CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating vandalism at the city park in Concordia are offering a $200 reward for information that leads to an arrest and prosecution.

On Friday, police responded to report of damage at the park in the 300 Block of West 11th Street in Concordia and including the swimming pool and pickle ball courts, according to Police Chief Brent Gering.

The damage prevented the community from using the pool and courts over the weekend and resulted in costly repairs to buildings and equipment, lost wages to seasonal employees and lost revenue to the city.

Anyone with information on the vandalism, contact Concordia Police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689547541085.png" alt="Anyone with information on the vandalism, contact Concordia Police. Google image" />
 <figcaption>Anyone with information on the vandalism, contact Concordia Police. Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating vandalism at the city park in Concordia are offering a $200 reward for information that leads to an arrest and prosecution.On Friday, police responded to report of damage at the park in the 300 Block of West 11th Street in Concordia and including the swimming pool and pickle ball courts, according to Police Chief Brent Gering.The damage prevented the community from using the pool and courts over the weekend and resulted in costly repairs to buildings and equipment, lost wages to seasonal employees and lost revenue to the city.Anyone with information on the vandalism, contact Concordia Police.

Reward offered after city pool, pickle ball courts vandalized 

BARTON COUNTY —The Sunday evening storm brought damaging winds and large hail to Russell, Barton and Stafford counties.

Sunflower Electric had more than a dozen high-voltage transmission structures down and three substations offline in Great Bend. Crews were on site repairing the damage overnight.

&nbsp;Midwest Energy had many poles and wires down; the city of Great Bend was the damage epicenter, with lots of window, roof and tree damage, according to the utility. Midwest Energy crews continue to work to restore service.

 Sunflower crews worked through the night to repair downed transmission structures on NE 20 Road in Great Bend. Sunflower&nbsp; hopes repairs will be completed by mid-morning to early afternoon Monday morning. This should restore power to Great Bend transmission system.  

Other repairs on Railroad Avenue in Great Bend will continue throughout the coming days.

As a reminder, stay away from downed power lines as you can't tell visually if a line is energized.

Main roads have been cleared in the city of Great Bend, according to Great Bend Fire and EMS. Not all side roads are completely cleared.&nbsp; The Fire Department will send more crews out Monday morning.

Wheatland Electric also has crews out trying to restore power to the area.&nbsp;

The National Weather Service will be conducting a damage survey across Russell and Barton Counties Monday investigating possible tornadoes from the storms.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689590471875.png" alt="Police working to clear streets in Great Bend-photo courtesy Great Bend Police" />
 <figcaption>Police working to clear streets in Great Bend-photo courtesy Great Bend Police</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —The Sunday evening storm brought damaging winds and large hail to Russell, Barton and Stafford counties.Sunflower Electric had more than a dozen high-voltage transmission structures down and three substations offline in Great Bend. Crews were on site repairing the damage overnight.&nbsp;Midwest Energy had many poles and wires down; the city of Great Bend was the damage epicenter, with lots of window, roof and tree damage, according to the utility. Midwest Energy crews continue to work to restore service.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689590725516.png" alt="Crews working overnight to restore service-photo courtesy Midwest Energy" />
 <figcaption>Crews working overnight to restore service-photo courtesy Midwest Energy</figcaption>
 </figure> Sunflower crews worked through the night to repair downed transmission structures on NE 20 Road in Great Bend. Sunflower&nbsp; hopes repairs will be completed by mid-morning to early afternoon Monday morning. This should restore power to Great Bend transmission system. Other repairs on Railroad Avenue in Great Bend will continue throughout the coming days.As a reminder, stay away from downed power lines as you can't tell visually if a line is energized.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689590996952.png" alt="Storm damage in Great Bend photo courtesy Great Bend Police" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage in Great Bend photo courtesy Great Bend Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Main roads have been cleared in the city of Great Bend, according to Great Bend Fire and EMS. Not all side roads are completely cleared.&nbsp; The Fire Department will send more crews out Monday morning.Wheatland Electric also has crews out trying to restore power to the area.&nbsp;There are no reports of injuries.&nbsp; The National Weather Service will be conducting a damage survey across Russell and Barton Counties Monday investigating possible tornadoes from the storms.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Crews working to restore power, clear roads after Kansas storm

TOPEKA – The Linn County Sheriff’s Office reported that Jerald Tuchscherer was located in Osage County, Oklahoma. He is now safe and has been reunited with family, according to a media release from the KBI. The silver alert is canceled.

LINN COUNTY – The Linn County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Mapleton man, according to a media release.

The whereabouts of 72-year-old Jerald D. Tuchscherer are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.

Jerald is likely driving a silver 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 bearing Kansas tag 061MFZ. The truck is missing its front bumper. He was last seen at his home in Mapleton, around 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 16.

Jerald is described as a white male who is 6 feet tall and weighs around 220 pounds. He has blue eyes and grey hair. Jerald was last seen wearing grey sweat pants, a blue t-shirt and black and red flannel. He has a heart condition and other medical conditions which may cause confusion.

If you see Jerald Tuchscherer or his vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Linn County Sheriff’s Office at 913-795-2665.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689587748829.png" alt="Jerald Tuchscherer-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Jerald Tuchscherer-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – The Linn County Sheriff’s Office reported that Jerald Tuchscherer was located in Osage County, Oklahoma. He is now safe and has been reunited with family, according to a media release from the KBI. The silver alert is canceled.------------LINN COUNTY – The Linn County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a missing Mapleton man, according to a media release.The whereabouts of 72-year-old Jerald D. Tuchscherer are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.Jerald is likely driving a silver 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 bearing Kansas tag 061MFZ. The truck is missing its front bumper. He was last seen at his home in Mapleton, around 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 16.Jerald is described as a white male who is 6 feet tall and weighs around 220 pounds. He has blue eyes and grey hair. Jerald was last seen wearing grey sweat pants, a blue t-shirt and black and red flannel. He has a heart condition and other medical conditions which may cause confusion.If you see Jerald Tuchscherer or his vehicle, please call 911 immediately. If you have other information about his whereabouts, please call the Linn County Sheriff’s Office at 913-795-2665.

KBI: Silver Alert canceled, missing Kan. man found in Oklahoma

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published Sunday that Russia has a “sufficient stockpile” of cluster munitions, and warned that Russia “reserves the right to take reciprocal action” if Ukraine uses the controversial weapons.

In his first comments on the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine from the U.S., Putin said that Russia has not used cluster bombs in its war in Ukraine so far. The use of cluster bombs by both Russia and Ukraine has been widely documented, including by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interactive/ap-russia-war-crimes-ukraine/">The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;and international humanitarian organizations, and cluster rounds have been found in the aftermath of Russian strikes.

“Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need,” he said,

Rossiya TV reporter Pavel Zarubin published excerpts of the interview to his Telegram channel Sunday ahead of a scheduled broadcast Sunday night.

The Pentagon said Thursday that cluster munitions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cluster-bombs-ukraine-biden-russia-unexploded-ordnance-cc16c482d86b34102ffeac6ee682a524">provided by the United States</a>&nbsp;had arrived in Ukraine.

The munitions, which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, are seen by the U.S. as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines. U.S. leaders debated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-cluster-munition-war-7332fa86b3c52d1ea8d63f92a7d5c2cb">the thorny issue</a>&nbsp;for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision last week.

Cluster bombs have long been criticized by humanitarian groups, and some U.S. allies, because those used in previous conflicts have had a high “dud rate,” meaning that they often leave behind unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians long after a battle has ended.

Proponents argue that Russia has already been using cluster munitions in Ukraine and that the weapons the U.S. is providing have been improved to leave behind far fewer unexploded rounds. Ukraine has promised to use them only away from densely populated areas.

The Ukrainian military said in a regular update Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours Russia had launched two Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones, two cruise missiles and two anti-aircraft guided missiles, in addition to 40 airstrikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.

The Ukrainian General Staff wrote that Russia continues to concentrate on offensive operations in Ukraine’s industrial east. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Sunday that two residents of the region were killed on Saturday, and one other person was wounded.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Sunday that fighting in eastern Ukraine had “somewhat intensified,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-explainer-ff774fce8608b464a406ae087b1a3607">amid a slow counteroffensive</a>&nbsp;in which Ukraine has made small territorial gains.

Writing on Telegram, she said that Russia had been “actively attacking” in the direction of Kupiansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region for two consecutive days, and that Ukrainian forces were “on the defensive” in the area.

“There are fierce battles, the positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day,” she wrote.

Maliar wrote that Ukrainian troops were trying to hold on to their positions on the northern flank around the destroyed city of Bakhmut, but reported that Ukrainian forces were “advancing daily” on the southern flank. Ukraine has been trying to encircle the city since losing control of it to Russia in May.

Putin claimed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had been futile, in another excerpt published by Zarubin.

“All attempts by the enemy to break through our defenses (...) they were unsuccessful during the entire offensive. The enemy is having no success!” Putin said.

Elsewhere in the country, two boys, aged eight and 10, were wounded when an explosive device left by Russian forces detonated in the southern region of Kherson on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office.

Regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said that Russia had launched 69 shelling attacks against Kherson region. A 59-year-old man died on Saturday when attempting to disarm a round in the regional capital, also called Kherson.

Yurii Malashko, governor of the neighboring, partly occupied, Zaporizhzhia region, said Russia had attacked 13 populated areas in the region, wounding seven people in the town of Stepnohirsk.

Moscow-installed authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea on Sunday reported “a massive and prolonged” drone attack overnight targeting Sevastopol, the peninsula’s largest port, which hosts Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. According to Moscow-installed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev, air defense shot down all of the drones and there was no damage.

Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, said that a woman was killed Sunday by shelling in the town of Shebekino near the border with Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service&nbsp; via AP)" />
 <figcaption>Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service&nbsp; via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview published Sunday that Russia has a “sufficient stockpile” of cluster munitions, and warned that Russia “reserves the right to take reciprocal action” if Ukraine uses the controversial weapons.In his first comments on the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine from the U.S., Putin said that Russia has not used cluster bombs in its war in Ukraine so far. The use of cluster bombs by both Russia and Ukraine has been widely documented, including by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/interactive/ap-russia-war-crimes-ukraine/">The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;and international humanitarian organizations, and cluster rounds have been found in the aftermath of Russian strikes.“Until now, we have not done this, we have not used it, and we have not had such a need,” he said,Rossiya TV reporter Pavel Zarubin published excerpts of the interview to his Telegram channel Sunday ahead of a scheduled broadcast Sunday night.The Pentagon said Thursday that cluster munitions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cluster-bombs-ukraine-biden-russia-unexploded-ordnance-cc16c482d86b34102ffeac6ee682a524">provided by the United States</a>&nbsp;had arrived in Ukraine.The munitions, which are bombs that open in the air and release scores of smaller bomblets, are seen by the U.S. as a way to get Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its offensive and push through Russian front lines. U.S. leaders debated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-cluster-munition-war-7332fa86b3c52d1ea8d63f92a7d5c2cb">the thorny issue</a>&nbsp;for months, before President Joe Biden made the final decision last week.Cluster bombs have long been criticized by humanitarian groups, and some U.S. allies, because those used in previous conflicts have had a high “dud rate,” meaning that they often leave behind unexploded bomblets that can harm civilians long after a battle has ended.Proponents argue that Russia has already been using cluster munitions in Ukraine and that the weapons the U.S. is providing have been improved to leave behind far fewer unexploded rounds. Ukraine has promised to use them only away from densely populated areas.The Ukrainian military said in a regular update Sunday morning that over the previous 24 hours Russia had launched two Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones, two cruise missiles and two anti-aircraft guided missiles, in addition to 40 airstrikes and 46 attacks from multiple rocket launchers.The Ukrainian General Staff wrote that Russia continues to concentrate on offensive operations in Ukraine’s industrial east. Donetsk regional Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko said Sunday that two residents of the region were killed on Saturday, and one other person was wounded.Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Sunday that fighting in eastern Ukraine had “somewhat intensified,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-explainer-ff774fce8608b464a406ae087b1a3607">amid a slow counteroffensive</a>&nbsp;in which Ukraine has made small territorial gains.Writing on Telegram, she said that Russia had been “actively attacking” in the direction of Kupiansk in the northeastern Kharkiv region for two consecutive days, and that Ukrainian forces were “on the defensive” in the area.“There are fierce battles, the positions of both sides change dynamically several times a day,” she wrote.Maliar wrote that Ukrainian troops were trying to hold on to their positions on the northern flank around the destroyed city of Bakhmut, but reported that Ukrainian forces were “advancing daily” on the southern flank. Ukraine has been trying to encircle the city since losing control of it to Russia in May.Putin claimed that the Ukrainian counteroffensive had been futile, in another excerpt published by Zarubin.“All attempts by the enemy to break through our defenses (...) they were unsuccessful during the entire offensive. The enemy is having no success!” Putin said.Elsewhere in the country, two boys, aged eight and 10, were wounded when an explosive device left by Russian forces detonated in the southern region of Kherson on Sunday, according to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office.Regional Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said that Russia had launched 69 shelling attacks against Kherson region. A 59-year-old man died on Saturday when attempting to disarm a round in the regional capital, also called Kherson.Yurii Malashko, governor of the neighboring, partly occupied, Zaporizhzhia region, said Russia had attacked 13 populated areas in the region, wounding seven people in the town of Stepnohirsk.Moscow-installed authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea on Sunday reported “a massive and prolonged” drone attack overnight targeting Sevastopol, the peninsula’s largest port, which hosts Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. According to Moscow-installed Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev, air defense shot down all of the drones and there was no damage.Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, said that a woman was killed Sunday by shelling in the town of Shebekino near the border with Ukraine.

Putin issues threat as U.S. cluster bombs arrive in Ukraine

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two Kansas men were sentenced to substantial terms of imprisonment following their convictions on kidnapping, firearm, and drug charges, according to the United State's Attorney.

In February 2023, a federal jury found David Carr, 36, of Kansas City, and James Michael Poterbin, 47, of Edwardsville, guilty of kidnapping, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and discharging a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.

On July 6, a U.S. District Judge sentenced Carr to life in prison and Poterbin to 40 years of imprisonment.

The convictions and sentences relate to the 2019 kidnapping and torture of a victim in Kansas City, Kansas. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, after Carr and Poterbin mistakenly believed a woman had stolen drug money from them, they kidnapped her boyfriend and demanded payment for his release.

After beating, shooting, and stabbing the victim, Carr and Poterbin believed the victim was dead and left him in the house for days before he was discovered by another individual. After the victim was found alive and rescued, Carr ordered a co-conspirator to burn the house to the ground, endangering neighbors and first responders.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department investigated the case. The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department investigated the arson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596120381636.png" alt="Carr-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Carr-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Two Kansas men were sentenced to substantial terms of imprisonment following their convictions on kidnapping, firearm, and drug charges, according to the United State's Attorney.In February 2023, a federal jury found David Carr, 36, of Kansas City, and James Michael Poterbin, 47, of Edwardsville, guilty of kidnapping, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, and discharging a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1596120824220.png" alt="Poterbin-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Poterbin-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On July 6, a U.S. District Judge sentenced Carr to life in prison and Poterbin to 40 years of imprisonment.The convictions and sentences relate to the 2019 kidnapping and torture of a victim in Kansas City, Kansas. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, after Carr and Poterbin mistakenly believed a woman had stolen drug money from them, they kidnapped her boyfriend and demanded payment for his release.After beating, shooting, and stabbing the victim, Carr and Poterbin believed the victim was dead and left him in the house for days before he was discovered by another individual. After the victim was found alive and rescued, Carr ordered a co-conspirator to burn the house to the ground, endangering neighbors and first responders.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department investigated the case. The Kansas City, Kansas Fire Department investigated the arson.

2 Kan. men kidnapped, tortured victim and burned down home

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with one count of making a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Trenton Espinoza, 19, of Wichita is accused of modifying an Anderson Manufacturing rifle to an overall length of less than 26 inches and to a barrel length of less than 16 inches.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689187482143.png" alt="Espinoza photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Espinoza photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with one count of making a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Trenton Espinoza, 19, of Wichita is accused of modifying an Anderson Manufacturing rifle to an overall length of less than 26 inches and to a barrel length of less than 16 inches.The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the case.

Indictment: Kan. man modified rifle in violation of federal law

NEOSHO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are praising the work of a K-9 officer after recent arrests.

On July 11, Kansas Game Warden Sievert and Game Warden Austin were on patrol when Kansas Highway Patrol initiated a vehicle pursuit ending in rural Neosho County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks game wardens.

KHP and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office requested a Wildlife and Parks K-9 after both suspects ran on foot into the brush. On deployment, K-9 Apollo went into tracking profile, leading the officers across the field and into the brush where both suspects were laying in tall grass.

 Later, on an area search, Apollo located the suspect's phone and knife. 

Both individuals were arrested and booked into the Neosho County jail, and several charges were filed in Neosho and Montgomery counties.

On the morning of July 7, Game Warden Sievert and K-9 Apollo were requested following the conclusion of a vehicle pursuit with a convicted felon initiated by the Parsons Police Department. 

Once the suspect was in custody, police and Labette County Sheriff’s Office believed parts of a firearm had been discarded out in the tall grass on the side of the Highway to hide evidence. 

Upon deployment, Apollo made quick work of the road ditch, alerting on the components of the firearm that were thrown further down the highway.Apollo was rewarded with his Kong toy and a Pup Cup.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689366111369.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEOSHO COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are praising the work of a K-9 officer after recent arrests.On July 11, Kansas Game Warden Sievert and Game Warden Austin were on patrol when Kansas Highway Patrol initiated a vehicle pursuit ending in rural Neosho County, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks game wardens.KHP and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office requested a Wildlife and Parks K-9 after both suspects ran on foot into the brush. On deployment, K-9 Apollo went into tracking profile, leading the officers across the field and into the brush where both suspects were laying in tall grass. Later, on an area search, Apollo located the suspect's phone and knife. Both individuals were arrested and booked into the Neosho County jail, and several charges were filed in Neosho and Montgomery counties.On the morning of July 7, Game Warden Sievert and K-9 Apollo were requested following the conclusion of a vehicle pursuit with a convicted felon initiated by the Parsons Police Department. Once the suspect was in custody, police and Labette County Sheriff’s Office believed parts of a firearm had been discarded out in the tall grass on the side of the Highway to hide evidence. Upon deployment, Apollo made quick work of the road ditch, alerting on the components of the firearm that were thrown further down the highway.Apollo was rewarded with his Kong toy and a Pup Cup.

Kan. game warden's K-9 helps capture suspects, evidence

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The newly crowned Miss Kansas, Courtney Wages, is looking to help all Kansans see each other better.

"I've always been a huge volunteer with my community service initiative, which is called, One Vision is not the Only Vision: Eye See You," Wages said. "That's me advocating for people who are experiencing blindness or any sort of visual impairment."

Even the technology that can help so many people accomplish so much can take its toll on your eyesight.

"Think about it, everyone has eyes," Wages said. "Especially during COVID-19, we saw an increase in purchasing blue light glasses. I think people started to notice how hindering it is to look on a screen every single day and how that can hurt someone's eyes who even have 20/20 vision. Over the years, my community service initiative has just progressed. People are really starting to see, your vision isn't going to be permanent. It's going to shift all through the years. You're going to experience vision loss as you age. It's very common. In Kansas, 80,000 Kansans have some sort of vision impairment."

Making sure Kansans can keep their eyes healthy is a key component Wages wants in her reign.

"It was really my mission just to go around the state of Kansas and provide opportunities," Wages said. "Insurance doesn't look the same for everyone. Purchasing glasses can be harder on some than others."

The date for the Miss America pageant has not yet been announced.

NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The newly crowned Miss Kansas, Courtney Wages, is looking to help all Kansans see each other better."I've always been a huge volunteer with my community service initiative, which is called, One Vision is not the Only Vision: Eye See You," Wages said. "That's me advocating for people who are experiencing blindness or any sort of visual impairment."Even the technology that can help so many people accomplish so much can take its toll on your eyesight."Think about it, everyone has eyes," Wages said. "Especially during COVID-19, we saw an increase in purchasing blue light glasses. I think people started to notice how hindering it is to look on a screen every single day and how that can hurt someone's eyes who even have 20/20 vision. Over the years, my community service initiative has just progressed. People are really starting to see, your vision isn't going to be permanent. It's going to shift all through the years. You're going to experience vision loss as you age. It's very common. In Kansas, 80,000 Kansans have some sort of vision impairment."Making sure Kansans can keep their eyes healthy is a key component Wages wants in her reign."It was really my mission just to go around the state of Kansas and provide opportunities," Wages said. "Insurance doesn't look the same for everyone. Purchasing glasses can be harder on some than others."The date for the Miss America pageant has not yet been announced.

Miss Kansas: Helping Kansans see is her focus

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City-area man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to stealing more than $340,000 by continuing to collect his grandmother’s veteran survivor benefits following her death almost 30 years ago, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jeffrey L. Tyler, 67, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to a federal information that charges him with one count of the theft of government property.

By pleading guilty, Tyler admitted that he spent $340,934 in veteran survivor benefits from his grandmother’s bank account on his own personal expenses. Tyler’s grandmother received veteran survivor benefits based on her husband’s military service. She died on Nov. 26, 1993, but the benefits continued to be deposited into her bank account. The account received $1,110 per month, a total of $13,320 per year.

Tyler was also on his grandmother’s bank account. The bank records show that the money was spent on personal expenses for Tyler, including hundreds of signed checks by Tyler for such items as water and electric bills. The total amount of benefits converted by Tyler was approximately $338,316. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Tyler must pay $340,934 in restitution to the government.

Under federal statutes, Tyler is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City-area man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to stealing more than $340,000 by continuing to collect his grandmother’s veteran survivor benefits following her death almost 30 years ago, according to the United State's Attorney.Jeffrey L. Tyler, 67, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to a federal information that charges him with one count of the theft of government property.By pleading guilty, Tyler admitted that he spent $340,934 in veteran survivor benefits from his grandmother’s bank account on his own personal expenses. Tyler’s grandmother received veteran survivor benefits based on her husband’s military service. She died on Nov. 26, 1993, but the benefits continued to be deposited into her bank account. The account received $1,110 per month, a total of $13,320 per year.Tyler was also on his grandmother’s bank account. The bank records show that the money was spent on personal expenses for Tyler, including hundreds of signed checks by Tyler for such items as water and electric bills. The total amount of benefits converted by Tyler was approximately $338,316. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Tyler must pay $340,934 in restitution to the government.Under federal statutes, Tyler is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

KC-area man stole veteran survivor benefits for 30-years

By STEFANIE DAZIO and LARRY FENN Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Slain at the hands of strangers or gunned down by loved ones. Massacred in small towns, in big cities, inside their own homes or outside in broad daylight. This year's unrelenting bloodshed across the U.S. has led to the grimmest of milestones: The deadliest six months of mass killings recorded since at least 2006.

From Jan. 1 to June 30, the nation endured 28 mass killings, all but one of which involved guns. The death toll rose just about every week, a constant cycle of violence and grief.

Six months. 181 days. 28 mass killings. 140 victims. One country.

"What a ghastly milestone," said Brent Leatherwood, whose three children were in class at a private Christian school in Nashville on March 27 when a former student killed three children and three adults. "You never think your family would be a part of a statistic like that."

Leatherwood, a prominent Republican in a state that hasn't strengthened gun laws, believes something must be done to get guns out of the hands of people who might become violent. The shock of seeing the bloodshed strike so close to home has prompted him to speak out.

"You may as well say Martians have landed, right? It's hard to wrap your mind around it," he said.

A mass killing is defined as an occurrence when four or more people are slain, not including the assailant, within a 24-hour period. A database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University tracks this large-scale violence dating back to 2006.

The 2023 milestone beat the previous record of 27 mass killings, which was only set in the second half of 2022. James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, never imagined records like this when he began overseeing the database about five years ago.

"We used to say there were two to three dozen a year," Fox said. "The fact that there's 28 in half a year is a staggering statistic."

But the chaos of the first six months of 2023 doesn't automatically doom the last six months. The remainder of the year could be calmer, despite more violence over the July Fourthholiday weekend.

"Hopefully it was just a blip," said Dr. Amy Barnhorst, a psychiatrist who is the associate director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis.

"There could be fewer killings later in 2023, or this could be part of a trend. But we won't know for sometime," she added.

Experts like Barnhorst and Fox attribute the rising bloodshed to a growing population with an increased number of guns in the U.S. Yet for all the headlines, mass killings are statistically rare and represent a fraction of the country's overall gun violence.

"We need to keep it in perspective," Fox said.

But the mass violence most often spurs attempts to reform gun laws, even if the efforts are not always successful.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, had urged the General Assembly in the wake of the Nashville school shooting to pass legislation keeping firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others, so-called "red flag laws," though Lee says the term is politically toxic.

Getting such a measure passed in Tennessee is an uphill climb. The Republican-led Legislature adjourned earlier this year without taking on gun control, prompting Lee to schedule a special session for August.

Leatherwood, a former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party and now the head of the influential Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm, wrote a letter to lawmakers asking them to pass the governor's proposal.

Leatherwood said he doesn't want any other family to go through what his children experienced at the time of the shooting when they were in kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. One of his kids, preparing for a recent sleepaway camp, asked whether they would be safe there.

"Our child was asking, 'Do you think that there will be a gunman that comes to this camp? Do I need to be worried about that?'" Leatherwood said.

The Nashville shooter, whose writings Leatherwood and other parents are asking a court to keep private, used three guns in the attack, including an AR-15-style rifle. It was one of at least four mass killings in the first half of 2023 involving such a weapon, according to the database.

Nearly all of the mass killings in the first half of this year, 27 of 28, involved guns. The other was a fire that killed four people in a home in Monroe, Louisiana. A 37-year-old man was arrested on arson and murder charges in connection with the March 31 deaths.

Despite the unprecedented carnage, the National Rifle Association maintains fierce opposition to regulating firearms, including AR-15-style rifles and similar weapons.

"Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' constant efforts to gut the Second Amendment will not usher in safety for Americans; instead, it will only embolden criminals," NRA spokesman Billy McLaughlin said in a statement. "That is why the NRA continues our fight for self-defense laws. Rest assured, we will never bow, we will never retreat, and we will never apologize for championing the self-defense rights of law-abiding Americans."

Tito Anchondo's brother, Andre Anchondo, was among 23 people killed in a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The gunman was sentenced last week to 90 consecutive life sentences but could face more punishment, including the death penalty. The prosecution of the racist attack on Hispanic shoppers in the border city was one of the U.S. government's largest hate crime cases.

Andre Anchondo and his wife, Jordan, died shielding their 2-month-old son from bullets. Paul, who escaped with just broken bones, is now 4 years old.

Tito Anchondo said he feels like the country has forgotten about the El Paso victims in the years since and that not nearly enough has been done to stem the bloodshed. He worries about Paul's future.

"I hope that things can drastically change because this country is going down a very, very slippery slope; a downward spiral," he said. "It's just a little unnerving to know that he's eventually going to go to school with kids that also may bring a gun to school."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687710602889.png" alt="KC Police on the scene of&nbsp; the mass shooting at&nbsp; an after hours club near 57th and Prospect Avenue June 26-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>KC Police on the scene of&nbsp; the mass shooting at&nbsp; an after hours club near 57th and Prospect Avenue June 26-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEFANIE DAZIO and LARRY FENN Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — Slain at the hands of strangers or gunned down by loved ones. Massacred in small towns, in big cities, inside their own homes or outside in broad daylight. This year's unrelenting bloodshed across the U.S. has led to the grimmest of milestones: The deadliest six months of mass killings recorded since at least 2006.From Jan. 1 to June 30, the nation endured 28 mass killings, all but one of which involved guns. The death toll rose just about every week, a constant cycle of violence and grief.Six months. 181 days. 28 mass killings. 140 victims. One country."What a ghastly milestone," said Brent Leatherwood, whose three children were in class at a private Christian school in Nashville on March 27 when a former student killed three children and three adults. "You never think your family would be a part of a statistic like that."Leatherwood, a prominent Republican in a state that hasn't strengthened gun laws, believes something must be done to get guns out of the hands of people who might become violent. The shock of seeing the bloodshed strike so close to home has prompted him to speak out."You may as well say Martians have landed, right? It's hard to wrap your mind around it," he said.A mass killing is defined as an occurrence when four or more people are slain, not including the assailant, within a 24-hour period. A database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University tracks this large-scale violence dating back to 2006.The 2023 milestone beat the previous record of 27 mass killings, which was only set in the second half of 2022. James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, never imagined records like this when he began overseeing the database about five years ago."We used to say there were two to three dozen a year," Fox said. "The fact that there's 28 in half a year is a staggering statistic."But the chaos of the first six months of 2023 doesn't automatically doom the last six months. The remainder of the year could be calmer, despite more violence over the July Fourthholiday weekend."Hopefully it was just a blip," said Dr. Amy Barnhorst, a psychiatrist who is the associate director of the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis."There could be fewer killings later in 2023, or this could be part of a trend. But we won't know for sometime," she added.Experts like Barnhorst and Fox attribute the rising bloodshed to a growing population with an increased number of guns in the U.S. Yet for all the headlines, mass killings are statistically rare and represent a fraction of the country's overall gun violence."We need to keep it in perspective," Fox said.But the mass violence most often spurs attempts to reform gun laws, even if the efforts are not always successful.Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, had urged the General Assembly in the wake of the Nashville school shooting to pass legislation keeping firearms away from people who could harm themselves or others, so-called "red flag laws," though Lee says the term is politically toxic.Getting such a measure passed in Tennessee is an uphill climb. The Republican-led Legislature adjourned earlier this year without taking on gun control, prompting Lee to schedule a special session for August.Leatherwood, a former executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party and now the head of the influential Southern Baptist Convention's public policy arm, wrote a letter to lawmakers asking them to pass the governor's proposal.Leatherwood said he doesn't want any other family to go through what his children experienced at the time of the shooting when they were in kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. One of his kids, preparing for a recent sleepaway camp, asked whether they would be safe there."Our child was asking, 'Do you think that there will be a gunman that comes to this camp? Do I need to be worried about that?'" Leatherwood said.The Nashville shooter, whose writings Leatherwood and other parents are asking a court to keep private, used three guns in the attack, including an AR-15-style rifle. It was one of at least four mass killings in the first half of 2023 involving such a weapon, according to the database.Nearly all of the mass killings in the first half of this year, 27 of 28, involved guns. The other was a fire that killed four people in a home in Monroe, Louisiana. A 37-year-old man was arrested on arson and murder charges in connection with the March 31 deaths.Despite the unprecedented carnage, the National Rifle Association maintains fierce opposition to regulating firearms, including AR-15-style rifles and similar weapons."Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' constant efforts to gut the Second Amendment will not usher in safety for Americans; instead, it will only embolden criminals," NRA spokesman Billy McLaughlin said in a statement. "That is why the NRA continues our fight for self-defense laws. Rest assured, we will never bow, we will never retreat, and we will never apologize for championing the self-defense rights of law-abiding Americans."Tito Anchondo's brother, Andre Anchondo, was among 23 people killed in a 2019 mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The gunman was sentenced last week to 90 consecutive life sentences but could face more punishment, including the death penalty. The prosecution of the racist attack on Hispanic shoppers in the border city was one of the U.S. government's largest hate crime cases.Andre Anchondo and his wife, Jordan, died shielding their 2-month-old son from bullets. Paul, who escaped with just broken bones, is now 4 years old.Tito Anchondo said he feels like the country has forgotten about the El Paso victims in the years since and that not nearly enough has been done to stem the bloodshed. He worries about Paul's future."I hope that things can drastically change because this country is going down a very, very slippery slope; a downward spiral," he said. "It's just a little unnerving to know that he's eventually going to go to school with kids that also may bring a gun to school."___Dazio reported from Los Angeles.

Grim milestone: New U.S. record for deadliest 6 months of mass killings

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Democratic governor in Kansas is defending changes in the sex listings on transgender people's birth certificates in a federal court filing arguing that continuing the changes doesn't violate a new state law rolling back transgender rights.

An attorney for Gov. Laura Kelly's office also argued in the filing last week that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb180_enrolled.pdf">the new Kansas law</a>&nbsp;is discriminatory and “represents a willful failure of the Kansas Legislature" to protect people's rights. It took effect July 1 and defines male and female based on a person's sex assigned at birth for any other state law or regulation, barring legal recognition of transgender people's gender identities.

The state's Republican attorney general, Kris Kobach, argues that the new law prevents the state health department, which issues birth certificates, from changing the sex listing while also requiring it to undo past changes.

The issue is in federal court because of a lawsuit filed in 2018 over a previous no-changes policy. Kelly's administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/kansas-to-allow-trans-residents-to-change-birth-certificates-7409799fb2a144bca2fd90cd46b7ea6c">settled that lawsuit,</a>&nbsp;and a judge's order enforcing the settlement requires the state to allow transgender people to alter their birth certificates. More than 900 people have done so over the past four years.

Kobach last month asked a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-transgender-birth-certificates-f9723de7460ab5fe71b3e80ba7854046">to lift the requirement</a>&nbsp;— and make Kansas among only a few U.S. states that don't allow birth certificate changes. The original lawsuit named only three health department officials as defendants, so Kelly's office filed a request Wednesday for permission to file written “friend of the court” arguments. The judge has not yet ruled on Kelly's request.

Ashley Stites-Hubbard, an attorney for Kelly, argued that Kobach's opinion about the law is “nothing but a political grandstanding that promotes discrimination and violence against the transgender community.”

“It is hard to fathom how legislation that made the discrimination worse, not better, warrants relief,” Stites-Hubbard wrote.

Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee don't permit transgender people to change their birth certificates. Montana and Tennessee also don't allow changes in the sex listing on driver's licenses.

Kobach is attacking birth certificate changes in federal court while also attacking changes in the sex listings on driver's licenses&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-drivers-licenses-kansas-3ad43a98dd96a8eb5864f6cdc19beffb">in a state-court lawsuit.</a>

In the birth certificates case, Kobach argued in a filing last month that Kelly agreed to the settlement before "any definitive legislative statement on the matter.”

“But now that the Legislature has spoken, the agency is bound to execute the law as written,” Kobach said. The Republican-controlled Legislature enacted the new law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-bathroom-law-kansas-b3d068afa2bc02bb15314ee04e8e3899">over Kelly’s veto.</a>

In the governor's filing, Stites-Hubbard acknowledged that a specific section of the new state law says that in its data, the state must identify people as “either male or female at birth.” But, she argued, the law doesn't specifically prohibit recording a change in gender identity or amending a birth certificate.

“Thus, there is nothing preventing any state data set from BOTH identifying an individual as male or female at birth and also identifying them accurately later — that is to reflect their true sex, consistent with their gender identity,” Stites-Hubbard wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689093134824.jpeg" alt="The Kansas law took effect July 1 and defines male and female based on a person's sex assigned at birth for any other state law or regulation, barring legal recognition of transgender people's gender identities. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas law took effect July 1 and defines male and female based on a person's sex assigned at birth for any other state law or regulation, barring legal recognition of transgender people's gender identities. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Democratic governor in Kansas is defending changes in the sex listings on transgender people's birth certificates in a federal court filing arguing that continuing the changes doesn't violate a new state law rolling back transgender rights.An attorney for Gov. Laura Kelly's office also argued in the filing last week that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/sb180_enrolled.pdf">the new Kansas law</a>&nbsp;is discriminatory and “represents a willful failure of the Kansas Legislature" to protect people's rights. It took effect July 1 and defines male and female based on a person's sex assigned at birth for any other state law or regulation, barring legal recognition of transgender people's gender identities.The state's Republican attorney general, Kris Kobach, argues that the new law prevents the state health department, which issues birth certificates, from changing the sex listing while also requiring it to undo past changes.The issue is in federal court because of a lawsuit filed in 2018 over a previous no-changes policy. Kelly's administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/kansas-to-allow-trans-residents-to-change-birth-certificates-7409799fb2a144bca2fd90cd46b7ea6c">settled that lawsuit,</a>&nbsp;and a judge's order enforcing the settlement requires the state to allow transgender people to alter their birth certificates. More than 900 people have done so over the past four years.Kobach last month asked a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-transgender-birth-certificates-f9723de7460ab5fe71b3e80ba7854046">to lift the requirement</a>&nbsp;— and make Kansas among only a few U.S. states that don't allow birth certificate changes. The original lawsuit named only three health department officials as defendants, so Kelly's office filed a request Wednesday for permission to file written “friend of the court” arguments. The judge has not yet ruled on Kelly's request.Ashley Stites-Hubbard, an attorney for Kelly, argued that Kobach's opinion about the law is “nothing but a political grandstanding that promotes discrimination and violence against the transgender community.”“It is hard to fathom how legislation that made the discrimination worse, not better, warrants relief,” Stites-Hubbard wrote.Montana, Oklahoma and Tennessee don't permit transgender people to change their birth certificates. Montana and Tennessee also don't allow changes in the sex listing on driver's licenses.Kobach is attacking birth certificate changes in federal court while also attacking changes in the sex listings on driver's licenses&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-drivers-licenses-kansas-3ad43a98dd96a8eb5864f6cdc19beffb">in a state-court lawsuit.</a>In the birth certificates case, Kobach argued in a filing last month that Kelly agreed to the settlement before "any definitive legislative statement on the matter.”“But now that the Legislature has spoken, the agency is bound to execute the law as written,” Kobach said. The Republican-controlled Legislature enacted the new law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-rights-bathroom-law-kansas-b3d068afa2bc02bb15314ee04e8e3899">over Kelly’s veto.</a>In the governor's filing, Stites-Hubbard acknowledged that a specific section of the new state law says that in its data, the state must identify people as “either male or female at birth.” But, she argued, the law doesn't specifically prohibit recording a change in gender identity or amending a birth certificate.“Thus, there is nothing preventing any state data set from BOTH identifying an individual as male or female at birth and also identifying them accurately later — that is to reflect their true sex, consistent with their gender identity,” Stites-Hubbard wrote.

Gov.: Anti-trans Kansas law doesn't prevent birth certificate changes

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old.

Just after 11:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call in the 700 block of W. Maywood in Wichita, according to&nbsp; Officer Kris Gupilan

First responders located the two victims parked in a vehicle. The 19-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and the 17-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his upper torso area.

EMS transported both to a local hospital for treatment and they were in critical but stable condition.

The investigation revealed that the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident in the area of Interstate 235 and Meridian. An eyewitness observed an altercation between the victims and a black sedan. An occupant in the black sedan fired multiple rounds at the victim’s vehicle and fled the area.

Police are asking anyone with any information about this shooting to please call detectives at 316-268-4407.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that injured a 17-year-old and a 19-year-old.Just after 11:30 p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting call in the 700 block of W. Maywood in Wichita, according to&nbsp; Officer Kris GupilanFirst responders located the two victims parked in a vehicle. The 19-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and the 17-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his upper torso area.EMS transported both to a local hospital for treatment and they were in critical but stable condition.The investigation revealed that the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident in the area of Interstate 235 and Meridian. An eyewitness observed an altercation between the victims and a black sedan. An occupant in the black sedan fired multiple rounds at the victim’s vehicle and fled the area.Police are asking anyone with any information about this shooting to please call detectives at 316-268-4407.

Road rage: Two Kansas teens critically injured 

TOPEKA (AP)—Another Powerball drawing ended with no winner Saturday night, sending the jackpot soaring to an estimated $900 million.

No ticket for Saturday's drawing matched the winning combination: white balls 2, 9, 43, 55, 57 and red Powerball 18. The jackpot was estimated at $875 million.

Ticket buyers for Monday’s drawing have a chance at either $900 million paid out in yearly increments or a $465.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.

The top prize is the third biggest Powerball jackpot and the seventh largest in U.S. lottery history, Powerball said in a statement early Sunday.

While there was no jackpot winner, Powerball said three tickets that matched all five white balls Saturday are eligible to claim $1 million prizes, including two in Texas and one in Colorado.

The jackpot will keep growing until someone wins.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion</a>&nbsp;in November.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 37 consecutive drawings.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

TOPEKA (AP)—Another Powerball drawing ended with no winner Saturday night, sending the jackpot soaring to an estimated $900 million.No ticket for Saturday's drawing matched the winning combination: white balls 2, 9, 43, 55, 57 and red Powerball 18. The jackpot was estimated at $875 million.Ticket buyers for Monday’s drawing have a chance at either $900 million paid out in yearly increments or a $465.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.The top prize is the third biggest Powerball jackpot and the seventh largest in U.S. lottery history, Powerball said in a statement early Sunday.While there was no jackpot winner, Powerball said three tickets that matched all five white balls Saturday are eligible to claim $1 million prizes, including two in Texas and one in Colorado.The jackpot will keep growing until someone wins.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-lottery-us-news-ap-top-news-ia-state-wire-b5572da1e5d74f6e974bea45c707b5cb">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion</a>&nbsp;in November.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one has won the grand prize in the past 37 consecutive drawings.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball prize grows to $900 million after no jackpot winner drawn

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces multiple felony charges for a fatal shooting on Monday morning along East U.S. 40 Highway, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Tyrell Young, 28, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.

According to court records, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to a business in the 7300 block of East U.S. 40 Highway on a reported shooting Monday morning. They found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. 

Witnesses told police that Young had come to the automotive business at that location and was irate and threatening to kill a man. Young pulled a handgun at one point. Other witnesses identified Young as a man who had brought a Camaro to the auto business. Video surveillance showed Young arriving at the shop and asking the victim to get ahold of another man. 

Young can be seen walking toward the victim as he talks about a music system missing from his vehicle. Young told the victim to call the man, lifts his shirt in front and seconds later a shot is heard. Young continued to shoot victim multiple times. A handgun is observed to fall from the defendant's pocket.

Young remains jailed on $200,000 cash bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689196225556.png" alt="Young-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Young-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces multiple felony charges for a fatal shooting on Monday morning along East U.S. 40 Highway, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Tyrell Young, 28, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.According to court records, Kansas City police officers were dispatched to a business in the 7300 block of East U.S. 40 Highway on a reported shooting Monday morning. They found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Witnesses told police that Young had come to the automotive business at that location and was irate and threatening to kill a man. Young pulled a handgun at one point. Other witnesses identified Young as a man who had brought a Camaro to the auto business. Video surveillance showed Young arriving at the shop and asking the victim to get ahold of another man. Young can be seen walking toward the victim as he talks about a music system missing from his vehicle. Young told the victim to call the man, lifts his shirt in front and seconds later a shot is heard. Young continued to shoot victim multiple times. A handgun is observed to fall from the defendant's pocket.Young remains jailed on $200,000 cash bond.

Court docs: Man killed KC auto mechanic over stolen stereo system

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a robbery investigation.

On Tuesday, police&nbsp;located two individuals who were being sought by&nbsp; detectives in relation to a person robbery that occurred in the 2500 Block of SW 6th on March 31, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

The two individuals were brought to the law enforcement center to speak with detectives. As a result of the investigation Justin A. Ray, 18, and Benjamin T. Unrein, 19, both of Topeka were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Ray was booked on requested charges of Robbery and Theft.&nbsp;Unrein remains jailed on a requested charges of&nbsp;Robbery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689457989460.png" alt="Ray-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Ray-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a robbery investigation.On Tuesday, police&nbsp;located two individuals who were being sought by&nbsp; detectives in relation to a person robbery that occurred in the 2500 Block of SW 6th on March 31, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689457890608.png" alt="Unrein-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Unrein-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The two individuals were brought to the law enforcement center to speak with detectives. As a result of the investigation Justin A. Ray, 18, and Benjamin T. Unrein, 19, both of Topeka were transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections. Ray was booked on requested charges of Robbery and Theft.&nbsp;Unrein remains jailed on a requested charges of&nbsp;Robbery.

Two Kansas teens accused of robbery in March

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Friday's storm did considerable damage in many areas of central, southern and eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri.

As of 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, 75 percent of customers affected by the Friday afternoon thunderstorms across the Evergy service area have had power restored, according to a social media report from the company.

More than 186,000 Evergy customers lost power as the storm and high winds moved across Kansas and Missouri.&nbsp;

 All available Evergy and contract line crews continue to work around the clock to restore power and will do so until power is restored to all customers.

 Personnel from neighboring utilities (including from other states) were also in the field with more help continuing to arrive.

Evergy expected outages in the Topeka and Lawrence areas to be restored by Sunday night. 

Outages impacting small groups of customers in the Kansas City metro area are expected to continue into early next week. We ask that customers continue to be patient with line crews as they work through these outages to restore power for customers.

Evergy continue to receive reports of trees in power lines, poles and wires down. Significant tree damage is slowing restoration. On nearly all outage events, tree crews must clear debris from the lines before the line crews can make repairs. "Please keep at least 35 feet away from downed lines or debris on lines."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689462272446.png" alt="Photo courtesy Evergy" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Evergy</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Friday's storm did considerable damage in many areas of central, southern and eastern Kansas and portions of Missouri.As of 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, 75 percent of customers affected by the Friday afternoon thunderstorms across the Evergy service area have had power restored, according to a social media report from the company.More than 186,000 Evergy customers lost power as the storm and high winds moved across Kansas and Missouri.&nbsp; All available Evergy and contract line crews continue to work around the clock to restore power and will do so until power is restored to all customers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689462253922.png" alt="Photo courtesy Evergy" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Evergy</figcaption>
 </figure> Personnel from neighboring utilities (including from other states) were also in the field with more help continuing to arrive.Evergy expected outages in the Topeka and Lawrence areas to be restored by Sunday night. Outages impacting small groups of customers in the Kansas City metro area are expected to continue into early next week. We ask that customers continue to be patient with line crews as they work through these outages to restore power for customers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689462476741.png" alt="Photo courtesy Evergy" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Evergy</figcaption>
 </figure>Evergy continue to receive reports of trees in power lines, poles and wires down. Significant tree damage is slowing restoration. On nearly all outage events, tree crews must clear debris from the lines before the line crews can make repairs. "Please keep at least 35 feet away from downed lines or debris on lines."

Evergy continues work to restore power after Kansas storm

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas felon who spent over 40-years in prison was in court again Wednesday.

Samuel Neal, 71, Wichita, was charged with 3 counts of criminal discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;

On Tuesday Police had asked the public for help to locate him.

Just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1100 block of South Emporia, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. Officers located a 21-year-old man with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

&nbsp;Through the investigation, detectives identified Samuel Neal as a suspect. He is also believed to be the suspect in another shooting on July 9.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=741136">Police booked him into the</a> Sedgwick County Jail just after 1p.m. Tuesday on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and parole violations, according to online jail records.

Neal was released from prison in 2019 after a manslaughter conviction on a crime that occurred in 1979, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. His bond is currently $500,000 and he is due back in court on July 24.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689162169452.png" alt="Neal-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Neal-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas felon who spent over 40-years in prison was in court again Wednesday.Samuel Neal, 71, Wichita, was charged with 3 counts of criminal discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;On Tuesday Police had asked the public for help to locate him.Just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a shooting in the 1100 block of South Emporia, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. Officers located a 21-year-old man with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.&nbsp;Through the investigation, detectives identified Samuel Neal as a suspect. He is also believed to be the suspect in another shooting on July 9.&nbsp; <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=741136">Police booked him into the</a> Sedgwick County Jail just after 1p.m. Tuesday on requested charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and parole violations, according to online jail records.Neal was released from prison in 2019 after a manslaughter conviction on a crime that occurred in 1979, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. His bond is currently $500,000 and he is due back in court on July 24.

Kan. man who spent 40-years in prison is charged with new crimes

Lisa Marie Presley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lisa-marie-presley">died</a>&nbsp;after developing a small bowel obstruction, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-death-cause-cbf0039dd8251a870f3ad8431dc78093">severe complication</a>&nbsp;of bariatric surgery years ago, according to an autopsy report released Thursday.

Experts say these types of complications are a known but rare risk after having weight-loss surgery. Here’s what to know:

The 54-year-old singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis Presley was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital on Jan. 12 after being found unresponsive at home and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-dies-9fc02552f6f31e270647897a2e4104e9">died hours later</a>.

The cause of death was from complications of a small bowel obstruction tied to previous bariatric surgery, the autopsy showed. Portions of Presley’s bowel became trapped, or “strangulated,” from scar tissue that formed following surgery, and she also had developed a severe buildup of acids in her blood.

WHAT IS BARIATRIC SURGERY? HOW COMMON IS IT?

Bariatric surgeries are operations performed on the stomach or intestines to spur weight loss. They’re usually done in cases of moderate or severe obesity when other methods haven’t worked.

There are several types of bariatric procedures, including those in which a portion of the stomach is removed or rerouted or when a band is placed around a part of the stomach to make it smaller.

It’s not clear from the autopsy report which type of surgery Presley had, though experts said it was not a sleeve gastrectomy, which is the most common procedure.

About 263,000 bariatric surgeries were done in 2021, according to Dr. Marina Kurian, the president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Only about 1% of people who qualify for the surgery receive it.

In general, bariatric surgery is “very safe,” Kurian said. The risk of major complications is about 4% overall and the risk of death is about 0.1%, according to ASMBS.

“It’s safer than gallbladder surgery,” Kurian said.

Scar tissue, known as adhesions, can form after surgery or other trauma to the abdomen. That can lead to kinks and blockages in the intestine, said Dr. Thomas Inge, chief surgeon and a bariatric surgery expert at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

In Presley’s case, it appeared that “she had a twist of her entire intestine,” said Inge, who reviewed the autopsy report.

If that's not quickly fixed, the blockage cuts off the flow of blood to the intestine, causing the bowel to become “strangulated” and creating a cascade of potentially deadly problems. In Presley’s case, it led to a toxic build-up of acids in her body and her heart stopped, the autopsy report said.

Presley reported abdominal pain and not feeling well the morning of her death, the report said. It’s not clear if the pain was new.

Anyone who has had abdominal surgery to seek prompt treatment for pain, Inge said. If diagnosed early, it’s possible to treat the problem.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674489309670.png" alt="More than a thousand people gathered on the front lawn of Graceland on a gray, chilly Memphis morning to mourn the death and remember the life of Lisa Marie Presley, who died Jan. 12 after she was taken to a hospital in California. photo by John Amis, Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>More than a thousand people gathered on the front lawn of Graceland on a gray, chilly Memphis morning to mourn the death and remember the life of Lisa Marie Presley, who died Jan. 12 after she was taken to a hospital in California. photo by John Amis, Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>Lisa Marie Presley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lisa-marie-presley">died</a>&nbsp;after developing a small bowel obstruction, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-death-cause-cbf0039dd8251a870f3ad8431dc78093">severe complication</a>&nbsp;of bariatric surgery years ago, according to an autopsy report released Thursday.Experts say these types of complications are a known but rare risk after having weight-loss surgery. Here’s what to know:WHAT HAPPENED TO LISA MARIE PRESLEY? The 54-year-old singer-songwriter and daughter of Elvis Presley was rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital on Jan. 12 after being found unresponsive at home and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-dies-9fc02552f6f31e270647897a2e4104e9">died hours later</a>.The cause of death was from complications of a small bowel obstruction tied to previous bariatric surgery, the autopsy showed. Portions of Presley’s bowel became trapped, or “strangulated,” from scar tissue that formed following surgery, and she also had developed a severe buildup of acids in her blood.WHAT IS BARIATRIC SURGERY? HOW COMMON IS IT? Bariatric surgeries are operations performed on the stomach or intestines to spur weight loss. They’re usually done in cases of moderate or severe obesity when other methods haven’t worked.There are several types of bariatric procedures, including those in which a portion of the stomach is removed or rerouted or when a band is placed around a part of the stomach to make it smaller.It’s not clear from the autopsy report which type of surgery Presley had, though experts said it was not a sleeve gastrectomy, which is the most common procedure.About 263,000 bariatric surgeries were done in 2021, according to Dr. Marina Kurian, the president of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. Only about 1% of people who qualify for the surgery receive it.HOW RISKY ARE THESE OPERATIONS? In general, bariatric surgery is “very safe,” Kurian said. The risk of major complications is about 4% overall and the risk of death is about 0.1%, according to ASMBS.“It’s safer than gallbladder surgery,” Kurian said.WHAT COMPLICATIONS CAN HAPPEN? Scar tissue, known as adhesions, can form after surgery or other trauma to the abdomen. That can lead to kinks and blockages in the intestine, said Dr. Thomas Inge, chief surgeon and a bariatric surgery expert at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.In Presley’s case, it appeared that “she had a twist of her entire intestine,” said Inge, who reviewed the autopsy report.If that's not quickly fixed, the blockage cuts off the flow of blood to the intestine, causing the bowel to become “strangulated” and creating a cascade of potentially deadly problems. In Presley’s case, it led to a toxic build-up of acids in her body and her heart stopped, the autopsy report said.Presley reported abdominal pain and not feeling well the morning of her death, the report said. It’s not clear if the pain was new.Anyone who has had abdominal surgery to seek prompt treatment for pain, Inge said. If diagnosed early, it’s possible to treat the problem.