SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person was injured and seven head of cattle died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Peterbilt semi pulling a cattle trailer and driven by Jason J. Suggs, Abilene, Texas, was southbound on Interstate 35 near&nbsp;Hydraulic Avenue. The driver had a mechanical failure in the steering. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right and overturned.&nbsp; Wichita police reported they did not know if all cattle had been accounted for and urged residents to call 911 if they saw any loose cattle in the area.

EMS transported Suggs to Wesley Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp; Seven head of cattle died or had to be put down as a result of the accident, according to KHP dispatch.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763118247721.png" alt="Image KanDrive 5:15a.m. Friday" />
 <figcaption>Image KanDrive 5:15a.m. Friday</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person was injured and seven head of cattle died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763125990589.png" alt="Image KanDrive 7 a.m." />
 <figcaption>Image KanDrive 7 a.m.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Peterbilt semi pulling a cattle trailer and driven by Jason J. Suggs, Abilene, Texas, was southbound on Interstate 35 near&nbsp;Hydraulic Avenue. The driver had a mechanical failure in the steering. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right and overturned.&nbsp; Wichita police reported they did not know if all cattle had been accounted for and urged residents to call 911 if they saw any loose cattle in the area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763126994381.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>EMS transported Suggs to Wesley Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.&nbsp; Seven head of cattle died or had to be put down as a result of the accident, according to KHP dispatch.

Driver injured, cattle killed after truck overturns on Kan. highway

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Sen. Mary Ware announced her retirement from the state Senate on Thursday, leaving open a Wichita-area seat ahead of the 2026 legislative session.

Ware, a Democrat, did not cite a reason, and her retirement was effective immediately.

“Serving our state and representing the 25th District has been an incredible privilege. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by my constituents and for the opportunity to work on meaningful legislation,” Ware said in a news release through Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes’ office.

Ware, a retail store owner, replaced Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers in 2018 in a precinct committee election. She won reelection in 2020 and 2024 and is departing halfway through her term.

“Mary has been focused on creating a full and safe future for our children since joining the Senate,” Sykes said. “Her commitment to collaboration and progress have made our team stronger. We will miss her dynamic and compassionate leadership. Our caucus wishes her the very best in retirement.”

Ware was the ranking Democrat on Senate committees on commerce and agriculture and natural resources. She also sat on the Assessment and Taxation Committee.

In 2025, she sponsored legislation to require the state library to provide services to people who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or print disabled. It was introduced but never heard by a committee.

“While my time in the Senate is at an end, I will remain an involved private citizen and an advocate for the people of Wichita in this next era of my life,” Ware said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763155590105.png" alt=" Sen. Mary Ware, seen during an April 6, 2023, hearing in Topeka, Kansas, announced her retirement Thursday from the state Senate, effective immediately. The Wichita Democrat departs in the middle of her term. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Mary Ware, seen during an April 6, 2023, hearing in Topeka, Kansas, announced her retirement Thursday from the state Senate, effective immediately. The Wichita Democrat departs in the middle of her term. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Sen. Mary Ware announced her retirement from the state Senate on Thursday, leaving open a Wichita-area seat ahead of the 2026 legislative session.Ware, a Democrat, did not cite a reason, and her retirement was effective immediately.“Serving our state and representing the 25th District has been an incredible privilege. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by my constituents and for the opportunity to work on meaningful legislation,” Ware said in a news release through Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes’ office.Ware, a retail store owner, replaced Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers in 2018 in a precinct committee election. She won reelection in 2020 and 2024 and is departing halfway through her term.“Mary has been focused on creating a full and safe future for our children since joining the Senate,” Sykes said. “Her commitment to collaboration and progress have made our team stronger. We will miss her dynamic and compassionate leadership. Our caucus wishes her the very best in retirement.”Ware was the ranking Democrat on Senate committees on commerce and agriculture and natural resources. She also sat on the Assessment and Taxation Committee.In 2025, she sponsored legislation to require the state library to provide services to people who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or print disabled. It was introduced but never heard by a committee.“While my time in the Senate is at an end, I will remain an involved private citizen and an advocate for the people of Wichita in this next era of my life,” Ware said.

Kan. state senator retires, opening Democratic seat ahead of legislative session

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Kansas Medical Center, and local health departments, announced Friday the official end of the tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in the Kansas City, Kansas metropolitan area, according to a statement from the agency.

This milestone reflects nearly two years of coordinated public health response, with no new patients diagnosed with Active TB Disease since April 2025 and all affected individuals successfully completing treatment.

“Marking the end of the TB outbreak in the Kansas City, Kansas metro area is the result of the collaborative efforts of the KDHE staff, the CDC, KU Medical Center and the impacted local health departments,”&nbsp;KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said.&nbsp;“The state is fortunate to have qualified medical professionals to be able to handle this and future outbreaks.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The outbreak, first detected in early 2024, involved Wyandotte and Johnson counties, resulting in 68 confirmed active TB cases. This made it one of the largest TB outbreaks in the United States in recent decades. Through extensive screening efforts, an additional 91 latent TB infections were identified and treated preventively. More than 650 individuals were evaluated or monitored throughout the investigation.

Response efforts included widespread testing, directly observed therapy to support treatment adherence, and education campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage early reporting. No drug-resistant TB strains were identified, and the risk to the public remained low throughout the outbreak, as TB primarily spreads through prolonged, close contact with someone infectious.

Although the outbreak is over, KDHE continues to encourage vigilance. Kansas reports approximately 50 TB cases annually statewide. Routine surveillance will remain essential to early detection and prevention.

For more information on TB prevention and resources, visit the KDHE Tuberculosis Program’s website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F530%2FTuberculosis-TB-Program%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019a8339878f-93f04bd3-4342-4101-9c6a-9418879c02a8-000000/ml1j7kG5ju43MZpRVaZatysoqgF9zIslbJ0C7LHDuoA=431">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/530/Tuberculosis-TB-Program</a>&nbsp;or contact your local health department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707492278650.png" alt=" A digitally colorized scan of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause tuberculosis in human beings. Although tuberculosis cases have been rising, public health departments say they lack the resources to stop the disease from spreading (Courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)." />
 <figcaption> A digitally colorized scan of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, which cause tuberculosis in human beings. Although tuberculosis cases have been rising, public health departments say they lack the resources to stop the disease from spreading (Courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases).</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Kansas Medical Center, and local health departments, announced Friday the official end of the tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in the Kansas City, Kansas metropolitan area, according to a statement from the agency.This milestone reflects nearly two years of coordinated public health response, with no new patients diagnosed with Active TB Disease since April 2025 and all affected individuals successfully completing treatment.“Marking the end of the TB outbreak in the Kansas City, Kansas metro area is the result of the collaborative efforts of the KDHE staff, the CDC, KU Medical Center and the impacted local health departments,”&nbsp;KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said.&nbsp;“The state is fortunate to have qualified medical professionals to be able to handle this and future outbreaks.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The outbreak, first detected in early 2024, involved Wyandotte and Johnson counties, resulting in 68 confirmed active TB cases. This made it one of the largest TB outbreaks in the United States in recent decades. Through extensive screening efforts, an additional 91 latent TB infections were identified and treated preventively. More than 650 individuals were evaluated or monitored throughout the investigation.Response efforts included widespread testing, directly observed therapy to support treatment adherence, and education campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage early reporting. No drug-resistant TB strains were identified, and the risk to the public remained low throughout the outbreak, as TB primarily spreads through prolonged, close contact with someone infectious.Although the outbreak is over, KDHE continues to encourage vigilance. Kansas reports approximately 50 TB cases annually statewide. Routine surveillance will remain essential to early detection and prevention.For more information on TB prevention and resources, visit the KDHE Tuberculosis Program’s website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F530%2FTuberculosis-TB-Program%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019a8339878f-93f04bd3-4342-4101-9c6a-9418879c02a8-000000/ml1j7kG5ju43MZpRVaZatysoqgF9zIslbJ0C7LHDuoA=431">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/530/Tuberculosis-TB-Program</a>&nbsp;or contact your local health department.

KDHE: Kansas City, Kan. metro tuberculosis outbreak is over

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted to sex crimes involving a runaway teen learned his fate on Friday.

Judge Quentin Pittman sentenced 22-year-old Samuel Loredo to 174 months in prison with Lifetime Post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted to sex crimes involving a runaway teen will learn his fate on Friday.

Samuel Loredo, 22, will appear in&nbsp;Judge Quentin Pittman courtroom for sentencing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.

In October, Loredo pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sodomy and one count each of indecent liberties with a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the District Attorney's office.

Just after noon November 18, 2024 law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn in Wichita where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.

Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.

Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732208663228.png" alt="Loredo photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Loredo photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted to sex crimes involving a runaway teen learned his fate on Friday.Judge Quentin Pittman sentenced 22-year-old Samuel Loredo to 174 months in prison with Lifetime Post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.---------------SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man who admitted to sex crimes involving a runaway teen will learn his fate on Friday.Samuel Loredo, 22, will appear in&nbsp;Judge Quentin Pittman courtroom for sentencing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.In October, Loredo pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sodomy and one count each of indecent liberties with a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated interference with parental custody, according to the District Attorney's office.Just after noon November 18, 2024 law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn in Wichita where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sentencing day for Kan. man in sex assault of runaway 14-year-old

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;is spearheading a new initiative aimed at improving career and education opportunities for children raised in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/foster-care">foster care</a>.

Her husband, President Donald Trump, signed an executive order Thursday that creates a “Fostering the Future” program that brings together federal entities, nonprofits, educational institutions and the private sector to develop those opportunities for foster youth.

The order also creates an online hub that would help foster youth connect with key career and educational resources, while increasing access to vouchers and grants to support them in those efforts.

Saying the initiatives in the executive order “gives me tremendous pride,” Melania Trump said the effort is “both empathetic and strategic.”

“I call on leadership from these various organizations, including the private sector, to join my effort,” Melania Trump said from the East Room before an audience that included lawmakers, Cabinet officials and members of the foster-care community.

The first lady added: “Rise above the ease of inaction.”

The broader “Fostering the Future” initiative is an offshoot of the “Be Best” campaign that was her signature issue during Trump’s first term. The initiative began in 2021 and offers scholarships to current and former foster youth. Participating schools include Vanderbilt University, the University of Miami, Villanova University and Oral Roberts University, according to the first lady’s office.

President Trump said he was “delighted” to sign the initiative. He noted that the second lady, Usha Vance, was also very involved in Melania Trump’s effort.

“We’re going to have absolutely incredible results,” the president said.

The federal agencies involved include the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Office of Personnel Management.

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;is spearheading a new initiative aimed at improving career and education opportunities for children raised in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/foster-care">foster care</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">First Lady Meliania Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a>: &quot;Fostering the Future, a Be Best initiative, provides individuals from the foster care community with technology-based scholarships to attend colleges and universities&quot; <a href="https://t.co/dv4Z7DoJCN">pic.twitter.com/dv4Z7DoJCN</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1989055916239380642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump signs executive order on supporting older youths transitioning out of foster care. Full video here: <a href="https://t.co/Np7lk6ZRu4">https://t.co/Np7lk6ZRu4</a> <a href="https://t.co/EhNFxxZoLM">pic.twitter.com/EhNFxxZoLM</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1989055991342608503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> sign an Executive Order, Fostering the Future, to expand access to mentorships, scholarships, technology, and workforce training for youth who have experienced foster care ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/s1HPprvsgL">pic.twitter.com/s1HPprvsgL</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1989060751407849947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Her husband, President Donald Trump, signed an executive order Thursday that creates a “Fostering the Future” program that brings together federal entities, nonprofits, educational institutions and the private sector to develop those opportunities for foster youth.The order also creates an online hub that would help foster youth connect with key career and educational resources, while increasing access to vouchers and grants to support them in those efforts.Saying the initiatives in the executive order “gives me tremendous pride,” Melania Trump said the effort is “both empathetic and strategic.”“I call on leadership from these various organizations, including the private sector, to join my effort,” Melania Trump said from the East Room before an audience that included lawmakers, Cabinet officials and members of the foster-care community.The first lady added: “Rise above the ease of inaction.”The broader “Fostering the Future” initiative is an offshoot of the “Be Best” campaign that was her signature issue during Trump’s first term. The initiative began in 2021 and offers scholarships to current and former foster youth. Participating schools include Vanderbilt University, the University of Miami, Villanova University and Oral Roberts University, according to the first lady’s office.President Trump said he was “delighted” to sign the initiative. He noted that the second lady, Usha Vance, was also very involved in Melania Trump’s effort.“We’re going to have absolutely incredible results,” the president said.The federal agencies involved include the Departments of Health and Human Services, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the Office of Personnel Management.

First lady launches new effort to support foster care children

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — U.S. Sen. John Fetterman had what his office says was a “ventricular fibrillation flare-up” that caused him to feel light-headed and fall during an early morning walk Thursday.

Fetterman was doing well and hospitalized in Pittsburgh, his office said. He sustained minor injuries to his face and was under “routine observation” at the hospital while doctors fine-tune his medication regimen, his office said.

Ventricular fibrillation is the most serious form of abnormal heartbeat and can lead to cardiac arrest — when the heart suddenly stops beating — and sudden cardiac death, according to the American Heart Association.

Ventricular fibrillation occurs in the heart’s lower chambers, and the heart association says its causes include cardiomyopathy, which Fetterman was diagnosed with in 2022. Cardiomyopathy can impede blood flow and potentially cause heartbeats so irregular they can be fatal.

Fetterman, 56, disclosed that he was diagnosed with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-pennsylvania-government-and-politics-0c413bfeb7b00ceae5c172c7fa33007e">cardiomyopathy</a>&nbsp;and another type of abnormal heartbeat,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-stroke-campaigns-congress-2216e12ec0d031d89d5343cf4f24d42c">atrial fibrillation</a>, after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-government-and-politics-congress-0bedb2673ca27915afcbc84e36f42cfe">suffered a stroke</a>&nbsp;on the 2022 campaign trail.

Fetterman has said the stroke was caused by a blood clot triggered by atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, which affects the heart’s upper chambers.

Fetterman underwent surgery after the stroke to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage the condition.

The lingering effects of his stroke include diminished auditory processing speed, called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-mehmet-oz-biden-health-john-fetterman-a89f9aff7d89efe43f2c40a74bbc9250">auditory processing disorder</a>, which makes it harder to speak fluidly and quickly process spoken conversation into meaning.

Weeks after joining the Senate in 2023, Fetterman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-fetterman-hospital-clinical-depression-a9051b43a6b31725a4969b9302740cac">checked himself into the hospital</a>&nbsp;for clinical depression. He was released six weeks later and has since urged people who are depressed to get professional help.

Post-stroke depression is common and treatable through medication and talk therapy, doctors say.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762868854438.png" alt="Senator John Fetterman outside the U.S. Capitol this week during the debate on a bill to reopen the government-image video released by Fetterman's office" />
 <figcaption>Senator John Fetterman outside the U.S. Capitol this week during the debate on a bill to reopen the government-image video released by Fetterman's office</figcaption>
 </figure>HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — U.S. Sen. John Fetterman had what his office says was a “ventricular fibrillation flare-up” that caused him to feel light-headed and fall during an early morning walk Thursday.Fetterman was doing well and hospitalized in Pittsburgh, his office said. He sustained minor injuries to his face and was under “routine observation” at the hospital while doctors fine-tune his medication regimen, his office said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement from Sen. Fetterman’s Spokesperson: “During an early morning walk, Senator Fetterman sustained a fall near his home in Braddock. Out of an abundance of caution, he was transported to a hospital in Pittsburgh. Upon evaluation, it was established he had a ventricular…&mdash; U.S. Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenFettermanPA/status/1989026864862507493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Ventricular fibrillation is the most serious form of abnormal heartbeat and can lead to cardiac arrest — when the heart suddenly stops beating — and sudden cardiac death, according to the American Heart Association.Ventricular fibrillation occurs in the heart’s lower chambers, and the heart association says its causes include cardiomyopathy, which Fetterman was diagnosed with in 2022. Cardiomyopathy can impede blood flow and potentially cause heartbeats so irregular they can be fatal.Fetterman, 56, disclosed that he was diagnosed with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-pennsylvania-government-and-politics-0c413bfeb7b00ceae5c172c7fa33007e">cardiomyopathy</a>&nbsp;and another type of abnormal heartbeat,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-stroke-campaigns-congress-2216e12ec0d031d89d5343cf4f24d42c">atrial fibrillation</a>, after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-government-and-politics-congress-0bedb2673ca27915afcbc84e36f42cfe">suffered a stroke</a>&nbsp;on the 2022 campaign trail.Fetterman has said the stroke was caused by a blood clot triggered by atrial fibrillation, or a-fib, which affects the heart’s upper chambers.Fetterman underwent surgery after the stroke to implant a pacemaker with a defibrillator to manage the condition.The lingering effects of his stroke include diminished auditory processing speed, called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-mehmet-oz-biden-health-john-fetterman-a89f9aff7d89efe43f2c40a74bbc9250">auditory processing disorder</a>, which makes it harder to speak fluidly and quickly process spoken conversation into meaning.Weeks after joining the Senate in 2023, Fetterman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-fetterman-hospital-clinical-depression-a9051b43a6b31725a4969b9302740cac">checked himself into the hospital</a>&nbsp;for clinical depression. He was released six weeks later and has since urged people who are depressed to get professional help.Post-stroke depression is common and treatable through medication and talk therapy, doctors say.

John Fetterman, U.S. Senator who survived stroke, hospitalized

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;– Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detectives and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents carried out a series of coordinated searches Thursday at two homes and six High Hopes ICT locations as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected state and federal narcotics and weapons violations.

( Click below to watch Sedgwick Co. Sheriff Jeff Easter's press conference)

Detectives and ATF agents served both residential search warrants including one on 119 Street in Wichita and one on South Hydraulic in Wichita, with support from the Wichita Police Department.

The Wichita Police/Sheriff’s Office SWAT team assisted with one of the home searches. The search warrants at the High Hopes ICT shops were executed solely by Sheriff’s Office detectives and ATF agents at these locations

Deputies recovered several weapons including rifles, handguns a flamethrower, illegal marijuana and other evidence of drug sales, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp; 

Two suspects involved in the illegal drug sales are in custody including 36-year-old Justin Alan Lane and 47-year-old Elliott Maurice Kyles, both of Wichita, were booked into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility. Lane is booked on a requested charge of distribution of marijuana, and Kyles is booked on a requested charges of possession of narcotics and possession of marijuana.

Both have prior felony weapons convictions, according to Easter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763119419995.png" alt="Kyles-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Kyles-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;– Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detectives and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents carried out a series of coordinated searches Thursday at two homes and six High Hopes ICT locations as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected state and federal narcotics and weapons violations.( Click below to watch Sedgwick Co. Sheriff Jeff Easter's press conference)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSedgwickCountySheriff%2Fvideos%2F807972442010115%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Detectives and ATF agents served both residential search warrants including one on 119 Street in Wichita and one on South Hydraulic in Wichita, with support from the Wichita Police Department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763119463360.png" alt="Lane photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Lane photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>The Wichita Police/Sheriff’s Office SWAT team assisted with one of the home searches. The search warrants at the High Hopes ICT shops were executed solely by Sheriff’s Office detectives and ATF agents at these locations<ul>
 <li>3108 West 13th Street North</li><li>240 South West Street, Ste 35</li><li>338 North Mead Street</li><li>1115 West Douglas Avenue</li><li>307 South Greewih Road</li><li>5255 North Maize Road in Maize</li>
 </ul>Deputies recovered several weapons including rifles, handguns a flamethrower, illegal marijuana and other evidence of drug sales, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp; Two suspects involved in the illegal drug sales are in custody including 36-year-old Justin Alan Lane and 47-year-old Elliott Maurice Kyles, both of Wichita, were booked into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility. Lane is booked on a requested charge of distribution of marijuana, and Kyles is booked on a requested charges of possession of narcotics and possession of marijuana.Both have prior felony weapons convictions, according to Easter.

🎥Flamethrower seized in drug raid at Kan. homes, dispensaries

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are working to find the driver&nbsp; responsible for a fatal hit-and-run.

Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded&nbsp;to the 1000 block of Fredericksburg Road where officers found the body later identified as 35-year-old Mary Levingston of Kansas City, Missouri, on the shoulder of the road, according to a media release from the Excelsior Springs Police Department. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Preliminary investigation indicates that she suffered blunt force trauma consistent with being struck by a vehicle. Police have not identified as suspect vehicle or driver.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact police at 816-639-2000 or the anonymous TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are working to find the driver&nbsp; responsible for a fatal hit-and-run.Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded&nbsp;to the 1000 block of Fredericksburg Road where officers found the body later identified as 35-year-old Mary Levingston of Kansas City, Missouri, on the shoulder of the road, according to a media release from the Excelsior Springs Police Department. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.Preliminary investigation indicates that she suffered blunt force trauma consistent with being struck by a vehicle. Police have not identified as suspect vehicle or driver.Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact police at 816-639-2000 or the anonymous TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Police: Kansas City woman killed in hit-and-run

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/deepti-hajela">DEEPTI HAJELA</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">longest government shutdown in U.S. history</a>&nbsp;is over — on paper, at least. But the American public isn’t done with it yet: Getting everything back up and running doesn’t happen all at once.

The disruption of the closure, clocking in at 43 days, varied in its impact. Some people, like unpaid federal workers, were immediately and directly affected. Others included recipients of federal funding through programs like Head Start and food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

As the shutdown progressed, effects rippled. Delays and flight cancellations started racking up for passengers as the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to cut back on flights because of air traffic controller shortages. There were closures at Smithsonian museum sites and the National Zoo (although the animals still got fed).

That’s a lot of programs, agencies and systems. Reclaiming “normal” won’t be instantaneous. Here’s a guide to what reopening looks like:

WHAT HAPPENED: About 1.25 million federal workers haven’t been paid since Oct. 1, missing about $16 billion in wages, according to official estimates. The workers were either furloughed or worked without pay in agencies across the federal government. Many struggled to make ends meet during that time, and the regional economy around Washington, D.C., took a hit.

WHAT NOW: The Office of Personnel Management, which manages the civil service, posted on X that federal workers were expected to be back Thursday, saying that “employees are expected to begin the workday on time. Normal operating procedures are in effect.” The pay owed to the workers will come in by Nov. 19. The money will go out in four separate tranches, depending on the agency, according to a senior administration official.

WHAT HAPPENED: The shutdown coincided with the arrival of colder temperatures, and funding for the $4.1 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-heating-assistance-liheap-winter-7bcec80a167bd01f442d6dabe1149b71">Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program was halted</a>, prompting some states to delay payments for heating bills.

WHAT NOW: A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said Thursday that an agency within HHS will “work swiftly to administer annual awards,” but no timeline was given. Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, said it could take until mid-December or longer. Wolfe said recipients should still submit applications and tell utility companies they’re waiting for the funds. It’s trickier for people who rely on oil and propane because typically there are no protections. Recipients should check with their state; Vermont backfilled funding and Connecticut has pledged to cover the cost.

WHAT HAPPENED: The shutdown caused significant disruptions in aviation, with more and more unpaid air traffic controllers missing work as they dealt with the financial pressures and some of them picked up side jobs. Those staff shortages, combined with some troubling safety data, prompted the government to order airlines to cut some of their flights over the past week to relieve pressure on the system.

WHAT NOW: Those cuts aren’t increasing right now, but the Federal Aviation Administration won’t lift the order until safety metrics improve. Airlines say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-faa-airlines-flight-cancellations-delays-448c28a07c167408e859657377300954">they expect to resume normal operations</a>&nbsp;quickly after that. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that controllers and other FAA employees should receive 70% of their back pay within 24-48 hours of the end of the shutdown, with the rest to come.

WHAT HAPPENED: Among the most high-profile impacts of the shutdown was on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program">the SNAP program</a>, which serves around 42 million people — about 1 in 8 Americans — in lower-income households. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-food-aid-024906c49fec6126585900ef916698f8">series of court rulings</a>&nbsp;and shifting policies from the Trump administration led to a patchwork distribution of November benefits. While some states had already issued full benefits, about two-thirds of states had issued only partial benefits or none at all.

WHAT NOW: On Thursday, state officials said they were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-snap-food-states-6cef598c92000bdff8384a9da1bfd23c">working quickly to get full benefits</a>&nbsp;to the millions of people who missed their regular monthly payments. Some states said SNAP recipients should receive their full monthly benefits starting Thursday or Friday, though it could take up to a week.

WHAT HAPPENED: When it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-government-shutdown-d5208fd1bc34af54a4ab78490989634c">Head Start</a>, the shutdown had held up the distribution of federal grant payments. Some affected centers remained open by furloughing portions of their staff or tapping into emergency reserves. Others were forced to close, shutting down child care for thousands of families. Head Start serves children from birth to age 5 who come from families that qualify for federal low-income guidelines, are homeless or receive public assistance. The program provides preschool education as well as developmental screenings and free meals.

WHAT NOW: The Office of Head Start will expedite funding and directly contact the impacted programs to share a timeline of when they can expect federal money, said Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The office is already operating at a reduced capacity after experiencing substantial layoffs earlier this year. But even when programs receive their money, program leaders worry of staffing shortages if too many furloughed employees already found other jobs. Some advocates said it could take several weeks for some of the programs across the country to receive funding and restore operations.

WHAT HAPPENED: The Internal Revenue Service had closed walk-in assistance centers.

WHAT NOW: The centers are being reopened. The agency said all tax deadlines remain in effect but a backlog of paper correspondence developed during the shutdown, so responses will be delayed. Social Security recipients continued receiving payments throughout the shutdown. Local offices also remained open, though they had temporarily suspended a few services, including replacing Medicare cards and updating earnings records.

WHAT HAPPENED: The Education Department laid off 466 Education Department staffers in the cross-government firings meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the shutdown. Those layoffs had been halted by a federal judge. The department furloughed 2,117 employees at the start of the shutdown, but some were brought back for essential work. New grants were also put on hold during the shutdown. Most school districts received the bulk of their federal funding over the summer, but some grants have been delayed.

WHAT NOW: The department said Thursday it had brought back all furloughed staff members or those dismissed in the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/layoffs-education-department-special-education-shutdown-3c066e2b1799c96a50e14dd63f46cd96">mass firings</a>. Recipients of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-schools-education-department-impact-aid-85ac39f25699a4568c5c1ca628db13ad">Impact Aid</a>, which boosts the budgets of districts with large amounts of federal land that can’t be taxed for local schools, were waiting to learn when their payments would be processed.

WHAT HAPPENED: Members of the U.S. military dealt with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/troop-pay-shutdown-military-congress-trump-961b81b2990ac1bd03041e5586028764">weeks of anxiety over</a>&nbsp;whether they would get paid as they continued working. The Trump administration ultimately found ways to pay troops for the two pay periods during the closure. But the process was fraught; the administration located the money just days before each paycheck. Pay arrived days later than usual for many service members with early direct deposit, disrupting their ability to pay bills and forcing some to pay late fees or rack up debt. Reimbursements for the cost of moving between bases, which affects roughly 400,000 military families each year, were paused during the shutdown, advocates said. And weekend drills for many reservists were canceled, eliminating a chunk of pay that can be several hundred dollars each month.

WHAT NOW: Civilians in the Defense Department began returning Thursday. According to a memo provided to The Associated Press, the Air Force said civilians could take a day of administrative leave or work remotely for up to a week. Several military officials said the impacts on active-duty troops have been minimal.

WHAT HAPPENED: The country’s national parks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-national-parks-liberty-bell-4c30b0b6db4ba8a7d0583a2d5fe58022">largely stayed open</a>&nbsp;through the shutdown with limited staffing.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-parks-government-shutdown-af5768dcac5ed9921350ca7112949676">Outside groups</a>&nbsp;and state governments had picked up the tab during the shutdown to keep visitor centers running and help with trash cleanup at many parks. And the Trump administration tapped into previously collected entrance fees to pay for cleaning restrooms and other basic services. But the efforts didn’t stop vandals from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/protectNPS/posts/what-appears-to-be-recently-painted-graffiti-has-been-spotted-in-arches-national/1169584318658742/" target="_blank">defacing rock features</a>&nbsp;along Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park in Utah and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GettysburgFoundation/posts/sometime-on-tuesday-october-14-one-of-the-stone-walls-at-devils-den-was-toppled-/1231050439061077/" target="_blank">toppling a stone wall</a>&nbsp;at Devil’s Den in Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

WHAT NOW: National Park Service employees were ordered back to work Thursday. It will take time for rangers to fully assess parks, including backcountry areas, and more damage could yet be discovered, said Kristen Brengel with the National Parks Conservation Association. No fees were collected during the shutdown, costing parks almost $1 million a day in lost revenue.

WHAT HAPPENED: The Smithsonian buildings and the National Zoo were first closed Oct. 12. They are typically open every day except Christmas. The 20 sites together hosted more than 16 million people last year, and the organization has more than 3,600 federal employees. While the zoo has been closed, the popular livestream feeds capturing the famous giant pandas were offline. The normally active social media pages sharing animal updates and colorful photographs were silent. The animals continue to be fed and get care.

WHAT NOW: Two of the Smithsonian’s museums along the National Mall – American History and Air and Space – were to reopen Friday. The organization says on its website that the rest of the Smithsonian’s sites across the Washington area and New York will reopen by Monday on a rolling basis.

Associated Press journalists Tia Goldenberg, David A. Lieb, Makiya Seminera, Susan Haigh, Josh Funk, R.J. Rico, Annie Ma, Ben Finley, Konstantin Toropin, Matthew Brown and Hannah Fingerhut contributed to this report from around the country.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759875394137.png" alt="A sign advising that the Capitol Visitors Center in the U.S. Capitol is closed. Photo by Jennifer Shutt" />
 <figcaption>A sign advising that the Capitol Visitors Center in the U.S. Capitol is closed. Photo by Jennifer Shutt</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/deepti-hajela">DEEPTI HAJELA</a>NEW YORK (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">longest government shutdown in U.S. history</a>&nbsp;is over — on paper, at least. But the American public isn’t done with it yet: Getting everything back up and running doesn’t happen all at once.The disruption of the closure, clocking in at 43 days, varied in its impact. Some people, like unpaid federal workers, were immediately and directly affected. Others included recipients of federal funding through programs like Head Start and food aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.As the shutdown progressed, effects rippled. Delays and flight cancellations started racking up for passengers as the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to cut back on flights because of air traffic controller shortages. There were closures at Smithsonian museum sites and the National Zoo (although the animals still got fed).That’s a lot of programs, agencies and systems. Reclaiming “normal” won’t be instantaneous. Here’s a guide to what reopening looks like:<h2>Federal workers</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: About 1.25 million federal workers haven’t been paid since Oct. 1, missing about $16 billion in wages, according to official estimates. The workers were either furloughed or worked without pay in agencies across the federal government. Many struggled to make ends meet during that time, and the regional economy around Washington, D.C., took a hit.WHAT NOW: The Office of Personnel Management, which manages the civil service, posted on X that federal workers were expected to be back Thursday, saying that “employees are expected to begin the workday on time. Normal operating procedures are in effect.” The pay owed to the workers will come in by Nov. 19. The money will go out in four separate tranches, depending on the agency, according to a senior administration official.<h2>Help with heat</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: The shutdown coincided with the arrival of colder temperatures, and funding for the $4.1 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-heating-assistance-liheap-winter-7bcec80a167bd01f442d6dabe1149b71">Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program was halted</a>, prompting some states to delay payments for heating bills.WHAT NOW: A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said Thursday that an agency within HHS will “work swiftly to administer annual awards,” but no timeline was given. Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association, said it could take until mid-December or longer. Wolfe said recipients should still submit applications and tell utility companies they’re waiting for the funds. It’s trickier for people who rely on oil and propane because typically there are no protections. Recipients should check with their state; Vermont backfilled funding and Connecticut has pledged to cover the cost.<h2>Flight disruptions</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: The shutdown caused significant disruptions in aviation, with more and more unpaid air traffic controllers missing work as they dealt with the financial pressures and some of them picked up side jobs. Those staff shortages, combined with some troubling safety data, prompted the government to order airlines to cut some of their flights over the past week to relieve pressure on the system.WHAT NOW: Those cuts aren’t increasing right now, but the Federal Aviation Administration won’t lift the order until safety metrics improve. Airlines say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-faa-airlines-flight-cancellations-delays-448c28a07c167408e859657377300954">they expect to resume normal operations</a>&nbsp;quickly after that. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that controllers and other FAA employees should receive 70% of their back pay within 24-48 hours of the end of the shutdown, with the rest to come.<h2>Federal social programs: SNAP</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: Among the most high-profile impacts of the shutdown was on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program">the SNAP program</a>, which serves around 42 million people — about 1 in 8 Americans — in lower-income households. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-food-aid-024906c49fec6126585900ef916698f8">series of court rulings</a>&nbsp;and shifting policies from the Trump administration led to a patchwork distribution of November benefits. While some states had already issued full benefits, about two-thirds of states had issued only partial benefits or none at all.WHAT NOW: On Thursday, state officials said they were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-snap-food-states-6cef598c92000bdff8384a9da1bfd23c">working quickly to get full benefits</a>&nbsp;to the millions of people who missed their regular monthly payments. Some states said SNAP recipients should receive their full monthly benefits starting Thursday or Friday, though it could take up to a week.<h2>Federal social programs: Head Start</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: When it comes to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-government-shutdown-d5208fd1bc34af54a4ab78490989634c">Head Start</a>, the shutdown had held up the distribution of federal grant payments. Some affected centers remained open by furloughing portions of their staff or tapping into emergency reserves. Others were forced to close, shutting down child care for thousands of families. Head Start serves children from birth to age 5 who come from families that qualify for federal low-income guidelines, are homeless or receive public assistance. The program provides preschool education as well as developmental screenings and free meals.WHAT NOW: The Office of Head Start will expedite funding and directly contact the impacted programs to share a timeline of when they can expect federal money, said Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The office is already operating at a reduced capacity after experiencing substantial layoffs earlier this year. But even when programs receive their money, program leaders worry of staffing shortages if too many furloughed employees already found other jobs. Some advocates said it could take several weeks for some of the programs across the country to receive funding and restore operations.<h2>Taxes</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: The Internal Revenue Service had closed walk-in assistance centers.WHAT NOW: The centers are being reopened. The agency said all tax deadlines remain in effect but a backlog of paper correspondence developed during the shutdown, so responses will be delayed. Social Security recipients continued receiving payments throughout the shutdown. Local offices also remained open, though they had temporarily suspended a few services, including replacing Medicare cards and updating earnings records.<h2>Education</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: The Education Department laid off 466 Education Department staffers in the cross-government firings meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the shutdown. Those layoffs had been halted by a federal judge. The department furloughed 2,117 employees at the start of the shutdown, but some were brought back for essential work. New grants were also put on hold during the shutdown. Most school districts received the bulk of their federal funding over the summer, but some grants have been delayed.WHAT NOW: The department said Thursday it had brought back all furloughed staff members or those dismissed in the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/layoffs-education-department-special-education-shutdown-3c066e2b1799c96a50e14dd63f46cd96">mass firings</a>. Recipients of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-schools-education-department-impact-aid-85ac39f25699a4568c5c1ca628db13ad">Impact Aid</a>, which boosts the budgets of districts with large amounts of federal land that can’t be taxed for local schools, were waiting to learn when their payments would be processed.<h2>The military</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: Members of the U.S. military dealt with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/troop-pay-shutdown-military-congress-trump-961b81b2990ac1bd03041e5586028764">weeks of anxiety over</a>&nbsp;whether they would get paid as they continued working. The Trump administration ultimately found ways to pay troops for the two pay periods during the closure. But the process was fraught; the administration located the money just days before each paycheck. Pay arrived days later than usual for many service members with early direct deposit, disrupting their ability to pay bills and forcing some to pay late fees or rack up debt. Reimbursements for the cost of moving between bases, which affects roughly 400,000 military families each year, were paused during the shutdown, advocates said. And weekend drills for many reservists were canceled, eliminating a chunk of pay that can be several hundred dollars each month.WHAT NOW: Civilians in the Defense Department began returning Thursday. According to a memo provided to The Associated Press, the Air Force said civilians could take a day of administrative leave or work remotely for up to a week. Several military officials said the impacts on active-duty troops have been minimal.<h2>National parks</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: The country’s national parks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-national-parks-liberty-bell-4c30b0b6db4ba8a7d0583a2d5fe58022">largely stayed open</a>&nbsp;through the shutdown with limited staffing.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-parks-government-shutdown-af5768dcac5ed9921350ca7112949676">Outside groups</a>&nbsp;and state governments had picked up the tab during the shutdown to keep visitor centers running and help with trash cleanup at many parks. And the Trump administration tapped into previously collected entrance fees to pay for cleaning restrooms and other basic services. But the efforts didn’t stop vandals from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/protectNPS/posts/what-appears-to-be-recently-painted-graffiti-has-been-spotted-in-arches-national/1169584318658742/" target="_blank">defacing rock features</a>&nbsp;along Devils Garden Trail in Arches National Park in Utah and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GettysburgFoundation/posts/sometime-on-tuesday-october-14-one-of-the-stone-walls-at-devils-den-was-toppled-/1231050439061077/" target="_blank">toppling a stone wall</a>&nbsp;at Devil’s Den in Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.WHAT NOW: National Park Service employees were ordered back to work Thursday. It will take time for rangers to fully assess parks, including backcountry areas, and more damage could yet be discovered, said Kristen Brengel with the National Parks Conservation Association. No fees were collected during the shutdown, costing parks almost $1 million a day in lost revenue.<h2>Museums</h2>WHAT HAPPENED: The Smithsonian buildings and the National Zoo were first closed Oct. 12. They are typically open every day except Christmas. The 20 sites together hosted more than 16 million people last year, and the organization has more than 3,600 federal employees. While the zoo has been closed, the popular livestream feeds capturing the famous giant pandas were offline. The normally active social media pages sharing animal updates and colorful photographs were silent. The animals continue to be fed and get care.WHAT NOW: Two of the Smithsonian’s museums along the National Mall – American History and Air and Space – were to reopen Friday. The organization says on its website that the rest of the Smithsonian’s sites across the Washington area and New York will reopen by Monday on a rolling basis.___Associated Press journalists Tia Goldenberg, David A. Lieb, Makiya Seminera, Susan Haigh, Josh Funk, R.J. Rico, Annie Ma, Ben Finley, Konstantin Toropin, Matthew Brown and Hannah Fingerhut contributed to this report from around the country.

You can end a shutdown overnight — you can’t reopen a government that fast

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a hit-and-run accident in Garden City and asking the public for help to identify a person of interest, according to a media release from the Finney County Sheriff.

The accident occurred Wednesday&nbsp;in the area of Buffalo Jones Elementary School, 708 North Taylor in Garden City. If you have any information, please, contact the Finney County Sheriff's Office at 620-272-3700. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 620-275-7807 or texting the word GCTIP with the information to 847411(Tip411).&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763086966859.png" alt="Photos Finney County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Finney County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a hit-and-run accident in Garden City and asking the public for help to identify a person of interest, according to a media release from the Finney County Sheriff.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763086948244.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The accident occurred Wednesday&nbsp;in the area of Buffalo Jones Elementary School, 708 North Taylor in Garden City. If you have any information, please, contact the Finney County Sheriff's Office at 620-272-3700. You can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 620-275-7807 or texting the word GCTIP with the information to 847411(Tip411).&nbsp;

Sheriff asks for help to ID hit-and-run suspect near SW Kan. school

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a road rage incident.

Just after noon November 9, a 2015 Dodge Ram driven by Caden Deans, 22, Enterprise, was traveling in the construction zone on Interstate 135 at State Street, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Zeigler.&nbsp; The driver was angry with&nbsp;the 28-year-old driver of a 2020 Kia Telluride.

Both vehicles exited on Schilling Road and Deans' pickup intentionally struck the Kia. The impact caused the SUV to roll onto its top. The driver of the Kia was not transported for treatment of minor injuries.

Police arrested Deans on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and reckless driving. He met the requirement for bond and was released from the Saline County Jail just before 5p.m. Sunday, according to online booking records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763066211975.png" alt="Deans photo Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Deans photo Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a road rage incident.Just after noon November 9, a 2015 Dodge Ram driven by Caden Deans, 22, Enterprise, was traveling in the construction zone on Interstate 135 at State Street, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Zeigler.&nbsp; The driver was angry with&nbsp;the 28-year-old driver of a 2020 Kia Telluride.Both vehicles exited on Schilling Road and Deans' pickup intentionally struck the Kia. The impact caused the SUV to roll onto its top. The driver of the Kia was not transported for treatment of minor injuries.Police arrested Deans on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and reckless driving. He met the requirement for bond and was released from the Saline County Jail just before 5p.m. Sunday, according to online booking records.

Road rage: Kansas man accused of using pickup as a weapon

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an alleged violent attack in Brown County.

Just before 3:30p.m. November 10, Brown County dispatched a deputy to a local hospital to take a report from a victim of alleged battery, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; &nbsp; The deputy obtained suspect&nbsp; information from the victim while at the hospital and then alerted other Brown County deputies. 

A short time later, deputies encountered the suspect, Gerry Rilinger, 43 of Sabetha in Fairview, Kansas.&nbsp; When a deputy approached Rilinger for questioning, he became argumentative, defiant and initiated a scuffle which resulted in Rilinger's arrest.&nbsp; He was then&nbsp; transported to the Brown County jail.

He is being held on a $2 million dollar bond on requested charges of&nbsp; 2nd Degree Attempted Murder, Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated kidnapping, Misdemeanor Battery on Law Enforcement Officers, Felony Battery on a Corrections Officer, Felony Obstruction and Transport an Open Container.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763067344001.png" alt="Rilinger photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Rilinger photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an alleged violent attack in Brown County.Just before 3:30p.m. November 10, Brown County dispatched a deputy to a local hospital to take a report from a victim of alleged battery, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; &nbsp; The deputy obtained suspect&nbsp; information from the victim while at the hospital and then alerted other Brown County deputies. A short time later, deputies encountered the suspect, Gerry Rilinger, 43 of Sabetha in Fairview, Kansas.&nbsp; When a deputy approached Rilinger for questioning, he became argumentative, defiant and initiated a scuffle which resulted in Rilinger's arrest.&nbsp; He was then&nbsp; transported to the Brown County jail.He is being held on a $2 million dollar bond on requested charges of&nbsp; 2nd Degree Attempted Murder, Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated kidnapping, Misdemeanor Battery on Law Enforcement Officers, Felony Battery on a Corrections Officer, Felony Obstruction and Transport an Open Container.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Kansas attempted murder suspect captured

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/fatima-hussein">FATIMA HUSSEIN</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jessica Sweet spent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-republicans-schumer-health-insurance-tax-credits-a57733892f05a8893f5781203238e889">the federal government shutdown</a>&nbsp;cutting back. To make ends meet, the Social Security claims specialist drank only one coffee a day, skipped meals, cut down on groceries and deferred paying some household bills. She racked up spending on her credit card buying gas to get to work.

With the longest shutdown ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">coming to a close</a>, Sweet and hundreds of thousands of other federal workers who missed paychecks will soon get some relief. But many are left feeling that their livelihoods served as political pawns in the fight between recalcitrant lawmakers in Washington and are asking themselves whether the battle was worth their sacrifices.

“It’s very frustrating to go through something like this,” said Sweet, who is a union steward of AFGE Local 3343 in New York. “It shakes the foundation of trust that we all place in our agencies and in the federal government to do the right thing.”

The shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">began on Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">federal subsidies for health insurance</a>&nbsp;under the Affordable Care Act. Its end emerged when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-8-democrats-e83180c0b69642a00a234c244d9ea76e">eight Democratic-aligned senators</a>&nbsp;agreed to a deal to fund the government with no extension of the expiring subsidies.

Federal workers deeply felt the impacts of the shutdown

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">The shutdown</a>&nbsp;created a cascade of troubles for many Americans. Throughout the shutdown, at least 670,000 federal employees were furloughed, while about 730,000 others were working without pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.

The plight of the federal workers was among several pressure points, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">flight disruptions</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-shutdown-reopening-food-aid-a11b6c83934d9c718cc413fc1f9435d3">cuts to food aid</a>, that in the end ratcheted up the pressure on lawmakers to come to an agreement to fund the government.

Throughout the six-week shutdown, officials in President Donald Trump’s administration repeatedly used the federal workers as leverage to try to push Democrats to relent on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">their health care demands</a>. The Republican president signaled that workers going unpaid wouldn’t get back pay. He threatened and then followed through on firings in a federal workforce already reeling from layoffs earlier this year. A court then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-layoffs-judge-trump-fdcb16f91c94d7bf73977e8968210b0e">blocked the shutdown firings</a>, adding to the uncertainty.

The deal that is bringing an end to the shutdown will reverse the dismissals that occurred since Oct. 1, while also ensuring back pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/furloughed-federal-workers-blames-every-voting-american-for-the-government-shutdown-76fc8ae169014e30a834d51c2aca851a">furloughed federal workers</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-workers-back-bay-shutdown-785eb776d2312d1f68f7e91961d0a93a">left in doubt</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-641e7e2324f261da72395b604d9540e8">The bipartisan deal</a>&nbsp;provides funding to reopen the government, including for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-benefits-trump-administration-demands-undo-states-d433f20df4d461db506e0d327a58d3c1">SNAP food aid</a>&nbsp;and other programs.

Frustration over the shutdown and how it was brought to an end

But the whiplash of the past six weeks, coupled with the concern that the longest shutdown ever may not be the last they face, has shaken many in the workforce.

“Stress and hunger are great tactics for traumatizing people,” Sweet said.

For Sweet, the feelings of frustration are only compounded by a feeling that she was betrayed by the Democratic-aligned senators who broke with the party on the health care subsidies.

She said that she understands that many workers were desperate for a paycheck. But she thought standing firm on the issue of the health care subsidies was worth her sacrifice.

“There are other federal workers who understood what we were holding the line for and are extremely unhappy that line was crossed and that trust was breached,” she said.

Adam Pelletier, a National Labor Relations Board field examiner who was furloughed Oct. 1, said he is glad the compromise includes rehiring laid-off workers, but “the agreement that was reached almost feels like the Charlie Brown cartoon where Lucy holds the football and pulls it out from them.”

Pelletier, a union leader for NLRBU local 3, had financially prepared for the shutdown back in March when it became clear that a funding agreement between Democrats and Republicans likely would not be reached. He says the shutdown has made him feel “like a pawn” because federal workers had no say over their own fate.

The federal workers who spoke to The Associated Press had one common message: that they were reeling but ready to get back to work.

“This has been the worst time in my 20 years to be a federal employee,” said Elizabeth McPeak, a furloughed IRS employee in Pittsburgh who is National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 34 first vice president. She said colleagues had to beg their landlords to hold off on collecting rent payments and relied on food banks during the shutdown.

“A month without pay,” McPeak said, “is a long time to go.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759315687610.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/fatima-hussein">FATIMA HUSSEIN</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — Jessica Sweet spent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-republicans-schumer-health-insurance-tax-credits-a57733892f05a8893f5781203238e889">the federal government shutdown</a>&nbsp;cutting back. To make ends meet, the Social Security claims specialist drank only one coffee a day, skipped meals, cut down on groceries and deferred paying some household bills. She racked up spending on her credit card buying gas to get to work.With the longest shutdown ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">coming to a close</a>, Sweet and hundreds of thousands of other federal workers who missed paychecks will soon get some relief. But many are left feeling that their livelihoods served as political pawns in the fight between recalcitrant lawmakers in Washington and are asking themselves whether the battle was worth their sacrifices.“It’s very frustrating to go through something like this,” said Sweet, who is a union steward of AFGE Local 3343 in New York. “It shakes the foundation of trust that we all place in our agencies and in the federal government to do the right thing.”The shutdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">began on Oct. 1</a>&nbsp;after Democrats rejected a short-term funding fix and demanded that the bill include an extension of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">federal subsidies for health insurance</a>&nbsp;under the Affordable Care Act. Its end emerged when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-8-democrats-e83180c0b69642a00a234c244d9ea76e">eight Democratic-aligned senators</a>&nbsp;agreed to a deal to fund the government with no extension of the expiring subsidies.<h2>Federal workers deeply felt the impacts of the shutdown</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">The shutdown</a>&nbsp;created a cascade of troubles for many Americans. Throughout the shutdown, at least 670,000 federal employees were furloughed, while about 730,000 others were working without pay, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center.The plight of the federal workers was among several pressure points, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">flight disruptions</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-shutdown-reopening-food-aid-a11b6c83934d9c718cc413fc1f9435d3">cuts to food aid</a>, that in the end ratcheted up the pressure on lawmakers to come to an agreement to fund the government.Throughout the six-week shutdown, officials in President Donald Trump’s administration repeatedly used the federal workers as leverage to try to push Democrats to relent on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">their health care demands</a>. The Republican president signaled that workers going unpaid wouldn’t get back pay. He threatened and then followed through on firings in a federal workforce already reeling from layoffs earlier this year. A court then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-layoffs-judge-trump-fdcb16f91c94d7bf73977e8968210b0e">blocked the shutdown firings</a>, adding to the uncertainty.The deal that is bringing an end to the shutdown will reverse the dismissals that occurred since Oct. 1, while also ensuring back pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/furloughed-federal-workers-blames-every-voting-american-for-the-government-shutdown-76fc8ae169014e30a834d51c2aca851a">furloughed federal workers</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-workers-back-bay-shutdown-785eb776d2312d1f68f7e91961d0a93a">left in doubt</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-641e7e2324f261da72395b604d9540e8">The bipartisan deal</a>&nbsp;provides funding to reopen the government, including for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-benefits-trump-administration-demands-undo-states-d433f20df4d461db506e0d327a58d3c1">SNAP food aid</a>&nbsp;and other programs.<h2>Frustration over the shutdown and how it was brought to an end</h2>But the whiplash of the past six weeks, coupled with the concern that the longest shutdown ever may not be the last they face, has shaken many in the workforce.“Stress and hunger are great tactics for traumatizing people,” Sweet said.For Sweet, the feelings of frustration are only compounded by a feeling that she was betrayed by the Democratic-aligned senators who broke with the party on the health care subsidies.She said that she understands that many workers were desperate for a paycheck. But she thought standing firm on the issue of the health care subsidies was worth her sacrifice.“There are other federal workers who understood what we were holding the line for and are extremely unhappy that line was crossed and that trust was breached,” she said.<h2>Ready to get back to work</h2>Adam Pelletier, a National Labor Relations Board field examiner who was furloughed Oct. 1, said he is glad the compromise includes rehiring laid-off workers, but “the agreement that was reached almost feels like the Charlie Brown cartoon where Lucy holds the football and pulls it out from them.”Pelletier, a union leader for NLRBU local 3, had financially prepared for the shutdown back in March when it became clear that a funding agreement between Democrats and Republicans likely would not be reached. He says the shutdown has made him feel “like a pawn” because federal workers had no say over their own fate.The federal workers who spoke to The Associated Press had one common message: that they were reeling but ready to get back to work.“This has been the worst time in my 20 years to be a federal employee,” said Elizabeth McPeak, a furloughed IRS employee in Pittsburgh who is National Treasury Employees Union Chapter 34 first vice president. She said colleagues had to beg their landlords to hold off on collecting rent payments and relied on food banks during the shutdown.“A month without pay,” McPeak said, “is a long time to go.”

Federal workers question whether gov't shutdown was worth their sacrifice

SALINE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Wednesday in Saline County.

According to Saline County Sheriff's Captain Jim Hughes, two boys were traveling north in the 2700 block of S. Donmyer Road in a Kubota RTV520 UTV.&nbsp; 

While making a turn to a private drive, the UTV rolled and came to rest on the passenger. &nbsp;After the crash, the injured passenger called his father who responded to the scene and transported him in a private vehicle to Salina Regional Health Center. They were ultimately met by Salina EMS in the 6400 Block of Magnolia Road.&nbsp; Injured juvenile sustained an ankle injury they possibly will require surgery, according to Hughes.&nbsp;

Due to the driver's age, traffic citations were not issued.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763046840619.jpeg" alt="Photo Saline County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Saline County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Wednesday in Saline County.According to Saline County Sheriff's Captain Jim Hughes, two boys were traveling north in the 2700 block of S. Donmyer Road in a Kubota RTV520 UTV.&nbsp; While making a turn to a private drive, the UTV rolled and came to rest on the passenger. &nbsp;After the crash, the injured passenger called his father who responded to the scene and transported him in a private vehicle to Salina Regional Health Center. They were ultimately met by Salina EMS in the 6400 Block of Magnolia Road.&nbsp; Injured juvenile sustained an ankle injury they possibly will require surgery, according to Hughes.&nbsp;Due to the driver's age, traffic citations were not issued.

Kansas boy hospitalized after UTV rollover accident

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Blue Origin launched its huge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/blue-origin-new-glenn-rocket-jeff-bezos-2466fb0e114a09d88a46f71a1e647d50">New Glenn rocket</a>&nbsp;Thursday with a pair of NASA spacecraft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mars-nasa-perseverance-rover-rock-life-4e608d530be598c1a7af959d97eb88d8">destined for Mars</a>.

It was only the second flight of the rocket that Jeff Bezos’ company and NASA are counting on to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/blue-origin-bezos-moon-lunar-lander-nasa-5b61a0b44f582e70aa8d361fb0b161c6">get people and supplies to the moon.</a>

The 321-foot (98-meter) New Glenn blasted into the afternoon sky from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, sending NASA’s twin Mars orbiters on a drawn-out journey to the red planet. Liftoff was stalled four days by lousy local weather as well as solar storms strong enough to paint the skies with auroras as far south as Florida.

In a remarkable first, Blue Origin recovered the booster following its separation from the upper stage and the Mars orbiters, an essential step to recycle and slash costs similar to SpaceX. Company employees cheered wildly as the booster landed upright on a barge 375 miles (600 kilometers) offshore. An ecstatic Bezos watched the action from Launch Control.

“Next stop, moon!” company employees chanted following the successful booster landing.

New Glenn’s inaugural test flight in January delivered a prototype satellite to orbit, but failed to land the booster on its floating platform in the Atlantic.

The identical Mars orbiters, named Escapade, will spend a year hanging out near Earth, stationing themselves 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away. Once Earth and Mars are properly aligned next fall, the duo will get a gravity assist from Earth to head to the red planet, arriving in 2027.

Once around Mars, the spacecraft will map the planet’s upper atmosphere and scattered magnetic fields, studying how these realms interact with the solar wind. The observations should shed light on the processes behind the escaping Martian atmosphere, helping to explain how the planet went from wet and warm to dry and dusty. Scientists will also learn how best to protect astronauts against Mars' harsh radiation environment.

“We really, really want to understand the interaction of the solar wind with Mars better than we do now,” Escapade’s lead scientist, Rob Lillis of the University of California, Berkeley, said ahead of the launch. “Escapade is going to bring an unprecedented stereo viewpoint because we’re going to have two spacecraft at the same time.”

It’s a relatively low-budget mission, coming in under $80 million, that's managed and operated by UC Berkeley. NASA saved money by signing up for one of New Glenn’s early flights. The Mars orbiters should have blasted off last fall, but NASA passed up that ideal launch window — Earth and Mars line up for a quick transit just every two years — because of feared delays with Blue Origin's brand-new rocket.

Named after John Glenn,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/john-glenn-honored-with-launch-of-space-station-supply-ship-c9d6fdad2031486ba09c80024bb5a5a7">the first American to orbit the world</a>, New Glenn is five times bigger than the New Shepard rockets sending wealthy clients to the edge of space from West Texas. Blue Origin plans to launch a prototype Blue Moon lunar lander on a demo mission in the coming months aboard New Glenn.

Created in 2000 by Bezos, Amazon's founder, Blue Origin already holds a NASA contract for the third moon landing by astronauts under the Artemis program. Elon Musk’s SpaceX beat out Blue Origin for the first and second crew landings, using Starships, nearly 100 feet (30 meters) taller than Bezos' New Glenn.

But last month NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy reopened the contract for the first crewed moon landing, citing concern over the pace of Starship’s progress in flight tests from Texas. Blue Origin as well as SpaceX have presented accelerated landing plans.

NASA is on track to send astronauts around the moon early next year using its own Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. The next Artemis crew would attempt to land; the space agency is pressing to get astronauts back on the lunar surface by decade’s end in order to beat China.

Twelve astronauts walked on the moon more than a half-century ago during NASA's Apollo program.

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

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Blue Origin launched its huge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/blue-origin-new-glenn-rocket-jeff-bezos-2466fb0e114a09d88a46f71a1e647d50">New Glenn rocket</a>&nbsp;Thursday with a pair of NASA spacecraft&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mars-nasa-perseverance-rover-rock-life-4e608d530be598c1a7af959d97eb88d8">destined for Mars</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LIVE NOW: Tune in to watch the NG-2 webcast! <a href="https://t.co/PZaV8KOyK8">https://t.co/PZaV8KOyK8</a>&mdash; Blue Origin (@blueorigin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blueorigin/status/1989055013638074794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was only the second flight of the rocket that Jeff Bezos’ company and NASA are counting on to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/blue-origin-bezos-moon-lunar-lander-nasa-5b61a0b44f582e70aa8d361fb0b161c6">get people and supplies to the moon.</a>The 321-foot (98-meter) New Glenn blasted into the afternoon sky from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, sending NASA’s twin Mars orbiters on a drawn-out journey to the red planet. Liftoff was stalled four days by lousy local weather as well as solar storms strong enough to paint the skies with auroras as far south as Florida.In a remarkable first, Blue Origin recovered the booster following its separation from the upper stage and the Mars orbiters, an essential step to recycle and slash costs similar to SpaceX. Company employees cheered wildly as the booster landed upright on a barge 375 miles (600 kilometers) offshore. An ecstatic Bezos watched the action from Launch Control.“Next stop, moon!” company employees chanted following the successful booster landing.New Glenn’s inaugural test flight in January delivered a prototype satellite to orbit, but failed to land the booster on its floating platform in the Atlantic.The identical Mars orbiters, named Escapade, will spend a year hanging out near Earth, stationing themselves 1 million miles (1.5 million kilometers) away. Once Earth and Mars are properly aligned next fall, the duo will get a gravity assist from Earth to head to the red planet, arriving in 2027.Once around Mars, the spacecraft will map the planet’s upper atmosphere and scattered magnetic fields, studying how these realms interact with the solar wind. The observations should shed light on the processes behind the escaping Martian atmosphere, helping to explain how the planet went from wet and warm to dry and dusty. Scientists will also learn how best to protect astronauts against Mars' harsh radiation environment.“We really, really want to understand the interaction of the solar wind with Mars better than we do now,” Escapade’s lead scientist, Rob Lillis of the University of California, Berkeley, said ahead of the launch. “Escapade is going to bring an unprecedented stereo viewpoint because we’re going to have two spacecraft at the same time.”It’s a relatively low-budget mission, coming in under $80 million, that's managed and operated by UC Berkeley. NASA saved money by signing up for one of New Glenn’s early flights. The Mars orbiters should have blasted off last fall, but NASA passed up that ideal launch window — Earth and Mars line up for a quick transit just every two years — because of feared delays with Blue Origin's brand-new rocket.Named after John Glenn,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/john-glenn-honored-with-launch-of-space-station-supply-ship-c9d6fdad2031486ba09c80024bb5a5a7">the first American to orbit the world</a>, New Glenn is five times bigger than the New Shepard rockets sending wealthy clients to the edge of space from West Texas. Blue Origin plans to launch a prototype Blue Moon lunar lander on a demo mission in the coming months aboard New Glenn.Created in 2000 by Bezos, Amazon's founder, Blue Origin already holds a NASA contract for the third moon landing by astronauts under the Artemis program. Elon Musk’s SpaceX beat out Blue Origin for the first and second crew landings, using Starships, nearly 100 feet (30 meters) taller than Bezos' New Glenn.But last month NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy reopened the contract for the first crewed moon landing, citing concern over the pace of Starship’s progress in flight tests from Texas. Blue Origin as well as SpaceX have presented accelerated landing plans.NASA is on track to send astronauts around the moon early next year using its own Space Launch System, or SLS, rocket. The next Artemis crew would attempt to land; the space agency is pressing to get astronauts back on the lunar surface by decade’s end in order to beat China.Twelve astronauts walked on the moon more than a half-century ago during NASA's Apollo program.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.-----------

🎥Blue Origin launches huge rocket carrying twin NASA spacecraft to Mars

Wichita Police reported just before 3p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;Curtis Vine returned home and is safe.

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;– The Wichita Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita man.

The whereabouts of 68-year-old Curtis Vines are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate him.

Vines was last seen Wednesday, Nov. 12, at around 9:45 a.m., in the 6000 block of East Ironhorse. He does not have access to a vehicle and is believed to be on foot.

Vines is a white male who is 6 feet tall and weighs around 175 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair, and was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt and blue jeans.

Vines has dementia, and family members are concerned about his safety.&nbsp;

If you see Curtis Vines, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at (316)-268-4111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763005731670.png" alt="Curtis Vines- photo submitted" />
 <figcaption>Curtis Vines- photo submitted</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita Police reported just before 3p.m. Thursday,&nbsp;Curtis Vine returned home and is safe.------------SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;– The Wichita Police Department requested the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Wichita man.The whereabouts of 68-year-old Curtis Vines are unknown, and public assistance is requested to help locate him.Vines was last seen Wednesday, Nov. 12, at around 9:45 a.m., in the 6000 block of East Ironhorse. He does not have access to a vehicle and is believed to be on foot.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763031334558.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Vines is a white male who is 6 feet tall and weighs around 175 pounds. He has blue eyes and brown hair, and was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt and blue jeans.Vines has dementia, and family members are concerned about his safety.&nbsp;If you see Curtis Vines, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Wichita Police Department at (316)-268-4111.

Police: Silver Alert canceled, missing Kan. man is safe

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a>

America’s aviation system is straining under the weight of the longest government shutdown on record:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">thousands of flight cancellations</a>, long delays at major airports and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-what-to-expect-986ef2236e545fa32253b4e4bc7621e9">frustrated travelers</a>&nbsp;nationwide.

In an unprecedented move, the Federal Aviation Administration last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-faa-e39c423facec2b0dcc2544af48de0fa1">ordered airlines to scale back</a>&nbsp;domestic flight schedules, saying the cuts are meant to ease pressure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-government-shutdown-travel-aviation-flight-delays-211022120bf96ab95dc6861ca5a7e32d">on an overstretched system</a>&nbsp;and help manage air traffic control staffing.

Unpaid for more than a month, some air traffic controllers begun calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs — leaving more control towers and facilities short-staffed.

The numbers show the shutdown’s toll on air travel:

Major U.S. airports where all commercial airlines have been required to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cuts-government-shutdown-airlines-c21ffa6c3d55e3d2fe7f53702112727b">cancel flights since Nov. 7</a>&nbsp;under the FAA’s orders. The list spans more than two dozen states and includes large hubs such as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Airports on the FAA’s list of 40 where the agency also prohibited business jets and many private flights from landing.

The initial reduction in flight schedules ordered by the FAA.

The current flight reduction rate that the FAA says it is keeping in place instead of requiring airlines to make a 10% cut by Friday, as originally planned. The head of the agency and the U.S. transportation secretary on Wednesday cited improved controller staffing following news of a pending deal to end the shutdown.

Daily passengers who use the 40 airports where flights have been reduced, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Passengers who have been affected by staffing-related delays or cancellations since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;began on Oct. 1, according to Airlines for America. The industry trade group represents Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue.

Flights canceled between Nov. 7, the first day of the FAA-required cuts, and Wednesday evening, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware.

The average number of air traffic control facilities where the FAA warned of potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-delays-cancellations-government-shutdown-5034216cb5bb41bd40e27bb7861b2dd3">staffing issues</a>&nbsp;during the six weekends since the shutdown began. That is almost four times the number on weekends this year before the shutdown, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans sent through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system.

How much President Donald Trump suggested air traffic controllers should receive as a bonus if they didn’t miss any days of work during the shutdown. Trump also threatened docking pay for those who haven’t stayed on the job.

Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762603446371.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rio-yamat">RIO YAMAT</a>America’s aviation system is straining under the weight of the longest government shutdown on record:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">thousands of flight cancellations</a>, long delays at major airports and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-what-to-expect-986ef2236e545fa32253b4e4bc7621e9">frustrated travelers</a>&nbsp;nationwide.In an unprecedented move, the Federal Aviation Administration last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-faa-e39c423facec2b0dcc2544af48de0fa1">ordered airlines to scale back</a>&nbsp;domestic flight schedules, saying the cuts are meant to ease pressure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-government-shutdown-travel-aviation-flight-delays-211022120bf96ab95dc6861ca5a7e32d">on an overstretched system</a>&nbsp;and help manage air traffic control staffing.Unpaid for more than a month, some air traffic controllers begun calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs — leaving more control towers and facilities short-staffed.The numbers show the shutdown’s toll on air travel:<h2>40</h2>Major U.S. airports where all commercial airlines have been required to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cuts-government-shutdown-airlines-c21ffa6c3d55e3d2fe7f53702112727b">cancel flights since Nov. 7</a>&nbsp;under the FAA’s orders. The list spans more than two dozen states and includes large hubs such as New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago.<h2>12</h2>Airports on the FAA’s list of 40 where the agency also prohibited business jets and many private flights from landing.<h2>4%</h2>The initial reduction in flight schedules ordered by the FAA.<h2>6%</h2>The current flight reduction rate that the FAA says it is keeping in place instead of requiring airlines to make a 10% cut by Friday, as originally planned. The head of the agency and the U.S. transportation secretary on Wednesday cited improved controller staffing following news of a pending deal to end the shutdown.<h2>1.9 million</h2>Daily passengers who use the 40 airports where flights have been reduced, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.<h2>5.2 million</h2>Passengers who have been affected by staffing-related delays or cancellations since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;began on Oct. 1, according to Airlines for America. The industry trade group represents Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue.<h2>10,100</h2>Flights canceled between Nov. 7, the first day of the FAA-required cuts, and Wednesday evening, according to the flight tracking site FlightAware.<h2>30</h2>The average number of air traffic control facilities where the FAA warned of potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-delays-cancellations-government-shutdown-5034216cb5bb41bd40e27bb7861b2dd3">staffing issues</a>&nbsp;during the six weekends since the shutdown began. That is almost four times the number on weekends this year before the shutdown, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans sent through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system.<h2>$10,000</h2>How much President Donald Trump suggested air traffic controllers should receive as a bonus if they didn’t miss any days of work during the shutdown. Trump also threatened docking pay for those who haven’t stayed on the job.___Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

By the Numbers: Government shutdown's toll on air travel in the US

HARVEY COUNTY —On Wednesday, Harvey County Chief Judge Wilder sentenced 54-year-old Shyla McFrederic of Sedgwick, Kansa for Distribution of Methamphetamine, a severity level 1 drug felony, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.

The case originated from McFrederick’s arrest in Sedgwick, Kansas, on April 19, 2024, when she was found in possession of 111 grams of methamphetamine, 22 grams of psilocybin, 94 grams of marijuana, and four fentanyl tablets.

Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines, McFrederick faced a presumptive prison term of 138 to 154 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. Harvey County Attorney Heather Figger requested that the Court impose a 146-month prison sentence, emphasizing that the State had already exercised leniency by dismissing seven felony and five misdemeanor charges across three separate criminal cases as part of the plea agreement.

County Attorney Figger also urged the Court to consider the devastating impact that the distribution of these substances has on the Harvey County community. Counsel for McFrederick requested a downward departure to probation.

In ruling on the matter, Chief Judge Wilder noted that the case involved “the highest level drug felony that exists and that is only for the methamphetamine you possessed and not the other drugs.”

During sentencing, the Court cited a substance use evaluation completed by McFrederick in September 2025, which indicated that she still was not accepting responsibility for her crimes. The Court also noted that McFrederick’s no contest plea was not an acceptance of responsibility.

After consideration, Chief Judge Wilder granted a durational departure, sentencing McFrederick to 60 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. The Court based this reduced sentence on McFrederick’s decision to waive her preliminary hearing and enter a plea—thereby saving the State the expense of further proceedings—and some limited acceptance of responsibility demonstrated by the actions she had taken to improve herself.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762979753270.png" alt="McFrederick from a December 2024 arrest in Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>McFrederick from a December 2024 arrest in Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —On Wednesday, Harvey County Chief Judge Wilder sentenced 54-year-old Shyla McFrederic of Sedgwick, Kansa for Distribution of Methamphetamine, a severity level 1 drug felony, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.The case originated from McFrederick’s arrest in Sedgwick, Kansas, on April 19, 2024, when she was found in possession of 111 grams of methamphetamine, 22 grams of psilocybin, 94 grams of marijuana, and four fentanyl tablets.Under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines, McFrederick faced a presumptive prison term of 138 to 154 months in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections. Harvey County Attorney Heather Figger requested that the Court impose a 146-month prison sentence, emphasizing that the State had already exercised leniency by dismissing seven felony and five misdemeanor charges across three separate criminal cases as part of the plea agreement.County Attorney Figger also urged the Court to consider the devastating impact that the distribution of these substances has on the Harvey County community. Counsel for McFrederick requested a downward departure to probation.In ruling on the matter, Chief Judge Wilder noted that the case involved “the highest level drug felony that exists and that is only for the methamphetamine you possessed and not the other drugs.”During sentencing, the Court cited a substance use evaluation completed by McFrederick in September 2025, which indicated that she still was not accepting responsibility for her crimes. The Court also noted that McFrederick’s no contest plea was not an acceptance of responsibility.After consideration, Chief Judge Wilder granted a durational departure, sentencing McFrederick to 60 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. The Court based this reduced sentence on McFrederick’s decision to waive her preliminary hearing and enter a plea—thereby saving the State the expense of further proceedings—and some limited acceptance of responsibility demonstrated by the actions she had taken to improve herself.