WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;announced Wednesday that China will make it easier for American industry to obtain much-needed needed magnets and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rare-earths-trump-tariffs-china-trade-war-effd6a7ec64b5830df9d3c76ab9b607a">rare earth minerals</a>, clearing the way for talks to continue between the world's two biggest economies. In return, Trump said, the U.S. will stop efforts to revoke the visas of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-visas-trump-guidance-social-media-a1f5180ce83560aff66dd65534906697">Chinese nationals on U.S. college campuses</a>.

Trump’s comment on social media came after two days of high-level U.S.-China trade talks in London.

Details remain scarce. Trump didn't fully spell out what concessions the U.S. made. Beijing has not confirmed what the negotiators agreed to, and Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump himself have yet to sign off on it.

What Trump described as a “deal’’ is actually less than that: It’s a “framework’’ meant to set the stage for more substantive talks.

And Trump's own comments created confusion about what was happening to his taxes - tariffs — on Chinese imports, generating uncertainty about more than $660 billion in annual trade between the two countries.

On social media, Trump declared: “WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%. RELATIONSHIP IS EXCELLENT!” But a White House official, who was not authorized to discuss the terms publicly and insisted on anonymity to describe them, said the 55% was not an increase on the previous 30% tariff on China because Trump was including pre-existing tariffs, including some left over from his first term.

“We have no idea what the rules are,″ said Rick Woldenberg, CEO of the educational toy company Learning Resources, who is part of a lawsuit challenging Trump’s authority to impose the tariffs.

In a follow-up social media post, Trump said he and Xi "are going to work closely together to open up China to American Trade. This would be a great WIN for both countries!!!”

The framework emerged late Tuesday in London after intense talks involving U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer. Leading the Chinese delegation was Vice Premier He Lifeng.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has deployed tariffs aggressively, seeing them as a way to raise money for the federal government, protect American industries, lure factories back to the United States and pressure other countries into bending to his will.

He has imposed baseline 10% tariffs on imports from almost every country on earth after having introduced and then suspended for 90 days bigger tariffs on countries based on the size of U.S. trade deficits last year.

To American trading partners and to businesses calculating their import tax bills, the president's mercurial approach to trade policy can be baffling. For example, he recently doubled his steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%, likely increasing costs for U.S. manufacturers and construction companies that rely on the metals as raw materials.

Likewise, he threatened a 50% tariff on the European Union under the belief that it would jumpstart talks with the bloc, only to back down as his self-imposed 90-day negotiating period is set to expire around July 9.

But his approach to China has been especially bewildering. After imposing a 20% tariff on Chinese imports, the American president quickly upped the ante, raising the levy to 54% to offset what he said were China’s unfair trade practices. Then, enraged when China retaliated with tariffs of its own, he increased those levies to a staggering 145%. Beijing counterpunched with 125% tariffs on U.S. imports.

Those triple-digit tariffs threatened to effectively end trade between the United States and China, causing a hair-raising selloff in financial markets. At a meeting in Geneva last month, the two countries agreed to back off: America's tariffs went back down to a still-high 30% and China's to 10%.

In April, the Chinese announced licensing requirements that slowed the supply of desperately needed rare earth minerals to the United States. Furious about the move, Trump threatened to call off the Geneva arrangement, setting the stage for talks Monday and Tuesday in London. And there the Chinese agreed to speed up the rare earths shipments.

The agreement came as an international rights group said that several global brands are among dozens of companies at risk of using forced labor through their Chinese supply chains because they use critical minerals or buy minerals-based products sourced from the far-western Xinjiang region of China.

The report by the Netherlands-based Global Rights Compliance says companies including Avon, Walmart, Nescafe, Coca-Cola and Sherwin-Williams may be linked to titanium sourced from Xinjiang, where rights groups allege the Chinese government runs coercive labor practices targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-china-asia-beijing-d73f6a5b82a58209480f5aa010895100">predominantly Muslim Uyghurs</a>&nbsp;and other Turkic minorities.

Many analysts complained that all the drama hadn't accomplished much.

Dan Kritenbrink, who was assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Biden administration, said the London meeting produced “a fragile truce.”

“Both sides have now demonstrated that they know where the other’s weak points are,” said Kritenbank, now a partner at the Asia Group. "They demonstrated that they both have leverage and tools they can use to inflict damage on the other.''

The Chinese know that when it comes to rare earths they “can turn that spigot on and off at will... They really have incredible leverage over the United States in the global economy with rare earths, and they’re not afraid to use it.''

Still, he welcomed the London ceasefire because "the alternative is no truce at all, and a supply chain war that threatens not just U.S. and Chinese economies but the global economy as well.”

Danny Russel, vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Trump’s latest pressure campaign on China appeared to “be ending with a whimper, not a bang.”

“The U.S. found it needed to back off the restrictions it had thought would generate leverage,'' he said, "and in exchange, they get merely a promise by the Chinese to dole out critical minerals a bit more quickly.”

Veronique de Rugy, senior research fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center, dismissed the London truce as "a handshake deal ... It can change at any time.''

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749643693613.png" alt="White House photo President Trump on his way to Fort Bragg on Tuesday" />
                        <figcaption>White House photo President Trump on his way to Fort Bragg on Tuesday</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;announced Wednesday that China will make it easier for American industry to obtain much-needed needed magnets and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rare-earths-trump-tariffs-china-trade-war-effd6a7ec64b5830df9d3c76ab9b607a">rare earth minerals</a>, clearing the way for talks to continue between the world's two biggest economies. In return, Trump said, the U.S. will stop efforts to revoke the visas of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-students-visas-trump-guidance-social-media-a1f5180ce83560aff66dd65534906697">Chinese nationals on U.S. college campuses</a>.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was fantastic to team up with Secretary Scott Bessent and Ambassador Jamieson Greer. World-class team delivering world-class results for America. <a href="https://t.co/hWxj1xyNv9">pic.twitter.com/hWxj1xyNv9</a></p>&mdash; Howard Lutnick (@howardlutnick) <a href="https://twitter.com/howardlutnick/status/1932788379080392886?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Trump’s comment on social media came after two days of high-level U.S.-China trade talks in London.</p><p>Details remain scarce. Trump didn't fully spell out what concessions the U.S. made. Beijing has not confirmed what the negotiators agreed to, and Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump himself have yet to sign off on it.</p><p>What Trump described as a “deal’’ is actually less than that: It’s a “framework’’ meant to set the stage for more substantive talks.</p><p>And Trump's own comments created confusion about what was happening to his taxes - tariffs — on Chinese imports, generating uncertainty about more than $660 billion in annual trade between the two countries.</p><p>On social media, Trump declared: “WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%. RELATIONSHIP IS EXCELLENT!” But a White House official, who was not authorized to discuss the terms publicly and insisted on anonymity to describe them, said the 55% was not an increase on the previous 30% tariff on China because Trump was including pre-existing tariffs, including some left over from his first term.</p><p>“We have no idea what the rules are,″ said Rick Woldenberg, CEO of the educational toy company Learning Resources, who is part of a lawsuit challenging Trump’s authority to impose the tariffs.</p><p>In a follow-up social media post, Trump said he and Xi "are going to work closely together to open up China to American Trade. This would be a great WIN for both countries!!!”</p><p>The framework emerged late Tuesday in London after intense talks involving U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer. Leading the Chinese delegation was Vice Premier He Lifeng.</p><p>Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has deployed tariffs aggressively, seeing them as a way to raise money for the federal government, protect American industries, lure factories back to the United States and pressure other countries into bending to his will.</p><p>He has imposed baseline 10% tariffs on imports from almost every country on earth after having introduced and then suspended for 90 days bigger tariffs on countries based on the size of U.S. trade deficits last year.</p><p>To American trading partners and to businesses calculating their import tax bills, the president's mercurial approach to trade policy can be baffling. For example, he recently doubled his steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%, likely increasing costs for U.S. manufacturers and construction companies that rely on the metals as raw materials.</p><p>Likewise, he threatened a 50% tariff on the European Union under the belief that it would jumpstart talks with the bloc, only to back down as his self-imposed 90-day negotiating period is set to expire around July 9.</p><p>But his approach to China has been especially bewildering. After imposing a 20% tariff on Chinese imports, the American president quickly upped the ante, raising the levy to 54% to offset what he said were China’s unfair trade practices. Then, enraged when China retaliated with tariffs of its own, he increased those levies to a staggering 145%. Beijing counterpunched with 125% tariffs on U.S. imports.</p><p>Those triple-digit tariffs threatened to effectively end trade between the United States and China, causing a hair-raising selloff in financial markets. At a meeting in Geneva last month, the two countries agreed to back off: America's tariffs went back down to a still-high 30% and China's to 10%.</p><p>In April, the Chinese announced licensing requirements that slowed the supply of desperately needed rare earth minerals to the United States. Furious about the move, Trump threatened to call off the Geneva arrangement, setting the stage for talks Monday and Tuesday in London. And there the Chinese agreed to speed up the rare earths shipments.</p><p>The agreement came as an international rights group said that several global brands are among dozens of companies at risk of using forced labor through their Chinese supply chains because they use critical minerals or buy minerals-based products sourced from the far-western Xinjiang region of China.</p><p>The report by the Netherlands-based Global Rights Compliance says companies including Avon, Walmart, Nescafe, Coca-Cola and Sherwin-Williams may be linked to titanium sourced from Xinjiang, where rights groups allege the Chinese government runs coercive labor practices targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-china-asia-beijing-d73f6a5b82a58209480f5aa010895100">predominantly Muslim Uyghurs</a>&nbsp;and other Turkic minorities.</p><p>Many analysts complained that all the drama hadn't accomplished much.</p><p>Dan Kritenbrink, who was assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the Biden administration, said the London meeting produced “a fragile truce.”</p><p>“Both sides have now demonstrated that they know where the other’s weak points are,” said Kritenbank, now a partner at the Asia Group. "They demonstrated that they both have leverage and tools they can use to inflict damage on the other.''</p><p>The Chinese know that when it comes to rare earths they “can turn that spigot on and off at will... They really have incredible leverage over the United States in the global economy with rare earths, and they’re not afraid to use it.''</p><p>Still, he welcomed the London ceasefire because "the alternative is no truce at all, and a supply chain war that threatens not just U.S. and Chinese economies but the global economy as well.”</p><p>Danny Russel, vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Trump’s latest pressure campaign on China appeared to “be ending with a whimper, not a bang.”</p><p>“The U.S. found it needed to back off the restrictions it had thought would generate leverage,'' he said, "and in exchange, they get merely a promise by the Chinese to dole out critical minerals a bit more quickly.”</p><p>Veronique de Rugy, senior research fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center, dismissed the London truce as "a handshake deal ... It can change at any time.''</p><p>___</p>

Trump shares good news on China trade deal, tariffs 

KANSAS CITY —One person was injured in a crash just before 12:30p.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.

The crash occurred&nbsp;near 1700 NE. Parvin Road, according to Kansas Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. 

An SUV with a single occupant struck the O'Reilly Auto Parts store causing significant damage to the building.&nbsp; EMS transported the driver to a local hospital for evaluation out of precaution, according to Hopkins.

&nbsp;No other injuries were reported at this incident. The tow truck company was able to safely remove the vehicle.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749592547837.png" alt="Photos KCFD" />
                        <figcaption>Photos KCFD</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY —One person was injured in a crash just before 12:30p.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749592567556.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The crash occurred&nbsp;near 1700 NE. Parvin Road, according to Kansas Fire Department Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. </p><p>An SUV with a single occupant struck the O'Reilly Auto Parts store causing significant damage to the building.&nbsp; EMS transported the driver to a local hospital for evaluation out of precaution, according to Hopkins.</p><p>&nbsp;No other injuries were reported at this incident. The tow truck company was able to safely remove the vehicle.&nbsp;</p>

One hospitalized after SUV slams into KC auto parts store

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a bicyclist is due in court Wednesday 

Christopher Johnson, 23, will appear before Judge Eric Williams for an arraignment hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In August, police responded to a traffic collision involving a vehicle and an electric bicycle at 2400 N. Hoover in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders found 43-year-old Thomas Doyle of Wichita who was riding the bike unresponsive. Thomas was later pronounced deceased at the scene by Sedgwick County EMS.

Investigators determined Doyle was northbound on Hoover when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Johnsaon that then continued driving north.

On August 22, police arrested Johnson on felony allegations, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=751504">Sedgwick County booking records.</a>&nbsp; He bonded out of jail the following day.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724409391079.png" alt="Johnson-photo Sedgwick County" />
                        <figcaption>Johnson-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man accused in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a bicyclist is due in court Wednesday </p><p>Christopher Johnson, 23, will appear before Judge Eric Williams for an arraignment hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.</p><p>In August, police responded to a traffic collision involving a vehicle and an electric bicycle at 2400 N. Hoover in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.</p><p>First responders found 43-year-old Thomas Doyle of Wichita who was riding the bike unresponsive. Thomas was later pronounced deceased at the scene by Sedgwick County EMS.</p><p>Investigators determined Doyle was northbound on Hoover when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Johnsaon that then continued driving north.</p><p>On August 22, police arrested Johnson on felony allegations, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=751504">Sedgwick County booking records.</a>&nbsp; He bonded out of jail the following day.</p>

Kansas man back in court for fatal hit-and-run that killed bicyclist

WASHINGTON (AP)—Elon Musk stepped back from his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-their-own-words-c0108037881469f0b5bdd8df87eba6b4">explosive feud</a>&nbsp;with U.S. President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1932695486684950962">writing on X</a>&nbsp;that he regrets some of his posts about his onetime ally and that they went “too far.”

Early Wednesday morning, he&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1932695486684950962">posted</a>&nbsp;“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”

Musk's break with a president whom he spent hundreds of millions of dollars to elect appeared to put an end to his influence in the White House and prompted concerns about effects on his companies. As a major government contractor, Musk’s businesses could be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tesla-spacex-starlink-social-media-63bb732f2ce6ad3744f24762526286c3">particularly vulnerable</a>&nbsp;to retribution, and Trump has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-their-own-words-c0108037881469f0b5bdd8df87eba6b4">threatened</a>&nbsp;to cut Musk’s contracts.

Musk earlier deleted a post in which he claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president’s association with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-assassination-trump-fbi-conspiracies-aaeb07814bb8b6b3fe595f5b68e4163a">infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein</a>. Meanwhile, other posts that irritated Trump, including ones in which Musk called the spending bill an “abomination” and claimed credit for Trump’s election victory, remained live.

On Sunday, Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker that he has no desire to repair their relationship and warned that Musk could face “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-elon-musk-theo-von-fd6f6af0b147d129836c243df31a7fc2">serious consequences</a>&nbsp;” if he tries to help Democrats in upcoming elections.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748629615367.png" alt="File image Elon Musk from White House video" />
                        <figcaption>File image Elon Musk from White House video</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP)—Elon Musk stepped back from his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-their-own-words-c0108037881469f0b5bdd8df87eba6b4">explosive feud</a>&nbsp;with U.S. President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1932695486684950962">writing on X</a>&nbsp;that he regrets some of his posts about his onetime ally and that they went “too far.”</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I regret some of my posts about President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> last week. They went too far.</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1932695486684950962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Early Wednesday morning, he&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1932695486684950962">posted</a>&nbsp;“I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.”</p><p>Musk's break with a president whom he spent hundreds of millions of dollars to elect appeared to put an end to his influence in the White House and prompted concerns about effects on his companies. As a major government contractor, Musk’s businesses could be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tesla-spacex-starlink-social-media-63bb732f2ce6ad3744f24762526286c3">particularly vulnerable</a>&nbsp;to retribution, and Trump has already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-their-own-words-c0108037881469f0b5bdd8df87eba6b4">threatened</a>&nbsp;to cut Musk’s contracts.</p><p>Musk earlier deleted a post in which he claimed without evidence that the government was concealing information about the president’s association with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-assassination-trump-fbi-conspiracies-aaeb07814bb8b6b3fe595f5b68e4163a">infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein</a>. Meanwhile, other posts that irritated Trump, including ones in which Musk called the spending bill an “abomination” and claimed credit for Trump’s election victory, remained live.</p><p>On Sunday, Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker that he has no desire to repair their relationship and warned that Musk could face “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vance-elon-musk-theo-von-fd6f6af0b147d129836c243df31a7fc2">serious consequences</a>&nbsp;” if he tries to help Democrats in upcoming elections.</p>

Read Elon Musk's post as he backs off from feud with Trump

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas woman accused in the death of a 7-year-old boy is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday afternoon before Judge Sean Hatfield, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

&nbsp;Tasha Diane Dillard, 25, Wichita, was 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><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas woman accused in the death of a 7-year-old boy is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday afternoon before Judge Sean Hatfield, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.</p><p>&nbsp;Tasha Diane Dillard, 25, Wichita, was charged with 1st degree murder and 7 counts of aggravated endangering a child, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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;</p>

Kansas woman accused in child's death is due back in court

DALLAS (AP) — Southern Baptist delegates at their national meeting overwhelmingly endorsed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-pornography-sports-betting-gay-marriage-aac48e558ea4b7f1c3b869b917e6eea2">ban on</a>&nbsp;same-sex marriage — including a call for a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court's 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide.

They also called for legislators to curtail sports betting and to support policies that promote childbearing.

The votes Tuesday came at the gathering of more than 10,000 church representatives at the annual meeting of the nation's largest Protestant denomination.

The wide-ranging resolution doesn’t use the word “ban,” but it left no room for legal same-sex marriage in calling for the “overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God’s design for marriage and family.” Further, the resolution affirmatively calls “for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one women.”

A reversal of the Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell decision wouldn’t in and of itself amount to a nationwide ban. At the time of that ruling, 36 states had already legalized same-sex marriage, and support remains strong in many areas.

However, if the convention got its wish, not only would Obergefell be overturned, but so would every law and court ruling that affirmed same-sex marriage.

There was no debate on the marriage resolution. That in itself is not surprising in the solidly conservative denomination, which has long defined marriage as between one man and one woman. However, it marks an especially assertive step in its call for the reversal of a decade-old Supreme Court ruling, as well as any other legal pillars to same-sex marriage in law and court precedent.

Gender identity, fertility and other issues

The marriage issue was incorporated into a much larger resolution on marriage and family — one that calls for civil law to be based on what the convention says is the divinely created order as stated in the Bible.

The resolution says legislators have a duty to “pass laws that reflect the truth of creation and natural law — about marriage, sex, human life, and family” and to oppose laws contradicting “what God has made plain through nature and Scripture.”

The same resolution calls for recognizing “the biological reality of male and female” and opposes "any law or policy that compels people to speak falsehoods about sex and gender."

It urges Christians to “embrace marriage and childbearing” and to see children “as blessings rather than burdens."

But it also frames that issue as one of public policy. It calls for “for renewed moral clarity in public discourse regarding the crisis of declining fertility and for policies that support the bearing and raising of children within intact, married families.”

It laments that modern culture is “pursuing willful childlessness which contributes to a declining fertility rate,” echoing a growing subject of discourse on the religious and political right.

The pornography resolution, which had no debate, calls such material destructive, addictive and exploitive and says governments have the power to ban it.

The sports betting resolution draws on Southern Baptists' historic opposition to gambling. It called sports betting “harmful and predatory.” One pastor urged an amendment to distinguish between low-stakes, recreational gambling and predatory, addictive gambling activities. But his proposed amendment failed.

Andrew Walker, chair of the Committee on Resolutions, said at a news conference that the marriage resolution shows that Southern Baptists aren’t going along with the widespread social acceptance of same-sex marriage.

But Walker, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, acknowledged that a realistic rollback strategy would require incremental steps, such as seeking to overturn Obergefell.

“I’m clear-eyed about the difficulties and the headwinds in this resolution,” he said.

Whistleblower's death casts pall on Dallas meeting

The two-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-pornography-sports-betting-gay-marriage-aac48e558ea4b7f1c3b869b917e6eea2">annual meeting</a>&nbsp;began Tuesday morning with praise sessions and optimistic reports about growing numbers of baptisms. But casting a pall over the gathering is the recent death of one of the most high-profile whistleblowers in the Southern Baptists' scandal of sexual abuse.

Jennifer Lyell, a onetime denominational publishing executive who went public in 2019 with allegations that she had been sexually abused by a seminary professor while a student, died Saturday at 47. She “suffered catastrophic strokes," a friend and fellow advocate,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/R_Denhollander/status/1931774827087667528">Rachael Denhollander</a>, posted Sunday on X.

Friends reported that the backlash Lyell received after going public with her report took a devastating toll on her.

Several abuse survivors and advocates for reform, who previously had a prominent presence in recent SBC meetings, are skipping this year’s gathering, citing lack of progress by the convention.

Two people sought to fill that void, standing vigil outside of the meeting at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas as attendees walked by. The pair held up signs with photos of Lyell and of Gareld Duane Rollins, who died earlier this spring and who was among those who accused longtime SBC power broker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pressler-death-southern-baptist-convention-abuse-ac42aa8817b287fb6963edf3b0110273">Paul Pressler</a>&nbsp;of sexual abuse.

“It’s not a healthy thing for them (survivors) to be here,” said Johnna Harris, host of a podcast on abuse in evangelical ministries. “I felt like it was important for someone to show up. I want people to know there are people who care.”

The SBC Executive Committee, in a 2022 apology,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-nashville-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-sexual-abuse-baptist-3c890a675a018d1e3d83839d2834818f">acknowledged</a>&nbsp;“its failure to adequately listen, protect, and care for Jennifer Lyell when she came forward to share her story.” It also acknowledged the denomination’s official news agency had not accurately reported the situation as “sexual abuse by a trusted minister in a position of power at a Southern Baptist seminary."

SBC officials issued statements this week lamenting Lyell's death, but her fellow advocates have denounced what they say is a failure to implement reforms.

The SBC's 2022 meeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-california-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-baptist-southern-convention-ba7ba613947cc893659b6e8e45ab4b73">voted</a>&nbsp;overwhelmingly to create a way to track pastors and other church workers credibly accused of sex abuse. That came shortly after the release of a blockbuster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baptist-religion-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-southern-convention-bfdbe64389790630488f854c3dae3fd5">report</a>&nbsp;by an outside consultant, which said Southern Baptist leaders mishandled abuse cases and stonewalled victims for years.

But the denomination's Executive Committee president, Jeff Iorg, said earlier this year that creating a database is not a focus and that the committee instead plans to refer churches to existing databases of sex offenders and focus on education about abuse prevention. The committee administers the denomination's day-to-day business.

Advocates for reform don't see those approaches as adequate.

It is the latest instance of “officials trailing out hollow words, impotent task forces and phony dog-and-pony shows of reform,” abuse survivor and longtime advocate Christa Brown wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://baptistnews.com/article/for-abuse-survivors-sbc-meeting-brings-pain-and-lessons/#:~:text=This%20small%20bit%20of%20honesty,and%2Dpony%20shows%20of%20reform.&amp;text=It%20was%20all%20a%20cruel,image%20but%20further%20betrayed%20survivors.">Baptist News Global</a>, which is not SBC-affiliated.

In a related action, the Executive Committee will also be seeking $3 million in convention funding for ongoing legal expenses related to abuse cases.

As of late Tuesday afternoon, attendance was at 10,541 church representatives (known as messengers). That is less than a quarter of the total that thronged the SBC's annual meeting 40 years ago this month in a Dallas showdown that marked the height of battles over control of the convention, ultimately won by the more conservative-fundamentalist side led by Pressler and his allies.

Messengers will also debate whether to institute a constitutional ban on churches with women pastors and to abolish its public-policy arm, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission — which is staunchly conservative, but according to critics, not enough so.

Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC, said Tuesday he would address the “turbulence” during his scheduled remarks Wednesday but was confident in the messengers' support.

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

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749600677424.png" alt="Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley during his address on Tuesday-courtesy image" />
                        <figcaption>Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley during his address on Tuesday-courtesy image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By PETER SMITH</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749600622926.png" alt="Photo Southern Baptist Convention" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Southern Baptist Convention</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>DALLAS (AP) — Southern Baptist delegates at their national meeting overwhelmingly endorsed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-pornography-sports-betting-gay-marriage-aac48e558ea4b7f1c3b869b917e6eea2">ban on</a>&nbsp;same-sex marriage — including a call for a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court's 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide.</p><p>They also called for legislators to curtail sports betting and to support policies that promote childbearing.</p><p>The votes Tuesday came at the gathering of more than 10,000 church representatives at the annual meeting of the nation's largest Protestant denomination.</p><p>The wide-ranging resolution doesn’t use the word “ban,” but it left no room for legal same-sex marriage in calling for the “overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God’s design for marriage and family.” Further, the resolution affirmatively calls “for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one women.”</p><p>A reversal of the Supreme Court's 2015 Obergefell decision wouldn’t in and of itself amount to a nationwide ban. At the time of that ruling, 36 states had already legalized same-sex marriage, and support remains strong in many areas.</p><p>However, if the convention got its wish, not only would Obergefell be overturned, but so would every law and court ruling that affirmed same-sex marriage.</p><p>There was no debate on the marriage resolution. That in itself is not surprising in the solidly conservative denomination, which has long defined marriage as between one man and one woman. However, it marks an especially assertive step in its call for the reversal of a decade-old Supreme Court ruling, as well as any other legal pillars to same-sex marriage in law and court precedent.</p><h2>Gender identity, fertility and other issues</h2><p>The marriage issue was incorporated into a much larger resolution on marriage and family — one that calls for civil law to be based on what the convention says is the divinely created order as stated in the Bible.</p><p>The resolution says legislators have a duty to “pass laws that reflect the truth of creation and natural law — about marriage, sex, human life, and family” and to oppose laws contradicting “what God has made plain through nature and Scripture.”</p><p>The same resolution calls for recognizing “the biological reality of male and female” and opposes "any law or policy that compels people to speak falsehoods about sex and gender."</p><p>It urges Christians to “embrace marriage and childbearing” and to see children “as blessings rather than burdens."</p><p>But it also frames that issue as one of public policy. It calls for “for renewed moral clarity in public discourse regarding the crisis of declining fertility and for policies that support the bearing and raising of children within intact, married families.”</p><p>It laments that modern culture is “pursuing willful childlessness which contributes to a declining fertility rate,” echoing a growing subject of discourse on the religious and political right.</p><p>The pornography resolution, which had no debate, calls such material destructive, addictive and exploitive and says governments have the power to ban it.</p><p>The sports betting resolution draws on Southern Baptists' historic opposition to gambling. It called sports betting “harmful and predatory.” One pastor urged an amendment to distinguish between low-stakes, recreational gambling and predatory, addictive gambling activities. But his proposed amendment failed.</p><p>Andrew Walker, chair of the Committee on Resolutions, said at a news conference that the marriage resolution shows that Southern Baptists aren’t going along with the widespread social acceptance of same-sex marriage.</p><p>But Walker, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, acknowledged that a realistic rollback strategy would require incremental steps, such as seeking to overturn Obergefell.</p><p>“I’m clear-eyed about the difficulties and the headwinds in this resolution,” he said.</p><h2>Whistleblower's death casts pall on Dallas meeting</h2><p>The two-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-pornography-sports-betting-gay-marriage-aac48e558ea4b7f1c3b869b917e6eea2">annual meeting</a>&nbsp;began Tuesday morning with praise sessions and optimistic reports about growing numbers of baptisms. But casting a pall over the gathering is the recent death of one of the most high-profile whistleblowers in the Southern Baptists' scandal of sexual abuse.</p><p>Jennifer Lyell, a onetime denominational publishing executive who went public in 2019 with allegations that she had been sexually abused by a seminary professor while a student, died Saturday at 47. She “suffered catastrophic strokes," a friend and fellow advocate,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/R_Denhollander/status/1931774827087667528">Rachael Denhollander</a>, posted Sunday on X.</p><p>Friends reported that the backlash Lyell received after going public with her report took a devastating toll on her.</p><p>Several abuse survivors and advocates for reform, who previously had a prominent presence in recent SBC meetings, are skipping this year’s gathering, citing lack of progress by the convention.</p><p>Two people sought to fill that void, standing vigil outside of the meeting at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas as attendees walked by. The pair held up signs with photos of Lyell and of Gareld Duane Rollins, who died earlier this spring and who was among those who accused longtime SBC power broker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pressler-death-southern-baptist-convention-abuse-ac42aa8817b287fb6963edf3b0110273">Paul Pressler</a>&nbsp;of sexual abuse.</p><p>“It’s not a healthy thing for them (survivors) to be here,” said Johnna Harris, host of a podcast on abuse in evangelical ministries. “I felt like it was important for someone to show up. I want people to know there are people who care.”</p><h2>Past attempts at reforms in the SBC</h2><p>The SBC Executive Committee, in a 2022 apology,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-nashville-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-sexual-abuse-baptist-3c890a675a018d1e3d83839d2834818f">acknowledged</a>&nbsp;“its failure to adequately listen, protect, and care for Jennifer Lyell when she came forward to share her story.” It also acknowledged the denomination’s official news agency had not accurately reported the situation as “sexual abuse by a trusted minister in a position of power at a Southern Baptist seminary."</p><p>SBC officials issued statements this week lamenting Lyell's death, but her fellow advocates have denounced what they say is a failure to implement reforms.</p><p>The SBC's 2022 meeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-california-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-baptist-southern-convention-ba7ba613947cc893659b6e8e45ab4b73">voted</a>&nbsp;overwhelmingly to create a way to track pastors and other church workers credibly accused of sex abuse. That came shortly after the release of a blockbuster&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baptist-religion-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-southern-convention-bfdbe64389790630488f854c3dae3fd5">report</a>&nbsp;by an outside consultant, which said Southern Baptist leaders mishandled abuse cases and stonewalled victims for years.</p><p>But the denomination's Executive Committee president, Jeff Iorg, said earlier this year that creating a database is not a focus and that the committee instead plans to refer churches to existing databases of sex offenders and focus on education about abuse prevention. The committee administers the denomination's day-to-day business.</p><p>Advocates for reform don't see those approaches as adequate.</p><p>It is the latest instance of “officials trailing out hollow words, impotent task forces and phony dog-and-pony shows of reform,” abuse survivor and longtime advocate Christa Brown wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://baptistnews.com/article/for-abuse-survivors-sbc-meeting-brings-pain-and-lessons/#:~:text=This%20small%20bit%20of%20honesty,and%2Dpony%20shows%20of%20reform.&amp;text=It%20was%20all%20a%20cruel,image%20but%20further%20betrayed%20survivors.">Baptist News Global</a>, which is not SBC-affiliated.</p><p>In a related action, the Executive Committee will also be seeking $3 million in convention funding for ongoing legal expenses related to abuse cases.</p><h2>What else is on the agenda?</h2><p>As of late Tuesday afternoon, attendance was at 10,541 church representatives (known as messengers). That is less than a quarter of the total that thronged the SBC's annual meeting 40 years ago this month in a Dallas showdown that marked the height of battles over control of the convention, ultimately won by the more conservative-fundamentalist side led by Pressler and his allies.</p><p>Messengers will also debate whether to institute a constitutional ban on churches with women pastors and to abolish its public-policy arm, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission — which is staunchly conservative, but according to critics, not enough so.</p><p>Brent Leatherwood, president of the ERLC, said Tuesday he would address the “turbulence” during his scheduled remarks Wednesday but was confident in the messengers' support.</p><p>___</p><p>Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.</p>

Southern Baptists at national meeting call for banning same-sex marriage

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to search for a teen wanted in connection with a homicide in&nbsp; Wichita.

Wichita Police Department issued a felony pick-up for 18-year-old Jaden Watts in connection with the crime. The Sedgwick County District Attorney filed second-degree murder charges against Watts last week. 

Just before 4 a.m. March 22, police responded to an EMS call at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.

First responders located a victim later identified as 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to police. Burgess had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

In April, police issued an alert for Watts for questioning regarding this case.&nbsp;

Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between a suspect and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting. The individuals involved are known to each other, and this is not believed to be a random act of violence.&nbsp;

If you have information about Watts whereabouts, please call 911 immediately or contact WPD Investigators at 316-268-4407.

If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742835831698.png" alt="Watts photo Wichita Police" />
                        <figcaption>Watts photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to search for a teen wanted in connection with a homicide in&nbsp; Wichita.</p><p>Wichita Police Department issued a felony pick-up for 18-year-old Jaden Watts in connection with the crime. The Sedgwick County District Attorney filed second-degree murder charges against Watts last week. </p><p>Just before 4 a.m. March 22, police responded to an EMS call at a residence in the 14000 block of E. Twinlake Drive in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Reboledo.</p><p>First responders located a victim later identified as 24-year-old Demarc Burgess, according to police. Burgess had sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.</p><p>In April, police issued an alert for Watts for questioning regarding this case.&nbsp;</p><p>Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a disturbance broke out between a suspect and Burgess, which ultimately led to the shooting. The individuals involved are known to each other, and this is not believed to be a random act of violence.&nbsp;</p><p>If you have information about Watts whereabouts, please call 911 immediately or contact WPD Investigators at 316-268-4407.</p><p>If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.</p>

Kansas teen charged with murder is still hiding from police

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Police investigators are asking for help solving a&nbsp; incident involving gunfire outside an apartment complex in Lawrence.

The incident happened at the Connections near 31st and Ousdahl about 12:30, as Friday night turned to Saturday morning, according to a media release from Lawrence Police.

 That night, officers collected more than a dozen shell casings in the parking lot outside a unit where a party was going on. Police did not find anyone hit by gunfire, but cars were damaged. Officers talked to several people who heard or saw the events, but when the gunfire rang out, many potential witnesses ran for their own safety. 

Police want anyone who saw the shooter or has information about what happened, to please call. The suspect had been described at a black male between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-8, with a thin build wearing dark clothing and carrying a red backpack. P

lease call non-emergency dispatch at 785.843.0250 or the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceCrime?__cft__[0]=AZVG6BnItQMZx38LBfrf3D5KoWqvq_AW2k3ZiklGCaGBxvr_qY055KcNL-kW1f-ZYuWZ70wQ4CC9WuS-Znaft1RiYJ7SWbCcvsvpU56En92IU12pKagvO3XpOc-gNw6nSiXzJSmpVc6CaTWa5blCjhlG82ZgAB1-7YqRUiEV0Xj7FTn3iK4EKreKMBVmmzis5o2j8ZY3T9xLdCb_5GX4XZCA&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County</a> at 785.843.TIPS.  Tips leading to an arrest could be eligible for a reward and you can choose to remain anonymous.

<p>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Police investigators are asking for help solving a&nbsp; incident involving gunfire outside an apartment complex in Lawrence.</p><p>The incident happened at the Connections near 31st and Ousdahl about 12:30, as Friday night turned to Saturday morning, according to a media release from Lawrence Police.</p><p> That night, officers collected more than a dozen shell casings in the parking lot outside a unit where a party was going on. Police did not find anyone hit by gunfire, but cars were damaged. Officers talked to several people who heard or saw the events, but when the gunfire rang out, many potential witnesses ran for their own safety. </p><p>Police want anyone who saw the shooter or has information about what happened, to please call. The suspect had been described at a black male between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-8, with a thin build wearing dark clothing and carrying a red backpack. P</p><p>lease call non-emergency dispatch at 785.843.0250 or the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawrenceCrime?__cft__[0]=AZVG6BnItQMZx38LBfrf3D5KoWqvq_AW2k3ZiklGCaGBxvr_qY055KcNL-kW1f-ZYuWZ70wQ4CC9WuS-Znaft1RiYJ7SWbCcvsvpU56En92IU12pKagvO3XpOc-gNw6nSiXzJSmpVc6CaTWa5blCjhlG82ZgAB1-7YqRUiEV0Xj7FTn3iK4EKreKMBVmmzis5o2j8ZY3T9xLdCb_5GX4XZCA&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Crime Stoppers of Lawrence and Douglas County</a> at 785.843.TIPS.  Tips leading to an arrest could be eligible for a reward and you can choose to remain anonymous.</p>

Multiple vehicles damaged by gunfire outside Kan. apartment party

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-taxes-investment-section-899-f343d4418707335d8db844c9242751a9">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called protesters in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-trump-immigration-ice-raids-protests-6823da82d8d25e12d392088c7cde40c5">Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;“animals” and “a foreign enemy” in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday as he defended deploying the military on demonstrators opposed to his immigration enforcement raids and as he vowed to “liberate” the West Coast city.

Trump, in his most aggressive language yet regarding the protests, used a speech ostensibly supposed to be used to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army to denounce the protesters while repeating his false statements about the 2020 election being rigged and attacking the previous commander in chief, former President Joe Biden.

The Republican president, who sees the military as a critical tool for domestic goals, has used the recent protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-california-immigration-customs-enforcement-newsom-0482a8935419d88986b890b18db5cc03">objections of California's Democratic governor</a>. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend in Los Angeles, but the demonstrations in the city of 4 million people have largely been centered in several blocks of downtown.

“We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy. That’s what they are,” Trump said Tuesday.

Trump’s heated rhetoric came as he has left open&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-military-los-angeles-a2611009fd40d593f07c58255911513d">the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act</a>, one of the most extreme emergency powers available to the president. It authorizes him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations.

Trump received plenty of cheers from the crowd, which laughed at the president’s jokes and delighted in his dancing to his campaign anthem of “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ymca-dance-rallies-05da758dfeb2dd9c2ed22ebb88610b24">YMCA</a>.” However, some members of the audience were uneasy with certain aspects of his remarks.

Robin Boothe, who voted for Trump and works on the base as an audiology assistant, said the speech was “classic Trump.” However, she also found it to be too partisan, especially his comments on Los Angeles.

“I thought that was better left for a news conference than what we were celebrating today,” the 50-year-old said.

The president called Los Angeles “a trash heap” with “entire neighborhoods under control” of criminals and said the federal government would “use every asset at our disposal to quell the violence and restore law and order.”

“We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean and safe again,” Trump said.

Trump authorized the deployment of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-protests-national-guard-trump-14c9dda32663d7d2c45f2b1c5a1d219c">4,000 National Guard soldiers</a>&nbsp;to the city against the wishes of California Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-gavin-newsom-immigration-protests-a8269425e604f6f03affdc627a2a5721">Gavin Newsom</a>. About 700 Marines were deployed to the Los Angeles area but had not yet been sent to respond to the protests.

Newsom&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-protests-ice-national-guard-9dfd2d025070bb6060d908dd3cf9b1f0">asked a federal court Tuesday to block</a>&nbsp;Trump from using the military in his city. California leaders accused Trump of fanning protesters’ anger and stoking the unrest.

Trump also announced his administration was restoring the names of seven military bases that were given the monikers of Confederate leaders until being changed by the Biden administration. Fort Pickett, Fort Robert E. Lee and Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Gordon in Georgia, Fort Rucker in Alabama and Fort Polk in Louisiana will have their names changed back, Trump said.

Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-congress-hegseth-signal-hearings-c53cd37c2eae4327dd74e4c717057469">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;has already brought back the names of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning in Georgia.

“Can you believe they changed that name in the last administration for a little bit?” Trump said. “We’ll forget all about that.”

As they did when they changed back Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, Defense officials announced Tuesday that they had identified service members with the same last names in order to make the change and not have the bases officially carry Confederate-related names.

Before he spoke, Trump watched the U.S. Army demonstrate a missile strike, a helicopter assault and a building raid, a preview of the kind of show of American military might he's expected to display in the nation's capital for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-parade-military-secret-service-dc-birthday-cb66cba29cdc06ba798521454918271d">a massive military parade this weekend</a>.

Trump has promoted the Army’s anniversary as a reason to hold the parade on Saturday, which is also his 79th birthday. Tanks and other vehicles will roll down city streets in a reminder of how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces after returning to the White House this year.

“I think it’s going to be great,” Trump told reporters at the White House earlier Tuesday. “We’re going to celebrate our country for a change.”

As a backdrop to the parade, “No Kings Day” protests are planned across the country on Saturday to push back against what critics see as the administration's draconian policies. Trump said earlier Tuesday that there would be more immigration raids and that any additional protests would be met with even greater force, including those who show up at the parade.

If they do, Trump said, “they will be met with very big force.”

“I haven't even heard about a protest but you know, this is people that hate our country. But they will be met with very heavy force.”

Fort Bragg, which was briefly Fort Liberty and is near Fayetteville, North Carolina, serves as headquarters for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Highly trained units like the Green Berets and the 82nd Airborne are based there.

The atmosphere resembled a state fair with military flair. Inflatable slides and attractions for children were set up in a field, with artillery, trucks and helicopters parked on another section of the lawn. Right outside the security checkpoint — but still on the base — two stands were selling Trump political hats, T-shirts and other paraphernalia.

Hegseth and Army Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-secretary-driscoll-confirmation-vote-0dc8d52c0f537fabab30bbc2d90e7c7f">Dan Driscoll</a>&nbsp;were also at Tuesday’s event, along with service members, veterans and their families.

Driscoll, who spoke to the crowd before Trump arrived, called the president “the greatest recruiter in our Army’s history.”

Hegseth told the crowd that the U.S. is “restoring the warrior ethos” to its armed forces.

“We’re not a college or a university. We’re not interested in your woke garbage and political correctness,” Hegseth said, drawing cheers.

Price reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Lolita Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. Follow the AP's coverage of President Donald Trump at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump</a>.

<p>FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-taxes-investment-section-899-f343d4418707335d8db844c9242751a9">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called protesters in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-trump-immigration-ice-raids-protests-6823da82d8d25e12d392088c7cde40c5">Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;“animals” and “a foreign enemy” in a speech at Fort Bragg on Tuesday as he defended deploying the military on demonstrators opposed to his immigration enforcement raids and as he vowed to “liberate” the West Coast city.</p><p>Trump, in his most aggressive language yet regarding the protests, used a speech ostensibly supposed to be used to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army to denounce the protesters while repeating his false statements about the 2020 election being rigged and attacking the previous commander in chief, former President Joe Biden.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump Delivers Remarks at Fort Bragg <a href="https://t.co/PCi5rIgaPX">https://t.co/PCi5rIgaPX</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1932533682402676883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;This week, we honor 250 years of valor, and glory, and triumph by the greatest fighting force ever to walk the face of the Earth: The United States Army. For two and a half centuries, our soldiers have marched into the raging fires of battle and obliterated America&#39;s… <a href="https://t.co/ySJ6IT3O3b">pic.twitter.com/ySJ6IT3O3b</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932537512570016080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: As President of the United States, let me express the undying gratitude of our nation for every solider here today—for every veteran and their families... across America—and for every patriot who has worn the uniform over 250 years... we thank you from the absolute… <a href="https://t.co/FXe0XEmeb0">pic.twitter.com/FXe0XEmeb0</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932537643771871237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Happening Now! 🇺🇸🦅<br><br>President Trump at Fort Bragg… <a href="https://t.co/HOq7oxPIyK">pic.twitter.com/HOq7oxPIyK</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1932532008938303835?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump arrives at the Holland Drop Zone—Fort Bragg… <a href="https://t.co/VQrOWoyata">pic.twitter.com/VQrOWoyata</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1932523443758498075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 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"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CHILLS! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/fUoC0GtwVN">pic.twitter.com/fUoC0GtwVN</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1932535360124301674?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 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"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">45–47🕺🏼🇺🇸🦅 <a href="https://t.co/Kw7v2DMOkx">pic.twitter.com/Kw7v2DMOkx</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1932557919372919001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Wherever danger is there, the U.S. Army will be. Whatever peril comes our way, whatever menace threatens our people, you will stand strong, you will be proud, you will charge hard, and you will keep that flame lit... You will FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT and you will WIN WIN WIN.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/UCWFUL68dH">pic.twitter.com/UCWFUL68dH</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932549219543335181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> recognizes Eric Phillips, a Distinguished Service Cross and Silver Star recipient, for his heroic actions on a deployment in the War on Terror: <br><br>&quot;You did us all proud!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/qhpwrJrNUg">pic.twitter.com/qhpwrJrNUg</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932549123447926805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Army warriors who have laid down their lives for America rest by the thousands in the sacred soil of Arlington and Gettysburg, Anzio and Manila, and to far-off places known only to God... There could be no greater tribute to their memory then to prepare the Army to… <a href="https://t.co/QRR8B3LEMz">pic.twitter.com/QRR8B3LEMz</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932547631894630643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;The weapons of war have changed with every generation, but the unflinching loyalty of the American soldier has always remained the same. The Army has always stayed true to its motto — &#39;THIS WE&#39;LL DEFEND.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/c2PGNk1Ntp">pic.twitter.com/c2PGNk1Ntp</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932547025075384451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At Fort Bragg, <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> tells the story of Francis Scott Key — and recognizes Major Kyle Key, his 8th generation descendant: <a href="https://t.co/YhaQPCCs2E">pic.twitter.com/YhaQPCCs2E</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932544885938180504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;The only flag that will wave triumphant over the streets of Los Angeles is the American Flag — SO HELP ME GOD.&quot; 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/R24qAnzQLZ">pic.twitter.com/R24qAnzQLZ</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932542409000554950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Generations of Army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third-world lawlessness here at home — like is happening in California. As commander-in-chief, I will NOT let that happen.&quot; 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/YNSCC03g5P">pic.twitter.com/YNSCC03g5P</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1932539612410364309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING: WE ARE RESTORING THE NAMES OF FORT PICKETT, HOOD, GORDON, RUCKER, POLK, A.P. HILL, AND ROBERT E. LEE <a href="https://t.co/yXaGXOP6Xg">pic.twitter.com/yXaGXOP6Xg</a></p>&mdash; DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1932541641941823633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The Republican president, who sees the military as a critical tool for domestic goals, has used the recent protests in Los Angeles as an opportunity to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-california-immigration-customs-enforcement-newsom-0482a8935419d88986b890b18db5cc03">objections of California's Democratic governor</a>. Protesters blocked a major freeway and set cars on fire over the weekend in Los Angeles, but the demonstrations in the city of 4 million people have largely been centered in several blocks of downtown.</p><p>“We will not allow an American city to be invaded and conquered by a foreign enemy. That’s what they are,” Trump said Tuesday.</p><p>Trump’s heated rhetoric came as he has left open&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-military-los-angeles-a2611009fd40d593f07c58255911513d">the possibility of invoking the Insurrection Act</a>, one of the most extreme emergency powers available to the president. It authorizes him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or domestic violence or to enforce the law in certain situations.</p><p>Trump received plenty of cheers from the crowd, which laughed at the president’s jokes and delighted in his dancing to his campaign anthem of “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ymca-dance-rallies-05da758dfeb2dd9c2ed22ebb88610b24">YMCA</a>.” However, some members of the audience were uneasy with certain aspects of his remarks.</p><p>Robin Boothe, who voted for Trump and works on the base as an audiology assistant, said the speech was “classic Trump.” However, she also found it to be too partisan, especially his comments on Los Angeles.</p><p>“I thought that was better left for a news conference than what we were celebrating today,” the 50-year-old said.</p><p>The president called Los Angeles “a trash heap” with “entire neighborhoods under control” of criminals and said the federal government would “use every asset at our disposal to quell the violence and restore law and order.”</p><p>“We will liberate Los Angeles and make it free, clean and safe again,” Trump said.</p><p>Trump authorized the deployment of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-protests-national-guard-trump-14c9dda32663d7d2c45f2b1c5a1d219c">4,000 National Guard soldiers</a>&nbsp;to the city against the wishes of California Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-gavin-newsom-immigration-protests-a8269425e604f6f03affdc627a2a5721">Gavin Newsom</a>. About 700 Marines were deployed to the Los Angeles area but had not yet been sent to respond to the protests.</p><p>Newsom&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-protests-ice-national-guard-9dfd2d025070bb6060d908dd3cf9b1f0">asked a federal court Tuesday to block</a>&nbsp;Trump from using the military in his city. California leaders accused Trump of fanning protesters’ anger and stoking the unrest.</p><p>Trump also announced his administration was restoring the names of seven military bases that were given the monikers of Confederate leaders until being changed by the Biden administration. Fort Pickett, Fort Robert E. Lee and Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, Fort Hood in Texas, Fort Gordon in Georgia, Fort Rucker in Alabama and Fort Polk in Louisiana will have their names changed back, Trump said.</p><p>Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-congress-hegseth-signal-hearings-c53cd37c2eae4327dd74e4c717057469">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;has already brought back the names of Fort Bragg and Fort Benning in Georgia.</p><p>“Can you believe they changed that name in the last administration for a little bit?” Trump said. “We’ll forget all about that.”</p><p>As they did when they changed back Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, Defense officials announced Tuesday that they had identified service members with the same last names in order to make the change and not have the bases officially carry Confederate-related names.</p><p>Before he spoke, Trump watched the U.S. Army demonstrate a missile strike, a helicopter assault and a building raid, a preview of the kind of show of American military might he's expected to display in the nation's capital for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-parade-military-secret-service-dc-birthday-cb66cba29cdc06ba798521454918271d">a massive military parade this weekend</a>.</p><p>Trump has promoted the Army’s anniversary as a reason to hold the parade on Saturday, which is also his 79th birthday. Tanks and other vehicles will roll down city streets in a reminder of how the Republican president is reshaping the armed forces after returning to the White House this year.</p><p>“I think it’s going to be great,” Trump told reporters at the White House earlier Tuesday. “We’re going to celebrate our country for a change.”</p><p>As a backdrop to the parade, “No Kings Day” protests are planned across the country on Saturday to push back against what critics see as the administration's draconian policies. Trump said earlier Tuesday that there would be more immigration raids and that any additional protests would be met with even greater force, including those who show up at the parade.</p><p>If they do, Trump said, “they will be met with very big force.”</p><p>“I haven't even heard about a protest but you know, this is people that hate our country. But they will be met with very heavy force.”</p><p>Fort Bragg, which was briefly Fort Liberty and is near Fayetteville, North Carolina, serves as headquarters for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Highly trained units like the Green Berets and the 82nd Airborne are based there.</p><p>The atmosphere resembled a state fair with military flair. Inflatable slides and attractions for children were set up in a field, with artillery, trucks and helicopters parked on another section of the lawn. Right outside the security checkpoint — but still on the base — two stands were selling Trump political hats, T-shirts and other paraphernalia.</p><p>Hegseth and Army Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-secretary-driscoll-confirmation-vote-0dc8d52c0f537fabab30bbc2d90e7c7f">Dan Driscoll</a>&nbsp;were also at Tuesday’s event, along with service members, veterans and their families.</p><p>Driscoll, who spoke to the crowd before Trump arrived, called the president “the greatest recruiter in our Army’s history.”</p><p>Hegseth told the crowd that the U.S. is “restoring the warrior ethos” to its armed forces.</p><p>“We’re not a college or a university. We’re not interested in your woke garbage and political correctness,” Hegseth said, drawing cheers.</p><p>___</p><p>Price reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani and Lolita Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. Follow the AP's coverage of President Donald Trump at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump</a>.</p>

🎥Highlights of Trump's speech to mark 250th anniversary of the Army

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a crash that occurred just after 11:45p.m.&nbsp; June 1, reported a passenger identified as 67-year-old Cecil Henderson died Monday, according to the Jackson County Medical Examiner.

Henderson was the rear seat passenger in a Nissan that was eastbound on MLK Boulevard in Kansas City when it was involved in a collision with a northbound Cadillac.&nbsp; 

Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the Nissan failed to stop for a red traffic light at Prospect. EMS transported Henderson to a local hospital for treatment where he remained until his death, according to Becchina.

<p>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a crash that occurred just after 11:45p.m.&nbsp; June 1, reported a passenger identified as 67-year-old Cecil Henderson died Monday, according to the Jackson County Medical Examiner.</p><p>Henderson was the rear seat passenger in a Nissan that was eastbound on MLK Boulevard in Kansas City when it was involved in a collision with a northbound Cadillac.&nbsp; </p><p>Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the Nissan failed to stop for a red traffic light at Prospect. EMS transported Henderson to a local hospital for treatment where he remained until his death, according to Becchina.</p>

Back seat passenger dies days after 2-vehicle Kansas City crash

An investigation at a church in Wichita has revealed sex abuse by a former student ministries director.

In July of 2024, according to a statement on the church web site Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 North Webb Road in Wichita, allegations against Bodie Weiss, a former director of Student Ministries at the church, were brought to Eastminster’s governing Board of Elders accusing him of sexually abusing boys within his youth group during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. 

In response, to these allegations Eastminster’s Session hired Fact Finding Ministry (“FFM”) to investigate these allegations. Over the next six months, FFM conducted over fifty-two interviews with former staff, victims and witnesses. In addition, FFM screened forty-three former students. Out of these interviews, FFM determined that there was a total of twenty-three victims. Eastminster’s Board of Elders received the final, summary report in May of 2025.&nbsp; 

Weiss died in June of 2020 at the age of 59, according to <a href="https://www.cozine.com/obituaries/bodie-weiss">an online obituary</a> with Cozine Memorial Group.

"We acknowledge and grieve over all harm suffered by each victim (as well as all families and friends of each victim) subjected to the ministerial misconduct, spiritual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual abuse perpetrated by Bodie Weiss during his tenure at Easminster Church."

"We lament all that happened during Weiss’s tenure and pray for those who were and are affected by this abuse. Eastminster takes the safety of our children as the utmost priority and are continually updating our safety trainings, policies and practices under the programs and guidance of MinistrySafe."

 If you have any additional questions regarding the practices or policies, please reach out to us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@eastminster.org">info@eastminster.org</a>.

If you or someone you know was affected or if you are a congregant of Eastminster, we invite you to attend our Service of Repentance, Lament and Healing on Sunday, June 22 at 4p.m.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749589852900.png" alt="Bodie Weiss courtesy photo" />
                        <figcaption>Bodie Weiss courtesy photo</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>An investigation at a church in Wichita has revealed sex abuse by a former student ministries director.</p><p>In July of 2024, according to a statement on the church web site Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 North Webb Road in Wichita, allegations against Bodie Weiss, a former director of Student Ministries at the church, were brought to Eastminster’s governing Board of Elders accusing him of sexually abusing boys within his youth group during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. </p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749575823069.png" alt="Google image" />
                        <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>In response, to these allegations Eastminster’s Session hired Fact Finding Ministry (“FFM”) to investigate these allegations. Over the next six months, FFM conducted over fifty-two interviews with former staff, victims and witnesses. In addition, FFM screened forty-three former students. Out of these interviews, FFM determined that there was a total of twenty-three victims. Eastminster’s Board of Elders received the final, summary report in May of 2025.&nbsp; </p><p>Weiss died in June of 2020 at the age of 59, according to <a href="https://www.cozine.com/obituaries/bodie-weiss">an online obituary</a> with Cozine Memorial Group.</p><p>"We acknowledge and grieve over all harm suffered by each victim (as well as all families and friends of each victim) subjected to the ministerial misconduct, spiritual abuse, sexual harassment and sexual abuse perpetrated by Bodie Weiss during his tenure at Easminster Church."</p><p>"We lament all that happened during Weiss’s tenure and pray for those who were and are affected by this abuse. Eastminster takes the safety of our children as the utmost priority and are continually updating our safety trainings, policies and practices under the programs and guidance of MinistrySafe."</p><p> If you have any additional questions regarding the practices or policies, please reach out to us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@eastminster.org">info@eastminster.org</a>.</p><p>If you or someone you know was affected or if you are a congregant of Eastminster, we invite you to attend our Service of Repentance, Lament and Healing on Sunday, June 22 at 4p.m.</p><p>Planned Actions by Eastminster:</p><ul>
                        <li>Send update letters to victims and interviewees</li><li>Reimburse counseling costs for victims and affected witnesses</li><li>Utilize Ministry Safe 3rd party training while continuing Eastminster’s current Safe Sanctuary policies and procedures</li><li>Make FFM’s summary report available to Eastmtinster members and participants of the investigation in a highly confidential and secure manner through the church office, as we seek to protect the identity and confidential testimonies of the victims and witnesses. This will be available following the Service of Repentance and Lament. Members and participants may contact&nbsp;<a href="mailto:brobert@eastminster.org">Bryan Robert</a>&nbsp;to schedule and request access to the report. Appointments to read the summary report can be made following the June 22nd service.&nbsp;</li>
                    </ul>

Kan. church looks for more victims of sex abuse by former youth director

<b>B</b><b>y CRISTINA JANNEY<br></b><i>Hays Post</i>

The Kansas Highway Patrol arrested a California man on Monday after a chase through Russell and Ellis counties.

At 5:29 p.m., a trooper tried to stop a vehicle driven by&nbsp;Shelby L. Miller, 54, of&nbsp;El Sobrante, California, because the tag indicated the vehicle had allegedly fled from law enforcement in Seward County, Nebraska, earlier on Monday, said Trooper Tod Hileman.

The trooper initiated the stop at about milepost 183 of Interstate 70 between Russell and Gorham.

At about 5:35 p.m., the trooper lost sight of the vehicle on southbound U.S. Highway 281.

Multiple units, including the KHP aircraft out of Hays, were deployed to search for the suspect, Hileman said.

At 6:22 p.m., a trooper located the suspect vehicle going southbound on Fairgrounds Road in Ellis County.

At 6:31 p.m., the KHP aircraft located the vehicle now going eastbound on I-70 at about milepost 182.

The vehicle crashed at about 6:33 p.m. in the 600 block of Front Street in Russell, and the suspect was taken into custody.

The suspect is facing requested charges of felony fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, resisting arrest, and leaving the scene of an accident, Hileman said.

The suspect is also wanted for charges in Nebraska, Hileman said.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749606401312.png" alt="Miller photo Russell County" />
                        <figcaption>Miller photo Russell County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>B</b><b>y CRISTINA JANNEY<br></b><i>Hays Post</i></p><p>The Kansas Highway Patrol arrested a California man on Monday after a chase through Russell and Ellis counties.</p><p>At 5:29 p.m., a trooper tried to stop a vehicle driven by&nbsp;Shelby L. Miller, 54, of&nbsp;El Sobrante, California, because the tag indicated the vehicle had allegedly fled from law enforcement in Seward County, Nebraska, earlier on Monday, said Trooper Tod Hileman.</p><p>The trooper initiated the stop at about milepost 183 of Interstate 70 between Russell and Gorham.</p><p>At about 5:35 p.m., the trooper lost sight of the vehicle on southbound U.S. Highway 281.</p><p>Multiple units, including the KHP aircraft out of Hays, were deployed to search for the suspect, Hileman said.</p><p>At 6:22 p.m., a trooper located the suspect vehicle going southbound on Fairgrounds Road in Ellis County.</p><p>At 6:31 p.m., the KHP aircraft located the vehicle now going eastbound on I-70 at about milepost 182.</p><p>The vehicle crashed at about 6:33 p.m. in the 600 block of Front Street in Russell, and the suspect was taken into custody.</p><p>The suspect is facing requested charges of felony fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, resisting arrest, and leaving the scene of an accident, Hileman said.</p><p>The suspect is also wanted for charges in Nebraska, Hileman said.</p>

KHP makes arrest after chase through 2 Kansas counties

HARVEY COUNTY —On June 6, 2025, Judge Jason Lane of the 9th Judicial District of Kansas sentenced Marcus Perez Jr., 34, of Leonardville, Kansas, to 154 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for Unlawful Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine in an amount exceeding 100 grams, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.

The sentence stems from a July 5, 2024, traffic stop conducted by Harvey County Sheriff’s Deputies, during which Perez was found in possession of a significant quantity of methamphetamine. The drugs were hidden in a magnetic box concealed under Perez’s seat.

Further investigation included a search of Perez’s phone, which uncovered multiple conversations indicating ongoing attempts to distribute illegal narcotics. Perez has a history of prior convictions, having been convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in both 2015 and 2018 in Clay County, Kansas.

This sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr. Perez’s continued involvement in drug trafficking and the Harvey County Attorney Office’s commitment to protecting our communities from the dangers of methamphetamine. The case was prosecuted with the assistance of the Harvey County Sheriff Drug Interdiction Unit. 

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749503296535.png" alt="Perez photo KBI offender registry" />
                        <figcaption>Perez photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>HARVEY COUNTY —On June 6, 2025, Judge Jason Lane of the 9th Judicial District of Kansas sentenced Marcus Perez Jr., 34, of Leonardville, Kansas, to 154 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for Unlawful Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine in an amount exceeding 100 grams, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.</p><p>The sentence stems from a July 5, 2024, traffic stop conducted by Harvey County Sheriff’s Deputies, during which Perez was found in possession of a significant quantity of methamphetamine. The drugs were hidden in a magnetic box concealed under Perez’s seat.</p><p>Further investigation included a search of Perez’s phone, which uncovered multiple conversations indicating ongoing attempts to distribute illegal narcotics. Perez has a history of prior convictions, having been convicted of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in both 2015 and 2018 in Clay County, Kansas.</p><p>This sentence reflects the seriousness of Mr. Perez’s continued involvement in drug trafficking and the Harvey County Attorney Office’s commitment to protecting our communities from the dangers of methamphetamine. The case was prosecuted with the assistance of the Harvey County Sheriff Drug Interdiction Unit. </p>

Kansas felon caught hiding meth in metal box under his car seat

WASHINGTON (AP) —Correspondent Terry Moran is out at ABC News, two days after the organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abc-moran-suspended-trump-miller-haters-db3b0e127ed977e3bca4c207c4349526">suspended its correspondent</a>&nbsp;for a social media post that called Trump administration deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller a “world class hater.”

The network said Tuesday that it was at the end of its contract with Moran “and based on his recent post — which was a clear violation of ABC News policies — we have made the decision not to renew.”

The Trump administration, including Vice President JD Vance, quickly condemned Moran for his late-night X post criticizing Miller, which was swiftly deleted.

Moran had interviewed President Donald Trump only a few weeks ago. He said in his X post that the president was also a hater, but that his hatred was in service of his own glorification.

But for Miller, Moran said, “his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.”

Moran, 65, had worked at ABC News since 1997. He was a longtime co-anchor of “Nightline,” and covered the Supreme Court and national politics. During an interview with Trump that was broadcast in prime-time a month ago, the president said “you're not being very nice” in the midst of a contentious exchange about deportations.

In a particularly bad case of timing for him, Moran's contract with ABC had been due to expire on Friday, according to people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly about personnel issues.

His post, a breach of traditional journalism ethics on expressing personal opinions on reporting subjects, came at what was already a sensitive time for ABC News. The network&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abc-trump-lawsuit-defamation-stephanopoulos-04aea8663310af39ae2a85f4c1a56d68">agreed to pay</a>&nbsp;$15 million toward Trump's presidential library in December, in order to settle a defamation lawsuit over George Stephanopoulos' inaccurate assertion that Trump had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.

Trump aide Steven Cheung responded to Moran's exit on Tuesday with a profane comment on X, saying those who talk down the president and his staff “get hit.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745978717017.png" alt="Terry Moran taped an Oval Office interview for ABC with President Trump in April- image courtesy White House video" />
                        <figcaption>Terry Moran taped an Oval Office interview for ABC with President Trump in April- image courtesy White House video</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON (AP) —Correspondent Terry Moran is out at ABC News, two days after the organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abc-moran-suspended-trump-miller-haters-db3b0e127ed977e3bca4c207c4349526">suspended its correspondent</a>&nbsp;for a social media post that called Trump administration deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller a “world class hater.”</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An ABC journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/TerryMoran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TerryMoran</a> posted this absolutely vile smear of Stephen Miller. It’s dripping with hatred. Remember that every time you watch ABC’s coverage of the Trump administration. <br><br>As it happens, I know Stephen quite well. And he’s motivated by love of country. He’s… <a href="https://t.co/hX93zKTWjy">pic.twitter.com/hX93zKTWjy</a></p>&mdash; JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1931694721354645752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>The network said Tuesday that it was at the end of its contract with Moran “and based on his recent post — which was a clear violation of ABC News policies — we have made the decision not to renew.”</p><p>The Trump administration, including Vice President JD Vance, quickly condemned Moran for his late-night X post criticizing Miller, which was swiftly deleted.</p><p>Moran had interviewed President Donald Trump only a few weeks ago. He said in his X post that the president was also a hater, but that his hatred was in service of his own glorification.</p><p>But for Miller, Moran said, “his hatreds are his spiritual nourishment. He eats his hate.”</p><p>Moran, 65, had worked at ABC News since 1997. He was a longtime co-anchor of “Nightline,” and covered the Supreme Court and national politics. During an interview with Trump that was broadcast in prime-time a month ago, the president said “you're not being very nice” in the midst of a contentious exchange about deportations.</p><p>In a particularly bad case of timing for him, Moran's contract with ABC had been due to expire on Friday, according to people with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly about personnel issues.</p><p>His post, a breach of traditional journalism ethics on expressing personal opinions on reporting subjects, came at what was already a sensitive time for ABC News. The network&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abc-trump-lawsuit-defamation-stephanopoulos-04aea8663310af39ae2a85f4c1a56d68">agreed to pay</a>&nbsp;$15 million toward Trump's presidential library in December, in order to settle a defamation lawsuit over George Stephanopoulos' inaccurate assertion that Trump had been found civilly liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll.</p><p>Trump aide Steven Cheung responded to Moran's exit on Tuesday with a profane comment on X, saying those who talk down the president and his staff “get hit.”</p><p>___</p>

Correspondent out at ABC News after negative social media post

KANSAS CITY —Two suspects are facing multiple charges for their alleged involvement in an organized ring responsible for multiple burglaries across the Kansas City metropolitan area, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.&nbsp; Four more are also under investigation.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2639/Gavrilys-Afterhours-Complaint-Packet-FINAL_Redacted">Idonnas J. Gavrilys</a>, 25, identified by investigators as the alleged leader of the burglary operation, faces two counts of 2nd Degree Burglary, four counts of 1st Degree Burglary, and four counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2640/Draper-Afterhours-Complaint-Packet_Redacted">Dante K. Draper</a>, 26,&nbsp; faces 17 counts of 2nd Degree Burglary, two counts of 1st Degree Burglary, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and two counts of Stealing. *

Investigators allege that there are at least six suspects part of the organized burglary group who follow a consistent pattern when burglarizing businesses. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749227372766.png" alt="Draper photo Jackson County" />
                        <figcaption>Draper photo Jackson County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY —Two suspects are facing multiple charges for their alleged involvement in an organized ring responsible for multiple burglaries across the Kansas City metropolitan area, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.&nbsp; Four more are also under investigation.</p><p><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2639/Gavrilys-Afterhours-Complaint-Packet-FINAL_Redacted">Idonnas J. Gavrilys</a>, 25, identified by investigators as the alleged leader of the burglary operation, faces two counts of 2nd Degree Burglary, four counts of 1st Degree Burglary, and four counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749227316238.png" alt="Gavrilys photo Jackson Co." />
                        <figcaption>Gavrilys photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2640/Draper-Afterhours-Complaint-Packet_Redacted">Dante K. Draper</a>, 26,&nbsp; faces 17 counts of 2nd Degree Burglary, two counts of 1st Degree Burglary, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and two counts of Stealing. *</p><p>Investigators allege that there are at least six suspects part of the organized burglary group who follow a consistent pattern when burglarizing businesses. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Police: 6 suspects involved in organized Kansas City burglary ring

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was indicted Tuesday on federal charges alleging she assaulted and interfered with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center while Newark’s mayor was being arrested after he tried to join a congressional oversight visit at the facility.

Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba announced the grand jury indictment in a post on X.

“While people are free to express their views for or against particular policies, they must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve,” Habba said.

In a statement, McIver said the charges amounted to the Trump administration trying to scare her.

“The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation,” she said.

McIver, a Democrat, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-mciver-habba-baraka-ice-facility-272c436f7c8eaf67552ce932750ff3e0">charged in a complaint</a>&nbsp;by Habba last month with two assault charges stemming from the May 9 visit to Newark’s Delaney Hall — a 1,000-bed, privately owned facility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses as a detention center.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747704005330.png" alt="Rep. McIver in the red blazer as shown on police body camera video" />
                        <figcaption>Rep. McIver in the red blazer as shown on police body camera video</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was indicted Tuesday on federal charges alleging she assaulted and interfered with immigration officers outside a New Jersey detention center while Newark’s mayor was being arrested after he tried to join a congressional oversight visit at the facility.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨WATCH: US Congresswoman, LaMonica McIver (wearing a red blazer), storms the gate of Delaney Hall Detention Center ASSAULTING an ICE agent. <a href="https://t.co/4Q1deds1tl">pic.twitter.com/4Q1deds1tl</a></p>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1921271072147546558?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba announced the grand jury indictment in a post on X.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today a federal grand jury seated in Newark, New Jersey returned a three-count indictment charging U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver with forcibly impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement officers. This indictment has a maximum penalty of 8 years for Count One, an…</p>&mdash; US Attorney Habba (@USAttyHabba) <a href="https://twitter.com/USAttyHabba/status/1932572573713514913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>“While people are free to express their views for or against particular policies, they must not do so in a manner that endangers law enforcement and the communities those officers serve,” Habba said.</p><p>In a statement, McIver said the charges amounted to the Trump administration trying to scare her.</p><p>“The facts of this case will prove I was simply doing my job and will expose these proceedings for what they are: a brazen attempt at political intimidation,” she said.</p><p>McIver, a Democrat, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-jersey-mciver-habba-baraka-ice-facility-272c436f7c8eaf67552ce932750ff3e0">charged in a complaint</a>&nbsp;by Habba last month with two assault charges stemming from the May 9 visit to Newark’s Delaney Hall — a 1,000-bed, privately owned facility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses as a detention center.</p><p>The indictment includes three counts of assaulting, resisting, impeding and interfering with federal officials. Habba said two of the counts carry a maximum sentence of up to eight years in prison. A third has a maximum sentence of one year.</p><p>McIver's lawyer, former U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Paul Fishman, said in a statement that they would challenge the allegations “head-on” in court.</p><p>“The legal process will expose this prosecution for what it truly is -- political retaliation against a dedicated public servant who refuses to shy away from her oversight responsibilities,” Fishman said.</p><p>The indictment is the latest development in a legal-political drama that has seen President Donald Trump’s administration take Democratic officials from New Jersey’s largest city to court, tapping into the president’s immigration crackdown and Democrats’ efforts to respond. The prosecution of McIver is a rare federal criminal case against a sitting member of Congress for allegations other than fraud or corruption.</p><p>At the same visit that resulted in McIver’s charges, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on a trespassing charge, which was later dropped.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/newark-mayor-ras-baraka-lawsuit-arrest-immigration-0d17f4adb136b9fefc02ea8b498124ed">Baraka is suing Habba</a>&nbsp;over what he said was a malicious prosecution.</p><p>A nearly two-minute clip released by the Homeland Security Department shows McIver on the facility side of a chain-link fence just before the arrest of the mayor on the street side of the fence, where other people had been protesting. She and uniformed officials go through the gate, and she joins others shouting that they should circle the mayor. The video shows McIver in a tightly packed group of people and officers. At one point, her left elbow and then her right elbow push into an officer wearing a dark face covering and an olive green uniform emblazoned with the word “Police” on it.</p><p>It isn’t clear from police bodycam video whether that contact was intentional, incidental or a result of jostling in the chaotic scene.</p><p>The complaint says she “slammed” her forearm into an agent then tried to restrain the agent by grabbing him.</p><p>The indictment says she placed her arms around the mayor to block his arrest and repeats the charges that she slammed her forearm into an agent and grabbed the agent.</p><p>New Jersey Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez had joined McIver at the detention center that day. They and other Democrats have criticized the arrest and disputed the charges as well.</p><p>By law, members of Congress are authorized to go into federal immigration facilities as part of their oversight powers, even without notice. Congress passed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/116/plaws/publ93/PLAW-116publ93.pdf">2019 appropriations bill</a>&nbsp;that spelled out the authority.</p><p>McIver, 38, first came to Congress in September in a special election after the death of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. left a vacancy in the 10th District.</p><p>She was then elected to a full term in November. A Newark native, she served as the president of the Newark City Council from 2022 to 2024 and worked in the city’s public schools before that.</p>