Another regent says of University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, ‘Of all the people I know who deserve second chances, she tops the list’

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">Zach Wendling</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA —&nbsp;A University of Nebraska regent faces a felony charge for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol and crashing into another vehicle in mid-May, breaking the back and pelvis of a passenger in the other car.

NU Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha, 34, a former Douglas County deputy county attorney serving in her seventh year as a regent, is accused of a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=60-6,198#:~:text=60%2D6%2C198.,bodily%20injury%3B%20violation%3B%20penalty." target="_blank">DUI causing serious bodily injury</a>&nbsp;from the night of May 21 in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood, which is in&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/media/images/maps/2021/regents/omaha.pdf" target="_blank">O’Connor’s district</a>. The Class IIIA felony charge carries a maximum of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=28-105" target="_blank">three years in prison and 18 months post-release supervision</a>.

The severity of the allegation could impact whether O’Connor can serve. The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=XV-2" target="_blank">Nebraska Constitution</a>&nbsp;bars felons from&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=29-112" target="_blank">holding public office</a>&nbsp;unless the person’s civil rights are restored by the Nebraska Board of Pardons, which consists of the governor, secretary of state and attorney general.

Neither O’Connor nor her attorney has yet addressed her future as a regent, a position to which she was reelected to a 6-year term in November.

According to police reports, O’Connor was driving her Subaru Outback east on Blondo Street about 8:33 p.m., when she crossed into the westbound lane and collided with a Ford Focus at the intersection of N 63rd and Blondo Streets.&nbsp;

Police said they found a half-empty bottle of Fireball Whisky in O’Connor’s vehicle and wrote that she was showing symptoms of intoxication, including bloodshot or watery eyes, slurred speech and alcohol on her breath.

Field sobriety tests confirmed her condition, the investigator wrote, and a blood test collected immediately after the crash indicated O’Connor had a blood alcohol concentration of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=60-6,196" target="_blank">four times the legal limit</a>: 0.321%.

Both vehicles were totaled, according to the accident report. The crash occurred minutes from O’Connor’s home.&nbsp;

The vehicle police say her car hit had five passengers in it, including three children. The driver and children sustained minor injuries, according to the police report. The woman seriously injured in the crash and O’Connor, who had minor injuries, were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center.

O’Connor declined to comment for this story, and her attorney could not be reached. The family involved in the crash also declined to comment when reached by the Nebraska Examiner. Two listed witnesses did not return calls seeking comment. A spokesperson for the University of Nebraska system said NU “does not comment on ongoing legal matters.”

It took two months to file charges, partly because of O’Connor’s employment as a civil attorney in the Douglas County Attorney’s Office until last Tuesday, when she resigned, the timing of which the County Attorney’s Office confirmed.

Omaha’s top prosecutors opted out of the case involving O’Connor, citing a potential conflict of interest. That left Omaha City Prosecutor Kevin Slimp to file the felony charge in Douglas County Court on July 30.&nbsp;

Slimp told the Examiner a key reason for the delay was waiting for the blood test to come back from the lab.&nbsp;The police report was amended July 22 to include the BAC results. Slimp said he also needed time to review the evidence.

Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_568415b8-8810-4e00-8a05-7310b78932f1.html" target="_blank">defended O’Connor a day before she resigned</a>, telling the Omaha World-Herald she had “been an exemplary employee for our office.” He also described what happened as “something that is terrible and needs to be addressed.”

O’Connor, a 2015 graduate from Notre Dame Law School, told the local paper through her attorney last week that she&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_9a8194de-a14b-4909-b722-acb3dc45d007.html" target="_blank">decided to resign</a>&nbsp;“after much reflection and support from trusted colleagues.”

“While I am proud of my work serving Douglas County, I do not want my pending legal matter to serve as a distraction from the fine work and service the Douglas County Attorney’s Office continues to provide our community,” she said in the statement.

O’Connor was booked into the Douglas County Department of Corrections at 9:31 p.m. on July 31. She appeared before a judge the following morning. A county official confirmed she was released after posting 10% of a $25,000 bond around 7 p.m. on Aug. 1.&nbsp;

As a condition of her release, O’Connor must participate in Douglas County’s&nbsp;<a href="https://corrections.dccorr.com/community-programs/24-7-sobriety-program" target="_blank">24/7 Sobriety Program</a>&nbsp;with daily monitoring and drug testing.

The Douglas County Court, with agreement from the prosecution and defense, waived a stipulation that O’Connor stay within 10 miles of the county. O’Connor’s next court date is Sept. 9 in Douglas County Court.

‘Everything she can to make it right’

NU Regent Paul Kenney, a Republican of Amherst and chair of the NU Board of Regents, said he would be as supportive as he could to O’Connor while not commenting on the criminal case.

“Just trying to be a friend and a colleague and do what I can to help,” Kenney said Monday.

Kenney and NU Regent Barbara Weitz of Omaha, who joined O’Connor on the board in 2019, told the Examiner that O’Connor has been through a tough time recently in her personal life, which Weitz described as a “year in hell.”

O’Connor was the youngest regent elected to the NU board in 2018, at 28 years old, and is one of just a handful of women to serve.

Weitz said the situation breaks her heart and that O’Connor “takes responsibility for making a bad choice, but she’s also doing everything she can to make it right.” Weitz said she remains supportive of O’Connor and that it is “imperative” that NU keep her as a regent.&nbsp;

Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican who served as a regent for 10 years before becoming governor in 2023, including four years with O’Connor, would get to appoint a successor in the event of a vacancy.

The board is officially nonpartisan, and regents are often unanimous in their votes, but the party breakdown on the board is 6 Republicans and 2 Democrats. O’Connor and Weitz are the two Democrats.&nbsp;

In seven years — across hundreds of votes — only once has the board split 6-2 along party lines. That was in April, when the regents amended NU bylaws to try to comply with an order from President Donald Trump’s administration against higher education diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Weitz and O’connor&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/11/university-of-nebraska-regents-amend-bylaws-to-comply-with-federal-anti-dei-mandate/">opposed the changes</a>.

O’Connor stands out among elected regents as having first served as a student body president and student regent for the University of Nebraska at Omaha, one of four students who serve in advisory roles to the board. She graduated from UNO in 2012.

Weitz described O’Connor as an “outstanding” regent, an “excellent” attorney and someone who has NU’s best interests in mind.

“Of all the people I know who deserve second chances, she tops the list,” Weitz said Monday. “We’d lose a great deal if we lose her.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755021731102.png" alt=" University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha. June 22, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha. June 22, 2023. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Another regent says of University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, ‘Of all the people I know who deserve second chances, she tops the list’</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/zachwendling/">Zach Wendling</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA —&nbsp;A University of Nebraska regent faces a felony charge for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol and crashing into another vehicle in mid-May, breaking the back and pelvis of a passenger in the other car.NU Regent Elizabeth O’Connor of Omaha, 34, a former Douglas County deputy county attorney serving in her seventh year as a regent, is accused of a&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=60-6,198#:~:text=60%2D6%2C198.,bodily%20injury%3B%20violation%3B%20penalty." target="_blank">DUI causing serious bodily injury</a>&nbsp;from the night of May 21 in Omaha’s Benson neighborhood, which is in&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/media/images/maps/2021/regents/omaha.pdf" target="_blank">O’Connor’s district</a>. The Class IIIA felony charge carries a maximum of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=28-105" target="_blank">three years in prison and 18 months post-release supervision</a>.The severity of the allegation could impact whether O’Connor can serve. The&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/articles.php?article=XV-2" target="_blank">Nebraska Constitution</a>&nbsp;bars felons from&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=29-112" target="_blank">holding public office</a>&nbsp;unless the person’s civil rights are restored by the Nebraska Board of Pardons, which consists of the governor, secretary of state and attorney general.Neither O’Connor nor her attorney has yet addressed her future as a regent, a position to which she was reelected to a 6-year term in November.<h2>Alleged May 21 incident</h2>According to police reports, O’Connor was driving her Subaru Outback east on Blondo Street about 8:33 p.m., when she crossed into the westbound lane and collided with a Ford Focus at the intersection of N 63rd and Blondo Streets.&nbsp;Police said they found a half-empty bottle of Fireball Whisky in O’Connor’s vehicle and wrote that she was showing symptoms of intoxication, including bloodshot or watery eyes, slurred speech and alcohol on her breath.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755021843318.png" alt="A police-drawn diagram of a crash on May 21 allegedly involving University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, whose vehicle is meant to be illustrated in green. (Courtesy of Omaha Police Department)" />
 <figcaption>A police-drawn diagram of a crash on May 21 allegedly involving University of Nebraska Regent Elizabeth O’Connor, whose vehicle is meant to be illustrated in green. (Courtesy of Omaha Police Department)</figcaption>
 </figure>Field sobriety tests confirmed her condition, the investigator wrote, and a blood test collected immediately after the crash indicated O’Connor had a blood alcohol concentration of&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=60-6,196" target="_blank">four times the legal limit</a>: 0.321%.Both vehicles were totaled, according to the accident report. The crash occurred minutes from O’Connor’s home.&nbsp;The vehicle police say her car hit had five passengers in it, including three children. The driver and children sustained minor injuries, according to the police report. The woman seriously injured in the crash and O’Connor, who had minor injuries, were taken to the Nebraska Medical Center.O’Connor declined to comment for this story, and her attorney could not be reached. The family involved in the crash also declined to comment when reached by the Nebraska Examiner. Two listed witnesses did not return calls seeking comment. A spokesperson for the University of Nebraska system said NU “does not comment on ongoing legal matters.”<h2>Douglas County Attorney’s Office</h2>It took two months to file charges, partly because of O’Connor’s employment as a civil attorney in the Douglas County Attorney’s Office until last Tuesday, when she resigned, the timing of which the County Attorney’s Office confirmed.Omaha’s top prosecutors opted out of the case involving O’Connor, citing a potential conflict of interest. That left Omaha City Prosecutor Kevin Slimp to file the felony charge in Douglas County Court on July 30.&nbsp;Slimp told the Examiner a key reason for the delay was waiting for the blood test to come back from the lab.&nbsp;The police report was amended July 22 to include the BAC results. Slimp said he also needed time to review the evidence.Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_568415b8-8810-4e00-8a05-7310b78932f1.html" target="_blank">defended O’Connor a day before she resigned</a>, telling the Omaha World-Herald she had “been an exemplary employee for our office.” He also described what happened as “something that is terrible and needs to be addressed.”O’Connor, a 2015 graduate from Notre Dame Law School, told the local paper through her attorney last week that she&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_9a8194de-a14b-4909-b722-acb3dc45d007.html" target="_blank">decided to resign</a>&nbsp;“after much reflection and support from trusted colleagues.”“While I am proud of my work serving Douglas County, I do not want my pending legal matter to serve as a distraction from the fine work and service the Douglas County Attorney’s Office continues to provide our community,” she said in the statement.O’Connor was booked into the Douglas County Department of Corrections at 9:31 p.m. on July 31. She appeared before a judge the following morning. A county official confirmed she was released after posting 10% of a $25,000 bond around 7 p.m. on Aug. 1.&nbsp;As a condition of her release, O’Connor must participate in Douglas County’s&nbsp;<a href="https://corrections.dccorr.com/community-programs/24-7-sobriety-program" target="_blank">24/7 Sobriety Program</a>&nbsp;with daily monitoring and drug testing.The Douglas County Court, with agreement from the prosecution and defense, waived a stipulation that O’Connor stay within 10 miles of the county. O’Connor’s next court date is Sept. 9 in Douglas County Court.<h2>‘Everything she can to make it right’</h2>NU Regent Paul Kenney, a Republican of Amherst and chair of the NU Board of Regents, said he would be as supportive as he could to O’Connor while not commenting on the criminal case.“Just trying to be a friend and a colleague and do what I can to help,” Kenney said Monday.Kenney and NU Regent Barbara Weitz of Omaha, who joined O’Connor on the board in 2019, told the Examiner that O’Connor has been through a tough time recently in her personal life, which Weitz described as a “year in hell.”O’Connor was the youngest regent elected to the NU board in 2018, at 28 years old, and is one of just a handful of women to serve.Weitz said the situation breaks her heart and that O’Connor “takes responsibility for making a bad choice, but she’s also doing everything she can to make it right.” Weitz said she remains supportive of O’Connor and that it is “imperative” that NU keep her as a regent.&nbsp;<h2>Second chances</h2>Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican who served as a regent for 10 years before becoming governor in 2023, including four years with O’Connor, would get to appoint a successor in the event of a vacancy.The board is officially nonpartisan, and regents are often unanimous in their votes, but the party breakdown on the board is 6 Republicans and 2 Democrats. O’Connor and Weitz are the two Democrats.&nbsp;In seven years — across hundreds of votes — only once has the board split 6-2 along party lines. That was in April, when the regents amended NU bylaws to try to comply with an order from President Donald Trump’s administration against higher education diversity, equity and inclusion policies. Weitz and O’connor&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/04/11/university-of-nebraska-regents-amend-bylaws-to-comply-with-federal-anti-dei-mandate/">opposed the changes</a>.O’Connor stands out among elected regents as having first served as a student body president and student regent for the University of Nebraska at Omaha, one of four students who serve in advisory roles to the board. She graduated from UNO in 2012.Weitz described O’Connor as an “outstanding” regent, an “excellent” attorney and someone who has NU’s best interests in mind.“Of all the people I know who deserve second chances, she tops the list,” Weitz said Monday. “We’d lose a great deal if we lose her.”

NU regent faces felony DUI charge from crash that could jeopardize her office

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a 2023 is going back to prison.

On Tuesday Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced 24-year-old Julian Wedge to 285 months in prison for the death of Evan Harrison,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a 2023 murder and robbery faces sentencing Tuesday. Judge Jeffrey Goering will sentence 24-year-old Julian Wedge for the death of Evan Harrison,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office. 

Earlier this year, Wedge was found guilty of 1st degree murder, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and interference with law enforcement.

On March 4, 2023, sheriff's deputies made a welfare check of a man lying in the street at 4200 S. Clifton in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.

&nbsp;Deputies found individuals attempting to help Harrison who had been shot. EMS transported Harrison to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Days later police arrested Wedge who has been registered as a violent offender since March of 2019 for convictions that include criminal discharge of firearm into an unoccupied dwelling, according to the Kansas offender registry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714661173832.png" alt="Wedge photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Wedge photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a 2023 is going back to prison.On Tuesday Judge Jeffrey Goering sentenced 24-year-old Julian Wedge to 285 months in prison for the death of Evan Harrison,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.-------------------SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man convicted of a 2023 murder and robbery faces sentencing Tuesday. Judge Jeffrey Goering will sentence 24-year-old Julian Wedge for the death of Evan Harrison,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office. Earlier this year, Wedge was found guilty of 1st degree murder, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon and interference with law enforcement.On March 4, 2023, sheriff's deputies made a welfare check of a man lying in the street at 4200 S. Clifton in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office.&nbsp;Deputies found individuals attempting to help Harrison who had been shot. EMS transported Harrison to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Days later police arrested Wedge who has been registered as a violent offender since March of 2019 for convictions that include criminal discharge of firearm into an unoccupied dwelling, according to the Kansas offender registry.

Sentencing day for violent Kan. offender in robbery killing

FINNEY COUNTY —After more than four years of loyal service, K9 Koda retired on Monday from the Garden City Police Department, according to media release from the department.

Acquired in 2021, K9 Koda dutifully served Garden City as a dual-purpose dog trained for patrol deployments and narcotics detection and was proudly partnered with Officer Cody Wilson. 

Koda will spend retirement with Officer Wilson, trading in patrol shifts for endless belly rubs, treats and naps he deserves. Salute to K9 Koda for his loyal service and protecting our Officers and helping keep the community safe!&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755009493414.png" alt="Officer Wilson and Koda-Courtesy photos" />
 <figcaption>Officer Wilson and Koda-Courtesy photos</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —After more than four years of loyal service, K9 Koda retired on Monday from the Garden City Police Department, according to media release from the department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755009407215.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Acquired in 2021, K9 Koda dutifully served Garden City as a dual-purpose dog trained for patrol deployments and narcotics detection and was proudly partnered with Officer Cody Wilson. Koda will spend retirement with Officer Wilson, trading in patrol shifts for endless belly rubs, treats and naps he deserves. Salute to K9 Koda for his loyal service and protecting our Officers and helping keep the community safe!&nbsp;

Southwest Kansas K9 retires from police duties

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump took unprecedented steps toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-national-guard-homelessness-655bc22834223c7dc93115bbcb2b215c">federalizing Washington, D.C</a>. on Monday, saying it’s needed to fight crime even as city leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-factcheck-violent-homelessness-db6f809a13800ccc1f4606bb9bf506a8">pointed to data</a>&nbsp;showing violence is down.

He took command of the police department and deployed the National Guard under laws and Constitutional powers that give the federal government more sway over the nation’s capital than other cities. Its historically majority Black population wasn’t electing its own city council and mayor until 1973, when Republican President Richard Nixon signed the Home Rule Act.

The measure still left significant power to the president and Congress, though no president has exercised the police powers before.

The Constitution calls for the creation of the District of Columbia to serve as the federal seat of power under the jurisdiction of Congress rather than any state.

While the Home Rule Act allowed for greater local control, the president can still call up the National Guard in Washington. His administration did it during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, when members were later faulted for flying a helicopter too low over a crowd. The Guard was called out again during Trump’s first term on Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters overran the Capitol.

Trump’s second-term&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-district-takeover-trump-crime-d0ebfa76584753635327d792f6c0b8fc">moves in Washington</a>&nbsp;come as the legal battle continues over his deployment of the National Guard in another Democratic-led city, Los Angeles, despite the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

His authority is less clear there, but an appeals court has so far refused to intervene. A lower-court judge was starting a trial Monday to determine whether the deployment violated another federal law.

Section 740 of the Home Rule Act allows for the president to take over Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department for 48 hours, with possible extensions to 30 days, during times of emergencies. No president has done so before, said Monica Hopkins, executive director of the ACLU of Washington.

Trump cited a number of recent high-profile incidents, including the killing of a 21-year-old congressional intern and the beating of a DOGE staffer during an attempted carjacking.

“This is liberation day in D.C. and we’re going to take our Capitol back,” the president said.

The Democratic mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser, called the takeover “unprecedented.” She said that violent crime overall in Washington has decreased to a 30-year low, after a rise in 2023. Carjackings, for example, dropped about 50% in 2024, and are down again this year. More than half of those arrested, however, are juveniles, and the extent of those punishments is a point of contention for the Trump administration.

He didn’t specify how long it would last

It wasn’t immediately clear how long the takeover might last or exactly what it might mean. It could also face challenges in court.

Congress still has power over things like the budget and laws passed by the city council, but would have to repeal the Home Rule Act to expand federal power in the district.

It’s something a few Republican lawmakers have pushed to do, but such an overhaul would almost certainly run into steep resistance from most Democrats, making it difficult to achieve.

The law is specific to D.C., and doesn’t affect other communities around the U.S. referred to as having their own “home rule” powers in relationship to their state governments.

Hopkins said Trump’s moves in Washington could foreshadow similar tactics in other cities. “That should alarm everyone,” she said, “not just in Washington.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754956607836.png" alt="Crime in the District of Columbia became a hot-button issue after Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, an intern for Republican Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas, was fatally shot on June 30.--photo DC Metro Police." />
 <figcaption>Crime in the District of Columbia became a hot-button issue after Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, an intern for Republican Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas, was fatally shot on June 30.--photo DC Metro Police.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump took unprecedented steps toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-national-guard-homelessness-655bc22834223c7dc93115bbcb2b215c">federalizing Washington, D.C</a>. on Monday, saying it’s needed to fight crime even as city leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-washington-crime-factcheck-violent-homelessness-db6f809a13800ccc1f4606bb9bf506a8">pointed to data</a>&nbsp;showing violence is down.He took command of the police department and deployed the National Guard under laws and Constitutional powers that give the federal government more sway over the nation’s capital than other cities. Its historically majority Black population wasn’t electing its own city council and mayor until 1973, when Republican President Richard Nixon signed the Home Rule Act.The measure still left significant power to the president and Congress, though no president has exercised the police powers before.<h2>He activated the National Guard</h2>The Constitution calls for the creation of the District of Columbia to serve as the federal seat of power under the jurisdiction of Congress rather than any state.While the Home Rule Act allowed for greater local control, the president can still call up the National Guard in Washington. His administration did it during Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, when members were later faulted for flying a helicopter too low over a crowd. The Guard was called out again during Trump’s first term on Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters overran the Capitol.Trump’s second-term&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-district-takeover-trump-crime-d0ebfa76584753635327d792f6c0b8fc">moves in Washington</a>&nbsp;come as the legal battle continues over his deployment of the National Guard in another Democratic-led city, Los Angeles, despite the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom.His authority is less clear there, but an appeals court has so far refused to intervene. A lower-court judge was starting a trial Monday to determine whether the deployment violated another federal law.<h2>He took over the police</h2>Section 740 of the Home Rule Act allows for the president to take over Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department for 48 hours, with possible extensions to 30 days, during times of emergencies. No president has done so before, said Monica Hopkins, executive director of the ACLU of Washington.Trump cited a number of recent high-profile incidents, including the killing of a 21-year-old congressional intern and the beating of a DOGE staffer during an attempted carjacking.“This is liberation day in D.C. and we’re going to take our Capitol back,” the president said.The Democratic mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser, called the takeover “unprecedented.” She said that violent crime overall in Washington has decreased to a 30-year low, after a rise in 2023. Carjackings, for example, dropped about 50% in 2024, and are down again this year. More than half of those arrested, however, are juveniles, and the extent of those punishments is a point of contention for the Trump administration.<h2>He didn’t specify how long it would last</h2>It wasn’t immediately clear how long the takeover might last or exactly what it might mean. It could also face challenges in court.Congress still has power over things like the budget and laws passed by the city council, but would have to repeal the Home Rule Act to expand federal power in the district.It’s something a few Republican lawmakers have pushed to do, but such an overhaul would almost certainly run into steep resistance from most Democrats, making it difficult to achieve.The law is specific to D.C., and doesn’t affect other communities around the U.S. referred to as having their own “home rule” powers in relationship to their state governments.Hopkins said Trump’s moves in Washington could foreshadow similar tactics in other cities. “That should alarm everyone,” she said, “not just in Washington.”

What the law says about Trump move to take over the DC police

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

Paul Millard just wanted to use his day off to take his wife shopping in Wichita. The school resource officer with 27 years of service with the Great Bend Police Department ended up making headlines across the state. Millard and his wife exited Scheels at Towne East Mall just after 3:30 p.m. Friday. Millard heard at least four gunshots in close proximity and jumped into action.

"I've had plenty of training with the police department on how to react and how to respond," he said. "I heard the shots and told my wife to get to the car. I ran towards it, and as I got close, I saw a suspect putting a firearm in his bag. I pulled my firearm and told him to put the weapon down and get on the ground. He complied, and I held him at gunpoint until Wichita police arrived on the scene and took custody of him."

A 15 and a 17-year-old were taken to an area hospital with gunshot wounds, and were later reported to be in stable condition. The 17-year-old primary suspect has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, and two 16 year olds have also been arrested in connection with the shooting. 

Though the shooting had stopped, Millard was still in the predicament of being an unknown officer with his weapon pointed at an individual. Fortunately, a witness on the phone with dispatch relayed Millard's description. Millard's wife did the same.

"When Wichita PD arrived on scene, they just went straight to the person who I had at gunpoint and was detaining," Millard said. "When they got their hands on him, I holstered my weapon."

Millard, who is entering a 10th year as school resource officer for each of the schools in the USD 428 Great Bend district, decided the incident would not spoil his trip. He and his wife enjoyed more shopping and dinner before returning home. Millard did not miss a beat in attending Saturday's Party in the Park s as a participant in the wet-dry parade and the GBPD dunk tank.

"I still had every intention of carrying out the duties at the Party in the Park celebration," he said. "There was no reason for me not to, and I enjoy the interaction with the community like that, so I had every intention of continuing that obligation."

There was Millard's reaction to a dangerous situation, then the public's reaction on Saturday. While Millard was still at Party at the Park, Great Bend Post release information that a Great Bend officer had assisted in the shooting. That post garnered nearly 400 likes and 145 shares. Several hours later, the GBPD identified Millard as the hero. That post earned more than 860 likes and 83 shares.&nbsp;

"Once it was released that it was the Great Bend Police Department, and once (Chief Steve Haulmark) put my name out there, it's blown up pretty big," said Millard. "A lot of people are calling me 'hero.' God put me in the right place at the right time, with the right skill set. I did what any officer, I would hope, would do who is off-duty. Whether I'm in my home community or another community, I'm going to respond and do to the best of my ability to protect whoever I can."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754967933271.jpeg" alt="Great Bend Police Department School Resource Officer Paul Millard, a 27-year veteran with the department, helped apprehend a shooting suspect while on an off-duty trip to Towne East Mall last Friday." />
 <figcaption>Great Bend Police Department School Resource Officer Paul Millard, a 27-year veteran with the department, helped apprehend a shooting suspect while on an off-duty trip to Towne East Mall last Friday.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostPaul Millard just wanted to use his day off to take his wife shopping in Wichita. The school resource officer with 27 years of service with the Great Bend Police Department ended up making headlines across the state. Millard and his wife exited Scheels at Towne East Mall just after 3:30 p.m. Friday. Millard heard at least four gunshots in close proximity and jumped into action."I've had plenty of training with the police department on how to react and how to respond," he said. "I heard the shots and told my wife to get to the car. I ran towards it, and as I got close, I saw a suspect putting a firearm in his bag. I pulled my firearm and told him to put the weapon down and get on the ground. He complied, and I held him at gunpoint until Wichita police arrived on the scene and took custody of him."A 15 and a 17-year-old were taken to an area hospital with gunshot wounds, and were later reported to be in stable condition. The 17-year-old primary suspect has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, and two 16 year olds have also been arrested in connection with the shooting. Though the shooting had stopped, Millard was still in the predicament of being an unknown officer with his weapon pointed at an individual. Fortunately, a witness on the phone with dispatch relayed Millard's description. Millard's wife did the same."When Wichita PD arrived on scene, they just went straight to the person who I had at gunpoint and was detaining," Millard said. "When they got their hands on him, I holstered my weapon."Millard, who is entering a 10th year as school resource officer for each of the schools in the USD 428 Great Bend district, decided the incident would not spoil his trip. He and his wife enjoyed more shopping and dinner before returning home. Millard did not miss a beat in attending Saturday's Party in the Park s as a participant in the wet-dry parade and the GBPD dunk tank."I still had every intention of carrying out the duties at the Party in the Park celebration," he said. "There was no reason for me not to, and I enjoy the interaction with the community like that, so I had every intention of continuing that obligation."There was Millard's reaction to a dangerous situation, then the public's reaction on Saturday. While Millard was still at Party at the Park, Great Bend Post release information that a Great Bend officer had assisted in the shooting. That post garnered nearly 400 likes and 145 shares. Several hours later, the GBPD identified Millard as the hero. That post earned more than 860 likes and 83 shares.&nbsp;"Once it was released that it was the Great Bend Police Department, and once (Chief Steve Haulmark) put my name out there, it's blown up pretty big," said Millard. "A lot of people are calling me 'hero.' God put me in the right place at the right time, with the right skill set. I did what any officer, I would hope, would do who is off-duty. Whether I'm in my home community or another community, I'm going to respond and do to the best of my ability to protect whoever I can."

Officer shares details of 'heroic' actions during Kan. mall shooting

NEW YORK (AP) — Look what you made her do —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;has announced her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”

Swift announced the album on her website shortly after a countdown timer expired at 12:12 a.m. Tuesday. No release date was announced, but her site said vinyl editions of the album would ship before Oct. 13.

Fans have long theorized that Swift's 12th album would soon arrive. On Monday, Taylor Nation — an official branch of the pop superstar’s marketing team — posted a TikTok slide show of 12 images with the caption “Thinking about when she said 'See you next era…'” Swift is seen wearing orange in every image.

A special limited vinyl edition of the album will be released in “Portofino orange glitter," according to a pre-order page on her site. A special cassette edition is also available for pre-order.

Sensing a pattern, eagle-eyed fans noticed that 12 minutes earlier, the popular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kelce-chiefs-eagles-jason-travis-new-heights-92761f6968b12ee06603d66e7ce9c5b7">“New Heights” podcast</a>&nbsp;posted a tease for Wednesday. The show, hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift's boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce</a>&nbsp;alongside his brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce, posted an orange image on social media with a mysterious silhouette, many believing to be Swift.

The podcast announced early early Tuesday that Swift would would appear on “New Heights” and a teaser video posted about her appearance showed her pulling the album from a briefcase. The actual album artwork, just as it is on her website, is blurred.

“The Life of a Showgirl” follows last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-review-b24d2275df5cf78ffa9069c61b9825ec">“The Tortured Poets Department,”</a>&nbsp;announced during the 2024 Grammys and released during her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">record-breaking tour</a>, which raked in over $2.2 billion across two years and five continents, making it the highest-grossing tour of all time.

The album is also her first release since Swift regained control over her entire body of work. In May, that pop star said she purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">Big Machine Records —</a>&nbsp;from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount.

In recent years, Swift has been rerecording and releasing her first six albums in an attempt to regain control of her music. The project was instigated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scooter-braun-what-to-know-d5669e8b0fe641dd268c2e2cf88b0e24">Hybe America CEO Scooter Braun’s</a>&nbsp;purchase and sale of her early catalog and represents Swift’s effort to control her own songs and how they’re used. Previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">“Taylor’s Version” releases</a>&nbsp;have been more than conventional re-recordings, arriving with new “from the vault” music, Easter eggs and visuals that deepen understanding of her work.

So far, there have been four rerecorded albums, beginning with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-redoing-fearless-album-127eefa2a3ef3373e65507495f50145c">“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)”</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-super-bowl-6fe895e1691f6cd85216e520cc3b8ce1">“Red (Taylor’s Version)”</a>&nbsp;in 2021. All four have been massive commercial and cultural successes, each one debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

Swift’s last rerecording,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-a4002b50f70b5899a846baf3e20de5ab">“1989 (Taylor’s Version),”</a>&nbsp;arrived in October 2023, just four months after the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-speak-now-taylors-version-a41998c4d1f08af9d89c6d314ed4c2bd">“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”</a>&nbsp;That was the same year Swift claimed the record for the woman with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-number-one-albums-speak-now-5dfb913b75ee6628d8804d5a02f9333f">most No. 1 albums in history.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733776996717.png" alt="Taylor Swift file photo (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)" />
 <figcaption>Taylor Swift file photo (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Look what you made her do —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;has announced her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Posted at 12:12 on the 12th. ❤️‍🔥 Tay’s 12th album is called………… pre pre-order now at <a href="https://t.co/oGYV230otf">https://t.co/oGYV230otf</a> <a href="https://t.co/gUAIEEDZmm">pic.twitter.com/gUAIEEDZmm</a>&mdash; New Heights (@newheightshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/newheightshow/status/1955120055647343093?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Swift announced the album on her website shortly after a countdown timer expired at 12:12 a.m. Tuesday. No release date was announced, but her site said vinyl editions of the album would ship before Oct. 13.Fans have long theorized that Swift's 12th album would soon arrive. On Monday, Taylor Nation — an official branch of the pop superstar’s marketing team — posted a TikTok slide show of 12 images with the caption “Thinking about when she said 'See you next era…'” Swift is seen wearing orange in every image.A special limited vinyl edition of the album will be released in “Portofino orange glitter," according to a pre-order page on her site. A special cassette edition is also available for pre-order.Sensing a pattern, eagle-eyed fans noticed that 12 minutes earlier, the popular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kelce-chiefs-eagles-jason-travis-new-heights-92761f6968b12ee06603d66e7ce9c5b7">“New Heights” podcast</a>&nbsp;posted a tease for Wednesday. The show, hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-chiefs-bills-nfl-playoffs-d978fa0be8100cc145cb6a63ffc656cf">Swift's boyfriend</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/travis-kelce">Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce</a>&nbsp;alongside his brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce, posted an orange image on social media with a mysterious silhouette, many believing to be Swift.The podcast announced early early Tuesday that Swift would would appear on “New Heights” and a teaser video posted about her appearance showed her pulling the album from a briefcase. The actual album artwork, just as it is on her website, is blurred.“The Life of a Showgirl” follows last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-review-b24d2275df5cf78ffa9069c61b9825ec">“The Tortured Poets Department,”</a>&nbsp;announced during the 2024 Grammys and released during her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">record-breaking tour</a>, which raked in over $2.2 billion across two years and five continents, making it the highest-grossing tour of all time.The album is also her first release since Swift regained control over her entire body of work. In May, that pop star said she purchased her catalog of recordings — originally released through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">Big Machine Records —</a>&nbsp;from their most recent owner, the private equity firm Shamrock Capital. She did not disclose the amount.In recent years, Swift has been rerecording and releasing her first six albums in an attempt to regain control of her music. The project was instigated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/scooter-braun-what-to-know-d5669e8b0fe641dd268c2e2cf88b0e24">Hybe America CEO Scooter Braun’s</a>&nbsp;purchase and sale of her early catalog and represents Swift’s effort to control her own songs and how they’re used. Previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5725558c87b14859b6a8d4760b7f0232">“Taylor’s Version” releases</a>&nbsp;have been more than conventional re-recordings, arriving with new “from the vault” music, Easter eggs and visuals that deepen understanding of her work.So far, there have been four rerecorded albums, beginning with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-redoing-fearless-album-127eefa2a3ef3373e65507495f50145c">“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)”</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-taylor-swift-travis-kelce-super-bowl-6fe895e1691f6cd85216e520cc3b8ce1">“Red (Taylor’s Version)”</a>&nbsp;in 2021. All four have been massive commercial and cultural successes, each one debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.Swift’s last rerecording,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-a4002b50f70b5899a846baf3e20de5ab">“1989 (Taylor’s Version),”</a>&nbsp;arrived in October 2023, just four months after the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-speak-now-taylors-version-a41998c4d1f08af9d89c6d314ed4c2bd">“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).”</a>&nbsp;That was the same year Swift claimed the record for the woman with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-number-one-albums-speak-now-5dfb913b75ee6628d8804d5a02f9333f">most No. 1 albums in history.</a>

Taylor Swift announces 12th studio album

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a homicide and asking the public for help to locate a suspect. Robert Schoenberger is wanted in connection with the homicide that occurred in the 500 block of N. Hillside in Wichita on Monday night.



Robert Schoenberger, 47,&nbsp; is described as a white male,&nbsp; 6 ft. tall with a slender build, according to Wichita Police. He&nbsp; was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, blue jeans, blue sneakers.

Click below for details on the crime from Wichita Police.

Schoenberger was on parole, cut off ankle monitor and is considered Armed and dangerous.

Preliminary information indicates the incident on Monday night began as a rolling disturbance between the victim and the suspect while they were in a vehicle together. The victim, who was driving, stopped in front of Wesley Medical Center, got out, and tried to get away. The suspect, later identified as Schoenbergr, was still in the passenger seat, opened fire—striking the victim in the upper body.

The victim was rushed into surgery but later died from her injuries. During the gunfire, Wesley Medical Center was also struck.

Witnesses reported seeing Schoenberger running from the area with a firearm. If you see him call 911 immediately. Do not approach&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754992155473.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a homicide and asking the public for help to locate a suspect. Robert Schoenberger is wanted in connection with the homicide that occurred in the 500 block of N. Hillside in Wichita on Monday night.

Robert Schoenberger, 47,&nbsp; is described as a white male,&nbsp; 6 ft. tall with a slender build, according to Wichita Police. He&nbsp; was last seen wearing a blue t-shirt, blue jeans, blue sneakers.Click below for details on the crime from Wichita Police.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">7:14 this evening officers were dispatched to a reported shooting in the 500 block of N. Hillside. Preliminary information indicates the incident began as a rolling disturbance between the victim and the suspect while they were in a vehicle together. The victim, who was driving,… <a href="https://t.co/E2tb8RCh6Y">pic.twitter.com/E2tb8RCh6Y</a>&mdash; Wichita Police (@WichitaPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaPolice/status/1955089472728752189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Schoenberger was on parole, cut off ankle monitor and is considered Armed and dangerous.Preliminary information indicates the incident on Monday night began as a rolling disturbance between the victim and the suspect while they were in a vehicle together. The victim, who was driving, stopped in front of Wesley Medical Center, got out, and tried to get away. The suspect, later identified as Schoenbergr, was still in the passenger seat, opened fire—striking the victim in the upper body.The victim was rushed into surgery but later died from her injuries. During the gunfire, Wesley Medical Center was also struck.Witnesses reported seeing Schoenberger running from the area with a firearm. If you see him call 911 immediately. Do not approach&nbsp;

Search underway for suspect in deadly shooting outside Kan.  hospital 

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas woman is recovering after attempting to free her Chihuahua from an attack by another dog, according to Lawrence Police.

  The Chihuahua did not survive and the woman suffered a severe bite wound on her arm, a broken finger, and several other minor wounds.

The incident occurred just before 2p.m. Sunday at Centennial Skate Park,&nbsp; 600 Rockledge Road in Lawrence. When officers arrived, they found the attacking dog had been pinned down by men who saw it  happen. Officers took over and got control of the dog by creating a makeshift muzzle from a leash, while other officers tended to the victim and began an investigation.

Officers learned the woman, in her 70’s, was walking her three dogs when the unleashed dog attacked the Chihuahua.  The woman’s other two dogs were not harmed. Officers took the dog who initiated the incident to the Humane Society, along with the decease dog. The woman was transported by ambulance to the hospital, accompanied by one of her dogs.  The third had run off but officers later found the animal and brought it to her home. 

Officers worked to identify the owner of the dog who initiated the attack, but had not been able to make contact as of Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas woman is recovering after attempting to free her Chihuahua from an attack by another dog, according to Lawrence Police. The Chihuahua did not survive and the woman suffered a severe bite wound on her arm, a broken finger, and several other minor wounds.The incident occurred just before 2p.m. Sunday at Centennial Skate Park,&nbsp; 600 Rockledge Road in Lawrence. When officers arrived, they found the attacking dog had been pinned down by men who saw it happen. Officers took over and got control of the dog by creating a makeshift muzzle from a leash, while other officers tended to the victim and began an investigation.Officers learned the woman, in her 70’s, was walking her three dogs when the unleashed dog attacked the Chihuahua. The woman’s other two dogs were not harmed. Officers took the dog who initiated the incident to the Humane Society, along with the decease dog. The woman was transported by ambulance to the hospital, accompanied by one of her dogs. The third had run off but officers later found the animal and brought it to her home. Officers worked to identify the owner of the dog who initiated the attack, but had not been able to make contact as of Monday afternoon.&nbsp;

Kan. woman bitten, her Chihuahua killed by dog not on leash

KANSAS CITY — On August 7 and 8, a coalition of Northland law enforcement agencies combined efforts to combat human trafficking occurring in the communities north and east of Kansas City, according to a media release from the Ray County Sheriff.

The Clay, Clinton, Platte, and Ray County Sheriffs and the Kearney Police Department each hosted a proactive countertrafficking operation in their jurisdiction. They were assisted substantially by the Cameron Police, Richmond Police, Kansas City International Airport Police, Kansas City (KS) Police, and Riverside Police Departments, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Social Services - State Technical Assistance Team, and Homeland Security Investigations. Technical assistance was provided by the Bourbon County (KS) Sheriff, Butler County (KS) Sheriff, Goodyear (AZ) Police, Greenwood County (KS) Sheriff, Mesa (AZ) Police, Peoria (AZ) Police, and Washoe County (NV) Sheriff.​​

This operation was designed from the beginning to reduce the demand for victimization of victim-survivors of sex trafficking in these communities, connect to and provide critical services and support to these potential victims, and especially deter any suspect attempting to prey upon children who have been enslaved by the commercial sex industry. The results for this operation were:​​

7 suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex with a child​- 

3 suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex​- 

2 suspects arrested for promoting prostitution for recruiting a person to engage in prostitution. One suspect in this case was ultimately booked for kidnapping and sexual assault after excellent work by the investigators revealed additional crimes that were occurring in another jurisdiction. 

A victim-survivor was recovered and placed into aftercare.​- 

8 potential sex trafficking survivors met with local advocates from Value Unconditional and RPOR, with technical assistance provided by ICTSOS. Many of them are now receiving advocacy and aftercare support.​​

All of the agencies involved in this effort want to remind everyone that sex trafficking is a violation of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans and Missourians. Human trafficking won't be tolerated in our communities now or ever.

KANSAS CITY — On August 7 and 8, a coalition of Northland law enforcement agencies combined efforts to combat human trafficking occurring in the communities north and east of Kansas City, according to a media release from the Ray County Sheriff.The Clay, Clinton, Platte, and Ray County Sheriffs and the Kearney Police Department each hosted a proactive countertrafficking operation in their jurisdiction. They were assisted substantially by the Cameron Police, Richmond Police, Kansas City International Airport Police, Kansas City (KS) Police, and Riverside Police Departments, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Social Services - State Technical Assistance Team, and Homeland Security Investigations. Technical assistance was provided by the Bourbon County (KS) Sheriff, Butler County (KS) Sheriff, Goodyear (AZ) Police, Greenwood County (KS) Sheriff, Mesa (AZ) Police, Peoria (AZ) Police, and Washoe County (NV) Sheriff.​​This operation was designed from the beginning to reduce the demand for victimization of victim-survivors of sex trafficking in these communities, connect to and provide critical services and support to these potential victims, and especially deter any suspect attempting to prey upon children who have been enslaved by the commercial sex industry. The results for this operation were:​​7 suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex with a child​- 3 suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex​- 2 suspects arrested for promoting prostitution for recruiting a person to engage in prostitution. One suspect in this case was ultimately booked for kidnapping and sexual assault after excellent work by the investigators revealed additional crimes that were occurring in another jurisdiction. A victim-survivor was recovered and placed into aftercare.​- 8 potential sex trafficking survivors met with local advocates from Value Unconditional and RPOR, with technical assistance provided by ICTSOS. Many of them are now receiving advocacy and aftercare support.​​All of the agencies involved in this effort want to remind everyone that sex trafficking is a violation of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans and Missourians. Human trafficking won't be tolerated in our communities now or ever.

Sheriff: Operation targeted human trafficking in Kansas and Missouri

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Daryl Hall and John Oates have resolved their dispute over a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-b4ca61374d97b708f482afc203cc90be">Hall &amp; Oates</a>&nbsp;business partnership through arbitration, reaching a private ending after details of their rift went public in court documents filed in a 2023 lawsuit by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hall-oates-lawsuit-3a4c6c89668da0fcddedaefe47245e1c">Hall against Oates</a>, according to a court filing Monday.

In Monday's status report, attorneys for Hall noted the case received a final judgment in arbitration and they filed a proposed order for the judge, Nashville Chancellor Russell Perkins, to dismiss the case. In mid-July, Perkins ordered Hall's attorneys to offer an update in the case, which had last seen a public filing in December 2023.

It's unclear when the arbitration process was finalized. And details were not revealed about the arbitration outcome between the duo who made music together for more than a half century, including hits in the 1970s and ’80s such as “Maneater,” “Rich Girl” “Kiss on My List” and “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do).”

Robb Harvey, an attorney for Hall, declined to comment. Representatives for Oates did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment.

In 2023 filings in the case, Hall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hall-oates-lawsuit-ad17e6a0997f01bdf760392d1f5e82e7">accused Oates of blindsiding and betraying him</a>, saying their relationship and his trust in Oates have deteriorated. Oates replied that he was “deeply hurt” that Hall was making “inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate statements” about him.

The judge had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hall-oates-lawsuit-0187ded503d72692faef00c4bd3ceeee">paused the sale of Oates’ stake</a>&nbsp;in Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC. Whole Oats includes valuable Hall &amp; Oates materials such as trademarks, personal name and likeness rights, record royalty income and website and social media assets, a court declaration says.

The dispute went public in November 2023, when Hall filed the lawsuit asking the judge to stop the sale by Oates so private arbitration could begin.

Hall gave a scathing account of their relationship in early November 2023 during arbitration, and it was made public later in the month in the lawsuit. It alleges that Oates and his team engaged in the “ultimate partnership betrayal” by pushing to sell his share while telling Hall’s associates that he wanted to maintain his ownership.

In his own declaration, Oates expressed disappointment with his longtime partner’s words, saying Hall’s accusations that Oates went behind his back and breached their agreement aren’t true. Oates declined to go into specifics, saying he’s obligated to keep details private, even if Hall didn’t.

Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-oates-reunion-daryl-hall-a48365d58a293d80c779d63770c32619">Oates told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;that he's had “no communication” with Hall and declined to discuss the legal proceedings. He did not see a Hall &amp; Oates reunion in his future.

“I personally don’t see it happening. It’s not in my plans at all. You can ask&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/daryl-hall">Daryl Hall</a>&nbsp;what he thinks. But for me personally, no,” he says.

<a href="https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/daryl-hall-interview-john-oates-rift-hq6g3sv69">The Times asked Hall in February</a>&nbsp;if the ship had sailed on mending the pair's relationship.

“That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean,” Hall told the news outlet. “I’ve had a lot of surprises in my life, disappointments, betrayals, so I’m kind of used to it.”

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754959573740.png" alt=" " />
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 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Daryl Hall and John Oates have resolved their dispute over a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-b4ca61374d97b708f482afc203cc90be">Hall &amp; Oates</a>&nbsp;business partnership through arbitration, reaching a private ending after details of their rift went public in court documents filed in a 2023 lawsuit by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hall-oates-lawsuit-3a4c6c89668da0fcddedaefe47245e1c">Hall against Oates</a>, according to a court filing Monday.In Monday's status report, attorneys for Hall noted the case received a final judgment in arbitration and they filed a proposed order for the judge, Nashville Chancellor Russell Perkins, to dismiss the case. In mid-July, Perkins ordered Hall's attorneys to offer an update in the case, which had last seen a public filing in December 2023.It's unclear when the arbitration process was finalized. And details were not revealed about the arbitration outcome between the duo who made music together for more than a half century, including hits in the 1970s and ’80s such as “Maneater,” “Rich Girl” “Kiss on My List” and “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do).”Robb Harvey, an attorney for Hall, declined to comment. Representatives for Oates did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment.In 2023 filings in the case, Hall&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hall-oates-lawsuit-ad17e6a0997f01bdf760392d1f5e82e7">accused Oates of blindsiding and betraying him</a>, saying their relationship and his trust in Oates have deteriorated. Oates replied that he was “deeply hurt” that Hall was making “inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate statements” about him.The judge had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hall-oates-lawsuit-0187ded503d72692faef00c4bd3ceeee">paused the sale of Oates’ stake</a>&nbsp;in Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC. Whole Oats includes valuable Hall &amp; Oates materials such as trademarks, personal name and likeness rights, record royalty income and website and social media assets, a court declaration says.The dispute went public in November 2023, when Hall filed the lawsuit asking the judge to stop the sale by Oates so private arbitration could begin.Hall gave a scathing account of their relationship in early November 2023 during arbitration, and it was made public later in the month in the lawsuit. It alleges that Oates and his team engaged in the “ultimate partnership betrayal” by pushing to sell his share while telling Hall’s associates that he wanted to maintain his ownership.In his own declaration, Oates expressed disappointment with his longtime partner’s words, saying Hall’s accusations that Oates went behind his back and breached their agreement aren’t true. Oates declined to go into specifics, saying he’s obligated to keep details private, even if Hall didn’t.Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-oates-reunion-daryl-hall-a48365d58a293d80c779d63770c32619">Oates told The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;that he's had “no communication” with Hall and declined to discuss the legal proceedings. He did not see a Hall &amp; Oates reunion in his future.“I personally don’t see it happening. It’s not in my plans at all. You can ask&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/daryl-hall">Daryl Hall</a>&nbsp;what he thinks. But for me personally, no,” he says.<a href="https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/daryl-hall-interview-john-oates-rift-hq6g3sv69">The Times asked Hall in February</a>&nbsp;if the ship had sailed on mending the pair's relationship.“That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean,” Hall told the news outlet. “I’ve had a lot of surprises in my life, disappointments, betrayals, so I’m kind of used to it.”

Business spat between Daryl Hall and John Oates finally resolved

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a young girl’s overnight slumber party that ended abruptly over the weekend after a man entered the home uninvited and took off his clothes. 

Just before 2a.m. Sunday, police were called to a neighborhood near 21st and Louisiana Street in Lawrence where they found several young girls and the supervising adults extremely upset, according to a statement from Lawrence Police.

 Officers soon learned two of the girls, who were asleep on the couch, woke to see a naked man in the home.  They began yelling for the adults. The man then went toward the back bedrooms and the male adult resident was able to force the man out of the house. 

A second team of officers quickly arrested the man nearby while the first team worked to help the children calm down and figure out what happened. Officers have no reason to believed anyone in the home knew the man, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs. 

 Medics came to check him out, then officers transported him to the Douglas County Correctional Facility. He was booked on several requested charges.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating&nbsp; a young girl’s overnight slumber party that ended abruptly over the weekend after a man entered the home uninvited and took off his clothes. Just before 2a.m. Sunday, police were called to a neighborhood near 21st and Louisiana Street in Lawrence where they found several young girls and the supervising adults extremely upset, according to a statement from Lawrence Police. Officers soon learned two of the girls, who were asleep on the couch, woke to see a naked man in the home. They began yelling for the adults. The man then went toward the back bedrooms and the male adult resident was able to force the man out of the house. A second team of officers quickly arrested the man nearby while the first team worked to help the children calm down and figure out what happened. Officers have no reason to believed anyone in the home knew the man, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs. Medics came to check him out, then officers transported him to the Douglas County Correctional Facility. He was booked on several requested charges.

Slumber party: Girls found naked man in their Kansas home

NEW YORK (AP) — Nvidia and AMD have agreed to share 15% of their revenues from chip sales to China with the U.S. government, as part of a deal to secure export licenses for the semiconductors.

The Trump administration halted the sale of advanced computer chips to China in April over national security concerns, but Nvidia and AMD&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-china-ai-chips-h20-trump-91588c36559bc881b8e010a9ed95cf0a">revealed in July</a>&nbsp;that Washington would allow them to resume sales of the H20 and MI308 chips, which are used in artificial intelligence development.

President Trump confirmed the terms of the unusual arrangement in a Monday press conference while noting that he originally wanted 20% of the sales revenue when Nvidia asked to sell the “obsolete” H20 chip to China. The president credited Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for negotiating him down to 15%.

“So we negotiated a little deal. So he’s selling a essentially old chip,” Trump said.

Nvidia did not comment about the specific details of the agreement or its quid pro quo nature, but said they would adhere to the export rules laid out by the administration.

“We follow rules the U.S. government sets for our participation in worldwide markets. While we haven’t shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export control rules will let America compete in China and worldwide,” Nvidia wrote in a statement to the AP. “America cannot repeat 5G and lose telecommunication leadership. America’s AI tech stack can be the world’s standard if we race.”

AMD did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Rep. John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on China, expressed concern over the deal.

“There are questions about the legal basis for doing so,” he said. “Export controls are a frontline defense in protecting our national security, and we should not set a precedent that incentivizes the government to grant licenses to sell China technology that will enhance its AI capabilities.”

The top Democrat on the panel also raised concerns over the reported agreement, calling it “a dangerous misuse of export controls that undermines our national security.”

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member of the House Select Committee on China, said he would seek answers about the legal basis for this arrangement and demand full transparency from the administration.

“Our export control regime must be based on genuine security considerations, not creative taxation schemes disguised as national security policy,” he said. “Chip export controls aren’t bargaining chips, and they’re not casino chips either. We shouldn’t be gambling with our national security to raise revenue.”

Derek Scissors, senior fellow and China expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, reiterated Moolenaar’s point about the constitutionality of the deal.

“There’s no precedent for this, probably because&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C5-1/ALDE_00013596/#:~:text=Article%20I%2C%20Section%209%2C%20Clause,Articles%20exported%20from%20any%20State" target="_blank">export taxes are unconstitutional,</a>&nbsp;” said Derek Scissors, senior fellow and China expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. “They call it a fee, but 15% of sales revenue is about a standard a tax as it comes. For this reason, I don’t think the ‘arrangement’ is at all durable. ‘’

“If it were to last, it has two possible implications. First, there’s a possible export tax that high-profile companies and goods must consider. Or the tax only applies in exceptional situations, such as changing export controls. Then we’d risk national security for the sake of tax revenue, which is effectively the same as cutting the defense budget,” Scissors said.

Back in July, Nvidia argued that tight export controls around their chip sales would cost the company an extra $5.5 billion. They’ve argued that such limits hinder U.S. competition in a sector in one of the world’s largest markets for technology, and have also warned that U.S. export controls could end up pushing other countries toward China’s AI technology.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/15/howard-lutnick-says-china-is-only-getting-nvidias-4th-best-ai-chip.html" target="_blank">told CNBC</a>&nbsp;in July that the renewed sale of Nvidia’s chips in China was linked to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-china-trade-tariffs-rare-earth-minerals-cbd2482bd2b3a7ce8d47030c4ff1c3d4">trade agreement</a>&nbsp;made between the two countries on rare earth magnets.

Restrictions on sales of advanced chips to China have been central to the AI race between the world’s two largest economic powers, but such controls are also controversial. Proponents argue that these restrictions are necessary to slow China down enough to allow U.S. companies to keep their lead. Meanwhile, opponents say the export controls have loopholes — and could still spur innovation. The emergence of China’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-f4908eaca221d601e31e7e3368778030">DeepSeek</a>&nbsp;AI chatbot in January particularly renewed concerns over how China might use advanced chips to help develop its own AI capabilities.

Associated Press writers Josh Boak,&nbsp;Shawn Chen, Didi Tang and Paul Wiseman contributed to the reporting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754949892044.png" alt="President Trump introduced&nbsp;Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the White House in April-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Trump introduced&nbsp;Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the White House in April-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Nvidia and AMD have agreed to share 15% of their revenues from chip sales to China with the U.S. government, as part of a deal to secure export licenses for the semiconductors.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump on Nvidia: This is an old chip that China already has… I said I want 20% if I’m going to approve this for you for our country. He said will you make it 15%. So we negotiated a deal. On the Blackwell, I think he’s coming to see me about that. <a href="https://t.co/GQwlZE1bPx">pic.twitter.com/GQwlZE1bPx</a>&mdash; Acyn (@Acyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1954933614124360120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Trump administration halted the sale of advanced computer chips to China in April over national security concerns, but Nvidia and AMD&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nvidia-china-ai-chips-h20-trump-91588c36559bc881b8e010a9ed95cf0a">revealed in July</a>&nbsp;that Washington would allow them to resume sales of the H20 and MI308 chips, which are used in artificial intelligence development.President Trump confirmed the terms of the unusual arrangement in a Monday press conference while noting that he originally wanted 20% of the sales revenue when Nvidia asked to sell the “obsolete” H20 chip to China. The president credited Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for negotiating him down to 15%.“So we negotiated a little deal. So he’s selling a essentially old chip,” Trump said.Nvidia did not comment about the specific details of the agreement or its quid pro quo nature, but said they would adhere to the export rules laid out by the administration.“We follow rules the U.S. government sets for our participation in worldwide markets. While we haven’t shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export control rules will let America compete in China and worldwide,” Nvidia wrote in a statement to the AP. “America cannot repeat 5G and lose telecommunication leadership. America’s AI tech stack can be the world’s standard if we race.”AMD did not immediately reply to a request for comment.Rep. John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on China, expressed concern over the deal.“There are questions about the legal basis for doing so,” he said. “Export controls are a frontline defense in protecting our national security, and we should not set a precedent that incentivizes the government to grant licenses to sell China technology that will enhance its AI capabilities.”The top Democrat on the panel also raised concerns over the reported agreement, calling it “a dangerous misuse of export controls that undermines our national security.”Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member of the House Select Committee on China, said he would seek answers about the legal basis for this arrangement and demand full transparency from the administration.“Our export control regime must be based on genuine security considerations, not creative taxation schemes disguised as national security policy,” he said. “Chip export controls aren’t bargaining chips, and they’re not casino chips either. We shouldn’t be gambling with our national security to raise revenue.”Derek Scissors, senior fellow and China expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, reiterated Moolenaar’s point about the constitutionality of the deal.“There’s no precedent for this, probably because&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C5-1/ALDE_00013596/#:~:text=Article%20I%2C%20Section%209%2C%20Clause,Articles%20exported%20from%20any%20State" target="_blank">export taxes are unconstitutional,</a>&nbsp;” said Derek Scissors, senior fellow and China expert at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. “They call it a fee, but 15% of sales revenue is about a standard a tax as it comes. For this reason, I don’t think the ‘arrangement’ is at all durable. ‘’“If it were to last, it has two possible implications. First, there’s a possible export tax that high-profile companies and goods must consider. Or the tax only applies in exceptional situations, such as changing export controls. Then we’d risk national security for the sake of tax revenue, which is effectively the same as cutting the defense budget,” Scissors said.Back in July, Nvidia argued that tight export controls around their chip sales would cost the company an extra $5.5 billion. They’ve argued that such limits hinder U.S. competition in a sector in one of the world’s largest markets for technology, and have also warned that U.S. export controls could end up pushing other countries toward China’s AI technology.Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/15/howard-lutnick-says-china-is-only-getting-nvidias-4th-best-ai-chip.html" target="_blank">told CNBC</a>&nbsp;in July that the renewed sale of Nvidia’s chips in China was linked to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-china-trade-tariffs-rare-earth-minerals-cbd2482bd2b3a7ce8d47030c4ff1c3d4">trade agreement</a>&nbsp;made between the two countries on rare earth magnets.Restrictions on sales of advanced chips to China have been central to the AI race between the world’s two largest economic powers, but such controls are also controversial. Proponents argue that these restrictions are necessary to slow China down enough to allow U.S. companies to keep their lead. Meanwhile, opponents say the export controls have loopholes — and could still spur innovation. The emergence of China’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deepseek-ai-china-f4908eaca221d601e31e7e3368778030">DeepSeek</a>&nbsp;AI chatbot in January particularly renewed concerns over how China might use advanced chips to help develop its own AI capabilities.—-Associated Press writers Josh Boak,&nbsp;Shawn Chen, Didi Tang and Paul Wiseman contributed to the reporting.

Nvidia and AMD to pay 15% of China chip sale revenues to US government

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced this week to 46 months in prison for drug trafficking stemming from an investigation into multiple fentanyl overdoses.

According to court documents, Rayvon Porter, 33, of Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.

While investigating the supplier in several fentanyl-related overdoses, Porter was identified as a suspect and law enforcement began to conduct surveillance. Investigators took him into custody while he was inside of a business. 

During a search of his car, they found a loaded Glock handgun, 1.32 grams of cocaine, 9.7 grams of fentanyl, and digital scales.

“Illegal fentanyl is a blight on our community that causes death and destruction,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Our office will do everything in its power to help eliminate it and stop its distribution.”

“This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant narcotics investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. Postal

Service, Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) investigated the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754664727407.png" alt="Porter -photo Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Porter -photo Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced this week to 46 months in prison for drug trafficking stemming from an investigation into multiple fentanyl overdoses.According to court documents, Rayvon Porter, 33, of Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.While investigating the supplier in several fentanyl-related overdoses, Porter was identified as a suspect and law enforcement began to conduct surveillance. Investigators took him into custody while he was inside of a business. During a search of his car, they found a loaded Glock handgun, 1.32 grams of cocaine, 9.7 grams of fentanyl, and digital scales.“Illegal fentanyl is a blight on our community that causes death and destruction,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Our office will do everything in its power to help eliminate it and stop its distribution.”“This sentencing represents the hard work and dedication by USPS OIG Special Agents working with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring charges on this significant narcotics investigation,” said Special Agent in Charge Dennus Bishop, U.S. PostalService, Office of Inspector General, Central Area Field Office. “The OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, remains committed to safeguarding the U.S. Mail and ensuring the accountability and integrity of U.S. Postal Service employees.”The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and the U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General (USPS-OIG) investigated the case.

Prison for Kansas man who admitted selling fentanyl, cocaine

WASHINGTON (AP) —D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called President Trump's takeover of the DC police, "unsettling."

She said that the city had reached a 30-year low in violent crime. Bowser said that crime was down not just from a post-pandemic peak in 2023, but from 2019 levels prior to the pandemic.

Bowser highlighted the district’s parks, schools and public transportation and said that it was important for those who live and visit here to know “just how beautiful our city is and how proud we are of all that we’ve accomplished here.

Bowser’s comments are a response to President Trump’s announcement of his takeover of D.C. police force. Bowser said that the steps were “unsettling” but not without precedent.

“My message to residents is this,” Bowser said. “We know that access to our democracy is tenuous. That is why you have heard me and many Washingtonians before me advocate for full statehood.”

The union representing DC police officers is backing Trump’s takeover move, though it called for the federal intervention to be temporary.

Union chairman Gregg Pemberton said it agrees with the president that “immediately action is necessary” to tamp down crime.

Still, Pemberton said that the city ultimately needs a police department that’s “fully staffed and supported.”

He also called for the repeal of criminal justice policies and laws passed by the city council.

Maryland governor says Trump mobilizing National Guard in Washington ‘lacks seriousness’

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard in D.C. is also “deeply dangerous.”

Moore, a Democrat who served as a paratrooper and captain in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, said in a statement Monday that the president’s actions lack both data and a battle plan.

“He is simply using honorable men and women as pawns to distract us from his policies, which continue to drive up unemployment and strip away health care and food assistance from those who need it most,” Moore said.

He urged the president to look to Maryland for ways of reducing violent crime. Moore noted that homicides in Maryland are down by more than 20% since Moore’s inauguration in January 2023.

“We await outreach from the White House if they want to have a serious conversation about public safety. But we won’t hold our breath,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754942142324.png" alt="Crime in the District of Columbia became a hot-button issue after Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, an intern for Republican Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas,<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/588da06a-99ed-47be-99bd-c05f5e5de831"> was&nbsp;fatally shot</a>&nbsp;on June 30. -DC Mayor Muriel Bowser image from CSPAN video" />
 <figcaption>Crime in the District of Columbia became a hot-button issue after Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, an intern for Republican Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas,<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/588da06a-99ed-47be-99bd-c05f5e5de831"> was&nbsp;fatally shot</a>&nbsp;on June 30. -DC Mayor Muriel Bowser image from CSPAN video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called President Trump's takeover of the DC police, "unsettling."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBowser?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MayorBowser</a> on President Trump federalizing DC police: &quot;While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can&#39;t say that given some of the rhetoric of the past that we&#39;re totally surprised.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/r9TU87KUp7">pic.twitter.com/r9TU87KUp7</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1954986466867646826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>She said that the city had reached a 30-year low in violent crime. Bowser said that crime was down not just from a post-pandemic peak in 2023, but from 2019 levels prior to the pandemic.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The murder rate in Washington, D.C. today is greater than Bogota, Mexico City, and more ⬇️ MAKE D.C. SAFE AGAIN! <a href="https://t.co/0L9SVfY1KG">pic.twitter.com/0L9SVfY1KG</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1954916458573832272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Bowser highlighted the district’s parks, schools and public transportation and said that it was important for those who live and visit here to know “just how beautiful our city is and how proud we are of all that we’ve accomplished here.Bowser’s comments are a response to President Trump’s announcement of his takeover of D.C. police force. Bowser said that the steps were “unsettling” but not without precedent.“My message to residents is this,” Bowser said. “We know that access to our democracy is tenuous. That is why you have heard me and many Washingtonians before me advocate for full statehood.”<h2>DC police union backs Trump’s takeover</h2>The union representing DC police officers is backing Trump’s takeover move, though it called for the federal intervention to be temporary.Union chairman Gregg Pemberton said it agrees with the president that “immediately action is necessary” to tamp down crime.Still, Pemberton said that the city ultimately needs a police department that’s “fully staffed and supported.”He also called for the repeal of criminal justice policies and laws passed by the city council.<h2>Maryland governor says Trump mobilizing National Guard in Washington ‘lacks seriousness’</h2>Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard in D.C. is also “deeply dangerous.”Moore, a Democrat who served as a paratrooper and captain in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, said in a statement Monday that the president’s actions lack both data and a battle plan.“He is simply using honorable men and women as pawns to distract us from his policies, which continue to drive up unemployment and strip away health care and food assistance from those who need it most,” Moore said.He urged the president to look to Maryland for ways of reducing violent crime. Moore noted that homicides in Maryland are down by more than 20% since Moore’s inauguration in January 2023.“We await outreach from the White House if they want to have a serious conversation about public safety. But we won’t hold our breath,” he said.

DC mayor responds to Trump takeover of DC  police

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating five suspect on multiple allegations after a home-invasion

Just after 5:30p.m. August 8, were sent to a Salina home after the homeowner reported five suspects invading their home, according to Salina Police Captain Kyle Tonniges

The suspects were reportedly armed with handguns when they forcibly entered into the home. The resident stated being hit in the head by one of the suspects, that left a gash above their eye. The suspects then left in gray SUV and it was not determined whether they stole anything.

An officer on patrol later located the SUV in Salina and conducted a traffic stop. The SUV pulled over and the occupants of the vehicle were discovered to be the suspects of the home invasion. All suspects were arrested and booked into the Saline County Jail.&nbsp;

Kayla Sitton,  33, faces requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault

Scott Gardner, 32, faces requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault

Antwon Pierce, 45, faces requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Interference with Law Enforcement

Darryl Jones, 52, faces&nbsp;requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault

Ernest Reed, 35, faces&nbsp;requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754926934274.jpeg" alt="Clockwise from top left Antwon Pierce, Scott Gardner, Darryl Jones, Ernest Reed, and Kayla Sitton -photos Saline Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Clockwise from top left Antwon Pierce, Scott Gardner, Darryl Jones, Ernest Reed, and Kayla Sitton -photos Saline Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating five suspect on multiple allegations after a home-invasionJust after 5:30p.m. August 8, were sent to a Salina home after the homeowner reported five suspects invading their home, according to Salina Police Captain Kyle TonnigesThe suspects were reportedly armed with handguns when they forcibly entered into the home. The resident stated being hit in the head by one of the suspects, that left a gash above their eye. The suspects then left in gray SUV and it was not determined whether they stole anything.An officer on patrol later located the SUV in Salina and conducted a traffic stop. The SUV pulled over and the occupants of the vehicle were discovered to be the suspects of the home invasion. All suspects were arrested and booked into the Saline County Jail.&nbsp;Kayla Sitton, 33, faces requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated AssaultScott Gardner, 32, faces requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated AssaultAntwon Pierce, 45, faces requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Interference with Law EnforcementDarryl Jones, 52, faces&nbsp;requested charges of Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated AssaultErnest Reed, 35, faces&nbsp;requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated Battery, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault