WILSON COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Neodesha Police Department, and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office positively identified the man whose skeletal remains were found in rural Wilson County, and have made an arrest connected to the case, according to a media release from the KBI.

The victim was identified as Levi Ellis, 39, of Neodesha. An autopsy was conducted on his remains.

KBI agents, with assistance from officers with the Neodesha Police Department, developed a suspect in the case. An arrest warrant was issued for first-degree murder connected to the death of Ellis.

Just after 1 p.m. Tuesday, officers from the Broken Arrow Police Department in Oklahoma arrested Joseph D. Ferraro, 56, of Neodesha, at the Clarion Hotel at 2600 N. Aspen Ave. in Broken Arrow.

He was booked into the Tulsa County Jail in Tulsa. Extradition will be pursued. The investigation is ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727820537934.png" alt="Ferraro photo Tulsa County" />
 <figcaption>Ferraro photo Tulsa County</figcaption>
 </figure>WILSON COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), the Neodesha Police Department, and the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office positively identified the man whose skeletal remains were found in rural Wilson County, and have made an arrest connected to the case, according to a media release from the KBI.The victim was identified as Levi Ellis, 39, of Neodesha. An autopsy was conducted on his remains.KBI agents, with assistance from officers with the Neodesha Police Department, developed a suspect in the case. An arrest warrant was issued for first-degree murder connected to the death of Ellis.Just after 1 p.m. Tuesday, officers from the Broken Arrow Police Department in Oklahoma arrested Joseph D. Ferraro, 56, of Neodesha, at the Clarion Hotel at 2600 N. Aspen Ave. in Broken Arrow.He was booked into the Tulsa County Jail in Tulsa. Extradition will be pursued. The investigation is ongoing.

Police ID remains found in Kan., arrest murder suspect at hotel

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas plans to continue to waive child care licensing fees for another year by tapping into federal pandemic relief aid.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday the state would cover the cost of licensing, background checks, fingerprinting fees and licensing renewals through 2025, or until funds are exhausted. The state has covered initial and renewal licensing fees since 2021.

“I’m committed to expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care opportunities for Kansas children and families,” Kelly said in a news release. “These funds allow for continued support for child care providers by removing financial barriers.”

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/374/Types-of-Licensed-Care" target="_blank">license for a child care facility</a>&nbsp;costs $75, plus $1 for each child the facility has the capacity to serve. Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for the governor, said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation charges $57 for a background check and fingerprint.

The state has used discretionary funding through the federal Child Care Development Fund to cover the cost of fees. To extend the waiver of fees, the state will use funding from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief program.&nbsp; The funding will be administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which is responsible for child care licensing, and the Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, an organization created by the Legislature in 1999 to oversee expenditures from the tobacco settlement to improve the health of Kansas kids.

“This additional funding, and Governor Kelly’s commitment to directing it to child care licensing, will go a long way in allowing potential and current child care providers to continue the important work of creating and sustaining quality child care options for Kansas families,” said KDHE secretary Janet Stanek in a news release.

Child care providers will still have to pay fees from local governments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727812291128.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly answers reporters questions about the upcoming special session after a June 17, 2024, event at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly answers reporters questions about the upcoming special session after a June 17, 2024, event at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas plans to continue to waive child care licensing fees for another year by tapping into federal pandemic relief aid.Gov. Laura Kelly announced Monday the state would cover the cost of licensing, background checks, fingerprinting fees and licensing renewals through 2025, or until funds are exhausted. The state has covered initial and renewal licensing fees since 2021.“I’m committed to expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care opportunities for Kansas children and families,” Kelly said in a news release. “These funds allow for continued support for child care providers by removing financial barriers.”A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/374/Types-of-Licensed-Care" target="_blank">license for a child care facility</a>&nbsp;costs $75, plus $1 for each child the facility has the capacity to serve. Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for the governor, said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation charges $57 for a background check and fingerprint.The state has used discretionary funding through the federal Child Care Development Fund to cover the cost of fees. To extend the waiver of fees, the state will use funding from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief program.&nbsp; The funding will be administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, which is responsible for child care licensing, and the Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, an organization created by the Legislature in 1999 to oversee expenditures from the tobacco settlement to improve the health of Kansas kids.“This additional funding, and Governor Kelly’s commitment to directing it to child care licensing, will go a long way in allowing potential and current child care providers to continue the important work of creating and sustaining quality child care options for Kansas families,” said KDHE secretary Janet Stanek in a news release.Child care providers will still have to pay fees from local governments.

Kansas to waive child care licensing fees through 2025

SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Monday in rural Sedgwick County.

A Kia Optima driven by 24-year-old Curtis W. Vickers of Wichita was southbound in the 9600 Block of Broadway, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office. The car crossed the center line and struck a northbound Chevy Silverado head-on.

EMS pronounced Vickers deceased at the scene.&nbsp; The male driver and female passenger of the Silverado were transported to a local hospital.

The accident remains under investigation` by the Sheriff’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727814214580.png" alt="FIrst responders on the scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>FIrst responders on the scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Monday in rural Sedgwick County.A Kia Optima driven by 24-year-old Curtis W. Vickers of Wichita was southbound in the 9600 Block of Broadway, according to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office. The car crossed the center line and struck a northbound Chevy Silverado head-on.EMS pronounced Vickers deceased at the scene.&nbsp; The male driver and female passenger of the Silverado were transported to a local hospital.The accident remains under investigation` by the Sheriff’s Office.

Kansas man killed, 2 injured after head-on crash

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday, the latest in a series of escalating attacks in a yearslong conflict between Israel and Iran and its Arab allies that threatens to push the Middle East closer toward a regionwide war.

The orange glow of missiles streaked across Israel's night sky as air raid sirens sounded and millions of residents scrambled into bomb shelters. Israel vowed retaliation for Iran’s missile barrage, which it said had caused only a few injuries.

Before Iran's attack, Israel had landed a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-suburb-617575d9c5d7c711bc02e7b81d2ba4ad">devastating blows</a>&nbsp;in recent weeks against the leadership of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. It then ratcheted up the pressure on the militant group — which has been firing rockets into Israel since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the war in Gaza</a>&nbsp;began — by launching what it said is a limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon.

Israel has said it will continue to strike Hezbollah until it is safe for citizens displaced from homes near the Lebanon border to return. Hezbollah has vowed to keep firing rockets into Israel until there is a cease-fire in Gaza with Hamas, which is also supported by Iran.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the country’s air defenses intercepted many of the incoming missiles, though some landed in central and southern Israel.

“This strike will have consequences,” he said. He said the attack had caused only “very few” injuries, but did not elaborate.

Israel and Iran have fought a shadow war for years, but rarely have they come into direct conflict.

Israel considers Iran to be its greatest foe -- citing Iran’s repeated calls for Israel’s destruction, its support for Arab militant groups and its nuclear program. Iran denies Israeli accusations that it is developing a nuclear weapon.

Moments before Iran launched its missiles, a shooting attack in Tel Aviv left six people dead, police said, adding that the two suspects who had opened fire on a boulevard in the Jaffa neighborhood had also been killed.

In the U.S., White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called Iran’s missile attack a “significant escalation,” although he said it was ultimately “defeated and ineffective,” in part because of assistance from the U.S. military in shooting down some of the inbound missiles.

Iran launched another direct attack on Israel in April, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-ballistic-missiles-israel-retaliation-gaza-war-edccddf7a871b78cd5528e265e1e7317">few of its projectiles reached their targets</a>. Many were shot down by a U.S.-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed in flight.

Iran said it fired the missiles into Israel as retaliation for attacks that killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Iranian military. It referenced Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen. Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Beirut. It also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader in Hamas who was assassinated in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July.

Earlier on Tuesday, Israel said it had begun limited ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire pounded southern Lebanese villages, and Hezbollah responded with a barrage of rockets into Israel. There was no immediate word on casualties.

While Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, the Israeli army announced it had also carried out dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon going back nearly a year.

If true, it would be another humiliating blow for Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the Middle East. Hezbollah has been reeling from weeks of targeted strikes that killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obituary-nasrallah-lebanon-israel-2da3789a02fd4e2e88511a7f59174d19">Nasrallah</a>&nbsp;and several of his top commanders.

On Tuesday morning, Israel warned people in southern Lebanon to evacuate to the north of the Awali River, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border and much farther than the Litani River, which marks the northern edge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unsc-resolution-1701-lebanon-israel-hezbollah-addf018ee9da719329e1726f7156d456">a U.N.-declared zone</a>&nbsp;intended to serve as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah after their 2006 war.

The border region has largely emptied out over the past year as the two sides have traded fire. But the scope of the evacuation warning raised questions as to how deep Israel plans to send its forces into Lebanon.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran said it fired dozens of missiles into Israel on Tuesday, a sharp escalation of the monthslong conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militias Hezbollah and Hamas. There were no immediate reports of casualties as Israel ordered residents to head to bomb shelters and as air raid sirens sounded across the country.

A series of window-shaking explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and near Jerusalem, though it was not immediately clear whether the sounds were from missiles landing or being intercepted by Israeli defenses, or both.

Israel and the United States have warned there would be severe consequences in the event of an attack on Israel from Iran, which backs the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris monitored the attack on Israel from the White House Situation Room.

Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the country's air defense system was fully operational, detecting and intercepting threats. “However, the defense is not hermetic,” he said.

Orders to shelter in place were sent to Israelis’ mobile phones and announced on national television.

Iran took responsibility for launching dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel. The claim was made in a statement read aloud on state television.

In its statement, Iran referenced Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen. Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Beirut. It also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader in Hamas who was assassinated in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July. It warned this attack represented only a “first wave,” without elaborating.

The air raid alerts in Israel came a day after Israel said it had begun limited ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire pounded southern Lebanese villages where people were ordered to evacuate, and Hezbollah militants responded by firing a barrage of rockets into Israel. There was no immediate word on casualties as fighting intensified and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-ceasefire-talks-challenges-71b59e0db03f0014ce06d4aa21bc2907">concerns of a wider regional war</a>&nbsp;grew.

A senior White House official warned of “severe consequences” should Iran launch a ballistic missile against Israel. U.S. ships and aircraft are positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-mideast-tensions-hezbollah-lebanon-analysis-5020aeed3c88790d5483fdf40c9ba392">an attack from Iran</a>. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.

Hagari also warned of consequences if Iran fired missiles into Israel.

He urged the public to stay close to sheltered areas. “The Iranian strike could be widespread,” he said.

Iranian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel in April, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-ballistic-missiles-israel-retaliation-gaza-war-edccddf7a871b78cd5528e265e1e7317">few of its projectiles reached their targets</a>. Many were shot down by a U.S.-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed in flight.

While Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, the Israeli army announced it had also carried out dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon going back nearly a year. Israel released video footage purporting to show its soldiers operating in homes and tunnels where Hezbollah kept weapons.

If true, it would be another humiliating blow for Iran-backed Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the Middle East. Hezbollah has been reeling from weeks of targeted strikes that killed its leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obituary-nasrallah-lebanon-israel-2da3789a02fd4e2e88511a7f59174d19">Hassan Nasrallah,</a>&nbsp;and several of his top commanders.

On Tuesday morning, Israel warned people to evacuate to the north of the Awali River, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border and much farther than the Litani River, which marks the northern edge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unsc-resolution-1701-lebanon-israel-hezbollah-addf018ee9da719329e1726f7156d456">a U.N.-declared zone</a>&nbsp;intended to serve as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah after their 2006 war.

An Israeli airstrike hit a residential building near Beirut Tuesday, causing damage but with no immediate reports of casualties. The strike appeared to hit an apartment about 100 meters from the Iranian Embassy.

Anticipating more rocket attacks from Hezbollah, the Israeli army announced new restrictions on public gatherings and closed beaches in northern and central Israel. The military also said it was calling up thousands more reserve soldiers to serve on the northern border.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel warned Lebanese people to evacuate border communities Tuesday to avoid harm from limited ground operations it said were launched against Hezbollah, and said it would retaliate if Hezbollah ally Iran launched a missile attack on Israel that a senior U.S. official said could come “imminently.”

Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire pounded southern Lebanese villages where people were ordered to evacuate, and Hezbollah militants responded by firing a barrage of rockets into Israel. There was no immediate word on casualties as fighting intensified and concerns of a wider regional war grew.

A U.S. official warned of “severe consequences” should Iran launch a ballistic missile against Israel. U.S. ships and aircraft are positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of an attack from Iran, which a second official said could happen tonight. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari also warned of consequences if Iran fired missiles into Israel. Iran’s state media has not suggested an attack is imminent, and Iranian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

White House officials did not immediately offer any evidence backing the intelligence finding.

An Israeli airstrike hit a residential building near Beirut Wednesday, causing damage and blowing out windows in the area. The strike appeared to hit an apartment about 100 meters from the Iranian Embassy. There was no immediate word on casualties.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran is preparing to “imminently” launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel, according to a senior U.S. administration official, who warned Tuesday of “severe consequences” should it take place.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence, said the U.S. is actively supporting Israeli defensive preparations. This comes after the Israeli military on Tuesday warned people to evacuate nearly two dozen Lebanese border communities hours after announcing what it said were limited ground operations against Hezbollah.

White House officials did not immediately offer any evidence backing its intelligence finding. The official added that the administration was confident in the determination.

Iran’s state media has not suggested any attack is imminent. Iranian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Iran already launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel in April, but few of the Iranian projectiles reached their targets. Many were shot down by a U.S.-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed while in flight. Even those that reached Israel appeared to miss their marks, experts and an AP analysis in September showed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Tuesday statement that Israel is facing “large challenges” as it fights an Iranian axis. In the videotaped statement, he urges the public to listen to public safety guidelines from the army’s Home Front Command. He made no direct mention of a missile threat.

Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, but hours later the Israeli army announced it had also carried out dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon going back nearly a year. Israel released video footage purporting to show its soldiers operating in homes and tunnels where Hezbollah kept weapons.

U.S. ships and aircraft are already positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of an attack from Iran. There are three U.S. Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea, an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Oman and fighter jets arrayed throughout the region. All have the abilities to shoot down incoming missiles.

Israel advised people to evacuate to the north of the Awali River, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border and much farther than the Litani River, which marks the northern edge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unsc-resolution-1701-lebanon-israel-hezbollah-addf018ee9da719329e1726f7156d456">a U.N.-declared zone</a>&nbsp;that was intended to serve as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah after their 2006 war.

“You must immediately head north of the Awali River to save yourselves, and leave your houses immediately,” said the statement posted by the Israeli military on the platform X. The warning applied to communities south of the Litani.

The border region has largely emptied out over the past year as the two sides have traded fire. But the scope of the evacuation warning raised questions as to how deep Israel plans to send its forces into Lebanon as it presses ahead with a rapidly escalating campaign against Hezbollah.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel on Tuesday, the latest in a series of escalating attacks in a yearslong conflict between Israel and Iran and its Arab allies that threatens to push the Middle East closer toward a regionwide war.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PentagonPresSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PentagonPresSec</a>: The U.S. military coordinated closely with Israeli Defense Forces to help defend Israel. U.S. Navy destroyers deployed to the Middle East region supported the defense of Israel by firing approximately a dozen interceptors against the incoming Iranian missiles. <a href="https://t.co/hbE36qVR1H">pic.twitter.com/hbE36qVR1H</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841202874954440848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The orange glow of missiles streaked across Israel's night sky as air raid sirens sounded and millions of residents scrambled into bomb shelters. Israel vowed retaliation for Iran’s missile barrage, which it said had caused only a few injuries.Before Iran's attack, Israel had landed a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-airstrikes-suburb-617575d9c5d7c711bc02e7b81d2ba4ad">devastating blows</a>&nbsp;in recent weeks against the leadership of Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. It then ratcheted up the pressure on the militant group — which has been firing rockets into Israel since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the war in Gaza</a>&nbsp;began — by launching what it said is a limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">White House National Security Adviser <a href="https://twitter.com/JakeSullivan46?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JakeSullivan46</a>: &quot;Today Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles towards targets in Israel...at this time we do not know of any deaths in Israel...We do not know of any damage to aircraft or strategic military assets in Israel.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/tGhw87QvNp">pic.twitter.com/tGhw87QvNp</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1841191582583619877?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Israel has said it will continue to strike Hezbollah until it is safe for citizens displaced from homes near the Lebanon border to return. Hezbollah has vowed to keep firing rockets into Israel until there is a cease-fire in Gaza with Hamas, which is also supported by Iran.Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the country’s air defenses intercepted many of the incoming missiles, though some landed in central and southern Israel.“This strike will have consequences,” he said. He said the attack had caused only “very few” injuries, but did not elaborate.Israel and Iran have fought a shadow war for years, but rarely have they come into direct conflict.Israel considers Iran to be its greatest foe -- citing Iran’s repeated calls for Israel’s destruction, its support for Arab militant groups and its nuclear program. Iran denies Israeli accusations that it is developing a nuclear weapon.Moments before Iran launched its missiles, a shooting attack in Tel Aviv left six people dead, police said, adding that the two suspects who had opened fire on a boulevard in the Jaffa neighborhood had also been killed.In the U.S., White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called Iran’s missile attack a “significant escalation,” although he said it was ultimately “defeated and ineffective,” in part because of assistance from the U.S. military in shooting down some of the inbound missiles.Iran launched another direct attack on Israel in April, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-ballistic-missiles-israel-retaliation-gaza-war-edccddf7a871b78cd5528e265e1e7317">few of its projectiles reached their targets</a>. Many were shot down by a U.S.-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed in flight.Iran said it fired the missiles into Israel as retaliation for attacks that killed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Iranian military. It referenced Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen. Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Beirut. It also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader in Hamas who was assassinated in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July.Earlier on Tuesday, Israel said it had begun limited ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire pounded southern Lebanese villages, and Hezbollah responded with a barrage of rockets into Israel. There was no immediate word on casualties.While Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, the Israeli army announced it had also carried out dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon going back nearly a year.If true, it would be another humiliating blow for Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the Middle East. Hezbollah has been reeling from weeks of targeted strikes that killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obituary-nasrallah-lebanon-israel-2da3789a02fd4e2e88511a7f59174d19">Nasrallah</a>&nbsp;and several of his top commanders.On Tuesday morning, Israel warned people in southern Lebanon to evacuate to the north of the Awali River, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border and much farther than the Litani River, which marks the northern edge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unsc-resolution-1701-lebanon-israel-hezbollah-addf018ee9da719329e1726f7156d456">a U.N.-declared zone</a>&nbsp;intended to serve as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah after their 2006 war.The border region has largely emptied out over the past year as the two sides have traded fire. But the scope of the evacuation warning raised questions as to how deep Israel plans to send its forces into Lebanon.-------------JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran said it fired dozens of missiles into Israel on Tuesday, a sharp escalation of the monthslong conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militias Hezbollah and Hamas. There were no immediate reports of casualties as Israel ordered residents to head to bomb shelters and as air raid sirens sounded across the country.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">RAW FOOTAGE: Watch as Iranian missiles rain over the Old City in Jerusalem, a holy site for Muslims, Christians and Jews. This is the target of the Iranian regime: everyone. <a href="https://t.co/rIqUZWN3zy">pic.twitter.com/rIqUZWN3zy</a>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1841167289984397726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A series of window-shaking explosions were heard in Tel Aviv and near Jerusalem, though it was not immediately clear whether the sounds were from missiles landing or being intercepted by Israeli defenses, or both.Israel and the United States have warned there would be severe consequences in the event of an attack on Israel from Iran, which backs the militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris monitored the attack on Israel from the White House Situation Room.Israeli army spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the country's air defense system was fully operational, detecting and intercepting threats. “However, the defense is not hermetic,” he said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Approx. 10 million civilians are the targets of Iranian projectiles. <a href="https://t.co/680uDJm3CJ">pic.twitter.com/680uDJm3CJ</a>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1841159354914898024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Orders to shelter in place were sent to Israelis’ mobile phones and announced on national television.Iran took responsibility for launching dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel. The claim was made in a statement read aloud on state television.In its statement, Iran referenced Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Revolutionary Guard Gen. Abbas Nilforushan, both killed in an Israeli airstrike last week in Beirut. It also mentioned Ismail Haniyeh, a top leader in Hamas who was assassinated in Tehran in a suspected Israeli attack in July. It warned this attack represented only a “first wave,” without elaborating.The air raid alerts in Israel came a day after Israel said it had begun limited ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire pounded southern Lebanese villages where people were ordered to evacuate, and Hezbollah militants responded by firing a barrage of rockets into Israel. There was no immediate word on casualties as fighting intensified and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-ceasefire-talks-challenges-71b59e0db03f0014ce06d4aa21bc2907">concerns of a wider regional war</a>&nbsp;grew.A senior White House official warned of “severe consequences” should Iran launch a ballistic missile against Israel. U.S. ships and aircraft are positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-mideast-tensions-hezbollah-lebanon-analysis-5020aeed3c88790d5483fdf40c9ba392">an attack from Iran</a>. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.Hagari also warned of consequences if Iran fired missiles into Israel.He urged the public to stay close to sheltered areas. “The Iranian strike could be widespread,” he said.Iranian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel in April, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-ballistic-missiles-israel-retaliation-gaza-war-edccddf7a871b78cd5528e265e1e7317">few of its projectiles reached their targets</a>. Many were shot down by a U.S.-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed in flight.While Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, the Israeli army announced it had also carried out dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon going back nearly a year. Israel released video footage purporting to show its soldiers operating in homes and tunnels where Hezbollah kept weapons.If true, it would be another humiliating blow for Iran-backed Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the Middle East. Hezbollah has been reeling from weeks of targeted strikes that killed its leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obituary-nasrallah-lebanon-israel-2da3789a02fd4e2e88511a7f59174d19">Hassan Nasrallah,</a>&nbsp;and several of his top commanders.On Tuesday morning, Israel warned people to evacuate to the north of the Awali River, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border and much farther than the Litani River, which marks the northern edge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unsc-resolution-1701-lebanon-israel-hezbollah-addf018ee9da719329e1726f7156d456">a U.N.-declared zone</a>&nbsp;intended to serve as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah after their 2006 war.The border region has largely emptied out over the past year as the two sides have traded fire. But the scope of the evacuation warning raised questions as to how deep Israel plans to send its forces into Lebanon.An Israeli airstrike hit a residential building near Beirut Tuesday, causing damage but with no immediate reports of casualties. The strike appeared to hit an apartment about 100 meters from the Iranian Embassy.Anticipating more rocket attacks from Hezbollah, the Israeli army announced new restrictions on public gatherings and closed beaches in northern and central Israel. The military also said it was calling up thousands more reserve soldiers to serve on the northern border.--------------JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel warned Lebanese people to evacuate border communities Tuesday to avoid harm from limited ground operations it said were launched against Hezbollah, and said it would retaliate if Hezbollah ally Iran launched a missile attack on Israel that a senior U.S. official said could come “imminently.”Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire pounded southern Lebanese villages where people were ordered to evacuate, and Hezbollah militants responded by firing a barrage of rockets into Israel. There was no immediate word on casualties as fighting intensified and concerns of a wider regional war grew.A U.S. official warned of “severe consequences” should Iran launch a ballistic missile against Israel. U.S. ships and aircraft are positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of an attack from Iran, which a second official said could happen tonight. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari also warned of consequences if Iran fired missiles into Israel. Iran’s state media has not suggested an attack is imminent, and Iranian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.White House officials did not immediately offer any evidence backing the intelligence finding.Iran launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel in April, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-ballistic-missiles-israel-retaliation-gaza-war-edccddf7a871b78cd5528e265e1e7317">few of its projectiles reached their targets</a>. Many were shot down by a U.S.-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed in flight.While Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, the Israeli army announced it had also carried out dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon going back nearly a year. Israel released video footage purporting to show its soldiers operating in homes and tunnels where Hezbollah kept weapons.If true, it would be another humiliating blow for Iran-backed Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the Middle East. Hezbollah has been reeling from weeks of targeted strikes that killed its leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obituary-nasrallah-lebanon-israel-2da3789a02fd4e2e88511a7f59174d19">Hassan Nasrallah,</a>&nbsp;and several of his top commanders.On Tuesday morning, Israel warned people to evacuate to the north of the Awali River, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border and much farther than the Litani River, which marks the northern edge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unsc-resolution-1701-lebanon-israel-hezbollah-addf018ee9da719329e1726f7156d456">a U.N.-declared zone</a>&nbsp;intended to serve as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah after their 2006 war.The border region has largely emptied out over the past year as the two sides have traded fire. But the scope of the evacuation warning raised questions as to how deep Israel plans to send its forces into Lebanon.An Israeli airstrike hit a residential building near Beirut Wednesday, causing damage and blowing out windows in the area. The strike appeared to hit an apartment about 100 meters from the Iranian Embassy. There was no immediate word on casualties.Anticipating more rocket attacks from Hezbollah, the Israeli army announced new restrictions on public gatherings and closed beaches in northern and central Israel. The military also said it was calling up thousands more reserve soldiers to serve on the northern border.----------------JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran is preparing to “imminently” launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel, according to a senior U.S. administration official, who warned Tuesday of “severe consequences” should it take place.The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the intelligence, said the U.S. is actively supporting Israeli defensive preparations. This comes after the Israeli military on Tuesday warned people to evacuate nearly two dozen Lebanese border communities hours after announcing what it said were limited ground operations against Hezbollah.White House officials did not immediately offer any evidence backing its intelligence finding. The official added that the administration was confident in the determination.Iran’s state media has not suggested any attack is imminent. Iranian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.Iran already launched an unprecedented direct attack on Israel in April, but few of the Iranian projectiles reached their targets. Many were shot down by a U.S.-led coalition, while others apparently failed at launch or crashed while in flight. Even those that reached Israel appeared to miss their marks, experts and an AP analysis in September showed.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a Tuesday statement that Israel is facing “large challenges” as it fights an Iranian axis. In the videotaped statement, he urges the public to listen to public safety guidelines from the army’s Home Front Command. He made no direct mention of a missile threat.Hezbollah denied Israeli troops had entered Lebanon, but hours later the Israeli army announced it had also carried out dozens of ground raids into southern Lebanon going back nearly a year. Israel released video footage purporting to show its soldiers operating in homes and tunnels where Hezbollah kept weapons.If true, it would be another humiliating blow for Iran-backed Hezbollah, the most powerful armed group in the Middle East. Hezbollah has been reeling from weeks of targeted strikes that killed its leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/obituary-nasrallah-lebanon-israel-2da3789a02fd4e2e88511a7f59174d19">Hassan Nasrallah,</a>&nbsp;and several of his top commanders.U.S. ships and aircraft are already positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of an attack from Iran. There are three U.S. Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea, an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Oman and fighter jets arrayed throughout the region. All have the abilities to shoot down incoming missiles.Israel advised people to evacuate to the north of the Awali River, some 60 kilometers (36 miles) from the border and much farther than the Litani River, which marks the northern edge of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unsc-resolution-1701-lebanon-israel-hezbollah-addf018ee9da719329e1726f7156d456">a U.N.-declared zone</a>&nbsp;that was intended to serve as a buffer between Israel and Hezbollah after their 2006 war.“You must immediately head north of the Awali River to save yourselves, and leave your houses immediately,” said the statement posted by the Israeli military on the platform X. The warning applied to communities south of the Litani.The border region has largely emptied out over the past year as the two sides have traded fire. But the scope of the evacuation warning raised questions as to how deep Israel plans to send its forces into Lebanon as it presses ahead with a rapidly escalating campaign against Hezbollah.

🎥U.S. forces defend Israel as Iran launches major missile attack

LOS ANGELES (AP) — John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times" and earned an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards">Emmy</a>&nbsp;nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” has died. He was 84.

Amos’ publicist, Belinda Foster, confirmed the news of his death Tuesday. No other details were immediately available.

He played James Evans Sr. on “Good Times,” which featured one of television’s first Black two-parent families. Produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norman-lear-died-87300f0e49b54c05803ab315dfdf9933">Norman Lear</a>&nbsp;and co-created by actor Mike Evans, who co-starred on “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” it ran from 1974-79 on CBS.

“That show was the closest depiction in reality to life as an African American family living in those circumstances as it could be,” Amos told Time magazine in 2021.

His character, along with wife Florida, played by Esther Rolle, originated on another Lear show, “Maude.” James Evans often worked two manual labor jobs to support his family that included three children, with Jimmie Walker becoming a breakout star as oldest son J.J.

Such was the show's impact that Alicia Keys, Rick Ross, the Wu-Tang Clan are among the musicians who name-checked Amos or his character in their lyrics.

Amos and Rolle were eager to portray a positive image of a Black family, struggling against the odds in a public housing project in Chicago. But they grew frustrated at seeing Walker's character being made foolish and his role expanded.

“The fact is that Esther's criticism, and also that of John and others — some of it very pointed and personal — seriously damaged my appeal in the Black community,” Walker wrote in his 2012 memoir “Dyn-O-Mite! Good Times, Bad Times, Our Times."

After three seasons of critical acclaim and high ratings, Amos was fired. He had become critical of the show’s white writing staff creating storylines that he felt were inauthentic to the Black characters.

“There were several examples where I said, ‘No, you don’t do these things. It’s anathema to Black society. I’ll be the expert on that, if you don’t mind,‘” he told Time magazine. “And it got confrontational and heated enough that ultimately my being killed off the show was the best solution for everybody concerned, myself included.”

Amos' character was killed in a car accident. Walker lamented the situation. “If the decision had been up to me, I would have preferred that John stay and the show remain more of an ensemble,” he wrote in his memoir. “Nobody wanted me up front all the time, including me.”

Amos and Lear later reconciled and they shared a hug at a “Good Times” live TV reunion special in 2019.

Amos quickly bounced back, landing the role of an adult Kunta Kinte, the centerpiece of “Roots,” based on Alex Haley’s novel set during and after the era of slavery in the U.S. The miniseries was a critical and ratings blockbuster, and Amos earned one of its 37 Emmy nominations.

“I knew that it was a life-changing role for me, as an actor and just from a humanistic standpoint,” he told Time magazine. “It was the culmination of all of the misconceptions and stereotypical roles that I had lived and seen being offered to me. It was like a reward for having suffered those indignities.”

Born John Allen Amos Jr. on Dec. 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, he was the son of an auto mechanic. He graduated from Colorado State University with a sociology degree and played on the school’s football team.

Before pursuing acting, he moved to New York and was a social worker at the Vera Institute of Justice, working with defendants at the Brooklyn House of Detention.

He had a brief professional football career, playing in various minor leagues. He signed a free-agent contract in 1967 with the Kansas City Chiefs, but coach Hank Stram encouraged Amos to pursue his interest in writing instead. He had jobs as an advertising and comedy writer before moving in front of the camera.

Amos’ first major TV role was as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” from 1970-73. As the show’s only Black character, he played straight man to bombastic anchor Ted Baxter.

Among Amos’ film credits were “Let’s Do It Again” with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier, “Coming to America” with Eddie Murphy and its 2021 sequel, “Die Hard 2,” “Madea’s Witness Protection” and “Uncut Gems” with Adam Sandler. He was in Ice Cube and Dr. Dre’s 1994 video “Natural Born Killaz.”

He was a frequent guest star on “The West Wing,” and his other TV appearances included “Hunter,” “The District,” “Men in Trees,” “All About the Andersons,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “The Ranch.”

In 2020, Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. He served in the New Jersey National Guard.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727808031194.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — John Amos, who starred as the family patriarch on the hit 1970s sitcom “Good Times" and earned an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmy-awards">Emmy</a>&nbsp;nomination for his role in the seminal 1977 miniseries “Roots,” has died. He was 84.Amos’ publicist, Belinda Foster, confirmed the news of his death Tuesday. No other details were immediately available.He played James Evans Sr. on “Good Times,” which featured one of television’s first Black two-parent families. Produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norman-lear-died-87300f0e49b54c05803ab315dfdf9933">Norman Lear</a>&nbsp;and co-created by actor Mike Evans, who co-starred on “All in the Family” and “The Jeffersons,” it ran from 1974-79 on CBS.“That show was the closest depiction in reality to life as an African American family living in those circumstances as it could be,” Amos told Time magazine in 2021.His character, along with wife Florida, played by Esther Rolle, originated on another Lear show, “Maude.” James Evans often worked two manual labor jobs to support his family that included three children, with Jimmie Walker becoming a breakout star as oldest son J.J.Such was the show's impact that Alicia Keys, Rick Ross, the Wu-Tang Clan are among the musicians who name-checked Amos or his character in their lyrics.Amos and Rolle were eager to portray a positive image of a Black family, struggling against the odds in a public housing project in Chicago. But they grew frustrated at seeing Walker's character being made foolish and his role expanded.“The fact is that Esther's criticism, and also that of John and others — some of it very pointed and personal — seriously damaged my appeal in the Black community,” Walker wrote in his 2012 memoir “Dyn-O-Mite! Good Times, Bad Times, Our Times."After three seasons of critical acclaim and high ratings, Amos was fired. He had become critical of the show’s white writing staff creating storylines that he felt were inauthentic to the Black characters.“There were several examples where I said, ‘No, you don’t do these things. It’s anathema to Black society. I’ll be the expert on that, if you don’t mind,‘” he told Time magazine. “And it got confrontational and heated enough that ultimately my being killed off the show was the best solution for everybody concerned, myself included.”Amos' character was killed in a car accident. Walker lamented the situation. “If the decision had been up to me, I would have preferred that John stay and the show remain more of an ensemble,” he wrote in his memoir. “Nobody wanted me up front all the time, including me.”Amos and Lear later reconciled and they shared a hug at a “Good Times” live TV reunion special in 2019.Amos quickly bounced back, landing the role of an adult Kunta Kinte, the centerpiece of “Roots,” based on Alex Haley’s novel set during and after the era of slavery in the U.S. The miniseries was a critical and ratings blockbuster, and Amos earned one of its 37 Emmy nominations.“I knew that it was a life-changing role for me, as an actor and just from a humanistic standpoint,” he told Time magazine. “It was the culmination of all of the misconceptions and stereotypical roles that I had lived and seen being offered to me. It was like a reward for having suffered those indignities.”Born John Allen Amos Jr. on Dec. 27, 1939, in Newark, New Jersey, he was the son of an auto mechanic. He graduated from Colorado State University with a sociology degree and played on the school’s football team.Before pursuing acting, he moved to New York and was a social worker at the Vera Institute of Justice, working with defendants at the Brooklyn House of Detention.He had a brief professional football career, playing in various minor leagues. He signed a free-agent contract in 1967 with the Kansas City Chiefs, but coach Hank Stram encouraged Amos to pursue his interest in writing instead. He had jobs as an advertising and comedy writer before moving in front of the camera.Amos’ first major TV role was as Gordy Howard, the weatherman on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” from 1970-73. As the show’s only Black character, he played straight man to bombastic anchor Ted Baxter.Among Amos’ film credits were “Let’s Do It Again” with Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier, “Coming to America” with Eddie Murphy and its 2021 sequel, “Die Hard 2,” “Madea’s Witness Protection” and “Uncut Gems” with Adam Sandler. He was in Ice Cube and Dr. Dre’s 1994 video “Natural Born Killaz.”He was a frequent guest star on “The West Wing,” and his other TV appearances included “Hunter,” “The District,” “Men in Trees,” “All About the Andersons,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “The Ranch.”In 2020, Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. He served in the New Jersey National Guard.

John Amos, ‘Good Times’ star and Emmy nominee for 'Roots,' dead at 84

JOHNSON COUNTY— Law enforcement with help from the public made a burglary arrest.

Just before 2:30a.m. Sunday, a caller to&nbsp;reported to police an auto burglary in progress near Maurer Road and West 65th Street in the city of Shawnee, according to a social media report from police.

 Officers quickly arrived and found two suspects wearing masks. Officers established a perimeter and arrested one suspect near the scene. He was in possession of a credit card from a previous auto burglary. Officers later identified the second suspect. Police thanked the observant caller for quickly contacting the Shawnee Police Department and preventing additional auto burglaries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727709838524.png" alt="Photo Shawnee Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Shawnee Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY— Law enforcement with help from the public made a burglary arrest.Just before 2:30a.m. Sunday, a caller to&nbsp;reported to police an auto burglary in progress near Maurer Road and West 65th Street in the city of Shawnee, according to a social media report from police. Officers quickly arrived and found two suspects wearing masks. Officers established a perimeter and arrested one suspect near the scene. He was in possession of a credit card from a previous auto burglary. Officers later identified the second suspect. Police thanked the observant caller for quickly contacting the Shawnee Police Department and preventing additional auto burglaries.

Caller helps police catch Kansas car burglary suspect

By NATE KING Salina Post

An alleged threat involving Salina South High School was investigated by the Salina Police Department (SPD) after a social media post surfaced on Monday evening.

According to Salina Police Captain James Feldman, police were contacted around 6 p.m. on Monday by an adult woman who reported a threat about a potential school shooting had been made. The information came to light after a 17-year-old male, who is known to the adult woman, posted on Snapchat that he overheard a 15-year-old male Salina South student threatening to "shoot up" the school.

"The 17-year-old says, while he was driving out of the school parking lot, he had his windows down when he heard someone say, 'I don't like this place. I'm going to shoot it up,'" Feldman said. "He then said he was pretty sure it was this 15-year-old kid."

Although not entirely certain, the 17-year-old&nbsp; claimed to have recognized the voice as belonging to the 15-year-old.

The 17-year-old then posted a picture of the younger student on Snapchat, alleging that the 15-year-old was going to attack the school the following day. The photo shared on social media showed the 15-year-old holding a BB-gun.&nbsp;

Following the report, police located and spoke with the 15-year-old and his parents. According to Captain Feldman, the younger student denied making any threats and said that the picture used in the Snapchat post was from four years ago.&nbsp;

The 15-year-old insisted that he had no intention of harming anyone, and police found no evidence to suggest he had access to firearms.

Given the nature of the allegation, Salina Police officers were stationed at Salina South High School on Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure.

"We wanted to ensure the safety of everyone at the school," Feldman said. "We can't say whether or not a threat was actually made, but we treated it seriously, as we do with any situation like this."

At this time, no charges have been filed. SPD has not been able to definitively confirm whether a credible threat was made.

"It's a challenging situation," Feldman explained. "We don't have enough evidence to pursue charges, but we also can't dismiss the concern. Our priority is always the safety of the students and staff."

Salina South High School administration was informed of the situation around 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

By NATE KING Salina PostAn alleged threat involving Salina South High School was investigated by the Salina Police Department (SPD) after a social media post surfaced on Monday evening.According to Salina Police Captain James Feldman, police were contacted around 6 p.m. on Monday by an adult woman who reported a threat about a potential school shooting had been made. The information came to light after a 17-year-old male, who is known to the adult woman, posted on Snapchat that he overheard a 15-year-old male Salina South student threatening to "shoot up" the school."The 17-year-old says, while he was driving out of the school parking lot, he had his windows down when he heard someone say, 'I don't like this place. I'm going to shoot it up,'" Feldman said. "He then said he was pretty sure it was this 15-year-old kid."Although not entirely certain, the 17-year-old&nbsp; claimed to have recognized the voice as belonging to the 15-year-old.The 17-year-old then posted a picture of the younger student on Snapchat, alleging that the 15-year-old was going to attack the school the following day. The photo shared on social media showed the 15-year-old holding a BB-gun.&nbsp;Following the report, police located and spoke with the 15-year-old and his parents. According to Captain Feldman, the younger student denied making any threats and said that the picture used in the Snapchat post was from four years ago.&nbsp;The 15-year-old insisted that he had no intention of harming anyone, and police found no evidence to suggest he had access to firearms.Given the nature of the allegation, Salina Police officers were stationed at Salina South High School on Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure."We wanted to ensure the safety of everyone at the school," Feldman said. "We can't say whether or not a threat was actually made, but we treated it seriously, as we do with any situation like this."At this time, no charges have been filed. SPD has not been able to definitively confirm whether a credible threat was made."It's a challenging situation," Feldman explained. "We don't have enough evidence to pursue charges, but we also can't dismiss the concern. Our priority is always the safety of the students and staff."Salina South High School administration was informed of the situation around 7:30 p.m. on Monday.

Police: Kan. boy accused of social media threat of school violence

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Mail delivery has been suspended in a neighborhood in Kansas after two men assaulted a postal carrier who used pepper spray to stop large dogs from chasing him.

Residents of the 41 affected addresses in Wichita now have to pick up their mail at the nearest post office, said Paul Shade, a spokesperson and inspector for the U.S. Postal Service.

Police responded Sept. 21 to a battery call and found that the carrier had facial injuries, police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo said.

The worker was chased by two dogs while delivering mail. After using pepper spray, he rushed back to his vehicle but then was followed for blocks by two men who assaulted him, Shade said.

“Thankfully, our carrier is going to be OK,” Shade said.

Police are looking for the men, and no arrests have been made. The mail stoppage will be in place until the situation is resolved, Shade said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596998822010.png" alt="File Google image&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>File Google image&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Mail delivery has been suspended in a neighborhood in Kansas after two men assaulted a postal carrier who used pepper spray to stop large dogs from chasing him.Residents of the 41 affected addresses in Wichita now have to pick up their mail at the nearest post office, said Paul Shade, a spokesperson and inspector for the U.S. Postal Service.Police responded Sept. 21 to a battery call and found that the carrier had facial injuries, police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo said.The worker was chased by two dogs while delivering mail. After using pepper spray, he rushed back to his vehicle but then was followed for blocks by two men who assaulted him, Shade said.“Thankfully, our carrier is going to be OK,” Shade said.Police are looking for the men, and no arrests have been made. The mail stoppage will be in place until the situation is resolved, Shade said.

Mail delivery suspended in Kan. neighborhood after attack on postal carrier

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) released&nbsp; video Tuesday showing a routine interception of Two Russian Tu-95MS “Bear” Strategic Bombers by U.S. Air Force F16 Fighters on September 23.

The Russian aircraft had entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). During the encounter, the Su-35 that was escorting the Russian Bombers, began behaving eratically and nearly collided with one of the F-16s.

“The NORAD aircraft flew a safe and disciplined intercept of Russian Military Aircraft in the Alaska ADIZ.  The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d see in a professional air force," according to General Gregory Guillot,&nbsp;commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) released&nbsp; video Tuesday showing a routine interception of Two Russian Tu-95MS “Bear” Strategic Bombers by U.S. Air Force F16 Fighters on September 23.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">“On Sept 23, 2024, NORAD aircraft flew a safe and disciplined intercept of Russian Military Aircraft in the Alaska ADIZ. The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d see in a professional air force.” – Gen. Gregory Guillot <a href="https://t.co/gXZj3Ndkag">pic.twitter.com/gXZj3Ndkag</a>&mdash; North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) <a href="https://twitter.com/NORADCommand/status/1840776113846468898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Russian aircraft had entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). During the encounter, the Su-35 that was escorting the Russian Bombers, began behaving eratically and nearly collided with one of the F-16s.“The NORAD aircraft flew a safe and disciplined intercept of Russian Military Aircraft in the Alaska ADIZ. The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d see in a professional air force," according to General Gregory Guillot,&nbsp;commander of United States Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command.

🎥Russian jet comes within 50 feet of US fighter off coast of Alaska

ATLANTA (AP) — Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and Democrat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>&nbsp;will meet Tuesday in the lone vice presidential debate of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">2024 election</a>, bringing together undercards who have spent two months going after each other and the opposing nominees who top the major-party tickets.

The matchup, hosted by CBS News in New York, might not carry the same stakes as the Sept. 10 debate between former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>. But it offers their top lieutenants a fresh opportunity to introduce themselves, vouch for their bosses and fulfill a time-honored role of a running mate: attack dog. It will involve the biggest television and online audience either No. 2 will see before Election Day.

Walz, the 60-year-old Minnesota governor, and Vance, a 40-year-old U.S. senator from Ohio, have previewed potential approaches for weeks. Walz, before Harris selected him, was the Democrat who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-walz-vp-weird-trump-gen-z-f9d718890c3ca907f42dba5934075382">coined “weird”</a>&nbsp;as a go-to pejorative for the Republican ticket. Vance assails the governor's progressive record as proof Democrats are too far left for voters.

Vance has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walz-military-record-national-guard-minnesota-harris-8a74ff39f0a698247b28bf4266f20773">mocked his fellow veteran's military service record</a>. Walz hammers Vance's opposition to abortion rights and his views on family life. Both men have played up their small-town, middle-America credentials — contrasts to Trump, the billionaire native New Yorker, and Harris, the California Bay Area native.

It sets up a potentially fierce night in Manhattan. Here are the dynamics to consider as the rivals meet face-to-face for the first time:

Is it more Walz vs. Vance or Harris vs. Trump?

Running mates have a balancing act. Their primary job is to make the case for their bosses. But a vice presidential nominee's credibility and connection with the audience are important factors in reaching that goal. If a voter doesn't like the messenger, they're less likely to buy the message.

Going into the debate, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-jd-vance-tim-walz-vice-president-97a3dc3b00741b02bcea85b51e735c12">new AP-NORC poll</a>&nbsp;suggests Walz is better liked than Vance, giving the Republican perhaps a steeper challenge.

The poll found that only a quarter of registered voters have a somewhat or very favorable view of the Ohio senator, while about half have a somewhat or very unfavorable view. About a quarter don’t know enough to say. Walz is viewed positively by about 4 in 10 voters and negatively by about 3 in 10; the rest don't know enough to say.

Still, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat and the 2016 vice presidential nominee, warned participants against thinking too much about themselves.

“The only advice that matters is to protect the top of the ticket,” Kaine insisted, recalling the 2000 matchup between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joe Lieberman. “Cheney kept attacking (Al) Gore, and Lieberman, instead of defending Gore, tried to make himself likable. ... You can't leave attacks unanswered.”

Abortion rights and views on family will feature prominently

Democrats believe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-abortion-biden-election-congress-0df7d4956b4323b77139f55f7fe22a75">abortion rights and reproductive health care</a>&nbsp;will motivate their core voters and sway swing voters.

Walz has tried to capitalize already by mixing his story into the argument. The governor talks often about how he and his wife, Gwen,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walz-harris-ivf-abortion-reproductive-rights-55cb772464c99ba9c2b4c2043cb87560">required fertility treatments</a>&nbsp;to have their daughter. Democrats have excoriated Vance for his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-kamala-harris-childless-trump-0a37e991097b66c52bff5bf7ecf8de7b">2021 quip about “childless cat ladies”</a>&nbsp;shaping American life. And Walz has been eager to echo Harris' emphasis on abortion rights as an anchor of her overall campaign theme: “Freedom."

Vance and Trump, on the other hand, have struggled for a consistent message on abortion rights — a reflection of how politically fraught the issue is for Republicans since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-biden-election-2024-dobbs-498d14f6e2bbfe1f313f006ad089de4e">support for abortion access has increased</a>&nbsp;since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and end a woman's constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. Trump brags about appointing conservatives who helped strike down Roe and return abortion regulation to state governments. Many Republicans now want to go beyond state bans and place federal restrictions on the procedure, but Trump has indicated that overturning Roe is enough. He has also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-abortion-florida-six-weeks-ae0ce47cb2af82a6586fa19235ea2226">waffled on how he'll vote</a>&nbsp;on a Florida referendum that would expand abortion rights.

Vance said in August that Trump would veto a national ban if it cleared Congress. A couple of weeks later, during Trump's debate with Harris, the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-harris-contraception-debate-vance-2f11a66ab4619fcb3d9917ee51a9c060">demurred on an answer</a>, saying, “I didn't discuss it with JD.” The Harris campaign has amplified audio of Vance saying as a Senate candidate that he would like to see abortion outlawed nationwide.

Vance and Walz are competing for an advantage on the economy

Vance often offers clearer arguments than Trump about boosting American manufacturing, helping workers and punishing corporations. He regularly attacks the Biden-Harris administration over inflation. If there’s a broad topic where Vance wants to put Walz on the defensive and tether the Democratic ticket to President Joe Biden, it’s the economy.

For her part, Harris declares that “building the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency." She acknowledges many consumers' struggles even as she generally defends Biden's overall record of economic growth, low unemployment and rising wages since inheriting a COVID-19 freefall.

Both campaigns have competing suites of economic proposals, including varying tax cuts and subsidies for certain sectors. Expect the running mates to spend considerable time trying to convince the dwindling slice of persuadable voters that their ticket is more in tune with most U.S. households' day-to-day economic concerns.

The two are expected to talk up their middle-America roots

As much as the debate is about Harris and Trump, the running mates got here in no small part because of their respective biographies.

Trump's choice was a play to further cement the GOP ticket as the choice for middle America. The author of the “Hillbilly Elegy” memoir who grew up in small-town Ohio, Vance has roots to match his economic populism in ways the billionaire Trump does not.

Walz and Harris both grew up middle class, but Walz remains firmly ensconced there, going from his boyhood on a Nebraska farm to the high school classrooms of Minnesota before he ran for office. It's both a juxtaposition with and reinforcement of Harris' story as the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father.

Both men have made their families part of their political identities. Each have working spouses. Walz has two children — young adult and teenage. Vance has three young children. The Walzes and Vances are more traditional political families than those of the presidential nominees: Harris has adult stepchildren from her decade-old marriage to Doug Emhoff; Trump has five children from three marriages.

Expect both running mates, even as they try to keep the spotlight on their bosses, to highlight their own stories.

The fact-checking onus will be on the candidates

CBS announced Friday that it will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbs-debate-vice-president-fact-check-7a3b31c98ab092dd44915df57a359d10">up to the candidates</a>&nbsp;to keep each other honest at Tuesday's debate — a sticking point from earlier debates this year.

In the June debate between Trump and Biden, CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cnn-debate-biden-trump-tapper-bash-ccff5a67e0dfbbb650b78a087ce268e6">limited follow-up questions and did not fact check</a>&nbsp;either participant. In the September debate between Trump and Harris, ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-abc-muir-debate-80459d35f25c8fd3207c558bdb7e2339">interjected with matter-of-fact corrections</a>&nbsp;to some of Trump's most glaring misstatements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727715223881.png" alt="Photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Republican&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and Democrat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-walz">Tim Walz</a>&nbsp;will meet Tuesday in the lone vice presidential debate of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024">2024 election</a>, bringing together undercards who have spent two months going after each other and the opposing nominees who top the major-party tickets.The matchup, hosted by CBS News in New York, might not carry the same stakes as the Sept. 10 debate between former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>. But it offers their top lieutenants a fresh opportunity to introduce themselves, vouch for their bosses and fulfill a time-honored role of a running mate: attack dog. It will involve the biggest television and online audience either No. 2 will see before Election Day.Walz, the 60-year-old Minnesota governor, and Vance, a 40-year-old U.S. senator from Ohio, have previewed potential approaches for weeks. Walz, before Harris selected him, was the Democrat who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-walz-vp-weird-trump-gen-z-f9d718890c3ca907f42dba5934075382">coined “weird”</a>&nbsp;as a go-to pejorative for the Republican ticket. Vance assails the governor's progressive record as proof Democrats are too far left for voters.Vance has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walz-military-record-national-guard-minnesota-harris-8a74ff39f0a698247b28bf4266f20773">mocked his fellow veteran's military service record</a>. Walz hammers Vance's opposition to abortion rights and his views on family life. Both men have played up their small-town, middle-America credentials — contrasts to Trump, the billionaire native New Yorker, and Harris, the California Bay Area native.It sets up a potentially fierce night in Manhattan. Here are the dynamics to consider as the rivals meet face-to-face for the first time:<h2>Is it more Walz vs. Vance or Harris vs. Trump?</h2>Running mates have a balancing act. Their primary job is to make the case for their bosses. But a vice presidential nominee's credibility and connection with the audience are important factors in reaching that goal. If a voter doesn't like the messenger, they're less likely to buy the message.Going into the debate, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-jd-vance-tim-walz-vice-president-97a3dc3b00741b02bcea85b51e735c12">new AP-NORC poll</a>&nbsp;suggests Walz is better liked than Vance, giving the Republican perhaps a steeper challenge.The poll found that only a quarter of registered voters have a somewhat or very favorable view of the Ohio senator, while about half have a somewhat or very unfavorable view. About a quarter don’t know enough to say. Walz is viewed positively by about 4 in 10 voters and negatively by about 3 in 10; the rest don't know enough to say.Still, Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat and the 2016 vice presidential nominee, warned participants against thinking too much about themselves.“The only advice that matters is to protect the top of the ticket,” Kaine insisted, recalling the 2000 matchup between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joe Lieberman. “Cheney kept attacking (Al) Gore, and Lieberman, instead of defending Gore, tried to make himself likable. ... You can't leave attacks unanswered.”<h2>Abortion rights and views on family will feature prominently</h2>Democrats believe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-abortion-biden-election-congress-0df7d4956b4323b77139f55f7fe22a75">abortion rights and reproductive health care</a>&nbsp;will motivate their core voters and sway swing voters.Walz has tried to capitalize already by mixing his story into the argument. The governor talks often about how he and his wife, Gwen,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walz-harris-ivf-abortion-reproductive-rights-55cb772464c99ba9c2b4c2043cb87560">required fertility treatments</a>&nbsp;to have their daughter. Democrats have excoriated Vance for his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-kamala-harris-childless-trump-0a37e991097b66c52bff5bf7ecf8de7b">2021 quip about “childless cat ladies”</a>&nbsp;shaping American life. And Walz has been eager to echo Harris' emphasis on abortion rights as an anchor of her overall campaign theme: “Freedom."Vance and Trump, on the other hand, have struggled for a consistent message on abortion rights — a reflection of how politically fraught the issue is for Republicans since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-biden-election-2024-dobbs-498d14f6e2bbfe1f313f006ad089de4e">support for abortion access has increased</a>&nbsp;since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">2022 Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;and end a woman's constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. Trump brags about appointing conservatives who helped strike down Roe and return abortion regulation to state governments. Many Republicans now want to go beyond state bans and place federal restrictions on the procedure, but Trump has indicated that overturning Roe is enough. He has also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-abortion-florida-six-weeks-ae0ce47cb2af82a6586fa19235ea2226">waffled on how he'll vote</a>&nbsp;on a Florida referendum that would expand abortion rights.Vance said in August that Trump would veto a national ban if it cleared Congress. A couple of weeks later, during Trump's debate with Harris, the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-harris-contraception-debate-vance-2f11a66ab4619fcb3d9917ee51a9c060">demurred on an answer</a>, saying, “I didn't discuss it with JD.” The Harris campaign has amplified audio of Vance saying as a Senate candidate that he would like to see abortion outlawed nationwide.<h2>Vance and Walz are competing for an advantage on the economy</h2>Vance often offers clearer arguments than Trump about boosting American manufacturing, helping workers and punishing corporations. He regularly attacks the Biden-Harris administration over inflation. If there’s a broad topic where Vance wants to put Walz on the defensive and tether the Democratic ticket to President Joe Biden, it’s the economy.For her part, Harris declares that “building the middle class will be a defining goal of my presidency." She acknowledges many consumers' struggles even as she generally defends Biden's overall record of economic growth, low unemployment and rising wages since inheriting a COVID-19 freefall.Both campaigns have competing suites of economic proposals, including varying tax cuts and subsidies for certain sectors. Expect the running mates to spend considerable time trying to convince the dwindling slice of persuadable voters that their ticket is more in tune with most U.S. households' day-to-day economic concerns.<h2>The two are expected to talk up their middle-America roots</h2>As much as the debate is about Harris and Trump, the running mates got here in no small part because of their respective biographies.Trump's choice was a play to further cement the GOP ticket as the choice for middle America. The author of the “Hillbilly Elegy” memoir who grew up in small-town Ohio, Vance has roots to match his economic populism in ways the billionaire Trump does not.Walz and Harris both grew up middle class, but Walz remains firmly ensconced there, going from his boyhood on a Nebraska farm to the high school classrooms of Minnesota before he ran for office. It's both a juxtaposition with and reinforcement of Harris' story as the daughter of an Indian mother and Jamaican father.Both men have made their families part of their political identities. Each have working spouses. Walz has two children — young adult and teenage. Vance has three young children. The Walzes and Vances are more traditional political families than those of the presidential nominees: Harris has adult stepchildren from her decade-old marriage to Doug Emhoff; Trump has five children from three marriages.Expect both running mates, even as they try to keep the spotlight on their bosses, to highlight their own stories.<h2>The fact-checking onus will be on the candidates</h2>CBS announced Friday that it will be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbs-debate-vice-president-fact-check-7a3b31c98ab092dd44915df57a359d10">up to the candidates</a>&nbsp;to keep each other honest at Tuesday's debate — a sticking point from earlier debates this year.In the June debate between Trump and Biden, CNN's Jake Tapper and Dana Bash&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cnn-debate-biden-trump-tapper-bash-ccff5a67e0dfbbb650b78a087ce268e6">limited follow-up questions and did not fact check</a>&nbsp;either participant. In the September debate between Trump and Harris, ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-harris-abc-muir-debate-80459d35f25c8fd3207c558bdb7e2339">interjected with matter-of-fact corrections</a>&nbsp;to some of Trump's most glaring misstatements.___

What to watch as Walz and Vance meet for a vice presidential debate

KANSAS CITY —Authorities investigating an aggravated assault and Amazon delivery vehicle carjacking have identified the suspect as 47-year-old William Robinson, according to the Clay County Sheriff's office.

Just before 7:30 p.m. Friday, deputies heard a KCPD officer call for assistance over the radio after police had been shot at trying to stop a suspected domestic violence suspect near NE 116th Street and N. Stark Avenue. The suspect later identified as Robinson then ran from the area and carjacked an Amazon delivery van, holding the driver hostage.

Sheriff's deputies joined KCPD in pursuit of the van. After the van traveled onto southbound Interstate 35, the suspect fired at deputies and officers. Fortunately, no one was struck. Liberty Police successfully deployed Stop Sticks, forcing the van to come to a stop just north of Pleasant Valley Road. Robinson ran from the van, while the kidnapped driver exited to safety with deputies.

Deputies and KCPD officers ran after the suspect. A Clay County deputy located the suspect in the 9100 block of NE 73rd Street and took him into custody without incident and turned him over to KCPD, which is investigating the incident.

&nbsp;Robinson is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on a $5 million bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727712290511.png" alt="Photo Clay Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Clay Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities investigating an aggravated assault and Amazon delivery vehicle carjacking have identified the suspect as 47-year-old William Robinson, according to the Clay County Sheriff's office.Just before 7:30 p.m. Friday, deputies heard a KCPD officer call for assistance over the radio after police had been shot at trying to stop a suspected domestic violence suspect near NE 116th Street and N. Stark Avenue. The suspect later identified as Robinson then ran from the area and carjacked an Amazon delivery van, holding the driver hostage.Sheriff's deputies joined KCPD in pursuit of the van. After the van traveled onto southbound Interstate 35, the suspect fired at deputies and officers. Fortunately, no one was struck. Liberty Police successfully deployed Stop Sticks, forcing the van to come to a stop just north of Pleasant Valley Road. Robinson ran from the van, while the kidnapped driver exited to safety with deputies.Deputies and KCPD officers ran after the suspect. A Clay County deputy located the suspect in the 9100 block of NE 73rd Street and took him into custody without incident and turned him over to KCPD, which is investigating the incident.&nbsp;Robinson is being held in the Clay County Detention Center on a $5 million bond.

Sheriff IDs suspect who held KC area Amazon delivery driver hostage

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-retailers-ports-holiday-d926e9cfb3f10efb50af89d3c96bdc3d">could reignite inflation and cause shortages</a>&nbsp;of goods if it goes on more than a few weeks.

The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight, and even though progress was reported in talks on Monday, the workers went on strike. The strike affecting 36 ports is the first by the union since 1977.

Workers began picketing at the Port of Philadelphia shortly after midnight, walking in a circle at a rail crossing outside the port and chanting “No work without a fair contract.”

The union had message boards on the side of a truck reading: “Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands For Job Protection.”

Local ILA president Boise Butler said workers want a fair contract that doesn’t allow automation of their jobs.

Shipping companies made billions during the pandemic by charging high prices, he said. “Now we want them to pay back. They’re going to pay back,” Butler said.

He said the union will strike for as long as it needs to get a fair deal, and it has leverage over the companies.

“This is not something that you start and you stop,” he said. “We're not weak,” he added, pointing to the union's importance to the nation's economy

At Port Houston, at least 50 workers started picketing around midnight local time carrying signs saying “No Work Without a Fair Contract."

The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, said Monday evening that both sides had moved off of their previous wage offers. But no deal was reached.

The union’s opening offer in the talks was for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-pay-automation-ports-jobs-consumers-3aa66e0a05db25a49645fad404a5f000">a 77% pay raise</a>&nbsp;over the six-year life of the contract, with President Harold Daggett saying it’s necessary to make up for inflation and years of small raises. ILA members make a base salary of about $81,000 per year, but some can pull in over $200,000 annually with large amounts of overtime.

But Monday evening, the alliance said it had increased its offer to 50% raises over six years, and it pledged to keep limits on automation in place from the old contract. The union wants a complete ban on automation. It wasn’t clear just how far apart both sides are.

“We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues in an effort to reach an agreement,” the alliance statement said.

In a statement early Tuesday, the union said it rejected the alliance's latest proposal because it “fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation.” The two sides had not held formal negotiations since June.

“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve,” Daggett said in the statement. “They must now meet our demands for this strike to end.”

The alliance said its offer tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and strengthened health care options.

Supply chain experts say consumers won’t see an immediate impact from the strike because most retailers stocked up on goods, moving ahead shipments of holiday gift items.

But if it goes more than a few weeks, a work stoppage would significantly snarl the nation’s supply chain, potentially leading to higher prices and delays in goods reaching households and businesses.

If drawn out, the strike will force businesses to pay shippers for delays and cause some goods to arrive late for peak holiday shopping season — potentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-ports-pay-consumers-automation-october-77289c12bf3c3eff5e42cb6372126576">impacting delivery of anything</a>&nbsp;from toys or artificial Christmas trees to cars, coffee and fruit.

The strike will likely have an almost immediate impact on supplies of perishable imports like bananas, for example. The ports affected by the strike handle 3.8 million metric tons of bananas each year, or 75% of the nation’s supply, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

It also could snarl exports from East Coast ports and create traffic jams at ports on the West Coast, where workers are represented by a different union. Railroads say they can ramp up to carry more freight from the West Coast, but analysts say they can’t move enough to make up for the closed Eastern ports.

“If the strikes go ahead, they will cause enormous delays across the supply chain, a ripple effect which will no doubt roll into 2025 and cause chaos across the industry,” noted Jay Dhokia, founder of supply chain management and logistics firm Pro3PL.

J.P. Morgan estimated that a strike that shuts down East and Gulf coast ports could cost the economy $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion per day, with some of that recovered over time after normal operations resume.

The strike comes just weeks before the presidential election and could become a factor if there are shortages. Retailers, auto parts suppliers and produce importers had hoped for a settlement or that President Joe Biden would intervene and end the strike using the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows him to seek an 80-day cooling off period.

But during an exchange with reporters on Sunday, Biden, who has worked to court union votes for Democrats, said “no” when asked if he planned to intervene in the potential work stoppage.

A White House official said Monday that at Biden’s direction, the administration has been in regular communication with the ILA and the alliance to keep the negotiations moving forward. The president directed Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard to convene the alliance’s board members Monday afternoon and urge them to resolve the dispute fairly and quickly — in a way that accounts for the success of shipping companies in recent years and contributions of union workers.

Krisher in reported from Detroit. Associated Press journalists Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, Mae Anderson and Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York, Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit, Josh Boak in Washington, and Annie Mulligan in Houston contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727747586214.png" alt="Photo courtesy ILA" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy ILA</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas began walking picket lines early Tuesday in a strike over wages and automation that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-retailers-ports-holiday-d926e9cfb3f10efb50af89d3c96bdc3d">could reignite inflation and cause shortages</a>&nbsp;of goods if it goes on more than a few weeks.The contract between the ports and about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association expired at midnight, and even though progress was reported in talks on Monday, the workers went on strike. The strike affecting 36 ports is the first by the union since 1977.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727784742674.png" alt="Photo courtesy WBFF TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WBFF TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Workers began picketing at the Port of Philadelphia shortly after midnight, walking in a circle at a rail crossing outside the port and chanting “No work without a fair contract.”The union had message boards on the side of a truck reading: “Automation Hurts Families: ILA Stands For Job Protection.”Local ILA president Boise Butler said workers want a fair contract that doesn’t allow automation of their jobs.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727776601084.png" alt="Photo courtesy ILA" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy ILA</figcaption>
 </figure>Shipping companies made billions during the pandemic by charging high prices, he said. “Now we want them to pay back. They’re going to pay back,” Butler said.He said the union will strike for as long as it needs to get a fair deal, and it has leverage over the companies.“This is not something that you start and you stop,” he said. “We're not weak,” he added, pointing to the union's importance to the nation's economyAt Port Houston, at least 50 workers started picketing around midnight local time carrying signs saying “No Work Without a Fair Contract."The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents the ports, said Monday evening that both sides had moved off of their previous wage offers. But no deal was reached.The union’s opening offer in the talks was for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-pay-automation-ports-jobs-consumers-3aa66e0a05db25a49645fad404a5f000">a 77% pay raise</a>&nbsp;over the six-year life of the contract, with President Harold Daggett saying it’s necessary to make up for inflation and years of small raises. ILA members make a base salary of about $81,000 per year, but some can pull in over $200,000 annually with large amounts of overtime.But Monday evening, the alliance said it had increased its offer to 50% raises over six years, and it pledged to keep limits on automation in place from the old contract. The union wants a complete ban on automation. It wasn’t clear just how far apart both sides are.“We are hopeful that this could allow us to fully resume collective bargaining around the other outstanding issues in an effort to reach an agreement,” the alliance statement said.In a statement early Tuesday, the union said it rejected the alliance's latest proposal because it “fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation.” The two sides had not held formal negotiations since June.“We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve,” Daggett said in the statement. “They must now meet our demands for this strike to end.”The alliance said its offer tripled employer contributions to retirement plans and strengthened health care options.Supply chain experts say consumers won’t see an immediate impact from the strike because most retailers stocked up on goods, moving ahead shipments of holiday gift items.But if it goes more than a few weeks, a work stoppage would significantly snarl the nation’s supply chain, potentially leading to higher prices and delays in goods reaching households and businesses.If drawn out, the strike will force businesses to pay shippers for delays and cause some goods to arrive late for peak holiday shopping season — potentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/longshoremen-strike-ports-pay-consumers-automation-october-77289c12bf3c3eff5e42cb6372126576">impacting delivery of anything</a>&nbsp;from toys or artificial Christmas trees to cars, coffee and fruit.The strike will likely have an almost immediate impact on supplies of perishable imports like bananas, for example. The ports affected by the strike handle 3.8 million metric tons of bananas each year, or 75% of the nation’s supply, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.It also could snarl exports from East Coast ports and create traffic jams at ports on the West Coast, where workers are represented by a different union. Railroads say they can ramp up to carry more freight from the West Coast, but analysts say they can’t move enough to make up for the closed Eastern ports.“If the strikes go ahead, they will cause enormous delays across the supply chain, a ripple effect which will no doubt roll into 2025 and cause chaos across the industry,” noted Jay Dhokia, founder of supply chain management and logistics firm Pro3PL.J.P. Morgan estimated that a strike that shuts down East and Gulf coast ports could cost the economy $3.8 billion to $4.5 billion per day, with some of that recovered over time after normal operations resume.The strike comes just weeks before the presidential election and could become a factor if there are shortages. Retailers, auto parts suppliers and produce importers had hoped for a settlement or that President Joe Biden would intervene and end the strike using the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows him to seek an 80-day cooling off period.But during an exchange with reporters on Sunday, Biden, who has worked to court union votes for Democrats, said “no” when asked if he planned to intervene in the potential work stoppage.A White House official said Monday that at Biden’s direction, the administration has been in regular communication with the ILA and the alliance to keep the negotiations moving forward. The president directed Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and National Economic Council Director Lael Brainard to convene the alliance’s board members Monday afternoon and urge them to resolve the dispute fairly and quickly — in a way that accounts for the success of shipping companies in recent years and contributions of union workers.___Krisher in reported from Detroit. Associated Press journalists Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, Mae Anderson and Wyatte Grantham-Philips in New York, Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit, Josh Boak in Washington, and Annie Mulligan in Houston contributed to this report.