BY SHERMAN SMITH&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — GOP leadership in the Legislature rejected&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/12/14/kansas-governor-unveils-revenue-neutral-medicaid-expansion-plan-with-work-requirement-2/">Gov. Laura Kelly’s latest proposal for Medicaid expansion</a>, questioning whether federal regulators would allow a work requirement and calling for alternate reforms without offering their own plan.

Their resistance to Medicaid expansion, which would benefit an estimated 150,000 Kansans with low incomes, stands in contrast to support for the program from rank-and-file Republican lawmakers and a majority of Republican voters.

Kelly attempted to address concerns raised by opponents in the past by including a work requirement in her plan, offsetting the state’s cost by taxing the Medicaid funding hospitals receive, allowing individuals to stay on private insurance but receive assistance from the state, and clarifying that abortion services are only covered in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of a mother.

“Cloaked in a fake work requirement and a tax scheme, the governor’s proposal to expand the welfare state creates more problems than it solves,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican. “It is poor public policy to push able-bodied adults off of private insurance and onto a government program that was intended for the truly vulnerable.”

Most of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/12/11/gop-leaders-demonize-the-poor-in-medicaid-expansion-debate-while-working-kansans-struggle/">the Kansans who would benefit from Medicaid expansion</a>&nbsp;are workers with low incomes or suffering from chronic illness. They are small business owners and their employees, as well as students, cancer patients and those who need mental health treatment.

Under current Medicaid rules in Kansas, a single mother working a minimum wage job earns too much to qualify. The Affordable Care Act allows states to expand eligibility to those who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level. In exchange, the federal government covers 90% of the cost of existing and expanded services. Forty states have expanded Medicaid.

Sen. John Doll, a Garden City Republican who drove five hours to join Kelly for her announcement Thursday, said it was inaccurate to refer to Medicaid as welfare, “but if it was true, so be it.”

“And what disturbs me is this is the United States, this is Kansas — if somebody needs health care, they should be able to get health care,” Doll said.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, questioned whether federal regulators in the Biden administration would allow a work requirement to stand. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have blocked work requirements, which impose an administrative barrier and when allowed in Arkansas had&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/journal-article/2019/jun/arkansas-medicaid-work-requirements-higher-uninsured-rate">no effect on employment rates</a>.

“While I appreciate the governor’s newly found support for work requirements for welfare benefits, this is nothing more than smoke and mirrors,” Hawkins said.

Under Kelly’s proposal, individuals would have to prove they are working when they first enroll in the program, and again when they renew their enrollment each year. The governor said she doesn’t consider the work requirement to be burdensome because every recipient already has to prove income eligibility.

Kelly&nbsp;said this approach was different than other states that required individuals to prove employment every month. Her plan also allows for exceptions for full-time students, caretakers, veterans and those with medical conditions.

Akeiisa Coleman, senior program officer for Medicaid in the Federal and State Health Policy initiative at the Commonwealth Fund, said the work requirement could still be problematic for seasonal workers, such as those who work at harvest time. She said the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2020/did-medicaid-work-requirements-achieve-their-goals-arkansas">work requirement in Arkansas</a>&nbsp;resulted in coverage losses without increasing employment, an outcome that could be used to support a legal challenge to a work requirement in Kansas. Coleman also emphasized that almost all of the working-age adults who benefit from Medicaid expansion are already working.

Hawkins and Masterson both said they were interested in giving Kansans more options for health care and lowering costs, but neither has proposed legislation to do so.

“There’s one word to describe Republican leadership: Cruel,” said House Minority Leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat.&nbsp;“Kansans across the state are suffering and quite literally dying from a lack of health care. Instead of responding with solutions, the Kansas GOP actively mocks these people in the media.”

Miller said Republicans could defend their position in a debate, but GOP leaders refuse to allow a discussion on Medicaid expansion.

“Leadership doesn’t like when we point out the blood on their hands, but they are solely responsible,” Miller said. “Republicans need to stop trading Kansas lives in an attempt to score political points against the governor.”

This story is part of “<a target="_blank" href="https://publichealthwatch.org/the-holdouts/">The Holdouts</a>,” a reporting collaborative focused on the 10 states that have yet to expand Medicaid, which the Affordable Care Act authorized in 2010. The collaborative is a project of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://publichealthwatch.org/">Public Health Watch</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702669425204.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly announces her new Medicaid expansion plan during a news conference, Dec. 14, 2023, at Holton Community Hospital. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly announces her new Medicaid expansion plan during a news conference, Dec. 14, 2023, at Holton Community Hospital. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY SHERMAN SMITH&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — GOP leadership in the Legislature rejected&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/12/14/kansas-governor-unveils-revenue-neutral-medicaid-expansion-plan-with-work-requirement-2/">Gov. Laura Kelly’s latest proposal for Medicaid expansion</a>, questioning whether federal regulators would allow a work requirement and calling for alternate reforms without offering their own plan.Their resistance to Medicaid expansion, which would benefit an estimated 150,000 Kansans with low incomes, stands in contrast to support for the program from rank-and-file Republican lawmakers and a majority of Republican voters.Kelly attempted to address concerns raised by opponents in the past by including a work requirement in her plan, offsetting the state’s cost by taxing the Medicaid funding hospitals receive, allowing individuals to stay on private insurance but receive assistance from the state, and clarifying that abortion services are only covered in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of a mother.“Cloaked in a fake work requirement and a tax scheme, the governor’s proposal to expand the welfare state creates more problems than it solves,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican. “It is poor public policy to push able-bodied adults off of private insurance and onto a government program that was intended for the truly vulnerable.”Most of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/12/11/gop-leaders-demonize-the-poor-in-medicaid-expansion-debate-while-working-kansans-struggle/">the Kansans who would benefit from Medicaid expansion</a>&nbsp;are workers with low incomes or suffering from chronic illness. They are small business owners and their employees, as well as students, cancer patients and those who need mental health treatment.Under current Medicaid rules in Kansas, a single mother working a minimum wage job earns too much to qualify. The Affordable Care Act allows states to expand eligibility to those who earn up to 138% of the federal poverty level. In exchange, the federal government covers 90% of the cost of existing and expanded services. Forty states have expanded Medicaid.Sen. John Doll, a Garden City Republican who drove five hours to join Kelly for her announcement Thursday, said it was inaccurate to refer to Medicaid as welfare, “but if it was true, so be it.”“And what disturbs me is this is the United States, this is Kansas — if somebody needs health care, they should be able to get health care,” Doll said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702669376782.png" alt="Sen. John Doll, speaks at a Medicaid expansion during a news conference, Dec. 14, 2023, at Holton Community Hospital. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. John Doll, speaks at a Medicaid expansion during a news conference, Dec. 14, 2023, at Holton Community Hospital. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, questioned whether federal regulators in the Biden administration would allow a work requirement to stand. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have blocked work requirements, which impose an administrative barrier and when allowed in Arkansas had&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/journal-article/2019/jun/arkansas-medicaid-work-requirements-higher-uninsured-rate">no effect on employment rates</a>.“While I appreciate the governor’s newly found support for work requirements for welfare benefits, this is nothing more than smoke and mirrors,” Hawkins said.Under Kelly’s proposal, individuals would have to prove they are working when they first enroll in the program, and again when they renew their enrollment each year. The governor said she doesn’t consider the work requirement to be burdensome because every recipient already has to prove income eligibility.Kelly&nbsp;said this approach was different than other states that required individuals to prove employment every month. Her plan also allows for exceptions for full-time students, caretakers, veterans and those with medical conditions.Akeiisa Coleman, senior program officer for Medicaid in the Federal and State Health Policy initiative at the Commonwealth Fund, said the work requirement could still be problematic for seasonal workers, such as those who work at harvest time. She said the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2020/did-medicaid-work-requirements-achieve-their-goals-arkansas">work requirement in Arkansas</a>&nbsp;resulted in coverage losses without increasing employment, an outcome that could be used to support a legal challenge to a work requirement in Kansas. Coleman also emphasized that almost all of the working-age adults who benefit from Medicaid expansion are already working.Hawkins and Masterson both said they were interested in giving Kansans more options for health care and lowering costs, but neither has proposed legislation to do so.“There’s one word to describe Republican leadership: Cruel,” said House Minority Leader Vic Miller, a Topeka Democrat.&nbsp;“Kansans across the state are suffering and quite literally dying from a lack of health care. Instead of responding with solutions, the Kansas GOP actively mocks these people in the media.”Miller said Republicans could defend their position in a debate, but GOP leaders refuse to allow a discussion on Medicaid expansion.“Leadership doesn’t like when we point out the blood on their hands, but they are solely responsible,” Miller said. “Republicans need to stop trading Kansas lives in an attempt to score political points against the governor.”This story is part of “<a target="_blank" href="https://publichealthwatch.org/the-holdouts/">The Holdouts</a>,” a reporting collaborative focused on the 10 states that have yet to expand Medicaid, which the Affordable Care Act authorized in 2010. The collaborative is a project of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://publichealthwatch.org/">Public Health Watch</a>.

GOP leaders reject Kan. governor’s new proposal for Medicaid expansion

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Wichita and continue to ask the public for help to locate a suspect identified as Luis Jackson, according to a Crime Stoppers report.

Just after 2a.m. September 10, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 4000 block of West Memory Lane in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

First responders&nbsp; located&nbsp;19-year-old Zyles James of Wichita unconscious and not breathing with gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body.

Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. James was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

During the initial response, officers located another victim with a graze wound to the arm. The victim was transported to a local hospital and was treated and released.

If you see Jackson or know his location, call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694602061567.png" alt="Jackson-photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Jackson-photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Wichita and continue to ask the public for help to locate a suspect identified as Luis Jackson, according to a Crime Stoppers report.Just after 2a.m. September 10, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 4000 block of West Memory Lane in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.First responders&nbsp; located&nbsp;19-year-old Zyles James of Wichita unconscious and not breathing with gunshot wounds to his upper and lower body.Officers began providing life-saving efforts until EMS arrived. James was transported to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.During the initial response, officers located another victim with a graze wound to the arm. The victim was transported to a local hospital and was treated and released.If you see Jackson or know his location, call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.

Search continues for suspect in murder of Kansas teen 

LONDON (AP) — A U.S. warship shot down 14 suspected attack drones over the Red Sea on Saturday, and a Royal Navy destroyer downed another drone that was targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-shipping-red-sea-navy-israel-6dc5fbff6d28fead5d6ef1224cba5a14">commercial ships,</a>&nbsp;the British and American militaries said.

Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, and have launched drones and missiles targeting Israel, as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;threatens to spread.

U.S. Central Command said that the destroyer USS Carney “successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems" launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The drones “were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries,” Central Command tweeted.

U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said that HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile and destroyed a drone that was “targeting merchant shipping.” The overnight action is the first time the Royal Navy has shot down an aerial target in anger since the 1991 Gulf War.

Shapps said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-yemen-houthis-attack-ships-f67d941c260528ac40315ecab4c34ca3">attacks on commercial ships</a>&nbsp;in the global trade artery by Yemen’s Houthi rebels “represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security."

“The U.K. remains committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade,” he said in a statement.

HMS Diamond was sent to the region two weeks ago as a deterrent, joining vessels from the U.S., France and other countries.

Global shipping has become a target during the war between Israel and Hamas, which like the Houthis is backed by Iran.

Houthi rebels said they fired a barrage of drones on Saturday toward the port city of Eilat in southern Israel. The announcement came hours after Egypt’s state-run media reported that Egyptian air defense had shot down a “flying object” off the Egyptian resort town of Dahab on the Red Sea.

Israeli-linked vessels also have been targeted, but the threat to trade has grown as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-ship-attack-houthi-rebels-red-sea-946b40e6393af6216c0b6ef734311be9">container ships and oil tankers</a>&nbsp;flagged to countries like Norway and Liberia have been attacked or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-us-navy-1727df3d95e548c6e4d20b51f096268f">drawn missile fire</a>&nbsp;while traversing the waterway between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Earlier this month, three commercial ships in the Red Sea were struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen. A U.S. warship shot down three drones during the assault, the U.S. military said.

French container shipping line CMA CGM Group said Saturday it had ordered all its vessels scheduled to pass through the Red Sea to “pause their journey in safe waters with immediate effect until further notice.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702740562018.png" alt="U.S. Carney -photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Carney -photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — A U.S. warship shot down 14 suspected attack drones over the Red Sea on Saturday, and a Royal Navy destroyer downed another drone that was targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthis-shipping-red-sea-navy-israel-6dc5fbff6d28fead5d6ef1224cba5a14">commercial ships,</a>&nbsp;the British and American militaries said.Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, and have launched drones and missiles targeting Israel, as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;threatens to spread.U.S. Central Command said that the destroyer USS Carney “successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems" launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.The drones “were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries,” Central Command tweeted.U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said that HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile and destroyed a drone that was “targeting merchant shipping.” The overnight action is the first time the Royal Navy has shot down an aerial target in anger since the 1991 Gulf War.Shapps said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-yemen-houthis-attack-ships-f67d941c260528ac40315ecab4c34ca3">attacks on commercial ships</a>&nbsp;in the global trade artery by Yemen’s Houthi rebels “represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security."“The U.K. remains committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade,” he said in a statement.HMS Diamond was sent to the region two weeks ago as a deterrent, joining vessels from the U.S., France and other countries.Global shipping has become a target during the war between Israel and Hamas, which like the Houthis is backed by Iran.Houthi rebels said they fired a barrage of drones on Saturday toward the port city of Eilat in southern Israel. The announcement came hours after Egypt’s state-run media reported that Egyptian air defense had shot down a “flying object” off the Egyptian resort town of Dahab on the Red Sea.Israeli-linked vessels also have been targeted, but the threat to trade has grown as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-ship-attack-houthi-rebels-red-sea-946b40e6393af6216c0b6ef734311be9">container ships and oil tankers</a>&nbsp;flagged to countries like Norway and Liberia have been attacked or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-us-navy-1727df3d95e548c6e4d20b51f096268f">drawn missile fire</a>&nbsp;while traversing the waterway between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.Earlier this month, three commercial ships in the Red Sea were struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen. A U.S. warship shot down three drones during the assault, the U.S. military said.French container shipping line CMA CGM Group said Saturday it had ordered all its vessels scheduled to pass through the Red Sea to “pause their journey in safe waters with immediate effect until further notice.”

Battle of the Red Sea: U.S. warship shot down 14 attack drones 

KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man faced years in jail for child sex crimes.

This week, a jury found 55-year-old. Jesus Rivera-Martinez,&nbsp; guilty of two counts of statutory sodomy in the 1st Degree and one count of Attempted Statutory Sodomy in the 1st Degree, according to the Jackson County District Attorney's office.

&nbsp;Rivera-Martinez will be sentenced on Feb. 9.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702396448554.png" alt="RIvera-Martinez-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>RIvera-Martinez-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A Kansas City man faced years in jail for child sex crimes.This week, a jury found 55-year-old. Jesus Rivera-Martinez,&nbsp; guilty of two counts of statutory sodomy in the 1st Degree and one count of Attempted Statutory Sodomy in the 1st Degree, according to the Jackson County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;Rivera-Martinez will be sentenced on Feb. 9.

Jury: Kansas City-area man guilty of child sex crimes

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an allege domestic incident.

Shortly before 9p.m. on Thursday officers responded to an alleged domestic disturbance in the 300 block East P Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. An investigation determined that a domestic battery had occurred against a 38-year-old victim and during the disturbance a firearm was used in a threatening manner. 

Police located the 30 year old suspect identified as Anthony C. Simon of Atchison a short time later and arrested him on requested charges that include&nbsp;&nbsp;aggravated assault and domestic battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702655947506.png" alt="Simon photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Simon photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an allege domestic incident.Shortly before 9p.m. on Thursday officers responded to an alleged domestic disturbance in the 300 block East P Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. An investigation determined that a domestic battery had occurred against a 38-year-old victim and during the disturbance a firearm was used in a threatening manner. Police located the 30 year old suspect identified as Anthony C. Simon of Atchison a short time later and arrested him on requested charges that include&nbsp;&nbsp;aggravated assault and domestic battery.

Police: Suspect used a gun in Kan. domestic violence attack

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged burglary involving a number of firearms.

On Dec. 11, Sheriff's Deputies arrested 44-year-old Alyyshia Lee Schwanz of Topeka, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp;Schwanz is believed to be involved in a burglary that took place on December 5, near the Jackson, Jefferson and Atchison County lines.&nbsp; 

Schwanz allegedly stole a number of firearms from the residence.&nbsp; She was booked into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charge of burglary with the intent to steal firearms, criminal distribution of firearms to a felon and criminal damage to property. She is being held on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Earlier this month, she was arrested and booked her into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections following&nbsp; a single vehicle crash at the intersection of S. Kansas Ave and SW 6th Street in Topeka shortly before the scheduled Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade.

She was held on requested charges of Possession of opiate, Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, Possession of marijuana, Possession of hallucinogenic drug, Vehicle liability insurance required, Yield emergency vehicle, Improper Driving On Laned Roadway.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702501267569.png" alt="Schwanz-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Schwanz-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for alleged burglary involving a number of firearms.On Dec. 11, Sheriff's Deputies arrested 44-year-old Alyyshia Lee Schwanz of Topeka, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp;Schwanz is believed to be involved in a burglary that took place on December 5, near the Jackson, Jefferson and Atchison County lines.&nbsp; Schwanz allegedly stole a number of firearms from the residence.&nbsp; She was booked into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charge of burglary with the intent to steal firearms, criminal distribution of firearms to a felon and criminal damage to property. She is being held on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.Earlier this month, she was arrested and booked her into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections following&nbsp; a single vehicle crash at the intersection of S. Kansas Ave and SW 6th Street in Topeka shortly before the scheduled Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade.She was held on requested charges of Possession of opiate, Driving Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, Possession of marijuana, Possession of hallucinogenic drug, Vehicle liability insurance required, Yield emergency vehicle, Improper Driving On Laned Roadway.

Kan. woman accused in burglary of a number of firearms

SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Sedgwick County Zoo announced Thursday that Mitch, a 20-year-old North American Black Bear, has passed away, according to a memorial on the zoo web site.

Mitch was being treated for age-related arthritis and was recently diagnosed with heart disease. During a diagnostic procedure, it was decided that further medical treatment wouldn’t be able to improve his condition, and the extremely difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize him.

Mitch came to the Sedgwick County Zoo in October of 2003 as a young cub. He was named after the police officer who confiscated him from a home in Springfield, Illinois. He was first delivered to the Henson Robinson Zoo where they checked him medically, raised him until he was weaning age, and then began to search for his long-term home. At the same time, Sedgwick County Zoo was looking to find a male for our habitat here at the Zoo.

Mitch was a character from the start. Since he had only been around humans, he had to learn how to to adjust to “the life of a bear.”

While learning how to be a bear, the team remembers that on one specific day his back feet got wet and he began to drag himself around on his belly, not using his legs. We thought something was wrong with him, and just before we called the veterinary team, he began walking normally again. When it happened again the next day, we realized that he just didn’t like getting his feet wet. Every time he got his feet wet, he would drag himself around in protest. Thankfully it didn’t take long for him to get used to water and begin to enjoy playing in it.

Once he was comfortable with his space at SCZ, the time came for Mitch to meet Ursa, our female bear. We gave them a safe space for him to see, hear and smell each other with high hopes that Ursa would see this new cub and want to teach him everything a bear needs to know. Unfortunately, Ursa decided she was in no mood to befriend a young male, so we needed to wait until Mitch was a little older before putting them together.

Once Mitch was larger and better able to match Ursa we began introductions.&nbsp;One of the zookeepers remembers beginning introductions with Ursa and Mitch not going according to plan. Mitch immediately decided that he was not a fan of this other bear being in his habitat and quickly returned to the bedroom area where all of his humans were anxiously watching.&nbsp;

Keepers worked hard to get the two bears comfortable around one another. Mitch, growing up with humans, was used to being around humans, but not around bears. His team helped to build his confidence around Ursa and eventually the two were comfortable together on the habitat.&nbsp;

Ursa and Mitch were never overly close, but they kept each other company until Ursa passed a few years ago.&nbsp;When Ursa passed, we decided to keep Mitch without a companion as black bears often live solitary lives by nature, and he seemed content with his human caregivers and adoring guests.

Mitch was a sweet, goofy, silly boy who in his sprier days could do a juggling performance with a large branch that was dubbed his “bear-kwondo routine.” He would always have a favorite branch for this and would randomly decide to sit up and do a performance, much to the delight of any onlookers.

He was constantly making people smile and laugh with his silly antics and behaviors. He loved people, and everyone that met him instantly fell in love with him.

In the past few years, he began showing signs of arthritis and was being treated with medication to keep him comfortable. We discovered that he would readily take his medication from a spoon if we inserted the pills into a prune and then covered it in yogurt. He always liked to follow up this treat with his favorite bear chow.

Mitch also loved relaxing. Our favorite sight of him was sprawled out on his back in a hammock. He would even allow food to be tossed directly onto the hammock with him, and would casually grab a carrot, drag it up and over his belly, and then hold it in both paws to eat. In the heat, he would also hang out in his water tank and let the hose run right on him.

During breeding season, he had a “breeding stomp” he would perform to show Zoo guests what a handsome and strong bear he was.&nbsp;He would stomp his front feet on the ground with each step.&nbsp;

Mitch was also very trainable; he would voluntarily cooperate for medical treatments as long as he knew he would get a treat while the work was being done. Mitch had been participating in training as complex as standing for a blood draw. He had great trust in his primary zookeeper and worked with her to accomplish many tasks, including fun ones, like painting.

Unfortunately, with age comes health issues, and Mitch was diagnosed with arthritis and heart disease. He was kept comfortable with big soft beds and appropriate medications, but his care team recently saw a significant decline in his health.

Making the decision to say goodbye was hard.&nbsp; The Prairie will not be the same without him.&nbsp; It’s hard to imagine not seeing his hopeful face every day, waiting for his yogurt-dipped prune.&nbsp;He was loved by many.

We were lucky to be able to be a part of his life for more than 20 years.&nbsp; Happy trails, Mitch!&nbsp;We hope you are eating all the snacks you love and lying in a big hammock after a day full of stomping and “bear-kwando.”

Mitch may no longer be with us, but his legacy will live on through those whose hearts he touched.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702661875674.png" alt="Mitch relaxing in his hammock-photo courtesy Sedgwick Co. Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Mitch relaxing in his hammock-photo courtesy Sedgwick Co. Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — The Sedgwick County Zoo announced Thursday that Mitch, a 20-year-old North American Black Bear, has passed away, according to a memorial on the zoo web site.Mitch was being treated for age-related arthritis and was recently diagnosed with heart disease. During a diagnostic procedure, it was decided that further medical treatment wouldn’t be able to improve his condition, and the extremely difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize him.Mitch came to the Sedgwick County Zoo in October of 2003 as a young cub. He was named after the police officer who confiscated him from a home in Springfield, Illinois. He was first delivered to the Henson Robinson Zoo where they checked him medically, raised him until he was weaning age, and then began to search for his long-term home. At the same time, Sedgwick County Zoo was looking to find a male for our habitat here at the Zoo.Mitch was a character from the start. Since he had only been around humans, he had to learn how to to adjust to “the life of a bear.”While learning how to be a bear, the team remembers that on one specific day his back feet got wet and he began to drag himself around on his belly, not using his legs. We thought something was wrong with him, and just before we called the veterinary team, he began walking normally again. When it happened again the next day, we realized that he just didn’t like getting his feet wet. Every time he got his feet wet, he would drag himself around in protest. Thankfully it didn’t take long for him to get used to water and begin to enjoy playing in it.Once he was comfortable with his space at SCZ, the time came for Mitch to meet Ursa, our female bear. We gave them a safe space for him to see, hear and smell each other with high hopes that Ursa would see this new cub and want to teach him everything a bear needs to know. Unfortunately, Ursa decided she was in no mood to befriend a young male, so we needed to wait until Mitch was a little older before putting them together.Once Mitch was larger and better able to match Ursa we began introductions.&nbsp;One of the zookeepers remembers beginning introductions with Ursa and Mitch not going according to plan. Mitch immediately decided that he was not a fan of this other bear being in his habitat and quickly returned to the bedroom area where all of his humans were anxiously watching.&nbsp;Keepers worked hard to get the two bears comfortable around one another. Mitch, growing up with humans, was used to being around humans, but not around bears. His team helped to build his confidence around Ursa and eventually the two were comfortable together on the habitat.&nbsp;Ursa and Mitch were never overly close, but they kept each other company until Ursa passed a few years ago.&nbsp;When Ursa passed, we decided to keep Mitch without a companion as black bears often live solitary lives by nature, and he seemed content with his human caregivers and adoring guests.Mitch was a sweet, goofy, silly boy who in his sprier days could do a juggling performance with a large branch that was dubbed his “bear-kwondo routine.” He would always have a favorite branch for this and would randomly decide to sit up and do a performance, much to the delight of any onlookers.He was constantly making people smile and laugh with his silly antics and behaviors. He loved people, and everyone that met him instantly fell in love with him.In the past few years, he began showing signs of arthritis and was being treated with medication to keep him comfortable. We discovered that he would readily take his medication from a spoon if we inserted the pills into a prune and then covered it in yogurt. He always liked to follow up this treat with his favorite bear chow.Mitch also loved relaxing. Our favorite sight of him was sprawled out on his back in a hammock. He would even allow food to be tossed directly onto the hammock with him, and would casually grab a carrot, drag it up and over his belly, and then hold it in both paws to eat. In the heat, he would also hang out in his water tank and let the hose run right on him.During breeding season, he had a “breeding stomp” he would perform to show Zoo guests what a handsome and strong bear he was.&nbsp;He would stomp his front feet on the ground with each step.&nbsp;Mitch was also very trainable; he would voluntarily cooperate for medical treatments as long as he knew he would get a treat while the work was being done. Mitch had been participating in training as complex as standing for a blood draw. He had great trust in his primary zookeeper and worked with her to accomplish many tasks, including fun ones, like painting.Unfortunately, with age comes health issues, and Mitch was diagnosed with arthritis and heart disease. He was kept comfortable with big soft beds and appropriate medications, but his care team recently saw a significant decline in his health.Making the decision to say goodbye was hard.&nbsp; The Prairie will not be the same without him.&nbsp; It’s hard to imagine not seeing his hopeful face every day, waiting for his yogurt-dipped prune.&nbsp;He was loved by many.We were lucky to be able to be a part of his life for more than 20 years.&nbsp; Happy trails, Mitch!&nbsp;We hope you are eating all the snacks you love and lying in a big hammock after a day full of stomping and “bear-kwando.”Mitch may no longer be with us, but his legacy will live on through those whose hearts he touched.

Bear, originally confiscated from a home, dies at Kansas zoo

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Health Department on Friday ordered the temporary closure of a melon-packing plant implicated in salmonella infections that killed five people in Canada and three in the United States.

The department did not name the company involved, but Canada’s Public Health Agency linked the outbreak to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes.

Mexico did not say what violations were found at the plant in the northern border state of Sonora, and said testing was being done to find the source of the contamination.

Inspectors took samples of water and swiped surfaces at the plant to look for traces of salmonella bacteria.

Since October, at least 230 people in the U.S. and 129 in Canada have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cantaloupe-salmonella-malichita-recall-b0e630ffcab3aff0936d7c43d3c3b323">sickened in this outbreak.</a>

The cantaloupes implicated in this outbreak include two brands, Malichita and Rudy, that are grown in the Sonora area.

The fruit was imported by Sofia Produce LLC, of Nogales, Arizona, which does business as TruFresh, and Pacific Trellis Fruit LLC, of Los Angeles. So far, more than 36,000 boxes or cases of cantaloupe have been recalled.

Health&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cantaloupe-precut-salmonella-recall-9d96245825d370c85b0c5b71c0c08994">officials are warning</a>&nbsp;consumers, retailers and restaurants not to buy, eat or serve cantaloupe if they don’t know the source.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702734722612.png" alt="-This map published by the FDA Dec. 15 shows where the 302 people in this Salmonella outbreak lived." />
 <figcaption>-This map published by the FDA Dec. 15 shows where the 302 people in this Salmonella outbreak lived.</figcaption>
 </figure>MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s Health Department on Friday ordered the temporary closure of a melon-packing plant implicated in salmonella infections that killed five people in Canada and three in the United States.The department did not name the company involved, but Canada’s Public Health Agency linked the outbreak to Malichita and Rudy brand cantaloupes.Mexico did not say what violations were found at the plant in the northern border state of Sonora, and said testing was being done to find the source of the contamination.Inspectors took samples of water and swiped surfaces at the plant to look for traces of salmonella bacteria.Since October, at least 230 people in the U.S. and 129 in Canada have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cantaloupe-salmonella-malichita-recall-b0e630ffcab3aff0936d7c43d3c3b323">sickened in this outbreak.</a>The cantaloupes implicated in this outbreak include two brands, Malichita and Rudy, that are grown in the Sonora area.The fruit was imported by Sofia Produce LLC, of Nogales, Arizona, which does business as TruFresh, and Pacific Trellis Fruit LLC, of Los Angeles. So far, more than 36,000 boxes or cases of cantaloupe have been recalled.Health&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cantaloupe-precut-salmonella-recall-9d96245825d370c85b0c5b71c0c08994">officials are warning</a>&nbsp;consumers, retailers and restaurants not to buy, eat or serve cantaloupe if they don’t know the source.

Melon plant closed after salmonella outbreak left 8 dead 

WASHINGTON—The Securities and Exchange Commission this week announced that it obtained a temporary restraining order, asset freeze, the appointment of a receiver, and other emergency relief to halt an ongoing $191&nbsp;million cattle Ponzi scheme being perpetrated by Fort Worth, Texas company<a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/affiliates"> Agridime LLC,</a> according to a media release from the commission.

<a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/affiliates">Agridime, LLC </a>claims to specialize in meat sales, distribution, and animal supply chain management, and its owners include Josh Link of Gilbert, Arizona, and Jed Wood of Fort Worth.

The company has over a dozen partner farmers including <a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/meet-our-farmers">Shady Brook</a> <a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/meet-our-farmers">Ranch in Herington, Kansas</a>, according to the company <a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/meet-our-farmers">web site.</a>

The SEC alleges that the <a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/affiliates">Agridime, LLC</a> diverted millions of dollars of investor funds to make Ponzi payments and to pay undisclosed sales commissions to themselves and others.

“Agridime enticed investors with guarantees that they could ‘make money raising cattle without having to do all the work,’ but as we allege in our complaint, their promises of annual returns of 15‑32&nbsp;percent were, in the defendants’ own words, ‘too good to be true,’” said Eric Werner, Director of the SEC’s Fort Worth Regional Office.

According to the SEC’s complaint, filed on Dec. 11, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and unsealed on Dec. 13, the defendants have raised at least $191&nbsp;million from more than 2,100&nbsp;investors in at least 15 states by offering and selling investments related to the supposed purchase and sale of cattle. 

The defendants told investors that Agridime would use their funds to acquire, feed, and raise cattle on its network of ranches, and investors would help provide “fellow Americans with the highest quality farm fresh beef available.” However, as alleged in the complaint, the defendants did not purchase nearly enough cattle or generate sufficient revenues from cattle operations to deliver the promised returns. Instead, the complaint alleges that, since December 2022, the defendants have used at least $58&nbsp;million of new investor funds to make Ponzi payments to prior investors and more than $11&nbsp;million to pay undisclosed sales commissions to Wood, Link, Link’s wife, and other Agridime sales representatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The SEC’s complaint charges the defendants with violating the antifraud and registration provisions of the federal securities laws. In addition to the emergency relief granted by the Court, the SEC is seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions, disgorgement, prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and officer and-director bars against Link and Wood. The court has scheduled a hearing for Dec. 20, 2023 on the SEC’s motion for a preliminary injunction.

WASHINGTON—The Securities and Exchange Commission this week announced that it obtained a temporary restraining order, asset freeze, the appointment of a receiver, and other emergency relief to halt an ongoing $191&nbsp;million cattle Ponzi scheme being perpetrated by Fort Worth, Texas company<a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/affiliates"> Agridime LLC,</a> according to a media release from the commission.<a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/affiliates">Agridime, LLC </a>claims to specialize in meat sales, distribution, and animal supply chain management, and its owners include Josh Link of Gilbert, Arizona, and Jed Wood of Fort Worth.The company has over a dozen partner farmers including <a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/meet-our-farmers">Shady Brook</a> <a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/meet-our-farmers">Ranch in Herington, Kansas</a>, according to the company <a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/meet-our-farmers">web site.</a>The SEC alleges that the <a href="https://agridimestore.com/pages/affiliates">Agridime, LLC</a> diverted millions of dollars of investor funds to make Ponzi payments and to pay undisclosed sales commissions to themselves and others.“Agridime enticed investors with guarantees that they could ‘make money raising cattle without having to do all the work,’ but as we allege in our complaint, their promises of annual returns of 15‑32&nbsp;percent were, in the defendants’ own words, ‘too good to be true,’” said Eric Werner, Director of the SEC’s Fort Worth Regional Office.According to the SEC’s complaint, filed on Dec. 11, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and unsealed on Dec. 13, the defendants have raised at least $191&nbsp;million from more than 2,100&nbsp;investors in at least 15 states by offering and selling investments related to the supposed purchase and sale of cattle. The defendants told investors that Agridime would use their funds to acquire, feed, and raise cattle on its network of ranches, and investors would help provide “fellow Americans with the highest quality farm fresh beef available.” However, as alleged in the complaint, the defendants did not purchase nearly enough cattle or generate sufficient revenues from cattle operations to deliver the promised returns. Instead, the complaint alleges that, since December 2022, the defendants have used at least $58&nbsp;million of new investor funds to make Ponzi payments to prior investors and more than $11&nbsp;million to pay undisclosed sales commissions to Wood, Link, Link’s wife, and other Agridime sales representatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;The SEC’s complaint charges the defendants with violating the antifraud and registration provisions of the federal securities laws. In addition to the emergency relief granted by the Court, the SEC is seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions, disgorgement, prejudgment interest, civil penalties, and officer and-director bars against Link and Wood. The court has scheduled a hearing for Dec. 20, 2023 on the SEC’s motion for a preliminary injunction.

SEC: $191 million cattle ponzi scheme involves Kan. location

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting at a home in Kansas City.

Just after 7p.m. Friday, police responded to report of a shooting at a home near St. John and White Avenue, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.&nbsp;&nbsp;

First responders found a boy inside the home with a gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police released no additional details including the name of the victim or suspect information early Saturday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702730077462.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation -Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation -Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a deadly shooting at a home in Kansas City.Just after 7p.m. Friday, police responded to report of a shooting at a home near St. John and White Avenue, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'.&nbsp;&nbsp; First responders found a boy inside the home with a gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police released no additional details including the name of the victim or suspect information early Saturday.

Homicide: Boy found with gunshot wound in Kansas City home

THOMAS COUNTY—Members of the Colby community helped round up cattle after an accident in Thomas County.

Just after 9a.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies and State Troopers responded to report of a semi full of cattle that overturned on Interstate 70 just east of the K184 Brewster exit, according to the Thomas County Sheriff's office.

Community members volunteered to get the cattle safely off the trailer and rounded up as some had escaped during the accident. There were no injuries reported.

The sheriff's office thanked local farmers and ranchers, Swartz Veterinary Hospital, Thomas County EMS,&nbsp; fire crews from Brewster and Colby, Evan Bottini and Evan Miller with the Colby Community College Rodeo Team, the Thomas County Fair Board and Butch's Body Shop.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702733321041.png" alt="Photos Thomas County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Thomas County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>THOMAS COUNTY—Members of the Colby community helped round up cattle after an accident in Thomas County.Just after 9a.m. Thursday, sheriff's deputies and State Troopers responded to report of a semi full of cattle that overturned on Interstate 70 just east of the K184 Brewster exit, according to the Thomas County Sheriff's office.Community members volunteered to get the cattle safely off the trailer and rounded up as some had escaped during the accident. There were no injuries reported.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702733359870.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The sheriff's office thanked local farmers and ranchers, Swartz Veterinary Hospital, Thomas County EMS,&nbsp; fire crews from Brewster and Colby, Evan Bottini and Evan Miller with the Colby Community College Rodeo Team, the Thomas County Fair Board and Butch's Body Shop.

Kan. community helps round up cattle after semi overturns

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating report of a stolen vehicle and asking the public for help to locate and identify a suspect.

Just before 11a.m. Thursday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the area of the 1600 block of NE 54th Street on the report of an unknown white female going door to door and acting suspiciously, according to Lt. Scott Wanamaker.&nbsp;

 While deputies were responding to the area, another homeowner who lived in the area contacted the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center to report that he was following a vehicle that he believed was just stolen from his neighbor in the 1700 block of NE 54th Street. 

The caller eventually lost sight of the stolen vehicle due to the erratic driving of the suspect.

A short time later, members of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant’s Unit were attempting to serve a warrant in the 1100 block of SW Washburn Avenue. 

While approaching the residence on foot the deputies recognized the vehicle that had been reported to be stolen occupied by an unknown man. 

As the deputies were approaching the stolen vehicle the man fled the scene driving the vehicle towards the deputies on foot and striking the Fugitive Warrants Unit vehicle. 

A short time later the stolen vehicle was found nearby and abandoned. A search of the area was conducted by the Shawnee County Sheriff’s office and the Topeka Police Department, but the suspect was not located.

Anyone with information or who can identify of the subject(s) that were seen in the area of NE 54th street or the 1100 block SW Washburn Ave is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office as soon as possible at (785) 251-2200.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702679192880.png" alt="photo of suspect Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>photo of suspect Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating report of a stolen vehicle and asking the public for help to locate and identify a suspect.Just before 11a.m. Thursday, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the area of the 1600 block of NE 54th Street on the report of an unknown white female going door to door and acting suspiciously, according to Lt. Scott Wanamaker.&nbsp; While deputies were responding to the area, another homeowner who lived in the area contacted the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center to report that he was following a vehicle that he believed was just stolen from his neighbor in the 1700 block of NE 54th Street. The caller eventually lost sight of the stolen vehicle due to the erratic driving of the suspect.A short time later, members of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Warrant’s Unit were attempting to serve a warrant in the 1100 block of SW Washburn Avenue. While approaching the residence on foot the deputies recognized the vehicle that had been reported to be stolen occupied by an unknown man. As the deputies were approaching the stolen vehicle the man fled the scene driving the vehicle towards the deputies on foot and striking the Fugitive Warrants Unit vehicle. A short time later the stolen vehicle was found nearby and abandoned. A search of the area was conducted by the Shawnee County Sheriff’s office and the Topeka Police Department, but the suspect was not located.Anyone with information or who can identify of the subject(s) that were seen in the area of NE 54th street or the 1100 block SW Washburn Ave is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office as soon as possible at (785) 251-2200.

Sheriff: Woman was going door-to-door before Kan. vehicle theft

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels slammed into a cargo ship Friday in the Red Sea near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, following another attack only hours earlier that struck a separate vessel, authorities said.

The missile attack on the MSC Palatium III and the earlier assault on the Al Jasrah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-ship-attack-missile-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-b2478db9aaad81ca447e6a393480f9a8">escalate a maritime campaign</a>&nbsp;by the Iranian-backed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthis</a>. The attacks also endanger ships traveling through a vital corridor for cargo and energy shipments for both Europe and Asia from the Suez Canal out to the Indian Ocean.

The Houthis say their attacks aim to end the pounding Israeli air-and-ground offensive targeting the Gaza Strip amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-14-2023-a9d904ed51ea5cfa98966c8f203cbc45">that country's war on Hamas</a>. However, the links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-yemen-houthis-attack-ships-f67d941c260528ac40315ecab4c34ca3">the attacks continue</a>.

“The Yemeni armed forces confirm they will continue to prevent all ships heading to Israeli ports from navigating in the (Red Sea) until they bring in the food and medicine that our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip need,” the Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a statement claiming responsibility for Friday's attacks.

Meanwhile, hijackers, likely from Somalia, separately seized a Bulgarian ship in the Arabian Sea.

A U.S. defense official and the private intelligence firm Ambrey said the MSC Palatium III, a Liberian-flagged container ship, caught fire after the strike.&nbsp;

Two missiles were fired in the attack, likely trying to hit the Al Jasrah, the U.S. official said. One went wide and splashed down in the water, the other slammed into the Palatium, the official said.

The Palatium turned around after the attack and was now trying to head south, tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed.

The Switzerland-based MSC, or Mediterranean Shipping Co., earlier had another vessel, the MSC Alanya, warned by the Houthis around the Bab el-Mandeb, Ambrey said. “The parent company had cooperated with Israel, and this was likely the reason why she was threatened.”

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. MSC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In the earlier Al Jasrah attack, it remained unclear if it was a missile or drone that hit the vessel, the official said. Ambrey and the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors Mideast shipping lanes, also confirmed that attack.

“The projectile reportedly hit the port side of the vessel and one container fell overboard due to the impact,” Ambrey said. “The projectile caused a ‘fire on deck’ which was broadcast via” radio.

The Al Jasrah is operated by German-based shipper Hapag-Lloyd, which said no crew member had been hurt in the attack.

“Hapag-Lloyd will take additional measures to secure the safety of our crews,” the company said, without elaborating.

Ambrey noted that Hapag-Lloyd “is known to have offices in the Israeli ports of Ashdod, Haifa and Tel Aviv.”

In his statement, military spokesman Saree claimed the Houthis targeted the Palatium III and the Alanya — not the Al Jasrah. It wasn't immediately clear why he erroneously identified the second ship.

The attacks Friday further escalate a campaign by the Houthi rebels, who have claimed responsibility for a series of missile assaults in recent days that just missed shipping in the Red Sea and its strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

On Thursday, the Houthis fired a ballistic missile that missed a container ship traveling through the strait.

The day before that, two missiles fired from Houthi-held territory&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-us-navy-1727df3d95e548c6e4d20b51f096268f">missed a commercial tanker loaded with Indian-manufactured jet fuel</a>&nbsp;near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Also near the strait, a missile fired by Houthis on Monday night slammed into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-ship-attack-houthi-rebels-red-sea-946b40e6393af6216c0b6ef734311be9">a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea</a>.

Global shipping has increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict — even during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-what-to-know-af1cfbc9dcaa1485ed7a9efaca7ec2b7">brief pause in fighting</a>&nbsp;during which Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The collapse of the truce has raised the risk of more sea attacks.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is only 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound shipments, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Nearly 10% of all oil traded at sea passes through it. An estimated $1 trillion in goods pass through the strait annually.

In November, Houthis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized a vehicle transport ship</a>&nbsp;linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-ship-drone-attack-symi-39929cae42a191b2f242896a053123a7">came under attack</a>&nbsp;by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

A separate, tentative cease-fire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen’s exiled government has held for months despite that country’s long war. That’s raised concerns that any wider conflict in the sea — or a potential reprisal strike from Western forces — could reignite those tensions in the Arab world’s poorest nation.

Also Thursday, unknown attackers boarded the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Ruen, managed by Navigation Maritime Bulgare, in the Arabian Sea off the Yemeni island of Socotra, Ambrey and the UKMTO said. Bulgarian authorities said the ship’s 18-member crew hailed from Angola, Bulgaria and Myanmar.

“The necessary steps have been taken to pass the information on to all foreign partners and institutions that we will count on to provide assistance,” Bulgarian Foreign Minister Maria Gabriel told reporters Friday.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. However, suspicion immediately fell on pirates from Somalia. Somali piracy had dropped in recent years, but there has been growing concern it could resume amid the wider chaos of the Houthi attacks and the political uncertainty gripping the east African nation.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels slammed into a cargo ship Friday in the Red Sea near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, following another attack only hours earlier that struck a separate vessel, authorities said.The missile attack on the MSC Palatium III and the earlier assault on the Al Jasrah&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-ship-attack-missile-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-b2478db9aaad81ca447e6a393480f9a8">escalate a maritime campaign</a>&nbsp;by the Iranian-backed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Houthis</a>. The attacks also endanger ships traveling through a vital corridor for cargo and energy shipments for both Europe and Asia from the Suez Canal out to the Indian Ocean.The Houthis say their attacks aim to end the pounding Israeli air-and-ground offensive targeting the Gaza Strip amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-12-14-2023-a9d904ed51ea5cfa98966c8f203cbc45">that country's war on Hamas</a>. However, the links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults have grown more tenuous as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-yemen-houthis-attack-ships-f67d941c260528ac40315ecab4c34ca3">the attacks continue</a>.“The Yemeni armed forces confirm they will continue to prevent all ships heading to Israeli ports from navigating in the (Red Sea) until they bring in the food and medicine that our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip need,” the Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a statement claiming responsibility for Friday's attacks.Meanwhile, hijackers, likely from Somalia, separately seized a Bulgarian ship in the Arabian Sea.A U.S. defense official and the private intelligence firm Ambrey said the MSC Palatium III, a Liberian-flagged container ship, caught fire after the strike.&nbsp;Two missiles were fired in the attack, likely trying to hit the Al Jasrah, the U.S. official said. One went wide and splashed down in the water, the other slammed into the Palatium, the official said.The Palatium turned around after the attack and was now trying to head south, tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed.The Switzerland-based MSC, or Mediterranean Shipping Co., earlier had another vessel, the MSC Alanya, warned by the Houthis around the Bab el-Mandeb, Ambrey said. “The parent company had cooperated with Israel, and this was likely the reason why she was threatened.”The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. MSC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.In the earlier Al Jasrah attack, it remained unclear if it was a missile or drone that hit the vessel, the official said. Ambrey and the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which monitors Mideast shipping lanes, also confirmed that attack.“The projectile reportedly hit the port side of the vessel and one container fell overboard due to the impact,” Ambrey said. “The projectile caused a ‘fire on deck’ which was broadcast via” radio.The Al Jasrah is operated by German-based shipper Hapag-Lloyd, which said no crew member had been hurt in the attack.“Hapag-Lloyd will take additional measures to secure the safety of our crews,” the company said, without elaborating.Ambrey noted that Hapag-Lloyd “is known to have offices in the Israeli ports of Ashdod, Haifa and Tel Aviv.”In his statement, military spokesman Saree claimed the Houthis targeted the Palatium III and the Alanya — not the Al Jasrah. It wasn't immediately clear why he erroneously identified the second ship.The attacks Friday further escalate a campaign by the Houthi rebels, who have claimed responsibility for a series of missile assaults in recent days that just missed shipping in the Red Sea and its strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.On Thursday, the Houthis fired a ballistic missile that missed a container ship traveling through the strait.The day before that, two missiles fired from Houthi-held territory&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-ship-attacks-us-navy-1727df3d95e548c6e4d20b51f096268f">missed a commercial tanker loaded with Indian-manufactured jet fuel</a>&nbsp;near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Also near the strait, a missile fired by Houthis on Monday night slammed into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-ship-attack-houthi-rebels-red-sea-946b40e6393af6216c0b6ef734311be9">a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea</a>.Global shipping has increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict — even during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-what-to-know-af1cfbc9dcaa1485ed7a9efaca7ec2b7">brief pause in fighting</a>&nbsp;during which Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The collapse of the truce has raised the risk of more sea attacks.The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is only 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound shipments, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Nearly 10% of all oil traded at sea passes through it. An estimated $1 trillion in goods pass through the strait annually.In November, Houthis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized a vehicle transport ship</a>&nbsp;linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-ship-drone-attack-symi-39929cae42a191b2f242896a053123a7">came under attack</a>&nbsp;by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.A separate, tentative cease-fire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen’s exiled government has held for months despite that country’s long war. That’s raised concerns that any wider conflict in the sea — or a potential reprisal strike from Western forces — could reignite those tensions in the Arab world’s poorest nation.Also Thursday, unknown attackers boarded the Malta-flagged bulk carrier Ruen, managed by Navigation Maritime Bulgare, in the Arabian Sea off the Yemeni island of Socotra, Ambrey and the UKMTO said. Bulgarian authorities said the ship’s 18-member crew hailed from Angola, Bulgaria and Myanmar.“The necessary steps have been taken to pass the information on to all foreign partners and institutions that we will count on to provide assistance,” Bulgarian Foreign Minister Maria Gabriel told reporters Friday.No group immediately claimed responsibility for the assault. However, suspicion immediately fell on pirates from Somalia. Somali piracy had dropped in recent years, but there has been growing concern it could resume amid the wider chaos of the Houthi attacks and the political uncertainty gripping the east African nation.

U.S. warships monitor more ballistic missile attacks in Red Sea

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Friday in Wyandotte County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 GMC Yukon XL driven by Aaron&nbsp;Freeman, 42, Kansas City, Kansas, was westbound on Riverview Avenue one half mile south of Interstate 70.

The driver slowed to turn south on North 78th Street, struck the raised median and overturned and he was ejected.

EMS transported Freeman to KU Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Friday in Wyandotte County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 GMC Yukon XL driven by Aaron&nbsp;Freeman, 42, Kansas City, Kansas, was westbound on Riverview Avenue one half mile south of Interstate 70.The driver slowed to turn south on North 78th Street, struck the raised median and overturned and he was ejected.EMS transported Freeman to KU Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after ejected when SUV overturns

HARVEY COUNTY&nbsp; — Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a woman was shot in Newton.

Just before 2a.m. Friday, police responded to a report of a shooting in the 2000 block of Terrace Drive in Newton, according to a media release from from police.

A man at the house reported his 74-year-old wife had been shot and refused to answer any further questions.

EMS transported the victim to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita with life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her husband identified as 70-year-old Edward Altum. He is being held in the Harvey County Jail on a requested charge of attempted murder. Police also recovered&nbsp; gun at the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702667856753.png" alt="Altum-photo Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Altum-photo Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY&nbsp; — Law enforcement authorities are investigating after a woman was shot in Newton.Just before 2a.m. Friday, police responded to a report of a shooting in the 2000 block of Terrace Drive in Newton, according to a media release from from police.A man at the house reported his 74-year-old wife had been shot and refused to answer any further questions.EMS transported the victim to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita with life-threatening injuries. Police arrested her husband identified as 70-year-old Edward Altum. He is being held in the Harvey County Jail on a requested charge of attempted murder. Police also recovered&nbsp; gun at the scene.

Kansas man accused of attempting to kill his wife

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a shooting that seriously injured a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old from Wichita continue to search for a suspect.

just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at the intersection of 15th Street North and Poplar Avenue in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp;

First responders located the 15-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to his abdomen and the 14-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to his right upper leg. EMS transported both victims to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Both victims underwent surgery and are in stable condition.

Detectives are still working to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting and had not made an arrest, Rebolledo reported early Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702502344958.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investstigation-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investstigation-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities&nbsp; investigating a shooting that seriously injured a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old from Wichita continue to search for a suspect.just before 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to a shooting call at the intersection of 15th Street North and Poplar Avenue in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp;First responders located the 15-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to his abdomen and the 14-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to his right upper leg. EMS transported both victims to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Both victims underwent surgery and are in stable condition.Detectives are still working to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting and had not made an arrest, Rebolledo reported early Friday.

Search continues for Kan. suspect who shot 14, 15-year-old

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-dead-drowning-friends-f2963e83691d2bd2a8626d85a69c73cb">Matthew Perry</a>&nbsp;died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the results of an autopsy on the 54-year-old “Friends” actor released Friday.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in “the heated end of his pool,” but that it was a secondary factor in his Oct. 28 death, deemed an accident.

The report says coronary artery disease and buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder, also contributed.

Perry was declared dead after being found unresponsive at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Investigators performed the autopsy the following day.

The actor had taken drugs in the past but had been “reportedly clean for 19 months," according to the report. The coroner said he was reported to have been having ketamine infusion therapy to deal with depression and anxiety, and his last treatment was 1 1/2 weeks before his death.

Perry had played pickleball earlier in the day, the report says, and his assistant, who lives with him, found him face down in the pool after returning from errands.

The assistant told investigators Perry had not been sick, had not made any health complaints, and had not shown evidence of recent alcohol or drug use.

Perry was open about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-foundation-death-addiction-aa74b3e424c652a4325166231057ecd4">discussing his struggles with addiction</a>&nbsp;dating back to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-china-friends-fandom-0876bc8bf20b613c336d8c684eb5524f">time on “Friends”</a>&nbsp;in the 1990s.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698541233773.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-dead-drowning-friends-f2963e83691d2bd2a8626d85a69c73cb">Matthew Perry</a>&nbsp;died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the results of an autopsy on the 54-year-old “Friends” actor released Friday.The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in “the heated end of his pool,” but that it was a secondary factor in his Oct. 28 death, deemed an accident.The report says coronary artery disease and buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder, also contributed.Perry was declared dead after being found unresponsive at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. Investigators performed the autopsy the following day.The actor had taken drugs in the past but had been “reportedly clean for 19 months," according to the report. The coroner said he was reported to have been having ketamine infusion therapy to deal with depression and anxiety, and his last treatment was 1 1/2 weeks before his death.Perry had played pickleball earlier in the day, the report says, and his assistant, who lives with him, found him face down in the pool after returning from errands.The assistant told investigators Perry had not been sick, had not made any health complaints, and had not shown evidence of recent alcohol or drug use.Perry was open about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-foundation-death-addiction-aa74b3e424c652a4325166231057ecd4">discussing his struggles with addiction</a>&nbsp;dating back to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/matthew-perry-china-friends-fandom-0876bc8bf20b613c336d8c684eb5524f">time on “Friends”</a>&nbsp;in the 1990s.

Medical examiner reports cause of death for Matthew Perry

WASHINGTON (AP) — A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday to two former Georgia election workers who sued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-trump-election-indictments-georgia-eb2ff2ca7a94f9f80e95e897584c8e7d">Rudy Giuliani</a>, the former New York mayor, who was one referred to as 'America's Mayor,&nbsp;for defamation over lies he spread about them in 2020 that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-georgia-election-workers-defamation-trial-0151222465923e9dcad489adb7661f0a">upended their lives</a>&nbsp;with racist threats and harassment.

The damages verdict follows emotional testimony from Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, who tearfully described becoming the target of a false conspiracy theory pushed by Giuliani and other Republicans as they tried to keep then-President Donald Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election.

Giuliani&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-georgia-election-workers-defamation-lawsuit-9b561a195fb74d991abc89d1b6587d66">had already been found liable</a>&nbsp;in the case and previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-georgia-election-workers-lawsuit-false-statements-afc64a565ee778c6914a1a69dc756064">conceded in court documents</a>&nbsp;that he falsely accused the women of ballot fraud. Even so, the former New York City mayor continued to repeat his baseless allegations about the women in comments to reporters outside the Washington, D.C., courthouse this week.

Giuliani’s lawyer acknowledged that his client was wrong but insisted that Giuliani was not fully responsible for the vitriol the women faced. The defense sought to largely pin the blame on a right-wing website that published the surveillance video of the two women counting ballots.

The judgment adds to growing financial and legal peril for Giuliani, who was among the loudest proponents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-electoral-college-elections-health-2d9bd47a8bd3561682ac46c6b3873a10">Trump’s false claims</a>&nbsp;of election fraud that are now a key part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">criminal cases against the former president</a>.

Giuliani had already been showing signs of financial strain as he defends himself against costly lawsuits and investigations stemming from his representation of Trump. His lawyer suggested that the defamation case could financially ruin the former mayor, saying “it would be the end of Mr. Giuliani.”

And Giuliani is still facing his biggest test yet: fighting criminal charges in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-indictment-arraignment-trump-giuliani-c5abbd260f44947a1c01211136108bfe">the Georgia case</a>&nbsp;accusing Trump and 18 others of working to subvert the results of the 2020 election, won by Democrat Joe Biden, in that state. Giuliani has pleaded not guilty and characterized the case as politically motivated.

Jurors in the defamation case heard recordings of Giuliani falsely accusing the election workers of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines. Trump also repeated the conspiracy theories through his social media accounts. Lawyers for Moss and Freeman, who are Black, also played for jurors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-georgia-election-workers-moss-freeman-defamation-19fbeae3f5231654b4625787a78419e0">audio recordings of the graphic and racist threats</a>&nbsp;the women received.

The women’s lawyers asked for at least $24 million for each woman in defamation damages alone. They also sought compensation for their emotional harm and punitive damages.

On the witness stand, Moss and Freeman described fearing for their lives as hateful messages poured in. Moss told jurors she tried to change her appearance, seldom leaves her home and suffers from panic attacks. Her mother described strangers banging on her door and recounted fleeing her home after people came with bullhorns and the FBI told her she wasn’t safe.

“It’s so scary, anytime I go somewhere, if I have to use my name,” Freeman said, gasping through her tears to get her words out. “I miss my old neighborhood because I was me, I could introduce myself. Now I don’t have a name, really.”

Defense attorney Joseph Sibley told jurors they should compensate the women for what they are owed, but he urged them to “remember this is a great man.”

An attorney for Moss and Freeman, in his closing argument, highlighted how Giuliani has not stopped repeating the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-georgia-election-workers-defamation-trial-0151222465923e9dcad489adb7661f0a">false conspiracy theory</a>&nbsp;asserting the workers interfered in the November 2020 presidential election. Attorney Michael Gottlieb played a video of Giuliani outside the courthouse on Monday, in which Giuliani falsely claimed the women were “engaged in changing votes.”

“Mr. Giuliani has shown over and over again he will not take our client’s names out of his mouth,” Gottlieb said. “Facts will not stop him. He says he isn’t sorry and he’s telegraphing he will do this again. Believe him.”

The judge overseeing the election workers’ lawsuit had already ordered Giuliani and his business entities to pay tens of thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees. In holding Giuliani liable, the judge ruled that the former mayor gave “only lip service” to complying with his legal obligations while trying to portray himself as the victim in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692827609455.png" alt="Giuliani photo Fulton County" />
 <figcaption>Giuliani photo Fulton County</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday to two former Georgia election workers who sued&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-trump-election-indictments-georgia-eb2ff2ca7a94f9f80e95e897584c8e7d">Rudy Giuliani</a>, the former New York mayor, who was one referred to as 'America's Mayor,&nbsp;for defamation over lies he spread about them in 2020 that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-georgia-election-workers-defamation-trial-0151222465923e9dcad489adb7661f0a">upended their lives</a>&nbsp;with racist threats and harassment.The damages verdict follows emotional testimony from Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and her mother, Ruby Freeman, who tearfully described becoming the target of a false conspiracy theory pushed by Giuliani and other Republicans as they tried to keep then-President Donald Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election.Giuliani&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-georgia-election-workers-defamation-lawsuit-9b561a195fb74d991abc89d1b6587d66">had already been found liable</a>&nbsp;in the case and previously&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-georgia-election-workers-lawsuit-false-statements-afc64a565ee778c6914a1a69dc756064">conceded in court documents</a>&nbsp;that he falsely accused the women of ballot fraud. Even so, the former New York City mayor continued to repeat his baseless allegations about the women in comments to reporters outside the Washington, D.C., courthouse this week.Giuliani’s lawyer acknowledged that his client was wrong but insisted that Giuliani was not fully responsible for the vitriol the women faced. The defense sought to largely pin the blame on a right-wing website that published the surveillance video of the two women counting ballots.The judgment adds to growing financial and legal peril for Giuliani, who was among the loudest proponents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-michael-pence-electoral-college-elections-health-2d9bd47a8bd3561682ac46c6b3873a10">Trump’s false claims</a>&nbsp;of election fraud that are now a key part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.apnews.com/features/2023/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/index.html">criminal cases against the former president</a>.Giuliani had already been showing signs of financial strain as he defends himself against costly lawsuits and investigations stemming from his representation of Trump. His lawyer suggested that the defamation case could financially ruin the former mayor, saying “it would be the end of Mr. Giuliani.”And Giuliani is still facing his biggest test yet: fighting criminal charges in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-indictment-arraignment-trump-giuliani-c5abbd260f44947a1c01211136108bfe">the Georgia case</a>&nbsp;accusing Trump and 18 others of working to subvert the results of the 2020 election, won by Democrat Joe Biden, in that state. Giuliani has pleaded not guilty and characterized the case as politically motivated.Jurors in the defamation case heard recordings of Giuliani falsely accusing the election workers of sneaking in ballots in suitcases, counting ballots multiple times and tampering with voting machines. Trump also repeated the conspiracy theories through his social media accounts. Lawyers for Moss and Freeman, who are Black, also played for jurors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/giuliani-georgia-election-workers-moss-freeman-defamation-19fbeae3f5231654b4625787a78419e0">audio recordings of the graphic and racist threats</a>&nbsp;the women received.The women’s lawyers asked for at least $24 million for each woman in defamation damages alone. They also sought compensation for their emotional harm and punitive damages.On the witness stand, Moss and Freeman described fearing for their lives as hateful messages poured in. Moss told jurors she tried to change her appearance, seldom leaves her home and suffers from panic attacks. Her mother described strangers banging on her door and recounted fleeing her home after people came with bullhorns and the FBI told her she wasn’t safe.“It’s so scary, anytime I go somewhere, if I have to use my name,” Freeman said, gasping through her tears to get her words out. “I miss my old neighborhood because I was me, I could introduce myself. Now I don’t have a name, really.”Defense attorney Joseph Sibley told jurors they should compensate the women for what they are owed, but he urged them to “remember this is a great man.”An attorney for Moss and Freeman, in his closing argument, highlighted how Giuliani has not stopped repeating the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rudy-giuliani-georgia-election-workers-defamation-trial-0151222465923e9dcad489adb7661f0a">false conspiracy theory</a>&nbsp;asserting the workers interfered in the November 2020 presidential election. Attorney Michael Gottlieb played a video of Giuliani outside the courthouse on Monday, in which Giuliani falsely claimed the women were “engaged in changing votes.”“Mr. Giuliani has shown over and over again he will not take our client’s names out of his mouth,” Gottlieb said. “Facts will not stop him. He says he isn’t sorry and he’s telegraphing he will do this again. Believe him.”The judge overseeing the election workers’ lawsuit had already ordered Giuliani and his business entities to pay tens of thousands of dollars in attorneys’ fees. In holding Giuliani liable, the judge ruled that the former mayor gave “only lip service” to complying with his legal obligations while trying to portray himself as the victim in the case.___

'America's Mayor' ordered to pay $148M to election workers he defamed

By&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney Kris Kobach has renewed a legal fight against the second-largest gas marketer in the U.S., alleging the company gouged Kansans on natural gas prices during an 2021 winter storm.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The new filing comes months after Kobach lost his first suit against the company on a technicality.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702669606120.png" alt=" Natural gas prices spiked during a 2021 cold snap. Attorney General Kris Kobach is re-filing a lawsuit on the matter. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Natural gas prices spiked during a 2021 cold snap. Attorney General Kris Kobach is re-filing a lawsuit on the matter. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney Kris Kobach has renewed a legal fight against the second-largest gas marketer in the U.S., alleging the company gouged Kansans on natural gas prices during an 2021 winter storm.&nbsp; &nbsp;The new filing comes months after Kobach lost his first suit against the company on a technicality.&nbsp;The lawsuit,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ag.ks.gov/docs/default-source/documents/fs-macquarie-cea-and-kfca-complaint.pdf">refiled Wednesday</a>&nbsp;in Kansas’ U.S. District Court, alleges Macquarie Energy cost Kansans $50 million in excessive charges by purchasing gas from Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline at inflated prices. Those charges were passed along to consumers when the Kansas Corporate Commission set out rate hikes for state energy companies to recoup expenditures.“It’s disgraceful that Macquarie would manipulate prices at a time when Kansans were already hurting from the storm,” Kobach said in a statement. “We will do everything we can to recover what was taken from those Kansans.”During the stretch of cold weather, temperatures were below freezing in several parts of the state for days, including in Kansas City, where temperatures stayed below 15 degrees for more than a week.&nbsp;Natural gas prices were about $2.50 per unit in early February of 2021 and began climbing as the weather dropped, increasing to $329.6 per unit by the middle of the month, and staying at that level from Feb. 13-16. On Feb. 17, the price was about 200 times higher than normal, at $622.8 per unit.&nbsp;“Macquarie entered into an economically irrational natural gas trade, purchasing natural gas for next-day delivery within Southern Star at the single highest price ever paid for Southern Star natural gas,” reads the suit. “No one has ever paid more.&nbsp; Indeed, no one has ever paid any fixed price for Southern Star gas even remotely close to what Macquarie agreed to pay.”Former Kansas attorney general Derek Schmidt&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/ag-says-winter-natural-gas-price-spikes-appear-to-violate-kansas-law-seeks-help-for-investigation/">originally began looking into price gouging</a>&nbsp;in 2021, hiring the Florida-based law firm of Morgan &amp; Morgan for the case. Schmidt ran for governor rather than seeking re-election to his position in 2022, and Kobach took over the investigation after he was elected to the office.Kobach lost his first federal lawsuit on the issue in October due to a technical mistake in the case filing made after he fired Morgan &amp; Morgan. Two attorneys from&nbsp;Nebraska-based law firm Hilgers Graben have joined AG staff attorneys for the refiling.&nbsp;“Macquarie’s manipulative conduct and trading activity deprived Kansas residents of a lawfully operating natural gas market,” reads the suit.&nbsp;&nbsp;Jim Zakoura, an energy attorney&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/07/kansas-energy-lawyer-presses-for-inquiry-of-potential-market-manipulation-in-2021-cold-snap/">currently involved</a>&nbsp;in two federal class action lawsuits against several energy companies involving these gas price hikes, said he approved of Kobach’s lawsuit.&nbsp;“I highly commend the attorney general for the hard work to bring this matter to the federal court,” Zakoura said. “If proven, it puts to an end the position of the natural gas suppliers that the inordinate high price, even compared to the rest of the Midwest, was simply a matter of supply and demand.”