TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Former Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan, who emphasized victims' rights and consumer protection during four terms in office, has died at the age of 89.

Stephan died overnight, his brother, Don Stephan, told Kansas media Tuesday. No cause of death was released.

Stephan, a Republican, served as attorney general from 1979 to 1995, the longest tenure in that office in Kansas history. He first won the office after surviving cancer, an experience that later prompted him to support legalizing marijuana for medical use.

Stephan, a native of Wichita, helped develop a victims’ right amendment to the Kansas Constitution and emphasized consumer protection. His tenure also included legal battles involving Gov. Joan Finney’s role in negotiating with American Indian tribes on casino gaming and challenging the Posse Comitatus militia movement in western Kansas.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a statement Tuesday that Stephan left a lasting mark on the office during his tenure, particularly in the areas of crime victim rights and consumer protection.

Stephan's political career stalled after two lawsuits filed by a former clerk who accused him of sexually harassing her and of breach of contract when he revealed the amount of the settlement in the first lawsuit.

A grand jury alleged Stephan lied when he testified in the second lawsuit. He was acquitted in 1995.

After leaving office, Stephan lived in Lenexa, where he was a corporate legal consultant.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Former Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan, who emphasized victims' rights and consumer protection during four terms in office, has died at the age of 89.Stephan died overnight, his brother, Don Stephan, told Kansas media Tuesday. No cause of death was released.Stephan, a Republican, served as attorney general from 1979 to 1995, the longest tenure in that office in Kansas history. He first won the office after surviving cancer, an experience that later prompted him to support legalizing marijuana for medical use.Stephan, a native of Wichita, helped develop a victims’ right amendment to the Kansas Constitution and emphasized consumer protection. His tenure also included legal battles involving Gov. Joan Finney’s role in negotiating with American Indian tribes on casino gaming and challenging the Posse Comitatus militia movement in western Kansas.Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a statement Tuesday that Stephan left a lasting mark on the office during his tenure, particularly in the areas of crime victim rights and consumer protection.Stephan's political career stalled after two lawsuits filed by a former clerk who accused him of sexually harassing her and of breach of contract when he revealed the amount of the settlement in the first lawsuit.A grand jury alleged Stephan lied when he testified in the second lawsuit. He was acquitted in 1995.After leaving office, Stephan lived in Lenexa, where he was a corporate legal consultant.

Former Kansas Attorney General Robert Stephan dies at 89

By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/03/crews-will-reroute-mill-creek-after-massive-keystone-pipeline-spill-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Crews will reroute Mill Creek to avoid the site of the Keystone Pipeline’s largest-ever oil spill, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tcenergy.com/incident/milepost-14-incident/">oil pipeline’s parent company announced Tuesday</a>.

The Keystone pipeline, which runs from Canada to Texas and Illinois, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/09/regulators-order-keystone-pipeline-to-investigate-after-14000-barrels-spill-in-kansas/">spilled 14,000 barrels of oil near the Kansas-Nebraska border</a> in early December. The spill —&nbsp;the latest in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/">a number of spills and deficiencies along the pipeline</a> —&nbsp;turned Mill Creek black and deposited oil on farmland near Washington, Kansas.

Within two weeks after the spill, 
more than 400 people were onsite cleaning up the oil, including 
personnel from the pipeline’s owner, TC Energy, the Environmental 
Protection Agency and state and local officials. Crews built dams to 
contain the spill and began vacuuming oil from the creek and surrounding
 areas.

Now, those responders are working to 
“temporarily divert (Mill) Creek from a location upstream of the 
pipeline spill to downstream of the containment dams,” TC Energy said in
 a statement.

“The diversion will assist in the cleanup and reclamation of the creek,” the statement said.

TC Energy did not say in its news release how diverting the creek would assist in cleanup.

The company also has not announced an
 update on how much oil it has removed from the creek. As of Dec. 21, it
 had removed 7,599 barrels of oil from the creek, a little more than 
half of the estimated amount spilled.

TC Energy said it would give $7,500 
to purchase new mobile and radio equipment for the Washington County 
Emergency Management Office. It also pledged to <a target="_blank" href="https://tcenergy.benevity.org/community/fundraiser/56121">match donations to the Washington County Hospital</a>.

The site of the spill on Tuesday was still subject to a <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/20/drone-no-fly-zone-issued-over-keystone-oil-spill-site-in-kansas/">no-fly zone for drones requested by TC Energy</a>.

Following the spill, the federal 
government ordered TC Energy to investigate the cause of the pipeline’s 
spill. It also required the company to submit a plan before resuming 
operations. The Cushing Extension — the part of the pipeline where the 
spill occurred —&nbsp;started operating again on Dec. 29.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672769192181.png" alt="Efforts are underway to clean up the largest spill in the Keystone pipeline’s history, which happened near Washington, Kansas. The pipeline’s owner announced Mill Creek will be temporarily rerouted to help with cleanup. (TC Energy)" />
 <figcaption>Efforts are underway to clean up the largest spill in the Keystone pipeline’s history, which happened near Washington, Kansas. The pipeline’s owner announced Mill Creek will be temporarily rerouted to help with cleanup. (TC Energy)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALLISON KITE <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/01/03/crews-will-reroute-mill-creek-after-massive-keystone-pipeline-spill-in-kansas/">Kansas Reflector</a>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Crews will reroute Mill Creek to avoid the site of the Keystone Pipeline’s largest-ever oil spill, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tcenergy.com/incident/milepost-14-incident/">oil pipeline’s parent company announced Tuesday</a>.The Keystone pipeline, which runs from Canada to Texas and Illinois, <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/09/regulators-order-keystone-pipeline-to-investigate-after-14000-barrels-spill-in-kansas/">spilled 14,000 barrels of oil near the Kansas-Nebraska border</a> in early December. The spill —&nbsp;the latest in <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/">a number of spills and deficiencies along the pipeline</a> —&nbsp;turned Mill Creek black and deposited oil on farmland near Washington, Kansas.Within two weeks after the spill, 
more than 400 people were onsite cleaning up the oil, including 
personnel from the pipeline’s owner, TC Energy, the Environmental 
Protection Agency and state and local officials. Crews built dams to 
contain the spill and began vacuuming oil from the creek and surrounding
 areas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672769258266.jpeg" alt="The map shows the planned diversion of Mill Creek as crews work to clean up the site of the Keystone oil pipeline spill. (TC Energy)" />
 <figcaption>The map shows the planned diversion of Mill Creek as crews work to clean up the site of the Keystone oil pipeline spill. (TC Energy)</figcaption>
 </figure>Now, those responders are working to 
“temporarily divert (Mill) Creek from a location upstream of the 
pipeline spill to downstream of the containment dams,” TC Energy said in
 a statement.“The diversion will assist in the cleanup and reclamation of the creek,” the statement said.TC Energy did not say in its news release how diverting the creek would assist in cleanup.The company also has not announced an
 update on how much oil it has removed from the creek. As of Dec. 21, it
 had removed 7,599 barrels of oil from the creek, a little more than 
half of the estimated amount spilled.TC Energy said it would give $7,500 
to purchase new mobile and radio equipment for the Washington County 
Emergency Management Office. It also pledged to <a target="_blank" href="https://tcenergy.benevity.org/community/fundraiser/56121">match donations to the Washington County Hospital</a>.The site of the spill on Tuesday was still subject to a <a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/20/drone-no-fly-zone-issued-over-keystone-oil-spill-site-in-kansas/">no-fly zone for drones requested by TC Energy</a>.Following the spill, the federal 
government ordered TC Energy to investigate the cause of the pipeline’s 
spill. It also required the company to submit a plan before resuming 
operations. The Cushing Extension — the part of the pipeline where the 
spill occurred —&nbsp;started operating again on Dec. 29.

Crews will reroute creek after massive Kansas pipeline spill 

OKLAHOMA CITY. (AP) — A football player at Fort Hays State University in Kansas was shot and killed outside a bar in Oklahoma City on New Year's Day, police said.

Daniel Howard, 22, died and four other people were injured in the shooting at Sunset Patio Lounge early Sunday, Oklahoma City police said.

Several people were kicked out of the bar after a fight broke out. The shooting occurred when the argument continued in a nearby parking lot, police said.

Some of the injured were bystanders, according to the police news release. Their conditions were not available.

Howard played two years at Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M before transferring to Fort Hays State in Kansas in spring of 2022. Howard, a defensive back, played in all 11 games last season, recording 53 tackles.

Officials at Fort Hays and Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M issued statements on social media expressing grief after Howard's death and support for his family and friends.

The investigation into the shooting is continuing, police said in a news release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672768574845.jpeg" alt="Howard photo courtesy FHSU Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Howard photo courtesy FHSU Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY. (AP) — A football player at Fort Hays State University in Kansas was shot and killed outside a bar in Oklahoma City on New Year's Day, police said.Daniel Howard, 22, died and four other people were injured in the shooting at Sunset Patio Lounge early Sunday, Oklahoma City police said.Several people were kicked out of the bar after a fight broke out. The shooting occurred when the argument continued in a nearby parking lot, police said.Some of the injured were bystanders, according to the police news release. Their conditions were not available.Howard played two years at Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M before transferring to Fort Hays State in Kansas in spring of 2022. Howard, a defensive back, played in all 11 games last season, recording 53 tackles.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tiger Family, We are deeply saddened to say that we have lost a member of our family, Daniel Howard. We are so grateful to have been able to be a part of his life and he will be missed greatly. Please keep Daniel&#39;s family in your prayers as they go through this difficult time. <a href="https://t.co/BqLfWP4NJK">pic.twitter.com/BqLfWP4NJK</a>&mdash; FHSU Football (@FHSUFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FHSUFootball/status/1610006504484048901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Officials at Fort Hays and Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M issued statements on social media expressing grief after Howard's death and support for his family and friends.The investigation into the shooting is continuing, police said in a news release.

Police: Fort Hays State football player shot and killed in Oklahoma

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leader Kevin McCarthy is falling far short in voting to become House speaker. House Republicans fell into a tangle on the opening day of the new Congress, refusing to elect McCarthy by more than a dozen votes in two rounds.&nbsp;

Needing 218 votes in the full House, McCarthy got just 203 in both rounds — less even than Democrat Hakeem Jeffries in the GOP-controlled chamber.

Three members of the Kansas delegation, Tracy Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner all voted for McCarthy.  Kansas Democrat Rep. Sharice Davids voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Members of the Missouri delegation also voted along party lines for McCarthy and Jeffries.

McCarthy had pledged a “battle on the floor” for as long as it took to overcome right-flank fellow Republicans who were refusing to give him their votes. But it was not at all clear how the embattled GOP leader could rebound after becoming the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-house-of-representatives-kentucky-kevin-mccarthy-e177c4405ef9b8a7b38641a15855764c">first House speaker nominee in 100 years to fail</a>&nbsp;to win the gavel from his fellow party members on the initial vote.

Before the second vote, rival-turned-McCarthy ally, conservative Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, who got six votes in the first round, rose to urge his colleagues, even those who backed him as an alternative, to drop their opposition.

“We have to rally around him, come together” Jordan said of McCarthy.

But Rep Matt Gaetz of Florida followed with a vigorous re-endorsement of Jordan. underscoring the chaos within the party.

“I rise to nominate the most talented, hardest working member of the Republican conference, who just gave a speech with more vision that we have ever heard from the alternative,” Gaetz said.

Smiling through it all, McCarthy huddled briefly with aides then appeared intent on simply trying to wear down his colleagues. Earlier, he strode into the chamber, posed for photos, and received a standing ovation from many on his side of the aisle after being nominated by the third-ranking Republican, Rep. Elise Stefanik, who said the Californian from gritty Bakersfield “has what it takes” to lead House Republicans.

“No one has worked harder for this majority than Kevin McCarthy,” said Stefanik, R-N.Y.

But on that first vote a challenge was quickly raised by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., a conservative former leader of the Freedom Caucus, who was nominated by a fellow conservative as speaker. In all, 19 Republicans peeled away, denying McCarthy the majority he needs as they cast votes for Biggs, Jordan or others in protest.

The mood was tense, at least on the Republican side, as lawmakers rose from their seats, in a lengthy first round of in-person voting. Democrats were joyous as they cast their own historic votes for their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

In the final first-round tally, McCarthy won 203 votes, with 10 for Biggs and nine for other Republicans. Jeffries, the Democratic leader, won the most, 212 votes. But no nominee won a majority.

After a raucous private GOP meeting, a core group of conservatives led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Donald Trump's MAGA agenda were furious, calling the meeting a “beat down” by McCarthy allies and remaining steadfast in their opposition to the GOP leader.

“There’s one person who could have changed all this,” said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., the chairman of the Freedom Caucus and a leader of Trump's effort to challenge the 2020 presidential election.

The group said McCarthy refused the group's last-ditch offer for rules changes in a meeting late Monday at the Capitol.

“If you want to drain the swamp you can't put the biggest alligator in control of the exercise,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla.

“He eagerly dismissed us,” said Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.

Lawmakers convened in a new era of divided government as Democrats relinquish control of the House after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/2022-midterm-elections">midterm election</a>&nbsp;losses. While the Senate remains in Democratic hands, barely, House Republicans are eager to confront&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden’s agenda</a>&nbsp;after two years of a Democratic Party control of both houses of Congress.

Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi gaveled closed the last session, moving aside for new House leadership in her Democratic Party, to a standing ovation from colleagues on her side of the aisle.

The chaplain opened with a prayer seeking to bring the 118th Congress to life.

But first, House Republicans had to elect a speaker, second in succession to the presidency.

Even with an endorsement from former President Trump, McCarthy fell short.

Democrats enthusiastically nominated Jeffries, D-.N.Y., who is taking over as party leader, as their choice for speaker — a typically symbolic gesture in the minority but one that took on new importance as Republicans were in disarray.

“A Latino is nominating in this chamber a Black man for our leader for the the first time in American history,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the third-ranking Democrat, in nominating his colleague.

A new generation of Trump-aligned Republicans led the opposition to McCarthy. They don't think he is conservative enough or tough enough to battle Democrats. It's reminiscent of the last time Republicans took back the House majority, after the 2010 midterms, when the tea-party class ushered in a new era of hardball politics, eventually sending Speaker John Boehner to an early retirement.

“Nothing’s changed,” said Rep. Bob Good, R-Va. “The problem is Kevin McCarthy.”

With just 222 GOP seats, McCarthy could afford to lose only a handful of their votes. A speaker can win with fewer than 218 votes, as Pelosi and Boehner did, if some lawmakers are absent or simply vote present.

But McCarthy has failed to win over a core — and potentially growing — group of right-flank Republicans led by the conservative Freedom Caucus, despite weeks of closed-door meetings and promised changes to the House rules.

Some of the staunch Republican conservatives challenged McCarthy in the private session. He pushed back, according to a Republican in the room and granted anonymity to discuss the closed-door session.

A sizable but less vocal group of McCarthy supporters started theirs own campaign, “Only Kevin,” as a way to shut down the opposition and pledge their support only to him.

Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., a leader of a more pragmatic conservative group, said “frustration was rising” with the minority faction.

A viable challenger to McCarthy had yet to emerge.

The second-ranking House Republican, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, could be a next choice, a conservative widely liked by his colleagues and seen by some as a hero after surviving a gunshot wound suffered during a congressional baseball game practice in 2017.

Once rivals, McCarthy and Scalise have become a team. Scalise’s office rejected as “false” a suggestion Monday by another Republican that Scalise was making calls about the speaker’s race.

A speaker's contest last went multiple rounds in 1923.

“This is a lot more important than about one person,” said Doug Heye, a former Republican leadership senior aide. “It’s about whether Republicans will be able to govern.”

Without a speaker, the House cannot fully form — naming its committee chairmen, engaging in floor proceedings and launching investigations of the Biden administration.

It was all in stark contrast to the other side of the Capitol, where Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell will officially become the chamber's longest-serving party leader in history.

Despite being in the minority in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slim 51-49 majority, McConnell could prove to be a viable partner as Biden seeks bipartisan victories in the new era of divided government. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-new-year-pitch-bipartisanship-fa34cf2386e48332d1e76cf7a170a1bb">two men were expected to appear together</a>&nbsp;later in the week in the GOP leader's home state of Kentucky to celebrate federal infrastructure investment in a vital bridge that connects Kentucky and Ohio.

McCarthy’s candidacy for speaker should have been an almost sure thing. He led his party into the majority, raising millions of campaign dollars and traveling the country to recruit many of the newer lawmakers to run for office.

Yet McCarthy has been here before, abruptly dropping out of the speaker’s race in 2015 when it was clear he did not have support from conservatives to replace Boehner.

One core demand from the holdouts this time is that McCarthy reinstate a rule that allows any single lawmaker to make a “motion to vacate the chair” — in short, to call a vote to remove the speaker from office.

Pelosi eliminated the rule after conservatives used it to threaten Boehner's ouster, but McCarthy agreed to add it back in — but at a higher threshold, requiring at least five lawmakers to sign on to the motion. Conservatives said it was insufficient.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kevin-mccarthy">Kevin McCarthy</a>&nbsp;appeared headed toward a historic defeat in first-round voting Tuesday to become House speaker, sending the new Congress into a tangle as conservative colleagues opposed his leadership

Three members of the Kansas delegation, Tracy Mann, Ron Estes and Jake LaTurner all voted for McCarthy.&nbsp; Kansas Democrat Rep. Sharice Davids voted for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Members of the Missouri delegation also voted along party lines for McCarthy and Jeffries.

McCarthy had pledged a “battle on the floor” for as long as it takes to overcome right-flank fellow Republicans who were refusing to give him their votes. But it was not at all clear how the embattled GOP leader could rebound after becoming the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-united-states-house-of-representatives-kentucky-kevin-mccarthy-e177c4405ef9b8a7b38641a15855764c">first House speaker nominee in 100 years to fail</a>&nbsp;to win the gavel from his fellow party members on the initial vote.

McCarthy strode into the chamber, posed for photos, and received a standing ovation from many on his side of the aisle after being nominated by the third-ranking Republican, Rep. Elise Stefanik, who said he “has what it takes” to lead House Republicans.

But a challenge was quickly raised by Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., a conservative former leader of the Freedom Caucus, who was nominated by a fellow conservative as speaker. In all, 19 Republicans peeled away, denying McCarthy the majority as they cast votes for Biggs or others in protest.

The mood was tense, at least on the Republican side, as lawmakers rose from their seats, in a lengthy first round of in-person voting. Democrats were joyous as they cast their own historic votes for their leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the first Black person to lead a major American political party.

"We may have a battle on the floor, but the battle is for the conference and the country,” McCarthy said earlier at the Capitol.

McCarthy emerged from a contentious closed-door meeting with fellow House Republicans unable to win over detractors and lacking the support needed to become speaker. He vowed to fight to the finish — even if it takes multiple tries in a public spectacle that would underscore divisions in his party and weaken its leadership in the first days of the new Congress.

A core group of conservatives led by the Freedom Caucus and aligned with Donald Trump's MAGA agenda were furious, calling the private meeting a “beat down” by McCarthy allies and remaining steadfast in their opposition to the GOP leader.

Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had gaveled closed the last session moments earlier, moving aside for new Democratic leadership, to a standing ovation from colleagues on her side of the aisle.

Democrats enthusiastically nominated Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-.N.Y., who is taking over as party leader, as their choice for speaker — a typically symbolic gesture in the minority but one that took on new importance as Republicans were in disarray.

The morning meeting of House Republicans turned raucus ahead what’s traditionally a celebratory day as newly elected members arrive to be sworn into office. Families in tow, the members of the new Congress prepare to be sworn into the House and Senate for the start of the two-year legislative session.

A new generation of Trump-aligned Republicans led the opposition to McCarthy. They don't think McCarthy is conservative enough or tough enough to battle Democrats. It's reminiscent of the last time Republicans took back the House majority, after the 2010 midterms, when the tea-party class ushered in a new era of hardball politics, eventually sending Speaker John Boehner to an early retirement.

Typically it takes a majority of the House's 435 members, 218 votes, to become the speaker. With just 222 GOP seats, McCarthy could afford to lose only a handful of their votes. A speaker can win with fewer than 218 votes, as Pelosi and Boehner did, if some lawmakers are absent or simply vote present.

But McCarthy has failed to win over a core — and potentially growing — group of right-flank Republicans led by the conservative Freedom Caucus, despite weeks of closed-door meetings and promised changes to the House rules. Nearly a dozen Republicans have publicly raised concerns about McCarthy.

A sizable but less vocal group of McCarthy supporters started its own campaign, “Only Kevin,” as a way to shut down the opposition and pledge their support only to him.

“Kevin McCarthy is the right guy to lead this conference, the right guy to be speaker of the House,” Johnson said.

A viable challenger to McCarthy had yet to emerge. Biggs, R-Ariz., was running as a conservative option, but was not expected to pull a majority. McCarthy defeated him in the November nominating contest,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-nancy-pelosi-congress-government-and-politics-dc947aadd41de192e4d1f018d0eaf193">188-31</a>.

The second-ranking House Republican, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, would be an obvious next choice, a conservative widely liked by his colleagues and seen by some as a hero after surviving a gunshot wound suffered during a congressional baseball game practice in 2017.

3 Kan. Reps support McCarthy who suffers historic defeat for speaker

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent a woman to the hospital.

Just after 7:30p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the area of 299th Street and Sumerset Road in rural&nbsp; Paola, according to Undersheriff Matthew Kelly.

First responders found a woman in her 40s in a ditch with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported her to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The sheriff's office released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

MIAMI COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting that sent a woman to the hospital.Just after 7:30p.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the area of 299th Street and Sumerset Road in rural&nbsp; Paola, according to Undersheriff Matthew Kelly.First responders found a woman in her 40s in a ditch with an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported her to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.The sheriff's office released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

Sheriff: Woman found with gunshot wound in rural Kan. ditch

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The past few weeks have been difficult for zoo keepers and staff at the Sedgwick County Zoo.&nbsp; Following the death of 5-week-old chimp&nbsp; Kucheza in late December, the zoo reported this week the passing of 41-year-old Sumatran orangutan, Daisy.

On New Year's morning, Daisy was discovered to be very ill and unresponsive, according to a statement from the zoo.

An emergency exam revealed kidney and heart failure. With a grave prognosis for this combination of organ failure, the medical team performed treatment, but after 24 hours Daisy’s condition hadn’t improved.&nbsp;

On Monday, the very difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize her in order to prevent any further suffering. 

Daisy came to Sedgwick County Zoo in 2009 and quickly claimed her place as one of the most popular celebrities of SCZ. Often described as a diva, Daisy did everything on her own terms. She was very smart and enjoyed “training” her people to do things for her. 

Her social nature and inquisitive personality earned her a loyal following of Zoo guests, eager to sit with her at her window with offerings of shiny jewelry, fresh manicures, or animal videos on their phones. Of course, Daisy’s favorite thing to look at was herself, resulting in many selfies being taken with her fans over the years.

 She was a wonderful orangutan, a devoted and tolerant mother, and she loved her people. Daisy is survived by her two children, Kinali (11) and Lily (4), both still living at SCZ. 

Keeper Devin, who cared for Daisy since she arrived at SCZ, says, “Daisy was an amazing individual. It’s hard to describe her because she was so dynamic and engaging. She was much loved and in losing her, I lost a close friend. She will never be forgotten and I will cherish seeing her in her kids each day.”

Heart and Kidney Disease are each among the top three causes of death in the orangutan population. SCZ works with the Great Ape Heart Project, which is a group dedicated to better understanding cardiac disease in hopes of reducing the number of cardiovascular-related deaths and improving the health and welfare of great apes in human care.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1672707544050.png" alt="photo courtesy Sedgwick County zoo" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Sedgwick County zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The past few weeks have been difficult for zoo keepers and staff at the Sedgwick County Zoo.&nbsp; Following the death of 5-week-old chimp&nbsp; Kucheza in late December, the zoo reported this week the passing of 41-year-old Sumatran orangutan, Daisy.On New Year's morning, Daisy was discovered to be very ill and unresponsive, according to a statement from the zoo.An emergency exam revealed kidney and heart failure. With a grave prognosis for this combination of organ failure, the medical team performed treatment, but after 24 hours Daisy’s condition hadn’t improved.&nbsp;On Monday, the very difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize her in order to prevent any further suffering. Daisy came to Sedgwick County Zoo in 2009 and quickly claimed her place as one of the most popular celebrities of SCZ. Often described as a diva, Daisy did everything on her own terms. She was very smart and enjoyed “training” her people to do things for her. Her social nature and inquisitive personality earned her a loyal following of Zoo guests, eager to sit with her at her window with offerings of shiny jewelry, fresh manicures, or animal videos on their phones. Of course, Daisy’s favorite thing to look at was herself, resulting in many selfies being taken with her fans over the years. She was a wonderful orangutan, a devoted and tolerant mother, and she loved her people. Daisy is survived by her two children, Kinali (11) and Lily (4), both still living at SCZ. Keeper Devin, who cared for Daisy since she arrived at SCZ, says, “Daisy was an amazing individual. It’s hard to describe her because she was so dynamic and engaging. She was much loved and in losing her, I lost a close friend. She will never be forgotten and I will cherish seeing her in her kids each day.”Heart and Kidney Disease are each among the top three causes of death in the orangutan population. SCZ works with the Great Ape Heart Project, which is a group dedicated to better understanding cardiac disease in hopes of reducing the number of cardiovascular-related deaths and improving the health and welfare of great apes in human care.

41-year-old Sumatran orangutan dies at Kansas zoo

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital.

Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, police responded to a report of a person who was shot in the 400 block of SE Leland Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. Matt Danielson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Officers located a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported. to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Late Monday, officers and detectives determined the man accidentally shot himself, according to Danielson.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police released no additional details including the man's name.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital.Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, police responded to a report of a person who was shot in the 400 block of SE Leland Avenue in Topeka, according to Lt. Matt Danielson.&nbsp;&nbsp;Officers located a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported. to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Late Monday, officers and detectives determined the man accidentally shot himself, according to Danielson.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police released no additional details including the man's name.

Kansas man critically injured in accidental shooting

WASHINGTON —Lawmakers return to work Tuesday to a new era of divided government as Democrats relinquish control of the House after&nbsp;midterm election&nbsp;losses. The Senate remains in Democratic hands, barely.

Late last week, President Biden signed the $1.7 trillion government spending bill that will finance federal agencies through September and provide $45 Billion in additional aid to Ukraine.&nbsp;

The Democratic-controlled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kevin-mccarthy-nancy-pelosi-ed54dbd327c4362ee052f851f497fcd4">House passed the bill</a>&nbsp;225-201, mostly along party lines, just before Christmas. The House vote came a day after the Senate, also led by Democrats voted 68-29 to pass the bill with significantly more Republican support including from Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/12/23/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-passage-of-the-bipartisan-year-end-omnibus/">Click here to read</a> President Biden's statement on the bill.

<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Omni%20Dem%20Highlight.pdf">The legislation includes the following,</a> according to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Support for Public Schools: Congress secured historic levels of funding to support public school teachers and students and invest in our children’s future. The bill includes:

• $17.5 billion, the largest increase in more than a decade, for Title I-A grants to local educational agencies to support student achievement, including through preschool programs for eligible children.

• $14.2 billion, a $433 million increase, for special education state grant programs that support services to nearly 9 million students and children with a disability.

• $75 million, double the funding from last year, for Full Community Services Schools, which integrate student supports and family engagement to improved student attendance.

• $1.29 billion, an increase of $30 million, for 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which serves 1.6 million students across the country.

College Access, Affordability, and Completion: Affordable access to higher education is a pillar to achieving the American dream and essential to driving our economy forward in the 21st century. The bill includes:

• $400 increase in the maximum Pell grant award, the largest increase in more than a decade, which will help 7 million students pursue a postsecondary education.

• $1.1 billion, an increase of $40 million, for TRIO, which helps more than 800,000 lowincome individuals, first generation college students, and individuals with disabilities prepare for and get into college and succeed when they’re there.

• $378 million, an increase of $10 million for GEAR UP, which helps almost 600,000 lowincome students beginning in middle school and through high school prepare for a postsecondary education.

$65 million, an increase of $10 million, for the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) program to increase access to affordable and convenient child care options for student parents.

• $885 million, an increase of $96 million, for a programs to strengthen HBCUs, MSI, and other historically under-resourced institutions of higher education serving a high percentage of low-income students.

Making Housing More Affordable and Safe: Democrats included critical resources to expand opportunities for affordable housing and provide assistance to families struggling to avoid unsafe housing conditions or from falling into homelessness. In addition to providing the resources to preserve rental assistance to the more than 5 million HUD-assisted, low-income households amid significant rent increases, the bill includes:

• $280 million for 32,800 new housing vouchers.

• $3.2 billion, a 16 percent increase, for public housing capital formula funds.

• $350 million, a 75 percent increase, for Choice Neighborhoods.

• $1.5 billion, an 11 percent increase and the highest level of funding provided in the past decade, for new affordable housing production through the HOME program.

• $4.8 billion for community and economic development.

• More than $1 billion, a 21 percent increase, for Housing for the Elderly.

• $352 million, a 55 percent increase, for Housing for Persons Disabilities.

• More than $1 billion, a 24 percent increase, for Native community housing programs.

• $415 million, a 15 percent increase, for the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes to address lead-based paint and other environmental hazards in low-income and HUD-assisted housing.

• $489 million, a $24 million increase, for the Legal Services Corporation, which provides civil legal assistance to low-income persons including those involved in housing and foreclosure cases.

Child Care and Early Child Education: Any young family understands that the cost of child care is far too high and the pandemic forced millions of women to leave the workforce because they could not afford child care. Democrats secured strong support to lower the cost of child care, including:

• $11.036 billion, a $288.7 million increase, for Head Start. This increase will allow a cost-of-living adjustment for Head Start teachers and staff, and includes quality improvement funding to help Head Start programs recruit and retain teachers.

• $6.165 billion, a 4.4 percent increase, for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Particularly as the pandemic has upended child care for many working parents, the increase will help ensure families have access to high-quality, affordable care for their children.

Preventing Homelessness for Vulnerable Households: More than 580,000 people experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night in 2020. Democrats are committed to helping communities design and implement local solutions to end homelessness and included

$3.213 billion, a 6.6 percent increase, for Homeless Assistance Grants. This includes:

$2.8 billion to fully meet the Continuum of Care program’s renewal need.

• $290 million for Emergency Solutions Grants.

• $107 million for new investments to support homeless youth, including a $25 million increase targeted to improving coordination across local systems serving homeless youth.

• $52 million for new rapid rehousing projects that serve victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Climate Change and the Environment: The climate crisis poses a significant threat to human health and the environment. After four years of denial and inaction by the Trump administration,

Democrats included significant new funding to mitigate and adapt to the threat of climate change. The bill includes:

• $3.2 billion – a historic level of funding and a 12 percent increase – for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to support vehicle technologies, wind power, solar energy, weatherization assistance programs, and renewable grid integration.

• $2.94 billion at the Department of Energy to support research, development, and demonstration of cybersecurity, grid innovation, and carbon-free power sources keeping the United States at the forefront of energy innovation.

• $1.903 billion to the Department of Transportation to mitigate the effects of climate change in our transportation system.

• $1.234 billion for the new Carbon Reduction program to help reduce transportation related greenhouse gas emissions.

• $425 million for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) clean air programs to tackle the existential threat of climate change and address the continuing burden of harmful air pollution on communities across the country.

• $92 million for diesel emission clean up grants that take high polluting diesel engines off the streets and out of communities.

• $31.97 million for Tribal Climate Resiliency funding through Bureau of Indian Affairs to help Tribal communities address and prepare for the effects of climate change.

• $2.7 billion for State Revolving Loan funds to build climate resilient water infrastructure and address other priority water challenges.

• $1.23 billion for EPA’s Superfund program to create jobs and protect the public by cleaning up hazardous waste sites and $46 million for brownfield grants that tackle contaminated properties and power local economic growth.

• $5.877 billion, an 8 percent increase, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric&nbsp;Administration (NOAA) for, among other things, climate modeling and prediction and helping communities adapt to a change climate. This amount includes a more than $40 million increase for various NOAA climate-related projects and programs, such as $18 million for climate research and $6.25 million for offshore wind permitting and expansion.

• $41.5 million, a 24 percent increase, for the Assistance to Coal Communities Program within the Economic Development Administration at the Department of Commerce to support communities transitioning away from coal-fired power plants.

• $587 million in EPA geographic programs to restore and build the resilience of priority waterbodies across the country through community-led initiatives.

$100 million for environmental justice programs at the Environmental Protection Agency, a transformational expansion of the current $12 million program to better address the disproportionate impacts of pollution on communities of color and lowincome communities.

• $100 million for Military Installation Resilience to enable the Department of Defense to address infrastructure needs to prepare for and address current and future risks from climate change.

Supporting Our Veterans and Investing in Our Troops: Congressional . The bill includes:

• $97.5 billion, an 8.7 percent increase, for VA Medical Care to provide essential health services for 9.2 million veterans, including funds for rural health programs, veterans’ homelessness prevention, and mental health.

• $1.44 billion to support troop housing projects, child development centers, and the construction, renovation, and repair of public schools on military instillations.

• $278.1 million for housing and rental assistance.

• $119.6 million in food assistance to support service members and their families struggling to put food on the table.

Investing in Science, Research, and Development: Congress secured historic increases for science, research, and development. Investing in science is investing in innovation and our country’s competitive advantage. The bill includes:

• $1 billion to launch the Advanced Research Projects for Health, the President’s bold and promising proposal to accelerate the pace of breakthroughs in medicine.

• $351 million increase for the National Science Foundation – the largest increase in 12 years– for a total funding level of $8.84 billion. This includes $900 million for climate and clean energy research, a $45 million increase. NSF is the funding source for approximately 25 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by

America’s colleges and universities

• $7.475 billion, a 6 percent increase, for the Department of Energy Office of Science to advance the highest priorities to maintain U.S. scientific leadership. The Office of Science is the largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences.

• $44.959 billion for the National Institutes of Health, an increase of $2.25 billion or 5.3 percent to advance science and speed the development of new therapies, diagnostics and preventive measures.

Strengthening Police-Community Relations and Supporting Law Enforcement:&nbsp; The bill includes: $201 million, a 31 percent increase, for State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance and Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant programs, including funding for de-escalation, implicit bias, duty to intervene training, and crisis intervention teams.

• $3.88 billion, a 15 percent increase, in DOJ grants to state and local law enforcement and communities to prevent and respond to crime.

o The Byrne-JAG program is funded at $674.5 million, with $382 million, a 6 percent increase, being released to support state, local, Tribal, and territorial criminal justice systems.

o COPS Hiring grants are funded at $246 million, which will place approximately 1,700 more police officers on the streets of our communities.

o Funding is also included for programs that support training for officers to properly handle interactions with individuals who have mental illness or a disability ($10 million), officer mental health and wellness ($8 million), the purchase of body cameras ($35 million) and bulletproof vests ($30 million), and rural law enforcement needs ($8 million).

Opioids &amp; Substance Misuse The United States reached new records in the number of drug overdose fatalities during the COVID-19 pandemic with more than 100,000 lives lost to drug overdoses between April 2020 and April 2021. Democrats are committed to ending the scourge of opioid and substance abuse and bill includes important investments to address the nation’s substance misuse crisis, including:

• $4.2 billion, a 9 percent increase, across the Department of Health and Human Services to address opioid abuse.

• $1.525 billion for the State Opioid Response Grant program.

• $50 million increase for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant.

• $101 million, a nearly 11 percent increase, for medication assisted treatment.

• $490 million for opioid overdose surveillance and prevention at CDC.

• $80 million to address the needs of children affected by the opioid crisis.

• $135 million targeted to help affected rural communities.

Mental Health: Mental health care is health care, and Congress secured significant new investments to improve mental health access and the nation’s system of crisis care. These investments include:

• $101.6 million – a $77.6 million increase – for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline to successfully transition to 988.

• $315 million, a $65 million increase, for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

• $857.6 million, a 13.2 percent increase, for the Mental Health Block Grant, which continues a 5 percent set aside for states to create crisis care programs.

• $10 million for a new grant program to improve mental health crisis care responses.

• $10 million, a $2 million increase, for infant and early childhood mental health.

• $120 million, a $13 million increase, for Project AWARE, which will expand efforts to identify and help children and youth in need of mental health care.