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

When the Episcopal Church recently announced cuts to its national staff, it was the latest in a long-running cycle among historic U.S. Protestant denominations — declines in members leading to declines in funding and thus in staff.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) also announced recent cuts to staff at its headquarters and in its global missions program. The United Methodist Church, after undergoing a major schism, has settled into a historically low budget, having cut its numbers of bishops and other positions.

While the circumstances vary from one denomination to another, there are some common threads. Several Protestant denominations are losing members, particularly the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist and other historic mainline groups that have not only been aging and shrinking but have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/methodist-lutheran-episcopal-presbyterian-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-ef5755c84d49896c520b5835e6169317">suffered schisms as they moved in more progressive directions.</a>

At the same time, the number of nondenominational churches has grown over the past decade, as have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pew-survey-american-christian-religious-decline-nones-1f1ac0da0577cfcb50f3c48e7014a070">the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated</a>.

As a result, denominations have had to do less with less — not only cutting budgets to balance the bottom line, but making strategic changes and trying out new ideas.

Despite their different structures, “every one of these national bodies really have to deal with changing social contexts and ethos,” said Scott Thumma, co-director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. “A lot of that has to do with the skepticism around national organizations and institutions.”

In their heyday, denominational offices oversaw mission organizations that sent large numbers of church workers to far corners of the world. They put out officially sanctioned hymnals, devotional guides, magazines and Sunday School materials. They organized big national conventions that set — and fiercely debated — policy and doctrine. They set standards for how ministers were trained, credentialed and disciplined. They ran historical societies and pension funds for ministers.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptist-annual-meeting-indianapolis-women-pastors-politics-f1f43f93947fda83119c761c06ea18f0">Southern Baptist Convention</a>&nbsp;'s Cooperative Program, marking its 100th anniversary this year, is a testament to the traditional idea that it's more efficient to pool everyone's money and trust leaders to allocate it wisely. The convention still runs a large missions program. But its churches aren't sending as much as they used to. The SBC has also declined in membership. and it faces unique challenges such as litigation following a report on sexual misconduct. Its Executive Committee, which trimmed its staff in 2023, is putting its Nashville office up for sale.

Nowadays, not only has trust in centralized leadership faded, but there often are fewer church members to support programs and activities. Many denominational churches are acting more like nondenominational ones — downloading music or Sunday School lessons from independent rather than official sources.

In the United Methodist Church, giving to denomination-wide ministries fell by about 13% to $91 million in 2024, according to its General Council on Finance and Administration. That didn't cause an immediate shock because the denomination has been preparing for such declines in recent years.

It underwent a years-long schism in which a quarter of its churches left by the end of 2023. Many joined a more conservative denomination before the UMC's General Convention in 2024 removed its longstanding bans on ordaining and marrying LGBTQ people, while continuing to allow church conferences in other countries to set their own rules.

United Methodist denominational agencies currently have 503 full-time employees, down 36% since 2016, according to the council.

Thumma said that even though “organized religion” gets a bad name these days, that's not the full story.

“You have people who are still interested in spirituality, some sort of gathering around something higher than themselves, but not in these particular forms,” he said.

“There are a lot of religious and denominational leaders who realize that, but the question is what forms or structures are going to resonate with those folks.”

Last month, the Episcopal Church announced the layoff of 14 workers, with another 16 retiring this year under an incentive program. Another 13 vacant positions are being eliminated. Other staffers are being trained to take on new roles, and the denomination projects it will have a net total of about 110 full-time workers by next year.

“Our goal was to meet the emerging financial reality but also to determine how we can continue to serve the church as it’s becoming something different than it was,” Episcopal Church&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/episcopal-church-presiding-bishop-michael-curry-ea10f967d5f7e8464bce149a0da9bcb5">Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe</a>&nbsp;said in an interview.

“It’s creating networks on the ground," he said. "It’s paying attention to what is new and working, and lifting that up.”

Some of the shift in strategy will involve looking at ways to support local dioceses and parishes, which are “better equipped to know what their needs are," Rowe said.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) cut 12 positions from its central offices late last year. It also enacted a major change in its approach to global missions earlier this year, eliminating the position of mission co-worker, or those who worked directly in other countries in schools, churches or other ministries. The church will retain workers who will maintain regular contacts with Presbyterian and other churches overseas, as well as interfaith contacts, while also working with diaspora communities in the United States. The world mission staff reduced from 79 to 44, according to a church announcement last month.

The changes are difficult, acknowledged the Rev. Jihyun Oh, executive director of the PC (U.S.A.)'s Interim Unified Agency, a recently consolidated office overseeing a range of denominational work.

The denomination is roughly a third of its size when it took its current form in the 1980s, following a reunification of northern and southern branches. And while many members had increased their giving to missions over the past two decades, the net effect of fewer members was a decline in funds. It was important, Oh said, to reorganize now, before a financial crisis required a more drastic cut. Meanwhile, some of the countries where mission workers once were assigned now have well-established Presbyterian churches, she said.

“The church’s witness and ministry is not coming to an end,” she said. “There can be resurrection and renewal in a different sort of way." That renewal might be measured not so much by numbers but "in terms of impact, in terms of partnerships, in terms of other ways that we will actually be called to live out faith in this time.”

She hopes church members understand that “God’s not done with us."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741965631739.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22PETER%20SMITH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By PETER SMITH Associated Press</a>When the Episcopal Church recently announced cuts to its national staff, it was the latest in a long-running cycle among historic U.S. Protestant denominations — declines in members leading to declines in funding and thus in staff.And it wasn't alone.The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) also announced recent cuts to staff at its headquarters and in its global missions program. The United Methodist Church, after undergoing a major schism, has settled into a historically low budget, having cut its numbers of bishops and other positions.While the circumstances vary from one denomination to another, there are some common threads. Several Protestant denominations are losing members, particularly the Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist and other historic mainline groups that have not only been aging and shrinking but have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/methodist-lutheran-episcopal-presbyterian-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-ef5755c84d49896c520b5835e6169317">suffered schisms as they moved in more progressive directions.</a>At the same time, the number of nondenominational churches has grown over the past decade, as have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pew-survey-american-christian-religious-decline-nones-1f1ac0da0577cfcb50f3c48e7014a070">the ranks of the religiously unaffiliated</a>.As a result, denominations have had to do less with less — not only cutting budgets to balance the bottom line, but making strategic changes and trying out new ideas.<h2>Widespread skepticism of institutions</h2>Despite their different structures, “every one of these national bodies really have to deal with changing social contexts and ethos,” said Scott Thumma, co-director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. “A lot of that has to do with the skepticism around national organizations and institutions.”In their heyday, denominational offices oversaw mission organizations that sent large numbers of church workers to far corners of the world. They put out officially sanctioned hymnals, devotional guides, magazines and Sunday School materials. They organized big national conventions that set — and fiercely debated — policy and doctrine. They set standards for how ministers were trained, credentialed and disciplined. They ran historical societies and pension funds for ministers.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptist-annual-meeting-indianapolis-women-pastors-politics-f1f43f93947fda83119c761c06ea18f0">Southern Baptist Convention</a>&nbsp;'s Cooperative Program, marking its 100th anniversary this year, is a testament to the traditional idea that it's more efficient to pool everyone's money and trust leaders to allocate it wisely. The convention still runs a large missions program. But its churches aren't sending as much as they used to. The SBC has also declined in membership. and it faces unique challenges such as litigation following a report on sexual misconduct. Its Executive Committee, which trimmed its staff in 2023, is putting its Nashville office up for sale.Nowadays, not only has trust in centralized leadership faded, but there often are fewer church members to support programs and activities. Many denominational churches are acting more like nondenominational ones — downloading music or Sunday School lessons from independent rather than official sources.<h2>United Methodist Church cuts</h2>In the United Methodist Church, giving to denomination-wide ministries fell by about 13% to $91 million in 2024, according to its General Council on Finance and Administration. That didn't cause an immediate shock because the denomination has been preparing for such declines in recent years.It underwent a years-long schism in which a quarter of its churches left by the end of 2023. Many joined a more conservative denomination before the UMC's General Convention in 2024 removed its longstanding bans on ordaining and marrying LGBTQ people, while continuing to allow church conferences in other countries to set their own rules.United Methodist denominational agencies currently have 503 full-time employees, down 36% since 2016, according to the council.Thumma said that even though “organized religion” gets a bad name these days, that's not the full story.“You have people who are still interested in spirituality, some sort of gathering around something higher than themselves, but not in these particular forms,” he said.“There are a lot of religious and denominational leaders who realize that, but the question is what forms or structures are going to resonate with those folks.”<h2>Episcopal Church cuts</h2>Last month, the Episcopal Church announced the layoff of 14 workers, with another 16 retiring this year under an incentive program. Another 13 vacant positions are being eliminated. Other staffers are being trained to take on new roles, and the denomination projects it will have a net total of about 110 full-time workers by next year.“Our goal was to meet the emerging financial reality but also to determine how we can continue to serve the church as it’s becoming something different than it was,” Episcopal Church&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/episcopal-church-presiding-bishop-michael-curry-ea10f967d5f7e8464bce149a0da9bcb5">Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe</a>&nbsp;said in an interview.“It’s creating networks on the ground," he said. "It’s paying attention to what is new and working, and lifting that up.”Some of the shift in strategy will involve looking at ways to support local dioceses and parishes, which are “better equipped to know what their needs are," Rowe said.<h2>Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) cuts</h2>The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) cut 12 positions from its central offices late last year. It also enacted a major change in its approach to global missions earlier this year, eliminating the position of mission co-worker, or those who worked directly in other countries in schools, churches or other ministries. The church will retain workers who will maintain regular contacts with Presbyterian and other churches overseas, as well as interfaith contacts, while also working with diaspora communities in the United States. The world mission staff reduced from 79 to 44, according to a church announcement last month.The changes are difficult, acknowledged the Rev. Jihyun Oh, executive director of the PC (U.S.A.)'s Interim Unified Agency, a recently consolidated office overseeing a range of denominational work.The denomination is roughly a third of its size when it took its current form in the 1980s, following a reunification of northern and southern branches. And while many members had increased their giving to missions over the past two decades, the net effect of fewer members was a decline in funds. It was important, Oh said, to reorganize now, before a financial crisis required a more drastic cut. Meanwhile, some of the countries where mission workers once were assigned now have well-established Presbyterian churches, she said.“The church’s witness and ministry is not coming to an end,” she said. “There can be resurrection and renewal in a different sort of way." That renewal might be measured not so much by numbers but "in terms of impact, in terms of partnerships, in terms of other ways that we will actually be called to live out faith in this time.”She hopes church members understand that “God’s not done with us."___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Protestant denominations cutting staff, trying new ideas amid declines in members and money

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jesse-bedayn">JESSE BEDAYN</a> Associated Press

The Trump administration is halting a $1 billion program that helps preserve affordable housing, threatening projects that keep tens of thousands of units livable for low-income Americans, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press.

The action is part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doge-housing-crisis-cuts-discrimination-d0c6e3b4b030787a1f60a7dc153153dd">slew of cuts</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doge-housing-crisis-cuts-discrimination-d0c6e3b4b030787a1f60a7dc153153dd">funding freezes</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-housing-trump-doge-hud-funding-af0cadf5238f1654d723350cc2e8e0f7">at the direction of President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, that have rattled the affordable-housing industry.

Preserving these units gets less attention than ribbon-cuttings, but it’s a centerpiece of efforts to address the nation’s housing crisis. Hundreds of thousands of low-rent apartments, many of them aging and in need of urgent repair, are at risk of being yanked out from under poor Americans.

The program has already awarded the money to projects that would upgrade at least 25,000 affordable units across the country, and details of how it will be wound down remain unclear.

A spokesperson for HUD did not respond to repeated requests for comment. But an internal document reviewed by the AP said that the program is being “terminated” at the direction of DOGE. Two HUD workers, who have knowledge of the program and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, confirmed the directive to shutter it.

On its face, the over $1 billion Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, passed by Congress in 2022, is intended for energy-efficiency improvements. It is distributed in grants and loans to owners of affordable housing in need of updating, including replacing or repairing heating and cooling systems, leaky roofs, aging insulation or windows, or undertaking floodproofing.

But the money plays a much larger role in preserving affordable units.

Projects that use the funds are required to keep their buildings affordable for up to 25 years. The money is also leveraged to pull in other investments for major repairs and renovations needed to keep the buildings livable.

It’s like building a Jenga tower, where one of the program’s grants or loans — which range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars — is a bottom block and each new block is another investment, experts said.

This money “was essential in order for the project to come together,” said Mike Essian, vice president at American Community Developers, Inc., which received funding for several affordable housing projects. “Projects will fail and these are projects that are already difficult to finance.”

The news has been a jolt to Al Hase and Joan Starr, tenants in an apartment building in Vancouver, Washington, full of other low-income seniors with few or no other options — most of whom live on less than $33,000 a year.

The 170-unit Smith Tower Apartments, built in the 1960s, is in need of updates, including its first building-wide sprinkler system. The $10 million award was a financial kickstart for its nearly $100 million project, and is cited in applications for other investments.

The potential loss “seriously jeopardizes our ability to be able to provide an upgrade to the current systems,” said Greg Franks, president of the property’s management company, adding that the work is “needed to sustain the livability of this building based on its age, and to keep it viable for another 60 years.”

“We are depending on that $10 million,” he said.

So, too, are Hase and Starr, a retired couple in their 70s who have lived there for 16 years.

They fill their balcony with geraniums and petunias, count the eagles at a nearby park and live off meager Social Security incomes. They learned about the potential funding loss in a letter from the apartment’s management company.

“It’s kinda terrifying, it’s almost like getting news from a doctor that something’s going to take your life in six months or a year,” Hase told the AP in a phone call.

“We’re from an era where the wages weren’t there, so our Social Security ...” he said, pausing. “Sucks,” pitched in Starr.

“If I’d been born a rich man,” he said. Starr added: “We’re just regular people.”

“And we’re the lucky ones because we’ve got two social securities coming in,” she said.

But being lucky ones still doesn’t count for much in today’s rental market. “Prices keep going up, I’ve looked, and there’s no way,” she said.

“It’s the difference between living and not being able to live,” he said.

HUD’s lack of communication about the program’s future sent organizations in search of contingency plans, though roughly two dozen projects will still get funding, one HUD employee told the AP. The rest are in limbo.

“If these funds aren’t reinstated, we will certainly seek other funding to fill that gap. The reality is that will take time and will inevitably make the project more expensive,” Travis Phillips of the Housing Development Center said of funding for Smith Tower.

It’s the position several hundred other affordable-housing projects now find themselves in across 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

“In all honesty,” said Michelle Arevalos, Smith Tower’s administrator, “if this building were not here, a lot of our folks actually probably would be homeless.”

Bedayn is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741793986103.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jesse-bedayn">JESSE BEDAYN</a> Associated PressThe Trump administration is halting a $1 billion program that helps preserve affordable housing, threatening projects that keep tens of thousands of units livable for low-income Americans, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press.The action is part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doge-housing-crisis-cuts-discrimination-d0c6e3b4b030787a1f60a7dc153153dd">slew of cuts</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-doge-housing-crisis-cuts-discrimination-d0c6e3b4b030787a1f60a7dc153153dd">funding freezes</a>&nbsp;at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, largely&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-housing-trump-doge-hud-funding-af0cadf5238f1654d723350cc2e8e0f7">at the direction of President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, that have rattled the affordable-housing industry.Preserving these units gets less attention than ribbon-cuttings, but it’s a centerpiece of efforts to address the nation’s housing crisis. Hundreds of thousands of low-rent apartments, many of them aging and in need of urgent repair, are at risk of being yanked out from under poor Americans.The program has already awarded the money to projects that would upgrade at least 25,000 affordable units across the country, and details of how it will be wound down remain unclear.A spokesperson for HUD did not respond to repeated requests for comment. But an internal document reviewed by the AP said that the program is being “terminated” at the direction of DOGE. Two HUD workers, who have knowledge of the program and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, confirmed the directive to shutter it.On its face, the over $1 billion Green and Resilient Retrofit Program, passed by Congress in 2022, is intended for energy-efficiency improvements. It is distributed in grants and loans to owners of affordable housing in need of updating, including replacing or repairing heating and cooling systems, leaky roofs, aging insulation or windows, or undertaking floodproofing.But the money plays a much larger role in preserving affordable units.Projects that use the funds are required to keep their buildings affordable for up to 25 years. The money is also leveraged to pull in other investments for major repairs and renovations needed to keep the buildings livable.It’s like building a Jenga tower, where one of the program’s grants or loans — which range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars — is a bottom block and each new block is another investment, experts said.This money “was essential in order for the project to come together,” said Mike Essian, vice president at American Community Developers, Inc., which received funding for several affordable housing projects. “Projects will fail and these are projects that are already difficult to finance.”The news has been a jolt to Al Hase and Joan Starr, tenants in an apartment building in Vancouver, Washington, full of other low-income seniors with few or no other options — most of whom live on less than $33,000 a year.The 170-unit Smith Tower Apartments, built in the 1960s, is in need of updates, including its first building-wide sprinkler system. The $10 million award was a financial kickstart for its nearly $100 million project, and is cited in applications for other investments.The potential loss “seriously jeopardizes our ability to be able to provide an upgrade to the current systems,” said Greg Franks, president of the property’s management company, adding that the work is “needed to sustain the livability of this building based on its age, and to keep it viable for another 60 years.”“We are depending on that $10 million,” he said.So, too, are Hase and Starr, a retired couple in their 70s who have lived there for 16 years.They fill their balcony with geraniums and petunias, count the eagles at a nearby park and live off meager Social Security incomes. They learned about the potential funding loss in a letter from the apartment’s management company.“It’s kinda terrifying, it’s almost like getting news from a doctor that something’s going to take your life in six months or a year,” Hase told the AP in a phone call.“We’re from an era where the wages weren’t there, so our Social Security ...” he said, pausing. “Sucks,” pitched in Starr.“If I’d been born a rich man,” he said. Starr added: “We’re just regular people.”“And we’re the lucky ones because we’ve got two social securities coming in,” she said.But being lucky ones still doesn’t count for much in today’s rental market. “Prices keep going up, I’ve looked, and there’s no way,” she said.“It’s the difference between living and not being able to live,” he said.HUD’s lack of communication about the program’s future sent organizations in search of contingency plans, though roughly two dozen projects will still get funding, one HUD employee told the AP. The rest are in limbo.“If these funds aren’t reinstated, we will certainly seek other funding to fill that gap. The reality is that will take time and will inevitably make the project more expensive,” Travis Phillips of the Housing Development Center said of funding for Smith Tower.It’s the position several hundred other affordable-housing projects now find themselves in across 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.“In all honesty,” said Michelle Arevalos, Smith Tower’s administrator, “if this building were not here, a lot of our folks actually probably would be homeless.”Bedayn is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Trump admin. halts $1 billion program that keeps affordable housing livable

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A prosecutor has declined to file criminal charges against a Missouri police officer who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-shooting-woman-child-dead-8e82ad6979e3963708f1cf3e14af6a8d">shot and killed</a>&nbsp;a woman and her infant child last year.

Independence police officers had responded to a reported assault in November at an apartment building. They were figuring out how to arrest the woman, who was nonverbal and communicating with nods and gestures, when she abruptly grabbed a butcher knife from a bedside table and moved toward the officers while holding the child, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1651">office said Friday.</a>

One officer backed away, but the other was against a closet and couldn't escape, Johnson's office said. He fired four shots as the woman moved toward him with the knife, the office said. The shots struck and killed the woman and her child, identified by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-03-15/independence-police-officer-no-criminal-charges-fatal-shooting-of-mother-baby-maria-pike-destinii">KCUR news</a>&nbsp;as 34-year-old Maria Pike and her 3-month-old daughter, Destinii.

Johnson's office said the officer's use of deadly force “falls within the protection of the law.”

Her office also noted there wasn't enough evidence to conclusively prove the officer intentionally shot the infant.

“The evidence shows that the shooting officer shot the civilian who was holding the infant,” prosecutors said in a statement.

“We did not arrive at this decision lightly. The loss of a young mother and her infant are devastating and tragic,” Johnson said. “However, as prosecutors, we are bound by an oath to apply the law and analyze facts without being guided by the sympathy we feel for all those impacted. Our purpose is to determine if what was done was reasonable, defined by Missouri law, and not whether it was the best course of action.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742070477364.png" alt="Independence Police body camera image of the Oval Springs apartment comples on the day of the officer-shooting" />
 <figcaption>Independence Police body camera image of the Oval Springs apartment comples on the day of the officer-shooting</figcaption>
 </figure>INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A prosecutor has declined to file criminal charges against a Missouri police officer who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-shooting-woman-child-dead-8e82ad6979e3963708f1cf3e14af6a8d">shot and killed</a>&nbsp;a woman and her infant child last year.Independence police officers had responded to a reported assault in November at an apartment building. They were figuring out how to arrest the woman, who was nonverbal and communicating with nods and gestures, when she abruptly grabbed a butcher knife from a bedside table and moved toward the officers while holding the child, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1651">office said Friday.</a>One officer backed away, but the other was against a closet and couldn't escape, Johnson's office said. He fired four shots as the woman moved toward him with the knife, the office said. The shots struck and killed the woman and her child, identified by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-03-15/independence-police-officer-no-criminal-charges-fatal-shooting-of-mother-baby-maria-pike-destinii">KCUR news</a>&nbsp;as 34-year-old Maria Pike and her 3-month-old daughter, Destinii.Johnson's office said the officer's use of deadly force “falls within the protection of the law.”Her office also noted there wasn't enough evidence to conclusively prove the officer intentionally shot the infant.“The evidence shows that the shooting officer shot the civilian who was holding the infant,” prosecutors said in a statement.“We did not arrive at this decision lightly. The loss of a young mother and her infant are devastating and tragic,” Johnson said. “However, as prosecutors, we are bound by an oath to apply the law and analyze facts without being guided by the sympathy we feel for all those impacted. Our purpose is to determine if what was done was reasonable, defined by Missouri law, and not whether it was the best course of action.”

No charges for KC area officer who shot and killed a woman and infant

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating vandalism to a church in Wichita have made an arrest.

Just after 8:30 Saturday, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.

Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.

Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.

Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. Sunday, officers located and arrested the 23-year-old suspect from Saline County in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.

The suspect has been booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Burglary, Criminal Desecration, and Criminal Damage to Property. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney and federal prosecutors for formal charging considerations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742090870953.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating vandalism to a church in Wichita have made an arrest.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkscathconf%2Fposts%2Fpfbid026rjYJf2ASffm6LDDmuxamfmT2pg3ijK5Tiwu9t2nqAFJwDVirgFMD1KdKGaXimv2l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="819" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Just after 8:30 Saturday, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. Sunday, officers located and arrested the 23-year-old suspect from Saline County in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.The suspect has been booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Burglary, Criminal Desecration, and Criminal Damage to Property. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney and federal prosecutors for formal charging considerations.

Suspect captured: Kan. church vandalized with hate speech, flag burned

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Just over a day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-spacex-boeing-e2f2e7fed6a0e65553eb72923b9357c7">after blasting off</a>, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering the replacements for NASA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-butch-wilmore-suni-williams-4e379e121d4386d2baca1e3426f62e58">two stuck astronauts</a>.

The four newcomers — representing the U.S., Japan and Russia — will spend the next few days learning the station’s ins and outs from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-spacewalk-2cb2b5897892449f9d4661449a88de1c">Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams</a>. Then the two will strap into their own SpaceX capsule later this week, one that has been up there since last year, to close out an unexpected extended mission that began last June.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stuck-astronauts-nasa-boeing-starliner-1929d955463291701b99d4862b2c45ef">Wilmore and Williams</a>&nbsp;expected to be gone just a week when they launched on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing’s first astronaut flight</a>. They hit the nine-month mark earlier this month.

The Boeing Starliner capsule encountered so many problems that NASA insisted it come back empty, leaving its test pilots behind to wait for a SpaceX lift.

Wilmore swung open the space station's hatch and then rang the ship's bell as the new arrivals floated in one by one and were greeted with hugs and handshakes.

“It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive,” Williams told Mission Control.

Wilmore's and Williams' ride arrived back in late September with a downsized crew of two and two empty seats reserved for the leg back. But more delays resulted when their replacements’ brand new capsule needed extensive battery repairs. An older capsule took its place, pushing up their return by a couple weeks to mid-March.

Weather permitting, the SpaceX capsule carrying Wilmore, Williams and two other astronauts will undock from the space station no earlier than Wednesday and splash down off Florida's coast.

Until then, there will be 11 aboard the orbiting lab, representing the U.S., Russia and Japan.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Just over a day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-spacex-boeing-e2f2e7fed6a0e65553eb72923b9357c7">after blasting off</a>, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering the replacements for NASA’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-butch-wilmore-suni-williams-4e379e121d4386d2baca1e3426f62e58">two stuck astronauts</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">All the hugs. 🫶 The hatch of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft opened March 16 at 1:35 a.m. ET and the members of Crew-10 entered the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a> with the rest of their excited Expedition 72 crew. <a href="https://t.co/mnUddqPqfr">pic.twitter.com/mnUddqPqfr</a>&mdash; NASA&#39;s Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA_Johnson/status/1901149221610271099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The four newcomers — representing the U.S., Japan and Russia — will spend the next few days learning the station’s ins and outs from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-spacewalk-2cb2b5897892449f9d4661449a88de1c">Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams</a>. Then the two will strap into their own SpaceX capsule later this week, one that has been up there since last year, to close out an unexpected extended mission that began last June.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stuck-astronauts-nasa-boeing-starliner-1929d955463291701b99d4862b2c45ef">Wilmore and Williams</a>&nbsp;expected to be gone just a week when they launched on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-stuck-astronauts-boeing-starliner-92dca67a1fbecf05f5f0e6e2e79afc3b">Boeing’s first astronaut flight</a>. They hit the nine-month mark earlier this month.The Boeing Starliner capsule encountered so many problems that NASA insisted it come back empty, leaving its test pilots behind to wait for a SpaceX lift.Wilmore swung open the space station's hatch and then rang the ship's bell as the new arrivals floated in one by one and were greeted with hugs and handshakes.“It was a wonderful day. Great to see our friends arrive,” Williams told Mission Control.Wilmore's and Williams' ride arrived back in late September with a downsized crew of two and two empty seats reserved for the leg back. But more delays resulted when their replacements’ brand new capsule needed extensive battery repairs. An older capsule took its place, pushing up their return by a couple weeks to mid-March.Weather permitting, the SpaceX capsule carrying Wilmore, Williams and two other astronauts will undock from the space station no earlier than Wednesday and splash down off Florida's coast.Until then, there will be 11 aboard the orbiting lab, representing the U.S., Russia and Japan.

🎥NASA's stuck astronauts welcome their replacements to the space station

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Salina woman, arrested in January in connection with the death of a baby, is in custody in Wichita.

On Saturday police arrested 42-year-old Amanda Vinardi near Pawnee and Broadway in Wichita, according to Sedgwick County arrest records.&nbsp; Just after 6:30p.m. she was&nbsp; booked into the Sedgwick County jail, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

She walked away from a treatment facility earlier this month.&nbsp; She is currently being held on requested charges of drug possession, according to online jail records.

In January, Vinardi was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated endangering a child; Reckless &lt;18, Use/poss drug paraphernalia into human body and Possession of marijuana, according to jail records.

Saline County Sheriff's Deputies and law enforcement in Wichita are searching for a woman facing felony drug charges in Salina after she walked away from a court-ordered assessment center and treatment facility in Wichita before entering.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan, 42-year-old Amanda Vinardi was arrested in Wichita on Jan. 9 on a Saline County District Court warrant connected to a case investigated by the Salina Police Department. She was transported to Saline County Jail before being court-ordered to a facility in Wichita.&nbsp;

Vinardi was facing multiple charges, including: Possession of methamphetaminePossession of marijuanaPossession of drug paraphernaliaAggravated endangering a child Vinardi is now facing an additional charge of escape from custody. A warrant has been issued for her arrest, and Wichita Police Officers and Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office have been notified.

According to Saline County Sheriff's Office Capt. Fruits, Vinardi was transported to Miracles Inc. facility in Wichita,&nbsp;not Mirror as had been originally reported by Salina Post.

Capt. Fruits said that Vinardi was transported from the Saline County Jail to a treatment facility in Wichita on February 19 under a court order. On March 4, she failed to attend a required class, and staff later determined she had walked away from the facility.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Saline County Sheriff's Office at (785) 826-6500.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742130294589.png" alt="Vinardi photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Vinardi photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Salina woman, arrested in January in connection with the death of a baby, is in custody in Wichita.On Saturday police arrested 42-year-old Amanda Vinardi near Pawnee and Broadway in Wichita, according to Sedgwick County arrest records.&nbsp; Just after 6:30p.m. she was&nbsp; booked into the Sedgwick County jail, according to online jail records.&nbsp;She walked away from a treatment facility earlier this month.&nbsp; She is currently being held on requested charges of drug possession, according to online jail records.In January, Vinardi was arrested on requested charges of Aggravated endangering a child; Reckless &lt;18, Use/poss drug paraphernalia into human body and Possession of marijuana, according to jail records.-------------------Saline County Sheriff's Deputies and law enforcement in Wichita are searching for a woman facing felony drug charges in Salina after she walked away from a court-ordered assessment center and treatment facility in Wichita before entering.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan, 42-year-old Amanda Vinardi was arrested in Wichita on Jan. 9 on a Saline County District Court warrant connected to a case investigated by the Salina Police Department. She was transported to Saline County Jail before being court-ordered to a facility in Wichita.&nbsp;Vinardi was facing multiple charges, including: Possession of methamphetaminePossession of marijuanaPossession of drug paraphernaliaAggravated endangering a child Vinardi is now facing an additional charge of escape from custody. A warrant has been issued for her arrest, and Wichita Police Officers and Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office have been notified.According to Saline County Sheriff's Office Capt. Fruits, Vinardi was transported to Miracles Inc. facility in Wichita,&nbsp;not Mirror as had been originally reported by Salina Post.Capt. Fruits said that Vinardi was transported from the Saline County Jail to a treatment facility in Wichita on February 19 under a court order. On March 4, she failed to attend a required class, and staff later determined she had walked away from the facility.Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Saline County Sheriff's Office at (785) 826-6500.

Kan. woman who walked away from treatment facility is in custody

WICHITA COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 12:30a.m. Sunday in Wichita County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1980 Ford F350 driven by Walter J.&nbsp;Waldren, 54, Tribune, was westbound on Kansas 96 six and one half miles west of Kansas 25. The pickup traveled off the roadway into the north ditch and the driver overcorrected back onto the road.&nbsp; The vehicle entered the south ditch turning counterclockwise, rolled and driver was ejected.

Waldren was pronounced dead at the scene&nbsp;Price and Son's Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WICHITA COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 12:30a.m. Sunday in Wichita County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1980 Ford F350 driven by Walter J.&nbsp;Waldren, 54, Tribune, was westbound on Kansas 96 six and one half miles west of Kansas 25. The pickup traveled off the roadway into the north ditch and the driver overcorrected back onto the road.&nbsp; The vehicle entered the south ditch turning counterclockwise, rolled and driver was ejected.Waldren was pronounced dead at the scene&nbsp;Price and Son's Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after ejected in rollover crash

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;NICHOLAS RICCARDI&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert">WILL WEISSERT</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Saturday barred the administration of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;from deportations under an 18th century law that Trump invoked just hours earlier asserting the United States was being invaded by a Venezuelan gang and that he had new powers to remove its members from the country.

James E. Boasberg, chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said he needed to issue his order immediately because the government was already flying migrants it claimed were newly deportable under Trump’s proclamation to El Salvador and Honduras to be incarcerated there. El Salvador already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-salvador-tren-aragua-64e72142a171ea57c869c3b35eeecce7">agreed</a>&nbsp;this week to take up to 300 migrants that the Trump administration designated as gang members.

“I do not believe I can wait any longer and am required to act,” Boasberg said during a Saturday evening hearing in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Democracy Forward. “A brief delay in their removal does not cause the government any harm,” he added, noting they remain in government custody but ordering that any planes in the air be turned around.

The ruling came hours after Trump claimed the Venezuelan gang&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tren-de-aragua-venezuela-guns-nypd-trafficking-50c6483916569a685daf55c2eb6d299f">Tren de Aragua</a>&nbsp;was invading the United States and invoked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-deportations-immigration-844f3050ba99552b900ed9f3a1dec22d">the Alien Enemies Act of 1798</a>, a sweeping wartime authority that allows the president broader leeway on policy and executive action to speed up mass deportations.

The act has only been used three times before in U.S. history, all during wars. Its most recent application was during World War II, when it was used to incarcerate Germans and Italians as well as for the mass internment of Japanese-American civilians.

In a proclamation released just over an hour before Boasberg’s hearing, Trump contended that Tren de Aragua was effectively at war with the United States.

“Over the years, Venezuelan national and local authorities have ceded ever-greater control over their territories to transnational criminal organizations, including TdA,” Trump’s statement reads. “The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States.”

The order could let the administration deport any migrant it identifies as a member of the gang without going through regular immigration proceedings, and also could remove other protections under criminal law for people the government targeted.

The Tren de Aragua gang originated in a prison in the South American country and accompanied an exodus of millions of Venezuelans, the overwhelming majority of whom were seeking better living conditions after their nation’s economy came undone last decade. Trump and his allies have turned the gang into the face of the alleged threat posed by immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and formally designated it a “foreign terrorist organization” last month.

Authorities in several countries have reported arrests of Tren de Aragua members, even as Venezuela’s government claims to have eliminated the criminal organization.

The government said Trump actually signed the order Friday night. Immigration lawyers noticed the federal government suddenly moving to deport Venezuelans who they would not otherwise have the legal right to expel from the country, and scrambled to file lawsuits to block what they believed was a pending proclamation.

Boasberg issued an initial order at 9:20 a.m. Saturday blocking the Trump administration from deporting five Venezuelans named as plaintiffs in the ACLU suit who were being detained by the government and believed they were about to be deported. The Trump administration appealed that order, contending that halting a presidential act before it has been announced would cripple the executive branch.

If the order were allowed to stand, “district courts would have license to enjoin virtually any urgent national-security action just upon receipt of a complaint,” the Justice Department wrote in its appeal.

Boasberg then scheduled the afternoon hearing on whether to expand his order to all people who could be targeted under Trump’s declaration.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign contended that the president had broad latitude to identify threats to the country and act under the 1798 law. He noted the U.S. Supreme Court allowed President Harry Truman to continue to hold a German citizen in 1948, three years after World War II ended, under the measure.

“This would cut very deeply into the prerogatives of the president,” Ensign said of an injunction.

But Lee Gelernt of the ACLU noted the law has only been invoked three times before and contended that Trump didn’t have the authority to use it against a criminal gang rather than a recognized state. Boasberg said that precedent on the question seemed tricky but that the ACLU had a reasonable chance of success on those arguments, and so the order was merited.

Boasberg halted deportations for those in custody for up to 14 days, and scheduled a Friday hearing in the case.

The flurry of litigation shows the significance of Trump’s declaration, the latest step by the administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-reshaping-america-democracy-musk-executive-power-0e8b6724d45fcdb3e6f0cef05ae7b952">expand presidential power.</a>&nbsp;Ensign argued that, as part of its reaction to the Sept. 11, 2001 attack, Congress had given the president power to delegate “transnational” organizations threats on the level of recognized states. And Gelernt warned that the Trump administration could simply issue a new proclamation to use the Alien Enemies Act against another migrant gang, like MS-13, which has long been one of Trump’s favorite targets.

Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741448538478.png" alt="Pres. Trump waves from motorcade to supporters outside Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach Florida on Saturday-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pres. Trump waves from motorcade to supporters outside Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach Florida on Saturday-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;NICHOLAS RICCARDI&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert">WILL WEISSERT</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Saturday barred the administration of President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;from deportations under an 18th century law that Trump invoked just hours earlier asserting the United States was being invaded by a Venezuelan gang and that he had new powers to remove its members from the country.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742083926842.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>James E. Boasberg, chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, said he needed to issue his order immediately because the government was already flying migrants it claimed were newly deportable under Trump’s proclamation to El Salvador and Honduras to be incarcerated there. El Salvador already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-salvador-tren-aragua-64e72142a171ea57c869c3b35eeecce7">agreed</a>&nbsp;this week to take up to 300 migrants that the Trump administration designated as gang members.“I do not believe I can wait any longer and am required to act,” Boasberg said during a Saturday evening hearing in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Democracy Forward. “A brief delay in their removal does not cause the government any harm,” he added, noting they remain in government custody but ordering that any planes in the air be turned around.The ruling came hours after Trump claimed the Venezuelan gang&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tren-de-aragua-venezuela-guns-nypd-trafficking-50c6483916569a685daf55c2eb6d299f">Tren de Aragua</a>&nbsp;was invading the United States and invoked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-mass-deportations-immigration-844f3050ba99552b900ed9f3a1dec22d">the Alien Enemies Act of 1798</a>, a sweeping wartime authority that allows the president broader leeway on policy and executive action to speed up mass deportations.The act has only been used three times before in U.S. history, all during wars. Its most recent application was during World War II, when it was used to incarcerate Germans and Italians as well as for the mass internment of Japanese-American civilians.In a proclamation released just over an hour before Boasberg’s hearing, Trump contended that Tren de Aragua was effectively at war with the United States.“Over the years, Venezuelan national and local authorities have ceded ever-greater control over their territories to transnational criminal organizations, including TdA,” Trump’s statement reads. “The result is a hybrid criminal state that is perpetrating an invasion of and predatory incursion into the United States, and which poses a substantial danger to the United States.”The order could let the administration deport any migrant it identifies as a member of the gang without going through regular immigration proceedings, and also could remove other protections under criminal law for people the government targeted.The Tren de Aragua gang originated in a prison in the South American country and accompanied an exodus of millions of Venezuelans, the overwhelming majority of whom were seeking better living conditions after their nation’s economy came undone last decade. Trump and his allies have turned the gang into the face of the alleged threat posed by immigrants living in the U.S. illegally and formally designated it a “foreign terrorist organization” last month.Authorities in several countries have reported arrests of Tren de Aragua members, even as Venezuela’s government claims to have eliminated the criminal organization.The government said Trump actually signed the order Friday night. Immigration lawyers noticed the federal government suddenly moving to deport Venezuelans who they would not otherwise have the legal right to expel from the country, and scrambled to file lawsuits to block what they believed was a pending proclamation.Boasberg issued an initial order at 9:20 a.m. Saturday blocking the Trump administration from deporting five Venezuelans named as plaintiffs in the ACLU suit who were being detained by the government and believed they were about to be deported. The Trump administration appealed that order, contending that halting a presidential act before it has been announced would cripple the executive branch.If the order were allowed to stand, “district courts would have license to enjoin virtually any urgent national-security action just upon receipt of a complaint,” the Justice Department wrote in its appeal.Boasberg then scheduled the afternoon hearing on whether to expand his order to all people who could be targeted under Trump’s declaration.Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign contended that the president had broad latitude to identify threats to the country and act under the 1798 law. He noted the U.S. Supreme Court allowed President Harry Truman to continue to hold a German citizen in 1948, three years after World War II ended, under the measure.“This would cut very deeply into the prerogatives of the president,” Ensign said of an injunction.But Lee Gelernt of the ACLU noted the law has only been invoked three times before and contended that Trump didn’t have the authority to use it against a criminal gang rather than a recognized state. Boasberg said that precedent on the question seemed tricky but that the ACLU had a reasonable chance of success on those arguments, and so the order was merited.Boasberg halted deportations for those in custody for up to 14 days, and scheduled a Friday hearing in the case.The flurry of litigation shows the significance of Trump’s declaration, the latest step by the administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-reshaping-america-democracy-musk-executive-power-0e8b6724d45fcdb3e6f0cef05ae7b952">expand presidential power.</a>&nbsp;Ensign argued that, as part of its reaction to the Sept. 11, 2001 attack, Congress had given the president power to delegate “transnational” organizations threats on the level of recognized states. And Gelernt warned that the Trump administration could simply issue a new proclamation to use the Alien Enemies Act against another migrant gang, like MS-13, which has long been one of Trump’s favorite targets.<h2>___</h2>Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

Trump invokes 18th century law to speed deportations, judge stalls it

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 1p.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.

A Ford F150 was eastbound on NW 35th from NW Hoch Road, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian. The pickup left the road and flipped into a ditch.

The driver and sole occupant of the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; The sheriff's office has not released the name of the victim. The accident remains under investigation.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 1p.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.A Ford F150 was eastbound on NW 35th from NW Hoch Road, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian. The pickup left the road and flipped into a ditch.The driver and sole occupant of the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; The sheriff's office has not released the name of the victim. The accident remains under investigation.

One dead after pickup flips into Kansas ditch

WICHITA, KAN. –A man who admitted shoplifting in several stores in Wichita is going to prison.

This week, Judge David Kaufman sentenced 29-year-old D’Amos Dear of Wichita to 21 months in prison with 12 months of post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In January of 2024, Dear and co-defendant Kara Aukes, 37 of Wichita, took clothing from Academy Sports and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in Wichita, shoes from Kohl’s, a coffeemaker from JC Penney, and a ceiling fan from Lowe’s. The couple grabbed the items and ran out of the businesses.

Dear pled guilty to nine counts of theft in December. Because of his criminal history, Dear was “presumptive prison” under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines.

His co-defendant, Aukes, had fewer prior convictions than Dear and was “presumptive probation” under the guidelines. She was sentenced to probation in September.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741961359380.png" alt="Aukes photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Aukes photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. –A man who admitted shoplifting in several stores in Wichita is going to prison.This week, Judge David Kaufman sentenced 29-year-old D’Amos Dear of Wichita to 21 months in prison with 12 months of post release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741879567450.png" alt="Dear photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Dear photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>In January of 2024, Dear and co-defendant Kara Aukes, 37 of Wichita, took clothing from Academy Sports and Dick’s Sporting Goods stores in Wichita, shoes from Kohl’s, a coffeemaker from JC Penney, and a ceiling fan from Lowe’s. The couple grabbed the items and ran out of the businesses.Dear pled guilty to nine counts of theft in December. Because of his criminal history, Dear was “presumptive prison” under the Kansas Sentencing Guidelines.His co-defendant, Aukes, had fewer prior convictions than Dear and was “presumptive probation” under the guidelines. She was sentenced to probation in September.

Prison: Kan. couple went shopping without paying at 5 stores

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

President Donald Trump's administration on Saturday began making deep cuts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voice-of-america-trump-administration-kari-lake-15b585b58f5a510374344b50b1a131b5">Voice of America</a>&nbsp;and other government-run, pro-democracy programming, with the organization's director saying all VOA employees have been put on leave.

On Friday night, shortly after Congress passed its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-3-14-2025">latest funding bill</a>, Trump directed his administration to reduce the functions of several agencies to the minimum required by law. That included the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which houses Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Asia and Radio Marti, which beams Spanish-language news into Cuba.

On Saturday morning, Kari Lake, the failed Arizona gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidate whom Trump named a senior adviser to the agency, posted on X that employees should check their email. That coincided with notices going out placing Voice of America staff on paid administrative leave.

“For the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” Michael Abramowitz, the organization's director, said in a statement. He added that “virtually” the entire 1300-person staff was placed on leave.

“VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America's story and by providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny," Abramowitz said.

One reporter, who spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press, said: “We expected something like this to happen, and it just happened to be today.”

The press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said it “condemns this decision as a departure from the U.S.’s historic role as a defender of free information and calls on the U.S. government to restore VOA and urges Congress and the international community to take action against this unprecedented move.”

The Agency for Global Media also sent notices terminating grants to Radio Free Asia and other programming run by the agency. Voice of America transmits United States domestic news into other countries, often translated into local languages. Radio Free Asia, Europe and Marti beam news into countries with authoritarian regimes in those regions like China, North Korea and Russia.

“The cancellation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s grant agreement would be a massive gift to America’s enemies," said the network's President and CEO, Stephen Capus, in a statement.

Combined, the networks reach an estimated 427 million people. They date back to the Cold War and are part of a network of government-funded organizations trying to extend U.S. influence and combat authoritarianism that includes USAID, another agency targeted by Trump.

The reduction is a dramatic blow at a staple of post-Cold War order that has long had bipartisan support. Voice of America's directors have included Dick Carlson, the father of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.

Thomas Kent, former president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said that Trump’s intentions for the agencies are still foggy. Without these news sources, it will be that much harder for the country to get its messages to the world, he said.

“Without the international broadcasting, the image of the United States and the Trump administration will be in the hands of others, including the administration’s opponents, (and) countries and people who consider the United States an enemy,” said Kent, an international consultant on media ethics.

A video posted on X by Lake on Saturday talked about cost-cutting measures, not mentioning the employees and the mission of Voice of America. Her video was made at a building leased by VOA that Lake described as a waste of money. She said she would try to break the agency's 15-year lease on the building.

“We're doing everything we can to cancel contracts that can be cancelled, save more, downsize and make sure there's no misuse of your dollars,” she said.

The letter places employees on administrative leave and says staff would continue to receive pay and benefits “until otherwise notified.” It ordered employees not to use Agency for Global Media facilities and return equipment like phones and computers.

The Trump administration has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voice-of-america-trump-administration-kari-lake-15b585b58f5a510374344b50b1a131b5">made other steps to assert its authority</a>&nbsp;over Voice of America, and this week canceled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voa-government-media-contracts-2bd47cf0c1bbcdc5cbe08eea030c1454">contracts</a>&nbsp;that allowed VOA to use material from independent news organizations, such as The Associated Press.

The administration has also banned the AP from press pools that cover the president and moved to take charge of what news organizations are members of the pools, and the FCC is investigating news organizations like CBS.

Trump's order requiring reductions also includes several other, lesser-known government agencies such as the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a nonpartisan think tank, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22NICHOLAS%20RICCARDI%20and%20DAVID%20BAUDER%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By NICHOLAS RICCARDI and DAVID BAUDER Associated Press</a>President Donald Trump's administration on Saturday began making deep cuts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voice-of-america-trump-administration-kari-lake-15b585b58f5a510374344b50b1a131b5">Voice of America</a>&nbsp;and other government-run, pro-democracy programming, with the organization's director saying all VOA employees have been put on leave.On Friday night, shortly after Congress passed its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-3-14-2025">latest funding bill</a>, Trump directed his administration to reduce the functions of several agencies to the minimum required by law. That included the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which houses Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and Asia and Radio Marti, which beams Spanish-language news into Cuba.On Saturday morning, Kari Lake, the failed Arizona gubernatorial and U.S. Senate candidate whom Trump named a senior adviser to the agency, posted on X that employees should check their email. That coincided with notices going out placing Voice of America staff on paid administrative leave.“For the first time in 83 years, the storied Voice of America is being silenced,” Michael Abramowitz, the organization's director, said in a statement. He added that “virtually” the entire 1300-person staff was placed on leave.“VOA promotes freedom and democracy around the world by telling America's story and by providing objective and balanced news and information, especially for those living under tyranny," Abramowitz said.One reporter, who spoke under the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press, said: “We expected something like this to happen, and it just happened to be today.”The press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders said it “condemns this decision as a departure from the U.S.’s historic role as a defender of free information and calls on the U.S. government to restore VOA and urges Congress and the international community to take action against this unprecedented move.”The Agency for Global Media also sent notices terminating grants to Radio Free Asia and other programming run by the agency. Voice of America transmits United States domestic news into other countries, often translated into local languages. Radio Free Asia, Europe and Marti beam news into countries with authoritarian regimes in those regions like China, North Korea and Russia.“The cancellation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s grant agreement would be a massive gift to America’s enemies," said the network's President and CEO, Stephen Capus, in a statement.Combined, the networks reach an estimated 427 million people. They date back to the Cold War and are part of a network of government-funded organizations trying to extend U.S. influence and combat authoritarianism that includes USAID, another agency targeted by Trump.The reduction is a dramatic blow at a staple of post-Cold War order that has long had bipartisan support. Voice of America's directors have included Dick Carlson, the father of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson.Thomas Kent, former president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, said that Trump’s intentions for the agencies are still foggy. Without these news sources, it will be that much harder for the country to get its messages to the world, he said.“Without the international broadcasting, the image of the United States and the Trump administration will be in the hands of others, including the administration’s opponents, (and) countries and people who consider the United States an enemy,” said Kent, an international consultant on media ethics.A video posted on X by Lake on Saturday talked about cost-cutting measures, not mentioning the employees and the mission of Voice of America. Her video was made at a building leased by VOA that Lake described as a waste of money. She said she would try to break the agency's 15-year lease on the building.“We're doing everything we can to cancel contracts that can be cancelled, save more, downsize and make sure there's no misuse of your dollars,” she said.The letter places employees on administrative leave and says staff would continue to receive pay and benefits “until otherwise notified.” It ordered employees not to use Agency for Global Media facilities and return equipment like phones and computers.The Trump administration has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voice-of-america-trump-administration-kari-lake-15b585b58f5a510374344b50b1a131b5">made other steps to assert its authority</a>&nbsp;over Voice of America, and this week canceled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voa-government-media-contracts-2bd47cf0c1bbcdc5cbe08eea030c1454">contracts</a>&nbsp;that allowed VOA to use material from independent news organizations, such as The Associated Press.The administration has also banned the AP from press pools that cover the president and moved to take charge of what news organizations are members of the pools, and the FCC is investigating news organizations like CBS.Trump's order requiring reductions also includes several other, lesser-known government agencies such as the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a nonpartisan think tank, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.___Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

Voice of America channels silent as Trump admin. guts agency

SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

On March 12,&nbsp; the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force, conducted two narcotics related search warrants at residences in the 3600 block of SE 30th Street and the 2300 block of SW Eveningside Drive as well as a search warrant in the 2800 block of SW 29th Street. During the investigation, illegal narcotics and firearms were located.

Quentin K. Lawton, 45, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Distribute substance within 1000 feet of a school, Criminal possession of a weapon, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent,&nbsp;&nbsp;Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transaction

Quentin K. Lawton Jr., 22, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges including Criminal use of weapons, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia. Lawton Jr. also had two warrants for his arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741963993303.png" alt="Lawton has a previous drug conviction - photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Lawton has a previous drug conviction - photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.On March 12,&nbsp; the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, as part of the Shawnee County Drug Enforcement Task Force, conducted two narcotics related search warrants at residences in the 3600 block of SE 30th Street and the 2300 block of SW Eveningside Drive as well as a search warrant in the 2800 block of SW 29th Street. During the investigation, illegal narcotics and firearms were located.Quentin K. Lawton, 45, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Distribute substance within 1000 feet of a school, Criminal possession of a weapon, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent,&nbsp;&nbsp;Unlawful to acquire proceeds from drug transactionQuentin K. Lawton Jr., 22, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges including Criminal use of weapons, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia. Lawton Jr. also had two warrants for his arrest.

Kansas felon accused of selling drugs

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST &nbsp;Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court on Friday lifted a block on executive orders seeking to end government support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, handing the Trump administration a win after a string of setbacks defending President Donald Trump's agenda from dozens of lawsuits.

The decision from a three-judge panel allows the orders to be enforced as a lawsuit challenging them plays out. The appeals court judges halted a nationwide injunction from U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore.

Two of the judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that Trump's anti-DEI push could eventually raise concerns about First Amendment rights but said the judge's sweeping block went too far.

"My vote should not be understood as agreement with the orders' attack on efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion," Judge Pamela Harris wrote. Two of the panel's members were appointed by President Barack Obama, while the third was appointed by Trump.

Abelson had found the orders likely violated free-speech rights and are unconstitutionally vague since they don't have a specific definition of DEI.

Trump signed an order his first day in office directing federal agencies to terminate all "equity-related" grants or contracts. He signed a follow-up order requiring federal contractors to certify that they don't promote DEI.

The city of Baltimore and other groups sued the Trump administration, arguing the executive orders are an unconstitutional overreach of presidential authority.

The Justice Department has argued that the president was targeting only DEI programs that violate federal civil rights laws. Government attorneys said the administration should be able to align federal spending with the president's priorities.

Abelson, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, agreed with the plaintiffs that the executive orders discourage businesses, organizations and public entities from openly supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.

Efforts to increase diversity long have been under attack by Republicans who contend the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities for white people. Supporters say the programs help institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations while addressing the lasting impacts of systemic racism.

Their purpose was to foster equitable environments in businesses and schools, especially for historically marginalized communities. Researchers say DEI initiatives date back to the 1960s but they expanded in 2020 during increased calls for racial justice.

In addition to the mayor and the Baltimore City Council, the plaintiffs include the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which represents restaurant workers across the country.

Associated Press writer Lea Skene contributed to this story.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742003336478.png" alt="President Trump boards Air Force One on Friday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump boards Air Force One on Friday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By LINDSAY WHITEHURST &nbsp;Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court on Friday lifted a block on executive orders seeking to end government support for diversity, equity and inclusion programs, handing the Trump administration a win after a string of setbacks defending President Donald Trump's agenda from dozens of lawsuits.The decision from a three-judge panel allows the orders to be enforced as a lawsuit challenging them plays out. The appeals court judges halted a nationwide injunction from U.S. District Judge Adam Abelson in Baltimore.Two of the judges on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that Trump's anti-DEI push could eventually raise concerns about First Amendment rights but said the judge's sweeping block went too far."My vote should not be understood as agreement with the orders' attack on efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion," Judge Pamela Harris wrote. Two of the panel's members were appointed by President Barack Obama, while the third was appointed by Trump.Abelson had found the orders likely violated free-speech rights and are unconstitutionally vague since they don't have a specific definition of DEI.Trump signed an order his first day in office directing federal agencies to terminate all "equity-related" grants or contracts. He signed a follow-up order requiring federal contractors to certify that they don't promote DEI.The city of Baltimore and other groups sued the Trump administration, arguing the executive orders are an unconstitutional overreach of presidential authority.The Justice Department has argued that the president was targeting only DEI programs that violate federal civil rights laws. Government attorneys said the administration should be able to align federal spending with the president's priorities.Abelson, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, agreed with the plaintiffs that the executive orders discourage businesses, organizations and public entities from openly supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.Efforts to increase diversity long have been under attack by Republicans who contend the measures threaten merit-based hiring, promotion and educational opportunities for white people. Supporters say the programs help institutions meet the needs of increasingly diverse populations while addressing the lasting impacts of systemic racism.Their purpose was to foster equitable environments in businesses and schools, especially for historically marginalized communities. Researchers say DEI initiatives date back to the 1960s but they expanded in 2020 during increased calls for racial justice.In addition to the mayor and the Baltimore City Council, the plaintiffs include the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American Association of University Professors and the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, which represents restaurant workers across the country.___Associated Press writer Lea Skene contributed to this story.

Court lifts blocks on Trump's orders restricting DEI programs

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge sentenced a Kansas City man to 22 years in prison for the fatal shooting of another man that took place in 2023, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2531/Derek-Jones---Deferred-Sentencing_Redacted_FINAL_Redacted_FINAL">Derek Jones, 24, pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;last year to 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, Violating an Order of Protection, and 1st Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. With a 22-year total sentence cap, the judge sentenced the defendant to the total number of years requested by the state, which was the maximum authorized under the terms of the plea agreement: 19 years on 2nd Degree Murder, three years on Armed Criminal Action, one year on Violating an Order of Protection, and seven years on Endangering the Welfare of a Child.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2530/JONES-PC-Statement-RED">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a shooting at the 8300 block of Highland Avenue on March 12, 2023. They encountered a male victim just inside the front door of a residence who was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;

Witnesses identified Jones as the shooter, stating he forced his way into the residence after a witness unlocked the door. The defendant then discharged his firearm multiple times at the victim before fleeing the scene. Six children, including the victim’s child and the Jones' children, witnessed the entire incident.

Police located Jones and took him into custody within roughly an hour of the shooting.&nbsp;

While the defendant had no prior felony convictions, he had a history of domestic violence and violating orders of protection. The witnesses had orders of protection against the defendant at the time of the fatal shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678905755457.png" alt="Jones photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jones photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County judge sentenced a Kansas City man to 22 years in prison for the fatal shooting of another man that took place in 2023, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2531/Derek-Jones---Deferred-Sentencing_Redacted_FINAL_Redacted_FINAL">Derek Jones, 24, pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;last year to 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, Violating an Order of Protection, and 1st Degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child. With a 22-year total sentence cap, the judge sentenced the defendant to the total number of years requested by the state, which was the maximum authorized under the terms of the plea agreement: 19 years on 2nd Degree Murder, three years on Armed Criminal Action, one year on Violating an Order of Protection, and seven years on Endangering the Welfare of a Child.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2530/JONES-PC-Statement-RED">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a shooting at the 8300 block of Highland Avenue on March 12, 2023. They encountered a male victim just inside the front door of a residence who was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Witnesses identified Jones as the shooter, stating he forced his way into the residence after a witness unlocked the door. The defendant then discharged his firearm multiple times at the victim before fleeing the scene. Six children, including the victim’s child and the Jones' children, witnessed the entire incident.Police located Jones and took him into custody within roughly an hour of the shooting.&nbsp;While the defendant had no prior felony convictions, he had a history of domestic violence and violating orders of protection. The witnesses had orders of protection against the defendant at the time of the fatal shooting.

6 children witnessed murder of Kansas City man in their home

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said he ordered a series of airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said 13 civilians were killed.

“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”

He also warned Iran to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-houthi-attacks-red-sea-shipping-iran-8e55669e4d18cbc7007654640fa5fdc1">stop supporting the rebel group</a>, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the U.S leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran’s advancing nuclear weapons program. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational.

The Houthis reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-yemen-houthis-airstrikes-iran-explainer-06e5676098543ebab53a0cdeefd83731">explosions in their territory</a>&nbsp;Saturday evening, in Sanaa and in the northern province of Saada, the rebels’ stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia. Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility.

At least 13 people were killed, said Anees al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry. In a statement on social media, he said another nine were wounded.

A U.S. official said this was the beginning of air strikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won’t deter them and they would retaliate against the U.S. “Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” he added on social media.

Another spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, called Trump’s claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes “false and misleading.”

The airstrikes come a few days after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-ship-attacks-0da6c2453fe2c4e5f81923c84c7d3f3a">Houthis said they would resume attacks</a>&nbsp;on Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen in response to Israel’s latest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.

There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CENTCOM Forces Launch Large Scale Operation Against Iran-Backed Houthis in Yemen On March 15, U.S. Central Command initiated a series of operations consisting of precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets across Yemen to defend American interests, deter enemies, and… <a href="https://t.co/u5yx8WneoG">pic.twitter.com/u5yx8WneoG</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1901001417831150000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said he ordered a series of airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said 13 civilians were killed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742067087417.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742067133086.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”He also warned Iran to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-houthi-attacks-red-sea-shipping-iran-8e55669e4d18cbc7007654640fa5fdc1">stop supporting the rebel group</a>, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the U.S leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran’s advancing nuclear weapons program. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational.The Houthis reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-yemen-houthis-airstrikes-iran-explainer-06e5676098543ebab53a0cdeefd83731">explosions in their territory</a>&nbsp;Saturday evening, in Sanaa and in the northern province of Saada, the rebels’ stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia. Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility.At least 13 people were killed, said Anees al-Asbahi, spokesman for the Houthi-run health ministry. In a statement on social media, he said another nine were wounded.A U.S. official said this was the beginning of air strikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won’t deter them and they would retaliate against the U.S. “Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” he added on social media.Another spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, called Trump’s claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes “false and misleading.”The airstrikes come a few days after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-ship-attacks-0da6c2453fe2c4e5f81923c84c7d3f3a">Houthis said they would resume attacks</a>&nbsp;on Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen in response to Israel’s latest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hamas">Hamas</a>&nbsp;if their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">fragile ceasefire</a>&nbsp;in the war isn’t extended as negotiations continue over starting a second phase.The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sinking two vessels</a>&nbsp;and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when this ceasefire in Gaza took effect.The attacks raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic and other problems at home amid Yemen’s decade-long stalemated war that’s torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.The Houthi media office said the U.S. strikes hit a residential neighborhood in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighborhood there, terrifying women and children.“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”The Eastern Geraf is home to Houthi-held military facilities and a headquarters for the rebels' political bureau, located in a densely populated area.The Houthis reported fresh strikes on the southwestern Dhamar province late Saturday. They said the strikes hit the outskirts of the provincial capital, also named Dhamar, and the district of Abs.The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel’s military declined to comment.However, Saturday's operation was conducted solely by the U.S., according to a U.S. official. It was the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration.Such broad-based missile strikes against the Houthis were carried out multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region.The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of Saturday's mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.Trump announced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.“These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.___Baldor reported from Washington and Magdy reported from Cairo. AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Tara Copp contributed from Washington.