FINNEY COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement authorities are investigating numerous reports of Facebook Marketplace and other social media scams, according to a media release from Garden City Police.

Police offered several examples of the scams that include COVID-19 relief, rentals for sale and fundraisers to help people in need. 

In many incidents, the scammer will send a photo with their Driver’s License or another form of identification to gain the trust of the victim, express urgency to act, and convince the victim into switching to a third-party option for payment. 

A recent victim of an online marketplace scam reported to police of losing several thousands of dollars. 

Police urged the public to continue to be vigilant with your online marketplace shopping. If you think it is a scam or if  something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. 

Ask questions, do not give out your personal or financial information, and do your own research before you commit to anything. At the bare minimum, if you see something suspicious on any social media marketplace, report it as spam/fraud through that platform. 

If you have questions or believe you have been a victim of fraud, immediately report it to your bank and contact police.

FINNEY COUNTY&nbsp; —Law enforcement authorities are investigating numerous reports of Facebook Marketplace and other social media scams, according to a media release from Garden City Police.Police offered several examples of the scams that include COVID-19 relief, rentals for sale and fundraisers to help people in need. In many incidents, the scammer will send a photo with their Driver’s License or another form of identification to gain the trust of the victim, express urgency to act, and convince the victim into switching to a third-party option for payment. A recent victim of an online marketplace scam reported to police of losing several thousands of dollars. Police urged the public to continue to be vigilant with your online marketplace shopping. If you think it is a scam or if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Ask questions, do not give out your personal or financial information, and do your own research before you commit to anything. At the bare minimum, if you see something suspicious on any social media marketplace, report it as spam/fraud through that platform. If you have questions or believe you have been a victim of fraud, immediately report it to your bank and contact police.

Police in SW Kansas issue online marketplace scam alert

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Five young teenagers including two 13-year-olds who are charged in a Kansas man's shooting death pleaded not guilty in juvenile court to first-degree murder. Court documents say the teenagers pleaded Monday. 

Three of the suspects who pleaded Monday are 14-years-old. A hearing for a sixth 14-year-old scheduled for Monday was postponed to June 15. 

They are charged in the May 14 death of 19-year-old Marco Cardino of Smithville, Missouri. He was found dead in his car in an Olathe, Kansas, park. The Johnson County prosecutor is seeking to try the 14-year-olds as adults. Kansas law does not allow 13-year-olds to be tried as adults.

OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor says he wants to try four 14-year-olds as adults in the shooting death of a Missouri man.

They are among six teenagers charged in juvenile court with first-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Marco Cardino, of Smithville, Missouri.

The two other suspects are 13 and cannot be tried as adults under Kansas law.

Marco was found dead in his car with multiple gunshot wounds on March 14 in Black Bob Park in Olathe, Kansas.

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said the shooting occurred during a marijuana sale, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article261596277.html">reported</a>.

“It follows a pattern we’ve seen with young adults and teenagers, where violence has occurred on sales of small amounts of marijuana,” Howe said. He did not specify who was buying and who was selling.

Howe filed motions this week to charge the four 14-year-olds — three males and one female — as adults. All the suspects are from Olathe.

Prosecutors have not released more details about the shooting but court records list aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm as felonies that contributed to the murder charge.

Olathe Attorney Carl Cornwell, who represents one of the 14-year-olds, said he was surprised the prosecutors want to try his client as an adult.

"I’ve never had one this young where they are trying (to transfer the case to adult court),” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653068899390.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — Five young teenagers including two 13-year-olds who are charged in a Kansas man's shooting death pleaded not guilty in juvenile court to first-degree murder. Court documents say the teenagers pleaded Monday. Three of the suspects who pleaded Monday are 14-years-old. A hearing for a sixth 14-year-old scheduled for Monday was postponed to June 15. They are charged in the May 14 death of 19-year-old Marco Cardino of Smithville, Missouri. He was found dead in his car in an Olathe, Kansas, park. The Johnson County prosecutor is seeking to try the 14-year-olds as adults. Kansas law does not allow 13-year-olds to be tried as adults.--------OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas prosecutor says he wants to try four 14-year-olds as adults in the shooting death of a Missouri man.They are among six teenagers charged in juvenile court with first-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Marco Cardino, of Smithville, Missouri.The two other suspects are 13 and cannot be tried as adults under Kansas law.Marco was found dead in his car with multiple gunshot wounds on March 14 in Black Bob Park in Olathe, Kansas.Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said the shooting occurred during a marijuana sale, The Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article261596277.html">reported</a>.“It follows a pattern we’ve seen with young adults and teenagers, where violence has occurred on sales of small amounts of marijuana,” Howe said. He did not specify who was buying and who was selling.Howe filed motions this week to charge the four 14-year-olds — three males and one female — as adults. All the suspects are from Olathe.Prosecutors have not released more details about the shooting but court records list aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm as felonies that contributed to the murder charge.Olathe Attorney Carl Cornwell, who represents one of the 14-year-olds, said he was surprised the prosecutors want to try his client as an adult."I’ve never had one this young where they are trying (to transfer the case to adult court),” he said.

Two 13-year-olds enter plea for murder at Kansas park

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas has won&nbsp;Area Development&nbsp;magazine’s coveted 2022 Gold Shovel Award, marking the second year in a row the state has received this national recognition for excellence in economic development, according to a media release from the governor's office.

“For the second year in a row, Kansas has been recognized as one of the nation’s leaders in job creation and business investment,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“There’s a reason why: Our track record of fully funding schools, investing in infrastructure, and expanding broadband access has resulted in more businesses choosing to call Kansas home.”

The annual award is given to states that attract high-value investment projects that create a significant number of new jobs in their communities. Only five states have been awarded the Gold Shovel for 2022. Since the start of Governor Kelly’s Administration, Kansas has received nearly $8.8 billion in new business investments, created and retained nearly 43,000 jobs, and been home to 645 new economic development projects.

As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to help businesses and communities grow in Kansas. Commerce’s business recruitment team supported all business successes submitted for the Gold Shovel Award.

“Under Governor Kelly’s leadership, the Kansas economy has transformed into one of the most dominant states for economic development,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Our aggressive approach to bringing new, quality jobs and investment to the state has led to back-to-back years of record-breaking success. As a result, the world is taking notice.”&nbsp;

To strengthen these record-breaking efforts, Governor Kelly recently signed the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) bill into law. This bipartisan legislation provides an additional tool to help Kansas compete for some of the country's most significant and transformational economic development projects. With modern, competitive economic development tools and a highly skilled workforce, Kansas will remain on track for new growth in the years to come.

The Kansas Department of Commerce worked with economic development organizations and partners across the state to select a sample of successful projects to submit for this award.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654596827212.png" alt="Only five states have been awarded the Gold Shovel for 2022. -Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Only five states have been awarded the Gold Shovel for 2022. -Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas has won&nbsp;Area Development&nbsp;magazine’s coveted 2022 Gold Shovel Award, marking the second year in a row the state has received this national recognition for excellence in economic development, according to a media release from the governor's office.“For the second year in a row, Kansas has been recognized as one of the nation’s leaders in job creation and business investment,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“There’s a reason why: Our track record of fully funding schools, investing in infrastructure, and expanding broadband access has resulted in more businesses choosing to call Kansas home.”The annual award is given to states that attract high-value investment projects that create a significant number of new jobs in their communities. Only five states have been awarded the Gold Shovel for 2022. Since the start of Governor Kelly’s Administration, Kansas has received nearly $8.8 billion in new business investments, created and retained nearly 43,000 jobs, and been home to 645 new economic development projects.As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Department of Commerce works to help businesses and communities grow in Kansas. Commerce’s business recruitment team supported all business successes submitted for the Gold Shovel Award.“Under Governor Kelly’s leadership, the Kansas economy has transformed into one of the most dominant states for economic development,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “Our aggressive approach to bringing new, quality jobs and investment to the state has led to back-to-back years of record-breaking success. As a result, the world is taking notice.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654596881845.png" alt="The top projects in Kansas" />
 <figcaption>The top projects in Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>To strengthen these record-breaking efforts, Governor Kelly recently signed the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) bill into law. This bipartisan legislation provides an additional tool to help Kansas compete for some of the country's most significant and transformational economic development projects. With modern, competitive economic development tools and a highly skilled workforce, Kansas will remain on track for new growth in the years to come.The Kansas Department of Commerce worked with economic development organizations and partners across the state to select a sample of successful projects to submit for this award.

2nd year in a row Kansas wins prestigious economic development award

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A Kansas man faces requested theft, drug, and weapon charges after he allegedly was seen on surveillance video taking money from an arcade game.

On June 2, police were sent to The Alley, 115 E. Ash Street in Salina for the report of cash being stolen from a video game the day before, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The manager told officers that the Dragon's Ascent video game keeps a total of how much money is taken in, but when he ran the report, the game was $500 short.

Video surveillance showed a man in a red hoodie at the game between 2-4 p.m. Wednesday. In the video, he is seen prying a panel open and removing cash. He then returned at 7 p.m. Wednesday and took more cash from the game, Forrester said.

A total of $500 was taken, he said. An employee who viewed the video identified the man as David Boeschling, 23, of Salina.

Forrester said that at approximately 5:40 p.m. Thursday, officers were once again sent to The Alley, as Boeschling had returned. By the time they arrived, Boeschling had left in a green Honda Civic.

Officers were able to locate the Civic in the 100 block of S. Ninth Street, and conducted a traffic stop. A K-9 was deployed to do an air sniff of the vehicle and indicated the presence of illegal drugs, Forrester said. During a subsequent search of the Civic, officers allegedly found marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a .38 caliber handgun.

Boeschling is being held on requested charges that include Misdemeanor theft, Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a weapon by a controlled substance user and No valid license plate

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654260765520.png" alt="David Boeschling -photo&nbsp;Saline County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>David Boeschling -photo&nbsp;Saline County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Kansas man faces requested theft, drug, and weapon charges after he allegedly was seen on surveillance video taking money from an arcade game.On June 2, police were sent to The Alley, 115 E. Ash Street in Salina for the report of cash being stolen from a video game the day before, according to Police Captain Paul Forrester.The manager told officers that the Dragon's Ascent video game keeps a total of how much money is taken in, but when he ran the report, the game was $500 short.Video surveillance showed a man in a red hoodie at the game between 2-4 p.m. Wednesday. In the video, he is seen prying a panel open and removing cash. He then returned at 7 p.m. Wednesday and took more cash from the game, Forrester said.A total of $500 was taken, he said. An employee who viewed the video identified the man as David Boeschling, 23, of Salina.Forrester said that at approximately 5:40 p.m. Thursday, officers were once again sent to The Alley, as Boeschling had returned. By the time they arrived, Boeschling had left in a green Honda Civic.Officers were able to locate the Civic in the 100 block of S. Ninth Street, and conducted a traffic stop. A K-9 was deployed to do an air sniff of the vehicle and indicated the presence of illegal drugs, Forrester said. During a subsequent search of the Civic, officers allegedly found marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a .38 caliber handgun.Boeschling is being held on requested charges that include Misdemeanor theft, Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a weapon by a controlled substance user and No valid license plate

Police: Security camera saw Kan. man take cash from video game

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden ordered emergency measures Monday to increase U.S. manufacturing of solar panels and declared a two-year tariff exemption on panels from Southeast Asia as he attempted to jumpstart an industry key to his climate change-fighting goals.

His invoking of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-politics-16bf293467703f6b4fceae5a7f272ab5">the Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;and other executive actions comes amid complaints by industry groups that the solar sector is being slowed by supply chain problems due to an ongoing Commerce Department inquiry into possible trade violations involving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-business-government-and-politics-1fdb0ef1dfea9c95a7efee767320b2b6">Chinese products</a>.

The Commerce Department announced in March that it was scrutinizing imports of solar panels from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, concerned that products from those countries are skirting U.S. anti-dumping rules that limit imports from China.

Solar energy companies gained ground in morning trading Monday on Wall Street.

White House officials said Biden’s actions aim to increase domestic production of solar panel parts, building installation materials, high-efficiency heat pumps and other components like cells used for clean-energy generated fuels. They called the tariff suspension affecting imports from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia a bridge measure while other efforts increase domestic solar power production — even as the administration remains supportive of U.S. trade laws and the Commerce Department investigation.

The Commerce Department has defended its investigation.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-asia-environment-42a392471ac9dee06d6e643574c04860">Secretary Gina Raimondo told a Senate panel</a>&nbsp;in May that the solar inquiry is following a process set by law that doesn’t allow consideration of climate change, supply chains or other factors.

Still, clean energy leaders have been warning since then that the investigation — which could result in retroactive tariffs of up to 240% — would severely hinder the U.S. solar industry, leading to thousands of layoffs and imperiling up to 80% of planned solar projects around the country. That could jeopardize one of Biden’s top&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-technology-business-nebraska-6b81807a3b1a9d8158b1a65220165601">clean energy</a>&nbsp;goals and run counter to his Democratic administration’s push for renewable energy such as wind and solar power.

“The president’s announcement will rejuvenate the construction and domestic manufacturing of solar power by restoring predictability and business certainty that the Department of Commerce’s flawed inquiry has disrupted,” Heather Zichal, CEO of the American Clean Power Association and a former Obama administration official, said in a statement Monday.

Others struck similar tones. Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, cheered Biden’s “thoughtful approach to addressing the current crisis of the paralyzed solar supply chain.”

“Today’s actions protect existing solar jobs, will lead to increased employment in the solar industry and foster a robust solar manufacturing base here at home,” Ross Hopper said in a statement.

But the moves drew sharp criticism from major solar panel manufacturer First Solar Inc., which said freezing tariffs grants “unfettered access to China’s state-subsidized solar companies for the next two years” and that using the Defense Production Act is “an ineffective use of taxpayer dollars and falls well short of a durable solar industrial policy.”

“The administration cannot stick a Band-Aid on the issue and hope that it goes away,” Samantha Sloan, the company’s vice president of policy, said in a statement.

Using executive actions comes as the Biden administration’s clean energy tax cuts, and other major proposals meant to encourage domestic green energy production, have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-science-technology-business-b3bc2a5930b28dfcf1134879f86c131e">stalled in Congress</a>.

The Defense Production Act lets the federal government direct manufacturing production for national defense and has become a tool used more commonly by presidents in recent months. President Donald Trump’s administration used it to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-wa-state-wire-e301b2fece936ef05ba760fd486f59a7">produce medical equipment and supplies</a>&nbsp;during the early stages of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. Biden evoked its authority last month to prioritize&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-government-and-politics-df586c2e52b5e5865ea9f8091d4d1f80">boosting the nation’s supplies of baby formula</a>&nbsp;amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-formula-shortage-what-to-know-735cef06e68ed9c5a46233bdfcf0573d">a domestic shortage</a>&nbsp;caused by the safety-related closure of the country’s largest formula factory.

Jean Su, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s energy justice program, said in a statement that Biden’s announcement can “give critical momentum to the needed transition to solar energy.”

“We hope this use of the Defense Production Act is a turning point for the president, who must use all his executive powers to confront the climate emergency head on,” Su said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620074492600.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden ordered emergency measures Monday to increase U.S. manufacturing of solar panels and declared a two-year tariff exemption on panels from Southeast Asia as he attempted to jumpstart an industry key to his climate change-fighting goals.His invoking of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-politics-16bf293467703f6b4fceae5a7f272ab5">the Defense Production Act</a>&nbsp;and other executive actions comes amid complaints by industry groups that the solar sector is being slowed by supply chain problems due to an ongoing Commerce Department inquiry into possible trade violations involving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-business-government-and-politics-1fdb0ef1dfea9c95a7efee767320b2b6">Chinese products</a>.The Commerce Department announced in March that it was scrutinizing imports of solar panels from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia, concerned that products from those countries are skirting U.S. anti-dumping rules that limit imports from China.Solar energy companies gained ground in morning trading Monday on Wall Street.White House officials said Biden’s actions aim to increase domestic production of solar panel parts, building installation materials, high-efficiency heat pumps and other components like cells used for clean-energy generated fuels. They called the tariff suspension affecting imports from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia a bridge measure while other efforts increase domestic solar power production — even as the administration remains supportive of U.S. trade laws and the Commerce Department investigation.The Commerce Department has defended its investigation.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-biden-asia-environment-42a392471ac9dee06d6e643574c04860">Secretary Gina Raimondo told a Senate panel</a>&nbsp;in May that the solar inquiry is following a process set by law that doesn’t allow consideration of climate change, supply chains or other factors.Still, clean energy leaders have been warning since then that the investigation — which could result in retroactive tariffs of up to 240% — would severely hinder the U.S. solar industry, leading to thousands of layoffs and imperiling up to 80% of planned solar projects around the country. That could jeopardize one of Biden’s top&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-technology-business-nebraska-6b81807a3b1a9d8158b1a65220165601">clean energy</a>&nbsp;goals and run counter to his Democratic administration’s push for renewable energy such as wind and solar power.“The president’s announcement will rejuvenate the construction and domestic manufacturing of solar power by restoring predictability and business certainty that the Department of Commerce’s flawed inquiry has disrupted,” Heather Zichal, CEO of the American Clean Power Association and a former Obama administration official, said in a statement Monday.Others struck similar tones. Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, cheered Biden’s “thoughtful approach to addressing the current crisis of the paralyzed solar supply chain.”“Today’s actions protect existing solar jobs, will lead to increased employment in the solar industry and foster a robust solar manufacturing base here at home,” Ross Hopper said in a statement.But the moves drew sharp criticism from major solar panel manufacturer First Solar Inc., which said freezing tariffs grants “unfettered access to China’s state-subsidized solar companies for the next two years” and that using the Defense Production Act is “an ineffective use of taxpayer dollars and falls well short of a durable solar industrial policy.”“The administration cannot stick a Band-Aid on the issue and hope that it goes away,” Samantha Sloan, the company’s vice president of policy, said in a statement.Using executive actions comes as the Biden administration’s clean energy tax cuts, and other major proposals meant to encourage domestic green energy production, have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-science-technology-business-b3bc2a5930b28dfcf1134879f86c131e">stalled in Congress</a>.The Defense Production Act lets the federal government direct manufacturing production for national defense and has become a tool used more commonly by presidents in recent months. President Donald Trump’s administration used it to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-donald-trump-us-news-ap-top-news-wa-state-wire-e301b2fece936ef05ba760fd486f59a7">produce medical equipment and supplies</a>&nbsp;during the early stages of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic">the coronavirus pandemic</a>. Biden evoked its authority last month to prioritize&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-government-and-politics-df586c2e52b5e5865ea9f8091d4d1f80">boosting the nation’s supplies of baby formula</a>&nbsp;amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-formula-shortage-what-to-know-735cef06e68ed9c5a46233bdfcf0573d">a domestic shortage</a>&nbsp;caused by the safety-related closure of the country’s largest formula factory.Jean Su, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s energy justice program, said in a statement that Biden’s announcement can “give critical momentum to the needed transition to solar energy.”“We hope this use of the Defense Production Act is a turning point for the president, who must use all his executive powers to confront the climate emergency head on,” Su said.

Biden orders emergency steps to boost U.S. solar production

DOUGLAS COUNTY—The search for the driver in a hit and run accident that killed a 10-year-old Kansas girl ended Saturday in Indiana.&nbsp; The suspect's immigration status had an impact on information released in an effort to find 28-year-old Jose Alfredo Galiano Mesa, according to Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister.

On Saturday, U.S. Marshals and Indiana State Troopers notified Kansas official that Mesa who lived in Overland Park, was in custody in Martinsville, Indiana, according to Armbrister.

The Sheriff’s Office had a warrant for Mesa’s arrest as the suspected driver that struck a motorcycle about 5:19 p.m., May 14 at East 1900 Road and Kansas Highway 10. Brooklyn Brouhard, 10, of Eudora, later died from injuries suffered in the crash. She was a passenger on the motorcycle driven by her grandfather Barry Larson, 54, of Eudora, who was also injured.

Authorities in Indiana located a vehicle with Mesa inside and took him into custody, and the Sheriff’s Office will now work on getting him extradited to Kansas to face charges.

“We are grateful for this arrest to begin the next chapter in the process in bringing answers to Brooklyn and her family. We thank all law enforcement agencies, especially the U.S. Marshals for their hard work.” Armbrister said.

“I also want to thank the public for their patience and trust in us in this process as we were limited in information we could provide while trying to locate a suspect in this serious crime who was eluding us.”

Mesa’s immigration status played a very large role in the need to keep his name from the public, Armbrister said.

“It was our fear that he would flee the country if we made him famous for all the wrong reasons, and we were poised to do so if it appeared he was moving south,” the sheriff said. “However, through tireless investigation, we knew he was still in the Midwest and could not risk pushing him out of the area, and due to those efforts, we were able to bring him safely into custody.”

After conducting an extensive investigation that included witness interviews, deputies early in the investigation were able to identify Mesa as the driver of the van that struck the motorcycle and left the scene. Mesa had been in Lawrence earlier in the day on May 14 for a painting job and was driving back to the Kansas City area.

Witnesses reported the driver of the white van after the collision proceeded down the ramp leaving its bumper behind and returned to eastbound K-10. Based on vehicle debris at the scene, witness interviews and assistance from area law enforcement agencies, deputies identified the vehicle and seized it on May 16 in the Kansas City area. After identifying Mesa, deputies and fellow law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service had attempted to locate Mesa.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654365394422.png" alt="Mesa-photo Morgan Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Mesa-photo Morgan Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—The search for the driver in a hit and run accident that killed a 10-year-old Kansas girl ended Saturday in Indiana.&nbsp; The suspect's immigration status had an impact on information released in an effort to find 28-year-old Jose Alfredo Galiano Mesa, according to Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister.On Saturday, U.S. Marshals and Indiana State Troopers notified Kansas official that Mesa who lived in Overland Park, was in custody in Martinsville, Indiana, according to Armbrister.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652731134056.png" alt="Image Douglas Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Image Douglas Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>The Sheriff’s Office had a warrant for Mesa’s arrest as the suspected driver that struck a motorcycle about 5:19 p.m., May 14 at East 1900 Road and Kansas Highway 10. Brooklyn Brouhard, 10, of Eudora, later died from injuries suffered in the crash. She was a passenger on the motorcycle driven by her grandfather Barry Larson, 54, of Eudora, who was also injured.Authorities in Indiana located a vehicle with Mesa inside and took him into custody, and the Sheriff’s Office will now work on getting him extradited to Kansas to face charges.“We are grateful for this arrest to begin the next chapter in the process in bringing answers to Brooklyn and her family. We thank all law enforcement agencies, especially the U.S. Marshals for their hard work.” Armbrister said.“I also want to thank the public for their patience and trust in us in this process as we were limited in information we could provide while trying to locate a suspect in this serious crime who was eluding us.”Mesa’s immigration status played a very large role in the need to keep his name from the public, Armbrister said.“It was our fear that he would flee the country if we made him famous for all the wrong reasons, and we were poised to do so if it appeared he was moving south,” the sheriff said. “However, through tireless investigation, we knew he was still in the Midwest and could not risk pushing him out of the area, and due to those efforts, we were able to bring him safely into custody.”After conducting an extensive investigation that included witness interviews, deputies early in the investigation were able to identify Mesa as the driver of the van that struck the motorcycle and left the scene. Mesa had been in Lawrence earlier in the day on May 14 for a painting job and was driving back to the Kansas City area.Witnesses reported the driver of the white van after the collision proceeded down the ramp leaving its bumper behind and returned to eastbound K-10. Based on vehicle debris at the scene, witness interviews and assistance from area law enforcement agencies, deputies identified the vehicle and seized it on May 16 in the Kansas City area. After identifying Mesa, deputies and fellow law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service had attempted to locate Mesa.--------

Immigration status had impact on search in fatal Kan. hit-and-run

SMITH COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman connected to a bank robbery in Kensington, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.

On Monday morning, June 6, at around 10:15 a.m., a woman robbed the Farmers National Bank at 133 S. Main St. in Kensington, Kansas. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location and found Jennie R. Aanenson, 51, of Agra, Kansas, outside of the bank. Aanenson was detained.

The KBI was asked to assist at approximately 10:30 a.m. When questioned, Aanenson reported that she was forced by two men to rob the bank while armed with a bomb that was in her bag. She also claimed that her infant daughter was abducted by the men who left the area while she was inside the bank.

The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office immediately began searching for the reported vehicles. Also assisting in the case were the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office and the Osborne County Sheriff’s Office.

KBI agents arrived to assist, and concluded that no child was abducted, and that Aanenson does not have an infant daughter. KHP’s Hazardous Devices Unit responded to the bank, and determined that the device was not a bomb.&nbsp;

Monday evening, Aanenson was arrested for suspected aggravated robbery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated criminal threat, and two counts of interference with law enforcement. She was booked into the Smith County Jail. Formal charges are pending.

UPDATE 6p.m. from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

On Monday morning, June 6, at around 10:30 a.m., the KBI responded to a bank robbery that occurred at the Farmers National Bank at 133 S. Main St. in Kensington, Kansas. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office detained one female subject outside of the bank. 

The woman was questioned and reported that she was forced by two men to rob the bank while armed with a bomb. She also reported that her infant daughter was abducted by the men who then left the area. Upon further investigation, 

law enforcement concluded that many of her statements were not credible. It has been determined that the device was not a bomb, and that the woman does not have an infant.

Once the subject is arrested, we will provide her name and booking information to you.

SMITH COUNTY —The Phillips County Sheriff's Department reported around 2 p.m. that a suspect is in custody.&nbsp;

"No child or other persons of interest are being sought at this time," according to the department's Facebook page.

SMITH COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities in north-central Kansas were looking for a shooting victim, two robbery suspects and an eight-week-old baby following an attempted bank robbery in Kensington Monday morning.

Just before 10:30a.m., according to a social media report from the Smith County Sheriff's Department,&nbsp; a woman entered a bank in Kensington, in an attempt to rob the bank. She made a bomb threat. She left the bank and two male suspects with the woman drove away and took her 8-week old baby girl.

Law enforcement in Kensington and surrounding towns were working to locate the suspects and the baby.&nbsp;

One suspect was described as wearing jeans, a white tee-shirt had a gold tooth and three teardrop tattoos under an eye.

The second suspect was described as wearing jeans and a green and white flannel shirt with cut-off sleeves.

The suspects were reported driving a white passenger van with a touch screen and Texas license plates. The gunshot victim was described as driving a Black Jeep four-door, Wrangler.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654537855881.png" alt="Fire truck blocking a street in Kensington. Photo and video by Kirby Ross / Phillips County Review" />
 <figcaption>Fire truck blocking a street in Kensington. Photo and video by Kirby Ross / Phillips County Review</figcaption>
 </figure>SMITH COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman connected to a bank robbery in Kensington, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.On Monday morning, June 6, at around 10:15 a.m., a woman robbed the Farmers National Bank at 133 S. Main St. in Kensington, Kansas. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location and found Jennie R. Aanenson, 51, of Agra, Kansas, outside of the bank. Aanenson was detained.The KBI was asked to assist at approximately 10:30 a.m. When questioned, Aanenson reported that she was forced by two men to rob the bank while armed with a bomb that was in her bag. She also claimed that her infant daughter was abducted by the men who left the area while she was inside the bank.The Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office immediately began searching for the reported vehicles. Also assisting in the case were the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office and the Osborne County Sheriff’s Office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654562919835.png" alt="Aanenson-photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Aanenson-photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>KBI agents arrived to assist, and concluded that no child was abducted, and that Aanenson does not have an infant daughter. KHP’s Hazardous Devices Unit responded to the bank, and determined that the device was not a bomb.&nbsp;Monday evening, Aanenson was arrested for suspected aggravated robbery with a dangerous weapon, aggravated criminal threat, and two counts of interference with law enforcement. She was booked into the Smith County Jail. Formal charges are pending.-------UPDATE 6p.m. from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.On Monday morning, June 6, at around 10:30 a.m., the KBI responded to a bank robbery that occurred at the Farmers National Bank at 133 S. Main St. in Kensington, Kansas. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office detained one female subject outside of the bank. The woman was questioned and reported that she was forced by two men to rob the bank while armed with a bomb. She also reported that her infant daughter was abducted by the men who then left the area. Upon further investigation, law enforcement concluded that many of her statements were not credible. It has been determined that the device was not a bomb, and that the woman does not have an infant.Once the subject is arrested, we will provide her name and booking information to you.--------SMITH COUNTY —The Phillips County Sheriff's Department reported around 2 p.m. that a suspect is in custody.&nbsp;"No child or other persons of interest are being sought at this time," according to the department's Facebook page.---------SMITH COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities in north-central Kansas were looking for a shooting victim, two robbery suspects and an eight-week-old baby following an attempted bank robbery in Kensington Monday morning.Just before 10:30a.m., according to a social media report from the Smith County Sheriff's Department,&nbsp; a woman entered a bank in Kensington, in an attempt to rob the bank. She made a bomb threat. She left the bank and two male suspects with the woman drove away and took her 8-week old baby girl.<div><div itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/VideoObject"><meta itemprop="uploadDate" content="Mon Jun 06 2022 12:47:29 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time)"/><meta itemprop="name" content="Img 1083"/><meta itemprop="duration" content="P0Y0M0DT0H0M29S" /><meta itemprop="thumbnailUrl" content="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/thumbs/Tzv9T64A-720.jpg"/><meta itemprop="contentUrl" content="https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/Tzv9T64A-25NauLGk.m4a"/><div style="position:relative; overflow:hidden; padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/Tzv9T64A-KcBmu4K3.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Img 1083" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div></div>Law enforcement in Kensington and surrounding towns were working to locate the suspects and the baby.&nbsp;One suspect was described as wearing jeans, a white tee-shirt had a gold tooth and three teardrop tattoos under an eye.The second suspect was described as wearing jeans and a green and white flannel shirt with cut-off sleeves.The suspects were reported driving a white passenger van with a touch screen and Texas license plates. The gunshot victim was described as driving a Black Jeep four-door, Wrangler.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

🎥 UPDATE: Woman arrested after attempted bank robbery, bomb threat

ATCHISON COUNTYLaw enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday, police responded to investigate a stabbing that had occurred in the 500 block North 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

During a disturbance, between 36-year-old Katie Thomas and her 59-year-old husband, she stabbed him.

 Officers located the victim and the suspect several blocks from that scene where Thomas was taken into custody in requested charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

EMS transported the victim to the hospital in St. Joseph for a non life&nbsp; threatening stab wound, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654512575366.png" alt="Thomas-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Thomas-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTYLaw enforcement authorities are investigating a stabbing and have a suspect in custody.Just after 2a.m. Sunday, police responded to investigate a stabbing that had occurred in the 500 block North 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.During a disturbance, between 36-year-old Katie Thomas and her 59-year-old husband, she stabbed him. Officers located the victim and the suspect several blocks from that scene where Thomas was taken into custody in requested charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.EMS transported the victim to the hospital in St. Joseph for a non life&nbsp; threatening stab wound, according to Wilson.

Police: Kansas woman jailed after she stabbed her husband

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

 On Friday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant at a home in the 700 Block NE Forest related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley. While conducting the search warrant, officers located Marijuana and Firearms.

Officers arrested 43-year-old Chris Patterson, on requested charges of Distribution of Marijuana within 1000 feet of a school, Criminal use of a weapon and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654346648497.png" alt="Patterson-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Patterson-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug allegations. On Friday, members of the Topeka Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Shawnee County Drug Task Force served a search warrant at a home in the 700 Block NE Forest related to an ongoing investigation, according to Police Lt. Edward Stanley. While conducting the search warrant, officers located Marijuana and Firearms.Officers arrested 43-year-old Chris Patterson, on requested charges of Distribution of Marijuana within 1000 feet of a school, Criminal use of a weapon and Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police: Kansas man jailed for selling marijuana near school

By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/06/kansas-court-of-appeals-judge-anthony-powell-to-retire-june-30/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Judge Anthony Powell is preparing to retire from the Kansas Court of Appeals after nine years in the role.

Powell, appointed to the state 
appeals court in January 2013 by then-Gov. Sam Brownback, will step away
 June 30, the court announced Monday. After his appointment, Powell was 
the first judge to continue to live and primarily work in Wichita.

Two more judges on the Court of 
Appeals now live and work in Wichita and another in Salina, a geographic
 diversity that Powell said benefits the court.

“My hope was that by proving this 
could be done successfully, it would encourage others from outside of 
northeast Kansas to apply and serve on the Court of Appeals,” Powell 
said. “I think I have succeeded.”

During his time on the court, Powell heard more than 2,000 cases and wrote 672 opinions.

Before his appointment, Powell 
served four terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, while he 
worked in private practice before becoming a district judge in Sedgwick 
County for 11 years. He was inspired to become a judge after filling the
 role in a moot court competition at Washburn University School of Law.

“I’m very proud that I kept my 
promises to the people of Kansas when I became a judge — to faithfully 
follow the law and remember that every case is important to the 
litigants,” Powell said. “I have been very proud to be a guardian of our
 constitutional rights.”

Powell was born in Minnesota, 
graduated from George Washington University and worked in the U.S. House
 and Senate before coming to Topeka to attend law school.&nbsp;

“Judge Powell has been a state 
representative, lawyer, and congressional aide, and an active member of 
his community,” Brownback said in a news release at the time of Powell’s
 appointment. “He is an accomplished attorney, and I’m confident that he
 will serve with honor and distinction.”

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has 60
 days from June 30 to appoint a replacement, subject to a majority 
confirmation vote in the Senate. After serving one year in office, a new
 judge must stand for a retention vote in the first general election.

Once retained, the judge serves a four-year term.

A state appeals court judge must 
be at least 30 years old and have been a Kansas lawyer, judge or 
full-time teacher for a minimum of 10 years.

Kelly has successfully appointed 
five judges to the Kansas Court of Appeals: Sarah Warner in 2019, Amy 
Cline, Jacy Hurst and Lesley Ann Isherwood in 2021, and Angela Coble in 
2022. The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/21/senate-rejects-governors-nominee-for-kansas-court-of-appeals-for-a-second-time/">Senate twice rejected the nomination of Carl Folsom</a>&nbsp;to the court, complaining of his singular career experience in public defense.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654545840066.png" alt="Judge Anthony Powell, appointed to the state appeals court in January 2013 by then Gov. Sam Brownback, will retire June 30, the court announced Monday. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector) " />
 <figcaption>Judge Anthony Powell, appointed to the state appeals court in January 2013 by then Gov. Sam Brownback, will retire June 30, the court announced Monday. (Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector) </figcaption>
 </figure>By NOAH TABORDA <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/06/06/kansas-court-of-appeals-judge-anthony-powell-to-retire-june-30/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Judge Anthony Powell is preparing to retire from the Kansas Court of Appeals after nine years in the role.Powell, appointed to the state 
appeals court in January 2013 by then-Gov. Sam Brownback, will step away
 June 30, the court announced Monday. After his appointment, Powell was 
the first judge to continue to live and primarily work in Wichita.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654546071027.jpeg" alt="During his time on the court, Anthony Powell heard more than 2,000 cases and wrote 672 opinions. (Kansas Judicial Branch)" />
 <figcaption>During his time on the court, Anthony Powell heard more than 2,000 cases and wrote 672 opinions. (Kansas Judicial Branch)</figcaption>
 </figure>Two more judges on the Court of 
Appeals now live and work in Wichita and another in Salina, a geographic
 diversity that Powell said benefits the court.“My hope was that by proving this 
could be done successfully, it would encourage others from outside of 
northeast Kansas to apply and serve on the Court of Appeals,” Powell 
said. “I think I have succeeded.”During his time on the court, Powell heard more than 2,000 cases and wrote 672 opinions.Before his appointment, Powell 
served four terms in the Kansas House of Representatives, while he 
worked in private practice before becoming a district judge in Sedgwick 
County for 11 years. He was inspired to become a judge after filling the
 role in a moot court competition at Washburn University School of Law.“I’m very proud that I kept my 
promises to the people of Kansas when I became a judge — to faithfully 
follow the law and remember that every case is important to the 
litigants,” Powell said. “I have been very proud to be a guardian of our
 constitutional rights.”Powell was born in Minnesota, 
graduated from George Washington University and worked in the U.S. House
 and Senate before coming to Topeka to attend law school.&nbsp;“Judge Powell has been a state 
representative, lawyer, and congressional aide, and an active member of 
his community,” Brownback said in a news release at the time of Powell’s
 appointment. “He is an accomplished attorney, and I’m confident that he
 will serve with honor and distinction.”Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has 60
 days from June 30 to appoint a replacement, subject to a majority 
confirmation vote in the Senate. After serving one year in office, a new
 judge must stand for a retention vote in the first general election.Once retained, the judge serves a four-year term.A state appeals court judge must 
be at least 30 years old and have been a Kansas lawyer, judge or 
full-time teacher for a minimum of 10 years.Kelly has successfully appointed 
five judges to the Kansas Court of Appeals: Sarah Warner in 2019, Amy 
Cline, Jacy Hurst and Lesley Ann Isherwood in 2021, and Angela Coble in 
2022. The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2021/01/21/senate-rejects-governors-nominee-for-kansas-court-of-appeals-for-a-second-time/">Senate twice rejected the nomination of Carl Folsom</a>&nbsp;to the court, complaining of his singular career experience in public defense.

Kansas Court of Appeals Judge Powell to retire this month

KANSAS CITY (AP) — From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds to help shore up their finances, cover pandemic-related costs and invest in community projects.

Officials in 1,468 local governments effectively said “no," turning away a potential total of $73 million, according to an Associated Press analysis of data compiled from every state. The declined money ranged from $177 for the one-person village of Monowi, Nebraska, to $3.9 million for DeWitt County, Texas, population about 20,000.

The city of West Alton, Missouri — a community of more than 500 at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers — turned down a potential $106,341 in federal aid. Though the rejected amount was almost half the size of the city’s budget, there wasn’t much discussion about accepting it during a city council meeting.

“The conversation probably lasted 15 seconds. Without having really any need for it, it wasn’t something we felt like we wanted to get in the middle of,” Mayor Willie Richter said.

Other small-town mayors and village administrators provided a variety of reasons for rejecting the federal money. Some thought they had no eligible uses for it. Others didn’t want the hassle of dealing with the federal bureaucracy, or were politically opposed to the&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/8412d0e36e8f2969a2db88c994da314a/52fa93ac75d38eae4cd3dbb6402e7eba">financial aid approved last year by the Democratic-led Congress and President Joe Biden</a>.

The AP’s analysis identified 1,460 small cities, towns, villages or townships that declined a potential allocation of $61 million. That amounts to about 5% of the nation’s roughly 28,000 small local governments, but just 0.3% of the total dollars allotted for those entities. Eight counties also have forgone a total of $12 million. No states or territories declined funds.

The U.S. Treasury Department said it was pleased with the overall response to the American Rescue Plan, which marked the first time it had distributed money to such a broad swath of governments across the U.S.

The program “was born out of an understanding that the economic effect of the crisis was being felt by jurisdictions of all sizes,” said Jacob Leibenluft, the Treasury’s chief recovery officer. He added: “The vast, vast, vast majority of recipients saw a need to use these funds.”

The pandemic relief money began flowing to governments one year ago.

<a href="https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fhome.treasury.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2F136%2FSLFRF-January-2022-Quarterly-Data-through-December-31-2021.xlsx&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK">Data released by the Treasury</a>&nbsp;show that, as of the end of 2021, a total of 1,756 states, territories and larger cities and counties had budgeted about $106 billion of the initial $208 billion they received. That money helped expand high-speed internet, assist residents with housing costs, provide aid to small businesses, shore up depleted unemployment funds and pay for public health initiatives and government services, among other things.

The Treasury hasn't released data yet on how smaller governments used the money.

A second payment for local governments could come from the Treasury as soon as this month. But smaller governments that rejected the initial payment aren't eligible for the second round — a source of regret among at least some local officials.

The Village of the Branch, on New York's Long Island, probably could have used the federal aid to improve the village hall, pave streets or repair water drainage systems, Mayor Mark Delaney said. But that wasn’t clear to Delaney and other village board members when they declined the funds before New York’s decision deadline in August. At that time, the eligible uses seemed limited and the federal reporting burdensome, Delaney said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-d159b73865f3346db8570008c6985112">Under a final Treasury rule issued in January</a>, the village could have used its entire $183,149 allotment for almost any government services. But by then, the village's share already had been reallocated among other local New York governments.

“Because you did the right thing and you responded quickly, you basically lost out on an opportunity,” Delaney said.

The Treasury Department said it worked with states and associations for local governments to simplify the application process, clarify the rules and encourage participation.

Larger governments that got paid directly by the federal government had no deadline to accept the money. Among smaller communities, some had more time to make decisions than others.

States were in charge of passing along funds to so-called “non-entitlement units” of government — generally cities with fewer than 50,000 residents. Once a state received that money, it had 30 days to distribute it. But some states requested as many as eight monthly extensions from the Treasury, pushing their deadlines into 2022.

The board of Algoma Township, Michigan, voted last July to decline its $1.3 million allotment.

“We’re very liberty-oriented, and we didn’t want to be stuck as a township with any kind of strings attached or mandates," said township Supervisor Kevin Green, who considers the federal aid a waste.

But as Michigan kept extending the response deadline — and township officials learned that their share would be redistributed to others — Green and some of his colleagues had a change of heart. They ultimately accepted the money. Though they haven't spent it yet, it could help offset the rising costs — due to inflation — of planned park improvements, he said.

“As conservative as we are, we’re also practical,” Green said.

Minnesota, which has a more extensive township form of government than most states, had the greatest number of governments declining to apply for the federal aid. More than 500 local governments — about one-fifth of its “non-entitlement units” — turned away a potential total of $11.8 million.

“We did everything we could to publicize this. We made a huge effort,” said Steve Fenske, general counsel of the Minnesota Association of Townships. But "we certainly don’t have full engagement. So some of them didn’t know it was going on.”

The Treasury's online procedures posed a hurdle to some smaller governments, said Irma Esparza Diggs, senior executive and director of federal advocacy for the National League of Cities.

“If you’re unfamiliar with the federal grant process and what the reporting requirements are, the assumption is that it’s all going to be too complicated, and it’s always easier to give the funding back than to figure it out," she said.

The chief executive of DeWitt County, located between Houston and San Antonio, said he turned down the federal aid because the county already had enough cash for its budget. He also raised concerns about the federal program.

“It seemed pretty selfish to manufacture a need to apply for federal dollars that are borrowed on the backs of the children and grandchildren of our county constituents,” DeWitt County Judge Daryl L. Fowler, a Republican, said in an email to the AP.

The upscale community of Brier, Washington — with fewer than 7,000 residents — turned down the largest amount among cities, at more than $1.9 million. The city north of Seattle has a small staff that includes a police force and public works crew. But it has no sewage treatment plant, mental health facilities, cultural centers or low-income housing.

“We just don’t have a lot of the things that ordinarily cities would have to use the funds for," Mayor Dale Kaemingk said.

As the lone resident of the northern Nebraska village of Monowi, Elsie Eiler runs both the town tavern and town government. She didn't want the “mess” of dealing with the federal government.

“The town is doing fine,” she said. "If it comes down to it and it needs some funds, I’ll put some in myself.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590489893044.png" alt="The U.S. Treasury Department said it was pleased with the overall response to the American Rescue Plan, which marked the first time it had distributed money to such a broad swath of governments across the U.S.-google image" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Treasury Department said it was pleased with the overall response to the American Rescue Plan, which marked the first time it had distributed money to such a broad swath of governments across the U.S.-google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) — From small towns to big cities, every government across the U.S. was offered a slice of $350 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds to help shore up their finances, cover pandemic-related costs and invest in community projects.Officials in 1,468 local governments effectively said “no," turning away a potential total of $73 million, according to an Associated Press analysis of data compiled from every state. The declined money ranged from $177 for the one-person village of Monowi, Nebraska, to $3.9 million for DeWitt County, Texas, population about 20,000.The city of West Alton, Missouri — a community of more than 500 at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers — turned down a potential $106,341 in federal aid. Though the rejected amount was almost half the size of the city’s budget, there wasn’t much discussion about accepting it during a city council meeting.“The conversation probably lasted 15 seconds. Without having really any need for it, it wasn’t something we felt like we wanted to get in the middle of,” Mayor Willie Richter said.Other small-town mayors and village administrators provided a variety of reasons for rejecting the federal money. Some thought they had no eligible uses for it. Others didn’t want the hassle of dealing with the federal bureaucracy, or were politically opposed to the&nbsp;<a href="https://hosted.ap.org/semissourian/article/8412d0e36e8f2969a2db88c994da314a/52fa93ac75d38eae4cd3dbb6402e7eba">financial aid approved last year by the Democratic-led Congress and President Joe Biden</a>.The AP’s analysis identified 1,460 small cities, towns, villages or townships that declined a potential allocation of $61 million. That amounts to about 5% of the nation’s roughly 28,000 small local governments, but just 0.3% of the total dollars allotted for those entities. Eight counties also have forgone a total of $12 million. No states or territories declined funds.The U.S. Treasury Department said it was pleased with the overall response to the American Rescue Plan, which marked the first time it had distributed money to such a broad swath of governments across the U.S.The program “was born out of an understanding that the economic effect of the crisis was being felt by jurisdictions of all sizes,” said Jacob Leibenluft, the Treasury’s chief recovery officer. He added: “The vast, vast, vast majority of recipients saw a need to use these funds.”The pandemic relief money began flowing to governments one year ago.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1627053425831.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fhome.treasury.gov%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2F136%2FSLFRF-January-2022-Quarterly-Data-through-December-31-2021.xlsx&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK">Data released by the Treasury</a>&nbsp;show that, as of the end of 2021, a total of 1,756 states, territories and larger cities and counties had budgeted about $106 billion of the initial $208 billion they received. That money helped expand high-speed internet, assist residents with housing costs, provide aid to small businesses, shore up depleted unemployment funds and pay for public health initiatives and government services, among other things.The Treasury hasn't released data yet on how smaller governments used the money.A second payment for local governments could come from the Treasury as soon as this month. But smaller governments that rejected the initial payment aren't eligible for the second round — a source of regret among at least some local officials.The Village of the Branch, on New York's Long Island, probably could have used the federal aid to improve the village hall, pave streets or repair water drainage systems, Mayor Mark Delaney said. But that wasn’t clear to Delaney and other village board members when they declined the funds before New York’s decision deadline in August. At that time, the eligible uses seemed limited and the federal reporting burdensome, Delaney said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-joe-biden-business-health-d159b73865f3346db8570008c6985112">Under a final Treasury rule issued in January</a>, the village could have used its entire $183,149 allotment for almost any government services. But by then, the village's share already had been reallocated among other local New York governments.“Because you did the right thing and you responded quickly, you basically lost out on an opportunity,” Delaney said.The Treasury Department said it worked with states and associations for local governments to simplify the application process, clarify the rules and encourage participation.Larger governments that got paid directly by the federal government had no deadline to accept the money. Among smaller communities, some had more time to make decisions than others.States were in charge of passing along funds to so-called “non-entitlement units” of government — generally cities with fewer than 50,000 residents. Once a state received that money, it had 30 days to distribute it. But some states requested as many as eight monthly extensions from the Treasury, pushing their deadlines into 2022.The board of Algoma Township, Michigan, voted last July to decline its $1.3 million allotment.“We’re very liberty-oriented, and we didn’t want to be stuck as a township with any kind of strings attached or mandates," said township Supervisor Kevin Green, who considers the federal aid a waste.But as Michigan kept extending the response deadline — and township officials learned that their share would be redistributed to others — Green and some of his colleagues had a change of heart. They ultimately accepted the money. Though they haven't spent it yet, it could help offset the rising costs — due to inflation — of planned park improvements, he said.“As conservative as we are, we’re also practical,” Green said.Minnesota, which has a more extensive township form of government than most states, had the greatest number of governments declining to apply for the federal aid. More than 500 local governments — about one-fifth of its “non-entitlement units” — turned away a potential total of $11.8 million.“We did everything we could to publicize this. We made a huge effort,” said Steve Fenske, general counsel of the Minnesota Association of Townships. But "we certainly don’t have full engagement. So some of them didn’t know it was going on.”The Treasury's online procedures posed a hurdle to some smaller governments, said Irma Esparza Diggs, senior executive and director of federal advocacy for the National League of Cities.“If you’re unfamiliar with the federal grant process and what the reporting requirements are, the assumption is that it’s all going to be too complicated, and it’s always easier to give the funding back than to figure it out," she said.The chief executive of DeWitt County, located between Houston and San Antonio, said he turned down the federal aid because the county already had enough cash for its budget. He also raised concerns about the federal program.“It seemed pretty selfish to manufacture a need to apply for federal dollars that are borrowed on the backs of the children and grandchildren of our county constituents,” DeWitt County Judge Daryl L. Fowler, a Republican, said in an email to the AP.The upscale community of Brier, Washington — with fewer than 7,000 residents — turned down the largest amount among cities, at more than $1.9 million. The city north of Seattle has a small staff that includes a police force and public works crew. But it has no sewage treatment plant, mental health facilities, cultural centers or low-income housing.“We just don’t have a lot of the things that ordinarily cities would have to use the funds for," Mayor Dale Kaemingk said.As the lone resident of the northern Nebraska village of Monowi, Elsie Eiler runs both the town tavern and town government. She didn't want the “mess” of dealing with the federal government.“The town is doing fine,” she said. "If it comes down to it and it needs some funds, I’ll put some in myself.”

Local governments turn away $73M of federal pandemic aid

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person was found dead in an accident just after 9a.m. Monday in Shawnee County.

First responders found a pickup that struck a sign near the intersection of Topeka Blvd. and Lyman Road, according to Topeka Police Lt. Manuel Munoz.

Officers found one victim in the pickup who was not breathing. First responders rendered assistance and then transported the victim to a local hospital where the victim was pronounced&nbsp;deceased.

The Topeka Police Department is currently investigating the cause of the accident. It is believed the victim had a medical emergency that caused the accident, according to Munoz. The victim's name has not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654532131863.png" alt="Officers found one victim in the vehicle which had come to a rest against a sign pole-photo courtesy WIBW TV&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Officers found one victim in the vehicle which had come to a rest against a sign pole-photo courtesy WIBW TV&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person was found dead in an accident just after 9a.m. Monday in Shawnee County.First responders found a pickup that struck a sign near the intersection of Topeka Blvd. and Lyman Road, according to Topeka Police Lt. Manuel Munoz.Officers found one victim in the pickup who was not breathing. First responders rendered assistance and then transported the victim to a local hospital where the victim was pronounced&nbsp;deceased.The Topeka Police Department is currently investigating the cause of the accident. It is believed the victim had a medical emergency that caused the accident, according to Munoz. The victim's name has not been released.

Medical emergency: Driver found dead after Kansas crash

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The city of Wichita plans to settle a lawsuit filed over the death of a man who was shot by a police officer in 2012.

The city's law department has asked the City Council to approve on Tuesday a $175,000 settlement with the mother of 24-year-old Troy Lanning. A city spokeswoman said the settlement will be paid out of a self-insurance fund.

Lanning was shot by officer Randy Williamson in April 2012 after a police pursuit and foot chase. His mother claimed in a lawsuit filed in 2014 that Lanning was shot as he raised his hands to comply with commands and then was shot at least twice more as he lay on the ground.

The city’s lawyers argued that the shooting was justified because Williamson “reasonably perceived” that Lanning, who was holding a black bag, was a threat. The city admits no liability in the settlement.

Williamson told investigators Lanning was reaching into the bag when he shot him.

An autopsy showed Lanning was shot six times, including twice in the back. No gun was found in his bag or in the vehicle he fled from before being shot.

Lanning had a conviction for theft in 2009 and was sentenced in 2011, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654531377996.png" alt="Troy Lanning-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Troy Lanning-photo Kansas Dept. of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The city of Wichita plans to settle a lawsuit filed over the death of a man who was shot by a police officer in 2012.The city's law department has asked the City Council to approve on Tuesday a $175,000 settlement with the mother of 24-year-old Troy Lanning. A city spokeswoman said the settlement will be paid out of a self-insurance fund.Lanning was shot by officer Randy Williamson in April 2012 after a police pursuit and foot chase. His mother claimed in a lawsuit filed in 2014 that Lanning was shot as he raised his hands to comply with commands and then was shot at least twice more as he lay on the ground.The city’s lawyers argued that the shooting was justified because Williamson “reasonably perceived” that Lanning, who was holding a black bag, was a threat. The city admits no liability in the settlement.Williamson told investigators Lanning was reaching into the bag when he shot him.An autopsy showed Lanning was shot six times, including twice in the back. No gun was found in his bag or in the vehicle he fled from before being shot.Lanning had a conviction for theft in 2009 and was sentenced in 2011, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

City to settle lawsuit over 2012 fatal Kan. police shooting

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have a suspect in custody.

Just before 10 p.m.Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in the 1900 block of South Dellrose in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz.

 Upon the officer’s arrival, they located a 39-year-old woman with several gunshot wounds. She was taken to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed the victim was at the residence with her boyfriend identified as 47-year-old Jeremy Fisher when a disturbance ensued. During the disturbance Fisher fired multiple shots striking the victim. The suspect fled the scene, and a short time later was located by officers in the City of Haysville.

&nbsp;Police arrested Fisher <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=237736">on requested charges </a>of attempted 1st-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm, according to Cruz.&nbsp; He remains <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=237736">jailed on a $350,000 bond,</a> according to online jail records.

Fisher has previous convictions for aggravated sexual battery, aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654288093635.png" alt="Fisher-photo KBI Offender Registry.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated sexual battery, aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Fisher-photo KBI Offender Registry.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated sexual battery, aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities investigating a shooting have a suspect in custody.Just before 10 p.m.Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting at a residence in the 1900 block of South Dellrose in Wichita, according to Officer Paul Cruz. Upon the officer’s arrival, they located a 39-year-old woman with several gunshot wounds. She was taken to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.The investigation revealed the victim was at the residence with her boyfriend identified as 47-year-old Jeremy Fisher when a disturbance ensued. During the disturbance Fisher fired multiple shots striking the victim. The suspect fled the scene, and a short time later was located by officers in the City of Haysville.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1654289858724.png" alt="Fisher-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Fisher-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Police arrested Fisher <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=237736">on requested charges </a>of attempted 1st-degree murder, criminal possession of a firearm, according to Cruz.&nbsp; He remains <a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=237736">jailed on a $350,000 bond,</a> according to online jail records.Fisher has previous convictions for aggravated sexual battery, aggravated burglary and aggravated intimidation of a witness, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kansas sex offender jailed for attempted murder of girlfriend

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia took aim Sunday at the U.S. and Western&nbsp; military supplies for Ukraine, launching airstrikes on Kyiv that it claimed destroyed tanks donated from abroad, as Vladimir Putin warned that any Western deliveries of longer-range rocket systems would prompt Moscow to hit “objects that we haven’t yet struck.”

The Russian leader’s cryptic threat of military escalation did not specify what the new targets might be. It came days after the United States announced plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-technology-government-and-politics-42dbcd98253757bb12e49fbc3eab1a5a">deliver $700 million of security assistance</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine that includes four precision-guided, medium-range rocket systems, as well as helicopters, Javelin anti-tank systems, radars, tactical vehicles and more.

Military analysts say Russia hopes to overrun Ukraine’s embattled eastern industrial Donbas region, where Russia-backed separatists have fought the Ukrainian government since 2014, before any U.S. weapons that might turn the tide arrive. The Pentagon said last week that it will take at least three weeks to get the U.S. weapons onto the battlefield.

Ukraine said the missiles aimed at the capital hit a train repair shop. Elsewhere, Russian airstrikes in the eastern city of Druzhkivka destroyed buildings and left at least one person dead, a Ukrainian official said Sunday. Residents described waking to the sound of missile strikes, with rubble and glass falling down around them.

“It was like in a horror movie,” Svitlana Romashkina said.

Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko urged city residents to leave, saying on Facebook that ruined buildings can be restored but “we won’t be able to bring back the lives lost.”

The Russian Defense Ministry said air-launched precision missiles were used to destroy workshops in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, including in Druzhkivka, that were repairing damaged Ukrainian military equipment.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian forces fired five X-22 cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea toward Kyiv, and one was destroyed by air defenses. Four other missiles hit “infrastructure facilities,” but Ukraine said there were no casualties.

Nuclear plant operator Energoatom said one cruise missile buzzed close to the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear plant, 350 kilometers (220 miles) to the south, and warned of the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe if even one missile fragment hit the plant.

On the Telegram app, the Russian Defense Ministry said high-precision, long-range air-launched missiles were used on the outskirts of Kyiv, destroying T-72 tanks supplied by Eastern European countries and other armored vehicles in a train car repair shop.

But the head of Ukraine’s railway system rejected the claim that tanks were inside. Oleksandr Kamyshin said four missiles hit the Darnytsia car repair plant, but no military equipment has been stored there. He said the site was used to repair gondolas and carriers for exporting grain.

“Russia has once again lied,” he wrote on Telegram. “Their real goal is the economy and the civilian population. They want to block our ability to export Ukrainian products.”

In a television interview that aired Sunday, Putin lashed out at Western deliveries of weapons to Ukraine, saying they aim to prolong the conflict.

“All this fuss around additional deliveries of weapons, in my opinion, has only one goal: to drag out the armed conflict as much as possible,” Putin said. He insisted such supplies were unlikely to change the military situation for Ukraine’s government, which he said was merely making up for losses of similar rockets.

If Kyiv gets longer-range rockets, he added, Moscow will “draw appropriate conclusions and use our means of destruction, which we have plenty of, in order to strike at those objects that we haven’t yet struck.”

The U.S. has stopped short of offering Ukraine longer-range weapons that could fire deep into Russia. But the four medium-range High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems in the security package include launchers on wheels that allow troops to strike a target and then quickly move away — which could be useful against Russian artillery on the battlefield.

The Spanish daily El Pais reported Sunday that Spain planned to supply anti-aircraft missiles and up to 40 Leopard 2 A4 battle tanks to Ukraine. Spain’s Ministry of Defense did not comment on the report.

In Kyiv’s eastern Darnystki district, a pillar of smoke filled the air with an acrid odor over the charred, blackened wreckage of a warehouse-type structure. Soldiers blocked off a nearby road leading toward a large railway yard.

Before Sunday’s early morning attack, Kyiv had not faced any such Russian airstrikes since the April 28 visit of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. The attack triggered air-raid alarms and showed that Russia still had the capability and willingness to hit at Ukraine’s heart, despite refocusing its efforts to capture Ukrainian territory in the east.

In recent days, Russian forces have focused on capturing Ukraine’s eastern cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. On Sunday they continued their push, with missile and airstrikes on cities and villages in the Donbas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645673092575.png" alt="The Russian leader’s cryptic threat of military escalation did not specify what the new targets might be.-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The Russian leader’s cryptic threat of military escalation did not specify what the new targets might be.-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia took aim Sunday at the U.S. and Western&nbsp; military supplies for Ukraine, launching airstrikes on Kyiv that it claimed destroyed tanks donated from abroad, as Vladimir Putin warned that any Western deliveries of longer-range rocket systems would prompt Moscow to hit “objects that we haven’t yet struck.”The Russian leader’s cryptic threat of military escalation did not specify what the new targets might be. It came days after the United States announced plans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-technology-government-and-politics-42dbcd98253757bb12e49fbc3eab1a5a">deliver $700 million of security assistance</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine that includes four precision-guided, medium-range rocket systems, as well as helicopters, Javelin anti-tank systems, radars, tactical vehicles and more.Military analysts say Russia hopes to overrun Ukraine’s embattled eastern industrial Donbas region, where Russia-backed separatists have fought the Ukrainian government since 2014, before any U.S. weapons that might turn the tide arrive. The Pentagon said last week that it will take at least three weeks to get the U.S. weapons onto the battlefield.Ukraine said the missiles aimed at the capital hit a train repair shop. Elsewhere, Russian airstrikes in the eastern city of Druzhkivka destroyed buildings and left at least one person dead, a Ukrainian official said Sunday. Residents described waking to the sound of missile strikes, with rubble and glass falling down around them.“It was like in a horror movie,” Svitlana Romashkina said.Donetsk Gov. Pavlo Kyrylenko urged city residents to leave, saying on Facebook that ruined buildings can be restored but “we won’t be able to bring back the lives lost.”The Russian Defense Ministry said air-launched precision missiles were used to destroy workshops in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, including in Druzhkivka, that were repairing damaged Ukrainian military equipment.Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russian forces fired five X-22 cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea toward Kyiv, and one was destroyed by air defenses. Four other missiles hit “infrastructure facilities,” but Ukraine said there were no casualties.Nuclear plant operator Energoatom said one cruise missile buzzed close to the Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear plant, 350 kilometers (220 miles) to the south, and warned of the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe if even one missile fragment hit the plant.On the Telegram app, the Russian Defense Ministry said high-precision, long-range air-launched missiles were used on the outskirts of Kyiv, destroying T-72 tanks supplied by Eastern European countries and other armored vehicles in a train car repair shop.But the head of Ukraine’s railway system rejected the claim that tanks were inside. Oleksandr Kamyshin said four missiles hit the Darnytsia car repair plant, but no military equipment has been stored there. He said the site was used to repair gondolas and carriers for exporting grain.“Russia has once again lied,” he wrote on Telegram. “Their real goal is the economy and the civilian population. They want to block our ability to export Ukrainian products.”In a television interview that aired Sunday, Putin lashed out at Western deliveries of weapons to Ukraine, saying they aim to prolong the conflict.“All this fuss around additional deliveries of weapons, in my opinion, has only one goal: to drag out the armed conflict as much as possible,” Putin said. He insisted such supplies were unlikely to change the military situation for Ukraine’s government, which he said was merely making up for losses of similar rockets.If Kyiv gets longer-range rockets, he added, Moscow will “draw appropriate conclusions and use our means of destruction, which we have plenty of, in order to strike at those objects that we haven’t yet struck.”The U.S. has stopped short of offering Ukraine longer-range weapons that could fire deep into Russia. But the four medium-range High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems in the security package include launchers on wheels that allow troops to strike a target and then quickly move away — which could be useful against Russian artillery on the battlefield.The Spanish daily El Pais reported Sunday that Spain planned to supply anti-aircraft missiles and up to 40 Leopard 2 A4 battle tanks to Ukraine. Spain’s Ministry of Defense did not comment on the report.In Kyiv’s eastern Darnystki district, a pillar of smoke filled the air with an acrid odor over the charred, blackened wreckage of a warehouse-type structure. Soldiers blocked off a nearby road leading toward a large railway yard.Before Sunday’s early morning attack, Kyiv had not faced any such Russian airstrikes since the April 28 visit of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. The attack triggered air-raid alarms and showed that Russia still had the capability and willingness to hit at Ukraine’s heart, despite refocusing its efforts to capture Ukrainian territory in the east.In recent days, Russian forces have focused on capturing Ukraine’s eastern cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. On Sunday they continued their push, with missile and airstrikes on cities and villages in the Donbas.In the cities of Sloviansk and Bakhmut, cars and military vehicles were seen speeding into town Sunday from the direction of the front line. Dozens of military doctors and paramedic ambulances worked to evacuate civilians and Ukrainian servicemen, and a hospital was busy treating the injured, many hurt by artillery shelling.The U.K. military said in its daily intelligence update that Ukrainian counterattacks in Sieverodonetsk were “likely blunting the operational momentum Russian forces previously gained through concentrating combat units and firepower.” Russian forces previously had been making a string of advances in the city, but Ukrainian fighters have pushed back in recent days.The statement also said Russia’s military was partly relying on reserve forces of Luhansk separatists.“These troops are poorly equipped and trained, and lack heavy equipment in comparison to regular Russian units,” the intelligence update said, adding that the move “indicates a desire to limit casualties suffered by regular Russian forces.”Both sides in the conflict have been waging an information war, especially on television, along with military attacks. Russia’s Tass news agency reported Sunday that Ukrainian forces had knocked out broadcast TV service in Donetsk, where it said a broadcast tower had toppled. Ukrainian authorities did not immediately confirm the attack.In the Azov Sea port of Mariupol, which Russia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-sergei-shoigu-930f877d8272974e4c0c20d443a1adb7">claimed to have captured</a>&nbsp;in May following a brutal monthslong siege, a mayoral aide said water supplies contaminated by decomposing corpses and garbage were causing dysentery and posing a threat of cholera and other diseases.In remarks carried by Ukraine’s Unian news agency, Petro Andriushchenko said Russian authorities controlling the city have imposed a quarantine. He did not describe what measures Russian authorities had included, and his report could not be independently confirmed.World Health Organization officials warned last month about the threat of cholera and other infectious diseases in Mariupol.Also Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to the Zaporizhzhia region in the southeast, which is partly under Russian control. He received a battle report, thanked troops and met with refugees in what was only his second public visit outside the Kyiv area since the war began.Far from the battlefield, Ukraine’s national soccer players missed out on qualifying for a World Cup spot,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-sports-soccer-wales-ad791b93dd5838d4100deba4b9c3398c">losing 1-0 to Wales</a>&nbsp;in an emotionally charged mission in Cardiff. Back home, some Ukrainians gathered in bars to watch the game.