LINCOLN (AP) —A Nebraska judge on Friday rejected an effort to block a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-care-abortion-ban-nebraska-1a88067bf403559116df7c09e004e472">ban on abortions</a>&nbsp;after 12 weeks of pregnancy and restrictions on gender-affirming surgery.

Lancaster County District Court Judge Lori Maret sided with the state and allowed a law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trans-health-abortion-laws-nebraska-3bd01980e0df33bc89afc3d5b0c11f93">approved by the Nebraska Legislature</a>&nbsp;earlier this year to remain in effect.

The law outlaws abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. As of Oct. 1, it also will prevent people under 19 from receiving gender-affirming surgery and restricts the use of hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors.

Planned Parenthood of the Heartland had filed a lawsuit arguing legislators violated a constitutional requirement that bills not contain more than one subject. Lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-94f1e637e2d9034f608c793bf929e888">added the abortion ban</a>&nbsp;to an existing bill dealing with gender-related care.

The attorney general contended the issues didn't violate the rule because they were both health related.

“I am grateful for the court’s thorough decision," Gov. Jim Pillen said in a statement. “I was proud to sign into law a measure that protects kids and defends the unborn, and I am pleased that it has been upheld.”

Mindy Rush Chipman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which helped represent Planned Parenthood, said they would appeal the decision.

“State senators combined unrelated restrictions into a single bill in their rush to take away Nebraskans’ rights,” Rush Chipman said in a statement. “That tactic violated the text of the Nebraska Constitution, which plainly says that ‘no bill shall contain more than one subject.’ As a result, Nebraskans are being seriously harmed.”

Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, called the decision a “devastating blow to Nebraskans’ fundamental right to make what should be private decisions between them and their doctors.”

Richardson said the organization would continue to provide abortions before 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Legislators added the abortion restrictions to a transgender-related bill as an amendment after a separate bill to ban abortions at about six weeks failed to overcome a filibuster.

LINCOLN (AP) —A Nebraska judge on Friday rejected an effort to block a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-health-care-abortion-ban-nebraska-1a88067bf403559116df7c09e004e472">ban on abortions</a>&nbsp;after 12 weeks of pregnancy and restrictions on gender-affirming surgery.Lancaster County District Court Judge Lori Maret sided with the state and allowed a law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trans-health-abortion-laws-nebraska-3bd01980e0df33bc89afc3d5b0c11f93">approved by the Nebraska Legislature</a>&nbsp;earlier this year to remain in effect.The law outlaws abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. As of Oct. 1, it also will prevent people under 19 from receiving gender-affirming surgery and restricts the use of hormone treatments and puberty blockers for minors.Planned Parenthood of the Heartland had filed a lawsuit arguing legislators violated a constitutional requirement that bills not contain more than one subject. Lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-94f1e637e2d9034f608c793bf929e888">added the abortion ban</a>&nbsp;to an existing bill dealing with gender-related care.The attorney general contended the issues didn't violate the rule because they were both health related.“I am grateful for the court’s thorough decision," Gov. Jim Pillen said in a statement. “I was proud to sign into law a measure that protects kids and defends the unborn, and I am pleased that it has been upheld.”Mindy Rush Chipman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which helped represent Planned Parenthood, said they would appeal the decision.“State senators combined unrelated restrictions into a single bill in their rush to take away Nebraskans’ rights,” Rush Chipman said in a statement. “That tactic violated the text of the Nebraska Constitution, which plainly says that ‘no bill shall contain more than one subject.’ As a result, Nebraskans are being seriously harmed.”Ruth Richardson, CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, called the decision a “devastating blow to Nebraskans’ fundamental right to make what should be private decisions between them and their doctors.”Richardson said the organization would continue to provide abortions before 12 weeks of pregnancy.Legislators added the abortion restrictions to a transgender-related bill as an amendment after a separate bill to ban abortions at about six weeks failed to overcome a filibuster.

Neb. judge allows abortion limits, restrictions on gender-affirming surgery

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department announced this week that a suspect has been arrested and charged in a June 5, homicide that took place in the 500 Block of Elizabeth, according to a media release.

The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Task Force, assisted by officers with the KCKPD, took 38-year-old Mahir Alihodzic, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, into custody August 8, in Kansas City, Kansas.

The shooting occurred just before 9:30 p.m June 5. Wheeler was transported to an area hospital where police reported he died the following afternoon..

The Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office has charged&nbsp;Alihodzic with second-degree murder.&nbsp; Alihodzic is currently being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $350,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691714526560.png" alt="Alihodzic-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Alihodzic-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department announced this week that a suspect has been arrested and charged in a June 5, homicide that took place in the 500 Block of Elizabeth, according to a media release.The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Task Force, assisted by officers with the KCKPD, took 38-year-old Mahir Alihodzic, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, into custody August 8, in Kansas City, Kansas.The shooting occurred just before 9:30 p.m June 5. Wheeler was transported to an area hospital where police reported he died the following afternoon..The Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office has charged&nbsp;Alihodzic with second-degree murder.&nbsp; Alihodzic is currently being held in the Wyandotte County Jail on a $350,000 bond.

U.S. Marshals help arrest suspect for murder of Kansas man

BY:&nbsp;SHERMAN SMITH,&nbsp;SAM BAILEY,&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;AND TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

MARION — In an unprecedented raid Friday, local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office, the newspaper’s reporters, and the publisher’s home.

Eric Meyer, owner and publisher of the newspaper, said police were motivated by a confidential source who leaked sensitive documents to the newspaper, and the message was clear: “Mind your own business or we’re going to step on you.”

The city’s entire five-officer police force and two sheriff’s deputies took “everything we have,” Meyer said, and it wasn’t clear how the newspaper staff would take the weekly publication to press Tuesday night.

The raid followed news stories about a restaurant owner who kicked reporters out of a meeting last week with U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, and revelations about the restaurant owner’s lack of a driver’s license and conviction for drunken driving.

Meyer said he had never heard of police raiding a newspaper office during his 20 years at the Milwaukee Journal or 26 years teaching journalism at the University of Illinois.

“It’s going to have a chilling effect on us even tackling issues,” Meyer said, as well as “a chilling effect on people giving us information.”

The search warrant, signed by Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar, appears to violate&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/2000aa">federal law</a>&nbsp;that provides protections against searching and seizing materials from journalists. The law requires law enforcement to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mcguirewoods.com/news-resources/publications/media.0101.pdf">subpoena materials instead</a>. Viar didn’t respond to a request to comment for this story or explain why she would authorize a potentially illegal raid.

Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, said the police raid is unprecedented in Kansas.

“An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the public’s right to know,” Bradbury said. “This cannot be allowed to stand.”

Meyer reported last week that Marion restaurant owner Kari Newell had kicked newspaper staff out of a public forum with LaTurner, whose staff was apologetic. Newell responded to Meyer’s reporting with hostile comments on her personal Facebook page.

A confidential source contacted the newspaper, Meyer said, and provided evidence that Newell had been convicted of drunken driving and continued to use her vehicle without a driver’s license. The criminal record could jeopardize her efforts to obtain a liquor license for her catering business.

A reporter with the Marion Record used a state website to verify the information provided by the source. But Meyer suspected the source was relaying information from Newell’s husband, who had filed for divorce. Meyer decided not to publish a story about the information, and he alerted police to the situation.

“We thought we were being set up,” Meyer said.

Police notified Newell, who then complained at a city council meeting that the newspaper had illegally obtained and disseminated sensitive documents, which isn’t true. Her public comments prompted the newspaper to set the record straight in a story published Thursday.

Sometime before 11 a.m. Friday, officers showed up simultaneously at Meyer’s home and the newspaper office. They presented a search warrant that alleges identity theft and unlawful use of a computer.

The search warrant identifies two pages worth of items that law enforcement officers were allowed to seize, including computer software and hardware, digital communications, cellular networks, servers and hard drives, items with passwords, utility records, and all documents and records pertaining to Newell. The warrant specifically targeted ownership of computers capable of being used to “participate in the identity theft of Kari Newell.”

Officers injured a reporter’s finger by grabbing her cellphone out of her hand, Meyer said. Officers at his home took photos of his bank account information.

He said officers told him the computers, cellphones and other devices would be sent to a lab.

“I don’t know when they’ll get it back to us,” Meyer said. “They won’t tell us.”

The seized computers, server and backup hard drive include advertisements and legal notices that were supposed to appear in the next edition of the newspaper.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” he said. “We will publish something.”

Newell, writing Friday under a changed name on her personal Facebook account, said she “foolishly” received a DUI in 2008 and “knowingly operated a vehicle without a license out of necessity.”

“Journalists have become the dirty politicians of today, twisting narrative for bias agendas, full of muddied half-truths,” Newell wrote. “We rarely get facts that aren’t baited with misleading insinuations.”

She said the “entire debacle was brought forth in an attempt to smear my name, jeopardize my licensing through ABC (state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division), harm my business, seek retaliation, and for personal leverage in an ongoing domestic court battle.”

At the law enforcement center in Marion, a staff member said only Police Chief Gideon Cody could answer questions for this story, and that Cody had gone home for the day and could not be reached by phone. The office of Attorney General Kris Kobach wasn’t available to comment on the legal controversy in Marion, which is north of Wichita in central Kansas.

Melissa Underwood, communications director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, replied by email to a question about whether the KBI was involved in the case.

“At the request of the Marion Police Department, on Tuesday, Aug. 8, we began an investigation into allegations of criminal wrongdoing in Marion, Kansas. The investigation is ongoing,” Underwood said.

Meyer, whose father worked at the newspaper from 1948 until he retired, bought the Marion County Record in 1998, preventing a sale to a corporate newspaper chain.

As a journalism professor in Illinois, Meyer said, he had graduate students from Egypt who talked about how people would come into the newspaper office and seize everything so they couldn’t publish. Those students presented a scholarly paper at a conference in Toronto about what it has done to journalism there.

“That’s basically what they’re trying to do here,” Meyer said. “The intervention is just like that repressive government of Egypt. I didn’t think it could happen in America.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691800545331.png" alt="Eric Meyer, publisher of the Marion County Record, answers questions in his newspaper office Friday after police seized computers, servers, cellphones and other items. He says he doesn’t know how they will get the newspaper out on Tuesday, but, “We will publish something.” (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Eric Meyer, publisher of the Marion County Record, answers questions in his newspaper office Friday after police seized computers, servers, cellphones and other items. He says he doesn’t know how they will get the newspaper out on Tuesday, but, “We will publish something.” (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;SHERMAN SMITH,&nbsp;SAM BAILEY,&nbsp;RACHEL MIPRO&nbsp;AND TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>MARION — In an unprecedented raid Friday, local law enforcement seized computers, cellphones and reporting materials from the Marion County Record office, the newspaper’s reporters, and the publisher’s home.Eric Meyer, owner and publisher of the newspaper, said police were motivated by a confidential source who leaked sensitive documents to the newspaper, and the message was clear: “Mind your own business or we’re going to step on you.”The city’s entire five-officer police force and two sheriff’s deputies took “everything we have,” Meyer said, and it wasn’t clear how the newspaper staff would take the weekly publication to press Tuesday night.The raid followed news stories about a restaurant owner who kicked reporters out of a meeting last week with U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, and revelations about the restaurant owner’s lack of a driver’s license and conviction for drunken driving.Meyer said he had never heard of police raiding a newspaper office during his 20 years at the Milwaukee Journal or 26 years teaching journalism at the University of Illinois.“It’s going to have a chilling effect on us even tackling issues,” Meyer said, as well as “a chilling effect on people giving us information.”The search warrant, signed by Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar, appears to violate&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/2000aa">federal law</a>&nbsp;that provides protections against searching and seizing materials from journalists. The law requires law enforcement to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mcguirewoods.com/news-resources/publications/media.0101.pdf">subpoena materials instead</a>. Viar didn’t respond to a request to comment for this story or explain why she would authorize a potentially illegal raid.Emily Bradbury, executive director of the Kansas Press Association, said the police raid is unprecedented in Kansas.“An attack on a newspaper office through an illegal search is not just an infringement on the rights of journalists but an assault on the very foundation of democracy and the public’s right to know,” Bradbury said. “This cannot be allowed to stand.”Meyer reported last week that Marion restaurant owner Kari Newell had kicked newspaper staff out of a public forum with LaTurner, whose staff was apologetic. Newell responded to Meyer’s reporting with hostile comments on her personal Facebook page.A confidential source contacted the newspaper, Meyer said, and provided evidence that Newell had been convicted of drunken driving and continued to use her vehicle without a driver’s license. The criminal record could jeopardize her efforts to obtain a liquor license for her catering business.A reporter with the Marion Record used a state website to verify the information provided by the source. But Meyer suspected the source was relaying information from Newell’s husband, who had filed for divorce. Meyer decided not to publish a story about the information, and he alerted police to the situation.“We thought we were being set up,” Meyer said.Police notified Newell, who then complained at a city council meeting that the newspaper had illegally obtained and disseminated sensitive documents, which isn’t true. Her public comments prompted the newspaper to set the record straight in a story published Thursday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691800477381.png" alt=" Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar signed a search warrant authorizing the police raid of the newspaper office. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Marion County District Court Magistrate Judge Laura Viar signed a search warrant authorizing the police raid of the newspaper office. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sometime before 11 a.m. Friday, officers showed up simultaneously at Meyer’s home and the newspaper office. They presented a search warrant that alleges identity theft and unlawful use of a computer.The search warrant identifies two pages worth of items that law enforcement officers were allowed to seize, including computer software and hardware, digital communications, cellular networks, servers and hard drives, items with passwords, utility records, and all documents and records pertaining to Newell. The warrant specifically targeted ownership of computers capable of being used to “participate in the identity theft of Kari Newell.”Officers injured a reporter’s finger by grabbing her cellphone out of her hand, Meyer said. Officers at his home took photos of his bank account information.He said officers told him the computers, cellphones and other devices would be sent to a lab.“I don’t know when they’ll get it back to us,” Meyer said. “They won’t tell us.”The seized computers, server and backup hard drive include advertisements and legal notices that were supposed to appear in the next edition of the newspaper.“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” he said. “We will publish something.”Newell, writing Friday under a changed name on her personal Facebook account, said she “foolishly” received a DUI in 2008 and “knowingly operated a vehicle without a license out of necessity.”“Journalists have become the dirty politicians of today, twisting narrative for bias agendas, full of muddied half-truths,” Newell wrote. “We rarely get facts that aren’t baited with misleading insinuations.”She said the “entire debacle was brought forth in an attempt to smear my name, jeopardize my licensing through ABC (state Alcoholic Beverage Control Division), harm my business, seek retaliation, and for personal leverage in an ongoing domestic court battle.”At the law enforcement center in Marion, a staff member said only Police Chief Gideon Cody could answer questions for this story, and that Cody had gone home for the day and could not be reached by phone. The office of Attorney General Kris Kobach wasn’t available to comment on the legal controversy in Marion, which is north of Wichita in central Kansas.Melissa Underwood, communications director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, replied by email to a question about whether the KBI was involved in the case.“At the request of the Marion Police Department, on Tuesday, Aug. 8, we began an investigation into allegations of criminal wrongdoing in Marion, Kansas. The investigation is ongoing,” Underwood said.Meyer, whose father worked at the newspaper from 1948 until he retired, bought the Marion County Record in 1998, preventing a sale to a corporate newspaper chain.As a journalism professor in Illinois, Meyer said, he had graduate students from Egypt who talked about how people would come into the newspaper office and seize everything so they couldn’t publish. Those students presented a scholarly paper at a conference in Toronto about what it has done to journalism there.“That’s basically what they’re trying to do here,” Meyer said. “The intervention is just like that repressive government of Egypt. I didn’t think it could happen in America.”

Police raid Marion Co. newspaper, seizing computers, records and cellphones

MIAMI COUNTY, Kansas —Two people died in an accident just after 4a.m. Thursday in Miami County.

According to Paola Police, a vehicle was northbound in the southbound lanes of&nbsp; U.S. 69 at 327th Street. The vehicle and a southbound vehicle collided.

First responders found both drivers 58-year-old Carolyn J. Nuckles of Garnett and 49-year-old Paula E. Weers of Spring Hill deceased.&nbsp; There were no other occupants involved. The accident remains under investigation, according to the police department.

MIAMI COUNTY, Kansas —Two people died in an accident just after 4a.m. Thursday in Miami County.According to Paola Police, a vehicle was northbound in the southbound lanes of&nbsp; U.S. 69 at 327th Street. The vehicle and a southbound vehicle collided.First responders found both drivers 58-year-old Carolyn J. Nuckles of Garnett and 49-year-old Paula E. Weers of Spring Hill deceased.&nbsp; There were no other occupants involved. The accident remains under investigation, according to the police department.

Police ID two Kansas women who died in wrong-way crash

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The death toll has risen to 80 as a result of the wildfires that decimated parts of the island of Maui this past week, officials in Hawaii said Friday.

The number of confirmed fatalities in the 9 p.m. announcement by the County of Maui increased from the previous figure of 67.

Gov. Josh Green had previously warned the death toll would likely rise as search and rescue operations continue. Authorities set a curfew from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Saturday.

“The recovery’s going to be extraordinarily complicated, but we do want people to get back to their homes and just do what they can to assess safely, because it’s pretty dangerous,” Green told Hawaii News Now.

Cadaver-sniffing dogs were deployed to search for the dead, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. said.

Blackened hulks of burned-out cars, the pavement streaked with melted and then rehardened chrome. Block after block of flattened homes and businesses. Incinerated telephone poles and elevator shafts rising from ashy lots where apartment buildings once stood. A truck bed full of glass bottles, warped into surreal shapes by the furious heat.

Anthony Garcia assessed the devastation as he stood under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">Lahaina’s</a>&nbsp;iconic banyan tree, now charred, and swept twisted branches into neat piles next to another heap filled with dead animals: cats, roosters and other birds killed by the smoke and flames. Somehow it made sense in a world turned upside-down.

“If I don’t do something, I’ll go nuts,” said Garcia, who lost everything he owned. “I’m losing my faith in God.”

Garcia and other residents were faced with widespread destruction as they took stock of their shattered homes and lives Friday resulting from the wildfires that tore through parts of Maui this week and were still short of full containment.

A new fire Friday evening triggered the evacuation of Kaanapali in West Maui, a community northeast of the area that burned earlier, the Maui Police Department announced on social media.

The fire, which was completely extinguished before 8:30 p.m., occurred in an area where a county fueling station was set up to distribute about 3,000 gallons (11,356 liters) of gasoline and 500 gallons (1,892 liters) of diesel fuel for about 400 waiting vehicles. Fuel would not be distributed on Saturday, the county said in a statement.

Attorney General Anne Lopez announced plans to conduct a comprehensive review of decision-making and standing policies impacting the response to the deadly wildfires.

“My Department is committed to understanding the decisions that were made before and during the wildfires and to sharing with the public the results of this review,” Lopez said in a statement.

The wildfires are the state’s deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. An even deadlier tsunami in 1946, which killed more than 150 on the Big Island, prompted development of a territory-wide emergency system with sirens that are tested monthly.

Many fire survivors said they didn’t hear any sirens or receive a warning giving them enough time to prepare, realizing they were in danger only when they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/live-updates-maui-fire-hawaii-wildfire-162a9fcdefe648d6bcd6557af70d894f">saw flames or heard explosions</a>.

“There was no warning," said Lynn Robinson, who lost her home.

Hawaii emergency management records do no indicate warning sirens sounded before people had to run for their lives. Officials sent alerts to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, but widespread power and cellular outages may have limited their reach.

Fueled by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">dry summer</a>&nbsp;and strong winds from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">passing hurricane</a>, at least three wildfires erupted on Maui, racing through parched brush covering the island.

The most serious blaze swept into Lahaina on Tuesday and left a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes. Associated Press journalists found the devastation included nearly every building on Front Street, the heart of historic Lahaina and the economic hub of Maui.

There was an eerie traffic jam of charred cars that didn’t escape the inferno as surviving roosters meandered through the ashes. Skeletal remains of buildings bowed under roofs that pancaked in the blaze. Palm trees were torched, boats in the harbor were scorched and the stench of burning lingered.

“It hit so quick, it was incredible,” Kyle Scharnhorst said as he surveyed his damaged apartment complex.

Summer and Gilles Gerling sought to salvage keepsakes from the ashes of their home. All they could find was the piggy bank Summer Gerling’s father gave her as a child, their daughter’s jade bracelet and watches they gifted each other for their wedding. Their wedding rings were gone.

They described their fear as the strong wind whipped the smoke and flames closer, but said they were happy to have made it out alive with their two children.

“Safety was the main concern. These are all material things,” Gilles Gerling said.

The wildfire is already projected to be the second-costliest disaster in Hawaii history, behind only Hurricane Iniki in 1992, according to disaster and risk modeling firm Karen Clark &amp; Company. The fire is the deadliest in the U.S. since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-business-environment-and-nature-gavin-newsom-paradise-dbae2ef725b32d91ff4c612de38f01e2">2018 Camp Fire</a>&nbsp;in California, which killed at least 85 people and destroyed the town of Paradise.

The danger on Maui was well known. Maui County’s hazard mitigation plan updated in 2020 identified Lahaina and other West Maui communities as having frequent wildfires and several buildings at risk. The report also noted West Maui had the island’s second-highest rate of households without a vehicle and the highest rate of non-English speakers.

“This may limit the population’s ability to receive, understand and take expedient action during hazard events,” the plan stated.

Maui’s firefighting efforts may have been hampered by limited staff and equipment.

Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said there are a maximum of 65 county firefighters working at any given time with responsibility for three islands: Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

The department has about 13 fire engines and two ladder trucks, but no off-road vehicles to thoroughly attack brush fires before they reach roads or populated areas, he said.

Maui water officials warned Kula and Lahaina residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapor exposure.

Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor whose team assisted with the Camp Fire and Colorado's 2021 Marshall Fire, said showering in water potentially containing hazardous waste levels of benzene is not advisable and a do-not-use order would be appropriate until analysis is complete.

Lahaina resident Lana Vierra, who filled out FEMA assistance forms Friday at a relative’s house, fled Tuesday and was eager to return, despite knowing the home where she raised five children and treasured items like baby pictures and yearbooks were gone.

“To actually stand there on your burnt grounds and get your wheels turning on how to move forward — I think it will give families that peace," she said.

Riley Curran said he fled his Front Street home after climbing up a neighboring building to get a better look. He doubts county officials could have done more due to the speed of the onrushing flames.

“It’s not that people didn’t try to do anything," Curran said. “The fire went from 0 to 100.”

Curran had seen horrendous wildfires growing up in California, but “I’ve never seen one eat an entire town in four hours.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691662929011.png" alt="mage taken from a helicopter shows the vast destruction of Lahaina, a historic town in Hawaii. Courtesy: Vince Carter/Air Maui" />
 <figcaption>mage taken from a helicopter shows the vast destruction of Lahaina, a historic town in Hawaii. Courtesy: Vince Carter/Air Maui</figcaption>
 </figure>LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The death toll has risen to 80 as a result of the wildfires that decimated parts of the island of Maui this past week, officials in Hawaii said Friday.The number of confirmed fatalities in the 9 p.m. announcement by the County of Maui increased from the previous figure of 67.Gov. Josh Green had previously warned the death toll would likely rise as search and rescue operations continue. Authorities set a curfew from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Saturday.“The recovery’s going to be extraordinarily complicated, but we do want people to get back to their homes and just do what they can to assess safely, because it’s pretty dangerous,” Green told Hawaii News Now.Cadaver-sniffing dogs were deployed to search for the dead, Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen Jr. said.Blackened hulks of burned-out cars, the pavement streaked with melted and then rehardened chrome. Block after block of flattened homes and businesses. Incinerated telephone poles and elevator shafts rising from ashy lots where apartment buildings once stood. A truck bed full of glass bottles, warped into surreal shapes by the furious heat.Anthony Garcia assessed the devastation as he stood under&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfire-hawaii-lahaina-historic-kindom-capital-396463f6eba6580bfc80d75538b0adf3">Lahaina’s</a>&nbsp;iconic banyan tree, now charred, and swept twisted branches into neat piles next to another heap filled with dead animals: cats, roosters and other birds killed by the smoke and flames. Somehow it made sense in a world turned upside-down.“If I don’t do something, I’ll go nuts,” said Garcia, who lost everything he owned. “I’m losing my faith in God.”Garcia and other residents were faced with widespread destruction as they took stock of their shattered homes and lives Friday resulting from the wildfires that tore through parts of Maui this week and were still short of full containment.A new fire Friday evening triggered the evacuation of Kaanapali in West Maui, a community northeast of the area that burned earlier, the Maui Police Department announced on social media.The fire, which was completely extinguished before 8:30 p.m., occurred in an area where a county fueling station was set up to distribute about 3,000 gallons (11,356 liters) of gasoline and 500 gallons (1,892 liters) of diesel fuel for about 400 waiting vehicles. Fuel would not be distributed on Saturday, the county said in a statement.Attorney General Anne Lopez announced plans to conduct a comprehensive review of decision-making and standing policies impacting the response to the deadly wildfires.“My Department is committed to understanding the decisions that were made before and during the wildfires and to sharing with the public the results of this review,” Lopez said in a statement.The wildfires are the state’s deadliest natural disaster in decades, surpassing a 1960 tsunami that killed 61 people. An even deadlier tsunami in 1946, which killed more than 150 on the Big Island, prompted development of a territory-wide emergency system with sirens that are tested monthly.Many fire survivors said they didn’t hear any sirens or receive a warning giving them enough time to prepare, realizing they were in danger only when they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/live-updates-maui-fire-hawaii-wildfire-162a9fcdefe648d6bcd6557af70d894f">saw flames or heard explosions</a>.“There was no warning," said Lynn Robinson, who lost her home.Hawaii emergency management records do no indicate warning sirens sounded before people had to run for their lives. Officials sent alerts to mobile phones, televisions and radio stations, but widespread power and cellular outages may have limited their reach.Fueled by a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">dry summer</a>&nbsp;and strong winds from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">passing hurricane</a>, at least three wildfires erupted on Maui, racing through parched brush covering the island.The most serious blaze swept into Lahaina on Tuesday and left a grid of gray rubble wedged between the blue ocean and lush green slopes. Associated Press journalists found the devastation included nearly every building on Front Street, the heart of historic Lahaina and the economic hub of Maui.There was an eerie traffic jam of charred cars that didn’t escape the inferno as surviving roosters meandered through the ashes. Skeletal remains of buildings bowed under roofs that pancaked in the blaze. Palm trees were torched, boats in the harbor were scorched and the stench of burning lingered.“It hit so quick, it was incredible,” Kyle Scharnhorst said as he surveyed his damaged apartment complex.Summer and Gilles Gerling sought to salvage keepsakes from the ashes of their home. All they could find was the piggy bank Summer Gerling’s father gave her as a child, their daughter’s jade bracelet and watches they gifted each other for their wedding. Their wedding rings were gone.They described their fear as the strong wind whipped the smoke and flames closer, but said they were happy to have made it out alive with their two children.“Safety was the main concern. These are all material things,” Gilles Gerling said.The wildfire is already projected to be the second-costliest disaster in Hawaii history, behind only Hurricane Iniki in 1992, according to disaster and risk modeling firm Karen Clark &amp; Company. The fire is the deadliest in the U.S. since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-business-environment-and-nature-gavin-newsom-paradise-dbae2ef725b32d91ff4c612de38f01e2">2018 Camp Fire</a>&nbsp;in California, which killed at least 85 people and destroyed the town of Paradise.The danger on Maui was well known. Maui County’s hazard mitigation plan updated in 2020 identified Lahaina and other West Maui communities as having frequent wildfires and several buildings at risk. The report also noted West Maui had the island’s second-highest rate of households without a vehicle and the highest rate of non-English speakers.“This may limit the population’s ability to receive, understand and take expedient action during hazard events,” the plan stated.Maui’s firefighting efforts may have been hampered by limited staff and equipment.Bobby Lee, president of the Hawaii Firefighters Association, said there are a maximum of 65 county firefighters working at any given time with responsibility for three islands: Maui, Molokai and Lanai.The department has about 13 fire engines and two ladder trucks, but no off-road vehicles to thoroughly attack brush fires before they reach roads or populated areas, he said.Maui water officials warned Kula and Lahaina residents not to drink running water, which may be contaminated even after boiling, and to only take short, lukewarm showers in well-ventilated rooms to avoid possible chemical vapor exposure.Andrew Whelton, a Purdue University engineering professor whose team assisted with the Camp Fire and Colorado's 2021 Marshall Fire, said showering in water potentially containing hazardous waste levels of benzene is not advisable and a do-not-use order would be appropriate until analysis is complete.Lahaina resident Lana Vierra, who filled out FEMA assistance forms Friday at a relative’s house, fled Tuesday and was eager to return, despite knowing the home where she raised five children and treasured items like baby pictures and yearbooks were gone.“To actually stand there on your burnt grounds and get your wheels turning on how to move forward — I think it will give families that peace," she said.Riley Curran said he fled his Front Street home after climbing up a neighboring building to get a better look. He doubts county officials could have done more due to the speed of the onrushing flames.“It’s not that people didn’t try to do anything," Curran said. “The fire went from 0 to 100.”Curran had seen horrendous wildfires growing up in California, but “I’ve never seen one eat an entire town in four hours.”___

Death toll from Maui wildfires rises as survivors return to communities in ruins

BROWN COUNTY —The Brown County Sheriff's Office has spent many many hours investigating criminal activity and after executing search warrants involving several different states and multiple locations in Kansas they have made arrests, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

The investigation&nbsp; led to&nbsp; the discovery of many thousands of dollars of stolen property that has been recovered, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Based on&nbsp; the investigation, three individuals have been charged in Brown County District Court with charges including felony theft and&nbsp; 4 arrests have been made in Richardson County Nebraska's jurisdiction stemming from the initial investigation.

The suspects connected with this case are Zach Brown, 40, Highland who was arrested on July 31, on charges of&nbsp; 2 Counts of Felony Theft and Felony&nbsp;Parole Violation.

Brad Donahue, 45, Powhattan, was arrested on July 29, on&nbsp; charges of Felony&nbsp;Theft, Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Mark Levret, 53, Powhattan, was arrested on 8-8-2023 charges of&nbsp; Felony Theft, Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug and&nbsp;&nbsp;Paraphernalia.&nbsp; All three are in the Brown County jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691700368962.png" alt="Brown-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Brown-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —The Brown County Sheriff's Office has spent many many hours investigating criminal activity and after executing search warrants involving several different states and multiple locations in Kansas they have made arrests, according to Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691700472381.png" alt="Donahue-Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Donahue-Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The investigation&nbsp; led to&nbsp; the discovery of many thousands of dollars of stolen property that has been recovered, according to Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691700517847.png" alt="Levret-Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Levret-Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Based on&nbsp; the investigation, three individuals have been charged in Brown County District Court with charges including felony theft and&nbsp; 4 arrests have been made in Richardson County Nebraska's jurisdiction stemming from the initial investigation.The suspects connected with this case are Zach Brown, 40, Highland who was arrested on July 31, on charges of&nbsp; 2 Counts of Felony Theft and Felony&nbsp;Parole Violation.Brad Donahue, 45, Powhattan, was arrested on July 29, on&nbsp; charges of Felony&nbsp;Theft, Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Mark Levret, 53, Powhattan, was arrested on 8-8-2023 charges of&nbsp; Felony Theft, Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug and&nbsp;&nbsp;Paraphernalia.&nbsp; All three are in the Brown County jail..

Kan. investigation uncovers stolen property, 3 arrested

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) resident Matthew Rutter died Thursday, according to a media release from the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

 He was found in his cell experiencing medical distress, causing staff to initiate life-saving measures. He was shortly after pronounced deceased by emergency medical services personnel. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Rutter, 36, was serving a sentence for convictions in Wyandotte and Johnson County, Kansas on 2 counts of aggravated burglary and a fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is currently ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691772720381.jpeg" alt="Matthew Jeremy Rutter-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Matthew Jeremy Rutter-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) resident Matthew Rutter died Thursday, according to a media release from the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. He was found in his cell experiencing medical distress, causing staff to initiate life-saving measures. He was shortly after pronounced deceased by emergency medical services personnel. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Rutter, 36, was serving a sentence for convictions in Wyandotte and Johnson County, Kansas on 2 counts of aggravated burglary and a fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC), the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Inmate serving time for burglary dies in Kansas prison

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —The Kansas suspect wounded in the officer-involved shooting Thursday morning remains hospital in critical condition, according to Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens.

The shooting occurred just after 2a.m. at the end of a vehicle pursuit involving members of the Leavenworth, Kansas Police Department and domestic violence suspect 25-year-old Jonathan Heath-Taylor of Leavenworth, Kansas.

On Thursday, investigators from the Leavenworth Police Department briefed the Leavenworth County Attorney’s office on the events associated with the original domestic violence call that occurred in Leavenworth.

On Friday, police provided the initial case file to the county attorney and recommended criminal charges for Attempted 1st Degree Murder, Rape, Kidnapping and Aggravated Domestic Violence, according to Kitchens.

 The Platte County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the Officer Involved Shooting and our agency will continue to cooperate fully.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691671445584.png" alt="The Platte County Sheriff’s Office will oversee the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation and has the support of the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The Platte County Sheriff’s Office will oversee the Officer Involved Shooting Investigation and has the support of the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —The Kansas suspect wounded in the officer-involved shooting Thursday morning remains hospital in critical condition, according to Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens.The shooting occurred just after 2a.m. at the end of a vehicle pursuit involving members of the Leavenworth, Kansas Police Department and domestic violence suspect 25-year-old Jonathan Heath-Taylor of Leavenworth, Kansas.On Thursday, investigators from the Leavenworth Police Department briefed the Leavenworth County Attorney’s office on the events associated with the original domestic violence call that occurred in Leavenworth.On Friday, police provided the initial case file to the county attorney and recommended criminal charges for Attempted 1st Degree Murder, Rape, Kidnapping and Aggravated Domestic Violence, according to Kitchens. The Platte County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the Officer Involved Shooting and our agency will continue to cooperate fully.&nbsp;

Kan. man wounded by officer faces rape, attempted murder charge

Evergy’s request to increase rates was met with animus in Wichita.

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/epa-estimates-more-than-54000-lead-pipes-remain-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Evergy’s request that Kansas customers pay another $218 million each year is a symptom of a system built without efficiency, an environmental advocate says.

And until Kansas regulators allow the investor-owned utility to implement its proposed suite of programs designed to bring down customers’ usage, Ashok Gupta, an economist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, says costs will keep going up.

“The root cause of high costs is that the system sits idle 50% or more of the time in order to serve the really, really hot days and really, really cold days,” Gupta said.

Evergy, which serves 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, formed from the merger of Westar and Kansas City Power &amp; Light in 2018. In April, for the first time after a five-year moratorium, it filed a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission to increase its rates for Kansas customers. Testimony from consumer, environmental and business advocates is due at the end of August. A decision is likely to come by the end of the year.

For the average customer in the Kansas City area, the requested rate increase would mean another $3.47 each month. But for the rest of the company’s Kansas territory —&nbsp;which covers most of the eastern half of the state, including Topeka, Wichita and Salina — monthly bills would rise by $14.24. Regulators don’t have to grant all of what Evergy asked for.

Evergy’s filings say most of the requested increase is to pay for upgrades it has made to the system, including replacing power lines and adding technology that can more quickly isolate the cause of a power outage to reduce its reach. Another chunk would help the company recoup the costs from its aging coal plants so it can retire them. Regulated utilities like Evergy can adjust rates to recoup the costs of adding power plants or distribution infrastructure.

But Gupta said lowering demand by making Kansas homes more energy efficient would save money in the long run by keeping Evergy from having to build more and more. Kansas is ranked 49th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., for energy efficiency by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. It fell from 47th last year.

“As winters get colder and summers get hotter, the costs are only going to go up,” Gupta said.&nbsp;

Evergy requested permission from the Kansas Corporation Commission to institute several energy efficiency programs, such as incentives for energy-efficient appliances and weatherization. But staff of the KCC hit the brakes on the programs despite buy-in from Evergy, consumer advocates and environmentalists. They said the program was too expensive.

A year later, the effort is at a standstill. The commission has its choice of Evergy’s original proposal or a pared-down version supported by staff.

A spokesman for the commission said there is no timeline for when commissioners must decide on a program.

In the meantime, Evergy has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/06/16/evergy-slashes-planned-renewable-energy-additions-proposes-more-natural-gas/">delayed coal plant closures and proposed new natural gas plants</a>&nbsp;to meet demand, something environmental activists have decried.

Courtney Lewis, a spokeswoman for Evergy, said the company’s request for energy efficiency programs is still active and, if approved, would be considered in future plan updates. She said it’s a more cost-effective way to meet customers’ needs.&nbsp;

Evergy could propose another rate hike as soon as next year to meet the demand of the Panasonic plant planned in De Soto. The plant, which will produce batteries for electric vehicles, requires an amount of energy Evergy likened to a small city.

“We’re asking low-income residential customers to increase their bills by $70 a year,” said Ty Gorman, Kansas campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “And, at the same time, filing a plan that doubles down on expensive coal and gas.”

Chuck Caisley, of Evergy, told a crowd in Wichita that nobody likes to see rates rise.&nbsp;

“In a time of significant inflation across the economy, an increase in electrical rates isn’t something that anybody wants, and, frankly, it’s not something that Evergy as a company wants to do,” Caisley said.

Evergy’s proposed rate hike would be the first since 2017. In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.evergy.com/2023-04-25-Evergy-Files-Kansas-First-Rate-Review-in-Five-Years-to-Recover-Investments-to-Modernize-the-Power-Grid,-Increase-Reliability-and-Enhance-Customer-Service">news release announcing the rate case filing</a>, the company pointed out that other utilities’ rates in the region have climbed, on average, 13%. Inflation has driven the costs of other goods up 20%.

But Kansas’ electric rates still remain higher than surrounding states, according to the Energy Information Administration.

And Evergy’s proposal to raise rates by almost 10% across its Kansas territory —&nbsp;aside from the Kansas City area —&nbsp;was met with frustration at a public meeting in Wichita.

“This is going to hurt us economically when it comes to being competitive with other areas of the state,” said Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. “… It’s going to hurt us when it comes to attracting jobs, and more importantly, it’s going to hurt our citizens.”

Whipple started to say the rate hike would hurt elderly residents on fixed incomes when he was cut off by the moderator of the meeting.

“I’m getting to my question,” Whipple said.

The moderator, a member of the KCC staff, replied: “OK, please do.”

Whipple, frustrated: “Excuse me. Excuse me. Thank you.”

“No. No, no no,” the moderator replied. “I want to give all of your constituents the opportunity to ask a question.”

Whipple questioned why customers should pay for Evergy’s executive benefits.

Dozens of customers expressed outrage at the proposed hike.

“How are we going to fix this?” asked Shannon Thomas. “Because I’m a poverty-level mom. $15 a month is going to hurt me.”

Lewis, the Evergy spokeswoman, said the utility works to keep costs low because its staff knows rate hikes can be difficult. She said the utility has a team that works with customers who need help paying their bills. The company provides face-to-face assistance and information to more than 14,000 customers each year.

Dave Nickel, consumer counsel for the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board, said the agency, which represents residential and small business utility customers, is still developing its comments on Evergy’s request.

But he said CURB will likely go after executive salaries, any unnecessary or exorbitant spending by Evergy on infrastructure, and the company’s requested rate of return for investments.

Nickel said CURB was supporting the “time-of-use pricing” included in the rate case. Customers can opt into plans where energy is more expensive during times of peak demand, such as 4 p.m. on a hot summer day, and cheaper during non-peak times.&nbsp;

Evergy is rolling out the pricing scheme in Missouri to considerable blowback. But in Kansas, customers can opt in voluntarily.

Nickel, like Gupta, said implementing energy efficiency programs could help control Evergy’s prices in the long-run. The state has a policy saying utilities and regulators should work together on energy efficiency.

But he said for “almost 10 years, we haven’t gotten squat.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687004047927.png" alt=" Evergy headquarters in downtown Topeka, Kansas (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)." />
 <figcaption> Evergy headquarters in downtown Topeka, Kansas (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Evergy’s request to increase rates was met with animus in Wichita.</h2>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/06/epa-estimates-more-than-54000-lead-pipes-remain-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>Evergy’s request that Kansas customers pay another $218 million each year is a symptom of a system built without efficiency, an environmental advocate says.And until Kansas regulators allow the investor-owned utility to implement its proposed suite of programs designed to bring down customers’ usage, Ashok Gupta, an economist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, says costs will keep going up.“The root cause of high costs is that the system sits idle 50% or more of the time in order to serve the really, really hot days and really, really cold days,” Gupta said.Evergy, which serves 1.6 million customers in Kansas and Missouri, formed from the merger of Westar and Kansas City Power &amp; Light in 2018. In April, for the first time after a five-year moratorium, it filed a request with the Kansas Corporation Commission to increase its rates for Kansas customers. Testimony from consumer, environmental and business advocates is due at the end of August. A decision is likely to come by the end of the year.For the average customer in the Kansas City area, the requested rate increase would mean another $3.47 each month. But for the rest of the company’s Kansas territory —&nbsp;which covers most of the eastern half of the state, including Topeka, Wichita and Salina — monthly bills would rise by $14.24. Regulators don’t have to grant all of what Evergy asked for.Evergy’s filings say most of the requested increase is to pay for upgrades it has made to the system, including replacing power lines and adding technology that can more quickly isolate the cause of a power outage to reduce its reach. Another chunk would help the company recoup the costs from its aging coal plants so it can retire them. Regulated utilities like Evergy can adjust rates to recoup the costs of adding power plants or distribution infrastructure.But Gupta said lowering demand by making Kansas homes more energy efficient would save money in the long run by keeping Evergy from having to build more and more. Kansas is ranked 49th out of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., for energy efficiency by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. It fell from 47th last year.“As winters get colder and summers get hotter, the costs are only going to go up,” Gupta said.&nbsp;Evergy requested permission from the Kansas Corporation Commission to institute several energy efficiency programs, such as incentives for energy-efficient appliances and weatherization. But staff of the KCC hit the brakes on the programs despite buy-in from Evergy, consumer advocates and environmentalists. They said the program was too expensive.A year later, the effort is at a standstill. The commission has its choice of Evergy’s original proposal or a pared-down version supported by staff.A spokesman for the commission said there is no timeline for when commissioners must decide on a program.In the meantime, Evergy has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/06/16/evergy-slashes-planned-renewable-energy-additions-proposes-more-natural-gas/">delayed coal plant closures and proposed new natural gas plants</a>&nbsp;to meet demand, something environmental activists have decried.Courtney Lewis, a spokeswoman for Evergy, said the company’s request for energy efficiency programs is still active and, if approved, would be considered in future plan updates. She said it’s a more cost-effective way to meet customers’ needs.&nbsp;Evergy could propose another rate hike as soon as next year to meet the demand of the Panasonic plant planned in De Soto. The plant, which will produce batteries for electric vehicles, requires an amount of energy Evergy likened to a small city.“We’re asking low-income residential customers to increase their bills by $70 a year,” said Ty Gorman, Kansas campaign representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign. “And, at the same time, filing a plan that doubles down on expensive coal and gas.”Chuck Caisley, of Evergy, told a crowd in Wichita that nobody likes to see rates rise.&nbsp;“In a time of significant inflation across the economy, an increase in electrical rates isn’t something that anybody wants, and, frankly, it’s not something that Evergy as a company wants to do,” Caisley said.<h2>Current rate increase</h2>Evergy’s proposed rate hike would be the first since 2017. In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.evergy.com/2023-04-25-Evergy-Files-Kansas-First-Rate-Review-in-Five-Years-to-Recover-Investments-to-Modernize-the-Power-Grid,-Increase-Reliability-and-Enhance-Customer-Service">news release announcing the rate case filing</a>, the company pointed out that other utilities’ rates in the region have climbed, on average, 13%. Inflation has driven the costs of other goods up 20%.But Kansas’ electric rates still remain higher than surrounding states, according to the Energy Information Administration.And Evergy’s proposal to raise rates by almost 10% across its Kansas territory —&nbsp;aside from the Kansas City area —&nbsp;was met with frustration at a public meeting in Wichita.“This is going to hurt us economically when it comes to being competitive with other areas of the state,” said Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. “… It’s going to hurt us when it comes to attracting jobs, and more importantly, it’s going to hurt our citizens.”Whipple started to say the rate hike would hurt elderly residents on fixed incomes when he was cut off by the moderator of the meeting.“I’m getting to my question,” Whipple said.The moderator, a member of the KCC staff, replied: “OK, please do.”Whipple, frustrated: “Excuse me. Excuse me. Thank you.”“No. No, no no,” the moderator replied. “I want to give all of your constituents the opportunity to ask a question.”Whipple questioned why customers should pay for Evergy’s executive benefits.Dozens of customers expressed outrage at the proposed hike.“How are we going to fix this?” asked Shannon Thomas. “Because I’m a poverty-level mom. $15 a month is going to hurt me.”Lewis, the Evergy spokeswoman, said the utility works to keep costs low because its staff knows rate hikes can be difficult. She said the utility has a team that works with customers who need help paying their bills. The company provides face-to-face assistance and information to more than 14,000 customers each year.Dave Nickel, consumer counsel for the Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board, said the agency, which represents residential and small business utility customers, is still developing its comments on Evergy’s request.But he said CURB will likely go after executive salaries, any unnecessary or exorbitant spending by Evergy on infrastructure, and the company’s requested rate of return for investments.Nickel said CURB was supporting the “time-of-use pricing” included in the rate case. Customers can opt into plans where energy is more expensive during times of peak demand, such as 4 p.m. on a hot summer day, and cheaper during non-peak times.&nbsp;Evergy is rolling out the pricing scheme in Missouri to considerable blowback. But in Kansas, customers can opt in voluntarily.Nickel, like Gupta, said implementing energy efficiency programs could help control Evergy’s prices in the long-run. The state has a policy saying utilities and regulators should work together on energy efficiency.But he said for “almost 10 years, we haven’t gotten squat.”

Evergy requests first rate increase in 5 years. Rates outside KC would jump 10%.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday he has appointed a special counsel in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;probe, deepening the investigation of the president's son ahead of the 2024 election.

Garland said he was naming David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware who has been probing the financial and business dealings of the president's son, as the special counsel.

Just as his appointment as special counsel was announced, Weiss notified a federal judge in Delaware that plea deal talks in the Hunter Biden case were at an “impasse.”

Garland noted the “extraordinary circumstances” of the matter as he made the announcement at the Justice Department. He said that Weiss asked to be appointed to the position and told him that “in his judgment, his investigation has reached a stage at which he should continue his work as a special counsel."

“Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel,” Garland said.

The move is a momentous development from the typically cautious Garland and comes amid a pair of sweeping Justice Department probes into Donald Trump, the former president, and President Joe Biden's chief rival in next year's election.

It also comes as House Republicans are mounting their own investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings.

Last month, Hunter Biden’s plea deal over tax evasion collapsed after U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-taxes-gun-drugs-690d38f1ffae4dfce2c171d21e7d3594">raised multiple concerns</a>&nbsp;about the specifics.

Republicans had derided that agreement as a “sweetheart” deal as they pushed their own probe.

The Republicans claimed Weiss was being blocked from becoming a special counsel a claim he and the Justice Department denied.

By being named special counsel Weiss will have broader authority to conduct a more sweeping investigation across various areas.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday he has appointed a special counsel in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-hunter-biden">Hunter Biden</a>&nbsp;probe, deepening the investigation of the president's son ahead of the 2024 election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Attorney General announces appointment of David Weiss as Special Counsel: &quot;Beginning in 2019, Mr. Weiss in his capacity as U.S. Attorney...began investigating allegations of certain criminal conduct by, among others, Robert Hunter Biden...that investigation remains ongoing.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/eeAdVtBAxX">pic.twitter.com/eeAdVtBAxX</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1690040363329761294?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Garland said he was naming David Weiss, the U.S. attorney in Delaware who has been probing the financial and business dealings of the president's son, as the special counsel.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This action by Biden’s DOJ cannot be used to obstruct congressional investigations or whitewash the Biden family corruption. If Weiss negotiated the sweetheart deal that couldn’t get approved, how can he be trusted as a Special Counsel? House Republicans will continue to pursue…&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy/status/1690049403824807939?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Just as his appointment as special counsel was announced, Weiss notified a federal judge in Delaware that plea deal talks in the Hunter Biden case were at an “impasse.”Garland noted the “extraordinary circumstances” of the matter as he made the announcement at the Justice Department. He said that Weiss asked to be appointed to the position and told him that “in his judgment, his investigation has reached a stage at which he should continue his work as a special counsel."“Upon considering his request, as well as the extraordinary circumstances relating to this matter, I have concluded it is in the public interest to appoint him as special counsel,” Garland said.The move is a momentous development from the typically cautious Garland and comes amid a pair of sweeping Justice Department probes into Donald Trump, the former president, and President Joe Biden's chief rival in next year's election.It also comes as House Republicans are mounting their own investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings.Last month, Hunter Biden’s plea deal over tax evasion collapsed after U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was appointed by President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-plea-deal-taxes-gun-drugs-690d38f1ffae4dfce2c171d21e7d3594">raised multiple concerns</a>&nbsp;about the specifics.Republicans had derided that agreement as a “sweetheart” deal as they pushed their own probe.The Republicans claimed Weiss was being blocked from becoming a special counsel a claim he and the Justice Department denied.By being named special counsel Weiss will have broader authority to conduct a more sweeping investigation across various areas.

🎥 Trump-appointee named special counsel in Hunter Biden probe

Nominees find merit in nimble, collaborative public universities and colleges

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

TOPEKA — The two latest appointees to the Kansas Board of Regents want to intensify recruitment at public colleges and universities while strengthening opportunities for diverse populations of students to excel academically and prepare for jobs in the economy.

Overall enrollment has slumped during the past five years at 32 institutions under oversight of the Board of Regents, sliding to 165,000 in 2022 after sitting at 182,000 in 2017. Cumulative reductions during the period amounted to 15.5% at community colleges, 9.2% at technical colleges and 6% at state universities in Kansas.

“One of the biggest challenges is declining enrollment,” said Alysia Johnston, a former community college administrator nominated by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and endorsed by a Republican-led Senate confirmation committee. “We have to make sure that all Kansans understand the opportunities of higher education.”

Johnston, who was president of Fort Scott Community College for eight years, said universities and colleges in Kansas offered a wide range of four-year and two-year degrees as well as licensure and certificate programs leading to a better quality of life and a family-sustaining income. She said it was important the Board of Regents continued working toward a seamless education system for transfer students.

While Kansas higher education generally reflected national trends, there were exceptions in the past five years as enrollment grew 5.9% at Wichita State University. The Colby and Pratt community colleges also defied the declining-enrollment trend as did three technical colleges in the state.

Fall semester 2023 enrollments won’t be released until September, but Emporia State University has projected a 5% decline in students. It’s unclear how tuition increases at state universities ranging from 5% to 7% could influence decisions of potential students.

Board of Regents nominee Neelima Parasker, founder and president of SnapIT Solutions in Overland Park, said the state was missing out on opportunities to work with youth on two-year and four-year degrees demanded in high-technology fields. She said Board of Regents institutions should make strides in welcoming adult learners who wanted to overhaul technical skills and fill gaps in the workforce.

“In the technology industry,” Parasker said, “we believe there is no end to learning.”

In Senate confirmation hearings where lawmakers offered bipartisan support for the governor’s nominees to the Board of Regents, Parasker and Johnston were asked about the influence of diversity, equity and inclusion programs on higher education.

Winfield Sen. Larry Alley, who serves as Senate majority leader and chairman of the confirmation committee, said there was concern about DEI initiatives on Board of Regents’ campuses. Alley and other GOP lawmakers in Kansas have sought to eliminate DEI at state universities, arguing they were part of a disruptive “woke” agenda that applied an ideological litmus test to students, faculty and administrators.

Parasker, who earned an engineering degree in India before immigrating to the United States and completing a master’s degree in computer science at Oklahoma City University, said Kansans should be afforded opportunities to advance their education without unnecessary impediments.

“It doesn’t matter what the color of skin,” she said. “If they have the potential and the drive to move forward as leaders, it becomes our responsibility to remove roadblocks.”

Johnston earned a bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University and a master’s degree at Pittsburg State University, and devoted 37 years to classroom instruction and administrative work at community colleges. She said two-year colleges had a capacity to provide learning opportunities to broad student populations, including first-generation college students with all sorts of backgrounds and influences.

“We do serve a lot of underserved populations,” Johnston said. “If our students are willing to put in the work and meet the challenges, then we are going to be there doing what we can to remove hurdles and make sure they’re successful.”

Johnston and Parasker said they grew up in families that instilled the importance of education. They also said they believed colleges and universities had to collaborate with business and industry in Kansas to prepare students to meet demands of the economy.

“We all need to work together to make sure we’re providing workforce training and supporting business and entrepreneurs through innovation and partnerships,” Johnston said.

If confirmed by the Kansas Senate during the 2024 legislative session, Parasker and Johnston would serve four-year terms on the Board of Regents ending in June 2027.

The nine-member Board of Regents has jurisdiction over 32 public higher education institutions. That included six state universities, 19 community colleges, six technical colleges and Washburn University, which is a municipal university and operates the state’s seventh technical school.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691750321541.png" alt=" Neelima Parasker, appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly to the Kansas Board of Regents, said she was keen to recruit students to public colleges and universities, and prepare that diverse cadre of students for a high-tech economy. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption> Neelima Parasker, appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly to the Kansas Board of Regents, said she was keen to recruit students to public colleges and universities, and prepare that diverse cadre of students for a high-tech economy. (Kansas Reflector screen capture of Kansas Legislature’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Nominees find merit in nimble, collaborative public universities and colleges</h2>BY:&nbsp;TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The two latest appointees to the Kansas Board of Regents want to intensify recruitment at public colleges and universities while strengthening opportunities for diverse populations of students to excel academically and prepare for jobs in the economy.Overall enrollment has slumped during the past five years at 32 institutions under oversight of the Board of Regents, sliding to 165,000 in 2022 after sitting at 182,000 in 2017. Cumulative reductions during the period amounted to 15.5% at community colleges, 9.2% at technical colleges and 6% at state universities in Kansas.“One of the biggest challenges is declining enrollment,” said Alysia Johnston, a former community college administrator nominated by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and endorsed by a Republican-led Senate confirmation committee. “We have to make sure that all Kansans understand the opportunities of higher education.”Johnston, who was president of Fort Scott Community College for eight years, said universities and colleges in Kansas offered a wide range of four-year and two-year degrees as well as licensure and certificate programs leading to a better quality of life and a family-sustaining income. She said it was important the Board of Regents continued working toward a seamless education system for transfer students.While Kansas higher education generally reflected national trends, there were exceptions in the past five years as enrollment grew 5.9% at Wichita State University. The Colby and Pratt community colleges also defied the declining-enrollment trend as did three technical colleges in the state.Fall semester 2023 enrollments won’t be released until September, but Emporia State University has projected a 5% decline in students. It’s unclear how tuition increases at state universities ranging from 5% to 7% could influence decisions of potential students.Board of Regents nominee Neelima Parasker, founder and president of SnapIT Solutions in Overland Park, said the state was missing out on opportunities to work with youth on two-year and four-year degrees demanded in high-technology fields. She said Board of Regents institutions should make strides in welcoming adult learners who wanted to overhaul technical skills and fill gaps in the workforce.“In the technology industry,” Parasker said, “we believe there is no end to learning.”In Senate confirmation hearings where lawmakers offered bipartisan support for the governor’s nominees to the Board of Regents, Parasker and Johnston were asked about the influence of diversity, equity and inclusion programs on higher education.Winfield Sen. Larry Alley, who serves as Senate majority leader and chairman of the confirmation committee, said there was concern about DEI initiatives on Board of Regents’ campuses. Alley and other GOP lawmakers in Kansas have sought to eliminate DEI at state universities, arguing they were part of a disruptive “woke” agenda that applied an ideological litmus test to students, faculty and administrators.Parasker, who earned an engineering degree in India before immigrating to the United States and completing a master’s degree in computer science at Oklahoma City University, said Kansans should be afforded opportunities to advance their education without unnecessary impediments.“It doesn’t matter what the color of skin,” she said. “If they have the potential and the drive to move forward as leaders, it becomes our responsibility to remove roadblocks.”Johnston earned a bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University and a master’s degree at Pittsburg State University, and devoted 37 years to classroom instruction and administrative work at community colleges. She said two-year colleges had a capacity to provide learning opportunities to broad student populations, including first-generation college students with all sorts of backgrounds and influences.“We do serve a lot of underserved populations,” Johnston said. “If our students are willing to put in the work and meet the challenges, then we are going to be there doing what we can to remove hurdles and make sure they’re successful.”Johnston and Parasker said they grew up in families that instilled the importance of education. They also said they believed colleges and universities had to collaborate with business and industry in Kansas to prepare students to meet demands of the economy.“We all need to work together to make sure we’re providing workforce training and supporting business and entrepreneurs through innovation and partnerships,” Johnston said.If confirmed by the Kansas Senate during the 2024 legislative session, Parasker and Johnston would serve four-year terms on the Board of Regents ending in June 2027.The nine-member Board of Regents has jurisdiction over 32 public higher education institutions. That included six state universities, 19 community colleges, six technical colleges and Washburn University, which is a municipal university and operates the state’s seventh technical school.

Latest Kan. Board of Regents appointees placing a premium on student recruiting

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a report of porch pirates have made arrests.

On Thursday afternoon, Maize Police with assistance from the Wichita Police Department arrested two individuals in connection with recent thefts of packages in the Wichita metropolitan area and recovered several pieces of property believed to have been taken in the thefts, according to a media release.

 If you recently encountered a theft of a delivered package to your residence, please email Maize Detective Piper at jpiper@maizeks.gov and provide a description of the item(s) that were taken and any associated police case number you made.

The suspects in the thefts were a white male and female driving a gray BMW 5 series with the Kansas tag 966RYP.&nbsp; According to online jail records the suspects are identified as <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=742012">18-year-old Audrey French</a>&nbsp;and 19-year-old <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=260827">Gavin Shaffer.</a>&nbsp;

They are being held on requested charges of aggravated burglary, possession of stolen property and theft.

Just after 6p.m. August 3, the individual seen in security camera images took packages left on the porch of a residence in the 11000 block of West Sondra in the city of Maize, according to a social media report from police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691180365684.png" alt="photo Maize Police" />
 <figcaption>photo Maize Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a report of porch pirates have made arrests.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691719945216.png" alt="Shaffer-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Shaffer-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>On Thursday afternoon, Maize Police with assistance from the Wichita Police Department arrested two individuals in connection with recent thefts of packages in the Wichita metropolitan area and recovered several pieces of property believed to have been taken in the thefts, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691719974818.png" alt="French-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>French-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> If you recently encountered a theft of a delivered package to your residence, please email Maize Detective Piper at jpiper@maizeks.gov and provide a description of the item(s) that were taken and any associated police case number you made.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691180397601.png" alt="Gray BMW 5 series with the Kansas tag 966RYP-photo Maize Police" />
 <figcaption>Gray BMW 5 series with the Kansas tag 966RYP-photo Maize Police</figcaption>
 </figure> The suspects in the thefts were a white male and female driving a gray BMW 5 series with the Kansas tag 966RYP.&nbsp; According to online jail records the suspects are identified as <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=742012">18-year-old Audrey French</a>&nbsp;and 19-year-old <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=260827">Gavin Shaffer.</a>&nbsp;They are being held on requested charges of aggravated burglary, possession of stolen property and theft.Just after 6p.m. August 3, the individual seen in security camera images took packages left on the porch of a residence in the 11000 block of West Sondra in the city of Maize, according to a social media report from police.

Police: Porch pirates caught on camera are in a Kansas jail

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year, another massive infusion of cash as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the Russian invasion</a>&nbsp;wears on and Ukraine pushes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-major-push-12334bbee83b608221dafced4727369e">a counteroffensive</a>&nbsp;against the Kremlin's deeply entrenched forces.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676898415388.png" alt="Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a&nbsp; February visit in Ukraine -White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a&nbsp; February visit in Ukraine -White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year, another massive infusion of cash as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the Russian invasion</a>&nbsp;wears on and Ukraine pushes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-major-push-12334bbee83b608221dafced4727369e">a counteroffensive</a>&nbsp;against the Kremlin's deeply entrenched forces.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s Groundhog Day - again. The Biden Family LLC is asking for another $24B from your family’s paycheck to Ukraine. Remember when Congress didn’t have the fortitude to spend $20B to build the wall &amp; secure the Mexico border? We could’ve paid for it 8x w/ the money sent to Ukraine&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1689983630158811136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The package includes $12 billion to replenish U.S. federal disaster funds at home after a deadly climate season of heat and storms, and funds to bolster the enforcement at the Southern border with Mexico, including money to curb the flow of deadly fentanyl. All told, it’s a $40 billion package.While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-europe-congress-government-and-politics-bddc8fc02afcc2a072bbdd388dc1a658">the last such supplemental spending request</a>&nbsp;from the White House for Ukraine funding was easily approved in 2022 despite reservations from Republicans, there’s a different dynamic this time.A political divide on the issue has steadily grown, with the Republican-led House facing enormous pressure to demonstrate support for the party's leader, Donald Trump, who has been very skeptical of the war. And American support for the effort has been slowly softening.White House budget director Shalanda Young, in a letter to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, urged swift action to follow through on the U.S. “commitment to the Ukrainian peoples’ defense of their homeland and to democracy around the world” as well as other needs.The request was crafted with an eye to picking up support from Republicans, as well as Democrats, particularly with increased domestic funding around border issues — a top priority for the GOP. The Republicans have been been highly critical of the Biden administration’s approach to halting the flow of migrants crossing from Mexico.Still, the price tag of $40 billion may be too much for Republicans who are fighting to slash, not raise, federal outlays. As a supplemental request, the package the White House is sending to Congress falls outside the budget caps both parties agreed to as part of the debt ceiling showdown earlier this year.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement there was strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate.“The latest request from the Biden administration shows America’s continued commitment to helping Americans here at home and our friends abroad,” he said. "We hope to join with our Republican colleagues this fall to avert an unnecessary government shutdown and fund this critical emergency supplemental request.”Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has championed of support for Ukraine, was more subdued.“I look forward to carefully reviewing the Administration’s request to make sure it is necessary and appropriate," McConnell said in a statement, "to keep America safe, secure our borders, support our allies, and help communities rebuild after disasters.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671657547305.png" alt="Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Washington in December-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Washington in December-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>President Joe Biden and his senior national security team have repeatedly said the United States will help Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-zelenskyy-washington-4d5fc23be5518e689fbbcac334769d59">“as long as it takes”</a>&nbsp;to oust Russia from its borders. Privately, administration officials have warned Ukrainian officials that there is a limit to the patience of a narrowly divided Congress — and American public — for the costs of a war with no clear end.“For people who might be concerned the costs are getting too high, we’d ask them what the costs — not just in treasure but in blood, perhaps even American blood — could be if Putin subjugates Ukraine,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said this week.Support among the American public for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-politics-military-and-defense-0f550a262fb6178a7d91b8be6e2c601b">providing Ukraine weaponry</a>&nbsp;and direct economic assistance has softened with time. An AP-NORC poll conducted in January 2023 around the one-year mark of the conflict, found that 48% favored the U.S. providing weapons to Ukraine, down from the 60% of U.S. adults who were in favor sending Ukraine weapons in May 2022. While Democrats have generally been more supportive than Republicans of offering weaponry, their support dropped slightly from 71% to 63% in the same period. Republicans’ support dropped more, from 53% to 39%.Dozens of Republicans in the House and some GOP senators have expressed reservations, and even voted against, spending more federal dollars for the war effort. Many of those Republicans are aligning with Trump’s objections to the U.S. involvement overseas.That means any final vote on Ukraine aid will likely need to rely on a hefty coalition led by Democrats from Biden’s party to ensure approval.The funding includes money to counter Russian and Chinese influence elsewhere by bolstering the World Bank and providing aid to resist Russian-aligned Wagner forces in Africa. Domestically, there’s an additional $60 million to address increased wildfires that have erupted nationwide. And the request includes $4 billion for the Southern border, including $2.2 billion for border management and $766 million to stop the flow of fentanyl and provide prevention and recovery support. There is also $100 million earmarked for the Department of Labor to ramp up investigations of suspected child labor violations.To ease passage, Congress would likely try to attach the package to a must-pass measure for broader government funding in the U.S. that’s needed by Oct. 1 to prevent any shutdown in federal offices.Members of Congress have repeatedly pressed Defense Department leaders on how closely the U.S. is tracking its aid to Ukraine to ensure that it is not subject to fraud or ending up in the wrong hands. The Pentagon has said it has a “robust program” to track the aid as it crosses the border into Ukraine and to keep tabs on it once it is there, depending on the sensitivity of each weapons system.Ukraine is pushing through with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-counteroffensive-explainer-ff774fce8608b464a406ae087b1a3607">its ongoing counteroffensive</a>, in an effort to dislodge the Kremlin’s forces from territory they’ve occupied since a full-scale invasion in February 2022. The counteroffensive has come up against heavily mined terrain and reinforced defensive fortifications.The U.S. has approved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-government-us-republican-party-texas-michael-mccaul-114e61bdd752d387a3df813638dab68a">four rounds of aid</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine in response to Russia’s invasion, totaling about $113 billion, with some of that money going toward replenishment of U.S. military equipment that was sent to the frontlines. Congress&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-nancy-pelosi-ed54dbd327c4362ee052f851f497fcd4">approved the latest round of aid</a>&nbsp;in December, totaling roughly $45 billion for Ukraine and NATO allies. While the package was designed to last through the end of the fiscal year in September, much depends upon events on the ground.“We remain confident that we’ll be able to continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” said Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.There were questions in November about waning Republican support to approve the package, but it ultimately passed. Now, though, House Speaker McCarthy is facing pressure to impeach Biden over unproven claims of financial misconduct and it’s not clear whether a quick show of support for Ukraine could cause political damage in what’s expected to be a bruising 2024 reelection campaign.Trump contends that American involvement has only drawn Russia closer to other adversarial states like China, and has condemned the tens of billions of dollars that the United States has provided in aid for Ukraine.