LONDON (AP) — The crime was in London, the suspect was Russian and the witness who saw the beating on a video call was in the United States and happened to be the youngest son of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Barron Trump called police in the British capital and his intervention more than a year ago led Wednesday to the assault conviction of Matvei Rumiantsev, who admitted he was jealous of his girlfriend's friendship with Trump.

Trump said he placed a late night FaceTime call to the victim, a woman he met on social media, and was startled when it was answered by a bare-chested man.

“This view lasted maybe one second and I was racing with adrenaline,” Trump told police. “The camera was then flipped to the victim getting hit while crying, stating something in Russian.”

The call was hung up after a few seconds and Trump then phoned London police in a recording in which Trump desperately pleaded for help as the dispatcher insisted he answer basic questions about the victim.

"How do you know her?” the operator asked after a back-and-forth dialog.

“I don’t think these details matter, she’s getting beat up," Trump said.

“Can you stop being rude and actually answer my questions?" the dispatcher said. "If you want to help the person, you’ll answer my questions clearly and precisely, thank you. So how do you know her?”

Police went to the address on Jan. 18 and arrested Rumiantsev, 22, a receptionist who lived in London.

He was acquitted in Snaresbrook Crown Court of rape and choking the woman on the night Trump called police, and an additional rape and assault alleged in November 2024.

Rumiantsev testified that he was jealous of Trump but that he also felt badly for him because he thought that his girlfriend was leading him on.

Defense lawyer Sasha Wass said that Trump didn't know the woman had a boyfriend and questioned how much he could have seen in five or seven seconds of video.

Wass said that the woman exploited her ties to Trump to make her boyfriend envious in a “relationship full of dramas.”

Trump, 19, the only child of Donald and Melania Trump, didn't testify in the case.

Justice Bennathan advised jurors before they began deliberating to treat Barron Trump's accounts — on the recording of his call to police and his follow-up email to investigators — with caution because he hadn't been subjected to cross-examination.

“If he had done so, no doubt, he could have been asked about things such as whether he ever got a good view of what happened, whether he actually saw (the woman) being assaulted, or jumped to this conclusion on the basis of her screams," Bennathan said. “He might also have been asked whether his perception was biased because he was close friends with (her)."

Rumiantsev was also convicted of perverting the course of justice, because he sent the woman a letter from jail asking her to retract her allegations. He's scheduled to be sentenced on March 27.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769627597370.png" alt="File image Barron Trump image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File image Barron Trump image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — The crime was in London, the suspect was Russian and the witness who saw the beating on a video call was in the United States and happened to be the youngest son of U.S. President Donald Trump.Barron Trump called police in the British capital and his intervention more than a year ago led Wednesday to the assault conviction of Matvei Rumiantsev, who admitted he was jealous of his girlfriend's friendship with Trump.Trump said he placed a late night FaceTime call to the victim, a woman he met on social media, and was startled when it was answered by a bare-chested man.“This view lasted maybe one second and I was racing with adrenaline,” Trump told police. “The camera was then flipped to the victim getting hit while crying, stating something in Russian.”The call was hung up after a few seconds and Trump then phoned London police in a recording in which Trump desperately pleaded for help as the dispatcher insisted he answer basic questions about the victim."How do you know her?” the operator asked after a back-and-forth dialog.“I don’t think these details matter, she’s getting beat up," Trump said.“Can you stop being rude and actually answer my questions?" the dispatcher said. "If you want to help the person, you’ll answer my questions clearly and precisely, thank you. So how do you know her?”Police went to the address on Jan. 18 and arrested Rumiantsev, 22, a receptionist who lived in London.He was acquitted in Snaresbrook Crown Court of rape and choking the woman on the night Trump called police, and an additional rape and assault alleged in November 2024.Rumiantsev testified that he was jealous of Trump but that he also felt badly for him because he thought that his girlfriend was leading him on.Defense lawyer Sasha Wass said that Trump didn't know the woman had a boyfriend and questioned how much he could have seen in five or seven seconds of video.Wass said that the woman exploited her ties to Trump to make her boyfriend envious in a “relationship full of dramas.”Trump, 19, the only child of Donald and Melania Trump, didn't testify in the case.Justice Bennathan advised jurors before they began deliberating to treat Barron Trump's accounts — on the recording of his call to police and his follow-up email to investigators — with caution because he hadn't been subjected to cross-examination.“If he had done so, no doubt, he could have been asked about things such as whether he ever got a good view of what happened, whether he actually saw (the woman) being assaulted, or jumped to this conclusion on the basis of her screams," Bennathan said. “He might also have been asked whether his perception was biased because he was close friends with (her)."Rumiantsev was also convicted of perverting the course of justice, because he sent the woman a letter from jail asking her to retract her allegations. He's scheduled to be sentenced on March 27.

Assailant convicted after Barron Trump calls London police to report crime

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas sex offender is going back to prison for sex crimes committed in 2020 and two other crimes.

Judge Kathleen Watson sentenced 39-year-old Darrius Johnson to&nbsp;serve 308 months in the custody to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He pleaded guilty to charge of&nbsp;rape and kidnapping in connection with a September attack on a woman in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;He received a 55‑month sentence for the case involving an abduction and rape in September. He pleaded guilty in that case.

On September 22, 2020, police were dispatched to a sexual assault case in the 800 block of South Sylvan in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.

Upon arrival, a 48-year-old female victim, told police she was walking in the area of Lincoln and Oliver when a suspect later identified Johnson approached and grabbed her, forcing her into his Toyota Camry.

Johnson drove the victim to a separate location and sexually assaulted her. Johnson then drove the victim back to Lincoln and Oliver where she was released. Through the investigation and examination of evidence, Johnson was determined to have been involved in the attack.

Police arrested Johnson October 1, 2020 in the 2100 block of South White Oak in Wichita without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Johnson has a previous felony conviction in 2010 for attempted aggravated sexual battery where victim is overcome by force or fear, according to the KBI offender registry.

At the time of his arrest, Johnson was out on bond for a separate alleged sex crime, according to Cruz.

In addition to the 55 months for the crime in 2020, Johnson was sentenced to 253 months for two counts of rape, attempted rape, and attempted aggravated criminal sodomy for crimes that occurred in December 2018.

Johnson was also sentenced to 18 months for violating the Offender Registration Act for the crime that occurred in 2018, according to the district attorney's office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas sex offender is scheduled to learn his fate in connection with sex crimes committed in 2020.

Darrius Johnson, 39, is scheduled to make an appearance in Judge Kathleen Watson's courtroom for sentencing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He pleaded guilty to charge of&nbsp;rape and kidnapping in connection with a September attack on a woman in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In December, Johnson asked to withdraw his guilty plea and face a jury trial. The judge rejected the request.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1601904705441.png" alt="Johnson photo&nbsp; Kansas Sex offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Johnson photo&nbsp; Kansas Sex offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas sex offender is going back to prison for sex crimes committed in 2020 and two other crimes.Judge Kathleen Watson sentenced 39-year-old Darrius Johnson to&nbsp;serve 308 months in the custody to the Kansas Department of Corrections.according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He pleaded guilty to charge of&nbsp;rape and kidnapping in connection with a September attack on a woman in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;He received a 55‑month sentence for the case involving an abduction and rape in September. He pleaded guilty in that case.On September 22, 2020, police were dispatched to a sexual assault case in the 800 block of South Sylvan in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.Upon arrival, a 48-year-old female victim, told police she was walking in the area of Lincoln and Oliver when a suspect later identified Johnson approached and grabbed her, forcing her into his Toyota Camry.Johnson drove the victim to a separate location and sexually assaulted her. Johnson then drove the victim back to Lincoln and Oliver where she was released. Through the investigation and examination of evidence, Johnson was determined to have been involved in the attack.Police arrested Johnson October 1, 2020 in the 2100 block of South White Oak in Wichita without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Johnson has a previous felony conviction in 2010 for attempted aggravated sexual battery where victim is overcome by force or fear, according to the KBI offender registry.At the time of his arrest, Johnson was out on bond for a separate alleged sex crime, according to Cruz.In addition to the 55 months for the crime in 2020, Johnson was sentenced to 253 months for two counts of rape, attempted rape, and attempted aggravated criminal sodomy for crimes that occurred in December 2018.Johnson was also sentenced to 18 months for violating the Offender Registration Act for the crime that occurred in 2018, according to the district attorney's office.---------------SEDGWICK COUNTY —A registered Kansas sex offender is scheduled to learn his fate in connection with sex crimes committed in 2020.Darrius Johnson, 39, is scheduled to make an appearance in Judge Kathleen Watson's courtroom for sentencing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He pleaded guilty to charge of&nbsp;rape and kidnapping in connection with a September attack on a woman in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In December, Johnson asked to withdraw his guilty plea and face a jury trial. The judge rejected the request.On September 22, 2020, police were dispatched to a sexual assault case in the 800 block of South Sylvan in Wichita, according to officer Paul Cruz.Upon arrival, a 48-year-old female victim, told police she was walking in the area of Lincoln and Oliver when a suspect later identified Johnson approached and grabbed her, forcing her into his Toyota Camry.Johnson drove the victim to a separate location and sexually assaulted her. Johnson then drove the victim back to Lincoln and Oliver where she was released. Through the investigation and examination of evidence, Johnson was determined to have been involved in the attack.Police arrested Johnson October 1, 2020 in the 2100 block of South White Oak in Wichita without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Johnson has a previous felony conviction in 2010 for attempted aggravated sexual battery where victim is overcome by force or fear, according to the KBI offender registry.At the time of his arrest, Johnson was out on bond for a separate alleged sex crime, according to Cruz.

Kansas sex offender going back to prison for rape, kidnapping

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement used a drone to help make an arrest in deadly knife attack in Wichita.

Just after 8:30 p.m. Monday,&nbsp; police officers responded to a reported disturbance in the 400 Block of West Maple in Wichita, according to a media release. First responders located 28-year-old Jon Berkenmeier of Wichita, suffering from apparent stab wounds. Officers immediately initiated life-saving measures; however, Berkenmeier was pronounced deceased at the scene.

A 25-year-old Wichita man identified in booking records as Joseph Allen Anderson was detained at the scene and later arrested on a requested charges of second-degree murder. 

Police said Berkenmeier and Anderson knew each other but released no additional details about their relationship.

The Wichita Police Department’s Drone as First Responder (DFR)&nbsp;was the first unit to arrive on scene, providing real-time aerial video and critical situational information&nbsp;to officers while they were responding. This early intelligence significantly enhanced officer awareness and coordination&nbsp;during the initial moments of the response.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769537340642.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement used a drone to help make an arrest in deadly knife attack in Wichita.Just after 8:30 p.m. Monday,&nbsp; police officers responded to a reported disturbance in the 400 Block of West Maple in Wichita, according to a media release. First responders located 28-year-old Jon Berkenmeier of Wichita, suffering from apparent stab wounds. Officers immediately initiated life-saving measures; however, Berkenmeier was pronounced deceased at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769598931710.png" alt="Anderson photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Anderson photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>A 25-year-old Wichita man identified in booking records as Joseph Allen Anderson was detained at the scene and later arrested on a requested charges of second-degree murder. Police said Berkenmeier and Anderson knew each other but released no additional details about their relationship.The Wichita Police Department’s Drone as First Responder (DFR)&nbsp;was the first unit to arrive on scene, providing real-time aerial video and critical situational information&nbsp;to officers while they were responding. This early intelligence significantly enhanced officer awareness and coordination&nbsp;during the initial moments of the response.

Police use drone to help in fatal Kansas knife attack arrest 

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect for an alleged violent robbery in Great Bend.

Just before 9 p.m., January 23, police were dispatched to report of a robbery in the 900 block of Jefferson in Great Bend, according to a mdeid release.

Upon officers' arrival, the victim reported that Juan Prieto, 31, and Trinity Galliart, 30, had used physical force and stole money from him. The victim also reported that Prieto and Galliart had left the scene in a white truck.

 A short time later, officers located the suspect vehicle as well as both suspects at a residence in the 2400 block of Cheyenne Drive in Great Bend.. As a result of the investigation, both Prieto and Galliart were arrested on requested charges of Robbery, and were transported to the Barton County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769555572726.png" alt="Photo Barton Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Photo Barton Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect for an alleged violent robbery in Great Bend.Just before 9 p.m., January 23, police were dispatched to report of a robbery in the 900 block of Jefferson in Great Bend, according to a mdeid release.Upon officers' arrival, the victim reported that Juan Prieto, 31, and Trinity Galliart, 30, had used physical force and stole money from him. The victim also reported that Prieto and Galliart had left the scene in a white truck. A short time later, officers located the suspect vehicle as well as both suspects at a residence in the 2400 block of Cheyenne Drive in Great Bend.. As a result of the investigation, both Prieto and Galliart were arrested on requested charges of Robbery, and were transported to the Barton County Jail.

Man and woman accused of violent robbery in central Kansas

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man sprayed an unknown substance on Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar">U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar</a>&nbsp;and was tackled to the ground Tuesday during a town hall in Minneapolis, where tensions over federal immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-ice-b0cec9d1c5bae4b62469011775082300">have come to a head</a>&nbsp;after agents fatally shot an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-alex-pretti-border-patrol-shooting-investigation-9d8ac8531f0d195ada3374c86a9deb21">intensive care nurse</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">mother of three</a>&nbsp;this month.

The audience cheered as the man was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her.”

Just before that Omar had called for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.

Minneapolis police said officers saw a man use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid at Omar. They immediately arrested him and booked him at the county jail for third-degree assault, spokesperson Trevor Folke said in an email. Police also said forensic scientists responded to the scene.

Omar continued the town hall after the man was ushered out of the room by her security detail, saying she would not be intimidated. Journalists said there was a strong, vinegar-like smell when the man pushed on the syringe.

Walking out afterward, Omar said she felt a little flustered but was not hurt. She was going to be screened by a medical team.

She later posted on the social platform X: “I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday night.

President Donald Trump has frequently criticized the congresswoman and has stepped up verbal attacks on her in recent months as he turned his focus on Minneapolis.

During a Cabinet meeting in December, he called her “garbage” and added that “her friends are garbage.”

Hours earlier on Tuesday, the president criticized Omar as he spoke to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only let in immigrants who “can show that they love our country.”

“They have to be proud, not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of her name.

He added: “She comes from a country that’s a disaster. So probably, it’s considered, I think — it’s not even a country.”

Fellow U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, denounced the assault on Omar.

“I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today” Mace said via X. “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, also condemned the attack on X, saying: “Unacceptable. Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk.”

He added that he was relieved that Omar “is OK” and thanked police for their quick response, concluding: “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”

The attack came days after a man was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sundance-film-festival-congressman-assault-ff98382c02bdecdbf5c28ac0b677ac6a">arrested in Utah</a>&nbsp;for allegedly punching U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump was going to deport him.

Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 and the aftermath of that year’s Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, before dipping slightly only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-threat-assessment-cases-2024" target="_blank">U.S. Capitol Police</a>.

Lawmakers have discussed the chill the threats bring on their ability to hold town halls and public events, with some even citing the threat environment in their decisions not to seek reelection.

Omar has faced the most particular concern, long targeted with harsh language and personal attacks by Trump and other Republicans.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A man sprayed an unknown substance on Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ilhan-omar">U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar</a>&nbsp;and was tackled to the ground Tuesday during a town hall in Minneapolis, where tensions over federal immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-ice-b0cec9d1c5bae4b62469011775082300">have come to a head</a>&nbsp;after agents fatally shot an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-alex-pretti-border-patrol-shooting-investigation-9d8ac8531f0d195ada3374c86a9deb21">intensive care nurse</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">mother of three</a>&nbsp;this month.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) assaulted during town hall meeting: &quot;Here&#39;s the reality that people like this ugly man don&#39;t understand; we are Minnesota strong and we will stay resilient in the face of whatever they might throw at us.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Ud5l3yP4lQ">pic.twitter.com/Ud5l3yP4lQ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2016320453132869910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The audience cheered as the man was pinned down and his arms were tied behind his back. In video of the incident, someone in the crowd can be heard saying, “Oh my god, he sprayed something on her.”Just before that Omar had called for the abolishment of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to resign.“ICE cannot be reformed,” she said.Minneapolis police said officers saw a man use a syringe to spray an unknown liquid at Omar. They immediately arrested him and booked him at the county jail for third-degree assault, spokesperson Trevor Folke said in an email. Police also said forensic scientists responded to the scene.Omar continued the town hall after the man was ushered out of the room by her security detail, saying she would not be intimidated. Journalists said there was a strong, vinegar-like smell when the man pushed on the syringe.Walking out afterward, Omar said she felt a little flustered but was not hurt. She was going to be screened by a medical team.She later posted on the social platform X: “I’m ok. I’m a survivor so this small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work. I don’t let bullies win. Grateful to my incredible constituents who rallied behind me. Minnesota strong.”The White House did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Tuesday night.President Donald Trump has frequently criticized the congresswoman and has stepped up verbal attacks on her in recent months as he turned his focus on Minneapolis.During a Cabinet meeting in December, he called her “garbage” and added that “her friends are garbage.”Hours earlier on Tuesday, the president criticized Omar as he spoke to a crowd in Iowa, saying his administration would only let in immigrants who “can show that they love our country.”“They have to be proud, not like Ilhan Omar,” he said, drawing loud boos at the mention of her name.He added: “She comes from a country that’s a disaster. So probably, it’s considered, I think — it’s not even a country.”Fellow U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, denounced the assault on Omar.“I am deeply disturbed to learn that Rep. Ilhan Omar was attacked at a town hall today” Mace said via X. “Regardless of how vehemently I disagree with her rhetoric — and I do — no elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.”Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, also condemned the attack on X, saying: “Unacceptable. Violence and intimidation have no place in Minneapolis. We can disagree without putting people at risk.”He added that he was relieved that Omar “is OK” and thanked police for their quick response, concluding: “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our city.”The attack came days after a man was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sundance-film-festival-congressman-assault-ff98382c02bdecdbf5c28ac0b677ac6a">arrested in Utah</a>&nbsp;for allegedly punching U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, a Democrat from Florida, in the face during the Sundance Film Festival and saying Trump was going to deport him.Threats against members of Congress have increased in recent years, peaking in 2021 and the aftermath of that year’s Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, before dipping slightly only to climb again, according to the most recent figures from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-threat-assessment-cases-2024" target="_blank">U.S. Capitol Police</a>.Lawmakers have discussed the chill the threats bring on their ability to hold town halls and public events, with some even citing the threat environment in their decisions not to seek reelection.Omar has faced the most particular concern, long targeted with harsh language and personal attacks by Trump and other Republicans.___Schoenbaum reported from Salt Lake City.

🎥U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar assaulted during town hall meeting

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court earlier this month for possessing methamphetamine to distribute, illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported, according to the United State's Attornehy.

Jose Alberto Rodriguez-Landeros (also known as Raul Garcia, Raul Garcia Rodriguez, Saul Dias Gonzalez, Miguel Angel Garcia Perez, Miguel Garcia Perez, Jose Alberto Landeros, Angel Saucedo, Jose M. Rodriguez, Ivan M. Pantoja, Guillermo Gonzalez-Dias), 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

On Nov. 14, 2024, Rodriguez-Landeros pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported.&nbsp;

Based on the written plea agreement, Rodriguez-Landeros admitted to selling methamphetamine to a confidential source on three separate occasions on Oct. 11, 2022, Oct. 21, 2022, and Nov. 22, 2022.&nbsp; On Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of the defendant’s residence located in Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp; Officers discovered the following items: a Keltec, Model P-32, .32 caliber pistol; identification documents with various aliases utilized by Rodriguez-Landeros; approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine; approximately 148 grams of powder cocaine; and $9,500 in U.S. currency.&nbsp; Also on Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials arrested the defendant while driving on Indiana Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. During the arrest, officers seized approximately 380 grams of methamphetamine and 75 grams of cocaine found on Rodriguez-Landeros’s person and in his vehicle. Immigration and Customs Enforcement records confirmed that Rodriguez-Landeros was previously deported from the United States on at least three occasions since 2000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769554413372.png" alt="File photo DEA" />
 <figcaption>File photo DEA</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court earlier this month for possessing methamphetamine to distribute, illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported, according to the United State's Attornehy.Jose Alberto Rodriguez-Landeros (also known as Raul Garcia, Raul Garcia Rodriguez, Saul Dias Gonzalez, Miguel Angel Garcia Perez, Miguel Garcia Perez, Jose Alberto Landeros, Angel Saucedo, Jose M. Rodriguez, Ivan M. Pantoja, Guillermo Gonzalez-Dias), 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole.On Nov. 14, 2024, Rodriguez-Landeros pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported.&nbsp;Based on the written plea agreement, Rodriguez-Landeros admitted to selling methamphetamine to a confidential source on three separate occasions on Oct. 11, 2022, Oct. 21, 2022, and Nov. 22, 2022.&nbsp; On Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of the defendant’s residence located in Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp; Officers discovered the following items: a Keltec, Model P-32, .32 caliber pistol; identification documents with various aliases utilized by Rodriguez-Landeros; approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine; approximately 148 grams of powder cocaine; and $9,500 in U.S. currency.&nbsp; Also on Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials arrested the defendant while driving on Indiana Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. During the arrest, officers seized approximately 380 grams of methamphetamine and 75 grams of cocaine found on Rodriguez-Landeros’s person and in his vehicle. Immigration and Customs Enforcement records confirmed that Rodriguez-Landeros was previously deported from the United States on at least three occasions since 2000.

Illegal alien sold meth to confidential source in KC three times

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police investigating another deadly shooting in Wichita reported an arrest.

Just after 8a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the&nbsp;the 900 block of East Indianapolis in Wichita&nbsp;for a reported welfare check after receiving information about a man down, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Wichita police officers and detectives conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation, working through challenging weather conditions and utilizing multiple departmental resources.

Officers from multiple WPD sections, Crime Scene Investigators,&nbsp;K-9 Mantra, and&nbsp;Flock technology&nbsp;were utilized to canvass the area, locate evidence, and develop investigative leads.&nbsp;K-9 Mantra located multiple shell casings in the snow during the search.

As a result of this coordinated effort, detectives were able to quickly identify a suspect identified as 27-year-old Donny J. Harris of Springfield, Missouri, and establish probable cause. An arrest warrant was issued for first-degree murder.

Working in close coordination with the Springfield Police Department, Harris was located and arrested Monday evening in Springfield, Missouri. He is being held in the Greene County, Missouri jail, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769461383611.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police investigating another deadly shooting in Wichita reported an arrest.Just after 8a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the&nbsp;the 900 block of East Indianapolis in Wichita&nbsp;for a reported welfare check after receiving information about a man down, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769544369926.png" alt="Harris photo Greene County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Harris photo Greene County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita police officers and detectives conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation, working through challenging weather conditions and utilizing multiple departmental resources.Officers from multiple WPD sections, Crime Scene Investigators,&nbsp;K-9 Mantra, and&nbsp;Flock technology&nbsp;were utilized to canvass the area, locate evidence, and develop investigative leads.&nbsp;K-9 Mantra located multiple shell casings in the snow during the search.As a result of this coordinated effort, detectives were able to quickly identify a suspect identified as 27-year-old Donny J. Harris of Springfield, Missouri, and establish probable cause. An arrest warrant was issued for first-degree murder.Working in close coordination with the Springfield Police Department, Harris was located and arrested Monday evening in Springfield, Missouri. He is being held in the Greene County, Missouri jail, according to online jail records.

Suspect in Kansas homicide captured in Missouri

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/konstantin-toropin">KONSTANTIN TOROPIN</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">warships have arrived in the Middle East</a>, bringing a renewed potential that President Donald Trump could opt to order airstrikes on Iran over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-us-aircraft-carrier-crackdown-yemen-e0a6b3c72775348c553ad185af5bfb20">crackdown on protesters</a>.

The carrier, along with three destroyers, “is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability,” U.S. Central Command said Monday on social media.

The strike group was in the Indian Ocean, Central Command said, and not in the Arabian Sea, which borders Iran. It will bring thousands of additional service members to the region, which has not had a U.S. aircraft carrier since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carriers-trump-venezuela-middle-east-a458b9c4f1a5690e19d7c532dd6b7fd7">the USS Gerald R. Ford</a>&nbsp;was ordered in October to sail to the Caribbean as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">pressure campaign on then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro</a>.

Trump told reporters last week that the ships were sent to the region “just in case.” “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” he said.

Trump earlier had threatened military action if Iran carried out mass executions of prisoners or killed peaceful demonstrators during a crackdown on protests that began in late December. At least 5,973 people have been killed and more than 41,800 detained, according to activists. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">official Iranian death toll</a>&nbsp;is far lower, at 3,117 dead.

More recently, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-hangings-protests-dae7dca429c9823f4f5690b368ebfe15">appeared to have backed away</a>&nbsp;from possible action, claiming Iran halted the hangings of 800 detained protesters. He has not elaborated on the source of the claim, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-death-toll-acb1968a973f19be217ea28b4a7adb0b">Iran’s top prosecutor called “completely false.”</a>

However, Trump appears to be keeping his options open. On Thursday aboard Air Force One, he said his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-middle-east-allies-strikes-diplomat-24f75a6b2ab3716be47163fcb0817bc7">threatened military action</a>&nbsp;would make last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fordo-us-strike-trump-israel-nuclear-sites-320a85327f94ed7496f09564261f3148">U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites</a>&nbsp;“look like peanuts” if the government proceeded with planned executions of some protesters.

The aircraft carrier hosts multiple squadrons of aircraft, including F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets. Meanwhile, the destroyers bring with them hundreds of missiles, which could include dozens of Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.

In addition to the aircraft carrier and its hardware, the U.S. military said the Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet now has a presence in the region.

Analysts who follow flight-tracking data have noticed dozens of U.S. military cargo planes also heading to the region.

The activity is similar to last year when the U.S. moved in air defense hardware, including a Patriot missile system, in anticipation of an Iranian counterattack following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">bombing of three key nuclear sites</a>. Iran launched over a dozen missiles at Al Udeid Air Base days after the strikes.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two Iranian-backed militias in the Mideast are signaling their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Monday as it worried about an approaching U.S. aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump threatened military action over its crackdown on nationwide protests.

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels signaled a willingness to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. That came just after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-navy-warship-missiles-intercepted-2f5fc9c8a3737f762b29d5c53ec08a5b">Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah paramilitary group</a>, long supported by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, issued a direct threat late Sunday toward any attack targeting Iran, warning a “total war” in the region would be a result.

However, both the Houthis and Kataib Hezbollah sat out from Israel's 12-day war on Iran in June that saw the United States bomb Iranian nuclear sites. The hesitancy to get involved shows the disarray still affecting Iran's self-described “Axis of Resistance” after facing attacks from Israel during its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

A short video by the Houthis included images of a ship on fire, with the caption: “Soon.” It later aired footage Monday from its January 2024 attack in the Gulf of Aden on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Marlin Luanda, one of the over 100 ships attacked as part of a campaign the Houthis said pressured Israel over its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis halted their fire after a ceasefire in the conflict, though they've repeatedly warned they could resume fire if needed.

Meanwhile, Ahmad “Abu Hussein” al-Hamidawi of Kataib Hezbollah issued his own threat in a statement.

“We affirm to the enemies that the war on the (Islamic) Republic will not be a picnic; rather, you will taste the bitterest forms of death, and nothing will remain of you in our region,” he said.

The threats came as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other guided missile destroyers with it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">move toward the region</a>. Trump has said the ships are being moved “just in case” he decides to take action against Iran. Trump already has laid out two red lines for attack — the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran conducting mass executions of those it has arrested in a massive crackdown over the demonstrations.

The “Axis of Resistance” alliances had allowed Iran to project its power across the Mideast but also was seen as a defensive buffer, intended to keep conflict away from Iranian borders.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-war-future-protests-unrest-nuclear-46b86a14319d5ae44ae090c9d58b0637">But it has collapsed</a>&nbsp;after Israel targeted Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and others during the Gaza war. Meanwhile, rebels in 2024 overthrew Syria's Bashar Assad after a yearslong, bloody war in which Iran backed his rule.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, also warned Iraq late Sunday about Iran's influence.

“A government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq,” a statement on Rubio's behalf read.

The United Arab Emirates announced on Monday that it would not allow its airspace, territory, or territorial waters to be used for military action against Iran. The UAE said it would stress dialogue and diplomatic resolutions.

Iran renews threats and limits smaller flights

Iranian Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik renewed warnings Monday to both Israel and the U.S. over any possible attack, saying it would “be met with a response that is more painful and more decisive than in the past.” Iranian state television quoted Talaei-Nik as adding that threats from the two countries required Iran “to maintain full and comprehensive preparedness.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei separately told journalists: “Regional countries fully know that any security breach in the region will not affect Iran only. The lack of security is contagious.”

Iran over the weekend unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-mural-protests-military-4b2ceb8aff9dc448036341e86023b6c8">a new banner in Tehran's Enghelab Square</a>&nbsp;threatening the Lincoln, showing an aircraft carrier strewn with bodies and streaked with blood with the warning: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.” However, Iran is still reeling from the 12-day war launched in June that saw its air defense systems broadly destroyed and top military leaders killed, as well as its nuclear enrichment sites bombed by the U.S.

As a sign of concern over its airspace, Iran issued a notice to pilots Sunday that banned small private aircraft from flying in the country, with carveouts for the oil industry and emergency medical flights.

Many Western airlines have started to avoid Iranian airspace entirely due to the tensions, though Gulf Arab carriers flying to Moscow still rely on the route. Iranian air defense troops in 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-21f4a92a2dfbc38581719664bdf6f38e">shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner</a>, killing 176 people on board.

The protests in Iran began on Dec. 28, sparked by the fall of the Iranian currency, the rial, and quickly spread across the country. They were met by a violent crackdown by Iran’s theocracy, the scale of which is only starting to become clear as the country has faced more than two-week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-internet-business-costs-a0bd2df1d13355dcc28f46e5b5b3c893">internet blackout</a>&nbsp;— the most comprehensive in the nation's history.

The U.S.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-death-toll-ec00ffa50f818d4a66aec5942aec629b">Human Rights Activists News Agency</a>&nbsp;on Monday put the death toll at 5,973, with the number expected to increase. It says more than 41,800 people have been arrested.

The group’s figures have been accurate in previous unrest and rely on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. That death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest there in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the toll.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">Iran’s government</a>&nbsp;has put the death toll at a far lower 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeled the rest “terrorists.” In the past, Iran’s theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769443255145.png" alt="Pilots conduct flight operations from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) over the weekend-photo courtesy U.S. Navy 7th Fleet" />
 <figcaption>Pilots conduct flight operations from Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) over the weekend-photo courtesy U.S. Navy 7th Fleet</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/konstantin-toropin">KONSTANTIN TOROPIN</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">warships have arrived in the Middle East</a>, bringing a renewed potential that President Donald Trump could opt to order airstrikes on Iran over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-us-aircraft-carrier-crackdown-yemen-e0a6b3c72775348c553ad185af5bfb20">crackdown on protesters</a>.The carrier, along with three destroyers, “is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability,” U.S. Central Command said Monday on social media.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) perform routine maintenance as the aircraft carrier sails in the Indian Ocean, Jan. 26. The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability. <a href="https://t.co/dkuN946hce">pic.twitter.com/dkuN946hce</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2015815632302801143?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The strike group was in the Indian Ocean, Central Command said, and not in the Arabian Sea, which borders Iran. It will bring thousands of additional service members to the region, which has not had a U.S. aircraft carrier since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carriers-trump-venezuela-middle-east-a458b9c4f1a5690e19d7c532dd6b7fd7">the USS Gerald R. Ford</a>&nbsp;was ordered in October to sail to the Caribbean as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">pressure campaign on then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro</a>.Trump told reporters last week that the ships were sent to the region “just in case.” “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” he said.Trump earlier had threatened military action if Iran carried out mass executions of prisoners or killed peaceful demonstrators during a crackdown on protests that began in late December. At least 5,973 people have been killed and more than 41,800 detained, according to activists. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">official Iranian death toll</a>&nbsp;is far lower, at 3,117 dead.More recently, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-hangings-protests-dae7dca429c9823f4f5690b368ebfe15">appeared to have backed away</a>&nbsp;from possible action, claiming Iran halted the hangings of 800 detained protesters. He has not elaborated on the source of the claim, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-death-toll-acb1968a973f19be217ea28b4a7adb0b">Iran’s top prosecutor called “completely false.”</a>However, Trump appears to be keeping his options open. On Thursday aboard Air Force One, he said his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-middle-east-allies-strikes-diplomat-24f75a6b2ab3716be47163fcb0817bc7">threatened military action</a>&nbsp;would make last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fordo-us-strike-trump-israel-nuclear-sites-320a85327f94ed7496f09564261f3148">U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites</a>&nbsp;“look like peanuts” if the government proceeded with planned executions of some protesters.The aircraft carrier hosts multiple squadrons of aircraft, including F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets. Meanwhile, the destroyers bring with them hundreds of missiles, which could include dozens of Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.In addition to the aircraft carrier and its hardware, the U.S. military said the Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet now has a presence in the region.Analysts who follow flight-tracking data have noticed dozens of U.S. military cargo planes also heading to the region.The activity is similar to last year when the U.S. moved in air defense hardware, including a Patriot missile system, in anticipation of an Iranian counterattack following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">bombing of three key nuclear sites</a>. Iran launched over a dozen missiles at Al Udeid Air Base days after the strikes.------------------------DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two Iranian-backed militias in the Mideast are signaling their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Monday as it worried about an approaching U.S. aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump threatened military action over its crackdown on nationwide protests.Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels signaled a willingness to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. That came just after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-navy-warship-missiles-intercepted-2f5fc9c8a3737f762b29d5c53ec08a5b">Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah paramilitary group</a>, long supported by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, issued a direct threat late Sunday toward any attack targeting Iran, warning a “total war” in the region would be a result.However, both the Houthis and Kataib Hezbollah sat out from Israel's 12-day war on Iran in June that saw the United States bomb Iranian nuclear sites. The hesitancy to get involved shows the disarray still affecting Iran's self-described “Axis of Resistance” after facing attacks from Israel during its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.<h2>Threats from Iraq, Yemen</h2>A short video by the Houthis included images of a ship on fire, with the caption: “Soon.” It later aired footage Monday from its January 2024 attack in the Gulf of Aden on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Marlin Luanda, one of the over 100 ships attacked as part of a campaign the Houthis said pressured Israel over its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.The Houthis halted their fire after a ceasefire in the conflict, though they've repeatedly warned they could resume fire if needed.Meanwhile, Ahmad “Abu Hussein” al-Hamidawi of Kataib Hezbollah issued his own threat in a statement.“We affirm to the enemies that the war on the (Islamic) Republic will not be a picnic; rather, you will taste the bitterest forms of death, and nothing will remain of you in our region,” he said.The threats came as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other guided missile destroyers with it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">move toward the region</a>. Trump has said the ships are being moved “just in case” he decides to take action against Iran. Trump already has laid out two red lines for attack — the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran conducting mass executions of those it has arrested in a massive crackdown over the demonstrations.The “Axis of Resistance” alliances had allowed Iran to project its power across the Mideast but also was seen as a defensive buffer, intended to keep conflict away from Iranian borders.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-war-future-protests-unrest-nuclear-46b86a14319d5ae44ae090c9d58b0637">But it has collapsed</a>&nbsp;after Israel targeted Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and others during the Gaza war. Meanwhile, rebels in 2024 overthrew Syria's Bashar Assad after a yearslong, bloody war in which Iran backed his rule.U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, also warned Iraq late Sunday about Iran's influence.“A government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq,” a statement on Rubio's behalf read.The United Arab Emirates announced on Monday that it would not allow its airspace, territory, or territorial waters to be used for military action against Iran. The UAE said it would stress dialogue and diplomatic resolutions.<h2>Iran renews threats and limits smaller flights</h2>Iranian Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik renewed warnings Monday to both Israel and the U.S. over any possible attack, saying it would “be met with a response that is more painful and more decisive than in the past.” Iranian state television quoted Talaei-Nik as adding that threats from the two countries required Iran “to maintain full and comprehensive preparedness.”Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei separately told journalists: “Regional countries fully know that any security breach in the region will not affect Iran only. The lack of security is contagious.”Iran over the weekend unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-mural-protests-military-4b2ceb8aff9dc448036341e86023b6c8">a new banner in Tehran's Enghelab Square</a>&nbsp;threatening the Lincoln, showing an aircraft carrier strewn with bodies and streaked with blood with the warning: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.” However, Iran is still reeling from the 12-day war launched in June that saw its air defense systems broadly destroyed and top military leaders killed, as well as its nuclear enrichment sites bombed by the U.S.As a sign of concern over its airspace, Iran issued a notice to pilots Sunday that banned small private aircraft from flying in the country, with carveouts for the oil industry and emergency medical flights.Many Western airlines have started to avoid Iranian airspace entirely due to the tensions, though Gulf Arab carriers flying to Moscow still rely on the route. Iranian air defense troops in 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-21f4a92a2dfbc38581719664bdf6f38e">shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner</a>, killing 176 people on board.<h2>Death toll rises from protest crackdown</h2>The protests in Iran began on Dec. 28, sparked by the fall of the Iranian currency, the rial, and quickly spread across the country. They were met by a violent crackdown by Iran’s theocracy, the scale of which is only starting to become clear as the country has faced more than two-week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-internet-business-costs-a0bd2df1d13355dcc28f46e5b5b3c893">internet blackout</a>&nbsp;— the most comprehensive in the nation's history.The U.S.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-death-toll-ec00ffa50f818d4a66aec5942aec629b">Human Rights Activists News Agency</a>&nbsp;on Monday put the death toll at 5,973, with the number expected to increase. It says more than 41,800 people have been arrested.The group’s figures have been accurate in previous unrest and rely on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. That death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest there in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the toll.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">Iran’s government</a>&nbsp;has put the death toll at a far lower 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeled the rest “terrorists.” In the past, Iran’s theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest.

US aircraft carrier arrives in the Middle East as tensions with Iran remain high

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

After a preliminary hearing in Ellis County District Court on Monday, a WaKeeney man was bound over for trial for attempted first-degree murder for allegedly strangling his partner on July 17, 2025.

Cody Evan Garrett is charged with three felonies: attempted first-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery,&nbsp;criminal threat, and two misdemeanors: domestic battery and criminal damage to property.

The state presented its evidence in November, but the preliminary hearing was continued until Monday, when the defense presented its case.

Garrett drove his truck to an area of Hopewell Road in Ellis County. He&nbsp;allegedly told the victim he was going to kill her, throw her in a ditch, and she would never see her kids again, according to court records.

The victim told authorities that Garrett threw her up against the truck hard enough to dent the truck, pulled her hair, held her down on the ground and strangled her, according to court records and testimony.

The victim told authorities Garrett strangled her to the point she saw bright lights and heard ringing in her ears.

Garrett allegedly released the victim when another couple approached the area in another vehicle. She ran toward that vehicle, and law enforcement was called.

During testimony on Monday, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Tina Jecha of HaysMed said an examination of the victim found&nbsp;petechial hemorrhage in the victim's mouth, which can be an indicator of strangulation.

Petechial hemorrhage is the rupture of capillaries and can cause red, purple or brown spots to appear on the skin, in the mouth or in the eyes.

The defense noted in its questioning of Jecha that&nbsp;petechial hemorrhaging was not found anywhere else on the victim's body.

However,&nbsp;Jecha said someone can be strangled and not have any signs of&nbsp;petechial hemorrhage.

She also said she found abrasions, bruising and an injury to the victim's upper lip.

Although&nbsp;Jecha said she did not recall seeing any bruising on the victim's neck, she did remember seeing redness.

The victim's ex-husband testified he told a Wakeeney businessman after Garrett's arrest that he wouldn't put it past the victim to fabricate the incident.&nbsp;

Hobbs testified Monday this was his own speculation, and he had made the statement in anger after a sleepless night worrying about his children. Hobbs said he and the victim did not have an amicable divorce, and there remained tension in the relationship.

This statement, after going through two more people, morphed into an allegation that the victim had planned the incident to make Garrett look bad.&nbsp;

County Attorney Aaron Cunningham likened the line of testimony to a child's game of telephone in which the original statements had been contorted.

In his closing statement, defense attorney Mark Harmon argued there was no evidence of premeditation other than the victim's statements to law enforcement that Garrett had threatened to kill her.

He said there was no evidence that the victim had been close to death.&nbsp;

He characterized the events leading up to the alleged crime as a mutual combat inside the truck.

Herrman asked that the charge of attempted first-degree murder be dismissed. However, Judge Curtis Brown declined and bound Garrett over for trial on all charges.

Garrett's arraignment has been set for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17 via Zoom.

Garrett is free on a $500,000 bond. Herrman asked that Garrett's ankle monitoring be terminated as a condition of his bond. The state objected.&nbsp;

Brown said he would allow Garrett to switch to GPS monitoring.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769481507094.png" alt="Garrett photo Ellis County" />
 <figcaption>Garrett photo Ellis County</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostAfter a preliminary hearing in Ellis County District Court on Monday, a WaKeeney man was bound over for trial for attempted first-degree murder for allegedly strangling his partner on July 17, 2025.Cody Evan Garrett is charged with three felonies: attempted first-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery,&nbsp;criminal threat, and two misdemeanors: domestic battery and criminal damage to property.The state presented its evidence in November, but the preliminary hearing was continued until Monday, when the defense presented its case.Garrett drove his truck to an area of Hopewell Road in Ellis County. He&nbsp;allegedly told the victim he was going to kill her, throw her in a ditch, and she would never see her kids again, according to court records.The victim told authorities that Garrett threw her up against the truck hard enough to dent the truck, pulled her hair, held her down on the ground and strangled her, according to court records and testimony.The victim told authorities Garrett strangled her to the point she saw bright lights and heard ringing in her ears.Garrett allegedly released the victim when another couple approached the area in another vehicle. She ran toward that vehicle, and law enforcement was called.During testimony on Monday, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Tina Jecha of HaysMed said an examination of the victim found&nbsp;petechial hemorrhage in the victim's mouth, which can be an indicator of strangulation.Petechial hemorrhage is the rupture of capillaries and can cause red, purple or brown spots to appear on the skin, in the mouth or in the eyes.The defense noted in its questioning of Jecha that&nbsp;petechial hemorrhaging was not found anywhere else on the victim's body.However,&nbsp;Jecha said someone can be strangled and not have any signs of&nbsp;petechial hemorrhage.She also said she found abrasions, bruising and an injury to the victim's upper lip.Although&nbsp;Jecha said she did not recall seeing any bruising on the victim's neck, she did remember seeing redness.The victim's ex-husband testified he told a Wakeeney businessman after Garrett's arrest that he wouldn't put it past the victim to fabricate the incident.&nbsp;Hobbs testified Monday this was his own speculation, and he had made the statement in anger after a sleepless night worrying about his children. Hobbs said he and the victim did not have an amicable divorce, and there remained tension in the relationship.This statement, after going through two more people, morphed into an allegation that the victim had planned the incident to make Garrett look bad.&nbsp;County Attorney Aaron Cunningham likened the line of testimony to a child's game of telephone in which the original statements had been contorted.In his closing statement, defense attorney Mark Harmon argued there was no evidence of premeditation other than the victim's statements to law enforcement that Garrett had threatened to kill her.He said there was no evidence that the victim had been close to death.&nbsp;He characterized the events leading up to the alleged crime as a mutual combat inside the truck.Herrman asked that the charge of attempted first-degree murder be dismissed. However, Judge Curtis Brown declined and bound Garrett over for trial on all charges.Garrett's arraignment has been set for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17 via Zoom.Garrett is free on a $500,000 bond. Herrman asked that Garrett's ankle monitoring be terminated as a condition of his bond. The state objected.&nbsp;Brown said he would allow Garrett to switch to GPS monitoring.

NW Kansas man will stand trial for violent attack on a woman

Geary County Commissioners were in session Monday.&nbsp;

--Commissioners Kathy Tremont and Trish Giordano were complmentary of the snow removal efforts by city and county public works crews during the recent storm.

--Tremont and Giordano expressed disappointment about the recent presentation about Geary County and Junction City during a regional summit in Manhattan last Friday. The need to tout accomplishments in Junction City and Geary County and do a better job of selling this area was mentioned.&nbsp;

--The county website and email addresses have transitioned from .org to .gov.

--The next night meeting for the county commission will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 17.

--The biweekly report from the Geary County Sheriff's Department included an average daily jail population of 93 inmates. There were eight accidents and 14 arrests during the period.

By Dewey TerrillJC PostGeary County Commissioners were in session Monday.&nbsp;--Commissioners Kathy Tremont and Trish Giordano were complmentary of the snow removal efforts by city and county public works crews during the recent storm.--Tremont and Giordano expressed disappointment about the recent presentation about Geary County and Junction City during a regional summit in Manhattan last Friday. The need to tout accomplishments in Junction City and Geary County and do a better job of selling this area was mentioned.&nbsp;--The county website and email addresses have transitioned from .org to .gov.--The next night meeting for the county commission will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 17.--The biweekly report from the Geary County Sheriff's Department included an average daily jail population of 93 inmates. There were eight accidents and 14 arrests during the period.

Geary County Commission News Notes

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.

Robin Bakas, Failure to appear, arrested 01/21

Briana Harvey, Failure to appear, arrested 01/21

Brenda Vanhoesen, Failure to appear (Two counts), arrested 01/21

Miranda Saldana-Rodney, Failure to appear, arrested 01/21

Joshua Baker, Transporting an open container; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of THC; Possession of marijuana; Possession of stimulant, arrested 01/21

Franklin Simpson, Violation of restrictions, arrested 01/21

Jacen Meyer, Outside warrant, arrested 01/22

Joseph Hammond, Failure to appear, arrested 01/22

Trinity Cloud, Failure to appear, arrested 01/22

Leona Simms, Domestic battery; Aggravated assault; Use of a deadly weapon, arrested 01/22

Kierra Thompson, Endangering a child; Unlawful damage to property; Domestic battery, arrested 01/23

Redo Purnell, Domestic battery, arrested 01/23

Ludovic Yakui Tchatchoua, Failure to appear, arrested 01/24

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/2026/1/1769450753486.jpeg" alt="Michael Johnson, Criminal trespass, arrested 01/22" />
 <figcaption>Michael Johnson, Criminal trespass, arrested 01/22</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769450984563.jpeg" alt="Phillip White, Failure to appear, arrested 01/23" />
 <figcaption>Phillip White, Failure to appear, arrested 01/23</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769451013786.jpeg" alt="Joshua Drake, Failure to appear,&nbsp; Probation violation, arrested 01/24" />
 <figcaption>Joshua Drake, Failure to appear,&nbsp; Probation violation, arrested 01/24</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769451050766.jpeg" alt="Caress Jackson, Battery, Abuse of a child; Knowingly inflict cruel and inhuman corporal punishment; Child &gt; 6 years old and &lt; 18 years old" />
 <figcaption>Caress Jackson, Battery, Abuse of a child; Knowingly inflict cruel and inhuman corporal punishment; Child &gt; 6 years old and &lt; 18 years old</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769451060469.jpeg" alt="Chara Baca, Violate protection order; Condition of pre-trial orders, arrested 01/26" />
 <figcaption>Chara Baca, Violate protection order; Condition of pre-trial orders, arrested 01/26</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769451071663.jpeg" alt="Bruce Sparks, Violate protection order; Condition of pre-trial orders, arrested 01/26" />
 <figcaption>Bruce Sparks, Violate protection order; Condition of pre-trial orders, arrested 01/26</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.Robin Bakas, Failure to appear, arrested 01/21Briana Harvey, Failure to appear, arrested 01/21Brenda Vanhoesen, Failure to appear (Two counts), arrested 01/21Miranda Saldana-Rodney, Failure to appear, arrested 01/21Joshua Baker, Transporting an open container; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of THC; Possession of marijuana; Possession of stimulant, arrested 01/21Franklin Simpson, Violation of restrictions, arrested 01/21Jacen Meyer, Outside warrant, arrested 01/22Joseph Hammond, Failure to appear, arrested 01/22Trinity Cloud, Failure to appear, arrested 01/22Leona Simms, Domestic battery; Aggravated assault; Use of a deadly weapon, arrested 01/22Kierra Thompson, Endangering a child; Unlawful damage to property; Domestic battery, arrested 01/23Redo Purnell, Domestic battery, arrested 01/23Ludovic Yakui Tchatchoua, Failure to appear, arrested 01/24Recent 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.

Geary County Booking Photos Jan. 22-26, 2026

RILEY COUNTY–&nbsp;Law enforcement in Manhattan are investigating an alleged sex crime in Manhattan.

Just after 3p.m. on Friday, police arrested 24-year-old Griffin Day of Manhattan for an alleged rape that was reported to have occurred on Thursday night, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

A 54-year-old woman was listed as the victim, according to the RCPD activity report. Day and the victim are known to each other according to police. Day is being held on a bond of $200,000 bond.

RILEY COUNTY–&nbsp;Law enforcement in Manhattan are investigating an alleged sex crime in Manhattan.Just after 3p.m. on Friday, police arrested 24-year-old Griffin Day of Manhattan for an alleged rape that was reported to have occurred on Thursday night, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.A 54-year-old woman was listed as the victim, according to the RCPD activity report. Day and the victim are known to each other according to police. Day is being held on a bond of $200,000 bond.

RCPD: Manhattan man accused of sex crime involving 54-year-old

SEDGWICK COUNTY — The jury trial of a Kansas man charged in the death of his pregnant girlfriend is scheduled to begin Monday.

Earlier this month, Judge Jeffrey Goering determined there was enough evidence in the case for 20-year-old Matthew Wayne Criscenzo to face a&nbsp; trial,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In September, Criscenzo pleaded not guilty to charges of 1st degree murder and aggravated battery, in the shooting death of 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby.

On May 25, police arrested&nbsp; Criscenzo in the 700 Block of Laura Street in Wichita in connection with the shooting death. At the time of the incident,&nbsp;Oglesby was pregnant, according to Wichita Police Officer Rick Pena. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she was pronounced deceased.

Doctors were able to deliver her infant who was transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Criscenzo remains jailed on bond totaling over $700,000, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748340707658.png" alt="Naomi Oglesby-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Naomi Oglesby-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — The jury trial of a Kansas man charged in the death of his pregnant girlfriend is scheduled to begin Monday.Earlier this month, Judge Jeffrey Goering determined there was enough evidence in the case for 20-year-old Matthew Wayne Criscenzo to face a&nbsp; trial,&nbsp;according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748259337812.png" alt="CRISCENZO -photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>CRISCENZO -photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>In September, Criscenzo pleaded not guilty to charges of 1st degree murder and aggravated battery, in the shooting death of 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby.On May 25, police arrested&nbsp; Criscenzo in the 700 Block of Laura Street in Wichita in connection with the shooting death. At the time of the incident,&nbsp;Oglesby was pregnant, according to Wichita Police Officer Rick Pena. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she was pronounced deceased.Doctors were able to deliver her infant who was transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;Criscenzo remains jailed on bond totaling over $700,000, according to online jail records.

Trial to begin for Kansas man in death of pregnant girlfriend

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>

A partial federal government shutdown appeared Sunday to unexpectedly be on the horizon, after another fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis led key U.S. Senate Democrats to say they will oppose a spending package that includes immigration enforcement funds.

Senators have until a Friday deadline to clear a package of six House-passed funding measures, including the $64.4 billion Homeland Security appropriations bill that includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Republicans hold a majority in the chamber but would need at least seven Democrats to join them in voting for the package in order to clear the chamber’s 60-vote threshold to advance legislation.&nbsp;

The agreement had appeared to be on track for easy passage by the Senate by Friday, when a stopgap spending law expires.&nbsp;

But after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-agents-shoot-and-kill-man-minneapolis-rousing-more-demonstrations" target="_blank">Saturday’s killing of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti,</a>&nbsp;the second by Homeland Security Department officers in Minneapolis this month, key moderate Democrats, appropriators and leaders said they would not support the package if it includes the Homeland Security legislation in its current form.&nbsp;

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also said his caucus would not provide the votes needed, citing the killings of Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, and called for the DHS bill to be split from the five spending bills with broad bipartisan support.

“Senate Democrats will not allow the current DHS funding bill to move forward,” Schumer said in a Sunday statement. “The appalling murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti on the streets of Minneapolis must lead Republicans to join Democrats in overhauling ICE and CBP to protect the public. People should be safe from abuse by their own government.

“Senate Republicans must work with Democrats to advance the other five funding bills while we work to rewrite the DHS bill,” he added. “This is (the) best course of action, and the American people are on our side.”

A complicating factor is the DHS bill also includes funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, even as a major winter storm swept through a large swath of the nation Saturday and Sunday, triggering disaster declarations in multiple states.

President Donald Trump and key administration officials committed to a robust media strategy over the weekend, defending the officers involved and smearing Pretti, despite contradictory evidence in available video.

Some elected Republicans backed the administration’s account, but an unusual number of GOP members of Congress and at least one governor called for accountability.

Five of the eight Democrats and independents who voted with Republicans to end a shutdown in November have said they will not support the package if it includes DHS funding.

Maine independent Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that he would vote against the package.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769276764745.png" alt="Photo of the weapon seized in shooting- photo DHS" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the weapon seized in shooting- photo DHS</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>A partial federal government shutdown appeared Sunday to unexpectedly be on the horizon, after another fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis led key U.S. Senate Democrats to say they will oppose a spending package that includes immigration enforcement funds.Senators have until a Friday deadline to clear a package of six House-passed funding measures, including the $64.4 billion Homeland Security appropriations bill that includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What’s happening in Minnesota is appalling—and unacceptable in any American city. Democrats sought common sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill, but because of Republicans’ refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to…&mdash; Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/2015211069493350505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Republicans hold a majority in the chamber but would need at least seven Democrats to join them in voting for the package in order to clear the chamber’s 60-vote threshold to advance legislation.&nbsp;The agreement had appeared to be on track for easy passage by the Senate by Friday, when a stopgap spending law expires.&nbsp;But after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-agents-shoot-and-kill-man-minneapolis-rousing-more-demonstrations" target="_blank">Saturday’s killing of 37-year-old Alex Jeffrey Pretti,</a>&nbsp;the second by Homeland Security Department officers in Minneapolis this month, key moderate Democrats, appropriators and leaders said they would not support the package if it includes the Homeland Security legislation in its current form.&nbsp;Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also said his caucus would not provide the votes needed, citing the killings of Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis on Jan. 7, and called for the DHS bill to be split from the five spending bills with broad bipartisan support.“Senate Democrats will not allow the current DHS funding bill to move forward,” Schumer said in a Sunday statement. “The appalling murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti on the streets of Minneapolis must lead Republicans to join Democrats in overhauling ICE and CBP to protect the public. People should be safe from abuse by their own government.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695393380394.jpeg" alt=" The U.S. Capitol. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)" />
 <figcaption> The U.S. Capitol. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
 </figure>“Senate Republicans must work with Democrats to advance the other five funding bills while we work to rewrite the DHS bill,” he added. “This is (the) best course of action, and the American people are on our side.”A complicating factor is the DHS bill also includes funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, even as a major winter storm swept through a large swath of the nation Saturday and Sunday, triggering disaster declarations in multiple states.President Donald Trump and key administration officials committed to a robust media strategy over the weekend, defending the officers involved and smearing Pretti, despite contradictory evidence in available video.Some elected Republicans backed the administration’s account, but an unusual number of GOP members of Congress and at least one governor called for accountability.<h2>Latest shooting a turning point</h2>Five of the eight Democrats and independents who voted with Republicans to end a shutdown in November have said they will not support the package if it includes DHS funding.Maine independent Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that he would vote against the package.“I hate shutdowns,” King said in a video interview on the Sunday morning show. “I’m one of the people that helped negotiate the solution to the end of the last shutdown, but I can’t vote for a bill that includes ICE funding under these circumstances.”Nevada Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto, a former federal prosecutor, criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and called for blocking the funding package.“The Trump administration and Kristi Noem are putting undertrained, combative federal agents on the streets with no accountability,” she said. “They are oppressing Americans and are at odds with local law enforcement. This is clearly not about keeping Americans safe, it’s brutalizing U.S. citizens and law-abiding immigrants. I will not support the current Homeland Security funding bill.”Cortez Masto called for the DHS bill to be split off from the rest of the package.&nbsp;“We have bipartisan agreement on 96% of the budget. We’ve already passed six funding bills,” she said. “Let’s pass the remaining five bipartisan bills and fund essential agencies while we continue to fight for a Department of Homeland Security that respects Americans’ constitutional rights and preserves federal law enforcement’s essential role to keep us safe.”&nbsp;Fellow Nevada Democrat Jacky Rosen, who also voted to end the shutdown in November, said “enough is enough” and that she would oppose a funding package that did not “rein in ICE’s out-of-control conduct.”“As a member of the U.S. Senate, I have the responsibility to hold the Trump Administration accountable when I see abuses of power — like we are seeing from ICE right now,” she said. “That is why I’ll be voting against any government funding package that contains the bill that funds this agency, until we have guardrails in place to curtail these abuses of power and ensure more accountability and transparency.“My personal guiding principle has always been ‘agree where you can and fight where you must,’” she added. “And I believe this is a time when we must fight back.”Virginia’s Tim Kaine said in a Friday statement — before Pretti’s killing — that he would oppose the package for several reasons, including as a check on ICE.“We are not living in normal times,” he said. “The President is acting chaotically and unlawfully and we shouldn’t give his deranged decisions the imprimatur of congressional approval by passing this legislation without significant amendment.”Democratic Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois also said after Pretti’s killing early Saturday — the third shooting by immigration officers in Minneapolis in three weeks — that he would vote against the package. Durbin is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee.<h2>DHS funding</h2>The House last week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/many-dems-refuse-vote-fund-ice-us-house-passes-4-spending-bills" target="_blank">passed the DHS funding bill</a>, with seven Democrats voting to approve it, and a separate package of three other appropriations bills that passed with broad bipartisan support. House members passed two other funding bills the week before.The fiscal 2026 Homeland Security spending bill cuts funding for Customs and Border Protection by $1.3 billion, and maintains flat funding for ICE at $10 billion.The bill attempts to put guardrails around immigration enforcement by allocating $20 million for body cameras for ICE and CBP officers.&nbsp;But even if the funding bill doesn’t pass or gets held up, the immigration enforcement agencies are still flush with cash after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Republicans passed last year allocated $190 billion for DHS. ICE is slated to receive about $75 billion over four years, or $18.7 billion a year.<h2>Path forward</h2>Any Senate amendment to the House-passed package would require another House vote. The House is scheduled to be out this week and the chamber, narrowly controlled by Republicans, may be unwilling to cooperate with Senate changes.Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, a Maine Republican up for reelection this year in one of the nation’s most closely watched races, did not dismiss the possibility of changes in the spending bill package, telling The New York Times on Saturday she was “exploring all options” for passage.The major winter storm also hit Washington, D.C., and could further complicate the Senate vote or potential House consideration. All flights into Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were canceled Sunday as snow and sleet covered the region.&nbsp;A handful of GOP officials, including Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska called for more scrutiny into Pretti’s killing and ICE’s conduct more generally.&nbsp;“There must be a thorough and impartial investigation into yesterday’s Minneapolis shooting, which is the basic standard that law enforcement and the American people expect following any officer-involved shooting,” Tillis<a href="https://x.com/SenThomTillis/status/2015435983316189686" target="_blank">&nbsp;said on social media.</a>“For this specific incident, that requires cooperation and transparency between federal, state, and local law enforcement. Any administration official who rushes to judgment and tries to shut down an investigation before it begins are doing an incredible disservice to the nation and to President Trump’s legacy.”Cassidy&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenBillCassidy/status/2015247523003162922" target="_blank">posted on social media</a>: “The events in Minneapolis are incredibly disturbing. The credibility of ICE and DHS are at stake. There must be a full joint federal and state investigation. We can trust the American people with the truth.”Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who is a former chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said on social media he was “troubled by the events that have unfolded in Minneapolis.”“As an attorney and former federal prosecutor, I believe a thorough investigation is necessary—both to get to the bottom of these incidents and to maintain Americans’ confidence in our justice system,” he said.Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican, was among those who said he was troubled by the shooting.“I think the death of Americans, what we’re seeing on TV, it’s causing deep concerns over federal tactics and accountability,” Stitt said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “Americans don’t like what they’re seeing right now.”<h2>Administration, some allies defend shooting&nbsp;</h2>Many others, including Republican senators and Trump administration officials speaking on Sunday talk shows — Noem, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — defended the agents involved and blamed Pretti and state and local Democrats in Minneapolis.&nbsp;“Democrats are now backing out of a bipartisan agreement to fund DHS, which makes sure our border is secure and our immigration laws are enforced,” Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/2015428526829133864" target="_blank">wrote on social media.</a>“This is reckless and quite frankly, very disappointing. It appears that Democrats are so wedded to supporting people carrying guns trying to interfere with a lawful arrest that they will shut down the government.”Patel, on “Sunday Morning Futures” on Fox News, said DHS is investigating the shooting but the FBI is processing physical evidence. “No one who wants to be peaceful shows up in a protest with a firearm that is loaded with two full magazines,” Patel said, referring to reports that Pretti was carrying a handgun for which he had a concealed carry license, according to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara.Spokespeople for Collins, Schumer and Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota did not return messages seeking comment Sunday. Senate Democrats were set to meet virtually on Sunday night, according to multiple media reports.