BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Regulators questioned Evergy officials Monday about its rate case, honing in on why the company was willing to accept a $69 million decrease from its initial request.

Evergy had asked the Kansas Corporation Commission for a $197 million base rate increase. Instead, after hours of negotiations with KCC staff, attorneys for industrial consumers, the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board and others, they&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/16/evergy-kansas-agreement-raises-residential-base-rates-9-6-pending-regulator-approval/">agreed to a $128 million increase</a>.

The unanimous settlement agreement increases residential base rates by 9.6%, which will bump an average homeowner’s bill by about $9 per month.

Darrin Ives, Evergy vice president for regulatory affairs, said much of the difference in the two amounts is attributed to a lower return on equity and changes to capital structure. Capital structure affects how the utility finances and manages its operations.

Evergy asked for a 10.5% return on equity for investors and settled at 9.7%, Ives said, calling it a “significant move.” Evergy ROE currently is set at 9.4% by the commission.

“It may be a little bit low from our view of a peer utility perspective, but it certainly is within the range of reasonableness and within a range that we feel comfortable that we can tell our investors that Kansas is supportive of continued investment and continued economic development in the state,” he said.

Ives said the settlement agreement was “moderate to slightly below average” compared to peer states and utilities.

Other Midwest utilities, such as Ameren and Xcel Energy, reported return on equities of more than 10%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/AEE/ameren/roe" target="_blank">data on Macrotrends.</a>

Panasonic’s new $4 billion battery plant in De Soto is a new customer on Evergy’s grid that has the potential to bring in large revenue increases over time. In the settlement agreement, Evergy and KCC staff had opposing views on how to share those revenues between investors and ratepayers, Ives said.

Commissioner Dwight Keen asked Ives to explain his willingness to agree to a completely different outcome than Ives expressed in prefiled testimony.

The issue was whether the company would keep 100% of the Panasonic revenue increases between rate cases. Ives said he felt that should be the case, as Evergy is responsible for all costs between cases.

Staff took the opposite viewpoint, and parties to the settlement agreement compromised. If Evergy, between this current rate case and the next, reached the 9.7% ROE, then 50% of Panasonic’s revenue would be shared back to consumers.

Keen noted that ensuring fairness between investors and ratepayers is important work of KCC.

“The balancing proposition we have is between making sure that the monopolies, the utilities, we regulate can derive a fair rate of return, on the one hand,” he said. “We have to balance that against the affordability to the ratepayers.”

Commissioner Andrew French questioned Ives “out of curiosity” about&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/11/panasonic-to-delay-production-at-kansas-battery-plant-as-electric-car-sales-decline-policies-shift/">media reports that Panasonic would not achieve full production</a>&nbsp;on its original schedule. He said a Bloomberg interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-07-14/bloomberg-tech-7-14-2025-video" target="_blank">Panasonic North American president Megan Myungwon Lee</a>&nbsp;indicated that was misinformation and that the plant would be at full production by the end of the year.

Panasonic spokeswoman Alison Klooster, responding to a Kansas Reflector inquiry, said in an email the company would not be at full production by the end of the year.

“Megan Lee was referring to De Soto getting to the point of full&nbsp;mass&nbsp;production this year, meaning that the lines that are currently operational will reach that point of full mass production,” Klooster said. “She was not referring to the current maximum planned production capacity of the entire facility.”

In response to questions whether the company still planned to meet its full production capacity by the original date of spring 2027, she said the company is excited to have begun production.&nbsp;

“It has always been our plan to grow our North American business in a sustainable manner within the market,” she said. “We have seen 11% growth in U.S. electric vehicle sales in Q1 this year compared with last year, and we are carefully assessing demand trends to expand production capacity while responding to the needs and requests of our customers.

KCC will make a decision on the rate case by Sept. 29.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753292958707.png" alt=" Kansas Corporation Commissioner Dwight Keen questioned Evergy officials about why they were willing to accept a settlement of about $69 million less than they originally requested. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Corporation Commissioner Dwight Keen questioned Evergy officials about why they were willing to accept a settlement of about $69 million less than they originally requested. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Regulators questioned Evergy officials Monday about its rate case, honing in on why the company was willing to accept a $69 million decrease from its initial request.Evergy had asked the Kansas Corporation Commission for a $197 million base rate increase. Instead, after hours of negotiations with KCC staff, attorneys for industrial consumers, the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board and others, they&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/16/evergy-kansas-agreement-raises-residential-base-rates-9-6-pending-regulator-approval/">agreed to a $128 million increase</a>.The unanimous settlement agreement increases residential base rates by 9.6%, which will bump an average homeowner’s bill by about $9 per month.Darrin Ives, Evergy vice president for regulatory affairs, said much of the difference in the two amounts is attributed to a lower return on equity and changes to capital structure. Capital structure affects how the utility finances and manages its operations.Evergy asked for a 10.5% return on equity for investors and settled at 9.7%, Ives said, calling it a “significant move.” Evergy ROE currently is set at 9.4% by the commission.“It may be a little bit low from our view of a peer utility perspective, but it certainly is within the range of reasonableness and within a range that we feel comfortable that we can tell our investors that Kansas is supportive of continued investment and continued economic development in the state,” he said.Ives said the settlement agreement was “moderate to slightly below average” compared to peer states and utilities.Other Midwest utilities, such as Ameren and Xcel Energy, reported return on equities of more than 10%, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/AEE/ameren/roe" target="_blank">data on Macrotrends.</a><h2>Panasonic allocations</h2>Panasonic’s new $4 billion battery plant in De Soto is a new customer on Evergy’s grid that has the potential to bring in large revenue increases over time. In the settlement agreement, Evergy and KCC staff had opposing views on how to share those revenues between investors and ratepayers, Ives said.Commissioner Dwight Keen asked Ives to explain his willingness to agree to a completely different outcome than Ives expressed in prefiled testimony.The issue was whether the company would keep 100% of the Panasonic revenue increases between rate cases. Ives said he felt that should be the case, as Evergy is responsible for all costs between cases.Staff took the opposite viewpoint, and parties to the settlement agreement compromised. If Evergy, between this current rate case and the next, reached the 9.7% ROE, then 50% of Panasonic’s revenue would be shared back to consumers.Keen noted that ensuring fairness between investors and ratepayers is important work of KCC.“The balancing proposition we have is between making sure that the monopolies, the utilities, we regulate can derive a fair rate of return, on the one hand,” he said. “We have to balance that against the affordability to the ratepayers.”<h2>Panasonic production</h2>Commissioner Andrew French questioned Ives “out of curiosity” about&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/11/panasonic-to-delay-production-at-kansas-battery-plant-as-electric-car-sales-decline-policies-shift/">media reports that Panasonic would not achieve full production</a>&nbsp;on its original schedule. He said a Bloomberg interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-07-14/bloomberg-tech-7-14-2025-video" target="_blank">Panasonic North American president Megan Myungwon Lee</a>&nbsp;indicated that was misinformation and that the plant would be at full production by the end of the year.Panasonic spokeswoman Alison Klooster, responding to a Kansas Reflector inquiry, said in an email the company would not be at full production by the end of the year.“Megan Lee was referring to De Soto getting to the point of full&nbsp;mass&nbsp;production this year, meaning that the lines that are currently operational will reach that point of full mass production,” Klooster said. “She was not referring to the current maximum planned production capacity of the entire facility.”In response to questions whether the company still planned to meet its full production capacity by the original date of spring 2027, she said the company is excited to have begun production.&nbsp;“It has always been our plan to grow our North American business in a sustainable manner within the market,” she said. “We have seen 11% growth in U.S. electric vehicle sales in Q1 this year compared with last year, and we are carefully assessing demand trends to expand production capacity while responding to the needs and requests of our customers.KCC will make a decision on the rate case by Sept. 29.

Kansas regulators question Evergy about rate increases, Panasonic revenue

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. —Law enforcement are investigating a Missouri State Park Ranger for alleged sexual assault.

On Monday, Camden County Sheriff&nbsp;Chris Edgar confirmed the arrest of 34-year-old Billy G Stephens III, a suspect in a sexual assault investigation. 

Stephens, a Missouri State Park Ranger, was taken into custody late Saturday night while on duty.

On July 19th, Camden County Sheriff’s Detectives conducted an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving an active-duty Missouri State Park Ranger. After attending a forensic interview of an alleged child victim, detectives contacted command staff at the Missouri State Park Rangers and advised them of the situation.

 Rangers command staff cooperated fully with the investigation and assisted in devising a plan to take Stephens into custody. Stephens was arrested at the Camden County Adult Detention Facility. He is charged with the Class B Felony of 2nd Degree Child Molestation, two counts of the Class D Felony of Statutory Rape, the Class D Felony of Tampering with a Witness, and the Class E Felony of Tampering with Physical Evidence.  He is being held without bond 

A statement from the sheriff's office said, "The allegations against Stephens are disturbing and, frankly, a betrayal of the trust our community puts in its law enforcement officers. This office is committed to the equal administration of justice regardless of a suspect’s status as a law enforcement officer."

"While this office does not regularly put out press release information on sex crimes cases, I felt in this case the public needed to know about the alleged misconduct of one of their law enforcement officers."&nbsp;

"We are extremely grateful to the Missouri State Park Rangers for their assistance in this investigation and their commitment to helping us fight crime in our communities.  We will not waiver when it comes to our pursuit of justice. No one gets a pass from us.  A personal message to all law enforcement officers in Camden County and the surrounding communities This is the second local law enforcement officer this month my staff has arrested for felony crimes. Let this be a warning to you. If you are a law enforcement officer and you are involved in criminal activity; we will find you. We will not harbor you. We will hold you accountable."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753180737433.png" alt="Stephens photo Camden County" />
 <figcaption>Stephens photo Camden County</figcaption>
 </figure>CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. —Law enforcement are investigating a Missouri State Park Ranger for alleged sexual assault.On Monday, Camden County Sheriff&nbsp;Chris Edgar confirmed the arrest of 34-year-old Billy G Stephens III, a suspect in a sexual assault investigation. Stephens, a Missouri State Park Ranger, was taken into custody late Saturday night while on duty.On July 19th, Camden County Sheriff’s Detectives conducted an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving an active-duty Missouri State Park Ranger. After attending a forensic interview of an alleged child victim, detectives contacted command staff at the Missouri State Park Rangers and advised them of the situation. Rangers command staff cooperated fully with the investigation and assisted in devising a plan to take Stephens into custody. Stephens was arrested at the Camden County Adult Detention Facility. He is charged with the Class B Felony of 2nd Degree Child Molestation, two counts of the Class D Felony of Statutory Rape, the Class D Felony of Tampering with a Witness, and the Class E Felony of Tampering with Physical Evidence. He is being held without bond A statement from the sheriff's office said, "The allegations against Stephens are disturbing and, frankly, a betrayal of the trust our community puts in its law enforcement officers. This office is committed to the equal administration of justice regardless of a suspect’s status as a law enforcement officer." "While this office does not regularly put out press release information on sex crimes cases, I felt in this case the public needed to know about the alleged misconduct of one of their law enforcement officers."&nbsp;"We are extremely grateful to the Missouri State Park Rangers for their assistance in this investigation and their commitment to helping us fight crime in our communities. We will not waiver when it comes to our pursuit of justice. No one gets a pass from us. A personal message to all law enforcement officers in Camden County and the surrounding communities This is the second local law enforcement officer this month my staff has arrested for felony crimes. Let this be a warning to you. If you are a law enforcement officer and you are involved in criminal activity; we will find you. We will not harbor you. We will hold you accountable."

Sheriff: Park ranger accused of child sex crimes

WASHINGTON (AP) —Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that he and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries informed members Tuesday morning that they would see an increase in funds that could be used for private security.

The “pilot program” will run through the end of September, said Johnson, and comes as members head back to their districts for August.

“We live in an enhanced threat environment,” said Johnson, adding that “we have to protect members’ security and everybody who works here on the Hill.”

At the end of September, Johnson said that leadership will “evaluate all the data points, see how effective it was that was utilized, and then make decisions going forward.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753202674574.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson discussed the pilot program Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson discussed the pilot program Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters that he and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries informed members Tuesday morning that they would see an increase in funds that could be used for private security.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751536761079.png" alt="File image Kansas 4th District Rep. Ron Estes spoke on behalf of the Big Beautiful Bill-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File image Kansas 4th District Rep. Ron Estes spoke on behalf of the Big Beautiful Bill-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The “pilot program” will run through the end of September, said Johnson, and comes as members head back to their districts for August.“We live in an enhanced threat environment,” said Johnson, adding that “we have to protect members’ security and everybody who works here on the Hill.”At the end of September, Johnson said that leadership will “evaluate all the data points, see how effective it was that was utilized, and then make decisions going forward.”

House members to see increase in funds for private security

COLES COUNTY, Illinois –A Kansas Amber Alert suspect is in custody and police in Illinois released new details on the capture of 32-year-old&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Christopher K. Barnshaw.

Just after noon Tuesday, police in Mattoon, Illinois, were notified that a suspect in a kidnapping incident in Topeka was possibly in their city, according to a media release from police.

Police in Topeka reported that Barshaw was believed to be a suspect in the death of a man and woman the 500 Block of NE Wabash in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Daniel Garrett. Barnshaw was also believed to have taken a child of one of the victims and fled the area. He was reported to be driving a Lexus passenger vehicle bearing Kansas License 4003AHF.

At 12:16p.m. a police officer in Mattoon, who was actively on a traffic stop on Route 16 observed the suspect vehicle pass him.&nbsp; The officer cleared from the traffic stop and began following the suspect in the Lexus eastboun toward Charleston, Illinois. After several other officers arrived in the area, they conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Route 16 and Beechtree Road.&nbsp; Barnshaw was take into custody without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the arrest, officers found a firearm concealed on Barnshaw.&nbsp; The 2-year-old boy who the subject of the Amber Alert was in the back seat unharmed.

Barnshaw is being held in the Coles County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Kidnapping and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Mattoon Police are working with Topeka Police.&nbsp; Barshaw could face additional charges.&nbsp; Arrangements are being made to reunite the&nbsp; child with a family member.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753203309827.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>COLES COUNTY, Illinois –A Kansas Amber Alert suspect is in custody and police in Illinois released new details on the capture of 32-year-old&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Christopher K. Barnshaw.Just after noon Tuesday, police in Mattoon, Illinois, were notified that a suspect in a kidnapping incident in Topeka was possibly in their city, according to a media release from police.Police in Topeka reported that Barshaw was believed to be a suspect in the death of a man and woman the 500 Block of NE Wabash in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Daniel Garrett. Barnshaw was also believed to have taken a child of one of the victims and fled the area. He was reported to be driving a Lexus passenger vehicle bearing Kansas License 4003AHF.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753228568726.png" alt="Barnshaw photo Coles Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Barnshaw photo Coles Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>At 12:16p.m. a police officer in Mattoon, who was actively on a traffic stop on Route 16 observed the suspect vehicle pass him.&nbsp; The officer cleared from the traffic stop and began following the suspect in the Lexus eastboun toward Charleston, Illinois. After several other officers arrived in the area, they conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Route 16 and Beechtree Road.&nbsp; Barnshaw was take into custody without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the arrest, officers found a firearm concealed on Barnshaw.&nbsp; The 2-year-old boy who the subject of the Amber Alert was in the back seat unharmed.Barnshaw is being held in the Coles County Jail on requested charges of Aggravated Kidnapping and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Mattoon Police are working with Topeka Police.&nbsp; Barshaw could face additional charges.&nbsp; Arrangements are being made to reunite the&nbsp; child with a family member.

Police: Kan. Amber Alert suspect took child after double-murder

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has effectively barred transgender women from competing in women’s sports, telling the federations overseeing swimming, athletics and other sports it has an “obligation to comply” with an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/">executive order</a>&nbsp;issued by President Donald Trump.

The new policy, announced Monday with&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt9e58afd92a18a0fc/bltf456568858cc9c12/USOPC_Athlete_Safety_Policy.pdf">a quiet change on the USOPC’s website</a>&nbsp;and confirmed in a letter sent to national sport governing bodies, follows a similar step taken by the NCAA earlier this year.

The USOPC change is noted obliquely as a detail under “USOPC Athlete Safety Policy” and references Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” signed in February. That order, among other things, threatens to “rescind all funds” from organizations that allow transgender athlete participation in women’s sports.

U.S. Olympic officials told the national governing bodies they will need to follow suit, adding that “the USOPC has engaged in a series of respectful and constructive conversations with federal officials” since Trump signed the order.

“As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations," USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and President Gene Sykes wrote in a letter. “Our revised policy emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women. All National Governing Bodies are required to update their applicable policies in alignment.”

The National Women's Law Center put out a statement condemning the move.

“By giving into the political demands, the USOPC is sacrificing the needs and safety of its own athletes,” said that organization's president and CEO, Fatima Goss Graves.

The USOPC oversees around 50 national governing bodies, most of which play a role in everything from the grassroots to elite levels of their sports. That raises the possibility that rules might need to be changed at local sports clubs to retain their memberships in the NGBs.

Some of those organizations — for instance, USA Track and Field — have long followed guidelines set by their own world federation. World Athletics is considering changes to its policies that would mostly fall in line with Trump's order.

A USA Swimming spokesman said the federation had been made aware of the USOPC's change and was consulting with the committee to figure out what changes it needs to make. USA Fencing changed its policy effective Aug. 1 to allow only “athletes who are of the female sex” in women's competition and opening men's events to “all athletes not eligible for the women’s category, including transgender women, transgender men, non-binary and intersex athletes and cisgender male athletes.”

The nationwide battle over transgender girls on girls’ and women’s sports teams has played out at both the state and federal levels as Republicans portray the issue as a fight for athletic fairness. More than two dozen states have enacted laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some policies have been blocked in court after critics challenged the policies as discriminatory, cruel and unnecessarily target&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-athletes-gymnastics-trump-2ca928358c07aa85e5748c094b2aa81e">a tiny niche of athletes.</a>

The NCAA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-transgender-athletes-0850b452de89674aeac7c6b1d8bce6d5">changed its participation policy for transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;to limit competition in women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth. That change came a day after Trump signed the executive order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b">intended to ban transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;from girls’ and women’s sports.

Female eligibility is a key issue for the International Olympic Committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ioc-olympics-president-coventry-la-2028-trump-4d47dd51a3bb7ac43765122ab61c0665">under its new president, Kirsty Coventry</a>, who has signaled an effort to “protect the female category.” The IOC has allowed individual sports federations to set their own rules at the Olympics — and some have already taken steps on the topic.

Stricter rules on transgender athletes — barring from women’s events anyone who went through male puberty — have been passed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-swimmers-new-rules-fina-world-governing-body-c17e99d3121fa964336458b57ae266f7">swimming</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cycling-female-transgender-athletes-ban-df45fe58ef1e4402c3996b57a0471df7">cycling</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-track-semenya-f3499b00b932948f96838adb3b010f11">track and field</a>. Soccer is reviewing its eligibility rules for women and could set limits on testosterone.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee has effectively barred transgender women from competing in women’s sports, telling the federations overseeing swimming, athletics and other sports it has an “obligation to comply” with an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/">executive order</a>&nbsp;issued by President Donald Trump.The new policy, announced Monday with&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/blt9e58afd92a18a0fc/bltf456568858cc9c12/USOPC_Athlete_Safety_Policy.pdf">a quiet change on the USOPC’s website</a>&nbsp;and confirmed in a letter sent to national sport governing bodies, follows a similar step taken by the NCAA earlier this year.The USOPC change is noted obliquely as a detail under “USOPC Athlete Safety Policy” and references Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” signed in February. That order, among other things, threatens to “rescind all funds” from organizations that allow transgender athlete participation in women’s sports.U.S. Olympic officials told the national governing bodies they will need to follow suit, adding that “the USOPC has engaged in a series of respectful and constructive conversations with federal officials” since Trump signed the order.“As a federally chartered organization, we have an obligation to comply with federal expectations," USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland and President Gene Sykes wrote in a letter. “Our revised policy emphasizes the importance of ensuring fair and safe competition environments for women. All National Governing Bodies are required to update their applicable policies in alignment.”The National Women's Law Center put out a statement condemning the move.“By giving into the political demands, the USOPC is sacrificing the needs and safety of its own athletes,” said that organization's president and CEO, Fatima Goss Graves.The USOPC oversees around 50 national governing bodies, most of which play a role in everything from the grassroots to elite levels of their sports. That raises the possibility that rules might need to be changed at local sports clubs to retain their memberships in the NGBs.Some of those organizations — for instance, USA Track and Field — have long followed guidelines set by their own world federation. World Athletics is considering changes to its policies that would mostly fall in line with Trump's order.A USA Swimming spokesman said the federation had been made aware of the USOPC's change and was consulting with the committee to figure out what changes it needs to make. USA Fencing changed its policy effective Aug. 1 to allow only “athletes who are of the female sex” in women's competition and opening men's events to “all athletes not eligible for the women’s category, including transgender women, transgender men, non-binary and intersex athletes and cisgender male athletes.”The nationwide battle over transgender girls on girls’ and women’s sports teams has played out at both the state and federal levels as Republicans portray the issue as a fight for athletic fairness. More than two dozen states have enacted laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some policies have been blocked in court after critics challenged the policies as discriminatory, cruel and unnecessarily target&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-athletes-gymnastics-trump-2ca928358c07aa85e5748c094b2aa81e">a tiny niche of athletes.</a>The NCAA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-transgender-athletes-0850b452de89674aeac7c6b1d8bce6d5">changed its participation policy for transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;to limit competition in women’s sports to athletes assigned female at birth. That change came a day after Trump signed the executive order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b">intended to ban transgender athletes</a>&nbsp;from girls’ and women’s sports.Female eligibility is a key issue for the International Olympic Committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ioc-olympics-president-coventry-la-2028-trump-4d47dd51a3bb7ac43765122ab61c0665">under its new president, Kirsty Coventry</a>, who has signaled an effort to “protect the female category.” The IOC has allowed individual sports federations to set their own rules at the Olympics — and some have already taken steps on the topic.Stricter rules on transgender athletes — barring from women’s events anyone who went through male puberty — have been passed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-swimmers-new-rules-fina-world-governing-body-c17e99d3121fa964336458b57ae266f7">swimming</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cycling-female-transgender-athletes-ban-df45fe58ef1e4402c3996b57a0471df7">cycling</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-track-semenya-f3499b00b932948f96838adb3b010f11">track and field</a>. Soccer is reviewing its eligibility rules for women and could set limits on testosterone.

US Olympic officials bar transgender women from competing

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>, instead sending members home early for a month-long break from Washington after the week's legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamoring for a vote.

Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House “space” to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-c0131616f9d3c1f56a14bb7b9e863741">release the Epstein information</a>&nbsp;on its own, despite the bipartisan push for legislation that aims to force the release of more documents.

“There’s no purpose for the Congress to push an administration to do something they’re already doing,” Johnson said at his weekly news conference, his last before lawmakers depart Washington on Wednesday for their traditional August recess.

The speaker's stance did little to alleviate the intra-party turmoil unfolding on Capitol Hill as many of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;supporters demand that the administration meet its promises to publicly release a full accounting of the sex trafficking investigation into Epstein, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a947e0d85d31496eb5bd9ff4994c9718">killed himself in his New York jail cell</a>&nbsp;in 2019 while awaiting trial. Under pressure from right-wing online influencers, as well as voters back home, rank-and-file Republicans are demanding that the House intervene in the matter.

“The public’s not going to let this die, and rightfully so,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican.

Will Ghislaine Maxwell's deposition happen?

Even before Johnson spoke Tuesday morning, the powerful House Committee on Oversight was advancing a resolution to subpoena Epstein’s former girlfriend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>, for a deposition.

The Republican chair of the committee, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said there will be a negotiation with Maxwell’s attorney over the terms of the deposition and that it could happen at the prison where she is serving a lengthy sentence for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The Justice Department also indicated Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-c0131616f9d3c1f56a14bb7b9e863741">it was separately seeking to interview</a>&nbsp;Maxwell.

While Democrats on the House Oversight Committee supported the action, the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, warned that her testimony should be treated with skepticism.

“We should be looking and continue to push for a full release of the files,” Garcia told reporters. “I think it’s important for people to know that she obviously is a documented liar and someone that has caused enormous harm to young girls and women.”

Trump didn't address the issue during a reception for House Republicans at the White House on Tuesday night but heaped praise on Johnson, saying he would “go down as one of the great speakers at any time in history.” In remarks alongside Trump, Johnson made no mention of it either.

Speaker Johnson's control of the House is under threat

Johnson decided to end the House's legislative business early this week after he essentially lost control of the powerful House Rules Committee, which sends bills to the floor for debates and votes. Late Monday evening, business on that panel ground to a halt when the Republicans on the committee abruptly recessed proceedings rather than risk more proposals from Democrats pushing them to release Epstein files.

Republicans had teed up votes on legislation to increase penalties for migrants who enter the country illegally, to ease permitting for water infrastructure and to roll back several Biden-era regulations. All those bills were put on hold, at least until after the August recess.

Frustration in the House has been running high since last week, when Republican leaders signaled possible support for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-24bf59310361b709a7cf6ee881a42e0e">vote on the Epstein files</a>&nbsp;as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pbs-npr-budget-cuts-trump-republicans-b0044285659ab708e23eb2dc2f3eabfa">raced to pass</a>&nbsp;a $9 billion package of spending cuts. Johnson unveiled a resolution that has no legal weight but would urge the Justice Department to produce more documentation. Trump, meanwhile, has asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of testimony from secret grand jury proceedings in the case, though that effort is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-justice-department-4634e5afceb8b1bb43f23558dfbb1d6c">unlikely to produce</a>&nbsp;new revelations.

Echoing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;position, Johnson insisted he, too, wants the files released, but only those that are “credible.” Johnson, who has relied heavily on Trump to hold onto leadership in the House, cast the president's reticence to release information as out of concern for the victims of Epstein.

“We have a moral responsibility to expose the evil of Epstein and everybody who was involved in that — absolutely — and we're resolved to do it,” Johnson said. “But we also have an equal moral responsibility to protect the innocent, and that is a fine needle to thread.”

In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also told reporters he believed Trump and Bondi would “make the right decisions” on the files, but opened the door to committees examining the matter.

Epstein has become a political wedge among GOP

Even with the month-long break, the pressure on Johnson is unlikely to end. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican whose contrarian stances are often a thorn in the side of leadership, is gathering support for a legislative maneuver to force the bipartisan bill to a House vote, even without leadership's consent.

“Now, there are a lot of people here in the swamp who think that, ‘Oh, well, if we spend five weeks on vacation, the pressure for this will dissipate. I don’t think it’s going to dissipate.’” Massie told reporters Monday evening.

Democrats have watched it all unfold with glee and worked to inflame the conflict among Republicans by making their own calls for transparency on the Epstein investigation. They have repeatedly tried to force votes on the matter, casting it as an issue of trust in the government.

“It’s about transparency in government. It’s about whose side are you on? Are you on the side of the rich and powerful, protecting men? Or are you on the side of young girls and America’s children?” said Rep. Ro Khanna, the California Democrat who put forward the legislation alongside Massie.

Epstein sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14, authorities say. He couldn’t have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion, prosecutors contend.

Massie said the case is palpable enough to carry significant political consequences.

“This will be an issue that does follow Republicans through the midterms, and it will follow each individual Republican through the midterms. It will follow people into their primaries. Did you support transparency and justice, or did you come up here, get elected and fall into the swamp?” he told reporters.

He added, “I think it is a watershed moment for the speaker of the House and the president.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson is rebuffing pressure to act on the investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>, instead sending members home early for a month-long break from Washington after the week's legislative agenda was upended by Republican members who are clamoring for a vote.Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, said Tuesday morning that he wants to give the White House “space” to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-c0131616f9d3c1f56a14bb7b9e863741">release the Epstein information</a>&nbsp;on its own, despite the bipartisan push for legislation that aims to force the release of more documents.“There’s no purpose for the Congress to push an administration to do something they’re already doing,” Johnson said at his weekly news conference, his last before lawmakers depart Washington on Wednesday for their traditional August recess.The speaker's stance did little to alleviate the intra-party turmoil unfolding on Capitol Hill as many of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;supporters demand that the administration meet its promises to publicly release a full accounting of the sex trafficking investigation into Epstein, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a947e0d85d31496eb5bd9ff4994c9718">killed himself in his New York jail cell</a>&nbsp;in 2019 while awaiting trial. Under pressure from right-wing online influencers, as well as voters back home, rank-and-file Republicans are demanding that the House intervene in the matter.“The public’s not going to let this die, and rightfully so,” said Rep. Ralph Norman, a South Carolina Republican.<h2>Will Ghislaine Maxwell's deposition happen?</h2>Even before Johnson spoke Tuesday morning, the powerful House Committee on Oversight was advancing a resolution to subpoena Epstein’s former girlfriend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>, for a deposition.The Republican chair of the committee, Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, said there will be a negotiation with Maxwell’s attorney over the terms of the deposition and that it could happen at the prison where she is serving a lengthy sentence for helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. The Justice Department also indicated Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-c0131616f9d3c1f56a14bb7b9e863741">it was separately seeking to interview</a>&nbsp;Maxwell.While Democrats on the House Oversight Committee supported the action, the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, warned that her testimony should be treated with skepticism.“We should be looking and continue to push for a full release of the files,” Garcia told reporters. “I think it’s important for people to know that she obviously is a documented liar and someone that has caused enormous harm to young girls and women.”Trump didn't address the issue during a reception for House Republicans at the White House on Tuesday night but heaped praise on Johnson, saying he would “go down as one of the great speakers at any time in history.” In remarks alongside Trump, Johnson made no mention of it either.<h2>Speaker Johnson's control of the House is under threat</h2>Johnson decided to end the House's legislative business early this week after he essentially lost control of the powerful House Rules Committee, which sends bills to the floor for debates and votes. Late Monday evening, business on that panel ground to a halt when the Republicans on the committee abruptly recessed proceedings rather than risk more proposals from Democrats pushing them to release Epstein files.Republicans had teed up votes on legislation to increase penalties for migrants who enter the country illegally, to ease permitting for water infrastructure and to roll back several Biden-era regulations. All those bills were put on hold, at least until after the August recess.Frustration in the House has been running high since last week, when Republican leaders signaled possible support for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-24bf59310361b709a7cf6ee881a42e0e">vote on the Epstein files</a>&nbsp;as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pbs-npr-budget-cuts-trump-republicans-b0044285659ab708e23eb2dc2f3eabfa">raced to pass</a>&nbsp;a $9 billion package of spending cuts. Johnson unveiled a resolution that has no legal weight but would urge the Justice Department to produce more documentation. Trump, meanwhile, has asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of testimony from secret grand jury proceedings in the case, though that effort is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-justice-department-4634e5afceb8b1bb43f23558dfbb1d6c">unlikely to produce</a>&nbsp;new revelations.Echoing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;position, Johnson insisted he, too, wants the files released, but only those that are “credible.” Johnson, who has relied heavily on Trump to hold onto leadership in the House, cast the president's reticence to release information as out of concern for the victims of Epstein.“We have a moral responsibility to expose the evil of Epstein and everybody who was involved in that — absolutely — and we're resolved to do it,” Johnson said. “But we also have an equal moral responsibility to protect the innocent, and that is a fine needle to thread.”In the Senate, Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also told reporters he believed Trump and Bondi would “make the right decisions” on the files, but opened the door to committees examining the matter.<h2>Epstein has become a political wedge among GOP</h2>Even with the month-long break, the pressure on Johnson is unlikely to end. Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican whose contrarian stances are often a thorn in the side of leadership, is gathering support for a legislative maneuver to force the bipartisan bill to a House vote, even without leadership's consent.“Now, there are a lot of people here in the swamp who think that, ‘Oh, well, if we spend five weeks on vacation, the pressure for this will dissipate. I don’t think it’s going to dissipate.’” Massie told reporters Monday evening.Democrats have watched it all unfold with glee and worked to inflame the conflict among Republicans by making their own calls for transparency on the Epstein investigation. They have repeatedly tried to force votes on the matter, casting it as an issue of trust in the government.“It’s about transparency in government. It’s about whose side are you on? Are you on the side of the rich and powerful, protecting men? Or are you on the side of young girls and America’s children?” said Rep. Ro Khanna, the California Democrat who put forward the legislation alongside Massie.Epstein sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14, authorities say. He couldn’t have done so without the help of Maxwell, his longtime companion, prosecutors contend.Massie said the case is palpable enough to carry significant political consequences.“This will be an issue that does follow Republicans through the midterms, and it will follow each individual Republican through the midterms. It will follow people into their primaries. Did you support transparency and justice, or did you come up here, get elected and fall into the swamp?” he told reporters.He added, “I think it is a watershed moment for the speaker of the House and the president.”

House ending session early as Republicans clash over Epstein vote

Washington –&nbsp;On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall announced the Trump Administration is fulfilling his request for disaster relief aid following multiple rounds of severe weather and tornadoes this past May. President Trump personally called Senator Marshall to share that he was allocating $6.7 million in public assistance for the affected communities.

“This past May, several of our communities experienced devastating EF3 tornadoes, causing widespread destruction. Entire towns were leveled and significant damage was sustained to Interstate 70, public infrastructure, and private property,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“I am very grateful to President Trump and his administration for quickly fulfilling our request to provide the much-needed assistance to our Kansas communities.”

The following Kansas counties will be eligible for public assistance:&nbsp;Bourbon, Cheyenne, Edwards, Gove, Kiowa, Logan, Pratt, Reno, Scott, Sheridan, and Stafford.

Senator Marshall led a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/6.25.25-Letter-in-Support-of-Kansas-Major-Disaster-Declaration-Request.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;in June asking for this public assistance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747852169415.jpeg" alt="Grinnell tornado damage image KHP" />
 <figcaption>Grinnell tornado damage image KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington –&nbsp;On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Roger Marshall announced the Trump Administration is fulfilling his request for disaster relief aid following multiple rounds of severe weather and tornadoes this past May. President Trump personally called Senator Marshall to share that he was allocating $6.7 million in public assistance for the affected communities.“This past May, several of our communities experienced devastating EF3 tornadoes, causing widespread destruction. Entire towns were leveled and significant damage was sustained to Interstate 70, public infrastructure, and private property,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“I am very grateful to President Trump and his administration for quickly fulfilling our request to provide the much-needed assistance to our Kansas communities.”The following Kansas counties will be eligible for public assistance:&nbsp;Bourbon, Cheyenne, Edwards, Gove, Kiowa, Logan, Pratt, Reno, Scott, Sheridan, and Stafford.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753229997596.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Senator Marshall led a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/6.25.25-Letter-in-Support-of-Kansas-Major-Disaster-Declaration-Request.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;in June asking for this public assistance.

Kan. lawmakers secure $6.7M in disaster relief aid for storms in May

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 11p.m. Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri.

A Honda Africa Twin motorcycle driven by 37-year-old Jefferey D. Evans was eastbound on Interstate 670, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez. The motorcycle changed lanes in an attempt to take the Interstate 29/Interstate 35 entrance ramp from Interstate 670. As the motorcycle was changing lanes, it struck the right passenger side of an eastbound Dodge Charger. The Evans was ejected and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver and front seat passenger of the Dodge were uninjured in the collision. This is fatality #44 compared to #52 at this time last year. The remains under investigation, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 11p.m. Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri.A Honda Africa Twin motorcycle driven by 37-year-old Jefferey D. Evans was eastbound on Interstate 670, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez. The motorcycle changed lanes in an attempt to take the Interstate 29/Interstate 35 entrance ramp from Interstate 670. As the motorcycle was changing lanes, it struck the right passenger side of an eastbound Dodge Charger. The Evans was ejected and was pronounced deceased at the scene.The driver and front seat passenger of the Dodge were uninjured in the collision. This is fatality #44 compared to #52 at this time last year. The remains under investigation, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

KCPD IDs driver killed after motorcycle struck passenger side of car

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-boone">REBECCA BOONE</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-boone"></a>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Bryan Kohberger, the masked man who snuck into a rental home near the University of Idaho campus and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bryan-kohberger">stabbed four students to death</a>&nbsp;in late 2022, is expected to face the families of his victims in court Wednesday at his sentencing hearing.

Whether those families will get any answers about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bryan-kohberger-idaho-student-killings-fc03e31c8a35deb0718ae15e2887481a">why he did it</a>&nbsp;or how he came to target&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-house-demolished-four-students-killed-80d34c85bd62f0857d41eacc173626dd">the home on King Road</a>&nbsp;in Moscow remains to be seen. But Kohberger, 30, is expected to be sentenced to life in prison for murdering Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Ethan Chapin in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moscow-idaho-boise-university-of-d0ed74d74bd11f3c58e5f78ea52a0b6c">rural college town of Moscow</a>.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kohberger-idaho-students-slain-6626d7c53a08563cfa9df5123f41bd87">He pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;earlier this month in a deal to avoid the death penalty. He will have an opportunity to speak at the sentencing — as will the loved ones of his victims.

Here’s what to know about Kohberger’s sentencing.

Mogen, Kernodle, Goncalves and Chapin were found stabbed to death on Nov. 13, 2023. The crime horrified the city, which hadn’t seen a homicide in about five years, and prompted a massive hunt for the perpetrator.

Kohberger, a graduate student in criminology at nearby Washington State University, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-idaho-pennsylvania-crime-5a9c3c1117dbf2efcd37cdf04e5c01ae">arrested in Pennsylvania</a>, where his parents lived, roughly six weeks later.

Police said they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-idaho-killings-kohberger-evidence-constitutional-134b5f69a8878cd6174a7c4d487d3b9b">recovered DNA</a>&nbsp;from a knife sheath found at the home, and used genetic genealogy to identify Kohberger as a possible suspect. They accessed cellphone data to pinpoint his movements and used surveillance camera footage to help locate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-pennsylvania-idaho-5f5173a3af306701d5659f2fb61a9d44">a white sedan</a>&nbsp;that was seen repeatedly driving past the home on the night of the killings.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-murder-kohberger-guilty-d73f71d01046a99e2dba6170e4ed7c50">Q-tip from the garbage</a>&nbsp;at his parents’ house was used to match Kohberger’s DNA to genetic material from the sheath, investigators said.

Kohberger’s attorneys got the trial moved to Boise after expressing concerns that the court wouldn’t be able to find enough unbiased jurors in Moscow. But Judge Stephen Hippler rejected their efforts to get the death penalty taken off the table and to strike critical evidence — including the DNA — from being admitted in trial.

The trial had been set to begin next month.

In exchange for Kohberger admitting guilt and waiving his right to appeal, prosecutors agreed not to seek his execution. Instead, both sides agreed to recommend that he serve four consecutive life sentences without parole for the killings.

The victim’s families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-kohberger-murder-plea-death-penalty-victims-rights-e86eea00a32721839a320177eabc7db0">were split</a>&nbsp;on how they felt about the plea deal.

Kohberger’s motive and many other details are unknown

If they know why Kohberger did it, investigators haven’t said so publicly. Nor is it clear why he spared two roommates who were home at the time.

Cellphone location data did show Kohberger had been in the neighborhood multiple times before the attack.

Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson has said that Kohberger used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/four-dead-idaho-university-students-3369af9472fa36cc5a6ed270fa5ace07">his knowledge about forensic investigations</a>&nbsp;to attempt to cover his tracks by deep cleaning his vehicle after the crime.

Police say Kohberger’s Amazon purchase history shows he bought a military-style knife as well as the knife sheath found at the home. But the knife itself was never found.

The case drew widespread interest and judges feared the publicity could harm Kohberger’s right to a fair trial. A sweeping gag order was imposed and hundreds of court documents were sealed from public view.

After Kohberger pleaded guilty, a coalition of news organizations including The Associated Press asked that the gag order be lifted and the documents be unsealed. Hippler agreed, but said unsealing the documents will take time and that process won’t begin until after the sentencing hearing. It’s not clear how many answers they might contain.

Kohberger can speak at sentencing or refuse

The families and surviving roommates of the victims will have the opportunity during the sentencing hearing to describe the damage the killings have done to them. Because there are so many of them, the hearing could stretch into Thursday.

Kohberger will also have the opportunity to speak. Defendants sometimes use such chances to express remorse, ask for mercy, or to say whatever else they think the court should hear before sentencing.

But Kohberger also has the right to remain silent — despite a suggestion from President Donald Trump that the judge should force Kohberger to explain himself.

“I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders,” Trump wrote online on Monday. “There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING.”

Foundations honor Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan

Friends and family members have sought to commemorate the victims’ lives by raising money for scholarships and other initiatives.

<a href="https://www.ethanssmile.org/" target="_blank">Ethan’s Smile Foundation</a>, started by Chapin’s family, honors his “love of life, people, and new adventures by providing scholarships that enable others to follow their dreams,” its website says.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.madewithkindnessfoundation.com/" target="_blank">Made With Kindness Foundation</a>&nbsp;honors the legacy of Mogen, Goncalves, and Kernodle through scholarships, wellness support and empowerment initiatives. “Our mission is to inspire and uplift the next generation, turning their dreams into realities in a world that values compassion and community,” its website says.

The University of Idaho built the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uidaho.edu/giving/healing-garden-and-memorial" target="_blank">Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial</a>&nbsp;in memory of all students who passed away while enrolled at the school.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751459170755.png" alt="Kohberger photo Ada Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Kohberger photo Ada Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-boone">REBECCA BOONE</a><a href="https://apnews.com/author/rebecca-boone"></a>BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Bryan Kohberger, the masked man who snuck into a rental home near the University of Idaho campus and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bryan-kohberger">stabbed four students to death</a>&nbsp;in late 2022, is expected to face the families of his victims in court Wednesday at his sentencing hearing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751479520041.png" alt="From top left, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle." />
 <figcaption>From top left, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.</figcaption>
 </figure>Whether those families will get any answers about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bryan-kohberger-idaho-student-killings-fc03e31c8a35deb0718ae15e2887481a">why he did it</a>&nbsp;or how he came to target&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-house-demolished-four-students-killed-80d34c85bd62f0857d41eacc173626dd">the home on King Road</a>&nbsp;in Moscow remains to be seen. But Kohberger, 30, is expected to be sentenced to life in prison for murdering Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Ethan Chapin in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moscow-idaho-boise-university-of-d0ed74d74bd11f3c58e5f78ea52a0b6c">rural college town of Moscow</a>.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kohberger-idaho-students-slain-6626d7c53a08563cfa9df5123f41bd87">He pleaded guilty</a>&nbsp;earlier this month in a deal to avoid the death penalty. He will have an opportunity to speak at the sentencing — as will the loved ones of his victims.Here’s what to know about Kohberger’s sentencing.<h2>A plea deal was reached before a trial</h2>Mogen, Kernodle, Goncalves and Chapin were found stabbed to death on Nov. 13, 2023. The crime horrified the city, which hadn’t seen a homicide in about five years, and prompted a massive hunt for the perpetrator.Kohberger, a graduate student in criminology at nearby Washington State University, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-idaho-pennsylvania-crime-5a9c3c1117dbf2efcd37cdf04e5c01ae">arrested in Pennsylvania</a>, where his parents lived, roughly six weeks later.Police said they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-idaho-killings-kohberger-evidence-constitutional-134b5f69a8878cd6174a7c4d487d3b9b">recovered DNA</a>&nbsp;from a knife sheath found at the home, and used genetic genealogy to identify Kohberger as a possible suspect. They accessed cellphone data to pinpoint his movements and used surveillance camera footage to help locate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-pennsylvania-idaho-5f5173a3af306701d5659f2fb61a9d44">a white sedan</a>&nbsp;that was seen repeatedly driving past the home on the night of the killings.A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-idaho-murder-kohberger-guilty-d73f71d01046a99e2dba6170e4ed7c50">Q-tip from the garbage</a>&nbsp;at his parents’ house was used to match Kohberger’s DNA to genetic material from the sheath, investigators said.Kohberger’s attorneys got the trial moved to Boise after expressing concerns that the court wouldn’t be able to find enough unbiased jurors in Moscow. But Judge Stephen Hippler rejected their efforts to get the death penalty taken off the table and to strike critical evidence — including the DNA — from being admitted in trial.The trial had been set to begin next month.In exchange for Kohberger admitting guilt and waiving his right to appeal, prosecutors agreed not to seek his execution. Instead, both sides agreed to recommend that he serve four consecutive life sentences without parole for the killings.The victim’s families&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/idaho-kohberger-murder-plea-death-penalty-victims-rights-e86eea00a32721839a320177eabc7db0">were split</a>&nbsp;on how they felt about the plea deal.<h2>Kohberger’s motive and many other details are unknown</h2>If they know why Kohberger did it, investigators haven’t said so publicly. Nor is it clear why he spared two roommates who were home at the time.Cellphone location data did show Kohberger had been in the neighborhood multiple times before the attack.Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson has said that Kohberger used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/four-dead-idaho-university-students-3369af9472fa36cc5a6ed270fa5ace07">his knowledge about forensic investigations</a>&nbsp;to attempt to cover his tracks by deep cleaning his vehicle after the crime.Police say Kohberger’s Amazon purchase history shows he bought a military-style knife as well as the knife sheath found at the home. But the knife itself was never found.The case drew widespread interest and judges feared the publicity could harm Kohberger’s right to a fair trial. A sweeping gag order was imposed and hundreds of court documents were sealed from public view.After Kohberger pleaded guilty, a coalition of news organizations including The Associated Press asked that the gag order be lifted and the documents be unsealed. Hippler agreed, but said unsealing the documents will take time and that process won’t begin until after the sentencing hearing. It’s not clear how many answers they might contain.<h2>Kohberger can speak at sentencing or refuse</h2>The families and surviving roommates of the victims will have the opportunity during the sentencing hearing to describe the damage the killings have done to them. Because there are so many of them, the hearing could stretch into Thursday.Kohberger will also have the opportunity to speak. Defendants sometimes use such chances to express remorse, ask for mercy, or to say whatever else they think the court should hear before sentencing.But Kohberger also has the right to remain silent — despite a suggestion from President Donald Trump that the judge should force Kohberger to explain himself.“I hope the Judge makes Kohberger, at a minimum, explain why he did these horrible murders,” Trump wrote online on Monday. “There are no explanations, there is no NOTHING.”<h2>Foundations honor Kaylee, Maddie, Xana and Ethan</h2>Friends and family members have sought to commemorate the victims’ lives by raising money for scholarships and other initiatives.<a href="https://www.ethanssmile.org/" target="_blank">Ethan’s Smile Foundation</a>, started by Chapin’s family, honors his “love of life, people, and new adventures by providing scholarships that enable others to follow their dreams,” its website says.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.madewithkindnessfoundation.com/" target="_blank">Made With Kindness Foundation</a>&nbsp;honors the legacy of Mogen, Goncalves, and Kernodle through scholarships, wellness support and empowerment initiatives. “Our mission is to inspire and uplift the next generation, turning their dreams into realities in a world that values compassion and community,” its website says.The University of Idaho built the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uidaho.edu/giving/healing-garden-and-memorial" target="_blank">Vandal Healing Garden and Memorial</a>&nbsp;in memory of all students who passed away while enrolled at the school.

Confessed killer will face victim's families at sentencing

Harvey County—A Kansas man who admitted to child sex crimes is going to prison.

On July 16, Harvey County District Court Judge Jason Lane sentenced 39-year-old Jerad Carmichael, of Sedgwick, Kansas, to 224 months (18 years and 8 months) in prison for child sex crimes, according to the Harvey County District Attorney's office.

On May 1, 2025, Carmichael pled guilty to one count of Rape of a Child Under the Age of 14 and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy. The offenses occurred between April 1, 2023, and April 21, 2024, in Harvey County, Kansas. The victim was under the age of 10 at the time of the crimes.

Carmichael will also be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and must register as a sexual offender under the Kansas Offender Registration Act.

This case was prosecuted with assistance from the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713975062513.png" alt="Jerad Carmichael photo Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Jerad Carmichael photo Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>Harvey County—A Kansas man who admitted to child sex crimes is going to prison.On July 16, Harvey County District Court Judge Jason Lane sentenced 39-year-old Jerad Carmichael, of Sedgwick, Kansas, to 224 months (18 years and 8 months) in prison for child sex crimes, according to the Harvey County District Attorney's office.On May 1, 2025, Carmichael pled guilty to one count of Rape of a Child Under the Age of 14 and one count of Aggravated Criminal Sodomy. The offenses occurred between April 1, 2023, and April 21, 2024, in Harvey County, Kansas. The victim was under the age of 10 at the time of the crimes.Carmichael will also be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and must register as a sexual offender under the Kansas Offender Registration Act.This case was prosecuted with assistance from the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office, the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, and the Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center.

Prison: Kansas man admits rape of a child under age 14

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) — A mountain lion bit a 4-year-old who was walking with their family over the weekend on a popular trail in Olympic National Park in Washington state, park officials said Monday.

The child was injured during Sunday’s attack and flown to a trauma center in Seattle for treatment, according to a statement from the National Park Service.

The attack by a mountain lion fitted with a tracking collar was near an overlook on Hurricane Ridge, a popular mountain area with expansive views.

The attack was reported to rangers around 3:15 p.m. on Sunday and paramedics and park staff traveled to the injured child, according to the National Park Service.

Rangers immediately started searching for the cougar and by Monday, park staff had “dispatched the animal,” the statement said using a term that generally refers to killing an animal.

“There are no current threats to the public,” the statement said.

Officials said they would not be releasing any identifying information about the child to protect their identity.

PORT ANGELES, Wash. (AP) — A mountain lion bit a 4-year-old who was walking with their family over the weekend on a popular trail in Olympic National Park in Washington state, park officials said Monday.The child was injured during Sunday’s attack and flown to a trauma center in Seattle for treatment, according to a statement from the National Park Service.The attack by a mountain lion fitted with a tracking collar was near an overlook on Hurricane Ridge, a popular mountain area with expansive views.The attack was reported to rangers around 3:15 p.m. on Sunday and paramedics and park staff traveled to the injured child, according to the National Park Service.Rangers immediately started searching for the cougar and by Monday, park staff had “dispatched the animal,” the statement said using a term that generally refers to killing an animal.“There are no current threats to the public,” the statement said.Officials said they would not be releasing any identifying information about the child to protect their identity.

4-year-old attacked by mountain lion on national park trail

By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph Post

A former Savannah, Missouri police officer has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in the death of his police dog and has been placed on probation.

Daniel Zeigler has been placed on two-years probation, sentenced to a weekend in jail, and fined $5,000 in the death of K-9 Horus.

Zeigler, who had been a police lieutenant, was charged after leaving Horus in a hot patrol car June 20, of last year. An investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol determined Horus died of heat exhaustion. The report also found a safety measure in the car that could have prevented the death had been disabled.

The Savannah Board of Alderman fired Zeigler in wake of the police dog’s death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720202220440.png" alt="K-9 Horus courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>K-9 Horus courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph PostA former Savannah, Missouri police officer has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in the death of his police dog and has been placed on probation.Daniel Zeigler has been placed on two-years probation, sentenced to a weekend in jail, and fined $5,000 in the death of K-9 Horus.Zeigler, who had been a police lieutenant, was charged after leaving Horus in a hot patrol car June 20, of last year. An investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol determined Horus died of heat exhaustion. The report also found a safety measure in the car that could have prevented the death had been disabled.The Savannah Board of Alderman fired Zeigler in wake of the police dog’s death.

Former officer sentenced after police K9 died in a hot car

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. –Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just before 8p.m. on July 18, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop near 150th Road on U.S. Hwy 75 for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics. The driver, 41-year-old Kelly Jospeh Hall and 51-year-old Jeffery Wade Romines, both of Sabetha were both arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753115401426.png" alt="Romines photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Romines photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. –Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just before 8p.m. on July 18, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop near 150th Road on U.S. Hwy 75 for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753115382110.png" alt="Hall photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Hall photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics. The driver, 41-year-old Kelly Jospeh Hall and 51-year-old Jeffery Wade Romines, both of Sabetha were both arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Two Kansas suspects caught transporting meth

ELLIS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend arrest in Ellis County.

At about 9:30 p.m. July 17,, deputies with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a domestic disturbance that had occurred in the 300 block of Hopewell Road in rural Ellis County, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

Deputies contacted a 40-year-old woman who had sustained multiple injuries as a result of the disturbance. Through the course of the investigation, deputies were able to identify the suspect as 37-year-old Cody Evan Garrett of WaKeeney.

With the assistance of the Trego County Sheriff’s Office, WaKeeney Police Department, and the Kansas Highway Patrol, Garrett would later be located at a residence in Trego County and taken into custody.

Garrett was booked into the Ellis County Jail on requested charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery, criminal threat and criminal damage to Property.

Garrett remains in the Ellis County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753197701190.png" alt="Garrett photo Ellis Co." />
 <figcaption>Garrett photo Ellis Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend arrest in Ellis County.At about 9:30 p.m. July 17,, deputies with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a domestic disturbance that had occurred in the 300 block of Hopewell Road in rural Ellis County, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.Deputies contacted a 40-year-old woman who had sustained multiple injuries as a result of the disturbance. Through the course of the investigation, deputies were able to identify the suspect as 37-year-old Cody Evan Garrett of WaKeeney.With the assistance of the Trego County Sheriff’s Office, WaKeeney Police Department, and the Kansas Highway Patrol, Garrett would later be located at a residence in Trego County and taken into custody.Garrett was booked into the Ellis County Jail on requested charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery, criminal threat and criminal damage to Property.Garrett remains in the Ellis County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

NW Kan. man accused of brutal attack on a woman

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;rehashed longstanding grievances over the Russia investigation that shadowed much of his first term, lashing out Tuesday following a new report from his intelligence director aimed at casting doubt on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-russia-48f9d5132d7a4e2d823edad8fc407979">long-established findings about Moscow's interference</a>&nbsp;in the 2016 election.

“It’s time to go after people,” Trump said from the Oval Office as he repeated a baseless claim that former President Barack Obama and other officials had engaged in treason.

Trump was not making his claims for the first time, but he delivered them when administration officials are harnessing the machinery of the federal government to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-fbi-new-investigation-comey-brennan-33f52dec786e45b019d7d021e6d99c02">investigate the targets of Trump’s derision</a>, including key officials responsible for scrutinizing Russia's attempts to intervene on Trump's behalf in 2016.

The backward-looking inquiries are taking place even as the Republican administration's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-director-christopher-wray-threats-minneapolis-8633ed78ee3eb333e76a54792976327a">national security agencies are confronting global threats</a>. But they have served as a rallying cry for Trump, who is trying to unify a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-f2a03eca247268b14a9e38858338eded">political base at odds over the Jeffrey Epstein case</a>, with some allies pushing to disclose more information despite the president's push to turn the page.

Trump's attack prompted a rare response from Obama's post-presidential office.

“Our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” said Patrick Rodenbush, an Obama spokesman. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”

Gabbard's new report on the Russia investigation

Trump's tirade, a detour from his official business as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcos-trump-philippines-china-tariffs-3138d1d7f8368c022ab9242bebb4a2e2">hosted the leader of the Philippines</a>, unfolded against the backdrop of a new report from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tulsi-gabbard">Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard</a>&nbsp;that represented his administration's latest attempt to rewrite the history of the Russia investigation, which has infuriated him for years.

The report, released Friday, downplayed the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 election by highlighting Obama administration emails showing officials had concluded before and after the presidential race that Moscow had not hacked state election systems to manipulate votes in Trump’s favor.

But Obama's Democratic administration never suggested otherwise, even as it exposed other means by which Russia interfered in the election, including through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1ddb174446a34785becd670275fedcbf">a massive hack-and-leak operation</a>&nbsp;of Democratic emails by intelligence operatives working with WikiLeaks. Also,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cf0e079a1a184ffe82d2de41f0452eb7">a covert foreign influence campaign</a>&nbsp;aimed at swaying public opinion and sowing discord through fake social media posts.

Gabbard’s report appears to suggest the absence of manipulation of state election systems is a basis to call into question more general Russian interference.

Democrats swiftly decried the report as factually flawed and politically motivated.

“It is sadly not surprising that DNI Gabbard, who promised to depoliticize the intelligence community, is once again weaponizing her position to amplify the president’s election conspiracy theories,” wrote Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Several investigations found Russian interference in 2016

Russia’s broad interference in 2016 has been established through a series of investigations, including special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, which concluded that the Trump campaign welcomed the Kremlin’s help but also found insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy. A House Intelligence Committee report also documented Russia’s meddling, as did the Senate Intelligence Committee,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-international-news-elections-politics-campaigns-5e833a62e9492f6a66624b7920cc846a">which concluded its work</a>&nbsp;at a time when the panel was led by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who’s now Trump’s secretary of state.

A different special counsel appointed by the Trump Justice Department to hunt for problems in the origins of the Russia investigation, John Durham,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/durham-report-fbi-trump-clinton-2016-campaign-f3039e651eeb35a09091c363419e6766">did find flaws,</a>&nbsp;but not related to what Gabbard sought to highlight in her report.

“Few episodes in our nation’s history have been investigated as thoroughly as the Intelligence Community’s warning in 2016 that Russia was interfering in the election,” said Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

He added that every legitimate investigation, including the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee probe, “found no evidence of politicization and endorsed the findings of the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment.”

Gabbard's document was released weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-trump-cia-2016-obama-cbb79bc0e957f1d8178a70e0b40b96c0">a CIA report</a>&nbsp;that reexamined a 2017 intelligence community assessment on Russian interference. That new review, ordered by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, did not dispute Russia had interfered but suggested officials were rushed in the intelligence assessment they produced.

Seeking investigations of former officials

Ratcliffe has since referred former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey to the Justice Department for investigation. The department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-fbi-new-investigation-comey-brennan-33f52dec786e45b019d7d021e6d99c02">appeared to acknowledge an open investigation</a>&nbsp;into both former officials in an unusual statement earlier this month, but the status or contours of such inquiries are unclear.

Besides Obama, Trump on Tuesday rattled off a list of people he accused of acting criminally “at the highest level,” including Comey, his 2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and former national intelligence director James Clapper.

He accused Obama, without evidence, of being the “ringleader” of a conspiracy to get him. Obama has never been accused of any wrongdoing as part of the Russia investigation, and, in any event, a landmark Supreme Court opinion from last year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/supreme-court-rules-ex-presidents-have-broad-immunity-dimming-chance-of-a-pre-election-trump-trial/">shields former presidents from prosecution</a>&nbsp;for official acts conducted in office.

Trump launched his tirade when asked about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-c0131616f9d3c1f56a14bb7b9e863741">the Justice Department’s effort to speak with Ghislaine Maxwell</a>, the former girlfriend of Epstein, who was convicted of helping the financier sexually abuse underage girls.

“I don’t really follow that too much,” he said. “It’s sort of a witch hunt, a continuation of the witch hunt.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracy-theories-bondi-bongino-fbi-a143076353acbc1193cb9697e7fc4a90">Trump is under pressure</a>&nbsp;from conspiracy-minded segments of his political base to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-bondi-91f911d2d7a909f78259cdca7b55d9a6">release more about the Epstein case</a>. Democrats say Trump is resisting because of his past association with Epstein. Trump has denied knowledge of or involvement with Epstein’s crimes and said he ended their friendship years ago.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;rehashed longstanding grievances over the Russia investigation that shadowed much of his first term, lashing out Tuesday following a new report from his intelligence director aimed at casting doubt on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-russia-48f9d5132d7a4e2d823edad8fc407979">long-established findings about Moscow's interference</a>&nbsp;in the 2016 election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump on DNI report on 2016 Russian interference claims: &quot;The leader of the gang was President Obama. Barack Hussein Obama, have you heard of him?...He&#39;s guilty. It&#39;s not a question. You know, I like to say let&#39;s give it time. It&#39;s there. He&#39;s guilty. This was treason.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/fNd0LGTq1N">pic.twitter.com/fNd0LGTq1N</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1947694125316252067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“It’s time to go after people,” Trump said from the Oval Office as he repeated a baseless claim that former President Barack Obama and other officials had engaged in treason.Trump was not making his claims for the first time, but he delivered them when administration officials are harnessing the machinery of the federal government to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-fbi-new-investigation-comey-brennan-33f52dec786e45b019d7d021e6d99c02">investigate the targets of Trump’s derision</a>, including key officials responsible for scrutinizing Russia's attempts to intervene on Trump's behalf in 2016.The backward-looking inquiries are taking place even as the Republican administration's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-director-christopher-wray-threats-minneapolis-8633ed78ee3eb333e76a54792976327a">national security agencies are confronting global threats</a>. But they have served as a rallying cry for Trump, who is trying to unify a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-jeffrey-epstein-trump-f2a03eca247268b14a9e38858338eded">political base at odds over the Jeffrey Epstein case</a>, with some allies pushing to disclose more information despite the president's push to turn the page.Trump's attack prompted a rare response from Obama's post-presidential office.“Our office does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response,” said Patrick Rodenbush, an Obama spokesman. “But these claims are outrageous enough to merit one. These bizarre allegations are ridiculous and a weak attempt at distraction.”<h2>Gabbard's new report on the Russia investigation</h2>Trump's tirade, a detour from his official business as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marcos-trump-philippines-china-tariffs-3138d1d7f8368c022ab9242bebb4a2e2">hosted the leader of the Philippines</a>, unfolded against the backdrop of a new report from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tulsi-gabbard">Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard</a>&nbsp;that represented his administration's latest attempt to rewrite the history of the Russia investigation, which has infuriated him for years.The report, released Friday, downplayed the extent of Russian interference in the 2016 election by highlighting Obama administration emails showing officials had concluded before and after the presidential race that Moscow had not hacked state election systems to manipulate votes in Trump’s favor.But Obama's Democratic administration never suggested otherwise, even as it exposed other means by which Russia interfered in the election, including through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1ddb174446a34785becd670275fedcbf">a massive hack-and-leak operation</a>&nbsp;of Democratic emails by intelligence operatives working with WikiLeaks. Also,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cf0e079a1a184ffe82d2de41f0452eb7">a covert foreign influence campaign</a>&nbsp;aimed at swaying public opinion and sowing discord through fake social media posts.Gabbard’s report appears to suggest the absence of manipulation of state election systems is a basis to call into question more general Russian interference.Democrats swiftly decried the report as factually flawed and politically motivated.“It is sadly not surprising that DNI Gabbard, who promised to depoliticize the intelligence community, is once again weaponizing her position to amplify the president’s election conspiracy theories,” wrote Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee.<h2>Several investigations found Russian interference in 2016</h2>Russia’s broad interference in 2016 has been established through a series of investigations, including special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, which concluded that the Trump campaign welcomed the Kremlin’s help but also found insufficient evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy. A House Intelligence Committee report also documented Russia’s meddling, as did the Senate Intelligence Committee,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-international-news-elections-politics-campaigns-5e833a62e9492f6a66624b7920cc846a">which concluded its work</a>&nbsp;at a time when the panel was led by Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who’s now Trump’s secretary of state.A different special counsel appointed by the Trump Justice Department to hunt for problems in the origins of the Russia investigation, John Durham,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/durham-report-fbi-trump-clinton-2016-campaign-f3039e651eeb35a09091c363419e6766">did find flaws,</a>&nbsp;but not related to what Gabbard sought to highlight in her report.“Few episodes in our nation’s history have been investigated as thoroughly as the Intelligence Community’s warning in 2016 that Russia was interfering in the election,” said Rep. Jim Himes, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.He added that every legitimate investigation, including the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee probe, “found no evidence of politicization and endorsed the findings of the 2016 Intelligence Community Assessment.”Gabbard's document was released weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-trump-cia-2016-obama-cbb79bc0e957f1d8178a70e0b40b96c0">a CIA report</a>&nbsp;that reexamined a 2017 intelligence community assessment on Russian interference. That new review, ordered by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, did not dispute Russia had interfered but suggested officials were rushed in the intelligence assessment they produced.<h2>Seeking investigations of former officials</h2>Ratcliffe has since referred former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey to the Justice Department for investigation. The department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-fbi-new-investigation-comey-brennan-33f52dec786e45b019d7d021e6d99c02">appeared to acknowledge an open investigation</a>&nbsp;into both former officials in an unusual statement earlier this month, but the status or contours of such inquiries are unclear.Besides Obama, Trump on Tuesday rattled off a list of people he accused of acting criminally “at the highest level,” including Comey, his 2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and former national intelligence director James Clapper.He accused Obama, without evidence, of being the “ringleader” of a conspiracy to get him. Obama has never been accused of any wrongdoing as part of the Russia investigation, and, in any event, a landmark Supreme Court opinion from last year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/supreme-court-rules-ex-presidents-have-broad-immunity-dimming-chance-of-a-pre-election-trump-trial/">shields former presidents from prosecution</a>&nbsp;for official acts conducted in office.Trump launched his tirade when asked about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-c0131616f9d3c1f56a14bb7b9e863741">the Justice Department’s effort to speak with Ghislaine Maxwell</a>, the former girlfriend of Epstein, who was convicted of helping the financier sexually abuse underage girls.“I don’t really follow that too much,” he said. “It’s sort of a witch hunt, a continuation of the witch hunt.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracy-theories-bondi-bongino-fbi-a143076353acbc1193cb9697e7fc4a90">Trump is under pressure</a>&nbsp;from conspiracy-minded segments of his political base to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-bondi-91f911d2d7a909f78259cdca7b55d9a6">release more about the Epstein case</a>. Democrats say Trump is resisting because of his past association with Epstein. Trump has denied knowledge of or involvement with Epstein’s crimes and said he ended their friendship years ago.

🎥Trump on Russia investigation: It's time to go after people

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are making progress in stadium negotiations with lawmakers on both sides of the Kansas-Missouri state line, though it remains unclear whether the team will stay at Arrowhead Stadium or ultimately move elsewhere.

The Chiefs recently were granted an extension to an end-of-June deadline for a financing package from the state of Kansas, an indication that the NFL franchise’s potential move from its longtime home in Missouri is a legitimate possibility.

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports WriterST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs are making progress in stadium negotiations with lawmakers on both sides of the Kansas-Missouri state line, though it remains unclear whether the team will stay at Arrowhead Stadium or ultimately move elsewhere.The Chiefs recently were granted an extension to an end-of-June deadline for a financing package from the state of Kansas, an indication that the NFL franchise’s potential move from its longtime home in Missouri is a legitimate possibility.Missouri has countered with a funding package signed by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe following a special session of the state legislature.“We've had more meetings, more discussions,” Chiefs president Mark Donovan said Tuesday. “At this point it's literally — you're taking an agreement this long and whittling it down to this paragraph and this line, and we need an agreement on this, and we're doing this on both sides. You're in that process where you're not sure which way it will go.”The Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals have played for more than five decades at the Truman Sports Complex on the east side of Kansas City, Missouri, where Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium share parking facilities. But leases with Jackson County are due to expire in January 2031, and the two franchises have been trying to plot a course forward for years.Last year, Jackson County voters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212">defeated a sales tax extension</a>&nbsp;that would have helped to finance an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead Stadium — the home of the Chiefs — and a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City.Now, the franchises are pursuing their own paths in landing a stadium deal.In the case of Missouri, legislation has authorized bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums in the state, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-city-chiefs-royals-new-stadiums-3441b3084c8efab00057f593f4d9b95e">Lawmakers in Kansas</a>&nbsp;have authorized up to 70% of the cost of new stadiums to be built in their state.Chiefs owner Clark Hunt has acknowledged a deep sentimental attachment to Arrowhead Stadium, which was built by his father and team founder Lamar Hunt when he moved the franchise from Dallas.But the most visible face of the Chiefs ownership family also is an astute businessman, and he understands the importance of revenue streams generated by a new facility. So while a comprehensive renovation of Arrowhead remains a possibility, so does an enclosed stadium that could fulfill Hunt's desire to one day host the Super Bowl, Final Four and other big events.The Royals, meanwhile, have made it clear that renovations to Kauffman Stadium are not going to happen.Principal owner John Sherman has expressed a desire for downtown baseball, and options there still exist. But news surfaced about a month ago that an affiliate of the Royals purchased the mortgage on a large property in the southern Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas, raising the possibility of building a new stadium and ballpark district there.“Our job, and the team around me, is to get the two best possible partnerships figured out down to the detail,” Donovan said, shortly before the Chiefs took the field for their first full-squad workout on training camp at Missouri Western. “At that point we go to the Hunt family and say, ‘Here are the options. What do you want to do?’“It’s the detail of those deals. What deal makes the most sense from a business perspective, a future perspective? What makes the most sense for our fans and the next generation? There are a lot of strong arguments on both sides.”