By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/amanda-seitz">AMANDA SEITZ</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House will fix errors in a much-anticipated federal government report spearheaded by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, which decried America’s food supply, pesticides and prescription drugs.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WH-The-MAHA-Report-Assessment.pdf">Click here to read the full</a>&nbsp;report

Kennedy’s wide-ranging “Make America Healthy Again”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-vaccines-food-supply-pesticides-prescription-drugs-de043eb2e0ef7de889416b98141b9078">report</a>, released last week, cited hundreds of studies, but a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.notus.org/health-science/make-america-healthy-again-report-citation-errors" target="_blank">closer look by the news organization NOTUS</a>&nbsp;found that some of those studies did not actually exist.

Asked about the report’s problems, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the report will be updated.

“I understand there was some formatting issues with the MAHA report that are being addressed and the report will be updated.” Leavitt told reporters during her briefing. “But it does not negate the substance of the report, which, as you know, is one of the most transformative health reports that has ever been released by the federal government.

Kennedy has repeatedly said he would bring “radical transparency” and “gold-standard” science to the public health agencies. But the secretary refused to release details about who authored the 72-page report, which calls for increased scrutiny of the childhood vaccine schedule and describes the nation’s children as overmedicated and undernourished.

Leavitt said that the White House has “complete confidence” in Kennedy.

“Minor citation and formatting errors have been corrected,” HHS Spokesman Andrew Nixon said in an emailed statement. He described the report as a “historic and transformative assessment by the federal government to understand the chronic disease epidemic afflicting our nation’s children.”

NOTUS reported Thursday that seven of the more than 500 studies cited in the report did not appear to have ever been published. An author of one study confirmed that while she conducted research on the topics of anxiety in children, she never authored the report listed. Some studies were also misinterpreted in the MAHA report. The problematic citations were on topics around children’s screen time, medication use and anxiety.

Kennedy’s MAHA report had already been stoking concerns among Trump loyalists, including farmers who criticized how the report characterized the chemicals sprayed on U.S. crops.

The report is supposed to be used to develop policy recommendations that will be released later this year. The White House has requested a $500 million boost in funding from Congress for Kennedy’s MAHA initiative.

Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748002472470.png" alt="President Trump looks on as RFK, Jr. shares details during the MAHA report press conference May 22-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump looks on as RFK, Jr. shares details during the MAHA report press conference May 22-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/amanda-seitz">AMANDA SEITZ</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House will fix errors in a much-anticipated federal government report spearheaded by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, which decried America’s food supply, pesticides and prescription drugs.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WH-The-MAHA-Report-Assessment.pdf">Click here to read the full</a>&nbsp;reportKennedy’s wide-ranging “Make America Healthy Again”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-vaccines-food-supply-pesticides-prescription-drugs-de043eb2e0ef7de889416b98141b9078">report</a>, released last week, cited hundreds of studies, but a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.notus.org/health-science/make-america-healthy-again-report-citation-errors" target="_blank">closer look by the news organization NOTUS</a>&nbsp;found that some of those studies did not actually exist.Asked about the report’s problems, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the report will be updated.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747948284386.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>“I understand there was some formatting issues with the MAHA report that are being addressed and the report will be updated.” Leavitt told reporters during her briefing. “But it does not negate the substance of the report, which, as you know, is one of the most transformative health reports that has ever been released by the federal government.Kennedy has repeatedly said he would bring “radical transparency” and “gold-standard” science to the public health agencies. But the secretary refused to release details about who authored the 72-page report, which calls for increased scrutiny of the childhood vaccine schedule and describes the nation’s children as overmedicated and undernourished.Leavitt said that the White House has “complete confidence” in Kennedy.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747958524893.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>“Minor citation and formatting errors have been corrected,” HHS Spokesman Andrew Nixon said in an emailed statement. He described the report as a “historic and transformative assessment by the federal government to understand the chronic disease epidemic afflicting our nation’s children.”NOTUS reported Thursday that seven of the more than 500 studies cited in the report did not appear to have ever been published. An author of one study confirmed that while she conducted research on the topics of anxiety in children, she never authored the report listed. Some studies were also misinterpreted in the MAHA report. The problematic citations were on topics around children’s screen time, medication use and anxiety.Kennedy’s MAHA report had already been stoking concerns among Trump loyalists, including farmers who criticized how the report characterized the chemicals sprayed on U.S. crops.The report is supposed to be used to develop policy recommendations that will be released later this year. The White House has requested a $500 million boost in funding from Congress for Kennedy’s MAHA initiative.—Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed.

White House admits errors in ‘Make America Healthy Again’ report

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Detectives working to determine who stabbed an elderly woman in her home in Lawrence now say they do not believe this incident was criminal in nature. No suspect is being sought, and there is no known threat to the public related to this investigation.

Just after 1p.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Beatnik Court in Lawrence and found the woman inside the home with life-threatening injuries, according to a social media report. Police did not know when the&nbsp; attack occurred.

The woman was alone and not able to provide significant details to first responders.&nbsp;&nbsp;Detectives were able to speak briefly with her before she was taken into surgery.

 Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical medics transported her to an area trauma center, accompanied by an officer.

Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746787609141.png" alt="File photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>File photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Detectives working to determine who stabbed an elderly woman in her home in Lawrence now say they do not believe this incident was criminal in nature. No suspect is being sought, and there is no known threat to the public related to this investigation.Just after 1p.m. Thursday, officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Beatnik Court in Lawrence and found the woman inside the home with life-threatening injuries, according to a social media report. Police did not know when the&nbsp; attack occurred.The woman was alone and not able to provide significant details to first responders.&nbsp;&nbsp;Detectives were able to speak briefly with her before she was taken into surgery. Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical medics transported her to an area trauma center, accompanied by an officer.Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

Police update details of knife attack on elderly Kan. woman in her home

NEW CENTURY, Kansas. –&nbsp;Kansas Department of Corrections resident Anthony Mansfield has been placed on escape status at approximately 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday after not returning to the Johnson County Department of Corrections (JCDOC) Adult Residential Center (ARC) or reporting to his job Wednesday, according to a media release from the KDOC.

Mansfield, a 36-year old white male, is considered dangerous. He was reported missing when the resident could not be located at the minimum-security unit. This walkaway does not impact the security or operations of the medium-maximum secure compound.

Mansfield is 5-feet, 8-inches tall, and weighs 185 pounds with an average build. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a&nbsp;white t-shirt with black designs, long black sleeve undershirt, brown boots, brown baseball hat and stonewashed jeans .

Mansfield was convicted in Johnson County for eight-months of incarceration for criminal damage to property convictions. He is serving that sentence at the JCDOC-ARC from which he walked away. Under an agreement between the KDOC and JCDOC, residents who have release plans that are appropriate to Johnson County are housed at the ARC.

Anyone with information on Mansfield can call EAI at 816-266-2102, JCDOC at 913-715-6539, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745669722214.jpeg" alt="Image from an earlier arrest in Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Image from an earlier arrest in Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW CENTURY, Kansas. –&nbsp;Kansas Department of Corrections resident Anthony Mansfield has been placed on escape status at approximately 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday after not returning to the Johnson County Department of Corrections (JCDOC) Adult Residential Center (ARC) or reporting to his job Wednesday, according to a media release from the KDOC.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748524255503.png" alt="Mansfield photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Mansfield photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>Mansfield, a 36-year old white male, is considered dangerous. He was reported missing when the resident could not be located at the minimum-security unit. This walkaway does not impact the security or operations of the medium-maximum secure compound.Mansfield is 5-feet, 8-inches tall, and weighs 185 pounds with an average build. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a&nbsp;white t-shirt with black designs, long black sleeve undershirt, brown boots, brown baseball hat and stonewashed jeans .Mansfield was convicted in Johnson County for eight-months of incarceration for criminal damage to property convictions. He is serving that sentence at the JCDOC-ARC from which he walked away. Under an agreement between the KDOC and JCDOC, residents who have release plans that are appropriate to Johnson County are housed at the ARC.Anyone with information on Mansfield can call EAI at 816-266-2102, JCDOC at 913-715-6539, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

Dangerous inmate still missing from Kan. work release facility

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Faizan Zaki's enthusiasm for spelling nearly got the better of him. Ultimately, his joyful approach made him the Scripps National Spelling Bee champion.

The favorite entering the bee after his runner-up finish last year — during which he never misspelled a word in a conventional spelling round, only to lose a lightning-round tiebreaker that he didn't practice for — the shaggy-haired Faizan wore the burden of expectations lightly, sauntering to the microphone in a black hoodie and spelling his words with casual glee.

Throughout Thursday night's finals, the 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, looked like a champion in waiting. Then he nearly threw it away. But even a shocking moment of overconfidence couldn't prevent him from seizing the title of best speller in the English language.

With the bee down to three spellers, Sarvadnya Kadam and Sarv Dharavane missed their words back-to-back, putting Faizan two words away from victory. The first was "commelina," but instead of asking the requisite questions — definition, language of origin — to make sure he knew it, Faizan let his showman's instincts take over.

"K-A-M," he said, then stopped himself. "OK, let me do this. Oh, shoot!"

"Just ring the bell," he told head judge Mary Brooks, who obliged.

"So now you know what happens," Brooks said, and the other two spellers returned to the stage.

Later, standing next to the trophy with confetti at his feet, Faizan said: "I'm definitely going to be having nightmares about that tonight."

Even pronouncer Jacques Bailly tried to slow Faizan down before his winning word, "eclaircissement," but Faizan didn't ask a single question before spelling it correctly, and he pumped his fists and collapsed to the stage after saying the final letter.

The bee celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, and Faizan may be the first champion who's remembered more for a word he got wrong than one he got right.

"I think he cared too much about his aura," said Bruhat Soma, Faizan's buddy who beat him in the "spell-off" tiebreaker last year.

Faizan had a more nuanced explanation: After not preparing for the spell-off last year, he overcorrected, emphasizing speed during his study sessions.

Although Bruhat was fast last year when he needed to be, he followed the familiar playbook for champion spellers: asking thorough questions, spelling slowly and metronomically, showing little emotion. Those are among the hallmarks of well-coached spellers, and Faizan had three coaches: Scott Remer, Sam Evans and Sohum Sukhantankar.

None of them could turn Faizan into a robot on stage.

"He's crazy. He's having a good time, and he's doing what he loves, which is spelling," Evans said.

Said Zaki Anwar, Faizan's father: "He's the GOAT. I actually believe that. He's really good, man. He's been doing it for so long, and he knows the dictionary in and out."

After last year's bee had little drama before an abrupt move to the spell-off, Scripps tweaked the competition rules, giving judges more leeway to let the competition play out before going to the tiebreaker. The nine finalists delivered.

During one stretch, six spellers got 28 consecutive words right, and there were three perfect rounds during the finals. The last time there was a single perfect round was the infamous 2019 bee, which ended in an eight-way tie.

Sarv, an 11-year-old fifth-grader from Dunwoody, Georgia, who ultimately finished third, would have been the youngest champion since Nihar Janga in 2016. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

The most poised and mature of the final three, Sarvadnya — who's from Visalia, California — ends his career as the runner-up. He's 14 and in the eighth grade, which means he has aged out of the competition. It's not a bad way to go out, considering that Faizan became just the fifth runner-up in a century to come back and win, and the first since Sean Conley in 2001.

Including Faizan, whose parents emigrated from southern India, 30 of the past 36 champions have been Indian American, a run that began with Nupur Lala's victory in 1999, which was later featured in the documentary "Spellbound." Lala was among the dozens of past champions who attended this year and signed autographs for spellers, families and bee fans to honor the anniversary.

With the winner's haul of $52,500 added to his second-place prize of $25,000, Faizan increased his bee earnings to $77,500. His big splurge with his winnings last year? A $1,500 Rubik's cube with 21 squares on each side. This time, he said he'd donate a large portion of his winnings to charity.

The bee began in 1925 when the Louisville Courier-Journal invited other newspapers to host spelling bees and send their champions to Washington. For the past 14 years, Scripps has hosted the competition at a convention center just outside the nation's capital, but the bee returns downtown next year to Constitution Hall, a nearly century-old concert venue near the White House.

Faizan has been spelling for more than half his life. He competed in the 2019 bee as a 7-year-old, getting in through a wild-card program that has since been discontinued. He qualified again in 2023 and made the semifinals before last year's second-place finish.

"One thing that differentiates him is he really has a passion for this. In his free time, when he's not studying for the bee, he's literally looking up archaic, obsolete words that have no chance of being asked," Bruhat said. "I don't think he cares as much about the title as his passion for language and words."

Faizan had no regrets about showing that enthusiasm, even though it nearly cost him.

"No offense to Bruhat, but I think he really took the bee a little too seriously," Faizan said. "I decided to have fun with this bee, and I did well, and here I am."

Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748569446544.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BEN NUCKOLS Associated PressOXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Faizan Zaki's enthusiasm for spelling nearly got the better of him. Ultimately, his joyful approach made him the Scripps National Spelling Bee champion.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fscrippsnationalspellingbee%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0i75gaDzJLwZQWBRHnYBkK5QWeFWe7UykLhwZKz5kS1HFFyPim3TYQFaq1oPskqfQl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="463" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The favorite entering the bee after his runner-up finish last year — during which he never misspelled a word in a conventional spelling round, only to lose a lightning-round tiebreaker that he didn't practice for — the shaggy-haired Faizan wore the burden of expectations lightly, sauntering to the microphone in a black hoodie and spelling his words with casual glee.Throughout Thursday night's finals, the 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, looked like a champion in waiting. Then he nearly threw it away. But even a shocking moment of overconfidence couldn't prevent him from seizing the title of best speller in the English language.With the bee down to three spellers, Sarvadnya Kadam and Sarv Dharavane missed their words back-to-back, putting Faizan two words away from victory. The first was "commelina," but instead of asking the requisite questions — definition, language of origin — to make sure he knew it, Faizan let his showman's instincts take over."K-A-M," he said, then stopped himself. "OK, let me do this. Oh, shoot!""Just ring the bell," he told head judge Mary Brooks, who obliged."So now you know what happens," Brooks said, and the other two spellers returned to the stage.Later, standing next to the trophy with confetti at his feet, Faizan said: "I'm definitely going to be having nightmares about that tonight."Even pronouncer Jacques Bailly tried to slow Faizan down before his winning word, "eclaircissement," but Faizan didn't ask a single question before spelling it correctly, and he pumped his fists and collapsed to the stage after saying the final letter.The bee celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, and Faizan may be the first champion who's remembered more for a word he got wrong than one he got right."I think he cared too much about his aura," said Bruhat Soma, Faizan's buddy who beat him in the "spell-off" tiebreaker last year.Faizan had a more nuanced explanation: After not preparing for the spell-off last year, he overcorrected, emphasizing speed during his study sessions.Although Bruhat was fast last year when he needed to be, he followed the familiar playbook for champion spellers: asking thorough questions, spelling slowly and metronomically, showing little emotion. Those are among the hallmarks of well-coached spellers, and Faizan had three coaches: Scott Remer, Sam Evans and Sohum Sukhantankar.None of them could turn Faizan into a robot on stage."He's crazy. He's having a good time, and he's doing what he loves, which is spelling," Evans said.Said Zaki Anwar, Faizan's father: "He's the GOAT. I actually believe that. He's really good, man. He's been doing it for so long, and he knows the dictionary in and out."A thrilling centennialAfter last year's bee had little drama before an abrupt move to the spell-off, Scripps tweaked the competition rules, giving judges more leeway to let the competition play out before going to the tiebreaker. The nine finalists delivered.During one stretch, six spellers got 28 consecutive words right, and there were three perfect rounds during the finals. The last time there was a single perfect round was the infamous 2019 bee, which ended in an eight-way tie.Sarv, an 11-year-old fifth-grader from Dunwoody, Georgia, who ultimately finished third, would have been the youngest champion since Nihar Janga in 2016. He has three years of eligibility remaining.The most poised and mature of the final three, Sarvadnya — who's from Visalia, California — ends his career as the runner-up. He's 14 and in the eighth grade, which means he has aged out of the competition. It's not a bad way to go out, considering that Faizan became just the fifth runner-up in a century to come back and win, and the first since Sean Conley in 2001.Including Faizan, whose parents emigrated from southern India, 30 of the past 36 champions have been Indian American, a run that began with Nupur Lala's victory in 1999, which was later featured in the documentary "Spellbound." Lala was among the dozens of past champions who attended this year and signed autographs for spellers, families and bee fans to honor the anniversary.With the winner's haul of $52,500 added to his second-place prize of $25,000, Faizan increased his bee earnings to $77,500. His big splurge with his winnings last year? A $1,500 Rubik's cube with 21 squares on each side. This time, he said he'd donate a large portion of his winnings to charity.The bee began in 1925 when the Louisville Courier-Journal invited other newspapers to host spelling bees and send their champions to Washington. For the past 14 years, Scripps has hosted the competition at a convention center just outside the nation's capital, but the bee returns downtown next year to Constitution Hall, a nearly century-old concert venue near the White House.A passionate championFaizan has been spelling for more than half his life. He competed in the 2019 bee as a 7-year-old, getting in through a wild-card program that has since been discontinued. He qualified again in 2023 and made the semifinals before last year's second-place finish."One thing that differentiates him is he really has a passion for this. In his free time, when he's not studying for the bee, he's literally looking up archaic, obsolete words that have no chance of being asked," Bruhat said. "I don't think he cares as much about the title as his passion for language and words."Faizan had no regrets about showing that enthusiasm, even though it nearly cost him."No offense to Bruhat, but I think he really took the bee a little too seriously," Faizan said. "I decided to have fun with this bee, and I did well, and here I am."___Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here.

Boy overcomes shocking flub and wins the Scripps National Spelling Bee

CALICO ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas authorities are looking at whether a job in the prison kitchen played a role in the weekend escape of a convicted former police chief known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-934e7fe6a45d3eafb18443f5b2bc5680?utm_source=Facebook&amp;utm_medium=share&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawKjFE9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF4MmxjbUJyV05JWjVpTWZxAR7HdBxBzlrOzjOfYiCdChZPCLBAhbxLUw0ibnBZA-1ZgEI9955QwHFHVGhqmw_aem_bQ6Hm8suIdhTYD_ucbzvWg">the “Devil in the Ozarks.”</a>

Grant Hardin, 56, was housed in a maximum-security wing of the medium-security Calico Rock prison, where he also held a job in the kitchen, Arkansas Department of Corrections spokesperson Rand Champion said Thursday. Authorities have said Hardin escaped Sunday by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform.

“His job assignment was in the kitchen, so just looking to see if that played a part in it as well,” Champion told The Associated Press.

The kitchen is divided into two shifts of about 25 workers each, according to a 2021 accreditation report that involved an extensive review of the prison. In the kitchen, “tools and utensils were stored on shadow boards with proper controls for sign out/in of all tools,” the report states. “A check of the inventory control sheets found them to be accurate and up to date.”

The kitchen is in one of 16 buildings on over 700 acres (280 hectares) of prison land. The sprawling grounds include a garden, two greenhouses, and extensive pasture lands where a herd of more than 100 horses is raised and trained by staff and inmates.

Hardin, the former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-chief-arkansas-prison-escape-grant-hardin-280127e9737bc8e8e0d6388d7f268bd1">was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape</a>. He was the subject of the TV documentary “Devil in the Ozarks.”

A prison expert said corrections officials are likely investigating whether the kitchen job gave Hardin access to other parts of the prison or to tools in the kitchen that could have helped him, including fashioning the makeshift uniform.

Bryce Peterson, a criminal justice expert at security-based research organization CNA, said prison escapes are usually a combination of motivation and opportunity.

“You wouldn't immediately think of a kitchen as a source of a bunch of escape tools,” Peterson said. “But these people are really smart and what they're thinking about day in and day out is how they can escape if that's what their motivation is.”

Local, state and federal law enforcement are continuing their search for Hardin, and the FBI announced Thursday it was offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. Champion said officials remained confident that Hardin was in the north-central Arkansas area.

Officials have said there are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-441d37501f2ab0de8af27501546dfb13">plenty of hideouts</a>&nbsp;in the Ozark Mountains area, from caves to campsites.

Authorities on Thursday continued to stop cars at a checkpoint near Calico Rock, and fliers featuring photos of Hardin could be seen in local store windows.

Elsewhere Thursday, a sheriff's office in southern Missouri said it had received a report of a sighting of someone resembling Hardin's description in the Moody/Bakersfield area, less than an hour's drive north of Calico Rock.

Deputies with the Howell County Sheriff's Office responded but were unable to locate anyone though agents were continuing to canvass the area, the agency said in a Facebook post.

“At this time, we have no information indicating with any degree of certainty this suspicious person was the escapee or that he is even in the state of Missouri,” the post said.

Champion said Arkansas authorities were aware of the tip and were looking into it.

The department late Wednesday said search teams also responded to Faulkner County in the central Arkansas area after receiving a tip.

Champion did not immediately know how many other inmates were housed in the prison’s maximum-security wing.

Hardin's assignment to the prison, formally known as the North Central Unit, has drawn questions from legislators in the area and family members of the former chief's victims.

Hardin received culinary training at some point during his incarceration, said Cheryl Tillman, whose brother James Appleton was shot to death by Hardin in 2017.

Tillman said she was aware that Hardin had been working in the kitchen at the Calico Rock prison and questioned why he would be allowed to do so.

“It sounds like to me that he was given free range down there,” she said this week during an interview.

Now that he’s free, “it makes it uneasy for all of us, the whole family,” she said.

DeMillo reported from Little Rock, Arkansas, Martin from Atlanta, and Riddle from Montgomery, Alabama.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748309291610.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>CALICO ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas authorities are looking at whether a job in the prison kitchen played a role in the weekend escape of a convicted former police chief known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-934e7fe6a45d3eafb18443f5b2bc5680?utm_source=Facebook&amp;utm_medium=share&amp;fbclid=IwY2xjawKjFE9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF4MmxjbUJyV05JWjVpTWZxAR7HdBxBzlrOzjOfYiCdChZPCLBAhbxLUw0ibnBZA-1ZgEI9955QwHFHVGhqmw_aem_bQ6Hm8suIdhTYD_ucbzvWg">the “Devil in the Ozarks.”</a>Grant Hardin, 56, was housed in a maximum-security wing of the medium-security Calico Rock prison, where he also held a job in the kitchen, Arkansas Department of Corrections spokesperson Rand Champion said Thursday. Authorities have said Hardin escaped Sunday by donning an outfit designed to look like a law enforcement uniform.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748562682920.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>“His job assignment was in the kitchen, so just looking to see if that played a part in it as well,” Champion told The Associated Press.The kitchen is divided into two shifts of about 25 workers each, according to a 2021 accreditation report that involved an extensive review of the prison. In the kitchen, “tools and utensils were stored on shadow boards with proper controls for sign out/in of all tools,” the report states. “A check of the inventory control sheets found them to be accurate and up to date.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748354598066.png" alt="Photo of the escape -Arkansas Dpt. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the escape -Arkansas Dpt. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>The kitchen is in one of 16 buildings on over 700 acres (280 hectares) of prison land. The sprawling grounds include a garden, two greenhouses, and extensive pasture lands where a herd of more than 100 horses is raised and trained by staff and inmates.Hardin, the former police chief in the small town of Gateway near the Arkansas-Missouri border,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/police-chief-arkansas-prison-escape-grant-hardin-280127e9737bc8e8e0d6388d7f268bd1">was serving lengthy sentences for murder and rape</a>. He was the subject of the TV documentary “Devil in the Ozarks.”A prison expert said corrections officials are likely investigating whether the kitchen job gave Hardin access to other parts of the prison or to tools in the kitchen that could have helped him, including fashioning the makeshift uniform.Bryce Peterson, a criminal justice expert at security-based research organization CNA, said prison escapes are usually a combination of motivation and opportunity.“You wouldn't immediately think of a kitchen as a source of a bunch of escape tools,” Peterson said. “But these people are really smart and what they're thinking about day in and day out is how they can escape if that's what their motivation is.”Local, state and federal law enforcement are continuing their search for Hardin, and the FBI announced Thursday it was offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest. Champion said officials remained confident that Hardin was in the north-central Arkansas area.Officials have said there are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arkansas-prison-escape-police-chief-grant-hardin-441d37501f2ab0de8af27501546dfb13">plenty of hideouts</a>&nbsp;in the Ozark Mountains area, from caves to campsites.Authorities on Thursday continued to stop cars at a checkpoint near Calico Rock, and fliers featuring photos of Hardin could be seen in local store windows.Elsewhere Thursday, a sheriff's office in southern Missouri said it had received a report of a sighting of someone resembling Hardin's description in the Moody/Bakersfield area, less than an hour's drive north of Calico Rock.Deputies with the Howell County Sheriff's Office responded but were unable to locate anyone though agents were continuing to canvass the area, the agency said in a Facebook post.“At this time, we have no information indicating with any degree of certainty this suspicious person was the escapee or that he is even in the state of Missouri,” the post said.Champion said Arkansas authorities were aware of the tip and were looking into it.The department late Wednesday said search teams also responded to Faulkner County in the central Arkansas area after receiving a tip.Champion did not immediately know how many other inmates were housed in the prison’s maximum-security wing.Hardin's assignment to the prison, formally known as the North Central Unit, has drawn questions from legislators in the area and family members of the former chief's victims.Hardin received culinary training at some point during his incarceration, said Cheryl Tillman, whose brother James Appleton was shot to death by Hardin in 2017.Tillman said she was aware that Hardin had been working in the kitchen at the Calico Rock prison and questioned why he would be allowed to do so.“It sounds like to me that he was given free range down there,” she said this week during an interview.Now that he’s free, “it makes it uneasy for all of us, the whole family,” she said.___DeMillo reported from Little Rock, Arkansas, Martin from Atlanta, and Riddle from Montgomery, Alabama.

FBI: Reward offered for 'Devil in the Ozarks' prison escapee

WASHINGTON— Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced this week, according to a media release.

The canned beef stew item was produced on February 4, 2025. The following product is subject to recall [<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2025-05/recall-018-2025-labels.pdf">view labels</a>]:

The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST 199G” printed on the can. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

The problem was discovered after the establishment notified FSIS that they had received three consumer complaints reporting pieces of wood in the beef stew product.

There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider.&nbsp;&nbsp;

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their 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;www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Hormel Foods Corporation at 800-523-4635 or media@hormel.com.

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 MPHotline@usda.gov. 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 https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748601779129.png" alt="USDA courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>USDA courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— Hormel Foods Corporation, a Tucker, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 256,185 pounds of canned beef stew product that may be contaminated with foreign material, specifically wood, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced this week, according to a media release.The canned beef stew item was produced on February 4, 2025. The following product is subject to recall [<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2025-05/recall-018-2025-labels.pdf">view labels</a>]:<ul>
 <li>20-oz. metal cans containing “Dinty Moore BEEF STEW” with “BEST BY FEB 2028” and lot code “T02045” printed on the can. The lot code may have an additional number at the end.</li>
 </ul>The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST 199G” printed on the can. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.The problem was discovered after the establishment notified FSIS that they had received three consumer complaints reporting pieces of wood in the beef stew product.There have been no confirmed reports of injury due to consumption of this product. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider.&nbsp;&nbsp;FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ pantries. Consumers who have purchased this product are urged not to consume it. This product should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their 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;www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.Consumers and members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Hormel Foods Corporation at 800-523-4635 or media@hormel.com.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 MPHotline@usda.gov. 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 https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

USDA recalls 256,000 pounds of Dinty Moore beef stew 

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces charges for a fatal shooting that occurred earlier this month.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2630/R-Turner-Complaint-redacted">Rasheed M. Turner</a>, 25, faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder and one count of Armed Criminal Action, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor's office.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2631/RTurnerPC-Statement-Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to W. 37th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue on May 13 and located a deceased female victim in the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds near a parked Chevrolet Malibu.

Witnesses reported they heard gunshots and a woman screaming. Some reported seeing a male exit from the side of the Malibu and run to the driver side of a blue Ford Mustang.&nbsp;

Detectives were able to identify the defendant based on city cameras capturing his Ford Mustang near the scene, text messages exchanged with the victim, and social media.

The victim had a temporary order of protection against the defendant at the time of the shooting.&nbsp;

The defendant is being held without bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748465620281.png" alt="Turner photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Turner photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces charges for a fatal shooting that occurred earlier this month.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2630/R-Turner-Complaint-redacted">Rasheed M. Turner</a>, 25, faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder and one count of Armed Criminal Action, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor's office.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2631/RTurnerPC-Statement-Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to W. 37th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue on May 13 and located a deceased female victim in the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds near a parked Chevrolet Malibu.Witnesses reported they heard gunshots and a woman screaming. Some reported seeing a male exit from the side of the Malibu and run to the driver side of a blue Ford Mustang.&nbsp;Detectives were able to identify the defendant based on city cameras capturing his Ford Mustang near the scene, text messages exchanged with the victim, and social media.The victim had a temporary order of protection against the defendant at the time of the shooting.&nbsp;The defendant is being held without bond.&nbsp;

Text messages helped police ID Kansas City homicide suspect 

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 3p.m.&nbsp;May 27, an Osage County Sheriff’s Office Investigator conducted a traffic stop at K-31 Highway and Lewelling Road for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. 

During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. Emily T. Hurla, 34, of Osage City was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Interference with law enforcement, No liability insurance, and Illegal registration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748428518605.png" alt="Hurla-photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Hurla-photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 3p.m.&nbsp;May 27, an Osage County Sheriff’s Office Investigator conducted a traffic stop at K-31 Highway and Lewelling Road for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. Emily T. Hurla, 34, of Osage City was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Interference with law enforcement, No liability insurance, and Illegal registration.

Kansas woman accused of transporting meth

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to continue collecting tariffs under an emergency powers law for now, as his administration appeals an order striking down the bulk of his signature set of economic policies.

The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted an emergency motion from the Trump administration arguing that a halt is “critical for the country’s national security.”

The appeals court temporarily halted the order from a federal trade court issued a day before.

Trump is facing several lawsuits arguing Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs exceeded his authority and left the country’s trade policy dependent on his whims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748550199147.png" alt="File image White House video" />
 <figcaption>File image White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to continue collecting tariffs under an emergency powers law for now, as his administration appeals an order striking down the bulk of his signature set of economic policies.The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit granted an emergency motion from the Trump administration arguing that a halt is “critical for the country’s national security.”The appeals court temporarily halted the order from a federal trade court issued a day before.Trump is facing several lawsuits arguing Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs exceeded his authority and left the country’s trade policy dependent on his whims.

Appeals court reinstates Trump tariff plan under emergency powers law 

By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Victoria's Secret has taken down its U.S. website and says some in-store services will also be unavailable as it addresses a "security incident."

A message to customers remained in place of the popular lingerie brand's normal shopping site Thursday, stating that it had halted these operations "as a precaution."

"Our team is working around the clock to fully restore operations," the message read.

Ohio-based Victoria's Secret did not provide many details about the "security incident," or directly confirm whether it was a cyber or ransomware attack. When asked for further information Thursday, a spokesperson just said that the company "immediately enacted our response protocols" and has engaged with third-party experts.

Victoria's Secret also didn't specify when it first identified the issue and began pulling back services. Most media reports of the retailer's website going dark emerged Wednesday — when the company also shared an update on social media — but some frustrated customers online said they began experiencing issues earlier in the week, as far back as Monday.

The company doesn't have an estimate for when its site will be back up, an FAQ on the Victoria's Secret corporate site notes. The company added that it is trying to fulfill orders placed before Monday and that it would be extending return windows and some direct mail coupon offers for impacted customers in the U.S.

Victoria's Secret says its stores, as well as its PINK brand locations, remain open for customers. But some in-store services, such as returning online orders in person, were unavailable as of Wednesday night — and as were its online customer care services, per the company's FAQ.

It was not immediately clear if any in-store services in Victoria's Secret locations outside the U.S. were also impacted. But the company's U.K. site appeared uninterrupted Thursday.

Bloomberg News reported that Victoria's Secret also stopped some of its office operations and that some employees were locked out of their company email accounts on Wednesday, citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter.

Shares for Victoria's Secret tumbled about 4% as of midday Thursday.

While not confirmed by the company, the "security incident" impacting Victoria's Secret bears all the hallmarks of a cyberattack. And it arrives as more and more companies report breaches that disrupt operations and/or expose customer data, particuarly among retailers.

Last week, for example, Adidas announced that it had recently become aware of an "unauthorized external party" obtaining some consumer data — mostly consisting of contact information — through a third-party customer service provider. The German shoe and clothing company said it would be informing impacted customers and working with law enforcement.

And several British retailers — Marks &amp; Spencer, Harrods and Co-op — have all shared that they've been targeted by cyberattacks over recent weeks. The cyberattack hitting M&amp;S stopped it from processing online orders and left store shelves empty, with the company estimating that this will cost it 300 million pounds ($400 million).

Following any cybersecurity incident impacting a consumer-facing brand, experts warn that it's important for shoppers to be alert. Fraudsters might promise fake promotions through phishing emails, for example, or use sensitive information that may have been compromised.

The breadth of disruptions impacting Victoria's Secret this week are also "a reminder to businesses of how wide-reaching the fallout can be," Tim Rawlins, senior adviser and director for security at consulting firm NCC Group, said in an emailed note Thursday.

"Halting operations, rather than rushing to bring them back online, is crucial to ensuring patches, recovery efforts, and strengthened cyber security are effective in the long run," he added.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748543230238.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS AP Business WriterNEW YORK (AP) — Victoria's Secret has taken down its U.S. website and says some in-store services will also be unavailable as it addresses a "security incident."A message to customers remained in place of the popular lingerie brand's normal shopping site Thursday, stating that it had halted these operations "as a precaution.""Our team is working around the clock to fully restore operations," the message read.Ohio-based Victoria's Secret did not provide many details about the "security incident," or directly confirm whether it was a cyber or ransomware attack. When asked for further information Thursday, a spokesperson just said that the company "immediately enacted our response protocols" and has engaged with third-party experts.Victoria's Secret also didn't specify when it first identified the issue and began pulling back services. Most media reports of the retailer's website going dark emerged Wednesday — when the company also shared an update on social media — but some frustrated customers online said they began experiencing issues earlier in the week, as far back as Monday.The company doesn't have an estimate for when its site will be back up, an FAQ on the Victoria's Secret corporate site notes. The company added that it is trying to fulfill orders placed before Monday and that it would be extending return windows and some direct mail coupon offers for impacted customers in the U.S.Victoria's Secret says its stores, as well as its PINK brand locations, remain open for customers. But some in-store services, such as returning online orders in person, were unavailable as of Wednesday night — and as were its online customer care services, per the company's FAQ.It was not immediately clear if any in-store services in Victoria's Secret locations outside the U.S. were also impacted. But the company's U.K. site appeared uninterrupted Thursday.Bloomberg News reported that Victoria's Secret also stopped some of its office operations and that some employees were locked out of their company email accounts on Wednesday, citing an anonymous source familiar with the matter.Shares for Victoria's Secret tumbled about 4% as of midday Thursday.While not confirmed by the company, the "security incident" impacting Victoria's Secret bears all the hallmarks of a cyberattack. And it arrives as more and more companies report breaches that disrupt operations and/or expose customer data, particuarly among retailers.Last week, for example, Adidas announced that it had recently become aware of an "unauthorized external party" obtaining some consumer data — mostly consisting of contact information — through a third-party customer service provider. The German shoe and clothing company said it would be informing impacted customers and working with law enforcement.And several British retailers — Marks &amp; Spencer, Harrods and Co-op — have all shared that they've been targeted by cyberattacks over recent weeks. The cyberattack hitting M&amp;S stopped it from processing online orders and left store shelves empty, with the company estimating that this will cost it 300 million pounds ($400 million).Following any cybersecurity incident impacting a consumer-facing brand, experts warn that it's important for shoppers to be alert. Fraudsters might promise fake promotions through phishing emails, for example, or use sensitive information that may have been compromised.The breadth of disruptions impacting Victoria's Secret this week are also "a reminder to businesses of how wide-reaching the fallout can be," Tim Rawlins, senior adviser and director for security at consulting firm NCC Group, said in an emailed note Thursday."Halting operations, rather than rushing to bring them back online, is crucial to ensuring patches, recovery efforts, and strengthened cyber security are effective in the long run," he added.

Victoria’s Secret website down after security incident

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A Ness County couple who were convicted of mistreatment of a former Air Force nurse who served in Vietnam were sentenced to probation on Wednesday.

L<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/032dc57b-89f7-4905-ba23-e72dd8543a9a">ynn and Opal Schmidt of Ransom were arrested in July&nbsp;each on a charge of mistreatment of a dependent adult, and they entered pleas in Ness County District Court on March 20.</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/441aea96-981d-4ed7-a86b-d273b232e533">The victim's friend, Renata Craft, wrote letters</a>&nbsp;and contacted veterans organizations to attend the couple's sentencing hearing, and supporters of the victim packed the court to capacity on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The Ness County Attorney issued the following statement on the sentencing on Wednesday.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA Ness County couple who were convicted of mistreatment of a former Air Force nurse who served in Vietnam were sentenced to probation on Wednesday.L<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/032dc57b-89f7-4905-ba23-e72dd8543a9a">ynn and Opal Schmidt of Ransom were arrested in July&nbsp;each on a charge of mistreatment of a dependent adult, and they entered pleas in Ness County District Court on March 20.</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/441aea96-981d-4ed7-a86b-d273b232e533">The victim's friend, Renata Craft, wrote letters</a>&nbsp;and contacted veterans organizations to attend the couple's sentencing hearing, and supporters of the victim packed the court to capacity on Wednesday.&nbsp;The Ness County Attorney issued the following statement on the sentencing on Wednesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748532327901.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748532342884.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

Kan. couple sentenced for mistreatment of elder veteran 

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Trump administration has canceled $766 million awarded to drugmaker Moderna Inc. to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-moderna-vaccine-mrna-pandemic-7f15d8d274a24d89fa86e2f57e13cbff">develop a vaccine</a>&nbsp;against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu.

The company said it was notified Wednesday that the Health and Human Services Department had withdrawn funds awarded in July 2024 and in January to pay for development and purchase of its investigational vaccine.

The funds were awarded through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a program that focuses on medical treatments for potential pandemics.

The new vaccine, called mRNA-1018, used the same technology that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-moderna-vaccine-approved-dc6f5ac9eeb31667d5a28f0954335b65">allowed development</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-0437add2a9245e1f9c57e04e085c6cbc">rollout of vaccines</a>&nbsp;to fight Covid-19 in record time.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed deep skepticism regarding mRNA vaccines, despite real-world evidence that the vaccines are safe and saved millions of lives.

The cancelation came as Moderna announced positive interim results from an early-stage trial of the vaccine that targeted H5 bird flu virus, tested in 300 healthy adults.

“While the termination of funding from HHS adds uncertainty, we are pleased by the robust immune response and safety profile observed in this interim analysis,” the company said in a statement.

H5N1 bird flu viruses spilled from wild bird into cattle in the U.S. last year, infecting hundreds of animals in several states.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-cdc-8857e56c7b91d82613042beaba169a31">At least 70 people</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. have been sickened by bird flu infections, mostly mild. One person died. Scientists fear that continued mutation of the virus could allow it to become more virulent or more easily spread in people, with the possibility that it could trigger a pandemic.

Moderna received $176 million in July 2024 and $590 million in January. The January award would have supported a late-stage clinical trial that could have determined the vaccine’s efficacy against pandemic viruses, including bird flu, a company spokesman said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733747978622.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Trump administration has canceled $766 million awarded to drugmaker Moderna Inc. to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-moderna-vaccine-mrna-pandemic-7f15d8d274a24d89fa86e2f57e13cbff">develop a vaccine</a>&nbsp;against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu.The company said it was notified Wednesday that the Health and Human Services Department had withdrawn funds awarded in July 2024 and in January to pay for development and purchase of its investigational vaccine.The funds were awarded through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a program that focuses on medical treatments for potential pandemics.The new vaccine, called mRNA-1018, used the same technology that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-moderna-vaccine-approved-dc6f5ac9eeb31667d5a28f0954335b65">allowed development</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-coronavirus-pandemic-0437add2a9245e1f9c57e04e085c6cbc">rollout of vaccines</a>&nbsp;to fight Covid-19 in record time.Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed deep skepticism regarding mRNA vaccines, despite real-world evidence that the vaccines are safe and saved millions of lives.The cancelation came as Moderna announced positive interim results from an early-stage trial of the vaccine that targeted H5 bird flu virus, tested in 300 healthy adults.“While the termination of funding from HHS adds uncertainty, we are pleased by the robust immune response and safety profile observed in this interim analysis,” the company said in a statement.H5N1 bird flu viruses spilled from wild bird into cattle in the U.S. last year, infecting hundreds of animals in several states.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-cdc-8857e56c7b91d82613042beaba169a31">At least 70 people</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. have been sickened by bird flu infections, mostly mild. One person died. Scientists fear that continued mutation of the virus could allow it to become more virulent or more easily spread in people, with the possibility that it could trigger a pandemic.Moderna received $176 million in July 2024 and $590 million in January. The January award would have supported a late-stage clinical trial that could have determined the vaccine’s efficacy against pandemic viruses, including bird flu, a company spokesman said.—

US cancels $766 million funding for Moderna bird flu vaccine

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen is due back in udge Quentin Pittman's courtroom Thursday afternoon for a preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=747078">Samuel Loredo, 22, is charged</a> with 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy, 2 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1 count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, 1 count of Aggravated Interference With Parental Custody, and 2 counts of Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just after noon November 18, law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.

Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.

Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.

Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Loredo remains jailed on bonds totaling&nbsp;$1,870,000.00, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732208663228.png" alt="Loredo photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Loredo photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in connection with sex crimes involving a runaway teen is due back in udge Quentin Pittman's courtroom Thursday afternoon for a preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's ofice.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/inmatesearch/Details.aspx?Id=747078">Samuel Loredo, 22, is charged</a> with 3 counts of Criminal Sodomy, 2 counts of Indecent Liberties with a Child, 1 count of Indecent Solicitation of a Child, 1 count of Aggravated Interference With Parental Custody, and 2 counts of Contributing to a Child’s Misconduct, according to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just after noon November 18, law enforcement in Murray, Kentucky informed the Wichita Police Department that a 14-year-old runaway may be in Wichita based on their investigation, according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.Wichita police responded to the area of 2300 N Woodlawn where it was believed that the child may have been. Patrol and Investigations began working together to find additional information to locate the juvenile and determine the circumstances around their presence in Wichita.Throughout the afternoon and the evening detectives with the Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked to conduct additional interviews. Through those interviews, detectives determined that Loredo was communicating with the 14-year-old and arranged for the juvenile to travel to Wichita.As a result of the investigation, police arrested&nbsp; Loredo, and booked him into Sedgwick County Jail.Officers with the Wichita Police Department NET team located the juvenile wandering the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Loredo remains jailed on bonds totaling&nbsp;$1,870,000.00, according to online jail records.

Preliminary Hearing: Kan. man accused of sex crimes with runaway teen

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Trump administration says they’ll go to the Supreme Court if necessary as they appeal a ruling striking down sweeping tariffs the president imposed under an emergency powers law.

The Justice Department argues that the Court of International Trade must pause it ruling now. It calls this halt “critical for the country’s national security and the president’s conduct of ongoing delicate diplomatic efforts.”

The Trump administration is first asking the same three judges who ruled against him to halt their own order pending the appeal. If those judges refuse, it plans to go to a federal appeals court and then the Supreme Court if necessary.

Economic adviser Kevin Hassett said negotiations with other countries won’t be disrupted by a court striking down most of Trump’s tariffs.

“If there are little hiccups here or there because of decisions that activist judges make, then it shouldn’t just concern you at all,” Hassett said on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria. “And it’s certainly not going to affect the negotiations, because in the end, people know President Trump is 100% serious. They also have seen that President Trump always wins.”

He also suggested that the administration would not pursue other legal avenues to relaunch the tariffs, as the judges advised, since those “would take a couple of months to put” into place and the White House is “very, very confident” that the ruling by the New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade is incorrect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743626000304.png" alt="File photo White House image" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Trump administration says they’ll go to the Supreme Court if necessary as they appeal a ruling striking down sweeping tariffs the president imposed under an emergency powers law.The Justice Department argues that the Court of International Trade must pause it ruling now. It calls this halt “critical for the country’s national security and the president’s conduct of ongoing delicate diplomatic efforts.”The Trump administration is first asking the same three judges who ruled against him to halt their own order pending the appeal. If those judges refuse, it plans to go to a federal appeals court and then the Supreme Court if necessary.Economic adviser Kevin Hassett said negotiations with other countries won’t be disrupted by a court striking down most of Trump’s tariffs.“If there are little hiccups here or there because of decisions that activist judges make, then it shouldn’t just concern you at all,” Hassett said on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria. “And it’s certainly not going to affect the negotiations, because in the end, people know President Trump is 100% serious. They also have seen that President Trump always wins.”He also suggested that the administration would not pursue other legal avenues to relaunch the tariffs, as the judges advised, since those “would take a couple of months to put” into place and the White House is “very, very confident” that the ruling by the New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade is incorrect.

Trump vows to appeal ruling on tariffs to the Supreme Court

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A man accused in connection with a fatal crash that killed a motorcyclist made his first court appearance Wednesday.

Serafin Hernandez-Torres, 57 of Wichita, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 5:30p.m. May 22, police responded to the crash between a pickup driven by Hernandez-Torres and motorcycle&nbsp;driven by 27-year-old Allan Smith of Wichita near the intersection of Harry and Water in Wichita.&nbsp;

EMS transported Smith to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police arrested Hernandez-Torres.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $150,000 bond and is due back in court June 9, according to the district attorney's office.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748465345464.png" alt="Hernandez-Torres photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hernandez-Torres photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A man accused in connection with a fatal crash that killed a motorcyclist made his first court appearance Wednesday.Serafin Hernandez-Torres, 57 of Wichita, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748526471646.png" alt="First responders near the scene of the fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders near the scene of the fatal crash -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 5:30p.m. May 22, police responded to the crash between a pickup driven by Hernandez-Torres and motorcycle&nbsp;driven by 27-year-old Allan Smith of Wichita near the intersection of Harry and Water in Wichita.&nbsp;EMS transported Smith to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; Police arrested Hernandez-Torres.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $150,000 bond and is due back in court June 9, according to the district attorney's office.&nbsp;

Pickup driver accused in crash that killed Kansas motorcyclist

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748524255503.png" alt="Mansfield photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Mansfield photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW CENTURY, Kansas. –&nbsp;Kansas Department of Corrections resident Anthony Mansfield has been placed on escape status at approximately 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday after not returning to the Johnson County Department of Corrections (JCDOC) Adult Residential Center (ARC) or reporting to his job Wednesday, according to a media release from the KDOC.Mansfield, a 36-year old white male, is considered dangerous. He was reported missing when the resident could not be located at the minimum-security unit. This walkaway does not impact the security or operations of the medium-maximum secure compound.Mansfield is 5-feet, 8-inches tall, and weighs 185 pounds with an average build. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a&nbsp;white t-shirt with black designs, long black sleeve undershirt, brown boots, brown baseball hat and stonewashed jeans .Mansfield was convicted in Johnson County for eight-months of incarceration for criminal damage to property convictions. He is serving that sentence at the JCDOC-ARC from which he walked away. Under an agreement between the KDOC and JCDOC, residents who have release plans that are appropriate to Johnson County are housed at the ARC.Anyone with information on Mansfield can call EAI at 816-266-2102, JCDOC at 913-715-6539, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (800) 572-7463 or local law enforcement at 911.

KDOC: Dangerous inmate escaped Kan. work release facility

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A total abortion ban is back in Missouri, and for Kansas clinics, that could mean added strain on a system that already serves as a regional safe haven.

Two recent rulings from a lower court judge allowed Missourians to receive abortion care in major cities, blocking years of restrictions implemented by state lawmakers. Those rulings came after voter approval of a constitutional amendment in November enshrining reproductive freedom in the state constitution.

All of that was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-supreme-court-reinstates-abortion-restrictions-imposing-de-facto-ban/" target="_blank">undone</a>&nbsp;in a two-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC101026%20-%20Peremptory%20Writ_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=SC&amp;di=209055" target="_blank">ruling</a>&nbsp;Tuesday from Chief Justice Mary Russell of the Missouri Supreme Court, which ordered Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang to vacate the December and February decisions and reevaluate the case, restoring a ban on abortions and facility licensing restrictions.

Missourians have a constitutional right to reproductive freedom in name only, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Great Plains. She called the Tuesday ruling surprising but added that the organization is accustomed to having to pivot because of court cases and politics.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains has clinics on both sides of the state line, so the impacts of the court’s ruling are widespread for the organization. On the Missouri side, appointment times are being canceled, and care will become scarcer if the ruling remains in place, Wales said. On the Kansas side, the ruling means adding more appointment times and stretching providers to offer care to an entire region.&nbsp;

Trust Women, an independent abortion clinic in Wichita, is actively expanding the number of patients it can take, CEO and president Kathryn Boyd said in a statement.

Boyd called the ban in Missouri “devastating” and a “setback for women’s health, safety, and reproductive rights.” But it’s nothing new, she said.

“We have been providing essential care to people in the face of oppressive policies and threats of violence for a long time,” she said.

Boyd added: “Like in Kansas, Missourians went to the ballot and voted in favor of protecting abortion rights, and now their political leaders are violating the will of the people.”

Kansas abortion clinics serve&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-abortion-clinics-saw-sizable-majority-of-clients-from-out-of-state-in-2024/">mostly out-of-state patients</a>, which has been attributed to its strong reproductive freedoms and its proximity to Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, where residents must seek care away from home.

“Having so few providers to support an entire region is not a sustainable system,” Wales said.

The ruling is a continuation of notoriously difficult-to-access care in Missouri, said Isabel Guarnieri, communications director for the Guttmacher Institute, a health policy research and advocacy organization.

“As of now, the total ban is back in effect, along with other restrictions that force patients to wait and receive counseling before obtaining an abortion and (targeted regulation of abortion providers) laws that make it difficult for clinics to operate,” Guarnieri said in a Wednesday press release.

In 2023, with Missouri’s ban in effect, almost 3,000 Missourians traveled to Kansas for an abortion. More than 8,700 traveled to Illinois. Wales said Planned Parenthood had been hopeful that Missouri’s restoration of access to abortion could have offered Kansas clinics breathing room.

“We know that the demand for the region outpaces what we can provide,” she said.

And that only applies to those who can access care. Without local abortion access, Wales said, people without the ability to travel for care will be left behind.

Missouri lawmakers intend to put another ballot measure before voters, likely in the 2026 general election, that would overturn the November amendment establishing reproductive freedom in the state constitution.

Kansas Republicans have taken a more roundabout approach in presenting to voters an August 2026 referendum on the state Supreme Court justice selection process. Electing state Supreme Court justices by popular vote could give the majority a conservative tilt, paving the way for the reversal of decisions that protect abortion, public school funding and legislative districts, among others.

Attorneys general from Kansas, Missouri and Idaho are involved in a federal lawsuit seeking to rewrite federal prescribing guidelines for medication abortions. The Trump administration has asked the court to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/05/repub/trump-administration-asks-to-dismiss-suit-by-3-gop-states-trying-to-limit-abortion-pill/">dismiss</a>&nbsp;the suit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740446896339.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A total abortion ban is back in Missouri, and for Kansas clinics, that could mean added strain on a system that already serves as a regional safe haven.Two recent rulings from a lower court judge allowed Missourians to receive abortion care in major cities, blocking years of restrictions implemented by state lawmakers. Those rulings came after voter approval of a constitutional amendment in November enshrining reproductive freedom in the state constitution.All of that was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-supreme-court-reinstates-abortion-restrictions-imposing-de-facto-ban/" target="_blank">undone</a>&nbsp;in a two-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC101026%20-%20Peremptory%20Writ_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=SC&amp;di=209055" target="_blank">ruling</a>&nbsp;Tuesday from Chief Justice Mary Russell of the Missouri Supreme Court, which ordered Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Jerri Zhang to vacate the December and February decisions and reevaluate the case, restoring a ban on abortions and facility licensing restrictions.Missourians have a constitutional right to reproductive freedom in name only, said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Great Plains. She called the Tuesday ruling surprising but added that the organization is accustomed to having to pivot because of court cases and politics.Planned Parenthood Great Plains has clinics on both sides of the state line, so the impacts of the court’s ruling are widespread for the organization. On the Missouri side, appointment times are being canceled, and care will become scarcer if the ruling remains in place, Wales said. On the Kansas side, the ruling means adding more appointment times and stretching providers to offer care to an entire region.&nbsp;Trust Women, an independent abortion clinic in Wichita, is actively expanding the number of patients it can take, CEO and president Kathryn Boyd said in a statement.Boyd called the ban in Missouri “devastating” and a “setback for women’s health, safety, and reproductive rights.” But it’s nothing new, she said.“We have been providing essential care to people in the face of oppressive policies and threats of violence for a long time,” she said.Boyd added: “Like in Kansas, Missourians went to the ballot and voted in favor of protecting abortion rights, and now their political leaders are violating the will of the people.”Kansas abortion clinics serve&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-abortion-clinics-saw-sizable-majority-of-clients-from-out-of-state-in-2024/">mostly out-of-state patients</a>, which has been attributed to its strong reproductive freedoms and its proximity to Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, where residents must seek care away from home.“Having so few providers to support an entire region is not a sustainable system,” Wales said.The ruling is a continuation of notoriously difficult-to-access care in Missouri, said Isabel Guarnieri, communications director for the Guttmacher Institute, a health policy research and advocacy organization.“As of now, the total ban is back in effect, along with other restrictions that force patients to wait and receive counseling before obtaining an abortion and (targeted regulation of abortion providers) laws that make it difficult for clinics to operate,” Guarnieri said in a Wednesday press release.In 2023, with Missouri’s ban in effect, almost 3,000 Missourians traveled to Kansas for an abortion. More than 8,700 traveled to Illinois. Wales said Planned Parenthood had been hopeful that Missouri’s restoration of access to abortion could have offered Kansas clinics breathing room.“We know that the demand for the region outpaces what we can provide,” she said.And that only applies to those who can access care. Without local abortion access, Wales said, people without the ability to travel for care will be left behind.Missouri lawmakers intend to put another ballot measure before voters, likely in the 2026 general election, that would overturn the November amendment establishing reproductive freedom in the state constitution.Kansas Republicans have taken a more roundabout approach in presenting to voters an August 2026 referendum on the state Supreme Court justice selection process. Electing state Supreme Court justices by popular vote could give the majority a conservative tilt, paving the way for the reversal of decisions that protect abortion, public school funding and legislative districts, among others.Attorneys general from Kansas, Missouri and Idaho are involved in a federal lawsuit seeking to rewrite federal prescribing guidelines for medication abortions. The Trump administration has asked the court to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/05/repub/trump-administration-asks-to-dismiss-suit-by-3-gop-states-trying-to-limit-abortion-pill/">dismiss</a>&nbsp;the suit.

Kansas abortion clinics could take on more patients in Missouri ban fallout

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 9p.m. Wednesday, patrol officers were dispatched to a shooting in the 9600 block of Fremont Street, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.As officers arrived they were directed to the driveway of a residence where they located a man and woman suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered KCFD EMS to the scene. Medics declared both victims deceased, on scene.This is being investigated as a homicide and no one is in custody, according to DiMaratino. Preliminary investigation revealed there was an argument that led to a physical confrontation between several individuals. The physical confrontation led to shots being fired and the victims being struck. Police have not released the names of the victims.