LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Thursday in Leavenworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 GMC Sierra driven by Heath L. Moore, 27, Leavenworth, was eastbound on U.S. 24 in Basehor.

The pickup rear-ended a 2002 Chevy Tracker driven by Marvin&nbsp;Giron-Ardon, 48, Kansas City, Kansas, who was slowing to make a left turn on 174th Street.

Giron-Ardon was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported a passenger in the Chevy identified as Marco&nbsp;Tulio, 40, Kansas City, Kansas, to KU Medical Center. Moore was not wearing a seat belt, complained of pain but was not transported for treatment, according to the KHP.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 7:30a.m. Thursday in Leavenworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 GMC Sierra driven by Heath L. Moore, 27, Leavenworth, was eastbound on U.S. 24 in Basehor.The pickup rear-ended a 2002 Chevy Tracker driven by Marvin&nbsp;Giron-Ardon, 48, Kansas City, Kansas, who was slowing to make a left turn on 174th Street.Giron-Ardon was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. EMS transported a passenger in the Chevy identified as Marco&nbsp;Tulio, 40, Kansas City, Kansas, to KU Medical Center. Moore was not wearing a seat belt, complained of pain but was not transported for treatment, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dead, 1 injured after rear-end crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday said the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan will conclude on Aug. 31, saying “speed is safety” as the United States seeks to end the nearly 20-year war.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513249-1/president-biden-us-military-operations-afghanistan-end-september">Click here to </a>watch the President's comments

“We did not go to Afghanistan to nation build,” Biden said in a speech to update his administration’s ongoing efforts to wind down the U.S. war in Afghanistan. “Afghan leaders have to come together and drive toward a future.”

Biden also amplified the justification of his decision to end U.S. military operations even as the Taliban make rapid advances in significant swaths of the country.

The effort to further explain his thinking on Afghanistan comes as the administration in recent days has repeatedly sought to frame ending the conflict as a decision that Biden made after concluding it’s an “unwinnable war” and one that “does not have a military solution.”

“How many more, how many more thousands of American daughters and sons are you willing to risk?” Biden said to those calling for the U.S. to extend the military operation. He added, “I will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan, with no reasonable expectation of achieving a different outcome.”

Biden said he didn’t trust the Taliban but trusted the capacity of the Afghan military to defend the government.

Before his speech, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden administration officials always anticipated an “uptick” in violence and greater turmoil as the U.S. withdrawal moved forward. She added that prolonging U.S. military involvement, considering former President Donald Trump had already agreed to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 2021, would have led to an escalation of attacks on American troops.

“The question fundamentally facing him was after 20 years was he going to commit more American troops to a civil war in Afghanistan,” Psaki said.

Biden said it was “highly unlikely” that one government will control Afghanistan after the U.S. pullout, and urged the Afghan government to reach a deal with the Taliban.

The president added that there is no “mission accomplished” moment as the U.S. war comes to an end.

“The mission was accomplished in that we got Osama bin Laden and terrorism is not emanating from that part of the world,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625770012997.png" alt="Biden said he didn’t trust the Taliban but trusted the capacity of the Afghan military to defend the government-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Biden said he didn’t trust the Taliban but trusted the capacity of the Afghan military to defend the government-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday said the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan will conclude on Aug. 31, saying “speed is safety” as the United States seeks to end the nearly 20-year war.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?513249-1/president-biden-us-military-operations-afghanistan-end-september">Click here to </a>watch the President's comments“We did not go to Afghanistan to nation build,” Biden said in a speech to update his administration’s ongoing efforts to wind down the U.S. war in Afghanistan. “Afghan leaders have to come together and drive toward a future.”Biden also amplified the justification of his decision to end U.S. military operations even as the Taliban make rapid advances in significant swaths of the country.The effort to further explain his thinking on Afghanistan comes as the administration in recent days has repeatedly sought to frame ending the conflict as a decision that Biden made after concluding it’s an “unwinnable war” and one that “does not have a military solution.”“How many more, how many more thousands of American daughters and sons are you willing to risk?” Biden said to those calling for the U.S. to extend the military operation. He added, “I will not send another generation of Americans to war in Afghanistan, with no reasonable expectation of achieving a different outcome.”Biden said he didn’t trust the Taliban but trusted the capacity of the Afghan military to defend the government.Before his speech, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden administration officials always anticipated an “uptick” in violence and greater turmoil as the U.S. withdrawal moved forward. She added that prolonging U.S. military involvement, considering former President Donald Trump had already agreed to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan by May 2021, would have led to an escalation of attacks on American troops.“The question fundamentally facing him was after 20 years was he going to commit more American troops to a civil war in Afghanistan,” Psaki said.Biden said it was “highly unlikely” that one government will control Afghanistan after the U.S. pullout, and urged the Afghan government to reach a deal with the Taliban.The president added that there is no “mission accomplished” moment as the U.S. war comes to an end.“The mission was accomplished in that we got Osama bin Laden and terrorism is not emanating from that part of the world,” he said.

🎥 Pres. Biden: U.S. war in Afghanistan will end in August 

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-07-08/covids-delta-comeback-in-southeast-kansas-has-health-officials-pleading-people-to-get-vaccinated">Kansas News Service</a>

Just a few weeks before COVID-19 vaccines became available, Teddi Van Kam got sick from the virus.

The
 director of the Crawford County health department, in far southeast 
Kansas, was laid out for four weeks. As the pandemic became increasingly
 dire in her community, she was too sick to work.

“I was scared,” Van Kam said. “I couldn’t breathe.”

By the time she recovered, the vaccines were available. She got her shot and went back to tackling the pandemic.

And she became a vaccine evangelist. But lately, converts have become hard to find. A year and a half into the outbreak, <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">less than half</a> of Crawford County residents are fully inoculated with a potentially life-saving vaccine.

“You wish you could convey to them how bad this could be,” Van Kam said, “but you have to be careful how you do those things.”

Now,
 she faces a new challenge: convincing vaccine-hesitant, pandemic-weary 
people in her community that the danger remains, that things are getting
 scarier.

“It’s hard,” Van Kam said, “to protect people that don’t want to be protected.”

The more contagious Delta variant is already fueling outbreaks among unvaccinated people in southwest Missouri that are <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-06-30/delta-variant-fuels-missouri-coronavirus-outbreaks-rise-in-cases" target="_blank">filling up</a> hospital wards, <a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2021/07/02/missouri-requests-federal-aid-delta-variant-vaccine-struggles-grow-springfield-covid-coxhealth-mercy/7831239002/" target="_blank">straining resources</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SDECoxHealth/status/1412748655644213249?s=20" target="_blank">claiming lives</a>.

As
 cases begin to spike in neighboring parts of Kansas, Van Kam and other 
public health officials are trying to find ways to reinvigorate 
vaccination campaigns before the new variant overwhelms local health 
care systems.

The Delta variant has quickly become the dominant strain of the coronavirus in Kansas.

In
 early May, the state department of health reported that it found this 
new variant in 3% of all the positive COVID tests that it analyzed. One 
month later, Delta appeared in roughly half of those tests.

The latest figures now show the Delta variant is responsible for <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas" target="_blank">92%</a> of all positive COVID tests being sequenced by the state department of health in Kansas.

Scientists believe this variant is roughly <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01696-3" target="_blank">60% more contagious</a> than the Alpha variant — the previously dominant version, which was already more infectious than the original strain. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/06/30/1011684609/moderna-says-studies-show-its-vaccine-is-effective-against-the-delta-variant" target="_blank">Recent studies</a>
 have shown that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are highly 
effective at protecting people from the Delta variant and other variants
 of concern.

But <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">fewer than 40%</a>
 of Kansans have received their full dose of any vaccine, according to 
state data. And vaccinations have slowed to a crawl statewide.

Since peaking <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">near 40,000</a> daily doses in the early spring, the state is now giving out less than 5,000 vaccinations per day.

In
 rural areas, part of the challenge is refocusing community attention on
 the dangers of the pandemic after weeks of low COVID case numbers 
prompted people to lower their guard.

For example, Neosho County in southeast Kansas reported <a href="https://scontent.fmci1-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/195313919_3996095033772825_4303522014862979114_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&amp;ccb=1-3&amp;_nc_sid=730e14&amp;_nc_ohc=ZqQxN_dnQIsAX8pL1Vf&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fmci1-4.fna&amp;oh=384289d9547009d213d4314a1b18bc9b&amp;oe=60EB3399" target="_blank">zero</a>
 active COVID-19 cases early last month for the first time in more than a
 year. Christy Hoerle, an epidemiology nurse with the county health 
department in Chanute, said that understandably led to a shift in how 
closely some people in the community were paying attention to the need 
for vaccinations.

“When the (COVID case) numbers went down,” Hoerle said, “it’s kind of like it’s up and gone.”

Hoerle
 said the county of roughly 16,000 people went two or three weeks 
without administering hardly any first-dose vaccination shots. This 
week, Neosho County reported 17 active cases, and the Delta variant is 
the most common strain.

But Hoerle said many people still don’t realize the new risks the strain brings.

“I
 don't think in our small little rural area...that people totally 
understand the difference in the variants,” she said. “So education is 
going to be key.”

In addition to posting county COVID case 
updates every few days on social media, the Neosho health department 
recently put a release in the local newspaper explaining how the Delta 
variant’s high rate of transmission endangers the community and how 
increasing the vaccination rate could limit that spread.

“I
 want people to understand that we can stop this,” Hoerle said. “Let's 
get it stopped before we get back to where we were at a year ago.”

Next door in Crawford County, the Delta 
variant has gained a similar foothold. In mid-May, the county of nearly 
40,000 people reported only three new COVID cases.

“We were thrilled,” Van Kam said. “That entire month, we were in single digits.”

Soon after, the Delta variant began to fuel <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/coronavirus/as-covid-19-cases-spike-in-southwestern-missouri-officials-are-urging-vaccinations-before-july-4/article_90a7064a-eda0-53da-aabb-210bfc9fd516.html" target="_blank">new outbreaks</a>
 in nearby Joplin, Missouri, where Van Kam said many Crawford County 
residents commute for work. Last week, the southeast Kansas county 
recorded 51 new COVID cases, most of them infected with the Delta 
strain.

Crawford County has seen a handful of cases among 
people who were vaccinated. But those people had only mild symptoms. Van
 Kam said all of the recent COVID hospitalizations have been 
unvaccinated people.

“The vaccine works because it keeps you out of the hospital,” she said. “It keeps you from dying.”

She said the county has seen interest in vaccinations start to inch up as the Delta variant grabs more headlines.

For
 most of the people who are choosing to get their first shot now, Van 
Kam said the tipping point came down to one of three things: learning 
how contagious the Delta variant is; being pushed by family members to 
get vaccinated; or finally feeling confident in the safety of the 
vaccine after months of widespread inoculations.

To build 
on that momentum, the county began promoting a new video message on area
 television stations that features a local emergency physician 
explaining how the Delta variant is different from previous strains. Van
 Kam’s team developed new social media campaigns urging residents to get
 vaccinated and plans to offer COVID shots at the upcoming county fair.

But
 even with the more contagious variant spreading, Van Kam said she still
 sees vaccine resistance in her community, particularly among people 
ages 25 to 45.

Her advice for other rural counties who haven’t seen a rise in Delta variant cases in their backyards yet? Get ready now.

“It’s out there,” Van Kam said. “And it's probably not going to miss anybody.”

David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625757172719.png" alt="A drive-thru COVID vaccination site in March. David Condos / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>A drive-thru COVID vaccination site in March. David Condos / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-07-08/covids-delta-comeback-in-southeast-kansas-has-health-officials-pleading-people-to-get-vaccinated">Kansas News Service</a>Just a few weeks before COVID-19 vaccines became available, Teddi Van Kam got sick from the virus.The
 director of the Crawford County health department, in far southeast 
Kansas, was laid out for four weeks. As the pandemic became increasingly
 dire in her community, she was too sick to work.“I was scared,” Van Kam said. “I couldn’t breathe.”By the time she recovered, the vaccines were available. She got her shot and went back to tackling the pandemic.And she became a vaccine evangelist. But lately, converts have become hard to find. A year and a half into the outbreak, <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">less than half</a> of Crawford County residents are fully inoculated with a potentially life-saving vaccine.“You wish you could convey to them how bad this could be,” Van Kam said, “but you have to be careful how you do those things.”Now,
 she faces a new challenge: convincing vaccine-hesitant, pandemic-weary 
people in her community that the danger remains, that things are getting
 scarier.“It’s hard,” Van Kam said, “to protect people that don’t want to be protected.”The more contagious Delta variant is already fueling outbreaks among unvaccinated people in southwest Missouri that are <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-06-30/delta-variant-fuels-missouri-coronavirus-outbreaks-rise-in-cases" target="_blank">filling up</a> hospital wards, <a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2021/07/02/missouri-requests-federal-aid-delta-variant-vaccine-struggles-grow-springfield-covid-coxhealth-mercy/7831239002/" target="_blank">straining resources</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SDECoxHealth/status/1412748655644213249?s=20" target="_blank">claiming lives</a>. As
 cases begin to spike in neighboring parts of Kansas, Van Kam and other 
public health officials are trying to find ways to reinvigorate 
vaccination campaigns before the new variant overwhelms local health 
care systems.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625757238664.png" alt="The Delta variant, represented by the pink bars in this graph, became the dominant COVID variant found in Kansas in June. KDHE" />
 <figcaption>The Delta variant, represented by the pink bars in this graph, became the dominant COVID variant found in Kansas in June. KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>A new threatThe Delta variant has quickly become the dominant strain of the coronavirus in Kansas.In
 early May, the state department of health reported that it found this 
new variant in 3% of all the positive COVID tests that it analyzed. One 
month later, Delta appeared in roughly half of those tests.The latest figures now show the Delta variant is responsible for <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas" target="_blank">92%</a> of all positive COVID tests being sequenced by the state department of health in Kansas.Scientists believe this variant is roughly <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01696-3" target="_blank">60% more contagious</a> than the Alpha variant — the previously dominant version, which was already more infectious than the original strain. <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/06/30/1011684609/moderna-says-studies-show-its-vaccine-is-effective-against-the-delta-variant" target="_blank">Recent studies</a>
 have shown that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are highly 
effective at protecting people from the Delta variant and other variants
 of concern.But <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">fewer than 40%</a>
 of Kansans have received their full dose of any vaccine, according to 
state data. And vaccinations have slowed to a crawl statewide.Since peaking <a href="https://www.kansasvaccine.gov/158/Data" target="_blank">near 40,000</a> daily doses in the early spring, the state is now giving out less than 5,000 vaccinations per day.In
 rural areas, part of the challenge is refocusing community attention on
 the dangers of the pandemic after weeks of low COVID case numbers 
prompted people to lower their guard.For example, Neosho County in southeast Kansas reported <a href="https://scontent.fmci1-4.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/195313919_3996095033772825_4303522014862979114_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&amp;ccb=1-3&amp;_nc_sid=730e14&amp;_nc_ohc=ZqQxN_dnQIsAX8pL1Vf&amp;_nc_ht=scontent.fmci1-4.fna&amp;oh=384289d9547009d213d4314a1b18bc9b&amp;oe=60EB3399" target="_blank">zero</a>
 active COVID-19 cases early last month for the first time in more than a
 year. Christy Hoerle, an epidemiology nurse with the county health 
department in Chanute, said that understandably led to a shift in how 
closely some people in the community were paying attention to the need 
for vaccinations.“When the (COVID case) numbers went down,” Hoerle said, “it’s kind of like it’s up and gone.”Hoerle
 said the county of roughly 16,000 people went two or three weeks 
without administering hardly any first-dose vaccination shots. This 
week, Neosho County reported 17 active cases, and the Delta variant is 
the most common strain.But Hoerle said many people still don’t realize the new risks the strain brings.“I
 don't think in our small little rural area...that people totally 
understand the difference in the variants,” she said. “So education is 
going to be key.”In addition to posting county COVID case 
updates every few days on social media, the Neosho health department 
recently put a release in the local newspaper explaining how the Delta 
variant’s high rate of transmission endangers the community and how 
increasing the vaccination rate could limit that spread.“I
 want people to understand that we can stop this,” Hoerle said. “Let's 
get it stopped before we get back to where we were at a year ago.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625757274671.png" alt="Since peaking near 40,000 daily doses in the early spring, Kansas is now giving out less than 5,000 vaccinations per day. Roughly 60% of the state's population remains unvaccinated. KDHE" />
 <figcaption>Since peaking near 40,000 daily doses in the early spring, Kansas is now giving out less than 5,000 vaccinations per day. Roughly 60% of the state's population remains unvaccinated. KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>Not overNext door in Crawford County, the Delta 
variant has gained a similar foothold. In mid-May, the county of nearly 
40,000 people reported only three new COVID cases.“We were thrilled,” Van Kam said. “That entire month, we were in single digits.”Soon after, the Delta variant began to fuel <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/coronavirus/as-covid-19-cases-spike-in-southwestern-missouri-officials-are-urging-vaccinations-before-july-4/article_90a7064a-eda0-53da-aabb-210bfc9fd516.html" target="_blank">new outbreaks</a>
 in nearby Joplin, Missouri, where Van Kam said many Crawford County 
residents commute for work. Last week, the southeast Kansas county 
recorded 51 new COVID cases, most of them infected with the Delta 
strain.Crawford County has seen a handful of cases among 
people who were vaccinated. But those people had only mild symptoms. Van
 Kam said all of the recent COVID hospitalizations have been 
unvaccinated people.“The vaccine works because it keeps you out of the hospital,” she said. “It keeps you from dying.”She said the county has seen interest in vaccinations start to inch up as the Delta variant grabs more headlines.For
 most of the people who are choosing to get their first shot now, Van 
Kam said the tipping point came down to one of three things: learning 
how contagious the Delta variant is; being pushed by family members to 
get vaccinated; or finally feeling confident in the safety of the 
vaccine after months of widespread inoculations.To build 
on that momentum, the county began promoting a new video message on area
 television stations that features a local emergency physician 
explaining how the Delta variant is different from previous strains. Van
 Kam’s team developed new social media campaigns urging residents to get
 vaccinated and plans to offer COVID shots at the upcoming county fair.But
 even with the more contagious variant spreading, Van Kam said she still
 sees vaccine resistance in her community, particularly among people 
ages 25 to 45.Her advice for other rural counties who haven’t seen a rise in Delta variant cases in their backyards yet? Get ready now.“It’s out there,” Van Kam said. “And it's probably not going to miss anybody.”David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

COVID's delta comeback in Kan. has officials pleading for vaccinations

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo.—A&nbsp; man died in an accident just after 7p.m. Wednesday in Callaway County, Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Snapper Riding Mower driven by Leland W. Schweiss, 87, Holts Summit, was backing up and began to slide down a hill at 1650 Country Road 390.

The driver was ejected when the mower overturned. The mower continued to roll and landed on top of him.

Schweiss was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Boone County Medical Examiner's office. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported no additional details.

CALLAWAY COUNTY, Mo.—A&nbsp; man died in an accident just after 7p.m. Wednesday in Callaway County, Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Snapper Riding Mower driven by Leland W. Schweiss, 87, Holts Summit, was backing up and began to slide down a hill at 1650 Country Road 390.The driver was ejected when the mower overturned. The mower continued to roll and landed on top of him.Schweiss was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Boone County Medical Examiner's office. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported no additional details.

87-year-old man dies after riding mower lands on him

SIBLEY, Mo. (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies in suburban Kansas City are investigating the shooting death of a man in Sibley and say a woman has been arrested in the case.

The shooting happened Wednesday evening near the Homer’s Landing area, killing a 29-year-old man, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities have not released the names of the victim or woman arrested and have not released any details of the shooting.

Sibley is a village of about 400 people located a little more than 21 miles (33.8 kilometers) northeast of Kansas City.

SIBLEY, Mo. (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies in suburban Kansas City are investigating the shooting death of a man in Sibley and say a woman has been arrested in the case.The shooting happened Wednesday evening near the Homer’s Landing area, killing a 29-year-old man, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office said. Authorities have not released the names of the victim or woman arrested and have not released any details of the shooting.Sibley is a village of about 400 people located a little more than 21 miles (33.8 kilometers) northeast of Kansas City.

Deputies: Woman arrested for KC-area man's killing

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Wednesday that he will ask the Kansas Supreme Court to reconsider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">a historic 2019 ruling</a>&nbsp;declaring access to abortion a “fundamental right” under the state constitution.

Schmidt filed a notice Tuesday that he plans to appeal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-courts-ff4c5436e06fea121e773dd042bdc176">an April lower court ruling&nbsp;</a>striking down a a Kansas law banning a common second-trimester abortion procedure as “unconstitutional and unenforceable.” Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson’s decision was the first on abortion from a lower court since the 2019 decision from the state’s highest court.

Kansas has been unable to enforce its ban on what the law calls “dismemberment abortion” since it was enacted in 2015 because of a lawsuit from two abortion providers. The Supreme Court’s decision came in that lawsuit, but the justices returned the case to district court for further review of the ban.

The Republican-controlled Legislature earlier this year approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hcr5003_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a proposed amendment</a>&nbsp;to the state constitution to overturn the Supreme Court’s 2019 decision. Voters will decide whether to approve it in the August 2022 primary election.

Schmidt, a Republican, criticized the 2019 decision as having “breathtaking” implications for state courts being able to “defeat democracy” on public policy issues. Schmidt is running for governor in 2022.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Attorney General Derek Schmidt said Wednesday that he will ask the Kansas Supreme Court to reconsider&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3f479b218a6140719e1694fcfcdb8036">a historic 2019 ruling</a>&nbsp;declaring access to abortion a “fundamental right” under the state constitution.Schmidt filed a notice Tuesday that he plans to appeal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kansas-topeka-courts-ff4c5436e06fea121e773dd042bdc176">an April lower court ruling&nbsp;</a>striking down a a Kansas law banning a common second-trimester abortion procedure as “unconstitutional and unenforceable.” Shawnee County District Judge Teresa Watson’s decision was the first on abortion from a lower court since the 2019 decision from the state’s highest court.Kansas has been unable to enforce its ban on what the law calls “dismemberment abortion” since it was enacted in 2015 because of a lawsuit from two abortion providers. The Supreme Court’s decision came in that lawsuit, but the justices returned the case to district court for further review of the ban.The Republican-controlled Legislature earlier this year approved&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2021_22/measures/documents/hcr5003_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">a proposed amendment</a>&nbsp;to the state constitution to overturn the Supreme Court’s 2019 decision. Voters will decide whether to approve it in the August 2022 primary election.Schmidt, a Republican, criticized the 2019 decision as having “breathtaking” implications for state courts being able to “defeat democracy” on public policy issues. Schmidt is running for governor in 2022.

Kansas AG to appeal ruling blocking ban on abortion procedure

TOKYO (AP) — Fans were banned from the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics which will open in two weeks, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said after meeting with IOC and Japanese organizers on Thursday.

The ban came hours after a state of emergency in the capital starting from Monday, declared by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to contain rising COVID-19 cases.

The twin decisions have turned the Olympics into a made-for-TV event in a decision pushed by the Japanese government and supported by the International Olympic Committee.

“Many people were looking forward to watching the games at the venues, but I would like everyone to fully enjoy watching the games on TV at home,” Koike said after the meeting.

Fans from aboard were banned months ago, and the new measures will clear venues around Tokyo — indoor and outdoor — of any fans at all.

The emergency declaration made for a rude arrival in Japan for IOC President Thomas Bach, who landed in Tokyo on Thursday just hours before the new measures were announced. He was to spend three days in self-isolation at the five-star hotel that lodges IOC members.

Suga said the state of emergency would go into effect on Monday and last through Aug. 22. This means the Olympics, opening on July 23 and running through Aug. 8, will be held entirely under emergency measures. The Paralympics open on Aug. 24.

“Taking into consideration the impact of the delta strain, and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures,” Suga said.

Suga, who had long favored fans, hinted at a no-fan Olympics in announcing the state of emergency.

“I have already said I won’t hesitate to have no spectators,” he added.

Just two weeks ago, organizers and the IOC allowed venues to be filled to 50% of capacity but crowds not to exceed 10,000. The state of emergency has forced a late turnaround, which was always an option if infections got worse.

“We will have to consider the option of no spectators,” Marukawa said in opening remarks with the IOC and others as they went into meetings to discuss a ban on fans.

The main focus of the emergency is a request for bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol to close. A ban on serving alcohol is a key step to tone down Olympic-related festivities and keep people from drinking and partying. Tokyo residents are expected to face stay-home requests and watch the games on TV from home.

“How to stop people enjoying the Olympics from going out for drinks is a main issue,” Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said.

The present state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 896 new cases on Thursday, up from 673 a week earlier. It’s the 19th straight day that cases have topped the mark set seven days prior. New cases on Wednesday hit 920, the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.

The no-fan atmosphere will include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium, which is traditionally the most watched event during the Olympics.

“It’s not too late. Cancel or postpone it,” said Yukio Edano, the head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party to Suga’s LDP

The uptick in infections has also forced the Tokyo city government to pull the Olympic torch relay off capital streets, allowing it to run only on remote islands off the Tokyo coast. It’s unclear how the torch will enter the stadium for the opening ceremony.

“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, said.

He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics, with summer vacations approaching.

Omi has repeatedly called for a ban on spectators, and has said it’s “abnormal” to hold the Olympics during a pandemic.

Separately, a government COVID-19 advisory panel met Wednesday and expressed concerns about the ongoing resurgence of the infections.

“Two-thirds of the infections in the capital region are from Tokyo, and our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas,” said Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

The Olympics are pushing ahead against most medical advice, partially because the postponement stalled the IOC’s income flow. It gets almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, and estimates suggest it would lose $3 billion to $4 billion if the Olympics were canceled.

About 11,000 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians are expected to enter Japan, with tens of thousands of officials, judges, administrators, sponsors, broadcasters, and media also entering. The IOC says more than 80% of resident of the Olympic Village will be vaccinated.

Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 cases and nearly 14,900 deaths. Only 15% of Japanese are fully vaccinated, still low compared with 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan is set to place Tokyo under a state of emergency that would last through the Olympics, fearing an ongoing COVID-19 surge will multiply during the Games.

At a meeting with experts Thursday morning, government officials proposed a plan to issue a state of emergency in Tokyo from next Monday to Aug. 22. The Summer Olympics, already delayed a year by the pandemic, begin July 23 and close Aug. 8.

The Games already will take place without foreign spectators, but the planned six-week state of emergency likely ends chances of a local audience. A decision about fans is expected later Thursday when local organizers meet with the International Olympic Committee and other representatives.

Tokyo is currently under less-stringent measures that focus on shortened hours for bars and restaurants but have proven less effective at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is to formally announce the emergency plans later Thursday, hours after IOC President Thomas Bach was to land in Tokyo. Bach must self-isolate for three days in the IOC’s five-star hotel in the Japanese capital before heading to Hiroshima, where heavy rain is threatening flooding.

The upcoming emergency will be the fourth for Tokyo since the pandemic began and is a last-minute change of plan made late Wednesday after a meeting with experts who warned strongly against the government’s soft approach.

A main focus of the emergency is a request for bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol to close. A ban on serving alcohol is a key step to tone down Olympic-related festivities and keep people from drinking and partying. Tokyo residents are expected to face stay-home requests and watch the Games on TV from home.

Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last week and its highest since 1,010 on May 13. The figure is in line with experts’ earlier estimate that daily cases in Tokyo could hit 1,000 before the Games and could spike into thousands in August.

Kazuhiro Tateta, a Toho University infectious diseases expert, noted an earlier state of emergency in the spring came too late to prevent hospitals in Osaka from overflowing with patients and said another delay should not be allowed.

Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, noted that two-thirds of Japan’s cases are from the Tokyo region and “our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas.”

Experts also noted cases among younger, unvaccinated people are rising as Japan’s inoculation drive loses steam due to supply uncertainty.

Just 15% of Japanese are fully vaccinated, low compared to 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain. Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 infections and nearly 14,900 deaths.

“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, told reporters.

He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics with summer vacations approaching. “The period from July to September is the most critical time for Japan’s COVID-19 measures,” Omi said.

TOKYO (AP) — Surging COVID-19 cases in Tokyo have hit a two-month high that almost guarantees the Japanese government will declare a new state of emergency to start next week and continue for the duration of the Tokyo Olympics.

The pandemic-delayed Olympics open in just over two weeks on July 23.

IOC President Thomas Bach is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday, when he will be greeted by the rising cases as he self-isolates for three days in the International Olympic Committee’s five-star hotel in the capital.

A new state of emergency could lead to a ban even on local fans. That decision on fans is expected Friday when local organizers meet with the IOC and others.

The present quasi-state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last Wednesday. It is the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.

Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with key ministers to discuss virus measures and reportedly is considering reinstating a state of emergency in the capital until Aug. 22. The Olympics end on Aug. 8.

Suga did not confirm the report but noted Tokyo’s upsurge and vowed “to do everything we can to prevent the further spread of the infections.”

Suga said he would make a final decision Thursday after consulting with a panel of experts.

Fans from abroad were banned from attending the Olympics months ago. But just two weeks ago, organizers and the IOC decided to allow venues to be filed to 50% of capacity but not to exceed 10,000.

The soaring cases are likely to mean that venues will be without any fans, although sponsors and others may have access. The no-fan atmosphere could include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium.

He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics with summer vacations approaching.

“The period from July to September is the most critical time for Japan’s COVID-19 measures,” Omi said.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters that she expects the government to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo, a fourth for the capital since the pandemic began early last year.

The Olympics are pushing ahead against most medical advice, partially because the postponement of 15 months stalled the IOC’s income flow. It gets almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, and estimates suggest it would lose between $3 billion and $4 billion if the Olympics were canceled.

Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 cases and nearly 14,900 deaths. Only 15% of the Japanese are fully vaccinated, still low compared to 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain.

TOKYO (AP) — Fans were banned from the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics which will open in two weeks, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said after meeting with IOC and Japanese organizers on Thursday.The ban came hours after a state of emergency in the capital starting from Monday, declared by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to contain rising COVID-19 cases.The twin decisions have turned the Olympics into a made-for-TV event in a decision pushed by the Japanese government and supported by the International Olympic Committee.“Many people were looking forward to watching the games at the venues, but I would like everyone to fully enjoy watching the games on TV at home,” Koike said after the meeting.Fans from aboard were banned months ago, and the new measures will clear venues around Tokyo — indoor and outdoor — of any fans at all.The emergency declaration made for a rude arrival in Japan for IOC President Thomas Bach, who landed in Tokyo on Thursday just hours before the new measures were announced. He was to spend three days in self-isolation at the five-star hotel that lodges IOC members.Suga said the state of emergency would go into effect on Monday and last through Aug. 22. This means the Olympics, opening on July 23 and running through Aug. 8, will be held entirely under emergency measures. The Paralympics open on Aug. 24.“Taking into consideration the impact of the delta strain, and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures,” Suga said.Suga, who had long favored fans, hinted at a no-fan Olympics in announcing the state of emergency.“I have already said I won’t hesitate to have no spectators,” he added.Just two weeks ago, organizers and the IOC allowed venues to be filled to 50% of capacity but crowds not to exceed 10,000. The state of emergency has forced a late turnaround, which was always an option if infections got worse.“We will have to consider the option of no spectators,” Marukawa said in opening remarks with the IOC and others as they went into meetings to discuss a ban on fans.The main focus of the emergency is a request for bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol to close. A ban on serving alcohol is a key step to tone down Olympic-related festivities and keep people from drinking and partying. Tokyo residents are expected to face stay-home requests and watch the games on TV from home.“How to stop people enjoying the Olympics from going out for drinks is a main issue,” Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said.The present state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 896 new cases on Thursday, up from 673 a week earlier. It’s the 19th straight day that cases have topped the mark set seven days prior. New cases on Wednesday hit 920, the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.The no-fan atmosphere will include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium, which is traditionally the most watched event during the Olympics.“It’s not too late. Cancel or postpone it,” said Yukio Edano, the head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party to Suga’s LDPThe uptick in infections has also forced the Tokyo city government to pull the Olympic torch relay off capital streets, allowing it to run only on remote islands off the Tokyo coast. It’s unclear how the torch will enter the stadium for the opening ceremony.“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, said.He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics, with summer vacations approaching.Omi has repeatedly called for a ban on spectators, and has said it’s “abnormal” to hold the Olympics during a pandemic.Separately, a government COVID-19 advisory panel met Wednesday and expressed concerns about the ongoing resurgence of the infections.“Two-thirds of the infections in the capital region are from Tokyo, and our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas,” said Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.The Olympics are pushing ahead against most medical advice, partially because the postponement stalled the IOC’s income flow. It gets almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, and estimates suggest it would lose $3 billion to $4 billion if the Olympics were canceled.About 11,000 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians are expected to enter Japan, with tens of thousands of officials, judges, administrators, sponsors, broadcasters, and media also entering. The IOC says more than 80% of resident of the Olympic Village will be vaccinated.Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 cases and nearly 14,900 deaths. Only 15% of Japanese are fully vaccinated, still low compared with 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain.___TOKYO (AP) — Japan is set to place Tokyo under a state of emergency that would last through the Olympics, fearing an ongoing COVID-19 surge will multiply during the Games.At a meeting with experts Thursday morning, government officials proposed a plan to issue a state of emergency in Tokyo from next Monday to Aug. 22. The Summer Olympics, already delayed a year by the pandemic, begin July 23 and close Aug. 8.The Games already will take place without foreign spectators, but the planned six-week state of emergency likely ends chances of a local audience. A decision about fans is expected later Thursday when local organizers meet with the International Olympic Committee and other representatives.Tokyo is currently under less-stringent measures that focus on shortened hours for bars and restaurants but have proven less effective at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is to formally announce the emergency plans later Thursday, hours after IOC President Thomas Bach was to land in Tokyo. Bach must self-isolate for three days in the IOC’s five-star hotel in the Japanese capital before heading to Hiroshima, where heavy rain is threatening flooding.The upcoming emergency will be the fourth for Tokyo since the pandemic began and is a last-minute change of plan made late Wednesday after a meeting with experts who warned strongly against the government’s soft approach.A main focus of the emergency is a request for bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol to close. A ban on serving alcohol is a key step to tone down Olympic-related festivities and keep people from drinking and partying. Tokyo residents are expected to face stay-home requests and watch the Games on TV from home.“How to stop people enjoying the Olympics from going out for drinks is a main issue,” Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said.Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last week and its highest since 1,010 on May 13. The figure is in line with experts’ earlier estimate that daily cases in Tokyo could hit 1,000 before the Games and could spike into thousands in August.Kazuhiro Tateta, a Toho University infectious diseases expert, noted an earlier state of emergency in the spring came too late to prevent hospitals in Osaka from overflowing with patients and said another delay should not be allowed.Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, noted that two-thirds of Japan’s cases are from the Tokyo region and “our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas.”Experts also noted cases among younger, unvaccinated people are rising as Japan’s inoculation drive loses steam due to supply uncertainty.Just 15% of Japanese are fully vaccinated, low compared to 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain. Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 infections and nearly 14,900 deaths.“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, told reporters.He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics with summer vacations approaching. “The period from July to September is the most critical time for Japan’s COVID-19 measures,” Omi said.-------------TOKYO (AP) — Surging COVID-19 cases in Tokyo have hit a two-month high that almost guarantees the Japanese government will declare a new state of emergency to start next week and continue for the duration of the Tokyo Olympics.The pandemic-delayed Olympics open in just over two weeks on July 23.IOC President Thomas Bach is scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday, when he will be greeted by the rising cases as he self-isolates for three days in the International Olympic Committee’s five-star hotel in the capital.A new state of emergency could lead to a ban even on local fans. That decision on fans is expected Friday when local organizers meet with the IOC and others.The present quasi-state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 920 new cases on Wednesday, up from 714 last Wednesday. It is the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with key ministers to discuss virus measures and reportedly is considering reinstating a state of emergency in the capital until Aug. 22. The Olympics end on Aug. 8.Suga did not confirm the report but noted Tokyo’s upsurge and vowed “to do everything we can to prevent the further spread of the infections.”Suga said he would make a final decision Thursday after consulting with a panel of experts.Fans from abroad were banned from attending the Olympics months ago. But just two weeks ago, organizers and the IOC decided to allow venues to be filed to 50% of capacity but not to exceed 10,000.The soaring cases are likely to mean that venues will be without any fans, although sponsors and others may have access. The no-fan atmosphere could include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium.“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, told reporters.He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics with summer vacations approaching.“The period from July to September is the most critical time for Japan’s COVID-19 measures,” Omi said.Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters that she expects the government to declare a state of emergency in Tokyo, a fourth for the capital since the pandemic began early last year.Separately, a government COVID-19 advisory panel met Wednesday and expressed concerns about the ongoing resurgence of the infections.“Two-thirds of the infections in the capital region are from Tokyo, and our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas,” said Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.The Olympics are pushing ahead against most medical advice, partially because the postponement of 15 months stalled the IOC’s income flow. It gets almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, and estimates suggest it would lose between $3 billion and $4 billion if the Olympics were canceled.Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 cases and nearly 14,900 deaths. Only 15% of the Japanese are fully vaccinated, still low compared to 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain.

Fans banned at Olympics; COVID state of emergency

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A teenager injured in an accident on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-accident-ce3a56b8e482fcdbbad2890b259bc094">an Iowa amusement ride</a>&nbsp;that killed his younger brother remained on life support Wednesday as he turned 16, his <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-jaramillo-family">family pastor said.</a>

David Jaramillo has been in a medically induced coma at Blank Children’s Hospital since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-raging-river-accident-273dbf870b1cbab93f92ea1df8bff413">Saturday’s accident</a>&nbsp;on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona, pastor Christian Shields said.

David has some brain function and has woken up a couple times at the Des Moines hospital, opening his eyes and asking what happened, he said. He remains hooked up to breathing machines, but doctors are hoping to wean him off life support, Shields said.

Shields, the pastor at Christian Life Church in Cedar Rapids, said it’s a miracle that David is alive after being pinned underneath a boat in water for several minutes. The church planned a prayer vigil for the family Wednesday night and is sponsoring a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-jaramillo-family" target="_blank">GoFundMe page</a>&nbsp;that has raised $30,000.

“We’ll be praying for life for David, that his brain function would miraculously be undamaged and unhindered and have no long-term lasting effects on him,” he said. “He’s still in very serious condition, but there’s some good signs.”

Friends have brought balloons to the hospital for David’s birthday, but “there won’t be a lot of celebrating.”

Family attorney Ryan Best said Wednesday that David is “responding to questioning by moving his toes and his head,” an encouraging sign.

The Jaramillo family, of Marion, Iowa, went to Adventureland to celebrate David’s upcoming birthday on Saturday. David, a junior at Linn-Mar High School, had been excited about getting his driver’s license as a step toward freedom and adulthood, Shields said.

David, his younger brothers Gus, 14, and Michael, 11; their 18-year-old cousin Nyla Pettie; and parents Sabrina and David Jaramillo boarded a boat for the ride on Saturday night. A family-friendly staple of the park since 1983, the ride uses a conveyor belt to push circular boats through rapids.

The family’s boat flipped over within 20 seconds of the ride beginning, Shields said, causing all six to hit their heads on the surface below and trapping them in their seatbelts underneath the water.

What caused the raft to flip remains under investigation, but at least one of its eight bladders was deflated, according to a mandatory “major breakdown” report filed by Adventureland with the state and released to The Associated Press.

Adventureland attorney Guy Cook said the bladder could have deflated upon overturning, and it’s premature to draw any conclusions. He said it was the first time one of the boats had flipped out of tens of thousands of launches in the ride’s 38-year history.

Nyla managed to unbuckle herself and Gus and the two got out with minor injuries, Shields said.

The boat was crushing the shoulder of 43-year-old David, and he could hear his bones crunching as he ripped his shoulder out from underneath to break free, Shields said. He and Sabrina got out and could see their sons face down in the river, but could not move the boat because of David’s arm injuries.

They screamed for help as other rafts passed by, and believe that at least 10 minutes passed before workers shut off water to the ride and the boys were freed from the water, he said. Emergency responders on site began with life-saving measures and CPR very quickly, but several minutes passed before an ambulance could reach them and take the four most seriously injured to the hospital.

Cook said the timeline of the accident remains under investigation.

Doctors decided to remove Michael, who was going into sixth grade at Boulder Peak Intermediate School, from life support Sunday after he showed no brain function and his organs had failed. Shields said he and other pastors held the boy’s hand and sang as doctors disconnected the machine.

Shields had gotten to know Michael this summer because the boy had volunteered for a church fundraiser cleaning a local minor league baseball stadium after games. He promised he would show up for all 12 nights and he did, joyfully picking up trash and beer bottles.

Shields said Michael was “full of smiles and laughter and jokes,” loved small dogs, playing video games and hanging with friends.

“The potential that has been robbed from this world is incalculable with a young man like Michael,” he said. “He is a gem.”

The Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office said Wednesday an autopsy on Michael has been completed but the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625696833028.png" alt="David, Michael and a cousin at the park-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>David, Michael and a cousin at the park-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A teenager injured in an accident on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-accident-ce3a56b8e482fcdbbad2890b259bc094">an Iowa amusement ride</a>&nbsp;that killed his younger brother remained on life support Wednesday as he turned 16, his <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-jaramillo-family">family pastor said.</a>David Jaramillo has been in a medically induced coma at Blank Children’s Hospital since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adventureland-raging-river-accident-273dbf870b1cbab93f92ea1df8bff413">Saturday’s accident</a>&nbsp;on the Raging River at Adventureland Park in Altoona, pastor Christian Shields said.David has some brain function and has woken up a couple times at the Des Moines hospital, opening his eyes and asking what happened, he said. He remains hooked up to breathing machines, but doctors are hoping to wean him off life support, Shields said.Shields, the pastor at Christian Life Church in Cedar Rapids, said it’s a miracle that David is alive after being pinned underneath a boat in water for several minutes. The church planned a prayer vigil for the family Wednesday night and is sponsoring a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-jaramillo-family" target="_blank">GoFundMe page</a>&nbsp;that has raised $30,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625522251378.png" alt="First responders at the park Saturday evening -Photo courtesy KCCI" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the park Saturday evening -Photo courtesy KCCI</figcaption>
 </figure>“We’ll be praying for life for David, that his brain function would miraculously be undamaged and unhindered and have no long-term lasting effects on him,” he said. “He’s still in very serious condition, but there’s some good signs.”Friends have brought balloons to the hospital for David’s birthday, but “there won’t be a lot of celebrating.”Family attorney Ryan Best said Wednesday that David is “responding to questioning by moving his toes and his head,” an encouraging sign.The Jaramillo family, of Marion, Iowa, went to Adventureland to celebrate David’s upcoming birthday on Saturday. David, a junior at Linn-Mar High School, had been excited about getting his driver’s license as a step toward freedom and adulthood, Shields said.David, his younger brothers Gus, 14, and Michael, 11; their 18-year-old cousin Nyla Pettie; and parents Sabrina and David Jaramillo boarded a boat for the ride on Saturday night. A family-friendly staple of the park since 1983, the ride uses a conveyor belt to push circular boats through rapids.The family’s boat flipped over within 20 seconds of the ride beginning, Shields said, causing all six to hit their heads on the surface below and trapping them in their seatbelts underneath the water.What caused the raft to flip remains under investigation, but at least one of its eight bladders was deflated, according to a mandatory “major breakdown” report filed by Adventureland with the state and released to The Associated Press.Adventureland attorney Guy Cook said the bladder could have deflated upon overturning, and it’s premature to draw any conclusions. He said it was the first time one of the boats had flipped out of tens of thousands of launches in the ride’s 38-year history.Nyla managed to unbuckle herself and Gus and the two got out with minor injuries, Shields said.The boat was crushing the shoulder of 43-year-old David, and he could hear his bones crunching as he ripped his shoulder out from underneath to break free, Shields said. He and Sabrina got out and could see their sons face down in the river, but could not move the boat because of David’s arm injuries.They screamed for help as other rafts passed by, and believe that at least 10 minutes passed before workers shut off water to the ride and the boys were freed from the water, he said. Emergency responders on site began with life-saving measures and CPR very quickly, but several minutes passed before an ambulance could reach them and take the four most seriously injured to the hospital.Cook said the timeline of the accident remains under investigation.Doctors decided to remove Michael, who was going into sixth grade at Boulder Peak Intermediate School, from life support Sunday after he showed no brain function and his organs had failed. Shields said he and other pastors held the boy’s hand and sang as doctors disconnected the machine.Shields had gotten to know Michael this summer because the boy had volunteered for a church fundraiser cleaning a local minor league baseball stadium after games. He promised he would show up for all 12 nights and he did, joyfully picking up trash and beer bottles.Shields said Michael was “full of smiles and laughter and jokes,” loved small dogs, playing video games and hanging with friends.“The potential that has been robbed from this world is incalculable with a young man like Michael,” he said. “He is a gem.”The Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office said Wednesday an autopsy on Michael has been completed but the cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

Brother of boy killed in amusement park accident remains on life support

COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged attack on his roommate.

Early Tuesday, police were dispatched to 221 W. Adams Avenue in Arkansas City for a report of a physical disturbance in which the victim had been stabbed, according to a media release from police.

When they arrived on scene, they found a 20-year-old Arkansas City man with a severe laceration to his hand. He was evaluated and treated at the scene by the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department, which then transported him to South Central Kansas Medical Center for further treatment of his injury.

Police learned the suspect in this incident, later identified as 29-year-old Felipe Augustine was in the bathroom of the residence, but he refused to leave. After some time, he exited the room, still in possession of the knife.

Augustine, who police determined to be the victim’s roommate, was taken into custody without incident on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal threat and identity theft. He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625691310527.png" alt="Augustine photo Cowley County" />
 <figcaption>Augustine photo Cowley County</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged attack on his roommate.Early Tuesday, police were dispatched to 221 W. Adams Avenue in Arkansas City for a report of a physical disturbance in which the victim had been stabbed, according to a media release from police.When they arrived on scene, they found a 20-year-old Arkansas City man with a severe laceration to his hand. He was evaluated and treated at the scene by the Arkansas City Fire-EMS Department, which then transported him to South Central Kansas Medical Center for further treatment of his injury.Police learned the suspect in this incident, later identified as 29-year-old Felipe Augustine was in the bathroom of the residence, but he refused to leave. After some time, he exited the room, still in possession of the knife.Augustine, who police determined to be the victim’s roommate, was taken into custody without incident on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal threat and identity theft. He was transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield.

Police: Kansas man allegedly stabbed his roommate

The global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million Wednesday as the crisis increasingly becomes a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.

The tally of lives lost over the past year and a half, as compiled from official sources by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the number of people killed in battle in all of the world’s wars since 1982, according to estimates from the Peace Research Institute Oslo.

The toll is three times the number of people killed in traffic accidents around the globe every year. It is about equal to the population of Los Angeles or the nation of Georgia. It is equivalent to more than half of Hong Kong or close to 50% of New York City.

Even then, it is widely believed to be an undercount because of overlooked cases or deliberate concealment.

But in recent weeks, the mutant delta version of the virus first identified in India has set off alarms around the world, spreading rapidly even in vaccination success stories like the U.S., Britain and Israel.

Britain, in fact, recorded a one-day total this week of more than 30,000 new infections for the first time since January, even as the government prepares to lift all remaining lockdown restrictions in England later this month.

Other countries have reimposed preventive measures, and authorities are rushing to step up the campaign to dispense shots.

At the same time, the disaster has exposed the gap between the haves and the have-nots, with vaccination drives barely getting started in Africa and other desperately poor corners of the world because of extreme shortages of shots.

The U.S. and other wealthy countries have agreed to share at least 1 billion doses with struggling countries.

The U.S. has the world’s highest reported death toll, at over 600,000, or nearly 1 in 7 deaths, followed by Brazil at more than 520,000, though the real numbers are believed to be much higher in Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro’s far-right government has long downplayed the virus.

The variants, uneven access to vaccines and the relaxation of precautions in wealthier countries are “a toxic combination that is very dangerous,” warned Ann Lindstrand, a top immunization official at the World Health Organization.

Instead of treating the crisis as a “me-and-myself-and-my-country” problem, she said, “we need to get serious that this is a worldwide problem that needs worldwide solutions.”

By JOSHUA GOODMAN, Associated PressThe global death toll from COVID-19 eclipsed 4 million Wednesday as the crisis increasingly becomes a race between the vaccine and the highly contagious delta variant.The tally of lives lost over the past year and a half, as compiled from official sources by Johns Hopkins University, is about equal to the number of people killed in battle in all of the world’s wars since 1982, according to estimates from the Peace Research Institute Oslo.The toll is three times the number of people killed in traffic accidents around the globe every year. It is about equal to the population of Los Angeles or the nation of Georgia. It is equivalent to more than half of Hong Kong or close to 50% of New York City.Even then, it is widely believed to be an undercount because of overlooked cases or deliberate concealment.But in recent weeks, the mutant delta version of the virus first identified in India has set off alarms around the world, spreading rapidly even in vaccination success stories like the U.S., Britain and Israel.Britain, in fact, recorded a one-day total this week of more than 30,000 new infections for the first time since January, even as the government prepares to lift all remaining lockdown restrictions in England later this month.Other countries have reimposed preventive measures, and authorities are rushing to step up the campaign to dispense shots.At the same time, the disaster has exposed the gap between the haves and the have-nots, with vaccination drives barely getting started in Africa and other desperately poor corners of the world because of extreme shortages of shots.The U.S. and other wealthy countries have agreed to share at least 1 billion doses with struggling countries.The U.S. has the world’s highest reported death toll, at over 600,000, or nearly 1 in 7 deaths, followed by Brazil at more than 520,000, though the real numbers are believed to be much higher in Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro’s far-right government has long downplayed the virus.The variants, uneven access to vaccines and the relaxation of precautions in wealthier countries are “a toxic combination that is very dangerous,” warned Ann Lindstrand, a top immunization official at the World Health Organization.Instead of treating the crisis as a “me-and-myself-and-my-country” problem, she said, “we need to get serious that this is a worldwide problem that needs worldwide solutions.”

Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate

&nbsp;PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities seized a substantial amount of drugs and made three arrests Tuesday evening, according to a social media report from the Pawnee County Sheriff.

The search occurred at a house in the 1200 block of Broadway in Larned.

With help from the Larned Police Department, 266.4 grams of methamphetamine and 126.5 grams of marijuana and paraphernalia were seized. The value of the meth alone is over $20,000.&nbsp; The sheriff's office did not release names of the suspects.

&nbsp;PAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities seized a substantial amount of drugs and made three arrests Tuesday evening, according to a social media report from the Pawnee County Sheriff.The search occurred at a house in the 1200 block of Broadway in Larned.With help from the Larned Police Department, 266.4 grams of methamphetamine and 126.5 grams of marijuana and paraphernalia were seized. The value of the meth alone is over $20,000.&nbsp; The sheriff's office did not release names of the suspects.

Law enforcement seize $20K in meth at Kansas home

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for allegedly stalking a woman.

On May 26, a female victim reported that a suspect identified as 57-year-old Ed Harrington – a person known to her –had placed a GPS tracking device on her vehicle, according to Wichita Police Officer Trevor Macy.

 She had taken it to a local automotive shop, where they were able to locate and remove it.

On July 6th, Harrington was brought to city hall and interviewed regarding this case and a prior burglary in which the victim's car was broken into, and numerous items were stolen. After interviews, Harrington was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Stalking, Burglary to Auto, Theft, and Violation of a protection order.

This arrest was made due to extensive follow-up work performed by the Wichita Police Department (WPD) Domestic Violence Intervention and Reduction Team (DVIRT) and partnerships with community domestic violence advocates.

The case will be presented to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625666476262.png" alt="Harrington photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Harrington photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas man for allegedly stalking a woman.On May 26, a female victim reported that a suspect identified as 57-year-old Ed Harrington – a person known to her –had placed a GPS tracking device on her vehicle, according to Wichita Police Officer Trevor Macy. She had taken it to a local automotive shop, where they were able to locate and remove it.On July 6th, Harrington was brought to city hall and interviewed regarding this case and a prior burglary in which the victim's car was broken into, and numerous items were stolen. After interviews, Harrington was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of Stalking, Burglary to Auto, Theft, and Violation of a protection order.This arrest was made due to extensive follow-up work performed by the Wichita Police Department (WPD) Domestic Violence Intervention and Reduction Team (DVIRT) and partnerships with community domestic violence advocates.The case will be presented to the District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. man placed GPS tracking device on woman's car

KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — Investigators have identified three men found shot to death on the golf course of a country club in the Atlanta suburbs, but it's still unclear what prompted the violence.

Golf pro Eugene Siller was gunned down when he went to find out why a white pickup truck had driven onto the 10th green at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw on Saturday afternoon, police said.

Two other men — both fatally shot — were then found in the bed of the pickup truck. Cobb County police on Wednesday identified those men as 46-year-old Henry Valdez of California and 76-year-old Paul Pierson of Kansas.

The gunman is believed to have gotten away on foot, authorities said. He remained on the loose Wednesday.

Investigators believe that Siller, 46, was slain because he came upon a “crime in progress,” police have said. It doesn’t appear that he was targeted, and the other men appear to have “no relation to the location at all,” police said in a statement. Pierson was the truck’s registered owner.

Police haven't commented on any possible motive for the killings of the two men whose bodies were found in the pickup.

The country club is near the campus of Kennesaw State University, about 25 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625690174997.png" alt="Cobb County police on Wednesday identified the victims as&nbsp;Golf pro Eugene Siller, 46-year-old Henry Valdez of California and 76-year-old Paul Pierson of Kansas -photo courtesy WGCL TV" />
 <figcaption>Cobb County police on Wednesday identified the victims as&nbsp;Golf pro Eugene Siller, 46-year-old Henry Valdez of California and 76-year-old Paul Pierson of Kansas -photo courtesy WGCL TV</figcaption>
 </figure>KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — Investigators have identified three men found shot to death on the golf course of a country club in the Atlanta suburbs, but it's still unclear what prompted the violence.Golf pro Eugene Siller was gunned down when he went to find out why a white pickup truck had driven onto the 10th green at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw on Saturday afternoon, police said.Two other men — both fatally shot — were then found in the bed of the pickup truck. Cobb County police on Wednesday identified those men as 46-year-old Henry Valdez of California and 76-year-old Paul Pierson of Kansas.The gunman is believed to have gotten away on foot, authorities said. He remained on the loose Wednesday.Investigators believe that Siller, 46, was slain because he came upon a “crime in progress,” police have said. It doesn’t appear that he was targeted, and the other men appear to have “no relation to the location at all,” police said in a statement. Pierson was the truck’s registered owner.Police haven't commented on any possible motive for the killings of the two men whose bodies were found in the pickup.The country club is near the campus of Kennesaw State University, about 25 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

Police: Kan. man among 3 in country club triple homicide

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a crash that killed a Kansas woman who was 33-weeks pregnant. The infant is hospitalized in critical condition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625655160724.png" alt="First responders at the scene of the fatal 4-vehicle crash photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene of the fatal 4-vehicle crash photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a crash that killed a Kansas woman who was 33-weeks pregnant. The infant is hospitalized in critical condition.Just before 5 pm on Tuesday, police were dispatched to a disturbance with a gun at a hotel in the 7500 block of West Taft in Wichita, according to Officer Trevor Macy.&nbsp;At the scene, a 35-year-old male victim reported that a man had robbed him at gunpoint. The victim was able to run away and reported seeing the suspect leaving the hotel with another male suspect.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625688980232.png" alt="At the time of his arrest Tuesday, Jamie Chavez was on parole for a child sex crime, according to the Kansas Dpt. of Corrections.-&nbsp; photo Sedgwick Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>At the time of his arrest Tuesday, Jamie Chavez was on parole for a child sex crime, according to the Kansas Dpt. of Corrections.-&nbsp; photo Sedgwick Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>The robbery suspect was identified as 34-year-old Jamie Chavez of Wichita, who was wanted in connection to a previous robbery. He was located near Maple and Ridge and taken into custody. The other suspect identified as<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=161387">&nbsp;Javan Jermaine Ervin, 37,</a>&nbsp;Wichita,&nbsp;&nbsp;began to flee in a 2002 Dodge Ram northbound on Ridge Road. Officers began pursuing him, but the pursuit was terminated due to the high speed and traffic conditions.The pickup continued at a high rate of speed, failed to stop at the red traffic light at Central Avenue and collided with a westbound 2000 Chevy Silverado driven by Jordan Samuel Peltzer, 40, Henderson, Nevada.The impact caused the driver side rear wheels and tires to detach from the vehicle which collided with a 2016 Jeep Compass driven by Connie L. Holt, 73, Wichita, that was stopped on the inside left turn lane from South bound Ridge Road to East bound Central Avenue.The Dodge Ram then collided with 2019 Mazda CX3 driven by 22-year-old Samantha Lee Russell of Wichita which was stopped behind the Jeep. The Dodge Ram then rolled onto its top and came to a rest in the North bound lanes of Ridge Road.EMS transported Russell to Wesley Medical Center where she was pronounced dead.&nbsp;She was 33 weeks pregnant, and her baby is currently hospitalized in critical condition, according to Macy.Ervin, Peltzer and Holt were not injured. Ervin attempted to run from the crash but police quickly took him into custody on requested charges of aggravated battery, first degree murder in the commission of a felony and criminal possession of a firearm,&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/sheriffinmates/SheriffInmateDetail.aspx?nameId=161387">according to online booking records.</a>Police also booked Jamie Chavez into the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery (one from a previous case) and felon in possession of a firearm. Chavez is on parole through the Kansas Department of Corrections.