WICHITA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly joined the Kansas Black Leadership Council and other community leaders on Wednesday at a luncheon in Wichita to recognize them for the work they have done to advocate for Black Kansans, according to a media release from her office.

Governor Kelly spoke to the importance of voting rights, civil rights, and health care – all of which she has continuously championed throughout her time in public service.&nbsp;

“It was a pleasure to join the Kansas Black Leadership Council and Wichita community leaders to discuss why we must continue our work to expand health care, protect&nbsp;civil rights, and keep voting free, fair, and accessible,”&nbsp;said Governor Kelly.&nbsp;“I’m looking forward to continuing our partnership as we strive for greater racial justice and equity in Kansas.”&nbsp;

Last year, Governor Kelly announced an agreement between a coalition of civil right agencies and the State of Kansas that Kansans will now have expanded opportunities to register to vote or update their voter&nbsp;registration in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act. In addition, she&nbsp;formed the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice&nbsp;to&nbsp;advance&nbsp;the state&nbsp;in the areas of law enforcement, policing, education, economic systems, and health care.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657741349340.png" alt="&nbsp;Governor Kelly spoke to the importance of voting rights, civil rights, and health care-courtesy photo&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Governor Kelly spoke to the importance of voting rights, civil rights, and health care-courtesy photo&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly joined the Kansas Black Leadership Council and other community leaders on Wednesday at a luncheon in Wichita to recognize them for the work they have done to advocate for Black Kansans, according to a media release from her office.Governor Kelly spoke to the importance of voting rights, civil rights, and health care – all of which she has continuously championed throughout her time in public service.&nbsp;“It was a pleasure to join the Kansas Black Leadership Council and Wichita community leaders to discuss why we must continue our work to expand health care, protect&nbsp;civil rights, and keep voting free, fair, and accessible,”&nbsp;said Governor Kelly.&nbsp;“I’m looking forward to continuing our partnership as we strive for greater racial justice and equity in Kansas.”&nbsp;Last year, Governor Kelly announced an agreement between a coalition of civil right agencies and the State of Kansas that Kansans will now have expanded opportunities to register to vote or update their voter&nbsp;registration in compliance with the National Voter Registration Act. In addition, she&nbsp;formed the Governor’s Commission on Racial Equity and Justice&nbsp;to&nbsp;advance&nbsp;the state&nbsp;in the areas of law enforcement, policing, education, economic systems, and health care.&nbsp;

Kan. Black Leadership Council hears from Gov. on voting rights, health care 

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A 23-year-old man has pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to a street car stunt incident in the middle of Interstate 70 in June, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Noah D. Miller pleaded guilty to Assault 2nd Degree and Hindering the Prosecution of a Felony. He will serve 30 days shock time and be placed on probation for 5 years. He will also need to comply with&nbsp;special conditions including no involvement with street racing and making restitution to the victim.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to court records, Miller was one of two Kansas City-area men who were doing car stunts on Interstate 70 after 2 a.m. on June 12, 2022. They allegedly confronted the victims in the case, who were trying to pass through the "side show" in order to get their child to a hospital. Miller and a second defendant pursued the victims for several miles.&nbsp;

A second defendant 23-year-old Nicholas Benkowich continues to face charges in the case.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655585443617.png" alt="Miller-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Miller-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —A 23-year-old man has pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to a street car stunt incident in the middle of Interstate 70 in June, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Noah D. Miller pleaded guilty to Assault 2nd Degree and Hindering the Prosecution of a Felony. He will serve 30 days shock time and be placed on probation for 5 years. He will also need to comply with&nbsp;special conditions including no involvement with street racing and making restitution to the victim.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to court records, Miller was one of two Kansas City-area men who were doing car stunts on Interstate 70 after 2 a.m. on June 12, 2022. They allegedly confronted the victims in the case, who were trying to pass through the "side show" in order to get their child to a hospital. Miller and a second defendant pursued the victims for several miles.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655585565881.png" alt="Nicholas Benkowich-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Nicholas Benkowich-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A second defendant 23-year-old Nicholas Benkowich continues to face charges in the case.&nbsp;

Driver enters plea for Interstate 70 street car stunt 

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-city-va-clinic-opens-doors-services-include-primary-and-behavioral-care/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Paul Mimms said he wants to honor veterans who lost their vision in battle or when they returned home.

Mimms, the vice president of the 
National Blinded Veterans Association, touted a new Veterans Affairs 
outpatient Clinic in Kansas City for doing just that, providing 
dedicated services. At the opening of the clinic, he presented the 
facility with a Bronze Braille Flag.

He said the flag would be a 
teaching lesson for young blind people who have never seen the U.S. flag
 and show commitment to treating those who fought for it.

“We veterans left our comfortable 
homes and our country to serve underneath that flag,” Mimms said. “Some 
of us came back without vision. Some of us came back and got old and 
lost their vision. Doesn’t matter. As we move forward, we want to bring 
those people with us.”

The new facility is about 5,000 
square feet and services include primary care, lab work, pharmacy 
teleconsultation, virtual care and behavioral health services. There are
 plans to introduce physical therapy, chiropractic care and acupuncture.

Rudy Klopfer, director of VA 
Eastern Kansas Health Care, said the clinic might not be as big as other
 facilities but will provide critical services tailored to veterans.

“It is a building, yes, but what 
goes on in this building, and I’ll say other buildings because we have a
 great telehealth presence here, is healing and can be healing and 
soothing,” Klopfer said.

The clinic opening comes a year after a 23,000-square-foot clinic opened in Lenexa. Last month,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/29/kansas-veterans-and-legislators-wary-of-proposal-to-close-va-clinics-and-cut-emergency-services/">rural veteran health care advocates gained a key victory</a>&nbsp;in
 maintaining veteran services in eastern Kansas, when a group of 
bipartisan U.S. senators blocked a commission reviewing recommendations 
to overhaul the VA health care system.

The clinic will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Kansas Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry 
Moran touted the accessibility this clinic would provide. He said many 
veterans may struggle without a car or access to public transportation.&nbsp;

“Distance matters in Kansas,” 
Moran said. “Distance can be physical. A long way to travel, certainly 
in the part of Kansas where I come from, we have experienced that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657732038009.png" alt="Paul Mimms, vice president of the National Blinded Veterans Association, touted a new Veterans Affairs outpatient Clinic in Kansas City for honoring and providing services to veterans who lost their vision in battle or after their service. (Screen capture of Topeka VA Medical Center Facebook video)" />
 <figcaption>Paul Mimms, vice president of the National Blinded Veterans Association, touted a new Veterans Affairs outpatient Clinic in Kansas City for honoring and providing services to veterans who lost their vision in battle or after their service. (Screen capture of Topeka VA Medical Center Facebook video)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-city-va-clinic-opens-doors-services-include-primary-and-behavioral-care/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Paul Mimms said he wants to honor veterans who lost their vision in battle or when they returned home.Mimms, the vice president of the 
National Blinded Veterans Association, touted a new Veterans Affairs 
outpatient Clinic in Kansas City for doing just that, providing 
dedicated services. At the opening of the clinic, he presented the 
facility with a Bronze Braille Flag.He said the flag would be a 
teaching lesson for young blind people who have never seen the U.S. flag
 and show commitment to treating those who fought for it.“We veterans left our comfortable 
homes and our country to serve underneath that flag,” Mimms said. “Some 
of us came back without vision. Some of us came back and got old and 
lost their vision. Doesn’t matter. As we move forward, we want to bring 
those people with us.”The new facility is about 5,000 
square feet and services include primary care, lab work, pharmacy 
teleconsultation, virtual care and behavioral health services. There are
 plans to introduce physical therapy, chiropractic care and acupuncture.Rudy Klopfer, director of VA 
Eastern Kansas Health Care, said the clinic might not be as big as other
 facilities but will provide critical services tailored to veterans.“It is a building, yes, but what 
goes on in this building, and I’ll say other buildings because we have a
 great telehealth presence here, is healing and can be healing and 
soothing,” Klopfer said.The clinic opening comes a year after a 23,000-square-foot clinic opened in Lenexa. Last month,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/29/kansas-veterans-and-legislators-wary-of-proposal-to-close-va-clinics-and-cut-emergency-services/">rural veteran health care advocates gained a key victory</a>&nbsp;in
 maintaining veteran services in eastern Kansas, when a group of 
bipartisan U.S. senators blocked a commission reviewing recommendations 
to overhaul the VA health care system.The clinic will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Kansas Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry 
Moran touted the accessibility this clinic would provide. He said many 
veterans may struggle without a car or access to public transportation.&nbsp;“Distance matters in Kansas,” 
Moran said. “Distance can be physical. A long way to travel, certainly 
in the part of Kansas where I come from, we have experienced that.”

New VA clinic opens doors, offering primary and behavioral care

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19.

Manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday the club will be without hitters Andrew Benintendi, Hunter Dozier, Cam Gallagher, Kyle Isbel, MJ Melendez, Whit Merrifield and Michael A. Taylor along with pitchers Dylan Coleman, Brad Keller and Brady Singer.

The team is set to play four games in Toronto. The 10 players will be placed on the restricted list and forfeit four days of pay and major league service time in accordance with the terms of MLB’s collective bargaining agreement.

“It’s an individual choice,” Matheny said. “The organization’s done a real good job bringing in professionals and experts to talk guys through tough conversations and then put it in their hands to make the decisions they believe is best for them and their families.”

Benintendi will lose $186,813, Merrifield $153,846, Keller $106,044 and Dozier and Taylor $98,901 each. Among the others, the lost pay for Gallagher will be $19,451, Singer $15,962, Isbel $15,426, Coleman $15,399 and Melendez $15,385.

The club will name their replacements Thursday, along with an announcement about other staff who won’t be traveling with the club.

“Now what it presents is an opportunity for some young guys to step in who wouldn’t normally be here,” Matheny said. “It will affect what we’re doing rotation-wise and that will be another question that we’ll have to answer later. I’m excited about some guys coming in and getting a chance.”

Players cited personal decisions for themselves and their families behind their reasoning to not be vaccinated.

“It was a choice I made talking with my family, talking with my wife,” Merrifield said. “I didn’t think that the risk was worth it, honestly.

“I don’t feel like COVID is a threat to me,” he added.

The unvaccinated players said they felt teammates supported their decisions.

“We’ve talked to these guys, they’re not judging us at all,” Dozier said. “They have our backs. I don’t think we’ve ever dealt with something like this, where we’re being forced to take a vaccine just to go play over in Toronto. It’s just a weird situation. It’s unfortunate.”

“(The) staff, owner, GM, everybody, it’s been really cool to see how they’re handling it,” Coleman said. “Not like forcing it. I feel like we all have our own opinion, so it’s been really good that the higher-ups respect that.”

Merrifield had the majors’ longest active games played streak at 553 before a foot injury kept him out of action Sunday. He said he might change his mind if a similar circumstance presented itself later in the year.

“That might change down the road,” he said. “If something happens and I happen to get on a team that has a chance to go play in Canada in the postseason, maybe that changes. As we sit here right now, I’m comfortable with my decision.”

John Schneider, the Blue Jays’ new manager, said his team won’t take Kansas City lightly.

“A little bit surprising, but the rules are the rules. We live by them and the rest of the league lives by them,” Schneider said in Toronto. “Definitely not a series you’re going to take lightly going into the break. You kind of see who they have, you game plan accordingly, and hopefully build off this two-game series (sweep) against the Phillies.”

Schneider was promoted from bench coach to interim manager for the remainder of the season when Toronto fired Charlie Montoyo on Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621778673766.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals will be without 10 of the 26 players on their active roster for their upcoming trip to Toronto due to Canadian restrictions on travelers who aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19.Manager Mike Matheny said Wednesday the club will be without hitters Andrew Benintendi, Hunter Dozier, Cam Gallagher, Kyle Isbel, MJ Melendez, Whit Merrifield and Michael A. Taylor along with pitchers Dylan Coleman, Brad Keller and Brady Singer.The team is set to play four games in Toronto. The 10 players will be placed on the restricted list and forfeit four days of pay and major league service time in accordance with the terms of MLB’s collective bargaining agreement.“It’s an individual choice,” Matheny said. “The organization’s done a real good job bringing in professionals and experts to talk guys through tough conversations and then put it in their hands to make the decisions they believe is best for them and their families.”Benintendi will lose $186,813, Merrifield $153,846, Keller $106,044 and Dozier and Taylor $98,901 each. Among the others, the lost pay for Gallagher will be $19,451, Singer $15,962, Isbel $15,426, Coleman $15,399 and Melendez $15,385.The club will name their replacements Thursday, along with an announcement about other staff who won’t be traveling with the club.“Now what it presents is an opportunity for some young guys to step in who wouldn’t normally be here,” Matheny said. “It will affect what we’re doing rotation-wise and that will be another question that we’ll have to answer later. I’m excited about some guys coming in and getting a chance.”Players cited personal decisions for themselves and their families behind their reasoning to not be vaccinated.“It was a choice I made talking with my family, talking with my wife,” Merrifield said. “I didn’t think that the risk was worth it, honestly.“I don’t feel like COVID is a threat to me,” he added.The unvaccinated players said they felt teammates supported their decisions.“We’ve talked to these guys, they’re not judging us at all,” Dozier said. “They have our backs. I don’t think we’ve ever dealt with something like this, where we’re being forced to take a vaccine just to go play over in Toronto. It’s just a weird situation. It’s unfortunate.”“(The) staff, owner, GM, everybody, it’s been really cool to see how they’re handling it,” Coleman said. “Not like forcing it. I feel like we all have our own opinion, so it’s been really good that the higher-ups respect that.”Merrifield had the majors’ longest active games played streak at 553 before a foot injury kept him out of action Sunday. He said he might change his mind if a similar circumstance presented itself later in the year.“That might change down the road,” he said. “If something happens and I happen to get on a team that has a chance to go play in Canada in the postseason, maybe that changes. As we sit here right now, I’m comfortable with my decision.”John Schneider, the Blue Jays’ new manager, said his team won’t take Kansas City lightly.“A little bit surprising, but the rules are the rules. We live by them and the rest of the league lives by them,” Schneider said in Toronto. “Definitely not a series you’re going to take lightly going into the break. You kind of see who they have, you game plan accordingly, and hopefully build off this two-game series (sweep) against the Phillies.”Schneider was promoted from bench coach to interim manager for the remainder of the season when Toronto fired Charlie Montoyo on Wednesday.

No COVID vaccination; 10 Kansas City Royals can't play in Toronto 

JERUSALEM (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday opened his first visit to the Mideast since taking office by offering anxious Israeli leaders strong reassurances of his determination to stop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-nuclear-united-nations-51cb62796ace2c64ba9278197d9b5464">Iran’s growing nuclear program,</a>&nbsp;saying he’d be willing to use force as a "last resort."

The president's comments came in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 taped before he left Washington and broadcast Wednesday, hours after the country's political leaders welcomed him with a red-carpet arrival ceremony at the Tel Aviv airport.

“The only thing worse than the Iran that exists now is an Iran with nuclear weapons,” Biden said. Asked about using military force against Iran, Biden said, “If that was the last resort, yes.”

U.S. ally Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy, citing its nuclear program, its calls for Israel’s destruction and its support for hostile militant groups across the region.

The U.S. and Israel are expected Thursday to unveil a joint declaration cementing their close military ties and strengthening past calls to take military action to halt Iran’s nuclear program. A senior Israeli official said before Biden arrived that both countries would commit to “using all elements of their national power against the Iranian nuclear threat.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity pending the formal release of the statement.

Israeli leaders made clear as they marked Biden’s arrival that Iran's nuclear program was the top item on their agenda.

“We will discuss the need to renew a strong global coalition that will stop the Iranian nuclear program,” said Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, as he greeted the Democratic president at the airport ceremony in Tel Aviv.

Biden said he would not remove Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, even if that kept Iran from rejoining the Iran nuclear deal.

Sanctions on the IRGC, which has carried out regional attacks, have been a sticking point in negotiations to bring Iran back into compliance with the agreement meant to keep it from having a nuclear weapon. Iran announced last week that it has enriched uranium to 60% purity, a technical step away from weapons-grade quality.

Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though United Nations experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003.

Biden's visit to Israel follows the collapse of a coalition-led government headed by Naftali Bennett. The president was greeted by Lapid, the caretaker prime minister who is hoping to hang on to power when Israelis hold their fifth election in three years this fall.

Lapid reminded Biden of when they first met roughly eight years earlier. Biden was vice president and Lapid was finance minister.

“You said to me, ‘If only I had hair like yours, I would be president' to which I answered, 'And if only I had your height, I would be Prime Minister,” Lapid said.

Biden made reviving the Iran nuclear deal, brokered by Barack Obama in 2015 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-iran-cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994">abandoned by Donald Trump in 2018</a>, a key priority as he entered office. Biden said Trump made a “gigantic mistake” by withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal.

“There are those who thought with the last administration we sort of walked away from the Middle East, that we were going to create a vacuum that China and or Russia would fill, and we can’t let that happen," he said.

But indirect talks for the U.S. to reenter the deal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-iran-dubai-nuclear-united-arab-emirates-cb297fc7bbe0f59acf5b20cdefe352a7">have stalled</a>&nbsp;as Iran has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-nuclear-united-nations-51cb62796ace2c64ba9278197d9b5464">made rapid gains</a>&nbsp;in developing its nuclear program. That's left the Biden administration increasingly pessimistic about resurrecting the deal, which placed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

At the airport, Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked Biden for championing Israel during his more than 50 years in public office. He then reminded the U.S. president of the “security challenges emanating directly from Iran and its proxies, threatening Israel and its neighbors and endangering our region.”

Israelis seemed determined to underscore the imminent threat from Iran. Soon after he arrived, Biden was briefed on the country’s “Iron Dome” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-naftali-bennett-israel-middle-east-946f3744cfb6afd59a6ce1b053999ae1">new “Iron Beam” missile defense systems.</a>

The president later visited the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-international-news-israel-ap-top-news-f9158489b5c24b0c80473e8f2fc329dc">Yad Vashem</a>&nbsp;memorial to Holocaust victims in Jerusalem.

Biden, wearing a skullcap, was invited to rekindle the eternal flame in the memorial's Hall of Remembrance. Two Marines placed a wreath on the stone crypt containing the ashes of Holocaust victims and Biden listened as a cantor recited the remembrance prayer.

He then greeted two Holocaust survivors, kissing the women on their cheeks. His eyes welled with tears as he chatted with them.

“My mother would say ’God love you, dear,'” Biden told the women.

One of the survivors, Rena Quint, 86, later said she told Biden how her mother and brothers were killed in a death camp. Quint, who was born in Poland, said she was reunited with her father in a male slave labor factory, where she pretended to be a boy. Her father also was murdered. She later was adopted by a childless Jewish couple after she arrived in the United States in 1946.

“Did you see the president hug me?” she asked “He asked permission to kiss me and he kept on holding my hand and we were told not to touch him.”

Biden is set to meet Thursday with Israeli officials, including Lapid, Herzog and opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He'll meet Friday Friday with Palestinian officials.

Biden said he will emphasize in talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders his continued support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but acknowledged that outcome likely wouldn't be feasible “in the near term.”

He maintained that a two-state solution is the best way to ensure a “future of equal measure of freedom, prosperity and democracy for Israelis and Palestinians alike.” His national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Biden would not offer any proposals during the trip aimed at restarting talks.

The White House has also been frustrated with repeated Iran-sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-israel-middle-east-iraq-iran-5c6273b14cc07ef68c6a5f4b57645647">attacks on U.S. troops based in Iraq</a>, though the administration says the frequency of such attacks has dropped precipitously over the last two years. Tehran also backs the rebel Houthis in a bloody war with the Saudis in Yemen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-yemen-middle-east-35773313fc24f039977c670376818077">A U.N.-brokered cease-fire</a>&nbsp;has been in place for more than four months, a fragile peace in a war that began in 2015.

Sullivan said this week that the administration believes Russia is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-iran-jake-sullivan-4a9f1b2749893d8f1ed9f039869cf119">turning to Iran</a>&nbsp;to provide it with hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles, including weapons-capable drones, for use in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">its ongoing war in Ukraine</a>. Sullivan said Wednesday that Iranians showing a willingness to assist Russia is something that should be of great concern to the Israelis, Saudis and other Gulf allies that Biden will be meeting with this week.

“We think that this is of interest, to put it mildly, to countries we will be visiting on this trip,” Sullivan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657763232824.png" alt="The U.S. and Israel are expected Thursday to unveil a joint declaration cementing their close military ties.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. and Israel are expected Thursday to unveil a joint declaration cementing their close military ties.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday opened his first visit to the Mideast since taking office by offering anxious Israeli leaders strong reassurances of his determination to stop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-nuclear-united-nations-51cb62796ace2c64ba9278197d9b5464">Iran’s growing nuclear program,</a>&nbsp;saying he’d be willing to use force as a "last resort."The president's comments came in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 taped before he left Washington and broadcast Wednesday, hours after the country's political leaders welcomed him with a red-carpet arrival ceremony at the Tel Aviv airport.“The only thing worse than the Iran that exists now is an Iran with nuclear weapons,” Biden said. Asked about using military force against Iran, Biden said, “If that was the last resort, yes.”U.S. ally Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy, citing its nuclear program, its calls for Israel’s destruction and its support for hostile militant groups across the region.The U.S. and Israel are expected Thursday to unveil a joint declaration cementing their close military ties and strengthening past calls to take military action to halt Iran’s nuclear program. A senior Israeli official said before Biden arrived that both countries would commit to “using all elements of their national power against the Iranian nuclear threat.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity pending the formal release of the statement.Israeli leaders made clear as they marked Biden’s arrival that Iran's nuclear program was the top item on their agenda.“We will discuss the need to renew a strong global coalition that will stop the Iranian nuclear program,” said Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, as he greeted the Democratic president at the airport ceremony in Tel Aviv.Biden said he would not remove Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, even if that kept Iran from rejoining the Iran nuclear deal.Sanctions on the IRGC, which has carried out regional attacks, have been a sticking point in negotiations to bring Iran back into compliance with the agreement meant to keep it from having a nuclear weapon. Iran announced last week that it has enriched uranium to 60% purity, a technical step away from weapons-grade quality.Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though United Nations experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657763210542.png" alt="Officials show President Biden where to walk as he arrives in Israel on Wednesday- White House&nbsp; photo" />
 <figcaption>Officials show President Biden where to walk as he arrives in Israel on Wednesday- White House&nbsp; photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden's visit to Israel follows the collapse of a coalition-led government headed by Naftali Bennett. The president was greeted by Lapid, the caretaker prime minister who is hoping to hang on to power when Israelis hold their fifth election in three years this fall.Lapid reminded Biden of when they first met roughly eight years earlier. Biden was vice president and Lapid was finance minister.“You said to me, ‘If only I had hair like yours, I would be president' to which I answered, 'And if only I had your height, I would be Prime Minister,” Lapid said.Biden made reviving the Iran nuclear deal, brokered by Barack Obama in 2015 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-iran-cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994">abandoned by Donald Trump in 2018</a>, a key priority as he entered office. Biden said Trump made a “gigantic mistake” by withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal.“There are those who thought with the last administration we sort of walked away from the Middle East, that we were going to create a vacuum that China and or Russia would fill, and we can’t let that happen," he said.But indirect talks for the U.S. to reenter the deal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-iran-dubai-nuclear-united-arab-emirates-cb297fc7bbe0f59acf5b20cdefe352a7">have stalled</a>&nbsp;as Iran has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-nuclear-united-nations-51cb62796ace2c64ba9278197d9b5464">made rapid gains</a>&nbsp;in developing its nuclear program. That's left the Biden administration increasingly pessimistic about resurrecting the deal, which placed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.At the airport, Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked Biden for championing Israel during his more than 50 years in public office. He then reminded the U.S. president of the “security challenges emanating directly from Iran and its proxies, threatening Israel and its neighbors and endangering our region.”Israelis seemed determined to underscore the imminent threat from Iran. Soon after he arrived, Biden was briefed on the country’s “Iron Dome” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-naftali-bennett-israel-middle-east-946f3744cfb6afd59a6ce1b053999ae1">new “Iron Beam” missile defense systems.</a>The president later visited the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-international-news-israel-ap-top-news-f9158489b5c24b0c80473e8f2fc329dc">Yad Vashem</a>&nbsp;memorial to Holocaust victims in Jerusalem.Biden, wearing a skullcap, was invited to rekindle the eternal flame in the memorial's Hall of Remembrance. Two Marines placed a wreath on the stone crypt containing the ashes of Holocaust victims and Biden listened as a cantor recited the remembrance prayer.He then greeted two Holocaust survivors, kissing the women on their cheeks. His eyes welled with tears as he chatted with them.“My mother would say ’God love you, dear,'” Biden told the women.One of the survivors, Rena Quint, 86, later said she told Biden how her mother and brothers were killed in a death camp. Quint, who was born in Poland, said she was reunited with her father in a male slave labor factory, where she pretended to be a boy. Her father also was murdered. She later was adopted by a childless Jewish couple after she arrived in the United States in 1946.“Did you see the president hug me?” she asked “He asked permission to kiss me and he kept on holding my hand and we were told not to touch him.”Biden is set to meet Thursday with Israeli officials, including Lapid, Herzog and opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He'll meet Friday Friday with Palestinian officials.Biden said he will emphasize in talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders his continued support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but acknowledged that outcome likely wouldn't be feasible “in the near term.”He maintained that a two-state solution is the best way to ensure a “future of equal measure of freedom, prosperity and democracy for Israelis and Palestinians alike.” His national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Biden would not offer any proposals during the trip aimed at restarting talks.The White House has also been frustrated with repeated Iran-sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-israel-middle-east-iraq-iran-5c6273b14cc07ef68c6a5f4b57645647">attacks on U.S. troops based in Iraq</a>, though the administration says the frequency of such attacks has dropped precipitously over the last two years. Tehran also backs the rebel Houthis in a bloody war with the Saudis in Yemen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-yemen-middle-east-35773313fc24f039977c670376818077">A U.N.-brokered cease-fire</a>&nbsp;has been in place for more than four months, a fragile peace in a war that began in 2015.Sullivan said this week that the administration believes Russia is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-iran-jake-sullivan-4a9f1b2749893d8f1ed9f039869cf119">turning to Iran</a>&nbsp;to provide it with hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles, including weapons-capable drones, for use in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">its ongoing war in Ukraine</a>. Sullivan said Wednesday that Iranians showing a willingness to assist Russia is something that should be of great concern to the Israelis, Saudis and other Gulf allies that Biden will be meeting with this week.“We think that this is of interest, to put it mildly, to countries we will be visiting on this trip,” Sullivan said.

Biden delivers tough talk on Iran as he opens Mideast visit

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — Attorney General Eric Schmitt said Wednesday that FBI agents will not be allowed to audit concealed carry permits collected by county sheriffs in Missouri.

In a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Schmitt said he had been told that FBI agents planned to visit several county sheriffs departments in August to audit concealed carry weapons permits.

Schmitt, who is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, said a Missouri law prohibits sharing the confidential lists collected by sheriff departments with federal, state or private entities. He also contended allowing federal agents to access the permit records would violate the Second Amendment.

Schmitt said the concealed carry law passed when he was a state senator included the provision that only elected county sheriffs would have access to the permit records because lawmakers “wanted to leave no doubt that the citizens of Missouri have a right to bear arms, and the federal government has no business poking around to find out their identities.”

FBI representatives in Kansas City, St. Louis and Washington D.C. did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In 2013, the Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-politics-missouri-national-rifle-association-jay-nixon-government-and-e995c79811954409a3208d6a883ef6bd">passed a gun law</a>&nbsp;that included a provision transferring responsibility for issuing identification cards for concealed gun permits from driver’s license clerks to local sheriffs after revelations that state agencies provided permit records to federal employees investigating fraud.

KANSAS CITY&nbsp; (AP) — Attorney General Eric Schmitt said Wednesday that FBI agents will not be allowed to audit concealed carry permits collected by county sheriffs in Missouri.In a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Schmitt said he had been told that FBI agents planned to visit several county sheriffs departments in August to audit concealed carry weapons permits.Schmitt, who is a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, said a Missouri law prohibits sharing the confidential lists collected by sheriff departments with federal, state or private entities. He also contended allowing federal agents to access the permit records would violate the Second Amendment.Schmitt said the concealed carry law passed when he was a state senator included the provision that only elected county sheriffs would have access to the permit records because lawmakers “wanted to leave no doubt that the citizens of Missouri have a right to bear arms, and the federal government has no business poking around to find out their identities.”FBI representatives in Kansas City, St. Louis and Washington D.C. did not immediately respond to requests for comment.In 2013, the Legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gun-politics-missouri-national-rifle-association-jay-nixon-government-and-e995c79811954409a3208d6a883ef6bd">passed a gun law</a>&nbsp;that included a provision transferring responsibility for issuing identification cards for concealed gun permits from driver’s license clerks to local sheriffs after revelations that state agencies provided permit records to federal employees investigating fraud.

Missouri AG won't allow FBI to audit concealed carry permits

KANSAS CITY —A judge sentenced a Kansas City man to prison for his murder conviction in the February 2019 fatal shooting of Michael E. Bryan outside a Downtown Kansas City store, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

In April, a judge convicted 45-year-old Timothy Fernandez of Second Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action, after a bench trial in April. 

On Friday, the judge sentenced Fernandez to 27 years on the Murder conviction and five years on the conviction for armed criminal action.

&nbsp;According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to 17th and Grand on the morning of Feb. 5, 2019, regarding a shooting. The victim Michael Bryan was found deceased on the sidewalk. He had suffered gunshot wounds. Surveillance video showed the shooting.

Fernandez and the victim were on the north side of the business. Bryan walked away and the Fernandez drew a gun and shot at him.

 The video also showed the suspect throwing away a tissue after blowing his nose before the shooting. Police recovered the tissue and tested for DNA. 

Police also found a backpack and jacket nearby. DNA from the tissue, and a fingerprint from an item found in the backpack were linked to the suspect and ammunition from the backpack was the same caliber as a bullet recovered from the victim's jacket.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1603659651049.png" alt="Fernandez-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Fernandez-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A judge sentenced a Kansas City man to prison for his murder conviction in the February 2019 fatal shooting of Michael E. Bryan outside a Downtown Kansas City store, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.In April, a judge convicted 45-year-old Timothy Fernandez of Second Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action, after a bench trial in April. On Friday, the judge sentenced Fernandez to 27 years on the Murder conviction and five years on the conviction for armed criminal action.The sentences are to run concurrently.&nbsp;According to court records, Kansas City police were dispatched to 17th and Grand on the morning of Feb. 5, 2019, regarding a shooting. The victim Michael Bryan was found deceased on the sidewalk. He had suffered gunshot wounds. Surveillance video showed the shooting.Fernandez and the victim were on the north side of the business. Bryan walked away and the Fernandez drew a gun and shot at him. The video also showed the suspect throwing away a tissue after blowing his nose before the shooting. Police recovered the tissue and tested for DNA. Police also found a backpack and jacket nearby. DNA from the tissue, and a fingerprint from an item found in the backpack were linked to the suspect and ammunition from the backpack was the same caliber as a bullet recovered from the victim's jacket.&nbsp;

Discarded Kleenex led to 27-years in prison for Kansas City man

BARTON COUNTY —A Kansas man found an unexploded artillery shell in rural Barton County.

Just after 8 p.m. Monday, Barton County 911 was notified an individual had found what appeared to be a live artillery shell.

Several months ago, while conducting haying operations, a citizen discovered the round in a field near the airport west of Great Bend, according to a media release from the sheriff's office.

 It was picked up and put in a pickup truck and basically forgotten about. On Monday evening the citizen contacted a relative who is familiar with explosives. The relative advised him to get it out of the truck and call 911. 

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office was notified and responded to a location in the 200 block of Northwest 130 Avenue where the munition was located in a farm driveway.

Examination of the item revealed no fuse was present in the nose, although the shell was filled with an unknown substance, possibly an explosive charge, and appeared to be sealed. The Wichita Police Department Bomb Squad was contacted, and it was decided the Sheriff's Office would transport the item to the Sheriff’s Office range until the bomb squad would arrive on Tuesday, July 12.

On Tuesday, the item was retrieved by a bomb squad member and taken to Wichita for x-ray examination. As of this time it is unknown if the round contained an explosive charge.

Local World War II historians believe the round is from a 75 mm recoilless rifle, possibly used at the Army Air Base west of Great Bend. Because of military and oilfield operations in Barton County over the years, it is not uncommon for citizens to locate unused explosives or military ordnance. 

If you discover what you believe to be dangerous items, contact 911 or law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657723292171.jpeg" alt="Photos Barton County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Barton County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —A Kansas man found an unexploded artillery shell in rural Barton County.Just after 8 p.m. Monday, Barton County 911 was notified an individual had found what appeared to be a live artillery shell.Several months ago, while conducting haying operations, a citizen discovered the round in a field near the airport west of Great Bend, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. It was picked up and put in a pickup truck and basically forgotten about. On Monday evening the citizen contacted a relative who is familiar with explosives. The relative advised him to get it out of the truck and call 911. The Barton County Sheriff’s Office was notified and responded to a location in the 200 block of Northwest 130 Avenue where the munition was located in a farm driveway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657723370869.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Examination of the item revealed no fuse was present in the nose, although the shell was filled with an unknown substance, possibly an explosive charge, and appeared to be sealed. The Wichita Police Department Bomb Squad was contacted, and it was decided the Sheriff's Office would transport the item to the Sheriff’s Office range until the bomb squad would arrive on Tuesday, July 12.On Tuesday, the item was retrieved by a bomb squad member and taken to Wichita for x-ray examination. As of this time it is unknown if the round contained an explosive charge.Local World War II historians believe the round is from a 75 mm recoilless rifle, possibly used at the Army Air Base west of Great Bend. Because of military and oilfield operations in Barton County over the years, it is not uncommon for citizens to locate unused explosives or military ordnance. If you discover what you believe to be dangerous items, contact 911 or law enforcement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657723386061.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Sheriff: Bomb squad examines artillery shell found in Kansas field

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Japan’s Panasonic Corp. selected Kansas as the location for a multibillion-dollar mega-factory to produce electric vehicle batteries for Tesla and other carmakers, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday.

The decision comes five months after the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature rushed to approve a taxpayer-funded incentive package of as much as $1 billion, the state’s largest ever, to attract the company and the promised “thousands of jobs,” even though most of them didn’t know what company was in play. Kelly said Wednesday that the actual incentives will total $829 million over 10 years.

The plant will be located in De Soto, Kansas, a town with about 6,000 people and 30 miles southwest of Kansas City, Missouri.

“People across the country are looking at Kansas as a leader in economic development,” Kelly told a gathering of about 250 state officials and business leaders in downtown Topeka Wednesday.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported this year that the company was looking to build the factory in Kansas or Oklahoma, close to Texas, where Tesla is building an electric-vehicle plant. The two companies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6ba11f57b5ee420d934ee5868b85c25b">jointly operate a battery plant</a>&nbsp;in Nevada.

Kelly’s administration said the facility it was pursuing would be the largest economic development project in Kansas history. They said the company would employ 4,000 people and that other businesses supplying or supporting it would add several thousand more jobs. They said the company would pay an average of $50,000, which would far exceed Kansas’ median income for individuals of less than $32,000.

Kelly pushed for the permission to offer tax credits, payroll subsidies and training funds to lure what her administration said was a $4 billion project that at least one other state was also pursuing.

The measure requires the state to cut its corporate tax rates by half a percentage point for every big deal closed so that all businesses benefit. That would save companies roughly $100 million a year and drop the state’s top rate to 6% from 7% if two deals close.

Backers of the measure argued that Kansas has lost out on other large projects because it couldn’t offer generous enough incentives.

Oklahoma’s Republican-controlled Legislature approved an incentive package this year to offer rebates of up to nearly $700 million in state funds if Panasonic reached specific benchmarks, including at least a $4.5 billion capital expenditure and the creation of at least 4,000 jobs during the project’s first four years. State officials say that money could be returned to the general fund or used to lure another major project.

Ohio recently offered Intel Corp. incentives worth roughly $2 billion to secure a new $20 billion chipmaking factory. Michigan lawmakers in December approved $1 billion in incentives, two-thirds of it for General Motors for plants to assemble batteries for electric vehicles.

Electric vehicle maker Canoo has announced plans to open a factory in northeastern Oklahoma next year that is expected to create 2,000 jobs.

But Wisconsin scaled back incentives for electronics giant Foxconn. It was supposed to invest $10 billion there and create 13,000 jobs but the deal now is for about 1,450 jobs with an investment of $672 million by 2026.

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday&nbsp; that&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA3MTMuNjA3MjY1ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NhcmVlcnMubmEucGFuYXNvbmljLmNvbS9pbmR1c3RyaWVzL3BhbmFzb25pYy1lbmVyZ3ktbm9ydGgtYW1lcmljYSJ9.8Si2mbOd7k3X6dAYry38UotL3Rpz4ov932FlvBJw5JA/s/1303160919/br/140673138329-l" target="_blank">Panasonic&nbsp;Energy Co., Ltd.,</a>&nbsp;plans to build one of the largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facilities of its kind in the United States in Kansas. Pending approval by Panasonic Holdings Corporation Board of Directors, the company has identified a site in De Soto for the potential project.

The planned project is expected to create up to 4,000 new jobs and result in an investment of up to $4 billion, which represents the largest economic development project in Kansas history. The development will have ripple effects throughout the regional and state economy, supporting an estimated 4,000 additional jobs created by suppliers and community businesses and 16,500 construction jobs as cited in an independent Wichita State University economic impact study.

“As the largest private investment in Kansas history and one of the largest EV battery manufacturing plants of its kind in the country, this project will be transformative for our state’s economy, providing in total 8,000 high-quality jobs that will help more Kansans create better lives for themselves and their children,” said&nbsp;Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “Winning this project shows that Kansas has what it takes to compete on a global scale -- and that our pro-business climate is driving the technological innovation needed to achieve a more prosperous and sustainable future.”

This planned state-of-the-art facility will create and supply lithium-ion batteries and accelerate the future of electric vehicle innovation on a global scale. Panasonic Energy’s current U.S. battery manufacturing operation has shipped more than six billion EV battery cells. Panasonic Energy plans to expand its production of EV batteries as the automotive industry shifts to more sustainable electric technologies. The proposed development would boost the regional economy, creating opportunities for suppliers and community businesses.

"With the increased electrification of the automotive market, expanding battery production in the U.S. is critical to help meet demand," said&nbsp;Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Energy. "Given our leading technology and depth of experience, we aim to continue driving growth of the lithium-ion battery industry and accelerating towards a net-zero emissions future.”

Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland&nbsp;noted competition for this milestone project was strong and required a coordinated effort from the state. A key component of that undertaking was the enactment of the bipartisan Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) Act earlier this year.

“Once Governor Kelly signed APEX into law,”&nbsp;Toland&nbsp;said, “the state gained the necessary economic development tool to pursue megaprojects that could transform the Kansas economy. Panasonic recognized Kansas as not just a contender, but as the ideal partner for this revolutionary project.”

Panasonic Energy selected Kansas due to its business-friendly climate, robust talent pool and workforce skillset, support of technology innovation, strong transportation infrastructure, and central location. This builds on Kansas City’s legacy manufacturing and automotive industry strengths.

“With this major development, Kansas is being recognized around the world for our talented workforce, innovative environment, and quality of life,” said&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.). “Panasonic will bring thousands of good-paying, high-quality jobs to our state which will be a massive economic benefit for local businesses and our communities for decades to come. With the goal of making Kansas a destination for industry, defense, education, science, technology, engineering, and innovation, we will keep our students, their knowledge and intellect in Kansas.”

Kansas has an established battery manufacturing sector with seven establishments employing approximately 1,300 individuals. The state was ranked second in the nation for employment and wage concentration in the sector in 2021. With the opportunity to potentially add an additional 4,000 jobs, this deal will make Kansas an industry leader at a time when the sector is predicted to grow at an annualized rate of 2.4 percent.

“Kansas is proving itself to be an attractive place where entrepreneurs can unleash innovation and create jobs,” said&nbsp;Senator Ty Masterson, President of the Kansas Senate. “The Panasonic announcement shows that attraction is global.”

“When the Kansas Legislature passed the APEX legislation, this was the kind of megaproject we had in mind,” said&nbsp;Representative Ron Ryckman, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives.

The proposed Panasonic project is the latest economic development win recently announced by the state:

“On behalf of the City Council and the community, I am thrilled to welcome Panasonic Energy to De Soto. The scale of Panasonic Energy’s investment in our community will usher in unprecedented generational economic prosperity for the state and region,” said&nbsp;De Soto Mayor Rick Walker. “We are honored to be part of it.”

The Kansas City region is the third fastest-growing tech market in the U.S. and is a nucleus of engineering, technology, and automotive manufacturing expertise. With a strong talent pipeline and cutting-edge training programs, the Kansas City market employs nearly 21,000 workers who contribute to the $19 billion KC transportation manufacturing industry.

“Panasonic Energy made the right choice to select the Kansas City region due to our market’s strengths in EV and tech innovation,” said&nbsp;Tim Cowden, President and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council. “This announcement, alongside FIFA’s selection of KC as 2026 World Cup host city, our new single-terminal airport coming online and global tech companies investing in the market, reinforces the transformational success our region is having on a global scale.”

“The electric vehicle industry is expected to grow eight times its size in less than 10 years, which is an incredible opportunity for states, communities and energy partners to support leading, innovative technology companies,” said&nbsp;David Campbell, President and CEO of Evergy. On behalf of our region’s business community, we are very excited to welcome Panasonic Energy to Kansas and the Kansas City Region, and we look forward to supporting your long-term success.”

The following organizations supported the recruitment of Panasonic Energy to Kansas: Kansas Department of Commerce; Kansas Department of Transportation; Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Kansas Department of Children and Families; the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan; the U.S. Embassy to Tokyo; Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund; City of De Soto; De Soto Economic Development Council; Evergy; Sunflower Development Group; KC SmartPort; Johnson County Community College; Kansas City, Kansas Community College; Peaslee Tech; University of Kansas; Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; and Kansas City Area Development Council.

To learn more about the project, its economic impact, and incentives package, read a one-pager&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA3MTMuNjA3MjY1ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjIvMDcvRklOQUwtT05FLVBBR0VSLU9DRUFOLnBkZiJ9.g81VPHDiPT2syu-MmMJFgO8gzChB_uT0w-MtXk_GCw4/s/1303160919/br/140673138329-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657752789390.png" alt="“People across the country are looking at Kansas as a leader in economic development,” Kelly told a gathering of about 250 state officials and business leaders in downtown Topeka Wednesday." />
 <figcaption>“People across the country are looking at Kansas as a leader in economic development,” Kelly told a gathering of about 250 state officials and business leaders in downtown Topeka Wednesday.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Japan’s Panasonic Corp. selected Kansas as the location for a multibillion-dollar mega-factory to produce electric vehicle batteries for Tesla and other carmakers, Gov. Laura Kelly announced Wednesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At 5:00 pm today, I will be making a major announcement. Watch the livestream: <a href="https://t.co/iiH69UjuMm">https://t.co/iiH69UjuMm</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1547336210082926592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The decision comes five months after the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature rushed to approve a taxpayer-funded incentive package of as much as $1 billion, the state’s largest ever, to attract the company and the promised “thousands of jobs,” even though most of them didn’t know what company was in play. Kelly said Wednesday that the actual incentives will total $829 million over 10 years.The plant will be located in De Soto, Kansas, a town with about 6,000 people and 30 miles southwest of Kansas City, Missouri.“People across the country are looking at Kansas as a leader in economic development,” Kelly told a gathering of about 250 state officials and business leaders in downtown Topeka Wednesday.Japanese broadcaster NHK reported this year that the company was looking to build the factory in Kansas or Oklahoma, close to Texas, where Tesla is building an electric-vehicle plant. The two companies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6ba11f57b5ee420d934ee5868b85c25b">jointly operate a battery plant</a>&nbsp;in Nevada.Kelly’s administration said the facility it was pursuing would be the largest economic development project in Kansas history. They said the company would employ 4,000 people and that other businesses supplying or supporting it would add several thousand more jobs. They said the company would pay an average of $50,000, which would far exceed Kansas’ median income for individuals of less than $32,000.Kelly pushed for the permission to offer tax credits, payroll subsidies and training funds to lure what her administration said was a $4 billion project that at least one other state was also pursuing.The measure requires the state to cut its corporate tax rates by half a percentage point for every big deal closed so that all businesses benefit. That would save companies roughly $100 million a year and drop the state’s top rate to 6% from 7% if two deals close.Backers of the measure argued that Kansas has lost out on other large projects because it couldn’t offer generous enough incentives.Oklahoma’s Republican-controlled Legislature approved an incentive package this year to offer rebates of up to nearly $700 million in state funds if Panasonic reached specific benchmarks, including at least a $4.5 billion capital expenditure and the creation of at least 4,000 jobs during the project’s first four years. State officials say that money could be returned to the general fund or used to lure another major project.Ohio recently offered Intel Corp. incentives worth roughly $2 billion to secure a new $20 billion chipmaking factory. Michigan lawmakers in December approved $1 billion in incentives, two-thirds of it for General Motors for plants to assemble batteries for electric vehicles.Electric vehicle maker Canoo has announced plans to open a factory in northeastern Oklahoma next year that is expected to create 2,000 jobs.But Wisconsin scaled back incentives for electronics giant Foxconn. It was supposed to invest $10 billion there and create 13,000 jobs but the deal now is for about 1,450 jobs with an investment of $672 million by 2026.----------TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday&nbsp; that&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA3MTMuNjA3MjY1ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2NhcmVlcnMubmEucGFuYXNvbmljLmNvbS9pbmR1c3RyaWVzL3BhbmFzb25pYy1lbmVyZ3ktbm9ydGgtYW1lcmljYSJ9.8Si2mbOd7k3X6dAYry38UotL3Rpz4ov932FlvBJw5JA/s/1303160919/br/140673138329-l" target="_blank">Panasonic&nbsp;Energy Co., Ltd.,</a>&nbsp;plans to build one of the largest electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing facilities of its kind in the United States in Kansas. Pending approval by Panasonic Holdings Corporation Board of Directors, the company has identified a site in De Soto for the potential project.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At 5:00 pm today, I will be making a major announcement. Watch the livestream: <a href="https://t.co/iiH69UjuMm">https://t.co/iiH69UjuMm</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1547336210082926592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The planned project is expected to create up to 4,000 new jobs and result in an investment of up to $4 billion, which represents the largest economic development project in Kansas history. The development will have ripple effects throughout the regional and state economy, supporting an estimated 4,000 additional jobs created by suppliers and community businesses and 16,500 construction jobs as cited in an independent Wichita State University economic impact study.“As the largest private investment in Kansas history and one of the largest EV battery manufacturing plants of its kind in the country, this project will be transformative for our state’s economy, providing in total 8,000 high-quality jobs that will help more Kansans create better lives for themselves and their children,” said&nbsp;Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “Winning this project shows that Kansas has what it takes to compete on a global scale -- and that our pro-business climate is driving the technological innovation needed to achieve a more prosperous and sustainable future.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657752649274.png" alt="A large crowd attended Wednesday's announcement" />
 <figcaption>A large crowd attended Wednesday's announcement</figcaption>
 </figure>This planned state-of-the-art facility will create and supply lithium-ion batteries and accelerate the future of electric vehicle innovation on a global scale. Panasonic Energy’s current U.S. battery manufacturing operation has shipped more than six billion EV battery cells. Panasonic Energy plans to expand its production of EV batteries as the automotive industry shifts to more sustainable electric technologies. The proposed development would boost the regional economy, creating opportunities for suppliers and community businesses."With the increased electrification of the automotive market, expanding battery production in the U.S. is critical to help meet demand," said&nbsp;Kazuo Tadanobu, President, CEO of Panasonic Energy. "Given our leading technology and depth of experience, we aim to continue driving growth of the lithium-ion battery industry and accelerating towards a net-zero emissions future.”Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland&nbsp;noted competition for this milestone project was strong and required a coordinated effort from the state. A key component of that undertaking was the enactment of the bipartisan Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) Act earlier this year.“Once Governor Kelly signed APEX into law,”&nbsp;Toland&nbsp;said, “the state gained the necessary economic development tool to pursue megaprojects that could transform the Kansas economy. Panasonic recognized Kansas as not just a contender, but as the ideal partner for this revolutionary project.”Panasonic Energy selected Kansas due to its business-friendly climate, robust talent pool and workforce skillset, support of technology innovation, strong transportation infrastructure, and central location. This builds on Kansas City’s legacy manufacturing and automotive industry strengths.“With this major development, Kansas is being recognized around the world for our talented workforce, innovative environment, and quality of life,” said&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.). “Panasonic will bring thousands of good-paying, high-quality jobs to our state which will be a massive economic benefit for local businesses and our communities for decades to come. With the goal of making Kansas a destination for industry, defense, education, science, technology, engineering, and innovation, we will keep our students, their knowledge and intellect in Kansas.”Kansas has an established battery manufacturing sector with seven establishments employing approximately 1,300 individuals. The state was ranked second in the nation for employment and wage concentration in the sector in 2021. With the opportunity to potentially add an additional 4,000 jobs, this deal will make Kansas an industry leader at a time when the sector is predicted to grow at an annualized rate of 2.4 percent.“Kansas is proving itself to be an attractive place where entrepreneurs can unleash innovation and create jobs,” said&nbsp;Senator Ty Masterson, President of the Kansas Senate. “The Panasonic announcement shows that attraction is global.”“When the Kansas Legislature passed the APEX legislation, this was the kind of megaproject we had in mind,” said&nbsp;Representative Ron Ryckman, Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives.The proposed Panasonic project is the latest economic development win recently announced by the state:<ul>
 <li>Last month, Governor Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA3MTMuNjA3MjY1ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yva2Fuc2FzLXN1cnBhc3Nlcy05LWJpbGxpb24taW4tbmV3LWVjb25vbWljLWRldmVsb3BtZW50LWludmVzdG1lbnQtc2luY2Utc3RhcnQtb2Yta2VsbHktYWRtaW5pc3RyYXRpb24vIzp-OnRleHQ9SnVuJTIwMjclMkMlMjAyMDIyLSxLYW5zYXMlMjBTdXJwYXNzZXMlMjAlMjQ5JTIwQmlsbGlvbiUyMGluJTIwTmV3JTIwRWNvbm9taWMlMjBEZXZlbG9wbWVudCUyMEludmVzdG1lbnQlMjBTaW5jZSxpbnZlc3RtZW50cyUyMGJ5JTIwcHJpdmF0ZSUyMHNlY3RvciUyMGJ1c2luZXNzZXMuIn0.5nvZPTcmWi2Dcj1qzBWPVTdfo7jeYLvrr4q7RxqzZnE/s/1303160919/br/140673138329-l" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;the state surpassed $9 billion new, private-sector investments since January 2019 resulting in more than 43,500 jobs being created or retained.</li><li>Also in June, Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.Lcej7JwReADlZemSrSsI7dMScosKL6xTj9SqPXmN2bg/s/1303160919/br/140673138329-l" target="_blank">was awarded</a>&nbsp;Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel Award for the second year in a row. The back-to-back wins are unprecedented in state history.</li><li>In March, Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDQsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA3MTMuNjA3MjY1ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3YvaWN5bWktdW5kZXItZ292ZXJub3ItbGF1cmEta2VsbHkta2Fuc2FzLXdpbnMtZmlyc3QtZ292ZXJub3JzLWN1cC8ifQ.tdFfi_8zAxwnW0CHr3LEAC0soKNXDJ5qbq-6YDRn9lw/s/1303160919/br/140673138329-l" target="_blank">won</a>&nbsp;the Governor’s Cup from Site Selection Magazine for having the country's most economic development investment per capita.</li>
 </ul>“On behalf of the City Council and the community, I am thrilled to welcome Panasonic Energy to De Soto. The scale of Panasonic Energy’s investment in our community will usher in unprecedented generational economic prosperity for the state and region,” said&nbsp;De Soto Mayor Rick Walker. “We are honored to be part of it.”The Kansas City region is the third fastest-growing tech market in the U.S. and is a nucleus of engineering, technology, and automotive manufacturing expertise. With a strong talent pipeline and cutting-edge training programs, the Kansas City market employs nearly 21,000 workers who contribute to the $19 billion KC transportation manufacturing industry.“Panasonic Energy made the right choice to select the Kansas City region due to our market’s strengths in EV and tech innovation,” said&nbsp;Tim Cowden, President and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council. “This announcement, alongside FIFA’s selection of KC as 2026 World Cup host city, our new single-terminal airport coming online and global tech companies investing in the market, reinforces the transformational success our region is having on a global scale.”“The electric vehicle industry is expected to grow eight times its size in less than 10 years, which is an incredible opportunity for states, communities and energy partners to support leading, innovative technology companies,” said&nbsp;David Campbell, President and CEO of Evergy. On behalf of our region’s business community, we are very excited to welcome Panasonic Energy to Kansas and the Kansas City Region, and we look forward to supporting your long-term success.”The following organizations supported the recruitment of Panasonic Energy to Kansas: Kansas Department of Commerce; Kansas Department of Transportation; Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Kansas Department of Children and Families; the Honorable Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan; the U.S. Embassy to Tokyo; Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund; City of De Soto; De Soto Economic Development Council; Evergy; Sunflower Development Group; KC SmartPort; Johnson County Community College; Kansas City, Kansas Community College; Peaslee Tech; University of Kansas; Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; and Kansas City Area Development Council.To learn more about the project, its economic impact, and incentives package, read a one-pager&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDUsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA3MTMuNjA3MjY1ODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjIvMDcvRklOQUwtT05FLVBBR0VSLU9DRUFOLnBkZiJ9.g81VPHDiPT2syu-MmMJFgO8gzChB_uT0w-MtXk_GCw4/s/1303160919/br/140673138329-l" target="_blank">here</a>.

🎥 Panasonic selects Kansas for vehicle battery mega-factory

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A hearing is set for Thursday for the man arrested for hitting four members of a Nickerson family, killing one and critically injuring two others.

Court records show 33-year-old Michael Hurley is set to appear in district court at 12 p.m. CDT on four counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of driving impared and no drivers license. One of the aggravated assault charges will likely be amended to a charge of murder.

Hurley hit Nickerson school teacher and coach Trey Jones, his wife, current Assistant Superintendent Amy Jones and their two children who were standing on the sidewalk. Trey died last week of his injuries while both Ava and Amy were in critical condition. Another child was not seriously injured.

There is still some question on how this case will move through the Kentucky legal system. If Hurley is charged with murder, it will likely be heard in what is called commonwealth court which is a higher court in the state that handles serious felony cases. What happens to the other potential charges would be taken up then.

The count of murder was expected to be filed before Hurley's Thursday hearing.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657123638963.jpeg" alt="Michael Hurley-photo Louisville Police" />
 <figcaption>Michael Hurley-photo Louisville Police</figcaption>
 </figure>LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A hearing is set for Thursday for the man arrested for hitting four members of a Nickerson family, killing one and critically injuring two others.Court records show 33-year-old Michael Hurley is set to appear in district court at 12 p.m. CDT on four counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of driving impared and no drivers license. One of the aggravated assault charges will likely be amended to a charge of murder.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657310781672.jpeg" alt="Trey, Ava and Amy Jones" />
 <figcaption>Trey, Ava and Amy Jones</figcaption>
 </figure>Hurley hit Nickerson school teacher and coach Trey Jones, his wife, current Assistant Superintendent Amy Jones and their two children who were standing on the sidewalk. Trey died last week of his injuries while both Ava and Amy were in critical condition. Another child was not seriously injured.There is still some question on how this case will move through the Kentucky legal system. If Hurley is charged with murder, it will likely be heard in what is called commonwealth court which is a higher court in the state that handles serious felony cases. What happens to the other potential charges would be taken up then.The count of murder was expected to be filed before Hurley's Thursday hearing.&nbsp;

Suspect in fatal crash involving Kan. family due back in court

DENVER (AP) — People have a right protected by the First Amendment to film police while they work, a Western U.S. appeals court ruled Monday in a decision that concurs with decisions made by six of the nation’s other 12 appeals court.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruling came in the case of a YouTube journalist and blogger who claimed that a suburban Denver officer blocked him from recording a 2019 traffic stop. Citing decisions from the other courts over about two decades as well as First Amendment principles, the 10th Circuit said the right to record police was clearly established at the time and reinstated the lawsuit of the blogger, Abade Irizarry.

A three-judge panel from the court said that “Mr. Irizarry’s right to film the police falls squarely within the First Amendment’s core purposes to protect free and robust discussion of public affairs, hold government officials accountable, and check abuse of power.”

While bystander video has played a vital role in uncovering examples of police misconduct in recent years, including in the killing of George Floyd, whether or not it is a right is still being determined in courts and debated by lawmakers.

The nation's five other appeals courts have not ruled yet on the right to record police and the U.S. Supreme Court would likely not get involved in the issue unless appeals courts were on opposite sides of the issue, said Alan Chen, a University of Denver law professor and one of the First Amendment experts also urged the appeals court to rule in favor of the right of people to record police.

Meanwhile, Arizona’s Republican governor last week signed a law that makes it illegal to knowingly video record police officers 8 feet (2.5 meters) or closer without an officer’s permission.

In the Colorado case, a lower court had said there was a right to record police but did not think it was clearly established in 2019 so it blocked the officer from being sued because of the controversial legal doctrine called “qualified immunity.” It shields police officers from misconduct lawsuits unless lawyers can show that the officers were on notice that their actions violated the law at the time.

U.S. government lawyers&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/government%20lawyers%20joined%20the%20case%20to%20support%20the%20public's%20right%20to%20record%20police.">intervened in Irizarry's appeal to support the public’s right to record police in the 10th Circuit,</a>&nbsp;which oversees four western and two midwestern states — Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah — as well as parts of Yellowstone National Park that lie in Idaho and Montana.

Irizarry's lawyer, Andrew Tutt, said the ruling will protect the right of every citizen under the court's jurisdiction to record police carrying out their duties.

“Today’s decision also adds to the consensus of authority on this important issue, bringing us a step closer to the day when this right is recognized and protected everywhere in the United States,” he said.

In his lawsuit, Irizarry said he was filming a police traffic stop in the city of Lakewood when he claimed Officer Ahmed Yehia stood in front of the camera to block Irizarry from recording. The officer shined a flashlight into Irizarry’s camera and the camera of another blogger. Then Yehia left the two, got into his cruiser and sped the cruiser toward the two bloggers, the lawsuit said. The cruiser swerved before reaching the bloggers and they were not hit, according to the lawsuit.

A telephone message left in the Lakewood city attorney’s office, which represented Yehia, was not returned.

Even though the court said the right to record police existed in 2019, the ruling will mostly have an impact going forward since lawsuits for police misconduct must be brought within two or three years in most states, Chen said.

DENVER (AP) — People have a right protected by the First Amendment to film police while they work, a Western U.S. appeals court ruled Monday in a decision that concurs with decisions made by six of the nation’s other 12 appeals court.The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruling came in the case of a YouTube journalist and blogger who claimed that a suburban Denver officer blocked him from recording a 2019 traffic stop. Citing decisions from the other courts over about two decades as well as First Amendment principles, the 10th Circuit said the right to record police was clearly established at the time and reinstated the lawsuit of the blogger, Abade Irizarry.A three-judge panel from the court said that “Mr. Irizarry’s right to film the police falls squarely within the First Amendment’s core purposes to protect free and robust discussion of public affairs, hold government officials accountable, and check abuse of power.”While bystander video has played a vital role in uncovering examples of police misconduct in recent years, including in the killing of George Floyd, whether or not it is a right is still being determined in courts and debated by lawmakers.The nation's five other appeals courts have not ruled yet on the right to record police and the U.S. Supreme Court would likely not get involved in the issue unless appeals courts were on opposite sides of the issue, said Alan Chen, a University of Denver law professor and one of the First Amendment experts also urged the appeals court to rule in favor of the right of people to record police.Meanwhile, Arizona’s Republican governor last week signed a law that makes it illegal to knowingly video record police officers 8 feet (2.5 meters) or closer without an officer’s permission.In the Colorado case, a lower court had said there was a right to record police but did not think it was clearly established in 2019 so it blocked the officer from being sued because of the controversial legal doctrine called “qualified immunity.” It shields police officers from misconduct lawsuits unless lawyers can show that the officers were on notice that their actions violated the law at the time.U.S. government lawyers&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/government%20lawyers%20joined%20the%20case%20to%20support%20the%20public's%20right%20to%20record%20police.">intervened in Irizarry's appeal to support the public’s right to record police in the 10th Circuit,</a>&nbsp;which oversees four western and two midwestern states — Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and Utah — as well as parts of Yellowstone National Park that lie in Idaho and Montana.Irizarry's lawyer, Andrew Tutt, said the ruling will protect the right of every citizen under the court's jurisdiction to record police carrying out their duties.“Today’s decision also adds to the consensus of authority on this important issue, bringing us a step closer to the day when this right is recognized and protected everywhere in the United States,” he said.In his lawsuit, Irizarry said he was filming a police traffic stop in the city of Lakewood when he claimed Officer Ahmed Yehia stood in front of the camera to block Irizarry from recording. The officer shined a flashlight into Irizarry’s camera and the camera of another blogger. Then Yehia left the two, got into his cruiser and sped the cruiser toward the two bloggers, the lawsuit said. The cruiser swerved before reaching the bloggers and they were not hit, according to the lawsuit.A telephone message left in the Lakewood city attorney’s office, which represented Yehia, was not returned.Even though the court said the right to record police existed in 2019, the ruling will mostly have an impact going forward since lawsuits for police misconduct must be brought within two or three years in most states, Chen said.

Another US appeals court upholds right to record police

The United State's Justice Department announced the establishment of the Reproductive Rights Task Force.

The Task Force formalizes an existing working group and efforts by the Department over the last several months to identify ways to protect access to reproductive health care in anticipation of the possibility of the Supreme Court overturning&nbsp;Roe v. Wade&nbsp;and&nbsp;Planned Parenthood v. Casey, according to the United State's Attorney's office.

Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta will chair the Task Force, which will consist of representatives from the Department’s Civil Division, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney community, Office of the Solicitor General, Office for Access to Justice, Office of Legal Counsel, Office of Legal Policy, Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of the Associate Attorney General, Office of the Deputy Attorney General and Office of the Attorney General and will be supported by dedicated staff.

“As Attorney General Garland has said, the Supreme Court’s&nbsp;Dobbs&nbsp;decision is a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-statement-supreme-court-ruling-dobbs-v-jackson-women-s">devastating blow to reproductive freedom</a>&nbsp;in the United States,” said Associate Attorney General Gupta. “The Court abandoned 50 years of precedent and took away the constitutional right to abortion, preventing women all over the country from being able to make critical decisions about our bodies, our health, and our futures. The Justice Department is committed to protecting access to reproductive services.”

The Task Force will monitor and evaluate all state and local legislation and enforcement actions that threaten to:

The Task Force will identify such actions and coordinate appropriate federal government responses, including proactive and defensive legal action where appropriate. The Task Force will work with agencies across the federal government to support their work on issues relating to reproductive rights and access to reproductive healthcare.&nbsp;

The Justice Department is working with external stakeholders such as reproductive services providers, advocates and state attorneys general. The Task Force will continue this important effort. It will also work with the Office of Counsel to the President to convene a meeting of private pro bono attorneys, bar associations and public interest organizations in order to encourage lawyers to represent and assist patients, providers and third parties lawfully seeking reproductive health services throughout the country. In order to assist attorneys working to protect access to comprehensive reproductive health services, the Task Force will centralize online legal resources, such as filed Justice Department legal briefs and information about the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

Recognizing that the best way to protect reproductive freedom is through congressional action, the Task Force will also coordinate providing technical assistance to Congress in connection with federal legislation to codify reproductive rights and ensure access to comprehensive reproductive services. It will also coordinate the provision of technical assistance concerning Federal constitutional protections to states seeking to afford legal protection to out-of-state patients and providers who offer legal reproductive healthcare.

The United State's Justice Department announced the establishment of the Reproductive Rights Task Force.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5t7nnH5nfWs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The Task Force formalizes an existing working group and efforts by the Department over the last several months to identify ways to protect access to reproductive health care in anticipation of the possibility of the Supreme Court overturning&nbsp;Roe v. Wade&nbsp;and&nbsp;Planned Parenthood v. Casey, according to the United State's Attorney's office.Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta will chair the Task Force, which will consist of representatives from the Department’s Civil Division, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney community, Office of the Solicitor General, Office for Access to Justice, Office of Legal Counsel, Office of Legal Policy, Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of the Associate Attorney General, Office of the Deputy Attorney General and Office of the Attorney General and will be supported by dedicated staff.“As Attorney General Garland has said, the Supreme Court’s&nbsp;Dobbs&nbsp;decision is a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-statement-supreme-court-ruling-dobbs-v-jackson-women-s">devastating blow to reproductive freedom</a>&nbsp;in the United States,” said Associate Attorney General Gupta. “The Court abandoned 50 years of precedent and took away the constitutional right to abortion, preventing women all over the country from being able to make critical decisions about our bodies, our health, and our futures. The Justice Department is committed to protecting access to reproductive services.”The Task Force will monitor and evaluate all state and local legislation and enforcement actions that threaten to:<ul>
 <li>Infringe on federal legal protections relating to the provision or pursuit of reproductive care;</li><li>Impair women’s ability to seek reproductive care in states where it is legal;</li><li>Impair individuals’ ability to inform and counsel each other about the reproductive care that is available in other states;</li><li>Ban Mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDA’s expert judgment about its safety and efficacy; or</li><li>Impose criminal or civil liability on federal employees who provide reproductive health services in a manner authorized by federal law.</li>
 </ul>The Task Force will identify such actions and coordinate appropriate federal government responses, including proactive and defensive legal action where appropriate. The Task Force will work with agencies across the federal government to support their work on issues relating to reproductive rights and access to reproductive healthcare.&nbsp;The Justice Department is working with external stakeholders such as reproductive services providers, advocates and state attorneys general. The Task Force will continue this important effort. It will also work with the Office of Counsel to the President to convene a meeting of private pro bono attorneys, bar associations and public interest organizations in order to encourage lawyers to represent and assist patients, providers and third parties lawfully seeking reproductive health services throughout the country. In order to assist attorneys working to protect access to comprehensive reproductive health services, the Task Force will centralize online legal resources, such as filed Justice Department legal briefs and information about the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.Recognizing that the best way to protect reproductive freedom is through congressional action, the Task Force will also coordinate providing technical assistance to Congress in connection with federal legislation to codify reproductive rights and ensure access to comprehensive reproductive services. It will also coordinate the provision of technical assistance concerning Federal constitutional protections to states seeking to afford legal protection to out-of-state patients and providers who offer legal reproductive healthcare.

🎥Justice Department launches Reproductive Rights Task Force

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;7,346 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday July 6 to Wednesday July 13, for a total of&nbsp; 819,675 cases.

Th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;-4&nbsp; COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,957

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

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

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

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

The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Health reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;7,346 new coronavirus cases in Kansas from Wednesday July 6 to Wednesday July 13, for a total of&nbsp; 819,675 cases.Th<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1529/June-15-Case-Summary-PDF?bidId=">e state reported&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;-4&nbsp; COVID-19 deaths in the past week for a total of 8,957<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657733694850.png" alt="Screen Shot 2022-07-13 at 12.34.42 PM.png" />
 <figcaption>Screen Shot 2022-07-13 at 12.34.42 PM.png</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data">Click here for Data</a>&nbsp;about the COVID-19 vaccine.<a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">Click here&nbsp;</a>for additional virus numbers from the KDHE.Kansas is providing fewer updates of its data about COVID-19 now that Gov. Laura Kelly formally declared that the state is moving toward treating COVID-19 as a disease like the flu that spreads regularly and isn't considered a pandemic.&nbsp;The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.The state continues to support access to free COVID-19 testing, works to ensure that vulnerable populations can get vaccinated, see that providers serve a broad population and give “comprehensive guidance” about the virus. She called the new phase “endemic normalcy.”The health department plans to update data about cases and vaccinations each Wednesday.

KDHE: COVID cases in Kansas continue to climb 

By DYLAN LYSEN and JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-07-13/kansas-reportedly-landing-4-billion-factory-that-will-make-batteries-for-tesla">Kansas News Service</a>

TOPEKA&nbsp;— A subsidiary of Japanese industrial giant 
Panasonic Corp. will build a $4 billion plant to make batteries for 
Tesla electric vehicles in Kansas, a Japanese news outlet is reporting.

<a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Panasonic-to-build-EV-battery-plant-for-Tesla-in-U.S.-state-of-Kansas" target="_blank">Neikki reported Wednesday</a>
 that Kansas had beat out Oklahoma for the Panasonic Holdings plant, 
which would supply batteries to a large electric vehicle plant in Texas.

That could mean some 4,000 jobs at the battery-making facility and more jobs for businesses supplying that plant.

“The
 Japanese company picked the site of the new facility based on factors 
including its proximity to Texas and favorable tax treatment,” Neikki 
reported. The news outlet covers markets and the economy.

The deal
 would come after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly enlisted the help of the 
Republicans who control the Legislature to promise up to $1.3 billion in
 <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-01/kansas-gov-kelly-wants-to-spend-1-billion-to-land-a-big-mystery-manufacturer" target="_blank">tax breaks and other incentives</a> to land the massive economic development project.

The
 Kansas State Finance Council is scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon 
and could potentially give official approval of the various taxpayer 
incentives that would seal the bargain.

In the spring, the Legislature <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb347/" target="_blank">approved new rules</a> giving state officials the ability to promise larger giveaways to entice employers to Kansas.

Kelly’s
 administration and key Republican lawmakers were told what company the 
state was courting, but they signed non-disclosure agreements promising 
to keep the information confidential.

That meant Kansas 
dramatically increased the tax breaks it could offer a manufacturer even
 while keeping secret from the public the name of the company, where it 
wanted to build in the state and what it might produce. It wasn’t known 
publicly, for instance, that the record-setting tax breaks would go to a
 foreign company.

And Elon Musk, who runs the Tesla plant in Texas
 that will benefit from a huge battery maker in Kansas, has since become
 a figure of increasing controversy. Most recently, he's tried <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/12/1111032233/elon-musk-twitter-lawsuit-deal" target="_blank">to back out</a> of his $40-plus billion purchase of Twitter.

In
 promoting the effort to land the company in Kansas, state officials 
projected an additional 4,000 jobs working for suppliers to supply the 
factory in addition to those directly working at the manufacturing 
plant.

Kelly made David Toland, her lieutenant governor and 
commerce secretary, the point person on the campaign to bring the 
Japanese manufacturer to the state. He argued that whether Kansas landed
 this company or not, changing the rules on tax incentives could put 
Kansas in play to seduce other “megaprojects.”

The
 incentives included in the legislation can only be used to recruit 
companies willing to invest at least $1 billion. They include:

Companies
 must agree to repay benefits if the performance metrics aren’t met. In 
addition, the state can claw back a percentage of the benefits if a 
company relocates to another state within 15 years of entering its 
agreement.

“These incentives must be earned,” Toland said before 
the deal to land the battery plant came together. “The company gets the 
investment tax credit after they invest. The company gets the payroll 
rebate after they’ve hired and paid people.”

The
 new plant could conceivably help some everyday Kansans by purchasing 
significant amounts of electricity from its energy provider, Evergy.

Ashok
 Gupta, an energy economist with the Natural Resource Defense Council, 
said Evergy would sell electricity to the plant to produce the 
batteries. The more energy the plant purchases for its manufacturing, 
the less Kansas homeowners may need to pay to cover Evergy’s operating 
costs.

“That can in theory help all other customers lower their costs,” Gupta said. “This is a good economic development play.”

It
 could also be a boon to Evergy stockholders. Utilities prefer customers
 that demand large amounts of electricity at a steady rate because it 
makes it easier for them to build their capacity to match demand.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657736625703.png" alt="Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Celia Llopis-Jepsen / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By DYLAN LYSEN and JIM MCLEAN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-07-13/kansas-reportedly-landing-4-billion-factory-that-will-make-batteries-for-tesla">Kansas News Service</a>TOPEKA&nbsp;— A subsidiary of Japanese industrial giant 
Panasonic Corp. will build a $4 billion plant to make batteries for 
Tesla electric vehicles in Kansas, a Japanese news outlet is reporting.<a href="https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Automobiles/Panasonic-to-build-EV-battery-plant-for-Tesla-in-U.S.-state-of-Kansas" target="_blank">Neikki reported Wednesday</a>
 that Kansas had beat out Oklahoma for the Panasonic Holdings plant, 
which would supply batteries to a large electric vehicle plant in Texas.That could mean some 4,000 jobs at the battery-making facility and more jobs for businesses supplying that plant.“The
 Japanese company picked the site of the new facility based on factors 
including its proximity to Texas and favorable tax treatment,” Neikki 
reported. The news outlet covers markets and the economy.The deal
 would come after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly enlisted the help of the 
Republicans who control the Legislature to promise up to $1.3 billion in
 <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-02-01/kansas-gov-kelly-wants-to-spend-1-billion-to-land-a-big-mystery-manufacturer" target="_blank">tax breaks and other incentives</a> to land the massive economic development project.The
 Kansas State Finance Council is scheduled to meet Wednesday afternoon 
and could potentially give official approval of the various taxpayer 
incentives that would seal the bargain.In the spring, the Legislature <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/sb347/" target="_blank">approved new rules</a> giving state officials the ability to promise larger giveaways to entice employers to Kansas.Kelly’s
 administration and key Republican lawmakers were told what company the 
state was courting, but they signed non-disclosure agreements promising 
to keep the information confidential.That meant Kansas 
dramatically increased the tax breaks it could offer a manufacturer even
 while keeping secret from the public the name of the company, where it 
wanted to build in the state and what it might produce. It wasn’t known 
publicly, for instance, that the record-setting tax breaks would go to a
 foreign company.And Elon Musk, who runs the Tesla plant in Texas
 that will benefit from a huge battery maker in Kansas, has since become
 a figure of increasing controversy. Most recently, he's tried <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/12/1111032233/elon-musk-twitter-lawsuit-deal" target="_blank">to back out</a> of his $40-plus billion purchase of Twitter.In
 promoting the effort to land the company in Kansas, state officials 
projected an additional 4,000 jobs working for suppliers to supply the 
factory in addition to those directly working at the manufacturing 
plant.Kelly made David Toland, her lieutenant governor and 
commerce secretary, the point person on the campaign to bring the 
Japanese manufacturer to the state. He argued that whether Kansas landed
 this company or not, changing the rules on tax incentives could put 
Kansas in play to seduce other “megaprojects.”<h2>Tax breaks</h2>The
 incentives included in the legislation can only be used to recruit 
companies willing to invest at least $1 billion. They include:<ul>
 <li>A refundable tax credit for up to 15% of a company’s investment paid out over 10 years.&nbsp;</li><li>A
 one-time 0.5% cut in the corporate income tax rate each time a 
qualifying project comes to Kansas. The bill limits the use of the 
enhanced incentives to one project per calendar year.&nbsp;</li><li>A payroll tax refund of 7.5 percent for 10 years, which the State Finance Council can increase to 10%.&nbsp;</li><li>Up to $5 million annually to offset workforce training costs.&nbsp;</li><li>$10 million to help relocate employees to Kansas paid out in $1 million increments for 10 years.&nbsp;</li><li>Suppliers
 of the primary company that establish facilities in Kansas would be 
eligible for a refundable tax credit of 5% on their initial investment 
of $50 million. They could then receive an additional percentage point 
for every $10 million invested up to $100 million. Suppliers would also 
be eligible for $250,000 a year for workforce training.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Companies
 must agree to repay benefits if the performance metrics aren’t met. In 
addition, the state can claw back a percentage of the benefits if a 
company relocates to another state within 15 years of entering its 
agreement.“These incentives must be earned,” Toland said before 
the deal to land the battery plant came together. “The company gets the 
investment tax credit after they invest. The company gets the payroll 
rebate after they’ve hired and paid people.”<h2>Charging up</h2>The
 new plant could conceivably help some everyday Kansans by purchasing 
significant amounts of electricity from its energy provider, Evergy.Ashok
 Gupta, an energy economist with the Natural Resource Defense Council, 
said Evergy would sell electricity to the plant to produce the 
batteries. The more energy the plant purchases for its manufacturing, 
the less Kansas homeowners may need to pay to cover Evergy’s operating 
costs.“That can in theory help all other customers lower their costs,” Gupta said. “This is a good economic development play.”It
 could also be a boon to Evergy stockholders. Utilities prefer customers
 that demand large amounts of electricity at a steady rate because it 
makes it easier for them to build their capacity to match demand.<h2>Competing for Panasonic</h2>In
 April, Oklahoma lawmakers, at the urging of Republican Gov. Kevin 
Stitt, approved an incentive package aimed at keeping that state in the 
running for the plant. Targeted at projects of at least $3.6 billion, it
 authorized a rebate for 3.4% of a company’s investment in the year that
 it is made for up to five successive years. A summary of the bill put 
the value of the incentive at $700 million.Stitt said the incentive package was aimed at making Oklahoma a destination for companies in the electric vehicle industry.“Tens
 of billions of dollars are going to be invested over the next five to 
seven years in this space and we want Oklahoma to be the spot that these
 folks land,” Stitt said.In March, Bloomberg News reported that <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-14/panasonic-is-scouting-u-s-sites-for-new-battery-factory-by-2024" target="_blank">Panasonic was in talks with both Kansas and Oklahoma officials</a> about a site to manufacture lithium-ion batteries for Tesla and other electric vehicle makers.The Bloomberg report cited unnamed sources saying the company had plans for bigger battery cells, what the company calls its <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/2022/02/28/tesla-panasonic-4680-cells/" target="_blank">4680 model</a>,
 to meet the demand to increase the range of electric vehicles. 
Bloomberg’s sources also said other kinds of batteries might be made at 
the plant. Panasonic is on pace to start making the 4680 batteries in 
Japan in the next year.Japanese broadcaster NHK also reported 
earlier this year that Panasonic was eyeing Oklahoma and Kansas as 
possible locations, partly because they sit relatively close to the new “<a href="https://www.tesla.com/gigafactory" target="_blank">gigafactory</a>” that Tesla is ramping up in Texas.Both
 Kansas and Oklahoma are so-called right-to-work states where it’s 
easier for employers to keep out unions. Kazuo Tadanobu, chief executive
 officer of Panasonic’s energy business, told Bloomberg News that any 
new plant locations would turn on existing partnerships with the company
 and the economics of a region.The world market for lithium-ion 
batteries is projected by the industry to grow from $30 billion in 2017 
to $100 billion in 2025.<h2>Debated incentives</h2>When
 Kansas legislators debated whether to OK the bigger tax breaks Kelly 
wanted, some lawmakers questioned the wisdom of clearing the way for a 
company that could already be profitable and that might bring 
environmental problems to the state. And some critics said the 
large-scale incentives put smaller businesses at a disadvantage.Sen.
 Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, said one small business owner who 
urged her to oppose the incentive package said the title of the bill 
should be changed to “crony capitalism kicks existing Kansas businesses 
in the face.”Dave Trabert, president of the Kansas Policy 
Institute, a conservative think-tank that lobbies for reduced government
 spending, said a better recruitment strategy would be to lower taxes 
for all companies operating in the state.“We could give one big 
lollipop to one company, or we could wipe out the income tax liability 
of all the corporations in Kansas,” Trabert said when testifying against
 the incentive legislation.But legislative leaders in both 
parties helped push the bill through after they signed non-disclosure 
agreements and learned the identity of what was then a mystery company.“A
 project of this magnitude is something that can change the state for 
generations,” Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, said
 in the spring.Mark Williams heads a South Carolina-based firm 
that negotiates deals for companies looking for locations to expand. He 
said states that don’t have competitive incentives stand little chance 
of success.“It’s a very important factor,” Williams said.Not only financially, he said, but psychologically.Companies
 looking to make big investments, Williams said, “like it when they feel
 a state is embracing them and taking some risk with them.”“From a decision-making perspective, that’s an important factor that I think is often overlooked,” he said.Dylan
 Lysen reports on politics for the Kansas News Service. Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service.&nbsp;