BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged violent assault in Barton County.

Just before 11a.m. Dec. 5, police responded to the hospital in Great Bend, in reference to an alleged domestic disturbance.

An investigation determined 68-year-old Judy Goodman allegedly battered the other party in the dispute using a mop handle. 

Goodman was placed under arrest for aggravated battery. Goodman was transported to the Barton County Jail where she was booked and held on a $75,000 bond on a requested charge of&nbsp; aggravated battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733508555832.jpeg" alt="Goodman-photo Barton Co." />
 <figcaption>Goodman-photo Barton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged violent assault in Barton County.Just before 11a.m. Dec. 5, police responded to the hospital in Great Bend, in reference to an alleged domestic disturbance.An investigation determined 68-year-old Judy Goodman allegedly battered the other party in the dispute using a mop handle. Goodman was placed under arrest for aggravated battery. Goodman was transported to the Barton County Jail where she was booked and held on a $75,000 bond on a requested charge of&nbsp; aggravated battery.

Police: Kan. woman battered victim with a mop handle

NEW YORK (AP) —The gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>&nbsp;fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday.

Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN.

FBI announces reward for information leading to gunman's arrest and conviction

The FBI announced Friday night that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the shooter who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">killed</a>&nbsp;the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer.

The FBI’s New York Field Office is working with the New York City Police Department to identify the gunman.

Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City

The gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">killed</a>&nbsp;the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday.

“We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.

Gunman’s steps after killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO give police new clues

The gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">killed</a>&nbsp;the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity.

A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">ambushed</a>&nbsp;UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>.

The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-thompson-shooting-security-corporate-a9400196d019daa3fe70698e807c606d">a targeted attack</a>.

▶ Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-48590215ba756741bbaadeeb6255d135">the search for the gunman</a>

For many companies, investor meetings are seen as a risk

In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>&nbsp;was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized.

“It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area.

Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering.

Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders.

▶ Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-thompson-shooting-security-corporate-a9400196d019daa3fe70698e807c606d">how companies protect their leaders</a>

Police have obtained other surveillance images of the person wanted for questioning

Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said.

The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Another health insurer taking precautions after the shooting

Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations.

The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday.

“The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.”

Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution.

Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. says its Investor Day will now be virtual

The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>&nbsp;in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event.

“All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.”

Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage.

UnitedHealth Group says it’s focused on supporting Brian Thompson’s family

The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators.

“While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said.

NY Mayor Eric Adams provided no new information on investigation’s progress during interviews

But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter.

“We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX.

Hours after the shooting, UnitedHealthcare removed photographs of its executives from its website

Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely.

Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to NY last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta

Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said.

Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled.

Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass

The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats.

Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say.

Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks.

▶ Read more about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-thompson-shooting-security-corporate-a9400196d019daa3fe70698e807c606d">steps companies take to protect their leadership</a>

Police test DNA and fingerprints on discarded bottle as they hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733576299830.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —The gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>&nbsp;fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday.Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN.Here's the latest:<h2>FBI announces reward for information leading to gunman's arrest and conviction</h2>The FBI announced Friday night that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the shooter who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">killed</a>&nbsp;the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer.The FBI’s New York Field Office is working with the New York City Police Department to identify the gunman.<h2>Police believe gunman who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO has left New York City</h2>The gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">killed</a>&nbsp;the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday.Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN.“We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said.<h2>Gunman’s steps after killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO give police new clues</h2>The gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-7f6581ba6b0b520938d82c361e77a83c">killed</a>&nbsp;the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity.A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">ambushed</a>&nbsp;UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>.The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-thompson-shooting-security-corporate-a9400196d019daa3fe70698e807c606d">a targeted attack</a>.▶ Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-manhattan-shooting-death-48590215ba756741bbaadeeb6255d135">the search for the gunman</a><h2>For many companies, investor meetings are seen as a risk</h2>In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>&nbsp;was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized.“It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area.Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering.Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders.▶ Read more about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-thompson-shooting-security-corporate-a9400196d019daa3fe70698e807c606d">how companies protect their leaders</a><h2>Police have obtained other surveillance images of the person wanted for questioning</h2>Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said.The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.— Mike Balsamo<h2>Another health insurer taking precautions after the shooting</h2>Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations.The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday.“The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.”Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution.<h2>Government health insurance provider Centene Corp. says its Investor Day will now be virtual</h2>The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>&nbsp;in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event.“All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.”Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage.<h2>UnitedHealth Group says it’s focused on supporting Brian Thompson’s family</h2>The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators.“While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said.<h2>NY Mayor Eric Adams provided no new information on investigation’s progress during interviews</h2>But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter.“We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX.<h2>Hours after the shooting, UnitedHealthcare removed photographs of its executives from its website</h2>Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely.<h2>Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to NY last month on a bus that originated in Atlanta</h2>Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said.Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled.<h2>Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass</h2>The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats.Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say.Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks.▶ Read more about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-thompson-shooting-security-corporate-a9400196d019daa3fe70698e807c606d">steps companies take to protect their leadership</a><h2>Police test DNA and fingerprints on discarded bottle as they hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killer</h2>

FBI: $50K reward in hunt for the gunman who killed Insurance CEO

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Two people died after an incident that began Thursday night at a residence south of Eudora and involved a standoff with law enforcement for several hours. 

According to preliminary information, the 52-year-old male suspect shot and killed a&nbsp; 44-year-old woman at the residence in the 900 block of E 2300 Road, according to sheriff's department spokesman George Diepenbrock.

The incident involved two people in a domestic relationship, and law enforcement later found the man dead inside the residence.

Just before 9p.m. Thursday, Sheriff's office dispatchers were called about a woman in distress. Dispatchers reported the woman caller was difficult to hear. 

A Eudora Police Department officer responded initially and heard a gunshot when he reached the front door. Law enforcement officers were able to establish phone contact with the man inside who was overtly hostile and threatening to shoot law enforcement officers, as he barricaded himself into the home.

The Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Lawrence Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol utilized drones and other technology to gain access into the residence. 

The tools did allow officers to determine the woman was deceased. After several hours of phone communication, law enforcement lost contact with the suspect, and they continued to use technological tools to try to re-establish contact with him or identify his status inside the house to take him into custody on an arrest warrant. 

Sheriff Armbrister said as part of the investigation there were concerns about a possible threat of explosives inside the residence, which was part of the reason why officers acted methodically over several hours

.Just before 4:30 p.m. Friday the Kansas Highway Patrol made entry into the residence and found the suspect deceased.

Detectives and investigators processed the scene Friday evening. Names of the suspect and victim have not been released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733843022887.png" alt="View of the standoff location in Douglas County-photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>View of the standoff location in Douglas County-photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY — Two people died after an incident that began Thursday night at a residence south of Eudora and involved a standoff with law enforcement for several hours. According to preliminary information, the 52-year-old male suspect shot and killed a&nbsp; 44-year-old woman at the residence in the 900 block of E 2300 Road, according to sheriff's department spokesman George Diepenbrock.The incident involved two people in a domestic relationship, and law enforcement later found the man dead inside the residence.Just before 9p.m. Thursday, Sheriff's office dispatchers were called about a woman in distress. Dispatchers reported the woman caller was difficult to hear. A Eudora Police Department officer responded initially and heard a gunshot when he reached the front door. Law enforcement officers were able to establish phone contact with the man inside who was overtly hostile and threatening to shoot law enforcement officers, as he barricaded himself into the home.The Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Lawrence Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol utilized drones and other technology to gain access into the residence. The tools did allow officers to determine the woman was deceased. After several hours of phone communication, law enforcement lost contact with the suspect, and they continued to use technological tools to try to re-establish contact with him or identify his status inside the house to take him into custody on an arrest warrant. Sheriff Armbrister said as part of the investigation there were concerns about a possible threat of explosives inside the residence, which was part of the reason why officers acted methodically over several hours.Just before 4:30 p.m. Friday the Kansas Highway Patrol made entry into the residence and found the suspect deceased.Detectives and investigators processed the scene Friday evening. Names of the suspect and victim have not been released.

Sheriff: 2 dead after 20-hour standoff at rural Kansas home

COWLEY COUNTY —Police arrested a driver after an early morning crash in Cowley County.

Just before 3:30a.m.&nbsp; Friday,&nbsp;Arkansas City Police Department officers were dispatched to a crash in the 1400 block of North Summit Street in Arkansas City, according to a media release.

Officers located a pickup truck that had left the roadway and struck a utility pole. The vehicle towed a small boat and sustained significant damage, as did the utility pole.

The driver, identified as Jeffrey Scott Brown, 65, of Moberly, Missouri., was walking near the scene when officers arrived.

The Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department responded to assist with securing the area due to safety concerns from the damaged utility pole and vehicle.

Following an investigation, police arrested Brown on requested charges of Driving Under the Influence and Transporting an Open Container. He was transported to the Cowley County Jail, where he is being held on a $750 bond.

Evergy was notified of the damage, and crews have temporarily secured the pole.&nbsp; It will be replaced on Monday, according to the police department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733513704610.png" alt="Brown photo Cowley Co." />
 <figcaption>Brown photo Cowley Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>COWLEY COUNTY —Police arrested a driver after an early morning crash in Cowley County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733505325772.png" alt="Photos Arkansas City Police" />
 <figcaption>Photos Arkansas City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 3:30a.m.&nbsp; Friday,&nbsp;Arkansas City Police Department officers were dispatched to a crash in the 1400 block of North Summit Street in Arkansas City, according to a media release.Officers located a pickup truck that had left the roadway and struck a utility pole. The vehicle towed a small boat and sustained significant damage, as did the utility pole.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733505293855.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, identified as Jeffrey Scott Brown, 65, of Moberly, Missouri., was walking near the scene when officers arrived.The Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department responded to assist with securing the area due to safety concerns from the damaged utility pole and vehicle.Following an investigation, police arrested Brown on requested charges of Driving Under the Influence and Transporting an Open Container. He was transported to the Cowley County Jail, where he is being held on a $750 bond.Evergy was notified of the damage, and crews have temporarily secured the pole.&nbsp; It will be replaced on Monday, according to the police department.

Driver towing a boat accused of DUI after crash in Kansas

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Deshaun Durham walked out of the Hutchinson Correctional Facility on Friday morning with a big smile on his face. The 24-year-old from Manhattan was granted clemency by Gov. Laura Kelly after serving over 2.5 years behind bars.

"It's a surreal moment," Durham said. "It kind of feels like an out-of-body experience, feels like a dream, sometimes I've got to pinch myself to make sure its real."

Durham was sentenced in June of 2021 to 92 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 2.4 pounds of cannabis. The courts will typically give probation for people with no criminal history, which is why it was rare that Durham was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison.

"He should not have been sent to prison for 2.4 pounds of marijuana for nine years," Barry Grissom, Durham's attorney, said. "When you think about it, it's a waste of taxpayer dollars. The amount of money that we spend in investigation, interdiction, arrest, prosecution and incarceration is money that could be better spent by law enforcement keeping us safe in our homes, as opposed to running a prohibition."

Durham expressed extreme gratitude to Donte West with the Last Prisoner Project, as well as Grissom, as both played integral parts in helping get his sentence reduced.

"It's good to have faith in people out there, working on you and making sure the right things happen," Durham said. "It's just nice knowing you can sleep better at night, knowing you've got people in place that are really devoted and motivated to getting you home."

Although Durham is grateful to be granted clemency, he was surprised that it happened.

"I was surprised, because it's something a lot of people do in the prison system and very few get it," Durham said. "When I got the news I got it, it was hard not to tear up a little bit, because it's just something that's so rare."

&nbsp;Durham was 20 at the time of the crime and says he has learned a lot from being incarcerated.

"I learned my lesson and now we're here, just ready to look forward and open a new chapter in my life," Durham said. "It's kind of taught me that prison isn't a place that I belong and it's not a place that anyone who gets caught with marijuana, something that is legal in a majority of the United States, deserves to be at. There is definitely some real tough characters in prison, and this place can change you for the worse."&nbsp;

Durham's mother, Brandi Davis, was also there to witness her son walking off the property after being released.

"When he called me from sentencing two and a half years ago and told me he got eight years, I was floored," Davis said. "I never imagined that he would get eight years, I thought he was joking. He asked me how he was going to do eight years in prison, I promised him two and a half years ago that I would do everything in my power to get him home. Luckily, I had people like Last Prisoner Project and Donte and Barry that absolutely supported him in every way and fought like hell to get him home. There really are no words. Deshaun hasn't been home for two and a half years. When I was decorating the house for Christmas, I thought about how Deshaun was going to be in all of our celebrations and he's going to be in the pictures this year."&nbsp;

The final night in the cell of the prison for Durham was one he was looking forward to.

"It was definitely hard to sleep, but it was kind of easy knowing it was going to be my last night sleeping in a prison bunk," Durham said. "I actually woke up about 3:30 in the morning and started getting ready and everything, making sure it wasn't a dream still, because it all feels so surreal."

Durham walked out of the prison with a Kansas City Chiefs sweatshirt on, hoping to get to the Sunday Night Football game against the Chargers in two days.

"That was definitely one of my first ideas, I'm trying to go to the game," Durham said with a smile on his face. "I watch every game, I don't tend to miss a game often, so I'm hoping to make it to the game on Sunday."

&nbsp;Gov. Kelly overturned the Prison Review Board's rejection of Durham's clemency application on Nov. 6.

"We were very very fortunate that we have an amazing governor for our state," Grissom said. "Governor Kelly exercised an immense amount of courage and wisdom to reduce this young man's sentence in light of what he said, is going on around the country, when you compare that to what's happening in Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, he should not have been sent to prison for 2.4 pounds of marijuana for nine years."

Durham is looking forward to turning his life around outside of the prison walls.

"I'm definitely interested in trying to help other people that are in prison for crimes like mine," Durham. "So no one else ends up like I did, without the support from everybody else around me, I would have had to have done my full eight-year sentence."

Durham hopes to attend welding school and start a family in the near future.

The Last Prisoner Project is a 501(c)(3) non profit that was founded in 2019 and works towards helping incarcerated cannabis offenders.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733500940631.jpeg" alt="(L to R) Donte West (Exoneree), Brandi Davis (Deshaun Durham's mother), Deshaun Durham, Barry Grissom (attorney) all exit the Hutchinson Correctional Facility following the release of Durham, who was granted clemency by Gov. Laura Kelly. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)" />
 <figcaption>(L to R) Donte West (Exoneree), Brandi Davis (Deshaun Durham's mother), Deshaun Durham, Barry Grissom (attorney) all exit the Hutchinson Correctional Facility following the release of Durham, who was granted clemency by Gov. Laura Kelly. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)</figcaption>
 </figure>SEAN BOSTON Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Deshaun Durham walked out of the Hutchinson Correctional Facility on Friday morning with a big smile on his face. The 24-year-old from Manhattan was granted clemency by Gov. Laura Kelly after serving over 2.5 years behind bars."It's a surreal moment," Durham said. "It kind of feels like an out-of-body experience, feels like a dream, sometimes I've got to pinch myself to make sure its real."Durham was sentenced in June of 2021 to 92 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute 2.4 pounds of cannabis. The courts will typically give probation for people with no criminal history, which is why it was rare that Durham was sentenced to nearly eight years in prison."He should not have been sent to prison for 2.4 pounds of marijuana for nine years," Barry Grissom, Durham's attorney, said. "When you think about it, it's a waste of taxpayer dollars. The amount of money that we spend in investigation, interdiction, arrest, prosecution and incarceration is money that could be better spent by law enforcement keeping us safe in our homes, as opposed to running a prohibition."Durham expressed extreme gratitude to Donte West with the Last Prisoner Project, as well as Grissom, as both played integral parts in helping get his sentence reduced."It's good to have faith in people out there, working on you and making sure the right things happen," Durham said. "It's just nice knowing you can sleep better at night, knowing you've got people in place that are really devoted and motivated to getting you home."Although Durham is grateful to be granted clemency, he was surprised that it happened."I was surprised, because it's something a lot of people do in the prison system and very few get it," Durham said. "When I got the news I got it, it was hard not to tear up a little bit, because it's just something that's so rare."&nbsp;Durham was 20 at the time of the crime and says he has learned a lot from being incarcerated."I learned my lesson and now we're here, just ready to look forward and open a new chapter in my life," Durham said. "It's kind of taught me that prison isn't a place that I belong and it's not a place that anyone who gets caught with marijuana, something that is legal in a majority of the United States, deserves to be at. There is definitely some real tough characters in prison, and this place can change you for the worse."&nbsp;Durham's mother, Brandi Davis, was also there to witness her son walking off the property after being released."When he called me from sentencing two and a half years ago and told me he got eight years, I was floored," Davis said. "I never imagined that he would get eight years, I thought he was joking. He asked me how he was going to do eight years in prison, I promised him two and a half years ago that I would do everything in my power to get him home. Luckily, I had people like Last Prisoner Project and Donte and Barry that absolutely supported him in every way and fought like hell to get him home. There really are no words. Deshaun hasn't been home for two and a half years. When I was decorating the house for Christmas, I thought about how Deshaun was going to be in all of our celebrations and he's going to be in the pictures this year."&nbsp;The final night in the cell of the prison for Durham was one he was looking forward to."It was definitely hard to sleep, but it was kind of easy knowing it was going to be my last night sleeping in a prison bunk," Durham said. "I actually woke up about 3:30 in the morning and started getting ready and everything, making sure it wasn't a dream still, because it all feels so surreal."Durham walked out of the prison with a Kansas City Chiefs sweatshirt on, hoping to get to the Sunday Night Football game against the Chargers in two days."That was definitely one of my first ideas, I'm trying to go to the game," Durham said with a smile on his face. "I watch every game, I don't tend to miss a game often, so I'm hoping to make it to the game on Sunday."&nbsp;Gov. Kelly overturned the Prison Review Board's rejection of Durham's clemency application on Nov. 6."We were very very fortunate that we have an amazing governor for our state," Grissom said. "Governor Kelly exercised an immense amount of courage and wisdom to reduce this young man's sentence in light of what he said, is going on around the country, when you compare that to what's happening in Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, he should not have been sent to prison for 2.4 pounds of marijuana for nine years."Durham is looking forward to turning his life around outside of the prison walls."I'm definitely interested in trying to help other people that are in prison for crimes like mine," Durham. "So no one else ends up like I did, without the support from everybody else around me, I would have had to have done my full eight-year sentence."Durham hopes to attend welding school and start a family in the near future.The Last Prisoner Project is a 501(c)(3) non profit that was founded in 2019 and works towards helping incarcerated cannabis offenders.&nbsp;

Manhattan man free from prison following action by Governor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;is coming to an end.

There is no simple way to encapsulate the effects of Swift’s decision to put on a 3 ½-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 different “eras” of her career — a feat she kicked off in March 2023 and will end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The tour shattered sales and attendance records and created such an economic boom that even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-ai-musk-unions-homes-taylor-swift-bfead409df9b22fc9b688a48efc1010f">the Federal Reserve took note.</a>

But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched fan-broadcasted livestreams on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy — a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her.

“Right now we have this special designated time to be together, talk about the show and hang out,” said Tess Bohne, a stay-at-home mom of three turned content creator dedicated to livestreaming Swift’s concerts — by attending herself or coordinating with others to highlight their streams. “For some, it’s their therapy.”

Bohne, who has earned the title among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-taylor-swift-cca0dec2b454d564fa52383101725bdc">the Swiftie community</a>&nbsp;as the “livestream queen,” says she often interacts with fans hosting parties to watch an Eras concert live at home with their closest friends. People have also made lasting friendships as they geek out together watching the show from afar.

Swift has long been known for leaving Easter eggs for her fans to pinpoint and decipher, a quirk that quickly took on a life of its own during the tour as eagle-eyed devotees began analyzing the possible meaning of her outfits, surprise songs and subtle lyric swaps. The buzz has been so large that multiple mobile apps were launched so fans could guess and track all the various changes. There’s even a game that gives out prizes for correctly predicting various particulars of a show, including what color guitar Swift uses while playing “Lover.”

“Imagine your favorite sports team,” Bohne said. “They’re still a team, but they’re not going to play any games for the foreseeable future. That’s going to leave a hole for some folks.”

Swift herself appeared to struggle that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-europe-eras-tour-fans-bcf8a207f06fd1f3e17a2f3f3b24dab5">the end was near</a>&nbsp;while performing at her 100th Eras show in June at Liverpool.

“This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is gonna end in December,” she said, stressing that “this tour has really become my entire life.” Late last month, in Toronto, she briefly broke down at the thought of the tour’s impending end.

Swift kicked off the Eras tour&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tour-eras-concert-setlist-37bfc86a4550b4aafed499fbabd6a417">in Glendale, Arizona,</a>&nbsp;the first of many sold-out stadiums as the tour progressed first in the U.S. and later into South America, Asia, the United Kingdom and Canada.

By the end of 2023, it had become the first tour to ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">gross over $1 billion</a>&nbsp;and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. She is likely to bring in over $2 billion by the time the tour wraps on Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar.

Throughout the tour, Swift was named&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">Time Magazine’s Person of the Year</a>. Apple Music named her its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-music-2023-top-songs-albums-59331f2813551a4e8369570acceece2f">artist of the year</a>&nbsp;and Spotify revealed she was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spotify-2023-music-taylor-swift-bad-bunny-376192a822c7b1d38387a0f3b17e963f">2023’s most streamed artist globally</a>. She dropped a box office-topping concert film and helped send NFL viewership skyrocketing when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-nfl-gen-z-be42bde423a35c8f4c34bd9a18327b07">she began dating</a>&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Toward the end of the tour, she released a coffee table book.

And if that wasn’t enough, she released re-recordings of her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tour-nashville-speak-now-f0000e9080f0e62724900c10c3fc3502">Nashville-era 2010 record, “Speak Now</a>&nbsp;” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-a4002b50f70b5899a846baf3e20de5ab">2014’s record “1989,”</a>&nbsp;as well as released her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-eras-tour-293d90acd670d6d19c294a0e6085829a">11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”</a>

“I think it’s perfect in these times to have somebody like Taylor to kind of give us distraction, give us inspiration, give us hope,” said Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a former concert promoter who has worked with Bruce Springsteen and others. “And this is a woman that owning it, she’s come a long way. And now she can talk about artist rights and women’s rights and equality. And really, just her work ethic is relentless.”

Even the word “era” has become ubiquitous, with fans and casual observers using the term to explain both frivolous and transformative phases — are you in your “villain era” or a “healing era”?

“I think this tour really solidified her position as a legend,” said Kayla Wong, an influencer who runs the popular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brazil-celebrity-stan-accounts-x-twitter-e3b0bb716f01f26b5d9a06655e1b1360">Swift-focused Instagram account</a>&nbsp;@headfirstfearless. “Whether or not you like her music, whether or not you think she’s talented, the numbers really speak for themselves. The tour broke so many records and was such a global phenomenon for so long that I think she’s achieved a level where it’s undeniable as to how everlasting her impact is.”

Yet the tour did experience its own dark moments. In Brazil last year, one concertgoer — 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides — passed out and later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/%C2%BD" target="_blank">died of heat exhaustion.</a>&nbsp;In July,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-stabbing-attack-southport-far-right-violence-a2e43d0d49776c138790d083713873f7">British police charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack</a>&nbsp;during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class that left three little girls dead. News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in London

And in August, all three of Swift’s concerts in Vienna were called off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the city.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-fans-austria-concerts-canceled-swifties-003644f97d8bd7064b3dfe0585704f6c">Tens of thousands of Swifties</a>&nbsp;from around the world had traveled to Vienna for the shows.

“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift later wrote in a statement. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.”

Through the hardships and celebrations, Swift’s connections to her fans has only ballooned and deepened throughout the tour. After the Vienna cancellations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-vienna-concerts-cancelled-a5290b3560e221bdd4a1b6108d31217e">many fans flocked to the streets</a>&nbsp;to sing Swift’s songs and placed friendship bracelets — which also became an iconic feature of the shows — on a nearby tree.

Over the past two years, the fandom has welcomed new audiences — both old and new.

“I feel like years ago, we were kind of all the same age and fans for the same reason,” Wong said of Swifties. “Now the fandom has people from all kinds of backgrounds, all ages, all different reasons for following her in the first place.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723064189320.png" alt="Taylor Swift's Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium&nbsp; -photo Kathryn Unruh" />
 <figcaption>Taylor Swift's Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium&nbsp; -photo Kathryn Unruh</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;KIMBERLEE KRUESIUNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — After more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years, the global phenomenon that is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;is coming to an end.There is no simple way to encapsulate the effects of Swift’s decision to put on a 3 ½-hour concert, showcasing 44 songs representing 10 different “eras” of her career — a feat she kicked off in March 2023 and will end Sunday in Vancouver, Canada. The tour shattered sales and attendance records and created such an economic boom that even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-ai-musk-unions-homes-taylor-swift-bfead409df9b22fc9b688a48efc1010f">the Federal Reserve took note.</a>But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched fan-broadcasted livestreams on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy — a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her.“Right now we have this special designated time to be together, talk about the show and hang out,” said Tess Bohne, a stay-at-home mom of three turned content creator dedicated to livestreaming Swift’s concerts — by attending herself or coordinating with others to highlight their streams. “For some, it’s their therapy.”Bohne, who has earned the title among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-business-taylor-swift-cca0dec2b454d564fa52383101725bdc">the Swiftie community</a>&nbsp;as the “livestream queen,” says she often interacts with fans hosting parties to watch an Eras concert live at home with their closest friends. People have also made lasting friendships as they geek out together watching the show from afar.Swift has long been known for leaving Easter eggs for her fans to pinpoint and decipher, a quirk that quickly took on a life of its own during the tour as eagle-eyed devotees began analyzing the possible meaning of her outfits, surprise songs and subtle lyric swaps. The buzz has been so large that multiple mobile apps were launched so fans could guess and track all the various changes. There’s even a game that gives out prizes for correctly predicting various particulars of a show, including what color guitar Swift uses while playing “Lover.”“Imagine your favorite sports team,” Bohne said. “They’re still a team, but they’re not going to play any games for the foreseeable future. That’s going to leave a hole for some folks.”Swift herself appeared to struggle that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-europe-eras-tour-fans-bcf8a207f06fd1f3e17a2f3f3b24dab5">the end was near</a>&nbsp;while performing at her 100th Eras show in June at Liverpool.“This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is gonna end in December,” she said, stressing that “this tour has really become my entire life.” Late last month, in Toronto, she briefly broke down at the thought of the tour’s impending end.Swift kicked off the Eras tour&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tour-eras-concert-setlist-37bfc86a4550b4aafed499fbabd6a417">in Glendale, Arizona,</a>&nbsp;the first of many sold-out stadiums as the tour progressed first in the U.S. and later into South America, Asia, the United Kingdom and Canada.By the end of 2023, it had become the first tour to ever&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-billion-dollar-record-52945111233438b1f2166aa19eee365f">gross over $1 billion</a>&nbsp;and saw hundreds of millions of dollars spent on merchandise. She is likely to bring in over $2 billion by the time the tour wraps on Dec. 8, according to concert trade publication Pollstar.Throughout the tour, Swift was named&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-time-person-of-year-2023-6c8ce1275db4cc326fe6ac94ea20bace">Time Magazine’s Person of the Year</a>. Apple Music named her its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-music-2023-top-songs-albums-59331f2813551a4e8369570acceece2f">artist of the year</a>&nbsp;and Spotify revealed she was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spotify-2023-music-taylor-swift-bad-bunny-376192a822c7b1d38387a0f3b17e963f">2023’s most streamed artist globally</a>. She dropped a box office-topping concert film and helped send NFL viewership skyrocketing when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-nfl-gen-z-be42bde423a35c8f4c34bd9a18327b07">she began dating</a>&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Toward the end of the tour, she released a coffee table book.And if that wasn’t enough, she released re-recordings of her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tour-nashville-speak-now-f0000e9080f0e62724900c10c3fc3502">Nashville-era 2010 record, “Speak Now</a>&nbsp;” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-a4002b50f70b5899a846baf3e20de5ab">2014’s record “1989,”</a>&nbsp;as well as released her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-eras-tour-293d90acd670d6d19c294a0e6085829a">11th studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”</a>“I think it’s perfect in these times to have somebody like Taylor to kind of give us distraction, give us inspiration, give us hope,” said Ralph Jaccodine, an assistant professor at Berklee College of Music and a former concert promoter who has worked with Bruce Springsteen and others. “And this is a woman that owning it, she’s come a long way. And now she can talk about artist rights and women’s rights and equality. And really, just her work ethic is relentless.”Even the word “era” has become ubiquitous, with fans and casual observers using the term to explain both frivolous and transformative phases — are you in your “villain era” or a “healing era”?“I think this tour really solidified her position as a legend,” said Kayla Wong, an influencer who runs the popular&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brazil-celebrity-stan-accounts-x-twitter-e3b0bb716f01f26b5d9a06655e1b1360">Swift-focused Instagram account</a>&nbsp;@headfirstfearless. “Whether or not you like her music, whether or not you think she’s talented, the numbers really speak for themselves. The tour broke so many records and was such a global phenomenon for so long that I think she’s achieved a level where it’s undeniable as to how everlasting her impact is.”Yet the tour did experience its own dark moments. In Brazil last year, one concertgoer — 23-year-old Ana Clara Benevides — passed out and later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/%C2%BD" target="_blank">died of heat exhaustion.</a>&nbsp;In July,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-stabbing-attack-southport-far-right-violence-a2e43d0d49776c138790d083713873f7">British police charged a 17-year-old with murder over a stabbing attack</a>&nbsp;during a Taylor Swift-themed summer holiday dance and yoga class that left three little girls dead. News outlets reported that Swift met with some of the survivors backstage in LondonAnd in August, all three of Swift’s concerts in Vienna were called off after officials announced arrests over an apparent plot to launch an attack on an event in the city.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-fans-austria-concerts-canceled-swifties-003644f97d8bd7064b3dfe0585704f6c">Tens of thousands of Swifties</a>&nbsp;from around the world had traveled to Vienna for the shows.“Having our Vienna shows cancelled was devastating,” Swift later wrote in a statement. “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows.”Through the hardships and celebrations, Swift’s connections to her fans has only ballooned and deepened throughout the tour. After the Vienna cancellations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-vienna-concerts-cancelled-a5290b3560e221bdd4a1b6108d31217e">many fans flocked to the streets</a>&nbsp;to sing Swift’s songs and placed friendship bracelets — which also became an iconic feature of the shows — on a nearby tree.Over the past two years, the fandom has welcomed new audiences — both old and new.“I feel like years ago, we were kind of all the same age and fans for the same reason,” Wong said of Swifties. “Now the fandom has people from all kinds of backgrounds, all ages, all different reasons for following her in the first place.”

Final weekend: End of Eras tour bittersweet for Taylor Swift fans

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on drug alegations.

Just after 12:30a.m. December 2, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2010 Hyundai Sonata near 150th&nbsp;and Q. Roads, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 During the traffic stop, the deputy observed inside the vehicle what appeared to be LSD.&nbsp;

The driver, 28-year-old Ryan Michelle Laiku Schommer of Iola allegedly resisted arrest with a brief struggle. Deputies arrested and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of LSD, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, battery on a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement and driving while suspended.

The passenger, Jeffrey Scott Wilson, 35, of Grove, Oklahoma, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of LSD, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733179106675.png" alt="Wilson photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Wilson photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on drug alegations.Just after 12:30a.m. December 2, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2010 Hyundai Sonata near 150th&nbsp;and Q. Roads, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733179066160.png" alt="Schommer-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Schommer-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> During the traffic stop, the deputy observed inside the vehicle what appeared to be LSD.&nbsp;The driver, 28-year-old Ryan Michelle Laiku Schommer of Iola allegedly resisted arrest with a brief struggle. Deputies arrested and booked her into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of LSD, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, battery on a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement and driving while suspended.The passenger, Jeffrey Scott Wilson, 35, of Grove, Oklahoma, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of LSD, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas woman caught with LSD resisted arrest

SALINE COUNTY—A dispute allegedly over items changed in a bathroom put a Kansas woman in jail in Salina.

Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a disturbance at the apartments in the former Roosevelt-Lincoln Junior High School, 245 South Eighth Street in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.

The 39-year-old victim told officers that while she was cleaning the apartment, the resident identified as 53-year-old Patania Sumners, became irate over changes made in the bathroom.

Sumners grabbed the victim by the hair and dragged her into the bathroom and struck her several times in the face with her fist, according to Feldman.&nbsp;

Police arrested Sumners at the scene and booked her into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping and battery. EMS treated the victim at the scene for scrapes and scratches.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733319179567.jpeg" alt="Sumners photo Saline Co." />
 <figcaption>Sumners photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—A dispute allegedly over items changed in a bathroom put a Kansas woman in jail in Salina.Just after 3 p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a disturbance at the apartments in the former Roosevelt-Lincoln Junior High School, 245 South Eighth Street in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.The 39-year-old victim told officers that while she was cleaning the apartment, the resident identified as 53-year-old Patania Sumners, became irate over changes made in the bathroom.Sumners grabbed the victim by the hair and dragged her into the bathroom and struck her several times in the face with her fist, according to Feldman.&nbsp;Police arrested Sumners at the scene and booked her into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of aggravated kidnapping and battery. EMS treated the victim at the scene for scrapes and scratches.

Kan. woman jailed after fight over items in the bathroom

NEW YORK (AP) — The masked gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday.

The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company’s annual investor conference at a Hilton hotel in Midtown, blocks from tourist draws like Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art. The reason behind the killing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-79a9710978fc7adbb23d3fed4ea2f70d">remained unknown.</a>

The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to strategies insurance companies allegedly use to try to avoid paying claims.

Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny had said earlier.

The killing and the shooter’s movements in the minutes before and afterward were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city.

The hunt for the shooter brought New York City police Thursday morning to at least two hostels on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, based on a tip that the suspected shooter may have stayed at one of the residences, according to a second law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing search.

Two detectives arrived at the Kama Central Park hostel with a photo of the shooter and asked staff if they recognized the man, an employee confirmed to the AP. They did not, the employee said, and the detectives left. An employee at the nearby HI New York City hostel also confirmed that police had visited the location Thursday, but declined to provide further information.

Also Thursday, police released photos of a person they said was wanted for question in connection with Thompson's shooting.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference Wednesday that while investigators had not yet established a motive, the shooting was no random act of violence. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” she said.

Investigators believe, judging from surveillance video and evidence collected from the scene, that the shooter had at least some prior firearms training and experience with guns and the weapon was equipped with a silencer, said one of the law enforcement officials who spoke with the AP.

Investigators are also looking into whether the suspect had pre-positioned a bike as part of an escape plan, the official said. The shooter fled on a bike and he was last seen riding into Central Park.

Authorities were running DNA and fingerprint analysis on items found nearby, including a water bottle, that they believe the suspect may have discarded, the official said.

Security camera video showed the killer approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a gun jam while the health executive tumbled to the pavement.

Other cameras captured the initial stages of the gunman's escape. He fled the block across a pedestrian plaza, then escaped on the bicycle. Police used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intensive search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown.

Police issued several surveillance images of the man, who wore a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face and wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid day. Some of the photos were taken at a Starbucks coffee shop shortly before the shooting. Police offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.

The insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., was holding its annual meeting with investors in New York to update Wall Street on the company’s direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson’s death.

“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” UnitedHealth Group said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.”

Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage.

Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive.

UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733324311684.png" alt="Brian Thompson courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Brian Thompson courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — The masked gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733418191516.png" alt="New image shows suspect inside hostel -Photo NYPD&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>New image shows suspect inside hostel -Photo NYPD&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company’s annual investor conference at a Hilton hotel in Midtown, blocks from tourist draws like Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art. The reason behind the killing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealthcare-ceo-brian-thompson-shooting-79a9710978fc7adbb23d3fed4ea2f70d">remained unknown.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733418156665.png" alt="New image shows suspect inside hostel -Photo NYPD&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>New image shows suspect inside hostel -Photo NYPD&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to strategies insurance companies allegedly use to try to avoid paying claims.Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny had said earlier.The killing and the shooter’s movements in the minutes before and afterward were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city.The hunt for the shooter brought New York City police Thursday morning to at least two hostels on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, based on a tip that the suspected shooter may have stayed at one of the residences, according to a second law enforcement official briefed on the investigation, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing search.Two detectives arrived at the Kama Central Park hostel with a photo of the shooter and asked staff if they recognized the man, an employee confirmed to the AP. They did not, the employee said, and the detectives left. An employee at the nearby HI New York City hostel also confirmed that police had visited the location Thursday, but declined to provide further information.Also Thursday, police released photos of a person they said was wanted for question in connection with Thompson's shooting.Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference Wednesday that while investigators had not yet established a motive, the shooting was no random act of violence. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733417735866.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators believe, judging from surveillance video and evidence collected from the scene, that the shooter had at least some prior firearms training and experience with guns and the weapon was equipped with a silencer, said one of the law enforcement officials who spoke with the AP.Investigators are also looking into whether the suspect had pre-positioned a bike as part of an escape plan, the official said. The shooter fled on a bike and he was last seen riding into Central Park.Authorities were running DNA and fingerprint analysis on items found nearby, including a water bottle, that they believe the suspect may have discarded, the official said.Security camera video showed the killer approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a gun jam while the health executive tumbled to the pavement.Other cameras captured the initial stages of the gunman's escape. He fled the block across a pedestrian plaza, then escaped on the bicycle. Police used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intensive search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown.Police issued several surveillance images of the man, who wore a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face and wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid day. Some of the photos were taken at a Starbucks coffee shop shortly before the shooting. Police offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with UnitedHealthcare since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.The insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., was holding its annual meeting with investors in New York to update Wall Street on the company’s direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson’s death.“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” UnitedHealth Group said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.”Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage.Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive.UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs.

New images show person of interest in killing of insurance CEO

NEW YORK (AP) — Investigators are searching for clues that could help them identify the masked gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk, then disappeared into Central Park.

UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company's annual investor conference at a Hilton in Midtown, blocks from tourist draws like Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art.

The killing, and the shooter's movements in the minutes before and afterward, were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city.

One video showed him approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a brief gun jam while the dying health executive tumbled to the pavement.

Other security cameras captured the initial stages of the gunman's escape. He was seen fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza, then escaping on a bicycle into Central Park, where he vanished.

Police used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intense search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown late into the night.

New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that while investigators had not yet established a motive, the shooting was no random act of violence.

“Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said at a news conference Wednesday.

“From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.

Police issued several surveillance images of the man, who wore a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face and wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid winter day. Some of the photos were taken at a Starbucks coffee shop shortly before the shooting.

The police department offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.”

Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said.

Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet.

Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death.

Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556">posted on the social platform X</a>&nbsp;that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”

“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733331413907.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Investigators are searching for clues that could help them identify the masked gunman who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/manhattan-shooting-death-daa1e8c8c05606197a5bd2e0242f1683">stalked and killed</a>&nbsp;the leader of one of the largest U.S. health insurance companies on a Manhattan sidewalk, then disappeared into Central Park.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNYPD%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02gMCRPER4h5ybagucFTvoLqVTVwCL12xbPMZ5PACT719o9pFnAuMhWKFXkiJenkWKl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="703" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>UnitedHealthcare CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-healthcare-ceo-new-york-shooting-brian-thompson-8a130e64bcab749d1a085f5a34ab8254">Brian Thompson</a>, 50, died in a dawn ambush Wednesday as he walked to the company's annual investor conference at a Hilton in Midtown, blocks from tourist draws like Radio City Music Hall and the Museum of Modern Art.The killing, and the shooter's movements in the minutes before and afterward, were captured on some of the multitudes of security cameras present in that part of the city.One video showed him approach Thompson from behind, level his pistol and fire several shots, barely pausing to clear a brief gun jam while the dying health executive tumbled to the pavement.Other security cameras captured the initial stages of the gunman's escape. He was seen fleeing the block across a pedestrian plaza, then escaping on a bicycle into Central Park, where he vanished.Police used drones, helicopters and dogs in an intense search, but the killer's whereabouts remained unknown late into the night.New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that while investigators had not yet established a motive, the shooting was no random act of violence.“Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said at a news conference Wednesday.“From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said.Police issued several surveillance images of the man, who wore a hooded jacket and a mask that concealed most of his face and wouldn't have attracted attention on a frigid winter day. Some of the photos were taken at a Starbucks coffee shop shortly before the shooting.The police department offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction.“Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.”Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage.Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive.Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said.Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet.Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death.Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years.UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state and federally funded Medicaid programs.Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556">posted on the social platform X</a>&nbsp;that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.___

Search continues for suspect who gunned down health insurance CEO

FORD COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a series of reports of criminal damage in southwest Kansas and have made arrests.

On Tuesday, police responded to multiple reports of property damage at various locations around Dodge City, according to a media release. Thanks to information provided by the public, officers identified a black Jeep Wrangler suspected of being involved in the criminal activity. 

Officers were able to locate the vehicle and, through investigation, arrested four juveniles from Dodge City. The boys have been linked to 25 different cases of criminal damage to Christmas decorations and&nbsp; vehicle windows.

 Charges will be filed with the Ford County Attorney's Office for the crime of Criminal Damage.&nbsp;

FORD COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a series of reports of criminal damage in southwest Kansas and have made arrests.On Tuesday, police responded to multiple reports of property damage at various locations around Dodge City, according to a media release. Thanks to information provided by the public, officers identified a black Jeep Wrangler suspected of being involved in the criminal activity. Officers were able to locate the vehicle and, through investigation, arrested four juveniles from Dodge City. The boys have been linked to 25 different cases of criminal damage to Christmas decorations and&nbsp; vehicle windows. Charges will be filed with the Ford County Attorney's Office for the crime of Criminal Damage.&nbsp;

Police in SW Kan. make arrests for damage to Christmas decorations 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a drive-by shooting that sent three people to the hospital.

Just after 2a.m. Wednesday, police officers were dispatched to the report of a shooting in the 1600 block of north Grove in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders located three individuals inside a home with injuries.

A 43-year-old woman was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries to her lower body. A 19-year-old man was transported to an area hospital with severe injuries to the lower body. A 17-year-old girl was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.

Officers and crime scene investigators located a large number of cartridge casings and the residence was struck numerous times. The shooters were believed to be outside the residence at the time of the shooting.

Investigators are diligently reviewing all of the evidence in this case to identify and apprehend the offenders. Late Wednesday,&nbsp; police had not released possible suspect details or reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733349384364.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a drive-by shooting that sent three people to the hospital.Just after 2a.m. Wednesday, police officers were dispatched to the report of a shooting in the 1600 block of north Grove in Wichita, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders located three individuals inside a home with injuries.A 43-year-old woman was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries to her lower body. A 19-year-old man was transported to an area hospital with severe injuries to the lower body. A 17-year-old girl was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries.Officers and crime scene investigators located a large number of cartridge casings and the residence was struck numerous times. The shooters were believed to be outside the residence at the time of the shooting.Investigators are diligently reviewing all of the evidence in this case to identify and apprehend the offenders. Late Wednesday,&nbsp; police had not released possible suspect details or reported an arrest.

2 adults, teen injured in drive-by shooting at Kansas home

NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference.

The killing was was a “brazen, targeted attack,” Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner said.

Thompson, 50, was set to speak at an investor meeting when he was gunned down around 6:45 a.m. outside the New York Hilton Midtown by a shooter who fled on foot and then took an e-bike into Central Park, according to the New York Police Department.

Thompson was taken to a hospital but could not be saved. Police were still searching for the shooter as of late morning and no arrests had been made. Though officials said the attack appeared to be targeted, they did not yet have a motive for the shooting.

Mayor Eric Adams said police were reviewing evidence from the scene, including video.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733324311684.png" alt="Brian Thompson courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Brian Thompson courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733331413907.png" alt="photo NYPD" />
 <figcaption>photo NYPD</figcaption>
 </figure>The killing was was a “brazen, targeted attack,” Jessica Tisch, the New York City police commissioner said.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNYPD%2Fvideos%2F1503464993647472%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Thompson, 50, was set to speak at an investor meeting when he was gunned down around 6:45 a.m. outside the New York Hilton Midtown by a shooter who fled on foot and then took an e-bike into Central Park, according to the New York Police Department.Thompson was taken to a hospital but could not be saved. Police were still searching for the shooter as of late morning and no arrests had been made. Though officials said the attack appeared to be targeted, they did not yet have a motive for the shooting.Mayor Eric Adams said police were reviewing evidence from the scene, including video."It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual and we will apprehend that individual,” Adams said.UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company was scheduled to have its annual meeting with investors in New York City to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year, according to a company media advisory. An announcement was made to attendees Wednesday morning that the conference was ending early.The Hilton is in a bustling part of Manhattan, a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Center, and often dense with tourists and office workers on weekday mornings. The popular Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is set to take place Wednesday evening.Part of the block where the shooting took place was cordoned off with police tape, with a large contingent of police officers at the scene. Many security cameras are nearby.Thompson had served as CEO for more than three years and had been with the company since 2004.Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556">tweeted</a>&nbsp;that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs.___NEW YORK (AP) — UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed Wednesday morning in what investigators suspect was a targeted shooting outside a Manhattan hotel where the company was holding an investor conference.A person briefed on the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that the victim was Thompson, the health insurance company's 50-year-old CEO. Speaking about the shooting, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said it did not appear to be a random attack.Police said the shooter fled after the shooting, which happened around 6:45 a.m. outside a Hilton. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but could not be saved.Adams said police were reviewing evidence from the scene, including video."This was not what appears to be a just random act of violence. It seems to be clearly targeted by an individual and we will apprehend that individual,” he said.UnitedHealthcare is the insurance arm of the health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc. The Minnetonka, Minnesota-based company was scheduled to have its annual meeting with investors in New York City to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year, according to a company media advisory. An announcement was made to attendees Wednesday morning that the conference was ending early.The Hilton is in a bustling part of Manhattan, a short walk from tourist sites such as the Museum of Modern Art and Rockefeller Center, and often dense with tourists and office workers on weekday mornings. The popular Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting is set to take place Wednesday evening.Part of the block where the shooting took place was cordoned off with police tape, with a large contingent of police officers at the scene. Many security cameras are nearby.Thompson had served as CEO for more than three years and had been with the company since 2004.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota. Minnesota is sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team. <a href="https://t.co/6lAL2lJXzn">https://t.co/6lAL2lJXzn</a>&mdash; Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/GovTimWalz/status/1864326551661154556">tweeted</a>&nbsp;that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.”“This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote.UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs.-----------