WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House voted Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-impeachment-mayorkas-border-congress-homeland-security-33c952f97b12ceffacb20ceaaa531adf">Alejandro Mayorkas</a>, with the Republican majority determined to punish the Biden administration over its handling of the U.S-Mexico border after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-republicans-impeach-homeland-security-secretary-mayorkas-8209736501ed4fe12e4b164443d6a8a9">failing last week</a>&nbsp;in a politically embarrassing setback.

The evening roll call proved tight, with Speaker Mike Johnson’s threadbare GOP majority unable to handle many defectors or absences in the face of staunch Democratic opposition to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mayorkas-border-impeachment-immigration-d5f6a7d91ea725768e27b9b2bc5391a4">impeaching Mayorkas</a>, the first Cabinet secretary facing charges in nearly 150 years.

In a historic rebuke, the House impeached Mayorkas 214-213. With the return of Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/steve-scalise">Steve Scalise</a>&nbsp;to bolster the GOP's numbers after being away from Washington for cancer care and a Northeastern storm impacting some others, Republicans recouped — despite dissent from their own ranks.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;called it a "blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games.”

The charges against Mayorkas next go to the Senate for a trial, but neither Democratic nor Republican senators have shown interest in the matter and it may be indefinitely shelved to a committee.

In a frantic scene of vote-tallying on the House floor, the GOP effort to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the southern border took on an air of political desperation as Republicans struggle to make good on their priorities.

Mayorkas faced two articles of impeachment filed by the Homeland Security Committee arguing that he “willfully and systematically” refused to enforce existing immigration laws and that he breached the public trust by lying to Congress and saying the border was secure.

But critics of the impeachment effort said the charges against Mayorkas amount to a policy dispute over Biden's border policy, hardly rising to the Constitution's bar of high crimes and misdemeanors.

The House had initially launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden over his son’s business dealings, but instead turned its attention to Mayorkas after Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an ally of former President Donald Trump, pushed the debate forward following the panel’s months-long investigation.

Greene, who will serve as an impeachment manager in a potential Senate trial, hugged Scalise afterward and posed for photos with other lawmakers. She said senators “better pay attention to the American people and how they feel and then they need to read our articles of impeachment.”

Border security has shot to the top of campaign issues, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump, the Republican front-runner</a>&nbsp;for the presidential nomination, insisting he will launch “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history” if he retakes the White House.

Various House Republicans have prepared legislation to begin deporting migrants who were temporarily allowed into the U.S. under the Biden administration’s policies, many as they await adjudication of asylum claims.

“We have no choice,” Trump said in stark language at a weekend rally in South Carolina.

At the same time, Johnson rejected a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">bipartisan Senate border security package</a>&nbsp;but has been unable to advance Republicans’ own proposal, which is a nonstarter in the Senate.

Three Republican representatives broke who ranks last week over the Mayorkas impeachment — Ken Buck of Colorado, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Tom McClintock of California — all did so again Tuesday. With a 219-212 majority, Johnson had few votes to spare.

Several leading conservative scholars along with former Homeland Secretary secretaries from both Republican and Democratic administrations have dismissed the Mayorkas impeachment as unwarranted or a waste of time.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said what the Republicans “have succeeded in doing is degrading and tarnishing the constitutional meaning of impeachment.”

Mayorkas is not the only Biden administration official the House Republicans want to impeach. They have filed legislation to impeach a long list including Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

Never before has a sitting Cabinet secretary been impeached, and it was nearly 150 years ago that the House voted to impeach President Ulysses S. Grant’s secretary of war, William Belknap, over a kickback scheme in government contracts. He resigned before the vote.

Mayorkas, who did not appear to testify before the impeachment proceedings, put the border crisis squarely on Congress for failing to update immigration laws during a time of global migration.

“There is no question that we have a challenge, a crisis at the border,” Mayorkas said over the weekend on NBC. “And there is no question that Congress needs to fix it.”

Johnson and the Republicans have pushed back, arguing that the Biden administration could take executive actions, as Trump did, to stop the number of crossings — though the courts have questioned and turned back some of those efforts.

“We always explore what options are available to us that are permissible under the law,” Mayorkas said.

Last week's failed vote to impeach Mayorkas — a surprise outcome rarely seen on such a high-profile issue — was a stunning display in the chamber that has been churning through months of GOP chaos since the ouster of the previous House speaker.

At the time, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who had been hospitalized for emergency abdominal surgery, made a surprise arrival, wheeled into the chamber in scrubs and socks to vote against it — leaving the vote tied and leading to its failure.

“Obviously, you feel good when you can make a difference,” said Green, describing his painstaking route from hospital bed to the House floor. “All I did was what I was elected to do, and that was to cast my vote on the issues of our time, using the best judgment available to me.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707870653545.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the final vote count 214-213-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the final vote count 214-213-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House voted Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-impeachment-mayorkas-border-congress-homeland-security-33c952f97b12ceffacb20ceaaa531adf">Alejandro Mayorkas</a>, with the Republican majority determined to punish the Biden administration over its handling of the U.S-Mexico border after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-republicans-impeach-homeland-security-secretary-mayorkas-8209736501ed4fe12e4b164443d6a8a9">failing last week</a>&nbsp;in a politically embarrassing setback.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement on the House voting to impeach Secretary Mayorkas: <a href="https://t.co/CwNdm4XQkU">pic.twitter.com/CwNdm4XQkU</a>&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1757561249183735969?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are living in unprecedented times; our sovereignty is at stake, and our security is compromised by the Biden Admin&#39;s historic border crisis. The House has taken the appropriate steps to hold DHS accountable for their failure to do their most basic job: secure our homeland. By…&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1757561474552152482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The evening roll call proved tight, with Speaker Mike Johnson’s threadbare GOP majority unable to handle many defectors or absences in the face of staunch Democratic opposition to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mayorkas-border-impeachment-immigration-d5f6a7d91ea725768e27b9b2bc5391a4">impeaching Mayorkas</a>, the first Cabinet secretary facing charges in nearly 150 years.In a historic rebuke, the House impeached Mayorkas 214-213. With the return of Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/steve-scalise">Steve Scalise</a>&nbsp;to bolster the GOP's numbers after being away from Washington for cancer care and a Northeastern storm impacting some others, Republicans recouped — despite dissent from their own ranks.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;called it a "blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games.”The charges against Mayorkas next go to the Senate for a trial, but neither Democratic nor Republican senators have shown interest in the matter and it may be indefinitely shelved to a committee.In a frantic scene of vote-tallying on the House floor, the GOP effort to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the southern border took on an air of political desperation as Republicans struggle to make good on their priorities.Mayorkas faced two articles of impeachment filed by the Homeland Security Committee arguing that he “willfully and systematically” refused to enforce existing immigration laws and that he breached the public trust by lying to Congress and saying the border was secure.But critics of the impeachment effort said the charges against Mayorkas amount to a policy dispute over Biden's border policy, hardly rising to the Constitution's bar of high crimes and misdemeanors.The House had initially launched an impeachment inquiry into Biden over his son’s business dealings, but instead turned its attention to Mayorkas after Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, an ally of former President Donald Trump, pushed the debate forward following the panel’s months-long investigation.Greene, who will serve as an impeachment manager in a potential Senate trial, hugged Scalise afterward and posed for photos with other lawmakers. She said senators “better pay attention to the American people and how they feel and then they need to read our articles of impeachment.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690419772316.png" alt="File Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Judiciary Committee.&nbsp; He becomes the first cabinet secretary impeached since 1876-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies before the House Judiciary Committee.&nbsp; He becomes the first cabinet secretary impeached since 1876-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Border security has shot to the top of campaign issues, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump, the Republican front-runner</a>&nbsp;for the presidential nomination, insisting he will launch “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history” if he retakes the White House.Various House Republicans have prepared legislation to begin deporting migrants who were temporarily allowed into the U.S. under the Biden administration’s policies, many as they await adjudication of asylum claims.“We have no choice,” Trump said in stark language at a weekend rally in South Carolina.At the same time, Johnson rejected a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">bipartisan Senate border security package</a>&nbsp;but has been unable to advance Republicans’ own proposal, which is a nonstarter in the Senate.Three Republican representatives broke who ranks last week over the Mayorkas impeachment — Ken Buck of Colorado, Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin and Tom McClintock of California — all did so again Tuesday. With a 219-212 majority, Johnson had few votes to spare.Several leading conservative scholars along with former Homeland Secretary secretaries from both Republican and Democratic administrations have dismissed the Mayorkas impeachment as unwarranted or a waste of time.Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland said what the Republicans “have succeeded in doing is degrading and tarnishing the constitutional meaning of impeachment.”Mayorkas is not the only Biden administration official the House Republicans want to impeach. They have filed legislation to impeach a long list including Vice President Kamala Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.Never before has a sitting Cabinet secretary been impeached, and it was nearly 150 years ago that the House voted to impeach President Ulysses S. Grant’s secretary of war, William Belknap, over a kickback scheme in government contracts. He resigned before the vote.Mayorkas, who did not appear to testify before the impeachment proceedings, put the border crisis squarely on Congress for failing to update immigration laws during a time of global migration.“There is no question that we have a challenge, a crisis at the border,” Mayorkas said over the weekend on NBC. “And there is no question that Congress needs to fix it.”Johnson and the Republicans have pushed back, arguing that the Biden administration could take executive actions, as Trump did, to stop the number of crossings — though the courts have questioned and turned back some of those efforts.“We always explore what options are available to us that are permissible under the law,” Mayorkas said.Last week's failed vote to impeach Mayorkas — a surprise outcome rarely seen on such a high-profile issue — was a stunning display in the chamber that has been churning through months of GOP chaos since the ouster of the previous House speaker.At the time, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, who had been hospitalized for emergency abdominal surgery, made a surprise arrival, wheeled into the chamber in scrubs and socks to vote against it — leaving the vote tied and leading to its failure.“Obviously, you feel good when you can make a difference,” said Green, describing his painstaking route from hospital bed to the House floor. “All I did was what I was elected to do, and that was to cast my vote on the issues of our time, using the best judgment available to me.”

Historic rebuke: House impeaches DHS Secretary by a single vote

OLNEY, England (AP) — Women in matching checkered aprons, headscarves and a rainbow of running shoes limbered up Tuesday as they prepared for the centuries-old pancake race in this English country town.

They rolled their shoulders in unison, raised up on their toes and did squats before stepping to the starting line — frying pans in hand.

At the word “Go” they sprinted through the streets, trying not to drop their pancakes as they roughly traced the path taken by a harried housewife in 1445, who legend has it heard the church bells signaling the Shrove Tuesday service and raced off with her skillet.

“It’s a horrible distance,” said Kaisa Larkas, 44, a mother of four who legged it past Eloise Kramer to capture the Olney title with a time of 63.37 seconds. “You just have to go flat out and then hope that you’re not gonna fall over. … But it’s good fun.”

The tradition has been repeated over the centuries — not only in Olney but across England and even in the United States, where the Kansas town of Liberal copied the idea and has been trying to outrun their friendly British rivals for 75 years.

This year the U.S. leg won, with Pamela Bolivar, a 19-year-old college student and nursing assistant, crossing the line in a time of 63.03 seconds. It was one of the closest races ever.

The race is held the day before the start of Lent, the Christian period of repentance and sacrifice before Easter. Celebrated as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday in other parts of the world, the name Shrove Tuesday derives from the English word meaning to seek forgiveness or be granted absolution.

If a secret recipe behind winning the race exists, it probably would call for a pinch of skill, a dash of athleticism and an extra scoop of whimsy. The competition falls somewhere between the Great British Bake Off and zany local pursuits such as the rough-and-tumble&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-gloucester-cheese-rolling-extreme-sport-435d6cc4863a48fc9fba417210aac606">cheese wheel chase</a>&nbsp;down Cooper’s Hill.

Runners must flip the pancake at the start and finish.

The 415-yard (380-meter) sprint itself may be a form of penance ahead of Lent.

Two Kansas sisters who competed in Liberal since they were children traveled to Olney this year to see where it all began.

“We’ve been talking about it for a long time,” said Amy Thompson, who painted her nails with British and American flags and, of course, pancakes. “We like those festival odd things and we decided to quit talking about it. It’s the 75th anniversary and ... this would be the perfect time to come.”

OLNEY, England (AP) — Women in matching checkered aprons, headscarves and a rainbow of running shoes limbered up Tuesday as they prepared for the centuries-old pancake race in this English country town.They rolled their shoulders in unison, raised up on their toes and did squats before stepping to the starting line — frying pans in hand.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F100064734424000%2Fvideos%2F1074643373681760%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=1" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>At the word “Go” they sprinted through the streets, trying not to drop their pancakes as they roughly traced the path taken by a harried housewife in 1445, who legend has it heard the church bells signaling the Shrove Tuesday service and raced off with her skillet.“It’s a horrible distance,” said Kaisa Larkas, 44, a mother of four who legged it past Eloise Kramer to capture the Olney title with a time of 63.37 seconds. “You just have to go flat out and then hope that you’re not gonna fall over. … But it’s good fun.”The tradition has been repeated over the centuries — not only in Olney but across England and even in the United States, where the Kansas town of Liberal copied the idea and has been trying to outrun their friendly British rivals for 75 years.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid02DzrXYAs228pBM8H3immsNNAy84tfP1Btvh59LVSypHb9RsVsiHLsstYMDfseSVJ6l%26id%3D100064734424000&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="562" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>This year the U.S. leg won, with Pamela Bolivar, a 19-year-old college student and nursing assistant, crossing the line in a time of 63.03 seconds. It was one of the closest races ever.The race is held the day before the start of Lent, the Christian period of repentance and sacrifice before Easter. Celebrated as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday in other parts of the world, the name Shrove Tuesday derives from the English word meaning to seek forgiveness or be granted absolution.If a secret recipe behind winning the race exists, it probably would call for a pinch of skill, a dash of athleticism and an extra scoop of whimsy. The competition falls somewhere between the Great British Bake Off and zany local pursuits such as the rough-and-tumble&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-gloucester-cheese-rolling-extreme-sport-435d6cc4863a48fc9fba417210aac606">cheese wheel chase</a>&nbsp;down Cooper’s Hill.Runners must flip the pancake at the start and finish.The 415-yard (380-meter) sprint itself may be a form of penance ahead of Lent.Two Kansas sisters who competed in Liberal since they were children traveled to Olney this year to see where it all began.“We’ve been talking about it for a long time,” said Amy Thompson, who painted her nails with British and American flags and, of course, pancakes. “We like those festival odd things and we decided to quit talking about it. It’s the 75th anniversary and ... this would be the perfect time to come.”

🎥Kansas wins 75th International Pancake Day race

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals intend to build their new downtown ballpark blocks away from T-Mobile Center and the Power &amp; Light District, scrapping two concepts elsewhere in the city for a location that puts the stadium closer to existing entertainment areas.

The Royals revealed plans for the $2 billion-plus ballpark project Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium, two days after the Kansas City Chiefs — whose Arrowhead Stadium shares the Truman Complex with their existing ballpark — won their third Super Bowl in the past five years, and one day before the city celebrates another Lombardi Trophy with a parade downtown.

The route Wednesday travels along Grand Avenue to Union Station, or directly past the location of the new ballpark.

“We're the second-smallest city with both an NFL franchise and Major League Baseball club,” Royals owner John Sherman said, “and we want to sustain ourselves as a major league city. We want these franchises to thrive here for another 50 years.”

The new ballpark will seat about 34,000 fans, or roughly 3,000 fewer than Kauffman Stadium, and the Royals are hopeful it would be ready for the 2028 season. The final design is still under development, but renderings shown Tuesday paid homage to the K's swooping roof lines and iconic centerfield fountains.

“The ballpark will have a really great feeling of intimacy," Sherman said.

Kansas City started play at Municipal Stadium in 1969, then moved to Kauffman Stadium in 1973 and extensively renovated the current ballpark from 2009-12.

The Royals unveiled two other locations last fall, one on the eastern edge of downtown and the other across the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri. Both were met with tepid reaction from fans, many of whom still love Kauffman Stadium, and political infighting ensued over the extension of a sales tax in Jackson County, Missouri, to help pay for the ballpark.

The Royals' ownership group plans to invest more than $1 billion in private funding for the project, but some of the money will come from the 3/8-cent tax, which also will provide funding that the Chiefs plan to use to renovate Arrowhead Stadium.

“I know I'm biased here,” Sherman said, “but between what the Chiefs can do out here with an expanded tailgate experience, and what we do down there, we will have two of the best pregame and postgame experiences in all of sports.”

The Royals and Chiefs pushed to put the sales tax on the April 2 ballot, and Jackson County legislators initially approved the referendum, only to watch Jackson County executive Frank White — a five-time All-Star and member of the Royals' Hall of Fame — veto the measure. Last month, two legislators changed their vote and joined five others in overriding the veto.

That not only put the tax extension on the ballot, it put the onus on the Royals to reveal exactly what voters will be paying for.

The new ballpark would be situated adjacent to Interstate 670, where the Kansas City Star's former printing press building sits largely vacant, and tie together several disparate neighborhoods into a more cohesive downtown environment.

Just to the north, where new parks would cover the interstate and allow for safe pedestrian traffic, sits Power &amp; Light, the home to many existing bars and restaurants. To the south lies the Crossroads Art District, a trendy enclave anchored by the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. And to the east is the historic 18th &amp; Vine neighborhood, home to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the American Jazz Museum and iconic restaurants such as Arthur Bryant's Barbeque.

"The fact of the matter is, we've always been cognizant of this site. It never went away," said Earl Santee, the founder of the Kansas City-based sports architectural giant Populous. “We looked at other sites over time, and this is my 23rd major league ballpark site, and it's timing that leads you to the end, and this is the right timing for this site.”

Santee compared the 17.3-acre site to downtown ballparks built in Denver, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis. There are about 20 property owners in the area and the Royals will need to negotiate with each of them to purchase their parcels of land.

“Development is happening in ways that are engaging,” Santee said. “This will amplify the brand of Kansas City.”

Indeed, the Royals hope the project continues what Sherman called “a golden era” for the former cowtown on the plains.

Over the last decade, Kansas City has hosted two World Series, baseball's All-Star Game and the NFL draft, while a $1.5 billion airport opened just over a year ago. The Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League will open their new purpose-built stadium next month on the north edge of downtown, and Arrowhead Stadium was recently awarded six games — including a quarterfinal match — by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

“This is about a lot more than just a new home for the Royals,” said Brooks Sherman, Royals president of business operations, who is unrelated to the team's owner. “This generational project is intended for something great.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals intend to build their new downtown ballpark blocks away from T-Mobile Center and the Power &amp; Light District, scrapping two concepts elsewhere in the city for a location that puts the stadium closer to existing entertainment areas.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are excited to share our vision for the future of Royals baseball in the heart of Kansas City. <a href="https://t.co/1t2Wcumyoa">pic.twitter.com/1t2Wcumyoa</a>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1757507407754801238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Royals revealed plans for the $2 billion-plus ballpark project Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium, two days after the Kansas City Chiefs — whose Arrowhead Stadium shares the Truman Complex with their existing ballpark — won their third Super Bowl in the past five years, and one day before the city celebrates another Lombardi Trophy with a parade downtown.The route Wednesday travels along Grand Avenue to Union Station, or directly past the location of the new ballpark.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707862318361.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo." />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>“We're the second-smallest city with both an NFL franchise and Major League Baseball club,” Royals owner John Sherman said, “and we want to sustain ourselves as a major league city. We want these franchises to thrive here for another 50 years.”The new ballpark will seat about 34,000 fans, or roughly 3,000 fewer than Kauffman Stadium, and the Royals are hopeful it would be ready for the 2028 season. The final design is still under development, but renderings shown Tuesday paid homage to the K's swooping roof lines and iconic centerfield fountains.“The ballpark will have a really great feeling of intimacy," Sherman said.Kansas City started play at Municipal Stadium in 1969, then moved to Kauffman Stadium in 1973 and extensively renovated the current ballpark from 2009-12.The Royals unveiled two other locations last fall, one on the eastern edge of downtown and the other across the Missouri River in Clay County, Missouri. Both were met with tepid reaction from fans, many of whom still love Kauffman Stadium, and political infighting ensued over the extension of a sales tax in Jackson County, Missouri, to help pay for the ballpark.The Royals' ownership group plans to invest more than $1 billion in private funding for the project, but some of the money will come from the 3/8-cent tax, which also will provide funding that the Chiefs plan to use to renovate Arrowhead Stadium.“I know I'm biased here,” Sherman said, “but between what the Chiefs can do out here with an expanded tailgate experience, and what we do down there, we will have two of the best pregame and postgame experiences in all of sports.”The Royals and Chiefs pushed to put the sales tax on the April 2 ballot, and Jackson County legislators initially approved the referendum, only to watch Jackson County executive Frank White — a five-time All-Star and member of the Royals' Hall of Fame — veto the measure. Last month, two legislators changed their vote and joined five others in overriding the veto.That not only put the tax extension on the ballot, it put the onus on the Royals to reveal exactly what voters will be paying for.The new ballpark would be situated adjacent to Interstate 670, where the Kansas City Star's former printing press building sits largely vacant, and tie together several disparate neighborhoods into a more cohesive downtown environment.Just to the north, where new parks would cover the interstate and allow for safe pedestrian traffic, sits Power &amp; Light, the home to many existing bars and restaurants. To the south lies the Crossroads Art District, a trendy enclave anchored by the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. And to the east is the historic 18th &amp; Vine neighborhood, home to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the American Jazz Museum and iconic restaurants such as Arthur Bryant's Barbeque."The fact of the matter is, we've always been cognizant of this site. It never went away," said Earl Santee, the founder of the Kansas City-based sports architectural giant Populous. “We looked at other sites over time, and this is my 23rd major league ballpark site, and it's timing that leads you to the end, and this is the right timing for this site.”Santee compared the 17.3-acre site to downtown ballparks built in Denver, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis. There are about 20 property owners in the area and the Royals will need to negotiate with each of them to purchase their parcels of land.“Development is happening in ways that are engaging,” Santee said. “This will amplify the brand of Kansas City.”Indeed, the Royals hope the project continues what Sherman called “a golden era” for the former cowtown on the plains.Over the last decade, Kansas City has hosted two World Series, baseball's All-Star Game and the NFL draft, while a $1.5 billion airport opened just over a year ago. The Kansas City Current of the National Women's Soccer League will open their new purpose-built stadium next month on the north edge of downtown, and Arrowhead Stadium was recently awarded six games — including a quarterfinal match — by FIFA for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.“This is about a lot more than just a new home for the Royals,” said Brooks Sherman, Royals president of business operations, who is unrelated to the team's owner. “This generational project is intended for something great.”

Royals to build new ballpark in downtown KC near existing entertainment district

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have filed charges against a man with a history of crime in connection with the theft and destruction of the Jackie Robinson statue taken from the Jackie Robinson Pavilion in McAdams Park,  1329 E 16th Street N, in Wichita.&nbsp;

On Monday, the Sedgwick County District attorney charged 45-year-0ld&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">Ricky Alderete</a>&nbsp;with Felony Theft – Value over $25,000, Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property, Identity Theft and Making False Information,&nbsp;according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.&nbsp; Alderete has previous convictions for theft and burglary in Sumner County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is being held&nbsp;on $150,000 bond.

Alerete was in custody after an arrest on&nbsp;February 1, for a probation violation, burglary, kidnapping and criminal damage to property unrelated to the theft of the statue, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">according to online jail records.</a>

Wichita police detectives conducted over 100 interviews both within and outside Sedgwick County to resolve the case.

On January 28, officers from the Wichita Police Department Field Community Response Team located the suspect vehicle used in the theft, unoccupied, at an apartment complex in Wichita.

On January 30, the Wichita Fire Department discovered parts of the statue in a trash can at Garvey Park while responding to a fire call. Investigators continued to persistently pursue leads in the case.

On February 12, Wichita police investigators presented the case details to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.

The investigation has not revealed any evidence indicating that this was a hate-motivated crime, instead, police believe this theft was motivated by the financial gain of scrapping common metal, according to Moses. Police detectives remain committed to gathering information to identify and charge all individuals involved in the theft and destruction of the&nbsp; statue.

Donations poured in after the theft, approaching $300,000, said Bob Lutz, executive director of the Little League nonprofit that commissioned the sculpture.

Lutz has said that some of the extra money raised also could enhance some of its programming and facilities. In April, the group opened the Leslie Rudd Learning Center, which includes an indoor baseball facility and a learning lab.

Lutz, whose friend, the artist John Parsons, made the statue before his death, said the mold is still viable and anticipated that a replacement can be erected within a matter of months.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707844320270.png" alt="Alderete-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Alderete-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities have filed charges against a man with a history of crime in connection with the theft and destruction of the Jackie Robinson statue taken from the Jackie Robinson Pavilion in McAdams Park, 1329 E 16th Street N, in Wichita.&nbsp;On Monday, the Sedgwick County District attorney charged 45-year-0ld&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">Ricky Alderete</a>&nbsp;with Felony Theft – Value over $25,000, Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property, Identity Theft and Making False Information,&nbsp;according to Police Lt. Aaron Moses.&nbsp; Alderete has previous convictions for theft and burglary in Sumner County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp; He is being held&nbsp;on $150,000 bond.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706642235098.jpeg" alt="Jackie Robinson Statue-Courtesy GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Robinson Statue-Courtesy GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>Alerete was in custody after an arrest on&nbsp;February 1, for a probation violation, burglary, kidnapping and criminal damage to property unrelated to the theft of the statue, <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=251468">according to online jail records.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706214143377.png" alt="Photo city of Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Photo city of Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita police detectives conducted over 100 interviews both within and outside Sedgwick County to resolve the case.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706562468247.png" alt="Vehicle used in the theft of the statue" />
 <figcaption>Vehicle used in the theft of the statue</figcaption>
 </figure>On January 28, officers from the Wichita Police Department Field Community Response Team located the suspect vehicle used in the theft, unoccupied, at an apartment complex in Wichita.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706641670170.png" alt="Parts of the burned statue found in a trash bin-photo courtesy KAKE" />
 <figcaption>Parts of the burned statue found in a trash bin-photo courtesy KAKE</figcaption>
 </figure>On January 30, the Wichita Fire Department discovered parts of the statue in a trash can at Garvey Park while responding to a fire call. Investigators continued to persistently pursue leads in the case.On February 12, Wichita police investigators presented the case details to the Sedgwick County District Attorney.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706281113254.png" alt="Suspects as seen from a security camera loading the statue into the back of the pickup -image Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Suspects as seen from a security camera loading the statue into the back of the pickup -image Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>The investigation has not revealed any evidence indicating that this was a hate-motivated crime, instead, police believe this theft was motivated by the financial gain of scrapping common metal, according to Moses. Police detectives remain committed to gathering information to identify and charge all individuals involved in the theft and destruction of the&nbsp; statue.Donations poured in after the theft, approaching $300,000, said Bob Lutz, executive director of the Little League nonprofit that commissioned the sculpture.Lutz has said that some of the extra money raised also could enhance some of its programming and facilities. In April, the group opened the Leslie Rudd Learning Center, which includes an indoor baseball facility and a learning lab.Lutz, whose friend, the artist John Parsons, made the statue before his death, said the mold is still viable and anticipated that a replacement can be erected within a matter of months.

Man with history of crime charged in theft of Jackie Robinson statue 

‘I think a little of it is just cross-border xenophobia for want of a better term,’ says a lawyer for Liberty Hospital

By ALLISON KITE&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

Liberty Hospital would be at risk of falling into the hands of a for-profit chain and losing important services if Missouri lawmakers block a proposed takeover by the University of Kansas Health System, a board member for the Northland hospital argued last week.&nbsp;

Speaking to a Missouri Senate committee,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.libertyhospital.org/">Liberty Hospital</a>&nbsp;board president Dennis Carter implored lawmakers not to pass legislation meant to kill the proposed deal.&nbsp;

Doing so, he said, could result in the public hospital getting scooped up by a chain that he fears would shutter its labor and delivery center and Level II trauma center.&nbsp;

“If we go for-profit, we’ll be a little bit more than a triage center, but we will not be what Liberty Hospital and the people who voted us into office want us to be,” Carter said.

Liberty’s leadership started looking for another health system in May to forge a partnership to help the hospital meet growing demand in the Kansas City suburbs north of the Missouri River. It announced in October that it had chosen the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/">University of Kansas Health System</a>.

But the idea of the Kansas institution&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/12/11/university-of-kansas-deal-with-missouri-hospital-feels-terribly-wrong-to-lawmakers/">taking over a Missouri hospital sparked opposition</a>&nbsp;from lawmakers in both states. Kansas Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Republican from Salina, introduced legislation requiring KU health system receive legislative approval before investing in a facility outside of the state.&nbsp;

And in Missouri, Sen. Greg Razer, a Kansas City Democrat, is sponsoring legislation that would prohibit Missouri hospitals from partnering with an out-of-state health system “operated by an institution of higher education” unless a supermajority of voters approve the deal.&nbsp;

Razer said he receives medical care from KU and has no issue with the quality of care the institution provides. He says he objects to the idea of a hospital, governed by a board largely appointed by the Kansas governor, running a Missouri institution.

“Borders have a purpose of being there,” Razer said.&nbsp;

Razer also cited Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who recently argued the proposed arrangement is not legal without legislative approval. While public subdivisions in Missouri —&nbsp;like hospital districts or cities —&nbsp;can enter agreements with subdivisions in other states, Kansas law considers the agreements interstate compacts, which require legislative approval, Bailey argued in a letter to Missouri Senate leadership.

Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing Liberty, said in an interview that executives had spoken to Bailey and there was a “misconception” that the deal would involve an interstate compact.

Instead, Hatfield said, the Liberty hospital district will still own the buildings and land as a political subdivision. The New Liberty Hospital Corporation, the nonprofit that currently operates the hospital, will add the University of Kansas Health System, also a nonprofit, as a “member, which will operate the hospital.

“I’m very confident after talking with them that we have or will be able to satisfy all of their concerns,” Hatfield said.&nbsp;

Madeleine Sieren, a spokeswoman for Bailey, said the attorney general’s position had not changed.&nbsp;

In testimony on Razer’s bill, Hatfield said KU would invest “hundreds of millions of dollars” at Liberty. In an interview, he said, those investments are still the subject of negotiations.&nbsp;

When Liberty started looking for a partner, Hatfield said, one of the primary issues was the need for capital to upgrade their electronic record and IT systems, invest in new equipment and keep up with building maintenance.&nbsp;

Much like countless rural hospitals, he said, Liberty can’t come up with the funds needed to keep up with upgrades.

Hatfield noted both he and Razer attended the University of Missouri and “were taught to hate KU.”&nbsp;

“I think a little of it is just cross-border xenophobia for want of a better term,” Hatfield said, “and I don’t think that’s an appropriate way to make healthcare decisions.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707764113575.png" alt=" The University of Kansas Health System, which has its primary location in Kansas City, Kansas, is set to partner with Liberty Hospital, sparking discontent among some state lawmakers. (Allison Kite/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> The University of Kansas Health System, which has its primary location in Kansas City, Kansas, is set to partner with Liberty Hospital, sparking discontent among some state lawmakers. (Allison Kite/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘I think a little of it is just cross-border xenophobia for want of a better term,’ says a lawyer for Liberty Hospital</h2>By ALLISON KITE&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Liberty Hospital would be at risk of falling into the hands of a for-profit chain and losing important services if Missouri lawmakers block a proposed takeover by the University of Kansas Health System, a board member for the Northland hospital argued last week.&nbsp;Speaking to a Missouri Senate committee,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.libertyhospital.org/">Liberty Hospital</a>&nbsp;board president Dennis Carter implored lawmakers not to pass legislation meant to kill the proposed deal.&nbsp;Doing so, he said, could result in the public hospital getting scooped up by a chain that he fears would shutter its labor and delivery center and Level II trauma center.&nbsp;“If we go for-profit, we’ll be a little bit more than a triage center, but we will not be what Liberty Hospital and the people who voted us into office want us to be,” Carter said.Liberty’s leadership started looking for another health system in May to forge a partnership to help the hospital meet growing demand in the Kansas City suburbs north of the Missouri River. It announced in October that it had chosen the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/">University of Kansas Health System</a>.But the idea of the Kansas institution&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/12/11/university-of-kansas-deal-with-missouri-hospital-feels-terribly-wrong-to-lawmakers/">taking over a Missouri hospital sparked opposition</a>&nbsp;from lawmakers in both states. Kansas Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Republican from Salina, introduced legislation requiring KU health system receive legislative approval before investing in a facility outside of the state.&nbsp;The bill has not yet received a hearing.And in Missouri, Sen. Greg Razer, a Kansas City Democrat, is sponsoring legislation that would prohibit Missouri hospitals from partnering with an out-of-state health system “operated by an institution of higher education” unless a supermajority of voters approve the deal.&nbsp;Razer said he receives medical care from KU and has no issue with the quality of care the institution provides. He says he objects to the idea of a hospital, governed by a board largely appointed by the Kansas governor, running a Missouri institution.“Borders have a purpose of being there,” Razer said.&nbsp;Razer also cited Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who recently argued the proposed arrangement is not legal without legislative approval. While public subdivisions in Missouri —&nbsp;like hospital districts or cities —&nbsp;can enter agreements with subdivisions in other states, Kansas law considers the agreements interstate compacts, which require legislative approval, Bailey argued in a letter to Missouri Senate leadership.Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing Liberty, said in an interview that executives had spoken to Bailey and there was a “misconception” that the deal would involve an interstate compact.Instead, Hatfield said, the Liberty hospital district will still own the buildings and land as a political subdivision. The New Liberty Hospital Corporation, the nonprofit that currently operates the hospital, will add the University of Kansas Health System, also a nonprofit, as a “member, which will operate the hospital.“I’m very confident after talking with them that we have or will be able to satisfy all of their concerns,” Hatfield said.&nbsp;Madeleine Sieren, a spokeswoman for Bailey, said the attorney general’s position had not changed.&nbsp;In testimony on Razer’s bill, Hatfield said KU would invest “hundreds of millions of dollars” at Liberty. In an interview, he said, those investments are still the subject of negotiations.&nbsp;When Liberty started looking for a partner, Hatfield said, one of the primary issues was the need for capital to upgrade their electronic record and IT systems, invest in new equipment and keep up with building maintenance.&nbsp;Much like countless rural hospitals, he said, Liberty can’t come up with the funds needed to keep up with upgrades.Hatfield noted both he and Razer attended the University of Missouri and “were taught to hate KU.”&nbsp;“I think a little of it is just cross-border xenophobia for want of a better term,” Hatfield said, “and I don’t think that’s an appropriate way to make healthcare decisions.”&nbsp;

Mo. lawmakers debate blocking University of Kan. deal with Liberty hospital

HARVEY COUNTY —Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire at a home in rural Harvey County.

On Tuesday morning, crews from Newton and city of Walton responded to a house and vehicle fire in Walton, according to a social media report from Newton Fire and EMS.

The house had significant damage, and two vehicles burned. No occupants, pets, or firefighters were injured. Division Chief 135 and the State Fire Marshall's office are in charge of the investigation.

Newton Fire thanked responders, including the Harvey County Sheriff's Office, Hesston Fire/EMS, and Whitewater River Consolidated Fire District.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707849626755.png" alt="Photos Newton Fire and EMS" />
 <figcaption>Photos Newton Fire and EMS</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire at a home in rural Harvey County.On Tuesday morning, crews from Newton and city of Walton responded to a house and vehicle fire in Walton, according to a social media report from Newton Fire and EMS.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707850058430.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The house had significant damage, and two vehicles burned. No occupants, pets, or firefighters were injured. Division Chief 135 and the State Fire Marshall's office are in charge of the investigation.Newton Fire thanked responders, including the Harvey County Sheriff's Office, Hesston Fire/EMS, and Whitewater River Consolidated Fire District.

Home damaged, vehicles destroyed in rural Kansas fire

OSAGE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol continues to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported two traffic stops for 100-plus miles per hour within 6 miles in the same afternoon, and both vehicles had children in the car, according to a social media report Monday.

LT. Littrell stopped the first vehicle for 103mph on Interstate 35 in Osage County. This vehicle had a properly restrained infant in the vehicle. Just six miles down the road the next vehicle was stopped for 101mph and had an unrestrained child, according to the KHP.

On Thursday, Troopers stopped a motorist on Kansas 10 for 112 mph during evening rush hour traffic.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, a Trooper on I-70&nbsp; noticed a vehicle racing up behind him. Swiftly exiting, he let the speedster pass, only to re-enter and apprehend them for cruising at 106 in a 75 zone. Not only that, but the driver was also tailgating and failing to stay in the right lane on a 4-lane highway.

On February 5, in heavy fog on Interstate 135 in Saline County, a Troper stopped a motorist driving 116 mph, according to Trooper Ben Gardner. That driver&nbsp;faces a $468.00 fine, according to the ticket.

In 2022, Troop D troopers wrote 1,237 tickets for people driving over 100 mph, according to Trooper Tod Heilman. 153 mph was the top speed that year.

"These speeds are excessive and even more dangerous with precious cargo in the vehicles."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707829928919.png" alt="Photos KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photos KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol continues to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported two traffic stops for 100-plus miles per hour within 6 miles in the same afternoon, and both vehicles had children in the car, according to a social media report Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707829895541.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LT. Littrell stopped the first vehicle for 103mph on Interstate 35 in Osage County. This vehicle had a properly restrained infant in the vehicle. Just six miles down the road the next vehicle was stopped for 101mph and had an unrestrained child, according to the KHP.On Thursday, Troopers stopped a motorist on Kansas 10 for 112 mph during evening rush hour traffic.&nbsp;On Wednesday, a Trooper on I-70&nbsp; noticed a vehicle racing up behind him. Swiftly exiting, he let the speedster pass, only to re-enter and apprehend them for cruising at 106 in a 75 zone. Not only that, but the driver was also tailgating and failing to stay in the right lane on a 4-lane highway.On February 5, in heavy fog on Interstate 135 in Saline County, a Troper stopped a motorist driving 116 mph, according to Trooper Ben Gardner. That driver&nbsp;faces a $468.00 fine, according to the ticket.In 2022, Troop D troopers wrote 1,237 tickets for people driving over 100 mph, according to Trooper Tod Heilman. 153 mph was the top speed that year."These speeds are excessive and even more dangerous with precious cargo in the vehicles."

KHP: Drivers traveling over 100mph had children in vehicles

EDITOR'S note: Information on the number of train cars derailed was provided by Barber County and not BNSF.

BARBER COUNTY—Officials with Burlington Northern Railroad are still working to determine the cause of train derailment Monday in Barber County.&nbsp;

Just after 5a.m. Monday the 20 train cars carrying mixed freight derailed east of the rural community of Hazleton, according to Barber County Emergency Manager Mike Loreg. Seventeen cars were on the ground.

There were no injuries to the crew. BNSF personnel continue working to clear the incident as quickly and safely as possible. One track reopened overnight and trains are running on that, according to Loreg. The other track was still closed as of 9a.m..&nbsp;

Drivers in the area are advised to avoid the area due to all of the heavy equipment being used, according to Loreg.&nbsp; There was no danger to the homes in the area.&nbsp; Everything was contained.&nbsp;

Hazelton, is approximately 24 miles southeast of Medicine Lodge and just north of the Oklahoma border.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707748033586.png" alt="Photos Barber County Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Photos Barber County Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>EDITOR'S note: Information on the number of train cars derailed was provided by Barber County and not BNSF.BARBER COUNTY—Officials with Burlington Northern Railroad are still working to determine the cause of train derailment Monday in Barber County.&nbsp;Just after 5a.m. Monday the 20 train cars carrying mixed freight derailed east of the rural community of Hazleton, according to Barber County Emergency Manager Mike Loreg. Seventeen cars were on the ground.There were no injuries to the crew. BNSF personnel continue working to clear the incident as quickly and safely as possible. One track reopened overnight and trains are running on that, according to Loreg. The other track was still closed as of 9a.m..&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707834758379.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Drivers in the area are advised to avoid the area due to all of the heavy equipment being used, according to Loreg.&nbsp; There was no danger to the homes in the area.&nbsp; Everything was contained.&nbsp;Hazelton, is approximately 24 miles southeast of Medicine Lodge and just north of the Oklahoma border.

Work continues at site of rural Kansas train derailment 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-military-aid-ukraine-israel-gaza-0b9c866308cc4c8c13c3f54494371f0b">aid package</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad.

The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But more than a dozen Republicans voted with almost all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-ukraine-israel-trump-aid-biden-13d5461154e2755510d7149a5af9b97a">threaten national security across the globe</a>.

“It’s been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate has passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but also the security of western democracy,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation.

The bill’s passage through the Senate was a welcome sign for Ukraine amid critical&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">shortages on the battlefield</a>. The final vote gained 22 Republicans including Kansas Senator Jerry Moran supporting its passage, while two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, voted against it. Progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel.

The other Republicans voting for the bill included Senators Boozman Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Cramer, Crapo, Ernst, Grassley, Hoeven, Kennedy, McConnell, Murkowski, Risch, Romney, Rounds, Sullivan, Thune, Tillis, Wicker, and Young.&nbsp;

Yet the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hardline Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump — the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine — oppose the legislation.

Speaker Mike Johnson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-congress-6970b539025d2de5ade9e3aff165c54f">cast new doubt</a>&nbsp;on the package in a statement Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Joe Biden's desk — if at all.

Still, the vote was a win for both Senate leaders. Schumer noted the strong bipartisan support and projected that if the House speaker brings it forward it would have the same strong support in that chamber. McConnell has made Ukraine his top priority in recent months, and was resolute in the face of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-ukraine-republicans-senate-c5217d686c85837d2b9708aa197843f9">considerable pushback</a>&nbsp;from his own GOP conference.

Speaking directly to his detractors in a floor speech on Sunday, McConnell said that “the eyes of the world” were on the U.S. Senate.

“Will we give those who wish us harm more reason to question our resolve, or will we recommit to exercising American strength?” McConnell asked.

Dollars provided by the legislation would purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters the country. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance.

In addition, the legislation would provide $14 billion for Israel’s war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-gaza-evacuation-palestinians-attack-israel-hamas-90bf78cfca6550dc229e7192f6724dfc">humanitarian assistance for Gaza</a>.

The bill’s passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. Republicans demanded the trade-off, saying the surge of migration into the United States had to be addressed alongside the security of allies.

But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. Republicans declared the bill insufficient and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">blocked it</a>&nbsp;on the Senate floor.

After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended.

While the slimmed-down foreign aid bill eventually won enough Republican support to pass, several GOP senators who had previously expressed support for Ukraine voted against it. The episode further exposed divisions in the party, made more public as Trump dug in and a handful of lawmakers openly called for McConnell to step down.

Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. “But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here,” he said, his voice cracking.

Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict — a commitment that Trump has called into question as he seeks another term in the White House.

Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, argued that the U.S. should step back from the conflict and help broker an end to it with Russia's Putin. He questioned the wisdom of continuing to fuel Ukraine’s defense when Putin appears committed to fighting for years.

“I think it deals with the reality that we’re living in, which is they’re a more powerful country, and it’s their region of the world,” he said.

Vance, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and other opponents, spent several hours on the floor railing against the aid and complaining about Senate process. They dug in their heels to delay a final vote, speaking on the floor until daybreak.

Supporters of the aid pushed back, warning that bowing to Russia would be a historic mistake with devastating consequences. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis angrily rebutted some of their arguments, noting that the money would only help Ukraine for less than a year and that much of it would go to replenishing U.S. military stocks.

“Why am I so focused on this vote?” Tillis said. “Because I don’t want to be on the pages of history that we will regret if we walk away. You will see the alliance that is supporting Ukraine crumble. You will ultimately see China become emboldened. And I am not going to be on that page of history.”

At a rally Saturday, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nato-foreign-aid-russia-2b8054a9fe185eec34c2c541cece655d">said that he had once told</a>&nbsp;a NATO ally he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to members that are “delinquent” in their financial and military commitments to the alliance. The former president has&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/pronto/20e902788e8701999ce0424f73d478cc">led his party away</a>&nbsp;from the foreign policy doctrines of aggressive American involvement overseas and toward an “America First” isolationism.

Evoking the slogan, Moran said, “I believe in America first, but unfortunately America first means we have to engage in the world.”

While the vast majority of House Republicans have opposed the aid and are unlikely to cross Trump, a handful of GOP lawmakers have signaled they will push to get it passed.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, traveled to Ukraine last week with a bipartisan delegation and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”

But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position. A majority of his conference opposes the aid, and he is trying to lead the narrowest of majorities and avoid the fate of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in October.

Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Monday that because the foreign aid package lacks border security provisions, it is “silent on the most pressing issue facing our country.” It was the latest — and potentially most consequential — sign of opposition to the Ukraine aid from House GOP leadership, who had rejected the bipartisan border plan as a “non-starter,” contributing to its rapid demise.

“Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,” Johnson said. “America deserves better than the Senate’s status quo.”

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, traveled to Kyiv last week with Turner and other House members. She said the trip underscored to her how Ukraine is still in a fight for its very existence.

As the group traveled through Kyiv in armored vehicles, she said, they witnessed signs of an active war, from sandbagged shelters to burned-out cars and memorials to those killed. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, she said the U.S. lawmakers tried to offer assurances that the American people still stand with his country.

“He was clear that our continued support is critical to their ability to win the war,” Spanberger said. “It’s critical to their own freedom. And importantly, it’s critical to U.S. national security interests.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707796196671.png" alt="Sen. Jerry Moran became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. “But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here,” he said, his voice cracking.&nbsp;&nbsp;Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict." />
 <figcaption>Sen. Jerry Moran became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. “But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here,” he said, his voice cracking.&nbsp;&nbsp;Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-military-aid-ukraine-israel-gaza-0b9c866308cc4c8c13c3f54494371f0b">aid package</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and amid growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad.The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through the night, using the final hours of debate to argue that the U.S. should focus on its own problems before sending more money overseas. But more than a dozen Republicans voted with almost all Democrats to pass the package 70-29, with supporters arguing that abandoning Ukraine could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-ukraine-israel-trump-aid-biden-13d5461154e2755510d7149a5af9b97a">threaten national security across the globe</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;I believe in America First, but unfortunately America First means we have to engage in the world.&quot;-Senator Moran (R-KS) from the Senate floor in support of the $95B foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine &amp; Taiwan bill. <a href="https://t.co/ID6c1qL7MP">pic.twitter.com/ID6c1qL7MP</a>&mdash; Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1757175089731170755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“It’s been years, perhaps decades, since the Senate has passed a bill that so greatly impacts not just our national security, not just the security of our allies, but also the security of western democracy,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who worked closely with Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on the legislation.The bill’s passage through the Senate was a welcome sign for Ukraine amid critical&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-money-congress-weapons-dd5076b30bf8fab5c914a1222186e7f0">shortages on the battlefield</a>. The final vote gained 22 Republicans including Kansas Senator Jerry Moran supporting its passage, while two Democrats, Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Peter Welch of Vermont, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, voted against it. Progressive lawmakers have objected to sending offensive weaponry to Israel.The other Republicans voting for the bill included Senators Boozman Capito, Cassidy, Collins, Cornyn, Cramer, Crapo, Ernst, Grassley, Hoeven, Kennedy, McConnell, Murkowski, Risch, Romney, Rounds, Sullivan, Thune, Tillis, Wicker, and Young.&nbsp;Yet the package faces a deeply uncertain future in the House, where hardline Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump — the front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination, and a critic of support for Ukraine — oppose the legislation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement on Senate’s failure to address the most critical aspect of national security supplemental legislation: <a href="https://t.co/ENjJ0WzKsK">pic.twitter.com/ENjJ0WzKsK</a>&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1757210505570087039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaker Mike Johnson&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-congress-6970b539025d2de5ade9e3aff165c54f">cast new doubt</a>&nbsp;on the package in a statement Monday evening, making clear that it could be weeks or months before Congress sends the legislation to President Joe Biden's desk — if at all.Still, the vote was a win for both Senate leaders. Schumer noted the strong bipartisan support and projected that if the House speaker brings it forward it would have the same strong support in that chamber. McConnell has made Ukraine his top priority in recent months, and was resolute in the face of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mcconnell-ukraine-republicans-senate-c5217d686c85837d2b9708aa197843f9">considerable pushback</a>&nbsp;from his own GOP conference.Speaking directly to his detractors in a floor speech on Sunday, McConnell said that “the eyes of the world” were on the U.S. Senate.“Will we give those who wish us harm more reason to question our resolve, or will we recommit to exercising American strength?” McConnell asked.Dollars provided by the legislation would purchase U.S.-made defense equipment, including munitions and air defense systems that authorities say are desperately needed as Russia batters the country. It also includes $8 billion for the government in Kyiv and other assistance.In addition, the legislation would provide $14 billion for Israel’s war with Hamas, $8 billion for Taiwan and partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, and $9.2 billion in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rafah-gaza-evacuation-palestinians-attack-israel-hamas-90bf78cfca6550dc229e7192f6724dfc">humanitarian assistance for Gaza</a>.The bill’s passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. Republicans demanded the trade-off, saying the surge of migration into the United States had to be addressed alongside the security of allies.But a bipartisan deal on border security struck by Republican Sen. James Lankford fell apart just days after its unveiling, a head-spinning development that left negotiators deeply frustrated. Republicans declared the bill insufficient and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-ukraine-aid-border-security-386dcc54b29a5491f8bd87b727a284f8">blocked it</a>&nbsp;on the Senate floor.After the border bill collapsed, the two leaders abandoned the border provisions and pushed forward with passing the foreign aid package alone — as Democrats had originally intended.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707792235922.png" alt="Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., arrives as the Senate prepares a procedural vote on an emergency spending package on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., arrives as the Senate prepares a procedural vote on an emergency spending package on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement on today&#39;s vote. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/PAcnRyILda">pic.twitter.com/PAcnRyILda</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1757479640036249601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>While the slimmed-down foreign aid bill eventually won enough Republican support to pass, several GOP senators who had previously expressed support for Ukraine voted against it. The episode further exposed divisions in the party, made more public as Trump dug in and a handful of lawmakers openly called for McConnell to step down.Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., became emotional as he talked about the drudgery of the Senate and spending time away from his family to get little done. “But every so often there are issues that come before us that seem to be the ones that explain why we are here,” he said, his voice cracking.Moran conceded that the cost of the package was heavy for him, but pointed out that if Putin were to attack a NATO member in Europe, the U.S. would be bound by treaty to become directly involved in the conflict — a commitment that Trump has called into question as he seeks another term in the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Democrats&#39; border ‘efforts’ were only ever a charade to find an avenue for more Ukraine funding. It&#39;s never been about helping Israel or addressing the historic border crisis- it&#39;s always been about finding a vessel for more Ukraine funding. <a href="https://t.co/21PH5Qerdf">pic.twitter.com/21PH5Qerdf</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1757190709445042555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Sen. J.D. Vance, an Ohio Republican, argued that the U.S. should step back from the conflict and help broker an end to it with Russia's Putin. He questioned the wisdom of continuing to fuel Ukraine’s defense when Putin appears committed to fighting for years.“I think it deals with the reality that we’re living in, which is they’re a more powerful country, and it’s their region of the world,” he said.Vance, along with Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and other opponents, spent several hours on the floor railing against the aid and complaining about Senate process. They dug in their heels to delay a final vote, speaking on the floor until daybreak.Supporters of the aid pushed back, warning that bowing to Russia would be a historic mistake with devastating consequences. In an unusually raw back-and-forth, GOP senators who support the aid challenged some of the opponents directly on the floor.North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis angrily rebutted some of their arguments, noting that the money would only help Ukraine for less than a year and that much of it would go to replenishing U.S. military stocks.“Why am I so focused on this vote?” Tillis said. “Because I don’t want to be on the pages of history that we will regret if we walk away. You will see the alliance that is supporting Ukraine crumble. You will ultimately see China become emboldened. And I am not going to be on that page of history.”At a rally Saturday, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-nato-foreign-aid-russia-2b8054a9fe185eec34c2c541cece655d">said that he had once told</a>&nbsp;a NATO ally he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to members that are “delinquent” in their financial and military commitments to the alliance. The former president has&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/pronto/20e902788e8701999ce0424f73d478cc">led his party away</a>&nbsp;from the foreign policy doctrines of aggressive American involvement overseas and toward an “America First” isolationism.Evoking the slogan, Moran said, “I believe in America first, but unfortunately America first means we have to engage in the world.”While the vast majority of House Republicans have opposed the aid and are unlikely to cross Trump, a handful of GOP lawmakers have signaled they will push to get it passed.House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner, R-Ohio, traveled to Ukraine last week with a bipartisan delegation and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Turner posted on X, formerly Twitter, after the trip that “I reiterated America’s commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.”But Speaker Johnson is in a tough position. A majority of his conference opposes the aid, and he is trying to lead the narrowest of majorities and avoid the fate of his predecessor, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted in October.Johnson, R-La., said in a statement Monday that because the foreign aid package lacks border security provisions, it is “silent on the most pressing issue facing our country.” It was the latest — and potentially most consequential — sign of opposition to the Ukraine aid from House GOP leadership, who had rejected the bipartisan border plan as a “non-starter,” contributing to its rapid demise.“Now, in the absence of having received any single border policy change from the Senate, the House will have to continue to work its own will on these important matters,” Johnson said. “America deserves better than the Senate’s status quo.”Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, traveled to Kyiv last week with Turner and other House members. She said the trip underscored to her how Ukraine is still in a fight for its very existence.As the group traveled through Kyiv in armored vehicles, she said, they witnessed signs of an active war, from sandbagged shelters to burned-out cars and memorials to those killed. During the meeting with Zelenskyy, she said the U.S. lawmakers tried to offer assurances that the American people still stand with his country.“He was clear that our continued support is critical to their ability to win the war,” Spanberger said. “It’s critical to their own freedom. And importantly, it’s critical to U.S. national security interests.”

Moran's emotional plea helps Senate pass $95B aid package for Ukraine, Israel 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting that left two men dead.

Just after&nbsp;2.m. Monday, police officers were called to 39th and Woodland in Kansas City on a sound of shots call. While officers were on the way the call was upgraded to a shooting call with two people shot, according to Police Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders were directed to two&nbsp; shooting victims, on the ground south of the intersection, unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene, they transported one man to the hospital for treatment who later died.&nbsp; The other man later identified as 32-year-old Deion S. Lewis&nbsp; was declared deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

Investigation indicates there was a number of people at the location in regard to a non-injury accident when an argument ensued. That argument escalated and shots were fired and the two victims were struck.

Detectives were talking with people who were at the scene when officers arrived, and canvassing for witnesses. Crime scene investigators&nbsp; processed the scene for evidence. The connection between the non-injury accident and the shooting is not known, but is under investigation at this time, according to Becchina.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting that left two men dead.Just after&nbsp;2.m. Monday, police officers were called to 39th and Woodland in Kansas City on a sound of shots call. While officers were on the way the call was upgraded to a shooting call with two people shot, according to Police Captain Jake Becchina.First responders were directed to two&nbsp; shooting victims, on the ground south of the intersection, unresponsive. Officers summoned EMS to the scene, they transported one man to the hospital for treatment who later died.&nbsp; The other man later identified as 32-year-old Deion S. Lewis&nbsp; was declared deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Investigation indicates there was a number of people at the location in regard to a non-injury accident when an argument ensued. That argument escalated and shots were fired and the two victims were struck.Detectives were talking with people who were at the scene when officers arrived, and canvassing for witnesses. Crime scene investigators&nbsp; processed the scene for evidence. The connection between the non-injury accident and the shooting is not known, but is under investigation at this time, according to Becchina.

2 now dead after gunfight following non-injury KC crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY –The largest school district in Kansas recommended closing six schools during Monday night's board meeting, according to a statement from Wichita USD 259. The district is facing a $42 million budget deficit and closing 4 elementary and 2 middle schools will prevent job cuts.&nbsp;

The schools recommended to close are Clark Elementary, 650 S Apache Drive; Cleaveland Elementary, 3345 W 33rd Street; Payne Elementary, 1601 S Edwards Street; Park Elementary, 1025 N Main Street; Jardine Middle School,&nbsp;3550 E Ross Parkway and Hadley Middle School,&nbsp;1101 N Dougherty Avenue.

Wichita has 54 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, three K-8s, nine high schools and nine special schools. The school district has had declining enrollment since 2016.&nbsp; A final decision on the proposal is expected next month, according to USD 259.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707789312106.png" alt="Monday night board meeting -photo USD 259" />
 <figcaption>Monday night board meeting -photo USD 259</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY –The largest school district in Kansas recommended closing six schools during Monday night's board meeting, according to a statement from Wichita USD 259. The district is facing a $42 million budget deficit and closing 4 elementary and 2 middle schools will prevent job cuts.&nbsp;The schools recommended to close are Clark Elementary, 650 S Apache Drive; Cleaveland Elementary, 3345 W 33rd Street; Payne Elementary, 1601 S Edwards Street; Park Elementary, 1025 N Main Street; Jardine Middle School,&nbsp;3550 E Ross Parkway and Hadley Middle School,&nbsp;1101 N Dougherty Avenue.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/jNywA9AQrI">pic.twitter.com/jNywA9AQrI</a>&mdash; Wichita Public Schools (@WichitaUSD259) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaUSD259/status/1757220211751616879?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/vX21bAkQOQ">pic.twitter.com/vX21bAkQOQ</a>&mdash; Wichita Public Schools (@WichitaUSD259) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaUSD259/status/1757219214111170599?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/awGKj9JKvR">pic.twitter.com/awGKj9JKvR</a>&mdash; Wichita Public Schools (@WichitaUSD259) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaUSD259/status/1757218653521485901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/XhHarSQkkn">pic.twitter.com/XhHarSQkkn</a>&mdash; Wichita Public Schools (@WichitaUSD259) <a href="https://twitter.com/WichitaUSD259/status/1757217760289964382?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Wichita has 54 elementary schools, 15 middle schools, three K-8s, nine high schools and nine special schools. The school district has had declining enrollment since 2016.&nbsp; A final decision on the proposal is expected next month, according to USD 259.&nbsp;

$42 million budget gap: Largest school district in Kan. IDs 6 schools to close

NEW YORK (AP) —The longest Super Bowl game will also go down as the most-watched program in television history.

According to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2024-score-chiefs-49ers-49b5dca51c05ab0f259cef0d7da76c2d">Kansas City's 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco</a>&nbsp;on Sunday night averaged 123.4 million viewers across television and streaming platforms. That shattered last year's mark of 115.1 million for Kansas City's last-play victory over Philadelphia and is a 7% increase.

The game was televised by CBS, Nickelodeon and Univision and streamed on Paramount+ as well as the NFL's digital platforms.

Nielsen also said a record 202.4 million watched at least part of the game across all networks, a 10% jump over last year's figure of 183.6 million.

The CBS broadcast averaged 120 million. The network's previous mark for its most-watched Super Bowl was 112.34 million for the 2016 game between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.

Some of the increase can be attributed to a change in the way viewers are counted. Nielsen began including out-of-home viewers in its ratings in 2020, but only from limited markets. That measurement expanded to all 50 states beginning this year.

Sunday's game was only the second of the 58 Super Bowls to go to overtime. The previous one was in 2017, when New England rallied from a 28-3 deficit and beat Atlanta 34-28.

“I was managing my expectations, but I had a bit of hope that it would happen,” CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said of overtime, which was set up when San Francisco kicker Jake Moody had an extra point blocked in the fourth quarter, which kept it a three-point game. “I can’t imagine a Super Bowl any better or more exciting than this.”

Kansas City sent it to overtime on Harrison Butker's field goal. After the 49ers kicked a field goal on the opening possession of OT, the Chiefs won when Patrick Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman.

This Super Bowl had the added attraction of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-swift-las-vegas-kelce-chiefs-49ers-2cd5b56b6959ed053056cd6f28a82d0a">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;in attendance. The pop superstar is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, a romance that has brought new fans to the NFL.

It was the second straight year the Super Bowl averaged more than 100 million viewers after a period where four of the five games before 2023 had fallen short of that number because of cord-cutting. That included 95.2 million for the 2021 Super Bowl between Tampa Bay and Kansas City, which was the game’s lowest TV-only average since 2007.

Univision averaged more than 2.2 million viewers, the highest Super Bowl viewership on record for a Spanish-language network. The Super Bowl has been televised in Spanish in the United States since 2014.

The NFL playoffs averaged 38.5 million viewers the first three weekends, a 9% increase over last year.

That followed a regular season that averaged 17.9 million, tied for the second highest since averages were first tracked in 1995.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707736613770.png" alt="Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 against the 49ers.(Brynn Anderson | AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)" />
 <figcaption>Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22 against the 49ers.(Brynn Anderson | AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —The longest Super Bowl game will also go down as the most-watched program in television history.According to Nielsen and Adobe Analytics,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2024-score-chiefs-49ers-49b5dca51c05ab0f259cef0d7da76c2d">Kansas City's 25-22 overtime victory over San Francisco</a>&nbsp;on Sunday night averaged 123.4 million viewers across television and streaming platforms. That shattered last year's mark of 115.1 million for Kansas City's last-play victory over Philadelphia and is a 7% increase.The game was televised by CBS, Nickelodeon and Univision and streamed on Paramount+ as well as the NFL's digital platforms.Nielsen also said a record 202.4 million watched at least part of the game across all networks, a 10% jump over last year's figure of 183.6 million.The CBS broadcast averaged 120 million. The network's previous mark for its most-watched Super Bowl was 112.34 million for the 2016 game between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers.Some of the increase can be attributed to a change in the way viewers are counted. Nielsen began including out-of-home viewers in its ratings in 2020, but only from limited markets. That measurement expanded to all 50 states beginning this year.Sunday's game was only the second of the 58 Super Bowls to go to overtime. The previous one was in 2017, when New England rallied from a 28-3 deficit and beat Atlanta 34-28.“I was managing my expectations, but I had a bit of hope that it would happen,” CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said of overtime, which was set up when San Francisco kicker Jake Moody had an extra point blocked in the fourth quarter, which kept it a three-point game. “I can’t imagine a Super Bowl any better or more exciting than this.”Kansas City sent it to overtime on Harrison Butker's field goal. After the 49ers kicked a field goal on the opening possession of OT, the Chiefs won when Patrick Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman.This Super Bowl had the added attraction of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-swift-las-vegas-kelce-chiefs-49ers-2cd5b56b6959ed053056cd6f28a82d0a">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;in attendance. The pop superstar is dating Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, a romance that has brought new fans to the NFL.It was the second straight year the Super Bowl averaged more than 100 million viewers after a period where four of the five games before 2023 had fallen short of that number because of cord-cutting. That included 95.2 million for the 2021 Super Bowl between Tampa Bay and Kansas City, which was the game’s lowest TV-only average since 2007.Univision averaged more than 2.2 million viewers, the highest Super Bowl viewership on record for a Spanish-language network. The Super Bowl has been televised in Spanish in the United States since 2014.The NFL playoffs averaged 38.5 million viewers the first three weekends, a 9% increase over last year.That followed a regular season that averaged 17.9 million, tied for the second highest since averages were first tracked in 1995.

Super Bowl thriller: Most-watched program ever, averaging 123.4 million viewers

KANSAS CITY — Two people died in an accident just after 1:30a.m. Monday in Kansas City.

A Chevrolet Malibu was eastbound on Martin Luther King at a high rate of speed, according to&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

The eastbound car crossed the double yellow center line into oncoming traffic. The Malibu was struck on the passenger side by a westbound Chevrolet Trax. 

The Malibu exited the roadway and struck a utility pole before coming to rest. EMS transported the unrestrained driver and unrestrained passenger of the Malibu to a local hospital where they were both pronounced deceased. 

EMS also transported the driver and passenger of the Trax to a local hospital in serious condition. The accident is still under investigation. Police have not released names of the victims. This is fatality #15 and #16 in KCMO compared to #5 at this time last year.

KANSAS CITY — Two people died in an accident just after 1:30a.m. Monday in Kansas City.A Chevrolet Malibu was eastbound on Martin Luther King at a high rate of speed, according to&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.The eastbound car crossed the double yellow center line into oncoming traffic. The Malibu was struck on the passenger side by a westbound Chevrolet Trax. The Malibu exited the roadway and struck a utility pole before coming to rest. EMS transported the unrestrained driver and unrestrained passenger of the Malibu to a local hospital where they were both pronounced deceased. EMS also transported the driver and passenger of the Trax to a local hospital in serious condition. The accident is still under investigation. Police have not released names of the victims. This is fatality #15 and #16 in KCMO compared to #5 at this time last year.

Police: Two dead after wrong-way crash in Kansas City

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;fired two missiles at a ship carrying corn bound for a port in Iran on Monday, causing minor damage but no injuries to its crew, authorities said.

The attack on the Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier Star Iris shows just how widely the Houthis now target ships traveling through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the two waterways.

The Star Iris had been heading from Brazil to Bandar Khomeini in Iran, the main backer and armer of the Houthis in Yemen's yearslong war.

“The group owner and operator regularly trade bulk cargo with Iran, so this was assessed to be the likely destination,” said Ambrey, a private security firm. Ambrey added that the Star Iris sustained damage to its starboard side in the attack.

The Houthis sought to describe the Star Iris as an “American” vessel, and said they targeted the ship with multiple missiles. The Star Iris' ultimate owner, Star Bulk Carriers Corp. of Athens, Greece, is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York. It did not respond to a request for comment.

Days earlier, another ship owned by Star Bulk, the Star Nasia,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attack-iran-us-e1c74b063a59fa4417d47feb5ab369cc">came under attack from the Houthis</a>.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;fired two missiles at a ship carrying corn bound for a port in Iran on Monday, causing minor damage but no injuries to its crew, authorities said.The attack on the Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-operated bulk carrier Star Iris shows just how widely the Houthis now target ships traveling through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the two waterways.The Star Iris had been heading from Brazil to Bandar Khomeini in Iran, the main backer and armer of the Houthis in Yemen's yearslong war.“The group owner and operator regularly trade bulk cargo with Iran, so this was assessed to be the likely destination,” said Ambrey, a private security firm. Ambrey added that the Star Iris sustained damage to its starboard side in the attack.The Houthis sought to describe the Star Iris as an “American” vessel, and said they targeted the ship with multiple missiles. The Star Iris' ultimate owner, Star Bulk Carriers Corp. of Athens, Greece, is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York. It did not respond to a request for comment.Days earlier, another ship owned by Star Bulk, the Star Nasia,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attack-iran-us-e1c74b063a59fa4417d47feb5ab369cc">came under attack from the Houthis</a>.The Houthis' military “will not hesitate to carry out more operations in retaliation to the Zionist crimes against our brothers in the Gaza Strip, as well as in response to the ongoing American-British aggression against our dear country,” Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a statement after the attack.Iran did not acknowledge the Star Iris' destination, though the U.S. military's Central Command did in a statement early Tuesday. Central Command identified its cargo as Brazilian corn bound for Iran. Corn is a major Brazilian export to Iran, likely used in animal feed.The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which oversees Mideast waters, reported the attack, saying it happened while the Star Iris was traveling south through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that separates East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.The ship's captain “reports his vessel was attacked by two missiles and reports minor damage,” the UKMTO said. “Vessel and crew are safe. Vessel proceeding to next port of call.”The attack on the Star Iris follows days in which no Houthi attacks on ships were reported. It's unclear what caused the pause, though the U.S. and British militaries have conducted multiple rounds of airstrikes targeting the Houthis' missile arsenals and launch sites in territory they hold.