KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — Kansas City will require residents and visitors to wear masks in indoor public places until at least Jan. 16, Mayor Quinton<a href="https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1421/16"> Lucas announced Thursday.</a>

The mayor and Rex Archer, director of the city's health department, said cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in the Kansas City area, and the virus is likely to stay until a vaccine becomes widely available.

The order means people will be required to wear masks in indoor areas where social distancing is not possible. It includes some exceptions, such as people with medical conditions that make it difficult to wear masks. Bars and restaurants will continue to be limited to 50% capacity.

Kansas City has seen increasing numbers of cases this summer, averaging at least 100 confirmed cases nearly every day for weeks.

The state of Missouri also has seen a steady increase in cases, and on Thursday added 1,267 more, bringing the state total to 63,797 since the pandemic began. Missouri reported two new deaths Thursday, raising the total to 1,325.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597411835075.png" alt="Photo courtesy Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — Kansas City will require residents and visitors to wear masks in indoor public places until at least Jan. 16, Mayor Quinton<a href="https://www.kcmo.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1421/16"> Lucas announced Thursday.</a>The mayor and Rex Archer, director of the city's health department, said cases of COVID-19 continue to increase in the Kansas City area, and the virus is likely to stay until a vaccine becomes widely available.The order means people will be required to wear masks in indoor areas where social distancing is not possible. It includes some exceptions, such as people with medical conditions that make it difficult to wear masks. Bars and restaurants will continue to be limited to 50% capacity.Kansas City has seen increasing numbers of cases this summer, averaging at least 100 confirmed cases nearly every day for weeks.The state of Missouri also has seen a steady increase in cases, and on Thursday added 1,267 more, bringing the state total to 63,797 since the pandemic began. Missouri reported two new deaths Thursday, raising the total to 1,325.

Kansas City extends COVID-19 restrictions to mid-January

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack between siblings.

Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a stabbing involving juveniles in the 5700 block of NW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. 

Upon arrival, deputies learned an 11-year-old girl stabbed her 10-year-old brother in the forearm with a steak knife. 

The boy suffered a superficial wound to his forearm and was transported to a local hospital, according to Christian.

Deputies reported no additional details and have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597402142137.png" alt="Deputies and emergency medical staff on the scene of the stabbing -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Deputies and emergency medical staff on the scene of the stabbing -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack between siblings.Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to a stabbing involving juveniles in the 5700 block of NW Topeka Boulevard, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Upon arrival, deputies learned an 11-year-old girl stabbed her 10-year-old brother in the forearm with a steak knife. The boy suffered a superficial wound to his forearm and was transported to a local hospital, according to Christian.Deputies reported no additional details and have not reported an arrest.

Sheriff: Kan. girl stabs 10-year-old brother with steak knife

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man has been charged in the shooting death of a 4-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, boy whose killing sparked a federal anti-crime task force that has sent hundreds of federal agents to several cities to fight violent crime.

Ryson Ellis, 22, of Kansas City, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action in the death of LeGend Taliferro, who was struck by a bullet June 29 while he slept on the floor of his father’s apartment.

Federal authorities named the anti-crime task force&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b3826b35d488c0f2481d7fc20e8a89b2">Operation LeGend&nbsp;</a>in the boy’s memory. Under the program, which is being overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice, federal agents have been sent to cities with high crime rates to work with local law enforcement to investigate violent crimes.

President Trump met with LeGend’s family — including his mother, Charron Powell — when the program was announced. The operation has since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a8ef5dafaa02f01a52c15700b79d10a">expanded&nbsp;</a>to several cities, including Chicago, St. Louis and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Attorney General William Barr said in a statement Thursday the arrest in LeGend’s case resulted from cooperation between Kansas City police and several federal agencies.

“This development is a model for joint efforts to solve crimes and reduce violence in other cities,” Barr said. “I thank the state and local law enforcement officers who helped make possible this important step in bringing justice to LeGend, to his family, and to his community.”

A probable cause statement in the case said a sister of LeGend’s father, who was in the apartment when the boy was shot, had a child with Ellis. She alleged he had assaulted her a few days before the shooting and some of her brothers, including LeGend’s father, had an altercation with Ellis, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/charges-announced-in-legend-taliferros-murder" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker said Ellis was “cowardly” when he fired several shots into the apartment where LeGend was thought to be safe. She said investigators ran into several dead-ends until a community member came forward with important information.

Ellis was arrested Thursday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was being held on no bond, Peters-Baker said.

Powell, LeGend’s mother, said at the news conference she was “grateful that we are in the steps to justice,” but also expressed sadness for her son’s alleged killer and the violence in Kansas City.

“This is a lose situation, for my family, and including his,” Powell said of Ellis. “We have to take it a step farther and calm the violence down.”

U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison said the case was “precisely the type of case that this operation was designed to solve and we are very pleased that his case is one step closer to bringing justice to little LeGend and his family.”

He said Operation LeGend has resulted in more than 200 arrests since it began in Kansas City, including 16 people suspected of participating in homicides.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597371218157.png" alt="Ellis photo Tulsa Police" />
 <figcaption>Ellis photo Tulsa Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A man has been charged in the shooting death of a 4-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, boy whose killing sparked a federal anti-crime task force that has sent hundreds of federal agents to several cities to fight violent crime.Ryson Ellis, 22, of Kansas City, was charged Thursday with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of armed criminal action in the death of LeGend Taliferro, who was struck by a bullet June 29 while he slept on the floor of his father’s apartment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595354920053.png" alt="LeGend -photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>LeGend -photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>Federal authorities named the anti-crime task force&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/b3826b35d488c0f2481d7fc20e8a89b2">Operation LeGend&nbsp;</a>in the boy’s memory. Under the program, which is being overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice, federal agents have been sent to cities with high crime rates to work with local law enforcement to investigate violent crimes.President Trump met with LeGend’s family — including his mother, Charron Powell — when the program was announced. The operation has since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a8ef5dafaa02f01a52c15700b79d10a">expanded&nbsp;</a>to several cities, including Chicago, St. Louis and Albuquerque, New Mexico.Attorney General William Barr said in a statement Thursday the arrest in LeGend’s case resulted from cooperation between Kansas City police and several federal agencies.“This development is a model for joint efforts to solve crimes and reduce violence in other cities,” Barr said. “I thank the state and local law enforcement officers who helped make possible this important step in bringing justice to LeGend, to his family, and to his community.”A probable cause statement in the case said a sister of LeGend’s father, who was in the apartment when the boy was shot, had a child with Ellis. She alleged he had assaulted her a few days before the shooting and some of her brothers, including LeGend’s father, had an altercation with Ellis, KSHB-TV&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kshb.com/news/crime/charges-announced-in-legend-taliferros-murder" target="_blank">reported</a>.Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker said Ellis was “cowardly” when he fired several shots into the apartment where LeGend was thought to be safe. She said investigators ran into several dead-ends until a community member came forward with important information.Ellis was arrested Thursday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and was being held on no bond, Peters-Baker said.Powell, LeGend’s mother, said at the news conference she was “grateful that we are in the steps to justice,” but also expressed sadness for her son’s alleged killer and the violence in Kansas City.“This is a lose situation, for my family, and including his,” Powell said of Ellis. “We have to take it a step farther and calm the violence down.”U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison said the case was “precisely the type of case that this operation was designed to solve and we are very pleased that his case is one step closer to bringing justice to little LeGend and his family.”He said Operation LeGend has resulted in more than 200 arrests since it began in Kansas City, including 16 people suspected of participating in homicides.___

Arrest made in KC boy's death that sparked federal task force

WASHINGTON (AP) — With talks on emergency coronavirus aid having stalled out, both sides played the blame game Thursday rather than make any serious moves to try to break their stalemate. Official Washington is emptying, national politics is consuming the airwaves and the chasm between the warring sides appears too great for now.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pressed the case for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/eecd34df92249d8218bda442f76d47f6">funding for the U.S. Postal Service</a>, rental assistance, food aid and rapid testing for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the virus</a>&nbsp;at her weekly press event, blasting Republicans as not giving a damn and declaring flatly that “people will die” if the delay grinds into September.

“Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gave a damn,” Pelosi said when asked if she should accept a smaller COVID-19 rescue package rather than endure weeks of possible gridlock. “That isn’t the case.”

All of the chief combatants have exited Washington after a several-day display of staying put as to not get blamed for abandoning the talks. The political risk for President Donald Trump is continued pain in U.S. households and a struggling economy — both of which promise to hurt him in the September campaign. For Democrats, there is genuine disappointment at being unable to deliver a deal but apparent comfort in holding firm for a sweeping measure instead of the few pieces that Trump wants most.

At the White House, Trump suggested that one main holdup is the amount of money Democrats want for cash-strapped states and cities, which he dismissed as “bailouts.” It’s a view shared by top Republicans.

A modest Trump administration overture on Wednesday to restart talks generated nothing but stepped-up carping and accusations of bad faith.

“It’s a stalemate,” White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Thursday.

Across a nearly empty Capitol, the Senate’s top Republican sought to cast the blame on Pelosi, whose ambitious demands have frustrated administration negotiators like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/39a57f0a4a784bff3fc0bf5ae7a89e67">White House chief of staff Mark Meadows</a>.

“They are still rejecting any more relief for anyone unless they get a flood of demands with no real relationship to COVID-19,” said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. McConnell has kept the talks at arm’s length, nursing deep divisions among Republicans on the foundering relief measure.

Among the items lost is perhaps $10 billion in emergency funding for the Postal Service to help improve service as its role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/Election2020">the fall election</a>&nbsp;takes on greater importance, given an expected surge in mail voting because of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump is against $3.4 billion demanded by Pelosi for helping states with the crush of mail-in ballots.

Trump seemed to take advantage of the stalemate to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/14a2ceda724623604cc8d8e5ab9890ed">press his case against voting by mail</a>. He said Thursday on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” that among the sticking points were Democrats’ demand for billions of dollars to assist states in protecting the election and to help postal workers process mail-in ballots.

“They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said. “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”

The White House and congressional leaders are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/767b6140f1b456a9db44eb6ca6512435">far apart&nbsp;</a>on the aid for shoring up households,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1bd44b60f9bb9ea769146c97e5fcd0f1">reopening schools</a>&nbsp;and launching a national strategy to contain the virus, which has infected more than 5.2 million people in the United States and has killed more than 166,000, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University</a>.

Trump’s top negotiator, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, tried to revive stalled talks Wednesday, but Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the overture, saying the Trump administration was still refusing to meet them halfway. Congressional Republicans are largely sitting out the talks.

With the House and Senate essentially closed, and lawmakers on call to return with 24 hours’ notice, hopes for a swift compromise have dwindled. Instead, the politics of blame have taken hold, as the parties focus on this month’s presidential nominating conventions and lawmakers’ own reelection campaigns.

All indications are talks will not resume in full until Congress resumes in September, despite the mounting coronavirus death toll.

For Americans, that means&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f3caeadfc8c7f88900470ac96820a36c">the end of a $600 weekly unemployment benefit</a>&nbsp;that has expired, as has a federal ban on evictions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9282728e7dac47d8809264e1fb9c0598">Schools</a>&nbsp;hoping for cash from the federal government to help provide safety measures are left empty-handed. States and cities staring down red ink with the shattered economy have few options.

Trump’s executive actions appeared to provide a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f67dd310113355f4effe13dfcf4ac3b8">temporary reprieve</a>, offering $300 in jobless benefits and some other aid. But it could take weeks for those programs to ramp up, and the help is far slimmer than what Congress was considering. More than 20 million Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/833d91877e2f0fa913c5258978a9e83c">risk evictions</a>, and more are out of work.

The Democrats said they are waiting for the White House to put a new offer on the table: “We have again made clear to the Administration that we are willing to resume negotiations once they start to take this process seriously,” they said in a statement.

But Mnuchin shot back with his own statement, saying, “The Democrats have no interest in negotiating.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597401508692.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provided this poster to show what she said are the differences between the democrats and republicans in the virus relief negotiations.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi provided this poster to show what she said are the differences between the democrats and republicans in the virus relief negotiations.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — With talks on emergency coronavirus aid having stalled out, both sides played the blame game Thursday rather than make any serious moves to try to break their stalemate. Official Washington is emptying, national politics is consuming the airwaves and the chasm between the warring sides appears too great for now.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pressed the case for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/eecd34df92249d8218bda442f76d47f6">funding for the U.S. Postal Service</a>, rental assistance, food aid and rapid testing for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak">the virus</a>&nbsp;at her weekly press event, blasting Republicans as not giving a damn and declaring flatly that “people will die” if the delay grinds into September.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597401420725.png" alt="House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her press conference Thursday.-Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her press conference Thursday.-Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>“Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gave a damn,” Pelosi said when asked if she should accept a smaller COVID-19 rescue package rather than endure weeks of possible gridlock. “That isn’t the case.”All of the chief combatants have exited Washington after a several-day display of staying put as to not get blamed for abandoning the talks. The political risk for President Donald Trump is continued pain in U.S. households and a struggling economy — both of which promise to hurt him in the September campaign. For Democrats, there is genuine disappointment at being unable to deliver a deal but apparent comfort in holding firm for a sweeping measure instead of the few pieces that Trump wants most.At the White House, Trump suggested that one main holdup is the amount of money Democrats want for cash-strapped states and cities, which he dismissed as “bailouts.” It’s a view shared by top Republicans.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597401777883.png" alt="President Trump spoke during Thursday's press briefing. He is offering $300 in jobless benefits and some other aid. But it could take weeks for those programs to begin. - Photo courtesy White House&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>President Trump spoke during Thursday's press briefing. He is offering $300 in jobless benefits and some other aid. But it could take weeks for those programs to begin. - Photo courtesy White House&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>A modest Trump administration overture on Wednesday to restart talks generated nothing but stepped-up carping and accusations of bad faith.“It’s a stalemate,” White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said Thursday.Across a nearly empty Capitol, the Senate’s top Republican sought to cast the blame on Pelosi, whose ambitious demands have frustrated administration negotiators like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/39a57f0a4a784bff3fc0bf5ae7a89e67">White House chief of staff Mark Meadows</a>.“They are still rejecting any more relief for anyone unless they get a flood of demands with no real relationship to COVID-19,” said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. McConnell has kept the talks at arm’s length, nursing deep divisions among Republicans on the foundering relief measure.Among the items lost is perhaps $10 billion in emergency funding for the Postal Service to help improve service as its role in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/Election2020">the fall election</a>&nbsp;takes on greater importance, given an expected surge in mail voting because of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump is against $3.4 billion demanded by Pelosi for helping states with the crush of mail-in ballots.Trump seemed to take advantage of the stalemate to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/14a2ceda724623604cc8d8e5ab9890ed">press his case against voting by mail</a>. He said Thursday on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” that among the sticking points were Democrats’ demand for billions of dollars to assist states in protecting the election and to help postal workers process mail-in ballots.“They need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots,” Trump said. “If they don’t get those two items, that means you can’t have universal mail-in voting because they’re not equipped to have it.”The White House and congressional leaders are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/767b6140f1b456a9db44eb6ca6512435">far apart&nbsp;</a>on the aid for shoring up households,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/1bd44b60f9bb9ea769146c97e5fcd0f1">reopening schools</a>&nbsp;and launching a national strategy to contain the virus, which has infected more than 5.2 million people in the United States and has killed more than 166,000, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html" target="_blank">figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University</a>.Trump’s top negotiator, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, tried to revive stalled talks Wednesday, but Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the overture, saying the Trump administration was still refusing to meet them halfway. Congressional Republicans are largely sitting out the talks.With the House and Senate essentially closed, and lawmakers on call to return with 24 hours’ notice, hopes for a swift compromise have dwindled. Instead, the politics of blame have taken hold, as the parties focus on this month’s presidential nominating conventions and lawmakers’ own reelection campaigns.All indications are talks will not resume in full until Congress resumes in September, despite the mounting coronavirus death toll.For Americans, that means&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f3caeadfc8c7f88900470ac96820a36c">the end of a $600 weekly unemployment benefit</a>&nbsp;that has expired, as has a federal ban on evictions.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9282728e7dac47d8809264e1fb9c0598">Schools</a>&nbsp;hoping for cash from the federal government to help provide safety measures are left empty-handed. States and cities staring down red ink with the shattered economy have few options.Trump’s executive actions appeared to provide a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/f67dd310113355f4effe13dfcf4ac3b8">temporary reprieve</a>, offering $300 in jobless benefits and some other aid. But it could take weeks for those programs to ramp up, and the help is far slimmer than what Congress was considering. More than 20 million Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/833d91877e2f0fa913c5258978a9e83c">risk evictions</a>, and more are out of work.The Democrats said they are waiting for the White House to put a new offer on the table: “We have again made clear to the Administration that we are willing to resume negotiations once they start to take this process seriously,” they said in a statement.But Mnuchin shot back with his own statement, saying, “The Democrats have no interest in negotiating.”___

Both sides play the blame game as virus relief talks stall

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of burglaries and have three teen suspects in custody.

Just after 2:00 a.m. Thursday, police&nbsp; responded to a general alarm at the Cabela’s in the 2400 block of North Greenwich in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers found that the business was burglarized and property was taken.

Just before 5a.m., police responded to a general alarm at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in the 4600 block of West Kellogg in Wichita.&nbsp; Officers found the business burglarized and property was taken.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just after 5:10 a.m., officers responded to a&nbsp; general alarm at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in the 2000 block of North Rock Road.&nbsp; They found that the business had been broken into, but there was no property loss.

Just before 6:30 a.m., police responded to an armed robbery at Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 2500 block of North Greenwich.&nbsp; &nbsp;Employees told police&nbsp; teenagers broke into the business and upon seeing the employees, fled.&nbsp; One teen pointed a gun at the employees.&nbsp; There were no injures, and there was no property loss.

Through the investigation of all the cases, a suspect vehicle identified as a white Mercury Mariner, was found to be occupied by the three teen male suspects.&nbsp;&nbsp; Officers observed the suspect vehicle on East Kellogg at South Grove Street.&nbsp; Officers stopped the vehicle at East Lincoln Street and South Hydraulic Avenue in Wichita.&nbsp;

They arrested a 15-year-old boy on requested charges of attempted aggravated burglary, burglary, and theft; a 14-year-old boy on requested charges of attempted aggravated burglary, burglary, theft, and aggravated assault; and a&nbsp;14-year-old on requested charges of attempted aggravated burglary, burglary, and theft, according to Davidson.

The three teenagers were booked to the Juvenile Detention Facility.

The three teenagers are also accused&nbsp; of a burglary that occurred on Tuesday at the Dick’s Sporting Goods located in&nbsp; 4600 block of West Kellogg, according to Davidson.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of burglaries and have three teen suspects in custody.Just after 2:00 a.m. Thursday, police&nbsp; responded to a general alarm at the Cabela’s in the 2400 block of North Greenwich in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. Upon arrival, officers found that the business was burglarized and property was taken.Just before 5a.m., police responded to a general alarm at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in the 4600 block of West Kellogg in Wichita.&nbsp; Officers found the business burglarized and property was taken.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just after 5:10 a.m., officers responded to a&nbsp; general alarm at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in the 2000 block of North Rock Road.&nbsp; They found that the business had been broken into, but there was no property loss.Just before 6:30 a.m., police responded to an armed robbery at Academy Sports and Outdoors in the 2500 block of North Greenwich.&nbsp; &nbsp;Employees told police&nbsp; teenagers broke into the business and upon seeing the employees, fled.&nbsp; One teen pointed a gun at the employees.&nbsp; There were no injures, and there was no property loss.Through the investigation of all the cases, a suspect vehicle identified as a white Mercury Mariner, was found to be occupied by the three teen male suspects.&nbsp;&nbsp; Officers observed the suspect vehicle on East Kellogg at South Grove Street.&nbsp; Officers stopped the vehicle at East Lincoln Street and South Hydraulic Avenue in Wichita.&nbsp;They arrested a 15-year-old boy on requested charges of attempted aggravated burglary, burglary, and theft; a 14-year-old boy on requested charges of attempted aggravated burglary, burglary, theft, and aggravated assault; and a&nbsp;14-year-old on requested charges of attempted aggravated burglary, burglary, and theft, according to Davidson.The three teenagers were booked to the Juvenile Detention Facility.The three teenagers are also accused&nbsp; of a burglary that occurred on Tuesday at the Dick’s Sporting Goods located in&nbsp; 4600 block of West Kellogg, according to Davidson.

Police arrest three Kansas boys for series of business burglaries

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration is undoing Obama-era rules designed to limit potent greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas fields and pipelines, formalizing the changes Thursday in the heart of the nation’s most prolific natural gas reservoir and in the premier presidential battleground state of Pennsylvania.

Andrew Wheeler, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, signed the rollback of the 2016 methane emissions rule in Pittsburgh as the agency touted the Trump administration’s efforts to “strengthen and promote American energy.”

The EPA first proposed the rollback&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e2872a46eb3e43bd928707bba2f2c031">last year</a>, accusing the Obama administration of enacting a legally flawed rule, and agency officials said it would save companies tens of millions of dollars a year in compliance requirements without changing the trajectory of methane emissions.

But states, including California, and a coalition of environmental advocacy groups warned that the changes are illegal — not to mention a setback in the fight against climate change — and expect to quickly sue to block it.

“It’s not only negligent, it’s unlawful,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “We won’t sit silently while the EPA allows this super pollutant to rapidly warm our atmosphere.”

The White House took the event to Pittsburgh, the headquarters for many companies exploring the Marcellus Shale, the booming reservoir that vaulted Pennsylvania to the nation’s No. 2 natural gas state, behind Texas.

“EPA has been working hard to fulfill President Trump’s promise to cut burdensome and ineffective regulations for our domestic energy industry,” Wheeler said in a statement.

Reflecting the pervasive politics of the presidential campaign, Wheeler cast blame onto the presumptive Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, saying “regulatory burdens put into place by the Obama-Biden Administration fell heavily on small and medium-sized energy businesses.”

Pennsylvania is of prime importance in November’s presidential election, and the natural gas industry is playing a central role in TV attack ads being aired in the state by Trump’s allies.

In recent years, preventing methane leaks from well-site equipment and pipelines has become important for regulators because methane is a potent greenhouse gas.

The oil and gas industry was responsible for nearly 30% of the nation’s methane emissions in 2018, and methane accounted for 10% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPA.

The Trump administration is eliminating the twice-yearly requirement for companies to inspect for methane leaks on equipment installed after 2015 at well sites and downstream segments, such as pipelines, compressor stations and storage tanks. Leaks must be fixed.

Supporters of the rule maintained that, based on reports the companies file, it seemed to be helping reduce methane emissions. They also pointed to the EPA’s acknowledgment in its technical analysis that its rule changes will increase emissions of methane and smog-forming compounds.

Operators will still have to check equipment for leaks of smog-forming compounds at some higher-producing well sites, but Thursday’s changes relaxed those standards and producers won’t have to inspect pipelines or downstream equipment anymore.

Any leaks they fix help capture methane, and companies say they have a financial incentive to voluntarily fix leaks to ensure that methane gets to customers, rather than going into the atmosphere.

But, far more importantly, killing the methane emissions rule also blocks a legal requirement for the EPA to extend the rule to cover many more pieces of equipment installed before 2015, environmental advocates say.

“We’ll see them in court because this is blatantly illegal,” said David Doniger, senior strategic director of the climate and clean energy program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Robert Howarth, an ecology professor at Cornell University, estimated that shale oil and gas production in North America accounted for one-third of the total global increase in methane emissions over the past year.

Rolling back methane measures now is “dangerously reckless,” Howarth said. “Methane emissions are increasing rapidly, and the oil and gas industry is clearly part of the problem.”

Peter Zalzal, an attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund, said that, without federal leadership, stronger state regulation will be even more important.

Some states — such as California, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Wyoming — have methane standards that are comparable or stronger than the EPA’s 2016 rule. But many big oil and gas states — such as Texas — do not, Zalzal said.

Oil and gas industry representatives pushed for the methane rollbacks, fearing more expensive rules covering emissions from older equipment. Smaller, independent operators hailed the changes as important to their survival.

“The issue for producers has never been whether regulations were necessary; it has always been whether the regulations were sound and cost effective,” the Independent Petroleum Association of America said.

Still, some companies opposed a rollback, noting they had pledged to reduce emissions or pointing out that they were already exceeding the rule’s requirements.

Some oil majors including BP, Shell and ExxonMobil have called on Trump to strengthen efforts to cap methane emissions. The Trump administration’s move is “frustrating and disappointing,” Shell’s U.S. president, Gretchen Watkins, said in a statement.

In 2016′s election, Trump eked out a win in Pennsylvania — the first Republican presidential candidate to capture it since 1988 — by piling up support with Pennsylvania’s rural areas and working-class whites.

Since then, Trump has eagerly promoted the state’s gas industry, underscoring his focus on shoring up his base as his appointees have moved to expand extraction on federal lands, boost the export of liquefied natural gas and restrict the ability of states to block pipelines.

Meanwhile, a pro-Trump super PAC, America First Action, is running TV ads in Pennsylvania accusing Biden of wanting to ban “fracking,” the process that along with horizontal drilling has unlocked a torrent of oil and natural gas across the United States in the past decade.

Biden’s campaign counters that that is flatly untrue.

Biden would only ban new gas-drilling permits on public lands, his campaign said, pointing out that about 90% of fracking is on private land.

And while Trump often ridicules the science behind increasingly urgent warnings for immediate action to stave off the worst of climate damage by cutting fossil fuel emissions, Biden’s campaign said it recognizes that “climate change is an urgent problem and that all Americans have the right to clean air and clean water.”

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration is undoing Obama-era rules designed to limit potent greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas fields and pipelines, formalizing the changes Thursday in the heart of the nation’s most prolific natural gas reservoir and in the premier presidential battleground state of Pennsylvania.Andrew Wheeler, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, signed the rollback of the 2016 methane emissions rule in Pittsburgh as the agency touted the Trump administration’s efforts to “strengthen and promote American energy.”The EPA first proposed the rollback&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e2872a46eb3e43bd928707bba2f2c031">last year</a>, accusing the Obama administration of enacting a legally flawed rule, and agency officials said it would save companies tens of millions of dollars a year in compliance requirements without changing the trajectory of methane emissions.But states, including California, and a coalition of environmental advocacy groups warned that the changes are illegal — not to mention a setback in the fight against climate change — and expect to quickly sue to block it.“It’s not only negligent, it’s unlawful,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement. “We won’t sit silently while the EPA allows this super pollutant to rapidly warm our atmosphere.”The White House took the event to Pittsburgh, the headquarters for many companies exploring the Marcellus Shale, the booming reservoir that vaulted Pennsylvania to the nation’s No. 2 natural gas state, behind Texas.“EPA has been working hard to fulfill President Trump’s promise to cut burdensome and ineffective regulations for our domestic energy industry,” Wheeler said in a statement.Reflecting the pervasive politics of the presidential campaign, Wheeler cast blame onto the presumptive Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, saying “regulatory burdens put into place by the Obama-Biden Administration fell heavily on small and medium-sized energy businesses.”Pennsylvania is of prime importance in November’s presidential election, and the natural gas industry is playing a central role in TV attack ads being aired in the state by Trump’s allies.In recent years, preventing methane leaks from well-site equipment and pipelines has become important for regulators because methane is a potent greenhouse gas.The oil and gas industry was responsible for nearly 30% of the nation’s methane emissions in 2018, and methane accounted for 10% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPA.The Trump administration is eliminating the twice-yearly requirement for companies to inspect for methane leaks on equipment installed after 2015 at well sites and downstream segments, such as pipelines, compressor stations and storage tanks. Leaks must be fixed.Supporters of the rule maintained that, based on reports the companies file, it seemed to be helping reduce methane emissions. They also pointed to the EPA’s acknowledgment in its technical analysis that its rule changes will increase emissions of methane and smog-forming compounds.Operators will still have to check equipment for leaks of smog-forming compounds at some higher-producing well sites, but Thursday’s changes relaxed those standards and producers won’t have to inspect pipelines or downstream equipment anymore.Any leaks they fix help capture methane, and companies say they have a financial incentive to voluntarily fix leaks to ensure that methane gets to customers, rather than going into the atmosphere.But, far more importantly, killing the methane emissions rule also blocks a legal requirement for the EPA to extend the rule to cover many more pieces of equipment installed before 2015, environmental advocates say.“We’ll see them in court because this is blatantly illegal,” said David Doniger, senior strategic director of the climate and clean energy program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.Robert Howarth, an ecology professor at Cornell University, estimated that shale oil and gas production in North America accounted for one-third of the total global increase in methane emissions over the past year.Rolling back methane measures now is “dangerously reckless,” Howarth said. “Methane emissions are increasing rapidly, and the oil and gas industry is clearly part of the problem.”Peter Zalzal, an attorney for the Environmental Defense Fund, said that, without federal leadership, stronger state regulation will be even more important.Some states — such as California, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Wyoming — have methane standards that are comparable or stronger than the EPA’s 2016 rule. But many big oil and gas states — such as Texas — do not, Zalzal said.Oil and gas industry representatives pushed for the methane rollbacks, fearing more expensive rules covering emissions from older equipment. Smaller, independent operators hailed the changes as important to their survival.“The issue for producers has never been whether regulations were necessary; it has always been whether the regulations were sound and cost effective,” the Independent Petroleum Association of America said.Still, some companies opposed a rollback, noting they had pledged to reduce emissions or pointing out that they were already exceeding the rule’s requirements.Some oil majors including BP, Shell and ExxonMobil have called on Trump to strengthen efforts to cap methane emissions. The Trump administration’s move is “frustrating and disappointing,” Shell’s U.S. president, Gretchen Watkins, said in a statement.In 2016′s election, Trump eked out a win in Pennsylvania — the first Republican presidential candidate to capture it since 1988 — by piling up support with Pennsylvania’s rural areas and working-class whites.Since then, Trump has eagerly promoted the state’s gas industry, underscoring his focus on shoring up his base as his appointees have moved to expand extraction on federal lands, boost the export of liquefied natural gas and restrict the ability of states to block pipelines.Meanwhile, a pro-Trump super PAC, America First Action, is running TV ads in Pennsylvania accusing Biden of wanting to ban “fracking,” the process that along with horizontal drilling has unlocked a torrent of oil and natural gas across the United States in the past decade.Biden’s campaign counters that that is flatly untrue.Biden would only ban new gas-drilling permits on public lands, his campaign said, pointing out that about 90% of fracking is on private land.And while Trump often ridicules the science behind increasingly urgent warnings for immediate action to stave off the worst of climate damage by cutting fossil fuel emissions, Biden’s campaign said it recognizes that “climate change is an urgent problem and that all Americans have the right to clean air and clean water.”___

Trump's EPA dumps methane emissions rule for oil, gas fields

KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man whose cousin was accidentally shot to death in the parking lot of the Kansas City Zoo has been charged with illegally possessing a weapon.

Anthony Meneses, 27, was arrested Thursday after being charged earlier this week with being a felon in possession of a firearm, prosecutors said.

Kansas City police were called to the zoo on Sunday and found Jason Smith, 19, suffering from a gunshot wound while sitting in a vehicle. Smith died at the hospital and police later said their investigation determined the shooting was accidental.

Federal prosecutors said Meneses was sitting behind Smith when he reached for a gun in a back pocket of the driver's seat and the gun went off. The bullet went through the seat and struck Smith. Two other people in the car were not injured.

Meneses was not allowed to possess a weapon because he had a prior felony conviction for tampering with a motor vehicle.

Prosecutors said the arrest was part of Operation LeGend, a federal task force created to assist local authorities in addressing violent crime.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597337741228.png" alt="Meneses photo MODC" />
 <figcaption>Meneses photo MODC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — A Kansas City man whose cousin was accidentally shot to death in the parking lot of the Kansas City Zoo has been charged with illegally possessing a weapon.Anthony Meneses, 27, was arrested Thursday after being charged earlier this week with being a felon in possession of a firearm, prosecutors said.Kansas City police were called to the zoo on Sunday and found Jason Smith, 19, suffering from a gunshot wound while sitting in a vehicle. Smith died at the hospital and police later said their investigation determined the shooting was accidental.Federal prosecutors said Meneses was sitting behind Smith when he reached for a gun in a back pocket of the driver's seat and the gun went off. The bullet went through the seat and struck Smith. Two other people in the car were not injured.Meneses was not allowed to possess a weapon because he had a prior felony conviction for tampering with a motor vehicle.Prosecutors said the arrest was part of Operation LeGend, a federal task force created to assist local authorities in addressing violent crime.

Charges filed after fatal accident shooting at KC Zoo

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have made an arrest.

Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp; responded to an anonymous tip of a burglary to AA Auto, 229 NE Burgess Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. John Trimble.

Officers arrived on scene and found evidence of&nbsp; burglary and located 3 suspects identified as 27-year-old Lakeshia Marie Ray; 48-year-old Michael Eugene Bennett and 20-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;August D. Osborn.&nbsp; They are being held on requested charges of burglary, according to Trimble.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597315853998.png" alt="Bennett-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Bennett-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have made an arrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597315906949.png" alt="Osborn-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Osborn-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp; responded to an anonymous tip of a burglary to AA Auto, 229 NE Burgess Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. John Trimble.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597315784650.png" alt="Ray- photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ray- photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers arrived on scene and found evidence of&nbsp; burglary and located 3 suspects identified as 27-year-old Lakeshia Marie Ray; 48-year-old Michael Eugene Bennett and 20-year-old&nbsp;&nbsp;August D. Osborn.&nbsp; They are being held on requested charges of burglary, according to Trimble.

Anonymous tip helps police catch 3 Kan. burglary suspects

LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and working to identify a suspect.

Just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a&nbsp; convenience store in the 1800 Block of Merchant Street in Emporia, according to a report from Crime Stoppers.

The suspect identified as a white female who possibly had a firearm, demanded money from an employee and left the store in a light colored car driven by an unknown person.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to contact police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597348992335.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and working to identify a suspect.Just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a&nbsp; convenience store in the 1800 Block of Merchant Street in Emporia, according to a report from Crime Stoppers.The suspect identified as a white female who possibly had a firearm, demanded money from an employee and left the store in a light colored car driven by an unknown person.Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to contact police.

Police search for masked woman in Kansas robbery

COWLEY COUNTY— A Kansas man accused in a fatal December shooting in Winfield will be returning to Kansas from a jail in northern California.

Deuntae Markese Markham, 21, Wichita,&nbsp;waived extradition, according to Cowley County Sheriff Dave Faletti. Authorities are making arrangements to have him transported to Kansas.

Markham is being held without bond in San Francisco in connection with the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Gabriel Luna in the early morning hours of December 18, 2019 at&nbsp; the Honor Apartments at Southwestern College in the 1700 Block of Fowler in Winfield.

EMS transported Luna to the emergency room at William Newton Memorial Hospital and he was then transported by air ambulance to a Wichita area hospital and died December 20.

Markham, who is being held on requested charges of 2nd degree murder.

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal December shooting have a suspect in custody.

Authorities in Northern California arrested Deuntae Markese Markham, 21, Wichita, on a Cowley County District Court warrant, according Cowley County Sheriff Dave Faletti.

Markham, who is being held on requested charges of 2nd degree murder is scheduled for a hearing this week, according to online jail records.

Depending on whether Markham fights extradition, Faletti expects to have him transported to Kansas "in a timely manner."&nbsp;

COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and are asking the public for help with information.

Just after 1 a.m. December 18, Winfield Fire/EMS and Winfield Police Department responded to the Honor Apartments at Southwestern College in the 1700 Block of Fowler for a report of a gunshot victim, according to Chris Hood with the city of Winfield.

Upon investigation, it was determined that the resident of the apartment later identified as 32-year-old Gabriel Luna was the victim of the gunshot wound. He was transported to the emergency room at William Newton Memorial Hospital and then transported by air ambulance to a Wichita Kansas area hospital.&nbsp; On Friday Luna died of his injuries, according to Hood.

The shooting is now being investigating as a homicide.

Anyone who has knowledge about the shooting or who may have witnessed the shooting to contact the Winfield Police Department at (620)221-5555 or Cowley County Crime Stoppers at either 221-7777 or through their website which may be accessed through the Cowley County website.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597081657197.png" alt="Honor apartments photo courtesy Southwestern College" />
 <figcaption>Honor apartments photo courtesy Southwestern College</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY— A Kansas man accused in a fatal December shooting in Winfield will be returning to Kansas from a jail in northern California.Deuntae Markese Markham, 21, Wichita,&nbsp;waived extradition, according to Cowley County Sheriff Dave Faletti. Authorities are making arrangements to have him transported to Kansas.Markham is being held without bond in San Francisco in connection with the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Gabriel Luna in the early morning hours of December 18, 2019 at&nbsp; the Honor Apartments at Southwestern College in the 1700 Block of Fowler in Winfield.EMS transported Luna to the emergency room at William Newton Memorial Hospital and he was then transported by air ambulance to a Wichita area hospital and died December 20.Markham, who is being held on requested charges of 2nd degree murder.-----------COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal December shooting have a suspect in custody.Authorities in Northern California arrested Deuntae Markese Markham, 21, Wichita, on a Cowley County District Court warrant, according Cowley County Sheriff Dave Faletti.Markham is being held without bond in San Francisco in connection with the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Gabriel Luna in the early morning hours of December 18, 2019 at&nbsp; the Honor Apartments at Southwestern College in the 1700 Block of Fowler in Winfield.EMS transported Luna to the emergency room at William Newton Memorial Hospital and he was then transported by air ambulance to a Wichita area hospital and died December 20.Markham, who is being held on requested charges of 2nd degree murder is scheduled for a hearing this week, according to online jail records.Depending on whether Markham fights extradition, Faletti expects to have him transported to Kansas "in a timely manner."&nbsp;-------COWLEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting and are asking the public for help with information.Just after 1 a.m. December 18, Winfield Fire/EMS and Winfield Police Department responded to the Honor Apartments at Southwestern College in the 1700 Block of Fowler for a report of a gunshot victim, according to Chris Hood with the city of Winfield.Upon investigation, it was determined that the resident of the apartment later identified as 32-year-old Gabriel Luna was the victim of the gunshot wound. He was transported to the emergency room at William Newton Memorial Hospital and then transported by air ambulance to a Wichita Kansas area hospital.&nbsp; On Friday Luna died of his injuries, according to Hood.The shooting is now being investigating as a homicide.Anyone who has knowledge about the shooting or who may have witnessed the shooting to contact the Winfield Police Department at (620)221-5555 or Cowley County Crime Stoppers at either 221-7777 or through their website which may be accessed through the Cowley County website.&nbsp;------------

Sheriff making arrangement for return of Kan. murder suspect

TOPEKA– Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Jeff Zmuda announced Thursday that 43 residents at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility (LCMHF) have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a media release from the agency.

The first staff member at LCMHF tested positive on August 8 and 262 residents were tested based on the contact tracing that occurred.

The residents at LCMHF are all males, ranging in age from above the age of 20 to above the age of 60. In order to protect their identities, no other information will be released. Mandatory mask protocol was implemented on July 7 for both staff and residents.

The KDOC has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances. As a result of that consultation with KDHE, the following steps were implemented:

<a>“Families are understandably anxious, and we want them to know that we will be working hard to ensure the health and safety of their loved ones,” Zmuda said. “We continue to stress with our staff and residents the importance of adhering to our mask protocols, good hand hygiene and social distancing.”</a>

TOPEKA– Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Jeff Zmuda announced Thursday that 43 residents at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility (LCMHF) have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a media release from the agency.The first staff member at LCMHF tested positive on August 8 and 262 residents were tested based on the contact tracing that occurred.The residents at LCMHF are all males, ranging in age from above the age of 20 to above the age of 60. In order to protect their identities, no other information will be released. Mandatory mask protocol was implemented on July 7 for both staff and residents.The KDOC has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances. As a result of that consultation with KDHE, the following steps were implemented:<ul>
 <li>All 43 men were moved to the Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) COVID-19 unit as per department protocol</li><li>Contact tracing will continue to identify what staff and residents have been in direct contact with the individuals</li><li>Those who tested negative will quarantine at LCMHF</li><li>Additional testing will take place as we continue to work to control the spread and KDOC will remain diligent in monitoring other staff and residents for symptoms</li>
 </ul><a>“Families are understandably anxious, and we want them to know that we will be working hard to ensure the health and safety of their loved ones,” Zmuda said. “We continue to stress with our staff and residents the importance of adhering to our mask protocols, good hand hygiene and social distancing.”</a>

43 residents at Larned Correctional Facility have COVID-19

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state.

The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel.

Trump tweeted a statement from the countries, acknowledging the deal. He then told reporters in the Oval Office that it was “a truly historic moment.”

“Now that the ice has been broken I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates,” he said.

The recognition grants a rare diplomatic win to Trump ahead of the November election as his efforts to see an end to the war in Afghanistan have yet to come to fruition while efforts to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians have made no headway. Israel and the UAE also have been among Trump’s closest foreign allies.

For Israel, the announcement comes after years of boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged. 

Netanyahu said the announcement has ushered in a “new era” in Israel’s relations with the Arab world.&nbsp;

Netanyahu has sought to build settlements on lands sought by the Palestinians and embraced a Trump proposal that would allow him to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank while granting Palestinians limited autonomy in other areas.

For the UAE, home to skyscraper-studded Dubai and the rolling, oil-rich sand dunes of Abu Dhabi, it further burnishes its international campaign to be seen as a beacon of tolerance in the Middle East despite being governed by autocratic rulers. It also puts the UAE out first in a regional recognition race among neighboring Gulf Arab states.

And for the Palestinians, who long have relied on Arab backing in their struggle for independence, the announcement marked both a win and setback. While Thursday’s deal halts Israeli annexation plans, the Palestinians have repeatedly urged Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement establishing an independent Palestinian state is reached.

“Israel got rewarded for not declaring openly what it’s been doing to Palestine illegally &amp; persistently since the beginning of the occupation,” senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi wrote on Twitter. She also said the UAE has come forward with its “secret dealings/normalization with Israel.”

“Please don’t do us a favor. We are nobody’s fig leaf!” she wrote.

The militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, called the deal by the Emiratis “a stabbing in the back of our people.”

The joint statement from the U.S., the UAE and Israel said delegations would meet in the coming weeks to sign deals on direct flights, security, telecommunications, energy, tourism and health care. The two countries also will partner on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

“Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economics will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation and forging closer people-to-people relations,” said the statement by Trump, Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the day-to-day ruler of the UAE. It said the leaders had a three-way call discussing the deal.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the deal.

“This is a remarkable achievement for two of the world’s most forward leaning, technologically advanced states, and reflects their shared regional vision of an economically integrated region,” he said in a statement. “It also illustrates their commitment to confronting common threats, as small — but strong — nations.”

He added: “Blessed are the peacemakers. Mabruk and Mazal Tov.”

Netanyahu tweeted an Israeli flag with a short message in Hebrew: “Historic Day.”

Among Arab nations, only Egypt and Jordan have active diplomatic ties with Israel. Egypt made a peace deal with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994. Mauritania recognized Israel in 1999, but later ended relations in 2009 over the Israel’s war in Gaza at the time.

In addition to Trump, the main U.S. mediators for agreement were the president’s senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner, special Mideast envoy Avi Berkowitz and David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel.

The UAE is a U.S.-allied federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Formed in 1971, the country like other Arab nations at the time did not recognize Israel over its occupation of land home to the Palestinians.

“Arab oil is not dearer than Arab blood,” the UAE’s founding ruler, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, once pronounced when agreeing to an oil boycott over U.S. military support to Israel in the 1973 Mideast war.

The UAE relied on white-collar Palestinians in creating its nation. Over time, it maintained its stance that Israel allow the creation of a Palestinian state on land it seized in the 1967 war.

But in recent years, ties between Gulf Arab nations and Israel have quietly grown, in part over their shared enmity of Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Prince Mohammed also shares Israel’s distrust of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the militant group Hamas that holds the Gaza Strip.

The UAE’s state-run WAM news agency acknowledged the deal, framing it as not just a move that helps the UAE and Israel, but one that also carries benefits for the Palestinians. Top Emirati official Anwar Gargash said the move dealt a “death blow” to moves by Israel to annex Palestinian lands.

It remains unclear what prompted Israel and the UAE to make the announcement now. In June, the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the U.S. warned in an Israeli newspaper op-ed that Israel’s planned annexing the Jordan Valley and other parts of the occupied West Bank would “upend” Israel’s efforts to improve ties with Arab nations.

The agreement gives Netanyahu a domestic boost at a time when Israel’s shaky coalition government is plagued by infighting and facing the possibility of early elections in the coming months. Netanyahu has seen his popularity plummet as the country grapples with a renewed coronavirus outbreak and skyrocketing unemployment as the result of earlier lockdown measures.

Netanyahu also delivered a valuable diplomatic achievement to his good friend, Trump, ahead of U.S. elections.

Still, by dropping the annexation plan Netanyahu may be hedging his bets ahead of a possible change in the White House. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has made clear that he would oppose any moves by Israel to unilaterally redraw the Mideast map and annex lands sought by the Palestinians.

Netanyahu also risked criticism inside his own hard-line Likud Party, whose members strongly supported annexation. Netanyahu appears to be betting that Likud members — and the small, but influential settler movement — will agree the peace agreement delivers more benefits than unilateral annexation. Opinion polls have shown that annexation is not a high priority for the vast majority of the Israeli public.

Abandoning its annexation plan changes little on the ground. Israel already holds overall control of the West Bank and continues to expand its settlements there, while granting the Palestinians autonomy in a series of disconnected enclaves. Some 500,000 Israelis now live in the rapidly expanding West Bank settlements.

Next year, Israel will take part in the UAE’s delayed Expo 2020, the world’s fair being hosted by Dubai. A secret synagogue also draws practicing Jews in Dubai. The UAE also has announced plans to build the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, which will house a mosque, a church and a synagogue.

Israelis traveling with Western passports routinely enter the UAE without a problem, though one still can’t make a phone call between the two countries. Israelis also work in Dubai’s gold and diamond trade as well.

Emirati officials also have allowed Israeli officials to visit and the Israeli national anthem was played after an athlete won gold in an Abu Dhabi judo tournament. Israel also has a small mission representing its interests at the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597334632566.png" alt="President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday morning.&nbsp;White House senior adviser Jared Kushner is at right. The President said&nbsp;that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state.- Photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, Thursday morning.&nbsp;White House senior adviser Jared Kushner is at right. The President said&nbsp;that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state.- Photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates and Israel have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a deal to halt the annexation of occupied land sought by the Palestinians for their future state.The announcement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state to do so and only the third Arab nation to have active diplomatic ties to Israel.Trump tweeted a statement from the countries, acknowledging the deal. He then told reporters in the Oval Office that it was “a truly historic moment.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Joint Statement of the United States, the State of Israel, and the United Arab Emirates <a href="https://t.co/oVyjLxf0jd">pic.twitter.com/oVyjLxf0jd</a>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1293922803419353088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Now that the ice has been broken I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates,” he said.The recognition grants a rare diplomatic win to Trump ahead of the November election as his efforts to see an end to the war in Afghanistan have yet to come to fruition while efforts to bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians have made no headway. Israel and the UAE also have been among Trump’s closest foreign allies.For Israel, the announcement comes after years of boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his government enjoys closer ties to Arab nations than publicly acknowledged. Netanyahu said the announcement has ushered in a “new era” in Israel’s relations with the Arab world.&nbsp;Netanyahu has sought to build settlements on lands sought by the Palestinians and embraced a Trump proposal that would allow him to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank while granting Palestinians limited autonomy in other areas.For the UAE, home to skyscraper-studded Dubai and the rolling, oil-rich sand dunes of Abu Dhabi, it further burnishes its international campaign to be seen as a beacon of tolerance in the Middle East despite being governed by autocratic rulers. It also puts the UAE out first in a regional recognition race among neighboring Gulf Arab states.And for the Palestinians, who long have relied on Arab backing in their struggle for independence, the announcement marked both a win and setback. While Thursday’s deal halts Israeli annexation plans, the Palestinians have repeatedly urged Arab governments not to normalize relations with Israel until a peace agreement establishing an independent Palestinian state is reached.“Israel got rewarded for not declaring openly what it’s been doing to Palestine illegally &amp; persistently since the beginning of the occupation,” senior Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi wrote on Twitter. She also said the UAE has come forward with its “secret dealings/normalization with Israel.”“Please don’t do us a favor. We are nobody’s fig leaf!” she wrote.The militant group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, called the deal by the Emiratis “a stabbing in the back of our people.”The joint statement from the U.S., the UAE and Israel said delegations would meet in the coming weeks to sign deals on direct flights, security, telecommunications, energy, tourism and health care. The two countries also will partner on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.“Opening direct ties between two of the Middle East’s most dynamic societies and advanced economics will transform the region by spurring economic growth, enhancing technological innovation and forging closer people-to-people relations,” said the statement by Trump, Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the day-to-day ruler of the UAE. It said the leaders had a three-way call discussing the deal.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised the deal.“This is a remarkable achievement for two of the world’s most forward leaning, technologically advanced states, and reflects their shared regional vision of an economically integrated region,” he said in a statement. “It also illustrates their commitment to confronting common threats, as small — but strong — nations.”He added: “Blessed are the peacemakers. Mabruk and Mazal Tov.”Netanyahu tweeted an Israeli flag with a short message in Hebrew: “Historic Day.”Among Arab nations, only Egypt and Jordan have active diplomatic ties with Israel. Egypt made a peace deal with Israel in 1979, followed by Jordan in 1994. Mauritania recognized Israel in 1999, but later ended relations in 2009 over the Israel’s war in Gaza at the time.In addition to Trump, the main U.S. mediators for agreement were the president’s senior advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner, special Mideast envoy Avi Berkowitz and David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel.The UAE is a U.S.-allied federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. Formed in 1971, the country like other Arab nations at the time did not recognize Israel over its occupation of land home to the Palestinians.“Arab oil is not dearer than Arab blood,” the UAE’s founding ruler, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, once pronounced when agreeing to an oil boycott over U.S. military support to Israel in the 1973 Mideast war.The UAE relied on white-collar Palestinians in creating its nation. Over time, it maintained its stance that Israel allow the creation of a Palestinian state on land it seized in the 1967 war.But in recent years, ties between Gulf Arab nations and Israel have quietly grown, in part over their shared enmity of Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Prince Mohammed also shares Israel’s distrust of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and the militant group Hamas that holds the Gaza Strip.The UAE’s state-run WAM news agency acknowledged the deal, framing it as not just a move that helps the UAE and Israel, but one that also carries benefits for the Palestinians. Top Emirati official Anwar Gargash said the move dealt a “death blow” to moves by Israel to annex Palestinian lands.It remains unclear what prompted Israel and the UAE to make the announcement now. In June, the United Arab Emirates’ ambassador to the U.S. warned in an Israeli newspaper op-ed that Israel’s planned annexing the Jordan Valley and other parts of the occupied West Bank would “upend” Israel’s efforts to improve ties with Arab nations.The agreement gives Netanyahu a domestic boost at a time when Israel’s shaky coalition government is plagued by infighting and facing the possibility of early elections in the coming months. Netanyahu has seen his popularity plummet as the country grapples with a renewed coronavirus outbreak and skyrocketing unemployment as the result of earlier lockdown measures.Netanyahu also delivered a valuable diplomatic achievement to his good friend, Trump, ahead of U.S. elections.Still, by dropping the annexation plan Netanyahu may be hedging his bets ahead of a possible change in the White House. Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has made clear that he would oppose any moves by Israel to unilaterally redraw the Mideast map and annex lands sought by the Palestinians.Netanyahu also risked criticism inside his own hard-line Likud Party, whose members strongly supported annexation. Netanyahu appears to be betting that Likud members — and the small, but influential settler movement — will agree the peace agreement delivers more benefits than unilateral annexation. Opinion polls have shown that annexation is not a high priority for the vast majority of the Israeli public.Abandoning its annexation plan changes little on the ground. Israel already holds overall control of the West Bank and continues to expand its settlements there, while granting the Palestinians autonomy in a series of disconnected enclaves. Some 500,000 Israelis now live in the rapidly expanding West Bank settlements.Next year, Israel will take part in the UAE’s delayed Expo 2020, the world’s fair being hosted by Dubai. A secret synagogue also draws practicing Jews in Dubai. The UAE also has announced plans to build the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, which will house a mosque, a church and a synagogue.Israelis traveling with Western passports routinely enter the UAE without a problem, though one still can’t make a phone call between the two countries. Israelis also work in Dubai’s gold and diamond trade as well.Emirati officials also have allowed Israeli officials to visit and the Israeli national anthem was played after an athlete won gold in an Abu Dhabi judo tournament. Israel also has a small mission representing its interests at the International Renewable Energy Agency in Abu Dhabi.___

Trump helps Israel, UAE reach 'historic peace deal'

By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>


HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Washburn University political scientist Bob Beatty sees a 
potential opportunity for the Kansas Democratic Party if Republican 
State Treasurer Jake LaTurner wins the Second District seat in Congress 
in November and his office is left vacant.

"The State Treasurer 
job, I looked it up, has been a feeder for people that want to go on to 
higher office," Beatty said. "Going back to Joan Finney from back in the
 day, who went on to become Kansas governor. The treasurer after her, 
Sally Thompson ran for Senate, Tim Shallenburger ran for governor, Lynn 
Jenkins ran for the U.S. House, Ron Estes ran for the U.S. House and now
 Jake LaTurner. It's almost expected that if you're a State Treasurer, 
that really the job is a placeholder and you should be moving on to 
somewhere else."

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would get the 
opportunity to appoint someone to the seat and Beatty argues that it's 
an important appointment for the future of the Party.

"Find a Jake
 LaTurner," Beatty said. "Find a Democrat who is ambitious, talented, 
can obviously do the job as State Treasurer, but also is savvy in 
campaigning and in fundraising and can possibly win an election."

A
 couple of young Democrats who might fit that bill are LaTurner's 
opponent in the Second District race, Topeka mayor Michelle De La Isla 
and Wichita mayor Brandon Whipple.

"They really need to be looking
 for somebody who can win an election and not just be a placeholder in 
the seat," Beatty said. "It's tough for Democrats. I would argue, they 
don't need to use this to reward somebody for long years of service. 
That person's not going to win in the next election."

This could 
all be an academic exercise though, as the race between LaTurner and De 
La Isla is too close to call according to the latest polling immediately
 following his primary win.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597324661682.jpeg" alt="Bob Beatty" />
 <figcaption>Bob Beatty</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL <a href="https://hutchpost.com">Hutch Post</a>
HUTCHINSON —&nbsp;Washburn University political scientist Bob Beatty sees a 
potential opportunity for the Kansas Democratic Party if Republican 
State Treasurer Jake LaTurner wins the Second District seat in Congress 
in November and his office is left vacant."The State Treasurer 
job, I looked it up, has been a feeder for people that want to go on to 
higher office," Beatty said. "Going back to Joan Finney from back in the
 day, who went on to become Kansas governor. The treasurer after her, 
Sally Thompson ran for Senate, Tim Shallenburger ran for governor, Lynn 
Jenkins ran for the U.S. House, Ron Estes ran for the U.S. House and now
 Jake LaTurner. It's almost expected that if you're a State Treasurer, 
that really the job is a placeholder and you should be moving on to 
somewhere else."Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would get the 
opportunity to appoint someone to the seat and Beatty argues that it's 
an important appointment for the future of the Party."Find a Jake
 LaTurner," Beatty said. "Find a Democrat who is ambitious, talented, 
can obviously do the job as State Treasurer, but also is savvy in 
campaigning and in fundraising and can possibly win an election."A
 couple of young Democrats who might fit that bill are LaTurner's 
opponent in the Second District race, Topeka mayor Michelle De La Isla 
and Wichita mayor Brandon Whipple."They really need to be looking
 for somebody who can win an election and not just be a placeholder in 
the seat," Beatty said. "It's tough for Democrats. I would argue, they 
don't need to use this to reward somebody for long years of service. 
That person's not going to win in the next election."This could 
all be an academic exercise though, as the race between LaTurner and De 
La Isla is too close to call according to the latest polling immediately
 following his primary win.

Beatty: State Treasurer vacancy an opportunity for Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday allowed the Education Department to move forward with new rules governing how schools and universities respond to complaints of sexual assault.

The rules, which take effect Friday, expand the rights of the accused, narrow the definition of sexual harassment and reduce the scope of cases that schools are required to investigate, among other changes.

In a suit challenging the rules, attorneys general from 17 states and the District of Columbia argued that the policy would block schools from investigating certain sexual abuse complaints and would discourage students from reporting assaults.

“As a result, fewer sexual harassment complaints will be filed, and schools will be less well equipped to protect their students’ safety and rid their programs and activities of the pernicious effects of sex discrimination,” the suit said.

But U.S. District Judge Carl. J. Nichols rejected those arguments.

“Plaintiffs are free to investigate and punish as violations of their codes of conduct or of state law behavior that does not meet the new definition of sexual harassment under the Final Rule,”&nbsp;<a href="https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2020cv1468-97" target="_blank">Nichols wrote.</a>

He also turned aside an argument that the rules would bring heavy costs for schools and limit their ability to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The Court recognizes the obvious seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he wrote. “In fact, for these and other reasons, a later effective date might have been a preferable policy decision.”

Still, he said, the Education Department took the pandemic into account when it issued the new rules, and schools have long known that a new policy would be coming.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the ruling is “yet another victory for students and reaffirms that students’ rights under Title IX go hand in hand with basic American principles of fairness and due process.”

DeVos issued her policy May 6 after rescinding earlier guidelines from the Obama administration in 2017. Victims’ advocates say the 2017 rules forced colleges to confront sexual abuse after ignoring it for years. But DeVos has said the guidelines turned campus disciplinary panels into “kangaroo courts” that were too quick to punish accused students.

DeVos’ rules, which carry the weight of law, tell schools how to implement Title IX, the 1972 law barring discrimination based on sex in education.

Under her overhaul, the definition of sexual harassment is narrowed to “unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive” that it denies a person access to a school’s education programs or activity.

The policy will now require colleges to investigate claims only if they’re reported to certain officials, and schools can be held accountable for mishandling complaints only if they acted with “deliberate indifference.” Opponents also took exception with a provision allowing students to question one another through representatives at live hearings.

DeVos on Wednesday said the rules require schools to “to act in meaningful ways to support survivors of sexual misconduct without sacrificing important safeguards to protect free speech and provide all students with a transparent, reliable process.”

The case challenging the rules was led by attorneys general in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California, with backing from a total of 17 states and the District of Columbia.

The California and Pennsylvania attorneys general didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597268489165.png" alt="Education Secretary Betsy Devos speaking at the Kids First: Getting America's Children Back to School event Wednesday at the White House-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>Education Secretary Betsy Devos speaking at the Kids First: Getting America's Children Back to School event Wednesday at the White House-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday allowed the Education Department to move forward with new rules governing how schools and universities respond to complaints of sexual assault.The rules, which take effect Friday, expand the rights of the accused, narrow the definition of sexual harassment and reduce the scope of cases that schools are required to investigate, among other changes.In a suit challenging the rules, attorneys general from 17 states and the District of Columbia argued that the policy would block schools from investigating certain sexual abuse complaints and would discourage students from reporting assaults.“As a result, fewer sexual harassment complaints will be filed, and schools will be less well equipped to protect their students’ safety and rid their programs and activities of the pernicious effects of sex discrimination,” the suit said.But U.S. District Judge Carl. J. Nichols rejected those arguments.“Plaintiffs are free to investigate and punish as violations of their codes of conduct or of state law behavior that does not meet the new definition of sexual harassment under the Final Rule,”&nbsp;<a href="https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2020cv1468-97" target="_blank">Nichols wrote.</a>He also turned aside an argument that the rules would bring heavy costs for schools and limit their ability to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.“The Court recognizes the obvious seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he wrote. “In fact, for these and other reasons, a later effective date might have been a preferable policy decision.”Still, he said, the Education Department took the pandemic into account when it issued the new rules, and schools have long known that a new policy would be coming.Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said the ruling is “yet another victory for students and reaffirms that students’ rights under Title IX go hand in hand with basic American principles of fairness and due process.”DeVos issued her policy May 6 after rescinding earlier guidelines from the Obama administration in 2017. Victims’ advocates say the 2017 rules forced colleges to confront sexual abuse after ignoring it for years. But DeVos has said the guidelines turned campus disciplinary panels into “kangaroo courts” that were too quick to punish accused students.DeVos’ rules, which carry the weight of law, tell schools how to implement Title IX, the 1972 law barring discrimination based on sex in education.Under her overhaul, the definition of sexual harassment is narrowed to “unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive” that it denies a person access to a school’s education programs or activity.The policy will now require colleges to investigate claims only if they’re reported to certain officials, and schools can be held accountable for mishandling complaints only if they acted with “deliberate indifference.” Opponents also took exception with a provision allowing students to question one another through representatives at live hearings.DeVos on Wednesday said the rules require schools to “to act in meaningful ways to support survivors of sexual misconduct without sacrificing important safeguards to protect free speech and provide all students with a transparent, reliable process.”The case challenging the rules was led by attorneys general in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California, with backing from a total of 17 states and the District of Columbia.The California and Pennsylvania attorneys general didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.The challenge was supported by the American Council on Education, an association of university presidents, along with 24 other higher education organizations. In a June legal brief, the groups said the policy ordered a “sea change” for colleges but gave them less than three months to implement it.“In the best of times, that deadline would be unreasonable. But in light of the extraordinary burdens that have been placed on American colleges and universities in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, that August 14 implementation deadline is problematic in the extreme,” the groups wrote.—