MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A shooting early Sunday at a Kansas convenience store left a suspect dead and a police officer shot and hospitalized, Lenexa police said.

Leading up to the shooting, Lenexa police said they were searching for a reportedly stolen car. When officers found the vehicle, police said the driver struck a patrol car and fled.

Lenexa police chased the vehicle on Interstate 35 until two suspects got out and ran to a QuikTrip convenience store in Mission, Kansas.

Police from multiple agencies were trying to arrest the suspects when gunfire broke out. A suspect was shot and killed, and an officer was shot and hospitalized. Another suspect was arrested.

Lenexa police have not yet identified either of the suspects or the injured officer.

A Johnson County law enforcement team that is charged with reviewing officer-involved shootings is investigating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691356366635.png" alt="A Johnson County law enforcement team that is charged with reviewing officer-involved shootings is investigating.-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>A Johnson County law enforcement team that is charged with reviewing officer-involved shootings is investigating.-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>MISSION, Kan. (AP) — A shooting early Sunday at a Kansas convenience store left a suspect dead and a police officer shot and hospitalized, Lenexa police said.Leading up to the shooting, Lenexa police said they were searching for a reportedly stolen car. When officers found the vehicle, police said the driver struck a patrol car and fled.Lenexa police chased the vehicle on Interstate 35 until two suspects got out and ran to a QuikTrip convenience store in Mission, Kansas.Police from multiple agencies were trying to arrest the suspects when gunfire broke out. A suspect was shot and killed, and an officer was shot and hospitalized. Another suspect was arrested.Lenexa police have not yet identified either of the suspects or the injured officer.A Johnson County law enforcement team that is charged with reviewing officer-involved shootings is investigating.

Suspect killed, Kansas officer hospitalized after gunfight

By Paul Hamel <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Drivers on Nebraska roads are putting the pedal to the metal and getting pinched for it.

In July, troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol stopped 118 people for speeding at 100 mph or more — the most since July 2020.

Another 505 tickets were written for lead-footed driving of between 90 and 99 mph in July.

The Patrol reported that in 2023, 85 drivers per month, on average, have been ticketed for traveling above 100 mph and 421 per month for speeds between 90 and 99 mph.

The peak in tickets came during a national “Speed Catches Up with You” campaign, from July 10-31, to deter speeding.

“The statistics are clear: Speeding plays a factor in a large percentage of serious injury or fatal crashes,” said Col. John Bolduc, the Patrol’s superintendent.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/bibliography/ref/2258">in a 2022 study in Virginia,</a>&nbsp;blamed the COVID-19 pandemic — and the emptier roads that resulted — for a 50% increase in excessive speeding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691327548724.png" alt="Traffic flows along Interstate 80 east of exit 432. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Traffic flows along Interstate 80 east of exit 432. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Paul Hamel <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Drivers on Nebraska roads are putting the pedal to the metal and getting pinched for it.In July, troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol stopped 118 people for speeding at 100 mph or more — the most since July 2020.Another 505 tickets were written for lead-footed driving of between 90 and 99 mph in July.The Patrol reported that in 2023, 85 drivers per month, on average, have been ticketed for traveling above 100 mph and 421 per month for speeds between 90 and 99 mph.The peak in tickets came during a national “Speed Catches Up with You” campaign, from July 10-31, to deter speeding.“The statistics are clear: Speeding plays a factor in a large percentage of serious injury or fatal crashes,” said Col. John Bolduc, the Patrol’s superintendent.The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.iihs.org/topics/bibliography/ref/2258">in a 2022 study in Virginia,</a>&nbsp;blamed the COVID-19 pandemic — and the emptier roads that resulted — for a 50% increase in excessive speeding.

Lead-footed driving over 100 mph leads to peak in State Patrol tickets

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Justice Department has asked a federal judge overseeing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-a79f2d3683c7591058635c9b3d870070">criminal case against former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;in Washington to step in after he released a post online that appeared to promise revenge on anyone who goes after him.

Prosecutors on Friday requested that U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan issue a protective order concerning evidence in the case, a day after Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/explain-charges-trump-indictment-jan-6-investigation-7efd7577e41f0cbf9c697fa4613f93a3">trying to overturn his 2020 election loss</a>&nbsp;and block the peaceful transition of power. The order, different from a “gag order,” would limit what information Trump and his legal team could share publicly about the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.1.0_2.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the latest indictment&nbsp;

Chutkan on Saturday gave Trump’s legal team until 5 p.m. Monday to respond to the government’s request. Trump's legal team, which has indicated he would look to slow the case down despite prosecutors’ pledge of a speedy trial, then filed a request to extend the response deadline to Thursday and to hold a hearing on the matter, saying it needed more time for discussion.

Chutkan swiftly denied that extension request Saturday evening, reaffirming that Trump must abide by Monday's deadline.

Protective orders are common in criminal cases, but prosecutors said it's “particularly important in this case” because Trump has posted on social media about "witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him."

Prosecutors pointed specifically to a post on Trump's Truth Social platform from earlier Friday in which Trump wrote, in all capital letters, “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!”

Prosecutors said they are ready to hand over a "substantial" amount of evidence — “much of which includes sensitive and confidential information” — to Trump's legal team.

They told the judge that if Trump were to begin posting about grand jury transcripts or other evidence provided by the Justice Department, it could have a “harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case.”

Prosecutors' proposed protective order seeks to prevent Trump and his lawyers from disclosing materials provided by the government to anyone other than people on his legal team, possible witnesses, the witnesses' lawyers or others approved by the court. It would put stricter limits on “sensitive materials,” which would include grand jury witness testimony and materials obtained through sealed search warrants.

A Trump spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the former president's post “is the definition of political speech,” and was made in response to “dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs.”

Chutkan, a former assistant public defender nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-only-on-ap-donald-trump-government-and-politics-sentencing-de394dd56b3251aac5a50014f4d6afa7">one of the toughest punishers of rioters</a>&nbsp;who stormed the Capitol in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, fueled by Trump’s baseless claims of a stolen election.

The indictment unsealed this past week accuses Republican Trump of brazenly conspiring with allies to spread falsehoods and concoct schemes intended to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden as his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-losing-election-lawsuits-36d113484ac0946fa5f0614deb7de15e">legal challenges floundered in court.</a>

The indictment chronicles how Trump and his allies, in what Smith described as an attack on a “bedrock function of the U.S. government,” repeatedly lied about the results in the two months after he lost the election and pressured his vice president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-jan-6-trump-indictment-ab36fd360a0850562a07d1b404f15d69">Mike Pence</a>, and state election officials to take action to help him cling to power.

Trump faces charges including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral victory.

It's the third criminal case brought this year against the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-presidential-candidates-who-is-running-e89fbfee94e7e7980594a9ce3994fec7">the early front-runner</a>&nbsp;in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. But it’s the first case to try to hold Trump responsible for his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-committee-final-report-trump-bcfea6162fe9cfa0d120e86d069af0e4">efforts to remain in power</a>&nbsp;during the chaotic weeks between his election loss and the attack by his supporters on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.</a>

Smith has also charged Trump in Florida federal court with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-classified-documents-indictment-miami-court-e9412bb71b63ab1b7cfb8e8b122e9809">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>&nbsp;at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate and thwarting government efforts to get them back.

The magistrate judge in that case agreed to a protective order in June that prohibits Trump and his legal team from publicly disclosing evidence turned over to them by prosecutors without prior approval. Prosecutors are seeking another protective order in that case with more rules about the defense team's handling of classified evidence.

After his court appearance on Thursday in the Washington case, Trump characterized the prosecution as a “persecution” designed to hurt his 2024 presidential campaign. His legal team has described it as an attack on his right to free speech and his right to challenge an election that he believed had been stolen.

On Saturday night to more than 1,000 attendees at the South Carolina Republican Party's 56th annual Silver Elephant Gala, Trump kept up his attacks on Smith, sticking to his usual caricature of the prosecutor as “deranged" for pursuing charges against him.

Smith has said prosecutors will seek a “speedy trial" against Trump in the election case. Judge Chutkan has ordered the government to file a brief by Thursday proposing a trial date. The first court hearing in front of Chutkan is scheduled for Aug. 28.

Trump is already scheduled to stand trial in March in the New York case stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign</a>&nbsp;and in May in the classified documents case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691091392217.png" alt="Former Presiden Donald Trump as he arrives Thursday in Washington for the arraignment-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former Presiden Donald Trump as he arrives Thursday in Washington for the arraignment-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Justice Department has asked a federal judge overseeing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-a79f2d3683c7591058635c9b3d870070">criminal case against former President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;in Washington to step in after he released a post online that appeared to promise revenge on anyone who goes after him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691329048946.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Prosecutors on Friday requested that U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan issue a protective order concerning evidence in the case, a day after Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/explain-charges-trump-indictment-jan-6-investigation-7efd7577e41f0cbf9c697fa4613f93a3">trying to overturn his 2020 election loss</a>&nbsp;and block the peaceful transition of power. The order, different from a “gag order,” would limit what information Trump and his legal team could share publicly about the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.1.0_2.pdf">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the latest indictment&nbsp;Chutkan on Saturday gave Trump’s legal team until 5 p.m. Monday to respond to the government’s request. Trump's legal team, which has indicated he would look to slow the case down despite prosecutors’ pledge of a speedy trial, then filed a request to extend the response deadline to Thursday and to hold a hearing on the matter, saying it needed more time for discussion.Chutkan swiftly denied that extension request Saturday evening, reaffirming that Trump must abide by Monday's deadline.Protective orders are common in criminal cases, but prosecutors said it's “particularly important in this case” because Trump has posted on social media about "witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him."Prosecutors pointed specifically to a post on Trump's Truth Social platform from earlier Friday in which Trump wrote, in all capital letters, “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!”Prosecutors said they are ready to hand over a "substantial" amount of evidence — “much of which includes sensitive and confidential information” — to Trump's legal team.They told the judge that if Trump were to begin posting about grand jury transcripts or other evidence provided by the Justice Department, it could have a “harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case.”Prosecutors' proposed protective order seeks to prevent Trump and his lawyers from disclosing materials provided by the government to anyone other than people on his legal team, possible witnesses, the witnesses' lawyers or others approved by the court. It would put stricter limits on “sensitive materials,” which would include grand jury witness testimony and materials obtained through sealed search warrants.A Trump spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the former president's post “is the definition of political speech,” and was made in response to “dishonest special interest groups and Super PACs.”Chutkan, a former assistant public defender nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama, has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-only-on-ap-donald-trump-government-and-politics-sentencing-de394dd56b3251aac5a50014f4d6afa7">one of the toughest punishers of rioters</a>&nbsp;who stormed the Capitol in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, fueled by Trump’s baseless claims of a stolen election.The indictment unsealed this past week accuses Republican Trump of brazenly conspiring with allies to spread falsehoods and concoct schemes intended to overturn his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden as his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-losing-election-lawsuits-36d113484ac0946fa5f0614deb7de15e">legal challenges floundered in court.</a>The indictment chronicles how Trump and his allies, in what Smith described as an attack on a “bedrock function of the U.S. government,” repeatedly lied about the results in the two months after he lost the election and pressured his vice president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-jan-6-trump-indictment-ab36fd360a0850562a07d1b404f15d69">Mike Pence</a>, and state election officials to take action to help him cling to power.Trump faces charges including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct Congress’ certification of Biden’s electoral victory.It's the third criminal case brought this year against the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-presidential-candidates-who-is-running-e89fbfee94e7e7980594a9ce3994fec7">the early front-runner</a>&nbsp;in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. But it’s the first case to try to hold Trump responsible for his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-committee-final-report-trump-bcfea6162fe9cfa0d120e86d069af0e4">efforts to remain in power</a>&nbsp;during the chaotic weeks between his election loss and the attack by his supporters on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.</a>Smith has also charged Trump in Florida federal court with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-classified-documents-indictment-miami-court-e9412bb71b63ab1b7cfb8e8b122e9809">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>&nbsp;at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate and thwarting government efforts to get them back.The magistrate judge in that case agreed to a protective order in June that prohibits Trump and his legal team from publicly disclosing evidence turned over to them by prosecutors without prior approval. Prosecutors are seeking another protective order in that case with more rules about the defense team's handling of classified evidence.After his court appearance on Thursday in the Washington case, Trump characterized the prosecution as a “persecution” designed to hurt his 2024 presidential campaign. His legal team has described it as an attack on his right to free speech and his right to challenge an election that he believed had been stolen.On Saturday night to more than 1,000 attendees at the South Carolina Republican Party's 56th annual Silver Elephant Gala, Trump kept up his attacks on Smith, sticking to his usual caricature of the prosecutor as “deranged" for pursuing charges against him.Smith has said prosecutors will seek a “speedy trial" against Trump in the election case. Judge Chutkan has ordered the government to file a brief by Thursday proposing a trial date. The first court hearing in front of Chutkan is scheduled for Aug. 28.Trump is already scheduled to stand trial in March in the New York case stemming from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-arraignment-hush-money-81225510ef7638494852816878f612f0">hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign</a>&nbsp;and in May in the classified documents case.____

Prosecutors ask judge to issue protective order after Trump post appearing to promise revenge

Maternal health advocate says prospective parents worry about child care, birth complications

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/kansas-lawmakers-debate-definition-of-female-and-male-for-county-jails/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA —&nbsp; Kansas documented the state’s lowest-ever recorded birth rate for the 2022 year, according to a preliminary report.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29633/Preliminary-Birth-Report-2022-PDF">annual report</a>&nbsp;shows the number of births in the state dropped slightly from 2021. Last year’s report&nbsp;documented 34,697 births in 2021, with a birth rate of 11.8 per 1,000 people. The preliminary 2022 report recorded 34,376 births across the state, with a birth rate of 11.7 per 1,000 people.

Seven counties accounted for about 60% of the state’s births for the year: Douglas, Geary, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte.

Unmarried mothers made up 36% of all births with 12,370 reported. The rate of births to teenagers between the ages of 15-19 remained at 4.7%, unchanged from the previous year’s rate. Most births were recorded for mothers between the ages of 25-29, with 10,579 births. The next most prolific age bracket was mothers between 30-34, with 9,799 births.

The 2022 birth rate is the lowest rate recorded since the state began keeping vital records in a centralized system in 1911. The state has recorded declining birth rates since 2008, reflecting a national downward trend.

Brenda Bandy,&nbsp;executive director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, said she frequently heard from young women who were concerned about childbirth complications in recent months, a concern that she hadn’t encountered before in her 20 years of work in the field.

“I can tell you for the first time, I am hearing people are afraid of childbirth,” Bandy said. “And I have never heard that before. They appear to be perfectly healthy, young women that are contemplating having birth and they’re actually worried about their safety. And I think the national conversation about maternal mortality, moms dying in childbirth, the complications, many of them are very public.”

“It gets the public’s attention,” Bandy added. “I’m hearing this from women of all races, but predominantly women of color.”

Women across the U.S. face a heightened risk of dying from pregnancy or pregnancy-related complications in recent years, a study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Mass General Brigham found.

Researchers in the study conducted a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2806661">state-by-state analysis of maternal deaths</a>&nbsp;rates for 1999-2019 and found Kansas experienced some of the nation’s largest spikes in terms of American Indian and Alaska Native populations, and had consistently high risk levels for Black mothers.

The study also found&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/13/racial-disparities-in-infant-mortalities-persist-despite-record-low-rates-in-kansas/">Black mothers in the state</a>&nbsp;had higher death rates than the surrounding states in many of the years studied. In 2019, Black women were more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes in Kansas as in Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado.

Bandy said child care and parental leave also were important factors for potential parents. Kansas currently faces a child care shortage.

“We don’t make it easy to be a parent, especially a parent with a newborn,” Bandy said. “If you survive childbirth, then having to manage and navigate that return to work when maybe you don’t have any paid leave.”

Kansas follows a national trend of declining birth rates as<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr028.pdf">&nbsp;access to contraception improved, more women entered the workforce and concerns rose over high costs of childrearing amid inflation. The COVID-19 pandemic also has been an ongoing factor.</a>

A preliminary&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr028.pdf">analysis of 2022 birth records</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics found the country’s 2022 birth rate remained below pre-pandemic levels, though the numbers were roughly equivalent to 2021 figures.

Overall, there were 3,661,220 recorded U.S. births in 2022, a “nonsignificant decline” from 2021’s 3,664,292 recorded births, with a general fertility rate of 56.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44.

Sarah Hayford,&nbsp;a professor of sociology at Ohio State University who studies national birth rate trends, said U.S. birth rates had been declining since the great recession of 2008.

Hayford said economic instability was a factor in the low rates.

“Everybody who studied these issues kind of thought that after the recession was over, birth rates would go back up and sort of come back to more the levels that they have been,” Hayford said. “And we’ve just never seen that rebound from after the Great Recession and birth rates have continued to decline.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687826476734.png" alt="Women across the U.S. face a heightened risk of dying from pregnancy or pregnancy-related complications in recent years" />
 <figcaption>Women across the U.S. face a heightened risk of dying from pregnancy or pregnancy-related complications in recent years</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Maternal health advocate says prospective parents worry about child care, birth complications</h2>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/kansas-lawmakers-debate-definition-of-female-and-male-for-county-jails/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA —&nbsp; Kansas documented the state’s lowest-ever recorded birth rate for the 2022 year, according to a preliminary report.The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/29633/Preliminary-Birth-Report-2022-PDF">annual report</a>&nbsp;shows the number of births in the state dropped slightly from 2021. Last year’s report&nbsp;documented 34,697 births in 2021, with a birth rate of 11.8 per 1,000 people. The preliminary 2022 report recorded 34,376 births across the state, with a birth rate of 11.7 per 1,000 people.Seven counties accounted for about 60% of the state’s births for the year: Douglas, Geary, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee and Wyandotte.Unmarried mothers made up 36% of all births with 12,370 reported. The rate of births to teenagers between the ages of 15-19 remained at 4.7%, unchanged from the previous year’s rate. Most births were recorded for mothers between the ages of 25-29, with 10,579 births. The next most prolific age bracket was mothers between 30-34, with 9,799 births.The 2022 birth rate is the lowest rate recorded since the state began keeping vital records in a centralized system in 1911. The state has recorded declining birth rates since 2008, reflecting a national downward trend.Brenda Bandy,&nbsp;executive director of the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, said she frequently heard from young women who were concerned about childbirth complications in recent months, a concern that she hadn’t encountered before in her 20 years of work in the field.“I can tell you for the first time, I am hearing people are afraid of childbirth,” Bandy said. “And I have never heard that before. They appear to be perfectly healthy, young women that are contemplating having birth and they’re actually worried about their safety. And I think the national conversation about maternal mortality, moms dying in childbirth, the complications, many of them are very public.”“It gets the public’s attention,” Bandy added. “I’m hearing this from women of all races, but predominantly women of color.”Women across the U.S. face a heightened risk of dying from pregnancy or pregnancy-related complications in recent years, a study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and Mass General Brigham found.Researchers in the study conducted a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2806661">state-by-state analysis of maternal deaths</a>&nbsp;rates for 1999-2019 and found Kansas experienced some of the nation’s largest spikes in terms of American Indian and Alaska Native populations, and had consistently high risk levels for Black mothers.The study also found&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/05/13/racial-disparities-in-infant-mortalities-persist-despite-record-low-rates-in-kansas/">Black mothers in the state</a>&nbsp;had higher death rates than the surrounding states in many of the years studied. In 2019, Black women were more than twice as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes in Kansas as in Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado.Bandy said child care and parental leave also were important factors for potential parents. Kansas currently faces a child care shortage.“We don’t make it easy to be a parent, especially a parent with a newborn,” Bandy said. “If you survive childbirth, then having to manage and navigate that return to work when maybe you don’t have any paid leave.”Kansas follows a national trend of declining birth rates as<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr028.pdf">&nbsp;access to contraception improved, more women entered the workforce and concerns rose over high costs of childrearing amid inflation. The COVID-19 pandemic also has been an ongoing factor.</a>A preliminary&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr028.pdf">analysis of 2022 birth records</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics found the country’s 2022 birth rate remained below pre-pandemic levels, though the numbers were roughly equivalent to 2021 figures.Overall, there were 3,661,220 recorded U.S. births in 2022, a “nonsignificant decline” from 2021’s 3,664,292 recorded births, with a general fertility rate of 56.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44.Sarah Hayford,&nbsp;a professor of sociology at Ohio State University who studies national birth rate trends, said U.S. birth rates had been declining since the great recession of 2008.Hayford said economic instability was a factor in the low rates.“Everybody who studied these issues kind of thought that after the recession was over, birth rates would go back up and sort of come back to more the levels that they have been,” Hayford said. “And we’ve just never seen that rebound from after the Great Recession and birth rates have continued to decline.”

Kansas birth rate hits all-time low as women contemplate health, finances

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas bar where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-kansas-nonfatal-shooting-10-victims-52a54e67b7c6510a9a6534b15d6a5b21">nine people were wounded by gunfire</a>&nbsp;last month has permanently closed.

An attorney for City Nightz told the Wichita Eagle that the club owner felt he had no choice but to close because of all the negative publicity and because police blaming the bar for the shooting.

“The city has basically made it so burdensome to stay open, they can’t stay open,” attorney Charley O’Hara said. “He feels like he was singled out and blamed for a lot of things that happen all over the city and they don’t blame other people.”

The city suspended City Nightz's liquor license for 30 days after the shooting, and the year-old club never reopened.

Nine people were shot July 2 and two others trampled in the chaos afterward. No one died. Police have said that the seven men and two women who were shot ranged in age from 22 to 34.

Several people have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-nightclub-shooting-arrest-2daef0671fcdc7991282e30df699cb4a">arrested</a>. A St. Louis-area man was arrested July 3, but prosecutors later determined he fired his gun to defend himself after shots were fired by others.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688300318332.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas bar where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wichita-kansas-nonfatal-shooting-10-victims-52a54e67b7c6510a9a6534b15d6a5b21">nine people were wounded by gunfire</a>&nbsp;last month has permanently closed.An attorney for City Nightz told the Wichita Eagle that the club owner felt he had no choice but to close because of all the negative publicity and because police blaming the bar for the shooting.“The city has basically made it so burdensome to stay open, they can’t stay open,” attorney Charley O’Hara said. “He feels like he was singled out and blamed for a lot of things that happen all over the city and they don’t blame other people.”The city suspended City Nightz's liquor license for 30 days after the shooting, and the year-old club never reopened.Nine people were shot July 2 and two others trampled in the chaos afterward. No one died. Police have said that the seven men and two women who were shot ranged in age from 22 to 34.Several people have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-nightclub-shooting-arrest-2daef0671fcdc7991282e30df699cb4a">arrested</a>. A St. Louis-area man was arrested July 3, but prosecutors later determined he fired his gun to defend himself after shots were fired by others.

 Kansas bar where gunfire wounded 9 will not reopen

KANSAS CITY —A judge sentenced a Kansas City-area man to 24 years in prison after he was convicted by a jury of sexual assaults involving a child, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Jeremy S. Callihan, 36, Raytown, was sentenced to 20 years for a conviction of Statutory Sodomy in the 1st Degree and four years for a conviction of Sexual Misconduct with a Child under 15. The judge set those sentences to run consecutively for a total of 24 years.

A Jackson County jury convicted Callihan in March, following a trial. The jury recommended a sentence of 24 years.

According to court records, in October 2019 Raytown Police were alerted to allegations of the Callihan having sexual contact with a child in a Raytown residence. Detectives investigated and observed a forensic interview of the victim at the Child Protection Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691070534496.png" alt="Callihan-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Callihan-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A judge sentenced a Kansas City-area man to 24 years in prison after he was convicted by a jury of sexual assaults involving a child, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Jeremy S. Callihan, 36, Raytown, was sentenced to 20 years for a conviction of Statutory Sodomy in the 1st Degree and four years for a conviction of Sexual Misconduct with a Child under 15. The judge set those sentences to run consecutively for a total of 24 years.A Jackson County jury convicted Callihan in March, following a trial. The jury recommended a sentence of 24 years.According to court records, in October 2019 Raytown Police were alerted to allegations of the Callihan having sexual contact with a child in a Raytown residence. Detectives investigated and observed a forensic interview of the victim at the Child Protection Center.

KC-area man sentenced for sexual assault involving a child

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of business burglaries and have a suspect in custody.&nbsp;

On July 31, police were dispatched to Killer Custom Wraps,&nbsp;631 NW Tyler Court in Topeka, in reference to a burglary to the business, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.

Upon arrival it was found that multiple business adjacent to Killer Custom Wraps had been burglarized as well. 

The Topeka Police Department received information from the public that a vehicle believed to be involved with the burglary had been seen in the North Topeka Area. 

On August 1, police located the vehicle in question in the 1300 Block of NW Jackson Street and took one individual into custody believed to be involved in the burglary.

After further investigation, Topeka Police Department Detectives served a search warrant at the location. and recovered items related to the burglary, as well as narcotics and paraphernalia.

As a result of the investigation police arrested 43-year-old Fredrick C. Lowe, of Topeka on requested charges of Burglary, Possession of stolen property,&nbsp;Possession of Marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains jailed on a $5,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1690973214726.png" alt="Lowe-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Lowe-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a series of business burglaries and have a suspect in custody.&nbsp;On July 31, police were dispatched to Killer Custom Wraps,&nbsp;631 NW Tyler Court in Topeka, in reference to a burglary to the business, according to Lt. Edward Stanley.Upon arrival it was found that multiple business adjacent to Killer Custom Wraps had been burglarized as well. The Topeka Police Department received information from the public that a vehicle believed to be involved with the burglary had been seen in the North Topeka Area. On August 1, police located the vehicle in question in the 1300 Block of NW Jackson Street and took one individual into custody believed to be involved in the burglary.After further investigation, Topeka Police Department Detectives served a search warrant at the location. and recovered items related to the burglary, as well as narcotics and paraphernalia.As a result of the investigation police arrested 43-year-old Fredrick C. Lowe, of Topeka on requested charges of Burglary, Possession of stolen property,&nbsp;Possession of Marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains jailed on a $5,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Man accused in series of Kansas business burglaries

&nbsp;HARPER COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7a.m. Saturday in Harper County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford F150 driven by James N. Robb, 81, Danville, was southbound on NE 80th Avenue just north of Danville, Kansas.&nbsp;

The pickup traveled through a railroad crossing arm that was down and struck the&nbsp; side of an eastbound train.&nbsp; After impact the pickup entered the east ditch and overturned.

Robb was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Prairie Rose Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

&nbsp;HARPER COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7a.m. Saturday in Harper County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Ford F150 driven by James N. Robb, 81, Danville, was southbound on NE 80th Avenue just north of Danville, Kansas.&nbsp;The pickup traveled through a railroad crossing arm that was down and struck the&nbsp; side of an eastbound train.&nbsp; After impact the pickup entered the east ditch and overturned.Robb was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Prairie Rose Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after pickup crash into train 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug allegations.

On Wednesday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant at a home in the 400 Block SE 27th Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell

As a result of the investigation, officers took 58-year-old Roland Broadnax; 57-year-old Peter Evans and 66-year-old Johnnie Sanders to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

&nbsp;Broadnax and Sanders are being being held on requested charges of Possession of cocaine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Evans was accused of&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia. Sanders also faces a marijuana possession charge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691070107515.png" alt="Broadnax-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Broadnax-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating three suspects on drug allegations.On Wednesday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant at a home in the 400 Block SE 27th Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Ronnie Connell<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691070150700.png" alt="Sanders-photo Shawne Co." />
 <figcaption>Sanders-photo Shawne Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>As a result of the investigation, officers took 58-year-old Roland Broadnax; 57-year-old Peter Evans and 66-year-old Johnnie Sanders to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.&nbsp;Broadnax and Sanders are being being held on requested charges of Possession of cocaine and Possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691070213251.png" alt="Evans-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Evans-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Evans was accused of&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia. Sanders also faces a marijuana possession charge.

Drug task force investigation found cocaine at Kansas home

MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) — Hospitals and clinics in several states on Friday began the time-consuming process of recovering from a cyberattack that disrupted their computer systems, forcing some emergency rooms to shut down and ambulances to be diverted.

Many primary care services at facilities run by Prospect Medical Holdings remained closed on Friday as security experts worked to determine the extent of the problem and resolve it.

John Riggi, the American Hospital Association's national advisory for cybersecurity and risk, said the recovery process can often take weeks, with hospitals in the meantime reverting to paper systems and humans to do things such as monitor equipment and run records between departments.

“These are threat-to-life crimes, which risk not only the safety of the patients within the hospital, but also risk the safety of the entire community that depends on the availability of that emergency department to be there," Riggi said.

The latest “data security incident” began Thursday at facilities operated by Prospect, which is based in California and has hospitals and clinics there and in Texas, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.

“Upon learning of this, we took our systems offline to protect them and launched an investigation with the help of third-party cybersecurity specialists,” the company said in a statement Friday. “While our investigation continues, we are focused on addressing the pressing needs of our patients as we work diligently to return to normal operations as quickly as possible.”

In Connecticut, the emergency departments at Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospital were closed for much of Thursday and patients were diverted to other nearby medical centers.

“We have a national Prospect team working and evaluating the impact of the attack on all of the organizations,” Jillian Menzel, chief operating officer for the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, said in a statement.

The FBI in Connecticut issued a statement saying it is working with “law enforcement partners and the victim entities” but could not comment further on an ongoing investigation.

Elective surgeries, outpatient appointments, blood drives and other services were suspended, and while the emergency departments reopened late Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.echn.org/patients-and-visitors/closings/">many primary care services were closed on Friday</a>, according to the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, which runs the facilities. Patients were being contacted individually, according to the network's website.

Similar disruptions also were reported at other facilities system-wide.

"Waterbury Hospital is following downtime procedures, including the use of paper records, until the situation is resolved,” spokeswoman Lauresha Xhihani, said in a statement. “We are working closely with IT security experts to resolve it as quickly as possible.”

In Pennsylvania, the attack affected services at facilities including the Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill and Springfield Hospital in Springfield,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inquirer.com/health/crozer-health-computer-systems-down-20230803.html">according the Philadelphia Inquirer.</a>

In California, the company has seven hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange counties including two behavioral health facilities and a 130-bed acute care hospital in Los Angeles, according to Prospect's website. Messages sent to representatives for these hospitals were not immediately returned.

Globally, the healthcare industry was the hardest-hit by cyberattacks in the year ending in March, according to IBM’s annual report on data breaches. For the 13th straight year it reported the most expensive breaches, averaging $11 million each. Next was the financial sector at $5.9 million.

Healthcare providers are a common target for criminal extortionists because they have so much sensitive patient data, including health care histories, payment information, and even critical research data, Riggi said.

Riggi, a former cybersecurity specialist with the FBI, said hospitals have been working to put in place better safeguards and more backup systems to prevent such attacks and respond to them when they occur. But he said it is almost impossible to make them completely safe, especially because the systems need to rely on Internet and network-connected technologies to share patient information among clinicians involved in a patient's care.

“Overall, that's a good thing,” he said. “But it also expands our digital attack surface.”

MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) — Hospitals and clinics in several states on Friday began the time-consuming process of recovering from a cyberattack that disrupted their computer systems, forcing some emergency rooms to shut down and ambulances to be diverted.Many primary care services at facilities run by Prospect Medical Holdings remained closed on Friday as security experts worked to determine the extent of the problem and resolve it.John Riggi, the American Hospital Association's national advisory for cybersecurity and risk, said the recovery process can often take weeks, with hospitals in the meantime reverting to paper systems and humans to do things such as monitor equipment and run records between departments.“These are threat-to-life crimes, which risk not only the safety of the patients within the hospital, but also risk the safety of the entire community that depends on the availability of that emergency department to be there," Riggi said.The latest “data security incident” began Thursday at facilities operated by Prospect, which is based in California and has hospitals and clinics there and in Texas, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.“Upon learning of this, we took our systems offline to protect them and launched an investigation with the help of third-party cybersecurity specialists,” the company said in a statement Friday. “While our investigation continues, we are focused on addressing the pressing needs of our patients as we work diligently to return to normal operations as quickly as possible.”In Connecticut, the emergency departments at Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospital were closed for much of Thursday and patients were diverted to other nearby medical centers.“We have a national Prospect team working and evaluating the impact of the attack on all of the organizations,” Jillian Menzel, chief operating officer for the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, said in a statement.The FBI in Connecticut issued a statement saying it is working with “law enforcement partners and the victim entities” but could not comment further on an ongoing investigation.Elective surgeries, outpatient appointments, blood drives and other services were suspended, and while the emergency departments reopened late Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.echn.org/patients-and-visitors/closings/">many primary care services were closed on Friday</a>, according to the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, which runs the facilities. Patients were being contacted individually, according to the network's website.Similar disruptions also were reported at other facilities system-wide."Waterbury Hospital is following downtime procedures, including the use of paper records, until the situation is resolved,” spokeswoman Lauresha Xhihani, said in a statement. “We are working closely with IT security experts to resolve it as quickly as possible.”In Pennsylvania, the attack affected services at facilities including the Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland, Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park, Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill and Springfield Hospital in Springfield,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.inquirer.com/health/crozer-health-computer-systems-down-20230803.html">according the Philadelphia Inquirer.</a>In California, the company has seven hospitals in Los Angeles and Orange counties including two behavioral health facilities and a 130-bed acute care hospital in Los Angeles, according to Prospect's website. Messages sent to representatives for these hospitals were not immediately returned.Globally, the healthcare industry was the hardest-hit by cyberattacks in the year ending in March, according to IBM’s annual report on data breaches. For the 13th straight year it reported the most expensive breaches, averaging $11 million each. Next was the financial sector at $5.9 million.Healthcare providers are a common target for criminal extortionists because they have so much sensitive patient data, including health care histories, payment information, and even critical research data, Riggi said.Riggi, a former cybersecurity specialist with the FBI, said hospitals have been working to put in place better safeguards and more backup systems to prevent such attacks and respond to them when they occur. But he said it is almost impossible to make them completely safe, especially because the systems need to rely on Internet and network-connected technologies to share patient information among clinicians involved in a patient's care.“Overall, that's a good thing,” he said. “But it also expands our digital attack surface.”

Cyberattack disrupted hospitals and health care in several states

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas man on multiple charges after a standoff.

Just after 10:30 a.m. Thursday, police received information that a wanted Suspect was in the 2600 block of SE 11th Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.

Officers responded to the area, and determined that the suspect identified as&nbsp;Feliciano J. Anguiano IV, 21, of Topeka, was inside of a residence. 

Crisis negotiators responded to the scene, and Anguiano eventually exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident

As a result of the investigation,&nbsp; Anguiano was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for the following charges on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Felony Obstruction, a Felony Shawnee county arrest warrant and a&nbsp;Misdemeanor Jackson county arrest warrant, according to Stanley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691162759217.png" alt="Anguiano IV-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Anguiano IV-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted Kansas man on multiple charges after a standoff.Just after 10:30 a.m. Thursday, police received information that a wanted Suspect was in the 2600 block of SE 11th Street in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley.Officers responded to the area, and determined that the suspect identified as&nbsp;Feliciano J. Anguiano IV, 21, of Topeka, was inside of a residence. Crisis negotiators responded to the scene, and Anguiano eventually exited the residence and was taken into custody without incidentAs a result of the investigation,&nbsp; Anguiano was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for the following charges on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Felony Obstruction, a Felony Shawnee county arrest warrant and a&nbsp;Misdemeanor Jackson county arrest warrant, according to Stanley.

Wanted suspect arrested after standoff at Kansas home

FATIMA, Portugal (AP) — Pope Francis visited the Portuguese town of Fatima on Saturday to pray for peace at a shrine known for apocalyptic prophesies of hell, peace and Soviet communism that have found new relevance with Russia’s war in Ukraine.

But for the third time of his trip to Portugal for World Youth Day, Francis ditched his prepared remarks and didn’t even recite a prayer written for the occasion pleading for peace. The prayer had been expected to be a highlight of Francis’ visit to Fatima, given the shrine’s century-old affiliation with exhortations of peace and conversion in Russia.

Francis instead “prayed silently for peace, with pain,” while meditating for a long period before a statue of the Virgin Mary, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. And the Vatican later tweeted the prayer.

The unusual morning unfolded at the shrine where,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-europe-religion-prayer-communism-9df80314be754c4aa3de4403cd5ecced">according to legend,</a>&nbsp;three young peasant children in 1917 saw visions of the Madonna. The apparitions turned the small town nestled in the fields of vineyards, olive groves and fruit orchards north of Lisbon into one of the most popular Marian pilgrimage sites in the world, drawing millions of visitors each year.

On Saturday, an estimated 200,000 turned out for Francis’ visit, packing the central esplanade long before the red-tinted moon set and the sun rose. Nearby wildfires turned the sky smoky black and sent ash snowing down on the crowd.

Francis’ visit marked a side trip from his main program in Lisbon to preside over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-portugal-students-economic-justice-environment-bb708ed61f35b54ddb28a04b43bcd9e1">World Youth Day Catholic festival.</a>&nbsp;The featured protagonists in Fatima were also young, including some young people with disabilities who read aloud prayers and young inmates who were allowed to attend. Babies were out in force, as parents offered them up to Francis to bless as he looped through the crowd in his popemobile.

“We are here with great joy," said Maria Florido, a 24-year-old Spaniard who also saw Francis in Lisbon. "We woke up very early to come here and see the pope ... and we’re here with great enthusiasm.”

The Fatima story dates back to 1917, when according to tradition, Portuguese siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto and their cousin Lucia said the Virgin Mary appeared to them six times and confided to them three secrets. The first two described an apocalyptic image of hell, foretold the end of World War I and the start of World War II, and portended the rise and fall of Soviet communism.

In 2000, the Vatican disclosed the long-awaited third secret, describing it as foretelling the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt against St. John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square, which fell on the anniversary of the original vision.

According to later writings by Lucia, who became a nun and died in 2005, Russia would be converted and peace would reign if the pope and all the bishops of the world consecrated Russia to the “Immaculate Heart of Mary.” Lucia later claimed that John Paul fulfilled that prophecy during a 1984 Mass, even though he never specified Russia in the prayer.

Fatima has long captivated Catholics, because of its blending of mystical, Marian apparitions, apocalyptic prophesies about the rise and fall of Soviet communism and the death of a pope. While Saturday’s wildfires and related ashfall were easily explained, they also harked back to another element of the Fatima phenomenon, an unusual weather phenomenon known as the “Miracle of the Sun.”

According to legend, on Oct. 13, 1917, the Fatima “seers” predicted that the Virgin would perform a miracle that day, and tens of thousands of people flocked to Fatima. They saw what witnesses reported was a vision of the sun “spinning” in the sky and zigzagging toward Earth.

Francis’ visit to Fatima fell on the anniversary of another odd weather phenomenon at a Marian church closely related to Fatima: According to that church legend, on Aug. 5, 1655, it actually snowed outside St. Mary Major basilica in Rome, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6aff551d2b3346aba439decd43ee8b44">Francis always goes to pray</a>&nbsp;before an icon of Mary at the end of each trip.

Vatican Media had said before the trip that Francis would pray for peace in Ukraine and the world while in Fatima. It seemed logical, given Francis had already consecrated both Russia and Ukraine to Mary in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-pope-francis-prayer-europe-portugal-723d6b846d4c3e535cbb321de79304b8">a prayer for peace</a>&nbsp;following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, essentially fulfilling Sr. Lucia's exhortation.

In the prayer tweeted by the @Pontifex account but not read aloud, Francis didn’t name either country but consecrated the church and world, “especially those countries at war,” to Mary. “Open paths where it seems that none exist,” he wrote. “Loosen the tangles of self-centeredness and the snares of power.”

Fatima Bishop Jose Ornelas made a prayer for Ukraine explicit in his remarks. “We associate ourselves to Your Holiness’ prayer for peace, for which this sanctuary is profoundly identified, thinking in particular of the war in Ukraine and so many other conflicts in the world,” he said.

In explaining the changes, Vatican spokesman Bruni said Francis “always addresses firstly the people he meets, as a shepherd, and speaks accordingly.” The 86-year-old Francis often deviates from his prepared remarks, even more when speaking in his native Spanish. Bruni denied the changes had any other serious reason, including with his eyesight.

Francis has been hospitalized twice this year, including in June when he spent nine days in the hospital recovering from abdominal surgery to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-health-758c3d7b07e6d6f242c4a5ea6f2de154">repair a hernia and remove scar tissue</a>&nbsp;on his intestine. Saturday was perhaps the most grueling day of his five-day visit to Portugal, given the round-trip helicopter ride to Fatima and a planned prayer vigil that wasn’t expected to begin until his usual bedtime in Rome.

To give him more rest before the vigil, the Vatican planned to move up an afternoon encounter with his fellow Jesuits, Bruni said.

On Sunday morning, Francis is to preside over a final, outdoor Mass – on a day when temperatures in Lisbon are expected to top 40 degrees C (104F) – before returning to the Vatican.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691249361207.png" alt="Pope Francis arrives surrounded by bodyguards at Our Lady of Fatima shrine in Fatima, central Portugal Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Pope Francis is in Portugal through the weekend into Sunday's 37th World Youth Day to preside over the jamboree that St. John Paul II launched in the 1980s to encourage young Catholics in their faith. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)" />
 <figcaption>Pope Francis arrives surrounded by bodyguards at Our Lady of Fatima shrine in Fatima, central Portugal Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023. Pope Francis is in Portugal through the weekend into Sunday's 37th World Youth Day to preside over the jamboree that St. John Paul II launched in the 1980s to encourage young Catholics in their faith. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)</figcaption>
 </figure>FATIMA, Portugal (AP) — Pope Francis visited the Portuguese town of Fatima on Saturday to pray for peace at a shrine known for apocalyptic prophesies of hell, peace and Soviet communism that have found new relevance with Russia’s war in Ukraine.But for the third time of his trip to Portugal for World Youth Day, Francis ditched his prepared remarks and didn’t even recite a prayer written for the occasion pleading for peace. The prayer had been expected to be a highlight of Francis’ visit to Fatima, given the shrine’s century-old affiliation with exhortations of peace and conversion in Russia.Francis instead “prayed silently for peace, with pain,” while meditating for a long period before a statue of the Virgin Mary, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said. And the Vatican later tweeted the prayer.The unusual morning unfolded at the shrine where,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-europe-religion-prayer-communism-9df80314be754c4aa3de4403cd5ecced">according to legend,</a>&nbsp;three young peasant children in 1917 saw visions of the Madonna. The apparitions turned the small town nestled in the fields of vineyards, olive groves and fruit orchards north of Lisbon into one of the most popular Marian pilgrimage sites in the world, drawing millions of visitors each year.On Saturday, an estimated 200,000 turned out for Francis’ visit, packing the central esplanade long before the red-tinted moon set and the sun rose. Nearby wildfires turned the sky smoky black and sent ash snowing down on the crowd.Francis’ visit marked a side trip from his main program in Lisbon to preside over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-portugal-students-economic-justice-environment-bb708ed61f35b54ddb28a04b43bcd9e1">World Youth Day Catholic festival.</a>&nbsp;The featured protagonists in Fatima were also young, including some young people with disabilities who read aloud prayers and young inmates who were allowed to attend. Babies were out in force, as parents offered them up to Francis to bless as he looped through the crowd in his popemobile.“We are here with great joy," said Maria Florido, a 24-year-old Spaniard who also saw Francis in Lisbon. "We woke up very early to come here and see the pope ... and we’re here with great enthusiasm.”The Fatima story dates back to 1917, when according to tradition, Portuguese siblings Francisco and Jacinta Marto and their cousin Lucia said the Virgin Mary appeared to them six times and confided to them three secrets. The first two described an apocalyptic image of hell, foretold the end of World War I and the start of World War II, and portended the rise and fall of Soviet communism.In 2000, the Vatican disclosed the long-awaited third secret, describing it as foretelling the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt against St. John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square, which fell on the anniversary of the original vision.According to later writings by Lucia, who became a nun and died in 2005, Russia would be converted and peace would reign if the pope and all the bishops of the world consecrated Russia to the “Immaculate Heart of Mary.” Lucia later claimed that John Paul fulfilled that prophecy during a 1984 Mass, even though he never specified Russia in the prayer.Fatima has long captivated Catholics, because of its blending of mystical, Marian apparitions, apocalyptic prophesies about the rise and fall of Soviet communism and the death of a pope. While Saturday’s wildfires and related ashfall were easily explained, they also harked back to another element of the Fatima phenomenon, an unusual weather phenomenon known as the “Miracle of the Sun.”According to legend, on Oct. 13, 1917, the Fatima “seers” predicted that the Virgin would perform a miracle that day, and tens of thousands of people flocked to Fatima. They saw what witnesses reported was a vision of the sun “spinning” in the sky and zigzagging toward Earth.Francis’ visit to Fatima fell on the anniversary of another odd weather phenomenon at a Marian church closely related to Fatima: According to that church legend, on Aug. 5, 1655, it actually snowed outside St. Mary Major basilica in Rome, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/6aff551d2b3346aba439decd43ee8b44">Francis always goes to pray</a>&nbsp;before an icon of Mary at the end of each trip.Vatican Media had said before the trip that Francis would pray for peace in Ukraine and the world while in Fatima. It seemed logical, given Francis had already consecrated both Russia and Ukraine to Mary in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-pope-francis-prayer-europe-portugal-723d6b846d4c3e535cbb321de79304b8">a prayer for peace</a>&nbsp;following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, essentially fulfilling Sr. Lucia's exhortation.In the prayer tweeted by the @Pontifex account but not read aloud, Francis didn’t name either country but consecrated the church and world, “especially those countries at war,” to Mary. “Open paths where it seems that none exist,” he wrote. “Loosen the tangles of self-centeredness and the snares of power.”Fatima Bishop Jose Ornelas made a prayer for Ukraine explicit in his remarks. “We associate ourselves to Your Holiness’ prayer for peace, for which this sanctuary is profoundly identified, thinking in particular of the war in Ukraine and so many other conflicts in the world,” he said.In explaining the changes, Vatican spokesman Bruni said Francis “always addresses firstly the people he meets, as a shepherd, and speaks accordingly.” The 86-year-old Francis often deviates from his prepared remarks, even more when speaking in his native Spanish. Bruni denied the changes had any other serious reason, including with his eyesight.Francis has been hospitalized twice this year, including in June when he spent nine days in the hospital recovering from abdominal surgery to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-health-758c3d7b07e6d6f242c4a5ea6f2de154">repair a hernia and remove scar tissue</a>&nbsp;on his intestine. Saturday was perhaps the most grueling day of his five-day visit to Portugal, given the round-trip helicopter ride to Fatima and a planned prayer vigil that wasn’t expected to begin until his usual bedtime in Rome.To give him more rest before the vigil, the Vatican planned to move up an afternoon encounter with his fellow Jesuits, Bruni said.On Sunday morning, Francis is to preside over a final, outdoor Mass – on a day when temperatures in Lisbon are expected to top 40 degrees C (104F) – before returning to the Vatican.

Pope visits shrine known for apocalyptic prophesy 

KANSAS CITY —The FBI, working with its state and local partners, identified and located 200 victims of sex trafficking during a nationwide enforcement campaign, called "Operation Cross Country," according to a media release from the agency this week.

 The operation also led to identification or arrest of 126 suspects of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking offenses and 68 suspects of trafficking were identified or arrested.&nbsp;

FBI agents from the Kansas City Field Office worked with law enforcement partners from Wichita Police, Overland Park, Kansas Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Sedgwick County, Kansas Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, KCMO Police and many other regional law enforcement agencies.

Through targeted operations and collaborative efforts, Operation Cross Country achieved significant milestones in recovering victims, apprehending offenders, and raising public awareness about these heinous crimes. The FBI and its partners located 59 minor victims of child sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation offenses and located 59 actively missing children during its 2-week operation in July.

"Sex traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "This operation, which located 59 actively missing children, builds on the tremendous work the FBI has undertaken over many years to rescue minor victims and arrest those responsible for these unspeakable crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the country to prevent human trafficking; increase detection, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking crimes; and expand support and services to protect and empower survivors."

The FBI-led nationwide initiative, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), focused on identifying and locating victims of sex trafficking and investigating and arresting individuals and criminal enterprises involved in both child sex and human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies conducted targeted operations to identify and apprehend offenders, dismantling criminal networks and preventing further harm to victims. Those suspects identified will be subject to additional investigation for potential charges.

"Human traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of our society, and their crimes scar victims—many of them children—for life. The FBI's commitment to combatting this threat will never waver, and we will continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "This operation would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration from our state and local law enforcement partners, and it demonstrates our continued focus on actively pursuing the criminals responsible for these heinous violations and connecting those impacted with dedicated victim services and resources."

A multidisciplinary team (MDT), to include victim specialists, child/adolescent forensic interviewers, and other victim service personnel, in addition to special agents, ensures a victim-centered, culturally responsive, trauma-informed investigative response. The FBI MDT works with state and local partners to make resources available to meet the unique needs of trafficking victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Victim specialists provide services based on the individual needs of human trafficking victims, to include crisis intervention, emergency food and clothing, transportation to receive emergency services, and locating shelter or housing. The victim specialists also serve as conduit between the victims and the investigative team to help ensure they are receiving case updates, as appropriate.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Behind every statistic, there is a person with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from child sex trafficking and exploitation. As a society we must work together to ensure the protection, support, and empowerment of those impacted by this heinous crime." said Michelle DeLaune, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children. "We applaud the FBI and their partner law enforcement agencies for their unwavering dedication to protecting children. Their tireless efforts in combatting crimes against children sends a powerful message that child sexual exploitation will not be tolerated."

The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to combatting child exploitation and human trafficking. Operation Cross Country is just one facet of the Bureau's ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of society and hold offenders accountable. The FBI encourages continued vigilance, cooperation, and reporting from the public to help identify and recover victims and bring perpetrators to justice.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691101172618.png" alt="Image from video footage of Operation Cross Country 13, an FBI-led nationwide law enforcement initiative—now in its 13th year. The coordinated operation, which included other federal agencies, state and local police, and social services agencies across the country, aims to find and assist victims of human trafficking, particularly child victims." />
 <figcaption>Image from video footage of Operation Cross Country 13, an FBI-led nationwide law enforcement initiative—now in its 13th year. The coordinated operation, which included other federal agencies, state and local police, and social services agencies across the country, aims to find and assist victims of human trafficking, particularly child victims.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The FBI, working with its state and local partners, identified and located 200 victims of sex trafficking during a nationwide enforcement campaign, called "Operation Cross Country," according to a media release from the agency this week. The operation also led to identification or arrest of 126 suspects of child sexual exploitation and human trafficking offenses and 68 suspects of trafficking were identified or arrested.&nbsp;FBI agents from the Kansas City Field Office worked with law enforcement partners from Wichita Police, Overland Park, Kansas Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Sedgwick County, Kansas Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit, Department of Homeland Security Investigations, KCMO Police and many other regional law enforcement agencies.Through targeted operations and collaborative efforts, Operation Cross Country achieved significant milestones in recovering victims, apprehending offenders, and raising public awareness about these heinous crimes. The FBI and its partners located 59 minor victims of child sex trafficking and child sexual exploitation offenses and located 59 actively missing children during its 2-week operation in July."Sex traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "This operation, which located 59 actively missing children, builds on the tremendous work the FBI has undertaken over many years to rescue minor victims and arrest those responsible for these unspeakable crimes. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners across the country to prevent human trafficking; increase detection, investigation, and prosecution of human trafficking crimes; and expand support and services to protect and empower survivors."The FBI-led nationwide initiative, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), focused on identifying and locating victims of sex trafficking and investigating and arresting individuals and criminal enterprises involved in both child sex and human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies conducted targeted operations to identify and apprehend offenders, dismantling criminal networks and preventing further harm to victims. Those suspects identified will be subject to additional investigation for potential charges."Human traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of our society, and their crimes scar victims—many of them children—for life. The FBI's commitment to combatting this threat will never waver, and we will continue to send our message that these atrocities will not be tolerated," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "This operation would not be possible without the commitment and collaboration from our state and local law enforcement partners, and it demonstrates our continued focus on actively pursuing the criminals responsible for these heinous violations and connecting those impacted with dedicated victim services and resources."A multidisciplinary team (MDT), to include victim specialists, child/adolescent forensic interviewers, and other victim service personnel, in addition to special agents, ensures a victim-centered, culturally responsive, trauma-informed investigative response. The FBI MDT works with state and local partners to make resources available to meet the unique needs of trafficking victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;Victim specialists provide services based on the individual needs of human trafficking victims, to include crisis intervention, emergency food and clothing, transportation to receive emergency services, and locating shelter or housing. The victim specialists also serve as conduit between the victims and the investigative team to help ensure they are receiving case updates, as appropriate.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Behind every statistic, there is a person with dreams, aspirations, and the right to live a life free from child sex trafficking and exploitation. As a society we must work together to ensure the protection, support, and empowerment of those impacted by this heinous crime." said Michelle DeLaune, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing &amp; Exploited Children. "We applaud the FBI and their partner law enforcement agencies for their unwavering dedication to protecting children. Their tireless efforts in combatting crimes against children sends a powerful message that child sexual exploitation will not be tolerated."The FBI remains steadfast in its commitment to combatting child exploitation and human trafficking. Operation Cross Country is just one facet of the Bureau's ongoing efforts to protect the most vulnerable members of society and hold offenders accountable. The FBI encourages continued vigilance, cooperation, and reporting from the public to help identify and recover victims and bring perpetrators to justice.&nbsp;

FBI sweep targets sex traffickers, recovers dozens of minor victims

JOHNSON COUNTY—A Kansas man injured in a bicycle vs. motor vehicle crash has died that occurred last month has died of his injuries.&nbsp;The bicyclist has been identified as 41-year-old Noah Anderson of Overland Park, according to police spokesman Office John Lacy.

Just before 10:30&nbsp;p.m. July 30, a vehicle was northbound on Antioch and did not see the bicyclist on the roadway. The vehicle struck the bicyclist from the rear. 

EMS transported the bicyclist to a local hospital with a severe head injury where days later he succumbed to his injuries. 

This crash is still under investigation by the Overland Park Police Traffic Unit, according to Lacy.

JOHNSON COUNTY—A Kansas man injured in a bicycle vs. motor vehicle crash has died that occurred last month has died of his injuries.&nbsp;The bicyclist has been identified as 41-year-old Noah Anderson of Overland Park, according to police spokesman Office John Lacy.Just before 10:30&nbsp;p.m. July 30, a vehicle was northbound on Antioch and did not see the bicyclist on the roadway. The vehicle struck the bicyclist from the rear. EMS transported the bicyclist to a local hospital with a severe head injury where days later he succumbed to his injuries. This crash is still under investigation by the Overland Park Police Traffic Unit, according to Lacy.

Kansas bicyclist injured in crash with vehicle has died

Des Moines (AP) —Another Mega Millions drawing, another night without a jackpot winner.

The numbers drawn Friday night were: 11, 30, 45, 52, 56 and the gold ball 20.

Because no one matched all six numbers and won the estimated $1.35 billion jackpot, the top prize increased to $1.55 billion for the next drawing Tuesday night.

There now have been 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. The last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot was April 18.

The $1.55 billion prize would be for a sole winner who chooses the annuity option with payment stretched over 30 years. Most winners opt for a lump-sum payment, which would be an estimated $757.2 million on Tuesday.

A big slice of those winnings would go toward federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery payouts.

The jackpot is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">so hard to win</a>&nbsp;because of the 1 in 302.6 million odds of matching the numbers on five white balls and a separate mega ball. The odds are better to win smaller prizes, which start at $2.

Mega Millions is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-alabama-alaska-lotteries-business-86424cf8e2b7cccf8ae9d06f6652d559">played in 45 states</a>, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Des Moines (AP) —Another Mega Millions drawing, another night without a jackpot winner.The numbers drawn Friday night were: 11, 30, 45, 52, 56 and the gold ball 20.Because no one matched all six numbers and won the estimated $1.35 billion jackpot, the top prize increased to $1.55 billion for the next drawing Tuesday night.There now have been 31 straight drawings without a jackpot winner. The last time someone won the Mega Millions jackpot was April 18.The $1.55 billion prize would be for a sole winner who chooses the annuity option with payment stretched over 30 years. Most winners opt for a lump-sum payment, which would be an estimated $757.2 million on Tuesday.A big slice of those winnings would go toward federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery payouts.The jackpot is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">so hard to win</a>&nbsp;because of the 1 in 302.6 million odds of matching the numbers on five white balls and a separate mega ball. The odds are better to win smaller prizes, which start at $2.Mega Millions is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-alabama-alaska-lotteries-business-86424cf8e2b7cccf8ae9d06f6652d559">played in 45 states</a>, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Mega Millions players spurned again as jackpot climbs to $1.55 billion

TOPEKA — A national summer uptick in COVID-19 cases has arrived, but Kansas physicians are still waiting to see if cases in the state follow national trends.

Across the U.S., hospitalizations&nbsp;have been on the rise since the beginning of July, the first increase seen this year, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_new-admissions-rate-county">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data</a>. The organization reported 8,035 new hospital admissions for the week ending July 22, marking a 12.1% increase compared to the week prior. The CDC has stopped tracking cases of infection, so hospitalizations are now the primary indicator of COVID-19 spread.

For the past three years, summer surges in COVID-19 have happened because of increased movement and travel.&nbsp;While the increase in cases isn’t near the levels seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, state physicians recommend taking summer booster shots.

The University of Kansas Health System reported treating 15 COVID-19 patients this week. Dana Hawkinson, director of infection prevention and control at the system, said it may be too soon to say there was an overall “summer surge” in Kansas.

“Whatever community you’re living in may be different than the next community over, or something that is further away from you, so I think we just need to wait about that, as far as the overall numbers,” Hawkinson said during a Friday news briefing.

New Kansas COVID-19 cases haven’t been widely documented since the end of the federal COVID-19 emergency declaration in May, when the state stopped updating statistics, but the vaccination rate is still tracked on a monthly basis.

<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-people-booster-percent-pop5">CDC data</a>&nbsp;show 65.6% of Kansans, including 76.3% of adults, have completed a primary vaccination series for COVID-19. And 15.9% of Kansans, including 19.6% of adults, have received a booster shot.

Hawkinson said elderly Kansans, along with residents who have pre-existing conditions, remain the most vulnerable to infection.

“This disease has really started to become a disease of those most at risk — certainly age, those with immunocompromising conditions,” Hawkinson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618856566652.jpg" alt="Medical officials are calling the national uptick in COVID-19 cases a "summer surge." />
 <figcaption>Medical officials are calling the national uptick in COVID-19 cases a "summer surge.</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/kansas-lawmakers-debate-definition-of-female-and-male-for-county-jails/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A national summer uptick in COVID-19 cases has arrived, but Kansas physicians are still waiting to see if cases in the state follow national trends.Across the U.S., hospitalizations&nbsp;have been on the rise since the beginning of July, the first increase seen this year, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_new-admissions-rate-county">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data</a>. The organization reported 8,035 new hospital admissions for the week ending July 22, marking a 12.1% increase compared to the week prior. The CDC has stopped tracking cases of infection, so hospitalizations are now the primary indicator of COVID-19 spread.For the past three years, summer surges in COVID-19 have happened because of increased movement and travel.&nbsp;While the increase in cases isn’t near the levels seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, state physicians recommend taking summer booster shots.The University of Kansas Health System reported treating 15 COVID-19 patients this week. Dana Hawkinson, director of infection prevention and control at the system, said it may be too soon to say there was an overall “summer surge” in Kansas.“Whatever community you’re living in may be different than the next community over, or something that is further away from you, so I think we just need to wait about that, as far as the overall numbers,” Hawkinson said during a Friday news briefing.New Kansas COVID-19 cases haven’t been widely documented since the end of the federal COVID-19 emergency declaration in May, when the state stopped updating statistics, but the vaccination rate is still tracked on a monthly basis.<a target="_blank" href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations_vacc-people-booster-percent-pop5">CDC data</a>&nbsp;show 65.6% of Kansans, including 76.3% of adults, have completed a primary vaccination series for COVID-19. And 15.9% of Kansans, including 19.6% of adults, have received a booster shot.Hawkinson said elderly Kansans, along with residents who have pre-existing conditions, remain the most vulnerable to infection.“This disease has really started to become a disease of those most at risk — certainly age, those with immunocompromising conditions,” Hawkinson said.

Hospitalizations in Kansas, nationwide signal ‘summer surge’ of COVID-19

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

Just before 1 p.m. Tuesday, an Osage County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at East 341st Street and South K-31 Highway, near Melvern, for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

During the stop, a K-9 was deployed, and illegal narcotics were located.

Two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility.

The driver of the vehicle, Gregory A. Wendt, 60, of Melvern is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia.

A passenger in the vehicle, Holly D. McGinnis, 52, of Melvern, is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Traffic in contraband in a correctional facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1690973009357.png" alt="Wendt-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Wendt-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just before 1 p.m. Tuesday, an Osage County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at East 341st Street and South K-31 Highway, near Melvern, for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.During the stop, a K-9 was deployed, and illegal narcotics were located.Two subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility.The driver of the vehicle, Gregory A. Wendt, 60, of Melvern is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine and&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of drug paraphernalia.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1690972970559.png" alt="McGinnis-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>McGinnis-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A passenger in the vehicle, Holly D. McGinnis, 52, of Melvern, is being held on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Traffic in contraband in a correctional facility.

Sheriff: Kansas couple accused of transporting meth

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Porch Pirates are again operating in Kansas.

Just after 6p.m. Thursday, the individual seen in security camera images took packages left on the porch of a residence in the 11000 block of West Sondra in the city of Maize, according to a social media report from police.

Anyone having information about this theft or the identity of the suspect(s) involved is asked to call Maize Detective Jeff Piper at 316-425-3356 or you may submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=217&amp;fbclid=IwAR38bm6gyyu9cOy_1KKhKYTxTOm53Q1T_a3brO6hcaeJLkssSF-841Z25BI" target="_blank">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=217</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691180365684.png" alt="photos Maize Police" />
 <figcaption>photos Maize Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Porch Pirates are again operating in Kansas.Just after 6p.m. Thursday, the individual seen in security camera images took packages left on the porch of a residence in the 11000 block of West Sondra in the city of Maize, according to a social media report from police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691180397601.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> Anyone having information about this theft or the identity of the suspect(s) involved is asked to call Maize Detective Jeff Piper at 316-425-3356 or you may submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=217&amp;fbclid=IwAR38bm6gyyu9cOy_1KKhKYTxTOm53Q1T_a3brO6hcaeJLkssSF-841Z25BI" target="_blank">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=217</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;