WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Melania Trump says eight Ukrainian children have been reunited with their families after ongoing talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Melania Trump in August wrote a letter to Putin and had her husband hand-deliver it during his meeting with the Russian president in Alaska.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukrainian-children-russia-7493cb22c9086c6293c1ac7986d85ef6">taking Ukrainian children</a>&nbsp;out of their country so that they can be raised as Russian.

The first lady, speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, said that Putin responded to her letter and after that, they had established an “open channel of communication” regarding the welfare of those children.

“We have agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war,” she said.

The Associated Press documented the grabbing of Ukrainian children in 2022, after which the International Criminal Court said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/icc-putin-war-crimes-ukraine-9857eb68d827340394960eccf0589253">had issued an arrest warrant</a>&nbsp;for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Melania Trump says eight Ukrainian children have been reunited with their families after ongoing talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Announcement by First Lady Melania Trump <a href="https://t.co/AAUwgylsgs">https://t.co/AAUwgylsgs</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1976665027336712480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Melania Trump in August wrote a letter to Putin and had her husband hand-deliver it during his meeting with the Russian president in Alaska.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755386458134.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukrainian-children-russia-7493cb22c9086c6293c1ac7986d85ef6">taking Ukrainian children</a>&nbsp;out of their country so that they can be raised as Russian.The first lady, speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, said that Putin responded to her letter and after that, they had established an “open channel of communication” regarding the welfare of those children.“We have agreed to cooperate with each other for the benefit of all people involved in this war,” she said.The Associated Press documented the grabbing of Ukrainian children in 2022, after which the International Criminal Court said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/icc-putin-war-crimes-ukraine-9857eb68d827340394960eccf0589253">had issued an arrest warrant</a>&nbsp;for Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.

🎥First lady reveals talks with Putin over kidnapped Ukraine children

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal shooting in Wichita have arrested a suspect.

A 52-year-old male from Wichita is in custody following a deadly shooting Thursday evening at the American Legion located at 1335 N. Hydraulic in Wichita.

Just before 7:30p.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of a shooting inside the American Legion, 1135 North Hydraulic in Wichita, according t a media release.&nbsp;

First responders found 55-year-old Anthony Grayson from Wichita unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:55 p.m.

A second victim, a 56-year-old man, arrived at a hospital by private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the torso. He was reported in serious but stable condition late Friday.

Investigators confirmed that the suspect identified from Sedgwick County booking records as Darrell E. Buckner, Jr., and Grayson were involved in a fight inside the bar. Buckner then left, retrieved a firearm from his vehicle, and returned. Employees attempted to prevent him from reentering, but he pushed past them and went back inside, where another fight broke out. During the altercation, Buckner fired the gun, striking Grayson and the second victim, who was attempting to intervene.

The suspect was taken into custody at the scene and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charges.

“This is deeply frustrating,” said Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan. “Once again, someone has lost their life, not because of a stranger, but because an argument between friends turned violent. Every act of violence begins with a choice. When someone decides to bring a gun into an argument, that is an intentional act, and that choice destroys lives, families, and neighborhoods.”

Chief Sullivan added that while the department continues to use technology and community partnerships to identify suspects and solve cases quickly, the broader fight against violence requires shared responsibility.

“We have a 96% homicide clearance rate, overall part 1 crime arrests are up 12% compared to this time last year. This reflects our ongoing commitment to victims of violent crimes. But it doesn’t prevent a homicide when the people involved already know each other,” Sullivan said.

“Law enforcement cannot be everywhere,” he continued. “Families, friends, neighbors, and other law enforcement partners all play a role in stopping violence before it happens. When someone decides that they are going out to drink and brings a gun with them, that is an intentional act. That is a choice they made that creates a potential for tragedy."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760102689111.png" alt="Buckner photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Buckner photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal shooting in Wichita have arrested a suspect.A 52-year-old male from Wichita is in custody following a deadly shooting Thursday evening at the American Legion located at 1335 N. Hydraulic in Wichita.Just before 7:30p.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of a shooting inside the American Legion, 1135 North Hydraulic in Wichita, according t a media release.&nbsp;First responders found 55-year-old Anthony Grayson from Wichita unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:55 p.m.A second victim, a 56-year-old man, arrived at a hospital by private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the torso. He was reported in serious but stable condition late Friday.Investigators confirmed that the suspect identified from Sedgwick County booking records as Darrell E. Buckner, Jr., and Grayson were involved in a fight inside the bar. Buckner then left, retrieved a firearm from his vehicle, and returned. Employees attempted to prevent him from reentering, but he pushed past them and went back inside, where another fight broke out. During the altercation, Buckner fired the gun, striking Grayson and the second victim, who was attempting to intervene.The suspect was taken into custody at the scene and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated battery. The case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charges.“This is deeply frustrating,” said Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan. “Once again, someone has lost their life, not because of a stranger, but because an argument between friends turned violent. Every act of violence begins with a choice. When someone decides to bring a gun into an argument, that is an intentional act, and that choice destroys lives, families, and neighborhoods.”Chief Sullivan added that while the department continues to use technology and community partnerships to identify suspects and solve cases quickly, the broader fight against violence requires shared responsibility.“We have a 96% homicide clearance rate, overall part 1 crime arrests are up 12% compared to this time last year. This reflects our ongoing commitment to victims of violent crimes. But it doesn’t prevent a homicide when the people involved already know each other,” Sullivan said.“Law enforcement cannot be everywhere,” he continued. “Families, friends, neighbors, and other law enforcement partners all play a role in stopping violence before it happens. When someone decides that they are going out to drink and brings a gun with them, that is an intentional act. That is a choice they made that creates a potential for tragedy."

Kansas man jailed for deadly fight at American Legion Hall

DICKINSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is under investigation for allegedly selling drugs in Dickinson County.

In December of 2024, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit began an investigation into the distribution of Methamphetamine in Herington, according to a media release. The approximate ten-month long investigation, resulted in an arrest and a seizure of methamphetamine.

On Thursday, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in the 500 Block of South A Street in Herington. A search of the residence revealed Methamphetamine, Drug Paraphernalia, Cocaine, Marijuana and other controlled substances.

The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office also served arrest warrants with the assistance of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Junction City Police Department and the Herington Police Department.

Charles Miller, 48, of Woodbine, Kansas was arrested and booked into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with the Intent to Distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Distribution of Controlled Substance using communication facility and No Drug Tax Stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760103494996.png" alt="Miller photo Dickinson County." />
 <figcaption>Miller photo Dickinson County.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —A Kansas man is under investigation for allegedly selling drugs in Dickinson County.In December of 2024, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit began an investigation into the distribution of Methamphetamine in Herington, according to a media release. The approximate ten-month long investigation, resulted in an arrest and a seizure of methamphetamine.On Thursday, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in the 500 Block of South A Street in Herington. A search of the residence revealed Methamphetamine, Drug Paraphernalia, Cocaine, Marijuana and other controlled substances.The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office also served arrest warrants with the assistance of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Junction City Police Department and the Herington Police Department.Charles Miller, 48, of Woodbine, Kansas was arrested and booked into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with the Intent to Distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Distribution of Controlled Substance using communication facility and No Drug Tax Stamp.

Sheriff: Investigation led to arrest of Kan. drug dealer

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man&nbsp; who admitted to vandalizing a&nbsp; church in Wichita learned his fate on Friday.

&nbsp;Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Michael Gonzalez, 23, of Saline County,&nbsp;to 34 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections&nbsp; for his role in the significant vandalism and criminal desecration at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In July Gonzalez pleaded guilty to felony charges: of burglary and criminal desecration and two misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal damage to property.

Just after 8:30a.m. March 15, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.

Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.

Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.

Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. March 16, officers located and arrested Gonzalez in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.

&nbsp;Gonzalez remains jailed on bonds totaling over $500,000, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742206082557.png" alt="GONZALEZ photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>GONZALEZ photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man&nbsp; who admitted to vandalizing a&nbsp; church in Wichita learned his fate on Friday.&nbsp;Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Michael Gonzalez, 23, of Saline County,&nbsp;to 34 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections&nbsp; for his role in the significant vandalism and criminal desecration at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkscathconf%2Fposts%2Fpfbid026eKsJvXV69VEGsohrDBXEqgNBZTzKu7Cj7ps1ZDko1i6pe3eG8iNdZ1LAwzeXr4Cl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="819" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>In July Gonzalez pleaded guilty to felony charges: of burglary and criminal desecration and two misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal damage to property.Just after 8:30a.m. March 15, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. March 16, officers located and arrested Gonzalez in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.&nbsp;Gonzalez remains jailed on bonds totaling over $500,000, according to online jail records.

Prison time for extreme vandalism at Kansas church

MANHATTAN, KAN. – The Riley County Police Department executed a search warrant at Chill Vibez Smoke and Vape and made an arrest during its investigation on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in the 100 block of Sarber Lane in Manhattan, Pottawatomie County.

According to a media release from the RCPD, the warrant was issued as part of a larger overall investigation that began earlier this year into the distribution of illegal marijuana and THC products in Manhattan. This was an independent investigation by the RCPD and not currently linked to recent enforcement by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).

At 3p.m., Al-Shawhati Rayd Mohomed-Hezam, 40, of Manhattan, was arrested in connection with the investigation. Mohomed-Hezam is being held in the Pottawatomie County jail on a $50,000 bond on requested charges of distribution of marijuana greater than 450 grams, but less than 30 kilograms; distribution of THC products greater than 100 doses, but less than 1,000 doses distribution of THC products greater than 100 grams, but less than 1 kilogram.&nbsp;

MANHATTAN, KAN. – The Riley County Police Department executed a search warrant at Chill Vibez Smoke and Vape and made an arrest during its investigation on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in the 100 block of Sarber Lane in Manhattan, Pottawatomie County.According to a media release from the RCPD, the warrant was issued as part of a larger overall investigation that began earlier this year into the distribution of illegal marijuana and THC products in Manhattan. This was an independent investigation by the RCPD and not currently linked to recent enforcement by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI).At 3p.m., Al-Shawhati Rayd Mohomed-Hezam, 40, of Manhattan, was arrested in connection with the investigation. Mohomed-Hezam is being held in the Pottawatomie County jail on a $50,000 bond on requested charges of distribution of marijuana greater than 450 grams, but less than 30 kilograms; distribution of THC products greater than 100 doses, but less than 1,000 doses distribution of THC products greater than 100 grams, but less than 1 kilogram.&nbsp;

RCPD makes arrest at smoke and vape shop 

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured and another arrested after a hit-and-run accident just after 12a.m. Thursday in Riley County.

Officers responded to a report of an injury crash near the intersection of 11th&nbsp;Street and Moro Street in Manhattan on Oct. 9, 2025, at approximately 12:05 a.m.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a 2019 Ford F150 driven by Michael Smith, 25, Manhattan, struck a pedestrian identified as Madison Asbury, 19, of Manhattan, who crossing 11th&nbsp;Street at Moro Street in the crosswalk.

EMS transported Asbury to Stormont Vail in Topeka with serious injuries. Smith was arrested at approximately 12:35 p.m. in the 1000 block of Seth Child Road and charged with aggravated battery and failure to stop at an accident. He is being held on a total bond of $12,000, according to the RCPD.

RILEY COUNTY —One person was injured and another arrested after a hit-and-run accident just after 12a.m. Thursday in Riley County.Officers responded to a report of an injury crash near the intersection of 11th&nbsp;Street and Moro Street in Manhattan on Oct. 9, 2025, at approximately 12:05 a.m.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a 2019 Ford F150 driven by Michael Smith, 25, Manhattan, struck a pedestrian identified as Madison Asbury, 19, of Manhattan, who crossing 11th&nbsp;Street at Moro Street in the crosswalk.EMS transported Asbury to Stormont Vail in Topeka with serious injuries. Smith was arrested at approximately 12:35 p.m. in the 1000 block of Seth Child Road and charged with aggravated battery and failure to stop at an accident. He is being held on a total bond of $12,000, according to the RCPD.

Manhattan driver jailed after pickup struck teen in crosswalk

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, winning recognition as a woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”

The former opposition presidential candidate was lauded for being a “key, unifying figure” in the once deeply divided opposition to President Nicolás Maduro’s government, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee.

“In the past year, Ms. Machado has been forced to live in hiding,” Watne Frydnes said. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”

He told the AP that the committee was able to reach Machado just before the announcement and “it came as a surprise.”

Machado’s ally, Edmundo González, who lives in exile in Spain, posted a short video of himself speaking by phone with Machado.

“I am in shock,” she said, adding, “I cannot believe it.”

González celebrated Machado’s Nobel win in a post on X, calling it a “very well-deserved recognition for the long fight of a woman and of a whole people for our freedom and democracy.”

Maduro’s government has routinely targeted its real or perceived opponents.

Machado, who turned 58 this week, was set to run against Maduro, but the government disqualified her. González, who had never run for office before, took her place. The lead-up to the election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-maduro-opposition-human-rights-abuses-dd6d0b103adbf88f00fe60b0d781a873">crackdown on dissent only increased</a>&nbsp;after the country’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner despite credible evidence to the contrary.

The election results announced by the Electoral Council sparked protests across the country to which the government responded with force that ended with more than 20 people dead. They also prompted an end to diplomatic relations between Venezuela and various foreign countries, including Argentina.

Machado went into hiding and has not been seen in public since January. A Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant for González over the publication of election results. He went into exile in Spain and was granted asylum.

Before dawn in Caracas, with few vehicles out yet on the Venezuelan capital’s usually crowded streets, some people heading to work expressed disbelief at the news of Machado’s win.

“I don’t know what can be done to improve the situation, but she deserves it,” said Sandra Martínez, 32, as she waited at a bus stop. “She’s a great woman.”

Support for Machado and the opposition in general has decreased since the July 2024 election — particularly since January, when Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term and disappointment set in.

Last year, Machado and González were awarded the European Union’s top human rights honor, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-venezuela-opposition-human-rights-prize-sakharov-47257f5b05716e90c3eabdde3a1f17e6">Sakharov Prize</a>.

Machado becomes the 20th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, of the 112 individuals who have been honored.

Speculation about Trump’s Nobel chances

There had been persistent speculation ahead of the announcement about the possibility of the prize going to U.S. President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-misses-out-on-nobel-peace-prize-729973788d8953da9af1cbc136232e96">Donald Trump</a>, fueled in part by the president himself and amplified by this week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-hostages-trump-peace-plan-e3d0ce091be56cc29207e566ff1603af">approval of his plan</a>&nbsp;for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Asked about lobbying for and by Trump, Watne Frydnes said: “I think this committee has seen any type of campaign, media attention. We receive thousands and thousands of letters every year of people wanting to say what for them leads to peace.

“This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So we base only our decision on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel.”

White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a post on X Friday morning that “President Trump will continue making peace deals around the world, ending wars, and saving lives.” He added that “the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”

Last year’s award went to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-nobel-japan-peace-prize-nuclear-9f39bcd5d6035fb1e75ac2030cf5c009">Nihon Hidankyo</a>, a grassroots movement of Japanese atomic bombing survivors who have worked for decades to maintain a taboo around the use of nuclear weapons.

The peace prize is the only one of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-announcements-peace-literature-medicine-cd572ef1c31ce39e3fa304468d445443">Nobel prizes</a>&nbsp;to be awarded in Oslo, Norway.

Four of the other prizes have already been awarded in the Swedish capital, Stockholm this week — in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-medicine-a68cf8a3b930570630168a949d277cde">medicine</a>&nbsp;on Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-physics-e74ee2acf652259cf268cc1d48873e14">physics</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-chemistry-87dcb74eb01e3d5ba8efc32832e51ef6">chemistry</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-literature-25f9886d2c35dabfc6ab7936a8a159c0">literature</a>&nbsp;on Thursday. The winner of the prize in economics will be announced on Monday.

Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City and Moulson from Berlin. Jorge Rueda contributed from Caracas, Venezuela and Mike Corder from The Hague, Netherlands.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760094995508.jpg" alt="Image courtesy Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>OSLO, Norway (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, winning recognition as a woman “who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.”The former opposition presidential candidate was lauded for being a “key, unifying figure” in the once deeply divided opposition to President Nicolás Maduro’s government, said Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Norwegian Nobel committee.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump will continue making peace deals, ending wars, and saving lives. He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will. The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace. <a href="https://t.co/dwCEWjE0GE">https://t.co/dwCEWjE0GE</a>&mdash; Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) <a href="https://twitter.com/StevenCheung47/status/1976601157041856756?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 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://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on the Nobel Peace Prize: &quot;I&#39;ve stopped eight wars, so that&#39;s never happened before — but they&#39;ll have to do what they do. Whatever they do is fine. I know this: I didn&#39;t do it for that, I did it because I saved a lot of lives.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/TsfLdgmQXD">pic.twitter.com/TsfLdgmQXD</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1976370711750221828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“In the past year, Ms. Machado has been forced to live in hiding,” Watne Frydnes said. Despite serious threats against her life, she has remained in the country, a choice that has inspired millions. When authoritarians seize power, it is crucial to recognize courageous defenders of freedom who rise and resist.”He told the AP that the committee was able to reach Machado just before the announcement and “it came as a surprise.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“Oh my god… I have no words.” Listen to the emotional moment this year’s laureate Maria Corina Machado finds out she has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, shared the news with her directly before it was… <a href="https://t.co/OCUpNz752k">pic.twitter.com/OCUpNz752k</a>&mdash; The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) <a href="https://twitter.com/NobelPrize/status/1976596971084247228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Exiled opposition candidate celebrates</h2>Machado’s ally, Edmundo González, who lives in exile in Spain, posted a short video of himself speaking by phone with Machado.“I am in shock,” she said, adding, “I cannot believe it.”González celebrated Machado’s Nobel win in a post on X, calling it a “very well-deserved recognition for the long fight of a woman and of a whole people for our freedom and democracy.”Maduro’s government has routinely targeted its real or perceived opponents.Machado, who turned 58 this week, was set to run against Maduro, but the government disqualified her. González, who had never run for office before, took her place. The lead-up to the election saw widespread repression, including disqualifications, arrests and human rights violations.<h2>Crackdown on dissent</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-election-maduro-opposition-human-rights-abuses-dd6d0b103adbf88f00fe60b0d781a873">crackdown on dissent only increased</a>&nbsp;after the country’s National Electoral Council, which is stacked with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner despite credible evidence to the contrary.The election results announced by the Electoral Council sparked protests across the country to which the government responded with force that ended with more than 20 people dead. They also prompted an end to diplomatic relations between Venezuela and various foreign countries, including Argentina.Machado went into hiding and has not been seen in public since January. A Venezuelan court issued an arrest warrant for González over the publication of election results. He went into exile in Spain and was granted asylum.Before dawn in Caracas, with few vehicles out yet on the Venezuelan capital’s usually crowded streets, some people heading to work expressed disbelief at the news of Machado’s win.“I don’t know what can be done to improve the situation, but she deserves it,” said Sandra Martínez, 32, as she waited at a bus stop. “She’s a great woman.”Support for Machado and the opposition in general has decreased since the July 2024 election — particularly since January, when Maduro was sworn in for a third six-year term and disappointment set in.Last year, Machado and González were awarded the European Union’s top human rights honor, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eu-venezuela-opposition-human-rights-prize-sakharov-47257f5b05716e90c3eabdde3a1f17e6">Sakharov Prize</a>.Machado becomes the 20th woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, of the 112 individuals who have been honored.<h2>Speculation about Trump’s Nobel chances</h2>There had been persistent speculation ahead of the announcement about the possibility of the prize going to U.S. President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-misses-out-on-nobel-peace-prize-729973788d8953da9af1cbc136232e96">Donald Trump</a>, fueled in part by the president himself and amplified by this week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-hostages-trump-peace-plan-e3d0ce091be56cc29207e566ff1603af">approval of his plan</a>&nbsp;for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.Asked about lobbying for and by Trump, Watne Frydnes said: “I think this committee has seen any type of campaign, media attention. We receive thousands and thousands of letters every year of people wanting to say what for them leads to peace.“This committee sits in a room filled with the portraits of all laureates, and that room is filled with both courage and integrity. So we base only our decision on the work and the will of Alfred Nobel.”White House spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a post on X Friday morning that “President Trump will continue making peace deals around the world, ending wars, and saving lives.” He added that “the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace.”Last year’s award went to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norway-nobel-japan-peace-prize-nuclear-9f39bcd5d6035fb1e75ac2030cf5c009">Nihon Hidankyo</a>, a grassroots movement of Japanese atomic bombing survivors who have worked for decades to maintain a taboo around the use of nuclear weapons.The peace prize is the only one of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-announcements-peace-literature-medicine-cd572ef1c31ce39e3fa304468d445443">Nobel prizes</a>&nbsp;to be awarded in Oslo, Norway.Four of the other prizes have already been awarded in the Swedish capital, Stockholm this week — in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-medicine-a68cf8a3b930570630168a949d277cde">medicine</a>&nbsp;on Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-physics-e74ee2acf652259cf268cc1d48873e14">physics</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-chemistry-87dcb74eb01e3d5ba8efc32832e51ef6">chemistry</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nobel-prize-literature-25f9886d2c35dabfc6ab7936a8a159c0">literature</a>&nbsp;on Thursday. The winner of the prize in economics will be announced on Monday.___Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City and Moulson from Berlin. Jorge Rueda contributed from Caracas, Venezuela and Mike Corder from The Hague, Netherlands.

Who won? White House responds to Nobel Peace Prize announcement

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a hit-and-run accident that occurred just before 1p.m. Wednesday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a 2011 Dodge Caliber driven by David Fliter, 27, of Manhattan, was traveling near the intersection of Tuttle Creek Boulevard and Casement Road in Manhattan.

&nbsp;A 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix collided with the Dodge and then left the scene. 

Through the investigation, the driver was identified as Kimberly Blasing, 60, of Manhattan. Fliter declined transport to Via Christi Hospital. Blasing was arrested at approximately 1:54 p.m. in the 400 block of Walters Drive on requested charges of aggravated battery, driving under the influence, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and duty of driver to give information. Blasing is being held on a bond of $8,000.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a hit-and-run accident that occurred just before 1p.m. Wednesday in Riley County.According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a 2011 Dodge Caliber driven by David Fliter, 27, of Manhattan, was traveling near the intersection of Tuttle Creek Boulevard and Casement Road in Manhattan.&nbsp;A 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix collided with the Dodge and then left the scene. Through the investigation, the driver was identified as Kimberly Blasing, 60, of Manhattan. Fliter declined transport to Via Christi Hospital. Blasing was arrested at approximately 1:54 p.m. in the 400 block of Walters Drive on requested charges of aggravated battery, driving under the influence, operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and duty of driver to give information. Blasing is being held on a bond of $8,000.

Manhattan woman accused of DUI after hit-and-run crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in vehicle crash and fire that left a passenger dead is due back in court on Thursday.&nbsp;

Christian Sheppard, 33 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder and is scheduled to attend a arraignment hearing before Judge Tyler Roush, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He may enter a plea in the case.

On Dec. 29, police responded to a collision in the 200 block of N. Charles Street in Wichita, according to a media release. First responders found the vehicle that struck a tree and fence and caught fire. A passenger, identified as 32-year-old Chekiel Wright, died, and the driver, later identified as Sheppard was seriously injured.

On May 21, police arrested Sheppard.&nbsp; He met the requirement of a $250,000 bond and was released from custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747917397070.png" alt="Sheppard photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Sheppard photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in vehicle crash and fire that left a passenger dead is due back in court on Thursday.&nbsp;Christian Sheppard, 33 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder and is scheduled to attend a arraignment hearing before Judge Tyler Roush, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He may enter a plea in the case.On Dec. 29, police responded to a collision in the 200 block of N. Charles Street in Wichita, according to a media release. First responders found the vehicle that struck a tree and fence and caught fire. A passenger, identified as 32-year-old Chekiel Wright, died, and the driver, later identified as Sheppard was seriously injured.On May 21, police arrested Sheppard.&nbsp; He met the requirement of a $250,000 bond and was released from custody, according to online jail records.

Arraignment hearing for Kansas driver in fatal crash and fire 

HAMILTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a drug bust in southwest Kansas.

&nbsp;On October 6, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office in coordination with the Stanton County Sheriff's Office, executed a search warrant at 207 N. Maple Street in Coolidge, Kansas as part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal distribution of methamphetamine, according to a report from the Hamilton County Sheriff.

During the search investigators recovered suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and additional evidence consistent with the distribution of controlled substances.&nbsp; Deputies arrested 59-year-old&nbsp;Patricia Apodaca of Coolidge on requested charges of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility in the Commission of a Drug Felony, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and No Drug Tax Stamp.

They also arrested 69-year-old Claude Bezona (69) of Coolidge on requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759917926562.png" alt="Bezona photo Hamilton C ounty" />
 <figcaption>Bezona photo Hamilton C ounty</figcaption>
 </figure>HAMILTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug charges after a drug bust in southwest Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759917889179.png" alt="Apodaca photo Hamilton County" />
 <figcaption>Apodaca photo Hamilton County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;On October 6, the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office in coordination with the Stanton County Sheriff's Office, executed a search warrant at 207 N. Maple Street in Coolidge, Kansas as part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal distribution of methamphetamine, according to a report from the Hamilton County Sheriff.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759917986345.png" alt="Photo Hamilton County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Hamilton County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>During the search investigators recovered suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and additional evidence consistent with the distribution of controlled substances.&nbsp; Deputies arrested 59-year-old&nbsp;Patricia Apodaca of Coolidge on requested charges of Distribution of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Use of a Communication Facility in the Commission of a Drug Felony, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and No Drug Tax Stamp.They also arrested 69-year-old Claude Bezona (69) of Coolidge on requested charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Woman accused of selling meth from rural SW Kansas home

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 29-year-old man charged with sparking one of the most destructive blazes in California history likely used a lighter to start a fire on New Year’s Day that smoldered underground and reignited almost a week later, killing 12 people in wealthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-wildfires-eaton-palisides-urban-area-a162c86589b9102a85c510246539ab72">Los Angeles-area neighborhoods</a>, authorities said Wednesday.

Federal law enforcement officials charged Jonathan Rinderknecht with lighting the Jan. 1 fire that was extinguished by fire crews only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-evacuation-alerts-69f10d320df14c6394fc2c646d1ff0ce">flare up days later</a>&nbsp;during high winds, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.

Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday in Florida and made his first court appearance Wednesday in Orlando on charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Wearing shorts and a T-shirt while shackled at the ankles, he told a federal magistrate in a soft-spoken voice that he was not under the influence and did not have mental issues.

The judge set a hearing for Thursday to consider bond and extradition proceedings. Aisha Nash, the federal public defender assigned to represent Rinderknecht, did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment.

The Palisades Fire — one of two that broke out on Jan. 7, killing more than 30 people and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/world-news/california-los-angeles-area-wildfires-wildfires-general-news-domestic-news-0dfd72012e85c8c682a7a5dfa678274c">destroying more than 17,000 homes and buildings</a>&nbsp;while burning for days in Los Angeles County — ripped through hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown LA.

Suspect talked to authorities three weeks after the fire

Investigators said Wednesday that Rinderknecht had been working as an Uber driver, and after dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, he parked and walked up a trail. He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a rap song with a music video that shows objects being lit on fire, prosecutors said.

He fled the scene after starting the fire, but returned to the same trail to watch it burn, Essayli said.

“He left as soon as he saw the fire trucks were headed to the location. He turned around and went back up there. And he took some video and, and watched them fight the fire,” Essayli said.

Uber said in a statement that it worked with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine the driver’s whereabouts around the time of the fire.

Rinderknecht also made several 911 calls to report the fire, according to a criminal complaint.

During an interview Jan. 24, Rinderknecht told investigators where the fire began, information not yet public and that he would not have known if he hadn’t witnessed it, the complaint said.

He lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Essayli said.

The suspect was visibly anxious during that interview, according to the complaint. His efforts to call 911 and his question to ChatGPT about a cigarette lighting a fire indicated he “wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire,” the complaint said.

Investigators determined the Jan. 1 fire was intentionally lit, likely by a lighter taken to vegetation or paper, according to the criminal complaint. They excluded other possibilities, including fireworks, lightning and power lines. Authorities also looked into whether a cigarette may have caused the fire, but concluded that was not the cause, the complaint says.

Investigators found a “barbecue-style” lighter inside the glove compartment of Rinderknecht's car on Jan. 24. It appeared to be the same lighter as one that was in his apartment on Dec. 31, based on a photo on his phone. He admitted to bringing a lighter with him when he walked up the hill.

Second LA fire remains under investigation

Investigators still haven’t determined the cause of a second blaze called the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/drone-footage-reveals-devastated-altadena-neighborhood-following-eaton-wildfire-f823a1f0beee4315b98c811c5f21eda5">community of Altadena</a>&nbsp;and killed 19 people.

Both fires reduced block after block of entire neighborhoods to gray and black debris, destroying homes, schools, businesses and churches. While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-los-angeles-rebuild-home-construction-00b7bb360581616c2e6415f32db13e45">rebuilding is underway</a>&nbsp;in some neighborhoods, it will take years. Many homeowners will not be able to afford it, even those with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-insurance-fair-plan-lawsuit-950c41726b47f58403a907d32ec5e742">insurance</a>.

An outside review released in September found that a lack of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eaton-fire-california-report-f053786a9670af06a0a90cd2ea7150f0">resources and outdated policies</a>&nbsp;for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.

The report commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors said a series of weaknesses, including “outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities,” hampered the county’s response.

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press reporters Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida; and Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759939153486.png" alt="Palisades fire -photo FAA" />
 <figcaption>Palisades fire -photo FAA</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 29-year-old man charged with sparking one of the most destructive blazes in California history likely used a lighter to start a fire on New Year’s Day that smoldered underground and reignited almost a week later, killing 12 people in wealthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-wildfires-eaton-palisides-urban-area-a162c86589b9102a85c510246539ab72">Los Angeles-area neighborhoods</a>, authorities said Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759941697774.png" alt="Rinderknecht photo Department of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Rinderknecht photo Department of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>Federal law enforcement officials charged Jonathan Rinderknecht with lighting the Jan. 1 fire that was extinguished by fire crews only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-evacuation-alerts-69f10d320df14c6394fc2c646d1ff0ce">flare up days later</a>&nbsp;during high winds, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday in Florida and made his first court appearance Wednesday in Orlando on charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Wearing shorts and a T-shirt while shackled at the ankles, he told a federal magistrate in a soft-spoken voice that he was not under the influence and did not have mental issues.The judge set a hearing for Thursday to consider bond and extradition proceedings. Aisha Nash, the federal public defender assigned to represent Rinderknecht, did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment.The Palisades Fire — one of two that broke out on Jan. 7, killing more than 30 people and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/world-news/california-los-angeles-area-wildfires-wildfires-general-news-domestic-news-0dfd72012e85c8c682a7a5dfa678274c">destroying more than 17,000 homes and buildings</a>&nbsp;while burning for days in Los Angeles County — ripped through hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown LA.<h2>Suspect talked to authorities three weeks after the fire</h2>Investigators said Wednesday that Rinderknecht had been working as an Uber driver, and after dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, he parked and walked up a trail. He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a rap song with a music video that shows objects being lit on fire, prosecutors said.He fled the scene after starting the fire, but returned to the same trail to watch it burn, Essayli said.“He left as soon as he saw the fire trucks were headed to the location. He turned around and went back up there. And he took some video and, and watched them fight the fire,” Essayli said.Uber said in a statement that it worked with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine the driver’s whereabouts around the time of the fire.Rinderknecht also made several 911 calls to report the fire, according to a criminal complaint.During an interview Jan. 24, Rinderknecht told investigators where the fire began, information not yet public and that he would not have known if he hadn’t witnessed it, the complaint said.He lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Essayli said.The suspect was visibly anxious during that interview, according to the complaint. His efforts to call 911 and his question to ChatGPT about a cigarette lighting a fire indicated he “wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire,” the complaint said.<h2>Investigators say they found a lighter</h2>Investigators determined the Jan. 1 fire was intentionally lit, likely by a lighter taken to vegetation or paper, according to the criminal complaint. They excluded other possibilities, including fireworks, lightning and power lines. Authorities also looked into whether a cigarette may have caused the fire, but concluded that was not the cause, the complaint says.Investigators found a “barbecue-style” lighter inside the glove compartment of Rinderknecht's car on Jan. 24. It appeared to be the same lighter as one that was in his apartment on Dec. 31, based on a photo on his phone. He admitted to bringing a lighter with him when he walked up the hill.<h2>Second LA fire remains under investigation</h2>Investigators still haven’t determined the cause of a second blaze called the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/drone-footage-reveals-devastated-altadena-neighborhood-following-eaton-wildfire-f823a1f0beee4315b98c811c5f21eda5">community of Altadena</a>&nbsp;and killed 19 people.Both fires reduced block after block of entire neighborhoods to gray and black debris, destroying homes, schools, businesses and churches. While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-los-angeles-rebuild-home-construction-00b7bb360581616c2e6415f32db13e45">rebuilding is underway</a>&nbsp;in some neighborhoods, it will take years. Many homeowners will not be able to afford it, even those with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-insurance-fair-plan-lawsuit-950c41726b47f58403a907d32ec5e742">insurance</a>.An outside review released in September found that a lack of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eaton-fire-california-report-f053786a9670af06a0a90cd2ea7150f0">resources and outdated policies</a>&nbsp;for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.The report commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors said a series of weaknesses, including “outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities,” hampered the county’s response.___Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press reporters Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida; and Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., contributed.___

Man arrested, accused of starting wildfire that leveled LA neighborhood

BOSTON (AP) — Joan B. Kennedy, the former wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy who endured a troubled marriage marked by family tragedies, her husband’s infidelities and her own decades-long struggles with alcoholism and mental health, died on Wednesday. She was 89.

The former Joan Bennett, one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7a9e69a087baf9e69eff0ad345bf47e7">last remaining members of a family generation</a>&nbsp;that included President John F. Kennedy, was a model and classically-trained pianist when she married Ted Kennedy in 1958.

Their lives would change unimaginably&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e418fe3d9b9044feb395cb3cbbced7a6">over the next decade</a>&nbsp;and a half. Brother-in-law John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960 and assassinated three years later. Brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy served as attorney general under JFK, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1964 and assassinated while seeking the presidency.

Her husband was elected to the U.S. Senate and became among the country’s most respected legislators despite initial misgivings that he was capitalizing on his family connections. But Ted Kennedy also lived through scandals of his own making. In 1969, the car he was driving plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, killing his young female passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne.

Kennedy, who swam to safety and waited hours before alerting police, later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. Chappaquiddick shadowed him for the rest of his life, weighing against his own chances for the presidency.

Joan Kennedy had three children with her husband, but also had miscarriages, including one shortly after the Chappaquiddick accident. She stood by her husband through the scandal, but their estrangement was nearly impossible to hide by the time of his unsuccessful effort to defeat President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Democratic primaries. They had been separated by then, and would later divorce. One bumper sticker from the campaign read “Vote for Jimmy Carter, Free Joan Kennedy.”

Her death comes about a year after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethel-kennedy-dies-00eb88951db24e0cada9bd48b66ad8ea">Ethel Kennedy,</a>&nbsp;the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, died at the age of 96, having raised their 11 children after he was assassinated, and remaining dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter.

Virginia Joan Bennett was born into a prominent Bronxville, N.Y., family and as a teen she worked as a model in TV ads. She was a classmate of Jean Kennedy, the future senator’s sister, at Manhattanville College, where her exceptional beauty caught Ted Kennedy’s eye when he visited the campus for a building dedication in 1957.

They married a year later, but Joan Kennedy struggled from the start to fit in to the high-powered family.

“Joan was shy and a really reserved person, and the Kennedys aren’t,” Adam Clymer, author of “Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography” said in an 2005 interview with the AP.

Her love of piano would be a trademark for much of her life. She was known for opening her husband's campaign rallies with a piano serenade and, after they divorced, touring with orchestras around the world. Her family said she would combine her masterful playing with a message about the transformational potential of the arts and the need for equitable arts education.

In a 1992 Associated Press interview, she recalled playing piano for brother-in-law Bobby when he ran for president in 1968. “He took me with him and encouraged me,” she said. “He had a theme, ‘This Land Is Your Land,’ the Woody Guthrie song. I’d play that on the piano and everybody would come in, feeling really great about everything.”

“It seems like a long time ago, but it’s part of my memories,” she said, while promoting a book she wrote, which was a guide to appreciating classical music.

She also talked in the interview about how music helped her get through some difficult times, including the deaths of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ddcdb608829b468685eaa722a4a24361">her son Ted Jr.</a>&nbsp;lost his leg to cancer and her separation and divorce from Ted Kennedy.

“I do advise listening to music when you're in grief,” she said. “Music has give me a lot of courage to carry on.”

In a statement, former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-mental-health-spokane-patrick-kennedy-c3192a14ea12469c9e106f20c53b5be4">Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;praised his mother for her courage and talent.

“Besides being a loving mother, talented musician, and instrumental partner to my father as he launched his successful political career, Mom was a power of example to millions of people with mental health conditions,” his statement said. “She will be missed not just by the entire Kennedy Family, but by the arts community in the City of Boston and the many people whose lives that she touched.”

She also became one of the first women to publicly acknowledge her struggles with alcoholism and depression.

“I will always admire my mother for the way that she faced up to her challenges with grace, courage, humility, and honesty,” Ted Kennedy Jr. said in a statement. “She taught me how to be more truthful with myself and how careful listening is a more powerful communication skill than public speaking.”

After Chappaquiddick, her drinking worsened. A series of drunken driving arrests led to stays in alcohol treatment programs. Then in 2005, a passerby found her passed out on a Boston sidewalk in the rain, and she was hospitalized with a concussion and broken shoulder. Her children intervened, with Ted Jr. obtaining a court-ordered guardianship for his mother’s care.

Maria Shriver praised her cousins for doing “a great job caring for her, respecting her privacy, and loving her.”

“She courageously shared what it was like to lose a child, get divorced from a famous man, and carry on. Her life was challenging, but she persevered,” the daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver posted in a eulogy for her aunt. “As a young girl, I marveled at her grace, her beauty, her elegance. As a woman, I respected her grit, her resilience, her perseverance.”

Joan Kennedy is survived by her two sons, nine grandchildren, a great-grandchild and nearly 30 nieces and nephews. Her daughter, Kara, died in 2011.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759933811580.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — Joan B. Kennedy, the former wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy who endured a troubled marriage marked by family tragedies, her husband’s infidelities and her own decades-long struggles with alcoholism and mental health, died on Wednesday. She was 89.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My beloved aunt Joan Bennett Kennedy, former wife of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), classical pianist, music teacher, and advocate for mental health and addiction services, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Boston, Massachusetts yesterday at the age… <a href="https://t.co/a7B145a3Ay">pic.twitter.com/a7B145a3Ay</a>&mdash; Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1975982333166555553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The former Joan Bennett, one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7a9e69a087baf9e69eff0ad345bf47e7">last remaining members of a family generation</a>&nbsp;that included President John F. Kennedy, was a model and classically-trained pianist when she married Ted Kennedy in 1958.Their lives would change unimaginably&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e418fe3d9b9044feb395cb3cbbced7a6">over the next decade</a>&nbsp;and a half. Brother-in-law John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960 and assassinated three years later. Brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy served as attorney general under JFK, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1964 and assassinated while seeking the presidency.Her husband was elected to the U.S. Senate and became among the country’s most respected legislators despite initial misgivings that he was capitalizing on his family connections. But Ted Kennedy also lived through scandals of his own making. In 1969, the car he was driving plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, killing his young female passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne.Kennedy, who swam to safety and waited hours before alerting police, later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. Chappaquiddick shadowed him for the rest of his life, weighing against his own chances for the presidency.Joan Kennedy had three children with her husband, but also had miscarriages, including one shortly after the Chappaquiddick accident. She stood by her husband through the scandal, but their estrangement was nearly impossible to hide by the time of his unsuccessful effort to defeat President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Democratic primaries. They had been separated by then, and would later divorce. One bumper sticker from the campaign read “Vote for Jimmy Carter, Free Joan Kennedy.”Her death comes about a year after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethel-kennedy-dies-00eb88951db24e0cada9bd48b66ad8ea">Ethel Kennedy,</a>&nbsp;the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, died at the age of 96, having raised their 11 children after he was assassinated, and remaining dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter.Virginia Joan Bennett was born into a prominent Bronxville, N.Y., family and as a teen she worked as a model in TV ads. She was a classmate of Jean Kennedy, the future senator’s sister, at Manhattanville College, where her exceptional beauty caught Ted Kennedy’s eye when he visited the campus for a building dedication in 1957.They married a year later, but Joan Kennedy struggled from the start to fit in to the high-powered family.“Joan was shy and a really reserved person, and the Kennedys aren’t,” Adam Clymer, author of “Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography” said in an 2005 interview with the AP.Her love of piano would be a trademark for much of her life. She was known for opening her husband's campaign rallies with a piano serenade and, after they divorced, touring with orchestras around the world. Her family said she would combine her masterful playing with a message about the transformational potential of the arts and the need for equitable arts education.In a 1992 Associated Press interview, she recalled playing piano for brother-in-law Bobby when he ran for president in 1968. “He took me with him and encouraged me,” she said. “He had a theme, ‘This Land Is Your Land,’ the Woody Guthrie song. I’d play that on the piano and everybody would come in, feeling really great about everything.”“It seems like a long time ago, but it’s part of my memories,” she said, while promoting a book she wrote, which was a guide to appreciating classical music.She also talked in the interview about how music helped her get through some difficult times, including the deaths of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ddcdb608829b468685eaa722a4a24361">her son Ted Jr.</a>&nbsp;lost his leg to cancer and her separation and divorce from Ted Kennedy.“I do advise listening to music when you're in grief,” she said. “Music has give me a lot of courage to carry on.”In a statement, former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-mental-health-spokane-patrick-kennedy-c3192a14ea12469c9e106f20c53b5be4">Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;praised his mother for her courage and talent.“Besides being a loving mother, talented musician, and instrumental partner to my father as he launched his successful political career, Mom was a power of example to millions of people with mental health conditions,” his statement said. “She will be missed not just by the entire Kennedy Family, but by the arts community in the City of Boston and the many people whose lives that she touched.”She also became one of the first women to publicly acknowledge her struggles with alcoholism and depression.“I will always admire my mother for the way that she faced up to her challenges with grace, courage, humility, and honesty,” Ted Kennedy Jr. said in a statement. “She taught me how to be more truthful with myself and how careful listening is a more powerful communication skill than public speaking.”After Chappaquiddick, her drinking worsened. A series of drunken driving arrests led to stays in alcohol treatment programs. Then in 2005, a passerby found her passed out on a Boston sidewalk in the rain, and she was hospitalized with a concussion and broken shoulder. Her children intervened, with Ted Jr. obtaining a court-ordered guardianship for his mother’s care.Maria Shriver praised her cousins for doing “a great job caring for her, respecting her privacy, and loving her.”“She courageously shared what it was like to lose a child, get divorced from a famous man, and carry on. Her life was challenging, but she persevered,” the daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver posted in a eulogy for her aunt. “As a young girl, I marveled at her grace, her beauty, her elegance. As a woman, I respected her grit, her resilience, her perseverance.”Joan Kennedy is survived by her two sons, nine grandchildren, a great-grandchild and nearly 30 nieces and nephews. Her daughter, Kara, died in 2011.

Joan Kennedy, first wife of Sen. Edward Kennedy, has died

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations.&nbsp;

Just after 12:30p.m.&nbsp;October 5, a K-9 Unit with the Shawnee County Sheriff's office conducted a traffic stop on a gray Dodge Durango with a stolen license plate in the 2000 block of SE California Avenue, according to Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, illegal narcotics and multiple stolen items were located.

Deputies arrested 47-year-old Tashara D. Yeargin-Charles of Topeka and she was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp; identity theft, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into the human body, Possession of stolen property, Vehicles; display plate not assigned, Vehicle liability insurance and Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759850096982.png" alt="Yeargin-Charles photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Yeargin-Charles photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations.&nbsp;Just after 12:30p.m.&nbsp;October 5, a K-9 Unit with the Shawnee County Sheriff's office conducted a traffic stop on a gray Dodge Durango with a stolen license plate in the 2000 block of SE California Avenue, according to Sheriff's Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, illegal narcotics and multiple stolen items were located.Deputies arrested 47-year-old Tashara D. Yeargin-Charles of Topeka and she was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp; identity theft, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into the human body, Possession of stolen property, Vehicles; display plate not assigned, Vehicle liability insurance and Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license.

Sheriff: Kansas woman jailed for alleged ID theft

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement in Riley County are investigating a suspect on new allegations after an investigation and arrest in Shawnee County.

Just after 11a.m. Monday, police arrested Nichole Morehead, 22, of Ogden in the 1000 block of Seth Child Road on a Riley County District Court warrant for probation violation. 

This arrest stems from original charges of distribution of fentanyl, unlawful use of a telecommunication facility to distribute fentanyl, and theft. Morehead was issued no bond and remains confined in the Riley County Jail at the time of this report.&nbsp; She was arrested in Shawnee County on Friday, according to online jail records and later transferred to Riley County.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759854534088.png" alt="Morehead from her arrest in Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Morehead from her arrest in Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement in Riley County are investigating a suspect on new allegations after an investigation and arrest in Shawnee County.Just after 11a.m. Monday, police arrested Nichole Morehead, 22, of Ogden in the 1000 block of Seth Child Road on a Riley County District Court warrant for probation violation. This arrest stems from original charges of distribution of fentanyl, unlawful use of a telecommunication facility to distribute fentanyl, and theft. Morehead was issued no bond and remains confined in the Riley County Jail at the time of this report.&nbsp; She was arrested in Shawnee County on Friday, according to online jail records and later transferred to Riley County.

RCPD: Riley County woman accused of selling fentanyl

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen was back in court Friday.

Samuel Loredo, 22, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sodomy and one count each of indecent liberties with a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated interference with parental custody before&nbsp;Judge Quentin Pittman, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.

Just after noon November 18, 2024 law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn in Wichita where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.

Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.

Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Loredo is scheduled for sentencing on November 14.&nbsp;Loredo remains in the Sedgwick County jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732208663228.png" alt="Loredo photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Loredo photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen was back in court Friday.Samuel Loredo, 22, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal sodomy and one count each of indecent liberties with a child, sexual exploitation of a child, and aggravated interference with parental custody before&nbsp;Judge Quentin Pittman, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.Just after noon November 18, 2024 law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn in Wichita where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Loredo is scheduled for sentencing on November 14.&nbsp;Loredo remains in the Sedgwick County jail.

Kan. man enters plea in sex assault of runaway 14-year-old

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is spending millions of dollars on television advertising in select metro areas around the country, an Associated Press tally found, aimed at recruiting local officers frustrated with their cities’ restrictions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;into President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-deportations-immigration-raids-homeland-security-a2c6a2f726629e62bd0199aee68294f6">mass deportation efforts</a>.

“You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city, safe,” the narrator says, as images of the cities targeted and ICE agents arresting people move across the screen. “But in sanctuary cities, you’re ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free.”

The campaign — airing in more than a dozen cities, including Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta — is part of ICE’s $30 billion initiative to hire 10,000 more deportation officers by the end of the year to supercharge deportations. The money is part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-hiring-trump-border-mass-deportations-ed1580c3f5c0c2a2b5c1ebd621574365">the $76.5 billion sought by Trump’s Republican administration</a>&nbsp;for ICE — a 10-fold increase in its current budget — as part of the sweeping, multitrillion-dollar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sign-tax-cut-bill-july-4-3804df732e461a626fd8c2b43413c3f0">tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;enacted in July.

ICE is already offering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-hiring-trump-border-mass-deportations-ed1580c3f5c0c2a2b5c1ebd621574365">bonuses of up to $50,000 for new recruits</a>&nbsp;and other benefits such as tuition reimbursement as it seeks to fast-track hiring.

And while some parts of the federal government are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">shut down</a>&nbsp;as the result of Congress’ failure to pass a spending measure last week, the ICE ads reflect that the push for mass deportations, the Trump administration’s top priority, is still flush with cash.

The ads open with video of each metro’s familiar skyline and the narrator’s voice announcing, for example, “Attention, Miami law enforcement.” Beyond that, the spots are identical, inviting officers to “join ICE and help us catch the worst of the worst. Drug traffickers. Gang members. Predators,” according to a review of the ads on the ad-tracking service AdImpact.

The 30-second spots began running in mid-September in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Boston; Chicago; Denver; New York; Philadelphia; Sacramento, California; Seattle; and Washington, D.C. Adding to the list a week ago: Atlanta; Dallas; El Paso, Texas; Houston; Miami; Salt Lake City; and San Antonio.

As of Monday, total spending on the ads had topped $6.5 million, with the most spent since mid-September being $853,745 in the Seattle area. However, Atlanta saw the most in the past week, more than $947,000, according to AdImpact.

It was unclear why ICE targeted those locations and not others. There is no standard definition of what is a sanctuary jurisdiction although it generally refers to cities or states that limit their cooperation with ICE. Some but not all of the cities appear on a Justice Department list of cities that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-sanctuary-cities-deportation-95277c47a04cdd5e07bbc29da51c0813">“that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.”</a>

Asked in an AP email to explain why specific areas were chosen as advertising targets, Department of Homeland Security officials declined to provide an explanation. Instead, they replied with a Sept. 16 press release, near the beginning of the ad campaign, reporting that it had received more than 150,000 applications and had extended 18,000 tentative job offers.

Some cities where the ads have been playing, particularly Boston and Chicago, have been repeatedly criticized by the Trump administration for their policies that limit how much they can work with federal immigration enforcement. ICE has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigrants-boston-ice-trump-sanctuary-cities-ee2a10f0300029da49fcbd45365e031a">launched immigration crackdowns</a>&nbsp;in both of those cities. Local officials in Chicago have been particularly outspoken against the stepped-up enforcement.

Albuquerque is among the smallest metropolitan areas where the ads are airing, though the city’s mayor, Tim Keller, has been a vocal opponent of the Trump administration’s immigration policy. In July, Keller signed an executive order barring city employees from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement “unless legally required.”

Local police can’t compete with ICE promises

The AP reached out to police departments in areas where the ads were running. Most departments either did not respond or said they did not comment on actions of outside agencies. A few, including Sacramento and Miami, said they had not noticed any of their officers leaving for positions at ICE or DHS.

Four of the markets where the ads are playing are in Texas, including San Antonio.

Danny Diaz, the president of the city’s Police Officers Association, said he’d seen the ads and was concerned about prospective recruits who might be thinking of joining the city’s police department joining ICE instead.

“We can’t compete with a $50,000 signing bonus,” Diaz said. “I do think that the younger generation will jump on that.”

The government shutdown could dampen ICE’s recruitment hopes, he said.

“They’re furloughing federal employees, and I don’t think individuals want to leave one department to go work for a federal agency when they don’t know if they’re going to receive a check or not,” he said, referring to the lapse in funding that has led to federal law enforcement officers going without pay.

Philadelphia police Capt. John Walker said it’s too early to tell whether the ad campaign has had an impact on the city’s recruiting. Instead, he suggested, the ads appeared more geared toward reassuring viewers that the Trump administration was addressing illegal immigration.

“It’s the psychological feel. You want to know that there are cops out there because it makes you feel good,” said Walker, who’s in charge of Philadelphia police recruiting. “That’s all this is, strengthening the belief that they’re doing something.”

The ad blitz comes as law enforcement departments around the country are struggling to meet staffing demands.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is spending millions of dollars on television advertising in select metro areas around the country, an Associated Press tally found, aimed at recruiting local officers frustrated with their cities’ restrictions on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;into President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-deportations-immigration-raids-homeland-security-a2c6a2f726629e62bd0199aee68294f6">mass deportation efforts</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Now boarding: ICE AIR 🛫🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/WUJixf3hqv">pic.twitter.com/WUJixf3hqv</a>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1975232826070183963?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city, safe,” the narrator says, as images of the cities targeted and ICE agents arresting people move across the screen. “But in sanctuary cities, you’re ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Love God. Save America. <a href="https://t.co/nZkBEj4evQ">https://t.co/nZkBEj4evQ</a>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1974874479831793763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The campaign — airing in more than a dozen cities, including Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta — is part of ICE’s $30 billion initiative to hire 10,000 more deportation officers by the end of the year to supercharge deportations. The money is part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-hiring-trump-border-mass-deportations-ed1580c3f5c0c2a2b5c1ebd621574365">the $76.5 billion sought by Trump’s Republican administration</a>&nbsp;for ICE — a 10-fold increase in its current budget — as part of the sweeping, multitrillion-dollar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sign-tax-cut-bill-july-4-3804df732e461a626fd8c2b43413c3f0">tax breaks and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;enacted in July.ICE is already offering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-hiring-trump-border-mass-deportations-ed1580c3f5c0c2a2b5c1ebd621574365">bonuses of up to $50,000 for new recruits</a>&nbsp;and other benefits such as tuition reimbursement as it seeks to fast-track hiring.And while some parts of the federal government are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-congress-trump-health-care-54b2a584657a0b619bc8326708a05604">shut down</a>&nbsp;as the result of Congress’ failure to pass a spending measure last week, the ICE ads reflect that the push for mass deportations, the Trump administration’s top priority, is still flush with cash.<h2>Millions spent on the 30-second ads</h2>The ads open with video of each metro’s familiar skyline and the narrator’s voice announcing, for example, “Attention, Miami law enforcement.” Beyond that, the spots are identical, inviting officers to “join ICE and help us catch the worst of the worst. Drug traffickers. Gang members. Predators,” according to a review of the ads on the ad-tracking service AdImpact.The 30-second spots began running in mid-September in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Boston; Chicago; Denver; New York; Philadelphia; Sacramento, California; Seattle; and Washington, D.C. Adding to the list a week ago: Atlanta; Dallas; El Paso, Texas; Houston; Miami; Salt Lake City; and San Antonio.As of Monday, total spending on the ads had topped $6.5 million, with the most spent since mid-September being $853,745 in the Seattle area. However, Atlanta saw the most in the past week, more than $947,000, according to AdImpact.It was unclear why ICE targeted those locations and not others. There is no standard definition of what is a sanctuary jurisdiction although it generally refers to cities or states that limit their cooperation with ICE. Some but not all of the cities appear on a Justice Department list of cities that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-sanctuary-cities-deportation-95277c47a04cdd5e07bbc29da51c0813">“that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.”</a>Asked in an AP email to explain why specific areas were chosen as advertising targets, Department of Homeland Security officials declined to provide an explanation. Instead, they replied with a Sept. 16 press release, near the beginning of the ad campaign, reporting that it had received more than 150,000 applications and had extended 18,000 tentative job offers.Some cities where the ads have been playing, particularly Boston and Chicago, have been repeatedly criticized by the Trump administration for their policies that limit how much they can work with federal immigration enforcement. ICE has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigrants-boston-ice-trump-sanctuary-cities-ee2a10f0300029da49fcbd45365e031a">launched immigration crackdowns</a>&nbsp;in both of those cities. Local officials in Chicago have been particularly outspoken against the stepped-up enforcement.Albuquerque is among the smallest metropolitan areas where the ads are airing, though the city’s mayor, Tim Keller, has been a vocal opponent of the Trump administration’s immigration policy. In July, Keller signed an executive order barring city employees from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement “unless legally required.”<h2>Local police can’t compete with ICE promises</h2>The AP reached out to police departments in areas where the ads were running. Most departments either did not respond or said they did not comment on actions of outside agencies. A few, including Sacramento and Miami, said they had not noticed any of their officers leaving for positions at ICE or DHS.Four of the markets where the ads are playing are in Texas, including San Antonio.Danny Diaz, the president of the city’s Police Officers Association, said he’d seen the ads and was concerned about prospective recruits who might be thinking of joining the city’s police department joining ICE instead.“We can’t compete with a $50,000 signing bonus,” Diaz said. “I do think that the younger generation will jump on that.”The government shutdown could dampen ICE’s recruitment hopes, he said.“They’re furloughing federal employees, and I don’t think individuals want to leave one department to go work for a federal agency when they don’t know if they’re going to receive a check or not,” he said, referring to the lapse in funding that has led to federal law enforcement officers going without pay.Philadelphia police Capt. John Walker said it’s too early to tell whether the ad campaign has had an impact on the city’s recruiting. Instead, he suggested, the ads appeared more geared toward reassuring viewers that the Trump administration was addressing illegal immigration.“It’s the psychological feel. You want to know that there are cops out there because it makes you feel good,” said Walker, who’s in charge of Philadelphia police recruiting. “That’s all this is, strengthening the belief that they’re doing something.”The ad blitz comes as law enforcement departments around the country are struggling to meet staffing demands.___Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.

ICE ad blitz aims to lure local law enforcement officers to join Trump mass deportation efforts

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with multiple alleged crimes&nbsp;

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, just before 2:30a.m. Oct. 4, a 23-year-old suspect fled a traffic stop at 12th Street and Bluemont Avenue. The suspect's vehicle nearly struck a law enforcement officer. The vehicle eventually disabled. 

Jared Espinoza, 23, of Kansas City, Kan., was arrested on requested charges of flee or attempt to elude, aggravated assault, reckless driving, driving under the influence, interference with a law enforcement officer, driving while suspended and violation of restrictions on driver’s license or permit. Espinoza is being held without bond.&nbsp;&nbsp;

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with multiple alleged crimes&nbsp;According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, just before 2:30a.m. Oct. 4, a 23-year-old suspect fled a traffic stop at 12th Street and Bluemont Avenue. The suspect's vehicle nearly struck a law enforcement officer. The vehicle eventually disabled. Jared Espinoza, 23, of Kansas City, Kan., was arrested on requested charges of flee or attempt to elude, aggravated assault, reckless driving, driving under the influence, interference with a law enforcement officer, driving while suspended and violation of restrictions on driver’s license or permit. Espinoza is being held without bond.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. driver, who fled traffic stop, nearly struck officer 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations.

Just before 12:30p.m. on October 3, police arrested Brian Griffith, 25, of Junction City, in the 1000 block of Seth Child Road on a Riley County District Court warrant for probation violation. 

This arrest stems from an original charge of aggravated solicitation of a child. Griffith was issued a total bond of $5,000 and is no longer confined in the Riley County Jail.

Griffith has been listed as a sex offender since a 2022 conviction for Aggravated indecent solicitation of a child; Sex act with a child under age 14 in Riley County, according to the Sex Offender Registry.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759778912920.png" alt="Griffith-photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Griffith-photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations.Just before 12:30p.m. on October 3, police arrested Brian Griffith, 25, of Junction City, in the 1000 block of Seth Child Road on a Riley County District Court warrant for probation violation. This arrest stems from an original charge of aggravated solicitation of a child. Griffith was issued a total bond of $5,000 and is no longer confined in the Riley County Jail.Griffith has been listed as a sex offender since a 2022 conviction for Aggravated indecent solicitation of a child; Sex act with a child under age 14 in Riley County, according to the Sex Offender Registry.&nbsp;

Kansas sex offender accused of new crimes 

DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations.

On Sunday, deputies with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Matthew Jordan Schaecher, 29, of Herington, Kansas on a warrant for Internet trading in child pornography, aggravated Internet trading in child pornography, and sexual exploitation of a child, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759754763358.png" alt="Schaecher-photo Dickinson Co." />
 <figcaption>Schaecher-photo Dickinson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations.On Sunday, deputies with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Matthew Jordan Schaecher, 29, of Herington, Kansas on a warrant for Internet trading in child pornography, aggravated Internet trading in child pornography, and sexual exploitation of a child, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office began the investigation after receiving tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. During the investigation, a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 800 Block of W Day Street, Herington, Kansas on Sunday. The Herington Police Department assisted in the execution of the search warrant at the residence. Additional search warrants were executed and the warrant was then issued for his arrest. Schaecher was booked into the Dickinson County Detention Facility.