WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Friday struck down a Trump-era ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-bump-stocks-atf-weapons-9d881998cbf454f5707f46e52153398e">bump stocks</a>, a gun accessory that allows semiautomatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns and was used in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/las-vegas-mass-shooting">deadliest mass shooting</a>&nbsp;in modern U.S. history.

The high court's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24758408-garland-v-cargill">conservative majority found</a>&nbsp;that the Trump administration did not follow federal law when it reversed course and banned bump stocks after a gunman in Las Vegas attacked a country music festival with assault rifles in 2017. The gunman fired more than 1,000 rounds in the crowd in 11 minutes, leaving 60 people dead and injuring hundreds more.

The 6-3 majority opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas said a semiautomatic rifle with a bump stock is not an illegal machine gun because it doesn’t make the weapon fire more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger.

“A bump stock merely reduces the amount of time that elapses between separate functions of the trigger,” Thomas wrote in an opinion that contained multiple drawings of guns’ firing mechanisms.

He was joined by fellow conservatives John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Alito wrote a short separate opinion to stress that Congress can change the law to equate bump stocks with machine guns.

In a dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointed to the Las Vegas gunman. “In murdering so many people so quickly, he did not rely on a quick trigger finger. Instead, he relied on bump stocks,” she said, reading a summary of her dissent aloud in the courtroom.

Sotomayor said that it’s “deeply regrettable” Congress has to act but that she hopes it does.

The ruling came after a Texas gun shop owner challenged the ban, arguing the Justice Department wrongly classified the accessories as illegal machine guns.

The Biden administration said that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the right choice for the gun accessories, which can allow weapons to fire at a rate of hundreds of rounds a minute.

It marked the latest gun case to come before the high court. A conservative supermajority handed down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mississippi-state-government-delaware-california-massachusetts-3983cecfd1107c263d5309ec0d80a966">a landmark decision</a>&nbsp;expanding gun rights in 2022 and is weighing another gun case challenging a federal law intended to keep guns away from people under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-restrictions-domestic-violence-f75dc9b59d8cd02acf17d220ecf6ebb9">domestic violence restraining orders</a>.

The arguments in the bump stock case, though, were more about whether the ATF had overstepped its authority than the Second Amendment.

Justices from the court’s liberal wing suggested it was “common sense” that anything capable of unleashing a “torrent of bullets” was a machine gun under federal law. Conservative justices, though, raised questions about why Congress had not acted to ban bump stocks, as well as the effects of the ATF changing its mind a decade after declaring the accessories legal.

The high court took up the case after a split among lower courts over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-las-vegas-shootings-ff26110203da4a28bfd1d99022fb401c">bump stocks</a>, which were invented in the early 2000s. Under Republican President George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, the ATF decided that bump stocks didn’t transform semiautomatic weapons into machine guns. The agency reversed those decisions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8e52e86face646999ed769c965840e63">at Trump’s urging</a>&nbsp;after the shooting in Las Vegas and another mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that left 17 dead.

Bump stocks are accessories that replace a rifle’s stock, the part that rests against the shoulder. They harness the gun’s recoil energy so that the trigger bumps against the shooter’s stationary finger, allowing the gun to fire at a rate comparable to a traditional machine gun. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have their own bans on bump stocks.

The plaintiff, Texas gun shop owner and military veteran Michael Cargill, was represented by the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a group funded by conservative donors like the Koch network. His attorneys acknowledged that bump stocks allow for rapid fire but argued that they are different because the shooter has to put in more effort to keep the gun firing.

Government lawyers countered the effort required from the shooter is small and doesn’t make a legal difference. The Justice Department said the ATF changed its mind on bump stocks after doing a more in-depth examination spurred by the Las Vegas shooting and came to the right conclusion.

There were about 520,000 bump stocks in circulation when the ban went into effect in 2019, requiring people to either surrender or destroy them, at a combined estimated loss of $100 million, the plaintiffs said in court documents.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Friday struck down a Trump-era ban on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-bump-stocks-atf-weapons-9d881998cbf454f5707f46e52153398e">bump stocks</a>, a gun accessory that allows semiautomatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns and was used in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/las-vegas-mass-shooting">deadliest mass shooting</a>&nbsp;in modern U.S. history.The high court's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24758408-garland-v-cargill">conservative majority found</a>&nbsp;that the Trump administration did not follow federal law when it reversed course and banned bump stocks after a gunman in Las Vegas attacked a country music festival with assault rifles in 2017. The gunman fired more than 1,000 rounds in the crowd in 11 minutes, leaving 60 people dead and injuring hundreds more.The 6-3 majority opinion written by Justice Clarence Thomas said a semiautomatic rifle with a bump stock is not an illegal machine gun because it doesn’t make the weapon fire more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger.“A bump stock merely reduces the amount of time that elapses between separate functions of the trigger,” Thomas wrote in an opinion that contained multiple drawings of guns’ firing mechanisms.He was joined by fellow conservatives John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Alito wrote a short separate opinion to stress that Congress can change the law to equate bump stocks with machine guns.In a dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor pointed to the Las Vegas gunman. “In murdering so many people so quickly, he did not rely on a quick trigger finger. Instead, he relied on bump stocks,” she said, reading a summary of her dissent aloud in the courtroom.Sotomayor said that it’s “deeply regrettable” Congress has to act but that she hopes it does.The ruling came after a Texas gun shop owner challenged the ban, arguing the Justice Department wrongly classified the accessories as illegal machine guns.The Biden administration said that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made the right choice for the gun accessories, which can allow weapons to fire at a rate of hundreds of rounds a minute.It marked the latest gun case to come before the high court. A conservative supermajority handed down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-mississippi-state-government-delaware-california-massachusetts-3983cecfd1107c263d5309ec0d80a966">a landmark decision</a>&nbsp;expanding gun rights in 2022 and is weighing another gun case challenging a federal law intended to keep guns away from people under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-guns-restrictions-domestic-violence-f75dc9b59d8cd02acf17d220ecf6ebb9">domestic violence restraining orders</a>.The arguments in the bump stock case, though, were more about whether the ATF had overstepped its authority than the Second Amendment.Justices from the court’s liberal wing suggested it was “common sense” that anything capable of unleashing a “torrent of bullets” was a machine gun under federal law. Conservative justices, though, raised questions about why Congress had not acted to ban bump stocks, as well as the effects of the ATF changing its mind a decade after declaring the accessories legal.The high court took up the case after a split among lower courts over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-us-news-ap-top-news-las-vegas-shootings-ff26110203da4a28bfd1d99022fb401c">bump stocks</a>, which were invented in the early 2000s. Under Republican President George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama, the ATF decided that bump stocks didn’t transform semiautomatic weapons into machine guns. The agency reversed those decisions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8e52e86face646999ed769c965840e63">at Trump’s urging</a>&nbsp;after the shooting in Las Vegas and another mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that left 17 dead.Bump stocks are accessories that replace a rifle’s stock, the part that rests against the shoulder. They harness the gun’s recoil energy so that the trigger bumps against the shooter’s stationary finger, allowing the gun to fire at a rate comparable to a traditional machine gun. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have their own bans on bump stocks.The plaintiff, Texas gun shop owner and military veteran Michael Cargill, was represented by the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a group funded by conservative donors like the Koch network. His attorneys acknowledged that bump stocks allow for rapid fire but argued that they are different because the shooter has to put in more effort to keep the gun firing.Government lawyers countered the effort required from the shooter is small and doesn’t make a legal difference. The Justice Department said the ATF changed its mind on bump stocks after doing a more in-depth examination spurred by the Las Vegas shooting and came to the right conclusion.There were about 520,000 bump stocks in circulation when the ban went into effect in 2019, requiring people to either surrender or destroy them, at a combined estimated loss of $100 million, the plaintiffs said in court documents.___

Supreme Court strikes down ban on bump stock devices for guns

Agreement lowers risk upcoming special session might be derailed by tax issues

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and top House and Senate Republicans in the Legislature said Thursday negotiations produced a compromise tax reform bill that would be considered by lawmakers during the upcoming special session.

Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita predicted the deal would be approved during the special session opening Tuesday, and Kelly said she would sign the agreement if a majority in the Legislature voted for it.

The deal would collapse the state’s personal income tax structure to a two-rate system, rather than adopt the single-rate idea floated by Masterson and Hawkins. Kelly had recommended the state retain a three-rate structure that currently ranges from 3.1% to 5.7%.

Statements by participants in closed-door negotiations indicated the overall reduction in state taxation contained in the deal was less than GOP lawmakers had sought. Kelly vetoed three broad tax bills during the regular 2024 session, and none of those vetoes were overridden by the Legislature. The governor had suggested lawmakers develop a plan that offered about $400 million annually in tax cuts.

“Legislative leadership and I have come to a consensus on a tax relief package that will be presented to the House and Senate during the upcoming special session,” Kelly said. “This agreement allows significant, long overdue tax relief to Kansans while preserving our ability to invest in the state’s future.”

The governor said the proposed package “met the affordability criteria I proposed,” but confirmed a transition to the two-tier model would limit opportunities to enact property tax reductions.

While the deal may bring closure to the two-year effort to pass comprehensive tax reform in Kansas, the special session of the Legislature is expected to include debate about economic incentives to convince the Kansas City Chiefs or the Kansas City Royals to relocate to Kansas at new stadiums. The state would allow issuance of STAR bonds, which would be backed by local sales tax revenue and possibly state gambling and lottery revenues.

Hawkins and Masterson said in a joint statement the tax agreement was “almost identical in structure” to a bill passed at the end of the regular session and vetoed by Kelly.

“It simplifies the tax code into two brackets, lowers rates, includes substantial exemptions to help lower-income Kansans, reduces statewide property taxes and repeals the state tax on Social Security,” they said. “It contains minor adjustments to ensure the bill is quickly signed into law.”

Neither the GOP statement nor the one from Kelly said whether the deal included a July 1 termination of the state’s 2% sales tax on groceries, which under current law would be eliminated Jan. 1. Previously, Masterson indicated the deal wouldn’t accellerate elimination of the food sales tax.

In May, Kelly vetoed the last of three extensive property, sales and income tax bills sent to her desk in 2024. That bill was adopted with bipartisan votes of 25-9 in the Senate and 108-11 in the House. The bill, and the new compromise, would end the state’s income tax on Social Security benefits for a savings to Kansans of $120 million to $152 million annually.

Detail of the statewide property tax changes weren’t released, but the last vetoed bill would have elevated to $100,000 the exemption from property taxes tied to the statewide school finance levy. That would be a big hike from the current $42,000 exemption. In addition, that vetoed bill would have reduced the 20-mill state property tax for K-12 public schools.

Finally, that vetoed bill would have raised the standard deduction and personal exemption on state income taxes and reduced the state’s top income tax rate from 5.7% to 5.57%. The state’s second income tax rate would be set at 5.2% rather than 5.25%. The statements didn’t reveal what the rates would change to if the new proposal became law.

“Compromise is ugly sometimes,” said Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa. “While this proposal is not what we fully wanted, in the spirit of compromise it moves us forward. Senate Democrats will continue to fight for more property tax relief and child care relief, things we know our constituents truly want and need.”

Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, offered a plan Wednesday that focused on lowering residential, commercial and agriculture property taxes by about $190 million annually. His proposal included the Social Security exemption, but also a child and dependant care tax credit matching the federal credit and elimination of the state sales tax on groceries on Oct. 1.

Hawkins and Masterson blamed the governor for using her veto pen in a manner that limited the ability of lawmakers this year to adopt income and property tax relief. They said a big chunk of the state’s cash surplus, estimated at $2.5 billion in the general treasury and $1.7 billion in a rainy day fund, should be returned to taxpayers.

“On Tuesday,” they said, “we will act swiftly to pass this compromise and look forward to resuming our efforts to pass additional tax relief when we return in January.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718361342208.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly said she would sign into law a new tax reform package negotiated with House and Senate Republican leadership. The deal will be presented Tuesday to legislators during a special session of the Legislature. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly said she would sign into law a new tax reform package negotiated with House and Senate Republican leadership. The deal will be presented Tuesday to legislators during a special session of the Legislature. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Agreement lowers risk upcoming special session might be derailed by tax issues</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and top House and Senate Republicans in the Legislature said Thursday negotiations produced a compromise tax reform bill that would be considered by lawmakers during the upcoming special session.Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita predicted the deal would be approved during the special session opening Tuesday, and Kelly said she would sign the agreement if a majority in the Legislature voted for it.The deal would collapse the state’s personal income tax structure to a two-rate system, rather than adopt the single-rate idea floated by Masterson and Hawkins. Kelly had recommended the state retain a three-rate structure that currently ranges from 3.1% to 5.7%.Statements by participants in closed-door negotiations indicated the overall reduction in state taxation contained in the deal was less than GOP lawmakers had sought. Kelly vetoed three broad tax bills during the regular 2024 session, and none of those vetoes were overridden by the Legislature. The governor had suggested lawmakers develop a plan that offered about $400 million annually in tax cuts.“Legislative leadership and I have come to a consensus on a tax relief package that will be presented to the House and Senate during the upcoming special session,” Kelly said. “This agreement allows significant, long overdue tax relief to Kansans while preserving our ability to invest in the state’s future.”The governor said the proposed package “met the affordability criteria I proposed,” but confirmed a transition to the two-tier model would limit opportunities to enact property tax reductions.While the deal may bring closure to the two-year effort to pass comprehensive tax reform in Kansas, the special session of the Legislature is expected to include debate about economic incentives to convince the Kansas City Chiefs or the Kansas City Royals to relocate to Kansas at new stadiums. The state would allow issuance of STAR bonds, which would be backed by local sales tax revenue and possibly state gambling and lottery revenues.Hawkins and Masterson said in a joint statement the tax agreement was “almost identical in structure” to a bill passed at the end of the regular session and vetoed by Kelly.“It simplifies the tax code into two brackets, lowers rates, includes substantial exemptions to help lower-income Kansans, reduces statewide property taxes and repeals the state tax on Social Security,” they said. “It contains minor adjustments to ensure the bill is quickly signed into law.”Neither the GOP statement nor the one from Kelly said whether the deal included a July 1 termination of the state’s 2% sales tax on groceries, which under current law would be eliminated Jan. 1. Previously, Masterson indicated the deal wouldn’t accellerate elimination of the food sales tax.In May, Kelly vetoed the last of three extensive property, sales and income tax bills sent to her desk in 2024. That bill was adopted with bipartisan votes of 25-9 in the Senate and 108-11 in the House. The bill, and the new compromise, would end the state’s income tax on Social Security benefits for a savings to Kansans of $120 million to $152 million annually.Detail of the statewide property tax changes weren’t released, but the last vetoed bill would have elevated to $100,000 the exemption from property taxes tied to the statewide school finance levy. That would be a big hike from the current $42,000 exemption. In addition, that vetoed bill would have reduced the 20-mill state property tax for K-12 public schools.Finally, that vetoed bill would have raised the standard deduction and personal exemption on state income taxes and reduced the state’s top income tax rate from 5.7% to 5.57%. The state’s second income tax rate would be set at 5.2% rather than 5.25%. The statements didn’t reveal what the rates would change to if the new proposal became law.“Compromise is ugly sometimes,” said Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa. “While this proposal is not what we fully wanted, in the spirit of compromise it moves us forward. Senate Democrats will continue to fight for more property tax relief and child care relief, things we know our constituents truly want and need.”Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, offered a plan Wednesday that focused on lowering residential, commercial and agriculture property taxes by about $190 million annually. His proposal included the Social Security exemption, but also a child and dependant care tax credit matching the federal credit and elimination of the state sales tax on groceries on Oct. 1.Hawkins and Masterson blamed the governor for using her veto pen in a manner that limited the ability of lawmakers this year to adopt income and property tax relief. They said a big chunk of the state’s cash surplus, estimated at $2.5 billion in the general treasury and $1.7 billion in a rainy day fund, should be returned to taxpayers.“On Tuesday,” they said, “we will act swiftly to pass this compromise and look forward to resuming our efforts to pass additional tax relief when we return in January.”

Governor, top GOP lawmakers reach deal to slash state taxes in Kansas

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Kansas City and looking for a suspect.

Just before midnight Wednesday, officers responded to a shooting at 55th and Prospect, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.

First responders found a man inside of a vehicle who had been shot, and despite efforts to save his life, paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Investigators believe some kind of interaction between a group of people happened before the shooting. Police have not identified any potential suspects or released the name of the victim. This is the fourth homicide on Prospect since the end of May, according to Forte'.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Kansas City and looking for a suspect.Just before midnight Wednesday, officers responded to a shooting at 55th and Prospect, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.First responders found a man inside of a vehicle who had been shot, and despite efforts to save his life, paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.Investigators believe some kind of interaction between a group of people happened before the shooting. Police have not identified any potential suspects or released the name of the victim. This is the fourth homicide on Prospect since the end of May, according to Forte'.&nbsp;

4th homicide in one KC neighborhood since end of May

LAWRENCE (AP) —Former Illinois standout Terrence Shannon Jr., a potential first-round NBA draft pick, was found not guilty Thursday on a rape charge after a jury in Douglas County, Kansas, spent less than two hours deliberating the verdict.

The 23-year-old Shannon was accused of committing sexual assault last September while visiting Kansas for a football game between the Illini and the Jayhawks. He was charged with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery, which led to him being suspended for six games; a federal judge later reinstated him, ruling that his civil rights had been violated.

Shannon testified that he joined two roommates and a few Kansas players at a bar on Sept. 8, 2023, but he only had a few drinks and remembered everything that happened that night. Shannon said he didn't learn of the rape allegation until several weeks later, and that he had never seen the 18-year-old woman who had accused him until the case had begun.

The woman told police she was at the bar when a man, whom she later identified as Shannon, grabbed her buttocks and reached under her skirt to touch her. The woman claimed that the bar was crowded, so she was unable to move.

Shannon testified that a woman close to him had been raped and he would never treat another woman the same way.

Shannon's lawyers called the allegations a “blind accusation” and questioned the motives of the woman. They also criticized the prosecutors in Douglas County for a lack of evidence and a Lawrence detective for the thoroughness of his investigation.

Many scouts had been watching the case closely ahead of the NBA draft, which is scheduled for June 26-27.

The 6-foot-6 Shannon, who can play point guard and shooting guard, played five seasons for Illinois. He was at his best this past season, averaging 23 points for a team that reached the Elite Eight before losing to eventual national champion UConn.

Shannon was voted first-team All-Big Ten and a third-team All-American by The Associated Press.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703798657514.png" alt="Terrence Shannon-photo University of Illinois" />
 <figcaption>Terrence Shannon-photo University of Illinois</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE (AP) —Former Illinois standout Terrence Shannon Jr., a potential first-round NBA draft pick, was found not guilty Thursday on a rape charge after a jury in Douglas County, Kansas, spent less than two hours deliberating the verdict.The 23-year-old Shannon was accused of committing sexual assault last September while visiting Kansas for a football game between the Illini and the Jayhawks. He was charged with rape or an alternative count of sexual battery, which led to him being suspended for six games; a federal judge later reinstated him, ruling that his civil rights had been violated.Shannon testified that he joined two roommates and a few Kansas players at a bar on Sept. 8, 2023, but he only had a few drinks and remembered everything that happened that night. Shannon said he didn't learn of the rape allegation until several weeks later, and that he had never seen the 18-year-old woman who had accused him until the case had begun.The woman told police she was at the bar when a man, whom she later identified as Shannon, grabbed her buttocks and reached under her skirt to touch her. The woman claimed that the bar was crowded, so she was unable to move.Shannon testified that a woman close to him had been raped and he would never treat another woman the same way.Shannon's lawyers called the allegations a “blind accusation” and questioned the motives of the woman. They also criticized the prosecutors in Douglas County for a lack of evidence and a Lawrence detective for the thoroughness of his investigation.Many scouts had been watching the case closely ahead of the NBA draft, which is scheduled for June 26-27.The 6-foot-6 Shannon, who can play point guard and shooting guard, played five seasons for Illinois. He was at his best this past season, averaging 23 points for a team that reached the Elite Eight before losing to eventual national champion UConn.Shannon was voted first-team All-Big Ten and a third-team All-American by The Associated Press.___

Kansas Jury: Ex-Illinois star found not guilty of rape

FASANO, Italy (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he will not use his presidential powers to lessen the eventual sentence that his son Hunter will receive for his federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-trial-federal-charges-delaware-5dd8a9380235c6360a1ddb691ef24a06">felony conviction on gun crimes</a>.

Biden, following the conclusion of a news conference held at the Group of Seven summit of the world's wealthiest democracies, responded he would not when asked whether he plans to commute the sentence for his son. Hunter Biden’s sentencing date has not been set, and the three counts carry up to 25 years in prison, though that’s unlikely as a first-time offender.

Ultimately, it will be up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-trial-judge-noreika-1e1c44a3a3a3d0e8739bf6c7690cffde">U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika</a>, who was nominated to the bench by former Republican President Donald Trump, to decide how much time, if any, Hunter Biden serves behind bars.

Biden's remarks came one day after the White House declined to rule out a potential commutation for Hunter Biden. Both the president and the White House have said for months that Biden would not pardon his son.

“I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He is one of the brightest most decent men I know," Biden said earlier during the news conference Thursday. "I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718315914132.png" alt="President Biden during a Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Event on Thursday in Italy-&nbsp; Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Biden during a Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Event on Thursday in Italy-&nbsp; Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>FASANO, Italy (AP) — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he will not use his presidential powers to lessen the eventual sentence that his son Hunter will receive for his federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-gun-trial-federal-charges-delaware-5dd8a9380235c6360a1ddb691ef24a06">felony conviction on gun crimes</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden: &quot;I&#39;m extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He&#39;s one of the brightest most decent men I know...I am satisfied...I said I&#39;d abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ZGf0nHOs2o">pic.twitter.com/ZGf0nHOs2o</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1801331484365603234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden, following the conclusion of a news conference held at the Group of Seven summit of the world's wealthiest democracies, responded he would not when asked whether he plans to commute the sentence for his son. Hunter Biden’s sentencing date has not been set, and the three counts carry up to 25 years in prison, though that’s unlikely as a first-time offender.Ultimately, it will be up to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-trial-judge-noreika-1e1c44a3a3a3d0e8739bf6c7690cffde">U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika</a>, who was nominated to the bench by former Republican President Donald Trump, to decide how much time, if any, Hunter Biden serves behind bars.Biden's remarks came one day after the White House declined to rule out a potential commutation for Hunter Biden. Both the president and the White House have said for months that Biden would not pardon his son.“I’m extremely proud of my son Hunter. He has overcome an addiction. He is one of the brightest most decent men I know," Biden said earlier during the news conference Thursday. "I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.”

🎥 President Biden talks about his son's felony conviction on gun crimes

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and searching for suspects.

Just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; police responded to the report of a shooting in the 1800 Block of South Glendale in Wichita, according to Officer&nbsp; Kristopher Gupilan.

Upon arrival in the area,&nbsp; a 17-year-old with a single gunshot wound contacted officers. EMS transported to the boy to an area hospital and he is expected to survive. 

Police investigators followed-up on preliminary information provided by the victim and located a shooting scene. Investigators are continuing to follow-up on information and are looking for additional evidence, including video to determine what occurred.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718296335693.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation- photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation- photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and searching for suspects.Just after 10:30p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp; police responded to the report of a shooting in the 1800 Block of South Glendale in Wichita, according to Officer&nbsp; Kristopher Gupilan.Upon arrival in the area,&nbsp; a 17-year-old with a single gunshot wound contacted officers. EMS transported to the boy to an area hospital and he is expected to survive. Police investigators followed-up on preliminary information provided by the victim and located a shooting scene. Investigators are continuing to follow-up on information and are looking for additional evidence, including video to determine what occurred.

Police search for suspect who shot, wounded Kansas teen

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels launched two anti-ship cruise missiles and struck a commercial ship Thursday in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen, setting it on fire and severely wounding one civilian mariner, authorities said.

The M/V Verbena was still ablaze and the mariner was flown by a U.S. helicopter based on the USS Philippine Sea to another nearby ship for medical treatment, the U.S. military's Central Command said.

In a statement, Central Command said the Verbena is a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned and Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier that had docked in Malaysia and was on its way to Italy carrying wood. “The M/V Verbena reported damage and subsequent fires on board. The crew continues to fight the fire,” the statement said.

The attack is the latest such assault in the Houthis' campaign over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war.</a>

Earlier Thursday, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said a vessel had been attacked and had caught fire. And the private security firm Ambrey said a merchant vessel made a radio distress call saying it had been struck by a missile.

The Houthis later claimed the attack on the Verbena, as well as attacks on two other ships in the Red Sea. Central Command said the Houthis had launched two ballistic missiles in the Red Sea that caused “no injuries or significant damage.”

The UKMTO said one vessel earlier missed by the Houthis was hit by a “third projectile” that caused “minor damage." The vessel was able to remain underway, it said.

The attack on the Verbena follows the Houthis launching&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attack-israel-hamas-war-f72e5a614ba04254031de5b8aaa26f2f">a boat-borne bomb attack</a>&nbsp;against a commercial ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday.

Central Command also said it destroyed a Houthi drone boat and two patrol boats in the Red Sea, as well as one airborne drone.

The Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital nearly a decade ago and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-red-sea-attacks-iran-503de70230fba0cd7c992558e2d1b83a">targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor</a>.

They say the attacks are aimed at stopping the war and supporting the Palestinians, though the attacks often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-red-sea-attacks-iran-503de70230fba0cd7c992558e2d1b83a">target vessels that have nothing to do with the conflict</a>.

The war in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians there, according to Gaza health officials, while hundreds of others have been killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">began after Hamas-led militants</a>&nbsp;attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, killed three sailors, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-war-us-british-airstrikes-israel-hamas-12f99b7afc389a703f8dd333f2376b20">a series of strikes May 30</a>&nbsp;killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say.

Also Thursday, the Washington-based National Democratic Institute said three of its staff were detained by the Houthis earlier this month. Their detention comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-un-detentions-israel-hamas-war-966dce0c3d7cd96679b3c3562ee57068">staff of United Nations agencies and those working for aid groups also have been detained</a>&nbsp;in a widening crackdown by the rebels.

“This arbitrary and inhumane treatment of Yemeni citizens involved in humanitarian assistance, diplomacy, democracy and human rights, peacemaking and civil society development is entirely without foundation and must be ended immediately,” the institute said. It called for the “swift release by the Houthi regime of our staff, and of all individuals who have been unjustly detained.”

The institute is a democracy promotion organization that has worked in Yemen since 1993. It receives funding from the U.S. government and others.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1705969629635.png" alt="File photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>File photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Yemen's Houthi rebels launched two anti-ship cruise missiles and struck a commercial ship Thursday in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen, setting it on fire and severely wounding one civilian mariner, authorities said.The M/V Verbena was still ablaze and the mariner was flown by a U.S. helicopter based on the USS Philippine Sea to another nearby ship for medical treatment, the U.S. military's Central Command said.In a statement, Central Command said the Verbena is a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned and Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier that had docked in Malaysia and was on its way to Italy carrying wood. “The M/V Verbena reported damage and subsequent fires on board. The crew continues to fight the fire,” the statement said.The attack is the latest such assault in the Houthis' campaign over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war.</a>Earlier Thursday, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said a vessel had been attacked and had caught fire. And the private security firm Ambrey said a merchant vessel made a radio distress call saying it had been struck by a missile.The Houthis later claimed the attack on the Verbena, as well as attacks on two other ships in the Red Sea. Central Command said the Houthis had launched two ballistic missiles in the Red Sea that caused “no injuries or significant damage.”The UKMTO said one vessel earlier missed by the Houthis was hit by a “third projectile” that caused “minor damage." The vessel was able to remain underway, it said.The attack on the Verbena follows the Houthis launching&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attack-israel-hamas-war-f72e5a614ba04254031de5b8aaa26f2f">a boat-borne bomb attack</a>&nbsp;against a commercial ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday.Central Command also said it destroyed a Houthi drone boat and two patrol boats in the Red Sea, as well as one airborne drone.The Houthis, who seized Yemen’s capital nearly a decade ago and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-red-sea-attacks-iran-503de70230fba0cd7c992558e2d1b83a">targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor</a>.They say the attacks are aimed at stopping the war and supporting the Palestinians, though the attacks often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-red-sea-attacks-iran-503de70230fba0cd7c992558e2d1b83a">target vessels that have nothing to do with the conflict</a>.The war in Gaza has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians there, according to Gaza health officials, while hundreds of others have been killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. It&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">began after Hamas-led militants</a>&nbsp;attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, killed three sailors, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-war-us-british-airstrikes-israel-hamas-12f99b7afc389a703f8dd333f2376b20">a series of strikes May 30</a>&nbsp;killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say.Also Thursday, the Washington-based National Democratic Institute said three of its staff were detained by the Houthis earlier this month. Their detention comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-un-detentions-israel-hamas-war-966dce0c3d7cd96679b3c3562ee57068">staff of United Nations agencies and those working for aid groups also have been detained</a>&nbsp;in a widening crackdown by the rebels.“This arbitrary and inhumane treatment of Yemeni citizens involved in humanitarian assistance, diplomacy, democracy and human rights, peacemaking and civil society development is entirely without foundation and must be ended immediately,” the institute said. It called for the “swift release by the Houthi regime of our staff, and of all individuals who have been unjustly detained.”The institute is a democracy promotion organization that has worked in Yemen since 1993. It receives funding from the U.S. government and others.___The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, killed three sailors, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. A U.S.-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-war-us-british-airstrikes-israel-hamas-12f99b7afc389a703f8dd333f2376b20">a series of strikes May 30</a>&nbsp;killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, the rebels say.Also Thursday, the Washington-based National Democratic Institute said three of its staff were detained by the Houthis earlier this month. Their detention comes as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-un-detentions-israel-hamas-war-966dce0c3d7cd96679b3c3562ee57068">staff of United Nations agencies and those working for aid groups also have been detained</a>&nbsp;in a widening crackdown by the rebels.“This arbitrary and inhumane treatment of Yemeni citizens involved in humanitarian assistance, diplomacy, democracy and human rights, peacemaking and civil society development is entirely without foundation and must be ended immediately,” the institute said. It called for the “swift release by the Houthi regime of our staff, and of all individuals who have been unjustly detained.”The institute is a democracy promotion organization that has worked in Yemen since 1993. It receives funding from the U.S. government and others.___

U.S. Report: Rebel missile strike sets ship on fire in Gulf of Aden

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Thursday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Audi A6 driven by Camille Breonne&nbsp;Carter, 20, Kansas City, Kansas, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of 18th Street.

The car struck a pedestrian who was walking south across the highway. The pedestrian died. The KHP is working to positively identify the victim.&nbsp; Carter and three passengers in the car were not injured.&nbsp;

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Thursday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Audi A6 driven by Camille Breonne&nbsp;Carter, 20, Kansas City, Kansas, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just east of 18th Street.The car struck a pedestrian who was walking south across the highway. The pedestrian died. The KHP is working to positively identify the victim.&nbsp; Carter and three passengers in the car were not injured.&nbsp;

KHP working to ID pedestrian struck, killed on Kan. highway

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a sex crime.

Last week,&nbsp;&nbsp;Romeo Martinez, 23, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 66 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for the sexually motivated aggravated battery of a then 21-year-old woman, according to&nbsp; Douglas County District Attorney&nbsp; Suzanne Valdez.

“The survivor did not let fear keep them from seeking justice,” District Attorney Valdez said.

Judge Stacey Donovan made the special finding that the offense was sexually motivated. Martinez, who pleaded no contest in May also was sentenced to 36 months post-release supervision. Martinez must register as a sex offender for 15 years.

Charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on December 5, 2022, when Martinez battered the Lawrence woman at her home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717792240704.png" alt="Martinez-photo Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Martinez-photo Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man is going to prison for a sex crime.Last week,&nbsp;&nbsp;Romeo Martinez, 23, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 66 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for the sexually motivated aggravated battery of a then 21-year-old woman, according to&nbsp; Douglas County District Attorney&nbsp; Suzanne Valdez.“The survivor did not let fear keep them from seeking justice,” District Attorney Valdez said.Judge Stacey Donovan made the special finding that the offense was sexually motivated. Martinez, who pleaded no contest in May also was sentenced to 36 months post-release supervision. Martinez must register as a sex offender for 15 years.Charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on December 5, 2022, when Martinez battered the Lawrence woman at her home.

DA: Kan. sex assault victim did not let fear keep her from seeking justice

SCOTT COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a burglary&nbsp; in Scott City have taken a suspect into custody.

The Scott City Police Department reported the burglary happened early Thursday morning at First National Bank, 501 Main in Scott City.

 Although the suspect did not get away with money, several other items were taken. 

Police thanked everyone for sharing the information on the burglary on social media and for keeping an eye out for the suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718307203964.png" alt="Photo Scott City. Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Scott City. Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SCOTT COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a burglary&nbsp; in Scott City have taken a suspect into custody.The Scott City Police Department reported the burglary happened early Thursday morning at First National Bank, 501 Main in Scott City. Although the suspect did not get away with money, several other items were taken. Police thanked everyone for sharing the information on the burglary on social media and for keeping an eye out for the suspect.

 Suspect captured after western Kansas bank burglary

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas boy died in an accident just after 8p.m. Wednesday in Sedgwick County.

A bicycle ridden by 15-year-old Daniel Collier of Wichita was traveling near the intersection of 44th Street South and Hoover, according to Police Captain Aaron Moses.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A truck driven by a 35-year-old woman struck the bicycle. EMS transported the boy to a local hospital where he was pronounce deceased.&nbsp;

The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with the investigation.

The Wichita Police Department's Accident Follow-up Investigators are diligently reviewing all available evidence to understand the events leading up to the collision.

Wichita Police ask anyone who witnessed the accident or has information about it to call the Accident Follow-Up Unit at 316-350-3690.

This incident marks the 17th traffic fatality of 2024. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718297503798.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal incident-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal incident-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas boy died in an accident just after 8p.m. Wednesday in Sedgwick County.A bicycle ridden by 15-year-old Daniel Collier of Wichita was traveling near the intersection of 44th Street South and Hoover, according to Police Captain Aaron Moses.&nbsp;&nbsp;A truck driven by a 35-year-old woman struck the bicycle. EMS transported the boy to a local hospital where he was pronounce deceased.&nbsp;The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with the investigation.The Wichita Police Department's Accident Follow-up Investigators are diligently reviewing all available evidence to understand the events leading up to the collision.Wichita Police ask anyone who witnessed the accident or has information about it to call the Accident Follow-Up Unit at 316-350-3690.This incident marks the 17th traffic fatality of 2024.

15-year-old Kan. bicyclist dies after struck by vehicle

KANSAS CITY —A man critically injured in a knife attack has died and the suspect has been charged for the crime.

Just after 8a.m. June 2, police were dispatched to the 7000 block of Prospect Avenue on a reported knife attack, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders located a man suffering from apparent stab wounds. EMS transported the victim to the hospital for treatment.

Responding officers were able to identify, locate, and apprehend a suspect on scene and he was placed on a 24 hour investigative hold for further investigation. 

Detectives presented their findings to the Jackson County Prosecutors office where he was subsequently charged in custody.&nbsp;

On Tuesday, prosecutors were notified the victim died of his injuries. After police presented their findings to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, Ronald E. Moore was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.&nbsp; 

According to court records filed soon after the June 2 incident, responding officers saw the suspect at the scene with blood on his clothing and he had a laceration to his left hand. The suspect, according to witnesses, attacked the victim with a knife without argument or any words exchanged.&nbsp;&nbsp;The charges will be reviewed in light of the victim's death. Police have not released the name of the victim.

KANSAS CITY —A man critically injured in a knife attack has died and the suspect has been charged for the crime.Just after 8a.m. June 2, police were dispatched to the 7000 block of Prospect Avenue on a reported knife attack, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.First responders located a man suffering from apparent stab wounds. EMS transported the victim to the hospital for treatment.Responding officers were able to identify, locate, and apprehend a suspect on scene and he was placed on a 24 hour investigative hold for further investigation. Detectives presented their findings to the Jackson County Prosecutors office where he was subsequently charged in custody.&nbsp;On Tuesday, prosecutors were notified the victim died of his injuries. After police presented their findings to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, Ronald E. Moore was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action.&nbsp; According to court records filed soon after the June 2 incident, responding officers saw the suspect at the scene with blood on his clothing and he had a laceration to his left hand. The suspect, according to witnesses, attacked the victim with a knife without argument or any words exchanged.&nbsp;&nbsp;The charges will be reviewed in light of the victim's death. Police have not released the name of the victim.

KCPD: Victim in bus stop stabbing has died

TOPEKA — Two former Republican congressman from Kansas endorsed Jeff Kahrs in the five-candidate GOP primary for the 2nd District vacancy created by the decision of U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner not to seek reelection.

Former Congressman Jim Ryun, who served a decade in Washington before falling to defeat in 2006, and former Congressman Todd Tiahrt, who was in the House from 1995 to 2011 and lost a 2010 campaign for U.S. Senate, said in a statement they supported Kahrs’ bid in the eastern Kansas district. At one point, Kahrs was a Tiahrt staff member in Washington.

“When Jeff Kahrs was my chief of staff and top adviser, I counted on him to effectively lead, to be the conservative backbone of my team and to fight for our conservative legislation to win,” Tiahrt said.

Ryun, who was known for track skills that took him to the Olympics, said he supported Kahrs because he would strive to prevent a “transgender ideology” from taking over the United States.

“His Christian faith, determination to protect our republic’s constitution, her borders and commitment to rooting out the cultural rot of transgender ideology that is attempting to transform our country will serve Kansas and our nation well,” Ryun said.

Kahrs, of Topeka, was previously endorsed by former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. A former Brownback staff member is serving as Kahrs’ campaign treasurer.

Other Republican candidates in the U.S. House race are former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt of Independence, Michael Ogle of Topeka, Shawn Tiffany of Delvan and Chad Young of Lawrence.

The two Democrats in the August primary are Matt Kleinmann of Kansas City, Kansas, and former U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, who defeated incumbent Ryun in 2006.

Schmidt’s campaign recently said the Kansas State Fraternal Order Of Police endorsed his candidacy in the 2nd District. The organization has 4,300 members.

“Derek’s commitment to public safety, support for law enforcement and dedication to the well-being of our community make him an outstanding candidate,” said Amanda Wood, the Kansas FOP president. “His legislative initiatives and policies align with the core values of our organization, and we believe his leadership will greatly benefit the people of Kansas.”

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Two former Republican congressman from Kansas endorsed Jeff Kahrs in the five-candidate GOP primary for the 2nd District vacancy created by the decision of U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner not to seek reelection.Former Congressman Jim Ryun, who served a decade in Washington before falling to defeat in 2006, and former Congressman Todd Tiahrt, who was in the House from 1995 to 2011 and lost a 2010 campaign for U.S. Senate, said in a statement they supported Kahrs’ bid in the eastern Kansas district. At one point, Kahrs was a Tiahrt staff member in Washington.“When Jeff Kahrs was my chief of staff and top adviser, I counted on him to effectively lead, to be the conservative backbone of my team and to fight for our conservative legislation to win,” Tiahrt said.Ryun, who was known for track skills that took him to the Olympics, said he supported Kahrs because he would strive to prevent a “transgender ideology” from taking over the United States.“His Christian faith, determination to protect our republic’s constitution, her borders and commitment to rooting out the cultural rot of transgender ideology that is attempting to transform our country will serve Kansas and our nation well,” Ryun said.Kahrs, of Topeka, was previously endorsed by former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. A former Brownback staff member is serving as Kahrs’ campaign treasurer.Other Republican candidates in the U.S. House race are former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt of Independence, Michael Ogle of Topeka, Shawn Tiffany of Delvan and Chad Young of Lawrence.The two Democrats in the August primary are Matt Kleinmann of Kansas City, Kansas, and former U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, who defeated incumbent Ryun in 2006.Schmidt’s campaign recently said the Kansas State Fraternal Order Of Police endorsed his candidacy in the 2nd District. The organization has 4,300 members.“Derek’s commitment to public safety, support for law enforcement and dedication to the well-being of our community make him an outstanding candidate,” said Amanda Wood, the Kansas FOP president. “His legislative initiatives and policies align with the core values of our organization, and we believe his leadership will greatly benefit the people of Kansas.”

Kan. Republican picks up 2nd District primary endorsements from former congressmen

&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities continue to work through a ransomware attack on the Ascension health system operating in Kansas and 18 other states across the U.S.

<a href="https://about.ascension.org/cybersecurity-event/regional-pages/kansas">Click here for more details</a> on the impact on hospitals in Kansas

The attack first reported in early May forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests and blocked online access to patient records.

On Thursday, the hospital system reported,“We have made progress in our investigation and recovery with the help of third-party cybersecurity experts.

 At this point, we now have evidence that indicates that the attackers were able to take files from a small number of file servers used by our associates primarily for daily and routine tasks. These servers represent seven of the approximately 25,000 servers across our network. Though we are still investigating, we believe some of those files may contain Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for certain individuals, although the specific data may differ from individual to individual.

We have also identified how the attacker gained access to our systems. An individual working in one of our facilities accidentally downloaded a malicious file that they thought was legitimate. We have no reason to believe this was anything but an honest mistake.

Importantly, we have no evidence that data was taken from our Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other clinical systems, where our full patient records are securely stored.

"Right now, we don’t know precisely what data was potentially affected and for which patients. In order to reach those conclusions, we need to conduct a full review of the files that may have been impacted and carefully analyze them."

"While we have started this process, it is a significant undertaking that will take time.&nbsp;In the meantime, to provide our patients and associates with the greatest peace of mind possible, we are offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to any Ascension patient or associate who requests it, free of charge, and regardless of whether we determine in the future that their data was actually involved in this incident."

"Individuals who wish to enroll in free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services should call our dedicated call center at&nbsp;<a href="tel:8884988066">1-888-498-8066</a>."

"We encourage all Ascension patients and staff who are concerned to take advantage of these services. We want to be clear, however, that this offer does not mean we have determined that any specific individual patient’s data has been compromised. Rather, it illustrates our desire to do everything possible to reassure our patients and associates, regardless of any impact to specific individuals’ data."

"We understand individuals may have questions about their data, including whether it was affected, but at this point we are not able to answer those questions on an individual basis. Once our data analysis is complete, however, we are committed to following all applicable laws and regulations to notify affected individuals and the appropriate regulatory bodies. To our patients, associates and the communities we serve, we regret any disruption or concern you may have experienced as a result of this incident.”

&nbsp;SEDGWICK COUNTY —Authorities continue to work through a ransomware attack on the Ascension health system operating in Kansas and 18 other states across the U.S.<a href="https://about.ascension.org/cybersecurity-event/regional-pages/kansas">Click here for more details</a> on the impact on hospitals in KansasThe attack first reported in early May forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests and blocked online access to patient records.On Thursday, the hospital system reported,“We have made progress in our investigation and recovery with the help of third-party cybersecurity experts. At this point, we now have evidence that indicates that the attackers were able to take files from a small number of file servers used by our associates primarily for daily and routine tasks. These servers represent seven of the approximately 25,000 servers across our network. Though we are still investigating, we believe some of those files may contain Protected Health Information (PHI) and Personally Identifiable Information (PII) for certain individuals, although the specific data may differ from individual to individual.We have also identified how the attacker gained access to our systems. An individual working in one of our facilities accidentally downloaded a malicious file that they thought was legitimate. We have no reason to believe this was anything but an honest mistake.Importantly, we have no evidence that data was taken from our Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other clinical systems, where our full patient records are securely stored."Right now, we don’t know precisely what data was potentially affected and for which patients. In order to reach those conclusions, we need to conduct a full review of the files that may have been impacted and carefully analyze them.""While we have started this process, it is a significant undertaking that will take time.&nbsp;In the meantime, to provide our patients and associates with the greatest peace of mind possible, we are offering complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services to any Ascension patient or associate who requests it, free of charge, and regardless of whether we determine in the future that their data was actually involved in this incident.""Individuals who wish to enroll in free credit monitoring and identity theft protection services should call our dedicated call center at&nbsp;<a href="tel:8884988066">1-888-498-8066</a>.""We encourage all Ascension patients and staff who are concerned to take advantage of these services. We want to be clear, however, that this offer does not mean we have determined that any specific individual patient’s data has been compromised. Rather, it illustrates our desire to do everything possible to reassure our patients and associates, regardless of any impact to specific individuals’ data.""We understand individuals may have questions about their data, including whether it was affected, but at this point we are not able to answer those questions on an individual basis. Once our data analysis is complete, however, we are committed to following all applicable laws and regulations to notify affected individuals and the appropriate regulatory bodies. To our patients, associates and the communities we serve, we regret any disruption or concern you may have experienced as a result of this incident.”

Ascension health learns what caused ransomware attack

DOUGLAS COUNTY&nbsp; – Investigators are asking anyone with additional evidence or information in the overnight shooting death of a 17-year-old Lawrence teen to come forward.&nbsp;

Just after 1a.m. Thursday, police were called to 2406 Alabama Street where they found&nbsp; 17-year-old Isaiah Neal with multiple gunshot wounds and began performing life-saving aid until paramedics with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical arrived on scene.&nbsp;

At that point, additional officers began securing the scene as a number of witnesses and family&nbsp;members began to gather. Investigations personnel were called to the scene.&nbsp; LDCFM paramedics transported Neal to the hospital where he later died.

Police have not made an arrest or provided suspect details.

DOUGLAS COUNTY&nbsp; – Investigators are asking anyone with additional evidence or information in the overnight shooting death of a 17-year-old Lawrence teen to come forward.&nbsp;Just after 1a.m. Thursday, police were called to 2406 Alabama Street where they found&nbsp; 17-year-old Isaiah Neal with multiple gunshot wounds and began performing life-saving aid until paramedics with Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical arrived on scene.&nbsp;At that point, additional officers began securing the scene as a number of witnesses and family&nbsp;members began to gather. Investigations personnel were called to the scene.&nbsp; LDCFM paramedics transported Neal to the hospital where he later died.Police have not made an arrest or provided suspect details.

Police ask for help to ID suspect in killing of 17-year-old Kan. boy

HESSTON, Kan. — AGCO announced in a meeting on Wednesday that they are moving the Small Square Baler, Windrower Header, and Round Baler Lines to Mexico.

It is currently unknown what will happen to the employees of the line, but the company does not expect layoffs.

“To simplify and streamline operations at AGCO’s Hesston, Kansas, facility, the company is shifting some production to another AGCO plant. Hesston will continue to manufacture Massey Ferguson windrowers, large square balers, combines and combine headers using the more than $28 million in investments made in the Kansas facility since 2021. Those investments have focused on updating and modernizing Hesston’s systems and equipment. Production of small square balers, round balers and rotary mowers will move to its Querétaro, Mexico, facility beginning in 2025. By streamlining the Hesston portfolio, our goal is to secure a profitable future for the plant. AGCO expects the impact of this change on the overall workforce in Hesston to be accomplished through typical attrition.“

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718278218409.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HESSTON, Kan. — AGCO announced in a meeting on Wednesday that they are moving the Small Square Baler, Windrower Header, and Round Baler Lines to Mexico.It is currently unknown what will happen to the employees of the line, but the company does not expect layoffs.A statement from AGCO is below.“To simplify and streamline operations at AGCO’s Hesston, Kansas, facility, the company is shifting some production to another AGCO plant. Hesston will continue to manufacture Massey Ferguson windrowers, large square balers, combines and combine headers using the more than $28 million in investments made in the Kansas facility since 2021. Those investments have focused on updating and modernizing Hesston’s systems and equipment. Production of small square balers, round balers and rotary mowers will move to its Querétaro, Mexico, facility beginning in 2025. By streamlining the Hesston portfolio, our goal is to secure a profitable future for the plant. AGCO expects the impact of this change on the overall workforce in Hesston to be accomplished through typical attrition.“

AGCO Hesston moving some work to Mexico

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday unanimously preserved access to a medication that was used in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-supreme-court-27d18f91242eb08c4d805880ddb5bb60">nearly two-thirds of all abortions</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. last year, in the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;two years ago.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24743495-fda-v-alliance-for-hippocratic-medicine-opinion">The justices ruled</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the medication,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mifepristone-supreme-court-abortion-d451e14148ffbe6ce4811b1a37651480">mifepristone</a>, and the FDA's subsequent actions to ease access to it.

The case had threatened to restrict access to mifepristone across the country, including in states where abortion remains legal.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the court that “federal courts are the wrong forum for addressing the plaintiffs’ concerns about FDA’s actions." Kavanaugh was part of the majority to overturn Roe.

The high court is separately considering another abortion case, about whether&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-medical-emergencies-idaho-8ca89d7de0c1fa9256dcd27d1847e144">a federal law on emergency treatment</a>&nbsp;at hospitals overrides state abortion bans in rare emergency cases in which a pregnant patient’s health is at serious risk.

More than 6 million people have used mifepristone since 2000. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone and primes the uterus to respond to the contraction-causing effect of a second drug, misoprostol.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation">The two-drug regimen</a>&nbsp;has been used to end a pregnancy through 10 weeks gestation.

Health care providers have said that if mifepristone is no longer available or is too hard to obtain, they would switch to using only misoprostol, which is somewhat less effective in ending pregnancies.

President Joe Biden’s administration and drug manufacturers had warned that siding with abortion opponents in this case could undermine the FDA’s drug approval process beyond the abortion context by inviting judges to second-guess the agency’s scientific judgments. The Democratic administration and New York-based Danco Laboratories, which makes mifepristone, argued that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mifepristone-abortion-pill-supreme-court-1d2221251197a391c9bca833918e4554">drug is among the safest</a>&nbsp;the FDA has ever approved.

The abortion opponents argued in court papers that the FDA’s decisions in 2016 and 2021 to relax restrictions on getting the drug were unreasonable and “jeopardize women’s health across the nation.”

The mifepristone case began five months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. Abortion opponents initially won a sweeping ruling nearly a year ago from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk</a>, a Trump nominee in Texas, which would have revoked the drug’s approval entirely. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals left intact the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone. But it would reverse changes regulators made in 2016 and 2021 that eased some conditions for administering the drug.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="Photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday unanimously preserved access to a medication that was used in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-mifepristone-supreme-court-27d18f91242eb08c4d805880ddb5bb60">nearly two-thirds of all abortions</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. last year, in the court’s first abortion decision since conservative justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;two years ago.<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24743495-fda-v-alliance-for-hippocratic-medicine-opinion">The justices ruled</a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion</a>&nbsp;opponents lacked the legal right to sue over the federal Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the medication,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mifepristone-supreme-court-abortion-d451e14148ffbe6ce4811b1a37651480">mifepristone</a>, and the FDA's subsequent actions to ease access to it.The case had threatened to restrict access to mifepristone across the country, including in states where abortion remains legal.Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the court that “federal courts are the wrong forum for addressing the plaintiffs’ concerns about FDA’s actions." Kavanaugh was part of the majority to overturn Roe.The high court is separately considering another abortion case, about whether&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-medical-emergencies-idaho-8ca89d7de0c1fa9256dcd27d1847e144">a federal law on emergency treatment</a>&nbsp;at hospitals overrides state abortion bans in rare emergency cases in which a pregnant patient’s health is at serious risk.More than 6 million people have used mifepristone since 2000. Mifepristone blocks the hormone progesterone and primes the uterus to respond to the contraction-causing effect of a second drug, misoprostol.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation">The two-drug regimen</a>&nbsp;has been used to end a pregnancy through 10 weeks gestation.Health care providers have said that if mifepristone is no longer available or is too hard to obtain, they would switch to using only misoprostol, which is somewhat less effective in ending pregnancies.President Joe Biden’s administration and drug manufacturers had warned that siding with abortion opponents in this case could undermine the FDA’s drug approval process beyond the abortion context by inviting judges to second-guess the agency’s scientific judgments. The Democratic administration and New York-based Danco Laboratories, which makes mifepristone, argued that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mifepristone-abortion-pill-supreme-court-1d2221251197a391c9bca833918e4554">drug is among the safest</a>&nbsp;the FDA has ever approved.The abortion opponents argued in court papers that the FDA’s decisions in 2016 and 2021 to relax restrictions on getting the drug were unreasonable and “jeopardize women’s health across the nation.”The mifepristone case began five months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. Abortion opponents initially won a sweeping ruling nearly a year ago from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-judge-matthew-kacsmaryk-abortion-pill-fda-75964b777ef09593a1ad948c6cfc0237">U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk</a>, a Trump nominee in Texas, which would have revoked the drug’s approval entirely. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals left intact the FDA’s initial approval of mifepristone. But it would reverse changes regulators made in 2016 and 2021 that eased some conditions for administering the drug.

Unanimous: Supreme Court preserves access to abortion pill

Gov. Laura Kelly likes focus on property taxes, still negotiating with GOP leadership

TOPEKA — Outgoing state Sen. Tom Holland recommended Wednesday ahead of a special session of the Kansas Legislature a state tax reform bill highlighted by residential, commercial and agricultural property tax relief rather than offering a package emphasizing state income tax rate cuts.

Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat who decided not to seek reelection after 22 years in the Legislature, said during a news conference at the Capitol that he would urge lawmakers to increase state exemptions in all property tax classes and trim the state property tax mill levy for public schools. With inclusion of property tax relief for veterans, Holland’s approach would deliver nearly $200 million annually in property tax reductions.

“I am here to announce a tax proposal for next week’s special session that provides all Kansans with meaningful, significant tax relief that is fiscally sustainable,” Holland said. “Make no mistake, the number one hated tax in any state government or local government scheme is property tax.”

He referred to his strategy as the “Statehouse Kumbaya Tax Plan,” because contents were drawn from legislation receiving bipartisan support in the House and Senate. Overall, he said, his bill would offer an average $361 million annual reduction in state tax revenue through 2028. It would leave an estimated $600 million in the state treasury after four years, but that would be a significant reduction from the current surplus of $1.9 billion.

Under Holland’s bill, the state would adopt an income tax exemption on Social Security benefits that would cost the state $152 million in the first year by level off to about $125 million annually going forward. He didn’t propose a broad reduction in income tax rates, arguing it was impossible to make progress on property taxes if the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly devoted too much capital to lowering income taxes.

GOP legislative leaders and Kelly have tangled for the past two years on what would be an appropriate reduction in state income taxes, given the constitutional imperative to balance the state budget. GOP lawmakers say Kansas had sufficient cash reserves to make big income tax changes, especially for benefit of wealthy Kansans. Kelly has sought modest reductions that lower the risk of a budget quagmire over the next five years.

“I, like most legislators, have heard from many of my constituents regarding their tax burden,” Holland said. “Kansas property owners will be extremely pleased to hear that this plan provides approximately $1 billion, with a ‘b,’ in property tax relief over five years.”

Holland’s plan would nearly triple the state’s residential property tax exemption to $125,000 and shrink the state property tax mill levy for public schools from 20 mills to 18 mills. He said his bill would obligate state government to make up for reductions in property tax revenue for K-12 schools so that burden wouldn’t shift to local property taxpayers.

He said the interest among Kansas politicians in rolling back state income tax rates was problematic because legislation sent to the governor would torpedo the state budget. Rank-and-file legislators understand Kelly vetoed three tax bills in the 2024 legislative session because they weren’t sustainable, he said.

Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for Kelly, said she appreciated Holland’s inclusion of significant property tax relief in his proposal.

“Kansans have been asking for property tax relief for months,” Hoge said. “There continues to be productive conversations with legislative leaders on responsible tax relief for all Kansans that does not threaten the state’s long-term fiscal stability.”

Members of the House and Senate expect to convene Monday for committee meetings dedicated to sorting through options for a new tax bill. Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said Republican legislators would develop a fresh bill that made a priority of modifying income taxes.

In addition, both chambers plan to work during the special session on a bill outlining economic development incentives that might attract the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals to new stadiums built in Kansas.

While there has been considerable legislative interest in making a deal on tax reform, the idea of issuing bonds for construction of professional sports stadiums in Wyandottee or Johnson counties hadn’t been vetted by legislators and could run into dedicated opposition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718282389726.png" alt=" Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, proposed a five-year plan reducing the state’s tax burden by $361 million annually, but would concentrate on lowering property taxes rather than individual income tax rates. The Kansas Legislature convenes Tuesday for a special session to debate tax reform. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, proposed a five-year plan reducing the state’s tax burden by $361 million annually, but would concentrate on lowering property taxes rather than individual income tax rates. The Kansas Legislature convenes Tuesday for a special session to debate tax reform. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Gov. Laura Kelly likes focus on property taxes, still negotiating with GOP leadership</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Outgoing state Sen. Tom Holland recommended Wednesday ahead of a special session of the Kansas Legislature a state tax reform bill highlighted by residential, commercial and agricultural property tax relief rather than offering a package emphasizing state income tax rate cuts.Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat who decided not to seek reelection after 22 years in the Legislature, said during a news conference at the Capitol that he would urge lawmakers to increase state exemptions in all property tax classes and trim the state property tax mill levy for public schools. With inclusion of property tax relief for veterans, Holland’s approach would deliver nearly $200 million annually in property tax reductions.“I am here to announce a tax proposal for next week’s special session that provides all Kansans with meaningful, significant tax relief that is fiscally sustainable,” Holland said. “Make no mistake, the number one hated tax in any state government or local government scheme is property tax.”He referred to his strategy as the “Statehouse Kumbaya Tax Plan,” because contents were drawn from legislation receiving bipartisan support in the House and Senate. Overall, he said, his bill would offer an average $361 million annual reduction in state tax revenue through 2028. It would leave an estimated $600 million in the state treasury after four years, but that would be a significant reduction from the current surplus of $1.9 billion.Under Holland’s bill, the state would adopt an income tax exemption on Social Security benefits that would cost the state $152 million in the first year by level off to about $125 million annually going forward. He didn’t propose a broad reduction in income tax rates, arguing it was impossible to make progress on property taxes if the Republican-led Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly devoted too much capital to lowering income taxes.GOP legislative leaders and Kelly have tangled for the past two years on what would be an appropriate reduction in state income taxes, given the constitutional imperative to balance the state budget. GOP lawmakers say Kansas had sufficient cash reserves to make big income tax changes, especially for benefit of wealthy Kansans. Kelly has sought modest reductions that lower the risk of a budget quagmire over the next five years.“I, like most legislators, have heard from many of my constituents regarding their tax burden,” Holland said. “Kansas property owners will be extremely pleased to hear that this plan provides approximately $1 billion, with a ‘b,’ in property tax relief over five years.”Holland’s plan would nearly triple the state’s residential property tax exemption to $125,000 and shrink the state property tax mill levy for public schools from 20 mills to 18 mills. He said his bill would obligate state government to make up for reductions in property tax revenue for K-12 schools so that burden wouldn’t shift to local property taxpayers.He said the interest among Kansas politicians in rolling back state income tax rates was problematic because legislation sent to the governor would torpedo the state budget. Rank-and-file legislators understand Kelly vetoed three tax bills in the 2024 legislative session because they weren’t sustainable, he said.Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for Kelly, said she appreciated Holland’s inclusion of significant property tax relief in his proposal.“Kansans have been asking for property tax relief for months,” Hoge said. “There continues to be productive conversations with legislative leaders on responsible tax relief for all Kansans that does not threaten the state’s long-term fiscal stability.”Members of the House and Senate expect to convene Monday for committee meetings dedicated to sorting through options for a new tax bill. Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said Republican legislators would develop a fresh bill that made a priority of modifying income taxes.In addition, both chambers plan to work during the special session on a bill outlining economic development incentives that might attract the Kansas City Chiefs or Kansas City Royals to new stadiums built in Kansas.While there has been considerable legislative interest in making a deal on tax reform, the idea of issuing bonds for construction of professional sports stadiums in Wyandottee or Johnson counties hadn’t been vetted by legislators and could run into dedicated opposition.

Kan. Democratic senator pitches reform bill anchored by robust property tax relief

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement in Johnson County are investigating a shooting at Riverfront Park in Shawnee.

Around 11:47 p.m. on June 11, police responded to the 5500 block of Frisbie Road in the city of Shawnee to a report of an armed disturbance with shots fired, according to a media release.

A suspect fired into an occupied vehicle which shattered the rear window, of the victims’ vehicle. The occupants were not hit by gunfire. No injuries were reported.

The victims and suspect are known to each other. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 913-631-2150.&nbsp;

As a reminder, the undeveloped Riverfront Park is closed to the public after 10:00 p.m. All motorized vehicles and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park. Officers will increase patrols in the area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718214486523.png" alt="Photo Shawnee Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Shawnee Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement in Johnson County are investigating a shooting at Riverfront Park in Shawnee.Around 11:47 p.m. on June 11, police responded to the 5500 block of Frisbie Road in the city of Shawnee to a report of an armed disturbance with shots fired, according to a media release.A suspect fired into an occupied vehicle which shattered the rear window, of the victims’ vehicle. The occupants were not hit by gunfire. No injuries were reported.The victims and suspect are known to each other. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call 913-631-2150.&nbsp;As a reminder, the undeveloped Riverfront Park is closed to the public after 10:00 p.m. All motorized vehicles and alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the park. Officers will increase patrols in the area.

Police: Suspect fired gun into occupied vehicle at Kansas park

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/garland-contempt-biden-classified-documents-justice-department-bc2fb71b225ae672eb257ee2055cfa67">contempt of Congress</a>&nbsp;for refusing to turn over audio of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-classified-documents-age-trump-2024-4791639cc06cc0affee55aba80c7e6b3">President Joe Biden’s interview in his classified documents</a>&nbsp;case, Republicans' latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department as partisan conflict over the rule of law animates the 2024 presidential campaign.

The 216-207 vote fell along party lines, with Republicans coalescing behind the contempt effort despite reservations among some of the party's more centrist members. Kansas GOP lawmakers Ron Estes, Jake LaTurner and Tracey Mann voted with the majority. Kansas Democrat congresswoman Sharice Davids voted against the bill.

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24476201/biden1-copy.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;transcript of&nbsp;day 1 interview with President Biden.

<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24476203/biden-2-copy.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;transcript of day 2 interview with President Biden

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635370077745.png" alt="Attorney General Merrick Garland-Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Attorney General Merrick Garland-Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/garland-contempt-biden-classified-documents-justice-department-bc2fb71b225ae672eb257ee2055cfa67">contempt of Congress</a>&nbsp;for refusing to turn over audio of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-classified-documents-age-trump-2024-4791639cc06cc0affee55aba80c7e6b3">President Joe Biden’s interview in his classified documents</a>&nbsp;case, Republicans' latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department as partisan conflict over the rule of law animates the 2024 presidential campaign.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">House GOP built a record of evidence proving that President Biden knew about and benefited from his family’s &amp; associate’s shady business deals. No one is above the law. I voted to hold AG Garland accountable for refusing to comply w/ subpoenas regarding our impeachment inquiry.&mdash; Tracey Mann (@RepMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMann/status/1801242799293047232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The 216-207 vote fell along party lines, with Republicans coalescing behind the contempt effort despite reservations among some of the party's more centrist members. Kansas GOP lawmakers Ron Estes, Jake LaTurner and Tracey Mann voted with the majority. Kansas Democrat congresswoman Sharice Davids voted against the bill.<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24476201/biden1-copy.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;transcript of&nbsp;day 1 interview with President Biden.<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24476203/biden-2-copy.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;transcript of day 2 interview with President Biden<a href="https://www.justice.gov/storage/report-from-special-counsel-robert-k-hur-february-2024.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the 345 page report following the interview“We have to defend the Constitution. We have to defend the authority of Congress,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a press conference ahead of the vote. “We can’t allow the Department of Justice and Executive Branch to hide information from Congress.”Garland is now the third attorney general to be held in contempt of Congress. Yet it is unlikely that the Justice Department — which Garland oversees — will prosecute him. The White House’s decision to exert executive privilege over the audio recording, shielding it from Congress, would make it exceedingly difficult to make a criminal case against Garland.The White House and congressional Democrats have slammed Republicans’ motives for pursuing contempt and dismissed their efforts to obtain the audio as purely political. They also pointed out that Rep. Jim Jordan, the GOP chair of the House Judiciary Committee, defied his own congressional subpoena last session.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1715865284940.png" alt="In a letter last month, Garland advised Biden that the audio falls within the scope of executive privilege. Garland told the Democratic president that the “committee's needs are plainly insufficient to outweigh the deleterious effects that the production of the recordings would have on the integrity and effectiveness of similar law enforcement investigations in the future."" />
 <figcaption>In a letter last month, Garland advised Biden that the audio falls within the scope of executive privilege. Garland told the Democratic president that the “committee's needs are plainly insufficient to outweigh the deleterious effects that the production of the recordings would have on the integrity and effectiveness of similar law enforcement investigations in the future."</figcaption>
 </figure>“This contempt resolution will do very little, other than smear the reputation of Merrick Garland, who will remain a good and decent public servant no matter what Republicans say about him today," New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on Judiciary Committee, said during floor debate.Garland has defended the Justice Department, saying officials have gone to extraordinary lengths to provide information to the committees about Special Counsel Robert&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-hur-biden-special-counsel-classified-documents-0f8e4a9d99f8b7d035f75f78e9b8d3d3">Hur’s</a>&nbsp;classified documents investigation, including a transcript of Biden’s interview with him.“There have been a series of unprecedented and frankly unfounded attacks on the Justice Department,” Garland said in a press conference last month. “This request, this effort to use contempt as a method of obtaining our sensitive law enforcement files is just most recent.”Republicans were incensed when Hur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/robert-hur-biden-special-counsel-classified-documents-0f8e4a9d99f8b7d035f75f78e9b8d3d3">declined to prosecute</a>&nbsp;Biden over his handling of classified documents and quickly opened an investigation. GOP lawmakers — led by Jordan and Rep. James Comer — sent a subpoena for audio of Hur’s interviews with Biden during the spring. But the Justice Department only turned over some of the records, leaving out audio of the interview with the president.On the last day to comply with the Republicans' subpoena for the audio, the White House blocked the release by invoking executive privilege. It said that Republicans in Congress only wanted the recordings “to chop them up” and use them for political purposes.Executive privilege gives presidents the right to keep information from the courts, Congress and the public to protect the confidentiality of decision-making, though it can be challenged in court.Administrations of both political parties have long held the position that officials who assert a president’s claim of executive privilege can’t be prosecuted for contempt of Congress, a Justice Department official told Republicans last month.Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte cited a committee’s decision in 2008 to back down from a contempt effort after President George W. Bush asserted executive privilege to keep Congress from getting records involving Vice President Dick Cheney.Before Garland, the last attorney general held in contempt was Bill Barr in 2019. That was when the Democratically controlled House voted to issue a referral against Barr after he refused to turn over documents related to a special counsel investigation into Trump.Years before that, then-Attorney General Eric Holder was held in contempt related to the gun-running operation known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab23eac5b2264f67a40b0c98ab17cdfd">Operation Fast and Furious</a>. In each of those instances, the Justice Department took no action against the attorney general.The special counsel in Biden’s case, Hur, spent a year investigating the president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-michael-pence-us-federal-bureau-of-investigation-9c2d7f472b8ff63f76f2c9fbb03dfde2">improper retention of classified documents</a>, from his time as a senator and as vice president. The result was a 345-page report that questioned Biden’s age and mental competence but recommended no criminal charges for the 81-year-old. Hur said he found insufficient evidence to successfully prosecute a case in court.In March, Hur stood by his no-prosecution assessment in testimony before the Judiciary Committee, where he was grilled for more than four hours by both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.His defense did not satisfy Republicans, who insist that there is a politically motivated double standard at the Justice Department, which is prosecuting former President Donald Trump over his retention of classified documents at his Florida club after he left the White House.But there are major differences between the two probes. Biden’s team returned the documents after they were discovered, and the president cooperated with the investigation by voluntarily sitting for an interview and consenting to searches of his homes.Trump, by contrast, is accused of enlisting the help of aides and lawyers to conceal the documents from the government and of seeking to have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-classified-documents-justice-department-special-counsel-2025feb3f0f4e3820d14387c67ce4316">potentially incriminating evidence</a>&nbsp;destroyed.__ Associated Press writers Kevin Freking and Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.