SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating an incident that critically injured a juvenile have made an arrest.

Just after 7p.m. Friday, police responded to a Topeka area hospital for a report of a gunshot victim arriving by private vehicle, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.

Through investigation officers were led to the 1000 block of SE Locust Street in Topeka where the incident reportedly occurred. 

One juvenile was identified as the victim and was reported in critical but stable condition.

The Topeka Police Criminal Investigations Bureau responded to the home and later arrested 24-year-old Jaquiez R. Spann-Samuel of Topeka. He remains jailed on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Endangering a Child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737861265856.png" alt="Spann-Samuel-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Spann-Samuel-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating an incident that critically injured a juvenile have made an arrest.Just after 7p.m. Friday, police responded to a Topeka area hospital for a report of a gunshot victim arriving by private vehicle, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.Through investigation officers were led to the 1000 block of SE Locust Street in Topeka where the incident reportedly occurred. One juvenile was identified as the victim and was reported in critical but stable condition.The Topeka Police Criminal Investigations Bureau responded to the home and later arrested 24-year-old Jaquiez R. Spann-Samuel of Topeka. He remains jailed on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Endangering a Child.

Kan. man jailed after juvenile hospitalized with critical injuries

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — You could say that Taylor Swift's championship era has reached its second consecutive season.

The 14-time Grammy Award-winning superstar returned to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-kansas-city-chiefs-afc-championship-score-c9187ccf15160bd5eabba73086ee9a42">beat the Buffalo Bills 32-29</a>&nbsp;for a spot in their third consecutive Super Bowl.

As confetti rained down on the field afterward, Swift and Kelce kissed in celebration. Swift gave Chiefs coach Andy Reid a big hug, and she continued the party with Kelce's mother, Donna, and some 80,000 fans who simply refused to leave their seats.

“I’m very thankful that I’m here in Kansas City, playing with the guys and everybody in this building,” said Kelce, who had just two catches for 19 yards as the Bills refused to let him beat them single-handedly. “It’s a special, special place. We feel that every single day and we just try to take advantage of it and not let it slip out of our hands.”

Swift began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-broncos-b08b0e53fdd232dc0a468b5fa43b5b04">her high-profile romance with Kelce</a>&nbsp;last season, when he invited the “Anti-Hero” singer to watch him in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">a September matchup with the Bears</a>. And their relationship only seemed to blossom into the playoffs last season, with Swift celebrating on the field with Kelce after the Chiefs had beaten the Ravens in Baltimore for the AFC championship.

Then came the Super Bowl, and Swift's much-watched dash from a concert in Tokyo for kickoff of the big game in Las Vegas.

She made it with plenty of time to spare, of course. And Swift became the focus of attention in her own right, winning what appeared to be a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1756841836713476406">beer-chugging contest</a>, partying with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1756889859455885414">celebrity suite mates</a>&nbsp;such as Blake Lively, Ice Spice and Lana Del Rey, and standing next to Kelce's mother, Donna, while he held aloft the Lombardi Trophy following the 25-22 win over the 49ers.

The couple eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/super-bowl-2024-updates">locked lips</a>&nbsp;again on the field at Allegiant Stadium that night.

On Sunday, Swift walked toward her usual suite about 90 minutes before kickoff against Buffalo. And while she was decked out in Chanel for their divisional-round win over Houston, Swift opted for a sleek black-and-gold Louis Vuitton look for the AFC title game, including a jacquard knit jacket that retails for $5,000 and a stocking cap with a list price of $830.

Modest fare compared to what suite prices for the Super Bowl will probably run.

Swift will almost certainly be in New Orleans with her celebrity friends when the Chiefs go for an unprecedented third straight Lombardi Trophy against the Eagles on Feb. 9. They got a big game from Patrick Mahomes — no surprise there — and some key stops from their defense to end the Bills’ season for the fourth time in the last five years.

“There’s nothing better than to be playing at Arrowhead for an AFC championship,” Kelce said. “They had that thing rocking more than ever, and we needed them more than ever. That Buffalo team was as good as we’ve ever played. A lot of great competitors over there. Got a lot of respect for those guys. They made it hard.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737974936244.jpeg" alt="Donna Kelce stands with her son Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)" />
 <figcaption>Donna Kelce stands with her son Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — You could say that Taylor Swift's championship era has reached its second consecutive season.The 14-time Grammy Award-winning superstar returned to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday night to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buffalo-bills-kansas-city-chiefs-afc-championship-score-c9187ccf15160bd5eabba73086ee9a42">beat the Buffalo Bills 32-29</a>&nbsp;for a spot in their third consecutive Super Bowl.As confetti rained down on the field afterward, Swift and Kelce kissed in celebration. Swift gave Chiefs coach Andy Reid a big hug, and she continued the party with Kelce's mother, Donna, and some 80,000 fans who simply refused to leave their seats.“I’m very thankful that I’m here in Kansas City, playing with the guys and everybody in this building,” said Kelce, who had just two catches for 19 yards as the Bills refused to let him beat them single-handedly. “It’s a special, special place. We feel that every single day and we just try to take advantage of it and not let it slip out of our hands.”Swift began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-broncos-b08b0e53fdd232dc0a468b5fa43b5b04">her high-profile romance with Kelce</a>&nbsp;last season, when he invited the “Anti-Hero” singer to watch him in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">a September matchup with the Bears</a>. And their relationship only seemed to blossom into the playoffs last season, with Swift celebrating on the field with Kelce after the Chiefs had beaten the Ravens in Baltimore for the AFC championship.Then came the Super Bowl, and Swift's much-watched dash from a concert in Tokyo for kickoff of the big game in Las Vegas.She made it with plenty of time to spare, of course. And Swift became the focus of attention in her own right, winning what appeared to be a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1756841836713476406">beer-chugging contest</a>, partying with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1756889859455885414">celebrity suite mates</a>&nbsp;such as Blake Lively, Ice Spice and Lana Del Rey, and standing next to Kelce's mother, Donna, while he held aloft the Lombardi Trophy following the 25-22 win over the 49ers.The couple eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/super-bowl-2024-updates">locked lips</a>&nbsp;again on the field at Allegiant Stadium that night.On Sunday, Swift walked toward her usual suite about 90 minutes before kickoff against Buffalo. And while she was decked out in Chanel for their divisional-round win over Houston, Swift opted for a sleek black-and-gold Louis Vuitton look for the AFC title game, including a jacquard knit jacket that retails for $5,000 and a stocking cap with a list price of $830.Modest fare compared to what suite prices for the Super Bowl will probably run.Swift will almost certainly be in New Orleans with her celebrity friends when the Chiefs go for an unprecedented third straight Lombardi Trophy against the Eagles on Feb. 9. They got a big game from Patrick Mahomes — no surprise there — and some key stops from their defense to end the Bills’ season for the fourth time in the last five years.“There’s nothing better than to be playing at Arrowhead for an AFC championship,” Kelce said. “They had that thing rocking more than ever, and we needed them more than ever. That Buffalo team was as good as we’ve ever played. A lot of great competitors over there. Got a lot of respect for those guys. They made it hard.”___

Taylor Swift watches boyfriend Travis Kelce, Chiefs get back to Super Bowl

KANSAS CITY – A&nbsp; Kansas, man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Alonso Alfredo Nunez, also known as “Bullet,” 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Thursday, Jan. 23, to 15 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney.

On April 10, 2024, Nunez pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Nunez admitted that he and co-defendant Jaloany Garcia-Medina, also known as “J. Lo,” 22, of Kansas City, Kan., working together, sold fentanyl on multiple occasions to a confidential informant working for the Jackson County Drug Task Force.

Nunez and Garcia-Medina sold approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills to a confidential informant on each of six separate occasions during the six months of the conspiracy from July 25 to Dec. 18, 2022. A different FBI confidential source reported that Nunez was supplied 200 to 500 fentanyl-laced pills weekly from July 2022 through December 2022.

Garcia-Medina has pleaded guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and awaits sentencing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737915260748.png" alt="Nunez photo from an arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Nunez photo from an arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A&nbsp; Kansas, man has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.Alonso Alfredo Nunez, also known as “Bullet,” 20, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays on Thursday, Jan. 23, to 15 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney.On April 10, 2024, Nunez pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Nunez admitted that he and co-defendant Jaloany Garcia-Medina, also known as “J. Lo,” 22, of Kansas City, Kan., working together, sold fentanyl on multiple occasions to a confidential informant working for the Jackson County Drug Task Force.Nunez and Garcia-Medina sold approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills to a confidential informant on each of six separate occasions during the six months of the conspiracy from July 25 to Dec. 18, 2022. A different FBI confidential source reported that Nunez was supplied 200 to 500 fentanyl-laced pills weekly from July 2022 through December 2022.Garcia-Medina has pleaded guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and awaits sentencing.

Kansas man sold fentanyl pills to Drug Task Force informant

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating alleged sex crimes and have a suspect in custody.

On Jan. 23, following an investigation into a possible child sex crimes, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division served a search warrant in the 4400 block of SW 61st Street in response to a report that had been filed regarding sexual crimes against a minor, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Joseph G. Pittman, 41, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Sexual exploitation of a child; possess media of a child, Sexual exploitation of a child; promote performance, Aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, Aggravated indecent liberties with a child, Intimidation of a witness or victim,&nbsp;Aggravated criminal sodomy and Rape.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737814373488.png" alt="Pittman-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Pittman-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating alleged sex crimes and have a suspect in custody.On Jan. 23, following an investigation into a possible child sex crimes, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division served a search warrant in the 4400 block of SW 61st Street in response to a report that had been filed regarding sexual crimes against a minor, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.Joseph G. Pittman, 41, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Sexual exploitation of a child; possess media of a child, Sexual exploitation of a child; promote performance, Aggravated indecent solicitation of a child, Aggravated indecent liberties with a child, Intimidation of a witness or victim,&nbsp;Aggravated criminal sodomy and Rape.

Kansas man accused of multiple sex crimes involving a child

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — You could say that Taylor Swift's championship era is in its second consecutive season.

The 14-time Grammy Award-winning superstar returned to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs play the Buffalo Bills for a spot in their third consecutive Super Bowl.

Swift walked down the tunnel to her usual suite about 90 minutes before kickoff. And while she was decked out in Chanel for the divisional round against Houston, she opted for a sleek black-and-gold Louis Vuitton look for the AFC title game, including a jacquard knit jacket that retails for $5,000 and a stocking cap with a list price of $830.

She began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-broncos-b08b0e53fdd232dc0a468b5fa43b5b04">her high-profile romance with Kelce</a>&nbsp;last season, when he invited the “Anti-Hero” singer to watch him in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">a September matchup with the Bears</a>. And their relationship only seemed to blossom into the new year, with Swift eventually celebrating on the field with Kelce after the Chiefs had beaten the Ravens in Baltimore for the AFC championship.

She made it with plenty of time to spare, of course. And Swift became the focus of attention in her own right, winning what appeared to be a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1756841836713476406">beer-chugging contest</a>, partying with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1756889859455885414">celebrity suite mates</a>&nbsp;such as Blake Lively, Ice Spice and Lana Del Rey, and standing next to Kelce's mother while he held aloft the Lombardi Trophy following the 25-22 win over the 49ers.

The couple eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/super-bowl-2024-updates">locked lips</a>&nbsp;again on the field at Allegiant Stadium.

Perhaps the couple will have an opportunity to celebrate again in a couple of weeks in the Big Easy.

The Chiefs, who were playing in the AFC championship game for the seventh consecutive season, were trying to become the fourth team in NFL history to reach at least three straight Super Bowls — and the first to win three in a row. The Bills memorably lost all four of their appearances in the 1990s, while the Dolphins and Patriots each lost one of their three trips.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737932162645.png" alt="Taylor Swift arrives to Arrowhead Stadium before the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)" />
 <figcaption>Taylor Swift arrives to Arrowhead Stadium before the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — You could say that Taylor Swift's championship era is in its second consecutive season.The 14-time Grammy Award-winning superstar returned to Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday to watch her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs play the Buffalo Bills for a spot in their third consecutive Super Bowl.Swift walked down the tunnel to her usual suite about 90 minutes before kickoff. And while she was decked out in Chanel for the divisional round against Houston, she opted for a sleek black-and-gold Louis Vuitton look for the AFC title game, including a jacquard knit jacket that retails for $5,000 and a stocking cap with a list price of $830.She began&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-broncos-b08b0e53fdd232dc0a468b5fa43b5b04">her high-profile romance with Kelce</a>&nbsp;last season, when he invited the “Anti-Hero” singer to watch him in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-kelce-chiefs-891e7df84295f5b35cfa97a5ec427721">a September matchup with the Bears</a>. And their relationship only seemed to blossom into the new year, with Swift eventually celebrating on the field with Kelce after the Chiefs had beaten the Ravens in Baltimore for the AFC championship.Then came the Super Bowl, and Swift's much-watched dash from a concert in Tokyo for kickoff of the big game in Las Vegas.She made it with plenty of time to spare, of course. And Swift became the focus of attention in her own right, winning what appeared to be a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1756841836713476406">beer-chugging contest</a>, partying with&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1756889859455885414">celebrity suite mates</a>&nbsp;such as Blake Lively, Ice Spice and Lana Del Rey, and standing next to Kelce's mother while he held aloft the Lombardi Trophy following the 25-22 win over the 49ers.The couple eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/super-bowl-2024-updates">locked lips</a>&nbsp;again on the field at Allegiant Stadium.Perhaps the couple will have an opportunity to celebrate again in a couple of weeks in the Big Easy.The Chiefs, who were playing in the AFC championship game for the seventh consecutive season, were trying to become the fourth team in NFL history to reach at least three straight Super Bowls — and the first to win three in a row. The Bills memorably lost all four of their appearances in the 1990s, while the Dolphins and Patriots each lost one of their three trips.___

Taylor Swift arrives for AFC title game, hoping Kelce and Chiefs return to the Super Bowl

WICHITA – The Consumer Protection Division of the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office has recently begun an investigation involving a six-figure electronic transfer of funds that had been intended to be sent to a legitimate bank account in anticipation of a property closing. 

The emails that were the subject of the communication were very close to the legitimate email addresses, but did contain a single letter/digit alteration to the email address which was not noticed until after the transaction. This ultimately contributed to the funds being sent to an illegitimate bank account.

This is not the first time this sort of fraud has been perpetrated in the area. 

The district attorney office reminded all banks, title companies and realtors in the south central Kansas area and beyond to take the following steps when transferring money electronically:

(1) Confirm the accuracy of any email address purported to represent an individual or entity who is requesting the electronic transfer of any sum of money; and (2) take the time to call and confirm the identity and/or contact information as well as the account number and routing information of any banking institution to whom money is being electronically sent.

WICHITA – The Consumer Protection Division of the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office has recently begun an investigation involving a six-figure electronic transfer of funds that had been intended to be sent to a legitimate bank account in anticipation of a property closing. The emails that were the subject of the communication were very close to the legitimate email addresses, but did contain a single letter/digit alteration to the email address which was not noticed until after the transaction. This ultimately contributed to the funds being sent to an illegitimate bank account.This is not the first time this sort of fraud has been perpetrated in the area. The district attorney office reminded all banks, title companies and realtors in the south central Kansas area and beyond to take the following steps when transferring money electronically:(1) Confirm the accuracy of any email address purported to represent an individual or entity who is requesting the electronic transfer of any sum of money; and (2) take the time to call and confirm the identity and/or contact information as well as the account number and routing information of any banking institution to whom money is being electronically sent.

DA issues caution on money transfers in Kansas

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/devna-bose">DEVNA BOSE</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/carla-k-johnson">CARLA K. JOHNSON</a> Associated Press

Susan Scarbro stares down a bowling lane at the distant pins.

She hears a sound that breaks her focus. Was that a cough? Will her mask protect her?

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-variant-omicron-deaths-wuhan-lab-1ae8a7b3e6e034e03722f17e7aad34cb">COVID-19 remains</a>&nbsp;a very present threat for the 55-year-old. Scarbro has multiple immune disorders, making her vulnerable to infection.

“Any minute anybody could cough, just incidentally,” said Scarbro, who lives in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. “And that cough could be the one thing that could make me sick.”

This month marks the fifth anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. The virus would go on to kill 1.2 million Americans and disrupt countless lives.

While the pandemic’s emergency phase ended in May 2023, the threat of infection remains a governing force in the lives of people like Scarbro. They protect themselves from the virus with masks and isolate themselves in small family bubbles. Some grasp for unproven strategies — gargling with antiseptic mouthwash, carrying a personal carbon dioxide monitor to check the ventilation of indoor spaces.

In online support groups, they trade research about the danger of repeat infections and cognitive impairment. They miss the empathy they felt during the early days of the pandemic. Some have lost friendships, but they strive to maintain the social ties that are important to mental health.

Scarbro’s bowling league helps her feel connected to her neighbors. But recently, she’s detected more stares and skeptical looks from strangers when she bowls in a mask.

“There was more respect and understanding, but now they’re over it,” she said. “They expect me to be over it, but they don’t understand that even before COVID-19, these were the precautions I needed to take.”

Most Americans have developed some level of protection against severe disease from previous COVID-19 infections, vaccinations or both. But immunocompromised people like Scarbro, who has common variable immune deficiency, must be constantly vigilant. Unlike the flu, COVID has not settled into a seasonal pattern.

“There’s never a time when they can relax a little bit,” said Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University. “That’s a really challenging and exhausting thing to ask someone to do.”

Who are the people still cautious about COVID-19? They include young caregivers of vulnerable relatives, people with chronic health conditions and families rallying around a loved one. In interviews with The Associated Press, they talked about how they manage the trade-offs and the toll of isolation on their mental health.

Before the pandemic, Bazia Zebrowski, 61, of Newbury, Ohio, dined out, shopped for groceries and took her dog, Shadoh, to the park. When she felt well, she occasionally could get together with friends despite having myalgic encephalomyelitis, a condition formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome that causes inflammation, immune system problems, fatigue and pain.

Now she keeps close to home, venturing out only for medical appointments. Her husband does the shopping and wears a mask at his workplace.

They have not had COVID-19 and hope their luck holds. Getting sick would be a disaster, she said, potentially triggering a relapse or superimposing long COVID-19 onto her illness.

“I don’t consider myself COVID cautious. I consider myself COVID competent,” Zebrowski said. “Cautious would imply that I have an unreasonable fear of something. I do not have an unreasonable fear of this disease.”

What does Zebrowski miss about pre-pandemic times? “I miss the illusion that people are willing to care for each other,” she said. “How hard is it to put a mask on? It rattles your faith in humankind … (you learn) how little the people in your life understood how sick you were to begin with.”

Trauma is part of the experience of having a chronic illness, said DePaul University psychologist Leonard Jason, who has studied myalgic encephalomyelitis for more than three decades.

“Then you’re traumatized by the societal reaction to the illness,” he said.

Some people aren’t sick themselves but are taking precautions to protect a family member. Steve Alejandro, 42, of Wentzville, Missouri, calls himself a COVID shielder.

His wife, Ashley Alejandro, 44, also has myalgic encephalomyelitis. “She’s got maybe four good hours a day,” Alejandro said. “There’s not a thing in the world I wouldn’t do to protect those four hours.”

Alejandro changed careers during the pandemic, leaving behind “my whole support system” so he could sell vintage books online from home. His three children — now 20, 18 and 12 — never went back to in-person school after lockdowns ended and are continuing their learning at home.

“We’ve really come together,” Alejandro said. “This is a choice that can be made and you can win at it.”

In Miami, Kira Levin is the primary caregiver for her 98-year-old grandmother. She said the thought of getting COVID-19 and risking her grandmother’s health is terrifying.

So, at a July wedding, the 29-year-old was the only bridesmaid and attendee in a mask — an N95 layered with a pretty mask to match the bride’s green color scheme.

“I didn’t take off the mask for pictures and nobody asked me to,” Levin said. “And I felt incredibly grateful for that.”

Denver-based sisters Jacqueline and Alexa Child stay masked while going to concerts and dining outdoors with friends who don’t share the same level of COVID-19 caution.

“We have done everything we possibly could to maintain our mental health and our social life,” said Jacqueline, who has an immune disease that makes her vulnerable to infections. “There’s nothing worse than being disabled and isolated. As someone who has been disabled and isolated, I don’t want that isolation part.”

Jacqueline, 30, and her sister Alexa, 34, launched a dating app called Dateability in 2022 for people who are disabled or chronically ill, though all are welcomed. Users can add a “COVID Cautious” tag to their profiles to signal they’re interested in meeting others who take precautions. The Child sisters say 10% of their 30,000 users add “COVID Cautious” to their dating profiles.

“It’s a market that we didn’t expect to target but we happily accept,” Jacqueline said.

Alexa said the precautions started as a way to protect Jacqueline, “but they’re no longer about that.” She’s trying to avoid long COVID, a long-term disability.

Tossing aside the threat of long COVID is hard to imagine for Yale University immunologist Akiko Iwasaki. Though people have been studying the virus since its emergence, she said scientists still don’t know how pieces of the virus can stick around in the blood of some people for more than a year after they’ve recovered from the illness.

Iwasaki still wears masks indoors and stays up to date with vaccines.

“I just can’t afford to get sick and become chronically ill,” she said. “I feel that we really are in a position to be able to better understand the disease, to help millions of people.”

While Scarbro understands that others are ready to return to “normal,” it’s not that easy for her or her family. It’s true for many others with chronic immune illnesses, said Jorey Berry, CEO of Immune Deficiency Foundation.

“While the rest of the world is able to kind of go back to their regular lives, our community doesn’t have that luxury,” she said.

Scarbro, her husband and children are constantly taking into account other people’s COVID-19 safety practices.

And as the world turns back to pre-COVID life, Scarbro’s family is doing what they can to keep her healthy — but not in complete isolation.

“I feel very scared about the future,” she said. “I know that people are done, and I respect that, but it’s only going to make it harder for me and my family to keep me safe.”

AP videojournalist Laura Bargfeld contributed to this report from Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737911120142.jpeg" alt="Steve Alejandro and his wife, Ashley, sit for a portrait in the room where Ashley spends most of her time due to illness, in the basement of their home Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in Wentzville, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)" />
 <figcaption>Steve Alejandro and his wife, Ashley, sit for a portrait in the room where Ashley spends most of her time due to illness, in the basement of their home Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, in Wentzville, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/devna-bose">DEVNA BOSE</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/carla-k-johnson">CARLA K. JOHNSON</a> Associated PressSusan Scarbro stares down a bowling lane at the distant pins.She hears a sound that breaks her focus. Was that a cough? Will her mask protect her?<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-variant-omicron-deaths-wuhan-lab-1ae8a7b3e6e034e03722f17e7aad34cb">COVID-19 remains</a>&nbsp;a very present threat for the 55-year-old. Scarbro has multiple immune disorders, making her vulnerable to infection.“Any minute anybody could cough, just incidentally,” said Scarbro, who lives in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. “And that cough could be the one thing that could make me sick.”This month marks the fifth anniversary of the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. The virus would go on to kill 1.2 million Americans and disrupt countless lives.While the pandemic’s emergency phase ended in May 2023, the threat of infection remains a governing force in the lives of people like Scarbro. They protect themselves from the virus with masks and isolate themselves in small family bubbles. Some grasp for unproven strategies — gargling with antiseptic mouthwash, carrying a personal carbon dioxide monitor to check the ventilation of indoor spaces.In online support groups, they trade research about the danger of repeat infections and cognitive impairment. They miss the empathy they felt during the early days of the pandemic. Some have lost friendships, but they strive to maintain the social ties that are important to mental health.Scarbro’s bowling league helps her feel connected to her neighbors. But recently, she’s detected more stares and skeptical looks from strangers when she bowls in a mask.“There was more respect and understanding, but now they’re over it,” she said. “They expect me to be over it, but they don’t understand that even before COVID-19, these were the precautions I needed to take.”Most Americans have developed some level of protection against severe disease from previous COVID-19 infections, vaccinations or both. But immunocompromised people like Scarbro, who has common variable immune deficiency, must be constantly vigilant. Unlike the flu, COVID has not settled into a seasonal pattern.“There’s never a time when they can relax a little bit,” said Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University. “That’s a really challenging and exhausting thing to ask someone to do.”Who are the people still cautious about COVID-19? They include young caregivers of vulnerable relatives, people with chronic health conditions and families rallying around a loved one. In interviews with The Associated Press, they talked about how they manage the trade-offs and the toll of isolation on their mental health.<h2>‘How hard is it to put a mask on?’</h2>Before the pandemic, Bazia Zebrowski, 61, of Newbury, Ohio, dined out, shopped for groceries and took her dog, Shadoh, to the park. When she felt well, she occasionally could get together with friends despite having myalgic encephalomyelitis, a condition formerly known as chronic fatigue syndrome that causes inflammation, immune system problems, fatigue and pain.Now she keeps close to home, venturing out only for medical appointments. Her husband does the shopping and wears a mask at his workplace.They have not had COVID-19 and hope their luck holds. Getting sick would be a disaster, she said, potentially triggering a relapse or superimposing long COVID-19 onto her illness.“I don’t consider myself COVID cautious. I consider myself COVID competent,” Zebrowski said. “Cautious would imply that I have an unreasonable fear of something. I do not have an unreasonable fear of this disease.”What does Zebrowski miss about pre-pandemic times? “I miss the illusion that people are willing to care for each other,” she said. “How hard is it to put a mask on? It rattles your faith in humankind … (you learn) how little the people in your life understood how sick you were to begin with.”Trauma is part of the experience of having a chronic illness, said DePaul University psychologist Leonard Jason, who has studied myalgic encephalomyelitis for more than three decades.“Then you’re traumatized by the societal reaction to the illness,” he said.<h2>Protecting a partner</h2>Some people aren’t sick themselves but are taking precautions to protect a family member. Steve Alejandro, 42, of Wentzville, Missouri, calls himself a COVID shielder.His wife, Ashley Alejandro, 44, also has myalgic encephalomyelitis. “She’s got maybe four good hours a day,” Alejandro said. “There’s not a thing in the world I wouldn’t do to protect those four hours.”Alejandro changed careers during the pandemic, leaving behind “my whole support system” so he could sell vintage books online from home. His three children — now 20, 18 and 12 — never went back to in-person school after lockdowns ended and are continuing their learning at home.“We’ve really come together,” Alejandro said. “This is a choice that can be made and you can win at it.”In Miami, Kira Levin is the primary caregiver for her 98-year-old grandmother. She said the thought of getting COVID-19 and risking her grandmother’s health is terrifying.So, at a July wedding, the 29-year-old was the only bridesmaid and attendee in a mask — an N95 layered with a pretty mask to match the bride’s green color scheme.“I didn’t take off the mask for pictures and nobody asked me to,” Levin said. “And I felt incredibly grateful for that.”<h2>‘COVID Cautious’ dating</h2>Denver-based sisters Jacqueline and Alexa Child stay masked while going to concerts and dining outdoors with friends who don’t share the same level of COVID-19 caution.“We have done everything we possibly could to maintain our mental health and our social life,” said Jacqueline, who has an immune disease that makes her vulnerable to infections. “There’s nothing worse than being disabled and isolated. As someone who has been disabled and isolated, I don’t want that isolation part.”Jacqueline, 30, and her sister Alexa, 34, launched a dating app called Dateability in 2022 for people who are disabled or chronically ill, though all are welcomed. Users can add a “COVID Cautious” tag to their profiles to signal they’re interested in meeting others who take precautions. The Child sisters say 10% of their 30,000 users add “COVID Cautious” to their dating profiles.“It’s a market that we didn’t expect to target but we happily accept,” Jacqueline said.Alexa said the precautions started as a way to protect Jacqueline, “but they’re no longer about that.” She’s trying to avoid long COVID, a long-term disability.Tossing aside the threat of long COVID is hard to imagine for Yale University immunologist Akiko Iwasaki. Though people have been studying the virus since its emergence, she said scientists still don’t know how pieces of the virus can stick around in the blood of some people for more than a year after they’ve recovered from the illness.Iwasaki still wears masks indoors and stays up to date with vaccines.“I just can’t afford to get sick and become chronically ill,” she said. “I feel that we really are in a position to be able to better understand the disease, to help millions of people.”<h2>A new normal</h2>While Scarbro understands that others are ready to return to “normal,” it’s not that easy for her or her family. It’s true for many others with chronic immune illnesses, said Jorey Berry, CEO of Immune Deficiency Foundation.“While the rest of the world is able to kind of go back to their regular lives, our community doesn’t have that luxury,” she said.Scarbro, her husband and children are constantly taking into account other people’s COVID-19 safety practices.And as the world turns back to pre-COVID life, Scarbro’s family is doing what they can to keep her healthy — but not in complete isolation.“I feel very scared about the future,” she said. “I know that people are done, and I respect that, but it’s only going to make it harder for me and my family to keep me safe.”<h2>___</h2>AP videojournalist Laura Bargfeld contributed to this report from Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

Meet the Americans who still take COVID-19 precautions seriously

KANSAS CITY (AP) — The latest evidence that homeownership is becoming increasingly less accessible to many Americans: Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to a nearly 30-year low for the second time in as many years.

<a href="https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=I+will+never+understand+going+to+reddit+and+asking+a+sub+to+answer+the+most+basic+internet+searches" target="_blank">Elevated mortgage rates</a>, a yearslong shortage of homes on the market and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fannie-freddie-conforming-loans-mortgage-financing-6ac6d57887e4cfc48dcbba823f0602b7">record-high home prices</a>&nbsp;continued to stymie prospective home shoppers, especially first-time buyers.

That led existing home sales to fall 0.7% last year to 4.06 million — the weakest showing for home sales since 1995 and edging out the terrible year for sales in 2023, the National Association of Realtors said Friday.

Even in the midst of a sales slump, a dearth of homes on the market and rising mortgage rates gave sellers an edge over buyers, helping drive up the national median home price for all of last year to an all-time high $407,500, an increase of 4.7% from a year earlier.

“How is it possible that home sales can be this low, considering that the U.S. population has increased by more than 70 million over this time period from 1995 to today?” asked Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist. “One can partly answer that question because of the affordability issue. Record-high home prices, mortgage rates having risen, but also lack of inventory.”

The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage surged to a 23-year high of nearly 8% in October 2023 and briefly fell to a 2-year low last September, but has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-c0761e8cbd4dba18f682541a18ae0fb2">mostly hovering around 7%,</a>&nbsp;according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.

The buying power of Americans now facing higher costs to borrow money for homes that have soared in value has been significantly stunted. With so few homes up for sale, millions of would-be homebuyers have found themselves on the sidelines.

At the end of December, there were just 1.15 million homes on the market, NAR said. While that was up 16.2% from a year earlier, the inventory remained well below the annual historical average of about 1.98 million, according to data going back to 1999.

The available inventory at the end of last month amounts to a 3.3-month supply, going by the current sales pace. In a more balanced market between buyers and sellers, there is a 4- to 6-month supply.

“This means that the problems in the U.S. housing market continue to worsen in terms of availability of homes for sale and the upward pressure on home prices,” Eugenio Aleman, chief economist at Raymond James, wrote in a research note.

Many factors have contributed to the housing shortage, including more than a decade of below-average new home construction and homeowners hanging on to their properties longer. And while President Donald Trump made increasing the housing supply one of his election campaign platforms, there are no quick fixes.

“Over the past decade, the U.S. has averaged about 5.2 million home sales annually,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS. “It is going to take years before we are back at that level, maybe not even until the 2030s. The lack of inventory is the key constraint.”

A sharp drop in the mortgage rate boosted the purchasing power of Americans in 2020 and 2021. While many economists predict that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will ease this year, they generally don’t expect it to fall below 6%, about twice what it was five years ago.

When mortgage rates ease, they can encourage home shoppers. A pullback in rates last fall helped home sales increase on a monthly basis in the last three months of the year.

Home sales in December rose 2.2% from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis to a 4.24 million annual pace, NAR said. That topped the 4.2 million pace forecast by analysts polled by FactSet. Sales rose 9.3% in December versus the same month last year.

The median home sales price rose for the 18th consecutive month in December to $404,000, up 6% from a year earlier.

Limited inventory, especially in the more affordable price range of a given market, helps drive prices higher. That’s one reason many first-time homebuyers, who don’t have any home equity to put toward their down payment, continue to struggle.

They accounted for 31% of all homes sold last month, up from 30% in November and 29% in December 2023. However, the annual share of first-time buyers was 24%. It’s been 40% historically.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="Photo AP" />
 <figcaption>Photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;ALEX VEIGAUKANSAS CITY (AP) — The latest evidence that homeownership is becoming increasingly less accessible to many Americans: Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to a nearly 30-year low for the second time in as many years.<a href="https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=I+will+never+understand+going+to+reddit+and+asking+a+sub+to+answer+the+most+basic+internet+searches" target="_blank">Elevated mortgage rates</a>, a yearslong shortage of homes on the market and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fannie-freddie-conforming-loans-mortgage-financing-6ac6d57887e4cfc48dcbba823f0602b7">record-high home prices</a>&nbsp;continued to stymie prospective home shoppers, especially first-time buyers.That led existing home sales to fall 0.7% last year to 4.06 million — the weakest showing for home sales since 1995 and edging out the terrible year for sales in 2023, the National Association of Realtors said Friday.Even in the midst of a sales slump, a dearth of homes on the market and rising mortgage rates gave sellers an edge over buyers, helping drive up the national median home price for all of last year to an all-time high $407,500, an increase of 4.7% from a year earlier.“How is it possible that home sales can be this low, considering that the U.S. population has increased by more than 70 million over this time period from 1995 to today?” asked Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist. “One can partly answer that question because of the affordability issue. Record-high home prices, mortgage rates having risen, but also lack of inventory.”The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage surged to a 23-year high of nearly 8% in October 2023 and briefly fell to a 2-year low last September, but has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-loan-c0761e8cbd4dba18f682541a18ae0fb2">mostly hovering around 7%,</a>&nbsp;according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.The buying power of Americans now facing higher costs to borrow money for homes that have soared in value has been significantly stunted. With so few homes up for sale, millions of would-be homebuyers have found themselves on the sidelines.At the end of December, there were just 1.15 million homes on the market, NAR said. While that was up 16.2% from a year earlier, the inventory remained well below the annual historical average of about 1.98 million, according to data going back to 1999.The available inventory at the end of last month amounts to a 3.3-month supply, going by the current sales pace. In a more balanced market between buyers and sellers, there is a 4- to 6-month supply.“This means that the problems in the U.S. housing market continue to worsen in terms of availability of homes for sale and the upward pressure on home prices,” Eugenio Aleman, chief economist at Raymond James, wrote in a research note.Many factors have contributed to the housing shortage, including more than a decade of below-average new home construction and homeowners hanging on to their properties longer. And while President Donald Trump made increasing the housing supply one of his election campaign platforms, there are no quick fixes.“Over the past decade, the U.S. has averaged about 5.2 million home sales annually,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS. “It is going to take years before we are back at that level, maybe not even until the 2030s. The lack of inventory is the key constraint.”A sharp drop in the mortgage rate boosted the purchasing power of Americans in 2020 and 2021. While many economists predict that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will ease this year, they generally don’t expect it to fall below 6%, about twice what it was five years ago.When mortgage rates ease, they can encourage home shoppers. A pullback in rates last fall helped home sales increase on a monthly basis in the last three months of the year.Home sales in December rose 2.2% from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis to a 4.24 million annual pace, NAR said. That topped the 4.2 million pace forecast by analysts polled by FactSet. Sales rose 9.3% in December versus the same month last year.The median home sales price rose for the 18th consecutive month in December to $404,000, up 6% from a year earlier.Limited inventory, especially in the more affordable price range of a given market, helps drive prices higher. That’s one reason many first-time homebuyers, who don’t have any home equity to put toward their down payment, continue to struggle.They accounted for 31% of all homes sold last month, up from 30% in November and 29% in December 2023. However, the annual share of first-time buyers was 24%. It’s been 40% historically.

US home sales fall to lowest level in nearly 30 years 

LAS VEGAS (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;came to Las Vegas on Saturday to crow about his campaign promise to eliminate taxes on tips, signaling to allies in Congress the importance of the policy but stopping well short of offering details for making the slogan a reality.

Instead, Trump spent most of his 40 minutes speaking to roughly 1,000 supporters in a casino ballroom lauding his November election victory, mocking former President Joe Biden's administration and touting his torrent of executive actions since taking office Monday.

“But I have to be honest with you, I'm really here for a different reason, I'm here to say thank you," Trump told the crowd at Circa Resort &amp; Casino.

The victory lap, Trump's first swing-state rally since taking office, came after he won Nevada's six electoral votes in November, becoming the first Republican since George W. Bush in 2004 to carry the state. It was part of Trump's sweep of all seven of the most competitive states that gave him a healthy electoral majority and a second, non-consecutive term.

Aides said Trump's stop in Nevada was to deliver an "economic-focused message" built around his familiar promise to hospitality industry workers to remove the tax on gratuity income.

“We're going to get it for you — ‘no tax on tips,’” Trump said, standing behind a podium emblazoned with the same slogan he used throughout the 2024 campaign.

After the rally, Trump strode through the Circa casino floor past its purple-hewed velvet tables, to cheers from visitors of “USA, USA.” At a roulette table, a player yelled, “Give me $47 on 47,” for Trump, now the 47th president. “Ohh,” Trump lamented at the losing throw but he signed autographs as supporters hooted.

If light on detail, Trump's comments on tips were a signal to Republicans in Congress that the proposal is a priority for the massive tax package they intend to pass this year. Trump is set to meet House Republicans on Monday as they gather in Florida to chart the strategy ahead.

Speaker Mike Johnson, who is laboring to get the package moving forward, invited Trump to address a joint session of Congress on March 4, a tradition for new presidents, who don’t deliver a State of the Union address until their second year in office. Johnson said lawmakers working with Trump hope to make the next four years "some of the most consequential in our nation’s history.”

Nevada is a familiar backdrop to talk tips and taxation. As a candidate, Trump first announced the idea of ending gratuity taxes during a rally in June in Las Vegas — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-walz-nevada-trump-las-vegas-ac21118dbb24290e46d32ad9669507d4">proposal later copied</a>&nbsp;by his Democratic opponent,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are 2.24 million restaurant servers across the country, with tips making up a large percentage of their income.

In Las Vegas, the 24-hour economy is fueled by everyone from wait staff and valet parkers to hotel maids and casino dealers, all of whom collect tips. Nevada has the nation’s highest concentration of tipped workers, with about 25.8 waiters and waitresses alone per 1,000 jobs, followed by Hawaii and Florida.

Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, which represents about 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada, said Trump’s plans “must not end” with scrapping taxation on tips.

“Eliminating taxes on tips and ending the $2.13 sub-minimum wage — that is the reality in too many states across the country — will uplift millions of hospitality workers,” Pappageorge said. He said many employers set hourly pay well below the federal minimum wage and expect gratuities to make up the difference.

Despite the stated focus on taxes, the Nevada rally served mostly as a capstone of sorts to Trump’s first week in office, as he recounted for the crowd the executive orders he’d signed and what they'll do.

“We’ve accomplished more in one week than most administrations have experienced in four years and we’re just getting started,” Trump said, adding that his executive orders “reverse the horrible failures and betrayals that we inherited from a group of people that didn’t know what the hell they were doing.”

Trump cited a sweeping freeze on new money for all U.S. foreign assistance, his notice of a U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and his order ceasing diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the federal government, among other things.

“We feel a light over our country," Trump said. ”Everyone does."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737846846313.png" alt="Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;came to Las Vegas on Saturday to crow about his campaign promise to eliminate taxes on tips, signaling to allies in Congress the importance of the policy but stopping well short of offering details for making the slogan a reality.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OXo-XBvMAUQ?si=mFg7mkE_gLDGmNoX&amp;start=8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Instead, Trump spent most of his 40 minutes speaking to roughly 1,000 supporters in a casino ballroom lauding his November election victory, mocking former President Joe Biden's administration and touting his torrent of executive actions since taking office Monday.“But I have to be honest with you, I'm really here for a different reason, I'm here to say thank you," Trump told the crowd at Circa Resort &amp; Casino.The victory lap, Trump's first swing-state rally since taking office, came after he won Nevada's six electoral votes in November, becoming the first Republican since George W. Bush in 2004 to carry the state. It was part of Trump's sweep of all seven of the most competitive states that gave him a healthy electoral majority and a second, non-consecutive term.Aides said Trump's stop in Nevada was to deliver an "economic-focused message" built around his familiar promise to hospitality industry workers to remove the tax on gratuity income.“We're going to get it for you — ‘no tax on tips,’” Trump said, standing behind a podium emblazoned with the same slogan he used throughout the 2024 campaign.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Chants of ‘USA’ erupt when President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> walks out on the casino floor in Las Vegas 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/zpzk3NUHBr">pic.twitter.com/zpzk3NUHBr</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1883271223842590975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>After the rally, Trump strode through the Circa casino floor past its purple-hewed velvet tables, to cheers from visitors of “USA, USA.” At a roulette table, a player yelled, “Give me $47 on 47,” for Trump, now the 47th president. “Ohh,” Trump lamented at the losing throw but he signed autographs as supporters hooted.If light on detail, Trump's comments on tips were a signal to Republicans in Congress that the proposal is a priority for the massive tax package they intend to pass this year. Trump is set to meet House Republicans on Monday as they gather in Florida to chart the strategy ahead.Speaker Mike Johnson, who is laboring to get the package moving forward, invited Trump to address a joint session of Congress on March 4, a tradition for new presidents, who don’t deliver a State of the Union address until their second year in office. Johnson said lawmakers working with Trump hope to make the next four years "some of the most consequential in our nation’s history.”Nevada is a familiar backdrop to talk tips and taxation. As a candidate, Trump first announced the idea of ending gratuity taxes during a rally in June in Las Vegas — a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-walz-nevada-trump-las-vegas-ac21118dbb24290e46d32ad9669507d4">proposal later copied</a>&nbsp;by his Democratic opponent,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are 2.24 million restaurant servers across the country, with tips making up a large percentage of their income.In Las Vegas, the 24-hour economy is fueled by everyone from wait staff and valet parkers to hotel maids and casino dealers, all of whom collect tips. Nevada has the nation’s highest concentration of tipped workers, with about 25.8 waiters and waitresses alone per 1,000 jobs, followed by Hawaii and Florida.Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for the Culinary Union, which represents about 60,000 hospitality workers across Nevada, said Trump’s plans “must not end” with scrapping taxation on tips.“Eliminating taxes on tips and ending the $2.13 sub-minimum wage — that is the reality in too many states across the country — will uplift millions of hospitality workers,” Pappageorge said. He said many employers set hourly pay well below the federal minimum wage and expect gratuities to make up the difference.Despite the stated focus on taxes, the Nevada rally served mostly as a capstone of sorts to Trump’s first week in office, as he recounted for the crowd the executive orders he’d signed and what they'll do.“We’ve accomplished more in one week than most administrations have experienced in four years and we’re just getting started,” Trump said, adding that his executive orders “reverse the horrible failures and betrayals that we inherited from a group of people that didn’t know what the hell they were doing.”Trump cited a sweeping freeze on new money for all U.S. foreign assistance, his notice of a U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement and his order ceasing diversity, equity and inclusion programs across the federal government, among other things.“We feel a light over our country," Trump said. ”Everyone does."___Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.

🎥 Trump leans into pledge to eliminate taxes on tips at Las Vegas rally

BENTON COUNTY, Arkansas —Law enforcement are investigating a deadly shooting and asking for help to locate a teen suspect with connections to Kansas.

On April 13, officers responded to a shots fired call in the 400 block of East Asher Court in Rogers, Arkansas, according to a media release.&nbsp; After investigating, it was determined that a 17-year-old victim by the name Alexus Lien Nguyen had been shot and was found deceased on scene. 

Detectives processed the scene, conducted a thorough investigation, and were able to develop 17-year-old Alejandro Zenon-Reyes as the suspect, which resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest on the charge of manslaughter.

 During and since the investigation began, it is apparent that Zenon-Reyes has fled the state of Arkansas to avoid apprehension. 

Zenon-Reyes has ties to areas such as; Wichita and Arkansas City Kansas, West Covina California, Phoenix Arizona and Dallas/Fort Worth Texas. 

After a court order was filed allowing the release of Zenon-Reyes’s information due to his juvenile status, the U.S. Marshals are now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736368995462.png" alt="ZENON-REYES" />
 <figcaption>ZENON-REYES</figcaption>
 </figure>BENTON COUNTY, Arkansas —Law enforcement are investigating a deadly shooting and asking for help to locate a teen suspect with connections to Kansas.On April 13, officers responded to a shots fired call in the 400 block of East Asher Court in Rogers, Arkansas, according to a media release.&nbsp; After investigating, it was determined that a 17-year-old victim by the name Alexus Lien Nguyen had been shot and was found deceased on scene. Detectives processed the scene, conducted a thorough investigation, and were able to develop 17-year-old Alejandro Zenon-Reyes as the suspect, which resulted in a warrant being issued for his arrest on the charge of manslaughter. During and since the investigation began, it is apparent that Zenon-Reyes has fled the state of Arkansas to avoid apprehension. Zenon-Reyes has ties to areas such as; Wichita and Arkansas City Kansas, West Covina California, Phoenix Arizona and Dallas/Fort Worth Texas. After a court order was filed allowing the release of Zenon-Reyes’s information due to his juvenile status, the U.S. Marshals are now offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.&nbsp;

Search continues for teen murder suspect with ties to Kansas

KANSAS CITY—A suspect is alive and facing multiple charges after an arrest last week in Clay County, Missouri.

Shortly before 6 p.m. Jan. 22, sheriff deputies spotted a stolen vehicle in the Liberty Triangle northeast of Kansas City, according to a media release from the Clay County Sheriff.

 Due to the time of day and traffic, deputies kept an eye on the vehicle but did not pursue it while other law enforcement moved into the area with Stop Sticks. 

The driver spotted the deputy and took off. Missouri State Highway Patrol began pursuit, and the vehicle crashed at 152 Highway and Shoal Creek Parkway. No other cars were involved. The driver then ran into the woods. 

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department's helicopter helped deputies locate and arrest the suspect. Once he was in a deputy's vehicle to be taken to jail, he began to slump over and said he thought he was overdosing. 

He was going in and out of consciousness. The deputy immediately pulled over and administered Narcan, the opioid antidote, and asked for an ambulance. 

The suspect regained consciousness on scene. The suspect was transported to the hospital to be checked out before being booked into the Clay County Detention Center. 

Jorge A. Fraire, Jr., has been charged with aggravated fleeing from a stop, tampering with a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. He is being held on a $75,000 bond.&nbsp; "He lived to face these consequences." The sheriff's office stated.

KANSAS CITY—A suspect is alive and facing multiple charges after an arrest last week in Clay County, Missouri.Shortly before 6 p.m. Jan. 22, sheriff deputies spotted a stolen vehicle in the Liberty Triangle northeast of Kansas City, according to a media release from the Clay County Sheriff. Due to the time of day and traffic, deputies kept an eye on the vehicle but did not pursue it while other law enforcement moved into the area with Stop Sticks. The driver spotted the deputy and took off. Missouri State Highway Patrol began pursuit, and the vehicle crashed at 152 Highway and Shoal Creek Parkway. No other cars were involved. The driver then ran into the woods. The Kansas City Missouri Police Department's helicopter helped deputies locate and arrest the suspect. Once he was in a deputy's vehicle to be taken to jail, he began to slump over and said he thought he was overdosing. He was going in and out of consciousness. The deputy immediately pulled over and administered Narcan, the opioid antidote, and asked for an ambulance. The suspect regained consciousness on scene. The suspect was transported to the hospital to be checked out before being booked into the Clay County Detention Center. Jorge A. Fraire, Jr., has been charged with aggravated fleeing from a stop, tampering with a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident. He is being held on a $75,000 bond.&nbsp; "He lived to face these consequences." The sheriff's office stated.

Deputy saved stolen vehicle suspect's life after chase, crash

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22THOMAS%20BEAUMONT%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;was sworn in Saturday as the nation's 29th secretary of defense, quickly joining President Trump's Cabinet after a dramatic late-night vote in the Senate installed him as the Pentagon's leader.

Hegseth took the oath from Vice President JD Vance in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Rauchet, at his side and Republican senators looking on. The ceremony came less than 12 hours after Vance broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate to narrowly seal Hegseth's confirmation.

In brief remarks, Hegseth outlined what he said were his guiding principles: “Restore the warrior ethos in everything that we do, rebuild our military and reestablish deterrence.”

“We don’t want to fight wars,” he added. "We want to deter them … and we want to end them responsibly. But if we need to fight them, we’re going to bring overwhelming and decisive force to close with and destroy the enemy and bring our boys home.”

Hegseth thanked Vance for his tiebreaking vote and joked that his children were happy their father “won in overtime.”

Below is the emailed message Hegseth sent to members of the military and released Saturday by the Department.

It is the privilege of a lifetime to lead the warriors of the Department of Defense, under the leadership of our Commander in Chief Donald J. Trump. We will put America First, and we will never back down.The President gave us a clear mission: achieve Peace through Strength. We will do this in three ways — by restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence. &nbsp;

&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will revive the warrior ethos and restore trust in our military. We are American warriors. We will defend our country. Our standards will be high, uncompromising, and clear. The strength of our military is our unity and our shared purpose.

&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will rebuild our military by matching threats to capabilities. This means reviving our defense industrial base, reforming our acquisition process, passing a financial audit, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies. We will remain the strongest and most lethal force in the world.

&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will reestablish deterrence by defending our homeland — on the ground and in the sky. We will work with allies and partners to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by Communist China, as well as supporting the President's priority to end wars responsibly and reorient to key threats. We will stand by our allies — and our enemies are on notice.All of this will be done with a focus on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness.I have committed my life to warfighters and their families.&nbsp;

Just as my fellow soldiers had my back on the battlefield, know that I will always have your back. We serve together at a dangerous time.&nbsp;Our enemies will neither rest nor relent. And neither will we. We will stand shoulder to shoulder to meet the urgency of this moment. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Like each of you, I love my country and swore an oath to defend the Constitution. We will do that each and every day, as one team. Together we will accomplish the President's mission to deter war, and if necessary, defeat and destroy our enemies. Godspeed!

“It is the honor of a lifetime, sir, to serve under you," Hegseth said, in thanking Trump, who was in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The unusually narrow confirmation for a defense secretary came after questions from members in both parties over Hegseth's qualifications to lead the military, especially amid allegations of heavy alcohol use and aggressive behavior toward women.

For Hegseth, the challenges ahead are steep, as he takes charge of a sprawling bureaucracy at a time of severe challenges around the globe.

He enters office with far less experience than modern defense secretaries before him, acknowledging during his confirmation hearing that he’ll need to build an experienced team as he settles into the job. “I want smarter and more capable people around me than me, and you will get that at the department,” he said in his testimony.

Hegseth also lacks the broad bipartisan support that most have brought to the role. Every Senate Democrat voted against Hegseth’s confirmation, as did three Republicans deeply skeptical of his qualifications for the job.

Adding to the acrimony, Hegseth refused to meet with any Democrats before confirmation, breaking from tradition.

Rarely has a Cabinet nominee faced such wide-ranging concerns about his experience — having been a combat veteran, veterans advocate and Fox News host — as well as behavior as Hegseth, particularly for such a high-profile role atop the U.S. military.

But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth and round out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;top national security team.

Democrats, the minority in the Senate, had helped confirm Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in bipartisan votes. But they fiercely opposed Hegseth, with even the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee refusing to support him.

Reacting to the vote, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer of New York said Republicans have “entrusted the most powerful military in the world to someone with no experience, terrible judgment and serious flaws of character.”

“I hope for the sake of our troops and the good of our country that he can eventually grow into the job,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.

Three Republicans — Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — also voted against Hegseth, questioning his qualifications for the job.

Hegseth faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations-trump-defense-secretary-677b2df5859a338feac4714c60ef369d">allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman</a>&nbsp;at a Republican conference in California, though he has denied the claims and said the encounter was consensual. He later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sex-assault-payment-trump-6674cc8cfee654c374725948e01ff666">paid $50,000 to the woman</a>.

Hegseth also had promised during his confirmation hearings that he would not drink while on the job, were he to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, his opposition to women in combat became an issue after Trump announced his choice in November. But, in the face of questions from Congress, Hegseth appeared to shifted.

Asked about the issue on the “Megyn Kelly Show” in early December, Hegseth said he cares only that military standards are maintained. Women serve in combat, he said, and, “if we have the right standard and women meet that standard, roger. Let’s go.”

Hegseth told senators that he supports women in the military but wants to review standards to make sure they are not lowered to accommodate women.

At the swearing-in ceremony, a question directed to Hegseth about why women in the armed services should trust him was answered by Vance.

“All people in our armed services should trust him because he looks out for them and he is going to fight for them," Vance said.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22THOMAS%20BEAUMONT%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press</a><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;was sworn in Saturday as the nation's 29th secretary of defense, quickly joining President Trump's Cabinet after a dramatic late-night vote in the Senate installed him as the Pentagon's leader.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Vice President Vance swears in Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. <a href="https://t.co/IwNTin2Zuj">pic.twitter.com/IwNTin2Zuj</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1883187394700062747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Hegseth took the oath from Vice President JD Vance in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Rauchet, at his side and Republican senators looking on. The ceremony came less than 12 hours after Vance broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate to narrowly seal Hegseth's confirmation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The honor of a lifetime. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/zEFnTxQ7iX">pic.twitter.com/zEFnTxQ7iX</a>&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1883193626739740999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In brief remarks, Hegseth outlined what he said were his guiding principles: “Restore the warrior ethos in everything that we do, rebuild our military and reestablish deterrence.”“We don’t want to fight wars,” he added. "We want to deter them … and we want to end them responsibly. But if we need to fight them, we’re going to bring overwhelming and decisive force to close with and destroy the enemy and bring our boys home.”Hegseth thanked Vance for his tiebreaking vote and joked that his children were happy their father “won in overtime.”Below is the emailed message Hegseth sent to members of the military and released Saturday by the Department.It is the privilege of a lifetime to lead the warriors of the Department of Defense, under the leadership of our Commander in Chief Donald J. Trump. We will put America First, and we will never back down.The President gave us a clear mission: achieve Peace through Strength. We will do this in three ways — by restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence. &nbsp;&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will revive the warrior ethos and restore trust in our military. We are American warriors. We will defend our country. Our standards will be high, uncompromising, and clear. The strength of our military is our unity and our shared purpose. &nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will rebuild our military by matching threats to capabilities. This means reviving our defense industrial base, reforming our acquisition process, passing a financial audit, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies. We will remain the strongest and most lethal force in the world.&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will reestablish deterrence by defending our homeland — on the ground and in the sky. We will work with allies and partners to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by Communist China, as well as supporting the President's priority to end wars responsibly and reorient to key threats. We will stand by our allies — and our enemies are on notice.All of this will be done with a focus on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness.I have committed my life to warfighters and their families.&nbsp;Just as my fellow soldiers had my back on the battlefield, know that I will always have your back. We serve together at a dangerous time.&nbsp;Our enemies will neither rest nor relent. And neither will we. We will stand shoulder to shoulder to meet the urgency of this moment. &nbsp; &nbsp;Like each of you, I love my country and swore an oath to defend the Constitution. We will do that each and every day, as one team. Together we will accomplish the President's mission to deter war, and if necessary, defeat and destroy our enemies. Godspeed!“It is the honor of a lifetime, sir, to serve under you," Hegseth said, in thanking Trump, who was in Las Vegas on Saturday.The unusually narrow confirmation for a defense secretary came after questions from members in both parties over Hegseth's qualifications to lead the military, especially amid allegations of heavy alcohol use and aggressive behavior toward women.For Hegseth, the challenges ahead are steep, as he takes charge of a sprawling bureaucracy at a time of severe challenges around the globe.He enters office with far less experience than modern defense secretaries before him, acknowledging during his confirmation hearing that he’ll need to build an experienced team as he settles into the job. “I want smarter and more capable people around me than me, and you will get that at the department,” he said in his testimony.Hegseth also lacks the broad bipartisan support that most have brought to the role. Every Senate Democrat voted against Hegseth’s confirmation, as did three Republicans deeply skeptical of his qualifications for the job.Adding to the acrimony, Hegseth refused to meet with any Democrats before confirmation, breaking from tradition.Rarely has a Cabinet nominee faced such wide-ranging concerns about his experience — having been a combat veteran, veterans advocate and Fox News host — as well as behavior as Hegseth, particularly for such a high-profile role atop the U.S. military.But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth and round out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;top national security team.Democrats, the minority in the Senate, had helped confirm Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in bipartisan votes. But they fiercely opposed Hegseth, with even the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee refusing to support him.Reacting to the vote, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer of New York said Republicans have “entrusted the most powerful military in the world to someone with no experience, terrible judgment and serious flaws of character.”“I hope for the sake of our troops and the good of our country that he can eventually grow into the job,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.Three Republicans — Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — also voted against Hegseth, questioning his qualifications for the job.Hegseth faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations-trump-defense-secretary-677b2df5859a338feac4714c60ef369d">allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman</a>&nbsp;at a Republican conference in California, though he has denied the claims and said the encounter was consensual. He later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sex-assault-payment-trump-6674cc8cfee654c374725948e01ff666">paid $50,000 to the woman</a>.Hegseth also had promised during his confirmation hearings that he would not drink while on the job, were he to be confirmed.Meanwhile, his opposition to women in combat became an issue after Trump announced his choice in November. But, in the face of questions from Congress, Hegseth appeared to shifted.Asked about the issue on the “Megyn Kelly Show” in early December, Hegseth said he cares only that military standards are maintained. Women serve in combat, he said, and, “if we have the right standard and women meet that standard, roger. Let’s go.”Hegseth told senators that he supports women in the military but wants to review standards to make sure they are not lowered to accommodate women.At the swearing-in ceremony, a question directed to Hegseth about why women in the armed services should trust him was answered by Vance.“All people in our armed services should trust him because he looks out for them and he is going to fight for them," Vance said.___Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.

Read first message to the military from man now in charge of the Pentagon 

KIOWA COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol investigating a fatal&nbsp; car crash during a weekend pursuit have identified the victim who died as Jerry Wayne Thompson.

Anderson and the car were being sought as part of a homicide investigation in Anderson County, according to a media release from the KHP.

Just after 9p.m. Saturday, troopers saw the car traveling eastbound on U.S. 54 west of Greensburg. A troopers began to conduct a traffic stop, the car pulled over to the shoulder and stopped. After the trooper made verbal contact with Thompson, he fled and a pursuit ensued.

The Kiowa County Sheriff's office successfully deployed stop sticks on the fleeing vehicle approximately one mile west of Greensburg. The car traveled off the road into the south ditch, struck a field entrance, went airborne and rolled. Thompson was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the car.&nbsp; He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased.&nbsp; &nbsp;Investigators recovered a loaded firearm from the crash scene.

The KHP Critical Accident Response Team responded to the scene and is investigating.&nbsp; The homicide is under investigation in Anderson County.

KIOWA COUNTY—The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal rollover crash that occurred&nbsp; during a police pursuit just after 9p.m. Saturday in Kowa County.

&nbsp;The patrol reported law enforcement was in pursuit of a vehicle eastbound on U.S. 54 one mile west of Greensburg.

The vehicle traveled into south ditch, struck a field entrance, went airborne and rolled multiple times coming to rest the field facing northeast. The KHP released no additional details early Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Check the Post for more information as it is released.

KIOWA COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol investigating a fatal&nbsp; car crash during a weekend pursuit have identified the victim who died as Jerry Wayne Thompson.Anderson and the car were being sought as part of a homicide investigation in Anderson County, according to a media release from the KHP.Just after 9p.m. Saturday, troopers saw the car traveling eastbound on U.S. 54 west of Greensburg. A troopers began to conduct a traffic stop, the car pulled over to the shoulder and stopped. After the trooper made verbal contact with Thompson, he fled and a pursuit ensued.The Kiowa County Sheriff's office successfully deployed stop sticks on the fleeing vehicle approximately one mile west of Greensburg. The car traveled off the road into the south ditch, struck a field entrance, went airborne and rolled. Thompson was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the car.&nbsp; He was transported to a local hospital and pronounced deceased.&nbsp; &nbsp;Investigators recovered a loaded firearm from the crash scene.The KHP Critical Accident Response Team responded to the scene and is investigating.&nbsp; The homicide is under investigation in Anderson County.---------KIOWA COUNTY—The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal rollover crash that occurred&nbsp; during a police pursuit just after 9p.m. Saturday in Kowa County.&nbsp;The patrol reported law enforcement was in pursuit of a vehicle eastbound on U.S. 54 one mile west of Greensburg.The vehicle traveled into south ditch, struck a field entrance, went airborne and rolled multiple times coming to rest the field facing northeast. The KHP released no additional details early Sunday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Check the Post for more information as it is released.

KHP investigating fatal rollover crash during police chase

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is facing charges in connection to a damaged gravesite headstone belonging to an unsolved homicide victim.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2487/REDACTED-COMPLAINT--LEE">JoSean Lee, 20, faces</a>&nbsp;charges of Harassment in the First Degree, Knowingly Disturbing a Burial Site, and Property Damage in the First Degree, all Class E felonies, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Deliberately destroying a burial site is not only a criminal offense but also inflicts lasting trauma on a family already grieving for their loved one. Regardless of age, if you choose to engage in this type of destructive and disrespectful behavior, you will face serious consequences. My office will continue to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent possible,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2487/REDACTED-COMPLAINT--LEE">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 5900 block of Bannister Road on a property damage report on January 13. They found the top portion of a headstone belonging to a victim of an unsolved homicide knocked over and damaged.&nbsp;

A detective viewed a video on Instagram showing two men, one identified as Lee, standing by the headstone and yelling at the grave. The defendant is seen pouring an unknown liquid on it. In the video, Lee is seen armed with a rifle. The video also shows Lee trying to light the liquid he poured on the headstone on fire with a lighter.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737643642843.png" alt="Cemetery is located in the 5900 block of Bannister Road-Google image" />
 <figcaption>Cemetery is located in the 5900 block of Bannister Road-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is facing charges in connection to a damaged gravesite headstone belonging to an unsolved homicide victim.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2487/REDACTED-COMPLAINT--LEE">JoSean Lee, 20, faces</a>&nbsp;charges of Harassment in the First Degree, Knowingly Disturbing a Burial Site, and Property Damage in the First Degree, all Class E felonies, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737841892184.png" alt="Lee photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Lee photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>“Deliberately destroying a burial site is not only a criminal offense but also inflicts lasting trauma on a family already grieving for their loved one. Regardless of age, if you choose to engage in this type of destructive and disrespectful behavior, you will face serious consequences. My office will continue to prosecute these cases to the fullest extent possible,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2487/REDACTED-COMPLAINT--LEE">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 5900 block of Bannister Road on a property damage report on January 13. They found the top portion of a headstone belonging to a victim of an unsolved homicide knocked over and damaged.&nbsp;A detective viewed a video on Instagram showing two men, one identified as Lee, standing by the headstone and yelling at the grave. The defendant is seen pouring an unknown liquid on it. In the video, Lee is seen armed with a rifle. The video also shows Lee trying to light the liquid he poured on the headstone on fire with a lighter.&nbsp;The funeral home that operates the graveyard advised the headstone will need to be replaced and estimated the cost for replacement and labor to reinstall would be about $7,500-7,800.&nbsp;