SEDGWICK COUNTY—A  woman is going to prison for the shooting death of her boyfriend on his birthday.

On Friday Judge Tyler Roush sentenced&nbsp;21-year-old Amunique Cavitt of Wichita to 165 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office..

In December a jury found her guilty of 2nd degree intentional murder with a domestic violence finding, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Around noon April 23, 2024, police responded to the 1400 block of Minnesota Avenue in Wichita following reports of a shooting., according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders found 34-year-old&nbsp; Norman E. Carter III with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.

Responding officers immediately started life-saving measures until Sedgwick County EMS arrived and transported Carter to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead at 1:01 p.m, according to Ford.&nbsp; It was his birthday, according to<a href="https://www.heavenlygatesmortuary.com/obituary/norman-carter">&nbsp;his obituary.</a>

Police detained a person of interest in their investigation and later booked&nbsp; &nbsp;Cavitt into jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713961470429.png" alt="Cavitt photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Cavitt photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A woman is going to prison for the shooting death of her boyfriend on his birthday.On Friday Judge Tyler Roush sentenced&nbsp;21-year-old Amunique Cavitt of Wichita to 165 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office..In December a jury found her guilty of 2nd degree intentional murder with a domestic violence finding, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Around noon April 23, 2024, police responded to the 1400 block of Minnesota Avenue in Wichita following reports of a shooting., according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders found 34-year-old&nbsp; Norman E. Carter III with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.Responding officers immediately started life-saving measures until Sedgwick County EMS arrived and transported Carter to a local hospital. He was pronounced dead at 1:01 p.m, according to Ford.&nbsp; It was his birthday, according to<a href="https://www.heavenlygatesmortuary.com/obituary/norman-carter">&nbsp;his obituary.</a>Police detained a person of interest in their investigation and later booked&nbsp; &nbsp;Cavitt into jail.

Prison for Kan. woman who killed her boyfriend on his birthday

CASS COUNTY —A law enforcement officer is under investigation for alleged sex crimes.

On February 12, State Troopers arrested 28-year-old , Collin K. Goodsell of Peculiar, Missouri, in connection with a sexual assault investigation conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A Criminal Investigative Unit, according to a media release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol&nbsp;Division of Drug and Crime Control.

In December, the Division of Drug and Crime Control was requested to investigate allegations of sexual assault involving a Belton Police Department employee. On February 12, 2026, following the investigation,&nbsp;Division of Drug and Crime Control  investigators obtained probable cause to arrest Goodsell for raping a woman.&nbsp;Division of Drug and Crime Control  investigators arrested Goodsell in Lees Summit, MO, where he was later transported to the Pettis County Jail and placed on an investigative hold.

On February 13, the Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Goodsell with Rape-First Degree. Goodsell is being held in the Pettis County Jail, without bond.

Goodsell has held several law enforcement positions in Cass and Livingston Counties. Anyone with information regarding this incident or similar accusations involving Goodsell are encouraged to contact Corporal Travis Goolsby, at Troop A Headquarters 816-622-0800.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771122624366.png" alt="Goodsell photo Pettis County" />
 <figcaption>Goodsell photo Pettis County</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY —A law enforcement officer is under investigation for alleged sex crimes.On February 12, State Troopers arrested 28-year-old , Collin K. Goodsell of Peculiar, Missouri, in connection with a sexual assault investigation conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop A Criminal Investigative Unit, according to a media release from the Missouri State Highway Patrol&nbsp;Division of Drug and Crime Control.In December, the Division of Drug and Crime Control was requested to investigate allegations of sexual assault involving a Belton Police Department employee. On February 12, 2026, following the investigation,&nbsp;Division of Drug and Crime Control investigators obtained probable cause to arrest Goodsell for raping a woman.&nbsp;Division of Drug and Crime Control investigators arrested Goodsell in Lees Summit, MO, where he was later transported to the Pettis County Jail and placed on an investigative hold.On February 13, the Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Goodsell with Rape-First Degree. Goodsell is being held in the Pettis County Jail, without bond.Goodsell has held several law enforcement positions in Cass and Livingston Counties. Anyone with information regarding this incident or similar accusations involving Goodsell are encouraged to contact Corporal Travis Goolsby, at Troop A Headquarters 816-622-0800.

Kansas City area officer jailed for alleged sex assault

A glove containing DNA found about two miles from the house of “Today” show host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Savannah Guthrie’s</a>&nbsp;mother appears to match those worn by a masked person outside her front door in Tucson the night she vanished, the FBI said Sunday.

The glove, found in a field near the side of a road, was sent off for DNA testing. The FBI said in a statement that it received preliminary results Saturday and was awaiting official confirmation.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-nancy-guthrie-mom-missing-88e8731270d05e6e667730d2ed8633d3">Nancy Guthrie</a>, 84, was last seen at her Arizona home on Jan. 31 and was reported missing the following day. Authorities say her blood was found on the front porch. Purported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-ransom-deadline-arizona-3977f842fd3d1fd66952d1d763944b9d">ransom notes</a>&nbsp;were sent to news outlets, but two deadlines for paying have passed.

The discovery was revealed days after investigators had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-arizona-b765fed6b9669441383b75860263ac99">released surveillance videos</a>&nbsp;of the masked person outside Guthrie’s front door. A porch camera&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-guthrie-nest-camera-footage-kidnapper-bd5f1d886543e23f2d105535031c9445">recorded video</a>&nbsp;of a person with a backpack who was wearing a ski mask, long pants, jacket and gloves.

On Thursday, the FBI called the person a suspect. It described him as a man about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build. The agency said he was carrying a 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack.

Late Friday night, law enforcement agents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-investigation-64736b14fa5dbd8961325ea6147e78e7">sealed off a road</a>&nbsp;about two miles (3.2 kilometers) from Guthrie’s home as part of their investigation. A series of sheriff’s and FBI vehicles, including forensics vehicles, passed through the roadblock.

The investigators also tagged and towed a Range Rover SUV from a nearby restaurant parking lot late Friday. The sheriff’s department later said the activity was part of the Guthrie investigation but no arrests were made.

On Tuesday, sheriff deputies detained a person for questioning during a traffic stop south of Tucson. Authorities didn’t say what led them to stop the man but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-arizona-6f1016e390e2c59d82604731f795a8ba">confirmed he was released</a>. The same day, deputies and FBI agents conducted a court-authorized search in Rio Rico, about an hour’s drive south of the city.

Authorities have expressed concern about Nancy Guthrie’s health because she needs vital daily medicine. She is said to have a pacemaker and have dealt with high blood pressure and heart issues, according to sheriff’s dispatcher audio on broadcastify.com.

Earlier in the investigation, authorities had said they had collected DNA from Nancy Guthrie’s property which doesn’t belong to Guthrie or those in close contact with her. Investigators were working to identify who it belongs to.

The FBI also has said approximately 16 gloves were found in various spots near the house, most of which were searchers’ gloves that had been discarded.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770749564250.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By JACQUES BILLEAUD Associated PressA glove containing DNA found about two miles from the house of “Today” show host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Savannah Guthrie’s</a>&nbsp;mother appears to match those worn by a masked person outside her front door in Tucson the night she vanished, the FBI said Sunday.The glove, found in a field near the side of a road, was sent off for DNA testing. The FBI said in a statement that it received preliminary results Saturday and was awaiting official confirmation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">BREAKING: The FBI has released new videos of the suspect involved in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. <a href="https://t.co/H7ZWzfHQSe">pic.twitter.com/H7ZWzfHQSe</a>&mdash; Resist Times (@ResistWire) <a href="https://twitter.com/ResistWire/status/2021287372105884078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-nancy-guthrie-mom-missing-88e8731270d05e6e667730d2ed8633d3">Nancy Guthrie</a>, 84, was last seen at her Arizona home on Jan. 31 and was reported missing the following day. Authorities say her blood was found on the front porch. Purported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-ransom-deadline-arizona-3977f842fd3d1fd66952d1d763944b9d">ransom notes</a>&nbsp;were sent to news outlets, but two deadlines for paying have passed.The discovery was revealed days after investigators had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-arizona-b765fed6b9669441383b75860263ac99">released surveillance videos</a>&nbsp;of the masked person outside Guthrie’s front door. A porch camera&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-guthrie-nest-camera-footage-kidnapper-bd5f1d886543e23f2d105535031c9445">recorded video</a>&nbsp;of a person with a backpack who was wearing a ski mask, long pants, jacket and gloves.On Thursday, the FBI called the person a suspect. It described him as a man about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build. The agency said he was carrying a 25-liter “Ozark Trail Hiker Pack” backpack.Late Friday night, law enforcement agents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-investigation-64736b14fa5dbd8961325ea6147e78e7">sealed off a road</a>&nbsp;about two miles (3.2 kilometers) from Guthrie’s home as part of their investigation. A series of sheriff’s and FBI vehicles, including forensics vehicles, passed through the roadblock.The investigators also tagged and towed a Range Rover SUV from a nearby restaurant parking lot late Friday. The sheriff’s department later said the activity was part of the Guthrie investigation but no arrests were made.On Tuesday, sheriff deputies detained a person for questioning during a traffic stop south of Tucson. Authorities didn’t say what led them to stop the man but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-arizona-6f1016e390e2c59d82604731f795a8ba">confirmed he was released</a>. The same day, deputies and FBI agents conducted a court-authorized search in Rio Rico, about an hour’s drive south of the city.Authorities have expressed concern about Nancy Guthrie’s health because she needs vital daily medicine. She is said to have a pacemaker and have dealt with high blood pressure and heart issues, according to sheriff’s dispatcher audio on broadcastify.com.Earlier in the investigation, authorities had said they had collected DNA from Nancy Guthrie’s property which doesn’t belong to Guthrie or those in close contact with her. Investigators were working to identify who it belongs to.The FBI also has said approximately 16 gloves were found in various spots near the house, most of which were searchers’ gloves that had been discarded.

FBI: DNA from recovered glove appears to match glove in Guthrie video

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are searching for suspects in a deadly nightclub shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area of 28th and Southwest Boulevard working off duty for a nightclub/bar business there when they heard the sound of gunfire inside the bar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchins.

At the same time 911 received calls for a shooting inside the business.&nbsp;On arrival officers were led inside the business where they located 3 adult female shooting victims. 

Officers began rendering aid and called for EMS to come in.&nbsp;EMS declared one shooting victim deceased at the scene. EMS&nbsp; then transported the other two&nbsp; victims to the hospital for treatment. At the hospital one of the two victims was declared deceased, and the other victim has what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries, according to Becchina.

While officers were at the scene they were notified of a 4th shooting victim, an adult male, who arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. That victim is reported to be in critical condition.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene now and are investigating. They are talking to people who were at the scene when officers arrived and canvassing for additional witnesses.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates the victims were inside the business when there was an interaction with one or more suspects that escalated and led to shots being fired which struck the victims.&nbsp;There is no information at this time regarding suspect description. Police did not release the names of the victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771169150673.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are searching for suspects in a deadly nightclub shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 2a.m. Sunday Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area of 28th and Southwest Boulevard working off duty for a nightclub/bar business there when they heard the sound of gunfire inside the bar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchins.At the same time 911 received calls for a shooting inside the business.&nbsp;On arrival officers were led inside the business where they located 3 adult female shooting victims. Officers began rendering aid and called for EMS to come in.&nbsp;EMS declared one shooting victim deceased at the scene. EMS&nbsp; then transported the other two&nbsp; victims to the hospital for treatment. At the hospital one of the two victims was declared deceased, and the other victim has what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries, according to Becchina.While officers were at the scene they were notified of a 4th shooting victim, an adult male, who arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. That victim is reported to be in critical condition.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene now and are investigating. They are talking to people who were at the scene when officers arrived and canvassing for additional witnesses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates the victims were inside the business when there was an interaction with one or more suspects that escalated and led to shots being fired which struck the victims.&nbsp;There is no information at this time regarding suspect description. Police did not release the names of the victims.

2 women dead, 3 others injured in KC nightclub shooting

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Amazon’s smart doorbell maker Ring has terminated a partnership with police surveillance tech company Flock Safety.

The announcement follows a backlash that erupted after a 30-second Ring ad that aired during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-ads-ai-telehealth-glp1-9ccfc8c730981fd91f44a5bec24e2242">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;featuring a lost dog that is found through a network of cameras, sparking fears of a dystopian surveillance society.

But that feature, called Search Party, was not related to Flock. And Ring’s announcement doesn’t cite the ad as a reason for the “joint decision” for the cancellation.

Ring and Flock said last year they were planning on working together to give Ring camera owners the option to share their video footage in response to law enforcement requests made through a Ring feature known as Community Requests.

“Following a comprehensive review, we determined the planned Flock Safety integration would require significantly more time and resources than anticipated,” Ring’s statement said.

“The integration never launched, so no Ring customer videos were ever sent to Flock Safety.”

Flock reiterated that it never received Ring customer videos — and that ending the planned integration was a mutual decision that allows both companies to “best serve their respective customers.” In a statement, Flock added that it “remains dedicated to supporting law enforcement agencies with tools that are fully configurable to local laws and policies.”

Flock is one of the nation’s biggest operators of automated license-plate reading systems. Its cameras are mounted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-abortion-license-plates-cameras-cc5f29df94a29ee2c6c2feb2151c8f5e">in thousands of communities</a>&nbsp;across the U.S., capturing billions of photos of license plates each month. The company has faced public outcry amid the Trump administration’s aggressive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-patrol-surveillance-drivers-ice-trump-9f5d05469ce8c629d6fecf32d32098cd">immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;crackdown. But Flock maintains that it does not partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or contract out with any subagency of the Department of Homeland Security for direct access to its cameras. The company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-abortion-license-plates-cameras-cc5f29df94a29ee2c6c2feb2151c8f5e">paused pilot programs</a>&nbsp;with Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations last year.

Still, Flock says it doesn’t own the data captured by its cameras, its customers do. So if a police department, for example, chooses to collaborate with a federal agency like ICE, “Flock has no ability to override that decision,” the company notes on its website.

Beyond the Flock partnership, Amazon has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ces-worst-show-ai-0ce7fbc5aff68e8ff6d7b8e6fb7b007d">other surveillance concerns</a>&nbsp;over its Ring doorbell cameras.

In the Super Bowl ad, a lost dog is found with Ring’s Search Party feature, which the company says can “reunite lost dogs with their families and track wildfires threatening your community.” The clip depicts the dog being tracked by cameras throughout a neighborhood using artificial intelligence.

Viewers took to social media to criticize it for being sinister, leaving many wondering if it would be used to track humans and saying they would turn the feature off.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit that focus on civil liberties related to digital technology, said this week that Americans should feel unsettled over the potential loss of privacy.

“Amazon Ring already integrates biometric identification, like face recognition, into its products via features like ‘Familiar Faces’ which depends on scanning the faces of those in sight of the camera and matching it against a list of pre-saved, pre-approved faces,” the Foundation wrote Tuesday. “It doesn’t take much to imagine Ring eventually combining these two features: face recognition and neighborhood searches.”

Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts also urged Amazon to discontinue its “Familiar Faces” technology.

In a published letter addressed to Amazon CEO Andrew Jassy, Markey wrote that the backlash to the Super Bowl commercial “confirmed public opposition to Ring’s constant monitoring and invasive image recognition algorithms.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672512292412.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —Amazon’s smart doorbell maker Ring has terminated a partnership with police surveillance tech company Flock Safety.The announcement follows a backlash that erupted after a 30-second Ring ad that aired during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-ads-ai-telehealth-glp1-9ccfc8c730981fd91f44a5bec24e2242">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;featuring a lost dog that is found through a network of cameras, sparking fears of a dystopian surveillance society.But that feature, called Search Party, was not related to Flock. And Ring’s announcement doesn’t cite the ad as a reason for the “joint decision” for the cancellation.Ring and Flock said last year they were planning on working together to give Ring camera owners the option to share their video footage in response to law enforcement requests made through a Ring feature known as Community Requests.“Following a comprehensive review, we determined the planned Flock Safety integration would require significantly more time and resources than anticipated,” Ring’s statement said.“The integration never launched, so no Ring customer videos were ever sent to Flock Safety.”Flock reiterated that it never received Ring customer videos — and that ending the planned integration was a mutual decision that allows both companies to “best serve their respective customers.” In a statement, Flock added that it “remains dedicated to supporting law enforcement agencies with tools that are fully configurable to local laws and policies.”Flock is one of the nation’s biggest operators of automated license-plate reading systems. Its cameras are mounted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-abortion-license-plates-cameras-cc5f29df94a29ee2c6c2feb2151c8f5e">in thousands of communities</a>&nbsp;across the U.S., capturing billions of photos of license plates each month. The company has faced public outcry amid the Trump administration’s aggressive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-patrol-surveillance-drivers-ice-trump-9f5d05469ce8c629d6fecf32d32098cd">immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;crackdown. But Flock maintains that it does not partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or contract out with any subagency of the Department of Homeland Security for direct access to its cameras. The company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-abortion-license-plates-cameras-cc5f29df94a29ee2c6c2feb2151c8f5e">paused pilot programs</a>&nbsp;with Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations last year.Still, Flock says it doesn’t own the data captured by its cameras, its customers do. So if a police department, for example, chooses to collaborate with a federal agency like ICE, “Flock has no ability to override that decision,” the company notes on its website.Beyond the Flock partnership, Amazon has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ces-worst-show-ai-0ce7fbc5aff68e8ff6d7b8e6fb7b007d">other surveillance concerns</a>&nbsp;over its Ring doorbell cameras.In the Super Bowl ad, a lost dog is found with Ring’s Search Party feature, which the company says can “reunite lost dogs with their families and track wildfires threatening your community.” The clip depicts the dog being tracked by cameras throughout a neighborhood using artificial intelligence.Viewers took to social media to criticize it for being sinister, leaving many wondering if it would be used to track humans and saying they would turn the feature off.The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit that focus on civil liberties related to digital technology, said this week that Americans should feel unsettled over the potential loss of privacy.“Amazon Ring already integrates biometric identification, like face recognition, into its products via features like ‘Familiar Faces’ which depends on scanning the faces of those in sight of the camera and matching it against a list of pre-saved, pre-approved faces,” the Foundation wrote Tuesday. “It doesn’t take much to imagine Ring eventually combining these two features: face recognition and neighborhood searches.”Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts also urged Amazon to discontinue its “Familiar Faces” technology.In a published letter addressed to Amazon CEO Andrew Jassy, Markey wrote that the backlash to the Super Bowl commercial “confirmed public opposition to Ring’s constant monitoring and invasive image recognition algorithms.”

Amazon scraps partnership with surveillance company after Super Bowl ad backlash

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

Narrative:&nbsp;AIS responded to the area of Martha Truman Road and Blue River Road to meet SPD Officers on a reported injury collision with life threatening injuries. Preliminary investigation revealed that 

According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, a white Dodge Ram Pickup&nbsp; southbound on Blue River Road at a high rate of speed. The Dodge failed to negotiate the curve in the roadway at Martha Truman Road. The pickup traveled off the roadway to the right, through the dirt shoulder of the roadway, up a dirt mound and was launched into the tree line. 

The Dodge rotated 180 degrees, striking a large tree before coming to rest. The driver and sole occupant of the Dodge was ejected from the vehicle during the collision events.&nbsp; EMS transported the driver to o a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, and he was subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital staff shortly after arrival, according to Becchina.

This is fatality #8 compared to #5 at this time last year.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.Narrative:&nbsp;AIS responded to the area of Martha Truman Road and Blue River Road to meet SPD Officers on a reported injury collision with life threatening injuries. Preliminary investigation revealed that According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, a white Dodge Ram Pickup&nbsp; southbound on Blue River Road at a high rate of speed. The Dodge failed to negotiate the curve in the roadway at Martha Truman Road. The pickup traveled off the roadway to the right, through the dirt shoulder of the roadway, up a dirt mound and was launched into the tree line. The Dodge rotated 180 degrees, striking a large tree before coming to rest. The driver and sole occupant of the Dodge was ejected from the vehicle during the collision events.&nbsp; EMS transported the driver to o a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, and he was subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital staff shortly after arrival, according to Becchina.This is fatality #8 compared to #5 at this time last year.

KCPD: Driver dies after violent pickup crash into trees

Another shutdown for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-democrats-demands-ff3aadec8eeab250aea5bf8a8ecdb960">parts of the federal government</a>&nbsp;is underway&nbsp;as a fight over proposed restrictions on President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda drags on.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired on Saturday. Democrats say they will not help approve more money until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-enforcement-democrats-homeland-security-trump-bcde78c38605732106fb77e46373dc9a">the new limits</a>&nbsp;are placed on federal immigration operations after the fatal shooting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis last month.

The White House has been negotiating with the Democrats, but the two sides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-funding-shutdown-democrats-trump-4e9c4cebd45396e77f8333fd6cc31944">failed to reach a deal</a>&nbsp;by the end of the week. That meant a lapse in funding for the department.

Unlike the record&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">43-day shutdown</a>&nbsp;last fall, the closures will be narrowly confined.

Only agencies under the DHS umbrella, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration, are affected. Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, some federal workers could begin to miss paychecks.

But the work of ICE and CBP will mostly continue unabated, despite Democrats' demands for changes at those agencies. President Donald Trump's tax and spending cut law from 2025 provided ICE with about $75 billion and CBP with about $65 billion — money they can keep tapping for the Republican's deportation operations.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dhs-shutdown-tsa-travel-airports-delays-ff8b225c6ff8d57172fd301a550057b3">Services like airport screening</a>&nbsp;could suffer if the shutdown drags on for weeks.

At TSA, about 95% of employees are deemed essential. They will continue to scan passengers and their bags at the nation’s commercial airports. But they will work without pay until the funding lapse is resolved, raising the possibility that workers will being calling out or taking unscheduled leave. Many TSA workers already faced financial stress last year.

“Some are just now recovering from the financial impact of the 43-day shutdown” said Ha Nguyen McNeill, a senior official performing the duties of TSA administrator. “Many are still reeling from it.”

Why is a Homeland Security shutdown happening?

Essentially, it's because Trump acquiesced to Democrats' request that homeland security funding be stripped from a broader spending package to allow more time for negotiation over demands for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-partial-shutdown-ice-funding-homeland-security-35abc94e6579e701f03d9c18ca5a7c44">changes to immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;such as a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers show identification. DHS was temporarily funded only through Friday.

The rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means most federal programs are unaffected by the latest shutdown, including food assistance, and pay for most federal workers and for service members will continue uninterrupted.

Other agencies affected are the Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The vast majority of employees at the Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard will continue their work, though they could also miss a paycheck depending upon the shutdown's length.

At FEMA, the shutdown will disrupt the agency's ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs. Some workers will be furloughed, limiting the agency's ability to coordinate with state and local partners. Training for first responders at the National Disaster and Emergency Management University in Maryland will be disrupted.

It’s up to each federal agency to designate which of its employees are “essential” or “excepted,” both of which mean the same thing in this case. They keep working during a shutdown, typically without getting paid until government funding is back in place.

Some examples of “essential” employees are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-culture-pentagon-hegseth-dei-tansgender-4c5f94c1235d29240b22677e3d66f0ed">military personnel</a>, security screeners at airports and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deployment-trump-portland-national-guard-lawsuit-8a0323d49b708ebf905527f897352832">law enforcement officers</a>. There can be a wide range, from positions deemed critical for public safety to those authorized by law to continue even without new funding.

Most of the more than 270,000 people employed by DHS are deemed essential, meaning that they stay on the job even during a shutdown. For the fall 2025 shutdown, more than 258,000 DHS employees were in that category, and about 22,000 — or 5% of the agency's total employee base — were furloughed.

Lawmakers have been particularly concerned about the potential impact on the TSA and airports.

Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota warned that “there’s a very good chance we could see more travel problems” similar to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">last year's shutdown</a>. As staffing shortages grow, airports may reduce the number of open security lanes or close checkpoints altogether to relieve pressure on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-government-shutdown-travel-aviation-flight-delays-211022120bf96ab95dc6861ca5a7e32d">an already strained workforce</a>.

During last year’s lapse in funding, unpaid TSA workers increasingly called in sick or stayed home as missed paychecks made it harder for workers to cover basic expenses. The strain was visible on the ground: About a month into the shutdown, TSA closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport.

“The longer the shutdown goes on, the more severe the impact on our TSA workforce,” the agency said at the time.

By MEG KINNARD Associated Press Another shutdown for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-democrats-demands-ff3aadec8eeab250aea5bf8a8ecdb960">parts of the federal government</a>&nbsp;is underway&nbsp;as a fight over proposed restrictions on President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda drags on.Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired on Saturday. Democrats say they will not help approve more money until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-enforcement-democrats-homeland-security-trump-bcde78c38605732106fb77e46373dc9a">the new limits</a>&nbsp;are placed on federal immigration operations after the fatal shooting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis last month.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The men and women of <a href="https://twitter.com/CBP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBP</a> do lifesaving work at Otay Mesa, and everywhere. There are over 1.7 billion lethal doses of cocaine and fentanyl confiscated and sealed in this vault – potentially saving 1.7 billion lives. Shutting down DHS over <a href="https://twitter.com/ICEgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICEgov</a>, which is only 11% of our… <a href="https://t.co/U5lYuLkB1f">pic.twitter.com/U5lYuLkB1f</a>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/2022102378938319206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House has been negotiating with the Democrats, but the two sides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-funding-shutdown-democrats-trump-4e9c4cebd45396e77f8333fd6cc31944">failed to reach a deal</a>&nbsp;by the end of the week. That meant a lapse in funding for the department.Unlike the record&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">43-day shutdown</a>&nbsp;last fall, the closures will be narrowly confined.Only agencies under the DHS umbrella, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration, are affected. Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, some federal workers could begin to miss paychecks.But the work of ICE and CBP will mostly continue unabated, despite Democrats' demands for changes at those agencies. President Donald Trump's tax and spending cut law from 2025 provided ICE with about $75 billion and CBP with about $65 billion — money they can keep tapping for the Republican's deportation operations.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dhs-shutdown-tsa-travel-airports-delays-ff8b225c6ff8d57172fd301a550057b3">Services like airport screening</a>&nbsp;could suffer if the shutdown drags on for weeks.At TSA, about 95% of employees are deemed essential. They will continue to scan passengers and their bags at the nation’s commercial airports. But they will work without pay until the funding lapse is resolved, raising the possibility that workers will being calling out or taking unscheduled leave. Many TSA workers already faced financial stress last year.“Some are just now recovering from the financial impact of the 43-day shutdown” said Ha Nguyen McNeill, a senior official performing the duties of TSA administrator. “Many are still reeling from it.”<h2>Why is a Homeland Security shutdown happening?</h2>Essentially, it's because Trump acquiesced to Democrats' request that homeland security funding be stripped from a broader spending package to allow more time for negotiation over demands for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-partial-shutdown-ice-funding-homeland-security-35abc94e6579e701f03d9c18ca5a7c44">changes to immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;such as a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers show identification. DHS was temporarily funded only through Friday.The rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means most federal programs are unaffected by the latest shutdown, including food assistance, and pay for most federal workers and for service members will continue uninterrupted.<h2>What agencies are impacted?</h2>Other agencies affected are the Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.The vast majority of employees at the Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard will continue their work, though they could also miss a paycheck depending upon the shutdown's length.At FEMA, the shutdown will disrupt the agency's ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs. Some workers will be furloughed, limiting the agency's ability to coordinate with state and local partners. Training for first responders at the National Disaster and Emergency Management University in Maryland will be disrupted.<h2>What is the impact on workers?</h2>It’s up to each federal agency to designate which of its employees are “essential” or “excepted,” both of which mean the same thing in this case. They keep working during a shutdown, typically without getting paid until government funding is back in place.Some examples of “essential” employees are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-culture-pentagon-hegseth-dei-tansgender-4c5f94c1235d29240b22677e3d66f0ed">military personnel</a>, security screeners at airports and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deployment-trump-portland-national-guard-lawsuit-8a0323d49b708ebf905527f897352832">law enforcement officers</a>. There can be a wide range, from positions deemed critical for public safety to those authorized by law to continue even without new funding.Most of the more than 270,000 people employed by DHS are deemed essential, meaning that they stay on the job even during a shutdown. For the fall 2025 shutdown, more than 258,000 DHS employees were in that category, and about 22,000 — or 5% of the agency's total employee base — were furloughed.Lawmakers have been particularly concerned about the potential impact on the TSA and airports.Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota warned that “there’s a very good chance we could see more travel problems” similar to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">last year's shutdown</a>. As staffing shortages grow, airports may reduce the number of open security lanes or close checkpoints altogether to relieve pressure on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-government-shutdown-travel-aviation-flight-delays-211022120bf96ab95dc6861ca5a7e32d">an already strained workforce</a>.During last year’s lapse in funding, unpaid TSA workers increasingly called in sick or stayed home as missed paychecks made it harder for workers to cover basic expenses. The strain was visible on the ground: About a month into the shutdown, TSA closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport.“The longer the shutdown goes on, the more severe the impact on our TSA workforce,” the agency said at the time.___

New details on the U.S. Homeland Security shutdown

Topeka, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt on Friday announced a Reno County man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for insurance fraud, making false information, and forgery.

Larry Wilson, aged 54, pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025, in Reno County District Court to one felony count of insurance fraud, two felony counts for making false information, and two felony counts for forgery. Wilson fraudulently filed an insurance claim to collect lost wages for workdays he stated were missed due to injuries sustained in a prior auto accident. Wilson forged his supervisor’s signature on falsified documents to validate his claim for missed work. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 21 months in prison with 12 months of probation following his release.

“Insurance fraud costs all Kansans in the form of increased premiums every year,” Commissioner Vicki Schmidt said. “The Department will continue pursuing penalties against anyone committing insurance fraud in Kansas.”

The Kansas Department of Insurance investigated this case which was prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

Topeka, Kan.&nbsp;–&nbsp;Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt on Friday announced a Reno County man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for insurance fraud, making false information, and forgery.Larry Wilson, aged 54, pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025, in Reno County District Court to one felony count of insurance fraud, two felony counts for making false information, and two felony counts for forgery. Wilson fraudulently filed an insurance claim to collect lost wages for workdays he stated were missed due to injuries sustained in a prior auto accident. Wilson forged his supervisor’s signature on falsified documents to validate his claim for missed work. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 21 months in prison with 12 months of probation following his release.“Insurance fraud costs all Kansans in the form of increased premiums every year,” Commissioner Vicki Schmidt said. “The Department will continue pursuing penalties against anyone committing insurance fraud in Kansas.”The Kansas Department of Insurance investigated this case which was prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

Prison: Kan. man filed bogus insurance claim for lost wages

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/adriana-morga">ADRIANA MORGA</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been a confusing time for people with student loans. Collections restarted, then were put on hold. At the same time, borrowers had to stay on top of changes to key forgiveness plans.

Last year, the long-contested SAVE plan introduced by the Biden administration ended with a settlement agreement. President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” introduced new borrowing limits for graduates and raised challenges to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. While several changes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loan borrowers</a>&nbsp;will take effect this summer, other key questions remain unresolved.

More than 5 million Americans were in default on their federal student loans as of September, according to the Education Department. Millions are behind on loan payments and at risk of default this year.

Borrowers “genuinely struggle to afford their loans and then to hear that the administration is making it more expensive and taking away some of the tools and resources that help folks afford their loans is really, it’s panic-inducing,” said Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director at Protect Borrowers.

Last month, the Education Department announced that it would delay involuntary collections for student loan borrowers in default until the department finalizes its new loan repayment plans. The date for this is still unclear.

If you’re a student loan borrower, here are some key things to know:

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">SAVE plan</a>&nbsp;was a repayment plan with some of the most lenient terms ever. Soon after its launch it was challenged in court, leaving millions of student loan borrowers in limbo. Last December, the Education Department announced a settlement agreement to end the SAVE plan. What is next for borrowers who were enrolled in this repayment plan is yet to be determined.

“Seven and a half million borrowers who are currently enrolled in SAVE need to be moved to another plan,” Berkman-Breen said.

As part of the agreement, the Education Department says it will not enroll new borrowers, deny pending applications, and will move all current SAVE borrowers into other repayment plans.

The Education Department is expected to develop a plan for borrowers to transition from the SAVE plan, yet borrowers should be proactive about enrolling in other repayment plans, said Kate Wood, a lending expert at NerdWallet.

If you are looking to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan

Borrowers can apply for the following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-repayment-plans-pause-forgiveness-student-loans-b50dc92f50577ac5c6a9d9ed4a2f9dfd">income-driven plans</a>: the Income-Based Repayment Plan, the Pay as You Earn plan, and the Income-Contingent Repayment plan.

“They all have similar criteria, and they function similarly. Your payment is set as a percentage of your income, not how much you owe, so it’s usually a lower payment,” Berkman-Breen said.

The payment amount under income-driven plans is a percentage of your discretionary income, and the percentage varies depending on the plan. Since many people are looking to switch plans, some applications to income-driven repayment plans might take longer to process, said Jill Desjean, director of policy analysis at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

You can find out which repayment plan might work best for you by logging on to the Education Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/" target="_blank">loan simulator</a>.

If you’re working toward your Public Service Loan Forgiveness

There are no changes to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-service-loan-forgiveness-debt-cancellation-62536bdb25f04b5138d2d0a2aeec4e58">Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program</a>&nbsp;yet. Last year, the Trump administration announced plans to change the eligibility requirements for participating nonprofits.

The policy seeks to disqualify nonprofit workers if their work is deemed to have “substantial illegal purpose.” The Trump administration said it’s necessary to block taxpayer money from lawbreakers, while critics say it turns the program into a tool of political retribution.

The proposal says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-service-loan-forgiveness-debt-cancellation-62536bdb25f04b5138d2d0a2aeec4e58">illegal activity</a>&nbsp;includes the trafficking or “chemical castration” of children, illegal immigration, and supporting foreign terrorist organizations. This move could cut off some teachers, doctors, and other public workers from federal loan cancellation.

“This is something that obviously is very stressful, very nerve-wracking for a lot of people, but given that we don’t know exactly how this is going to be enforced, how these terms are going to be defined, it’s not really something that you can try to plan ahead for now,” Wood said.

While this policy is currently being challenged by 20 Democrat-led states, it’s expected to take effect in July. In the meantime, Wood recommends that borrowers enrolled in the PSLF program continue making payments.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-wage-garnishment-de1f286a8264cb5b2c0aad939e29c2e2">Involuntary collections</a>&nbsp;on federal student loans will remain on hold. The Trump administration announced earlier this month that it is delaying plans to withhold pay from student loan borrowers who default on their payments.

Federal student loan borrowers can have their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wage-garnishment-student-loans-borrowers-487645f5cd25ff4631b0ea1aa2ae6561">wages garnished</a>&nbsp;and their federal tax refunds withheld if they default on their loans. Borrowers are considered in default when they are at least 270 days behind on payments.

If your student loans are in default, you can contact your loan holder to apply for a loan rehabilitation program.

“They essentially come up with a payment plan where you’re making a reduced payment,” Woods. “After five successful payments on that rehabilitation plan, wage garnishment will cease.”

If you’re planning to attend graduate school

Trump’s “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nursing-professional-degree-trump-student-loans-d1ac078af2c76c709b914c51ad93a9fa">Big Beautiful Bill</a>&nbsp;” has changed the amount graduate students can borrow from federal student loans. Graduate students could previously borrow loans up to the cost of their degree; the new rules cap the amount depending on whether the degree is considered a graduate or a professional program.

Wood said that if you’re starting a new program and taking out a loan after July 1, you will be subject to the new loan limits.

Under the new plan, students in professional programs would be able to borrow up to $50,000 per year and up to $200,000 in total. Other graduate students, such as those pursuing nursing and physical therapy, would be limited to $20,500 a year and up to $100,000 total.

The Education Department is defining the following fields as professional programs: pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry and theology.

The online application for loan consolidation is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation/" target="_blank">studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation</a>. If you have multiple federal student loans, you can combine them into a single loan with a fixed interest rate and a single monthly payment.

The consolidation process typically takes around 60 days to complete. You can only consolidate your loans once.

The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762537338178.jpg" alt="Image Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/adriana-morga">ADRIANA MORGA</a>NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been a confusing time for people with student loans. Collections restarted, then were put on hold. At the same time, borrowers had to stay on top of changes to key forgiveness plans.Last year, the long-contested SAVE plan introduced by the Biden administration ended with a settlement agreement. President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” introduced new borrowing limits for graduates and raised challenges to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. While several changes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loan borrowers</a>&nbsp;will take effect this summer, other key questions remain unresolved.More than 5 million Americans were in default on their federal student loans as of September, according to the Education Department. Millions are behind on loan payments and at risk of default this year.Borrowers “genuinely struggle to afford their loans and then to hear that the administration is making it more expensive and taking away some of the tools and resources that help folks afford their loans is really, it’s panic-inducing,” said Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director at Protect Borrowers.Last month, the Education Department announced that it would delay involuntary collections for student loan borrowers in default until the department finalizes its new loan repayment plans. The date for this is still unclear.If you’re a student loan borrower, here are some key things to know:<h2>If you were enrolled in the SAVE plan</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">SAVE plan</a>&nbsp;was a repayment plan with some of the most lenient terms ever. Soon after its launch it was challenged in court, leaving millions of student loan borrowers in limbo. Last December, the Education Department announced a settlement agreement to end the SAVE plan. What is next for borrowers who were enrolled in this repayment plan is yet to be determined.“Seven and a half million borrowers who are currently enrolled in SAVE need to be moved to another plan,” Berkman-Breen said.As part of the agreement, the Education Department says it will not enroll new borrowers, deny pending applications, and will move all current SAVE borrowers into other repayment plans.The Education Department is expected to develop a plan for borrowers to transition from the SAVE plan, yet borrowers should be proactive about enrolling in other repayment plans, said Kate Wood, a lending expert at NerdWallet.<h2>If you are looking to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan</h2>Borrowers can apply for the following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-repayment-plans-pause-forgiveness-student-loans-b50dc92f50577ac5c6a9d9ed4a2f9dfd">income-driven plans</a>: the Income-Based Repayment Plan, the Pay as You Earn plan, and the Income-Contingent Repayment plan.“They all have similar criteria, and they function similarly. Your payment is set as a percentage of your income, not how much you owe, so it’s usually a lower payment,” Berkman-Breen said.The payment amount under income-driven plans is a percentage of your discretionary income, and the percentage varies depending on the plan. Since many people are looking to switch plans, some applications to income-driven repayment plans might take longer to process, said Jill Desjean, director of policy analysis at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.You can find out which repayment plan might work best for you by logging on to the Education Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/" target="_blank">loan simulator</a>.<h2>If you’re working toward your Public Service Loan Forgiveness</h2>There are no changes to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-service-loan-forgiveness-debt-cancellation-62536bdb25f04b5138d2d0a2aeec4e58">Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program</a>&nbsp;yet. Last year, the Trump administration announced plans to change the eligibility requirements for participating nonprofits.The policy seeks to disqualify nonprofit workers if their work is deemed to have “substantial illegal purpose.” The Trump administration said it’s necessary to block taxpayer money from lawbreakers, while critics say it turns the program into a tool of political retribution.The proposal says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-service-loan-forgiveness-debt-cancellation-62536bdb25f04b5138d2d0a2aeec4e58">illegal activity</a>&nbsp;includes the trafficking or “chemical castration” of children, illegal immigration, and supporting foreign terrorist organizations. This move could cut off some teachers, doctors, and other public workers from federal loan cancellation.“This is something that obviously is very stressful, very nerve-wracking for a lot of people, but given that we don’t know exactly how this is going to be enforced, how these terms are going to be defined, it’s not really something that you can try to plan ahead for now,” Wood said.While this policy is currently being challenged by 20 Democrat-led states, it’s expected to take effect in July. In the meantime, Wood recommends that borrowers enrolled in the PSLF program continue making payments.<h2>If your student loans are in default</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-wage-garnishment-de1f286a8264cb5b2c0aad939e29c2e2">Involuntary collections</a>&nbsp;on federal student loans will remain on hold. The Trump administration announced earlier this month that it is delaying plans to withhold pay from student loan borrowers who default on their payments.Federal student loan borrowers can have their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wage-garnishment-student-loans-borrowers-487645f5cd25ff4631b0ea1aa2ae6561">wages garnished</a>&nbsp;and their federal tax refunds withheld if they default on their loans. Borrowers are considered in default when they are at least 270 days behind on payments.If your student loans are in default, you can contact your loan holder to apply for a loan rehabilitation program.“They essentially come up with a payment plan where you’re making a reduced payment,” Woods. “After five successful payments on that rehabilitation plan, wage garnishment will cease.”<h2>If you’re planning to attend graduate school</h2>Trump’s “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nursing-professional-degree-trump-student-loans-d1ac078af2c76c709b914c51ad93a9fa">Big Beautiful Bill</a>&nbsp;” has changed the amount graduate students can borrow from federal student loans. Graduate students could previously borrow loans up to the cost of their degree; the new rules cap the amount depending on whether the degree is considered a graduate or a professional program.Wood said that if you’re starting a new program and taking out a loan after July 1, you will be subject to the new loan limits.Under the new plan, students in professional programs would be able to borrow up to $50,000 per year and up to $200,000 in total. Other graduate students, such as those pursuing nursing and physical therapy, would be limited to $20,500 a year and up to $100,000 total.The Education Department is defining the following fields as professional programs: pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry and theology.<h2>If you want to consolidate your loan</h2>The online application for loan consolidation is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation/" target="_blank">studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation</a>. If you have multiple federal student loans, you can combine them into a single loan with a fixed interest rate and a single monthly payment.The consolidation process typically takes around 60 days to complete. You can only consolidate your loans once.___The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

Confusion continues over student loan repayment plans, collections

RENO COUNTY —The cause a house fire in rural Reno County is under investigation.

On Saturday evening, the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to report of a fire in the 400 block of East 7th, according to a media release.

 First arriving crews found black smoke coming from the eaves of a 2 and one half story ballon frame home. First arriving crew entered the structure for search as dispatch advised that the occupant was still inside trying to retrieve pets. Additional crews arrived and began aggressive interior attack on the fire.  Fire was found on the first floor, second floor, and attic.  There was a partial floor collapse of a second-floor bedroom.  No injuries were reported.&nbsp; Authorities did not release a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771125821165.jpeg" alt="Photo by Marc Jacobs-Hutch Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Marc Jacobs-Hutch Post</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —The cause a house fire in rural Reno County is under investigation.On Saturday evening, the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to report of a fire in the 400 block of East 7th, according to a media release. First arriving crews found black smoke coming from the eaves of a 2 and one half story ballon frame home. First arriving crew entered the structure for search as dispatch advised that the occupant was still inside trying to retrieve pets. Additional crews arrived and began aggressive interior attack on the fire. Fire was found on the first floor, second floor, and attic. There was a partial floor collapse of a second-floor bedroom. No injuries were reported.&nbsp; Authorities did not release a damage estimate.

Resident rescued pets as crews battled Kansas house fire

MCPHERSON COUNTY —Two people were arrested Saturday afternoon following a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle in McPherson County.

Just after 4p.m., officers with the McPherson Police Department were notified by the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office that a stolen vehicle was traveling southbound on Interstate 135 from Smoky Valley Road. The sheriff’s office detected the vehicle using its newly deployed Flock license plate reader camera network.

Police officers spotted the vehicle entering the McPherson near the Interstate 135 and Kansas Avenue interchange. After confirming with dispatch that the vehicle had been reported stolen, officers attempted a traffic stop in the 100 block of South Champlin Road.

The driver fled the stop, traveling south on Centennial before leaving the city limits. A McPherson County sheriff’s deputy later deployed stop sticks, puncturing the vehicle’s tires and slowing it down.

After about 15 minutes, the suspect lost control and the vehicle became stuck near the intersection of 19th Street and Eisenhower Road.

Two individuals including 39-year-old Bobby Heckman were taken into custody, according to online jail records. Law enforcement also cleared two outstanding arrest warrants. No injuries were reported, and the only damage occurred to the stolen vehicle. Heckman is being held on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stole vehicle; theft of property or services; drug distribution and numerous traffic violations, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771161585997.png" alt="Heckman photo McPherson County" />
 <figcaption>Heckman photo McPherson County</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY —Two people were arrested Saturday afternoon following a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle in McPherson County.Just after 4p.m., officers with the McPherson Police Department were notified by the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office that a stolen vehicle was traveling southbound on Interstate 135 from Smoky Valley Road. The sheriff’s office detected the vehicle using its newly deployed Flock license plate reader camera network.Police officers spotted the vehicle entering the McPherson near the Interstate 135 and Kansas Avenue interchange. After confirming with dispatch that the vehicle had been reported stolen, officers attempted a traffic stop in the 100 block of South Champlin Road.The driver fled the stop, traveling south on Centennial before leaving the city limits. A McPherson County sheriff’s deputy later deployed stop sticks, puncturing the vehicle’s tires and slowing it down.After about 15 minutes, the suspect lost control and the vehicle became stuck near the intersection of 19th Street and Eisenhower Road.Two individuals including 39-year-old Bobby Heckman were taken into custody, according to online jail records. Law enforcement also cleared two outstanding arrest warrants. No injuries were reported, and the only damage occurred to the stolen vehicle. Heckman is being held on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stole vehicle; theft of property or services; drug distribution and numerous traffic violations, according to online jail records.

Kan. officers arrest driver after stolen vehicle gets stuck

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">Anna Kaminski</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly plans to attend a business meeting at the White House this week, which comes after President Donald Trump flip-flopped on invitations and Democrats promised to boycott.

Kelly’s office said she will attend a bipartisan working meeting on Feb. 20, but she will not partake in the White House’s black-tie dinner that is expected to follow. She has not attended the White House dinner since 2019 and does not plan to this year, said spokesperson Grace Hoge.

“She recognizes the utility of meeting with the president, Cabinet secretaries and other federal officials, alongside her colleagues, to discuss ways states and the federal government can partner on behalf of all Americans,” Hoge said. “She decided to attend the meeting once the White House invitation included all governors, regardless of party.”

The plans leading up to next week’s events in Washington, D.C., have fluctuated. Trump at first refused to invite Democrats to the White House. Then he backtracked after Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the National Governors Association, of which he is the chair, would no longer facilitate the meeting.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/09/repub/trump-shuts-out-democratic-governors-from-traditional-white-house-gatherings/">White House confirmed Trump’s decision</a>&nbsp;to exclude some Democratic governors from the dinner.

“Many Democrats were invited to dinner at the White House, and others were not. These are White House events and the President reserves the right to invite whomever he wants,” a White House official told States Newsroom, Kansas Reflector’s parent organization.

Members of the Democratic Governors Association, including Kelly, said Tuesday they wouldn’t attend the White House dinner, and accused Trump of creating chaos and division.

“If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year,” the Democratic governors’ statement said.

Trump wrote in a Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116054089500353661" target="_blank">post to Truth Social</a>&nbsp;that he only declined to invite two Democratic governors to the dinner — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the vice chair of the national association and the country’s only Black governor.

Kelly, who is in her last term, is a former chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Kansas is not a member of the National Governors Association, so she also does not plan to attend the three-day national conference, her office said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590011287498.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly met with Trump during his first term-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly met with Trump during his first term-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">Anna Kaminski</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly plans to attend a business meeting at the White House this week, which comes after President Donald Trump flip-flopped on invitations and Democrats promised to boycott.Kelly’s office said she will attend a bipartisan working meeting on Feb. 20, but she will not partake in the White House’s black-tie dinner that is expected to follow. She has not attended the White House dinner since 2019 and does not plan to this year, said spokesperson Grace Hoge.“She recognizes the utility of meeting with the president, Cabinet secretaries and other federal officials, alongside her colleagues, to discuss ways states and the federal government can partner on behalf of all Americans,” Hoge said. “She decided to attend the meeting once the White House invitation included all governors, regardless of party.”The plans leading up to next week’s events in Washington, D.C., have fluctuated. Trump at first refused to invite Democrats to the White House. Then he backtracked after Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the National Governors Association, of which he is the chair, would no longer facilitate the meeting.The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/09/repub/trump-shuts-out-democratic-governors-from-traditional-white-house-gatherings/">White House confirmed Trump’s decision</a>&nbsp;to exclude some Democratic governors from the dinner.“Many Democrats were invited to dinner at the White House, and others were not. These are White House events and the President reserves the right to invite whomever he wants,” a White House official told States Newsroom, Kansas Reflector’s parent organization.Members of the Democratic Governors Association, including Kelly, said Tuesday they wouldn’t attend the White House dinner, and accused Trump of creating chaos and division.“If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year,” the Democratic governors’ statement said.Trump wrote in a Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116054089500353661" target="_blank">post to Truth Social</a>&nbsp;that he only declined to invite two Democratic governors to the dinner — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the vice chair of the national association and the country’s only Black governor.Kelly, who is in her last term, is a former chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Kansas is not a member of the National Governors Association, so she also does not plan to attend the three-day national conference, her office said.

Kansas governor plans to attend White House meeting

EDWARDS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Saturday in Edwards County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Honda Civic driven by Aaron JG&nbsp;Pineda, 29, Garden City,&nbsp;was stuck on the railroad tracks on 310th Avenue just north of U.S. 50.&nbsp; An eastbound Amtrak train struck the car.

Pineda was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;McKillip Funeral Home.&nbsp; The conductor, engineer and an additional 113 occupants on board the train were not injured.

EDWARDS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Saturday in Edwards County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Honda Civic driven by Aaron JG&nbsp;Pineda, 29, Garden City,&nbsp;was stuck on the railroad tracks on 310th Avenue just north of U.S. 50.&nbsp; An eastbound Amtrak train struck the car.Pineda was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;McKillip Funeral Home.&nbsp; The conductor, engineer and an additional 113 occupants on board the train were not injured.

Kan. man dead after Amtrak train strikes car stuck on the tracks 

&nbsp;DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria, Feb. 3 – 12, to sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network, according to a statement from the U.S&gt; Central Command.

U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage targets with precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft.

U.S. forces previously conducted five strikes against an ISIS communication site, critical logistics node, and weapons storage facilities, Jan. 27 – Feb. 2.

Operation Hawkeye Strike was launched in response to a Dec. 13 attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra. The ISIS ambush resulted in the death of two U.S. service members and an American interpreter.

More than 50 ISIS terrorists have been killed or captured and over 100 ISIS infrastructure targets have been struck with hundreds of precision munitions during two months of targeted operations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771123773381.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria, Feb. 3 – 12, to sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network, according to a statement from the U.S&gt; Central Command.U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage targets with precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft.U.S. forces previously conducted five strikes against an ISIS communication site, critical logistics node, and weapons storage facilities, Jan. 27 – Feb. 2.Operation Hawkeye Strike was launched in response to a Dec. 13 attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra. The ISIS ambush resulted in the death of two U.S. service members and an American interpreter.More than 50 ISIS terrorists have been killed or captured and over 100 ISIS infrastructure targets have been struck with hundreds of precision munitions during two months of targeted operations.

U.S. forces continue strikes on ISIS targets in Syria

KANSAS CITY —A Missouri inmate has been charged &nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred at an apartment complex in 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2807/HillDemetrius-Warrant-Packet-1">Demetrius S. Hill</a>&nbsp;, 27, faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

According to court records, Kansas City police responded to a shooting at an apartment complex parking lot on August 9, 2019, and located the victim in the driver’s seat of a gray Dodge Durango suffering from apparent trauma. He was declared deceased at the scene.

Surveillance video captured a suspect wearing a red shirt over his head arriving at the parking lot in a gray Ford Escape. The victim then arrived in a Dodge Durango with the defendant in the front passenger seat. The suspect with the red shirt approached the victim’s vehicle and engaged in a brief conversation. As he walked away, he turned back and fired shots at the vehicle. The defendant then exited the Durango and fled with the suspect in the red shirt in the Ford Escape.

Detectives identified both suspects based on witness reports and anonymous tips to the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline.

Investigators believe the defendant fired at the victim while inside the Durango. The defendant’s DNA matched a cigarillo collected from inside the victim’s vehicle.

The suspect with the red shirt was killed in a homicide in 2023.

Hill is currently in custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for convictions that include unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, tampering with a witness and tampering with a vehicle, according to online records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771090031216.png" alt="Hill photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Hill photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Missouri inmate has been charged &nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred at an apartment complex in 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2807/HillDemetrius-Warrant-Packet-1">Demetrius S. Hill</a>&nbsp;, 27, faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.According to court records, Kansas City police responded to a shooting at an apartment complex parking lot on August 9, 2019, and located the victim in the driver’s seat of a gray Dodge Durango suffering from apparent trauma. He was declared deceased at the scene.Surveillance video captured a suspect wearing a red shirt over his head arriving at the parking lot in a gray Ford Escape. The victim then arrived in a Dodge Durango with the defendant in the front passenger seat. The suspect with the red shirt approached the victim’s vehicle and engaged in a brief conversation. As he walked away, he turned back and fired shots at the vehicle. The defendant then exited the Durango and fled with the suspect in the red shirt in the Ford Escape.Detectives identified both suspects based on witness reports and anonymous tips to the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline.Investigators believe the defendant fired at the victim while inside the Durango. The defendant’s DNA matched a cigarillo collected from inside the victim’s vehicle.The suspect with the red shirt was killed in a homicide in 2023.Hill is currently in custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for convictions that include unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, tampering with a witness and tampering with a vehicle, according to online records.

Inmate's DNA found on cigarillo at scene of Kansas City killing

HOUSTON – A 51-year-old resident of Sedgwick County, Kansas, has been ordered to federal prison for making false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations to law enforcement, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Heather Worden pleaded guilty Nov. 14, 2025.U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now sentenced Worden to three months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. The court also ordered Worden to pay $210,000 in restitution.&nbsp;

At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Worden falsely accused her former spouse of illegally accessing her bank account from the International Space Station while the couple was going through a divorce. Even after an internal investigation exonerated the former spouse, Worden continued promoting the false claim to news outlets and hired a media consultant to amplify the claim. The evidence further showed Worden publicly released her former spouse’s personal information.

In July 2019, Worden alleged her estranged spouse had guessed her password and illegally accessed her bank account while deployed to the International Space Station. &nbsp;However, the investigation revealed Worden opened her bank account in April 2018, and both parties accessed it until January 2019, when Worden changed the account credentials. Investigators also determined Worden had granted her spouse access to her bank records, including login credentials, as early as 2015.&nbsp;Worden was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.The National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Hanes and Brandon Fyffe prosecuted the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763380295480.png" alt="Anne McClain is the astronaut who was wrongly accused of trying to access her estranged spouse's bank account while on the International Space Station. Photo courtesy NASA" />
 <figcaption>Anne McClain is the astronaut who was wrongly accused of trying to access her estranged spouse's bank account while on the International Space Station. Photo courtesy NASA</figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSTON – A 51-year-old resident of Sedgwick County, Kansas, has been ordered to federal prison for making false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations to law enforcement, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.Heather Worden pleaded guilty Nov. 14, 2025.U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now sentenced Worden to three months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. The court also ordered Worden to pay $210,000 in restitution.&nbsp;At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Worden falsely accused her former spouse of illegally accessing her bank account from the International Space Station while the couple was going through a divorce. Even after an internal investigation exonerated the former spouse, Worden continued promoting the false claim to news outlets and hired a media consultant to amplify the claim. The evidence further showed Worden publicly released her former spouse’s personal information.In July 2019, Worden alleged her estranged spouse had guessed her password and illegally accessed her bank account while deployed to the International Space Station. &nbsp;However, the investigation revealed Worden opened her bank account in April 2018, and both parties accessed it until January 2019, when Worden changed the account credentials. Investigators also determined Worden had granted her spouse access to her bank records, including login credentials, as early as 2015.&nbsp;Worden was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.The National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Hanes and Brandon Fyffe prosecuted the case.

Prison for Kan. woman over false crime in space claim against NASA astronaut

ALLEN COUNTY —The Allen County Attorney has filed a charge of Battery against a former Allen County Sheriff’s Office civilian employee Stephanie Vest, according to a media release from the Allen County Sheriff.

On December 17, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) for assistance regarding allegations of misconduct toward an inmate made against a Sheriff’s Office employee. 

 The KBI conducted an investigation and presented its findings to Allen County Attorney Brandon Cameron, who then filed the charge in Allen County District Court.

The alleged incident(s) occurred in 2024 and 2025 at the Allen County Jail, where Vest was a civilian employee.  She was placed on administrative leave while the investigation was conducted and was later terminated.

ALLEN COUNTY —The Allen County Attorney has filed a charge of Battery against a former Allen County Sheriff’s Office civilian employee Stephanie Vest, according to a media release from the Allen County Sheriff.On December 17, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) for assistance regarding allegations of misconduct toward an inmate made against a Sheriff’s Office employee. The KBI conducted an investigation and presented its findings to Allen County Attorney Brandon Cameron, who then filed the charge in Allen County District Court.The alleged incident(s) occurred in 2024 and 2025 at the Allen County Jail, where Vest was a civilian employee. She was placed on administrative leave while the investigation was conducted and was later terminated.

Kan. sheriff's office employee charged with misconduct toward inmate

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/kaitlyn-huamani">KAITLYN HUAMANI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/barbara-ortutay">BARBARA ORTUTAY</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-mark-zuckerberg-richard-blumenthal-facebook-c242e1cd4ded5f09a6830eb232f2d8a3">Adam Mosseri</a>, the head of Meta’s Instagram, testified Wednesday during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms.

The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case, where plaintiffs seek to hold social media companies responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-trial-kids-addiction-meta-tiktok-youtube-d3a6bf617f2d11521675412ffb275031">TikTok and Snap have settled.</a>

At the core of the Los Angeles case is a 20-year-old identified only by the initials “KGM,” whose lawsuit could determine how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies would play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury.

Mosseri, who’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-90e00b307301468e9349a6642d68dc21">headed Instagram since 2018</a>&nbsp;said it’s important to differentiate between clinical addiction and what he called problematic use. The plaintiff’s lawyer, however, presented quotes directly from Mosseri in a podcast interview a few years ago where he used the term addiction in relation to social media use, but he clarified that he was probably using the term “too casually,” as people tend to do.

Mosseri said he was not claiming to be a medical expert when questioned about his qualifications to comment on the legitimacy of social media addiction, but said someone “very close” to him has experienced serious clinical addiction, which is why he said he was “being careful with my words.”

He said he and his colleagues use the term “problematic use” to refer to “someone spending more time on Instagram than they feel good about, and that definitely happens.”

It’s “not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for people’s well-being,” Mosseri said.

Mosseri and the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, engaged in a lengthy back-and-forth about cosmetic filters on Instagram that changed people’s appearance in a way that seemed to promote plastic surgery.

“We are trying to be as safe as possible but also censor as little as possible,” Mosseri said.

In the courtroom, bereaved parents of children who have had social media struggles seemed visibly upset during a discussion around body dysmorphia and cosmetic filters. Meta shut down all&nbsp;<a href="https://spark.meta.com/blog/meta-spark-announcement" target="_blank">third-party augmented reality filters</a>&nbsp;in January 2025. The judge made an announcement to members of the public on Wednesday after the displays of emotion, reminding them not to make any indication of agreement or disagreement with testimony, saying that it would be “improper to indicate some position.”

During cross examination, Mosseri and Meta lawyer Phyllis Jones tried to reframe the idea that Lanier was suggesting in his questioning that the company is looking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-meta-instagram-revenue-teens-harvard-cc9bf875d6f7259ba2aee8805ccdaf3d">profit off of teens</a>&nbsp;specifically.

Mosseri said Instagram makes “less money from teens than from any other demographic on the app,” noting that teens don’t tend to click on ads and many don’t have disposable income that they spend on products from ads they receive. During his opportunity to question Mosseri for a second time, Lanier was quick to point to research that shows people who join social media platforms at a young age are more likely to stay on the platforms longer, which he said makes teen users prime for meaningful long-term profit.

“Often people try to frame things as you either prioritize safety or you prioritize revenue,” Mosseri said. “It’s really hard to imagine any instance where prioritizing safety isn’t good for revenue.”

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/kaitlyn-huamani">KAITLYN HUAMANI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/barbara-ortutay">BARBARA ORTUTAY</a>LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-mark-zuckerberg-richard-blumenthal-facebook-c242e1cd4ded5f09a6830eb232f2d8a3">Adam Mosseri</a>, the head of Meta’s Instagram, testified Wednesday during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms.The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case, where plaintiffs seek to hold social media companies responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-trial-kids-addiction-meta-tiktok-youtube-d3a6bf617f2d11521675412ffb275031">TikTok and Snap have settled.</a>At the core of the Los Angeles case is a 20-year-old identified only by the initials “KGM,” whose lawsuit could determine how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies would play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury.Mosseri, who’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-90e00b307301468e9349a6642d68dc21">headed Instagram since 2018</a>&nbsp;said it’s important to differentiate between clinical addiction and what he called problematic use. The plaintiff’s lawyer, however, presented quotes directly from Mosseri in a podcast interview a few years ago where he used the term addiction in relation to social media use, but he clarified that he was probably using the term “too casually,” as people tend to do.Mosseri said he was not claiming to be a medical expert when questioned about his qualifications to comment on the legitimacy of social media addiction, but said someone “very close” to him has experienced serious clinical addiction, which is why he said he was “being careful with my words.”He said he and his colleagues use the term “problematic use” to refer to “someone spending more time on Instagram than they feel good about, and that definitely happens.”It’s “not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for people’s well-being,” Mosseri said.Mosseri and the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, engaged in a lengthy back-and-forth about cosmetic filters on Instagram that changed people’s appearance in a way that seemed to promote plastic surgery.“We are trying to be as safe as possible but also censor as little as possible,” Mosseri said.In the courtroom, bereaved parents of children who have had social media struggles seemed visibly upset during a discussion around body dysmorphia and cosmetic filters. Meta shut down all&nbsp;<a href="https://spark.meta.com/blog/meta-spark-announcement" target="_blank">third-party augmented reality filters</a>&nbsp;in January 2025. The judge made an announcement to members of the public on Wednesday after the displays of emotion, reminding them not to make any indication of agreement or disagreement with testimony, saying that it would be “improper to indicate some position.”During cross examination, Mosseri and Meta lawyer Phyllis Jones tried to reframe the idea that Lanier was suggesting in his questioning that the company is looking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-meta-instagram-revenue-teens-harvard-cc9bf875d6f7259ba2aee8805ccdaf3d">profit off of teens</a>&nbsp;specifically.Mosseri said Instagram makes “less money from teens than from any other demographic on the app,” noting that teens don’t tend to click on ads and many don’t have disposable income that they spend on products from ads they receive. During his opportunity to question Mosseri for a second time, Lanier was quick to point to research that shows people who join social media platforms at a young age are more likely to stay on the platforms longer, which he said makes teen users prime for meaningful long-term profit.“Often people try to frame things as you either prioritize safety or you prioritize revenue,” Mosseri said. “It’s really hard to imagine any instance where prioritizing safety isn’t good for revenue.”Meta CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a>&nbsp;is expected to take the stand next week.In recent years, Instagram has added a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-teens-kids-pg13-safety-f3001b877a0b576be3e5723a5acd0ff1">slew of features</a>&nbsp;and tools it says have made the platform safer for young people. But this does not always work. A&nbsp;<a href="https://fairplayforkids.org/instagram-teen-accounts-fail-to-protect-children-safety-tools-testing-reveals/" target="_blank">report last year</a>, for instance, found that teen accounts researchers created were recommended age-inappropriate sexual content, including “graphic sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to describe demeaning sexual acts, and brief displays of nudity.”In addition, Instagram also recommended a “range of self-harm, self-injury, and body image content” on teen accounts that the report says “would be reasonably likely to result in adverse impacts for young people, including teenagers experiencing poor mental health, or self-harm and suicidal ideation and behaviors.” Meta called the report “misleading, dangerously speculative” and said it misrepresents its efforts on teen safety.Meta is also facing a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-new-mexico-child-exploitation-trial-19195fc680dba782fb971d68082e11a4">trial in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;that began this week.