SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident.

Just after midnight Sunday morning, police responded to a reported injury accident involving a vehicle and pedestrian near the 2500 Block of SE Adams in Topeka, according to Police LT. Matt Danielson.

A southbound vehicle stuck a man who was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp; The roadway was shut down during the overnight hours for the investigation, but it was reopened at approximately 7:00 a.m. Sunday.&nbsp;

Police did not release the name of the victim or other details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident.Just after midnight Sunday morning, police responded to a reported injury accident involving a vehicle and pedestrian near the 2500 Block of SE Adams in Topeka, according to Police LT. Matt Danielson.A southbound vehicle stuck a man who was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp; The roadway was shut down during the overnight hours for the investigation, but it was reopened at approximately 7:00 a.m. Sunday.&nbsp;Police did not release the name of the victim or other details.

Kansas man dies in pedestrian accident

DETROIT (AP) —Stellantis is recalling more than 300,000 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks because a faulty part could cause certain braking and tracking systems to fail.

The Netherlands-based automaker said the hydraulic control unit on the trucks is prone to failure, which can cause the anti-lock brake, electronic stability control and traction control systems to not work properly. Stellantis said regular braking systems are not affected by the defective part and that it's unaware of any related injuries.

The trucks in question are all model years 2017-18 and include the Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500. The recall includes a total of 317,630 trucks, including a small number of them in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere.

Stellantis said it will advise customers who may be affected as to when they may obtain service, which will be free of charge.

Customers with additional questions or concerns may call 1-800-853-1403.

Last month, Stellantis announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeep-dodge-suv-recall-disabled-antilock-brakes-412702daa1aeb0c84a8bcb7c786031c7#:~:text=DETROIT%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Stellantis%20is,Cherokee%20and%20Dodge%20Durango%20SUVs.">recall of about 207,000 Jeep and Dodge SUVs</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. to fix a computer problem that can disable the anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control safety features. In September, Stellantis recalled nearly 1.5 million Ram pickup trucks worldwide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ram-pickup-recall-software-disable-stability-control-8d3bee0d4e2ac24b1146caacbc997350">to fix a software problem</a>&nbsp;that can disable the electronic stability control system.

Last week Stellantis announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stellantis-ceo-resigns-sales-struggle-df052376ff0ace08fd94a7821cb73317">CEO Carlos Tavares was stepping down</a>&nbsp;after nearly four years in the top spot of the carmaker.

In addition to the recalls, Stellantis has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/carmaker-stellantis-forecasts-slump-540f78239aec2841e6c1f4d33a6a8e8f">struggling with falling sales</a>&nbsp;that have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stellantis-layoffs-toledo-jeep-factory-db5bcc81f2ed401d7df6a71b358dba3b#:~:text=About%201%2C100%20workers%20at%20Toledo,company%20tries%20to%20reduce%20inventory&amp;text=DETROIT%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20About%201%2C100,cut%20high%20inventory%20at%20dealerships.">led to layoffs</a>&nbsp;and contributed to ballooning inventory on dealer lots. Last quarter, Stellantis reported that net revenues plunged 27% from the same period a year ago.

Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, was created by the 2021 merger of PSA Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733664647547.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) —Stellantis is recalling more than 300,000 Ram Heavy Duty pickup trucks because a faulty part could cause certain braking and tracking systems to fail.The Netherlands-based automaker said the hydraulic control unit on the trucks is prone to failure, which can cause the anti-lock brake, electronic stability control and traction control systems to not work properly. Stellantis said regular braking systems are not affected by the defective part and that it's unaware of any related injuries.The trucks in question are all model years 2017-18 and include the Ram 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500. The recall includes a total of 317,630 trucks, including a small number of them in Canada, Mexico and elsewhere.Stellantis said it will advise customers who may be affected as to when they may obtain service, which will be free of charge.Customers with additional questions or concerns may call 1-800-853-1403.Last month, Stellantis announced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeep-dodge-suv-recall-disabled-antilock-brakes-412702daa1aeb0c84a8bcb7c786031c7#:~:text=DETROIT%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20Stellantis%20is,Cherokee%20and%20Dodge%20Durango%20SUVs.">recall of about 207,000 Jeep and Dodge SUVs</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. to fix a computer problem that can disable the anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control safety features. In September, Stellantis recalled nearly 1.5 million Ram pickup trucks worldwide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ram-pickup-recall-software-disable-stability-control-8d3bee0d4e2ac24b1146caacbc997350">to fix a software problem</a>&nbsp;that can disable the electronic stability control system.Last week Stellantis announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stellantis-ceo-resigns-sales-struggle-df052376ff0ace08fd94a7821cb73317">CEO Carlos Tavares was stepping down</a>&nbsp;after nearly four years in the top spot of the carmaker.In addition to the recalls, Stellantis has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/carmaker-stellantis-forecasts-slump-540f78239aec2841e6c1f4d33a6a8e8f">struggling with falling sales</a>&nbsp;that have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stellantis-layoffs-toledo-jeep-factory-db5bcc81f2ed401d7df6a71b358dba3b#:~:text=About%201%2C100%20workers%20at%20Toledo,company%20tries%20to%20reduce%20inventory&amp;text=DETROIT%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20About%201%2C100,cut%20high%20inventory%20at%20dealerships.">led to layoffs</a>&nbsp;and contributed to ballooning inventory on dealer lots. Last quarter, Stellantis reported that net revenues plunged 27% from the same period a year ago.Stellantis, the world’s fourth-largest automaker, was created by the 2021 merger of PSA Peugeot and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

Recall: 300,000 Ram trucks for braking system defect

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans are poised to turn the campaign trail promise of property tax relief into reality with expanded supermajorities in the Legislature and potentially unprecedented control over the state’s budget process.&nbsp;

However, state tax revenue continues to trend below projections, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly wants legislators to hit pause before taking action in 2025.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said property tax relief will be “job one” when the Legislature convenes in January.

“For too long, Kansans have struggled with the ever-increasing cost of property taxes,” Hawkins said in a Nov. 27 statement. “Governor Kelly wants legislators to ‘take a breath’ instead of passing necessary legislation to ease the burden of property taxes on Kansans.”

Instead, he said, Kansans need “breathing room from the burden of sky-high property taxes.”

Lawmakers’ ideas for relief are bound by the state’s limited authority over local property taxes. Legislators could further modify the state mill levy or, like&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/12/03/property-tax-legislation-expected-in-the-2025-session-legislative-leaders-say/" target="_blank">Iowa</a>&nbsp;lawmakers in 2023, cap the tax levy rates for cities and counties.

Hawkins’ statement was in response to Kelly’s Nov. 25 comments to reporters at her Topeka residence when she emphasized her preference for a wait-and-see approach to further tax cuts.

In an&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/11/16/kansas-tax-revenue-projected-to-decline-by-72m-after-tax-cut-bill/#:~:text=Officials%20estimated%20the%20state%20government,by%20more%20than%20%2412%20million.">updated revenue estimate</a>&nbsp;for fiscal year 2025, which ends June 30, the state was projected to take in $400 million less than the year before and $72 million less in tax revenue than initial estimates.

The state likely won’t immediately see the full impacts of the bipartisan legislation adopted during a special session in June, which implemented income and property&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/21/gov-kelly-signs-tax-reduction-bill-passed-with-bipartisan-majorities-in-special-session/">tax reductions</a>&nbsp;that estimated $1.2 billion in savings for Kansans over three years.

Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Wednesday that state revenues are still predicted to outweigh expenditures in the coming years.

“Now, we must remain cautious with future tax cut proposals and budgetary discussions to ensure Kansas does not return to the days of budget shortfalls and underfunded services,” she said.

Actual revenue has failed to meet projections lately. After revising estimates on Nov. 15 to lower projections by $72 million for the fiscal year, revenue for November continued to fall below expectations. The state collected about $675.5 million in taxes during the month, nearly 4%, or more than $25 million, below projections.

“It is important to remember that a comparison of just one month is not a reliable basis upon which to identify a trend for the balance of the fiscal year,” the report from the Kansas Legislative Research Department said.

State tax collections beat projections by $17.8 million in October, $15.1 million in September, and $6.6 million in August.

The reports released in the next two months will reflect the holiday shopping season and corporation income tax payment estimates, which are due multiple times per year, including December.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733497907579.jpeg" alt="House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, confers with representatives at the Kansas Statehouse on March 5, 2024. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, confers with representatives at the Kansas Statehouse on March 5, 2024. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans are poised to turn the campaign trail promise of property tax relief into reality with expanded supermajorities in the Legislature and potentially unprecedented control over the state’s budget process.&nbsp;However, state tax revenue continues to trend below projections, and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly wants legislators to hit pause before taking action in 2025.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said property tax relief will be “job one” when the Legislature convenes in January.“For too long, Kansans have struggled with the ever-increasing cost of property taxes,” Hawkins said in a Nov. 27 statement. “Governor Kelly wants legislators to ‘take a breath’ instead of passing necessary legislation to ease the burden of property taxes on Kansans.”Instead, he said, Kansans need “breathing room from the burden of sky-high property taxes.”Lawmakers’ ideas for relief are bound by the state’s limited authority over local property taxes. Legislators could further modify the state mill levy or, like&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/12/03/property-tax-legislation-expected-in-the-2025-session-legislative-leaders-say/" target="_blank">Iowa</a>&nbsp;lawmakers in 2023, cap the tax levy rates for cities and counties.Hawkins’ statement was in response to Kelly’s Nov. 25 comments to reporters at her Topeka residence when she emphasized her preference for a wait-and-see approach to further tax cuts.In an&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/11/16/kansas-tax-revenue-projected-to-decline-by-72m-after-tax-cut-bill/#:~:text=Officials%20estimated%20the%20state%20government,by%20more%20than%20%2412%20million.">updated revenue estimate</a>&nbsp;for fiscal year 2025, which ends June 30, the state was projected to take in $400 million less than the year before and $72 million less in tax revenue than initial estimates.The state likely won’t immediately see the full impacts of the bipartisan legislation adopted during a special session in June, which implemented income and property&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/21/gov-kelly-signs-tax-reduction-bill-passed-with-bipartisan-majorities-in-special-session/">tax reductions</a>&nbsp;that estimated $1.2 billion in savings for Kansans over three years.Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Wednesday that state revenues are still predicted to outweigh expenditures in the coming years.“Now, we must remain cautious with future tax cut proposals and budgetary discussions to ensure Kansas does not return to the days of budget shortfalls and underfunded services,” she said.Actual revenue has failed to meet projections lately. After revising estimates on Nov. 15 to lower projections by $72 million for the fiscal year, revenue for November continued to fall below expectations. The state collected about $675.5 million in taxes during the month, nearly 4%, or more than $25 million, below projections.“It is important to remember that a comparison of just one month is not a reliable basis upon which to identify a trend for the balance of the fiscal year,” the report from the Kansas Legislative Research Department said.State tax collections beat projections by $17.8 million in October, $15.1 million in September, and $6.6 million in August.The reports released in the next two months will reflect the holiday shopping season and corporation income tax payment estimates, which are due multiple times per year, including December.

Tax relief ‘job one’ for Kansas GOP lawmakers amid revenue shortfalls, governor’s caution

NEW YORK (AP) — They have seen him smiling on a hostel security camera, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-dee5ad726a345a8209ecc0df7e44756e">don’t know his name</a>. They found the backpack he discarded while fleeing, but don’t know where he's gone.

As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-48590215ba756741bbaadeeb6255d135">the search</a>&nbsp;for UnitedHealthcare&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-79a9710978fc7adbb23d3fed4ea2f70d">CEO Brian Thompson’s</a>&nbsp;killer goes on, investigators are reckoning with a tantalizing dichotomy: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma.

Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it, though they are confident it was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">targeted attack</a>&nbsp;instead of a random act.

“The net is tightening,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday.

Hours after he spoke, police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">possible clues</a>&nbsp;and found his bag there Friday.

Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.

Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting Wednesday morning outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone.

Police provided no updates on the hunt Saturday, but investigators are urging patience — even with a killer on the loose.

Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed.

“This isn’t ‘Blue Bloods.’ We’re not going to solve this in 60 minutes," Kenny told reporters Friday. “We’re painstakingly going through every bit of evidence that we can come across.”

The shooter paid cash at the hostel, presented what police believe was a fake ID and is believed to have paid cash for taxi rides and other transactions. He didn't speak to others at the hostel and almost always kept his face covered with a mask, only lowering it while eating.

But investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment in which he briefly showed his face soon after arriving in New York on Nov. 24.

Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven't been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said.

On Friday evening, investigators found a backpack in Central Park that had been worn by the gunman, police said. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed.

Another potential clue, a fingerprint on an item he purchased at a Starbucks minutes before the shooting, has so far proven useless for identifying him, Kenny said.

Aided by surveillance cameras on nearly every building and block, police have been able to retrace the shooter’s movements.

They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-delay-deny-defend-depose-ee73ceb19f361835c654f04a3b88c50c">bore the words</a>&nbsp;“delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-delay-deny-depose-insurance-online-criticism-2d9c9a1a2a551876e72a11a93fc7624c">insurance industry critics</a>.

Kenny said the fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client.

Investigators know from surveillance video that the shooter fled into Central Park on a bicycle and ditched it around 7 a.m. near 85th Street.

He then walked a couple blocks and got into a taxi, arriving at 7:30 a.m. at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, which is near the northern tip of Manhattan and offers commuter service to New Jersey and Greyhound routes to Philadelphia, Boston and Washington.

Investigators don't know what happened next. They are searching through more surveillance video but have yet to locate video of the shooter getting on a bus or exiting the station.

“We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told CNN on Friday.

Police have determined from video that the gunman was in the city for 10 days before the shooting. He arrived at Manhattan’s main bus terminal on a Greyhound bus that originated in Atlanta, though it's not clear whether he embarked there or at one of about a half-dozen stops along the route.

Immediately after that, he took a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton and was there for about a half hour, Kenny said.

At around 11 p.m. on the night he arrived, he went by taxi to the HI New York City Hostel. It was there, while speaking with an employee in the lobby, that he briefly pulled down the mask and smiled, giving investigators the brief glimpse they are now relying on to identify and capture a killer.

Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in Washington, Jake Offenhartz, Cedar Attanasio and Karen Matthews in New York, John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733576299830.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — They have seen him smiling on a hostel security camera, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-dee5ad726a345a8209ecc0df7e44756e">don’t know his name</a>. They found the backpack he discarded while fleeing, but don’t know where he's gone.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733666290178.png" alt="photo NYPD" />
 <figcaption>photo NYPD</figcaption>
 </figure>As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-48590215ba756741bbaadeeb6255d135">the search</a>&nbsp;for UnitedHealthcare&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-79a9710978fc7adbb23d3fed4ea2f70d">CEO Brian Thompson’s</a>&nbsp;killer goes on, investigators are reckoning with a tantalizing dichotomy: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma.Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it, though they are confident it was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">targeted attack</a>&nbsp;instead of a random act.“The net is tightening,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Saturday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733666370176.png" alt="Photo NYPD" />
 <figcaption>Photo NYPD</figcaption>
 </figure>Hours after he spoke, police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">possible clues</a>&nbsp;and found his bag there Friday.Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask.Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting Wednesday morning outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733417735866.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone.Police provided no updates on the hunt Saturday, but investigators are urging patience — even with a killer on the loose.Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed.“This isn’t ‘Blue Bloods.’ We’re not going to solve this in 60 minutes," Kenny told reporters Friday. “We’re painstakingly going through every bit of evidence that we can come across.”The shooter paid cash at the hostel, presented what police believe was a fake ID and is believed to have paid cash for taxi rides and other transactions. He didn't speak to others at the hostel and almost always kept his face covered with a mask, only lowering it while eating.But investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment in which he briefly showed his face soon after arriving in New York on Nov. 24.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733324311684.png" alt="Brian Thompson courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Brian Thompson courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven't been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said.On Friday evening, investigators found a backpack in Central Park that had been worn by the gunman, police said. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed.Another potential clue, a fingerprint on an item he purchased at a Starbucks minutes before the shooting, has so far proven useless for identifying him, Kenny said.Aided by surveillance cameras on nearly every building and block, police have been able to retrace the shooter’s movements.They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-shooting-delay-deny-defend-depose-ee73ceb19f361835c654f04a3b88c50c">bore the words</a>&nbsp;“delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-delay-deny-depose-insurance-online-criticism-2d9c9a1a2a551876e72a11a93fc7624c">insurance industry critics</a>.Kenny said the fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client.Investigators know from surveillance video that the shooter fled into Central Park on a bicycle and ditched it around 7 a.m. near 85th Street.He then walked a couple blocks and got into a taxi, arriving at 7:30 a.m. at the George Washington Bridge Bus Station, which is near the northern tip of Manhattan and offers commuter service to New Jersey and Greyhound routes to Philadelphia, Boston and Washington.Investigators don't know what happened next. They are searching through more surveillance video but have yet to locate video of the shooter getting on a bus or exiting the station.“We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told CNN on Friday.Police have determined from video that the gunman was in the city for 10 days before the shooting. He arrived at Manhattan’s main bus terminal on a Greyhound bus that originated in Atlanta, though it's not clear whether he embarked there or at one of about a half-dozen stops along the route.Immediately after that, he took a cab to the vicinity of the Hilton and was there for about a half hour, Kenny said.At around 11 p.m. on the night he arrived, he went by taxi to the HI New York City Hostel. It was there, while speaking with an employee in the lobby, that he briefly pulled down the mask and smiled, giving investigators the brief glimpse they are now relying on to identify and capture a killer.___Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo in Washington, Jake Offenhartz, Cedar Attanasio and Karen Matthews in New York, John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed.

Police release new pictures of suspected health insurance CEO killer

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a card skimming ring in Kansas and asking for help to identify two suspects.

Just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday, two individuals, seen on security camera, reportedly placed card skimmers on card readers at three Dollar General stores in Topeka. The stores are located at 2500 SE California Avenue; 10th and Fairlawn and at 29th and Croco, according to Topeka Police.



If you know these people or have any information about these incidents, please contact investigators at telltpd@topeka.org or report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732735692511.png" alt="Security camera image Topeka Police" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image Topeka Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a card skimming ring in Kansas and asking for help to identify two suspects.Just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday, two individuals, seen on security camera, reportedly placed card skimmers on card readers at three Dollar General stores in Topeka. The stores are located at 2500 SE California Avenue; 10th and Fairlawn and at 29th and Croco, according to Topeka Police.

If you know these people or have any information about these incidents, please contact investigators at telltpd@topeka.org or report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007.

Police continue work to ID Kan. card skimming suspects

PARIS (AP) — French President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmanuel-macron">Emmanuel Macron</a>&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to Paris on Saturday with a full dose of presidential pomp as the two held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy before celebrating the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-notre-dame-reopening-paris-macron-f2543dc70b4d89b256cde9aa53bbbd44">grand reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral</a>.

On a day that mixed pageantry with attention to pressing global problems, the once and future American president was warmly embraced by Macron upon arriving at the Elysee Palace.

“It’s a great honor for French people to welcome you five years later,” Macron told Trump. “Welcome back again.”

Trump said it was a “very great honor" to be there, while hinting at challenges ahead.

“It certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we’ll be talking about that,” Trump said.

An actual red carpet was rolled out for Trump as Macron bestowed the kind of full diplomatic welcome that France offers sitting American presidents, complete with trumpets blaring and members of the Republican Guard in full uniform. It was a clear sign that even though Trump doesn't take office until Jan. 20, 2025, Macron and other European leaders are already working to win his favor and treating him as America's representative on the world stage.

President Joe Biden declined an invitation to attend the Notre Dame ceremony, five years after a devastating fire, with the White House citing a scheduling conflict. First lady Jill Biden was the official U.S. representative in his place.

Macron and leaders across Europe are trying to persuade the president-elect to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Macron's office said the war, along with conflicts in the Mideast, would be discussed.

As Trump arrived at the official residence of the French president, Macron went out of his way to project an image of close ties, offering handshakes and plenty of back-patting for the cameras.

In a video posted later on X, Macron could be heard asking Trump: “You remember?” as both men entered a reception room.

Trump spent about 90 minutes inside, meeting first with Macron before they were joined by Zelenskyy for about 35 minutes.

Macron had long planned to meet separately with Zelenskyy. The French president's office said the three-way talks were proposed by Macron and arranged shortly before Trump’s arrival. Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine swiftly but has not specified how, raising concerns in Kyiv about what terms may be laid out for any future negotiations.

A person familiar with Trump's plans had said before the meeting was announced that while Trump and Zelenskyy were attending the cathedral ceremony and surrounding events and probably would interact, Trump's transition team had not worked with the Ukrainians to schedule formal talks.

After the place meeting, a Trump senior transition official did not push back on the idea that it had come together at the last minute, but said it had been “discussed fully and agreed to” and that Trump had been “fully briefed” ahead of time.

The three leaders spoke in English, and translator was in the room, according to a French official.

Accompanying Trump to Paris was a small contingent of advisers that included incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles, along with Steve Witkoff, a longtime friend and real estate investor whom Trump has tapped as his special envoy to the Middle East, and Massad Boulos, who is the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany and will serve as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.

The group did not appear to include anyone with expertise on Ukraine.

“United States, Ukraine and France. Together on this historic day. United for Notre-Dame. Let’s continue to work together for peace and security,” Macron wrote on X afterward.

Trump’s victory last month threw into doubt the Biden administration's flow of money and arms to Ukraine — aid bolstered even more on Saturday by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-russia-trump-biden-himars-zelenskyy-7b2560ad6bd54a6275da0ceb5241c0e8">U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's announcement of a $988 million package</a>&nbsp;that brings American military support to more than $62 billion since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Trump has characterized Zelenskyy as “the greatest salesman on Earth” for winning billions in U.S. aid. Trump also has said he work out a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine within a day of taking office and has promoted his good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In an effort to build trust with the incoming U.S. administration, Zelenskyy’s top aide Andriy Yermak met key members of Trump’s team on a two-day trip to the U.S. earlier this week.

Macron has argued that Ukraine's defeat or a cease-fire with Russia on unfavorable terms to Ukraine would be viewed as a loss for the U.S. and even Trump himself, according to two European officials familiar with the matter.

After arriving at Notre Dame for the ceremony, Trump was greeted by Macron and his wife, Brigitte. He was given prime seating at the service right between them — a better location than Jill Biden, who sat on Brigitte Macron's other side — and many current heads of government and state.

Inside, Trump also greeted Zelenskyy as well as Britain’s Prince William, who Trump met with later at the British ambassador’s residence in Paris. Trump was greeted in the foyer, shook the royal’s hand and said “good man, this one.”

Trump told reporters the Prince of Wales was doing “a fantastic job” before the two went to sit down and talk in a private room reserved for high-profile figures in the residence that once was the Paris town home of Princess Pauline Borghese, the youngest sister French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

Prince William was also scheduled to meet separately with Jill Biden, according to the British royal palace.

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and X who has spent considerable time with Trump since the election and spent millions to elect him, was also in attendance at Notre Dame.

Macron, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, has made a point of cultivating their bond since the Republican defeated Democrat Kamala Harris. But Macron's office nonetheless played down the significance of the invitation, saying other politicians not now in office had been invited as well.

Trump was invited as president-elect of a “friendly nation,” Macron's office said, adding, “This is in no way exceptional, we’ve done it before."

Trump is known to revel in pomp and circumstance. One of his first trips as president his first term was to Paris, where Macron made him the the guest of honor at Bastille Day events. Trump later said he wanted to replicate the grand military parade back in the United States.

Relations between France and the U.S. during Trump’s first term began warmly enough but grew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-emmanuel-macron-france-33fdc2f2e334ecd29148f4de7b98fb41">increasingly strained</a>&nbsp;over time.

Macron was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-72f386baac584e48a3ee6487e3a63ed7">guest of honor</a>&nbsp;at Trump’s first state dinner, and Trump traveled to France several times. But the relationship suffered after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-business-summits-middle-east-europe-284d2f177cb64239857ad8c821ec62a1">Macron criticized Trump</a>&nbsp;for questioning the need for NATO and raising doubts about America’s commitment to the mutual defense pact.

During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump often mocked Macron, imitating his accent and threatening to impose steep tariffs on wine and champagne bottles shipped to the U.S. if France tried to tax American companies.

But Macron was one of the first global leaders to congratulate Trump last month after the election.

When he accepted the invitation to travel to Paris, Trump said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmanuel-macron">Macron</a>&nbsp;had done “a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!” Trump was president in 2019, when a fire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/649ccfad63de28c7ef38bc3ffe24a5d3">nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark</a>.

Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Colvin from New York. Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733603028810.png" alt="First lady Jill Biden, Brigitte Macron, President-elect Trump and French President Macron at the Cathedral ceremony on Saturday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>First lady Jill Biden, Brigitte Macron, President-elect Trump and French President Macron at the Cathedral ceremony on Saturday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>PARIS (AP) — French President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmanuel-macron">Emmanuel Macron</a>&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to Paris on Saturday with a full dose of presidential pomp as the two held a hastily arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy before celebrating the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-notre-dame-reopening-paris-macron-f2543dc70b4d89b256cde9aa53bbbd44">grand reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Donald Trump arrives at Élysée Palace, the residence of French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, ahead of a re-opening ceremony of the Notre Dame Cathedral. <a href="https://t.co/PkOHoaUIWL">pic.twitter.com/PkOHoaUIWL</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1865447514469552339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> arrives at Élysée Palace and shakes hands with President Macron 🇺🇸🇫🇷 <a href="https://t.co/WiC8vWGYla">pic.twitter.com/WiC8vWGYla</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margomartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margomartin/status/1865423000176111717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On a day that mixed pageantry with attention to pressing global problems, the once and future American president was warmly embraced by Macron upon arriving at the Elysee Palace.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> arrives at Élysée Palace and is greeted by President Macron 🇺🇸🇫🇷 <a href="https://t.co/CwcHMjMGgm">pic.twitter.com/CwcHMjMGgm</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margomartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margomartin/status/1865428275775848866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“It’s a great honor for French people to welcome you five years later,” Macron told Trump. “Welcome back again.”Trump said it was a “very great honor" to be there, while hinting at challenges ahead.“It certainly seems like the world is going a little crazy right now. And we’ll be talking about that,” Trump said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President-elect Trump greets Prince William at Notre Dame Cathedral Re-Opening in Paris, France. <a href="https://t.co/D5I8KU3tuy">pic.twitter.com/D5I8KU3tuy</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1865458557686034537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>An actual red carpet was rolled out for Trump as Macron bestowed the kind of full diplomatic welcome that France offers sitting American presidents, complete with trumpets blaring and members of the Republican Guard in full uniform. It was a clear sign that even though Trump doesn't take office until Jan. 20, 2025, Macron and other European leaders are already working to win his favor and treating him as America's representative on the world stage.President Joe Biden declined an invitation to attend the Notre Dame ceremony, five years after a devastating fire, with the White House citing a scheduling conflict. First lady Jill Biden was the official U.S. representative in his place.Macron and leaders across Europe are trying to persuade the president-elect to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Macron's office said the war, along with conflicts in the Mideast, would be discussed.As Trump arrived at the official residence of the French president, Macron went out of his way to project an image of close ties, offering handshakes and plenty of back-patting for the cameras.In a video posted later on X, Macron could be heard asking Trump: “You remember?” as both men entered a reception room.“I remember,” Trump answered.Trump spent about 90 minutes inside, meeting first with Macron before they were joined by Zelenskyy for about 35 minutes.Macron had long planned to meet separately with Zelenskyy. The French president's office said the three-way talks were proposed by Macron and arranged shortly before Trump’s arrival. Trump has pledged to end the war in Ukraine swiftly but has not specified how, raising concerns in Kyiv about what terms may be laid out for any future negotiations.A person familiar with Trump's plans had said before the meeting was announced that while Trump and Zelenskyy were attending the cathedral ceremony and surrounding events and probably would interact, Trump's transition team had not worked with the Ukrainians to schedule formal talks.After the place meeting, a Trump senior transition official did not push back on the idea that it had come together at the last minute, but said it had been “discussed fully and agreed to” and that Trump had been “fully briefed” ahead of time.The three leaders spoke in English, and translator was in the room, according to a French official.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> greets U.S. Marines that are stationed in France 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/RFXANX7GWL">pic.twitter.com/RFXANX7GWL</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margomartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margomartin/status/1865453672076841073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Accompanying Trump to Paris was a small contingent of advisers that included incoming chief of staff Susie Wiles, along with Steve Witkoff, a longtime friend and real estate investor whom Trump has tapped as his special envoy to the Middle East, and Massad Boulos, who is the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany and will serve as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.The group did not appear to include anyone with expertise on Ukraine.“United States, Ukraine and France. Together on this historic day. United for Notre-Dame. Let’s continue to work together for peace and security,” Macron wrote on X afterward.Trump’s victory last month threw into doubt the Biden administration's flow of money and arms to Ukraine — aid bolstered even more on Saturday by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-weapons-russia-trump-biden-himars-zelenskyy-7b2560ad6bd54a6275da0ceb5241c0e8">U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's announcement of a $988 million package</a>&nbsp;that brings American military support to more than $62 billion since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">United States, Ukraine, and France. Together on this historic day. Gathered for Notre-Dame. Let us continue our joint efforts for peace and security. <a href="https://t.co/hEYGEklihT">pic.twitter.com/hEYGEklihT</a>&mdash; Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1865455792683434384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump has characterized Zelenskyy as “the greatest salesman on Earth” for winning billions in U.S. aid. Trump also has said he work out a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine within a day of taking office and has promoted his good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.In an effort to build trust with the incoming U.S. administration, Zelenskyy’s top aide Andriy Yermak met key members of Trump’s team on a two-day trip to the U.S. earlier this week.Macron has argued that Ukraine's defeat or a cease-fire with Russia on unfavorable terms to Ukraine would be viewed as a loss for the U.S. and even Trump himself, according to two European officials familiar with the matter.After arriving at Notre Dame for the ceremony, Trump was greeted by Macron and his wife, Brigitte. He was given prime seating at the service right between them — a better location than Jill Biden, who sat on Brigitte Macron's other side — and many current heads of government and state.Inside, Trump also greeted Zelenskyy as well as Britain’s Prince William, who Trump met with later at the British ambassador’s residence in Paris. Trump was greeted in the foyer, shook the royal’s hand and said “good man, this one.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President-elect Trump meets with Prince William in Paris, France. <a href="https://t.co/tQsBFy0IN9">pic.twitter.com/tQsBFy0IN9</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1865593033355333822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The Prince of Wales greets President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> at the British Ambassador&#39;s Residence 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/VsYvOmk8gI">pic.twitter.com/VsYvOmk8gI</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margomartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margomartin/status/1865500075893363170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> meets with the Prince of Wales 🇺🇸🇬🇧 <a href="https://t.co/FhghYHQtd7">pic.twitter.com/FhghYHQtd7</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@margomartin) <a href="https://twitter.com/margomartin/status/1865500807174443264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump told reporters the Prince of Wales was doing “a fantastic job” before the two went to sit down and talk in a private room reserved for high-profile figures in the residence that once was the Paris town home of Princess Pauline Borghese, the youngest sister French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.Prince William was also scheduled to meet separately with Jill Biden, according to the British royal palace.Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and X who has spent considerable time with Trump since the election and spent millions to elect him, was also in attendance at Notre Dame.Macron, who has had an up-and-down relationship with Trump, has made a point of cultivating their bond since the Republican defeated Democrat Kamala Harris. But Macron's office nonetheless played down the significance of the invitation, saying other politicians not now in office had been invited as well.Trump was invited as president-elect of a “friendly nation,” Macron's office said, adding, “This is in no way exceptional, we’ve done it before."Trump is known to revel in pomp and circumstance. One of his first trips as president his first term was to Paris, where Macron made him the the guest of honor at Bastille Day events. Trump later said he wanted to replicate the grand military parade back in the United States.Relations between France and the U.S. during Trump’s first term began warmly enough but grew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-emmanuel-macron-france-33fdc2f2e334ecd29148f4de7b98fb41">increasingly strained</a>&nbsp;over time.Macron was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-72f386baac584e48a3ee6487e3a63ed7">guest of honor</a>&nbsp;at Trump’s first state dinner, and Trump traveled to France several times. But the relationship suffered after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-business-summits-middle-east-europe-284d2f177cb64239857ad8c821ec62a1">Macron criticized Trump</a>&nbsp;for questioning the need for NATO and raising doubts about America’s commitment to the mutual defense pact.During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump often mocked Macron, imitating his accent and threatening to impose steep tariffs on wine and champagne bottles shipped to the U.S. if France tried to tax American companies.But Macron was one of the first global leaders to congratulate Trump last month after the election.When he accepted the invitation to travel to Paris, Trump said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmanuel-macron">Macron</a>&nbsp;had done “a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!” Trump was president in 2019, when a fire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/649ccfad63de28c7ef38bc3ffe24a5d3">nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark</a>.___Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Colvin from New York. Associated Press writers Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Danica Kirka in London contributed to this report.

🎥 Highlights of Trumps's return to the world stage at Notre-Dame reopening 

NEW YORK (AP) — More than one million pairs of oven gloves are being recalled due to a burn hazard, after dozens of injury reports.

Video and e-commerce retailer QVC is recalling about 1.1 million of its “Temp-tations Oven Gloves” because they fail to provide sufficient heat protection. According to a Thursday notice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/QVC-Recalls-More-than-One-Million-Temp-tations-Oven-Gloves-Due-to-Burn-Hazard">published</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, QVC has received 162 reports of insufficient heat protection, including 92 minor burns.

Consumers in possession of the now-recalled gloves are urged to stop using them immediately and contact QVC for a refund. More information can be found on the recall's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.recallrtr.com/ovengloves">online registration page</a>.

According to the recall notice, the oven gloves were sold online at qvc.com as well as through QVC’s televised and digital shopping platforms from August 2018 to August 2024 for between $4 and $13 a pair.

The products, which come in a range of colors and designs, came in single pairs or in sets. “Temp-tations by Tara” is printed on an label inside the gloves, Thursday's announcement notes. The recalled gloves can also be identified by their model numbers: K51459, K76398, K47973, K48879, K85322, K96004, K92603, K308719, K309220, K309388 and K309516.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733501232893.png" alt="Photo Consumer Products Safety Commission" />
 <figcaption>Photo Consumer Products Safety Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — More than one million pairs of oven gloves are being recalled due to a burn hazard, after dozens of injury reports.Video and e-commerce retailer QVC is recalling about 1.1 million of its “Temp-tations Oven Gloves” because they fail to provide sufficient heat protection. According to a Thursday notice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/QVC-Recalls-More-than-One-Million-Temp-tations-Oven-Gloves-Due-to-Burn-Hazard">published</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, QVC has received 162 reports of insufficient heat protection, including 92 minor burns.Consumers in possession of the now-recalled gloves are urged to stop using them immediately and contact QVC for a refund. More information can be found on the recall's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.recallrtr.com/ovengloves">online registration page</a>.According to the recall notice, the oven gloves were sold online at qvc.com as well as through QVC’s televised and digital shopping platforms from August 2018 to August 2024 for between $4 and $13 a pair.The products, which come in a range of colors and designs, came in single pairs or in sets. “Temp-tations by Tara” is printed on an label inside the gloves, Thursday's announcement notes. The recalled gloves can also be identified by their model numbers: K51459, K76398, K47973, K48879, K85322, K96004, K92603, K308719, K309220, K309388 and K309516.

Gloves recalled after consumers report nearly 100 burns

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations following an investigation into a vehicle blocking an ATM.

Just before 4:30 a.m. December 3, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification regarding a blue 2017 Chevrolet Colorado stopped at an ATM in the 4600 block of NW 46th Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office responded. During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located. Neal R. St Cyr, 45, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733261697776.png" alt="St Cyr photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>St Cyr photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations following an investigation into a vehicle blocking an ATM.Just before 4:30 a.m. December 3, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification regarding a blue 2017 Chevrolet Colorado stopped at an ATM in the 4600 block of NW 46th Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office responded. During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located. Neal R. St Cyr, 45, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas drug suspect was blocking bank ATM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A pair of iconic ruby slippers that were worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” and stolen from a museum nearly two decades ago sold for a winning bid of $28 million at auction Saturday.

Heritage Auctions had estimated that they would fetch $3 million or more, but the fast-paced bidding far outpaced that amount within seconds and tripled it within minutes. A few bidders making offers by phone volleyed back and forth for 15 minutes as the price climbed to the final, eye-popping sum.

Including the Dallas-based auction house's fee, the unknown buyer will ultimately pay $32.5 million.

Online bidding, which opened last month, had stood at $1.55 million before live bidding began late Saturday afternoon.

This slippers were on display at the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005 when Terry Jon Martin used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and display case.

Their whereabouts remained a mystery until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">the FBI recovered them in 2018.</a>&nbsp;Martin, now 77, who lives near Grand Rapids in northern Minnesota, wasn't publicly exposed as the thief&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/solen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-5d142469ad5f052f6af053d20dbf20c4">until he was indicted</a>&nbsp;in May 2023. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wizard-oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-f2bd6d4455a9821c311d1d0a03f6d77a">pleaded guilty in October 2023.</a>&nbsp;He was in a wheelchair and on supplementary oxygen when he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-sentencing-2479d587123b97eda5c47672322d2d6e">sentenced last January</a>&nbsp;to time served because of his poor health.

His attorney, Dane DeKrey, explained ahead of sentencing that Martin, who had a long history of burglary and receiving stolen property, was attempting to pull off “one last score” after an old associate with connections to the mob told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value. But a fence — a person who buys stolen goods — later told him the rubies were just glass, DeKrey said. So Martin got rid of the slippers. The attorney didn't specify how.

The alleged fence, Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, of the Minneapolis suburb of Crystal,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wizard-oz-ruby-slippers-dorothy-judy-garland-e96057028c8d1b5ab6c4ffeef28fd123">was indicted in March</a>. He was also in a wheelchair and on oxygen when he made his first court appearance. He's scheduled to go on trial in January and hasn't entered a plea, though his attorney has said he's not guilty.

The shoes were returned in February to memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, who had loaned them to the museum. They were one of several pairs that Garland wore during the filming, but only four pairs are known to have survived. In the movie, to return from Oz to Kansas, Dorothy had to click her heels three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home.”

As Rhys Thomas, author of “The Ruby Slippers of Oz,” put it, the sequined shoes from the beloved 1939 musical have seen “more twists and turns than the Yellow Brick Road.”

Over 800 people had been tracking the slippers, and the company’s&nbsp;<a href="https://entertainment.ha.com/itm/movie-tv-memorabilia/props/the-wizard-of-oz-mgm-1939-judy-garland-dorothy-gale-screen-matched-ruby-slippers/a/7388-89182.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515">webpage for the auction</a>&nbsp;had hit nearly 43,000 page views by Thursday, said Robert Wilonsky, a vice president with the auction house.

After the slippers sold, the auctioneer told bidders and spectators in the room and watching online that the previous record for a piece of entertainment memorabilia was $5.52 million, for the white dress Marilyn Monroe famously wore atop a windy subway grate.

The auction also included other memorabilia from “The Wizard of Oz,” such as a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton, who played the original Wicked Witch of the West. That item went for $2.4 million, or a total final cost to the buyer of $2.93 million.

“The Wizard of Oz” story has gained new attention in recent weeks with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/movie-review-wicked-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-784258a509b990dbd34206c4991e2c6b">release of the movie “Wicked,”</a>&nbsp;an adaptation of the megahit Broadway musical, a prequel of sorts that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/movie-review-wicked-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-784258a509b990dbd34206c4991e2c6b">reimagines the character</a>&nbsp;of the Wicked Witch of the West.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684352824766.png" alt="FILE - Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz," are displayed at a news conference, Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Ruby slippers once worn by Judy Garland in the "The Wizard of Oz," are displayed at a news conference, Sept. 4, 2018, at the FBI office in Brooklyn Center, Minn. (AP Photo/Jeff Baenen, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A pair of iconic ruby slippers that were worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” and stolen from a museum nearly two decades ago sold for a winning bid of $28 million at auction Saturday.Heritage Auctions had estimated that they would fetch $3 million or more, but the fast-paced bidding far outpaced that amount within seconds and tripled it within minutes. A few bidders making offers by phone volleyed back and forth for 15 minutes as the price climbed to the final, eye-popping sum.Including the Dallas-based auction house's fee, the unknown buyer will ultimately pay $32.5 million.Online bidding, which opened last month, had stood at $1.55 million before live bidding began late Saturday afternoon.This slippers were on display at the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005 when Terry Jon Martin used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and display case.Their whereabouts remained a mystery until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f15402e28f04341b6a25d179b070fc5">the FBI recovered them in 2018.</a>&nbsp;Martin, now 77, who lives near Grand Rapids in northern Minnesota, wasn't publicly exposed as the thief&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/solen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-5d142469ad5f052f6af053d20dbf20c4">until he was indicted</a>&nbsp;in May 2023. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wizard-oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-f2bd6d4455a9821c311d1d0a03f6d77a">pleaded guilty in October 2023.</a>&nbsp;He was in a wheelchair and on supplementary oxygen when he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oz-stolen-ruby-slippers-sentencing-2479d587123b97eda5c47672322d2d6e">sentenced last January</a>&nbsp;to time served because of his poor health.His attorney, Dane DeKrey, explained ahead of sentencing that Martin, who had a long history of burglary and receiving stolen property, was attempting to pull off “one last score” after an old associate with connections to the mob told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value. But a fence — a person who buys stolen goods — later told him the rubies were just glass, DeKrey said. So Martin got rid of the slippers. The attorney didn't specify how.The alleged fence, Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, of the Minneapolis suburb of Crystal,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wizard-oz-ruby-slippers-dorothy-judy-garland-e96057028c8d1b5ab6c4ffeef28fd123">was indicted in March</a>. He was also in a wheelchair and on oxygen when he made his first court appearance. He's scheduled to go on trial in January and hasn't entered a plea, though his attorney has said he's not guilty.The shoes were returned in February to memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, who had loaned them to the museum. They were one of several pairs that Garland wore during the filming, but only four pairs are known to have survived. In the movie, to return from Oz to Kansas, Dorothy had to click her heels three times and repeat, “There’s no place like home.”As Rhys Thomas, author of “The Ruby Slippers of Oz,” put it, the sequined shoes from the beloved 1939 musical have seen “more twists and turns than the Yellow Brick Road.”Over 800 people had been tracking the slippers, and the company’s&nbsp;<a href="https://entertainment.ha.com/itm/movie-tv-memorabilia/props/the-wizard-of-oz-mgm-1939-judy-garland-dorothy-gale-screen-matched-ruby-slippers/a/7388-89182.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515">webpage for the auction</a>&nbsp;had hit nearly 43,000 page views by Thursday, said Robert Wilonsky, a vice president with the auction house.After the slippers sold, the auctioneer told bidders and spectators in the room and watching online that the previous record for a piece of entertainment memorabilia was $5.52 million, for the white dress Marilyn Monroe famously wore atop a windy subway grate.The auction also included other memorabilia from “The Wizard of Oz,” such as a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton, who played the original Wicked Witch of the West. That item went for $2.4 million, or a total final cost to the buyer of $2.93 million.“The Wizard of Oz” story has gained new attention in recent weeks with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/movie-review-wicked-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-784258a509b990dbd34206c4991e2c6b">release of the movie “Wicked,”</a>&nbsp;an adaptation of the megahit Broadway musical, a prequel of sorts that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/movie-review-wicked-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-784258a509b990dbd34206c4991e2c6b">reimagines the character</a>&nbsp;of the Wicked Witch of the West.

'Wizard of Oz' ruby slippers sell at auctioned for record price

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged violent assault in Barton County.

Just before 11a.m. Dec. 5, police responded to the hospital in Great Bend, in reference to an alleged domestic disturbance.

An investigation determined 68-year-old Judy Goodman allegedly battered the other party in the dispute using a mop handle. 

Goodman was placed under arrest for aggravated battery. Goodman was transported to the Barton County Jail where she was booked and held on a $75,000 bond on a requested charge of&nbsp; aggravated battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733508555832.jpeg" alt="Goodman-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Goodman-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged violent assault in Barton County.Just before 11a.m. Dec. 5, police responded to the hospital in Great Bend, in reference to an alleged domestic disturbance.An investigation determined 68-year-old Judy Goodman allegedly battered the other party in the dispute using a mop handle. Goodman was placed under arrest for aggravated battery. Goodman was transported to the Barton County Jail where she was booked and held on a $75,000 bond on a requested charge of&nbsp; aggravated battery.

Police: Kan. woman battered victim with a mop handle

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 22-year-old Kansas City man accused of illegally purchasing a gun found after February’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-parade-shooting-58db068706aa90b1d174f2b688484df7">mass shooting</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally has been sentenced to probation.

U.S. District Court Judge Howard Sachs sentenced Ronnel Williams Jr. to 5 years probation Thursday, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article296696439.html">reported</a>.

Williams’ public defenders did not immediately respond to Associated Press calls and emails requesting comment Friday.

Williams in July pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false statements in the acquisition of a firearm.

Williams has said he lied in order to buy a gun for a 19-year-old who was too young to purchase the weapon legally. The man Williams bought the gun for faces the same charges and is set to be sentenced Dec. 12. The man has told police that the weapon was stolen from him.

Williams’ lawyer has said Williams has no connection to the parade shooters. The gun was found by law enforcement after the shooting.

The February shooting left one person dead and roughly two dozen others injured. Three people have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-parade-shooting-charges-385a15abbd03f1926b6ec11bb88ce79c">charged with murder</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708018861457.jpeg" alt="File photo Police clear the area following a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)." />
 <figcaption>File photo Police clear the area following a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs NFL football Super Bowl celebration in Kansas City, Mo., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann).</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A 22-year-old Kansas City man accused of illegally purchasing a gun found after February’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-parade-shooting-58db068706aa90b1d174f2b688484df7">mass shooting</a>&nbsp;at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl rally has been sentenced to probation.U.S. District Court Judge Howard Sachs sentenced Ronnel Williams Jr. to 5 years probation Thursday, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article296696439.html">reported</a>.Williams’ public defenders did not immediately respond to Associated Press calls and emails requesting comment Friday.Williams in July pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false statements in the acquisition of a firearm.Williams has said he lied in order to buy a gun for a 19-year-old who was too young to purchase the weapon legally. The man Williams bought the gun for faces the same charges and is set to be sentenced Dec. 12. The man has told police that the weapon was stolen from him.Williams’ lawyer has said Williams has no connection to the parade shooters. The gun was found by law enforcement after the shooting.The February shooting left one person dead and roughly two dozen others injured. Three people have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-parade-shooting-charges-385a15abbd03f1926b6ec11bb88ce79c">charged with murder</a>.

Man accused of buying gun later found at Chiefs rally shooting sentenced

PARIS (AP) — Howling winds couldn’t stop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/notre-dame-cathedral">Notre Dame Cathedral</a>&nbsp;’s heart from beating again.

With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams, the monument roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches.

The ceremony, initially planned to begin on the forecourt, was moved entirely inside due to unusually fierce December winds sweeping across the Île de la Cité, flanked by the River Seine. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendor. Inside the luminous nave, choirs sang psalms, and the cathedral’s mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, thundered to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies.

The restoration, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-fire-timeline-paris-f6859b8ad959b35e35defa56dd582317">spectacular achievement in just five years</a>&nbsp;for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmanuel-macron">Emmanuel Macron,</a>&nbsp;who championed the ambitious timeline — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-macron-government-collapse-24681982fc526ffdafd57e53773ef855">a welcome respite from his domestic political woes</a>.

The evening’s celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, US first lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame’s enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers see the event as Macron's, and his intention to pivot it into a fully fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France’s ability to unite on the global stage despite internal political crises.

As the cathedral’s largest bell, the 13-ton Emmanuel — which was not named after the French leader — tolled into the Paris night, signaling the start of the ceremony, the crowd inside Notre Dame fell into an expectant hush. Emmanuel, a legacy of King Louis XIV, had rung through centuries of French history, and its peal now resonated as a call to witness another epochal moment.

Outside the cathedral’s monumental doors, Ulrich raised his fire-scarred crosier. “Brothers and sisters, let us enter now into Notre Dame,” he declared. “It is she who accompanies us on our path to peace.”

With the congregation watching in silence and the world looking on, Ulrich struck the floodlit doors, the base of his crosier reverberating against the wood. Inside, the choir answered with soaring hymns, their voices filling the nave. Illuminations on the cathedral facade heightened the drama. On the final strike, the heavy doors swung open, revealing the glowing interior of restored blond Lutetian limestone.

Adding to the ceremony’s visual splendor, Ulrich and the clergy wore vibrant liturgical garments designed by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Known for his signature pop-art aesthetic, Castelbajac created 2,000 colorful pieces for 700 celebrants, blending modern elements with medieval touches.

Flooded with light and song, the cathedral came alive in a moment of breathtaking spectacle. What had been a silent, soot-blackened ruin five years ago now blazed with renewed vitality, marking the culmination of a nearly $1 billion global effort to resurrect it.

Speaking inside the cathedral, Macron expressed “gratitude” Saturday to those who saved, helped, and rebuilt Notre Dame, his voice reverberating through the nave.

“I stand before you ... to express the gratitude of the French nation,” he said, before voices flooded the space with song, harmonies not heard in over five years.

“Tonight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken,” sending the “music of hope” cascading through the luminous interior to Parisians, France, and the world beyond, he said.

The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the embattled French leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/michel-barnier-emmanuel-macron-france-france-government-marine-le-pen-0388ac3a167b4c63a8768306d3582f17">whose prime minister was ousted this week</a>, plunging the nation’s politics into more turmoil.

Macron has called Notre Dame’s reopening “a jolt of hope.” Observers say he hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France’s unity and resilience under his leadership — a rare moment of grace in a presidency now facing a grave crisis.

Inside Notre Dame, 42,000 square meters of stonework—equivalent to six soccer pitches—gleamed anew, revealing intricate carvings and luminous limestone. Above, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed “the forest,” restored the cathedral’s iconic spire and roof.

The great organ, dormant for over five years, roared back to life like a slumbering giant. With its 7,952 pipes—ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide—and a renovated console featuring five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30 foot pedals, it responded to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich’s command: “Wake up, organ, sacred instrument.”

The first low rumble grew into a triumphant symphony as four organists pulled out the stops, weaving improvised responses to the archbishop’s invocations. Eight times, Ulrich addressed the organ; eight times, its voice filled the nave with breathtaking sound.

Guests marveled at the spectacle, many capturing the moment on their phones. “It’s a sense of perfection,” said François Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, who last saw the cathedral cloaked in scaffolding in 2021. “It was somber then. Now, it’s night and day.”

The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, a Ukrainian priest who leads the Volodymyr Le Grand church in Paris, reflected on his first visit to Notre Dame in over a decade. “I didn’t recognize it,” he said. “God is very powerful; He can change things.” He expressed hope that the cathedral’s revival could inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of Ukraine’s president. “I think that will have a big impact,” he said. “I hope Notre Dame and Mary will help us resolve this conflict.”

The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">wars raging in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and the Middle East.

For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.″

“It is a magnificent symbol of unity,” Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said. “Notre Dame is not just a French monument — it is a magnificent sign of hope.”

The international range of dignitaries coming to Paris underline the cathedral’s significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace.

Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who had traveled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral’s ability to inspire. “She’s been nearly ruined before, but she always comes back,” Alexandria said. “Not many of us could say the same after such tragedy, but Notre Dame can.”

Guests entered through Notre Dame’s iconic western façade, whose arched portals adorned with biblical carvings were once a visual guide for medieval believers. Above the central Portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, as demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire both awe and fear, set the stage for a ceremony steeped in history.

Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests awaiting the service filled the cathedral with human sounds once more — a stark contrast to the construction din that echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect its 7,952 pipes, ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide.

Notre Dame echoed to the sound of a sustained standing ovation after the showing of a short movie that documented the gargantuan rebuilding effort. Outside, the word “MERCI” — thank you — was projected against the cathedral’s iconic western facade. The movie showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno — the gaping holes torn into its vaulted ceilings and the burned roof.

But that was followed by images of all types of artisans, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever. "We went from night to light," said one of the workers in the movie.

Security will be high through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year.

The Île de la Cité — the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris— is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police vans and barriers blocked cobblestoned streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers in thick body armor and sniffer dogs patrolled embankments. A special security detail is following Trump.

Public viewing areas along the Seine’s southern bank will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens.

For many, Notre Dame’s rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one — after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire.

Sylvie Corbet, Yesica Brumec, Marine Lesprit and Mark Carlson in Paris contributed.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through The AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733603028810.png" alt="First lady Jill Biden, Brigitte Macron, President-elect Trump and French President Macron at the Cathedral ceremony on Saturday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>First lady Jill Biden, Brigitte Macron, President-elect Trump and French President Macron at the Cathedral ceremony on Saturday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>PARIS (AP) — Howling winds couldn’t stop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/notre-dame-cathedral">Notre Dame Cathedral</a>&nbsp;’s heart from beating again.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Notre Dame Cathedral Re-Opening in Paris, France <a href="https://t.co/dc3kWXD6PD">pic.twitter.com/dc3kWXD6PD</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1865464128451584274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>With three resounding knocks on its doors by Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich, wielding a specially designed crosier carved from fire-scorched beams, the monument roared back to life Saturday evening. For the first time since a devastating blaze nearly destroyed it in 2019, the towering Gothic masterpiece reopened for worship, its rebirth marked by song, prayer, and awe beneath its soaring arches.The ceremony, initially planned to begin on the forecourt, was moved entirely inside due to unusually fierce December winds sweeping across the Île de la Cité, flanked by the River Seine. Yet the occasion lost none of its splendor. Inside the luminous nave, choirs sang psalms, and the cathedral’s mighty organ, silent for nearly five years, thundered to life in a triumphant interplay of melodies.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CLIP: Notre Dame Cathedral Re-Opening in Paris, France <a href="https://t.co/uC6Enmm80u">pic.twitter.com/uC6Enmm80u</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1865476987084489169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The restoration, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/notre-dame-fire-timeline-paris-f6859b8ad959b35e35defa56dd582317">spectacular achievement in just five years</a>&nbsp;for a structure that took nearly two centuries to build, is seen as a moment of triumph for French President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmanuel-macron">Emmanuel Macron,</a>&nbsp;who championed the ambitious timeline — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-macron-government-collapse-24681982fc526ffdafd57e53773ef855">a welcome respite from his domestic political woes</a>.The evening’s celebration, attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, US first lady Jill Biden, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscored Notre Dame’s enduring role as both a spiritual and cultural beacon. Observers see the event as Macron's, and his intention to pivot it into a fully fledged diplomatic gathering, while highlighting France’s ability to unite on the global stage despite internal political crises.<h2>Dramatic three knocks and bell Emmanuel</h2>As the cathedral’s largest bell, the 13-ton Emmanuel — which was not named after the French leader — tolled into the Paris night, signaling the start of the ceremony, the crowd inside Notre Dame fell into an expectant hush. Emmanuel, a legacy of King Louis XIV, had rung through centuries of French history, and its peal now resonated as a call to witness another epochal moment.Outside the cathedral’s monumental doors, Ulrich raised his fire-scarred crosier. “Brothers and sisters, let us enter now into Notre Dame,” he declared. “It is she who accompanies us on our path to peace.”With the congregation watching in silence and the world looking on, Ulrich struck the floodlit doors, the base of his crosier reverberating against the wood. Inside, the choir answered with soaring hymns, their voices filling the nave. Illuminations on the cathedral facade heightened the drama. On the final strike, the heavy doors swung open, revealing the glowing interior of restored blond Lutetian limestone.Adding to the ceremony’s visual splendor, Ulrich and the clergy wore vibrant liturgical garments designed by French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Known for his signature pop-art aesthetic, Castelbajac created 2,000 colorful pieces for 700 celebrants, blending modern elements with medieval touches.Flooded with light and song, the cathedral came alive in a moment of breathtaking spectacle. What had been a silent, soot-blackened ruin five years ago now blazed with renewed vitality, marking the culmination of a nearly $1 billion global effort to resurrect it.<h2>Macron’s political woes</h2>Speaking inside the cathedral, Macron expressed “gratitude” Saturday to those who saved, helped, and rebuilt Notre Dame, his voice reverberating through the nave.“I stand before you ... to express the gratitude of the French nation,” he said, before voices flooded the space with song, harmonies not heard in over five years.“Tonight, the bells of Notre Dame are ringing again. And in a moment, the organ will awaken,” sending the “music of hope” cascading through the luminous interior to Parisians, France, and the world beyond, he said.The celebration is expected to give a much-needed boost to the embattled French leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/michel-barnier-emmanuel-macron-france-france-government-marine-le-pen-0388ac3a167b4c63a8768306d3582f17">whose prime minister was ousted this week</a>, plunging the nation’s politics into more turmoil.Macron has called Notre Dame’s reopening “a jolt of hope.” Observers say he hoped the occasion would briefly silence his critics and showcase France’s unity and resilience under his leadership — a rare moment of grace in a presidency now facing a grave crisis.<h2>Monumental feats of restoration</h2>Inside Notre Dame, 42,000 square meters of stonework—equivalent to six soccer pitches—gleamed anew, revealing intricate carvings and luminous limestone. Above, 2,000 oak beams, nicknamed “the forest,” restored the cathedral’s iconic spire and roof.The great organ, dormant for over five years, roared back to life like a slumbering giant. With its 7,952 pipes—ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide—and a renovated console featuring five keyboards, 115 stops, and 30 foot pedals, it responded to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich’s command: “Wake up, organ, sacred instrument.”The first low rumble grew into a triumphant symphony as four organists pulled out the stops, weaving improvised responses to the archbishop’s invocations. Eight times, Ulrich addressed the organ; eight times, its voice filled the nave with breathtaking sound.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump arrives at Notre Dame Cathedral Re-Opening in Paris, France. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN <a href="https://t.co/HFPxAJTIrf">https://t.co/HFPxAJTIrf</a> <a href="https://t.co/K79o4M4pcB">pic.twitter.com/K79o4M4pcB</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1865458048933810359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Guests marveled at the spectacle, many capturing the moment on their phones. “It’s a sense of perfection,” said François Le Page of the Notre Dame Foundation, who last saw the cathedral cloaked in scaffolding in 2021. “It was somber then. Now, it’s night and day.”The Rev. Andriy Morkvas, a Ukrainian priest who leads the Volodymyr Le Grand church in Paris, reflected on his first visit to Notre Dame in over a decade. “I didn’t recognize it,” he said. “God is very powerful; He can change things.” He expressed hope that the cathedral’s revival could inspire peace in his homeland, drawing strength from the presence of Ukraine’s president. “I think that will have a big impact,” he said. “I hope Notre Dame and Mary will help us resolve this conflict.”The reopening of Notre Dame comes at a time of profound global unrest, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">wars raging in Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and the Middle East.For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.″“It is a magnificent symbol of unity,” Olivier Ribadeau Dumas said. “Notre Dame is not just a French monument — it is a magnificent sign of hope.”The international range of dignitaries coming to Paris underline the cathedral’s significance as a symbol of shared heritage and peace.Canadian visitor Noelle Alexandria, who had traveled to Paris for the reopening, was struck by the cathedral’s ability to inspire. “She’s been nearly ruined before, but she always comes back,” Alexandria said. “Not many of us could say the same after such tragedy, but Notre Dame can.”<h2>Historical details enrich the occasion</h2>Guests entered through Notre Dame’s iconic western façade, whose arched portals adorned with biblical carvings were once a visual guide for medieval believers. Above the central Portal of the Last Judgment, the Archangel Michael is depicted weighing souls, as demons attempt to tip the scales. These stone figures, designed to inspire both awe and fear, set the stage for a ceremony steeped in history.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> Dr. Jill Biden arrives at Notre Dame Cathedral Re-Opening in Paris, France. Watch LIVE on C-SPAN <a href="https://t.co/HFPxAJTIrf">https://t.co/HFPxAJTIrf</a> <a href="https://t.co/hhnKrmO2Jw">pic.twitter.com/hhnKrmO2Jw</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1865460604481262051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Inside, the hum of hundreds of guests awaiting the service filled the cathedral with human sounds once more — a stark contrast to the construction din that echoed there for years. Tuners restoring the great organ often worked through the night to find the silence needed to perfect its 7,952 pipes, ranging from pen-sized to torso-wide.Notre Dame echoed to the sound of a sustained standing ovation after the showing of a short movie that documented the gargantuan rebuilding effort. Outside, the word “MERCI” — thank you — was projected against the cathedral’s iconic western facade. The movie showed the terrible wounds left by the inferno — the gaping holes torn into its vaulted ceilings and the burned roof.But that was followed by images of all types of artisans, many using traditional handicraft techniques, who collectively restored Notre Dame to look better now than ever. "We went from night to light," said one of the workers in the movie.<h2>Security is tight for this global event</h2>Security will be high through the weekend, echoing measures taken during the Paris Olympics earlier this year.The Île de la Cité — the small island in the River Seine that is home to Notre Dame and the historic heart of Paris— is closed to tourists and non-residents. Police vans and barriers blocked cobblestoned streets in a large perimeter around the island, while soldiers in thick body armor and sniffer dogs patrolled embankments. A special security detail is following Trump.Public viewing areas along the Seine’s southern bank will accommodate 40,000 spectators, who can follow the celebrations on large screens.For many, Notre Dame’s rebirth is not just a French achievement but a global one — after the reopening, the cathedral is set to welcome 15 million visitors annually, up from 12 million before the fire.___Sylvie Corbet, Yesica Brumec, Marine Lesprit and Mark Carlson in Paris contributed.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through The AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

🎥Archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as heads of state look on

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

ESU administrators remain as defendants; state Board of Regents dismissed

TOPEKA — A U.S. District Court judge rejected a motion to dismiss the entirety of a federal lawsuit filed by former Emporia State University faculty challenging their dismissal under an expedited process that allegedly undermined their constitutional rights.

Judge Julie Robinson said in a memorandum Thursday the suit against ESU administrators could continue, but she dismissed current and former members of the Kansas Board of Regents named as defendants. The judge dropped three conspiracy claims made by plaintiffs, but left intact the plaintiffs’ claims of constitutional violation of due process, liberty interests, equal protection, freedom of association and a conspiracy to deprive employees of tenure rights.

The judge affirmed one of the plaintiffs’ central claims that tenure was viewed as a property right held by faculty in the state and the 10th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals had previously affirmed property interests of tenured professors in Kansas.

The determination bolstered the argument by plaintiffs — 11 former ESU tenured professors — that they were terminated in violation of the U.S. Constitution.

“The court agrees with plaintiffs that it is clearly established under 10th Circuit law that tenured university faculty have a property interest deserving of the procedural and substantive protections of the 14th Amendment,” Robinson said in the order.

Topeka attorney Phillip Grayson, who represents the 11 plaintiffs, said in a Friday interview the decision by Robinson was welcomed by his clients.

“I consider that a very favorable ruling,” Grayson said. “It’s about academic freedom. The primary purpose of tenure is the preservation of academic freedom.”

A spokeswoman for Emporia State wasn’t available to comment on the judge’s rulings in the lawsuit. It is possible ESU could appeal portions of Robinson’s decision to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

ESU and Board of Regents attorneys had asked the federal district court to dismiss the lawsuit based, in part, on a claim of qualified immunity. They argued there was no proof ESU professors were fired for unionizing efforts, political beliefs or advocacy work. Instead, the defendants said the terminations were reasonable because they were triggered by budget issues and enrollment declines accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Robinson said the separate legal action involving ESU and seven fired professors in state district court was insufficient to address constitutional issues raised by plaintiffs in the federal case.

“Defendants fail to demonstrate that the state courts are an adequate vehicle for the complete resolution of the issues presented by this case. The state court appeals are not parallel to this action,” Robinson said.

In 2021, the state Board of Regents formulated a policy allowing state universities to take extraordinary means to suspend, dismiss or terminate employees amid a financial emergency.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733600732643.png" alt=" A U.S. District Court judge said in a ruling that Emporia State University Ken Hush, second from right, would remain a defendant in a lawsuit filed by 11 former tenured professors at ESU challenging their dismissal under a unique program authorized by the Kansas Board fo Regents to help universities deal with enrollment and budget problems tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> A U.S. District Court judge said in a ruling that Emporia State University Ken Hush, second from right, would remain a defendant in a lawsuit filed by 11 former tenured professors at ESU challenging their dismissal under a unique program authorized by the Kansas Board fo Regents to help universities deal with enrollment and budget problems tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>ESU administrators remain as defendants; state Board of Regents dismissed</h2>TOPEKA — A U.S. District Court judge rejected a motion to dismiss the entirety of a federal lawsuit filed by former Emporia State University faculty challenging their dismissal under an expedited process that allegedly undermined their constitutional rights.Judge Julie Robinson said in a memorandum Thursday the suit against ESU administrators could continue, but she dismissed current and former members of the Kansas Board of Regents named as defendants. The judge dropped three conspiracy claims made by plaintiffs, but left intact the plaintiffs’ claims of constitutional violation of due process, liberty interests, equal protection, freedom of association and a conspiracy to deprive employees of tenure rights.The judge affirmed one of the plaintiffs’ central claims that tenure was viewed as a property right held by faculty in the state and the 10th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals had previously affirmed property interests of tenured professors in Kansas.The determination bolstered the argument by plaintiffs — 11 former ESU tenured professors — that they were terminated in violation of the U.S. Constitution.“The court agrees with plaintiffs that it is clearly established under 10th Circuit law that tenured university faculty have a property interest deserving of the procedural and substantive protections of the 14th Amendment,” Robinson said in the order.Topeka attorney Phillip Grayson, who represents the 11 plaintiffs, said in a Friday interview the decision by Robinson was welcomed by his clients.“I consider that a very favorable ruling,” Grayson said. “It’s about academic freedom. The primary purpose of tenure is the preservation of academic freedom.”A spokeswoman for Emporia State wasn’t available to comment on the judge’s rulings in the lawsuit. It is possible ESU could appeal portions of Robinson’s decision to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.ESU and Board of Regents attorneys had asked the federal district court to dismiss the lawsuit based, in part, on a claim of qualified immunity. They argued there was no proof ESU professors were fired for unionizing efforts, political beliefs or advocacy work. Instead, the defendants said the terminations were reasonable because they were triggered by budget issues and enrollment declines accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.Robinson said the separate legal action involving ESU and seven fired professors in state district court was insufficient to address constitutional issues raised by plaintiffs in the federal case.“Defendants fail to demonstrate that the state courts are an adequate vehicle for the complete resolution of the issues presented by this case. The state court appeals are not parallel to this action,” Robinson said.In 2021, the state Board of Regents formulated a policy allowing state universities to take extraordinary means to suspend, dismiss or terminate employees amid a financial emergency.KBOR general counsel Julene Miller said the policy was in response to “extreme financial pressures that the state universities are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, decreased program and university enrollments, and the state’s declining fiscal support.”Only ESU made use of the Framework for Workforce Management policy allowing for expedited firing of campus employees. In 2022, ESU administrators informed 33 employees, including 23 tenured professors, they would lose their jobs in 2023.Faculty appeals were filed through the Kansas Office of Administrative Hearings, and some prevailed, but the 11 tenured professors who were dismissed pursued the lawsuit in federal court.The American Association of University Professors denounced the employment decisions by ESU President Ken Hush as damaging to academic freedom and to due process rights of tenured faculty.In wake of the faculty and staff dismissals, ESU administrators awarded more than $137,000 in bonuses to 68 faculty members remaining at the university.