VATICAN CITY (AP) — King Charles III and Queen Camilla prayed Thursday with Pope Leo XIV in an historic visit to the Vatican to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-vatican-pope-catholic-anglican-leo-3f360fe9c4fda53e1d2f9d25e2b2d7e4">forge closer relations</a>&nbsp;between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, a welcome spiritual respite for the royals from the turmoil at home over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-prince-andrew-titles-giuffre-allegations-epstein-70ffa1a7ce88d986f63bb559b78679b9">sexual misconduct allegations against Prince Andrew</a>.

Charles, who is the titular head of the Church of England, and Camilla sat in golden thrones on the raised altar of the Sistine Chapel, in front of Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment,” while Leo and the Anglican archbishop of York presided over an ecumenical service.

The event marked the first time since the Reformation that the heads of the two Christian churches, divided for centuries over issues that now include the ordination of female priests, have prayed together.

The accompanying music reflected the Catholic and Anglican musical heritage: Hymns were sung by members of both the Sistine Chapel choir and visiting members of two royal choirs: the St. George’s Chapel choir of Windsor Castle and the children’s choir of the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace.

The visit comes as the U.K. royal family is once again&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-prince-andrew-titles-giuffre-allegations-epstein-70ffa1a7ce88d986f63bb559b78679b9">under intense scrutiny</a>&nbsp;over Prince Andrew’s ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The scandal that has long dogged the king’s brother was reignited this week after a memoir by Epstein and Andrew accuser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-giuffre-memoir-jeffrey-epstein-prince-andrew-0adb8b983ac18a45fc7ec035dc789d08">Virginia Giuffre</a>&nbsp;was published.

The 65-year-old prince has said he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-titles-duke-york-151c42ac608d864d94dfa233abfa04a8">stop using his titles</a>, including Duke of York, but has “vigorously” denied Giuffre’s claims. Buckingham Palace and the U.K. government are under pressure to formally strip Andrew of his dukedom and princely title, and kick him out of the 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle where he lives.

Charles' and Camilla’s visit had actually been planned for earlier this year, but was rescheduled after Pope Francis got sick and then died. Charles had strongly wanted to visit the Vatican during the 2025 Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century celebration of Christianity.

Anglicans split from the Catholic Church in 1534 when English King Henry VIII was refused a marriage annulment. While popes for decades have forged warm relations with the Church of England and the broader Anglican Communion on a path toward greater unity, the two churches remain divided.

The Sistine Chapel service, though, marked a historic new step toward unity and included readings and prayers focused on the unifying theme of God the creator.

Later Thursday, Charles traveled to a pontifical basilica that has strong, traditional ties to the Church of England, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, to receive a new formal recognition. The title “Royal Confrater” is a sign of spiritual fellowship and was reciprocated by Charles: Leo was given the title of “Papal Confrater of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.”

At the basilica, Charles sat in a special chair decorated with his coat of arms, bearing the Latin exhortation “Ut Unum Sint” (That they may be one), the mantra for Christian unity. The chair was given to him and will remain in the basilica for Charles and his heirs to use, officials said.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Catholic archbishop of Westminster, said that the king’s visit strengthens the relationship forged by Queen Elizabeth II, who came to Rome six times during her reign, including during the 2000 Holy Year.

“Pope Leo and King Charles coming together before God in prayer is an example of a genuine and profound cooperation,” he told The Associated Press. He recalled that Charles accepted his constitutional role as supreme governor of the Church of England, “but also his role in protecting freedom of religion and the important role of faith in society across his kingdom.”

The visit comes just weeks after the election of the first female&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/anglican-church-of-england-archbishop-of-canterbury-cb6217f75fbef58e2a22088033248717">archbishop of Canterbury</a>, Sarah Mullally. She didn't join the king and queen at the Vatican, since she hasn’t been formally installed as the Church of England’s spiritual leader. In her place was the archbishop of York, the Most Rev. Stephen Cottrell.

While the king copes with tensions over the Epstein scandal at home, Mullally's election has heightened tensions within the Anglican Communion abroad. The archbishop of Canterbury is considered the “first among equals” in the Anglican Communion, which has more than 85 million members spread across 165 countries. But following Mullally's appointment, a long-building schism in the Anglican Communion appears close to a final rupture.

An organization of conservative Anglican primates — representing a majority of the communion’s membership, primarily in Africa — announced that it's rejecting all of the bureaucratic links that have historically connected the Anglican Communion.

The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, known as Gafcon, says it’s forming a new structure, although it claims it represents the historic Anglican Communion in a “reordered” form.

Its statement denounced the LGBTQ-affirming stances of some parts of the Anglican Communion as precipitating the break, a reference to positions taken by the Church of England and the Episcopal Church in the United States. But it closely followed another Gafcon statement lamenting Mullally’s appointment, saying that many believe that only men can be bishops and rejecting her office as a defining point of Anglican unity.

Peter B. Smith contributed to this report from Pittsburgh.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761260133843.png" alt="Pope Leo XIV, center, cheers with Britain's King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. image from Associated Press vide" />
 <figcaption>Pope Leo XIV, center, cheers with Britain's King Charles III in the St. Damasus Courtyard at the Vatican after a state visit and pray with him in the Sistine Chapel, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. image from Associated Press vide</figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) — King Charles III and Queen Camilla prayed Thursday with Pope Leo XIV in an historic visit to the Vatican to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/king-charles-vatican-pope-catholic-anglican-leo-3f360fe9c4fda53e1d2f9d25e2b2d7e4">forge closer relations</a>&nbsp;between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, a welcome spiritual respite for the royals from the turmoil at home over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-prince-andrew-titles-giuffre-allegations-epstein-70ffa1a7ce88d986f63bb559b78679b9">sexual misconduct allegations against Prince Andrew</a>.Charles, who is the titular head of the Church of England, and Camilla sat in golden thrones on the raised altar of the Sistine Chapel, in front of Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment,” while Leo and the Anglican archbishop of York presided over an ecumenical service.The event marked the first time since the Reformation that the heads of the two Christian churches, divided for centuries over issues that now include the ordination of female priests, have prayed together.The accompanying music reflected the Catholic and Anglican musical heritage: Hymns were sung by members of both the Sistine Chapel choir and visiting members of two royal choirs: the St. George’s Chapel choir of Windsor Castle and the children’s choir of the Chapel Royal of St. James’s Palace.<h2>Respite from scandal</h2>The visit comes as the U.K. royal family is once again&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-prince-andrew-titles-giuffre-allegations-epstein-70ffa1a7ce88d986f63bb559b78679b9">under intense scrutiny</a>&nbsp;over Prince Andrew’s ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The scandal that has long dogged the king’s brother was reignited this week after a memoir by Epstein and Andrew accuser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-giuffre-memoir-jeffrey-epstein-prince-andrew-0adb8b983ac18a45fc7ec035dc789d08">Virginia Giuffre</a>&nbsp;was published.The 65-year-old prince has said he will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prince-andrew-titles-duke-york-151c42ac608d864d94dfa233abfa04a8">stop using his titles</a>, including Duke of York, but has “vigorously” denied Giuffre’s claims. Buckingham Palace and the U.K. government are under pressure to formally strip Andrew of his dukedom and princely title, and kick him out of the 30-room mansion near Windsor Castle where he lives.Charles' and Camilla’s visit had actually been planned for earlier this year, but was rescheduled after Pope Francis got sick and then died. Charles had strongly wanted to visit the Vatican during the 2025 Holy Year, a once-every-quarter-century celebration of Christianity.<h2>Step toward unity</h2>Anglicans split from the Catholic Church in 1534 when English King Henry VIII was refused a marriage annulment. While popes for decades have forged warm relations with the Church of England and the broader Anglican Communion on a path toward greater unity, the two churches remain divided.The Sistine Chapel service, though, marked a historic new step toward unity and included readings and prayers focused on the unifying theme of God the creator.Later Thursday, Charles traveled to a pontifical basilica that has strong, traditional ties to the Church of England, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, to receive a new formal recognition. The title “Royal Confrater” is a sign of spiritual fellowship and was reciprocated by Charles: Leo was given the title of “Papal Confrater of St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.”At the basilica, Charles sat in a special chair decorated with his coat of arms, bearing the Latin exhortation “Ut Unum Sint” (That they may be one), the mantra for Christian unity. The chair was given to him and will remain in the basilica for Charles and his heirs to use, officials said.Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Catholic archbishop of Westminster, said that the king’s visit strengthens the relationship forged by Queen Elizabeth II, who came to Rome six times during her reign, including during the 2000 Holy Year.“Pope Leo and King Charles coming together before God in prayer is an example of a genuine and profound cooperation,” he told The Associated Press. He recalled that Charles accepted his constitutional role as supreme governor of the Church of England, “but also his role in protecting freedom of religion and the important role of faith in society across his kingdom.”The visit comes just weeks after the election of the first female&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/anglican-church-of-england-archbishop-of-canterbury-cb6217f75fbef58e2a22088033248717">archbishop of Canterbury</a>, Sarah Mullally. She didn't join the king and queen at the Vatican, since she hasn’t been formally installed as the Church of England’s spiritual leader. In her place was the archbishop of York, the Most Rev. Stephen Cottrell.<h2>Anglican Communion strains</h2>While the king copes with tensions over the Epstein scandal at home, Mullally's election has heightened tensions within the Anglican Communion abroad. The archbishop of Canterbury is considered the “first among equals” in the Anglican Communion, which has more than 85 million members spread across 165 countries. But following Mullally's appointment, a long-building schism in the Anglican Communion appears close to a final rupture.An organization of conservative Anglican primates — representing a majority of the communion’s membership, primarily in Africa — announced that it's rejecting all of the bureaucratic links that have historically connected the Anglican Communion.The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, known as Gafcon, says it’s forming a new structure, although it claims it represents the historic Anglican Communion in a “reordered” form.Its statement denounced the LGBTQ-affirming stances of some parts of the Anglican Communion as precipitating the break, a reference to positions taken by the Church of England and the Episcopal Church in the United States. But it closely followed another Gafcon statement lamenting Mullally’s appointment, saying that many believe that only men can be bishops and rejecting her office as a defining point of Anglican unity.___Peter B. Smith contributed to this report from Pittsburgh.Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Divided for centuries: King Charles III prays with pope in historic visit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday rejected dueling partisan bills to pay federal workers during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>, with both Republicans and Democrats deflecting blame as many employees are set to miss their first full paycheck at the end of this week.

With unpaid staff and law enforcement standing nearby, Republicans objected as Democrats proposed a voice vote on their legislation to pay all federal workers and prevent President Donald Trump’s administration from mass firings. Democrats then blocked a Republican bill to pay employees who are working and not furloughed, 54-45. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.

The back and forth on day 23 of the government shutdown comes as the two parties are at a protracted impasse with no signs of either side giving in. Democrats say they won’t vote to reopen the government until Republicans negotiate with them on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-care-subsidies-obamacare-congress-10b2ae9648bc5252fc2bd485ddc83493">extending expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act</a>. Republicans say they won’t negotiate on the subsidies until Democrats vote to reopen the government. Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-republicans-senate-trump-white-house-8cac539f2a553ced68bc9e0b32bc7b94">mostly disengaged</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-jinping-china-asia-8f21df3df6fa3f51ca4ab4dfcf7669ba">headed to Asia</a>&nbsp;in the coming days.

The Republican bill by Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin would pay “excepted” workers who still have to come to work during the current government shutdown and any future shutdowns. The bill would “end this punishing federal workers for our dysfunction forever,” Johnson said.

But Democrats say the legislation is unfair to the workers who are involuntarily furloughed and could give Cabinet secretaries too much discretion as to who gets paid.

Johnson’s bill is “nothing more than another tool for Trump to hurt federal workers and American families and to keep this shutdown going for as long as he wants,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of the votes.

The Democratic bills would have paid a much larger swath of workers as most federal workers are set to miss paychecks over the next week.

“It seems like everyone in this chamber agrees we should pay federal workers,” Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said ahead of the vote. But because of the shutdown, “they are paying a price.”

As Congress is unable to agree on a way forward, money for essential services could soon reach a crisis point.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday that his message to air traffic controllers during the government shutdown is “come to work, even if you do not get a paycheck.”

Duffy said that air traffic controllers will miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday and that some are having to make choices to pay the mortgage and other bills, at times by taking a second job.

“I cannot guarantee you your flight is going to be on time. I cannot guarantee your flight is not going to be cancelled,” Duffy said.

Payments for federal food and heating assistance could also run out soon, along with funding for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-government-shutdown-education-10b7ea5cfcc2ae10c37533a09a1d1d0f">Head Start preschool programs</a>, several states have warned.

Another deadline approaching is Nov. 1, the beginning of open enrollment for people who use the marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act.

Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-aca-obamacare-subsidies-congress-trump-da06fcbc940e661234fac2ea9ee717a0">are holding out for negotiations with Republicans</a>&nbsp;as they seek to extend subsidies that started in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">expire at the end of the year</a>. But any solution would be hard to put in place once people start purchasing their plans.

Some Republicans are open to extending the tax credits, with changes, and lawmakers in both parties have been talking behind the scenes about possible compromises. But it’s unclear whether they will be able to find an agreement that satisfies both Republicans and Democrats — or if leadership on either side would be willing to budge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761249362665.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (upper right) during Thursday's vote count in the Senate -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (upper right) during Thursday's vote count in the Senate -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday rejected dueling partisan bills to pay federal workers during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>, with both Republicans and Democrats deflecting blame as many employees are set to miss their first full paycheck at the end of this week.With unpaid staff and law enforcement standing nearby, Republicans objected as Democrats proposed a voice vote on their legislation to pay all federal workers and prevent President Donald Trump’s administration from mass firings. Democrats then blocked a Republican bill to pay employees who are working and not furloughed, 54-45. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.The back and forth on day 23 of the government shutdown comes as the two parties are at a protracted impasse with no signs of either side giving in. Democrats say they won’t vote to reopen the government until Republicans negotiate with them on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-care-subsidies-obamacare-congress-10b2ae9648bc5252fc2bd485ddc83493">extending expiring subsidies under the Affordable Care Act</a>. Republicans say they won’t negotiate on the subsidies until Democrats vote to reopen the government. Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-republicans-senate-trump-white-house-8cac539f2a553ced68bc9e0b32bc7b94">mostly disengaged</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-jinping-china-asia-8f21df3df6fa3f51ca4ab4dfcf7669ba">headed to Asia</a>&nbsp;in the coming days.<h2>Dueling bills to pay workers</h2>The Republican bill by Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin would pay “excepted” workers who still have to come to work during the current government shutdown and any future shutdowns. The bill would “end this punishing federal workers for our dysfunction forever,” Johnson said.But Democrats say the legislation is unfair to the workers who are involuntarily furloughed and could give Cabinet secretaries too much discretion as to who gets paid.Johnson’s bill is “nothing more than another tool for Trump to hurt federal workers and American families and to keep this shutdown going for as long as he wants,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said ahead of the votes.The Democratic bills would have paid a much larger swath of workers as most federal workers are set to miss paychecks over the next week.“It seems like everyone in this chamber agrees we should pay federal workers,” Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., said ahead of the vote. But because of the shutdown, “they are paying a price.”<h2>Essential services start to dwindle</h2>As Congress is unable to agree on a way forward, money for essential services could soon reach a crisis point.Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday that his message to air traffic controllers during the government shutdown is “come to work, even if you do not get a paycheck.”Duffy said that air traffic controllers will miss their first full paycheck on Tuesday and that some are having to make choices to pay the mortgage and other bills, at times by taking a second job.“I cannot guarantee you your flight is going to be on time. I cannot guarantee your flight is not going to be cancelled,” Duffy said.Payments for federal food and heating assistance could also run out soon, along with funding for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-government-shutdown-education-10b7ea5cfcc2ae10c37533a09a1d1d0f">Head Start preschool programs</a>, several states have warned.<h2>Open enrollment approaches</h2>Another deadline approaching is Nov. 1, the beginning of open enrollment for people who use the marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act.Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-aca-obamacare-subsidies-congress-trump-da06fcbc940e661234fac2ea9ee717a0">are holding out for negotiations with Republicans</a>&nbsp;as they seek to extend subsidies that started in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">expire at the end of the year</a>. But any solution would be hard to put in place once people start purchasing their plans.Some Republicans are open to extending the tax credits, with changes, and lawmakers in both parties have been talking behind the scenes about possible compromises. But it’s unclear whether they will be able to find an agreement that satisfies both Republicans and Democrats — or if leadership on either side would be willing to budge.

Moran, Marshall tried but Senate rejects bills to pay federal workers during shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — Oil prices spiked Thursday after the U.S. announced massive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-europe-us-sanctions-f9d98cd011533b6f1c071ea2cef9f2d9" rel="nofollow">new sanctions on Russia’s oil industry</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to get Russian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin" rel="nofollow">Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;to the negotiating table and end Moscow’s brutal war on Ukraine.

U.S. benchmark crude jumped 6%, to $62 per barrel midday Thursday and analysts say if the situation remains static, U.S. consumers will soon be paying more at the pump.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said while it was difficult to predict with certainty because of the number of moving parts, consumers will likely see a bump in prices as early as next week, if not sooner.

“We’ll probably start to see motorists be impacted by the sanctions at the pump in the next couple days and it might take five days for that to be fully passed along,” De Haan said, adding that the full impact also depends on whether the Russian or U.S. positions change.

“Russia will feel pressure to come to the table in light of of the new developments or President Trump may react when he sees oil prices rising to levels that become uncomfortable, so I don’t think this is going to be very long lasting,” De Haan said.

Oil prices have been relatively low for the past few years and last week the cost for barrel of U.S. benchmark crude fell below $57, its lowest level since early 2021. The price for a barrel of U.S. benchmark crude did rise near $79 a barrel early this year, just before President Donald Trump took office, a price not necessarily considered outrageously elevated by most analysts.

The broad, extended decline in oil prices pushed the average price for a gallon of gas in the U.S. last week under $3 for the first time since December of last year, according to GasBuddy.

For much of 2025, inflation has been held mostly in check, partly due to cheaper prices at the pump. However, that could change quickly as higher energy costs have a downstream effect on prices for virtually all products and services across industries.

“The impact to a lot of Americans is that products derived from crude, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel are all likely to see price increases,” De Haan said.

The main reason oil and gas have stabilized at lower levels this year is that the group of countries that are part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/opec" rel="nofollow">OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries</a>&nbsp;have continued to boost production. Earlier this month, OPEC+ leaders announced they would raise oil production by 137,000 barrels per day in November, the same amount announced for October. The group has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-opec-economy-trump-saudi-arabia-russia-c7b3aa1b3fb6da7bfb8ff1af5c097d6e" rel="nofollow">raising output slightly in a series of boosts all year</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/opec-oil-prices-saudi-arabia-e806f1609df71b5bef4ee6c9b5199df0" rel="nofollow">announcing cuts in 2023 and 2024</a>.

Russia is the leading non-OPEC member in the 22-country alliance. The group’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2.

The sanctions against Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil follows calls from Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy" rel="nofollow">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;as well as bipartisan pressure on Trump to hit Russia with harder sanctions on its oil industry, the economic engine that has allowed Russia to continue to execute&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine" rel="nofollow">the grinding conflict</a>&nbsp;even as it finds itself largely internationally isolated. The European Union on Thursday announced its own measures targeting Russian oil and gas.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Oil prices spiked Thursday after the U.S. announced massive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-europe-us-sanctions-f9d98cd011533b6f1c071ea2cef9f2d9" rel="nofollow">new sanctions on Russia’s oil industry</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to get Russian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin" rel="nofollow">Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;to the negotiating table and end Moscow’s brutal war on Ukraine.U.S. benchmark crude jumped 6%, to $62 per barrel midday Thursday and analysts say if the situation remains static, U.S. consumers will soon be paying more at the pump.Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said while it was difficult to predict with certainty because of the number of moving parts, consumers will likely see a bump in prices as early as next week, if not sooner.“We’ll probably start to see motorists be impacted by the sanctions at the pump in the next couple days and it might take five days for that to be fully passed along,” De Haan said, adding that the full impact also depends on whether the Russian or U.S. positions change.“Russia will feel pressure to come to the table in light of of the new developments or President Trump may react when he sees oil prices rising to levels that become uncomfortable, so I don’t think this is going to be very long lasting,” De Haan said.Oil prices have been relatively low for the past few years and last week the cost for barrel of U.S. benchmark crude fell below $57, its lowest level since early 2021. The price for a barrel of U.S. benchmark crude did rise near $79 a barrel early this year, just before President Donald Trump took office, a price not necessarily considered outrageously elevated by most analysts.The broad, extended decline in oil prices pushed the average price for a gallon of gas in the U.S. last week under $3 for the first time since December of last year, according to GasBuddy.For much of 2025, inflation has been held mostly in check, partly due to cheaper prices at the pump. However, that could change quickly as higher energy costs have a downstream effect on prices for virtually all products and services across industries.“The impact to a lot of Americans is that products derived from crude, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel are all likely to see price increases,” De Haan said.The main reason oil and gas have stabilized at lower levels this year is that the group of countries that are part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/opec" rel="nofollow">OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries</a>&nbsp;have continued to boost production. Earlier this month, OPEC+ leaders announced they would raise oil production by 137,000 barrels per day in November, the same amount announced for October. The group has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-opec-economy-trump-saudi-arabia-russia-c7b3aa1b3fb6da7bfb8ff1af5c097d6e" rel="nofollow">raising output slightly in a series of boosts all year</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/opec-oil-prices-saudi-arabia-e806f1609df71b5bef4ee6c9b5199df0" rel="nofollow">announcing cuts in 2023 and 2024</a>.Russia is the leading non-OPEC member in the 22-country alliance. The group’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2.The sanctions against Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil follows calls from Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy" rel="nofollow">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;as well as bipartisan pressure on Trump to hit Russia with harder sanctions on its oil industry, the economic engine that has allowed Russia to continue to execute&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine" rel="nofollow">the grinding conflict</a>&nbsp;even as it finds itself largely internationally isolated. The European Union on Thursday announced its own measures targeting Russian oil and gas.

Pump prices could rise after US, EU hit Russian oil companies with new sanctions

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has pardoned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/binance-crypto-money-laundering-sanctions-changpeng-zhao-cf81925ff9b4b65e27f80f906a6a63ae">Binance founder Changpeng Zhao</a>, who created the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange and served prison time for failing to stop criminals from using the platform to move money connected to child sex abuse, drug trafficking and terrorism.

The pardon caps a monthslong effort by Zhao, a billionaire commonly known as CZ in the crypto world and one of the biggest names in the industry. He and Binance have been key supporters of some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-american-bitcoin-mining-69fc9161fe037822e76b02c05f88a5df">Trump family's crypto enterprises</a>.

"Deeply grateful for today’s pardon and to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice," Zhao said on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/cz_binance/status/1981404850832494666">social media</a>&nbsp;Thursday.

Zhao’s pardon is the last move by a president who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pardon-justice-department-f9c5b82dfea0128a49c218fa7f1cbeac">flexed his executive power</a>&nbsp;to bestow clemency on political allies, prominent public figures and others convicted of crimes.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted in a statement Thursday that Democratic President Joe Biden's administration prosecuted Zhao out of a “desire to punish the cryptocurrency industry" and that there were “no allegations of fraud or identifiable victims.”

The crypto industry has long complained it was subject to a “regulation by enforcement” ethos under the Biden administration. Trump’s pardon of Zhao fits into a broad pattern of the his taking a hands-off approach to an industry that spent heavily to help him win the election in 2024. His administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coinbase-sec-cryptocurrency-trump-f6f7b6b0e546c854c18cf322658699b1">dropped several</a>&nbsp;enforcement actions against crypto companies that began during Biden’s term and disbanded the crypto-related&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-crypto-enforcement-trump-blanche-265c91c32e5fab22fb09ba8449a0aec6">enforcement team</a>&nbsp;at the Justice Department.

Former federal prosecutor Mark Bini said Zhao went to prison for what “sounds like a regulatory offense, or at worst its kissing cousin.”

“So this pardon, while it involves the biggest name in crypto, is not very surprising,” said Bini, a white collar defense lawyer who handles crypto issues at Reed Smith.

Zhao was released from prison last year after receiving a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/binance-crypto-money-laundering-sanctions-changpeng-zhao-cf81925ff9b4b65e27f80f906a6a63ae">four-month sentence</a>&nbsp;for violating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.occ.treas.gov/topics/supervision-and-examination/bsa/index-bsa.html">Bank Secrecy Act</a>. He was the first person ever sentenced to prison time for such violations of that law, which requires U.S. financial institutions to know who their customers are, to monitor transactions and to file reports of suspicious activity. Prosecutors said no one had ever violated the regulations to the extent Zhao did.

The judge in the case said he was troubled by Zhao’s decision to ignore U.S. banking requirements that would have slowed the company’s explosive growth.

“Better to ask for forgiveness than permission,” was what Zhao told his employees about the company’s approach to U.S. law, prosecutors said. Binance allowed more than 1.5 million virtual currency trades, totaling nearly $900 million, that violated U.S. sanctions, including ones involving Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades, al-Qaida and Iran, prosecutors said.

“I failed here,” Zhao told the court last year during sentencing. “I deeply regret my failure, and I am sorry.”

Zhao had a remarkable path to becoming a crypto billionaire. He grew up in rural China and his family immigrated to Canada after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. As a teenager, he worked at a McDonald’s and became enamored with the tech industry in college. He founded Binance in 2017.

In addition to taking pro-crypto enforcement and regulatory positions, the president and his family have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-crypto-treasury-cryptocom-cfb8da95070cad9678ff9597f1900791">plunged headfirst</a>&nbsp;into making money in crypto.

A stablecoin launched by World Liberty Financial, a crypto project founded by Trump and sons Donald Jr. and Eric, received early support and credibility&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-interests-family-middle-east-cryptocurrency-cbb7d2354304ce0308800819944cf3f8">thanks to an investment fund</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates using $2 billion worth of World Liberty's stablecoin to purchase a stake in Binance. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that are typically tied to the value of the U.S. dollar.

A separate World Liberty Finance token saw a huge spike in price Thursday shortly after news of the pardon was made public, with gains that far outpaced any other major cryptocurrency, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Zhao said earlier this year that his lawyers had requested a pardon.

It is not immediately clear what impact Trump's pardon of Zhao may have for operations at Binance and Binance.US, a separate arm of the main exchange offering more limited trading options to U.S. residents.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has pardoned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/binance-crypto-money-laundering-sanctions-changpeng-zhao-cf81925ff9b4b65e27f80f906a6a63ae">Binance founder Changpeng Zhao</a>, who created the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange and served prison time for failing to stop criminals from using the platform to move money connected to child sex abuse, drug trafficking and terrorism.The pardon caps a monthslong effort by Zhao, a billionaire commonly known as CZ in the crypto world and one of the biggest names in the industry. He and Binance have been key supporters of some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-american-bitcoin-mining-69fc9161fe037822e76b02c05f88a5df">Trump family's crypto enterprises</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Deeply grateful for today’s pardon and to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice. 🙏🙏🙏🙏 Will do everything we can to help make America the Capital of Crypto and advance web3 worldwide. (Still in flight, more posts to come.)…&mdash; CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) <a href="https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1981404850832494666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Deeply grateful for today’s pardon and to President Trump for upholding America’s commitment to fairness, innovation, and justice," Zhao said on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/cz_binance/status/1981404850832494666">social media</a>&nbsp;Thursday.Zhao’s pardon is the last move by a president who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pardon-justice-department-f9c5b82dfea0128a49c218fa7f1cbeac">flexed his executive power</a>&nbsp;to bestow clemency on political allies, prominent public figures and others convicted of crimes.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted in a statement Thursday that Democratic President Joe Biden's administration prosecuted Zhao out of a “desire to punish the cryptocurrency industry" and that there were “no allegations of fraud or identifiable victims.”The crypto industry has long complained it was subject to a “regulation by enforcement” ethos under the Biden administration. Trump’s pardon of Zhao fits into a broad pattern of the his taking a hands-off approach to an industry that spent heavily to help him win the election in 2024. His administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coinbase-sec-cryptocurrency-trump-f6f7b6b0e546c854c18cf322658699b1">dropped several</a>&nbsp;enforcement actions against crypto companies that began during Biden’s term and disbanded the crypto-related&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-crypto-enforcement-trump-blanche-265c91c32e5fab22fb09ba8449a0aec6">enforcement team</a>&nbsp;at the Justice Department.Former federal prosecutor Mark Bini said Zhao went to prison for what “sounds like a regulatory offense, or at worst its kissing cousin.”“So this pardon, while it involves the biggest name in crypto, is not very surprising,” said Bini, a white collar defense lawyer who handles crypto issues at Reed Smith.Zhao was released from prison last year after receiving a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/binance-crypto-money-laundering-sanctions-changpeng-zhao-cf81925ff9b4b65e27f80f906a6a63ae">four-month sentence</a>&nbsp;for violating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.occ.treas.gov/topics/supervision-and-examination/bsa/index-bsa.html">Bank Secrecy Act</a>. He was the first person ever sentenced to prison time for such violations of that law, which requires U.S. financial institutions to know who their customers are, to monitor transactions and to file reports of suspicious activity. Prosecutors said no one had ever violated the regulations to the extent Zhao did.The judge in the case said he was troubled by Zhao’s decision to ignore U.S. banking requirements that would have slowed the company’s explosive growth.“Better to ask for forgiveness than permission,” was what Zhao told his employees about the company’s approach to U.S. law, prosecutors said. Binance allowed more than 1.5 million virtual currency trades, totaling nearly $900 million, that violated U.S. sanctions, including ones involving Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades, al-Qaida and Iran, prosecutors said.“I failed here,” Zhao told the court last year during sentencing. “I deeply regret my failure, and I am sorry.”Zhao had a remarkable path to becoming a crypto billionaire. He grew up in rural China and his family immigrated to Canada after the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. As a teenager, he worked at a McDonald’s and became enamored with the tech industry in college. He founded Binance in 2017.In addition to taking pro-crypto enforcement and regulatory positions, the president and his family have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-crypto-treasury-cryptocom-cfb8da95070cad9678ff9597f1900791">plunged headfirst</a>&nbsp;into making money in crypto.A stablecoin launched by World Liberty Financial, a crypto project founded by Trump and sons Donald Jr. and Eric, received early support and credibility&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-interests-family-middle-east-cryptocurrency-cbb7d2354304ce0308800819944cf3f8">thanks to an investment fund</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates using $2 billion worth of World Liberty's stablecoin to purchase a stake in Binance. Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency that are typically tied to the value of the U.S. dollar.A separate World Liberty Finance token saw a huge spike in price Thursday shortly after news of the pardon was made public, with gains that far outpaced any other major cryptocurrency, according to data from CoinMarketCap.Zhao said earlier this year that his lawyers had requested a pardon.It is not immediately clear what impact Trump's pardon of Zhao may have for operations at Binance and Binance.US, a separate arm of the main exchange offering more limited trading options to U.S. residents.___

Trump pardons founder of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman accused in a crash that killed a Kansas teen was in court for a pre-trial conference on Wednesday.

Trisha Greer, 43, Derby, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence before Judge Quentin Pittman, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In June she plead not guilty to&nbsp; charge charges and was to face a jury trial last month.

Just after 11p.m. May 14, Greer was driving without headlights at 55th Street South and Hoover, according to Sheriff's Lt Nathan Gibbs. The vehicle struck and killed 18-year-old Bethany Aillen Callista Leggio who was standing with a group of people at the location.

Greer was booked into jail just after 1a.m. the following morning, according to online jail records. She met the requirements of bond and is no longer in custody.&nbsp;Senencing is scheduled for January 29, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717510102482.png" alt="Greer photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Greer photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman accused in a crash that killed a Kansas teen was in court for a pre-trial conference on Wednesday.Trisha Greer, 43, Derby, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence before Judge Quentin Pittman, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In June she plead not guilty to&nbsp; charge charges and was to face a jury trial last month.Just after 11p.m. May 14, Greer was driving without headlights at 55th Street South and Hoover, according to Sheriff's Lt Nathan Gibbs. The vehicle struck and killed 18-year-old Bethany Aillen Callista Leggio who was standing with a group of people at the location.Greer was booked into jail just after 1a.m. the following morning, according to online jail records. She met the requirements of bond and is no longer in custody.&nbsp;Senencing is scheduled for January 29, according to the district attorney's office.

Kan. woman in DUI crash that killed teen changes her plea

NEW YORK (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trail-blazers-chauncey-billups-57c920d0fcace5dbce25cd474468cd40">Chauncey Billups</a>&nbsp;and Miami Heat guard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/terry-rozier">Terry Rozier</a>&nbsp;are among more than 30 people charged in connection with schemes involving illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by Mafia, authorities said on Thursday.

Rozier is accused in participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information, officials said. Billups is charged in a separate indictment alleging a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that were backed by Mafia families, authorities said.

The indictments are related to two major cases, one involving sports betting and the second involving rigged poker games, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said at a news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel. In the first case, six defendants are accused of participating in an insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams, Nocella said. He called it “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”

The second case involves 31 defendants in a nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games, Nocella said. The defendants include former professional athletes accused of using technology to steal millions of dollars from victims in underground poker games in the New York area that were backed by Mafia families, he said.

In the sports betting scheme, players sometimes altered their performance or took themselves out of games early, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. In one instance, Rozier, while playing for the Hornets, told other he was planning to leave the game early with a “supposed injury,” allowing others to place wagers that raked in thousands of dollars, Tisch said.

The indictment of Rozier and others says there are nine unnamed co-conspirators including a Florida resident who was an NBA player and an Oregon resident who was an NBA player from about 1997 to 2014 and an NBA coach since at least 2021, as well as a relative of Rozier.

Rozier and other defendants “had access to private information known by NBA players or NBA coaches” that was likely to affect the outcome of games or players’ performances and provided that information to other co-conspirators in exchange for either a flat fee or a share of betting profits, the indictment says.

The NBA had no immediate comment. The league has investigated Rozier previously and still is looking into the actions of former Detroit player Malik Beasley, one of the sources told the AP.

Rozier was in uniform as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/heat-magic-score-0c4b69ecf699348bd90f91def98538e0">the Heat played the Magic</a>&nbsp;in Orlando, Florida, in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday evening, though he did not play in the game. He was taken into custody in Orlando early Thursday morning. The team didn’t immediately comment on the arrest.

A message was left with Rozier's lawyer, Jim Trusty, on Thursday. Trusty previously told ESPN that Rozier was told that an initial investigation determined he did nothing wrong after he met with NBA and FBI officials in 2023, the sports network reported.

A message seeking comment was left with Billups on Thursday morning.

The case was brought by the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn that previously prosecuted ex-NBA player Jontay Porter. The former Toronto Raptors center&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-jontay-porter-banned-criminal-case-betting-b26d6a136baafdf8e538be260338bb28">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to charges that he withdrew early from games, claiming illness or injury, so that those in the know could win big by betting on him to underperform expectations.

Billups was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year. The five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA point guard led the Detroit Pistons to their third league title in 2004 as NBA Finals MVP. Boston drafted the former Colorado star with the No. 3 pick overall in 1997. The player known as Mr. Big Shot also played for Toronto, Denver, Minnesota, the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Billups won the Joe Dumars Trophy, the NBA’s sportsmanship award, in 2009 while playing for his hometown Denver Nuggets.

The 49-year-old Billups is in his fifth season as Portland’s coach, compiling a 117-212 record. He played for the University of Colorado, which was part of the Big 12 conference, leading the team to a second-place finish and an NCAA tournament appearance in the inaugural season of the Big 12 in 1996-97. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors that season. 

The Trail Blazers opened the season Wednesday night at home with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timberwolves-trail-blazers-score-5e983f9ad18e0c685ef0b64ce08a0857">a 118-114 loss to Minnesota</a>.

A game involving Rozier that has been in question was played on March 23, 2023, a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of that game — and not only did not return that night, citing a foot issue, but did not play again that season. Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention, so it did not seem particularly unusual that Rozier was shut down for the season’s final games.

In that March 23 game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period — a productive quarter but well below his usual total output for a full game.

Posts still online from March 23, 2023, show that some bettors were furious with sportsbooks that evening when it became evident that Rozier was not going to return to the Charlotte-New Orleans game after the first quarter, with many turning to social media to say that something “shady” had gone on regarding the prop bets involving his stats for that night.

A prop is a type of wager that allows gamblers to bet on whether a player will exceed a certain statistical number, such as whether the player will finish over or under a certain total of points, rebounds, assists and more.

Durkin Richer reported from Washington, and Reynolds reported from Miami. Associated Press reporters David Collins in Hartford, Conn., and Larry Lage in Detroit contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761225884441.png" alt="Chauncey Billups played for the University of Colorado, which was part of the Big 12 conference, leading the team to a second-place finish and an NCAA tournament appearance in the inaugural season of the Big 12 in 1996-97. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors that season. photo courtesy Portland Trail Blazers" />
 <figcaption>Chauncey Billups played for the University of Colorado, which was part of the Big 12 conference, leading the team to a second-place finish and an NCAA tournament appearance in the inaugural season of the Big 12 in 1996-97. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors that season. photo courtesy Portland Trail Blazers</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Portland Trail Blazers head coach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trail-blazers-chauncey-billups-57c920d0fcace5dbce25cd474468cd40">Chauncey Billups</a>&nbsp;and Miami Heat guard&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/terry-rozier">Terry Rozier</a>&nbsp;are among more than 30 people charged in connection with schemes involving illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by Mafia, authorities said on Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">FBI Director Patel: &quot;Individuals such as Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones and Terry Rozier were taking into custody today, former,current NBA players and coaches...this is an illegal gambling operation and sports rigging operation that spanned the course of years.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/L5vLj1XtvM">pic.twitter.com/L5vLj1XtvM</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1981367790025027918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Rozier is accused in participating in an illegal sports betting scheme using private insider NBA information, officials said. Billups is charged in a separate indictment alleging a wide-ranging scheme to rig underground poker games that were backed by Mafia families, authorities said.The indictments are related to two major cases, one involving sports betting and the second involving rigged poker games, U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said at a news conference with FBI Director Kash Patel. In the first case, six defendants are accused of participating in an insider sports betting conspiracy that exploited confidential information about NBA athletes and teams, Nocella said. He called it “one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States.”The second case involves 31 defendants in a nationwide scheme to rig illegal poker games, Nocella said. The defendants include former professional athletes accused of using technology to steal millions of dollars from victims in underground poker games in the New York area that were backed by Mafia families, he said.In the sports betting scheme, players sometimes altered their performance or took themselves out of games early, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. In one instance, Rozier, while playing for the Hornets, told other he was planning to leave the game early with a “supposed injury,” allowing others to place wagers that raked in thousands of dollars, Tisch said.The indictment of Rozier and others says there are nine unnamed co-conspirators including a Florida resident who was an NBA player and an Oregon resident who was an NBA player from about 1997 to 2014 and an NBA coach since at least 2021, as well as a relative of Rozier.Rozier and other defendants “had access to private information known by NBA players or NBA coaches” that was likely to affect the outcome of games or players’ performances and provided that information to other co-conspirators in exchange for either a flat fee or a share of betting profits, the indictment says.The NBA had no immediate comment. The league has investigated Rozier previously and still is looking into the actions of former Detroit player Malik Beasley, one of the sources told the AP.Rozier was in uniform as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/heat-magic-score-0c4b69ecf699348bd90f91def98538e0">the Heat played the Magic</a>&nbsp;in Orlando, Florida, in the season opener for both teams on Wednesday evening, though he did not play in the game. He was taken into custody in Orlando early Thursday morning. The team didn’t immediately comment on the arrest.A message was left with Rozier's lawyer, Jim Trusty, on Thursday. Trusty previously told ESPN that Rozier was told that an initial investigation determined he did nothing wrong after he met with NBA and FBI officials in 2023, the sports network reported.A message seeking comment was left with Billups on Thursday morning.The case was brought by the U.S. attorney’s office in Brooklyn that previously prosecuted ex-NBA player Jontay Porter. The former Toronto Raptors center&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-jontay-porter-banned-criminal-case-betting-b26d6a136baafdf8e538be260338bb28">pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;to charges that he withdrew early from games, claiming illness or injury, so that those in the know could win big by betting on him to underperform expectations.Billups was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame last year. The five-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA point guard led the Detroit Pistons to their third league title in 2004 as NBA Finals MVP. Boston drafted the former Colorado star with the No. 3 pick overall in 1997. The player known as Mr. Big Shot also played for Toronto, Denver, Minnesota, the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Clippers. Billups won the Joe Dumars Trophy, the NBA’s sportsmanship award, in 2009 while playing for his hometown Denver Nuggets.The 49-year-old Billups is in his fifth season as Portland’s coach, compiling a 117-212 record. He played for the University of Colorado, which was part of the Big 12 conference, leading the team to a second-place finish and an NCAA tournament appearance in the inaugural season of the Big 12 in 1996-97. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors that season. The Trail Blazers opened the season Wednesday night at home with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timberwolves-trail-blazers-score-5e983f9ad18e0c685ef0b64ce08a0857">a 118-114 loss to Minnesota</a>.A game involving Rozier that has been in question was played on March 23, 2023, a matchup between the Hornets and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rozier played the first 9 minutes and 36 seconds of that game — and not only did not return that night, citing a foot issue, but did not play again that season. Charlotte had eight games remaining and was not in playoff contention, so it did not seem particularly unusual that Rozier was shut down for the season’s final games.In that March 23 game, Rozier finished with five points, four rebounds and two assists in that opening period — a productive quarter but well below his usual total output for a full game.Posts still online from March 23, 2023, show that some bettors were furious with sportsbooks that evening when it became evident that Rozier was not going to return to the Charlotte-New Orleans game after the first quarter, with many turning to social media to say that something “shady” had gone on regarding the prop bets involving his stats for that night.A prop is a type of wager that allows gamblers to bet on whether a player will exceed a certain statistical number, such as whether the player will finish over or under a certain total of points, rebounds, assists and more.___Durkin Richer reported from Washington, and Reynolds reported from Miami. Associated Press reporters David Collins in Hartford, Conn., and Larry Lage in Detroit contributed.

🎥Former Big 12 star arrested in NBA, Mafia-linked gambling scandal

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 23-year-old Jorden Wynn, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just before 3a.m. Sunday police&nbsp;in the area of Westport and Mill Street in Kansas City, Missoui when they heard the sound of gunfire to the north of that intersection, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Officers immediately responded to the area to investigate and located a Wynn unresponsive to the north and west of Westport and Mill in the restaurant parking lot.

Officers rendered aid and called for EMS. EMS transported him to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Preliminary indication Wynn was at the location in the business parking lot when he had an interaction with one or more suspect(s) that led to gunfire and he was struck. Police released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 23-year-old Jorden Wynn, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Just before 3a.m. Sunday police&nbsp;in the area of Westport and Mill Street in Kansas City, Missoui when they heard the sound of gunfire to the north of that intersection, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Officers immediately responded to the area to investigate and located a Wynn unresponsive to the north and west of Westport and Mill in the restaurant parking lot.Officers rendered aid and called for EMS. EMS transported him to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.Preliminary indication Wynn was at the location in the business parking lot when he had an interaction with one or more suspect(s) that led to gunfire and he was struck. Police released no additional details.

Police ID victim killed in KC restaurant parking lot

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp; U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hawley-vows-hold-democrats-feet-fire-new-government-shutdown-funding-bills">introduced</a>&nbsp;two bills to reinstate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and critical farm programs during the government shutdown, according to a statement from his office.

“Since the Democrats refuse to fund the government, I’m introducing legislation to reinstate food stamps and farm programs immediately,”&nbsp;said Senator Hawley.“Missourians shouldn’t go hungry because of the Left’s incompetence. Our kids deserve to eat.”

More than 650,000 Missourians, 188,000 Kansans and 155,000 Nebraskans stand to lose their access to food benefits next month because Democrats refuse to fund the government. The vast majority of those Missourians are families with children.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Keep SNAP Funded Act&nbsp;would ensure full funding for the SNAP program during the government shutdown. Under the bill, Congress would appropriate the necessary funding to provide uninterrupted SNAP benefits, retroactive to the start of the shutdown.

The&nbsp;Fund Farm Programs Act&nbsp;would reopen all Farm Service Agency (FSA) Offices and&nbsp;ensure resumed services for all FSA programs that farmers rely on. The USDA will be appropriated the necessary funding to provide resumed services for farmers through FSA offices, retroactive to the start of the shutdown.

Read the full bill text for the&nbsp;Keep SNAP Funded Act&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=15365.11191843.8917142.8424141&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2025%2f10%2fKeep-SNAP-Funded-Act.pdf&amp;redir_log=707316794103533" target="_blank">here.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

Read the full bill text for the&nbsp;Fund Farm Programs Act&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=15365.11191843.8917142.8424141&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2025%2f10%2fFund-Our-Farmers-Act.pdf&amp;redir_log=996771207702541" target="_blank">here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750772403338.png" alt="Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Lance Cheung/USDA</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;—&nbsp; U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hawley-vows-hold-democrats-feet-fire-new-government-shutdown-funding-bills">introduced</a>&nbsp;two bills to reinstate Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and critical farm programs during the government shutdown, according to a statement from his office.“Since the Democrats refuse to fund the government, I’m introducing legislation to reinstate food stamps and farm programs immediately,”&nbsp;said Senator Hawley.“Missourians shouldn’t go hungry because of the Left’s incompetence. Our kids deserve to eat.”More than 650,000 Missourians, 188,000 Kansans and 155,000 Nebraskans stand to lose their access to food benefits next month because Democrats refuse to fund the government. The vast majority of those Missourians are families with children.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Keep SNAP Funded Act&nbsp;would ensure full funding for the SNAP program during the government shutdown. Under the bill, Congress would appropriate the necessary funding to provide uninterrupted SNAP benefits, retroactive to the start of the shutdown.The&nbsp;Fund Farm Programs Act&nbsp;would reopen all Farm Service Agency (FSA) Offices and&nbsp;ensure resumed services for all FSA programs that farmers rely on. The USDA will be appropriated the necessary funding to provide resumed services for farmers through FSA offices, retroactive to the start of the shutdown.Read the full bill text for the&nbsp;Keep SNAP Funded Act&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=15365.11191843.8917142.8424141&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2025%2f10%2fKeep-SNAP-Funded-Act.pdf&amp;redir_log=707316794103533" target="_blank">here.</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;Read the full bill text for the&nbsp;Fund Farm Programs Act&nbsp;<a href="https://outreach.senate.gov/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.aspx?&amp;cid=SenHawley&amp;crop=15365.11191843.8917142.8424141&amp;report_id=&amp;redirect=https%3a%2f%2fwww.hawley.senate.gov%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2025%2f10%2fFund-Our-Farmers-Act.pdf&amp;redir_log=996771207702541" target="_blank">here.</a>

Bill would fund SNAP and farm programs during government shutdown

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a bank robbery that that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Kansas City, according to a statement from the FBI.

The masked suspect demanded money from the U.S. Bank branch at 221 W. Gregory Boulevard.&nbsp; &nbsp;The suspect is described as approximately 5-foot-10 with a medium build and was&nbsp; wearing a grey hoodie with a black New Balance jacked and sunglasses over a mask that covered the lower half of his face.

After the robbery, the suspect ran on foot from the bank. There were no injuries reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761179822531.png" alt="Image from security cameras FBI" />
 <figcaption>Image from security cameras FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a bank robbery that that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Kansas City, according to a statement from the FBI.The masked suspect demanded money from the U.S. Bank branch at 221 W. Gregory Boulevard.&nbsp; &nbsp;The suspect is described as approximately 5-foot-10 with a medium build and was&nbsp; wearing a grey hoodie with a black New Balance jacked and sunglasses over a mask that covered the lower half of his face.After the robbery, the suspect ran on foot from the bank. There were no injuries reported.

Suspect wearing sunglasses over a mask robbed Kansas City bank

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the midst of a federal government shutdown, the U.S. government’s gross national debt surpassed $38 trillion Wednesday, a record number that highlights the accelerating accumulation of debt on America’s balance sheet.

It’s also the fastest accumulation of a trillion dollars in debt outside of the COVID-19 pandemic — the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasury-debt-spending-trump-obbb-6f807c4aae78dcc96f29ff07a3c926f4" rel="nofollow">U.S. hit $37 trillion in gross</a>&nbsp;national debt in August this year.

The $38 trillion update is found in the&nbsp;<a href="https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/daily-treasury-statement/operating-cash-balance" target="_blank">latest Treasury Department report</a>, which logs the nation’s daily finances.

Kent Smetters of the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Wharton Budget Model, who served in President George W. Bush’s Treasury Department, told The Associated Press that a growing debt load over time leads ultimately to higher inflation, eroding Americans’ purchasing power.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/americas-fiscal-future/how-could-federal-debt-affect-you" target="_blank">Government Accountability Office</a>&nbsp;outlines some of the impacts of rising government debt on Americans — including higher borrowing costs for things like mortgages and cars, lower wages from businesses having less money available to invest, and more expensive goods and services.

“I think a lot of people want to know that their kids and grandkids are going to be in good, decent shape in the future — that they will be able to afford a house,” Smetters said. “That additional inflation compounds” and erodes consumers’ purchasing power, he said, making it less possible for future generations to achieve home ownership goals.

The Trump administration says its policies are helping to slow government spending and will shrink the nation’s massive deficit. A new analysis by Treasury Department officials states that from April to September, the cumulative deficit totaled $468 billion. In a post on X Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that’s the lowest reading since 2019.

“During his first eight months in office, President Trump has reduced the deficit by $350 billion compared to the same period in 2024 by cutting spending and boosting revenue,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement, adding that the administration would pursue robust economic growth, lower inflation, tariff revenue, lower borrowing costs and cuts to waste, fraud and abuse.

The Joint Economic Committee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/debt-dashboard#:~:text=July%202025%20%7C%20Released%20July%2008,reached%20in%20approximately%20194%20days." target="_blank">estimates</a>&nbsp;that the total national debt has grown by $69,713.82 per second for the past year.

Michael Peterson, chair and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, said in a statement that “reaching $38 trillion in debt during a government shutdown is the latest troubling sign that lawmakers are not meeting their basic fiscal duties.”

“Along with increasing debt, you get higher interest costs, which are now the fastest growing part of the budget,” Peterson added. “We spent $4 trillion on interest over the last decade, but will spend $14 trillion in the next ten years. Interest costs crowd out important public and private investments in our future, harming the economy for every American.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761180692635.png" alt="U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaking to reporters outside the White House Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaking to reporters outside the White House Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — In the midst of a federal government shutdown, the U.S. government’s gross national debt surpassed $38 trillion Wednesday, a record number that highlights the accelerating accumulation of debt on America’s balance sheet.It’s also the fastest accumulation of a trillion dollars in debt outside of the COVID-19 pandemic — the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasury-debt-spending-trump-obbb-6f807c4aae78dcc96f29ff07a3c926f4" rel="nofollow">U.S. hit $37 trillion in gross</a>&nbsp;national debt in August this year.The $38 trillion update is found in the&nbsp;<a href="https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/daily-treasury-statement/operating-cash-balance" target="_blank">latest Treasury Department report</a>, which logs the nation’s daily finances.Kent Smetters of the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Wharton Budget Model, who served in President George W. Bush’s Treasury Department, told The Associated Press that a growing debt load over time leads ultimately to higher inflation, eroding Americans’ purchasing power.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/americas-fiscal-future/how-could-federal-debt-affect-you" target="_blank">Government Accountability Office</a>&nbsp;outlines some of the impacts of rising government debt on Americans — including higher borrowing costs for things like mortgages and cars, lower wages from businesses having less money available to invest, and more expensive goods and services.“I think a lot of people want to know that their kids and grandkids are going to be in good, decent shape in the future — that they will be able to afford a house,” Smetters said. “That additional inflation compounds” and erodes consumers’ purchasing power, he said, making it less possible for future generations to achieve home ownership goals.The Trump administration says its policies are helping to slow government spending and will shrink the nation’s massive deficit. A new analysis by Treasury Department officials states that from April to September, the cumulative deficit totaled $468 billion. In a post on X Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that’s the lowest reading since 2019.“During his first eight months in office, President Trump has reduced the deficit by $350 billion compared to the same period in 2024 by cutting spending and boosting revenue,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement, adding that the administration would pursue robust economic growth, lower inflation, tariff revenue, lower borrowing costs and cuts to waste, fraud and abuse.The Joint Economic Committee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/debt-dashboard#:~:text=July%202025%20%7C%20Released%20July%2008,reached%20in%20approximately%20194%20days." target="_blank">estimates</a>&nbsp;that the total national debt has grown by $69,713.82 per second for the past year.Michael Peterson, chair and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, said in a statement that “reaching $38 trillion in debt during a government shutdown is the latest troubling sign that lawmakers are not meeting their basic fiscal duties.”“Along with increasing debt, you get higher interest costs, which are now the fastest growing part of the budget,” Peterson added. “We spent $4 trillion on interest over the last decade, but will spend $14 trillion in the next ten years. Interest costs crowd out important public and private investments in our future, harming the economy for every American.”

Report on surge in national debt comes in midst of government shutdown

JOHNSON COUNTY, MO. — On Wednesday,&nbsp;the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with Leeton Police Chief Rick Stropes and the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office, assisted in the investigation of the arson incident at the Leeton United Methodist Church, according to a media release.

During the investigation, authorities identified juveniles as having committed the arson fire. Due to their age, further information regarding their identities cannot be released in compliance with Missouri law governing juvenile information.

This case will be referred to the Johnson County Juvenile Office for appropriate actions.

JOHNSON COUNTY, Missouri- Investigators confirmed that a fire Monday night at the Leeton United Methodist Church was intentionally set, prompting an arson investigation led by the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office, according to a statement from the Johnson County Fire Protection District.

Just after 9p.m. Monday, firefighters from the Johnson County Fire Protection District and the Warrensburg Fire Department, responding through automatic mutual aid for a ladder truck to 106 N. Wall Street in Leeton.

When crews arrived, heavy smoke and flames were visible from inside the 129-year-old church. Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior and exterior attack, bringing the fire under control after nearly three hours.

Despite extensive damage throughout the structure, the church remains standing, and crews were able to save some items from inside.

The Leeton United Methodist Church, built in 1896, has long served as a cornerstone of the Leeton community.

The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office conducted the initial investigation into the origin and cause of the fire with assistance from the Johnson County Fire Protection District, Leeton Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Johnson County Fire Investigation Unit.

Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set, prompting a formal arson investigation.“

It’s heartbreaking to see a place that has stood for generations be deliberately set on fire,” said JCFPD Captain Joe Jennings. “This church isn’t just a building; it’s part of the history and identity of Leeton.

Seeing it damaged in this way is difficult for the entire community.”Captain Jennings urged anyone with information to come forward.“Someone knows something,” Jennings said. “We’re asking the public to do the right thing and help bring whoever is responsible to justice. No tip is too small.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761096204652.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY, MO. — On Wednesday,&nbsp;the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with Leeton Police Chief Rick Stropes and the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office, assisted in the investigation of the arson incident at the Leeton United Methodist Church, according to a media release.During the investigation, authorities identified juveniles as having committed the arson fire. Due to their age, further information regarding their identities cannot be released in compliance with Missouri law governing juvenile information.This case will be referred to the Johnson County Juvenile Office for appropriate actions.----------JOHNSON COUNTY, Missouri- Investigators confirmed that a fire Monday night at the Leeton United Methodist Church was intentionally set, prompting an arson investigation led by the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office, according to a statement from the Johnson County Fire Protection District.Just after 9p.m. Monday, firefighters from the Johnson County Fire Protection District and the Warrensburg Fire Department, responding through automatic mutual aid for a ladder truck to 106 N. Wall Street in Leeton.When crews arrived, heavy smoke and flames were visible from inside the 129-year-old church. Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior and exterior attack, bringing the fire under control after nearly three hours.Despite extensive damage throughout the structure, the church remains standing, and crews were able to save some items from inside.The Leeton United Methodist Church, built in 1896, has long served as a cornerstone of the Leeton community.The Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office conducted the initial investigation into the origin and cause of the fire with assistance from the Johnson County Fire Protection District, Leeton Police Department, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Johnson County Fire Investigation Unit.Investigators determined the fire was intentionally set, prompting a formal arson investigation.“It’s heartbreaking to see a place that has stood for generations be deliberately set on fire,” said JCFPD Captain Joe Jennings. “This church isn’t just a building; it’s part of the history and identity of Leeton.Seeing it damaged in this way is difficult for the entire community.”Captain Jennings urged anyone with information to come forward.“Someone knows something,” Jennings said. “We’re asking the public to do the right thing and help bring whoever is responsible to justice. No tip is too small.”

Arson: Sheriff reports who started fire at 129-year-old Methodist church

KANSAS CITY —The staff at the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium are mourning the loss of African elephant Lois, who lived at the KCZoo for more than four decades, according to a statement from the zoo.

At 47-years old, Lois was considered a geriatric elephant, so her long life is really a testament to the excellent care of the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary health teams. 

Lois was beloved by Zoo staff and guests, and most easily identified by her pointed left tusk and red hair on top of her head. Lois was born in 1978 and arrived in Kansas City on September 17, 1982, with another African elephant, Lea, who still resides at the Zoo. 

Due to her age, Lois showed signs of degenerative joints and had also ruptured the caudal cruciate ligament (CCL) in one of her hind legs 15 years ago. 

This type of injury would have been fatal in her native range, but the specialized care provided at the Zoo gave her many more years of wellbeing. 

While treating an elephant is complex, Lois responded well to laser therapy, anti-inflammatories, changes to the substrate in the barn stall, and other accommodations to make her comfortable. 

Recently, Lois had been experiencing more challenges with movement, and she did not respond to additional treatment options over the past week. 

The difficult decision to euthanize her was made on October 21 due to diminished quality of life. The care specialists that knew her best described Lois as “a strong-willed girl with an unwavering spirit.”

 They say she was a fiery redhead with a spunky personality who loved snacks and lots of attention. Her favorite game was showering her unsuspecting caregivers with water, soaking them and all their paperwork and supplies. Those early morning showers will be remembered fondly.

With the loss of Lois, the Zoo is home to eight elephants, four of which are considered geriatric. Lady is the oldest African elephant in North America at the age of 57, and Lea, Megan, and Tattoo, are also all 47 years old. Zoe, 40, Christy, 38, Zuri, 15, and Tamani, a 20-year-old male, round out the herd

.Lois was a beloved ambassador for her endangered species and helped to inspire the Zoo’s conservation efforts to save elephants and other wildlife through programs in Zambia and South Africa.  Lois will be dearly missed by all her Zoo family, including staff, volunteers, and guests.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761178925460.png" alt="Lois photo Kansas City Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Lois photo Kansas City Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The staff at the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium are mourning the loss of African elephant Lois, who lived at the KCZoo for more than four decades, according to a statement from the zoo.At 47-years old, Lois was considered a geriatric elephant, so her long life is really a testament to the excellent care of the Zoo’s animal care and veterinary health teams. Lois was beloved by Zoo staff and guests, and most easily identified by her pointed left tusk and red hair on top of her head. Lois was born in 1978 and arrived in Kansas City on September 17, 1982, with another African elephant, Lea, who still resides at the Zoo. Due to her age, Lois showed signs of degenerative joints and had also ruptured the caudal cruciate ligament (CCL) in one of her hind legs 15 years ago. This type of injury would have been fatal in her native range, but the specialized care provided at the Zoo gave her many more years of wellbeing. While treating an elephant is complex, Lois responded well to laser therapy, anti-inflammatories, changes to the substrate in the barn stall, and other accommodations to make her comfortable. Recently, Lois had been experiencing more challenges with movement, and she did not respond to additional treatment options over the past week. The difficult decision to euthanize her was made on October 21 due to diminished quality of life. The care specialists that knew her best described Lois as “a strong-willed girl with an unwavering spirit.” They say she was a fiery redhead with a spunky personality who loved snacks and lots of attention. Her favorite game was showering her unsuspecting caregivers with water, soaking them and all their paperwork and supplies. Those early morning showers will be remembered fondly.With the loss of Lois, the Zoo is home to eight elephants, four of which are considered geriatric. Lady is the oldest African elephant in North America at the age of 57, and Lea, Megan, and Tattoo, are also all 47 years old. Zoe, 40, Christy, 38, Zuri, 15, and Tamani, a 20-year-old male, round out the herd.Lois was a beloved ambassador for her endangered species and helped to inspire the Zoo’s conservation efforts to save elephants and other wildlife through programs in Zambia and South Africa. Lois will be dearly missed by all her Zoo family, including staff, volunteers, and guests.

 Kansas City Zoo mourns loss of 47-year-old elephant

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces felony charges in connection with the fatal overdose of a teenager in 2023, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2744/Sajdak-Redacted-Complaint">Blake A. Sajdak</a>, 22, faces 2nd Degree Felony Murder and Delivery of a Controlled Substance to a Minor.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2743/Sajdak-Redacted-Probable-Cause-2">According to court records</a>, Independence police responded to an address on a call for medical service on January 10, 2023, and located the juvenile victim. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

The Jackson County Medical Examiner listed her cause of death as acute fentanyl intoxication.&nbsp; During the investigation over the last couple years, detectives identified Sajdak through messages between him and the victim clearly indicating drug transactions.&nbsp;

Based on the messages, the Sajdak delivered narcotics to the victim the day before her death. On the message thread that day, Sajdak said, “these ain’t the regular ones these are stronger…” He is being held on a $200,000/10% bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761077945031.png" alt="Sajdak photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Sajdak photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces felony charges in connection with the fatal overdose of a teenager in 2023, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2744/Sajdak-Redacted-Complaint">Blake A. Sajdak</a>, 22, faces 2nd Degree Felony Murder and Delivery of a Controlled Substance to a Minor.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2743/Sajdak-Redacted-Probable-Cause-2">According to court records</a>, Independence police responded to an address on a call for medical service on January 10, 2023, and located the juvenile victim. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;The Jackson County Medical Examiner listed her cause of death as acute fentanyl intoxication.&nbsp; During the investigation over the last couple years, detectives identified Sajdak through messages between him and the victim clearly indicating drug transactions.&nbsp;Based on the messages, the Sajdak delivered narcotics to the victim the day before her death. On the message thread that day, Sajdak said, “these ain’t the regular ones these are stronger…” He is being held on a $200,000/10% bond.&nbsp;

KC fentanyl dealer: These ain’t the regular ones, these are stronger

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military on Wednesday launched its ninth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d" rel="nofollow">strike against an alleged drug-carrying vessel</a>, killing three people in the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, further expanding the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-military-strikes-drugs-caribbean-ecuador-colombia-c1d4c025e1dfe21cc7ee67d7aa4e05bd" rel="nofollow">campaign against drug trafficking in South America</a>.

Wednesday’s strike followed a strike Tuesday night, also in the eastern Pacific, that killed two people, according to Hegseth.

The attacks Tuesday and Wednesday were departures from the seven previous U.S. strikes that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-buildup-caribbean-venezuela-ships-troops-810f6181371f53536c723ea562c5277c" rel="nofollow">had targeted vessels</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean. They bring the death toll to at least 37 from attacks that began last month.

The strikes represent an expansion of the military’s targeting area as well as a shift to the waters off South America where much of the cocaine from the world’s largest producers is smuggled. Hegseth’s social media posts also drew a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-drugs-venezuela-911-hegseth-3db3aafed492556bb9ca7de855c4849e" rel="nofollow">direct comparison between the war on terrorism</a>&nbsp;that the U.S. declared after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the Trump administration’s crackdown.

“Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people,” Hegseth said, adding “there will be no refuge or forgiveness — only justice.”

Later Wednesday, he referred to the alleged drug-runners as “the ‘Al Qaeda’ of our hemisphere.”

Republican President Donald Trump has justified the strikes by asserting that the United States is engaged in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d" rel="nofollow">an “armed conflict” with drug cartels</a>&nbsp;and proclaiming the criminal organizations unlawful combatants, relying on the same legal authority used by President George W. Bush’s administration for the war on terrorism.

Asked about the latest boat attack, Trump insisted that “we have legal authority. We’re allowed to do that.” He said similar strikes could eventually come on land.

“We will hit them very hard when they come in by land,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We’re totally prepared to do that. And we’ll probably go back to Congress and explain exactly what we’re doing when we come to the land.”

Lawmakers from both political parties have expressed concerns about Trump ordering the military actions without receiving authorization from Congress or providing many details.

Appearing alongside Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended such strikes, saying, “If people want to stop seeing drug boats blow up, stop sending drugs to the United States.”

Targeting a boat in a thoroughfare for cocaine smuggling

In the first brief video Hegseth posted Wednesday, a small boat, half-filled with brown packages, is seen moving along the water. Several seconds into the video, the boat explodes and is seen floating motionless on the water in flames.

The second video shows another boat moving quickly before being struck by an explosion. Video apparently recorded after the explosion shows packages floating in the water.

The U.S. military has built up an unusually large&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d" rel="nofollow">force in the Caribbean Sea</a>&nbsp;and the waters off the coast of Venezuela since this summer, raising speculation that Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0" rel="nofollow">could try to topple</a>&nbsp;Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f" rel="nofollow">charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.</a>

In his posts on the strikes, Trump has repeatedly argued that illegal narcotics and the drug fentanyl carried by the vessels have been poisoning Americans.

While the bulk of American overdose deaths are from fentanyl, the drug is transported by land from Mexico. Venezuela is a major drug transit zone, but the eastern Pacific Ocean, not the Caribbean, is the primary area for smuggling cocaine.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombia-coca-crop-033c449cf1124b4ce23cec3716e1aeef" rel="nofollow">Colombia</a>&nbsp;and Peru, countries with coastlines on the eastern Pacific, are the world’s top cocaine producers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ecuador-bananas-cocaine-europe-drug-trafficking-6d6529e2b1d8f3cbd16aea74ade0b93d" rel="nofollow">Wedged between them is Ecuador</a>, whose world-class ports and myriad maritime shipping containers filled with bananas have become the perfect vehicle for drug traffickers to move their product.

The administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-military-strikes-drugs-caribbean-ecuador-colombia-c1d4c025e1dfe21cc7ee67d7aa4e05bd" rel="nofollow">sidestepped prosecuting any occupants</a>&nbsp;of alleged drug-running vessels after returning two survivors of an earlier strike to their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ecuador-strike-caribbean-trump-fentanyl-colombia-venezuela-0f8f1c004064857046398b388ddb8df5" rel="nofollow">Ecuadorian officials later said</a>&nbsp;they released the man who was returned because they had no evidence he committed a crime in their country.

Questions from Congress as strikes continue

Some Republican lawmakers have asked the White House for more clarification on its legal justification and specifics on how the strikes are conducted, while Democrats insist they are violations of U.S. and international law.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was alarmed and angry about a lack of information on the strikes.

“Expanding the geography simply expands the lawlessness and the recklessness in the use of the American military without seeming legal or practical justification,” Blumenthal said.

He said the way to target trafficking would be stopping the boats and interrogating those aboard to find the source of the drugs, “not just destroy the smugglers who are likely to be at the bottom of the smuggling chain.”

The Republican-controlled Senate recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-war-power-congress-2c8c491f88836249801b6b15b19217b5" rel="nofollow">voted down</a>&nbsp;a Democratic-sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/war-powers-act-trump-congress-9e6832fb5f5f844acf8992008d3a8d63" rel="nofollow">war powers</a>&nbsp;resolution, mostly along party lines, that would have required the president to seek authorization from Congress before further military strikes.

Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said he’s met with Rubio.

“He has researched the legal ramifications carefully and he believes we’re on solid ground in attacking these narcoterrorists,” Kennedy said. “I trust his judgment.”

Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Kevin Freking in Washington and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military conducted its eighth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-drugs-venezuela-boat-strike-af1a784864268707a76755a98615563e">strike against an alleged drug vessel</a>, killing two people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military on Wednesday launched its ninth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d" rel="nofollow">strike against an alleged drug-carrying vessel</a>, killing three people in the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, further expanding the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-military-strikes-drugs-caribbean-ecuador-colombia-c1d4c025e1dfe21cc7ee67d7aa4e05bd" rel="nofollow">campaign against drug trafficking in South America</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War carried out yet another lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization (DTO). Yet again, the now-deceased terrorists were engaged in narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. The… <a href="https://t.co/PEaKmakivD">pic.twitter.com/PEaKmakivD</a>&mdash; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1981167670989926902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel being operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization and conducting narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. The vessel was known by our intelligence to be… <a href="https://t.co/BayDhUZ4Ac">pic.twitter.com/BayDhUZ4Ac</a>&mdash; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1981049943306752361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Wednesday’s strike followed a strike Tuesday night, also in the eastern Pacific, that killed two people, according to Hegseth.The attacks Tuesday and Wednesday were departures from the seven previous U.S. strikes that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-buildup-caribbean-venezuela-ships-troops-810f6181371f53536c723ea562c5277c" rel="nofollow">had targeted vessels</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean. They bring the death toll to at least 37 from attacks that began last month.The strikes represent an expansion of the military’s targeting area as well as a shift to the waters off South America where much of the cocaine from the world’s largest producers is smuggled. Hegseth’s social media posts also drew a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-drugs-venezuela-911-hegseth-3db3aafed492556bb9ca7de855c4849e" rel="nofollow">direct comparison between the war on terrorism</a>&nbsp;that the U.S. declared after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the Trump administration’s crackdown.“Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people,” Hegseth said, adding “there will be no refuge or forgiveness — only justice.”Later Wednesday, he referred to the alleged drug-runners as “the ‘Al Qaeda’ of our hemisphere.”Republican President Donald Trump has justified the strikes by asserting that the United States is engaged in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-armed-conflict-cb57804807e55a00ace60ad5f4d4f24d" rel="nofollow">an “armed conflict” with drug cartels</a>&nbsp;and proclaiming the criminal organizations unlawful combatants, relying on the same legal authority used by President George W. Bush’s administration for the war on terrorism.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on strikes against narcoterrorists: &quot;This is a national security problem... They killed 300,000 Americans last year.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/eKwaKMgGnT">pic.twitter.com/eKwaKMgGnT</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1981109926526132687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 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/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a>: &quot;These are drug boats. If people want to stop seeing drug boats blown up, stop sending drugs to the United States.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/qACz92D54g">pic.twitter.com/qACz92D54g</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1981109821031272738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Trump says strikes on land could be next</h2>Asked about the latest boat attack, Trump insisted that “we have legal authority. We’re allowed to do that.” He said similar strikes could eventually come on land.“We will hit them very hard when they come in by land,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We’re totally prepared to do that. And we’ll probably go back to Congress and explain exactly what we’re doing when we come to the land.”Lawmakers from both political parties have expressed concerns about Trump ordering the military actions without receiving authorization from Congress or providing many details.Appearing alongside Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended such strikes, saying, “If people want to stop seeing drug boats blow up, stop sending drugs to the United States.”<h2>Targeting a boat in a thoroughfare for cocaine smuggling</h2>In the first brief video Hegseth posted Wednesday, a small boat, half-filled with brown packages, is seen moving along the water. Several seconds into the video, the boat explodes and is seen floating motionless on the water in flames.The second video shows another boat moving quickly before being struck by an explosion. Video apparently recorded after the explosion shows packages floating in the water.The U.S. military has built up an unusually large&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d" rel="nofollow">force in the Caribbean Sea</a>&nbsp;and the waters off the coast of Venezuela since this summer, raising speculation that Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-strike-caribbean-drug-trafficking-trump-1061debe2f983ef7bc9666d3f002b3a0" rel="nofollow">could try to topple</a>&nbsp;Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f" rel="nofollow">charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.</a>In his posts on the strikes, Trump has repeatedly argued that illegal narcotics and the drug fentanyl carried by the vessels have been poisoning Americans.While the bulk of American overdose deaths are from fentanyl, the drug is transported by land from Mexico. Venezuela is a major drug transit zone, but the eastern Pacific Ocean, not the Caribbean, is the primary area for smuggling cocaine.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colombia-coca-crop-033c449cf1124b4ce23cec3716e1aeef" rel="nofollow">Colombia</a>&nbsp;and Peru, countries with coastlines on the eastern Pacific, are the world’s top cocaine producers.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ecuador-bananas-cocaine-europe-drug-trafficking-6d6529e2b1d8f3cbd16aea74ade0b93d" rel="nofollow">Wedged between them is Ecuador</a>, whose world-class ports and myriad maritime shipping containers filled with bananas have become the perfect vehicle for drug traffickers to move their product.The administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-military-strikes-drugs-caribbean-ecuador-colombia-c1d4c025e1dfe21cc7ee67d7aa4e05bd" rel="nofollow">sidestepped prosecuting any occupants</a>&nbsp;of alleged drug-running vessels after returning two survivors of an earlier strike to their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ecuador-strike-caribbean-trump-fentanyl-colombia-venezuela-0f8f1c004064857046398b388ddb8df5" rel="nofollow">Ecuadorian officials later said</a>&nbsp;they released the man who was returned because they had no evidence he committed a crime in their country.<h2>Questions from Congress as strikes continue</h2>Some Republican lawmakers have asked the White House for more clarification on its legal justification and specifics on how the strikes are conducted, while Democrats insist they are violations of U.S. and international law.Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democratic member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he was alarmed and angry about a lack of information on the strikes.“Expanding the geography simply expands the lawlessness and the recklessness in the use of the American military without seeming legal or practical justification,” Blumenthal said.He said the way to target trafficking would be stopping the boats and interrogating those aboard to find the source of the drugs, “not just destroy the smugglers who are likely to be at the bottom of the smuggling chain.”The Republican-controlled Senate recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-war-power-congress-2c8c491f88836249801b6b15b19217b5" rel="nofollow">voted down</a>&nbsp;a Democratic-sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/war-powers-act-trump-congress-9e6832fb5f5f844acf8992008d3a8d63" rel="nofollow">war powers</a>&nbsp;resolution, mostly along party lines, that would have required the president to seek authorization from Congress before further military strikes.Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana said he’s met with Rubio.“He has researched the legal ramifications carefully and he believes we’re on solid ground in attacking these narcoterrorists,” Kennedy said. “I trust his judgment.”___Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Kevin Freking in Washington and Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military conducted its eighth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-drugs-venezuela-boat-strike-af1a784864268707a76755a98615563e">strike against an alleged drug vessel</a>, killing two people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel being operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization and conducting narco-trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. The vessel was known by our intelligence to be… <a href="https://t.co/BayDhUZ4Ac">pic.twitter.com/BayDhUZ4Ac</a>&mdash; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1981049943306752361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Tuesday night strike occurred in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The seven previous strikes all targeted vessels in the Caribbean. According to Hegseth in a social media post, the strike killed two people, bringing the death toll from all the strikes to at least 34 people.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on strikes against narcoterrorists: &quot;This is a national security problem... They killed 300,000 Americans last year.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/eKwaKMgGnT">pic.twitter.com/eKwaKMgGnT</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1981109926526132687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 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/SecRubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecRubio</a>: &quot;These are drug boats. If people want to stop seeing drug boats blown up, stop sending drugs to the United States.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/qACz92D54g">pic.twitter.com/qACz92D54g</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1981109821031272738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a brief video released by Hegseth, a small boat, half-filled with brown packages, is seen moving along the water. Several seconds into the video, the boat explodes and is seen floating motionless on the water in flames.In his post, Hegseth took the unusual step of equating the alleged drug traffickers to the group behind the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.“Just as Al Qaeda waged war on our homeland, these cartels are waging war on our border and our people,” Hegseth said, adding “there will be no refuge or forgiveness — only justice.”President Donald Trump has justified the strikes by asserting that the United States is engaged in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-drugs-venezuela-911-hegseth-3db3aafed492556bb9ca7de855c4849e">an “armed conflict”</a>&nbsp;with drug cartels and is relying on the same legal authority used by President George W. Bush's administration when it declared a war on terrorism after the Sept. 11 attack.However, the Trump administration has also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-military-strikes-drugs-caribbean-ecuador-colombia-c1d4c025e1dfe21cc7ee67d7aa4e05bd">sidestepped prosecuting any of the occupants</a>&nbsp;of the alleged drug-running vessels after it returned two survivors of an earlier strike to their home countries of Ecuador and Colombia.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ecuador-strike-caribbean-trump-fentanyl-colombia-venezuela-0f8f1c004064857046398b388ddb8df5">Ecuadorian officials later said</a>&nbsp;that they released the man that was returned to their country, saying that they had no evidence he committed a crime in their country.