WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. soldier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">who sprinted into North Korea</a>&nbsp;across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas two months ago was released into American custody, the White House announced Wednesday.

Earlier, North Korea had said it would expel Pvt. Travis King — though some had expected the North to drag out his detention in hopes of squeezing concessions from Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-peninsula-nuclear-b23f9c70307cfd095dc9a5cceecb1f5e">at a time of high tensions</a>&nbsp;between the two countries.

"U.S. officials have secured the return of Private Travis King from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. “We appreciate the dedication of the interagency team that has worked tirelessly out of concern for Private King’s wellbeing."

Officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to expel King, but said they suspected that Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. One official, who was not authorized to comment and requested anonymity, said the North Koreans may have decided that King was more trouble to keep than to simply release him.

Swedish officials took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by the U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China, and at least one U.S. Defense Department official. Biden administration officials insisted they provided no concessions to North Korea to secure the soldier's release.

“We thank the government of Sweden for its diplomatic role serving as the protecting power for the United States in the DPRK and the government of the People’s Republic of China for its assistance in facilitating the transit of Private King,” Sullivan added.

King was being flown to a U.S. military base in South Korea before being returned to the U.S.

King’s expulsion almost certainly does not end his troubles or ensure the sort of celebratory homecoming that has accompanied the releases of other detained Americans.

And there remain unanswered questions about the episode, including why King went to North Korea in the first place. His fate also remains uncertain, having been declared AWOL by the U.S. government. That can mean punishment by time in military jail, forfeiture of pay or a dishonorable discharge.

In the near term, officials said that their focus would be on helping King reintegrate into U.S. society upon his return, including helping him address mental and emotional concerns, according to a senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters on the transfer.

The soldier was in “good spirits and good health” upon his release, according to one senior administration official. He was to be taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, and was expected to arrive overnight, officials said.

King, who had served in South Korea, ran into North Korea while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18, becoming the first American confirmed to be detained in the North in nearly five years.

At the time he crossed the border, King was supposed to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-border-fe5da15f52122af9acc45412fe391465">heading to Fort Bliss, Texas</a>, following his release from prison in South Korea on an assault conviction.

Sweden was the chief interlocutor with North Korea on the transfer, while China helped facilitate his transfer, administration officials said.

Biden administration officials expressed gratitude for China’s assistance with the transfer but underscored that Beijing did not play a mediating role in securing King's release. The U.S. first learned through Swedish officials earlier this month that North Korea was looking to expel King. That information accelerated the effort to release King with Sweden acting on the United States' behalf in its talks with the North, an official said.

On Wednesday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that authorities had finished their questioning of King. It said that he confessed to illegally entering the North because he harbored “ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” within the U.S. Army and was “disillusioned about the unequal U.S. society.”

It has attributed similar comments to King before, and verifying their authenticity is impossible. Some previous foreign detainees have said after their releases that their declarations of guilt while in North Korean custody were made under coercion.

The White House did not address the North Korean state media reports that King fled because of his dismay about racial discrimination and inequality in the military and U.S. society. One senior administration official said that King was “very happy” to be on his way back to the United States.

In an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-army-travis-king-263c0800e507c0182e51f39df1047d29">interview last month with The Associated Press</a>, King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said her son had reason to want to come home. She thanked the U.S. government on Wednesday for securing her son's release.

“Ms. Gates will be forever grateful to the United States Army and all its interagency partners for a job well done," Jonathan Franks, spokesperson for Gates, said in a statement. "For the foreseeable future, the family asks for privacy and Ms. Gates does not intend to give any interviews.”

King, who is from Wisconsin, was among about 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea. U.S. officials had expressed concern about King’s well-being, citing the North’s harsh treatment of some American detainees in the past.

Both Koreas ban anyone from crossing their heavily fortified shared border without special permissions. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/715d3fd4c85d5457237624e5110452c0">Americans who crossed into North Korea</a>&nbsp;in the past include soldiers, missionaries, human rights advocates or those simply curious about one of the world’s most cloistered societies.

North Korea’s decision to release King after 71 days appears relatively quick by the country’s standards, especially considering the tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over the North’s growing nuclear weapons and missile program and the United States' expanding military exercises with South Korea. Some had speculated that North Korea might treat King as a propaganda asset or bargaining chip.

The U.S. has also publicly accused North Korea of providing munitions to Russia for it's war with Ukraine and says that Moscow is pushing Pyongyang to provide even more military aid. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-summit-c44735b9903e6f30e7e8d673ef4c77f3">met for talks</a>&nbsp;in Russia's Far East earlier this month.

Biden administration officials on Wednesday downplayed any idea that the release could augur a broader shift by Kim, but reiterated that the U.S. remains ready to engage the North with diplomatic talks.

In the end, the North apparently concluded that King simply wasn’t worth keeping, possibly because of the cost of providing him food and accommodation and assigning him guards and translators when he was never to be a meaningful source of U.S. military intelligence, said Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst at South Korea’s Sejong Institute.

Captive Americans have been flown to China previously. In other cases, an envoy has been sent to retrieve them.

That happened in 2017 when North Korea deported Otto Warmbier,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0d4df528ce0745218e4d772b61a36b0a">an American college student</a>&nbsp;who was in a coma at the time of his release and later died.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. soldier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">who sprinted into North Korea</a>&nbsp;across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas two months ago was released into American custody Wednesday, according to two officials.

Earlier, North Korea said it would expel Pvt. Travis King — an announcement that surprised some observers who had expected the North to drag out his detention in the hopes of squeezing concessions from Washington at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-kim-jong-un-5a247c5612306bfd1901f851ffba47d3">high tensions</a>&nbsp;between the rivals.

King was transferred to American custody in China, according to one of the officials. The two U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss King’s status ahead of an announcement.

It has attributed similar comments to King before, and verifying their authenticity is impossible.

In an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-army-travis-king-263c0800e507c0182e51f39df1047d29">interview last month with The Associated Press</a>, King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said her son had reason to want to come home.

“I just can’t see him ever wanting to just stay in Korea when he has family in America. He has so many reasons to come home,” she said.

Unauthorized crossings across the Demilitarized Zone separating the Koreas are extremely rare. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/715d3fd4c85d5457237624e5110452c0">few Americans who crossed into North Korea</a>&nbsp;in the past include soldiers, missionaries, human rights advocates or those simply curious about one of the world’s most cloistered societies.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday that it will expel a U.S. soldier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">who crossed into the country</a>&nbsp;through the heavily armed border between the Koreas in July.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said that authorities have finished their questioning of Pvt. Travis King. It did not say when officials plan to expel him or to where.

King, who had served in South Korea, sprinted into North Korea while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18, becoming the first American confirmed to be detained in the North in nearly five years.

On Wednesday, the state news agency said that King confessed to illegally entering the North because he harbored “ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” within the U.S. Army and was “disillusioned about the unequal U.S. society.”

“The relevant organ of the DPRK decided to expel Travis King, a soldier of the U.S. Army who illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK,” the state news agency said, using the initials of North Korea’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

The White House, the State Department and the Pentagon did not have any immediate comment on the report.

Following weeks of silence, North Korea confirmed in August that it had detained King, 23, and was investigating the circumstances surrounding his border crossing.

King was among about 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea. U.S. officials had expressed concern about King’s well-being, citing the North’s harsh treatment of some American detainees in the past.

In an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-army-travis-king-263c0800e507c0182e51f39df1047d29">interview last month with The Associated Press</a>, King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said her son had “so many reasons” to want to come home.

Unauthorized crossings across the Demilitarized Zone separating the Koreas are extremely rare. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-north-korea-border-entry-4456952c66626ea2d5a04578d4e7bb31">few Americans who crossed</a>&nbsp;into North Korea in the past include soldiers, missionaries, human rights advocates or those simply curious about one of the world’s most cloistered societies.

It wasn’t immediately clear how King might be expelled. In some prior cases, an envoy has been sent to retrieve captive Americans. That happened in 2017 when North Korea deported Otto Warmbier, an American college student who was in a coma at the time of his release and later died.

In December 1994, Bill Richardson — who up until his death earlier this month served for many presidential administrations as an unofficial diplomatic troubleshooter — traveled to North Korea in 2007 to recover the remains of servicemembers killed in the Korea War.

U.S. officials have said that King has been declared AWOL, which can be punished by time in the brig, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge with the severity based on the amount of time away and whether the service member was apprehended or returned on their own.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692140954260.png" alt="A TV screen shows a file image of American soldier Travis King during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 24, 2023. The deputy commander of the U.N. Command said Monday it has started conversations with North Korea over King who ran into the North last week across the Koreas' heavily armed border. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)" />
 <figcaption>A TV screen shows a file image of American soldier Travis King during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, July 24, 2023. The deputy commander of the U.N. Command said Monday it has started conversations with North Korea over King who ran into the North last week across the Koreas' heavily armed border. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. soldier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">who sprinted into North Korea</a>&nbsp;across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas two months ago was released into American custody, the White House announced Wednesday.Earlier, North Korea had said it would expel Pvt. Travis King — though some had expected the North to drag out his detention in hopes of squeezing concessions from Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-peninsula-nuclear-b23f9c70307cfd095dc9a5cceecb1f5e">at a time of high tensions</a>&nbsp;between the two countries."U.S. officials have secured the return of Private Travis King from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. “We appreciate the dedication of the interagency team that has worked tirelessly out of concern for Private King’s wellbeing."Officials said they did not know exactly why North Korea decided to expel King, but said they suspected that Pyongyang determined that as a low-ranking serviceman he had no real value in terms of either leverage or information. One official, who was not authorized to comment and requested anonymity, said the North Koreans may have decided that King was more trouble to keep than to simply release him.Swedish officials took King to the Chinese border, where he was met by the U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, the Swedish ambassador to China, and at least one U.S. Defense Department official. Biden administration officials insisted they provided no concessions to North Korea to secure the soldier's release.“We thank the government of Sweden for its diplomatic role serving as the protecting power for the United States in the DPRK and the government of the People’s Republic of China for its assistance in facilitating the transit of Private King,” Sullivan added.King was being flown to a U.S. military base in South Korea before being returned to the U.S.King’s expulsion almost certainly does not end his troubles or ensure the sort of celebratory homecoming that has accompanied the releases of other detained Americans.And there remain unanswered questions about the episode, including why King went to North Korea in the first place. His fate also remains uncertain, having been declared AWOL by the U.S. government. That can mean punishment by time in military jail, forfeiture of pay or a dishonorable discharge.In the near term, officials said that their focus would be on helping King reintegrate into U.S. society upon his return, including helping him address mental and emotional concerns, according to a senior Biden administration officials who briefed reporters on the transfer.The soldier was in “good spirits and good health” upon his release, according to one senior administration official. He was to be taken to Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, and was expected to arrive overnight, officials said.King, who had served in South Korea, ran into North Korea while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18, becoming the first American confirmed to be detained in the North in nearly five years.At the time he crossed the border, King was supposed to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-border-fe5da15f52122af9acc45412fe391465">heading to Fort Bliss, Texas</a>, following his release from prison in South Korea on an assault conviction.Sweden was the chief interlocutor with North Korea on the transfer, while China helped facilitate his transfer, administration officials said.Biden administration officials expressed gratitude for China’s assistance with the transfer but underscored that Beijing did not play a mediating role in securing King's release. The U.S. first learned through Swedish officials earlier this month that North Korea was looking to expel King. That information accelerated the effort to release King with Sweden acting on the United States' behalf in its talks with the North, an official said.On Wednesday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that authorities had finished their questioning of King. It said that he confessed to illegally entering the North because he harbored “ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” within the U.S. Army and was “disillusioned about the unequal U.S. society.”It has attributed similar comments to King before, and verifying their authenticity is impossible. Some previous foreign detainees have said after their releases that their declarations of guilt while in North Korean custody were made under coercion.The White House did not address the North Korean state media reports that King fled because of his dismay about racial discrimination and inequality in the military and U.S. society. One senior administration official said that King was “very happy” to be on his way back to the United States.In an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-army-travis-king-263c0800e507c0182e51f39df1047d29">interview last month with The Associated Press</a>, King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said her son had reason to want to come home. She thanked the U.S. government on Wednesday for securing her son's release.“Ms. Gates will be forever grateful to the United States Army and all its interagency partners for a job well done," Jonathan Franks, spokesperson for Gates, said in a statement. "For the foreseeable future, the family asks for privacy and Ms. Gates does not intend to give any interviews.”King, who is from Wisconsin, was among about 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea. U.S. officials had expressed concern about King’s well-being, citing the North’s harsh treatment of some American detainees in the past.Both Koreas ban anyone from crossing their heavily fortified shared border without special permissions. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/715d3fd4c85d5457237624e5110452c0">Americans who crossed into North Korea</a>&nbsp;in the past include soldiers, missionaries, human rights advocates or those simply curious about one of the world’s most cloistered societies.North Korea’s decision to release King after 71 days appears relatively quick by the country’s standards, especially considering the tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over the North’s growing nuclear weapons and missile program and the United States' expanding military exercises with South Korea. Some had speculated that North Korea might treat King as a propaganda asset or bargaining chip.The U.S. has also publicly accused North Korea of providing munitions to Russia for it's war with Ukraine and says that Moscow is pushing Pyongyang to provide even more military aid. Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-summit-c44735b9903e6f30e7e8d673ef4c77f3">met for talks</a>&nbsp;in Russia's Far East earlier this month.Biden administration officials on Wednesday downplayed any idea that the release could augur a broader shift by Kim, but reiterated that the U.S. remains ready to engage the North with diplomatic talks.In the end, the North apparently concluded that King simply wasn’t worth keeping, possibly because of the cost of providing him food and accommodation and assigning him guards and translators when he was never to be a meaningful source of U.S. military intelligence, said Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst at South Korea’s Sejong Institute.Captive Americans have been flown to China previously. In other cases, an envoy has been sent to retrieve them.That happened in 2017 when North Korea deported Otto Warmbier,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0d4df528ce0745218e4d772b61a36b0a">an American college student</a>&nbsp;who was in a coma at the time of his release and later died.--------------SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. soldier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">who sprinted into North Korea</a>&nbsp;across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas two months ago was released into American custody Wednesday, according to two officials.Earlier, North Korea said it would expel Pvt. Travis King — an announcement that surprised some observers who had expected the North to drag out his detention in the hopes of squeezing concessions from Washington at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-missile-kim-jong-un-5a247c5612306bfd1901f851ffba47d3">high tensions</a>&nbsp;between the rivals.King’s expulsion almost certainly does not end his troubles or ensure the sort of celebratory homecoming that has accompanied the releases of other detained Americans.And there remain unanswered questions about the episode, including why King went to North Korea in the first place. His fate also remains uncertain, having been declared AWOL by the U.S. government. That can mean punishment by time in military jail, forfeiture of pay or a dishonorable discharge.King was transferred to American custody in China, according to one of the officials. The two U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss King’s status ahead of an announcement.King, who had served in South Korea, ran into North Korea while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18, becoming the first American confirmed to be detained in the North in nearly five years.At the time he crossed the border, King was supposed to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-border-fe5da15f52122af9acc45412fe391465">heading to Fort Bliss, Texas</a>, following his release from prison in South Korea on an assault conviction.On Wednesday, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that authorities had finished their questioning of King. It said that he confessed to illegally entering the North because he harbored “ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” within the U.S. Army and was “disillusioned about the unequal U.S. society.”It has attributed similar comments to King before, and verifying their authenticity is impossible.In an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-army-travis-king-263c0800e507c0182e51f39df1047d29">interview last month with The Associated Press</a>, King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said her son had reason to want to come home.“I just can’t see him ever wanting to just stay in Korea when he has family in America. He has so many reasons to come home,” she said.King, who is from Wisconsin, was among about 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea. U.S. officials had expressed concern about King’s well-being, citing the North’s harsh treatment of some American detainees in the past.Unauthorized crossings across the Demilitarized Zone separating the Koreas are extremely rare. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/715d3fd4c85d5457237624e5110452c0">few Americans who crossed into North Korea</a>&nbsp;in the past include soldiers, missionaries, human rights advocates or those simply curious about one of the world’s most cloistered societies.North Korea’s decision to release King after 71 days appears relatively quick by the country’s standards, especially considering the tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over the North’s growing nuclear weapons and missile program and the United States' expanding military exercises with South Korea. Some had speculated that North Korea might treat King as a propaganda asset or bargaining chip.In the end, the North apparently concluded that King simply wasn’t worth keeping, possibly because of the cost of providing him food and accommodation and assigning him guards and translators when he was never to be a meaningful source of U.S. military intelligence, said Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst at South Korea’s Sejong Institute.Captive Americans have been flown to China previously. In other cases, an envoy has been sent to retrieve them.That happened in 2017 when North Korea deported Otto Warmbier,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0d4df528ce0745218e4d772b61a36b0a">an American college student</a>&nbsp;who was in a coma at the time of his release and later died.___SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday that it will expel a U.S. soldier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-citizen-crossed-border-e4aaa883901052e65f5c400c8279438b">who crossed into the country</a>&nbsp;through the heavily armed border between the Koreas in July.The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said that authorities have finished their questioning of Pvt. Travis King. It did not say when officials plan to expel him or to where.King, who had served in South Korea, sprinted into North Korea while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18, becoming the first American confirmed to be detained in the North in nearly five years.At the time he crossed the border, King was supposed to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-us-soldier-travis-king-border-fe5da15f52122af9acc45412fe391465">heading to Fort Bliss, Texas</a>, following his release from prison in South Korea on an assault conviction.On Wednesday, the state news agency said that King confessed to illegally entering the North because he harbored “ill feeling against inhuman maltreatment and racial discrimination” within the U.S. Army and was “disillusioned about the unequal U.S. society.”It has attributed similar comments to King before, and verifying their authenticity is impossible.“The relevant organ of the DPRK decided to expel Travis King, a soldier of the U.S. Army who illegally intruded into the territory of the DPRK,” the state news agency said, using the initials of North Korea’s formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.The White House, the State Department and the Pentagon did not have any immediate comment on the report.Following weeks of silence, North Korea confirmed in August that it had detained King, 23, and was investigating the circumstances surrounding his border crossing.King was among about 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea. U.S. officials had expressed concern about King’s well-being, citing the North’s harsh treatment of some American detainees in the past.In an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-army-travis-king-263c0800e507c0182e51f39df1047d29">interview last month with The Associated Press</a>, King’s mother, Claudine Gates, said her son had “so many reasons” to want to come home.“I just can’t see him ever wanting to just stay in Korea when he has family in America. He has so many reasons to come home,” she said.Unauthorized crossings across the Demilitarized Zone separating the Koreas are extremely rare. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-north-korea-border-entry-4456952c66626ea2d5a04578d4e7bb31">few Americans who crossed</a>&nbsp;into North Korea in the past include soldiers, missionaries, human rights advocates or those simply curious about one of the world’s most cloistered societies.It wasn’t immediately clear how King might be expelled. In some prior cases, an envoy has been sent to retrieve captive Americans. That happened in 2017 when North Korea deported Otto Warmbier, an American college student who was in a coma at the time of his release and later died.In December 1994, Bill Richardson — who up until his death earlier this month served for many presidential administrations as an unofficial diplomatic troubleshooter — traveled to North Korea in 2007 to recover the remains of servicemembers killed in the Korea War.U.S. officials have said that King has been declared AWOL, which can be punished by time in the brig, forfeiture of pay or dishonorable discharge with the severity based on the amount of time away and whether the service member was apprehended or returned on their own.------------

White House: US soldier who crossed into North Korea is in American hands 

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 3p.m.&nbsp;September 23, a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped to assist a motorist with a 2016 Ford Focus on 158th Road and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff&nbsp; Tim Morse. 

Deputies arrested the driver, Tonia Nicole Carlson, 49, of Wahpeton, North Dakota on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Morse. She remains in custody on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695644986425.png" alt="Carlson-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Carlson-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 3p.m.&nbsp;September 23, a Sheriff’s Deputy stopped to assist a motorist with a 2016 Ford Focus on 158th Road and U.S. Highway 75, according to Sheriff&nbsp; Tim Morse. Deputies arrested the driver, Tonia Nicole Carlson, 49, of Wahpeton, North Dakota on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Morse. She remains in custody on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kan. deputy helped woman with car trouble, arrested her

DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the U.S. and telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires.

The recalls cover multiple car and SUV models from the 2010 through 2019 model years including&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V651-3906.pdf">Hyundai's Santa Fe SUV</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V652-7830.pdf">Kia's Sorrento SUV</a>.

Documents posted Wednesday by the U.S. U.S. safety regulators say the anti-lock brake control module can leak fluid and cause an electrical short, which can touch off a fire while the vehicles are parked or being driven.

The automakers are advising owners to park outdoors and away from structures until repairs are done.

Dealers will replace the anti-lock brake fuse at no cost to owners. Kia says in documents that it will send notification letters to owners starting Nov. 14. For Hyundai the date is Nov. 21.

Messages were left early Wednesday seeking comment from both companies.

Affected Kia models include the 2010 through 2019 Borrego, the 2014 to 2016 Cadenza, 2010 through 2013 Forte, Forte Koup and Sportage, the 2015 to 2018 K900, the 2011 to 2015 Optima, the 2011 to 2013 Optima Hybrid and Soul, the 2012 to 2017 Rio, the 2011 to 2014 Sorento, and the 2010 to 2011 Rondo.

Hyundai models covered by the recall include the 2011 to 2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, and Sonata Hybrid, the 2012 to 2015 Accent, Azera, and Veloster, the 2013 to 2015 Elantra Coupe and Santa Fe, the 2014 to 2015 Equus, the 2010 to 2012 Veracruz, the 2010 to 2013 Tucson, the 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and the 2013 Santa Fe Sport.

Owners can go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls">www.nhtsa.gov/recalls</a>&nbsp;and key in their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their vehicle is affected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695818555586.png" alt="The automakers are advising owners to park outdoors and away from structures until repairs are done.-Google image" />
 <figcaption>The automakers are advising owners to park outdoors and away from structures until repairs are done.-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the U.S. and telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires.The recalls cover multiple car and SUV models from the 2010 through 2019 model years including&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V651-3906.pdf">Hyundai's Santa Fe SUV</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2023/RCAK-23V652-7830.pdf">Kia's Sorrento SUV</a>.Documents posted Wednesday by the U.S. U.S. safety regulators say the anti-lock brake control module can leak fluid and cause an electrical short, which can touch off a fire while the vehicles are parked or being driven.The automakers are advising owners to park outdoors and away from structures until repairs are done.Dealers will replace the anti-lock brake fuse at no cost to owners. Kia says in documents that it will send notification letters to owners starting Nov. 14. For Hyundai the date is Nov. 21.Messages were left early Wednesday seeking comment from both companies.Affected Kia models include the 2010 through 2019 Borrego, the 2014 to 2016 Cadenza, 2010 through 2013 Forte, Forte Koup and Sportage, the 2015 to 2018 K900, the 2011 to 2015 Optima, the 2011 to 2013 Optima Hybrid and Soul, the 2012 to 2017 Rio, the 2011 to 2014 Sorento, and the 2010 to 2011 Rondo.Hyundai models covered by the recall include the 2011 to 2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, and Sonata Hybrid, the 2012 to 2015 Accent, Azera, and Veloster, the 2013 to 2015 Elantra Coupe and Santa Fe, the 2014 to 2015 Equus, the 2010 to 2012 Veracruz, the 2010 to 2013 Tucson, the 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and the 2013 Santa Fe Sport.Owners can go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls">www.nhtsa.gov/recalls</a>&nbsp;and key in their 17-digit vehicle identification number to see if their vehicle is affected.

Park outdoors: Hyundai, Kia recall nearly 3.4 million vehicles

CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating hunters in north central Kansas had a successful weekend.

K9 Kreed and handler Game Warden Jake Brooke were busy near Jamestown in Cloud County Saturday for the opener of Teal season, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department Wildlife and&nbsp; Parks.

 After observing a group of eight hunters leave an island in the marsh with a limit of birds, Kreed searched the island and found three stashed birds. 

The group admitted to party hunting and produced an additional hidden bird. All eight were cited for over limit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695742839685.png" alt="Photo KDWP Game Wardens" />
 <figcaption>Photo KDWP Game Wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>CLOUD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating hunters in north central Kansas had a successful weekend.K9 Kreed and handler Game Warden Jake Brooke were busy near Jamestown in Cloud County Saturday for the opener of Teal season, according to a social media report from the Kansas Department Wildlife and&nbsp; Parks. After observing a group of eight hunters leave an island in the marsh with a limit of birds, Kreed searched the island and found three stashed birds. The group admitted to party hunting and produced an additional hidden bird. All eight were cited for over limit.

Kan. game wardens: Hunters over the limit after stashed birds found 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Police have released the name of the teen who died in an accident Saturday in Wichita.

Just before 7:30p.m., a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Aaron Franco of Wichita was eastbound in the 700 block of E. 17th St N, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. Franco lost control and the vehicle struck a utility pole.

First responders found Franco inside the vehicle unconscious.&nbsp; EMS transported him to a local hospital where he were pronounced deceased.

Speed and impairment are believed to be contributing factors, according to Gupilan. Police were still working to learn&nbsp; the circumstances of the crash.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Police have released the name of the teen who died in an accident Saturday in Wichita.Just before 7:30p.m., a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Aaron Franco of Wichita was eastbound in the 700 block of E. 17th St N, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. Franco lost control and the vehicle struck a utility pole.First responders found Franco inside the vehicle unconscious.&nbsp; EMS transported him to a local hospital where he were pronounced deceased.Speed and impairment are believed to be contributing factors, according to Gupilan. Police were still working to learn&nbsp; the circumstances of the crash.

Police: Speed, impairment factors in crash that killed Kan. teen

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House.

Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling in a civil lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing loans.

Engoron ordered that some of Trump’s business licenses be rescinded as punishment, making it difficult or impossible for them to do business in New York, and said he would continue to have an independent monitor oversee Trump Organization operations.

Trump's lawyer, Christopher Kise, said they intend to appeal the decision, calling it a “miscarriage of justice” and “completely disconnected from the facts and governing law.”

“The decision seeks to nationalize one of the most successful corporate empires in the United States and seize control of private property all while acknowledging there is zero evidence of any default, breach, late payment or any complaint of harm," Kise said.

Trump has long insisted he did nothing wrong. His son, Eric, said Engoron's ruling was “an attempt to destroy my father and kick him out of New York.”

“Today, I lost all faith in the New York legal system,” Eric Trump, a Trump Organization executive and lawsuit defendant, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Never before have I seen such hatred toward one person by a judge — a coordinated effort with the Attorney General to destroy a man’s life, company and accomplishments.”

Engoron's decision, days before the start of a non-jury trial in James’ lawsuit, is the strongest repudiation yet of Trump’s carefully coiffed image as a wealthy and shrewd real estate mogul turned political powerhouse.

Beyond mere bragging about his riches, Trump, his company and key executives repeatedly lied about them on his annual financial statements, reaping rewards such as favorable loan terms and lower insurance costs, Engoron found.

Those tactics crossed a line and violated the law, the judge said, rejecting Trump’s contention that a disclaimer on the financial statements absolved him of any wrongdoing.

“In defendants’ world: rent regulated apartments are worth the same as unregulated apartments; restricted land is worth the same as unrestricted land; restrictions can evaporate into thin air; a disclaimer by one party casting responsibility on another party exonerates the other party’s lies," Engoron wrote in his 35-page ruling. "That is a fantasy world, not the real world.”

Manhattan prosecutors had looked into bringing criminal charges over the same conduct but declined to do so, leaving James to sue Trump and seek penalties that aim to disrupt his and his family’s ability to do business in the state.

Engoron’s ruling, in a phase of the case known as summary judgment, resolves the key claim in James’ lawsuit, but several others remain. He'll decide on those claims and James' request for $250 million in penalties at a trial starting Oct. 2. Trump’s lawyers have asked an appeals court for a temporary delay.

“Today, a judge ruled in our favor and found that Donald Trump and the Trump Organization engaged in years of financial fraud," James said in a statement. "We look forward to presenting the rest of our case at trial.”

Trump’s lawyers, in their own summary judgment bid, had asked the judge to throw out the case.

They argued James wasn’t legally allowed to file the lawsuit because there wasn’t any evidence that the public was harmed by Trump’s actions. They also argued that many of the allegations in the lawsuit were barred by the statute of limitations.

Engoron, noting that he had “emphatically rejected” those arguments earlier in the case, equated them to the plot of the film "Groundhog Day." He fined five defense lawyers $7,500 each as punishment for “engaging in repetitive, frivolous” arguments, but denied James' request to sanction Trump and other defendants.

James, a Democrat, sued Trump and the Trump Organization a year ago, alleging a pattern of duplicity she dubbed “the art of the steal,” a twist on the title of Trump’s 1987 business memoir “The Art of the Deal.”

The lawsuit accused Trump and his company of routinely inflating the value of assets like skyscrapers, golf courses and his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, padding his bottom line by billions.

Engoron found that Trump consistently overvalued Mar-a-Lago, inflating its value on one financial statement by 2,300%. The judge also rebuked Trump for lying about the size of his Manhattan apartment. Trump claimed his three-story Trump Tower penthouse was nearly three times its actual size, valuing it at $327 million.

“A discrepancy of this order of magnitude, by a real estate developer sizing up his own living space of decades, can only be considered fraud," Engoron wrote.

On X in the wake of the ruling, Eric Trump insisted his father's claims about Mar-a-Lago were correct, writing that the Palm Beach estate is “speculated to be worth well over a billion dollars making it arguably the most valuable residential property in the country.”

Trump argued in sworn testimony for the case that the values on his financial statements didn't matter because the forms have a disclaimer that says they shouldn’t be trusted. Trump argued that banks “made a lot of money” from him and didn't object to the valuations.

James’ lawsuit is one of several legal headaches for Trump, the Republican front-runner in next year's election. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">has been indicted four times</a>&nbsp;in the last six months — accused in Georgia and Washington, D.C., of plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss, in Florida of hoarding classified documents, and in Manhattan of falsifying business records related to hush money paid on his behalf.

The Trump Organization was convicted of tax fraud last year in an unrelated criminal case for helping executives dodge taxes on perks such as apartments and cars. The company was fined $1.6 million. One executive, Trump’s longtime finance chief Allen Weisselberg, pleaded guilty and served five months in jail. He is also a defendant in James’ lawsuit.

James’ lawsuit does not carry the potential of prison time, but could complicate Trump's ability to transact real estate deals. It could also stain his legacy as a developer.

James, who campaigned for office as a Trump critic and watchdog, started scrutinizing his business practices in March 2019 after his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress that Trump exaggerated his wealth on financial statements while trying to buy the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

James’ office previously sued Trump for misusing his charitable foundation to further his political and business interests. Trump was ordered to give $2 million to charity as a fine while his own charity, the Trump Foundation, was shut down.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695772535120.png" alt="Former President Trump at a campaign rally in South Carolina on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former President Trump at a campaign rally in South Carolina on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A judge ruled Tuesday that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In an attempt to destroy my father and kick him out of New York, a Judge just ruled that Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach Florida, is only worth approximate “$18 Million dollars”… Mar-a-Lago is speculated to be worth we’ll over a billion dollars making it arguably the most valuable… <a href="https://t.co/b0U6J5ykWJ">pic.twitter.com/b0U6J5ykWJ</a>&mdash; Eric Trump (@EricTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricTrump/status/1706795629505114508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling in a civil lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing loans.Engoron ordered that some of Trump’s business licenses be rescinded as punishment, making it difficult or impossible for them to do business in New York, and said he would continue to have an independent monitor oversee Trump Organization operations.Trump's lawyer, Christopher Kise, said they intend to appeal the decision, calling it a “miscarriage of justice” and “completely disconnected from the facts and governing law.”“The decision seeks to nationalize one of the most successful corporate empires in the United States and seize control of private property all while acknowledging there is zero evidence of any default, breach, late payment or any complaint of harm," Kise said.Trump has long insisted he did nothing wrong. His son, Eric, said Engoron's ruling was “an attempt to destroy my father and kick him out of New York.”“Today, I lost all faith in the New York legal system,” Eric Trump, a Trump Organization executive and lawsuit defendant, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Never before have I seen such hatred toward one person by a judge — a coordinated effort with the Attorney General to destroy a man’s life, company and accomplishments.”Engoron's decision, days before the start of a non-jury trial in James’ lawsuit, is the strongest repudiation yet of Trump’s carefully coiffed image as a wealthy and shrewd real estate mogul turned political powerhouse.Beyond mere bragging about his riches, Trump, his company and key executives repeatedly lied about them on his annual financial statements, reaping rewards such as favorable loan terms and lower insurance costs, Engoron found.Those tactics crossed a line and violated the law, the judge said, rejecting Trump’s contention that a disclaimer on the financial statements absolved him of any wrongdoing.“In defendants’ world: rent regulated apartments are worth the same as unregulated apartments; restricted land is worth the same as unrestricted land; restrictions can evaporate into thin air; a disclaimer by one party casting responsibility on another party exonerates the other party’s lies," Engoron wrote in his 35-page ruling. "That is a fantasy world, not the real world.”Manhattan prosecutors had looked into bringing criminal charges over the same conduct but declined to do so, leaving James to sue Trump and seek penalties that aim to disrupt his and his family’s ability to do business in the state.Engoron’s ruling, in a phase of the case known as summary judgment, resolves the key claim in James’ lawsuit, but several others remain. He'll decide on those claims and James' request for $250 million in penalties at a trial starting Oct. 2. Trump’s lawyers have asked an appeals court for a temporary delay.“Today, a judge ruled in our favor and found that Donald Trump and the Trump Organization engaged in years of financial fraud," James said in a statement. "We look forward to presenting the rest of our case at trial.”Trump’s lawyers, in their own summary judgment bid, had asked the judge to throw out the case.They argued James wasn’t legally allowed to file the lawsuit because there wasn’t any evidence that the public was harmed by Trump’s actions. They also argued that many of the allegations in the lawsuit were barred by the statute of limitations.Engoron, noting that he had “emphatically rejected” those arguments earlier in the case, equated them to the plot of the film "Groundhog Day." He fined five defense lawyers $7,500 each as punishment for “engaging in repetitive, frivolous” arguments, but denied James' request to sanction Trump and other defendants.James, a Democrat, sued Trump and the Trump Organization a year ago, alleging a pattern of duplicity she dubbed “the art of the steal,” a twist on the title of Trump’s 1987 business memoir “The Art of the Deal.”The lawsuit accused Trump and his company of routinely inflating the value of assets like skyscrapers, golf courses and his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, padding his bottom line by billions.Engoron found that Trump consistently overvalued Mar-a-Lago, inflating its value on one financial statement by 2,300%. The judge also rebuked Trump for lying about the size of his Manhattan apartment. Trump claimed his three-story Trump Tower penthouse was nearly three times its actual size, valuing it at $327 million.“A discrepancy of this order of magnitude, by a real estate developer sizing up his own living space of decades, can only be considered fraud," Engoron wrote.On X in the wake of the ruling, Eric Trump insisted his father's claims about Mar-a-Lago were correct, writing that the Palm Beach estate is “speculated to be worth well over a billion dollars making it arguably the most valuable residential property in the country.”Trump argued in sworn testimony for the case that the values on his financial statements didn't matter because the forms have a disclaimer that says they shouldn’t be trusted. Trump argued that banks “made a lot of money” from him and didn't object to the valuations.James’ lawsuit is one of several legal headaches for Trump, the Republican front-runner in next year's election. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-investigations-other-charges-b8b064a00caad4306fb54d2f6a320468">has been indicted four times</a>&nbsp;in the last six months — accused in Georgia and Washington, D.C., of plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss, in Florida of hoarding classified documents, and in Manhattan of falsifying business records related to hush money paid on his behalf.The Trump Organization was convicted of tax fraud last year in an unrelated criminal case for helping executives dodge taxes on perks such as apartments and cars. The company was fined $1.6 million. One executive, Trump’s longtime finance chief Allen Weisselberg, pleaded guilty and served five months in jail. He is also a defendant in James’ lawsuit.James’ lawsuit does not carry the potential of prison time, but could complicate Trump's ability to transact real estate deals. It could also stain his legacy as a developer.James, who campaigned for office as a Trump critic and watchdog, started scrutinizing his business practices in March 2019 after his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen testified to Congress that Trump exaggerated his wealth on financial statements while trying to buy the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.James’ office previously sued Trump for misusing his charitable foundation to further his political and business interests. Trump was ordered to give $2 million to charity as a fine while his own charity, the Trump Foundation, was shut down.

Trump team responds to judge's ruling he committed fraud and lied 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leaders of Hollywood’s writers union declared their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">nearly five-month-old strike</a>&nbsp;over Tuesday after board members approved a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-wga-3336824c06795931845c889f1e08b3ff">contract agreement with studios</a>.

The governing boards of the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America both voted to accept the deal, and afterward declared that the strike would be over and writers would be free to work starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

The writers still have to vote to ratify the contract themselves, but lifting the strike will allow them to work during that process, the Writers Guild told members in an email.

Hollywood actors remain on strike with no talks yet on the horizon.

A new spirit of optimism animated actors who were picketing Tuesday for the first time since writers reached their tentative deal Sunday night.

“For a hot second, I really thought that this was going to go on until next year,” said Marissa Cuevas, an actor who has appeared on the TV series “Kung Fu” and “The Big Bang Theory.” “Knowing that at least one of us has gotten a good deal gives a lot of hope that we will also get a good deal.”

Writers’ picket lines have been suspended, but they were encouraged to walk in solidarity with actors, and many were on the lines Tuesday, including “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner, who picketed alongside friend and “ER” actor Noah Wyle as he has throughout the strikes.

“We would never have had the leverage we had if SAG had not gone out,” Weiner said. “They were very brave to do it.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">Striking actors</a>&nbsp;voted to expand their walkout to include the lucrative video game market, a step that could put new pressure on Hollywood studios to make a deal with the performers who provide voices and stunts for games.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists announced the move late Monday, saying that 98% of its members voted to go on strike against video game companies if ongoing negotiations are not successful. The announcement came ahead of more talks planned for Tuesday.

Acting in video games can include a variety of roles, from voice performances to motion capture work as well as stunts. Video game actors went on strike in 2016 in a work stoppage that lasted nearly a year.

Some of the same issues are at play in the video game negotiations as in the broader actors strike that has shut down Hollywood for months, including wages, safety measures and protections on the use of artificial intelligence. The companies involved include gaming giants Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take 2 Productions as well as Disney and Warner Bros.′ video game divisions.

“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement.

Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for video game producers, said they are “continuing to negotiate in good faith” and have reached tentative agreements on more than half of the proposals on the table.

So far this year, U.S. consumers have spent $34.9 billion on video games, consoles and accessories, according to market research group Circana.

The threat of a video game strike emerged as Hollywood writers were on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-wga-3336824c06795931845c889f1e08b3ff">verge of getting back to work</a>&nbsp;after months&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">on the picket lines</a>.

The alliance of studios, streaming services and producers has chosen to negotiate only with the writers so far, and has made no overtures yet toward restarting talks with SAG-AFTRA. That will presumably change soon.

SAG-AFTRA leaders have said they will look closely at the writers' agreement, which includes many of the same issues, but it will not effect their demands.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leaders of Hollywood’s writers union declared their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">nearly five-month-old strike</a>&nbsp;over Tuesday after board members approved a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-wga-3336824c06795931845c889f1e08b3ff">contract agreement with studios</a>.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWGAWest%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0TAGL8yR5CpxRCtdYzGUvvyhv2574Nto8DCdviSqpZ8WWwvXAwrTr3zduz8s2wFPpl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="668" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The governing boards of the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America both voted to accept the deal, and afterward declared that the strike would be over and writers would be free to work starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.The writers still have to vote to ratify the contract themselves, but lifting the strike will allow them to work during that process, the Writers Guild told members in an email.Hollywood actors remain on strike with no talks yet on the horizon.A new spirit of optimism animated actors who were picketing Tuesday for the first time since writers reached their tentative deal Sunday night.“For a hot second, I really thought that this was going to go on until next year,” said Marissa Cuevas, an actor who has appeared on the TV series “Kung Fu” and “The Big Bang Theory.” “Knowing that at least one of us has gotten a good deal gives a lot of hope that we will also get a good deal.”Writers’ picket lines have been suspended, but they were encouraged to walk in solidarity with actors, and many were on the lines Tuesday, including “Mad Men” creator Matthew Weiner, who picketed alongside friend and “ER” actor Noah Wyle as he has throughout the strikes.“We would never have had the leverage we had if SAG had not gone out,” Weiner said. “They were very brave to do it.”<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">Striking actors</a>&nbsp;voted to expand their walkout to include the lucrative video game market, a step that could put new pressure on Hollywood studios to make a deal with the performers who provide voices and stunts for games.The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists announced the move late Monday, saying that 98% of its members voted to go on strike against video game companies if ongoing negotiations are not successful. The announcement came ahead of more talks planned for Tuesday.Acting in video games can include a variety of roles, from voice performances to motion capture work as well as stunts. Video game actors went on strike in 2016 in a work stoppage that lasted nearly a year.Some of the same issues are at play in the video game negotiations as in the broader actors strike that has shut down Hollywood for months, including wages, safety measures and protections on the use of artificial intelligence. The companies involved include gaming giants Activision, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Take 2 Productions as well as Disney and Warner Bros.′ video game divisions.“It’s time for the video game companies to stop playing games and get serious about reaching an agreement on this contract,” SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said in a statement.Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for video game producers, said they are “continuing to negotiate in good faith” and have reached tentative agreements on more than half of the proposals on the table.So far this year, U.S. consumers have spent $34.9 billion on video games, consoles and accessories, according to market research group Circana.The threat of a video game strike emerged as Hollywood writers were on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-deal-hollywood-wga-3336824c06795931845c889f1e08b3ff">verge of getting back to work</a>&nbsp;after months&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hollywood-strikes/">on the picket lines</a>.The alliance of studios, streaming services and producers has chosen to negotiate only with the writers so far, and has made no overtures yet toward restarting talks with SAG-AFTRA. That will presumably change soon.SAG-AFTRA leaders have said they will look closely at the writers' agreement, which includes many of the same issues, but it will not effect their demands.

Hollywood writers strike over; boards vote to approve contract with studios

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen driver for multiple allegations in connection with a weekend 2-vehicle crash.

Just before 11:30 p.m.&nbsp; Sunday, a sheriff's deputy on routine patrol near U.S. 75 and U.S. 36 Highways encountered a vehicle driving with defective headlights and emitting sparks from the undercarriage, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

The eastbound a Toyota 4-Runner was stopped in&nbsp; Fairview and appeared that it&nbsp; had recently been involved in an accident. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and&nbsp; made contact with the driver identified as 18-year-old Nixon Castro of Hiawatha.&nbsp; 

Approximately 2 minutes after the stop, dispatch then notified officers that a rollover accident was reported west of Fairview.&nbsp; According to information received from investigating the accident,&nbsp; a Toyota Yaris was eastbound on US 36&nbsp; west of Fairview when a Toyota 4 Runner, also eastbound&nbsp; side swiped the Yaris on the drivers side of the vehicle causing damage to both vehicles.

This caused the&nbsp; Yaris to leave the roadway and roll .&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The driver of the Yaris identified as 47-year-old Eduardo Ganzales was not injured but the two other occupants had non life threatening injuries.&nbsp; 

They refused medical treatment.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Toyota 4 Runner&nbsp; also left the roadway traveling through a soybean field and&nbsp; destroyed some field fencing and&nbsp; continued east on U.S. 36 until it was stopped by the deputy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

There were no injuries reported in the Toyota 4 Runner.&nbsp; The deputy arrested Castro&nbsp; on requested charges of DUI, Transport Open Container, Reckless Driving and Failure to Report an Accident. He remains in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695754744461.png" alt="Castro-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Castro-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a teen driver for multiple allegations in connection with a weekend 2-vehicle crash.Just before 11:30 p.m.&nbsp; Sunday, a sheriff's deputy on routine patrol near U.S. 75 and U.S. 36 Highways encountered a vehicle driving with defective headlights and emitting sparks from the undercarriage, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.The eastbound a Toyota 4-Runner was stopped in&nbsp; Fairview and appeared that it&nbsp; had recently been involved in an accident. The deputy initiated a traffic stop and&nbsp; made contact with the driver identified as 18-year-old Nixon Castro of Hiawatha.&nbsp; Approximately 2 minutes after the stop, dispatch then notified officers that a rollover accident was reported west of Fairview.&nbsp; According to information received from investigating the accident,&nbsp; a Toyota Yaris was eastbound on US 36&nbsp; west of Fairview when a Toyota 4 Runner, also eastbound&nbsp; side swiped the Yaris on the drivers side of the vehicle causing damage to both vehicles.This caused the&nbsp; Yaris to leave the roadway and roll .&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The driver of the Yaris identified as 47-year-old Eduardo Ganzales was not injured but the two other occupants had non life threatening injuries.&nbsp; They refused medical treatment.&nbsp;&nbsp; The Toyota 4 Runner&nbsp; also left the roadway traveling through a soybean field and&nbsp; destroyed some field fencing and&nbsp; continued east on U.S. 36 until it was stopped by the deputy.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There were no injuries reported in the Toyota 4 Runner.&nbsp; The deputy arrested Castro&nbsp; on requested charges of DUI, Transport Open Container, Reckless Driving and Failure to Report an Accident. He remains in custody, according to online jail records.

Kansas teen driver jailed after SUV sideswipes car

HARVEY COUNTY - A Kansas&nbsp; man has been sentenced to prison for child sex crimes.

A District judge sentenced Billy Joe Smith, 57, Newton, to six years in prison, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.&nbsp; In July he pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child.&nbsp;

Smith was also ordered to serve lifetime post release supervision and register as a sex offender.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695760118719.png" alt="Smith photo Harvey Co." />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Harvey Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY - A Kansas&nbsp; man has been sentenced to prison for child sex crimes.A District judge sentenced Billy Joe Smith, 57, Newton, to six years in prison, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.&nbsp; In July he pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated indecent solicitation of a child.&nbsp;Smith was also ordered to serve lifetime post release supervision and register as a sex offender.

Kansas man sentenced to prison for child sex crimes

BALTIMORE (AP) — Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, whose deft glovework and folksy manner made him one of the most beloved and accomplished athletes in Baltimore history, has died. He was 86.

The Orioles announced his death in a joint statement with Robinson's family Tuesday. The statement did not say how Robinson died.

The Orioles held a moment of silence before their game against the Washington Nationals, and the teams lined up outside their dugouts to pay their respects. Also before the game, fans gathered around the 9-foot bronze statue of Robinson inside Camden Yards.

“Great player, great guy on the field, great guy off,” said fellow Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, who was overcome with emotion. “Respectful, kind. And you don’t meet too many guys like that. Brooks was a genuine person. There was no acting. Brooks was just a genuine person.”

Coming of age before the free agent era, Robinson spent his entire 23-year career with the Orioles. He almost single-handedly helped Baltimore defeat Cincinnati in the 1970 World Series and homered in Game 1 of the Orioles' 1966 sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first crown.

Robinson participated in 18 All-Star Games, won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves and earned the 1964 AL Most Valuable Player award after batting .318 with 28 home runs and a league-leading 118 RBIs.

“An integral part of our Orioles Family since 1955, he will continue to leave a lasting impact on our club, our community, and the sport of baseball,” the team said.

He finished with 268 homers, drove in 1,357 runs and batted a respectable .267 in 2,896 career games. Not bad for ol’ No. 5, the boy from Arkansas.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred described Robinson as “one of the greats of our National Pastime.”

“Brooks stood among the greatest defensive players who have ever lived,” Manfred said in a statement. “... He was a model of excellence, durability, loyalty and winning baseball for the Orioles.

“I will always remember Brooks as a true gentleman who represented our game extraordinarily well on and off the field all his life.”

Robinson will be forever remembered for his work ethic and the skill he displayed at the hot corner, where he established himself as one of the finest fielding third baseman in baseball history, whether charging slow rollers or snaring liners down the third-base line.

“Brooks was maybe the last guy to get into the clubhouse the day of the game, but he would be the first guy on the field,” former Orioles manager Earl Weaver said. “He’d be taking his groundballs, and we’d all go, ‘Why does Brooks have to take any groundballs?’

“I wouldn’t expect anything else from Brooks. Seeing him work like that meant a lot of any young person coming up. He was so steady, and he steadied everybody else.”

Robinson arrived in Baltimore in September 1955 as an 18-year-old after spending most of his first professional season in baseball with Class B York. He went 2 for 22 with the Orioles and struck out 10 times.

He jockeyed between the majors and minors until July 1959, when he stuck around in Baltimore for good.

“I think maybe he always knew what it’s like to be in the big leagues at 19. And then I think when you get to the big leagues, you get here, you got to stay here, you got to figure out how to get better," Palmer said. “You have to decide who you want to be like. I think for all of us who knew him … he was the best.”

Brooks Calbert Robinson Jr. was born in Little Rock on May 18, 1937. He eventually made Baltimore his home but never really lost his southern twang, which was just fine with fans in blue-collar Baltimore, who appreciated his homespun charm and unassuming demeanor.

Dubbed “Mr. Oriole,” he was a sports hero in Charm City, in the pantheon with former Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas and Orioles infielder Cal Ripken, who performed for a different generation.

Many Orioles rooters who never got to see Robinson play still were able to enjoy his observations as he was part of team broadcasts.

Ripken was known as The Iron Man because he played in 2,632 consecutive games, but Robinson wasn’t fond of sitting on the bench, either. From 1960-1975, he played in at least 152 games in 14 seasons and in 144 games the other two years.

“I’m a guy who just wanted to see his name in the lineup everyday,” he said. “To me, baseball was a passion to the point of obsession.”

Robinson retired in 1977 after batting only .149 in 24 games. His jersey was retired that year.

Robinson’s most memorable performance came as MVP of the 1970 World Series, when the Orioles bounced back from their stunning defeat to the New York Mets the year before and Robinson redeemed himself after batting just 1 for 19 in that series. Because he was so sensational in the field during Baltimore’s five-game triumph over the Reds, few remember he hit .429 and homered twice and drove in six runs — or that he made an error on his first play in the field.

In Game 1, Robinson delivered the tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning. One inning earlier, he made a sensational backhanded grab of a hard grounder hit down the line by Lee May, spun around in foul territory and somehow threw out the runner.

Robinson contributed an RBI single in the second game and became forever a part of World Series lore with his standout performance in Game 3. He made a tremendous, leaping grab of a grounder by Tony Perez to start a first-inning double play; charged a slow roller in the second inning and threw out Tommy Helms; then capped his memorable afternoon with a diving catch of a liner by Johnny Bench. The Series ended, fittingly, with a ground out to Robinson in Game 5, a 9-3 Orioles win.

“I’m beginning to see Brooks in my sleep,” Reds manager Sparky Anderson said during the Series. “If I dropped this paper plate, he’d pick it up on one hop and throw me out at first.”

Anderson also said, “He can throw his glove out there and it will start 10 double plays by itself.”

Palmer and other teammates would say that the country got to see what Robinson did routinely during the regular season. Robinson used to blush when asked to recall his heroics in October 1970.

“I tell people that I played 23 seasons and I never did have five games in a row like I did in that World Series,” he said. “It was a once in a lifetime five-game series for me, and it just happened to be in a World Series.”

His legacy in Maryland continued long after his retirement.

There’s a Brooks Robinson Drive in Pikesville, and the annual state high school All-Star game played at Camden Yards is named in his honor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695767288471.png" alt="The Orioles announced his death in a joint statement with Robinson's family Tuesday. The statement did not say how Robinson died." />
 <figcaption>The Orioles announced his death in a joint statement with Robinson's family Tuesday. The statement did not say how Robinson died.</figcaption>
 </figure>BALTIMORE (AP) — Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, whose deft glovework and folksy manner made him one of the most beloved and accomplished athletes in Baltimore history, has died. He was 86.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Statement from the Orioles on the passing of Hall of Famer and Orioles Legend Brooks Robinson: <a href="https://t.co/pJygtizIck">pic.twitter.com/pJygtizIck</a>&mdash; Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) <a href="https://twitter.com/Orioles/status/1706797286615818604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Orioles announced his death in a joint statement with Robinson's family Tuesday. The statement did not say how Robinson died.The Orioles held a moment of silence before their game against the Washington Nationals, and the teams lined up outside their dugouts to pay their respects. Also before the game, fans gathered around the 9-foot bronze statue of Robinson inside Camden Yards.“Great player, great guy on the field, great guy off,” said fellow Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer, who was overcome with emotion. “Respectful, kind. And you don’t meet too many guys like that. Brooks was a genuine person. There was no acting. Brooks was just a genuine person.”Coming of age before the free agent era, Robinson spent his entire 23-year career with the Orioles. He almost single-handedly helped Baltimore defeat Cincinnati in the 1970 World Series and homered in Game 1 of the Orioles' 1966 sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first crown.Robinson participated in 18 All-Star Games, won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves and earned the 1964 AL Most Valuable Player award after batting .318 with 28 home runs and a league-leading 118 RBIs.“An integral part of our Orioles Family since 1955, he will continue to leave a lasting impact on our club, our community, and the sport of baseball,” the team said.He finished with 268 homers, drove in 1,357 runs and batted a respectable .267 in 2,896 career games. Not bad for ol’ No. 5, the boy from Arkansas.MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred described Robinson as “one of the greats of our National Pastime.”“Brooks stood among the greatest defensive players who have ever lived,” Manfred said in a statement. “... He was a model of excellence, durability, loyalty and winning baseball for the Orioles.“I will always remember Brooks as a true gentleman who represented our game extraordinarily well on and off the field all his life.”Robinson will be forever remembered for his work ethic and the skill he displayed at the hot corner, where he established himself as one of the finest fielding third baseman in baseball history, whether charging slow rollers or snaring liners down the third-base line.“Brooks was maybe the last guy to get into the clubhouse the day of the game, but he would be the first guy on the field,” former Orioles manager Earl Weaver said. “He’d be taking his groundballs, and we’d all go, ‘Why does Brooks have to take any groundballs?’“I wouldn’t expect anything else from Brooks. Seeing him work like that meant a lot of any young person coming up. He was so steady, and he steadied everybody else.”Robinson arrived in Baltimore in September 1955 as an 18-year-old after spending most of his first professional season in baseball with Class B York. He went 2 for 22 with the Orioles and struck out 10 times.He jockeyed between the majors and minors until July 1959, when he stuck around in Baltimore for good.“I think maybe he always knew what it’s like to be in the big leagues at 19. And then I think when you get to the big leagues, you get here, you got to stay here, you got to figure out how to get better," Palmer said. “You have to decide who you want to be like. I think for all of us who knew him … he was the best.”Brooks Calbert Robinson Jr. was born in Little Rock on May 18, 1937. He eventually made Baltimore his home but never really lost his southern twang, which was just fine with fans in blue-collar Baltimore, who appreciated his homespun charm and unassuming demeanor.Dubbed “Mr. Oriole,” he was a sports hero in Charm City, in the pantheon with former Colts quarterback Johnny Unitas and Orioles infielder Cal Ripken, who performed for a different generation.Many Orioles rooters who never got to see Robinson play still were able to enjoy his observations as he was part of team broadcasts.Ripken was known as The Iron Man because he played in 2,632 consecutive games, but Robinson wasn’t fond of sitting on the bench, either. From 1960-1975, he played in at least 152 games in 14 seasons and in 144 games the other two years.“I’m a guy who just wanted to see his name in the lineup everyday,” he said. “To me, baseball was a passion to the point of obsession.”Robinson retired in 1977 after batting only .149 in 24 games. His jersey was retired that year.Robinson’s most memorable performance came as MVP of the 1970 World Series, when the Orioles bounced back from their stunning defeat to the New York Mets the year before and Robinson redeemed himself after batting just 1 for 19 in that series. Because he was so sensational in the field during Baltimore’s five-game triumph over the Reds, few remember he hit .429 and homered twice and drove in six runs — or that he made an error on his first play in the field.In Game 1, Robinson delivered the tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning. One inning earlier, he made a sensational backhanded grab of a hard grounder hit down the line by Lee May, spun around in foul territory and somehow threw out the runner.Robinson contributed an RBI single in the second game and became forever a part of World Series lore with his standout performance in Game 3. He made a tremendous, leaping grab of a grounder by Tony Perez to start a first-inning double play; charged a slow roller in the second inning and threw out Tommy Helms; then capped his memorable afternoon with a diving catch of a liner by Johnny Bench. The Series ended, fittingly, with a ground out to Robinson in Game 5, a 9-3 Orioles win.“I’m beginning to see Brooks in my sleep,” Reds manager Sparky Anderson said during the Series. “If I dropped this paper plate, he’d pick it up on one hop and throw me out at first.”Anderson also said, “He can throw his glove out there and it will start 10 double plays by itself.”Palmer and other teammates would say that the country got to see what Robinson did routinely during the regular season. Robinson used to blush when asked to recall his heroics in October 1970.“I tell people that I played 23 seasons and I never did have five games in a row like I did in that World Series,” he said. “It was a once in a lifetime five-game series for me, and it just happened to be in a World Series.”His legacy in Maryland continued long after his retirement.There’s a Brooks Robinson Drive in Pikesville, and the annual state high school All-Star game played at Camden Yards is named in his honor.

Hall of Fame 3B, Orioles legend Brooks Robinson dies at 86

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has ruled that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House.

Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling Tuesday in a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing.

The decision, days before the start of a non-jury trial in Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, is the strongest repudiation yet of Trump’s carefully coiffed image as a wealthy and shrewd real estate mogul turned political powerhouse.

Beyond mere bragging about his riches, Trump, his company and key executives repeatedly lied about them on his annual financial statements, reaping rewards such as favorable loan terms and lower insurance premiums, Engoron found.

Manhattan prosecutors had looked into bringing a criminal case over the same conduct but declined to do so, leaving James to sue Trump and seek penalties that could disrupt his and his family’s ability to do business in the state.

Engoron’s ruling, in a phase of the case known as summary judgment, resolves the key claim in James’ lawsuit, but six others remain.

Engoron is slated to hold a non-jury trial starting Oct. 2 before deciding on those claims and any punishments he may impose. James is seeking $250 million in penalties and a ban on Trump doing business in New York, his home state. The trial could last into December, Engoron has said.

Trump’s lawyers had asked the judge to throw out the case, which he denied. They contend that James wasn’t legally allowed to file the lawsuit because there isn’t any evidence that the public was harmed by Trump’s actions. They also argued that many of the allegations in the lawsuit were barred by the statute of limitations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695760955952.png" alt="Former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in South Carolina Monday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally in South Carolina Monday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has ruled that Donald Trump committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House.Judge Arthur Engoron, ruling Tuesday in a civil lawsuit brought by New York’s attorney general, found that the former president and his company deceived banks, insurers and others by massively overvaluing his assets and exaggerating his net worth on paperwork used in making deals and securing financing.The decision, days before the start of a non-jury trial in Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit, is the strongest repudiation yet of Trump’s carefully coiffed image as a wealthy and shrewd real estate mogul turned political powerhouse.Beyond mere bragging about his riches, Trump, his company and key executives repeatedly lied about them on his annual financial statements, reaping rewards such as favorable loan terms and lower insurance premiums, Engoron found.Those tactics crossed a line and violated the law, the judge said, rejecting Trump’s contention that a disclaimer on the financial statements absolved him of any wrongdoing.Manhattan prosecutors had looked into bringing a criminal case over the same conduct but declined to do so, leaving James to sue Trump and seek penalties that could disrupt his and his family’s ability to do business in the state.Engoron’s ruling, in a phase of the case known as summary judgment, resolves the key claim in James’ lawsuit, but six others remain.Engoron is slated to hold a non-jury trial starting Oct. 2 before deciding on those claims and any punishments he may impose. James is seeking $250 million in penalties and a ban on Trump doing business in New York, his home state. The trial could last into December, Engoron has said.Trump’s lawyers had asked the judge to throw out the case, which he denied. They contend that James wasn’t legally allowed to file the lawsuit because there isn’t any evidence that the public was harmed by Trump’s actions. They also argued that many of the allegations in the lawsuit were barred by the statute of limitations.

Judge: Donald Trump defrauded banks, insurers as he built empire

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

The arrival of fall does not mean the end of the severe weather season. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued Tuesday evening in portions of Rush and Pawnee counties. Photos of a funnel on the ground near Alexander between Rush Center and Ness City generated lots of debate: was it a landspout or a tornado? Chance Hayes, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wichita, said it was a landspout and explained the difference.

"They are similar in that they're both rotating columns of air in contact with the ground," he said. "The difference between a true tornado and what we consider a landspout is the type of storm it comes from."

Tornadoes come from supercell thunderstorms that contain a rotating updraft. That updraft, Hayes said, is merely air rising into the atmosphere and spinning as it does. Landspouts typically occur at the beginning of a storm when the white and puffy cumulus clouds begin to rise and pull any circulation along the ground up with them.

Hayes said that's likely what was photographed Tuesday in Rush County, and because landspouts are not powerful, tornado warnings are typically not issued. 

"Because there is such a low threat to structures, and an even lower threat to lives, we don't feel like all the bells and whistles need to be sounded because it's so much weaker than a typical tornado that we will issue a special weather statement," Hayes said.

Hayes said landspouts may cause damage to trampolines that are not anchored or to old structures like barns or sheds. Should a landspout move into a heavily populated area that may experience more damage or flying debris, the National Weather Service may choose to issue a stronger warning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695654258727.jpeg" alt="Lindsey Broin captured this photo of a landspout near Alexander on Tuesday, Sept. 19.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lindsey Broin captured this photo of a landspout near Alexander on Tuesday, Sept. 19.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe arrival of fall does not mean the end of the severe weather season. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued Tuesday evening in portions of Rush and Pawnee counties. Photos of a funnel on the ground near Alexander between Rush Center and Ness City generated lots of debate: was it a landspout or a tornado? Chance Hayes, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wichita, said it was a landspout and explained the difference."They are similar in that they're both rotating columns of air in contact with the ground," he said. "The difference between a true tornado and what we consider a landspout is the type of storm it comes from."Tornadoes come from supercell thunderstorms that contain a rotating updraft. That updraft, Hayes said, is merely air rising into the atmosphere and spinning as it does. Landspouts typically occur at the beginning of a storm when the white and puffy cumulus clouds begin to rise and pull any circulation along the ground up with them.Hayes said that's likely what was photographed Tuesday in Rush County, and because landspouts are not powerful, tornado warnings are typically not issued. "Because there is such a low threat to structures, and an even lower threat to lives, we don't feel like all the bells and whistles need to be sounded because it's so much weaker than a typical tornado that we will issue a special weather statement," Hayes said.Hayes said landspouts may cause damage to trampolines that are not anchored or to old structures like barns or sheds. Should a landspout move into a heavily populated area that may experience more damage or flying debris, the National Weather Service may choose to issue a stronger warning.

National Weather Service explains landspout spotted in Kan. storm

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Trapped alone in a Utah canyon for nearly a week and pinned by a half-ton boulder, Aron Ralston had to choose between his hand and his life. Even though he lost that limb, he said at his Dillon Lecture Series press conference on Tuesday, he gained a great amount of perspective.

"It was a tremendous gift for me," Ralston said. "That's what I try to share with people about what happened, not just to me, but for me, that I would be given all of these incredible gifts of insight into my life and the value of what's important to me, just having life. Being able to share that with other people became this incredible purpose, that might touch and reach people who might find themselves in a dark place."

Connection with others is what has become most important to Ralston in the past 20 years.

"While I was trapped, by talking to my family in my video camera that I had with me, although, yes, I was extraordinarily isolated, you'd have to be on the other side of the moon to be more isolated than what I felt, but that I felt connected, simultaneously."

Given that COVID-19 has caused everyone to have some forced isolation at one time or another in the last few years, a message like Ralston's can resonate as communities come back together.

"We are the social animals that we are," Ralston said. "It's reinforced how precious and how, at the same time, precarious, all of that is, which, I hope, means that we remember how valuable it is. Those are the gifts that adversity can give us. Sometimes, it's we only realize how much we value something when it's taken away and then, when we get it back, how fulfilling it is, to have that again."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695743778207.jpeg" alt="Aron Ralston-Photo by Nick Gosnell" />
 <figcaption>Aron Ralston-Photo by Nick Gosnell</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL&nbsp;Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Trapped alone in a Utah canyon for nearly a week and pinned by a half-ton boulder, Aron Ralston had to choose between his hand and his life. Even though he lost that limb, he said at his Dillon Lecture Series press conference on Tuesday, he gained a great amount of perspective."It was a tremendous gift for me," Ralston said. "That's what I try to share with people about what happened, not just to me, but for me, that I would be given all of these incredible gifts of insight into my life and the value of what's important to me, just having life. Being able to share that with other people became this incredible purpose, that might touch and reach people who might find themselves in a dark place."Connection with others is what has become most important to Ralston in the past 20 years."While I was trapped, by talking to my family in my video camera that I had with me, although, yes, I was extraordinarily isolated, you'd have to be on the other side of the moon to be more isolated than what I felt, but that I felt connected, simultaneously."Given that COVID-19 has caused everyone to have some forced isolation at one time or another in the last few years, a message like Ralston's can resonate as communities come back together."We are the social animals that we are," Ralston said. "It's reinforced how precious and how, at the same time, precarious, all of that is, which, I hope, means that we remember how valuable it is. Those are the gifts that adversity can give us. Sometimes, it's we only realize how much we value something when it's taken away and then, when we get it back, how fulfilling it is, to have that again."2023 is the 42nd season for the Dillon Lecture Series on the HutchCC Campus. For more information on the Dillon Lecture Series or to become a patron, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hutchcc.edu/dls">www.hutchcc.edu/dls</a>&nbsp;or call Becky Rogers at 620-665-3505.