DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted suspect after a high speed chase.

Just before noon Tuesday, deputies initiated a pursuit of a Dodge Caravan that was reported driving recklessly and matched the description of a van that fled from Lawrence Police twice earlier including allegedly leaving the scene of a vehicle crash, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabe.

Deputies pursued the van from the city limits in North Lawrence, north on&nbsp; Highway 59 at speeds of 90 mph in oncoming traffic. Deputies then used a vehicle intervention maneuver to force the van into a field near Midland Junction.&nbsp; 

Deputies took the driver into custody on requested charges related to the chase and a Missouri warrant.&nbsp; Deputies did not release the name of the suspect.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a wanted suspect after a high speed chase.Just before noon Tuesday, deputies initiated a pursuit of a Dodge Caravan that was reported driving recklessly and matched the description of a van that fled from Lawrence Police twice earlier including allegedly leaving the scene of a vehicle crash, according to police spokesperson Laura McCabe.Deputies pursued the van from the city limits in North Lawrence, north on&nbsp; Highway 59 at speeds of 90 mph in oncoming traffic. Deputies then used a vehicle intervention maneuver to force the van into a field near Midland Junction.&nbsp; Deputies took the driver into custody on requested charges related to the chase and a Missouri warrant.&nbsp; Deputies did not release the name of the suspect.

Wanted suspect jailed in Kan. after 90mph chase in oncoming traffic

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is speeding up its delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, opting to send a refurbished older model that can be ready faster, with the aim of getting the 70-ton battle powerhouses to the war zone by the fall, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The original plan was to send Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-germany-7b63726a3935da3f03424e98e52a85b2">31 of the newer M1A2 Abrams</a>, which could have taken a year or two to build and ship. But officials said the decision was made to send the older M1A1 version, which can be taken from Army stocks. Officials said the M1A1 also will be easier for Ukrainian forces to learn to use and maintain as they fight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the invading Russian forces</a>.

“This is about getting this important combat capability into the hands of the Ukrainians sooner rather than later,” said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

The Biden administration announced in January that it would send the tanks to Ukraine — after insisting for months that they were too complicated and too hard to maintain and repair. The decision was part of a broader political maneuver that opened the door for Germany to announce it would send its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-german-tanks-435da2221bf452a8aae9d2e58d23acae">Leopard 2 tanks</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine and allow Poland and other allies to do the same.

Speaking at a Pentagon press conference, Ryder said the tanks will be refurbished and refitted to make them combat ready for Ukraine. He declined to say where that work will be done.

It's unclear how soon the U.S. would begin training Ukrainian forces on how to use, maintain and repair the tanks. The intention would be to have the training of the troops coincide with the refurbishment of the tanks, so that both would be ready for battle at the same time later this year, said U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not publicly provided. The Pentagon will also have to ensure that Ukrainian forces have an adequate supply chain for all the parts needed to keep the tanks running.

The Russian and Ukrainian forces have been largely in a stalemate, trading small slices of land over the winter. The fiercest battles have been in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia is struggling to encircle the city of Bakhmut in the face of dogged Ukrainian defense. But both sides are expected to launch more intensive offensives in the spring.

Asked about the timing of the tanks' arrival, Ryder said the Abrams are part of the medium- and longer-term military support the U.S. is providing to Ukraine. He said that as Ukrainian forces take or retake territory, they will also need to sustain those gains and deter Russia from regaining any footholds.

During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-business-55e3f4ef1696ca381e069883d5836399">a visit to a tank plant in Lima, Ohio,</a>&nbsp;in February, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth met with officials there at length to determine the best options for getting the tanks to Ukraine.

“Part of it is figuring out — among the different options — what’s the best one that can allow us to get the Ukrainians tanks in as timely a fashion as we can,” without disrupting foreign military sales, Wormuth said at the time.

Officials at the plant, which is owned by the Army and operated by Reston, Virginia-based General Dynamics, said production totals can vary, based on contract demands. And while they are currently building 15-20 armored vehicles per month, including tanks, they can easily boost that to 33 a month and could add another shift of workers and build even more if needed.

Development of tanks for Ukraine would have to be squeezed in between the current contracts for foreign sales, which include 250 of the newest versions for Poland and about 75 for Australia. During Wormuth’s tour of the plant, workers were preparing to build an updated version of the vehicle for Poland.

Ukrainian leaders have persistently pressed for the Abrams, which first deployed to war in 1991 and has thick armor, a 120 mm main gun, armor-piercing capabilities and advanced targeting systems. It runs on thick tracked wheels and has a 1,500-horsepower turbine engine with a top speed of about 42 miles per hour (68 kilometers per hour).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679445740889.png" alt="The Defense Department announced Tuesday it will send tanks similar to the M1A1s used in this 2015 training exercise to Ukraine by the fall-photo Defense Dept." />
 <figcaption>The Defense Department announced Tuesday it will send tanks similar to the M1A1s used in this 2015 training exercise to Ukraine by the fall-photo Defense Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is speeding up its delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, opting to send a refurbished older model that can be ready faster, with the aim of getting the 70-ton battle powerhouses to the war zone by the fall, the Pentagon said Tuesday.The original plan was to send Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-germany-7b63726a3935da3f03424e98e52a85b2">31 of the newer M1A2 Abrams</a>, which could have taken a year or two to build and ship. But officials said the decision was made to send the older M1A1 version, which can be taken from Army stocks. Officials said the M1A1 also will be easier for Ukrainian forces to learn to use and maintain as they fight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the invading Russian forces</a>.“This is about getting this important combat capability into the hands of the Ukrainians sooner rather than later,” said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.The Biden administration announced in January that it would send the tanks to Ukraine — after insisting for months that they were too complicated and too hard to maintain and repair. The decision was part of a broader political maneuver that opened the door for Germany to announce it would send its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-german-tanks-435da2221bf452a8aae9d2e58d23acae">Leopard 2 tanks</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine and allow Poland and other allies to do the same.Speaking at a Pentagon press conference, Ryder said the tanks will be refurbished and refitted to make them combat ready for Ukraine. He declined to say where that work will be done.It's unclear how soon the U.S. would begin training Ukrainian forces on how to use, maintain and repair the tanks. The intention would be to have the training of the troops coincide with the refurbishment of the tanks, so that both would be ready for battle at the same time later this year, said U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not publicly provided. The Pentagon will also have to ensure that Ukrainian forces have an adequate supply chain for all the parts needed to keep the tanks running.The Russian and Ukrainian forces have been largely in a stalemate, trading small slices of land over the winter. The fiercest battles have been in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia is struggling to encircle the city of Bakhmut in the face of dogged Ukrainian defense. But both sides are expected to launch more intensive offensives in the spring.Asked about the timing of the tanks' arrival, Ryder said the Abrams are part of the medium- and longer-term military support the U.S. is providing to Ukraine. He said that as Ukrainian forces take or retake territory, they will also need to sustain those gains and deter Russia from regaining any footholds.During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-business-55e3f4ef1696ca381e069883d5836399">a visit to a tank plant in Lima, Ohio,</a>&nbsp;in February, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth met with officials there at length to determine the best options for getting the tanks to Ukraine.“Part of it is figuring out — among the different options — what’s the best one that can allow us to get the Ukrainians tanks in as timely a fashion as we can,” without disrupting foreign military sales, Wormuth said at the time.Officials at the plant, which is owned by the Army and operated by Reston, Virginia-based General Dynamics, said production totals can vary, based on contract demands. And while they are currently building 15-20 armored vehicles per month, including tanks, they can easily boost that to 33 a month and could add another shift of workers and build even more if needed.Development of tanks for Ukraine would have to be squeezed in between the current contracts for foreign sales, which include 250 of the newest versions for Poland and about 75 for Australia. During Wormuth’s tour of the plant, workers were preparing to build an updated version of the vehicle for Poland.Ukrainian leaders have persistently pressed for the Abrams, which first deployed to war in 1991 and has thick armor, a 120 mm main gun, armor-piercing capabilities and advanced targeting systems. It runs on thick tracked wheels and has a 1,500-horsepower turbine engine with a top speed of about 42 miles per hour (68 kilometers per hour).

US to accelerate delivery of tanks to Ukraine

RICE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Tuesday in Rice County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Hyundai Pallisade driven by Hua Lin, 33, Wichita, was westbound on Avenue Q five miles north of Sterling

The driver failed to stop at a posted stop sign at Kansas 14 and collided with a northbound 2017 Ford Focus driven by Christy A. Morrison, 50, Lyons. Both vehicles came to rest in the Northwest ditch.

EMS transported Morrison to a hospital in Wichita and a passenger in the Ford Christopher A. Morrison, 60, Lyons, to Lyons Medical Center where he was pronounce deceased.&nbsp;

Lin and a passenger in the Hyundai were not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574443414576.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RICE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Tuesday in Rice County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Hyundai Pallisade driven by Hua Lin, 33, Wichita, was westbound on Avenue Q five miles north of SterlingThe driver failed to stop at a posted stop sign at Kansas 14 and collided with a northbound 2017 Ford Focus driven by Christy A. Morrison, 50, Lyons. Both vehicles came to rest in the Northwest ditch.EMS transported Morrison to a hospital in Wichita and a passenger in the Ford Christopher A. Morrison, 60, Lyons, to Lyons Medical Center where he was pronounce deceased.&nbsp;Lin and a passenger in the Hyundai were not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after SUV, car crash

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas proposal based on the disputed idea that providers leave newborns to die after unsuccessful abortions is nearing legislative approval, as Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-pushback-kansas-b5c0aaabf00ed50763824e04cf8fa6c6">pursue limited anti-abortion measures</a>&nbsp;following a decisive statewide vote last year protecting abortion rights.

The Kansas House was set to take a final vote Wednesday on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2313_00_0000.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;declaring that when an abortion procedure inadvertently results in a live birth, medical personnel must take the same steps to preserve the newborn's life as “a reasonably diligent and conscientious” provider would with other live births. The measure is similar to a proposed Montana law that voters there&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-montana-a99111675c40301d1940addca098d599">rejected in November.</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">The U.S. Supreme Court declared in June</a>&nbsp;that states can ban abortion, and the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature has long had strong anti-abortion majorities in both chambers. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;protected abortion rights and in August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">voters rejected</a>&nbsp;a proposed change to the state constitution to overturn that decision and give lawmakers the power to greatly restrict or ban abortion.

Supporters of the “born-alive infants protection” bill argued during a House debate Tuesday that the measure will survive a court challenge because it doesn't limit abortion itself. State Rep. Clark Sanders, a Republican from central Kansas, said the bill deals only with cases when a newborn is “completely out of her or his mother,” and has a heartbeat and is breathing.

“What we’re considering today is: What are a doctor and other medical personnel required to do in that circumstance?” Sanders said during Tuesday's debate. “What rights does that person have?”

House passage would send the measure to the Senate, where GOP leaders have also signaled they see it as a priority.

The bill is similar to laws in at least 18 states, including Arizona, Florida, Ohio and Texas, that require the hospitalization of infants born during unsuccessful abortions and impose criminal penalties for doctors who don't try to save them.

Not providing this care after unsuccessful abortions was already outlawed under a 2002 U.S. law, but it doesn't contain criminal penalties. The Republican-led U.S. House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-us-republican-party-united-states-senate-cb608d31f591fd06ec2fd753f122f6cb">passed a measure</a>&nbsp;in January to add penalties, but it's not expected to pass the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate.

Abortion providers and abortion rights advocates have said it's rare for an abortion to result in a live birth, and measures like the ones in Kansas and Montana are designed only to give abortion care a false and negative public image.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in Wichita and the Kansas City area, called the measure “political theater” that harms patients. Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, a spokesperson for Wichita abortion clinic operator Trust Women, said the facility has never seen an abortion result in a live birth.

“This is just this fantasy,” Gingrich-Gaylord said. “It’s simply not true that there’s any kind of danger of this happening.”

Opponents of the bill also argued that current state laws against homicide and child neglect, as well as laws on doctors’ duties, are sufficient to cover the kind of cases described by supporters.

“This is government entering the patient room with you and your physician,” said Rep. Christina Haswood, a Democrat from the northeastern Kansas city of Lawrence.

Opponents also said if the legislation passes, it will create extra trauma for women when they end pregnancies because serious medical conditions mean newborns won't survive long. They said doctors would be forced into futile and expensive attempts to prolong infants' lives and families would be denied opportunities to hold dying babies and to say goodbye. The same arguments were made ahead of last year's vote in Montana.

But supporters of the Kansas bill said that wasn't so, because parents would be allowed to stay with their newborns as they went to the hospital and when they were there. State Rep. Leah Howell, a Wichita-area Republican, said she had a baby die in the 20th week of pregnancy.

“Believe me, when this bill came to my attention, the very first thing I checked for was that this law would allow moms to hold their dying babies in their arms and tell them they loved them and to say goodbye,” she said, her voice wavering.

The bill's supporters also said no one knows how many infants are born in Kansas during unsuccessful abortions because the state does not collect such statistics or require abortion providers to report such cases, something the bill would change. Kansas law bans most abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy — when Kansas automatically considers a fetus able to survive outside the womb — and no abortions after that point have been reported since at least 2016.

Two lawmakers, who are also doctors, told the House that during their training decades ago, they regularly saw cases in which newborns were left alone with no care to die.

One of them, Republican state Rep. John Eplee, a northeastern Kansas doctor, said abandoning such newborns did not violate accepted standards of care when he trained in the 1970s.

He said: “At its core, I really feel this is a basic human rights issue."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676472736553.png" alt="“This is government entering the patient room with you and your physician,” said Rep. Christina Haswood, a Democrat from Lawrence.-photo by Rachel Mipro" />
 <figcaption>“This is government entering the patient room with you and your physician,” said Rep. Christina Haswood, a Democrat from Lawrence.-photo by Rachel Mipro</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas proposal based on the disputed idea that providers leave newborns to die after unsuccessful abortions is nearing legislative approval, as Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-restrictions-pushback-kansas-b5c0aaabf00ed50763824e04cf8fa6c6">pursue limited anti-abortion measures</a>&nbsp;following a decisive statewide vote last year protecting abortion rights.The Kansas House was set to take a final vote Wednesday on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/hb2313_00_0000.pdf">a bill</a>&nbsp;declaring that when an abortion procedure inadvertently results in a live birth, medical personnel must take the same steps to preserve the newborn's life as “a reasonably diligent and conscientious” provider would with other live births. The measure is similar to a proposed Montana law that voters there&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-business-montana-a99111675c40301d1940addca098d599">rejected in November.</a><a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">The U.S. Supreme Court declared in June</a>&nbsp;that states can ban abortion, and the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature has long had strong anti-abortion majorities in both chambers. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">a 2019 Kansas Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;protected abortion rights and in August 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-primary-elections-kansas-abortion-b6d62a852c2ce4617f2c03589fbb523e">voters rejected</a>&nbsp;a proposed change to the state constitution to overturn that decision and give lawmakers the power to greatly restrict or ban abortion.Supporters of the “born-alive infants protection” bill argued during a House debate Tuesday that the measure will survive a court challenge because it doesn't limit abortion itself. State Rep. Clark Sanders, a Republican from central Kansas, said the bill deals only with cases when a newborn is “completely out of her or his mother,” and has a heartbeat and is breathing.“What we’re considering today is: What are a doctor and other medical personnel required to do in that circumstance?” Sanders said during Tuesday's debate. “What rights does that person have?”House passage would send the measure to the Senate, where GOP leaders have also signaled they see it as a priority.The bill is similar to laws in at least 18 states, including Arizona, Florida, Ohio and Texas, that require the hospitalization of infants born during unsuccessful abortions and impose criminal penalties for doctors who don't try to save them.Not providing this care after unsuccessful abortions was already outlawed under a 2002 U.S. law, but it doesn't contain criminal penalties. The Republican-led U.S. House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-us-republican-party-united-states-senate-cb608d31f591fd06ec2fd753f122f6cb">passed a measure</a>&nbsp;in January to add penalties, but it's not expected to pass the Democrat-controlled U.S. Senate.Abortion providers and abortion rights advocates have said it's rare for an abortion to result in a live birth, and measures like the ones in Kansas and Montana are designed only to give abortion care a false and negative public image.Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in Wichita and the Kansas City area, called the measure “political theater” that harms patients. Zack Gingrich-Gaylord, a spokesperson for Wichita abortion clinic operator Trust Women, said the facility has never seen an abortion result in a live birth.“This is just this fantasy,” Gingrich-Gaylord said. “It’s simply not true that there’s any kind of danger of this happening.”Opponents of the bill also argued that current state laws against homicide and child neglect, as well as laws on doctors’ duties, are sufficient to cover the kind of cases described by supporters.“This is government entering the patient room with you and your physician,” said Rep. Christina Haswood, a Democrat from the northeastern Kansas city of Lawrence.Opponents also said if the legislation passes, it will create extra trauma for women when they end pregnancies because serious medical conditions mean newborns won't survive long. They said doctors would be forced into futile and expensive attempts to prolong infants' lives and families would be denied opportunities to hold dying babies and to say goodbye. The same arguments were made ahead of last year's vote in Montana.But supporters of the Kansas bill said that wasn't so, because parents would be allowed to stay with their newborns as they went to the hospital and when they were there. State Rep. Leah Howell, a Wichita-area Republican, said she had a baby die in the 20th week of pregnancy.“Believe me, when this bill came to my attention, the very first thing I checked for was that this law would allow moms to hold their dying babies in their arms and tell them they loved them and to say goodbye,” she said, her voice wavering.The bill's supporters also said no one knows how many infants are born in Kansas during unsuccessful abortions because the state does not collect such statistics or require abortion providers to report such cases, something the bill would change. Kansas law bans most abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy — when Kansas automatically considers a fetus able to survive outside the womb — and no abortions after that point have been reported since at least 2016.Two lawmakers, who are also doctors, told the House that during their training decades ago, they regularly saw cases in which newborns were left alone with no care to die.One of them, Republican state Rep. John Eplee, a northeastern Kansas doctor, said abandoning such newborns did not violate accepted standards of care when he trained in the 1970s.He said: “At its core, I really feel this is a basic human rights issue."

Kansas lawmakers consider 'born alive' abortion bill

DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have a suspect in custody.

Just before 10am Tuesday, members of the Abilene Police Department and the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Northwest Fifth and Cedar Street for the report of a possible armed robbery, according to a media release.

Officers learned that a woman armed with a handgun had demanded money from the driver of an armored vehicle who was servicing an automated teller machine. 

Officers located the suspect, 41-year-old Brandi J. Reed, Abilene, in the area of Northwest Fifth and Mulberry Street. Reed was taken into custody without incident. 

Reed had a black pellet pistol in her possession at the time of her arrest. She is being held on requested charges that could include attempted Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Assault.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673102145406.jpeg" alt="Reed -photo Dickinson Co." />
 <figcaption>Reed -photo Dickinson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and have a suspect in custody.Just before 10am Tuesday, members of the Abilene Police Department and the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Northwest Fifth and Cedar Street for the report of a possible armed robbery, according to a media release.Officers learned that a woman armed with a handgun had demanded money from the driver of an armored vehicle who was servicing an automated teller machine. Officers located the suspect, 41-year-old Brandi J. Reed, Abilene, in the area of Northwest Fifth and Mulberry Street. Reed was taken into custody without incident. Reed had a black pellet pistol in her possession at the time of her arrest. She is being held on requested charges that could include attempted Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Assault.

Kan. woman allegedly demanded money from armored vehicle driver

KANSAS CITY(AP) — A&nbsp; man dubbed the “Package Killer” for his method of disposing bodies received two life sentences Tuesday after admitting to killing two women in the St. Louis area more than 30 years ago.

Gary Muehlberg, 74, has now pleaded guilty to killing three women and faces a hearing next week in the death of a fourth. Remains of all four women were found in 1990 or 1991, packed into various types of containers.

Muehlberg was already in prison for killing a man in 1993 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/st-louis-missouri-365f6d3ba318c251617fa14165341a2f">he was charged</a>&nbsp;last year with four counts of fist-degree murder in the women's death. The cases were solved after O'Fallon Detective Jodi Weber found DNA evidence while examining old, unsolved homicides. Muehlberg confessed after prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.

He pleaded guilty Tuesday to murdering Brenda Pruitt and Donna Reitmeyer. The new life sentences will run concurrently with two other life sentences he was previously given.

Pruitt was 27 when her family reported her missing on May 9, 1990. Her body was found in October 1991 inside a plastic trash can on the side of a busy road in St. Louis County. Authorities said she had been smothered or strangled.

Reitmeyer’s body was found June 11, 1990, inside a trash can on a sidewalk in the city of St. Louis. She was a 40-year-old mother of three daughters.

On March 6, Muehlberg admitted to murdering 21-year-old Sandy Little, whose body was found inside a dresser abandoned along a highway in O'Fallon on Feb. 17, 1991.

A hearing is scheduled for March 31 in the death of 18-year-old Robyn Mihan. Her body was found between two mattresses secured together with wire along a road near the small rural Missouri town of Silex on March 26, 1990.

Court documents say Muehlberg also admitted to killing a fifth woman at his home and disposing of her body in a metal barrel he left near a self-service car wash. Her remains were never found.

A motive for the killings has not been disclosed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663670116168.png" alt="Muehlberg-photo&nbsp; MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Muehlberg-photo&nbsp; MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY(AP) — A&nbsp; man dubbed the “Package Killer” for his method of disposing bodies received two life sentences Tuesday after admitting to killing two women in the St. Louis area more than 30 years ago.Gary Muehlberg, 74, has now pleaded guilty to killing three women and faces a hearing next week in the death of a fourth. Remains of all four women were found in 1990 or 1991, packed into various types of containers.Muehlberg was already in prison for killing a man in 1993 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/st-louis-missouri-365f6d3ba318c251617fa14165341a2f">he was charged</a>&nbsp;last year with four counts of fist-degree murder in the women's death. The cases were solved after O'Fallon Detective Jodi Weber found DNA evidence while examining old, unsolved homicides. Muehlberg confessed after prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty.He pleaded guilty Tuesday to murdering Brenda Pruitt and Donna Reitmeyer. The new life sentences will run concurrently with two other life sentences he was previously given.Pruitt was 27 when her family reported her missing on May 9, 1990. Her body was found in October 1991 inside a plastic trash can on the side of a busy road in St. Louis County. Authorities said she had been smothered or strangled.Reitmeyer’s body was found June 11, 1990, inside a trash can on a sidewalk in the city of St. Louis. She was a 40-year-old mother of three daughters.On March 6, Muehlberg admitted to murdering 21-year-old Sandy Little, whose body was found inside a dresser abandoned along a highway in O'Fallon on Feb. 17, 1991.A hearing is scheduled for March 31 in the death of 18-year-old Robyn Mihan. Her body was found between two mattresses secured together with wire along a road near the small rural Missouri town of Silex on March 26, 1990.Court documents say Muehlberg also admitted to killing a fifth woman at his home and disposing of her body in a metal barrel he left near a self-service car wash. Her remains were never found.A motive for the killings has not been disclosed.

Man dubbed 'Package Killer' admits to killing 3 women

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill&nbsp; that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic.

The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate without dissent, directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify intelligence related to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. It cites “potential links” between the research that was done there and the outbreak of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The law allows for redactions to protect sensitive sources and methods.

U.S. intelligence agencies are divided over whether a lab leak or a spillover from animals is the likely source of the deadly virus. Experts say the true origin of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 1.1 million in the U.S. and millions more around the globe, may not be known for many years — if ever.

Biden, in a statement, said he was pleased to sign the legislation.

“My Administration will continue to review all classified information relating to COVID–19’s origins, including potential links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” he said. “In implementing this legislation, my Administration will declassify and share as much of that information as possible, consistent with my constitutional authority to protect against the disclosure of information that would harm national security.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676821587118.png" alt="Biden, in a statement, said he was pleased to sign the legislation.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Biden, in a statement, said he was pleased to sign the legislation.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill&nbsp; that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic.The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate without dissent, directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify intelligence related to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. It cites “potential links” between the research that was done there and the outbreak of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The law allows for redactions to protect sensitive sources and methods.U.S. intelligence agencies are divided over whether a lab leak or a spillover from animals is the likely source of the deadly virus. Experts say the true origin of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 1.1 million in the U.S. and millions more around the globe, may not be known for many years — if ever.Biden, in a statement, said he was pleased to sign the legislation.“My Administration will continue to review all classified information relating to COVID–19’s origins, including potential links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” he said. “In implementing this legislation, my Administration will declassify and share as much of that information as possible, consistent with my constitutional authority to protect against the disclosure of information that would harm national security.”

Biden signs the bill to release all info on origins of COVID

WASHINGTON –&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jerry Moran joined a congressional delegation (CODEL) which returned to the U.S. Monday evening after visiting intelligence, drug enforcement and government officials in Mexico, according to a statement from the senator's office.

The delegation received briefings from U.S. intelligence officials, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar on the United States’ security posture with regards to Mexico, recent killings of Americans in the country, efforts to stop drug trafficking and illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. The delegation also met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and members of his cabinet to discuss how to improve coordination between the two countries on these issues. “We traveled to Mexico to discuss how the U.S. and Mexico can work together to apprehend violent cartel members, stem the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl and mitigate unchecked migration,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;

“During our meeting, I urged President Lopez Obrador to work with the United States on these serious challenges. I appreciated his interest in stopping the fentanyl precursors coming from China to Mexico and our dialogue regarding the purchase of Kansas corn under the USMCA. I will be monitoring developments on all of our mutual security and trade challenges.”

The congressional delegation was led by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and also included Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Representatives Tony Gonzales (Texas-23), Henry Cuellar (Texas-28), Veronica Escobar (Texas-16), and Maria Salazar (Fla.-27).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679394365309.png" alt="In Mexico City, the congressional delegation met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López&nbsp;Obrador, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar and Mexican government officials." />
 <figcaption>In Mexico City, the congressional delegation met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López&nbsp;Obrador, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar and Mexican government officials.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON –&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jerry Moran joined a congressional delegation (CODEL) which returned to the U.S. Monday evening after visiting intelligence, drug enforcement and government officials in Mexico, according to a statement from the senator's office.The delegation received briefings from U.S. intelligence officials, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar on the United States’ security posture with regards to Mexico, recent killings of Americans in the country, efforts to stop drug trafficking and illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. The delegation also met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and members of his cabinet to discuss how to improve coordination between the two countries on these issues. “We traveled to Mexico to discuss how the U.S. and Mexico can work together to apprehend violent cartel members, stem the flow of deadly drugs like fentanyl and mitigate unchecked migration,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“During our meeting, I urged President Lopez Obrador to work with the United States on these serious challenges. I appreciated his interest in stopping the fentanyl precursors coming from China to Mexico and our dialogue regarding the purchase of Kansas corn under the USMCA. I will be monitoring developments on all of our mutual security and trade challenges.”The congressional delegation was led by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) and also included Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Representatives Tony Gonzales (Texas-23), Henry Cuellar (Texas-28), Veronica Escobar (Texas-16), and Maria Salazar (Fla.-27).

Sen. Moran in Mexico to urge cooperation on security challenges

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred Tuesday afternoon in Topeka.

The accident occurred in the 3100 block of SE California Avenue, according to Police Spokesperson Rosie Nichols. 

A vehicle struck a 2-year-old girl and died from the injuries.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679425013324.png" alt="First responders near the fatal accident scene-photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders near the fatal accident scene-photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal accident that occurred Tuesday afternoon in Topeka.The accident occurred in the 3100 block of SE California Avenue, according to Police Spokesperson Rosie Nichols. A vehicle struck a 2-year-old girl and died from the injuries.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

Police: 2-year-old Kan. girl dies after struck by a vehicle

By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-03-21/abortion-pilots-planes-fly-state-bans-elevated-access">Kansas News Service</a>

The pilot, clad in a blue windbreaker, pulls his single-engine, four-seater prop plane onto the tarmac.

The
 small municipal airport sits in a state where abortion is now banned in
 virtually all cases. But a short flight away in Kansas, it remains 
legal. That’s launched a wave of travel from across the South and 
Midwest in pursuit of pills and procedures no longer legal in many 
places.

Michael — who asked to only use his first name — is part 
of a growing group of hobby pilots who have begun ferrying people across
 state lines to get abortions and gender-affirming medical care, 
flouting local restrictions and bans. They’re volunteers with Elevated 
Access, an Illinois-based group that operates with degrees of secrecy 
because its work falls into gray legal territory.

The flights 
spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, 
and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel.

“There are tons of little airports like this dotted all over,” 
Michael says. “I try to avoid the big airports. Usually, we fly into one
 that’s closer to where they live.”

Pilots donate their time and 
the use of their planes. Most also cover the cost of fuel, because 
private pilots can’t legally be compensated for flying. (The group is 
trying to get an exemption that would allow it to reimburse fuel costs.)

Recently, Michael took a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-08-22/abortion-kansas-vote-legal-but-clinics-cant-keep-up" target="_blank">at a Kansas clinic</a>.
 He loves to fly — he also does volunteer flights for an animal rescue 
group and he jumps at the chance to take family and friends up in the 
sky. But he said the Elevated Access flight felt different.

“It’s 
maybe not the best time in a particular person’s life, or they’re going 
through a sensitive thing,” he said. “So I treat that with a lot of 
reverence.”

Only a handful of people in Michael’s life know he’s 
part of the budding network of people helping women get abortions that 
have become illegal in their home states. He says some members of his 
family and some of his pilot friends oppose abortion. That’s not 
surprising — pilots tend to be older, whiter and more conservative than 
Americans generally. <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics" target="_blank">Fewer than 10%</a> are women.

Soon after Roe v. Wade was overturned last summer and Elevated Access
 was launched, Michael posted a link to the organization in an online 
pilot forum. The blowback came immediately.

“It was obviously a 
polarizing thing to have shared,” he said. “I’m glad I made quite a few 
pilots aware of it, even if it raised some ire. But I don’t talk about 
it a lot since then.”

For pilots like Michael, most of whom have 
day jobs, the flights offer a chance to keep their flying skills sharp 
while supporting a cause they believe in.

But for people trying to
 get to an abortion appointment several states away — maybe with just a 
few days’ notice — private flights can be game-changing.

They can 
turn a multi-day drive into just a couple of hours, and they can take 
off much closer to a passenger’s home than a commercial airport. 
Elevated Access makes the flights free to passengers, who won’t have to 
purchase an expensive, last-minute plane ticket.

And they’re 
virtually anonymous. Pilots only know a passengers’ first name and 
weight (to avoid exceeding small aircraft weight limits).

“We 
don’t check ID because that’s not part of private aviation. There’s no 
ticketing or TSA or anything like that,” said Mike (not to be confused 
with Michael), the founder of Elevated Access. “If somebody feels like 
they need to use a fake first name, they can definitely do that.”

Pilots are instructed not to ask passengers why they’re traveling. 
That relieves passengers of any pressure to explain or justify the 
services they’re seeking. But it’s also intended to give pilots 
plausible deniability in the face of potential legal threats. Some 
states are considering prosecuting those who help people get abortions, 
and Texas has already made them liable to lawsuits.

No existing 
laws specifically target interstate travel, although Idaho could soon 
make it a crime to help a minor travel out of state for an abortion 
without parental consent. But legal experts say flying for Elevated 
Access still might involve some legal risk.

“You could see an 
aggressive prosecutor trying to say, under the current laws, that, ‘We 
are going to charge this pilot with being an accessory to murder or an 
accessory to abortion,’” said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel 
University. “We haven’t seen prosecutors try that yet. But there’s good 
reason to believe that’s on the horizon.”

Rachel Rebouché, dean of
 the Temple University Beasley School of Law, said there’s also a 
possibility that federal officials could place restrictions on 
abortion-related travel in U.S. air space.

“This current 
administration would not try to use federal aviation powers to penalize 
people who are flying rather than driving,” she said. “But in years to 
come, depending on who’s elected, an anti-abortion administration could 
try to do that.”

Elevated Access has completed “dozens and dozens” of flights and is 
growing rapidly, Mike said. More than 200 pilots have been vetted and 
more than 1,000 have expressed interest.

“We don’t share our full 
numbers because we don’t want to become a target,” the group’s founder 
said. “We want to seem small for as long as possible.”

The flights
 represent a minuscule fraction of the flood of abortion-related travel 
between states since many began enforcing bans last summer. But it’s a 
window into the increasingly scrappy tactics of the underground groups 
working to keep abortion accessible to people across the country.

Rebouché said it reflects efforts by abortion rights organizations to be nimble in the face of legal uncertainty.

“The
 threat of passing a law can itself chill behavior — or incite people to
 organize in different ways,” she said. “It’s an interesting dynamic, 
how this push-pull of potential policy is shaping both care, but also 
advocacy strategies.”

Elevated Access works with partner groups 
like abortion funds to coordinate flights, usually after other options 
are exhausted — if a patient isn’t old enough to rent a car, or if their
 commercial flight was canceled.

The idea for Elevated Access arose out of Mike’s experience 
volunteering with one of those organizations, Midwest Access Coalition, 
which helps people coordinate and pay for abortion-related travel.

“I wanted to learn about abortion access because I thought pilots might be able to help,” he said.

In
 the last year, Alison Dreith, the group’s director of strategic 
partnerships, has connected several clients with Elevated Access. Most 
have low incomes and some have never flown before.

The organization’s first official passenger flew from Oklahoma to get an abortion in Kansas City, Kansas last summer.

“She
 was a bit nervous about flying,” said Dreith. “But the pilot was able 
to walk out into the parking lot and walk her directly onto the 
airfield. It really feels like a V.I.P. experience.”

Dreith said the flights prove particularly useful for people who 
don’t have the documents needed to fly commercially. That could include 
undocumented immigrants — or one of her recent clients, who contacted 
Midwest Access Coalition in December for help getting an abortion.

“She was in a domestic violence situation where her abusive partner had destroyed her ID and birth certificate,” she said.

Dreith
 traveled to North Carolina to get the woman away from the house where 
she was living. The woman thought she was around 16 weeks pregnant — and
 still legally eligible for an abortion, under the state’s 20-week limit
 — but wasn’t certain because her partner hadn’t allowed her to get an 
ultrasound or any prenatal care.

When she got to a local clinic, 
the woman learned she was just past the state's limit. So Dreith 
contacted Elevated Access, which organized a flight back to the St. 
Louis area where the woman was from.

After getting an abortion 
over the state line in Illinois, Dreith said the woman got help from a 
domestic violence group and is now living on her own.

“She had 
been suicidal because she thought she was never going to get out of her 
situation,” Dreith said. “I don’t even have the superlatives to describe
 how thankful she was.”

Rose Conlon reports on health for KMUW 
and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter at 
@rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679416090638.png" alt="Michael, a volunteer pilot with Elevated Access, recently flew a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment at a Kansas clinic. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Michael, a volunteer pilot with Elevated Access, recently flew a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment at a Kansas clinic. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-03-21/abortion-pilots-planes-fly-state-bans-elevated-access">Kansas News Service</a>The pilot, clad in a blue windbreaker, pulls his single-engine, four-seater prop plane onto the tarmac.The
 small municipal airport sits in a state where abortion is now banned in
 virtually all cases. But a short flight away in Kansas, it remains 
legal. That’s launched a wave of travel from across the South and 
Midwest in pursuit of pills and procedures no longer legal in many 
places.Michael — who asked to only use his first name — is part 
of a growing group of hobby pilots who have begun ferrying people across
 state lines to get abortions and gender-affirming medical care, 
flouting local restrictions and bans. They’re volunteers with Elevated 
Access, an Illinois-based group that operates with degrees of secrecy 
because its work falls into gray legal territory.The flights 
spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, 
and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel.“There are tons of little airports like this dotted all over,” 
Michael says. “I try to avoid the big airports. Usually, we fly into one
 that’s closer to where they live.”Pilots donate their time and 
the use of their planes. Most also cover the cost of fuel, because 
private pilots can’t legally be compensated for flying. (The group is 
trying to get an exemption that would allow it to reimburse fuel costs.)Recently, Michael took a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-08-22/abortion-kansas-vote-legal-but-clinics-cant-keep-up" target="_blank">at a Kansas clinic</a>.
 He loves to fly — he also does volunteer flights for an animal rescue 
group and he jumps at the chance to take family and friends up in the 
sky. But he said the Elevated Access flight felt different.“It’s 
maybe not the best time in a particular person’s life, or they’re going 
through a sensitive thing,” he said. “So I treat that with a lot of 
reverence.”Only a handful of people in Michael’s life know he’s 
part of the budding network of people helping women get abortions that 
have become illegal in their home states. He says some members of his 
family and some of his pilot friends oppose abortion. That’s not 
surprising — pilots tend to be older, whiter and more conservative than 
Americans generally. <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics" target="_blank">Fewer than 10%</a> are women.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679416164286.png" alt="Private flights spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Private flights spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Soon after Roe v. Wade was overturned last summer and Elevated Access
 was launched, Michael posted a link to the organization in an online 
pilot forum. The blowback came immediately.“It was obviously a 
polarizing thing to have shared,” he said. “I’m glad I made quite a few 
pilots aware of it, even if it raised some ire. But I don’t talk about 
it a lot since then.”For pilots like Michael, most of whom have 
day jobs, the flights offer a chance to keep their flying skills sharp 
while supporting a cause they believe in.But for people trying to
 get to an abortion appointment several states away — maybe with just a 
few days’ notice — private flights can be game-changing.They can 
turn a multi-day drive into just a couple of hours, and they can take 
off much closer to a passenger’s home than a commercial airport. 
Elevated Access makes the flights free to passengers, who won’t have to 
purchase an expensive, last-minute plane ticket.And they’re 
virtually anonymous. Pilots only know a passengers’ first name and 
weight (to avoid exceeding small aircraft weight limits).“We 
don’t check ID because that’s not part of private aviation. There’s no 
ticketing or TSA or anything like that,” said Mike (not to be confused 
with Michael), the founder of Elevated Access. “If somebody feels like 
they need to use a fake first name, they can definitely do that.”Pilots are instructed not to ask passengers why they’re traveling. 
That relieves passengers of any pressure to explain or justify the 
services they’re seeking. But it’s also intended to give pilots 
plausible deniability in the face of potential legal threats. Some 
states are considering prosecuting those who help people get abortions, 
and Texas has already made them liable to lawsuits.No existing 
laws specifically target interstate travel, although Idaho could soon 
make it a crime to help a minor travel out of state for an abortion 
without parental consent. But legal experts say flying for Elevated 
Access still might involve some legal risk.“You could see an 
aggressive prosecutor trying to say, under the current laws, that, ‘We 
are going to charge this pilot with being an accessory to murder or an 
accessory to abortion,’” said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel 
University. “We haven’t seen prosecutors try that yet. But there’s good 
reason to believe that’s on the horizon.”Rachel Rebouché, dean of
 the Temple University Beasley School of Law, said there’s also a 
possibility that federal officials could place restrictions on 
abortion-related travel in U.S. air space.“This current 
administration would not try to use federal aviation powers to penalize 
people who are flying rather than driving,” she said. “But in years to 
come, depending on who’s elected, an anti-abortion administration could 
try to do that.”Elevated Access has completed “dozens and dozens” of flights and is 
growing rapidly, Mike said. More than 200 pilots have been vetted and 
more than 1,000 have expressed interest.“We don’t share our full 
numbers because we don’t want to become a target,” the group’s founder 
said. “We want to seem small for as long as possible.”The flights
 represent a minuscule fraction of the flood of abortion-related travel 
between states since many began enforcing bans last summer. But it’s a 
window into the increasingly scrappy tactics of the underground groups 
working to keep abortion accessible to people across the country.Rebouché said it reflects efforts by abortion rights organizations to be nimble in the face of legal uncertainty.“The
 threat of passing a law can itself chill behavior — or incite people to
 organize in different ways,” she said. “It’s an interesting dynamic, 
how this push-pull of potential policy is shaping both care, but also 
advocacy strategies.”Elevated Access works with partner groups 
like abortion funds to coordinate flights, usually after other options 
are exhausted — if a patient isn’t old enough to rent a car, or if their
 commercial flight was canceled.The idea for Elevated Access arose out of Mike’s experience 
volunteering with one of those organizations, Midwest Access Coalition, 
which helps people coordinate and pay for abortion-related travel.“I wanted to learn about abortion access because I thought pilots might be able to help,” he said.In
 the last year, Alison Dreith, the group’s director of strategic 
partnerships, has connected several clients with Elevated Access. Most 
have low incomes and some have never flown before.The organization’s first official passenger flew from Oklahoma to get an abortion in Kansas City, Kansas last summer.“She
 was a bit nervous about flying,” said Dreith. “But the pilot was able 
to walk out into the parking lot and walk her directly onto the 
airfield. It really feels like a V.I.P. experience.”Dreith said the flights prove particularly useful for people who 
don’t have the documents needed to fly commercially. That could include 
undocumented immigrants — or one of her recent clients, who contacted 
Midwest Access Coalition in December for help getting an abortion.“She was in a domestic violence situation where her abusive partner had destroyed her ID and birth certificate,” she said.Dreith
 traveled to North Carolina to get the woman away from the house where 
she was living. The woman thought she was around 16 weeks pregnant — and
 still legally eligible for an abortion, under the state’s 20-week limit
 — but wasn’t certain because her partner hadn’t allowed her to get an 
ultrasound or any prenatal care.When she got to a local clinic, 
the woman learned she was just past the state's limit. So Dreith 
contacted Elevated Access, which organized a flight back to the St. 
Louis area where the woman was from.After getting an abortion 
over the state line in Illinois, Dreith said the woman got help from a 
domestic violence group and is now living on her own.“She had 
been suicidal because she thought she was never going to get out of her 
situation,” Dreith said. “I don’t even have the superlatives to describe
 how thankful she was.”Rose Conlon reports on health for KMUW 
and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter at 
@rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.

Small planes, secrecy: Pilots fly people to Kansas for abortions

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINA —An alert employee confronted a burglar at a north Salina hotel early Tuesday morning, causing him to drop some of the cash he had just taken from the register.

Just after 1a.m., 0fficers were sent to Comfort Inn and Suites, 1949 N. Ninth Street in Salina after report of a possible robbery, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The employee told police that she had been working in the pool area when she noticed someone outside dressed in all dark colors and wearing a mask walk past the windows.

She said she made sure all doors leading to the office area were locked and then she went outside to locate the person, Forrester said. While the employee was outside, she said saw the person jump over the counter and grab all of the cash from the register.

The employee entered the hotel and confronted the burglar, causing him to drop some of the cash as he fled eastbound on foot toward N. Ninth Street.

The burglar was described as being as a man, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 wearing a large black puffy jacket with the hood up, blue jeans, black gloves, and a black facemask.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINA —An alert employee confronted a burglar at a north Salina hotel early Tuesday morning, causing him to drop some of the cash he had just taken from the register.Just after 1a.m., 0fficers were sent to Comfort Inn and Suites, 1949 N. Ninth Street in Salina after report of a possible robbery, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.The employee told police that she had been working in the pool area when she noticed someone outside dressed in all dark colors and wearing a mask walk past the windows.She said she made sure all doors leading to the office area were locked and then she went outside to locate the person, Forrester said. While the employee was outside, she said saw the person jump over the counter and grab all of the cash from the register.The employee entered the hotel and confronted the burglar, causing him to drop some of the cash as he fled eastbound on foot toward N. Ninth Street.The burglar was described as being as a man, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 wearing a large black puffy jacket with the hood up, blue jeans, black gloves, and a black facemask.

Police: Burglar takes cash, runs from Kansas hotel 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a police officer for alleged child sex crimes.

On Monday, Wichita Police Department Command Staff learned that officer <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20081631">Brock England</a> was arrested by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department and <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20081631">booked into the Sedgwick County Jail </a>on charges of sexual abuse of a child under 12-years-old and lewd molestation stemming from an investigation in Garfield County, Oklahoma.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The county booking details list him <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20081631">as a fugitive from justice.</a>

England, 32, has been employed with the Wichita Police for 7-years and was assigned to the field services division. England will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both the criminal and internal investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679400244875.png" alt="England photo Sedgwick County." />
 <figcaption>England photo Sedgwick County.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a police officer for alleged child sex crimes.On Monday, Wichita Police Department Command Staff learned that officer <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20081631">Brock England</a> was arrested by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department and <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20081631">booked into the Sedgwick County Jail </a>on charges of sexual abuse of a child under 12-years-old and lewd molestation stemming from an investigation in Garfield County, Oklahoma.&nbsp;&nbsp;The county booking details list him <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20081631">as a fugitive from justice.</a>England, 32, has been employed with the Wichita Police for 7-years and was assigned to the field services division. England will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of both the criminal and internal investigation.

Fugitive from justice: Kan. police officer accused of sex crimes

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that critically injured a 1-year-old girl from Wichita say the child's condition is improving.

Just after 4:30 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a walk-in shooting victim at an area hospital, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Officers learned the girl's 44-year-old father transported the child to the hospital for treatment from single gunshot wound to her abdominal area. 

The victim underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition. according to Rebolledo. On Monday, Rebolledo said her outcome now is very promising.

The detectives are still working to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.&nbsp; The incident took place at the 1000 block of North Main Street in Wichita.&nbsp;The father of the girl is fully cooperating with investigators.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that critically injured a 1-year-old girl from Wichita say the child's condition is improving.Just after 4:30 a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a walk-in shooting victim at an area hospital, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Officers learned the girl's 44-year-old father transported the child to the hospital for treatment from single gunshot wound to her abdominal area. The victim underwent surgery and was listed in critical condition. according to Rebolledo. On Monday, Rebolledo said her outcome now is very promising.The detectives are still working to fully determine the circumstances leading up to the shooting.&nbsp; The incident took place at the 1000 block of North Main Street in Wichita.&nbsp;The father of the girl is fully cooperating with investigators.

Police: Condition of 1-year-old with gunshot wound is improving

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Monday joined the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the Kansas Department of Administration, and representatives of McCownGordon Construction to celebrate the beginning of construction of the new State of Kansas Health and Environment Laboratory (KHEL), according to a media release from the governor's office.

“From stopping viruses in their tracks to keeping our drinking water clean, this new lab will be on the frontlines of keeping Kansans safe and healthy. But what excites me the most is that it will attract new talent to the area and address our public health worker shortage,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“KDHE is already hearing from job applicants that this new lab is part of the reason they want to come to Kansas.&nbsp;They want to be part of building the future of public health, and there’s no better place to do it than in a modern lab.”

The construction of a new KHEL was approved by Governor Kelly and the State Finance Council in December 2021. American Rescue Plan Act dollars and state general funds will each fund half of the total cost. The State is paying cash for this project, saving potentially millions of dollars in interest, because of the Governor’s fiscal responsibility.

“KHEL is a full-service lab, providing approximately 1 million clinical and environment tests per year that assist in protecting the citizens of Kansas,”&nbsp;KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said.&nbsp;“This new facility could not have come at a better time so that lab staff can continue to excel at what they do and also administer and expand their statewide laboratory improvement programs across nearly 2,000 medical, environmental, and law enforcement agencies.”

The lab will be built on a 3.61-acre section of the Capitol Complex between Topeka Boulevard and Harrison Street (State Parking Lot 4). Plans call for a three-story building of approximately 100,000 square feet. The KHEL will consist of high-tech biology, chemistry, and diagnostic laboratories; offices; and training rooms.

“This has been in development for a long time, and I’m thrilled that we get to begin construction and to see the fruits of our labor,”&nbsp;Acting Secretary of Administration Adam Proffitt said.&nbsp;“This project and the Docking building project will have an enormous impact on the community of Topeka, downtown businesses, and all Kansans, who will be better served by this state-of-the-art biomedical lab.”

The more than 100 employees at the current lab will transfer to the lab once operational. The lab is expected to be complete by Spring 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679334610329.png" alt="The construction of a new KHEL was approved by Governor Kelly and the State Finance Council in December 2021.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The construction of a new KHEL was approved by Governor Kelly and the State Finance Council in December 2021.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly on Monday joined the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the Kansas Department of Administration, and representatives of McCownGordon Construction to celebrate the beginning of construction of the new State of Kansas Health and Environment Laboratory (KHEL), according to a media release from the governor's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679334385546.png" alt="The new facility is anticipated to be a p proximately 100,000 + square feet-Photo courtesy McCownGordon Construction" />
 <figcaption>The new facility is anticipated to be a p proximately 100,000 + square feet-Photo courtesy McCownGordon Construction</figcaption>
 </figure>“From stopping viruses in their tracks to keeping our drinking water clean, this new lab will be on the frontlines of keeping Kansans safe and healthy. But what excites me the most is that it will attract new talent to the area and address our public health worker shortage,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“KDHE is already hearing from job applicants that this new lab is part of the reason they want to come to Kansas.&nbsp;They want to be part of building the future of public health, and there’s no better place to do it than in a modern lab.”The construction of a new KHEL was approved by Governor Kelly and the State Finance Council in December 2021. American Rescue Plan Act dollars and state general funds will each fund half of the total cost. The State is paying cash for this project, saving potentially millions of dollars in interest, because of the Governor’s fiscal responsibility.“KHEL is a full-service lab, providing approximately 1 million clinical and environment tests per year that assist in protecting the citizens of Kansas,”&nbsp;KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said.&nbsp;“This new facility could not have come at a better time so that lab staff can continue to excel at what they do and also administer and expand their statewide laboratory improvement programs across nearly 2,000 medical, environmental, and law enforcement agencies.”The lab will be built on a 3.61-acre section of the Capitol Complex between Topeka Boulevard and Harrison Street (State Parking Lot 4). Plans call for a three-story building of approximately 100,000 square feet. The KHEL will consist of high-tech biology, chemistry, and diagnostic laboratories; offices; and training rooms.“This has been in development for a long time, and I’m thrilled that we get to begin construction and to see the fruits of our labor,”&nbsp;Acting Secretary of Administration Adam Proffitt said.&nbsp;“This project and the Docking building project will have an enormous impact on the community of Topeka, downtown businesses, and all Kansans, who will be better served by this state-of-the-art biomedical lab.”The more than 100 employees at the current lab will transfer to the lab once operational. The lab is expected to be complete by Spring 2025.

Gov. breaks ground on $62M Kan. Health and Environmental Lab

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Authorities continue the investigation of a fatal incident at a refinery in Montgomery County, Kansas.

On Friday, an employee at the Coffeyville refinery,&nbsp;808 E New Street, Coffeyville,&nbsp; was transported from the refinery to an area hospital following an incident, according to a statement from Brandee Stephens, Director of Corporate Affairs at the refinery.&nbsp;The employee died.

The refinery was undergoing maintenance activities at the time. The company reported the incident to regulators.&nbsp; On Monday, officials said they would not release the victim's name and had no additional details available on what happened.

CVR Energy is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in the renewable fuels, petroleum refining and marketing business through its interest in CVR Refining and the nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing business through its interest in CVR Partners, LP.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Authorities continue the investigation of a fatal incident at a refinery in Montgomery County, Kansas.On Friday, an employee at the Coffeyville refinery,&nbsp;808 E New Street, Coffeyville,&nbsp; was transported from the refinery to an area hospital following an incident, according to a statement from Brandee Stephens, Director of Corporate Affairs at the refinery.&nbsp;The employee died.The refinery was undergoing maintenance activities at the time. The company reported the incident to regulators.&nbsp; On Monday, officials said they would not release the victim's name and had no additional details available on what happened.CVR Energy is a diversified holding company primarily engaged in the renewable fuels, petroleum refining and marketing business through its interest in CVR Refining and the nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing business through its interest in CVR Partners, LP.

Investigation of deadly Kansas refinery incident continues

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden issued the first veto of his presidency Monday in an early sign of shifting White House relations with the new Congress since Republicans took control of the House in January — a move that serves as a prelude to bigger battles with GOP lawmakers on government spending and the nation's debt limit.

Biden sought to kill a Republican-authored measure that would ban the government from considering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-cultures-climate-and-environment-government-politics-37bd9e4894541275982a7ff99089cc7e">environmental impacts</a>&nbsp;or potential lawsuits when making investment decisions for people's retirement plans. In a video released by the White House, Biden said he vetoed the measure because it “put at risk the retirement savings of individuals across the country.”

His first veto represents a more confrontational approach at the midway of Biden's term in office, as he faces a GOP-controlled House that is eager to undo parts of his policy legacy and investigate his administration and his family. Complicating matters for Biden, several Democratic senators are up for re-election next year in conservative states, giving them political incentive to put some distance between them and the White House.

The measure vetoed by Biden would have effectively reinstated a Trump-era ban on federal managers of retirement plans considering factors such as climate change, social impacts or pending lawsuits when making investment choices.

The veto could also help calm some anger from environmentalists who have been upset with the Biden administration for its recent decision to greenlight the Willow oil project, a massive and contentious drilling project in Alaska.

“The president vetoed the bill because it jeopardizes the hard-earned life savings of cops, firefighters, teachers, and other workers," White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said.

But critics say so-called environmental, social and governance investments allocate money based on political agendas, such as a drive against climate change, rather than on earning the best returns for savers. Republicans in Congress who pushed the measure said environmental or social considerations in investments by the government are just another example of being “woke.”

“In his first veto, Biden just sided with woke Wall Street over workers," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted on Monday. “Tells you exactly where his priorities lie.” He said "it’s clear Biden wants Wall Street to use your retirement savings to fund his far-left political causes.”

Biden's veto is likely to prevail. Just three Democrats in Congress — one in the House, and two in the Senate — supported Republicans in the matter, making it unlikely a two-thirds majority in both chambers could be assembled to overcome Biden's veto.

Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, was the sole Democrat to back the resolution in the House, while Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., supported it in the Senate. Golden is a perennial target of Republicans seeking to oust him from his conservative district, while Tester and Manchin are both up for re-election next year.

“This administration continues to prioritize their radical policy agenda over the economic, energy and national security needs of our country, and it is absolutely infuriating," Manchin said in a statement.

Though Biden swiftly vetoed the investment resolution, other measures coming from Capitol Hill in the weeks and months ahead could be a tougher call for the White House.

The administration initially signaled that Biden would reject a Republican-authored measure that would override a crime measure passed by the District of Columbia Council, but the president later said he would sign it and did so Monday. He also signed a bill directing the federal government to declassify intelligence related to the origins of COVID-19.

Biden's immediate predecessor, Donald Trump, vetoed 10 bills during his term in office, while Barack Obama vetoed 12, according to the the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Both had one of their vetoes overridden by Congress.

The president with the most vetoes was Franklin Delano Roosevelt — who was elected to four terms before a constitutional amendment limited all presidents to two — with 635 vetoes. Six U.S. presidents never vetoed any legislation in office.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden issued the first veto of his presidency Monday in an early sign of shifting White House relations with the new Congress since Republicans took control of the House in January — a move that serves as a prelude to bigger battles with GOP lawmakers on government spending and the nation's debt limit.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I just vetoed my first bill. This bill would risk your retirement savings by making it illegal to consider risk factors MAGA House Republicans don&#39;t like. Your plan manager should be able to protect your hard-earned savings — whether Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene likes it or not. <a href="https://t.co/PxuoJBdEee">pic.twitter.com/PxuoJBdEee</a>&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1637860509432045591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden sought to kill a Republican-authored measure that would ban the government from considering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-cultures-climate-and-environment-government-politics-37bd9e4894541275982a7ff99089cc7e">environmental impacts</a>&nbsp;or potential lawsuits when making investment decisions for people's retirement plans. In a video released by the White House, Biden said he vetoed the measure because it “put at risk the retirement savings of individuals across the country.”His first veto represents a more confrontational approach at the midway of Biden's term in office, as he faces a GOP-controlled House that is eager to undo parts of his policy legacy and investigate his administration and his family. Complicating matters for Biden, several Democratic senators are up for re-election next year in conservative states, giving them political incentive to put some distance between them and the White House.The measure vetoed by Biden would have effectively reinstated a Trump-era ban on federal managers of retirement plans considering factors such as climate change, social impacts or pending lawsuits when making investment choices.The veto could also help calm some anger from environmentalists who have been upset with the Biden administration for its recent decision to greenlight the Willow oil project, a massive and contentious drilling project in Alaska.“The president vetoed the bill because it jeopardizes the hard-earned life savings of cops, firefighters, teachers, and other workers," White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson said.But critics say so-called environmental, social and governance investments allocate money based on political agendas, such as a drive against climate change, rather than on earning the best returns for savers. Republicans in Congress who pushed the measure said environmental or social considerations in investments by the government are just another example of being “woke.”“In his first veto, Biden just sided with woke Wall Street over workers," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., tweeted on Monday. “Tells you exactly where his priorities lie.” He said "it’s clear Biden wants Wall Street to use your retirement savings to fund his far-left political causes.”Biden's veto is likely to prevail. Just three Democrats in Congress — one in the House, and two in the Senate — supported Republicans in the matter, making it unlikely a two-thirds majority in both chambers could be assembled to overcome Biden's veto.Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, was the sole Democrat to back the resolution in the House, while Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., supported it in the Senate. Golden is a perennial target of Republicans seeking to oust him from his conservative district, while Tester and Manchin are both up for re-election next year.“This administration continues to prioritize their radical policy agenda over the economic, energy and national security needs of our country, and it is absolutely infuriating," Manchin said in a statement.Though Biden swiftly vetoed the investment resolution, other measures coming from Capitol Hill in the weeks and months ahead could be a tougher call for the White House.The administration initially signaled that Biden would reject a Republican-authored measure that would override a crime measure passed by the District of Columbia Council, but the president later said he would sign it and did so Monday. He also signed a bill directing the federal government to declassify intelligence related to the origins of COVID-19.Biden's immediate predecessor, Donald Trump, vetoed 10 bills during his term in office, while Barack Obama vetoed 12, according to the the American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Both had one of their vetoes overridden by Congress.The president with the most vetoes was Franklin Delano Roosevelt — who was elected to four terms before a constitutional amendment limited all presidents to two — with 635 vetoes. Six U.S. presidents never vetoed any legislation in office.

🎥 Biden issues first veto, taking on new Republican House

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident.&nbsp;

Just after 3p.m. Monday, a vehicle struck a woman who was attempting to cross the street at the traffic light at 10th and Central in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from Kansas City, Kansas Police spokesperson Nancy Chartrand.

EMS transported her to a local hospital where she died. The vehicle left the scene but police did make contact with the driver who is cooperating with the investigation.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident.&nbsp;Just after 3p.m. Monday, a vehicle struck a woman who was attempting to cross the street at the traffic light at 10th and Central in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from Kansas City, Kansas Police spokesperson Nancy Chartrand.EMS transported her to a local hospital where she died. The vehicle left the scene but police did make contact with the driver who is cooperating with the investigation.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

Woman dies from injuries in Kansas pedestrian accident

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri’s Republican attorney general on Monday said he will limit access to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-mental-ce8f5a9ee53768af03c3c65d5331045b">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;for minors, sidestepping the GOP-led Senate as it struggles to pass a law banning the practice for children completely.

As hundreds of activists rallied at the Capitol to pressure lawmakers to act on the bill, Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced plans to file an emergency rule.

The rule will require an 18-month waiting period, 15 hour-long therapy sessions and treatment of any mental illnesses before Missouri doctors can provide that kind of care to transgender children, according to Bailey's office.

“I am dedicated to using every legal tool at my disposal to stand in the gap and protect children from being subject to inhumane science experiments,” Bailey said.

The emergency rule also requires disclosure of information about puberty blocker drugs, including that they are experimental, not approved by the FDA and that the FDA has warned they can lead to brain swelling and blindness, Bailey said.

While puberty blockers and hormones often prescribed in transgender treatment are not FDA approved for transgender care, they are used in those cases “off-label,″ which is an accepted and permitted practice.

This is not the first time Bailey has weighed in on transgender health care since taking office in January.

In February, Bailey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-hawley-jamie-reed-st-louis-missouri-health-83953afb898dff7caa2b542c91480069">announced an investigation</a>&nbsp;of a transgender youth clinic in St. Louis run by Washington University, following allegations of abuse by a former employee. He asked the university to shut down the clinic, but it refused.

Bailey's spokeswoman did not say when the new health care rule will be filed and did not provide a copy.

Maysa Akbar, chief diversity officer for the American Psychological Association, called the rule “a disturbing development for transgender and gender-nonconforming youth in Missouri.”

“This emergency order flies in the face of the scientific consensus, which is that, with appropriate psychological screening, treatment approaches should affirm an adolescent’s gender identity, not deny it," Akbar said. "Research shows that discrimination has adverse effects on the health and well-being of transgender people.”

The rule appears to be aimed at helping children who might regret transitioning, said Dr. Jack Drescher, section editor of the gender dysphoria chapter of the DSM-5, the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s mental illness manual.

“However it does so at the expense of those children who would indeed benefit from transition services,” Drescher said. “Sacrificing the well being of the latter for the presumed benefit to the former is an ethically troubling intervention by the state into clinical practice.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679362016015.png" alt="“I am dedicated to using every legal tool at my disposal to stand in the gap and protect children from being subject to inhumane science experiments,”&nbsp; Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said." />
 <figcaption>“I am dedicated to using every legal tool at my disposal to stand in the gap and protect children from being subject to inhumane science experiments,”&nbsp; Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Missouri’s Republican attorney general on Monday said he will limit access to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-mental-ce8f5a9ee53768af03c3c65d5331045b">gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;for minors, sidestepping the GOP-led Senate as it struggles to pass a law banning the practice for children completely.As hundreds of activists rallied at the Capitol to pressure lawmakers to act on the bill, Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced plans to file an emergency rule.The rule will require an 18-month waiting period, 15 hour-long therapy sessions and treatment of any mental illnesses before Missouri doctors can provide that kind of care to transgender children, according to Bailey's office.“I am dedicated to using every legal tool at my disposal to stand in the gap and protect children from being subject to inhumane science experiments,” Bailey said.The emergency rule also requires disclosure of information about puberty blocker drugs, including that they are experimental, not approved by the FDA and that the FDA has warned they can lead to brain swelling and blindness, Bailey said.While puberty blockers and hormones often prescribed in transgender treatment are not FDA approved for transgender care, they are used in those cases “off-label,″ which is an accepted and permitted practice.This is not the first time Bailey has weighed in on transgender health care since taking office in January.In February, Bailey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/josh-hawley-jamie-reed-st-louis-missouri-health-83953afb898dff7caa2b542c91480069">announced an investigation</a>&nbsp;of a transgender youth clinic in St. Louis run by Washington University, following allegations of abuse by a former employee. He asked the university to shut down the clinic, but it refused.Bailey's spokeswoman did not say when the new health care rule will be filed and did not provide a copy.Maysa Akbar, chief diversity officer for the American Psychological Association, called the rule “a disturbing development for transgender and gender-nonconforming youth in Missouri.”“This emergency order flies in the face of the scientific consensus, which is that, with appropriate psychological screening, treatment approaches should affirm an adolescent’s gender identity, not deny it," Akbar said. "Research shows that discrimination has adverse effects on the health and well-being of transgender people.”The rule appears to be aimed at helping children who might regret transitioning, said Dr. Jack Drescher, section editor of the gender dysphoria chapter of the DSM-5, the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s mental illness manual.“However it does so at the expense of those children who would indeed benefit from transition services,” Drescher said. “Sacrificing the well being of the latter for the presumed benefit to the former is an ethically troubling intervention by the state into clinical practice.”Missouri LGBTQ-rights group PROMO called Bailey's rule an abuse of power and said his office “does not respect the professional guidelines of every major medical association in our country, who agrees gender-affirming healthcare is the standard of care for transgender Missourians.”The rule comes amid a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-texas-state-government-tennessee-minnesota-878a9217fa434f3ecd83738a71e40572">national push</a>&nbsp;to restrict transgender health care, drag shows, bathroom access and how LGBTQ topics are discussed in schools.Erin Reed, a researcher who tracks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-texas-state-government-tennessee-minnesota-878a9217fa434f3ecd83738a71e40572">transgender legislation</a>, said Bailey is among Republican elected officials in state executive offices across the nation who are finding ways to limit gender-affirming care when legislatures fail to act.“An action like this taken to sidestep the legislature and sidestep the democratic process is in and of itself undemocratic and is going to harm trans youth in Missouri,” Reed said.Florida state medical officials last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-health-business-florida-government-and-politics-78e417a184718de8b9e71ff32efbc77f">banned transgender children</a>&nbsp;from receiving hormones or undergoing surgeries to treat gender dysphoria at the urging of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely considered to be weighing a run for the Republican presidential nomination.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-child-abuse-child-welfare-greg-abbott-ken-paxton-65c054b6ccd9040e81ad1a4be11403b9">Texas went farther than any state</a>&nbsp;last year when Republican Gov. Greg Abbott issued a first-of-its-kind order that instructed child welfare officials to investigate reports of gender-confirming care for kids as abuse.A couple hundred people rallied Monday at the Capitol in hopes of pushing lawmakers to pass a law to ban all gender-affirming treatment for children, while several came in opposition. The rally featured a diverse collection of speakers, including Republican state officials such as Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Christian leaders and several gay and transgender activists who said that only adults should be able to access gender-affirming care.Catherine Dreher, vice chair of the Missouri Libertarian Party, said her 18-year-old son has dealt with mental health issues, recently left home and wants to transition to a woman, which distresses her. She opposes allowing that for minors, calling it “child abuse.”Debate on the Missouri bill stalled when the conservative sponsor, Republican Sen. Mike Moon, struggled to negotiate with Democrats on the legislation. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-sports-health-youth-missouri-14aaffe8553e5b4567cb179f7a96176b">GOP-led Senate</a>&nbsp;ultimately failed to pass any legislation dealing with the topic before lawmakers left for their annual spring break.“Protecting Missouri's children is not up for negotiation,” Moon wrote in a public letter signed by seven other Republican senators, who vowed to take any action necessary to bring Moon's bill to a vote this week.The issue threatens to derail the Senate. Several Republican senators on Monday spoke against another Republican lawmaker's attempt to combine Moon's bill with a ban on transgender girls competing on school girls' sports teams, fearing that merging the issues might make the legislation unconstitutional.Meanwhile, Senate Democrats have indicated that they may filibuster to encourage compromise, a stall tactic that involves senators talking nonstop.