KANSAS CITY—Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month along with President Biden’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and his stance on abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas last month.

Now the school's president&nbsp;Stephen D. Minnis published an Op-Ed in USA Today to explain why the college did not say more in the midst of the&nbsp; debate on Butker's comments.

(Click below to watch Butker's commencement address)

Stephen Minnis comments and a link to the Op-Ed are below:

Thank you to everyone who has reached out since the commencement speech on our campus by Harrison Butker, the high scorer for the Kansas City Chiefs in the last two Super Bowls.

This morning&nbsp;USA Today&nbsp;published my Op-Ed about this year’s keynote commencement speech and the aftermath.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benedictine.edu/wp-content/uploads/files/external/benedictine-usatoday-oped-june-2024.pdf">Click here to read the Op-ed</a>.

“Community is the answer to the cancel culture; faith is the answer to the culture of unbelief; and scholarship is the answer to the culture of relativism.”

Also, please do not miss the full story of our amazing 2024 commencement:

Our hope is that we can make the most of the new attention being paid to Benedictine College to help people know more about what makes this place special. Our alumni and friends who support our mission have made our college what it is, and we could not do what we do without you.

KANSAS CITY—Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker railed against Pride month along with President Biden’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and his stance on abortion during a commencement address at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas last month.Now the school's president&nbsp;Stephen D. Minnis published an Op-Ed in USA Today to explain why the college did not say more in the midst of the&nbsp; debate on Butker's comments.(Click below to watch Butker's commencement address)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-JS7RIKSaCc?si=RNpBICNdkwwgUG5w" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Stephen Minnis comments and a link to the Op-Ed are below:Thank you to everyone who has reached out since the commencement speech on our campus by Harrison Butker, the high scorer for the Kansas City Chiefs in the last two Super Bowls.This morning&nbsp;USA Today&nbsp;published my Op-Ed about this year’s keynote commencement speech and the aftermath.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benedictine.edu/wp-content/uploads/files/external/benedictine-usatoday-oped-june-2024.pdf">Click here to read the Op-ed</a>.<ul>
 <li>The article explains why the college did not make a statement about the speech.</li><li>More importantly, it allows us to introduce Benedictine College and our strategic vision to Transform Culture in America through our mission of community, faith and scholarship. As the article puts it:</li>
 </ul>“Community is the answer to the cancel culture; faith is the answer to the culture of unbelief; and scholarship is the answer to the culture of relativism.”<ul>
 <li>It also shares the news about our new classically designed library on campus and the proposed new medical school we are considering.</li>
 </ul>Also, please do not miss the full story of our amazing 2024 commencement:<ul>
 <li>Our alum Lt. Gen. Arthur Greg, the first living American to have an Army base named for him, received an honorary degree at commencement.&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/XlSkqHE4ry4?si=vbCyzMS-ancwKsHm">Watch his remarks here</a>.</li><li>Our valedictorians delivered beautiful remarks about their experiences at the college.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRh2vI_7OvE&amp;t=591s">Watch those here</a>.</li><li>After the commencement, we have been releasing videos to introduce the general public to the college’s story. Watch our videos “<a href="https://youtu.be/yh7k86dNMK8?si=Eq8EUyTZBcXLw9Gl">We Are Benedictine College</a>” and “<a href="https://youtu.be/hMR9NR3PJHM?si=X8vDH0tfVCUd2f6K">Designed for Excellence: Benedictine College Engineering</a>” on YouTube.</li>
 </ul>Our hope is that we can make the most of the new attention being paid to Benedictine College to help people know more about what makes this place special. Our alumni and friends who support our mission have made our college what it is, and we could not do what we do without you.

Read Benedictine College president's op-ed following Harrison Butker speech

BUTLER COUNTY—The search for a missing 3-year-old ended in tragedy Sunday morning in Butler County. Now a family member has established a fundraiser to assist with burial costs for the boy.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-michaels-funeral-and-charlies-needs?lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link">Click here to view</a> the online fundraiser.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday, deputies with the Butler County Sheriff's office responded to the 12000 Block of SW. Prairie Creek Road just outside of Andover after a report of a missing 3-year-old boy, according to Undersheriff Damion Cundiff.

First responders found the property to be large with a combination&nbsp; of timber and waterways. Multiple agencies responded to help with the search including water rescue from the August Department of Public Safety.

The initial report indicated the boy was playing outside the residence while an adult was present and doing yard work. The child wandered off but was still believed to be on the property. A search of the area included the water, drones, divers and K9s continued until just after 3a.m. Sunday.

Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, shortly after the search began again, the body of the boy was found in a waterway not far from the residence on the property.

Authorities believe this is an accidental drowning.&nbsp; An autopsy will&nbsp; determine the specific cause of death, according to Cundiff. There is no suspicion of foul play.&nbsp; The child is a family member of the residents but not their child.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718671558095.png" alt="Photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY—The search for a missing 3-year-old ended in tragedy Sunday morning in Butler County. Now a family member has established a fundraiser to assist with burial costs for the boy.<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-michaels-funeral-and-charlies-needs?lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link">Click here to view</a> the online fundraiser.Just before 7p.m. Saturday, deputies with the Butler County Sheriff's office responded to the 12000 Block of SW. Prairie Creek Road just outside of Andover after a report of a missing 3-year-old boy, according to Undersheriff Damion Cundiff.First responders found the property to be large with a combination&nbsp; of timber and waterways. Multiple agencies responded to help with the search including water rescue from the August Department of Public Safety.The initial report indicated the boy was playing outside the residence while an adult was present and doing yard work. The child wandered off but was still believed to be on the property. A search of the area included the water, drones, divers and K9s continued until just after 3a.m. Sunday.Just after 7:30a.m. Sunday, shortly after the search began again, the body of the boy was found in a waterway not far from the residence on the property.Authorities believe this is an accidental drowning.&nbsp; An autopsy will&nbsp; determine the specific cause of death, according to Cundiff. There is no suspicion of foul play.&nbsp; The child is a family member of the residents but not their child.&nbsp;

Online fundraiser to help after 3-year-old drowns in Kan. creek

The legislation would expand a tax incentive program to help bankroll new stadiums for the teams

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Representatives of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals urged Kansas lawmakers Monday to expand a tax incentive program to provide the teams millions of dollars to leave Missouri and set up shop in new stadiums across the state line.

“If we want to be major league we’ve got to have major league teams,” Korb Maxwell, an attorney who represents the Chiefs, told lawmakers during an informational hearing at the Kansas Statehouse. “This is the greatest opportunity we’ve had in any generation, and it’s here before us right now.”

Other proponents of the plan were more blunt: If Kansas doesn’t act, a group hoping to lure the teams to Kansas argued, the Kansas City region is at risk of losing its professional football and baseball teams.

“The risk that the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals — our Chiefs, our Royals — could be lured away by other states is not a risk that Kansans want to take,” said Dan Murray, a lobbyist for Scoop and Score Inc., a nonprofit hoping to bring the Chiefs to Kansas.

On the table Monday was a plan to expand the state’s tax incentive program meant to help finance tourism and entertainment destinations.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/16/kansas-bill-offers-bonding-to-cover-75-of-cost-to-build-chiefs-royals-stadiums-in-kansas/">Under the legislation, the teams could receive</a>&nbsp;more than $750 million to help finance stadium projects.

The informational hearing came ahead of a special legislative session that starts Tuesday. Lawmakers can’t take action on the bill until the formal start of the special session.

The legislation would enhance the state’s existing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/star-bonds/">Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond</a>&nbsp;program to provide up to 75% of the project’s costs by issuing bonds that would be repaid with the increased sales state tax collections at the project site. Other projects can use STAR Bonds to finance up to 50% of a project.

The bill requires a minimum $1 billion capital investment and limits the eligibility to National Football League or Major League Baseball teams currently located near Kansas. The financing mechanism could be used for both stadiums and training facilities.&nbsp;

Debt on a stadium constructed under the expansion wouldn’t have to be repaid for 30 years instead of the normal 20.&nbsp;

The project could also receive a boost from liquor taxes generated in the STAR Bond district and revenues from a fund Kansas created when it legalized sports betting.&nbsp;

Gov. Laura Kelly, who has championed enormous economic development projects in Kansas, didn’t commit to supporting the legislation on Monday.

“I’m impressed by the full-court press that has been made to get these teams to consider moving across the river,” she told reporters. “It’s not something I’m going to invest a lot of energy in. I think this is something for the legislature to work through.”&nbsp;

Kelly’s chief of staff, Will Lawrence, told the joint committee the governor’s office had no concerns with the current version of the bill that would keep her from signing it.&nbsp;

STAR Bonds have been&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/31/legislative-audit-places-kansas-lonely-reliance-on-star-bonds-under-harsh-spotlight/">criticized by some legislators as ineffective</a>, and an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslpa.org/audit-report-library/star-bonds-financing-program/">audit found</a>&nbsp;that less than one-quarter of the attractions funded through the program met the state’s goal of increasing tourism. There may be some cases, the audit says, where certain projects kept Kansans spending money in Kansas rather than going to Missouri.&nbsp;

“But we think it’s more often that local visitors simply move existing economic activity from one part of Kansas to another,” the audit says.

Kansas lawmakers launched an effort to lure the Chiefs or Royals — or both — after Jackson County, Missouri, voters in April rejected a proposed extension of a 3/8-cent sales tax to help finance a new stadium for the Royals and upgrades at Arrowhead Stadium.

Maxwell said the organization had been asked why the legislation needed to be passed in special session rather than when lawmakers reconvene for their normal session in January.&nbsp;

Because with only a few years left in the Chiefs’ lease at Arrowhead, “time is of the essence,” he said.&nbsp;

“The time is now,” Maxwell said. “Missouri spoke, Jackson County spoke. They had their opportunity, but now there’s a moment for Kansas to step up.”

The effort to reauthorize the sales tax in Missouri was driven primarily by the Royals, whose executives unveiled plans to move to the Crossroads Arts District in downtown Kansas City in February —&nbsp;less than two months before the vote. It failed with 58% of voters rejecting the proposal.

Earlier this month, Scoop and Score Inc. launched to advocate for moving Chiefs — the reigning Super Bowl champions —&nbsp;to Kansas. The organization’s website implores visitors to sign a petition to “tell legislators to keep the Chiefs in KC!”

The organization has hired 30 lobbyists, including Murray. The Royals have eight lobbyists, and the Chiefs employ former Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and his former aide, Paje Resner, as lobbyists.

Ryckman said Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt could be open to moving the team outside of the Kansas City region.&nbsp;

“We’re aware of numerous cities that would love to be the home of the Chiefs or the Royals,” Ryckman said.&nbsp;

Murray urged lawmakers to support the legislation, arguing it has “guardrails, guardrails guardrails” to keep the state and local governments from being on the hook for the bonds.

While an attorney for the Chiefs acknowledged the franchise hasn’t come up with a design or plan for a stadium in Kansas, Murray urged lawmakers to move forward with creating a program. Vetting the details, he said, will be up to the Kansas Department of Commerce with final approval by the Legislative Coordinating Council, an eight-member committee of House and Senate lawmakers that can adopt legislation when the Legislature is not in session.

But a draft of the bill says any agreement between the state and a team would be confidential until after it has been executed.&nbsp;

The bill was panned by libertarian groups as a handout for corporations that would do little to increase economic activity in Kansas. Dave Trabert, CEO of the Kansas Policy Institute, told the committee there was no way to verify the claims that the stadiums would boost the economy.&nbsp;

“We asked Scoop and Score to provide their math. ‘Show us how you arrived at a billion dollars of economic activity,’’ Trabert said. “Nothing was forthcoming.”

In an interview, Trabert called the proposal “absurd.”

“This isn’t about economic development,” he said. “It’s about politics. It’s so people can say, ‘Look what I did. Vote for me.’ ”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718677528921.png" alt=" Former Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. speaks to reporters at The Statehouse. Ryckman is lobbying on behalf of the Kansas City Chiefs on a bill aimed at moving the team from Missouri. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Former Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. speaks to reporters at The Statehouse. Ryckman is lobbying on behalf of the Kansas City Chiefs on a bill aimed at moving the team from Missouri. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The legislation would expand a tax incentive program to help bankroll new stadiums for the teams</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>Representatives of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals urged Kansas lawmakers Monday to expand a tax incentive program to provide the teams millions of dollars to leave Missouri and set up shop in new stadiums across the state line.“If we want to be major league we’ve got to have major league teams,” Korb Maxwell, an attorney who represents the Chiefs, told lawmakers during an informational hearing at the Kansas Statehouse. “This is the greatest opportunity we’ve had in any generation, and it’s here before us right now.”Other proponents of the plan were more blunt: If Kansas doesn’t act, a group hoping to lure the teams to Kansas argued, the Kansas City region is at risk of losing its professional football and baseball teams.“The risk that the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals — our Chiefs, our Royals — could be lured away by other states is not a risk that Kansans want to take,” said Dan Murray, a lobbyist for Scoop and Score Inc., a nonprofit hoping to bring the Chiefs to Kansas.On the table Monday was a plan to expand the state’s tax incentive program meant to help finance tourism and entertainment destinations.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/16/kansas-bill-offers-bonding-to-cover-75-of-cost-to-build-chiefs-royals-stadiums-in-kansas/">Under the legislation, the teams could receive</a>&nbsp;more than $750 million to help finance stadium projects.The informational hearing came ahead of a special legislative session that starts Tuesday. Lawmakers can’t take action on the bill until the formal start of the special session.The legislation would enhance the state’s existing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/community-programs/star-bonds/">Sales Tax and Revenue (STAR) Bond</a>&nbsp;program to provide up to 75% of the project’s costs by issuing bonds that would be repaid with the increased sales state tax collections at the project site. Other projects can use STAR Bonds to finance up to 50% of a project.The bill requires a minimum $1 billion capital investment and limits the eligibility to National Football League or Major League Baseball teams currently located near Kansas. The financing mechanism could be used for both stadiums and training facilities.&nbsp;Debt on a stadium constructed under the expansion wouldn’t have to be repaid for 30 years instead of the normal 20.&nbsp;The project could also receive a boost from liquor taxes generated in the STAR Bond district and revenues from a fund Kansas created when it legalized sports betting.&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly, who has championed enormous economic development projects in Kansas, didn’t commit to supporting the legislation on Monday.“I’m impressed by the full-court press that has been made to get these teams to consider moving across the river,” she told reporters. “It’s not something I’m going to invest a lot of energy in. I think this is something for the legislature to work through.”&nbsp;Kelly’s chief of staff, Will Lawrence, told the joint committee the governor’s office had no concerns with the current version of the bill that would keep her from signing it.&nbsp;STAR Bonds have been&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/08/31/legislative-audit-places-kansas-lonely-reliance-on-star-bonds-under-harsh-spotlight/">criticized by some legislators as ineffective</a>, and an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kslpa.org/audit-report-library/star-bonds-financing-program/">audit found</a>&nbsp;that less than one-quarter of the attractions funded through the program met the state’s goal of increasing tourism. There may be some cases, the audit says, where certain projects kept Kansans spending money in Kansas rather than going to Missouri.&nbsp;“But we think it’s more often that local visitors simply move existing economic activity from one part of Kansas to another,” the audit says.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718677486719.png" alt="Representing the Kansas City Chiefs, Korb Maxwell urges the Kansas Legislature to expand an economic incentive program to lure the team from Missouri. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Representing the Kansas City Chiefs, Korb Maxwell urges the Kansas Legislature to expand an economic incentive program to lure the team from Missouri. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Moving the teams</h2>Kansas lawmakers launched an effort to lure the Chiefs or Royals — or both — after Jackson County, Missouri, voters in April rejected a proposed extension of a 3/8-cent sales tax to help finance a new stadium for the Royals and upgrades at Arrowhead Stadium.Maxwell said the organization had been asked why the legislation needed to be passed in special session rather than when lawmakers reconvene for their normal session in January.&nbsp;Because with only a few years left in the Chiefs’ lease at Arrowhead, “time is of the essence,” he said.&nbsp;“The time is now,” Maxwell said. “Missouri spoke, Jackson County spoke. They had their opportunity, but now there’s a moment for Kansas to step up.”The effort to reauthorize the sales tax in Missouri was driven primarily by the Royals, whose executives unveiled plans to move to the Crossroads Arts District in downtown Kansas City in February —&nbsp;less than two months before the vote. It failed with 58% of voters rejecting the proposal.Earlier this month, Scoop and Score Inc. launched to advocate for moving Chiefs — the reigning Super Bowl champions —&nbsp;to Kansas. The organization’s website implores visitors to sign a petition to “tell legislators to keep the Chiefs in KC!”The organization has hired 30 lobbyists, including Murray. The Royals have eight lobbyists, and the Chiefs employ former Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr. and his former aide, Paje Resner, as lobbyists.Ryckman said Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt could be open to moving the team outside of the Kansas City region.&nbsp;“We’re aware of numerous cities that would love to be the home of the Chiefs or the Royals,” Ryckman said.&nbsp;Murray urged lawmakers to support the legislation, arguing it has “guardrails, guardrails guardrails” to keep the state and local governments from being on the hook for the bonds.While an attorney for the Chiefs acknowledged the franchise hasn’t come up with a design or plan for a stadium in Kansas, Murray urged lawmakers to move forward with creating a program. Vetting the details, he said, will be up to the Kansas Department of Commerce with final approval by the Legislative Coordinating Council, an eight-member committee of House and Senate lawmakers that can adopt legislation when the Legislature is not in session.But a draft of the bill says any agreement between the state and a team would be confidential until after it has been executed.&nbsp;The bill was panned by libertarian groups as a handout for corporations that would do little to increase economic activity in Kansas. Dave Trabert, CEO of the Kansas Policy Institute, told the committee there was no way to verify the claims that the stadiums would boost the economy.&nbsp;“We asked Scoop and Score to provide their math. ‘Show us how you arrived at a billion dollars of economic activity,’’ Trabert said. “Nothing was forthcoming.”In an interview, Trabert called the proposal “absurd.”“This isn’t about economic development,” he said. “It’s about politics. It’s so people can say, ‘Look what I did. Vote for me.’ ”

Chiefs, Royals ask Kansas for incentives to allow teams to leave Missouri

The City of Wichita announced Monday that progress continues to be made in recovering systems following the recent cyber event.

All other resident-facing systems are now back in service.

The City’s Information Technology team continues to remediate remaining system issues both externally and internally. We appreciate your patience as there may be intermittent service interruptions over the coming days and weeks as the full recovery is in process.

<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/1199/Alert">Click here </a>for the latest updates, FAQs and contact information on any other systems of interest.

The City of Wichita announced Monday that progress continues to be made in recovering systems following the recent cyber event.Progress as of Monday, June 17, 2024:<ul>
 <li>Library:&nbsp;Self-check in of materials and credit card processing systems at the Advanced Learning Library are still offline, but all other resident-facing library systems are back in service;</li><li>Airport:&nbsp;Flight information screens are back online at Eisenhower National Airport;</li><li>Municipal Court:&nbsp;The walk-in docket has resumed with normal sign-up times from 7:00 am to 7:30am. Find more information at www.wichita.gov/alert.</li>
 </ul>All other resident-facing systems are now back in service.The City’s Information Technology team continues to remediate remaining system issues both externally and internally. We appreciate your patience as there may be intermittent service interruptions over the coming days and weeks as the full recovery is in process.<a href="https://www.wichita.gov/1199/Alert">Click here </a>for the latest updates, FAQs and contact information on any other systems of interest.

City of Wichita restoring more services following cyberattack

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged animal cruelty.

Just after 8a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 9800 Block of SE Croco Road in rural Shawnee County after multiple reports of unknown people and vehicles on the property, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

Deputies found illegal paraphernalia associated with cock fighting.&nbsp; Deputies then arrested 66-year-old Clinton E. Dick and booked him into the Shawnee County jail on requested charges of felony animal cruelty, unlawful conduct related to cockfighting and unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718571385119.png" alt="Dick-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Dick-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged animal cruelty.Just after 8a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to a home in the 9800 Block of SE Croco Road in rural Shawnee County after multiple reports of unknown people and vehicles on the property, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.Deputies found illegal paraphernalia associated with cock fighting.&nbsp; Deputies then arrested 66-year-old Clinton E. Dick and booked him into the Shawnee County jail on requested charges of felony animal cruelty, unlawful conduct related to cockfighting and unlawful possession of cockfighting paraphernalia.

Deputies discover cockfighting ring in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that sent a man to a Wichita hospital.

On Sunday, patrol officers responded to a shooting incident in the 1100 block of N. Market in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.

Police learned a man was cleaning a firearm inside his home when it accidentally discharged, striking him in the right lower jaw.

Sedgwick County EMS transported the man to an area hospital with critical injuries. He was expected to survive, according to Ford.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an accidental shooting that sent a man to a Wichita hospital.On Sunday, patrol officers responded to a shooting incident in the 1100 block of N. Market in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford.Police learned a man was cleaning a firearm inside his home when it accidentally discharged, striking him in the right lower jaw.Sedgwick County EMS transported the man to an area hospital with critical injuries. He was expected to survive, according to Ford.

Police: Kansas man shot in the face while cleaning firearm

The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms and their effects on young people's lives, similar to those now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cigarette-graphic-pictures-warning-labels-cancer-bb9395a53f3e414decafc9efd0df52ab">mandatory on cigarette boxes</a>.

In a Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/social-media-health-warning.html">opinion piece</a>&nbsp;in the The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people.

“It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe,” Murthy said. “Evidence from tobacco studies show that warning labels can increase awareness and change behavior.”

Murthy said that the use of just a warning label wouldn't make social media safe for young people, but would be a part of the steps needed.

Social media use is prevalent among young people, with up to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/">95% of youth</a>&nbsp;ages 13 to 17 saying that they use a social media platform, and more than a third saying that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center.

“Social media today is like tobacco decades ago: It’s a product whose business model depends on addicting kids. And as with cigarettes, a surgeon general’s warning label is a critical step toward mitigating the threat to children," Josh Golin, executive director at Fairplay, an organization that is dedicated to ending marketing to children, said in a statement.

Actually getting the labels on social media platforms would take congressional action — and it's not clear how quickly that might happen, even with apparent bipartisan unity around child safety online. Lawmakers have held multiple congressional hearings on child online safety and there's legislation in the works. Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.

“I am hoping that would be combined with a lot of other work that Congress has been trying to do to improve the safety and design and privacy of social media products,” said Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan and leader at the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Those those two things would have to go hand in hand, because there’s so much that Congress can do to follow the steps of the United Kingdom and the European Union in passing laws that take into account what kids need when they’re interacting with digital products.”

Even with Congressional approval, warning labels would likely be challenged in the courts by tech companies.

“Putting a warning label on online speech isn’t just scientifically unsound, it’s at odds with the constitutional right to free speech,” said Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “It’s surprising to see the U.S. Surgeon General attacking social media when teens themselves say it provides an important outlet for social connection.”

Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/surgeon-general-kids-social-media-teens-tiktok-instagram-443530d9baa3f91386bf9fbfb313bbaf">Murthy</a>&nbsp;warned that there wasn't enough evidence to show that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf">social media</a>&nbsp;is safe for children and teens. He said at the time that policymakers needed to address the harms of social media the same way they regulate things like car seats, baby formula, medication and other products children use.

To comply with federal regulation, social media companies already ban kids under 13 from signing up for their platforms — but children have been shown to easily get around the bans, both with and without their parents’ consent.

Other measures social platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health can also be easily circumvented. For instance, TikTok introduced a default&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-minors-social-media-china-time-limit-f735bd496ea3513abfc6480e5637abd8">60-minute time limit</a>&nbsp;for users under 18. But once the limit is reached, minors can simply enter a passcode to keep watching.

Murthy believes the impact of social media on young people should be a more pressing concern.

"Why is it that we have failed to respond to the harms of social media when they are no less urgent or widespread than those posed by unsafe cars, planes or food? These harms are not a failure of willpower and parenting; they are the consequence of unleashing powerful technology without adequate safety measures, transparency or accountability,” he wrote.

In January the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-tiktok-snap-discord-zuckerberg-testify-senate-00754a6bea92aaad62585ed55f219932">testify</a>&nbsp;as parents worry that they're not doing enough to protect young people. The executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.

Murthy said Monday that Congress needs to implement legislation that will protect young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content.

“The measures should prevent platforms from collecting sensitive data from children and should restrict the use of features like push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use,” Murthy wrote.

Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal supported Murthy's message Monday.

“We are pleased that the Surgeon General — America’s top doctor — continues to bring attention to the harmful impact that social media has on our children,” the senators said in a prepared statement.

The surgeon general is also recommending that companies be required to share all their data on health effects with independent scientists and the public, which they currently don't do, and allow independent safety audits.

Murthy said schools and parents also need to participate in providing phone-free times and that doctors, nurses and other clinicians should help guide families toward safer practices.

While Murthy pushes for more to be done about social media in the United States, the European Union enacted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-police-social-media-reform-52744e1d0f5b93a426f966138f2ccb52">groundbreaking new digital rules</a>&nbsp;last year. The Digital Services Act is part of a suite of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">tech-focused regulations</a>&nbsp;crafted by the 27-nation bloc — long a global leader in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-europe-rules-906fc89d2561b200fa6eb40a06b946a5">cracking down on tech giants</a>.

The DSA is designed to keep users safe online and make it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-russia-china-elon-musk-ukraine-2eedeabf7d555dc1d0a68b3724cfdd55">much harder to spread content</a>&nbsp;that’s either illegal, like hate speech or child sexual abuse, or violates a platform’s terms of service. It also looks to protect citizens' fundamental rights such as privacy and free speech.

Officials have warned tech companies that violations could bring fines worth up to 6% of their global revenue — which could amount to billions — or even a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-rules-europe-1a249ab94593356940d8f56d15e8a019">ban from the EU</a>.

Murthy's focus is on teens and social media, but Radesky noted that adults could use a warning label too.

“What we’ve heard from teens is that they want their parents to be on social media less and on their devices less,” she said. “That's another behavior change we hope that parents will reflect on and think about — ‘where could I cut down or create some boundaries to create more family time or sleep time?’ — and not only hyper-focusing on what teens are doing, but really what all of us as a society are doing in terms of healthy relationships with technology."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718626581644.png" alt="U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in a photo from his social media page" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in a photo from his social media page</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718641231541.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms and their effects on young people's lives, similar to those now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cigarette-graphic-pictures-warning-labels-cancer-bb9395a53f3e414decafc9efd0df52ab">mandatory on cigarette boxes</a>.In a Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/social-media-health-warning.html">opinion piece</a>&nbsp;in the The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people.“It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe,” Murthy said. “Evidence from tobacco studies show that warning labels can increase awareness and change behavior.”Murthy said that the use of just a warning label wouldn't make social media safe for young people, but would be a part of the steps needed.Social media use is prevalent among young people, with up to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/">95% of youth</a>&nbsp;ages 13 to 17 saying that they use a social media platform, and more than a third saying that they use social media “almost constantly,” according to 2022 data from the Pew Research Center.“Social media today is like tobacco decades ago: It’s a product whose business model depends on addicting kids. And as with cigarettes, a surgeon general’s warning label is a critical step toward mitigating the threat to children," Josh Golin, executive director at Fairplay, an organization that is dedicated to ending marketing to children, said in a statement.Actually getting the labels on social media platforms would take congressional action — and it's not clear how quickly that might happen, even with apparent bipartisan unity around child safety online. Lawmakers have held multiple congressional hearings on child online safety and there's legislation in the works. Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding.“I am hoping that would be combined with a lot of other work that Congress has been trying to do to improve the safety and design and privacy of social media products,” said Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan and leader at the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Those those two things would have to go hand in hand, because there’s so much that Congress can do to follow the steps of the United Kingdom and the European Union in passing laws that take into account what kids need when they’re interacting with digital products.”Even with Congressional approval, warning labels would likely be challenged in the courts by tech companies.“Putting a warning label on online speech isn’t just scientifically unsound, it’s at odds with the constitutional right to free speech,” said Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. “It’s surprising to see the U.S. Surgeon General attacking social media when teens themselves say it provides an important outlet for social connection.”Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/surgeon-general-kids-social-media-teens-tiktok-instagram-443530d9baa3f91386bf9fbfb313bbaf">Murthy</a>&nbsp;warned that there wasn't enough evidence to show that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf">social media</a>&nbsp;is safe for children and teens. He said at the time that policymakers needed to address the harms of social media the same way they regulate things like car seats, baby formula, medication and other products children use.To comply with federal regulation, social media companies already ban kids under 13 from signing up for their platforms — but children have been shown to easily get around the bans, both with and without their parents’ consent.Other measures social platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health can also be easily circumvented. For instance, TikTok introduced a default&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-minors-social-media-china-time-limit-f735bd496ea3513abfc6480e5637abd8">60-minute time limit</a>&nbsp;for users under 18. But once the limit is reached, minors can simply enter a passcode to keep watching.Murthy believes the impact of social media on young people should be a more pressing concern."Why is it that we have failed to respond to the harms of social media when they are no less urgent or widespread than those posed by unsafe cars, planes or food? These harms are not a failure of willpower and parenting; they are the consequence of unleashing powerful technology without adequate safety measures, transparency or accountability,” he wrote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578090484280.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In January the CEOs of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-tiktok-snap-discord-zuckerberg-testify-senate-00754a6bea92aaad62585ed55f219932">testify</a>&nbsp;as parents worry that they're not doing enough to protect young people. The executives touted existing safety tools on their platforms and the work they’ve done with nonprofits and law enforcement to protect minors.Murthy said Monday that Congress needs to implement legislation that will protect young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content.“The measures should prevent platforms from collecting sensitive data from children and should restrict the use of features like push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use,” Murthy wrote.Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal supported Murthy's message Monday.“We are pleased that the Surgeon General — America’s top doctor — continues to bring attention to the harmful impact that social media has on our children,” the senators said in a prepared statement.The surgeon general is also recommending that companies be required to share all their data on health effects with independent scientists and the public, which they currently don't do, and allow independent safety audits.Murthy said schools and parents also need to participate in providing phone-free times and that doctors, nurses and other clinicians should help guide families toward safer practices.While Murthy pushes for more to be done about social media in the United States, the European Union enacted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-police-social-media-reform-52744e1d0f5b93a426f966138f2ccb52">groundbreaking new digital rules</a>&nbsp;last year. The Digital Services Act is part of a suite of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-act-artificial-intelligence-europe-regulation-94e2b38703b38fdbfabc9580f845ef9a">tech-focused regulations</a>&nbsp;crafted by the 27-nation bloc — long a global leader in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-chatgpt-europe-rules-906fc89d2561b200fa6eb40a06b946a5">cracking down on tech giants</a>.The DSA is designed to keep users safe online and make it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/twitter-russia-china-elon-musk-ukraine-2eedeabf7d555dc1d0a68b3724cfdd55">much harder to spread content</a>&nbsp;that’s either illegal, like hate speech or child sexual abuse, or violates a platform’s terms of service. It also looks to protect citizens' fundamental rights such as privacy and free speech.Officials have warned tech companies that violations could bring fines worth up to 6% of their global revenue — which could amount to billions — or even a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatgpt-openai-artificial-intelligence-rules-europe-1a249ab94593356940d8f56d15e8a019">ban from the EU</a>.Murthy's focus is on teens and social media, but Radesky noted that adults could use a warning label too.“What we’ve heard from teens is that they want their parents to be on social media less and on their devices less,” she said. “That's another behavior change we hope that parents will reflect on and think about — ‘where could I cut down or create some boundaries to create more family time or sleep time?’ — and not only hyper-focusing on what teens are doing, but really what all of us as a society are doing in terms of healthy relationships with technology."

Surgeon General demands warning label on social media apps

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are invesdtigating a deadly gunfight on Father's Day in Wichita and have made an arrest.

Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford. 

While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.

First responders discovered a 28-year-old Hispanic man, later identified as Aron Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts, Lara succumbed to his injuries during surgery and was pronounced deceased at 10:26p.m., according to Ford.

 Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital, where he remains in stable condition on Monday morning.

The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the assailant earlier in the evening. The suspect, a 33-year-old Hispanic man, allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.

It is believed that two men accompanying the victim returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim. The identities of these individuals are currently under investigation as police seek their information on involvement.

The Wichita Police Department arrested the 33-year-old suspect on requested charges of first-degree murder, according to Ford. Police have not released the suspect's name.

During the investigation, officers recovered the murder weapon from a nearby residence. Additionally, investigators collected 26 firearm casings of multiple calibers from various homes and vehicles in the vicinity, indicating the extent of the gunfire exchange.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718620372726.png" alt="Police on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are invesdtigating a deadly gunfight on Father's Day in Wichita and have made an arrest.Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting incident in the 1900 block of N. Jackson Street in Wichita, according to Police spokesman Andrew Ford. While working to gather further information, the 911 dispatcher could hear gunfire in the background, prompting an immediate upgraded dispatch of officers to the scene.First responders discovered a 28-year-old Hispanic man, later identified as Aron Lara suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Sedgwick County EMS provided initial critical care at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital. Despite efforts, Lara succumbed to his injuries during surgery and was pronounced deceased at 10:26p.m., according to Ford. Another victim, a 22-year-old Hispanic man, sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot to the arm and was privately transported to St. Francis Hospital, where he remains in stable condition on Monday morning.The incident occurred during a neighborhood barbecue in observance of Father's Day. According to preliminary reports, Lara, was involved in a verbal altercation with the assailant earlier in the evening. The suspect, a 33-year-old Hispanic man, allegedly returned home, retrieved a rifle, and fired upon the victim, who was unarmed at the time of the shooting.It is believed that two men accompanying the victim returned fire, resulting in injuries to the second victim. The identities of these individuals are currently under investigation as police seek their information on involvement.The Wichita Police Department arrested the 33-year-old suspect on requested charges of first-degree murder, according to Ford. Police have not released the suspect's name.During the investigation, officers recovered the murder weapon from a nearby residence. Additionally, investigators collected 26 firearm casings of multiple calibers from various homes and vehicles in the vicinity, indicating the extent of the gunfire exchange.

Suspect accused in deadly Kan. Father's Day BBQ gunfight

TOPEKA –&nbsp; Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing Pfizer for misleading claims it made related to the COVID vaccine.

Kobach announced the lawsuit at&nbsp;a press conference in Topeka.“Pfizer made multiple misleading statements to deceive the public about its vaccine at a time when Americans needed the truth,” Kobach said.

<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/2024-06-15-pfizer-complaint-(002).pdf">Click here to read</a> the complaint

According to the complaint, filed Monday in Thomas County District Court, Pfizer misled&nbsp;Kansans about the vaccines’ risks, including to pregnant women and for myocarditis.&nbsp;

Additionally, Pfizer claimed its vaccine protected against COVID variants, despite data showing otherwise. The pharmaceutical giant also suggested its vaccine prevented COVID transmission, but later admitted it had never studied whether its vaccine stopped transmission.

The complaint also alleges that Pfizer coordinated with social media officials to censor speech critical of COVID-19 vaccines&nbsp;and declined to participate in the federal government’s vaccine development program, Operation Warp Speed, to avoid government oversight.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718647861474.png" alt="Image from the complaint" />
 <figcaption>Image from the complaint</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –&nbsp; Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is suing Pfizer for misleading claims it made related to the COVID vaccine.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718661741339.png" alt="Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Kobach announced the lawsuit at&nbsp;a press conference in Topeka.“Pfizer made multiple misleading statements to deceive the public about its vaccine at a time when Americans needed the truth,” Kobach said.<a href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/2024-06-15-pfizer-complaint-(002).pdf">Click here to read</a> the complaintAccording to the complaint, filed Monday in Thomas County District Court, Pfizer misled&nbsp;Kansans about the vaccines’ risks, including to pregnant women and for myocarditis.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635537216378.png" alt="Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>Additionally, Pfizer claimed its vaccine protected against COVID variants, despite data showing otherwise. The pharmaceutical giant also suggested its vaccine prevented COVID transmission, but later admitted it had never studied whether its vaccine stopped transmission.The complaint also alleges that Pfizer coordinated with social media officials to censor speech critical of COVID-19 vaccines&nbsp;and declined to participate in the federal government’s vaccine development program, Operation Warp Speed, to avoid government oversight.

Read the complaint: Kansas sues Pfizer over COVID vaccine marketing

MIAMI COUNTY, Kansas —Undersheriff Matthew P. Kelly and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MARCKCMetro?__cft__[0]=AZVnoe0eXXXsstRb-yzkjPJHFCtQm88Sn_u2jBUn9-PkDl5gOtVHjeQDwqjXGBMJrgZJKlTIRnU3_yrMlrx58myU2_1EkQA1SDUJEpLZrDWII1W6UHxJxioosvrLz8rzJ0KIlXPiiBN2UoSyK5Z8QOIKsWyyppF1OBMH5pnXYcYVhwe5XISeSa_PEBQ3y449_58jDZ8RhE09UtMKwx0s4-W2&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Mid-America Regional Council</a> Public Safety Communications Board Co-Chair and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OverlandParkPoliceDepartment?__cft__[0]=AZVnoe0eXXXsstRb-yzkjPJHFCtQm88Sn_u2jBUn9-PkDl5gOtVHjeQDwqjXGBMJrgZJKlTIRnU3_yrMlrx58myU2_1EkQA1SDUJEpLZrDWII1W6UHxJxioosvrLz8rzJ0KIlXPiiBN2UoSyK5Z8QOIKsWyyppF1OBMH5pnXYcYVhwe5XISeSa_PEBQ3y449_58jDZ8RhE09UtMKwx0s4-W2&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Overland Park Police Department</a> Deputy Chief Eric Houston presented 9-year old, Reese Hardison with the 911 Hero Award and recognized Miami County Sheriff's Office Dispatcher Jennifer Carter.

On the afternoon of April 10,&nbsp; Reese Hardison was dropped off by the school bus at his home. As he approached the residence he saw smoke inside.  He was alone and used his cell phone to call 911 to report the smoke. 

Dispatcher Jennifer Carter answered his call. Reese was able to calmly and accurately describe what was happening and provide the information needed to get help on the way.

 Jennifer made sure that Reese was in a safe place far away from the fire. Most likely seeing the smoke, the school bus driver returned to Reese’s house.  She had Reese get back on the bus to stay safe until help arrived.

Emergencies are often very emotional and stressful events. They are even more stressful when someone you love is involved. Even though his house was on fire, Reese displayed a degree of calm and composure that is rarely witnessed in events such as these, especially in a child so young. 

Reese’s heroic effort during this emergency is commendable.After Reese and Jennifer were presented their awards, Reese was given a tour of the Sheriff's Office and was able to see where his 911 call was answered.

 The primary purpose of the Kansas City Regional 911 Hero Award program is to recognize and reward young people who show that they know how and when to use 911 by performing some heroic action during an emergency. 

To receive the award, the hero must have initiated the call to 911 and was able to provide the dispatchers with the information needed to get help on the way.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718651920011.png" alt="Undersheriff Matthew Kelly, Reese Hardison and&nbsp;Miami County Sheriff's Office Dispatcher Jennifer Carter-photos by&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/toddrigginsphotography?__cft__[0]=AZVnoe0eXXXsstRb-yzkjPJHFCtQm88Sn_u2jBUn9-PkDl5gOtVHjeQDwqjXGBMJrgZJKlTIRnU3_yrMlrx58myU2_1EkQA1SDUJEpLZrDWII1W6UHxJxioosvrLz8rzJ0KIlXPiiBN2UoSyK5Z8QOIKsWyyppF1OBMH5pnXYcYVhwe5XISeSa_PEBQ3y449_58jDZ8RhE09UtMKwx0s4-W2&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Todd Riggins~Frozen In Time Photography</a>" />
 <figcaption>Undersheriff Matthew Kelly, Reese Hardison and&nbsp;Miami County Sheriff's Office Dispatcher Jennifer Carter-photos by&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/toddrigginsphotography?__cft__[0]=AZVnoe0eXXXsstRb-yzkjPJHFCtQm88Sn_u2jBUn9-PkDl5gOtVHjeQDwqjXGBMJrgZJKlTIRnU3_yrMlrx58myU2_1EkQA1SDUJEpLZrDWII1W6UHxJxioosvrLz8rzJ0KIlXPiiBN2UoSyK5Z8QOIKsWyyppF1OBMH5pnXYcYVhwe5XISeSa_PEBQ3y449_58jDZ8RhE09UtMKwx0s4-W2&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Todd Riggins~Frozen In Time Photography</a></figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY, Kansas —Undersheriff Matthew P. Kelly and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MARCKCMetro?__cft__[0]=AZVnoe0eXXXsstRb-yzkjPJHFCtQm88Sn_u2jBUn9-PkDl5gOtVHjeQDwqjXGBMJrgZJKlTIRnU3_yrMlrx58myU2_1EkQA1SDUJEpLZrDWII1W6UHxJxioosvrLz8rzJ0KIlXPiiBN2UoSyK5Z8QOIKsWyyppF1OBMH5pnXYcYVhwe5XISeSa_PEBQ3y449_58jDZ8RhE09UtMKwx0s4-W2&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Mid-America Regional Council</a> Public Safety Communications Board Co-Chair and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OverlandParkPoliceDepartment?__cft__[0]=AZVnoe0eXXXsstRb-yzkjPJHFCtQm88Sn_u2jBUn9-PkDl5gOtVHjeQDwqjXGBMJrgZJKlTIRnU3_yrMlrx58myU2_1EkQA1SDUJEpLZrDWII1W6UHxJxioosvrLz8rzJ0KIlXPiiBN2UoSyK5Z8QOIKsWyyppF1OBMH5pnXYcYVhwe5XISeSa_PEBQ3y449_58jDZ8RhE09UtMKwx0s4-W2&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Overland Park Police Department</a> Deputy Chief Eric Houston presented 9-year old, Reese Hardison with the 911 Hero Award and recognized Miami County Sheriff's Office Dispatcher Jennifer Carter. On the afternoon of April 10,&nbsp; Reese Hardison was dropped off by the school bus at his home. As he approached the residence he saw smoke inside. He was alone and used his cell phone to call 911 to report the smoke. Dispatcher Jennifer Carter answered his call. Reese was able to calmly and accurately describe what was happening and provide the information needed to get help on the way. Jennifer made sure that Reese was in a safe place far away from the fire. Most likely seeing the smoke, the school bus driver returned to Reese’s house. She had Reese get back on the bus to stay safe until help arrived.Emergencies are often very emotional and stressful events. They are even more stressful when someone you love is involved. Even though his house was on fire, Reese displayed a degree of calm and composure that is rarely witnessed in events such as these, especially in a child so young. Reese’s heroic effort during this emergency is commendable.After Reese and Jennifer were presented their awards, Reese was given a tour of the Sheriff's Office and was able to see where his 911 call was answered. The primary purpose of the Kansas City Regional 911 Hero Award program is to recognize and reward young people who show that they know how and when to use 911 by performing some heroic action during an emergency. To receive the award, the hero must have initiated the call to 911 and was able to provide the dispatchers with the information needed to get help on the way.

9-year-old Kansas boy honored for 911 call to report house fire

FASANO, Italy (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and Ukrainian leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/13/bilateral-security-agreement-between-the-united-states-of-america-and-ukraine/">10-year security agreement</a>&nbsp;Thursday that they hailed as a milestone in relations between their countries, but that alone was not enough to stop Zelenskyy from wondering how much longer he could count on America's support.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/13/bilateral-security-agreement-between-the-united-states-of-america-and-ukraine/">Click here to read</a> specifics on the 10-year agreement

Zelenskyy also said his country “urgently” needed additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainians and the nation's infrastructure from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's continued bombardment.</a>

The leaders signed the agreement on the sidelines of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.g7italy.it/en/summit/">Group of Seven summit</a>, held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-puglia-venue-g7-6d7470ac1e5118938d3269820fd2f161">this year in Italy</a>, and Biden said the goal "is to strengthen Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities.”

Zelenskyy said at a joint news conference that the signing made for a “truly historic day,” but he also wondered about the durability of support from the United States and other allies.

Ukraine's president said the right question to ask is “for how long the unity in the world will remain? The unity in the U.S., together with European leaders" and how it will be influenced by the outcome of elections this year in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-european-election-national-rally-marine-lepen-b132616d24de829660d8dbe0659e50fd">many of those countries</a>.

Topping that list is voting in the U.S. in November in a campaign that could see the return of Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to the presidency. Trump has been skeptical of providing additional military aid to Ukraine, at one point criticizing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-policies-agenda-election-2024-second-term-d656d8f08629a8da14a65c4075545e0f">“endless flow of American treasure.”</a>&nbsp;He more recently has expressed openness to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-congress-republicans-trump-johnson-mcconnell-4cb76cfdefc38f35c1bda2ac8915b179">lending money</a>&nbsp;instead and has said Ukraine’s independence is important to the United States.

Biden said the U.S. has commitments from five countries that he did not name to provide Patriot missile and other air defense systems to Ukraine. He said countries that have been expecting the same weapons from the U.S. have been told they will have to wait because “everything we have is going to go to Ukraine until their needs are met.”

Zelenskyy said he “urgently” needed seven Patriot systems. Biden then told him, “You’ll have some relatively quickly.”

Germany is one of the five countries that have promised an additional Patriot system for Ukraine.

Zelenskyy went on to deliver a stark warning about Russian aggression, saying that “if Ukraine does not withstand, the democracy of many countries, I am sure, won't withstand either.”

The U.S. and European countries also agreed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-frozen-assets-loan-39d8619f083600651fabe46b4548716d">to keep sanctioned Russian assets locked up</a>&nbsp;until Moscow pays reparations for its invasion of Ukraine, clearing the way for a $50 billion loan package for Ukraine. Combined with new sanctions against Russia announced earlier in the week, Biden said the series of actions to support Ukraine show Putin that “he cannot wait us out. He cannot divide us.”

The highly anticipated agreement will leverage interest and income from more than $260 billion in frozen Russian assets, largely held in Europe, to secure a $50 billion loan from the U.S. and additional loans from other partners. Ukraine will receive the first payments sometime this year, a U.S. official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the agreement, which will be included in the G7 leaders' statement on Friday.

Ukraine will be able to spend the money in several areas, including military, economic, humanitarian and reconstruction needs, the official said.

The leaders’ statement on Friday will also preserve the option of confiscating the Russian assets entirely, for which the allies have yet to secure the political will, largely citing legal and financial stability concerns.

Biden and Zelenskyy met Thursday for the second time in two weeks to discuss the security agreement as the group of wealthy democracies has been looking for new ways to bolster Ukraine's defenses against Russia.

The agreement on using frozen Russian assets to benefit Ukraine comes several months after the White House broke through a logjam in Congress that had stalled approval of some $60 billion in U.S. aid for Ukraine. The delay gave Russia time to make up ground on the battlefield.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-biden-zelenskyy-a77546e23fa571eb7f6509d4e14b89b3">Biden publicly apologized</a>&nbsp;to Zelenskyy for the holdup when they met last week in France.

The security agreement does not commit U.S. troops directly to Ukraine’s defense against Russia. Biden does not want the U.S. to be pulled into a direct conflict with nuclear-armed Moscow.

The pact, which would remain in effect for 10 years, does not offer Ukraine any new money but includes a commitment by the U.S. to work with Congress on a source of sustainable funding for the future. Text of the agreement released by the White House also describes how the U.S. will coordinate with Ukraine and other U.S. allies and partners to make sure Ukraine has the military, intelligence and other means necessary to defend itself and deter Russian aggression.

The U.S. and Ukraine would also consult “at the highest levels” in the event of a future armed attack by Russia against Ukraine. Either side can terminate the agreement in writing with six months’ notice, which means a future U.S. president, including Trump if elected in November, could cancel the arrangement.

Scores of countries and organizations are set to meet over the weekend in Switzerland to discuss peace for Ukraine. Biden is not attending the summit, which has disappointed Zelenskyy. Vice President Kamala Harris will represent the U.S. instead while the Democratic president attends a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles.

It wasn’t just Ukraine that occupied the allies’ attention.

Biden announced that Italy was joining a G7 initiative to provide development assistance to Africa, which is meant as a bulwark against growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-china-belt-road-infrastructure-c6b6e9f3f69d46544d7550622578e913">Chinese influence on the continent</a>. Biden said $60 billion mobilized by the U.S. and the G7 is proof “democracies can deliver,” as the U.S. and its allies warn that China’s investments come attached with geopolitical and economic demands.

The annual summit opened Thursday in Italy's picturesque Puglia region in the south, with leaders meeting in private to discuss the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and other mutual concerns.

The Group of Seven industrialized democracies — the U.S., Britain, Canada, France, German, Italy and Japan, plus European governing bodies — meets annually. Italy holds the rotating presidency this year, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is hosting her counterparts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718381433841.png" alt="The leaders signed the agreement on the sidelines of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.g7italy.it/en/summit/">Group of Seven summit</a>, held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-puglia-venue-g7-6d7470ac1e5118938d3269820fd2f161">this year in Italy</a>, and Biden said the goal "is to strengthen Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities.”-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>The leaders signed the agreement on the sidelines of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.g7italy.it/en/summit/">Group of Seven summit</a>, held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-puglia-venue-g7-6d7470ac1e5118938d3269820fd2f161">this year in Italy</a>, and Biden said the goal "is to strengthen Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities.”-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>FASANO, Italy (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and Ukrainian leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/13/bilateral-security-agreement-between-the-united-states-of-america-and-ukraine/">10-year security agreement</a>&nbsp;Thursday that they hailed as a milestone in relations between their countries, but that alone was not enough to stop Zelenskyy from wondering how much longer he could count on America's support.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/06/13/bilateral-security-agreement-between-the-united-states-of-america-and-ukraine/">Click here to read</a> specifics on the 10-year agreementZelenskyy also said his country “urgently” needed additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainians and the nation's infrastructure from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia's continued bombardment.</a>The leaders signed the agreement on the sidelines of the annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.g7italy.it/en/summit/">Group of Seven summit</a>, held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-puglia-venue-g7-6d7470ac1e5118938d3269820fd2f161">this year in Italy</a>, and Biden said the goal "is to strengthen Ukraine's defense and deterrence capabilities.”Zelenskyy said at a joint news conference that the signing made for a “truly historic day,” but he also wondered about the durability of support from the United States and other allies.Ukraine's president said the right question to ask is “for how long the unity in the world will remain? The unity in the U.S., together with European leaders" and how it will be influenced by the outcome of elections this year in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-european-election-national-rally-marine-lepen-b132616d24de829660d8dbe0659e50fd">many of those countries</a>.Topping that list is voting in the U.S. in November in a campaign that could see the return of Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;to the presidency. Trump has been skeptical of providing additional military aid to Ukraine, at one point criticizing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-policies-agenda-election-2024-second-term-d656d8f08629a8da14a65c4075545e0f">“endless flow of American treasure.”</a>&nbsp;He more recently has expressed openness to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-congress-republicans-trump-johnson-mcconnell-4cb76cfdefc38f35c1bda2ac8915b179">lending money</a>&nbsp;instead and has said Ukraine’s independence is important to the United States.Biden said the U.S. has commitments from five countries that he did not name to provide Patriot missile and other air defense systems to Ukraine. He said countries that have been expecting the same weapons from the U.S. have been told they will have to wait because “everything we have is going to go to Ukraine until their needs are met.”Zelenskyy said he “urgently” needed seven Patriot systems. Biden then told him, “You’ll have some relatively quickly.”Germany is one of the five countries that have promised an additional Patriot system for Ukraine.Zelenskyy went on to deliver a stark warning about Russian aggression, saying that “if Ukraine does not withstand, the democracy of many countries, I am sure, won't withstand either.”The U.S. and European countries also agreed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-frozen-assets-loan-39d8619f083600651fabe46b4548716d">to keep sanctioned Russian assets locked up</a>&nbsp;until Moscow pays reparations for its invasion of Ukraine, clearing the way for a $50 billion loan package for Ukraine. Combined with new sanctions against Russia announced earlier in the week, Biden said the series of actions to support Ukraine show Putin that “he cannot wait us out. He cannot divide us.”The highly anticipated agreement will leverage interest and income from more than $260 billion in frozen Russian assets, largely held in Europe, to secure a $50 billion loan from the U.S. and additional loans from other partners. Ukraine will receive the first payments sometime this year, a U.S. official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the agreement, which will be included in the G7 leaders' statement on Friday.Ukraine will be able to spend the money in several areas, including military, economic, humanitarian and reconstruction needs, the official said.The leaders’ statement on Friday will also preserve the option of confiscating the Russian assets entirely, for which the allies have yet to secure the political will, largely citing legal and financial stability concerns.Biden and Zelenskyy met Thursday for the second time in two weeks to discuss the security agreement as the group of wealthy democracies has been looking for new ways to bolster Ukraine's defenses against Russia.The agreement on using frozen Russian assets to benefit Ukraine comes several months after the White House broke through a logjam in Congress that had stalled approval of some $60 billion in U.S. aid for Ukraine. The delay gave Russia time to make up ground on the battlefield.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-biden-zelenskyy-a77546e23fa571eb7f6509d4e14b89b3">Biden publicly apologized</a>&nbsp;to Zelenskyy for the holdup when they met last week in France.The security agreement does not commit U.S. troops directly to Ukraine’s defense against Russia. Biden does not want the U.S. to be pulled into a direct conflict with nuclear-armed Moscow.The pact, which would remain in effect for 10 years, does not offer Ukraine any new money but includes a commitment by the U.S. to work with Congress on a source of sustainable funding for the future. Text of the agreement released by the White House also describes how the U.S. will coordinate with Ukraine and other U.S. allies and partners to make sure Ukraine has the military, intelligence and other means necessary to defend itself and deter Russian aggression.The U.S. and Ukraine would also consult “at the highest levels” in the event of a future armed attack by Russia against Ukraine. Either side can terminate the agreement in writing with six months’ notice, which means a future U.S. president, including Trump if elected in November, could cancel the arrangement.Scores of countries and organizations are set to meet over the weekend in Switzerland to discuss peace for Ukraine. Biden is not attending the summit, which has disappointed Zelenskyy. Vice President Kamala Harris will represent the U.S. instead while the Democratic president attends a campaign fundraiser in Los Angeles.It wasn’t just Ukraine that occupied the allies’ attention.Biden announced that Italy was joining a G7 initiative to provide development assistance to Africa, which is meant as a bulwark against growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-china-belt-road-infrastructure-c6b6e9f3f69d46544d7550622578e913">Chinese influence on the continent</a>. Biden said $60 billion mobilized by the U.S. and the G7 is proof “democracies can deliver,” as the U.S. and its allies warn that China’s investments come attached with geopolitical and economic demands.The annual summit opened Thursday in Italy's picturesque Puglia region in the south, with leaders meeting in private to discuss the wars in Gaza and Ukraine and other mutual concerns.The Group of Seven industrialized democracies — the U.S., Britain, Canada, France, German, Italy and Japan, plus European governing bodies — meets annually. Italy holds the rotating presidency this year, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is hosting her counterparts.—-

 Read details on new U.S. -Ukraine 10-year security agreement 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a June 4, homicide in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case last week.

Jeremiah Walker, 23 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.

Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.

On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide.&nbsp;

On June 12, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested 23-year-old Jeremiah Walker on a charge of Second-Degree Murder in the deaath of 27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

This incident marks the 15th criminal homicide in Wichita for 2024. Walker remains jailed on a 750-thousand dollar bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718212493808.png" alt="Walker photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Walker photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a June 4, homicide in Wichita made his first court appearance in the case last week.Jeremiah Walker, 23 of Wichita, is charged with 2nd degree murder in the death of&nbsp;27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide.&nbsp;On June 12, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested 23-year-old Jeremiah Walker on a charge of Second-Degree Murder in the deaath of 27-year-old Quentin Gordon, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.This incident marks the 15th criminal homicide in Wichita for 2024. Walker remains jailed on a 750-thousand dollar bond.

Suspect captured after 6-day search charged with Kansas murder

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina Post

This time of year combines and other types of farming equipment are making their way through fields, down highways, roads and local streets.

While harvesting a wheat field on Saturday, the driver of one of the four combines working the lot noticed a spark of flames between the wheat stalks. 

Quickly afterward, fire engulfed a farm machine in the 4400 block of East Meadow Road. Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the field at 12:35 p.m., according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.

"They were cutting wheat when one of them noticed a fire in the wheat, so they went to cut around it, trying to isolate it, and the combine stalled," Soldan said. "Which resulted in the loss of the combine too."

"It may have been the machine that had an issue — they just didn't know at the time."

Soldan said the charred combine was a John Deere S670. With the fire spreading to about 80 acres of wheat, the total loss was more than&nbsp; $200,000. Soldan said no one was injured as a result of the fire.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718642543178.jpeg" alt="A John Deere S670 engulfed flames on Saturday, June 15, in the 4400 block of East Mentor Road in rural Saline County. Image courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office." />
 <figcaption>A John Deere S670 engulfed flames on Saturday, June 15, in the 4400 block of East Mentor Road in rural Saline County. Image courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office.</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina PostThis time of year combines and other types of farming equipment are making their way through fields, down highways, roads and local streets.While harvesting a wheat field on Saturday, the driver of one of the four combines working the lot noticed a spark of flames between the wheat stalks. Quickly afterward, fire engulfed a farm machine in the 4400 block of East Meadow Road. Saline County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the field at 12:35 p.m., according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718642900141.jpeg" alt="The remains of the $200,000-plus farming equipment on Saturday, June 15. Image courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The remains of the $200,000-plus farming equipment on Saturday, June 15. Image courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>"They were cutting wheat when one of them noticed a fire in the wheat, so they went to cut around it, trying to isolate it, and the combine stalled," Soldan said. "Which resulted in the loss of the combine too.""It may have been the machine that had an issue — they just didn't know at the time."Soldan said the charred combine was a John Deere S670. With the fire spreading to about 80 acres of wheat, the total loss was more than&nbsp; $200,000. Soldan said no one was injured as a result of the fire.&nbsp;

Fire destroys 80 acres of wheat, combine in rural Saline County

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement in Kansas City are investigating an homicide and have identified the victim as&nbsp;29-year-old Deshaun McKinzey.

Just after 3:30a.m. Sunday, police responded to the sound of gunshots&nbsp; near 39th and Broadway, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders found a man later identified as McKinzey in a parking lot at 39th and Broadway.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A private vehicle transported a second victim to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released any details on a possible suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718562844511.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement in Kansas City are investigating an homicide and have identified the victim as&nbsp;29-year-old Deshaun McKinzey.Just after 3:30a.m. Sunday, police responded to the sound of gunshots&nbsp; near 39th and Broadway, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders found a man later identified as McKinzey in a parking lot at 39th and Broadway.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.A private vehicle transported a second victim to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released any details on a possible suspect.

Man dies after Father's Day shooting in Kansas City parking lot

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Democratic governor and top Republican lawmakers say they have an agreement on a package of broad tax cuts, potentially ending a two-year political standoff that has prevented their state from following others in making big reductions.

The deal announced late Thursday by Gov. Laura Kelly and GOP leaders would save taxpayers a total of about $1.2 billion over the next three years and move Kansas from three personal income tax rates to two, something Kelly had resisted. Republican leaders had hoped for income and property tax cuts worth at least $230 million more over the next three years, rejecting Kelly's argument that larger cuts would lead to budget shortfalls within five years.

Lawmakers are set to convene a special session Tuesday, called by Kelly after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-budget-tax-cuts-veto-9ebddf96cd35b614d8e96f2d8b8939c2">she vetoed</a>&nbsp;the last of three tax plans approved by the Legislature before it ended its regular annual session May 1.

The state's coffers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-revenue-projections-bdc922cedc48d8cd7b1a827f267d60b7">bulged with surplus revenues,</a>&nbsp;and Kelly and lawmakers agreed families needed tax cuts to offset the effects of inflation. But Kelly and top Republicans disagreed on how to cut income taxes, even after GOP leaders dropped a push for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-4b53850ab4aa72febec4fb728ccbc9b1">a “flat” personal income tax</a>&nbsp;with a single rate. Republican leaders couldn't muster the supermajorities necessary to override Kelly's vetoes.

Meanwhile, Utah and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-brian-kemp-corporate-income-tax-cuts-7a414376871e7baf20bfb2ea12bb7260">Georgia</a>&nbsp;cut income taxes this year after a dozen other states cut their income tax rates last year, according to the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation.

“This agreement allows significant, long overdue tax relief to Kansans while preserving our ability to invest in the state’s future,” Kelly said in a statement.

Kelly said the deal is “not without its flaws.” Both she and GOP leaders noted that it would provide a significantly lower property tax cut than previous plans.

Homeowners and businesses are paying more because overall property values in Kansas jumped more than 26% from 2019 through 2023, according to state Department of Revenue figures. Residential property values rose even faster, nearly 41%.

Most property taxes in Kansas are imposed locally, but the state has a small levy to help finance public schools. The owner of a $250,000 home now pays $478 a year in taxes because of that levy, and the latest tax plan would reduce that by $76 a year or 15.6%.

But the last plan Kelly vetoed would have cut the tax on that same $250,000 home by $142 a year or nearly 30%, and some lawmakers thought that wasn't enough.

Sen. Tom Holland, a Democrat from northeastern Kansas, outlined a tax plan Wednesday that would sacrifice some income tax cuts to bump up the property tax cut to $212 for a $250,000 home or 44%, while also providing a smaller reduction for businesses and farmers. On Friday, he called the latest plan “a nothingburger.”

“It just doesn't provide the property tax relief that Kansans have been begging for,” he said.

However, it wasn't clear Friday that objections to the plan would be strong enough to sink it. Legislative leaders hoped to finish the special session in a single, long day and lawmakers worry that voters will punish them in this year's elections if there are no major tax cuts. Both factors put pressure on rank-and-file lawmakers to fall in line.

“This agreement is an important first step that lowers taxes today for the people who need it the most,” top Republican leaders said in a joint statement Thursday night.

Besides moving Kansas from three personal income tax rates to two, it would reduce the highest rate from 5.7% to 5.58% while also exempting more income from the tax to help lower-income taxpayers. It would eliminate state income taxes on Social Security benefits, which kick in when retirees earn $75,000 a year, and expand an income tax credit for child care expenses.

Kelly dropped her proposal to eliminate the state's already set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.

By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ Democratic governor and top Republican lawmakers say they have an agreement on a package of broad tax cuts, potentially ending a two-year political standoff that has prevented their state from following others in making big reductions.The deal announced late Thursday by Gov. Laura Kelly and GOP leaders would save taxpayers a total of about $1.2 billion over the next three years and move Kansas from three personal income tax rates to two, something Kelly had resisted. Republican leaders had hoped for income and property tax cuts worth at least $230 million more over the next three years, rejecting Kelly's argument that larger cuts would lead to budget shortfalls within five years.Lawmakers are set to convene a special session Tuesday, called by Kelly after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-budget-tax-cuts-veto-9ebddf96cd35b614d8e96f2d8b8939c2">she vetoed</a>&nbsp;the last of three tax plans approved by the Legislature before it ended its regular annual session May 1.The state's coffers have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-tax-cuts-kansas-revenue-projections-bdc922cedc48d8cd7b1a827f267d60b7">bulged with surplus revenues,</a>&nbsp;and Kelly and lawmakers agreed families needed tax cuts to offset the effects of inflation. But Kelly and top Republicans disagreed on how to cut income taxes, even after GOP leaders dropped a push for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-income-tax-cuts-budget-4b53850ab4aa72febec4fb728ccbc9b1">a “flat” personal income tax</a>&nbsp;with a single rate. Republican leaders couldn't muster the supermajorities necessary to override Kelly's vetoes.Meanwhile, Utah and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-brian-kemp-corporate-income-tax-cuts-7a414376871e7baf20bfb2ea12bb7260">Georgia</a>&nbsp;cut income taxes this year after a dozen other states cut their income tax rates last year, according to the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation.“This agreement allows significant, long overdue tax relief to Kansans while preserving our ability to invest in the state’s future,” Kelly said in a statement.Kelly said the deal is “not without its flaws.” Both she and GOP leaders noted that it would provide a significantly lower property tax cut than previous plans.Homeowners and businesses are paying more because overall property values in Kansas jumped more than 26% from 2019 through 2023, according to state Department of Revenue figures. Residential property values rose even faster, nearly 41%.Most property taxes in Kansas are imposed locally, but the state has a small levy to help finance public schools. The owner of a $250,000 home now pays $478 a year in taxes because of that levy, and the latest tax plan would reduce that by $76 a year or 15.6%.But the last plan Kelly vetoed would have cut the tax on that same $250,000 home by $142 a year or nearly 30%, and some lawmakers thought that wasn't enough.Sen. Tom Holland, a Democrat from northeastern Kansas, outlined a tax plan Wednesday that would sacrifice some income tax cuts to bump up the property tax cut to $212 for a $250,000 home or 44%, while also providing a smaller reduction for businesses and farmers. On Friday, he called the latest plan “a nothingburger.”“It just doesn't provide the property tax relief that Kansans have been begging for,” he said.However, it wasn't clear Friday that objections to the plan would be strong enough to sink it. Legislative leaders hoped to finish the special session in a single, long day and lawmakers worry that voters will punish them in this year's elections if there are no major tax cuts. Both factors put pressure on rank-and-file lawmakers to fall in line.“This agreement is an important first step that lowers taxes today for the people who need it the most,” top Republican leaders said in a joint statement Thursday night.Besides moving Kansas from three personal income tax rates to two, it would reduce the highest rate from 5.7% to 5.58% while also exempting more income from the tax to help lower-income taxpayers. It would eliminate state income taxes on Social Security benefits, which kick in when retirees earn $75,000 a year, and expand an income tax credit for child care expenses.Kelly dropped her proposal to eliminate the state's already set-to-expire 2% sales tax on groceries six months early, on July 1.

Deal on tax cuts would save Kan. taxpayers $1.2 billion over 3 years

MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide have a suspect in custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718573320263.png" alt="McJunkins-Macias photo Jasper County" />
 <figcaption>McJunkins-Macias photo Jasper County</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide have a suspect in custody.Just before noon June 13, police in Carthage, Missouri responded to a 911 call about the body of a deceased individual in a camper in the 600 Block of North Main Street, according to a Miami County Sheriff Frank Kelly.&nbsp;Officers found the body of a woman, identified as 24-year-old Kenia Lopez, of Carthage, Missouri, deceased inside the camper.&nbsp; Officers also detained 23-year-old Gavino McJunkins-Macias of Carthage, Missouri for questioning.&nbsp;McJunkins-Macias was later arrested on requested charges for abandonment of a corpse.&nbsp;Charges for 2nd-degree murder are also pending through the&nbsp;Miami County Sheriff's Office.&nbsp; He is being held in Jasper County.