KANSAS CITY (AP) — After years of criticizing mail voting and so-called ballot harvesting as ripe for fraud, Republicans at the top of the party want to change course.

They are poised to launch aggressive get-out-the-vote campaigns for 2024 that employ just those strategies, attempting to match the emphasis on early voting Democrats have used for years to lock in many of their supporters well ahead of Election Day. The goal is to to persuade voters who support GOP candidates that early voting techniques are secure and to make sure they are able to return their ballots in time to be counted, thus putting less pressure on Election Day turnout efforts.

It marks a notable shift from the party's rhetoric since 2020, when then-President Donald Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-election-2020-ap-fact-check-elections-voting-fraud-and-irregularities-8c5db90960815f91f39fe115579570b4">routinely sowing doubt about mail voting</a>&nbsp;and encouraging his voters to wait and vote in-person on Election Day. As recently as last year, Republican activists peddling the stolen election narrative were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-government-and-politics-election-2020-55f4744b484919cd20d4d5e8d72e444e?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_03">telling GOP voters</a>&nbsp;who received mail ballots to hold onto them and turn them in at their polling place on Election Day rather than use mail or drop boxes.

Now Trump is asking donors to chip in for his “ballot harvesting fund” – saying in a fundraising email, “Either we ballot harvest where we can, or you can say goodbye to America!”

Republicans say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-georgia-31624728042effd17f6ced32dfbf188d">the shift is needed</a>&nbsp;to ensure GOP victories up and down the 2024 ballot, arguing they cannot afford to give Democrats any advantage. At the same time, they acknowledge skepticism from many of their own voters conditioned by false claims of widespread voter fraud from Trump and others.

Across the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-indiana-ebba330c4a46c81b77b7feb564f03737">Republican-controlled legislatures</a>&nbsp;have acted against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-voting-rights-election-2020-2caf9b85bec73c807ecea15775f6da63">early voting</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-ohio-fraud-ad6eaaca489d39aa4b6e63c2ce413bf8">shortening windows</a>&nbsp;for returning mail ballots, banning or limiting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-6b1315110a7cc5c09055793581ee4ac2">the use of drop boxes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-elections-absentee-ballot-harvesting-91c4e5d67f9169e1a2104813b1fe133f">criminalizing third-party ballot collection</a>.

In announcing a “Bank Your Vote” initiative for 2024, Republican National Committee Chairwoman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-republican-national-convention-united-states-government-2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-ab2a2c94ff0f110e3c45c37cdf695695">Ronna McDaniel</a>&nbsp;said the party “has never said ‘don’t vote early,'” but acknowledged the GOP will have to work to shift voters' perceptions.

“That certainly is a challenge if you have people in your ecosystem saying, ‘Don’t vote early or don’t vote by mail,’ and those cross messages do have an impact,” McDaniel told reporters Wednesday. “I don’t think you’re seeing that heading into 2024. I think you’re seeing all of us singing from the same songbook.”

The nationwide GOP plan emphasizes “in-person early voting, absentee voting, and ballot harvesting where legal,” while also pledging “to fight against bad ballot harvesting laws.” Republicans use the term to describe when someone else returns a mailed ballot on behalf of another voter, especially third parties that gather multiple ballots.

McDaniel emphasized she remains opposed to ballot collection, and she said the party would deploy an army of poll watchers and election monitors to reassure Republican voters that their ballots will be protected.

“Do I think it’s the most secure way of voting? No,” McDaniel said. “But if it’s the law, we’re going to have to do it just like the Democrats are.”

The challenge will be providing a consistent message that reassures GOP voters.

The same day McDaniel announced her initiative, Republicans in Congress were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/district-of-columbia-voting-elections-republicans-ca212cd42f2f4186a53cd6630e63db49">holding a hearing</a>&nbsp;considering legislation that, among other things, would ban ballot collection in the District of Columbia. GOP state lawmakers around the country have chipped away at advanced voting opportunities since 2020. Some state and local election Republicans have gone further, advocating for just a single day of voting.

After the 2020 presidential election, the movie “2000 Mules” was a popular video that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-covid-technology-health-arizona-e1b49d2311bf900f44fa5c6dac406762">made various debunked claims</a>&nbsp;about mail ballots, drop boxes and ballot collection. Even the co-chair of the new GOP strategy, U. S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., has been a critic. In November, he issued a call on social media to “End ballot harvesting.”

Nonetheless, McDaniel noted that Republican presidential candidates,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-trump-election-lies-explainer-816a43ed964e6d35f03b0930e6e56c82?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_03">including Trump</a>, have been talking about the importance of advance voting and ballot collection.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a high-profile GOP contender, recently told a voter he planned to launch his own “ballot harvesting” effort, according to video posted online by a Washington Post reporter. DeSantis said he wasn’t going to “fight with one hand tied behind my back.”

The Trump and DeSantis campaigns did not respond to messages seeking details about ballot collection plans.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ron-desantis-legislation-florida-elections-a9737fcc3eab5aedc572fbcc7c19b984">Florida</a>&nbsp;is among the mostly Republican-led states that have sought to ban or limit the practice in recent years, despite the GOP's reliance there on older, more conservative voters who prefer voting methods other than casting Election Day ballots.

Since the 2020 election, lawmakers in 31 states have introduced 124 bills that would restrict third-party ballot returns, according to data collected by the Voting Rights Lab, which tracks voting-related legislation in the states. Of those, 14 bills in 11 states have been enacted. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-covid-health-crime-florida-5fad57fac85e0944b6e8eeb423b195b7">one DeSantis himself signed</a>&nbsp;that makes it a felony for an individual to collect more than two mail ballots other than the person’s own or one belonging to an immediate family member.

While some states are silent on the issue, 31 states allow someone other than the voter to return a ballot on behalf of another voter. Nine limit how many ballots one person can return, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Many states limit ballot handling to a family member, household member or caregiver.

In California, efforts to lock in the early vote could be decisive next year in a string of U.S. House districts, most of them in the southern California suburbs, that are expected to play a pivotal role in determining control of the chamber. California is a Democratic stronghold, but Republicans retain pockets of strength across rural and small-town areas and the Central Valley farm belt, while the state's suburban congressional districts have yielded many tights races in recent election cycles.

As many as nine congressional seats are considered competitive, and several races will play out in districts won by President Joe Biden but where the seat is held by a Republican. Each of California’s 22 million registered voters is mailed a ballot one month before Election Day.

“In any close election, the ability to capture absentee votes becomes extremely important, especially in a state like ours, where every single voter has a ballot in their home,” conservative activist Jon Fleishman said.

Democrats were critical of the new GOP effort after years of messaging by Republicans against mail voting.

“Donald Trump and extremist Republicans have spent years telling lies about elections to justify their losses. That includes demonizing mail ballots and ballot collection,” said Jena Griswold, Colorado’s secretary of state and head of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State. “These hypocritical extremists are only interested in spreading chaos and trying to gain power at any cost.”

Top Republicans must make the case within their own ranks, said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C.

“We’ve got to have a change of culture among Republican voters,” said Hudson, who chairs the House GOP’s national campaign committee. “And it’s going to require us all on the same page.”

KANSAS CITY (AP) — After years of criticizing mail voting and so-called ballot harvesting as ripe for fraud, Republicans at the top of the party want to change course.They are poised to launch aggressive get-out-the-vote campaigns for 2024 that employ just those strategies, attempting to match the emphasis on early voting Democrats have used for years to lock in many of their supporters well ahead of Election Day. The goal is to to persuade voters who support GOP candidates that early voting techniques are secure and to make sure they are able to return their ballots in time to be counted, thus putting less pressure on Election Day turnout efforts.It marks a notable shift from the party's rhetoric since 2020, when then-President Donald Trump was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-election-2020-ap-fact-check-elections-voting-fraud-and-irregularities-8c5db90960815f91f39fe115579570b4">routinely sowing doubt about mail voting</a>&nbsp;and encouraging his voters to wait and vote in-person on Election Day. As recently as last year, Republican activists peddling the stolen election narrative were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-health-government-and-politics-election-2020-55f4744b484919cd20d4d5e8d72e444e?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_03">telling GOP voters</a>&nbsp;who received mail ballots to hold onto them and turn them in at their polling place on Election Day rather than use mail or drop boxes.Now Trump is asking donors to chip in for his “ballot harvesting fund” – saying in a fundraising email, “Either we ballot harvest where we can, or you can say goodbye to America!”Republicans say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-georgia-31624728042effd17f6ced32dfbf188d">the shift is needed</a>&nbsp;to ensure GOP victories up and down the 2024 ballot, arguing they cannot afford to give Democrats any advantage. At the same time, they acknowledge skepticism from many of their own voters conditioned by false claims of widespread voter fraud from Trump and others.Across the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-indiana-ebba330c4a46c81b77b7feb564f03737">Republican-controlled legislatures</a>&nbsp;have acted against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-coronavirus-pandemic-voting-rights-election-2020-2caf9b85bec73c807ecea15775f6da63">early voting</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-donald-trump-ohio-fraud-ad6eaaca489d39aa4b6e63c2ce413bf8">shortening windows</a>&nbsp;for returning mail ballots, banning or limiting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-kansas-state-government-6b1315110a7cc5c09055793581ee4ac2">the use of drop boxes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mississippi-elections-absentee-ballot-harvesting-91c4e5d67f9169e1a2104813b1fe133f">criminalizing third-party ballot collection</a>.In announcing a “Bank Your Vote” initiative for 2024, Republican National Committee Chairwoman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-republican-national-convention-united-states-government-2022-midterm-elections-donald-trump-ab2a2c94ff0f110e3c45c37cdf695695">Ronna McDaniel</a>&nbsp;said the party “has never said ‘don’t vote early,'” but acknowledged the GOP will have to work to shift voters' perceptions.“That certainly is a challenge if you have people in your ecosystem saying, ‘Don’t vote early or don’t vote by mail,’ and those cross messages do have an impact,” McDaniel told reporters Wednesday. “I don’t think you’re seeing that heading into 2024. I think you’re seeing all of us singing from the same songbook.”The nationwide GOP plan emphasizes “in-person early voting, absentee voting, and ballot harvesting where legal,” while also pledging “to fight against bad ballot harvesting laws.” Republicans use the term to describe when someone else returns a mailed ballot on behalf of another voter, especially third parties that gather multiple ballots.McDaniel emphasized she remains opposed to ballot collection, and she said the party would deploy an army of poll watchers and election monitors to reassure Republican voters that their ballots will be protected.“Do I think it’s the most secure way of voting? No,” McDaniel said. “But if it’s the law, we’re going to have to do it just like the Democrats are.”The challenge will be providing a consistent message that reassures GOP voters.The same day McDaniel announced her initiative, Republicans in Congress were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/district-of-columbia-voting-elections-republicans-ca212cd42f2f4186a53cd6630e63db49">holding a hearing</a>&nbsp;considering legislation that, among other things, would ban ballot collection in the District of Columbia. GOP state lawmakers around the country have chipped away at advanced voting opportunities since 2020. Some state and local election Republicans have gone further, advocating for just a single day of voting.After the 2020 presidential election, the movie “2000 Mules” was a popular video that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-covid-technology-health-arizona-e1b49d2311bf900f44fa5c6dac406762">made various debunked claims</a>&nbsp;about mail ballots, drop boxes and ballot collection. Even the co-chair of the new GOP strategy, U. S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., has been a critic. In November, he issued a call on social media to “End ballot harvesting.”Nonetheless, McDaniel noted that Republican presidential candidates,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-riot-trump-election-lies-explainer-816a43ed964e6d35f03b0930e6e56c82?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=RelatedStories&amp;utm_campaign=position_03">including Trump</a>, have been talking about the importance of advance voting and ballot collection.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a high-profile GOP contender, recently told a voter he planned to launch his own “ballot harvesting” effort, according to video posted online by a Washington Post reporter. DeSantis said he wasn’t going to “fight with one hand tied behind my back.”The Trump and DeSantis campaigns did not respond to messages seeking details about ballot collection plans.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ron-desantis-legislation-florida-elections-a9737fcc3eab5aedc572fbcc7c19b984">Florida</a>&nbsp;is among the mostly Republican-led states that have sought to ban or limit the practice in recent years, despite the GOP's reliance there on older, more conservative voters who prefer voting methods other than casting Election Day ballots.Since the 2020 election, lawmakers in 31 states have introduced 124 bills that would restrict third-party ballot returns, according to data collected by the Voting Rights Lab, which tracks voting-related legislation in the states. Of those, 14 bills in 11 states have been enacted. That includes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-covid-health-crime-florida-5fad57fac85e0944b6e8eeb423b195b7">one DeSantis himself signed</a>&nbsp;that makes it a felony for an individual to collect more than two mail ballots other than the person’s own or one belonging to an immediate family member.While some states are silent on the issue, 31 states allow someone other than the voter to return a ballot on behalf of another voter. Nine limit how many ballots one person can return, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Many states limit ballot handling to a family member, household member or caregiver.In California, efforts to lock in the early vote could be decisive next year in a string of U.S. House districts, most of them in the southern California suburbs, that are expected to play a pivotal role in determining control of the chamber. California is a Democratic stronghold, but Republicans retain pockets of strength across rural and small-town areas and the Central Valley farm belt, while the state's suburban congressional districts have yielded many tights races in recent election cycles.As many as nine congressional seats are considered competitive, and several races will play out in districts won by President Joe Biden but where the seat is held by a Republican. Each of California’s 22 million registered voters is mailed a ballot one month before Election Day.“In any close election, the ability to capture absentee votes becomes extremely important, especially in a state like ours, where every single voter has a ballot in their home,” conservative activist Jon Fleishman said.Democrats were critical of the new GOP effort after years of messaging by Republicans against mail voting.“Donald Trump and extremist Republicans have spent years telling lies about elections to justify their losses. That includes demonizing mail ballots and ballot collection,” said Jena Griswold, Colorado’s secretary of state and head of the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State. “These hypocritical extremists are only interested in spreading chaos and trying to gain power at any cost.”Top Republicans must make the case within their own ranks, said Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C.“We’ve got to have a change of culture among Republican voters,” said Hudson, who chairs the House GOP’s national campaign committee. “And it’s going to require us all on the same page.”___

GOP set to encourage early voting, mail balloting after years of opposite messaging

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal work accident at a Kansas City-area landfill have identified the victim as 16-year-old William M. Hampton of Lee’s Summit, according to a statement from Lee's Summit Police.

Just after 10a.m. Thursday,&nbsp;officers and emergency crews responded to the Lee’s Summit Resource Recovery Park in the 2100 block of SE Hamblen Road on the report of an injured person, according to Lee's Summit&nbsp; Police.

&nbsp;When officers arrived, they located Hampton, an employee of a private company who had become pinned between a tractor trailer rig and its trailer. 

EMS transported the injured boy to a local trauma center where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; The

The incident occurred on property within the Lee’s Summit Resource Recovery Park leased from the City of Lee’s Summit by a private third-party company.

The child safety division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is now responsible for the investigation, according to police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686437721687.png" alt="The child safety division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is now responsible for the investigation, according to police.Google image" />
 <figcaption>The child safety division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is now responsible for the investigation, according to police.Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal work accident at a Kansas City-area landfill have identified the victim as 16-year-old William M. Hampton of Lee’s Summit, according to a statement from Lee's Summit Police.Just after 10a.m. Thursday,&nbsp;officers and emergency crews responded to the Lee’s Summit Resource Recovery Park in the 2100 block of SE Hamblen Road on the report of an injured person, according to Lee's Summit&nbsp; Police.&nbsp;When officers arrived, they located Hampton, an employee of a private company who had become pinned between a tractor trailer rig and its trailer. EMS transported the injured boy to a local trauma center where he was pronounced dead.&nbsp; TheThe incident occurred on property within the Lee’s Summit Resource Recovery Park leased from the City of Lee’s Summit by a private third-party company.The child safety division of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is now responsible for the investigation, according to police.

Police ID 16-year-old who died in work accident at KC-area landfill

FUERTH, Germany (AP) — The artificial intelligence chatbot asked the believers in the fully packed St. Paul's church in the Bavarian town of Fuerth to rise from the pews and praise the Lord.

The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by an avatar of a bearded Black man on a huge screen above the altar, then began preaching to the more than 300 people who had shown up on Friday morning for an experimental Lutheran church service almost entirely generated by AI.

“Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year's convention of Protestants in Germany," the avatar said with an expressionless face and monotonous voice.

The 40-minute service — including the sermon, prayers and music — was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna.

“I conceived this service — but actually I rather accompanied it, because I would say about 98% comes from the machine,” the 29-year-old scholar told The Associated Press.

The AI church service was one of hundreds of events at the convention of Protestants in the Bavarian towns of Nuremberg and the neighboring Fuerth, and it drew such immense interest that people formed a long queue outside the 19th-century, neo-Gothic building an hour before it began.

The convention itself — Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag in German — takes place every two years in the summer at a different place in Germany and draws tens of thousands of believers to pray, sing and discuss their faith. They also talk about current world affairs and look for solutions to key issues, which this year included global warming, the war in Ukraine — and artificial intelligence.

This year's gathering is taking place from Wednesday to Sunday under the motto “Now is the time.” That slogan was one of the sentences Simmerlein fed ChatGPT when he asked the chatbot to develop the sermon.

“I told the artificial intelligence ‘We are at the church congress, you are a preacher … what would a church service look like?’” Simmerlein said. He also asked for psalms to be included, as well as prayers and a blessing at the end.

“You end up with a pretty solid church service,” Simmerlein said, sounding almost surprised by the success of his experiment.

Indeed, the believers in the church listened attentively as the artificial intelligence preached about leaving the past behind, focusing on the challenges of the present, overcoming fear of death, and never losing trust in Jesus Christ.

The entire service was “led” by four different avatars on the screen, two young women, and two young men.

At times, the AI-generated avatar inadvertently drew laughter as when it used platitudes and told the churchgoers with a deadpan expression that in order “to keep our faith, we must pray and go to church regularly.”

Some people enthusiastically videotaped the event with their cell phones, while others looked on more critically and refused to speak along loudly during The Lord's Prayer.

Heiderose Schmidt, a 54-year-old who works in IT, said she was excited and curious when the service started but found it increasingly off-putting as it went along.

“There was no heart and no soul,” she said. “The avatars showed no emotions at all, had no body language and were talking so fast and monotonously that it was very hard for me to concentrate on what they said.”

“But maybe it is different for the younger generation who grew up with all of this,” Schmidt added.

Marc Jansen, a 31-year-old Lutheran pastor from Troisdorf near the western German city of Cologne, brought a group of teenagers from his congregation to St. Paul. He was more impressed by the experiment.

“I had actually imagined it to be worse. But I was positively surprised how well it worked. Also the language of the AI worked well, even though it was still a bit bumpy at times," Jansen said.

What the young pastor missed, however, was any kind of emotion or spirituality, which he says is essential when he writes his own sermons.

Anna Puzio, 28, a researcher on the ethics of technology from the University of Twente in The Netherlands, also attended the service. She said she sees a lot of opportunities in the use of AI in religion — such as making religious services more easily available and inclusive for believers who for various reasons may not be able experience their faith in person with others in houses of worship.

However, she noted there are also dangers when it comes to the use of AI in religion.

“The challenge that I see is that AI is very human-like and that it's easy to be deceived by it," she said.

“Also, we don’t have only one Christian opinion, and that’s what AI has to represent as well,” she said. "We have to be careful that it's not misused for such purposes as to spread only one opinion.”

Simmerlein said it is not his intention to replace religious leaders with artificial intelligence. Rather, he sees the use of AI as a way to help them with their everyday work in their congregations.

Some pastors seek inspiration in literature, he says, so why not also ask AI for ideas regarding an upcoming sermon. Others would like to have more time for individual spiritual guidance of their parishioners, so why not speed up the process of writing the sermon with the help of a chatbot to make time for other important duties.

“Artificial intelligence will increasingly take over our lives, in all its facets,” Simmerlein said. “And that’s why it’s useful to learn to deal with it.”

However, the experimental church service also showed the limits to implementing artificial AI in church, or in religion. There was no real interaction between the believers and the chatbot, which wasn't able to respond to the laughter or any other reactions by the churchgoers as a human pastor would have been able to do.

“The pastor is in the congregation, she lives with them, she buries the people, she knows them from the beginning," Simmerlein said. “Artificial intelligence cannot do that. It does not know the congregation.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686446907767.png" alt="People attend a church service in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)" />
 <figcaption>People attend a church service in Nuremberg, Germany, Friday, June 9, 2023. Hundreds of German Protestants have attended a church service in Bavaria that was generated almost entirely by artificial intelligence. The service was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna. The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by different avatars on a huge screen above the altar, led the more than 300 people through 40 minutes of prayer, music, sermons and blessings. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)</figcaption>
 </figure>FUERTH, Germany (AP) — The artificial intelligence chatbot asked the believers in the fully packed St. Paul's church in the Bavarian town of Fuerth to rise from the pews and praise the Lord.The ChatGPT chatbot, personified by an avatar of a bearded Black man on a huge screen above the altar, then began preaching to the more than 300 people who had shown up on Friday morning for an experimental Lutheran church service almost entirely generated by AI.“Dear friends, it is an honor for me to stand here and preach to you as the first artificial intelligence at this year's convention of Protestants in Germany," the avatar said with an expressionless face and monotonous voice.The 40-minute service — including the sermon, prayers and music — was created by ChatGPT and Jonas Simmerlein, a theologian and philosopher from the University of Vienna.“I conceived this service — but actually I rather accompanied it, because I would say about 98% comes from the machine,” the 29-year-old scholar told The Associated Press.The AI church service was one of hundreds of events at the convention of Protestants in the Bavarian towns of Nuremberg and the neighboring Fuerth, and it drew such immense interest that people formed a long queue outside the 19th-century, neo-Gothic building an hour before it began.The convention itself — Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag in German — takes place every two years in the summer at a different place in Germany and draws tens of thousands of believers to pray, sing and discuss their faith. They also talk about current world affairs and look for solutions to key issues, which this year included global warming, the war in Ukraine — and artificial intelligence.This year's gathering is taking place from Wednesday to Sunday under the motto “Now is the time.” That slogan was one of the sentences Simmerlein fed ChatGPT when he asked the chatbot to develop the sermon.“I told the artificial intelligence ‘We are at the church congress, you are a preacher … what would a church service look like?’” Simmerlein said. He also asked for psalms to be included, as well as prayers and a blessing at the end.“You end up with a pretty solid church service,” Simmerlein said, sounding almost surprised by the success of his experiment.Indeed, the believers in the church listened attentively as the artificial intelligence preached about leaving the past behind, focusing on the challenges of the present, overcoming fear of death, and never losing trust in Jesus Christ.The entire service was “led” by four different avatars on the screen, two young women, and two young men.At times, the AI-generated avatar inadvertently drew laughter as when it used platitudes and told the churchgoers with a deadpan expression that in order “to keep our faith, we must pray and go to church regularly.”Some people enthusiastically videotaped the event with their cell phones, while others looked on more critically and refused to speak along loudly during The Lord's Prayer.Heiderose Schmidt, a 54-year-old who works in IT, said she was excited and curious when the service started but found it increasingly off-putting as it went along.“There was no heart and no soul,” she said. “The avatars showed no emotions at all, had no body language and were talking so fast and monotonously that it was very hard for me to concentrate on what they said.”“But maybe it is different for the younger generation who grew up with all of this,” Schmidt added.Marc Jansen, a 31-year-old Lutheran pastor from Troisdorf near the western German city of Cologne, brought a group of teenagers from his congregation to St. Paul. He was more impressed by the experiment.“I had actually imagined it to be worse. But I was positively surprised how well it worked. Also the language of the AI worked well, even though it was still a bit bumpy at times," Jansen said.What the young pastor missed, however, was any kind of emotion or spirituality, which he says is essential when he writes his own sermons.Anna Puzio, 28, a researcher on the ethics of technology from the University of Twente in The Netherlands, also attended the service. She said she sees a lot of opportunities in the use of AI in religion — such as making religious services more easily available and inclusive for believers who for various reasons may not be able experience their faith in person with others in houses of worship.However, she noted there are also dangers when it comes to the use of AI in religion.“The challenge that I see is that AI is very human-like and that it's easy to be deceived by it," she said.“Also, we don’t have only one Christian opinion, and that’s what AI has to represent as well,” she said. "We have to be careful that it's not misused for such purposes as to spread only one opinion.”Simmerlein said it is not his intention to replace religious leaders with artificial intelligence. Rather, he sees the use of AI as a way to help them with their everyday work in their congregations.Some pastors seek inspiration in literature, he says, so why not also ask AI for ideas regarding an upcoming sermon. Others would like to have more time for individual spiritual guidance of their parishioners, so why not speed up the process of writing the sermon with the help of a chatbot to make time for other important duties.“Artificial intelligence will increasingly take over our lives, in all its facets,” Simmerlein said. “And that’s why it’s useful to learn to deal with it.”However, the experimental church service also showed the limits to implementing artificial AI in church, or in religion. There was no real interaction between the believers and the chatbot, which wasn't able to respond to the laughter or any other reactions by the churchgoers as a human pastor would have been able to do.“The pastor is in the congregation, she lives with them, she buries the people, she knows them from the beginning," Simmerlein said. “Artificial intelligence cannot do that. It does not know the congregation.”___

Can a chatbot preach? Hundreds attend church to find out

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;welcomed hundreds to the White House on Saturday for a delayed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pride-lgbtq-white-house-ddd40bb1a1110654b9d836e87507db51">Pride Month celebration</a>&nbsp;aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people that his administration has their back at a time when advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation, particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses.

The event, which the administration described as the largest Pride event hosted at the White House, was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed because of poor air quality from hazardous air flowing in from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-canada-quebec-smoke-new-york-washington-86eb7685c5330c548fd93891fffcfd65">Canadian wildfires</a>. But the haze that blanketed a huge swath of the East Coast this past week had lifted over the nation's capital, allowing the president and first lady Jill Biden to hold their South Lawn party.

“So today, I want to send a message to the entire community — especially to transgender children: You are loved. You are heard. You're understood. And you belong,” Biden said.

Pride Month is being celebrated this year as state lawmakers have introduced at least 525 bills and enacted 78 bills that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights.

That tally includes a recent flurry of bills that affect transgender people, including legislation recently passed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-desantis-florida-033556c6a4c301d9ad342c74a6410800">recently signed a bill</a>&nbsp;into that bans gender-affirming medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youths. Earlier in the week, a federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a law that DeSantis signed shortly before announcing that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-2024-presidential-election-live-updates-0495d567326db1e760179d01f1f7c45e">he was running for president.</a>

In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum last month signed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-transgender-pronouns-bill-senate-4e5df2f2c3c456e1f9b6a173c7cac4b7">a bill that prohibits public schools and government entities</a>&nbsp;from requiring teachers and employees to refer to transgender people by the pronouns they use. Burgum, who like DeSantis has made culture issues a central part of his tenure as governor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doug-burgum-north-dakota-president-1b187576423968c422d2adbd70c9b3dc">joined the White House primary field</a>.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/joshhelfgott/reels/?hl=en">Josh Helfgott</a>, an LGBTQ+ activist and social media influencer from New York City, said marking Pride Month at the White House felt like one of the most important moments of his life. But he said the tide of legislation added another layer to this year’s celebrations.

“Pride this year is so important because we cannot be silent when faced with hate and bigotry,” Helfgott said “The other side is so loud, incredibly loud. ”

Anjali Rimi of San Francisco attended the White House event with her mother, who recently immigrated from India.

Rimi came to the United States more than 20 years ago because, she said, she was shunned by family and society as a transgender person.

Times were tough in the United States, too, she said. She was pushed out of a job after she came out, was homeless for a time, and took asylum in Canada for about a decade before returning to the United States.

“It’s a moment that we are going to cherish for a lifetime,” said Rimi, an activist in San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. "This is a joyful moment, but it’s also one that reminds us that we have so much work to do.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686427144852.png" alt="White House photo" />
 <figcaption>White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;welcomed hundreds to the White House on Saturday for a delayed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-pride-lgbtq-white-house-ddd40bb1a1110654b9d836e87507db51">Pride Month celebration</a>&nbsp;aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people that his administration has their back at a time when advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation, particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses.(Click to watch a replay of the party)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F291855209850412%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=28" width="560" height="314" 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>The event, which the administration described as the largest Pride event hosted at the White House, was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed because of poor air quality from hazardous air flowing in from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-canada-quebec-smoke-new-york-washington-86eb7685c5330c548fd93891fffcfd65">Canadian wildfires</a>. But the haze that blanketed a huge swath of the East Coast this past week had lifted over the nation's capital, allowing the president and first lady Jill Biden to hold their South Lawn party.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">June 10, 2023. The largest Pride Month celebration ever held at the White House. <a href="https://t.co/UPs0PBBSZR">pic.twitter.com/UPs0PBBSZR</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1667701935284137985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“So today, I want to send a message to the entire community — especially to transgender children: You are loved. You are heard. You're understood. And you belong,” Biden said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Biden-Harris Administration stands with the LGBTQI+ community and has their backs in the face of these attacks. <a href="https://t.co/GX2hw0Fd4t">pic.twitter.com/GX2hw0Fd4t</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1667533172983185409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Pride Month is being celebrated this year as state lawmakers have introduced at least 525 bills and enacted 78 bills that whittle away at LGBTQ+ rights, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights.That tally includes a recent flurry of bills that affect transgender people, including legislation recently passed by Republican governors vying for the 2024 presidential nomination.In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-desantis-florida-033556c6a4c301d9ad342c74a6410800">recently signed a bill</a>&nbsp;into that bans gender-affirming medical care such as puberty blockers or hormone therapy for transgender youths. Earlier in the week, a federal judge temporarily blocked portions of a law that DeSantis signed shortly before announcing that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-2024-presidential-election-live-updates-0495d567326db1e760179d01f1f7c45e">he was running for president.</a>In North Dakota, Gov. Doug Burgum last month signed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-dakota-transgender-pronouns-bill-senate-4e5df2f2c3c456e1f9b6a173c7cac4b7">a bill that prohibits public schools and government entities</a>&nbsp;from requiring teachers and employees to refer to transgender people by the pronouns they use. Burgum, who like DeSantis has made culture issues a central part of his tenure as governor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doug-burgum-north-dakota-president-1b187576423968c422d2adbd70c9b3dc">joined the White House primary field</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, the People&#39;s House – your house – sends a clear message to the country and to the world. America is a nation of pride. <a href="https://t.co/ZZS9oTpDww">pic.twitter.com/ZZS9oTpDww</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1667715777145847808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://www.instagram.com/joshhelfgott/reels/?hl=en">Josh Helfgott</a>, an LGBTQ+ activist and social media influencer from New York City, said marking Pride Month at the White House felt like one of the most important moments of his life. But he said the tide of legislation added another layer to this year’s celebrations.“Pride this year is so important because we cannot be silent when faced with hate and bigotry,” Helfgott said “The other side is so loud, incredibly loud. ”Anjali Rimi of San Francisco attended the White House event with her mother, who recently immigrated from India.Rimi came to the United States more than 20 years ago because, she said, she was shunned by family and society as a transgender person.Times were tough in the United States, too, she said. She was pushed out of a job after she came out, was homeless for a time, and took asylum in Canada for about a decade before returning to the United States.“It’s a moment that we are going to cherish for a lifetime,” said Rimi, an activist in San Francisco’s LGBTQ+ community. "This is a joyful moment, but it’s also one that reminds us that we have so much work to do.”

🎥Biden marks LGBTQ+ Pride Month with White House lawn party

BOURBON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in Bourbon County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Ryan Simpson, 58, Hutchinson, was westbound on U.S. 54 at South 100 Road.

An eastbound Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Daniel Blake, 60, Fort Scott, failed to yield and turned in front of the motorcycle. The Harley Davidson overturned and struck the car.

Simpson was transported Via Christi where he was pronounced dead. EMS airlifted a passenger identified as Cynthia Simpson, 58, Hutchinson, to Freeman Hospital in Joplin. Blake was not injured. The Simpsons were not wearing helmets and Blake was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574443414576.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BOURBON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in Bourbon County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Ryan Simpson, 58, Hutchinson, was westbound on U.S. 54 at South 100 Road.An eastbound Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Daniel Blake, 60, Fort Scott, failed to yield and turned in front of the motorcycle. The Harley Davidson overturned and struck the car.Simpson was transported Via Christi where he was pronounced dead. EMS airlifted a passenger identified as Cynthia Simpson, 58, Hutchinson, to Freeman Hospital in Joplin. Blake was not injured. The Simpsons were not wearing helmets and Blake was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies in motorcycle, car crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY—The last of four young men involved in a 2019 shooting death in Wichita has been sentenced.

 District Judge David Dahl sentenced Pierce Jackson, 22 of Wichita, to 18-years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In July of 2022, Jackson pled guilty to aggravated robbery.

On August 19, 2019, Jerome Armbeck was shot and killed in an open field in the 4600 block of E. Boston. His brother had asked him to help catch some people who robbed him of his backpack during a marijuana sale. Orlando Howard shot Armbeck several times at the conclusion of a foot chase near Harry and Oliver.

Judge Dahl previously sentenced Howard to 165 months in prison following his guilty plea to second degree murder and aggravated robbery. 

Marcus Lamar pled guilty to aggravated robbery and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Tairyce Jones pled guilty to aggravated robbery. Lamar and Jones were each sentenced to 60 months in prison.

Howard had no criminal history prior to this incident. Jackson, however, had prior criminal history for aggravated robbery and robbery. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686232136723.png" alt="Jackson-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Jackson-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—The last of four young men involved in a 2019 shooting death in Wichita has been sentenced. District Judge David Dahl sentenced Pierce Jackson, 22 of Wichita, to 18-years in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In July of 2022, Jackson pled guilty to aggravated robbery.On August 19, 2019, Jerome Armbeck was shot and killed in an open field in the 4600 block of E. Boston. His brother had asked him to help catch some people who robbed him of his backpack during a marijuana sale. Orlando Howard shot Armbeck several times at the conclusion of a foot chase near Harry and Oliver.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622208321450.png" alt="Howard-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Howard-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Judge Dahl previously sentenced Howard to 165 months in prison following his guilty plea to second degree murder and aggravated robbery. Marcus Lamar pled guilty to aggravated robbery and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Tairyce Jones pled guilty to aggravated robbery. Lamar and Jones were each sentenced to 60 months in prison.Howard had no criminal history prior to this incident. Jackson, however, had prior criminal history for aggravated robbery and robbery.

Judge: 22-year-old going to prison for deadly Kan. robbery

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Brandon Edward&nbsp;Bumgarner, 26, Topeka, was southbound on Huxman Road. 

&nbsp;The car did not clear the stop sign properly at U.S. 24 and the driver failed to see a westbound 2001 Chevy Silverado driven by James Edward Haug, 60, Topeka.

The pickup struck the car on the driver's door and pushed it into the ditch.

Bumgarner was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported a passenger in the car Brendan Michael Barker, 26, Topeka, to Stormont Vail. Haug and a passenger in the pickup were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Saturday in Shawnee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Brandon Edward&nbsp;Bumgarner, 26, Topeka, was southbound on Huxman Road. &nbsp;The car did not clear the stop sign properly at U.S. 24 and the driver failed to see a westbound 2001 Chevy Silverado driven by James Edward Haug, 60, Topeka.The pickup struck the car on the driver's door and pushed it into the ditch.Bumgarner was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported a passenger in the car Brendan Michael Barker, 26, Topeka, to Stormont Vail. Haug and a passenger in the pickup were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after pickup, car crash

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating 3 suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before 12:30 a.m. Friday, a sheriff's deputy was on routine patrol on U.S. 75 near 170th initiated a traffic stop for 82mph&nbsp;in a 65 mph zone, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Upon making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, K-9 Carla was deployed and indicated on the vehicle.

 Upon completion of the investigation deputies arrested Joseph Castillo, 22, Independence, Kansas; Elian Nava, 22,&nbsp; Norfolk, Nebraska and Samantha Jay, 21, Independence, Kansas on requested charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686344041224.png" alt="Castillo-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Castillo-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating 3 suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop.Just before 12:30 a.m. Friday, a sheriff's deputy was on routine patrol on U.S. 75 near 170th initiated a traffic stop for 82mph&nbsp;in a 65 mph zone, according to Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686343960839.png" alt="Jay-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Jay-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, K-9 Carla was deployed and indicated on the vehicle.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686344136643.png" alt="Nava-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Nava-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> Upon completion of the investigation deputies arrested Joseph Castillo, 22, Independence, Kansas; Elian Nava, 22,&nbsp; Norfolk, Nebraska and Samantha Jay, 21, Independence, Kansas on requested charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Driving 82mph in a 65 zone leads to drug arrest

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

Just after 4a.m. crews responded to a house fire at 16253 West Briarwood Court near 135th St and Brougham Drive, according to a social media report.

Damage to the home is significant.&nbsp; No one was injured.&nbsp; Officials have not released a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686428203410.png" alt="Images courtesy Olathe Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Images courtesy Olathe Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a house fire in Olathe.Just after 4a.m. crews responded to a house fire at 16253 West Briarwood Court near 135th St and Brougham Drive, according to a social media report.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686428305665.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Damage to the home is significant.&nbsp; No one was injured.&nbsp; Officials have not released a damage estimate.

Significant damage reported in Kansas house fire

By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The two Republican U.S. senators from Kansas and a pair of Democratic U.S. senators from Wisconsin and Colorado endorsed legislation offering an alternative route for U.S. Food and Drug Administration review of new feed additives for livestock.

The bipartisan measure introduced by U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran of Kansas, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado would offer a pathway for manufacturers to seek FDA approval of additives tied to improving efficiency of meat and dairy production but don’t fit neatly into the federal agency’s regulated-as-drugs or regulated-as-foods categories.

“This legislation will help bolster the animal feed industry and make certain producers in Kansas and across the country have access to feed additives that will support animal nutrition,” Moran said. “By expanding research and reducing bureaucratic hurdles at the FDA, more of these products will be available to farmers, encouraging a stronger food supply chain.”

The objective would be to modernize the FDA pipeline for feed additives associated with production efficiency as well as waste management. Manufacturers have created additives responsive to heat stress in animals or to deal with presence of food-borne pathogens harmful to humans. Other products curtail nitrogen and phosphorus in cattle manure to help feedlot operators or reduce ammonia in swine waste to address odor problems.

The senators said the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/TAM23923.pdf">Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act</a>&nbsp;would set guardrails to ensure qualifying products were safe.

Marshall, a member of the Senate’s agriculture committee, said Kansas livestock producers were keen to take advantage of feed additives to “make more with less and leave the world safer, cleaner and healthier than they found it.”

“Since the feed industry doesn’t have a pathway to bring certain feed products to market, innovation that could be happening here is instead happening with our competitors abroad,” Marshall said.

U.S. beef and dairy competitors in South America, Europe and Asia have benefit of updated policies for introduction of feed additives.

Baldwin, a Democrat from the dairy state of Wisconsin, said new feed mixtures could assist producers striving to keep up with market demand while dealing with emissions associated with climate change.

“We know that there are innovative feed products that can help farmers reduce their environmental impact, but onerous bureaucratic processes are getting in the way of these products making it to our agriculture community in a timely way,” Baldwin said.

Bennet, the Colorado Democrat, said red tape at FDA left U.S. cattlemen and dairy farmers without feed options available to peers in exporting countries.

“We need to create a level playing field for Colorado’s livestock industry by giving them every available tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the sustainability of their farms and ranches,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686344582214.png" alt=" U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall of Kansas are part of a bipartisan group urging passage of legislation creating a new avenue for review of feed additives by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall of Kansas are part of a bipartisan group urging passage of legislation creating a new avenue for review of feed additives by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The two Republican U.S. senators from Kansas and a pair of Democratic U.S. senators from Wisconsin and Colorado endorsed legislation offering an alternative route for U.S. Food and Drug Administration review of new feed additives for livestock.The bipartisan measure introduced by U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran of Kansas, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado would offer a pathway for manufacturers to seek FDA approval of additives tied to improving efficiency of meat and dairy production but don’t fit neatly into the federal agency’s regulated-as-drugs or regulated-as-foods categories.“This legislation will help bolster the animal feed industry and make certain producers in Kansas and across the country have access to feed additives that will support animal nutrition,” Moran said. “By expanding research and reducing bureaucratic hurdles at the FDA, more of these products will be available to farmers, encouraging a stronger food supply chain.”The objective would be to modernize the FDA pipeline for feed additives associated with production efficiency as well as waste management. Manufacturers have created additives responsive to heat stress in animals or to deal with presence of food-borne pathogens harmful to humans. Other products curtail nitrogen and phosphorus in cattle manure to help feedlot operators or reduce ammonia in swine waste to address odor problems.The senators said the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/TAM23923.pdf">Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act</a>&nbsp;would set guardrails to ensure qualifying products were safe.Marshall, a member of the Senate’s agriculture committee, said Kansas livestock producers were keen to take advantage of feed additives to “make more with less and leave the world safer, cleaner and healthier than they found it.”“Since the feed industry doesn’t have a pathway to bring certain feed products to market, innovation that could be happening here is instead happening with our competitors abroad,” Marshall said.U.S. beef and dairy competitors in South America, Europe and Asia have benefit of updated policies for introduction of feed additives.Baldwin, a Democrat from the dairy state of Wisconsin, said new feed mixtures could assist producers striving to keep up with market demand while dealing with emissions associated with climate change.“We know that there are innovative feed products that can help farmers reduce their environmental impact, but onerous bureaucratic processes are getting in the way of these products making it to our agriculture community in a timely way,” Baldwin said.Bennet, the Colorado Democrat, said red tape at FDA left U.S. cattlemen and dairy farmers without feed options available to peers in exporting countries.“We need to create a level playing field for Colorado’s livestock industry by giving them every available tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the sustainability of their farms and ranches,” he said.

Moran, Marshall urge creation of new review process to vet livestock feed additives

By Shondiin Silversmith&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

For the first time in history, the White House has launched a national plan to address gender-based violence on a federal level, introducing seven strategic action plans to help communities across the United States.

“As long as there are women in this country and around the world who live in fear of violence, there’s more we have to do to fulfill this sacred commitment,” President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/National-Plan-to-End-GBV.pdf">said in the U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence</a>. “No one — no one, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, should experience abuse. Period. And if they do, they should have the services and support they need to get through it.”

Gender-based violence is a public safety and public health crisis, according to the White House, and it is affecting urban, suburban, rural and tribal communities across the U.S.

The national plan defines gender-based violence as any harmful threat or act directed at an individual or group based on actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity, sex characteristics or sexual orientation.

Gender-based violence impacts all populations, but the experiences of persons of color are disproportionately affected. The national plan reported that Black women and Indigenous women are killed by a current or former partner at a rate 2.5 times that of white women.

An estimated 56% of Indigenous women have reported experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime, more than 55% have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner and 49% have experienced stalking, according to the White House’s plan.

“Gender-based violence violates fundamental human rights, destroys communities, and fosters social inequities,” Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a press release. “Identifying and preventing these crimes is a top department priority, underscored by this first-ever national plan and the government’s collective commitment to this cause.”

The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey reported that more than half of women (54.3%) and nearly one-third (31%) of men in the United States had reported some form of sexual violence victimization in their lifetimes.

The rate of intimate partner violence of women was seven times the rate of men, according to National Crime Victimization Survey, and the rate of rape or sexual assault of women was also seven times the rate of men.

The White House launched the national plan on May 25, resulting from the Biden administration’s Gender Policy Council, which was established in 2021.

“Sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking are serious violent crimes that make our nation less equal and less just,” Acting Director Allison Randall of the Office on Violence Against Women&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-highlights-initiatives-prevent-and-address-gender-based-violence">said in a press release</a>.

“Only a comprehensive response that is deeply informed by survivors and historically marginalized communities can end gender-based violence,” Randall added.

The seven strategic pillars part of the national plan include: prevention; support, healing, safety, and well-being; economic security and housing stability; online safety; legal and justice systems; emergency preparedness and crisis response; and research and data.

The White House said that these strategies are building upon existing federal initiatives, and the national plan will provide an essential framework for strengthening ongoing federal action and interagency collaboration.

Each strategic pillar identifies different goals and objectives to help address gender-based violence. For instance, the prevention pillar outlines three goals which include: Enhancing and promoting gender-based violence prevention; enhancing dissemination and implementation of gender-based violence prevention strategies; and improving prevention efforts to change social norms that support or condone gender-based violence and to promote healthy and respectful relationships across the life course.

The national plan serves as a framework for federal agencies and other stakeholders working to end gender-based violence. It is intended to inform and guide federal and nonfederal entities’ research, policy development, program planning, service delivery, and other efforts.

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/blog/white-house-launches-national-plan-to-address-gender-based-violence-in-the-u-s/">Arizona Mirror</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686408349629.png" alt="Jennifer Klein is Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Gender Policy Council" />
 <figcaption>Jennifer Klein is Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Gender Policy Council</figcaption>
 </figure>By Shondiin Silversmith&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>For the first time in history, the White House has launched a national plan to address gender-based violence on a federal level, introducing seven strategic action plans to help communities across the United States.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to announce the launch of the first-ever U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, a critical roadmap to guide the Federal government’s future efforts to address and prevent GBV. 1/2<a href="https://t.co/qf39PRkaD2">https://t.co/qf39PRkaD2</a> <a href="https://t.co/ph2fug2YfQ">pic.twitter.com/ph2fug2YfQ</a>&mdash; White House Gender Policy Council (@WhiteHouseGPC) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouseGPC/status/1661818724947558400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“As long as there are women in this country and around the world who live in fear of violence, there’s more we have to do to fulfill this sacred commitment,” President Joe Biden&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/National-Plan-to-End-GBV.pdf">said in the U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence</a>. “No one — no one, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, should experience abuse. Period. And if they do, they should have the services and support they need to get through it.”Gender-based violence is a public safety and public health crisis, according to the White House, and it is affecting urban, suburban, rural and tribal communities across the U.S.The national plan defines gender-based violence as any harmful threat or act directed at an individual or group based on actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity, sex characteristics or sexual orientation.Gender-based violence impacts all populations, but the experiences of persons of color are disproportionately affected. The national plan reported that Black women and Indigenous women are killed by a current or former partner at a rate 2.5 times that of white women.An estimated 56% of Indigenous women have reported experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime, more than 55% have experienced physical violence by an intimate partner and 49% have experienced stalking, according to the White House’s plan.“Gender-based violence violates fundamental human rights, destroys communities, and fosters social inequities,” Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a press release. “Identifying and preventing these crimes is a top department priority, underscored by this first-ever national plan and the government’s collective commitment to this cause.”The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey reported that more than half of women (54.3%) and nearly one-third (31%) of men in the United States had reported some form of sexual violence victimization in their lifetimes.The rate of intimate partner violence of women was seven times the rate of men, according to National Crime Victimization Survey, and the rate of rape or sexual assault of women was also seven times the rate of men.The White House launched the national plan on May 25, resulting from the Biden administration’s Gender Policy Council, which was established in 2021.“Sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking are serious violent crimes that make our nation less equal and less just,” Acting Director Allison Randall of the Office on Violence Against Women&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-highlights-initiatives-prevent-and-address-gender-based-violence">said in a press release</a>.“Only a comprehensive response that is deeply informed by survivors and historically marginalized communities can end gender-based violence,” Randall added.The seven strategic pillars part of the national plan include: prevention; support, healing, safety, and well-being; economic security and housing stability; online safety; legal and justice systems; emergency preparedness and crisis response; and research and data.The White House said that these strategies are building upon existing federal initiatives, and the national plan will provide an essential framework for strengthening ongoing federal action and interagency collaboration.Each strategic pillar identifies different goals and objectives to help address gender-based violence. For instance, the prevention pillar outlines three goals which include: Enhancing and promoting gender-based violence prevention; enhancing dissemination and implementation of gender-based violence prevention strategies; and improving prevention efforts to change social norms that support or condone gender-based violence and to promote healthy and respectful relationships across the life course.The national plan serves as a framework for federal agencies and other stakeholders working to end gender-based violence. It is intended to inform and guide federal and nonfederal entities’ research, policy development, program planning, service delivery, and other efforts.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/blog/white-house-launches-national-plan-to-address-gender-based-violence-in-the-u-s/">Arizona Mirror</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/blog/white-house-launches-national-plan-to-address-gender-based-violence-in-the-u-s/">Arizona Mirror</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

White House launches national plan to address gender-based violence 

MANCHESTER, Mo. (AP) — A 54-year-old man died after eating raw oysters from a seafood stand in the St. Louis suburb of Manchester, health officials announced Friday.

Officials are urging the public to dispose of any oysters purchased recently from the business.

The culprit in Thursday's death is the Vibrio bacteria, which doesn’t make an oyster look, smell, or taste any different. The oysters were probably already contaminated when they arrived at the stand, St. Louis County Public Health said in a news release. The man had eaten them sometime in the past week.

The release said the business is cooperating with the investigation and that there is no evidence that the business did anything to contaminate them. Health officials are trying to determine their source.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 80,000 people get vibriosis in the U.S. each year, and about 100 people die from it.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686408636553.png" alt="Image of oblong-shaped, Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria -CDC" />
 <figcaption>Image of oblong-shaped, Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria -CDC</figcaption>
 </figure>MANCHESTER, Mo. (AP) — A 54-year-old man died after eating raw oysters from a seafood stand in the St. Louis suburb of Manchester, health officials announced Friday.Officials are urging the public to dispose of any oysters purchased recently from the business.The culprit in Thursday's death is the Vibrio bacteria, which doesn’t make an oyster look, smell, or taste any different. The oysters were probably already contaminated when they arrived at the stand, St. Louis County Public Health said in a news release. The man had eaten them sometime in the past week.The release said the business is cooperating with the investigation and that there is no evidence that the business did anything to contaminate them. Health officials are trying to determine their source.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 80,000 people get vibriosis in the U.S. each year, and about 100 people die from it.

54-year-old dies after eating raw oysters from stand in Missouri

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting in Kansas City.

Just before 9p.m. a Kansas City Police officer called for officer assistance at 31st and Van Brunt Blvd in Kansas City, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Responding officers were then informed shots had been fired. Upon arrival of the responding officers, they observed one officer and five individuals.

Three of the individuals had apparent gunshot wounds. A black male was critically injured and officers provided first aid but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported the remaining wounded individuals to a area hospitals. One of the victims, a woman died at the hospital. No officers were injured.

Authorities have not released the names of the victims or additional details.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686399119468.png" alt="Police on the scene of the fatal officer shooting -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the fatal officer shooting -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting in Kansas City.Just before 9p.m. a Kansas City Police officer called for officer assistance at 31st and Van Brunt Blvd in Kansas City, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.Responding officers were then informed shots had been fired. Upon arrival of the responding officers, they observed one officer and five individuals.Three of the individuals had apparent gunshot wounds. A black male was critically injured and officers provided first aid but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported the remaining wounded individuals to a area hospitals. One of the victims, a woman died at the hospital. No officers were injured.Authorities have not released the names of the victims or additional details.The Missouri State Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation.

2 dead following Kansas City officer-involved shooting 

MIAMI (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;improperly shared a Pentagon “plan of attack” and a classified map related to a military operation, according to a sweeping 37-count felony indictment related to the mishandling of classified documents that was unsealed Friday and that could instantly reshape the 2024 presidential race.

<a href="https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/r01AWvuP8TD0/v0">Click here to read</a> the full indictment&nbsp;

<a href="https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2023-06-09-jdj-to-garland-re-mal.pdf">Click here to read the</a> House Judiciary Committee response

The indictment paints an unmistakably damning portrait of Trump’s treatment of sensitive information, accusing him of willfully defying Justice Department demands to return documents he had taken from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, enlisting aides in his efforts to hide the records and even telling his lawyers that he wanted to defy a subpoena for the materials stored in his estate.

“I don’t want anybody looking through my boxes,” one of Trump’s lawyers described the former president saying, according to the indictment. He also asked if it would be better “if we just told them we don’t have anything here," the indictment says.

Making his first public statements, Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, said: “Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced. Violations of those laws put our country at risk."

He added, "We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone.”

The indictment arrives at a time when Trump is continuing to dominate the Republican presidential primary and one day before a scheduled campaign trip to North Carolina. Though other candidates have largely attacked the Justice Department, rather than Trump, for the investigation, the indictment's breadth of allegations and startling scope will be harder for Republicans to rail against than an earlier New York criminal case that many legal analysts had derided as weak.

The 49-page charging document, alleging that Trump not only intentionally possessed classified documents but also cavalierly and boastfully showed them off to visitors, is startling in scope and in the breadth of allegations. The indictment is built on Trump's own words and actions as recounted to prosecutors by lawyers, close aides and other witnesses, with prosecutors even using against Trump his own words as a candidate and president professing to respect and know procedures related to the handling of classified information.

The indictment includes 37 counts — 31 of which pertain to the willful retention of national defense information, with the balance relating to alleged conspiracy, obstruction and false statements —that taken together could result in a yearslong prison sentence.

Trump is due to make his first court appearance Tuesday in federal court in Miami. He was charged alongside Walt Nauta, an aide and close adviser to Trump who prosecutors say brought boxes from a storage room to Trump's residence for him to review and later lied to investigators about the movement. A photograph included in the indictment shows several dozen file boxes stacked in a storage area.

Noting the “tens of thousands of members and guests” who visited the “active social club” of Mar-a-Lago between the end of Trump’s presidency in January 2021 through the August 2022 search, prosecutors argued that Trump had “nevertheless” stored the documents there, “including in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, and office space, his bedroom, and a storage room.”

The case adds to deepening legal jeopardy for Trump, who has already been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">indicted in New York</a>&nbsp;and faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-investigations-charges-classified-documents-d822569227ea882cedfeffd3284f9d4c">additional investigations in Washington and Atlanta</a>&nbsp;that also could lead to criminal charges. But among the various investigations he has faced, legal experts — as well as Trump's own aides — had long seen the Mar-a-Lago probe as the most perilous threat and the one most ripe for prosecution. Campaign aides had been bracing for the fallout since Trump’s attorneys were notified that he was the target of the investigation, assuming it was not a matter of if charges would be brought, but when.

Enumerating the defense and foreign intelligence-related information included in the documents, prosecutors wrote that their “unauthorized disclosure ... could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686358157076.png" alt="This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records stored in a bathroom and shower in the Lake Room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents according to an indictment unsealed Friday, June 9, 2023. (Justice Department via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records stored in a bathroom and shower in the Lake Room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents according to an indictment unsealed Friday, June 9, 2023. (Justice Department via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;improperly shared a Pentagon “plan of attack” and a classified map related to a military operation, according to a sweeping 37-count felony indictment related to the mishandling of classified documents that was unsealed Friday and that could instantly reshape the 2024 presidential race.<a href="https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/r01AWvuP8TD0/v0">Click here to read</a> the full indictment&nbsp;<a href="https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/republicans-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2023-06-09-jdj-to-garland-re-mal.pdf">Click here to read the</a> House Judiciary Committee response<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Complete statement from Special Counsel Jack Smith: &quot;Today an indictment was unsealed charging Donald J. Trump with felony violations of our national security laws as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/llUlrvpVe4">pic.twitter.com/llUlrvpVe4</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1667249235471880193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The indictment paints an unmistakably damning portrait of Trump’s treatment of sensitive information, accusing him of willfully defying Justice Department demands to return documents he had taken from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, enlisting aides in his efforts to hide the records and even telling his lawyers that he wanted to defy a subpoena for the materials stored in his estate.“I don’t want anybody looking through my boxes,” one of Trump’s lawyers described the former president saying, according to the indictment. He also asked if it would be better “if we just told them we don’t have anything here," the indictment says.Making his first public statements, Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who filed the case, said: “Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States and they must be enforced. Violations of those laws put our country at risk."He added, "We have one set of laws in this country and they apply to everyone.”The indictment arrives at a time when Trump is continuing to dominate the Republican presidential primary and one day before a scheduled campaign trip to North Carolina. Though other candidates have largely attacked the Justice Department, rather than Trump, for the investigation, the indictment's breadth of allegations and startling scope will be harder for Republicans to rail against than an earlier New York criminal case that many legal analysts had derided as weak.The 49-page charging document, alleging that Trump not only intentionally possessed classified documents but also cavalierly and boastfully showed them off to visitors, is startling in scope and in the breadth of allegations. The indictment is built on Trump's own words and actions as recounted to prosecutors by lawyers, close aides and other witnesses, with prosecutors even using against Trump his own words as a candidate and president professing to respect and know procedures related to the handling of classified information.The indictment includes 37 counts — 31 of which pertain to the willful retention of national defense information, with the balance relating to alleged conspiracy, obstruction and false statements —that taken together could result in a yearslong prison sentence.Trump is due to make his first court appearance Tuesday in federal court in Miami. He was charged alongside Walt Nauta, an aide and close adviser to Trump who prosecutors say brought boxes from a storage room to Trump's residence for him to review and later lied to investigators about the movement. A photograph included in the indictment shows several dozen file boxes stacked in a storage area.Noting the “tens of thousands of members and guests” who visited the “active social club” of Mar-a-Lago between the end of Trump’s presidency in January 2021 through the August 2022 search, prosecutors argued that Trump had “nevertheless” stored the documents there, “including in a ballroom, a bathroom and shower, and office space, his bedroom, and a storage room.”The case adds to deepening legal jeopardy for Trump, who has already been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">indicted in New York</a>&nbsp;and faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-investigations-charges-classified-documents-d822569227ea882cedfeffd3284f9d4c">additional investigations in Washington and Atlanta</a>&nbsp;that also could lead to criminal charges. But among the various investigations he has faced, legal experts — as well as Trump's own aides — had long seen the Mar-a-Lago probe as the most perilous threat and the one most ripe for prosecution. Campaign aides had been bracing for the fallout since Trump’s attorneys were notified that he was the target of the investigation, assuming it was not a matter of if charges would be brought, but when.Enumerating the defense and foreign intelligence-related information included in the documents, prosecutors wrote that their “unauthorized disclosure ... could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods.”____

🎥Read the Trump indictment in case of mishandling classified docs

JOHNSON COUNTY – The Olathe Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating 74-year-old, George Junior Sewell, according to a media release from agency.

George is described as 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, with white hair and blue eyes. He was last seen in the 1400 block of East 123rd Street, wearing a green Army Veteran hat, a light blue shirt, light blue jeans, and black shoes. 

George is believed to be operating a black, 2022, Mitsubishi Outlander displaying a South Carolina handicap tag, 280220W. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686402016880.png" alt="Sewell-photo Olathe Police" />
 <figcaption>Sewell-photo Olathe Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY – The Olathe Police Department is seeking public assistance in locating 74-year-old, George Junior Sewell, according to a media release from agency.George is described as 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, with white hair and blue eyes. He was last seen in the 1400 block of East 123rd Street, wearing a green Army Veteran hat, a light blue shirt, light blue jeans, and black shoes. George is believed to be operating a black, 2022, Mitsubishi Outlander displaying a South Carolina handicap tag, 280220W.

KBI: Silver Alert issued for missing Kansas man

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident and have identified the victim as&nbsp; 68-year-old Michael Llamas of Wichita. 

Just before 9:30 p.m. Thursday, police responded to an injury accident involving a pedestrian versus a vehicle at the intersection of West Street and Murdock in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders located Llamas who was pronounced deceased on the scene by EMS.&nbsp;

The investigation revealed that the 68-year-old was crossing from the west side to the east side of West Street and slightly south of Murdock when he was struck by a northbound Chevrolet Trailblazer&nbsp;driven by a 24-year-old woman.

Currently, neither speed nor impairment are believed to be contributing factors to the accident, according to Rebolledo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686346865523.png" alt="First responders on the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders on the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal pedestrian accident and have identified the victim as&nbsp; 68-year-old Michael Llamas of Wichita. Just before 9:30 p.m. Thursday, police responded to an injury accident involving a pedestrian versus a vehicle at the intersection of West Street and Murdock in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.First responders located Llamas who was pronounced deceased on the scene by EMS.&nbsp;The investigation revealed that the 68-year-old was crossing from the west side to the east side of West Street and slightly south of Murdock when he was struck by a northbound Chevrolet Trailblazer&nbsp;driven by a 24-year-old woman.Currently, neither speed nor impairment are believed to be contributing factors to the accident, according to Rebolledo.

Police ID Kansas man who died after struck by SUV

KANSAS CITY —A man has been charged in connetion with the fatal shooting Monday morning of Demarkus B. Pleasant in the area of 45th and Paseo in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Christopher Lockett, 25, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Armed Criminal Action and Stealing a Motor Vehicle.*

According to court records, the Kansas City Police Department was dispatched to the 4500 block of Paseo Boulevard on a report of shots being fired. 

The call was upgraded quickly to a shooting. Upon arrival officers responding found a victim on the ground. He was pronounced deceased soon after their arrival. Video surveillance showed a man going into the Paseo Fast Stop Convenience Store and return to his vehicle. 

A man later identified as the Lockett gets into an argument with the victim while in the backseat of the vehicle, a witness told police. When defendant gets out of vehicle, he can be seen firing a gun into the backseat multiple times. He fired a second round of shots, a witness told police.&nbsp; Lockett is being held on a&nbsp;$250,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686253013296.png" alt="Lockett-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Lockett-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A man has been charged in connetion with the fatal shooting Monday morning of Demarkus B. Pleasant in the area of 45th and Paseo in Kansas City, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Christopher Lockett, 25, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Armed Criminal Action and Stealing a Motor Vehicle.*According to court records, the Kansas City Police Department was dispatched to the 4500 block of Paseo Boulevard on a report of shots being fired. The call was upgraded quickly to a shooting. Upon arrival officers responding found a victim on the ground. He was pronounced deceased soon after their arrival. Video surveillance showed a man going into the Paseo Fast Stop Convenience Store and return to his vehicle. A man later identified as the Lockett gets into an argument with the victim while in the backseat of the vehicle, a witness told police. When defendant gets out of vehicle, he can be seen firing a gun into the backseat multiple times. He fired a second round of shots, a witness told police.&nbsp; Lockett is being held on a&nbsp;$250,000 bond.

Video surveillance: KC murder suspect shot victim in the backseat of car

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686148357538.png" alt="Carter-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Carter-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.Just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday,&nbsp;an Osage County Sheriff’s K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop in the 12100 block of South Topeka Avenue, near Carbondale, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, a K-9 was deployed, and illegal narcotics were located.The driver of the vehicle, Lana G. Carter, 60, of Lyndon, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Interference with law enforcement and&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving while license is suspended.