WICHITA, KS&nbsp;— On April 25, 2025, at 8:07 pm, Wichita Police were in the area of South Topeka and East Indianapolis in Wichita when they heard gunshots nearby, according to Wichita Police Officer Brad Wright.

Officers immediately responded to the area in the 800 block of South Broadway. Upon arrival, officers discovered that 21-year-old Martevion Davis from Wichita had suffered gunshot wounds to his torso and arms. Davis was driven to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 10:46 p.m., according to Wright.

Through investigations, Officers were quickly able to identify a 35-year-old male of Wichita as the suspect. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators. At this point in the investigation, it is believed that Davis and the suspect were known to each other.

At 12:30 p.m. Saturday the 35-year-old male suspect identified as James Owens, according to county arrest records, turned himself into police custody and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of First Degree Murder. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745701616774.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KS&nbsp;— On April 25, 2025, at 8:07 pm, Wichita Police were in the area of South Topeka and East Indianapolis in Wichita when they heard gunshots nearby, according to Wichita Police Officer Brad Wright.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745750207897.png" alt="Owens photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Owens photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers immediately responded to the area in the 800 block of South Broadway. Upon arrival, officers discovered that 21-year-old Martevion Davis from Wichita had suffered gunshot wounds to his torso and arms. Davis was driven to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased at 10:46 p.m., according to Wright.Through investigations, Officers were quickly able to identify a 35-year-old male of Wichita as the suspect. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide Investigators. At this point in the investigation, it is believed that Davis and the suspect were known to each other.At 12:30 p.m. Saturday the 35-year-old male suspect identified as James Owens, according to county arrest records, turned himself into police custody and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of First Degree Murder.

Suspect in deadly Kan. motel shooting turns himself in to police

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;on Monday alleged a U.S. airstrike hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The U.S. military had no immediate comment.

The strike in Yemen's Saada governorate, a stronghold for the Houthis, is the latest incident in the country's decadelong war&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-saudi-arabia-yemen-migrants-hrw-c6958c2593573c0c8fc64794a60f777c">to kill African migrants from Ethiopia and other nations</a>&nbsp;who risk crossing the nation for a chance to work in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

It also likely will renew questions from activists about the American campaign, known as “Operation Rough Rider,” which has been targeting the rebels as the Trump administration negotiates with their main benefactor, Iran, over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-talks-oman-f2e4ecf49c62c11a0240153d7f900d0d">Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>.

The U.S. military's Central Command, in a statement early Monday before news of the alleged strike broke, sought to defend its policy of offering no specific details of its extensive airstrike campaign. The strikes have drawn controversy in America over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-chat-houthis-attack-8dbf9dd6c711796438a5c1c84831c40b">use of the unclassified Signal messaging app</a>&nbsp;to post sensitive details about the attacks.

“To preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations,” Central Command said. “We are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what we’ve done or what we will do.”

It did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press about the alleged strike in Saada.

Graphic footage shows aftermath of explosion

Graphic footage aired by the Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news channel showed what appeared to be dead bodies and others wounded at the site. The Houthi-run Interior Ministry said some 115 migrants had been detained at the site.

The rebels' Civil Defense organization said at least 68 people had been killed and 47 others wounded in the attack.

Footage from the site analyzed by the AP suggested some kind of explosion took place there, with its cement walls seemingly peppered by debris fragments and the wounds suffered by those there.

A woman's voice, soft in the footage, can be heard repeating the start of a prayer in Arabic: “In the name of God.” An occasional gunshot rang out as medics sought to help those wounded.

African migrants caught in middle of Yemen's war

Ethiopians and other African migrants for years have landed in Yemen, braving the war-torn nation to try and reach Saudi Arabia for work. The Houthi rebels allegedly make tens of thousands of dollars a week smuggling migrants over the border.

Migrants from Ethiopia have found themselves detained, abused and even killed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen during the war. An Oct. 3, 2022, letter to the kingdom from the U.N. said its investigators “received concerning allegations of cross-border artillery shelling and small arms fire allegedly by Saudi security forces, causing the deaths of up to 430 and injuring 650 migrants.”

Saudi Arabia has denied killing migrants.

Monday's alleged strike recalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-middle-east-sanaa-dubai-cfad87600e2c93ab9af22dc80ba27875">a similar strike by a Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis back in 2022</a>&nbsp;on the same compound, which caused a collapse killing 66 detainees and wounding 113 others, a United Nations report later said. The Houthis shot dead 16 detainees who fled after the strike and wounded another 50, the U.N. said. The Saudi-led coalition sought to justify the strike by saying the Houthis built and launched drones there, but the U.N. said it was known to be a detention facility.

“The coalition should have avoided any attack on that facility,” the U.N. report added.

That 2022 attack was one of the deadliest single attacks in the yearslong war between the coalition and the Houthi rebels and came after the Houthis struck inside the UAE twice with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-dubai-united-arab-emirates-abu-dhabi-yemen-8bdefdf900ce46a6fd6c7bc685bf838a">killing three in a strike near Abu Dhabi's international airport</a>.

US military says over 800 strikes conducted in campaign so far

Meanwhile, U.S. airstrikes overnight targeting Yemen's capital killed at least eight people, the Houthis said. The American military acknowledged carrying out over 800 individual strikes in their monthlong campaign.

The overnight statement from Central Command also said “Operation Rough Rider” had “killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders,” including those associated with its missile and drone program. It did not identify any of those officials.

“Iran undoubtedly continues to provide support to the Houthis,” the statement said. “The Houthis can only continue to attack our forces with the backing of the Iranian regime.”

"We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region," it added.

The U.S. is targeting the Houthis because of the group’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are also the last militant group in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” that is capable of regularly attacking Israel.

The U.S. is conducting strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.

On April 18,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-us-airstrikes-563f61bbd96e1f2de68373fdf76c8811">an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port</a>&nbsp;killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest-known attack of the American campaign. Central Command on Monday offered an explanation for why it hit the port.

“U.S. strikes destroyed the ability of Ras Isa Port to accept fuel, which will begin to impact Houthi ability to not only conduct operations, but also to generate millions of dollars in revenue for their terror activities,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Houthis have increasingly sought to control the flow of information from the territory they hold to the outside world. It issued a notice Sunday that all those holding Starlink satellite internet receivers should “quickly hand over” the devices to authorities.

“A field campaign will be implemented in coordination with the security authorities to arrest anyone who sells, trades, uses, operates, installs or possesses these prohibited terminals,” the Houthis warned.

Starlink terminals have been crucial for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-ukraine-starlink-russia-air-force-fde93d9a69d7dbd1326022ecfdbc53c2">Ukraine in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion</a>&nbsp;and receivers also have been smuggled into Iran amid unrest there.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745834468939.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;on Monday alleged a U.S. airstrike hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The U.S. military had no immediate comment.The strike in Yemen's Saada governorate, a stronghold for the Houthis, is the latest incident in the country's decadelong war&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethiopia-saudi-arabia-yemen-migrants-hrw-c6958c2593573c0c8fc64794a60f777c">to kill African migrants from Ethiopia and other nations</a>&nbsp;who risk crossing the nation for a chance to work in neighboring Saudi Arabia.It also likely will renew questions from activists about the American campaign, known as “Operation Rough Rider,” which has been targeting the rebels as the Trump administration negotiates with their main benefactor, Iran, over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-talks-oman-f2e4ecf49c62c11a0240153d7f900d0d">Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>.The U.S. military's Central Command, in a statement early Monday before news of the alleged strike broke, sought to defend its policy of offering no specific details of its extensive airstrike campaign. The strikes have drawn controversy in America over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-chat-houthis-attack-8dbf9dd6c711796438a5c1c84831c40b">use of the unclassified Signal messaging app</a>&nbsp;to post sensitive details about the attacks.“To preserve operational security, we have intentionally limited disclosing details of our ongoing or future operations,” Central Command said. “We are very deliberate in our operational approach, but will not reveal specifics about what we’ve done or what we will do.”It did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press about the alleged strike in Saada.<h2>Graphic footage shows aftermath of explosion</h2>Graphic footage aired by the Houthis' al-Masirah satellite news channel showed what appeared to be dead bodies and others wounded at the site. The Houthi-run Interior Ministry said some 115 migrants had been detained at the site.The rebels' Civil Defense organization said at least 68 people had been killed and 47 others wounded in the attack.Footage from the site analyzed by the AP suggested some kind of explosion took place there, with its cement walls seemingly peppered by debris fragments and the wounds suffered by those there.A woman's voice, soft in the footage, can be heard repeating the start of a prayer in Arabic: “In the name of God.” An occasional gunshot rang out as medics sought to help those wounded.<h2>African migrants caught in middle of Yemen's war</h2>Ethiopians and other African migrants for years have landed in Yemen, braving the war-torn nation to try and reach Saudi Arabia for work. The Houthi rebels allegedly make tens of thousands of dollars a week smuggling migrants over the border.Migrants from Ethiopia have found themselves detained, abused and even killed in Saudi Arabia and Yemen during the war. An Oct. 3, 2022, letter to the kingdom from the U.N. said its investigators “received concerning allegations of cross-border artillery shelling and small arms fire allegedly by Saudi security forces, causing the deaths of up to 430 and injuring 650 migrants.”Saudi Arabia has denied killing migrants.Monday's alleged strike recalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-middle-east-sanaa-dubai-cfad87600e2c93ab9af22dc80ba27875">a similar strike by a Saudi-led coalition battling the Houthis back in 2022</a>&nbsp;on the same compound, which caused a collapse killing 66 detainees and wounding 113 others, a United Nations report later said. The Houthis shot dead 16 detainees who fled after the strike and wounded another 50, the U.N. said. The Saudi-led coalition sought to justify the strike by saying the Houthis built and launched drones there, but the U.N. said it was known to be a detention facility.“The coalition should have avoided any attack on that facility,” the U.N. report added.That 2022 attack was one of the deadliest single attacks in the yearslong war between the coalition and the Houthi rebels and came after the Houthis struck inside the UAE twice with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-dubai-united-arab-emirates-abu-dhabi-yemen-8bdefdf900ce46a6fd6c7bc685bf838a">killing three in a strike near Abu Dhabi's international airport</a>.<h2>US military says over 800 strikes conducted in campaign so far</h2>Meanwhile, U.S. airstrikes overnight targeting Yemen's capital killed at least eight people, the Houthis said. The American military acknowledged carrying out over 800 individual strikes in their monthlong campaign.The overnight statement from Central Command also said “Operation Rough Rider” had “killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders,” including those associated with its missile and drone program. It did not identify any of those officials.“Iran undoubtedly continues to provide support to the Houthis,” the statement said. “The Houthis can only continue to attack our forces with the backing of the Iranian regime.”"We will continue to ratchet up the pressure until the objective is met, which remains the restoration of freedom of navigation and American deterrence in the region," it added.The U.S. is targeting the Houthis because of the group’s attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are also the last militant group in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” that is capable of regularly attacking Israel.<h2>US discusses deadly port strike</h2>The U.S. is conducting strikes on Yemen from its two aircraft carriers in the region — the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.On April 18,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-us-airstrikes-563f61bbd96e1f2de68373fdf76c8811">an American strike on the Ras Isa fuel port</a>&nbsp;killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others in the deadliest-known attack of the American campaign. Central Command on Monday offered an explanation for why it hit the port.“U.S. strikes destroyed the ability of Ras Isa Port to accept fuel, which will begin to impact Houthi ability to not only conduct operations, but also to generate millions of dollars in revenue for their terror activities,” it said.Meanwhile, the Houthis have increasingly sought to control the flow of information from the territory they hold to the outside world. It issued a notice Sunday that all those holding Starlink satellite internet receivers should “quickly hand over” the devices to authorities.“A field campaign will be implemented in coordination with the security authorities to arrest anyone who sells, trades, uses, operates, installs or possesses these prohibited terminals,” the Houthis warned.Starlink terminals have been crucial for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-ukraine-starlink-russia-air-force-fde93d9a69d7dbd1326022ecfdbc53c2">Ukraine in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion</a>&nbsp;and receivers also have been smuggled into Iran amid unrest there.

Houthi rebels say alleged US airstrike hit Yemen prison, dozens killed

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a home invasion burglary have captured a suspect.

Just before 3a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an in-progress burglary to a residence in&nbsp; the 6800 block of SE US 40 Highway, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

An 84-year-old woman was home alone when she heard someone shattering glass windows and doors. Home surveillance video showed two masked individuals with a firearm and burglary tools attempting to kick in a door into the residence.

Within minutes, deputies arrived on scene and found that the individuals had fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.

Valuable information was gathered and disseminated to other law enforcement agencies for assistance.

On April 22, Shawnee&nbsp; County Sheriff Brian Hill along with members of the Criminal Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrants Unit located one suspect in a Dodge Durango leaving the drive thru of a restaurant in the 1700 block of SE 29th Street. The Dodge was pinned in and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Erick M. Weems Jr., 30, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested chargesof&nbsp; Aggravated burglary, Criminal damage to property, Theft &lt; $1,500,&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving while license suspended; 3rd of subsequent conviction, Driving while a habitual violated; 3 rd of subsequent conviction. Weems Jr. also had multiple warrants for his arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745530375789.png" alt="Weems photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Weems photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a home invasion burglary have captured a suspect.Just before 3a.m. April 14, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call regarding an in-progress burglary to a residence in&nbsp; the 6800 block of SE US 40 Highway, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.An 84-year-old woman was home alone when she heard someone shattering glass windows and doors. Home surveillance video showed two masked individuals with a firearm and burglary tools attempting to kick in a door into the residence.Within minutes, deputies arrived on scene and found that the individuals had fled the scene prior to law enforcement’s arrival.Valuable information was gathered and disseminated to other law enforcement agencies for assistance.On April 22, Shawnee&nbsp; County Sheriff Brian Hill along with members of the Criminal Investigations Division and Fugitive Warrants Unit located one suspect in a Dodge Durango leaving the drive thru of a restaurant in the 1700 block of SE 29th Street. The Dodge was pinned in and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.Erick M. Weems Jr., 30, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested chargesof&nbsp; Aggravated burglary, Criminal damage to property, Theft &lt; $1,500,&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving while license suspended; 3rd of subsequent conviction, Driving while a habitual violated; 3 rd of subsequent conviction. Weems Jr. also had multiple warrants for his arrest.

Arrest for burglary at 84-year-old Kansas woman's home

KANSAS CITY —A four-month-investigation culminated with the arrest of a Kansas City area woman this week for possession of child sexual abuse material.

Clay County, Missouri sheriff’s investigators received an Internet Crimes Against Children tip in this case in December, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. They have worked through several legal processes over the last several months to gather evidence in the case to make an arrest of 44-year-old Melissa Bottom and obtain a search warrant of her house in the 14100 block of Lora Street, Smithville. 

On Thursday, Sheriff’s deputies and detectives served the warrant&nbsp; at the residence. She has been charged with two class B felony counts of possession of child pornography. The Court set her bond at $25,000.

 The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be warranted as analysis of evidence seized from the home progresses. 

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program. It is a network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing more than 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745673760530.png" alt="Bottom photo Clay County" />
 <figcaption>Bottom photo Clay County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A four-month-investigation culminated with the arrest of a Kansas City area woman this week for possession of child sexual abuse material.Clay County, Missouri sheriff’s investigators received an Internet Crimes Against Children tip in this case in December, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. They have worked through several legal processes over the last several months to gather evidence in the case to make an arrest of 44-year-old Melissa Bottom and obtain a search warrant of her house in the 14100 block of Lora Street, Smithville. On Thursday, Sheriff’s deputies and detectives served the warrant&nbsp; at the residence. She has been charged with two class B felony counts of possession of child pornography. The Court set her bond at $25,000. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges may be warranted as analysis of evidence seized from the home progresses. The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program. It is a network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing more than 5,400 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children.

KC area woman jailed after 4-month child porn investigation

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DARLENE%20SUPERVILLE%20and%20AAMER%20MADHANI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and AAMER MADHANI&nbsp;</a>

ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Saturday that he doubts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Russia's Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;wants to end his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>, expressing new skepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon. Only a day earlier, Trump had said Ukraine and Russia were “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">very close to a deal</a>."

"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump said in a social media post as he flew back to the United States after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, where he met briefly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump also hinted at further sanctions against Russia.

“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!” Trump wrote.

The new doubts aired by Trump come as the president and top aides intensify their push to come to a deal to end the war that began in February 2022 when Russian invaded Ukraine.

The comments also sharply contrasted with Trump's positive assessment that the two sides were “very close to a deal” after his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met with Putin in Moscow on Friday.

The Trump-Zelenskyy conversation on the sidelines of the pope's funeral was first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since they argued during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">heated Oval Office meeting</a>&nbsp;at the White House in late February. That confrontation led to the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/us-resumes-military-aid-and-intelligence-sharing-as-ukraine-says-it-is-open-to-a-30-day-ceasefire/">to briefly pause</a>&nbsp;U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

Days after ordering the pause, Trump also announced he was “strongly considering” imposing new sanctions and tariffs on Russia to try to prod Putin to negotiate in earnest. Trump has not yet followed through on the threat — something even some of his staunch Republican allies are now pressuring him to do.

It's the second time a matter of days that Trump has rebuked Putin, whom the American president rarely publicly criticizes.

On Thursday, Trump publicly urged the Russian leader to “STOP!” after a deadly barrage of attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.

After their brief meeting Saturday, Zelenskyy’s office had said the U.S. and Ukrainian teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday. But Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States.

Zelenskyy's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said Trump and Zelenskyy did not meet again in person because of their tight schedules.

Zelenskyy called it a “good meeting” on social media after the funeral.

“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he said on X. “Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you."

The White House called the discussion “very productive” and said it would release more details later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to the war, just before Trump and Zelenskyy took their seats at the outdoor funeral service.

The Vatican long ago had offered to help facilitate peace talks and Francis had regularly called for peace and dialogue from the altar of the basilica. That Trump and Zelenskyy spoke privately, face to face and hunched over on chairs on the marbled floors of the pope’s home, on the day of his funeral, was perhaps a fitting way to honor his wishes.

Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the war.

Neither Putin nor Zelenskyy have commented Trump's calls for direct talks.

Trump has pressed both sides to quickly come to an agreement to end the war, but while Zelenskyy agreed to an American plan for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, Russia has not signed on and has continued to strike at targets inside Ukraine.

Putin did not attend Francis' funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.

Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said “very significant meetings may take place” in the coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.

“Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said.

“Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.”

The meeting Saturday also came shortly after Trump had issued his most definitive statement to date about the need for Ukraine to give up territory to Russia to bring the war to a close. He said in a Time magazine interview published Friday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">“Crimea will stay with Russia.”</a>

Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4be8a953902947ffb608bf663d61b8e9">seized the strategic peninsula</a>&nbsp;along the Black Sea in southern Ukraine in 2014, years before the full-scale invasion that began in 2022.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-attack-peace-talks-be98e85000b8e0f24a2d7ada71f3861d">Zelenskyy wants to regain Crimea</a>&nbsp;and other Ukrainian territory seized by Russia, but Trump considers that demand to be unrealistic.

Referring to Crimea during the interview, which was conducted at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time," meaning Russia.

ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;met briefly Saturday before the funeral for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;as the American leader steps up the pressure to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.

It was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and the Ukrainian leader since they argued during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">heated Oval Office meeting</a>&nbsp;at the White House in late February.

Zelenskyy’s office had said teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday, but Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States, which seemed to rule out a second in-person conversation. Zelenskyy's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said Trump and Zelenskyy did not meet again in person because of their tight schedules.

Zelenskyy said “good meeting” on social media after the funeral.

The meeting came together hours after Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the three-year war that was sparked by Russia’s invasion.

Last week's hourslong missile and drone barrage of Kyiv that killed at least 12 people led Trump to appeal over social media for Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the strikes on Ukraine's capital.

“&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-diplomacy-social-media-communication-4c22a98e5dd519c8fab6f55eff129664">Vladimir, STOP</a>!” Trump wrote.

Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met earlier on Friday with Putin in Moscow, and Trump said both sides were “very close to a deal.”

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

Zelenskyy’s office had said teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday, but Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States, which seemed to rule out a second in-person conversation.

The White House said their discussion was “very productive” and that more details would be released later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican just before they took their seats for the outdoor funeral service.

“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he wrote. “Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you.”

The meeting took place hours after Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the three-year war sparked by Russia’s invasion.

Trump has pressed both sides to agree to a ceasefire. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met earlier Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and Trump said both sides were “very close to a deal.”

Putin did not attend Francis’ funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.

Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said “very significant meetings may take place” in coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.

There was no immediate word on whether Trump and Zelenskyy spoke again after they paid their respects to the pope, who had repeatedly pressed

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745670044084.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DARLENE%20SUPERVILLE%20and%20AAMER%20MADHANI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DARLENE SUPERVILLE and AAMER MADHANI&nbsp;</a>ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Saturday that he doubts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Russia's Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;wants to end his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war in Ukraine</a>, expressing new skepticism that a peace deal can be reached soon. Only a day earlier, Trump had said Ukraine and Russia were “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">very close to a deal</a>."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump sat down to meet privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City this morning. <a href="https://t.co/QChPiZRKzM">pic.twitter.com/QChPiZRKzM</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1916106599506043104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/2oyk3rBZCw">pic.twitter.com/2oyk3rBZCw</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1916130176725094635?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump said in a social media post as he flew back to the United States after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, where he met briefly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Trump also hinted at further sanctions against Russia.“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!” Trump wrote.The new doubts aired by Trump come as the president and top aides intensify their push to come to a deal to end the war that began in February 2022 when Russian invaded Ukraine.The comments also sharply contrasted with Trump's positive assessment that the two sides were “very close to a deal” after his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met with Putin in Moscow on Friday.The Trump-Zelenskyy conversation on the sidelines of the pope's funeral was first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since they argued during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">heated Oval Office meeting</a>&nbsp;at the White House in late February. That confrontation led to the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/us-resumes-military-aid-and-intelligence-sharing-as-ukraine-says-it-is-open-to-a-30-day-ceasefire/">to briefly pause</a>&nbsp;U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.Days after ordering the pause, Trump also announced he was “strongly considering” imposing new sanctions and tariffs on Russia to try to prod Putin to negotiate in earnest. Trump has not yet followed through on the threat — something even some of his staunch Republican allies are now pressuring him to do.It's the second time a matter of days that Trump has rebuked Putin, whom the American president rarely publicly criticizes.On Thursday, Trump publicly urged the Russian leader to “STOP!” after a deadly barrage of attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital.After their brief meeting Saturday, Zelenskyy’s office had said the U.S. and Ukrainian teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday. But Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States.Zelenskyy's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said Trump and Zelenskyy did not meet again in person because of their tight schedules.Zelenskyy called it a “good meeting” on social media after the funeral.“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he said on X. “Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you."The White House called the discussion “very productive” and said it would release more details later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to the war, just before Trump and Zelenskyy took their seats at the outdoor funeral service.The Vatican long ago had offered to help facilitate peace talks and Francis had regularly called for peace and dialogue from the altar of the basilica. That Trump and Zelenskyy spoke privately, face to face and hunched over on chairs on the marbled floors of the pope’s home, on the day of his funeral, was perhaps a fitting way to honor his wishes.Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the war.Neither Putin nor Zelenskyy have commented Trump's calls for direct talks.Trump has pressed both sides to quickly come to an agreement to end the war, but while Zelenskyy agreed to an American plan for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, Russia has not signed on and has continued to strike at targets inside Ukraine.Putin did not attend Francis' funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said “very significant meetings may take place” in the coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.“Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said.“Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.”The meeting Saturday also came shortly after Trump had issued his most definitive statement to date about the need for Ukraine to give up territory to Russia to bring the war to a close. He said in a Time magazine interview published Friday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">“Crimea will stay with Russia.”</a>Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4be8a953902947ffb608bf663d61b8e9">seized the strategic peninsula</a>&nbsp;along the Black Sea in southern Ukraine in 2014, years before the full-scale invasion that began in 2022.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-attack-peace-talks-be98e85000b8e0f24a2d7ada71f3861d">Zelenskyy wants to regain Crimea</a>&nbsp;and other Ukrainian territory seized by Russia, but Trump considers that demand to be unrealistic.Referring to Crimea during the interview, which was conducted at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time," meaning Russia.——-----------ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;met briefly Saturday before the funeral for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;as the American leader steps up the pressure to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.It was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and the Ukrainian leader since they argued during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">heated Oval Office meeting</a>&nbsp;at the White House in late February.Zelenskyy’s office had said teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday, but Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States, which seemed to rule out a second in-person conversation. Zelenskyy's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said Trump and Zelenskyy did not meet again in person because of their tight schedules.Zelenskyy said “good meeting” on social media after the funeral.“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he said on X. “Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you."The White House called the discussion “very productive” and said it would release more details later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to the war, just before Trump and Zelenskyy took their seats at the outdoor funeral service.The Vatican long ago had offered to help facilitate peace talks and Francis had regularly called for peace and dialogue from the altar of the basilica. That Trump and Zelenskyy spoke privately, face to face and hunched over on chairs on the marbled floors of the pope’s home, on the day of his funeral, was perhaps a fitting way to honor his wishes.The meeting came together hours after Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the three-year war that was sparked by Russia’s invasion.Trump has pressed both sides to quickly come to an agreement to end the war, but while Zelenskyy agreed to an American plan for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, Russia has not signed on and has continued to strike at targets inside Ukraine.Last week's hourslong missile and drone barrage of Kyiv that killed at least 12 people led Trump to appeal over social media for Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the strikes on Ukraine's capital.“&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-putin-diplomacy-social-media-communication-4c22a98e5dd519c8fab6f55eff129664">Vladimir, STOP</a>!” Trump wrote.Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met earlier on Friday with Putin in Moscow, and Trump said both sides were “very close to a deal.”Putin did not attend Francis' funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said “very significant meetings may take place” in the coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.“Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said.“Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.”The meeting Saturday also came shortly after Trump had issued his most definitive statement to date about the need for Ukraine to give up territory to Russia to bring the war to a close. He said in a Time magazine interview published Friday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">“Crimea will stay with Russia.”</a>Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4be8a953902947ffb608bf663d61b8e9">seized the strategic peninsula</a>&nbsp;along the Black Sea in southern Ukraine in 2014, years before the full-scale invasion that began in 2022.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-attack-peace-talks-be98e85000b8e0f24a2d7ada71f3861d">Zelenskyy wants to regain Crimea</a>&nbsp;and other Ukrainian territory seized by Russia, but Trump considers that demand to be unrealistic.Referring to Crimea during the interview, which was conducted at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time," meaning Russia.——-----------By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/darlene-superville">DARLENE SUPERVILLE</a>ROME (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;met briefly Saturday before the funeral for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-francis">Pope Francis</a>&nbsp;as the American leader steps up the pressure to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war against Ukraine</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to… <a href="https://t.co/q4ZhVXCjw0">pic.twitter.com/q4ZhVXCjw0</a>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1916089502088524203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Zelenskyy’s office had said teams were making arrangements for the leaders to talk again Saturday, but Trump went directly to the Rome airport after the funeral and boarded Air Force One for the 10-hour flight back to the United States, which seemed to rule out a second in-person conversation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump departs Italy following the funeral of Pope Francis. <a href="https://t.co/4lnrrGMoQb">pic.twitter.com/4lnrrGMoQb</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1916085488856805755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House said their discussion was “very productive” and that more details would be released later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican just before they took their seats for the outdoor funeral service.Zelenskyy said “good meeting” on social media after the funeral.“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he wrote. “Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you.”The meeting took place hours after Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that Russia and Ukraine should&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-putin-33015fe967ab7cd09fee165fed59953e">meet for “very high level talks”</a>&nbsp;on ending the three-year war sparked by Russia’s invasion.Trump has pressed both sides to agree to a ceasefire. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met earlier Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and Trump said both sides were “very close to a deal.”Putin did not attend Francis’ funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine</a>.Meanwhile, in a statement Friday night, Zelenskyy said “very significant meetings may take place” in coming days, and that an unconditional ceasefire was needed.“Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” he said.“Diplomacy must succeed. And we are doing everything to make diplomacy truly meaningful and finally effective.”There was no immediate word on whether Trump and Zelenskyy spoke again after they paid their respects to the pope, who had repeatedly pressed

Trump meets Zelensky at Vatican, expresses doubts Putin willing to end war

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 17-year-old Charles Sanders.

Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, police were called to report of a shooting in the 7800 block of NE 75th Court, according to Offier Jake Becchina. 

First responders found Sanders unresponsive in the front yard of a residence there. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who transported the boy to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. A short time he was declared deceased by medical personnel.

Homicide detectives responded to the scene and took over this investigation. Preliminary information indicates that Sanders had an interaction at that location with one or more suspects that led to shots being fired and Sanders being struck.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745490778650.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 17-year-old Charles Sanders.Just before 3p.m. Wednesday, police were called to report of a shooting in the 7800 block of NE 75th Court, according to Offier Jake Becchina. First responders found Sanders unresponsive in the front yard of a residence there. Officers summoned EMS to the scene who transported the boy to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. A short time he was declared deceased by medical personnel.Homicide detectives responded to the scene and took over this investigation. Preliminary information indicates that Sanders had an interaction at that location with one or more suspects that led to shots being fired and Sanders being struck.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect information.

Police: 17-year-old dies after shooting outside Kansas City home

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The FBI on Friday arrested a Milwaukee judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities, escalating a clash between the Trump administration and local authorities over the Republican president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-deportation-poll-el-salvador-81f8040599b9c585554678371e12ed5a">sweeping immigration crackdown</a>.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan is accused of escorting the man and his lawyer out of her courtroom through the jury door last week after learning that immigration authorities were seeking his arrest. The man was taken into custody outside the courthouse after agents chased him on foot.

President Donald Trump's administration has accused state and local officials of interfering with his immigration enforcement priorities. The arrest also comes amid a growing battle between the administration and the federal judiciary over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-enforcement-deportation-public-polling-df7d0d35dfa031e1444bfa9e9e0b13bd">the president’s executive actions over deportations and other matters</a>.

Dugan was taken into custody by the FBI on Friday morning on the courthouse grounds, according to U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson Brady McCarron. She appeared briefly in federal court in Milwaukee later Friday before being released from custody. She faces charges of “concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest” and obstructing or impeding a proceeding.

“Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety," her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, said during the hearing. He declined to comment to an Associated Press reporter following her court appearance.

Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, in a statement on the arrest, accused the Trump administration of repeatedly using “dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level.”

“I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law," he said.

Court papers suggest Dugan was alerted to the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the courthouse by her clerk, who was informed by an attorney that they appeared to be in the hallway.

The FBI affidavit describes Dugan as “visibly angry” over the arrival of immigration agents in the courthouse and says that she pronounced the situation “absurd” before leaving the bench and retreating to her chambers. It says she and another judge later approached members of the arrest team inside the courthouse, displaying what witnesses described as a “confrontational, angry demeanor.”

After a back-and-forth with officers over the warrant for the man, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, she demanded that the arrest team speak with the chief judge and led them away from the courtroom, the affidavit says.

After directing the arrest team to the chief judge's office, investigators say, Dugan returned to the courtroom and was heard saying words to the effect of “wait, come with me” before ushering Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer through a jury door into a non-public area of the courthouse. The action was unusual, the affidavit says, because “only deputies, juries, court staff, and in-custody defendants being escorted by deputies used the back jury door. Defense attorneys and defendants who were not in custody never used the jury door.”

A sign that remained posted on Dugan’s courtroom door Friday advised that if any attorney or other court official “knows or believes that a person feels unsafe coming to the courthouse to courtroom 615,” they should notify the clerk and request an appearance via Zoom.

Flores-Ruiz, 30, was in Dugan’s court for a hearing after being charged with three counts of misdemeanor domestic battery. Confronted by a roommate for playing loud music on March 12, Flores-Ruiz allegedly fought with him in the kitchen and struck a woman who tried to break them up, according to the police affidavit in the case.

Another woman who tried to break up the fight and called police allegedly got elbowed in the arm by Flores-Ruiz.

Flores-Ruiz faces up to nine months in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count if convicted. His public defender, Alexander Kostal, did not immediately return a phone message Friday seeking comment.

A federal judge, the same one Dugan would appear before a day later, had ordered Thursday that Flores-Ruiz remain jailed pending trial. Flores-Ruiz had been in the U.S. since reentering the country after he was deported in 2013, according to court documents.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said victims were sitting in the courtroom with state prosecutors when the judge helped him escape immigration arrest.

The judge “put the lives of our law enforcement officers at risk. She put the lives of citizens at risk. A street chase -- it’s absurd that that had to happen,” Bondi said on Fox News Channel.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat who represents Wisconsin, called the arrest of a sitting judge a “gravely serious and drastic move” that “threatens to breach” the separation of power between the executive and judicial branches.

Emilio De Torre, executive director of Milwaukee Turners, said during a protest Friday afternoon outside the federal courthouse that Dugan was a former board member for the local civic group who “was certainly trying to make sure that due process is not disrupted and that the sanctity of the courts is upheld.”

“Sending armed FBI and ICE agents into buildings like this will intimidate individuals showing up to court to pay fines, to deal with whatever court proceedings they may have,” De Torre added.

The case is similar to one brought during the first Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0f3592d82aa14d4d8a0f6a3da59258d3">against a Massachusetts judge</a>, who was accused of helping a man sneak out a back door of a courthouse to evade a waiting immigration enforcement agent.

That prosecution sparked outrage from many in the legal community, who slammed the case as politically motivated. Prosecutors dropped the case against Newton District Judge Shelley Joseph in 2022 under the Democratic Biden administration after she agreed to refer herself to a state agency that investigates allegations of misconduct by members of the bench.

The Justice Department had previously signaled that it was going to crack down on local officials who thwart federal immigration efforts.

The department in January ordered prosecutors to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-immigration-enforcement-f0e3fc616da9746796378d1cd6385b1b">investigate for potential criminal charges</a>&nbsp;any state and local officials who obstruct or impede federal functions. As potential avenues for prosecution, a memo cited a conspiracy offense as well as a law prohibiting the harboring of people in the country illegally.

Dugan was elected in 2016 to the county court Branch 31. She also has served in the court’s probate and civil divisions, according to her judicial candidate biography.

Before being elected to public office, Dugan practiced at Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid Society. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981 with a bachelor of arts degree and earned her Juris Doctorate in 1987 from the school.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745621926702.png" alt="This 2016 photo shows Judge Hannah Dugan in Milwaukee. (Lee Matz/Milwaukee Independent via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This 2016 photo shows Judge Hannah Dugan in Milwaukee. (Lee Matz/Milwaukee Independent via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>MILWAUKEE (AP) — The FBI on Friday arrested a Milwaukee judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities, escalating a clash between the Trump administration and local authorities over the Republican president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-deportation-poll-el-salvador-81f8040599b9c585554678371e12ed5a">sweeping immigration crackdown</a>.Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan is accused of escorting the man and his lawyer out of her courtroom through the jury door last week after learning that immigration authorities were seeking his arrest. The man was taken into custody outside the courthouse after agents chased him on foot.President Donald Trump's administration has accused state and local officials of interfering with his immigration enforcement priorities. The arrest also comes amid a growing battle between the administration and the federal judiciary over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-enforcement-deportation-public-polling-df7d0d35dfa031e1444bfa9e9e0b13bd">the president’s executive actions over deportations and other matters</a>.Dugan was taken into custody by the FBI on Friday morning on the courthouse grounds, according to U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson Brady McCarron. She appeared briefly in federal court in Milwaukee later Friday before being released from custody. She faces charges of “concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest” and obstructing or impeding a proceeding.“Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety," her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, said during the hearing. He declined to comment to an Associated Press reporter following her court appearance.Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, in a statement on the arrest, accused the Trump administration of repeatedly using “dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level.”“I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law," he said.Court papers suggest Dugan was alerted to the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the courthouse by her clerk, who was informed by an attorney that they appeared to be in the hallway.The FBI affidavit describes Dugan as “visibly angry” over the arrival of immigration agents in the courthouse and says that she pronounced the situation “absurd” before leaving the bench and retreating to her chambers. It says she and another judge later approached members of the arrest team inside the courthouse, displaying what witnesses described as a “confrontational, angry demeanor.”After a back-and-forth with officers over the warrant for the man, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, she demanded that the arrest team speak with the chief judge and led them away from the courtroom, the affidavit says.After directing the arrest team to the chief judge's office, investigators say, Dugan returned to the courtroom and was heard saying words to the effect of “wait, come with me” before ushering Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer through a jury door into a non-public area of the courthouse. The action was unusual, the affidavit says, because “only deputies, juries, court staff, and in-custody defendants being escorted by deputies used the back jury door. Defense attorneys and defendants who were not in custody never used the jury door.”A sign that remained posted on Dugan’s courtroom door Friday advised that if any attorney or other court official “knows or believes that a person feels unsafe coming to the courthouse to courtroom 615,” they should notify the clerk and request an appearance via Zoom.Flores-Ruiz, 30, was in Dugan’s court for a hearing after being charged with three counts of misdemeanor domestic battery. Confronted by a roommate for playing loud music on March 12, Flores-Ruiz allegedly fought with him in the kitchen and struck a woman who tried to break them up, according to the police affidavit in the case.Another woman who tried to break up the fight and called police allegedly got elbowed in the arm by Flores-Ruiz.Flores-Ruiz faces up to nine months in prison and a $10,000 fine on each count if convicted. His public defender, Alexander Kostal, did not immediately return a phone message Friday seeking comment.A federal judge, the same one Dugan would appear before a day later, had ordered Thursday that Flores-Ruiz remain jailed pending trial. Flores-Ruiz had been in the U.S. since reentering the country after he was deported in 2013, according to court documents.Attorney General Pam Bondi said victims were sitting in the courtroom with state prosecutors when the judge helped him escape immigration arrest.The judge “put the lives of our law enforcement officers at risk. She put the lives of citizens at risk. A street chase -- it’s absurd that that had to happen,” Bondi said on Fox News Channel.Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat who represents Wisconsin, called the arrest of a sitting judge a “gravely serious and drastic move” that “threatens to breach” the separation of power between the executive and judicial branches.Emilio De Torre, executive director of Milwaukee Turners, said during a protest Friday afternoon outside the federal courthouse that Dugan was a former board member for the local civic group who “was certainly trying to make sure that due process is not disrupted and that the sanctity of the courts is upheld.”“Sending armed FBI and ICE agents into buildings like this will intimidate individuals showing up to court to pay fines, to deal with whatever court proceedings they may have,” De Torre added.The case is similar to one brought during the first Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0f3592d82aa14d4d8a0f6a3da59258d3">against a Massachusetts judge</a>, who was accused of helping a man sneak out a back door of a courthouse to evade a waiting immigration enforcement agent.That prosecution sparked outrage from many in the legal community, who slammed the case as politically motivated. Prosecutors dropped the case against Newton District Judge Shelley Joseph in 2022 under the Democratic Biden administration after she agreed to refer herself to a state agency that investigates allegations of misconduct by members of the bench.The Justice Department had previously signaled that it was going to crack down on local officials who thwart federal immigration efforts.The department in January ordered prosecutors to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-immigration-enforcement-f0e3fc616da9746796378d1cd6385b1b">investigate for potential criminal charges</a>&nbsp;any state and local officials who obstruct or impede federal functions. As potential avenues for prosecution, a memo cited a conspiracy offense as well as a law prohibiting the harboring of people in the country illegally.Dugan was elected in 2016 to the county court Branch 31. She also has served in the court’s probate and civil divisions, according to her judicial candidate biography.Before being elected to public office, Dugan practiced at Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid Society. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1981 with a bachelor of arts degree and earned her Juris Doctorate in 1987 from the school.___

FBI arrests  judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities

RUSSELL COUNTY&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating after a homicide took place in Russell, Kansas, according to a media release.

The Russell Police Department requested the assistance of the KBI. On Thursday, April 24 around 10 p.m., KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.

On Thursday, around 9:30 p.m. officers with the Russell Police Department responded after a citizen called 911 reporting a shooting.

When officers arrived to the 800 block of East 2nd&nbsp;St. in Russell, they located Deborah Torres, 49, of Russell, who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She told officers her husband, identified as Robert Torres, 49, of Russell, was still inside their residence. When officers entered the home, they discovered Torres deceased in the back living room of the home from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers began clearing the home and discovered no additional subjects.

Shortly after, officers gained information that led them to believe Robert “Bobby” James Torres, 33, of Russell, may have been responsible for the shootings. Deputies from the Russell County Sheriff’s Office located him at 2200 block of Highway 40 in Russell. He was taken into custody without incident.

Bobby Torres was booked into the Russell County Jail for suspected first-degree murder and attempted murder.&nbsp;An autopsy will be conducted. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745615247080.png" alt="Torres photo Russell Co." />
 <figcaption>Torres photo Russell Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL COUNTY&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating after a homicide took place in Russell, Kansas, according to a media release.The Russell Police Department requested the assistance of the KBI. On Thursday, April 24 around 10 p.m., KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded.On Thursday, around 9:30 p.m. officers with the Russell Police Department responded after a citizen called 911 reporting a shooting.When officers arrived to the 800 block of East 2nd&nbsp;St. in Russell, they located Deborah Torres, 49, of Russell, who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. She told officers her husband, identified as Robert Torres, 49, of Russell, was still inside their residence. When officers entered the home, they discovered Torres deceased in the back living room of the home from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers began clearing the home and discovered no additional subjects.Shortly after, officers gained information that led them to believe Robert “Bobby” James Torres, 33, of Russell, may have been responsible for the shootings. Deputies from the Russell County Sheriff’s Office located him at 2200 block of Highway 40 in Russell. He was taken into custody without incident.Bobby Torres was booked into the Russell County Jail for suspected first-degree murder and attempted murder.&nbsp;An autopsy will be conducted.

KBI: Suspect arrested in deadly western Kansas shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ordered sharper scrutiny of America’s colleges and the accreditors that oversee them, part of his escalating campaign to end what he calls "&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-woke-education-24f864d83e2f5745d12a79ebac0d7cc4">wokeness</a>&nbsp;” and diversity efforts in education.

In a series of executive actions signed Wednesday, Trump targeted universities that he views as liberal adversaries to his political agenda. One order called for harder enforcement of a federal law requiring colleges to disclose their financial ties with foreign sources, while another called for a shakeup of the accrediting bodies that decide whether colleges can accept federal financial aid awarded to students.

Trump also ordered the Education Department to root out efforts to ensure equity in discipline in the nation’s K-12 schools. Previous guidance from Democratic administrations directed schools not to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-civil-rights-dei-dakota-a98f3f943c6e580b8044c602e5580f38">disproportionately punish</a>&nbsp;underrepresented minorities such as Black and Native American students. The administration says equity efforts amount to racial discrimination.

Foreign money is at issue in clash with Harvard

Colleges’ financial ties with foreign sources have long been a concern among Republicans, especially ties with China and other countries with adversarial relationships with the U.S. It became a priority during Trump’s first term and reemerged last week as the White House grasped for leverage in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-lawsuit-grants-f098f55c6986b37e1227e7bcf8967a46">escalating battle with Harvard University</a>.

The White House said it needed to take action because Harvard and other colleges have routinely violated a federal disclosure law, which has been unevenly enforced since it was passed in the 1980s. Known as Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, the law requires colleges to disclose foreign gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or more.

Last week, the Education Department demanded records from Harvard over foreign financial ties spanning the past decade, accusing the school of filing “incomplete and inaccurate disclosures.” Trump’s administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harvard-tax-exempt-status-international-students-07a10958bf078cb04b59d1fc9a3a27a8">sparring with Harvard</a>&nbsp;over the university’s refusal to accept a list of demands over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests as well as its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

In the executive order, Trump calls on the Education Department and the attorney general to step up enforcement of the law and take action against colleges that violate it, including a cutoff of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-administration-federal-cuts-antisemitism-0a1fb70a2c1055bda7c4c5a5c476e18d">federal money</a>.

The Trump administration intends to “end the secrecy surrounding foreign funds in American educational institutions” and protect against “foreign exploitation,” the order said.

It was applauded by Republicans, including Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan, chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. He accused China of exploiting academic ties to steal research and “indoctrinate students.”

Another order aims at accrediting bodies that set standards colleges must meet to accept federal financial aid from students. Trump campaigned on a promise to overhaul the industry, saying it was “dominated by Marxist Maniacs and lunatics.”

Often overlooked as an obscure branch of college oversight, accreditors play an important role in shaping colleges in many aspects, with standards that apply all the way from colleges’ governing boards to classroom curriculum.

Trump’s executive order is the opening salvo in what could be a lengthy battle to overhaul the accrediting industry. Chief among his priorities is to strip accreditors of DEI requirements imposed on colleges. Some accreditors have already dropped or stopped enforcing such standards amid Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">DEI crackdown</a>.

Trump’s order calls on the government to suspend or terminate accreditors that discriminate in the name of DEI. Instead, it calls on accreditors to focus more squarely on the student outcomes of colleges and programs they oversee.

The president wants to make it easier for new accreditors to compete with the 19 that are now authorized to work on behalf of the federal government. As it stands, new accreditors looking to be recognized by the government must undergo an arduous process that traditionally takes years. Trump’s order said it should be “transparent, efficient, and not unduly burdensome.”

“Instead of pushing schools to adopt a divisive DEI ideology, accreditors should be focused on helping schools improve graduation rates and graduates’ performance in the labor market,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.

De-emphasizing equity in school discipline

Trump also invoked opposition to equity efforts in his order on school discipline. The edict signed Wednesday seeks a return to “common sense school discipline,” allowing decisions to be based solely on students’ behavior and actions, McMahon said.

Another executive order instructs government agencies and departments to no longer rely on “disparate impact theories.” Under the disparate impact standard, policies and practices that disproportionately impact minorities and other protected groups could be challenged regardless of their intent.

In many schools around the country, Black students have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-discipline-takeaways-ferguson-black-lives-matter-efabdb403d4e34e9c607f039c827d72a">more likely to receive punishments</a>&nbsp;that remove them from the classroom, including suspensions, expulsions and being transferred to alternative schools. A decade ago, those differences became the target of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-ferguson-anniversary-racial-justice-06773aab70c16bbbfd4835be1bf6037c">reform movement</a>&nbsp;spurred by the same reckoning that gave rise to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-george-floyd-black-lives-matter-9b78cfb1d4e7134af2e1715f04538596">Black Lives Matter</a>. The movement elevated the concept of the “school-to-prison pipeline” — the notion that being kicked out of school, or dropping out, increases the chance of arrest and imprisonment years later.

Federal guidelines to address racial disparities in school discipline first came from President Barack Obama’s administration in 2014. Federal officials urged schools not to suspend, expel or refer students to law enforcement except as a last resort, and encouraged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teaching-school-boards-district-of-columbia-newport-news-education-124a978f3f76f53f1cb90ae4da21da4a">restorative justice</a>&nbsp;practices that did not push students out of the classroom. Those rules were rolled back by Trump’s first administration, but civil rights regulations at federal and state levels still mandate the collection of data on discipline.

On Wednesday, Trump directed McMahon to issue new school discipline guidance within 60 days. The order also calls for a review of nonprofit organizations that have promoted discipline policies rooted in equity and ensure they don’t receive federal money.

Another order creates a federal task force focused on giving America’s students training on artificial intelligence as early as kindergarten. It would work to develop new online learning resources.

Trump is also establishing a White House initiative to empower Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Among other efforts, it would seek to promote private-sector partnerships with HBCUs and schools’ workforce preparation in industries like technology and finance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745455731522.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ordered sharper scrutiny of America’s colleges and the accreditors that oversee them, part of his escalating campaign to end what he calls "&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-woke-education-24f864d83e2f5745d12a79ebac0d7cc4">wokeness</a>&nbsp;” and diversity efforts in education.In a series of executive actions signed Wednesday, Trump targeted universities that he views as liberal adversaries to his political agenda. One order called for harder enforcement of a federal law requiring colleges to disclose their financial ties with foreign sources, while another called for a shakeup of the accrediting bodies that decide whether colleges can accept federal financial aid awarded to students.Trump also ordered the Education Department to root out efforts to ensure equity in discipline in the nation’s K-12 schools. Previous guidance from Democratic administrations directed schools not to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-civil-rights-dei-dakota-a98f3f943c6e580b8044c602e5580f38">disproportionately punish</a>&nbsp;underrepresented minorities such as Black and Native American students. The administration says equity efforts amount to racial discrimination.<h2>Foreign money is at issue in clash with Harvard</h2>Colleges’ financial ties with foreign sources have long been a concern among Republicans, especially ties with China and other countries with adversarial relationships with the U.S. It became a priority during Trump’s first term and reemerged last week as the White House grasped for leverage in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-lawsuit-grants-f098f55c6986b37e1227e7bcf8967a46">escalating battle with Harvard University</a>.The White House said it needed to take action because Harvard and other colleges have routinely violated a federal disclosure law, which has been unevenly enforced since it was passed in the 1980s. Known as Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, the law requires colleges to disclose foreign gifts and contracts valued at $250,000 or more.Last week, the Education Department demanded records from Harvard over foreign financial ties spanning the past decade, accusing the school of filing “incomplete and inaccurate disclosures.” Trump’s administration is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harvard-tax-exempt-status-international-students-07a10958bf078cb04b59d1fc9a3a27a8">sparring with Harvard</a>&nbsp;over the university’s refusal to accept a list of demands over its handling of pro-Palestinian protests as well as its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.In the executive order, Trump calls on the Education Department and the attorney general to step up enforcement of the law and take action against colleges that violate it, including a cutoff of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-administration-federal-cuts-antisemitism-0a1fb70a2c1055bda7c4c5a5c476e18d">federal money</a>.The Trump administration intends to “end the secrecy surrounding foreign funds in American educational institutions” and protect against “foreign exploitation,” the order said.It was applauded by Republicans, including Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan, chair of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. He accused China of exploiting academic ties to steal research and “indoctrinate students.”<h2>Accreditors ordered to drop DEI</h2>Another order aims at accrediting bodies that set standards colleges must meet to accept federal financial aid from students. Trump campaigned on a promise to overhaul the industry, saying it was “dominated by Marxist Maniacs and lunatics.”Often overlooked as an obscure branch of college oversight, accreditors play an important role in shaping colleges in many aspects, with standards that apply all the way from colleges’ governing boards to classroom curriculum.Trump’s executive order is the opening salvo in what could be a lengthy battle to overhaul the accrediting industry. Chief among his priorities is to strip accreditors of DEI requirements imposed on colleges. Some accreditors have already dropped or stopped enforcing such standards amid Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">DEI crackdown</a>.Trump’s order calls on the government to suspend or terminate accreditors that discriminate in the name of DEI. Instead, it calls on accreditors to focus more squarely on the student outcomes of colleges and programs they oversee.The president wants to make it easier for new accreditors to compete with the 19 that are now authorized to work on behalf of the federal government. As it stands, new accreditors looking to be recognized by the government must undergo an arduous process that traditionally takes years. Trump’s order said it should be “transparent, efficient, and not unduly burdensome.”“Instead of pushing schools to adopt a divisive DEI ideology, accreditors should be focused on helping schools improve graduation rates and graduates’ performance in the labor market,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.<h2>De-emphasizing equity in school discipline</h2>Trump also invoked opposition to equity efforts in his order on school discipline. The edict signed Wednesday seeks a return to “common sense school discipline,” allowing decisions to be based solely on students’ behavior and actions, McMahon said.Another executive order instructs government agencies and departments to no longer rely on “disparate impact theories.” Under the disparate impact standard, policies and practices that disproportionately impact minorities and other protected groups could be challenged regardless of their intent.In many schools around the country, Black students have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-discipline-takeaways-ferguson-black-lives-matter-efabdb403d4e34e9c607f039c827d72a">more likely to receive punishments</a>&nbsp;that remove them from the classroom, including suspensions, expulsions and being transferred to alternative schools. A decade ago, those differences became the target of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-ferguson-anniversary-racial-justice-06773aab70c16bbbfd4835be1bf6037c">reform movement</a>&nbsp;spurred by the same reckoning that gave rise to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-brown-george-floyd-black-lives-matter-9b78cfb1d4e7134af2e1715f04538596">Black Lives Matter</a>. The movement elevated the concept of the “school-to-prison pipeline” — the notion that being kicked out of school, or dropping out, increases the chance of arrest and imprisonment years later.Federal guidelines to address racial disparities in school discipline first came from President Barack Obama’s administration in 2014. Federal officials urged schools not to suspend, expel or refer students to law enforcement except as a last resort, and encouraged&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teaching-school-boards-district-of-columbia-newport-news-education-124a978f3f76f53f1cb90ae4da21da4a">restorative justice</a>&nbsp;practices that did not push students out of the classroom. Those rules were rolled back by Trump’s first administration, but civil rights regulations at federal and state levels still mandate the collection of data on discipline.On Wednesday, Trump directed McMahon to issue new school discipline guidance within 60 days. The order also calls for a review of nonprofit organizations that have promoted discipline policies rooted in equity and ensure they don’t receive federal money.Another order creates a federal task force focused on giving America’s students training on artificial intelligence as early as kindergarten. It would work to develop new online learning resources.Trump is also establishing a White House initiative to empower Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Among other efforts, it would seek to promote private-sector partnerships with HBCUs and schools’ workforce preparation in industries like technology and finance.___

Trump signs executive orders targeting colleges, accreditation 

BUTLER COUNTY—Three people were injured and a teen driver arrested after&nbsp; an accident just before 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Butler County.

According to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundif a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by a 19-year-old from Towanda was westbound on SW 20th Street at&nbsp;SW Hopkins Switch Road. The pickup left the roadway to the north and rolled down the embankment almost to the KTA bridge. Several individuals were ejected from the vehicle.

EMS transported three passengers, a 28-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman from Towanda and a 38-year-old man to a Wichita area hospital. Two of those passengers were reported to have serious injuries.

Deputies arrested the driver on requestd charges of Driving Under the Influence, Aggravated Battery, Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor, Transporting an Open Container, and Felony Interference. He was booked in to the Butler County Jail

BUTLER COUNTY—Three people were injured and a teen driver arrested after&nbsp; an accident just before 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Butler County.According to Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundif a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by a 19-year-old from Towanda was westbound on SW 20th Street at&nbsp;SW Hopkins Switch Road. The pickup left the roadway to the north and rolled down the embankment almost to the KTA bridge. Several individuals were ejected from the vehicle.EMS transported three passengers, a 28-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman from Towanda and a 38-year-old man to a Wichita area hospital. Two of those passengers were reported to have serious injuries.Deputies arrested the driver on requestd charges of Driving Under the Influence, Aggravated Battery, Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor, Transporting an Open Container, and Felony Interference. He was booked in to the Butler County Jail

3 injured, Kan. teen jailed after pickup rolls down embankment

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspect on multiple allegations after&nbsp;

Just after 2a.m.&nbsp; April 19, 2025, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification regarding multiple individuals in a gray for F-150 pickup truck breaking into a clothing donation bin in the 6800 block of SW 29th Street, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.

A deputy located the vehicle in the 5200 block of SW 37th Street and conducted a traffic stop.

During the investigation, it was determined that the driver was wanted by the Topeka Police Department and illegal narcotics were located.

Ronald A. Weiland, 62, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of marijuana; Aggravated domestic battery;&nbsp;Aggravated assault, Domestic battery and Criminal restraint

Carl E. Smith, 61, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human bod and Possession of marijuana

Paulette K. Weiland, 57, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into jail on a Topeka bench

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745422219371.png" alt="Weiland photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Weiland photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspect on multiple allegations after&nbsp;Just after 2a.m.&nbsp; April 19, 2025, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification regarding multiple individuals in a gray for F-150 pickup truck breaking into a clothing donation bin in the 6800 block of SW 29th Street, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.A deputy located the vehicle in the 5200 block of SW 37th Street and conducted a traffic stop.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745422242751.png" alt="Weiland photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Weiland photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the investigation, it was determined that the driver was wanted by the Topeka Police Department and illegal narcotics were located.Ronald A. Weiland, 62, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of marijuana; Aggravated domestic battery;&nbsp;Aggravated assault, Domestic battery and Criminal restraint<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745422150385.png" alt="Smith photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Carl E. Smith, 61, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human bod and Possession of marijuanaPaulette K. Weiland, 57, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into jail on a Topeka bench

3 jailed after report of break-in to Kan. clothing donation bin

SEDGWICK COUNTY– On Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners approved the settlement of two federal lawsuits related to alleged misconduct by a former Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy. The lawsuits stem from incidents that occurred in July 2022.

At that time, while investigating a security breach at Sedgwick County Jail, investigators learned 22-year-old Dustin Burnett, the on-duty deputy in that area of the jail, observed inmates break a window, bring contraband into the facility and didn't stop it or inform anyone it occurred. He also did not give investigators the full story about the incident when confronted about it, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;

Later, two female inmates reported inappropriate sexual contact with Burnett, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick. The alleged sexual contact occurred on July 17, 2022.

Burnett started work at the jail in January of 2022 and was terminated upon his arrest.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In&nbsp; April of 2023, Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Burnett to 68 months in prison. On February 10 Burnett made an Alford plea to three charges of unlawful sexual relations with two female inmates and official misconduct in the jail.

Under the terms of the federal lawsuit agreements, Sedgwick County will pay $200,000 to resolve one case and $175,000 to resolve the second case involving Burnett. As part of the agreed settlements, Sedgwick County asserts that all claims are without merit but has resolved to settle to avoid significant defense costs, expenses, and risk of litigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745427389171.png" alt="Burnett photo Lansing Correctional Facility" />
 <figcaption>Burnett photo Lansing Correctional Facility</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY– On Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners approved the settlement of two federal lawsuits related to alleged misconduct by a former Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy. The lawsuits stem from incidents that occurred in July 2022.At that time, while investigating a security breach at Sedgwick County Jail, investigators learned 22-year-old Dustin Burnett, the on-duty deputy in that area of the jail, observed inmates break a window, bring contraband into the facility and didn't stop it or inform anyone it occurred. He also did not give investigators the full story about the incident when confronted about it, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;Later, two female inmates reported inappropriate sexual contact with Burnett, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick. The alleged sexual contact occurred on July 17, 2022.Burnett started work at the jail in January of 2022 and was terminated upon his arrest.&nbsp;&nbsp;In&nbsp; April of 2023, Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Burnett to 68 months in prison. On February 10 Burnett made an Alford plea to three charges of unlawful sexual relations with two female inmates and official misconduct in the jail.Under the terms of the federal lawsuit agreements, Sedgwick County will pay $200,000 to resolve one case and $175,000 to resolve the second case involving Burnett. As part of the agreed settlements, Sedgwick County asserts that all claims are without merit but has resolved to settle to avoid significant defense costs, expenses, and risk of litigation.

Kan. county settles rape lawsuit involving jail deputy

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement in Riley County investigating a battery and robbery have arrested to local teens.

On April 12, officers filed a report of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery in the 1100 block of Moro Street that occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m., according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

 A 17-year-old boy was listed as a victim and reported that multiple persons had battered him. The victim also reported that property was stolen from his person during the incident. 

Arrested in connection with the incident were Amarion Blanton, 15,&nbsp; and Joshua Davis Jr., 17, both of Manhattan. 

Blanton, was arrested on April 22, at approximately 2:32 p.m. in the 1700 block of Winne Drive, on a requested charge of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery.&nbsp; Davis Jr. was arrested on April 22, 2025, at approximately 2:12 p.m. in the 400 block of Brookmont Drive, on a requested charge of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery. Both are&nbsp; confined in the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement in Riley County investigating a battery and robbery have arrested to local teens.On April 12, officers filed a report of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery in the 1100 block of Moro Street that occurred at approximately 11:00 p.m., according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. A 17-year-old boy was listed as a victim and reported that multiple persons had battered him. The victim also reported that property was stolen from his person during the incident. Arrested in connection with the incident were Amarion Blanton, 15,&nbsp; and Joshua Davis Jr., 17, both of Manhattan. Blanton, was arrested on April 22, at approximately 2:32 p.m. in the 1700 block of Winne Drive, on a requested charge of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery.&nbsp; Davis Jr. was arrested on April 22, 2025, at approximately 2:12 p.m. in the 400 block of Brookmont Drive, on a requested charge of aggravated robbery and aggravated battery. Both are&nbsp; confined in the North Central Kansas Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

2 Manhattan teens accused of violent robbery

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745418251011.jpeg" alt="Marion Robinson, Failure to appear, arrested 04/22" />
 <figcaption>Marion Robinson, Failure to appear, arrested 04/22</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745418262330.jpeg" alt="Joseph Macias, Failure to appear, arrested 04/22" />
 <figcaption>Joseph Macias, Failure to appear, arrested 04/22</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745418315485.jpeg" alt="Lisa Vontress, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of marijuana, arrested 04/22" />
 <figcaption>Lisa Vontress, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of marijuana, arrested 04/22</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745418326670.jpeg" alt="Wesley Peters, Failure to appear, arrested 04/22" />
 <figcaption>Wesley Peters, Failure to appear, arrested 04/22</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745418420555.jpeg" alt="Joyce Byrd, Prohibiting drug paraphernalia; Possession of marijuana; Arrest by LEO, Warrant arrest, arrested 04/22" />
 <figcaption>Joyce Byrd, Prohibiting drug paraphernalia; Possession of marijuana; Arrest by LEO, Warrant arrest, arrested 04/22</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745418432772.jpeg" alt="James Washington, Failure to appear; Aggravated domestic battery, arrested 04/23" />
 <figcaption>James Washington, Failure to appear; Aggravated domestic battery, arrested 04/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745418472493.jpeg" alt="Thomas Parks, Cruelty to animals; Disorderly conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct to cause resentment; Possession of stolen property; Firearm with value less than $25,000, arrested 04/23" />
 <figcaption>Thomas Parks, Cruelty to animals; Disorderly conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct to cause resentment; Possession of stolen property; Firearm with value less than $25,000, arrested 04/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745418482366.jpeg" alt="Denise Berrios, Failure to appear; Criminal damage to property; Domestic battery, arrested 04/23" />
 <figcaption>Denise Berrios, Failure to appear; Criminal damage to property; Domestic battery, arrested 04/23</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Emmiley Springfield, Failure to appear, arrested 04/22Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.