KANSAS CITY (AP) —From its towering white steeple and red-brick facade to its Sunday services filled with rousing gospel hymns and evangelistic sermons, First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, bears many of the classic hallmarks of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/religion">Southern Baptist church</a>.

On a recent Sunday, its pastor for women and children, Kim Eskridge, urged members to invite friends and neighbors to an upcoming vacation Bible school — a perennial Baptist activity — to help “reach families in the community with the gospel.”

But because that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-saddleback-vote-women-pastors-new-orleans-7ee6606b57d0bf0c4c7ed91316af12b1">pastor is a woman</a>, First Baptist’s days in the Southern Baptist Convention may be numbered.

At the SBC’s annual meeting June 11-12 in Indianapolis, representatives will vote on whether to amend the denomination’s constitution to essentially ban churches with any women pastors — and not just in the top job. That measure received overwhelming approval in a preliminary vote last year.

Leaders of First Baptist – which has given millions to Southern Baptist causes and has been involved with the convention since its 19th century founding — are bracing for a possible expulsion.

“We are grieved at the direction the SBC has taken,” the church said in a statement.

By some estimates, the proposed ban could affect hundreds of congregations and have a disproportionate impact on predominantly Black churches.

The vote is partly the culmination of events set in motion two years ago.

That’s when a Virginia pastor contacted SBC officials to contend that First Baptist and four nearby churches were “out of step” with denominational doctrine that says only men can be pastors. The SBC Credentials Committee launched a formal inquiry in April.

Southern Baptists disagree on which ministry jobs this doctrine refers to. Some say it’s just the senior pastor, others that a pastor is anyone who preaches and exercises spiritual authority.

And in a Baptist tradition that prizes local church autonomy, critics say the convention shouldn’t enshrine a constitutional rule based on one interpretation of its non-binding doctrinal statement.

By some estimates, women are working in pastoral roles in hundreds of SBC-linked churches, a fraction of the nearly 47,000 across the denomination.

But critics say the amendment would amount to a further narrowing in numbers and mindset for the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, which has moved steadily rightward in recent decades.

They also wonder if the SBC has better things to do.

It has struggled to respond to sexual abuse cases in its churches. A former professor at a Southern Baptist seminary in Texas was indicted in May on a charge of falsifying a record about alleged sexual abuse by a student in order to obstruct a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptist-convention-sex-abuse-investigation-58b037e49e8f305978596c3836db5329">federal investigation</a>&nbsp;into sexual misconduct in the convention.

SBC membership has dipped below 13 million, nearly a half-century low. Baptismal rates are in long-term decline.

The amendment, if passed, wouldn’t prompt an immediate purge. But it could keep the denomination’s leaders busy for years, investigating and ousting churches.

Many predominantly Black churches have men as lead pastors but assign pastor titles to women in other areas, such as worship and children’s ministries.

“To disfellowship like-minded churches ... based on a local-church governance decision dishonors the spirit of cooperation and the guiding tenets of our denomination,” wrote Pastor Gregory Perkins, president of the SBC’s National African American Fellowship, to denominational officials.

The controversy complicates the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/racial-injustice-baptist-race-and-ethnicity-religion-900a3edd93c6ab0e7836a48751048c91">already-choppy efforts</a>&nbsp;by the mostly white denomination to diversify and overcome its legacy of slavery and segregation.

Amendment proponents say the convention needs to reinforce its doctrinal statement, the Baptist Faith and Message, which says the office of pastor is “limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”

“If we won’t stand on this issue and be unapologetically biblical, then we won’t stand on anything,” said amendment proponent Mike Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia.

Since Baptist churches are independent, the convention can’t tell them what to do or whom to appoint as a pastor.

But the convention can decide which churches are in and which are out. And even without a formal amendment, its Executive Committee has begun telling churches with women pastors that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-women-pastors-sex-abuse-45439f49cead56de4d363765409f486c">they’re out</a>. That included one of its largest, Saddleback Church of California.

When Saddleback and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptist-convention-women-pastors-church-appeals-7c2d7f248b2156721616387d77528cb5">small Kentucky church</a>&nbsp;appealed to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-saddleback-vote-women-pastors-new-orleans-7ee6606b57d0bf0c4c7ed91316af12b1">annual meeting in 2023,</a>&nbsp;delegates overwhelmingly refused to take them back.

The amendment would give such enforcement actions more teeth.

Some churches with women pastors quit on their own in the past year. They range from Elevation Church, a North Carolina megachurch, to First Baptist of Richmond, Virginia, which had close SBC ties from the convention’s founding.

Law contended the issue has been a “canary in the coalmine” for liberal denominations, several of which began ordaining women and later LGBTQ+ people.

“Southern Baptists are facing a decisive moment,” he said in a video on a pro-amendment website. “Here’s the trajectory of doing nothing: Soon Southern Baptist churches will start openly supporting homosexual clergy, same-sex marriage and eventually transgenderism.”

Others point out that Pentecostal and other denominations have had women pastors for generations and remain theologically conservative.

Some SBC churches with women pastors are heavily involved with the convention, while others have minimal connections and identify more closely with historically Black or other progressive denominations.

Also, some SBC churches interpret the 2000 faith statement as only applying to senior pastors. As long as a the church leader is male, women can serve other pastoral roles, they say.

Such churches may leave if SBC leaders interfere with congregations following “their conscience, biblical convictions, and values by recognizing women can receive a pastoral gift from God in partnership with male leadership,” said Dwight McKissic, a pastor from Arlington, Texas, on the social media platform X.

Other churches say women can be in any role, including senior pastor, and churches can agree to disagree if they embrace most of the SBC faith statement.

That category includes First Baptist of Alexandria. Though its current senior pastor is male, it recognizes “God’s calling to ordain any qualified individual, male or female, for pastoral ministry,” the church said in a statement.

First Baptist leaders declined interview requests, but it has posted extensively about the issue on its website.

It said while it plans to send representatives to the SBC annual meeting, it was warned to expect a motion to deny them voting privileges.

“I do believe we need to be heard and represented,” Senior Pastor Robert Stephens told members in a video-recorded meeting.

The SBC’s top administrative body opposes the amendment. Investigating churches’ compliance would consume an unsustainable amount of time and energy over something that shouldn’t be a litmus test for fellowship, wrote Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, in a Baptist Press commentary.

Baptist Women in Ministry, which began within the SBC in the 1980s but now works in multiple Baptist denominations, has taken note. The Rev. Meredith Stone, its executive director, said some women pastors within the SBC have reached out for support.

The group plans to release a documentary, “Midwives of a Movement,” about 20th century trailblazers for women in Baptist ministry, on the eve of the SBC meeting.

“As they are saying women have less value to God than men in the church, we want to make sure that women know they do have equal value and that there are no limits to how they follow Christ in the work of the church,” Stone said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660444151062.png" alt="Photo courtesy Southern Baptist Convention" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Southern Baptist Convention</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —From its towering white steeple and red-brick facade to its Sunday services filled with rousing gospel hymns and evangelistic sermons, First Baptist Church of Alexandria, Virginia, bears many of the classic hallmarks of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/religion">Southern Baptist church</a>.On a recent Sunday, its pastor for women and children, Kim Eskridge, urged members to invite friends and neighbors to an upcoming vacation Bible school — a perennial Baptist activity — to help “reach families in the community with the gospel.”But because that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-saddleback-vote-women-pastors-new-orleans-7ee6606b57d0bf0c4c7ed91316af12b1">pastor is a woman</a>, First Baptist’s days in the Southern Baptist Convention may be numbered.At the SBC’s annual meeting June 11-12 in Indianapolis, representatives will vote on whether to amend the denomination’s constitution to essentially ban churches with any women pastors — and not just in the top job. That measure received overwhelming approval in a preliminary vote last year.Leaders of First Baptist – which has given millions to Southern Baptist causes and has been involved with the convention since its 19th century founding — are bracing for a possible expulsion.“We are grieved at the direction the SBC has taken,” the church said in a statement.And it’s not alone.By some estimates, the proposed ban could affect hundreds of congregations and have a disproportionate impact on predominantly Black churches.The vote is partly the culmination of events set in motion two years ago.That’s when a Virginia pastor contacted SBC officials to contend that First Baptist and four nearby churches were “out of step” with denominational doctrine that says only men can be pastors. The SBC Credentials Committee launched a formal inquiry in April.Southern Baptists disagree on which ministry jobs this doctrine refers to. Some say it’s just the senior pastor, others that a pastor is anyone who preaches and exercises spiritual authority.And in a Baptist tradition that prizes local church autonomy, critics say the convention shouldn’t enshrine a constitutional rule based on one interpretation of its non-binding doctrinal statement.By some estimates, women are working in pastoral roles in hundreds of SBC-linked churches, a fraction of the nearly 47,000 across the denomination.But critics say the amendment would amount to a further narrowing in numbers and mindset for the nation’s largest Protestant denomination, which has moved steadily rightward in recent decades.They also wonder if the SBC has better things to do.It has struggled to respond to sexual abuse cases in its churches. A former professor at a Southern Baptist seminary in Texas was indicted in May on a charge of falsifying a record about alleged sexual abuse by a student in order to obstruct a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptist-convention-sex-abuse-investigation-58b037e49e8f305978596c3836db5329">federal investigation</a>&nbsp;into sexual misconduct in the convention.SBC membership has dipped below 13 million, nearly a half-century low. Baptismal rates are in long-term decline.The amendment, if passed, wouldn’t prompt an immediate purge. But it could keep the denomination’s leaders busy for years, investigating and ousting churches.Many predominantly Black churches have men as lead pastors but assign pastor titles to women in other areas, such as worship and children’s ministries.“To disfellowship like-minded churches ... based on a local-church governance decision dishonors the spirit of cooperation and the guiding tenets of our denomination,” wrote Pastor Gregory Perkins, president of the SBC’s National African American Fellowship, to denominational officials.The controversy complicates the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/racial-injustice-baptist-race-and-ethnicity-religion-900a3edd93c6ab0e7836a48751048c91">already-choppy efforts</a>&nbsp;by the mostly white denomination to diversify and overcome its legacy of slavery and segregation.Amendment proponents say the convention needs to reinforce its doctrinal statement, the Baptist Faith and Message, which says the office of pastor is “limited to men as qualified by Scripture.”“If we won’t stand on this issue and be unapologetically biblical, then we won’t stand on anything,” said amendment proponent Mike Law, pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Virginia.Since Baptist churches are independent, the convention can’t tell them what to do or whom to appoint as a pastor.But the convention can decide which churches are in and which are out. And even without a formal amendment, its Executive Committee has begun telling churches with women pastors that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-women-pastors-sex-abuse-45439f49cead56de4d363765409f486c">they’re out</a>. That included one of its largest, Saddleback Church of California.When Saddleback and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptist-convention-women-pastors-church-appeals-7c2d7f248b2156721616387d77528cb5">small Kentucky church</a>&nbsp;appealed to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southern-baptists-saddleback-vote-women-pastors-new-orleans-7ee6606b57d0bf0c4c7ed91316af12b1">annual meeting in 2023,</a>&nbsp;delegates overwhelmingly refused to take them back.The amendment would give such enforcement actions more teeth.Some churches with women pastors quit on their own in the past year. They range from Elevation Church, a North Carolina megachurch, to First Baptist of Richmond, Virginia, which had close SBC ties from the convention’s founding.Law contended the issue has been a “canary in the coalmine” for liberal denominations, several of which began ordaining women and later LGBTQ+ people.“Southern Baptists are facing a decisive moment,” he said in a video on a pro-amendment website. “Here’s the trajectory of doing nothing: Soon Southern Baptist churches will start openly supporting homosexual clergy, same-sex marriage and eventually transgenderism.”Others point out that Pentecostal and other denominations have had women pastors for generations and remain theologically conservative.Some SBC churches with women pastors are heavily involved with the convention, while others have minimal connections and identify more closely with historically Black or other progressive denominations.Also, some SBC churches interpret the 2000 faith statement as only applying to senior pastors. As long as a the church leader is male, women can serve other pastoral roles, they say.Such churches may leave if SBC leaders interfere with congregations following “their conscience, biblical convictions, and values by recognizing women can receive a pastoral gift from God in partnership with male leadership,” said Dwight McKissic, a pastor from Arlington, Texas, on the social media platform X.Other churches say women can be in any role, including senior pastor, and churches can agree to disagree if they embrace most of the SBC faith statement.That category includes First Baptist of Alexandria. Though its current senior pastor is male, it recognizes “God’s calling to ordain any qualified individual, male or female, for pastoral ministry,” the church said in a statement.First Baptist leaders declined interview requests, but it has posted extensively about the issue on its website.It said while it plans to send representatives to the SBC annual meeting, it was warned to expect a motion to deny them voting privileges.“I do believe we need to be heard and represented,” Senior Pastor Robert Stephens told members in a video-recorded meeting.The SBC’s top administrative body opposes the amendment. Investigating churches’ compliance would consume an unsustainable amount of time and energy over something that shouldn’t be a litmus test for fellowship, wrote Jeff Iorg, president of the SBC Executive Committee, in a Baptist Press commentary.Baptist Women in Ministry, which began within the SBC in the 1980s but now works in multiple Baptist denominations, has taken note. The Rev. Meredith Stone, its executive director, said some women pastors within the SBC have reached out for support.The group plans to release a documentary, “Midwives of a Movement,” about 20th century trailblazers for women in Baptist ministry, on the eve of the SBC meeting.“As they are saying women have less value to God than men in the church, we want to make sure that women know they do have equal value and that there are no limits to how they follow Christ in the work of the church,” Stone said.

Southern Baptists are poised to ban churches with women pastors

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged strong-armed robbery in Overland Park.

Just after 8p.m. Saturday, police responded to Shawnee Mission Parkway and Foster Street in Overland Park, according to Police Captain Ray Tisinger.&nbsp;

Officers found a robbery victim who&nbsp;received minor injuries. A suspect fled the area in a Gray SUV. Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged strong-armed robbery in Overland Park.Just after 8p.m. Saturday, police responded to Shawnee Mission Parkway and Foster Street in Overland Park, according to Police Captain Ray Tisinger.&nbsp;Officers found a robbery victim who&nbsp;received minor injuries. A suspect fled the area in a Gray SUV. Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Police searching for suspect in Kansas strong-armed robbery 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first aid from an American-built pier arrived in Gaza on Saturday since storm damage required repairs to the project, the U.S. military said, relaunching an effort to bring supplies to Palestinians by sea that had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-humanitarian-aid-us-pier-77d0cf1c1bd420042dc4cb6f4ad76ccb">plagued with problems</a>.

The pier constructed by the U.S. military was operational for only about a week before it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-pier-damage-weather-seas-boats-f45634fb85e2ac6aec9b814c36ea3526">blown apart in high winds and heavy seas</a>&nbsp;on May 25. A damaged section was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-pier-humanitarian-aid-gaza-israel-hamas-3db724ef590b4d056e81a1bac1b9c13f">reconnected to the beach</a>&nbsp;in Gaza on Friday after being repaired at an Israeli port.

About 1.1 million pounds (492 metric tons) of humanitarian aid was delivered to Gaza through the pier on Saturday, U.S. Central Command&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1799582358829474206" target="_blank">said in a statement</a>. It reiterated that no U.S. military personnel went ashore in Gaza. The U.S. Agency for International Development works with the U.N. World Food Program and their humanitarian partners in Gaza to distribute food and other aid coming from the U.S.-operated pier.

The deliveries came the same day that Israel mounted a heavy air and ground&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-8-6-2024-a5d1ef04763a5ed17de2d050ebc5d490">assault that rescued four hostages</a>, who had been taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack that launched the war in Gaza. At least 210 Palestinians, including children, were killed, a Gaza health official said.

Pushing back against social media claims, U.S. Central Command&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1799578307001717226" target="_blank">said in a tweet</a>&nbsp;that neither the pier nor any of its equipment, personnel or other assets were used in the Israeli operation. It noted that Israel used an area south of the pier “to safely return hostages.”

“The temporary pier on the coast of Gaza was put in place for one purpose only, to help move additional, urgently needed lifesaving assistance into Gaza,” the U.S. military said.

USAID said in a separate statement that no humanitarian workers were involved in the Israeli operation.

“Humanitarian aid workers in Gaza are operating in extremely difficult and insecure conditions and must be protected,” the agency said by email. “Aid workers operate under the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.”

The movement of aid through the pier brings back online one way to get desperately needed food and other emergency supplies to Palestinians trapped by the eight-month-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>. Israeli restrictions on land crossings, and fighting, have greatly limited the flow of food and other vital supplies into the territory.

The damage to the pier had been the latest stumbling block for the project and the persistent struggle to get food to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-war-hamas-muwasi-humanitarian-2de77ea9095d2c680f57f77ad395917c">starving Palestinians</a>. Three U.S. service members were injured, one critically, and four vessels were beached due to heavy seas.

Early efforts to get aid from the pier into the Gaza Strip also were disrupted as crowds&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">overran a convoy of trucks</a>&nbsp;that aid agencies were using to transport the food, stripping the cargo from many of them before they could reach a U.N. warehouse. Officials responded by altering the travel routes, and aid began reaching those in need.

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, told reporters on Friday that the lessons learned from that initial week of operations made him confident greater amounts of aid could be delivered now.

He said the goal was to get to 1 million pounds of food and other supplies moving through the pier into Gaza every two days. To date, about 3.5 million pounds of humanitarian aid has been delivered through the maritime route, Central Command said Saturday.

Relief agencies have pressed Israel to reopen land routes that could bring in all the needed aid. Israel says it has allowed hundreds of trucks to enter through a southern checkpoint and pointed the finger at the U.N. for not distributing aid. The U.N. says it is often unable to retrieve the aid because of the security situation.

U.N. agencies have warned that over 1 million Palestinians in Gaza could experience the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hunger-un-07afb7fe4a1654f54b81b944a0dab535">highest level of starvation</a>&nbsp;by the middle of next month if hostilities continue.

President Joe Biden’s administration has said from the start that the pier wasn’t meant to be a total solution and that any amount of aid helps.

Biden, a Democrat, announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-07-24-5657eedc005040694a9ab935ce3e39e5">his plan for the U.S. military to build a pier</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-union-biden-gaza-ukraine-israel-1a42ff9d4ef3e0f2753e43ac8d39fc18">his State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;in early March, and the military said it would take about 60 days to get it installed and operational. It took a bit longer than planned, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">the first trucks carrying aid</a>&nbsp;for the Gaza Strip rolling down the pier on May 17.

The initial cost was estimated at $320 million, but the Pentagon said this past week that the price had dropped to $230 million, due to contributions from Britain and because the cost of contracting trucks and other equipment was less than expected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717900174192.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The first aid from an American-built pier arrived in Gaza on Saturday since storm damage required repairs to the project, the U.S. military said, relaunching an effort to bring supplies to Palestinians by sea that had been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-humanitarian-aid-us-pier-77d0cf1c1bd420042dc4cb6f4ad76ccb">plagued with problems</a>.The pier constructed by the U.S. military was operational for only about a week before it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-pier-damage-weather-seas-boats-f45634fb85e2ac6aec9b814c36ea3526">blown apart in high winds and heavy seas</a>&nbsp;on May 25. A damaged section was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-pier-humanitarian-aid-gaza-israel-hamas-3db724ef590b4d056e81a1bac1b9c13f">reconnected to the beach</a>&nbsp;in Gaza on Friday after being repaired at an Israeli port.About 1.1 million pounds (492 metric tons) of humanitarian aid was delivered to Gaza through the pier on Saturday, U.S. Central Command&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1799582358829474206" target="_blank">said in a statement</a>. It reiterated that no U.S. military personnel went ashore in Gaza. The U.S. Agency for International Development works with the U.N. World Food Program and their humanitarian partners in Gaza to distribute food and other aid coming from the U.S.-operated pier.The deliveries came the same day that Israel mounted a heavy air and ground&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-8-6-2024-a5d1ef04763a5ed17de2d050ebc5d490">assault that rescued four hostages</a>, who had been taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack that launched the war in Gaza. At least 210 Palestinians, including children, were killed, a Gaza health official said.Pushing back against social media claims, U.S. Central Command&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CENTCOM/status/1799578307001717226" target="_blank">said in a tweet</a>&nbsp;that neither the pier nor any of its equipment, personnel or other assets were used in the Israeli operation. It noted that Israel used an area south of the pier “to safely return hostages.”“The temporary pier on the coast of Gaza was put in place for one purpose only, to help move additional, urgently needed lifesaving assistance into Gaza,” the U.S. military said.USAID said in a separate statement that no humanitarian workers were involved in the Israeli operation.“Humanitarian aid workers in Gaza are operating in extremely difficult and insecure conditions and must be protected,” the agency said by email. “Aid workers operate under the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.”The movement of aid through the pier brings back online one way to get desperately needed food and other emergency supplies to Palestinians trapped by the eight-month-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>. Israeli restrictions on land crossings, and fighting, have greatly limited the flow of food and other vital supplies into the territory.The damage to the pier had been the latest stumbling block for the project and the persistent struggle to get food to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-war-hamas-muwasi-humanitarian-2de77ea9095d2c680f57f77ad395917c">starving Palestinians</a>. Three U.S. service members were injured, one critically, and four vessels were beached due to heavy seas.Early efforts to get aid from the pier into the Gaza Strip also were disrupted as crowds&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">overran a convoy of trucks</a>&nbsp;that aid agencies were using to transport the food, stripping the cargo from many of them before they could reach a U.N. warehouse. Officials responded by altering the travel routes, and aid began reaching those in need.Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, told reporters on Friday that the lessons learned from that initial week of operations made him confident greater amounts of aid could be delivered now.He said the goal was to get to 1 million pounds of food and other supplies moving through the pier into Gaza every two days. To date, about 3.5 million pounds of humanitarian aid has been delivered through the maritime route, Central Command said Saturday.Relief agencies have pressed Israel to reopen land routes that could bring in all the needed aid. Israel says it has allowed hundreds of trucks to enter through a southern checkpoint and pointed the finger at the U.N. for not distributing aid. The U.N. says it is often unable to retrieve the aid because of the security situation.U.N. agencies have warned that over 1 million Palestinians in Gaza could experience the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hunger-un-07afb7fe4a1654f54b81b944a0dab535">highest level of starvation</a>&nbsp;by the middle of next month if hostilities continue.President Joe Biden’s administration has said from the start that the pier wasn’t meant to be a total solution and that any amount of aid helps.Biden, a Democrat, announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-07-24-5657eedc005040694a9ab935ce3e39e5">his plan for the U.S. military to build a pier</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-union-biden-gaza-ukraine-israel-1a42ff9d4ef3e0f2753e43ac8d39fc18">his State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;in early March, and the military said it would take about 60 days to get it installed and operational. It took a bit longer than planned, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">the first trucks carrying aid</a>&nbsp;for the Gaza Strip rolling down the pier on May 17.The initial cost was estimated at $320 million, but the Pentagon said this past week that the price had dropped to $230 million, due to contributions from Britain and because the cost of contracting trucks and other equipment was less than expected.

Aid delivered to Gaza from newly repaired U.S. military built pier

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the attempted armed robberies of postal carriers in the Kansas City community of Westport and are offering a reward, according to a bulletin from the The United States Postal Inspection Service.

A $150,000 reward has been offered for information into the attempted armed robberies of two postal carriers in Westport.

On Wednesday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uspis.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Postal Inspection Service</a>&nbsp;announced that a $150,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for the attempted armed robbery of two separate postal carriers at different locations in Westport.

Just before 5:30p.m. May 29, law enforcement officials reported three black men were seen approaching postal carriers in the 200 block of Westport Road and in the 3900 block of Warwick Boulevard.

One suspects was armed with a handgun and pointed the weapon at both victims. The suspects were observed in a red 2011 Dodge Charger.&nbsp; The car was reported stolen. The vehicle’s rear passenger window is also broken.

The Postal Service warned residents not to take any steps to apprehend any of the suspects. If you have information on the crime you are to call the Postal Service at 1-877-876-2455 and say “law enforcement.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717620135282.png" alt="-Photo USPIS" />
 <figcaption>-Photo USPIS</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the attempted armed robberies of postal carriers in the Kansas City community of Westport and are offering a reward, according to a bulletin from the The United States Postal Inspection Service.A $150,000 reward has been offered for information into the attempted armed robberies of two postal carriers in Westport.On Wednesday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uspis.gov/" target="_blank">U.S. Postal Inspection Service</a>&nbsp;announced that a $150,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for the attempted armed robbery of two separate postal carriers at different locations in Westport.Just before 5:30p.m. May 29, law enforcement officials reported three black men were seen approaching postal carriers in the 200 block of Westport Road and in the 3900 block of Warwick Boulevard.One suspects was armed with a handgun and pointed the weapon at both victims. The suspects were observed in a red 2011 Dodge Charger.&nbsp; The car was reported stolen. The vehicle’s rear passenger window is also broken.The Postal Service warned residents not to take any steps to apprehend any of the suspects. If you have information on the crime you are to call the Postal Service at 1-877-876-2455 and say “law enforcement.”

Large reward offered for info on robberies of KC area postal carriers

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — A large chunk of a twisting mountain pass road collapsed in Wyoming, authorities said Saturday, leaving a gaping chasm in the highway and severing a well-traveled commuter link between small towns in eastern Idaho and the tourist destination of Jackson.

Aerial photos and drone video of the collapse show the Teton Pass road riven with deep cracks, and a big section of the pavement disappeared altogether. Part of the guardrail dangled into the void, and orange traffic drums marked off the danger area. The road was closed at the time of the collapse.

The section that failed first drew attention Thursday when a crack and drop in the road contributed to the crash of a motorcycle.

Geologists and engineers who were sent to the area that day noticed “that crack and that drop started to move a lot,” said Stephanie Harsha, a spokesperson for District 3 of the Wyoming Department of Transportation. A paving crew temporarily patched the road, and traffic began moving again that night.

But that was short-lived as maintenance crews were sent to respond to a mudslide a couple of miles away in the pre-dawn hours of Friday, prompting the road to be closed once again.

Crews then noticed that the damage to the pavement had become more pronounced. Workers trying to figure out a detour around that section left for the night, “and by 5 a.m., this morning, WYDOT had discovered that the road had completely failed,” Harsha said Saturday.

“We were very, very lucky that no crews were harmed. No equipment was damaged,” she said. “So now, engineers and geologists are doing geological assessments on the pass. They’ve been looking at it all day.”

The transportation department said via social media that the road “catastrophically failed” at milepost 12.8.

It was not immediately clear how long it will take to reopen the road, a vital artery for people who live across the border in Idaho and work in pricey Jackson, which is also close to the popular Grand Teton National Park.

Harsha said an alternate route between Jackson and the area of Victor, Idaho, goes more than 60 miles (97 kilometers) out of the way and adds “quite a bit to any commute.”

Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order declaring an emergency, which his office said would help the state access additional resources from the Federal Highway Administration to begin repair work.

In a statement, the governor said the transportation department is working on “a long-term solution to rebuild this critical roadway.”

“I recognize the significant impacts this closure has to Teton County residents, regional commuters and the local economy,” Gordon said.

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — A large chunk of a twisting mountain pass road collapsed in Wyoming, authorities said Saturday, leaving a gaping chasm in the highway and severing a well-traveled commuter link between small towns in eastern Idaho and the tourist destination of Jackson.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid02d3KkVXHJ8nz34Z7yq8PaUYwK1Po1kM2wREtPi5qbev6b9vSaVtwUZQXByfnasJarl%26id%3D100064414940924&show_text=true&width=500&preview=comet_preview" width="500" height="771" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Aerial photos and drone video of the collapse show the Teton Pass road riven with deep cracks, and a big section of the pavement disappeared altogether. Part of the guardrail dangled into the void, and orange traffic drums marked off the danger area. The road was closed at the time of the collapse.The section that failed first drew attention Thursday when a crack and drop in the road contributed to the crash of a motorcycle.Geologists and engineers who were sent to the area that day noticed “that crack and that drop started to move a lot,” said Stephanie Harsha, a spokesperson for District 3 of the Wyoming Department of Transportation. A paving crew temporarily patched the road, and traffic began moving again that night.But that was short-lived as maintenance crews were sent to respond to a mudslide a couple of miles away in the pre-dawn hours of Friday, prompting the road to be closed once again.Crews then noticed that the damage to the pavement had become more pronounced. Workers trying to figure out a detour around that section left for the night, “and by 5 a.m., this morning, WYDOT had discovered that the road had completely failed,” Harsha said Saturday.“We were very, very lucky that no crews were harmed. No equipment was damaged,” she said. “So now, engineers and geologists are doing geological assessments on the pass. They’ve been looking at it all day.”The transportation department said via social media that the road “catastrophically failed” at milepost 12.8.It was not immediately clear how long it will take to reopen the road, a vital artery for people who live across the border in Idaho and work in pricey Jackson, which is also close to the popular Grand Teton National Park.Harsha said an alternate route between Jackson and the area of Victor, Idaho, goes more than 60 miles (97 kilometers) out of the way and adds “quite a bit to any commute.”Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order declaring an emergency, which his office said would help the state access additional resources from the Federal Highway Administration to begin repair work.In a statement, the governor said the transportation department is working on “a long-term solution to rebuild this critical roadway.”“I recognize the significant impacts this closure has to Teton County residents, regional commuters and the local economy,” Gordon said.

Large portion of Wyoming's Teton Pass road collapses

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.&nbsp;

Just after&nbsp;1 p.m. June 5, an officer with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office located a gold 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the 2300 block of SW Van Buren Street. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of the City of Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, an illegal sawed off shotgun was located.

Michael F.E. Dorsch, 39, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of aggravated weapons violation by a felon and criminal use of weapons.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717618047151.png" alt="Dorsch-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Dorsch-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.&nbsp;Just after&nbsp;1 p.m. June 5, an officer with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office located a gold 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the 2300 block of SW Van Buren Street. The vehicle had been reported stolen out of the City of Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, an illegal sawed off shotgun was located.Michael F.E. Dorsch, 39, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of aggravated weapons violation by a felon and criminal use of weapons.

Kan. deputy found sawed off shotgun in reported stolen jeep 

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man is going&nbsp; to prison for a crime during a shopping trip to Walmart.

Last week, a judge sentenced Maurice Anthony Mahan, 53, of Lawrence,&nbsp; to 16 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for making a criminal threat, according&nbsp; to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.

In April a jury found him guilty.&nbsp; The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on June 21, 2023, when Mahan placed items in a suitcase while at the Walmart Superstore, located at 3300 Iowa Street and left the store without paying for the items. 

When a store employee told Mahan to stop, Mahan threatened to shoot the employee before walking away. Lawrence police officers arrested Mahan a short time later. 

 Mahan also was sentenced to 12 months of post-release supervision by Judge Amy Hanley.

Sentencing for a related misdemeanor theft conviction will be decided at a later date.

“My priority remains to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our community,” District Attorney Valdez said. “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717792094720.png" alt="Mahan-photo Douglas Co." />
 <figcaption>Mahan-photo Douglas Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man is going&nbsp; to prison for a crime during a shopping trip to Walmart.Last week, a judge sentenced Maurice Anthony Mahan, 53, of Lawrence,&nbsp; to 16 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections for making a criminal threat, according&nbsp; to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.In April a jury found him guilty.&nbsp; The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on June 21, 2023, when Mahan placed items in a suitcase while at the Walmart Superstore, located at 3300 Iowa Street and left the store without paying for the items. When a store employee told Mahan to stop, Mahan threatened to shoot the employee before walking away. Lawrence police officers arrested Mahan a short time later. Mahan also was sentenced to 12 months of post-release supervision by Judge Amy Hanley.Sentencing for a related misdemeanor theft conviction will be decided at a later date.“My priority remains to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in our community,” District Attorney Valdez said. “This kind of behavior will not be tolerated.”

 Kan. man threatened to shoot store employee during theft

OSAGE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just before 10 pm June 3, a Sheriff’s K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop at 213th and South Michigan Road in rural Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, illegal narcotics were located.

Two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility. Delwin D. Watkins, 58, of Pomona, is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, No drug tax stamp, Driving while license suspended, No proof of insurance and Illegal registration

Marvin J. McWhorter Jr., 64, of Quenemo is accused of Possession of methamphetamine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717584849938.png" alt="Watkins-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Watkins-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just before 10 pm June 3, a Sheriff’s K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop at 213th and South Michigan Road in rural Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, illegal narcotics were located.Two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility. Delwin D. Watkins, 58, of Pomona, is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;Distribution of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, No drug tax stamp, Driving while license suspended, No proof of insurance and Illegal registration<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717584830254.png" alt="McWhorter-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>McWhorter-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Marvin J. McWhorter Jr., 64, of Quenemo is accused of Possession of methamphetamine.

Kansas man accused of selling methamphetamine

RENO COUNTY —The bales are still burning after a large fire in Reno County.

Just before 9:30pm Friday,&nbsp;Reno County Fire District 7 was notified of a large hay fire at the Turon Feedlot, according to Reno County Emergency Management. Crews found 2100 hay bales on fire.

Mutual aid was requested from Fire Districts 4 and 6.

Crews worked with feedlot staff to move unburned hay. The fire was contained to the hay pile. Feedlot staff continues monitoring the fire. The hay pile will be burning for several days.&nbsp; &nbsp;Authorities have not released details on what caused the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717821167585.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Photos Reno County Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Photos Reno County Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —The bales are still burning after a large fire in Reno County.Just before 9:30pm Friday,&nbsp;Reno County Fire District 7 was notified of a large hay fire at the Turon Feedlot, according to Reno County Emergency Management. Crews found 2100 hay bales on fire.Mutual aid was requested from Fire Districts 4 and 6.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717821181994.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Crews worked with feedlot staff to move unburned hay. The fire was contained to the hay pile. Feedlot staff continues monitoring the fire. The hay pile will be burning for several days.&nbsp; &nbsp;Authorities have not released details on what caused the fire.

2,100 hay bales lost in Kansas feedlot fire will burn for days

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man is going back to prison for a gun crime in Kansas.

&nbsp;Last week, Howard C. Levite Jr., 32, of Leavenworth, was sentenced to 40 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections in the non-fatal shooting of a man at a Lawrence fast food restaurant in 2019, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.

“Gun violence claims more than 120 lives in our country each day,” District Attorney Valdez said. “My office is committed to helping to ensure that no one in our community lives in fear of gun violence.”

Judge Sally Pokorny also sentenced Levite, who pleaded no contest to attempted aggravated battery in May 2024, to 24 months post-release supervision. Levite is to serve the sentence consecutively to an unrelated federal conviction.

Charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on October 26, 2019, when Levite shot a then 50-year-old man following an altercation in the parking lot of McDonald’s, 1309 W. 6th St., Lawrence.

Levite has previous convictions for robbery and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717792659340.png" alt="Levite photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Levite photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —A Kansas man is going back to prison for a gun crime in Kansas.&nbsp;Last week, Howard C. Levite Jr., 32, of Leavenworth, was sentenced to 40 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections in the non-fatal shooting of a man at a Lawrence fast food restaurant in 2019, according to&nbsp;Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.“Gun violence claims more than 120 lives in our country each day,” District Attorney Valdez said. “My office is committed to helping to ensure that no one in our community lives in fear of gun violence.”Judge Sally Pokorny also sentenced Levite, who pleaded no contest to attempted aggravated battery in May 2024, to 24 months post-release supervision. Levite is to serve the sentence consecutively to an unrelated federal conviction.Charges stemmed from an incident that occurred on October 26, 2019, when Levite shot a then 50-year-old man following an altercation in the parking lot of McDonald’s, 1309 W. 6th St., Lawrence.Levite has previous convictions for robbery and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas felon shot man in parking lot of fast-food restaurant

JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a Kansas house fire.

Just after 10:30a.m. Friday crews from Olathe and Overland Park responded to a fire at a home&nbsp;near 167th Street and Brougham Drive, according to a social media report from Olathe Fire.

A 911 caller reported “fire on the back of house.” The damage to the home is extensive. There were no injuries reported. The&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/RedCross?src=hashtag_click">RedCross</a>&nbsp;is assisting family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717786951685.png" alt="Photo Olathe Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo Olathe Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a Kansas house fire.Just after 10:30a.m. Friday crews from Olathe and Overland Park responded to a fire at a home&nbsp;near 167th Street and Brougham Drive, according to a social media report from Olathe Fire.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717786981487.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> A 911 caller reported “fire on the back of house.” The damage to the home is extensive. There were no injuries reported. The&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/RedCross?src=hashtag_click">RedCross</a>&nbsp;is assisting family.

Extensive damage after fire at Kansas home

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel said Saturday it rescued four hostages who were kidnapped in a Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, in the largest such hostage recovery operation since the war with Hamas began in Gaza.

The army said it rescued Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40, in a complex special daytime operation in Nuseirat. The hostages were rescued in two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat, it said.

Hamas kidnapped some 250 hostages during its attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, which triggered the Israel-Hamas war. About half were released in a weeklong cease-fire in November. Israel says more than 130 hostages remain, with about a quarter of those believed dead, and divisions are deepening in the country over the best way to bring them home.

The rescue comes as international pressure mounts on Israel to limit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-05-26-2024-eb25eb70d2c7b9e6bcd0497060eccbca">civilian bloodshed</a>&nbsp;in its war in Gaza, which reached its eighth month on Friday. Seeking a breakthrough in the apparently stalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-netanyahu-biden-politics-ca984e5fc518f4f5f0fbd041b5c39ddb">cease-fire negotiations</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hamas, U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/antony-blinken">Secretary of State Antony Blinken</a>&nbsp;will return to the Middle East next week.

Israel’s offensive has killed at least 36,000 Palestinians, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza’s Health Ministry</a>, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures.

Saturday’s operation is the largest recovery of alive hostages since the war erupted, bringing the total of rescued captives to seven.

Two men were rescued in February when troops stormed a heavily guarded apartment in a densely packed town and another hostage, a woman, was rescued in the aftermath of October's attack. Israeli troops have so far recovered at least 16 bodies of hostages from Gaza, according to the government.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing growing pressure to end the fighting in Gaza, with many Israelis urging him to embrace a deal announced last month by U.S. President Joe Biden, but far-right allies threatening to collapse his government if he does.

One of those rescued on Saturday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israeli-hostages-captive-gaza-6-months-war-hamas-d601ff02e41abf1f4f026f21f0db8755">Argamani,</a>&nbsp;has been one of the most widely recognized hostages since she was abducted from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-music-festival-6a55aae2375944f10ecc4c52d05f2ffe">music festival</a>.

The video of her abduction was among the first to surface, images of her horrified face widely shared — Argamani detained between two men on a motorcycle, one arm outstretched and the other held down as she screams “Don’t kill me!”

Her mother, Liora, has stage four brain cancer and in April released a video pleading to see her daughter before she dies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717846521653.png" alt="Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40, photo IDF" />
 <figcaption>Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40, photo IDF</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel said Saturday it rescued four hostages who were kidnapped in a Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, in the largest such hostage recovery operation since the war with Hamas began in Gaza.The army said it rescued Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40, in a complex special daytime operation in Nuseirat. The hostages were rescued in two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat, it said.Hamas kidnapped some 250 hostages during its attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, which triggered the Israel-Hamas war. About half were released in a weeklong cease-fire in November. Israel says more than 130 hostages remain, with about a quarter of those believed dead, and divisions are deepening in the country over the best way to bring them home.The rescue comes as international pressure mounts on Israel to limit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-05-26-2024-eb25eb70d2c7b9e6bcd0497060eccbca">civilian bloodshed</a>&nbsp;in its war in Gaza, which reached its eighth month on Friday. Seeking a breakthrough in the apparently stalled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-netanyahu-biden-politics-ca984e5fc518f4f5f0fbd041b5c39ddb">cease-fire negotiations</a>&nbsp;between Israel and Hamas, U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/antony-blinken">Secretary of State Antony Blinken</a>&nbsp;will return to the Middle East next week.Israel’s offensive has killed at least 36,000 Palestinians, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-ministry-health-death-toll-59470820308b31f1faf73c703400b033">Gaza’s Health Ministry</a>, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures.Saturday’s operation is the largest recovery of alive hostages since the war erupted, bringing the total of rescued captives to seven.Two men were rescued in February when troops stormed a heavily guarded apartment in a densely packed town and another hostage, a woman, was rescued in the aftermath of October's attack. Israeli troops have so far recovered at least 16 bodies of hostages from Gaza, according to the government.Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing growing pressure to end the fighting in Gaza, with many Israelis urging him to embrace a deal announced last month by U.S. President Joe Biden, but far-right allies threatening to collapse his government if he does.One of those rescued on Saturday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israeli-hostages-captive-gaza-6-months-war-hamas-d601ff02e41abf1f4f026f21f0db8755">Argamani,</a>&nbsp;has been one of the most widely recognized hostages since she was abducted from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-hamas-music-festival-6a55aae2375944f10ecc4c52d05f2ffe">music festival</a>.The video of her abduction was among the first to surface, images of her horrified face widely shared — Argamani detained between two men on a motorcycle, one arm outstretched and the other held down as she screams “Don’t kill me!”Her mother, Liora, has stage four brain cancer and in April released a video pleading to see her daughter before she dies.

Israel rescues 4 hostages in Gaza after 245 days in captivity

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack on a Kansas teen, have made two arrests and continue to search for another suspect.

Just after noon May 26, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a physical fight. Police do not believe the attack was a random incident.

Immediately following the incident, investigators with the WPD Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for three suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested two 18-year-old suspects. According to Sedgwick County booking records, Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins and Tayronnia Jontashia West were jailed in connection with the crime. On Friday, West was charged with Aggravated Battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; Hollins, 18, met the requirement of bond and is scheduled for court on June 20.

Investigators are still attempting to locate a third suspect, a 16-year-old black female of Topeka.

If you have information related to this case, please call investigators at 316-268-4407 or make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717690818288.png" alt="West-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>West-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a violent attack on a Kansas teen, have made two arrests and continue to search for another suspect.Just after noon May 26, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a physical fight. Police do not believe the attack was a random incident.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717690911383.png" alt="Hollins-Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hollins-Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Immediately following the incident, investigators with the WPD Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for three suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested two 18-year-old suspects. According to Sedgwick County booking records, Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins and Tayronnia Jontashia West were jailed in connection with the crime. On Friday, West was charged with Aggravated Battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; Hollins, 18, met the requirement of bond and is scheduled for court on June 20.Investigators are still attempting to locate a third suspect, a 16-year-old black female of Topeka.If you have information related to this case, please call investigators at 316-268-4407 or make an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Search continues for suspect in acid attack on Kan. teen

KANSAS CITY— Police investigating a deadly 4-vehicle crash have identified the victim as 54-year-old Troy Chatman, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just after 7:30p.m. June 1, a Chevrolet Equinox was eastbound on Interstate 70 at a high rate of speed. As the Chevy approached Manchester, the vehicle struck a Toyota Camry, a Ford Expedition driven by Chatman and a Ford F150 that were all traveling eastbound, according to&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

The impact caused the Expedition to go into a broad slide and overturn. The Expedition rolled over the top of the Toyota and down an embankment, ejecting Chatman, who was the sole occupant out of the SUV onto the shoulder of the highway.

EMS transported the driver of the Chevy Equinox to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Toyota and the driver and front seat passenger of the F150 were all uninjured in the collision. 

An investigation, to include suspected impairment, is ongoing. 

All lanes of eastbound I-70 were closed to traffic at Manchester for approximately three hours. This is fatality #45 compared to #32 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez.

KANSAS CITY— Police investigating a deadly 4-vehicle crash have identified the victim as 54-year-old Troy Chatman, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Just after 7:30p.m. June 1, a Chevrolet Equinox was eastbound on Interstate 70 at a high rate of speed. As the Chevy approached Manchester, the vehicle struck a Toyota Camry, a Ford Expedition driven by Chatman and a Ford F150 that were all traveling eastbound, according to&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.The impact caused the Expedition to go into a broad slide and overturn. The Expedition rolled over the top of the Toyota and down an embankment, ejecting Chatman, who was the sole occupant out of the SUV onto the shoulder of the highway.He pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported the driver of the Chevy Equinox to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Toyota and the driver and front seat passenger of the F150 were all uninjured in the collision. An investigation, to include suspected impairment, is ongoing. All lanes of eastbound I-70 were closed to traffic at Manchester for approximately three hours. This is fatality #45 compared to #32 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez.

Police ID man who died in 4-vehicle I-70 crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military-built pier designed to carry badly needed aid into Gaza by boat has been reconnected to the beach in the besieged territory after a section broke apart in storms and rough seas, and food and other supplies will begin to flow soon, U.S. Central Command announced Friday.

The section that connects to the beach in Gaza, the causeway, was rebuilt nearly two weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-humanitarian-aid-us-pier-77d0cf1c1bd420042dc4cb6f4ad76ccb">heavy storms damaged it</a>&nbsp;and abruptly halted what had already been a troubled delivery route.

“On Friday in Gaza, U.S. forces successfully attached the temporary pier to the Gaza beach,” Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, told reporters by phone Friday. “We expect to resume delivery of humanitarian assistance from the sea in the coming days.”

Cooper said operations at the reconnected pier will be ramped up soon with a goal to get 1 million pounds (450,000 kilograms) of food and other supplies moving through the pier into Gaza every two days.

The pier was only operational for a week before a storm broke it apart, and had initially struggled to reach delivery goals. Weather was a factor, and early efforts to get aid from the pier into Gaza were disrupted as civilians desperate for food stormed the trucks that aid agencies were using to transport the food to the warehouses for distribution.

However before it broke apart the pier had been gradually increasing aid movement each day. Cooper said Friday that the lessons learned from that initial week of operations made him confident higher levels of aid throughout could be attained now.

A large section of the causeway broke apart May 25 as heavy winds and high seas hit the area, and four Army vessels operating there went aground, injuring three service members, including one who remains in critical condition. The damage was the latest stumbling block in what has been a persistent struggle to get food to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hunger-un-07afb7fe4a1654f54b81b944a0dab535">starving Palestinians</a>&nbsp;during the nearly 8-month-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.

The maritime route for a limited time had been an additional way to help get more aid into Gaza because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-05-13-2024-6fae60f33d3664c282d5f535beb13c98">the Israeli offensive in the southern city of Rafah</a>&nbsp;has made it difficult, if not impossible at times, to get anything through land routes that are far more productive. Israel's Rafah military operations and military strikes in northern Gaza had also temporarily halted U.S. airdrops of food.

Cooper said Friday the U.S. also expects to resume those airdrops in the coming days.

President Joe Biden's administration has said from the start that the pier wasn’t meant to be a total solution and that any amount of aid helps.

After the May 25 storm damage to the causeway, large sections were disconnected and moved to the Israeli port for repairs. In addition, two of the U.S. Army boats that went aground during the same bad weather near Ashkelon in Israel have been freed.

Two other Army boats two beached onto the Gaza shoreline took on a lot of water and sand and the Israeli Navy has been helping with the repairs, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.

Biden, a Democrat, announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-07-24-5657eedc005040694a9ab935ce3e39e5">his plan for the U.S. military to build a pier</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-union-biden-gaza-ukraine-israel-1a42ff9d4ef3e0f2753e43ac8d39fc18">his State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;in early March, and the military said it would take about 60 days to get it installed and operational. The initial cost was estimated at $320 million, but Singh said earlier this week that the price had dropped to $230 million, due to contributions from Britain and because the cost of contracting trucks and other equipment was less than expected.

It took a bit longer than the planned two months for installation, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">the first trucks carrying aid</a>&nbsp;for the Gaza Strip rolling down the pier on May 17. Just a day later, crowds overran a convoy of trucks as they headed into Gaza, stripping the cargo from 11 of the 16 vehicles before they reached a U.N. warehouse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717793166176.png" alt="A soldier assigned to the Army’s 86th Engineer Dive Detachment, 20th Engineer Brigade, welds the bow ramp of a landing craft utility vessel as part of repair operations for the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore pier at the Port of Ashdod, Israel, May 14, 2024." />
 <figcaption>A soldier assigned to the Army’s 86th Engineer Dive Detachment, 20th Engineer Brigade, welds the bow ramp of a landing craft utility vessel as part of repair operations for the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore pier at the Port of Ashdod, Israel, May 14, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military-built pier designed to carry badly needed aid into Gaza by boat has been reconnected to the beach in the besieged territory after a section broke apart in storms and rough seas, and food and other supplies will begin to flow soon, U.S. Central Command announced Friday.The section that connects to the beach in Gaza, the causeway, was rebuilt nearly two weeks after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-humanitarian-aid-us-pier-77d0cf1c1bd420042dc4cb6f4ad76ccb">heavy storms damaged it</a>&nbsp;and abruptly halted what had already been a troubled delivery route.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717793045172.png" alt="U.S. soldiers, sailors and Israeli Defense Forces emplace the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore pier on the Gaza coast, May 16- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>U.S. soldiers, sailors and Israeli Defense Forces emplace the Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore pier on the Gaza coast, May 16- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“On Friday in Gaza, U.S. forces successfully attached the temporary pier to the Gaza beach,” Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, told reporters by phone Friday. “We expect to resume delivery of humanitarian assistance from the sea in the coming days.”Cooper said operations at the reconnected pier will be ramped up soon with a goal to get 1 million pounds (450,000 kilograms) of food and other supplies moving through the pier into Gaza every two days.The pier was only operational for a week before a storm broke it apart, and had initially struggled to reach delivery goals. Weather was a factor, and early efforts to get aid from the pier into Gaza were disrupted as civilians desperate for food stormed the trucks that aid agencies were using to transport the food to the warehouses for distribution.However before it broke apart the pier had been gradually increasing aid movement each day. Cooper said Friday that the lessons learned from that initial week of operations made him confident higher levels of aid throughout could be attained now.A large section of the causeway broke apart May 25 as heavy winds and high seas hit the area, and four Army vessels operating there went aground, injuring three service members, including one who remains in critical condition. The damage was the latest stumbling block in what has been a persistent struggle to get food to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-hunger-un-07afb7fe4a1654f54b81b944a0dab535">starving Palestinians</a>&nbsp;during the nearly 8-month-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.The maritime route for a limited time had been an additional way to help get more aid into Gaza because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-05-13-2024-6fae60f33d3664c282d5f535beb13c98">the Israeli offensive in the southern city of Rafah</a>&nbsp;has made it difficult, if not impossible at times, to get anything through land routes that are far more productive. Israel's Rafah military operations and military strikes in northern Gaza had also temporarily halted U.S. airdrops of food.Cooper said Friday the U.S. also expects to resume those airdrops in the coming days.President Joe Biden's administration has said from the start that the pier wasn’t meant to be a total solution and that any amount of aid helps.After the May 25 storm damage to the causeway, large sections were disconnected and moved to the Israeli port for repairs. In addition, two of the U.S. Army boats that went aground during the same bad weather near Ashkelon in Israel have been freed.Two other Army boats two beached onto the Gaza shoreline took on a lot of water and sand and the Israeli Navy has been helping with the repairs, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said.Biden, a Democrat, announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-07-24-5657eedc005040694a9ab935ce3e39e5">his plan for the U.S. military to build a pier</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-union-biden-gaza-ukraine-israel-1a42ff9d4ef3e0f2753e43ac8d39fc18">his State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;in early March, and the military said it would take about 60 days to get it installed and operational. The initial cost was estimated at $320 million, but Singh said earlier this week that the price had dropped to $230 million, due to contributions from Britain and because the cost of contracting trucks and other equipment was less than expected.It took a bit longer than the planned two months for installation, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-us-pier-05-17-2024-336c810724d107a41bb6628c721aea7c">the first trucks carrying aid</a>&nbsp;for the Gaza Strip rolling down the pier on May 17. Just a day later, crowds overran a convoy of trucks as they headed into Gaza, stripping the cargo from 11 of the 16 vehicles before they reached a U.N. warehouse.

US military’s Gaza pier has been repaired, aid deliveries to resume soon

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas judge sentenced a man who admitted to stabbing a woman to death and stuffing her body into a trash can in 2018.

On May 29, a judge sentenced 53-year-old Ronald Lee Kidwell to 18-years in prison for the death of 43-year-old MeShon Cooper in July 2018, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's Office.

Earlier this year, Kidwell pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the case.&nbsp;

Kidwell is white and Cooper was black. At the time of the killing,&nbsp;the FBI said it was investigating the case as a possible hate crime.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kidwell was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/man-ordered-to-trial-in-2018-death-of-woman-in-shawnee/26415099" target="_blank">initially ordered</a>&nbsp;to stand trial for intentional second-degree murder in 2019, five years before his eventual guilty plea.

Cooper was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/police-asking-for-help-to-find-missing-woman-last-seen-friday-in-joco/22084112" target="_blank">reported missing</a>&nbsp;on July 6, 2018. The day she went missing, police located her vehicle with the keys inside near East Seventh Street and Myrtle Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.

Three days later, her body was found after investigators traced Cooper's phone to Kidwell's home in Shawnee, Kansas.

According to a police affidavit, Kidwell told police Cooper attacked him at his home and threatened to tell everyone that he is HIV positive. He said he “flipped out” when Cooper hit him in the hand with a knife, which he grabbed before stabbing and killing her.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717249683874.png" alt="Kidwell-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Kidwell-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas judge sentenced a man who admitted to stabbing a woman to death and stuffing her body into a trash can in 2018.On May 29, a judge sentenced 53-year-old Ronald Lee Kidwell to 18-years in prison for the death of 43-year-old MeShon Cooper in July 2018, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's Office.Earlier this year, Kidwell pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the case.&nbsp;Kidwell is white and Cooper was black. At the time of the killing,&nbsp;the FBI said it was investigating the case as a possible hate crime.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kidwell was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/man-ordered-to-trial-in-2018-death-of-woman-in-shawnee/26415099" target="_blank">initially ordered</a>&nbsp;to stand trial for intentional second-degree murder in 2019, five years before his eventual guilty plea.Cooper was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/police-asking-for-help-to-find-missing-woman-last-seen-friday-in-joco/22084112" target="_blank">reported missing</a>&nbsp;on July 6, 2018. The day she went missing, police located her vehicle with the keys inside near East Seventh Street and Myrtle Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri.Three days later, her body was found after investigators traced Cooper's phone to Kidwell's home in Shawnee, Kansas.According to a police affidavit, Kidwell told police Cooper attacked him at his home and threatened to tell everyone that he is HIV positive. He said he “flipped out” when Cooper hit him in the hand with a knife, which he grabbed before stabbing and killing her.-The Associated Press contributed to this report

Prison: Woman's body found in trash can at Kansas home

JACKSON COUNTY —A long-time cafe in northeast Kansas was destroyed in a fire on Friday.

Just after 4:30 a.m. Friday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls reporting a fire at the Whiting Café, 308 Whiting Avenue in the small rural Kansas community of Whiting, according to Sheriff&nbsp; Tim Morse.

Fire departments from Whiting, Netawaka, Holton and Horton responded along with Jackson County EMS.&nbsp; Fire crews battled the blaze bringing the fire under control just before 7:30a.m.&nbsp; The Whiting Café has been in business nearly 40 years, and the establishment appeared to be a complete loss. 

Friday morning the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was on scene and was investigating the origin of the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717782633992.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —A long-time cafe in northeast Kansas was destroyed in a fire on Friday.Just after 4:30 a.m. Friday, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls reporting a fire at the Whiting Café, 308 Whiting Avenue in the small rural Kansas community of Whiting, according to Sheriff&nbsp; Tim Morse.Fire departments from Whiting, Netawaka, Holton and Horton responded along with Jackson County EMS.&nbsp; Fire crews battled the blaze bringing the fire under control just before 7:30a.m.&nbsp; The Whiting Café has been in business nearly 40 years, and the establishment appeared to be a complete loss. Friday morning the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office was on scene and was investigating the origin of the fire.

Popular, long-time Kansas cafe destroyed by fire

ARVADA, Colo. —Four people were injured in a small plane crash into the front yard of a home near Denver.

&nbsp;The single-engine Beechcraft V35A Bonanza took off from Centennial Airport, according to Cassie Pearce, spokesperson for Jefferson County public affairs. The aircraft went down just after 9:30 a.m.&nbsp;in the area of Oberon and Carr Streets.

EMS transported two adults and two juveniles to local hospitals.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717787992525.jpeg" alt="Photo Arvada Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Arvada Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ARVADA, Colo. —Four people were injured in a small plane crash into the front yard of a home near Denver.&nbsp;The single-engine Beechcraft V35A Bonanza took off from Centennial Airport, according to Cassie Pearce, spokesperson for Jefferson County public affairs. The aircraft went down just after 9:30 a.m.&nbsp;in the area of Oberon and Carr Streets.EMS transported two adults and two juveniles to local hospitals.The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

4 injured after small plane crash into front yard of Colo. home

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs defensive lineman B.J. Thompson remained hospitalized but was awake and responsive on Friday, one day after the second-year pro experienced a seizure during a team meeting and went into cardiac arrest at the Kansas City practice facility.

Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said the 25-year-old Thompson was placed on a ventilator and heavily sedated Thursday night at the University of Kansas Health System. He was brought out of sedation on Friday and his prognosis is good.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717765113883.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs' B.J. Thompson in an AP file photo. Thompson was taken to a hospital in stable condition Thursday after experiencing a cardiac event during a team meeting. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Edenhack)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs' B.J. Thompson in an AP file photo. Thompson was taken to a hospital in stable condition Thursday after experiencing a cardiac event during a team meeting. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Edenhack)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs defensive lineman B.J. Thompson remained hospitalized but was awake and responsive on Friday, one day after the second-year pro experienced a seizure during a team meeting and went into cardiac arrest at the Kansas City practice facility.Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder said the 25-year-old Thompson was placed on a ventilator and heavily sedated Thursday night at the University of Kansas Health System. He was brought out of sedation on Friday and his prognosis is good.“He's alert. He's a wake. He's coming through quite well,” Burkholder said. “We don't have a diagnosis and in medicine sometimes you don't have that. But he's awake and alert and he's headed in the right direction.”Thompson, a fifth-round draft pick out of Stephen F. Austin last year, was in the meeting room before the Chiefs were scheduled to have their final voluntary workout of the offseason. He began to have a seizure and kicker Harrison Butker immediately ran to the trainer's room and summoned assistant trainers Julie Frymyer and David Glover.They were joined by Burkholder in helping Thompson as he went into cardiac arrest. Dr. Jean-Philippe Darche soon arrived from the Kansas Health Sports Medicine and Performance Center, which adjoins the practice facility.“Our team of that group of people provided CPR for him,” Burkholder said. “He had one AED shock and came back. He was in cardiac arrest for less than a minute, a minute and a half. Our players, security staff, coaching staff — they were phenomenal in handling the crisis. We then turned him over to the Kansas City (Missouri) Fire Department.”The NFL mandates that teams practice emergency action plans for a variety of situations, including cardiac crises like the one that Thompson experienced. The Chiefs had just completed their most recent practice session on Monday.“I jumped in there from my office,” coach Andy Reid said. “I'm not much help; they had it under control. But that's tough. That's a tough situation. We've been through a couple of those in my time. It's never fun. Thank goodness, though, that if it had to happen, no better place than right here, where you had the support unit that knows what to do.”The Chiefs gave players the rest of Thursday off, pushing the final organized team activity to Friday. They have their mandatory three-day minicamp next week before breaking until training camp in late July in St. Joseph, Missouri.“I think it was good to get them out of here yesterday,” Reid said, “and we've got support people here that can help them if they needed it for what they saw. That's not a real pleasant thing to see. They came back today with good energy, but we kept them abreast all the way through, right to the end of practice there.”Thompson played in only one game during his rookie season, the regular-season finale against the Chargers, when Kansas City already had clinched its playoff spot and the outcome was meaningless. Thompson had two tackles in that game.“I'm just glad to see he's doing good,” said Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis, who is close to Thompson from playing at the same position. “You never want that for anyone and it's hard, but I will say this, we're blessed to have such great teammates and trainers to help him, and were able and ready for that situation.”