DOUGLAS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Monday in Douglas County.

According to Douglas County Sheriff's Department spokesman George&nbsp;Diepenbrock., a Toyota Prius driven by&nbsp;Zipporah Koimburi, 48, Wakarusa, was westbound on North 1700 Road at E 50 Road.

The driver was negotiating a curve when the vehicle entered the opposite lane of travel and collided with an eastbound Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 21-year-old Olathe woman.&nbsp;

Medics transported Koimburi to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka where she later died.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Monday in Douglas County.According to Douglas County Sheriff's Department spokesman George&nbsp;Diepenbrock., a Toyota Prius driven by&nbsp;Zipporah Koimburi, 48, Wakarusa, was westbound on North 1700 Road at E 50 Road.The driver was negotiating a curve when the vehicle entered the opposite lane of travel and collided with an eastbound Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 21-year-old Olathe woman.&nbsp;Medics transported Koimburi to Stormont Vail Hospital in Topeka where she later died.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details.

Kansas woman dies from injuries after head-on crash

JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. launched a new strike against the Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days, two U.S. officials said.

The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia, also on Tuesday, in the Red Sea. No one was injured. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.

According to the U.S. officials, the overnight strike destroyed four Houthi ballistic missiles that presented an imminent threat to merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a military operation. The Houthi attack on the Zografia occurred later Tuesday.

This latest exchange suggested there has been no let-up in Houthi attacks on shipping in the region, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">the massive U.S. and British assault</a>&nbsp;on the group on Friday, bombing more than 60 targets in 28 locations using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Tuesday that addressing the ongoing Houthi threat was an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address to minimize impact on the global economy. And he said that the maritime attacks, coupled with ongoing threats from other Iran-backed militants in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon mean that allies must "be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage.”

The Houthis' military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a pre-recorded statement that it fired after the ship’s crew refused to answer warning calls and that the vessel was heading for a port in Israel. According to the shipping tracking website Vessel Finder, Zografia was bound for Suez, Egypt.

The Zografia, managed by a Greek firm, had no cargo onboard and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian. Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.

Amid the latest attacks, U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry from a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in a raid last week that saw two of its commandos go missing, the U.S. military said Tuesday.

The raid marks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-iran-arms-seizure-us-uk-b38494c44e4477b177a7f878f4d8f6db">the latest seizure by the U.S. Navy and its allies</a>&nbsp;of weapon shipments bound for the rebels, who have launched a series of attacks now threatening global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The seized missile components included types likely used in those attacks.

The attacks, U.S.-led retaliatory strikes and the raid all have raised tensions across the Middle East, which also saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-iran-strike-7939f337454578cc20da8ac15fc5b457">Iran conduct ballistic missile strikes in Iraq and Syria</a>.

The SEAL raid happened Thursday, with the commandos launching from the USS Lewis B. Puller backed by drones and helicopters, with the U.S. military's Central Command saying it took place in the Arabian Sea.

The SEALs traveled in small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. As they were boarding it in rough seas, around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both remain missing.

The SEALs found cruise and ballistic missile components, including propulsion and guidance devices, as well as warheads, Central Command said. It added that air defense parts also were found.

“Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea,” Central Command said in a statement.

Images released by the U.S. military analyzed by the AP showed components resembling rocket motors and others previously seized. It also included what appeared to be an anti-ship cruise missile with a small turbojet engine, a type used by the Houthis and Iran.

Also included in the photos was a warhead similarly seen in the Iranian anti-ship missiles, which are based off an earlier Chinese design, said Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

“Looking at the size and the robustness of the thing, it looks a lot like an anti-ship warhead,” Hinz said.

Hinz also noted the warhead in the photo has a sticker reading “GHAD” on it. Iran has an anti-ship missile called the Ghadir.

The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained.

The Houthis have not acknowledged the seizure, and Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the Houthis' attacks.

A United Nations resolution bans arms transfers to Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Tehran has long denied arming the rebels, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-politics-united-states-government-middle-east-65b99a04a99d2504fd1123fc8e4300cc">physical evidence, numerous seizures and experts tying the weapons back to Iran</a>.

Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.

U.S.-led airstrikes also targeted Houthi positions on Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;called the Gibraltar Eagle in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, further raising the risks in the conflict.

Meanwhile Tuesday, a missile struck the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.

The ship — managed by a Greek firm— had no cargo on board and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian.

Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors incidents in the Mideast's waterways, earlier acknowledged an attack in the vicinity of the Zografia.

U.S.-led airstrikes targeted Houthi positions on Friday and Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;in the Gulf of Aden, further raising the risks in the conflict.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405226113.png" alt="Photos U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photos U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — The U.S. launched a new strike against the Yemen-based Houthis on Tuesday, hitting anti-ship missiles in the third&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-ship-attacks-bombing-red-sea-iran-cc06d9186a00d1f22bea6b9c14dda12a">assault on the Iranian-backed group</a>&nbsp;in recent days, two U.S. officials said.The strike came as the Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile attack against the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia, also on Tuesday, in the Red Sea. No one was injured. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405198142.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to the U.S. officials, the overnight strike destroyed four Houthi ballistic missiles that presented an imminent threat to merchant and U.S. Navy ships in the region. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of a military operation. The Houthi attack on the Zografia occurred later Tuesday.This latest exchange suggested there has been no let-up in Houthi attacks on shipping in the region, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">the massive U.S. and British assault</a>&nbsp;on the group on Friday, bombing more than 60 targets in 28 locations using warship- and submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles and fighter jets.White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned Tuesday that addressing the ongoing Houthi threat was an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address to minimize impact on the global economy. And he said that the maritime attacks, coupled with ongoing threats from other Iran-backed militants in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon mean that allies must "be vigilant against the possibility that in fact, rather than heading towards de-escalation, we are on a path of escalation that we have to manage.”The Houthis' military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a pre-recorded statement that it fired after the ship’s crew refused to answer warning calls and that the vessel was heading for a port in Israel. According to the shipping tracking website Vessel Finder, Zografia was bound for Suez, Egypt.The Zografia, managed by a Greek firm, had no cargo onboard and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian. Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.Amid the latest attacks, U.S. Navy SEALs seized Iranian-made missile parts and other weaponry from a ship bound for Yemen’s Houthi rebels in a raid last week that saw two of its commandos go missing, the U.S. military said Tuesday.The raid marks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-iran-arms-seizure-us-uk-b38494c44e4477b177a7f878f4d8f6db">the latest seizure by the U.S. Navy and its allies</a>&nbsp;of weapon shipments bound for the rebels, who have launched a series of attacks now threatening global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The seized missile components included types likely used in those attacks.The attacks, U.S.-led retaliatory strikes and the raid all have raised tensions across the Middle East, which also saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-syria-iran-strike-7939f337454578cc20da8ac15fc5b457">Iran conduct ballistic missile strikes in Iraq and Syria</a>.The SEAL raid happened Thursday, with the commandos launching from the USS Lewis B. Puller backed by drones and helicopters, with the U.S. military's Central Command saying it took place in the Arabian Sea.The SEALs traveled in small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. As they were boarding it in rough seas, around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both remain missing.The SEALs found cruise and ballistic missile components, including propulsion and guidance devices, as well as warheads, Central Command said. It added that air defense parts also were found.“Initial analysis indicates these same weapons have been employed by the Houthis to threaten and attack innocent mariners on international merchant ships transiting in the Red Sea,” Central Command said in a statement.Images released by the U.S. military analyzed by the AP showed components resembling rocket motors and others previously seized. It also included what appeared to be an anti-ship cruise missile with a small turbojet engine, a type used by the Houthis and Iran.Also included in the photos was a warhead similarly seen in the Iranian anti-ship missiles, which are based off an earlier Chinese design, said Fabian Hinz, a missile expert and research fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.“Looking at the size and the robustness of the thing, it looks a lot like an anti-ship warhead,” Hinz said.Hinz also noted the warhead in the photo has a sticker reading “GHAD” on it. Iran has an anti-ship missile called the Ghadir.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405243920.png" alt="The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained. -photo U.S. Central command" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained. -photo U.S. Central command</figcaption>
 </figure>The U.S. Navy ultimately sank the ship carrying the weapons after deeming it unsafe, Central Command said. The ship's 14 crew have been detained.The Houthis have not acknowledged the seizure, and Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to a request for comment. However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei praised the Houthis' attacks.A United Nations resolution bans arms transfers to Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. Tehran has long denied arming the rebels, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-iran-politics-united-states-government-middle-east-65b99a04a99d2504fd1123fc8e4300cc">physical evidence, numerous seizures and experts tying the weapons back to Iran</a>.Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.U.S.-led airstrikes also targeted Houthi positions on Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;called the Gibraltar Eagle in the Gulf of Aden on Monday, further raising the risks in the conflict.\Meanwhile Tuesday, a missile struck the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Zografia in the Red Sea. The vessel had been heading north to the Suez Canal when it was attacked, the Greek Shipping and Island Policy Ministry said.The ship — managed by a Greek firm— had no cargo on board and sustained only material damage, the ministry said. The crew included 20 Ukrainians, three Filipinos and one Georgian.Satellite-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed the Zografia still moving after the attack.The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors incidents in the Mideast's waterways, earlier acknowledged an attack in the vicinity of the Zografia.Since November, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade.U.S.-led airstrikes targeted Houthi positions on Friday and Saturday. In response,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-us-yemen-israel-palestinians-gaza-fa2aefc86ae002e73081e6ac1b772610">the Houthis launched a missile at a U.S.-owned bulk carrier</a>&nbsp;in the Gulf of Aden, further raising the risks in the conflict.

Navy Seals intercept Iranian weapons bound for terrorists ahead of U.S. attack

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

TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said federal lawmakers must include in the new Farm Bill investments in water programs to address climate change fueling periods of more frequent, severe and prolonged drought.

Moran, a Republican, joined a bipartisan group of senators asking colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee to fight for aid reflecting damage to crop and livestock production in Kansas and other states tied to disruption of natural wet and dry periods.

“Severe, long-term drought is devastating these rural areas,” the senators said in a statement. “These negative effects reverberate through the community, affecting not just individual producers, but the broader local economy and food system.”

In all, seventeen senators signed a letter requesting Farm Bill reforms related to drought. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, didn’t sign the document.

The U.S. Senate and U.S. House are working on components of a Farm Bill typically rewritten every five years. In 2023, Congress extended the previous Farm Bill for one year. The legislation would authorize hundreds of billions of dollars in funding to food aid, crop insurance and related programs.

In the letter, senators representing Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska agreed drought remained a severe risk for farmers and ranchers as water resources dwindled, especially in states west of the 100th Meridian. The vertical line marking boundary of the Great Plains cuts through central Kansas from Texas in the south to North Dakota to the north.

Western states have experienced some of the driest conditions on record and the Southwest of the United States endured unprecedented drought since 2000, the letter said. Drought conditions eased in some states last year, the senators said, but that shouldn’t lead to complacency in terms of building the drought safety net.

“A changing climate has further altered the natural pattern of droughts, making them more frequent, longer and more severe,” the letter signed by Moran said. “These conditions have altered the landscape and have had a lasting effect on all those who rely on the land.

Moran along with U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska and U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, both Colorado Democrats, requested Farm Bill investments that supported water conservation, improved watershed planning, upgraded water infrastructure and protected land from erosion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705422833797.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;TIM CARPENTER&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said federal lawmakers must include in the new Farm Bill investments in water programs to address climate change fueling periods of more frequent, severe and prolonged drought.Moran, a Republican, joined a bipartisan group of senators asking colleagues on the Senate Agriculture Committee to fight for aid reflecting damage to crop and livestock production in Kansas and other states tied to disruption of natural wet and dry periods.“Severe, long-term drought is devastating these rural areas,” the senators said in a statement. “These negative effects reverberate through the community, affecting not just individual producers, but the broader local economy and food system.”In all, seventeen senators signed a letter requesting Farm Bill reforms related to drought. U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, didn’t sign the document.The U.S. Senate and U.S. House are working on components of a Farm Bill typically rewritten every five years. In 2023, Congress extended the previous Farm Bill for one year. The legislation would authorize hundreds of billions of dollars in funding to food aid, crop insurance and related programs.In the letter, senators representing Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska agreed drought remained a severe risk for farmers and ranchers as water resources dwindled, especially in states west of the 100th Meridian. The vertical line marking boundary of the Great Plains cuts through central Kansas from Texas in the south to North Dakota to the north.Western states have experienced some of the driest conditions on record and the Southwest of the United States endured unprecedented drought since 2000, the letter said. Drought conditions eased in some states last year, the senators said, but that shouldn’t lead to complacency in terms of building the drought safety net.“A changing climate has further altered the natural pattern of droughts, making them more frequent, longer and more severe,” the letter signed by Moran said. “These conditions have altered the landscape and have had a lasting effect on all those who rely on the land.Moran along with U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska and U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, both Colorado Democrats, requested Farm Bill investments that supported water conservation, improved watershed planning, upgraded water infrastructure and protected land from erosion.

Moran: New U.S. Farm Bill must address drought worsened by changes in climate

WALLACE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged deer poaching in western Kansas.&nbsp;

Wallace County Game Warden Mike Hopper thanked members of the public who&nbsp; stepped up and contacted Operation Game Thief last month, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.

&nbsp;Officials conducted an investigation and recovered evidence

 Multiple charges are forth coming with the Wallace County Attorney's Office, according to Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

 You Can Remain Anonymous..  "If You See Something, Hear Something, Say Something" or call 1-877-426-3843.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674918545278.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WALLACE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating alleged deer poaching in western Kansas.&nbsp;Wallace County Game Warden Mike Hopper thanked members of the public who&nbsp; stepped up and contacted Operation Game Thief last month, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.&nbsp;Officials conducted an investigation and recovered evidence Multiple charges are forth coming with the Wallace County Attorney's Office, according to Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. You Can Remain Anonymous.. "If You See Something, Hear Something, Say Something" or call 1-877-426-3843.

Kan. game warden: Poached deer trophy recovered, charges expected

WASHINGTON (AP) — A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and his family were at Camp David.

Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a report just after 7 a.m. that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to talk about the fake emergency call and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined that it was a false report and called off the response.

Someone who was reached at the callback number for the 911 report indicated they did not place it, the person said, indicating it was likely spoofed.

Biden returned to the White House on Monday afternoon after spending part of the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland and participating in a service event in Philadelphia to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr. Day</a>.

The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump in New York and the criminal election subversion case against him in Washington, D.C. have both been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-calls-marjorie-taylor-greene-rick-scott-d568818925c99c8cf17467f737b99e97">targeted</a>&nbsp;in recent days. Also, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was the subject of a fake emergency call Christmas Day.

Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.

Some of the recent calls have featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was sleeping with another man and saying he was holding the boyfriend hostage, demanding $10,000.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">In New York</a>, authorities responded to a bomb threat at the Long Island home of Judge Arthur Engoron early Thursday morning, the day after the judge issued a ruling preventing the former president from delivering his own closing statements in the civil fraud case against him. Nothing amiss was found.

The false report came days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-swatting-threats-fe70d2254f2da4a1cb9e6e55c79e1d40">fake emergency call</a>&nbsp;reporting a shooting at the home of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump’s Capitol attack criminal case in Washington, D.C.

Smith was also the target of fake shooting report at his home, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Smith and his family have been the subject of numerous threats and intimidating messages since he was appointed and Trump began posting messages about them online, prosecutors have said in court documents.

WHAT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TARGETED?

Public officials targeted by swatting range from Republican U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-swatting-georgia-christmas-2081fd3835512cc3180aa1171fc5913d">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia to Maine Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-ballot-swatting-08f1d0e39ee7b111d51045bb9ea48094">Shenna Bellows</a>, a Democrat who removed Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-79373b5043976588b599fc00ede049e8">Constitution’s insurrection clause</a>.

Other high-profile targets in recent days include U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.

In Greene's case, a man called the Georgia suicide hotline Christmas morning, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, police said. The call was quickly transferred to police, who determined it was a swatting attempt after contacting a private security detail for Greene, who has been targeted multiple times.

In Wu's case, a male caller claimed the same day claiming he had shot his wife and had tied her and another man up at the Boston mayor's address. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021.

Hundreds of cases of swatting occur annually, with some using caller ID spoofing to disguise their number. And those targeted extend far beyond public officials.

Police have for months reported a huge surge in fake claims about active shooters at schools and colleges. There have also been reports of hundreds of swatting incidents and bomb threats against synagogues and other Jewish institutions since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;began.

The FBI said earlier this year that it had started the process of creating a national database in to track swatting incidents nationwide. The agency said Thursday that investigators take seriously the widespread increase in threats, and every hoax “puts innocent people at risk, is a waste of law enforcement’s limited resources, and costs taxpayers.”

Such calls have proven dangerous and even outright deadly.

In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">Earlier this year</a>, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a related lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.

In 2015, police in Maryland shot a 20-year-old man in the face with rubber bullets after a&nbsp;<a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/maryland-man-gets-2-years-after-swatting-victim-was-shot">fake hostage situation was reported</a>&nbsp;at his home.

In addition to putting innocent people at risk, police and officials say they worry about diverting resources from real emergencies.

No arrests have been made in the recent threats, but some lawmakers have moved for heftier penalties.

Ohio earlier this year made it a felony offense to report a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement. And Virginia increased the penalties for swatting to up to 12 months in jail. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.

In Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones promised “an end to this madness” after his home in a small town south of Atlanta was swatted on Wednesday, only to have a bomb threat called in to his office on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705413308466.png" alt="FILE - A firetruck is parked outside of the White House in Washington, Dec. 19, 2007. A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning. President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David at the time. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - A firetruck is parked outside of the White House in Washington, Dec. 19, 2007. A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning. President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David at the time. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden" target="_blank">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and his family were at Camp David.Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a report just after 7 a.m. that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to talk about the fake emergency call and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined that it was a false report and called off the response.Someone who was reached at the callback number for the 911 report indicated they did not place it, the person said, indicating it was likely spoofed.Biden returned to the White House on Monday afternoon after spending part of the weekend at the presidential retreat in Maryland and participating in a service event in Philadelphia to mark&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr. Day</a>.The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against former President Donald Trump in New York and the criminal election subversion case against him in Washington, D.C. have both been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/swatting-calls-marjorie-taylor-greene-rick-scott-d568818925c99c8cf17467f737b99e97">targeted</a>&nbsp;in recent days. Also, Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith was the subject of a fake emergency call Christmas Day.Here's a look at the spike in threats:WHAT IS ‘SWATTING’?Swatting is the act of making a prank call to emergency services to prompt a response at a particular address. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to show up.Some of the recent calls have featured the voice of a man calling himself “Jamal,” claiming he had shot his wife because she was sleeping with another man and saying he was holding the boyfriend hostage, demanding $10,000.WHO IN THE COURTS HAS BEEN TARGETED?<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-new-york-closing-arguments-b36abe2fd695d0172e71f8ef9c5ee7f3">In New York</a>, authorities responded to a bomb threat at the Long Island home of Judge Arthur Engoron early Thursday morning, the day after the judge issued a ruling preventing the former president from delivering his own closing statements in the civil fraud case against him. Nothing amiss was found.The false report came days after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-judge-swatting-threats-fe70d2254f2da4a1cb9e6e55c79e1d40">fake emergency call</a>&nbsp;reporting a shooting at the home of U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is overseeing Trump’s Capitol attack criminal case in Washington, D.C.Smith was also the target of fake shooting report at his home, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation. Smith and his family have been the subject of numerous threats and intimidating messages since he was appointed and Trump began posting messages about them online, prosecutors have said in court documents.WHAT OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN TARGETED?Public officials targeted by swatting range from Republican U.S. Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-greene-swatting-georgia-christmas-2081fd3835512cc3180aa1171fc5913d">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;of Georgia to Maine Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-trump-ballot-swatting-08f1d0e39ee7b111d51045bb9ea48094">Shenna Bellows</a>, a Democrat who removed Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-14th-amendment-2024-colorado-79373b5043976588b599fc00ede049e8">Constitution’s insurrection clause</a>.Other high-profile targets in recent days include U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost.In Greene's case, a man called the Georgia suicide hotline Christmas morning, claiming that he had shot his girlfriend at Greene’s home and was going to kill himself next, police said. The call was quickly transferred to police, who determined it was a swatting attempt after contacting a private security detail for Greene, who has been targeted multiple times.In Wu's case, a male caller claimed the same day claiming he had shot his wife and had tied her and another man up at the Boston mayor's address. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021.HOW WIDESPREAD IS THE PROBLEM?Hundreds of cases of swatting occur annually, with some using caller ID spoofing to disguise their number. And those targeted extend far beyond public officials.Police have for months reported a huge surge in fake claims about active shooters at schools and colleges. There have also been reports of hundreds of swatting incidents and bomb threats against synagogues and other Jewish institutions since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;began.The FBI said earlier this year that it had started the process of creating a national database in to track swatting incidents nationwide. The agency said Thursday that investigators take seriously the widespread increase in threats, and every hoax “puts innocent people at risk, is a waste of law enforcement’s limited resources, and costs taxpayers.”DO FALSE THREATS POSE OTHER RISKS?Such calls have proven dangerous and even outright deadly.In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/8d48bc5c4db63afb97457d4080c02612">Earlier this year</a>, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a related lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch.In 2015, police in Maryland shot a 20-year-old man in the face with rubber bullets after a&nbsp;<a href="https://wjla.com/news/local/maryland-man-gets-2-years-after-swatting-victim-was-shot">fake hostage situation was reported</a>&nbsp;at his home.In addition to putting innocent people at risk, police and officials say they worry about diverting resources from real emergencies.WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE COULD THIS PROMPT?No arrests have been made in the recent threats, but some lawmakers have moved for heftier penalties.Ohio earlier this year made it a felony offense to report a false emergency that prompts response by law enforcement. And Virginia increased the penalties for swatting to up to 12 months in jail. Similar bills are pending in other states and Congress.In Georgia, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones promised “an end to this madness” after his home in a small town south of Atlanta was swatted on Wednesday, only to have a bomb threat called in to his office on Thursday.

White House is latest 'swatting' site—after series of fake 911 calls

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at a former golf clubhouse in Johnson County, Kansas.

Just before 6a.m. Monday, crews responded to a building fire in 105th Block of Antioch, according to a media release. First arriving crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the two-story former clubhouse of the Brookridge Country Club.

Due to the heavy fire and extreme weather conditions, a second alarm was called. It took crews over an hour to bring the fire under control. There was nobody in the building and no injuries reported. The building sustained significant fire damage, according to the release.

Overland Park, Lenexa, and Olathe Fire Departments worked the fire.

<figure>
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 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire at a former golf clubhouse in Johnson County, Kansas.Just before 6a.m. Monday, crews responded to a building fire in 105th Block of Antioch, according to a media release. First arriving crews found heavy smoke and fire coming from the two-story former clubhouse of the Brookridge Country Club.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705338373023.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Due to the heavy fire and extreme weather conditions, a second alarm was called. It took crews over an hour to bring the fire under control. There was nobody in the building and no injuries reported. The building sustained significant fire damage, according to the release.Overland Park, Lenexa, and Olathe Fire Departments worked the fire.

2 alarm fire in sub-zero temps at former golf clubhouse in Kansas

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;scored a record-setting win in the Iowa caucuses on Monday with his rivals languishing far behind, a victory that affirmed his grip on the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

In what was the lowest-turnout caucus in a quarter-century, participants endured life-threatening cold and dangerous driving conditions to meet in hundreds of schools, churches and community centers across the state. But those who ventured out delivered a roughly 30-point win for Trump that smashed the record for a contested Iowa Republican caucus with a margin of victory exceeding Bob Dole's nearly 13-percentage-point victory in 1988.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished a distant second, just ahead of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

The results left Trump with a tighter grip on the GOP nomination, though it could take several more months for anyone to formally become the party’s standard bearer. The magnitude of Trump’s victory, however, posed significant questions for both DeSantis and Haley. Neither candidate appeared poised to exit the race, though they leave Iowa struggling to claim making much progress in trying to become Trump’s strongest challenger.

Having repeatedly vowed vengeance against his political opponents in recent months, Trump offered a message of unity in his victory speech.

“We want to come together, whether it’s Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative,” he said. “We’re going to come together. It’s going to happen soon.”

The GOP contest moves swiftly to New Hampshire, which will hold the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23. A shrinking field will compete there after conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his campaign after a disappointing fourth place finish and endorsed Trump.

DeSantis first heads to South Carolina on Tuesday, a conservative stronghold where the Feb. 24 contest could prove pivotal. He will head later in the day New Hampshire.

“Because of your support, in spite of all of what they threw at us, we got our ticket punched out of Iowa,” DeSantis told supporters.

Haley plans to compete vigorously in New Hampshire, where she hopes to be more successful with the state’s independent voters.

“When you look at how well we’re doing in New Hampshire and in South Carolina and beyond, I can safely say tonight Iowa made this Republican primary a two-person race,” she said.

In a preview of a remarkable balancing act Trump may have to manage in the months ahead, he was expected to be in court in New York on Tuesday. A jury is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-lawsuit-defamation-trial-aacfe35372690da0e26d0a273046baf2">poised to consider whether he should pay additional damages</a>&nbsp;to a columnist who last year won a $5 million jury award against Trump for sex abuse and defamation. It's just one of multiple legal challenges facing the former president.

After visiting the court, Trump will fly to New Hampshire to hold a rally Tuesday evening.

Trump has made courtroom visits a part of his campaign — heading to court voluntarily twice last week while his opponents campaigned in Iowa — in a strategy designed to portray him as a victim of a politicized legal system. Among Republican voters, at least, the approach is working.

The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 7:31 p.m. CST based on an analysis of early returns as well as results of AP VoteCast, of more than 1,500 voters who said they planned to take part in the caucuses. Both showed Trump with an insurmountable lead.

Initial results from eight counties showed Trump with far more than half of the total votes counted as of 7:31 p.m., with the rest of the field trailing far behind. These counties included rural areas that are demographically and politically similar to a large number of counties that had yet to report.

The Associated Press determined at 11:17 p.m. CST that DeSantis finished a distant second to Trump. With an estimated 10% of ballots remaining to be counted, DeSantis led Haley by approximately 2,300 votes, or about 2 percentage points. With votes reported in all but one of Iowa’s 99 counties, Haley wasn't doing well enough anywhere to catch DeSantis, based on the number of outstanding votes.

Trump showed significant strength among Iowa's urban, small-town and rural communities, according to AP VoteCast. He also performed well with evangelical Christians and those without a college degree. And a majority of caucusgoers said they identify with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.

One relative weakness for Trump comes in the suburbs, where only about 4 in 10 supported him.

Iowa has been an uneven predictor of who will ultimately lead Republicans into the general election. George W. Bush’s 2000 victory was the last time a Republican candidate won in Iowa and went on to become the party’s nominee.

But Trump’s success tells a remarkable story of a Republican Party unwilling or unable to move on from a flawed front-runner. He lost to Biden in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">fueling near-constant chaos</a>&nbsp;while in the White House, culminating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucuses-young-conservatives-campaign-2ca7441852577795123845811b06bc06">with his supporters carrying out a deadly attack</a>&nbsp;on the U.S. Capitol. In total, he faces 91 felony charges across four criminal cases.

The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether states have the ability to block Trump from the ballot for his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. And he’s facing criminal trials in Washington and Atlanta for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Trump has increasingly echoed authoritarian leaders and framed his campaign as one of retribution. He has spoken openly about using the power of government to pursue his political enemies. He has repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-immigration-iowa-dff7f632948fa6511fb7d1955a28610c">harnessed rhetoric</a>&nbsp;once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country.” And he recently shared a word cloud last week to his social media account highlighting “revenge,” “power” and “dictatorship.”

Trump’s legal challenges appear to have done little damage to his reputation. Many of his supporters view the charges through a political lens.

About three-quarters of Iowans responding to AP VoteCast said the charges against Trump are political attempts to undermine him, rather than legitimate attempts to investigate important issues.

“God called us to do that to support Trump,” said 64-year-old David Lage, donning a captain’s hat at Trump's victory party.

<figure>
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 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;scored a record-setting win in the Iowa caucuses on Monday with his rivals languishing far behind, a victory that affirmed his grip on the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;We want to thank the great people of Iowa!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/O8Y28bRKyk">pic.twitter.com/O8Y28bRKyk</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1747110077373235645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In what was the lowest-turnout caucus in a quarter-century, participants endured life-threatening cold and dangerous driving conditions to meet in hundreds of schools, churches and community centers across the state. But those who ventured out delivered a roughly 30-point win for Trump that smashed the record for a contested Iowa Republican caucus with a margin of victory exceeding Bob Dole's nearly 13-percentage-point victory in 1988.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Ron DeSantis: &quot;We&#39;ve got our ticket punched out of Iowa.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VcMKSBE8QQ">pic.twitter.com/VcMKSBE8QQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1747119572740690012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished a distant second, just ahead of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.The results left Trump with a tighter grip on the GOP nomination, though it could take several more months for anyone to formally become the party’s standard bearer. The magnitude of Trump’s victory, however, posed significant questions for both DeSantis and Haley. Neither candidate appeared poised to exit the race, though they leave Iowa struggling to claim making much progress in trying to become Trump’s strongest challenger.Having repeatedly vowed vengeance against his political opponents in recent months, Trump offered a message of unity in his victory speech.“We want to come together, whether it’s Republican or Democrat or liberal or conservative,” he said. “We’re going to come together. It’s going to happen soon.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Nikki Haley: &quot;When you look at how we&#39;re doing in New Hampshire in South Carolina and beyond I can safely say tonight Iowa made this Republican Primary a two person race.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/R6MuCh17Lg">pic.twitter.com/R6MuCh17Lg</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1747119894070538480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The GOP contest moves swiftly to New Hampshire, which will hold the first-in-the-nation primary on Jan. 23. A shrinking field will compete there after conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his campaign after a disappointing fourth place finish and endorsed Trump.DeSantis first heads to South Carolina on Tuesday, a conservative stronghold where the Feb. 24 contest could prove pivotal. He will head later in the day New Hampshire.“Because of your support, in spite of all of what they threw at us, we got our ticket punched out of Iowa,” DeSantis told supporters.Haley plans to compete vigorously in New Hampshire, where she hopes to be more successful with the state’s independent voters.“When you look at how well we’re doing in New Hampshire and in South Carolina and beyond, I can safely say tonight Iowa made this Republican primary a two-person race,” she said.In a preview of a remarkable balancing act Trump may have to manage in the months ahead, he was expected to be in court in New York on Tuesday. A jury is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-lawsuit-defamation-trial-aacfe35372690da0e26d0a273046baf2">poised to consider whether he should pay additional damages</a>&nbsp;to a columnist who last year won a $5 million jury award against Trump for sex abuse and defamation. It's just one of multiple legal challenges facing the former president.After visiting the court, Trump will fly to New Hampshire to hold a rally Tuesday evening.Trump has made courtroom visits a part of his campaign — heading to court voluntarily twice last week while his opponents campaigned in Iowa — in a strategy designed to portray him as a victim of a politicized legal system. Among Republican voters, at least, the approach is working.The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 7:31 p.m. CST based on an analysis of early returns as well as results of AP VoteCast, of more than 1,500 voters who said they planned to take part in the caucuses. Both showed Trump with an insurmountable lead.Initial results from eight counties showed Trump with far more than half of the total votes counted as of 7:31 p.m., with the rest of the field trailing far behind. These counties included rural areas that are demographically and politically similar to a large number of counties that had yet to report.The Associated Press determined at 11:17 p.m. CST that DeSantis finished a distant second to Trump. With an estimated 10% of ballots remaining to be counted, DeSantis led Haley by approximately 2,300 votes, or about 2 percentage points. With votes reported in all but one of Iowa’s 99 counties, Haley wasn't doing well enough anywhere to catch DeSantis, based on the number of outstanding votes.Trump showed significant strength among Iowa's urban, small-town and rural communities, according to AP VoteCast. He also performed well with evangelical Christians and those without a college degree. And a majority of caucusgoers said they identify with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement.One relative weakness for Trump comes in the suburbs, where only about 4 in 10 supported him.Iowa has been an uneven predictor of who will ultimately lead Republicans into the general election. George W. Bush’s 2000 victory was the last time a Republican candidate won in Iowa and went on to become the party’s nominee.But Trump’s success tells a remarkable story of a Republican Party unwilling or unable to move on from a flawed front-runner. He lost to Biden in 2020 after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-information-8dd6297eaebc358ffc15c153dc1b000e">fueling near-constant chaos</a>&nbsp;while in the White House, culminating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iowa-caucuses-young-conservatives-campaign-2ca7441852577795123845811b06bc06">with his supporters carrying out a deadly attack</a>&nbsp;on the U.S. Capitol. In total, he faces 91 felony charges across four criminal cases.The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether states have the ability to block Trump from the ballot for his role in sparking the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. And he’s facing criminal trials in Washington and Atlanta for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.Trump has increasingly echoed authoritarian leaders and framed his campaign as one of retribution. He has spoken openly about using the power of government to pursue his political enemies. He has repeatedly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-immigration-iowa-dff7f632948fa6511fb7d1955a28610c">harnessed rhetoric</a>&nbsp;once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country.” And he recently shared a word cloud last week to his social media account highlighting “revenge,” “power” and “dictatorship.”Trump’s legal challenges appear to have done little damage to his reputation. Many of his supporters view the charges through a political lens.About three-quarters of Iowans responding to AP VoteCast said the charges against Trump are political attempts to undermine him, rather than legitimate attempts to investigate important issues.“God called us to do that to support Trump,” said 64-year-old David Lage, donning a captain’s hat at Trump's victory party.___

🎥 Trump celebrates landslide Iowa win; DeSantis edges Haley

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Iran said late Monday it had launched strikes against a “spy headquarters and gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups” shortly after missiles hit an upscale area near the U.S. consulate in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

The security council of the Kurdish regional government said in a statement that four civilians were killed and six injured in the strikes.

Peshraw Dizayi, a prominent local businessman with a portfolio that included real estate and security services companies, was killed in one of the strikes along with members of his family, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by former Iraqi member of parliament Mashan al-Jabouri, who said that one of the missiles had fallen on Dizayi’s “palace, next to my house, which is under construction on the road to the Salah al-Din resort.”

Soon after, a statement from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/persian-gulf-tensions-us-iran-revolutionary-guard-ea0aa5d3bc2b7472cb633bb3e123a993" target="_blank">Iran’s Revolutionary Guards</a>&nbsp;on state media said it had struck “terrorist operations” including Islamic State targets in Syria “and destroyed them by firing a number of ballistic missiles.” Another statement claimed that it had hit a headquarters of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in the Kurdish region of Iraq.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/islamic-state-group" target="_blank">The Islamic State extremist group</a>&nbsp;claimed responsibility earlier this month for two suicide bombings targeting a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike. The attack in Kerman killed at least 84 people and wounded an additional 284 at a ceremony honoring Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

Last month, Iran accused Israel of killing a high-ranking Iranian general, Seyed Razi Mousavi, in an airstrike on a Damascus neighborhood.

An Iraqi security official said Irbil was targeted with “several” ballistic missiles but did not give further details. An official with an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia said 10 missiles fell in the area near the U.S. consulate. He said the missiles were launched by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

A U.S. defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that had not been made public said the U.S. tracked the missiles, which hit in northern Iraq and northern Syria, and no U.S. facilities were struck or damaged in the attacks. The official said initial indications were that the strike were “reckless and imprecise.”

In 2022, Iran claimed responsibility for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-missile-attack-erbil-iraq-us-consulate-7a4ea6281fe6191a4e4b640c58c7fd49" target="_blank">missile barrage that struck in the same area</a>&nbsp;near the sprawling U.S. consulate complex in Irbil, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard.

The strikes come at a time of heightened tensions in the region and fears of a wider spillover of the ongoing war in Gaza.

Since the outbreak of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" target="_blank">Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7</a>, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have launched near-daily drone attacks on bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, which the groups have said was in retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel, and in an attempt to force U.S. troops to leave the region.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705371154639.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Iran said late Monday it had launched strikes against a “spy headquarters and gathering of anti-Iranian terrorist groups” shortly after missiles hit an upscale area near the U.S. consulate in Irbil, the seat of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.The security council of the Kurdish regional government said in a statement that four civilians were killed and six injured in the strikes.Peshraw Dizayi, a prominent local businessman with a portfolio that included real estate and security services companies, was killed in one of the strikes along with members of his family, according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by former Iraqi member of parliament Mashan al-Jabouri, who said that one of the missiles had fallen on Dizayi’s “palace, next to my house, which is under construction on the road to the Salah al-Din resort.”Soon after, a statement from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/persian-gulf-tensions-us-iran-revolutionary-guard-ea0aa5d3bc2b7472cb633bb3e123a993" target="_blank">Iran’s Revolutionary Guards</a>&nbsp;on state media said it had struck “terrorist operations” including Islamic State targets in Syria “and destroyed them by firing a number of ballistic missiles.” Another statement claimed that it had hit a headquarters of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, in the Kurdish region of Iraq.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/islamic-state-group" target="_blank">The Islamic State extremist group</a>&nbsp;claimed responsibility earlier this month for two suicide bombings targeting a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike. The attack in Kerman killed at least 84 people and wounded an additional 284 at a ceremony honoring Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani.Last month, Iran accused Israel of killing a high-ranking Iranian general, Seyed Razi Mousavi, in an airstrike on a Damascus neighborhood.An Iraqi security official said Irbil was targeted with “several” ballistic missiles but did not give further details. An official with an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia said 10 missiles fell in the area near the U.S. consulate. He said the missiles were launched by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.A U.S. defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that had not been made public said the U.S. tracked the missiles, which hit in northern Iraq and northern Syria, and no U.S. facilities were struck or damaged in the attacks. The official said initial indications were that the strike were “reckless and imprecise.”In 2022, Iran claimed responsibility for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-missile-attack-erbil-iraq-us-consulate-7a4ea6281fe6191a4e4b640c58c7fd49" target="_blank">missile barrage that struck in the same area</a>&nbsp;near the sprawling U.S. consulate complex in Irbil, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two members of its Revolutionary Guard.The strikes come at a time of heightened tensions in the region and fears of a wider spillover of the ongoing war in Gaza.Since the outbreak of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" target="_blank">Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7</a>, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have launched near-daily drone attacks on bases housing U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, which the groups have said was in retaliation for Washington’s support of Israel, and in an attempt to force U.S. troops to leave the region.——-

Iran launches missile strikes near the US consulate in Iraq

ELLIS COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol thanked our personnel and all of you for the thoughts and prayers you all have shared for our K9 partner who was involved in the crash Friday afternoon on I-70 in Ellis County, according to social media report from Trooper Tod Heilman.

Trooper Budke says that his K9 partner, Igor, is still in the ICU but slowly recovering. Your continued thoughts and prayers for a full recovery are welcome. Igor has been with the KHP less than a year.

Distracted driving is a serious problem on our highways and crashes like this one are 100 percent preventable!

ELLIS COUNTY —A KHP K9 was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Friday in Ellis County.

According to Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Hileman, troopers briefly shutdown Interstate 70 westbound between Walker and Hays to allow tow-trucks to remove a semi, involved in an earlier accident, from the median at the Walker bridge.

&nbsp;Traffic was routed to Old Highway 40 from Walker to Commerce Parkway in Hays and allowed back on Interstate 70.

During the shutdown, a westbound semi struck a State Trooper's vehicle with his K9 partner in the kennel.&nbsp; The trooper was outside the vehicle directing traffic and not injured.&nbsp; The K9 was rushed to a local veterinarian in Hays for treatment. Just before 6:30p.m., Hileman said&nbsp; "we are all hoping for the best."

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705370165350.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol thanked our personnel and all of you for the thoughts and prayers you all have shared for our K9 partner who was involved in the crash Friday afternoon on I-70 in Ellis County, according to social media report from Trooper Tod Heilman.Trooper Budke says that his K9 partner, Igor, is still in the ICU but slowly recovering. Your continued thoughts and prayers for a full recovery are welcome. Igor has been with the KHP less than a year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705102888965.png" alt="Scene of the crash on Friday -image KanDrive" />
 <figcaption>Scene of the crash on Friday -image KanDrive</figcaption>
 </figure>Distracted driving is a serious problem on our highways and crashes like this one are 100 percent preventable!---------------ELLIS COUNTY —A KHP K9 was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Friday in Ellis County.According to Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Tod Hileman, troopers briefly shutdown Interstate 70 westbound between Walker and Hays to allow tow-trucks to remove a semi, involved in an earlier accident, from the median at the Walker bridge.&nbsp;Traffic was routed to Old Highway 40 from Walker to Commerce Parkway in Hays and allowed back on Interstate 70.During the shutdown, a westbound semi struck a State Trooper's vehicle with his K9 partner in the kennel.&nbsp; The trooper was outside the vehicle directing traffic and not injured.&nbsp; The K9 was rushed to a local veterinarian in Hays for treatment. Just before 6:30p.m., Hileman said&nbsp; "we are all hoping for the best."

KHP K-9 still recovering from injuries received in Friday crash

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a sex crime.

Alex J. Skidmore, 21, of Atchison, will serve 114 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for aggravated sexual battery of a Lawrence woman he met on a dating app, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.

Judge Stacey Donovan, who had accepted Skidmore’s no contest plea in November also sentenced Skidmore to lifetime post-release supervision and required Skidmore to register as a sex offender for 25 years.

Charges stem from an incident that occurred in the 4300 block of W. 24th Place on June 16, 2022, when a 21-year-old woman reported to police that Skidmore sexually assaulted her in her bedroom.

“The survivor in this case bravely stepped forward and her courage has helped to make our community safer,” District Attorney Valdez said. “We all owe her a debt of gratitude for holding Mr. Skidmore accountable for his actions.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705148206330.png" alt="Skidmore-photo Douglas County" />
 <figcaption>Skidmore-photo Douglas County</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a sex crime.Alex J. Skidmore, 21, of Atchison, will serve 114 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for aggravated sexual battery of a Lawrence woman he met on a dating app, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.Judge Stacey Donovan, who had accepted Skidmore’s no contest plea in November also sentenced Skidmore to lifetime post-release supervision and required Skidmore to register as a sex offender for 25 years.Charges stem from an incident that occurred in the 4300 block of W. 24th Place on June 16, 2022, when a 21-year-old woman reported to police that Skidmore sexually assaulted her in her bedroom.“The survivor in this case bravely stepped forward and her courage has helped to make our community safer,” District Attorney Valdez said. “We all owe her a debt of gratitude for holding Mr. Skidmore accountable for his actions.”

Kan. man sexually assaulted woman he met on dating app

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegaions following a traffic stop.

Just after 10:30p.m. Jan. 12, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1979 Ford Mustang near 150th and Q.4 Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The deputy observed what was believed to be drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.&nbsp; A search of the vehicle was conducted, where methamphetamine, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, a hallucinogenic drug and open containers of alcohol were located.

The deputy arrested the driver 57-year-old Bruce Leroy Bowers of Harveyville and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of a hallucinogenic drug,&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 3rd conviction,&nbsp;&nbsp;Transporting open container,&nbsp;&nbsp;Operating motor vehicle w/o license and Improper driving on laned roadway.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705325503118.png" alt="Bowers-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bowers-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegaions following a traffic stop.Just after 10:30p.m. Jan. 12, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 1979 Ford Mustang near 150th and Q.4 Road for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The deputy observed what was believed to be drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.&nbsp; A search of the vehicle was conducted, where methamphetamine, multiple items of drug paraphernalia, a hallucinogenic drug and open containers of alcohol were located.The deputy arrested the driver 57-year-old Bruce Leroy Bowers of Harveyville and booked him into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of a hallucinogenic drug,&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs, 3rd conviction,&nbsp;&nbsp;Transporting open container,&nbsp;&nbsp;Operating motor vehicle w/o license and Improper driving on laned roadway.

Sheriff: Kan. man transporting drugs accused of DUI again

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Navy ships and aircraft combed areas of the Gulf of Aden for two missing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-navy-seals" target="_blank">U.S. Navy SEALs</a>&nbsp;on Monday as details emerged about their mission to board and take over a vessel carrying components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles headed for Somalia, a U.S. defense official said Monday.

The official said crew on the dhow, which did not have a country flag, were planning to transfer the missile parts, including warheads and engines, to another boat off the coast of Somalia. The Navy recognized the boat as one with a history of transporting illegal weapons from Iran to Somalia, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/navy-seals-missing-somalia-coast-boarding-mission-41a5cf55805f8aa0ff2c4d5626690529" target="_blank">The SEALs</a>&nbsp;were on the USS Lewis B. Puller, a Navy expeditionary sea base vessel, and traveled in small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. As they were boarding it in rough seas, around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both are missing.

The team boarding the small boat was facing about a dozen crew members. The crew members, who were taken into custody, had no paperwork, which allowed a search of the vessel. The weapons were confiscated, and the boat was sunk, a routine procedure that usually involves blowing open holes in the hull.

U.S. officials have said that the waters in the Gulf of Aden are warm, and Navy SEALs are trained for such emergencies. On Monday, Navy ships, helicopters and drones were involved in the ongoing search.

The U.S. Navy has conducted regular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-middle-east-e4bde7250333a85445fe9a9f0f1c64a8" target="_blank">interdiction missions</a>&nbsp;in the region, also intercepting weapons on ships that were bound for Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

Officials have said that the SEAL mission was not related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/attacks-red-sea-navy-mission-missiles-286d51bfd65e741e839e185f0f4a455b" target="_blank">Operation Prosperity Guardian</a>, the ongoing U.S. and international mission to provide protection to commercial vessels in the Red Sea, or the retaliatory strikes that the United States and the United Kingdom have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11" target="_blank">conducted in Yemen</a>&nbsp;over the past two days.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Navy ships and aircraft combed areas of the Gulf of Aden for two missing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-navy-seals" target="_blank">U.S. Navy SEALs</a>&nbsp;on Monday as details emerged about their mission to board and take over a vessel carrying components for medium-range Iranian ballistic missiles headed for Somalia, a U.S. defense official said Monday.The official said crew on the dhow, which did not have a country flag, were planning to transfer the missile parts, including warheads and engines, to another boat off the coast of Somalia. The Navy recognized the boat as one with a history of transporting illegal weapons from Iran to Somalia, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/navy-seals-missing-somalia-coast-boarding-mission-41a5cf55805f8aa0ff2c4d5626690529" target="_blank">The SEALs</a>&nbsp;were on the USS Lewis B. Puller, a Navy expeditionary sea base vessel, and traveled in small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. As they were boarding it in rough seas, around 8 p.m. local time, one SEAL got knocked off by high waves and a teammate went in after him. Both are missing.The team boarding the small boat was facing about a dozen crew members. The crew members, who were taken into custody, had no paperwork, which allowed a search of the vessel. The weapons were confiscated, and the boat was sunk, a routine procedure that usually involves blowing open holes in the hull.U.S. officials have said that the waters in the Gulf of Aden are warm, and Navy SEALs are trained for such emergencies. On Monday, Navy ships, helicopters and drones were involved in the ongoing search.The U.S. Navy has conducted regular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-middle-east-e4bde7250333a85445fe9a9f0f1c64a8" target="_blank">interdiction missions</a>&nbsp;in the region, also intercepting weapons on ships that were bound for Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.Officials have said that the SEAL mission was not related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/attacks-red-sea-navy-mission-missiles-286d51bfd65e741e839e185f0f4a455b" target="_blank">Operation Prosperity Guardian</a>, the ongoing U.S. and international mission to provide protection to commercial vessels in the Red Sea, or the retaliatory strikes that the United States and the United Kingdom have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11" target="_blank">conducted in Yemen</a>&nbsp;over the past two days.

2 missing Navy SEALs were on mission to confiscate Iranian missile parts

WICHITA —School is cancelled in dozens of school districts on Tuesday, Jan. 16, due to weather-related concerns including the largest school district in Kansas, according to a statement from USD 259 Wichita.

All non-attendance centers will remain open (AMAC, SSC, IST, Dunbar and ISC).&nbsp;All afternoon and evening athletic practices and competitions will continue as scheduled.

USD 259 anticipates having students back in school on Wednesday, January 17, so please plan accordingly.&nbsp;Any additional weather updates will be posted on the district’s Web site –&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usd259.org/">www.usd259.org</a>&nbsp;– and on our social media sites.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705359924572.png" alt="Image KanDrive" />
 <figcaption>Image KanDrive</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —School is cancelled in dozens of school districts on Tuesday, Jan. 16, due to weather-related concerns including the largest school district in Kansas, according to a statement from USD 259 Wichita.All non-attendance centers will remain open (AMAC, SSC, IST, Dunbar and ISC).&nbsp;All afternoon and evening athletic practices and competitions will continue as scheduled.<ul>
 <li>All non-attendance center personnel&nbsp;are expected to work as regularly scheduled, except for coaches and specialists on teacher contracts who will not report to work.</li><li>All&nbsp;school-based custodians, secretaries, clerks, school-based security and administrative personnel (principals and APs)&nbsp;are expected to report to their buildings as regularly scheduled.All teachers, paras and school-based food staff do NOT report to work.</li><li>All teachers, paras and school-based food staff do NOT report to work.</li><li>FPC 260-day Nutrition Services employees who work in the SSC&nbsp;are expected to report to work.School-based food staff will not report.</li><li>School-based food staff will not report.</li>
 </ul>USD 259 anticipates having students back in school on Wednesday, January 17, so please plan accordingly.&nbsp;Any additional weather updates will be posted on the district’s Web site –&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usd259.org/">www.usd259.org</a>&nbsp;– and on our social media sites.

Largest school district in Kan. cancels classes for Tuesday

SHAWNEE COUNTY —The City of Topeka boil water advisory is expected to be in effect until at least Friday, according to a statement from the city on Monday afternoon.

On Sunday, City of Topeka reported that their utilities staff&nbsp; had been working since early Sunday morning to identify and resolve the low chlorine residual levels coming out of the Topeka Water Treatment Plant. 

City staff identified a mechanical issue that is believed to be the cause of the low chlorine levels. Repairs were made and chemical dosing was anticipated to resume in normal operation and fresh water was beginning to run through lines.&nbsp; The city continues to work with KDHE to test and make certain the water is safe.

<a href="https://citymanager.s3.amazonaws.com/FAQ011523.pdf">Click here for more</a> details on the advisory.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —The City of Topeka boil water advisory is expected to be in effect until at least Friday, according to a statement from the city on Monday afternoon.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The City of Topeka Water Boil Advisory is expected to be in effect until at least Friday, January 19, 2024. We understand that there are a lot of questions, so we have put together an FAQ sheet with more information. We appreciate the community&#39;s patience as we work to resolve… <a href="https://t.co/ysSfgihiS2">pic.twitter.com/ysSfgihiS2</a>&mdash; City of Topeka (@cityoftopeka) <a href="https://twitter.com/cityoftopeka/status/1746998429572595819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Sunday, City of Topeka reported that their utilities staff&nbsp; had been working since early Sunday morning to identify and resolve the low chlorine residual levels coming out of the Topeka Water Treatment Plant. City staff identified a mechanical issue that is believed to be the cause of the low chlorine levels. Repairs were made and chemical dosing was anticipated to resume in normal operation and fresh water was beginning to run through lines.&nbsp; The city continues to work with KDHE to test and make certain the water is safe.<a href="https://citymanager.s3.amazonaws.com/FAQ011523.pdf">Click here for more</a> details on the advisory.

Boil water advisory for the capital city extended to Friday

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lloyd-austin">Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin</a>&nbsp;was released from the hospital Monday, after spending two weeks there to treat complications from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prostate-cancer-treatment-surgery-radiation-study-508ac3025e164ff629b180ebb6113df0">surgery for prostate cancer</a>&nbsp;he kept secret from senior Biden administration leaders and staff for weeks.

He is expected to work from home as he recovers.

Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-hospital-defense-secretary-biden-fe9060f1e277db706d3cee6cae1d2562">on Dec. 22</a>&nbsp;and underwent surgery to treat the cancer, which was detected earlier in the month during a routine screening. He developed an infection a week later and was hospitalized Jan. 1 and admitted to intensive care.

Doctors said he remained in the hospital due to ongoing leg pain resulting from the infection and so he could get physical therapy.

President Joe Biden and senior administration officials were not told about Austin's hospitalization until Jan. 4, and Austin kept the cancer diagnosis secret until Jan. 9. Biden has said Austin's failure to tell him about the hospitalization was a lapse in judgment, but the Democratic president insists he still has confidence in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-biden-cabinet-lloyd-austin-john-cornyn-army-4d8848273e4e1fe6e4ad2dc8cee7313c">his Pentagon chief</a>.

During Austin's time at Walter Reed, the U.S. launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">a series of military strikes</a>&nbsp;late last week on the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, targeting dozens of locations linked to their campaign of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">assaults on commercial shipping</a>&nbsp;in the Red Sea. Working from his hospital bed, Austin juggled calls with senior military leaders, including Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, and White House meetings to review, order and ultimately watch the strikes unfold over secure video.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-secrecy-disclosure-6ff0ee7eddfde1231453f96774788642">The lack of transparency</a>&nbsp;about Austin’s hospitalization, however, has triggered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-white-house-pentagon-lloyd-austin-8e888aaed905e2327501a237139c6f0e">administration and Defense Department reviews</a>&nbsp;on the procedures for notifying the White House and others if a Cabinet member must transfer decision-making authorities to a deputy, as Austin did during his initial surgery and a portion of his latest hospital stay. And the White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24355772-cabinet-heads-memo">ordered Cabinet members</a>&nbsp;to notify his office if they ever can’t perform their duties.

Austin's secrecy also drew criticism from Congress members on both sides of the political aisle, and Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he has opened a formal inquiry into the matter. Others openly called for Austin to resign, but the White House has said the Pentagon chief's job is safe.

It is still unclear when Austin will return to his office in the Pentagon or how his cancer treatment will affect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-biden-cabinet-lloyd-austin-john-cornyn-army-4d8848273e4e1fe6e4ad2dc8cee7313c">his job</a>, travel and other public engagements going forward. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has been taking on some of his day-to-day duties as he recovers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704767147747.png" alt="Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III visits the USS Gerald R. Ford underway in the Eastern Mediterranean, Dec. 20, 2023.&nbsp;Photo By:Chad J. McNeeley, DOD" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III visits the USS Gerald R. Ford underway in the Eastern Mediterranean, Dec. 20, 2023.&nbsp;Photo By:Chad J. McNeeley, DOD</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lloyd-austin">Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin</a>&nbsp;was released from the hospital Monday, after spending two weeks there to treat complications from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prostate-cancer-treatment-surgery-radiation-study-508ac3025e164ff629b180ebb6113df0">surgery for prostate cancer</a>&nbsp;he kept secret from senior Biden administration leaders and staff for weeks.He is expected to work from home as he recovers.Austin, 70, was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/austin-hospital-defense-secretary-biden-fe9060f1e277db706d3cee6cae1d2562">on Dec. 22</a>&nbsp;and underwent surgery to treat the cancer, which was detected earlier in the month during a routine screening. He developed an infection a week later and was hospitalized Jan. 1 and admitted to intensive care.Doctors said he remained in the hospital due to ongoing leg pain resulting from the infection and so he could get physical therapy.President Joe Biden and senior administration officials were not told about Austin's hospitalization until Jan. 4, and Austin kept the cancer diagnosis secret until Jan. 9. Biden has said Austin's failure to tell him about the hospitalization was a lapse in judgment, but the Democratic president insists he still has confidence in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-biden-cabinet-lloyd-austin-john-cornyn-army-4d8848273e4e1fe6e4ad2dc8cee7313c">his Pentagon chief</a>.During Austin's time at Walter Reed, the U.S. launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-biden-retaliation-attacks-0804b93372cd5e874a0dd03513fe36a2">a series of military strikes</a>&nbsp;late last week on the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen, targeting dozens of locations linked to their campaign of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">assaults on commercial shipping</a>&nbsp;in the Red Sea. Working from his hospital bed, Austin juggled calls with senior military leaders, including Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, and White House meetings to review, order and ultimately watch the strikes unfold over secure video.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-hospitalized-secrecy-disclosure-6ff0ee7eddfde1231453f96774788642">The lack of transparency</a>&nbsp;about Austin’s hospitalization, however, has triggered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-white-house-pentagon-lloyd-austin-8e888aaed905e2327501a237139c6f0e">administration and Defense Department reviews</a>&nbsp;on the procedures for notifying the White House and others if a Cabinet member must transfer decision-making authorities to a deputy, as Austin did during his initial surgery and a portion of his latest hospital stay. And the White House chief of staff&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24355772-cabinet-heads-memo">ordered Cabinet members</a>&nbsp;to notify his office if they ever can’t perform their duties.Austin's secrecy also drew criticism from Congress members on both sides of the political aisle, and Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican who is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said he has opened a formal inquiry into the matter. Others openly called for Austin to resign, but the White House has said the Pentagon chief's job is safe.It is still unclear when Austin will return to his office in the Pentagon or how his cancer treatment will affect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-biden-cabinet-lloyd-austin-john-cornyn-army-4d8848273e4e1fe6e4ad2dc8cee7313c">his job</a>, travel and other public engagements going forward. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks has been taking on some of his day-to-day duties as he recovers.

Defense Secretary working from home after surgery he kept secret

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina Post

For many, the dentist's office is often a daunting medical visit with an atmosphere of tentative calm. 

The scene at Tony's Pizza Event Center contrasted this norm, with many patients, adults and children alike, arriving with smiles, ready to receive donated treatment by local and out-of-state dental professionals.

On Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 13, the Kansas Mission of Mercy, or KMOM, visited Salina and donated more than $400,000 in dental care to the community.

Many families visited the clinic, where KMOM provided children's appointments while also treating parents.

Due to the inclement weather, staff opened the doors to the event center during the night to allow visitors to wait inside a waiting room through the early morning hours.

Although volunteers intend to accept visitors for as long as possible throughout Friday and Saturday, staffing limitations and ranging dental treatments caused KMOM's doors to close at 9 a.m.

KMOM staff continued to attend children's appointments throughout the day. Inside the clinic floor at the children's station, a small TV playing children's cartoons entertained visitors while waiting.

According to Independence dentist and long-time volunteer Dr. Cindi Sherwood, each patients' needs are different, and to ensure those already inside the venue received proper care before the event ended, they had to end walk-ins early.

Sherwood said she has volunteered for the last 21 KMOM events and found giving back to the community is important for her as a professional.

"It's very heartwarming. As a professional, I feel you should give back, and it's really fun," Sherwood said. "It's hard work — many volunteers like me really like doing it, or you don't. Some people come and do it and decide, 'It's not for me.' but I think it's very rewarding."

Most dental volunteers begin treating patients as early as 5 a.m. but wake up earlier to prepare stations and sanitize tools and surfaces.

Once visitors arrived at the clinic, staff had them wait inside a side room of Tony's Pizza Event Center while filling out health information and other documents.

After providing that information, volunteer dentists would perform panoramic X-rays and a general examination before sending them to the clinic floor in the venue's main arena.

"They go from X-rays to dental triage where the dentist takes a look at them to see what they need and what the patient wants to have done,"&nbsp;Sherwood said.

When patients reach the clinic floor, some receive hundreds or even thousands of dollars in free dental care.

The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation has produced the KMOM event for 23 years and, throughout that time, has donated more than $22,500,000 in dental care.

"We fill in that gap for those with no alternative to seek the treatment they need," said Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation Executive Director Niki Sadler. "We're that format where they can come and get that treatment and get out of pain to get their smile back and feel better."

More than 12,000 professional dentists have donated their time in the last two decades to the organization. Each year a volunteer joins the event, they earn a star on their name tag&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705194156480.jpeg" alt="Kansas Mission of Mercy volunteers perform cleanings on patients during the 2024 KMOM Salina free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Mission of Mercy volunteers perform cleanings on patients during the 2024 KMOM Salina free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina PostFor many, the dentist's office is often a daunting medical visit with an atmosphere of tentative calm. The scene at Tony's Pizza Event Center contrasted this norm, with many patients, adults and children alike, arriving with smiles, ready to receive donated treatment by local and out-of-state dental professionals.On Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 13, the Kansas Mission of Mercy, or KMOM, visited Salina and donated more than $400,000 in dental care to the community.Many families visited the clinic, where KMOM provided children's appointments while also treating parents.Due to the inclement weather, staff opened the doors to the event center during the night to allow visitors to wait inside a waiting room through the early morning hours.Although volunteers intend to accept visitors for as long as possible throughout Friday and Saturday, staffing limitations and ranging dental treatments caused KMOM's doors to close at 9 a.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705195209083.jpeg" alt="Sterilized instruments lay spread on a table prepared for volunteer professionals to use to treat patients during the 2024 Kansas Mission of Mercy free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Sterilized instruments lay spread on a table prepared for volunteer professionals to use to treat patients during the 2024 Kansas Mission of Mercy free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>KMOM staff continued to attend children's appointments throughout the day. Inside the clinic floor at the children's station, a small TV playing children's cartoons entertained visitors while waiting.According to Independence dentist and long-time volunteer Dr. Cindi Sherwood, each patients' needs are different, and to ensure those already inside the venue received proper care before the event ended, they had to end walk-ins early.Sherwood said she has volunteered for the last 21 KMOM events and found giving back to the community is important for her as a professional."It's very heartwarming. As a professional, I feel you should give back, and it's really fun," Sherwood said. "It's hard work — many volunteers like me really like doing it, or you don't. Some people come and do it and decide, 'It's not for me.' but I think it's very rewarding."Most dental volunteers begin treating patients as early as 5 a.m. but wake up earlier to prepare stations and sanitize tools and surfaces.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705195312650.jpeg" alt="Kansas Mission of Mercy volunteer dentist perform fillings and extractions on patients during the 2024 KMOM free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Mission of Mercy volunteer dentist perform fillings and extractions on patients during the 2024 KMOM free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The KMOM process</h2>Once visitors arrived at the clinic, staff had them wait inside a side room of Tony's Pizza Event Center while filling out health information and other documents.After providing that information, volunteer dentists would perform panoramic X-rays and a general examination before sending them to the clinic floor in the venue's main arena."They go from X-rays to dental triage where the dentist takes a look at them to see what they need and what the patient wants to have done,"&nbsp;Sherwood said.When patients reach the clinic floor, some receive hundreds or even thousands of dollars in free dental care.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705196072299.jpeg" alt="Kansas Mission of Mercy volunteer dentist from Derby Dr. Alan Jones prepares to examine a patient during the 2024 KMOM free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Mission of Mercy volunteer dentist from Derby Dr. Alan Jones prepares to examine a patient during the 2024 KMOM free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation has produced the KMOM event for 23 years and, throughout that time, has donated more than $22,500,000 in dental care."We fill in that gap for those with no alternative to seek the treatment they need," said Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation Executive Director Niki Sadler. "We're that format where they can come and get that treatment and get out of pain to get their smile back and feel better."More than 12,000 professional dentists have donated their time in the last two decades to the organization. Each year a volunteer joins the event, they earn a star on their name tag&nbsp;According to Sadler, the Salina KMOM reached more than $400,000 in donated care by Saturday morning.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705195378316.jpeg" alt="Kansas Mission of Mercy volunteers and patients mill around the main clinic floor during the 2024 KMOM free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Mission of Mercy volunteers and patients mill around the main clinic floor during the 2024 KMOM free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>"I have a lot of extractions that have to get done, which were very expensive," said Great Bend resident Selena Armstrong. "This has saved me hundreds if not thousands of dollars." Armstrong said she has struggled to find quality dental care for all her medical needs in her local community but saw the quality and care from volunteers at the clinic."With all the time the volunteers have put into this, it's very emotional," Armstrong said.Barton Community College offered to help transport students to the clinic, where Armstrong and her boyfriend, Brandon Goodwin, joined the journey and received general dental care.The group traveled to Salina on Friday and stayed in a hotel to wait outdoors early on Saturday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705195482017.jpeg" alt="Selena Armstrong, left, and Brandon Goodwin, right, from Great Bend, wait in line for dental care at the 2024 Kansas Mission of Mercy free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Selena Armstrong, left, and Brandon Goodwin, right, from Great Bend, wait in line for dental care at the 2024 Kansas Mission of Mercy free dental clinic on Saturday, Jan. 13, at Tony's Pizza Event Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>Many clinic patrons mirrored Armstrong and Goodwin, traveling the day before and waiting in line for hours to receive dental treatment. "I don't have dental insurance, so I came to get my teeth cleaned," Goodwin said. "It made me feel good and confident, and I got to learn about how to take care of my mouth a lot better today." KMOM staff recommended visitors plan well in advance for the clinic, arriving the night before or early the same morning to get a spot before seats fill.Although the doors may close to visitors through the days of the event, staff will work to accept new patients later in the day to continue providing treatment.