GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;gave out $1 million checks on Sunday to two Wisconsin voters, declaring them spokespeople for his political group, ahead of a Wisconsin Supreme Court election that the tech billionaire cast as critical to President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;agenda and “the future of civilization.”

Taking the stage in Green Bay wearing a yellow foam cheesehead hat, Musk painted the judicial race he has pumped more than $20 million into as pivotal for the country.

Noting the likelihood the state high court will take up redistricting that could give Democrats a chance at winning two additional U.S. House seats, Musk said, “The House majority is now razor thin.”

“And if the (Wisconsin) Supreme Court is able to redraw the districts, they will gerrymander the district and deprive Wisconsin of two seats on the Republican side,” Musk said. “Then they will try to stop all the government reforms we are getting done, for you the American people.”

A unanimous court on Sunday refused to hear a last-minute attempt by the state's Democratic attorney general to stop Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-petition-million-dollars-law-3501e3c50d6c55e585d67da6b5513208">from handing over the checks</a>&nbsp;to two voters, a ruling that came just minutes before the planned start of the rally.

Two lower courts had already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-musk-million-dollar-checks-43fa79215e16c333a1079a86cb9aab08">rejected the legal challenge</a>&nbsp;by Democrat Josh Kaul, who argues that Musk's offer violates a state law. “Wisconsin law prohibits offering anything of value to induce anyone to vote,” Kaul argued in his filing. “Yet, Elon Musk did just that.”

But the state Supreme Court, which is currently controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, declined to take the case as an original action. The court gave no rationale for its decision.

Kaul had no immediate comment on the court's order.

Musk’s attorneys argued in filings with the court that Musk was exercising his free speech rights with the giveaways and any attempt to restrict that would violate both the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions.

The payments are “intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate,” Musk’s attorneys argued in court filings.

Wisconsin’s tightly contested Supreme Court election, where ideological control of the court is at stake, is on Tuesday. Liberals currently hold a 4-3 majority.

The court's four liberal justices have endorsed Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, the Democratic-backed candidate.

Musk’s attorneys, about four hours before the rally was to begin, asked that two liberal justices who have campaigned for Crawford — Jill Karofsky and Rebecca Dallet — recuse themselves from the case. His attorneys argued their work for Crawford creates “the specter of inappropriate bias.” If they did recuse, that would leave the court with a 3-2 conservative majority.

Both justices rejected the request and said they would spell out their reasons why at a later date.

One of the court's conservative justices has endorsed Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, who also has the backing of Trump and Musk. Schimel wore a “Make America Great Again" hat while campaigning Sunday.

Musk and groups he supports have spent more than $20 million to help Schimel get elected.

Schimel said in a national television interview that he does not control “any of the spending from any outside group, whether it’s Elon Musk or anyone else” and that all Trump asked was whether he would “reject activist judges" and follow the law.

“That’s exactly what I’ve committed to anybody, whether it’s President Trump, Elon Musk or any donors and donors or supporters or voters in Wisconsin. That’s my commitment,” Schimel told “Fox News Sunday.”

The contest has shattered national spending records for a judicial election, with more than $81 million in spending.

It comes as Wisconsin’s highest court is expected to rule on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-state-supreme-court-abortion-musk-0a7002302fde1604e5d35ad1b6da7b16">abortion rights</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-redistricting-congress-b2464b169c671ecf996de0b80005317a">congressional redistricting</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-unions-7efb8c9baf6fa2ae0be95ad765321186">union power</a>&nbsp;and voting rules that could affect the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election in the state.

Musk’s political action committee used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-1-million-giveaway-trump-voters-petition-b4e48acbfe04fde735e60b1911ad0197">a nearly identical tactic</a>&nbsp;before the presidential election last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-million-sweepstakes-lottery-pennsylvania-krasner-4f683c48eb7dcc57f183e54ef16e7320">offering to pay</a>&nbsp;$1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and six other battleground states who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. A judge in Pennsylvania said prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-million-sweepstakes-lottery-pennsylvania-krasner-a84854e6397ac1440ffb54b13facacf2">failed to show</a>&nbsp;the effort was an illegal lottery and allowed it to continue through Election Day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743386540606.png" alt="Elon Musk as seen in a live stream of his talk on Sunday night" />
 <figcaption>Elon Musk as seen in a live stream of his talk on Sunday night</figcaption>
 </figure>GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/elon-musk">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;gave out $1 million checks on Sunday to two Wisconsin voters, declaring them spokespeople for his political group, ahead of a Wisconsin Supreme Court election that the tech billionaire cast as critical to President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;agenda and “the future of civilization.”Taking the stage in Green Bay wearing a yellow foam cheesehead hat, Musk painted the judicial race he has pumped more than $20 million into as pivotal for the country.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">&quot;Let me first hand out two $1 million checks in appreciation...Reason for the checks is that it&#39;s really just to get attention. It causes legacy media to like kind of lose their minds. Then they&#39;ll run it on every news channel.&quot; -- Elon Musk full video: <a href="https://t.co/MecfkoXYVg">https://t.co/MecfkoXYVg</a> <a href="https://t.co/AMKFahv236">pic.twitter.com/AMKFahv236</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1906681385575674264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Noting the likelihood the state high court will take up redistricting that could give Democrats a chance at winning two additional U.S. House seats, Musk said, “The House majority is now razor thin.”“And if the (Wisconsin) Supreme Court is able to redraw the districts, they will gerrymander the district and deprive Wisconsin of two seats on the Republican side,” Musk said. “Then they will try to stop all the government reforms we are getting done, for you the American people.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">&quot;Thanks for coming. What do you think of my hat?&quot; - Elon Musk in Wisconsin <a href="https://t.co/8LRD93ING5">pic.twitter.com/8LRD93ING5</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1906741983562838361?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A unanimous court on Sunday refused to hear a last-minute attempt by the state's Democratic attorney general to stop Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-petition-million-dollars-law-3501e3c50d6c55e585d67da6b5513208">from handing over the checks</a>&nbsp;to two voters, a ruling that came just minutes before the planned start of the rally.Two lower courts had already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-musk-million-dollar-checks-43fa79215e16c333a1079a86cb9aab08">rejected the legal challenge</a>&nbsp;by Democrat Josh Kaul, who argues that Musk's offer violates a state law. “Wisconsin law prohibits offering anything of value to induce anyone to vote,” Kaul argued in his filing. “Yet, Elon Musk did just that.”But the state Supreme Court, which is currently controlled 4-3 by liberal justices, declined to take the case as an original action. The court gave no rationale for its decision.Kaul had no immediate comment on the court's order.Musk’s attorneys argued in filings with the court that Musk was exercising his free speech rights with the giveaways and any attempt to restrict that would violate both the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions.The payments are “intended to generate a grassroots movement in opposition to activist judges, not to expressly advocate for or against any candidate,” Musk’s attorneys argued in court filings.Wisconsin’s tightly contested Supreme Court election, where ideological control of the court is at stake, is on Tuesday. Liberals currently hold a 4-3 majority.The court's four liberal justices have endorsed Dane County Judge Susan Crawford, the Democratic-backed candidate.Musk’s attorneys, about four hours before the rally was to begin, asked that two liberal justices who have campaigned for Crawford — Jill Karofsky and Rebecca Dallet — recuse themselves from the case. His attorneys argued their work for Crawford creates “the specter of inappropriate bias.” If they did recuse, that would leave the court with a 3-2 conservative majority.Both justices rejected the request and said they would spell out their reasons why at a later date.One of the court's conservative justices has endorsed Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel, who also has the backing of Trump and Musk. Schimel wore a “Make America Great Again" hat while campaigning Sunday.Musk and groups he supports have spent more than $20 million to help Schimel get elected.Schimel said in a national television interview that he does not control “any of the spending from any outside group, whether it’s Elon Musk or anyone else” and that all Trump asked was whether he would “reject activist judges" and follow the law.“That’s exactly what I’ve committed to anybody, whether it’s President Trump, Elon Musk or any donors and donors or supporters or voters in Wisconsin. That’s my commitment,” Schimel told “Fox News Sunday.”The contest has shattered national spending records for a judicial election, with more than $81 million in spending.It comes as Wisconsin’s highest court is expected to rule on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-state-supreme-court-abortion-musk-0a7002302fde1604e5d35ad1b6da7b16">abortion rights</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-redistricting-congress-b2464b169c671ecf996de0b80005317a">congressional redistricting</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-unions-7efb8c9baf6fa2ae0be95ad765321186">union power</a>&nbsp;and voting rules that could affect the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential election in the state.Musk’s political action committee used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-1-million-giveaway-trump-voters-petition-b4e48acbfe04fde735e60b1911ad0197">a nearly identical tactic</a>&nbsp;before the presidential election last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-million-sweepstakes-lottery-pennsylvania-krasner-4f683c48eb7dcc57f183e54ef16e7320">offering to pay</a>&nbsp;$1 million a day to voters in Wisconsin and six other battleground states who signed a petition supporting the First and Second Amendments. A judge in Pennsylvania said prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-million-sweepstakes-lottery-pennsylvania-krasner-a84854e6397ac1440ffb54b13facacf2">failed to show</a>&nbsp;the effort was an illegal lottery and allowed it to continue through Election Day.

🎥Elon Musk hands out $1 million checks to voters ahead of important election

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just after 6p.m. March 27, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to check the welfare of two individuals sitting in a vehicle at the Dollar General store in Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

During the encounter, the deputies with the assistance of Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol found illegal drugs including fentanyl, controlled substances, THC and numerous drug paraphernalia items. 

Deputies&nbsp;arrested 31-year-old Cassidy Nicole Howland, of Lawrence on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of fentanyl, possession of a stimulant, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony trafficking contraband into a correctional facility.&nbsp; 

They also arrested 33-year-old Jonathan David King, of Lawrence on requested charges of possession of fentanyl, possession of a stimulant and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743162901122.png" alt="King photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>King photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just after 6p.m. March 27, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to check the welfare of two individuals sitting in a vehicle at the Dollar General store in Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743162814374.png" alt="Howland photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Howland photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>During the encounter, the deputies with the assistance of Troopers from the Kansas Highway Patrol found illegal drugs including fentanyl, controlled substances, THC and numerous drug paraphernalia items. Deputies&nbsp;arrested 31-year-old Cassidy Nicole Howland, of Lawrence on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of fentanyl, possession of a stimulant, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony trafficking contraband into a correctional facility.&nbsp; They also arrested 33-year-old Jonathan David King, of Lawrence on requested charges of possession of fentanyl, possession of a stimulant and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sheriff: Kan. couple caught with fentanyl outside Dollar General

BOSTON (AP) — Maxim Naumov came to a stop in the middle of the ice, looked up at the sky and patted his heart. Then he mouthed a few words, in Russian, to his parents:

“This is for you guys. You guys are with me. I love you both.”

Former world pairs champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova died in January when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">their plane crashed into a military helicopter</a>&nbsp;on approach to Washington, D.C., and fell into the icy Potomac River. A total of 67 people were killed, including more than two dozen who were returning from a development camp following the U.S. figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas.

Maxim Naumov, who finished fourth at nationals, already had returned home. Since the crash, he has become in many ways the face of the tragedy — or at least its effect on the skating community.

“I don’t think I’ve walked through a hallway and haven’t given a hug since. And I feel that support and love,” he said Sunday. “It’s been beyond anything that I could have ever even imagined. And it helps so much to get through this day.

“It’s overwhelming,” he said. “But it makes my heart so full.”

Naumov, 23, skated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-58511d50373d7c3910fea82edc676078">a benefit in Washington</a>&nbsp;earlier this month that raised more than $1.2 million for the victims’ families. Speaking to reporters Sunday after performing at the world championships gala, Naumov said the time that he is on the ice gives his mind a chance to escape the tragedy.

“As soon as I hit the ice, my brain just — I don’t know whether it’s focus or just calmness or stillness or what, but it feels like I tune everything out,” he said. “And I’m just talking with them, and they’re helping me.

“I don’t hear the crowd. I don’t hear the announcers, I don’t hear anything. I just have this internal dialogue and I’m just able to almost be calm and just be in my heart,” Naumov said. “And they’re always there, too. And every time I think of them, especially when I’m on the ice, it really, really helps me get through.”

The world championships, which had previously been scheduled at the home of Boston's Celtics and Bruins, brought renewed attention to the plane crash and&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/search/text?all=false&amp;endDate=2006-07-29T04:00:00.000Z&amp;sourceType=ap&amp;dateRangeType=live&amp;mediaSortType=newest&amp;pagesize=100&amp;viewType=conversation&amp;keyword=category:sports%20AND%20skating&amp;storyType=clean&amp;mediatype=text&amp;startDate=1996-06-29T04:00:00.000Z&amp;pagenumber=0">the century-old Skating Club of Boston</a>&nbsp;that has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-crash-figure-skating-club-boston-a2f015f02dab4cc2c22146dc1758de5d">home for Olympians</a>&nbsp;and recreational skaters alike.

There was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/figure-skating-tribute-world-championships-e1476d61759f6a0aab01d2b1366b71f8">a tribute on Wednesday</a>, sandwiched between the day's two sessions, and frequent reminders of the tragedy.

Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, who finished sixth in pairs this weekend, held up pictures of the Boston club members who died in the crash: two young skaters, their mothers and the two coaches.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/figure-skating-world-championships-amber-glenn-e0596b208d4a83141640dd364244be18">Reigning U.S. champion Amber Glenn</a>&nbsp;wore a T-shirt honoring the memory of all the young skaters who were lost.

Ilia Malinin, the “Quad God” who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/figure-skating-world-championships-usa-americans-2bdf829ff3ab3b2a3f11dc102fb0308d">won his second straight world championship</a>&nbsp;on Saturday night, finished the show on Sunday with a performance that he said was dedicated to the plane crash victims. He came to the end, red-eyed and choking back tears.

Naumov’s introduction on Sunday identified him as a member of the Boston club and included his three fourth-place finishes at nationals. It didn’t mention the crash, but many in the crowd surely knew his connection: He received not only the polite applause that greeted most of the other skaters, but a second wave, with individuals standing to cheer him on.

Wearing unadorned black pants and a sparkly black top, a gold chain flopping around his neck as he glided across the ice, Naumov gave a gala performance aimed more at emotion than proof of athletic prowess.

The choice of music, Mac Miller’s posthumous 2020 release “That’s on Me,” was intentional. Miller died of an accidental drug overdose in 2018.

“Lately, for some reason — well, not for some reason — but lately I’ve just been listening to Mac Miller’s album ‘Circles.’ Like just over and over and over,” Naumov said. “And knowing the unfortunate story about him as an artist, it’s been very relatable.

“I relate to it, and I feel really deeply and emotionally what he’s talking about in those songs. And it’s also been really helpful for me to almost get my emotions out in that way personally.”

When his&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/this-just-in.bsky.social/post/3llmjsm6iwk2o">skate was over</a>, Naumov took a deep breath, patted his heart again and waved in each direction. His bows were deep and poignant. Leaving the ice after a one-minute standing ovation, he made the sign of the cross.

“There’s a lot of emotions just right now, and it’s hard to even put a name to what I’m feeling currently," he said. "I just feel so much support, and it’s very overwhelming.

“I have so much gratitude," Naumov said. “And I’m thankful for each and every single one of those fans.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743382387471.png" alt="Flowers and remembrances are displayed for the six athletes, coaches and family members who perished in a plane crash in January, at The Skating Club of Boston, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)" />
 <figcaption>Flowers and remembrances are displayed for the six athletes, coaches and family members who perished in a plane crash in January, at The Skating Club of Boston, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in Norwood, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)</figcaption>
 </figure>BOSTON (AP) — Maxim Naumov came to a stop in the middle of the ice, looked up at the sky and patted his heart. Then he mouthed a few words, in Russian, to his parents:“This is for you guys. You guys are with me. I love you both.”Former world pairs champions Vadim Naumov and Evgenia Shishkova died in January when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">their plane crashed into a military helicopter</a>&nbsp;on approach to Washington, D.C., and fell into the icy Potomac River. A total of 67 people were killed, including more than two dozen who were returning from a development camp following the U.S. figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743425359637.png" alt="Max Naumov reacts after performing Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Washington at the Legacy on Ice event, a figure skating tribute to support the families and loved ones affected by the Jan. 29, 2025, aviation incident. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)" />
 <figcaption>Max Naumov reacts after performing Sunday, March 2, 2025, in Washington at the Legacy on Ice event, a figure skating tribute to support the families and loved ones affected by the Jan. 29, 2025, aviation incident. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)</figcaption>
 </figure>Maxim Naumov, who finished fourth at nationals, already had returned home. Since the crash, he has become in many ways the face of the tragedy — or at least its effect on the skating community.“I don’t think I’ve walked through a hallway and haven’t given a hug since. And I feel that support and love,” he said Sunday. “It’s been beyond anything that I could have ever even imagined. And it helps so much to get through this day.“It’s overwhelming,” he said. “But it makes my heart so full.”Naumov, 23, skated in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-helicopter-jet-crash-figure-skaters-58511d50373d7c3910fea82edc676078">a benefit in Washington</a>&nbsp;earlier this month that raised more than $1.2 million for the victims’ families. Speaking to reporters Sunday after performing at the world championships gala, Naumov said the time that he is on the ice gives his mind a chance to escape the tragedy.“As soon as I hit the ice, my brain just — I don’t know whether it’s focus or just calmness or stillness or what, but it feels like I tune everything out,” he said. “And I’m just talking with them, and they’re helping me.“I don’t hear the crowd. I don’t hear the announcers, I don’t hear anything. I just have this internal dialogue and I’m just able to almost be calm and just be in my heart,” Naumov said. “And they’re always there, too. And every time I think of them, especially when I’m on the ice, it really, really helps me get through.”The world championships, which had previously been scheduled at the home of Boston's Celtics and Bruins, brought renewed attention to the plane crash and&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/search/text?all=false&amp;endDate=2006-07-29T04:00:00.000Z&amp;sourceType=ap&amp;dateRangeType=live&amp;mediaSortType=newest&amp;pagesize=100&amp;viewType=conversation&amp;keyword=category:sports%20AND%20skating&amp;storyType=clean&amp;mediatype=text&amp;startDate=1996-06-29T04:00:00.000Z&amp;pagenumber=0">the century-old Skating Club of Boston</a>&nbsp;that has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-crash-figure-skating-club-boston-a2f015f02dab4cc2c22146dc1758de5d">home for Olympians</a>&nbsp;and recreational skaters alike.There was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/figure-skating-tribute-world-championships-e1476d61759f6a0aab01d2b1366b71f8">a tribute on Wednesday</a>, sandwiched between the day's two sessions, and frequent reminders of the tragedy.Alisa Efimova and Misha Mitrofanov, who finished sixth in pairs this weekend, held up pictures of the Boston club members who died in the crash: two young skaters, their mothers and the two coaches.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/figure-skating-world-championships-amber-glenn-e0596b208d4a83141640dd364244be18">Reigning U.S. champion Amber Glenn</a>&nbsp;wore a T-shirt honoring the memory of all the young skaters who were lost.Ilia Malinin, the “Quad God” who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/figure-skating-world-championships-usa-americans-2bdf829ff3ab3b2a3f11dc102fb0308d">won his second straight world championship</a>&nbsp;on Saturday night, finished the show on Sunday with a performance that he said was dedicated to the plane crash victims. He came to the end, red-eyed and choking back tears.Naumov’s introduction on Sunday identified him as a member of the Boston club and included his three fourth-place finishes at nationals. It didn’t mention the crash, but many in the crowd surely knew his connection: He received not only the polite applause that greeted most of the other skaters, but a second wave, with individuals standing to cheer him on.Wearing unadorned black pants and a sparkly black top, a gold chain flopping around his neck as he glided across the ice, Naumov gave a gala performance aimed more at emotion than proof of athletic prowess.The choice of music, Mac Miller’s posthumous 2020 release “That’s on Me,” was intentional. Miller died of an accidental drug overdose in 2018.“Lately, for some reason — well, not for some reason — but lately I’ve just been listening to Mac Miller’s album ‘Circles.’ Like just over and over and over,” Naumov said. “And knowing the unfortunate story about him as an artist, it’s been very relatable.“I relate to it, and I feel really deeply and emotionally what he’s talking about in those songs. And it’s also been really helpful for me to almost get my emotions out in that way personally.”When his&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/this-just-in.bsky.social/post/3llmjsm6iwk2o">skate was over</a>, Naumov took a deep breath, patted his heart again and waved in each direction. His bows were deep and poignant. Leaving the ice after a one-minute standing ovation, he made the sign of the cross.“There’s a lot of emotions just right now, and it’s hard to even put a name to what I’m feeling currently," he said. "I just feel so much support, and it’s very overwhelming.“I have so much gratitude," Naumov said. “And I’m thankful for each and every single one of those fans.”

Skater, whose parents died on flight from Kansas, performs at gala

UPDATE: The hearing scheduled on March 31 was continued for the second time. According to court records, Barrioz's next court date is set for April 14.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A woman accused of driving a stolen vehicle that was involved in a crash that killed a Hutchinson woman is due back in court Monday afternoon.

Katelyn Elizabeth Barrioz, 24, Wichita, is schedule for a preliminary hearing before Judge Seth Rundle, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In November she was charged with First-Degree Felony Murder, Second-Degree Murder – Reckless, Felony Flee and Elude, Aggravated Burglary, Auto Theft and Criminal Damage to Property, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford.

On October 27, police located an occupied stolen vehicle at the Riverwalk Apartments, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. Officers monitored the vehicle using unmarked cars, and air support was requested from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

&nbsp;The vehicle stopped at Walmart, 29th and Rock Road in Wichita. Officers deployed spike strips to prevent the vehicle from leaving, successfully deflating two tires.

Despite this, the suspect later identified as Barrioz, fled the Walmart parking lot, striking a police vehicle.

Officers did not pursue the vehicle, but KHP air support continued to track it from above. The vehicle proceeded to a business on North Webb Road, where two individuals exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

One individual was apprehended, while&nbsp; Barrioz stole the van from the business and fled south on Webb, then west on 29th Street, according to Gupilan.

KHP Air maintained surveillance of the stolen vehicle, which, at 29th and Wilderness, collided with a&nbsp; Chevy Cobalt.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the stolen 2024 Ford Transit Van driven by Barrioz, 24, Wichita, was westbound in the eastbound lanes in the&nbsp;8700 block of E 29th St N in Wichita traveling in the inside lane.

The van struck an eastbound 2010 Chevy Cobalt driven by Mandy Lynn&nbsp;Buckwalter, 43, Hutchinson, head-on.

Buckwalter was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Barrioz to Wesley Medical Center for treatment. She was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on Tuesday evening, according to online jail records. Police presented their case to the district attorney on Thursday.

Barrioz remains jailed on a bond of $1.2 million.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730458850794.png" alt="The red dot from a laser pointer used by Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan shows Barrioz driving the wihite van just before the fatal head-on crash" />
 <figcaption>The red dot from a laser pointer used by Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan shows Barrioz driving the wihite van just before the fatal head-on crash</figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE: The hearing scheduled on March 31 was continued for the second time. According to court records, Barrioz's next court date is set for April 14.SEDGWICK COUNTY — A woman accused of driving a stolen vehicle that was involved in a crash that killed a Hutchinson woman is due back in court Monday afternoon.Katelyn Elizabeth Barrioz, 24, Wichita, is schedule for a preliminary hearing before Judge Seth Rundle, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In November she was charged with First-Degree Felony Murder, Second-Degree Murder – Reckless, Felony Flee and Elude, Aggravated Burglary, Auto Theft and Criminal Damage to Property, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730284905956.png" alt="Barrioz photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Barrioz photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>On October 27, police located an occupied stolen vehicle at the Riverwalk Apartments, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. Officers monitored the vehicle using unmarked cars, and air support was requested from the Kansas Highway Patrol.&nbsp;The vehicle stopped at Walmart, 29th and Rock Road in Wichita. Officers deployed spike strips to prevent the vehicle from leaving, successfully deflating two tires.Despite this, the suspect later identified as Barrioz, fled the Walmart parking lot, striking a police vehicle.Officers did not pursue the vehicle, but KHP air support continued to track it from above. The vehicle proceeded to a business on North Webb Road, where two individuals exited the vehicle and fled on foot.One individual was apprehended, while&nbsp; Barrioz stole the van from the business and fled south on Webb, then west on 29th Street, according to Gupilan.KHP Air maintained surveillance of the stolen vehicle, which, at 29th and Wilderness, collided with a&nbsp; Chevy Cobalt.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the stolen 2024 Ford Transit Van driven by Barrioz, 24, Wichita, was westbound in the eastbound lanes in the&nbsp;8700 block of E 29th St N in Wichita traveling in the inside lane.The van struck an eastbound 2010 Chevy Cobalt driven by Mandy Lynn&nbsp;Buckwalter, 43, Hutchinson, head-on.Buckwalter was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Barrioz to Wesley Medical Center for treatment. She was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on Tuesday evening, according to online jail records. Police presented their case to the district attorney on Thursday.Barrioz remains jailed on a bond of $1.2 million.&nbsp;

Plea hearing delayed for stolen vehicle crash that killed Kansas woman

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Sunday that “I’m not joking” about trying to serve a third term, the clearest indication he is considering ways to breach a constitutional barrier against continuing to lead the country after his second term ends at the beginning of 2029.

“There are methods which you could do it,” Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC News from Mar-a-Lago, his private club.

He elaborated later to reporters on Air Force One from Florida to Washington that "I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term because the other election, the 2020 election was totally rigged.” Trump lost that election to Democrat Joe Biden.

Still, Trump added: “I don’t want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, we’ve got a long time to go.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-third-term-constitution-22nd-amendment-538c4e09fc2898c11a499513ee0d498c">The 22nd Amendment</a>, added to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R40864#:~:text=The%20Twenty%2DSecond%20Amendment%2C%20ratified,of%20the%20President%20they%20succeeded.">Constitution in 1951</a>&nbsp;after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times in a row, says “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”

Any attempt to remain in office would be legally suspect and it is unclear how seriously Trump might pursue the idea. The comments nonetheless were an extraordinary reflection of the desire to maintain power by a president who had violated democratic traditions four years ago when he tried to overturn the election he lost to Biden.

“This is yet another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy," said a statement from Rep. Daniel Goldman, a New York Democrat who served as lead counsel for Trump's first impeachment. "If Congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution, they will go on the record opposing Trump’s ambitions for a third term.”

Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist who runs the right-wing “War Room” podcast, called for the president to run again during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month.

Kayla Thompson, a 30-year-old former paralegal in Wisconsin, said she would “absolutely” like Trump to serve another term.

“America needs him. America is headed in the right direction and, if he doesn’t do it, we’re probably headed backwards," said Thompson, who was attending a campaign event Sunday with Elon Musk in Green Bay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-musk-million-dollar-giveaway-cdea66e0dcbaa53dd183e1d10bee2b35">a state Supreme Court race.</a>

Jeremy Paul, a constitutional law professor at Boston’s Northeastern University, said "there are no credible legal arguments for him to run for a third term.”

NBC's Kristen Welker asked Trump if one potential avenue to a third term was having Vice President JD Vance run for the top job and “then pass the baton to you.”

“Well, that’s one,” Trump responded. “But there are others too. There are others.”

“Can you tell me another?” Welker asked.

Vance’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Derek Muller, a professor of election law at Notre Dame, noted that the&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-12/">12th Amendment</a>, which was ratified in 1804, says “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.”

Muller said that indicates that if Trump is not eligible to run for president again because of the 22nd Amendment, he is not eligible to run for vice president, either.

“I don’t think there’s any ‘one weird trick’ to getting around presidential term limits,” Muller said.

In addition, pursuing a third term would require extraordinary acquiescence by federal and state officials, not to mention the courts and voters themselves.

He suggested that Trump is talking about a third term for political reasons to “show as much strength as possible.”

“A lame-duck president like Donald Trump has every incentive in the world to make it seem like he’s not a lame duck,” he said.

Trump, who would be 82 at the end of his second term, was asked whether he would want to keep serving in “the toughest job in the country” at that point.

“Well, I like working,” the president said.

Trump suggested that Americans would go along with a third term because of his popularity. He falsely claimed to have “the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years.”

<a href="https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/presidential-job-approval-all-data">Gallup data</a>&nbsp;shows President George W. Bush reaching a 90% approval rating after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. His father, President George H.W. Bush, hit 89% following the Gulf War in 1991.

Trump has maxed out at 47% in Gallup data during his second term, despite claiming to be "in the high 70s in many polls, in the real polls.”

Trump has mused before about serving longer than two terms before, generally with jokes to friendly audiences.

“Am I allowed to run again?” he said during a House Republican retreat in January.

Representatives for the congressional leadership — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York — did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the AP.

Associated Press writers Tom Beaumont in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Sunday that “I’m not joking” about trying to serve a third term, the clearest indication he is considering ways to breach a constitutional barrier against continuing to lead the country after his second term ends at the beginning of 2029.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">A third term for President Trump? He talks about it on Air Force One ... <a href="https://t.co/PIUhZgyICY">pic.twitter.com/PIUhZgyICY</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1906654188878106874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“There are methods which you could do it,” Trump said in a telephone interview with NBC News from Mar-a-Lago, his private club.He elaborated later to reporters on Air Force One from Florida to Washington that "I have had more people ask me to have a third term, which in a way is a fourth term because the other election, the 2020 election was totally rigged.” Trump lost that election to Democrat Joe Biden.Still, Trump added: “I don’t want to talk about a third term now because no matter how you look at it, we’ve got a long time to go.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-third-term-constitution-22nd-amendment-538c4e09fc2898c11a499513ee0d498c">The 22nd Amendment</a>, added to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R40864#:~:text=The%20Twenty%2DSecond%20Amendment%2C%20ratified,of%20the%20President%20they%20succeeded.">Constitution in 1951</a>&nbsp;after President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected four times in a row, says “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.”Any attempt to remain in office would be legally suspect and it is unclear how seriously Trump might pursue the idea. The comments nonetheless were an extraordinary reflection of the desire to maintain power by a president who had violated democratic traditions four years ago when he tried to overturn the election he lost to Biden.“This is yet another escalation in his clear effort to take over the government and dismantle our democracy," said a statement from Rep. Daniel Goldman, a New York Democrat who served as lead counsel for Trump's first impeachment. "If Congressional Republicans believe in the Constitution, they will go on the record opposing Trump’s ambitions for a third term.”Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist who runs the right-wing “War Room” podcast, called for the president to run again during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month."We want Trump in ’28," he said.Kayla Thompson, a 30-year-old former paralegal in Wisconsin, said she would “absolutely” like Trump to serve another term.“America needs him. America is headed in the right direction and, if he doesn’t do it, we’re probably headed backwards," said Thompson, who was attending a campaign event Sunday with Elon Musk in Green Bay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-musk-million-dollar-giveaway-cdea66e0dcbaa53dd183e1d10bee2b35">a state Supreme Court race.</a>Jeremy Paul, a constitutional law professor at Boston’s Northeastern University, said "there are no credible legal arguments for him to run for a third term.”NBC's Kristen Welker asked Trump if one potential avenue to a third term was having Vice President JD Vance run for the top job and “then pass the baton to you.”“Well, that’s one,” Trump responded. “But there are others too. There are others.”“Can you tell me another?” Welker asked.“No,” Trump replied.Vance’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.Derek Muller, a professor of election law at Notre Dame, noted that the&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-12/">12th Amendment</a>, which was ratified in 1804, says “no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States.”Muller said that indicates that if Trump is not eligible to run for president again because of the 22nd Amendment, he is not eligible to run for vice president, either.“I don’t think there’s any ‘one weird trick’ to getting around presidential term limits,” Muller said.In addition, pursuing a third term would require extraordinary acquiescence by federal and state officials, not to mention the courts and voters themselves.He suggested that Trump is talking about a third term for political reasons to “show as much strength as possible.”“A lame-duck president like Donald Trump has every incentive in the world to make it seem like he’s not a lame duck,” he said.Trump, who would be 82 at the end of his second term, was asked whether he would want to keep serving in “the toughest job in the country” at that point.“Well, I like working,” the president said.Trump suggested that Americans would go along with a third term because of his popularity. He falsely claimed to have “the highest poll numbers of any Republican for the last 100 years.”<a href="https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/data/presidential-job-approval-all-data">Gallup data</a>&nbsp;shows President George W. Bush reaching a 90% approval rating after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. His father, President George H.W. Bush, hit 89% following the Gulf War in 1991.Trump has maxed out at 47% in Gallup data during his second term, despite claiming to be "in the high 70s in many polls, in the real polls.”Trump has mused before about serving longer than two terms before, generally with jokes to friendly audiences.“Am I allowed to run again?” he said during a House Republican retreat in January.Representatives for the congressional leadership — House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York — did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the AP.___Associated Press writers Tom Beaumont in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Gary Fields in Washington contributed to this report.

🎥Trump considering ways to serve a third term as president

LEAVENWORTH—A man recently indicted on drug charges died over the weekend in the federal prison in Leavenworth.

Just after 7 p.m. Saturday, prison officials found 28-year-old Denix Heredia-Chang unresponsive at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Leavenworth, Kansas, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Responding employees initiated life-saving measures. Emergency medical services (EMS) were requested while life-saving efforts continued. EMS pronounced him deceased,

Heredia-Chang arrived at FCI Leavenworth on May 7, under pretrial status after being indicted for Synthetic Narcotic Sale.&nbsp;The Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshals Service have been notified. No employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600183865325.png" alt="Photo Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH—A man recently indicted on drug charges died over the weekend in the federal prison in Leavenworth.Just after 7 p.m. Saturday, prison officials found 28-year-old Denix Heredia-Chang unresponsive at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Leavenworth, Kansas, according to a statement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.Responding employees initiated life-saving measures. Emergency medical services (EMS) were requested while life-saving efforts continued. EMS pronounced him deceased,Heredia-Chang arrived at FCI Leavenworth on May 7, under pretrial status after being indicted for Synthetic Narcotic Sale.&nbsp;The Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshals Service have been notified. No employees or other incarcerated individuals were injured.

Man awaiting trial dies in federal prison in Kansas

JOHNSON COUNTY — A Kansas children's church pastor who admitted committing a violent attack on his family is going to prison.

On March 26, Judge Jason Billam sentenced 42-year-old Matthew L. Richards to nearly 30-years in prison for the September 2023 incident that sent seven people to the hospital.

On February 11, Richards pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first degree murder. He was originally charged with five counts of attempted murder and one count of arson with risk of bodily harm, according to the Shawnee, Kansas police department.

Just before 4a.m. September 16, 2023, police and fire crews were called to the 6600 block of Goode Drive for a report of a disturbance and a house fire, according to a media release from Shawnee Police. Firefighters found a fire in the basement of a home and quickly extinguished the fire.

EMS transported 7 people to area hospitals for treatment including the suspect later identified as Richards.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Following an investigation by police, fire and the Johnson County Criminalistics lab, police arrested Richards, the father and husband of the victims.

Richards was<a href="https://crossroads-christian.com/about-us/crossroads-team/matt-richards/">&nbsp;the children's pastor</a>&nbsp;at Crossroads Christian Church,&nbsp;5855 Renner Road in Shawnee, Kansas, according to the church web site.&nbsp;

The victims sustained laceration injuries. One adult woman and two juveniles remained at area hospitals the day after the incident receiving treatment.&nbsp; A 19-year-old and two other juveniles were released from the hospital late on the day of the incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694924502225.png" alt="Richards photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Richards photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY — A Kansas children's church pastor who admitted committing a violent attack on his family is going to prison.On March 26, Judge Jason Billam sentenced 42-year-old Matthew L. Richards to nearly 30-years in prison for the September 2023 incident that sent seven people to the hospital.On February 11, Richards pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first degree murder. He was originally charged with five counts of attempted murder and one count of arson with risk of bodily harm, according to the Shawnee, Kansas police department.Just before 4a.m. September 16, 2023, police and fire crews were called to the 6600 block of Goode Drive for a report of a disturbance and a house fire, according to a media release from Shawnee Police. Firefighters found a fire in the basement of a home and quickly extinguished the fire.EMS transported 7 people to area hospitals for treatment including the suspect later identified as Richards.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following an investigation by police, fire and the Johnson County Criminalistics lab, police arrested Richards, the father and husband of the victims.Richards was<a href="https://crossroads-christian.com/about-us/crossroads-team/matt-richards/">&nbsp;the children's pastor</a>&nbsp;at Crossroads Christian Church,&nbsp;5855 Renner Road in Shawnee, Kansas, according to the church web site.&nbsp;The victims sustained laceration injuries. One adult woman and two juveniles remained at area hospitals the day after the incident receiving treatment.&nbsp; A 19-year-old and two other juveniles were released from the hospital late on the day of the incident.

Former Kan. pastor going to prison for attack on his family

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just after 3a.m. Sunday in Kansas City.

A vehicle driven by an unidentified woman was northbound on Broadway, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As the vehicle through the green light on West 43rd, it traveled directly into a utility pole. EMS transported the driver to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the driver or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just after 3a.m. Sunday in Kansas City.A vehicle driven by an unidentified woman was northbound on Broadway, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.As the vehicle through the green light on West 43rd, it traveled directly into a utility pole. EMS transported the driver to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the driver or additional details.

KCPD: Woman dead after crash into utility pole

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A wanted Kansas burglary suspect is in jail after a wild chase&nbsp; in Sedgwick County.

Just after 4:30p.m. March 26, two police officers recognized a vehicle in the parking lot at the Crosswinds Casino, 777 North Jackpot Way in Park City, as possibly being connected with an individual wanted on felony warrants.&nbsp; The individual, identified as 45-year-old Seth A. Dulaney, was also wanted for an alleged previous theft in Park City.

Officers attempted to contact Dulaney who fled from casino to a nearby commercial business, scaled the roof and entered the business from the rooftop.

He then left the building, took a pickup that belonged to the business, crashed it through the business' fence and fled to the south and west.&nbsp; The vehicle then crashed through a fence on the east side of Interstate 135, crossed all four lanes of the Interstate, traveled through the fence on the west side of the Interstate, reaching 69th Street North.

The vehicle continued westbound pursued by law enforcement from several agencies until the pickup became disabled one half mile west of Broadway on 69th Street. Officers took him into custody there. He is being held on a $500,000 bond on requested charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated failure to appear, criminal damage to property and contempt of court.d

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743163556096.png" alt="Dulaney photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Dulaney photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A wanted Kansas burglary suspect is in jail after a wild chase&nbsp; in Sedgwick County.Just after 4:30p.m. March 26, two police officers recognized a vehicle in the parking lot at the Crosswinds Casino, 777 North Jackpot Way in Park City, as possibly being connected with an individual wanted on felony warrants.&nbsp; The individual, identified as 45-year-old Seth A. Dulaney, was also wanted for an alleged previous theft in Park City.Officers attempted to contact Dulaney who fled from casino to a nearby commercial business, scaled the roof and entered the business from the rooftop.He then left the building, took a pickup that belonged to the business, crashed it through the business' fence and fled to the south and west.&nbsp; The vehicle then crashed through a fence on the east side of Interstate 135, crossed all four lanes of the Interstate, traveled through the fence on the west side of the Interstate, reaching 69th Street North.The vehicle continued westbound pursued by law enforcement from several agencies until the pickup became disabled one half mile west of Broadway on 69th Street. Officers took him into custody there. He is being held on a $500,000 bond on requested charges of aggravated burglary, aggravated failure to appear, criminal damage to property and contempt of court.d

Wanted Kansas burglary suspect captured after wild chase

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a>

In the Trump administration’s quest to “Make America Healthy Again,” there may be no bigger target than ultraprocessed foods.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s new health secretary, has cited “highly chemically processed foods” as a chief culprit behind an epidemic of chronic disease in the U.S., including ailments such as obesity, diabetes and autoimmune disorders.

Such foods are “poisoning” people, particularly children, Kennedy said during Senate confirmation hearings. He has vowed to work&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-cuts-candy-soda-food-stamps-b6351b86a17b281b67480fe2d24b54f4">to remove such foods</a>&nbsp;from federal programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

“I will do everything in my power to put the health of Americans back on track,” he told lawmakers.

Key to that goal, however, could be making sure that consumers understand basic facts about ultraprocessed foods and the role they play in daily meals.

From sugary cereals at breakfast to frozen pizzas at dinner, plus in-between snacks of potato chips, sodas and ice cream, ultraprocessed foods make up about&nbsp;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33766258/" target="_blank">60% of the U.S. diet</a>. For kids and teens, it’s even higher — about two-thirds of what they eat.

That’s concerning because ultraprocessed foods have been linked to a host of negative health effects, from obesity and diabetes to heart disease, depression, dementia and more. One recent study suggested that eating these foods may raise the risk of early death.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ultraprocessed-foods-nih-kevin-hall-kennedy-b40b626771519f3f9a6546699491fc3b">Nutrition science is tricky</a>, though, and most research so far has found connections, not proof, regarding the health consequences of these foods.

Food manufacturers argue that processing boosts food safety and supplies and offers a cheap, convenient way to provide a diverse and nutritious diet.

Even if the science were clear, it’s hard to know what practical advice to give when ultraprocessed foods account for what&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10121643/" target="_blank">one study</a>&nbsp;estimates is more than 70% of the U.S. food supply.

The Associated Press asked several nutrition experts and here’s what they said:

Most foods are processed, whether it’s by freezing, grinding, fermentation, pasteurization or other means. In 2009, Brazilian epidemiologist Carlos Monteiro and colleagues first proposed a&nbsp;<a href="https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/5277b379-0acb-4d97-a6a3-602774104629/content" target="_blank">system</a>&nbsp;that classifies foods according to the amount of processing they undergo, not by nutrient content.

At the top of the four-tier scale are foods created through industrial processes and with ingredients such as additives, colors and preservatives that you couldn’t duplicate in a home kitchen, said Kevin Hall, a researcher who focuses on metabolism and diet at the National Institutes of Health.

“These are most, but not all, of the packaged foods you see,” Hall said.

Such foods are often made to be both cheap and irresistibly delicious, said Dr. Neena Prasad, director of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Food Policy Program.

“They have just the right combination of sugar, salt and fat and you just can’t stop eating them,” Prasad said

However, the level of processing alone doesn’t determine whether a food is unhealthy or not, Hall noted. Whole-grain bread, yogurt, tofu and infant formula are all highly processed, for instance, but they’re also nutritious.

Here’s the tricky part. Many studies suggest that diets high in such foods are linked to negative health outcomes. But these kinds of studies can’t say whether the foods themselves are the cause of the negative effects — or whether there’s something else about the people who eat these foods that might be responsible.

Ultraprocessed foods, as a group, tend to have higher amounts of sodium, saturated fat and sugar, and tend to be lower in fiber and protein. It’s not clear whether it’s just these nutrients that are driving the effects.

Hall and his colleagues were the first to conduct a small but influential experiment that directly compared the results of eating similar diets made of ultraprocessed versus unprocessed foods.

<a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(19)30248-7" target="_blank">Published in 2019</a>, the research included 20 adults who went to live at an NIH center for a month. They received diets of ultraprocessed and unprocessed foods matched for calories, sugar, fat, fiber and macronutrients for two weeks each and were told to eat as much as they liked.

When participants ate the diet of ultraprocessed foods, they consumed about 500 calories per day more than when they ate unprocessed foods, researchers found — and they gained an average of about 2 pounds (1 kilogram) during the study period. When they ate only unprocessed foods for the same amount of time, they lost about 2 pounds (1 kilogram).

Hall is conducting a more detailed study now, but the process is slow and costly and results aren’t expected until late next year. He and others argue that such definitive research is needed to determine exactly how ultraprocessed foods affect consumption.

“It’s better to understand the mechanisms by which they drive the deleterious health consequences, if they’re driving them,” he said.

Should ultraprocessed foods be regulated?

Some advocates, like Prasad, argue that the large body of research linking ultraprocessed foods to poor health should be more than enough to spur government and industry to change policies. She calls for actions such as increased taxes on sugary drinks, stricter sodium restrictions for manufacturers and cracking down on marketing of such foods to children.

“Do we want to risk our kids getting sicker while we wait for this perfect evidence to emerge?” Prasad said.

Last year, former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf broached the subject, telling a conference of food policy experts that ultraprocessed foods are “one of the most complex things I’ve ever dealt with.”

But, he concluded, “We’ve got to have the scientific basis and then we’ve got to follow through.”

How should consumers manage ultraprocessed foods at home?

In countries like the U.S., it’s hard to avoid highly processed foods — and it’s not clear which ones should be targeted, said Aviva Musicus, science director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which advocates for food policies.

“The range of ultraprocessed foods is just so wide,” she said.

Instead, it’s better to be mindful of the ingredients in foods. Check the labels and make choices that align with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf" target="_blank">current dietary guidelines</a>, she suggested.

“We have really good evidence that added sugar is not great for us. We have evidence that high-sodium foods are not great for us,” she said. “We have great evidence that fruits and vegetables which are minimally processed are really good for us.”

It’s important not to vilify certain foods, she added. Many consumers don’t have the time or money to cook most meals from scratch.

“Foods should be joyous and delicious and shouldn’t involve moral judgment,” Musicus said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731864646868.png" alt="RFK, Jr. and friends enjoying some fast food in November with President-elect Trump- -photo courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications" />
 <figcaption>RFK, Jr. and friends enjoying some fast food in November with President-elect Trump- -photo courtesy Margo Martin Deputy Director of Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a>In the Trump administration’s quest to “Make America Healthy Again,” there may be no bigger target than ultraprocessed foods.Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s new health secretary, has cited “highly chemically processed foods” as a chief culprit behind an epidemic of chronic disease in the U.S., including ailments such as obesity, diabetes and autoimmune disorders.Such foods are “poisoning” people, particularly children, Kennedy said during Senate confirmation hearings. He has vowed to work&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snap-cuts-candy-soda-food-stamps-b6351b86a17b281b67480fe2d24b54f4">to remove such foods</a>&nbsp;from federal programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.“I will do everything in my power to put the health of Americans back on track,” he told lawmakers.Key to that goal, however, could be making sure that consumers understand basic facts about ultraprocessed foods and the role they play in daily meals.From sugary cereals at breakfast to frozen pizzas at dinner, plus in-between snacks of potato chips, sodas and ice cream, ultraprocessed foods make up about&nbsp;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33766258/" target="_blank">60% of the U.S. diet</a>. For kids and teens, it’s even higher — about two-thirds of what they eat.That’s concerning because ultraprocessed foods have been linked to a host of negative health effects, from obesity and diabetes to heart disease, depression, dementia and more. One recent study suggested that eating these foods may raise the risk of early death.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ultraprocessed-foods-nih-kevin-hall-kennedy-b40b626771519f3f9a6546699491fc3b">Nutrition science is tricky</a>, though, and most research so far has found connections, not proof, regarding the health consequences of these foods.Food manufacturers argue that processing boosts food safety and supplies and offers a cheap, convenient way to provide a diverse and nutritious diet.Even if the science were clear, it’s hard to know what practical advice to give when ultraprocessed foods account for what&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10121643/" target="_blank">one study</a>&nbsp;estimates is more than 70% of the U.S. food supply.The Associated Press asked several nutrition experts and here’s what they said:<h2>What are ultraprocessed foods?</h2>Most foods are processed, whether it’s by freezing, grinding, fermentation, pasteurization or other means. In 2009, Brazilian epidemiologist Carlos Monteiro and colleagues first proposed a&nbsp;<a href="https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/5277b379-0acb-4d97-a6a3-602774104629/content" target="_blank">system</a>&nbsp;that classifies foods according to the amount of processing they undergo, not by nutrient content.At the top of the four-tier scale are foods created through industrial processes and with ingredients such as additives, colors and preservatives that you couldn’t duplicate in a home kitchen, said Kevin Hall, a researcher who focuses on metabolism and diet at the National Institutes of Health.“These are most, but not all, of the packaged foods you see,” Hall said.Such foods are often made to be both cheap and irresistibly delicious, said Dr. Neena Prasad, director of the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Food Policy Program.“They have just the right combination of sugar, salt and fat and you just can’t stop eating them,” Prasad saidHowever, the level of processing alone doesn’t determine whether a food is unhealthy or not, Hall noted. Whole-grain bread, yogurt, tofu and infant formula are all highly processed, for instance, but they’re also nutritious.<h2>Are ultraprocessed foods harmful?</h2>Here’s the tricky part. Many studies suggest that diets high in such foods are linked to negative health outcomes. But these kinds of studies can’t say whether the foods themselves are the cause of the negative effects — or whether there’s something else about the people who eat these foods that might be responsible.Ultraprocessed foods, as a group, tend to have higher amounts of sodium, saturated fat and sugar, and tend to be lower in fiber and protein. It’s not clear whether it’s just these nutrients that are driving the effects.Hall and his colleagues were the first to conduct a small but influential experiment that directly compared the results of eating similar diets made of ultraprocessed versus unprocessed foods.<a href="https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(19)30248-7" target="_blank">Published in 2019</a>, the research included 20 adults who went to live at an NIH center for a month. They received diets of ultraprocessed and unprocessed foods matched for calories, sugar, fat, fiber and macronutrients for two weeks each and were told to eat as much as they liked.When participants ate the diet of ultraprocessed foods, they consumed about 500 calories per day more than when they ate unprocessed foods, researchers found — and they gained an average of about 2 pounds (1 kilogram) during the study period. When they ate only unprocessed foods for the same amount of time, they lost about 2 pounds (1 kilogram).Hall is conducting a more detailed study now, but the process is slow and costly and results aren’t expected until late next year. He and others argue that such definitive research is needed to determine exactly how ultraprocessed foods affect consumption.“It’s better to understand the mechanisms by which they drive the deleterious health consequences, if they’re driving them,” he said.<h2>Should ultraprocessed foods be regulated?</h2>Some advocates, like Prasad, argue that the large body of research linking ultraprocessed foods to poor health should be more than enough to spur government and industry to change policies. She calls for actions such as increased taxes on sugary drinks, stricter sodium restrictions for manufacturers and cracking down on marketing of such foods to children.“Do we want to risk our kids getting sicker while we wait for this perfect evidence to emerge?” Prasad said.Last year, former FDA Commissioner Robert Califf broached the subject, telling a conference of food policy experts that ultraprocessed foods are “one of the most complex things I’ve ever dealt with.”But, he concluded, “We’ve got to have the scientific basis and then we’ve got to follow through.”<h2>How should consumers manage ultraprocessed foods at home?</h2>In countries like the U.S., it’s hard to avoid highly processed foods — and it’s not clear which ones should be targeted, said Aviva Musicus, science director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which advocates for food policies.“The range of ultraprocessed foods is just so wide,” she said.Instead, it’s better to be mindful of the ingredients in foods. Check the labels and make choices that align with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf" target="_blank">current dietary guidelines</a>, she suggested.“We have really good evidence that added sugar is not great for us. We have evidence that high-sodium foods are not great for us,” she said. “We have great evidence that fruits and vegetables which are minimally processed are really good for us.”It’s important not to vilify certain foods, she added. Many consumers don’t have the time or money to cook most meals from scratch.“Foods should be joyous and delicious and shouldn’t involve moral judgment,” Musicus said.<h2>___</h2>

RFK Jr. targeting ultraprocessed foods. What are they, and are they bad for you?

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Richard Chamberlain, the handsome hero of the 1960s television series "Dr. Kildare" who found a second career as an award-winning "king of the miniseries," has died. He was 90.

Chamberlain died Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii of complications following a stroke, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll.

“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us," Martin Rabbett, his lifelong partner, said in a statement. "How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.”

Tall, with classic good looks and romantic style, Chamberlain became an instant favorite with teenage girls as the compassionate physician on the TV series that aired from 1961 to 1966. Photoplay magazine named him most popular male star for three years in a row, from 1963-65.

Not until 2003 did he acknowledge publicly what Hollywood insiders had long known, that he was gay. He made the revelation in his autobiography, "Shattered Love."

The actor became known as "king of the TV miniseries" in 1978 when he landed the starring role in "Centennial," an epic production 24 hours long and based on James Michener's sprawling novel. He followed that in 1980 with "Shogun," another costly, epic miniseries based on James Clavell's period piece about an American visitor to Japan.

He scored his greatest miniseries success in 1983 with another long-form drama, "The Thorn Birds," based on Colleen McCullough's best-seller. He played Father Ralph de Bricassart, a Roman Catholic priest in Australia who falls in love with beautiful Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward). The ABC production, which also starred Barbara Stanwyck, reportedly attracted 100 million viewers.

Chamberlain won Golden Globes for his work in “Shogun" and “The Thorn Birds.” Years earlier, he received one for “Dr. Kildare.”

When the public began to lose interest in miniseries, Chamberlain turned to the theater, where he displayed a fine singing voice. He appeared as Henry Higgins in a 1994 Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady" and as Captain von Trapp in a 1999 revival of "The Sound of Music."

He reprised his role of de Bricassart in the 1996 TV movie "The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years."

He also appeared in numerous films, including "The Music Lovers" (as Tchaikovsky), "The Madwoman of Chaillot," "The Towering Inferno" and "The Three Musketeers" and its sequels.

The "Kildare" series was based on a string of successful 1930s and '40s films that had starred Lew Ayres in the title role.

Chamberlain's hunky, All-American appearance made him an overnight star. Another medical show that debuted the same season, "Ben Casey," also was a smash and made its leading man, the darkly handsome Vince Edwards, a star, too.

The "Ben Casey shirt" became a fashion item, both shows' theme songs made the pop Top 40 (the Kildare song performed by Chamberlain himself) and there was even a pop song called "Dr. Kildare! Dr. Casey! You Are Wanted for Consultation."

But in his book, Chamberlain recounted how he was forced to hide his sexuality. He would escort glamorous actresses to movie premieres and other public events at the request of studio executives and dodge reporters' questions about why he had never married with a stock reply: "Getting married would be great, but I'm awfully busy now."

"When I grew up, being gay, being a sissy or anything like that was verboten," he said in an NBC interview. "I disliked myself intensely and feared this part of myself intensely and had to hide it."

The book also described a troubled childhood and an alcoholic father, and Chamberlain said that writing it finally lifted a heavy emotional burden. He also expressed relief that he was no longer hiding his sexuality.

"I played a cat-and-mouse game with the press. Game over," said Chamberlain, who for years was involved with fellow actor Martin Rabbett.

Born George Richard Chamberlain in Beverly Hills on March 31, 1934, the actor originally studied at Pomona College to be a painter. But after returning from the Army, where he had served as an infantry clerk in the Korean War, Chamberlain decided to try acting.

He studied voice and drama, and after appearing in guest roles in a handful of TV shows and in the 1960 film "The Secret of the Purple Reef," he won the Dr. Kildare role.

When “Dr. Kildare” was canceled he initially found it difficult to shake the image of the handsome young physician.

He moved to England for a time to find work and hone his acting skills. While there, he appeared in three of director Richard Lester’s films, “Petulia” (1968), “The Three Musketeers” (1973) and “The Four Musketeers” (1974). He reunited with Lester in 1989 for “The Return of the Musketeers,” once more playing Aramis.

In 1969, Chamberlain played the title role in “Hamlet” at England’s Birmingham Repertory Company and repeated it in a TV adaptation that appeared on NBC in the United States. He also appeared as Octavius in a film version of “Julius Caesar,” which co-starred Charlton Heston and Jason Robards.

He continued to act well into the 21st century, appearing on such television shows as “Will &amp; Grace,” “The Drew Carey Show” and “Touched by an Angel.”

Bob Thomas, a longtime Associated Press journalist who died in 2014, was the principal writer of this obituary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743352159138.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Richard Chamberlain, the handsome hero of the 1960s television series "Dr. Kildare" who found a second career as an award-winning "king of the miniseries," has died. He was 90.Chamberlain died Saturday night in Waimanalo, Hawaii of complications following a stroke, according to his publicist, Harlan Boll.“Our beloved Richard is with the angels now. He is free and soaring to those loved ones before us," Martin Rabbett, his lifelong partner, said in a statement. "How blessed were we to have known such an amazing and loving soul. Love never dies. And our love is under his wings lifting him to his next great adventure.”Tall, with classic good looks and romantic style, Chamberlain became an instant favorite with teenage girls as the compassionate physician on the TV series that aired from 1961 to 1966. Photoplay magazine named him most popular male star for three years in a row, from 1963-65.Not until 2003 did he acknowledge publicly what Hollywood insiders had long known, that he was gay. He made the revelation in his autobiography, "Shattered Love."The actor became known as "king of the TV miniseries" in 1978 when he landed the starring role in "Centennial," an epic production 24 hours long and based on James Michener's sprawling novel. He followed that in 1980 with "Shogun," another costly, epic miniseries based on James Clavell's period piece about an American visitor to Japan.He scored his greatest miniseries success in 1983 with another long-form drama, "The Thorn Birds," based on Colleen McCullough's best-seller. He played Father Ralph de Bricassart, a Roman Catholic priest in Australia who falls in love with beautiful Meggie Cleary (Rachel Ward). The ABC production, which also starred Barbara Stanwyck, reportedly attracted 100 million viewers.Chamberlain won Golden Globes for his work in “Shogun" and “The Thorn Birds.” Years earlier, he received one for “Dr. Kildare.”When the public began to lose interest in miniseries, Chamberlain turned to the theater, where he displayed a fine singing voice. He appeared as Henry Higgins in a 1994 Broadway revival of "My Fair Lady" and as Captain von Trapp in a 1999 revival of "The Sound of Music."He reprised his role of de Bricassart in the 1996 TV movie "The Thorn Birds: The Missing Years."He also appeared in numerous films, including "The Music Lovers" (as Tchaikovsky), "The Madwoman of Chaillot," "The Towering Inferno" and "The Three Musketeers" and its sequels.The "Kildare" series was based on a string of successful 1930s and '40s films that had starred Lew Ayres in the title role.Chamberlain's hunky, All-American appearance made him an overnight star. Another medical show that debuted the same season, "Ben Casey," also was a smash and made its leading man, the darkly handsome Vince Edwards, a star, too.The "Ben Casey shirt" became a fashion item, both shows' theme songs made the pop Top 40 (the Kildare song performed by Chamberlain himself) and there was even a pop song called "Dr. Kildare! Dr. Casey! You Are Wanted for Consultation."But in his book, Chamberlain recounted how he was forced to hide his sexuality. He would escort glamorous actresses to movie premieres and other public events at the request of studio executives and dodge reporters' questions about why he had never married with a stock reply: "Getting married would be great, but I'm awfully busy now.""When I grew up, being gay, being a sissy or anything like that was verboten," he said in an NBC interview. "I disliked myself intensely and feared this part of myself intensely and had to hide it."The book also described a troubled childhood and an alcoholic father, and Chamberlain said that writing it finally lifted a heavy emotional burden. He also expressed relief that he was no longer hiding his sexuality."I played a cat-and-mouse game with the press. Game over," said Chamberlain, who for years was involved with fellow actor Martin Rabbett.Born George Richard Chamberlain in Beverly Hills on March 31, 1934, the actor originally studied at Pomona College to be a painter. But after returning from the Army, where he had served as an infantry clerk in the Korean War, Chamberlain decided to try acting.He studied voice and drama, and after appearing in guest roles in a handful of TV shows and in the 1960 film "The Secret of the Purple Reef," he won the Dr. Kildare role.When “Dr. Kildare” was canceled he initially found it difficult to shake the image of the handsome young physician.He moved to England for a time to find work and hone his acting skills. While there, he appeared in three of director Richard Lester’s films, “Petulia” (1968), “The Three Musketeers” (1973) and “The Four Musketeers” (1974). He reunited with Lester in 1989 for “The Return of the Musketeers,” once more playing Aramis.In 1969, Chamberlain played the title role in “Hamlet” at England’s Birmingham Repertory Company and repeated it in a TV adaptation that appeared on NBC in the United States. He also appeared as Octavius in a film version of “Julius Caesar,” which co-starred Charlton Heston and Jason Robards.He continued to act well into the 21st century, appearing on such television shows as “Will &amp; Grace,” “The Drew Carey Show” and “Touched by an Angel.”___Bob Thomas, a longtime Associated Press journalist who died in 2014, was the principal writer of this obituary.

Richard Chamberlain, TV’s Dr. Kildare, ‘Thorn Birds’ Star, Dies at 90

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a deadly shooting in Kansas City, Kansas.

Just after 11p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1900 Block of Stewart Avenue. At the scene, first responders found a man outside a residence deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; 

Police are questioning a person of interest but have not reported an arrest. Police did not release the name of the victim or additional details early Sunday.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a deadly shooting in Kansas City, Kansas.Just after 11p.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1900 Block of Stewart Avenue. At the scene, first responders found a man outside a residence deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Police are questioning a person of interest but have not reported an arrest. Police did not release the name of the victim or additional details early Sunday.

Homicide: Police found man deceased outside Kansas home

Initiative petitions filed Friday would require Tesla to use independent franchises to market its cars or shutdown Kansas City,&nbsp;St. Louis showrooms.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741724524957.png" alt="Earlier this month, President Trump turned the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom to show support for Musk" />
 <figcaption>Earlier this month, President Trump turned the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom to show support for Musk</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Initiative petitions filed Friday would require Tesla to use independent franchises to market its cars or shutdown Kansas City,&nbsp;St. Louis showrooms.</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>An initiative effort begun Friday by a well-known Missouri Democrat would, if passed by voters next year, force Tesla to close its St. Louis and Kansas City showrooms.Brad Ketcher, a St. Louis attorney who was chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Mel Carnahan in the 1990s, said he hopes the effort spreads to other states to fight back against Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his lead role in mass federal layoffs and budget cuts for President Donald Trump.“If Elon Musk was not cutting Medicaid and Social Security and veterans health to fund a tax cut for billionaires and doing it with a bizarre glee, we would not be asking Missourians to say this guy does not deserve to be doing business in this state,” Ketcher said. “We would not be trying to drive this in Missouri.”Tesla did not immediately respond to an email from The Independent seeking comment on the initiative.Soon after winning election in November, Trump named Musk to lead a newly created Department of Government Efficiency with instructions to find savings in the federal budget.Since taking office, Musk has, among other actions, closed the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/03/repub/members-of-congress-refused-entry-to-usaid-agency-shuttered-by-trump-administration/">U.S. Agency for International Development</a>, been granted&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/04/repub/lawsuit-filed-over-attempts-by-elon-musks-doge-to-take-over-u-s-benefit-payment-system/">access to payment systems</a>&nbsp;delivering benefits to millions of Americans, put the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/11/repub/elon-musks-doge-targets-u-s-department-of-education-for-millions-in-funding-cuts/">entire Department of Education</a>&nbsp;on the chopping block and slashed the staff of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/03/repub/deep-cutbacks-in-social-security-staff-slammed-by-u-s-senate-democrats/">Social Security Administration</a>.Many of those actions have been challenged in court and temporarily halted. Republicans in Congress, meanwhile, are pushing through a budget resolution that would&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/repub/u-s-house-republicans-overcome-own-members-doubts-to-push-through-sweeping-budget/">extend tax cuts enacted in 2017</a>&nbsp;while making deep cuts in Medicaid and food programs.The initiatives filed with the secretary of state’s office would use Missouri’s law governing motor vehicle sales, which requires new cars, trucks and motorcycles to be sold through franchised dealers, to force Tesla out. Two versions were filed Friday, and more may be written before the signature drive begins, Ketcher said.The petitions must be reviewed and put out for public comment before the signature drive.Prior to the arrival of Tesla, all new motor vehicles sold in Missouri were purchased at authorized franchises with ownership independent of the manufacturer. In 2013, the Department of Revenue licensed a franchise owned by Tesla for a St. Louis showroom and followed it up the next year by licensing a Kansas City showroom.The initiatives would cause those licenses to be revoked. The first version filed states that “it is the express intent of the people to prevent any manufacturer of new motor vehicles from circumventing the public policy as stated in (state law) by engaging in methods of retailing new motor vehicles which are designed to avoid the provisions” of that law.To make the ballot, the committee called UnPlug Musk must gather at least 106,384 signatures properly distributed among six of the state’s congressional districts. The petition drive must be complete by the start of May 2026.Ketcher said that so far, he and former state Rep. Deb Lavender, a St. Louis County Democrat, treasurer of the committee, are the only people enlisted for the effort. He hopes to build a coalition quickly, he said.“This gives Missourians a chance to say this guy is not welcome to do business in our state,” Ketcher said.The petition drive would not be the first attempt to use state law to keep Tesla from opening its company-owned showrooms in Missouri. In 2014, Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, then a state senator, helped write a provision for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2014/05/09/complaints-flare-bill-affect-tesla-sales/8900153/" target="_blank">bill that fell just short of passing</a>&nbsp;to require all auto manufacturers to sell their vehicles through a franchise dealership.Kehoe owned Ford and Lincoln-Mercury franchises in Jefferson City from 1992 to 2011. He sold the dealerships before entering politics.He told the Springfield News-Leader in 2014 that he was surprised the department issued a dealership license to Tesla.“Our question as dealers and people I know in the business: how in the world when we’ve worked so hard to get franchise legislation, how in the world could that be possible?” Kehoe said to the News-Leader.The Missouri Automobile Dealers Association and others sued the department over its licensing decision, winning at the trial court level before the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.californiademocrat.com/news/2017/dec/06/appeals-court-rejects-anti-tesla-lawsuit/" target="_blank">Western District Court of Appeals ruled</a>&nbsp;none of the plaintiffs had a legal right to challenge the licenses.In its briefs for the appeals court, Tesla acknowledged that the legislature could block it from having manufacturer-owned dealerships.“Plainly, if the legislature had wanted to erect a blanket direct sales ban, it could and would have done so clearly and straightforwardly by amending the existing partial ban in the franchise act,” attorneys wrote.The auto dealers did not return a call seeking comment on the initiative.There are some states where Tesla is not operating dealerships because of franchise laws. In Wisconsin, where Musk is spending millions on the state Supreme Court election, Tesla is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-musk-wisconsin-supreme-court-dealerships-101d7608d69dda61aeaf6ebee7903d2b" target="_blank">suing to overturn</a>&nbsp;the franchise law.Ketcher said he wants the effort to be joined by groups from other states with the initiative petition process and Democratically-controlled legislatures.“Even in red states, somebody can hold up an amendment, and say, here’s the amendment to drive Tesla, drive Musk, out of our state,” he said.The language of the initiative, Ketcher said, is taken, with only technical changes, from the provisions Kehoe supplied for the 2014 bill. Tesla attorneys acknowledged during the litigation that it would effectively shut down their showrooms, Ketcher noted.“They’ve given us plans for the Death Star,” Ketcher said. “And when when somebody gives you the plans for Death Star, you know what to do.”