WASHINGTON (AP) —Sexual predators. Addictive features. Suicide and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media — and children's advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them.

On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify as lawmakers and parents grow increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives.

The hearing began with recorded testimony from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media. Throughout the hours-long event, parents who lost children to suicide silently held up pictures of their dead kids.

"They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online,” U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. “Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.”

In a heated question and answer session with Mark Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley asked the Meta CEO if he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through.

“I don't think so,” Zuckerberg replied.

“There's families of victims here,” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize to them?”

Parents attending the hearing rose and held up pictures of their children. Zuckerberg stood as well, turning away from his microphone and the senators to address them directly.

“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding that Meta continues to invest and work on “industry-wide efforts” to protect children.

But time and time again, children’s advocates and parents have stressed that none of the companies are doing enough.

“Meta’s general approach is ‘trust us, we’ll do the right thing’, but how can we trust Meta? The way they talk about these issues feels like they are trying to gaslight the world, said Arturo Béjar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-instagram-mark-zuckerberg-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-7257a60d768f59ce16a4d925b7ebfa40">testified before Congress</a>&nbsp;about child safety on Meta’s platforms. "Every parent I’ve met with a kid under 13 is afraid of when their kid is old enough to be in social media.”

Hawley continued to press Zuckerberg, asking if he'd take personal responsibility for the harms his company has caused. Zuckerberg stayed on message and repeated that Meta's job is to “build industry-leading tools” and empower parents.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Durbin's sentiments and said he's prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue.

“After years of working on this issue with you and others, I’ve come to conclude the following: social media companies as they’re currently designed and operate are dangerous products," Graham said.

He told the executives their platforms have enriched lives but that it is time to deal with “the dark side.”

Beginning with Discord’s Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the company’s support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-ceo-congressional-hearing-bytedance-china-44d948c5b0ba18e2a714e0fa62d52779">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew</a>&nbsp;said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. CEO Linda Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, doesn’t cater to children.

“We do not have a line of business dedicated to children,” Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.

Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors.

“When you’re faced with really important safety and privacy decisions, the revenue in the bottom line should not be the first factor that these companies are considering," said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media. "These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.”

Republican and Democratic senators came together in a rare show of agreement throughout the hearing, though it’s not yet clear if this will be enough to pass legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act, proposed in 2022 by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

Meta is being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-facebook-children-teens-harms-lawsuit-attorney-general-1805492a38f7cee111cbb865cc786c28">sued by dozens</a>&nbsp;of states that say it deliberately designs features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-instagram-mark-zuckerberg-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-7257a60d768f59ce16a4d925b7ebfa40">failed to protect them from online predators</a>.

New internal emails between Meta executives released by Blumenthal’s office show Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, and others asking Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen "wellbeing across the company” as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health.

“From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young people’s mental health,” Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email.

The emails released by Blumenthal’s office don’t appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-lifestyle-business-only-on-ap-media-e4f03d38243552e46a77d0d3f0d45e3b">Frances Haugen</a>, who later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-haugen-congress-testimony-1daac7a76ca7bf0b0802cc46e732b51b">testified</a>&nbsp;before the Senate.

Meta has beefed up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-instagram-teens-suicide-eating-disorders-83dce63d9beed0a3ad0c53240077099f">start hiding inappropriate content</a>&nbsp;from teenagers’ accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. It also restricted&nbsp;<a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/01/introducing-stricter-message-settings-for-teens-on-instagram-and-facebook/">minors' ability to receive messages</a>&nbsp;from anyone they don’t follow or aren’t connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new “nudges” to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night. The nudges encourage kids to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.

Google's YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew found that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teens-social-media-tiktok-snapchat-17e0ff4dec0f2744674cac4e7ae5b3ca">93% of U.S. teens</a>&nbsp;use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706728323611.png" alt="The CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday -Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday -Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Sexual predators. Addictive features. Suicide and eating disorders. Unrealistic beauty standards. Bullying. These are just some of the issues young people are dealing with on social media — and children's advocates and lawmakers say companies are not doing enough to protect them.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Hawley Convinces Facebook CEO Zuckerberg To Apologize To Victims Harmed &amp; Exploited By Platform <a href="https://t.co/tJwrQq3r9d">pic.twitter.com/tJwrQq3r9d</a>&mdash; Senator Hawley Press Office (@SenHawleyPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenHawleyPress/status/1752744174552486192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Wednesday, the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify as lawmakers and parents grow increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives.The hearing began with recorded testimony from kids and parents who said they or their children were exploited on social media. Throughout the hours-long event, parents who lost children to suicide silently held up pictures of their dead kids.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenOssoff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenOssoff</a>: &quot;Is your platform safe for kids?&quot; Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg: &quot;I believe it is.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/YPielvWcnY">pic.twitter.com/YPielvWcnY</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752765263953490027?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online,” U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. “Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk.”In a heated question and answer session with Mark Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley asked the Meta CEO if he has personally compensated any of the victims and their families for what they have been through.“I don't think so,” Zuckerberg replied.“There's families of victims here,” Hawley said. “Would you like to apologize to them?”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706728521014.png" alt="During the hearing Missouri Senator Josh Hawley convinces Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to apologize to victims harmed, exploited by the platform" />
 <figcaption>During the hearing Missouri Senator Josh Hawley convinces Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to apologize to victims harmed, exploited by the platform</figcaption>
 </figure>Parents attending the hearing rose and held up pictures of their children. Zuckerberg stood as well, turning away from his microphone and the senators to address them directly.“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding that Meta continues to invest and work on “industry-wide efforts” to protect children.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Exchange between <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenJohnKennedy</a> and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg &amp; Sen. Kennedy on algorithms, the truth &amp; harms of social media. At one point, Sen. Kennedy referred to it as cess pool of snark and creepy. <a href="https://t.co/3Rlik1pKPh">pic.twitter.com/3Rlik1pKPh</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752763024560025616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But time and time again, children’s advocates and parents have stressed that none of the companies are doing enough.“Meta’s general approach is ‘trust us, we’ll do the right thing’, but how can we trust Meta? The way they talk about these issues feels like they are trying to gaslight the world, said Arturo Béjar, a former engineering director at the social media giant known for his expertise in curbing online harassment who recently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-instagram-mark-zuckerberg-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-7257a60d768f59ce16a4d925b7ebfa40">testified before Congress</a>&nbsp;about child safety on Meta’s platforms. "Every parent I’ve met with a kid under 13 is afraid of when their kid is old enough to be in social media.”Hawley continued to press Zuckerberg, asking if he'd take personal responsibility for the harms his company has caused. Zuckerberg stayed on message and repeated that Meta's job is to “build industry-leading tools” and empower parents.“To make money,” Hawley cut in.South Carolina Sen. Lindsay Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary panel, echoed Durbin's sentiments and said he's prepared to work with Democrats to solve the issue.“After years of working on this issue with you and others, I’ve come to conclude the following: social media companies as they’re currently designed and operate are dangerous products," Graham said.He told the executives their platforms have enriched lives but that it is time to deal with “the dark side.”Beginning with Discord’s Jason Citron, the executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.Snapchat had broken ranks ahead of the hearing and began backing a federal bill that would create a legal liability for apps and social platforms who recommend harmful content to minors. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel reiterated the company’s support on Wednesday and asked the industry to back the bill.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-ceo-congressional-hearing-bytedance-china-44d948c5b0ba18e2a714e0fa62d52779">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew</a>&nbsp;said TikTok is vigilant about enforcing its policy barring children under 13 from using the app. CEO Linda Yaccarino said X, formerly Twitter, doesn’t cater to children.“We do not have a line of business dedicated to children,” Yaccarino said. She said the company will also support Stop CSAM Act, a federal bill that make it easier for victims of child exploitation to sue tech companies.Yet child health advocates say social media companies have failed repeatedly to protect minors.“When you’re faced with really important safety and privacy decisions, the revenue in the bottom line should not be the first factor that these companies are considering," said Zamaan Qureshi, co-chair of Design It For Us, a youth-led coalition advocating for safer social media. "These companies have had opportunities to do this before they failed to do that. So independent regulation needs to step in.”Republican and Democratic senators came together in a rare show of agreement throughout the hearing, though it’s not yet clear if this will be enough to pass legislation such as the Kids Online Safety Act, proposed in 2022 by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.Meta is being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-facebook-children-teens-harms-lawsuit-attorney-general-1805492a38f7cee111cbb865cc786c28">sued by dozens</a>&nbsp;of states that say it deliberately designs features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms and has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-instagram-mark-zuckerberg-child-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-7257a60d768f59ce16a4d925b7ebfa40">failed to protect them from online predators</a>.New internal emails between Meta executives released by Blumenthal’s office show Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, and others asking Zuckerberg to hire more people to strengthen "wellbeing across the company” as concerns grew about effects on youth mental health.“From a policy perspective, this work has become increasingly urgent over recent months. Politicians in the U.S., U.K., E.U. and Australia are publicly and privately expressing concerns about the impact of our products on young people’s mental health,” Clegg wrote in an August 2021 email.The emails released by Blumenthal’s office don’t appear to include a response, if there was any, from Zuckerberg. In September 2021, The Wall Street Journal released the Facebook Files, its report based on internal documents from whistleblower&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-lifestyle-business-only-on-ap-media-e4f03d38243552e46a77d0d3f0d45e3b">Frances Haugen</a>, who later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/facebook-haugen-congress-testimony-1daac7a76ca7bf0b0802cc46e732b51b">testified</a>&nbsp;before the Senate.Meta has beefed up its child safety features in recent weeks, announcing earlier this month that it will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-facebook-instagram-teens-suicide-eating-disorders-83dce63d9beed0a3ad0c53240077099f">start hiding inappropriate content</a>&nbsp;from teenagers’ accounts on Instagram and Facebook, including posts about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders. It also restricted&nbsp;<a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2024/01/introducing-stricter-message-settings-for-teens-on-instagram-and-facebook/">minors' ability to receive messages</a>&nbsp;from anyone they don’t follow or aren’t connected to on Instagram and on Messenger and added new “nudges” to try to discourage teens from browsing Instagram videos or messages late at night. The nudges encourage kids to close the app, though it does not force them to do so.Google's YouTube is notably missing from the list of companies called to the Senate Wednesday even though more kids use YouTube than any other platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Pew found that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teens-social-media-tiktok-snapchat-17e0ff4dec0f2744674cac4e7ae5b3ca">93% of U.S. teens</a>&nbsp;use YouTube, with TikTok a distant second at 63%.——

🎥 Facebook CEO apologizes to victims harmed, exploited by platform

WICHITA (AP)—Donations poured in Wednesday to replace a destroyed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jackie-robinson-baseball-statue-stolen-45c08bbbd29322c05e6136a67f687459">statue of Jackie Robinson</a>&nbsp;on what would have been the 105th birthday of the first player to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/replace-our-stolen-jackie-robinson-statue?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook">Click here to visit </a>the GoFundMe page

Major League Baseball pledged support. And the total raised just through one online fundraiser surpassed $145,000, which is far in excess of the estimated $75,000 value of the bronze statue that was cut from its base&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jackie-robinson-baseball-statue-stolen-beea370b17079ad30092affe6aaea3c1">last week</a>&nbsp;at a park in Wichita, Kansas. Police are searching for those responsible.

Only the statue's feet were left at McAdams Park, where about 600 children play in a youth baseball league called League 42, which is named after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jackie-robinson">Robinson’</a>&nbsp;s uniform number with the Brooklyn Dodgers, with whom he broke the major leagues' color barrier in 1947.

Fire crews found burned remnants of the statue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jackie-robinson-baseball-statue-stolen-45c08bbbd29322c05e6136a67f687459">Tuesday</a>&nbsp;while responding to a trash can fire at another park about 7 miles&nbsp; away. A truck believed to be used in the theft previously was found abandoned, and police said the theft was captured on surveillance video.

Bob Lutz, executive director of the Little League nonprofit that commissioned the sculpture, said Wednesday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/boblutz/status/1752820101751963668">message</a>&nbsp;on X, formerly Twitter, that the MLB commissioner’s office and 30 clubs had committed funding toward the cost of replacing the statue and providing other support.

Lutz had said earlier that the money raised also could enhance some of its programming and facilities. In April, the group opened the Leslie Rudd Learning Center, which includes an indoor baseball facility and a learning lab.

“We’re not just baseball,” Lutz said. “We have after school education, enrichment and tutoring.”

One of the largest donations is a $10,000 pledge from an anonymous former Major League Baseball player who won a World Series. Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan, who announced the donation over the weekend, has urged anyone involved in the theft to surrender and vowed that arrests were imminent.

“The community, along with the business community and the nation as a whole, have demonstrated an incredible outpouring of support,” Sullivan said in a statement Wednesday. “This effort highlights the kindness of the people and their determination to rebuild what was taken away from our community.”

Lutz, whose friend, the artist John Parsons, made the statue before his death, said the mold is still viable and anticipated that a replacement can be erected within a matter of months.

“We value what it represents,” he said. “It’s important that our 600 kids understand what it represents. And, we make every effort to educate our kids about the role that Jackie Robinson played in life and civil rights, his life beyond sports. He’s the absolute best role model you could imagine.”

League 42 drew attention to Robinson’s birthday Wednesday in a Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/League42Wichita/posts/pfbid02Gv86VJpyipnGEvwggZ3M9TpJS7SFroC1NunVNGCGnnGWW1FUWm2Nic3kbNjXRQavl">post</a>, noting that “his legacy will hold up forever” and asking for donations.

Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers, paving the way for generations of Black American ballplayers. He’s considered not only a sports legend but also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-entertainment-sports-los-angeles-baseball-d73b75a6965310bfd087c165e93dc0c6">a civil rights icon</a>. Robinson died in 1972.

Lutz said that the league appeals to “all kids, but especially to kids of color" and that the connection to Robinson resonated.

“We can’t imagine, being named League 42 without a Jackie Robinson statue in our park," he said. "It was a no-brainer when we went about trying to name our league. And the name League 42 came up. It was like lightning and struck. We knew we had our name.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706642235098.jpeg" alt="Jackie Robinson Statue-Courtesy GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Robinson Statue-Courtesy GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA (AP)—Donations poured in Wednesday to replace a destroyed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jackie-robinson-baseball-statue-stolen-45c08bbbd29322c05e6136a67f687459">statue of Jackie Robinson</a>&nbsp;on what would have been the 105th birthday of the first player to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier.<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/replace-our-stolen-jackie-robinson-statue?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook">Click here to visit </a>the GoFundMe page<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">How about this? Amazing, huh? During this emotional week, we are proud to report some great news. <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MLB</a>, which has been in touch with <a href="https://twitter.com/League42ICT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@League42ICT</a> from the moment this tragedy became public, has formalized their support for our youth.&mdash; Bob Lutz (@boblutz) <a href="https://twitter.com/boblutz/status/1752820101751963668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are grateful for their contribution to our mission of celebrating Jackie’s legacy through the youth of Wichita.&mdash; Bob Lutz (@boblutz) <a href="https://twitter.com/boblutz/status/1752820106000846870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Major League Baseball pledged support. And the total raised just through one online fundraiser surpassed $145,000, which is far in excess of the estimated $75,000 value of the bronze statue that was cut from its base&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jackie-robinson-baseball-statue-stolen-beea370b17079ad30092affe6aaea3c1">last week</a>&nbsp;at a park in Wichita, Kansas. Police are searching for those responsible.Only the statue's feet were left at McAdams Park, where about 600 children play in a youth baseball league called League 42, which is named after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jackie-robinson">Robinson’</a>&nbsp;s uniform number with the Brooklyn Dodgers, with whom he broke the major leagues' color barrier in 1947.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706641737439.png" alt="photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>Fire crews found burned remnants of the statue&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jackie-robinson-baseball-statue-stolen-45c08bbbd29322c05e6136a67f687459">Tuesday</a>&nbsp;while responding to a trash can fire at another park about 7 miles&nbsp; away. A truck believed to be used in the theft previously was found abandoned, and police said the theft was captured on surveillance video.Bob Lutz, executive director of the Little League nonprofit that commissioned the sculpture, said Wednesday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/boblutz/status/1752820101751963668">message</a>&nbsp;on X, formerly Twitter, that the MLB commissioner’s office and 30 clubs had committed funding toward the cost of replacing the statue and providing other support.“Amazing, huh?” he said.Lutz had said earlier that the money raised also could enhance some of its programming and facilities. In April, the group opened the Leslie Rudd Learning Center, which includes an indoor baseball facility and a learning lab.“We’re not just baseball,” Lutz said. “We have after school education, enrichment and tutoring.”One of the largest donations is a $10,000 pledge from an anonymous former Major League Baseball player who won a World Series. Wichita police Chief Joe Sullivan, who announced the donation over the weekend, has urged anyone involved in the theft to surrender and vowed that arrests were imminent.“The community, along with the business community and the nation as a whole, have demonstrated an incredible outpouring of support,” Sullivan said in a statement Wednesday. “This effort highlights the kindness of the people and their determination to rebuild what was taken away from our community.”Lutz, whose friend, the artist John Parsons, made the statue before his death, said the mold is still viable and anticipated that a replacement can be erected within a matter of months.“We value what it represents,” he said. “It’s important that our 600 kids understand what it represents. And, we make every effort to educate our kids about the role that Jackie Robinson played in life and civil rights, his life beyond sports. He’s the absolute best role model you could imagine.”League 42 drew attention to Robinson’s birthday Wednesday in a Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/League42Wichita/posts/pfbid02Gv86VJpyipnGEvwggZ3M9TpJS7SFroC1NunVNGCGnnGWW1FUWm2Nic3kbNjXRQavl">post</a>, noting that “his legacy will hold up forever” and asking for donations.Robinson played for the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues before joining the Brooklyn Dodgers, paving the way for generations of Black American ballplayers. He’s considered not only a sports legend but also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-entertainment-sports-los-angeles-baseball-d73b75a6965310bfd087c165e93dc0c6">a civil rights icon</a>. Robinson died in 1972.Lutz said that the league appeals to “all kids, but especially to kids of color" and that the connection to Robinson resonated.“We can’t imagine, being named League 42 without a Jackie Robinson statue in our park," he said. "It was a no-brainer when we went about trying to name our league. And the name League 42 came up. It was like lightning and struck. We knew we had our name.”

MLB pledges funds to replace destroyed Jackie Robinson statue

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri residents on Wednesday mourned the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-jean-carnahan-dies-missouri-659ac27c6075a5ffa1c48b21c194fd7d">former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan</a>, who became the state's first female U.S. senator when she was appointed to replace her husband following his death.

The Missouri state House held a moment of silence to mark Carnahan's Tuesday death at age 90. Her family did not specify the cause of death but said Carnahan died after a brief illness at a hospice facility in suburban St. Louis.

Carnahan, a Democrat, was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2001 after the posthumous election of her husband, Gov. Mel Carnahan, and she served until 2002.

President Joe Biden in a statement said he's proud to have called her a "dear friend.”

“In the face of unspeakable loss, she found the courage to step up into work she’d never imagined, putting the people and values she believed in above her personal comfort in order to serve our nation,” Biden said.

Carnahan’s public memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 10 at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis.

Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson in a statement described Jean Carnahan as a “fierce and brilliant public servant” and a “trailblazer.”

Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said she “survived tragedy with grit and grace.”

“I know her family will miss her terribly, along with all of us lucky enough to be her friend," McCaskill said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706736519709.png" alt="Jean Carnahan courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jean Carnahan courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri residents on Wednesday mourned the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senator-jean-carnahan-dies-missouri-659ac27c6075a5ffa1c48b21c194fd7d">former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan</a>, who became the state's first female U.S. senator when she was appointed to replace her husband following his death.The Missouri state House held a moment of silence to mark Carnahan's Tuesday death at age 90. Her family did not specify the cause of death but said Carnahan died after a brief illness at a hospice facility in suburban St. Louis.Carnahan, a Democrat, was appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2001 after the posthumous election of her husband, Gov. Mel Carnahan, and she served until 2002.President Joe Biden in a statement said he's proud to have called her a "dear friend.”“In the face of unspeakable loss, she found the courage to step up into work she’d never imagined, putting the people and values she believed in above her personal comfort in order to serve our nation,” Biden said.Carnahan’s public memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 10 at the Sheldon Concert Hall in St. Louis.Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson in a statement described Jean Carnahan as a “fierce and brilliant public servant” and a “trailblazer.”Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill said she “survived tragedy with grit and grace.”“I know her family will miss her terribly, along with all of us lucky enough to be her friend," McCaskill said in a statement.

Missouri mourns the death of the state's 1st woman to serve in the US Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve indicated Wednesday that it's nearing a long-awaited shift toward cutting interest rates, a sign that its officials have grown confident that they're close to fully taming inflation. But the Fed also signaled that the first rate cut is likely months away.

The central bank kept its key rate unchanged at about 5.4%, a 22-year high. In a statement, it marked a policy shift by dropping previous wording that had said it was still considering further rate hikes.

Still, the Fed cautioned that it "does not expect it will be appropriate" to cut rates "until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably" to its 2% target. That suggests that a rate reduction is unlikely at its next meeting in March.

"I don't think it's likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting" to start cutting rates, Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference.

The overall changes to the Fed's statement Wednesday — compared with its last meeting in December — show that it has moved toward considering rate reductions while still maintaining flexibility. In December, the officials had signaled that they expected to carry out three quarter-point rate cuts in 2024. Yet they have said little about when those cuts might begin. Senior officials have stressed that the Fed will proceed cautiously.

The central bank's message — that it's edging closer to cutting rates but not planning to do so anytime soon — disappointed traders on Wall Street. Stock prices fell broadly after the statement was released and while Powell addressed reporters.

The change in the Fed's stance comes as the economy is showing surprising durability after a series of 11 rate hikes helped drastically slow inflation, which had hit a four-decade high 18 months ago. Over the past six months, prices have risen at an annual rate of just below 2%, consistent with the Fed's target level, according to its preferred inflation gauge. And growth remains healthy. In the final three months of last year, the economy expanded at a 3.3% annual rate, the government said last week.

The Fed is assessing inflation and the economy at a time when the intensifying presidential campaign is pivoting in no small part on voters' perceptions of President Joe Biden's economic stewardship. Republicans in Congress have attacked Biden over the high inflation that gripped the nation beginning in 2021 as the economy emerged from recession. But the latest economic data — ranging from steady consumer spending to solid job growth to the slowdown in inflation — has been bolstering consumer confidence.

At his news conference, Powell said the Fed welcomes signs of economic strength. But he said the policymakers are seeking further evidence of a sustained slowdown in inflation.

"We want to see strong growth and a strong labor market," the Fed chair said. "We're looking for inflation to come down, as it has been coming down for the last six months."

Most economists have said they expect the Fed to start cutting its benchmark rate in May or June. Rate cuts would eventually lead to lower borrowing costs for America's consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.

A year ago, many analysts were predicting that widespread layoffs and sharply higher unemployment would be needed to cool the economy and curb inflation. Yet job growth has been steady. The unemployment rate, at 3.7%, isn't far above a half-century low.

Labor costs are easing, too. On Wednesday, the government reported that pay and benefits for America's workers, which accelerated in 2022, grew in the final three months of 2023 at the slowest pace in 2 1/2 years.

The Fed appears on the verge of achieving a rare "soft landing," in which it manages to conquer high inflation without causing a recession. Should the pace of economic growth strengthen, though, it could complicate the challenge for the Fed. A much faster expansion, especially one fueled by rate cuts, could potentially re-ignite inflation.

On the other hand, any evidence that the economy is slowing appreciably would likely accelerate the Fed's timetable for rate cuts. And indeed, some cracks in the job market have begun to emerge and, if they worsen, could spur the Fed to cut rates quickly.

"If we saw an unexpected weakening in the labor market, that would certainly weigh on cutting sooner," Powell said at his news conference. "If we saw inflation being stickier or higher, it would argue for moving later."

Asked whether he thought the Fed has already achieved a soft landing, Powell suggested it would be premature to say so.

"We have a ways to go," he said. "Core inflation is still well above target on a 12-month basis. Certainly, I'm encouraged and we're encouraged by the progress, but we're not declaring victory at this point. We think we have a ways to go."

For several months, most of the nation's job growth has occurred in just a few sectors — health care, government and hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Any weakening in those areas of the economy could threaten hiring and the overall expansion.

A report Tuesday showed that the number of workers who quit in December reached its lowest level in three years. That suggested that fewer Americans are being recruited for new, higher-paying jobs or are willing to search for and take new positions. Though quits remain at a level consistent with a solid job market, they have fallen about one-third from their peak in mid-2022.

Still, the U.S. economy is outdoing its counterparts overseas. During the October-December quarter, the 20 countries that share the euro currency barely avoided a recession, posting essentially no growth. Still, as in the United States, unemployment is very low in the euro area, and inflation has slowed to a 2.9% annual rate. Though the European Central Bank could cut rates as soon as April, many economists think that might not happen until June.

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve indicated Wednesday that it's nearing a long-awaited shift toward cutting interest rates, a sign that its officials have grown confident that they're close to fully taming inflation. But the Fed also signaled that the first rate cut is likely months away.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powell: &quot;We believe that our policy rate is likely at its peak for this tightening cycle and that if the economy evolves broadly as expected, it will likely be appropriate to begin dialing back policy restraint at some point this year.&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/yAfZAciDHG">pic.twitter.com/yAfZAciDHG</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752782457072431479?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The central bank kept its key rate unchanged at about 5.4%, a 22-year high. In a statement, it marked a policy shift by dropping previous wording that had said it was still considering further rate hikes.Still, the Fed cautioned that it "does not expect it will be appropriate" to cut rates "until it has gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably" to its 2% target. That suggests that a rate reduction is unlikely at its next meeting in March."I don't think it's likely that the committee will reach a level of confidence by the time of the March meeting" to start cutting rates, Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference.The overall changes to the Fed's statement Wednesday — compared with its last meeting in December — show that it has moved toward considering rate reductions while still maintaining flexibility. In December, the officials had signaled that they expected to carry out three quarter-point rate cuts in 2024. Yet they have said little about when those cuts might begin. Senior officials have stressed that the Fed will proceed cautiously.The central bank's message — that it's edging closer to cutting rates but not planning to do so anytime soon — disappointed traders on Wall Street. Stock prices fell broadly after the statement was released and while Powell addressed reporters.The change in the Fed's stance comes as the economy is showing surprising durability after a series of 11 rate hikes helped drastically slow inflation, which had hit a four-decade high 18 months ago. Over the past six months, prices have risen at an annual rate of just below 2%, consistent with the Fed's target level, according to its preferred inflation gauge. And growth remains healthy. In the final three months of last year, the economy expanded at a 3.3% annual rate, the government said last week.The Fed is assessing inflation and the economy at a time when the intensifying presidential campaign is pivoting in no small part on voters' perceptions of President Joe Biden's economic stewardship. Republicans in Congress have attacked Biden over the high inflation that gripped the nation beginning in 2021 as the economy emerged from recession. But the latest economic data — ranging from steady consumer spending to solid job growth to the slowdown in inflation — has been bolstering consumer confidence.At his news conference, Powell said the Fed welcomes signs of economic strength. But he said the policymakers are seeking further evidence of a sustained slowdown in inflation."We want to see strong growth and a strong labor market," the Fed chair said. "We're looking for inflation to come down, as it has been coming down for the last six months."Most economists have said they expect the Fed to start cutting its benchmark rate in May or June. Rate cuts would eventually lead to lower borrowing costs for America's consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.A year ago, many analysts were predicting that widespread layoffs and sharply higher unemployment would be needed to cool the economy and curb inflation. Yet job growth has been steady. The unemployment rate, at 3.7%, isn't far above a half-century low.Labor costs are easing, too. On Wednesday, the government reported that pay and benefits for America's workers, which accelerated in 2022, grew in the final three months of 2023 at the slowest pace in 2 1/2 years.The Fed appears on the verge of achieving a rare "soft landing," in which it manages to conquer high inflation without causing a recession. Should the pace of economic growth strengthen, though, it could complicate the challenge for the Fed. A much faster expansion, especially one fueled by rate cuts, could potentially re-ignite inflation.On the other hand, any evidence that the economy is slowing appreciably would likely accelerate the Fed's timetable for rate cuts. And indeed, some cracks in the job market have begun to emerge and, if they worsen, could spur the Fed to cut rates quickly."If we saw an unexpected weakening in the labor market, that would certainly weigh on cutting sooner," Powell said at his news conference. "If we saw inflation being stickier or higher, it would argue for moving later."Asked whether he thought the Fed has already achieved a soft landing, Powell suggested it would be premature to say so."We have a ways to go," he said. "Core inflation is still well above target on a 12-month basis. Certainly, I'm encouraged and we're encouraged by the progress, but we're not declaring victory at this point. We think we have a ways to go."For several months, most of the nation's job growth has occurred in just a few sectors — health care, government and hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Any weakening in those areas of the economy could threaten hiring and the overall expansion.A report Tuesday showed that the number of workers who quit in December reached its lowest level in three years. That suggested that fewer Americans are being recruited for new, higher-paying jobs or are willing to search for and take new positions. Though quits remain at a level consistent with a solid job market, they have fallen about one-third from their peak in mid-2022.Still, the U.S. economy is outdoing its counterparts overseas. During the October-December quarter, the 20 countries that share the euro currency barely avoided a recession, posting essentially no growth. Still, as in the United States, unemployment is very low in the euro area, and inflation has slowed to a 2.9% annual rate. Though the European Central Bank could cut rates as soon as April, many economists think that might not happen until June.

Bad news for borrowers: Interest rate cuts still months away

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;State's Newsroom

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating how Missouri Democratic Rep. Cori Bush spends campaign funds, according to a statement the congresswoman released Tuesday.

“Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life,” Bush said.&nbsp;“As a rank-and-file member of Congress I am not entitled to personal protection by the House, and instead have used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services.”&nbsp;

“I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services,” Bush added.&nbsp;“Any reporting that I have used federal funds for personal security is simply false.”

The Justice Department declined to comment.&nbsp;

Punchbowl News first reported the investigation Tuesday morning, less than a day after the U.S. House Clerk read a statement on the floor that the Justice Department had served the Sergeant at Arms with a grand jury subpoena for documents. The statement did not disclose the nature of the documents or the name of the member of Congress associated with them.&nbsp;

Punchbowl reported that several unnamed sources said the investigation related to how Bush used her Member Representation Allowance, an account that members of Congress use to pay for office expenses.&nbsp;

The funding for an MRA comes from taxpayer dollars and is approved annually in the Legislative Branch appropriations bill, whereas campaign spending comes from donations political supporters make to individual candidates.

Bush, who was sworn in as a member of Congress in 2021, represents Missouri’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/district/cori-bush/B001224">1st Congressional District</a>, which currently includes St. Louis and most of northern St. Louis County.

Bush said in her written statement that she is “fully cooperating” with the Justice Department’s investigation as well as the Federal Election Commission and U.S. House Committee on Ethics, both of which are “reviewing the matter.”

The allegations stem from right-wing organizations, according to Bush.&nbsp;

“In particular, the nature of these allegations have been around my husband’s role on the campaign,” Bush said. “In accordance with all applicable rules, I retained my husband as part of my security team to provide security services because he has had extensive experience in this area, and is able to provide the necessary services at or below a fair market rate.”

Bush said the allegations made against her are “frivolous” and intended to distract her from her work in Congress.&nbsp;

“I am under no illusion that these right-wing organizations will stop politicizing and pursuing efforts to attack me and the work that the people of St. Louis sent me to Congress to do: to lead boldly, to legislate change my constituents can feel, and to save lives.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634911816533.png" alt="-U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>-U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;State's NewsroomWASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating how Missouri Democratic Rep. Cori Bush spends campaign funds, according to a statement the congresswoman released Tuesday.“Since before I was sworn into office, I have endured relentless threats to my physical safety and life,” Bush said.&nbsp;“As a rank-and-file member of Congress I am not entitled to personal protection by the House, and instead have used campaign funds as permissible to retain security services.”&nbsp;“I have not used any federal tax dollars for personal security services,” Bush added.&nbsp;“Any reporting that I have used federal funds for personal security is simply false.”The Justice Department declined to comment.&nbsp;Punchbowl News first reported the investigation Tuesday morning, less than a day after the U.S. House Clerk read a statement on the floor that the Justice Department had served the Sergeant at Arms with a grand jury subpoena for documents. The statement did not disclose the nature of the documents or the name of the member of Congress associated with them.&nbsp;Punchbowl reported that several unnamed sources said the investigation related to how Bush used her Member Representation Allowance, an account that members of Congress use to pay for office expenses.&nbsp;The funding for an MRA comes from taxpayer dollars and is approved annually in the Legislative Branch appropriations bill, whereas campaign spending comes from donations political supporters make to individual candidates.Bush, who was sworn in as a member of Congress in 2021, represents Missouri’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/member/district/cori-bush/B001224">1st Congressional District</a>, which currently includes St. Louis and most of northern St. Louis County.Bush said in her written statement that she is “fully cooperating” with the Justice Department’s investigation as well as the Federal Election Commission and U.S. House Committee on Ethics, both of which are “reviewing the matter.”The allegations stem from right-wing organizations, according to Bush.&nbsp;“In particular, the nature of these allegations have been around my husband’s role on the campaign,” Bush said. “In accordance with all applicable rules, I retained my husband as part of my security team to provide security services because he has had extensive experience in this area, and is able to provide the necessary services at or below a fair market rate.”Bush said the allegations made against her are “frivolous” and intended to distract her from her work in Congress.&nbsp;“I am under no illusion that these right-wing organizations will stop politicizing and pursuing efforts to attack me and the work that the people of St. Louis sent me to Congress to do: to lead boldly, to legislate change my constituents can feel, and to save lives.”

Missouri Rep. denies using tax dollars for personal security as DOJ investigates

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an alleged robbery have taken two suspects into custody.

Early Tuesday, the Riley County Police Department Communication Center received several 911 calls reporting a robbery. A 29-year-old man reported two men brandished a weapon and stole a backpack from him containing various items. Within the day, detectives were able to identify the suspects, execute a search warrant and make arrests.

Just after 5p.m., police arrested Brandon Welty, 25, and Joseph Bauer, 19 both of Manhattan in the 400 block of Leavenworth Street in Manhattan.

Welty was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for aggravated robbery and probation violation. Bauer was arrested on a requested charge of aggravated robbery, failure to appear, and probation violation.

Welty was issued total bond of $90,000 and Bauer was issued a total bond of $82,000. Both suspects remain confined in the Riley County Jail. Welty has previous convictions for possession of marijuana and attempted obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706723210839.png" alt="Welty-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Welty-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an alleged robbery have taken two suspects into custody.Early Tuesday, the Riley County Police Department Communication Center received several 911 calls reporting a robbery. A 29-year-old man reported two men brandished a weapon and stole a backpack from him containing various items. Within the day, detectives were able to identify the suspects, execute a search warrant and make arrests.Just after 5p.m., police arrested Brandon Welty, 25, and Joseph Bauer, 19 both of Manhattan in the 400 block of Leavenworth Street in Manhattan.Welty was arrested on a Riley County District Court warrant for aggravated robbery and probation violation. Bauer was arrested on a requested charge of aggravated robbery, failure to appear, and probation violation.Welty was issued total bond of $90,000 and Bauer was issued a total bond of $82,000. Both suspects remain confined in the Riley County Jail. Welty has previous convictions for possession of marijuana and attempted obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corections.

 Kan. felon accused of aggravated robbery in Manhattan

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York on Tuesday nominated former President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his groundbreaking efforts to foster peace and cooperation between Israel, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates through the Abraham Accords, according to a statement from her office.

In 2020, President Trump negotiated the normalization agreements between Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sudan, which were signed in December 2020 and&nbsp;January 2021. Trump also worked diligently to lay the groundwork for a future normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1978 and for the Oslo Accords in 1994. Yet,&nbsp;the Abraham Accords, achieved by President Trump, continue to go unrecognized by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. Today, Tenney nominated former President Donald Trump to recognize his efforts in achieving these historic normalization agreements.

“Donald Trump was instrumental in facilitating the first new peace agreements in the Middle East in almost 30 years,”&nbsp;said Congresswoman Tenney.&nbsp;“For decades, bureaucrats, foreign policy “professionals,” and international organizations insisted that additional Middle East peace agreements were impossible without a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

President Trump proved that to be false. The valiant efforts by President Trump in creating the Abraham Accords were unprecedented and continue to go unrecognized by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, underscoring the need for his nomination today. Now more than ever, when Joe Biden’s weak leadership on the international stage is threatening our country’s safety and security, we must recognize Trump for his strong leadership and his efforts to achieve world peace. I am honored to nominate former President Donald Trump today and am eager for him to receive the recognition he deserves.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692923629903.png" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney of New York on Tuesday nominated former President Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his groundbreaking efforts to foster peace and cooperation between Israel, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates through the Abraham Accords, according to a statement from her office.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Donald Trump was instrumental in facilitating the first new peace agreements with Israel in almost 30 years. That&#39;s why I nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize. More here ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/trSs0rGljn">https://t.co/trSs0rGljn</a>&mdash; Rep. Claudia Tenney (@RepTenney) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepTenney/status/1752494403363766359?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In 2020, President Trump negotiated the normalization agreements between Israel, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco,&nbsp;and&nbsp;Sudan, which were signed in December 2020 and&nbsp;January 2021. Trump also worked diligently to lay the groundwork for a future normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded for the peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1978 and for the Oslo Accords in 1994. Yet,&nbsp;the Abraham Accords, achieved by President Trump, continue to go unrecognized by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee. Today, Tenney nominated former President Donald Trump to recognize his efforts in achieving these historic normalization agreements.“Donald Trump was instrumental in facilitating the first new peace agreements in the Middle East in almost 30 years,”&nbsp;said Congresswoman Tenney.&nbsp;“For decades, bureaucrats, foreign policy “professionals,” and international organizations insisted that additional Middle East peace agreements were impossible without a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Trump proved that to be false. The valiant efforts by President Trump in creating the Abraham Accords were unprecedented and continue to go unrecognized by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, underscoring the need for his nomination today. Now more than ever, when Joe Biden’s weak leadership on the international stage is threatening our country’s safety and security, we must recognize Trump for his strong leadership and his efforts to achieve world peace. I am honored to nominate former President Donald Trump today and am eager for him to receive the recognition he deserves.”

Congresswoman nominates Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating two officer-involved shootings in Wichita over the past week.

Just after 11:30 p.m. Jan. 24, police initiated a vehicle pursuit near East Bayley and Schweiter Drive in Wichita after they located a suspect later identified as 43-year-old Larry Armour of Wichita, operating a vehicle that was reported stolen at knifepoint earlier in the night.

A police&nbsp; pursuit ended near East Harry Street and Green Street and Armour fled on foot.

Preliminary information indicates that then Armour entered a residence in the 2400 block of East Harry through the back entrance, while armed with a knife. A man who lived at the home who was unacquainted with Armour, was inside.

A tactical team, comprised of both officers from Wichita police, Sedgwick County sheriff's deputies and crisis negotiators, quickly responded to the residence. 

Just before 1 a.m., members of the tactical team arrived on scene. Negotiations with Armour were attempted. Just after 3 a.m., a deputy observed Armour through a window, standing over the innocent resident threatening him with a large knife and shouting that he would kill him. The deputy fired one shot striking Armour, and ending the hostage incident.

Medical aid was administered to Armour, and EMS transported him to a Wichita hospital. Despite life-saving measures, he died from his injuries. As a precaution, the resident was transported to a local hospital for evaluation, but he was uninjured during the incident. No law enforcement officers were injured during the shooting.

Armour had a&nbsp; previous felony conviction for drugs and had been on parole since 2018, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. On January 12, Wichita police arrested him on a requested charge of aggravated robbery and flee or attempt to elude&nbsp; police, according to Sedgwick County Arrest records.&nbsp;

Then on Jan. 29, the KBI began investigating the shooting death of 14-year-old Claude Hodges of Wichita.

At around 6:20 p.m. Jan. 28, police arrived at an apartment at 8405 W. Central in Wichita, to check on 14-year-old Claude Hodges after his father called concerned for his welfare.

When they arrived at the apartment they knocked and received no response. They observed a bullet hole in the apartment's exterior wall and also found a fired bullet on the ground near the entrance.

WPD officers quickly obtained a key and entered the apartment. Upon entering they found a woman, later identified as 43-year-old Kylee R. Hodges, of Wichita, holding a handgun. A shotgun was also nearby. Officers quickly withdrew from the apartment and notified negotiators.

Preliminary information indicates negotiators began talking with Hodges at around 8:20 p.m. A tactical team, comprised of both polie and deputies from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office were called to the apartment at around 9:45 p.m.

Discussions with Hodges continued for several hours in an effort to convince her to disarm and exit peacefully. At one point they convinced Hodges to come out of the apartment and leave her handgun on the ground outside, but she remained close to the gun.

At around 1:40 a.m., Hodges quickly picked up the handgun again, and advanced toward officers while pointing the firearm in their direction. Two SWAT officers from Wichita police each fired one shot toward Hodges, striking her.

Medical aid was rendered, and EMS transported Hodges to a local hospital. No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident. Once officers reentered the apartment, they discovered Claude Hodges in a bedroom deceased from a gunshot wound. Kylee Hodges underwent surgery and is expected to survive her injuries.

Police will continue to investigate the homicide of 14-year-old Claude Hodges. The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Once completed the findings will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for review.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706653865930.png" alt="Image taken from the axon body camera worn by the Sedgwick Co. Sheriff’s deputy on the SWAT team. They depict Larry Armour threatening the resident" />
 <figcaption>Image taken from the axon body camera worn by the Sedgwick Co. Sheriff’s deputy on the SWAT team. They depict Larry Armour threatening the resident</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating two officer-involved shootings in Wichita over the past week.Just after 11:30 p.m. Jan. 24, police initiated a vehicle pursuit near East Bayley and Schweiter Drive in Wichita after they located a suspect later identified as 43-year-old Larry Armour of Wichita, operating a vehicle that was reported stolen at knifepoint earlier in the night.A police&nbsp; pursuit ended near East Harry Street and Green Street and Armour fled on foot.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706654114440.png" alt="Photo taken by the KBI and is the knife Armour was believed to be holding at the time of the shooting. Multiple knives were located in the room where the shooting occurred." />
 <figcaption>Photo taken by the KBI and is the knife Armour was believed to be holding at the time of the shooting. Multiple knives were located in the room where the shooting occurred.</figcaption>
 </figure>Preliminary information indicates that then Armour entered a residence in the 2400 block of East Harry through the back entrance, while armed with a knife. A man who lived at the home who was unacquainted with Armour, was inside.A tactical team, comprised of both officers from Wichita police, Sedgwick County sheriff's deputies and crisis negotiators, quickly responded to the residence. Just before 1 a.m., members of the tactical team arrived on scene. Negotiations with Armour were attempted. Just after 3 a.m., a deputy observed Armour through a window, standing over the innocent resident threatening him with a large knife and shouting that he would kill him. The deputy fired one shot striking Armour, and ending the hostage incident.Medical aid was administered to Armour, and EMS transported him to a Wichita hospital. Despite life-saving measures, he died from his injuries. As a precaution, the resident was transported to a local hospital for evaluation, but he was uninjured during the incident. No law enforcement officers were injured during the shooting.Armour had a&nbsp; previous felony conviction for drugs and had been on parole since 2018, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. On January 12, Wichita police arrested him on a requested charge of aggravated robbery and flee or attempt to elude&nbsp; police, according to Sedgwick County Arrest records.&nbsp;Then on Jan. 29, the KBI began investigating the shooting death of 14-year-old Claude Hodges of Wichita.At around 6:20 p.m. Jan. 28, police arrived at an apartment at 8405 W. Central in Wichita, to check on 14-year-old Claude Hodges after his father called concerned for his welfare.When they arrived at the apartment they knocked and received no response. They observed a bullet hole in the apartment's exterior wall and also found a fired bullet on the ground near the entrance.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706532733268.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>WPD officers quickly obtained a key and entered the apartment. Upon entering they found a woman, later identified as 43-year-old Kylee R. Hodges, of Wichita, holding a handgun. A shotgun was also nearby. Officers quickly withdrew from the apartment and notified negotiators.Preliminary information indicates negotiators began talking with Hodges at around 8:20 p.m. A tactical team, comprised of both polie and deputies from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office were called to the apartment at around 9:45 p.m.Discussions with Hodges continued for several hours in an effort to convince her to disarm and exit peacefully. At one point they convinced Hodges to come out of the apartment and leave her handgun on the ground outside, but she remained close to the gun.At around 1:40 a.m., Hodges quickly picked up the handgun again, and advanced toward officers while pointing the firearm in their direction. Two SWAT officers from Wichita police each fired one shot toward Hodges, striking her.Medical aid was rendered, and EMS transported Hodges to a local hospital. No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident. Once officers reentered the apartment, they discovered Claude Hodges in a bedroom deceased from a gunshot wound. Kylee Hodges underwent surgery and is expected to survive her injuries.Police will continue to investigate the homicide of 14-year-old Claude Hodges. The KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Once completed the findings will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for review.&nbsp;

Body cam photos released after 2 Kan. officer shootings in past week

JERUSALEM – Attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue in the Red Sea.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time, Tuesday, Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea, according to a statement by the U.S. Central Command.

 The missile was successfully shot down by USS Gravely (DDG 107). There were no injuries or damage reported.

Meanwhile, Iran threatened Wednesday to “decisively respond” to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-jordan-dignified-transfer-dover-140000aa392fee8175616d8af813c0eb">President Joe Biden's linking of Tehran</a>&nbsp;to the killing of three U.S. soldiers at a military base in Jordan.

The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also injured at least 40 troops at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that's been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.

However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-retaliation-iran-militia-drone-attack-1dda7fdb416f843b3a5cc84ea7b5f01c">concerns remain</a>&nbsp;that any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's ongoing war on Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.

The Iranian warnings first came from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-politics-israel-government-drones-9b6c15e9363847e3dec091baf5113ab7">Amir Saeid Iravani</a>, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He gave a briefing to Iranian journalists late Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

“The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts,” IRNA quoted Iravani as saying. He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a “strong response,” without elaborating.

The Iranian mission to the U.N. did not respond to requests for comment or elaboration Wednesday on Iravani's remarks.

Iravani also denied that Iran and the U.S. had exchanged any messages over the last few days, either through intermediaries or directly. The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.

“Such messages have not been exchanged," Iravani said.

But Iran's government has taken note of the U.S. threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan.

“Sometime, our enemies raise the threat and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials," Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>, said at an event Wednesday. "We tell them that you have experienced us and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.”

“We are not after war, but we have no fear of war,” he added, according to IRNA.

On Saturday, a general in charge of Iran's air defenses described them as being at their “highest defensive readiness.” That raises concerns for commercial aviation traveling through and over Iran as well. After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-soleimani-explosion-kerman-2524cfed1d040370bf98000e2b53ad5a">U.S. drone strike killed a top general</a>&nbsp;in 2020, Iranian air defenses mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board.

Saree claimed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11">the Houthis</a>&nbsp;fired “several” missiles. something not acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets.

The Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B. Puller, a floating landing base used by the Navy SEALs and others. The U.S. said there had been no attack.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-attacks-shipping-inflation-124d5445bec8ce6864112e3095646308">a key route for global trade</a>&nbsp;between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703990687604.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM – Attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels continue in the Red Sea.At approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time, Tuesday, Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea, according to a statement by the U.S. Central Command. The missile was successfully shot down by USS Gravely (DDG 107). There were no injuries or damage reported.Meanwhile, Iran threatened Wednesday to “decisively respond” to any U.S. attack on the Islamic Republic following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-jordan-dignified-transfer-dover-140000aa392fee8175616d8af813c0eb">President Joe Biden's linking of Tehran</a>&nbsp;to the killing of three U.S. soldiers at a military base in Jordan.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden on Iran: &quot;I do hold them responsible in a sense that they&#39;re supplying the weapons to the people who did it...I don&#39;t think we need a wider war in the Middle East. That&#39;s not what I&#39;m looking for.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/mcviToXzgJ">pic.twitter.com/mcviToXzgJ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1752363083987575127?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The U.S. has signaled it is preparing for retaliatory strikes in the Mideast in the wake of the Sunday drone attack that also injured at least 40 troops at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>, a secretive base in northeastern Jordan that's been crucial to the American presence in neighboring Syria.However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-retaliation-iran-militia-drone-attack-1dda7fdb416f843b3a5cc84ea7b5f01c">concerns remain</a>&nbsp;that any additional American strikes could further inflame a region already roiled by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's ongoing war on Hamas</a>&nbsp;in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.The Iranian warnings first came from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-politics-israel-government-drones-9b6c15e9363847e3dec091baf5113ab7">Amir Saeid Iravani</a>, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in New York. He gave a briefing to Iranian journalists late Tuesday, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.“The Islamic Republic would decisively respond to any attack on the county, its interests and nationals under any pretexts,” IRNA quoted Iravani as saying. He described any possible Iranian retaliation as a “strong response,” without elaborating.The Iranian mission to the U.N. did not respond to requests for comment or elaboration Wednesday on Iravani's remarks.Iravani also denied that Iran and the U.S. had exchanged any messages over the last few days, either through intermediaries or directly. The pan-Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera, which is based in and funded by Qatar, reported earlier that such communication had taken place. Qatar often serves as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran.“Such messages have not been exchanged," Iravani said.But Iran's government has taken note of the U.S. threats of retaliation for the attack on the base in Jordan.“Sometime, our enemies raise the threat and nowadays we hear some threats in between words by American officials," Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, who answers only to Supreme Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ali-khamenei">Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a>, said at an event Wednesday. "We tell them that you have experienced us and we know each other. We do not leave any threat without an answer.”“We are not after war, but we have no fear of war,” he added, according to IRNA.On Saturday, a general in charge of Iran's air defenses described them as being at their “highest defensive readiness.” That raises concerns for commercial aviation traveling through and over Iran as well. After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-soleimani-explosion-kerman-2524cfed1d040370bf98000e2b53ad5a">U.S. drone strike killed a top general</a>&nbsp;in 2020, Iranian air defenses mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane, killing all 176 people on board.Saree claimed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-houthis-d770a3fb0fab4c4b72e2459771833e11">the Houthis</a>&nbsp;fired “several” missiles. something not acknowledged by the U.S. Navy. Houthi claims have been exaggerated in the past, and their missiles sometimes crash on land and fail to reach their targets.The Houthis claimed without evidence on Monday to have targeted the USS Lewis B. Puller, a floating landing base used by the Navy SEALs and others. The U.S. said there had been no attack.Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-attacks-shipping-inflation-124d5445bec8ce6864112e3095646308">a key route for global trade</a>&nbsp;between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.

Rebel attacks continue in Red Sea as Iran threatens against US retaliation

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged animal cruelty seized dozens of cats and dogs from a Kansas home and made two arrests.

Just after 8 a.m. Tuesday, police executed a search warrant in the 1400 block of SW Fillmore Street in Topeka in response to a reported animal abuse case, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.

Officials from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and animal welfare partners from across the country also responded to assist police.

Upon arrival, officer made contact with the owners of the residence, then found dozens of cats and dogs living in hazardous conditions with little to no access to food and clean water.

The Topeka Police Department’s Animal Control Officers (ACOs) along with other law enforcement officials assisted animal welfare professionals from HSUS and other animal welfare organizations in removing the animals and giving them care.

Humane Society of the United States is transporting the rescued animals to a confidential, safe location where they will continue to be examined by licensed veterinarians and receive the care they need.

Topeka Police Animal Control Officers recognized the nature of the situation and requested the assistance of Humane Society of the United State.&nbsp; Authorities found a total of 91 animals. They seized 73 animals and 18 animals were found deceased, according to Nichols.

Police arrested 30-year-old&nbsp;Desiree Elaine Therrien and 28-year-old&nbsp;Charles Cornelius Solomon on requested charges of&nbsp;Cruelty to animals; Abandon without provisions for care; 1st.

Check the Post for additional details as they are released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706698211353.png" alt="Solomon -photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Solomon -photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating alleged animal cruelty seized dozens of cats and dogs from a Kansas home and made two arrests.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706648428764.png" alt="Police and animal control officers on the scene early Tuesday -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police and animal control officers on the scene early Tuesday -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 8 a.m. Tuesday, police executed a search warrant in the 1400 block of SW Fillmore Street in Topeka in response to a reported animal abuse case, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 BREAKING: RESCUE IN PROGRESS! Our Animal Rescue Team is on the ground rescuing dozens of dogs and cats from an alleged neglect situation in Topeka, KS. 🙏 Please, donate now to help these animals get the care they need and support all our lifesaving work:… <a href="https://t.co/0BOuBkd5pD">pic.twitter.com/0BOuBkd5pD</a>&mdash; The Humane Society of the United States (@HumaneSociety) <a href="https://twitter.com/HumaneSociety/status/1752437605310849356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Officials from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and animal welfare partners from across the country also responded to assist police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706698310165.png" alt="Therrien-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Therrien-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arrival, officer made contact with the owners of the residence, then found dozens of cats and dogs living in hazardous conditions with little to no access to food and clean water. The Topeka Police Department’s Animal Control Officers (ACOs) along with other law enforcement officials assisted animal welfare professionals from HSUS and other animal welfare organizations in removing the animals and giving them care.Humane Society of the United States is transporting the rescued animals to a confidential, safe location where they will continue to be examined by licensed veterinarians and receive the care they need.Topeka Police Animal Control Officers recognized the nature of the situation and requested the assistance of Humane Society of the United State.&nbsp; Authorities found a total of 91 animals. They seized 73 animals and 18 animals were found deceased, according to Nichols.Police arrested 30-year-old&nbsp;Desiree Elaine Therrien and 28-year-old&nbsp;Charles Cornelius Solomon on requested charges of&nbsp;Cruelty to animals; Abandon without provisions for care; 1st.Check the Post for additional details as they are released.

🎥2 arrested after dozens of dogs, cats seized from Kan. home

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting that left 15-year-old Brianna Rachelle Higgins of Lawrence dead have made an arrest.

On Tuesday, police reported they arrested&nbsp;A 17-year-old boy on requested charges of Second Degree Homicide in connection with her death, according to Olathe Police Sergeant John Moncayo.

A friend established <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/brianna-rachell-higgins">an online fundraiser</a> for the family.

Just before 11 p.m. Jan. 19, police were contacted at Olathe Medical Center about a 15-year-old girl who had been driven to the hospital with an apparent gunshot wound.

Police determined the shooting occurred near the 16900 block of West 127th&nbsp;Street.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706095295950.png" alt="Brianna Rachelle Higgins-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Brianna Rachelle Higgins-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a deadly shooting that left 15-year-old Brianna Rachelle Higgins of Lawrence dead have made an arrest.On Tuesday, police reported they arrested&nbsp;A 17-year-old boy on requested charges of Second Degree Homicide in connection with her death, according to Olathe Police Sergeant John Moncayo.A friend established <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/brianna-rachell-higgins">an online fundraiser</a> for the family.Just before 11 p.m. Jan. 19, police were contacted at Olathe Medical Center about a 15-year-old girl who had been driven to the hospital with an apparent gunshot wound.Police determined the shooting occurred near the 16900 block of West 127th&nbsp;Street.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have released no additional details.

Boy arrested for death of 15-year-old Kan. girl

The Associated Press story was first published on Jan. 22, 2024. It was published again on Jan. 31, 2024, to correct, based on revised accounts from military officials, that Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers fell into the water and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram jumped into the water to try to save him, not that Ingram fell into the water and then Chambers jumped in.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under the darkness of night, in the roiling high seas off the coast of Somalia, members of the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team 3 began to climb aboard an unflagged ship that was carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons to Yemen.

As Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers began boarding the boat, he slipped, falling into a gap the waves had created between the vessel and the SEALs' combatant craft. As he went under, Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram jumped into the gap to try to save him, according to U.S. officials familiar with what happened.

It was an instinctive act, honed by years of training, one teammate going to another's aid. But weighed down by their body armor, weapons and heavy equipment, the two SEALs plunged into the depths of the Arabian Sea and died, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details of the Jan. 11 raid.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">mission came as the interdiction of weapons to Yemen</a>&nbsp;takes on new urgency. The Yemen-based Houthis have been conducting a campaign of missile and drone attacks against commercial and Navy ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. And U.S. retaliatory strikes have so far not deterred their assaults.

The 11-day search and rescue mission to locate the two SEALs was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seals-navy-deceased-weapons-seizure-yemen-0502e297a90ecc28431fc5b2cb49d033">called off on Sunday</a>&nbsp;and became a recovery effort. And on Monday, the Navy released their names, after their families were notified.

“Chris and Gage selflessly served their country with unwavering professionalism and exceptional capabilities,” said Capt. Blake Chaney, commander of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, which oversees SEAL Team 3. “This loss is devastating for NSW, our families, the special operations community, and across the nation.”

At the White House, President Joe Biden said in a statement that, “Jill and I are mourning the tragic deaths of two of America’s finest — Navy SEALs who were lost at sea while executing a mission off the coast of East Africa last week.” He said the SEALs represent “the very best of our country, pledging their lives to protect their fellow Americans. Our hearts go out to the family members, loved ones, friends, and shipmates who are grieving for these two brave Americans.”

The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is conducting an investigation into what happened. That probe is expected to examine whether the SEALs were properly equipped and trained for the mission, whether procedures were followed, and any decisions regarding the timing and approval of the raid, including the weather and the state of the seas.

According to officials, the commandos launched from the USS Lewis B. Puller, a mobile sea base, and they were backed up by drones and helicopters. They loaded onto small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. It was the type of boarding for which SEALs train routinely, and illegal weapons moving from Iran to Yemen-based Houthis have been a persistent concern, particularly as the rebels continue to target commercial vessels in the region.

The team boarding the dhow was facing more than a dozen crew members. They ultimately seized an array of Iranian-made weaponry, including cruise and ballistic missile components such as propulsion and guidance devices and warheads, as well as air defense parts, Central Command said.

The raid was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-iran-arms-seizure-us-uk-b38494c44e4477b177a7f878f4d8f6db">the latest seizure by the U.S. Navy and its allies</a>&nbsp;of weapon shipments bound for the rebels, who have launched a series of attacks now threatening global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The seized missile components included types likely used in those attacks.

Chambers and Ingram, who were assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL unit, "were exceptional warriors, cherished teammates, and dear friends to many within the Naval Special Warfare community,” said Chaney.

Chambers, 37, of Maryland, enlisted in the Navy in 2012, and graduated from SEAL training in 2014. His awards include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “C” and three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Ingram, 27, of Texas, enlisted in 2019, and graduated from SEAL training in 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705958979801.png" alt="Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers -photo Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers -photo Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>The Associated Press story was first published on Jan. 22, 2024. It was published again on Jan. 31, 2024, to correct, based on revised accounts from military officials, that Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers fell into the water and Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram jumped into the water to try to save him, not that Ingram fell into the water and then Chambers jumped in.BY LOLITA C. BALDORWASHINGTON (AP) — Under the darkness of night, in the roiling high seas off the coast of Somalia, members of the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team 3 began to climb aboard an unflagged ship that was carrying illicit Iranian-made weapons to Yemen.As Navy Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Christopher J. Chambers began boarding the boat, he slipped, falling into a gap the waves had created between the vessel and the SEALs' combatant craft. As he went under, Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram jumped into the gap to try to save him, according to U.S. officials familiar with what happened.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705959010427.png" alt="Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram-photo Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Navy Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class Nathan Gage Ingram-photo Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>It was an instinctive act, honed by years of training, one teammate going to another's aid. But weighed down by their body armor, weapons and heavy equipment, the two SEALs plunged into the depths of the Arabian Sea and died, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details of the Jan. 11 raid.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">mission came as the interdiction of weapons to Yemen</a>&nbsp;takes on new urgency. The Yemen-based Houthis have been conducting a campaign of missile and drone attacks against commercial and Navy ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. And U.S. retaliatory strikes have so far not deterred their assaults.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405243920.png" alt="-The two SEALs went into water in mid-January during a nighttime boarding mission to interdict a dhow suspected of carrying Iranian-made weapons for Houthi militants in Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>-The two SEALs went into water in mid-January during a nighttime boarding mission to interdict a dhow suspected of carrying Iranian-made weapons for Houthi militants in Yemen, according to the U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>The 11-day search and rescue mission to locate the two SEALs was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seals-navy-deceased-weapons-seizure-yemen-0502e297a90ecc28431fc5b2cb49d033">called off on Sunday</a>&nbsp;and became a recovery effort. And on Monday, the Navy released their names, after their families were notified.“Chris and Gage selflessly served their country with unwavering professionalism and exceptional capabilities,” said Capt. Blake Chaney, commander of Naval Special Warfare Group 1, which oversees SEAL Team 3. “This loss is devastating for NSW, our families, the special operations community, and across the nation.”At the White House, President Joe Biden said in a statement that, “Jill and I are mourning the tragic deaths of two of America’s finest — Navy SEALs who were lost at sea while executing a mission off the coast of East Africa last week.” He said the SEALs represent “the very best of our country, pledging their lives to protect their fellow Americans. Our hearts go out to the family members, loved ones, friends, and shipmates who are grieving for these two brave Americans.”The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet is conducting an investigation into what happened. That probe is expected to examine whether the SEALs were properly equipped and trained for the mission, whether procedures were followed, and any decisions regarding the timing and approval of the raid, including the weather and the state of the seas.According to officials, the commandos launched from the USS Lewis B. Puller, a mobile sea base, and they were backed up by drones and helicopters. They loaded onto small special operations combat craft driven by naval special warfare crew to get to the boat. It was the type of boarding for which SEALs train routinely, and illegal weapons moving from Iran to Yemen-based Houthis have been a persistent concern, particularly as the rebels continue to target commercial vessels in the region.The team boarding the dhow was facing more than a dozen crew members. They ultimately seized an array of Iranian-made weaponry, including cruise and ballistic missile components such as propulsion and guidance devices and warheads, as well as air defense parts, Central Command said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705405198142.png" alt="Photo of the items seized -photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the items seized -photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>The raid was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-iran-arms-seizure-us-uk-b38494c44e4477b177a7f878f4d8f6db">the latest seizure by the U.S. Navy and its allies</a>&nbsp;of weapon shipments bound for the rebels, who have launched a series of attacks now threatening global trade in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The seized missile components included types likely used in those attacks.Chambers and Ingram, who were assigned to a West Coast-based SEAL unit, "were exceptional warriors, cherished teammates, and dear friends to many within the Naval Special Warfare community,” said Chaney.Chambers, 37, of Maryland, enlisted in the Navy in 2012, and graduated from SEAL training in 2014. His awards include the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “C” and three Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals. Ingram, 27, of Texas, enlisted in 2019, and graduated from SEAL training in 2021.---------

Correction: How 2 U.S. Navy SEALs died in raid to seize Iranian weapons

KANSAS CITY —A jury on Friday convicted a Kansas City man in the July 2022 fatal shooting of Marvin Yancey as the victim was driving his vehicle on Blue Ridge Boulevard, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Charles Miller Jr.,28, was convicted of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;

According to court records, police were dispatched July 16, 2022, to the area of 83rd and Blue Ridge Boulevard in Kansas City on the report of shots being fired. 

Police found no crime scene. Later police were dispatched to 8200 Blue Ridge Boulevard regarding an injury accident. Officers found the victim who had been shot. Detectives used video from city cameras to identify a suspect vehicle. 

That helped detectives determine the vehicle had a GPS tracker that led police to a witness who was with the defendant the night of the shooting. 

She said Miller had a weapon while he driving the night of the shooting. A shell casing taken from the vehicle he was driving that night matched the caliber of rounds recovered from a rifle found in the vehicle. In addition, a spent bullet that was collected from the victim was determined to have been fired by that rifle. Miller will be sentenced on April 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706368288902.png" alt="Miller-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Miller-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A jury on Friday convicted a Kansas City man in the July 2022 fatal shooting of Marvin Yancey as the victim was driving his vehicle on Blue Ridge Boulevard, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Charles Miller Jr.,28, was convicted of Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;According to court records, police were dispatched July 16, 2022, to the area of 83rd and Blue Ridge Boulevard in Kansas City on the report of shots being fired. Police found no crime scene. Later police were dispatched to 8200 Blue Ridge Boulevard regarding an injury accident. Officers found the victim who had been shot. Detectives used video from city cameras to identify a suspect vehicle. That helped detectives determine the vehicle had a GPS tracker that led police to a witness who was with the defendant the night of the shooting. She said Miller had a weapon while he driving the night of the shooting. A shell casing taken from the vehicle he was driving that night matched the caliber of rounds recovered from a rifle found in the vehicle. In addition, a spent bullet that was collected from the victim was determined to have been fired by that rifle. Miller will be sentenced on April 30.

Murder: KC shooting victim found at scene of car crash

KANSAS CITY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Kansas CIty.

Just after 7:30p.m. Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to the report of a house fire in the 500 block of Donnelly, in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. 

First responders reported heavy fire from the occupied two and half-story home.&nbsp;Searches of the structure all came back clear. .

 The home suffered extensive damage. There were no injuries reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706670424540.png" alt="Photo KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Kansas CIty.Just after 7:30p.m. Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to the report of a house fire in the 500 block of Donnelly, in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. First responders reported heavy fire from the occupied two and half-story home.&nbsp;Searches of the structure all came back clear. . The home suffered extensive damage. There were no injuries reported.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Battalion Chief: Extensive damage after fire at KC home

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, who became the first female senator to represent Missouri after she was appointed to replace her husband following his death, died Tuesday. She was 90.

Carnahan, a Democrat, was appointed to the Senate in 2001 after the posthumous election of her husband, Gov. Mel Carnahan, and she served until 2002.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706663656921.png" alt="Jean Carnahan -image from Carnahan campaign ad via CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Jean Carnahan -image from Carnahan campaign ad via CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, who became the first female senator to represent Missouri after she was appointed to replace her husband following his death, died Tuesday. She was 90.Carnahan, a Democrat, was appointed to the Senate in 2001 after the posthumous election of her husband, Gov. Mel Carnahan, and she served until 2002.“Mom passed peacefully after a long and rich life. She was a fearless trailblazer. She was brilliant, creative, compassionate and dedicated to her family and her fellow Missourians,” her family said in a statement.Her family did not specify the cause of death but said Carnahan died after a brief illness at a hospice facility in suburban St. Louis.Carnahan was born Dec. 20, 1933, in Washington, D.C., and grew up in the nation’s capital. Her father worked as a plumber and her mother as a hairdresser.She met Mel Carnahan, the son of a Missouri congressman, at a church event, and they became better acquainted after sitting next to each other at a class in high school, according to information provided by the family. They were married on June 12, 1954.Jean Carnahan graduated a year later from George Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in business and public administration, and they later raised four children on a farm near Rolla, Missouri.She served as first lady of Missouri after her husband’s election as governor in 1992 and through his two terms.On Oct. 16, 2000, the governor, the couple’s son, Roger, and an aide died in a plane crash. After Mel Carnahan was elected posthumously three weeks later, acting Gov. Roger Wilson appointed Jean Carnahan to fill the seat left vacant by her husband’s death.She served from Jan. 3, 2001, to Nov. 25, 2002.After her appointment, Carnahan gave a speech in the Senate in which she noted her tragic path to the chamber.“My name has never been on a ballot. On election night, there was no victory celebration,” she said. "You are here because of your win. I am here because of my loss. But we are all here to do the work of this great nation.”Roy Temple, a longtime aide to the Carnahans and Jean Carnahan’s chief of staff, said he saw Carnahan at her 90th birthday celebration last year and told her, “Jean, you are like a flower that blooms wherever you are planted.”“She just did everything with a boundless amount of smarts and wit and creativity,” Temple said. “Whatever she was doing -- if it was planning a party or it was pushing for legislation, it was just in her nature to do it all the way.”Temple said that although Carnahan was only in the Senate for two years, she served at an extraordinary time. While there, she lost her house in a fire and was recovering from the loss of her husband and son. She was there during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and she was working in the Hart Senate Office Building during the anthrax scare – Temple remembers working with her in a hideaway in the basement of the Capitol at that time.“It was an extraordinary and stressful time and she did the job well and with great dignity,” Temple said. “It was a privilege to work with her.”Temple said Carnahan and then-Sen. Joe Biden had a bond because he was one of the few people who had suffered similar loss and could understand what she was going through.Carnahan was the author of seven books, including two about the Missouri governor's mansion and an autobiography that focused on her years as first lady and as a senator.