A SpaceX rocket exploded Wednesday night in Texas.

<p>A SpaceX rocket exploded Wednesday night in Texas.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Credit where it&#39;s due to Musk. <br>He has made a radical new leap forward in SpaceX technology:<br>Now you don&#39;t have to wait until after launch for the devastating explosion.<br>👀 <a href="https://t.co/1OOHwB8kY1">pic.twitter.com/1OOHwB8kY1</a></p>&mdash; tern (@1goodtern) <a href="https://twitter.com/1goodtern/status/1935582164390969717?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just a scratch</p>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1935638560276926914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">On Wednesday, June 18 at approximately 11 p.m. CT, the Starship preparing for the tenth flight test experienced a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase. A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation and all personnel are safe and accounted…</p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1935572705941880971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥SpaceX Starship Rocket Explodes During Routine Test

NEOSHO COUNTY —Two Kansas boys died in an accident Wednesday in Neosho County.

Just after 12:30p.m. the Neosho County 911 Center received a report from the Union Pacific Railroad that two individuals had been struck on the Railroad Bridge south of Erie near 115th Road, according to Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor.

 The Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and members of the St. Paul Fire Department and the Erie Fire Department, and Union Pacific Railroad immediately responded to the scene. 

First responders found 16-year-old Arthur  Pollries of Walnut, Kansas, deceased, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

&nbsp;A thorough search of the area with available personnel was quickly initiated. A local individual was requested to respond to the scene with a drone. Kansas Deparatment of Wildlife and Parks responded with personnel, a drone and boat. KHP sent numerous personnel, helicopter, and search dogs in an attempt to find the body of 12-year-old&nbsp; Kollin&nbsp;Showwalter, of Erie, according to the KHP.

After reviewing the Engine Camera footage and physical evidence, the two children were on the bridge and unable to outrun the train. Unfortunately after reviewing the footage and physical evidence at the scene, the search went from hopeful rescue effort to a recovery effort.

The Neosho River is currently rising, nearly bank full, with a very swift current, and full of debris. Due to extremely dangerous condition.

The recovery will resume in Thursday. The sheriff's department has specialized swift water teams coming to assist with the ongoing search, according to Sheriff Taylor.

<p>NEOSHO COUNTY —Two Kansas boys died in an accident Wednesday in Neosho County.</p><p>Just after 12:30p.m. the Neosho County 911 Center received a report from the Union Pacific Railroad that two individuals had been struck on the Railroad Bridge south of Erie near 115th Road, according to Neosho County Sheriff Greg Taylor.</p><p> The Sheriff’s Office, EMS, and members of the St. Paul Fire Department and the Erie Fire Department, and Union Pacific Railroad immediately responded to the scene. </p><p>First responders found 16-year-old Arthur  Pollries of Walnut, Kansas, deceased, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.</p><p>&nbsp;A thorough search of the area with available personnel was quickly initiated. A local individual was requested to respond to the scene with a drone. Kansas Deparatment of Wildlife and Parks responded with personnel, a drone and boat. KHP sent numerous personnel, helicopter, and search dogs in an attempt to find the body of 12-year-old&nbsp; Kollin&nbsp;Showwalter, of Erie, according to the KHP.</p><p>After reviewing the Engine Camera footage and physical evidence, the two children were on the bridge and unable to outrun the train. Unfortunately after reviewing the footage and physical evidence at the scene, the search went from hopeful rescue effort to a recovery effort.</p><p>The Neosho River is currently rising, nearly bank full, with a very swift current, and full of debris. Due to extremely dangerous condition.</p><p>The recovery will resume in Thursday. The sheriff's department has specialized swift water teams coming to assist with the ongoing search, according to Sheriff Taylor.</p><p>.</p>

Train struck and killed 2 Kansas boys on river bridge

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">U.S. Senate unanimously passes resolution calling on streaming services to carry C-SPAN. <a href="https://t.co/TpM05yvPHs">pic.twitter.com/TpM05yvPHs</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935424808814035031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">U.S. Senate unanimously passes resolution calling on streaming services to carry C-SPAN. <a href="https://t.co/iQfi8ZuvOz">pic.twitter.com/iQfi8ZuvOz</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935419849494126703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Senate passes resolution asking streaming services to carry C-SPAN

WASHINGTON– FreshRealm establishments in San Clemente, Calif., Montezuma, Ga., and Indianapolis, Ind., are recalling chicken fettuccine alfredo products that may be adulterated with an outbreak strain of&nbsp;Listeria monocytogenes&nbsp;(Lm), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Tuesday. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is voluntarily recalling all products produced prior to June 17, 2025, that are available in commerce under the following brand names.

The following ready-to-eat products were shipped to Kroger and Walmart retail locations nationwide&nbsp;

The products bear the USDA mark of inspection on the product label as well as establishment numbers “EST. P-50784,” “EST. P-47770,” or “EST. P-47718” printed on the side of the packaging.

FSIS and public health partners are investigating an outbreak of&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;that currently includes 17 ill people in 13 states. As of June 17, 2025, there have been three reported deaths and one fetal loss associated with this outbreak. The outbreak strain of&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;was isolated from ill people on dates ranging from August 2024 – May 2025. 

The same outbreak strain was isolated from a routine chicken fettuccine alfredo sample collected by FSIS in a FreshRealm establishment in March 2025. The lot of chicken fettuccine alfredo represented by this sample was held during sampling, destroyed, and never entered commerce. The subsequent investigations at the establishment that produced this product, and into the product ingredients, have not identified the source of contamination. 

FSIS also used purchase records from two ill people to trace purchased chicken fettuccine alfredo products to FreshRealm establishments. An additional two ill people verbally described chicken fettuccine alfredo products they purchased. FSIS identified products produced by FreshRealm that matched the descriptions during follow-up at the retail stores where they shopped. This investigation is ongoing. FSIS is sharing what is currently known regarding products associated with the outbreak as the agency continues to work with public health partners to identify whether a specific ingredient in the chicken fettucine alfredo may be the source of this strain of&nbsp;Lm.

Consumption of food contaminated with&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, people outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their&nbsp;customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls">www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls</a>.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their meat products, including fresh and frozen, and to only consume premade meals like chicken fettuccine alfredo that has been cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F. The only way to confirm that premade meals are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart</a>.

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact FreshRealm’s customer service at 888-244-1562. Media can contact Mary Beth Lowell, Director of Internal Communications, FreshRealm, at 425-531-0122 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:marybeth.lowell@freshrealm.com">marybeth.lowell@freshrealm.com</a>.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov%2FeCCF%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CMelissa.Cordell%40usda.gov%7C2ffd2d584176447889ea08dbb48bd749%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638302284933732023%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Jx%2BVgXbvTA0YVfEYBwKrSu9MQne%2BUQZ3bT04yRxlrAI%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750253967577.png" alt="Image USDA" />
                        <figcaption>Image USDA</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>WASHINGTON– FreshRealm establishments in San Clemente, Calif., Montezuma, Ga., and Indianapolis, Ind., are recalling chicken fettuccine alfredo products that may be adulterated with an outbreak strain of&nbsp;Listeria monocytogenes&nbsp;(Lm), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Tuesday. Out of an abundance of caution, the company is voluntarily recalling all products produced prior to June 17, 2025, that are available in commerce under the following brand names.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750253948292.png" alt="Image USDA" />
                        <figcaption>Image USDA</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The following ready-to-eat products were shipped to Kroger and Walmart retail locations nationwide&nbsp;</p><ul>
                        <li>32.8-oz. tray packages containing “MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/27/25 or prior.&nbsp;</li><li>12.3 oz. tray packages containing “MARKETSIDE GRILLED CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE Tender Pasta with Creamy Alfredo Sauce, White Meat Chicken, Broccoli and Shaved Parmesan Cheese” with best-by date 06/26/25 or prior.&nbsp;</li><li>12.5 oz. tray packages containing “HOME CHEF Heat &amp; Eat Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with pasta, grilled white meat chicken, and Parmesan cheese” with best-by date 06/19/25 or prior.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</li>
                    </ul><p>The products bear the USDA mark of inspection on the product label as well as establishment numbers “EST. P-50784,” “EST. P-47770,” or “EST. P-47718” printed on the side of the packaging.</p><p>FSIS and public health partners are investigating an outbreak of&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;that currently includes 17 ill people in 13 states. As of June 17, 2025, there have been three reported deaths and one fetal loss associated with this outbreak. The outbreak strain of&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;was isolated from ill people on dates ranging from August 2024 – May 2025. </p><p>The same outbreak strain was isolated from a routine chicken fettuccine alfredo sample collected by FSIS in a FreshRealm establishment in March 2025. The lot of chicken fettuccine alfredo represented by this sample was held during sampling, destroyed, and never entered commerce. The subsequent investigations at the establishment that produced this product, and into the product ingredients, have not identified the source of contamination. </p><p>FSIS also used purchase records from two ill people to trace purchased chicken fettuccine alfredo products to FreshRealm establishments. An additional two ill people verbally described chicken fettuccine alfredo products they purchased. FSIS identified products produced by FreshRealm that matched the descriptions during follow-up at the retail stores where they shopped. This investigation is ongoing. FSIS is sharing what is currently known regarding products associated with the outbreak as the agency continues to work with public health partners to identify whether a specific ingredient in the chicken fettucine alfredo may be the source of this strain of&nbsp;Lm.</p><p>Consumption of food contaminated with&nbsp;Lm&nbsp;can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, people outside these risk groups are affected.</p><p>Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.</p><p>FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.</p><p>FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their&nbsp;customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls">www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls</a>.</p><p>FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their meat products, including fresh and frozen, and to only consume premade meals like chicken fettuccine alfredo that has been cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees F. The only way to confirm that premade meals are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart">https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart</a>.</p><p>Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact FreshRealm’s customer service at 888-244-1562. Media can contact Mary Beth Lowell, Director of Internal Communications, FreshRealm, at 425-531-0122 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:marybeth.lowell@freshrealm.com">marybeth.lowell@freshrealm.com</a>.</p><p>Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffoodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov%2FeCCF%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7CMelissa.Cordell%40usda.gov%7C2ffd2d584176447889ea08dbb48bd749%7Ced5b36e701ee4ebc867ee03cfa0d4697%7C1%7C0%7C638302284933732023%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=Jx%2BVgXbvTA0YVfEYBwKrSu9MQne%2BUQZ3bT04yRxlrAI%3D&amp;reserved=0">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>.</p>

Meals sold at Walmart and Kroger recalled amid deadly listeria outbreak

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750268276007.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;The White House opened about 1800... and I&#39;ve always said, &#39;Why doesn&#39;t it have a flagpole from the grass?&#39; ... This is about the largest you&#39;ll ever see... We&#39;re about to lift it, and we also have one going on the front, or the north.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/2c8jsLuCGS">pic.twitter.com/2c8jsLuCGS</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935336846604558790?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump on new flag poles at the White House: &quot;These are the best poles anywhere in the country, or the world actually.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/JkWuo40zyN">pic.twitter.com/JkWuo40zyN</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935338113389195481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750257361875.png" alt="Image courtesy White House" />
                        <figcaption>Image courtesy White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A new flag pole is raised on the South Lawn of the White House. <a href="https://t.co/TKQpSQJ2Ko">pic.twitter.com/TKQpSQJ2Ko</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935348717936071006?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Happening Now—President Trump stops by to say hello and thank the workers who are installing the Beautiful American Flagpole on the South Lawn of the <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a>… <a href="https://t.co/QXtcdp35bu">pic.twitter.com/QXtcdp35bu</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1935349139291914441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump speaking to the <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a> press pool on the South Lawn as the flagpole is installed… <a href="https://t.co/F9eGy0ViEx">pic.twitter.com/F9eGy0ViEx</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1935350108813410774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750268324911.png" alt="Photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President" />
                        <figcaption>Photo by Margo Martin, Assistant to the President</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/ravicGkEh3">https://t.co/ravicGkEh3</a> <a href="https://t.co/ULvnETTWi8">pic.twitter.com/ULvnETTWi8</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1935395446710747603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">View from the roof of the White House of the new flag being raised! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/9AgpbWTWg4">pic.twitter.com/9AgpbWTWg4</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1935410080179945685?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/i5yGc8GbSA">pic.twitter.com/i5yGc8GbSA</a></p>&mdash; House Republicans (@HouseGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP/status/1935422118155665799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump shows off  new ‘magnificent’ flagpoles at the White House

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fed Chair Jerome Powell: &quot;In support of our goals, today the Federal Open Market Committee decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> <a href="https://t.co/6Lezvvzqyj">pic.twitter.com/6Lezvvzqyj</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935407886311579746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥No good news for borrowers on interest rates

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750269288982.png" alt="President Donald Trump speaks as a flag pole is installed on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>President Donald Trump speaks as a flag pole is installed on the South Lawn of the White House, Wednesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Urgent notice! American citizens wanting to leave Israel- US Embassy in Israel <a href="https://twitter.com/usembassyjlm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@usembassyjlm</a> is working on evacuation flights &amp; cruise ship departures. <br>You must enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) (<a href="https://t.co/rXymPRTQJJ">https://t.co/rXymPRTQJJ</a>) You will be alerted w/ updates.</p>&mdash; Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovMikeHuckabee/status/1935354233819193433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump: &quot;Nobody knows what I&#39;m going to do. I can tell you this, that Iran&#39;s got a lot of trouble and they want to negotiate...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/5IxVLjd4HC">pic.twitter.com/5IxVLjd4HC</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935342623708926350?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Q: &quot;Mr. President, what do you say to the Supreme Leader of Iran who says that they will not surrender?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;I say, &#39;Good luck.&#39;&quot; <a href="https://t.co/iXy5xfKNup">pic.twitter.com/iXy5xfKNup</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935341674055508457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;We&#39;re not looking for long-term war. I only want one thing — Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. That&#39;s it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/8gl7Wp2NBy">pic.twitter.com/8gl7Wp2NBy</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935347025954095376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on negotiations with Iran: &quot;Nothing is too late. The only thing too late is Powell.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/g7x5b9u8Gw">pic.twitter.com/g7x5b9u8Gw</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935338837695189018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Americans warned to evacuate Israel by air and sea as Iran crisis deepens

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750210174941.png" alt="Image White House" />
                        <figcaption>Image White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/kqUAgta0En">pic.twitter.com/kqUAgta0En</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1935131324190203983?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Presiden Trump on the North Lawn of the <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WhiteHouse</a> looking for the perfect spot to put a 100ft tall American Flag pole—he will determine a second spot on the South Lawn as well, at his personal expense… <a href="https://t.co/2ckAR0tndf">pic.twitter.com/2ckAR0tndf</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1915075327778320503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

President Trump's new 'magnificent' flag poles going up at the White House

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who was forcibly removed from a press conference with the secretary of Homeland Security, said Tuesday that his home state is the testing ground for President Donald Trump’s push to deploy the military within the United States.

Trump is using immigrants in the country without legal status as scapegoats to send in troops, said Padilla, who in a speech on the Senate floor choked up as he related how he was wrestled to the ground by law enforcement officials. “I refuse to let immigrants be political pawns on his path toward fascism,” Padilla said.

It’s the first floor speech the senior senator from California has given since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-us-sen-alex-padilla-california-cuffed-shoved-out-noem-press-event" target="_blank">the highly publicized incident in Los Angeles&nbsp;</a>last week. The Secret Service handcuffed Padilla after he tried to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was defending to reporters Trump’s decision to send 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to LA.

Trump sent in the troops following multi-day protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and against California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wishes. An appeals court Tuesday is hearing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-keeps-control-california-national-guard-la-now-after-appeals-court-order" target="_blank">arguments on a suit</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;California contending that the president unlawfully took control of the state National Guard.

“He wants the spectacle,” Padilla said of the president. “To justify his undemocratic crackdown and his authoritarian power grab.”

The LA protests were sparked after ICE targeted Home Depots, places where undocumented day laborers typically search for work, for immigration raids.

The Padilla incident, widely captured on video, was a stark escalation of the tensions between Democratic lawmakers and the administration over Trump’s drive to enact mass deportations.

A Democratic House member from New Jersey is&nbsp;<a href="https://newjerseymonitor.com/2025/06/11/n-j-congresswoman-indicted-over-fracas-outside-newark-ice-jail/" target="_blank">facing federal charges</a>&nbsp;on allegations that she shoved immigration officials while protesting the opening of an immigrant detention center in Newark. And on Tuesday, in New York City, ICE officers arrested city comptroller and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/election/nyc-primary-election-mayor-race-polls-candidates-june-17" target="_blank">mayoral candidate</a>&nbsp;Brad Lander while he was escorting an immigrant to their hearing in immigration court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brad-lander-nyc-immigration-court-arrest-6ed341297efab31a08a14421674d8ed8" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>.

In a statement to States Newsroom, DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said Lander “was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.”

“No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences,” McLaughlin said.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-directs-ice-target-3-big-democratic-cities-raids" target="_blank">The president late Sunday</a>&nbsp;directed ICE&nbsp;to conduct immigration raids in New York, LA and Chicago, the nation’s three most populous cities, all led by elected Democrats in heavily Democratic states.

“We will follow the President’s direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America’s streets,” McLaughlin said.

Padilla in his Senate remarks gave an account of the events that led to him being handcuffed and detained last week.

On June 12, he had a meeting scheduled with&nbsp;General Gregory M. Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, to discuss the military presence in LA.

Padilla, the top Democrat on a Judiciary panel that oversees DHS and immigration policy, said his meeting with the general was delayed because of a press briefing across the hall with Noem.&nbsp;

Padilla said he has tried to speak with DHS because for weeks LA has “seen a disturbing pattern of increasingly extreme and cruel immigration enforcement operations targeting non-violent people at places of worship, at schools, in courthouses.”

So Padilla said he asked to attend the press conference, and&nbsp;a National Guard member and an FBI agent escorted him inside.

“They opened the door for me,” he said.

As he listened, he said a comment from Noem compelled him to ask a question.

“We are not going away,” Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, told the press. “We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city.”

Padilla said her remarks struck him as “an un-American mission statement.”

“That cannot be the mission of federal law enforcement and the United States military,” he said. “Are we truly prepared to live in a country where the president can deploy the armed forces to decide which duly elected governors and mayors should be allowed to lead their constituents?”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Padilla said before he could finish his question, he was physically removed and the National Guard member and FBI agent who escorted him in the room “stood by silently, knowing full well who I was.”

As he recounted being handcuffed, Padilla paused, getting emotional.

“I was forced to the ground, first on my knees, and then flat on my chest,” he said.

Padilla said a flurry of questions went through his head as he was marched down a hallway, and as he kept asking why he was being detained: Where are they taking me? What will a city, already on the edge from being militarized, think when they see their U.S. senator being handcuffed just for trying to ask a question? What will my wife think? What will our boys think?

“I also remember asking myself, if this aggressive escalation is the result of someone speaking up about the abuse and overreach of the Trump administration, was it really worth it?” Padilla asked. “If a United States senator becomes too afraid to speak up, how can we expect any other American to do the same?”

In a statement, DHS,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/1933236707060822447" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;that the Secret Service did not know Padilla was a U.S. senator, although video of the incident shows that Padilla stated that he was a member of the Senate.

“I’m Sen. Alex Padilla and I have questions for the secretary,” he said as four federal law enforcement officers grabbed him and shoved him to the ground.

Noem met with Padilla after he was handcuffed, his office told States Newsroom.

“He raised concerns with the deployment of military forces and the needless escalation over the last week, among other issues,” according to his office. “And he voiced his frustration with the continued lack of response from this administration. It was a civil, brief meeting, but the Secretary did not provide any meaningful answers. The Senator was simply trying to do his job and seek answers for the people he represents in California.”

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that the Senate take action against Padilla, such as a censure. Johnson criticized the senator’s actions and accused him of charging at Noem, which Padilla is not seen doing in the multiple videos of the incident.

“I’m not in that chamber, but I do think that it merits immediate attention by other colleagues over there,” the Louisiana Republican said. “I think that behavior, at a minimum, rises to the level of censure. I think there needs to be a message sent by the body as a whole.”

Senate Democrats have coalesced their support around Padilla. During a Tuesday press conference, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Padilla for his speech on the Senate floor.

“It was basically a strong plea for America to regain the gyroscope of democracy, which has led us forward for so many years and now we’re losing it,” the New York Democrat said. “It’s a wake-up call to all Americans.”

Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749757448306.png" alt="Senator Padilla as shown in the video provided by U.S. Homeland Security" />
                        <figcaption>Senator Padilla as shown in the video provided by U.S. Homeland Security</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat who was forcibly removed from a press conference with the secretary of Homeland Security, said Tuesday that his home state is the testing ground for President Donald Trump’s push to deploy the military within the United States.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenAlexPadilla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenAlexPadilla</a>: &quot;How many Americans in the year 2025 see a vindictive president on a tour of retribution unrestrained by the majority of this separate and co-equal branch of government and wonder if it&#39;s worth it to stand up or to speak out.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/RhCaix3Y3q">pic.twitter.com/RhCaix3Y3q</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1935022858654089493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>Trump is using immigrants in the country without legal status as scapegoats to send in troops, said Padilla, who in a speech on the Senate floor choked up as he related how he was wrestled to the ground by law enforcement officials. “I refuse to let immigrants be political pawns on his path toward fascism,” Padilla said.</p><p>It’s the first floor speech the senior senator from California has given since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-us-sen-alex-padilla-california-cuffed-shoved-out-noem-press-event" target="_blank">the highly publicized incident in Los Angeles&nbsp;</a>last week. The Secret Service handcuffed Padilla after he tried to question Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was defending to reporters Trump’s decision to send 4,000 National Guard members and 700 Marines to LA.</p><p>Trump sent in the troops following multi-day protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and against California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wishes. An appeals court Tuesday is hearing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-keeps-control-california-national-guard-la-now-after-appeals-court-order" target="_blank">arguments on a suit</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;California contending that the president unlawfully took control of the state National Guard.</p><p>“He wants the spectacle,” Padilla said of the president. “To justify his undemocratic crackdown and his authoritarian power grab.”</p><p>The LA protests were sparked after ICE targeted Home Depots, places where undocumented day laborers typically search for work, for immigration raids.</p><h2>Arrests, confrontations</h2><p>The Padilla incident, widely captured on video, was a stark escalation of the tensions between Democratic lawmakers and the administration over Trump’s drive to enact mass deportations.</p><p>A Democratic House member from New Jersey is&nbsp;<a href="https://newjerseymonitor.com/2025/06/11/n-j-congresswoman-indicted-over-fracas-outside-newark-ice-jail/" target="_blank">facing federal charges</a>&nbsp;on allegations that she shoved immigration officials while protesting the opening of an immigrant detention center in Newark. And on Tuesday, in New York City, ICE officers arrested city comptroller and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fox5ny.com/election/nyc-primary-election-mayor-race-polls-candidates-june-17" target="_blank">mayoral candidate</a>&nbsp;Brad Lander while he was escorting an immigrant to their hearing in immigration court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brad-lander-nyc-immigration-court-arrest-6ed341297efab31a08a14421674d8ed8" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>.</p><p>In a statement to States Newsroom, DHS Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said Lander “was arrested for assaulting law enforcement and impeding a federal officer.”</p><p>“No one is above the law, and if you lay a hand on a law enforcement officer, you will face consequences,” McLaughlin said.</p><p><a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-directs-ice-target-3-big-democratic-cities-raids" target="_blank">The president late Sunday</a>&nbsp;directed ICE&nbsp;to conduct immigration raids in New York, LA and Chicago, the nation’s three most populous cities, all led by elected Democrats in heavily Democratic states.</p><p>“We will follow the President’s direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America’s streets,” McLaughlin said.</p><h2>‘They opened the door for me’</h2><p>Padilla in his Senate remarks gave an account of the events that led to him being handcuffed and detained last week.</p><p>On June 12, he had a meeting scheduled with&nbsp;General Gregory M. Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, to discuss the military presence in LA.</p><p>Padilla, the top Democrat on a Judiciary panel that oversees DHS and immigration policy, said his meeting with the general was delayed because of a press briefing across the hall with Noem.&nbsp;</p><p>Padilla said he has tried to speak with DHS because for weeks LA has “seen a disturbing pattern of increasingly extreme and cruel immigration enforcement operations targeting non-violent people at places of worship, at schools, in courthouses.”</p><p>So Padilla said he asked to attend the press conference, and&nbsp;a National Guard member and an FBI agent escorted him inside.</p><p>“They opened the door for me,” he said.</p><p>As he listened, he said a comment from Noem compelled him to ask a question.</p><p>“We are not going away,” Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, told the press. “We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city.”</p><p>Padilla said her remarks struck him as “an un-American mission statement.”</p><p>“That cannot be the mission of federal law enforcement and the United States military,” he said. “Are we truly prepared to live in a country where the president can deploy the armed forces to decide which duly elected governors and mayors should be allowed to lead their constituents?”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>Padilla said before he could finish his question, he was physically removed and the National Guard member and FBI agent who escorted him in the room “stood by silently, knowing full well who I was.”</p><p>As he recounted being handcuffed, Padilla paused, getting emotional.</p><p>“I was forced to the ground, first on my knees, and then flat on my chest,” he said.</p><p>Padilla said a flurry of questions went through his head as he was marched down a hallway, and as he kept asking why he was being detained: Where are they taking me? What will a city, already on the edge from being militarized, think when they see their U.S. senator being handcuffed just for trying to ask a question? What will my wife think? What will our boys think?</p><p>“I also remember asking myself, if this aggressive escalation is the result of someone speaking up about the abuse and overreach of the Trump administration, was it really worth it?” Padilla asked. “If a United States senator becomes too afraid to speak up, how can we expect any other American to do the same?”</p><h2>Padilla-Noem meeting</h2><p>In a statement, DHS,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DHSgov/status/1933236707060822447" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;that the Secret Service did not know Padilla was a U.S. senator, although video of the incident shows that Padilla stated that he was a member of the Senate.</p><p>“I’m Sen. Alex Padilla and I have questions for the secretary,” he said as four federal law enforcement officers grabbed him and shoved him to the ground.</p><p>Noem met with Padilla after he was handcuffed, his office told States Newsroom.</p><p>“He raised concerns with the deployment of military forces and the needless escalation over the last week, among other issues,” according to his office. “And he voiced his frustration with the continued lack of response from this administration. It was a civil, brief meeting, but the Secretary did not provide any meaningful answers. The Senator was simply trying to do his job and seek answers for the people he represents in California.”</p><p>U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has suggested that the Senate take action against Padilla, such as a censure. Johnson criticized the senator’s actions and accused him of charging at Noem, which Padilla is not seen doing in the multiple videos of the incident.</p><p>“I’m not in that chamber, but I do think that it merits immediate attention by other colleagues over there,” the Louisiana Republican said. “I think that behavior, at a minimum, rises to the level of censure. I think there needs to be a message sent by the body as a whole.”</p><p>Senate Democrats have coalesced their support around Padilla. During a Tuesday press conference, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Padilla for his speech on the Senate floor.</p><p>“It was basically a strong plea for America to regain the gyroscope of democracy, which has led us forward for so many years and now we’re losing it,” the New York Democrat said. “It’s a wake-up call to all Americans.”</p><p>Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.&nbsp;</p>

🎥US Sen. Padilla blasts Trump ‘path toward fascism’ in LA immigration crackdown

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/iwagener/">Izzy Wagener</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>

Sophie and Colin Hortman, the children of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, issued a statement Monday calling on people to honor their parents’ legacy by doing “something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”

The Hortman children are grieving following the Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/14/minnesota-house-democratic-leader-dead-after-targeted-shooting-democratic-senator-also-shot/">killing</a>&nbsp;of their parents, in what has been called a political assassination. Rep. Melissa Hortman was a longtime Democratic-Farmer-Labor legislator beloved around the Capitol even as she scored major legislative victories.&nbsp;

“We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much,” the release said. “We want everyone to know that we are both safe and with loved ones. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, and we appreciate your respect for our family’s privacy as we grieve.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Hortman children thanked law enforcement for their efforts, which led to the&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/15/vance-boelter-accused-of-assassination-of-dfl-house-leader-melissa-hortman-apprehended/">arrest</a>&nbsp;of suspect Vance Boelter on Sunday night. Boelter also wounded Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, though they are on a path to recovery.&nbsp;

The Hortman children emphasized the legacy that their parents will leave behind.&nbsp;

“Our parents touched so many lives, and they leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them,” the release said.&nbsp;

The Hortmans asked that people do an act of kindness in the memory of their parents’ commitment to service, sharing a list of suggestions.

“The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”&nbsp;

They suggested planting a tree, telling a dad joke, and baking something to share — “bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa”.&nbsp;

“Pet a dog,” was on the list “A golden retriever is ideal but any will do.”&nbsp;

The Hortman family’s dog, a golden retriever named Gilbert, was euthanized after he was injured in the shooting. Hortman originally trained him as a service dog before he became a permanent member of the family.

Sophie and Colin Hortman ended the statement with a call to action.&nbsp;

“Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750172631971.jpeg" alt=" A growing memorial for Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband stands Monday, June 16, 2025 at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)" />
                        <figcaption> A growing memorial for Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband stands Monday, June 16, 2025 at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/iwagener/">Izzy Wagener</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a></p><p>Sophie and Colin Hortman, the children of Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, issued a statement Monday calling on people to honor their parents’ legacy by doing “something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”</p><p>The Hortman children are grieving following the Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/14/minnesota-house-democratic-leader-dead-after-targeted-shooting-democratic-senator-also-shot/">killing</a>&nbsp;of their parents, in what has been called a political assassination. Rep. Melissa Hortman was a longtime Democratic-Farmer-Labor legislator beloved around the Capitol even as she scored major legislative victories.&nbsp;</p><p>“We are devastated and heartbroken at the loss of our parents, Melissa and Mark. They were the bright lights at the center of our lives, and we can’t believe they are gone. Their love for us was boundless. We miss them so much,” the release said. “We want everyone to know that we are both safe and with loved ones. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support we have received, and we appreciate your respect for our family’s privacy as we grieve.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The Hortman children thanked law enforcement for their efforts, which led to the&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/15/vance-boelter-accused-of-assassination-of-dfl-house-leader-melissa-hortman-apprehended/">arrest</a>&nbsp;of suspect Vance Boelter on Sunday night. Boelter also wounded Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, though they are on a path to recovery.&nbsp;</p><p>The Hortman children emphasized the legacy that their parents will leave behind.&nbsp;</p><p>“Our parents touched so many lives, and they leave behind an incredible legacy of dedication to their community that will live on in us, their friends, their colleagues and co-workers, and every single person who knew and loved them,” the release said.&nbsp;</p><p>The Hortmans asked that people do an act of kindness in the memory of their parents’ commitment to service, sharing a list of suggestions.</p><p>“The best way to honor our parents’ memory is to do something, whether big or small, to make our community just a little better for someone else.”&nbsp;</p><p>They suggested planting a tree, telling a dad joke, and baking something to share — “bread for Mark or a cake for Melissa”.&nbsp;</p><p>“Pet a dog,” was on the list “A golden retriever is ideal but any will do.”&nbsp;</p><p>The Hortman family’s dog, a golden retriever named Gilbert, was euthanized after he was injured in the shooting. Hortman originally trained him as a service dog before he became a permanent member of the family.</p><p>Sophie and Colin Hortman ended the statement with a call to action.&nbsp;</p><p>“Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear. Our parents lived their lives with immense dedication to their fellow humans. This tragedy must become a moment for us to come together. Hold your loved ones a little closer. Love your neighbors. Treat each other with kindness and respect.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

Children of Melissa and Mark Hortman release statement on their deaths

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspicious death at the scene of a house fire in Kansas City announced the case has been turned over to homicide detectives, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just after 8a.m. Sunday, fire crews responded to a reported house fire in the 1600 block of Elmwood in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews reported smoke showing from the single-story residence and initiated interior operations. During the search of the structure, fire crews discovered a victim and removed her from the home.

During the patient assessment it was determined that the victim was deceased due to injuries not related to the fire. The fire was brought under control and The Kansas City Police department along with Bomb and Arson detectives were ordered to the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KCPD crime scene investigators responded as well to process the scene for evidence.

&nbsp;Detectives continue to pursue all leads and encourage anyone with information to come forward.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750034093809.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspicious death at the scene of a house fire in Kansas City announced the case has been turned over to homicide detectives, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.</p><p>Just after 8a.m. Sunday, fire crews responded to a reported house fire in the 1600 block of Elmwood in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCFD Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750034453591.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Crews reported smoke showing from the single-story residence and initiated interior operations. During the search of the structure, fire crews discovered a victim and removed her from the home.</p><p>During the patient assessment it was determined that the victim was deceased due to injuries not related to the fire. The fire was brought under control and The Kansas City Police department along with Bomb and Arson detectives were ordered to the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>KCPD crime scene investigators responded as well to process the scene for evidence.</p><p>&nbsp;Detectives continue to pursue all leads and encourage anyone with information to come forward.</p>

KCPD investigating woman's death at house fire as homicide

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate will gather behind closed doors Tuesday to hear from federal law enforcement officials about protection for lawmakers and the safety of their families, just days after a gunman said to be posing as a police officer targeted state lawmakers in Minnesota.

The briefing from U.S. Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant at Arms follows years of increased funding for both entities as threats and attempted assassinations against members of Congress have become part of the job.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, said Monday on the floor that the suspected shooter had a list of more than 70 public officials he wanted to target, including several members of the Senate.

“My highest priority right now is working with the Senate leadership on both sides, the Senate Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police, to ensure everyone’s safety,” Schumer said. “This weekend I asked Capitol Police and the Sergeant at Arms to increase security for members, including Sen. (Alex) Padilla and the Minnesota senators.”

California Sen. Padilla moved to the forefront of the public debate about immigration and deportations last week when he was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-us-sen-alex-padilla-california-cuffed-shoved-out-noem-press-event" target="_blank">forcibly removed from a press conference</a>&nbsp;after trying to ask Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a question while she was still speaking.

Schumer said the briefing would be an opportunity for USCP and the SAA to “convey what they’re doing for members to keep them safe.”

He urged senators to “come together” to oppose political violence in all forms, before criticizing Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee for social media posts. Lee made&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1934262175582822629" target="_blank">two</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1934268603676647646" target="_blank">posts</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/politics/mike-lee-minnesota-assassination-democrats.html" target="_blank">drew condemnation.</a>

“I was deeply disappointed and sickened to see a member of this chamber use the tragedy in Minnesota to take cheap political shots at the other side on social media and risk escalating a perilous moment,” Schumer said. “What the senior senator from Utah posted after the shooting was reckless and beneath the dignity of his office.

“For a senator to fan the flames of division with falsities while the killer was still on the loose is deeply irresponsible. He should take down his post immediately and apologize to the families of the victims.”

On&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/1934348952197116157" target="_blank">another social media account</a>, Lee wrote, “These hateful attacks have no place in Utah, Minnesota, or anywhere in America.”

Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Sunday during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/sen-rand-paul-says-it-s-not-the-u-s-s-job-to-be-involved-in-israel-iran-conflict-full-interview-241621061772" target="_blank">an interview</a>&nbsp;on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the attack on the two state lawmakers and their spouses was clearly motivated by politics.

Klobuchar said she has received additional security and that she was concerned about the possibility of more attacks against lawmakers.

“I have had threats before, as several of our colleagues have had,” Klobuchar said. “And I think one of the things is, we don’t talk about this stuff much because you don’t want to see copycats that copy exactly what they’ve done.”

The suspected gunman, who&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/15/vance-boelter-accused-of-assassination-of-dfl-house-leader-melissa-hortman-apprehended/" target="_blank">was arrested Sunday</a>&nbsp;following a manhunt, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/16/boelter-faces-state-and-federal-murder-charges-death-penalty-possible/" target="_blank">charged by both state and federal prosecutors</a>&nbsp;with murdering state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and attempting to kill state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.

The suspect&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/16/feds-boelter-stopped-at-two-other-lawmakers-homes/" target="_blank">went to the homes of at least two other state lawmakers and had a list</a>&nbsp;of Democratic lawmakers’ home addresses as well as abortion providers, according to police.

Lawmakers disclose they were on list of targets

The U.S. House won’t receive a security briefing this week since its members are out of session on a district work period, typically a time when lawmakers are back in their communities for town halls and other public events, though the shooting has led some members to change their schedules.

Michigan Democratic Rep. Hillary Scholten announced Monday she would postpone her town hall in Muskegon, writing in a statement she didn’t want to “divert additional law enforcement resources away from protecting the broader public at this time.”

“Nothing matters more to me than the safety and well-being of the people I serve,” Scholten wrote. “After being made aware that my name was on a list connected to the recent tragic shooting in Minnesota, my office has made the difficult decision to postpone our planned town hall in Muskegon.”

Scholten added she hoped to “reschedule this event as soon as possible.”

Ohio Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman released a statement on Monday, announcing that USCP bolstered his security after his name was found among the suspected Minnesota shooter’s possessions.

“On Sunday morning, Capitol Police contacted my office to inform me that the FBI had found my name among the evidence collected during the search for a suspect in Minnesota — who is accused of murdering and seriously injuring lawmakers,” Landsman wrote. “Since the suspect was still at large at that time, we worked very closely with the Cincinnati Police Department to arrange for increased security for my family and me.”

Texas Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar wrote in a statement posted to social media that she was among the people the suspected Minnesota shooter had on his list.

“This was only a day after protestors were shot in Utah, an extremist drove a car into protests in Virginia, credible threats were made against state lawmakers in Austin and a man pointed a gun at protestors here in El Paso,” Escobar wrote.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Democratic Rep. Joseph D. Morelle, ranking member on the Committee on House Administration, wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Monday, urging him to take action to ensure members’ safety.&nbsp;

“While we differ in many areas related to policy and our vision for America’s future, Member safety must be an area of common ground. Representatives from both sides of the aisle have endured assassination attempts that changed their lives and careers forever,” the two wrote. “Too many other patriotic public servants have left Congress because they no longer felt safe carrying out their duty as elected officials. We must act to protect each other and preserve this great American institution.”

Members of Congress and their families are no strangers to threats, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-capitol-police-chief-details-700-threats-against-members-congress-one-month" target="_blank">have steadily risen for years,</a>&nbsp;attacks and shootings.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/man-who-attacked-speaker-pelosis-husband-wanted-break-her-kneecaps-doj-says" target="_blank">attacked in their family home</a>&nbsp;in San Francisco in October 2022 by a man wielding a hammer, who was searching for Pelosi, a California Democrat.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La, was shot and severely wounded in 2017 when a gunman opened fire at GOP lawmakers practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. Several others were injured during the shooting.

Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords survived being shot in the head during a constituent meeting in a grocery store parking lot in 2011 when a gunman opened fire, killing six people and injuring a dozen others.

Even President Donald Trump, who has extensive Secret Service protection,&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/trump-campaigns-in-western-pennsylvania-with-rally-in-butler-county/" target="_blank">was shot in the ear</a>&nbsp;last July while campaigning in Pennsylvania. The gunman in that incident killed local fireman Corey Comperatore and injured two others.

The union representing U.S. Capitol Police&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-capitol-police-union-says-not-enough-done-improve-security-after-jan-6-attack" target="_blank">warned more than a year ago&nbsp;</a>that the federal law enforcement agency was struggling to keep up amid an increasingly hostile political environment and staffing shortages.

“We’ve never seen a threat environment like this,” union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou wrote in a statement. “Given the profound divisions in this country and this year’s elections, people ask me if I’m concerned and I tell them I am worried — very worried.”

Former USCP Chief Thomas Manger, who retired earlier this year, told lawmakers well before the union’s public statement that he was concerned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/more-7500-threats-against-members-congress-2022-just-22-prosecuted" target="_blank">how few threats against members of Congress were actually prosecuted&nbsp;</a>successfully.

Klobuchar, who was chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee at the time of the hearing, said USCP referred 458 threat cases for prosecution during 2021, with 40 of those leading to a court case. That was out of 9,625 total threats.

Just 22 of the 7,501 threats lobbed at members during 2022 led to prosecution, a USCP spokesperson confirmed to States Newsroom at the time.

Threats against lawmakers have continued to increase ever since.

USCP investigated 8,008 “concerning statements and direct threats against the Members of Congress, including their families and staff” in 2023 and 9,474 in 2024, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-threat-assessment-cases-2024" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;from USCP.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750124727119.png" alt="Photo U.S. Capitol Police" />
                        <figcaption>Photo U.S. Capitol Police</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate will gather behind closed doors Tuesday to hear from federal law enforcement officials about protection for lawmakers and the safety of their families, just days after a gunman said to be posing as a police officer targeted state lawmakers in Minnesota.</p><p>The briefing from U.S. Capitol Police and the Senate Sergeant at Arms follows years of increased funding for both entities as threats and attempted assassinations against members of Congress have become part of the job.</p><p>Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, said Monday on the floor that the suspected shooter had a list of more than 70 public officials he wanted to target, including several members of the Senate.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750124701988.png" alt="Photo U.S. Capitol Police" />
                        <figcaption>Photo U.S. Capitol Police</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>“My highest priority right now is working with the Senate leadership on both sides, the Senate Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police, to ensure everyone’s safety,” Schumer said. “This weekend I asked Capitol Police and the Sergeant at Arms to increase security for members, including Sen. (Alex) Padilla and the Minnesota senators.”</p><p>California Sen. Padilla moved to the forefront of the public debate about immigration and deportations last week when he was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-us-sen-alex-padilla-california-cuffed-shoved-out-noem-press-event" target="_blank">forcibly removed from a press conference</a>&nbsp;after trying to ask Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem a question while she was still speaking.</p><p>Schumer said the briefing would be an opportunity for USCP and the SAA to “convey what they’re doing for members to keep them safe.”</p><p>He urged senators to “come together” to oppose political violence in all forms, before criticizing Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee for social media posts. Lee made&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1934262175582822629" target="_blank">two</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BasedMikeLee/status/1934268603676647646" target="_blank">posts</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/us/politics/mike-lee-minnesota-assassination-democrats.html" target="_blank">drew condemnation.</a></p><p>“I was deeply disappointed and sickened to see a member of this chamber use the tragedy in Minnesota to take cheap political shots at the other side on social media and risk escalating a perilous moment,” Schumer said. “What the senior senator from Utah posted after the shooting was reckless and beneath the dignity of his office.</p><p>“For a senator to fan the flames of division with falsities while the killer was still on the loose is deeply irresponsible. He should take down his post immediately and apologize to the families of the victims.”</p><p>On&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenMikeLee/status/1934348952197116157" target="_blank">another social media account</a>, Lee wrote, “These hateful attacks have no place in Utah, Minnesota, or anywhere in America.”</p><h2>Suspect faces state and federal charges</h2><p>Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Sunday during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/sen-rand-paul-says-it-s-not-the-u-s-s-job-to-be-involved-in-israel-iran-conflict-full-interview-241621061772" target="_blank">an interview</a>&nbsp;on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that the attack on the two state lawmakers and their spouses was clearly motivated by politics.</p><p>Klobuchar said she has received additional security and that she was concerned about the possibility of more attacks against lawmakers.</p><p>“I have had threats before, as several of our colleagues have had,” Klobuchar said. “And I think one of the things is, we don’t talk about this stuff much because you don’t want to see copycats that copy exactly what they’ve done.”</p><p>The suspected gunman, who&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/15/vance-boelter-accused-of-assassination-of-dfl-house-leader-melissa-hortman-apprehended/" target="_blank">was arrested Sunday</a>&nbsp;following a manhunt, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/16/boelter-faces-state-and-federal-murder-charges-death-penalty-possible/" target="_blank">charged by both state and federal prosecutors</a>&nbsp;with murdering state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, and attempting to kill state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife.</p><p>The suspect&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/06/16/feds-boelter-stopped-at-two-other-lawmakers-homes/" target="_blank">went to the homes of at least two other state lawmakers and had a list</a>&nbsp;of Democratic lawmakers’ home addresses as well as abortion providers, according to police.</p><h2>Lawmakers disclose they were on list of targets</h2><p>The U.S. House won’t receive a security briefing this week since its members are out of session on a district work period, typically a time when lawmakers are back in their communities for town halls and other public events, though the shooting has led some members to change their schedules.</p><p>Michigan Democratic Rep. Hillary Scholten announced Monday she would postpone her town hall in Muskegon, writing in a statement she didn’t want to “divert additional law enforcement resources away from protecting the broader public at this time.”</p><p>“Nothing matters more to me than the safety and well-being of the people I serve,” Scholten wrote. “After being made aware that my name was on a list connected to the recent tragic shooting in Minnesota, my office has made the difficult decision to postpone our planned town hall in Muskegon.”</p><p>Scholten added she hoped to “reschedule this event as soon as possible.”</p><p>Ohio Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman released a statement on Monday, announcing that USCP bolstered his security after his name was found among the suspected Minnesota shooter’s possessions.</p><p>“On Sunday morning, Capitol Police contacted my office to inform me that the FBI had found my name among the evidence collected during the search for a suspect in Minnesota — who is accused of murdering and seriously injuring lawmakers,” Landsman wrote. “Since the suspect was still at large at that time, we worked very closely with the Cincinnati Police Department to arrange for increased security for my family and me.”</p><p>Texas Democratic Rep. Veronica Escobar wrote in a statement posted to social media that she was among the people the suspected Minnesota shooter had on his list.</p><p>“This was only a day after protestors were shot in Utah, an extremist drove a car into protests in Virginia, credible threats were made against state lawmakers in Austin and a man pointed a gun at protestors here in El Paso,” Escobar wrote.</p><p>House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Democratic Rep. Joseph D. Morelle, ranking member on the Committee on House Administration, wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Monday, urging him to take action to ensure members’ safety.&nbsp;</p><p>“While we differ in many areas related to policy and our vision for America’s future, Member safety must be an area of common ground. Representatives from both sides of the aisle have endured assassination attempts that changed their lives and careers forever,” the two wrote. “Too many other patriotic public servants have left Congress because they no longer felt safe carrying out their duty as elected officials. We must act to protect each other and preserve this great American institution.”</p><h2>Threats on the rise over the years</h2><p>Members of Congress and their families are no strangers to threats, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-capitol-police-chief-details-700-threats-against-members-congress-one-month" target="_blank">have steadily risen for years,</a>&nbsp;attacks and shootings.</p><p>Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/man-who-attacked-speaker-pelosis-husband-wanted-break-her-kneecaps-doj-says" target="_blank">attacked in their family home</a>&nbsp;in San Francisco in October 2022 by a man wielding a hammer, who was searching for Pelosi, a California Democrat.</p><p>House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La, was shot and severely wounded in 2017 when a gunman opened fire at GOP lawmakers practicing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. Several others were injured during the shooting.</p><p>Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords survived being shot in the head during a constituent meeting in a grocery store parking lot in 2011 when a gunman opened fire, killing six people and injuring a dozen others.</p><p>Even President Donald Trump, who has extensive Secret Service protection,&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/trump-campaigns-in-western-pennsylvania-with-rally-in-butler-county/" target="_blank">was shot in the ear</a>&nbsp;last July while campaigning in Pennsylvania. The gunman in that incident killed local fireman Corey Comperatore and injured two others.</p><p>The union representing U.S. Capitol Police&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-capitol-police-union-says-not-enough-done-improve-security-after-jan-6-attack" target="_blank">warned more than a year ago&nbsp;</a>that the federal law enforcement agency was struggling to keep up amid an increasingly hostile political environment and staffing shortages.</p><p>“We’ve never seen a threat environment like this,” union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou wrote in a statement. “Given the profound divisions in this country and this year’s elections, people ask me if I’m concerned and I tell them I am worried — very worried.”</p><p>Former USCP Chief Thomas Manger, who retired earlier this year, told lawmakers well before the union’s public statement that he was concerned by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/more-7500-threats-against-members-congress-2022-just-22-prosecuted" target="_blank">how few threats against members of Congress were actually prosecuted&nbsp;</a>successfully.</p><h2>Few threats led to prosecution</h2><p>Klobuchar, who was chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee at the time of the hearing, said USCP referred 458 threat cases for prosecution during 2021, with 40 of those leading to a court case. That was out of 9,625 total threats.</p><p>Just 22 of the 7,501 threats lobbed at members during 2022 led to prosecution, a USCP spokesperson confirmed to States Newsroom at the time.</p><p>Threats against lawmakers have continued to increase ever since.</p><p>USCP investigated 8,008 “concerning statements and direct threats against the Members of Congress, including their families and staff” in 2023 and 9,474 in 2024, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-threat-assessment-cases-2024" target="_blank">data</a>&nbsp;from USCP.&nbsp;</p>

Members of Congress on edge after assassination of Minnesota state legislator

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a theft involving electronics and asking for help to ID suspects.

&nbsp;The Overland Park Police Department requests public assistance in the identification of individuals suspected of committing felony theft from a retail establishment in Overland Park, according to Officer John Lacy.

Just after 4p.m. May 17,&nbsp; &nbsp;two suspects entered a retail establishment located near the intersection of W. 115th and Metcalf Avenue, The two individuals selected nine laptop computers and left without paying.

One suspect is described as a Black male, estimated to be in his late 20s, and was observed wearing a gray hat, a dark sweatshirt, and gray sweatpants and had a tattoo on his neck.

The second is described as a white male, approximately 30 years of age, and was observed wearing a black hat, a black jacket, black pants, and black and white Nike brand shoes. The suspects were observed departing the business in a gold-colored Chevrolet Equinox. The vehicle’s license plate was obscured by a white plastic shopping bag.

If you have any information pertaining to the identity of these two individuals, please contact the Overland Park Police Department at 913-344-8729 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. 

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750121069263.png" alt="Photos Overland Park Police" />
                        <figcaption>Photos Overland Park Police</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a theft involving electronics and asking for help to ID suspects.</p><p>&nbsp;The Overland Park Police Department requests public assistance in the identification of individuals suspected of committing felony theft from a retail establishment in Overland Park, according to Officer John Lacy.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750121049246.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Just after 4p.m. May 17,&nbsp; &nbsp;two suspects entered a retail establishment located near the intersection of W. 115th and Metcalf Avenue, The two individuals selected nine laptop computers and left without paying.</p><p>One suspect is described as a Black male, estimated to be in his late 20s, and was observed wearing a gray hat, a dark sweatshirt, and gray sweatpants and had a tattoo on his neck.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750121021630.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The second is described as a white male, approximately 30 years of age, and was observed wearing a black hat, a black jacket, black pants, and black and white Nike brand shoes. The suspects were observed departing the business in a gold-colored Chevrolet Equinox. The vehicle’s license plate was obscured by a white plastic shopping bag.</p><p>If you have any information pertaining to the identity of these two individuals, please contact the Overland Park Police Department at 913-344-8729 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS. </p>

Police working to ID Kansas computer theft suspects

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City have identified the victims as 19-year-old&nbsp;Arron L. Hall Jr. and 19-year-old&nbsp;Deron McHenry,&nbsp;according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

just after midnight, patrol officers were dispatched to the area of 69th and College on a reported sound of shots.

As officers arrived they located a vehicle near the intersection. Inside the vehicle there were Hall and McHenery suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. 

Medics declared one man deceased at the scene. The second victim was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later.

This is being investigated as a homicide and there is no one in custody. Investigators are working to determine what led up to the victims being shot.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749989590110.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City have identified the victims as 19-year-old&nbsp;Arron L. Hall Jr. and 19-year-old&nbsp;Deron McHenry,&nbsp;according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.</p><p>just after midnight, patrol officers were dispatched to the area of 69th and College on a reported sound of shots.</p><p>As officers arrived they located a vehicle near the intersection. Inside the vehicle there were Hall and McHenery suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. </p><p>Medics declared one man deceased at the scene. The second victim was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later.</p><p>This is being investigated as a homicide and there is no one in custody. Investigators are working to determine what led up to the victims being shot.&nbsp;</p>

Double homicide: Police ID teens found in car in Kansas City

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750109382018.png" alt="File photo President Trump at the G7 Monday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
                        <figcaption>File photo President Trump at the G7 Monday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
                    </figure><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750154083784.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on his early departure from the G7 Summit: &quot;I have to be back early — for obvious reasons.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/vtM4wwy1r9">pic.twitter.com/vtM4wwy1r9</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1934773306324042177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;Iran should have signed the “deal” I told them to sign. What a shame, and waste of human life. Simply stated, IRAN CAN NOT HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!&quot; –President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/oniUSgsMWA">pic.twitter.com/oniUSgsMWA</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1934745869821370570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump: &quot;I think a deal will be signed or something will happen, but a deal will be signed, and I think Iran is foolish not to sign one.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/dPo8zXKZ0v">pic.twitter.com/dPo8zXKZ0v</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1934726877752565821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">REPORTER: &quot;What are you looking for here?&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;An end. A real end. Not a ceasefire — an end.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/EESQ7zzhw1">pic.twitter.com/EESQ7zzhw1</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1934917749391687794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Read President's ominous warning on why he left G7, returned to DC

JOHNSON COUNTY— Two people were injured in a small plane crash that occurred just before 1:30p.m. Monday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Beech King Air piloted by Leslie&nbsp;Gorden, 73, Lee's Summit, Missouri, was southbound when a mechanical malfunction caused the left engine to become inoperable. The pilot lost control of airplane turning left and crashing into the roof of a building at the New Century AirCenter, 1 New Century Parkway, Gardner, Kansas.

EMS transported&nbsp; Gordon and a passenger Delaney&nbsp;Rindal, 30,&nbsp;Wasilla, Arkansas, to Overland Park Regional Medical Center&nbsp;for treatment of minor injuries.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750106633244.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
                        <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>JOHNSON COUNTY— Two people were injured in a small plane crash that occurred just before 1:30p.m. Monday in Johnson County.</p><p>The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Beech King Air piloted by Leslie&nbsp;Gorden, 73, Lee's Summit, Missouri, was southbound when a mechanical malfunction caused the left engine to become inoperable. The pilot lost control of airplane turning left and crashing into the roof of a building at the New Century AirCenter, 1 New Century Parkway, Gardner, Kansas.</p><p>EMS transported&nbsp; Gordon and a passenger Delaney&nbsp;Rindal, 30,&nbsp;Wasilla, Arkansas, to Overland Park Regional Medical Center&nbsp;for treatment of minor injuries.</p><p>The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident.</p>

2 hospitalized after plane crash into building at Kansas airport

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal mass shooting in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 24-year-old&nbsp;Monique K. Smith, according to&nbsp;KCKPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just after 1:30a.m. Saturday, patrol officers were dispatched to a shooting at&nbsp; 35th and Prospect.

First responders were directed to the gas station parking lot. They located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Officers began performing live saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. On scene officers located a total of four victims. An adult female victim, later identified as Smith, had critical injuries, one adult male victim had critical injuries, and two adult male victims had non life threatening injuries, according to DiMartino.

 All of the victims were transported to local hospitals. Smith was pronounced deceased a short time later by medical personnel.

Additional officers responded to a separate shooting, a short distance away, in the 2000 block of East Linwood where an adult male victim was located. 

It was determined the victim was related to the scene at 35th and Prospect. He was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. This is being investigated as a homicide and there is no one in custody at this point, according to DiMartino.

Detectives are trying to determine what led up to the shots being fired and the victims being struck.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749904887891.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal mass shooting in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 24-year-old&nbsp;Monique K. Smith, according to&nbsp;KCKPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.</p><p>Just after 1:30a.m. Saturday, patrol officers were dispatched to a shooting at&nbsp; 35th and Prospect.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749903126084.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>First responders were directed to the gas station parking lot. They located multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Officers began performing live saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. On scene officers located a total of four victims. An adult female victim, later identified as Smith, had critical injuries, one adult male victim had critical injuries, and two adult male victims had non life threatening injuries, according to DiMartino.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749903072954.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p> All of the victims were transported to local hospitals. Smith was pronounced deceased a short time later by medical personnel.</p><p>Additional officers responded to a separate shooting, a short distance away, in the 2000 block of East Linwood where an adult male victim was located. </p><p>It was determined the victim was related to the scene at 35th and Prospect. He was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries. This is being investigated as a homicide and there is no one in custody at this point, according to DiMartino.</p><p>Detectives are trying to determine what led up to the shots being fired and the victims being struck.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.</p>

Police ID woman who died in mass shooting in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just after 1:30p.m. Sunday in Kansas City.

The driver and sole occupant of a green Ford F150 parked the vehicle in a parking space in front of the Fast Stop, 7100 Eastwood Trafficway in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

The driver was at the gas pumps getting fuel when for unknown reasons, the unoccupied Ford began to roll backwards out of the parking space. As the Ford was moving, the driver attempted to reenter the vehicle on the passenger side, fell to the ground and was run over by the moving wheels of the Ford. 

She was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police have not released her name.

This is fatality #33 compared to #48 at this time last year, according to Becchina.

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                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750033417358.png" alt="<br>" />
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                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred just after 1:30p.m. Sunday in Kansas City.</p><p>The driver and sole occupant of a green Ford F150 parked the vehicle in a parking space in front of the Fast Stop, 7100 Eastwood Trafficway in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.</p><p>The driver was at the gas pumps getting fuel when for unknown reasons, the unoccupied Ford began to roll backwards out of the parking space. As the Ford was moving, the driver attempted to reenter the vehicle on the passenger side, fell to the ground and was run over by the moving wheels of the Ford. </p><p>She was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police have not released her name.</p><p>This is fatality #33 compared to #48 at this time last year, according to Becchina.</p>

Woman dies after run over by own truck at KC gas station

The accused killer was a Christian who opposed abortion and LGBTQ rights

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/madisonmcvan/">Madison McVan</a><br><a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a>

Law enforcement officers on Sunday night arrested Vance Boelter, who is accused of assassinating Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home in Brooklyn Park as part of a larger plot to kill Democratic elected officials and other advocates of abortion rights.

Boelter is also accused of shooting Democratic-Farmer-Labor state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their home in Champlin. Both Hoffmans survived the shooting, but received surgeries for their injuries and remain hospitalized.&nbsp;

The arrest comes after a 43-hour manhunt — the largest in state history, according to Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley. Law enforcement officers had been searching all day after locating Boelter’s abandoned vehicle near Green Isle, where Boelter has a home.&nbsp;

At the time of his arrest, Boelter was armed, but ultimately surrendered. Officers did not use any force, said Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger of the Minnesota State Patrol.&nbsp;

In the state’s new Emergency Operations Center in Blaine —&nbsp;which was paid for by legislation passed by Hortman’s DFL-controlled House in 2020 — Gov. Tim Walz thanked law enforcement and decried political violence and hateful rhetoric.

“This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences,” Walz said. “Now is the time for us to recommit to the core values of this country, and each and every one of us can do it. Talk to a neighbor rather than argue, debate an issue, shake hands, find common ground.”

Boelter is a Christian who voted for President Donald Trump and opposes abortion and LGBTQ rights, according to interviews with his childhood friend and videos of his sermons posted online. A list of potential targets — including Hoffman and Hortman — included abortion providers and other Democratic elected officials from Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The attack, which has shocked Minnesotans and the nation, comes amid&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/shootings-of-minnesota-lawmakers-come-amid-national-rise-in-political-violence/601373083" target="_blank">rising political violence</a>&nbsp;since the emergence of President Donald Trump, who has made&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/trump-violent-rhetoric-timeline/680403/" target="_blank">repeated threats</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-accused-inciting-violence-080032789.html" target="_blank">violence against his political enemies</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-finds-new-ways-praise-celebrate-jan-6-rioters-rcna156294" target="_blank">praised his supporters&nbsp;</a>who, for instance, attacked officers while storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He later pardoned all of them. He survived two assassination attempts in 2024.&nbsp;

Authorities say Boelter attacked the Hoffmans at their home in Champlin at approximately 2 a.m. on Saturday morning. An unsealed criminal complaint indicates that the Hoffmans’ daughter called the police to report the shooting of her parents, the<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-8ce70a94c9eb90688baaa1a71faef6cc" target="_blank">&nbsp;Associated Press reports</a>.

At around 3:30 a.m., Brooklyn Park police headed to the Hortmans’ home to proactively check on them following the attack on the Hoffmans, said Drew Evans, superintendent at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at a press conference Saturday morning.&nbsp;

When they arrived, the officers saw the attacker in a fake law enforcement uniform shoot Mark Hortman through the open front door, according to the complaint. Out front, emergency vehicle lights flashed from a Ford Explorer outfitted to look like a cop car. When the officers confronted the shooter, a gunfight ensued, and the killer escaped, abandoning the vehicle.

Inside, Hortman and her husband, Mark, were dead from gunshot wounds.

In the SUV, police found a document with a list of lawmakers and other officials on it. Hortman and Hoffman were on the list.

Evans said Sunday that the document is not a “traditional manifesto that’s a treatise on all kinds of ideology and writings.” Instead, it contains a list of names and “other thoughts” throughout.

On Saturday afternoon, police raided a home in north Minneapolis where Boelter lived part time. In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/brooklyn-park-police-searching-for-suspect-in-multiple-targeted-shootings/601372993" target="_blank">interview with the&nbsp;<i>Star Tribune</i></a>&nbsp;and other media outlets, Boelter’s roommate and childhood friend David Carlson shared a text message Boelter sent him at 6:03 a.m. saying that he would be “gone for a while” and “may be dead shortly.”

Federal and state warrants were out for Boelter’s arrest, and the FBI was offering a $50,000 award for information that led to Boelter’s capture.

On Sunday morning, law enforcement officers detained and questioned Boelter’s wife as she was driving through Mille Lacs County with other family members. Evans said Sunday none of Boelter’s family members are in custody.&nbsp;

Sunday afternoon, law enforcement officers located a car linked to Boelter in Sibley County within a few miles of his home address in Green Isle. From there, teams from dozens of law enforcement agencies fanned out in search of Boelter.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750067581415.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><h2>The accused killer was a Christian who opposed abortion and LGBTQ rights</h2><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/author/madisonmcvan/">Madison McVan</a><br><a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/">Minnesota Reformer</a></p><p>Law enforcement officers on Sunday night arrested Vance Boelter, who is accused of assassinating Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband at their home in Brooklyn Park as part of a larger plot to kill Democratic elected officials and other advocates of abortion rights.</p><p>Boelter is also accused of shooting Democratic-Farmer-Labor state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, at their home in Champlin. Both Hoffmans survived the shooting, but received surgeries for their injuries and remain hospitalized.&nbsp;</p><p>The arrest comes after a 43-hour manhunt — the largest in state history, according to Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley. Law enforcement officers had been searching all day after locating Boelter’s abandoned vehicle near Green Isle, where Boelter has a home.&nbsp;</p><p>At the time of his arrest, Boelter was armed, but ultimately surrendered. Officers did not use any force, said Lt. Col. Jeremy Geiger of the Minnesota State Patrol.&nbsp;</p><p>In the state’s new Emergency Operations Center in Blaine —&nbsp;which was paid for by legislation passed by Hortman’s DFL-controlled House in 2020 — Gov. Tim Walz thanked law enforcement and decried political violence and hateful rhetoric.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750068083285.png" alt="&nbsp;Vance Boelter, 57, was captured by law enforcement Sunday, June 15, 2025 in Sibley County. (Photo courtesy of Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)" />
                        <figcaption>&nbsp;Vance Boelter, 57, was captured by law enforcement Sunday, June 15, 2025 in Sibley County. (Photo courtesy of Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>“This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences,” Walz said. “Now is the time for us to recommit to the core values of this country, and each and every one of us can do it. Talk to a neighbor rather than argue, debate an issue, shake hands, find common ground.”</p><p>Boelter is a Christian who voted for President Donald Trump and opposes abortion and LGBTQ rights, according to interviews with his childhood friend and videos of his sermons posted online. A list of potential targets — including Hoffman and Hortman — included abortion providers and other Democratic elected officials from Minnesota and Wisconsin.</p><p>The attack, which has shocked Minnesotans and the nation, comes amid&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/shootings-of-minnesota-lawmakers-come-amid-national-rise-in-political-violence/601373083" target="_blank">rising political violence</a>&nbsp;since the emergence of President Donald Trump, who has made&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/10/trump-violent-rhetoric-timeline/680403/" target="_blank">repeated threats</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://ca.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump-accused-inciting-violence-080032789.html" target="_blank">violence against his political enemies</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-finds-new-ways-praise-celebrate-jan-6-rioters-rcna156294" target="_blank">praised his supporters&nbsp;</a>who, for instance, attacked officers while storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. He later pardoned all of them. He survived two assassination attempts in 2024.&nbsp;</p><p>Authorities say Boelter attacked the Hoffmans at their home in Champlin at approximately 2 a.m. on Saturday morning. An unsealed criminal complaint indicates that the Hoffmans’ daughter called the police to report the shooting of her parents, the<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-lawmakers-shot-8ce70a94c9eb90688baaa1a71faef6cc" target="_blank">&nbsp;Associated Press reports</a>.</p><p>At around 3:30 a.m., Brooklyn Park police headed to the Hortmans’ home to proactively check on them following the attack on the Hoffmans, said Drew Evans, superintendent at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at a press conference Saturday morning.&nbsp;</p><p>When they arrived, the officers saw the attacker in a fake law enforcement uniform shoot Mark Hortman through the open front door, according to the complaint. Out front, emergency vehicle lights flashed from a Ford Explorer outfitted to look like a cop car. When the officers confronted the shooter, a gunfight ensued, and the killer escaped, abandoning the vehicle.</p><p>Inside, Hortman and her husband, Mark, were dead from gunshot wounds.</p><p>In the SUV, police found a document with a list of lawmakers and other officials on it. Hortman and Hoffman were on the list.</p><p>Evans said Sunday that the document is not a “traditional manifesto that’s a treatise on all kinds of ideology and writings.” Instead, it contains a list of names and “other thoughts” throughout.</p><p>On Saturday afternoon, police raided a home in north Minneapolis where Boelter lived part time. In an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/brooklyn-park-police-searching-for-suspect-in-multiple-targeted-shootings/601372993" target="_blank">interview with the&nbsp;<i>Star Tribune</i></a>&nbsp;and other media outlets, Boelter’s roommate and childhood friend David Carlson shared a text message Boelter sent him at 6:03 a.m. saying that he would be “gone for a while” and “may be dead shortly.”</p><p>Federal and state warrants were out for Boelter’s arrest, and the FBI was offering a $50,000 award for information that led to Boelter’s capture.</p><p>On Sunday morning, law enforcement officers detained and questioned Boelter’s wife as she was driving through Mille Lacs County with other family members. Evans said Sunday none of Boelter’s family members are in custody.&nbsp;</p><p>Sunday afternoon, law enforcement officers located a car linked to Boelter in Sibley County within a few miles of his home address in Green Isle. From there, teams from dozens of law enforcement agencies fanned out in search of Boelter.&nbsp;</p><p>Boelter was spotted in the area, and officers converged around him, Evans said. He declined to provide some details of the tactics used by law enforcement to capture Boelter.</p><p>Law enforcement officials continue to investigate Boelter’s motives, Evans said, and urged the public not to jump to conclusions.&nbsp;</p><p>“We often want easy answers for complex problems, and this is a complex situation…those answers will come as we complete the full picture of our investigation,” he said.</p><p>Fragments of Boelter’s life available online, and interviews with those who know him, shed light on his religious and political beliefs.&nbsp;</p><p>Boelter’s LinkedIn page indicates that he spent many years working in food production before becoming the general manager of a 7-Eleven. More recently, he worked at funeral homes, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/us/politics/minnesota-shootings-gunman-suspect.html?searchResultPosition=1" target="_blank"><i>New York Times&nbsp;</i>reported</a>.</p><p>Boelter was facing financial stress after quitting his job to embark on business ventures in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Carlson, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/melissa-hortman-shooting-vance-boelter-suspect/601373342" target="_blank"><i>Star Tribune</i>&nbsp;reported</a>.</p><p>The website for a private security firm lists Boelter as the “director of security patrols,” and his wife as the CEO. He purchased some cars and uniforms but “it was never a real company,” Carlson told the&nbsp;<i>Strib</i>.</p><p>Carlson said Boelter is a Christian who strongly opposes abortion, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/14/us/politics/minnesota-shootings-gunman-suspect.html?searchResultPosition=1" target="_blank"><i>New York Times</i>&nbsp;reported</a>.</p><p>In recordings of sermons Boelter delivered in Matadi, a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo,<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/shooting-minnesota-melissa-hortman-vance-boelter/" target="_blank">&nbsp;he railed against abortion and LGBTQ people</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>The reporting on Boelter’s religious life suggests that his beliefs were rooted in fundamentalism, though he doesn’t appear to have been ordained in any particular denomination, said Rev. Angela Denker, a Minnesota-based Lutheran minister, journalist and author of books on Christianity, right-wing politics and masculinity.</p><p>“What this kind of theology says is that if you commit violence in the name of whatever movement you’re a part of, then you’re going to be rewarded,” Denker said.</p><p>The gunman shot John Hoffman nine times, and Yvette Hoffman eight times, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/amyklobuchar/status/1934383694342434882" target="_blank">statement from Yvette</a>.</p><p>The Hoffmans’ nephew, Mat Ollig, wrote on Facebook that Yvette used her body to shield her daughter. John Hoffman is “enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods,” Yvette Hoffman said in a statement.&nbsp;</p><p>On Sunday night as leaders spoke to the press, Boelter was being questioned by law enforcement, but officials declined to say where he was detained and which agency was questioning him.&nbsp;</p><p>On the steps of the State Capitol Sunday, mourners created an extemporaneous memorial for Hortman, who will be known as one of the most consequential progressive leaders in recent state history.</p>