WASHINGTON (AP)—A debate over the debt ceiling is at the center of a dispute over funding that is pushing Washington to the brink of a federal government shutdown.

<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/American%20Relief%20Act%202025.pdf">Click here to read the&nbsp;</a>new, slimmed down government funding bill

President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that a provision raising or suspending the nation's debt limit — something that his own party routinely resists — be included in legislation to avert a government shutdown. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country," Trump said in a statement Wednesday.

Republicans quickly complied, including a provision in a revamped government funding proposal that would suspend the debt ceiling for two years, until Jan. 30, 2027. But the bill failed overwhelmingly in a House vote Thursday evening, leaving next steps uncertain.

Here's what to know about the debate over the debt ceiling and the role it's playing in the shutdown saga:

The debt ceiling, or debt limit, is the total amount of money that the United States government can borrow to meet its existing legal obligations. For the Treasury Department to borrow above that amount, the limit must be raised by Congress.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-national-debt-donald-trump-barack-obama-ee3e613646fe500edf803e57959c776e">federal debt</a>&nbsp;stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security.

The last time lawmakers raised the debt limit was June 2023. Rather than raise the limit by a dollar amount, lawmakers suspended the debt limit through Jan. 1, 2025. At that point, the limit will be automatically raised to match the amount of debt that has been issued by the Treasury Department.

The debt limit vote in recent times has been used as a political leverage point, a must-pass bill that can be loaded up with other priorities.

What is the debt ceiling fight all about?

Trump has tied a demand for dealing with the debt ceiling to the dispute over government funding, saying one should not be addressed without the other.

When he rejected the spending proposal on Wednesday, Trump said that he wanted the debt ceiling debate settled before he takes office next month.

Warning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-america-pac-trump-d248547966bf9c6daf6f5d332bc4be66">trouble ahead</a>&nbsp;for Johnson and Republicans in Congress, Trump told Fox News Digital, “Anybody that supports a bill that doesn’t take care of the Democrat quicksand known as the debt ceiling should be primaried and disposed of as quickly as possible."

What happens if the debt ceiling isn't raised?

There's actually no need to raise the debt limit right now. On Jan. 1, when the debt limit is triggered, the Treasury Department can begin using what it calls “extraordinary measures” to ensure that America doesn't default on its debts.

Some estimate these accounting maneuvers could push the default deadline to the summer of 2025 — but that's exactly what Trump wants to avoid, since an increase would then be needed while he is president.

Lawmakers have always raised the debt ceiling in time because the consequences of failure are stark. Without action, the government would go into default on its debts, a first-ever situation that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and economic experts have said could be “catastrophic" for the economy and global markets.

Raising or suspending the debt limit does not authorize new spending or tax cuts; it merely acknowledges past budgetary decisions — that is, current budget law — and so allows the federal government to meet its existing legal obligations. For that reason and others, some have advocated doing away with the limit altogether.

What could the debt ceiling fight mean for Speaker Mike Johnson?

Dealing with the debt ceiling could have ramifications for Johnson, as he angles to keep his job in the new Congress that begins on Jan. 3.

Trump said early Thursday that Johnson will “easily remain speaker” for the next Congress if he “acts decisively and tough” in coming up with a new plan to also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-janet-yellen-business-6fe9b54dcdfea58bead0f4c5f9f89a64">increase the debt limit</a>, a stunning request just before the Christmas holidays that has put the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">beleaguered speaker</a>&nbsp;in a bind.

The last House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, worked for months with President Joe Biden to raise the debt limit. Even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-debt-ceiling-budget-signing-f78a000d83cf85ffbaa2d08637844053">they struck a bipartisan deal</a>&nbsp;that cut spending in exchange for additional borrowing capacity, House Republicans said it didn’t go far enough, and it ended up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">costing McCarthy his job</a>.

Now, Trump is looking for Johnson to pass a debt ceiling extension just hours before a partial government shutdown.

What are Democrats saying about the debt ceiling debate?

After meeting with his caucus, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected any possibility that his members would bail out Republicans as the shutdown threat looms.

“GOP extremists want House Democrats to raise the debt ceiling so that House Republicans can lower the amount of your Social Security check,” Jeffries posted Thursday on social media. “Hard pass.”

Jeffries and other Democrats say Republicans should honor the spending agreement that was negotiated before Trump got involved. He called the new GOP plan "laughable.”

Kinnard reported from Charleston, South Carolina, and can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="http://x.com/MegKinnardAP">http://x.com/MegKinnardAP</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734648697605.png" alt="The new bill, that failed in a vote on Thursday evening, is just 116 pages, compared to the previous 1,547 pages." />
 <figcaption>The new bill, that failed in a vote on Thursday evening, is just 116 pages, compared to the previous 1,547 pages.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—A debate over the debt ceiling is at the center of a dispute over funding that is pushing Washington to the brink of a federal government shutdown.<a href="https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20241216/American%20Relief%20Act%202025.pdf">Click here to read the&nbsp;</a>new, slimmed down government funding bill<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734648776856.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that a provision raising or suspending the nation's debt limit — something that his own party routinely resists — be included in legislation to avert a government shutdown. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country," Trump said in a statement Wednesday.Republicans quickly complied, including a provision in a revamped government funding proposal that would suspend the debt ceiling for two years, until Jan. 30, 2027. But the bill failed overwhelmingly in a House vote Thursday evening, leaving next steps uncertain.Here's what to know about the debate over the debt ceiling and the role it's playing in the shutdown saga:<h2>What is the debt ceiling?</h2>The debt ceiling, or debt limit, is the total amount of money that the United States government can borrow to meet its existing legal obligations. For the Treasury Department to borrow above that amount, the limit must be raised by Congress.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-national-debt-donald-trump-barack-obama-ee3e613646fe500edf803e57959c776e">federal debt</a>&nbsp;stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will exceed spending on national security.The last time lawmakers raised the debt limit was June 2023. Rather than raise the limit by a dollar amount, lawmakers suspended the debt limit through Jan. 1, 2025. At that point, the limit will be automatically raised to match the amount of debt that has been issued by the Treasury Department.The debt limit vote in recent times has been used as a political leverage point, a must-pass bill that can be loaded up with other priorities.<h2>What is the debt ceiling fight all about?</h2>Trump has tied a demand for dealing with the debt ceiling to the dispute over government funding, saying one should not be addressed without the other.When he rejected the spending proposal on Wednesday, Trump said that he wanted the debt ceiling debate settled before he takes office next month.Warning of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-america-pac-trump-d248547966bf9c6daf6f5d332bc4be66">trouble ahead</a>&nbsp;for Johnson and Republicans in Congress, Trump told Fox News Digital, “Anybody that supports a bill that doesn’t take care of the Democrat quicksand known as the debt ceiling should be primaried and disposed of as quickly as possible."<h2>What happens if the debt ceiling isn't raised?</h2>There's actually no need to raise the debt limit right now. On Jan. 1, when the debt limit is triggered, the Treasury Department can begin using what it calls “extraordinary measures” to ensure that America doesn't default on its debts.Some estimate these accounting maneuvers could push the default deadline to the summer of 2025 — but that's exactly what Trump wants to avoid, since an increase would then be needed while he is president.Lawmakers have always raised the debt ceiling in time because the consequences of failure are stark. Without action, the government would go into default on its debts, a first-ever situation that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and economic experts have said could be “catastrophic" for the economy and global markets.Raising or suspending the debt limit does not authorize new spending or tax cuts; it merely acknowledges past budgetary decisions — that is, current budget law — and so allows the federal government to meet its existing legal obligations. For that reason and others, some have advocated doing away with the limit altogether.<h2>What could the debt ceiling fight mean for Speaker Mike Johnson?</h2>Dealing with the debt ceiling could have ramifications for Johnson, as he angles to keep his job in the new Congress that begins on Jan. 3.Trump said early Thursday that Johnson will “easily remain speaker” for the next Congress if he “acts decisively and tough” in coming up with a new plan to also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-janet-yellen-business-6fe9b54dcdfea58bead0f4c5f9f89a64">increase the debt limit</a>, a stunning request just before the Christmas holidays that has put the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">beleaguered speaker</a>&nbsp;in a bind.The last House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, worked for months with President Joe Biden to raise the debt limit. Even though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-debt-ceiling-budget-signing-f78a000d83cf85ffbaa2d08637844053">they struck a bipartisan deal</a>&nbsp;that cut spending in exchange for additional borrowing capacity, House Republicans said it didn’t go far enough, and it ended up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccarthy-gaetz-speaker-motion-to-vacate-congress-327e294a39f8de079ef5e4abfb1fa555">costing McCarthy his job</a>.Now, Trump is looking for Johnson to pass a debt ceiling extension just hours before a partial government shutdown.<h2>What are Democrats saying about the debt ceiling debate?</h2>After meeting with his caucus, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries rejected any possibility that his members would bail out Republicans as the shutdown threat looms.“GOP extremists want House Democrats to raise the debt ceiling so that House Republicans can lower the amount of your Social Security check,” Jeffries posted Thursday on social media. “Hard pass.”Jeffries and other Democrats say Republicans should honor the spending agreement that was negotiated before Trump got involved. He called the new GOP plan "laughable.”___Kinnard reported from Charleston, South Carolina, and can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="http://x.com/MegKinnardAP">http://x.com/MegKinnardAP</a>

Read the slimmed down Trump-backed government funding bill

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an aggravated robbery and auto burglary and have issued a warrant for the suspect who is in custody in Missouri awaiting extradition to Kansas.

Just after 8a.m. Tuesday, a suspect entered a victim's vehicle near 132nd Outlook Street, according to a media release. As the suspect's vehicle, described as a white SUV, was leaving the neighborhood, a passenger identified as 19-year-old Kory M. Atkinson exited the SUV, pointed a gun at a juvenile and took their backpack.&nbsp; The suspect was described as a white man wearing a black mask and grey sweatshirt.

According to online jail records Atkinson is being held in the Jackson County jail and was still awaiting a return to Kansas to face charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734574384274.png" alt="ATKINSON photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>ATKINSON photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an aggravated robbery and auto burglary and have issued a warrant for the suspect who is in custody in Missouri awaiting extradition to Kansas.Just after 8a.m. Tuesday, a suspect entered a victim's vehicle near 132nd Outlook Street, according to a media release. As the suspect's vehicle, described as a white SUV, was leaving the neighborhood, a passenger identified as 19-year-old Kory M. Atkinson exited the SUV, pointed a gun at a juvenile and took their backpack.&nbsp; The suspect was described as a white man wearing a black mask and grey sweatshirt.According to online jail records Atkinson is being held in the Jackson County jail and was still awaiting a return to Kansas to face charges.

Police: Kan. burglary suspect pointed gun, took child's backpack

BUTLER COUNTY — Authorities are investigating the cause of a Kansas house fire.

Just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp;&nbsp;the El Dorado Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire at 1016 W. Clark in El Dorado, according to&nbsp;Tony Yaghjian with the El Dorado Fire Department.

El Dorado Fire Station 1 and Station 2 responded along with Butler County EMS and El Dorado Police Department. On scene crews found a single-story home with heavy smoke and flames visible.

Fire crews made an aggressive fire attack and conducted a search of the structure for any unknown occupants.

Fire crews were able to get the blaze under control in a short time and Search crews gave a primary and secondary all clear, indicating there were no occupants inside the building.

It is reported that there were occupants in the home at the time of the fire, but everyone made it out prior to the fire departments arrival. There is extensive damage to the structure and contents.&nbsp; Authorities have not released a damage estimate.

BUTLER COUNTY — Authorities are investigating the cause of a Kansas house fire.Just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp;&nbsp;the El Dorado Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire at 1016 W. Clark in El Dorado, according to&nbsp;Tony Yaghjian with the El Dorado Fire Department.El Dorado Fire Station 1 and Station 2 responded along with Butler County EMS and El Dorado Police Department. On scene crews found a single-story home with heavy smoke and flames visible.Fire crews made an aggressive fire attack and conducted a search of the structure for any unknown occupants.Fire crews were able to get the blaze under control in a short time and Search crews gave a primary and secondary all clear, indicating there were no occupants inside the building.It is reported that there were occupants in the home at the time of the fire, but everyone made it out prior to the fire departments arrival. There is extensive damage to the structure and contents.&nbsp; Authorities have not released a damage estimate.

Extensive damage after Kansas house fire

SHAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp; – Law enforcement investigating&nbsp; a suspicious death after finding a deceased man in North Topeka last week, have identified the victim as Dalton K. Thomas, 31, of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp; Thomas was the victim of a hit-and-run.

On December 13, police&nbsp;responded to a reported unresponsive man near N Topeka Blvd. and NW Elm Row Ave. Upon arrival, officers located an Thomas who&nbsp;suffering from life-threatening injuries, and he was later pronounced deceased by medical personnel.

Police released no additional details Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734664442753.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp; – Law enforcement investigating&nbsp; a suspicious death after finding a deceased man in North Topeka last week, have identified the victim as Dalton K. Thomas, 31, of Topeka, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.&nbsp; Thomas was the victim of a hit-and-run.On December 13, police&nbsp;responded to a reported unresponsive man near N Topeka Blvd. and NW Elm Row Ave. Upon arrival, officers located an Thomas who&nbsp;suffering from life-threatening injuries, and he was later pronounced deceased by medical personnel.Police released no additional details Thursday.

Police ID Kansas victim of deadly hit-and-run

SEWARD COUNTY — A Kansas woman and five juveniles were injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Thursday in Seward County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chrysler Town &amp; Country driven by Isabel&nbsp;Ralios, 31, Liberal, was eastbound on County Road 13 just west of County Road Y.

The driver lost control of the van.&nbsp; It traveled left of center,&nbsp; continued into the north ditch, tripped and rolled an unknown number of times.

EMS transported&nbsp;Ralios and five children including a 2-year-old boy, a 6-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl, all from Liberal, to Southwest Medical Center. The 2-year-old and 7-year-old were not properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SEWARD COUNTY — A Kansas woman and five juveniles were injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Thursday in Seward County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chrysler Town &amp; Country driven by Isabel&nbsp;Ralios, 31, Liberal, was eastbound on County Road 13 just west of County Road Y.The driver lost control of the van.&nbsp; It traveled left of center,&nbsp; continued into the north ditch, tripped and rolled an unknown number of times.EMS transported&nbsp;Ralios and five children including a 2-year-old boy, a 6-year-old girl, a 7-year-old girl, an 11-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl, all from Liberal, to Southwest Medical Center. The 2-year-old and 7-year-old were not properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman, 5 children injured in SW Kansas rollover crash

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man could face up to 25 years in prison after admitting Thursday to setting a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-fires-crime-missouri-arson-9d134870c7e4f1eba469394051dabc7b">fire that destroyed a church</a>.

Christopher Scott Pritchard, 48, pleaded guilty in federal court to two charges for setting ablaze The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cape Girardeau on April 28, 2021. The fire quickly engulfed the building. No one was inside and no one was injured, but the church was a total loss.

Authorities said at the time that church officials sought extra police patrol two days before the fire after Pritchard threatened to assault a bishop and “burn the church down.”

Sentencing is Feb. 18. Pritchard could go to prison for up to 20 years for violating the Church Arson Prevention Act. He faces a mandatory five-year sentence for arson of a building affecting foreign or interstate commerce.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734642561368.png" alt="Fire photo courtesy KFVS" />
 <figcaption>Fire photo courtesy KFVS</figcaption>
 </figure>CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri man could face up to 25 years in prison after admitting Thursday to setting a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-fires-crime-missouri-arson-9d134870c7e4f1eba469394051dabc7b">fire that destroyed a church</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618868869894.png" alt="Pritchard -Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Pritchard -Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>Christopher Scott Pritchard, 48, pleaded guilty in federal court to two charges for setting ablaze The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cape Girardeau on April 28, 2021. The fire quickly engulfed the building. No one was inside and no one was injured, but the church was a total loss.Authorities said at the time that church officials sought extra police patrol two days before the fire after Pritchard threatened to assault a bishop and “burn the church down.”Sentencing is Feb. 18. Pritchard could go to prison for up to 20 years for violating the Church Arson Prevention Act. He faces a mandatory five-year sentence for arson of a building affecting foreign or interstate commerce.

Man admits setting fire that destroyed church

RENO COUNTY— One person died in an accident just after 3a.m. Thursday in Reno County.

The Reno County Sheriff's office reported a vehicle driven by&nbsp;Terry Lynn Moore, 65, Wichita, was southbound on Plum Street at 56th Avenue. The driver failed to negotiate a curve leading to a roundabout. The vehicle struck culvert, went airborne and rolled into a ditch.. Moore was ejected from the vehicle.&nbsp; She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation.

RENO COUNTY— One person died in an accident just after 3a.m. Thursday in Reno County.The Reno County Sheriff's office reported a vehicle driven by&nbsp;Terry Lynn Moore, 65, Wichita, was southbound on Plum Street at 56th Avenue. The driver failed to negotiate a curve leading to a roundabout. The vehicle struck culvert, went airborne and rolled into a ditch.. Moore was ejected from the vehicle.&nbsp; She was pronounced dead at the scene.The accident remains under investigation..

Kansas woman dies after ejected in rollover crash

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 4p.m. December 16, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Saturn S series passenger car for the registered owner’s driver’s license being allegedly suspended on U.S. Hwy 75 near 158th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 Throughout the investigation of the traffic stop, a probable cause search was conducted and deputies located methamphetamine, marijuana, an open alcohol container, and drug paraphernalia.

The driver, Jessica Lee Indermuehle, 32, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while a habitual violator.

The passenger, Amie Elizabeth Mcinroy, 38, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia, transporting an open container and interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734575015824.png" alt="Mcinroy-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Mcinroy-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on drug allegations.Just after 4p.m. December 16, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Saturn S series passenger car for the registered owner’s driver’s license being allegedly suspended on U.S. Hwy 75 near 158th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. Throughout the investigation of the traffic stop, a probable cause search was conducted and deputies located methamphetamine, marijuana, an open alcohol container, and drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734574949729.png" alt="Indermuehle-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Indermuehle-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, Jessica Lee Indermuehle, 32, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while a habitual violator.The passenger, Amie Elizabeth Mcinroy, 38, of Topeka, was arrested on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;possession of drug paraphernalia, transporting an open container and interference with law enforcement.

Two Kan. women caught transporting meth, marijuana

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rejected President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;new plan Thursday to fund federal operations and suspend the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-janet-yellen-business-6fe9b54dcdfea58bead0f4c5f9f89a64">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;a day before a government shutdown, as Democrats refused to accommodate his sudden demands and the quick fix cobbled together by Republican leaders.

In a hastily convened evening vote punctuated by angry outbursts over the self-made crisis, the lawmakers failed to reach the two-thirds threshold needed for passage — but House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared determined to try again before Friday's midnight deadline.

“We're going to do the right thing here,” Johnson said ahead of the vote. But he didn't even get a majority, with the bill failing 174-235.&nbsp; GOP members of the Kansas House delegation Tracey Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner voted for the bill.&nbsp; Thirty-eight Republicans voted against the measure.

The outcome proved a massive setback for Trump and his billionaire ally,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>, who rampaged against Johnson's bipartisan compromise, which Republicans and Democrats had reached earlier to prevent a Christmastime government shutdown.

It provides an preview of the turbulence ahead when Trump returns to the White House with Republican control of the House and Senate. During his first term, Trump led Republicans into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/30769167ab7a4ef9adf880d020b775dd">longest government shutdown in history</a>&nbsp;during the 2018 Christmas season, and interrupted the holidays in 2020 by tanking a bipartisan COVID-relief bill and forcing a do-over.

Hours earlier, Trump announced “SUCCESS in Washington!” in coming up with the new package which would keep government running for three more months, add $100.4 billion in disaster assistance including for hurricane-hit states, and allow more borrowing through Jan. 30, 2027.

"Speaker Mike Johnson and the House have come to a very good Deal,” Trump posted.

But Republicans, who had spent 24 hours largely negotiating with themselves to come up with the new plan, ran into a wall of resistance from Democrats, who were were in no hurry to appease demands from Trump — or his billionaire ally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Musk</a>.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats were sticking with the original deal with Johnson and called the new one “laughable.”

“It's not a serious proposal,” Jeffries said as he walked to Democrats' own closed-door caucus meeting. Inside, Democrats were chanting, “Hell, no!”

All day, Johnson had been fighting to figure out how to meet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump's</a>&nbsp;sudden demands — and keep his own job — while federal offices are being told to prepare to shutter operations.

The new proposal whittled the 1,500-page bill to 116 pages and drops a number of add-ons — notably the first pay raise for lawmakers in more than a decade, which could have allowed as much as a 3.8% bump. That drew particular scorn as Musk turned his social media army against the bill.

Trump said early Thursday that Johnson will “easily remain speaker” for the next Congress if he “acts decisively and tough” in coming up with a new plan to also raise the debt limit, a stunning request just before the Christmas holidays that has put the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">beleaguered speaker</a>&nbsp;in a bind.

And if not, the president-elect warned of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-america-pac-trump-d248547966bf9c6daf6f5d332bc4be66">trouble ahead</a>&nbsp;for Johnson and Republicans in Congress.

“Anybody that supports a bill that doesn’t take care of the Democrat quicksand known as the debt ceiling should be primaried and disposed of as quickly as possible,” Trump told Fox News Digital.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-trump-musk-johnson-5dc9fd8672f9807189032811d4ab0528">tumultuous turn of events</a>, coming as lawmakers were preparing to head home for the holidays, sparks a familiar reminder of what it's like in Trump-run Washington.

For Johnson, who faces his own problems ahead of a Jan. 3 House vote to remain speaker,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-trump-musk-johnson-5dc9fd8672f9807189032811d4ab0528">Trump's demands</a>&nbsp;left him severely weakened, forced to abandon his word with Democrats and work into the night to broker the new approach.

Trump’s allies even floated the far-fetched idea of giving billionaire Musk the speaker’s gavel, since the speaker is not required to be a member of the Congress. Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., posted she was “open” to the idea.

Democrats were beside themselves, seeing this as a fitting coda after one of the most unproductive congressional sessions in modern times.

“Here we are once again in chaos,” said House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, who detailed the harm a government shutdown would cause Americans. “And what for? Because Elon Musk, an unelected man, said, ‘We’re not doing this deal, and Donald Trump followed along.’”

The debate in the House chamber grew heated as lawmakers blamed each other for the mess.

At one point, Rep. Marc Molinaro, who was presiding over the debate, slammed the speaker’s gavel with such force that it broke.

The stakes couldn't be higher. Trump was publicly turning on those who opposed him.

One hardline Republican, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, drew Trump’s ire for refusing to along with the plan and telling colleagues they had no self-respect for piling onto the nation’s debt.

“It’s shameful!” Roy thundered, standing on the Democratic side of the aisle and pointing at his fellow Republicans.

The slimmed-down package does include federal funds to rebuild Baltimore’s collapsed Key Bridge, but dropped a separate land transfer that could have paved the way for a new Washington Commanders football stadium.

But it abandons a long list of other bipartisan bills that had support as lawmakers in both parties try to wrap work for the year. It extends government funds through March 14.

Adding an increase in the debt ceiling to what had been a bipartisan package is a show-stopper for Republicans who routinely vote against more borrowing, and Democrats who weren't about to give into Trump's demands without a price.

While Democrats have floated their own ideas in the past for lifting or even doing away with the debt limit caps that have created some of the toughest debates in Congress — Sen. Elizabeth Warren had suggested as much — they appear to be in no bargaining mood to save Johnson from Trump — even before the president-elect is sworn into office.

The current debt limit expires Jan. 1, 2025, and threatens to bog down the start of the new administration with months of negotiations to raise it. Trump wants the problem off the table before he joins the White House.

As senior Republicans broke from a Thursday morning meeting in the House speaker’s office there was no resolution in sight — a preview of what’s to come when Republicans control Congress and Trump is in the White House in the new year.

Rep. Steve Womack, an Arkansas Republican and senior appropriator, said the collapse of a bipartisan stopgap funding deal this week would “probably be a good trailer right now for the 119th Congress.”

Federal funding is scheduled to expire at midnight Friday as a current temporary government funding bill runs out.

The bipartisan compromise brokered between Johnson and the Democrats outraged conservatives for its spending and extras.

Musk, in his new foray into politics, led the charge. The wealthiest man in the world used his social media platform X to amplify the unrest, and GOP lawmakers were besieged with phone calls to their offices telling them to oppose the plan.

Trump told Johnson to start over — with the new demand on the debt limit, something that generally takes months to negotiate and that his own party generally opposes.

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget had provided initial communication to agencies about possible shutdown planning last week, according to an official at the agency.

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri and Matt Brown contributed to this story.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734648606537.png" alt="Poster Democrats used during Thursday floor debate in the House -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Poster Democrats used during Thursday floor debate in the House -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rejected President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;new plan Thursday to fund federal operations and suspend the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-janet-yellen-business-6fe9b54dcdfea58bead0f4c5f9f89a64">debt ceiling</a>&nbsp;a day before a government shutdown, as Democrats refused to accommodate his sudden demands and the quick fix cobbled together by Republican leaders.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a> after failed CR vote: &quot;It&#39;s very disappointing to us that all but two Democrats voted against...all these bipartisan measures that had already been negotiated and decided upon...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/WkNs1JZfbx">pic.twitter.com/WkNs1JZfbx</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1869915429415555493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 20, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a hastily convened evening vote punctuated by angry outbursts over the self-made crisis, the lawmakers failed to reach the two-thirds threshold needed for passage — but House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared determined to try again before Friday's midnight deadline.“We're going to do the right thing here,” Johnson said ahead of the vote. But he didn't even get a majority, with the bill failing 174-235.&nbsp; GOP members of the Kansas House delegation Tracey Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner voted for the bill.&nbsp; Thirty-eight Republicans voted against the measure.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734648776856.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The outcome proved a massive setback for Trump and his billionaire ally,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>, who rampaged against Johnson's bipartisan compromise, which Republicans and Democrats had reached earlier to prevent a Christmastime government shutdown.It provides an preview of the turbulence ahead when Trump returns to the White House with Republican control of the House and Senate. During his first term, Trump led Republicans into the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/30769167ab7a4ef9adf880d020b775dd">longest government shutdown in history</a>&nbsp;during the 2018 Christmas season, and interrupted the holidays in 2020 by tanking a bipartisan COVID-relief bill and forcing a do-over.Hours earlier, Trump announced “SUCCESS in Washington!” in coming up with the new package which would keep government running for three more months, add $100.4 billion in disaster assistance including for hurricane-hit states, and allow more borrowing through Jan. 30, 2027."Speaker Mike Johnson and the House have come to a very good Deal,” Trump posted.But Republicans, who had spent 24 hours largely negotiating with themselves to come up with the new plan, ran into a wall of resistance from Democrats, who were were in no hurry to appease demands from Trump — or his billionaire ally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Musk</a>.House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats were sticking with the original deal with Johnson and called the new one “laughable.”“It's not a serious proposal,” Jeffries said as he walked to Democrats' own closed-door caucus meeting. Inside, Democrats were chanting, “Hell, no!”All day, Johnson had been fighting to figure out how to meet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump's</a>&nbsp;sudden demands — and keep his own job — while federal offices are being told to prepare to shutter operations.The new proposal whittled the 1,500-page bill to 116 pages and drops a number of add-ons — notably the first pay raise for lawmakers in more than a decade, which could have allowed as much as a 3.8% bump. That drew particular scorn as Musk turned his social media army against the bill.Trump said early Thursday that Johnson will “easily remain speaker” for the next Congress if he “acts decisively and tough” in coming up with a new plan to also raise the debt limit, a stunning request just before the Christmas holidays that has put the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ufc-house-speaker-johnson-madison-square-garden-995a7ee3324e04ec6da680c826136655">beleaguered speaker</a>&nbsp;in a bind.And if not, the president-elect warned of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-america-pac-trump-d248547966bf9c6daf6f5d332bc4be66">trouble ahead</a>&nbsp;for Johnson and Republicans in Congress.“Anybody that supports a bill that doesn’t take care of the Democrat quicksand known as the debt ceiling should be primaried and disposed of as quickly as possible,” Trump told Fox News Digital.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-trump-musk-johnson-5dc9fd8672f9807189032811d4ab0528">tumultuous turn of events</a>, coming as lawmakers were preparing to head home for the holidays, sparks a familiar reminder of what it's like in Trump-run Washington.For Johnson, who faces his own problems ahead of a Jan. 3 House vote to remain speaker,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-trump-musk-johnson-5dc9fd8672f9807189032811d4ab0528">Trump's demands</a>&nbsp;left him severely weakened, forced to abandon his word with Democrats and work into the night to broker the new approach.Trump’s allies even floated the far-fetched idea of giving billionaire Musk the speaker’s gavel, since the speaker is not required to be a member of the Congress. Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., posted she was “open” to the idea.Democrats were beside themselves, seeing this as a fitting coda after one of the most unproductive congressional sessions in modern times.“Here we are once again in chaos,” said House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, who detailed the harm a government shutdown would cause Americans. “And what for? Because Elon Musk, an unelected man, said, ‘We’re not doing this deal, and Donald Trump followed along.’”The debate in the House chamber grew heated as lawmakers blamed each other for the mess.At one point, Rep. Marc Molinaro, who was presiding over the debate, slammed the speaker’s gavel with such force that it broke.The stakes couldn't be higher. Trump was publicly turning on those who opposed him.One hardline Republican, Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, drew Trump’s ire for refusing to along with the plan and telling colleagues they had no self-respect for piling onto the nation’s debt.“It’s shameful!” Roy thundered, standing on the Democratic side of the aisle and pointing at his fellow Republicans.The slimmed-down package does include federal funds to rebuild Baltimore’s collapsed Key Bridge, but dropped a separate land transfer that could have paved the way for a new Washington Commanders football stadium.But it abandons a long list of other bipartisan bills that had support as lawmakers in both parties try to wrap work for the year. It extends government funds through March 14.Adding an increase in the debt ceiling to what had been a bipartisan package is a show-stopper for Republicans who routinely vote against more borrowing, and Democrats who weren't about to give into Trump's demands without a price.While Democrats have floated their own ideas in the past for lifting or even doing away with the debt limit caps that have created some of the toughest debates in Congress — Sen. Elizabeth Warren had suggested as much — they appear to be in no bargaining mood to save Johnson from Trump — even before the president-elect is sworn into office.The current debt limit expires Jan. 1, 2025, and threatens to bog down the start of the new administration with months of negotiations to raise it. Trump wants the problem off the table before he joins the White House.As senior Republicans broke from a Thursday morning meeting in the House speaker’s office there was no resolution in sight — a preview of what’s to come when Republicans control Congress and Trump is in the White House in the new year.Rep. Steve Womack, an Arkansas Republican and senior appropriator, said the collapse of a bipartisan stopgap funding deal this week would “probably be a good trailer right now for the 119th Congress.”Federal funding is scheduled to expire at midnight Friday as a current temporary government funding bill runs out.The bipartisan compromise brokered between Johnson and the Democrats outraged conservatives for its spending and extras.Musk, in his new foray into politics, led the charge. The wealthiest man in the world used his social media platform X to amplify the unrest, and GOP lawmakers were besieged with phone calls to their offices telling them to oppose the plan.Trump told Johnson to start over — with the new demand on the debt limit, something that generally takes months to negotiate and that his own party generally opposes.The White House’s Office of Management and Budget had provided initial communication to agencies about possible shutdown planning last week, according to an official at the agency.___Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri and Matt Brown contributed to this story.

Kan. GOP lawmakers vote yes: House rejects new government funding bill

NEW YORK (AP) — The suspect in the killing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-79a9710978fc7adbb23d3fed4ea2f70d">UnitedHealthcare’s CEO</a>&nbsp;was whisked back to New York on a plane and by helicopter Thursday to face new federal charges of stalking and murder, which could bring the death penalty if he's convicted.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-luigi-mangione-10ee2f70cd843a27940a9cf1a06edf55">Luigi Mangione</a>&nbsp;agreed to return to New York after a morning court appearance in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week five days after the shooting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>. Mangione appeared in a Manhattan federal court for an afternoon hearing where a magistrate ordered he be detained.

After his Pennsylvania court hearing, Mangione was immediately turned over to at least a dozen New York Police Department officers who were in the courtroom and led him to a plane bound for Long Island. He then was flown to a Manhattan heliport, where he was walked slowly up a pier by a throng of officers with assault rifles.

The federal complaint unsealed Thursday charges him with two counts of stalking and one count each of murder through use of a firearm and a firearms offense. Murder by firearm carries the possibility of the death penalty, though federal prosecutors have not said whether they will pursue that punishment.

In a New York state indictment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killing-luigi-mangione-terrorism-law-7fcb28dcc0106c980b6ecf4aa9cf682f">filed earlier this week</a>, Mangione was charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killing-luigi-mangione-fccc9e875e976b9901a122bc15669425">murder as an act of terrorism</a>, which carries a possible sentence of life in prison without parole. New York does not have the death penalty.

In federal court Thursday, Mangione shifted his head but otherwise did not react when the magistrate read the part of the complaint accusing him of killing Thompson.

His attorney said dealing with both the state and federal cases puts the defense in a highly unusual situation. “Frankly I’ve never seen anything like what is happening here,” said Karen Friedman Agnifilo.

The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate is accused of ambushing and shooting Thompson on Dec. 4 outside a Manhattan hotel where the head of the United States’ largest medical insurance company was walking to an investor conference.

Authorities have said Mangione was carrying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghost-guns-unitedhealthcare-ceo-1e3b449dd9ed5fabeb2ad592fde91575">the gun</a>&nbsp;used to kill Thompson, a passport, fake IDs and about $10,000 when he was arrested while eating breakfast on Dec. 9 at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Mangione, who initially fought attempts to extradite him, made two brief court appearances Thursday, first waiving a preliminary hearing on forgery and firearms charges before agreeing to be sent back to New York.

Investigators believe Mangione was motivated by anger toward the U.S. health care system and corporate greed. But he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luigi-mangione-united-healthcare-ceo-d148fbdde498c3ea4cf768945889d7e7">never a UnitedHealthcare client</a>, according to the insurer.

According to the federal complaint, a notebook Mangione was carrying when he was arrested included several handwritten pages expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular.

An August entry said that “the target is insurance” because “it checks every box,” according to the filing. An entry in October “describes an intent to ‘wack’ the CEO of one of the insurance companies at its investor conference,” the document said.

The killing ignited an outpouring of stories about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-delay-deny-depose-insurance-online-criticism-2d9c9a1a2a551876e72a11a93fc7624c">resentment toward U.S. health insurance companies</a>&nbsp;while also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-security-threats-wanted-posters-9a6687d14e667e5b48a1581923830e3f">shaking corporate America</a>&nbsp;after some social media users called the shooting payback.

Video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson, 50, from behind and then firing several more shots. The suspect eluded police despite authorities widely circulating photos of his unmasked face until Mangione was captured in Altoona, about 277 miles (446 kilometers) west of New York.

Mangione, a computer science graduate from a prominent Maryland family, was carrying a handwritten letter that called health insurance companies “parasitic” and complained about corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press last week.

One of his lawyers cautioned the public against prejudging the case.

Mangione repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luigi-mangione-back-surgery-mental-health-35086d2e01089f53db7b95e7b6c683e4">posted on social media</a>&nbsp;about how spinal surgery last year had eased his chronic back pain, encouraging people with similar conditions to speak up for themselves if told they just had to live with it.

In a Reddit post in late April, he advised someone with a back problem to seek additional opinions from surgeons and, if necessary, say the pain made it impossible to work.

“We live in a capitalist society,” Mangione wrote. “I’ve found that the medical industry responds to these key words far more urgently than you describing unbearable pain and how it’s impacting your quality of life.”

He apparently cut himself off from his family and close friends in recent months. His family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luigi-mangione-unitedhealthcare-ceo-743e8b3ffb6a03a177c0e6d56f119581">reported him missing</a>&nbsp;in San Francisco in November. His relatives have said in a statement that they were “shocked and devastated” by his arrest.

Thompson, who grew up on a farm in Iowa, was trained as an accountant. A married father of two high-schoolers, he had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance arm in 2021.

Scolforo reported from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Associated Press writers Mike Rubinkam in Allentown, Pennsylvania; and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734643890089.png" alt="Mangione photo NYPD" />
 <figcaption>Mangione photo NYPD</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The suspect in the killing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-79a9710978fc7adbb23d3fed4ea2f70d">UnitedHealthcare’s CEO</a>&nbsp;was whisked back to New York on a plane and by helicopter Thursday to face new federal charges of stalking and murder, which could bring the death penalty if he's convicted.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-luigi-mangione-10ee2f70cd843a27940a9cf1a06edf55">Luigi Mangione</a>&nbsp;agreed to return to New York after a morning court appearance in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested last week five days after the shooting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>. Mangione appeared in a Manhattan federal court for an afternoon hearing where a magistrate ordered he be detained.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734643943338.png" alt="photo NYPD" />
 <figcaption>photo NYPD</figcaption>
 </figure>After his Pennsylvania court hearing, Mangione was immediately turned over to at least a dozen New York Police Department officers who were in the courtroom and led him to a plane bound for Long Island. He then was flown to a Manhattan heliport, where he was walked slowly up a pier by a throng of officers with assault rifles.The federal complaint unsealed Thursday charges him with two counts of stalking and one count each of murder through use of a firearm and a firearms offense. Murder by firearm carries the possibility of the death penalty, though federal prosecutors have not said whether they will pursue that punishment.In a New York state indictment&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killing-luigi-mangione-terrorism-law-7fcb28dcc0106c980b6ecf4aa9cf682f">filed earlier this week</a>, Mangione was charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-killing-luigi-mangione-fccc9e875e976b9901a122bc15669425">murder as an act of terrorism</a>, which carries a possible sentence of life in prison without parole. New York does not have the death penalty.In federal court Thursday, Mangione shifted his head but otherwise did not react when the magistrate read the part of the complaint accusing him of killing Thompson.His attorney said dealing with both the state and federal cases puts the defense in a highly unusual situation. “Frankly I’ve never seen anything like what is happening here,” said Karen Friedman Agnifilo.The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate is accused of ambushing and shooting Thompson on Dec. 4 outside a Manhattan hotel where the head of the United States’ largest medical insurance company was walking to an investor conference.Authorities have said Mangione was carrying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghost-guns-unitedhealthcare-ceo-1e3b449dd9ed5fabeb2ad592fde91575">the gun</a>&nbsp;used to kill Thompson, a passport, fake IDs and about $10,000 when he was arrested while eating breakfast on Dec. 9 at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania.Mangione, who initially fought attempts to extradite him, made two brief court appearances Thursday, first waiving a preliminary hearing on forgery and firearms charges before agreeing to be sent back to New York.Investigators believe Mangione was motivated by anger toward the U.S. health care system and corporate greed. But he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luigi-mangione-united-healthcare-ceo-d148fbdde498c3ea4cf768945889d7e7">never a UnitedHealthcare client</a>, according to the insurer.According to the federal complaint, a notebook Mangione was carrying when he was arrested included several handwritten pages expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and wealthy executives in particular.An August entry said that “the target is insurance” because “it checks every box,” according to the filing. An entry in October “describes an intent to ‘wack’ the CEO of one of the insurance companies at its investor conference,” the document said.The killing ignited an outpouring of stories about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-delay-deny-depose-insurance-online-criticism-2d9c9a1a2a551876e72a11a93fc7624c">resentment toward U.S. health insurance companies</a>&nbsp;while also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-security-threats-wanted-posters-9a6687d14e667e5b48a1581923830e3f">shaking corporate America</a>&nbsp;after some social media users called the shooting payback.Video showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson, 50, from behind and then firing several more shots. The suspect eluded police despite authorities widely circulating photos of his unmasked face until Mangione was captured in Altoona, about 277 miles (446 kilometers) west of New York.Mangione, a computer science graduate from a prominent Maryland family, was carrying a handwritten letter that called health insurance companies “parasitic” and complained about corporate greed, according to a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press last week.One of his lawyers cautioned the public against prejudging the case.Mangione repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luigi-mangione-back-surgery-mental-health-35086d2e01089f53db7b95e7b6c683e4">posted on social media</a>&nbsp;about how spinal surgery last year had eased his chronic back pain, encouraging people with similar conditions to speak up for themselves if told they just had to live with it.In a Reddit post in late April, he advised someone with a back problem to seek additional opinions from surgeons and, if necessary, say the pain made it impossible to work.“We live in a capitalist society,” Mangione wrote. “I’ve found that the medical industry responds to these key words far more urgently than you describing unbearable pain and how it’s impacting your quality of life.”He apparently cut himself off from his family and close friends in recent months. His family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/luigi-mangione-unitedhealthcare-ceo-743e8b3ffb6a03a177c0e6d56f119581">reported him missing</a>&nbsp;in San Francisco in November. His relatives have said in a statement that they were “shocked and devastated” by his arrest.Thompson, who grew up on a farm in Iowa, was trained as an accountant. A married father of two high-schoolers, he had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance arm in 2021.___Scolforo reported from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. Associated Press writers Mike Rubinkam in Allentown, Pennsylvania; and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; contributed.

Suspect in killing insurance CEO hit with federal charges

TOPEKA— The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Kansas City is asking for help to locate two wanted fugitives known for alleged sleight-of-hand thefts at jewelry stores, according to a statement from the ageney.

Authorities are searching for 53-year-old&nbsp;Vasile Sava&nbsp;and 54-year-old&nbsp;Onita Rostas.&nbsp;Authorities believe Sava and Rostas are married, and may be using a variety of aliases.

In January, Sava and Rostas were the subjects of arrest warrants, issued by United States District Court, District of Kansas, after being charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Sava and Rostas, along with other suspects, targeted multiple jewelry businesses, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspects would enter the stores in groups of two or more. One of the suspects would distract or separate the employees while another would remove, conceal, and ultimately make off with items of jewelry that had been on display. The FBI calls this practice a sleight-of-hand distraction theft.

The thieves would then take the stolen jewelry elsewhere in the U.S. to be sold, prosecutors said.

The jewelry stores in Kansas Marks Jewelers in Lawrence; Calhoun's in Topeka, Venable Jewlers in McPherson and G. Thomas in Manhattan.

The pair may be living in or operating across multiple states including California, Texas, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.

It is unknown if the pair has ties to the Kansas City area.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact any law enforcement agency, or reach out to the FBI directly through&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this tip website</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734634248605.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA— The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Kansas City is asking for help to locate two wanted fugitives known for alleged sleight-of-hand thefts at jewelry stores, according to a statement from the ageney.Authorities are searching for 53-year-old&nbsp;Vasile Sava&nbsp;and 54-year-old&nbsp;Onita Rostas.&nbsp;Authorities believe Sava and Rostas are married, and may be using a variety of aliases.In January, Sava and Rostas were the subjects of arrest warrants, issued by United States District Court, District of Kansas, after being charged with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734634218307.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Sava and Rostas, along with other suspects, targeted multiple jewelry businesses, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspects would enter the stores in groups of two or more. One of the suspects would distract or separate the employees while another would remove, conceal, and ultimately make off with items of jewelry that had been on display. The FBI calls this practice a sleight-of-hand distraction theft.The thieves would then take the stolen jewelry elsewhere in the U.S. to be sold, prosecutors said.The jewelry stores in Kansas Marks Jewelers in Lawrence; Calhoun's in Topeka, Venable Jewlers in McPherson and G. Thomas in Manhattan.The pair may be living in or operating across multiple states including California, Texas, Florida, Maryland, and Virginia.It is unknown if the pair has ties to the Kansas City area.Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact any law enforcement agency, or reach out to the FBI directly through&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this tip website</a>

FBI: Couple wanted for jewelry store thefts in Kansas

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HALELUYA%20HADERO%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HALELUYA HADERO AP Business Writer</a>

Workers at seven Amazon facilities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/amazon-com-inc-new-york-queens-new-york-city-labor-c88e88d9e91f4a89821499355204265c">went on strike</a>&nbsp;Thursday, an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the e-commerce company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-teamsters-delivery-union-ups-0b9a9e2fc06dbb18cb23c476e0c19230">for a labor agreement</a>&nbsp;during a key shopping period.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teamsters-endorse-presidential-election-2d29668ace1ce239b7b6b209409bb6f5">The Teamsters</a>&nbsp;said the workers, who voted to authorize strikes in recent days, joined picket lines after Amazon ignored a Sunday deadline the union set for contract negotiations. The union called it the largest strike yet against the company in the U.S., although Amazon said it did not expect the labor action to impact its operations.

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters claims it represents nearly 10,000 workers at 10 Amazon facilities, a small portion of the 800,000 workers employed in the company's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-warehouse-worker-injuries-senate-committee-eb5b72dd501be0bcce9d919c34731290">U.S. warehouses</a>. The union hasn't said how many workers would participate in the strike or how long the walkout would last.

“Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement.

The strikes happening Thursday are taking place at seven delivery stations, where packages are prepared for delivery vehicles and then given to contractors who drop off them off to customers every day. They include three locations in Southern California, and one each in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois, according to the union’s announcement.

Two people were taken into custody at the demonstration in the New York City borough of Queens, according to the New York Police Department. Police did not say why the arrests were made. They said the individuals were given criminal court summons and then released.

The biggest warehouse affiliated with the Teamsters is located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. In 2022, thousands of workers at the warehouse, known as JFK8, voted to be represented by the nascent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-labor-union-election-35b63f38aa1c7f82bc86c21936e02a78">Amazon Labor Union</a>. Workers then choose to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-labor-union-teamsters-265a207af185c14a96d3910c6efd4382">affiliate with the Teamsters</a>&nbsp;this past summer.

The National Labor Relations Board certified that election to unionize, but Amazon has refused to bargain on a contract. In the process, the company has filed a lawsuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-unconstitutional-spacex-elon-musk-ab42977117d883e97110a7bf8e8b257f">challenging the constitutionality</a>&nbsp;of the labor board.

At the facilities striking Thursday, workers unionized with the Teamsters by demonstrating majority support but without holding government-administered elections. They include Amazon-employed warehouse workers in San Francisco, and subcontracted delivery drivers elsewhere.

Under labor law, companies can recognize unions without elections being held, but the practice is rare, said John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University.

Amazon workers in more locations are “prepared to join” the fight, the Teamsters said, noting that employees at the Staten Island warehouse and at a company air hub in California also have authorized strikes.

When asked about the strike Thursday, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said: “What you see here are almost entirely outsiders, not Amazon employees or partners, and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters.”

“The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to come and harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous,” Nantel said.

Seattle-based Amazon has said it does not consider delivery drivers like the ones on strike to be its employees. Under the company's business model, the drivers work for third-party businesses, called Delivery Service Partners, who deliver millions of packages daily. Amazon has accused the union, which says it represents some of the drivers, of “intentionally” misleading the public.

“This is another attempt to push a false narrative,” Nantel said.

But the Teamsters have argued Amazon essentially controls everything the drivers do and should be classified as their employer. U.S. labor regulators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-delivery-drivers-3214680ef8c8b060184964412f378128">have sided with the union</a>&nbsp;in filings made before the NLRB. In September, Amazon boosted pay for the drivers amid the growing pressure.

Though Amazon says it does not expect the strike to impact its operations, a walkout — especially one that lasts many days — could delay shipments in some metro areas.

Shares of Amazon.com Inc. rose about 1.3% Thursday but were slightly down in after-hours trading.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HALELUYA%20HADERO%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HALELUYA HADERO AP Business Writer</a>Workers at seven Amazon facilities&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/amazon-com-inc-new-york-queens-new-york-city-labor-c88e88d9e91f4a89821499355204265c">went on strike</a>&nbsp;Thursday, an effort by the Teamsters union to pressure the e-commerce company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-teamsters-delivery-union-ups-0b9a9e2fc06dbb18cb23c476e0c19230">for a labor agreement</a>&nbsp;during a key shopping period.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fteamsters%2Fvideos%2F1371318457574724%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=1" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fteamsters%2Fvideos%2F1321080029048017%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/teamsters-endorse-presidential-election-2d29668ace1ce239b7b6b209409bb6f5">The Teamsters</a>&nbsp;said the workers, who voted to authorize strikes in recent days, joined picket lines after Amazon ignored a Sunday deadline the union set for contract negotiations. The union called it the largest strike yet against the company in the U.S., although Amazon said it did not expect the labor action to impact its operations.The International Brotherhood of Teamsters claims it represents nearly 10,000 workers at 10 Amazon facilities, a small portion of the 800,000 workers employed in the company's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-warehouse-worker-injuries-senate-committee-eb5b72dd501be0bcce9d919c34731290">U.S. warehouses</a>. The union hasn't said how many workers would participate in the strike or how long the walkout would last.“Amazon is pushing its workers closer to the picket line by failing to show them the respect they have earned,” Teamsters General President Sean O’Brien said in a statement.The strikes happening Thursday are taking place at seven delivery stations, where packages are prepared for delivery vehicles and then given to contractors who drop off them off to customers every day. They include three locations in Southern California, and one each in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois, according to the union’s announcement.Two people were taken into custody at the demonstration in the New York City borough of Queens, according to the New York Police Department. Police did not say why the arrests were made. They said the individuals were given criminal court summons and then released.The biggest warehouse affiliated with the Teamsters is located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. In 2022, thousands of workers at the warehouse, known as JFK8, voted to be represented by the nascent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-labor-union-election-35b63f38aa1c7f82bc86c21936e02a78">Amazon Labor Union</a>. Workers then choose to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-labor-union-teamsters-265a207af185c14a96d3910c6efd4382">affiliate with the Teamsters</a>&nbsp;this past summer.The National Labor Relations Board certified that election to unionize, but Amazon has refused to bargain on a contract. In the process, the company has filed a lawsuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-unconstitutional-spacex-elon-musk-ab42977117d883e97110a7bf8e8b257f">challenging the constitutionality</a>&nbsp;of the labor board.At the facilities striking Thursday, workers unionized with the Teamsters by demonstrating majority support but without holding government-administered elections. They include Amazon-employed warehouse workers in San Francisco, and subcontracted delivery drivers elsewhere.Under labor law, companies can recognize unions without elections being held, but the practice is rare, said John Logan, director of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University.Amazon workers in more locations are “prepared to join” the fight, the Teamsters said, noting that employees at the Staten Island warehouse and at a company air hub in California also have authorized strikes.When asked about the strike Thursday, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said: “What you see here are almost entirely outsiders, not Amazon employees or partners, and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters.”“The truth is that they were unable to get enough support from our employees and partners and have brought in outsiders to come and harass and intimidate our team, which is inappropriate and dangerous,” Nantel said.Seattle-based Amazon has said it does not consider delivery drivers like the ones on strike to be its employees. Under the company's business model, the drivers work for third-party businesses, called Delivery Service Partners, who deliver millions of packages daily. Amazon has accused the union, which says it represents some of the drivers, of “intentionally” misleading the public.“This is another attempt to push a false narrative,” Nantel said.But the Teamsters have argued Amazon essentially controls everything the drivers do and should be classified as their employer. U.S. labor regulators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-nlrb-delivery-drivers-3214680ef8c8b060184964412f378128">have sided with the union</a>&nbsp;in filings made before the NLRB. In September, Amazon boosted pay for the drivers amid the growing pressure.Though Amazon says it does not expect the strike to impact its operations, a walkout — especially one that lasts many days — could delay shipments in some metro areas.Shares of Amazon.com Inc. rose about 1.3% Thursday but were slightly down in after-hours trading.-------

Delivery drivers join Amazon worker strike in the middle of Christmas rush

ATLANTA (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://efast.gaappeals.us/download?filingId=39918e55-241a-4fd9-802d-7c4fb9f7921a">state appeals court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday removed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/fani-willis">Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis</a>&nbsp;from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">Georgia election interference</a>&nbsp;case against Donald Trump and others but did not dismiss the indictment, leaving the future of the prosecution uncertain.

Citing an “appearance of impropriety” by Willis that might not typically warrant such a removal, the court said in a 2-1 ruling that “this is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings.”

The case against Trump and more than a dozen others had already been largely stalled for months while the Georgia Court of Appeals considered the pretrial appeal.

The 2-1 ruling by an appeals court panel means it will be up to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to find another prosecutor to take over the case and to decide whether to continue to pursue it, though that could be delayed if Willis decides to appeal to the state Supreme Court and that court agrees to take the case. A trial judge in March had allowed Willis to stay on the case.

It's the latest legal victory for Trump as he prepares for a return to power in a second term, further underscoring how criminal cases that just one year ago threatened to impede Trump’s political career and put him in personal jeopardy have now tilted in his favor.

And he cheered the state court's decision, telling Fox News Digital that case “should not be allowed to go any further.” The president-elect added: “Everybody should receive an apology, including those wonderful patriots who have been caught up in this for years.”

The development comes weeks after Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith abandoned two federal prosecutions against the incoming president, and as sentencing in a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-conviction-stormy-daniels-908465ed0b7f2005c72226b5b2546260">hush money case in New York</a>&nbsp;is indefinitely on hold as a result of Trump’s victory in November over Democratic President Joe Biden.

Even so, the practical consequences for Trump may be minimal given the virtual impossibility of trying to proceed with a criminal case against a sitting president, no matter the supervisor of the prosecution. But there are 14 other defendants who still face charges.

Representatives for Willis and Trump’s lead attorney in Georgia did not immediately respond Thursday to text messages seeking comment on the ruling.

The appeals court majority opinion, written by Judge Trenton Brown and joined by Judge Todd Markle, said “the remedy crafted by the trial court to prevent an ongoing appearance of impropriety did nothing to address the appearance of impropriety that existed at times when DA Willis was exercising her broad pretrial discretion about who to prosecute and what charges to bring.”

In a dissenting opinion, Judge Benjamin Land wrote that “the law does not support the result reached by the majority." Trial court judges, he said, have broad discretion to to impose a remedy to fit a situation and the appeals court should respect that.

“We are here to ensure the law has been applied correctly and to correct harmful legal errors when we see them. It is not our job to second-guess trial judges or to substitute our judgment for theirs,” he wrote.

“Where, as here, a prosecutor has no actual conflict of interest and the trial court, based on the evidence presented to it, rejects the allegations of actual impropriety, we have no authority to reverse the trial court’s denial of a motion to disqualify,” he said, arguing that the majority opinion goes against decades of precedent in Georgia.

A grand jury in Atlanta indicted Trump and 18 others in August 2023, accusing them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn Trump’s narrow 2020 presidential election loss in Georgia. Four of them have since pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty.

Trump and some of the remaining defendants tried to get Willis and her office removed from the case and to have the case dismissed. They argued that her romantic relationship with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-willis-wade-georgia-election-5d76abb5578308317306e7b2e610ac91">special prosecutor Nathan Wade</a>&nbsp;created a conflict of interest and that she made improper public statements about the case.

Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, the trial court judge, ruled in March that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-election-indictment-fani-willis-trump-60b7dd9642fc9ef7c03d75980692334c">no conflict of interest existed</a>&nbsp;that should force Willis off the case. Trump and the others appealed that ruling.

McAfee wrote that the prosecution was “encumbered by an appearance of impropriety.” He said Willis could remain on the case only if Wade left; the special prosecutor submitted his resignation hours later.

The allegations that Willis had improperly benefited from her romance with Wade resulted in a tumultuous couple of months in the case as intimate details of Willis and Wade’s personal lives were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-hearing-trump-case-potential-conflict-c37fcf993ac33c150f3cb3e4a7a888db">aired in court in mid-February</a>. Trump and others also argued that public comments Willis made in the wake of the revelation of the relationship improperly disparaged the defendants and their lawyers.

The allegations against Willis first surfaced in a motion filed in early January by Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer for former Trump campaign staffer and onetime White House aide Michael Roman. The motion alleged that Willis and Wade were involved in an inappropriate romantic relationship and that Willis paid Wade large sums for his work and then benefited when he paid for lavish vacations.

Merchant, in a statement Thursday, said that “we regret that Ms. WIllis did not do the right thing and voluntarily recuse herself when Mr. Roman raised the issue because failing to do so put Judge McAfee in an untenable position.”

Willis and Wade acknowledged the relationship but said they didn’t begin dating until the spring of 2022. Wade was hired in November 2021, and their romance ended last summer. They also testified that they split travel costs roughly evenly, with Willis often paying expenses or reimbursing Wade in cash.

Speaking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-trump-georgia-election-indictment-prosecutor-6211c8f3b69c9ae37dee4218b5d8c71d">at a historically Black church</a>&nbsp;in Atlanta soon after the relationship was revealed, Willis defended Wade’s qualifications and her own leadership of her office. Defense lawyers said that speech included a series of improper and prejudicial comments against the defendants and their legal team, poisoning any potential jurors against them.

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692924558227.png" alt="Donald Trump as shown in his Fulton Co. Georgia booking photo from Aug. 2023" />
 <figcaption>Donald Trump as shown in his Fulton Co. Georgia booking photo from Aug. 2023</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — A&nbsp;<a href="https://efast.gaappeals.us/download?filingId=39918e55-241a-4fd9-802d-7c4fb9f7921a">state appeals court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday removed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/fani-willis">Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis</a>&nbsp;from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">Georgia election interference</a>&nbsp;case against Donald Trump and others but did not dismiss the indictment, leaving the future of the prosecution uncertain.Citing an “appearance of impropriety” by Willis that might not typically warrant such a removal, the court said in a 2-1 ruling that “this is the rare case in which disqualification is mandated and no other remedy will suffice to restore public confidence in the integrity of these proceedings.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708029546187.png" alt="&nbsp;Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The case against Trump and more than a dozen others had already been largely stalled for months while the Georgia Court of Appeals considered the pretrial appeal.The 2-1 ruling by an appeals court panel means it will be up to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia to find another prosecutor to take over the case and to decide whether to continue to pursue it, though that could be delayed if Willis decides to appeal to the state Supreme Court and that court agrees to take the case. A trial judge in March had allowed Willis to stay on the case.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734630773657.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734630790839.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>It's the latest legal victory for Trump as he prepares for a return to power in a second term, further underscoring how criminal cases that just one year ago threatened to impede Trump’s political career and put him in personal jeopardy have now tilted in his favor.And he cheered the state court's decision, telling Fox News Digital that case “should not be allowed to go any further.” The president-elect added: “Everybody should receive an apology, including those wonderful patriots who have been caught up in this for years.”The development comes weeks after Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith abandoned two federal prosecutions against the incoming president, and as sentencing in a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-conviction-stormy-daniels-908465ed0b7f2005c72226b5b2546260">hush money case in New York</a>&nbsp;is indefinitely on hold as a result of Trump’s victory in November over Democratic President Joe Biden.Even so, the practical consequences for Trump may be minimal given the virtual impossibility of trying to proceed with a criminal case against a sitting president, no matter the supervisor of the prosecution. But there are 14 other defendants who still face charges.Representatives for Willis and Trump’s lead attorney in Georgia did not immediately respond Thursday to text messages seeking comment on the ruling.The appeals court majority opinion, written by Judge Trenton Brown and joined by Judge Todd Markle, said “the remedy crafted by the trial court to prevent an ongoing appearance of impropriety did nothing to address the appearance of impropriety that existed at times when DA Willis was exercising her broad pretrial discretion about who to prosecute and what charges to bring.”In a dissenting opinion, Judge Benjamin Land wrote that “the law does not support the result reached by the majority." Trial court judges, he said, have broad discretion to to impose a remedy to fit a situation and the appeals court should respect that.“We are here to ensure the law has been applied correctly and to correct harmful legal errors when we see them. It is not our job to second-guess trial judges or to substitute our judgment for theirs,” he wrote.“Where, as here, a prosecutor has no actual conflict of interest and the trial court, based on the evidence presented to it, rejects the allegations of actual impropriety, we have no authority to reverse the trial court’s denial of a motion to disqualify,” he said, arguing that the majority opinion goes against decades of precedent in Georgia.A grand jury in Atlanta indicted Trump and 18 others in August 2023, accusing them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn Trump’s narrow 2020 presidential election loss in Georgia. Four of them have since pleaded guilty after reaching deals with prosecutors. Trump and the others have pleaded not guilty.Trump and some of the remaining defendants tried to get Willis and her office removed from the case and to have the case dismissed. They argued that her romantic relationship with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-willis-wade-georgia-election-5d76abb5578308317306e7b2e610ac91">special prosecutor Nathan Wade</a>&nbsp;created a conflict of interest and that she made improper public statements about the case.Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, the trial court judge, ruled in March that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-election-indictment-fani-willis-trump-60b7dd9642fc9ef7c03d75980692334c">no conflict of interest existed</a>&nbsp;that should force Willis off the case. Trump and the others appealed that ruling.McAfee wrote that the prosecution was “encumbered by an appearance of impropriety.” He said Willis could remain on the case only if Wade left; the special prosecutor submitted his resignation hours later.The allegations that Willis had improperly benefited from her romance with Wade resulted in a tumultuous couple of months in the case as intimate details of Willis and Wade’s personal lives were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-hearing-trump-case-potential-conflict-c37fcf993ac33c150f3cb3e4a7a888db">aired in court in mid-February</a>. Trump and others also argued that public comments Willis made in the wake of the revelation of the relationship improperly disparaged the defendants and their lawyers.The allegations against Willis first surfaced in a motion filed in early January by Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer for former Trump campaign staffer and onetime White House aide Michael Roman. The motion alleged that Willis and Wade were involved in an inappropriate romantic relationship and that Willis paid Wade large sums for his work and then benefited when he paid for lavish vacations.Merchant, in a statement Thursday, said that “we regret that Ms. WIllis did not do the right thing and voluntarily recuse herself when Mr. Roman raised the issue because failing to do so put Judge McAfee in an untenable position.”Willis and Wade acknowledged the relationship but said they didn’t begin dating until the spring of 2022. Wade was hired in November 2021, and their romance ended last summer. They also testified that they split travel costs roughly evenly, with Willis often paying expenses or reimbursing Wade in cash.Speaking&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-trump-georgia-election-indictment-prosecutor-6211c8f3b69c9ae37dee4218b5d8c71d">at a historically Black church</a>&nbsp;in Atlanta soon after the relationship was revealed, Willis defended Wade’s qualifications and her own leadership of her office. Defense lawyers said that speech included a series of improper and prejudicial comments against the defendants and their legal team, poisoning any potential jurors against them.____Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington and Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

Court gives President-elect Trump another huge legal victory

SHAWNEE COUNTY —On person died in an accident&nbsp; Wednesday in Topeka.

Just before 10p.m. police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to a reported injury accident involving 2 vehicles in the 2200 block of SE California, according to Police Lt. John Trimble.

 Both drivers were injured in the accident and taken to local hospitals for treatment. One of those drivers died as a result of their injuries.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police did not release the name of the driver who died.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734618293157.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —On person died in an accident&nbsp; Wednesday in Topeka.Just before 10p.m. police&nbsp;&nbsp;responded to a reported injury accident involving 2 vehicles in the 2200 block of SE California, according to Police Lt. John Trimble. Both drivers were injured in the accident and taken to local hospitals for treatment. One of those drivers died as a result of their injuries.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police did not release the name of the driver who died.

Driver dies after 2-vehicle Kansas crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/charles-schumer">Chuck Schumer</a>&nbsp;was blocked Wednesday from quickly advancing a bill that would allow local law enforcement agencies to track aerial drones, ensuring Congress won’t act this year on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-new-jersey-what-to-know-e6f565f5d51d9d47ad140e7e7d131842">mysterious drone sightings</a>&nbsp;that have bewildered residents of New Jersey and across the eastern U.S.

Schumer, a New York Democrat, sought to speed a bipartisan bill through the Senate by seeking unanimous consent on the floor, but Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kentucky-foreign-policy-rand-paul-984367b85ebfc83ed75049a503d8c7ac">Rand Paul</a>, a Kentucky Republican, objected to its passage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734228753383.png" alt="Image from New Jersey Senator Andy Kim" />
 <figcaption>Image from New Jersey Senator Andy Kim</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/charles-schumer">Chuck Schumer</a>&nbsp;was blocked Wednesday from quickly advancing a bill that would allow local law enforcement agencies to track aerial drones, ensuring Congress won’t act this year on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-new-jersey-what-to-know-e6f565f5d51d9d47ad140e7e7d131842">mysterious drone sightings</a>&nbsp;that have bewildered residents of New Jersey and across the eastern U.S.Schumer, a New York Democrat, sought to speed a bipartisan bill through the Senate by seeking unanimous consent on the floor, but Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-kentucky-foreign-policy-rand-paul-984367b85ebfc83ed75049a503d8c7ac">Rand Paul</a>, a Kentucky Republican, objected to its passage.“The people in New York and New Jersey have a lot of questions, and they’re not getting good enough answers,” said Schumer. “The utter confusion surrounding these drone sightings shows that the feds can’t respond all on their own.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/drones-new-york-jersey-schumer-80de1d64708677cfa7efc60249075d7b">Schumer has also called</a>&nbsp;for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify the drones and their operators.The Senate bill would have also enhanced some federal agencies’ authority to act on drones, as well as started a pilot program to allow states and local authorities to disrupt, disable or seize a drone without prior consent of the operator.“This bill would ensure that law enforcement has the technology needed to quickly and clearly identify exactly what the reported sightings of drones across the country actually are,” said Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat who sponsored the bipartisan bill.National security officials have said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference or a public safety threat. But they can’t say with certainty who is responsible for the sudden swarms of drones over parts of New Jersey, New York and other eastern parts of the U.S.Some U.S. political leaders, including Trump, have called for much stronger action against the drones, including shooting them down.Paul, the Kentucky Republican who often advocates for limiting governmental powers, said that he was objecting because it is not clear there is a threat that warrants urgent action.