MARION COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 10p.m. Saturday in Marion County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Toyota Camry driven by Alicia D.&nbsp;Warwick, 38, Peabody, was northbound on Kansas 15 at U.S. 56 seven miles west of Hillsboro. 

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign and the car struck the trailer of an eastbound 2021 Freightliner semi driven by Alfred S. Johnson, 34, Hockley, Texas.

Warwick was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Jost Funeral Home. EMS transported two passengers in the car 14-year-old Jason Ortiz and 14-year-old Gabe Glenn to Wesley Medical Center. The KHP did not report the hometowns of the teens.&nbsp; Johnson was not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MARION COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 10p.m. Saturday in Marion County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Toyota Camry driven by Alicia D.&nbsp;Warwick, 38, Peabody, was northbound on Kansas 15 at U.S. 56 seven miles west of Hillsboro. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign and the car struck the trailer of an eastbound 2021 Freightliner semi driven by Alfred S. Johnson, 34, Hockley, Texas.Warwick was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Jost Funeral Home. EMS transported two passengers in the car 14-year-old Jason Ortiz and 14-year-old Gabe Glenn to Wesley Medical Center. The KHP did not report the hometowns of the teens.&nbsp; Johnson was not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. woman dead, 2 boys hospitalized after car strikes semi's trailer

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a Kansas bank robbery have made an arrest.

Just after 4 p.m. Wednesday police responded to reports of a robbery at Equity Bank, 7701 E. Kellogg in Wichita.

Employees reported that a man entered the bank and presented a note to a teller demanding money, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. The suspect, described as a white male wearing glasses, a black hoodie, black sweatpants and gloves, according to the FBI ran from the bank with an undetermined amount of cash.

On Thursday, the Wichita Patrol East Community Policing Team, assisting the Robbery Section, located a vehicle connected to the suspect. During a traffic stop, robbery detectives and FBI agents gathered critical information about the suspect’s location.

The Property Crimes Reduction Team was contacted for assistance and, with support from the Vice Unit, identified the suspect in Derby. Detectives observed the individual walking away from a location and directed marked units to his position. The suspect identified according to Sedgwick County booking&nbsp; records as 54-year-old Craig Duane Drees was taken into custody without incident.

Following extensive follow-up and collaboration across multiple Wichita Police sections and bureaus, Drees&nbsp; booked into jail on requested charges that include on count of robbery of a financial institution.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734121631432.png" alt="Drees photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Drees photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a Kansas bank robbery have made an arrest.Just after 4 p.m. Wednesday police responded to reports of a robbery at Equity Bank, 7701 E. Kellogg in Wichita.Employees reported that a man entered the bank and presented a note to a teller demanding money, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo. The suspect, described as a white male wearing glasses, a black hoodie, black sweatpants and gloves, according to the FBI ran from the bank with an undetermined amount of cash.On Thursday, the Wichita Patrol East Community Policing Team, assisting the Robbery Section, located a vehicle connected to the suspect. During a traffic stop, robbery detectives and FBI agents gathered critical information about the suspect’s location.The Property Crimes Reduction Team was contacted for assistance and, with support from the Vice Unit, identified the suspect in Derby. Detectives observed the individual walking away from a location and directed marked units to his position. The suspect identified according to Sedgwick County booking&nbsp; records as 54-year-old Craig Duane Drees was taken into custody without incident.Following extensive follow-up and collaboration across multiple Wichita Police sections and bureaus, Drees&nbsp; booked into jail on requested charges that include on count of robbery of a financial institution.

Police track down Kansas bank robbery suspect

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President-elect Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;huddled with allies and a Republican cause célèbre at Saturday's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-navy-preview-bryson-daily-fdf749eac409eac5293288ccd044c2fc">Army-Navy football game,</a>&nbsp;taking in one of the most storied rivalries in college sports while spotlighting his emerging national security team.

Trump was joined by Vice President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pete-hegseth-defense-pentagon-transition-74d056e44c3cd14a1a9ae97704cda53e">embattled Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth</a>, potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">backup defense secretary option</a>&nbsp;Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and others to watch Navy beat Army 31-13 in the 125th matchup between the service academies.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daniel-perry-chokehold-vance-army-navy-227774aa980f18ee1c9647492e1dcfbe">Daniel Penny</a>, a military veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide this past week in the chokehold death of an agitated subway rider in New York, also was a guest in the president's suite. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of trying to “ruin" Penny's life by charging the Marine veteran in the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-neely-daniel-penny-subway-chokehold-funeral-1bc99d85bc399c4e22a07039876a24d4">Jordan Neely</a>&nbsp;in 2023.

Trump arrived at Northwest Stadium just before kickoff and was greeted warmly by the crowd, which erupted in cheers when the president-elect, Vance and Elon Musk, who Trump has appointed to help lead a proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-president-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-2f0f76bb6440231f2504b77cb117d988">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, appeared on the scoreboard video screen.

The president, who was seated with his entourage in a stadium suite, mouthed “thank you” and the crowd erupted in a chant of “USA, USA!”

Trump, who attended Army-Navy games as president-elect in 2016 and during his first term, has been making an increasing number of public appearances before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. He was accompanied by his family and Vance on Thursday as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stock-exchange-time-nyse-bell-ringing-91a59ff0f4ce77c0c6f87e55a38c6c75">rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange</a>&nbsp;after being recognized as Time magazine's person of the year.

Trump spent the weeks after the Nov. 5 election holed up at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida assembling a team to help lead his next administration.

He and his aides have become bullish about Hegseth's chances of winning Senate confirmation. The Army combat veteran and former Fox News host's chances of becoming defense secretary had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pete-hegseth-defense-pentagon-transition-74d056e44c3cd14a1a9ae97704cda53e">appeared in peril</a>&nbsp;amid allegations of excessive drinking,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-sexual-assault-13540626e4b0b1399a0ecab5a592f515">sexual assault</a>&nbsp;and his views on women in combat.

DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer who competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">possible replacement candidates</a>&nbsp;Trump has considered if Hegseth's bid fizzles.

But Saturday's game offered Trump a chance to display his commitment to Hegseth's nomination. The embattled nominee even stood with Trump and Vance for the playing of the national anthem.

The mood appeared celebratory for Trump and his team on Saturday.

Hegseth along with fellow Army veterans Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump's incoming national security adviser, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to serve as director of national intelligence, posted a short video on X shortly before the game to make their allegiances clear.

“We love our Navy, except today” said Waltz, a retired Army National Guard colonel who did multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa.

Trump also spent time during the game with Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose future could be on shaky ground in the new Trump administration.

Biden last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cq-brown-jr-air-force-1e348527cc3c95f66eb3cd6ebaa0e6f0">tapped Brown</a>&nbsp;for a four-year term as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, but military leaders serve at the pleasure of the president.

Brown, a combat pilot and just the second Black officer to serve as chairman, spoke out after the police killing of George Floyd, a touchstone moment in the Black Lives Matter movement, about the bias he faced in his own life and career.

But Trump has expressed disdain for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-higher-education-597b65d8f06062cff60b2e185281870a">equity and diversity programs</a>. And his defense secretary pick Hegseth has decried a “woke” agenda that he argues is undermining U.S. military strength. Hegseth, days before he was announced as Trump's Pentagon nominee, called for firing Brown and generals that have promoted diversity policies in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL.

Trump also made time for Republican lawmakers that he'll need to get his agenda through Congress.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was among the lawmakers that chatted up Trump at the game. He brought with him a contingent of other GOP lawmakers, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Pennsylvania Sen.-elect David McCormick, that vied for face time with the incoming president weeks before Republicans take control of the White House and both branches of Congress.

Johnson, who could be seen talking with the president-elect before kickoff, had said he would discuss with Trump plans for a legislative package that could move through Congress next year with a simple majority in the face of expected Democratic opposition.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daniel-perry-chokehold-vance-army-navy-227774aa980f18ee1c9647492e1dcfbe">Vance brought Penny,</a>&nbsp;a fellow Marine veteran, as his guest. Penny was cleared of criminally negligent homicide in Neely's death after a judge had dismissed a more serious manslaughter charge last week because the jury deadlocked on that count.

The case was a flashpoint in the long-standing debates over racial justice and as well as failures by New York City to address homelessness and mental illness, both of which Neely had struggled with.

“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance said in a post on X on Friday. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”

Madhani reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734224270414.jpeg" alt="Photo by Dan Scavino, Jr.&nbsp;Incoming Assistant to POTUS and Deputy Chief of Staff" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Dan Scavino, Jr.&nbsp;Incoming Assistant to POTUS and Deputy Chief of Staff</figcaption>
 </figure>LANDOVER, Md. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President-elect Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;huddled with allies and a Republican cause célèbre at Saturday's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-navy-preview-bryson-daily-fdf749eac409eac5293288ccd044c2fc">Army-Navy football game,</a>&nbsp;taking in one of the most storied rivalries in college sports while spotlighting his emerging national security team.Trump was joined by Vice President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pete-hegseth-defense-pentagon-transition-74d056e44c3cd14a1a9ae97704cda53e">embattled Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth</a>, potential&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">backup defense secretary option</a>&nbsp;Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and others to watch Navy beat Army 31-13 in the 125th matchup between the service academies.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump and VP-elect JD Vance at Army-Navy game. <a href="https://t.co/7wMh4VVCTg">pic.twitter.com/7wMh4VVCTg</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1868061574046666795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/daniel-perry-chokehold-vance-army-navy-227774aa980f18ee1c9647492e1dcfbe">Daniel Penny</a>, a military veteran who was acquitted of criminally negligent homicide this past week in the chokehold death of an agitated subway rider in New York, also was a guest in the president's suite. Penny was invited by Vance, who accused prosecutors of trying to “ruin" Penny's life by charging the Marine veteran in the death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jordan-neely-daniel-penny-subway-chokehold-funeral-1bc99d85bc399c4e22a07039876a24d4">Jordan Neely</a>&nbsp;in 2023.Trump arrived at Northwest Stadium just before kickoff and was greeted warmly by the crowd, which erupted in cheers when the president-elect, Vance and Elon Musk, who Trump has appointed to help lead a proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-president-elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-2f0f76bb6440231f2504b77cb117d988">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, appeared on the scoreboard video screen.The president, who was seated with his entourage in a stadium suite, mouthed “thank you” and the crowd erupted in a chant of “USA, USA!”Trump, who attended Army-Navy games as president-elect in 2016 and during his first term, has been making an increasing number of public appearances before his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025. He was accompanied by his family and Vance on Thursday as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-stock-exchange-time-nyse-bell-ringing-91a59ff0f4ce77c0c6f87e55a38c6c75">rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange</a>&nbsp;after being recognized as Time magazine's person of the year.Trump spent the weeks after the Nov. 5 election holed up at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida assembling a team to help lead his next administration.He and his aides have become bullish about Hegseth's chances of winning Senate confirmation. The Army combat veteran and former Fox News host's chances of becoming defense secretary had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pete-hegseth-defense-pentagon-transition-74d056e44c3cd14a1a9ae97704cda53e">appeared in peril</a>&nbsp;amid allegations of excessive drinking,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-sexual-assault-13540626e4b0b1399a0ecab5a592f515">sexual assault</a>&nbsp;and his views on women in combat.DeSantis, a former Navy lawyer who competed against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, is among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-desantis-senate-allegations-3cb8c7d7bb555ed075cbbb4e8dad0741">possible replacement candidates</a>&nbsp;Trump has considered if Hegseth's bid fizzles.But Saturday's game offered Trump a chance to display his commitment to Hegseth's nomination. The embattled nominee even stood with Trump and Vance for the playing of the national anthem.The mood appeared celebratory for Trump and his team on Saturday.Hegseth along with fellow Army veterans Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump's incoming national security adviser, and Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick to serve as director of national intelligence, posted a short video on X shortly before the game to make their allegiances clear.“We love our Navy, except today” said Waltz, a retired Army National Guard colonel who did multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, the Middle East and Africa.“Go Army!" Gabbard added.Trump also spent time during the game with Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, whose future could be on shaky ground in the new Trump administration.Biden last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cq-brown-jr-air-force-1e348527cc3c95f66eb3cd6ebaa0e6f0">tapped Brown</a>&nbsp;for a four-year term as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer, but military leaders serve at the pleasure of the president.Brown, a combat pilot and just the second Black officer to serve as chairman, spoke out after the police killing of George Floyd, a touchstone moment in the Black Lives Matter movement, about the bias he faced in his own life and career.But Trump has expressed disdain for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/diversity-equity-inclusion-higher-education-597b65d8f06062cff60b2e185281870a">equity and diversity programs</a>. And his defense secretary pick Hegseth has decried a “woke” agenda that he argues is undermining U.S. military strength. Hegseth, days before he was announced as Trump's Pentagon nominee, called for firing Brown and generals that have promoted diversity policies in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL.Trump also made time for Republican lawmakers that he'll need to get his agenda through Congress.House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., was among the lawmakers that chatted up Trump at the game. He brought with him a contingent of other GOP lawmakers, incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Pennsylvania Sen.-elect David McCormick, that vied for face time with the incoming president weeks before Republicans take control of the White House and both branches of Congress.Johnson, who could be seen talking with the president-elect before kickoff, had said he would discuss with Trump plans for a legislative package that could move through Congress next year with a simple majority in the face of expected Democratic opposition.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daniel-perry-chokehold-vance-army-navy-227774aa980f18ee1c9647492e1dcfbe">Vance brought Penny,</a>&nbsp;a fellow Marine veteran, as his guest. Penny was cleared of criminally negligent homicide in Neely's death after a judge had dismissed a more serious manslaughter charge last week because the jury deadlocked on that count.The case was a flashpoint in the long-standing debates over racial justice and as well as failures by New York City to address homelessness and mental illness, both of which Neely had struggled with.“Daniel’s a good guy, and New York’s mob district attorney tried to ruin his life for having a backbone,” Vance said in a post on X on Friday. “I’m grateful he accepted my invitation and hope he’s able to have fun and appreciate how much his fellow citizens admire his courage.”___Madhani reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writer Farnoush Amiri contributed to this report.

🎥Trump gets warm welcome at Army-Navy game alongside key allies and Daniel Penny

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after&nbsp;2 a.m. December 11, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Toyota Corolla for a traffic infraction on 150th near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver, Gilbert Benjamin Kent, 38, of Topeka, was arrested after a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 indicated to the presence of illegal narcotics within the vehicle. 

Kent was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of no driver’s license and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733947797324.png" alt="Kent -photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Kent -photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after&nbsp;2 a.m. December 11, a sheriff's deputy stopped a Toyota Corolla for a traffic infraction on 150th near Mayetta, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver, Gilbert Benjamin Kent, 38, of Topeka, was arrested after a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 indicated to the presence of illegal narcotics within the vehicle. Kent was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of no driver’s license and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Kansas sheriff's K9 found illegal drugs during traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nancy-pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a>&nbsp;had hip replacement surgery Saturday at a U.S. military hospital in Germany after falling while at an event in Luxembourg with other members of Congress.

Pelosi, 84, “is well on the mend,” said Ian Krager, a spokesman for the California Democrat, in a statement.

Pelosi thanked the staff at&nbsp;<a href="https://landstuhl.tricare.mil/">Landstuhl Regional Medical Center</a>&nbsp;and the hospital in Luxembourg, where she was also treated, for “their excellent care and kindness.”

She was in Europe with a bipartisan congressional delegation to mark the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-us-wwii-battle-of-bulge-6b4d87e4f7b79614e4f8ccb343c81c47">80th anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the Battle of the Bulge in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/world-war-ii">World War II</a>.

Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event and fractured her hip, according to people familiar with her injury who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Among those on the trip was Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-mccaul">Michael McCaul</a>, R-Texas, who posted on social media Friday that he was “praying for a speedy recovery,” for Pelosi. The two lawmakers were captured holding hands in a group photo that day at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg.

Pelosi was first elected in 1987. She served as speaker twice,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-pelosi-house-future-plans-updates-3839ff31c605efa0ec1ee4ff004b72d2">stepped down</a>&nbsp;from her leadership post two years ago but remained in Congress and was reelected to represent her San Francisco district in November.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nancy-pelosi">Nancy Pelosi</a>&nbsp;had hip replacement surgery Saturday at a U.S. military hospital in Germany after falling while at an event in Luxembourg with other members of Congress.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nasa</a> Bill Nelson and Members of Congress to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg and Belgium. The sacrifices of brave <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWII?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWII</a> soldiers echo from the past, reminding us that each generation must continue the fight for freedom and… <a href="https://t.co/ae50RVceWL">pic.twitter.com/ae50RVceWL</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Luxembourg (@USEmbLuxembourg) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbLuxembourg/status/1867570544675090828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Pelosi, 84, “is well on the mend,” said Ian Krager, a spokesman for the California Democrat, in a statement.Pelosi thanked the staff at&nbsp;<a href="https://landstuhl.tricare.mil/">Landstuhl Regional Medical Center</a>&nbsp;and the hospital in Luxembourg, where she was also treated, for “their excellent care and kindness.”She was in Europe with a bipartisan congressional delegation to mark the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-us-wwii-battle-of-bulge-6b4d87e4f7b79614e4f8ccb343c81c47">80th anniversary</a>&nbsp;of the Battle of the Bulge in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/world-war-ii">World War II</a>.Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event and fractured her hip, according to people familiar with her injury who were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.Among those on the trip was Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-mccaul">Michael McCaul</a>, R-Texas, who posted on social media Friday that he was “praying for a speedy recovery,” for Pelosi. The two lawmakers were captured holding hands in a group photo that day at the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg.Pelosi was first elected in 1987. She served as speaker twice,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-pelosi-house-future-plans-updates-3839ff31c605efa0ec1ee4ff004b72d2">stepped down</a>&nbsp;from her leadership post two years ago but remained in Congress and was reelected to represent her San Francisco district in November.___

Pelosi has hip surgery at US military hospital in Germany after fall

WASHINGTON (AP) —A federal appeals court on Friday left in place a mid-January deadline in a federal law requiring TikTok to be sold or face a ban in the United States, rejecting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-injunction-supreme-court-e94a12db2ac44b40736a8c02a7233042">a request made by the company</a>&nbsp;to halt enforcement until the Supreme Court reviews its challenge of the statute.

Attorneys for TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court.

It’s unclear if the nation's highest court will take up the case, though some legal experts have said they expect the justices to weigh in due to the types of novel questions it raises about social media, national security and the First Amendment. TikTok is also looking for a potential lifeline from President-elect Donald Trump, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-congress-president-282d8df7b91dce270316509badd39978">promised to “save” the short-form video platform</a>&nbsp;during the presidential campaign.

Attorneys for TikTok and ByteDance had requested the injunction after a panel of three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-court-ruling-china-6bfd505295ad44126df0544fc083d6a6">sided with the U.S. government</a>&nbsp;and rejected their challenge to the law.

The court rejected that request on Friday, calling it “unwarranted."

“The petitioners have not identified any case in which a court, after rejecting a constitutional challenge to an Act of Congress, has enjoined the Act from going into effect while review is sought in the Supreme Court,” said the court's order, which was unsigned.

The statute, which was signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year, requires ByteDance to sell TikTok to an approved buyer due to national security concerns or face a ban in the U.S.

The U.S. has said it sees TikTok as a national security risk because ByteDance could be coerced by Chinese authorities to hand over U.S. user data or manipulate content on the platform for Beijing’s interests. TikTok has denied those claims and has argued that the government’s case rests on hypothetical future risks instead of proven facts.

In the request filed this week, attorneys for TikTok and ByteDance had asked for a “modest delay” in enforcement of the law so that the Supreme Court could review the case and the incoming Trump administration could “determine its position” on the matter.

If the law is not overturned, the two companies have said that the popular app will shut down by Jan. 19, just a day before Trump takes office again. More than 170 million American users would be affected, the companies have said.

The Justice Department had opposed TikTok’s request for a pause, saying in a court filing this week that the parties had already proposed a schedule that was “designed for the precise purpose” of allowing Supreme Court review of the law before it took effect.

The appeals court issued its Dec. 6 ruling on the matter in line with that schedule, the Justice Department filing said.

WASHINGTON (AP) —A federal appeals court on Friday left in place a mid-January deadline in a federal law requiring TikTok to be sold or face a ban in the United States, rejecting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-injunction-supreme-court-e94a12db2ac44b40736a8c02a7233042">a request made by the company</a>&nbsp;to halt enforcement until the Supreme Court reviews its challenge of the statute.Attorneys for TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court.It’s unclear if the nation's highest court will take up the case, though some legal experts have said they expect the justices to weigh in due to the types of novel questions it raises about social media, national security and the First Amendment. TikTok is also looking for a potential lifeline from President-elect Donald Trump, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-congress-president-282d8df7b91dce270316509badd39978">promised to “save” the short-form video platform</a>&nbsp;during the presidential campaign.Attorneys for TikTok and ByteDance had requested the injunction after a panel of three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-court-ruling-china-6bfd505295ad44126df0544fc083d6a6">sided with the U.S. government</a>&nbsp;and rejected their challenge to the law.The court rejected that request on Friday, calling it “unwarranted."“The petitioners have not identified any case in which a court, after rejecting a constitutional challenge to an Act of Congress, has enjoined the Act from going into effect while review is sought in the Supreme Court,” said the court's order, which was unsigned.The statute, which was signed by President Joe Biden earlier this year, requires ByteDance to sell TikTok to an approved buyer due to national security concerns or face a ban in the U.S.The U.S. has said it sees TikTok as a national security risk because ByteDance could be coerced by Chinese authorities to hand over U.S. user data or manipulate content on the platform for Beijing’s interests. TikTok has denied those claims and has argued that the government’s case rests on hypothetical future risks instead of proven facts.In the request filed this week, attorneys for TikTok and ByteDance had asked for a “modest delay” in enforcement of the law so that the Supreme Court could review the case and the incoming Trump administration could “determine its position” on the matter.If the law is not overturned, the two companies have said that the popular app will shut down by Jan. 19, just a day before Trump takes office again. More than 170 million American users would be affected, the companies have said.The Justice Department had opposed TikTok’s request for a pause, saying in a court filing this week that the parties had already proposed a schedule that was “designed for the precise purpose” of allowing Supreme Court review of the law before it took effect.The appeals court issued its Dec. 6 ruling on the matter in line with that schedule, the Justice Department filing said.

Court denies TikTok's request to halt enforcement of potential US ban

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Topeka have released the name of the victim as 45-year-old David Bentley, according to police spokesperson Rosie Nichols

Just before&nbsp;11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Police responded to the 2000 Block of SW Stone for a check welfare on an individual. 

First responders found Bentley suffering from a gun shot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel.

Police have not reported an arrest or released possible suspect information.&nbsp;This is Topeka’s 21st homicide of the year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734198190950.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Topeka have released the name of the victim as 45-year-old David Bentley, according to police spokesperson Rosie NicholsJust before&nbsp;11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Police responded to the 2000 Block of SW Stone for a check welfare on an individual. First responders found Bentley suffering from a gun shot wound. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical personnel.Police have not reported an arrest or released possible suspect information.&nbsp;This is Topeka’s 21st homicide of the year.

Police ID 45-year-old Kansas homicide victim

WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes since the nation's tax collector received a massive glut of funding through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economic-bill-house-vote-be99d8db5bd610c5b1d78bc047a03e77">Democrats' flagship tax, climate and health law</a>&nbsp;in 2022.

The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats.

IRS leadership, meanwhile, is hoping to justify saving the funding the agency already has.

On a call with reporters to preview the announcement, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency during his term will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Republicans plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2d9e099660064f2b8a8fc2237b4e7e4e">GOP tax cuts</a>, a signature domestic achievement of Trump’s first term and an issue that may define his return to the White House.

“We know there are serious discussions about a major tax bill coming out of the next Congress," Werfel said, "and with the improvements we've made since I've been here, I'm quite confident the IRS will be well positioned to deliver on whatever new tax law that Congress passes.”

Tax collections announced Thursday include $1.3 billion from high-income taxpayers who did not pay overdue tax debts, $2.9 billion related to IRS Criminal Investigation work into crimes like drug trafficking and terrorist financing, and $475 million in proceeds from criminal and civil cases that came from to whistleblower information.

The IRS also announced Thursday that it has collected $292 million from more than 28,000 high-income non-filers who have not filed taxes since 2017, an increase of $120 million since September.

Despite its gains, the future of the agency's funding is in limbo.

The IRS originally received an $80 billion infusion of funds under the Inflation Reduction Act though the 2023 debt ceiling and budget-cuts deal between Republicans and the White House resulted in $1.4 billion rescinded from the agency and a separate agreement to take $20 billion from the IRS over the next two years and divert those funds to other nondefense programs.

In November, U.S. Treasury officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-treasury-trump-funding-congress-be9ff95d284e127c7ba1ac44c769eefa">called on Congress to unlock $20 billion</a>&nbsp;in IRS enforcement money that is tied up in legislative language that has effectively rendered the money frozen.

The $20 billion in question is separate from another $20 billion rescinded from the agency last year. However, the legislative mechanism keeping the government afloat inadvertently duplicated the one-time cut.

Treasury officials warn of dire consequences if the funding is effectively rescinded through inaction.

Trump last week announced plans to nominate former Missouri congressman Billy Long, who worked as an auctioneer before serving six terms in the House of Representatives, to serve as the next commissioner of the IRS. Democrats like Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have called Long's nomination “a bizarre choice” since Long “jumped into the scam-plagued industry involving the Employee Retention Tax Credit.”

Trump said on his social media site that “Taxpayers and the wonderful employees of the IRS will love having Billy at the helm.”

Werfel's term is set to end in 2027, and he has not indicated whether he plans to step down from his role before Trump's inauguration. Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/7803">permitted to fire Werfel</a>&nbsp;under the law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690229574211.png" alt="File Photo AP" />
 <figcaption>File Photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes since the nation's tax collector received a massive glut of funding through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economic-bill-house-vote-be99d8db5bd610c5b1d78bc047a03e77">Democrats' flagship tax, climate and health law</a>&nbsp;in 2022.The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats.IRS leadership, meanwhile, is hoping to justify saving the funding the agency already has.On a call with reporters to preview the announcement, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency during his term will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.Republicans plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2d9e099660064f2b8a8fc2237b4e7e4e">GOP tax cuts</a>, a signature domestic achievement of Trump’s first term and an issue that may define his return to the White House.“We know there are serious discussions about a major tax bill coming out of the next Congress," Werfel said, "and with the improvements we've made since I've been here, I'm quite confident the IRS will be well positioned to deliver on whatever new tax law that Congress passes.”Tax collections announced Thursday include $1.3 billion from high-income taxpayers who did not pay overdue tax debts, $2.9 billion related to IRS Criminal Investigation work into crimes like drug trafficking and terrorist financing, and $475 million in proceeds from criminal and civil cases that came from to whistleblower information.The IRS also announced Thursday that it has collected $292 million from more than 28,000 high-income non-filers who have not filed taxes since 2017, an increase of $120 million since September.Despite its gains, the future of the agency's funding is in limbo.The IRS originally received an $80 billion infusion of funds under the Inflation Reduction Act though the 2023 debt ceiling and budget-cuts deal between Republicans and the White House resulted in $1.4 billion rescinded from the agency and a separate agreement to take $20 billion from the IRS over the next two years and divert those funds to other nondefense programs.In November, U.S. Treasury officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-treasury-trump-funding-congress-be9ff95d284e127c7ba1ac44c769eefa">called on Congress to unlock $20 billion</a>&nbsp;in IRS enforcement money that is tied up in legislative language that has effectively rendered the money frozen.The $20 billion in question is separate from another $20 billion rescinded from the agency last year. However, the legislative mechanism keeping the government afloat inadvertently duplicated the one-time cut.Treasury officials warn of dire consequences if the funding is effectively rescinded through inaction.Trump last week announced plans to nominate former Missouri congressman Billy Long, who worked as an auctioneer before serving six terms in the House of Representatives, to serve as the next commissioner of the IRS. Democrats like Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have called Long's nomination “a bizarre choice” since Long “jumped into the scam-plagued industry involving the Employee Retention Tax Credit.”Trump said on his social media site that “Taxpayers and the wonderful employees of the IRS will love having Billy at the helm.”Werfel's term is set to end in 2027, and he has not indicated whether he plans to step down from his role before Trump's inauguration. Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/7803">permitted to fire Werfel</a>&nbsp;under the law.

IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts from Trump and GOP 

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after the chase of a stolen car suspect.

Just after 5a.m. December 8, police located a stolen vehicle that had been seen traveling in and out of several apartment complexes and neighborhoods in Lenexa and Shawnee, according to a social media report from Shawnee Police.

Officers with the Lenexa Police Department deployed stop sticks on the vehicle. The suspect continued driving into Shawnee, where the vehicle eventually came to a stop. 

A Shawnee officer then pursued the suspect on foot and safely took him into custody. Thanks to outstanding teamwork, neighboring agencies worked seamlessly to ensure a successful outcome.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734018420845.png" alt="Photo Shawnee Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Shawnee Police</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after the chase of a stolen car suspect.Just after 5a.m. December 8, police located a stolen vehicle that had been seen traveling in and out of several apartment complexes and neighborhoods in Lenexa and Shawnee, according to a social media report from Shawnee Police.Officers with the Lenexa Police Department deployed stop sticks on the vehicle. The suspect continued driving into Shawnee, where the vehicle eventually came to a stop. A Shawnee officer then pursued the suspect on foot and safely took him into custody. Thanks to outstanding teamwork, neighboring agencies worked seamlessly to ensure a successful outcome.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the suspect.

Police track down stolen vehicle suspect in Kansas

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an arson fire in Topeka.

Just after 2a.m. Friday crews from fire crews responded to a reported two-story house fire at 1407 SW Western Avenue, according to department spokesperson Rosie Nichols.

First arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the house and worked to extinguish the fire. No occupants were located, and no injuries have been reported.

Investigators&nbsp;determined the cause to be intentionally set. The total estimated loss associated with the fire is approximately $13,500. The home did not have working smoke&nbsp;detectors, according to Nichols.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734108377303.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an arson fire in Topeka.Just after 2a.m. Friday crews from fire crews responded to a reported two-story house fire at 1407 SW Western Avenue, according to department spokesperson Rosie Nichols.First arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the house and worked to extinguish the fire. No occupants were located, and no injuries have been reported.Investigators&nbsp;determined the cause to be intentionally set. The total estimated loss associated with the fire is approximately $13,500. The home did not have working smoke&nbsp;detectors, according to Nichols.

Investigators: Kansas house fire intentionally set

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time.

In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office.

“The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote.

Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months, but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942.

Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-congress-749d458d09882c6e6479559bc0327bde">Sunshine Protection Act</a>, had proposed making daylight saving time permanent.

The measure was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/582/all-info#:~:text=%2F01%2F2023)-,Sunshine%20Protection%20Act%20of%202023,standard%20time%20for%20those%20areas." target="_blank">sponsored by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio</a>, whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department.

“Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure.

Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/time-change-fall-back-spring-forward-sleep-251e55ce23d25a490783a996915dbc22">Some health groups</a>, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology.

<a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/statistics.html" target="_blank">Most countries</a>&nbsp;do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences.

Arizona and Hawaii don’t change their clocks at all.

NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation.&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1867686000711155989?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a post on his social media site Friday, Trump said his party would try to end the practice when he returns to office.“The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation,” he wrote.Setting clocks forward one hour in the spring and back an hour in the fall is intended to maximize daylight during summer months, but has long been subject to scrutiny. Daylight saving time was first adopted as a wartime measure in 1942.Lawmakers have occasionally proposed getting rid of the time change altogether. The most prominent recent attempt, a now-stalled bipartisan bill named the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-congress-749d458d09882c6e6479559bc0327bde">Sunshine Protection Act</a>, had proposed making daylight saving time permanent.The measure was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/582/all-info#:~:text=%2F01%2F2023)-,Sunshine%20Protection%20Act%20of%202023,standard%20time%20for%20those%20areas." target="_blank">sponsored by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio</a>, whom Trump has tapped to helm the State Department.“Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida said as the Senate voted in favor of the measure.Health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/time-change-fall-back-spring-forward-sleep-251e55ce23d25a490783a996915dbc22">Some health groups</a>, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology.<a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/dst/statistics.html" target="_blank">Most countries</a>&nbsp;do not observe daylight saving time. For those that do, the date that clocks are changed varies, creating a complicated tapestry of changing time differences.Arizona and Hawaii don’t change their clocks at all.

Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Shortly before 3a.m. Dec. 9, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2002 GMC Envoy on U.S. Hwy 75 near 214th&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 During the traffic stop, the driver, Michael Owen Bennett, 46, of Topeka, was initially arrested for driving while suspended.&nbsp;

A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted.&nbsp;&nbsp;The front seat passenger Elaine Elizabeth Anne Moore, 27, of Horton, was arrested with an outstanding Brown County felony warrant.&nbsp; Moore allegedly had a 9mm Glock pistol in her waistband. During a search of the vehicle, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located.

Moore was booked into the Jackson County Jail on the Brown County felony warrant and requested charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of weapons.

Bennett was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and no insurance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733948371193.png" alt="Bennett-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Bennett-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan —Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Shortly before 3a.m. Dec. 9, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2002 GMC Envoy on U.S. Hwy 75 near 214th&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. During the traffic stop, the driver, Michael Owen Bennett, 46, of Topeka, was initially arrested for driving while suspended.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733948333710.png" alt="Moore-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Moore-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted.&nbsp;&nbsp;The front seat passenger Elaine Elizabeth Anne Moore, 27, of Horton, was arrested with an outstanding Brown County felony warrant.&nbsp; Moore allegedly had a 9mm Glock pistol in her waistband. During a search of the vehicle, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located.Moore was booked into the Jackson County Jail on the Brown County felony warrant and requested charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of weapons.Bennett was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and no insurance.

Kan. woman with pistol in her waistband was transporting heroin

HARVEY COUNTY —Newton Police are investigating an incident that occurred this afternoon on a USD 373 bus. In the course of the investigation, police have confirmed that during the ride home from school, a can of Axe body spray was punctured, requiring the bus to be evacuated. 

The bus driver pulled over on South Kansas Avenue near SE 14th Street and asked the students to exit the bus. The bus was carrying about 64 students. 

The students were told to stay with the bus  while it aired out, but most of them scattered. Eight students stayed with the bus, and they were taken home on the bus. The other students walked home, were picked up by police, or got other rides. We believe all students are safe.

HARVEY COUNTY —Official with USD 373 and Newton police are investigating an incident involving a school bus that occurred on Friday afternoon, according to a statement from the school district.&nbsp;

The incident resulted in the evacuation of the transportation school bus. The district is ensuring all students made it home and were accounted for. 

The district reported they were&nbsp; not aware of any student injuries at this time. "We are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation of the incident, according to USD 373.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

HARVEY COUNTY —Newton Police are investigating an incident that occurred this afternoon on a USD 373 bus. In the course of the investigation, police have confirmed that during the ride home from school, a can of Axe body spray was punctured, requiring the bus to be evacuated. The bus driver pulled over on South Kansas Avenue near SE 14th Street and asked the students to exit the bus. The bus was carrying about 64 students. The students were told to stay with the bus while it aired out, but most of them scattered. Eight students stayed with the bus, and they were taken home on the bus. The other students walked home, were picked up by police, or got other rides. We believe all students are safe.----------HARVEY COUNTY —Official with USD 373 and Newton police are investigating an incident involving a school bus that occurred on Friday afternoon, according to a statement from the school district.&nbsp;The incident resulted in the evacuation of the transportation school bus. The district is ensuring all students made it home and were accounted for. The district reported they were&nbsp; not aware of any student injuries at this time. "We are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation of the incident, according to USD 373.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Students evacuated from Newton school bus after can of body spray punctured

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22NICK%20INGRAM%20and%20HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By NICK INGRAM and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH </a>

KANSAS CITY (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;has made a surprise stop at a Kansas City children’s hospital, shocking parents and patients alike as she laughed with them, posed for photos and exchanged gifts.

All parent Cassie Thomas was told beforehand was that she might want to brush her hair and teeth because there was going to be a special visitor. But she was stunned when Swift, fresh off her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-numbers-2-billion-118a7f5ea4609c5d3072a29152e387bb">Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;and one day before her 35th birthday, walked into her son's son Beckett Thomas' room on Thursday at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

“No rumors. Like, we literally had absolutely no idea this was happening,” Thomas recalled.

Her 13-year-old son, Beckett Thomas, is a cancer patient and a fan of Swift's Kansas City Chiefs tight-end boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Beckett uses a 3D printer to make earrings bearing his and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' names, walking around the hospital unit selling them to nurses.

“She was amazing,” Beckett's mom said. “So down to earth.”

Another patient told Swift that her favorite song was “Love Story" and had some questions about San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, whose team played the Chiefs in the Super Bowl earlier this year.

Surprised, Taylor, muttered: “Brock Purdy, What? I mean, I don’t mind Brock Purdy.” She then continued: “He put me through a lot last February.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-las-vegas-opening-night-chiefs-49ers-8ec1d950f7f6be86e72963cc1dcbe7f7">Asked before the Super Bowl whether he was</a>&nbsp;prepared to disappoint Swift, Purdy responded: “Yes.”

The game ended with Mahomes rallying the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25-22 over the 49ers in overtime.

“I was very stressed for a second but it all ended up fine,” Swift told the girl, their recorded conversation posted online.

The girl then chimed in: “I like Travis now.” Swift responded with: “Me too. That’s an absolute yes on that one."

There is no word on whether Swift will be in the stands when the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-browns-preview-77ebd2cd1344e97a0489d7697001ca93">Chiefs play the Browns</a>&nbsp;on Sunday in Kelce’s hometown of Cleveland.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734122660700.png" alt="n this image provided by Cassie Thomas, Beckett Thomas, 13, who is a patient at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., poses with Taylor Swift, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Cassie Thomas via AP)" />
 <figcaption>n this image provided by Cassie Thomas, Beckett Thomas, 13, who is a patient at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., poses with Taylor Swift, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Cassie Thomas via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22NICK%20INGRAM%20and%20HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By NICK INGRAM and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH </a>KANSAS CITY (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift</a>&nbsp;has made a surprise stop at a Kansas City children’s hospital, shocking parents and patients alike as she laughed with them, posed for photos and exchanged gifts.All parent Cassie Thomas was told beforehand was that she might want to brush her hair and teeth because there was going to be a special visitor. But she was stunned when Swift, fresh off her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-numbers-2-billion-118a7f5ea4609c5d3072a29152e387bb">Eras Tour</a>&nbsp;and one day before her 35th birthday, walked into her son's son Beckett Thomas' room on Thursday at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.“No rumors. Like, we literally had absolutely no idea this was happening,” Thomas recalled.Her 13-year-old son, Beckett Thomas, is a cancer patient and a fan of Swift's Kansas City Chiefs tight-end boyfriend, Travis Kelce. Beckett uses a 3D printer to make earrings bearing his and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes' names, walking around the hospital unit selling them to nurses.Now, Swift has a pair as well.“She was amazing,” Beckett's mom said. “So down to earth.”Another patient told Swift that her favorite song was “Love Story" and had some questions about San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, whose team played the Chiefs in the Super Bowl earlier this year.Surprised, Taylor, muttered: “Brock Purdy, What? I mean, I don’t mind Brock Purdy.” She then continued: “He put me through a lot last February.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-las-vegas-opening-night-chiefs-49ers-8ec1d950f7f6be86e72963cc1dcbe7f7">Asked before the Super Bowl whether he was</a>&nbsp;prepared to disappoint Swift, Purdy responded: “Yes.”The game ended with Mahomes rallying the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25-22 over the 49ers in overtime.“I was very stressed for a second but it all ended up fine,” Swift told the girl, their recorded conversation posted online.The girl then chimed in: “I like Travis now.” Swift responded with: “Me too. That’s an absolute yes on that one."There is no word on whether Swift will be in the stands when the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-browns-preview-77ebd2cd1344e97a0489d7697001ca93">Chiefs play the Browns</a>&nbsp;on Sunday in Kelce’s hometown of Cleveland.

Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children's hospital

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man who lived in a makeshift camp with a homeless 5-year-old Kansas girl and her father pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree murder and rape in connection with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/girl-killed-kansas-zoey-felix-homeless-suspect-8b9832341fc8bb6dcf06672e9363059b">the child’s death.</a>

Prosecutors said Mickel Cherry, 26, admitted under questioning to suffocating Zoey Felix in October 2023 with a pillow in a tent at the camp in Topeka when he was alone with the girl. Doctors who examined her at a hospital saw injuries consistent with a sexual assault, and DNA evidence pointed to Cherry, the prosecutor said.

Cherry’s plea in Shawnee County District Court in Topeka means he will not face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/girl-killed-topeka-kansas-a39c4aa86bd21287f981c4a09a58576d">the death penalty.</a>&nbsp;He had been charged with capital murder and rape, but District Attorney Mike Kagay said there is evidence that Cherry has an intellectual disability, something that would bar his execution under state and federal court decisions.

In court, Cherry told District Judge Jessica Heinen: “I’m mentally slow. I have trouble learning.”

It wasn’t clear with a capital murder conviction how soon a sentence of lethal injection would have been carried out because Kansas hasn’t executed anyone since 1965.

With Cherry's guilty plea, state law requires Heinen to sentence Cherry to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 25 years. However, the judge has the authority to make it 50 years in prison without parole, and Kagay is asking for that.

The sentencing will be June 2-4. Cherry’s attorney, Peter Conley, did not want the date to be sooner and sought up to three days for a hearing, telling Heinen that he and other defense attorneys need time to investigate Cherry’s interactions with the Texas foster care system as a minor.

Conley did not respond immediately Friday to an email seeking additional details about what defense attorneys are investigating.

Kagay said Cherry made conflicting false statements to authorities about another man committing the crimes before acknowledging that he'd raped and suffocated her. Kagay said Cherry was alone with the girl for almost five hours while her father was at his job at a gas station across the street from the makeshift camp.

In court Friday, Cherry looked down, his eyes closed, as he answered the last of Heinen's questions about his plea agreement with prosecutors. He wore a yellow jail jumpsuit and remained handcuffed during the hearing.

Aimee Slusser, a friend of Felix’s father, who described herself as a mentor to the girl, left the courtroom in tears when Kagay discussed medical evidence that the girl was raped. She said afterward that whatever sentence Cherry faced, she didn’t feel justice would be done.

“A little girl’s life has been taken,” she told reporters. “Whatever he gets, it won’t bring her back”

The girl’s father was present for the entire 30-minute hearing but declined comment afterward.

Felix’s death had child welfare advocates asking why&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/girl-killed-topeka-kansas-9816c6dd6f49dde6cfeb6fd435836eb0">the state didn’t remove</a>&nbsp;the girl from a dangerous environment, and Slusser told reporters Friday that had the state done that, “Zoey would still be here.”

Kansas' child welfare department reported that it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zoey-felix-girl-killed-topeka-kansas-088d335f41de0826f1991aab39dba620">investigated the family five times</a>&nbsp;in the last 13 months of Felix’s life but couldn’t confirm allegations of neglect or drug use by her mother, including after she was arrested for driving drunk with the girl in the car. The agency also said the family repeatedly declined help.

Court and police records show that Topeka police were called to the mother's home dozens of times. Neighbors said they saw the girl wandering the street outside dirty and hungry, and both parents alleged abuse. Felix’s mother was jailed at the end of 2022 over the drunken driving, which involved a crash with the girl in the front seat.

A neighbor said the mother threw Felix and her father out of the house two weeks before the girl died. They lived among the trees on a vacant lot about three-quarters of a mile to the south.

Cherry was involved with Felix's family before he was living with them in the makeshift homeless encampment. But authorities haven't said why he was involved with Felix's family, when he'd met the girl and her parents and how much contact he'd had with them. One police record listed him as living at the mother's home just weeks before Felix's death.

Police records show that before Cherry came to Topeka, he'd been living in Amarillo, Texas, 400 miles (605 kilometers) southwest of Topeka, at least as of October 2021. Documents show that his life in Texas was marked by periods of homelessness.

In court Friday, Heinen asked Cherry about whether he had any mental health issues, and he told her that he is taking medication for anxiety, depression and ADHD, or Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

In May 2018, Cherry, then 20, was in Nacogdoches, Texas, about 500 miles (805 kilometers) southeast of Amarillo. A police report said Cherry walked into the police department’s headquarters and reported being homeless, on daily medication for “mental problems” and that he had “voices going off in his head.” The report did not say what happened afterward.

By August 2019, Cherry was back in Amarillo, municipal court records show. He was jailed briefly there that year for mistreating an animal and again in June 2021 for trespassing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696342029742.png" alt="Mikel Cherry photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Mikel Cherry photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man who lived in a makeshift camp with a homeless 5-year-old Kansas girl and her father pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree murder and rape in connection with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/girl-killed-kansas-zoey-felix-homeless-suspect-8b9832341fc8bb6dcf06672e9363059b">the child’s death.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696600819324.png" alt="Zoey Felix -photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Zoey Felix -photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>Prosecutors said Mickel Cherry, 26, admitted under questioning to suffocating Zoey Felix in October 2023 with a pillow in a tent at the camp in Topeka when he was alone with the girl. Doctors who examined her at a hospital saw injuries consistent with a sexual assault, and DNA evidence pointed to Cherry, the prosecutor said.Cherry’s plea in Shawnee County District Court in Topeka means he will not face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/girl-killed-topeka-kansas-a39c4aa86bd21287f981c4a09a58576d">the death penalty.</a>&nbsp;He had been charged with capital murder and rape, but District Attorney Mike Kagay said there is evidence that Cherry has an intellectual disability, something that would bar his execution under state and federal court decisions.In court, Cherry told District Judge Jessica Heinen: “I’m mentally slow. I have trouble learning.”It wasn’t clear with a capital murder conviction how soon a sentence of lethal injection would have been carried out because Kansas hasn’t executed anyone since 1965.With Cherry's guilty plea, state law requires Heinen to sentence Cherry to life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 25 years. However, the judge has the authority to make it 50 years in prison without parole, and Kagay is asking for that.The sentencing will be June 2-4. Cherry’s attorney, Peter Conley, did not want the date to be sooner and sought up to three days for a hearing, telling Heinen that he and other defense attorneys need time to investigate Cherry’s interactions with the Texas foster care system as a minor.Conley did not respond immediately Friday to an email seeking additional details about what defense attorneys are investigating.Kagay said Cherry made conflicting false statements to authorities about another man committing the crimes before acknowledging that he'd raped and suffocated her. Kagay said Cherry was alone with the girl for almost five hours while her father was at his job at a gas station across the street from the makeshift camp.In court Friday, Cherry looked down, his eyes closed, as he answered the last of Heinen's questions about his plea agreement with prosecutors. He wore a yellow jail jumpsuit and remained handcuffed during the hearing.Aimee Slusser, a friend of Felix’s father, who described herself as a mentor to the girl, left the courtroom in tears when Kagay discussed medical evidence that the girl was raped. She said afterward that whatever sentence Cherry faced, she didn’t feel justice would be done.“A little girl’s life has been taken,” she told reporters. “Whatever he gets, it won’t bring her back”The girl’s father was present for the entire 30-minute hearing but declined comment afterward.Felix’s death had child welfare advocates asking why&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/girl-killed-topeka-kansas-9816c6dd6f49dde6cfeb6fd435836eb0">the state didn’t remove</a>&nbsp;the girl from a dangerous environment, and Slusser told reporters Friday that had the state done that, “Zoey would still be here.”Kansas' child welfare department reported that it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zoey-felix-girl-killed-topeka-kansas-088d335f41de0826f1991aab39dba620">investigated the family five times</a>&nbsp;in the last 13 months of Felix’s life but couldn’t confirm allegations of neglect or drug use by her mother, including after she was arrested for driving drunk with the girl in the car. The agency also said the family repeatedly declined help.Court and police records show that Topeka police were called to the mother's home dozens of times. Neighbors said they saw the girl wandering the street outside dirty and hungry, and both parents alleged abuse. Felix’s mother was jailed at the end of 2022 over the drunken driving, which involved a crash with the girl in the front seat.A neighbor said the mother threw Felix and her father out of the house two weeks before the girl died. They lived among the trees on a vacant lot about three-quarters of a mile to the south.Cherry was involved with Felix's family before he was living with them in the makeshift homeless encampment. But authorities haven't said why he was involved with Felix's family, when he'd met the girl and her parents and how much contact he'd had with them. One police record listed him as living at the mother's home just weeks before Felix's death.Police records show that before Cherry came to Topeka, he'd been living in Amarillo, Texas, 400 miles (605 kilometers) southwest of Topeka, at least as of October 2021. Documents show that his life in Texas was marked by periods of homelessness.In court Friday, Heinen asked Cherry about whether he had any mental health issues, and he told her that he is taking medication for anxiety, depression and ADHD, or Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.In May 2018, Cherry, then 20, was in Nacogdoches, Texas, about 500 miles (805 kilometers) southeast of Amarillo. A police report said Cherry walked into the police department’s headquarters and reported being homeless, on daily medication for “mental problems” and that he had “voices going off in his head.” The report did not say what happened afterward.By August 2019, Cherry was back in Amarillo, municipal court records show. He was jailed briefly there that year for mistreating an animal and again in June 2021 for trespassing.____

Man pleads guilty in death of 5-year-old living in Kan. homeless camp

&nbsp;Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran spoke at the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge Memorial Commemoration in Bastogne, Belgium, on Friday.

&nbsp;Moran led the official Senate delegation to the ceremonies in Belgium and Luxembourg. The bipartisan delegation includes Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).

Moran wrote on his social media page, "Honored to represent Kansas and the U.S. Senate at the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium."

"The Battle of the Bulge was the largest and most costly battle for the Americans during WWII."

"We are here to pay tribute to, and honor the memory of, the men who fought for freedom and the more than 10,000 Americans who remain here still, lying in eternal rest at the Ardennes American Cemetery &amp; the Luxembourg American Cemetery."

Moran closed his remarks by sharing an inscription that is on a smaller Battle of the Bulge memorial in Abilene, KS at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library.

"It reads: “let us be glad that such heroes have lived, and mourn those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

"Let us indeed be glad that such heroes have lived, and let us strive to live our lives in a manner worthy of their sacrifice."

The ceremonies were hosted by the American Battle Monuments Commission

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734123434736.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran spoke at the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge Memorial Commemoration in Bastogne, Belgium, on Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734123059902.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Moran led the official Senate delegation to the ceremonies in Belgium and Luxembourg. The bipartisan delegation includes Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734123612154.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Moran wrote on his social media page, "Honored to represent Kansas and the U.S. Senate at the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium.""The Battle of the Bulge was the largest and most costly battle for the Americans during WWII." "We are here to pay tribute to, and honor the memory of, the men who fought for freedom and the more than 10,000 Americans who remain here still, lying in eternal rest at the Ardennes American Cemetery &amp; the Luxembourg American Cemetery."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We welcome <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nasa</a> Bill Nelson and Members of Congress to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg and Belgium. The sacrifices of brave <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWII?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWII</a> soldiers echo from the past, reminding us that each generation must continue the fight for freedom and… <a href="https://t.co/ae50RVceWL">pic.twitter.com/ae50RVceWL</a>&mdash; U.S. Embassy Luxembourg (@USEmbLuxembourg) <a href="https://twitter.com/USEmbLuxembourg/status/1867570544675090828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Moran closed his remarks by sharing an inscription that is on a smaller Battle of the Bulge memorial in Abilene, KS at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library."It reads: “let us be glad that such heroes have lived, and mourn those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.”"Let us indeed be glad that such heroes have lived, and let us strive to live our lives in a manner worthy of their sacrifice." The ceremonies were hosted by the American Battle Monuments Commission

Moran leads Senate delegation at 80th anniversary of Battle of the Bulge

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — School districts across Kansas will receive a 20-page report containing guidance on cell phones that recommends daytime cell phone bans, mental health awareness and bolstered parental oversight.

The Kansas State Board of Education hasn’t mandated digital device policies, instead deferring to local districts and schools to create their own. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the report’s recommendations and directed Kansas Department of Education staff to send it to local districts.

“Prior to the vote, Board Chair Melanie Haas of Overland Park emphasized the State Board accepting the report was an acknowledgement of the task force’s work, not an endorsement of the recommendations,” said Denise Kahler, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Education, in a Tuesday news release.

The 36-member task force consisted of state board members, district officials, school employees, students, parents and legislators who crafted 22 recommendations for locales. They met weekly between late August and early November and divided their recommendations into three categories: personal devices in school, screen time and mental health and parental oversight of district-owned devices.

State education officials proposed the task force in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-board-of-education-to-study-limitations-on-cellphone-use-in-classrooms/">July</a>, envisioning it as a way to examine how students use cell phones and other digital devices and the toll social media takes on their mental health. It was a way to help districts distill research into clear guidelines that they can use if they choose to create local policies, said Randy Watson, state education commissioner, at Tuesday’s meeting.

“This is not the state board telling any local district what you shall do,” he said.

Initial recommendations suggest districts should mandate K-12 students’ personal cell phones be powered off from the beginning of the school day to the end, including during lunch and passing periods, and stored in an off-limits location. Such restrictions are called bell-to-bell policies.

“A 2024 study reveals 72% of high school teachers, 33% of middle school teachers, and 6% of elementary school teachers say students distracted by cell phones in class is a major problem,” the report said.

Some studies also link screen time and school performance, the report said.

The task force also recommended districts create personal device policies for school staff, develop safety and emergency procedures that don’t rely on students’ personal devices and identify a district’s technology gaps so students aren’t forced to use their own devices.

Parental oversight had the lengthiest list of recommendations, with 13 items. The task force suggested policies should allow families to have stronger oversight over their students’ district-owned devices Some included broader parental controls, full access to student devices, the ability to block certain websites and the use of systems that let families see a mirrored view of a student’s screen.

About 47% of voting task force members opposed the screen mirroring recommendation, and 45% opposed the recommendation suggesting districts allow families to manage and request additional blocked websites on district-owned devices, according to the report.

The task force also endorsed stronger educational efforts to help parents understand how they can manage and monitor student devices.

Under mental health and screentime, the task force recommended districts implement independent, research-based guidance on online use and its effects on mental health, regular breaks from screens throughout the school day and means of communication with students and families outside of social media platforms.&nbsp;

About 40% of voting members opposed the recommendation for communication outside of social media.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694441377819.jpeg" alt="Image pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — School districts across Kansas will receive a 20-page report containing guidance on cell phones that recommends daytime cell phone bans, mental health awareness and bolstered parental oversight.The Kansas State Board of Education hasn’t mandated digital device policies, instead deferring to local districts and schools to create their own. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to accept the report’s recommendations and directed Kansas Department of Education staff to send it to local districts.“Prior to the vote, Board Chair Melanie Haas of Overland Park emphasized the State Board accepting the report was an acknowledgement of the task force’s work, not an endorsement of the recommendations,” said Denise Kahler, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Education, in a Tuesday news release.The 36-member task force consisted of state board members, district officials, school employees, students, parents and legislators who crafted 22 recommendations for locales. They met weekly between late August and early November and divided their recommendations into three categories: personal devices in school, screen time and mental health and parental oversight of district-owned devices.State education officials proposed the task force in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-board-of-education-to-study-limitations-on-cellphone-use-in-classrooms/">July</a>, envisioning it as a way to examine how students use cell phones and other digital devices and the toll social media takes on their mental health. It was a way to help districts distill research into clear guidelines that they can use if they choose to create local policies, said Randy Watson, state education commissioner, at Tuesday’s meeting.“This is not the state board telling any local district what you shall do,” he said.Initial recommendations suggest districts should mandate K-12 students’ personal cell phones be powered off from the beginning of the school day to the end, including during lunch and passing periods, and stored in an off-limits location. Such restrictions are called bell-to-bell policies.“A 2024 study reveals 72% of high school teachers, 33% of middle school teachers, and 6% of elementary school teachers say students distracted by cell phones in class is a major problem,” the report said.Some studies also link screen time and school performance, the report said.The task force also recommended districts create personal device policies for school staff, develop safety and emergency procedures that don’t rely on students’ personal devices and identify a district’s technology gaps so students aren’t forced to use their own devices.Parental oversight had the lengthiest list of recommendations, with 13 items. The task force suggested policies should allow families to have stronger oversight over their students’ district-owned devices Some included broader parental controls, full access to student devices, the ability to block certain websites and the use of systems that let families see a mirrored view of a student’s screen.About 47% of voting task force members opposed the screen mirroring recommendation, and 45% opposed the recommendation suggesting districts allow families to manage and request additional blocked websites on district-owned devices, according to the report.The task force also endorsed stronger educational efforts to help parents understand how they can manage and monitor student devices.Under mental health and screentime, the task force recommended districts implement independent, research-based guidance on online use and its effects on mental health, regular breaks from screens throughout the school day and means of communication with students and families outside of social media platforms.&nbsp;About 40% of voting members opposed the recommendation for communication outside of social media.Task force members sifted through national research illustrating the detrimental impact of social media and excessive screen time on adolescents. The report cited a 2023 study that found 46% of adolescents say social media makes them feel worse about their body image and a 2018 study in which 59% of teens said they have experienced cyberbullying.The state board’s direction comes about a week after&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/12/03/dc/u-s-education-department-pings-states-schools-to-set-policies-on-cellphone-use/">the U.S. Department of Education</a>&nbsp;urged states and local school districts to&nbsp;create their own “well-thought-out” cell phone policies.