BUTLER COUNTY—Three people died in an accident just after 10p.m. Wednesday in Butler County.

According to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff, investigators and a witness indicated a Chevrolet pick-up was eastbound on U.S. Highway 400 in rural Leon Kansas. The Chevrolet pickup crossed into oncoming traffic, and struck a westbound Toyota Tacoma driven by 46-year-old Eliot Eichbaucher of Wichita, head-on. 

The witness told deputies that the Chevrolet truck had been weaving back and forth on the highway just prior to the crash.

&nbsp;Eichbauer and both of his passengers, 19-year-old Arlo Eichbauer and 16-year-old Silas Eichbauer, both of Wichita were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to Cundiff.

Arlo Eichbauer is Eliot Eichbauer’s son and Silas Eichbauer is Eliot’s nephew, according to Cundiff.

The three occupants of the Chevrolet truck were all transported to a Wichita area hospital with severe injuries. This crash is still under investigation and alcohol is believed to be a factor.

&nbsp;Butler County Sheriff’s Deputies, Leon Fire, Butler County EMS and Augusta Fire responded to the scene.

BUTLER COUNTY—Three people died in an accident just after 10p.m. Wednesday in Butler County.According to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff, investigators and a witness indicated a Chevrolet pick-up was eastbound on U.S. Highway 400 in rural Leon Kansas. The Chevrolet pickup crossed into oncoming traffic, and struck a westbound Toyota Tacoma driven by 46-year-old Eliot Eichbaucher of Wichita, head-on. The witness told deputies that the Chevrolet truck had been weaving back and forth on the highway just prior to the crash.&nbsp;Eichbauer and both of his passengers, 19-year-old Arlo Eichbauer and 16-year-old Silas Eichbauer, both of Wichita were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to Cundiff.Arlo Eichbauer is Eliot Eichbauer’s son and Silas Eichbauer is Eliot’s nephew, according to Cundiff.The three occupants of the Chevrolet truck were all transported to a Wichita area hospital with severe injuries. This crash is still under investigation and alcohol is believed to be a factor.&nbsp;Butler County Sheriff’s Deputies, Leon Fire, Butler County EMS and Augusta Fire responded to the scene.

Sheriff: Alcohol a factor in crash that killed Kan. man, teens

COWLEY COUNTY—Search crews have finally found human remains near where a missing Kansas woman's car was found last month.

On Wednesday, the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of local landowners, continued search efforts in the area of 333rd Road for missing&nbsp;81-year-old Jerry McConnell, according to Cowley County&nbsp;Undersheriff Christina McDonald.

During the course of the search, personal property belonging to McConnell was located. Human remains were also discovered approximately one mile from the location where her abandoned vehicle was previously found.

An autopsy is pending to confirm the identity of the remains.

This discovery follows weeks of intensive search operations. On May 20, 2025, at approximately 3:40 p.m., Cowley County Deputies were notified that a vehicle associated with a Silver Alert issued from Overland Park, Kansas, had been found on private property in a rural area near the 4000 block of 327th Road.

Despite daily search efforts since the vehicle was located, no further leads were developed until the discovery on June 11.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747502608195.png" alt="McConnell photo Overland Park Police" />
 <figcaption>McConnell photo Overland Park Police</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—Search crews have finally found human remains near where a missing Kansas woman's car was found last month.On Wednesday, the Cowley County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of local landowners, continued search efforts in the area of 333rd Road for missing&nbsp;81-year-old Jerry McConnell, according to Cowley County&nbsp;Undersheriff Christina McDonald.During the course of the search, personal property belonging to McConnell was located. Human remains were also discovered approximately one mile from the location where her abandoned vehicle was previously found.An autopsy is pending to confirm the identity of the remains.This discovery follows weeks of intensive search operations. On May 20, 2025, at approximately 3:40 p.m., Cowley County Deputies were notified that a vehicle associated with a Silver Alert issued from Overland Park, Kansas, had been found on private property in a rural area near the 4000 block of 327th Road.Despite daily search efforts since the vehicle was located, no further leads were developed until the discovery on June 11.

Human remains found in search for woman in Kan. Silver Alert

A single passenger survived the fiery crash of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-plane-crash-cad8dad5cd0e92795b03d357404af5f8">Air India passenger plane</a>&nbsp;on Thursday, according to a doctor at a local hospital, which went down shortly after taking off for London with around&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/air-india-plane-crash-ai171-ahmedabad-london">240 people on board</a>. The airline has said there were no other survivors.

Part of the plane fell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/air-india-plane-crash-ai171-ahmedabad-london#00000197-641c-dc65-a7f7-ee1f7b430000">on top of a medical college</a>&nbsp;in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad, killing at least five medical students and injuring nearly 50, according to a medical association.

It was not immediately clear why the plane crashed. The aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first Dreamliner crash since it went into service in 2009, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

Indian conglomerate Tata Sons took over Air India in 2022, returning the debt-saddled carrier to private ownership after decades of government control.

A lone survivor from the Air India crash is being treated at a hospital, a doctor says

The single passenger escaped the fiery crash of an Air India passenger plane, according to a doctor at a hospital in Ahmedabad, shortly after it took off for London with more than 240 people on board. The airline has said there were no other survivors

At least one person survived the crash, news agency Press Trust of India reports

The news agency quoted Dr. Shriq M., who works in the trauma ward of the Ahmedabad civil hospital.

The AP could not independently verify the report.

Expert is puzzled why the plane continued to sink before the crash

Former FAA and NTSB crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti said it’s a mystery why the airplane was having difficulty climbing in the final moments of the flight.

Video of the plane from right before the crash does not show any smoke or fire, so he said it does not appear that a bird strike was an issue. And even if the plane lost one engine, the second engine should be able to carry it aloft, he added.

Guzzetti said it’s possible that both engines started to “roll back” and lose power at the same time.

“This happened on a (Boeing) 777 crash coming into Heathrow about 15 years ago. It was a dual engine roll back due to icing in the fuel. So there could be a fuel issue,” he said.

“Usually fuel contamination issues rear their ugly head during takeoff,” he explained.

Video shows Air India plane’s final moments before crashing in a huge fireball

The video shows the plane with with its nose pointed upward, sinking toward the ground before crashing and generating a huge fireball.

The Associated Press was able to verify the video on social media by matching up the flight path of the plane from the runway with the crash site and the nearby residential area. The AP has been unable to identify the person who shot the video to get permission to publish it.

A senior ex-official died in the crash, Indian lawmaker says

A former chief minister of the state where the crash took place was aboard the plane and is believed to have died, a lawmaker said.

Vijay Rupani, who had served as the top elected official in Gujarat state, was among the dead, said Sambit Patra, a lawmaker from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, on the social media platform X. Rupani was also a member of the BJP.

An&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-plane-crash-cad8dad5cd0e92795b03d357404af5f8">Air India passenger plane</a>&nbsp;bound for London with more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/air-india-plane-crash-ai171-ahmedabad-london">240 people on board crashed Thursday</a>&nbsp;in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad, and there were no known survivors, officials said.

It was not immediately clear why the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, a widebody, twin-engine plane. This is the first crash ever of Dreamliner since it went into service in 2009, according to the Aviation Safety Network database.

Air India said there were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian on the flight bound for London Gatwick Airport. Part of the plane fell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/air-india-plane-crash-ai171-ahmedabad-london#00000197-641c-dc65-a7f7-ee1f7b430000">on top of a medical college in Ahmedabad</a>, killing at least five medical students and injuring nearly 50, according to a medical association.

On the ground, at least 5 medical students killed and around 50 injured

Part of the plane fell on top of the dining area of B.J. Medical College, killing at least five medical students and injuring nearly 50.

That’s according to Divyansh Singh, vice president of the Federation of All India Medical Association, a national body that represents resident doctors across the country.

“Some of the injured are critical. We are in close contact with our peers in the hospital who are on a lookout for more people feared buried in the debris,” he said.

Pakistan expresses deep sadness over Air India crash

“Condolences over the loss of precious lives in this tragic incident. Our sympathies are with the families of the victims in this hour of grief,” Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar wrote on X.

Dar’s comments follow a breakdown in Pakistan’s relations with India after a gun massacre on tourists in April that India blamed on Pakistan.

The two countries came close to the brink of war until intense diplomatic efforts successfully brokered a truce. The ceasefire, on May 11, has largely held but the nuclear armed neighbors remain hostile toward each other.

Former UK leader Rishi Sunak reacts to the crash

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he and his wife Askhata Murty said they are “deeply shocked and distressed” by the news of the crash of the Air India Boeing 787 that was heading from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.

Sunak, who is of Indian descent, became the U.K.’s first Hindu prime minister in 2022 and remained premier until he lost last year’s general election. Murty is Indian.

“There is a unique bond between our two nations and our thoughts and prayers go out to the British and Indian families who have lost loved ones today,” Sunak said on X.

Expert says plane parts did not seem properly configured

Aviation safety consultant John M. Cox said one of the questions investigators will be asking is whether the Air India plane that crashed Thursday was properly configured for flight.

While he stressed it was too early to make any conclusions, the CEO of Washington DC-based Safety Operating Systems said the grainy images of the flight suggested that one area of inquiry was likely to be whether the slats and flaps were in the correct position as the plane attempted to climb.

“The image shows the airplane with the nose rising and it continuing to sink,’’ he said. “That says that the airplane is not making enough lift.’’ The slats and flaps should be positioned so that the wing makes more lift at lower speeds.

“It’s hard to tell but from looking at the aircraft from behind … it doesn’t look like that the trailing edge flaps are in the position I would have expected them to be,’’ he said. “But I’m very cautious that the image quality is not good enough to make that a conclusion. It’s just an area where I know that they’re going to look.’’

The 180 billion rupee (then worth $2.4 billion) deal was part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s effort to sell off loss-making state-run businesses.

It was in some ways a homecoming for Air India, which was launched by the Tata family in 1932.

Since the takeover, Air India has ordered hundreds of new planes, redesigned its branding and livery, and merged it with smaller airlines Tata held stakes in.

King Charles III says he and Queen Camilla are ‘desperately shocked’

“Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones,” the monarch said in a statement.

The king also paid tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support “at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time.”

The U.K. and India have particularly close ties and are leading members of the Commonwealth group of nations, which the king is head of.

An Air India flight from Gatwick to Goa is canceled

The flight, which was due to leave Thursday night from London Gatwick Airport to the Indian state of Goa, has been canceled after the airline’s earlier crash in northwestern India.

The flight to Manohar International Airport had been scheduled to depart at 8:30 p.m., about two hours after the flight from Ahmedabad had been due to land at the airport south of London.

Air India did not provide a reason for the cancelation.

US says it is ready to send investigating team if requested

The U.S. government says it is ready to send a team to help investigate the Air India crash if Indian officials request it.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the National Transportation Safety Board would be the U.S. government’s primary representative and the FAA provides technical support.

The NTSB routinely helps determine the causes of about 450 international crashes every year.

Indian army deploys personnel to assist civil authorities

The Indian army has deployed 130 personnel including doctors and paramedics to assist civil authorities in Ahmedabad in clearing debris from the Air India plane crash and help treat the injured.

The city’s local military hospital has also been kept on a standby, the army said in a statement.

London Gatwick Airport setting up a reception center for relatives

The airport in south London says it is “liaising closely with Air India” and that staff is setting up a reception center for relatives of those on board the Air India Boeing 787 flight to provide “information and support.”

In a statement posted on social media, it said the flight, which had more than 240 passengers and crew aboard, was due to land at the airport at 6:25 p.m. local time.

Gatwick, which is around 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of London, is the U.K.’s second-busiest.

Boeing says it stands ready to support Air India

In an updated statement, Boeing said “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them.”

“Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected,” the company said.

Air India flight 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time.

Ahmedabad’s city police commissioner says there appears to be no survivors

“It appears there are no survivors in the plane crash,” Commissioner G.S. Malik told The Associated Press.

He added that with the plane crashing in a residential area with offices, “some locals would have also died.”

“Exact figures on casualties are being ascertained,” he said.

The flight crashed midday shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad airport with more than 240 people on board.

Crash appeared surprising at first glance, safety expert says

John McDermid, a computer scence professor at the University of York with expertise in safety engineering, said that while it was too early to know much about the cause of the crash it appeared to be very surprising at first glance.

While takeoffs and landings are the most dangerous phases of a flight, he noted that the plane had not climbed above 200 meters (650 feet).

“Pilots can abort takeoff until quite late,” McDermid said. “So it seems like the problem occurred very suddenly in the final part of the takeoff roll, or shortly after takeoff, and was sufficiently serious to be unmanageable.”

He also said that jets have many backup systems, such as the ability to climb with only one engine, which also made it an unusual accident.

Air India says a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-plane-crash-cad8dad5cd0e92795b03d357404af5f8">London-bound flight crashed</a>&nbsp;shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad airport Thursday with more than 240 passengers and crew onboard.

The airline said flight AI 171, a Boeing 787-8, crashed into a residential area near the airport in Ahmedabad, a northwestern city with a population of more than 5 million, five minutes after taking off at 1:38 p.m. local time.

The plane was bound for London Gatwick Airport and was carrying 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian, Air India said.

Visuals on local television channels showed smoke billowing from the crash site.

🎥Hospital: One survivor, 241 dead after Air India plane crash

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday named eight new vaccine policy advisers to replace the panel that he abruptly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">dismissed earlier this week</a>.

They include a scientist who researched mRNA vaccine technology and transformed into a conservative darling for his criticisms of COVID-19 vaccines, and a leading critic of pandemic-era lockdowns.

Kennedy's decision to “retire” the previous 17-member panel was widely decried by doctors' groups and public health organizations, who feared the advisers would be replaced by a group aligned with Kennedy's desire to reassess — and possibly end — longstanding vaccination recommendations.

The new appointees to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include Dr. Robert Malone, the former mRNA researcher who emerged as a close adviser to Kennedy during the measles outbreak.

Malone, who runs a wellness institute and a popular blog, rose to popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as he relayed conspiracy theories around the outbreak and the vaccines that followed. He has appeared on podcasts and other conservative news outlets where he’s promoted unproven and alternative treatments for measles and COVID-19.

He has claimed that millions of Americans were hypnotized into taking the COVID-19 shots. He’s even suggested that those vaccines cause a form of AIDS. He’s downplayed deaths related to one of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. in years.

Other appointees include Dr. Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist who was a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, an October 2020 letter maintaining that pandemic shutdowns were causing irreparable harm. Dr. Cody Meissner, a former ACIP member, also was named.

Kennedy made the announcement in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1932899858920120692">a social media post</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.

The committee, created in 1964, makes recommendations to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC directors almost always approve those recommendations on how Food and Drug Administration-cleared vaccines should be used. The CDC’s final recommendations are widely heeded by doctors and determine the scope of vaccination programs.

Associated Press reporter Amanda Seitz contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749678718441.png" alt="Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivering meals on wheels Wednesday-image courtesy HHS video" />
 <figcaption>Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivering meals on wheels Wednesday-image courtesy HHS video</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday named eight new vaccine policy advisers to replace the panel that he abruptly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-cdc-acip-vaccines-3790c89f45b6314c5c7b686db0e3a8f9">dismissed earlier this week</a>.They include a scientist who researched mRNA vaccine technology and transformed into a conservative darling for his criticisms of COVID-19 vaccines, and a leading critic of pandemic-era lockdowns.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">On Monday, I took a major step towards restoring public trust in vaccines by reconstituting the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP). I retired the 17 current members of the committee. I’m now repopulating ACIP with the eight new members who will attend ACIP’s…&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1932899858920120692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kennedy's decision to “retire” the previous 17-member panel was widely decried by doctors' groups and public health organizations, who feared the advisers would be replaced by a group aligned with Kennedy's desire to reassess — and possibly end — longstanding vaccination recommendations.The new appointees to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include Dr. Robert Malone, the former mRNA researcher who emerged as a close adviser to Kennedy during the measles outbreak.Malone, who runs a wellness institute and a popular blog, rose to popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as he relayed conspiracy theories around the outbreak and the vaccines that followed. He has appeared on podcasts and other conservative news outlets where he’s promoted unproven and alternative treatments for measles and COVID-19.He has claimed that millions of Americans were hypnotized into taking the COVID-19 shots. He’s even suggested that those vaccines cause a form of AIDS. He’s downplayed deaths related to one of the largest measles outbreaks in the U.S. in years.Other appointees include Dr. Martin Kulldorff, a biostatistician and epidemiologist who was a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, an October 2020 letter maintaining that pandemic shutdowns were causing irreparable harm. Dr. Cody Meissner, a former ACIP member, also was named.Kennedy made the announcement in&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1932899858920120692">a social media post</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.The committee, created in 1964, makes recommendations to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC directors almost always approve those recommendations on how Food and Drug Administration-cleared vaccines should be used. The CDC’s final recommendations are widely heeded by doctors and determine the scope of vaccination programs.___Associated Press reporter Amanda Seitz contributed to this report.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

COVID shot critic among Kennedy vaccine committee replacements

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — A bison gored a man Tuesday after a large group of visitors got too close to the animal in Yellowstone National Park, officials said.

The 30-year-old from Randolph, New Jersey, was treated for minor injuries after being gored around 9:45 a.m. in the Old Faithful area, according to a park statement.

Park officials didn’t release the man’s name or condition, saying what happened was under investigation and no more information was available for release.

He was the second person gored by a bison already this spring in Yellowstone. A 47-year-old Cape Coral, Florida, man had minor injuries after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/man-gored-by-bison-yellowstone-6955186fe39f99936e805c3fccf832d3">being gored</a>&nbsp;in the Lake Village area May 7.

Bison gored at least two people in Yellowstone last year including an 83-year-old South Carolina woman who was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/83-year-old-woman-gored-bison-yellowstone-national-park-rcna155344" target="_blank">seriously injured</a>. A bison gored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yellowstone-national-park-bison-attack-996cd6cadd71dc0aa7c1926b001d6358">an Arizona woman</a>&nbsp;in the park in 2023.

Yellowstone bison&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-colorado-springs-bison-f923906a9db6fb4301a77a78e5117a85">injured two people</a>&nbsp;in 2022.

Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other wild animal. They can run up to 35 mph (56 kph), faster than the men’s world record in the 100-meter dash.

Standing up to 6 feet (2 meters) tall and weighing up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms), they are North America’s biggest land animal.

Park regulations require visitors to keep at least 25 yards (22.86 meters) away from bison and other large herbivores and 100 yards (91 meters) away from wolves and bears.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749732124056.jpeg" alt="Bison, Blacktail Deer Plateau by National Park Service / Neal Herbert" />
 <figcaption>Bison, Blacktail Deer Plateau by National Park Service / Neal Herbert</figcaption>
 </figure>YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — A bison gored a man Tuesday after a large group of visitors got too close to the animal in Yellowstone National Park, officials said.The 30-year-old from Randolph, New Jersey, was treated for minor injuries after being gored around 9:45 a.m. in the Old Faithful area, according to a park statement.Park officials didn’t release the man’s name or condition, saying what happened was under investigation and no more information was available for release.He was the second person gored by a bison already this spring in Yellowstone. A 47-year-old Cape Coral, Florida, man had minor injuries after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/man-gored-by-bison-yellowstone-6955186fe39f99936e805c3fccf832d3">being gored</a>&nbsp;in the Lake Village area May 7.Bison gored at least two people in Yellowstone last year including an 83-year-old South Carolina woman who was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/83-year-old-woman-gored-bison-yellowstone-national-park-rcna155344" target="_blank">seriously injured</a>. A bison gored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yellowstone-national-park-bison-attack-996cd6cadd71dc0aa7c1926b001d6358">an Arizona woman</a>&nbsp;in the park in 2023.Yellowstone bison&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-colorado-springs-bison-f923906a9db6fb4301a77a78e5117a85">injured two people</a>&nbsp;in 2022.Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other wild animal. They can run up to 35 mph (56 kph), faster than the men’s world record in the 100-meter dash.Standing up to 6 feet (2 meters) tall and weighing up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms), they are North America’s biggest land animal.Park regulations require visitors to keep at least 25 yards (22.86 meters) away from bison and other large herbivores and 100 yards (91 meters) away from wolves and bears.

Bison gores man in Yellowstone after visitors get too close

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/darlene-superville">DARLENE SUPERVILLE</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/chris-megerian">CHRIS MEGERIAN</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The drama in the audience rivaled the spectacle on stage on Wednesday at the Kennedy Center, where President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;went to the opening night of “Les Misérables” as he tightens his grip on the venerable performing arts institution.

It was his first time attending a show there since his election, and he was booed and cheered as he took his seat alongside first lady Melania Trump. Near the end of the intermission, someone loudly cursed his name, drawing applause. Several drag queens were in the crowd, their presence a protest against Trump’s complaints that the Kennedy Center had hosted too many drag shows in the past.

Despite the condemnation, the event had a MAGA-does-Broadway feel. Ric Grenell, the Trump-appointed interim leader of the Kennedy Center, was there, as were Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha. Before the show began, Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-law-firm-white-house-executive-order-31228bd5bac1fcabbb243b603e1ccb57">Pam Bondi</a>&nbsp;chatted with guests and Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;took selfies. Laura Loomer, the conspiracy theorist who has advised Trump on personnel decisions, posted a video from a seat near the stage.

Trump walked the red carpet with the first lady when they arrived at the Kennedy Center, which he’s been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-board-chairman-firings-21cd0018c6e9f591d59becea8573d8c0">remaking in his image</a>&nbsp;while excising what he describes as liberal ideology.

“We want to bring it back, and we want to bring it back better than ever,” Trump said.

The Republican president has a particular affection for “Les Misérables,” the sprawling musical set in 19th-century France, and has occasionally played its songs at his events. One of them, “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” is a revolutionary rallying cry inspired by the 1832 rebellion against the French king.

The three-hour production featured singing and dancing, with the sounds of explosions and gunfire filling the theater as protesters and soldiers clashed on stage. For Trump’s critics, it was an unnerving echo of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-gavin-newsom-immigration-protests-a8269425e604f6f03affdc627a2a5721">what’s unfolding in Los Angeles</a>, where Trump has deployed National Guard troops in response to protests over his deportation policies.

“Someone explain the plot to him,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, wrote on social media.

Terry Gee, a bartender, bought his ticket for the show in November and didn’t mind Trump’s presence. It’s his sixth time seeing “Les Misérables,” and he said, “I’m going to enjoy the show regardless.”

Hannah Watkins, a nurse, only learned that Trump would be there when the Kennedy Center distributed information about extra security and she searched online to see what was happening.

“I’ve seen a lot of famous people so far, which is exciting,” said Watkins, who had claimed a spot near the VIP entrance with her mother. “Honestly, we just like ‘Les Mis’ and are excited to be here.”

Before Trump, presidential involvement in the Kennedy Center’s affairs had been limited to naming members to the board of trustees and attending the taping of its annual honors program in the fall.

But after returning to office in January, Trump stunned the arts world by firing the Kennedy Center’s longtime director and board and replacing them with loyalists, who then named him as chairman. Trump promised to overhaul its programming, management and even appearance as part of an effort to put his stamp on the national arts scene.

His latest moves have upset some of the center’s patrons and performers.

In March,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/vice-president-jd-vance-and-his-wife-heckled-by-crowd-at-the-kennedy-center-concert-35b9ac6439fa4f0d9b4df421aa293b1a">the audience booed</a>&nbsp;the Vances after they slipped into upper-level seats to hear the National Symphony Orchestra. Trump appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">Usha Vance</a>&nbsp;to the Kennedy Center board along with Bondi, White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-susie-wiles-32df8958bedde5f3f2d55fd071979692">Susie Wiles</a>&nbsp;and Fox News Channel hosts Maria Bartiromo and Laura Ingraham, among other supporters.

Sales of subscription packages are said to have declined since Trump’s takeover, and several touring productions, including “Hamilton,” have canceled planned runs at the center. Actor Issa Rae and musician Rhiannon Giddens scrapped scheduled appearances, and Kennedy Center consultants including musician Ben Folds and singer Renée Fleming resigned.

Understudies may have performed in some roles Wednesday night because of boycotts by “Les Misérables” cast members, but Trump said he wasn’t bothered by anyone skipping the performance.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has adopted a more aggressive posture toward the arts. The White House has taken steps to cancel millions of dollars in previously awarded federal humanities grants to arts and culture groups, and Trump’s budget blueprint&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-endowment-arts-grants-resign-rescinded-d001ce166f50de965b6a226f5d5a672a">proposed eliminating</a>&nbsp;the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Trump has also targeted Smithsonian museums by signing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-smithsonian-executive-order-improper-ideology-558ebfab722f603e94e02a1a4b06ed4d">executive orders to restrict their funding</a>&nbsp;and by attempting to fire the director of the National Portrait Gallery.

The president characterized previous programming at the Kennedy Center as “out of control with rampant political propaganda” and said it featured “some very inappropriate shows,” including a “Marxist anti-police performance” and “lesbian-only Shakespeare.”

The Kennedy Center, which is supported by government money and private donations, opened in 1971 and for decades has been seen as an apolitical celebration of the arts.

It was first conceived in the late 1950s during the administration of Republican President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/dwight-eisenhower">Dwight Eisenhower</a>, who backed a bill from the Democratic-led Congress calling for a National Culture Center. In the early 1960s, Democratic President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-fbi-trump-newly-discovered-files-0bd8ad5569f5fa3ed92b8ee9b795c9e7">John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;launched a fundraising initiative, and his successor, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lbj-stolen-election-tapes-box-13-mangan-5a81206d635d632daa9dbe6219ac3848">Lyndon B. Johnson</a>, signed into law a 1964 bill renaming the project the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Kennedy had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-files-trump-release-381cd547e10e4f41d27a8e020bb6a435">assassinated the year before</a>.

Associated Press writer Mark Kennedy in New York contributed to this report.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/darlene-superville">DARLENE SUPERVILLE</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/chris-megerian">CHRIS MEGERIAN</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The drama in the audience rivaled the spectacle on stage on Wednesday at the Kennedy Center, where President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;went to the opening night of “Les Misérables” as he tightens his grip on the venerable performing arts institution.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> depart for Les Miserables at the Kennedy Center <a href="https://t.co/tXjXnuM8Sz">pic.twitter.com/tXjXnuM8Sz</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932932488457801943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was his first time attending a show there since his election, and he was booed and cheered as he took his seat alongside first lady Melania Trump. Near the end of the intermission, someone loudly cursed his name, drawing applause. Several drag queens were in the crowd, their presence a protest against Trump’s complaints that the Kennedy Center had hosted too many drag shows in the past.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨 JUST IN: President Trump and First Lady Melania were greeted with MASSIVE cheers as they took their seats at the Kennedy Center The whole crowd erupted in “USA! USA!” 🇺🇸 So great to see this! Enjoy Les Miserables, Mr. and Mrs. Trump. <a href="https://t.co/DABRgsBS4Y">pic.twitter.com/DABRgsBS4Y</a>&mdash; Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) <a href="https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/1932960041591844984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Drag queens are protesting Trump at the Kennedy Center. Their embarrassing display proves Democrats are the party of shame and disgrace. Get hold of your mental illness. All of you. <a href="https://t.co/WvHSpvPPx8">pic.twitter.com/WvHSpvPPx8</a>&mdash; Colette Harrington (@sweetcarolinatv) <a href="https://twitter.com/sweetcarolinatv/status/1932974131026538906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Despite the condemnation, the event had a MAGA-does-Broadway feel. Ric Grenell, the Trump-appointed interim leader of the Kennedy Center, was there, as were Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha. Before the show began, Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-law-firm-white-house-executive-order-31228bd5bac1fcabbb243b603e1ccb57">Pam Bondi</a>&nbsp;chatted with guests and Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-acip-vaccine-committee-9f58e1f004075b081718ff078de88d76">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;took selfies. Laura Loomer, the conspiracy theorist who has advised Trump on personnel decisions, posted a video from a seat near the stage.Trump walked the red carpet with the first lady when they arrived at the Kennedy Center, which he’s been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kennedy-center-board-chairman-firings-21cd0018c6e9f591d59becea8573d8c0">remaking in his image</a>&nbsp;while excising what he describes as liberal ideology.“We want to bring it back, and we want to bring it back better than ever,” Trump said.The Republican president has a particular affection for “Les Misérables,” the sprawling musical set in 19th-century France, and has occasionally played its songs at his events. One of them, “Do You Hear the People Sing?,” is a revolutionary rallying cry inspired by the 1832 rebellion against the French king.The three-hour production featured singing and dancing, with the sounds of explosions and gunfire filling the theater as protesters and soldiers clashed on stage. For Trump’s critics, it was an unnerving echo of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-gavin-newsom-immigration-protests-a8269425e604f6f03affdc627a2a5721">what’s unfolding in Los Angeles</a>, where Trump has deployed National Guard troops in response to protests over his deportation policies.“Someone explain the plot to him,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, wrote on social media.Terry Gee, a bartender, bought his ticket for the show in November and didn’t mind Trump’s presence. It’s his sixth time seeing “Les Misérables,” and he said, “I’m going to enjoy the show regardless.”Hannah Watkins, a nurse, only learned that Trump would be there when the Kennedy Center distributed information about extra security and she searched online to see what was happening.“I’ve seen a lot of famous people so far, which is exciting,” said Watkins, who had claimed a spot near the VIP entrance with her mother. “Honestly, we just like ‘Les Mis’ and are excited to be here.”Before Trump, presidential involvement in the Kennedy Center’s affairs had been limited to naming members to the board of trustees and attending the taping of its annual honors program in the fall.But after returning to office in January, Trump stunned the arts world by firing the Kennedy Center’s longtime director and board and replacing them with loyalists, who then named him as chairman. Trump promised to overhaul its programming, management and even appearance as part of an effort to put his stamp on the national arts scene.His latest moves have upset some of the center’s patrons and performers.In March,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/vice-president-jd-vance-and-his-wife-heckled-by-crowd-at-the-kennedy-center-concert-35b9ac6439fa4f0d9b4df421aa293b1a">the audience booed</a>&nbsp;the Vances after they slipped into upper-level seats to hear the National Symphony Orchestra. Trump appointed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">Usha Vance</a>&nbsp;to the Kennedy Center board along with Bondi, White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-susie-wiles-32df8958bedde5f3f2d55fd071979692">Susie Wiles</a>&nbsp;and Fox News Channel hosts Maria Bartiromo and Laura Ingraham, among other supporters.Sales of subscription packages are said to have declined since Trump’s takeover, and several touring productions, including “Hamilton,” have canceled planned runs at the center. Actor Issa Rae and musician Rhiannon Giddens scrapped scheduled appearances, and Kennedy Center consultants including musician Ben Folds and singer Renée Fleming resigned.Understudies may have performed in some roles Wednesday night because of boycotts by “Les Misérables” cast members, but Trump said he wasn’t bothered by anyone skipping the performance.“I couldn’t care less,” he said.Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has adopted a more aggressive posture toward the arts. The White House has taken steps to cancel millions of dollars in previously awarded federal humanities grants to arts and culture groups, and Trump’s budget blueprint&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-endowment-arts-grants-resign-rescinded-d001ce166f50de965b6a226f5d5a672a">proposed eliminating</a>&nbsp;the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.Trump has also targeted Smithsonian museums by signing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-smithsonian-executive-order-improper-ideology-558ebfab722f603e94e02a1a4b06ed4d">executive orders to restrict their funding</a>&nbsp;and by attempting to fire the director of the National Portrait Gallery.The president characterized previous programming at the Kennedy Center as “out of control with rampant political propaganda” and said it featured “some very inappropriate shows,” including a “Marxist anti-police performance” and “lesbian-only Shakespeare.”The Kennedy Center, which is supported by government money and private donations, opened in 1971 and for decades has been seen as an apolitical celebration of the arts.It was first conceived in the late 1950s during the administration of Republican President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/dwight-eisenhower">Dwight Eisenhower</a>, who backed a bill from the Democratic-led Congress calling for a National Culture Center. In the early 1960s, Democratic President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-fbi-trump-newly-discovered-files-0bd8ad5569f5fa3ed92b8ee9b795c9e7">John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;launched a fundraising initiative, and his successor, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lbj-stolen-election-tapes-box-13-mangan-5a81206d635d632daa9dbe6219ac3848">Lyndon B. Johnson</a>, signed into law a 1964 bill renaming the project the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Kennedy had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-files-trump-release-381cd547e10e4f41d27a8e020bb6a435">assassinated the year before</a>.___Associated Press writer Mark Kennedy in New York contributed to this report.

Drama in the audience as Trump attends 'Les Misérables' at Kennedy Center

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas woman accused in the death of a 7-year-old boy was scheduled to return to court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing before Judge Sean Hatfield.

  Tasha Diane Dillard, 25, Wichita, waived her preliminary hearing and the case will be set for arraignment at a later date, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

She has been charged with 1st degree murder and 7 counts of aggravated endangering a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On a Sunday afternoon in March, police responded to a call of a shooting at an apartment in the 3700 block of E Ross Parkway, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The caller reported that someone had been shot and that a child was bleeding.

When officers arrived, they found 7-year-old Davion Gunter suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Davion was transported to a local hospital, where he was&nbsp; pronounced deceased.

At the scene, officers found seven other children and multiple adults. Wichita Police homicide investigators and the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit responded immediately, conducting interviews and gathered evidence.

As a result, police took Dillard into custody, and the children were placed in protective care. Dillard remains jailed on a&nbsp; bond of $500,000.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742206494454.png" alt="Dillard -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Dillard -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas woman accused in the death of a 7-year-old boy was scheduled to return to court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing before Judge Sean Hatfield. Tasha Diane Dillard, 25, Wichita, waived her preliminary hearing and the case will be set for arraignment at a later date, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.She has been charged with 1st degree murder and 7 counts of aggravated endangering a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On a Sunday afternoon in March, police responded to a call of a shooting at an apartment in the 3700 block of E Ross Parkway, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The caller reported that someone had been shot and that a child was bleeding.When officers arrived, they found 7-year-old Davion Gunter suffering from a gunshot wound to his torso. Davion was transported to a local hospital, where he was&nbsp; pronounced deceased.At the scene, officers found seven other children and multiple adults. Wichita Police homicide investigators and the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit responded immediately, conducting interviews and gathered evidence.As a result, police took Dillard into custody, and the children were placed in protective care. Dillard remains jailed on a&nbsp; bond of $500,000.&nbsp;

Kansas woman accused in child's death avoids court hearing

JOHNSON COUNTY —During a recent severe thunderstorm, Lenexa Police Animal Control Officers responded to a very unexpected, and very wild, intruder, according to a social media report.

 A Lenexa resident discovered a bobcat kitten had found its way inside their home, likely seeking shelter from the storm.


The Animal Control Officer safely captured the young feline and kept it warm and secure overnight. 

The next day, with clearer skies, the kitten was safely released and happily reunited with its mother nearby.



As Lenexa grows, encounters with suburban wildlife can become more common. We’re committed to helping our community safely co-exist with the wild animals that share our environment. Let’s work together to protect both people and wildlife in our beautiful community.

JOHNSON COUNTY —During a recent severe thunderstorm, Lenexa Police Animal Control Officers responded to a very unexpected, and very wild, intruder, according to a social media report.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">During a recent severe thunderstorm, our Animal Control Officers responded to a very unexpected, and very wild, intruder! A Lenexa resident discovered this bobcat kitten had found its way inside their home, likely seeking shelter from the storm. Our Animal Control Officer safely… <a href="https://t.co/Qxh04zzcxD">pic.twitter.com/Qxh04zzcxD</a>&mdash; Lenexa Police (@LenexaPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/LenexaPolice/status/1932545387555946906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> A Lenexa resident discovered a bobcat kitten had found its way inside their home, likely seeking shelter from the storm.
The Animal Control Officer safely captured the young feline and kept it warm and secure overnight. The next day, with clearer skies, the kitten was safely released and happily reunited with its mother nearby.

As Lenexa grows, encounters with suburban wildlife can become more common. We’re committed to helping our community safely co-exist with the wild animals that share our environment. Let’s work together to protect both people and wildlife in our beautiful community.

🎥Bobcat kitten wandered into a Kansas home

DETROIT (AP) —Shares of General Motors rose Wednesday after announcing plans to invest $4 billion to shift some production from Mexico to U.S. manufacturing plants as the automaker navigates tariffs that could drive prices higher.

President Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-automakers-factories-relief-25a400c98e02c01c8c54502384e267e1">signed</a>&nbsp;executive orders in April, relaxing some of his 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, a significant reversal as the import taxes threatened to hurt domestic manufacturers.

Automakers and independent analyses say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autos-tariffs-trump-tax-imports-ford-gm-e53823ef7bbb7b3c46d11eca90aaa638">the tariffs</a>&nbsp;could raise prices, reduce sales and make U.S. production less competitive worldwide. Trump portrayed the changes as a bridge toward automakers moving more production into the United States.

GM said late Tuesday that the investment will be made over the next two years and is for its gas and electric vehicles. The company will add production of the gas-powered Chevrolet Blazer and Chevrolet Equinox, which are made in Mexico, to two American plants starting in 2027. The Blazer will be produced at GM's Spring Hill, Tennessee plant, while the Equinox will be made at its Kansas City, Kansas facility.

GM will also begin making gas-powered full-size SUVs and light duty pickup trucks at its Orion Township, Michigan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-michigan-detroit-electric-vehicles-0bce16cc56438cc2c7b59e2d0a1b564f">plant</a>, which was previously being reconfigured to make electric vehicles until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-orion-factory-electric-pickup-production-delayed-4a8b0db527252a54dd06a39c695d503a">demand for such cars weakened</a>.

The new investment will give GM the ability to assemble more than 2 million vehicles per year in the U.S.

CEO Mary Barra said in a statement on Tuesday that GM is committed to building vehicles in the U.S. and supporting American jobs.

GM has 50 U.S. manufacturing plants and parts facilities in 19 states, including 11 vehicle assembly plants. The company says that almost 1 million people in the U.S. depend on it for their livelihood, including employees, suppliers, and dealers.

Last month GM&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-gm-trump-tariff-barra-721e481b45903a39870fe6d84b3e4bbf">lowered</a>&nbsp;its profit expectations for the year as it braces for a potential impact from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-automakers-factories-relief-25a400c98e02c01c8c54502384e267e1">auto tariffs</a>&nbsp;as high as $5 billion in 2025. The automaker now foresees full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes in a range of $10 billion to $12.5 billion. The guidance includes a current tariff exposure of $4 billion to $5 billion. GM previously predicted 2025 adjusted EBIT between $13.7 billion and $15.7 billion.

Shares of General Motors Co. rose almost 1% before the opening bell Wednesday.

Washington –&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) applauded today’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2025/jun/0611-plants.html">announcement</a>&nbsp;from General Motors that they will be investing $4 billion into U.S. manufacturing plants, including in Kansas City, Kansas.

“General Motors’ announcement to expand production in Kansas is a clear sign that President Trump’s policies are working and bringing back good-paying manufacturing jobs,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“This investment will be a huge boon for the hard-working men and women in the area,&nbsp;and I look forward to seeing what developments come next under this White House.”

Under President Trump’s leadership, Made-in-America is being incentivized again, giving companies more reasons than ever to invest in America.

Additionally, the President’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ will lower the tax rate for those producing products, like vehicles, in the United States, and those who purchase American-made cars will receive Made-in-America Auto Tax breaks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749644825443.png" alt="Piego Connally, assembly team leader at the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo courtesy GM" />
 <figcaption>Piego Connally, assembly team leader at the Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo courtesy GM</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) —Shares of General Motors rose Wednesday after announcing plans to invest $4 billion to shift some production from Mexico to U.S. manufacturing plants as the automaker navigates tariffs that could drive prices higher.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is the Trump Effect in full force. A big win for Kansas — here’s to American manufacturing. <a href="https://t.co/gajjVdYBM6">https://t.co/gajjVdYBM6</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1932569945402904638?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-automakers-factories-relief-25a400c98e02c01c8c54502384e267e1">signed</a>&nbsp;executive orders in April, relaxing some of his 25% tariffs on automobiles and auto parts, a significant reversal as the import taxes threatened to hurt domestic manufacturers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749644941742.png" alt="Image General Motors" />
 <figcaption>Image General Motors</figcaption>
 </figure>Automakers and independent analyses say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autos-tariffs-trump-tax-imports-ford-gm-e53823ef7bbb7b3c46d11eca90aaa638">the tariffs</a>&nbsp;could raise prices, reduce sales and make U.S. production less competitive worldwide. Trump portrayed the changes as a bridge toward automakers moving more production into the United States.GM said late Tuesday that the investment will be made over the next two years and is for its gas and electric vehicles. The company will add production of the gas-powered Chevrolet Blazer and Chevrolet Equinox, which are made in Mexico, to two American plants starting in 2027. The Blazer will be produced at GM's Spring Hill, Tennessee plant, while the Equinox will be made at its Kansas City, Kansas facility.GM will also begin making gas-powered full-size SUVs and light duty pickup trucks at its Orion Township, Michigan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-michigan-detroit-electric-vehicles-0bce16cc56438cc2c7b59e2d0a1b564f">plant</a>, which was previously being reconfigured to make electric vehicles until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-orion-factory-electric-pickup-production-delayed-4a8b0db527252a54dd06a39c695d503a">demand for such cars weakened</a>.The new investment will give GM the ability to assemble more than 2 million vehicles per year in the U.S.CEO Mary Barra said in a statement on Tuesday that GM is committed to building vehicles in the U.S. and supporting American jobs.GM has 50 U.S. manufacturing plants and parts facilities in 19 states, including 11 vehicle assembly plants. The company says that almost 1 million people in the U.S. depend on it for their livelihood, including employees, suppliers, and dealers.Last month GM&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/general-motors-gm-trump-tariff-barra-721e481b45903a39870fe6d84b3e4bbf">lowered</a>&nbsp;its profit expectations for the year as it braces for a potential impact from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-automakers-factories-relief-25a400c98e02c01c8c54502384e267e1">auto tariffs</a>&nbsp;as high as $5 billion in 2025. The automaker now foresees full-year adjusted earnings before interest and taxes in a range of $10 billion to $12.5 billion. The guidance includes a current tariff exposure of $4 billion to $5 billion. GM previously predicted 2025 adjusted EBIT between $13.7 billion and $15.7 billion.Shares of General Motors Co. rose almost 1% before the opening bell Wednesday.Washington –&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) applauded today’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://news.gm.com/home.detail.html/Pages/news/us/en/2025/jun/0611-plants.html">announcement</a>&nbsp;from General Motors that they will be investing $4 billion into U.S. manufacturing plants, including in Kansas City, Kansas.“General Motors’ announcement to expand production in Kansas is a clear sign that President Trump’s policies are working and bringing back good-paying manufacturing jobs,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“This investment will be a huge boon for the hard-working men and women in the area,&nbsp;and I look forward to seeing what developments come next under this White House.”Under President Trump’s leadership, Made-in-America is being incentivized again, giving companies more reasons than ever to invest in America.Additionally, the President’s ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ will lower the tax rate for those producing products, like vehicles, in the United States, and those who purchase American-made cars will receive Made-in-America Auto Tax breaks.Background:<ul>
 <li>Senator Marshall&nbsp;previously introduced the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/BILLS-119s995is.pdf">Choice in Automobile Retail Sales (CARS)&nbsp;Act&nbsp;</a>to&nbsp;counter the Biden Administration’s radical environmental agenda and executive overreach by preventing the implementation of a proposed rule and other regulations that essentially seek to eliminate the internal combustion engine.</li><li>Senator Marshall also previously&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/marshall-crapo-cruz-walberg-lead-call-for-biden-admin-to-withdraw-ev-mandate/">led calls</a>&nbsp;for the withdrawal of the Biden Administration’s proposed Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks, which would have effectively mandated the mass production of electric vehicles (EVs) and a phase-out of gas-powered cars and trucks.</li>
 </ul>

Senator praises GM's $4 billion investment to benefit Kansas plant

CLOUD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Cloud County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013&nbsp;GMC Acadia driven by Kathy A. Hansen, 72, Smith Center, was eastbound on U.S. 24 just north of 130th Road.

The SUV crossed the center line and collided with a westbound 2012 Ford Taurus driven by Harry L&nbsp;Hodge, 18,&nbsp;Canandaigua, New York.&nbsp;&nbsp;After impact, the the Ford rolled and struck the guard rail, and came to rest in the north ditch.

Hodge was pronounced pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia. EMS transported Hansen to Wesley Medical Center. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

CLOUD COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred just after 5:00 pm on Wednesday in Cloud County.

The Patrol reported a&nbsp; vehicle&nbsp; was eastbound on U.S. 24 just north of 130th Road. The vehicle crossed the center line, colliding with another vehicle head-on. After impact, the westbound vehicle rolled and struck the guard rail, coming to rest in the north ditch.

The Patrol released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

CLOUD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Cloud County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013&nbsp;GMC Acadia driven by Kathy A. Hansen, 72, Smith Center, was eastbound on U.S. 24 just north of 130th Road.The SUV crossed the center line and collided with a westbound 2012 Ford Taurus driven by Harry L&nbsp;Hodge, 18,&nbsp;Canandaigua, New York.&nbsp;&nbsp;After impact, the the Ford rolled and struck the guard rail, and came to rest in the north ditch.Hodge was pronounced pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia. EMS transported Hansen to Wesley Medical Center. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.--------------CLOUD COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred just after 5:00 pm on Wednesday in Cloud County.The Patrol reported a&nbsp; vehicle&nbsp; was eastbound on U.S. 24 just north of 130th Road. The vehicle crossed the center line, colliding with another vehicle head-on. After impact, the westbound vehicle rolled and struck the guard rail, coming to rest in the north ditch.The Patrol released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

KHP investigating a fatal head-on crash

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for the murder of his boyfriend.

On June 3, Judge Erica Schoenig sentenced 32-year-old Joseph Andrew Wacaster to life in prison without the possibility of&nbsp; parole for 25-years for first degree premeditated murder in the death of 27-year-old Cade Blackburn.

In April Wacaster plead guilty to the crime.

In March of 2024, Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in Edgerton where they found a man’s body, later identified as Blackburn, inside the residence.

&nbsp;Prosecutors said Blackburn and Wacaster were in a relationship.

According to an affidavit on the case, police reported finding Blackburn’s body covered with the family board game SORRY along with a Bible. Deputies also recovered a large butcher knife with blood on it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749153973366.png" alt="Wacaster photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Wacaster photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for the murder of his boyfriend.On June 3, Judge Erica Schoenig sentenced 32-year-old Joseph Andrew Wacaster to life in prison without the possibility of&nbsp; parole for 25-years for first degree premeditated murder in the death of 27-year-old Cade Blackburn.In April Wacaster plead guilty to the crime.In March of 2024, Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in Edgerton where they found a man’s body, later identified as Blackburn, inside the residence.&nbsp;Prosecutors said Blackburn and Wacaster were in a relationship.According to an affidavit on the case, police reported finding Blackburn’s body covered with the family board game SORRY along with a Bible. Deputies also recovered a large butcher knife with blood on it.

Police found Kan. murder victim covered with a family board game

President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security is advertising a new tip line to report illegal aliens in the midst of the immigration raids across the country.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department has made nearly 400 arrests and detentions since Saturday in connection to immigration protests.

The vast majority arrests have been for failing to leave the area in defiance of requests from law enforcement, according to police. There have been a handful of more serious charges including for assault against police officers and for possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun.

Demonstrators critical of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency returned to lower Manhattan on Wednesday evening, a day after dozens of protesters were detained.

President Trump’s Department of Homeland Security is advertising a new tip line to report illegal aliens in the midst of the immigration raids across the country.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhomelandsecurity%2Fposts%2Fpfbid037zrZLtSC7CdzCV2bbb54dpKXeDpdXfAGqia5g4NkCUFzHyfGMDbig1NvLJAgPp44l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="615" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department has made nearly 400 arrests and detentions since Saturday in connection to immigration protests.The vast majority arrests have been for failing to leave the area in defiance of requests from law enforcement, according to police. There have been a handful of more serious charges including for assault against police officers and for possession of a Molotov cocktail and a gun.Here's the latest:<h2>Demonstrators return to lower Manhattan</h2>Demonstrators critical of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency returned to lower Manhattan on Wednesday evening, a day after dozens of protesters were detained.Groups of people chanting and holding anti-ICE signs once again gathered around the area of Foley Square. New York City police did not immediately have information about possible arrests.Police detained more than 80 people during protests Tuesday evening into early Wednesday.<h2>Protesters gather in San Antonio</h2>More than two dozen officers with the Texas Department of Public Safety told a small group of protestors that the Alamo in San Antonio, where a demonstration was planned to take place, was closed.Dozens of people gathered hundreds of feet outside of the Alamo holding signs in support of immigrants and in opposition to President Trump.“I think the National Guard made a lot of people afraid,” Pinky Ochoa, 21, said at City Hall, where another protest was scheduled to take place.“I think a lot of people fear what’s going to happen,” Pedro Ruiz, 53, said about the mostly quiet downtown.Officers with the Public Safety Department said the Texas National Guard was present at a protest in downtown San Antonio. Members were not seen standing with law enforcement in front of a small crowd of demonstrators.<h2>LA top prosecutor expects to file dozens of criminal cases against peaceful protest disruptors</h2>District Attorney Nathan Hochman highlighted five cases brought in recent days, with charges including assault, grand theft and felony vandalism.In one case, suspects allegedly shot fireworks at police officers. Two other defendants are accused of driving their motorcycles into a line of officers.Hochman said investigators were reviewing video from demonstrations that turned violent over the weekend and more charges are pending.He said people are encouraged to engage in peaceful demonstration, “but the moment they engage in illegal acts, they are no longer legitimate First Amendment protestors. They are criminals.”