KINGMAN COUNTY — Two suspects involved in a three county chase over the weekend remain jailed in Kingman County, according to online jail records.

Just before 6:30p.m. Sunday, authorities in Kingman County learned of a chase coming into their county from Pratt County, according to Sheriff Brent Wood. 

The suspects had fled a Kansas Highway Patrol attempted traffic stop for alleged reckless driving in Kiowa County on U.S. 54, east of Greensburg.

 A Kingman County Sheriff's deputy located the vehicle, which continued to flee.&nbsp;

The suspect vehicle struck a Kingman County Sheriff's Office vehicle in an attempt to elude capture. Both the suspect vehicle and a Kingman County Sheriff's vehicle caught fire during the pursuit.&nbsp;

One suspect, later identified as 23-year-old Graham Green was caught around 6:52 p.m. Authorities caught the second suspect 23-year-old Graesen Jackson was caught around 8:05 p.m. Both men are from Illinois.

Both suspects received treatment in Kingman and then were transferred to Via Christi St. Francis before being released to law enforcement.&nbsp;The deputy was checked out by medical personnel at the Kingman Health Center and released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682454624080.png" alt="Green-photo Kingman Co." />
 <figcaption>Green-photo Kingman Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KINGMAN COUNTY — Two suspects involved in a three county chase over the weekend remain jailed in Kingman County, according to online jail records.Just before 6:30p.m. Sunday, authorities in Kingman County learned of a chase coming into their county from Pratt County, according to Sheriff Brent Wood. The suspects had fled a Kansas Highway Patrol attempted traffic stop for alleged reckless driving in Kiowa County on U.S. 54, east of Greensburg. A Kingman County Sheriff's deputy located the vehicle, which continued to flee.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682454664561.png" alt="Jackson-photo Kingman Co." />
 <figcaption>Jackson-photo Kingman Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The suspect vehicle struck a Kingman County Sheriff's Office vehicle in an attempt to elude capture. Both the suspect vehicle and a Kingman County Sheriff's vehicle caught fire during the pursuit.&nbsp;One suspect, later identified as 23-year-old Graham Green was caught around 6:52 p.m. Authorities caught the second suspect 23-year-old Graesen Jackson was caught around 8:05 p.m. Both men are from Illinois.Both suspects received treatment in Kingman and then were transferred to Via Christi St. Francis before being released to law enforcement.&nbsp;The deputy was checked out by medical personnel at the Kingman Health Center and released.

Suspects from Illinois remain jailed in Kansas after 3-county chase

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;Health reported 569&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 19, to April 26, for a total of 944,383 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 730 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;11 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on April 19 for a total of 10,183 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 569&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 19, to April 26, for a total of 944,383 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 730 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;11 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on April 19 for a total of 10,183 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.

KDHE: COVID cases continue to decline; 11 more deaths

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a possible road-rage shooting in Johnson County.

Just before 7p.m. Tuesday, police responded to 87th Street and Lackman on the report of someone in a vehicle shooting towards at least one other vehicle, according to a statement from Lenexa Police.

Officers pursued a suspect into Kansas City Kansas and onto Interstate 70.

 The victim remained on scene. There were no injuries&nbsp; reported. Police have no suspect in custody. Westbound 87th Street between Lackman and Allman was temporarily closed during the investigation.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a possible road-rage shooting in Johnson County.Just before 7p.m. Tuesday, police responded to 87th Street and Lackman on the report of someone in a vehicle shooting towards at least one other vehicle, according to a statement from Lenexa Police.Officers pursued a suspect into Kansas City Kansas and onto Interstate 70. The victim remained on scene. There were no injuries&nbsp; reported. Police have no suspect in custody. Westbound 87th Street between Lackman and Allman was temporarily closed during the investigation.

Police: Suspect was shooting at car on Kansas highway

WASHINGTON (AP) — Older Americans and people with weak immune systems can get an extra COVID-19 booster dose this spring.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on a more flexible booster schedule for people who remain at the highest risk from COVID-19 — giving them the choice of a second “bivalent” Pfizer or Moderna booster, the most up-to-date formula.

“Many in the population are experiencing vaccine fatigue but there is a subset who are eager to receive additional doses,” CDC’s Dr. Sara Oliver told an agency advisory panel that expressed support for the change.

The move came a day after the Food and Drug Administration took steps to make coronavirus vaccinations simpler for everyone. From now on, anyone getting a Pfizer or Moderna dose — whether it’s a booster or their first-ever vaccination — will get an updated version rather than the outdated original shots.

Anyone who’s gotten their original vaccinations but hasn’t had an updated booster yet can still get one. Only 42% of Americans 65 and older — and just 20% of all adults — have gotten one of those updated boosters since September.

People 65 or older who already had one Pfizer or Moderna updated booster can roll up their sleeves again as long as it’s been at least four months since that last shot.

The schedule is a little different for people with weak immune systems. Most can choose a second Pfizer or Moderna updated booster at least two months after their first. Under the latest FDA and CDC guidelines, they also could get additional doses if and when their physician decides they need one.

Older adults continue to have the highest rates of hospitalization from COVID-19, even as cases have declined. But a frail 85-year-old may want another booster right away while a robust 65-year-old may not see the need — or might instead time another shot for peak protection ahead of a summer vacation or other special event.

CDC officials stressed there’s even more variety among immune-compromised patients, from people with only mild impairment to those trying to replenish immunity that grueling cancer treatment knocked out.

The changes put the U.S. in line with Britain and Canada, which also are offering certain vulnerable populations a spring shot. It’s a reasonable choice, Dr. Matthew Laurens, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said before the announcement.

“We do have vaccines that are available to protect against these severe consequences, so why not use them?” he said. “They don’t do any good just sitting on a shelf.”

WILL YOUNGER, HEALTHIER PEOPLE GET A FALL DOSE?

Stay tuned. The FDA will hold a public meeting in June to consider if the vaccine recipe needs more adjusting to better match the latest coronavirus strains — just like it adjusts flu vaccines every year. And part of that discussion will be whether younger, healthier people also need a booster.

The updated Pfizer and Moderna shots being used now target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron versions, which have been replaced by an ever-changing list of omicron descendants. Still, while protection against mild infections is short-lived, those updated doses continue to do a good job fighting severe disease and death even against the newest variants.

TOTS ARE LEAST LIKELY TO BE VACCINATED YET

CDC’s advisers were dismayed at how few of the youngest children are vaccinated. Just 6% of 2- to 4-year-olds have gotten their initial COVID-19 shots and 4.5% of those younger than 2. Far fewer got an updated booster.

The FDA’s new rules mean tots under 5 who’ve never been vaccinated can get the most up-to-date formula – two Moderna shots or three of the Pfizer-BioNTech version. Unvaccinated 5-year-olds can get two Moderna doses or a single Pfizer shot. And tots already fully or partially vaccinated may get a bivalent shot or two depending on their vaccination history.

Novavax makes a more traditional type of COVID-19 vaccine, and its original formula remains available for people who don’t want the Pfizer or Moderna option. Novavax also is getting ready in case FDA urges a fall update, by manufacturing several additional formulas. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Tuesday cleared another booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for older Americans and people with weak immune systems.

The Food and Drug Administration also took steps to make coronavirus vaccinations simpler for everyone, saying that anyone getting a Pfizer or Moderna dose — whether it's a booster or their first-ever vaccination — will get the newest formula, not the original shots.

The FDA said those 65 or older can opt to roll up their sleeves again for another booster as long as it's been at least four months since their first dose of the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-omicron-booster-shot-227514678d25a99b65b7ee092735fb03">bivalent vaccine</a>&nbsp;that targets omicron strains.

And most people who are immune-compromised also can choose that extra spring booster at least two months after their first, with additional doses in the future at the discretion of their physician, the agency said.

If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signs off, those spring boosters could begin within days. The CDC's advisers are set to meet Wednesday.

“COVID-19 remains a very real risk for many people,” FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said.

It's too soon to know if younger, healthy people will eventually be offered yet another shot but the extra dose for the most vulnerable is one of several steps FDA is taking to simplify COVID-19 vaccinations going forward.

COVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives but protection wanes over time and as new, more contagious variants have popped up. So last fall, Pfizer and Moderna rolled out updated “bivalent” boosters that added protection against omicron strains then circulating to the original vaccine recipe. Tuesday, the FDA said that updated formula will be used for anyone getting a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. For unvaccinated adults, that means one combo shot would replace having to get several doses of the original vaccine first.

Anyone who's gotten their original vaccinations but hasn't had an updated booster yet can still get one. Only 42% of Americans 65 and older — and just 20% of all adults — have gotten one of those updated boosters since September. “Those individuals certainly could go out and get a bivalent booster now to improve their protection,” Marks said.

For many Americans, COVID-19 has become less of a health fear and more of an inconvenience, and masking, routine testing and other precautions have largely fallen by the wayside. But at least 250 people in the U.S. a day still die from COVID-19, and high-risk Americans who last got a dose in the fall have anxiously wondered when they could get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-immunizations-us-food-and-drug-administration-business-covid-6fe66fb4b7c9ac6568fb055544b13e20">another.</a>

Letting seniors and the immune-compromised get an extra booster dose puts the U.S. in line with Britain and Canada, which also are offering certain vulnerable populations a spring shot. It’s a reasonable choice, said Dr. Matthew Laurens of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

“We do have vaccines that are available to protect against these severe consequences, so why not use them?” he said. “They don’t do any good just sitting on a shelf."

The updated Pfizer and Moderna shots being used now target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron versions, which have been replaced by an ever-changing list of omicron descendants. Still, while protection against mild infections is short-lived, those updated doses continue to do a good job fighting severe disease and death even against the newest variants, Marks said.

Whether the recipe gets adjusted again or not, Tuesday's move “is essentially preparing to have a simpler, more straightforward way of going about vaccinating people," he said. “It’s essentially a single dose of the appropriately strained vaccine as we move into the fall and winter months.”

Millions of U.S. children still haven't gotten their initial COVID-19 vaccinations but Tuesday's step means they, too, can get the most updated version of the shots. Tots ages 6 months through 5 years who are unvaccinated can choose two Moderna shots or three of the Pfizer-BioNTech version. Children who are 5 years old can get two Moderna doses or a single Pfizer shot.

Children already fully or partially vaccinated with the original Pfizer or Moderna shots may get a bivalent vaccine, but how many doses will depend on their vaccination history, the FDA said.

Novavax makes a more traditional type of COVID-19 vaccine, and its original formula remains available for people who don't want the Pfizer or Moderna option. Novavax said Tuesday it also is getting ready in case FDA urges a fall update, by manufacturing several additional formulas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1634902668202.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Moderna" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Moderna</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Older Americans and people with weak immune systems can get an extra COVID-19 booster dose this spring.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on a more flexible booster schedule for people who remain at the highest risk from COVID-19 — giving them the choice of a second “bivalent” Pfizer or Moderna booster, the most up-to-date formula.“Many in the population are experiencing vaccine fatigue but there is a subset who are eager to receive additional doses,” CDC’s Dr. Sara Oliver told an agency advisory panel that expressed support for the change.The move came a day after the Food and Drug Administration took steps to make coronavirus vaccinations simpler for everyone. From now on, anyone getting a Pfizer or Moderna dose — whether it’s a booster or their first-ever vaccination — will get an updated version rather than the outdated original shots.Here are some things to know:WHO NEEDS A BOOSTER?Anyone who’s gotten their original vaccinations but hasn’t had an updated booster yet can still get one. Only 42% of Americans 65 and older — and just 20% of all adults — have gotten one of those updated boosters since September.WHO CAN GET A SECOND UPDATED BOOSTER?People 65 or older who already had one Pfizer or Moderna updated booster can roll up their sleeves again as long as it’s been at least four months since that last shot.The schedule is a little different for people with weak immune systems. Most can choose a second Pfizer or Moderna updated booster at least two months after their first. Under the latest FDA and CDC guidelines, they also could get additional doses if and when their physician decides they need one.WHY THE EXTRA LEEWAY?Older adults continue to have the highest rates of hospitalization from COVID-19, even as cases have declined. But a frail 85-year-old may want another booster right away while a robust 65-year-old may not see the need — or might instead time another shot for peak protection ahead of a summer vacation or other special event.CDC officials stressed there’s even more variety among immune-compromised patients, from people with only mild impairment to those trying to replenish immunity that grueling cancer treatment knocked out.The changes put the U.S. in line with Britain and Canada, which also are offering certain vulnerable populations a spring shot. It’s a reasonable choice, Dr. Matthew Laurens, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said before the announcement.“We do have vaccines that are available to protect against these severe consequences, so why not use them?” he said. “They don’t do any good just sitting on a shelf.”WILL YOUNGER, HEALTHIER PEOPLE GET A FALL DOSE?Stay tuned. The FDA will hold a public meeting in June to consider if the vaccine recipe needs more adjusting to better match the latest coronavirus strains — just like it adjusts flu vaccines every year. And part of that discussion will be whether younger, healthier people also need a booster.The updated Pfizer and Moderna shots being used now target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron versions, which have been replaced by an ever-changing list of omicron descendants. Still, while protection against mild infections is short-lived, those updated doses continue to do a good job fighting severe disease and death even against the newest variants.TOTS ARE LEAST LIKELY TO BE VACCINATED YETCDC’s advisers were dismayed at how few of the youngest children are vaccinated. Just 6% of 2- to 4-year-olds have gotten their initial COVID-19 shots and 4.5% of those younger than 2. Far fewer got an updated booster.The FDA’s new rules mean tots under 5 who’ve never been vaccinated can get the most up-to-date formula – two Moderna shots or three of the Pfizer-BioNTech version. Unvaccinated 5-year-olds can get two Moderna doses or a single Pfizer shot. And tots already fully or partially vaccinated may get a bivalent shot or two depending on their vaccination history.WHAT ABOUT THE NOVAVAX VACCINE?Novavax makes a more traditional type of COVID-19 vaccine, and its original formula remains available for people who don’t want the Pfizer or Moderna option. Novavax also is getting ready in case FDA urges a fall update, by manufacturing several additional formulas. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.----------------WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Tuesday cleared another booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for older Americans and people with weak immune systems.The Food and Drug Administration also took steps to make coronavirus vaccinations simpler for everyone, saying that anyone getting a Pfizer or Moderna dose — whether it's a booster or their first-ever vaccination — will get the newest formula, not the original shots.The FDA said those 65 or older can opt to roll up their sleeves again for another booster as long as it's been at least four months since their first dose of the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccine-omicron-booster-shot-227514678d25a99b65b7ee092735fb03">bivalent vaccine</a>&nbsp;that targets omicron strains.And most people who are immune-compromised also can choose that extra spring booster at least two months after their first, with additional doses in the future at the discretion of their physician, the agency said.If the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signs off, those spring boosters could begin within days. The CDC's advisers are set to meet Wednesday.“COVID-19 remains a very real risk for many people,” FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks said.It's too soon to know if younger, healthy people will eventually be offered yet another shot but the extra dose for the most vulnerable is one of several steps FDA is taking to simplify COVID-19 vaccinations going forward.Here are some things to know:ONE FORMULA FOR PFIZER AND MODERNA SHOTSCOVID-19 vaccines have saved millions of lives but protection wanes over time and as new, more contagious variants have popped up. So last fall, Pfizer and Moderna rolled out updated “bivalent” boosters that added protection against omicron strains then circulating to the original vaccine recipe. Tuesday, the FDA said that updated formula will be used for anyone getting a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. For unvaccinated adults, that means one combo shot would replace having to get several doses of the original vaccine first.WHO NEEDS A BOOSTER?Anyone who's gotten their original vaccinations but hasn't had an updated booster yet can still get one. Only 42% of Americans 65 and older — and just 20% of all adults — have gotten one of those updated boosters since September. “Those individuals certainly could go out and get a bivalent booster now to improve their protection,” Marks said.SOME PEOPLE ARE AT HIGHER RISKFor many Americans, COVID-19 has become less of a health fear and more of an inconvenience, and masking, routine testing and other precautions have largely fallen by the wayside. But at least 250 people in the U.S. a day still die from COVID-19, and high-risk Americans who last got a dose in the fall have anxiously wondered when they could get&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-immunizations-us-food-and-drug-administration-business-covid-6fe66fb4b7c9ac6568fb055544b13e20">another.</a>Letting seniors and the immune-compromised get an extra booster dose puts the U.S. in line with Britain and Canada, which also are offering certain vulnerable populations a spring shot. It’s a reasonable choice, said Dr. Matthew Laurens of the University of Maryland School of Medicine.“We do have vaccines that are available to protect against these severe consequences, so why not use them?” he said. “They don’t do any good just sitting on a shelf."WILL YOUNGER, HEALTHIER PEOPLE GET A FALL DOSE?Stay tuned. The FDA will hold a public meeting in June to consider if the vaccine recipe needs more adjusting to better match the latest coronavirus strains — just like it adjusts flu vaccines every year. And part of that discussion will be whether younger, healthier people also need a booster.The updated Pfizer and Moderna shots being used now target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron versions, which have been replaced by an ever-changing list of omicron descendants. Still, while protection against mild infections is short-lived, those updated doses continue to do a good job fighting severe disease and death even against the newest variants, Marks said.Whether the recipe gets adjusted again or not, Tuesday's move “is essentially preparing to have a simpler, more straightforward way of going about vaccinating people," he said. “It’s essentially a single dose of the appropriately strained vaccine as we move into the fall and winter months.”TWEAKS TO CHILD SHOTS, TOOMillions of U.S. children still haven't gotten their initial COVID-19 vaccinations but Tuesday's step means they, too, can get the most updated version of the shots. Tots ages 6 months through 5 years who are unvaccinated can choose two Moderna shots or three of the Pfizer-BioNTech version. Children who are 5 years old can get two Moderna doses or a single Pfizer shot.Children already fully or partially vaccinated with the original Pfizer or Moderna shots may get a bivalent vaccine, but how many doses will depend on their vaccination history, the FDA said.WHAT ABOUT THE NOVAVAX VACCINE?Novavax makes a more traditional type of COVID-19 vaccine, and its original formula remains available for people who don't want the Pfizer or Moderna option. Novavax said Tuesday it also is getting ready in case FDA urges a fall update, by manufacturing several additional formulas.

CDC: Extra COVID booster now open to some at high-risk

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) Tuesday introduced the&nbsp;Love Lives On Act, according to a statement from the Senator's office.

This legislation would allow spouses of deceased servicemembers to retain their survivor benefits if they remarry. This legislation was cosponsored by Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)

Currently, a surviving spouse under the age of 55 could lose survivor benefits if they remarry. The&nbsp;Love Lives On Act&nbsp;would make certain surviving spouses are able to retain their benefits from both the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) upon remarriage at any age. The bill includes surviving spouses from active-duty, veteran and retired servicemembers.

“Military service is family service, and our country owes a great debt to the surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran. “As Gold Star spouses heal from their loss and choose to remarry, they should not have to worry about losing their survivors’ benefits provided by the VA and DoD.”&nbsp;

“The men and women in our military serve our country courageously—and their spouses serve our country, too,”&nbsp;said Sen. Reverend Warnock.&nbsp;“If one of our heroes loses their life in the line of duty, we should honor our servicemember’s sacrifice by ensuring their spouse can retain survivor benefits if they choose to remarry. I’m proud to continue leading this bipartisan effort to fulfill our promise to these patriotic&nbsp;military families.”

“TAPS is grateful to Senators Moran, Warnock, Cotton, Hirono, and Warren for their leadership in introducing the first comprehensive&nbsp;remarriage&nbsp;bill, the&nbsp;Love&nbsp;Lives&nbsp;On Act of 2023,”&nbsp;said Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. “This important legislation will ensure surviving military spouses retain their benefits upon remarriage at any age.&nbsp;Being widowed should not penalize them from finding&nbsp;love&nbsp;in the future.”

This legislation is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/1/c/1c56c57b-4a9a-4086-b7a0-f5d75eb937fe/79C50A5334CC2BFD5C8C37DB8AD49513.taps-los-remarriage-legislation-2023.docx-2-.pdf" target="_blank">supported</a>&nbsp;by 41 Veterans Service Organizations and others, including the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), The American Legion and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).

The&nbsp;Love Lives On Act&nbsp;would:

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) Tuesday introduced the&nbsp;Love Lives On Act, according to a statement from the Senator's office.This legislation would allow spouses of deceased servicemembers to retain their survivor benefits if they remarry. This legislation was cosponsored by Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)Currently, a surviving spouse under the age of 55 could lose survivor benefits if they remarry. The&nbsp;Love Lives On Act&nbsp;would make certain surviving spouses are able to retain their benefits from both the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) upon remarriage at any age. The bill includes surviving spouses from active-duty, veteran and retired servicemembers.“Military service is family service, and our country owes a great debt to the surviving spouses of fallen servicemembers,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran. “As Gold Star spouses heal from their loss and choose to remarry, they should not have to worry about losing their survivors’ benefits provided by the VA and DoD.”&nbsp;“The men and women in our military serve our country courageously—and their spouses serve our country, too,”&nbsp;said Sen. Reverend Warnock.&nbsp;“If one of our heroes loses their life in the line of duty, we should honor our servicemember’s sacrifice by ensuring their spouse can retain survivor benefits if they choose to remarry. I’m proud to continue leading this bipartisan effort to fulfill our promise to these patriotic&nbsp;military families.”“TAPS is grateful to Senators Moran, Warnock, Cotton, Hirono, and Warren for their leadership in introducing the first comprehensive&nbsp;remarriage&nbsp;bill, the&nbsp;Love&nbsp;Lives&nbsp;On Act of 2023,”&nbsp;said Bonnie Carroll, President and Founder, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. “This important legislation will ensure surviving military spouses retain their benefits upon remarriage at any age.&nbsp;Being widowed should not penalize them from finding&nbsp;love&nbsp;in the future.”This legislation is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/1/c/1c56c57b-4a9a-4086-b7a0-f5d75eb937fe/79C50A5334CC2BFD5C8C37DB8AD49513.taps-los-remarriage-legislation-2023.docx-2-.pdf" target="_blank">supported</a>&nbsp;by 41 Veterans Service Organizations and others, including the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), The American Legion and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS).The&nbsp;Love Lives On Act&nbsp;would:<ul>
 <li>Allow surviving spouses to retain Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) upon remarriage at any age.</li><li>Allow surviving spouses to maintain eligibility for education benefits under the Fry Scholarship and Dependents Education Assistance upon remarriage.</li><li>Allow remarried surviving spouses access to Commissary and Exchange benefits.</li><li>Allow remarried surviving&nbsp;spouses to regain their TRICARE benefits if that marriage subsequently ends due to death, divorce or annulment.</li><li>Allow access to electronic medical records, appointments, referrals, and prescription refills for remarried spouses with dependent children, and ensure that remarried surviving spouses are treated as the parents to minor children not just the fiduciary.</li>
 </ul>

Moran introduces Love Lives on Act to help military spouses

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The officer involved in a fatal gun fight at a home in Wichita will not face charges, according to a report released Tuesday the Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.

In June of 2021, police were dispatched to check welfare of a 32-year-0ld woman at a home in the 500 Block of West Carlyle in Wichita, according to&nbsp;Deputy Police Chief Jose Salcido. 

Officers received information that the woman could be in danger. It was reported she was yelling for help and her 13-year-old daughter was scared.

Upon arrival, the woman told police of physical disturbance between her and her boyfriend identified as 28-year-old Tyler Hodge. She believed he had left.

Hodge's vehicle was at the home and police began checking the home and property to make sure the woman and her daughter were safe.

During their search, offices found Hodge hiding in a shed on the back of the property. He was armed with a rifle and ran toward the officers and fired the rifle multiple times, according to Salcido.

The officers took cover and called other officers to assist. As they arrived, Hodge continued shooting at those officers arriving to assist.&nbsp; One Wichita officers was hit multiple times. The injured officer returned fire and other officers were able to pull him to safety, began life-saving measures, placed him in a police vehicle and transported him to a hospital where he was listed in critical condition.

Hodge continued shooting at police and moved to the front of the home where an officer shot him.&nbsp; Officers moved the suspect to a safe location and began life-saving measures. Despite their efforts, Hodge was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Salcido.

Investigators have determined Hodge fired the rifle 18 times. In addition to the wounded officer, three homes and a patrol vehicle were damaged by the gunfire.&nbsp; Later, investigators found a loaded handgun in the detached shed where Hodge had been hiding, according to Salcido.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624218247273.png" alt="Tyler Hodge as seen from police body camera. He was hiding in the shed on the property with the rifle he used to attack police-Image Wichita Police&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Tyler Hodge as seen from police body camera. He was hiding in the shed on the property with the rifle he used to attack police-Image Wichita Police&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The officer involved in a fatal gun fight at a home in Wichita will not face charges, according to a report released Tuesday the Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.In June of 2021, police were dispatched to check welfare of a 32-year-0ld woman at a home in the 500 Block of West Carlyle in Wichita, according to&nbsp;Deputy Police Chief Jose Salcido. Officers received information that the woman could be in danger. It was reported she was yelling for help and her 13-year-old daughter was scared.Upon arrival, the woman told police of physical disturbance between her and her boyfriend identified as 28-year-old Tyler Hodge. She believed he had left.Hodge's vehicle was at the home and police began checking the home and property to make sure the woman and her daughter were safe.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624198277511.png" alt="-Investigators have determined Hodge fired the rifle 18 times. In addition to the wounded officer, three homes and a patrol vehicle were damaged by the gunfire. Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>-Investigators have determined Hodge fired the rifle 18 times. In addition to the wounded officer, three homes and a patrol vehicle were damaged by the gunfire. Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>During their search, offices found Hodge hiding in a shed on the back of the property. He was armed with a rifle and ran toward the officers and fired the rifle multiple times, according to Salcido.The officers took cover and called other officers to assist. As they arrived, Hodge continued shooting at those officers arriving to assist.&nbsp; One Wichita officers was hit multiple times. The injured officer returned fire and other officers were able to pull him to safety, began life-saving measures, placed him in a police vehicle and transported him to a hospital where he was listed in critical condition.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626172583597.png" alt="-The injured officer was a 5-year-veteran of the Wichita police department.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>-The injured officer was a 5-year-veteran of the Wichita police department.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Hodge continued shooting at police and moved to the front of the home where an officer shot him.&nbsp; Officers moved the suspect to a safe location and began life-saving measures. Despite their efforts, Hodge was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Salcido.Investigators have determined Hodge fired the rifle 18 times. In addition to the wounded officer, three homes and a patrol vehicle were damaged by the gunfire.&nbsp; Later, investigators found a loaded handgun in the detached shed where Hodge had been hiding, according to Salcido.

Kan. officer won't face charges in deadly standoff shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — A ground assault by the Taliban killed the Islamic State militant who spearheaded the August 2021&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-bombings-kabul-taliban-80dde38aa7c28451b2dc55b466e31228">suicide bombing at the Kabul airport</a>&nbsp;that left 13 U.S. troops and about 170 Afghans dead during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Tuesday.

Initially, neither the U.S. — nor apparently the Taliban — were aware that the mastermind was dead. He was killed during a series of battles early this month in southern Afghanistan between the Taliban and the Islamic State group’s affiliate, according to several officials.

But in the past few days, U.S. intelligence confirmed “with high confidence” that the Islamic State leader had been killed, a senior administration official said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

Over the weekend, the U.S. military began to inform the parents of the 11 Marines, the sailor and the soldier who were killed in the blast at Abbey Gate, and they shared the information in a private group messaging chat. The father of one of the Marines said the death of his son's killer brings little comfort.

“Whatever happens, it’s not going to bring Taylor back and I understand that,” Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, said in a phone call with The Associated Press. “About the only thing his mom and I can do now is be an advocate for him. All we want is the truth. And we’re not getting it. That’s the frustrating part.”

Hoover said he and his son’s mother, Kelly Henson, have spent the past year and a half grieving his death and praying for accountability from the Biden administration for the handling of the withdrawal.

He added that the Marines provided only limited information to him and did not identify the Islamic State leader or give the circumstances of his death. U.S. officials declined to provide many details because of sensitivities in the intelligence gathering.

The administration official said it was their “moral responsibility” to let the victims’ families know that the “mastermind” and “person most responsible for the airport attack” had been taken off the battlefield. The official added that intelligence officials determined that the leader had “remained a key plotter and overseer” for the group.

Several officials said the U.S. played no role in the killing and did not coordinate at all with the Taliban. The administration official called the Taliban action “significant” and said the U.S. only learned of the operation through its “over the horizon” intelligence capabilities.

Hoover is among a group of 12 Gold Star families that have kept in touch since the bombing, supporting one another and sharing information through the messaging chat. The chat was created by Cheryl Rex, the mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, who died in the blast.

Rex, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal, told the AP it was through the chat group that they were informed late Monday about the killing as they awaited official confirmation from U.S. military officials.

The fallen service members were among those screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying on Aug. 26, 2021, to get onto one of the crowded flights out of the country after the brutal Taliban takeover. The scene of desperation quickly turned into one of horror when a suicide bomber attacked. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility.

The blast at Abbey Gate came hours after Western officials warned of a major attack, urging people to leave the airport. But that advice went largely unheeded by Afghans desperate to escape the country in the last few days of an American-led evacuation before the U.S. officially ended its 20-year presence.

The Afghanistan-based offshoot of the Islamic State — called Islamic State-Khorasan — has up to 4,000 members and is the Taliban’s most bitter enemy and top military threat. The group has continued to carry out attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, especially against the country’s minority groups.

After the Trump administration reached a 2020 deal with the Taliban to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the Biden administration followed through on that agreement in 2021, there had been hope in Washington that the Taliban’s desire for international recognition and assistance for the country’s impoverished population might moderate their behavior.

But relations between the U.S. and the Taliban have deteriorated further since they imposed draconian new measures banning girls from school and excluding women from working for international aid and health agencies.

However, a line of communication still exists between the two sides, led by the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Tom West. West’s contacts are primarily with Taliban officials in Kabul and not with the group’s more ideological wing based in Kandahar.

The U.S. decision to withdraw all troops fueled the swift collapse of the Afghan government and military, which the U.S. had supported for nearly two decades, and the return to power of the Taliban. In the aftermath, President Joe Biden directed that a broad review examine “every aspect of this from top to bottom” and it was released earlier this month.

The Biden administration in the publicly released version of the review largely laid blame on President Donald Trump for the deadly and chaotic 2021 withdrawal, which was punctuated by the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate.

News of the killing came on the same day that Biden formally announced he will seek a second term as president, offering a reminder of one of the most difficult chapters of his presidency. The disastrous drawdown was, at the time, the biggest crisis that the relatively new administration had faced. It left sharp questions about Biden and his team’s competence and experience — the twin pillars central to his campaign for the White House.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday the U.S. has “made clear to the Taliban that it is their responsibility to ensure that they give no safe haven to terrorists,” whether from al-Qaida or the Islamic State.

“We have made good on the President’s pledge to establish an over-the-horizon capacity to monitor potential terrorist threats, not only from in Afghanistan but elsewhere around the world where that threat has metastasized as we have done in Somalia and Syria,” Kirby said in a statement.

Yet Rex said the administration has not done enough to take responsibility for what happened at Abbey Gate.

"I feel like this is the administration trying to get the pressure off of them for accountability by saying that we’re holding ISIS accountable for our kids’ death,” Rex said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1630691600635.png" alt="U.S. Army soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division escort evacuees to buses at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan in August of 2021 -photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Army soldiers with the 82nd Airborne Division escort evacuees to buses at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan in August of 2021 -photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A ground assault by the Taliban killed the Islamic State militant who spearheaded the August 2021&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-islamic-state-group-bombings-kabul-taliban-80dde38aa7c28451b2dc55b466e31228">suicide bombing at the Kabul airport</a>&nbsp;that left 13 U.S. troops and about 170 Afghans dead during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, U.S. officials said Tuesday.Initially, neither the U.S. — nor apparently the Taliban — were aware that the mastermind was dead. He was killed during a series of battles early this month in southern Afghanistan between the Taliban and the Islamic State group’s affiliate, according to several officials.But in the past few days, U.S. intelligence confirmed “with high confidence” that the Islamic State leader had been killed, a senior administration official said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.Over the weekend, the U.S. military began to inform the parents of the 11 Marines, the sailor and the soldier who were killed in the blast at Abbey Gate, and they shared the information in a private group messaging chat. The father of one of the Marines said the death of his son's killer brings little comfort.“Whatever happens, it’s not going to bring Taylor back and I understand that,” Darin Hoover, the father of Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, said in a phone call with The Associated Press. “About the only thing his mom and I can do now is be an advocate for him. All we want is the truth. And we’re not getting it. That’s the frustrating part.”Hoover said he and his son’s mother, Kelly Henson, have spent the past year and a half grieving his death and praying for accountability from the Biden administration for the handling of the withdrawal.He added that the Marines provided only limited information to him and did not identify the Islamic State leader or give the circumstances of his death. U.S. officials declined to provide many details because of sensitivities in the intelligence gathering.The administration official said it was their “moral responsibility” to let the victims’ families know that the “mastermind” and “person most responsible for the airport attack” had been taken off the battlefield. The official added that intelligence officials determined that the leader had “remained a key plotter and overseer” for the group.Several officials said the U.S. played no role in the killing and did not coordinate at all with the Taliban. The administration official called the Taliban action “significant” and said the U.S. only learned of the operation through its “over the horizon” intelligence capabilities.Hoover is among a group of 12 Gold Star families that have kept in touch since the bombing, supporting one another and sharing information through the messaging chat. The chat was created by Cheryl Rex, the mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, who died in the blast.Rex, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s handling of the withdrawal, told the AP it was through the chat group that they were informed late Monday about the killing as they awaited official confirmation from U.S. military officials.The fallen service members were among those screening the thousands of Afghans frantically trying on Aug. 26, 2021, to get onto one of the crowded flights out of the country after the brutal Taliban takeover. The scene of desperation quickly turned into one of horror when a suicide bomber attacked. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility.The blast at Abbey Gate came hours after Western officials warned of a major attack, urging people to leave the airport. But that advice went largely unheeded by Afghans desperate to escape the country in the last few days of an American-led evacuation before the U.S. officially ended its 20-year presence.The Afghanistan-based offshoot of the Islamic State — called Islamic State-Khorasan — has up to 4,000 members and is the Taliban’s most bitter enemy and top military threat. The group has continued to carry out attacks in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, especially against the country’s minority groups.After the Trump administration reached a 2020 deal with the Taliban to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the Biden administration followed through on that agreement in 2021, there had been hope in Washington that the Taliban’s desire for international recognition and assistance for the country’s impoverished population might moderate their behavior.But relations between the U.S. and the Taliban have deteriorated further since they imposed draconian new measures banning girls from school and excluding women from working for international aid and health agencies.However, a line of communication still exists between the two sides, led by the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Tom West. West’s contacts are primarily with Taliban officials in Kabul and not with the group’s more ideological wing based in Kandahar.The U.S. decision to withdraw all troops fueled the swift collapse of the Afghan government and military, which the U.S. had supported for nearly two decades, and the return to power of the Taliban. In the aftermath, President Joe Biden directed that a broad review examine “every aspect of this from top to bottom” and it was released earlier this month.The Biden administration in the publicly released version of the review largely laid blame on President Donald Trump for the deadly and chaotic 2021 withdrawal, which was punctuated by the suicide bombing at Abbey Gate.News of the killing came on the same day that Biden formally announced he will seek a second term as president, offering a reminder of one of the most difficult chapters of his presidency. The disastrous drawdown was, at the time, the biggest crisis that the relatively new administration had faced. It left sharp questions about Biden and his team’s competence and experience — the twin pillars central to his campaign for the White House.White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Tuesday the U.S. has “made clear to the Taliban that it is their responsibility to ensure that they give no safe haven to terrorists,” whether from al-Qaida or the Islamic State.“We have made good on the President’s pledge to establish an over-the-horizon capacity to monitor potential terrorist threats, not only from in Afghanistan but elsewhere around the world where that threat has metastasized as we have done in Somalia and Syria,” Kirby said in a statement.Yet Rex said the administration has not done enough to take responsibility for what happened at Abbey Gate."I feel like this is the administration trying to get the pressure off of them for accountability by saying that we’re holding ISIS accountable for our kids’ death,” Rex said.

Terrorist behind bombing that killed 13 U.S. Service members is dead

KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement authorities continue searching for 21-year-old Jae’veon Marquice Mitchell-Locke, a suspect in the April 5, shooting of three Kansas police officers during an undercover fentanyl trafficking investigation, according&nbsp; to the Platte County Sheriff's office.

Officials at the Platte County, Missouri Detention Center released him inadvertently on April 20.

Mitchell-Locke and two other suspects in the gunfight are charged in Wyandotte County with attempted murder, aggravated battery against law enforcement, criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied building or vehicle, aggravated endangering a child, aggravated assault of law enforcement officers and distribution or possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682111930463.png" alt="Mitchell-Locke-photo Platte County" />
 <figcaption>Mitchell-Locke-photo Platte County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement authorities continue searching for 21-year-old Jae’veon Marquice Mitchell-Locke, a suspect in the April 5, shooting of three Kansas police officers during an undercover fentanyl trafficking investigation, according&nbsp; to the Platte County Sheriff's office.Officials at the Platte County, Missouri Detention Center released him inadvertently on April 20.Mitchell-Locke and two other suspects in the gunfight are charged in Wyandotte County with attempted murder, aggravated battery against law enforcement, criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied building or vehicle, aggravated endangering a child, aggravated assault of law enforcement officers and distribution or possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, according to online jail records.

Still missing: Suspect in Kan. officer shooting released by mistake

DENVER (AP) — Sitting in front of a hulking red tractor, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Tuesday making Colorado the first state to ensure farmers can fix their own tractors and combines with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/farm-equipment-repairs-d5ea466725328d965a85a62130503d49">“right to repair” law</a>&nbsp;— which compels manufacturers to provide the necessary manuals, tools, parts and software.

Colorado, home to high desert ranches and sweeping farms on the low-and-level plains, took the lead on the issue following a nationwide outcry from farmers that manufacturers, such as John Deere, blocked them from making fixes and forced them to wait precious days for an official servicer to arrive — waits that imperiled profits.

While their increasingly high-tech tractors or combines sit impotent, a hailstorm could decimate a crop or a farmer could miss the ideal planting window, farmers said.

“Farmers have had to wait three or four weeks to get repairs done to equipment when they can do repairs themselves. That’s just unfathomable,” said Bill Midcap, whose son is a fifth-generation rancher on Colorado's eastern plains.

Lawmakers in at least 10 other states have introduced similar legislation, including in Florida, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas and Vermont.

Colorado has taken the lead, but Democratic Rep. Brianna Titone, the bill's sponsor, and Dan Waldvogle, director of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, said it's a potential launch pad for other states and even at the federal level where discussions about similar legislation are already underway.

At the signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, under a light drizzle of rain, Polis said: “This bill will save farmers and ranchers time and money and support the free market in repair” before exclaiming, “first in the nation!”

Behind the governor and arrayed farmers and lawmakers sat a red Steiger 370 tractor owned by a farmer named Danny Wood. Wood's tractor has flown an American flag reading “Farmers First,” and it been one of two of his machines to break down, requiring long waits before servicers arrived to enter a few lines of computer code or make a fix Wood could have made himself.

Polis and Titone climbed inside the tractor for a photo as the ceremony ended.

Polis signed the bill after the legislation advanced through long committee hearings, having been propelled forward mostly by Democrats even though a Republican lawmaker co-sponsored the bill. The proposal left GOP lawmakers stuck between their farming constituents pleading for the ability to repair their equipment and the manufacturers who vehemently opposed it.

Manufacturers and dealerships raised concerns that providing tools and information to farmers would allow equipment owners to illegally crank up the horsepower and bypass emissions controls — putting operator safety and the environment at risk.

They also argued that the law would expose companies’ trade secrets. Republican Rep. Richard Holtorf, a farmer himself, further worried that it would push dealerships out of business, especially in rural parts of the state.

The bill’s proponents acknowledged that the legislation could make it easier for operators to modify horsepower and emissions controls. But they argued that farmers are already able to tinker with their machines, and doing so would remain illegal.

The law falls into the broader “right to repair” campaign, which has picked up steam across the country and applies to a range of products, from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-apple-inc-smartphones-afb6e6603bdb5c0bb510de5b4c685f69">iPhones</a>&nbsp;to hospital ventilators. Independent mechanics and car owners have access to tools and parts because of a 2014 memorandum of understanding signed by the automotive industry.

Two years ago, President Joe Biden directed the Federal Trade Commission to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-government-and-politics-7e5d6c82ee4f1b66fd4c3b78d1ddd18e">beef up its right-to-repair enforcement</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625596705829.png" alt="Lawmakers in at least 10 other states have introduced similar legislation-file photo" />
 <figcaption>Lawmakers in at least 10 other states have introduced similar legislation-file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — Sitting in front of a hulking red tractor, Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Tuesday making Colorado the first state to ensure farmers can fix their own tractors and combines with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/farm-equipment-repairs-d5ea466725328d965a85a62130503d49">“right to repair” law</a>&nbsp;— which compels manufacturers to provide the necessary manuals, tools, parts and software.Colorado, home to high desert ranches and sweeping farms on the low-and-level plains, took the lead on the issue following a nationwide outcry from farmers that manufacturers, such as John Deere, blocked them from making fixes and forced them to wait precious days for an official servicer to arrive — waits that imperiled profits.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682461813370.png" alt="Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Tuesday making Colorado the first state to ensure farmers can fix their own tractors and combines- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Tuesday making Colorado the first state to ensure farmers can fix their own tractors and combines- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>While their increasingly high-tech tractors or combines sit impotent, a hailstorm could decimate a crop or a farmer could miss the ideal planting window, farmers said.“Farmers have had to wait three or four weeks to get repairs done to equipment when they can do repairs themselves. That’s just unfathomable,” said Bill Midcap, whose son is a fifth-generation rancher on Colorado's eastern plains.Lawmakers in at least 10 other states have introduced similar legislation, including in Florida, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Texas and Vermont.Colorado has taken the lead, but Democratic Rep. Brianna Titone, the bill's sponsor, and Dan Waldvogle, director of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, said it's a potential launch pad for other states and even at the federal level where discussions about similar legislation are already underway.At the signing ceremony Tuesday afternoon, under a light drizzle of rain, Polis said: “This bill will save farmers and ranchers time and money and support the free market in repair” before exclaiming, “first in the nation!”Behind the governor and arrayed farmers and lawmakers sat a red Steiger 370 tractor owned by a farmer named Danny Wood. Wood's tractor has flown an American flag reading “Farmers First,” and it been one of two of his machines to break down, requiring long waits before servicers arrived to enter a few lines of computer code or make a fix Wood could have made himself.Polis and Titone climbed inside the tractor for a photo as the ceremony ended.Polis signed the bill after the legislation advanced through long committee hearings, having been propelled forward mostly by Democrats even though a Republican lawmaker co-sponsored the bill. The proposal left GOP lawmakers stuck between their farming constituents pleading for the ability to repair their equipment and the manufacturers who vehemently opposed it.Manufacturers and dealerships raised concerns that providing tools and information to farmers would allow equipment owners to illegally crank up the horsepower and bypass emissions controls — putting operator safety and the environment at risk.They also argued that the law would expose companies’ trade secrets. Republican Rep. Richard Holtorf, a farmer himself, further worried that it would push dealerships out of business, especially in rural parts of the state.The bill’s proponents acknowledged that the legislation could make it easier for operators to modify horsepower and emissions controls. But they argued that farmers are already able to tinker with their machines, and doing so would remain illegal.The law falls into the broader “right to repair” campaign, which has picked up steam across the country and applies to a range of products, from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-business-apple-inc-smartphones-afb6e6603bdb5c0bb510de5b4c685f69">iPhones</a>&nbsp;to hospital ventilators. Independent mechanics and car owners have access to tools and parts because of a 2014 memorandum of understanding signed by the automotive industry.Two years ago, President Joe Biden directed the Federal Trade Commission to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-government-and-politics-7e5d6c82ee4f1b66fd4c3b78d1ddd18e">beef up its right-to-repair enforcement</a>.

State is 1st to pass ‘right to repair’ for farmers

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area teen has been charged in the fatal shoting last Thursday, April 20, 2023, of Nehemiah Newton outside a Raytown residence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Jay'shaun D Jones, 18, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.*

According to court record filed over the weekend, on April 20, 2023, Raytown police were dispatched &nbsp;to a Raytown, MO, address on a reported shots fired call. Officers found the victim, Nehemiah Newton, in the driveway. He was deceased from mutliple gunshot wounds. Witnesses in the area told police they heard people arguing, then rapid gunfire before the victim fell to the ground. Witnesses also saw the defendant struggling with the victim and another man. They struggled over a gun, and the victim gained control of it and began to move away. Then the defendant shot him. The defendant told police he shot the victim as he was moving away but thought he might pivot.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682370823654.png" alt="Jones-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Jones-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area teen has been charged in the fatal shoting last Thursday, April 20, 2023, of Nehemiah Newton outside a Raytown residence, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Jay'shaun D Jones, 18, faces Murder 2nd Degree, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.*According to court record filed over the weekend, on April 20, 2023, Raytown police were dispatched &nbsp;to a Raytown, MO, address on a reported shots fired call. Officers found the victim, Nehemiah Newton, in the driveway. He was deceased from mutliple gunshot wounds. Witnesses in the area told police they heard people arguing, then rapid gunfire before the victim fell to the ground. Witnesses also saw the defendant struggling with the victim and another man. They struggled over a gun, and the victim gained control of it and began to move away. Then the defendant shot him. The defendant told police he shot the victim as he was moving away but thought he might pivot.

KC-area teen charged with murder after struggle over a gun

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are seeking information regarding an armed robbery that occurred in at Advance America in in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

Just before 4:30 p.m. on April 13, police responded to a strong-arm robbery call at Advance America, 4100 East Harry in Wichita. A 911 caller reported that an unknown suspect entered the business, gave a note to the teller demanding money, and left the building with cash. 

Surveillance video captured the suspect, and now Crime Stoppers is asking for help identifying him.

Anyone with information regarding this crime or any crime in Sedgwick County is eligible to receive a reward by submitting a tip through Crime Stoppers by calling 316-267-2111 or online at www.stopcrime316.com. Tipsters are always anonymous – Crime Stoppers will never ask someone to identify themselves. If your information leads to an arrest in a felony case, you could be eligible to receive up to $2,500.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682092163735.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are seeking information regarding an armed robbery that occurred in at Advance America in in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qcoA4DkleiY?start=49" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Just before 4:30 p.m. on April 13, police responded to a strong-arm robbery call at Advance America, 4100 East Harry in Wichita. A 911 caller reported that an unknown suspect entered the business, gave a note to the teller demanding money, and left the building with cash. Surveillance video captured the suspect, and now Crime Stoppers is asking for help identifying him.Anyone with information regarding this crime or any crime in Sedgwick County is eligible to receive a reward by submitting a tip through Crime Stoppers by calling 316-267-2111 or online at www.stopcrime316.com. Tipsters are always anonymous – Crime Stoppers will never ask someone to identify themselves. If your information leads to an arrest in a felony case, you could be eligible to receive up to $2,500.

🎥Police ask for help to ID suspect in Kan. pay day loan robbery

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a domestic disturbance and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.&nbsp;

Just before 11a.m. Tuesday, deputies with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 3800 block of SE Croco Road for a domestic disturbance, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

At the residence, deputies discovered a woman and an infant victim. Both were transported by American Medical Response (AMR) to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

At 1:15pm, law enforcement officers attempted to make contact with a male suspect, who was believed to still be inside the residence. 

Southbound SE Croco Road was shut down to one lane of travel during that time period. At 2pm, officers entered and cleared the residence. No person was located inside the residence.

The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office is asking the community’s assistance in locating Tanner J. Thompson, 27, of Topeka. Thompson has an active felony warrant for his arrest and is facing additional charges from Tuesday's domestic disturbance incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office (785)251-2200 immediately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682456740394.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene of the investigation Tuesday-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene of the investigation Tuesday-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a domestic disturbance and asking the public for help to locate a suspect.&nbsp;Just before 11a.m. Tuesday, deputies with the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the 3800 block of SE Croco Road for a domestic disturbance, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.At the residence, deputies discovered a woman and an infant victim. Both were transported by American Medical Response (AMR) to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682456316629.png" alt="Thompson-photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Thompson-photo Shawnee Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>At 1:15pm, law enforcement officers attempted to make contact with a male suspect, who was believed to still be inside the residence. Southbound SE Croco Road was shut down to one lane of travel during that time period. At 2pm, officers entered and cleared the residence. No person was located inside the residence.The Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office is asking the community’s assistance in locating Tanner J. Thompson, 27, of Topeka. Thompson has an active felony warrant for his arrest and is facing additional charges from Tuesday's domestic disturbance incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office (785)251-2200 immediately.

Search underway for Kansas man who injured woman, infant 

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

As Kansas Governor Laura Kelly sees it, K-12 funding is the most important issue left in this legislative session. And as legislators return to the statehouse this week to close out the 2023 session, Kelly is hopeful that lawmakers will see the need to fully fund K-12 public schools, as has been done the past four years.

Kelly discussed the importance of fully funding K-12 public schools during an exclusive interview with Salina Post Tuesday afternoon.

The 2024 budget Kelly presented in January included fully funding K-12 schools for the fifth year in a row. Additionally, Kelly included $72.4 million from the State General Fund as the first installment of a proposed five-year plan to raise state aid for special education to 92 percent by fiscal year 2028. An additional $72.4 million from the State General Fund would be dedicated to special education each subsequent year of the plan.

Thus far, Kansas lawmakers have had other ideas, proposing a measure that could decrease aid to school districts across the state and not include a funding increase for special education.

As an example, Kelly said the three public school districts in Saline County combined would lose more than $5 million.

While the legislature has yet to pass the proposal, Kelly said she believes lawmakers will make another attempt to pass it. She encouraged citizens to contact their legislators and tell them to fully fund K-12 public schools as has been done in the last four years.

Kelly also encouraged citizens to request that the $72.4 million for special education be included in the budget. She explained that special education services are mandated by law. While some funding comes from the federal government, any additional funding necessary to provide the mandated services would need to come out of the school districts' budgets, regardless of at what level they are funded. 

Kelly said she is hopeful that legislators will end up fully funding K-12 public schools.

"Just look at our past history. We have fully funded the schools for the last four years. And I know that there are a lot of legislators, particularly those in the rural areas, who understand how bad the legislative proposal is there, to those schools, because all of these moves would be most detrimental to the rural school districts," she said.

Kelly said she believes many legislators are looking forward to voting for fully funding schools.

"I think we'll get there. I just think we're going to have to play a whole lot of games," she said. "And I think it would be helpful if people in our local communities would get in touch with their legislators to express their support for fully funding our schools and special education and encouraging them to act quickly to get this done."

Kelly said that in the long term, without the education system in the state of Kansas, "not a whole lot else matters. This is really the foundation of our state."

Kelly who has been a staunch proponent of growing the state's business base, said that when businesses are considering establishing locations in Kansas, they look at the state's education system.

"I think they do it for a variety of reasons. One, obviously, is workforce. They have to have a trained workforce, and who does that but our school system, whether it's getting our kids through general high school programs or going into our tech schools, our community colleges, or our four-year institutions. That's where businesses get their workforce, and so they want them educated, trained, and ready to work," Kelly said.

Additionally, Kelly noted that Kansas is attracting more high-tech companies that also need a research component.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682458679392.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly visited Elmont Elementary School in Seaman School District on Monday- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly visited Elmont Elementary School in Seaman School District on Monday- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostAs Kansas Governor Laura Kelly sees it, K-12 funding is the most important issue left in this legislative session. And as legislators return to the statehouse this week to close out the 2023 session, Kelly is hopeful that lawmakers will see the need to fully fund K-12 public schools, as has been done the past four years.Kelly discussed the importance of fully funding K-12 public schools during an exclusive interview with Salina Post Tuesday afternoon.The 2024 budget Kelly presented in January included fully funding K-12 schools for the fifth year in a row. Additionally, Kelly included $72.4 million from the State General Fund as the first installment of a proposed five-year plan to raise state aid for special education to 92 percent by fiscal year 2028. An additional $72.4 million from the State General Fund would be dedicated to special education each subsequent year of the plan.Thus far, Kansas lawmakers have had other ideas, proposing a measure that could decrease aid to school districts across the state and not include a funding increase for special education.As an example, Kelly said the three public school districts in Saline County combined would lose more than $5 million.While the legislature has yet to pass the proposal, Kelly said she believes lawmakers will make another attempt to pass it. She encouraged citizens to contact their legislators and tell them to fully fund K-12 public schools as has been done in the last four years.Kelly also encouraged citizens to request that the $72.4 million for special education be included in the budget. She explained that special education services are mandated by law. While some funding comes from the federal government, any additional funding necessary to provide the mandated services would need to come out of the school districts' budgets, regardless of at what level they are funded. Kelly said she is hopeful that legislators will end up fully funding K-12 public schools."Just look at our past history. We have fully funded the schools for the last four years. And I know that there are a lot of legislators, particularly those in the rural areas, who understand how bad the legislative proposal is there, to those schools, because all of these moves would be most detrimental to the rural school districts," she said.Kelly said she believes many legislators are looking forward to voting for fully funding schools."I think we'll get there. I just think we're going to have to play a whole lot of games," she said. "And I think it would be helpful if people in our local communities would get in touch with their legislators to express their support for fully funding our schools and special education and encouraging them to act quickly to get this done."Kelly said that in the long term, without the education system in the state of Kansas, "not a whole lot else matters. This is really the foundation of our state."Kelly who has been a staunch proponent of growing the state's business base, said that when businesses are considering establishing locations in Kansas, they look at the state's education system."I think they do it for a variety of reasons. One, obviously, is workforce. They have to have a trained workforce, and who does that but our school system, whether it's getting our kids through general high school programs or going into our tech schools, our community colleges, or our four-year institutions. That's where businesses get their workforce, and so they want them educated, trained, and ready to work," Kelly said.Additionally, Kelly noted that Kansas is attracting more high-tech companies that also need a research component.

Kelly: K-12 funding most important remaining legislative issue

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Wichita.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of South Edwards in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. 

First responders found 44-year-old Shawn Lahman of Wichita in the front seat of a passenger van with a gunshot wound to the upper torso. 

EMS&nbsp; pronounced him deceased on the scene. Police released no suspect details Tuesday afternoon.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a homicide in Wichita.Just before 11:30 p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of South Edwards in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. First responders found 44-year-old Shawn Lahman of Wichita in the front seat of a passenger van with a gunshot wound to the upper torso. EMS&nbsp; pronounced him deceased on the scene. Police released no suspect details Tuesday afternoon.

Homicide: Kan. man found in a van with fatal gunshot wound

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials won't be allowed to use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-esg-investing-3a98b6f584357b8e10c31b1ff93ce4b6">environmental, social and governance</a>&nbsp;factors in investing public funds or deciding who receives government contracts because the state's Democratic governor is allowing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/esg-woke-investing-kansas-d1a050b7ff8ecc475217e1a5779e2091">a Republican measure</a>&nbsp;to become law without her signature.

Gov. Laura Kelly's decision Monday came after she vetoed more than a dozen other anti-transgender, anti-abortion and culture war measures approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature. She nixed a bill Monday that would have allowed parents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-children-kansas-schools-b249b1eb36409931a75eab1fbc80c15d">to remove their public school students</a>&nbsp;from lessons or activities that offend them and another measure that Kelly said could have led to prison terms for some people helping immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.

The new anti-ESG law, taking effect July 1, is part of a larger push from conservatives across the U.S. against what they see as “woke” practices pushing liberal climate or diversity goals. At least nine states have enacted such laws; Montana's GOP governor signed a bill last week, and a measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-republicans-esg-investing-ban-a2f8bd032dcdc83a43cba2a422608058">cleared Indiana's GOP-controlled Legislature</a>&nbsp;on Monday.

“This bill will ensure that public dollars — particularly our state pension fund — are invested in ways that produce the highest possible returns with the lowest acceptable risk, and that public contracts are awarded to the entities best-qualified to fulfill them," Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson, a Republican elected last year, said in a statement.

Republicans across the U.S. have pushed back as the use of ESG principles has become more prevalent and visible.

Last month, 19 GOP governors issued a statement calling ESG a “direct threat to the American economy, individual economic freedom, and our way of life.” Utah’s Republican state treasurer told a GOP gathering that ESG “opens the door to authoritarianism” and is “Satan’s plan.”

About one-eighth of U.S. assets being professionally managed, or $8.4 trillion, are being managed in line with ESG principles, according to a report in December from US SIF, which promotes sustainable investing.

ESG supporters argued that it represents a better assessment of risk for investors by addressing questions such as whether a worldwide shift toward green energy makes investments in fossil fuels less financially sound.

There also was research released earlier this month by Bain &amp; Company, a global management consulting firm, and EcoVadis, which provides sustainability ratings for 110,000 companies worldwide, including 10,000 in the U.S. It showed evidence that having more women in management, greater employee satisfaction and sustainable supply chains all correlate with stronger revenue growth and higher profitability.

Researchers were careful to note that many factors can influence a company's financial results, but Sylvain Guyoton, EcoVadis' chief rating officer, said the study suggests a company's use of ESG is worth considering.

“Some of those ESG activities are good old management practices that have been rebranded into ESG,” Guyoton said in a recent interview from Paris.

In announcing that the Kansas measure was becoming law, Kelly didn't touch on how investment managers for the state and its pension system for teachers and government workers will be required to “consider only financial factors” when making investment decisions.

The governor acknowledged having reservations about “potential unforeseen consequences” over how the state and cities, counties and local school districts will not be able to favor bidders on contracts based on ESG principles.

The measure had little support from Democratic lawmakers. Conservatives dropped proposals for new rules for private money managers following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/esg-woke-investing-big-business-backlash-be6dac7d7d25d823645525597b6f1782">strong backlash</a>&nbsp;from influential business and banking groups.

Meanwhile, Kelly scotched Republicans' proposed “parents' bill of rights,” which would have allowed parents to demand an alternative when a public school lesson or activity “impairs the parent’s sincerely held beliefs, values or principles.” The governor said such a measure “distracts” from fully funding education.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said Kelly was opposing parents’ right “to direct their own children’s education, upbringing and moral or religious training.” The bill's supporters did not appear to have the two-thirds majorities necessary to override a veto.

Republicans said the immigration bill would have combatted human smuggling.

It would have made it a felony to transport, harbor or conceal another person, applying when someone knows or should have known that a person is in the U.S. illegally and “is likely to be exploited” for another's financial gain, if the person dealing with the immigrant "benefits financially or receives anything of value.” A first-time offender could be sentenced to almost three years in prison.

Kelly argued that the bill could send “a good Samaritan” to prison for accepting gas money for driving an immigrant neighbor to work.

“That overcriminalization is unnecessary and shows that lawmakers haven’t considered the full impact of this bill,” Kelly said.

The measure cleared the Legislature with large, bipartisan supermajorities.

“Governor Kelly has sided against law and order and put radical politics above the safety and human rights of victims,” Hawkins said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675711326975.png" alt="“This bill will ensure that public dollars — particularly our state pension fund — are invested in ways that produce the highest possible returns with the lowest acceptable risk, and that public contracts are awarded to the entities best-qualified to fulfill them," Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson, a Republican elected last year, said in a statement. photo by Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption>“This bill will ensure that public dollars — particularly our state pension fund — are invested in ways that produce the highest possible returns with the lowest acceptable risk, and that public contracts are awarded to the entities best-qualified to fulfill them," Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson, a Republican elected last year, said in a statement. photo by Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials won't be allowed to use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-esg-investing-3a98b6f584357b8e10c31b1ff93ce4b6">environmental, social and governance</a>&nbsp;factors in investing public funds or deciding who receives government contracts because the state's Democratic governor is allowing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/esg-woke-investing-kansas-d1a050b7ff8ecc475217e1a5779e2091">a Republican measure</a>&nbsp;to become law without her signature.Gov. Laura Kelly's decision Monday came after she vetoed more than a dozen other anti-transgender, anti-abortion and culture war measures approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature. She nixed a bill Monday that would have allowed parents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-children-kansas-schools-b249b1eb36409931a75eab1fbc80c15d">to remove their public school students</a>&nbsp;from lessons or activities that offend them and another measure that Kelly said could have led to prison terms for some people helping immigrants living in the U.S. illegally.The new anti-ESG law, taking effect July 1, is part of a larger push from conservatives across the U.S. against what they see as “woke” practices pushing liberal climate or diversity goals. At least nine states have enacted such laws; Montana's GOP governor signed a bill last week, and a measure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indiana-republicans-esg-investing-ban-a2f8bd032dcdc83a43cba2a422608058">cleared Indiana's GOP-controlled Legislature</a>&nbsp;on Monday.“This bill will ensure that public dollars — particularly our state pension fund — are invested in ways that produce the highest possible returns with the lowest acceptable risk, and that public contracts are awarded to the entities best-qualified to fulfill them," Kansas State Treasurer Steven Johnson, a Republican elected last year, said in a statement.Republicans across the U.S. have pushed back as the use of ESG principles has become more prevalent and visible.Last month, 19 GOP governors issued a statement calling ESG a “direct threat to the American economy, individual economic freedom, and our way of life.” Utah’s Republican state treasurer told a GOP gathering that ESG “opens the door to authoritarianism” and is “Satan’s plan.”About one-eighth of U.S. assets being professionally managed, or $8.4 trillion, are being managed in line with ESG principles, according to a report in December from US SIF, which promotes sustainable investing.ESG supporters argued that it represents a better assessment of risk for investors by addressing questions such as whether a worldwide shift toward green energy makes investments in fossil fuels less financially sound.There also was research released earlier this month by Bain &amp; Company, a global management consulting firm, and EcoVadis, which provides sustainability ratings for 110,000 companies worldwide, including 10,000 in the U.S. It showed evidence that having more women in management, greater employee satisfaction and sustainable supply chains all correlate with stronger revenue growth and higher profitability.Researchers were careful to note that many factors can influence a company's financial results, but Sylvain Guyoton, EcoVadis' chief rating officer, said the study suggests a company's use of ESG is worth considering.“Some of those ESG activities are good old management practices that have been rebranded into ESG,” Guyoton said in a recent interview from Paris.In announcing that the Kansas measure was becoming law, Kelly didn't touch on how investment managers for the state and its pension system for teachers and government workers will be required to “consider only financial factors” when making investment decisions.The governor acknowledged having reservations about “potential unforeseen consequences” over how the state and cities, counties and local school districts will not be able to favor bidders on contracts based on ESG principles.The measure had little support from Democratic lawmakers. Conservatives dropped proposals for new rules for private money managers following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/esg-woke-investing-big-business-backlash-be6dac7d7d25d823645525597b6f1782">strong backlash</a>&nbsp;from influential business and banking groups.Meanwhile, Kelly scotched Republicans' proposed “parents' bill of rights,” which would have allowed parents to demand an alternative when a public school lesson or activity “impairs the parent’s sincerely held beliefs, values or principles.” The governor said such a measure “distracts” from fully funding education.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, said Kelly was opposing parents’ right “to direct their own children’s education, upbringing and moral or religious training.” The bill's supporters did not appear to have the two-thirds majorities necessary to override a veto.Republicans said the immigration bill would have combatted human smuggling.It would have made it a felony to transport, harbor or conceal another person, applying when someone knows or should have known that a person is in the U.S. illegally and “is likely to be exploited” for another's financial gain, if the person dealing with the immigrant "benefits financially or receives anything of value.” A first-time offender could be sentenced to almost three years in prison.Kelly argued that the bill could send “a good Samaritan” to prison for accepting gas money for driving an immigrant neighbor to work.“That overcriminalization is unnecessary and shows that lawmakers haven’t considered the full impact of this bill,” Kelly said.The measure cleared the Legislature with large, bipartisan supermajorities.“Governor Kelly has sided against law and order and put radical politics above the safety and human rights of victims,” Hawkins said in a statement.

Kansas has new anti-ESG law amid raft of culture war vetoes

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND — Twenty-plus 
years went into the making of Aaron Mull's Dolly Madison Murder 
documentary. The Great Bend High School graduate actually spent 
approximately 16 months filming, compiling interviews, editing, and 
searching for a vendor about the 21-year-old double homicide in Great 
Bend. The documentary premiered at the Crest Theater in March and is now
 <a href="https://tubitv.com/movies/100002605/the-dolly-madison-murders?utm_campaign=web-sharing&amp;fbclid=IwAR0VAF3mfk_0g53Y1tT6jMf5MfXAxhuvqHog8Rf3AhC4nGsoJINGKxzLVPg">available to stream free on Tubi. </a>

"It's
 been a long time coming," Mull said. "The project took essentially one 
year to make and four months to distribute. It feels good that it's 
finally out there on a large scale, and people beyond Great Bend and the
 Midwest can reach this story now."

Sunday, Mull also released his
 deep-dive podcast about the case and the documentary on YouTube.com. 
The podcast features interviews with parties who contacted Mull after 
the release of the documentary, including the wife of the truck driver 
who found the bodies of Mandi Alexander and Mary Drake inside the 
discount bakery on Sept. 2, 2002. A local hotel clerk also shares her 
memories of that night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682442166646.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostGREAT BEND — Twenty-plus 
years went into the making of Aaron Mull's Dolly Madison Murder 
documentary. The Great Bend High School graduate actually spent 
approximately 16 months filming, compiling interviews, editing, and 
searching for a vendor about the 21-year-old double homicide in Great 
Bend. The documentary premiered at the Crest Theater in March and is now
 <a href="https://tubitv.com/movies/100002605/the-dolly-madison-murders?utm_campaign=web-sharing&amp;fbclid=IwAR0VAF3mfk_0g53Y1tT6jMf5MfXAxhuvqHog8Rf3AhC4nGsoJINGKxzLVPg">available to stream free on Tubi. </a>"It's
 been a long time coming," Mull said. "The project took essentially one 
year to make and four months to distribute. It feels good that it's 
finally out there on a large scale, and people beyond Great Bend and the
 Midwest can reach this story now."Sunday, Mull also released his
 deep-dive podcast about the case and the documentary on YouTube.com. 
The podcast features interviews with parties who contacted Mull after 
the release of the documentary, including the wife of the truck driver 
who found the bodies of Mandi Alexander and Mary Drake inside the 
discount bakery on Sept. 2, 2002. A local hotel clerk also shares her 
memories of that night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682442192027.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"I think the podcast, it's what a lot of these people have wanted to 
say for a long time, but they've either gone to law enforcement, 
allegedly, and not been taken seriously, or they just haven't felt the 
need to come forward until now," said Mull. "I'm excited about both 
being out at the same time because each of them has a different feel, 
for sure."While Mull's documentary was a more narrative-based 
attempt to put the case back before the public, the podcast features 
more speculation and opinion on why and how things were handled by law 
enforcement in the days and years following the murders. With law 
enforcement remaining largely silent about the case, Mull was left with 
one side of the discussion but said finger-pointing was never the goal."We
 need law enforcement to solve this case," he said. "I'm just a guy with
 an internet connection. They're the people with the resources and 
hopefully, someday the time to actually put into this case and other 
cases like it."Click the link above to watch the Dolly Madison Murders documentary on Tubi. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWnLEL5RZBo">CLICK HERE</a> to watch Mull's deep-dive podcast about the case.