By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/18/kansas-law-enforcement-say-legislation-should-be-passed-on-fentanyl-mental-health-issues/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — Kansas law enforcement officials have sounded the alarm about 
fentanyl and mental health crises across the state, saying fentanyl is 
now a greater threat than methamphetamines.

Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeffrey Easter said he is <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/03/kansas-inmates-wait-months-for-treatment-due-to-shortage-of-mental-health-hospital-beds/">still seeing a surplus of inmates suffering from mental illness,</a>
 waiting in jail for long periods of time in order to receive treatment.
 During a House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee meeting 
Tuesday, he urged lawmakers to find solutions.

Community hospitals and jails in 
western Kansas have had to pick up the slack, housing mentally unstable 
patients without state reimbursement because of shortages of mental 
health care workers and beds for patients.

Cases of people deemed a danger to 
themselves or others are reviewed by the district attorney’s office, and
 are held at the county jail until a hospital bed is ready.

Easter said he was having problems 
with a huge backlog of competency evaluations and a long waiting list 
for people at the jail waiting for mental health treatment. Easter said 
the issue was an impediment to law enforcement and personnel 
recruitment. Sedgwick County Jail is currently operating with a 
121-person worker shortage.

He mentioned one jail inmate with 
mental health issues who is paralyzed from the waist down and has a 
history of self-harm. The inmate has been sent to the hospital more than
 15 times for self-inflicted wounds.

After going to a district attorney 
about the situation, a judge ordered Larned State Hospital to evaluate 
him. After two weeks, he was sent back to the jail. The inmate needs his
 legs amputated, but is opposed to the procedure.

“We are left with the decision: Do we let this person rot in jail? Because basically he’s rotting,” Easter said.

Easter also warned of a rise in 
fentanyl-related deaths, saying the state needed to do more education on
 the dangers of fentanyl.

“We have found fentanyl in marijuana,
 we found fentanyl in cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, all of those 
other drugs, we’re finding fentanyl in. It’s being laced in everything,”
 Easter said.

During the meeting, Bel Aire Police 
Chief Darrell Atteberry said more needed to be done about repeat 
juvenile offenders. He said he has seen more crimes being committed by 
younger people.

“Where it used to be 18-year-olds 
committing a lot of crimes, now we’ve got 14- and 15-year-olds 
committing the same crimes that those older kids were committing 
before,” Atteberry said.

Atteberry said a more thorough public
 safety risk assessment should be done on repeat offenders to keep them 
and others their age safe.

“We would like that assessment to be 
strengthened so that we can maybe keep those juveniles in custody or out
 of the environment where they were led to do those criminal acts in the
 first place,” Atteberry said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674054297159.png" alt="Bel Aire Police Department Chief Darrell Atteberry says during a committee hearing Tuesday that repeat juvenile offenders should be assessed more carefully. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Bel Aire Police Department Chief Darrell Atteberry says during a committee hearing Tuesday that repeat juvenile offenders should be assessed more carefully. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/18/kansas-law-enforcement-say-legislation-should-be-passed-on-fentanyl-mental-health-issues/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — Kansas law enforcement officials have sounded the alarm about 
fentanyl and mental health crises across the state, saying fentanyl is 
now a greater threat than methamphetamines.Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeffrey Easter said he is <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/10/03/kansas-inmates-wait-months-for-treatment-due-to-shortage-of-mental-health-hospital-beds/">still seeing a surplus of inmates suffering from mental illness,</a>
 waiting in jail for long periods of time in order to receive treatment.
 During a House Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee meeting 
Tuesday, he urged lawmakers to find solutions.Community hospitals and jails in 
western Kansas have had to pick up the slack, housing mentally unstable 
patients without state reimbursement because of shortages of mental 
health care workers and beds for patients.Cases of people deemed a danger to 
themselves or others are reviewed by the district attorney’s office, and
 are held at the county jail until a hospital bed is ready.Easter said he was having problems 
with a huge backlog of competency evaluations and a long waiting list 
for people at the jail waiting for mental health treatment. Easter said 
the issue was an impediment to law enforcement and personnel 
recruitment. Sedgwick County Jail is currently operating with a 
121-person worker shortage.He mentioned one jail inmate with 
mental health issues who is paralyzed from the waist down and has a 
history of self-harm. The inmate has been sent to the hospital more than
 15 times for self-inflicted wounds.After going to a district attorney 
about the situation, a judge ordered Larned State Hospital to evaluate 
him. After two weeks, he was sent back to the jail. The inmate needs his
 legs amputated, but is opposed to the procedure.“We are left with the decision: Do we let this person rot in jail? Because basically he’s rotting,” Easter said.Easter also warned of a rise in 
fentanyl-related deaths, saying the state needed to do more education on
 the dangers of fentanyl.“We have found fentanyl in marijuana,
 we found fentanyl in cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, all of those 
other drugs, we’re finding fentanyl in. It’s being laced in everything,”
 Easter said.During the meeting, Bel Aire Police 
Chief Darrell Atteberry said more needed to be done about repeat 
juvenile offenders. He said he has seen more crimes being committed by 
younger people.“Where it used to be 18-year-olds 
committing a lot of crimes, now we’ve got 14- and 15-year-olds 
committing the same crimes that those older kids were committing 
before,” Atteberry said.Atteberry said a more thorough public
 safety risk assessment should be done on repeat offenders to keep them 
and others their age safe.“We would like that assessment to be 
strengthened so that we can maybe keep those juveniles in custody or out
 of the environment where they were led to do those criminal acts in the
 first place,” Atteberry said.

Kansas cops make plea for fentanyl, mental health legislation

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man captured after the abduction of a 6-year-old Kansas girl made an appearance in a Wichita courtroom Tuesday.

<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20079602">Benjamin Brady, 34,</a> was moved from the Kay County Oklahoma Jail to Sedgwick County over the weekend. He was charged with kidnapping and theft, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 7p.m. p.m. Nov. 20, police responded to the 2300 block of N. Amidon in Wichita for an auto theft, kidnapping in a liquor store parking lot, according to Officer Trevor Macy.

A 35-year-old man reported that while he had gone into the store, an unknown man stole his&nbsp;gold/tan Lexus Rx330  with his 6-year-old daughter still inside.

Officers immediately began checking the area for the vehicle and the juvenile and&nbsp; utilized Flock cameras and other License Plate Reader (LPR) technology and learned that the vehicle had entered the Kansas Turnpike headed South at approximately 7:02 p.m.

Neighboring counties, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department were notified of the circumstances and the vehicle's last known location. 

At 8 p.m., Troopers with Oklahoma Highway Patrol were able to stop the car approximately 22 miles south of the Kansas/Oklahoma state line and recover the girl.

The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Benjamin Brady, was taken into custody by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and booked into the Kay County, Oklahoma jail.

Brady remains jailed in Sedgwick County on a $150,000 bond and is due back in court on Jan. 30, according to the district attorney's office.

On November 12, police in Wichita arrested Brady for alleged DUI, possession of stolen property and transporting an open container, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669565691218.png" alt="On November 12, police in Wichita arrested Brady for alleged DUI, possession of stolen property and transporting an open container, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.Brady -photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>On November 12, police in Wichita arrested Brady for alleged DUI, possession of stolen property and transporting an open container, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.Brady -photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A man captured after the abduction of a 6-year-old Kansas girl made an appearance in a Wichita courtroom Tuesday.<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20079602">Benjamin Brady, 34,</a> was moved from the Kay County Oklahoma Jail to Sedgwick County over the weekend. He was charged with kidnapping and theft, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.Just before 7p.m. p.m. Nov. 20, police responded to the 2300 block of N. Amidon in Wichita for an auto theft, kidnapping in a liquor store parking lot, according to Officer Trevor Macy.A 35-year-old man reported that while he had gone into the store, an unknown man stole his&nbsp;gold/tan Lexus Rx330 with his 6-year-old daughter still inside.Officers immediately began checking the area for the vehicle and the juvenile and&nbsp; utilized Flock cameras and other License Plate Reader (LPR) technology and learned that the vehicle had entered the Kansas Turnpike headed South at approximately 7:02 p.m.Neighboring counties, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, and the Tulsa Police Department were notified of the circumstances and the vehicle's last known location. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669067284425.png" alt="Since his Oklahoma arrest, Brady&nbsp; was held on requested charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, abduction of individual under age 15 and cross ing state line, driving under suspended license, failure to stop for law enforcement and attempt to elude law enforcement, according to online jail records-photo Kay County Oklahoma&nbsp; &nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Since his Oklahoma arrest, Brady&nbsp; was held on requested charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, abduction of individual under age 15 and cross ing state line, driving under suspended license, failure to stop for law enforcement and attempt to elude law enforcement, according to online jail records-photo Kay County Oklahoma&nbsp; &nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>At 8 p.m., Troopers with Oklahoma Highway Patrol were able to stop the car approximately 22 miles south of the Kansas/Oklahoma state line and recover the girl.The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Benjamin Brady, was taken into custody by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and booked into the Kay County, Oklahoma jail.Brady remains jailed in Sedgwick County on a $150,000 bond and is due back in court on Jan. 30, according to the district attorney's office.On November 12, police in Wichita arrested Brady for alleged DUI, possession of stolen property and transporting an open container, according to the Sedgwick County arrest report.

Suspect in Kan. girl's abduction moved from Oklahoma jail

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;1,937 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Jan. 11 to Jan. 18, for a total of&nbsp; 923,874 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 2,339 cases the previous week.

On Wednesday, th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported</a>&nbsp;69 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on Jan. 11, for a total of 9,903.

<a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.

<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.

Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”

The health department updates data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;1,937 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Jan. 11 to Jan. 18, for a total of&nbsp; 923,874 cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;The state reported 2,339 cases the previous week.On Wednesday, th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported</a>&nbsp;69 additional COVID-19 deaths since the report on Jan. 11, for a total of 9,903.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674063881132.png" alt="Wednesday January 18, 2023 KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday January 18, 2023 KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department updates data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

KDHE reports drop in COVID cases; 69 more deaths

By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/17/kansas-senate-plans-to-take-stand-on-federal-protections-for-lesser-prairie-chicken/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA
 — The Kansas Senate will vote on whether or not to register disapproval
 of federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken this week as part
 of a ongoing battle to strip protections from the bird.

Sen. Dan Kerschen, a Garden Plain 
Republican, said the bird’s protected status was a burden on Kansas 
farmers during a Tuesday meeting of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs. Kerschen
 introduced a Senate concurrent resolution disapproving the designation 
of the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species and formally 
supporting efforts to remove the protected status of the bird.

Kerschen said he wanted to see all 
the facts in the case, saying recent weather, such as droughts, may have
 had an negative impact on the lesser prairie chicken, and that Kansans 
had proven able to farm and raise cattle around the birds for years.

“You’ve got to keep in mind to 
protect farmers’ interests, oil producers, those folks, ranchers who are
 grazing their cattle on that land,” Kerschen said. “All of the sudden, 
someone comes and tells them how much you can do, and where your cattle 
can be, those kinds of things, interfering with the production part of 
it.”

The lesser prairie chicken, which is 
known for a unique and colorful spring mating dance, is best suited for 
living in large areas of native grasslands. Lawmakers have said 
preserving the birds’ environments would threaten the livelihoods of 
farmers, ranchers and energy producers.

The birds have been the center of 
debate for years, with Kansas Republicans and environmental activists 
clashing on what, if any, protections were needed for the birds. In 
2019, three conservation groups<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/trio-of-kansas-gop-lawmakers-seek-more-time-to-critique-prairie-chicken-listing/"> sued the federal government </a>to force action on the issue.

With 90% of their original habitat 
lost over the years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 
there’s been a five-year decline in the lesser prairie chicken 
population. Few of the birds have been seen in their native Kansas, 
Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas environments. In November, federal 
wildlife officials registered the lesser prairie chicken <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/17/federal-wildlife-officials-list-lesser-prairie-chicken-as-threatened-in-kansas/">as threatened in Kansas</a> and endangered in their habitat in the southwest U.S.

Since the listing, Republican congressmen have been fighting protections, most recently through a <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/28/kansas-congressmen-introduce-latest-attempt-to-overturn-protected-status-of-lesser-prairie-chicken/">Congressional Review Act</a>. The act is used
 to block rules issued by federal agencies. Under the act, an agency has
 to submit a report to Congress on its rule. After receiving the report,
 Congress can submit and act on a joint resolution of disapproval.

Ten Republican congressmen from 
Oklahoma and Kansas registered their disapproval of the listing through 
the act, trying to overturn the ruling on the grounds that it would be 
bad for the agriculture and oil and gas industries.

Among the legislation supporters were
 Kansas Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, along with Reps. Ron 
Estes, Jake LaTurner and Tracey Mann. <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-congressman-introduces-bill-to-block-federal-listing-of-lesser-prairie-chicken/">Estes also introduced a bill</a>
 that would prohibit the U.S. Interior Department from imposing 
restraints on land use based on the status of the lesser prairie 
chicken.

Kerschen said he supported the lawmakers’ efforts, saying livestock shouldn’t be displaced in favor of the birds.

“Cattle are a sensitive-natured 
animal too. That’s why we take care of them,” Kerschen said. “They can’t
 just roam around free. That’s just an example.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673975132656.png" alt="Sen. Dan Kerschen, explaining his disapproval of federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, says farmers need to be considered. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Dan Kerschen, explaining his disapproval of federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken, says farmers need to be considered. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By RACHEL MIPRO <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/17/kansas-senate-plans-to-take-stand-on-federal-protections-for-lesser-prairie-chicken/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA
 — The Kansas Senate will vote on whether or not to register disapproval
 of federal protections for the lesser prairie chicken this week as part
 of a ongoing battle to strip protections from the bird.Sen. Dan Kerschen, a Garden Plain 
Republican, said the bird’s protected status was a burden on Kansas 
farmers during a Tuesday meeting of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs. Kerschen
 introduced a Senate concurrent resolution disapproving the designation 
of the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species and formally 
supporting efforts to remove the protected status of the bird.Kerschen said he wanted to see all 
the facts in the case, saying recent weather, such as droughts, may have
 had an negative impact on the lesser prairie chicken, and that Kansans 
had proven able to farm and raise cattle around the birds for years.“You’ve got to keep in mind to 
protect farmers’ interests, oil producers, those folks, ranchers who are
 grazing their cattle on that land,” Kerschen said. “All of the sudden, 
someone comes and tells them how much you can do, and where your cattle 
can be, those kinds of things, interfering with the production part of 
it.”The lesser prairie chicken, which is 
known for a unique and colorful spring mating dance, is best suited for 
living in large areas of native grasslands. Lawmakers have said 
preserving the birds’ environments would threaten the livelihoods of 
farmers, ranchers and energy producers.The birds have been the center of 
debate for years, with Kansas Republicans and environmental activists 
clashing on what, if any, protections were needed for the birds. In 
2019, three conservation groups<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/trio-of-kansas-gop-lawmakers-seek-more-time-to-critique-prairie-chicken-listing/"> sued the federal government </a>to force action on the issue.With 90% of their original habitat 
lost over the years, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 
there’s been a five-year decline in the lesser prairie chicken 
population. Few of the birds have been seen in their native Kansas, 
Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas environments. In November, federal 
wildlife officials registered the lesser prairie chicken <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/11/17/federal-wildlife-officials-list-lesser-prairie-chicken-as-threatened-in-kansas/">as threatened in Kansas</a> and endangered in their habitat in the southwest U.S.Since the listing, Republican congressmen have been fighting protections, most recently through a <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/28/kansas-congressmen-introduce-latest-attempt-to-overturn-protected-status-of-lesser-prairie-chicken/">Congressional Review Act</a>. The act is used
 to block rules issued by federal agencies. Under the act, an agency has
 to submit a report to Congress on its rule. After receiving the report,
 Congress can submit and act on a joint resolution of disapproval.Ten Republican congressmen from 
Oklahoma and Kansas registered their disapproval of the listing through 
the act, trying to overturn the ruling on the grounds that it would be 
bad for the agriculture and oil and gas industries.Among the legislation supporters were
 Kansas Sens. Roger Marshall and Jerry Moran, along with Reps. Ron 
Estes, Jake LaTurner and Tracey Mann. <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-congressman-introduces-bill-to-block-federal-listing-of-lesser-prairie-chicken/">Estes also introduced a bill</a>
 that would prohibit the U.S. Interior Department from imposing 
restraints on land use based on the status of the lesser prairie 
chicken.Kerschen said he supported the lawmakers’ efforts, saying livestock shouldn’t be displaced in favor of the birds.“Cattle are a sensitive-natured 
animal too. That’s why we take care of them,” Kerschen said. “They can’t
 just roam around free. That’s just an example.”

Kansas Senate ready to enter the lesser prairie chicken fray

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Officials with the city of Derby are investigating a computer network disruption that started last weekend and have contacted federal law enforcement, according to the city website.

On Monday, the city reported utility bills would go out late. "Due dates will be adjusted accordingly and bills with a Jan. 17 due date will not be charged late fees. In addition, the city's outgoing and incoming email is not available.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The City’s administrative and IT staff are working with third-party computer specialists to investigate the the computer disruption. They also are cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues to determine what impact this incident may have had on information stored on the city computer network systems.&nbsp;

The city advised residents who need to send an email to the city to use&nbsp;<a href="mailto:derbykscommunications@gmail.com">derbykscommunications@gmail.com</a>

All public services in the City (including core services such as police and fire response and water/wastewater utilities) remain operational.&nbsp;

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Officials with the city of Derby are investigating a computer network disruption that started last weekend and have contacted federal law enforcement, according to the city website.On Monday, the city reported utility bills would go out late. "Due dates will be adjusted accordingly and bills with a Jan. 17 due date will not be charged late fees. In addition, the city's outgoing and incoming email is not available.&nbsp;&nbsp;The City’s administrative and IT staff are working with third-party computer specialists to investigate the the computer disruption. They also are cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation continues to determine what impact this incident may have had on information stored on the city computer network systems.&nbsp;The city advised residents who need to send an email to the city to use&nbsp;<a href="mailto:derbykscommunications@gmail.com">derbykscommunications@gmail.com</a>All public services in the City (including core services such as police and fire response and water/wastewater utilities) remain operational.&nbsp;

Kan. community calls feds after computer network disruption

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man charged with threatening to kill a Kansas congressman is harmless, believing he has a special relationship with God and his weapons are “meteors and plagues,” not “knives and guns,” a defense attorney argued Tuesday during a federal criminal trial.

The trial for Chase Neill, 32, began amid what authorities says is a sharp rise in threats to the nation's lawmakers and their families. Prosecutors say Neill became fixated on U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-kansas-topeka-lawrence-537e4ab84e3c459053d19f12352981bd">threatened to kill him</a>&nbsp;in a June 5 voicemail left with the Republican congressman's Topeka office.

Prosecutors argue that Neill was upset with LaTurner, meant the June message as a death threat and prompted LaTurner and his staff to beef up security at his Topeka office. But defense attorneys argued that Neill also threatened “everyone in the universe” in the same call, and his concerns included witchcraft, unidentified flying objects and Neill's claim that a host of U.S. government agencies were monitoring him.

Kirk Redmond, a federal public defender representing Neill, told jurors in his opening statement that authorities in Neill's northeastern Kansas hometown of Lawrence concluded after the June call that he was harmless and did not need to be arrested or sent to a mental hospital. Redmond said Neill “never went anywhere near the congressman” because he believes he can “speak a word and it happens.”

“His weapons aren't knives and guns,” Redmond said. “His weapons are meteors and plagues.”

Members of Congress have faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-san-francisco-nancy-pelosi-congress-government-and-politics-b8a3fb8b3e6f491fcfb16e155b877427">a sharp rise in threats</a>&nbsp;in the two years since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. In October, an intruder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-assaulted-156ece77186eb11b97260af3c5122f67">attacked and severely beat</a>&nbsp;former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer in their San Francisco home.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-education-coronavirus-pandemic-school-boards-35db5c9eec87b85ca8eb95a64c2f6dd7">Local school board members</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-new-mexico-donald-trump-presidential-9356ff48f081250aa54040cbd7cf1cc3">election workers</a>&nbsp;across the U.S. also have endured harassment, intimidation and threats of violence. Police in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Monday arrested a former Republican candidate for a state House seat in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-mexico-state-government-crime-albuquerque-shootings-fbed4efadff3bc7469f83a01dd888e63">a series of shootings</a>&nbsp;targeting the homes or offices of elected Democratic officials, though none were injured.

LaTurner was a Kansas state senator and state treasurer before winning his U.S. House seat in 2020. Until the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature redrew political boundaries last year, LaTurner’s eastern Kansas district included Lawrence, home to the main University of Kansas campus, which is among the state’s most liberal communities.

In Neill's trial, after one of LaTurner's staffers testified as the first witness, Neill said he wants to represent himself. He had previously made that request through his attorneys Friday but withdrew it in court Tuesday morning before his jury was selected.

U.S. District Judge Holly Teeter ended the day early so that Neill could think more about his request overnight and told him, “I think it is an unwise decision.”

Neill said his attorneys weren't accurately portraying his beliefs. He said he didn't represent himself as God but conveyed messages from God using “an Old Testament perspective,” like prophets who spoke for God in the first person. A pretrial report on Neill said he saw himself as “the Messiah.”

When the first witness said Neill had talked about UFOs in a call in May, Neill interrupted by saying, “I think the UFOs made national headlines.”

He added, “Just so I don't look crazy in the courtroom.”

In court Tuesday, Neill wore khaki pants, a dress shirt and a navy blue jacket without a tie. He had a full beard. His ankles remained chained throughout the trial.

Teeter concluded during a hearing last month that "a preponderance of the evidence” showed Neill was mentally competent to stand trial. The official notes from the hearing showed Teeter relied on a psychological evaluation of Neill, but that document is sealed and closed to the public.

In a separate order in August, a U.S. magistrate judge who refused to released Neill from custody said in that order that Neill suffered a head injury four or five years ago “characterized as a head fracture.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Skip Jacobs played part of the June call during his opening statement. Jurors heard Neill identify himself as “the Messiah” and “the Son of Man,” a common description of Jesus in the New Testament of the Bible.

"I am saying I will kill you, but the insurance will say it's an act of God,” Neill said in the call.

The call also included a threat against all members of Congress.

Jacobs told jurors that Topeka police started a patrol around LaTurner's home. His staffer testified that in May, the Topeka office remained locked when only one staffer was present and that after the June call, it remained locked even during business hours, and cameras were installed.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A jury was seated Tuesday in a federal criminal trial for a man prosecutors say became fixated on a Kansas congressman and threatened to kill him, a case that comes amid what authorities say is a sharp rise in treats to the nation's lawmakers and their families.

Prosecutors say Chase Neill, 32,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-kansas-topeka-lawrence-537e4ab84e3c459053d19f12352981bd">threatened to kill U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner</a>&nbsp;in a June 5 voicemail message left at the Republican congressman's office, then continued to make threatening calls the following day. In one message, presiding U.S. District Judge Holly Teeter said in court Tuesday, he told LaTurner that he would “die by the hand of God.”

The selection of 12 jurors and two alternates took about two hours in the morning after Neill withdrew a request to act as his own attorney. His court-appointed public defenders notified Teeter of that request Friday and told her they would refuse to work with him in a “hybrid" defense. After a private conference, Teeter told Neill from the bench that she believed such an arrangement would be “untenable.”

After Neill withdrew his request, Teeter told him, “For whatever it's worth, I think that's a very wise decision.”

Neill’s trial in U.S. District Court on one count of threatening a public official was scheduled through Friday. It came weeks after Teeter concluded that evidence of mental illness doesn’t mean Neill can’t help his attorney or follow what happens in court.

Before jury selection, Teeter confirmed with prosecutors and Neill’s attorneys that no plea bargains had been offered or sought.

Neill told her, without explaining further, “I believe there were arguable grounds for immunity, but that’s fine.”

In court, Neill wore khaki pants, a dress shirt and a navy blue jacket without a tie. He had a full beard.

A pretrial report said Neill believes he is “the Messiah." Prosecutors have said in court documents that Neill believes he was “obligated by God” to warn “certain public figures” and detail the results of not heeding his warnings.

A magistrate who ordered Neill to remain in custody in June 2022 said he also had threatened other members of Congress. The others have not been named and Neill is charged only with threatening LaTurner.

LaTurner was a Kansas state senator and state treasurer before winning his U.S. House seat in 2020. Until the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature redrew political boundaries last year, LaTurner's eastern Kansas district included Neill's hometown of Lawrence, which includes the main University of Kansas campus and is among Kansas' most liberal communities.

Members of Congress have seen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-san-francisco-nancy-pelosi-congress-government-and-politics-b8a3fb8b3e6f491fcfb16e155b877427">a sharp rise in threats</a>&nbsp;in the two years since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. In October,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-assaulted-156ece77186eb11b97260af3c5122f67">an intruder attacked and severely beat</a>&nbsp;former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer in their San Francisco home.

In the Kansas case, Neill's attorney and prosecutors declined to comment ahead of the trial.

LaTurner's office also did not comment. The congressman and four of his staffers are potential prosecution witnesses.

The pretrial report on Neill, describing his “Messiah” belief, also said police in Lawrence had reports in March 2018 that Neill was delusional and paranoid and had accused one officer of trying to steal his “unicorn business idea.” Neill was sentenced to six months in jail in February 2019 on a domestic battery charge, the report said.

U.S. Magistrate Rachel Schwartz cited the pretrial report in refusing a request from Neill in August to be released from custody. Schwartz said in her order that he had $150,000 in student loan debt but no income.

Schwartz also said in her order that Neill suffered a head injury four or five years ago “characterized as a head fracture.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Jury selection began Tuesday in a federal criminal trial for a man prosecutors say became fixated on a Kansas congressman and threatened to kill him, a case that comes amid what authorities say is a sharp rise in treats to the nation's lawmakers and their families.

Jury selection began in the morning after Neill withdrew a request to act as his own attorney. His court-appointed public defenders notified Teeter of that request Friday and told her they would refuse to work with him in a “hybrid" defense. After a private conference, Teeter told Neill from the bench that she believed such an arrangement would be “untenable.”

Neill's trial in U.S. District Court on one count of threatening a public official was scheduled through Friday. It came weeks after Teeter concluded that evidence of mental illness doesn’t mean Neill can’t help his attorney or follow what happens in court.

Before jury selection, Teeter confirmed with prosecutors and Neill's attorneys that no plea bargains had been offered or sought.

Neill told her, without explaining further, “I believe there were arguable grounds for immunity, but that's fine.”

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A criminal trial was set to start Tuesday for a northeastern Kansas man who federal prosecutors say developed a fixation on U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner and threatened to kill him, at a time when authorities have seen a sharp increase in threats to the nation's lawmakers and their families.

Prosecutors say Chase Neill, 32,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-kansas-topeka-lawrence-537e4ab84e3c459053d19f12352981bd">threatened to kill LaTurner</a>&nbsp;in a June 5 voicemail message left at the Republican congressman's office, then continued to make threatening calls the following day.

His federal trial on one count of threatening a public official was scheduled to begin Tuesday with jury selection, weeks after a judge concluded evidence of mental illness doesn’t mean Neill can’t help his attorney or follow what happens in court.

U.S. District Judge Holly Teeter concluded during a hearing last month that "a preponderance of the evidence” showed Neill was mentally competent to stand trial. The official notes from the hearing showed Teeter relied on a psychological evaluation of Neill, but that document is sealed and closed to the public.

Members of Congress have seen&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-san-francisco-nancy-pelosi-congress-government-and-politics-b8a3fb8b3e6f491fcfb16e155b877427">a sharp rise in threats</a>&nbsp;in the two years since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. In October,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-assaulted-156ece77186eb11b97260af3c5122f67">an intruder attacked and severely beat</a>&nbsp;then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer in their San Francisco home.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A northeastern Kansas man is facing a felony charge of threatening to kill one of the state's congressmen. But his trial has been postponed indefinitely so that a federal judge can decide whether he is too mentally ill to help his lawyers or follow what's going on in court.

Federal prosecutors contend in court documents that Chase Neill, 31, from Lawrence, developed a fixation on Republican Rep. Jake LaTurner, who represents an eastern Kansas district. Neill is accused of threatening to kill LaTurner in a June 5 voicemail message left at LaTurner's office and continuing to make threatening calls the following day.

A magistrate said later that month in ordering Neill to remain in custody that he had threatened other members of Congress. The others have not been named, and Neill is charged only with threatening LaTurner.

A hearing is scheduled in the case for Nov. 8, Election Day. Neill's trial initially was set to start in September, but U.S. District Judge Holly Teeter granted a request from both sides to have Neill's mental health examined.

“There is reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Neill has a mental disease and that the mental disease renders him unable to assist properly in his defense,” Teeter wrote in her two-page order.

LaTurner was a Kansas state senator and state treasurer before winning his U.S. House seat in 2020.

Threats to lawmakers are at an all-time high almost two years after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. In San Francisco early Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-pelosi-assaulted-156ece77186eb11b97260af3c5122f67">an intruder attacked</a>&nbsp;and severely beat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer in their home while searching for the Democratic leader and shouting: “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?”

In the Kansas case, neither the U.S. attorney's office for the state nor Neill's defense attorneys would comment Friday. LaTurner's office also wouldn't discuss the case. It was not clear whether Neill's examination is complete.

"Rep. LaTurner’s office will continue to cooperate with local and federal law enforcement on this matter,” spokesperson Mike Howard said in an email.

One pretrial report on Neill said he believes he is “the Messiah,” and prosecutors have said in court documents that he believes he was “obligated by God” to warn “certain public figures” and detail the results of not heeding his warnings.

U.S. Magistrate Rachel Schwartz cited the pretrial report in refusing a request from Neill in August to be released from custody. She said in her order that he had $150,000 in student loan debt but no income.

Schwartz said in her order that Neill suffered a head injury four or five years ago, “characterized as a head fracture.”

The pretrial report said that in March 2018, Lawrence police had reports that Neill, who was living with his mother there, was delusional and paranoid and accused one officer of trying to steal his “unicorn business idea.” Neill was sentenced to six months in jail in February 2019 on a domestic battery charge, the report said.

Defense: Man harmless despite threat to kill Kansas lawmaker

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House brushed aside criticism Tuesday of its fragmented disclosures about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-0574fd762159e8cb5f31c85205df3dc0">discovery of classified documents and official records</a>&nbsp;at President Joe Biden's home and former office, saying it may withhold information to protect the Justice Department's investigation.

Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsel’s office, told reporters that the White House was releasing information as it deemed it “appropriate." Responding to criticism of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-justice-b63ffc9b1042b4287a22e88672f4ef77">the piecemeal disclosures</a>, Sams said the White House was trying to be mindful of the “risk” in sharing information “that's not complete.”

“We’re endeavoring to be as transparent and informative to you all in the media, to the public as we can consistent with respecting the integrity of an ongoing Justice Department investigation,” he said.

The discovery of the documents in Biden's possession complicates a federal probe into former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mar-a-lago">President Donald Trump</a>, who the Justice Department says took hundreds of records marked classified with him upon leaving the White House in early 2021 and resisted months of requests to return them to the government.

While the two cases are different — Biden for example, willingly turned over the documents once found — it still has become a political headache for a president who promised a clean break from the operations of the Trump administration.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-0574fd762159e8cb5f31c85205df3dc0">On Saturday, the White House disclosed</a>&nbsp;that Biden attorneys found classified documents and official records on four separate occasions — on Nov. 2 at the offices of the Penn Biden Center in Washington, on Dec. 20 in the garage of the president's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-democratic-party-donald-trump-d758b30c5c88aaf0014c2baf3d46a882">Wilmington, Delaware home</a>, and on Nov. 11 and 12 in the president's home library.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had said before the additional discovery that Americans could assume the investigation had completed. On Tuesday, she referred questions to the Justice Department or White House counsel's office on whether more documents existed and whether they would be disclosed if discovered.

“The president and his team rightfully took action," she said of the turning over the documents after they were discovered.

After the initial disclosure, the president said he was “briefed about this discovery and surprised to learn that there are any government records that were taken there to that office.”

He said that he takes the handling of classified documents very seriously. Biden has not commented publicly on the further existence of documents. Jean-Pierre said that president was focused on his job.

“He wants to make sure that he’s continuing to deliver for the American people,” she said.

Attorney General Merrick Garland last week appointed Robert Hur, a former Maryland U.S. attorney, to serve as special counsel to oversee the Justice Department's inquiry into the documents.

Among the questions still unanswered by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-donald-trump-036e528fc399477a603ed402c6e83cfb">White House or Biden’s private attorneys</a>: Exactly how many documents were found; whether there may be other documents out there, what was contained in them and why the public wasn’t notified until months after they were discovered.

Sams referred those questions to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/classified-documents-biden-home-wilmington-33479d12c7cf0a822adb2f44c32b88fd">Justice Department</a>, insisting that neither the White House nor Biden's personal attorneys are aware of the contents.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673546739694.png" alt="Biden backing his Corvette into the garage next to stacks of boxes where classified documents were found-image from a 2020 Biden for President campaign ad" />
 <figcaption>Biden backing his Corvette into the garage next to stacks of boxes where classified documents were found-image from a 2020 Biden for President campaign ad</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House brushed aside criticism Tuesday of its fragmented disclosures about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-0574fd762159e8cb5f31c85205df3dc0">discovery of classified documents and official records</a>&nbsp;at President Joe Biden's home and former office, saying it may withhold information to protect the Justice Department's investigation.Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House counsel’s office, told reporters that the White House was releasing information as it deemed it “appropriate." Responding to criticism of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-biden-politics-united-states-government-us-department-of-justice-b63ffc9b1042b4287a22e88672f4ef77">the piecemeal disclosures</a>, Sams said the White House was trying to be mindful of the “risk” in sharing information “that's not complete.”“We’re endeavoring to be as transparent and informative to you all in the media, to the public as we can consistent with respecting the integrity of an ongoing Justice Department investigation,” he said.The discovery of the documents in Biden's possession complicates a federal probe into former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mar-a-lago">President Donald Trump</a>, who the Justice Department says took hundreds of records marked classified with him upon leaving the White House in early 2021 and resisted months of requests to return them to the government.While the two cases are different — Biden for example, willingly turned over the documents once found — it still has become a political headache for a president who promised a clean break from the operations of the Trump administration.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-0574fd762159e8cb5f31c85205df3dc0">On Saturday, the White House disclosed</a>&nbsp;that Biden attorneys found classified documents and official records on four separate occasions — on Nov. 2 at the offices of the Penn Biden Center in Washington, on Dec. 20 in the garage of the president's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-us-democratic-party-donald-trump-d758b30c5c88aaf0014c2baf3d46a882">Wilmington, Delaware home</a>, and on Nov. 11 and 12 in the president's home library.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had said before the additional discovery that Americans could assume the investigation had completed. On Tuesday, she referred questions to the Justice Department or White House counsel's office on whether more documents existed and whether they would be disclosed if discovered.“The president and his team rightfully took action," she said of the turning over the documents after they were discovered.After the initial disclosure, the president said he was “briefed about this discovery and surprised to learn that there are any government records that were taken there to that office.”He said that he takes the handling of classified documents very seriously. Biden has not commented publicly on the further existence of documents. Jean-Pierre said that president was focused on his job.“He wants to make sure that he’s continuing to deliver for the American people,” she said.Attorney General Merrick Garland last week appointed Robert Hur, a former Maryland U.S. attorney, to serve as special counsel to oversee the Justice Department's inquiry into the documents.Among the questions still unanswered by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-district-of-columbia-donald-trump-036e528fc399477a603ed402c6e83cfb">White House or Biden’s private attorneys</a>: Exactly how many documents were found; whether there may be other documents out there, what was contained in them and why the public wasn’t notified until months after they were discovered.Sams referred those questions to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/classified-documents-biden-home-wilmington-33479d12c7cf0a822adb2f44c32b88fd">Justice Department</a>, insisting that neither the White House nor Biden's personal attorneys are aware of the contents.

White House defends delayed disclosure on classified documents

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting outside an apartment building.

Just after 6p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the sound of gun shots in the area of 10300 E. 42nd Street in Kansas City, according to Officer Leslie Foreman. 

The call was upgraded to a shooting and officers observed a vehicle in the parking lot and a man inside of the vehicle who had been shot and was unresponsive. Officers began life-saving measures at that time. EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. 

Police did not have any suspect information late Tuesday.&nbsp; Detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene and are actively canvassed for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674039821924.png" alt="Police at the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the shooting -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal shooting outside an apartment building.Just after 6p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to the sound of gun shots in the area of 10300 E. 42nd Street in Kansas City, according to Officer Leslie Foreman. The call was upgraded to a shooting and officers observed a vehicle in the parking lot and a man inside of the vehicle who had been shot and was unresponsive. Officers began life-saving measures at that time. EMS responded to the scene and transported the victim to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Police did not have any suspect information late Tuesday.&nbsp; Detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene and are actively canvassed for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the victim.

Police: Man found dead in car outside Kansas City apartment 

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the United State begins training of Ukrainian Troops in Oklahoma, Netherlands Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-rutte">Mark Rutte</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that his country plans to "join” the U.S. and Germany's efforts to train and arm Ukraine with advanced Patriot defense systems.

Rutte signaled the Netherlands' intentions at the start of a White House meeting with President Joe Biden. It remains unclear if the Dutch will ultimately send Patriot systems, take part in training or offer some other assistance related to deployment of Patriots. The Dutch defense ministry said that Ukraine has asked the Netherlands to provide “Patriot capacity.”

“We have the intention to join what you are doing with Germany on the Patriot project," Rutte told Biden. “I think that it’s important we join that."

Rutte, who said he also spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday about the potential assistance, later told Dutch broadcaster NOS that his government is in talks about what exactly it can contribute.

“The idea is not only training, but also equipment,” Rutte told NOS. He added that the Dutch military is now reviewing “what exactly we have, how can we ensure that it works well with the American and German systems.”

Rutte spoke about the potential assistance as Ukrainian troops arrived at Oklahoma’s Fort Sill Army base to begin training on operating and maintaining the Patriot missile defense system. The Patriot is the most advanced surface-to-air missile system the West has provided to Ukraine to help repel Russian aerial attacks.

“Training has begun," Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. "As we’ve talked about before, that training will last for several months, and train upwards of 90 to 100 Ukrainians on use of the Patriot missile system.”

Biden praised Netherlands as one of the United States “strongest” allies, one that's proven “very, very stalwart” in its support for Ukraine since Russia launched in its invasion in February. The Netherlands has committed about $2.7 billion (2.5 billion euros) in support for Ukraine this year. The money will be spent on military equipment, humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.

The Netherlands providing Ukraine with Patriot assistance — whether the weapons systems, missiles or training — would be a major move for the NATO ally.

The training of Ukraine forces now underway in Oklahoma is to focus, in part, on how to maintain the battery that will be sent by the U.S. to Ukraine once training is complete. Each system has multiple components, including a phased array radar, a control station, computers and generators, and typically requires about 90 soldiers to operate and maintain, however only three soldiers are needed to actually fire it, according to the Army.

Some of the ongoing maintenance support, once the Patriot is on the battlefield, will be done remotely, Ryder said.

The Dutch prime minister, for his part, praised Biden for leading the international effort to back Ukraine.

“I am convinced history will judge in 2022 if the United States had not stepped up like you did things would have been very different,” Rutte said.

The two leaders were also to discuss plans for the Summit for Democracy, which they are co-hosting with Costa Rica, South Korea and Zambia in late March.

Biden hosted the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-europe-elections-media-voting-rights-85d99ee88c6122f21e55d5727eb20e13">inaugural democracy summit in December 2021,</a>&nbsp;which the administration billed as the start of a global conversation about how best to halt the backsliding of democracy.

Biden is the third U.S. president visited by Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest-serving prime minister. He earlier met with Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673396092973.png" alt="Ukrainian troops arrived this week at Oklahoma’s Fort Sill Army base to begin training on operating and maintaining the Patriot missile defense systemPhoto U.S. Defense Department" />
 <figcaption>Ukrainian troops arrived this week at Oklahoma’s Fort Sill Army base to begin training on operating and maintaining the Patriot missile defense systemPhoto U.S. Defense Department</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As the United State begins training of Ukrainian Troops in Oklahoma, Netherlands Prime Minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-rutte">Mark Rutte</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that his country plans to "join” the U.S. and Germany's efforts to train and arm Ukraine with advanced Patriot defense systems.Rutte signaled the Netherlands' intentions at the start of a White House meeting with President Joe Biden. It remains unclear if the Dutch will ultimately send Patriot systems, take part in training or offer some other assistance related to deployment of Patriots. The Dutch defense ministry said that Ukraine has asked the Netherlands to provide “Patriot capacity.”“We have the intention to join what you are doing with Germany on the Patriot project," Rutte told Biden. “I think that it’s important we join that."Rutte, who said he also spoke with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday about the potential assistance, later told Dutch broadcaster NOS that his government is in talks about what exactly it can contribute.“The idea is not only training, but also equipment,” Rutte told NOS. He added that the Dutch military is now reviewing “what exactly we have, how can we ensure that it works well with the American and German systems.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673994081516.png" alt="-President Biden met with Prime Minister Mark Rutte Tuesday to discuss how the U.S. and Netherlands, our close transatlantic partner, can continue to work together to strengthen transatlantic security and economic prosperity.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>-President Biden met with Prime Minister Mark Rutte Tuesday to discuss how the U.S. and Netherlands, our close transatlantic partner, can continue to work together to strengthen transatlantic security and economic prosperity.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Rutte spoke about the potential assistance as Ukrainian troops arrived at Oklahoma’s Fort Sill Army base to begin training on operating and maintaining the Patriot missile defense system. The Patriot is the most advanced surface-to-air missile system the West has provided to Ukraine to help repel Russian aerial attacks.“Training has begun," Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. "As we’ve talked about before, that training will last for several months, and train upwards of 90 to 100 Ukrainians on use of the Patriot missile system.”Biden praised Netherlands as one of the United States “strongest” allies, one that's proven “very, very stalwart” in its support for Ukraine since Russia launched in its invasion in February. The Netherlands has committed about $2.7 billion (2.5 billion euros) in support for Ukraine this year. The money will be spent on military equipment, humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.The Netherlands providing Ukraine with Patriot assistance — whether the weapons systems, missiles or training — would be a major move for the NATO ally.The training of Ukraine forces now underway in Oklahoma is to focus, in part, on how to maintain the battery that will be sent by the U.S. to Ukraine once training is complete. Each system has multiple components, including a phased array radar, a control station, computers and generators, and typically requires about 90 soldiers to operate and maintain, however only three soldiers are needed to actually fire it, according to the Army.Some of the ongoing maintenance support, once the Patriot is on the battlefield, will be done remotely, Ryder said.The Dutch prime minister, for his part, praised Biden for leading the international effort to back Ukraine.“I am convinced history will judge in 2022 if the United States had not stepped up like you did things would have been very different,” Rutte said.The two leaders were also to discuss plans for the Summit for Democracy, which they are co-hosting with Costa Rica, South Korea and Zambia in late March.Biden hosted the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-europe-elections-media-voting-rights-85d99ee88c6122f21e55d5727eb20e13">inaugural democracy summit in December 2021,</a>&nbsp;which the administration billed as the start of a global conversation about how best to halt the backsliding of democracy.Biden is the third U.S. president visited by Rutte, the Netherlands’ longest-serving prime minister. He earlier met with Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Ukrainian troops learning missile system in Oklahoma

CHEROKEE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting in rural Cherokee County.

Just before 5:30 p.m. Monday, a woman called 911 from a residence at 9550 SE Bobcat in Galena, Kansas, to report a disturbance where a man was being held at gunpoint by another male subject, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; The armed man then left the residence in a Ford F-250 flatbed truck.

Preliminary information indicates that around 5:30 p.m., deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spotted the pickup truck. The driver of the truck, later identified as Phillip A. Doerr, 28, of Falls City, Nebraska, did not stop, and they engaged in a short vehicle pursuit.

The truck came to a stop near the intersection of SE 100th St. and SE Messer Rd., in Galena. Doerr exited the truck while firing a handgun at responding deputies. Multiple rounds from Doerr’s firearm hit a patrol vehicle. Both deputies returned fire, and Doerr fled into a tree line. Shots were fired at 5:42 p.m.

Then at 5:46 p.m., deputies heard a single gunshot coming from the treed area. They established a perimeter and called for drone and aircraft assistance to locate the man. 

At approximately 8 p.m., Doerr was discovered deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. An autopsy will be conducted, but no other gunshot wounds were evident. No law enforcement officers were hurt during the incident.&nbsp;Doerr had previous convictions for flee and or elude law enforcement and felony obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections He was released from prison in March of 2022.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673987521042.png" alt="Doerr had previous convictions for flee and or elude law enforcement and felony obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Doerr had previous convictions for flee and or elude law enforcement and felony obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>CHEROKEE COUNTY – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting in rural Cherokee County.Just before 5:30 p.m. Monday, a woman called 911 from a residence at 9550 SE Bobcat in Galena, Kansas, to report a disturbance where a man was being held at gunpoint by another male subject, according to a media release from the KBI.&nbsp; The armed man then left the residence in a Ford F-250 flatbed truck.Preliminary information indicates that around 5:30 p.m., deputies from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spotted the pickup truck. The driver of the truck, later identified as Phillip A. Doerr, 28, of Falls City, Nebraska, did not stop, and they engaged in a short vehicle pursuit.The truck came to a stop near the intersection of SE 100th St. and SE Messer Rd., in Galena. Doerr exited the truck while firing a handgun at responding deputies. Multiple rounds from Doerr’s firearm hit a patrol vehicle. Both deputies returned fire, and Doerr fled into a tree line. Shots were fired at 5:42 p.m.Then at 5:46 p.m., deputies heard a single gunshot coming from the treed area. They established a perimeter and called for drone and aircraft assistance to locate the man. At approximately 8 p.m., Doerr was discovered deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. An autopsy will be conducted, but no other gunshot wounds were evident. No law enforcement officers were hurt during the incident.&nbsp;Doerr had previous convictions for flee and or elude law enforcement and felony obstruction, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections He was released from prison in March of 2022.

Man found deceased after officer shooting had history of crime

RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal drug overdose and have made an arrest.

On Tuesday, police in Hutchinson arrested 23-year-old Harry W. Ocon of&nbsp; Hutchinson on a probable cause warrant for distribution of a controlled substance causing death and distribution of a controlled substance, according to a media release.&nbsp;

The arrest is the result of an investigation into a fatal fentanyl-related overdose that occurred in Hutchinson in June 2022.&nbsp;

Those with information regarding this case, are asked to&nbsp;contact the Hutchinson Police Department at (620) 665-7144. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673994256169.jpeg" alt="Ocon photo Hutchinson Police" />
 <figcaption>Ocon photo Hutchinson Police</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal drug overdose and have made an arrest.On Tuesday, police in Hutchinson arrested 23-year-old Harry W. Ocon of&nbsp; Hutchinson on a probable cause warrant for distribution of a controlled substance causing death and distribution of a controlled substance, according to a media release.&nbsp;The arrest is the result of an investigation into a fatal fentanyl-related overdose that occurred in Hutchinson in June 2022.&nbsp;Those with information regarding this case, are asked to&nbsp;contact the Hutchinson Police Department at (620) 665-7144. &nbsp;

Kan. man accused in fentanyl overdose death

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas woman accused of leaving her children alone at home where a fire started has made a court appearance.

According to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office, 24-year-old Dekilah Sellers was charged with three counts of child endangerment.

Just before 1p.m. Dec. 21, police were dispatched to a Domestic Violence call in the 4400 block of East Bayley in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.

While approaching the address, officers observed a 4-year-old boy&nbsp;on the porch of a different address crying. Believing the child was locked out of his home officers opened the door and a large amount of smoke exited the house.

Officers observed a 2-year-old boy on the couch and a fire in the kitchen. One officer removed the 2-year-old from the residence and the other officer entered and checked for any other people in the home.

The officer located a 3-month-child in a back bedroom. All three children were quickly put into a warm patrol vehicle as Wichita Fire Dept and EMS crews were responding to control the fire.

Officers remained with the children until a parent arrived on the scene approximately 45 minutes later.&nbsp; The investigation revealed <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20070158">Dekilah Sellers&nbsp;</a>left her three children alone in the residence to "go get Christmas presents."

The 4-year-old and 2-year-old boys were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation. The 3-month-old girl was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was to be released Thursday, according to Ditch.

Fire and EMS on the scene noted that the two children that were in the home would have died from smoke inhalation if not for the help of the 4-year-old boy and the swift response of police officers.

Sellers is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671740760578.png" alt="Sellers-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Sellers-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas woman accused of leaving her children alone at home where a fire started has made a court appearance.According to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office, 24-year-old Dekilah Sellers was charged with three counts of child endangerment.Just before 1p.m. Dec. 21, police were dispatched to a Domestic Violence call in the 4400 block of East Bayley in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch.While approaching the address, officers observed a 4-year-old boy&nbsp;on the porch of a different address crying. Believing the child was locked out of his home officers opened the door and a large amount of smoke exited the house.Officers observed a 2-year-old boy on the couch and a fire in the kitchen. One officer removed the 2-year-old from the residence and the other officer entered and checked for any other people in the home.The officer located a 3-month-child in a back bedroom. All three children were quickly put into a warm patrol vehicle as Wichita Fire Dept and EMS crews were responding to control the fire.Officers remained with the children until a parent arrived on the scene approximately 45 minutes later.&nbsp; The investigation revealed <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20070158">Dekilah Sellers&nbsp;</a>left her three children alone in the residence to "go get Christmas presents." The 4-year-old and 2-year-old boys were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation. The 3-month-old girl was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was to be released Thursday, according to Ditch.Fire and EMS on the scene noted that the two children that were in the home would have died from smoke inhalation if not for the help of the 4-year-old boy and the swift response of police officers.Sellers is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.-------

Kan. woman charged for leaving children home where fire started

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a December shooting on a KCATA bus and asking for help to identify a suspect.

Just after 5p.m. December 30, a suspect fired a gun inside the bus&nbsp;in the area of 43rd Street and Prospect Avenue, according to Police Captain Leslie Foreman.&nbsp; The suspect may frequent the 45th Street corridor between Garfield Ave and Prospect Avenue.

Anyone with information should call police.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673995041874.png" alt="photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a December shooting on a KCATA bus and asking for help to identify a suspect.Just after 5p.m. December 30, a suspect fired a gun inside the bus&nbsp;in the area of 43rd Street and Prospect Avenue, according to Police Captain Leslie Foreman.&nbsp; The suspect may frequent the 45th Street corridor between Garfield Ave and Prospect Avenue.Anyone with information should call police.

Police work to ID suspect in Kansas City bus shooting

RENO COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal weekend fire in Reno County have identified the victims as 75-year-old John M. Schaffter and his 74-year old wife, Sally A. Schaffter, according to&nbsp;Reno County Fire Administrator Travis Vogt.

Just before 10p.m.&nbsp; Saturday, fire crews were dispatched to a house fire in the 200 block of north Broadway Street in Arlington, according to a release from Reno County Fire Administrator Travis Vogt.

When they arrived, fire crews were told of two possible occupants that were still in the house. Firefighters encountered heavy fire with the fire venting through the roof before they got there.

Crews made entry into the home and located the two occupants and were able to remove them. Lifesaving efforts were made, however both occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene.

The fire was brought under control around 1 a.m. Sunday. The Office of the State Fire Marshal said the cause of the fire is still undetermined.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673838091073.png" alt="-Fatal weekend house fire photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>-Fatal weekend house fire photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal weekend fire in Reno County have identified the victims as 75-year-old John M. Schaffter and his 74-year old wife, Sally A. Schaffter, according to&nbsp;Reno County Fire Administrator Travis Vogt.Just before 10p.m.&nbsp; Saturday, fire crews were dispatched to a house fire in the 200 block of north Broadway Street in Arlington, according to a release from Reno County Fire Administrator Travis Vogt.When they arrived, fire crews were told of two possible occupants that were still in the house. Firefighters encountered heavy fire with the fire venting through the roof before they got there.Crews made entry into the home and located the two occupants and were able to remove them. Lifesaving efforts were made, however both occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene.The fire was brought under control around 1 a.m. Sunday. The Office of the State Fire Marshal said the cause of the fire is still undetermined.

Kansas couple who died in house fire identified

CADDO COUNTY —The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) reported late Tuesday they had recovered the remains of a child in rural Grady County outside of Rush Springs. 

The OSBI cannot confirm the remains are those of Athena Brownfield. The remains will be transported to the Medical Examiner's Office in Oklahoma City for positive identification.&nbsp; ---------

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673643845430.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>CADDO COUNTY —The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) reported late Tuesday they had recovered the remains of a child in rural Grady County outside of Rush Springs. The OSBI cannot confirm the remains are those of Athena Brownfield. The remains will be transported to the Medical Examiner's Office in Oklahoma City for positive identification.&nbsp; ---------CADDO COUNTY (AP) —A missing 4-year-old Oklahoma girl was beaten to death Christmas night by her caregiver, then buried, according to court documents released Tuesday.Athena Brownfield has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-city-1b331093878a39b70fccfdc6ba2e47dc">missing since Jan. 10</a>&nbsp;when a postal carrier discovered her 5-year-old sister alone outside the home the girls shared with the caregivers, Ivon Adams and Alysia Adams, in Cyril, about 70 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.The search for the child became a “recovery operation,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c6baaf1245977474295d62f7fab0fe39">Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said</a>&nbsp;Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673636085787.png" alt="Adams-photo Maricopa Co." />
 <figcaption>Adams-photo Maricopa Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ivon Adams, 36,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/law-enforcement-oklahoma-e98c18aec68a194338b304a7c494a0a6">was arrested in Arizona on murder</a>&nbsp;and child neglect charges and awaits extradition. Alysia Adams, 31,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/60a003ec522769df2ae2b962bfa42db1">is jailed in Oklahoma</a>&nbsp;on child neglect charges.An affidavit says Alysia Adams told investigators that her husband beat the child at about midnight Dec. 25.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673617381405.png" alt="Alysia Adams-photo Caddo Co." />
 <figcaption>Alysia Adams-photo Caddo Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Athena “was not moving and her eyes were barely open” Alysia Adams said, according to the affidavit by OSBI Lt. Brenna Alvarez. Ivon Adams “then laid her on the ground and punched her at least three more times in the chest” and the child “never moved after that.”Ivon Adams left the home with Athena at about 1 a.m. Dec. 26 and later returned, saying he buried her body on land the Adams once owned close to the nearby town of Rush Springs, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Cyril, marking the site with “a large broken branch.”Ivon Adams has waived extradition in Oklahoma and remains jailed in Maricopa County, Arizona, pending extradition.“I want to get there and take care of it,” Adams told a judge during a hearing Friday in Maricopa County court. “I need to get there and fight this.”Court documents do not list attorneys who could speak on the behalf of either of the Adams.Brandon Bryant, who said he and his wife were once neighbors of the Adams, said Tuesday that he had little interaction with the couple, but saw nothing unusual from them.“Didn’t see anything out of the normal. We talked to Alysia a few times, Ivon never,” Bryant said. “We never went into their house, Alysia came over to our house a few times ... we gave her a car seat.”Bryant, whose children are 5 and 10 years old, said he still considers Cyril, with a population of about 800, a safe place.“Its a small town, it’s probably one of the few places on earth I would consider leaving my doors unlocked at night ... it’s still a good place to live,” Bryant said.The OSBI has said the girls and the Adams’ are related and the affidavit said that the children’s biological mother had left them with the couple 1 1/2 to 2 years ago with the girls calling Alysia “mom” or “Aly” and Ivon “dad” or “Uncle Ivon.”The children’s biological mother and father are cooperating with investigators, according to the OSBI.