By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/28/kansas-legislature-on-cusp-of-raising-to-21-minimum-age-to-buy-tobacco-products/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature put an exclamation point on 
opposition to tobacco consumption by young adults Tuesday by sending to 
Gov. Laura Kelly a bill raising the minimum age for buying, possessing 
or consuming tobacco products in the state from 18 to 21.

The legislation was approved by the Kansas Senate on a vote of 28-11, which followed passage of the bill 68-53 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230302115606_550943/">by the Kansas House in early March</a>.
 If signed into law, Kansas could gain $2.1 million in federal funding 
for tobacco enforcement and lose an estimated $7.6 million in state 
sales tax and cigarette stamp revenue.

Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, said previous attempts to achieve 
compliance in Kansas with a federal law hoisting the age to 21 failed to
 survive the legislative process at the Capitol. He said <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2269_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2269 </a>could be different.

“It was packaged in several bills over the last couple of years that 
had various regulations and it just never passed out,” Thompson said.

Legislators, health organization lobbyists and medical professionals 
urged the Legislature to bring Kansas into line with the measure signed 
into law by President Donald Trump in 2019. More than 30 states have 
passed laws setting the age at 21, but neither Kansas nor Missouri has 
done so.

Roy Jensen, director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center, said 
nearly all smokers started as children or young adults. During 
adolescent years, he said, experimentation with cigarettes, e-cigarettes
 and other tobacco products could accelerate into a daily habit.

“The adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to the effects of a 
powerful addictive agent like nicotine,” he said. “Younger teens also 
benefit from raising the nicotine/tobacco age requirement. About 90% of 
those who provide cigarettes to kids under 18 are themselves under 21. 
As a result, raising the tobacco sales age to 21 has been shown to 
reduce high school smoking by over 50%.”

Opposition in the state House and Senate reflected a belief 
individuals 18 years of age were old enough to make decisions about use 
of tobacco products that research decades ago linked to cancer and other
 medical problems.

Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth, said he understood health benefits 
of the legislation but found it difficult to accept elevating the 
minimum age for tobacco to 21 when younger individuals were viewed as 
adults in so many ways.

“I think about the fact we will throw kids in jail at 15 sometimes 
and charge them as adults,” Pittman said. “We’ll send our soldiers 
overseas to fight our wars for us at 18.”

Rep. Susan Humphries, R-Wichita, voted against the tobacco bill in 
the House while objecting to the “serious plague on our society,” the 
tobacco industry’s targeting of children with marketing and tobacco’s 
contribution to premature death across the United States.

“I am not in favor of delaying adulthood,” Humphries said. “Today, I 
choose to treat 18-year-olds and above as adults. Adults who can vote 
and join the military. Adults who I strongly encourage not to use 
tobacco but who may make that choice.”

A bipartisan majority in the Kansas Senate rejected a bill crafted to
 set aside $270 million to help city, county and other local units of 
government cope with potential future action by the Legislature to end 
both the state and local sales tax on grocery food purchases. The vote 
in the GOP-dominated chamber was 17-23.

The state’s former rate of 6.5% sales tax on food would be phased out
 over three years under a bill signed last year by the Democratic 
governor. The Senate bill anticipated the Legislature would adopt a 
measure later in the session to promptly end the food sales tax at all 
levels of government, which would reduce tax revenue to cities, counties
 and the state by hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Under <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb309_01_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 309</a>,
 the state would establish a $220 million fund July 1 known as the 
Fixing Instant Revenue Shock for Taxpayers Fund. It would enable 
appropriations in July 2024 to cities, counties and other local taxing 
districts for documented loss of sales tax revenue due to action by the 
Legislature.

Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Salina Republican, said he assumed there would be
 enough in that fund to replace what was lost by cities, counties and 
others, but the bill would only make that cash available for one year. 
To qualify for state replacement dollars, according to the bill, the 
local unit of government would have to be compliant with a state law 
designed to discourage cities and counties from raising property tax 
rates.

The bill also would set aside $50 million in the Local Extraordinary 
Needs Fund for the purpose of making grants to cities and counties for 
capital projects that might have been financed through sales tax revenue
 lost due to legislation action. Grant awards would be determined by a 
10-person committee of House and Senate members. The maximum grant under
 the initiative would be $2 million.

“There is literally no scenario in which this bill is not good or 
better for local governments,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, 
R-Andover.

Opponents of the “hold harmless” sales tax bill included the Kansas 
Association of Counties, Kansas County Commissioners Association, 
Sedgwick County Commission and the cities of Olathe, Garden City and 
Overland Park.

“It’s going to really, really hurt the locals,” said Sen. Ron Ryckman
 Sr., R-Meade. “What’s going to happen next year? Or the next year? Or 
the next year?”

Sen. Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican, said he was concerned the 
Senate bill stripped away sales tax revenue the voters of Olathe agreed 
to dedicate to community priorities. He suspected Olathe would end up 
losing sales tax revenue under the scheme and could be forced to turn to
 property tax hikes to meet financial obligations.

“Now we’re going to mess with the system that works for locals to 
operate their cash flow,” Olson said. “I think we’re going down the 
wrong path here.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680040212278.png" alt="Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth, said he was opposed to a bill raising the minimum age in Kansas for consumption of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years given existence of laws allowing teenagers to be charged with crimes as adults and the country’s practice of sending 18-year-old soldiers into combat. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) " />
 <figcaption>Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth, said he was opposed to a bill raising the minimum age in Kansas for consumption of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years given existence of laws allowing teenagers to be charged with crimes as adults and the country’s practice of sending 18-year-old soldiers into combat. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector) </figcaption>
 </figure>By TIM CARPENTER <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/28/kansas-legislature-on-cusp-of-raising-to-21-minimum-age-to-buy-tobacco-products/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature put an exclamation point on 
opposition to tobacco consumption by young adults Tuesday by sending to 
Gov. Laura Kelly a bill raising the minimum age for buying, possessing 
or consuming tobacco products in the state from 18 to 21.The legislation was approved by the Kansas Senate on a vote of 28-11, which followed passage of the bill 68-53 <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/vote_view/je_20230302115606_550943/">by the Kansas House in early March</a>.
 If signed into law, Kansas could gain $2.1 million in federal funding 
for tobacco enforcement and lose an estimated $7.6 million in state 
sales tax and cigarette stamp revenue.Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee, said previous attempts to achieve 
compliance in Kansas with a federal law hoisting the age to 21 failed to
 survive the legislative process at the Capitol. He said <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2269_00_0000.pdf">House Bill 2269 </a>could be different.“It was packaged in several bills over the last couple of years that 
had various regulations and it just never passed out,” Thompson said.Legislators, health organization lobbyists and medical professionals 
urged the Legislature to bring Kansas into line with the measure signed 
into law by President Donald Trump in 2019. More than 30 states have 
passed laws setting the age at 21, but neither Kansas nor Missouri has 
done so.Roy Jensen, director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center, said 
nearly all smokers started as children or young adults. During 
adolescent years, he said, experimentation with cigarettes, e-cigarettes
 and other tobacco products could accelerate into a daily habit.“The adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to the effects of a 
powerful addictive agent like nicotine,” he said. “Younger teens also 
benefit from raising the nicotine/tobacco age requirement. About 90% of 
those who provide cigarettes to kids under 18 are themselves under 21. 
As a result, raising the tobacco sales age to 21 has been shown to 
reduce high school smoking by over 50%.”<h2>Age of adulthood</h2>Opposition in the state House and Senate reflected a belief 
individuals 18 years of age were old enough to make decisions about use 
of tobacco products that research decades ago linked to cancer and other
 medical problems.Sen. Jeff Pittman, D-Leavenworth, said he understood health benefits 
of the legislation but found it difficult to accept elevating the 
minimum age for tobacco to 21 when younger individuals were viewed as 
adults in so many ways.“I think about the fact we will throw kids in jail at 15 sometimes 
and charge them as adults,” Pittman said. “We’ll send our soldiers 
overseas to fight our wars for us at 18.”Rep. Susan Humphries, R-Wichita, voted against the tobacco bill in 
the House while objecting to the “serious plague on our society,” the 
tobacco industry’s targeting of children with marketing and tobacco’s 
contribution to premature death across the United States.“I am not in favor of delaying adulthood,” Humphries said. “Today, I 
choose to treat 18-year-olds and above as adults. Adults who can vote 
and join the military. Adults who I strongly encourage not to use 
tobacco but who may make that choice.”<h2>Tax shock absorber</h2>A bipartisan majority in the Kansas Senate rejected a bill crafted to
 set aside $270 million to help city, county and other local units of 
government cope with potential future action by the Legislature to end 
both the state and local sales tax on grocery food purchases. The vote 
in the GOP-dominated chamber was 17-23.The state’s former rate of 6.5% sales tax on food would be phased out
 over three years under a bill signed last year by the Democratic 
governor. The Senate bill anticipated the Legislature would adopt a 
measure later in the session to promptly end the food sales tax at all 
levels of government, which would reduce tax revenue to cities, counties
 and the state by hundreds of millions of dollars annually.Under <a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/documents/supp_note_sb309_01_0000.pdf">Senate Bill 309</a>,
 the state would establish a $220 million fund July 1 known as the 
Fixing Instant Revenue Shock for Taxpayers Fund. It would enable 
appropriations in July 2024 to cities, counties and other local taxing 
districts for documented loss of sales tax revenue due to action by the 
Legislature.Sen. J.R. Claeys, a Salina Republican, said he assumed there would be
 enough in that fund to replace what was lost by cities, counties and 
others, but the bill would only make that cash available for one year. 
To qualify for state replacement dollars, according to the bill, the 
local unit of government would have to be compliant with a state law 
designed to discourage cities and counties from raising property tax 
rates.The bill also would set aside $50 million in the Local Extraordinary 
Needs Fund for the purpose of making grants to cities and counties for 
capital projects that might have been financed through sales tax revenue
 lost due to legislation action. Grant awards would be determined by a 
10-person committee of House and Senate members. The maximum grant under
 the initiative would be $2 million.“There is literally no scenario in which this bill is not good or 
better for local governments,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, 
R-Andover.<h2>Not all on board</h2>Opponents of the “hold harmless” sales tax bill included the Kansas 
Association of Counties, Kansas County Commissioners Association, 
Sedgwick County Commission and the cities of Olathe, Garden City and 
Overland Park.“It’s going to really, really hurt the locals,” said Sen. Ron Ryckman
 Sr., R-Meade. “What’s going to happen next year? Or the next year? Or 
the next year?”Sen. Rob Olson, an Olathe Republican, said he was concerned the 
Senate bill stripped away sales tax revenue the voters of Olathe agreed 
to dedicate to community priorities. He suspected Olathe would end up 
losing sales tax revenue under the scheme and could be forced to turn to
 property tax hikes to meet financial obligations.“Now we’re going to mess with the system that works for locals to 
operate their cash flow,” Olson said. “I think we’re going down the 
wrong path here.”

Kansas Legislature approves bill elevating tobacco age to 21 

NEWTON, Kan. — Newton USD 373 issued a release Tuesday night saying that schools in that district will be closed Wednesday.

"We have learned that it is a network security incident," the release said.&nbsp; "We have been working with external information technology experts to conduct a detailed&nbsp;technical investigation into the incident. We have also notified law enforcement. Please&nbsp;remember that our investigation is in its earliest stages and is still ongoing."

The school system continues to work around the clock to resolve any disruption of certain systems and operations, which, out of an abundance of caution, have remained offline until staff is confident&nbsp;that we can safely bring them back into service. So, there will be NO SCHOOL TOMORROW, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. The district will update the community tomorrow regarding whether the school will be opened on Thursday, March 30, 2023.

If you have questions, please call Superintendent Fred Van Ranken at 316-284-6206. Below are questions and answers provided by the district.

What happened? On March 28, 2023, we detected a network security incident affecting certain systems within our network&nbsp;environment. We immediately shut down affected systems, and have engaged third party forensic specialists to investigate the extent of the activity. We have also notified law enforcement. The investigation is in the earliest stages and is currently ongoing.

Why was this called an internet outage at first? That was our initial understanding of the incident. Upon further investigation we discovered it was actually a network security incident.

How did this happen? We are currently working with third party forensic specialists to investigate the extent of the unauthorized activity, which includes the root cause. The investigation is in the earliest stages, and is currently ongoing.

Is my personal / business data involved? We are thoroughly investigating the incident now with third-party forensic specialists. The investigation is in the earliest stages, and we have not yet determined the extent of the unauthorized activity, including whether any personal or confidential information was involved. If individual personal information is involved, we will notify affected individuals in accordance with relevant state and federal laws.

Was this ransomware? To protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we are unable to share additional information about the nature of the incident.

Will this affect student class schedules or assignments? We have cancelled school for Wednesday, March 29, 2023. We are still determining whether school will open Thursday, March 30, 2023. Further, during this time there may be a disruption to certain resources, and we are working to mitigate any delays or interruptions. We thank you for your patience during this time. When will the investigation be complete?&nbsp;&nbsp; We cannot offer a definitive timeline at this point as this is a time intensive process. That said, we hope to conclude the investigation in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

NEWTON, Kan. — Newton USD 373 issued a release Tuesday night saying that schools in that district will be closed Wednesday. "We have learned that it is a network security incident," the release said.&nbsp; "We have been working with external information technology experts to conduct a detailed&nbsp;technical investigation into the incident. We have also notified law enforcement. Please&nbsp;remember that our investigation is in its earliest stages and is still ongoing." The school system continues to work around the clock to resolve any disruption of certain systems and operations, which, out of an abundance of caution, have remained offline until staff is confident&nbsp;that we can safely bring them back into service. So, there will be NO SCHOOL TOMORROW, Wednesday, March 29, 2023. The district will update the community tomorrow regarding whether the school will be opened on Thursday, March 30, 2023.If you have questions, please call Superintendent Fred Van Ranken at 316-284-6206. Below are questions and answers provided by the district.What happened? On March 28, 2023, we detected a network security incident affecting certain systems within our network&nbsp;environment. We immediately shut down affected systems, and have engaged third party forensic specialists to investigate the extent of the activity. We have also notified law enforcement. The investigation is in the earliest stages and is currently ongoing.Why was this called an internet outage at first? That was our initial understanding of the incident. Upon further investigation we discovered it was actually a network security incident.How did this happen? We are currently working with third party forensic specialists to investigate the extent of the unauthorized activity, which includes the root cause. The investigation is in the earliest stages, and is currently ongoing.Is my personal / business data involved? We are thoroughly investigating the incident now with third-party forensic specialists. The investigation is in the earliest stages, and we have not yet determined the extent of the unauthorized activity, including whether any personal or confidential information was involved. If individual personal information is involved, we will notify affected individuals in accordance with relevant state and federal laws.Was this ransomware? To protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we are unable to share additional information about the nature of the incident.Will this affect student class schedules or assignments? We have cancelled school for Wednesday, March 29, 2023. We are still determining whether school will open Thursday, March 30, 2023. Further, during this time there may be a disruption to certain resources, and we are working to mitigate any delays or interruptions. We thank you for your patience during this time. When will the investigation be complete?&nbsp;&nbsp; We cannot offer a definitive timeline at this point as this is a time intensive process. That said, we hope to conclude the investigation in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

Network Security issue: No school Wednesday in Newton

SUMNER COUNTY —Two residents and their pets escaped a fire spread by strong winds on Tuesday.

Just after 7a.m., crews responded to a reported small shed fire, according to Mulvane Fire and Rescue.

 First unit arrived and upgraded the alarm to a working structure fire.  Strong winds had pushed the fire along the siding on the back of the home and up into the soffit of the house. 

 Neighbors pounded on the front door of the home and woke the occupants up. They were asleep in the basement and unaware of the fire.

Both occupants and two dogs escaped the fire without injuries

The fire appears to have accidentally started by a heat lamp in a backyard shed, according to Mulvane Fire and Rescue. Officials have not released an estimate of damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680023124261.png" alt="The fire spread quickly-&nbsp;Photo courtesy Mulvane Fire and Rescue" />
 <figcaption>The fire spread quickly-&nbsp;Photo courtesy Mulvane Fire and Rescue</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY —Two residents and their pets escaped a fire spread by strong winds on Tuesday.Just after 7a.m., crews responded to a reported small shed fire, according to Mulvane Fire and Rescue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680023101753.png" alt="Photo courtesy Mulvane Fire and Rescue" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Mulvane Fire and Rescue</figcaption>
 </figure> First unit arrived and upgraded the alarm to a working structure fire. Strong winds had pushed the fire along the siding on the back of the home and up into the soffit of the house. Neighbors pounded on the front door of the home and woke the occupants up. They were asleep in the basement and unaware of the fire.Both occupants and two dogs escaped the fire without injuriesThe fire appears to have accidentally started by a heat lamp in a backyard shed, according to Mulvane Fire and Rescue. Officials have not released an estimate of damage.

Neighbors helped rescue residents from Kansas fire

NEW YORK (AP) — On the one side are dozens of lawmakers on Capitol Hill issuing dire warnings about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance.

On the other are some 150 million TikTok users in the U.S. who just want to be able to keep making and watching short, fun videos offering makeup tutorials and cooking lessons, among other things.

The disconnect illustrates the uphill battle that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle face in trying to convince the public that China could use TikTok as a weapon against the American people. But many users on the platform are more concerned about the possibility of the government taking away their favorite app.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-shou-zi-chew-testify-7927b1915db270aac67ca6f4ca31d6f3">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew</a>&nbsp;said during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-ceo-congressional-hearing-bytedance-china-44d948c5b0ba18e2a714e0fa62d52779">nearly six-hour congressional hearing Thursday</a>&nbsp;that the platform has never turned over user data to the Chinese government, and wouldn’t do so if asked.

Nevertheless, lawmakers, the FBI and officials at other agencies continue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-shou-zi-chew-8d8a6a9694357040d484670b7f4833be">raise alarms that Chinese law</a>&nbsp;compels Chinese companies like TikTok's parent company ByteDance to fork over data to the government for whatever purposes it deems to involve national security. There’s also concern Beijing might try to push pro-China narratives or misinformation through the platform.

“I want to say this to all the teenagers out there, and TikTok influencers who think we’re just old and out of touch and don’t know what we’re talking about, trying to take your favorite app,” said Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw during the hearing. “You may not care that your data is being accessed now, but you will be one day.”

Many TikTok users reacted to the hearing by posting videos critical of lawmakers who grilled Chew and frequently cut him off from speaking. Some called a potential TikTok ban, as some lawmakers and the Biden administration has reportedly threatened, the “biggest scam” of the year. And others blamed the surge of scrutiny on the platform on another tech rival, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

But few expressed fear of possible Chinese surveillance or security breaches that lawmakers continue to amplify as they look to rein in TikTok.

Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., whose district is in the heart of Silicon Valley, said he is mindful of the value that platforms like TikTok provide to young people as an outlet for creative expression and building community. “But there’s absolutely no reason that an American technology company can’t do that,” said Khanna, the top Democrat on the cyber subcommittee on House Armed Service. “America has the most innovative technology companies in the world.”

He added that Congress should move forward with a proposal that would force platform’s sale to an American company for continued access for its millions of users while “ensuring that the platform isn’t subject to Chinese propaganda or compromises people’s privacy.”

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, two-thirds of Americans aged 13 to 17 use TikTok, and 16% of all teens say they use it almost constantly. It's because of TikTok's large user base that Lindsay Gorman, a former tech adviser for the Biden administration who now works as a senior fellow for emerging technologies at the German Marshall Fund, says the Biden administration will likely pursue every option short of a ban first. That would include the option for the app's Chinese owners to divest, which the Biden administration is reportedly demanding from TikTok if it wants to avoid a nationwide ban.

TikTok itself has been trying to leverage its popularity. On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-62ebef6be3c10e66d7f69f7f6d254700">it sent dozens of influencers to Congress</a>&nbsp;to lobby against a ban. It has also ramped up a broader public relations campaign, plastering ads all over Washington that tout its promises of securing users’ data and privacy and creating a safe platform for its young users.

Some popular TikTokers who speak out against a ban are concerned — and angered — about how it might impact their personal lives. Many earn income from their videos and have inked brand partnerships to market products to their audiences — another stream of revenue that could be wiped away if the platform disappears. They would also lose the social capital that comes from having a large following on the trend-setting app.

Demetrius Fields, a standup comedian who amassed 2.8 million followers on TikTok from posting comedy sketches, said he spent a long time building his career and followership on the platform. He has one active deal with the fast fashion retailer Fashion Nova, which allows him to earn an income along with the videos he posts on TikTok.

If the app is taken away, he said building an audience on another platform would be challenging for him due to the competition to grab user attention.

“The financial implications for me would be pretty terrible,” Fields said. “I would probably have to go back to working a desk job.”

Sarah Pikhit, an 18-year-old student at Penn State University, said she used to use TikTok a lot, but started cutting back when she realized how much time she spent scrolling through videos on the app. She still uses it, but mostly to post her own content, which she says she can do on other platforms. She said she wouldn’t care if TikTok gets banned — but her friends would.

“They like the excessive scrolling,” Pikhit said.

NEW YORK (AP) — On the one side are dozens of lawmakers on Capitol Hill issuing dire warnings about security breaches and possible Chinese surveillance.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It&#39;s very concerning that the CEO of TikTok can&#39;t be honest and admit what we already know to be true—China has access to TikTok user data. The House will be moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from the technological tentacles of the Chinese Communist Party.&mdash; Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerMcCarthy/status/1639980623539445760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On the other are some 150 million TikTok users in the U.S. who just want to be able to keep making and watching short, fun videos offering makeup tutorials and cooking lessons, among other things.The disconnect illustrates the uphill battle that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle face in trying to convince the public that China could use TikTok as a weapon against the American people. But many users on the platform are more concerned about the possibility of the government taking away their favorite app.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679581245218.png" alt="Shou Zi Chew during Thursday's hearing-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Shou Zi Chew during Thursday's hearing-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-shou-zi-chew-testify-7927b1915db270aac67ca6f4ca31d6f3">TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew</a>&nbsp;said during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-ceo-congressional-hearing-bytedance-china-44d948c5b0ba18e2a714e0fa62d52779">nearly six-hour congressional hearing Thursday</a>&nbsp;that the platform has never turned over user data to the Chinese government, and wouldn’t do so if asked.Nevertheless, lawmakers, the FBI and officials at other agencies continue to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-bytedance-shou-zi-chew-8d8a6a9694357040d484670b7f4833be">raise alarms that Chinese law</a>&nbsp;compels Chinese companies like TikTok's parent company ByteDance to fork over data to the government for whatever purposes it deems to involve national security. There’s also concern Beijing might try to push pro-China narratives or misinformation through the platform.“I want to say this to all the teenagers out there, and TikTok influencers who think we’re just old and out of touch and don’t know what we’re talking about, trying to take your favorite app,” said Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw during the hearing. “You may not care that your data is being accessed now, but you will be one day.”Many TikTok users reacted to the hearing by posting videos critical of lawmakers who grilled Chew and frequently cut him off from speaking. Some called a potential TikTok ban, as some lawmakers and the Biden administration has reportedly threatened, the “biggest scam” of the year. And others blamed the surge of scrutiny on the platform on another tech rival, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.But few expressed fear of possible Chinese surveillance or security breaches that lawmakers continue to amplify as they look to rein in TikTok.Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., whose district is in the heart of Silicon Valley, said he is mindful of the value that platforms like TikTok provide to young people as an outlet for creative expression and building community. “But there’s absolutely no reason that an American technology company can’t do that,” said Khanna, the top Democrat on the cyber subcommittee on House Armed Service. “America has the most innovative technology companies in the world.”He added that Congress should move forward with a proposal that would force platform’s sale to an American company for continued access for its millions of users while “ensuring that the platform isn’t subject to Chinese propaganda or compromises people’s privacy.”According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, two-thirds of Americans aged 13 to 17 use TikTok, and 16% of all teens say they use it almost constantly. It's because of TikTok's large user base that Lindsay Gorman, a former tech adviser for the Biden administration who now works as a senior fellow for emerging technologies at the German Marshall Fund, says the Biden administration will likely pursue every option short of a ban first. That would include the option for the app's Chinese owners to divest, which the Biden administration is reportedly demanding from TikTok if it wants to avoid a nationwide ban.TikTok itself has been trying to leverage its popularity. On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-china-62ebef6be3c10e66d7f69f7f6d254700">it sent dozens of influencers to Congress</a>&nbsp;to lobby against a ban. It has also ramped up a broader public relations campaign, plastering ads all over Washington that tout its promises of securing users’ data and privacy and creating a safe platform for its young users.Some popular TikTokers who speak out against a ban are concerned — and angered — about how it might impact their personal lives. Many earn income from their videos and have inked brand partnerships to market products to their audiences — another stream of revenue that could be wiped away if the platform disappears. They would also lose the social capital that comes from having a large following on the trend-setting app.Demetrius Fields, a standup comedian who amassed 2.8 million followers on TikTok from posting comedy sketches, said he spent a long time building his career and followership on the platform. He has one active deal with the fast fashion retailer Fashion Nova, which allows him to earn an income along with the videos he posts on TikTok.If the app is taken away, he said building an audience on another platform would be challenging for him due to the competition to grab user attention.“The financial implications for me would be pretty terrible,” Fields said. “I would probably have to go back to working a desk job.”Sarah Pikhit, an 18-year-old student at Penn State University, said she used to use TikTok a lot, but started cutting back when she realized how much time she spent scrolling through videos on the app. She still uses it, but mostly to post her own content, which she says she can do on other platforms. She said she wouldn’t care if TikTok gets banned — but her friends would.“They like the excessive scrolling,” Pikhit said.—-

Gap grows between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential ban

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Law enforcement authorities have identified the body found hanging from a tree south of Salina as that of Todd R. Smith, 57, of Kansas City, Missouri, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Smith, a Salina native, was last seen on Nov. 28 and was reported missing to the Salina Police Department by Salina area family members on Dec. 7.

The sheriff's office is awaiting autopsy results before releasing any additional information about the case, according to Soldan.

Smith had previous felony convictions that include forgery, obstruction, burglary, theft, aggravated failure to appear, aggravated escape from custody and four or more for DUI in Saline County, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

SALINE COUNTY —A badly decomposing body was found hanging from a tree south of Salina early Saturday afternoon.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that deputies were sent to the 1100 block of W. Farrelly Road just before 1 p.m. Saturday for the report of a body found.

A man who lives in the area and a friend from out of town were on a UTV attempting to locate where beavers had downed trees along Dry Creek when they spotted a shirt hanging back in the trees. They went closer and discovered the body hanging from the tree. Soldan said the body was approximately 100 yards from the road.

The body, believed to be that of a male, had been there for some time based on its decomposition, Soldan said. An identification of the body will not be possible until after an autopsy is performed. Soldan said he hopes to have preliminary autopsy results by the end of the week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680022166004.png" alt="Smith had previous felony convictions that include forgery, obstruction, burglary, theft, aggravated failure to appear, aggravated escape from custody and four or more for DUI in Saline County, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.-photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Smith had previous felony convictions that include forgery, obstruction, burglary, theft, aggravated failure to appear, aggravated escape from custody and four or more for DUI in Saline County, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.-photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostLaw enforcement authorities have identified the body found hanging from a tree south of Salina as that of Todd R. Smith, 57, of Kansas City, Missouri, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.Smith, a Salina native, was last seen on Nov. 28 and was reported missing to the Salina Police Department by Salina area family members on Dec. 7.The sheriff's office is awaiting autopsy results before releasing any additional information about the case, according to Soldan.Smith had previous felony convictions that include forgery, obstruction, burglary, theft, aggravated failure to appear, aggravated escape from custody and four or more for DUI in Saline County, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.---------------SALINE COUNTY —A badly decomposing body was found hanging from a tree south of Salina early Saturday afternoon.Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that deputies were sent to the 1100 block of W. Farrelly Road just before 1 p.m. Saturday for the report of a body found.A man who lives in the area and a friend from out of town were on a UTV attempting to locate where beavers had downed trees along Dry Creek when they spotted a shirt hanging back in the trees. They went closer and discovered the body hanging from the tree. Soldan said the body was approximately 100 yards from the road.The body, believed to be that of a male, had been there for some time based on its decomposition, Soldan said. An identification of the body will not be possible until after an autopsy is performed. Soldan said he hopes to have preliminary autopsy results by the end of the week.

Sheriff ID's body found south of Salina

NEW YORK (AP) — FTX founder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-legal-proceedings-indictments-business-fraud-120cf18510ce329d759e2370f958a87c">Sam Bankman-Fried</a>&nbsp;was charged with directing $40 million in bribes to one or more Chinese officials to unfreeze assets relating to his cryptocurrency business in a newly rewritten indictment unsealed Tuesday.

The charge of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act raises to 13 the number of charges Bankman-Fried faces after he was arrested in the Bahamas in December and brought to the United States soon afterward.

<a href="https://apnews.com/ed0f06c5db468e285f58af2d8766b51a">FTX filed for bankruptcy</a>&nbsp;on Nov. 11, when it ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run. He has remained free on a $250 million personal recognizance bond that lets him stay with his parents in Palo Alto, California.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he cheated investors out of billions of dollars before his business collapsed.

The alleged bribes stemmed from the operation of Alameda Research, which is affiliated with FTX, Bankman-Fried's global cryptocurrency exchange.

The indictment said Chinese law enforcement authorities in early 2021 froze certain Alameda cryptocurrency trading accounts on two of China's largest cryptocurrency exchanges. The accounts, it said, contained about $1 billion in cryptocurrency.

Bankman-Fried understood that the accounts had been frozen by Chinese authoritIes as part of an ongoing probe of a particular Alameda trading counterparty, the indictment said.

After Bankman-Fried failed several attempts to unfreeze the accounts through the use of lawyers and lobbying, Bankman-Fried ultimately agreed to direct a multimillion dollar bribe to try to unfreeze the accounts, the indictment said.

The bribe payment of cryptocurrency then worth about $40 million was moved from Alameda's main trading account to a private cryptocurrency wallet in November 2021 and the frozen accounts were unfrozen at about the same time, the indictment said.

Meanwhile Tuesday, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers also sent Judge Lewis A. Kaplan a new to limit him to a laptop and a phone and block him from using any other cellphones, tablets, computers, video games or “smart” devices with internet access other than electronic devices owned by his lawyers that he might need to prepare for trial.

Kaplan set a Thursday hearing in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680015507609.png" alt=" FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Manhattan federal court in New York, Feb. 16, 2023. On Tuesday, Bankman-Fried is accused in new indictment of paying $40 million bribe to unlock frozen crypto in China. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)" />
 <figcaption> FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Manhattan federal court in New York, Feb. 16, 2023. On Tuesday, Bankman-Fried is accused in new indictment of paying $40 million bribe to unlock frozen crypto in China. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — FTX founder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-legal-proceedings-indictments-business-fraud-120cf18510ce329d759e2370f958a87c">Sam Bankman-Fried</a>&nbsp;was charged with directing $40 million in bribes to one or more Chinese officials to unfreeze assets relating to his cryptocurrency business in a newly rewritten indictment unsealed Tuesday.The charge of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act raises to 13 the number of charges Bankman-Fried faces after he was arrested in the Bahamas in December and brought to the United States soon afterward.<a href="https://apnews.com/ed0f06c5db468e285f58af2d8766b51a">FTX filed for bankruptcy</a>&nbsp;on Nov. 11, when it ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run. He has remained free on a $250 million personal recognizance bond that lets him stay with his parents in Palo Alto, California.He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he cheated investors out of billions of dollars before his business collapsed.The alleged bribes stemmed from the operation of Alameda Research, which is affiliated with FTX, Bankman-Fried's global cryptocurrency exchange.The indictment said Chinese law enforcement authorities in early 2021 froze certain Alameda cryptocurrency trading accounts on two of China's largest cryptocurrency exchanges. The accounts, it said, contained about $1 billion in cryptocurrency.Bankman-Fried understood that the accounts had been frozen by Chinese authoritIes as part of an ongoing probe of a particular Alameda trading counterparty, the indictment said.After Bankman-Fried failed several attempts to unfreeze the accounts through the use of lawyers and lobbying, Bankman-Fried ultimately agreed to direct a multimillion dollar bribe to try to unfreeze the accounts, the indictment said.The bribe payment of cryptocurrency then worth about $40 million was moved from Alameda's main trading account to a private cryptocurrency wallet in November 2021 and the frozen accounts were unfrozen at about the same time, the indictment said.Meanwhile Tuesday, Bankman-Fried’s lawyers also sent Judge Lewis A. Kaplan a new to limit him to a laptop and a phone and block him from using any other cellphones, tablets, computers, video games or “smart” devices with internet access other than electronic devices owned by his lawyers that he might need to prepare for trial.Kaplan set a Thursday hearing in the case.

Crypto exchange CEO charged with paying $40M bribe to China

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking the public for help to identify a suspect.

Just after 6:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to an armed robbery at Walmart, 1863 5300 Road in Coffeyville, according to a media release.

&nbsp;The suspect brandished a firearm, robbed the store clerk and left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect appears to be a white or hispanic male 40-50 years old. He was last seen leaving the store southbound on CR.5300 towards east 8th Street in a dark colored, possibly black extended cab Ford Ranger pickup. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680008445184.png" alt="Armed robbery suspect -Photo Montgomery Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Armed robbery suspect -Photo Montgomery Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating an armed robbery and asking the public for help to identify a suspect.Just after 6:30p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to an armed robbery at Walmart, 1863 5300 Road in Coffeyville, according to a media release.&nbsp;The suspect brandished a firearm, robbed the store clerk and left with an undisclosed amount of cash.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680008681282.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The suspect appears to be a white or hispanic male 40-50 years old. He was last seen leaving the store southbound on CR.5300 towards east 8th Street in a dark colored, possibly black extended cab Ford Ranger pickup.

Kansas armed robbery suspect robbed clerk, left with cash

FRANKLIN COUNTY—One person was injured after an explosion on a trash truck in Franklin County.

Just before 6a.m. Monday, Franklin County Emergency Communication received a call that about a man injured by an explosion, according to a media release from Ottawa Police.

 The man was collecting trash for a garbage service and when the truck compacted the trash, there was an explosion. An object struck the man. The trash truck driver transported the man to Advent Health Ottawa with minor injuries.

Due to the circumstances, the Olathe Fire Department Bomb Squad was contacted and responded to Ottawa to assist with the investigation along with&nbsp;The Ottawa Police and the Bureau or Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

They determined the device inside of the truck was a pneumatic tool that was ejected after it was pinched in the trash compactor. 

FRANKLIN COUNTY—One person was injured after an explosion on a trash truck in Franklin County.Just before 6a.m. Monday, Franklin County Emergency Communication received a call that about a man injured by an explosion, according to a media release from Ottawa Police. The man was collecting trash for a garbage service and when the truck compacted the trash, there was an explosion. An object struck the man. The trash truck driver transported the man to Advent Health Ottawa with minor injuries.Due to the circumstances, the Olathe Fire Department Bomb Squad was contacted and responded to Ottawa to assist with the investigation along with&nbsp;The Ottawa Police and the Bureau or Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.They determined the device inside of the truck was a pneumatic tool that was ejected after it was pinched in the trash compactor.

Kansas bomb squad called after explosion on trash truck 

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — In a story published March 27, 2023, The Associated Press reported the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a Kansas redistricting law. The story should have made clear critics of the law were appealing the Kansas Supreme Court's rejection of claims that a new congressional map was racially gerrymandered, not the state court's ruling that political gerrymandering is constitutional.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court won't review a congressional redistricting law enacted by the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature that some voters and Democrats saw as political gerrymandering.

The nation's highest court said Monday without explaination that it won't hear an appeal of a Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-elections-legislature-kansas-topeka-e6e6dfe3cfc63ddae5492980e04a0329">ruling from May 2022</a>&nbsp;that partisan gerrymandering does not violate the state constitution. Eleven voters had challenged the redistricting law.

The GOP map had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-kansas-kansas-city-lawrence-topeka-7e616acdf227d7ce8356a821fda8ea76">appeared to hurt</a>&nbsp;the chances of reelection last year for the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, in her Kansas City-area district. But Davids&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-biden-legislature-c33d92d6b33fc33c524f6b78024f3700">still won her race</a>&nbsp;in November by 12 percentage points.

The law also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-election-2020-kansas-city-kansas-donald-trump-85844d07388c25e71440059be29b7a6e">moved the liberal northeastern Kansas city of Lawrence</a>&nbsp;into a district with heavily Republican western Kansas.

The Legislature must redraw political boundaries at least once every 10 years to ensure that districts are as equal in population as possible. The Kansas Supreme Court split 4-3 on whether the state constitution allows partisan gerrymandering.

The Kansas court's majority said the state constitution&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-legislature-kansas-city-topeka-6c367630e26401f5a7021087d6f8fe7c">doesn't bar lawmakers from considering partisan factors</a>&nbsp;in drafting their maps. It added that state courts would have no clear standard for what constitutes improper gerrymandering absent a “zero tolerance” standard.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643147273216.png" alt="The map moved the northern part of Kansas City, Kansas, out of the 3rd District represented by Sharice Davids and into the larger 2nd District of eastern Kansas represented by Republican Rep. Jake LaTurner." />
 <figcaption>The map moved the northern part of Kansas City, Kansas, out of the 3rd District represented by Sharice Davids and into the larger 2nd District of eastern Kansas represented by Republican Rep. Jake LaTurner.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — In a story published March 27, 2023, The Associated Press reported the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a Kansas redistricting law. The story should have made clear critics of the law were appealing the Kansas Supreme Court's rejection of claims that a new congressional map was racially gerrymandered, not the state court's ruling that political gerrymandering is constitutional.-------------TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court won't review a congressional redistricting law enacted by the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature that some voters and Democrats saw as political gerrymandering.The nation's highest court said Monday without explaination that it won't hear an appeal of a Kansas Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-elections-legislature-kansas-topeka-e6e6dfe3cfc63ddae5492980e04a0329">ruling from May 2022</a>&nbsp;that partisan gerrymandering does not violate the state constitution. Eleven voters had challenged the redistricting law.The GOP map had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-kansas-kansas-city-lawrence-topeka-7e616acdf227d7ce8356a821fda8ea76">appeared to hurt</a>&nbsp;the chances of reelection last year for the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, in her Kansas City-area district. But Davids&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-abortion-biden-legislature-c33d92d6b33fc33c524f6b78024f3700">still won her race</a>&nbsp;in November by 12 percentage points.The law also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/legislature-election-2020-kansas-city-kansas-donald-trump-85844d07388c25e71440059be29b7a6e">moved the liberal northeastern Kansas city of Lawrence</a>&nbsp;into a district with heavily Republican western Kansas.The Legislature must redraw political boundaries at least once every 10 years to ensure that districts are as equal in population as possible. The Kansas Supreme Court split 4-3 on whether the state constitution allows partisan gerrymandering.The Kansas court's majority said the state constitution&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-legislature-kansas-city-topeka-6c367630e26401f5a7021087d6f8fe7c">doesn't bar lawmakers from considering partisan factors</a>&nbsp;in drafting their maps. It added that state courts would have no clear standard for what constitutes improper gerrymandering absent a “zero tolerance” standard.

Supreme Court declines to hear Kansas gerrymandering case

WASHINGTON (AP) —Honda is recalling more than 330,000 vehicles because heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, which could lead to the mirror glass falling out and increase the risk of a crash.

Vehicles included in the recall are 2020-2022 Odyssey, 2020-2022 Passport, 2020-2021 Pilot and 2020-2021 Ridgeline.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the vehicles don't comply with the necessary rear visibility requirements.

Honda dealers will replace the side-view mirrors on impacted vehicles free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be sent out on May 8. Vehicle owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Honda is recalling more than 330,000 vehicles because heating pads behind both side-view mirrors may not be bonded properly, which could lead to the mirror glass falling out and increase the risk of a crash.Vehicles included in the recall are 2020-2022 Odyssey, 2020-2022 Passport, 2020-2021 Pilot and 2020-2021 Ridgeline.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the vehicles don't comply with the necessary rear visibility requirements.Honda dealers will replace the side-view mirrors on impacted vehicles free of charge.Owner notification letters are expected to be sent out on May 8. Vehicle owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

Honda recalls vehicles due to mirror issue

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The former student who shot through the doors of a Christian elementary school in Nashville and killed three children and three adults had drawn a detailed map of the school, including potential entry points, and conducted surveillance of the building before carrying out the massacre.

Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake did not say exactly what drove the shooter to open fire Monday morning at The Covenant School before being killed by police. But he provided chilling examples of the shooter’s elaborate planning for the targeted attack, the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country that has grown increasingly unnerved by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-mass-school-shooting-database-columbine-uvalde-1c82749f7236752a2e621f402489b357">bloodshed in schools</a>.

“We have a manifesto, we have some writings that we’re going over that pertain to this date, the actual incident,” he told reporters. “We have a map drawn out of how this was all going to take place.”

He said in an interview with NBC News that investigators believe the shooter had “some resentment for having to go to that school.”

Rachel Dibble, who was at a nearby church where children were taken to be reunited with their parents, described the scene as everyone being in “complete shock.”

“People were involuntarily trembling,” she said. “The children … started their morning in their cute little uniforms, they probably had some Froot Loops and now their whole lives changed today.”

Police initially gave unclear information on the gender of the shooter. For hours, police identified the shooter as a 28-year-old woman and eventually identified the person as Audrey Elizabeth Hale. Then at a late afternoon press conference, the police chief said that Hale was transgender. After the news conference, police spokesperson Don Aaron declined to elaborate on how Hale currently identified.

Authorities said Hale was armed with two “assault-style” weapons as well as a handgun. At least two of them were believed to have been obtained legally in the Nashville area, according to the chief. Police said a search of Hale’s home turned up a sawed-off shotgun, a second shotgun and other unspecified evidence.

The victims were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old, and adults Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61.

The website of The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school founded in 2001, lists a Katherine Koonce as the head of the school. Her LinkedIn profile says she has led the school since July 2016. Peak was a substitute teacher and Hill was a custodian, according to investigators.

Founded as a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church, The Covenant School is located in the affluent Green Hills neighborhood just south of downtown Nashville that is home to the famed Bluebird Café – a spot typically beloved by musicians and songwriters.

The school has about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade, as well as roughly 50 staff members.

“Our community is heartbroken,” a statement from the school said. “We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church. We are focused on loving our students, our families, our faculty and staff and beginning the process of healing.”

Before Monday’s violence in Nashville, there had been seven mass killings at K-12 schools since 2006 in which four or more people were killed within a 24-hour period, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://cssh.northeastern.edu/sccj/mass-killing-database/">database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University</a>. In all of them, the shooters were males.

The database does not include school shootings in which fewer than four people were killed, which have become far more common in recent years. Just last week alone, for example, school shootings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-east-high-school-shooting-9cbd699b2dd3a31015d4a22ebf30d912">happened in Denver</a>&nbsp;and the Dallas-area within two days of each other.

Monday’s tragedy unfolded over roughly 14 minutes. Police received the initial call about an active shooter at 10:13 a.m.

Officers began clearing the first story of the school when they heard gunshots coming from the second level, Aaron said. Police later said the shooter fired at arriving officers from a second-story window and had come armed with significant ammunition.

Two officers from a five-member team opened fire in response, killing the suspect at 10:27 a.m., Aaron said.

Late Monday night, police released approximately two minutes of edited surveillance video showing the shooter’s car driving up to the school from multiple angles, including one in which children can be seen playing on swings in the background. Next an interior view shows glass doors to the school being shot out and the shooter ducking through one of the shattered doors.

More footage from inside shows the shooter walking through a school corridor holding a gun with a long barrel and walking into a room labeled “church office,” then coming back out. In the final part of the footage, the shooter can be seen walking down another long corridor with the gun drawn. The shooter is not seen interacting with anyone else on the video, which has no sound.

Aaron said there were no police officers present or assigned to the school at the time of the shooting because it is a church-run school.

President Joe Biden, speaking at the White House on Monday, called the shooting a “family’s worst nightmare” and implored Congress again to pass a ban on certain semi-automatic weapons.

A reeling city mourned during multiple vigils Monday evening. At Belmont United Methodist Church, teary sniffling filled the background as vigil attendees sang, knelt in prayer and lit candles. They lamented the national cycle of violent and deadly shootings.

“We need to step back. We need to breathe. We need to grieve,” said Paul Purdue, the church’s senior pastor. “We need to remember. We need to make space for others who are grieving. We need to hear the cries of our neighbors.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679962479830.png" alt="Dr. Katherine Koonce, the school's administrator, died on Monday- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Katherine Koonce, the school's administrator, died on Monday- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The former student who shot through the doors of a Christian elementary school in Nashville and killed three children and three adults had drawn a detailed map of the school, including potential entry points, and conducted surveillance of the building before carrying out the massacre.Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake did not say exactly what drove the shooter to open fire Monday morning at The Covenant School before being killed by police. But he provided chilling examples of the shooter’s elaborate planning for the targeted attack, the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country that has grown increasingly unnerved by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nashville-mass-school-shooting-database-columbine-uvalde-1c82749f7236752a2e621f402489b357">bloodshed in schools</a>.“We have a manifesto, we have some writings that we’re going over that pertain to this date, the actual incident,” he told reporters. “We have a map drawn out of how this was all going to take place.”He said in an interview with NBC News that investigators believe the shooter had “some resentment for having to go to that school.”Rachel Dibble, who was at a nearby church where children were taken to be reunited with their parents, described the scene as everyone being in “complete shock.”“People were involuntarily trembling,” she said. “The children … started their morning in their cute little uniforms, they probably had some Froot Loops and now their whole lives changed today.”Police initially gave unclear information on the gender of the shooter. For hours, police identified the shooter as a 28-year-old woman and eventually identified the person as Audrey Elizabeth Hale. Then at a late afternoon press conference, the police chief said that Hale was transgender. After the news conference, police spokesperson Don Aaron declined to elaborate on how Hale currently identified.Authorities said Hale was armed with two “assault-style” weapons as well as a handgun. At least two of them were believed to have been obtained legally in the Nashville area, according to the chief. Police said a search of Hale’s home turned up a sawed-off shotgun, a second shotgun and other unspecified evidence.The victims were identified as Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old, and adults Cynthia Peak, 61; Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679998313873.png" alt="In a 2018 photo, Hallie Scruggs (center) who died in the shooting, is shown with her family. Her father was PCA minister Rev. Chad Scruggs, the senior minister at Covenant Presbyterian Church, the overseeing church of Covenant School. -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>In a 2018 photo, Hallie Scruggs (center) who died in the shooting, is shown with her family. Her father was PCA minister Rev. Chad Scruggs, the senior minister at Covenant Presbyterian Church, the overseeing church of Covenant School. -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The website of The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school founded in 2001, lists a Katherine Koonce as the head of the school. Her LinkedIn profile says she has led the school since July 2016. Peak was a substitute teacher and Hill was a custodian, according to investigators.Founded as a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church, The Covenant School is located in the affluent Green Hills neighborhood just south of downtown Nashville that is home to the famed Bluebird Café – a spot typically beloved by musicians and songwriters.The school has about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade, as well as roughly 50 staff members.“Our community is heartbroken,” a statement from the school said. “We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church. We are focused on loving our students, our families, our faculty and staff and beginning the process of healing.”Before Monday’s violence in Nashville, there had been seven mass killings at K-12 schools since 2006 in which four or more people were killed within a 24-hour period, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://cssh.northeastern.edu/sccj/mass-killing-database/">database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University</a>. In all of them, the shooters were males.The database does not include school shootings in which fewer than four people were killed, which have become far more common in recent years. Just last week alone, for example, school shootings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-east-high-school-shooting-9cbd699b2dd3a31015d4a22ebf30d912">happened in Denver</a>&nbsp;and the Dallas-area within two days of each other.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679935165685.png" alt="Photo courtesy Metro Nashville Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Metro Nashville Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Monday’s tragedy unfolded over roughly 14 minutes. Police received the initial call about an active shooter at 10:13 a.m.Officers began clearing the first story of the school when they heard gunshots coming from the second level, Aaron said. Police later said the shooter fired at arriving officers from a second-story window and had come armed with significant ammunition.Two officers from a five-member team opened fire in response, killing the suspect at 10:27 a.m., Aaron said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Active shooter Audrey Elizabeth Hale drove to Covenant Church/School in her Honda Fit this morning, parked, and shot her way into the building. She was armed with 2 assault-type guns and a 9 millimeter pistol. <a href="https://t.co/mIk2pDmCwQ">pic.twitter.com/mIk2pDmCwQ</a>&mdash; Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNPDNashville/status/1640545519511404546?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Late Monday night, police released approximately two minutes of edited surveillance video showing the shooter’s car driving up to the school from multiple angles, including one in which children can be seen playing on swings in the background. Next an interior view shows glass doors to the school being shot out and the shooter ducking through one of the shattered doors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679998977060.png" alt="Image from security cameras provided by Metro Nashville PD" />
 <figcaption>Image from security cameras provided by Metro Nashville PD</figcaption>
 </figure>More footage from inside shows the shooter walking through a school corridor holding a gun with a long barrel and walking into a room labeled “church office,” then coming back out. In the final part of the footage, the shooter can be seen walking down another long corridor with the gun drawn. The shooter is not seen interacting with anyone else on the video, which has no sound.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hale fired a number of rounds inside the Covenant Church/School building. She was armed with these 3 guns and significant ammunition. <a href="https://t.co/3LYOU2r0sh">pic.twitter.com/3LYOU2r0sh</a>&mdash; Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) <a href="https://twitter.com/MNPDNashville/status/1640521034594918400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Aaron said there were no police officers present or assigned to the school at the time of the shooting because it is a church-run school.President Joe Biden, speaking at the White House on Monday, called the shooting a “family’s worst nightmare” and implored Congress again to pass a ban on certain semi-automatic weapons.A reeling city mourned during multiple vigils Monday evening. At Belmont United Methodist Church, teary sniffling filled the background as vigil attendees sang, knelt in prayer and lit candles. They lamented the national cycle of violent and deadly shootings.“We need to step back. We need to breathe. We need to grieve,” said Paul Purdue, the church’s senior pastor. “We need to remember. We need to make space for others who are grieving. We need to hear the cries of our neighbors.”-------

School administrator among victims in Nashville school tragedy

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide at a Kansas home have identified the victim as 38-year-old Deaundreya D. Caraway of Topeka.

Just after 10 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting at a home in the&nbsp; 1500 Block of SE Quincy in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna Eubanks

Police found Caraway suffering from a gun shot. wound who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives responded to the scene. Police have not released the victim's name, reported an arrest or any additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679948290709.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide at a Kansas home have identified the victim as 38-year-old Deaundreya D. Caraway of Topeka.Just after 10 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting at a home in the&nbsp; 1500 Block of SE Quincy in Topeka, according to Police Lt. Donna EubanksPolice found Caraway suffering from a gun shot. wound who was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives responded to the scene. Police have not released the victim's name, reported an arrest or any additional details.

Police ID woman in weekend homicide at Kansas home

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a threatening email sent to Manhattan Catholic Schools over the weekend determined it was not legitimate, according to a statement from the Riley County Police Department.

Police were able to trace the email back to an original source in New York, according to the RCPD. "At this time, we have no reason to believe this email was valid or even intended to go to this specific school in the first place."

"Out of an overabundance of caution, extra patrol units will be in the area during school hours."

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a threatening email sent to Manhattan Catholic Schools over the weekend determined it was not legitimate, according to a statement from the Riley County Police Department.Police were able to trace the email back to an original source in New York, according to the RCPD. "At this time, we have no reason to believe this email was valid or even intended to go to this specific school in the first place.""Out of an overabundance of caution, extra patrol units will be in the area during school hours."

Police: Threatening email sent to Kan. school traced to New York

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with the double-fatality crash during a police chase, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Melvin T. Brown, 26, faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree, Resisting Arrest, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree.

According to court records, on March 22, a police officer followed a vehicle that had, upon check, shown to be stolen, according to Independence Police.

The officer attempted to coordinate the deployment of stop sticks to prevent a pursuit. But the vehicle continued, and a pursuit occurred in Independence, with rates of speed touching 90 mph until a crash occurred at Scott Avenue and Winner Road, when the Jeep driven by the defendant struck a motorcycle, killing driver Jake Jackson Monteer and passenger Jessica Marie Fields. 

The defendant's vehicle continued until officers attempted to stop it again. Officers found that the vehicle was indeed stolen, and an officer observed signs of impairment. A blood sample was taken and a preliminary test showed presence of drugs.&nbsp; &nbsp;Brown is being held on a $300,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679924352207.png" alt="Brown-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Brown-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City-area man has been charged in connection with the double-fatality crash during a police chase, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Melvin T. Brown, 26, faces two counts of Murder 2nd Degree, Resisting Arrest, Leaving the Scene of an Accident Resulting in Death and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle 1st Degree.According to court records, on March 22, a police officer followed a vehicle that had, upon check, shown to be stolen, according to Independence Police.The officer attempted to coordinate the deployment of stop sticks to prevent a pursuit. But the vehicle continued, and a pursuit occurred in Independence, with rates of speed touching 90 mph until a crash occurred at Scott Avenue and Winner Road, when the Jeep driven by the defendant struck a motorcycle, killing driver Jake Jackson Monteer and passenger Jessica Marie Fields. The defendant's vehicle continued until officers attempted to stop it again. Officers found that the vehicle was indeed stolen, and an officer observed signs of impairment. A blood sample was taken and a preliminary test showed presence of drugs.&nbsp; &nbsp;Brown is being held on a $300,000 bond.

Murder charge: Fleeing driver hit, killed 2 on a motorcycle near KC

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ highest court signaled Monday that it still considers access to abortion a “fundamental” right under the state constitution, as an attorney for the state argued that a decisive statewide vote last year affirming abortion rights “doesn't matter."

The state Supreme Court is considering exactly how far the Republican-controlled Legislature can go in restricting abortion under a 2019 decision protecting abortion rights. The justices heard arguments from attorneys for Kansas and abortion providers in two lawsuits but isn't likely to rule for months.

One lawsuit challenges a 2015 law banning a common second-trimester abortion procedure, and the other challenges a 2011 law that regulates abortion providers more strictly than other health care providers. Legal challenges have blocked both laws from being enforced.

The U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">declared in June 2022</a>&nbsp;that the U.S. Constitution doesn't protect abortion rights and that states can ban abortion, but the Kansas court had ruled in 2019 that access to abortion is protected as a matter of bodily autonomy under the state constitution. That led the Legislature to put&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2022/b2021_22/measures/documents/hcr5003_00_0000.pdf">a proposed amendment</a>&nbsp;on last August's ballot asking voters whether to lift that constitutional protection, which would have allowed lawmakers to greatly restrict or ban abortion. Voters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">soundly rejected the measure</a>.

But Kansas Solicitor General Tony Powell, representing the state, said last year's vote “doesn't matter” and shouldn't factor into the court's decisions on these two lawsuits because the state constitution ultimately wasn't changed since the ballot measure was defeated. Powell, who served on the state Court of Appeals before joining the Kansas attorney general's office, said abortion issues can't be resolved by “judicial fiat.”

“We need to let the people work it out," through elected lawmakers, he told the Supreme Court.

Five of the six justices present for the arguments expressed skepticism while questioning Powell, who at one point said, “I’m doing the best I can.”

“We had a vote in August,” Justice Dan Biles told him. “That’s the elephant in the room.”

The justices did ask Alice Wang, a Center for Reproductive Rights attorney representing the abortion providers, whether preserving life was a compelling state interest. She said that question was before the state Supreme Court when it ruled in 2019.

“This court declined to recognize any compelling interest," Wang said.

Kansas allows most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy, attracting patients from other states with bans, most notably Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Abortion rights opponents fear that Kansas courts will overturn many of the restrictions imposed over the past 30 years.

The state is asking the state Supreme Court to overturn its 2019 decision, but the two cases also give the court the chance to narrow that ruling's scope by upholding either or both laws.

Many Republicans had expected Kansas voters to approve the proposed state constitutional change in August, and Powell acknowledged that he was “boxed in” by the state's failure to challenge much of the evidence presented by abortion providers to the trial court judge.

Powell repeatedly argued that the justices also ought to consider federal court decisions or even decisions from other states’ courts.

“I think the court should have its blinders off,” he said.

Among Republican-leaning states, Kansas is an outlier in preserving abortion access, in part because the state's abortion opponents preferred making year-by-year incremental changes prior to last year's U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

However, the state still forces patients to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion, requires minors to get parental consent, spells out what patients must be told in writing beforehand and even mandates that the information for patients be printed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/97800820211447b19c84bc6b3cff3051">in 12-point Times New Roman type</a>.

Three members of the court's 6-1 majority retired after the 2019 decision, but their replacements&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-courts-kansas-topeka-courts-e1ebe774997c04d3bbb7140af2a17cff">all were appointed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly,</a>&nbsp;a strong abortion rights supporter. One of the new justices, K.J. Wall, recused himself from the cases, so six justices will decide them. The court did not give a reason for Wall's action.

The 2019 ruling came in the early stages of the lawsuit over the ban on the second-trimester procedure. The justices kept the law on hold but sent the case back to the trial court to examine the ban further. A trial judge said the law could not stand.

The law deals with a certain type of dilation and evacuation, or D&amp;E, procedure. According to state health department statistics, about 500 D&amp;E procedures are done in Kansas each year, accounting for 6% of the state's total abortions. About 90% of the state's abortions occur in the first trimester.

A D&amp;E procedure ban would force providers to use alternative methods that the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion rights advocate, has said are riskier for the patient and more expensive. Biles hit on that argument repeatedly during Monday's hearing.

Abortion providers saw the law requiring them to comply with stricter regulations than other types than of doctors as an attempt to regulate them out of business. Before it was set to take effect in July 2011, it appeared briefly that no Kansas provider would be able to comply, though a Kansas City-area Planned Parenthood clinic ultimately did. A trial court judge ruled that the state had no justification for rules applying only to abortion providers, and the state appealed.

Those behind the clinic regulation law argued that it would make clinics safer for women seeking abortions, but several justices were skeptical.

The state's argument for banning the second-trimester procedure was summed up in how they wrote the law. It specifically would prohibit doctors from using forceps or similar instruments on a live fetus to remove it from the womb in pieces. Such instruments are used in some D&amp;E abortions.

Although Powell derided the specific method as “heinous,” Biles told him that there is no evidence in the record that it is worse for the fetus than the alternatives.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679937839460.png" alt="Kansas Solicitor General Tony Powell before the court Monday morning-image from the court's video page" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Solicitor General Tony Powell before the court Monday morning-image from the court's video page</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ highest court signaled Monday that it still considers access to abortion a “fundamental” right under the state constitution, as an attorney for the state argued that a decisive statewide vote last year affirming abortion rights “doesn't matter."(Click below to watch Monday's hearing)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5uReZME2rwE?start=518" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The state Supreme Court is considering exactly how far the Republican-controlled Legislature can go in restricting abortion under a 2019 decision protecting abortion rights. The justices heard arguments from attorneys for Kansas and abortion providers in two lawsuits but isn't likely to rule for months.One lawsuit challenges a 2015 law banning a common second-trimester abortion procedure, and the other challenges a 2011 law that regulates abortion providers more strictly than other health care providers. Legal challenges have blocked both laws from being enforced.The U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">declared in June 2022</a>&nbsp;that the U.S. Constitution doesn't protect abortion rights and that states can ban abortion, but the Kansas court had ruled in 2019 that access to abortion is protected as a matter of bodily autonomy under the state constitution. That led the Legislature to put&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li_2022/b2021_22/measures/documents/hcr5003_00_0000.pdf">a proposed amendment</a>&nbsp;on last August's ballot asking voters whether to lift that constitutional protection, which would have allowed lawmakers to greatly restrict or ban abortion. Voters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">soundly rejected the measure</a>.But Kansas Solicitor General Tony Powell, representing the state, said last year's vote “doesn't matter” and shouldn't factor into the court's decisions on these two lawsuits because the state constitution ultimately wasn't changed since the ballot measure was defeated. Powell, who served on the state Court of Appeals before joining the Kansas attorney general's office, said abortion issues can't be resolved by “judicial fiat.”“We need to let the people work it out," through elected lawmakers, he told the Supreme Court.Five of the six justices present for the arguments expressed skepticism while questioning Powell, who at one point said, “I’m doing the best I can.”“We had a vote in August,” Justice Dan Biles told him. “That’s the elephant in the room.”The justices did ask Alice Wang, a Center for Reproductive Rights attorney representing the abortion providers, whether preserving life was a compelling state interest. She said that question was before the state Supreme Court when it ruled in 2019.“This court declined to recognize any compelling interest," Wang said.Kansas allows most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy, attracting patients from other states with bans, most notably Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. Abortion rights opponents fear that Kansas courts will overturn many of the restrictions imposed over the past 30 years.The state is asking the state Supreme Court to overturn its 2019 decision, but the two cases also give the court the chance to narrow that ruling's scope by upholding either or both laws.Many Republicans had expected Kansas voters to approve the proposed state constitutional change in August, and Powell acknowledged that he was “boxed in” by the state's failure to challenge much of the evidence presented by abortion providers to the trial court judge.Powell repeatedly argued that the justices also ought to consider federal court decisions or even decisions from other states’ courts.“I think the court should have its blinders off,” he said.Among Republican-leaning states, Kansas is an outlier in preserving abortion access, in part because the state's abortion opponents preferred making year-by-year incremental changes prior to last year's U.S. Supreme Court ruling.However, the state still forces patients to wait 24 hours before getting an abortion, requires minors to get parental consent, spells out what patients must be told in writing beforehand and even mandates that the information for patients be printed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/97800820211447b19c84bc6b3cff3051">in 12-point Times New Roman type</a>.Three members of the court's 6-1 majority retired after the 2019 decision, but their replacements&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-courts-kansas-topeka-courts-e1ebe774997c04d3bbb7140af2a17cff">all were appointed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly,</a>&nbsp;a strong abortion rights supporter. One of the new justices, K.J. Wall, recused himself from the cases, so six justices will decide them. The court did not give a reason for Wall's action.The 2019 ruling came in the early stages of the lawsuit over the ban on the second-trimester procedure. The justices kept the law on hold but sent the case back to the trial court to examine the ban further. A trial judge said the law could not stand.The law deals with a certain type of dilation and evacuation, or D&amp;E, procedure. According to state health department statistics, about 500 D&amp;E procedures are done in Kansas each year, accounting for 6% of the state's total abortions. About 90% of the state's abortions occur in the first trimester.A D&amp;E procedure ban would force providers to use alternative methods that the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion rights advocate, has said are riskier for the patient and more expensive. Biles hit on that argument repeatedly during Monday's hearing.Abortion providers saw the law requiring them to comply with stricter regulations than other types than of doctors as an attempt to regulate them out of business. Before it was set to take effect in July 2011, it appeared briefly that no Kansas provider would be able to comply, though a Kansas City-area Planned Parenthood clinic ultimately did. A trial court judge ruled that the state had no justification for rules applying only to abortion providers, and the state appealed.Those behind the clinic regulation law argued that it would make clinics safer for women seeking abortions, but several justices were skeptical.The state's argument for banning the second-trimester procedure was summed up in how they wrote the law. It specifically would prohibit doctors from using forceps or similar instruments on a live fetus to remove it from the womb in pieces. Such instruments are used in some D&amp;E abortions.Although Powell derided the specific method as “heinous,” Biles told him that there is no evidence in the record that it is worse for the fetus than the alternatives.

🎥Kansas high court signals continued abortion rights support

PLATTE COUNTY —A physician in Platte City was sentenced to 27 years in prison for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl, according to&nbsp;Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.

Dr. Jonathan Philippe, 43, received the sentence 21 after being found guilty by a jury in February of multiple&nbsp;counts related to his abuse of the girl. Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, "This sentence sends the message that, regardless of one's station in life, child sexual abuse will be severely punished in Platte County. No one is above the law--particularly when a child is abused."&nbsp; At trial, prosecutors proved that Philippe began sexually abusing a young girl who was not a patient or family member&nbsp;in early 2020. She disclosed the abuse to another adult, who then reported it to the Platte County Sheriff’s Department. Philippe testified during the trial, and his criminal defense lawyer spent much time asking about his medical practice. At sentencing, he referred to his status as a physician, spoke at length about making hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, and criticized the jury for its verdict. Zahnd said, “Doctors are usually among the most respected people in any community, especially in relatively small cities like Platte City. To this&nbsp;doctor's dismay, the jury saw him for what he was: a dangerous man who&nbsp;preyed on a young child."&nbsp; The jury recommended sentences of 10 years on two counts of statutory sodomy, seven years for attempted enticement and three years for child molestation. With the exception of ordering the&nbsp;enticement and molestation counts to run concurrently, the court ran all of the counts consecutively, as required by Missouri law, resulting in the 27-year sentence. Phillippe must serve 85% of much of his sentence, meaning he will not be eligible for parole until sometime in the 2040s. The case was investigated by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department. The victim was treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital and completed a child forensic interview at Synergy Services. The case was tried by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Myles Perry and First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Gibson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679687694351.png" alt="Philippe-photo Platte Co." />
 <figcaption>Philippe-photo Platte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PLATTE COUNTY —A physician in Platte City was sentenced to 27 years in prison for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl, according to&nbsp;Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.Dr. Jonathan Philippe, 43, received the sentence 21 after being found guilty by a jury in February of multiple&nbsp;counts related to his abuse of the girl. Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, "This sentence sends the message that, regardless of one's station in life, child sexual abuse will be severely punished in Platte County. No one is above the law--particularly when a child is abused."&nbsp; At trial, prosecutors proved that Philippe began sexually abusing a young girl who was not a patient or family member&nbsp;in early 2020. She disclosed the abuse to another adult, who then reported it to the Platte County Sheriff’s Department. Philippe testified during the trial, and his criminal defense lawyer spent much time asking about his medical practice. At sentencing, he referred to his status as a physician, spoke at length about making hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, and criticized the jury for its verdict. Zahnd said, “Doctors are usually among the most respected people in any community, especially in relatively small cities like Platte City. To this&nbsp;doctor's dismay, the jury saw him for what he was: a dangerous man who&nbsp;preyed on a young child."&nbsp; The jury recommended sentences of 10 years on two counts of statutory sodomy, seven years for attempted enticement and three years for child molestation. With the exception of ordering the&nbsp;enticement and molestation counts to run concurrently, the court ran all of the counts consecutively, as required by Missouri law, resulting in the 27-year sentence. Phillippe must serve 85% of much of his sentence, meaning he will not be eligible for parole until sometime in the 2040s. The case was investigated by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department. The victim was treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital and completed a child forensic interview at Synergy Services. The case was tried by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Myles Perry and First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Gibson.---------

KC-area physician sentenced for sex abuse of 13-year-old

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A female shooter wielding two “assault-style” rifles and a pistol killed three students and three adults at a private Christian school in Nashville on Monday in the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country growing increasingly unnerved by bloodshed in schools.

(Click below to watch the President's comments)

Police said they believe the 28-year-old female shooter was a former student at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school founded in 2001. Police shot and killed her. Investigators were searching her Nashville-area home.

The attack at The Covenant School — which has about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade, as well as roughly 50 staff members — comes as communities around the nation are reeling from a spate of school violence, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-mass-shootings-texas-police-9f38cce8fb09d3b88de3f41cdad96bd9">massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas</a>, last year; a first grader who shot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-shoots-teacher-newport-news-ebba31cb2d9064e9475c49f7fe7452df">his teacher in Virginia</a>; and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-east-high-school-shooting-9cbd699b2dd3a31015d4a22ebf30d912">shooting last week in Denver</a>&nbsp;that wounded two administrators.

“I was literally moved to tears to see this and the kids as they were being ushered out of the building,” Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said at an afternoon news conference.

The identities of the deceased and the suspect have not been released. The shooter's motive was also not immediately clear.

President Joe Biden, speaking at an unrelated event at the White House on Monday, called the shooting a “family’s worst nightmare” and implored Congress again to pass a ban on certain semi-automatic weapons.

“It’s ripping at the soul of this nation, ripping at the very soul of this nation,” Biden said.

The suspect’s identity as a woman surprised experts on mass shootings. Female shooters make up only about 5% to 8% of all mass shooters, said Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor at the University of Alabama who has closely studied the psychology and behavior of mass shooters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679948973192.png" alt="President Biden called the shooting a “family’s worst nightmare” and implored Congress again to pass a ban on certain semi-automatic weapons." />
 <figcaption>President Biden called the shooting a “family’s worst nightmare” and implored Congress again to pass a ban on certain semi-automatic weapons.</figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A female shooter wielding two “assault-style” rifles and a pistol killed three students and three adults at a private Christian school in Nashville on Monday in the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country growing increasingly unnerved by bloodshed in schools.(Click below to watch the President's comments)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F235714862148090%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=573" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Police said they believe the 28-year-old female shooter was a former student at The Covenant School, a Presbyterian school founded in 2001. Police shot and killed her. Investigators were searching her Nashville-area home.The attack at The Covenant School — which has about 200 students from preschool through sixth grade, as well as roughly 50 staff members — comes as communities around the nation are reeling from a spate of school violence, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-mass-shootings-texas-police-9f38cce8fb09d3b88de3f41cdad96bd9">massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas</a>, last year; a first grader who shot&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-shoots-teacher-newport-news-ebba31cb2d9064e9475c49f7fe7452df">his teacher in Virginia</a>; and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denver-east-high-school-shooting-9cbd699b2dd3a31015d4a22ebf30d912">shooting last week in Denver</a>&nbsp;that wounded two administrators.“I was literally moved to tears to see this and the kids as they were being ushered out of the building,” Metropolitan Nashville Police Chief John Drake said at an afternoon news conference.The identities of the deceased and the suspect have not been released. The shooter's motive was also not immediately clear.President Joe Biden, speaking at an unrelated event at the White House on Monday, called the shooting a “family’s worst nightmare” and implored Congress again to pass a ban on certain semi-automatic weapons.“It’s ripping at the soul of this nation, ripping at the very soul of this nation,” Biden said.The suspect’s identity as a woman surprised experts on mass shootings. Female shooters make up only about 5% to 8% of all mass shooters, said Adam Lankford, a criminal justice professor at the University of Alabama who has closely studied the psychology and behavior of mass shooters.Researchers believe there are three main explanations for why men commit more shootings than women, according to Jonathan Metzl, a professor of sociology and psychiatry at Vanderbilt University who has studied mass shootings for more than a decade.Metzl listed those explanations as: Men have more testosterone, are socialized to be engaged in violence and own more guns than women.“There is some story we don’t know here,” Metzl said of the suspected female shooter in Nashville. “From school shootings historically, very often we think that people have some historical connection or emotional connection to the school. There’s an untold story here.”Monday's tragedy unfolded over roughly 14 minutes. Police received the initial call about an active shooter at 10:13 a.m.Officers began clearing the first story of the school when they heard gunshots coming from the second level, police spokesperson Don Aaron said during a news briefing.Two officers from a five-member team opened fire in response, fatally shooting the suspect at 10:27 a.m., Aaron said. He said there were no police officers present or assigned to the school at the time of the shooting because it is a church-run school.The Covenant School's victims were pronounced dead at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and Vanderbilt University Medical Center. One officer had a hand wound from cut glass.Other students walked to safety Monday, holding hands as they left their school surrounded by police cars, to a nearby church to be reunited with their parents.Rachel Dibble, who was at the church as families reunited in the nearby church, described the scene as everyone being in “complete shock.”“People were involuntarily trembling,” said Dibble, whose children attend a different private school in Nashville. “The children … started their morning in their cute little uniforms they probably had some Froot Loops and now their whole lives changed today.”Dr. Shamendar Talwar, a social psychologist from the United Kingdom who is working on an unrelated mental health project in Nashville, raced to the church as soon as he heard news of the shooting to offer help. He said he was one of several chaplains, psychologists, life coaches and clergy inside supporting the families.“All you can show is that the human spirit that basically that we are all hear together … and hold their hand more than anything else,” he said.Jozen Reodica heard the police sirens and fire trucks blaring from outside her office building nearby. As her building was placed under lockdown, she took out her phone and recorded the chaos.“I thought I would just see this on TV,” she said. “And right now, it’s real.”The Covenant School was founded as a ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church, according to the school’s website. The school is located in the affluent Green Hills neighborhood just south of downtown Nashville, situated close to the city's top universities and home to the famed Bluebird Café – a beloved spot for musicians and song writers.Top legislative leaders announced Monday that the GOP-dominant Statehouse would meet briefly later in the evening and delay taking up any legislation.“In a tragic morning, Nashville joined the dreaded, long list of communities to experience a school shooting,” Mayor John Cooper wrote on Twitter.Nashville has seen its share of mass violence in recent years, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tn-state-wire-nashville-bombings-lifestyle-2d5ebd11211a2dc93ed48c0de46507a3">Christmas Day 2020</a>&nbsp;attack where a recreational vehicle was intentionally detonated in the heart of Music City’s historic downtown, killing the bomber, injuring three others and forcing more than 60 businesses to close.