WASHINGTON —With&nbsp;Russia’s war on Ukraine&nbsp;in its 17th month, President Joe Biden Thursday issued&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/07/13/ordering-the-selected-reserve-and-certain-members-of-the-individual-ready-reserve-of-the-armed-forces-to-active-duty/">an executive order</a>&nbsp;approving the mobilization of select reserve forces with up to 3,000 personnel, augmenting the armed forces in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, according to a statement from the White House.

This operation will be designated as a contingency operation, said Army Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II, Joint Staff director of operations, during a press briefing Thursday.&nbsp;

"This new designation benefits troops and families with increases in authorities, entitlements and access to the reserve component forces and personnel," Sims said.&nbsp;

"This [executive order] reaffirms the unwavering support and commitment to defend&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nato.int/" target="_blank">NATO</a>'s eastern flank in the wake of Russia's illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine," Sims said.

U.S. European Command is preparing to use this new authority in continuation of U.S. commitment to NATO's collective security, stated Eucom spokesman Navy Capt. Bill Speaks.

"These authorities will ensure long-term resilience in Eucom's continued heightened level of presence and operations. This will not change current force-posture levels in Europe," Speaks said.&nbsp;

These new authorities are an important demonstration of the U.S. commitment to allies and partners and provides Eucom with greater flexibility to provide key entitlements to the forces who support those commitments, Speaks said in the release.

Providing a current assessment of the fighting in Ukraine, Sims said the fighting is severe. &nbsp;

Despite being shot at, bombed, and facing well dug-in Russian defenses in tough terrain, Ukrainian forces are doing a remarkable job with their new equipment and techniques, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689293812586.png" alt="Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Biden this week at the NATO summit- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Biden this week at the NATO summit- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —With&nbsp;Russia’s war on Ukraine&nbsp;in its 17th month, President Joe Biden Thursday issued&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/07/13/ordering-the-selected-reserve-and-certain-members-of-the-individual-ready-reserve-of-the-armed-forces-to-active-duty/">an executive order</a>&nbsp;approving the mobilization of select reserve forces with up to 3,000 personnel, augmenting the armed forces in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, according to a statement from the White House.This operation will be designated as a contingency operation, said Army Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II, Joint Staff director of operations, during a press briefing Thursday.&nbsp;"This new designation benefits troops and families with increases in authorities, entitlements and access to the reserve component forces and personnel," Sims said.&nbsp;"This [executive order] reaffirms the unwavering support and commitment to defend&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nato.int/" target="_blank">NATO</a>'s eastern flank in the wake of Russia's illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine," Sims said.U.S. European Command is preparing to use this new authority in continuation of U.S. commitment to NATO's collective security, stated Eucom spokesman Navy Capt. Bill Speaks."These authorities will ensure long-term resilience in Eucom's continued heightened level of presence and operations. This will not change current force-posture levels in Europe," Speaks said.&nbsp;These new authorities are an important demonstration of the U.S. commitment to allies and partners and provides Eucom with greater flexibility to provide key entitlements to the forces who support those commitments, Speaks said in the release.Providing a current assessment of the fighting in Ukraine, Sims said the fighting is severe. &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689328811078.png" alt="Air Force Airman Faith Grayson, 436th Aerial Port Squadron ramp operation specialist, loads cargo during a security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 3, 2023. The Defense Department is providing Ukraine with critical capabilities to defend against Russia’s invasion.&nbsp;Photo By:Air Force Staff Sgt. Marco Gomez" />
 <figcaption>Air Force Airman Faith Grayson, 436th Aerial Port Squadron ramp operation specialist, loads cargo during a security assistance mission at Dover Air Force Base, Del., Feb. 3, 2023. The Defense Department is providing Ukraine with critical capabilities to defend against Russia’s invasion.&nbsp;Photo By:Air Force Staff Sgt. Marco Gomez</figcaption>
 </figure>Despite being shot at, bombed, and facing well dug-in Russian defenses in tough terrain, Ukrainian forces are doing a remarkable job with their new equipment and techniques, he said.

Biden orders 3,000 reservists to be ready for Europe deployment

CAMDEN COUNTY—Two of three people injured in a small plane crash Thursday died from their injuries.

The crash occurred just after noon Thursday in a rural area near Osage Beach, Missouri, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Hayden Ritchhart, 22, Carrollton, Missouri and Evan R. Vandiver, 19, Richmond, Missouri., died in the crash, according to Osage Beach Police.

EMS transported Gary Vandiver, 54, of Richmond, Missouri to an area hospital.

&nbsp;The aircraft had just taken off from Lee C. Fine airport and was later located in the treeline at the old golf course between RT. KK and US 54, according to the patrol.&nbsp;

The FAA has been notified and will be conducting the crash investigation.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Ritchhart was believed to be piloting the aircraft, according to police.

CAMDEN COUNTY—Three people were injured in a small plane crash just after noon Thursday in a rural area near Osage Beach, Missouri, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

&nbsp;The aircraft had just taken off from Lee C. Fine airport and was later located in the treeline at the old golf course between RT. KK and US 54, according to the patrol. All three on board sustaining serious injuries.

Authorities released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689277906568.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Missouri State Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Missouri State Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>CAMDEN COUNTY—Two of three people injured in a small plane crash Thursday died from their injuries.The crash occurred just after noon Thursday in a rural area near Osage Beach, Missouri, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.Hayden Ritchhart, 22, Carrollton, Missouri and Evan R. Vandiver, 19, Richmond, Missouri., died in the crash, according to Osage Beach Police.EMS transported Gary Vandiver, 54, of Richmond, Missouri to an area hospital.&nbsp;The aircraft had just taken off from Lee C. Fine airport and was later located in the treeline at the old golf course between RT. KK and US 54, according to the patrol.&nbsp;The FAA has been notified and will be conducting the crash investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ritchhart was believed to be piloting the aircraft, according to police.------------CAMDEN COUNTY—Three people were injured in a small plane crash just after noon Thursday in a rural area near Osage Beach, Missouri, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.&nbsp;The aircraft had just taken off from Lee C. Fine airport and was later located in the treeline at the old golf course between RT. KK and US 54, according to the patrol. All three on board sustaining serious injuries.Authorities released no additional details.The FAA has been notified and will be conducting the crash investigation.&nbsp;

Police ID 2 who died after small plane crash near Lake of the Ozarks

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lisa-marie-presley">Lisa Marie Presley</a>&nbsp;died from complications from bariatric surgery she had several years ago, authorities said Thursday.

The January 12 death at age 54 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-musical-legacy-71d8b763f38c75b389aab331d5cbe468">singer, songwriter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-dies-9fc02552f6f31e270647897a2e4104e9">heir of Elvis Presley</a>&nbsp;was ruled as being from natural causes due to effects of a small bowel obstruction.

Additional details about what caused Presley's death were included in an autopsy report released Thursday afternoon by the office of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.

The report says the complication that Presley experienced is a common complication from bariatric surgery, which is a weight loss procedure. The Mayo Clinic says it is often done when other weight loss methods haven't worked or if a person has a serious medical condition.

Presley died at a Los Angeles hospital, where she had been rushed by paramedics responding to a 911 call of a woman in cardiac arrest at her home. No indication was made public at the time of what may have caused the medical issue.

The autopsy report said she had been complaining of stomach pain earlier in the day.

She was buried at a Jan. 22&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/celebrity-lisa-marie-presley-memphis-b1b049e9ce7796830f48623fd173b9e2">funeral at Graceland</a>, the home where she lived with her father as a child that has become a museum, tourist attraction and shrine for Elvis fans.

Presley left behind three daughters, 34-year-old “Daisy Jones &amp; the Six” actor Riley Keough and 15-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood. A son, Benjamin Keough, died in 2020.

In the immediate aftermath of her death, it appeared that a major legal fight would ensue over Presley's estate. Four days after her funeral, her mother,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-lisa-marie-presley-priscilla-riley-keough-los-angeles-0efc14c3329239fe2f2f143fe34966d8">Priscilla Presley, filed court documents</a>&nbsp;disputing a 2016 amendment to Lisa Marie Presley's living trust that removed Priscilla Presley and a former business manager as trustees and replaced them with her two eldest children.

But Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough – who is now acting as sole trustee – agreed to a settlement in May.

Riley Keough was nominated for her first Emmy on Wednesday, for best actress in a limited series or TV movie for “Daisy Jones &amp; the Six.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674489309670.png" alt="More than a thousand people gathered on the front lawn of Graceland on a gray, chilly Memphis morning to mourn the death and remember the life of Lisa Marie Presley, who died Jan. 12 after she was taken to a hospital in California. photo by John Amis, Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>More than a thousand people gathered on the front lawn of Graceland on a gray, chilly Memphis morning to mourn the death and remember the life of Lisa Marie Presley, who died Jan. 12 after she was taken to a hospital in California. photo by John Amis, Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/lisa-marie-presley">Lisa Marie Presley</a>&nbsp;died from complications from bariatric surgery she had several years ago, authorities said Thursday.The January 12 death at age 54 of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-musical-legacy-71d8b763f38c75b389aab331d5cbe468">singer, songwriter</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-dies-9fc02552f6f31e270647897a2e4104e9">heir of Elvis Presley</a>&nbsp;was ruled as being from natural causes due to effects of a small bowel obstruction.Additional details about what caused Presley's death were included in an autopsy report released Thursday afternoon by the office of the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner.The report says the complication that Presley experienced is a common complication from bariatric surgery, which is a weight loss procedure. The Mayo Clinic says it is often done when other weight loss methods haven't worked or if a person has a serious medical condition.Presley died at a Los Angeles hospital, where she had been rushed by paramedics responding to a 911 call of a woman in cardiac arrest at her home. No indication was made public at the time of what may have caused the medical issue.The autopsy report said she had been complaining of stomach pain earlier in the day.She was buried at a Jan. 22&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/celebrity-lisa-marie-presley-memphis-b1b049e9ce7796830f48623fd173b9e2">funeral at Graceland</a>, the home where she lived with her father as a child that has become a museum, tourist attraction and shrine for Elvis fans.Presley left behind three daughters, 34-year-old “Daisy Jones &amp; the Six” actor Riley Keough and 15-year-old twins Harper and Finley Lockwood. A son, Benjamin Keough, died in 2020.In the immediate aftermath of her death, it appeared that a major legal fight would ensue over Presley's estate. Four days after her funeral, her mother,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-lisa-marie-presley-priscilla-riley-keough-los-angeles-0efc14c3329239fe2f2f143fe34966d8">Priscilla Presley, filed court documents</a>&nbsp;disputing a 2016 amendment to Lisa Marie Presley's living trust that removed Priscilla Presley and a former business manager as trustees and replaced them with her two eldest children.But Priscilla Presley and Riley Keough – who is now acting as sole trustee – agreed to a settlement in May.Riley Keough was nominated for her first Emmy on Wednesday, for best actress in a limited series or TV movie for “Daisy Jones &amp; the Six.”

Coroner reports on cause of Lisa Marie Presley's death

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man charged in connection with the stabbing in April 2022 of an 18-month old boy apparently after a vehicular accident has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

On Monday, Anthony N. Beighley-Beck, 26, pleaded guilty to Child Abuse and Child Endangerment. As part of the plea, a Jackson County judge sentnced him to 13 years on the Child Abuse conviction and 5 years for Child Endangerment for a total prison sentence of 18 years.&nbsp;

According to court records, Blue Springs police responded April 18, 2022, to the area of Highway 7 and U.S. 40 highway on a reported traffic accident. An officer observed a Chevrolet Cobat with a flattened tire driving on the wheel, creating a danger. 

The officer pursued the vehicle at high speeds until police stopped them. They saw Beighley-Beck holding a child, less than 2 years old, who was later found to have a large open wound. 

Beighley-Beck told police he stabbed the child after the vehicle was stopped by police. Police later obtained a search warrant and found in the vehicle a knife that appeared to be bloody. A criminal case remains against a co-defendant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689105096853.png" alt="Anthony Beighley-Beck" />
 <figcaption>Anthony Beighley-Beck</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man charged in connection with the stabbing in April 2022 of an 18-month old boy apparently after a vehicular accident has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.On Monday, Anthony N. Beighley-Beck, 26, pleaded guilty to Child Abuse and Child Endangerment. As part of the plea, a Jackson County judge sentnced him to 13 years on the Child Abuse conviction and 5 years for Child Endangerment for a total prison sentence of 18 years.&nbsp;According to court records, Blue Springs police responded April 18, 2022, to the area of Highway 7 and U.S. 40 highway on a reported traffic accident. An officer observed a Chevrolet Cobat with a flattened tire driving on the wheel, creating a danger. The officer pursued the vehicle at high speeds until police stopped them. They saw Beighley-Beck holding a child, less than 2 years old, who was later found to have a large open wound. Beighley-Beck told police he stabbed the child after the vehicle was stopped by police. Police later obtained a search warrant and found in the vehicle a knife that appeared to be bloody. A criminal case remains against a co-defendant.

KC man admits stabbing toddler after police traffic stop

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leaders of a Hollywood’s actors union voted Thursday to join&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-hollywood-march-rally-actors-1e87e496db3581f251ee4ad7664a96b2">screenwriters</a>&nbsp;in the first joint strike in more than six decades, shutting down production across the entertainment industry after talks for a new contract with studios and streaming services broke down.

It’s the first time two major Hollywood unions have been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was the actors’ guild president.

In an impassioned speech as the strike, which begins at midnight, was announced, actors’ union president and former “The Nanny Star” Fran Drescher chastised industry executives.

“Employers make Wall Street and greed their priority and they forget about the essential contributors that make the machine run,” Drescher said. “It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history.”

Hours earlier, a three-year contract had expired and talks broke off between the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sag-aftra">Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists</a>&nbsp;and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers representing employers including Disney, Netflix, Amazon and others.

Outside Netflix's Hollywood offices, picketing screenwriters chanted “Pay Your Actors!” immediately after the strike was declared. Actors will begin picketing alongside writers outside studio headquarters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday.

“It looks like it’s time to take down the MASKS. And pick up the SIGNS,” Oscar-winner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CupmkOmSRS4/?hl=en">Jamie Lee Curtis</a>&nbsp;said in an Instagram post with a photo of the tragic and comic masks that represent acting.

The premiere of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-469cc81e0989f414a20db5508c7630a0">Christopher Nolan’s film “Oppenheimer”</a>&nbsp;in London was moved up an hour so that the cast could walk the red carpet before the SAG board’s announcement. Stars including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cillian-murphy-oppenheimer-9632a46e5fb6292b8f903541d6d07660">Cillian Murphy</a>, Emily Blunt and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXMNisH5aeI">Matt Damon</a>&nbsp;left the event once the strike was announced.

The strike — the first for film and television actors since 1980 — casts a shadow over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards">upcoming 75th Emmy Awards,</a>&nbsp;whose nominations were announced a day earlier. Union rules prevent actors from doing any interviews or promotions around the awards, and they may not appear at the ceremony.

The strike rules also prevent actors from making personal appearances or promoting their work on podcasts or at premieres. And they are barred from do any production work including auditions, readings, rehearsals or voiceovers along with actual shooting.

While international shoots technically can continue, the stoppage among U.S.-based writers and performers is likely to have a drag on those too.

Disney chief Bob Iger warned the strike would have a “very damaging effect on the whole industry.”

“This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption,” Iger said on CNBC. “There’s a level of expectation that they have that is just not realistic.”

A nearly two-week extension of the actors union contract, and negotiations, only heightened the hostility between the two groups. Drescher said the extension made us “feel like we’d been duped, like maybe it was just to let studios promote their summer movies for another 12 days.”

Before the talks began June 7, the 65,000&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/screen-actors-strike-authorization-vote-5ae02cee343eb0077eaaf8d64a2f4769">actors who cast ballots voted overwhelmingly</a>&nbsp;for union leaders to send them into a strike, as the Writers Guild of America did when their deal expired more than two months ago.

When the initial deadline approached in late June, more than 1,000 members of the union, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Bob Odenkirk, added their names to a letter signaling to leaders their willingness to strike.

While famous names predominate, the strike also includes tens of thousands of little-known actors who scramble for small parts at sometimes meager pay. The union says modest-but-essential income streams including long-term residuals for shows they appear in have dried up.

Stakes in the negotiations included that kind of pay, which actors say has been undercut by inflation and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/streaming-shows-removed-residuals-4be3ac859c766c352e57ef96176fd812">the streaming ecosystem</a>, benefits, the growing tendency to make performers create video auditions at their own expense, and the threat of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-hollywood-writers-strike-artificial-intelligence-dc71c4cabcca0ee1b1afe0050d392a36">unregulated use of artificial intelligence</a>.

“At a moment when streaming and AI and digital was so prevalent, it has disemboweled the industry that we once knew,” Drescher said, drawing applause from her fellow union leaders. “When I did ‘The Nanny' everybody was part of the gravy train. Now it’s a vacuum.”

The AMPTP said it presented a generous deal that included the biggest bump in minimum pay in 35 years, higher caps on pension and health contributions, and “a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses.”

“A strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot operate without the performers that bring our TV shows and films to life,” the group said in a statement. “The Union has regrettably chosen a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry.”

SAG-AFTRA represents more than 160,000 screen actors, broadcast journalists, announcers, hosts and stunt performers. The walkout affects only the union’s actors from television and film productions, who voted overwhelmingly to authorize their leaders to call a strike before talks began on June 7. Broadway actors said in a statement that they stand “in solidarity” with SAG-AFTRA workers.

The 11,500 members of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wga-writers-strike-demands-d403f5b4666f20e2ce3e379bcaef5f2a">Writers Guild of America have been on strike</a>&nbsp;since their own talks collapsed and their contract expired on May 2. The stoppage has showed no signs of a solution, with no negotiations even planned.

That strike brought the immediate shutdown of late-night talk shows and “Saturday Night Live,” and several scripted shows, including “Stranger Things” on Netflix,” “Hacks” on Max, and “Family Guy” on Fox, which have either had their writers’ rooms&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-hollywood-shows-delayed-47ae4a4c9a83f8f9b65d19dfc1f5f0b2">or their production paused</a>. Many more are sure to follow them now that performers have been pulled too.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689291239288.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leaders of a Hollywood’s actors union voted Thursday to join&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-hollywood-march-rally-actors-1e87e496db3581f251ee4ad7664a96b2">screenwriters</a>&nbsp;in the first joint strike in more than six decades, shutting down production across the entertainment industry after talks for a new contract with studios and streaming services broke down.It’s the first time two major Hollywood unions have been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was the actors’ guild president.In an impassioned speech as the strike, which begins at midnight, was announced, actors’ union president and former “The Nanny Star” Fran Drescher chastised industry executives.“Employers make Wall Street and greed their priority and they forget about the essential contributors that make the machine run,” Drescher said. “It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history.”Hours earlier, a three-year contract had expired and talks broke off between the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/sag-aftra">Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists</a>&nbsp;and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers representing employers including Disney, Netflix, Amazon and others.Outside Netflix's Hollywood offices, picketing screenwriters chanted “Pay Your Actors!” immediately after the strike was declared. Actors will begin picketing alongside writers outside studio headquarters in New York and Los Angeles on Friday.“It looks like it’s time to take down the MASKS. And pick up the SIGNS,” Oscar-winner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CupmkOmSRS4/?hl=en">Jamie Lee Curtis</a>&nbsp;said in an Instagram post with a photo of the tragic and comic masks that represent acting.The premiere of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oppenheimer-christopher-nolan-469cc81e0989f414a20db5508c7630a0">Christopher Nolan’s film “Oppenheimer”</a>&nbsp;in London was moved up an hour so that the cast could walk the red carpet before the SAG board’s announcement. Stars including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cillian-murphy-oppenheimer-9632a46e5fb6292b8f903541d6d07660">Cillian Murphy</a>, Emily Blunt and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXMNisH5aeI">Matt Damon</a>&nbsp;left the event once the strike was announced.The strike — the first for film and television actors since 1980 — casts a shadow over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards">upcoming 75th Emmy Awards,</a>&nbsp;whose nominations were announced a day earlier. Union rules prevent actors from doing any interviews or promotions around the awards, and they may not appear at the ceremony.The strike rules also prevent actors from making personal appearances or promoting their work on podcasts or at premieres. And they are barred from do any production work including auditions, readings, rehearsals or voiceovers along with actual shooting.While international shoots technically can continue, the stoppage among U.S.-based writers and performers is likely to have a drag on those too.Disney chief Bob Iger warned the strike would have a “very damaging effect on the whole industry.”“This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption,” Iger said on CNBC. “There’s a level of expectation that they have that is just not realistic.”A nearly two-week extension of the actors union contract, and negotiations, only heightened the hostility between the two groups. Drescher said the extension made us “feel like we’d been duped, like maybe it was just to let studios promote their summer movies for another 12 days.”Before the talks began June 7, the 65,000&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/screen-actors-strike-authorization-vote-5ae02cee343eb0077eaaf8d64a2f4769">actors who cast ballots voted overwhelmingly</a>&nbsp;for union leaders to send them into a strike, as the Writers Guild of America did when their deal expired more than two months ago.When the initial deadline approached in late June, more than 1,000 members of the union, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Bob Odenkirk, added their names to a letter signaling to leaders their willingness to strike.While famous names predominate, the strike also includes tens of thousands of little-known actors who scramble for small parts at sometimes meager pay. The union says modest-but-essential income streams including long-term residuals for shows they appear in have dried up.Stakes in the negotiations included that kind of pay, which actors say has been undercut by inflation and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/streaming-shows-removed-residuals-4be3ac859c766c352e57ef96176fd812">the streaming ecosystem</a>, benefits, the growing tendency to make performers create video auditions at their own expense, and the threat of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-hollywood-writers-strike-artificial-intelligence-dc71c4cabcca0ee1b1afe0050d392a36">unregulated use of artificial intelligence</a>.“At a moment when streaming and AI and digital was so prevalent, it has disemboweled the industry that we once knew,” Drescher said, drawing applause from her fellow union leaders. “When I did ‘The Nanny' everybody was part of the gravy train. Now it’s a vacuum.”The AMPTP said it presented a generous deal that included the biggest bump in minimum pay in 35 years, higher caps on pension and health contributions, and “a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors’ digital likenesses.”“A strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot operate without the performers that bring our TV shows and films to life,” the group said in a statement. “The Union has regrettably chosen a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry.”SAG-AFTRA represents more than 160,000 screen actors, broadcast journalists, announcers, hosts and stunt performers. The walkout affects only the union’s actors from television and film productions, who voted overwhelmingly to authorize their leaders to call a strike before talks began on June 7. Broadway actors said in a statement that they stand “in solidarity” with SAG-AFTRA workers.The 11,500 members of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wga-writers-strike-demands-d403f5b4666f20e2ce3e379bcaef5f2a">Writers Guild of America have been on strike</a>&nbsp;since their own talks collapsed and their contract expired on May 2. The stoppage has showed no signs of a solution, with no negotiations even planned.That strike brought the immediate shutdown of late-night talk shows and “Saturday Night Live,” and several scripted shows, including “Stranger Things” on Netflix,” “Hacks” on Max, and “Family Guy” on Fox, which have either had their writers’ rooms&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/writers-strike-hollywood-shows-delayed-47ae4a4c9a83f8f9b65d19dfc1f5f0b2">or their production paused</a>. Many more are sure to follow them now that performers have been pulled too.

Hollywood shutdown: Actors join writers in historic strike

OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.

On Wednesday,&nbsp;the Osage County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotics search warrant at 126 SW Call Street in Melvern, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

An occupant of the residence, Kim L. Salzman, 66, of Melvern, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges that include Possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and No drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689200542088.png" alt="Salzman-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Salzman-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on drug allegations.On Wednesday,&nbsp;the Osage County Sheriff’s Office executed a narcotics search warrant at 126 SW Call Street in Melvern, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.An occupant of the residence, Kim L. Salzman, 66, of Melvern, was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges that include Possession of methamphetamine,&nbsp;Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia and No drug tax stamp.

Sheriff: Meth, marijuana sold from Kansas woman's home

WASHINGTON (AP) — No fingerprints or DNA turned up on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-suspicious-substance-cocaine-bd7a792357a85453cf55b6c955ff1b4f">baggie of cocaine found in a lobby at the White House</a>&nbsp;last week despite a sophisticated FBI crime lab analysis, and surveillance footage of the area didn’t identify a suspect, according to a summary of the Secret Service investigation obtained by The Associated Press.&nbsp;

The full statement from the Secret Service on the investigation says: 

&nbsp;"On the evening of July 2, officers from the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division found an unknown substance inside a vestibule leading to the lobby area of the West Executive Avenue entrance to the White House."

"The substance was located inside a receptacle used to temporarily store electronic and personal devices prior to entering the West Wing."

"Following the discovery, safety closures were implemented around the White House. This response was designed to ensure that the found substance was not a chemical or radiological material that threatened the security of the White House. As such, the substance was field tested and preliminarily determined to not be a hazardous compound."

"Testing conducted by the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department indicated that the found powder tested preliminarily positive for the presence of cocaine. The substance and packaging were treated as evidence and sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, which analyzed the item for any biothreats. Tests conducted at this facility came back negative and gave formal confirmation that the substance was not biological in nature."

"The substance and packaging underwent further forensic testing. The substance was analyzed for its chemical composition. The packaging was subjected to advanced fingerprint and DNA analysis. Both of these analyses were conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's crime laboratory given their expertise in this area and independence from the investigation."

"While awaiting the FBl's results, the Secret Service investigation into how this item entered the White House continued. The investigation included a methodical review of security systems and protocols. This review included a backwards examination that spanned several days prior to the discovery of the substance and developed an index of several hundred individuals who may have accessed the area where the substance was found. The focal point of these actions developed a pool of known persons for comparison of forensic evidence gleaned from the FBI’s analysis of the substance's packaging. "

"On July 12, the Secret Service received the FBI’s laboratory results, which did not develop latent fingerprints and insufficient DNA was present for investigative comparisons. &nbsp;Therefore, the Secret Service is not able to compare evidence against the known pool of individuals. The FBl's evaluation of the substance also confirmed that it was cocaine."&nbsp;

"There was no surveillance video footage found that provided investigative leads or any other means for investigators to identify who may have deposited the found substance in this area. Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out a person of interest from the hundreds of individuals who passed through the vestibule where the cocaine was discovered. At this time, the Secret Service's investigation is closed due to a lack of physical evidence"

"The U.S. Secret Service takes its mission to protect U.S. leaders, facilities, and events seriously and we are constantly adapting to meet the needs of the current and future security environment."

The presence of cocaine at the White House prompted a flurry of criticism and questions from Republicans, who received a closed briefing Thursday on the results of the investigation.

“There is no equal justice,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Thursday. “Anything revolving around ‘Biden, Inc.’ gets treated different than any other American and that’s got to stop.”

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden believed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-cocaine-west-wing-secret-service-6b8aae2c55e5c1ecf860a70a0533dbed">it was “incredibly important” for</a>&nbsp;the Secret Service to get to the bottom of how the drugs ended up in the White House. The Secret Service is responsible for securing the White House and led the investigation.

Biden wasn’t there at the time of the discovery. He was at Camp David with members of his family for the holiday weekend.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-suspicious-substance-cocaine-bd7a792357a85453cf55b6c955ff1b4f">The complex was briefly evacuated</a>&nbsp;as a precaution when the white powder was found. The fire department was called in to test the substance on the spot to determine whether it was hazardous, and the initial test came back negative for a biohazard but positive for cocaine.

The bag was sent for a secondary, more sensitive lab analysis. Homeland Security’s National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center analyzed the item for any biothreats. Tests conducted at the facility came back negative.

The cocaine and packaging underwent further forensics testing, including advanced fingerprint and DNA work at the FBI's crime laboratory, according to the summary. The FBI also did chemical testing.

Meanwhile, Secret Service investigators put together a list of several hundred individuals who may have accessed the area where the drugs were found. Anyone who comes through the White House must give identifying information and pass through security before entering.

But the lab results didn’t turn up latent fingerprints or DNA, so agents can’t compare anything to the possible suspect pool. White House staff are fingerprinted; participants in tour groups are not.

Video of the West Executive street lobby entrance did not identify the person or provide any solid investigative leads, the Secret Service said.

The lobby is open to staff-led tours of the West Wing, which are scheduled for nonworking hours on the weekends and evenings. Those tours are invitation-only and led by White House staff for friends, family and other guests. Most staffers who work in the complex can request an evening or weekend tour slot, but there is often a long wait list. There were tours on the day, a Sunday, the drugs were found, as well as on the two preceding days.

The Situation Room, located in the West Wing, where staffers would also drop their phones before entering, has been undergoing construction work and was not in use at the time the baggie was found, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said last week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689281802758.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — No fingerprints or DNA turned up on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-suspicious-substance-cocaine-bd7a792357a85453cf55b6c955ff1b4f">baggie of cocaine found in a lobby at the White House</a>&nbsp;last week despite a sophisticated FBI crime lab analysis, and surveillance footage of the area didn’t identify a suspect, according to a summary of the Secret Service investigation obtained by The Associated Press.&nbsp;The full statement from the Secret Service on the investigation says: &nbsp;"On the evening of July 2, officers from the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division found an unknown substance inside a vestibule leading to the lobby area of the West Executive Avenue entrance to the White House.""The substance was located inside a receptacle used to temporarily store electronic and personal devices prior to entering the West Wing.""Following the discovery, safety closures were implemented around the White House. This response was designed to ensure that the found substance was not a chemical or radiological material that threatened the security of the White House. As such, the substance was field tested and preliminarily determined to not be a hazardous compound.""Testing conducted by the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department indicated that the found powder tested preliminarily positive for the presence of cocaine. The substance and packaging were treated as evidence and sent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, which analyzed the item for any biothreats. Tests conducted at this facility came back negative and gave formal confirmation that the substance was not biological in nature.""The substance and packaging underwent further forensic testing. The substance was analyzed for its chemical composition. The packaging was subjected to advanced fingerprint and DNA analysis. Both of these analyses were conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's crime laboratory given their expertise in this area and independence from the investigation.""While awaiting the FBl's results, the Secret Service investigation into how this item entered the White House continued. The investigation included a methodical review of security systems and protocols. This review included a backwards examination that spanned several days prior to the discovery of the substance and developed an index of several hundred individuals who may have accessed the area where the substance was found. The focal point of these actions developed a pool of known persons for comparison of forensic evidence gleaned from the FBI’s analysis of the substance's packaging. ""On July 12, the Secret Service received the FBI’s laboratory results, which did not develop latent fingerprints and insufficient DNA was present for investigative comparisons. &nbsp;Therefore, the Secret Service is not able to compare evidence against the known pool of individuals. The FBl's evaluation of the substance also confirmed that it was cocaine."&nbsp;"There was no surveillance video footage found that provided investigative leads or any other means for investigators to identify who may have deposited the found substance in this area. Without physical evidence, the investigation will not be able to single out a person of interest from the hundreds of individuals who passed through the vestibule where the cocaine was discovered. At this time, the Secret Service's investigation is closed due to a lack of physical evidence""The U.S. Secret Service takes its mission to protect U.S. leaders, facilities, and events seriously and we are constantly adapting to meet the needs of the current and future security environment."The presence of cocaine at the White House prompted a flurry of criticism and questions from Republicans, who received a closed briefing Thursday on the results of the investigation.“There is no equal justice,” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Thursday. “Anything revolving around ‘Biden, Inc.’ gets treated different than any other American and that’s got to stop.”White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden believed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-cocaine-west-wing-secret-service-6b8aae2c55e5c1ecf860a70a0533dbed">it was “incredibly important” for</a>&nbsp;the Secret Service to get to the bottom of how the drugs ended up in the White House. The Secret Service is responsible for securing the White House and led the investigation.Biden wasn’t there at the time of the discovery. He was at Camp David with members of his family for the holiday weekend.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-suspicious-substance-cocaine-bd7a792357a85453cf55b6c955ff1b4f">The complex was briefly evacuated</a>&nbsp;as a precaution when the white powder was found. The fire department was called in to test the substance on the spot to determine whether it was hazardous, and the initial test came back negative for a biohazard but positive for cocaine.The bag was sent for a secondary, more sensitive lab analysis. Homeland Security’s National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center analyzed the item for any biothreats. Tests conducted at the facility came back negative.The cocaine and packaging underwent further forensics testing, including advanced fingerprint and DNA work at the FBI's crime laboratory, according to the summary. The FBI also did chemical testing.Meanwhile, Secret Service investigators put together a list of several hundred individuals who may have accessed the area where the drugs were found. Anyone who comes through the White House must give identifying information and pass through security before entering.But the lab results didn’t turn up latent fingerprints or DNA, so agents can’t compare anything to the possible suspect pool. White House staff are fingerprinted; participants in tour groups are not.Video of the West Executive street lobby entrance did not identify the person or provide any solid investigative leads, the Secret Service said.The lobby is open to staff-led tours of the West Wing, which are scheduled for nonworking hours on the weekends and evenings. Those tours are invitation-only and led by White House staff for friends, family and other guests. Most staffers who work in the complex can request an evening or weekend tour slot, but there is often a long wait list. There were tours on the day, a Sunday, the drugs were found, as well as on the two preceding days.The Situation Room, located in the West Wing, where staffers would also drop their phones before entering, has been undergoing construction work and was not in use at the time the baggie was found, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said last week.

Read Secret Service report on cocaine found at White House

SEDGWICK COUNTY –Two Sedgwick County Sheriff Deputies and a citizen saved a man from a submerged vehicle just after 7p.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford van driven by&nbsp; Olsen&nbsp;Navarrete, 21, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 135 on the ramp to Southbound Interstate 235 at the North Junction. The van exited the roadway and went down the embankment.

&nbsp;Sedgwick County Deputy Clinton Harris observed a vehicle parked on the Interstate 235 exit ramp from Interstate 135 with people standing outside when he observed the van submerged upside-down in the west KDOT Lake, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.

&nbsp;Deputy Harris responded to the submersion and was told there was a person trapped inside. Deputy Harris entered the water with a citizen and broke out several of the windows in the vehicle to locate the victim. Deputy Nathan Kingery arrived on scene and assisted Deputy Harris and the citizen pull the victim from the vehicle.

The victim was unresponsive and the deputies administered life saving measures until EMS and Fire arrived and took over. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition. Deputy Harris was treated at a local hospital for injuries he received during the rescue.

EMS also transported four additional occupants of the van to the hospital for treatment. The driver and occupants of the van were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689256107249.png" alt="Crews working to recover the van after the deputy and accident victims were transported for treatment -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Crews working to recover the van after the deputy and accident victims were transported for treatment -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY –Two Sedgwick County Sheriff Deputies and a citizen saved a man from a submerged vehicle just after 7p.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford van driven by&nbsp; Olsen&nbsp;Navarrete, 21, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 135 on the ramp to Southbound Interstate 235 at the North Junction. The van exited the roadway and went down the embankment.&nbsp;Sedgwick County Deputy Clinton Harris observed a vehicle parked on the Interstate 235 exit ramp from Interstate 135 with people standing outside when he observed the van submerged upside-down in the west KDOT Lake, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.&nbsp;Deputy Harris responded to the submersion and was told there was a person trapped inside. Deputy Harris entered the water with a citizen and broke out several of the windows in the vehicle to locate the victim. Deputy Nathan Kingery arrived on scene and assisted Deputy Harris and the citizen pull the victim from the vehicle.The victim was unresponsive and the deputies administered life saving measures until EMS and Fire arrived and took over. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition. Deputy Harris was treated at a local hospital for injuries he received during the rescue.EMS also transported four additional occupants of the van to the hospital for treatment. The driver and occupants of the van were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kan. sheriff’s deputy injured saving man in submerged van

By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/kansas-house-agrees-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-to-21/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Eleven former Emporia State University professors in federal court documents accuse school administrators, Kansas Board of Regents members and unknown other individuals of conspiring to fire tenured and “problematic” professors.

The federal lawsuit is a response to the university’s decision last year to fire 30 tenured or tenure-track professors as part of a KBOR-approved “framework” to stabilize finances and restructure the university. The lawsuit argues that defendants willfully violated constitutional rights to due process, equal protection, liberty, property and free speech.

The 11 former professors were targeted, the lawsuit alleges, because they were tenured, not Republicans, involved in efforts to form a union or outspoken critics of ESU president Ken Hush. The university relied on KBOR’s pandemic-era Workforce Management Policy, which stripped professors of the right to determine why they were fired, or examine reports or other evidence that was used to determine who would be fired.

The professors are asking for damages in excess of $75,000, the threshold for filing a civil lawsuit, and to be reinstated with full pay and benefits. The lawsuit attempts to sue the defendants as individuals, rather than public officials.

“These defendants saw tenure as an impediment to terminating tenured faculty who were ‘problematic’ concerning issues disfavored by the ESU administration,” the lawsuit contends. “These issues included being members or former members of the faculty senate committee, being perceived to or having friction with the administration, policy sticklers, liberals, advocates, unionizers, and department or campus leaders.”

The 11 professors involved in the federal lawsuit are Christopher Lovett, Amanda Miracle, Michael Behrens, Rob Catlett, Dan Colson, Charles Emmer, Brenda Koerner, Sheryl Lidzy, Max McCoy, Michael Morales and Lynnette Sievert.

They were called to an off-campus building on Sept. 15, where they were given termination letters signed by Hush. The letters said professors were being dismissed for reasons that may include but were not limited to nine possibilities.

The Office of Administrative Hearings, a state agency that handled appeals,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/19/two-emporia-state-university-professors-reinstated-as-bonus-tension-swirls/">reinstated five of the professors</a>&nbsp;on the basis that the university failed to provide a specific reason for firing them. But in about-face, the office then upheld the firing of Lidzy and Lovett. The office has not yet ruled on the Emmer, Koerner, McCoy or Morales cases.

ESU has asked the Lyon County District Court to review and reverse the OAH decisions to reinstate Behrens, Catlett, Colson, Miracle and Sievert. The university placed those five on paid leave but required them to clear out their office and turn in badges that give them access to campus facilities. They won’t be allowed to teach or provide services to students before the legal wrangling is resolved.

The 72-page lawsuit makes 30 references to an alleged conspiracy by regents members, ESU officials and others to target “problematic” professors.

In the months before they were fired, the lawsuit says, several plaintiffs organized meetings and worked to obtain signatures to support unionization. ESU provost Brent Thomas and other ESU administrators attended some of those meetings.

McCoy, a journalism professor, spoke in favor of effort to form a union. He also wrote an opinion article,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/13/emporia-state-university-is-about-to-suspend-tenure-heres-why-you-should-care/">published by Kansas Reflector</a>, criticizing the decision to suspend tenure.

“I may be fired for writing this,” McCoy wrote.

The lawsuit argues that tenure is a recognized property right under Kansas law. ESU chief counsel Kevin Johnson, the lawsuit notes, co-wrote a paper in 2015 in which he acknowledged tenure was a property right. But during appeals hearings, the university argued that tenure was merely a privilege.

The university presented its framework for realignment to the KBOR under the pretense of financial exigency. But, the lawsuit says, ESU enrollment had increased, operating revenues had increased, and operating expenditures had decreased. The financial position was further bolstered by federal COVID-19 relief funds.

The lawsuit also notes that after firing professors, ESU&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/emporia-state-university-awarded-bonuses-to-68-faculty-after-firing-tenured-professors/">secretly awarded $137,741 in performance bonuses</a>&nbsp;to 68 faculty members for undisclosed reasons. The bonuses were made public through reporting by Kansas Reflector.

The lawsuit was filed against Hush, Thomas, Johnson, ESU associate general counsel Steven Lovett, KBOR general counsel Julene Miller, and current and former KBOR members.

The lawsuit also identifies “John Doe” as a defendant — a placeholder for anybody involved in the drafting of the KBOR policy or ESU framework.

“Defendants conspired, had a meeting of the minds, and took action in furtherance of the conspiracy to deprive plaintiffs of their property right in tenure, liberty right in their good names, reputation in employment and their equal protection rights, without due process by adopting and implementing the WMP and ESU’s framework in KBOR meetings, among KBOR members and ESU officials, ultimately resulting in the publication of the termination letter,” the lawsuit says.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686254914902.png" alt="Former professors sued Emporia State University administrators and Kansas Board of Regents members in federal court, alleging a conspiracy and constitutional violations associated with the dismissal of tenured faculty members in September. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Former professors sued Emporia State University administrators and Kansas Board of Regents members in federal court, alleging a conspiracy and constitutional violations associated with the dismissal of tenured faculty members in September. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SHERMAN SMITH <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/kansas-house-agrees-to-raise-legal-smoking-age-to-21/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Eleven former Emporia State University professors in federal court documents accuse school administrators, Kansas Board of Regents members and unknown other individuals of conspiring to fire tenured and “problematic” professors.The federal lawsuit is a response to the university’s decision last year to fire 30 tenured or tenure-track professors as part of a KBOR-approved “framework” to stabilize finances and restructure the university. The lawsuit argues that defendants willfully violated constitutional rights to due process, equal protection, liberty, property and free speech.The 11 former professors were targeted, the lawsuit alleges, because they were tenured, not Republicans, involved in efforts to form a union or outspoken critics of ESU president Ken Hush. The university relied on KBOR’s pandemic-era Workforce Management Policy, which stripped professors of the right to determine why they were fired, or examine reports or other evidence that was used to determine who would be fired.The professors are asking for damages in excess of $75,000, the threshold for filing a civil lawsuit, and to be reinstated with full pay and benefits. The lawsuit attempts to sue the defendants as individuals, rather than public officials.“These defendants saw tenure as an impediment to terminating tenured faculty who were ‘problematic’ concerning issues disfavored by the ESU administration,” the lawsuit contends. “These issues included being members or former members of the faculty senate committee, being perceived to or having friction with the administration, policy sticklers, liberals, advocates, unionizers, and department or campus leaders.”The 11 professors involved in the federal lawsuit are Christopher Lovett, Amanda Miracle, Michael Behrens, Rob Catlett, Dan Colson, Charles Emmer, Brenda Koerner, Sheryl Lidzy, Max McCoy, Michael Morales and Lynnette Sievert.They were called to an off-campus building on Sept. 15, where they were given termination letters signed by Hush. The letters said professors were being dismissed for reasons that may include but were not limited to nine possibilities.The Office of Administrative Hearings, a state agency that handled appeals,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/19/two-emporia-state-university-professors-reinstated-as-bonus-tension-swirls/">reinstated five of the professors</a>&nbsp;on the basis that the university failed to provide a specific reason for firing them. But in about-face, the office then upheld the firing of Lidzy and Lovett. The office has not yet ruled on the Emmer, Koerner, McCoy or Morales cases.ESU has asked the Lyon County District Court to review and reverse the OAH decisions to reinstate Behrens, Catlett, Colson, Miracle and Sievert. The university placed those five on paid leave but required them to clear out their office and turn in badges that give them access to campus facilities. They won’t be allowed to teach or provide services to students before the legal wrangling is resolved.The 72-page lawsuit makes 30 references to an alleged conspiracy by regents members, ESU officials and others to target “problematic” professors.In the months before they were fired, the lawsuit says, several plaintiffs organized meetings and worked to obtain signatures to support unionization. ESU provost Brent Thomas and other ESU administrators attended some of those meetings.McCoy, a journalism professor, spoke in favor of effort to form a union. He also wrote an opinion article,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/09/13/emporia-state-university-is-about-to-suspend-tenure-heres-why-you-should-care/">published by Kansas Reflector</a>, criticizing the decision to suspend tenure.“I may be fired for writing this,” McCoy wrote.He was fired two days later.The lawsuit argues that tenure is a recognized property right under Kansas law. ESU chief counsel Kevin Johnson, the lawsuit notes, co-wrote a paper in 2015 in which he acknowledged tenure was a property right. But during appeals hearings, the university argued that tenure was merely a privilege.The university presented its framework for realignment to the KBOR under the pretense of financial exigency. But, the lawsuit says, ESU enrollment had increased, operating revenues had increased, and operating expenditures had decreased. The financial position was further bolstered by federal COVID-19 relief funds.The lawsuit also notes that after firing professors, ESU&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/04/05/emporia-state-university-awarded-bonuses-to-68-faculty-after-firing-tenured-professors/">secretly awarded $137,741 in performance bonuses</a>&nbsp;to 68 faculty members for undisclosed reasons. The bonuses were made public through reporting by Kansas Reflector.The lawsuit was filed against Hush, Thomas, Johnson, ESU associate general counsel Steven Lovett, KBOR general counsel Julene Miller, and current and former KBOR members.The lawsuit also identifies “John Doe” as a defendant — a placeholder for anybody involved in the drafting of the KBOR policy or ESU framework.“Defendants conspired, had a meeting of the minds, and took action in furtherance of the conspiracy to deprive plaintiffs of their property right in tenure, liberty right in their good names, reputation in employment and their equal protection rights, without due process by adopting and implementing the WMP and ESU’s framework in KBOR meetings, among KBOR members and ESU officials, ultimately resulting in the publication of the termination letter,” the lawsuit says.

Fired Emporia State professors file lawsuit, allege conspiracy against tenure

WASHINGTON (AP) — State-backed Chinese hackers foiled Microsoft’s cloud-based security in hacking the email accounts of officials at multiple U.S. agencies that deal with China ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing last month, officials said Wednesday.

The surgical, targeted espionage accessed the email of a small number of individuals at an unspecified number of U.S. agencies and was discovered in mid-June by the State Department, U.S. officials said. They said none of the breached systems were classified, nor was any of the stolen data.

The hacked officials included Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, The Washington Post reported, citing anonymous U.S. officials. Export controls imposed by her agency have stung multiple Chinese companies.

One person familiar with the investigation said U.S. military and intelligence agencies were not among the agencies impacted in the monthlong spying campaign, which also affected unnamed foreign governments.

The officials spoke on condition they not be further identified.

In a technical advisory Wednesday and a call with reporters, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-193a" target="_blank">said Microsoft determined the hackers gained access</a>&nbsp;by impersonating authorized users.

Officials did not specify the nature of the stolen data. But one U.S. official said the intrusion was “directly targeted” at diplomats and others who deal with the China portfolio at the State Department and other agencies. The official added that it was not yet clear if there had been any significant compromise of information.

The Blinken trip went ahead as planned, although with customary information security procedures in place, which required his delegation to use “burner” phones and computers in China.

The hack was disclosed late Tuesday by Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2023/07/microsoft-mitigates-china-based-threat-actor-storm-0558-targeting-of-customer-email/" target="_blank">in a blog post</a>. It said it was alerted to the breach, which it blamed on a state-backed, espionage-focused Chinese hacking group “known to target government agencies in Western Europe,” on June 16. Microsoft said the group, which it calls Storm-0558, had gained access to email accounts affecting about 25 organizations, including government agencies, since mid-May as well as to consumer accounts of individuals likely associated with those agencies.

Neither Microsoft nor U.S. officials would identify the agencies or governments impacted. A senior CISA official told reporters in a press call that the number of affected organizations in the United States is in the single digits.

While the official declined to say whether U.S. officials are displeased with Microsoft over the breach, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge noted that it was “government safeguards” that detected the intrusion and added, “We continue to hold the procurement providers of the U.S. Government to a high security threshold.”

In fact, those safeguards consist of a data-logging feature for which Microsoft charges a premium. The CISA official noted that some of the victims lacked the data-logging feature and, unable to detect the breach, learned of it from Microsoft.

But of greater concern to cybersecurity experts is that The Storm-0558 hackers broke in using forged authentication tokens — which are used to verify the identity of a user. Microsoft’s executive vice president for security, Charlie Bell, said on the company’s website that the&nbsp;<a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2023/07/11/mitigation-china-based-threat-actor/" target="_blank">hackers had done that by acquiring a “consumer signing key.”</a>

Cybersecurity researcher Jake Williams, a former National Security Agency offensive hacker, said it remains unclear how the hackers accomplished that. Microsoft did not immediately respond to emailed questions, including whether it was breached by the hackers to obtain the signing key.

Williams was concerned the hackers could have forged tokens for wide use to hack any number of non-enterprise Microsoft users. “I can’t imagine China didn’t also use this access to target dissidents on personal subscriptions, too.”

The head of intelligence for the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, Adam Meyers, said in a statement that the incident highlights the systemic risk of relying on a single technology provider in Microsoft. He said “having one monolithic vendor that is responsible for all of your technology, products, services and security - can end in disaster.”

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, called the U.S. accusation of hacking “disinformation” aimed at diverting attention from U.S. cyberespionage against China.

“No matter which agency issued this information, it will never change the fact that the United States is the world’s largest hacker empire conducting the most cyber theft,” Wang said in a routine briefing.

U.S. intelligence agencies also use hacking as a critical espionage tool and it is not a violation of international law.

Last month, Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barracuda-mandiant-cybersecurity-china-hackers-a52d1595c9108d2c58df11e38756600d" target="_blank">suspected state-backed Chinese hackers broke into the networks</a>&nbsp;of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally exploiting a vulnerability in a popular email security tool.

Earlier this year, Microsoft said state-backed Chinese hackers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-china-hacking-us-infrastructure-d4a4faefcc5d4d3c9f72e9acc24a71f9" target="_blank">targeting U.S. critical infrastructure</a>&nbsp;and could be laying the technical groundwork to disrupt critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689250128374.png" alt="The hacked officials included Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo&nbsp;-courtesy. photo" />
 <figcaption>The hacked officials included Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo&nbsp;-courtesy. photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — State-backed Chinese hackers foiled Microsoft’s cloud-based security in hacking the email accounts of officials at multiple U.S. agencies that deal with China ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing last month, officials said Wednesday.The surgical, targeted espionage accessed the email of a small number of individuals at an unspecified number of U.S. agencies and was discovered in mid-June by the State Department, U.S. officials said. They said none of the breached systems were classified, nor was any of the stolen data.The hacked officials included Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, The Washington Post reported, citing anonymous U.S. officials. Export controls imposed by her agency have stung multiple Chinese companies.One person familiar with the investigation said U.S. military and intelligence agencies were not among the agencies impacted in the monthlong spying campaign, which also affected unnamed foreign governments.The officials spoke on condition they not be further identified.In a technical advisory Wednesday and a call with reporters, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the FBI&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-193a" target="_blank">said Microsoft determined the hackers gained access</a>&nbsp;by impersonating authorized users.Officials did not specify the nature of the stolen data. But one U.S. official said the intrusion was “directly targeted” at diplomats and others who deal with the China portfolio at the State Department and other agencies. The official added that it was not yet clear if there had been any significant compromise of information.The Blinken trip went ahead as planned, although with customary information security procedures in place, which required his delegation to use “burner” phones and computers in China.The hack was disclosed late Tuesday by Microsoft&nbsp;<a href="https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2023/07/microsoft-mitigates-china-based-threat-actor-storm-0558-targeting-of-customer-email/" target="_blank">in a blog post</a>. It said it was alerted to the breach, which it blamed on a state-backed, espionage-focused Chinese hacking group “known to target government agencies in Western Europe,” on June 16. Microsoft said the group, which it calls Storm-0558, had gained access to email accounts affecting about 25 organizations, including government agencies, since mid-May as well as to consumer accounts of individuals likely associated with those agencies.ADVERTISEMENTNeither Microsoft nor U.S. officials would identify the agencies or governments impacted. A senior CISA official told reporters in a press call that the number of affected organizations in the United States is in the single digits.While the official declined to say whether U.S. officials are displeased with Microsoft over the breach, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge noted that it was “government safeguards” that detected the intrusion and added, “We continue to hold the procurement providers of the U.S. Government to a high security threshold.”In fact, those safeguards consist of a data-logging feature for which Microsoft charges a premium. The CISA official noted that some of the victims lacked the data-logging feature and, unable to detect the breach, learned of it from Microsoft.But of greater concern to cybersecurity experts is that The Storm-0558 hackers broke in using forged authentication tokens — which are used to verify the identity of a user. Microsoft’s executive vice president for security, Charlie Bell, said on the company’s website that the&nbsp;<a href="https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2023/07/11/mitigation-china-based-threat-actor/" target="_blank">hackers had done that by acquiring a “consumer signing key.”</a>Cybersecurity researcher Jake Williams, a former National Security Agency offensive hacker, said it remains unclear how the hackers accomplished that. Microsoft did not immediately respond to emailed questions, including whether it was breached by the hackers to obtain the signing key.Williams was concerned the hackers could have forged tokens for wide use to hack any number of non-enterprise Microsoft users. “I can’t imagine China didn’t also use this access to target dissidents on personal subscriptions, too.”ADVERTISEMENTThe head of intelligence for the cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike, Adam Meyers, said in a statement that the incident highlights the systemic risk of relying on a single technology provider in Microsoft. He said “having one monolithic vendor that is responsible for all of your technology, products, services and security - can end in disaster.”A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Wang Wenbin, called the U.S. accusation of hacking “disinformation” aimed at diverting attention from U.S. cyberespionage against China.“No matter which agency issued this information, it will never change the fact that the United States is the world’s largest hacker empire conducting the most cyber theft,” Wang said in a routine briefing.U.S. intelligence agencies also use hacking as a critical espionage tool and it is not a violation of international law.Last month, Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/barracuda-mandiant-cybersecurity-china-hackers-a52d1595c9108d2c58df11e38756600d" target="_blank">suspected state-backed Chinese hackers broke into the networks</a>&nbsp;of hundreds of public and private sector organizations globally exploiting a vulnerability in a popular email security tool.Earlier this year, Microsoft said state-backed Chinese hackers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-china-hacking-us-infrastructure-d4a4faefcc5d4d3c9f72e9acc24a71f9" target="_blank">targeting U.S. critical infrastructure</a>&nbsp;and could be laying the technical groundwork to disrupt critical communications between the U.S. and Asia during future crises.

Chinese hackers breached email of multiple U.S. agencies

WASHINGTON —The Pentagon reported on June 20 that it overestimated the value of the weapons it has sent to Ukraine by $6.2 billion over the past two years — about&nbsp;double early estimates&nbsp;— resulting in a surplus that will be used for future security packages.

Kansas U.S. Junior Senator Roger Marshall joined colleagues in a letter to the Biden administration demanding answers. "Does the Department of Defense "accidentally" send an extra $6.2 billion in additional aid to Ukraine without congressional approval?"&nbsp;As President Biden was in Lithuania for a critical NATO summit, the Senators called for limits on military aid to Ukraine and questioned the DoD’s accounting procedures.

"This raises major concerns about the Biden Administration's basic ability to do their jobs," Marshall wrote.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said a detailed review of the accounting error found that the military services used replacement costs rather than the book value of equipment that was pulled from Pentagon stocks and sent to Ukraine. She said final calculations show there was an error of $3.6 billion in the current fiscal year and $2.6 billion in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended last Sept. 30.

As the letter to the Defense Department states, "These so-called 'valuation errors' are particularly concerning given the nature and scope of U.S. aid to Ukraine—over $113 billion thus far&nbsp;[…] This is a transparent attempt to bypass Congress for additional funds, while continuing to prioritize Ukraine over more vital U.S. interests, including deterring China in the Pacific.”

"By using creative accounting to conceal the actual cost of supporting Ukraine, you appear to be circumventing the American people’s elected representatives. Congress, not DoD, possesses the power of the purse,"&nbsp;the Senators concluded.

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.

Singh said the accounting mistake won't affect the ongoing delivery of aid to Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689162807618.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The Pentagon reported on June 20 that it overestimated the value of the weapons it has sent to Ukraine by $6.2 billion over the past two years — about&nbsp;double early estimates&nbsp;— resulting in a surplus that will be used for future security packages.Kansas U.S. Junior Senator Roger Marshall joined colleagues in a letter to the Biden administration demanding answers. "Does the Department of Defense "accidentally" send an extra $6.2 billion in additional aid to Ukraine without congressional approval?"&nbsp;As President Biden was in Lithuania for a critical NATO summit, the Senators called for limits on military aid to Ukraine and questioned the DoD’s accounting procedures."This raises major concerns about the Biden Administration's basic ability to do their jobs," Marshall wrote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687304849422.png" alt="Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh made the unusual announcement June 20.-photo from the video of the announcement provided by DoD." />
 <figcaption>Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh made the unusual announcement June 20.-photo from the video of the announcement provided by DoD.</figcaption>
 </figure>Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said a detailed review of the accounting error found that the military services used replacement costs rather than the book value of equipment that was pulled from Pentagon stocks and sent to Ukraine. She said final calculations show there was an error of $3.6 billion in the current fiscal year and $2.6 billion in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended last Sept. 30.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689162867518.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As the letter to the Defense Department states, "These so-called 'valuation errors' are particularly concerning given the nature and scope of U.S. aid to Ukraine—over $113 billion thus far&nbsp;[…] This is a transparent attempt to bypass Congress for additional funds, while continuing to prioritize Ukraine over more vital U.S. interests, including deterring China in the Pacific.”"By using creative accounting to conceal the actual cost of supporting Ukraine, you appear to be circumventing the American people’s elected representatives. Congress, not DoD, possesses the power of the purse,"&nbsp;the Senators concluded.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.Singh said the accounting mistake won't affect the ongoing delivery of aid to Ukraine.

Kan. Senator demands answers for $6.2B Ukraine aid accounting error

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in&nbsp;connection to an aggravated burglary that happened earlier in the week.

On July 9, police responded to the north part of Garden City for a reported aggravated burglary, according to a media release.

 Officers learned that 22-year-old Angel Ayala entered a residence without permission and was involved in a physical altercation with a woman known to him before leaving. 

Through further investigation, it was revealed that domestic incidents between Ayala and the victim allegedly occurred. 

On Wednesday, police took Ayala into custody without incident and he is being was held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Stalking, Aggravated Burglary,&nbsp; Aggravated Assault,&nbsp; Domestic Battery,&nbsp; Aggravated Endangerment of a Child, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Batter and&nbsp; Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness.

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a convicted felon on new charges after an incident in SW Kansas.

Just after 11:30p.m. July 9, officers responded to the north part of Garden City for a reported aggravated burglary, according to a media release.

Officers learned that an individual had entered a residence without permission and left. Through further investigation, it was revealed that 33-year-old James Fernandez followed the the victim in their vehicle and confronted them.

During the altercation, Fernandez allegedly pulled out a handgun and&nbsp; threatened the individual and a passenger and began punching the victim.

The passenger ran from the scene, at which point Fernandez entered the vehicle and forced the victim to drive to their residence. After arriving at the residence, Fernandez allegedly threatened the victim and a third individual before leaving.On July 10,

Police located Fernandez at his residence and arrested him on requested charges of Aggravated Kidnapping, three counts of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Burglary and Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $75,000 bond, according to online jail records

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689209842334.png" alt="Ayala photo Finney Co." />
 <figcaption>Ayala photo Finney Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in&nbsp;connection to an aggravated burglary that happened earlier in the week.On July 9, police responded to the north part of Garden City for a reported aggravated burglary, according to a media release. Officers learned that 22-year-old Angel Ayala entered a residence without permission and was involved in a physical altercation with a woman known to him before leaving. Through further investigation, it was revealed that domestic incidents between Ayala and the victim allegedly occurred. On Wednesday, police took Ayala into custody without incident and he is being was held in the Finney County Jail on requested charges of Stalking, Aggravated Burglary,&nbsp; Aggravated Assault,&nbsp; Domestic Battery,&nbsp; Aggravated Endangerment of a Child, Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Batter and&nbsp; Aggravated Intimidation of a Witness.--------------FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a convicted felon on new charges after an incident in SW Kansas.Just after 11:30p.m. July 9, officers responded to the north part of Garden City for a reported aggravated burglary, according to a media release.Officers learned that an individual had entered a residence without permission and left. Through further investigation, it was revealed that 33-year-old James Fernandez followed the the victim in their vehicle and confronted them.During the altercation, Fernandez allegedly pulled out a handgun and&nbsp; threatened the individual and a passenger and began punching the victim.The passenger ran from the scene, at which point Fernandez entered the vehicle and forced the victim to drive to their residence. After arriving at the residence, Fernandez allegedly threatened the victim and a third individual before leaving.On July 10,Police located Fernandez at his residence and arrested him on requested charges of Aggravated Kidnapping, three counts of Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Burglary and Criminal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $75,000 bond, according to online jail records

SW Kan. man accused of stalking after incident at woman's home

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials have approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, which will let American women and girls buy contraceptive medication from the same aisle as aspirin and eyedrops.

The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it cleared Perrigo's once-a-day Opill to be sold without a prescription, making it the first such medication to be moved out from behind the pharmacy counter. The company won't start shipping the pill until early next year, and there will be no age restrictions on sales.

Hormone-based pills have long been the most common form of birth control in the U.S., used by tens of millions of women since the 1960s. Until now, all of them required a prescription.

Medical societies and women's health groups have pushed for wider access, noting that an estimated 45% of the 6 million annual pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended. Teens and girls, women of color and those with low incomes report greater hurdles in getting prescriptions and picking them up.

Some of the challenges can include paying for a doctor's visit, getting time off from work and finding child care.

"This is really a transformation in access to contraceptive care," said Kelly Blanchard, president of Ibis Reproductive Health, a non-profit group that supported the approval. "Hopefully this will help people overcome those barriers that exist now."

Ireland-based Perrigo did not announce a price. Over-the-counter medicines are generally much cheaper than prescriptions, but they typically aren't covered by insurance.

Forcing insurers to cover over-the-counter birth control would require a regulatory change by the federal government, which women's advocates are urging the Biden administration to implement.

Many common medications have made the switch to non-prescription status in recent decades, including drugs for pain, heartburn and allergies. Birth control pills are available without a prescription across much of South America, Asia and Africa.

Perrigo submitted years of research to FDA to show that women could understand and follow instructions for using the pill. Thursday's approval came despite some concerns by FDA scientists about the company's results, including whether women with certain underlying medical conditions would understand they shouldn't take the drug.

FDA's action only applies to Opill. It's in an older class of contraceptives, sometimes called minipills, that contain a single synthetic hormone and generally carry fewer side effects than more popular combination hormone pills.

But women's health advocates hope the decision will pave the way for more over-the-counter birth control options and, eventually, for abortion pills to do the same.

That said, FDA's decision has no relation to the ongoing court battles over the abortion pill mifepristone. The studies in Perrigo's FDA application began years before the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, which has upended abortion access across the U.S.

With some states curtailing women's reproductive rights, the FDA has faced pressure from Democratic politicians, health advocates and medical professionals to ease access to birth control. The American Medical Association and the leading professional society for obstetricians and gynecologists backed Opill's application for over-the-counter status.

An outside panel of FDA advisers unanimously voted in favor of the switch at a hearing in May where dozens of public speakers called for Opill's approval.

Dyvia Huitron was among those who presented, explaining how she has been unable to get prescription birth control more than three years after becoming sexually active. The 19-year-old University of Alabama student said she still isn't comfortable getting a prescription because the school's health system reports medical exams and medications to parents.

"My parents did not let me go on the pill," Huitron said in a recent interview. "There was just a lot of cultural stigma around being sexually active before you're married."

While she uses other forms of contraception, "I would have much preferred to have birth control and use these additional methods to ensure that I was being as safe as possible."

Huitron spoke on behalf of Advocates for Youth, one of the dozens of groups that have pushed to make prescription contraceptives more accessible.

The groups helped fund some of the studies submitted for Opill and they encouraged HRA Pharma, later acquired by Perrigo, to file its application with the FDA.

Advocates were particularly interested in Opill because it raised fewer safety concerns. The pill was first approved in the U.S. five decades ago but hasn't been marketed here since 2005.

"It's been around a long time and we have a large amount of data supporting that this pill is safe and effective for over-the-counter use," said Blanchard, of Ibsis Reproductive Health.

Newer birth control pills typically combine two hormones, estrogen and progestin, which can help make periods lighter and more regular. But their use carries a heightened risk of blood clots and they shouldn't be used by women at risk for heart problems, such as those who smoke and are over 35.

Opill has only progestin, which prevents pregnancy by blocking sperm from reaching the cervix. It must be taken around the same time daily to be most effective.

In its internal review published in May, the FDA noted that some women in Perrigo's study had trouble understanding the drug's labeling information. In particular, the instructions warn that women with a history of breast cancer should not take the pill because it could spur tumor growth. And women who have unusual vaginal bleeding are instructed to talk to a doctor first, because it could indicate a medical problem.

Common side effects of the pill include bleeding, headaches, dizziness, nausea and cramps, according to the FDA. The label also cautions that certain drugs can interfere with Opill's effectiveness, including medications for seizures, HIV and hypertension.

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health WriterWASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials have approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, which will let American women and girls buy contraceptive medication from the same aisle as aspirin and eyedrops.The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it cleared Perrigo's once-a-day Opill to be sold without a prescription, making it the first such medication to be moved out from behind the pharmacy counter. The company won't start shipping the pill until early next year, and there will be no age restrictions on sales.Hormone-based pills have long been the most common form of birth control in the U.S., used by tens of millions of women since the 1960s. Until now, all of them required a prescription.Medical societies and women's health groups have pushed for wider access, noting that an estimated 45% of the 6 million annual pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended. Teens and girls, women of color and those with low incomes report greater hurdles in getting prescriptions and picking them up.Some of the challenges can include paying for a doctor's visit, getting time off from work and finding child care."This is really a transformation in access to contraceptive care," said Kelly Blanchard, president of Ibis Reproductive Health, a non-profit group that supported the approval. "Hopefully this will help people overcome those barriers that exist now."Ireland-based Perrigo did not announce a price. Over-the-counter medicines are generally much cheaper than prescriptions, but they typically aren't covered by insurance.Forcing insurers to cover over-the-counter birth control would require a regulatory change by the federal government, which women's advocates are urging the Biden administration to implement.Many common medications have made the switch to non-prescription status in recent decades, including drugs for pain, heartburn and allergies. Birth control pills are available without a prescription across much of South America, Asia and Africa.Perrigo submitted years of research to FDA to show that women could understand and follow instructions for using the pill. Thursday's approval came despite some concerns by FDA scientists about the company's results, including whether women with certain underlying medical conditions would understand they shouldn't take the drug.FDA's action only applies to Opill. It's in an older class of contraceptives, sometimes called minipills, that contain a single synthetic hormone and generally carry fewer side effects than more popular combination hormone pills.But women's health advocates hope the decision will pave the way for more over-the-counter birth control options and, eventually, for abortion pills to do the same.That said, FDA's decision has no relation to the ongoing court battles over the abortion pill mifepristone. The studies in Perrigo's FDA application began years before the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, which has upended abortion access across the U.S.With some states curtailing women's reproductive rights, the FDA has faced pressure from Democratic politicians, health advocates and medical professionals to ease access to birth control. The American Medical Association and the leading professional society for obstetricians and gynecologists backed Opill's application for over-the-counter status.An outside panel of FDA advisers unanimously voted in favor of the switch at a hearing in May where dozens of public speakers called for Opill's approval.Dyvia Huitron was among those who presented, explaining how she has been unable to get prescription birth control more than three years after becoming sexually active. The 19-year-old University of Alabama student said she still isn't comfortable getting a prescription because the school's health system reports medical exams and medications to parents."My parents did not let me go on the pill," Huitron said in a recent interview. "There was just a lot of cultural stigma around being sexually active before you're married."While she uses other forms of contraception, "I would have much preferred to have birth control and use these additional methods to ensure that I was being as safe as possible."Huitron spoke on behalf of Advocates for Youth, one of the dozens of groups that have pushed to make prescription contraceptives more accessible.The groups helped fund some of the studies submitted for Opill and they encouraged HRA Pharma, later acquired by Perrigo, to file its application with the FDA.Advocates were particularly interested in Opill because it raised fewer safety concerns. The pill was first approved in the U.S. five decades ago but hasn't been marketed here since 2005."It's been around a long time and we have a large amount of data supporting that this pill is safe and effective for over-the-counter use," said Blanchard, of Ibsis Reproductive Health.Newer birth control pills typically combine two hormones, estrogen and progestin, which can help make periods lighter and more regular. But their use carries a heightened risk of blood clots and they shouldn't be used by women at risk for heart problems, such as those who smoke and are over 35.Opill has only progestin, which prevents pregnancy by blocking sperm from reaching the cervix. It must be taken around the same time daily to be most effective.In its internal review published in May, the FDA noted that some women in Perrigo's study had trouble understanding the drug's labeling information. In particular, the instructions warn that women with a history of breast cancer should not take the pill because it could spur tumor growth. And women who have unusual vaginal bleeding are instructed to talk to a doctor first, because it could indicate a medical problem.Common side effects of the pill include bleeding, headaches, dizziness, nausea and cramps, according to the FDA. The label also cautions that certain drugs can interfere with Opill's effectiveness, including medications for seizures, HIV and hypertension.Perrigo executives said the company will spend the rest of the year manufacturing the pill and its packaging so it can be available in stores early next year.___