, I wouldn’t be able to talk with those friends,” 15-year-old student Ronja Zander, who uses Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, told the AP.

Copenhagen high school student Chloé Courage Fjelstrup-Matthisen, 14, said she is aware of the negative impact social media can have, from cyberbullying to seeing graphic content. She said she saw video of a man being shot several months ago.

“The video was on social media everywhere and I just went to school and then I saw it,” she said.

Line Pedersen, a mother from Nykøbing in Denmark, said she believed the plans were a good idea.

“I think that we didn’t really realize what we were doing when we gave our children the telephone and social media from when they were eight, 10 years old,” she said. “I don’t quite think that the young people know what’s normal, what’s not normal.”

Danish officials are yet to share how exactly the proposed ban would be enforced and which social media platforms would be affected.

However, a new “digital evidence” app, announced by the Digital Affairs Ministry last month and expected to launch next spring, will likely form the backbone of the Danish plans. The app will display an age certificate to ensure users comply with social media age limits, the ministry said.

“One thing is what they’re saying and another thing is what they’re doing or not doing,” Stage said, referring to social media platforms. “And that’s why we have to do something politically.”

Some experts say restrictions, such as the ban planned by Denmark, don’t always work and they may also infringe on the rights of children and teenagers.

“To me, the greatest challenge is actually the democratic rights of these children. I think it’s sad that it’s not taken more into consideration,” said Anne Mette Thorhauge, an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen.

“Social media, to many children, is what broadcast media was to my generation,” she added. “It was a way of connecting to society.”

Currently, the EU’s Digital Services Act, which took effect two years ago, requires social media platforms to ensure there are measures including parental controls and age verification tools before young users can access the apps.

EU officials have acknowledged that enforcing the regulations aiming at protecting children online has proven challenging because it requires cooperation between member states and many resources.

Denmark is among several countries that have indicated they plan to follow in Australia’s steps. The Southeast Asian country of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/malaysia-social-media-ban-under-16-1e9e20321c8c83c470ff7489139f10b8">Malaysia is expected to ban social media account</a>&nbsp;s for people under the age of 16 starting at the beginning of next year, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/norway">Norway</a>&nbsp;is also taking steps to restrict social media access for children and teens.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/china">China</a>&nbsp;— which manufacturers many of the world’s digital devices — has set limits on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaming-business-children-00db669defcc8e0ca1fc2dc54120a0b8">online gaming time</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-internet-restrictions-children-smartphone-limits-8435b530b117b70357856ddf6a5968d1">smartphone time</a>&nbsp;for kids.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673457414258.jpeg" alt="Ap photo" />
 <figcaption>Ap photo</figcaption>
 </figure>COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — As Australia began enforcing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-under-16-children-8b992efa5138704bc02ee9fc974f6987">world-first social media ban for children</a>&nbsp;under 16 years old this week,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/denmark">Denmark</a>&nbsp;is planning to follow its lead and severely restrict social media access for young people.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-social-media-ban-children-7862d2a8cc590b4969c8931a01adc7f4">Danish government announced</a>&nbsp;last month that it had secured an agreement by three governing coalition and two opposition parties in parliament to ban access to social media for anyone under the age of 15. Such a measure would be the most sweeping step yet by a European Union nation to limit use of social media among teens and children.The Danish government's plans could become law as soon as mid-2026. The proposed measure would give some parents the right to let their children access social media from age 13, local media reported, but the ministry has not yet fully shared the plans.Many social media platforms already ban children younger than 13 from signing up, and a EU law requires Big Tech to put measures in place to protect young people from online risks and inappropriate content. But officials and experts say such restrictions don’t always work.Danish authorities have said that despite the restrictions, around 98% of Danish children under age 13 have profiles on at least one social media platform, and almost half of those under 10 years old do.The minister for digital affairs, Caroline Stage, who announced the proposed ban last month, said there is still a consultation process for the measure and several readings in parliament before it becomes law, perhaps by “mid to end of next year.”“In far too many years, we have given the social media platforms free play in the playing rooms of our children. There’s been no limits,” Stage said in an interview with The Associated Press last month.“When we go into the city at night, there are bouncers who are checking the age of young people to make sure that no one underage gets into a party that they’re not supposed to be in,” she added. “In the digital world, we don’t have any bouncers, and we definitely need that.”<h2>Mixed reactions</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-16-children-7d6ea8a39629bcd862130ec8cc7e4dc4">Under the new Australian law,</a>&nbsp;Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X and YouTube face fines of up to 50 million Australian dollars ($33 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove accounts of Australian children younger than 16.Some students say they are worried that similar strict laws in Denmark would mean they will lose touch with their virtual communities.“I myself have some friends that I only know from online, and if I wasn’t fifteen yet, I wouldn’t be able to talk with those friends,” 15-year-old student Ronja Zander, who uses Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, told the AP.Copenhagen high school student Chloé Courage Fjelstrup-Matthisen, 14, said she is aware of the negative impact social media can have, from cyberbullying to seeing graphic content. She said she saw video of a man being shot several months ago.“The video was on social media everywhere and I just went to school and then I saw it,” she said.Line Pedersen, a mother from Nykøbing in Denmark, said she believed the plans were a good idea.“I think that we didn’t really realize what we were doing when we gave our children the telephone and social media from when they were eight, 10 years old,” she said. “I don’t quite think that the young people know what’s normal, what’s not normal.”<h2>Age certificate likely part of the plan</h2>Danish officials are yet to share how exactly the proposed ban would be enforced and which social media platforms would be affected.However, a new “digital evidence” app, announced by the Digital Affairs Ministry last month and expected to launch next spring, will likely form the backbone of the Danish plans. The app will display an age certificate to ensure users comply with social media age limits, the ministry said.“One thing is what they’re saying and another thing is what they’re doing or not doing,” Stage said, referring to social media platforms. “And that’s why we have to do something politically.”Some experts say restrictions, such as the ban planned by Denmark, don’t always work and they may also infringe on the rights of children and teenagers.“To me, the greatest challenge is actually the democratic rights of these children. I think it’s sad that it’s not taken more into consideration,” said Anne Mette Thorhauge, an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen.“Social media, to many children, is what broadcast media was to my generation,” she added. “It was a way of connecting to society.”Currently, the EU’s Digital Services Act, which took effect two years ago, requires social media platforms to ensure there are measures including parental controls and age verification tools before young users can access the apps.EU officials have acknowledged that enforcing the regulations aiming at protecting children online has proven challenging because it requires cooperation between member states and many resources.Denmark is among several countries that have indicated they plan to follow in Australia’s steps. The Southeast Asian country of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/malaysia-social-media-ban-under-16-1e9e20321c8c83c470ff7489139f10b8">Malaysia is expected to ban social media account</a>&nbsp;s for people under the age of 16 starting at the beginning of next year, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/norway">Norway</a>&nbsp;is also taking steps to restrict social media access for children and teens.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/china">China</a>&nbsp;— which manufacturers many of the world’s digital devices — has set limits on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaming-business-children-00db669defcc8e0ca1fc2dc54120a0b8">online gaming time</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-internet-restrictions-children-smartphone-limits-8435b530b117b70357856ddf6a5968d1">smartphone time</a>&nbsp;for kids.

Another nation to severely restrict social media use for young people

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a violent attack on a teen, later identified as his girlfriend, was to learn his fate on Friday.

&nbsp;The sentencing hearing for 24-year-old Dominic Thomas was continued until after Christmas, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He is scheduled to return to court on December 29.&nbsp; A scheduled hearing for Thomas was also delayed in November.

In November of 2024, a jury convicted Thomas, who was 19 at the time of the crime, of attempted first-degree murder.

Just after 10 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2020 police responded to an assault report at a home in the 3900 block of North Litchfield in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson

Upon arrival, officers contacted a 17-year-old girl who was visibly shaken and wet. The investigation revealed 19-year-old Dominic Thomas and the victim were talking near a pond at 37th Street North and Sullivan when a disturbance occurred.

During the disturbance, Thomas battered the girl, drug her to a nearby pond and held her head under the water. Thomas then released her and fled. Officers later located Thomas, and he was arrested without further incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765505981091.png" alt="Thomas photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Thomas photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a violent attack on a teen, later identified as his girlfriend, was to learn his fate on Friday.&nbsp;The sentencing hearing for 24-year-old Dominic Thomas was continued until after Christmas, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He is scheduled to return to court on December 29.&nbsp; A scheduled hearing for Thomas was also delayed in November.In November of 2024, a jury convicted Thomas, who was 19 at the time of the crime, of attempted first-degree murder.Just after 10 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2020 police responded to an assault report at a home in the 3900 block of North Litchfield in Wichita, according to officer Charley DavidsonUpon arrival, officers contacted a 17-year-old girl who was visibly shaken and wet. The investigation revealed 19-year-old Dominic Thomas and the victim were talking near a pond at 37th Street North and Sullivan when a disturbance occurred.During the disturbance, Thomas battered the girl, drug her to a nearby pond and held her head under the water. Thomas then released her and fled. Officers later located Thomas, and he was arrested without further incident.

Sentencing delayed again for Kan. man who tried to drown pregnant girlfriend

CLAY COUNTY, Mo. —Earlier this month marked the sixth time this year vandalism causing significant damage took place at the bathrooms at Smithville Lake - Clay County Parks, according to a social media report from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff.

This time, Parks employees discovered extensive damage in the Sail Boat Cove bathrooms, including a destroyed toilet, smashed light fixtures and a stall wall ripped from the concrete wall. 

The Sailboat Cove restrooms have been hit four times this year, with everything from graffiti on June 2, to a firework exploding a toilet on June 30. Trailhead bathrooms and the Crows Creek shower house also have been hit. 

The sheriff office asked, "Guess who pays for the repairs? You, the tax payers."

 The latest incident is felony-level damage. If you know who is doing this, please call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). You can stay anonymous and get a cash reward.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765505052936.png" alt="Image Clay Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Image Clay Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>CLAY COUNTY, Mo. —Earlier this month marked the sixth time this year vandalism causing significant damage took place at the bathrooms at Smithville Lake - Clay County Parks, according to a social media report from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff.This time, Parks employees discovered extensive damage in the Sail Boat Cove bathrooms, including a destroyed toilet, smashed light fixtures and a stall wall ripped from the concrete wall. The Sailboat Cove restrooms have been hit four times this year, with everything from graffiti on June 2, to a firework exploding a toilet on June 30. Trailhead bathrooms and the Crows Creek shower house also have been hit. The sheriff office asked, "Guess who pays for the repairs? You, the tax payers." The latest incident is felony-level damage. If you know who is doing this, please call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). You can stay anonymous and get a cash reward.

Sheriff: Felony level damage after vandalism at KC area lake

By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer

Senators from both parties pushed Thursday for changes to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/defense-bill-congress-trump-dd67d203accfb65b7604072ebb5da153">massive defense bill</a>&nbsp;after crash investigators and victims' families warned the legislation would undo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-investigation-american-airlines-helicopter-ntsb-b78bce07efa055aa6f9c04e580ffe24e">key safety reforms</a>&nbsp;stemming from a collision&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">between an airliner and Army helicopter</a>&nbsp;over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation Thursday, spoke on the Senate floor warning that the current draft of the&nbsp;FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)&nbsp;fails to implement the minimum standards necessary for military helicopters operating in mixed airspace. Sen. Moran called on his colleagues to amend the NDAA or pass additional legislation to maintain current safety standards.

The head of the National Transportation Safety Board investigating the crash, a group of the victims' family members and senators on the Commerce Committee all said the bill the House advanced Wednesday would make America's skies less safe. It would allow the military to operate essentially the same way as it did before the January crash, which was the deadliest in more than two decades, they said.

Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell and Republican Committee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz filed two amendments Thursday to strip out the worrisome helicopter safety provisions and replace them with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/midair-collision-ntsb-washington-dc-army-helicopter-40f94a495e2e60b9adc5b9a49cce6437">bill they introduced</a>&nbsp;last summer to strengthen requirements, but it’s not clear if Republican leadership will allow the National Defense Authorization Act to be changed at this stage because that would delay its passage.

“We owe it to the families to put into law actual safety improvements, not give the Department of Defense bigger loopholes to exploit,” the senators said.

Right now, the bill includes exceptions that would allow military helicopters to fly through the crowded airspace around the nation's capital without using a key system called ADS-B to broadcast their locations just like they did before the January collision. The Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-congress-ntsb-faa-helicopter-e6cabb82fd788039e16ab2af84220712">began requiring</a>&nbsp;that in March. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/Documents/National%20Defense%20Authorization%20Act.pdf">called the bill</a>&nbsp;a “significant safety setback” that is inviting a repeat of that disaster.

“It represents an unacceptable risk to the flying public, to commercial and military aircraft, crews and to the residents in the region,” Homendy said. “It’s also an unthinkable dismissal of our investigation and of 67 families ... who lost loved ones in a tragedy that was entirely preventable. This is shameful.”

The biggest unions representing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alpa.org/Press-Room/2025/12/ALPA-Opposes-NDAA-Language-That-Undermines-Aviation-Safety">pilots</a>, flight attendants and&nbsp;<a href="https://ttd.org/news-and-media/press-releases-and-statements/transportation-labor-objects-to-rollback-of-aviation-safety-in-house-passed-defense-authorization-act/">other transportation workers</a>&nbsp;joined the chorus criticizing the bill on Thursday. Sara Nelson, who is president of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afacwa.org/ndaa_provision_rolling_back_safety_protection_reckless_indefensible">Association of Flight Attendants</a>, questioned why this was proposed. She said these provisions are “not only reckless and indefensible, but also a direct undermining of the NTSB’s safety guidance.”

Congress may turn to another bill to fix the concerns

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is looking into the concerns but thinks they can be addressed by quickly passing the aviation safety bill that Cruz and Cantwell proposed last summer that would require all aircraft operators to use both forms of ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, the technology to broadcast aircraft location data to other planes and air traffic controllers. Most aircraft today are equipped with ADS-B Out equipment but the airlines would have to add the more comprehensive ADS-B In technology to their planes.

That legislation would also revoke an exemption on ADS-B transmission requests for Department of Defense aircraft.

“I think that would resolve the concerns that people have about that provision, and hoping — we’ll see if we can find a pathway forward to get that bill done,” said Thune, a South Dakota Republican.

Military routinely flew without broadcasting location

The military used national security waivers before the crash to skirt FAA safety requirements on the grounds that they worried about the security risks of disclosing their helicopters’ locations. Tim and Sheri Lilley, whose son Sam was the first officer on the American Airlines jet, said this bill only adds “a window dressing fix that would continue to allow for the setting aside of requirements with nothing more than a cursory risk assessment.”

Homendy said it would be ridiculous to entrust the military with assessing the safety risks when they aren't the experts, and neither the Army nor the FAA noticed 85 close calls around Ronald Reagan National Airport in the years before the crash. She said the military doesn't know how to do that kind of risk assessment, adding that no one writing the bill bothered to consult the experts at the NTSB who do know.

The NTSB's final report on the cause of the D.C. crash won't be released until next year, but investigators have already identified a number of factors that contributed, including that the helicopter was flying too high on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/midair-collision-ntsb-washington-dc-army-helicopter-e9f7b69fe01ff39dc8629d2999104683">route that only provided scant separation</a>&nbsp;between helicopters and planes landing on Reagan's secondary runway.

Homendy said part of the investigation focuses on the limitations of the various systems that are designed to alert other pilots and air traffic controllers about the location of an aircraft. The pilots of the American jet that was flying into D.C. from Wichita, Kansas, did get a warning about traffic nearby 20 seconds before the collision. But at the low altitude the plane was traveling as it prepared to land, the basic collision avoidance system recommended by this bill was partly inhibited to prevent false alarms and because there is little room to manuever.

The White House and military didn't immediately respond Thursday to questions about these safety concerns in the bill. But earlier this week Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SAP-NDAA-2026.pdf">made it clear</a>&nbsp;that he wants to sign the National Defense Authorization Act because it advances a number of his priorities and provides a 3.8% pay raise for many military members.

The Senate is expected to take up the bill next week, and it appears unlikely that any final changes will be made. But Congress is leaving for a holiday break at the end of the week, and the defense bill is considered something that must pass by the end of the year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738703092495.png" alt="FILE The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, working with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USCGMidAtlantic?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USNavy?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Navy</a>&nbsp;Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), as they began wreckage removal operations at the site of the Potomac River Aviation Incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Photo U.S. Army Corps of Engineers" />
 <figcaption>FILE The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, working with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USCGMidAtlantic?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USNavy?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Navy</a>&nbsp;Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), as they began wreckage removal operations at the site of the Potomac River Aviation Incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Photo U.S. Army Corps of Engineers</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation WriterSenators from both parties pushed Thursday for changes to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/defense-bill-congress-trump-dd67d203accfb65b7604072ebb5da153">massive defense bill</a>&nbsp;after crash investigators and victims' families warned the legislation would undo&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-investigation-american-airlines-helicopter-ntsb-b78bce07efa055aa6f9c04e580ffe24e">key safety reforms</a>&nbsp;stemming from a collision&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">between an airliner and Army helicopter</a>&nbsp;over Washington, D.C., that killed 67 people.U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation Thursday, spoke on the Senate floor warning that the current draft of the&nbsp;FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)&nbsp;fails to implement the minimum standards necessary for military helicopters operating in mixed airspace. Sen. Moran called on his colleagues to amend the NDAA or pass additional legislation to maintain current safety standards.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8r84QNX-a8c?si=BK6WwPPx3of_qUuC" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The head of the National Transportation Safety Board investigating the crash, a group of the victims' family members and senators on the Commerce Committee all said the bill the House advanced Wednesday would make America's skies less safe. It would allow the military to operate essentially the same way as it did before the January crash, which was the deadliest in more than two decades, they said.Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell and Republican Committee Chairman Sen. Ted Cruz filed two amendments Thursday to strip out the worrisome helicopter safety provisions and replace them with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/midair-collision-ntsb-washington-dc-army-helicopter-40f94a495e2e60b9adc5b9a49cce6437">bill they introduced</a>&nbsp;last summer to strengthen requirements, but it’s not clear if Republican leadership will allow the National Defense Authorization Act to be changed at this stage because that would delay its passage.“We owe it to the families to put into law actual safety improvements, not give the Department of Defense bigger loopholes to exploit,” the senators said.<h2>The bill would roll back reforms</h2>Right now, the bill includes exceptions that would allow military helicopters to fly through the crowded airspace around the nation's capital without using a key system called ADS-B to broadcast their locations just like they did before the January collision. The Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-plane-crash-congress-ntsb-faa-helicopter-e6cabb82fd788039e16ab2af84220712">began requiring</a>&nbsp;that in March. NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/news/Documents/National%20Defense%20Authorization%20Act.pdf">called the bill</a>&nbsp;a “significant safety setback” that is inviting a repeat of that disaster.“It represents an unacceptable risk to the flying public, to commercial and military aircraft, crews and to the residents in the region,” Homendy said. “It’s also an unthinkable dismissal of our investigation and of 67 families ... who lost loved ones in a tragedy that was entirely preventable. This is shameful.”The biggest unions representing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alpa.org/Press-Room/2025/12/ALPA-Opposes-NDAA-Language-That-Undermines-Aviation-Safety">pilots</a>, flight attendants and&nbsp;<a href="https://ttd.org/news-and-media/press-releases-and-statements/transportation-labor-objects-to-rollback-of-aviation-safety-in-house-passed-defense-authorization-act/">other transportation workers</a>&nbsp;joined the chorus criticizing the bill on Thursday. Sara Nelson, who is president of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afacwa.org/ndaa_provision_rolling_back_safety_protection_reckless_indefensible">Association of Flight Attendants</a>, questioned why this was proposed. She said these provisions are “not only reckless and indefensible, but also a direct undermining of the NTSB’s safety guidance.”<h2>Congress may turn to another bill to fix the concerns</h2>Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is looking into the concerns but thinks they can be addressed by quickly passing the aviation safety bill that Cruz and Cantwell proposed last summer that would require all aircraft operators to use both forms of ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast, the technology to broadcast aircraft location data to other planes and air traffic controllers. Most aircraft today are equipped with ADS-B Out equipment but the airlines would have to add the more comprehensive ADS-B In technology to their planes.That legislation would also revoke an exemption on ADS-B transmission requests for Department of Defense aircraft.“I think that would resolve the concerns that people have about that provision, and hoping — we’ll see if we can find a pathway forward to get that bill done,” said Thune, a South Dakota Republican.<h2>Military routinely flew without broadcasting location</h2>The military used national security waivers before the crash to skirt FAA safety requirements on the grounds that they worried about the security risks of disclosing their helicopters’ locations. Tim and Sheri Lilley, whose son Sam was the first officer on the American Airlines jet, said this bill only adds “a window dressing fix that would continue to allow for the setting aside of requirements with nothing more than a cursory risk assessment.”Homendy said it would be ridiculous to entrust the military with assessing the safety risks when they aren't the experts, and neither the Army nor the FAA noticed 85 close calls around Ronald Reagan National Airport in the years before the crash. She said the military doesn't know how to do that kind of risk assessment, adding that no one writing the bill bothered to consult the experts at the NTSB who do know.The NTSB's final report on the cause of the D.C. crash won't be released until next year, but investigators have already identified a number of factors that contributed, including that the helicopter was flying too high on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/midair-collision-ntsb-washington-dc-army-helicopter-e9f7b69fe01ff39dc8629d2999104683">route that only provided scant separation</a>&nbsp;between helicopters and planes landing on Reagan's secondary runway.Homendy said part of the investigation focuses on the limitations of the various systems that are designed to alert other pilots and air traffic controllers about the location of an aircraft. The pilots of the American jet that was flying into D.C. from Wichita, Kansas, did get a warning about traffic nearby 20 seconds before the collision. But at the low altitude the plane was traveling as it prepared to land, the basic collision avoidance system recommended by this bill was partly inhibited to prevent false alarms and because there is little room to manuever.The White House and military didn't immediately respond Thursday to questions about these safety concerns in the bill. But earlier this week Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SAP-NDAA-2026.pdf">made it clear</a>&nbsp;that he wants to sign the National Defense Authorization Act because it advances a number of his priorities and provides a 3.8% pay raise for many military members.The Senate is expected to take up the bill next week, and it appears unlikely that any final changes will be made. But Congress is leaving for a holiday break at the end of the week, and the defense bill is considered something that must pass by the end of the year.

Kan. U.S. Senators seek to change bill relaxing DCA flight restrictions

The City of Salina and Salina Animal Services are urging the public to exercise caution after multiple wildlife calls in the past week have resulted in three suspected cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in local geese, according to a statement from the city.

This follows a growing number of HPAI detections across Kansas and the region.&nbsp;

HPAI is a severe and often fatal viral disease that spreads rapidly among birds. Recent cases handled by Salina Animal Services have shown classic symptoms associated with the virus, including:&nbsp;

• Neurological impairment – lack of coordination, disorientation,&nbsp; inability to hold the head up, hunched posture, tremors, seizures, or twisted neck.&nbsp;

• Difficulty breathing – open-mouth breathing, wheezing

• Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing – sometimes with blood tinged fluid&nbsp;

Birds infected with HPAI may also suffer additional traumatic injuries, as they can collapse or fall from the sky due to weakness and exhaustion while in flight.&nbsp;

Unfortunately, HPAI is not treatable and is fatal for affected birds.

To prevent further spread, infected birds must be humanely euthanized and&nbsp; properly disposed of. The virus is highly contagious among birds,&nbsp; felines, and potentially transmissible to humans and other species,&nbsp; making prompt reporting and safe handling essential.&nbsp;

If you encounter a bird exhibiting the symptoms listed above—or any&nbsp; bird that appears ill, injured, or unable to fly, please do not approach,&nbsp; handle, or attempt to assist the animal.

• Call Salina Animal Services at (785) 826-6535 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.&nbsp;

• After hours, contact Salina Non-Emergency Dispatch at (785) 826-7210.&nbsp;

• Observe from a safe distance and keep pets away from the area.&nbsp;

For county residents call the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks at 785-452-0478.&nbsp;

Animal Control Officers will respond to safely remove the bird,&nbsp; provide humane euthanasia when necessary, and ensure proper&nbsp; cremation to limit disease transmission.&nbsp;

For current national surveillance data, transmission risks, and&nbsp; recommended precautions, please visit:&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

Salina Animal Services will continue monitoring local wildlife and&nbsp; coordinating with state and federal partners to protect public and&nbsp; animal health.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733747978622.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The City of Salina and Salina Animal Services are urging the public to exercise caution after multiple wildlife calls in the past week have resulted in three suspected cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in local geese, according to a statement from the city.This follows a growing number of HPAI detections across Kansas and the region.&nbsp;HPAI is a severe and often fatal viral disease that spreads rapidly among birds. Recent cases handled by Salina Animal Services have shown classic symptoms associated with the virus, including:&nbsp;• Neurological impairment – lack of coordination, disorientation,&nbsp; inability to hold the head up, hunched posture, tremors, seizures, or twisted neck.&nbsp;• Difficulty breathing – open-mouth breathing, wheezing• Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing – sometimes with blood tinged fluid&nbsp;• Sudden death&nbsp;Birds infected with HPAI may also suffer additional traumatic injuries, as they can collapse or fall from the sky due to weakness and exhaustion while in flight.&nbsp;Unfortunately, HPAI is not treatable and is fatal for affected birds.To prevent further spread, infected birds must be humanely euthanized and&nbsp; properly disposed of. The virus is highly contagious among birds,&nbsp; felines, and potentially transmissible to humans and other species,&nbsp; making prompt reporting and safe handling essential.&nbsp;<h2>Public Guidance</h2>If you encounter a bird exhibiting the symptoms listed above—or any&nbsp; bird that appears ill, injured, or unable to fly, please do not approach,&nbsp; handle, or attempt to assist the animal.<h2>For Salina residents:</h2>• Call Salina Animal Services at (785) 826-6535 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.&nbsp;• After hours, contact Salina Non-Emergency Dispatch at (785) 826-7210.&nbsp;• Observe from a safe distance and keep pets away from the area.&nbsp;For county residents call the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks at 785-452-0478.&nbsp;Animal Control Officers will respond to safely remove the bird,&nbsp; provide humane euthanasia when necessary, and ensure proper&nbsp; cremation to limit disease transmission.&nbsp;<h2>Additional Information</h2>For current national surveillance data, transmission risks, and&nbsp; recommended precautions, please visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>Salina Animal Services will continue monitoring local wildlife and&nbsp; coordinating with state and federal partners to protect public and&nbsp; animal health.

Deadly bird flu reported in portions of central Kansas

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana's Republican-led Senate decisively rejected a redrawn congressional map Thursday that would have favored their party, defying months of pressure from President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and delivering a stark setback to the White House ahead of next year's midterm elections.

The vote was overwhelmingly against the proposed redistricting, with more Republicans opposing than supporting the measure, signaling the limits of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-poll-approval-economy-immigration-inflation-crime-9e5bd096964990e040bc4bacd9fcac21">Trump's influence</a>&nbsp;even in one of the country's most conservative states.

Trump has been urging Republicans nationwide to redraw their congressional maps in an unusual campaign to help the party maintain its thin majority in the House of Representatives. Although&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-texas-redistricting-trump-republicans-discrimination-c1bbf88e2a1f7d49cda512b8ef165750">Texas</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-redistricting-referendum-trump-gerrymandering-utah-14312a112b6e32d15e5ef36b83cdc6a7">Missouri</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-ohio-congressional-redistricting-trump-midterm-election-6c617a08c84f453eacc1727f9be9ef52">Ohio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-north-carolina-map-lawsuit-trump-ce0c6f203eef66a46f1aabb4eaaf32ed">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;went along, Indiana did not — despite cajoling and insults from the president and the possibility of primary challenges.

“The federal government should not dictate by threat or other means what should happen in our states,” said Spencer Deery, one of the Republican senators who voted no on Thursday.

When the proposal failed 31-19, cheers could be heard inside the chamber as well as shouts of “thank you!” The debate had been shadowed by the possibility of violence, and some lawmakers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indiana-redistricting-republicans-midterm-elections-senate-564915bd5d58b7cc91b80fd861d356ea">received threats</a>.

Trump tried to brush off the defeat, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he “wasn’t working on it very hard" despite his personal involvement in the pressure campaign.

Republicans could have erased two Democratic districts

The proposed map was designed to give Republicans control of all nine of Indiana’s congressional seats, up from the seven they currently hold. It would have effectively erased Indiana’s two Democrat-held districts by splitting Indianapolis among four districts that extend into rural areas, reshaping U.S. Rep. André Carson’s safe district in the city. It would have also eliminated the northwest Indiana district held by U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan.

District boundaries are usually adjusted once a decade after a new census. But Trump has described redistricting as an existential issue for the party as Democrats push to regain power in Washington.

“If Republicans will not do what is necessary to save our Country, they will eventually lose everything to the Democrats,” Trump wrote on social media the night before the vote.

The president said anyone who voted against the plan should lose their seats. Half of Indiana senators are up for reelection next year, and the conservative organization Turning Point Action had pledged to fund campaigns against them.

David McIntosh, president of Club for Growth, which had backed redistricting, said the vote allowed disloyal Republicans to “stick their finger in the eye of the president of the United States.”

Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels praised senators for “courageous principled leadership" in rejecting the new map.

A Republican who has vocally criticized Trump, Daniels said the outcome was “a major black eye for him and all the Washington groups that piled in, spent money, blustered and threatened.” He added that “this thing rubbed our state the wrong way and Republicans in our state very wrong from the jump.”

Redistricting fails despite White House pressure

Inside the state Senate chamber, Democratic lawmakers spoke out against redistricting ahead of the vote.

“Competition is healthy my friends,” Sen. Fady Qaddoura said. “Any political party on earth that cannot run and win based on the merits of its ideas is unworthy of governing.”

In the hallways outside, redistricting opponents chanted “Vote no!” and “Fair maps!” while holding signs with slogans like “Losers cheat.”

Three times over the fall, Vice President JD Vance met with Republican senators — twice in Indianapolis and once in the White House — to urge their support. Trump joined a conference call with senators on Oct. 17 to make his own 15-minute pitch.

Behind the scenes, James Blair, Trump’s deputy White House chief of staff for political affairs, was in regular touch with members, as were other groups supporting the effort such as the Heritage Foundation and Turning Point USA.

“The administration made a full-court press,” said Republican Sen. Andy Zay, who was on the phone with White House aides sometimes multiple times per week, despite his commitment as a yes vote.

Across the country, mid-cycle redistricting so far has resulted in nine more congressional seats that Republicans believe they can win and six more congressional seats that Democrats think they can win. However, some of the new maps are facing litigation.

In Utah, a judge imposed new districts that could allow Democrats to win a seat, saying Republican lawmakers violated voter-backed standards against gerrymandering.

Despite Trump’s push, support for gerrymandering in Indiana’s Senate was uncertain. A dozen of the 50 senators had not publicly committed to a stance ahead of the vote.

Republican Sen. Greg Goode signaled his displeasure with the redistricting plan before voting no. He said some of his constituents objected to seeing their county split up or paired with Indianapolis. He expressed “love” for Trump but criticized what he called “over-the-top pressure” from inside and outside the state.

Sen. Michael Young, another Republican, said the stakes in Washington justify redistricting, as Democrats are only a few seats away from flipping control of the U.S. House in 2026. “I know this election is going to be very close,” he said.

Republican Sen. Mike Gaskill, the redistricting legislation's sponsor, showed Senators maps of congressional districts around the country, including several focused on Democratic-held seats in New England and Illinois. He argued other states gerrymander and Indiana Republicans should play by the same rules.

The bill cleared its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-state-senate-redistricting-vote-b7200fcdba1e8cca2c14a808f3e0b3e0">first hurdle</a>&nbsp;Monday with a 6-3 Senate committee vote, although one Republican joined Democrats in opposing it and a few others signaled they might vote against the final version. The state House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-redistricting-house-passes-congressional-map-641d6572ae0049d55548c41daabade80">passed the proposal</a>&nbsp;last week, with 12 Republicans siding with Democrats in opposition.

Among them was state Rep. Ed Clere, who said state troopers responded to a hoax message claiming a pipe bomb outside his home Wednesday evening. Indiana state police said “numerous others” received threats but wouldn't offer details about an ongoing investigation.

In an interview, Clere said these threats were the inevitable result of Trump’s pressure campaign and a “winner-take-all mentality.”

“Words have consequences,” Clere said.

Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan. Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765537341533.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana's Republican-led Senate decisively rejected a redrawn congressional map Thursday that would have favored their party, defying months of pressure from President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and delivering a stark setback to the White House ahead of next year's midterm elections.The vote was overwhelmingly against the proposed redistricting, with more Republicans opposing than supporting the measure, signaling the limits of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-poll-approval-economy-immigration-inflation-crime-9e5bd096964990e040bc4bacd9fcac21">Trump's influence</a>&nbsp;even in one of the country's most conservative states.Trump has been urging Republicans nationwide to redraw their congressional maps in an unusual campaign to help the party maintain its thin majority in the House of Representatives. Although&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-texas-redistricting-trump-republicans-discrimination-c1bbf88e2a1f7d49cda512b8ef165750">Texas</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-redistricting-referendum-trump-gerrymandering-utah-14312a112b6e32d15e5ef36b83cdc6a7">Missouri</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-ohio-congressional-redistricting-trump-midterm-election-6c617a08c84f453eacc1727f9be9ef52">Ohio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-north-carolina-map-lawsuit-trump-ce0c6f203eef66a46f1aabb4eaaf32ed">North Carolina</a>&nbsp;went along, Indiana did not — despite cajoling and insults from the president and the possibility of primary challenges.“The federal government should not dictate by threat or other means what should happen in our states,” said Spencer Deery, one of the Republican senators who voted no on Thursday.When the proposal failed 31-19, cheers could be heard inside the chamber as well as shouts of “thank you!” The debate had been shadowed by the possibility of violence, and some lawmakers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indiana-redistricting-republicans-midterm-elections-senate-564915bd5d58b7cc91b80fd861d356ea">received threats</a>.Trump tried to brush off the defeat, telling reporters in the Oval Office that he “wasn’t working on it very hard" despite his personal involvement in the pressure campaign.<h2>Republicans could have erased two Democratic districts</h2>The proposed map was designed to give Republicans control of all nine of Indiana’s congressional seats, up from the seven they currently hold. It would have effectively erased Indiana’s two Democrat-held districts by splitting Indianapolis among four districts that extend into rural areas, reshaping U.S. Rep. André Carson’s safe district in the city. It would have also eliminated the northwest Indiana district held by U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan.District boundaries are usually adjusted once a decade after a new census. But Trump has described redistricting as an existential issue for the party as Democrats push to regain power in Washington.“If Republicans will not do what is necessary to save our Country, they will eventually lose everything to the Democrats,” Trump wrote on social media the night before the vote.The president said anyone who voted against the plan should lose their seats. Half of Indiana senators are up for reelection next year, and the conservative organization Turning Point Action had pledged to fund campaigns against them.David McIntosh, president of Club for Growth, which had backed redistricting, said the vote allowed disloyal Republicans to “stick their finger in the eye of the president of the United States.”Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels praised senators for “courageous principled leadership" in rejecting the new map.A Republican who has vocally criticized Trump, Daniels said the outcome was “a major black eye for him and all the Washington groups that piled in, spent money, blustered and threatened.” He added that “this thing rubbed our state the wrong way and Republicans in our state very wrong from the jump.”<h2>Redistricting fails despite White House pressure</h2>Inside the state Senate chamber, Democratic lawmakers spoke out against redistricting ahead of the vote.“Competition is healthy my friends,” Sen. Fady Qaddoura said. “Any political party on earth that cannot run and win based on the merits of its ideas is unworthy of governing.”In the hallways outside, redistricting opponents chanted “Vote no!” and “Fair maps!” while holding signs with slogans like “Losers cheat.”Three times over the fall, Vice President JD Vance met with Republican senators — twice in Indianapolis and once in the White House — to urge their support. Trump joined a conference call with senators on Oct. 17 to make his own 15-minute pitch.Behind the scenes, James Blair, Trump’s deputy White House chief of staff for political affairs, was in regular touch with members, as were other groups supporting the effort such as the Heritage Foundation and Turning Point USA.“The administration made a full-court press,” said Republican Sen. Andy Zay, who was on the phone with White House aides sometimes multiple times per week, despite his commitment as a yes vote.Across the country, mid-cycle redistricting so far has resulted in nine more congressional seats that Republicans believe they can win and six more congressional seats that Democrats think they can win. However, some of the new maps are facing litigation.In Utah, a judge imposed new districts that could allow Democrats to win a seat, saying Republican lawmakers violated voter-backed standards against gerrymandering.<h2>Republicans were split over plan</h2>Despite Trump’s push, support for gerrymandering in Indiana’s Senate was uncertain. A dozen of the 50 senators had not publicly committed to a stance ahead of the vote.Republican Sen. Greg Goode signaled his displeasure with the redistricting plan before voting no. He said some of his constituents objected to seeing their county split up or paired with Indianapolis. He expressed “love” for Trump but criticized what he called “over-the-top pressure” from inside and outside the state.Sen. Michael Young, another Republican, said the stakes in Washington justify redistricting, as Democrats are only a few seats away from flipping control of the U.S. House in 2026. “I know this election is going to be very close,” he said.Republican Sen. Mike Gaskill, the redistricting legislation's sponsor, showed Senators maps of congressional districts around the country, including several focused on Democratic-held seats in New England and Illinois. He argued other states gerrymander and Indiana Republicans should play by the same rules.The bill cleared its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-state-senate-redistricting-vote-b7200fcdba1e8cca2c14a808f3e0b3e0">first hurdle</a>&nbsp;Monday with a 6-3 Senate committee vote, although one Republican joined Democrats in opposing it and a few others signaled they might vote against the final version. The state House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-redistricting-house-passes-congressional-map-641d6572ae0049d55548c41daabade80">passed the proposal</a>&nbsp;last week, with 12 Republicans siding with Democrats in opposition.Among them was state Rep. Ed Clere, who said state troopers responded to a hoax message claiming a pipe bomb outside his home Wednesday evening. Indiana state police said “numerous others” received threats but wouldn't offer details about an ongoing investigation.In an interview, Clere said these threats were the inevitable result of Trump’s pressure campaign and a “winner-take-all mentality.”“Words have consequences,” Clere said.___Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan. Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.

Indiana Republicans defy Trump, reject House redistricting push in the state

RENO COUNTY — A former Reno County substitute teacher accused of multiple sex crimes involving students has pleaded guilty to reduced charges&nbsp;in Reno County District Court.&nbsp;.&nbsp;

Whitney Shull, 39, a former substitute teacher for Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309, had initially been charged with unlawful sexual relations,&nbsp;attempted&nbsp;unlawful sexual relations, aggravated sexual battery, and two counts of hosting minors consuming alcohol.&nbsp;

According to court&nbsp;documents&nbsp;the&nbsp;allegations stem from incidents that occurred in Reno County between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1&nbsp;of&nbsp;this year&nbsp;involving three teens. Prosecutors alleged Shull engaged in sexual acts with two minors,&nbsp;one consensual and one non-consensual when the alleged victim was&nbsp;unconscious and&nbsp;attempted&nbsp;to force a third teen into a sex act.&nbsp;

Sedgwick County District Attorney spokesperson Lyndsee Stover,&nbsp;confirmed that&nbsp;Shull entered a plea&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;afternoon to five amended misdemeanor charges:&nbsp;

Judge&nbsp;Daniel Gilligan&nbsp;imposed a&nbsp;six-month jail term for each count, with the sentences for counts one, two and three which were ordered to run consecutively, resulting in a controlling sentence of&nbsp;18 months. Shull was granted&nbsp;at least two years of probation, contingent upon her successful completion of treatment at Prairie View.&nbsp;

Under Kansas law, Shull must&nbsp;register as a sex offender for 15 years&nbsp;as a result of&nbsp;the convictions.&nbsp;

Stover noted that the plea agreement included an acknowledgment that under Kansas sentencing guidelines,&nbsp;three adult convictions of class A person misdemeanors count as one adult conviction for criminal-history purposes, per K.S.A. 21-6811(a).&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748894528719.jpeg" alt="Whitney Shull - Reno County Sheriff's Office " />
 <figcaption>Whitney Shull - Reno County Sheriff's Office </figcaption>
 </figure>MARC JACOBS Hutch Post&nbsp;RENO COUNTY — A former Reno County substitute teacher accused of multiple sex crimes involving students has pleaded guilty to reduced charges&nbsp;in Reno County District Court.&nbsp;.&nbsp;Whitney Shull, 39, a former substitute teacher for Nickerson-South Hutchinson USD 309, had initially been charged with unlawful sexual relations,&nbsp;attempted&nbsp;unlawful sexual relations, aggravated sexual battery, and two counts of hosting minors consuming alcohol.&nbsp;According to court&nbsp;documents&nbsp;the&nbsp;allegations stem from incidents that occurred in Reno County between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1&nbsp;of&nbsp;this year&nbsp;involving three teens. Prosecutors alleged Shull engaged in sexual acts with two minors,&nbsp;one consensual and one non-consensual when the alleged victim was&nbsp;unconscious and&nbsp;attempted&nbsp;to force a third teen into a sex act.&nbsp;Sedgwick County District Attorney spokesperson Lyndsee Stover,&nbsp;confirmed that&nbsp;Shull entered a plea&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;afternoon to five amended misdemeanor charges:&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>Count 1: Sexual Battery of A.P., a class A person misdemeanor</li><li>Count 2: Sexual Battery of Z.R., a class A person misdemeanor</li><li>Count 3: Sexual Battery of K.M.J., a class A person misdemeanor</li><li>Count 4: Unlawful Social Hosting of Minors Consuming Alcohol</li><li>Count 5: Unlawful Social Hosting of Minors Consuming Alcohol&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>Judge&nbsp;Daniel Gilligan&nbsp;imposed a&nbsp;six-month jail term for each count, with the sentences for counts one, two and three which were ordered to run consecutively, resulting in a controlling sentence of&nbsp;18 months. Shull was granted&nbsp;at least two years of probation, contingent upon her successful completion of treatment at Prairie View.&nbsp;Under Kansas law, Shull must&nbsp;register as a sex offender for 15 years&nbsp;as a result of&nbsp;the convictions.&nbsp;Stover noted that the plea agreement included an acknowledgment that under Kansas sentencing guidelines,&nbsp;three adult convictions of class A person misdemeanors count as one adult conviction for criminal-history purposes, per K.S.A. 21-6811(a).&nbsp;

Plea deal: Former Kan. teacher must register as a sex offender

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Two people have been charged in the death of a 17-year-old Plainville teen on Jan. 12.

Walter V. Lowry II, 40, of Stockton, has been charged with felony aggravated endangerment of a child and interference with a law enforcement officer, according to court records.

According to court documents, Lowry allegedly left the teen, who was allegedly intoxicated, on a county road in the middle of the night. The documents said the temperatures were between 32 and 24 degrees, and the child was wearing minimal clothing.

The child died as a result of hypothermia, according to court records.

The court documents said&nbsp;Lowry also allegedly gave false information to Rooks County Deputy Salvador Ramirez during his investigation of the case.

An arrest warrant was issued for Lowry on Nov. 19.

Lowry is being held on $20,000 bond. He made his first appearance in court on Nov. 25 and was assigned a court-appointed attorney.

A status conference has yet to be set in Lowry's case, according to court records.

Serena Marie Barnhill, 41, Natoma, is being charged with one count of&nbsp;felony aggravated endangerment of a child. She also allegedly was involved in the incident in which the Painville teen was left on a county road in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures.

She was arrested on Nov. 25 and posted a $20,000 bond,&nbsp;according to court records.

Barnhill is set to make a bond appearance before Judge Curtis Brown at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 14.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765486128475.png" alt="Lowry photo Rooks Co." />
 <figcaption>Lowry photo Rooks Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostTwo people have been charged in the death of a 17-year-old Plainville teen on Jan. 12.Walter V. Lowry II, 40, of Stockton, has been charged with felony aggravated endangerment of a child and interference with a law enforcement officer, according to court records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765486019061.png" alt="Barnhill photo Rooks Co." />
 <figcaption>Barnhill photo Rooks Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>According to court documents, Lowry allegedly left the teen, who was allegedly intoxicated, on a county road in the middle of the night. The documents said the temperatures were between 32 and 24 degrees, and the child was wearing minimal clothing.The child died as a result of hypothermia, according to court records.The court documents said&nbsp;Lowry also allegedly gave false information to Rooks County Deputy Salvador Ramirez during his investigation of the case.An arrest warrant was issued for Lowry on Nov. 19.Lowry is being held on $20,000 bond. He made his first appearance in court on Nov. 25 and was assigned a court-appointed attorney.A status conference has yet to be set in Lowry's case, according to court records.Serena Marie Barnhill, 41, Natoma, is being charged with one count of&nbsp;felony aggravated endangerment of a child. She also allegedly was involved in the incident in which the Painville teen was left on a county road in the middle of the night in freezing temperatures.She was arrested on Nov. 25 and posted a $20,000 bond,&nbsp;according to court records.Barnhill is set to make a bond appearance before Judge Curtis Brown at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 14.

2 arrested in hypothermia death of NW Kansas teen

PROVO, Utah (AP) — The Utah man charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">killing Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;made his first in-person court appearance Thursday as his attorneys pushed to further limit media access in the high-profile criminal case.

Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Sept. 10 shooting</a>&nbsp;of the conservative activist on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-police-charlie-kirk-d7d464c949ec9d4abad0eb3910d6a96b">Utah Valley University</a>&nbsp;campus in Orem, just a few miles north of the Provo courthouse. They plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">seek the death penalty</a>.

Robinson, 22, arrived amid heavy security, shackled at the waist, wrists and ankles and wearing a dress shirt, tie and slacks.

He smiled at family members sitting in the front row of the courtroom, where his mother teared up after he entered the court. Next to her were Robinson’s brother and father, who took notes throughout the hearing.

Early in the proceedings, state District Court Judge Tony Graf briefly stopped livestreaming of the hearing via a media pool and required the camera be moved, after Robinson's attorneys said the stream showed the defendant's shackles in violation of a courtroom order.

Graf said he would terminate future broadcasts if there were further violations of the order issued in October, which bars media from showing images of Robinson in restraints or anywhere in the courtroom except sitting at the defense table.

“This court takes this very seriously. While the court believes in openness and transparency, it needs to be balanced with the constitutional rights of all parties in this case,” Graf said.

Graf is weighing the public’s right to know details about Robinson's case against his attorneys’ concerns that the swarm of media attention could interfere with a fair trial.

Robinson’s legal team and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office have asked Judge Tony Graf to ban cameras in the courtroom, but he has not yet ruled on the request.

The defendant had previously appeared before the court via video or audio feed from jail.

A coalition of national and local news organizations, including The Associated Press, is fighting to preserve media access in the case.

Graf held a closed hearing on Oct. 24 in which attorneys discussed Robinson's courtroom attire and security protocols. Under a subsequent ruling by the judge, Robinson is allowed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler-robinson-court-hearing-489ee127c80553ff8e0ed35ef951f11a">wear street clothes</a>&nbsp;during pretrial hearings but must be physically restrained due to security concerns.

Graf also prohibited media from filming or photographing Robinson's restraints after his attorneys argued widespread images of him shackled and in jail clothing could prejudice future jurors.

Several university students who witnessed Kirk’s assassination attended Thursday's hearing.

Zack Reese, a Utah Valley University student and “big Charlie Kirk fan,” said he had skepticism about Robinson’s arrest and came to the hearing seeking answers. Reese has family in southwestern Utah, where the Robinsons are from, and said he believes they're a good family.

Brigham Young University student William Brown, who said he was about 10 feet from Kirk when he was shot, said he felt overwhelmed seeing Robinson walk into the courtroom Thursday.

“I witnessed a huge event, and my brain is still trying to make sense of it,” Brown said. “I feel like being here helps it feel more real than surreal.”

Michael Judd, an attorney for the media coalition, has urged Graf to let the news organizations weigh in on any future requests for closed hearings or other limitations.

The media presence at Utah hearings is already limited, with judges often designating one photographer and one videographer to document a hearing and share their images with other news organizations. Additional journalists can typically attend to listen and take notes, as can members of the public.

Judd wrote in recent filings that an open court “safeguards the integrity of the fact-finding process” while fostering public confidence in judicial proceedings. Criminal cases in the U.S. have long been open to the public, which he argued is proof that trials can be conducted fairly without restricting reporters as they work to keep the public informed.

Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has called for full transparency, saying, “We deserve to have cameras in there.” Her husband was an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">steer young voters toward conservatism</a>.

Robinson's legal team says his pretrial publicity reaches as far as the White House, with Trump announcing soon after Robinson’s arrest, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and “I hope he gets the death penalty.”

Defense attorney Kathy Nester has raised concern that digitally altered versions of Robinson's initial court photo have spread widely, creating misinformation about the case. Some altered images show Robinson crying or having an outburst in court, which did not happen.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765490146270.jpeg" alt="Tyler Robinson, accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)" />
 <figcaption>Tyler Robinson, accused of the murder of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in Fourth District Court in Provo, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)</figcaption>
 </figure>PROVO, Utah (AP) — The Utah man charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">killing Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;made his first in-person court appearance Thursday as his attorneys pushed to further limit media access in the high-profile criminal case.Prosecutors have charged Tyler Robinson with aggravated murder in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Sept. 10 shooting</a>&nbsp;of the conservative activist on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-police-charlie-kirk-d7d464c949ec9d4abad0eb3910d6a96b">Utah Valley University</a>&nbsp;campus in Orem, just a few miles north of the Provo courthouse. They plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-court-death-penalty-f541df08a936e06497ee2342296bc398">seek the death penalty</a>.Robinson, 22, arrived amid heavy security, shackled at the waist, wrists and ankles and wearing a dress shirt, tie and slacks.He smiled at family members sitting in the front row of the courtroom, where his mother teared up after he entered the court. Next to her were Robinson’s brother and father, who took notes throughout the hearing.Early in the proceedings, state District Court Judge Tony Graf briefly stopped livestreaming of the hearing via a media pool and required the camera be moved, after Robinson's attorneys said the stream showed the defendant's shackles in violation of a courtroom order.Graf said he would terminate future broadcasts if there were further violations of the order issued in October, which bars media from showing images of Robinson in restraints or anywhere in the courtroom except sitting at the defense table.“This court takes this very seriously. While the court believes in openness and transparency, it needs to be balanced with the constitutional rights of all parties in this case,” Graf said.Graf is weighing the public’s right to know details about Robinson's case against his attorneys’ concerns that the swarm of media attention could interfere with a fair trial.Robinson’s legal team and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office have asked Judge Tony Graf to ban cameras in the courtroom, but he has not yet ruled on the request.The defendant had previously appeared before the court via video or audio feed from jail.A coalition of national and local news organizations, including The Associated Press, is fighting to preserve media access in the case.Graf held a closed hearing on Oct. 24 in which attorneys discussed Robinson's courtroom attire and security protocols. Under a subsequent ruling by the judge, Robinson is allowed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-tyler-robinson-court-hearing-489ee127c80553ff8e0ed35ef951f11a">wear street clothes</a>&nbsp;during pretrial hearings but must be physically restrained due to security concerns.Graf also prohibited media from filming or photographing Robinson's restraints after his attorneys argued widespread images of him shackled and in jail clothing could prejudice future jurors.Several university students who witnessed Kirk’s assassination attended Thursday's hearing.Zack Reese, a Utah Valley University student and “big Charlie Kirk fan,” said he had skepticism about Robinson’s arrest and came to the hearing seeking answers. Reese has family in southwestern Utah, where the Robinsons are from, and said he believes they're a good family.Brigham Young University student William Brown, who said he was about 10 feet from Kirk when he was shot, said he felt overwhelmed seeing Robinson walk into the courtroom Thursday.“I witnessed a huge event, and my brain is still trying to make sense of it,” Brown said. “I feel like being here helps it feel more real than surreal.”Michael Judd, an attorney for the media coalition, has urged Graf to let the news organizations weigh in on any future requests for closed hearings or other limitations.The media presence at Utah hearings is already limited, with judges often designating one photographer and one videographer to document a hearing and share their images with other news organizations. Additional journalists can typically attend to listen and take notes, as can members of the public.Judd wrote in recent filings that an open court “safeguards the integrity of the fact-finding process” while fostering public confidence in judicial proceedings. Criminal cases in the U.S. have long been open to the public, which he argued is proof that trials can be conducted fairly without restricting reporters as they work to keep the public informed.Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, has called for full transparency, saying, “We deserve to have cameras in there.” Her husband was an ally of President Donald Trump who worked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">steer young voters toward conservatism</a>.Robinson's legal team says his pretrial publicity reaches as far as the White House, with Trump announcing soon after Robinson’s arrest, “With a high degree of certainty, we have him,” and “I hope he gets the death penalty.”Defense attorney Kathy Nester has raised concern that digitally altered versions of Robinson's initial court photo have spread widely, creating misinformation about the case. Some altered images show Robinson crying or having an outburst in court, which did not happen.

 Man accused of killing Charlie Kirk appears in court for 1st time

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-enrollment-subsidies-health-90ad8b27a6693c5aa03a9ca841048479">millions of Americans</a>&nbsp;will see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-affordable-care-act-senate-vote-e143b36cc01b4d7f27a1c07e17d1583c">a steep rise in costs</a>&nbsp;at the beginning of the year.

Senators rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-health-care-insurance-premiums-ee6ccda9ea9df4a8e5a0af351e65afd4">a Republican alternative</a>&nbsp;that would have created new health savings accounts — an unceremonious end to a monthslong effort by Democrats to prevent the COVID-19-era subsidies from expiring on Jan. 1.

Ahead of the votes, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York warned Republicans that if they did not vote to extend the tax credits, "there won’t be another chance to act,” before premiums rise for many people who buy insurance off the ACA marketplaces.

“Let's avert a disaster,” Schumer said. “The American people are watching.”

Republicans have argued that Affordable Care Act plans are too expensive and need to be overhauled. The health savings accounts in the GOP bill would give money directly to consumers instead of to insurance companies, an idea that has been echoed by President Donald Trump.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765480537338.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall explaining his healthcare plan -image from CSPAN video" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall explaining his healthcare plan -image from CSPAN video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-enrollment-subsidies-health-90ad8b27a6693c5aa03a9ca841048479">millions of Americans</a>&nbsp;will see&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-affordable-care-act-senate-vote-e143b36cc01b4d7f27a1c07e17d1583c">a steep rise in costs</a>&nbsp;at the beginning of the year.Senators rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-health-care-insurance-premiums-ee6ccda9ea9df4a8e5a0af351e65afd4">a Republican alternative</a>&nbsp;that would have created new health savings accounts — an unceremonious end to a monthslong effort by Democrats to prevent the COVID-19-era subsidies from expiring on Jan. 1.Ahead of the votes, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York warned Republicans that if they did not vote to extend the tax credits, "there won’t be another chance to act,” before premiums rise for many people who buy insurance off the ACA marketplaces.“Let's avert a disaster,” Schumer said. “The American people are watching.”Republicans have argued that Affordable Care Act plans are too expensive and need to be overhauled. The health savings accounts in the GOP bill would give money directly to consumers instead of to insurance companies, an idea that has been echoed by President Donald Trump.Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the vote that a simple extension of the subsidies is “an attempt to disguise the real impact of Obamacare's spiraling health care costs.”But Democrats immediately rejected the GOP plan, saying that the accounts wouldn't be enough to cover costs for most consumers.The dueling Senate votes are the latest political messaging exercise in a Congress that has operated almost entirely on partisan terms, as Republicans pushed through a massive tax and spending cuts bill this summer using budget maneuvers that eliminated the need for Democratic votes. In September, Republicans tweaked Senate rules to push past a Democratic blockade of all of Trump’s nominees.The Senate voted 51-48 not to move forward on the Democratic bill, with four Republicans -- Maine Sen. Susan Collins, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley and Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan -- voting with Democrats. The legislation needed 60 votes to proceed, as did the Republican bill, which was also blocked on a 51-48 vote. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the Democrat bill and in favor of the GOP legislation.<h2>No interest in compromise</h2>Some Republicans have pushed their colleagues to extend the credits, including Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who said they should vote for a short-term extension so they can find agreement on the issue next year. “It’s too complicated and too difficult to get done in the limited time that we have left,” Tillis said Wednesday.But there appeared to be little interest in compromise. Despite the potential for bipartisan agreement, Republicans and Democrats have never engaged in meaningful or high-level negotiations on a solution, even after a small group of centrist Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-update-80ef7cada7b3c0559aca38886efd8f90">struck a deal with Republicans</a>&nbsp;last month to end the 43-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;in exchange for a vote on extending the ACA subsidies. Most Democratic lawmakers opposed the move as many Republicans made clear that they wanted the tax credits to expire.Still, the deal raised hopes for bipartisan compromise on health care. But that quickly faded with a lack of any real bipartisan talks.<h2>An intractable issue</h2>The votes were also the latest failed salvo in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-care-subsidies-obamacare-congress-10b2ae9648bc5252fc2bd485ddc83493">the debate over the Affordable Care Act</a>, President Barack Obama’s signature law that Democrats passed along party lines in 2010 to expand access to insurance coverage.Republicans have tried unsuccessfully since then to repeal or overhaul the law, arguing that health care is still too expensive. But they have struggled to find an alternative. In the meantime, Democrats have made the policy a central political issue in several elections, betting that the millions of people who buy health care on the government marketplaces want to keep their coverage.“When people’s monthly payments spike next year, they’ll know it was Republicans that made it happen,” Schumer said in November, while making clear that Democrats would not seek compromise.Even if they view it as a political win, the failed votes are a loss for Democrats who demanded an extension of the benefits as they forced a government shutdown for six weeks in October and November — and for the millions of people facing premium increases on Jan. 1.Maine Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the group tried to negotiate with Republicans after the shutdown ended. But, he said,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-premiums-congress-subsidies-shutdown-aca-6e2e705d229ea003f19aad72994db0e1">the talks became unproductive</a>&nbsp;when Republicans demanded language adding new limits for abortion coverage that were a “red line” for Democrats. He said Republicans were going to “own these increases.”<h2>A plethora of plans, but little agreement</h2>Republicans have used the looming expiration of the subsidies to renew their longstanding criticisms of the ACA, also called Obamacare, and to try, once more, to agree on what should be done.Thune announced earlier this week that the GOP conference had decided to vote on the bill led by Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, the chairman of the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions Committee, and Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, even as several Republican senators proposed alternate ideas.In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has promised a vote next week. Republicans weighed different options in a conference meeting on Wednesday, with no apparent consensus.Republican moderates in the House who could have competitive reelection bids next year are&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/pronto/e030d7a0dd61ca8815fe4722ddbe94b7">pushing Johnson to find a way to extend the subsidies</a>. But more conservative members want to see the law overhauled.Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., has pushed for a temporary extension, which he said could be an opening to take further steps on health care.If they fail to act and health care costs go up, the approval rating for Congress “will get even lower,” Kiley said.___Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Joey Cappelletti contributed to this report.