WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a social media video urging U.S. troops to defy “illegal orders” say the FBI has contacted them to begin scheduling interviews, signaling a possible inquiry into the matter.

It would mark the second investigation tied to the video, coming a day after the Pentagon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-mark-kelly-troop-investigation-4882f76b05dcdfa3060c284c2c84dd12">said it was reviewing</a>&nbsp;Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over potential violations of military law. The FBI and Pentagon actions come after President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-traitors-sedition-illegal-orders-c5fc3c5bd2fbc6b1204550e4203c24b2">accused the lawmakers of sedition</a>&nbsp;and said it is “punishable by DEATH” in a social media post.

Together, the inquiries mark an extraordinary escalation for federal law enforcement and military institutions that traditionally steer clear of partisan clashes. They also underscore the administration’s willingness to push legal limits against its critics, even when they are sitting members of Congress. Lawmakers in the video urge troops to reject any illegal orders from their superiors, something they are already duty-bound to do.

“President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress,” a group of four Democratic House members said in a statement Tuesday. “Yesterday, the FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms requesting interviews.”

Democrats call inquiry a ‘scare tactic’

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/slotkin-democratic-response-text-trump-congress-6ba1012264201e715c290da1b8f45bc4">Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin</a>, one of the six Democratic lawmakers in the video, told reporters Tuesday that “last night the counterterrorism division at the FBI sent a note to the members of Congress, saying they are opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us.” Slotkin called it a “scare tactic by” Trump.

“Whether you agree with the video or don’t agree with the video, the question to me is: is this the appropriate response for a president of the United States to go after and seek to weaponize the federal government against those he disagrees with?” said Slotkin.

The group of four Democratic House members said in their statement that “no amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution.”

All six of the Democratic lawmakers in the video have served in the military or intelligence community.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska criticized both inquiries on social media, saying that accusing the lawmakers “of treason and sedition for rightfully pointing out that servicemembers can refuse illegal orders is reckless and flat-out wrong.”

“The Department of Defense and FBI surely have more important priorities than this frivolous investigation,” wrote Murkowski.

FBI provides no insight into interview requests

The FBI went through the top security officials for the House and Senate to request interviews with each of the six lawmakers. The lawmakers said they had no further information and the FBI has not made clear on what basis they were seeking the interviews.

The FBI declined to comment Tuesday, but Director Kash Patel, in an interview with journalist Catherine Herridge, described it as an “ongoing matter” in explaining why he could not discuss details.

Asked for his reaction to the video, Patel said, “What goes through my head is the same thing that goes through my head in any case: is there a lawful predicate to open up an inquiry and investigation, or is there not? And that decision will be made by the career agents and analysts here at the FBI.”

In the video, lawmakers said they needed troops to “stand up for our laws … our Constitution.” Kelly, who was a fighter pilot before becoming an astronaut and then retiring at the rank of captain, told troops that “you can refuse illegal orders.”

After the Pentagon announced the investigation into Kelly on Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth referred it to the Navy on Tuesday and requested a briefing by Dec. 10.

The lawmakers didn’t mention specific circumstances in the video. But at an event Tuesday in Michigan, Slotkin pointed to the Trump administration ordering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d">the military to blow up small boats</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean accused of ferrying drugs and continued attempts at deploying National Guard troops into U.S. cities despite some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-ruling-dc-washington-national-guard-1be5c3744e35f8dd68a6a12fa4583186">legal setbacks</a>.

“It wasn’t that there was any one incident, it was the sheer number of people coming to us and saying, ‘I’m worried. I am being sent to Washington or I’m being sent to LA or Chicago, North Carolina now, and I’m concerned I’m going to be asked to do something that I don’t know if I should do,'” said Slotkin. “So that’s where it came from.”

Troops, especially uniformed commanders, do have specific obligations to reject orders that are unlawful, if they make that determination.

Broad legal precedence also holds that just following orders — colloquially known as the “Nuremberg defense,” as it was used unsuccessfully by senior Nazi officials to justify their actions under Adolf Hitler — doesn’t absolve troops.

Householder reported from Inkster, Michigan. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington also contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764102122289.png" alt="Image of Senator Elissa Slotkin from the controversial video" />
 <figcaption>Image of Senator Elissa Slotkin from the controversial video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a social media video urging U.S. troops to defy “illegal orders” say the FBI has contacted them to begin scheduling interviews, signaling a possible inquiry into the matter.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763674382514.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>It would mark the second investigation tied to the video, coming a day after the Pentagon&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-mark-kelly-troop-investigation-4882f76b05dcdfa3060c284c2c84dd12">said it was reviewing</a>&nbsp;Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over potential violations of military law. The FBI and Pentagon actions come after President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-traitors-sedition-illegal-orders-c5fc3c5bd2fbc6b1204550e4203c24b2">accused the lawmakers of sedition</a>&nbsp;and said it is “punishable by DEATH” in a social media post.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Joint statement in response to FBI inquiry: <a href="https://t.co/SYPWCnZpjA">pic.twitter.com/SYPWCnZpjA</a>&mdash; Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJasonCrow/status/1993388137431941607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement on FBI request for interviews. <a href="https://t.co/o818paJIAf">pic.twitter.com/o818paJIAf</a>&mdash; Chrissy Houlahan (@RepHoulahan) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepHoulahan/status/1993387976529776906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/42TxcjdJiK">pic.twitter.com/42TxcjdJiK</a>&mdash; Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/1993436056008507865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Today in Nashua <a href="https://twitter.com/RepGoodlander?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepGoodlander</a> talks with <a href="https://twitter.com/WMUR9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WMUR9</a> about a request from the FBI to interview her about her role in the &#39;refuse illegal orders&#39; video posted last week: &quot;I am doing my job. I will not be intimidated. I will not be harassed.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHPolitics?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHPolitics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NH02?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NH02</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WMUR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WMUR</a> <a href="https://t.co/TT0Uau2Isn">pic.twitter.com/TT0Uau2Isn</a>&mdash; Adam Sexton (@AdamSextonWMUR) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSextonWMUR/status/1993448994455048471?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Together, the inquiries mark an extraordinary escalation for federal law enforcement and military institutions that traditionally steer clear of partisan clashes. They also underscore the administration’s willingness to push legal limits against its critics, even when they are sitting members of Congress. Lawmakers in the video urge troops to reject any illegal orders from their superiors, something they are already duty-bound to do.“President Trump is using the FBI as a tool to intimidate and harass Members of Congress,” a group of four Democratic House members said in a statement Tuesday. “Yesterday, the FBI contacted the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms requesting interviews.”<h2>Democrats call inquiry a ‘scare tactic’</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/slotkin-democratic-response-text-trump-congress-6ba1012264201e715c290da1b8f45bc4">Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin</a>, one of the six Democratic lawmakers in the video, told reporters Tuesday that “last night the counterterrorism division at the FBI sent a note to the members of Congress, saying they are opening what appears to be an inquiry against the six of us.” Slotkin called it a “scare tactic by” Trump.“Whether you agree with the video or don’t agree with the video, the question to me is: is this the appropriate response for a president of the United States to go after and seek to weaponize the federal government against those he disagrees with?” said Slotkin.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Senator Kelly valiantly served our country as an aviator in the U.S. Navy before later completing four space shuttle missions as a NASA astronaut. To accuse him and other lawmakers of treason and sedition for rightfully pointing out that servicemembers can refuse illegal orders…&mdash; Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) <a href="https://twitter.com/lisamurkowski/status/1993458701601014111?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The group of four Democratic House members said in their statement that “no amount of intimidation or harassment will ever stop us from doing our jobs and honoring our Constitution.”All six of the Democratic lawmakers in the video have served in the military or intelligence community.Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska criticized both inquiries on social media, saying that accusing the lawmakers “of treason and sedition for rightfully pointing out that servicemembers can refuse illegal orders is reckless and flat-out wrong.”“The Department of Defense and FBI surely have more important priorities than this frivolous investigation,” wrote Murkowski.<h2>FBI provides no insight into interview requests</h2>The FBI went through the top security officials for the House and Senate to request interviews with each of the six lawmakers. The lawmakers said they had no further information and the FBI has not made clear on what basis they were seeking the interviews.The FBI declined to comment Tuesday, but Director Kash Patel, in an interview with journalist Catherine Herridge, described it as an “ongoing matter” in explaining why he could not discuss details.Asked for his reaction to the video, Patel said, “What goes through my head is the same thing that goes through my head in any case: is there a lawful predicate to open up an inquiry and investigation, or is there not? And that decision will be made by the career agents and analysts here at the FBI.”<h2>The video at the heart of the inquiries</h2>In the video, lawmakers said they needed troops to “stand up for our laws … our Constitution.” Kelly, who was a fighter pilot before becoming an astronaut and then retiring at the rank of captain, told troops that “you can refuse illegal orders.”After the Pentagon announced the investigation into Kelly on Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth referred it to the Navy on Tuesday and requested a briefing by Dec. 10.The lawmakers didn’t mention specific circumstances in the video. But at an event Tuesday in Michigan, Slotkin pointed to the Trump administration ordering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d">the military to blow up small boats</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean accused of ferrying drugs and continued attempts at deploying National Guard troops into U.S. cities despite some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-ruling-dc-washington-national-guard-1be5c3744e35f8dd68a6a12fa4583186">legal setbacks</a>.“It wasn’t that there was any one incident, it was the sheer number of people coming to us and saying, ‘I’m worried. I am being sent to Washington or I’m being sent to LA or Chicago, North Carolina now, and I’m concerned I’m going to be asked to do something that I don’t know if I should do,'” said Slotkin. “So that’s where it came from.”Troops, especially uniformed commanders, do have specific obligations to reject orders that are unlawful, if they make that determination.Broad legal precedence also holds that just following orders — colloquially known as the “Nuremberg defense,” as it was used unsuccessfully by senior Nazi officials to justify their actions under Adolf Hitler — doesn’t absolve troops.___Householder reported from Inkster, Michigan. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington also contributed to this report.

What Dem lawmakers are saying about FBI inquiry of their alleged sedition video 

KANSAS CITY —A family pet is safe after found during a house fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 2:30p.m. Tuesday, crews responded to a house fire in the 8400 block of E 92nd&nbsp;Terrace in Kansas City Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

On arrival, crews reported light smoke showing from the front of a two-story residence. Interior operations were initiated, and companies found a fire in the kitchen area, which was quickly extinguished with a single hose line.&nbsp;

As searches of the structure were conducted, a dog was found in the basement. The rest of the search came back all clear. The fire was brought under control at 3:00 p.m.&nbsp;The dog did get out and is unharmed, according to Nolan.&nbsp; The cause of the fire is under investigation.

KANSAS CITY —A family pet is safe after found during a house fire in Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 2:30p.m. Tuesday, crews responded to a house fire in the 8400 block of E 92nd&nbsp;Terrace in Kansas City Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.On arrival, crews reported light smoke showing from the front of a two-story residence. Interior operations were initiated, and companies found a fire in the kitchen area, which was quickly extinguished with a single hose line.&nbsp;As searches of the structure were conducted, a dog was found in the basement. The rest of the search came back all clear. The fire was brought under control at 3:00 p.m.&nbsp;The dog did get out and is unharmed, according to Nolan.&nbsp; The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Family pet survives house fire in Kansas City

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting have identified the victim as 20-year-old Makih Franklin, according to a media release from Kansas City, Kansas police.

Just after 8:30p.m. November 20, police were dispatched&nbsp; to a shooting in the 400 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.

First responders located Franklin outside a residence with an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital where he died from his injuries. 

Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting have identified the victim as 20-year-old Makih Franklin, according to a media release from Kansas City, Kansas police.Just after 8:30p.m. November 20, police were dispatched&nbsp; to a shooting in the 400 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas.First responders located Franklin outside a residence with an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital where he died from his injuries. Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

Police ID 20-year-old Kansas shooting victim

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Police have identified a woman who died in an accident just after 7p.m. Monday in Douglas County.

Lawrence police reported a vehicle driven by&nbsp;75-year-old Bonnie Susan Hernandez of Lawrence was eastbound in the 1500 block of east 23rd Street, just west of 23rd and Harper. The vehicle crossed into the westbound lanes and struck an SUV nearly head-on.

Investigators believe Hernandez suffered a medical emergency just before the crash. Those in the SUV suffered minor injuries, but did not go to the hospital.&nbsp;

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Police have identified a woman who died in an accident just after 7p.m. Monday in Douglas County.Lawrence police reported a vehicle driven by&nbsp;75-year-old Bonnie Susan Hernandez of Lawrence was eastbound in the 1500 block of east 23rd Street, just west of 23rd and Harper. The vehicle crossed into the westbound lanes and struck an SUV nearly head-on.Investigators believe Hernandez suffered a medical emergency just before the crash. Those in the SUV suffered minor injuries, but did not go to the hospital.&nbsp;

Kansas woman killed in near head-on crash

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City teen faces multiple allegations for a fatal shooting that occurred in April.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2753/Jacoway-RED-COMPLAINT-MJ">Martez Jacoway Jr.</a>, 19, faces 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2754/Jacoway-RED-PC-MJRedacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a shooting on April 17 and found the victim in the front passenger seat of a white Ford Focus suffering from a single gunshot wound to his back. He was pronounced deceased at a nearby hospital.&nbsp;

Witnesses told detectives they saw a man wearing a black hoodie at the driver’s side window holding a rifle. The man fired several rounds toward the white Ford Focus. Surveillance footage captured muzzle flashes from the front driver’s side of a black vehicle directed at the victim’s vehicle.&nbsp;

Detectives used the Automated License Plate Recognition (APLR) system to track the suspect vehicle’s movements, which led to the identification of Jacoway. His cellphone records showed incoming and outgoing calls from areas that matched the black Nissan’s path on the day of the homicide, corroborating surveillance footage, city camera footage, and license plate reader data.

Jacoway had previously been identified by SAVE KC, but did not attend a call-in. He is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762983061770.png" alt="Jacoway photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Jacoway photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City teen faces multiple allegations for a fatal shooting that occurred in April.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2753/Jacoway-RED-COMPLAINT-MJ">Martez Jacoway Jr.</a>, 19, faces 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2754/Jacoway-RED-PC-MJRedacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a shooting on April 17 and found the victim in the front passenger seat of a white Ford Focus suffering from a single gunshot wound to his back. He was pronounced deceased at a nearby hospital.&nbsp;Witnesses told detectives they saw a man wearing a black hoodie at the driver’s side window holding a rifle. The man fired several rounds toward the white Ford Focus. Surveillance footage captured muzzle flashes from the front driver’s side of a black vehicle directed at the victim’s vehicle.&nbsp;Detectives used the Automated License Plate Recognition (APLR) system to track the suspect vehicle’s movements, which led to the identification of Jacoway. His cellphone records showed incoming and outgoing calls from areas that matched the black Nissan’s path on the day of the homicide, corroborating surveillance footage, city camera footage, and license plate reader data.Jacoway had previously been identified by SAVE KC, but did not attend a call-in. He is being held on a $50,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp;

Court records: KC teen used rifle in deadly drive-by shooting

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia has agreed to pay nearly $5.2 million in overdue personal taxes, the latest saga for the former billionaire who has been followed by a trail of financial challenges going back well over a decade.

An attorney for Justice and his wife, Cathy, entered into a joint motion for consent judgment with the federal government Monday, the same day that the government filed a lawsuit saying that the couple “have neglected or refused to make full payment” for the income taxes dating to 2009. An attorney for the U.S. Justice Department's tax division signed off on the agreement.

Justice had a fortune&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-39a131d2143b4f458fe6c50e8283e03f">estimated at $1.9 billion last decade</a>&nbsp;by Forbes magazine, which stripped his billionaire title in 2021, when Justice's worth had dwindled to an estimated $513 million. Earlier this year, Forbes estimated that Justice’s net worth had disintegrated to “less than zero” due to liabilities that far exceeded assets.

A spokesperson for Justice's office didn’t immediate respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday.

During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-jim-justice-debts-west-virginia-irs-f83649c701450b4a8e1077305760479a">a briefing with local media in October</a>, Justice asserted that his companies “are complicated and complex” and that his children “are doing a magnificent job” running them. He then repeated past assertions that collection efforts against him were politically motivated, before concluding:. “At the end of the day, I’d say just let it be and see how it all plays out.”

Justice, a former two-term Republican governor who owns dozens of businesses that include coal and agricultural operations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-senate-justice-elliott-7376ed0ceb9bebd0766190fb14cc0e69">was elected last November to the Senate.</a>&nbsp;He took over the seat vacated by the retiring Joe Manchin, a Democrat who became an independent in 2024 near the end of his second full term.

Justice still has other financial challenges to work out.

The Internal Revenue Service last month filed liens totaling more than $8 million against Justice and his wife on unpaid personal taxes. In September, state tax officials filed $1.4 million in liens against the Justice family’s historic hotel, The Greenbrier, and the resort’s Greenbrier Sporting Club, over unpaid sales taxes.

Last month, a foreclosure auction on several hundred lots owned by the Justice family at a resort community near Beckley was paused. The auction centered on a dispute between the Glade Springs Village Property Owners Association and Justice Holdings over unpaid fees. The state Supreme Court plans to review the case more closely.

In 2021, the IRS filed liens over $1.1 million in unpaid taxes on the Greenbrier Hotel and an additional $80,000 on the resort’s medical clinic. Those debts were paid off later that year.

Justice’s family settled debts last year in a separate case to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-governor-justice-hotel-51715adcfa963192d9c13cbd64707d82">avoid the Greenbrier Hotel’s foreclosure</a>. The 710-room hotel, which has hosted U.S. presidents, royalty and congressional retreats, had come under threat of being auctioned off on the steps of a Lewisburg courthouse. That was after JPMorgan Chase sold a longstanding loan taken out by Justice to a credit collection company, Beltway Capital, which declared it to be in default.

The state Democratic Party has said efforts to seize the hotel from Justice were “a direct consequence of his own financial incompetence.”

Last year, a union official at the Greenbrier said that Justice’s family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/greenbrier-hotel-jim-justice-west-virginia-350b92c83c37dfe03dd38f4368a4accc">was at least $2.4 million behind</a>&nbsp;in payments to an employees’ health insurance fund, putting workers’ coverage at risk. In 2023, dozens of properties owned by the Justice family in three counties were auctioned as payment for delinquent real estate taxes. Others have sought to recoup millions in fines for environmental issues and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-governor-jim-justice-mine-fines-3d98e07c4d14646a194ee9f739b5f770">unsafe working conditions at his company’s coal mines</a>.

Justice bought The Greenbrier resort out of bankruptcy in 2009 for $20.1 million. The sporting club is a private equity club and residential community on the property that opened in 2000.

The resort in White Sulphur Springs that dates to 1778 also has a casino, spa and dozens of amenities and employs around 2,000 workers. The resort held a PGA Tour golf tournament from 2010 until 2019 and has welcomed NFL teams for training camp and practices. A once-secret 112,000-square-foot (10,080-square-meter) underground bunker built for Congress at the Greenbrier in case of nuclear attack during the Cold War now hosts tours.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia has agreed to pay nearly $5.2 million in overdue personal taxes, the latest saga for the former billionaire who has been followed by a trail of financial challenges going back well over a decade.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My best buddy is SIX years old today! The joy you bring to our family—and to a whole lot of others—is a true blessing. We love you big time, <a href="https://twitter.com/BabydogJustice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BabydogJustice</a>! <a href="https://t.co/gUK3Bd1VFI">pic.twitter.com/gUK3Bd1VFI</a>&mdash; Senator Jim Justice (@JimJustice_WV) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimJustice_WV/status/1978465316704231886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>An attorney for Justice and his wife, Cathy, entered into a joint motion for consent judgment with the federal government Monday, the same day that the government filed a lawsuit saying that the couple “have neglected or refused to make full payment” for the income taxes dating to 2009. An attorney for the U.S. Justice Department's tax division signed off on the agreement.Justice had a fortune&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-39a131d2143b4f458fe6c50e8283e03f">estimated at $1.9 billion last decade</a>&nbsp;by Forbes magazine, which stripped his billionaire title in 2021, when Justice's worth had dwindled to an estimated $513 million. Earlier this year, Forbes estimated that Justice’s net worth had disintegrated to “less than zero” due to liabilities that far exceeded assets.A spokesperson for Justice's office didn’t immediate respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday.During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-jim-justice-debts-west-virginia-irs-f83649c701450b4a8e1077305760479a">a briefing with local media in October</a>, Justice asserted that his companies “are complicated and complex” and that his children “are doing a magnificent job” running them. He then repeated past assertions that collection efforts against him were politically motivated, before concluding:. “At the end of the day, I’d say just let it be and see how it all plays out.”Justice, a former two-term Republican governor who owns dozens of businesses that include coal and agricultural operations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-senate-justice-elliott-7376ed0ceb9bebd0766190fb14cc0e69">was elected last November to the Senate.</a>&nbsp;He took over the seat vacated by the retiring Joe Manchin, a Democrat who became an independent in 2024 near the end of his second full term.Justice still has other financial challenges to work out.The Internal Revenue Service last month filed liens totaling more than $8 million against Justice and his wife on unpaid personal taxes. In September, state tax officials filed $1.4 million in liens against the Justice family’s historic hotel, The Greenbrier, and the resort’s Greenbrier Sporting Club, over unpaid sales taxes.Last month, a foreclosure auction on several hundred lots owned by the Justice family at a resort community near Beckley was paused. The auction centered on a dispute between the Glade Springs Village Property Owners Association and Justice Holdings over unpaid fees. The state Supreme Court plans to review the case more closely.In 2021, the IRS filed liens over $1.1 million in unpaid taxes on the Greenbrier Hotel and an additional $80,000 on the resort’s medical clinic. Those debts were paid off later that year.Justice’s family settled debts last year in a separate case to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-governor-justice-hotel-51715adcfa963192d9c13cbd64707d82">avoid the Greenbrier Hotel’s foreclosure</a>. The 710-room hotel, which has hosted U.S. presidents, royalty and congressional retreats, had come under threat of being auctioned off on the steps of a Lewisburg courthouse. That was after JPMorgan Chase sold a longstanding loan taken out by Justice to a credit collection company, Beltway Capital, which declared it to be in default.The state Democratic Party has said efforts to seize the hotel from Justice were “a direct consequence of his own financial incompetence.”Last year, a union official at the Greenbrier said that Justice’s family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/greenbrier-hotel-jim-justice-west-virginia-350b92c83c37dfe03dd38f4368a4accc">was at least $2.4 million behind</a>&nbsp;in payments to an employees’ health insurance fund, putting workers’ coverage at risk. In 2023, dozens of properties owned by the Justice family in three counties were auctioned as payment for delinquent real estate taxes. Others have sought to recoup millions in fines for environmental issues and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-virginia-governor-jim-justice-mine-fines-3d98e07c4d14646a194ee9f739b5f770">unsafe working conditions at his company’s coal mines</a>.Justice bought The Greenbrier resort out of bankruptcy in 2009 for $20.1 million. The sporting club is a private equity club and residential community on the property that opened in 2000.The resort in White Sulphur Springs that dates to 1778 also has a casino, spa and dozens of amenities and employs around 2,000 workers. The resort held a PGA Tour golf tournament from 2010 until 2019 and has welcomed NFL teams for training camp and practices. A once-secret 112,000-square-foot (10,080-square-meter) underground bunker built for Congress at the Greenbrier in case of nuclear attack during the Cold War now hosts tours.

U.S. Senator agrees to pay nearly $5.2M in overdue personal taxes

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;didn't bring much holiday cheer Tuesday when bestowing ceremonial pardons on two Thanksgiving turkeys, dispensing more insults than goodwill at the traditional White House ritual.

He joked about sending the turkeys to an infamous prison in El Salvador that has been used to house migrants deported from the United States. He said the birds should be named Chuck and Nancy — after Democratic stalwarts Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi — but “I would never pardon those people.”

Trump claimed that last year's turkey pardons, issued by President Joe Biden, were invalid because he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-pardons-autopen-capitol-riot-1956c5dcb44ecba10cd9b01171ca9efa">used an autopen</a>. “Where's Hunter?” he said, suggesting that his predecessor's son could once again face legal jeopardy.

And all of that was before Trump turned his attention to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-violence-crime-pritzker-national-guard-trump-2023e25445c45a3f0f4d3513e8eb2ac4">resisted the White House's plans</a>&nbsp;to deploy the National Guard in Chicago.

Trump said he had a joke prepared about Pritzker, but “I refuse to talk about the fact that he's a fat slob. I don't mention it.”

Scattered laughter rippled through the audience, which sat under cloudy skies and an intermittent drizzle on the Rose Garden patio.

Trump eventually got around to the business at hand, which was pardoning the turkeys Gobble and Waddle. But Waddle wasn't there — the White House did not immediately respond to questions about the bird's whereabouts — and the president proceeded anyway.

“Gobble, I just want to tell you this — very important — you are hereby unconditionally pardoned,” Trump said. He reached over to run his hand over the feathers, saying, “Who would want to harm this beautiful bird?”

Waddle had previously been spotted in the White House briefing room.

"Waddle, want to give us a gobble?” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asked.

Trump used part of his ceremonial remarks to insist that the price of Thanksgiving meals was dropping under his leadership, although&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-thanksgiving-meal-cost-discounts-0005c70022b7701e0ec0531220673942">his numbers are misleading.</a>&nbsp;Some research indicates that holiday dinners could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thanksgiving-turkey-food-prices-2025-5754f2e4c7ca8747b75a4b3efe15297f">cost more this year</a>, a reminder of persistent frustration with inflation.

The president plans to fly south to his private Florida resort later Tuesday, a holiday interlude during what has been a turbulent and uncertain chapter of his second term.

Trump is struggling to advance a plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-war-ece1a80b435f402b475fb180023a75dc">end the Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>&nbsp;after an earlier version faced swift criticism from European allies and even some Republicans. The U.S. military is also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caine-caribbean-military-venezuela-boat-strikes-02073d27c1d264deb0fb1afd03cc1971">poised to target Venezuela</a>&nbsp;with military strikes, part of an anti-drug operation that could ultimately destabilize the country's leadership.

In Washington, Trump faces the possibility of a splintering Republican coalition ahead of next year's midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Some members of his party already took the rare step of crossing the president by successfully pushing legislation to force the Justice Department to release more documents about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-e1fa3b7cb64b6c678073744c7744c4a9">the Jeffrey Epstein case.</a>

Trump faced a setback in court this week when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-james-justice-department-5ec1a59d152bc1fd000ade15e20745b5">a federal judge tossed cases</a>&nbsp;against James Comey and Letitia James, two targets of the president's retribution campaign.

Comey, a former FBI director whom Trump fired during his first term, was charged with making a false statement and obstructing Congress. James, the New York attorney general who investigated the president between his two terms, was charged with mortgage fraud.

Both pleaded not guilty and said the prosecutions were politically motivated, pointing to Trump's public demands for the Justice Department to punish his enemies.

The judge said the interim U.S. attorney, a former member of Trump's personal legal team, who obtained the indictments was illegally appointed. However, the decision was made without prejudice, so the Justice Department could try again to charge Comey and James.

The White House plans to be open for holiday tours. However, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-christmas-tree-3249c03bec94e4ac99cc6002733a971c">the traditional arrival of a Christmas tree</a>&nbsp;on Monday, the presidential residence will be much different this year.

Trump's decision to demolish the building's East Wing to make room for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ballroom-east-wing-white-house-844ddefd00c2323cf9419e5ba9635daf">a new ballroom</a>&nbsp;has turned part of the White House grounds into a construction site.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;didn't bring much holiday cheer Tuesday when bestowing ceremonial pardons on two Thanksgiving turkeys, dispensing more insults than goodwill at the traditional White House ritual.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Gobble &amp; Waddle living their best life. 🇺🇸 Don’t miss the Presidential Turkey Pardon — 12 PM EST! <a href="https://t.co/YwCtCdn3Mz">pic.twitter.com/YwCtCdn3Mz</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1993353700434199001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;The turkeys being pardoned today go by the names Gobble and Waddle. When I first saw their pictures... I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy — but then I realized I wouldn&#39;t be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people.&quot; 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/XuhIbTGUbI">pic.twitter.com/XuhIbTGUbI</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1993368386395685351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We thank God for his many blessings and the great success that this country has seen in a short period of time. We draw strength from the love of family and friends, and we express our undying gratitude for the men in the women of the United States armed forces.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/uULjzeAqER">pic.twitter.com/uULjzeAqER</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1993371788097593447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Gobble, I just want to tell you this — very important — you are hereby unconditionally pardoned!&quot; 🤣🦃 <a href="https://t.co/WmjvScCf6K">pic.twitter.com/WmjvScCf6K</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1993371733865160937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;These are two of the largest Turkey’s ever presented to an American president—over 50 pounds each... despite their size, <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a> has formally certified that these are the first ever MAHA turkeys.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/H5kW4yM1Rn">pic.twitter.com/H5kW4yM1Rn</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1993368718655570036?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He joked about sending the turkeys to an infamous prison in El Salvador that has been used to house migrants deported from the United States. He said the birds should be named Chuck and Nancy — after Democratic stalwarts Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi — but “I would never pardon those people.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">BREAKING: President Trump says an investigation has shown Biden used an autopen for last year&#39;s turkey pardon. &quot;I determined that last year&#39;s turkey pardons are totally invalid, as are the pardons of about every other person that was pardoned other than Where&#39;s Hunter.&quot; 🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/tZBfHwJKq6">pic.twitter.com/tZBfHwJKq6</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1993368344100323390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump claimed that last year's turkey pardons, issued by President Joe Biden, were invalid because he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-pardons-autopen-capitol-riot-1956c5dcb44ecba10cd9b01171ca9efa">used an autopen</a>. “Where's Hunter?” he said, suggesting that his predecessor's son could once again face legal jeopardy.And all of that was before Trump turned his attention to Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat who has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-violence-crime-pritzker-national-guard-trump-2023e25445c45a3f0f4d3513e8eb2ac4">resisted the White House's plans</a>&nbsp;to deploy the National Guard in Chicago.Trump said he had a joke prepared about Pritzker, but “I refuse to talk about the fact that he's a fat slob. I don't mention it.”Scattered laughter rippled through the audience, which sat under cloudy skies and an intermittent drizzle on the Rose Garden patio.Trump eventually got around to the business at hand, which was pardoning the turkeys Gobble and Waddle. But Waddle wasn't there — the White House did not immediately respond to questions about the bird's whereabouts — and the president proceeded anyway.“Gobble, I just want to tell you this — very important — you are hereby unconditionally pardoned,” Trump said. He reached over to run his hand over the feathers, saying, “Who would want to harm this beautiful bird?”Waddle had previously been spotted in the White House briefing room."Waddle, want to give us a gobble?” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt asked.The turkey obliged.“Very on message!” Leavitt said.Trump used part of his ceremonial remarks to insist that the price of Thanksgiving meals was dropping under his leadership, although&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-trump-thanksgiving-meal-cost-discounts-0005c70022b7701e0ec0531220673942">his numbers are misleading.</a>&nbsp;Some research indicates that holiday dinners could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thanksgiving-turkey-food-prices-2025-5754f2e4c7ca8747b75a4b3efe15297f">cost more this year</a>, a reminder of persistent frustration with inflation.The president plans to fly south to his private Florida resort later Tuesday, a holiday interlude during what has been a turbulent and uncertain chapter of his second term.Trump is struggling to advance a plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-war-ece1a80b435f402b475fb180023a75dc">end the Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>&nbsp;after an earlier version faced swift criticism from European allies and even some Republicans. The U.S. military is also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caine-caribbean-military-venezuela-boat-strikes-02073d27c1d264deb0fb1afd03cc1971">poised to target Venezuela</a>&nbsp;with military strikes, part of an anti-drug operation that could ultimately destabilize the country's leadership.In Washington, Trump faces the possibility of a splintering Republican coalition ahead of next year's midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress. Some members of his party already took the rare step of crossing the president by successfully pushing legislation to force the Justice Department to release more documents about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-e1fa3b7cb64b6c678073744c7744c4a9">the Jeffrey Epstein case.</a>Trump faced a setback in court this week when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-james-justice-department-5ec1a59d152bc1fd000ade15e20745b5">a federal judge tossed cases</a>&nbsp;against James Comey and Letitia James, two targets of the president's retribution campaign.Comey, a former FBI director whom Trump fired during his first term, was charged with making a false statement and obstructing Congress. James, the New York attorney general who investigated the president between his two terms, was charged with mortgage fraud.Both pleaded not guilty and said the prosecutions were politically motivated, pointing to Trump's public demands for the Justice Department to punish his enemies.The judge said the interim U.S. attorney, a former member of Trump's personal legal team, who obtained the indictments was illegally appointed. However, the decision was made without prejudice, so the Justice Department could try again to charge Comey and James.The White House plans to be open for holiday tours. However, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-christmas-tree-3249c03bec94e4ac99cc6002733a971c">the traditional arrival of a Christmas tree</a>&nbsp;on Monday, the presidential residence will be much different this year.Trump's decision to demolish the building's East Wing to make room for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ballroom-east-wing-white-house-844ddefd00c2323cf9419e5ba9635daf">a new ballroom</a>&nbsp;has turned part of the White House grounds into a construction site.

🎥Not much holiday cheer as President pardons Thanksgiving Turkeys

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged ATM Jackpotting incident in Salina.&nbsp; Jackpotting involves the exploitation of physical and software vulnerabilities in automated banking machines that result in the machines dispensing cash.

Just before 10:30a.m. Monday, police&nbsp;responded to Bennington State Bank, 2130 South Ohio in Salina in reference to a “Jackpotting” theft, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain James Feldman.

Investigators determined that at approximately 8p.m. Sunday, the suspect entered the ATM at the bank and were able to obtain an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects then proceeded to the Bennington State Bank branch located at 200 S. 9th Street in Salina at about 1a.m. Monday, where they were able to enter the ATM and obtain an undisclosed amount of casy from that ATM also.

The suspect vehicle was a white Lincoln passenger car. A Kansas tag was observed on the vehicle. It was determined the tag had been stolen between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM on 11/23/2025 from a vehicle in the 100 block of S. Phillips in Salina.

It is suspected a Jackpotting incident which occurred Wamego, Kansas, after the events in Salina are connected.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764081892479.png" alt="Security images from Salina Police" />
 <figcaption>Security images from Salina Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged ATM Jackpotting incident in Salina.&nbsp; Jackpotting involves the exploitation of physical and software vulnerabilities in automated banking machines that result in the machines dispensing cash.Just before 10:30a.m. Monday, police&nbsp;responded to Bennington State Bank, 2130 South Ohio in Salina in reference to a “Jackpotting” theft, according to&nbsp;Salina Police Captain James Feldman.Investigators determined that at approximately 8p.m. Sunday, the suspect entered the ATM at the bank and were able to obtain an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects then proceeded to the Bennington State Bank branch located at 200 S. 9th Street in Salina at about 1a.m. Monday, where they were able to enter the ATM and obtain an undisclosed amount of casy from that ATM also.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764081873630.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The suspect vehicle was a white Lincoln passenger car. A Kansas tag was observed on the vehicle. It was determined the tag had been stolen between 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM on 11/23/2025 from a vehicle in the 100 block of S. Phillips in Salina.It is suspected a Jackpotting incident which occurred Wamego, Kansas, after the events in Salina are connected.&nbsp;

Jackpotting ATM theft reported at banks in Kansas

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rate-trump-china-4aae117f7a02df19b82dcf1b5f58fd27">climbed again</a>&nbsp;Tuesday on hopes for a coming cut to interest rates.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.9% after breaking out of a morning lull and is back within 1.8% of its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 664 points, or 1.4%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.7%.

Stocks got a boost from easing yields in the bond market. Lower interest rates can cover up many sins in financial markets, including prices going too high, and hopes are strong that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-inflation-8a0060c2f52f884ed3489450a66619b8">the Federal Reserve will cut</a>&nbsp;its main interest rate at its next meeting to juice the economy further.

A raft of mixed economic data on Tuesday left traders betting on a nearly 83% probability that the Fed will cut in December, according to data from CME Group. That’s roughly the same as a day before and up sharply from the coin flip’s chance that they saw just a week ago.

One of Tuesday’s reports said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-retail-consumers-68854ba56ab37f1c3d5d2efe9656a4ae">shoppers bought less at U.S. retailers</a>&nbsp;in September than economists expected. Another said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-55848421b5ff33ed244c8a4291f7facf">confidence among U.S. consumers worsened</a>&nbsp;by more in November than expected, a second signal that the economy could potentially use the help of lower interest rates.

Easier rates can boost the economy by encouraging households and companies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-672fc089b1cf87dabf11fed9e7ac3cb5">to borrow more</a>&nbsp;and investors to pay higher prices for investments than they would otherwise.

A third report, meanwhile, said inflation at the wholesale level was a touch worse in September than economists expected, but a closely tracked underlying trend was slightly better. That’s important because lower interest rates can make inflation worse, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-inflation-trump-prices-economy-wall-street-fed-consumers-280a2fd30de3bb44bd87cd0248082322">high inflation</a>&nbsp;is the main deterrent that could keep the Fed from cutting rates.

After taking all the data together, economists suggested the Fed and its chair, Jerome Powell, could be leaning toward cutting rates on Dec. 10. The Fed has already cut rates twice this year in hopes of shoring up the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-economy-c48fd84dfaa71eee962feb3a88fd8575">slowing job market</a>.

“Taking a pause on rate cuts would probably do more damage to sentiment than a cut would help,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management, who also said “Powell doesn’t need to be the Grinch that stole Christmas.”

Easier interest rates can give particularly big boosts to smaller companies, because many of them need to borrow to grow. The Russell 2000 index of the smallest U.S. stocks jumped 2.1% to lead the market.

Elsewhere on Wall Street, several retailers leaped after delivering stronger profits for the summer than analysts expected.

Abercrombie &amp; Fitch soared 37.5% after the apparel seller reported a better profit than expected. It also raised the bottom end of its forecasted range for revenue and profit over the full year.

Kohl’s surged 42.5% after reporting a profit for the latest quarter, when analysts were expecting a loss.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/best-buy-earnings-economy-a82022e44a9f4eac0196d898509b3cae">Best Buy</a>&nbsp;rose 5.3% after boosting its profit forecast for the full year following a better-than-expected third quarter, citing strength across computing, gaming and mobile phones.

Dick’s Sporting Goods erased an early drop of 4% to add 0.2%. It raised its forecast for results at its Dick’s stores, though its purchase of Foot Locker is requiring some work. Executive Chairman Ed Stack said the company is “cleaning out the garage” at Foot Locker by clearing inventory, closing poorly performing stores and making other moves.

Swings also continued in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial-intelligence</a>&nbsp;industry, which has battled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">concerns that too many dollars are pouring into data centers</a>&nbsp;and may not produce the revolution of bigger profits and productivity that proponents are predicting.

Alphabet rose another 1.5%, continuing a strong run on excitement about its recently released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-gemini-artificial-intelligence-9d584d1be428bf5d0a98ecd411c6d23e">Gemini AI model</a>. Chinese giant Alibaba, meanwhile, saw its stock that trades in the United States fall 2.3% after losing an early gain. It reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alibaba-ai-agi-ecommerce-revenue-2b891a2c649a3e983052a37c5cb0a11d">stronger revenue</a>&nbsp;than analysts expected for the latest quarter thanks in part to the AI boom, but its overall profit fell short of forecasts.

Some chip companies dropped sharply following a report from The Information that Meta Platforms is in talks to spend billions of dollars on AI chips from Alphabet instead of them.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-earnings-artificial-intelligence-boom-bubble-6feaf871d527436f98fbd8d228377b30">Nvidia</a>&nbsp;sank 2.6% and Advanced Micro Devices dropped 4.1%.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 60.76 points to 6,765.88. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 664.18 to 47,112.45, and the Nasdaq composite gained 153.59 to 23,025.59.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.00% from 4.04% late Monday.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across Europe and Asia. Germany’s DAX returned 1%, and stocks in Shanghai climbed 0.9% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-rate-trump-china-4aae117f7a02df19b82dcf1b5f58fd27">climbed again</a>&nbsp;Tuesday on hopes for a coming cut to interest rates.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.9% after breaking out of a morning lull and is back within 1.8% of its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 664 points, or 1.4%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.7%.Stocks got a boost from easing yields in the bond market. Lower interest rates can cover up many sins in financial markets, including prices going too high, and hopes are strong that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-inflation-8a0060c2f52f884ed3489450a66619b8">the Federal Reserve will cut</a>&nbsp;its main interest rate at its next meeting to juice the economy further.A raft of mixed economic data on Tuesday left traders betting on a nearly 83% probability that the Fed will cut in December, according to data from CME Group. That’s roughly the same as a day before and up sharply from the coin flip’s chance that they saw just a week ago.One of Tuesday’s reports said that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-retail-consumers-68854ba56ab37f1c3d5d2efe9656a4ae">shoppers bought less at U.S. retailers</a>&nbsp;in September than economists expected. Another said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-55848421b5ff33ed244c8a4291f7facf">confidence among U.S. consumers worsened</a>&nbsp;by more in November than expected, a second signal that the economy could potentially use the help of lower interest rates.Easier rates can boost the economy by encouraging households and companies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-672fc089b1cf87dabf11fed9e7ac3cb5">to borrow more</a>&nbsp;and investors to pay higher prices for investments than they would otherwise.A third report, meanwhile, said inflation at the wholesale level was a touch worse in September than economists expected, but a closely tracked underlying trend was slightly better. That’s important because lower interest rates can make inflation worse, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-inflation-trump-prices-economy-wall-street-fed-consumers-280a2fd30de3bb44bd87cd0248082322">high inflation</a>&nbsp;is the main deterrent that could keep the Fed from cutting rates.After taking all the data together, economists suggested the Fed and its chair, Jerome Powell, could be leaning toward cutting rates on Dec. 10. The Fed has already cut rates twice this year in hopes of shoring up the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-economy-c48fd84dfaa71eee962feb3a88fd8575">slowing job market</a>.“Taking a pause on rate cuts would probably do more damage to sentiment than a cut would help,” according to Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management, who also said “Powell doesn’t need to be the Grinch that stole Christmas.”Easier interest rates can give particularly big boosts to smaller companies, because many of them need to borrow to grow. The Russell 2000 index of the smallest U.S. stocks jumped 2.1% to lead the market.Elsewhere on Wall Street, several retailers leaped after delivering stronger profits for the summer than analysts expected.Abercrombie &amp; Fitch soared 37.5% after the apparel seller reported a better profit than expected. It also raised the bottom end of its forecasted range for revenue and profit over the full year.Kohl’s surged 42.5% after reporting a profit for the latest quarter, when analysts were expecting a loss.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/best-buy-earnings-economy-a82022e44a9f4eac0196d898509b3cae">Best Buy</a>&nbsp;rose 5.3% after boosting its profit forecast for the full year following a better-than-expected third quarter, citing strength across computing, gaming and mobile phones.Dick’s Sporting Goods erased an early drop of 4% to add 0.2%. It raised its forecast for results at its Dick’s stores, though its purchase of Foot Locker is requiring some work. Executive Chairman Ed Stack said the company is “cleaning out the garage” at Foot Locker by clearing inventory, closing poorly performing stores and making other moves.Swings also continued in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/artificial-intelligence">artificial-intelligence</a>&nbsp;industry, which has battled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">concerns that too many dollars are pouring into data centers</a>&nbsp;and may not produce the revolution of bigger profits and productivity that proponents are predicting.Alphabet rose another 1.5%, continuing a strong run on excitement about its recently released&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-gemini-artificial-intelligence-9d584d1be428bf5d0a98ecd411c6d23e">Gemini AI model</a>. Chinese giant Alibaba, meanwhile, saw its stock that trades in the United States fall 2.3% after losing an early gain. It reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alibaba-ai-agi-ecommerce-revenue-2b891a2c649a3e983052a37c5cb0a11d">stronger revenue</a>&nbsp;than analysts expected for the latest quarter thanks in part to the AI boom, but its overall profit fell short of forecasts.Some chip companies dropped sharply following a report from The Information that Meta Platforms is in talks to spend billions of dollars on AI chips from Alphabet instead of them.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-earnings-artificial-intelligence-boom-bubble-6feaf871d527436f98fbd8d228377b30">Nvidia</a>&nbsp;sank 2.6% and Advanced Micro Devices dropped 4.1%.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 60.76 points to 6,765.88. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 664.18 to 47,112.45, and the Nasdaq composite gained 153.59 to 23,025.59.In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.00% from 4.04% late Monday.In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across Europe and Asia. Germany’s DAX returned 1%, and stocks in Shanghai climbed 0.9% for two of the world’s bigger moves.___

Another big day for stocks as Dow rallies over 600 points

LYON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 12:30a.m. Monday on the Kansas Turnpike Lyon Coutny.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Peterbilt semi driven by Pedro Ocampo, 64, Berwyn, Illinois, was southbound on Interstate 35 approaching the entry ramp for Interstate 335.&nbsp; The driver failed to use caution, according to the patrol.&nbsp; The vehicle entered the curve too fast. The semi left the road, struck three posts and overturned into a ditch.

Ocampo was pronounced deceased and was transported to&nbsp;Roberts Blue Funeral Home. The KHP released no additional details.

LYON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 12:30a.m. Monday on the Kansas Turnpike Lyon Coutny.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Peterbilt semi driven by Pedro Ocampo, 64, Berwyn, Illinois, was southbound on Interstate 35 approaching the entry ramp for Interstate 335.&nbsp; The driver failed to use caution, according to the patrol.&nbsp; The vehicle entered the curve too fast. The semi left the road, struck three posts and overturned into a ditch.Ocampo was pronounced deceased and was transported to&nbsp;Roberts Blue Funeral Home. The KHP released no additional details.

KHP IDs driver who died in Turnpike semi crash 

WASHINGTON (AP) —The White announced on Monday they back the Pentagon investigation of Democrat Senator Mark Kelly.

On Tuesday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth used his private social media account to criticize Kelly.

“I think what Sen. Mark Kelly was actually trying to do is intimidate the 1.3 million active duty members serving in our United States armed forces with that video that he and his Democrat colleagues put out,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday.

She added, “You can’t have a functioning military if there is disorder and chaos within the ranks, and that’s what these Democrat members were encouraging.”

The Pentagon announced earlier Monday it is investigating the Democratic senator from Arizona over possible breaches of military law after the former Navy pilot joined a handful of other lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-traitors-sedition-illegal-orders-c5fc3c5bd2fbc6b1204550e4203c24b2">in a video</a>&nbsp;that called for troops to defy “illegal orders.”

WASHINGTON (AP) —The White announced on Monday they back the Pentagon investigation of Democrat Senator Mark Kelly.On Tuesday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth used his private social media account to criticize Kelly.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">So “Captain” Kelly, not only did your sedition video intentionally undercut good order &amp; discipline…but you can’t even display your uniform correctly. Your medals are out of order &amp; rows reversed. When/if you are recalled to active duty, it’ll start with a uniform inspection. <a href="https://t.co/rsSyrPcmbg">https://t.co/rsSyrPcmbg</a>&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1993295993321009570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the UCMJ [Uniform Code of Military Justice] to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful.” - <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a> <a href="https://t.co/vaKFEo4i2q">pic.twitter.com/vaKFEo4i2q</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1993333869878054992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I think what Sen. Mark Kelly was actually trying to do is intimidate the 1.3 million active duty members serving in our United States armed forces with that video that he and his Democrat colleagues put out,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/42TxcjdJiK">pic.twitter.com/42TxcjdJiK</a>&mdash; Department of War 🇺🇸 (@DeptofWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar/status/1993436056008507865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>She added, “You can’t have a functioning military if there is disorder and chaos within the ranks, and that’s what these Democrat members were encouraging.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764097679232.png" alt="Image from the online video" />
 <figcaption>Image from the online video</figcaption>
 </figure>The Pentagon announced earlier Monday it is investigating the Democratic senator from Arizona over possible breaches of military law after the former Navy pilot joined a handful of other lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-traitors-sedition-illegal-orders-c5fc3c5bd2fbc6b1204550e4203c24b2">in a video</a>&nbsp;that called for troops to defy “illegal orders.”

Secretary of War adds new criticism in alleged sedition video fight

CASS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high speed chase in the Kansas City area.

Just before 2:30a.m. Nov. 20,&nbsp; a sheriff's deputy attempted to make a vehicle stop on a northbound vehicle on Interstate 49 in rural Peculiar, Missouri, according to the Cass County Sheriff.

The vehicle had a defective taillight — and the driver began to accelerate as the deputy activated his emergency lights. As the pursuit passed North Cass Parkway, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeltonPD?__cft__[0]=AZVmdSArvpMuNsigW1izv8HHKA2IiSeIAAMOB0WfwmWUBFVwpUWabkEzt4ktSmdhp9tSqdQWkfUyTgXQSBYjxXAHSCMESauMTOGg2IKuN54ioL9aCwUKl7qF_jO_exN3LTWeilt1X9Rqokw8Y11QusE79BM7yi5IqDVc0v8i7fBZMNs6gZeqFnhIVBxN_txozmo&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Belton Missouri Police Department</a> successfully deployed tire deflation devices.

The pursuit continued near Red Bridge Road in Kansas City, when the vehicle became inoperable. The driver complied with deputies and was arrested.&nbsp; Rodney Camp, 59, of Belton has been charged with Driving While Revoked/Suspended (E Felony) and Aggravated Fleeing a Stop (D Felony). He’s currently being held at the Cass County Jail with a $35,000 cash only bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763601093489.png" alt="Camp photo Cass County" />
 <figcaption>Camp photo Cass County</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high speed chase in the Kansas City area.Just before 2:30a.m. Nov. 20,&nbsp; a sheriff's deputy attempted to make a vehicle stop on a northbound vehicle on Interstate 49 in rural Peculiar, Missouri, according to the Cass County Sheriff. The vehicle had a defective taillight — and the driver began to accelerate as the deputy activated his emergency lights. As the pursuit passed North Cass Parkway, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BeltonPD?__cft__[0]=AZVmdSArvpMuNsigW1izv8HHKA2IiSeIAAMOB0WfwmWUBFVwpUWabkEzt4ktSmdhp9tSqdQWkfUyTgXQSBYjxXAHSCMESauMTOGg2IKuN54ioL9aCwUKl7qF_jO_exN3LTWeilt1X9Rqokw8Y11QusE79BM7yi5IqDVc0v8i7fBZMNs6gZeqFnhIVBxN_txozmo&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Belton Missouri Police Department</a> successfully deployed tire deflation devices. The pursuit continued near Red Bridge Road in Kansas City, when the vehicle became inoperable. The driver complied with deputies and was arrested.&nbsp; Rodney Camp, 59, of Belton has been charged with Driving While Revoked/Suspended (E Felony) and Aggravated Fleeing a Stop (D Felony). He’s currently being held at the Cass County Jail with a $35,000 cash only bond.

Driver charged after KC area high speed chase

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy&nbsp; launched a new civility campaign titled&nbsp;“The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.”

The campaign, according to a statement from the agency, is intended to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel. This won’t just make the travel experience better for the flying public – it will ensure the safety of passengers, gate workers, flight attendants, and pilots.&nbsp;

It’s not just your imagination – the data backs up the feeling that travel has become more unruly.&nbsp;

Secretary Duffy posed a few key questions every flyer should ask themselves this holiday season to help Americans reach their destinations as quickly, efficiently and comfortably as possible: &nbsp;

There’s no question we’ve lost sight of what makes travel fun – the excitement, the relaxation, the cordial conversations. Americans already feel divided and stressed. We can all do our part to bring back civility, manners, and common sense. When we can unite around shared values, we can feel more connected as a country.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy&nbsp; launched a new civility campaign titled&nbsp;“The Golden Age of Travel Starts with You.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our civility campaign is all about asking ourselves — how can we all inject a little more kindness into travel this holiday season? Ushering in the return to the Golden Age of travel… and it starts with all of us🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/a8IpGBgIC4">pic.twitter.com/a8IpGBgIC4</a>&mdash; Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDuffy/status/1993082015562772963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The campaign, according to a statement from the agency, is intended to jumpstart a nationwide conversation around how we can all restore courtesy and class to air travel. This won’t just make the travel experience better for the flying public – it will ensure the safety of passengers, gate workers, flight attendants, and pilots.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5UUOD-sa5As?si=Fe3kUnj9BYXF97Q0&amp;start=6" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>It’s not just your imagination – the data backs up the feeling that travel has become more unruly.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Since 2019, the FAA has seen a&nbsp;400% increase of in-flight outbursts—ranging from disruptive behavior to outright violence  &nbsp;</li><li>13,800 unruly passenger incidents since 2021&nbsp;</li><li>Unruly passenger reports rose 6x between 2020 and 2021&nbsp;</li><li>1 in 5 flight attendants experienced physical incidents in 2021&nbsp;</li><li>2024 saw&nbsp;double the number of unruly passenger events compared with 2019&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Secretary Duffy posed a few key questions every flyer should ask themselves this holiday season to help Americans reach their destinations as quickly, efficiently and comfortably as possible: &nbsp;<ol>
 <li>Are you helping a pregnant woman or the elderly with placing their bags in the overhead bin?</li><li>Are you dressing with respect?</li><li>Are you keeping control of your children and helping them through the airport?</li><li>Are you saying thank you to your flight attendants?</li><li>Are you saying please and thank you in general?</li>
 </ol>There’s no question we’ve lost sight of what makes travel fun – the excitement, the relaxation, the cordial conversations. Americans already feel divided and stressed. We can all do our part to bring back civility, manners, and common sense. When we can unite around shared values, we can feel more connected as a country.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎥DOT Secretary: Stop wearing pajamas on airplanes

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a violent armed robbery and asking for help to locate four suspects.

Just before 2p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to near the 600 Block of South Curtis Street in Olathe for a reported robbery that occurred during a private sale of property, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.

The victim stated during the process of the sale, he was robbed at gunpoint and battered by four suspects. A thorough area search was conducted, and no contact was made with the suspects.

The suspects were described as A white male who was possibly in his early twenties, had blonde hair, and was wearing a white t-shirt.&nbsp; A white male who was wearing a white ski mask, black hoodie, and blue ripped skinny jeans. A white male subject who was wearing a grey hoodie and a fourth male subject, unknown clothing. &nbsp;

The suspects left the area in an unknown direction of travel in an older model dark passenger vehicle with black rims.

&nbsp;Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Olathe Police Department at (913) 971-6363 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.&nbsp;

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a violent armed robbery and asking for help to locate four suspects.Just before 2p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to near the 600 Block of South Curtis Street in Olathe for a reported robbery that occurred during a private sale of property, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.The victim stated during the process of the sale, he was robbed at gunpoint and battered by four suspects. A thorough area search was conducted, and no contact was made with the suspects.The suspects were described as A white male who was possibly in his early twenties, had blonde hair, and was wearing a white t-shirt.&nbsp; A white male who was wearing a white ski mask, black hoodie, and blue ripped skinny jeans. A white male subject who was wearing a grey hoodie and a fourth male subject, unknown clothing. &nbsp;The suspects left the area in an unknown direction of travel in an older model dark passenger vehicle with black rims.&nbsp;Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Olathe Police Department at (913) 971-6363 or the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.&nbsp;

Police: Kansas man battered during armed robbery

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/seung-min-kim">SEUNG MIN KIM</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">The White House</a>&nbsp;is circulating a proposal that would extend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">subsidies to help consumers</a>&nbsp;pay for coverage under the Affordable Care Act for two more years, as millions of Americans face spiking health care costs when the current tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year.

The draft plan suggests that President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-affordable-care-act-health-subsidies-expire-2d9fad3c8132ae49a2b9bc27a7ac8531">Trump is open to extending a provision of Obamacare</a>&nbsp;as his administration and congressional Republicans search for a broader policy solution to a fight that has long flummoxed the party. The White House stresses that no plan is final until Trump announces it.

The subsidies were at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">heart of the Democrats’ demands</a>&nbsp;in the government shutdown fight that ended earlier this month. Most Democratic lawmakers had insisted on a straight extension of the tax credits, which expire at the end of the year as a condition of keeping the government open.

Eligibility for the Obamacare subsidies, which were put in place during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-tax-credits-affordable-care-act-2b5ae3651ff16783a00e00dc1ce264bf">the COVID-19 pandemic</a>&nbsp;to help people afford health care coverage, would be capped at 700% of the federal poverty level, according to two people with knowledge of the proposal. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss a White House proposal that is in draft form.

The baseline tax credits that were originally part of the Affordable Care Act were capped at 400% of the federal poverty level, but that cut-off was suspended because of the temporary COVID-era credits that allowed middle- and higher-income people to benefit from subsidies too.

The White House would also require those on Obamacare, regardless of the type of coverage, to pay some sort of premium for their Obamacare plans. That would effectively end zero-premium plans for those with lower incomes, addressing a concern from Republicans that the program has enabled fraud. One option is a requirement that everyone pay 2% of their income, or at least $5 per month, for lower-tier plans.

Even as the White House’s proposal remains in flux, the notion of extending any part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-tax-credits-obamacare-shutdown-f1ee636ddba7f65baa5234c55cb0c96e">President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement</a>&nbsp;is likely to rankle conservatives who have sought to repeal and replace the law for well over a decade.

“Until President Trump makes an announcement himself, any reporting about the administration’s health care positions is mere speculation,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said Monday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday afternoon that Trump “is very much involved in these talks” and that he is “focused on unveiling a health care proposal that will fix the system and will bring down costs for consumers.”

But there are signs that parts of the nascent White House plan could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-premiums-congress-subsidies-shutdown-aca-6e2e705d229ea003f19aad72994db0e1">get buy-in from Democrats</a>. New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, one of eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus who voted to reopen the government earlier this month, said it “represents a starting point for serious negotiations.”

“The fact that President Trump is putting forward any offer at all to extend the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits shows that there is a broad understanding that inaction in this regard will cause serious harm to the American people,” Hassan said.

Fellow New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who led bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown, added that “I’m glad the president is reportedly considering a serious proposal.”

“I’ve had constructive conversations with many of my Republican colleagues who I believe want to get this done,” Shaheen said. “They understand that the vast majority of people who benefit from these tax credits live in states the President won, and that the President’s own pollsters have underscored the enormous political urgency of Republicans acting.”

In 2017, Trump fell short in a push to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, an embarrassing defeat for Republicans who had just seized control of all levers of power in Washington. The GOP has failed to coalesce around a unified health care proposal since, and the expiration of the pandemic-era subsidies gives Trump and his party an opportunity to put their own stamp on the issue.

As the White House worked quietly on its plan, led by the Domestic Policy Council, key lawmakers on Capitol Hill have drafted their own proposals. For instance, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and others have proposed various ideas for redirecting the program’s spending on federal subsidies into health savings accounts that enrollees could use to shop for plans or defray out-of-pocket costs. Scott’s plan has been discussed with the White House multiple times since it was released Thursday, according to a person familiar not authorized to discuss the private conversations.

The draft of the White House plan would allow those in lower-tier plans, such as the bronze-level or catastrophic plans, to put money into health savings accounts.

It would also codify the “program integrity rule” to further help root out fraud, waste and abuse.

Americans shopping for Obamacare coverage have already faced the sticker shock of price hikes, because the window for selecting next year’s coverage began Nov. 1. Without congressional action, the average subsidized enrollee will face more than double their current cost in premiums next year, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-shutdown-health-care-insurance-costs-trump-f0282a0f5bedf3f01172ed3fa0ba4fd2">Recent national polls</a>&nbsp;have shown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-obamacare-shutdown-e94d96a8a837a5f7f681dc6893872d3b">Americans are concerned about health care costs,</a>&nbsp;along with broader affordability issues. Those concerns played out in elections earlier this month, which swept to power Democrats whose political messaging focused on the rising cost of living.

Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein and Joey Cappelletti in Washington and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764040197249.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/seung-min-kim">SEUNG MIN KIM</a>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">The White House</a>&nbsp;is circulating a proposal that would extend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aca-credits-health-care-subsidies-government-shutdown-7f7a3609bf78dd7e43be9a041a090220">subsidies to help consumers</a>&nbsp;pay for coverage under the Affordable Care Act for two more years, as millions of Americans face spiking health care costs when the current tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year.The draft plan suggests that President Donald&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-affordable-care-act-health-subsidies-expire-2d9fad3c8132ae49a2b9bc27a7ac8531">Trump is open to extending a provision of Obamacare</a>&nbsp;as his administration and congressional Republicans search for a broader policy solution to a fight that has long flummoxed the party. The White House stresses that no plan is final until Trump announces it.The subsidies were at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-congress-shutdown-democrats-republicans-bb3464820a347fd2c0399e78e335881e">heart of the Democrats’ demands</a>&nbsp;in the government shutdown fight that ended earlier this month. Most Democratic lawmakers had insisted on a straight extension of the tax credits, which expire at the end of the year as a condition of keeping the government open.Eligibility for the Obamacare subsidies, which were put in place during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-tax-credits-affordable-care-act-2b5ae3651ff16783a00e00dc1ce264bf">the COVID-19 pandemic</a>&nbsp;to help people afford health care coverage, would be capped at 700% of the federal poverty level, according to two people with knowledge of the proposal. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss a White House proposal that is in draft form.The baseline tax credits that were originally part of the Affordable Care Act were capped at 400% of the federal poverty level, but that cut-off was suspended because of the temporary COVID-era credits that allowed middle- and higher-income people to benefit from subsidies too.The White House would also require those on Obamacare, regardless of the type of coverage, to pay some sort of premium for their Obamacare plans. That would effectively end zero-premium plans for those with lower incomes, addressing a concern from Republicans that the program has enabled fraud. One option is a requirement that everyone pay 2% of their income, or at least $5 per month, for lower-tier plans.Even as the White House’s proposal remains in flux, the notion of extending any part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-health-care-tax-credits-obamacare-shutdown-f1ee636ddba7f65baa5234c55cb0c96e">President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement</a>&nbsp;is likely to rankle conservatives who have sought to repeal and replace the law for well over a decade.“Until President Trump makes an announcement himself, any reporting about the administration’s health care positions is mere speculation,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said Monday.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Monday afternoon that Trump “is very much involved in these talks” and that he is “focused on unveiling a health care proposal that will fix the system and will bring down costs for consumers.”But there are signs that parts of the nascent White House plan could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-premiums-congress-subsidies-shutdown-aca-6e2e705d229ea003f19aad72994db0e1">get buy-in from Democrats</a>. New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, one of eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus who voted to reopen the government earlier this month, said it “represents a starting point for serious negotiations.”“The fact that President Trump is putting forward any offer at all to extend the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits shows that there is a broad understanding that inaction in this regard will cause serious harm to the American people,” Hassan said.Fellow New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who led bipartisan efforts to end the government shutdown, added that “I’m glad the president is reportedly considering a serious proposal.”“I’ve had constructive conversations with many of my Republican colleagues who I believe want to get this done,” Shaheen said. “They understand that the vast majority of people who benefit from these tax credits live in states the President won, and that the President’s own pollsters have underscored the enormous political urgency of Republicans acting.”In 2017, Trump fell short in a push to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, an embarrassing defeat for Republicans who had just seized control of all levers of power in Washington. The GOP has failed to coalesce around a unified health care proposal since, and the expiration of the pandemic-era subsidies gives Trump and his party an opportunity to put their own stamp on the issue.As the White House worked quietly on its plan, led by the Domestic Policy Council, key lawmakers on Capitol Hill have drafted their own proposals. For instance, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and others have proposed various ideas for redirecting the program’s spending on federal subsidies into health savings accounts that enrollees could use to shop for plans or defray out-of-pocket costs. Scott’s plan has been discussed with the White House multiple times since it was released Thursday, according to a person familiar not authorized to discuss the private conversations.The draft of the White House plan would allow those in lower-tier plans, such as the bronze-level or catastrophic plans, to put money into health savings accounts.It would also codify the “program integrity rule” to further help root out fraud, waste and abuse.Americans shopping for Obamacare coverage have already faced the sticker shock of price hikes, because the window for selecting next year’s coverage began Nov. 1. Without congressional action, the average subsidized enrollee will face more than double their current cost in premiums next year, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-shutdown-health-care-insurance-costs-trump-f0282a0f5bedf3f01172ed3fa0ba4fd2">Recent national polls</a>&nbsp;have shown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-obamacare-shutdown-e94d96a8a837a5f7f681dc6893872d3b">Americans are concerned about health care costs,</a>&nbsp;along with broader affordability issues. Those concerns played out in elections earlier this month, which swept to power Democrats whose political messaging focused on the rising cost of living.—Associated Press writers Fatima Hussein and Joey Cappelletti in Washington and Ali Swenson in New York contributed to this report.

White House circulates a plan to extend Obamacare subsidies

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY&nbsp;– One suspect arrested and an exchange of gunfire with a Kansas deputy on Friday in Basehor, Kansas, has a long criminal history.

Just before 9p.m., deputies from the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 16900 block of Dempsey Road where a resident reported being threatened, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; The reporting party provided a description of the suspect’s vehicle, which was a white Honda SUV.

Preliminary information indicates deputies located the Honda nearby, and attempted to stop the SUV, when the driver fled. While the Honda traveled eastbound in the 17000 block of Dempsey Road, gunshots were fired from the SUV toward the pursuing patrol vehicle. Near N. 147th&nbsp;and Parallel Road, in Basehor, gunshots were again fired from the Honda, and the responding deputy crashed his patrol vehicle.

The pursuit continued to the area of N. 156th&nbsp;and Parallel Road, where the Honda collided with a passenger car. As a deputy pulled behind the Honda, a male subject, later identified as Andrew M. Amundsen, 33, of Leavenworth, exited the passenger side, and fired several rounds. The deputy returned fire. The driver of the vehicle, Mariah Huggins, 29, of Kansas City, Kansas, was taken into custody at the crash site.

Amundsen fled on foot. In an attempt to hide, he broke a basement window of an area home, entered the residence, but then exited and continued to flee. Sheriff's deputies located him hiding in a truck bed in the area of N. 157th&nbsp;and Cedar Street and took him into custody. Amundsen was uninjured, and later booked into the Leavenworth County Jail on an outstanding arrest warrant. He has previous felony convictions for burglary, theft, evading a road block, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

The deputy involved in the wreck was transported to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries and then released. No other deputies or civilians were hurt during this incident. As a precaution, Huggins was examined by hospital personnel, and then booked into the Leavenworth County Jail on a pre-existing warrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Amundsen has been charged with attempted capital murder, aggravated residential burglary, interference with a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated battery, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, two counts of criminal threat,&nbsp; criminal damage to property and aggravated endangering of a child, according to the Leavenworth County Attorney's office.

Huggins has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, as well as misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and driving while suspended.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763841798756.png" alt="Huggins photo Leavenworth County" />
 <figcaption>Huggins photo Leavenworth County</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY&nbsp;– One suspect arrested and an exchange of gunfire with a Kansas deputy on Friday in Basehor, Kansas, has a long criminal history.Just before 9p.m., deputies from the Leavenworth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 16900 block of Dempsey Road where a resident reported being threatened, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; The reporting party provided a description of the suspect’s vehicle, which was a white Honda SUV.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763841640176.png" alt="Amundsen photo Leavenworth County" />
 <figcaption>Amundsen photo Leavenworth County</figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary information indicates deputies located the Honda nearby, and attempted to stop the SUV, when the driver fled. While the Honda traveled eastbound in the 17000 block of Dempsey Road, gunshots were fired from the SUV toward the pursuing patrol vehicle. Near N. 147th&nbsp;and Parallel Road, in Basehor, gunshots were again fired from the Honda, and the responding deputy crashed his patrol vehicle.The pursuit continued to the area of N. 156th&nbsp;and Parallel Road, where the Honda collided with a passenger car. As a deputy pulled behind the Honda, a male subject, later identified as Andrew M. Amundsen, 33, of Leavenworth, exited the passenger side, and fired several rounds. The deputy returned fire. The driver of the vehicle, Mariah Huggins, 29, of Kansas City, Kansas, was taken into custody at the crash site.Amundsen fled on foot. In an attempt to hide, he broke a basement window of an area home, entered the residence, but then exited and continued to flee. Sheriff's deputies located him hiding in a truck bed in the area of N. 157th&nbsp;and Cedar Street and took him into custody. Amundsen was uninjured, and later booked into the Leavenworth County Jail on an outstanding arrest warrant. He has previous felony convictions for burglary, theft, evading a road block, criminal possession of a weapon and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.The deputy involved in the wreck was transported to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries and then released. No other deputies or civilians were hurt during this incident. As a precaution, Huggins was examined by hospital personnel, and then booked into the Leavenworth County Jail on a pre-existing warrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;Amundsen has been charged with attempted capital murder, aggravated residential burglary, interference with a law enforcement officer, two counts of aggravated battery, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, two counts of criminal threat,&nbsp; criminal damage to property and aggravated endangering of a child, according to the Leavenworth County Attorney's office.Huggins has been charged with two counts of aggravated battery and fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, as well as misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and driving while suspended.

Suspect in gunfight with Kan. deputy has a history of crime

KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.

Just before 2:30p.m. Monday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire in the 4200 block of NE Davidson Road in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

On arrival, crews reported "nothing showing" from the exterior of a three-story occupied apartment building. After entering the structure, smoke was found on the 3rd floor.&nbsp; Searches of the structure were conducted and came back all clear. The fire was brought under control just after 2:35 p.m.&nbsp;

Red Cross has been ordered for 2 adults and 6 children.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.Just before 2:30p.m. Monday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire in the 4200 block of NE Davidson Road in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.On arrival, crews reported "nothing showing" from the exterior of a three-story occupied apartment building. After entering the structure, smoke was found on the 3rd floor.&nbsp; Searches of the structure were conducted and came back all clear. The fire was brought under control just after 2:35 p.m.&nbsp;Red Cross has been ordered for 2 adults and 6 children.&nbsp;

2 adults, 6 children displaced after KC apartment fire

By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel Writer

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-b708727c3a548ba14635e0dfa42274f8">turbulence caused by the longest U.S. government shutdown</a>&nbsp;may still be fresh on the minds of travelers this Thanksgiving, but experts say preparing for the usual holiday crush of winter weather, heavy traffic and crowded airports can help&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">ease the jitters</a>.

“I think the shutdown at this point is history for air travel. The airlines understand this time of year so well. They know exactly what they need to do,” said Sheldon H. Jacobson, an airport and airlines operations expert. “The real challenge is making sure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-what-to-expect-986ef2236e545fa32253b4e4bc7621e9">travelers can help themselves</a>.”

Here's a guide to navigating the busiest travel week of the year:

Travel forecasts point to packed airports, roads and trains.

A week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-flight-cuts-travel-restrictions-faa-a815668eb562513f60d4115b5d695c73">lifting the unprecedented flight restrictions</a>&nbsp;it placed on commercial airlines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reduced-flights-a082a6817d960101968a923f7dfd8ef0">during the shutdown</a>, the Federal Aviation Administration is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving in 15 years, with more than 360,000 flights scheduled between Monday and next Tuesday. That’s more than 17.8 million people who will be screened at airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday at a news conference that air traffic controller staffing levels have stabilized in time for what he says will be the busiest Thanksgiving on record for travel, while the head of the FAA reassured passengers that they can “fly with confidence” this week.

AAA projects 1.3 million more travelers will be on the roads than last year, pushing the total number of people traveling by car to at least 73 million.

You can’t control the weather, but you can control how prepared you are if a storm hits. If your flight is canceled or delayed, will you drive instead or postpone or cancel your trip? Knowing your options ahead of time can reduce stress if a storm leaves you stranded.

The Weather Channel offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://weather.com/forecast/national/news/2025-11-24-thanksgiving-travel-weather-forecast-us-airports">Thanksgiving weekly forecast</a>&nbsp;highlighting major airports and highways that could be affected by bad weather — including snow, ice and rain — along with a free online tool in the Weather Channel app that shows how or if your travel route might be impacted.

Forecasters warned of flooding rain and the possibility of severe thunderstorms Monday from Texas to Arkansas and Louisiana into Mississippi. By Monday evening, more than 1,000 flights into and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport were delayed and over 100 canceled, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.

On Tuesday, the FAA's busiest day with more than 52,000 flights scheduled, forecasters say rain is expected in the Pacific Northwest and in much of the eastern U.S. Airports in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. could be impacted, according to the Weather Channel. Another winter storm in the central U.S. could also take shape late Friday into Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762519687453.png" alt="File LAX Airport camera view" />
 <figcaption>File LAX Airport camera view</figcaption>
 </figure>By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel WriterThe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-b708727c3a548ba14635e0dfa42274f8">turbulence caused by the longest U.S. government shutdown</a>&nbsp;may still be fresh on the minds of travelers this Thanksgiving, but experts say preparing for the usual holiday crush of winter weather, heavy traffic and crowded airports can help&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-faa-government-shutdown-2535828689edac07e693c2e54a2f5f16">ease the jitters</a>.“I think the shutdown at this point is history for air travel. The airlines understand this time of year so well. They know exactly what they need to do,” said Sheldon H. Jacobson, an airport and airlines operations expert. “The real challenge is making sure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-cancellations-what-to-expect-986ef2236e545fa32253b4e4bc7621e9">travelers can help themselves</a>.”Here's a guide to navigating the busiest travel week of the year:<h2>How busy could it be?</h2>Travel forecasts point to packed airports, roads and trains.A week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-flight-cuts-travel-restrictions-faa-a815668eb562513f60d4115b5d695c73">lifting the unprecedented flight restrictions</a>&nbsp;it placed on commercial airlines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reduced-flights-a082a6817d960101968a923f7dfd8ef0">during the shutdown</a>, the Federal Aviation Administration is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving in 15 years, with more than 360,000 flights scheduled between Monday and next Tuesday. That’s more than 17.8 million people who will be screened at airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration.Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday at a news conference that air traffic controller staffing levels have stabilized in time for what he says will be the busiest Thanksgiving on record for travel, while the head of the FAA reassured passengers that they can “fly with confidence” this week.AAA projects 1.3 million more travelers will be on the roads than last year, pushing the total number of people traveling by car to at least 73 million.<h2>Winter weather</h2>You can’t control the weather, but you can control how prepared you are if a storm hits. If your flight is canceled or delayed, will you drive instead or postpone or cancel your trip? Knowing your options ahead of time can reduce stress if a storm leaves you stranded.The Weather Channel offers a&nbsp;<a href="https://weather.com/forecast/national/news/2025-11-24-thanksgiving-travel-weather-forecast-us-airports">Thanksgiving weekly forecast</a>&nbsp;highlighting major airports and highways that could be affected by bad weather — including snow, ice and rain — along with a free online tool in the Weather Channel app that shows how or if your travel route might be impacted.Forecasters warned of flooding rain and the possibility of severe thunderstorms Monday from Texas to Arkansas and Louisiana into Mississippi. By Monday evening, more than 1,000 flights into and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport were delayed and over 100 canceled, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware.On Tuesday, the FAA's busiest day with more than 52,000 flights scheduled, forecasters say rain is expected in the Pacific Northwest and in much of the eastern U.S. Airports in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, D.C. could be impacted, according to the Weather Channel. Another winter storm in the central U.S. could also take shape late Friday into Saturday.“The details will come into better focus over the next few days, but anyone traveling home after Thanksgiving should check in on the evolving forecast and be ready for changing conditions,” said Matt Sitkowski, science editor-in-chief at the Weather Channel.<h2>What to pack (and what to skip)</h2>Jacobson, whose research contributed to the design of TSA PreCheck, recommends starting your packing by unpacking.Check every pocket in case TSA-restricted items, like full-sized bottles, were left behind from a previous trip. This simple scan can help you get through security faster, especially when airports are crowded.If you’re traveling with gifts, Jacobson suggests wrapping them at your destination because TSA agents may need to open them.When deciding which clothes and shoes to pack, James Belanger, vice president of meteorology at the Weather Company, said to check the “feels like” temperature for a better sense of the weather, especially for those not used to the cold.And don't forget&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-travelers-tsa-when-deadline-f0923fe95923e9675d556ee7e08df326">a REAL ID is required</a>&nbsp;to fly within the U.S., or bring another accepted form of ID, like a passport or military ID.People with iPhones can now also add their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-travel-passport-ae7ab15d6a32e6005d9c85def4e39737">U.S. passport details to Apple Wallet</a>, which can be scanned at participating airports if travelers don’t have a REAL ID. More than a dozen states already accept some form of a mobile ID at airport checkpoints, and travelers can go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/digital-id/participating-states">the TSA website</a>&nbsp;for more details.<h2>Road trip ready</h2>Whether driving is your top choice or backup plan, AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz suggests checking your tires, car battery and fluids, then hitting the road with a full tank of gas as early as possible to avoid traffic. Last year, AAA said, it responded to nearly 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls during the Thanksgiving travel period to help drivers stranded by dead batteries, flat tires and empty tanks.According to an analysis by Google Maps:— Traffic on Wednesday is expected to be 14% heavier than usual between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with peak traffic from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.— On Thanksgiving Day, the roads will be busiest between noon and 3 p.m.— When it’s time to head home, avoid driving from 12 to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, when traffic is heaviest.<h2>The best passenger</h2>“...is an informed passenger,” Jacobson likes to say.Download your airline's app to track your flight status, and check it regularly as your travel date approaches. That way, if your flight is canceled the day before, you can quickly look for alternatives.Driving or flying, leave earlier than you think you need to. Knowing you won't have to rush to your destination can help calm any nerves, whether it's lingering anxiety from the shutdown or because you're traveling with young kids or someone who needs extra help getting around.“These are some very simple things to think about, but they’re important things to think about,” Jacobson said.___