NEW YORK (AP) — The Small Business Administration has run out of money for the disaster assistance loans it offers small businesses, homeowners and renters, delaying much needed relief for people applying for aid in the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to businesses and people affected by disasters. The SBA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-small-business-administration-milton-loans-f087fa405a3e0a9e691fd9c6192be259">warned earlier this month that it could run out of funding</a>, given the anticipated surge in claims from Hurricane Helene, without additional funding from Congress.

There are other disaster relief programs available, including assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. The FEMA aid isn't affected by the SBA shortfall.

Helene was a Category 4 storm that first struck Florida’s Gulf Coast on September 26, dumped trillions of gallons of rain and left a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-death-toll-asheville-north-carolina-34d1226bb31f79dfb2ff6827e40587fc">trail of destruction for hundreds of miles across several states</a>. Hurricane Milton swept across Florida two weeks later.

So far, the SBA has received around 37,000 applications for relief from those impacted by Hurricane Helene and made more than 700 loan offers totaling about $48 million. It has received 12,000 applications from those impacted by Hurricane Milton.

The SBA is pausing new loan offers until it gets more funding, which means loans that have not already been offered will be delayed by at least a month. SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said people should keep applying for the loans, however.

“We know that swift financial relief can help communities recover quickly to stabilize local economies.” Guzman said in a statement. She added that the SBA will continue to process applications so assistance can be quickly disbursed once funds are replenished.

The SBA said it could also be able to make a small number of new loan offers during this time, if it gets more funds from loan cancellations or similar actions.

House Speaker Mike Johnson assured there would be strong support to provide necessary funds – when Congress returns after the November election.

“There’s no question these devastating back-to-back storms have stressed the SBA funding program,” Johnson, a Republican, said in a statement. “But the Biden-Harris Administration has the necessary disaster funding right now to address the immediate needs of American people in these hurricane affected areas.”

The speaker has declined to recall lawmakers back to Washington to vote on aid in the aftermath of deadly hurricanes and declined to do so now. He said Congress is tracking this situation closely.

“When Members return in just a few short weeks, the Administration should have an accurate assessment of the actual dollar amount needed and there will be strong bipartisan support to provide the necessary funding,” he said.

The SBA offers two different types of disaster loans. Business physical disaster loans are for repairing or replacing disaster-damaged property, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Economic injury disaster loans are working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations meet financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of a disaster.

Businesses can access loans up to $2 million. Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses and 3.25% for nonprofit organizations.

The SBA also offers disaster loans up to $500,000 to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.

FEMA's disaster relief fund is a pot of money the agency uses to respond to disasters. The money pays for things like refunding state and local officials for debris removal and rebuilding public infrastructure damaged by disasters. FEMA also gives disaster survivors money for things like rent while their homes are uninhabitable or for emergency needs like diapers.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has repeatedly said that the disaster relief fund has enough money to respond to Helene and Milton. But Criswell has said that the agency eventually will need supplemental funding from Congress. If that doesn’t happen, the agency would go into what’s called “immediate needs funding.” That means the agency stops paying out for previous disasters and conserves its money for life-saving missions during any new ones.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729042223038.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The Small Business Administration has run out of money for the disaster assistance loans it offers small businesses, homeowners and renters, delaying much needed relief for people applying for aid in the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to businesses and people affected by disasters. The SBA&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-small-business-administration-milton-loans-f087fa405a3e0a9e691fd9c6192be259">warned earlier this month that it could run out of funding</a>, given the anticipated surge in claims from Hurricane Helene, without additional funding from Congress.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727712742274.png" alt="Photo North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson" />
 <figcaption>Photo North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson</figcaption>
 </figure>There are other disaster relief programs available, including assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA. The FEMA aid isn't affected by the SBA shortfall.Helene was a Category 4 storm that first struck Florida’s Gulf Coast on September 26, dumped trillions of gallons of rain and left a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-death-toll-asheville-north-carolina-34d1226bb31f79dfb2ff6827e40587fc">trail of destruction for hundreds of miles across several states</a>. Hurricane Milton swept across Florida two weeks later.So far, the SBA has received around 37,000 applications for relief from those impacted by Hurricane Helene and made more than 700 loan offers totaling about $48 million. It has received 12,000 applications from those impacted by Hurricane Milton.The SBA is pausing new loan offers until it gets more funding, which means loans that have not already been offered will be delayed by at least a month. SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said people should keep applying for the loans, however.“We know that swift financial relief can help communities recover quickly to stabilize local economies.” Guzman said in a statement. She added that the SBA will continue to process applications so assistance can be quickly disbursed once funds are replenished.The SBA said it could also be able to make a small number of new loan offers during this time, if it gets more funds from loan cancellations or similar actions.House Speaker Mike Johnson assured there would be strong support to provide necessary funds – when Congress returns after the November election.“There’s no question these devastating back-to-back storms have stressed the SBA funding program,” Johnson, a Republican, said in a statement. “But the Biden-Harris Administration has the necessary disaster funding right now to address the immediate needs of American people in these hurricane affected areas.”The speaker has declined to recall lawmakers back to Washington to vote on aid in the aftermath of deadly hurricanes and declined to do so now. He said Congress is tracking this situation closely.“When Members return in just a few short weeks, the Administration should have an accurate assessment of the actual dollar amount needed and there will be strong bipartisan support to provide the necessary funding,” he said.The SBA offers two different types of disaster loans. Business physical disaster loans are for repairing or replacing disaster-damaged property, including real estate, inventories, supplies, machinery and equipment. Economic injury disaster loans are working capital loans to help small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private, non-profit organizations meet financial obligations that cannot be met as a direct result of a disaster.Businesses can access loans up to $2 million. Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses and 3.25% for nonprofit organizations.The SBA also offers disaster loans up to $500,000 to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.FEMA's disaster relief fund is a pot of money the agency uses to respond to disasters. The money pays for things like refunding state and local officials for debris removal and rebuilding public infrastructure damaged by disasters. FEMA also gives disaster survivors money for things like rent while their homes are uninhabitable or for emergency needs like diapers.FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has repeatedly said that the disaster relief fund has enough money to respond to Helene and Milton. But Criswell has said that the agency eventually will need supplemental funding from Congress. If that doesn’t happen, the agency would go into what’s called “immediate needs funding.” That means the agency stops paying out for previous disasters and conserves its money for life-saving missions during any new ones.

Small business disaster loan program is out of money until Congress takes action

KANSAS CITY—The Kansas City Public Safety Task Force closed the Westport Media Collective,&nbsp;315 Westport Road Suite 200, Kansas City, following a mass shooting and multiple complaints.

The business was operating without a valid license or a current fire marshal inspection, according to a media release from the Task Force.

"Kansas City government will take all steps available to ensure resident safety, including business closures for those endangering their customers and not complying with our laws," Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas wrote on his social media account.

On October 9, a shooting in the 300 block of Westport Road,&nbsp;injured four adults and a teenager.&nbsp; Police have not reported how or if the business was involved with the shooting. Police also have not reported an arrest or announced suspect details. The victims are&nbsp;expected to recover, according to KCPD.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729073236258.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—The Kansas City Public Safety Task Force closed the Westport Media Collective,&nbsp;315 Westport Road Suite 200, Kansas City, following a mass shooting and multiple complaints.The business was operating without a valid license or a current fire marshal inspection, according to a media release from the Task Force.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kansas City government will take all steps available to ensure resident safety, including business closure for those endangering their customers and not compliant with our laws. Our City&#39;s public safety task force issued the following notice today regarding a Westport business. <a href="https://t.co/h44xa51YFk">pic.twitter.com/h44xa51YFk</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1846310614869987488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"Kansas City government will take all steps available to ensure resident safety, including business closures for those endangering their customers and not complying with our laws," Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas wrote on his social media account.On October 9, a shooting in the 300 block of Westport Road,&nbsp;injured four adults and a teenager.&nbsp; Police have not reported how or if the business was involved with the shooting. Police also have not reported an arrest or announced suspect details. The victims are&nbsp;expected to recover, according to KCPD.

Kansas City shuts down Westport business after mass shooting

WICHITA— The sentencing scheduled Wednesday for a Kansas man for kidnapping three children and sexually assaulting two of them&nbsp;last year has been continued to October 25, according to online records.

On Aug. 2, a jury convicted 23-year-old Manasseh Ward of kidnapping, four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, three counts of aggravated sodomy, attempted rape, aggravated assault and interference with law enforcement, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In June, a judge ruled&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=246512">&nbsp;Ward</a>&nbsp; was competent to stand trial for charges.

Just before 4p.m. January 4, 2023, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

The man later identified as Ward attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. Ward let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.

Just before 9a.m. January 5, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.

A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..

While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took Ward into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.&nbsp; In September, police arrested Ward in connection with the alleged crimes.

Ward is scheduled to be sentenced on September 27, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673003077182.png" alt="Ward photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Ward photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA— The sentencing scheduled Wednesday for a Kansas man for kidnapping three children and sexually assaulting two of them&nbsp;last year has been continued to October 25, according to online records.On Aug. 2, a jury convicted 23-year-old Manasseh Ward of kidnapping, four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, three counts of aggravated sodomy, attempted rape, aggravated assault and interference with law enforcement, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In June, a judge ruled&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=246512">&nbsp;Ward</a>&nbsp; was competent to stand trial for charges.Just before 4p.m. January 4, 2023, a teenage girl reported being kidnapped by a man driving a blue vehicle in the 6600 block of East Boston in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.The man later identified as Ward attempted to sexually assault the girl in the car. Ward let the child go and she reported the incident to a family member.Just before 9a.m. January 5, two elementary-aged children, a boy and girl, left their home on foot in the 900 block of South Drury to head to Clark Elementary School at 650 S Apache in Wichita.A man in a blue vehicle kidnapped the children. The suspect put both kids in his vehicle and then drove away. A short time later he dropped the boy victim off and left with the girl..While gathering information officers were patrolling the area and located the suspect vehicle and attempted to stop it. &nbsp;A brief foot pursuit occurred and officers took Ward into custody in the 6600 block of East Boston.&nbsp; In September, police arrested Ward in connection with the alleged crimes.Ward is scheduled to be sentenced on September 27, according to the district attorney's office.

Sentencing delayed for sex crimes near Kan. elementary school

KANSAS CITY—Five were rescued from an apartment building fire Tuesday in Kansas City.

Just after 5:30a.m. Tuesday, crews responded to a reported apartment building fire in the 300 block of Gladestone Boulevard, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

&nbsp;Crews reported heavy fire and smoke on the first floor of a four-story apartment building. Crews initiated an interior offensive attack. Multiple reports of trapped occupants due to heavy smoke conditions throughout the structure.

KCFD executed a total of five rescues from the second, third and fourth floors. Four occupants were transported for smoke inhalation to be evaluated. All patients were in stable condition. Red Cross has been ordered for 13 adults and 3 children. No other injuries were reported. The fire was contained to a single apartment, however, there is smoke damage throughout the building.&nbsp;

Investigators classified the cause of the fire as accidental and undetermined. The origin of the fire was determined to involve an electric baseboard heater, according toHopkins. However, investigators were unable to determine if there was an electrical failure of the heater or if radiant heat onto flammable items was the cause. This is due to the extensive damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728998256050.png" alt="Photo&nbsp;KC Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo&nbsp;KC Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Five were rescued from an apartment building fire Tuesday in Kansas City.Just after 5:30a.m. Tuesday, crews responded to a reported apartment building fire in the 300 block of Gladestone Boulevard, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.&nbsp;Crews reported heavy fire and smoke on the first floor of a four-story apartment building. Crews initiated an interior offensive attack. Multiple reports of trapped occupants due to heavy smoke conditions throughout the structure.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728998113417.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KCFD executed a total of five rescues from the second, third and fourth floors. Four occupants were transported for smoke inhalation to be evaluated. All patients were in stable condition. Red Cross has been ordered for 13 adults and 3 children. No other injuries were reported. The fire was contained to a single apartment, however, there is smoke damage throughout the building.&nbsp;Investigators classified the cause of the fire as accidental and undetermined. The origin of the fire was determined to involve an electric baseboard heater, according toHopkins. However, investigators were unable to determine if there was an electrical failure of the heater or if radiant heat onto flammable items was the cause. This is due to the extensive damage.

Five rescued after Kansas City apartment building fire

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged counterfeiting and asking the public for help to identify suspects, according to Lenexa Police.

The two individuals shown on security cameras are part of the investigation. They are suspected of passing counterfeit bills at area retailers. They may be driving a black SUV, according to police. If you recognize them, please call the detective in Lenexa at&nbsp; 913-825-8097.

Police also mention, "The magic photo enhancer like in the movies is currently not operational."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729017004777.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged counterfeiting and asking the public for help to identify suspects, according to Lenexa Police.The two individuals shown on security cameras are part of the investigation. They are suspected of passing counterfeit bills at area retailers. They may be driving a black SUV, according to police. If you recognize them, please call the detective in Lenexa at&nbsp; 913-825-8097.Police also mention, "The magic photo enhancer like in the movies is currently not operational."

Police ask for help to ID suspects in Kan. counterfeit bill investigation

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon announced Tuesday that more than 800 military personnel have seen their service records upgraded to honorable discharges after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-gay-pardon-biden-benefits-b181478e4bfeda52de82a129b7c60857">previously being kicked out of the military</a>&nbsp;under its former “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.

It is the latest development over the decades to undo past discrimination against LGBTQ service members.

The 1951 Uniform Code of Military Justice's Article 125 had criminalized consensual gay sex. In 1993, former President Bill Clinton modified the military's policy to “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which allowed LGBTQ troops to serve in the armed forces if they didn’t disclose their sexual orientation.

That policy was repealed in 2011, when Congress allowed for their open service in the military. The 1951 UCMJ code was modified in 2013 to be limited to nonconsensual gay sex.

President Joe Biden in June announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-lgbtq-pride-pardon-military-pentagon-sodomy-a83b799323380de10aac0ca6fb57595b">he was issuing pardons</a>&nbsp;to service members convicted under repealed military policies.

Under “don't ask, don't tell,” thousands of service members still saw their military service ended without an honorable discharge, meaning they did not receive the military benefits they would have otherwise, such as education benefits, and it also could have affected their ability to apply for jobs or loans.

Last year, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-lgbtq-dont-ask-dont-tell-571491100b592ab7d86e99e2e2bbf5bb">ordered a review of cases</a>&nbsp;of former service members who might have been affected by the policy.

The Pentagon estimates about 13,500 service members in total were released from military service under “don't ask, don't tell.” With the review and upgrades of the more than 800 troops announced Tuesday, the Pentagon said that about 96% of the 13,500 personnel affected by the policy now have received an honorable discharge.

Not every case of the 13,500 needed review — some of those personnel either did not serve long enough to qualify for benefits, they were released with an honorable discharge at the time, they already had their discharges upgraded through other means, or they did not qualify for an upgrade due to other violations.

“We will continue to honor the service and the sacrifice of all our troops — including the brave Americans who raised their hands to serve but were turned away because of whom they love. We will continue to strive to do right by every American patriot who has honorably served their country,” Austin said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716227898108.png" alt="File photo U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon announced Tuesday that more than 800 military personnel have seen their service records upgraded to honorable discharges after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-gay-pardon-biden-benefits-b181478e4bfeda52de82a129b7c60857">previously being kicked out of the military</a>&nbsp;under its former “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.It is the latest development over the decades to undo past discrimination against LGBTQ service members.The 1951 Uniform Code of Military Justice's Article 125 had criminalized consensual gay sex. In 1993, former President Bill Clinton modified the military's policy to “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which allowed LGBTQ troops to serve in the armed forces if they didn’t disclose their sexual orientation.That policy was repealed in 2011, when Congress allowed for their open service in the military. The 1951 UCMJ code was modified in 2013 to be limited to nonconsensual gay sex.President Joe Biden in June announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-lgbtq-pride-pardon-military-pentagon-sodomy-a83b799323380de10aac0ca6fb57595b">he was issuing pardons</a>&nbsp;to service members convicted under repealed military policies.Under “don't ask, don't tell,” thousands of service members still saw their military service ended without an honorable discharge, meaning they did not receive the military benefits they would have otherwise, such as education benefits, and it also could have affected their ability to apply for jobs or loans.Last year, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-lgbtq-dont-ask-dont-tell-571491100b592ab7d86e99e2e2bbf5bb">ordered a review of cases</a>&nbsp;of former service members who might have been affected by the policy.The Pentagon estimates about 13,500 service members in total were released from military service under “don't ask, don't tell.” With the review and upgrades of the more than 800 troops announced Tuesday, the Pentagon said that about 96% of the 13,500 personnel affected by the policy now have received an honorable discharge.Not every case of the 13,500 needed review — some of those personnel either did not serve long enough to qualify for benefits, they were released with an honorable discharge at the time, they already had their discharges upgraded through other means, or they did not qualify for an upgrade due to other violations.“We will continue to honor the service and the sacrifice of all our troops — including the brave Americans who raised their hands to serve but were turned away because of whom they love. We will continue to strive to do right by every American patriot who has honorably served their country,” Austin said in a statement.

U.S. troops kicked out under 'don't ask, don't tell' get upgraded to honorable discharges

TEXAS COUNTY, Missouri —Two adults and a child died in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Tuesday in Texas County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2000 Lincoln passenger car driven by Tommy L. Federico, 23, Roby, was southbound on MO 17 ten miles north of Houston, Missouri.

The car traveled off the right side of the road, returned to the road, began to skid sideways, crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2022 Ford pickup driven by John W. Raney, 26, Houston, Missouri, head-on.

Federico and passengers in the Lincoln Helen L. Drury, 26, and a 5-year-old girl both of Roby were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Evans Funeral Home. Children's Mercy Critical Care transport aircraft transported a 3-year-old girl in the car to Children's Mercy in Kansas City. Mercy Lifeline transported a 1-year-0ld boy in the car to&nbsp;University Hospital in Columbia.

Raney was not injured. The two adults in the car were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

TEXAS COUNTY, Missouri —Two adults and a child died in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Tuesday in Texas County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2000 Lincoln passenger car driven by Tommy L. Federico, 23, Roby, was southbound on MO 17 ten miles north of Houston, Missouri.The car traveled off the right side of the road, returned to the road, began to skid sideways, crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2022 Ford pickup driven by John W. Raney, 26, Houston, Missouri, head-on.Federico and passengers in the Lincoln Helen L. Drury, 26, and a 5-year-old girl both of Roby were pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Evans Funeral Home. Children's Mercy Critical Care transport aircraft transported a 3-year-old girl in the car to Children's Mercy in Kansas City. Mercy Lifeline transported a 1-year-0ld boy in the car to&nbsp;University Hospital in Columbia.Raney was not injured. The two adults in the car were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

3-year-old hospitalized in KC after 3 killed in head-on crash

KANSAS CITY – Fifteen more defendants including eleven from Kansas have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy after law enforcement officers seized 100 pounds of methamphetamine and a kilogram of fentanyl pills hidden in a vehicle being transported from San Bernadino, California to Springfield, Missouri, according to the United State's Attorney.

Stevie Delane Logan, Jr., 34, Daron Cortez Kelly, 36, Damion Williams, 34, Necole Jennings, 47, Osric Rashaad Edwards, 25, Shawn Weston Morris, 54, and Rikkita Charnay Tolbert, 37, all of Parsons, Kansas; William Edward McKinzie, 52, Juston Dean Crane, 39, and Gary Jay Watkins, Jr., 54, all of Joplin, Missouri; James Richard Sharp, 55, of Seneca, Missouri; Jon Kurtis Smith, 39, of El Dorado, Kansas; Christuffer Allen Roeder, 28, of Independence, Kansas; William Earl Troester, Jr., 45, of Wichita, Kansas and Kylei Paige Sullivan, 27, of St. Paul, Kansas, were charged in an 18-count second superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri.. That indictment was unsealed and made public&nbsp; following the arrests of all remaining defendants.

The initial indictment in this case charged Dontrell Anthony Powell, 34, and his brother, Dreshawn Powell, 27, both of Springfield, and Willie Murry, Jr., 42, and Mark Monta Logan, 33, both of Parsons, on Feb. 6, 2024. They remain as defendants in this second superseding indictment.

The federal indictment alleges that 17 of the defendants, with the exceptions of Tolbert and Sullivan, participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Greene, Jasper, and Newton Counties, and elsewhere, from Jan. 1, 2022, to April 20, 2024.

The federal indictment also alleges that 14 of the defendants, with the exceptions of McKinzie, Crane, Morris, Sharp, and Watkins, participated in a money-laundering conspiracy.

Several defendants also are charged in various counts related to drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms.

According to court documents, investigation into the drug-trafficking organization began when a Trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol searched a vehicle on a car hauler at a truck stop in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Jan. 17, 2024. The Trooper found approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of fentanyl pills hidden in a subwoofer speaker box in the cargo area of the car, a Dodge Magnum. The driver of the car hauler, who was not involved in the drug shipment, agreed to deliver the Dodge Magnum to its destination at a parking lot in Springfield.

Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration removed the fentanyl pills from the Dodge Magnum and replaced most of the methamphetamine with sham methamphetamine before conducting a controlled delivery of the vehicle the next morning. On January 18, 2024, Dontrell Powell and Dreshawn Powell arrived at the parking lot together in a Mercedes while Murry and Mark Logan arrived together in a BMW. Dontrell Powell met with the driver of the car hauler to sign for the Dodge Magnum and attempted to start the vehicle, but the battery was dead. Murray and Mark Logan helped jump start the Dodge Magnum, and Dontrell Powell drove it out of the parking lot as the other three men followed in their vehicles. Agents followed the three vehicles to Dontrell Powell’s residence, where they were arrested.

Agents also searched Dontrell Powell’s residence and found, in addition to the controlled delivery from the Dodge Magnum, an AM-15 pistol, .223 ammunition, several high-capacity magazines with ammunition, more than $100,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. Agents also found a loaded Glock pistol in one of the vehicles, numerous cell phones, four more large subwoofer boxes (two of which contained shards of crystal methamphetamine), and drug paraphernalia.

Following the controlled delivery of the Dodge Magnum, agents obtained a court order authorizing the interception of wire and electronic communications over three cellular phones being utilized by Mark Logan’s brother, Stevie Logan, in connection with his distribution of methamphetamine.

The investigation culminated on April 20, 2024, when Stevie Logan received a call from McKinzie requesting methamphetamine. Stevie Logan directed Kelly and Williams to retrieve methamphetamine from Jennings’ residence in Parsons, Kan. Kelly and Williams picked Stevie Logan up from a gas station in Pittsburg, Kan., and the three men traveled to a hotel in Joplin, Mo. As McKinzie approached the vehicle, all four men were arrested. Agents searched the vehicle and located approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine inside of a large tub.

Agents also searched McKinzie’s hotel room and located an additional five ounces of methamphetamine and three firearms.

In addition to the two conspiracies, Dontrell Powell is charged with one count of money laundering, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Dontrell Powell allegedly possessed an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol on January 18, 2024. Dontrell Powell allegedly possessed another Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol on June 12, 2022. Dontrell Powell is subject to enhanced penalties resulting from a prior felony conviction for possession of dangerous drugs for sale.

Dontrell Powell, Murry, Dreshawn Powell, and Mark Logan are charged together in one count of attempting to possess methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

Murry and Mark Logan also are charged together in one count of traveling across state lines from Kansas to Missouri with the intent to carry on or facilitate an unlawful activity (possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl).

Stevie Logan, Kelly, Williams, and Jennings are charged together in one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and McKinzie is charged with one count of attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

Stevie Logan, Kelly, and Williams are charged together in one count of traveling across state lines from Kansas to Missouri with the intent to carry on or facilitate an unlawful activity (possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine).

McKinzie also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. McKinzie allegedly possessed an Arcadia Machine &amp; Tool .45-caliber pistol, a Ruger 9mm pistol, and a Sundance .25-caliber pistol on April 20, 2024.

Sharp also is charged with two counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Sharp allegedly possessed a Sig Sauer .45-caliber pistol on May 3, 2021.

Crane also is charged with one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728591106721.png" alt="William Troester is being held in Butler County" />
 <figcaption>William Troester is being held in Butler County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – Fifteen more defendants including eleven from Kansas have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a drug-trafficking conspiracy after law enforcement officers seized 100 pounds of methamphetamine and a kilogram of fentanyl pills hidden in a vehicle being transported from San Bernadino, California to Springfield, Missouri, according to the United State's Attorney.Stevie Delane Logan, Jr., 34, Daron Cortez Kelly, 36, Damion Williams, 34, Necole Jennings, 47, Osric Rashaad Edwards, 25, Shawn Weston Morris, 54, and Rikkita Charnay Tolbert, 37, all of Parsons, Kansas; William Edward McKinzie, 52, Juston Dean Crane, 39, and Gary Jay Watkins, Jr., 54, all of Joplin, Missouri; James Richard Sharp, 55, of Seneca, Missouri; Jon Kurtis Smith, 39, of El Dorado, Kansas; Christuffer Allen Roeder, 28, of Independence, Kansas; William Earl Troester, Jr., 45, of Wichita, Kansas and Kylei Paige Sullivan, 27, of St. Paul, Kansas, were charged in an 18-count second superseding indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Missouri.. That indictment was unsealed and made public&nbsp; following the arrests of all remaining defendants.The initial indictment in this case charged Dontrell Anthony Powell, 34, and his brother, Dreshawn Powell, 27, both of Springfield, and Willie Murry, Jr., 42, and Mark Monta Logan, 33, both of Parsons, on Feb. 6, 2024. They remain as defendants in this second superseding indictment.The federal indictment alleges that 17 of the defendants, with the exceptions of Tolbert and Sullivan, participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Greene, Jasper, and Newton Counties, and elsewhere, from Jan. 1, 2022, to April 20, 2024.The federal indictment also alleges that 14 of the defendants, with the exceptions of McKinzie, Crane, Morris, Sharp, and Watkins, participated in a money-laundering conspiracy.Several defendants also are charged in various counts related to drug trafficking and illegally possessing firearms.According to court documents, investigation into the drug-trafficking organization began when a Trooper with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol searched a vehicle on a car hauler at a truck stop in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Jan. 17, 2024. The Trooper found approximately 100 pounds of methamphetamine and two pounds of fentanyl pills hidden in a subwoofer speaker box in the cargo area of the car, a Dodge Magnum. The driver of the car hauler, who was not involved in the drug shipment, agreed to deliver the Dodge Magnum to its destination at a parking lot in Springfield.Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration removed the fentanyl pills from the Dodge Magnum and replaced most of the methamphetamine with sham methamphetamine before conducting a controlled delivery of the vehicle the next morning. On January 18, 2024, Dontrell Powell and Dreshawn Powell arrived at the parking lot together in a Mercedes while Murry and Mark Logan arrived together in a BMW. Dontrell Powell met with the driver of the car hauler to sign for the Dodge Magnum and attempted to start the vehicle, but the battery was dead. Murray and Mark Logan helped jump start the Dodge Magnum, and Dontrell Powell drove it out of the parking lot as the other three men followed in their vehicles. Agents followed the three vehicles to Dontrell Powell’s residence, where they were arrested.Agents also searched Dontrell Powell’s residence and found, in addition to the controlled delivery from the Dodge Magnum, an AM-15 pistol, .223 ammunition, several high-capacity magazines with ammunition, more than $100,000 in cash, and drug paraphernalia. Agents also found a loaded Glock pistol in one of the vehicles, numerous cell phones, four more large subwoofer boxes (two of which contained shards of crystal methamphetamine), and drug paraphernalia.Following the controlled delivery of the Dodge Magnum, agents obtained a court order authorizing the interception of wire and electronic communications over three cellular phones being utilized by Mark Logan’s brother, Stevie Logan, in connection with his distribution of methamphetamine.The investigation culminated on April 20, 2024, when Stevie Logan received a call from McKinzie requesting methamphetamine. Stevie Logan directed Kelly and Williams to retrieve methamphetamine from Jennings’ residence in Parsons, Kan. Kelly and Williams picked Stevie Logan up from a gas station in Pittsburg, Kan., and the three men traveled to a hotel in Joplin, Mo. As McKinzie approached the vehicle, all four men were arrested. Agents searched the vehicle and located approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine inside of a large tub.Agents also searched McKinzie’s hotel room and located an additional five ounces of methamphetamine and three firearms.In addition to the two conspiracies, Dontrell Powell is charged with one count of money laundering, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Dontrell Powell allegedly possessed an Anderson Manufacturing AM-15 multi-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol on January 18, 2024. Dontrell Powell allegedly possessed another Glock .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol on June 12, 2022. Dontrell Powell is subject to enhanced penalties resulting from a prior felony conviction for possession of dangerous drugs for sale.Dontrell Powell, Murry, Dreshawn Powell, and Mark Logan are charged together in one count of attempting to possess methamphetamine and fentanyl with the intent to distribute.Murry and Mark Logan also are charged together in one count of traveling across state lines from Kansas to Missouri with the intent to carry on or facilitate an unlawful activity (possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl).Stevie Logan, Kelly, Williams, and Jennings are charged together in one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and McKinzie is charged with one count of attempting to possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.Stevie Logan, Kelly, and Williams are charged together in one count of traveling across state lines from Kansas to Missouri with the intent to carry on or facilitate an unlawful activity (possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine).McKinzie also is charged with one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. McKinzie allegedly possessed an Arcadia Machine &amp; Tool .45-caliber pistol, a Ruger 9mm pistol, and a Sundance .25-caliber pistol on April 20, 2024.Sharp also is charged with two counts of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. Sharp allegedly possessed a Sig Sauer .45-caliber pistol on May 3, 2021.Crane also is charged with one count of possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.

13 from Kansas among suspects charged in fentanyl sale conspiracy

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 12:30a.m.&nbsp; Tuesday in Kansas City.

An Audi A5 was eastbound on Interstate 70 at a very high rate of speed, according to KCPD Office Jake Becchina. In the area of Interstate 70 and Prospect, the driver failed to negotiate the curvature of the highway. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right and rolled several times, ejecting the unrestrained driver and sole occupant of the from the vehicle. 

EMS transported the driver to a local hospital where they were pronounced deceased. 

This is fatality #75 compared to #78 at this time last year, according to Becchina. The accident remains under investigation.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 12:30a.m.&nbsp; Tuesday in Kansas City.An Audi A5 was eastbound on Interstate 70 at a very high rate of speed, according to KCPD Office Jake Becchina. In the area of Interstate 70 and Prospect, the driver failed to negotiate the curvature of the highway. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right and rolled several times, ejecting the unrestrained driver and sole occupant of the from the vehicle. EMS transported the driver to a local hospital where they were pronounced deceased. This is fatality #75 compared to #78 at this time last year, according to Becchina. The accident remains under investigation.

KCPD: Driver dies in violent rollover accident on I-70

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Chariton County cannot block construction of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/13/grain-belt-express-transmission-line-wins-final-approval-in-missouri/">Grain Belt Express electric transmission line</a>&nbsp;by refusing permission to cross county roads, the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

The county can establish rules for how the transmission line crosses its roads, the court ruled as it modified a trial court decision that said the county could make no regulations at all.

“The decision as to whether Grain Belt’s overhead transmission lines for the project would be constructed across Chariton County’s public roads was already made by the (Missouri Public Service Commission) when it issued its Report and Order on Remand granting the (certificate of convenience and necessity) and approving the final proposed route of the project,” Judge Lisa White Hardwick wrote in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=213613" target="_blank">unanimous decision</a>&nbsp;of the three-judge panel.

Grain Belt will be constructed by Chicago-based Invenergy and be a 5,000 megawatt line to move wind-derived power from western Kansas to the Indiana border. Half the power it carries will be delivered to Missouri utilities.

At first welcomed by many of the counties it will cross in north Missouri, the line has become controversial with complaints about aesthetics, whether high-voltage lines cause health issues and the power of the Public Service Commission to grant eminent domain power to obtain land for construction.

Republican legislators and agricultural groups tried repeatedly to strip Grain Belt’s right of eminent domain, which would have killed the project. But in 2022, lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/08/missouri-governor-to-sign-compromise-legislation-after-efforts-to-stymie-grain-belt-express/">passed compromise legislation</a>&nbsp;requiring, in the event of future large transmission lines, greater compensation for landowners and setting a seven-year time limit for companies to build transmission lines after obtaining their easements.&nbsp;

Grain Belt’s disagreements with Chariton County began in 2014, Hardwick wrote in the decision, two years after it had initially received consent from the Chariton County Commission to cross its county-owned roads. Chariton County withdrew its consent and made it contingent upon the PSC approving the project.

When it received initial approval from the PSC, Grain Belt’s owners tried to negotiate with Chariton County. When it refused again to give its consent, the lawsuit followed.

Associate Circuit Judge Daren Adkins, assigned to the case from Daviess County, ruled that a state law&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=49.650&amp;bid=1714&amp;hl=" target="_blank">barring counties</a>&nbsp;from adopting ordinances “governing” utilities within their boundaries meant that&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=229.100&amp;bid=12358&amp;hl=" target="_blank">an older law</a>, requiring utilities to obtain consent from utilities to go “through, on, under or across” its roads could not be enforced.

The decision Tuesday modified that ruling. The law prohibiting an ordinance governing a utility is designed to protect against local rules that are in conflict with state rules, the court said.

But it doesn’t mean the law requiring consent to cross a road doesn’t have any effect, Hardwick wrote. The county can set standards but it cannot withhold its consent, she wrote.

“A fair interpretation is that (law) requires a county commission’s agreement regarding how a utility’s infrastructure will be constructed across the county’s public roads,” she wrote “not whether such utility’s infrastructure will be constructed across the county’s public roads in the first place.”

Overall utility policy is set at the state level, not the county level, she wrote.

“Doing so usurps the authority granted the MPSC in Chapter 386,” she wrote, “and exercises a power granted to the county in a manner contrary to the public policy of this state.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598444309811.png" alt="The project, will stretch about 800 miles from Kansas to Indiana, on a route crossing Missouri and Illinois." />
 <figcaption>The project, will stretch about 800 miles from Kansas to Indiana, on a route crossing Missouri and Illinois.</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Chariton County cannot block construction of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/13/grain-belt-express-transmission-line-wins-final-approval-in-missouri/">Grain Belt Express electric transmission line</a>&nbsp;by refusing permission to cross county roads, the Missouri Western District Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.The county can establish rules for how the transmission line crosses its roads, the court ruled as it modified a trial court decision that said the county could make no regulations at all.“The decision as to whether Grain Belt’s overhead transmission lines for the project would be constructed across Chariton County’s public roads was already made by the (Missouri Public Service Commission) when it issued its Report and Order on Remand granting the (certificate of convenience and necessity) and approving the final proposed route of the project,” Judge Lisa White Hardwick wrote in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=213613" target="_blank">unanimous decision</a>&nbsp;of the three-judge panel.Grain Belt will be constructed by Chicago-based Invenergy and be a 5,000 megawatt line to move wind-derived power from western Kansas to the Indiana border. Half the power it carries will be delivered to Missouri utilities.At first welcomed by many of the counties it will cross in north Missouri, the line has become controversial with complaints about aesthetics, whether high-voltage lines cause health issues and the power of the Public Service Commission to grant eminent domain power to obtain land for construction.Republican legislators and agricultural groups tried repeatedly to strip Grain Belt’s right of eminent domain, which would have killed the project. But in 2022, lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/08/missouri-governor-to-sign-compromise-legislation-after-efforts-to-stymie-grain-belt-express/">passed compromise legislation</a>&nbsp;requiring, in the event of future large transmission lines, greater compensation for landowners and setting a seven-year time limit for companies to build transmission lines after obtaining their easements.&nbsp;Grain Belt’s disagreements with Chariton County began in 2014, Hardwick wrote in the decision, two years after it had initially received consent from the Chariton County Commission to cross its county-owned roads. Chariton County withdrew its consent and made it contingent upon the PSC approving the project.When it received initial approval from the PSC, Grain Belt’s owners tried to negotiate with Chariton County. When it refused again to give its consent, the lawsuit followed.Associate Circuit Judge Daren Adkins, assigned to the case from Daviess County, ruled that a state law&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=49.650&amp;bid=1714&amp;hl=" target="_blank">barring counties</a>&nbsp;from adopting ordinances “governing” utilities within their boundaries meant that&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=229.100&amp;bid=12358&amp;hl=" target="_blank">an older law</a>, requiring utilities to obtain consent from utilities to go “through, on, under or across” its roads could not be enforced.The decision Tuesday modified that ruling. The law prohibiting an ordinance governing a utility is designed to protect against local rules that are in conflict with state rules, the court said.But it doesn’t mean the law requiring consent to cross a road doesn’t have any effect, Hardwick wrote. The county can set standards but it cannot withhold its consent, she wrote.“A fair interpretation is that (law) requires a county commission’s agreement regarding how a utility’s infrastructure will be constructed across the county’s public roads,” she wrote “not whether such utility’s infrastructure will be constructed across the county’s public roads in the first place.”Overall utility policy is set at the state level, not the county level, she wrote.“Doing so usurps the authority granted the MPSC in Chapter 386,” she wrote, “and exercises a power granted to the county in a manner contrary to the public policy of this state.”

Grain Belt Express clears another legal hurdle with Missouri appeals court ruling

Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp; –&nbsp;Kansas City civic leader and philanthropist Donald J. Hall passed away October 13, 2024, at home surrounded by his loving family, the company reported on their corporate web site Tuesday. Hall was 96.

Born July 9, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri, Don was the son of Hallmark founder J.C. Hall and his wife, Elizabeth. He grew up in and around the family business, officially joining Hallmark at age 17 as an assistant salesman and working a territory while majoring in economics at Dartmouth College.

After graduation, Don left the company to serve his country in the U.S. Army, spending much of his military career as an officer at a base in Gifu, Japan.

Don returned to Hallmark in 1953 and assumed leadership positions, becoming administrative vice president in 1958 and president and chief executive officer in 1966. “My father lived our beliefs and values his whole lifetime, and his ability to translate them in a way that others could understand will remain part of his lasting legacy,” Don’s son, Donald Hall, Jr. said. “He truly believed that Hallmark’s purpose was to enrich people’s lives, and you continue to see that reflected in our brand and our people today.”

In 1983, Don moved from the position of president to chairman, and in 2016, he became chairman emeritus, a role he held until his death.

Don also chaired the Hall Family Foundation, the private philanthropic organization formed from the estates of J.C. and Elizabeth Hall to enhance the quality of human life in the Kansas City area. The foundation has served as a catalyst and community partner for Kansas City-area charities since its start in 1943.

“Don led Hallmark through its greatest period of growth, and our brands – Hallmark, Crayola and Hallmark Media – are beloved because of his leadership,” said Mike Perry, president and CEO of Hallmark. “He led the introduction of new product lines and development of Hallmark’s network of independent retailers. Don oversaw the development of Crown Center in Kansas City and the acquisition of Crayola in 1984. He took great pride in the Hallmark Hall of Fame, maintaining his father’s commitment to high-quality family entertainment and continued to review scripts and production details even as he stepped back from day-to-day roles with the company.”

Don loved his hometown, Kansas City. He believed in its people, its potential and its future, a commitment he shared with his late wife, Adele. Backing that belief with unyielding community support, Don’s influence was felt – often in behind-the-scenes roles where he was most comfortable – in virtually every major civic project from the 1960s through the early 2000s.

Starting in the late 1960s, the vision of Don and his father J.C. Hall led to the development of the Crown Center complex, a “city-within-a-city” on the land surrounding Hallmark’s headquarters in Kansas City. As an early example of urban revitalization and one of the nation’s first mixed-use redevelopments, this project turned a blighted 85-acre section of the city into a thriving retail, residential, office and entertainment complex that today welcomes more than 5 million visitors each year.

He was a founding member of the Kansas City Community Foundation, and with other civic leaders was a guiding force behind the early 1970s “Prime Time” news bureau effort that gave Kansas City a burst of national attention and was credited with attracting the 1976 Republican National Convention to Kansas City. He also helped establish the Kansas City Area Economic Development Council to attract new businesses to the region.

As chairman of the Civic Council, he brought civic interests together to establish the Kansas City Neighborhood Alliance and the Kansas City Minority Supplier Development Council&nbsp;(later the Mid-America Minority Business Development Council).

“He was deeply committed to the Kansas City community, understanding the importance of giving back and fostering inclusive prosperity,” Don’s son, David Hall, said. “He took special pride in his work with the Minority Supplier Development Council. He firmly believed it was essential for the business community to contribute toward a better future for everyone.”

Don was a consistent champion of the United Way of Greater Kansas City. In later years, he supported the region’s life sciences initiatives, worked to achieve the University of Kansas Cancer Center’s successful designation as a National Cancer Institute, and led efforts to establish the Children’s Research Institute at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he recognized the importance of creating the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, which provided critical funding for nonprofits dealing with the human tragedy caused by the pandemic.

He was a decades-long supporter of Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, serving on the Board of Trustees for 31 years. He recognized the importance of photography as an art form, and in the 1960s he began building the Hallmark Photographic Collection. It became a world-class collection that was eventually given to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in 2005 and supported since then by substantial gifts from the Hall Family Foundation. The museum recognized Don’s years of service and support in 2013 when it unveiled the modern sculpture collection as the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park.

Over the years, Don was a gracious recipient of awards and board positions. President George H.W. Bush appointed Don to serve as chairman of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. He also served on the board of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. President Ronald Reagan awarded Don the National Medal of Arts in 1985. In 1982, Don received the Governor’s Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Hallmark’s contributions through the Hallmark Hall of Fame. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from alma mater Dartmouth College in 2000. In 2005, Don served on the boards of the Kansas City Symphony, the Missouri Repertory Theater&nbsp;(later the Kansas City Repertory Theatre), the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the Full Employment Council. He was a past chairman of the board of Midwest Research Institute&nbsp;(now MRIGlobal).&nbsp;

Don received the Kansas Citian of the Year Award in 1972 from the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and the Philanthropist of the Year award in 1985 from the Greater Kansas City Council on Philanthropy. In 1993, Don was honored with a Midwest Research Institute Trustee Citation. His keen interest in architecture, so evident in Kansas City’s Crown Center development, was acknowledged with an award of excellence from the Kansas City Architectural Foundation in 1985 and an honorary membership in the American Institute of Architects.

Don was married to Adele until her death in 2013. He was the father of three children: Don, Jr.; David; and Margaret. Don had nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was also a decades-long member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

More information about Don’s life will be published shortly on a tribute website created in his loving memory.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729024973532.png" alt="Donald Hall courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Donald Hall courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp; –&nbsp;Kansas City civic leader and philanthropist Donald J. Hall passed away October 13, 2024, at home surrounded by his loving family, the company reported on their corporate web site Tuesday. Hall was 96.Born July 9, 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri, Don was the son of Hallmark founder J.C. Hall and his wife, Elizabeth. He grew up in and around the family business, officially joining Hallmark at age 17 as an assistant salesman and working a territory while majoring in economics at Dartmouth College.After graduation, Don left the company to serve his country in the U.S. Army, spending much of his military career as an officer at a base in Gifu, Japan.Don returned to Hallmark in 1953 and assumed leadership positions, becoming administrative vice president in 1958 and president and chief executive officer in 1966. “My father lived our beliefs and values his whole lifetime, and his ability to translate them in a way that others could understand will remain part of his lasting legacy,” Don’s son, Donald Hall, Jr. said. “He truly believed that Hallmark’s purpose was to enrich people’s lives, and you continue to see that reflected in our brand and our people today.”In 1983, Don moved from the position of president to chairman, and in 2016, he became chairman emeritus, a role he held until his death.Don also chaired the Hall Family Foundation, the private philanthropic organization formed from the estates of J.C. and Elizabeth Hall to enhance the quality of human life in the Kansas City area. The foundation has served as a catalyst and community partner for Kansas City-area charities since its start in 1943.“Don led Hallmark through its greatest period of growth, and our brands – Hallmark, Crayola and Hallmark Media – are beloved because of his leadership,” said Mike Perry, president and CEO of Hallmark. “He led the introduction of new product lines and development of Hallmark’s network of independent retailers. Don oversaw the development of Crown Center in Kansas City and the acquisition of Crayola in 1984. He took great pride in the Hallmark Hall of Fame, maintaining his father’s commitment to high-quality family entertainment and continued to review scripts and production details even as he stepped back from day-to-day roles with the company.”Don loved his hometown, Kansas City. He believed in its people, its potential and its future, a commitment he shared with his late wife, Adele. Backing that belief with unyielding community support, Don’s influence was felt – often in behind-the-scenes roles where he was most comfortable – in virtually every major civic project from the 1960s through the early 2000s.Starting in the late 1960s, the vision of Don and his father J.C. Hall led to the development of the Crown Center complex, a “city-within-a-city” on the land surrounding Hallmark’s headquarters in Kansas City. As an early example of urban revitalization and one of the nation’s first mixed-use redevelopments, this project turned a blighted 85-acre section of the city into a thriving retail, residential, office and entertainment complex that today welcomes more than 5 million visitors each year.He was a founding member of the Kansas City Community Foundation, and with other civic leaders was a guiding force behind the early 1970s “Prime Time” news bureau effort that gave Kansas City a burst of national attention and was credited with attracting the 1976 Republican National Convention to Kansas City. He also helped establish the Kansas City Area Economic Development Council to attract new businesses to the region.As chairman of the Civic Council, he brought civic interests together to establish the Kansas City Neighborhood Alliance and the Kansas City Minority Supplier Development Council&nbsp;(later the Mid-America Minority Business Development Council).“He was deeply committed to the Kansas City community, understanding the importance of giving back and fostering inclusive prosperity,” Don’s son, David Hall, said. “He took special pride in his work with the Minority Supplier Development Council. He firmly believed it was essential for the business community to contribute toward a better future for everyone.”Don was a consistent champion of the United Way of Greater Kansas City. In later years, he supported the region’s life sciences initiatives, worked to achieve the University of Kansas Cancer Center’s successful designation as a National Cancer Institute, and led efforts to establish the Children’s Research Institute at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he recognized the importance of creating the Kansas City Regional COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund, which provided critical funding for nonprofits dealing with the human tragedy caused by the pandemic.He was a decades-long supporter of Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, serving on the Board of Trustees for 31 years. He recognized the importance of photography as an art form, and in the 1960s he began building the Hallmark Photographic Collection. It became a world-class collection that was eventually given to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in 2005 and supported since then by substantial gifts from the Hall Family Foundation. The museum recognized Don’s years of service and support in 2013 when it unveiled the modern sculpture collection as the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park.Over the years, Don was a gracious recipient of awards and board positions. President George H.W. Bush appointed Don to serve as chairman of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. He also served on the board of the National Minority Supplier Development Council. President Ronald Reagan awarded Don the National Medal of Arts in 1985. In 1982, Don received the Governor’s Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Hallmark’s contributions through the Hallmark Hall of Fame. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from alma mater Dartmouth College in 2000. In 2005, Don served on the boards of the Kansas City Symphony, the Missouri Repertory Theater&nbsp;(later the Kansas City Repertory Theatre), the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and the Full Employment Council. He was a past chairman of the board of Midwest Research Institute&nbsp;(now MRIGlobal).&nbsp;Don received the Kansas Citian of the Year Award in 1972 from the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City and the Philanthropist of the Year award in 1985 from the Greater Kansas City Council on Philanthropy. In 1993, Don was honored with a Midwest Research Institute Trustee Citation. His keen interest in architecture, so evident in Kansas City’s Crown Center development, was acknowledged with an award of excellence from the Kansas City Architectural Foundation in 1985 and an honorary membership in the American Institute of Architects.Don was married to Adele until her death in 2013. He was the father of three children: Don, Jr.; David; and Margaret. Don had nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was also a decades-long member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.More information about Don’s life will be published shortly on a tribute website created in his loving memory.

Leader of world-renowned Kansas City company dies at 96

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22TOM%20MURPHY%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer</a>

Walgreens is planning to close around 1,200 locations, as the drugstore chain and its rivals struggle to define their role for U.S. shoppers who no longer look to them first for convenience.

Drugstores that once snapped up prime retail space in towns and cities across the country are in retreat. They’ve been battered by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-guidance-cut-store-closings-0c3b1b823cc18447cc6c35cd87157929">shrinking prescription reimbursement</a>, persistent theft, rising costs and consumers who have strayed to online retailers or competitors with better prices.

The boost they received from taking the lead on vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic has long since faded.

Walgreens’ announcement Tuesday morning comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cvs-health-second-quarter-forecast-f33d2efd085550ea64db30c7aca578db">rival CVS Health</a>&nbsp;wraps up a three-year plan to close 900 stores and Rite Aid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rite-pharmacy-bankruptcy-f80c3d231946d675b03e4e797f627fa6">emerges from bankruptcy</a>, whittled down to about 1,300 locations.

As the companies retract, they raise concerns in many communities about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pharmacy-closure-drugstore-cvs-walgreens-rite-aid-91967f18c0c059415b98fcf67ad0f84e">access to health care and prescriptions</a>.

Drugstore leaders and analysts who follow the industry say smaller versions of these chains have a future in U.S. retail, but they're still trying to understand how that will play out.

“They’ve really got to rethink how they do business and, most importantly, what they mean and what value they bring to the customer,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of consulting and data analysis firm GlobalData.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., which runs about 8,500 stores in the U.S., said in late June that it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-guidance-cut-store-closings-0c3b1b823cc18447cc6c35cd87157929">finalizing a turnaround plan</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. that might lead to hundreds of store closings.

The company said Tuesday that it will start by closing about 500 stores in its current fiscal year, which started last month.

Walgreens didn’t say where the store closings would take place. It will prioritize poor-performing stores where the property is owned by the company, or where leases are expiring.

CEO Tim Wentworth told analysts Tuesday that the majority of its stores, or about 6,000, are profitable and provide the company with a foundation to build on.

“This solid base supports our conviction in a retail pharmacy led model that is relevant to our consumers, and we intend to invest in these stores over the next several years,” said Wentworth, who became CEO nearly a year ago.

Wentworth said the remaining Walgreens stores will help the company respond more quickly to shifting consumer behavior and buying patterns. The company also is taking another look at what it sells in its stores and planning to offer more Walgreens-branded products.

Walgreens also is experimenting with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cvs-walgreens-mini-drugstores-clinics-a62ee2422fb8178975b514e5b618ebe1">some smaller stores</a>&nbsp;that would be less expensive to operate.

Drugstores also have been pushing to offer more care, with pharmacists diagnosing and treating the flu, strep throat and COVID-19 in many states. Pharmacists say they can play a key role in keeping their customers healthy since they often see people more frequently than family doctors.

Pharmacists can help patients monitor their blood pressure, manage diabetes and quit smoking, among other things.

CVS also is squeezing primary care clinics with doctors into some of its stores. But Walgreens is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-villagemd-clinics-0d03184cfa3934705d615e8bd1e8bb51">backing away</a>&nbsp;from a similar push.

The Deerfield, Illinois, company said in August that it was reviewing its U.S. health care operation, and it might sell all or part of its VillageMD clinic business. That announcement came less than two years after the company said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-health-business-5dbb6b23a4e7e8b83d251feaf8806f9f">would spend billions</a>&nbsp;to expand it.

Saunders, the analyst, said Walgreens has neglected its stores in recent years as it built its business through acquisitions. He said the appearance of the chain’s locations has suffered, and a lack of staffing hurts customer service.

He noted that store visits are slumping, and the company has lost market share.

“And that has unraveled some of the economics of these stores,” he said.

Saunders said drugstores “have really shot themselves in the foot” because they no longer have a clear way to differentiate themselves from other retailers.

“When you want to get the big bucks from consumers, you have to be a destination for something,” he said. “And unfortunately, drugstores have increasingly become destinations for nothing.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729023272678.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22TOM%20MURPHY%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By TOM MURPHY AP Health Writer</a>Walgreens is planning to close around 1,200 locations, as the drugstore chain and its rivals struggle to define their role for U.S. shoppers who no longer look to them first for convenience.Drugstores that once snapped up prime retail space in towns and cities across the country are in retreat. They’ve been battered by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-guidance-cut-store-closings-0c3b1b823cc18447cc6c35cd87157929">shrinking prescription reimbursement</a>, persistent theft, rising costs and consumers who have strayed to online retailers or competitors with better prices.The boost they received from taking the lead on vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic has long since faded.Walgreens’ announcement Tuesday morning comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cvs-health-second-quarter-forecast-f33d2efd085550ea64db30c7aca578db">rival CVS Health</a>&nbsp;wraps up a three-year plan to close 900 stores and Rite Aid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rite-pharmacy-bankruptcy-f80c3d231946d675b03e4e797f627fa6">emerges from bankruptcy</a>, whittled down to about 1,300 locations.As the companies retract, they raise concerns in many communities about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pharmacy-closure-drugstore-cvs-walgreens-rite-aid-91967f18c0c059415b98fcf67ad0f84e">access to health care and prescriptions</a>.Drugstore leaders and analysts who follow the industry say smaller versions of these chains have a future in U.S. retail, but they're still trying to understand how that will play out.“They’ve really got to rethink how they do business and, most importantly, what they mean and what value they bring to the customer,” said Neil Saunders, managing director of consulting and data analysis firm GlobalData.Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., which runs about 8,500 stores in the U.S., said in late June that it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-guidance-cut-store-closings-0c3b1b823cc18447cc6c35cd87157929">finalizing a turnaround plan</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. that might lead to hundreds of store closings.The company said Tuesday that it will start by closing about 500 stores in its current fiscal year, which started last month.Walgreens didn’t say where the store closings would take place. It will prioritize poor-performing stores where the property is owned by the company, or where leases are expiring.CEO Tim Wentworth told analysts Tuesday that the majority of its stores, or about 6,000, are profitable and provide the company with a foundation to build on.“This solid base supports our conviction in a retail pharmacy led model that is relevant to our consumers, and we intend to invest in these stores over the next several years,” said Wentworth, who became CEO nearly a year ago.Wentworth said the remaining Walgreens stores will help the company respond more quickly to shifting consumer behavior and buying patterns. The company also is taking another look at what it sells in its stores and planning to offer more Walgreens-branded products.Walgreens also is experimenting with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cvs-walgreens-mini-drugstores-clinics-a62ee2422fb8178975b514e5b618ebe1">some smaller stores</a>&nbsp;that would be less expensive to operate.Drugstores also have been pushing to offer more care, with pharmacists diagnosing and treating the flu, strep throat and COVID-19 in many states. Pharmacists say they can play a key role in keeping their customers healthy since they often see people more frequently than family doctors.Pharmacists can help patients monitor their blood pressure, manage diabetes and quit smoking, among other things.CVS also is squeezing primary care clinics with doctors into some of its stores. But Walgreens is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-villagemd-clinics-0d03184cfa3934705d615e8bd1e8bb51">backing away</a>&nbsp;from a similar push.The Deerfield, Illinois, company said in August that it was reviewing its U.S. health care operation, and it might sell all or part of its VillageMD clinic business. That announcement came less than two years after the company said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-health-business-5dbb6b23a4e7e8b83d251feaf8806f9f">would spend billions</a>&nbsp;to expand it.Saunders, the analyst, said Walgreens has neglected its stores in recent years as it built its business through acquisitions. He said the appearance of the chain’s locations has suffered, and a lack of staffing hurts customer service.He noted that store visits are slumping, and the company has lost market share.“And that has unraveled some of the economics of these stores,” he said.Saunders said drugstores “have really shot themselves in the foot” because they no longer have a clear way to differentiate themselves from other retailers.“When you want to get the big bucks from consumers, you have to be a destination for something,” he said. “And unfortunately, drugstores have increasingly become destinations for nothing.”

Walgreens to close 1,200 stores as US pharmacies struggle to define a new role

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Zoo's long dark panda drought has come to an end.

Eleven months after the zoo sent its three&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-china-national-zoo-b5923fc76613a15ade02fd332e1330df">wildly popular pandas</a>&nbsp;— Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji — back to China, a new pair of bears arrived late Tuesday morning.

The three-year old giant pandas, named Bao Li and Qing Bao, were flown from China to Dulles International Airport in suburban Virginia, with a refueling stop in Alaska. They were loaded into special FedEx trucks and arrived at the zoo just before noon.

"Our team has worked tirelessly to prepare for the pandas’ arrival, and we’re thrilled to welcome Bao Li and Qing Bao to Washington, D.C., the only place you can see giant pandas for free in the nation,” said Brandie Smith, the national zoo director who travelled to China to take part in farewell ceremonies for the bears there. "As a result of our collective efforts, today we joyfully celebrate a new chapter of our 52-year-long giant panda breeding and conservation program.”

The zoo was closed Tuesday to facilitate the arrivals. The bears will be quarantined from the public for at least 30 days. A statement from the zoo set the date for the bears' official public debut and the reopening of the renovated panada house as Jan. 24, 2025.

Bao Li (precious vigor) and Qing Bao (green treasure) arrive in Washington as part of a new 10-year agreement with Chinese authorities. The previous deal expired last year, leading to some concern among American panda-lovers that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-china-diplomacy-national-zoo-1f0eee3fc0114296bcfe5472c43a373e">Beijing was gradually pulling</a>&nbsp;its furry friendship ambassadors from American zoos amid rising diplomatic tensions.

Breeding pairs in zoos in Memphis and San Diego had already returned to China earlier and the four pandas in the Atlanta zoo left for China last week.

That anxiety turned to optimism last November when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-national-zoo-biden-xi-apec-97e3f98236d74c5c433f63e8eed603cb">Chinese President Xi Jinping</a>&nbsp;publicly stated a desire to continue the panda exchange programs. This year, a new pair of bears has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-china-san-diego-zoo-5ea57f2b269d6d7bc7e0b440f32a2d8d">delivered to the San Diego Zoo</a>, while another pair has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-san-francisco-zoo-pandas-2657e35111579b2a4cba8b5915a71bd1">promised to San Francisco</a>.

In Washington, National Zoo officials remained conspicuously silent about negotiations for a new panda agreement, but they expressed optimism about striking a new deal and launched a multimillion-dollar renovation of its panda enclosure in anticipation. Then in late May, Smith&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-washington-zoo-china-764f8016d98c01ab579bdbb6dcc3dd6b">teamed up with first lady Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;to announce that Bao Li and Qing Bao would be arriving by the end of this year.

Pandas have become one of the unofficial symbols of the nation’s capital, dating back to 1972 when the first pair — Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing — were sent as a gift from Chinese Premier&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Enlai">Zhou Enlai</a>&nbsp;following President Richard Nixon’s historic diplomatic visit to China. Later, a rolling series of 10-year cooperation agreements was struck.

“The giant pandas are an iconic part of the Washington, D.C., story, both for locals and incoming travelers alike,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC. “The interest and excitement associated with their return directly benefits the entire city, bringing further interest and visitors to our hotels, restaurants and other attractions.”

The exact terms of the deal are still unclear; under previous 10-year agreements the Chinese government receives $1 million per year, per bear. Any cubs born in overseas zoos are typically returned to China before they reach age four.

Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, credited the decades of cooperation with advancing research into panda preservation and breeding. During the lifespan of these agreements, giant pandas have been reclassified from an endangered species to merely vulnerable.

“The current round of cooperation will focus on prevention and treatment of major diseases, and protection of habitats and wild giant panda populations,” Liu said in an email. “We hope the arrival of the pandas will inject fresh impetus into exchanges between China and the U.S., and help to stabilize the broader bilateral relationship as well.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Zoo's long dark panda drought has come to an end.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s a beautiful day to greet our newest Pandas! Welcome to DC, Qing Bao and Bao Li!! 🐼🐼 <a href="https://t.co/30tTIzj372">pic.twitter.com/30tTIzj372</a>&mdash; Dulles Airport (IAD) (@Dulles_Airport) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dulles_Airport/status/1846193932679434243?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Eleven months after the zoo sent its three&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-china-national-zoo-b5923fc76613a15ade02fd332e1330df">wildly popular pandas</a>&nbsp;— Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji — back to China, a new pair of bears arrived late Tuesday morning.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Drum roll please! 🥁🥁🥁 DC’s newest celebearities are HERE! Our two new giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, have arrived at the Zoo after landing this morning at Dulles International Airport. Get more updates about the bear pair by following <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DCPandas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DCPandas</a> <a href="https://t.co/ulJrQBTJKk">pic.twitter.com/ulJrQBTJKk</a>&mdash; National Zoo (@NationalZoo) <a href="https://twitter.com/NationalZoo/status/1846245237158515179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The three-year old giant pandas, named Bao Li and Qing Bao, were flown from China to Dulles International Airport in suburban Virginia, with a refueling stop in Alaska. They were loaded into special FedEx trucks and arrived at the zoo just before noon."Our team has worked tirelessly to prepare for the pandas’ arrival, and we’re thrilled to welcome Bao Li and Qing Bao to Washington, D.C., the only place you can see giant pandas for free in the nation,” said Brandie Smith, the national zoo director who travelled to China to take part in farewell ceremonies for the bears there. "As a result of our collective efforts, today we joyfully celebrate a new chapter of our 52-year-long giant panda breeding and conservation program.”The zoo was closed Tuesday to facilitate the arrivals. The bears will be quarantined from the public for at least 30 days. A statement from the zoo set the date for the bears' official public debut and the reopening of the renovated panada house as Jan. 24, 2025.Bao Li (precious vigor) and Qing Bao (green treasure) arrive in Washington as part of a new 10-year agreement with Chinese authorities. The previous deal expired last year, leading to some concern among American panda-lovers that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-china-diplomacy-national-zoo-1f0eee3fc0114296bcfe5472c43a373e">Beijing was gradually pulling</a>&nbsp;its furry friendship ambassadors from American zoos amid rising diplomatic tensions.Breeding pairs in zoos in Memphis and San Diego had already returned to China earlier and the four pandas in the Atlanta zoo left for China last week.That anxiety turned to optimism last November when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-national-zoo-biden-xi-apec-97e3f98236d74c5c433f63e8eed603cb">Chinese President Xi Jinping</a>&nbsp;publicly stated a desire to continue the panda exchange programs. This year, a new pair of bears has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-china-san-diego-zoo-5ea57f2b269d6d7bc7e0b440f32a2d8d">delivered to the San Diego Zoo</a>, while another pair has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-san-francisco-zoo-pandas-2657e35111579b2a4cba8b5915a71bd1">promised to San Francisco</a>.In Washington, National Zoo officials remained conspicuously silent about negotiations for a new panda agreement, but they expressed optimism about striking a new deal and launched a multimillion-dollar renovation of its panda enclosure in anticipation. Then in late May, Smith&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giant-pandas-washington-zoo-china-764f8016d98c01ab579bdbb6dcc3dd6b">teamed up with first lady Jill Biden</a>&nbsp;to announce that Bao Li and Qing Bao would be arriving by the end of this year.Pandas have become one of the unofficial symbols of the nation’s capital, dating back to 1972 when the first pair — Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing — were sent as a gift from Chinese Premier&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhou_Enlai">Zhou Enlai</a>&nbsp;following President Richard Nixon’s historic diplomatic visit to China. Later, a rolling series of 10-year cooperation agreements was struck.“The giant pandas are an iconic part of the Washington, D.C., story, both for locals and incoming travelers alike,” said Elliott L. Ferguson, II, president and CEO of Destination DC. “The interest and excitement associated with their return directly benefits the entire city, bringing further interest and visitors to our hotels, restaurants and other attractions.”The exact terms of the deal are still unclear; under previous 10-year agreements the Chinese government receives $1 million per year, per bear. Any cubs born in overseas zoos are typically returned to China before they reach age four.Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, credited the decades of cooperation with advancing research into panda preservation and breeding. During the lifespan of these agreements, giant pandas have been reclassified from an endangered species to merely vulnerable.“The current round of cooperation will focus on prevention and treatment of major diseases, and protection of habitats and wild giant panda populations,” Liu said in an email. “We hope the arrival of the pandas will inject fresh impetus into exchanges between China and the U.S., and help to stabilize the broader bilateral relationship as well.”

2 giant pandas from China arrive in US on loan to National Zoo

Neighborhood leaders contend the facility is not the right fit for the community’s doorstep and argue the area is saturated enough with social service providers

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/mikesherry/">MIKE SHERRY</a>

Residents in Kansas City’s historic Northeast neighborhood say plans for a state psychiatric hospital on the site of a former housing project and city park clash with plans for revitalizing their community.

They’re losing patience with efforts to base ever more social services near their homes that they fear could make their streets a dumping ground for the city’s problems.

“This will define one of our most important intersections, and I don’t know if defining it this way is healthy,” said Kate Barsotti, an artist and former president of the Columbus Park Community Council. “Is that shallow? Maybe. Could be. But I do understand people feeling sandbagged and disrespected and betrayed.”

Meanwhile, the city, the state and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.universityhealthkc.org/" target="_blank">University Health</a>&nbsp;(formerly Truman Medical Center) see the psychiatric facility as an economic boon and a key part of what the region needs to deal with growing mental health demands.

The Missouri Department of Mental Health estimates the hospital could open in late 2027 or early 2028 — if everything moves smoothly. And the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could be a significant stumbling block to the plan.

The roughly 20-acre parcel eyed for the psychiatric hospital used to be Belvidere Park and Chouteau Courts, a public housing complex. The tract is near the intersection of The Paseo and Independence Avenue.

In June 2020, the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri, finished demolishing the crumbling Chouteau Courts. The demolition came as part of the sweeping Paseo Gateway community revitalization project, funded through a $30 million grant from HUD.

The new psychiatric hospital would be a one-level, 300,000-square-foot building on a triangular parcel between The Paseo to the east and Interstate 35 to the west. The new hospital would have 200 beds and generally serve the western half of the state.

In tandem with the state’s Center for Behavioral Medicine, which is located on Hospital Hill, the new psychiatric hospital would take on a growing statewide backlog of more than 350 criminal defendants languishing in local jails as they await mental health treatment.

Judges have ordered those inmates into the care of the department to see if it can restore their competency to stand trial, but DMH has nowhere to treat those people (with limited exceptions). DMH Director Valerie Huhn said the waiting list could reach 500 people by the end of this year.

The department said about one-fifth of the pending cases fall in the Kansas City region. It already operates 65 competency-restoration beds (intended to get defendants mentally well enough to stand trial) at the Center for Behavioral Medicine. The new hospital would boost that total to 100 beds while those at the existing facility would be repurposed.

University Health would use the other beds for short-term psychiatric treatment generally lasting two weeks or less. Patients would get psychiatric care medication management and referrals to outpatient programs. The health system would reserve 25 of its beds for referrals from the Kansas City Municipal Court or other providers in the city.

University Health would also operate a psychiatric emergency department at the hospital, something law enforcement turns to avoid taking them to a conventional emergency room or jail.

University Health closed its psychiatric emergency department in 2015, but Chief Executive Officer Charlie Shields said it faces fewer regulatory hurdles in operating as part of a psychiatric hospital.

Critically, it lightens the load for the Center for Behavioral Medicine so it can concentrate on long-term care that can average stays of nine years for treating conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

A psychiatric emergency room “allows us to catch people before they get to a point of committing a crime, especially in that Jackson County area,” Huhn said, “and then give them … resources so that they don’t commit crimes and have to go through this whole process.”

Huhn and others tout the safety of the proposed new hospital. It will have a perimeter fence. Patient units will be locked. In that way, it will operate like similar state facilities near residential areas in other parts of the state.

Supporters also say the hospital will offer additional training to area medical programs. It will also open more inpatient beds and fix some of the problems created decades ago when mental health care shifted to community-based care while failing to create enough psychiatric support outside institutions.

At the same time, they see the hospital as an economic jump-start to the surrounding area.

Projections include 600-plus health care jobs (from entry-level to physicians and nurses), an annual boost of $60 million to the area economy, and the bump associated with a $300 million construction project.

Overall, the project is “an exceptional idea and way in which we can better utilize our land in a way that would be beneficial for our community more broadly,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. “This shows that this is a new day on Independence, Paseo and lots of streets many Kansas Citians don’t think about enough.”

Those thoroughfares were in the limelight in September 2015.

HUD Secretary Julian Castro came to town then to announce a federal grant to Kansas City to tear down the Chouteau Courts public housing project and support the Paseo Gateway District. The housing authority relocated the last of the Chouteau Courts residents to seven new developments in June.

Meanwhile, a range of nonprofit and government agencies have been working to revitalize the neighborhood. Plans included a mix of affordable single-family homes and apartments alongside commercial developments and a public space for community events.

Barsotti, the Columbus Park artist, and Michael Bushnell, a longtime resident of the Scarritt Renaissance neighborhood and former publisher of the Northeast News newspaper, fume that the psychiatric hospital will dash those dreams.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729016089523.png" alt=" Michael Bushnell stands near the planned site of a state psychiatric hospital in Kansas City’s historic Northeast. Bushnell, a longtime resident of the Scarritt Renaissance neighborhood and former publisher of the Northeast News newspaper, wants the hospital to be built somewhere else and said neighbors were promised a different plan for developing the site (Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> Michael Bushnell stands near the planned site of a state psychiatric hospital in Kansas City’s historic Northeast. Bushnell, a longtime resident of the Scarritt Renaissance neighborhood and former publisher of the Northeast News newspaper, wants the hospital to be built somewhere else and said neighbors were promised a different plan for developing the site (Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Neighborhood leaders contend the facility is not the right fit for the community’s doorstep and argue the area is saturated enough with social service providers</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/mikesherry/">MIKE SHERRY</a>Residents in Kansas City’s historic Northeast neighborhood say plans for a state psychiatric hospital on the site of a former housing project and city park clash with plans for revitalizing their community.They’re losing patience with efforts to base ever more social services near their homes that they fear could make their streets a dumping ground for the city’s problems.“This will define one of our most important intersections, and I don’t know if defining it this way is healthy,” said Kate Barsotti, an artist and former president of the Columbus Park Community Council. “Is that shallow? Maybe. Could be. But I do understand people feeling sandbagged and disrespected and betrayed.”Meanwhile, the city, the state and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.universityhealthkc.org/" target="_blank">University Health</a>&nbsp;(formerly Truman Medical Center) see the psychiatric facility as an economic boon and a key part of what the region needs to deal with growing mental health demands.The Missouri Department of Mental Health estimates the hospital could open in late 2027 or early 2028 — if everything moves smoothly. And the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development could be a significant stumbling block to the plan.<h2>Serving the courts</h2>The roughly 20-acre parcel eyed for the psychiatric hospital used to be Belvidere Park and Chouteau Courts, a public housing complex. The tract is near the intersection of The Paseo and Independence Avenue.In June 2020, the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Missouri, finished demolishing the crumbling Chouteau Courts. The demolition came as part of the sweeping Paseo Gateway community revitalization project, funded through a $30 million grant from HUD.The new psychiatric hospital would be a one-level, 300,000-square-foot building on a triangular parcel between The Paseo to the east and Interstate 35 to the west. The new hospital would have 200 beds and generally serve the western half of the state.In tandem with the state’s Center for Behavioral Medicine, which is located on Hospital Hill, the new psychiatric hospital would take on a growing statewide backlog of more than 350 criminal defendants languishing in local jails as they await mental health treatment.Judges have ordered those inmates into the care of the department to see if it can restore their competency to stand trial, but DMH has nowhere to treat those people (with limited exceptions). DMH Director Valerie Huhn said the waiting list could reach 500 people by the end of this year.The department said about one-fifth of the pending cases fall in the Kansas City region. It already operates 65 competency-restoration beds (intended to get defendants mentally well enough to stand trial) at the Center for Behavioral Medicine. The new hospital would boost that total to 100 beds while those at the existing facility would be repurposed.University Health would use the other beds for short-term psychiatric treatment generally lasting two weeks or less. Patients would get psychiatric care medication management and referrals to outpatient programs. The health system would reserve 25 of its beds for referrals from the Kansas City Municipal Court or other providers in the city.University Health would also operate a psychiatric emergency department at the hospital, something law enforcement turns to avoid taking them to a conventional emergency room or jail.University Health closed its psychiatric emergency department in 2015, but Chief Executive Officer Charlie Shields said it faces fewer regulatory hurdles in operating as part of a psychiatric hospital.Critically, it lightens the load for the Center for Behavioral Medicine so it can concentrate on long-term care that can average stays of nine years for treating conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.A psychiatric emergency room “allows us to catch people before they get to a point of committing a crime, especially in that Jackson County area,” Huhn said, “and then give them … resources so that they don’t commit crimes and have to go through this whole process.”Huhn and others tout the safety of the proposed new hospital. It will have a perimeter fence. Patient units will be locked. In that way, it will operate like similar state facilities near residential areas in other parts of the state.Supporters also say the hospital will offer additional training to area medical programs. It will also open more inpatient beds and fix some of the problems created decades ago when mental health care shifted to community-based care while failing to create enough psychiatric support outside institutions.At the same time, they see the hospital as an economic jump-start to the surrounding area.Projections include 600-plus health care jobs (from entry-level to physicians and nurses), an annual boost of $60 million to the area economy, and the bump associated with a $300 million construction project.Overall, the project is “an exceptional idea and way in which we can better utilize our land in a way that would be beneficial for our community more broadly,” said Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. “This shows that this is a new day on Independence, Paseo and lots of streets many Kansas Citians don’t think about enough.”<h2>Choice neighborhoods</h2>Those thoroughfares were in the limelight in September 2015.HUD Secretary Julian Castro came to town then to announce a federal grant to Kansas City to tear down the Chouteau Courts public housing project and support the Paseo Gateway District. The housing authority relocated the last of the Chouteau Courts residents to seven new developments in June.Meanwhile, a range of nonprofit and government agencies have been working to revitalize the neighborhood. Plans included a mix of affordable single-family homes and apartments alongside commercial developments and a public space for community events.Barsotti, the Columbus Park artist, and Michael Bushnell, a longtime resident of the Scarritt Renaissance neighborhood and former publisher of the Northeast News newspaper, fume that the psychiatric hospital will dash those dreams.What’s more, the psychiatric hospital project comes on the heels of a city&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/06/13/kanasas-city-low-barrier-homeless-shelter/" target="_blank">plan to establish a low-barrier homeless shelter</a>&nbsp;at Hope Faith Homeless Assistance Campus at 705 Virginia Ave.“There needs to be a big ‘no.’ Not here. Go somewhere else,” Bushnell said. “We were promised a completely different development for Chouteau Court. … That’s the plan that needs to be followed.”Shields said he received positive feedback about the psychiatric center from residents who attended a community information meeting held in August. But detractors said that instead of gathering input, the meeting organizers informed attendees about a done deal.<h2>HUD’s role</h2>HUD could throw a wrench into the financial plans for the psychiatric hospital by requiring the housing authority to sell the former Chouteau Courts property for full market value.The construction plan assumes the state will acquire the property at little or no cost.Chouteau Courts was appraised at $1.6 million this year. Any potential environmental cleanup costs would be deducted from that value, said housing authority Executive Director Edwin Lowndes.Lowndes said paperwork could be submitted to HUD in time for a decision from the agency by the end of November.HUD can approve a sale for less than market value if it decides the deal has a public good, typically more public housing or projects that benefit people living in public housing. Lucas said the groundbreaking could come early next year.The mayor acknowledged that residents have been frustrated about the start-and-stop nature of various proposals for the neighborhood. But he said such projects are inherently complicated and don’t always follow original plans.Barsotti said any lack of follow-through breeds disillusionment.“It’s really hard,” she said, “to tell people to keep engaging with your city government when it doesn’t seem to work, when they can’t trust what they’re told, when they don’t understand what they’re told, or there’s no time to deal with a big change.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/10/09/kansas-city-mental-hospital-northeast/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.