WYANDOTTE —The vehicle involved in Wednesday shooting in the 3100 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas that took the life of a boy playing in his front yard has been located, according to a statement from police.

The attack, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”

Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.

Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene.&nbsp;

Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with.&nbsp;

 Anyone with info should call  TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — One or more shooters opened fire on a child playing in the front yard of a Kansas home, killing him, authorities said.

The attack Wednesday evening in Kansas City, Kansas, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”

Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene. They are looking for a maroon Subaru Legacy with a missing front bumper that may be connected to the attack.

Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with. Police didn’t immediately respond Thursday to phone and email messages seeking additional information.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide that left one juvenile dead.&nbsp;

Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 3100 Block of Greeley Avenue, in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. First responders found a boy who had been shot while playing in the front yard of a home. EMS transported the child to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries.

Detectives are looking for a mid 2000s, maroon Subaru Legacy missing the front bumper and with a possible Kansas tag.

The Kansas City, Kansas Police Departments Major Case/Homicide Unit is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195620849.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE —The vehicle involved in Wednesday shooting in the 3100 block of Greeley Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas that took the life of a boy playing in his front yard has been located, according to a statement from police.The search continues for suspects.The attack, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="Photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene.&nbsp;Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with.&nbsp; Anyone with info should call TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).--------KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — One or more shooters opened fire on a child playing in the front yard of a Kansas home, killing him, authorities said.The attack Wednesday evening in Kansas City, Kansas, when it was still daylight, doesn't appear to have been a “random act,” police Maj. Violeta Magee told reporters at the scene. Police didn't release the name or age of the child but described him as a “young juvenile.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="Photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Officers found the wounded boy in the front yard. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Magee said.Police found more than 30 shell casings at the scene. They are looking for a maroon Subaru Legacy with a missing front bumper that may be connected to the attack.Police haven't said whether they think more than one person was involved in the attack, or whether the intended target was the boy or the adult he was with. Police didn’t immediately respond Thursday to phone and email messages seeking additional information.--------------------WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide that left one juvenile dead.&nbsp;Just after 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded to report of a shooting in the 3100 Block of Greeley Avenue, in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release. First responders found a boy who had been shot while playing in the front yard of a home. EMS transported the child to an area hospital where he later died of his injuries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683195327042.png" alt="photo KCK Police" />
 <figcaption>photo KCK Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Detectives are looking for a mid 2000s, maroon Subaru Legacy missing the front bumper and with a possible Kansas tag.The Kansas City, Kansas Police Departments Major Case/Homicide Unit is in charge of the investigation.

Police find car linked to shooting death of child playing in front yard

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal December car crash have made an arrest.

According to Topeka Police spokesperson Rosie Nichols, just after 2a.m. December 30, a passenger car driven by Justice R. Cox, 23, Topeka was westbound in the 100 Block of SE 37th Street in Topeka.

The car left the road, struck a utility pole and came to rest in a nearby front yard.&nbsp; One occupant identified as Brett M. Joynt, 23, of Topeka died from his injuries.&nbsp; Two others were injured.

As a result of the investigation, on Tuesday, police arrested&nbsp; Cox and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the requested charges of Murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony, Flee or attempt to elude; Commission of any felony, Interference with LEO; Falsely report a crime intending action on information, Reckless Driving; Unknown Conviction, racing on highways; unknown conviction, Unsafe Speed For Prevailing Conditions, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license and Vehicle liability insurance required.

He bond was set at $1 million, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683147752537.png" alt="Cox-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Cox-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a fatal December car crash have made an arrest.According to Topeka Police spokesperson Rosie Nichols, just after 2a.m. December 30, a passenger car driven by Justice R. Cox, 23, Topeka was westbound in the 100 Block of SE 37th Street in Topeka.The car left the road, struck a utility pole and came to rest in a nearby front yard.&nbsp; One occupant identified as Brett M. Joynt, 23, of Topeka died from his injuries.&nbsp; Two others were injured.As a result of the investigation, on Tuesday, police arrested&nbsp; Cox and booked him into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on the requested charges of Murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony, Flee or attempt to elude; Commission of any felony, Interference with LEO; Falsely report a crime intending action on information, Reckless Driving; Unknown Conviction, racing on highways; unknown conviction, Unsafe Speed For Prevailing Conditions, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license and Vehicle liability insurance required.He bond was set at $1 million, according to online jail records.

Kansas man accused of murder in fatal December crash

WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. regulators say Facebook misled parents and failed to protect the privacy of children using its Messenger Kids app, including misrepresenting the access it provided to app developers to private user data.

As a result, The Federal Trade Commision on Wednesday proposed sweeping changes to a 2020 privacy order with Facebook — now called Meta — that would prohibit it from profiting from data it collects on users under 18. This would include data collected through its virtual-reality products. The FTC said the company has failed to fully comply with the 2020 order.

Meta would also be subject to other limitations, including with its use of face-recognition technology and be required to provide additional privacy protections for its users.

“Facebook has repeatedly violated its privacy promises,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The company’s recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures.”

Meta called the announcement a “political stunt.”

“Despite three years of continual engagement with the FTC around our agreement, they provided no opportunity to discuss this new, totally unprecedented theory. Let’s be clear about what the FTC is trying to do: usurp the authority of Congress to set industry-wide standards and instead single out one American company while allowing Chinese companies, like TikTok, to operate without constraint on American soil,” Meta said in a prepared statement. “We have spent vast resources building and implementing an industry-leading privacy program under the terms of our FTC agreement. We will vigorously fight this action and expect to prevail.”

Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-social-media-technology-6b97cde3d6d04c9daeca1a34bf52f739">launched Messenger Kids in 2017</a>, pitching it as a way for children to chat with family members and friends approved by their parents. The app doesn’t give kids separate Facebook or Messenger accounts. Rather, it works as an extension of a parent’s account, and parents get controls, such as the ability to decide with whom their kids can chat.

At the time, Facebook said Messenger Kids wouldn't show ads or collect data for marketing, though it would collect some data it said was necessary to run the service.

But child-development experts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/18f740da0b9f40fc927619ed6ce84e1b">raised immediate concerns</a>.

In early 2018, a group of 100 experts, advocates and parenting organizations contested Facebook’s claims that the app was filling a need kids had for a messaging service. The group included nonprofits, psychiatrists, pediatricians, educators and the children’s music singer Raffi Cavoukian.

“Messenger Kids is not responding to a need — it is creating one,” the letter said. “It appeals primarily to children who otherwise would not have their own social media accounts.” Another passage criticized Facebook for “targeting younger children with a new product.”

Facebook, in response to the letter, said at the time that the app “helps parents and children to chat in a safer way,” and emphasized that parents are “always in control” of their kids’ activity.

The FTC now says this has not been the case. The 2020 privacy order,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7fa2c8a26b34436d89a1c7aff9914f70">which required Facebook to pay a $5 billion fine</a>, required an independent assessor to evaluate the company’s privacy practices. The FTC said the assessor “identified several gaps and weaknesses in Facebook’s privacy program.”

The FTC also said Facebook, from late 2017 until 2019, “misrepresented that parents could control whom their children communicated with through its Messenger Kids product.”

“Despite the company’s promises that children using Messenger Kids would only be able to communicate with contacts approved by their parents, children in certain circumstances were able to communicate with unapproved contacts in group text chats and group video calls,” the FTC said.

As part of the proposed changes to the FTC’s 2020 order, Meta would also be required to pause launching new products and services without “written confirmation from the assessor that its privacy program is in full compliance” with the order.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660141848593.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —U.S. regulators say Facebook misled parents and failed to protect the privacy of children using its Messenger Kids app, including misrepresenting the access it provided to app developers to private user data.As a result, The Federal Trade Commision on Wednesday proposed sweeping changes to a 2020 privacy order with Facebook — now called Meta — that would prohibit it from profiting from data it collects on users under 18. This would include data collected through its virtual-reality products. The FTC said the company has failed to fully comply with the 2020 order.Meta would also be subject to other limitations, including with its use of face-recognition technology and be required to provide additional privacy protections for its users.“Facebook has repeatedly violated its privacy promises,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The company’s recklessness has put young users at risk, and Facebook needs to answer for its failures.”Meta called the announcement a “political stunt.”“Despite three years of continual engagement with the FTC around our agreement, they provided no opportunity to discuss this new, totally unprecedented theory. Let’s be clear about what the FTC is trying to do: usurp the authority of Congress to set industry-wide standards and instead single out one American company while allowing Chinese companies, like TikTok, to operate without constraint on American soil,” Meta said in a prepared statement. “We have spent vast resources building and implementing an industry-leading privacy program under the terms of our FTC agreement. We will vigorously fight this action and expect to prevail.”Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-social-media-technology-6b97cde3d6d04c9daeca1a34bf52f739">launched Messenger Kids in 2017</a>, pitching it as a way for children to chat with family members and friends approved by their parents. The app doesn’t give kids separate Facebook or Messenger accounts. Rather, it works as an extension of a parent’s account, and parents get controls, such as the ability to decide with whom their kids can chat.At the time, Facebook said Messenger Kids wouldn't show ads or collect data for marketing, though it would collect some data it said was necessary to run the service.But child-development experts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/18f740da0b9f40fc927619ed6ce84e1b">raised immediate concerns</a>.In early 2018, a group of 100 experts, advocates and parenting organizations contested Facebook’s claims that the app was filling a need kids had for a messaging service. The group included nonprofits, psychiatrists, pediatricians, educators and the children’s music singer Raffi Cavoukian.“Messenger Kids is not responding to a need — it is creating one,” the letter said. “It appeals primarily to children who otherwise would not have their own social media accounts.” Another passage criticized Facebook for “targeting younger children with a new product.”Facebook, in response to the letter, said at the time that the app “helps parents and children to chat in a safer way,” and emphasized that parents are “always in control” of their kids’ activity.The FTC now says this has not been the case. The 2020 privacy order,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7fa2c8a26b34436d89a1c7aff9914f70">which required Facebook to pay a $5 billion fine</a>, required an independent assessor to evaluate the company’s privacy practices. The FTC said the assessor “identified several gaps and weaknesses in Facebook’s privacy program.”The FTC also said Facebook, from late 2017 until 2019, “misrepresented that parents could control whom their children communicated with through its Messenger Kids product.”“Despite the company’s promises that children using Messenger Kids would only be able to communicate with contacts approved by their parents, children in certain circumstances were able to communicate with unapproved contacts in group text chats and group video calls,” the FTC said.As part of the proposed changes to the FTC’s 2020 order, Meta would also be required to pause launching new products and services without “written confirmation from the assessor that its privacy program is in full compliance” with the order.

FTC: Facebook misled parents, failed to guard kids' privacy

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Jackson Mahomes, the brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was briefly jailed Wednesday on aggravated sexual battery charges over an alleged altercation at a Kansas restaurant in late February.

Jackson Mahomes, 22, was charged Tuesday in Johnson County, Kansas, with three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of battery. He was released later Wednesday after posting $100,000 bond. During a brief virtual court appearance, the judge scheduled the next online hearing for May 11.

Under conditions of his bond, Jackson Mahomes won't be allowed to discuss his case publicly.

The probable cause affidavit in the case was not immediately available. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275006836.html">The Kansas City Star reported</a>&nbsp;that police previously confirmed they were investigating a Feb. 25 incident involving Jackson Mahomes at a restaurant in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas.

Jackson Mahomes’ attorney, Brandan Joseph Davies, said in a statement that the court prohibited him and his client from commenting. But he released a statement in March, when the allegations first surfaced, saying there was “substantial evidence refuting the claims of Jackson’s accuser," The Star reported.

Aspen Vaughn, the owner of Aspens Restaurant and Lounge, told the newspaper in early March that Jackson Mahomes was friends with her stepdaughter and had frequented the restaurant, where her stepdaughter works. She said he had been there earlier on the day of their encounter and had been pleasant.

Vaughn said after he returned to Aspens that night, Jackson Mahomes grabbed her neck with enough force that it left a faint bruise while they were talking in her office about an incident in which he allegedly shoved a member of the wait staff.

She provided The Star with a photo of a bruise on her neck and a video that she said showed Jackson Mahomes grabbing her by the throat and kissing her at least twice.

“He forcibly kissed me out of nowhere,” she said, calling the advances unwelcome and shocking and noting that she thought he was intoxicated.

Aspen Vaughn didn’t immediately reply to a Facebook message, and the restaurant didn't immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment about the charges.

The Chiefs declined to comment, saying it was a personal matter involving the relative of a player but not a member of the organization. Patrick Mahomes doesn't have a spokesperson and he hasn't commented about the matter on Twitter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683125496286.png" alt="Mahomes-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Mahomes-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) — Jackson Mahomes, the brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, was briefly jailed Wednesday on aggravated sexual battery charges over an alleged altercation at a Kansas restaurant in late February.Jackson Mahomes, 22, was charged Tuesday in Johnson County, Kansas, with three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of battery. He was released later Wednesday after posting $100,000 bond. During a brief virtual court appearance, the judge scheduled the next online hearing for May 11.Under conditions of his bond, Jackson Mahomes won't be allowed to discuss his case publicly.The probable cause affidavit in the case was not immediately available. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275006836.html">The Kansas City Star reported</a>&nbsp;that police previously confirmed they were investigating a Feb. 25 incident involving Jackson Mahomes at a restaurant in the Kansas City suburb of Overland Park, Kansas.Jackson Mahomes’ attorney, Brandan Joseph Davies, said in a statement that the court prohibited him and his client from commenting. But he released a statement in March, when the allegations first surfaced, saying there was “substantial evidence refuting the claims of Jackson’s accuser," The Star reported.Aspen Vaughn, the owner of Aspens Restaurant and Lounge, told the newspaper in early March that Jackson Mahomes was friends with her stepdaughter and had frequented the restaurant, where her stepdaughter works. She said he had been there earlier on the day of their encounter and had been pleasant.Vaughn said after he returned to Aspens that night, Jackson Mahomes grabbed her neck with enough force that it left a faint bruise while they were talking in her office about an incident in which he allegedly shoved a member of the wait staff.She provided The Star with a photo of a bruise on her neck and a video that she said showed Jackson Mahomes grabbing her by the throat and kissing her at least twice.“He forcibly kissed me out of nowhere,” she said, calling the advances unwelcome and shocking and noting that she thought he was intoxicated.Aspen Vaughn didn’t immediately reply to a Facebook message, and the restaurant didn't immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment about the charges.The Chiefs declined to comment, saying it was a personal matter involving the relative of a player but not a member of the organization. Patrick Mahomes doesn't have a spokesperson and he hasn't commented about the matter on Twitter.__

Patrick Mahomes' brother bonds out of jail; Chiefs decline comment 

By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/gun-control-bills-to-be-taken-up-by-u-s-house-panel-in-emergency-meeting/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed on a 50-48 vote a resolution overturning a Biden administration rule that listed a popular Southwestern game bird under a federal endangered species designation.

The White House has vowed President Joe Biden would veto the resolution if it clears Congress. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Republican-controlled House.

The point of contention between the rule protecting the bird, known for its complex mating dance, and Republican opponents boils down to land.

Lesser prairie chickens thrive in native grasses, and conservation groups’ efforts to preserve habitat for the birds have undergone pushback from Republican lawmakers who argue the Biden policy is a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/trio-of-kansas-gop-lawmakers-seek-more-time-to-critique-prairie-chicken-listing/">threat to farmers, ranchers and energy producers.</a>

The Congressional Review Act&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/9/text?s=1&amp;r=1&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.J.Res.9%22%5D%7D">resolution</a>, brought by Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, overturned a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-11/lesser-prairie-chicken-listed-under-endangered-species-act">rule</a>&nbsp;by the Fish and Wildlife Service to list two Distinct Population Segments, or DPS, of the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act.

Congress can use a CRA to block rules recently promulgated by federal agencies, and in specific other circumstances, by submitting a joint resolution of disapproval.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III was the sole Democrat to vote with Republicans to repeal the rule.

On the Senate floor, Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said the rule threatens ranchers and farmers.

“I am confident there are ways to conserve the species without hindering economic opportunity in rural communities,” he said.

He said what Kansas needs is “more rainfall not more regulations.”

“Farmers and ranchers have always been and will always be the original conservationists,” Moran said. “Their livelihood depends upon the continued conservation efforts of the soil and the water they use to produce crops and raise livestock.”

Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Tom Carper defended the bird and the rule.

“Native to the southern Great Plains, the lesser prairie chicken has long been considered an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies upon which hundreds of species depend,” Carper, a Delaware Democrat, said on the floor.&nbsp; “So, if the lesser prairie chicken is in peril — in time, other species could be in peril as well.”

The Southern DPS of the lesser prairie-chicken is being listed as “endangered” and the Northern DPS of the lesser prairie chicken is being listed as “threatened”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/17/federal-wildlife-officials-list-lesser-prairie-chicken-as-threatened-in-kansas/">under the Endangered Species Act.</a>

The bird can be found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The rule has been a long-standing point of contention in Kansas.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach in April announced plans to sue the Biden administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-ag-announces-plan-to-sue-biden-administration-over-lesser-prairie-chicken-protections/">over the designation</a>&nbsp;for the lesser prairie chicken, arguing that federal protections for the bird are illegal, and it could be devastating to landowners and businesses in the state.

The White House defended its policy in its announcement of a veto if the resolution is passed by Congress.

“The lesser prairie chicken serves as an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies, making them an important measure of the overall health of America’s grasslands, a treasured and storied landscape,” the White House said.

“Overturning common-sense protections for the lesser prairie chicken would undermine America’s proud wildlife conservation traditions, risk the extinction of a once-abundant American bird, and create uncertainty for landowners and industries who have been working for years to forge the durable, locally led conservation strategies that this rule supports,” the White House continued.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on the Senate floor that the designation of the bird’s status under the Endangered Species Act “is holding American farms, ranches, and other small businesses hostage to an animal called the lesser prairie-chicken.”

He argued that local landowners and officials already set aside millions of acres of potential habitat for the bird.

“But the Biden administration wants to plow ahead anyway, throw the book at these Americans, and threaten nearly $14 billion in agricultural production,” McConnell said.

A handful of Senate Republicans co-sponsored the bill including Sens. Moran, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Katie Boyd Britt of Alabama, and James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma.

Mike Leahy, the senior director of wildlife policy for the National Wildlife Federation, said in a statement that the population of the lesser prairie chicken has continued to dwindle for decades.

The bird at one time numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but its population is now estimated to be about 30,000, according to FWS. The habitat for the lesser prairie chicken has diminished by about 90%, according to FWS.

Leahy said the rule “leaves landowners a good deal of flexibility.”

“If we want to recover the lesser prairie-chicken, we need to restore its habitat,” he said.&nbsp; “A Congressional Review Act vote is not the right approach because it would not only overturn this particular listing, it would mean this bird could never be listed again no matter how bad things get.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681935383708.jpeg" alt="The bird can be found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The rule has been a long-standing point of contention in Kansas. photo by CRISTINA JANNEY" />
 <figcaption>The bird can be found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The rule has been a long-standing point of contention in Kansas. photo by CRISTINA JANNEY</figcaption>
 </figure>By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/gun-control-bills-to-be-taken-up-by-u-s-house-panel-in-emergency-meeting/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday passed on a 50-48 vote a resolution overturning a Biden administration rule that listed a popular Southwestern game bird under a federal endangered species designation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s a good day to be a Lesser Prairie Chicken. <a href="https://t.co/M5OvycObaT">pic.twitter.com/M5OvycObaT</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1653904116223975427?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House has vowed President Joe Biden would veto the resolution if it clears Congress. Similar legislation has been introduced in the Republican-controlled House.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cdkT6VGKq5M?start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The point of contention between the rule protecting the bird, known for its complex mating dance, and Republican opponents boils down to land.Lesser prairie chickens thrive in native grasses, and conservation groups’ efforts to preserve habitat for the birds have undergone pushback from Republican lawmakers who argue the Biden policy is a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/trio-of-kansas-gop-lawmakers-seek-more-time-to-critique-prairie-chicken-listing/">threat to farmers, ranchers and energy producers.</a>The Congressional Review Act&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/9/text?s=1&amp;r=1&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22S.J.Res.9%22%5D%7D">resolution</a>, brought by Republican Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas, overturned a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-11/lesser-prairie-chicken-listed-under-endangered-species-act">rule</a>&nbsp;by the Fish and Wildlife Service to list two Distinct Population Segments, or DPS, of the lesser prairie-chicken under the Endangered Species Act.Congress can use a CRA to block rules recently promulgated by federal agencies, and in specific other circumstances, by submitting a joint resolution of disapproval.West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III was the sole Democrat to vote with Republicans to repeal the rule.<h2>Kansans mount opposition</h2>On the Senate floor, Republican Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas said the rule threatens ranchers and farmers.“I am confident there are ways to conserve the species without hindering economic opportunity in rural communities,” he said.He said what Kansas needs is “more rainfall not more regulations.”“Farmers and ranchers have always been and will always be the original conservationists,” Moran said. “Their livelihood depends upon the continued conservation efforts of the soil and the water they use to produce crops and raise livestock.”Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Tom Carper defended the bird and the rule.“Native to the southern Great Plains, the lesser prairie chicken has long been considered an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies upon which hundreds of species depend,” Carper, a Delaware Democrat, said on the floor.&nbsp; “So, if the lesser prairie chicken is in peril — in time, other species could be in peril as well.”The Southern DPS of the lesser prairie-chicken is being listed as “endangered” and the Northern DPS of the lesser prairie chicken is being listed as “threatened”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/17/federal-wildlife-officials-list-lesser-prairie-chicken-as-threatened-in-kansas/">under the Endangered Species Act.</a>The bird can be found in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The rule has been a long-standing point of contention in Kansas.Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach in April announced plans to sue the Biden administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-ag-announces-plan-to-sue-biden-administration-over-lesser-prairie-chicken-protections/">over the designation</a>&nbsp;for the lesser prairie chicken, arguing that federal protections for the bird are illegal, and it could be devastating to landowners and businesses in the state.The White House defended its policy in its announcement of a veto if the resolution is passed by Congress.“The lesser prairie chicken serves as an indicator for healthy grasslands and prairies, making them an important measure of the overall health of America’s grasslands, a treasured and storied landscape,” the White House said.“Overturning common-sense protections for the lesser prairie chicken would undermine America’s proud wildlife conservation traditions, risk the extinction of a once-abundant American bird, and create uncertainty for landowners and industries who have been working for years to forge the durable, locally led conservation strategies that this rule supports,” the White House continued.Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said on the Senate floor that the designation of the bird’s status under the Endangered Species Act “is holding American farms, ranches, and other small businesses hostage to an animal called the lesser prairie-chicken.”He argued that local landowners and officials already set aside millions of acres of potential habitat for the bird.“But the Biden administration wants to plow ahead anyway, throw the book at these Americans, and threaten nearly $14 billion in agricultural production,” McConnell said.A handful of Senate Republicans co-sponsored the bill including Sens. Moran, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Katie Boyd Britt of Alabama, and James Lankford and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma.<h2>Population decline</h2>Mike Leahy, the senior director of wildlife policy for the National Wildlife Federation, said in a statement that the population of the lesser prairie chicken has continued to dwindle for decades.The bird at one time numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but its population is now estimated to be about 30,000, according to FWS. The habitat for the lesser prairie chicken has diminished by about 90%, according to FWS.Leahy said the rule “leaves landowners a good deal of flexibility.”“If we want to recover the lesser prairie-chicken, we need to restore its habitat,” he said.&nbsp; “A Congressional Review Act vote is not the right approach because it would not only overturn this particular listing, it would mean this bird could never be listed again no matter how bad things get.”

🎥Kan. Senators lead effort to overturn rule protecting lesser prairie chicken 

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a drug bust.

Just after 11p.m. Tuesday, the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated a search warrant at 310 E. 7th Street in Horton, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Deputies found and seized meth, marijuana, grinders, needles, syringes, pipes, torches and bongs as evidence.

They arrested Jeremy Green , 45 and Charlott Erickson 33, both of Horton on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Horton PD and Kickapoo PD assisted in the investigation, according to Merchant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683150054177.png" alt="Erickson-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Erickson-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a drug bust.Just after 11p.m. Tuesday, the Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force initiated a search warrant at 310 E. 7th Street in Horton, according to Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683150011047.png" alt="Photo Brown Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Brown Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Deputies found and seized meth, marijuana, grinders, needles, syringes, pipes, torches and bongs as evidence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683150266601.png" alt="Green-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Green-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>They arrested Jeremy Green , 45 and Charlott Erickson 33, both of Horton on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Horton PD and Kickapoo PD assisted in the investigation, according to Merchant.

Deputies seize meth, pot, needles and arrest 2 at Kan. home

COWLEY COUNTY—A Kansas pilot was fortunate to avoid an airplane crash following an incident just after 8p.m. Tuesday in Cowley County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Zenith Stol CH 75 fixed wing single engine aircraft piloted by Timothy Dextor McCall, 65, Derby, was northbound, north of Udall when the pilot stated he was having engine problems.

The airplane lost altitude and struck an electrical line. He was able to continue his flight to Cook Airport in Rosehill.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683164329662.png" alt="The pilot was able to continue his flight to Cook Airport in Rosehill.-Google map" />
 <figcaption>The pilot was able to continue his flight to Cook Airport in Rosehill.-Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—A Kansas pilot was fortunate to avoid an airplane crash following an incident just after 8p.m. Tuesday in Cowley County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Zenith Stol CH 75 fixed wing single engine aircraft piloted by Timothy Dextor McCall, 65, Derby, was northbound, north of Udall when the pilot stated he was having engine problems.The airplane lost altitude and struck an electrical line. He was able to continue his flight to Cook Airport in Rosehill.

Small plane struck electrical line, makes safe landing in Kansas

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the stabbing in December 2018 of a woman inside a Walmart Supercenter, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/1113/BLenoble_Redacted?bidId=">Click here to read </a>the probable cause statement

A Jackson County judge sentenced Brian S. LeNoble, 26, to 15 years in prison for Domestic Assault 1st Degree and three years for a conviction of Armed Criminal Action. The &nbsp;sentences were set to run consecutively for a total of 18 years in prison.

According to court records, an off-duty officer at Walmart was called to the automotive center on a reported stabbing. The officer observed a large cut on the victim's neck and a knife was still embedded. The officer took the defendant into custody. The defendant told the officer he tried to kill the victim. The defendant told police he grabbed a knife at the store and stabbed the victim. When she screamed, he ran.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683062849937.png" alt="LeNoble-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>LeNoble-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the stabbing in December 2018 of a woman inside a Walmart Supercenter, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/1113/BLenoble_Redacted?bidId=">Click here to read </a>the probable cause statementA Jackson County judge sentenced Brian S. LeNoble, 26, to 15 years in prison for Domestic Assault 1st Degree and three years for a conviction of Armed Criminal Action. The &nbsp;sentences were set to run consecutively for a total of 18 years in prison.According to court records, an off-duty officer at Walmart was called to the automotive center on a reported stabbing. The officer observed a large cut on the victim's neck and a knife was still embedded. The officer took the defendant into custody. The defendant told the officer he tried to kill the victim. The defendant told police he grabbed a knife at the store and stabbed the victim. When she screamed, he ran.

Kansas City man sentenced for knife attack in Walmart

BARTON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Barton County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Tacoma driven by&nbsp; Richard Lee&nbsp;Reichuber, 76, Hoisington, was eastbound in the 100 block of NW 100 Road.

The pickup left the roadway to the right, entered the ditch, struck multiple trees and went airborne over a dry creek bed.

EMS transported Reichuber to Clara Barton Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

BARTON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Barton County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Tacoma driven by&nbsp; Richard Lee&nbsp;Reichuber, 76, Hoisington, was eastbound in the 100 block of NW 100 Road.The pickup left the roadway to the right, entered the ditch, struck multiple trees and went airborne over a dry creek bed.EMS transported Reichuber to Clara Barton Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after violent pickup crash

ELK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged case of swatting in Elk County. Dozens responded to the hoax.

Just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday, Elk County emergency 911 dispatch center received a phone call from a man who stated he had “just shot his wife," according to the Elk County Sheriff's office.

 The caller told the dispatcher that he was holding his child hostage and had dumped gas all over the house. The caller also informed Dispatch that if he witnessed any law enforcement around his house, he would shoot the child and set the house on fire. 

While dispatchers were gathering more information from the caller, they heard what they believed to be three-gun shots before the phone call was terminated by the caller.

Elk County Deputies were dispatched to the address that was given by the caller, along with Elk County EMS. 

Deputies set up a perimeter around the residence at the address given and gave announcements and instructions to residents of the house over the P. A. system. 

During an investigation of the situation, it was determined that this was a prank or what we know to be called a “swatting call.” 

Sheriff John Walker said that swatting calls are becoming more and more frequent and “just as dangerous as the real calls, not only to Law Enforcement but to the public as well.” 

Law enforcement continues to investigate, according to Walker.

Sheriff John Walker said they also dispatched the Montgomery County Community Emergency Response Team and their EMS unit. 

The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Highway Patrol Aircraft unit were dispatched as well as Kansas Wildlife and Parks Officers. Chautauqua County Deputies were also dispatched to the scene.

ELK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged case of swatting in Elk County. Dozens responded to the hoax.Just after 12:30a.m. Tuesday, Elk County emergency 911 dispatch center received a phone call from a man who stated he had “just shot his wife," according to the Elk County Sheriff's office. The caller told the dispatcher that he was holding his child hostage and had dumped gas all over the house. The caller also informed Dispatch that if he witnessed any law enforcement around his house, he would shoot the child and set the house on fire. While dispatchers were gathering more information from the caller, they heard what they believed to be three-gun shots before the phone call was terminated by the caller.Elk County Deputies were dispatched to the address that was given by the caller, along with Elk County EMS. Deputies set up a perimeter around the residence at the address given and gave announcements and instructions to residents of the house over the P. A. system. During an investigation of the situation, it was determined that this was a prank or what we know to be called a “swatting call.” Sheriff John Walker said that swatting calls are becoming more and more frequent and “just as dangerous as the real calls, not only to Law Enforcement but to the public as well.” Law enforcement continues to investigate, according to Walker.Sheriff John Walker said they also dispatched the Montgomery County Community Emergency Response Team and their EMS unit. The Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Highway Patrol Aircraft unit were dispatched as well as Kansas Wildlife and Parks Officers. Chautauqua County Deputies were also dispatched to the scene.

Kan. sheriff reports alleged hoax call of shooting, child hostage

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A southwest Kansas man accused in the death of a man in Wichita has made a first court appearance.

Micky Owens, 34 of Johnson City, Kansas is charged with 1st degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 11:30 pm, April 24, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of South Edwards in Wichita. They arrived on the scene and located 44-year-old Sean Lahman in the front seat of a passenger van with a gunshot wound to the upper torso, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

The investigation revealed that a suspect identified as Owens drove to Wichita on May 24, saw Lahman on South Edwards, and shot him.

 Investigators quickly learned that Owen’s fled to Stanton County, Kansas and coordinated with Stanton County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol to be on the lookout for him.

On May 27, Owens was taken into custody&nbsp; by Stanton County Sheriff’s Office in Johnson City for an unrelated warrant in Sedgwick County. On Friday, he was booked into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.

Owens and Lahman knew each other and had an ongoing dispute, according to Rebolledo.

On May 15, attorneys in the case are scheduled to discuss future dates . He remains in jail on a $750,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682716008094.png" alt="Owens-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Owens-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A southwest Kansas man accused in the death of a man in Wichita has made a first court appearance.Micky Owens, 34 of Johnson City, Kansas is charged with 1st degree murder and criminal discharge of a firearm, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just before 11:30 pm, April 24, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of South Edwards in Wichita. They arrived on the scene and located 44-year-old Sean Lahman in the front seat of a passenger van with a gunshot wound to the upper torso, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.&nbsp;Lahman was deceased on the scene.The investigation revealed that a suspect identified as Owens drove to Wichita on May 24, saw Lahman on South Edwards, and shot him. Investigators quickly learned that Owen’s fled to Stanton County, Kansas and coordinated with Stanton County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol to be on the lookout for him.On May 27, Owens was taken into custody&nbsp; by Stanton County Sheriff’s Office in Johnson City for an unrelated warrant in Sedgwick County. On Friday, he was booked into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.Owens and Lahman knew each other and had an ongoing dispute, according to Rebolledo.On May 15, attorneys in the case are scheduled to discuss future dates . He remains in jail on a $750,000 bond, according to the district attorney's office.

Southwest Kansas suspect charged in man's murder

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve reinforced its fight against high inflation Wednesday by raising its key interest rate by a quarter-point to the highest level in 16 years.

But the Fed also signaled that it may now pause the streak of 10 rate hikes that have made borrowing for consumers and businesses steadily more expensive.

In a statement after its latest policy meeting, the Fed removed a previous sentence that had said “some additional" rate hikes might be needed. It replaced it with language that said it will consider a range of factors in “determining the extent” to which future hikes might be needed.

The Fed's rate increases over the past 14 months have more than doubled mortgage rates, elevated the costs of auto loans, credit card borrowing and business loans and heightened the risk of a recession.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-bdf81aef5ed709caf06254cf47ac4843">Home sales have plunged as a result</a>. The Fed’s latest move, which raised its benchmark rate to roughly 5.1%, could further increase borrowing costs.

Still, the Fed's statement offered little indication that its string of rate hikes have made significant progress toward its goal of cooling the economy, the job market and inflation. Inflation has fallen from a peak of 9.1% in June to 5% in March but remains well above the Fed's 2% target rate.

“Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low,” the statement said. “Inflation remains elevated.”

The surge in rates has contributed to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-fdic-5ab48702b7136d42f73ac13e0a20955d">collapse of three large banks</a>&nbsp;and turmoil in the banking industry. All three failed banks had bought long-term bonds that paid low rates and then rapidly lost value as the Fed sent rates higher.

The banking upheaval might have played a role in the Fed’s decision Wednesday to consider a pause. Chair Jerome Powell had said in March that a cutback in lending by banks, to shore up their finances, could act as the equivalent of a quarter-point rate hike in slowing the economy.

Fed economists have estimated that tighter credit resulting from the bank failures will contribute to a “mild recession” later this year, thereby raising the pressure on the central bank to suspend its rate hikes.

The Fed is now also grappling with the threat of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mccarthy-debt-limit-cap-meeting-budget-df8b27ab75e5901309f24c08f74a81ca">prolonged standoff around the nation’s borrowing limit</a>, which caps how much debt the government can issue. Congressional Republicans are demanding steep spending cuts as the price of agreeing to lift the nation’s borrowing cap.

The Fed’s decision Wednesday came against an increasingly cloudy backdrop. The economy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-gdp-inflation-federal-reserve-jobs-consumers-5d725b42df6f5364058510bad83afc82">appears to be cooling</a>, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-consumer-spending-federal-reserve-recession-40676b9d1df17059ee51742d39fc59c1">consumer spending flat</a>&nbsp;in February and March, indicating that many shoppers have grown cautious in the face of higher prices and borrowing costs. Manufacturing, too, is weakening.

Even the surprisingly resilient job market, which has kept the unemployment rate near 50-year lows for months, is showing cracks. Hiring has decelerated,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/job-openings-unemployment-layoffs-economy-6c4d4e75bad10f98eb9927d4d43979a6">job postings have declined</a>&nbsp;and fewer people are quitting their jobs for other, typically higher-paying positions.

The turmoil in the nation’s banking sector, which re-erupted last weekend as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-fdic-5ab48702b7136d42f73ac13e0a20955d">regulators seized and sold off First Republic Bank</a>, has intensified the pressure on the economy. It was the second-largest U.S. bank failure ever and the third major banking collapse in the past six weeks. Investors have grown anxious about whether other regional banks may suffer from similar problems.

Goldman Sachs estimates that a widespread pullback in bank lending could cut U.S. growth by 0.4 percentage point this year. That could be enough to cause a recession. In December, the Fed projected growth of just 0.5% in 2023.

Wall Street traders were also unnerved by this week’s announcement from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that the nation could default on its debt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-date-debt-ceiling-yellen-treasury-borrowing-f726fd88a9bb7f72e50f0b948731ac57">as soon as June 1</a>&nbsp;unless Congress agrees to lift the debt limit, which caps how much the government can borrow. A first-ever default on the U.S. debt could potentially lead to a global financial crisis.

The Fed’s rate hike Wednesday comes as other major central banks are also tightening credit. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is expected to announce another interest rate increase Thursday, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-eurozone-ecb-interest-rates-5e5289f6b9daa713331863ec8887c321">inflation figures released Tuesday</a>&nbsp;showed that price increases ticked up last month.

Consumer prices rose 7% in the 20 countries that use the euro currency in April from a year earlier, up from a 6.9% year-over-year increase in March.

In the United States, some major drivers of higher prices have stalled or started to reverse, causing slowdowns in overall inflation. The consumer price index&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-recession-prices-d933973089cce63f07cceb6da1e5dbc9">rose 5% in March from a year earlier</a>, sharply lower than its 9.1% peak in June.

The rise in rental costs has eased as more newly built apartments have come online. Gas and energy prices have fallen steadily. Food costs are moderating. Supply chain snarls are no longer blocking trade, thereby lowering the cost for new and used cars, furniture and appliances.

Still, while overall inflation has cooled, “core” inflation — which excludes volatile food and energy costs — has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-consumer-spending-federal-reserve-recession-40676b9d1df17059ee51742d39fc59c1">remained chronically high</a>. According to the Fed’s preferred measure, core prices rose 4.6% in March from a year earlier, scarcely better than the 4.7% it reached in July.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve reinforced its fight against high inflation Wednesday by raising its key interest rate by a quarter-point to the highest level in 16 years.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Jerome Powell on bank failures and rate hikes: &quot;The U.S. banking system is sound and resilient...Today the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> raised its policy interest rate by a quarter percentage point. Since early last year we&#39;ve raised interest rates by a total of five percentage points…&quot; <a href="https://t.co/QkqHK8zPaa">pic.twitter.com/QkqHK8zPaa</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1653832555353743367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But the Fed also signaled that it may now pause the streak of 10 rate hikes that have made borrowing for consumers and businesses steadily more expensive.In a statement after its latest policy meeting, the Fed removed a previous sentence that had said “some additional" rate hikes might be needed. It replaced it with language that said it will consider a range of factors in “determining the extent” to which future hikes might be needed.The Fed's rate increases over the past 14 months have more than doubled mortgage rates, elevated the costs of auto loans, credit card borrowing and business loans and heightened the risk of a recession.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-bdf81aef5ed709caf06254cf47ac4843">Home sales have plunged as a result</a>. The Fed’s latest move, which raised its benchmark rate to roughly 5.1%, could further increase borrowing costs.Still, the Fed's statement offered little indication that its string of rate hikes have made significant progress toward its goal of cooling the economy, the job market and inflation. Inflation has fallen from a peak of 9.1% in June to 5% in March but remains well above the Fed's 2% target rate.“Job gains have been robust in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remained low,” the statement said. “Inflation remains elevated.”The surge in rates has contributed to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-fdic-5ab48702b7136d42f73ac13e0a20955d">collapse of three large banks</a>&nbsp;and turmoil in the banking industry. All three failed banks had bought long-term bonds that paid low rates and then rapidly lost value as the Fed sent rates higher.The banking upheaval might have played a role in the Fed’s decision Wednesday to consider a pause. Chair Jerome Powell had said in March that a cutback in lending by banks, to shore up their finances, could act as the equivalent of a quarter-point rate hike in slowing the economy.Fed economists have estimated that tighter credit resulting from the bank failures will contribute to a “mild recession” later this year, thereby raising the pressure on the central bank to suspend its rate hikes.The Fed is now also grappling with the threat of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-mccarthy-debt-limit-cap-meeting-budget-df8b27ab75e5901309f24c08f74a81ca">prolonged standoff around the nation’s borrowing limit</a>, which caps how much debt the government can issue. Congressional Republicans are demanding steep spending cuts as the price of agreeing to lift the nation’s borrowing cap.The Fed’s decision Wednesday came against an increasingly cloudy backdrop. The economy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-gdp-inflation-federal-reserve-jobs-consumers-5d725b42df6f5364058510bad83afc82">appears to be cooling</a>, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-consumer-spending-federal-reserve-recession-40676b9d1df17059ee51742d39fc59c1">consumer spending flat</a>&nbsp;in February and March, indicating that many shoppers have grown cautious in the face of higher prices and borrowing costs. Manufacturing, too, is weakening.Even the surprisingly resilient job market, which has kept the unemployment rate near 50-year lows for months, is showing cracks. Hiring has decelerated,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/job-openings-unemployment-layoffs-economy-6c4d4e75bad10f98eb9927d4d43979a6">job postings have declined</a>&nbsp;and fewer people are quitting their jobs for other, typically higher-paying positions.The turmoil in the nation’s banking sector, which re-erupted last weekend as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/first-republic-bank-silicon-valley-fdic-5ab48702b7136d42f73ac13e0a20955d">regulators seized and sold off First Republic Bank</a>, has intensified the pressure on the economy. It was the second-largest U.S. bank failure ever and the third major banking collapse in the past six weeks. Investors have grown anxious about whether other regional banks may suffer from similar problems.Goldman Sachs estimates that a widespread pullback in bank lending could cut U.S. growth by 0.4 percentage point this year. That could be enough to cause a recession. In December, the Fed projected growth of just 0.5% in 2023.Wall Street traders were also unnerved by this week’s announcement from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen that the nation could default on its debt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-date-debt-ceiling-yellen-treasury-borrowing-f726fd88a9bb7f72e50f0b948731ac57">as soon as June 1</a>&nbsp;unless Congress agrees to lift the debt limit, which caps how much the government can borrow. A first-ever default on the U.S. debt could potentially lead to a global financial crisis.The Fed’s rate hike Wednesday comes as other major central banks are also tightening credit. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is expected to announce another interest rate increase Thursday, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-eurozone-ecb-interest-rates-5e5289f6b9daa713331863ec8887c321">inflation figures released Tuesday</a>&nbsp;showed that price increases ticked up last month.Consumer prices rose 7% in the 20 countries that use the euro currency in April from a year earlier, up from a 6.9% year-over-year increase in March.In the United States, some major drivers of higher prices have stalled or started to reverse, causing slowdowns in overall inflation. The consumer price index&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-interest-rates-recession-prices-d933973089cce63f07cceb6da1e5dbc9">rose 5% in March from a year earlier</a>, sharply lower than its 9.1% peak in June.The rise in rental costs has eased as more newly built apartments have come online. Gas and energy prices have fallen steadily. Food costs are moderating. Supply chain snarls are no longer blocking trade, thereby lowering the cost for new and used cars, furniture and appliances.Still, while overall inflation has cooled, “core” inflation — which excludes volatile food and energy costs — has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-prices-consumer-spending-federal-reserve-recession-40676b9d1df17059ee51742d39fc59c1">remained chronically high</a>. According to the Fed’s preferred measure, core prices rose 4.6% in March from a year earlier, scarcely better than the 4.7% it reached in July.

🎥Fed raises interest rate to highest level in 16-years

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating at incident at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive in Lawrence and asking anyone who witnessed the physical altercation on Wednesday to contact authorities, according to Lawrence Police.

The altercation involved students, another person and a firearm, according to police. There were no injures and students are safe.&nbsp;

During the incident witnesses fled and police need those students and other to call dispatch at 785.832.7509 or Crime Stoppers at <a href="https://t.co/iJwCcyQ7mq" target="_blank">http://843.TIPS</a> and let us know what you saw.&nbsp;

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating at incident at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive in Lawrence and asking anyone who witnessed the physical altercation on Wednesday to contact authorities, according to Lawrence Police.The altercation involved students, another person and a firearm, according to police. There were no injures and students are safe.&nbsp;During the incident witnesses fled and police need those students and other to call dispatch at 785.832.7509 or Crime Stoppers at <a href="https://t.co/iJwCcyQ7mq" target="_blank">http://843.TIPS</a> and let us know what you saw.&nbsp;Police took a suspect into custody..

Police make arrest, after fight at Kan. high school involving a gun

OSAGE COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fatal fire in rural Osage County.

Just before 3a.m. Tuesday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting of a house fire in the 2800 block of E 333rd Street, near Melvern, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

&nbsp;When deputies arrived, they reported the house to be fully involved with fire.

An investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office was requested and responded to the scene. After the fire was extinguished, investigators found the body of a woman in the home identified as Debbie L. Booth, 61, of Melvern.

Officials have not released details on what caused the fire.

Osage County Sheriff’s Deputies, Osage County Fire District #3—Melvern, Osage County EMS, and Waverly Fire responded to the scene. Additionally, Osage County Fire Districts #7—Quenemo, #5—Lyndon and Williamsburg Fire were requested and responded to assist.

OSAGE COUNTY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fatal fire in rural Osage County.Just before 3a.m. Tuesday, the Osage County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting of a house fire in the 2800 block of E 333rd Street, near Melvern, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.&nbsp;When deputies arrived, they reported the house to be fully involved with fire.An investigator from the State Fire Marshal’s Office was requested and responded to the scene. After the fire was extinguished, investigators found the body of a woman in the home identified as Debbie L. Booth, 61, of Melvern.Officials have not released details on what caused the fire.Osage County Sheriff’s Deputies, Osage County Fire District #3—Melvern, Osage County EMS, and Waverly Fire responded to the scene. Additionally, Osage County Fire Districts #7—Quenemo, #5—Lyndon and Williamsburg Fire were requested and responded to assist.

Sheriff: Woman found dead in rural Kansas house fire

WASHINGTON —Financial officials in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and 24 other states are calling on President Biden to end a policy that forces those with good credit to subsidize mortgage loans for those higher risk borrowers.

Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced that she is leading a national effort to eliminate new mortgage fees being imposed on home buyers with good credit and high down payments. The new fees, implemented via policy by the Federal Housing Finance Agency are now in place.

<a href="https://www.patreasury.gov/pdf/newsroom/2023-05-01-President-Biden-FHFA-Mortgage-Fees.pdf">Click here to read the letter</a>

“This new policy makes it more expensive for people with good credit to buy houses – and that’s absurd. Americans who have built a good credit score and saved enough to make a strong down payment should not be penalized and forced to pay more on their mortgage every single month. I’m proud that so many of my colleagues from across the country – representing a majority of states – have united to urge the immediate elimination of this policy, " according to Garrity.

Fiscal officers from 26 other states joined Treasurer Garrity in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patreasury.gov/pdf/newsroom/2023-05-01-President-Biden-FHFA-Mortgage-Fees.pdf" target="_blank">a letter</a>&nbsp;to President Joe Biden and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra L. Thompson. “For decades, Americans have been told that they will be rewarded for saving their money and building a good credit score,” the letter states. “This policy turns that time-tested principle upside down.”

In the letter, Treasurer Garrity and her fellow fiscal officers point out that although FHFA claims the fees will be used to make mortgages more affordable for people with lower credit scores, there are far better ways to achieve that goal: “We all want to increase home ownership across our great country – that’s a central component of the American Dream. … But the right way to solve that problem is not to use the power of the federal government to penalize hardworking, middle-class American families by confiscating their money and using it as a handout. The right way is to implement policies which will reduce inflation, cut energy costs and bring lower interest rates.”

The letter concludes with a simple, direct request to President Biden and Director Thompson: “We urge you to take immediate action to end this unconscionable policy.”

WASHINGTON —Financial officials in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and 24 other states are calling on President Biden to end a policy that forces those with good credit to subsidize mortgage loans for those higher risk borrowers.Pennsylvania State Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced that she is leading a national effort to eliminate new mortgage fees being imposed on home buyers with good credit and high down payments. The new fees, implemented via policy by the Federal Housing Finance Agency are now in place.<a href="https://www.patreasury.gov/pdf/newsroom/2023-05-01-President-Biden-FHFA-Mortgage-Fees.pdf">Click here to read the letter</a>“This new policy makes it more expensive for people with good credit to buy houses – and that’s absurd. Americans who have built a good credit score and saved enough to make a strong down payment should not be penalized and forced to pay more on their mortgage every single month. I’m proud that so many of my colleagues from across the country – representing a majority of states – have united to urge the immediate elimination of this policy, " according to Garrity.Fiscal officers from 26 other states joined Treasurer Garrity in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.patreasury.gov/pdf/newsroom/2023-05-01-President-Biden-FHFA-Mortgage-Fees.pdf" target="_blank">a letter</a>&nbsp;to President Joe Biden and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra L. Thompson. “For decades, Americans have been told that they will be rewarded for saving their money and building a good credit score,” the letter states. “This policy turns that time-tested principle upside down.”In the letter, Treasurer Garrity and her fellow fiscal officers point out that although FHFA claims the fees will be used to make mortgages more affordable for people with lower credit scores, there are far better ways to achieve that goal: “We all want to increase home ownership across our great country – that’s a central component of the American Dream. … But the right way to solve that problem is not to use the power of the federal government to penalize hardworking, middle-class American families by confiscating their money and using it as a handout. The right way is to implement policies which will reduce inflation, cut energy costs and bring lower interest rates.”The letter concludes with a simple, direct request to President Biden and Director Thompson: “We urge you to take immediate action to end this unconscionable policy.”

Kan., Missouri officials slam Biden's new mortgage policy

KANSAS CTY, Mo. (AP) — The brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was booked into jail Wednesday on aggravated sexual battery charges over an alleged altercation at a restaurant in late February.

Jackson Mahomes, 22, was charged Tuesday with three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of battery, online court records show. He was being held on $100,000 bond and was due to make an initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon. Under his bond conditions, he won't be allowed to discuss his case publicly once he's released.

The probable cause affidavit in the case was not immediately available. But The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275006836.html">reported</a>&nbsp;that police previously confirmed they were investigating a Feb. 25 incident involving Jackson Mahomes at an Overland Park restaurant.

Jackson Mahomes' attorney, Brandan Joseph Davies, didn’t immediately respond to an Associated Press phone message left Wednesday seeking comment. But he released a statement in March, when the allegations first surfaced, saying there was “substantial evidence refuting the claims of Jackson’s accuser," The Star reported.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for an alleged sex crime.&nbsp;

At 7a.m. Wednesday, police arrested 22-year-old Jackson Mahomes and booked him into the Johnson County, Kansas jail on requested charges of aggravated sexual battery, according to online jail records.

Mahomes is being held on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled for a first appearance on the allegations Friday, according to online records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683125496286.png" alt="Mahomes-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Mahomes-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CTY, Mo. (AP) — The brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was booked into jail Wednesday on aggravated sexual battery charges over an alleged altercation at a restaurant in late February.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683125458399.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jackson Mahomes, 22, was charged Tuesday with three counts of aggravated sexual battery and one count of battery, online court records show. He was being held on $100,000 bond and was due to make an initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon. Under his bond conditions, he won't be allowed to discuss his case publicly once he's released.The probable cause affidavit in the case was not immediately available. But The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article275006836.html">reported</a>&nbsp;that police previously confirmed they were investigating a Feb. 25 incident involving Jackson Mahomes at an Overland Park restaurant.Jackson Mahomes' attorney, Brandan Joseph Davies, didn’t immediately respond to an Associated Press phone message left Wednesday seeking comment. But he released a statement in March, when the allegations first surfaced, saying there was “substantial evidence refuting the claims of Jackson’s accuser," The Star reported.Aspen Vaughn, the owner of Aspens Restaurant and Lounge, told the newspaper in early March that Jackson Mahomes was friends with her stepdaughter and had frequented the restaurant, where her stepdaughter works. She said he had been there earlier on the day of their encounter and had been pleasant.Vaughn said after he returned to Aspens that night, Jackson Mahomes grabbed her neck with enough force that it left a faint bruise while they were talking in her office about an incident in which he allegedly shoved a member of the wait staff.She provided The Star with a photo of a bruise on her neck and a video that she said showed Jackson Mahomes grabbing her by the throat and kissing her at least twice.“He forcibly kissed me out of nowhere,” she said, calling the advances unwelcome and shocking and noting that she thought he was intoxicated.Aspen Vaughn didn’t immediately reply to a Facebook message, and the restaurant didn't immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment about the charges.---------------JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating the brother of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for an alleged sex crime.&nbsp;At 7a.m. Wednesday, police arrested 22-year-old Jackson Mahomes and booked him into the Johnson County, Kansas jail on requested charges of aggravated sexual battery, according to online jail records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683125458399.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mahomes is being held on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled for a first appearance on the allegations Friday, according to online records.

Patrick Mahomes' brother charged with sexual battery

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;Health reported 483&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">&nbsp;new</a> <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">coronavirus cases</a> in Kansas from April 26, to May 3, for a total of 945,438 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 569 cases the previous week.

On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">the state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;13 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on April 26 for a total of 10,196 since the state started reporting COVID illness and deaths.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">Click here</a>&nbsp;for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

Kansas provides fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”

The health department updates data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;Health reported 483&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">&nbsp;new</a> <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">coronavirus cases</a> in Kansas from April 26, to May 3, for a total of 945,438 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 569 cases the previous week.On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">the state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;13 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on April 26 for a total of 10,196 since the state started reporting COVID illness and deaths.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683131915930.png" alt="May 3, 2023 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>May 3, 2023 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3097/2023-COVID-19-Summary-and-Historical-Binder-PDF?bidId=">Click here</a>&nbsp;for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas provides fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department updates data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

KDHE: COVID cases continue to decline; 13 more deaths

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

KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Mark Erich, Shawna Maloney and their two children set off in good spirits for the first family vacation in a newly acquired recreational vehicle, traveling from Colorado to Alabama via Interstate 70.

In central Kansas before dawn in March 2018, their camper caught the attention of Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Justin Rohr. He whipped his cruiser across the median to head east at high speed to track down the RV bearing temporary Colorado tags. The trooper briefly paced the Erich-Maloney camper in the left lane before sliding to the right and lighting them up on the pretext Erich’s right rear tire touched the white fog line.

“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t sleepy,” Rohr told Erich to open the roadside stop. Rohr’s dash camera and an audio feed from troopers on the scene created a vivid record of dialogue and imagery.

Rohr asserted he could see paint on Erich’s hand and claimed to sense the presence of fresh paint or car body putty when he approached the vehicle. Erich and Maloney, as well as two other troopers, said they couldn’t smell anything odd. But Rohr pushed a theory someone had sealed a secret compartment within the RV to hide illegal drugs.

Rohr, who joined the KHP in 2006 with Badge No. 232, was building a case of investigation borne of suspicion. He still lacked cause to order a search of the camper by the drug-sniffing dog waiting in his cruiser’s rear seat. In the interim, he handed Erich a warning for nicking the highway’s white line.

“You guys have a safe trip,” Rohr said. “Drive careful.” The video shows Rohr took a few steps toward the rear of the RV before spinning back to engage Erich again. It’s known as the Kansas Two-Step — a technique taught KHP personnel to signal termination of a routine traffic stop and initiation of a separate effort to elicit information and gain entry to a vehicle to search for contraband.

The officer’s request sounded simple: “Hey, sir, can I ask you more questions?” Erich, who thought the trooper’s inquiry had gone on long enough and was leery of what might transpire next, said he’d prefer not to engage in more conversation.

At that point, Rohr announced he was detaining the family pending a drug-dog assessment and possible deep dive by troopers. He later reported Erich refused KHP access to the RV, but admitted in the deposition that wasn’t true. Erich said he wanted to leave, but wasn’t directly asked about a search.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682429035127.png" alt="&nbsp;Individuals pulled over by the Kansas Highway Patrol for traffic offenses but subjected to drug-dog searches of their vehicles are challenging constitutionality of the agency's "two-step" maneuver to trigger the searches. -KHP photo" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Individuals pulled over by the Kansas Highway Patrol for traffic offenses but subjected to drug-dog searches of their vehicles are challenging constitutionality of the agency's "two-step" maneuver to trigger the searches. -KHP photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/grieving-moms-plea-to-kansas-lawmakers-do-something-this-epidemic-is-killing-our-kids/">Kansas Reflector</a>KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Mark Erich, Shawna Maloney and their two children set off in good spirits for the first family vacation in a newly acquired recreational vehicle, traveling from Colorado to Alabama via Interstate 70.In central Kansas before dawn in March 2018, their camper caught the attention of Kansas Highway Patrol trooper Justin Rohr. He whipped his cruiser across the median to head east at high speed to track down the RV bearing temporary Colorado tags. The trooper briefly paced the Erich-Maloney camper in the left lane before sliding to the right and lighting them up on the pretext Erich’s right rear tire touched the white fog line.“I just wanted to make sure you weren’t sleepy,” Rohr told Erich to open the roadside stop. Rohr’s dash camera and an audio feed from troopers on the scene created a vivid record of dialogue and imagery.Rohr asserted he could see paint on Erich’s hand and claimed to sense the presence of fresh paint or car body putty when he approached the vehicle. Erich and Maloney, as well as two other troopers, said they couldn’t smell anything odd. But Rohr pushed a theory someone had sealed a secret compartment within the RV to hide illegal drugs.Rohr, who joined the KHP in 2006 with Badge No. 232, was building a case of investigation borne of suspicion. He still lacked cause to order a search of the camper by the drug-sniffing dog waiting in his cruiser’s rear seat. In the interim, he handed Erich a warning for nicking the highway’s white line.“You guys have a safe trip,” Rohr said. “Drive careful.” The video shows Rohr took a few steps toward the rear of the RV before spinning back to engage Erich again. It’s known as the Kansas Two-Step — a technique taught KHP personnel to signal termination of a routine traffic stop and initiation of a separate effort to elicit information and gain entry to a vehicle to search for contraband.The officer’s request sounded simple: “Hey, sir, can I ask you more questions?” Erich, who thought the trooper’s inquiry had gone on long enough and was leery of what might transpire next, said he’d prefer not to engage in more conversation.At that point, Rohr announced he was detaining the family pending a drug-dog assessment and possible deep dive by troopers. He later reported Erich refused KHP access to the RV, but admitted in the deposition that wasn’t true. Erich said he wanted to leave, but wasn’t directly asked about a search.“I think you might have a false compartment in this vehicle,” Rohr said. He ordered both parents and the children out of the RV into freezing weather. He paraded his police dog around the camper’s exterior before declaring the animal signaled presence of marijuana, cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine.He said the canine’s sensitive nose gave him reasonable suspicion to explore the vehicle’s interior as other cars and trucks continued to zoom past on the interstate.Kansas troopers on the scene dismantled parts of the RV’s dash, smashed smoke detectors, dumped clothes on the floor, ransacked the refrigerator, damaged the restroom door and towel rack, broke a panel under the shower and disabled the toilet. The law enforcement officers’ search included exploration of external storage bins. They crawled under the vehicle to tap metal panels, peered under the hood and climbed a ladder off the bumper to examine the roof.They found nothing illegal. No drugs. No guns. No cash.“I was fearful. I didn’t know what to expect,” said Maloney, who testified she still suffered anxiety from the experience. “I was scared and nervous. I was mad. I was very upset. I felt it was a waste of our time. I don’t feel save driving through Kansas anymore.”<h2>Constitutional challenge</h2>As the sun started rising to the east, Rohr told Maloney and Erich he was sorry for wasting their time.He didn’t apologize for what Maloney, Erich and other plaintiffs contend was the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/06/aclu-motorists-challenge-roadside-detention-dog-searches-triggered-by-trooper-two-step/">KHP’s practice of violating Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure</a>. A group of attorneys serving the plaintiffs, including representation by the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, named KHP superintendent Herman Jones as defendant in this week’s trial contesting KHP policy on the two-step searches. Plaintiffs seek a court order prohibiting the two-step system crafted to work around motorists’ constitutional protections.In a brief interview at the federal courthouse, Jones said KHP “made some adjustments” in response to legal objections to the Kansas two-step. He declined to comment on troopers’ abuse of the RV. In a deposition, Rohr said he didn’t recall harming the camper but said he had damaged property in other searches.Two other plaintiffs in the consolidated case against KHP, Wichita resident Joshua Bosire and Oklahoma City resident Blaine Shaw, already prevailed in jury trials accusing KHP troopers Douglas Schulte and Brandon McMillan of improperly detaining them. Searches of their vehicles failed to uncover evidence of drug trafficking.On Monday, it was the turn of Erich and Maloney to take the stand and plead their case at the Robert Dole Courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas.They’re all contesting KHP’s reliance on the two-step method to question motorists in anticipation of building reasonable suspicion and compelling involuntary searches of suspect vehicles. KHP policy has clashed with a 2016 decision in the 10th Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals that instructed the Kansas law enforcement agency to cease reliance on unreliable methods of detaining motorists for criminal searches.In a deposition played for the court, Rohr defended his approach to sorting out who should be placed under a microscope as a possible drug trafficker. He said he relied on extensive training and experience when making subjective determinations, which depended on “more than a hunch.”The trooper said he was drawn to out-of-state vehicles, especially from drug production states such as California and Colorado or motorists headed toward high drug consumption cities such as St. Louis and Cleveland. He tuned into individuals who appeared nervous or were pulling trailers with no load. He said it was meaningful when vehicles were doused with air freshener to obscure odor or had interiors littered with fast-food wrappers, which was a sign of guilt among people exceptionally eager to keep moving.Rohr said he was convinced, at least when his deposition in the suit was taken in 2021, Erich and Maloney were indeed hiding drugs in their RV despite his unsuccessful effort to find evidence of that claim.“This is a crucial case for our clients, but also for anyone else who travels on Kansas highways,” said Sharon Brett, legal director of the ACLU of Kansas. “For too long, the Highway Patrol has run roughshod over the rights of motorists. People should be free to travel through our state without the fear that they will be unlawfully shaken down based simply on the small fact that they are coming from or are going to states that have legalized drug use in some capacity.”She said Jones hadn’t taken steps to halt KHP’s impermissible reliance on motorists’ travel agenda or state of residence when deciding whether to retain a person for a canine sniff. Plaintiffs contended KHP’s transformation of a traffic stop into a search was an egregious practice that preyed on motorists who didn’t appreciate their constitutional rights and people who understood their rights but thought it risky to drive away, she said.“At its core, this case is about what it means for police to target certain people for intrusive questioning and suspicionless detention,” Brett said. “To turn something minor, like a traffic violation, into a degrading and lengthy roadside detention or something even worse.”She said the KHP litigation reflected the public’s desire to push back against misuse of law enforcement authority.“When we give police the power to conduct pretextual stops, to assume people to be drug traffickers, and to use flimsy justifications to get inside their vehicles to prolong traffic stops, we turn a simple ticket-release scenario into something longer, fraught and complicated,” Brett said.<h2>State’s attorney 0-2, so far</h2>U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Vratil, who was assigned to preside over the three trials, denied KHP’s motion for summary judgement. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver rejected KHP’s request for qualified immunity from the lawsuits.In February, a federal court jury founding in favor of Shaw’s claim against Schulte. Shaw was awarded nominal damages when the jury determined Schulte violated Shaw’s rights during a 2017 stop. Shaw and a brother, members of the Osage Nation from Oklahoma City, were on their way to Denver when pulled over near Hays for speeding. Schulte issued the ticket and wished them well before relying on the two-step maneuver to pose additional questions leading to a drug-dog search of their van.In the second trial, Bosire’s jury determined McMillan violated Bosier’s rights during a traffic stop in 2019. Bosire was awarded punitive and compensatory damages.Arthur Chalmers, an attorney representing KHP employees in the trials, said troopers sued by Shaw and Bosire leaned on years of training to formulate reasonable suspicion of possible crimes. He said in court documents KHP respected Fourth Amendment rights of motorists. He argued KHP hadn’t infringed on constitutional rights of people to travel from state to state through Kansas.On Monday, Chalmers declined to offer opening remarks at start of the bench trial aimed at Jones, who serves as the state law enforcement agency’s colonel and superintendent. He is scheduled to retire this summer.Chalmers did raise objections to showing video of Rohr’s deposition and the admission of RV photographs taken by plaintiffs. He alleged plaintiffs’ lawyers were introducing “inadmissible hearsay” and information lacking relevance to the case. When he objected to testimony by Maloney, the judge sought to deter him.“I’d like to hear what she has to say,” Vratil said. “So, there’s no need to keep objecting.”Roots of the case trace to Peter Vasquez, who filed suit against KHP troopers Richard Jimerson and Dax Lewis alleging they lacked reasonable suspicion in 2011 to detain and search his vehicle in Wabaunsee County. Five years later, his case made it to the Court of Appeals’ 10th Circuit in Denver.Vasquez had been a resident of Colorado and was driving on I-70 through Kansas during the night in a recently acquired older-model car. Vasquez refused to voluntarily allow troopers to search his BMW. Jimerson, suspecting Vasquez was transporting illegal drugs, detained him before calling in a trained drug dog. Subsequent inspection of the vehicle didn’t turn up anything illegal.Vasquez filed suit against KHP in 2012 alleging violation of search-and-seizure rights. The U.S. District Court in Kansas granted the troopers summary judgment on the basis of qualified immunity, concluding Vasquez’ asserted right wasn’t clearly established in law.“We disagree,” the Court of Appeals said. “We conclude that the officers acted without reasonable suspicion and violated clearly established precedent. In particular, we conclude that the officers impermissibly relied on Vasquez’ status as a resident of Colorado to justify the search of his vehicle.”KHP and Vasquez settled the case in 2017 after the U.S. Supreme Court declined the state’s request to hear an appeal. Vasquez was paid $67,100 by the state. He told The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/crime/2017/07/03/state-settles-lawsuit-man-detained-under-suspicion-kansas-highway/16538081007/">Topeka Capital-Journal</a>&nbsp;the conflict exposed KHP’s corrupt practices and lack of respect for constitutional rights.“It’s about accountability,” Vasquez said.