In several states, a renter has to make $20 or more an hour to afford apartments being leased at Fair Market Value. Nearly half of Americans don’t make enough money to afford a one-bedroom rental.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/naomi-delkamiller-1">Jessica Meza</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/">KCUR</a>

Personal stories about struggling to make ends meet appear throughout the report, “Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing.”

Vee, from Missouri, said her small wage increases don’t make a dent in rising rent costs.

“Everything is going up, but the paycheck,” a woman named Detrese from Maryland told the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which authored the report.

The report focuses on the housing wage, defined as the full-time hourly wage needed for workers to afford “a decent rental home that doesn’t occupy more than 30% of their wage.”

On the national level, the data shows, a renter needs to earn about $28 an hour to afford a modest one-bedroom rental without spending 30% of their income to pay for housing. Half of working Americans earn less than that, according to the report.

Published on Thursday, the report begins with an open letter from Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri that warns about the ongoing affordable housing and homelessness crisis in the U.S.

“I know these challenges firsthand. As a child, my family and I lived in public housing. We relied on it to put a roof over our heads, and to make sure there was enough money to put food on the table,” Cleaver writes.

In at least four Midwestern states, minimum wage is not enough to afford a two-bedroom rental at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hud.loans/hud-loans-blog/what-is-fair-market-rent/" target="_blank">Fair Market Value</a>.

Renters in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri need to make at least $20 an hour to afford a two-bedroom rental. Minimum wage earners would need to work several full time jobs to afford it.

Costs are even higher in Illinois, where it takes earnings of almost $30 an hour to afford the same size of dwelling.

“People have lower incomes in those places, so the housing might be more affordable, you know, nominally, but not necessarily, relative to people's incomes,” said Dan Emmanuel, the coalition's director of research.

According to the NILHC report, only one out of four prospective renters eligible for housing assistance are able to receive that aid, and&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/house-appropriations-committee-releases-draft-fy26-spending-bill-cutting-hud-funding" target="_blank">budget cuts</a>&nbsp;to federal programs proposed by Congress will drastically impact those who need it.

Under the 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development measure, almost a billion dollars could be cut from HUD, an amount which the NILHC acknowledges is not as high as&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/house-appropriations-committee-releases-draft-fy26-spending-bill-cutting-hud-funding" target="_blank">originally proposed</a>.

In remarks at a July&nbsp;<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/news/remarks/cole-remarks-fy26-transportation-housing-and-urban-development-and-related-agencies-0" target="_blank">Appropriations Committee session</a>, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who chairs the committee, said:

"The bill empowers local housing and community development decision-making through Community Development Block Grants and NeighborWorks—capacity-building activities that leverage private housing investment dollars.”

Emmanuel said many people will lose their housing and could become homeless as a result of proposed cuts.

“(HUD) won't be able to serve the same amount of people as in 2025,” Emmanuel said.

Tina Murray, vice president of housing at&nbsp;<a href="https://togetheromaha.org/welcome.html" target="_blank">Together Omaha</a>, a food and housing advocacy group, is worried about the ending of housing programs. She said there is already a big shift in housing affordability in Omaha due to the end of pandemic era federal funds and predicts a gradual rise in evictions after the federal funding is no longer available.

“What we're seeing now are a lot of individuals that I believe will not be able to afford where they're living, or be able to be re-house,” Murray said.

Omaha is one of the most expensive areas for renters in Nebraska. The housing wage in the state’s largest city is about $24, while the state housing wage is $21.57. The average Nebraskan renter earns $17.71 an hour, only about four dollars above the state minimum wage.

According to the report, Kendall County, in the Chicago metropolitan region, is one of the most expensive areas for renters in Illinois. The housing wage there is $36.27, higher than the state’s housing wage of $29.81. The average Illinois renter makes $23.01 an hour, about seven dollars above the minimum wage.

Vikki from Illinois shares her story in the report, describing feeling trapped, as her only housing options to relocate with her son are in "unacceptable conditions."

Emmanual said people of color are disproportionately impacted by the rising cost of rent, lack of affordable housing and low wages.

In comparison to white people, people of color face higher rates of housing, employment and income discrimination. Latina women face the biggest&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1O4WgwKwVJDm0QWRUf2U6r_p7Tm6ibz7D" target="_blank">wage gap</a>, earning nearly 11 dollars per hour&nbsp;less than white men. The unemployment rate for American Indians and Alaska Natives was 6.6%, nearly double the rate for white people.

“There is a long, long history of housing discrimination. Either through red line exclusionary zoning or predatory lending. And some of those practices are even persistent in the present," said Emmanuel.

In his introductory letter to the report, Cleaver sums up many factors contributing to what the NILHC calls an “affordability crisis” in housing.

“While the stories and circumstances are unique, the root causes of housing instability are not: there are not enough decent, affordable, and accessible homes in communities, and wages have not kept pace with the ever-increasing cost of rent,” Cleaver writes.

The NILHC says another factor causing lack of affordable housing is the practice of&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/new-study-examines-filtering-dynamics-us-housing-supply" target="_blank">upward filtering</a>, in which landlords and developers renovate old buildings and rent the units at higher prices.

The authors of “Out of Reach” say solutions to the affordability crisis are available.

The report urges Congress to protect housing programs and expand the existing assistance. One of its suggestions is continuing the Emergency Housing Voucher program created through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

“Congress must not only protect existing housing programs but significantly strengthen them through sustained investment, expanded rental assistance, and policies that eliminate barriers to housing access,” the report says.

The NILHC points to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opportunityhome.org/take-action/bipartisan-family-stability-and-opportunity-vouchers-act/" target="_blank">Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act</a>&nbsp;as a step in the right direction. The bipartisan measure would provide 250,000 housing vouchers to families with young children to increase housing stability and offer them more choice in where they live.

<h2>In several states, a renter has to make $20 or more an hour to afford apartments being leased at Fair Market Value. Nearly half of Americans don’t make enough money to afford a one-bedroom rental.</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752852307231.png" alt="A banner advertising apartments for rent on display in St. Louis. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, more people than ever in the Midwest and nationwide are not earning enough money to afford the rent.&nbsp;Eric Lee/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>A banner advertising apartments for rent on display in St. Louis. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, more people than ever in the Midwest and nationwide are not earning enough money to afford the rent.&nbsp;Eric Lee/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/naomi-delkamiller-1">Jessica Meza</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/">KCUR</a>Personal stories about struggling to make ends meet appear throughout the report, “Out of Reach: The High Cost of Housing.”Vee, from Missouri, said her small wage increases don’t make a dent in rising rent costs.“Everything is going up, but the paycheck,” a woman named Detrese from Maryland told the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which authored the report.The report focuses on the housing wage, defined as the full-time hourly wage needed for workers to afford “a decent rental home that doesn’t occupy more than 30% of their wage.”On the national level, the data shows, a renter needs to earn about $28 an hour to afford a modest one-bedroom rental without spending 30% of their income to pay for housing. Half of working Americans earn less than that, according to the report.Published on Thursday, the report begins with an open letter from Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II of Missouri that warns about the ongoing affordable housing and homelessness crisis in the U.S.“I know these challenges firsthand. As a child, my family and I lived in public housing. We relied on it to put a roof over our heads, and to make sure there was enough money to put food on the table,” Cleaver writes.In at least four Midwestern states, minimum wage is not enough to afford a two-bedroom rental at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hud.loans/hud-loans-blog/what-is-fair-market-rent/" target="_blank">Fair Market Value</a>.Renters in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri need to make at least $20 an hour to afford a two-bedroom rental. Minimum wage earners would need to work several full time jobs to afford it.Costs are even higher in Illinois, where it takes earnings of almost $30 an hour to afford the same size of dwelling.“People have lower incomes in those places, so the housing might be more affordable, you know, nominally, but not necessarily, relative to people's incomes,” said Dan Emmanuel, the coalition's director of research.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752852495720.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Nowhere to go&nbsp;</h2>According to the NILHC report, only one out of four prospective renters eligible for housing assistance are able to receive that aid, and&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/house-appropriations-committee-releases-draft-fy26-spending-bill-cutting-hud-funding" target="_blank">budget cuts</a>&nbsp;to federal programs proposed by Congress will drastically impact those who need it.Under the 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development measure, almost a billion dollars could be cut from HUD, an amount which the NILHC acknowledges is not as high as&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/house-appropriations-committee-releases-draft-fy26-spending-bill-cutting-hud-funding" target="_blank">originally proposed</a>.In remarks at a July&nbsp;<a href="https://appropriations.house.gov/news/remarks/cole-remarks-fy26-transportation-housing-and-urban-development-and-related-agencies-0" target="_blank">Appropriations Committee session</a>, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who chairs the committee, said:"The bill empowers local housing and community development decision-making through Community Development Block Grants and NeighborWorks—capacity-building activities that leverage private housing investment dollars.”Emmanuel said many people will lose their housing and could become homeless as a result of proposed cuts.“(HUD) won't be able to serve the same amount of people as in 2025,” Emmanuel said.Tina Murray, vice president of housing at&nbsp;<a href="https://togetheromaha.org/welcome.html" target="_blank">Together Omaha</a>, a food and housing advocacy group, is worried about the ending of housing programs. She said there is already a big shift in housing affordability in Omaha due to the end of pandemic era federal funds and predicts a gradual rise in evictions after the federal funding is no longer available.“What we're seeing now are a lot of individuals that I believe will not be able to afford where they're living, or be able to be re-house,” Murray said.Omaha is one of the most expensive areas for renters in Nebraska. The housing wage in the state’s largest city is about $24, while the state housing wage is $21.57. The average Nebraskan renter earns $17.71 an hour, only about four dollars above the state minimum wage.According to the report, Kendall County, in the Chicago metropolitan region, is one of the most expensive areas for renters in Illinois. The housing wage there is $36.27, higher than the state’s housing wage of $29.81. The average Illinois renter makes $23.01 an hour, about seven dollars above the minimum wage.Vikki from Illinois shares her story in the report, describing feeling trapped, as her only housing options to relocate with her son are in "unacceptable conditions."Emmanual said people of color are disproportionately impacted by the rising cost of rent, lack of affordable housing and low wages.In comparison to white people, people of color face higher rates of housing, employment and income discrimination. Latina women face the biggest&nbsp;<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1O4WgwKwVJDm0QWRUf2U6r_p7Tm6ibz7D" target="_blank">wage gap</a>, earning nearly 11 dollars per hour&nbsp;less than white men. The unemployment rate for American Indians and Alaska Natives was 6.6%, nearly double the rate for white people.“There is a long, long history of housing discrimination. Either through red line exclusionary zoning or predatory lending. And some of those practices are even persistent in the present," said Emmanuel.<h2>Causes, solutions</h2>In his introductory letter to the report, Cleaver sums up many factors contributing to what the NILHC calls an “affordability crisis” in housing.“While the stories and circumstances are unique, the root causes of housing instability are not: there are not enough decent, affordable, and accessible homes in communities, and wages have not kept pace with the ever-increasing cost of rent,” Cleaver writes.The NILHC says another factor causing lack of affordable housing is the practice of&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/new-study-examines-filtering-dynamics-us-housing-supply" target="_blank">upward filtering</a>, in which landlords and developers renovate old buildings and rent the units at higher prices.The authors of “Out of Reach” say solutions to the affordability crisis are available.The report urges Congress to protect housing programs and expand the existing assistance. One of its suggestions is continuing the Emergency Housing Voucher program created through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.“Congress must not only protect existing housing programs but significantly strengthen them through sustained investment, expanded rental assistance, and policies that eliminate barriers to housing access,” the report says.The NILHC points to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opportunityhome.org/take-action/bipartisan-family-stability-and-opportunity-vouchers-act/" target="_blank">Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act</a>&nbsp;as a step in the right direction. The bipartisan measure would provide 250,000 housing vouchers to families with young children to increase housing stability and offer them more choice in where they live.

Minimum wage not enough to afford to rent 'decent' housing in Midwest, report says

Republican majorities in both houses of Congress have now approved President Donald Trump’s clawback of about $9 billion for public broadcasting and foreign aid that lawmakers had appropriated. 

The cuts now await Trump's signature, and the White House suggests more efforts to overrule congressional spending authority. 

Trump meanwhile is threatening to sue the Wall Street Journal for reporting that he once contributed a sexually suggestive birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein. 

And fans of Steven Colbert are dismayed that CBS is cancelling ‘The Late Show.’ That announcement swiftly followed a monologue where Colbert described the parent company's $16 million settlement offer to Trump as a “big fat bribe.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752511088132.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Associated PressRepublican majorities in both houses of Congress have now approved President Donald Trump’s clawback of about $9 billion for public broadcasting and foreign aid that lawmakers had appropriated. The cuts now await Trump's signature, and the White House suggests more efforts to overrule congressional spending authority. Trump meanwhile is threatening to sue the Wall Street Journal for reporting that he once contributed a sexually suggestive birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein. And fans of Steven Colbert are dismayed that CBS is cancelling ‘The Late Show.’ That announcement swiftly followed a monologue where Colbert described the parent company's $16 million settlement offer to Trump as a “big fat bribe.”

House approves Trump’s $9 billion cut to public broadcasting, foreign aid

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Anyone firing up the grill this summer already knows hamburger patties and steaks are expensive, but the latest numbers show prices have climbed increasingly fast.

And experts say consumers shouldn't expect much relief soon either.

The average price of a pound of ground beef rose to $6.12 in June, up nearly 12% from a year ago, according to U.S. government data. The average price of all uncooked beef steaks rose 8% to $11.49 per pound.

But this is not a recent phenomenon. Beef prices have been steadily rising over the past 20 years because the supply of cattle remains tight while beef remains popular.

In fact, the U.S. cattle herd has been steadily shrinking for decades. As of Jan. 1, the U.S. had 86.7 million cattle and calves, down 8% from the most recent peak in 2019. That’s the lowest number of cattle since 1951, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Many factors including drought and cattle prices have contributed to that decline. And now the emergence of a pesky parasite in Mexico and the prospect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-donald-trump-tariffs-agriculture-china-d5674c21e240acdc72cde76e474f172a">widespread tariffs</a>&nbsp;may further reduce supply and raise prices.

Here's a look at what's causing the price of beef to rise.

The American beef industry has gotten better at breeding larger animals, so ranchers can provide the same amount of beef with fewer cattle, said David Anderson, a livestock economist at Texas A&amp;M.

Then in 2020, a three-year drought began that dried out pastures and raised the cost of feed for cattle, according to the American Farm Bureau. Drought has continued to be a problem across the West since then, and the price of feed has put more pressure on ranchers who already operate on slim profit margins.

In response, many farmers slaughtered more female cattle than usual, which helped beef supplies in the short term but lowered the size of future herds. Lower cattle supplies has raised prices.

In recent years cattle prices have soared, so that now animals are selling for thousands of dollars apiece. Recent prices show cattle selling for more than $230 per hundredweight, or hundred pounds.

Those higher prices give ranchers more incentive to sell cows now to capture profits instead of hanging onto them for breeding given that prices for those calves in the years ahead may decrease, Anderson said.

“For them, the balance is, ‘Do I sell that animal now and take this record high check?’ Or ‘do I keep her to realize her returns over her productive life when she’s having calves?’” Anderson said. “And so it’s this balancing act and so far the side that’s been winning is to sell her and get the check.”

The emergence of a flesh-eating pest in cattle herds in Mexico has put extra pressure on supply because officials cut off all imports of cattle from south of the border last year. Some 4% of the cattle the U.S. feeds to slaughter for beef comes from Mexico.

The pest is the New World screwworm fly, and female cows lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals. The larvae that hatch are unusual among flies for feeding on live flesh and fluids instead of dead material. American officials worry that if the fly reaches Texas, its flesh-eating maggots could cause large economic losses as they did decades ago before the U.S. eradicated the pest.

Agricultural economist Bernt Nelson with the Farm Bureau said the loss of that much cattle is putting additional pressure on supply that is helping drive prices higher.

President Donald Trump's tariffs have yet to have a major impact on beef prices but they could be another factor that drives prices higher because the U.S. imports more than 4 million pounds of beef every year.

Much of what is imported is lean beef trimmings that meatpackers mix with fattier beef produced in the U.S. to produce the varieties of ground beef that domestic consumers want. Much of that lean beef comes from Australia and New Zealand that have only seen a 10% tariff, but some of it comes from Brazil where Trump has threatened tariffs as high as 50%.

If the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beef-tariffs-cattle-rancher-prices-china-exports-55330afb6276c51015ef4e312686cba1">tariffs remain in place long-term</a>, meat processors will have to pay higher prices on imported lean beef. It wouldn't be easy for U.S. producers to replace because the country's system is geared toward producing fattier beef known for marbled steaks.

It's the height of grilling season and demand in the U.S. for beef remains strong, which Kansas State agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor said will help keep prices higher.

If prices remain this high, shoppers will likely start to buy more hamburger meat and fewer steaks, but that doesn't appear to be happening broadly yet — and people also don't seem to be buying chicken or pork instead of beef.

Nelson said that recently the drought has eased — allowing pasture conditions to improve — and grain prices are down thanks to the drop in export demand for corn because of the tariffs. Those factors, combined with the high cattle prices might persuade more ranchers to keep their cows and breed them to expand the size of their herds.

Even if ranchers decided to raise more cattle to help replace those imports, it would take at least two years to breed and raise them. And it wouldn't be clear if that is happening until later this fall when ranchers typically make those decisions.

“We’ve still got a lot of barriers in the way to grow this herd,” Nelson said. Just consider that a young farmer who wants to add 25 bred heifers to his herd has to be prepared to spend more than $100,000 at auction at a time when borrowing costs remain high.

There is typically a seasonal decline in beef prices as grilling season slows down into the fall, but those price declines are likely to be modest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752789151182.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Anyone firing up the grill this summer already knows hamburger patties and steaks are expensive, but the latest numbers show prices have climbed increasingly fast.And experts say consumers shouldn't expect much relief soon either.The average price of a pound of ground beef rose to $6.12 in June, up nearly 12% from a year ago, according to U.S. government data. The average price of all uncooked beef steaks rose 8% to $11.49 per pound.But this is not a recent phenomenon. Beef prices have been steadily rising over the past 20 years because the supply of cattle remains tight while beef remains popular.In fact, the U.S. cattle herd has been steadily shrinking for decades. As of Jan. 1, the U.S. had 86.7 million cattle and calves, down 8% from the most recent peak in 2019. That’s the lowest number of cattle since 1951, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Many factors including drought and cattle prices have contributed to that decline. And now the emergence of a pesky parasite in Mexico and the prospect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-donald-trump-tariffs-agriculture-china-d5674c21e240acdc72cde76e474f172a">widespread tariffs</a>&nbsp;may further reduce supply and raise prices.Here's a look at what's causing the price of beef to rise.<h2>Smaller herds</h2>The American beef industry has gotten better at breeding larger animals, so ranchers can provide the same amount of beef with fewer cattle, said David Anderson, a livestock economist at Texas A&amp;M.Then in 2020, a three-year drought began that dried out pastures and raised the cost of feed for cattle, according to the American Farm Bureau. Drought has continued to be a problem across the West since then, and the price of feed has put more pressure on ranchers who already operate on slim profit margins.In response, many farmers slaughtered more female cattle than usual, which helped beef supplies in the short term but lowered the size of future herds. Lower cattle supplies has raised prices.In recent years cattle prices have soared, so that now animals are selling for thousands of dollars apiece. Recent prices show cattle selling for more than $230 per hundredweight, or hundred pounds.Those higher prices give ranchers more incentive to sell cows now to capture profits instead of hanging onto them for breeding given that prices for those calves in the years ahead may decrease, Anderson said.“For them, the balance is, ‘Do I sell that animal now and take this record high check?’ Or ‘do I keep her to realize her returns over her productive life when she’s having calves?’” Anderson said. “And so it’s this balancing act and so far the side that’s been winning is to sell her and get the check.”<h2>Disease dilemma</h2>The emergence of a flesh-eating pest in cattle herds in Mexico has put extra pressure on supply because officials cut off all imports of cattle from south of the border last year. Some 4% of the cattle the U.S. feeds to slaughter for beef comes from Mexico.The pest is the New World screwworm fly, and female cows lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals. The larvae that hatch are unusual among flies for feeding on live flesh and fluids instead of dead material. American officials worry that if the fly reaches Texas, its flesh-eating maggots could cause large economic losses as they did decades ago before the U.S. eradicated the pest.Agricultural economist Bernt Nelson with the Farm Bureau said the loss of that much cattle is putting additional pressure on supply that is helping drive prices higher.<h2>Tariff trouble</h2>President Donald Trump's tariffs have yet to have a major impact on beef prices but they could be another factor that drives prices higher because the U.S. imports more than 4 million pounds of beef every year.Much of what is imported is lean beef trimmings that meatpackers mix with fattier beef produced in the U.S. to produce the varieties of ground beef that domestic consumers want. Much of that lean beef comes from Australia and New Zealand that have only seen a 10% tariff, but some of it comes from Brazil where Trump has threatened tariffs as high as 50%.If the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beef-tariffs-cattle-rancher-prices-china-exports-55330afb6276c51015ef4e312686cba1">tariffs remain in place long-term</a>, meat processors will have to pay higher prices on imported lean beef. It wouldn't be easy for U.S. producers to replace because the country's system is geared toward producing fattier beef known for marbled steaks.<h2>Prices will likely stay high</h2>It's the height of grilling season and demand in the U.S. for beef remains strong, which Kansas State agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor said will help keep prices higher.If prices remain this high, shoppers will likely start to buy more hamburger meat and fewer steaks, but that doesn't appear to be happening broadly yet — and people also don't seem to be buying chicken or pork instead of beef.Nelson said that recently the drought has eased — allowing pasture conditions to improve — and grain prices are down thanks to the drop in export demand for corn because of the tariffs. Those factors, combined with the high cattle prices might persuade more ranchers to keep their cows and breed them to expand the size of their herds.Even if ranchers decided to raise more cattle to help replace those imports, it would take at least two years to breed and raise them. And it wouldn't be clear if that is happening until later this fall when ranchers typically make those decisions.“We’ve still got a lot of barriers in the way to grow this herd,” Nelson said. Just consider that a young farmer who wants to add 25 bred heifers to his herd has to be prepared to spend more than $100,000 at auction at a time when borrowing costs remain high.There is typically a seasonal decline in beef prices as grilling season slows down into the fall, but those price declines are likely to be modest.

Beef prices have soared in the US — and not just during grilling season

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is allowing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bc0ebafd2c6604e2ac26c6ee219c35b4">vaping brand Juul</a>&nbsp;to keep its e-cigarettes on the market, providing relief to a company that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-tobacco-industry-regulation-2f60f6bf333fb96364540e469a7f17eb#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Embattled%20vaping,competition%20for%20its%20electronic%20cigarettes.">struggled for years</a>&nbsp;after being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-59fb698543959c226aa420975e30beb2">widely blamed</a>&nbsp;for sparking the teen vaping trend.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-public-tobacco-industry-regulation-6af0d635d7859bab914cc249ef43b6e2">FDA regulators</a>&nbsp;said Thursday that Juul's studies show its e-cigarettes are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/681b934cc43147ed8026dd8fdb1dae56">less harmful for adult smokers</a>, who can benefit from switching completely to vaping.

The FDA decision applies to both tobacco- and menthol-flavored versions of the reusable product, which works with nicotine-filled cartridges sold in two different strengths. Juul previously discontinued several fruit and candy flavors that helped drive its popularity but were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tobacco-industry-regulation-ia-state-wire-az-state-wire-ri-state-wire-public-health-c148a2866cd4e2948552402c8d3b62cc">favored by teens</a>.

Juul will be one of only two U.S. companies authorized to sell menthol-flavored vapes, which many adults prefer to tobacco flavor.

“This is an important milestone for the company and I think we made a scientifically sound case for the role that menthol can play in e-vapor,” Juul CEO K.C. Crosthwaite told The Associated Press.

Parents, politicians and anti-tobacco groups are certain to oppose FDA’s decision. They have argued for years that Juul products should be permanently banned due to their role in triggering a yearslong spike in underage vaping.

"It is a big step in the wrong direction to authorize sales of the product that was responsible for this public health crisis in the first place," said Yolonda Richardson, CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in a statement.

Juul was once valued at over $13 billion and its small, sleek e-cigarettes revolutionized the image and technology of the vaping industry. But the company has since been forced to slash hundreds of jobs and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-lawsuits-connecticut-fce3fe4f92066a9068cf505ed1fb63b0">pay billions to settle lawsuits</a>&nbsp;over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/66d00389118549abac8b7961971bbf8e">role in the rise of youth vaping</a>.

The FDA had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/juul-banned-fda-e41c58872a0e7a202ca5244442accb04">ordered the company</a>&nbsp;to remove its products from the market in June 2022. But then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-tobacco-industry-regulation-f0734a2149ac6578015901ee144ddc76">the agency abruptly reversed course</a>&nbsp;days later and agreed to reopen its scientific review of Juul’s application after the company pushed back in court.

Juul said that regulators had overlooked thousands of pages of scientific data critical to its submission.

Thursday’s announcement is not an approval or endorsement, and the FDA reiterated that people who do not smoke should not use Juul or any other e-cigarettes. The FDA determination indicates that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/681b934cc43147ed8026dd8fdb1dae56">smokers who switch</a>&nbsp;completely to Juul can reduce their exposure to deadly carcinogens and other chemicals found in traditional cigarettes.

The FDA decision applies to Juul's original system, which is now roughly a decade old. Crosthwaite said the company hopes to win authorization for its next-generation device and is also considering applying to FDA for more flavors.

“It's critically important that American adults who use tobacco have regulated options,” Crosthwaite said.

In recent years, the FDA has authorized a handful of e-cigarettes to help adult smokers cut back on cigarettes. Juul's main competitors, Vuse and Njoy, each previously received FDA permission to remain on the market. Njoy sells the only other menthol-flavored e-cigarettes authorized by FDA.

To meet FDA requirements, companies must show that their products benefit public health. In practice, that means proving that adult smokers who use them are likely to quit or reduce their smoking, while teens are unlikely to get hooked on them.

The brainchild of two Stanford University students, Juul launched in 2015 and within two years rocketed to the top of the vaping market.

Juul quickly outpaced older brands with its high-nicotine, fruity-flavored cartridges, sold in mango, mint and creme brulé. The company's small, discrete devices provided a more potent, user-friendly alternative to older, bulkier devices.

But the company’s rise was fueled by underage use, and e-cigarettes quickly became ubiquitous in U.S. schools. In 2019, the company was pressured into halting all advertising and eliminating most of its flavors, leaving only tobacco and menthol-flavored options.

By then the company was already the target of multiple investigations and lawsuits by federal, state and local officials as well as class action attorneys.

In 2022, the company paid $1.7 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits brought by families of Juul users, school districts, city governments and Native American tribes. The company separately agreed to pay $1.1 billion to settle lawsuits or investigations from most U.S. states.

Juul is no longer the top-selling e-cigarette brand and now trails Vuse, which is sold by tobacco giant Reynolds American, which also makes Camel and Newport cigarettes.

Teens have shifted away from Juul amid a wider drop in vaping, according to the latest federal figures. The FDA reported last year that teen vaping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaping-teens-elf-bar-zyn-9d25127da2db9cbc2634fae13511ef09">dropped to a 10-year low</a>, after stepped up enforcement against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-vapes-vaping-elf-bar-juul-80b2680a874d89b8d651c5e909e39e8f">unauthorized brands imported from China</a>, such as Elf Bar.

Unlike Juul, disposable e-cigarettes like Elf Bar still come in fruit and candy flavors, despite efforts by regulators to block their use.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is allowing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bc0ebafd2c6604e2ac26c6ee219c35b4">vaping brand Juul</a>&nbsp;to keep its e-cigarettes on the market, providing relief to a company that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-business-tobacco-industry-regulation-2f60f6bf333fb96364540e469a7f17eb#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Embattled%20vaping,competition%20for%20its%20electronic%20cigarettes.">struggled for years</a>&nbsp;after being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-59fb698543959c226aa420975e30beb2">widely blamed</a>&nbsp;for sparking the teen vaping trend.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-public-tobacco-industry-regulation-6af0d635d7859bab914cc249ef43b6e2">FDA regulators</a>&nbsp;said Thursday that Juul's studies show its e-cigarettes are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/681b934cc43147ed8026dd8fdb1dae56">less harmful for adult smokers</a>, who can benefit from switching completely to vaping.The FDA decision applies to both tobacco- and menthol-flavored versions of the reusable product, which works with nicotine-filled cartridges sold in two different strengths. Juul previously discontinued several fruit and candy flavors that helped drive its popularity but were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tobacco-industry-regulation-ia-state-wire-az-state-wire-ri-state-wire-public-health-c148a2866cd4e2948552402c8d3b62cc">favored by teens</a>.Juul will be one of only two U.S. companies authorized to sell menthol-flavored vapes, which many adults prefer to tobacco flavor.“This is an important milestone for the company and I think we made a scientifically sound case for the role that menthol can play in e-vapor,” Juul CEO K.C. Crosthwaite told The Associated Press.Parents, politicians and anti-tobacco groups are certain to oppose FDA’s decision. They have argued for years that Juul products should be permanently banned due to their role in triggering a yearslong spike in underage vaping."It is a big step in the wrong direction to authorize sales of the product that was responsible for this public health crisis in the first place," said Yolonda Richardson, CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids in a statement.Juul was once valued at over $13 billion and its small, sleek e-cigarettes revolutionized the image and technology of the vaping industry. But the company has since been forced to slash hundreds of jobs and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-lawsuits-connecticut-fce3fe4f92066a9068cf505ed1fb63b0">pay billions to settle lawsuits</a>&nbsp;over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/66d00389118549abac8b7961971bbf8e">role in the rise of youth vaping</a>.The FDA had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/juul-banned-fda-e41c58872a0e7a202ca5244442accb04">ordered the company</a>&nbsp;to remove its products from the market in June 2022. But then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-tobacco-industry-regulation-f0734a2149ac6578015901ee144ddc76">the agency abruptly reversed course</a>&nbsp;days later and agreed to reopen its scientific review of Juul’s application after the company pushed back in court.Juul said that regulators had overlooked thousands of pages of scientific data critical to its submission.Thursday’s announcement is not an approval or endorsement, and the FDA reiterated that people who do not smoke should not use Juul or any other e-cigarettes. The FDA determination indicates that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/681b934cc43147ed8026dd8fdb1dae56">smokers who switch</a>&nbsp;completely to Juul can reduce their exposure to deadly carcinogens and other chemicals found in traditional cigarettes.The FDA decision applies to Juul's original system, which is now roughly a decade old. Crosthwaite said the company hopes to win authorization for its next-generation device and is also considering applying to FDA for more flavors.“It's critically important that American adults who use tobacco have regulated options,” Crosthwaite said.In recent years, the FDA has authorized a handful of e-cigarettes to help adult smokers cut back on cigarettes. Juul's main competitors, Vuse and Njoy, each previously received FDA permission to remain on the market. Njoy sells the only other menthol-flavored e-cigarettes authorized by FDA.To meet FDA requirements, companies must show that their products benefit public health. In practice, that means proving that adult smokers who use them are likely to quit or reduce their smoking, while teens are unlikely to get hooked on them.The brainchild of two Stanford University students, Juul launched in 2015 and within two years rocketed to the top of the vaping market.Juul quickly outpaced older brands with its high-nicotine, fruity-flavored cartridges, sold in mango, mint and creme brulé. The company's small, discrete devices provided a more potent, user-friendly alternative to older, bulkier devices.But the company’s rise was fueled by underage use, and e-cigarettes quickly became ubiquitous in U.S. schools. In 2019, the company was pressured into halting all advertising and eliminating most of its flavors, leaving only tobacco and menthol-flavored options.By then the company was already the target of multiple investigations and lawsuits by federal, state and local officials as well as class action attorneys.In 2022, the company paid $1.7 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits brought by families of Juul users, school districts, city governments and Native American tribes. The company separately agreed to pay $1.1 billion to settle lawsuits or investigations from most U.S. states.Juul is no longer the top-selling e-cigarette brand and now trails Vuse, which is sold by tobacco giant Reynolds American, which also makes Camel and Newport cigarettes.Teens have shifted away from Juul amid a wider drop in vaping, according to the latest federal figures. The FDA reported last year that teen vaping&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaping-teens-elf-bar-zyn-9d25127da2db9cbc2634fae13511ef09">dropped to a 10-year low</a>, after stepped up enforcement against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-vapes-vaping-elf-bar-juul-80b2680a874d89b8d651c5e909e39e8f">unauthorized brands imported from China</a>, such as Elf Bar.Unlike Juul, disposable e-cigarettes like Elf Bar still come in fruit and candy flavors, despite efforts by regulators to block their use.

Juul gets FDA's OK to keep selling tobacco, menthol e-cigarettes

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating two homicides that occurred on Tuesday in Kansas City have identified the victims.

Just before noon, patrol officers responded to the 8700 block of Countryshire Lane on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived at an apartment building they were directed inside to an apartment. They located a woman, later identified as 24-year-old Jaida Perdue suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics responded and declared her deceased on scene

This is being investigated as a homicide. Preliminary investigation revealed there was an argument between two individuals that led to shots being fired and the victim being struck. On scene, a subject of interest was taken into custody pending further investigation.

About the same time, police were called to a reported shooting at an apartment complex in the 5200 block of Oak Leaf Drive, according to DiMartino.&nbsp;

Officers were directed to an apartment building within the complex. Inside of an apartment officers located a victim later identified as 36-year-Nicholas J. Carter&nbsp; suffering from gunshot wounds. KCFD medics responded to the scene and pronounced Carter deceased.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752627140858.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating two homicides that occurred on Tuesday in Kansas City have identified the victims.Just before noon, patrol officers responded to the 8700 block of Countryshire Lane on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752627065091.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>As officers arrived at an apartment building they were directed inside to an apartment. They located a woman, later identified as 24-year-old Jaida Perdue suffering from a gunshot wound. Paramedics responded and declared her deceased on sceneThis is being investigated as a homicide. Preliminary investigation revealed there was an argument between two individuals that led to shots being fired and the victim being struck. On scene, a subject of interest was taken into custody pending further investigation.About the same time, police were called to a reported shooting at an apartment complex in the 5200 block of Oak Leaf Drive, according to DiMartino.&nbsp;Officers were directed to an apartment building within the complex. Inside of an apartment officers located a victim later identified as 36-year-Nicholas J. Carter&nbsp; suffering from gunshot wounds. KCFD medics responded to the scene and pronounced Carter deceased.

Police ID 2 homicide victims in Kansas City

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/devi-shastri">DEVI SHASTRI</a> Associated Press

The 988 National Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline will stop providing tailored support options to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trans-rights-dei-6367d501717f1388677e128af277fe26">LGBTQ+ youth</a>&nbsp;and young adults on July 17, according to a statement on a federal agency’s website.

The decision preempts the Trump administration’s 2026 budget proposal to cut funding for 988’s LGBTQ+ youth and young adult services, and is raising alarm bells among LGBTQ+ advocates.

Federal data shows the LGBTQ+ youth program has served nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/988/performance-metrics" target="_blank">1.3 million callers</a>&nbsp;since it started in September 2022. The services were accessible under the “Press 3” option on the phone or by replying “PRIDE” via text.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

The decision was was made to “no longer silo” the services and “to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hhs-addiction-mental-health-rfk-samsha-e83db20b4ef801971cd25d07eb41bcf9">Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)</a>&nbsp;said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/about/news-announcements/statements/2025/samhsa-statement-988-press-3-option" target="_blank">in a statement dated Tuesday</a>&nbsp;on its website.

News of the LGBTQ+ service shutting down comes as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-transgender-health-care-trump-79fc6f3bbdab2e92d6f0184201a468a9">U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.

The Trevor Project said it received official notice Tuesday that the program was ending. The nonprofit is one of seven centers that provides 988 crisis support services for LGBTQ+ people — and serves nearly half of the people who contact the lifeline.

“&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/suicide-prevention-mental-health-23b0282c56074625fa1be182afd860bd">Suicide prevention</a>&nbsp;is about people, not politics,” Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black said in a statement Wednesday. “The administration’s decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible.”

In its statement on the 988 decision, SAMHSA referred to the “LGB+ youth services.”

Black called the omission of the “T” representing transgender people “callous.” “Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased,” he said.

The Trevor Project will continue to run its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/Get-Help/" target="_blank">24/7 mental health support services</a>, as will other organizations, and leaders of 988 say the hotline will serve anyone who calls with compassion.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-suicide-rate-cdc-c57bb0852adfb4d85b3670d465a8b890">there were 49,300 suicides in 2023</a>&nbsp;— about the highest level in the nation’s history, based on preliminary data.

Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk of suicide, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/su/su7304a6.htm#:~:text=An%20estimated%2040%25%20of%20transgender,marker%20for%20experiencing%20depressive%20symptoms." target="_blank">2024 analysis by the CDC</a>&nbsp;that found 26% transgender and gender-questioning students attempted suicide in the past year. That’s compared with 5% of cisgender male and 11% of cisgender female students.

Young transgender people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-trump-title-ix-1b9d3a1d928ea78c21372da63600c6d1">flooded crisis hotlines</a>&nbsp;with calls after President Donald Trump was re-elected. Trump made anti-transgender themes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-transgender-politics-61cff97a64fac581ffc5f762be4c57d3">central to his campaign</a>&nbsp;and has since rolled back many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-passports-nonbinary-trump-policy-e5d13b6064c06619c654896fc0305983">civil rights protections</a>&nbsp;and access to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hhs-rfk-transgender-therapy-53c20e8ba65b2d9e4750d5c3314492cc">gender-affirming care</a>.

Trump signed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2661" target="_blank">National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020</a>&nbsp;into law in October 2020.

The specific 988 subprogram for LGBTQ+ youth cost $33 million in fiscal year 2024, according to SAMHSA, and as of June 2025, more than $33 million has been spent on the services. The Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2026-budget-in-brief.pdf" target="_blank">2026 budget proposal</a>&nbsp;called for keeping 988’s total budget at $520 million even while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2026-aha-cj.pdf" target="_blank">eliminating the LGBTQ+ services</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;wants to wrap SAMHSA and other agencies into a new HHS office called Administration for a Healthy America, where it would coexist with employees from other agencies responsible for chemical exposures and work-related injuries.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731521445068.png" alt="Photo (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)" />
 <figcaption>Photo (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/devi-shastri">DEVI SHASTRI</a> Associated PressThe 988 National Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline will stop providing tailored support options to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trans-rights-dei-6367d501717f1388677e128af277fe26">LGBTQ+ youth</a>&nbsp;and young adults on July 17, according to a statement on a federal agency’s website.The decision preempts the Trump administration’s 2026 budget proposal to cut funding for 988’s LGBTQ+ youth and young adult services, and is raising alarm bells among LGBTQ+ advocates.Federal data shows the LGBTQ+ youth program has served nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/988/performance-metrics" target="_blank">1.3 million callers</a>&nbsp;since it started in September 2022. The services were accessible under the “Press 3” option on the phone or by replying “PRIDE” via text.___EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.___The decision was was made to “no longer silo” the services and “to focus on serving all help seekers, including those previously served through the Press 3 option,” the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hhs-addiction-mental-health-rfk-samsha-e83db20b4ef801971cd25d07eb41bcf9">Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)</a>&nbsp;said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/about/news-announcements/statements/2025/samhsa-statement-988-press-3-option" target="_blank">in a statement dated Tuesday</a>&nbsp;on its website.News of the LGBTQ+ service shutting down comes as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-transgender-health-care-trump-79fc6f3bbdab2e92d6f0184201a468a9">U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.The Trevor Project said it received official notice Tuesday that the program was ending. The nonprofit is one of seven centers that provides 988 crisis support services for LGBTQ+ people — and serves nearly half of the people who contact the lifeline.“&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/suicide-prevention-mental-health-23b0282c56074625fa1be182afd860bd">Suicide prevention</a>&nbsp;is about people, not politics,” Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black said in a statement Wednesday. “The administration’s decision to remove a bipartisan, evidence-based service that has effectively supported a high-risk group of young people through their darkest moments is incomprehensible.”In its statement on the 988 decision, SAMHSA referred to the “LGB+ youth services.”Black called the omission of the “T” representing transgender people “callous.” “Transgender people can never, and will never, be erased,” he said.The Trevor Project will continue to run its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/Get-Help/" target="_blank">24/7 mental health support services</a>, as will other organizations, and leaders of 988 say the hotline will serve anyone who calls with compassion.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-suicide-rate-cdc-c57bb0852adfb4d85b3670d465a8b890">there were 49,300 suicides in 2023</a>&nbsp;— about the highest level in the nation’s history, based on preliminary data.Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk of suicide, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/su/su7304a6.htm#:~:text=An%20estimated%2040%25%20of%20transgender,marker%20for%20experiencing%20depressive%20symptoms." target="_blank">2024 analysis by the CDC</a>&nbsp;that found 26% transgender and gender-questioning students attempted suicide in the past year. That’s compared with 5% of cisgender male and 11% of cisgender female students.Young transgender people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-trump-title-ix-1b9d3a1d928ea78c21372da63600c6d1">flooded crisis hotlines</a>&nbsp;with calls after President Donald Trump was re-elected. Trump made anti-transgender themes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-transgender-politics-61cff97a64fac581ffc5f762be4c57d3">central to his campaign</a>&nbsp;and has since rolled back many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-passports-nonbinary-trump-policy-e5d13b6064c06619c654896fc0305983">civil rights protections</a>&nbsp;and access to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hhs-rfk-transgender-therapy-53c20e8ba65b2d9e4750d5c3314492cc">gender-affirming care</a>.Trump signed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2661" target="_blank">National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020</a>&nbsp;into law in October 2020.The specific 988 subprogram for LGBTQ+ youth cost $33 million in fiscal year 2024, according to SAMHSA, and as of June 2025, more than $33 million has been spent on the services. The Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2026-budget-in-brief.pdf" target="_blank">2026 budget proposal</a>&nbsp;called for keeping 988’s total budget at $520 million even while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fy-2026-aha-cj.pdf" target="_blank">eliminating the LGBTQ+ services</a>.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;wants to wrap SAMHSA and other agencies into a new HHS office called Administration for a Healthy America, where it would coexist with employees from other agencies responsible for chemical exposures and work-related injuries.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

988 hotline service tailored to LGBTQ+ youth ends this weekend

KANSAS CITY —Two Kansas City men are facing charges for allegedly shooting guns into a downtown Kansas City apartment building last weekend.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2670/Miller-REDACT-COMP">Sincere D. Miller</a>, 24,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2672/Williams-REDACT-COMP">Kimoni Williams</a>, 23,&nbsp;each face one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and one count of Armed Criminal Action, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2671/millersincere---pc-statementredacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to the sound of shots on 13th and Grand Boulevard on July 11 and located Miller and Williams holding firearms. Multiple witnesses heard sounds of shots and observed the defendants shooting their firearms toward a nearby apartment building while standing outside a vehicle.&nbsp;

City camera footage showed the defendants entering their vehicle and a green laser beam pointed at them prior to the shooting.&nbsp;

Both defendants told police they heard gunshots from nearby blocks and observed the green laser beam on themselves and on one defendant’s daughter, who was in the backseat. Feeling threatened, they began firing into the building, striking multiple occupied apartments.&nbsp;

No one was injured during this shooting.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752694090697.png" alt="Williams photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Two Kansas City men are facing charges for allegedly shooting guns into a downtown Kansas City apartment building last weekend.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752694035715.png" alt="Miller photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Miller photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2670/Miller-REDACT-COMP">Sincere D. Miller</a>, 24,&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2672/Williams-REDACT-COMP">Kimoni Williams</a>, 23,&nbsp;each face one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon and one count of Armed Criminal Action, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2671/millersincere---pc-statementredacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to the sound of shots on 13th and Grand Boulevard on July 11 and located Miller and Williams holding firearms. Multiple witnesses heard sounds of shots and observed the defendants shooting their firearms toward a nearby apartment building while standing outside a vehicle.&nbsp;City camera footage showed the defendants entering their vehicle and a green laser beam pointed at them prior to the shooting.&nbsp;Both defendants told police they heard gunshots from nearby blocks and observed the green laser beam on themselves and on one defendant’s daughter, who was in the backseat. Feeling threatened, they began firing into the building, striking multiple occupied apartments.&nbsp;No one was injured during this shooting.&nbsp;

KC suspects told police they were shooting at green laser beam

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is lashing out at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-trump-bondi-904822e788fa02fd6bd5c8181d0c9c08">his own supporters</a>, accusing them of being duped by Democrats, as he tries to clamp down on criticism over his administration's handling of much-hyped records in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;sex trafficking investigation, which Trump now calls a “Hoax.”

“Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this “bull——,” hook, line, and sinker,” Trump wrote Wednesday on his Truth Social site, using an expletive in his post. “They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”

“Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he went on.

The rhetoric marks a dramatic escalation for the Republican president, who has broken with some of his most loyal backers in the past, but never with such fervor.

The schism centers on his administration's handling of documents surrounding Epstein, who was found dead in his New York jail cell in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on sex trafficking charges. Last week, the Justice Department and the FBI&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">acknowledged that Epstein</a>&nbsp;did not maintain a “client list" to whom underage girls were trafficked, and they said no more files related to the investigation would be made public,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-pam-bondi-trump-1a6af3e9fa1cfb6d267985a971a4929a">despite past promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi</a>&nbsp;that had raised the expectations of conservative influencers and conspiracy theorists.

Bondi had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-trump-bondi-904822e788fa02fd6bd5c8181d0c9c08">suggested in February</a>&nbsp;such a document was sitting on her desk waiting for review. Last week, however, she said she had been referring generally to the Epstein case file, not a client list.

“It’s a new administration and everything is going to come out to the public,” she had said at one point.

Trump has since defended Bondi and chided a reporter for asking about the documents.

“I don’t understand what the interest or what the fascination is,” he said Tuesday.

In an Oval Office appearance Wednesday, Trump made clear that he was done with the story, regardless of what his supporters think.

“It’s all been a big hoax,” he told reporters. “It’s perpetrated by the Democrats, and some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net.”

He complained that Bondi has been “waylaid” over her handling of the case and has given out all “credible information” about the wealthy financier. “If she finds anymore credible information she’ll give that, too,” Trump said. ”What more can she do than that?”

Bondi has “bigger problems” to work on, the president said, citing the administration’s work to remove criminals who are living in the United States illegally.

The blowup comes after Trump and many figures in his administration, including FBI Director&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patel-fbi-trump-maralago-january-6-2db2b3a27adb295df30a9ffa72208688">Kash Patel</a>&nbsp;and his deputy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dan-bongino-podcasts-fbi-kash-patel-trump-6d47f60b59edb3dba45615104ed41a67">Dan Bongino</a>, have spent years stoking dark and disproved conspiracy theories, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-donald-trump-conspiracy-theories-government-and-politics-db50c6f709b1706886a876ae6ac298e2">embracing QAnon-tinged propaganda</a>&nbsp;that casts Trump as a savior sent to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-assassination-trump-fbi-conspiracies-aaeb07814bb8b6b3fe595f5b68e4163a">demolish the “deep state.”</a>

Trump's comments so far have not been enough to quell those who are still demanding answers.

Some of the podcasters and pro-Trump influencers who helped rally support for Trump in the 2024 campaign said Wednesday they were disappointed or puzzled by his comments on the issue.

Benny Johnson, a conservative podcaster who has called for the Epstein records to be released, said on his show that he is a fan of Trump’s movement but is trying to “give tough love and speak on behalf of the base.”

“Maybe it hasn’t been framed correctly for the president,” Johnson said. “I don’t know.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in an interview on Benny Johnson's show Tuesday, had called for the Justice Department to “put everything out there and let the people decide.”

Far-right conspiracy theorist and podcaster Alex Jones called Trump’s handling of the Epstein situation “the biggest train wreck I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s not in character for you to be acting like this,” he said in a video reacting to Trump on Tuesday evening calling the case boring. “I support you, but we built the movement you rode in on. You’re not the movement. You just surfed in on it.”

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on his podcast on Wednesday attempted some damage control on Trump’s behalf.

“Don’t take too seriously this whole Truth Social here,” Kirk told his audience. “I know some people are getting fired up about this. I don’t believe he was trying to insult anybody personally.”

Kirk said he thinks Trump’s supporters are “talking past each other a little bit” on the Epstein matter but are actually aligned in wanting to expose the “deep state.”

“The grassroots is not trying to make you look bad,” he said. “We want to try and make sure the bad people that have done such terrible things to you can finally be held accountable.”

Other Trump allies have stuck by his side, suggesting he does not need the influencers who have capitalized on Epstein conspiracy theories to make money and earn viewers.

“He lent you his clout and voters,” Brenden Dilley, the head of a group of meme makers who have lent their support to Trump, wrote on X on Wednesday. “They don’t belong to you.”

NEW YORK (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is lashing out at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-trump-bondi-904822e788fa02fd6bd5c8181d0c9c08">his own supporters</a>, accusing them of being duped by Democrats, as he tries to clamp down on criticism over his administration's handling of much-hyped records in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;sex trafficking investigation, which Trump now calls a “Hoax.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump on Jeffrey Epstein: &quot;He&#39;s dead. He&#39;s gone. And all it is is certain Republicans got duped by the Democrats and they&#39;re following a Democrat playbook.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/qdSnFacAbH">pic.twitter.com/qdSnFacAbH</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1945521873485279616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this “bull——,” hook, line, and sinker,” Trump wrote Wednesday on his Truth Social site, using an expletive in his post. “They haven’t learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.”“Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don’t even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don’t want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” he went on.The rhetoric marks a dramatic escalation for the Republican president, who has broken with some of his most loyal backers in the past, but never with such fervor.The schism centers on his administration's handling of documents surrounding Epstein, who was found dead in his New York jail cell in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on sex trafficking charges. Last week, the Justice Department and the FBI&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">acknowledged that Epstein</a>&nbsp;did not maintain a “client list" to whom underage girls were trafficked, and they said no more files related to the investigation would be made public,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-pam-bondi-trump-1a6af3e9fa1cfb6d267985a971a4929a">despite past promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi</a>&nbsp;that had raised the expectations of conservative influencers and conspiracy theorists.Bondi had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-trump-bondi-904822e788fa02fd6bd5c8181d0c9c08">suggested in February</a>&nbsp;such a document was sitting on her desk waiting for review. Last week, however, she said she had been referring generally to the Epstein case file, not a client list.“It’s a new administration and everything is going to come out to the public,” she had said at one point.Trump has since defended Bondi and chided a reporter for asking about the documents.“I don’t understand what the interest or what the fascination is,” he said Tuesday.In an Oval Office appearance Wednesday, Trump made clear that he was done with the story, regardless of what his supporters think.“It’s all been a big hoax,” he told reporters. “It’s perpetrated by the Democrats, and some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net.”He complained that Bondi has been “waylaid” over her handling of the case and has given out all “credible information” about the wealthy financier. “If she finds anymore credible information she’ll give that, too,” Trump said. ”What more can she do than that?”Bondi has “bigger problems” to work on, the president said, citing the administration’s work to remove criminals who are living in the United States illegally.The blowup comes after Trump and many figures in his administration, including FBI Director&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patel-fbi-trump-maralago-january-6-2db2b3a27adb295df30a9ffa72208688">Kash Patel</a>&nbsp;and his deputy,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dan-bongino-podcasts-fbi-kash-patel-trump-6d47f60b59edb3dba45615104ed41a67">Dan Bongino</a>, have spent years stoking dark and disproved conspiracy theories, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-donald-trump-conspiracy-theories-government-and-politics-db50c6f709b1706886a876ae6ac298e2">embracing QAnon-tinged propaganda</a>&nbsp;that casts Trump as a savior sent to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-assassination-trump-fbi-conspiracies-aaeb07814bb8b6b3fe595f5b68e4163a">demolish the “deep state.”</a>Trump's comments so far have not been enough to quell those who are still demanding answers.Some of the podcasters and pro-Trump influencers who helped rally support for Trump in the 2024 campaign said Wednesday they were disappointed or puzzled by his comments on the issue.Benny Johnson, a conservative podcaster who has called for the Epstein records to be released, said on his show that he is a fan of Trump’s movement but is trying to “give tough love and speak on behalf of the base.”“Maybe it hasn’t been framed correctly for the president,” Johnson said. “I don’t know.”House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in an interview on Benny Johnson's show Tuesday, had called for the Justice Department to “put everything out there and let the people decide.”Far-right conspiracy theorist and podcaster Alex Jones called Trump’s handling of the Epstein situation “the biggest train wreck I’ve ever seen.”“It’s not in character for you to be acting like this,” he said in a video reacting to Trump on Tuesday evening calling the case boring. “I support you, but we built the movement you rode in on. You’re not the movement. You just surfed in on it.”Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on his podcast on Wednesday attempted some damage control on Trump’s behalf.“Don’t take too seriously this whole Truth Social here,” Kirk told his audience. “I know some people are getting fired up about this. I don’t believe he was trying to insult anybody personally.”Kirk said he thinks Trump’s supporters are “talking past each other a little bit” on the Epstein matter but are actually aligned in wanting to expose the “deep state.”He also offered a message to Trump.“The grassroots is not trying to make you look bad,” he said. “We want to try and make sure the bad people that have done such terrible things to you can finally be held accountable.”Other Trump allies have stuck by his side, suggesting he does not need the influencers who have capitalized on Epstein conspiracy theories to make money and earn viewers.“He lent you his clout and voters,” Brenden Dilley, the head of a group of meme makers who have lent their support to Trump, wrote on X on Wednesday. “They don’t belong to you.”___

🎥Trump slams supporters, calls the Epstein case a 'hoax'

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting in southwest Kansas that sent three victims to the hospital.

Just after 5:30a.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting&nbsp; at&nbsp;the Continental Apartments, 1408 W. Buffalo Jones Avenue, in Garden City, according to Garden City police spokesperson Erinn Reyes. 

Officers arrived to find a victim had been shot, and the victim was transported to St. Catherine Hospital by Finney County EMS in serious condition. 

After the victim was taken to the hospital, Officers were notified by hospital staff that before they arrived, two additional gunshot victims were dropped off at the emergency room by personal vehicle. The three victims were later transported to Wichita for further treatment.

To ensure the safety of staff and patients, St. Catherine Hospital was placed on lockdown following the arrival of the gunshot victims. The&nbsp;social media rumors regarding an active shooter at the hospital due to the lockdown were false, according to Reyes.&nbsp; "At no point was there an active shooter incident at the hospital."&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting in southwest Kansas that sent three victims to the hospital.Just after 5:30a.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting&nbsp; at&nbsp;the Continental Apartments, 1408 W. Buffalo Jones Avenue, in Garden City, according to Garden City police spokesperson Erinn Reyes. Officers arrived to find a victim had been shot, and the victim was transported to St. Catherine Hospital by Finney County EMS in serious condition. After the victim was taken to the hospital, Officers were notified by hospital staff that before they arrived, two additional gunshot victims were dropped off at the emergency room by personal vehicle. The three victims were later transported to Wichita for further treatment.To ensure the safety of staff and patients, St. Catherine Hospital was placed on lockdown following the arrival of the gunshot victims. The&nbsp;social media rumors regarding an active shooter at the hospital due to the lockdown were false, according to Reyes.&nbsp; "At no point was there an active shooter incident at the hospital."&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

Hospital locked down after gun fight in southwest Kansas

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-brown">MATT BROWN</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former senior aide to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gifts-foreign-leaders-diamond-45517bc782000329a1ae75e181f9c2ce">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday became the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-doctor-kevin-oconnor-testimony-5c2a75c6bec319bb4ff8a417993e3d6c">second person</a>&nbsp;to invoke the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-does-pleading-the-fifth-mean-0d24abd45972cd80f82f95e4a8eec225">Fifth Amendment</a>&nbsp;and decline to answer questions from House Republicans who are investigating President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-investigation-autopen-james-comer-ae7013baea1f3da5417d02a6e83811ec">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;mental state and use of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-pardons-autopen-capitol-riot-1956c5dcb44ecba10cd9b01171ca9efa">autopen</a>&nbsp;while in office.

Anthony Bernal, who previously served as chief of staff to former first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cancer-prostate-be18c98abe341cd91277e1d3b75d5cd5">Jill Biden</a>, was subpoenaed for his testimony by the House Oversight Committee. He declined to answer questions, invoking the protections that prevent people from being forced to testify against themselves in government proceedings.

“Well, unfortunately, that was quick,” said Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-doctor-oversight-testimony-1c749850ceab4f14d4239e623501854e">James Comer</a>, chair of the House Oversight Committee, after the deposition ended. “I believe the American people are concerned. They’re concerned that there were people making decisions in the White House that were not only unelected but no one to this day knows who they were.”

Bernal ignored questions from reporters as he entered and exited the House Oversight Committee’s hearing room on Capitol Hill. He was accompanied by his lawyer, Jonathan Su, who was a deputy White House counsel to the former president. Su in a statement provided to the committee noted that pleading the Fifth is not evidence of wrongdoing.

The former president has dismissed the inquiries as legally spurious. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Biden said that he delegated responsibilities when necessary as president but was actively involved and knowledgeable of all of his administration’s actions, including on granting clemency.

“I consciously made all those decisions,” Biden said.

Comer has has sought testimony from nearly a dozen former Biden aides as he conducts his investigation, including former White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/susie-wiles-phone-impersonation-bc6ac99e5db06ac70307ca031ab8d647">chiefs of staff</a>&nbsp;Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams.

On Tuesday, Comer also subpoenaed Annie Tomasini, a former White House deputy chief of staff, to appear before the committee on July 18. She is the third former official to be subpoenaed by the committee.

Democrats have been dismissive of the Republican probe as mere political theater.

“They still look like losers,” said Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crockett-abbott-wheelchair-a38d50b41e35cc6e05f5d72ad74ff54f">Jasmine Crockett</a>, D-Texas, who sat in on Bernal’s committee deposition.

But many Republicans see the investigation as a top priority for their caucus and a politically salient issue for voters ahead of the midterm election. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-investigation-autopen-james-comer-ae7013baea1f3da5417d02a6e83811ec">Trump White House has launched its own probe</a>&nbsp;into Biden’s age while Senate Republicans have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-senate-investigation-fitness-republicans-a39d86a556f0ffd862ae47e35dc5fb74">held hearings on the topic</a>.

“This is corruption at the highest level, because if you cannot answer a simple question about Joe Biden’s capabilities, then that further demonstrates that he was not in charge of his administration,” said Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/byron-donalds-donald-trump-florida-governor-desantis-7cf12bdb0899d0165c4cbd98e5b3abe3">Byron Donalds</a>, R-Fla., who sat in on Bernal’s deposition.

Donalds said “every member of the Biden administration, at this point, needs to be subpoenaed,” including Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-view-president-trump-abc-interview-kamala-harris-0e7c4aba0b021e40540dcc68872ff0d1">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;and Jill Biden.

Comer did not rule out seeking testimony from Harris or members of Biden’s family.

“We’re going to bring in everyone. We’re moving up the line,” Comer said. “We’ve started with the lower level staffers that we think were the ones that actually put the documents in the autopen and pressed power. Now we’re moving up to the people that we think told the staffers to use the autopen.”

“So we’ll we’ll see where that takes us,” Comer said. “But I think the possibility is very good that we’ll be asking members of the family to come in.”

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed reporting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721869081473.png" alt="Former first lady Jill Biden-White House image" />
 <figcaption>Former first lady Jill Biden-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-brown">MATT BROWN</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — A former senior aide to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-gifts-foreign-leaders-diamond-45517bc782000329a1ae75e181f9c2ce">Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday became the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-doctor-kevin-oconnor-testimony-5c2a75c6bec319bb4ff8a417993e3d6c">second person</a>&nbsp;to invoke the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-does-pleading-the-fifth-mean-0d24abd45972cd80f82f95e4a8eec225">Fifth Amendment</a>&nbsp;and decline to answer questions from House Republicans who are investigating President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-investigation-autopen-james-comer-ae7013baea1f3da5417d02a6e83811ec">Joe Biden’s</a>&nbsp;mental state and use of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-pardons-autopen-capitol-riot-1956c5dcb44ecba10cd9b01171ca9efa">autopen</a>&nbsp;while in office.Anthony Bernal, who previously served as chief of staff to former first lady&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cancer-prostate-be18c98abe341cd91277e1d3b75d5cd5">Jill Biden</a>, was subpoenaed for his testimony by the House Oversight Committee. He declined to answer questions, invoking the protections that prevent people from being forced to testify against themselves in government proceedings.“Well, unfortunately, that was quick,” said Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-doctor-oversight-testimony-1c749850ceab4f14d4239e623501854e">James Comer</a>, chair of the House Oversight Committee, after the deposition ended. “I believe the American people are concerned. They’re concerned that there were people making decisions in the White House that were not only unelected but no one to this day knows who they were.”Bernal ignored questions from reporters as he entered and exited the House Oversight Committee’s hearing room on Capitol Hill. He was accompanied by his lawyer, Jonathan Su, who was a deputy White House counsel to the former president. Su in a statement provided to the committee noted that pleading the Fifth is not evidence of wrongdoing.The former president has dismissed the inquiries as legally spurious. In a recent interview with the New York Times, Biden said that he delegated responsibilities when necessary as president but was actively involved and knowledgeable of all of his administration’s actions, including on granting clemency.“I consciously made all those decisions,” Biden said.Comer has has sought testimony from nearly a dozen former Biden aides as he conducts his investigation, including former White House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/susie-wiles-phone-impersonation-bc6ac99e5db06ac70307ca031ab8d647">chiefs of staff</a>&nbsp;Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams.On Tuesday, Comer also subpoenaed Annie Tomasini, a former White House deputy chief of staff, to appear before the committee on July 18. She is the third former official to be subpoenaed by the committee.Democrats have been dismissive of the Republican probe as mere political theater.“They still look like losers,” said Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crockett-abbott-wheelchair-a38d50b41e35cc6e05f5d72ad74ff54f">Jasmine Crockett</a>, D-Texas, who sat in on Bernal’s committee deposition.But many Republicans see the investigation as a top priority for their caucus and a politically salient issue for voters ahead of the midterm election. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-investigation-autopen-james-comer-ae7013baea1f3da5417d02a6e83811ec">Trump White House has launched its own probe</a>&nbsp;into Biden’s age while Senate Republicans have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-age-senate-investigation-fitness-republicans-a39d86a556f0ffd862ae47e35dc5fb74">held hearings on the topic</a>.“This is corruption at the highest level, because if you cannot answer a simple question about Joe Biden’s capabilities, then that further demonstrates that he was not in charge of his administration,” said Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/byron-donalds-donald-trump-florida-governor-desantis-7cf12bdb0899d0165c4cbd98e5b3abe3">Byron Donalds</a>, R-Fla., who sat in on Bernal’s deposition.Donalds said “every member of the Biden administration, at this point, needs to be subpoenaed,” including Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-view-president-trump-abc-interview-kamala-harris-0e7c4aba0b021e40540dcc68872ff0d1">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;and Jill Biden.Comer did not rule out seeking testimony from Harris or members of Biden’s family.“We’re going to bring in everyone. We’re moving up the line,” Comer said. “We’ve started with the lower level staffers that we think were the ones that actually put the documents in the autopen and pressed power. Now we’re moving up to the people that we think told the staffers to use the autopen.”“So we’ll we’ll see where that takes us,” Comer said. “But I think the possibility is very good that we’ll be asking members of the family to come in.”___Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed reporting.

Jill Biden aide invokes Fifth to decline testimony in GOP investigation

Washington –&nbsp;On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall hosted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, alongside farmers from across the country and agriculture experts, for the inaugural Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) roundtable on Capitol Hill.

The conversation centered on how agriculture aligns with the MAHA movement, emphasizing the critical role of soil health in producing nutrient-dense food.

“As a fifth-generation Kansas farm kid and a physician, I recognize that producing nutrient-dense foods for a healthier America starts with healthy soil,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“Today, I was privileged to welcome Secretary Kennedy, Secretary Rollins, farmers, and agriculture experts from across the country to Capitol Hill for the first MAHA roundtable. Focused on soil health, I believe healthy soil leads to healthy food and healthy people, fostering a healthier America. MAHA will thrive due to the dedication, collaboration, and partnership of those who joined us today.”

“America’s farmers and ranchers are not just stakeholders in this fight—they are the foundation of it,”&nbsp;Secretary Kennedy said.&nbsp;“I was proud to join Senator Marshall and Secretary Rollins today to meet directly with ranchers, farmers, and agricultural experts who are driving our shared mission to Make America Healthy Again.”

“Farmers are at the heart of the Trump Administration’s mission to Make America Healthy Again. Thank you to Senator Marshall for gathering our great farmers and ranchers to discuss the role soil health plays in growing healthy foods. I look forward to continuing to support American agriculture as producers work towards healthier, more fertile soil,”&nbsp;said Secretary Rollins.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752626608873.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington –&nbsp;On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall hosted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, alongside farmers from across the country and agriculture experts, for the inaugural Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) roundtable on Capitol Hill. The conversation centered on how agriculture aligns with the MAHA movement, emphasizing the critical role of soil health in producing nutrient-dense food.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thank you, <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>, for championing the MAHA agenda. <a href="https://t.co/IrzZAHav2z">https://t.co/IrzZAHav2z</a>&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1945274050550362363?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“As a fifth-generation Kansas farm kid and a physician, I recognize that producing nutrient-dense foods for a healthier America starts with healthy soil,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“Today, I was privileged to welcome Secretary Kennedy, Secretary Rollins, farmers, and agriculture experts from across the country to Capitol Hill for the first MAHA roundtable. Focused on soil health, I believe healthy soil leads to healthy food and healthy people, fostering a healthier America. MAHA will thrive due to the dedication, collaboration, and partnership of those who joined us today.”“America’s farmers and ranchers are not just stakeholders in this fight—they are the foundation of it,”&nbsp;Secretary Kennedy said.&nbsp;“I was proud to join Senator Marshall and Secretary Rollins today to meet directly with ranchers, farmers, and agricultural experts who are driving our shared mission to Make America Healthy Again.”“Farmers are at the heart of the Trump Administration’s mission to Make America Healthy Again. Thank you to Senator Marshall for gathering our great farmers and ranchers to discuss the role soil health plays in growing healthy foods. I look forward to continuing to support American agriculture as producers work towards healthier, more fertile soil,”&nbsp;said Secretary Rollins.

Kan. U.S. Senator hosts inaugural MAHA roundtable on Capitol Hill

RUSSELL COUNTY —The death of a Kansas felon who was in custody in Russell County is under investigation.

Just after 9a.m. July 12, 43-year-old James T. Barrows was found unresponsive in his cell at the Russell County Jail, according to a media release.

&nbsp;Russell County EMS was immediately called and life saving measures were attempted. Barrows was transported to Russell Regional Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Barrows had been in custody of the Russell County Jail since July 11,&nbsp; for a Central Kansas Community Corrections Probation Violation Warrant. He was also being held on a care and treatment evaluation and was awaiting bed space at Larned State Hospital.

&nbsp;By statute, the KBI investigates all in-custody deaths which occur in Kansas jails and prisons unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy.

An autopsy for the Barrows is scheduled for this week, according to the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752687877944.png" alt="Barrows photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Barrows photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL COUNTY —The death of a Kansas felon who was in custody in Russell County is under investigation.Just after 9a.m. July 12, 43-year-old James T. Barrows was found unresponsive in his cell at the Russell County Jail, according to a media release.&nbsp;Russell County EMS was immediately called and life saving measures were attempted. Barrows was transported to Russell Regional Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Barrows had been in custody of the Russell County Jail since July 11,&nbsp; for a Central Kansas Community Corrections Probation Violation Warrant. He was also being held on a care and treatment evaluation and was awaiting bed space at Larned State Hospital.&nbsp;By statute, the KBI investigates all in-custody deaths which occur in Kansas jails and prisons unless the inmate who dies is being regularly attended by a physician, or the death is ruled natural by autopsy.An autopsy for the Barrows is scheduled for this week, according to the KBI.