By JASON TILLER Saline County Health Officer

Saline County saw 100 reported cases of COVID-19 in May. In June, just under 300 cases were reported. As of this writing, there have already been 130 reported cases thus far in July. It is important to keep in mind that this means the number of actual cases is probably much higher. While the vast majority of cases are being successfully handled at home, Salina Regional is beginning to see a small uptick in hospitalizations. And sadly, at least three people lost their lives to COVID last month.

Vaccines are free, safe, effective, and widely available. Staying up-to-date on your vaccinations provides a significant amount of protection. Those who are up-to-date are less likely to be hospitalized or succumb to the virus, if they do contract COVID-19. Unfortunately, no vaccine is 100 percent guaranteed to prevent COVID.

With that in mind, I urge all residents to stay vigilant. Stay home if you are sick- especially when it comes to COVID. Get tested. Free tests are available at the Health Department and Salina Family Health Care Center. You can also order them online at <a href="http://COVID.gov/tests">COVID.gov/tests</a>.

I will be visiting with Dave Foor on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) tomorrow (Saturday) morning to talk more in-depth about what's been going on with COVID in our county. I will continue to provide these updates on-air each quarter until our situation calls for something else. COVID is not as visible now, to be sure, but it is not over. Now is not the time for complacency.

According to information from the Saline County Health Department, Saline County has moved from a low to medium COVID-19 community level. You can keep track of the county's level <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=Kansas&amp;data-type=CommunityLevels&amp;list_select_county=20169&amp;null=CommunityLevels">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657324554133.jpeg" alt="Jason Tiller -photo courtesy Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Jason Tiller -photo courtesy Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>By JASON TILLER Saline County Health OfficerSaline County saw 100 reported cases of COVID-19 in May. In June, just under 300 cases were reported. As of this writing, there have already been 130 reported cases thus far in July. It is important to keep in mind that this means the number of actual cases is probably much higher. While the vast majority of cases are being successfully handled at home, Salina Regional is beginning to see a small uptick in hospitalizations. And sadly, at least three people lost their lives to COVID last month. Vaccines are free, safe, effective, and widely available. Staying up-to-date on your vaccinations provides a significant amount of protection. Those who are up-to-date are less likely to be hospitalized or succumb to the virus, if they do contract COVID-19. Unfortunately, no vaccine is 100 percent guaranteed to prevent COVID. With that in mind, I urge all residents to stay vigilant. Stay home if you are sick- especially when it comes to COVID. Get tested. Free tests are available at the Health Department and Salina Family Health Care Center. You can also order them online at <a href="http://COVID.gov/tests">COVID.gov/tests</a>. I will be visiting with Dave Foor on KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) tomorrow (Saturday) morning to talk more in-depth about what's been going on with COVID in our county. I will continue to provide these updates on-air each quarter until our situation calls for something else. COVID is not as visible now, to be sure, but it is not over. Now is not the time for complacency. According to information from the Saline County Health Department, Saline County has moved from a low to medium COVID-19 community level. You can keep track of the county's level <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=Kansas&amp;data-type=CommunityLevels&amp;list_select_county=20169&amp;null=CommunityLevels">here</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657324149351.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>

Health officer: COVID-19 cases rising in Saline County; 'stay vigilant'

JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY. — The father of four family members from Nickerson, Kansas hit by an alleged impaired driver in Louisville, Kentucky, earlier this week has died.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office says Trey Jones, teacher and track coach at Nickerson USD 309, succumbed to his injuries Thursday night.

Jones, his wife Amy, and daughter Ava, along with the family’s youngest child were all hit by a motorist who drove up onto the sidewalk in the downtown area of Louisville Tuesday evening.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ava, who just signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Iowa, was improving, according to&nbsp;Nickerson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale.&nbsp; Ava's team, Wheat State Elite, is playing in the&nbsp;<a href="https://run4theroses.com/">Run 4 The Roses</a>&nbsp;club basketball tournament in Louisville.

A candlelight vigil will be held at the Nickerson High School football stadium on Sunday at 9 p.m. A&nbsp;fund has been set up at Peoples Bank and Trust to help with the family’s expenses. Donations can be made at the bank to the Jones Family Fund.

Police arrested the suspect, 33-year-old Michael Hurley of Lexington, Indiana. Hurley admitted he had just taken Oxycodone before the accident and failed a field test for narcotics at the scene. According to the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney's Office, Hurley is now facing an amended charge of murder.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657310781672.jpeg" alt="Trey, daughter Ava and Amy Jones-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Trey, daughter Ava and Amy Jones-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON COUNTY, KY. — The father of four family members from Nickerson, Kansas hit by an alleged impaired driver in Louisville, Kentucky, earlier this week has died.The Jefferson County Coroner's Office says Trey Jones, teacher and track coach at Nickerson USD 309, succumbed to his injuries Thursday night.Jones, his wife Amy, and daughter Ava, along with the family’s youngest child were all hit by a motorist who drove up onto the sidewalk in the downtown area of Louisville Tuesday evening.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ava, who just signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Iowa, was improving, according to&nbsp;Nickerson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale.&nbsp; Ava's team, Wheat State Elite, is playing in the&nbsp;<a href="https://run4theroses.com/">Run 4 The Roses</a>&nbsp;club basketball tournament in Louisville.A candlelight vigil will be held at the Nickerson High School football stadium on Sunday at 9 p.m. A&nbsp;fund has been set up at Peoples Bank and Trust to help with the family’s expenses. Donations can be made at the bank to the Jones Family Fund.Police arrested the suspect, 33-year-old Michael Hurley of Lexington, Indiana. Hurley admitted he had just taken Oxycodone before the accident and failed a field test for narcotics at the scene. According to the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney's Office, Hurley is now facing an amended charge of murder.

Father of Kansas family struck by car in Kentucky dies

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating vandalism of the pride installment and the pride flag flying outside the United Church of Christ, 205 West 65th Street at Wornall, in Kansas City.

Officials from the church are working with police.

Neighbors, community members and kid immediately came to restore this art installation, according to Justice Horn, Vice Chair of the LGBTQ Commission of Kansas City.

"Hate strikes again - this time at the United Church of Christ, wrote Horn on social media. 

"Homophobia is wrong and must be met with wholehearted resistance from the entire community. LGBTQ+ folks will not be bullied, we will stand strong against hate and prejudice."&nbsp; Horn thanked the community members who came to restore the art to "its former glory."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657293730180.png" alt="Photos courtesy United Church of Christ" />
 <figcaption>Photos courtesy United Church of Christ</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating vandalism of the pride installment and the pride flag flying outside the United Church of Christ, 205 West 65th Street at Wornall, in Kansas City.Officials from the church are working with police.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is disgusting and has no place in Kansas City. <a href="https://t.co/HUDiGwFcZs">https://t.co/HUDiGwFcZs</a>&mdash; Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/QuintonLucasKC/status/1545070898239119360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Neighbors, community members and kid immediately came to restore this art installation, according to Justice Horn, Vice Chair of the LGBTQ Commission of Kansas City.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657294356573.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"Hate strikes again - this time at the United Church of Christ, wrote Horn on social media. "Homophobia is wrong and must be met with wholehearted resistance from the entire community. LGBTQ+ folks will not be bullied, we will stand strong against hate and prejudice."&nbsp; Horn thanked the community members who came to restore the art to "its former glory."

Volunteers restore vandalized Kansas City church’s pride display 

KIOWA COUNTY–The Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrested Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Davis in Greensburg, Kansas on Friday, according to a media release from the agency.

On August 30, the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office requested the KBI investigate allegations of domestic violence and child abuse. Davis is a part-time deputy for the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office and full-time deputy for the Ford County Sheriff’s Office.

Just before 2p.m. Friday., KBI agents arrested Davis of Grand Island, Nebraska. He voluntarily surrendered himself at the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child and two counts of domestic battery. Davis is being held in Kiowa County Jail, according to the KBI.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657312093841.png" alt="Davis-photo Kiowa County" />
 <figcaption>Davis-photo Kiowa County</figcaption>
 </figure>KIOWA COUNTY–The Kansas Bureau of Investigation arrested Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Davis in Greensburg, Kansas on Friday, according to a media release from the agency.On August 30, the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office requested the KBI investigate allegations of domestic violence and child abuse. Davis is a part-time deputy for the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office and full-time deputy for the Ford County Sheriff’s Office.Just before 2p.m. Friday., KBI agents arrested Davis of Grand Island, Nebraska. He voluntarily surrendered himself at the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Office. He was arrested on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child and two counts of domestic battery. Davis is being held in Kiowa County Jail, according to the KBI.

KBI: Sheriff's deputy accused of domestic violence, child abuse

FINNEY COUNTY —Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City said farewell to “Ariel,” the 19-year-old, female river otter who passed away suddenly this week, according to a statement from the zoo.

&nbsp;Ariel debuted at the zoo in September of 2003 after arriving from Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri.

 For the last two years, she and the male otter “Brighton” have been playfully entertaining and educating visitors to the Kansas Waters area of the zoo.

Staff are saddened by the loss but will remember Ariel’s antics with a smile.  Keepers will offer additional enrichment to the male to keep him occupied until a new companion can travel to Garden City.  Lee Richardson Zoo will work with the North American River Otter Species Survival Plan to identify an appropriate mate as soon as possible.  The NARO SSP is an AZA committee that collectively manages the animals within the population in human care to keep the population healthy, both genetically and demographically.

Otters are a member of the Mustelid or weasel family.  Other members of the Mustelid family include skunks, badgers, weasels, minks, fishers, ferrets, and wolverines.&nbsp;Necropsy results for Ariel are pending. The median life expectancy for North American river otters is 12.3 years.

 Brighton can be seen in the Kansas Waters habitat next to Cat Canyon.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657309449227.png" alt="Photo courtesy Lee Richardson Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Lee Richardson Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City said farewell to “Ariel,” the 19-year-old, female river otter who passed away suddenly this week, according to a statement from the zoo.&nbsp;Ariel debuted at the zoo in September of 2003 after arriving from Dickerson Park Zoo in Springfield, Missouri. For the last two years, she and the male otter “Brighton” have been playfully entertaining and educating visitors to the Kansas Waters area of the zoo.Staff are saddened by the loss but will remember Ariel’s antics with a smile. Keepers will offer additional enrichment to the male to keep him occupied until a new companion can travel to Garden City. Lee Richardson Zoo will work with the North American River Otter Species Survival Plan to identify an appropriate mate as soon as possible. The NARO SSP is an AZA committee that collectively manages the animals within the population in human care to keep the population healthy, both genetically and demographically.Otters are a member of the Mustelid or weasel family. Other members of the Mustelid family include skunks, badgers, weasels, minks, fishers, ferrets, and wolverines.&nbsp;Necropsy results for Ariel are pending. The median life expectancy for North American river otters is 12.3 years. Brighton can be seen in the Kansas Waters habitat next to Cat Canyon.&nbsp;

Popular river otter dies suddenly at Kansas zoo

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Patients and staff were evacuated Friday from a western Missouri hospital following a report of an armed man there, but authorities said no shots were fired and no one was injured.

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the report at the Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg around 9 a.m., Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Andrew Bell said. Ambulances were at the ready. But just a couple of hours later, Bell gave the all-clear.

“It was never an active shooter,” he said. “We don’t have any reason to believe there is an active threat.”

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said officers later arrested and jailed a man possibly connected to events at the hospital, though it did not explain how he was involved and said he was not even near the facility.

The state patrol first tweeted that it was investigating a report of an armed man at the medical center at 9:03 a.m. The facility tweeted at 9:18 a.m. that the active shooter report came from the medical center’s main building. The medical center has about 50 beds.

“Police on site, and staff and patients being evacuated now,” the hospital tweeted. “This is not a drill.”

The nation has been on edge because of gun violence. Only four days earlier, a gunman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-july-4-parade-shooting-92b50feb80c19afe7842b9caf08545cb">opened fire during a July Fourth parade</a>&nbsp;in a Chicago suburb, killing at least seven people and wounding more than 30. It was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-shootings-america-list-901b8663c97acbdde2b0bdba51a86b50">the latest high-profile mass shooting,</a>&nbsp;following attacks at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in June.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-oklahoma-shootings-2183a9c1d41085a0fb82b9bae9924db7">vulnerability of health care facilities</a>&nbsp;was highlighted June 1 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-oklahoma-texas-school-shootings-61bba0dcf04e2f8dbc34ec4ee7fd02b0">a gunman killed four people and himself</a>&nbsp;at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The assailant entered the Saint Francis Hospital with little trouble, just hours after buying an AR-style rifle, authorities said.

The Warrensburg hospital's spokesperson has not returned a telephone message seeking comment Friday.

The town of Warrensburg has a population of about 20,000 people, and is 60 miles southeast of Kansas City, Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657303270996.png" alt="The Missouri State Highway Patrol said officers later arrested and jailed a man possibly connected to events at the hospital, though it did not explain how he was involved and said he was not even near the facility-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>The Missouri State Highway Patrol said officers later arrested and jailed a man possibly connected to events at the hospital, though it did not explain how he was involved and said he was not even near the facility-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — Patients and staff were evacuated Friday from a western Missouri hospital following a report of an armed man there, but authorities said no shots were fired and no one was injured.Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the report at the Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg around 9 a.m., Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Andrew Bell said. Ambulances were at the ready. But just a couple of hours later, Bell gave the all-clear.“It was never an active shooter,” he said. “We don’t have any reason to believe there is an active threat.”The Missouri State Highway Patrol said officers later arrested and jailed a man possibly connected to events at the hospital, though it did not explain how he was involved and said he was not even near the facility.The state patrol first tweeted that it was investigating a report of an armed man at the medical center at 9:03 a.m. The facility tweeted at 9:18 a.m. that the active shooter report came from the medical center’s main building. The medical center has about 50 beds.“Police on site, and staff and patients being evacuated now,” the hospital tweeted. “This is not a drill.”The nation has been on edge because of gun violence. Only four days earlier, a gunman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-july-4-parade-shooting-92b50feb80c19afe7842b9caf08545cb">opened fire during a July Fourth parade</a>&nbsp;in a Chicago suburb, killing at least seven people and wounding more than 30. It was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mass-shootings-america-list-901b8663c97acbdde2b0bdba51a86b50">the latest high-profile mass shooting,</a>&nbsp;following attacks at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, in June.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-oklahoma-shootings-2183a9c1d41085a0fb82b9bae9924db7">vulnerability of health care facilities</a>&nbsp;was highlighted June 1 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tulsa-oklahoma-texas-school-shootings-61bba0dcf04e2f8dbc34ec4ee7fd02b0">a gunman killed four people and himself</a>&nbsp;at a hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The assailant entered the Saint Francis Hospital with little trouble, just hours after buying an AR-style rifle, authorities said.The Warrensburg hospital's spokesperson has not returned a telephone message seeking comment Friday.The town of Warrensburg has a population of about 20,000 people, and is 60 miles southeast of Kansas City, Missouri.

Patrol: No shots, no injuries at evacuated KC-area hospital

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday to protect access to abortion as he faced mounting pressure from fellow Democrats to be more forceful on the subject after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">the Supreme Court ended a constitutional right to the procedure</a>&nbsp;two weeks ago.

(click to watch the President's statement and signing ceremony)

The actions he outlined are intended to mitigate some potential penalties women seeking abortion may face after the ruling but are limited in their ability to safeguard access to abortion nationwide. Biden acknowledged the limitations facing his office, saying it would require an act of Congress to restore access to abortion in the more than a dozen states where strict limits or total bans have gone into effect in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling. About a dozen more states are set to impose additional restrictions in the coming weeks and months.

“The fastest way to restore Roe is to pass a national law,” Biden said. ““The challenge is go out and vote. For God’s sake there is an election in November. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote!"

Biden formalized instructions to the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to push back on efforts to limit the ability of women to access federally approved abortion medication or to travel across state lines to access clinical&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion services</a>. He was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, HHS secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in the Roosevelt Room as he signed the order.

His executive order also directs agencies to work to educate medical providers and insurers about how and when they are required to share privileged patient information with authorities — an effort to protect women who seek or utilize abortion services. He is also asking the Federal Trade Commission to take steps to protect the privacy of those seeking information about reproductive care online and establish an interagency task force to coordinate federal efforts to safeguard access to abortion.

Biden is also directing his staff to convene volunteer lawyers to provide women and providers with pro bono legal assistance to help them navigate new state restrictions after the Supreme Court ruling.

The order, after the high court’s June 24 ruling that ended the nationwide right to abortion and left it to states to determine whether or how to allow the procedure, comes as Biden has faced criticism from some in his own party for not acting with more urgency to protect women’s access to abortion. The decision in the case known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf">Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization</a>&nbsp;overturned the court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.

Since the decision, Biden has stressed that his ability to protect abortion rights by executive action is limited without congressional action, and stressed that Democrats do not have the votes in the current Congress to do so.

“We need two additional pro-choice senators and a pro-choice house to codify Roe," he said. "Your vote can make that a reality.”

He predicted that women would turn out in “record numbers” in frustration over the court's decision, and said he expected "millions and millions of men will be taking up the fight beside them.”

On Friday, he repeated his sharp criticism of the Supreme Court's reasoning in striking down what had been a half-century constitutional right to abortion.

“Let’s be clear about something from the very start, this was not a decision driven by the Constitution," Biden said, accusing the court's majority of “playing fast and loose with the facts."

“Ultimately, Congress is going to have to act to codify Roe into federal law,” Biden said last week during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-health-filibusters-joe-manchin-1350946adeb5dbd4febc62fb231b1f66">a virtual meeting with Democratic governors</a>.

The tasking to the Justice Department and HHS pushes the agencies to fight in court to protect women, but it conveys no guarantees that the judicial system will take their side against potential prosecution by states that have moved to outlaw abortion.

“President Biden has made clear that the only way to secure a woman’s right to choose is for Congress to restore the protections of Roe as federal law,” the White House said. “Until then, he has committed to doing everything in his power to defend reproductive rights and protect access to safe and legal abortion.”

NARAL Pro-Choice America president Mini Timmaraju called Biden's order "an important first step in restoring the rights taken from millions of Americans by the Supreme Court.”

But Lawrence Gostin, who runs the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health at Georgetown Law, described Biden’s plans as “underwhelming.”

“There’s nothing that I saw that would affect the lives of ordinary poor women living in red states," he said.

Gostin encouraged Biden to take a more forceful approach toward ensuring access to medication abortion across the country and said Medicaid should consider covering transportation to other states for the purposes of getting abortions.

Gostin said, “We basically have two Americas.” There’s one where people have access to a full range of healthcare, and “another where citizens don’t have the same rights to the safe and effective treatments as the rest of the country.”

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the AP that the agency was looking at how Medicaid could cover travel for abortions, along with a range of other proposals, but acknowledged that “Medicaid’s coverage of abortion is extremely limited.”

Biden’s move was the latest scramble to protect the data privacy of those contemplating or seeking abortion, as regulators and lawmakers reckon with the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling.

The decision by the court is expected to make abortion illegal in over a dozen states and severely restricted in others. Privacy experts say that could make women vulnerable because their personal data could be used to surveil pregnancies and shared with police or sold to vigilantes. Online searches, location data, text messages and emails, and even apps that track periods could be used to prosecute people who seek an abortion — or medical care for a miscarriage — as well as those who assist them, experts say.

Privacy advocates are watching for possible new moves by law enforcement agencies in affected states — serving subpoenas, for example, on tech companies such as Google, Apple, Bing, Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp, services like Uber and Lyft, and internet service providers including AT&amp;T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Comcast. Local prosecutors may go before sympathetic judges to obtain search warrants for users’ data.

Last month four Democratic lawmakers asked the FTC to investigate Apple and Google for allegedly deceiving millions of mobile phone users by enabling the collection and sale of their personal data to third parties.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657297877179.png" alt="President Biden&nbsp;was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, HHS secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in the Roosevelt Room as he signed the order.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>President Biden&nbsp;was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, HHS secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in the Roosevelt Room as he signed the order.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday to protect access to abortion as he faced mounting pressure from fellow Democrats to be more forceful on the subject after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">the Supreme Court ended a constitutional right to the procedure</a>&nbsp;two weeks ago.(click to watch the President's statement and signing ceremony)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1466732500453144%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=496" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The actions he outlined are intended to mitigate some potential penalties women seeking abortion may face after the ruling but are limited in their ability to safeguard access to abortion nationwide. Biden acknowledged the limitations facing his office, saying it would require an act of Congress to restore access to abortion in the more than a dozen states where strict limits or total bans have gone into effect in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling. About a dozen more states are set to impose additional restrictions in the coming weeks and months.“The fastest way to restore Roe is to pass a national law,” Biden said. ““The challenge is go out and vote. For God’s sake there is an election in November. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote!"Biden formalized instructions to the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to push back on efforts to limit the ability of women to access federally approved abortion medication or to travel across state lines to access clinical&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion services</a>. He was joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, HHS secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in the Roosevelt Room as he signed the order.His executive order also directs agencies to work to educate medical providers and insurers about how and when they are required to share privileged patient information with authorities — an effort to protect women who seek or utilize abortion services. He is also asking the Federal Trade Commission to take steps to protect the privacy of those seeking information about reproductive care online and establish an interagency task force to coordinate federal efforts to safeguard access to abortion.Biden is also directing his staff to convene volunteer lawyers to provide women and providers with pro bono legal assistance to help them navigate new state restrictions after the Supreme Court ruling.The order, after the high court’s June 24 ruling that ended the nationwide right to abortion and left it to states to determine whether or how to allow the procedure, comes as Biden has faced criticism from some in his own party for not acting with more urgency to protect women’s access to abortion. The decision in the case known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf">Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization</a>&nbsp;overturned the court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.Since the decision, Biden has stressed that his ability to protect abortion rights by executive action is limited without congressional action, and stressed that Democrats do not have the votes in the current Congress to do so.“We need two additional pro-choice senators and a pro-choice house to codify Roe," he said. "Your vote can make that a reality.”He predicted that women would turn out in “record numbers” in frustration over the court's decision, and said he expected "millions and millions of men will be taking up the fight beside them.”On Friday, he repeated his sharp criticism of the Supreme Court's reasoning in striking down what had been a half-century constitutional right to abortion.“Let’s be clear about something from the very start, this was not a decision driven by the Constitution," Biden said, accusing the court's majority of “playing fast and loose with the facts."“Ultimately, Congress is going to have to act to codify Roe into federal law,” Biden said last week during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-health-filibusters-joe-manchin-1350946adeb5dbd4febc62fb231b1f66">a virtual meeting with Democratic governors</a>.The tasking to the Justice Department and HHS pushes the agencies to fight in court to protect women, but it conveys no guarantees that the judicial system will take their side against potential prosecution by states that have moved to outlaw abortion.“President Biden has made clear that the only way to secure a woman’s right to choose is for Congress to restore the protections of Roe as federal law,” the White House said. “Until then, he has committed to doing everything in his power to defend reproductive rights and protect access to safe and legal abortion.”NARAL Pro-Choice America president Mini Timmaraju called Biden's order "an important first step in restoring the rights taken from millions of Americans by the Supreme Court.”But Lawrence Gostin, who runs the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health at Georgetown Law, described Biden’s plans as “underwhelming.”“There’s nothing that I saw that would affect the lives of ordinary poor women living in red states," he said.Gostin encouraged Biden to take a more forceful approach toward ensuring access to medication abortion across the country and said Medicaid should consider covering transportation to other states for the purposes of getting abortions.Gostin said, “We basically have two Americas.” There’s one where people have access to a full range of healthcare, and “another where citizens don’t have the same rights to the safe and effective treatments as the rest of the country.”Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told the AP that the agency was looking at how Medicaid could cover travel for abortions, along with a range of other proposals, but acknowledged that “Medicaid’s coverage of abortion is extremely limited.”Biden’s move was the latest scramble to protect the data privacy of those contemplating or seeking abortion, as regulators and lawmakers reckon with the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling.The decision by the court is expected to make abortion illegal in over a dozen states and severely restricted in others. Privacy experts say that could make women vulnerable because their personal data could be used to surveil pregnancies and shared with police or sold to vigilantes. Online searches, location data, text messages and emails, and even apps that track periods could be used to prosecute people who seek an abortion — or medical care for a miscarriage — as well as those who assist them, experts say.Privacy advocates are watching for possible new moves by law enforcement agencies in affected states — serving subpoenas, for example, on tech companies such as Google, Apple, Bing, Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp, services like Uber and Lyft, and internet service providers including AT&amp;T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Comcast. Local prosecutors may go before sympathetic judges to obtain search warrants for users’ data.Last month four Democratic lawmakers asked the FTC to investigate Apple and Google for allegedly deceiving millions of mobile phone users by enabling the collection and sale of their personal data to third parties.

🎥:Biden assails court ruling, signs order on abortion access

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

SALINA — Fireworks are being blamed for the destruction of toilets at two Salina parks earlier this week.

Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said that sometime on Tuesday or Wednesday, someone set off a large firework in a restroom at Indian Rock Park, 1500 Gypsum Avenue. The explosion completely destroyed a toilet and blew a six-inch by six-inch hole in the wallboard wall. Damage was estimate at $700.

Also during that timeframe, someone set off a large firework in a restroom at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park, 2465 Edward Street. In that incident, a toilet was destroyed, Forrester said. Damage was estimated at $800.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostSALINA — Fireworks are being blamed for the destruction of toilets at two Salina parks earlier this week.Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said that sometime on Tuesday or Wednesday, someone set off a large firework in a restroom at Indian Rock Park, 1500 Gypsum Avenue. The explosion completely destroyed a toilet and blew a six-inch by six-inch hole in the wallboard wall. Damage was estimate at $700.Also during that timeframe, someone set off a large firework in a restroom at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park, 2465 Edward Street. In that incident, a toilet was destroyed, Forrester said. Damage was estimated at $800.

$1,500 damage from fireworks at two Salina parks

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The nation's largest food distributor has joined the other businesses accusing the four largest meat processors of working together to inflate beef prices.

Sysco recently filed a federal lawsuit in Texas accusing Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill and National Beef of price fixing. The lawsuit said those companies have conspired to suppress the number of cattle being slaughtered at least since 2015 to help drive up the price of beef. The allegations are similar to ones in lawsuits filed by grocery stores, ranchers, restaurants and other wholesalers that have been pending in Minnesota federal court since 2020.

Similar price-fixing lawsuits are also pending in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-c8f79cbf9a104d5801b3eb5aa4f2685e">pork</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-fa91f3a79e4eb9aa5e3d0046e4f16d85">chicken</a>&nbsp;processing businesses.

The Sysco Corp. lawsuit said the companies' coordinated efforts to limit the number of cattle slaughtered drove down the price meat processors paid ranchers while propping up beef prices, boosting profits for the meat producers, who control more than 80% of the U.S. beef market.

The lawsuit said the companies “exploited their market power in this highly concentrated market by conspiring to limit the supply, and fix the prices, of beef sold.” And the lawsuit cited an unnamed witnesses who used to work in the meat industry who confirmed there was a conspiracy between the meat companies.

Most of the companies didn't immediately respond to questions about the Sysco lawsuit Thursday, but they have defended their actions in the other price-fixing lawsuits even though JBS did agree to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-prices-beef-markets-394112b62cb6301ff740e3247971eb3d">$52.5 million</a>&nbsp;settlement in one of the lawsuits earlier this year. JBS didn't admit any wrongdoing as part of that deal.

Cargill spokesman Daniel Sullivan said his company “is confident in our efforts to maintain market integrity and conduct ethical business. We believe the claims lack merit and intend to vigorously defend our position.”

In general, the meat processing industry has maintained that supply and demand factors, not anticompetitive behavior, drive beef and cattle prices. The industry has also long struggled with worker shortages that have limited production at times. Those workforce issues became particularly acute during the pandemic when COVID-19 spread widely through processing plants and forced companies to slow or idle production.

The Justice Department has been looking into allegations of price fixing in the industry at least since 2020, but it hasn't provided updates on its investigation.

President Joe Biden has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lifestyle-business-prices-inflation-78335dba9802d7eb727744301d4489df">suggested</a>&nbsp;that increasing competition in the meat industry would help reduce food prices, so his administration has offered $1 billion to help build and expand independent meat processing plants.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657286827581.png" alt="The Justice Department has been looking into allegations of price fixing in the industry at least since 2020, but it hasn't provided updates on its investigation.- photo courtesy Sysco" />
 <figcaption>The Justice Department has been looking into allegations of price fixing in the industry at least since 2020, but it hasn't provided updates on its investigation.- photo courtesy Sysco</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The nation's largest food distributor has joined the other businesses accusing the four largest meat processors of working together to inflate beef prices.Sysco recently filed a federal lawsuit in Texas accusing Tyson Foods, JBS, Cargill and National Beef of price fixing. The lawsuit said those companies have conspired to suppress the number of cattle being slaughtered at least since 2015 to help drive up the price of beef. The allegations are similar to ones in lawsuits filed by grocery stores, ranchers, restaurants and other wholesalers that have been pending in Minnesota federal court since 2020.Similar price-fixing lawsuits are also pending in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuits-c8f79cbf9a104d5801b3eb5aa4f2685e">pork</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-fa91f3a79e4eb9aa5e3d0046e4f16d85">chicken</a>&nbsp;processing businesses.The Sysco Corp. lawsuit said the companies' coordinated efforts to limit the number of cattle slaughtered drove down the price meat processors paid ranchers while propping up beef prices, boosting profits for the meat producers, who control more than 80% of the U.S. beef market.The lawsuit said the companies “exploited their market power in this highly concentrated market by conspiring to limit the supply, and fix the prices, of beef sold.” And the lawsuit cited an unnamed witnesses who used to work in the meat industry who confirmed there was a conspiracy between the meat companies.Most of the companies didn't immediately respond to questions about the Sysco lawsuit Thursday, but they have defended their actions in the other price-fixing lawsuits even though JBS did agree to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lawsuits-prices-beef-markets-394112b62cb6301ff740e3247971eb3d">$52.5 million</a>&nbsp;settlement in one of the lawsuits earlier this year. JBS didn't admit any wrongdoing as part of that deal.Cargill spokesman Daniel Sullivan said his company “is confident in our efforts to maintain market integrity and conduct ethical business. We believe the claims lack merit and intend to vigorously defend our position.”In general, the meat processing industry has maintained that supply and demand factors, not anticompetitive behavior, drive beef and cattle prices. The industry has also long struggled with worker shortages that have limited production at times. Those workforce issues became particularly acute during the pandemic when COVID-19 spread widely through processing plants and forced companies to slow or idle production.The Justice Department has been looking into allegations of price fixing in the industry at least since 2020, but it hasn't provided updates on its investigation.President Joe Biden has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lifestyle-business-prices-inflation-78335dba9802d7eb727744301d4489df">suggested</a>&nbsp;that increasing competition in the meat industry would help reduce food prices, so his administration has offered $1 billion to help build and expand independent meat processing plants.

Nation's largest food distributor accuses beef processors of price fixing

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a 4th of July weekend double murder in rural Kansas are asking the public’s assistance in locating&nbsp; 42-year-old Hieu Trong Luong. He is also known as Sunny, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.

Just after 5 a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies were sent to a shooting call in the 4400 block of south Rock Road in rural Sedgwick County, according to Blick.&nbsp;

At the scene, first responders found 42-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076411">David Baeza</a>&nbsp;of Wichita on the side of the road suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Colonel Brian White with the sheriff's department. EMS transported Baeza to an area hospital for treatment and later arrested him.

During an additional search of the rural property, deputies found a man and woman deceased in the backyard of a residence the 4300 block of South Rock Road. They died from apparent gunshot wounds. The woman was later identified as 43-year-old Saren Negrete-Perez of California.&nbsp; Authorities have not released the name of the man who died.

While processing the scene, investigators found 43-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18714449">Joseph Ponse Jr. </a>&nbsp;of Wichita. Deputies booked him into the Sedgwick County jail.

Investigators still have individuals they want to interview in connection with the case, according to White. "This was not a random act and drug activity is believed involved."&nbsp; The victims did not live at the location where they were killed.&nbsp;

Ponse and Baeza remain jailed each on a bond of $500,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657288018642.png" alt="Luong-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Luong-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities investigating a 4th of July weekend double murder in rural Kansas are asking the public’s assistance in locating&nbsp; 42-year-old Hieu Trong Luong. He is also known as Sunny, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1656781809875.png" alt="Rock Road was closed during the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Rock Road was closed during the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 5 a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies were sent to a shooting call in the 4400 block of south Rock Road in rural Sedgwick County, according to Blick.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657051675461.png" alt="Baeza-photo Sedgwick County." />
 <figcaption>Baeza-photo Sedgwick County.</figcaption>
 </figure>At the scene, first responders found 42-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076411">David Baeza</a>&nbsp;of Wichita on the side of the road suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Colonel Brian White with the sheriff's department. EMS transported Baeza to an area hospital for treatment and later arrested him.During an additional search of the rural property, deputies found a man and woman deceased in the backyard of a residence the 4300 block of South Rock Road. They died from apparent gunshot wounds. The woman was later identified as 43-year-old Saren Negrete-Perez of California.&nbsp; Authorities have not released the name of the man who died.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657051599579.png" alt="Ponse-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Ponse-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>While processing the scene, investigators found 43-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18714449">Joseph Ponse Jr. </a>&nbsp;of Wichita. Deputies booked him into the Sedgwick County jail.Investigators still have individuals they want to interview in connection with the case, according to White. "This was not a random act and drug activity is believed involved."&nbsp; The victims did not live at the location where they were killed.&nbsp;Ponse and Baeza remain jailed each on a bond of $500,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sheriff asks for help to locate suspect in Kansas double murder

FORD COUNTY — Dodge City Community College and KU School of Medicine in Wichita will resume all regular activities on Friday after bomb threats.

Law enforcement authorities are investigating bomb threats nationwide and at the two schools in Kansas.

Just before 1p.m. Thursday, a&nbsp;bomb threat was called in at KU School of Medicine, 1010 N. Kansas Street, in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. Police and&nbsp;&nbsp;KU Security checked the facility and alerted staff. They found no bomb but continue to investigate, according to Ditch.

Just after 1p.m., the Ford County Communications Center received a call from a person saying there was a bomb in the Arts classroom of the Dodge City Community College, 2501 North 14th Avenue in Dodge City, according to a media release from police.

The caller described the bomb and its location in the back of the classroom. The caller also stated it would detonate in just over one hour. Police, Fire and EMS responded and coordinated with campus security to evacuate the area and sweep the stated location. No suspicious devices were located.

College administration and security requested the area to be swept by a bomb dog. During the coordination of the dog, officials learned from state and federal Intelligence sources that the same report had been made at multiple campuses across the nation.

Each of these searches concluded the same. The detonation time elapsed without incident.

After an additional search, the Dodge City Community College security announced activities on campus could continue.&nbsp; Officials were holding the area closed off to the public until the bomb dog arrived and searched for a device.

FORD COUNTY — Dodge City Community College and KU School of Medicine in Wichita will resume all regular activities on Friday after bomb threats.Law enforcement authorities are investigating bomb threats nationwide and at the two schools in Kansas.Just before 1p.m. Thursday, a&nbsp;bomb threat was called in at KU School of Medicine, 1010 N. Kansas Street, in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. Police and&nbsp;&nbsp;KU Security checked the facility and alerted staff. They found no bomb but continue to investigate, according to Ditch.Just after 1p.m., the Ford County Communications Center received a call from a person saying there was a bomb in the Arts classroom of the Dodge City Community College, 2501 North 14th Avenue in Dodge City, according to a media release from police.The caller described the bomb and its location in the back of the classroom. The caller also stated it would detonate in just over one hour. Police, Fire and EMS responded and coordinated with campus security to evacuate the area and sweep the stated location. No suspicious devices were located.College administration and security requested the area to be swept by a bomb dog. During the coordination of the dog, officials learned from state and federal Intelligence sources that the same report had been made at multiple campuses across the nation.Each of these searches concluded the same. The detonation time elapsed without incident.After an additional search, the Dodge City Community College security announced activities on campus could continue.&nbsp; Officials were holding the area closed off to the public until the bomb dog arrived and searched for a device.

Investigation of campus bomb threats in Kansas continues

NARA, Japan (AP) — Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a divisive arch-conservative and one of his nation's most powerful and influential figures, has died after being shot during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan, hospital officials said.

Abe, 67, was shot from behind minutes after he started his speech in Nara. He was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment but was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He was later pronounced dead despite emergency treatment that included massive blood transfusions, hospital officials said.

Police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of an attack that shocked many in Japan, which is one of the world’s safest nations and has some of the strictest gun control laws anywhere.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Cabinet ministers hastily returned to Tokyo from campaign events around the country after the shooting, which he called “dastardly and barbaric."

Nara Medical University emergency department chief Hidetada Fukushima said Abe suffered major damage to his heart in addition to two neck wounds that damaged an artery, causing extensive bleeding. He was in a state of cardio and pulmonary arrest when he arrived at the hospital and never regained his vital signs, Fukushima said.

Abe was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-shinzo-abe-timeline-3bff720a48b60b4c8907b8e71bcf41e8">Japan’s longest-serving leader</a>&nbsp;before stepping down in 2020.

Public television NHK aired a dramatic video of Abe giving a speech outside a train station in the western city of Nara. He is standing, dressed in a navy blue suit, raising his fist, when two gunshots are heard. The video then shows Abe collapsed on the street, with security guards running toward him. He holds his chest, his shirt smeared with blood.

In the next moment, security guards leap on top of a man in gray shirt who lies face down on the pavement. A double-barreled device that appeared to be a handmade gun is seen on the ground.

Nara prefectural police confirmed the arrest of Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, on suspicion of attempted murder. NHK reported that the suspect served in the Maritime Self-Defense Force for three years in the 2000s.

Other videos from the scene showed campaign officials surrounding Abe. The former leader was still highly influential in the governing Liberal Democratic Party and headed its largest faction, Seiwakai.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-elections-japan-tokyo-parliamentary-d58bd38e1ad061d0a4e9447cca220797">Elections for Japan's upper house</a>, the less powerful chamber of its parliament, are Sunday.

“I use the harshest words to condemn (the act),” Kishida said as he struggled to control his emotions. He said the government planned to review the security situation, but added that Abe had the highest protection.

Opposition leaders condemned the attack as a challenge to Japan’s democracy. In Tokyo, people stopped on the street to grab extra editions of newspapers or watch TV coverage of the shooting.

When he resigned as prime minister, Abe said he had a recurrence of the ulcerative colitis he'd had since he was a teenager.

He told reporters at the time that it was “gut wrenching” to leave many of his goals unfinished. He spoke of his failure to resolve the issue of Japanese abducted years ago by North Korea, a territorial dispute with Russia and a revision of Japan’s war-renouncing constitution.

That last goal was a big reason he was such a divisive figure.

His ultra-nationalism riled the Koreas and China, and his push to create what he saw as a more normal defense posture angered many Japanese. Abe failed to achieve his cherished goal of formally rewriting the U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution because of poor public support.

Loyalists said that his legacy was a stronger U.S.-Japan relationship that was meant to bolster Japan’s defense capability. But Abe made enemies by forcing his defense goals and other contentious issues through parliament, despite strong public opposition.

Abe was a political blue blood who was groomed to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. His political rhetoric often focused on making Japan a “normal” and “beautiful” nation with a stronger military and bigger role in international affairs.

Many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shinzo-abe-shooting-world-leaders-react-e163d6212ab8a76ff88ac66a7287172c">foreign officials</a>&nbsp;expressed shock over the shooting.

Abe said he was proud of working while leader for a stronger Japan-U.S. security alliance and shepherding the first visit by a serving U.S. president to the atom-bombed city of Hiroshima. He also helped Tokyo gain the right to host the 2020 Olympics by pledging that a disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant was “under control” when it was not.

Abe became Japan’s youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52, but his overly nationalistic first stint abruptly ended a year later, also because of his health.

The end of Abe’s scandal-laden first stint as prime minister was the beginning of six years of annual leadership change, remembered as an era of “revolving door” politics that lacked stability and long-term policies.

When he returned to office in 2012, Abe vowed to revitalize the nation and get its economy out of its deflationary doldrums with his “Abenomics” formula, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms.

He won six national elections and built a rock-solid grip on power, bolstering Japan’s defense role and capability and its security alliance with the U.S. He also stepped up patriotic education at schools and raised Japan’s international profile.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657275025381.png" alt="Shinzo Abe during a 2019 meeting with President Donald Trump -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Shinzo Abe during a 2019 meeting with President Donald Trump -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NARA, Japan (AP) — Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a divisive arch-conservative and one of his nation's most powerful and influential figures, has died after being shot during a campaign speech Friday in western Japan, hospital officials said.Abe, 67, was shot from behind minutes after he started his speech in Nara. He was airlifted to a hospital for emergency treatment but was not breathing and his heart had stopped. He was later pronounced dead despite emergency treatment that included massive blood transfusions, hospital officials said.Police arrested the suspected gunman at the scene of an attack that shocked many in Japan, which is one of the world’s safest nations and has some of the strictest gun control laws anywhere.Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Cabinet ministers hastily returned to Tokyo from campaign events around the country after the shooting, which he called “dastardly and barbaric."Nara Medical University emergency department chief Hidetada Fukushima said Abe suffered major damage to his heart in addition to two neck wounds that damaged an artery, causing extensive bleeding. He was in a state of cardio and pulmonary arrest when he arrived at the hospital and never regained his vital signs, Fukushima said.Abe was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-shinzo-abe-timeline-3bff720a48b60b4c8907b8e71bcf41e8">Japan’s longest-serving leader</a>&nbsp;before stepping down in 2020.Public television NHK aired a dramatic video of Abe giving a speech outside a train station in the western city of Nara. He is standing, dressed in a navy blue suit, raising his fist, when two gunshots are heard. The video then shows Abe collapsed on the street, with security guards running toward him. He holds his chest, his shirt smeared with blood.In the next moment, security guards leap on top of a man in gray shirt who lies face down on the pavement. A double-barreled device that appeared to be a handmade gun is seen on the ground.Nara prefectural police confirmed the arrest of Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, on suspicion of attempted murder. NHK reported that the suspect served in the Maritime Self-Defense Force for three years in the 2000s.Other videos from the scene showed campaign officials surrounding Abe. The former leader was still highly influential in the governing Liberal Democratic Party and headed its largest faction, Seiwakai.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-elections-japan-tokyo-parliamentary-d58bd38e1ad061d0a4e9447cca220797">Elections for Japan's upper house</a>, the less powerful chamber of its parliament, are Sunday.“I use the harshest words to condemn (the act),” Kishida said as he struggled to control his emotions. He said the government planned to review the security situation, but added that Abe had the highest protection.Opposition leaders condemned the attack as a challenge to Japan’s democracy. In Tokyo, people stopped on the street to grab extra editions of newspapers or watch TV coverage of the shooting.When he resigned as prime minister, Abe said he had a recurrence of the ulcerative colitis he'd had since he was a teenager.He told reporters at the time that it was “gut wrenching” to leave many of his goals unfinished. He spoke of his failure to resolve the issue of Japanese abducted years ago by North Korea, a territorial dispute with Russia and a revision of Japan’s war-renouncing constitution.That last goal was a big reason he was such a divisive figure.His ultra-nationalism riled the Koreas and China, and his push to create what he saw as a more normal defense posture angered many Japanese. Abe failed to achieve his cherished goal of formally rewriting the U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution because of poor public support.Loyalists said that his legacy was a stronger U.S.-Japan relationship that was meant to bolster Japan’s defense capability. But Abe made enemies by forcing his defense goals and other contentious issues through parliament, despite strong public opposition.Abe was a political blue blood who was groomed to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. His political rhetoric often focused on making Japan a “normal” and “beautiful” nation with a stronger military and bigger role in international affairs.Many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shinzo-abe-shooting-world-leaders-react-e163d6212ab8a76ff88ac66a7287172c">foreign officials</a>&nbsp;expressed shock over the shooting.Abe said he was proud of working while leader for a stronger Japan-U.S. security alliance and shepherding the first visit by a serving U.S. president to the atom-bombed city of Hiroshima. He also helped Tokyo gain the right to host the 2020 Olympics by pledging that a disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant was “under control” when it was not.Abe became Japan’s youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52, but his overly nationalistic first stint abruptly ended a year later, also because of his health.The end of Abe’s scandal-laden first stint as prime minister was the beginning of six years of annual leadership change, remembered as an era of “revolving door” politics that lacked stability and long-term policies.When he returned to office in 2012, Abe vowed to revitalize the nation and get its economy out of its deflationary doldrums with his “Abenomics” formula, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms.He won six national elections and built a rock-solid grip on power, bolstering Japan’s defense role and capability and its security alliance with the U.S. He also stepped up patriotic education at schools and raised Japan’s international profile.

Assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister stuns world leaders

OSAGE COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 9a.m. Thursday in Osage County.

A 2001 Dodge Caravan driven by Velma J. Kissinger, 64, Ottawa, was northbound on Interstate 35 just north of the Melvern exit, according to the Osage County Sheriff's Department.

The van traveled off the road and&nbsp; came to rest after rolling into a tree line.

Osage County EMS transported Kissinger to an Overland Park hospital in critical condition. She later died, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

OSAGE COUNTY—A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 9a.m. Thursday in Osage County.A 2001 Dodge Caravan driven by Velma J. Kissinger, 64, Ottawa, was northbound on Interstate 35 just north of the Melvern exit, according to the Osage County Sheriff's Department.The van traveled off the road and&nbsp; came to rest after rolling into a tree line.Osage County EMS transported Kissinger to an Overland Park hospital in critical condition. She later died, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

Kansas woman dies after van travels into tree line

Due to high sales, officials in the states participating in the Mega 
Millions Lotto game have increased the estimated jackpot amount for the
 Friday, July 8, drawing to $410 million or $230.9 million with the cash 
option selected.

The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $20 million 
and continues to grow each drawing until it is won. There have been 23 
consecutive Mega Millions drawings since April 19 without a jackpot 
winner.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620755777014.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Due to high sales, officials in the states participating in the Mega 
Millions Lotto game have increased the estimated jackpot amount for the
 Friday, July 8, drawing to $410 million or $230.9 million with the cash 
option selected.The Mega Millions jackpot starts at $20 million 
and continues to grow each drawing until it is won. There have been 23 
consecutive Mega Millions drawings since April 19 without a jackpot 
winner.— Nebraska Lottery

Friday's Mega Millions jackpot climbs in excess of $400M

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will take executive action Friday to protect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">access to abortion</a>, according to three people familiar with the matter, as he faces mounting pressure from fellow Democrats to be more forceful on the subject after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Supreme Court ended a constitutional right</a>&nbsp;to the procedure two weeks ago.

Biden will speak Friday morning “on protecting access to reproductive health care services,” the people said. The actions he was expected to outline are intended to try to mitigate some potential penalties women seeking abortion may face after the ruling but are limited in their ability to safeguard access to abortion nationwide. Biden is expected to formalize instructions to the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to push back on efforts to limit the ability of women to access federally approved abortion medication or to travel across state lines to access clinical abortion services. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Biden's actions before they were officially announced.

Biden's executive order will also direct agencies to work to educate medical providers and insurers about how and when they are required to share privileged patient information with authorities — an effort to protect women who seek or utilize&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion services</a>. He will also ask the Federal Trade Commission to take steps to protect the privacy of those seeking information about reproductive care online.

The order, coming after the high court's June 24 ruling that ended the nationwide right to abortion and left it to states to determine whether or how to allow the procedure, comes as Biden has faced criticism from some in his own party for not acting with more urgency to protect women's access to abortion. The decision in the case known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf">Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization</a>&nbsp;overturned the court's landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.

Since the ruling, Biden has stressed that his ability to protect abortion rights by executive action is limited without congressional action.

“Ultimately, Congress is going to have to act to codify Roe into federal law," Biden said last week during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-health-filibusters-joe-manchin-1350946adeb5dbd4febc62fb231b1f66">virtual meeting with Democratic governors</a>.

The tasking to the Justice Department and HHS is expected to push the agencies to fight in court to protect women, but it conveys no guarantees that the judicial system will take their side against potential prosecution by states that have moved to outlaw abortion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654213002552.png" alt="“Let’s be very clear, the health and life of women across this nation are now at risk,” President Biden said on June 24, on what he called “a sad day for the court and the country.”" />
 <figcaption>“Let’s be very clear, the health and life of women across this nation are now at risk,” President Biden said on June 24, on what he called “a sad day for the court and the country.”</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will take executive action Friday to protect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">access to abortion</a>, according to three people familiar with the matter, as he faces mounting pressure from fellow Democrats to be more forceful on the subject after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">Supreme Court ended a constitutional right</a>&nbsp;to the procedure two weeks ago.Biden will speak Friday morning “on protecting access to reproductive health care services,” the people said. The actions he was expected to outline are intended to try to mitigate some potential penalties women seeking abortion may face after the ruling but are limited in their ability to safeguard access to abortion nationwide. Biden is expected to formalize instructions to the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to push back on efforts to limit the ability of women to access federally approved abortion medication or to travel across state lines to access clinical abortion services. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss Biden's actions before they were officially announced.Biden's executive order will also direct agencies to work to educate medical providers and insurers about how and when they are required to share privileged patient information with authorities — an effort to protect women who seek or utilize&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortion services</a>. He will also ask the Federal Trade Commission to take steps to protect the privacy of those seeking information about reproductive care online.The order, coming after the high court's June 24 ruling that ended the nationwide right to abortion and left it to states to determine whether or how to allow the procedure, comes as Biden has faced criticism from some in his own party for not acting with more urgency to protect women's access to abortion. The decision in the case known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/19-1392_6j37.pdf">Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization</a>&nbsp;overturned the court's landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.Since the ruling, Biden has stressed that his ability to protect abortion rights by executive action is limited without congressional action.“Ultimately, Congress is going to have to act to codify Roe into federal law," Biden said last week during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-biden-health-filibusters-joe-manchin-1350946adeb5dbd4febc62fb231b1f66">virtual meeting with Democratic governors</a>.The tasking to the Justice Department and HHS is expected to push the agencies to fight in court to protect women, but it conveys no guarantees that the judicial system will take their side against potential prosecution by states that have moved to outlaw abortion.

 Biden to take executive action to protect abortion access

NICKERSON, Kan. — Nickerson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale gave a short update on the condition of Assistant Superintendent Amy Jones and her family Thursday. The Jones <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/c911dfff-8950-46f3-89f3-6d60ac6d123d">were hit</a> by an alleged drunk driver in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday evening.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The daughter, Ava, who just signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Iowa, is improving, according to Nightingale.&nbsp; Ava Jones' team, Wheat State Elite, is playing in the&nbsp;<a href="https://run4theroses.com/">Run 4 The Roses</a>&nbsp;club basketball tournament in Louisville.

Amy is also improving, though she was initially admitted to the hospital in critical condition. Ava's father and Amy's husband, Trey Jones is still in critical condition. A fourth member of the family was not seriously injured.

Nightingale told Hutch Post that a candlelight vigil will be held at the Nickerson High School football stadium on Sunday at 9 p.m. Guests are asked to bring their own candles.&nbsp;

Also, a fund has been set up at Peoples Bank and Trust to help with the family’s expenses. Donations can be made at the bank to the Jones Family Fund.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628266388485.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOK Hutch PostNICKERSON, Kan. — Nickerson USD 309 Superintendent Curtis Nightingale gave a short update on the condition of Assistant Superintendent Amy Jones and her family Thursday. The Jones <a href="https://littleapplepost.com/posts/c911dfff-8950-46f3-89f3-6d60ac6d123d">were hit</a> by an alleged drunk driver in Louisville, Kentucky Tuesday evening.&nbsp;&nbsp;The daughter, Ava, who just signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Iowa, is improving, according to Nightingale.&nbsp; Ava Jones' team, Wheat State Elite, is playing in the&nbsp;<a href="https://run4theroses.com/">Run 4 The Roses</a>&nbsp;club basketball tournament in Louisville.Amy is also improving, though she was initially admitted to the hospital in critical condition. Ava's father and Amy's husband, Trey Jones is still in critical condition. A fourth member of the family was not seriously injured.Nightingale told Hutch Post that a candlelight vigil will be held at the Nickerson High School football stadium on Sunday at 9 p.m. Guests are asked to bring their own candles.&nbsp;Also, a fund has been set up at Peoples Bank and Trust to help with the family’s expenses. Donations can be made at the bank to the Jones Family Fund.

Candlelight vigil for Kan. family struck by reported impaired driver

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man for the alleged attempted murder of his mother.

Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communication Center received information that a 63-year-old woman had arrived at a local hospital with serious injuries to her face, head, and hands, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 Investigators learned that the 63-year-old woman was attacked by her&nbsp; son identified as 41-year-old Preston Price&nbsp; in her own home in the 1100 block of NE 35th Street in Topeka.

The 63-year-old female was able to escape the scene and drive herself to a local hospital. She is currently being treated in a Kansas City hospital for extensive injuries suffered during the attack.

Deputies arrested Preston L. Price of Topeka and booked him on a requested charge of attempted murder in the 1st degree, according to Christian.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657221582560.png" alt="Price-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Price-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a man for the alleged attempted murder of his mother.Just after 6:30p.m. Wednesday, the Shawnee County Emergency Communication Center received information that a 63-year-old woman had arrived at a local hospital with serious injuries to her face, head, and hands, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. Investigators learned that the 63-year-old woman was attacked by her&nbsp; son identified as 41-year-old Preston Price&nbsp; in her own home in the 1100 block of NE 35th Street in Topeka.The 63-year-old female was able to escape the scene and drive herself to a local hospital. She is currently being treated in a Kansas City hospital for extensive injuries suffered during the attack.Deputies arrested Preston L. Price of Topeka and booked him on a requested charge of attempted murder in the 1st degree, according to Christian.

Kan. woman hospitalized after violent attack by her son

WICHITA, KAN. – A California man was sentenced three years in prison following a jury conviction in Sedgwick County on one count of mail fraud and one count of making a false representation in a bankruptcy proceeding, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, in January 2018, Nana Baidoobonso – Iam, 69, of California engaged in a scheme in which he mailed an Involuntary Petition in Bankruptcy to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas. 

The defendant signed the Involuntary Petition in Bankruptcy under the penalties of perjury and falsely claimed that an individual owed him $630,000 and owed a second person $1.26 million.

The U.S. Postal Service investigated the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657035695583.png" alt="Baidoobonso – Iam- photo Butler County" />
 <figcaption>Baidoobonso – Iam- photo Butler County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A California man was sentenced three years in prison following a jury conviction in Sedgwick County on one count of mail fraud and one count of making a false representation in a bankruptcy proceeding, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, in January 2018, Nana Baidoobonso – Iam, 69, of California engaged in a scheme in which he mailed an Involuntary Petition in Bankruptcy to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas. The defendant signed the Involuntary Petition in Bankruptcy under the penalties of perjury and falsely claimed that an individual owed him $630,000 and owed a second person $1.26 million.The U.S. Postal Service investigated the case.

Man sentenced to prison for bankruptcy fraud in Kansas

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating bomb threats nationwide and at two schools in Kansas.

 The caller described the bomb and its location in the back of the classroom.  The caller also stated it would detonate in just over one hour.  Police, Fire and EMS responded and coordinated with campus security to evacuate the area and sweep the stated location.  No suspicious devices were located.  

College administration and security requested the area to be swept by a bomb dog.  During the coordination of the dog, we learned from state and federal Intelligence sources that the same report had been made at multiple campuses across the nation. 

 Each of these searches concluded the same.  The detonation time elapsed without incident.  

At this time, the Dodge City Community College security and police were holding the area closed off to the public until the bomb dog arrives and searches for a device.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590767306420.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating bomb threats nationwide and at two schools in Kansas.Just before 1p.m. Thursday, a&nbsp;bomb threat was called in at KU School of Medicine, 1010 N. Kansas Street, in Wichita, according to Officer Chad Ditch. Police and&nbsp;&nbsp;KU Security checked the facility and alerted staff. They found no bomb but continue to investigate, according to Ditch.Just after 1p.m., the Ford County Communications Center received a call from a person saying there was a bomb in the Arts classroom of the Dodge City Community College, 2501 North 14th Avenue in Dodge City, according to a media release from police. The caller described the bomb and its location in the back of the classroom. The caller also stated it would detonate in just over one hour. Police, Fire and EMS responded and coordinated with campus security to evacuate the area and sweep the stated location. No suspicious devices were located. College administration and security requested the area to be swept by a bomb dog. During the coordination of the dog, we learned from state and federal Intelligence sources that the same report had been made at multiple campuses across the nation. Each of these searches concluded the same. The detonation time elapsed without incident. At this time, the Dodge City Community College security and police were holding the area closed off to the public until the bomb dog arrives and searches for a device.

Police: Bomb threats at campuses nationwide, 2 in Kansas

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a weekend double murder have identified one of the victims as 43-year-old Saren Negrete-Perez of California, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick. The sheriff's office has not released the name of the male victim.

At the scene, first responders found 42-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076411">David Baeza</a>&nbsp;of Wichita on the side of the road suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Colonel Brian White with the sheriff's department. EMS transported Baeza to an area hospital for treatment.

During an additional search of the rural property, deputies found a man andNegrete-Perez deceased in the backyard of a residence the 4300 block of South Rock Road. They died from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; The victims did not live at this location, according to White.

While processing the scene, investigators found 43-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18714449">Joseph Ponse Jr. </a>&nbsp;of Wichita. Deputies booked him on requested charges of first degree murder and a Kansas Department of Corrections arrest and detain order, according to White.

After he was released from the hospital and interviewed, deputies booked<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076411">&nbsp;Baeza</a>&nbsp;on requested charges of first-degree murder.

Investigators still have individuals they want to interview in connection with the case, according to White. "This was not a random act and drug activity is believed involved."&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1656781809875.png" alt="Rock Road was closed during the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Rock Road was closed during the investigation -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a weekend double murder have identified one of the victims as 43-year-old Saren Negrete-Perez of California, according to Lt. Benjamin Blick. The sheriff's office has not released the name of the male victim.Just after 5 a.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies were sent to a shooting call in the 4400 block of south Rock Road in rural Sedgwick County, according to Blick.&nbsp;At the scene, first responders found 42-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076411">David Baeza</a>&nbsp;of Wichita on the side of the road suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Colonel Brian White with the sheriff's department. EMS transported Baeza to an area hospital for treatment.During an additional search of the rural property, deputies found a man andNegrete-Perez deceased in the backyard of a residence the 4300 block of South Rock Road. They died from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp; The victims did not live at this location, according to White.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657051675461.png" alt="Baeza-photo Sedgwick County." />
 <figcaption>Baeza-photo Sedgwick County.</figcaption>
 </figure>While processing the scene, investigators found 43-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=18714449">Joseph Ponse Jr. </a>&nbsp;of Wichita. Deputies booked him on requested charges of first degree murder and a Kansas Department of Corrections arrest and detain order, according to White.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657051599579.png" alt="Ponse-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Ponse-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>After he was released from the hospital and interviewed, deputies booked<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=20076411">&nbsp;Baeza</a>&nbsp;on requested charges of first-degree murder. Investigators still have individuals they want to interview in connection with the case, according to White. "This was not a random act and drug activity is believed involved."&nbsp;

Sheriff: California woman a victim in rural Kan. double murder

By KAY HAWES University of Kansas Medical Center

OVERLAND PARK - The University of Kansas Cancer Center has been designated as a “Comprehensive” cancer center by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/transformative-research/nci-designation" target="_blank">the National Cancer Institute (NCI)</a>. This is the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI and is the gold standard for cancer centers.

(Click below to watch Thursday's announcement)

“Nearly twenty years ago, this entire community joined together and decided that national designation, and ultimately Comprehensive designation, of our cancer center was our top priority as a region. It was our moonshot,” said Douglas A. Girod, MD, chancellor of&nbsp;<a href="https://ku.edu/" target="_blank">the University of Kansas</a>. “Well, today we’ve landed on the moon, so to speak. What was once a dream is now a reality. And that reality means better patient care, better health outcomes and better research. And it means we are one step closer to our ultimate goal – which is to rid our society of cancer so that we all have the opportunity to live happier, healthier lives.”

In addition to Comprehensive status, the KU Cancer Center was awarded a five-year, $13.8 million grant to support the center’s research programs, shared equipment and resources. It also received an “outstanding” rating by NCI reviewers.

“Comprehensive designation is a crucial milestone in our journey to conquer all cancers,” said Roy Jensen, MD, vice chancellor and director of KU Cancer Center. “You might ask, ‘What does Comprehensive designation mean for people with cancer?’ As one of just 53 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, it means patients will be cared for by the world’s leading cancer experts who have access to a robust portfolio of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer-clinical-trials" target="_blank">clinical trials</a>. It also means we now have increased access to more federal funding and research dollars, which helps us grow and retain our team of internationally renowned&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/research-areas" target="_blank">researchers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/transformative-research/beyond-the-bench/2021/physician-scientists-bridging-the-lab-and-clinic" target="_blank">physician-scientists</a>.”

The University of Kansas Cancer Center has nearly 350 researchers and 150 disease-specific oncologists. They conduct all phases of cancer research, from laboratory studies to clinical trials to population-based studies that address environmental and behavioral factors that contribute to cancer.

Research operations at KU Cancer Center have already contributed an estimated $2.5 billion in economic impact to the region since 2007 when the center began working toward NCI designation in earnest. It’s estimated that those numbers will only increase with the anticipated expansion that will accompany KU Cancer Center achieving Comprehensive designation. University leaders note that the growth of the cancer center has contributed to additional advancements at the university.

By KAY HAWES University of Kansas Medical CenterOVERLAND PARK - The University of Kansas Cancer Center has been designated as a “Comprehensive” cancer center by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/transformative-research/nci-designation" target="_blank">the National Cancer Institute (NCI)</a>. This is the highest level of recognition awarded by the NCI and is the gold standard for cancer centers.(Click below to watch Thursday's announcement)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4k7duagcOgc?start=1582" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“Nearly twenty years ago, this entire community joined together and decided that national designation, and ultimately Comprehensive designation, of our cancer center was our top priority as a region. It was our moonshot,” said Douglas A. Girod, MD, chancellor of&nbsp;<a href="https://ku.edu/" target="_blank">the University of Kansas</a>. “Well, today we’ve landed on the moon, so to speak. What was once a dream is now a reality. And that reality means better patient care, better health outcomes and better research. And it means we are one step closer to our ultimate goal – which is to rid our society of cancer so that we all have the opportunity to live happier, healthier lives.”In addition to Comprehensive status, the KU Cancer Center was awarded a five-year, $13.8 million grant to support the center’s research programs, shared equipment and resources. It also received an “outstanding” rating by NCI reviewers.“Comprehensive designation is a crucial milestone in our journey to conquer all cancers,” said Roy Jensen, MD, vice chancellor and director of KU Cancer Center. “You might ask, ‘What does Comprehensive designation mean for people with cancer?’ As one of just 53 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, it means patients will be cared for by the world’s leading cancer experts who have access to a robust portfolio of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/cancer-clinical-trials" target="_blank">clinical trials</a>. It also means we now have increased access to more federal funding and research dollars, which helps us grow and retain our team of internationally renowned&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/research-areas" target="_blank">researchers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kucancercenter.org/research/transformative-research/beyond-the-bench/2021/physician-scientists-bridging-the-lab-and-clinic" target="_blank">physician-scientists</a>.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congrats to <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyJensenMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RoyJensenMD</a> and his team at <a href="https://twitter.com/KUcancercenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KUCancerCenter</a>. Attaining this designation is a huge deal and shows that Kansas is a national leader in the fight against cancer. <a href="https://t.co/YFw9YCIIDA">https://t.co/YFw9YCIIDA</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1545088316013412353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The University of Kansas Cancer Center has nearly 350 researchers and 150 disease-specific oncologists. They conduct all phases of cancer research, from laboratory studies to clinical trials to population-based studies that address environmental and behavioral factors that contribute to cancer.Research operations at KU Cancer Center have already contributed an estimated $2.5 billion in economic impact to the region since 2007 when the center began working toward NCI designation in earnest. It’s estimated that those numbers will only increase with the anticipated expansion that will accompany KU Cancer Center achieving Comprehensive designation. University leaders note that the growth of the cancer center has contributed to additional advancements at the university.“Two decades ago, when KU Medical Center leadership decided to focus on cancer research, there were some who worried that other areas might be left behind,” said Robert D. Simari, MD, executive vice chancellor of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/" target="_blank">the University of Kansas Medical Center</a>. “However, it has never been more true that rising tides raise all ships. With the success of the cancer center, centers of excellence in Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, diabetes, aging and many others have flourished.”The Stowers Institute for Medical Research and Children’s Mercy Kansas City are consortium partners with KU Cancer Center, while The University of Kansas Health System is a clinical partner.“This designation from the National Cancer Institute confirms the excellence of The University of Kansas Cancer Center and underscores the importance of research, combined with exceptional clinical care,” said Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, PhD, executive director and chief scientific officer of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stowers.org/" target="_blank">Stowers Institute for Medical Research</a>. “Science at Stowers is deliberately designed to make the important biological discoveries that can lead to potential new treatments and eventual cures for cancer and other diseases. We are honored to participate with KU Cancer Center and Children’s Mercy in this most auspicious endeavor.”“This designation will strengthen the region’s research environment and fast-track new and improved cancer treatments for patients, including children,” said Paul Kempinski, MS, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.childrensmercy.org/childrens-mercy-research-institute/" target="_blank">Children’s Mercy Kansas City</a>. “Of the 5,000 cancer treatment centers nationwide, very few have partnered with a pediatric hospital as part of its consortium. Working together, we can continue to bring the very best that science and technology have to offer for children with cancer.”Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/" target="_blank">The University of Kansas Health System</a>, noted that the quest for Comprehensive status has been a collective effort. “Today is a celebration of the power of collaboration,” he said. “It’s about bringing together our organizations’ strengths in research, education and patient care to demonstrate the remarkable impact of academic medicine.”With Comprehensive designation, the outreach activities of KU Cancer Center are expected to expand across its catchment area—defined as the state of Kansas and western Missouri—even more.“We are so pleased with and proud of the work being done across KU Cancer Center’s catchment area at our<a href="https://www.masoniccanceralliance.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Masonic Cancer Alliance (MCA)</a>&nbsp;member sites,” said Gary Doolittle, MD, professor of clinical oncology and director of the MCA. “As the outreach network of KU Cancer Center, MCA sites have done a tremendous job for more than a decade now bringing outreach activities to their communities, offering access to clinical trials to their patients close to home, participating in professional development and much more.”